This tax upon the clergy of Cheshire was levied by Sir Thomas Aston, high sheriff, and the gentry of the county, who by their letters desired the bishop to apportion to each of the ministers what they should pay towards it. The bishop accordingly summoned the clergy in each deanery to meet in their several deaneries and choose two ministers in each deanery to be with the bishop at his house at Lever, authorized by them to apportion the sum which each minister should pay; which they did, and sent, for Chester deanery Dr. Snell [rector of Waverton] and Dr. Byrom [rector of Thornton]; for ffradsam deanery Mr. Ofely [vicar of Weaverham] and Mr. Burrows [vicar of Runcorn]; for Worel Mr. W. Edwards [rector of Heswall and rector of St. Mary's, Chester] and Mr. Glover [rector of West Kirby]; for Nantwich Mr. Fowler [rector of Barthomley] and Mr. Saring [vicar of Nantwich]; for Middlewich Mr. Hallily [vicar of Middlewich] and .....; for Malpas Mr. Thomas Bridge [rector of Malpas superior] and Mr. Essex Clark [rector of Tilston]; for Maxfield Mr. Shipton [rector of Alderley] and Mr. Joynson [vicar of Prestbury]; all which appeared at Lever and agreed upon the payment of an entire subsidy for the clergy of that shire; but because that sum fell short of £200, they assessed some lecturers and curates, and because divers clergymen were highly rated in the King's books, and others very little and had paid no subsidies before, as Great Budworth, &c., therefore they, to ease some, enhanced others in a few particulars. The money was collected by Dr. Snell and Dr. Byrom, the collectors chosen by the clergy. And as the amount collected was more than the sum they were assessed at, the superfluous sum of £3 0s. 8d. was returned to the bishop in February, 1635-6, who sent the same to Dr. Byrom and Dr. Snell to be restored to the poorer ministers who had been most heavily charged. These two, with the bishop's consent, convened the other chosen ministers of each deanery to meet at Chester Palace on Thursday, 10th March, 1635[6], to see it distributed; but they referred it to the synod at which all the ministers were to meet at Chester, 26th April,
