left for coates of armes. In one he hath put the Levers, with this motto, Olim. In another the Ashtons, with this, Heri. In the next his own, with this, Hodie. In the fourth nothing but this motto, Cras nescio cujus."[1]
In the year 1629 the King issued certain instructions to the archbishop of Canterbury concerning the bishops and the administration of church affairs in general, amongst which it was ordered, "that none of the bishops should reside upon his land or lease that he had purchased, nor on his commendam, if he hold any, but in one of his episcopal houses, if he have any such."[2] This order greatly affected bishop Bridgeman, whose episcopal palace at Chester was at that time unhealthy to live in, and it precluded him from residing either at Wigan or Great Lever, which were both within his diocese. By the intervention of his friend Lord Viscount Wentworth, however, who was at that time all-powerful with the King, he gained a respite, and by letter from Lord Wentworth, dated 24th March, 1629-30, he received an intimation that "His Maty, in contemplac͠on of the good service done him ... by yor Lp., is graciously pleased to dispense with yor Lp's remove to Chester soe as yoe maie securely remaine at Wiggan till some further significac͠on geven yor Lp. therein."[3]
A few days later he received the following letter, dated at Cawood, 30th March, 1630, from the new archbishop of York[4] (Dr. Samuel Harsnet), who was doubtless unaware of the King's verbal dispensation:
"My very good lo:
I much desired to have heard fro. your Lp. before my returne towards London such my ... performance of his Maties royal com̄ands about our catechizing. I remember that I ernestly desired your Lp. to returne
- ↑ Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq., vol. i. p. 179.
- ↑ Collier's Eccl. Hist. (ed. 1841), vol. viii. p. 43.
- ↑ Original letter inter Family Evidences.
- ↑ Ibid. Samuel Harsnet was translated from Norwich to York in 1628, and died 25th March, 1631. The seal of this letter is perfect, on which is his coat of arms, (azure) two bars dancettée ermine, between six cross crosslets, 3, 2 and 1 (or).
