ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



Assheton, Laurence Ireland, William Kenion, John Bradill, Laurence Raustorne, Richard Grenacres, 

 Laurence Lees. 



Undated commission (? between 28 May and 3 June, 1552); Duchy records. Commission 

 Book, vol. 96, p. 59. — Commission to enquire of lands, &c., stocks of kine, sheep, money, &c., 

 which ought to have come to the king but are concealed or embezzled in cos. Lanes, and 

 Stafford. Commissioners' names : Richard Woodward, Leonard Stephenson, Christopher 

 Butler, John Smith junr., William Radclif, Marck Worsly. 



Undated commission for the survey of church goods (? between 29 June and 24 November, 

 1552) ; Duchy records, Commission Book, vol. 96, p. 56. — 'To the earl of Derby, Sir Thomas 

 Stanley, Lord Mounteagle, Sir Thomas Gerrard, Sir Edmunde Trayforde, Sir John Atherton, Sir 

 Thomas Holte, Sir Richard Houghton, Sir Marmaduke Tunstall, Sir John Holcrofte, Thomas Carus 

 vice-chancellor of the co. Palatine of Lanes., George Browne, the General Attorney there, 

 Thomes Butler, Rauf Assheton, John Preston, Thomas Barton, John Grymediche, Hugh Anderton, 

 John Wrightington, John Bradell, and the mayor and bailiff of the towns of Wigan, Liverpool, 

 Lancaster and Preston. We have at sundry times heretofore by our special commission and other- 

 wise commanded a survey of all manner goods, plate, jewels, vestments, bells and ornaments within 

 every parish belonging to any church, chapel, brotherhood, guild or fraternity within England, and 

 thereupon surveys were made and inventories taken of which one copy remains with the Gustos 

 Rotulorum, the other with the churchwardens concerned ; yet we are informed that some part of 

 the said goods are embezzled or removed.' This enquiry is ordered for the county of Lancaster, and 

 applies to parish churches as well as chapels. See also Strype, Eccl. Mem. ii, 208. 



24 November, 1552; Duchy records. Commission Book, vol. 96, p. 56. — Commission to 

 enquire of the possessions of two (chantry) priests one in Brindle, the other in Chorley. Directed to 

 William Charnock, John Charnock, Roger Charnock and Edward Houghton. 



28 November, 1552; ibid. 57-8. — Commission to inquire of chantry lands, stocks of kine, 

 &c. in CO. Lanes, and forest of Bowland. Directed to Francis Frobisher, Thomas Carus, 

 Rauf Greenacres, Edmund Assheton, Richard Breche, John Bradell, John Rigmayden, senr., William 

 Kenear [Kenyon], William Mallet, Robert Shawe. The preamble recites the commission of 

 20 November, 1550 (a/ ja^ra), and says that the commissioners therein had made certificates thereupon 

 of more lands, bells, chalices, plate, jewels, stocks of kine, money, &c., not previously certified, and 

 that some of said commissioners inform that there yet remain more such like still uncertified. Ibid, 

 p. 67 (undated, but of same date doubtless) — An injunction to every body possessing such things as 

 above to deliver them to the said abovesaid commissioners. 



10 November, 1552 ; ibid. 59—60. — Commission to inquire of chantry lands, &c. Directed 

 to Sir Thomas Gerrard, Sir Richard Shirburne, Thomas Carus, Randall Manwering, Edmond 

 TraiFord, Milles Gerrard, Francis Bolde, John Norbery and John Cowper. Recites the commission 

 ut supra (between 28 May and 8 June) on which the commissioners therein had made certificate 

 before Michaelmas last returning divers lands, bells, chalices, plate, 'joyelles,' stocks of kine, money, 

 ornaments, &c. previously omitted and uncertified, and that more remain uncertified by reason that 

 they had not time for full inquiry ; therefore the said further inquiry is to be now made. ' And you 

 are to take the said things into your possession and deliver them to Edward Parker to the King's use, 

 but leaving one chalice or cup and one bell in each chapel of ease for the performance of divine 

 service.' Ibid. p. 60, 12 December, 1552. — Command to everybody possessing chalices, bells, etc. 

 to deliver them to the abovesaid commissioners. 



7 May, 1553 ; ibid. 71. — A letter from the king about the lands given to a stipendiary priest 

 in * Rufforth ' chapel. 



2 March, 1552-3; ibid. 71. — Commission to inquire as to a chantry in Prestwich church 

 called Walworth chantry informed about by Sir Thomas Holte, to which information Trustram 

 Howlyng has made answer. Directed to Thomas Holte, William Mallet, Nicholas Savell and 

 Robert Waterhowse. 



20 June, 1553; ibid. 72-4. — Commission for the survey of chantry lands, tenements, 

 stocks of kine &c. in co. Lanes, and Yorks. Directed to John Arscott the king's surveyor, 

 Thomas Carus, Francis Samwell, Hugh Seyvell, Edmond Asshton, William Mallet, Rycherd 

 RatclyiF, William Kenyon, and Robert Shaw.' The preamble recites a commission, which has not 

 survived, to Thomas Carus, William Mallet, Edmond Asshton, John Rigmayden, William Kenyon, 

 and Robert Shaw to inquire as above ; to which they had made due return by certificate not only 

 of lands, &c. hitherto omitted, but also of unanswered improvements of the king's waste, but did not 

 make a perfect execution of said commission for want of convenient time. * You are therefore to 

 enquire of the above and receive them into your possession and to make sale of all copes, vestments, 

 or ornaments mentioned in said commissioners' schedule to the king's use and to deliver the proceeds 

 thereof and the remains of said goods, cattells, jewels, chalices, plate, bells, ornaments &c. to John 

 Bradyll ; leaving one chalice or cup and one bell in every chapel of ease. 



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