A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



been free with the partial exception that at Liverpool the ""J^"^[^ °f 

 St. Katherine was allowed ' to take his advantage ' of scholars saving those 

 'that beryth the name of Crosse and poore children.' At Manchester 

 (St. Tames' chantry), Liverpool, and Warrington the foundation included an 

 annual distribution of alms to the poor, and in the last case to the ministers 

 of the church The chantry priests at Blackburn and Standish were expressly 

 bound to assist in the services of the church.'" Edward Stanley, first Lord 

 Monteagle (fifth son of the first earl of Derby), to commemorate his success 

 at Flodden left an endowment for a hospital at Hornby for two priests, one 

 clerk, five bedemen, and a schoolmaster, but his intentions were never carried 

 out. ' Better fortune attended an almshouse for a chaplain and eight bedemen 

 founded at Lathom by the second earl of Derby in 1500. A number of the 

 older churches and chapels were restored or rebuilt in this period. 



The state of the clergy remained much as before. Perhaps the evils of 

 family Hvings and political influence may have become a little more accen- 

 tuated, but the beginning of the century does not form a real dividing line. 

 Stanleys, and in a less degree Molyneux and Halsalls, continued to be thrust 

 into the richest benefices without much regard to their fitness. James Stanley 

 (younger brother of Lord Monteagle), whose easy morals were afterwards 

 made the most of by Protestant critics, did not resign the wardenship of 

 Manchester until he had been bishop of Ely for four years, and he held Win- 

 wick down to his death. He is not unfairly described by his nephew, the 

 bishop of Sodor and Man, in his rhyming history of their house, as a man 



who 



If he had been noe prieste had bene worthier praise. 



Edward Molyneux, who in 1509 succeeded his uncle James, archdeacon of 

 Richmond, as rector of Sefton, held the rectory of Ashton-under-Lyne and 

 the vicarage of Leyland, and in 1528 was admitted rector of Walton on his 

 undertaking to pay the late rector, who had resigned in his favour, >r8o a 

 year 'as long as he should be employed in worldly affairs.'"' William Wall, 

 probably the son of a law-agent of the second earl of Derby, died in i 5 1 1 

 rector of Eccleston in Lancashire and Davenham'" in Cheshire. Pluralities 

 and non-residence had, indeed, taken such deep root that even the best men 

 of the time saw no harm in them ; the famous physician and scholar Linacre 

 had no scruples in holding the rich rectory of Wigan (1519—24), though he 

 never resided. As for the chantry priests, there is little evidence as to 

 character, but the commissioners of 1546 could report that in almost every 

 case the duties prescribed by the founders were performed ; and if the priest 

 at Goosnargh ' did use to celebrate at his pleasure,' the reason probably was 

 that in this case no foundation ordinance could be produced."''* 



There was much that urgently called for reform, but it is pretty clear 

 that the drastic changes introduced by Henry VIII were regarded with no 

 real sympathy in Lancashire, except among the few who hoped to share in 

 the spoils of the monasteries, and that on the contrary they provoked a large 

 amount of more or less active hostility, especially in the northern parts of the 



•" At Blackburn ' he was to maintain one side of the choir every holy day.' It may be noticed here 

 that Chetham's cantanst at the altar of St. George in Manchester church had to celebrate mass daily ' at six 

 of the cloke in the momynge ' and to be a member of the gild of St. George. 



"' Lanes. Ccan/. 112-1^. "' Ibid. 178-9. ' "* Ibid 243 



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