letter —"J. S. * de Burscough, * Armig. * et * E. * vr. me fecerunt in honoris Trinitatis. * R.B. 1497." That is, "J. S. of Burscough, Esq., and E. his wife, made me in honour of the Trinity." Where each asterisk is marked are the rose, portcullis, and fleur-de-lis. The Lancashire rose and the portcullis (borne by the Countess of Richmond and Derby, as a daughter of the Duke of Somerset) were favourite badges of Henry VII., who, besides the fleur-de-lis of France, being usually quartered at that time in the royal arms of England, had some claim to that bearing as the grandson of Sir Owen Tudor and Catherine of France, relict of Henry V. Henry VII. visited the neighbourhood, at Lathom House, the year before this bell was cast; and hence it was probably presented to the Priory in honour of his visit.
RHODES AND PILKINGTON.
In Watson's MSS. the following traditionary story relating to the estate called Rhodes, in the manor of Pilkington, is preserved:—"Rhodes of Rhodes, having his estate, and it being land of inheritance, and lying within the manor of Pilkington, then belonging to Sir John [? Sir Thomas] Pilkington, the knight, desirous of purchasing the estate, applied to Rhodes; but he, being unwilling to part with it, refused to sell. The estate is of considerable length, and is bounded by the river Irwell for more than a mile, and at the extremity of the land stood a cowhouse, of which Rhodes made use as a shelter for young cattle during winter, but at other times it was disused. Into this building, it is said. Sir John ordered some of his own cattle to be put, and locked them up
