Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/66

commissioners ordered to meet at Newcastle-on-Tyne to treat for peace with Scotland.^[1] In July, 1352, the Dean and Chapter of York sent him to the King to announce the death of Archbishop Zouche, and to obtain his license to elect the Archbishop's successor.^[2] In the next year we find him successfully claiming his privilege of holding assizes of his tenants in his own courts. An assize came together at Preston, before the Superior Court of the Duke of Lancaster, to try whether Hugh Aleghan of Hyndelegh, and John, his brother, had unjustly disseised Robert, son of Richard de Ines, of his free tenement in Wigan, namely, of two messuages and six acres of land, with the appurtenances, and the said Hugh and John appeared to defend themselves, but the bailiffs of the liberty of the Parson of Wigan appeared and demanded to hear and determine the suit in the Parson's own Court, and the claim was accordingly allowed.^[3] On 2nd April, 1357, and again on 30th January, 1358, being then Treasurer of York, John de Winwick was sent to parliament as one of the representatives of the Chapter.^[4] In the same year we find him lodging a complaint in the Duchy Court against certain malefactors for resisting his bailiffs in the performance of their duties within his manor of Wigan; and the Duke issued his mandate to the Sheriff to investigate the charges,^[5] It would seem that John de Winwick resigned the Rectory of Wigan in July of the following year, for his successor was presented on the 10th July, 1359. Before his resignation he had procured from the Crown and Duchy the restoration of the patronage of Wigan church to the Langtons. By letters of the Privy Seal, issued on behalf of Sir Robert de Langton, knight, and John de Winwick, parson of the church of Wigan, bearing date on 18th May of that year, it appears that the King having granted to Sir Robert de Langton, knight, and his heirs, the advowson of the church of Wigan,

1. Rymer's Fœd. , vol. iii. p. 225.
2. Lancashire Chantries, by Rev. F. R. Raines, vol. i. p. 94 (Chetham Tract lix).
3. Assize Rolls, Lanc., 27 Edw. III., M. 3, 4,} 5.
4. Lancashire Chantries, by Rev. F. R. Raines, vol. i. p. 94.
5. Baines' Hist. Lanc., vol. I p. 347.