Barrow, late mayor of Wigan, plaintiff, and Bridgeman and others, defendants. Barrow had for his counsel Serjeant Richardson, Recorder Finch, Sir Thomas Ireland, and Mr. Downes,[1] and his principal witness was Peter Marsh, the then mayor; but he was cast in the action, which was given in favour of the defendants; and Barrow afterwards refused to try another action on the following Tuesday, in the same court, which he had brought against Mr. Blundell for battery, in that he had pulled off his hat: Whereupon Lord Hubbart advised him to go home and submit himself to his lord the bishop and the other justices, and to desire their pardon and favour, and he advised him to do it openly before all the people; and to this end he and Peter Marsh obtained a letter from the Lord Hubbart to the bishop, which letter Peter Marsh delivered to him (the bishop) in Wigan church upon Saturday, the 9th of June, being Whitsun eve, in the presence of many of the town and parish, and desired his favour, protesting for his part that the suit was begun and prosecuted by Barrow utterly against his liking, and that henceforth he would be dutiful and serviceable to the bishop. Upon Friday, the 21st of June, Robert Barrow also came, with his son Hugh, to Wigan Hall, and in the presence of Edward Bridgeman and William Browne made acknowledgment of his fault, and desired the bishop's favour, saying that he wished he had gone a thousand miles on foot so as he had never offended him, nor had any suit with him, but seeing that it was now past he entreated his forgiveness, and besought him to shew him favour, as he had formerly done, which he would labour to deserve.[2] It was urged much at the trial at Guildhall that the bishop had threatened that he would lay the mayor by the heels (the exact truth of which he denied); but the Lord Hubbart told them that if the mayor deserved it he might do it, for even the mayor of London was under authority, and greater men had been ommitted.
