Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/150

Rh of one John Bullock. Her lengthened resistence, however, to the parson's claim probably encouraged others to repent of their former submission; for the tenants of those corn mills who had been allowed to remain on sufferance and payment of certain rents to the parson (to which they had bound themselves) seem to have afterwards repudiated their obligation. On 15th May, 1635, it is recorded in the Wigan Leger that John Bullock having complained to the bishop that by reason of divers horse mills and hand mills in Wigan township, and some water mills near it, his suit corn mill in Wigan was stripped of most of the toll or grist, he thereupon sent for the occupiers of those mills to come to him at Lever on that day, to give him satisfaction for the time past according to their compositions which they had made with him; but they refused to come, as is certified by John Bullock, who warned them, namely William Ford, now mayor of Wigan, who answered he would pay no rent but the tenth part of his toll, nor that unless my lord's man would come to take it when it was gotten, else he would cast it upon the floor; Christopher Banks, who said he would not come unless Mr. Mayor came; Robert Banks, who answered that he could not be at home, and that once my lord called him before him, but he could do nothing to him; and Gilbert Cookson, miller to Mr. Hindlye's mill, who said "I will come none." All which John Bullock certified to him on that day; whereupon he subscribed under his petition as followeth: "16th May, 1635. Seeing the said millers do refuse to give me satisfaction, or to come to me about it, I do from henceforth require them neither to set up nor use any mills within the manor of Wigan, save my corn water mill there; and I do require my tenants that they carry not nor suffer any else to carry any of their grain or corn to any other mill in Wigan at their peril. And for what is already due to me I will get it as I can. Jo. Cestrien." How far the bishop was able to enforce this order I do not