of the court at . . . had let the said William le Procuratur and Nicholas Wade go free, when, by the law and custom of the realm for the observance of the. King's peace, the truth of the matter ought to have been inquired into at the suit of the King, which could not be done by the said bailiffs and burgesses because the principal act was done beyond their jurisdiction. It was decided that the Borough with the liberties contained in the first charter should be taken into the King's hands during the King's pleasure, and the sheriff is ordered to account for the issues thereof. And as to the market and fair which he claims by another charter, and the taking emends of the assize of bread and beer on the market and fair days, the aforesaid Adam should retain them for the present, but because he had punished the transgressors of this assize, after being convicted three or four times, at his discretion, and not judicially, therefore he is at the King's mercy for this. And the suitors of the said court are likewise at the King's mercy for their fault.
The liberties claimed by the Parsons were, however, afterwards restored, on the application of John Byrn, guardian of the land and heiress of Robert Banastre, patron of the said church, on behalf of the said heiress, who said that the predecessors of the aforesaid Master Adam had died in seisin of the said liberties as of the right of the aforesaid church: and that the aforesaid Master Adam had answered by himself, of his own accord, without seeking the help of his patron or the ordinary of the place; the value of the said court being thirty shillings a year.[1]
Master Adam de Walton was still living and Parson of the Church of Wigan in 1299-1300, when it was shown that the course of a certain water in Standish and Hagh had been unjustly diverted by William de Bradeshagh, and Mabill, his wife, to the injury of the said Adam in Wigan.[2] Adam de
