Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/158

Rh The bishop himself, however, did not altogether escape infection. He was residing at this time at Lever Hall, where he had what he describes as "a great sickness in the plague tyme," and in his accounts there appears a large sum paid to Dr. Bispham of Lever for attending him. About the same time he thus records the birth of his grandchild, shewing how carefully the parochial rights of the clergy were recognized in those days: "On Tuesday morning, 16 August, 1631, early, about a quarter of an hour before two of the clock that morning, my son Orlando's second child (his first son) was born in the chamber next to the Lord's chamber under the Study gallery in Great Lever, and baptized by name John in the church of Bolton Moores on Sunday following, viz. 21 Aug., by Mr. Greg, Vicar of Bolton (because that church was nigh), but in the presence of the minister of Middleton, whom I sent for purposely, because Lever was in Middleton parish. His godfathers were John Kynaston my brother-in-law [i.e., son's father-in-law] and my son Dove Bridgeman: and his godmother was my wife. O gracious God, which hast given him to me, make him a faythfull and constant servant of Thyne, and give him such plenty of Thy graces & blessings as may most set forth Thy glory in this life and bring him to eternal hapiness after this life: so be it, good God, for Thy dear Sonne Christ Jesus' sake. Amen, Amen. ." In the following year he notices the death of his brother Thomas Bridgeman, who died at the Episcopal Palace in Chester on 26th March, 1632, and was buried in the chancel of the Cathedral.

In the same year, 1632, the bishop had much trouble with John Ley, vicar of Great Budworth and a lecturer of Chester, who had been collated by him to a stall in Chester Cathedral in 1627, which he vacated this year. This man, who appears to have been vice dean at this time, was a great thorn in his side, being an able and learned man and a popular preacher, but a very