the Apostles Simon and Jude, the same gentlemen, with Thomas Hyton and Richard Stanley, and others to the number of 200, armed with warlike weapons, came to Wigan, and there divided themselves into companies to the "grette fere, trouble, and disturbance" of the King's subjects in Wigan; whereupon the Mayor, accompanied by the bailiffs, sergeants, and officers went to the said gentlemen, showed them the King's Charter relating to such unlawful riots, and commanded them to disperse under a penalty of £100; to which command they paid no attention whatever. The Mayor therefore departed, and on his departure Gilbert Asheton exclaimed, "Yf the Meyre come agayne here to give any more commandments he shall have hys hede full of buffetes;" after which, calling all their company together, they went to the church to mass, and from thence to the house of James Hyde, and notwithstanding that the Mayor caused a proclamation to be made at the Market Cross of the said town, they continued the said riot, and went from house to house "facyng and braggyng" from 9 o'clock in the morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
"The names of the riotous persons whiche came to Wigan upon the Sonday next afore the fest of the Apostles Simon and Jude."
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Wm. Gerarde, gent. |
John Herte. |
