Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/43

 said church; ten marks towards the sustentation of the fabric, so long as the same bishop should live, and after his decease five marks to be expended annually on the anniversary of his death, in bread for the poor, to be given by the hands of those whom the bishop shall depute, and the other five marks to be distributed on the anniversary of the death of the said bishop, among the Vicars solemnly serving in the said church, by the hands of the Sacristan; the residue to be given to the Sacristan of the same place for his own use. Each Rector of the church of Wigan, immediately after his institution, should come to the church of Lichfield, and there, before the Dean and Chapter, should swear to pay the thirty marks annually according to the prescribed form; and if at any time he should cease from paying the said sum of money, it should be lawful for the said bishop to compel him to pay it by suspension, excommunication, and interdict. The original donation was attested and dated at Lichfield, vi. Id. July (July 10), 1265.

In 2 Edw. I. (1273-4) there was an assize taken between the Abbot of Cokersand and the parson of Wigan, concerning certain tenements in Halghton in Shaldefordshire, (i.e., the hundred of Salford). It is probable that Master Richard held the Rectory till 1277, in which year the benefice seems to have been vacant; for by a judgement delivered in 11. Edw. I. (1283) it appeared that, in 1277, the right to the advowson of the church had been disputed, but the Judges of both Benches then decided that Robert de Banastre, holding of the King, was the true patron.  I presume that was the Rector presented at that time. Master Adam de Walton, Parson of Wigan, was summoned to appear at Lancaster on the octaves of the Holy Trinity, 20 Edw. I. (9 June, 1292), to show by what warrant he  