referring to an order received from the Committee at Goldsmiths' Hall, of 15 May then last, and stating that they had taken certain examinations, which were transmitted to London, with the communication and other references to the proceedings of the Lancashire Committee in the case in 1647.

fo. 397. Order to refer to the Commissioners for Sequestrations for Lancashire; they to examine and report, 15 May, 1651.

fo. 399. Deposition of Edward Doughty, of Adlington, shereman, who said that Hugh Adlington, of Adlington, gent., about twenty-four years then preceding left his own house and went to London, where for the most part then since he had resided, and that when Hugh Adlington left the country he, having some confidence in deponent, put into his hands and custody the writings which related to his estate in Lancashire and entrusted him with the management of some part thereof, and other some part was left in the hands of one Mrs. Brown to be by her managed and improved for payment of some debts and "educacons" and maintenance of the younger children. He deposed that he never knew that John, son and heir of petitioner, was ever possessed of any of the said lands or premises, nor had he anything to do with the houses, lands, &c., belonging to his said father, nor any other maintenance out of the same during his life "but onely as a tabler there," and further deposed that the said John, going into the King's Garrison at Chester, married there, and afterwards "this deponent hath heard and verily believeth it to be true that the said John Adlington was slayne with a cannon bullett when the city of Chester was beleagured wth the Parliamt forces."

fo. 400. Communication from Lancashire Committee dated at Wigan, 22 April, 1647, mentioning, among other things, that they conceived the agents should not intermeddle more, &c. Signed by John Moore, Alex. Rigby, G. Ireland.

fo. 402. Petition accompanying the additional proofs ordered.

Memorandum on this paper, II August, 1652, "Mr. Reading to add this proofe to ye former Report and to state ye whole. In ye meantyme ye petr to enioye rents for a month if he produce any proved order to ye Register for suspendinge så rents."

(First Series, Vol. c., No. 4,024, fols. 356, &c.)

fo. 363. Letter dated at Preston, 10 July, 1651, signed by Peter Holt, Robt. Cunliffe, and G. Pigot, mentioning that having received an order of the 15 May then last, made upon the petition of the above, in observance thereof they had taken the examination enclosed, and certified that among the records of the then late Committee they found that by an order from some of them, dated 22 April, 1647, the estate of petitioner had been seized for the delinquency of John, his son, and they, finding he had no estate in it, discharged it.

fo. 361. Examination taken at Preston, May 28th, 1650, of Edward Doughty, of Adlington, "sherman" (see p. 16).

fo. 362. Order dated at Wigan, 22 April, 1647, signed by John Moore, Alex. Rigby, and G. Ireland, members of the Committee, ordering the discharge of the sequestration, directing the agents to pay to petitioner any money received of his tenants to him, but not any money then passed unto the Treasurer for the State from the profits of his estate.

fo. 367. Letter dated at Manchester, 7 May, 1652, signed by Edw. Aspinwall and G. Pigot (see p. 14).

fo. 356. Examination of William Hurst, of Adlington, nailor, taken at Preston, 30 April, 1652 (see p. 14).

For William Alcock see James Stanley, Earl of Derby.

с

Mr. Isaac Allen, Parson, of Prestwich.1

(First Series, Vol. xcviii., No. 3,845, fols. 331, &c.)

Touching his Delinquency.

fo. 331. Depositions taken at Manchester the 2nd of April, 1645, before Colonel John Bradshaw and Colonel Thomas Birch, two of the Committee for sequestrations within the county of Lancaster.

Richard Ogden, of Prestwich, sworn, said he had been a constant hearer of the said parson since the then present differences of the times began till about a year and a half then ago, during which time he did not hear him in the public congregation labour or endeavour to satisfy his people to whether party to cleave in the said differences; and he further said that the said parson, in private, had several times dissuaded deponent from bearing arms, and told him that his duty was to follow his calling, and if the enemy should come and plunder to sit down and suffer and not resist, or to that effect. He likewise said that the said parson told him about a year and a half then ago that if the Parliament got the better of it, it were as "Jacob got the blessing from Esau."

Ester Wilson, of Prestwich, widow, sworn, said that she had not heard Mr. Allen at any time publicly endeavour to satisfy his people touching the then present differences betwixt King and Parliament, although she had been a constant hearer of his for a year together since those times began; and she further said, upon the occasion of Colonel Holland training of his soldiers at Heaton for the service of the King and Parliament, deponent went to Mr. Allen to borrow a musket for that time for her man to train with (her own musket being then in Manchester); whereupon Mr. Allen asked her how she durst take up arms against

1 For a note on Mr. Allen see Mr. Shaw's Minutes of the Manchester Presbyterian Classis (Chetham Society's Publications, New Series, vol. 24), pp. 402-5.

the King, and used many arguments to dissuade her from the same. One was that he accounted the King his father and the Parliament his mother, and if these fell to contention he ought not to strive to take part against either, but to be grieved for it and labour a conciliation. And she likewise said that, at another time, a neighbour in her presence asking the said Mr. Allen why he did not instruct his parishioners what to do1 that way Parliament had enjoined, he declared himself to be of opinion that it was absolutely unlawful, and that he conceived Manchester did not do well in opposing the Earl of Derby, and that there was but one supreme head, who was the King, and what he commanded we should either obey or suffer. Being told by deponent that the King had called a Parliament, he replied that the Parliament was no Parliament without the King; and being further told by deponent that the law was above the King, he answered, No; the King is the law. And deponent telling Mr. Allen that he was accused for finding a horse and hiring a man for the service of the Earl of Derby, he denied it, and his wife said they had done nothing but sent their arms2 to his assistance; and Mr. Allen said he had done no more, save that he had paid £4 on account.

Richard Barlow, of Prestwich, deposed to the like effect. Peter Seddon, of Pilkington, among other things, deposed that when Mr. Allen was reading over the vow and covenant, when he came to the clause "And whereas I do in my conscience believe that the forces raised by the two houses of Parliament are raised for their just defence, &c." he said, he did not in his conscience believe it to be true that their rising was just, or to that effect.

James Wroe, of Heaton, sworn, said that upon Thursday, 3 August, 1643, deponent then being churchwarden went to Mr. Allen to speak with him concerning the vow and covenant that was to be taken, and asked him what he

1 Part cut away.

Meaning the arms they had in the house, for the annual training of the man or men he was obliged to send every year.

thought by it and whether he would publish it, to which the parson answered he would neither take it or publish it, "for," said he, "I take it to be against the oath of allegiance;" and thereupon he alleged one clause in the oath "I will bear faith and true allegiance to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever." The said parson said this covenant was an attempt (as he thought) against his Majesty, and therefore he could not take it. Then deponent went to Peter Seddon and tould him what he had done, and asked him to go to the said Mr. Allen, and accordingly he and Peter Seddon went on the Saturday following to the said parson and asked him would he publish the said vow and covenant. The parson answered he could not publish that which he himself could not take, for he said he thought it was against the oath of supremacy and allegiance. And thereupon the parson fetched a book and read that part of the oath before alleged; yet, nevertheless, the Sabbath Day after the said Mr. Allen did publish it in church, and then declared publicly to the congregation that for his part he could not take it, and he said this further, that he would not have his example to hinder others from taking it, neither would he have any one to take it because others had.

fo. 335. Examinations taken at Manchester, before Colonel Stanley, Colonel Holland, and Mr. Butterworth and Thomas Fell, Esqrs., touching Mr. Allen (January 21st, 1644[-5]).

Bartholomew Stones, sworn, said that a little before the coming of the Earl of Derby against Manchester, Henry Man, alias Clarke (servant to Mr. Travis, parson of Bury), came to Mr. Allen to demand of him allowance towards the finding of a horse towards His Majesty's service, which was to be found by those two parsons, whereupon the said Mr. Allen gave him four pounds. But withal bade him take heed what he did therein and see that he was legally called, for that he had been informed that the clergy ought to be exempted from the service by the Commission of Array.