Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/145

Rh plainly doth and may appear: It was this day moved by the counsell of the plaintiff to have an injunction against Sir Thomas Gerrard, knight, concerning the performance of the tenor of the said decree, whereupon an injunction is this day awarded against the said Sir Thomas Gerrard, that he, as executor, administrator or assign to the said William Gerrard, shall not, upon the sight of the said injunction, have, occupy, and enjoy, the said tithe corn and grain, but shall permit and suffer Sir Thomas Stanley, clerk, and his assigns, to occupy the premises and every parcel thereof without let, molestation, vexation, or trouble, of the said Sir Thomas Gerrard or of any other person or persons by his means." I presume that John Winstanley had not disputed the previous decree, and therefore he is not mentioned in the order.

In 1 Eliz. Dr. Thomas Stanley, bishop of Man, was present at the funeral of Margaret, Countess of Derby (the Earl's second wife), who was buried at Ormskirk with great solemnity on 24th February, 1558-9. On that occasion the said bishop sang a solemn mass, having on him his ornaments and mitre.

In the following year, 2 Eliz., the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield complain in the Duchy Court that they have "by all the time whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary" been seized of a yearly rent of £20 issuing out of the rectory or parsonage of Wigan until the last two years in which Thomas "bishop of Sodor and parson of Wigan" has wrongfully detained the said sum, notwithstanding that the said complainants have made continual suit for the same. I have not found the record of any decree in this matter, but Stanley was doubtless made to pay the pension with the arrears.

Bishop Stanley now began to look up his manorial rights, together with the tithes and rents belonging to the parsonage, all which had been considerably encroached upon, during Kyghley's unfortunate lease, by the Mayor and burgesses of Wigan in the