rights. The rents of the manor this year amounted to £33 17s. 3d., and the whole year's profits of the benefice were £615 14s. 11d.[1]
The King had promised his chaplain to nominate him to a bishopric when a vacancy should occur; and he first promised him the bishopric of Chichester which was then about to be vacated, but in the meanwhile the see of Chester became void by the translation of bishop Thomas Morton to the diocese of Lichfield, in which he was confirmed on 6th March, 1618-19. Dr. Bridgeman was thereupon nominated to the see of Chester, with a commendam to retain the rectory of Wigan. The Congé d' elire was issued 8th March.[2] He was elected by the dean and chapter 15th March,[3] confirmed bishop in St. Benet's church near Paul's Wharf, London, on 7th May,[4] and consecrated at Lambeth by George (Abbot), archbishop of Canterbury, John (King), bishop of London, John (Buckeridge), bishop of Rochester, Thomas (Morton), bishop of Lichfield, and Arthur (Lake), bishop of Bath and Wells,[5] on Sunday, 9th May, 1619, together with Dr. John Howson, bishop of Oxford, and Dr. Rowland Serchfield, bishop of Bristol.[6]
The expense of being made a bishop was no light matter in those days. The payments in connection with it came, in his case, to nearly £500, as appears by his accounts of that year; namely, for "Gloves which I then gave, £100; dinner and fees, £100; fees of homage for baronry, £60; fees of consecration at Lambeth and York with confirmation, &c., £52; fine to the King upon comendâ £40; fees, £7; restitution to temporalities, £14; fees of the congé d'elire & Royal Assent, £28; besides travelling charges from London to York and Chester several times & other fees of expedition, £90. As the bishopric of Chester was of no great value for so high a charge, being not more than £420 per annum,
