LANCASHIRE RECUSANTS ABOUT 1630 Communicated by J, Brownkill, M.A.
/TA HE following list of the recusant landowners JL of Lancashire who compounded with the Crown for the two-thirds of their estates which might legally be sequestrated for their refusal to conform to the established religion, is taken from John Lucas's MS. " History of Warton." For an account of the author see the Society's Transactions (New Series), ii. Lucas had it from Thoresby. It will be seen how large a proportion of the soil was in the hands of persons hostile to Protes tantism, the names ranging from great landowners like Richard Towneley of Towneley to humble yeomen such as Leonard Washington of Warton. To those given must be added many others of secret sympathisers, such as. Molyneux of Sefton, and some who for one reason or another did not then compound. The writer thus traces the origin of the scheme : "The original of the following subscription or composition was that the Papists, taking the advantage of King Charles the First's necessities (who had been drawn into a war by his Parliament, and then denied money to carry it on), offered to maintain 5000 men to serve his majesty in Ireland, and a proportion of ships to secure him in England, upon condition that they might enjoy the free exercise of their religion. When this was pro posed in Parliament Sir John Savile (afterwards 172 Communications Lord Savile) interposed and offered this project: That if the king was pleased but to call on the recusants to pay their thirds (legally due to the Crown) it would prove a way more effectual, and less offensive, to raise a mass of money ; it being but just that they who were so rich and free to purchase new privileges should first pay their old penalties. This project was soon after put in execution, and the recusants of these northern counties were summoned to appear at the Manor within the walls of the city of York before hid majesty's commissioners, there to compound for their respective lands, goods, and arrearages" (p. 634). The lists printed below then follow. The following detailed account of one of the compositions will explain the system, the fines ranging apparently from a fourth to a tenth of the annual values of the estates : " This Thomas Middleton of Leighton in the county of Lancaster esqr- on the 6th of October 1629 compounded with the Commissioners at York for all his lands in the county of Lancaster and for all his lands in Westmorland, and for his tithes also of the rectory of Warton in the said county of Lancaster for the annual rent of ,£100 to be paid at Martinmas and Whitsuntide by equal portions ; and gave bond for the first half-year's rent ac cordingly. He likewise compounded for all his arrearage for the sum of £$ to be paid at Whitsun tide next. But if his estate should appear before Pentecost next to be ^"460 per annum then he was to pay ^20 more than his former composition of ;£ioo" (p. 544). Communications 173
COMPOSITIONS 1629 ' Annual Fine Payable. Thomas Middleton, Esq., Leighton . . j^Joo ° ° Thomas Blackborne, Capernwray . . . .1000 Robert Charnley, Yealand Conyers . . . i 10 o Robert Middleton, Middleton . . . . 4100 John Cansfield, esq., Robert Hall . . . . 30 o o Lawrence Cowpland, Thurnham . . . . 368 John Barrow, Weeton ...... 400 Gervase Clifton, Westby . . . . . 500 Hugh Charnley, Dalton...... 500 Robert Calvert, esq., Cockerham . . . . 63 6 8 Thomas Pattison, Great Singleton . . . . 400 Richard Moss senior, Skelmersdale . . . 600 Edmund Winstanley, Pemberton . . . . 2 10 o Richard Massy, Rixton ...... 40 o o Abraham Langton, Lowe . . . . .1000 Roger Charnock, Leyland . . . . . 600 William Sale, Hopecarr ...... 400 Richard Shuttleworth, Bedford . . . . 600 Peter and Roger Houghton, Lowton . . . 300 Ralph Houghton, Aspull . . . . . 6134 Nicholas Curwen, Caton . . . . .1500 Thomasine Tunstall, Fairthwaite . . . . 2100 Alice Clopton, Fairthwaite . . . . . 2 10 o Richard Bradshaw, Astley . . . . 200 Thomas Westby, esq., Burn . . . . . 100 o o Henry Lance, Abram . . . . i 10 o o Henry Ashton, Preston ...... 368 Henry Lathom, Mossborough . . . . 36 o o Richard Watmough, Micklehead . . . . 6 13 4 William Partington, Hough . . . . . 400
1630 Thomas Morley, Wennington . . . . 400 Thomas Parkinson, Wyresdale . . . . 300 Edward Standish. Standish . . . . . 200 Edward Pendleton, Great Woolton . . . 400 Thomas Linaker, Cuerdley . . . . . 300 Thomas Stananought, Fazakerley . . . . 300 John Clifton, Stalmine ...... 200 Thomas Standish, Standish . . . . . 400 Katherine Potter, Rainhill . . . . . 400 John Ditchfield, Sankey . . . ' . . 300 174 Communications