Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/260

Rh John Smethhurst, Nicholas Withington, and their Heirs, Executors and administrators, shall hereby be clearly acquitted and discharged from all payments unto the said Bishop of Chester, or Orlando Bridgeman, or their assigns, for any of the Tithes and Profits belonging to the said Rectory of Wigan, and from all covenants, bonds, or other writings, concerning the same; and that they, and every of them, shall make a true and perfect accompt, unto, the officers appointed for sequestrations within the said county of Lancaster, of all monies, or other goods, belonging to the said Rectory of Wigan, received by them, or any of them, or any other Person employed from, by, or under them, or any of them; and if any monies, or other goods, belonging to the said Bishop of Chester, or Orlando Bridgeman, be found in their hands, they, and every of them, are hereby required forthwith to pay the same unto the said officers for sequestration, whose acquittance shall be their sufficient discharge; and they, and every of them, shall leave the whole profits of the said Rectory of Wigan to be disposed by the Parliament for time to come; and whatsoever any person shall do in pursuance of this ordinance, they shall be saved harmless by the power and authority of both Houses of Parliament."

Like the rest of his episcopal brethren, bishop Bridgeman suffered much pecuniary loss and vexation during the time of the great rebellion. When the parliamentary forces surrounded Chester in 1645 he left his house in the hands of his son Orlando Bridgeman, who not only encouraged the loyal men of Chester in their duty, but out of his own means and credit supplied them with whatever was necessary for its defence. But though forced to leave his palace, where in his weak state of health he would only have been in the way, he afforded to others such hospitality as his house could give at such a time of difficulty. Mr. Edward Seddon, in a letter written about the year 1710 to "the Reverend Mr. John Walker at his Rectory at St. Maries in Exeter," says: "The Reverend Mr. Willm. Seddon (my most honoured Father) M. A. of Magdalen Coll. in Cambridge, being, about the year of our Lord 1636,