right, or else to cause John Whittle, now miller at pepper mill, to enter into the Bridge mill in his (the bishop's) right, and thereto to grind and to take toll or mulchture for him and to his use. The bishop kept the mill in his possession for a few weeks, from the 29th of March to the 20th of April, 1630, on which day his steward, George Ireland, Esq., kept his court leet in the Moot hall, and whilst the bishop was sitting there, Alice Letherbarrow came and acknowledged her offence in open court, and fully disclaimed all right, title, claim, and interest to and in the said Bridge mill, and the said barn, and mill-hill; upon which the bishop forgave her, and promised to accept her on the morrow as tenant-at-will, during his good pleasure only, while she behaves herself well and dutifully. He takes the mill hill and barn into his own possession to be disposed of as he shall see cause. As for the rent of the mill he will consider of it, but he will take no fine or consideration for suffering her to enjoy or possess it.
All this was duly recorded in the bishop's Wigan Leger on the following day, and signed by the jurors, viz.: James Scott, William fford, Robert Baldwene, James Mather, Gilberd Ashton, Myles Barow, Michell fford, Roger Winstanley, William Gardner, Edward Sumner, John Scot, William Jervis, Alexander fforth, John Rigbye. On the same day, 21st April, the bishop rode down to the mill, where Alice Letherbarrow and her little son and miller all delivered him possession, they going out and giving up the key, which he took, and entering in alone took possession thereof to his own use: and after coming out again he gave her the key and bade her use the mill till he gave other directions, or till his successors otherwise pleased. The arrears of rent, which he had refused to take till after her submission, were partly given to him on Whitsun Monday, and the remainder brought to Chester in the following July, 1630.[1]
I know not how much longer the Letherbarrows continued to hold the Bridge corn mill, but from what follows it is probable that Mrs. Letherbarrow retired soon afterwards in favour
- ↑ Wigan Leger, fol. 145, 147.
