state that when Sir Thomas Langton presented Richard Kyghley to the benefice of Wigan, it being necessary to obtain sureties for the first fruits, the said Robert Hatton rode to London, and being unable to find any willing to become his security, agreed to take the responsibility upon himself together with John Ketchyn; in consideration of which favour they aver that the complainant promised (as before stated) to give the said John a lease of the said parsonage for as long a term as he desired, but prevailed upon him to accept one for five years in the first instance.[1] A commission was according issued, bearing date 28th November, 32 Hen. VIII., 1540, and directed to Sir William Leylond, knight, Sir Alexander Ratcliff, knight, John Atherton, Esq., and Andrew Barton, Esq., to enquire into the rights of the matter.[2] The commission directed them to examine certain witnesses as to whether Richard Kyghley, parson of Wigan, Thomas Langton, knight, Robert Gardyner, William Bradshagh, and Robert Hatton were at Newton on the Tuesday next after the Feast of the Purification, 30 Hen. VIII. (1538), in the house of one Charles Baxter; also whether the said Sir Thomas commanded his tenants or farmers not to sell any manner of "vytayll" to the servants or friends of the said Kyghley; also whether the said Kyghley, his servants, farmers, tenants or friends had menaced or threatened the said Ketchyn or "otherwyse mysused hym with any suche braggery or ungentyll wordes or fascyon that the said Ketchyn durst not come thorowe the said town of Wigan onles he weyre fayne to ryde with a gretter company of men then hys owne servants." But the real object of the enquiry was to ascertain whether the lease to Kytchen had been actually agreed upon or not.
The Inquisition was held at Wigan on the 21st of April, 32 Hen. VIII. (1541);[3] when the following witnesses were examined,
