Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/151

 assembled in the township of Orrell, in the parish of Wigan, and with force and arms carried away 20 loads of tithe corn of the value of 40 marks and more, and converted the same to his own use.

Again in the same year he lays a bill of complaint against Roger Bradshaghe of Haghe, Esquire, stating that he, with sundry other riotous persons to the number of 40, had carried away 80 loads of tithe corn and grain in the township of Haghe, in the parish of Wigan, to the value of £40, and converted the same to his own use, although gently remonstrated with, and hath refused to make amends.

In 1564 Bishop Stanley, though he was then in possession of several rich benefices, was apparently residing in idleness at Durham. Pilkington, bishop of Durham, in a letter to the archbishop of Canterbury, gives a deplorable account of the clergy of the northern province at that date, and says: "The bishop of Man liveth here at ease and as merry as Pope Joan."

In 11 Eliz., 1568-9, Thomas Stanley states in his bill of complaint that he is seized of and in two tithes, with the appurtenances, called the tithe of the townships of Ince and Hindley, within the parish of Wigan. Being so seized, in August last past Miles Gerrard of Ince, Esquire, who had lent him one of his barns for storing the grain, died before the whole of the grain was carried, and at his death his son and heir, William Gerrard, agreed to carry and house the said grain and deliver the keys of the barn to the complainant. But when the corn was all carried the said William Gerrard refused so to deliver the keys.

Bishop Thomas Stanley died in 1568, i.e. 1568-9. The Earl of