62 A HISTORY OF LONGRIDGE. [Chap. 2. 



June 9, 1701. — Tliomas Felgate. 



Aug. 31, 1730.— Eicliard Dixon. 



Sep. 23, 1743.— Jotn Sharpe. 



April 10, 1780.— Eobert Parkinson. 



Mar. 28, 1829.— George Parkin. 



July 20, 1831.— Frederick Maude, M. A. 



Oct. 10, 1843.— Edward Pigot, B.A. 



Aug. 16, 1857.— WiUiani diaries Bache, M.A. 



April 3, 1877. — Fitzherbert Astley Cave-Browne-Cave, M.A. 



SIB, EOBERT cbTTOM — A.D. 1554 (?). 



From the deposition of William Hothersall, (made before the 

 Bishop of Chester in 1556), the probable Lord of the Manor, " Sir 

 Eobert Cotome, priest of Longridge, in Eibchester," is said to have 

 "long placj'd the blissed housel, beyng the ghostl3-e bodye of our 

 Lord Christ for the cleanseyng, on the holly altar in Langrig Chapel, 

 and had formerly mynistered to the Pryest. He was able to read the 

 gospeU and mynister divine oliyces, although a Decon only, nor could 

 he be Prested untyl Alhallowtide. He was grave and chaste, could 

 play on the musiques, and was no typler nor dyce man." — " Lane 

 MSS., vol. sxii." 



From which interesting account we gather that. Sir Eobert Cottom 

 had been Curate to the former priest, and that he had been temporarily 

 taking charge of the Church. His character was very good, and 

 contrasts favourably with that of the late Curate of Preston Parish 

 Church, Sir Wm. "Wall, who is described by his Vicar in 1574, as so 

 accustomed to "geve ye Sacrament into their mouthes that they will 

 not take it to ye handes ; hee wj-nketh att them that have their childre 

 chrystend at their hands of ould prestes in houses ; hee causeth bells 

 to be ronge for soulls when I am preaching the gospell, and alsoe 

 cometh boldlye to mee and byd mee come downe ; he never wold saye 

 the evening prayer on Saterdayes, but onlye Eynge to mocke God and 

 the people ; he marrieth copies together, with many other abuses long 

 to reherse." — " Lane. MSS., vol. xxii." 



I have not been able to obtain any additional information about 

 Sir Eobert Cottom. 



