Sir John obtained, as a favour granted but to few, and those of the
highest rank, licence from the king to fortify a spacious house he was
then building at Liverpool, the site whereof was given by Sir Thomas
Lathom, who, we may now suppose, had in some measure swerved from his
most unjust purpose, possibly on apprehending the great honours and
influence that Sir John had already acquired without his aid or
furtherance. This plot of land, it was said, contained 650 square yards,
which he held together with several burgage houses and lands in that
town.
He had full licence to build a castle or house of strength, embattled
and machicolated, with _tenellare_, or loop-holes in the walls, and
other warlike devices, which no subject could undertake without special
leave from the king.
The Isle of Man was at this time, by Northumberland's rebellion, forfeit
to the crown. Sir John the same year obtained a grant of it for life,
and in the year following a re-grant to himself and his heirs for ever,
with the style and title of "King of Man."
It were needless to enumerate all the honours and distinctions heaped in
such unwonted profusion upon our illustrious hero.
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