Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/38

Rh decided by due course of Law, his Majestic not being partie therein against the Town; or otherwise that it would please his Majestic to cause the MrMaster [sic] of Requests, who hath the Town's petition, write upon the petition to his Majestie's Attorney Generall that his Majestie's pleasure is that the former decree may stand in force, and that the parties may be admitted to prosecute the sute in Law, and that his Majestic be in no wise a partie therein against the Town.

This information being given to his Majestie's hands (as is aforesaid) his Majestic gave it to my Lord Hay, who sent for me and gave it to me, telling me how graciously his Majestie stood affected to me, and asking me if I would returne anything to his Majestie, whereupon I acquainted my Lord Hay that they never had any such decree, and that they had usurped my church's rights and levyed diverse fifteens to bear out their wrongs by expenses, and therefore I desired his Majestie (to ease me of long sutes in Law) would be pleased to assigne 2 Bishops and 2 Judges to hear both parties, & if the Town had right either in Law or conscience then let them hold those things wch I clayme, otherwise let them be restored to the church. The king hearing this motion presently approved it, and when Sr Chrisf Perkins came to him, he commanded him to subscribe his pleasure both to the Town's first petition, and to myne, wch I gave to Sr Chrisr at his going in. My petition was this, verbatim: 'To the King's most excellent Majestie the humble petition of Jo. Bridgeman, one of yr Majestie's Chapleynes, sheweth that, — Your Majestic most graciously bestowed upon this petitioner the benefice of Wigan, but diverse of the Parishioners wthhold the Tithes, Gleblands, & other dues, and many of them conspire together to deprive him & his successors of the mannor of Wigan and other rights and diverse privileges wch ye Royall progenitors have by many charters granted to that church, wch it hath had in possession diverse hundreds of years, and for wch this petitioner doth yearly pay a rent into the Exchequer. The petitioner (to save sute in Law) hath often desired them to