Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/155

334 town and neighbourhood gave her a royal reception. "There came to Chester," says a contemporary writer, "being on a Saturday, the Duchess of Tremoyle in France, and mother-in-law to the lord Strange, and many other great estates; and all the gentry of Cheshier, Flintshier, and Denbighshier, went to meet her at Hoole Heath, with the Earl of Derby, being at least six hundred men; all the gentlemen of the artelery-yard, lately erected at Chester, met her in Cow Lane in very stately manner, all with great white and blew fithers, and went before her chariot to the bishop's pallas, and making a yard let her threw the midest, and they gave her three volleys of shot, and so returned to their yard; also the maior and aldermen, in their best gowns and aparel, were on a stage in the East-gate Street to entertagn her."

On 23rd April, 1631, the bishop received the following formal dispensation from the King to divide his residence between Cheshire and Lancashire: "Charles Rx Right trustie and welbeloved wee greete yow well. Wee understand by the Lord Viscount Wentworth or president for the North ptes with what care and good endeavor you have assisted him in the advancemte of or service, wch wee gratiously accept, and will remember for yor good. Hee hath also acquainted us both with yor readie obedience to or order for yor residence at yor episcopall houses, and with yor desire, wth regard of the multitude of Papistes and schismaticks in that pte of yor diocesse, and for other reasons, to make yor abode in Lancashire for some pte of the yeare, which tendinge to the better discharge of yor dutie in the service both of the church and common wealth wee are pleased to approve: and accordinglie give you leave to bestowe halfe the yeare in Cheshire, and the other halfe in Lancashire, soe as at the times of Christmas you kepe house and hospitalitie at yor episcopall seate, and continue yor former care of p'servinge the unitie and good governmte of that church com̄itted to yor charge, as wee doubt not you will. Given at our Pallace of Whitehal this 23rd day of April, 1631."