In the meantime the bishop records that on Tuesday the 14th of November, 1620, he rode from Wigan towards Chester, where he had not been since he was made bishop, and there received the proclamation for a parliament to be held at London. His writ was afterwards brought to him summoning him to attend on the 16th of January, next.[1]
The palace had probably not been ready for his residence before, since mention is made in his accounts for this year of sundry repairs being done there. There was also some building going on this year at Wigan Hall, where he made some alterations in the principal chambers, and built a dove cote over the gatehouse.[2]
Bishop Bridgeman's two elder sons, Orlando and Dove, had been at school at Winwick,[3] under Mr. Pickering, till about Midsummer of this year, when the former went up to Cambridge. The bishop remained in residence at Chester till he went up to parliament in London, in January, 1621, where he continued till July, and then returned to Chester.
Whilst he was in London the King presented him to the rectory of Bangor Monachorum, in Flintshire, which he received the King's licence to hold in commendam with his other preferments. He was presented on the 14th of June, 1621, and instituted on the following day by Toby, archbishop of York.[4] He had previously resigned his canonry at Exeter, to which his
- ↑ Wigan Leger, fol. 59.
- ↑ Family evidences.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Family Evidences. There appears to have been some doubt at this time to whom the right of presentation belonged. The patronage of Bangor had originally been in the Princes of Lower Powis, or lords of Maelor, and it was questionable whether the advowson was included in the grant of the land of Malors by King Edward III. to Eubulus le Strange. Dr. Bridgeman was first presented by Sir Richard Trevor of Trevalin, on the 10th of June, 1621, and in order to make it secure this was followed by the King's presentation on the 14th of June, as stated above (Family Evidences). The right of patronage seems to have been challenged by the countess of Derby, with whom the bishop had a law suit, which must have been decided in his favour. This countess will have been Alice, the countess dowager, widow of Ferdinando, 5th earl of Derby, by whom he left three daughters, his co-heirs to the barony of Strange, and she will probably have claimed in right of her jointure.
