Chap. 1.] GENERAL HISTORY. 19 



Eicliard Chatburne, of Eibchester, in the coiuity aforesaid, son and 

 heir apparent of Henry Chatburne, deceased, were bound to Thomas 

 Hoghton, of Lea, of the county aforesaid. Knight, in 40 pounds. 



" Given 11 Feb., 12th year of EHzabeth. 1570-1." 



" Wilham, of Eibchester, confirmed to Eobert, son of Adam 

 Motion, in free marriage with Alice, my sister, my lieiress, or to their 

 assignees, a certain portion of my land in the vill of Eibchester, viz. : 

 All that I had by gift and feoffment of Eobert, son of Cristian, of 

 Eibchester, lying near Motton hey, which is called Lomedley in length 

 and breadth. Moreover, I gave also to Eobert and Alice, and to their 

 heirs or assignees, one rood of land and seventeen ' SodcfaUs,' Ijang in 

 a certain place which is called Turnleij, in the aforesaid vill of Eib- 

 chester, between the land of Saint Saviour and the ines-icgate, which is 

 called Turnley Gate, and between the land of William, son of Adam, 

 son of Elias, in length and in breadth. 



" Without date, or names, or witnesses." 



"In the 32nd of Eliz. (1591), the Manor of Hodersall was held 

 by Thomas Houghton." 



"In the 38th of Eliz. (1597), Thomas Houghton also held the 

 Manor of Dil worth." 



Summarising the above charters, etc., we find that the Hothersalls 

 of Hothersall Hall were for a long period Lords of the Manor ; their 

 successors were the Singletons, then the De Houghtons, then the 

 Stratberrells, then the Leckonbys, and, the present ones, the Cross's. 

 The Eadoliffes, the Cottams, the Earls of Derby, the Nelsons, were 

 also large landed proprietors. 



In Croston's "History of the Ancient Hall of Samlesbury" some 

 interesting extracts from the Court Eolls are given, from which I take 

 the following, as they throw a vivid light upon the social life of the 

 people of this part of Lancashire in the sixteenth century : — 

 Orders. Item. It is ordered in this Court that every person who sufFereth any 

 gammynge (gambling) within his house or farm hold shall for every such offences 

 forfeits and pay 3s. 4d. 



Item. It is also ordered that no person or persons within tlie Township shall recet 

 (receive) or maynteyn any women of light conversation either of body or fame upon 

 pains to forfeit for every week so offending xnd. 



