On 15th of the same month, Robert Bankes, who had used a horse mill in Scholes to grind malt, closed it on being shewn that it was in prejudice of the parson's suit mill, and now comes to the bishop and asks permission to continue it during the parson's pleasure, and to pay what is reasonable for it. He acknowledges that it was erected by his father in the wrong of the parson about ten years since whiles the burgesses reputed themselves Lords of the manor, but now that the manor is found to be the parson's, and that the burgesses have sworn fealty to the parson, he stands at the devotion of the said parson for the use of his horse mill; and will pay him yearly whiles it stands such rents as the said parsons shall think meet, besides the due or tithe thereof, and forbear to use it when he or they shall forbid him; and for performance hereof he now binds himself, his heirs, executors and assigns in an hundred pounds current English money, to be paid to the said parson or his successors on breaking any of the said promises. This was signed as an agreement by the bishop and Robert Bankes, and witnessed by William Fleetewood, Aug. Wylbore, Ed. Bridgman, Lawrence Prescot and William Seller.[1]
A new terrier of the glebe land was made out this year, which is described as "A perfit Terrier or Survey of all the Demesne Lands of the Rectory of Wigan as it is now in the possession of me, John Bridgeman, bishop of Chester, and parson comendatory of the said Rectory, being surveyed and measured 28th day of September, 1619, by George Bordman, of Wigan aforesaid, both according to the account of Lancashire measure of 24 foot the fall or pole, and according to the account of statute measure of 16 foot and half to the fall or pole."
As this is the only Terrier known to be extant between that date and 1814, I shall here transcribe it in full.
- ↑ Wigan Leger, fol 35. A subsequent memorandum in the year 1622 shews that the rent of this horse mill, or rather the acknowledgment that it is only there on sufferance, was 1s. yearly, besides the toll or tithe which came to 13s. 4d. for three years, being the price of three windles of malt.
