Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/183

362 hope that the bishop acquits him of having taken any part against him in this business, allows that Sir Thomas Canon had been very bitter against him, but implies that he is useful to the King and of some service to their cause. The following informations against Sir Thomas Canon by Sir James Perrot and Mr. Clark of St. David's appear to have been laid before the King, but at what date does not appear: "Sir Thomas Canon, having been brought up as a clerk under his father, was first an attorney, then a feodary, and afterwards became a justice of the peace. He hath since continued many years in London for the most part from his offices, and hath commenced many suits against divers of his neighbours and others in the several courts of Westminster, at the Council of Wales and the Marches, and in the country, whereof divers of them do yet continue, as will appear by the records. He hath been a commissioner to examine extorted fees in the courts of justice, whereby he hath made advantage to himself in his suits, as Sir Edward Salterne and others can testify. Under pretence of service to the King's Majesty he hath questioned the liberties and customs of some of the bishop of St. David's manors to cross the bishop whom he loveth not. Being feodary he made means to get the grant of some wards and hath much wrecked them, he procured the manor of Coed Ralph in Pembrokeshire to be passed in a grant to Mrs. Murrey, or to her use, which he purchased for about £450, there being as much wood on the lands as is worth that he paid for the purchase, whereby he hath wronged the King, having raised it to about £200 rent by the year more than the fee farm rent, and yet doth deny the tenants their ancient custom of woods for which they pay rent, and hath sued them at the Council of Wales and at the Assizes in the county, for which they have lately complained to the King's Majesty. He hath prosecuted Sir James Perrot, knight, with projects and suits for the space of thirty and seven years past. Having had a mortgage on the lease of one Elliott's lands in Pembrokeshire he received his money at the day appointed for the dismortgage of the land, by the hands of his servant, to whom he gave a letter of attorney to receive the said money, and afterwards expulsed the tenant from the lands and kept both lands and money for the space of two years until the lease was recovered from him by course of law. His oppressions have been such and so many that if it please his Matie to grant warrant for examining of them, he will appear to be such a one as may justly deserve to be punished and fined" (Family Evidences).

Though the bishop was fully acquitted by the court of the high commission of all the charges brought against him on the information of Martin and his associates, he was put to great expense in defending himself, besides all the inconvenience, anxiety, and loss of time it entailed upon him.

The cost of the trial, including the expenses of his journey to London, and his prolonged stay there, cost him no less than