History of the Fife Pitcairns

274 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
Let us now trace the transmission of the advowson of
St Mary's, Eccles. Gilbert de Barton, Steward to John
de Lascy, Earl of Lincoln, Baron of Halton, and Con-
stable of Chester, sold, as he states in his deed, " to my
Lord, John de Lascy, &c, 10 acres of land in the vil of
Barton, of my demesne near Henneden, between the great
street [or way] and the moss, near the bounds of Pendle-
bury, with the advowson [or right of presenting to the
living] of the Church of Eccles ; with all the Chapels and
liberties to the same belonging."
He adds, "This confirmation I have given to them [the
monks of Stanlaw] for the salvation of my soul, and the
souls of my ancestors and my successors, in pure and per-
petual alms," &c. Amongst the witnesses were " H., then
parson of Eccles, and all the chapter of Weryngton "
(Warrington).
For nearly two centuries and a half the Abbot and con-
vent of Whalley were the owners of the Church of Eccles,
until the Abbey was dissolved in 1539. Its last Abbot,
John Paslew, for taking part in the monkish rebellion
called " The Pilgrimage of Grace," was hung at Whalley
two years before the dissolution — viz., on the 12th March
1537. After the dissolution, the advowson of the Church
of Eccles became vested in the Crown, and is now exer-
cised by the Lord Chancellor for the time being.
The oldest chantry in the church was that of St Katha-
rine, founded by Thomas del Bothe of Barton before the
year 1368. It was dedicated by him to " St Katharine,
the Virgin and Martyr," and in his will (dated 1368) he
says: "First, I give and bequeathe my soul to God and
the blessed Virgin Mary, and my body to be buried in
the Church of Eccles, before the altar of St Katharine,
Virgin." He also bequeathed to the two chaplains £6,
13s. 4d., to be paid upon the altar of St Katharine, to
pray for the souls of King Edward III., Roger la War re
(baron of Mamecestre), and Thos. de Wyche, parson of
Mamecestre, and for the souls of his father, of Roger de
Hulton, and all other benefactors. This is the chapel re-