Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/82

Rh unto them for three lives for such a rent as I should think fit; therefore they entreated me that I would spare their appearance in the Star Chamber, and asked me forgiveness for their offences past, promising henceforth to deserve my love by their good and obedient carriage; whereupon I yielded to their request and promised I would not call on them in the Star Chamber, but write up to my counsel, Mr. Edmund Breres, to stay that suit, which I did accordingly the next day; and I pray God they prove honest men hereafter."

An entry of a few months later gives the name of a Master of the Wigan Grammar School, and the method of his appointment in those days. " Upon Sunday the 2nd of July, 1620, I being at St Albans and hearing Mr. Lewis preach, because he made a very good sermon and had the good report of the town, I brought him with me to Wigan, where he was chosen chief schoolmaster of that school, every one of the feoffees giving him their voices; and they have promised he shall have £30 yearly wages for teaching the said school, and that he shall have a sufficient usher under him which shall have £10 yearly, and accordingly upon Monday, 10th of July, he entered into the said school upon those conditions. And now because I find him a sufficient preacher and he is desirous to exercise his gift this way also, although I have already two ministers serving in Wigan church, namely, Mr. Augustine Wilbore and Mr. Sherlock, I am content and do promise that so long as he shall weekly read a lecture in the said church of Wigan upon such time as I shall think fit, once a week, I will also add to his former stipend £10 yearly, and give him his diet whiles I be in Wigan, or pay for it if I discontinue. Upon these terms we are both agreed. Signed, Jo. Cestren, John Lewis."

The bishop's journey into Scotland in the King's retinue, a few years previously, as his chaplain, seems to have brought about