e reign of James I. A railed gallery ran along one side,
on which persons might stand to observe the entertainments
below without mingling in them. It was supported by double
pillars in front of pilasters, forming arches between,
profusely ornamented by rich carved work. Most of these
decorations, together with the carved wainscots, were taken to
embellish Garswood Hall, near Ashton, a few miles distant,
where the family resided after their removal.

In the windows were some armorial bearings of painted glass, the
first quarterings beginning with the Leighs of Lyme, instead of
Gerard or Bryn, as might have been expected. Here was a Roman
Catholic chapel, and a priest who continued long after the
family had departed, having in his custody the hand mentioned
in the following pages. It is still kept by them, or rather by
the priest, who now resides at Garswood. Preserved with great
care in a white silk bag, it is still resorted to by many
diseased persons, and wonderful cures are said to have been
wrought by this saintly relic. It is called the Hand of Father
Arrowsmith--a priest who is said to have been put to death at
Lancaster for his religion in the time of William III. When
about to suffer, he desired his spiritual attendant to cut off
his right hand, which should then have the power to work
miraculous cures on those who had faith to believe in its
efficacy. Not many years ago, a female, sick of the smallpox,
had it lying in bed with her every night for six weeks, in order
to effect her recovery, which took place. A poor lad, living in
Withy Grove, Manchester, afflicted with scrofulous sores, was
rubbed with it; and though it has been said he was miraculously
restored, yet, upon inquiry, the assertion was found incorrect,
inasmuch as he died in about a fortnight after the operation.

Not less devoid of truth is the tradition that Arrowsmith was
hanged for witnessing a good confession. Having been found
guilty of a misdemeanour, in all probability this story of his
martyrdom and miraculous attestation to the truth of the cause
for which he suffered was contrived for the purpose of
preventing the scandal that might have come upon the Church
through the delinquency of an unworthy member.

One of the family of the Kenyons attended as und