Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/223

402 wth him. And now I thank your Lp you have supplyed me wth another, and, as your sonne tells me, of the same sire. I can but thanke you; & the horse lookes extreamly well. When I have tryed him I am sure I shall give you more thankes, because my groome wch hath rid him tells me his pace is good and the horse himselfe is easily borne. I see your Lp is resolved that I shall neither look into my stable, nor ride upon the way, but you will give mee occasion to remember your kindnes, wch, if it please God I live, I will remember either in yorselfe or your sonne. So to God's blessed p'tection I leave you & rest your Lps very loving frend and Brother Croyden, Aug: 27, 1638. The following letter relating to the rectory of Heysham, in the deanery of Kendal and county of Lancaster, gives an instance of the way in which King Charles laid claim to the advowsons of churches whenever the patronage seemed to be at all doubtful:

"S. in Xp̃o. My very good Ld, I understand by your Ler̃s that the parson of Hysham is now dead; and that one Chrōfer Parkinson and Sr Paul Attlewood have tenter'd p'sentac̄ons & clerkes to your Lp; but certainly neither of them can have any shew of title. For when those lands and patronages went out of the crowne to Harrington (as far as I remember) they descended fairly upon the Lo: Morley, save only that it was not discovered till now that the heyre male fayled. And certayne it is that the land, & patronage wth it, of wch Hysham is one, upon that failer are to returne to ye Crowne, wch is the title His Matie now layes to it. Concerning institution I know not what a jurie will doe in this case; nor what favour it will shew to them wch (for ought I know) are in possession. Therefore upon the whole matter I would thinke it ye safest way for your Lp to institute ye King's clerke. And then if the rest have any minde to the Law there they may try their title. But, as I am informed, the thing is found very cleare for the King, and the partyes concerned about to compound; but with the exception of the guift of the Rectoryes, wch makes me the more carefull not to loose this opportunity.