Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/186

Molyneux of Hawkley, Rauffe Houghton of Kirckeleys, all in the parish of Wigan, were "comers to church, but no communicants, and their wives very little better than recusants." Only Robert Hyndley of Hyndley, Roger Bradshaw of Aspull, John Byllinge of Byllinge, and Will. Ashurst of Ashurst, among the parishioners of Wigan are described as being "soundly affected in religion." While it is said that all the ladies, widows and gentlewomen whose names are given, among whom are Annie Langton, wife of Thomas Langton, baron of Newton, and Johane Lethwet of Pemberton in Wigan parish, are recusants.

Fleetwood's intolerance of the religious views of others will have doubtless made him many enemies. On one occasion the following abusive letter, written by some seminary priest or popish recusant, was thrown into his seat in church:—

"I.H.S. — Edward Fletewood, parson of Wigane I heaire of yo^r Invious Hereticall words againste our Feathe that I canot stay my pen from writing unto youe to commaunde you to leaffe blasfeminge againste thees our Catholike Feath or eles yo^w will drink of Joudas sope, moreover if yor hereticall mind will not be stayed againste or Feathe I most nide a counte yo^w woorse then the Rovinge Souldeerse that Persequted Christe for they would stint vntell the had Christ for to persequt him therfore I most nyde acount yo^w one of those becauc yo^u will never stintt vntell that you hav persequted the poore Catholick. And Againe it is very on naturall a speretuall māe so to forswere him self^[1] in so indetinge so many of yo^r town wiche ar as good Goers to the Churche as you ar therfore I most nide Acount yo^u worse then Jou or turke or Infideile. I worse then A doupe thinge In so For swer Ringe yor selfe, I if tyme and plase did so Requer I could so proff it therfor Reste w^th this and be contented and I will writt vnto yo^u her After. G.C." Indorsed : "L're intercepted Pap."

This letter is preserved in the Harleian MSS.,^[2] and entitled "A strange libel thrown into the pew of the Rev. Edward Fleetwood, parson of Wigan, about 1596." From the marginal

1. Against this is written, in the margin, "I was not sworn."
2. Harl. MSS. Codex 286, as quoted by Baines, Hist, Lanc., vol. iii. p. 543.