The Lady Mabel's spirit had been too sorely wounded to recover its
tranquillity. For the purpose of what was then deemed an expiation to
her unintentional offence, she performed a weekly penance, going
barefooted from Haigh to a place outside the walls at Wigan, where a
stone cross was erected, which bears to this day the name of "MAB'S
CROSS."
THE PRIOR OF BURSCOUGH.
"Quhere are ye boun, ye bold prior,
With that ladye on your knee?"
"I'm boun to the hills, I'm boun to the dales,
I'm boun to the grey priory."
_Old Ballad. M.S._
Of the once renowned priory of Burscough, only two pillars, belonging to
the centre arch of the church, are now remaining. It is situated about
two miles from Ormskirk, on the Preston road, in a level district of
great compass renowned for its fertility. The extensive manor and living
of Ormskirk formerly belonged to this priory. The charter of King Edward
II., "reciting and confirming the grants of the donors," with a
confirmation of the charter by which "the prior and convent of
Burscough, and their successors for ever, shall have one market every
week on Thursday, at their manor of Ormskirk, and likewise one fair
every year, of five days' continuance," is still preserved in the office
of the Duchy of Lancaster.
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