Crosby Records :
A CHAPTER OF LANCASHIRE RECUSANCY.

CONTAINING A RELATION OF
TROUBLES AND PERSECUTIONS SUSTAINED BY WILLIAM BLUNDELL,
OF CROSBY HALL, LANCASHIRE, ESQ. (1560-1638),
AND AN ACCOUNT OF
AN ANCIENT BURIAL GROUND FOR RECUSANTS, CALLED THE
HARKIRKE, AND OF COINS DISCOVERED THERE.

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE LATE
RIGHT REV. ALEXANDER GOSS, D.D.

EDITED BY THE
REV. THOMAS ELLISON GIBSON,
Author of "Lydiate Hall and its Associations."

PRINTED FOR THE CHETHAM SOCIETY.
1887.

[Volume 12 - New Series]

CONTENTS

 
PAGE
PREFACE
v
INTRODUCTION By the late Rt. Rev. Alexander Goss, D.D.
i
CHAPTER I.
Crosby Hall searched by the Earl of Derby.—William Blundell, his fatherRichard and a Seminary Priest conveyed prisoners to New Park-Examined by the Earl of Derby.—-Sent to Chester Castle.—Brought back to Knowsley.Examined by the Bishop of Chester.—Imprisoned at Lancaster Castle.—His father dies in gaol.—Released by the Earl of Derby.—Apprehended by Nutter, parson of Sefton.—-Examined anew.—Sent to London and taken before the Archbishop of Canterbury.—Adjudged to Gatehouse prison.Released on bonds.—House searched by Sir Richard Molyneux and Parson Nutter.—Escapes by flight, but his wife with other recusant women carriedprisoners to Chester Castle.—Proclaimed an outlaw.—A fugitive till the Queen's death.—Procures "a free pardon from King James.—A doleful ditty," composed by him on Nutter's persecution.—A cry for relief.—-Past and present.—The names of those who begged his lands for recusancy.—Proceedings against his bondsman.—Attempted distraint.— Villagers indicted for riot and rescue.—Curious petition of a Crosby recusant.
21
CHAPTER II
Inquisition at Wigan.—Mr. Blundell heavily fined.—Takes measures against distraint.—Unexpected visit of Sheriff's officers.—Cattle secured.—Disappointment of bailiffs and scuffle.—Summoned by Sir Ralph Ashton before Star Chamber.—Visit of Undersheriff with Mr. More and a company of 20 to distrain.—An old woman attacked and hurt.—Seizure of 35 beasts and two horses.—Attempted rescue by the villagers.—Value of goods carried off.Twenty-nine swine taken.—Tries in vain to repurchase his cattle.—Had lent King James 20 marks, which were never repaid.—Double subsidies.—Charge of finding a light horse.—Fined by Star Chamber £62,000 for supposed riot,and making a burial ground for recusants.—Other villagers fined.—Margaret Blundell's narrative.—Letters of William Blundell the Cavalier.
35
CHAPTER III Catholic Recusants refused burial at their parish church.—Mr. Blundell encloses a piece of ground for the burial of such at a place called Harkirke.The first burial 7th April, 1611.—Discovery of Coins next day.—Mr. Blundell has 35 engraved in copper (SEE FRONTISPIECE: Mr. Blundell's account ofthe Coins.—Modern description by the late Rev. D. H. Haigh of Erdington.
45
HARKIRKE BURIAL REGISTER
69
APPENDIX Crown Rents and Compositions for Recusancy remaining on the Crosby estate, and charged to William Blundell the "Cavalier" on its repurchase in 1653.
89
ILLUSTRATIONS.  
Copper-plate engraving of Coins (1613)
Frontispiece
Ancient wayside Cross at the Harkirke
68.

 
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