Nooks and Corners of Lancashire and Cheshire.: A Wayfarer's Notes in the Palatine Counties, Historical, Legendary, Genealogical, and Descriptive.Croston, James
History
Nooks and Corners of Lancashire and Cheshire.: A Wayfarer's Notes in the Palatine Counties, Historical, Legendary, Genealogical, and Descriptive.
Croston, James
Cheshire (England); Lancashire (England)
[Note 31: It is somewhat remarkable that though the Leghs have been
settled in the parish for more than five centuries, and have been
patrons of the church for many generations, there is not a single
monumental inscription or other memorial of them in the church,
excepting that of Reginald Legh, of an earlier date than the one of
Charles Legh, who died in 1781.]
Robert Legh, who succeeded as lord of Adlington, though he was only
twenty-two years of age at the time of his father’s death, did not long
enjoy possession of the property. Dr. Renaud, relying apparently on the
MS. at Adlington, says that he died in 1410, but this statement, as we
shall hereafter see, is inaccurate. Shortly after he entered upon his
inheritance, a dispute arose between him and the Grosvenors, of Eaton,
touching their respective rights to certain lands at Pulford and other
places in the neighbourhood of Chester, under the settlement of Robert
Legh’s maternal grandfather, Thomas de Belgrave, and his wife, who was
heiress of Pulford. Eventually the two disputants, with their relations
and friends, on the 14th April, 1412, repaired to the “Chapel” at
Macclesfield—the old church of St Michael—when a very remarkable
ceremony took place, which is thus recorded in the pages of Ormerod:—
A series of deeds relating to these lands having been publicly
read in the chapel, it was stated that Sir Robert de Legh, Isabel,
his wife, and Robert de Legh, their son and heir, having claimed
them, it had been agreed, in order to settle their differences,
that Sir Thomas Grosvenor should take a solemn oath on the body of
Christ, in the presence of 24 gentlemen, or as many as he wished.
Accordingly Robert del Birches, the Chaplain, whom Robert de Legh
had brought with him, celebrated a mass of the Holy Trinity, and
consecrated the Host, and after the mass, having arrayed himself
in his alb, with the amice, the stole, and the maniple, held
forth the Host before the altar, whereupon Sir Thomas Grosvenor
knelt down before him whilst the settlements were again read by
James Holt, counsel of Robert de Legh, and then he swore upon the
body of Christ that he believed in the truth of these charters.
Immediately after this Sir Lawrence de Merbury, sheriff of the
county, and 57 other principal knights and gentlemen of Cheshire
affirmed themselves singly to be witnesses of this oath, all
elevating their hands at the same time towards the Host. This
first part of the ceremony concluded with Sir Thomas Grosvenor
receiving the sacrament, and Robert Legh and Sir Thomas kissing
each other in confirmation of the aforesaid agreement. Immediately
after this, Sir Robert publicly acknowledged the right to all
the said lands was vested in Sir Thomas Grosvenor and his heirs,
and an instrument to that effect was accordingly drawn up by
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