Churchwardens' accounts from the fourteenth century to the close of the seventeenth century

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THE ANTIQUARY'S BOOKS

GENERAL EDITOR: J. CHARLES COX, LL.D., F.S.A.

CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

THE STEEPLE, LOUi'H

iJ U; R C H W \ R D ENS

ACC-.OUNTS

F«*Hi Tiii: to* li \*i-^.s r-'' Cf::irrr: ru the

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TK"Vs 1,'K rii, QUn r- -Art' IM ■'. Ut «P,*ON -T M't "'>%-. Ui."

WITH THIRTY-SIX ILLUSTRATIONS

METHUEN & CO LTD.

.36 ESSEX STREET W.C

LONDON

S

CHURCHWARDENS'
ACCOUNTS

FROM THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY TO THE
CLOSE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

BY

J. CHARLES COX, LL.D., F.S.A.

THE OFFICE OF CHURCHWARDEN, AS GUARDIAN OF THE
GOODS OF THE CHURCH, DATES FROM THE LATTER
PART OF THE MIDDLE AGES."

AYLIFFE'S Parergost

' the office was wholly free from all civil func-
tions until quite late in the reign of henry viii."

Bishop Hobhouse

WITH THIRTY-SIX ILLUSTRATIONS

METHUEN & GO, LTD.

36 ESSEX STREET W.G.

LONDON

First Published in igi3

TO MY OLD FRIEND AND COUSIN
THE RIGHT REVEREND

THE LORD BISHOP OF WOOLWICH

THIS RECORD OF ONE P,HASE OF THE

TEMPORAL HISTORY OF THE

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

IS, BY PERMISSION, DEDICATED

AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF

AFFECTION AND RESPECT

PREFACE

IT is more than half a century since I began to make
extracts from a few early parish records or wardens'
accounts in West Somersetshire. Subsequently I
followed up the subject in my own county of Derbyshire.
In 1877 I had the good fortune, when inspecting the
valuable library of Mr. Godfrey Meynell, of Meynell
Langley, to find two invaluable volumes of church accounts
pertaining to All Saints, Derby, beginning in 1466. They
had long lain unnoticed in an attic, but have now been
restored to the proper authorities. These accounts formed
the chief part of a volume which was brought out in 1881,
in conjunction with my friend, Dr. W. H. St. John Hope,
entitled The Chronicles of the Collegiate Church or Free
Chapel of All Saints, Derby.

From the date of this important discovery, which led
to the examining of other parish accounts of an early date,
I resolved to try and produce a book which should deal
generally with these records, as apart from parish registers.
This idea has never been lost sight of, though interrupted
by a variety of causes. It was stimulated through giving
considerable assistance to my good friend, the late Bishop
Hobhouse, in the production of his volume, issued for the
Somerset Record Society in 1890, on certain churchwarden
accounts of that county, ranging in date from 1349 to
1560.

The last words of the preface to my book on Parish
Registers, issued exactly three years ago, announced the

viii THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

definite undertaking of this companion volume, and a
kindly response was made by several to the request for
further information as to the existence of other examples
of old churchwarden books.

The result of all this long-continued diligence in the
collection of notes and extracts has proved almost over-
whelming, and the difficulty of selecting the most note-
worthy extracts not a little exasperating. When the time
came for submitting my carefully culled minutes and com-
ments to the courteous publishers, the material proved to
be of more than double the length requisite for a
volume of this series. I felt obliged to yield to their
advice to compress it into one volume. This course was
at last rendered easier by the reflection that it was far
more my desire to interest churchfolk at large, as well
as the general reading public, in these little-known local
records, and to cause them to appreciate their social and
economic value, rather than to produce an exhaustive
work which might, after all, have only proved tedious.

The result, however, of this drastic policy of abridg-
ment caused, in addition to general curtailment, the
wholesale omission of several matters of more or less
moment. These included chapters on the position and
stipends of the mediaeval clergy, as shown (somewhat
meagrely) in these accounts ; the documentary contents
of various parish chests, apart from statements of accounts ;
all references to special Forms of Prayer, on which subject
it is hoped that a separate book will ere long be forth-
coming ; and the analysis of all the wardens' accounts of
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. A more serious
omission is the striking out of a long section on Poor Relief,
upon which a good deal of fresh light can be thrown from
the study of the general parish accounts from Elizabethan

PREFACE ix

days downwards, for the wardens were joined with the
overseers in the administration of relief. On this subject
I should like to commend Miss Leonard's recent (1900)
able volume on The Early History of English Poor Relief.

Another subject deliberately exempted from mention
at the outset is that of Briefs, though long and valuable
lists may be culled from some wardens' accounts, e,g,
Weyhill, Hants. Those desirous of following up this
subject are referred to an excellent and almost exhaustive
volume, issued by Mr. W. A. Bewes in 1896, under the
simple heading of Church Briefs,

I was glad to be able to find room for the last chapter
dealing with the cognate subject of Constables' Accounts.
I may perhaps be forgiven for giving a long account of
an extraordinary and disgraceful church disturbance, in a
country parish of Oxfordshire, of so late a date as the
beginning of last century. Assuredly times are improving ;
such a state of things would nowadays be an utter
impossibility.

The number of wardens' accounts, now extant, referred
to in these pages, from the earliest date down to the close
of the seventeenth century, are upwards of four hundred —
four or five times longer than any printed list hitherto
attempted. Its compilation has been no small trouble, but
it makes no claim to be by any means perfect. I shall be
grateful for any additions or corrections, if merely on a post
card. The lists given in Chapters II and III are supple-
mented not only by Addenda at the close of the book, but
also by a few extra entries under the index arranged
according to counties; in this last case the wardens' accounts
incidentally mentioned are not put in the lists, as their
initial date, etc., had not been ascertained.

It is hoped that the printing of the lists may be some

X THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

small service in the direction of the safe custody of these
local records. During the time they have been under my
consideration, at least five sets of old wardens' accounts,
one dating back to the days of Edward iv, have hope-
lessly disappeared.

The custody of local records is a difficult problem ;
perhaps the best solution is their deposit in the charge of
the respective County Councils. Such a plan was happily
effected a few years ago by the mutual consent of a large
number of the City of London parishes (thirty in all) ; the
old wardens' accounts and vestry books were deposited in
the Guildhall Library. The whole of these have been
examined for the purpose of this book, as well as a smaller
number, from different parts of the country, which are in
the keeping of the British Museum.

Among the most valuable printed transcripts, with
annotations, of early parish accounts, in addition to All
Saints, Derby, and the Somerset volume by Bishop Hob-
house, already mentioned, are those of (i) St. Laurence,
Reading, by my late friend, the Rev. Charles Kerry,
printed in 1883; (2) St. Martin, Leicester, 1884, by Mr.
North; (3) St. Edmund and St. Thomas, Salisbury, 1896,
by the Wilts Record Society; and (4) St. Mary-at-Hill,
City, 1907, by Mr. Littlehales, for the Early English Text
Society.

Of volumes beginning early in the sixteenth century,
the two best are those dealing with Great St. Mary, Cam-
bridge, by Mr. J. E. Foster, and with St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields, by Mr. Kitto.

The work which promises to surpass them all in extent,
thoroughness, and national interest are the volumes deal-
ing with the accounts of St. Margaret, Westminster, by
Mr. A. M. Burke, F.S.A. ; it is now in active preparation.

PREFACE xi

By rare generosity, Mr, Burke has allowed me to consult
his fifteenth-century transcripts.

Though using, with sincere acknowledgments, the
labours of others who have printed much or parts of these
early records, I may perhaps be pardoned for saying that
I had examined and made extracts from the majority of
those of importance before a line had appeared in print.
Among them I may mention those of St. Laurence Read-
ing ; St. Edmund, Sarum ; Cratfield, Suffolk ; St. Thomas,
Launceston ; and several in Somerset and the City.

It remains to offer my genuine thanks for much kind
help. First of all I thank my old friend, the Rev. R. M.
Serjeantson, rector of St. Peter's, Northampton, for much
help with regard to the counties of Northampton and
Salop, and especially for reading the proofs. My thanks
are also due to the Rev. Canon Heanley, rector of Wey-
hill, for the loan of his recently recovered accounts, and
for help with regard to Hampshire ; to the Rev. S. Spencer
Pearce, vicar of Combe, near Woodstock, for Constables'
Accounts of that parish ; to the Rev. J. F. Rowley, vicar of
Spelsbury, Oxon, for the loan of a transcript of wardens'
accounts ; to the Rev. G. M. Benton, of Saffron Walden,
for putting me on the track of several early accounts;
to the Rev. Canon Wordsworth for leave to reproduce
facsimiles of an inventory of St. Margaret's, New Fish
Street ; to Mrs. Goodman for transcripts of accounts of St.
Botolph, Cambridge ; to Dr. Ellis, of Oxford, for the loan
of transcripts of the accounts of St. Michael's of that city ;
to Mr, Arthur C. Coldicott for the loan of a set of tran-
scripts of the accounts of St. Nicholas, Warwick ; and to
Mr. Thurstan Peter, of Redruth, for transcripts of the
Green Book of St. Columb Major prior to its publication.

Lastly, I desire to express my great indebtedness to a

xii THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

very old friend, the late Mr. J. E. Foster, of Cambridge,
the transcriber of the voluminous accounts of Great St.
Mary, and a well-known leading member of the Cambridge
Antiquarian Society and of the Library Association ; his
sudden death last October caused much sorrowful regret
outside the circle of his immediate friends. It was to
his kindness that I owed the loan of the transcript of
the valuable Bassingboufn accounts from the Cambridge
University Library, and also of Holy Trinity, Cambridge.
In this connection, too, I should like to thank the authorities
of the Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, for their
courtesy in allowing these transcripts, as well as other
original documents, to be deposited for a time in their
custody for convenience of reference.

A single general reflection may be permitted — a reflec-
tion which has been irresistibly driven home during the
long period wherein these hundreds of documents have
been faithfully consulted. Up to the time of the intro-
duction of compulsory church rates, a spirit of lavish
generosity towards the maintenance of divine worship and
the repair of church fabrics was the usual characteristic
of England's parishioners both in country and in town.
With the advent of compulsion, this generosity began to
ebb, until at last a deplorable depth of meanness took its
place in the large majority of parishes. With the abolition
of compulsion in our own days, the zeal of churchmen for
all that pertains to the decency and dignity of worship was
quickened and remains quickened in a marvellous degree.

J. CHARLES COX

13 LoNGTON Avenue, Sydenham, S.E.
February igi^

CONTENTS

I. Introductory
II. Early Wardens' Accounts

III. Chronological List of Wardens' Accounts of the

Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries

IV. Receipts of St. Edmund, Sarum
V. Outgoings of St. Edmund, Sarum

VI. The Fabric of the Church
VII. The Altar and the Eucharist
VIII. Books ....

IX. Hallowing and Vestments
X. Church Plate— Images .
XI. Fonts and Pulpits
XII. Lights and Burials

XIII. Roods and Reformation Changes

XIV. Church Sittings .
XV. Organs— Other Music — Singing Men

XVI. Bells and Ringing
XVII. Clocks— Hour- Glass— Royal Arms— Ten Commandments
XVIII. Garnishing of Churches — Church's Calendar .
XIX. Church or Parish Plays—Church-Ales
XX. Live Stock — Vermin
XXI. Olla Podrida
XXII. Constables' Accounts .

Appendix — Consecration Crosses
Addenda— List of Wardens' Accounts
Index to Wardens' Accounts.
General Index ....

PAGE
I

15

44
53
70

79
91
106
123
138
149
160

175
186

19s
211
228
238
267
292
310
323
349
353
355
361

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT

May-day Dancers : Window, Betley Hall, Staffs., temp,
Edward IV .

Title-Page of First Prayer Book in English

Title-Page of "Directory of 1644" ....

Foxe's *' Book of Martyrs," chained : St. Mary Axe, London
From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

PAGE

65
113

115
120

The Font, East Dereham . . 150

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

The Font, St. Laurence, Reading . . . .151

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall
Font, Wirksworth, Derbyshire . . 154

Pulpit formerly at St. Laurence, Reading 157

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

Candles on Hearse over Coffin, Bodleian MS., Douce . . 171

Jack o' the Clock, Southwold ...... 229

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

Hour-Glass and Stand, Bloxworth, Dorset . 232

Blessing of Palms: Sarum Processional . 257

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

The Crowe Net set or bent ... . 296

From Mascall's Stindrie Engines and Trappes, 1590

A Hatch to take Polecats, as also other Vermin . 301

From Mascall's Sundrie Engines and Trappes, 1590

The Whippe or Springe Trappe . . 303

From Mascall's Sundrie Engines and Trappes, 1590

The Moull Trappe ... ... 304

From Mascall's Sundrie Engines and Trappes, 1590
b

xvi THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

PAGE

Robert Scarlett, Sexton of Peterborough Cathedral, with

Dog-Whip ...... 308

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

Wooden Dog-Tongs, Clodock, Herefordshire . 308

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

Elizabethan Standard Bushel : Northampton . . . 325

From a Drawing by J. CHARLES Wall

Ducking-Stool for a Scold . . . . . -337

From an old Chap Book

Stocks and Whipping Post : Ufford ..... 344

From a Drawing by J. Charles Wall

Anointing a Consecration Cross : Pontificalum Romanum

Venitiis, 1620 .... 549

LIST OF PLATES

The Steeple, Louth . . . . Frontispiece

From a Photograph

FACING PAGE

West Prospect of Old Church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields . 14

From an old Print

Wardens' Balance Sheet, Arlington, 1463-4 • • .26

Brit. Mus, Add. 35,192

Church Expenses of Wardens of Stratton, 1521. . -44

Brit. Mus, Add. 32,243

Church Receipts of Wardens of Stratton, 1534 , . .46

Brit. Mus. Add. 32,244

Wardens' Accounts, Sidbury ■ Inventory, 1648 . . -So

Brit. Mus. Add. 34,696

St. Petrock, Bodmin ....... 82

From a Photograph by Captain Ching, R,N.

The Tower, Great St. Mary, Cambridge . . . .84

From an old Print

Inventory, Wardens' Accounts, St. Margaret, New Fish Street 106

From The Old Service Books of the English Church

First Page of Caxton's "Golden Legend" . . . .110

First Page of Wardens' Accounts of All Saints, Derby, 1466. 164

Seats round the Piers, St. Michael's, Sutton Bonnington,

Notts . . . . . . . . .186

Elizabethan Hymn, 1578 . . . . . . .210

From a *' Forme of Prayer"

Fire Hooks, Raunds Church ...... 320

From a Photograph by Powell, Wellingborough

THE CHURCHWARDENS'
ACCOUNTS

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY

Churchwarden at outset a purely ecclesiastical official— Civil duties
added by Henry viil, Elizabeth, etc. — Number of the wardens — All
elected by the parish — Sidesmen — Fines for refusing office — Women
wardens— Election feasts — Days of audit — Voluntary rating — Compulsory
Church rates — Select vestry — St. Martin's-in-the-Fields

CHURCHWARDENS were first appointed as officers of
the Church by the first canon of the Council of London,
1 1 27. In that learned but often prejudiced and erroneous
book, The Parish, by Mr. Toulmin Smith,- it is strenuously and
emphatically asserted that "Churchwardens never were ecclesi-
astical officers" (2nd ed. 1857, p. 6<^, The truth, however, lies
with Bishop Hobhouse, who, in his able introduction to a series
of early Somersetshire Churchwardens' Accounts, proves by
irresistible arguments that the office of churchwarden prior to
the Reformation was essentially and solely ecclesiastical. They
are described in 1341, in the Rolls of Parliament, as "wardens
of the goods of the church." The early Latin titles of Custodes
bonorum or Procuratores ecclesics limited the office to the com-
paratively narrow bounds of providing for the multifarious needs
of a system of public worship in a particular church or chapel,
which included the keeping of the fabric in repair. The office
was wholly free from every kind of civil function, but it included
the duty of presentment to the ecclesiastical court of moral
delinquencies in either clergy or laity of the parish. The office

2 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

was not, however, as simple as it might at first sight appear.
The fiscal machinery necessary to maintain a costly form of
public worship in an efficient state, in days when no one even
dreamt of compulsory Church rates, was varied and complicated,
and must have required constant attention and no small share
of business capacity, notwithstanding the usual generosity of
parishioners of all conditions. Now and again the church had
lands and houses of its own, usually in connection with obit
bequests, from which a steady small income would be drawn;
but far oftener there was no mainstay of this nature, and the
income, as will presently be seen, was drawn from farming a stock
of sheep and cattle, from selling beef and wool, or cheese and
milk, or varied gifts in kind, and often to a large extent from the
church-ales and various entertainments, as well as from letting out
on hire the different appliances of the church house for brewing,
cooking, and baking. Then, too, the fees for burial within the
church and for funeral knells went to the wardens, as well as
the gatherings which they had to make within the church, at the
times of outdoor processions, or from house to house.

It was not until late in the reign of Henry VIII that civil
functions were attached to the office of churchwarden. At that
time, as is explained in a subsequent section, they were ordered
to provide arms for soldiers, to relieve maimed soldiers, and to
discharge other like duties. From 1549 onwards these church
officials were turned into relieving officers to deal with the mass
of poverty created in the main by the suppression of the
monasteries and through the seizure by the Crown of chantries
and obits. Although a new class of parish officials were created
to deal with pauperism, the wardens remained primarily respons-
ible. Ere long, as we shall presently see, the churchwardens
under Elizabeth and James I became burdened with a hotchpot
of miscellaneous duties which had no conceivable relation to
religious worship. They became responsible for every possible
form of local government, which had formerly been in the
control of Hundred and Manor Courts. On the vestry, with
the wardens at its head, devolved the powers of taxing the
parish, and by degrees the old duties, purely religious, became
swamped by such secular responsibilities as the maintenance of

INTRODUCTORY 3

army hospitals, the nursing of maimed soldiers, the relief of
wayfaring Irish and other wandering persons, the upkeep of the
roads and bridges, the appointment of haywards, grassmen, and
such-like parish officials, the repairs of pounds, stocks, and
whipping-posts, and the destruction of vermin.

It was a farce to continue to style the head parish officials
Churchwardens, but the name continued, though their accounts
show but a minimum of expenditure on anything connected with
divine worship. The old equivalent names, such as Churchreeves,
Churchmen, Kirkmasters, or Kirkwardens, naturally dropped out
of use, and those scribes who styled them, in preparing the
multifarious accounts for audit, (Economi were amply justified.

Churchwardens were not infrequently assisted, as in modern
days, by Sidesmen, a corruption of Synodsmen, or Testes Synodales,
They were appointed primarily to attend synods or visitation
courts, as witnesses, to support the wardens' presentments.
Originally their only duty was of a disciplinary character, making
due inquiry as to irregular lives, and hence sometimes termed
Questmen. Afterwards it came to be considered that Sidesmen
were general assistants to wardens, and the appointment of two or
three more discreet persons to hold this office in every parish was
enjoined by the canons of 1603.

From the careful perusal of a multiplicity of seventeenth- and
eighteenth-century accounts, we fear there is some foundation for
the following sarcastic lines as to the duties of Sidesmen from
the parish books of Childwell, Lancashire : —

To ken and see and say nowt,
To eat and drink and pay nowt ;
And when the wardens drunken roam,
Your duty is to see them home.

The offices of Chantry and Chapel Wardens came largely into
being during the fifteenth century. Some were endowed with
lands or stocks of cattle, or both, and they occasionally occupied
an independent position and contributed to the maintenance of
festival services in which all parishioners could join. The wardens
of particular gilds for the upholding of lights and other objects
of devotion were elected yearly by the brothers and sisters of the

4 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

I
gild, and usually handed over the " increase " or balance of their
funds to the parish churchwardens.

The number of the churchwardens was generally two, but
where there were several townships or the parish was extensive,
the number was sometimes raised to four or more. Now and
again the exception occurs of a single warden. But the local
custom in this respect varied in a remarkable degree.

The custom at St. Edmund, Sarum, in the fifteenth century,
was to choose two senior and two junior churchwardens. The
juniors were responsible for the goods and ornaments of the
church, and they became seniors in their second year of office. In
the sixteenth century only two wardens were elected ; the senior
one held the purse, whilst the junior became surety for the
accounting churchwarden. After 1662 four sidesmen were annu-
ally appointed to assist the wardens.

At Pilton, Somerset, up to 1530, a single warden administered
the parish funds, but he had four pairs of wardens under him
for special work. There was but one warden, called the High
Warden, at Milton Abbot, Devon, as late as 1588, but he had
a multiplicity of annually elected officials under him.

The elaborate and intricate custom at Holy Trinity, Cambridge,
was for the curate to nominate, on Easter Monday, two persons,
and these two to choose four other parishioners. Whereupon these
six elected the two churchwardens for the coming year, and also the
two wardens or keepers of each of the four lights of the Rood,
the Sepulchre, Our Lady, and St. Erasmus.

Two churchwardens were annually elected by the vestry at St.
Thomas, Sarum, from 1545. In 1636 Charles Robson, minister,
gave his written consent to the election of one of the wardens and
of the four sidesmen. After 1662 four sidesmen were regularly
appointed.

The parishioners of St. Peter's, Ipswich, elected both their
wardens at Easter. In 1618 and subsequent years they at the
same time chose two " questmen."

The old custom of the City of London with regard to the
election of churchwardens provided that the parishioners were to
be summoned together annually on the Sunday before the Feast
of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14th September) after

INTRODUCTORY 5

mattins, and that they were to choose one warden to act with
him that had been last chosen in the previous year. (See
Archcsologia, 1. 90-2.)

The two churchwardens of St. Mary-at-Hill were chosen by
the parish ; each warden served for two years, the junior warden
becoming senior warden in his second year.

St. George, Botolph Lane, is an instance of only one
warden.

Basingstoke and Wellingborough usually elected four church-
wardens and two sidesmen, whilst Sidbury, on the contrary,
appointed two wardens and four sidesmen.

It should always be remembered that in the mediaeval Church
of England neither rector nor vicar had any distinctive share in
the election of wardens. They were chosen, both of them, or
whatever the number might be, by the whole body of the
parishioners. The modern custom of one being appointed by
the incumbent and the other by the parish had its origin in a
canon of 1571, by which it was laid down that " Churchwardens,
according to the custom of their parish, shall be chosen by the
votes of their parishioners and minister." The canon of 1603
went a good deal further in the direction of overturning the old
use. It runs : " All churchwardens and questmen in every parish
shall be chosen by the joint consent of the minister and parishioners,
if it may be. But if they cannot agree upon such a choice, then
the minister shall choose one and the parishioners another."

In the days when the sole duties of the wardens were con-
cerned with the fabric and services of the church, there does not
appear to have been the slightest difficulty in finding parishioners
ready to serve ; but in the post-Reformation days, when the zeal
for the beauty of God's House evaporated, and every kind of
secular business was thrust upon a so-called churchwarden, it is not
surprising to find that many a one resisted being appointed to such
an office. This reluctance to serve was met by the imposition of
a fine.

In 1557 it was decided by the parishioners of Mere, Wilts,
that every duly elected warden was to continue in office " by the
space of too hole yeres," and that 13s. 4d. was to be the penalty
for refusing to hold office.

6 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

1 561 (Spelsbury^ Oxfordshire), Hyt be agreed by ye noble parych that
whosoever refusyth to be churchwarden' shall pay to ye Church
use ij stryk of mawlt.

Note James Suche made to ye Churche, forsakynt to be churche man
in ye yere of or Lord, 1561, ij stryk of malt, to be payd at Wytesun-
tyde next to ye use of ye said Churche.

An order taken the same yere for the chosynge of the Chyrche men
that every yere from henceforthe to change on yerly, and he that
refusythe to take the offyc to pay to the Churche use ij bosshell of
malte ; and to have the counte at Saynte Lukes daye upon payne
of vj s. viij d.

[This penalty was enforced in 1571, when William Ryman re-
fused to be churchwarden.]

It was agreed by the vestry of St Mary, Cambridge, in 1568,
that anyone refusing the office of churchwarden was subject to a
fine of los. This fine was imposed in 1608 and the money spent
at the "visitacion supper." In 1621 the fine was increased to 40s. ;
this latter fine was inflicted in 1629.

In 1570 the parish of St. Martin, Leicester, imposed a fine of
los. on refusing to be churchwarden, and the fine was enforced in the
following year, in 1581, 1582, 1584, 1585, and 1597. In 1630 there
were two fines of 30s. each for refusing office. In 1682 refusals
were penalised at a much higher rate, namely, two instances of
50s. and one of £^ ; at the same time a 40s. fine was paid by
a parishioner for " not serving collector for the poor,"

The fine for refusing to serve as warden in the parish of St.
Thomas, Sarum, was unusually heavy ; it varied from 70s. to 80s.,
as decided in vestry "by the more voices." In 1676 Joseph
Stockwell felt unable to accept office "by reason of ye faylure of
his eyes and other infirmities." Nevertheless he was fined ^3 los.,
the vestry at the same time resolving "yt no fine less than £^
shall be accepted from any one who hath ability to serve." In
1678 two fines of £t^ each were levied. A single like fine was
imposed in 1680; another fine in the same year was abated 20s.
"in consideration of his giving them a Treat."

In 17 1 2 the fine for refusing the office of churchwarden in the
parish of St. Alphege, London Wall, was fixed as high as £10,

At the present day women churchwardens are of fairly common
occurrence, the "lady bountiful" of a country parish being not

INTRODUCTORY 7

infrequently persuaded to hold that office. But in old days, when
the duties were much more onerous and precise, there appears to
have been always a small minority of wardens of that sex. At
Kilmington, Devon, a female warden was appointed in 1560, 1569,
IS70) iS74> 1578, and 1581. The oldest example I have found
is at St. Patrick, Ingestre, where Alice Cooke and Alice Pyppedon
were wardens in 1426-7. " My Lady Dame Isabell Newton" held
office at Yatton, Somerset, in 1496, and Luce Sealy held the like
office single-handed for Morebath, Devon, in 1548.

At St. Budeaux, Devon, the wise custom for some time pre-
vailed of the two wardens being chosen one from each sex.

1626. Widow Bragiton and Wm. Rowe.

1666. Margaret Roselow and Thorn. Eustis.

1667. Julian Bulley [widow] and Wm, Trevill.
1669. Mary Knighton and James Reede.

1690. Jane Knighton and Thorn. Steer.

1691. Mary Beele and Jeffery Knight.
1694. Ruth Nicholls and Peter Shapland.
1699. Mrs. Stucley and Thomas Graye.

A pair of widows once officiated for a Somersetshire parish.

The Account of the Widdow Farthinge and the Widdow Shattocke
Church Wardens oi Stapplegrove, Anno Do. 1645.

Under their jurisdiction the parish paid for shrouds on six
occasions, at prices varying from Ss. to 7s. 6d. Such payments do
not occur elsewhere in the Staplegrove accounts.

1684 {Wilne^ Derbyshire). The minister and inhabitants elected Mary
Jaques to bee one of the churchwardens.^

Although feasts at the time of auditing the accounts were not
unknown in mediaeval days, as can b^ shown from the very early
records of St. Michael, Bath, yet in those, when there was any-
thing of the kind, it usually consisted of a modest refection or
breakfast for auditors and wardens, at which the chief delicacy was
frequently a calfs head. But in post-Reformation times there was
often a prodigal waste of parish money on extravagant feasting
and drinking, of which just a few instances follow.

^ I have given several seventeenth-century instances of women holding the offices of
both overseer of the poor and petty constable in my Three Centuries of Derbyshire Annals,
i. 112-3, ii. 137-8.

8 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

The accounts of St. Martin's-in-the- Fields yield good examples
of the very numerous excuses made for refreshments and drinking.
In 1531 bread, ale, and cheese were consumed "in the Chirche"
by the parishioners on the passing of the accounts at the modest
cost of i8d.; in 1537 this charge had risen to 2s. 46, The
wardens of 1559 had a much more delicate taste; they expended
at the passing of their accounts —

For cracknells vj d., for fygges Reasons and almonds xij d,, for Apples
iij d., for wyne xvj d., for sewgar vij d., for bere and ale iiij d.

In 1562 the more select were entertained.

Item to make the maisters of the parishe to Drynke at the geving

up of o"" accomptes . . . . . . . vij s.

Five years later the *' maisters " drank 13s. 46. on the like occasion,
and in 1569 the drink bill rose to 20s.; but in 1575 this charge
dropped to los. In 1579

" A Supper for the Maisters of the parishe at the gyvinge up of o'^ accompte ''
cost 20s.

From this date a like entry occurs for many years; in 1603 it is
entered that the 20s. supper was " for the Vicar and the rest of
the Vestrie."

Visitations, or the swearing-in of the wardens, were always
made the excuse for dinners or drinks.

1577. P*^ the xxiij*^ daie of June when we went to St. Clementes
to take o"^ othe with the sidemen for o"* Dynner and
Articles ...... xiij s. iiij d.

1580. Paid out for our Dynners at the Bishopps visitacon . . viij s.

1597. At the archedeacons visitacon for o'' Dynners arid the

sidemen . . ... . . xvj s. viij d.

1599. Paid for our Dinners for ourselves and our sidesmen xxj s. iiij d.

1603. Paid for our dinner with M*^ Scott and our sidesmen, Clearke

and Sexton and others . , . . vij s, ij d.

All kinds of other casual reasons for feasting and drinking were
readily found, among which the following may be taken as
specimens : —

1540. Paied for a Cowpull of Conis (rabbits) and a quarte of sacke

when the Chalis was sett at Master Writtes . . xiij d.

INTRODUCTORY 9

1559. Payed at pooles (St. Paul's) for to make the sidesmen

drinke when we presented the artycles at pooles . . viij d.

1568. Payd to make certayne of the masters of the parishe drynke

when we were with the bysshopp of london at fullam . vij s.

1592. Paid y® v*^ of November at farmer Robsons to make the
vestrie men Drincke at the Chosinge of henry Russell
Churchwarden . . . ■ • • vj s.

1600. Paide for wyne and nuttes when wee satt at M"" Knightes

about o*" presentimentes ..... xviij d.

The habits of the officials of St. Mary, Cambridge, are illus-
trated by the following extracts : —

1602. Item for a bottle of Sack which was Drunke in the

Chauncell of the Auditors and others at the giveinge up of

the laste Churchwardens accountes . . . 2s. od.

1603. For wine at the Audeit in the Chauncell . . . 2s. 4d.

1604. For wine and cakes at the awdett . . . . 2s. 4d.
1618. Layde out at the Audyt . . . . .6s. lod.
1625. Payed for wine and Cakes at the Accompt of the old

Churchwardens . . . • . .6s. 8d.

In the reign of James I a custom began at St. Edmund's, Sarum,
of a parish " breakfast " on the day of the election of the church-
wardens and other officials. The surplus charge for this meal of
£2 OS. I id. was debited to the parish in 1610, and £1 8s. 6d. in
1613. Every one present who had been a warden paid I2d., and
the rest 6d. In 1620 it was formally sanctioned that the over-
plus for the future was always to be placed in the parish accounts
provided it did not amount to more than £d^. In the following
year the election feast was called by the more appropriate name
of "dinner,'' and the overplus came to £2 i6s. The overplus
amounted to ;£'3 17s. 8d. in 1622 ; in 1623, when it was held on
Easter Tuesday, the exact limit of £^ was reached ; in 1625 the
limit was passed, £^ 6s. 8d. being entered in the accounts ; in
1 63 1 the total overplus, including wine, was recorded as ^^4 19s.
An intermediate ordinance of 1629, limiting the overplus to 40s.,
was treated with derision.

The following items occur in the accounts of St Alphege,
London Wall, for 1560: —

Pd the fyrstt Day that I was chusyd wardyn for our brekfast at

the taverne . . . . . . iiij s. ij d.

lo THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

For our breakefast that Day that we Dyd serch abought the

p'^sshe for pyctures and images that were paynted . • iij s. inj d.

For our brekefast that Day that we dyd asemble together for to

know whether there were any anabaptystes in the p'rish . iij s. iiij d.

The dinner at the election of wardens and other officials of
St. John Baptist, Walbrook, in 1595, cost the parish £6 lis. 6d.
Like dinners of nine other city parishes in Elizabethan days added
an average of £^ 7s. each to the rates. To arrive at a correct idea
of the cost of this feasting, it must be remembered that the totals
must be multiplied by about ten to accord with the present value
of money.

Not only were wardens' and sidesmen's dinners charged for at
a high rate at Visitations, but the parish was expected to treat
the visiting ecclesiastics.

1598 {St. Michael^ Worcester).

Layd out at the visitacion for the churche wardens and

sydesmens dynners . . . . • iij s. iiij d.

For a pound of suger . . . . . , xx d.

For wyne which was bestowed upon the bushopp . iij s. viij d.

1625 {All Saints, Derby). For a bottle of Clarett wyne and q*"" of

sugar to M"" Archdeacon ; . . . .6s. 8d.

1627. For a quart of Sacke given to M^ Archdeacon . . is. 2d.

1630. For wyne bestowed uppon M"" Archdeacon and for beere . 2s. lod.

The time for holding the annual audit of the parish accounts
varied greatly in pre-Reformation times, and often changed re-
peatedly in the same parish. Christmas, Epiphany, Candlemas,
Eastertide, Ascension Day, Whitsuntide, All Hallows, and various
feasts of the Blessed Virgin and of different saints are all particu-
larised as days of audit and election of new wardens. In at
least three parishes the strangely unsuitable fast of Good Friday
was selected. The general custom of an Easter vestry arose out
of Elizabethan poor-law legislation.

The term vestry as applied to a parish meeting was almost
unknown in medieval days ; it came into general use in the second
half of the sixteenth century. The parish meeting had, in addition
to passing the accounts and electing wardens, to see that the lia-
bility of the parish to maintain and furnish the House of God was
duly fulfilled, but the parishioners were left free as to the manner

INTRODUCTORY 1 1

in which they exercised their bounty. The list of church goods
required to be found by the parish by Archbishop Winchelsea's
Constitution of 1305, and which was in force up to Edward vi's
reign, has been repeatedly printed (Johnson's Canons^ n, 319);
it practically included all the service books, vestments, altar plate,
and other utensils. But the minimum of requisites was almost
invariably outstripped by the people's zeal.

Bishop Hobhouse, after a close study of west country pre-
Reformation accounts, pointed out, in a striking fashion, the whole-
sale distinction between a Parish Meeting and a Manor Court as
shown in their respective rolls on documents. In the civil documents
of the latter, the community is divided into sharply defined classes,
the lord of the soil and his tenants, the tenants into bond and free,
and the villeins again subdivided according to the size of their hold-
ings. The relative duties, too, of class to class are sharply defined
and enforced by fine and penalty. At the parish meeting, on the
contrary, held in the church, all were equal, the women voting for
the wardens as well as the men. " The bulk of the parishioners,
even the serfs, were engaged in planning the amusements whereby
profits were gained for the church. They were not spectators or
partakers merely, but also managers sharing in the pageant and
in the costs ; and thereby the bonds of social fellowship were
tightened, and the barrier lines between servile and free, which
seem to the student of our law books to be so impassable, were
melted away by the warmth of kindly fellowship."

The liability of the parish in all things pertaining to the church
has already been named, but such a thing as a civilly enforced
church rate was entirely unknown. The power of Interdict, i.e. the
excommunication of the whole community, was in the hands of the
Bishop in the very rare event of neglect to keep the church with its
appurtenances and churchyard in repair. But compulsion of any
kind for church expenses was most rarely needed, for the good-
will of the people usually prevailed to a lavish extent. Where
episcopal threats had to be used, they were generally addressed
to chapelries neglecting to help the mother church. Now and
again there was resort to a levy or rsXejuxta valorem possessionum,
as in the case of Wembdon, near Bridgwater, in 1325, cited by
Bishop Hobhouse; but this was never levied until the parishioners

12 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

had first consented to a voluntary rate. The following may be
cited out of the three or four cases I have noted in extant wardens
accounts of pre- Reformation date : —

1515 {Worfield^ Salop). Hit is agreed at these accountes that
every yard lond within the parish shall pay this yere to the
.reparacions of the church and for making the churchyard
walles ........ iiij d.

Under Elizabeth, sectaries began to flourish and Puritanism
made so much headway that zeal for God's House languished to
such an extent that compulsory church-rating was adopted and
enforced on a resisting minority by the civil arm of the law. This
disastrous law had the effect of drying up voluntary effort in a
remarkable degree. After many efforts it was at last repealed in
1868, and under a voluntary system churches have again thrived.
Many a parish, however, hesitated long before adopting a compul-
sory rate, but by the close of the sixteenth century it was fre-
quently in operation. It is sufficient to cite a single case.

A levy was made in 1596 for the repair of the great church of
Melton Mowbray, resulting in the sum of £^ Js. lod. from 188
ratepayers, in sums varying from 6s. 3d. to id.

At the same time it should be remembered that the reformed
Church continued to claim the power of excommunication in cases
of gross neglect, though it was usually exercised only against the
wardens. The church of Repton was presented for an array of
broken windows in 1595. The wardens disregarded the injunction
to repair, and the result appears in two consecutive entries in their
book : —

It. geven to Thomas Beldde for bryngyng a sertyfycatte for us

beying excommunycatt ...... viij d.

It. att Darby when we sartyfyed that our churche was glassed

It remains to add somewhat about Select Vestries. Fairly early
in the sixteenth century, a kind of parochial council for excep-
tional work sprang up in a few parishes. Thus at Morebath,
Devon, "The Courte of the V men" is entered under 1526-7.
And in 1538 it is recorded that

Four honest men were chosen to govern the parish in all causes concerning
the wealth of our church, under orders at Visitation.

INTRODUCTORY 13

But in this case the small council was elected by the parishioners
and recognised by the Ordinary.

From this kind of a beginning there gradually emerged a small
oligarchy of Masters or Rulers of the parish, termed in most
cases the Select Vestry, or in certain parts of the country the
Twelve or the Twenty-Four, according to their exact number. At
St. Michael, Worcester, there was a body known as the Six Men,
in another case the Seven Men, and in a third parish the Thirteen.
They were not, however, legal bodies unless they had established
themselves by lapse of time. They were not technically a repre-
sentative body, and usually filled up vacancies by co-option. As
to their general corruption and incompetence, see Burns* Ecclesi-
astical Law, s.v. Vestry, and the 1834 Report of the Poor Law
Commissioners.

The management of parish affairs by a Select Vestry, generally
consisting of 24 members, was usual throughout the diocese of
Durham. The Select Vestry of 12 for the parish of Pittington
began in 1584.

It is agreed by the consent of the whole parish to electe and chuse out of
the same xij men to order and define all comon causes pertaininge to the
churche, as shall appertaine to the profit and commoditie of the same, without
molestation or troublinge of the rest of the comon people, whose names
hearafter folowethe.

Once established, this Pittington Select Vestry perpetuated itself
by co-option.

The Vestry of St. Mary-at-Hill, City of London, is some-
times spoken of as "The Seniors of the Parish," at other times
as "The Masters of the Parish." Possibly it only numbered 12
persons; when the annual accounts were presented in 1526, a
bequest of 20s. was " put in to the chirch chist in presence of xij
persones of the parish."

The Vestry of St. Mary, Reading, originated in 1603, on the
motion of " Mr. Docter Powell, vichar of the parishe," to be
composed of 33 of " the Chiffeste and Auncientes Parishioners/'
who were to " associat themselves togeather at the Churche upon
everie good fridaie after Eveninge Prayer to see the Accountes
finished " and to transact other parish business. It was this body
that imposed the first church rate of this parish in 1607.

14 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

It is of interest, in concluding this subject, to notice the gradual
evolution of a Select Vestry from the accounts of an important
Westminster parish.

The churchwardens of St. Martin*s-in-the-Fields from 1525 to
1546 were elected "by the consent will and agreement of the
whole body of the parich." From 1546 to 1583 they are simply
described as "chosen and appointed." In December 1583 the
wardens for the next two years were elected " by the whole assent
and consent of the masters of the parishe." From the year 1561
the wardens were accustomed to render their accounts to the
" masters " of the parish. There is no definite statement as to how
the government of the parish passed from the full parish meeting
to the select vestry or smaller body of " masters." The process was
probably gradual, and may have partly come about from the general
body of the parishioners ceasing to interest themselves in church
government. Before the end of Elizabeth's reign a co-opted
Select Vestry became firmly established and remained in power
until 1834. During the eighteenth century, five separate attempts
were made to eject the oligarchy, but they all failed through lack
of evidence to disprove the corporation's plea of ''immemorial
custom." And yet, on each occasion, the unscrupulous vestry
knew perfectly well that they held abundant evidence in their own
hands that their " immemorial " plea was false. At last, in the 1834
suit of Simpson v. Holroyd, the old Churchwarden Accounts had
to be produced in Court, when " the hopelessly corrupt Vestry,"
as Mr. Kitto rightly terms it, was dispossessed, and the parish once
more resumed their ancient rights.

n

> w

>

5;

2

CHAPTER II
EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Fourteenth Century : St. Michael, Bath ; Hedon ; Tavistock. Fifteenth
Century : St. Michael, Oxford — All Saints, Bristol — St. Laurence, Reading ;
Hythe— St. Mary-at-Hill, City— St. Petrock, Exeter— St. Peter Cheap, City;
TintinhuU — Saffron Walden — Thame — St. Peter-in-the-East, Oxford — St.
Mary, Sandwich — St. Margaret, Southwark — Yatton — St. Andrew, Holborn —
Walberswick — St. Ewen, Bristol — Ail Hallows, London Wall — Swaffham —
St. Andrew Hubbard, City — St. Michael Cornhill, City — Arlington — Yeovil —
St. Margaret, Westminster — Cowfold — Yarmouth — St Edmund, Sarum — All
Saints, Derby — St. Botolph, Aldersgate — St. John, Peterborough — Ludlow —
St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol— St. Martin Ongar, City— St. John Baptist, Bristol
— Blythburgh — St. Stephen, Walbrook, City — Snettisham — Croscombe — Wim-
borne — Ashburton — Chagford — St. Thomas, Launceston ; Sutterton ; Kirton-in-
Lindsey — Wigtoft— St. Nicholas, Bristol — St. Martin, Leicester — Cratfield —
St. Mary-de-Castro, Leicester — All Hallows, Staining — Kingston-on-Thames —
Bassingbourn — Pilton

IN this chapter a brief analysis is given of the extant
churchwardens' records of the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries, arranged chronologically.
The wardens' accounts of St Michael, Bath, may justly lay
claim to be the oldest, and in certain respects the most interesting,
in the kingdom. They were transcribed and edited by the Rev.
Prebendary Pearson in 1878 for the Somersetshire Archaeological
and Natural History Society, and they were also briefly treated
of by Bishop Hobhouse in his work of 1890 for the Somerset
Record Society. These extend, with but a few missing intervals
from 1349 to 157s, and consist of "jj rolls, 6j of which are in
Latin and 10 in English. They are of great value as illustrative
of the working of the Church in a city parish with a trading
population.

Bishop Hobhouse aptly comments on some of the peculiar

'5

1 6 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

features of its fiscal system, {a) The occasional allowance to the
wardens of a stipend {pro stipendid) of I2d. {b) The feasting at
audit time, a fairly common custom in town parishes, but in this
instance entered after an undisguised fashion, {c) A small flock
of sheep, an awkward and unusual increment for a town parish.
{(T) A continually growing endowment of land and houses, rising
in value from los. pd. in 1347 to ;^ii i8s. 8d. in 1540; these
properties were charged with obituary payments, denoting the
primary motive of the donors, {e) A continuance burden of
house-agency on the wardens, leading to a multiplicity of entries
for repairs and management. (/) Partition of duties between the
two wardens, one being elected as bursar {portare bursam). (g)
The usual sufficiency of revenue from endowment for the hand-
some maintenance of the church, aided by gifts and bequests,
with but rare resort to church-ales or such-like expedients.

The wardens' accounts of the church or chapel of St. James,
Hedon, E. R., Yorks, for the years 1350-1, 1354-5, I3S6-7j I3S7-8,
1358-9, 1 361-2, 1394-S, I39S-6, 1410-1, 1414-5, 1424-S, 1430-1,
1442-3, 1443-4, 1447-8, I4S4-5, 1460-1, 1462-3, and 1475-6, are
in the hands of the Corporation of Hedon.

The wardens' accounts of St. Augustine, Hedon, for 1 370-1,
1372-3, 1373-4, 1374-5, 1397-8, 1398-9, 1408-9, I4ic^i, 1429-30,
1430-1, 1431-2, 1443-4, 1445-6, I4S3-4, I4S4-5, 1484-5, 1490-1,
1 531-2, 1536-7, as well as various rolls or portions of rolls of
uncertain date, are also in the hands of the Corporation ; they
were carefully transcribed or largely cited by Mr. J. R. Boyle in
his History of Hedon, published in 1895. The receipts entered in
the earlier of these rolls are of great and exceptional interest. The
accounts of 1 370-1 show that 6s. 4d. was collected on the fair day
of St. Mary Magdalen, when the shrine or chest of relics was
carried round the town ; and I4d. was received when the relics
were exposed on Holy Cross day. On the day of the Circumcision,
IDS. was collected in the church. In the church stood a special
Holy Cross, before which lights were maintained by a gild ; before
it stood an offertory box, which was opened twice a year, namely,
on the feasts of the Invention and Exaltation of the Holy Cross;
in 1370, 15s. was found in the box on the first of these days and
56s. 4d. on the latter occasion. There was also a box before the

EARLY WARDENS^ ACCOUNTS 17

image of Our Lady, and this, too, was opened on these same
feasts ; it was found to contain 3s. 6d. and 4s. respectively. There
were collections made for church expenses every Sunday in the
church, with the result this year of a total of 58s. An annual
gathering was made through the town, cum tabula^ on St.
Stephen's Day, producing in 1370 the sum of 5s.

The early wardens' accounts of St. Nicholas, Hedon, in the
custody of the Corporation, are for the years 1379-80, 1385-6,
1402-3, 1408-9, 1409-10, 1410-1, 141 1-2, 1423-4, 1430-1,
1437-8, 1443-4, I44S-6, I4S6-7) 1460-1, 1461-2, 1469-70, and
1474-5. The first of these accounts shows that the receipts were
chiefly obtained from rents (29s. iid.) and from collections on
diverse Sundays and festivals (12s.). The expenditure of 1379-80
was mainly concerned with the erection of a Rood-screen and loft.

In j ligno empto pro solar Crucies

In carpentariis . . . portantibus dictum solar

In bemefellyng pariet' cancelle

In bordis emptis pro dicto solar .

In lignis emptis pro dicto solar

In clavis ferreis emptis pro fabricatione dicti solar
\ In iij plaunkis emptis pro scannis in dicta cancella

")

(^ The repair of the Rood is named in 1384-5, whilst in 1442-3 a

i( shaft of wood was bought for I7d, to support it. There are also
\ expenses for the light kept burning before the Rood.
I Among the oldest wardens' accounts are those of Tavistock.

^1 They are very imperfect as a series, but the first roll is of the
\ years 1385-6; this is followed by those for 1392-3, 1399-1400,
r^ 1401-2, 1405-6, 1407-8, 141 1-2, 1423-4, 1425-6, and 1426-7, and
j^ next is 1470-1, and there is then a gap until 1535-6. There are a
^' few more of the reign of Henry VIII, one of Edward VI, one of
^j^j Mary, seven of Elizabeth, and a few of the seventeenth century.
^ Transcripts or fairly full abstracts of these accounts were printed by
jjjjj Mr. R. N. Worth in a small volume, Calendm- of the Parish Records
^^ of Tavistock, published in 1887; unfortunately the oldest of these,
j.^ which are in Latin, have been poorly translated. The accounts
, run from the Feast of the Invention of the Cross to its successor,
^^^j The receipts of the year 1385-6 amounted to £6 9s. 5d.; they

V s

. xxj s.

vj d

. ijs.

vj d

vjs

ijd

. ijs

. vd
XV d

ijs

. vd

1 8 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

comprised balance in hand, 3s. 2d. ; rents of a park, a tenement,
and four gardens, 9s. gd. ; and pence for lights, with considerable
arrears, £s i6s. 6d. The total expenses were £7 6s. 6d. The
cost of buying wax and tallow, and the making of tapers and
candles, together with links or torches, came to ^3 4s. lod.
Another large item was for the repair of diverse windows. There
was an annual payment of 3s. 4d. to the sacristan of Tavistock
Monastery. The altars mentioned in this account were those of
Our Lady, St. Eustachius, St. Stephen, St. John Baptist, St.
Katherine, St. Blaise, St. -George, St. Saviour, and the Holy
Trinity.

There is a fine series of churchwarden rolls of St. Michael
Oxford, beginning in the year 1403 and continuing to the end
of the fifteenth century. They have been transcribed by Dr.
Ellis, and it is hoped that ere long they will appear in book form.^
The receipts of the year 1403-4 amounted to £g 13s. 4d. Diverse
receipts, including balance in money and wax from the preceding
proctors and wardens, and several subscriptions to the repair of the
church books, amounted to 55s. lod.; the rents of several small
houses brought in 4s. 6d.; subscriptions for the church lamp, to
which there were seven subscribers of sums varying from two-
pence to a halfpenny, 7s. 3d. ; and collections on Maundy Thursday,
Easter Day, and Christmas Day, 17s. 8d. The chief items of the
expenditure were in lamp oil and wax ; among the smaller
payments were gd. for repairing three church books, and 2d. for
carrying a banner on Ascension Day.

The churchwardens' accounts of All Saints, Bristol, begin as
early as 1407, and proceed onwards with but few gaps {Archcso-
logical Journal y vol. Iviii. p. 148). A large number of interesting
extracts, together with a valuable inventory of 1396, are given
in Nicholls' and Taylor's Bristol Past and Present (1881), vol. ii.
pp. 90-107. In 1410 there is an entry of 20s. 6d. for making a
cross in the churchyard.

The archives of the church of St. Laurence, Reading, are among
the oldest and most interesting in the kingdom. The first church-
wardens' roll is for the year 1410, and from that date onward they

1 I am particularly obliged to Dr. Ellis for lending me diverse transcripts of these rolls
of the fifteenth century.

EARLY WARDENS^ ACCOUNTS 19

are fairly complete. The most salient points from these invaluable
records were set forth in 1883, after a most able fashion, by the
Rev. Charles Kerry, in a volume called A History of the Municipal
Church of St, Laurence, Reading, The roll of 1410 contains the
names of 150 subscribers to the re-roofing of the nave. One of the
largest subscribers (13s.) was John Keat, whose brass commemorat-
ing himself and his wife Jean is in the chancel; he died in 1415.
Abundant use is made of Mr. Kerry's volume under diverse heads
in the subsequent pages.

The receipts and disbursements of the churchwardens of
Hythe, Kent, for the year 1412-3, are printed in vol. x. oi Ah:hceo-
logicB Cantiana (1876). The receipts, amounting to £6 7s. 2d.,
including a balance of 8s. i^d., were derived from four sources:
(i) Rents amounting to 17s., in sums varying from id. to Ss. ;

(2) offertories collected on 26 Sundays, the one on Easter Day
los. 6d., the remainder varying in amount from 6d. to is. 6d. ;

(3) indulgencies, which had been granted on ten days — Christmas
Day, Whitsunday, All Saints, Feast of the Dedication, Corpus
Christi, St. John Baptist, and Our Lady's Feasts of the Conception,
Nativity, and Assumption, and St. Leonard, the patron saint —
but the collective result was only i6d. ; and (4) legacies, which
were 24 in number and amounted to £'^ 6s. id. The payments

1 included £^ for a Legenda and repairs to the "clokke."

I A long roll of churchwardens' accounts of the same church
i for 1480-1, among the Corporation records, is cited in the Fourth

Report of the Historical MSS, Commission (1874), pp. 432-3.

II The expenditure is chiefly concerned with the steeple and bells,
\ for which there is a long list of subscriptions varying from los. to
k jd. The parish clerk was paid 13s. 4d. for keeping "le chyme"
jK and "le clok," and los. for keeping the organs. Thomas the
i Bedesman, who was paid i6s. for watching the organs, was evi-
51 dently a night watchman and slept in the church ; he was that year

provided with a gown at a charge of 4s. " for lying in the church."
f The mediaeval records of St Mary-at-Hill, near London Bridge,

J preserved in the Guildhall Library, are contained in two large
jjj volumes of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. They include

the churchwardens' accounts, which begin in 1420 and are continued
'''^ down to 1559. Mr. Littlehales did good service in transcribing

20 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

and editing these accounts for the Early English Text Society in
1905 ; up to 149S they are copied verbatim, and subsequently in
abstract. From 143 1 to 1476 the accounts are missing, but from
1477 they are continuous.

The churchwardens' accounts of the little parish of St Petrock,
in the centre of the city of Exeter, extend from 1425 to 1692, but
with a gap from 1590 to 1640. These accounts are largely cited
and annotated in vol. xiv. of the Transactions of the Devon Associa-
tion (1882). The chief receipts in the first account are from
collections at Christmas, Easter, Midsummer, and Michaelmas.
Among the receipts of 1426-7 are several gifts — a brass vessel
weighing 20 lb., six silver spoons, a diaper napkin, and a
surplice. The earlier accounts begin and end on the Feast of All
Saints. There is a very full inventory in 1483-4.

The churchwardens' accounts of St. Peter Cheap, as contained
in a volume of 262 folios, extend from 143 1 to 1604. The earlier
portions up to 15 17 are comparatively scanty, but from that date
they proceed with but little interruption. There is an inventory of
church goods of 143 1 which is marvellously rich in the number
and value of its vestments and plate. St. Peter's parish, though
a small one, had a large number of wealthy residential citizens.
Classified extracts are given in vol. xxiv. of the Journal of the
British Archmological Association (1868), the most important of
which appear in the following pages,

Tintinhull, Somerset, possesses valuable warden accounts from
1433 to 1569. A good selection of extracts are given in vol. iv.
of Somerset Record Society^ 175-207. Two wardens were chosen
annually ; the day of audit and election varied considerably. The
funds accrued from (i) the bakehouse {pistrinid)\ (2) the brew-
house (brasina)] (3) the church-house (pandoxatorium)^ after 1497,
(4) some strips of land on the moor; (5) live stock, horned cattle,
and bees ; and (6) gifts, bequests, and special gatherings. The baking
and brewing tackle were let out for private hire.

Extracts are given of the churchwardens' accounts of Saffron
Walden from 1439 to 1485 in Richard Lord Braybrooke's History
of Audley End and Saffron Walden (1836), pp. 219-27. These
accounts remain at Audley End.

The churchwardens' accounts of Thame, Oxon, begin in 1442.

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 21

Transcripts of the earlier years begin in vol. viii. of the Berks^
Bucks, and Oxon A re kcsological Journal ] only a few pages appear
in each volunne ; in the last volume issued (xvi.) the year 1465
had not been finished. Several of the more exceptional entries
are quoted in the following pages.

The valuable early churchwarden rolls of St. Peter-in-the-East,
Oxford, were rescued from destruction by the late Bishop Hobhouse,
when vicar, in 1845. They were bound in a volume. The earliest
is 1443, and there are eight others before 1500. They then become
more regular and run through the sixteenth century, but with
several gaps. The accounts of 1443-4 are printed in the Pi'oceedings
of the Society of Antiquaries^ 2nd sen vol. x. pp. 25-8. The receipts
include rents to the value of los. 8d., parish gatherings at
Christmas and Easter, a church-ale at Whitsuntide, and fees for
burials within the church. Other rolls show that (i) the house
property originated with obits ; (2) that the young men and
maidens at Hocktide collected on the Monday and Tuesday from
the opposite sex for permission to pass, handing the receipts to the
church; (3) that the wardens kept a stock of players' garments
and let them out for hire ; (4) and that they let out torches for
funerals, especially for those of academical students.

The churchwardens' accounts of St. Mary, Sandwich, Kent,
date back to 1444 and are consecutive to 1449. They are also
extant from 1456 to 1464, and for the years 1495-6, 1500-2,
1504-19, 1521-3, 1526-31, 1542, I54S-8, 1558, 1568, and 1582.
The next book begins in 1632 and ends with 1730. Various
important extracts are set forth in Boy's History of Sandwich
(1792), 359-66. At the head of the initial account is a memor-
andum to the effect that when the French robbed the town of
Sandwich in 1456, they bore away, amongst other goods, a book
of the church of Our Lady, *' where yn was conteynyd the a
countis of the sayd chyrche of a xij yere afore passid or more."
However, Sir Thomas Norman had copies of those accounts, and
when he was churchwarden in 1474 he gave the transcripts written
in his own hand to the church. The largest item in the receipts
of 1444 was —

It of mennys almeys gevyn unto ye tabyll of alabastyr at ye hygh

auter for ye hygh chauncell .... iiij li. xij s. vj d.

2 2 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Certain old accounts of the extinct parish of St. Margaret,
Southwark, in the custody of the Corporation of Wardens, of
Southwark Cathedral are of much interest. There is a set of
churchwarden accounts extending from 1445 to 1455. The chief
source of income was from gatherings made in the church at cer-
tain festival seasons. These gatherings in 1445 amounted to 5s. 8d.
on St. Lucy's Day, i8s. on Christmas Day, 4s. on Candlemas Day,
30s. on Easter Day, 8s. 2d. on Whitsunday, 9s. id. on St. Margaret's
Day, 7s. id. on the Assumption, and 7s. on All Hallows Day.
Three burials within the church produced the usual fee of 6s. 8d.
each ; seven weddings came to I4d. ; and the executors of Nicholas
Hough paid 30s. towards " Chirche Workes.'' The outgoings show
that customary plays were held on the Feasts of St. Margaret and
St. Lucy. Among the receipts of one year occurs 3s. gd. " in
dawnsyng mony of the Maydens." There are also detached sheets
of churchwardens' accounts of 1481, 1487, 1491, 1497, 1508, and
from 1520 to 1539. These last accounts show a change in the
gatherings in church. At Easter offerings were made at the high
altar. Thus in 1534, £s 6s. 8d. was " recey ved at Ester at goddys
bord." Some of the earlier accounts were transcribed by Mr.
J. Payne Collier, and printed in vol. xxxii. (1847) of the British
Magazine.

The highly interesting parish accounts of Yatton, Somerset,
extending from 1445 to 1567, are admirably treated by Bishop
Hobhouse in Sojnerset Record Society ^ vol. iv. pp. 78-172. "The
area of the parish was divided into three portions, the east and west
(Claverham and Cleve) being committed to two * Lightmen,' some-
times called wardens, who brought their gatherings, originally
made for the support of lights in the church, to the wardens'
audit ; central Yatton paid its offerings to the wardens direct.
After the completion of the church-house, with its appliances for
entertainment, the gatherings were made at the Ales, instead of
from house to house, but the Lightmen of the east and west held
their Ales separately."

John Bentley, churchwarden in 1584 of St. Andrew, Holborn,
left behind him a book (now kept at the church) entitled Some
Monuments of Antiquities Worthy Memory; it contains, memor-
anda from old long-lost churchwardens' accounts, the earliest

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 23

date being 1446. Some highly interesting extracts from Bentley's
book are given in Londinium Redivivium (vol. ii. pp. 186-9, 196-8).
Throughout the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII the four
Inns or Houses of Chancery paid yearly a mark apiece to this
church ; the money was received by the wardens of St. Sythe,
and went to the support of a chantry priest. In the first year of
Edward VI, 36s. was received for brasses taken from the tombs.
In 2 Elizabeth the wardens sold the remaining memorial brasses.
The three Rood images " were all burned to ashes by command-
ment of the commissioners" in i Elizabeth. In 4 Mary the
obit of the Pope was solemnly kept, with great ringing of the
bells. We give further notes under " Fabrics" and " Church- Ales."
Many extracts from the valuable churchwardens' accounts
of Walberswick, Suffolk, extending from 1450 to 1696, are given
in Thomas Gardner's History of Dunwich (1754). These old
accounts have, alas, long since disappeared. Walberswick was for
a long period an important fishing port. The early receipts of
the churchwardens included a considerable toll on the herrings
and Sperling or sprats from the various boats. In 145 1 there were
22 Sperling boats registered at this port and 13 deep-sea or herring
boats. There was a profit to the wardens of 13s. 4d., in 1453,
from a church-ale held on 6th May, and a profit of i6s. from a
church-ale on All Saints' Day in the same year. There is a full
account of "utensils" in the church in 1492; many of the vest-
ments, etc., were stored "in the Lofte over the Porch.''

The old churchwardens' accounts of St. Ewen, Bristol, con-
tained in a bound volume, begin in 1454. They include some
valuable inventories, showing an exceptional wealth of books,
vestments, plate, and jewels. These and the earlier accounts were
admirably transcribed and annotated by Sir John Maclean in
vol. XV. of the Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire
ArckcBological Society.

The churchwardens' accounts of All Hallows, London Wall,
begin in 1455. A few interesting notes from the early years are
given in Londinium Redivivium (vol. ii. pp. 65-6) ; the Rood-loft
was rebuilt in 1457 at a cost of £d>.

The, Black Book of Swaffham contains no wardens' accounts,
but it is sufficiently notable to be mentioned, as it belongs to the

24 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

parish. This small book was written in 1454, in Latin, by Master
John Botwright, rector of Swaffham, master of Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge, and chaplain to Henry VI. It contains an
inventory of church goods and their donors, a terrier of all the
lands belonging to the light of St. Mary, and other lands belonging
to the church, and an account of all debts to the church to be
collected by the wardens.

The churchwardens' accounts of St. Andrew Hubbard begin in
1454; they are particularly valuable owing to their freedom from
gaps. The first volume extends from 1454 to 1524, and the
second from 1525 to 1631. They are carefully transcribed, from
the beginning up to 1578, in the now rare volumes (xxxi. to
xxxvi.) of the British Magazine and Monthly Register for the
years 1847-9. The receipts came chiefly from the rent of a house
at five marks a year; from "knelles pyttes" (graves in the church)
and bequests ; and from " quaterages and houselyng silver," the
latter due on Easter Day. The following are some of the note-
worthy special receipts : —

1457-8. On Seint Andrewis day in May for money gadered at the

church dure . . . . . ij s. viij d.

1457-8. Of Margaret the fruterr for standynge at the churche dore vj d.
1458-60. Of Margaret Kene for sittyng at the Churchedure . . vj d.

1466-8. Of Margarete Kene for occupyynge the bench under the

chirche walle for ij yeres . . , . . iij s.

1476-8. Of Margarete Kene for hir standyng at the Chirche dore

for an hole yere . . . . . . ij s.

1476-8. Of Pye Stacyoner for a boke called the half bible of the

old testement by us to hym sold . . . xxvj s. viij d.

1489-90. Of the Frenchemen and other strangers at Ester . viij s. vj d.

1 49 1 -2. Reaseyved in the stret on oure chirche holy day . vij s. iij d.

1498-9. Receyved that we gader in the Strett. . . . ixs.

These street gatherings, continued up to the Reformation,
were made on 9th of May, which was the Feast of the Translation
of St. Andrew.

The churchwardens' accounts of St. Michael, Cornhill, known as
the "Great Book of Accounts" extending from 1456 to 1608, were
privately printed in 1870, under the editorship of Mr. W. H. Overall.
There is a break of 71 years from 1475 to 1546. The vestry
minutes begin in 1503. The total receipts of 1456 were £6^ 19s. 6^d.,

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 25

derived from gatherings in the church at Christmas, Easter,
St. John Baptist's Feast, and Michaelmas, and from four fees for
burials within the church. The chief expenses for that year
were in connection with repairing parts of the church ; 50 paving
tiles cost IS. 6d. All Hallows was added to the times for church
collections in 1458. The details of the collections in 1471 will
serve as an example of several years of that century.

Receytes of Gaderinges in the Chirche

Fonds gadered in the Chyrche on All Hallowen day . iiij s. ob. qr.

Itm gadered on Sonday next after Crystemas day a forenon iiij s. x d. ob.

It gadered the same day at after noon . . . xx d. ob.

It gadered on Newrs day be fore noon . . . xix d. ob.

It gadered on xij^*" day be fore noon . . . . xij d.

It gadered the same day at after noon . . . . v d. ob.

It gadered the Sonday next followyng - . iij d.

It gadered on Sonday next after Ester day . . . . iij s. ob.

It gadered on Sonday next followyng . . xvj d. ob.
It receyved of Wodchyrche, for hys mayde fownde it in the chyrche iij d.

It gadered on Michelmas day . . . . . ij s. ij d.

Among memoranda at the end of the Great Book of Accounts,
various ordinances are entered as agreed upon by the rectoir,
wardens and seventeen other parishioners assembled in the vestry
on 1 2th May 1504. The following are the chief points: The
churchwardens to present the year's accounts on the day after
the Purification — the wardens of every brotherhood to render
accounts within six weeks of the completion of their year of office
— the old wardens of brotherhoods not to deliver their stocks to
the new wardens until sureties are found — churchwardens as well
as wardens of stocks to deliver their accounts to the elected parish
auditors — no warden to incur any expenditure above los. without
the assent of " a vestrie'' — anyone elected a warden and refusing to
serve to be fined los. — anything requiring to be corrected or
amended to be submitted to twelve of the wisest and most discreet
parishioners — no churchwarden or brotherhood warden to put any
priest in service in the church without the assent of the rector and
" iiij or vj of the moste ancient or worshipfullest of ye p'ish." Each
breach of these ordinances was subject to a penalty.

This is followed by **Rewles" of the church, drawn up in 1538.

26 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

The clerks were to ring to service for mattins at 7, for high mass at
9, and for evensong " on work dayes at ij a clock, and on holy dayes
according to the lawdable custome of the Citie." Priests and clerks
"after the thryd peall end shalbe present in the quyre in theire
shurples singing theire from the beginnyng of Mattens, Masse and
Evynsong unto the end of them all, without a reasonable excuse in
payne of forfeating as oft as they shall so doo ij d."

Add. MS. 33,192, at the British Museum, consists of seventeen
folios out of a fifteenth-century churchwardens' account book of
the parish of Arlington, Sussex ; they extend from 1456 to 1479.

The expenses of 1456 only amounted to lis. 2d.; they are
of an ordinary character, such as making the paschal taper and
torches, washing linen, and mending of the bells. Nor is there
anything specially noteworthy in the remaining recorded church
expenditure of this small parish. With regard, however, to the
receipts, two matters are well worthy of note. The parish held a
considerable stock of kine. In 1458-9 and in the following year
a cow was farmed at 3s. 8d. the year, and 28 other cows were
farmed at 2 lb. of wax, thus producing 56 lb. of wax for the
church lights per annum. The other exceptional receipt was
"hognell silver/' which fluctuated considerably in amount. In
1457 the receipts from " hognel sylver " were 24s. 4d. ; in 1459,
23s. 2d.; in 1460, 25s. 2d.; in 1464, 25s. 6^d.; in 1475, 3Ss. 5d.; in
1476, 20s. 2d.; in 1477, 37s. i|d. ; and in 1478, 33s. 7^d. Hognell
is probably a variant of Hogmaney, a name signifying December,
but used in some places to denote Christmastide gifts, and more
especially offerings on the last day of December, the eve of the
Circumcision,

There is a valuable account roll of the proctors or wardens of
Yeovil for the year 1457-8. The several sources of income of the
first account were (i) sale of seats, los. lod. ; (2) fees for tolling bell
and for hire of cope, cross, and censer at funerals, i6s. ; (3) rents
for carts standing by churchyard on market days, is. 4d.; (4) gifts
of individuals, £2 13s. 4d. ; and (5) rents for parish weights, 9s. id.
Total receipts, independent of money in hand, £d^ los. 7d. The
expenditure, amounting to £t^ is. i^d., was largely concerned with
the bells. This roll is given in extenso in Nichols' Collectanea
(1836), iii. 134-41-

-«%^-^^

'±.

i

^^^'^^i'^.f^^-^^^^

^Y

■ m;

WARDENS' BALANCE-SHEET OF ARLINGTON, 1403-4

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 27

The churchwardens' accounts of St Margaret, Westminster,
were collected together and bound in their present form in 1730.
They begin in 1460. A full transcript has been most courteously
submitted to us by Mr. A. M. Burke down to 15 10. He has in
active preparation a great work on the Wardens' Accounts and
the Registers. During that period the following years are
missing: 1462-4, 1468-74, 1476-8, 1486-8, 1492-4, 1506-8. The
extracts subsequently given of a period later than 1510 are
taken from Nichols' Illustrations of Manners (1797); but he must
have had access to another copy or transcript of accounts, as they
differ in several places from those now extant. The accounts are
in Latin up to 1468. They date from May to May, though the
exact day of the month differs. They are peculiar in being always
presented in pairs of years, and the two churchwardens remained
in office for two years. The exceptional feature of these returns
is that they supply a mortuary register for the period covered, as
the name of the person interred is always entered whether in the
spacious churchyard or within the church. The receipts came
largely from the charges for funeral tapers and torches. These
fees amounted in 1490-2 to ;^22 12s. 9d. ; a child's funeral with two
tapers paid 2d., and an adult from 2d. to 6d. ; with four tapers,
lod. ; with two torches and four tapers, 3s. 4d. A knell from the
great bell was 6d. Two tapers at an obit were 4d., four 8d. ; eight
torches and six tapers, 13s. 4d. The fee of half a mark (6s. 8d.)
was paid for burial within the church, which was usual throughout
the kingdom. A charge was made for a marble stone over the
grave, varying presumably according to size ; the fees in three cases
in 1460-2 were 3s., 8s., and 20s.

A second source of income was from the collections made in
church on six days, namely, Whitsunday, St. Margaret's Day, All
Saints, Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Day. In the
first account these collections amounted to ;f 14 5s. 5d.

The third head is " Le Puez " ; in 1460-2, twenty-seven pews or
seats were allotted to as many wives, varying in price, according to
position, from 4d. to 2od. By the end of the century the allotment
of paid seats had greatly increased, and they were occasionally
claimed by men. It seems to have been the custom to pay for a
life seat, but the fee had to be renewed if the seat was changed.

28 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

A fourth head of receipts is legacies or gifts, sometimes in money,
sometimes in kind. In the first account their value was 34s. 6fd.,
but this included 2|d. picked up in the church porch. Perhaps the
quaintest gift is one that occurs in 1500 —

Item a fether bede w* a bolster of the gefte of the syster of the byshop of
Seynt Asse to thentent that he shall Remayne in the Westir as long as he last
for the clerkes of the chirch to ley upon.

Michael Deacon, Bishop of St. Asaph, appears to have died that
year at Westminster. There is an entry—

For the knell of the bysehopp of Saynt Asse w* the grett belle . vj d.

Various other entries show that a clerk or clerks usually occupied
a vestry chamber. Thus in 149S —

For makyng of a bedde in the vestry for the clerkys . . vj d.

The special observance of St. Margaret's Day constantly occurs
in these accounts. A bonfire was kindled in the churchyard,
opposite the chief entrance, on St. Margaret's Eve; the general
charge for the faggots was 3d. The singers from the King's
chapel assisted in the services, and were rewarded with " brede
ale and wyne." The Keeper of the King's palace lent cloth of
Arras for hanging in the quire, and the " vesterer " of the abbey
lent *'cIothis of sylke and of golde" which were hung above the
altar ; both of these officials received "rewardes." The bonfire was
probably the cause of the invariable engagement of two watchmen
on " Sainte Margarets night." The church and churchyard were
swept and garnished before this festival of 20th July, and in 1485
we read that a penny was paid for " wasshing of the Ymage of
Sainte Margarete.'' In 1505 four shillings was paid to the " Waitts
of London for to goo a for the procession " on St. Margaret's Day.

In the parish chest of Cowfold, Sussex, is a small leather-covered
paper book of twenty folios, which contains, in a somewhat defaced
condition, churchwarden accounts extending from 1460 to 1485.
They are a strange medley of Latin and English ; all the legible
portions were transcribed in vol. ii. of the Sussex Archceological
Collections (1849). The general expenses of the church and the
maintenance of certain lights were sustained by cattle which were

EARLY WARDENS^ ACCOUNTS 29

pastured on different farms. The accounts for 1473-4 show that
there were nine oxen and four cows the property of the church.
Two of the cows sustained four tapers in honour of St. Katherine,
whilst two other cows had been bequeathed '* to fynde a tapre afore
Sante Antonie et unum afore Our Lady." Interspersed among
the accounts are several memoranda of a miscellaneous character,
including receipts against the plague and lockjaw, and the lucky
days for bloodletting in each month.

Blomfield and other early writers on Great Yarmouth give
extracts from churchwarden accounts of 1460 and of immediate
subsequent years, but we can only conclude that they are lost.^

The parish accounts of St. Edmund, Salisbury, begin in the
year 1463 ; they are fairly complete up to the end of the seventeenth
century. There are also the accounts of the stewards of the
Fraternity of the Jesus Mass, in connection with this church, from
1476, until the dissolution of the gilds in 1547. They were
printed by the Wilts Record Society in 1896, together with the
accounts of St. Thomas, Salisbury, the whole prefaced by an able
introduction.^ These accounts are of much interest and value in
connection with the changes in sources of income : the rise and
growth of the poor relief system ; the visits of royalty and other
distinguished persons to the city ; the bountiful store of valuable
church goods and lights in the earlier days of free-will offerings ;
the meanness of such provision in the times of church rates, save
in the matter of a gaudy and extravagantly dressed pulpit ; the
admission to Holy Communion by tokens ; and, above all, the evil
growth of a paid pew system, beginning with two or three seat
payments in the fifteenth century down to the unblushing sale of
every possible seat or pew, with the exception of a few back benches
branded in big red lettering " For the Poore." The main features of
these and of other details will be found in subsequent sections, but
two particulars, rarely met with in old churchwarden accounts,
may be here mentioned.

^ This is almost the only instance in which my inquiries have been treated with
discourtesy. Letters asking for brief information, and enclosing a post card for reply,
have been addressed respectively to (i) Vicar, (2) Churchwardens, and (3) Parish Clerk,
and in each case they have been ignored.

^ These accounts form a volume of upwards of 450 closely printed pages ; unhappily
there is no subject index.

30 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

The oblations and devotions of diverse persons to this church

were kindled by papal letters of indulgence or remission of penance

granted to penitents making offerings to the fabric of the church at

Michaelmas and the Annunciation. On these occasions the Hand

of St. Edmund, encased in a hand-shaped silver reliquary, his ring

of gold in an ivory box bound with silver, the comb, part of a

shirt, and a cruet belonging to the same saint, a piece of the stole

of St Dunstan, and "a pece of y^ skull of seynt Wolfrine^

standyng in a fote of silver and parcelgilt" were exposed to the

faithful making oblations. This indulgence, made in '' old time,"

appears to have been lost sight of, but in 1473-4 Sd. was spent in

proclaiming it, and 6s. 8d. was obtained in offerings at the ensuing

Michaelmas. In 1475-6 considerable pains were taken to make

the pardon more widely known. A shilling was paid for making

six bills or copies of it in English, 4d. for rewards in distributing

or affixing them, and 2s. 4d. in rewards to children who attended

the formal declaration. A child was hired for 6d. "to kepe the

pardon" at the Annunciation, and one Robert Glasyen to fulfil

the same office for 8d. at Michaelmas. This keeping of the

pardon probably implies responsibility for offerings in money.

There was no striking response to this expenditure. The pardon

receipts were 2s. 4d. in 1476, 2s. 8d. in 1480, 4s. 4d. in 1483-4*

IS. 7d. in 1490-1, and 2s. lod. in 1494-5. An entry of the year 1480

records the suspension of the pardon, " all manner of pardons were

annulled by reason of the Indulgence of Seynt Jonys of Jerl'm."

The Knights of St. John were at that time besieged at Rhodes by

Mahomet ii ; their situation was so urgent that the Pope suspended

all other indulgences in their favour, so as to secure them the more

generous support of all Christendom. This papal restriction was,

however, removed by 1483, when six English copies of this Sarum

indulgence were again made ; on this occasion they were written

gratuitously by the deacon of the church. The money offerings of

1499-1500 only amounted to sixpence, but the matter is thus

detailed at length on the roll : —

Oblacions for the pardon of the Popis bullis in ye .same Churche this yere.
Of dyverse persons for the pardon the Popis bullis in the fest of Michelmas
iiij d., and in the fest of thannunciation of our lady ij d.

1 St. Wolfrida, abbess of Wilton.

EARLY WARDENS^ ACCOUNTS 31

The last entry relative to the pardon occurs in 1 500-1, when
the amount offered was only 7^d. Presumably, however, various
of the gifts in kind to the church fabric, made from time to time and
entered under another heading, were due to the papal indulgence.
A favourite gift or bequest by women householders was a brass
pot J one of those given at this period weighed 38 lb.

The elections of mayors, bailiff, and other town officials were
frequently held in churches in the old days. The mayor of
Salisbury was elected within the church of St. Edmund. In 1579
the election was moved to the church of St. Thomas because the
plague was then " hot " around the former church. In one of the
subsequent plague years 2d. was charged " for Frankinnsense to
burne in the churche agaynst ye masters come to chose Master
Mayre."

The following is a summary of the oldest of the perfect
account rolls, extending from 2nd April 1461 to isth April 1462 : —

Balance from last account, £^ 15s. 8|d. ; collection of pence on Maundy
Thursday and Easter for the church fabric, £2 os. 3jd. ; collection of pence
for the font taper, 4s. gjd. ; bequests of money, five in number, ^3 2s. ;
bequests of a brass pot, magna pond.^ a silver spoon, and a silk girdle ;
fees for four burials within the church, 22s. ; Scot ale, £\% 8s. lod.
Total receipts, £'^\ is. 7|d.

Maundy expenses, 5s. 8d. ; new wax and making tapers, 4s. 3|d. ; obits,
5s. id. ; necessary expenses, repairs, etc., 19s. gd. ; purchase of candle-
sticks, etc., ^20 17s. lojd. ; two silver-gilt candlesticks, weighing 160
ounces at 3s. 4d. the ounce, ^20 in part payment, and 3s. 4d. for bringing
them on horseback from London j purchase of 1016 lb. of le^d and
carriage to storehouse, £1 os. 7d. Total payments, £2^ 13s. 3jd.

The parish books of All Saints, Derby, are quite exception-
ally complete and voluminous, beginning as early as 1465 and
continuing down to the present time. The two earliest books
were lost or stolen when the body of the church was rebuilt in
1724. Various entries appear as to their loss, and eventually,
in 1728, the town crier was paid 4d. to offer a reward for their
recovery. In 1877 the present writer had the good fortune to
find thepi in an attic at Meynell-Langley, and Mr. Godfrey
Meynell restored them to their proper custody. The first of these
two highly interesting and invaluable paper books has well-
written entries from 1465 to 1527 in the same handwriting, and

32 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

is clearly a transcript made at the latter date from original
accounts which had probably been made on detached rolls.
The maintenance income of this once important collegiate
church was derived in the main from the rents of divers lands
and tenements. The chief of the casual receipts was from burials
within the church. The first of these accounts is prefaced by an
elaborate inventory of all the goods and ornaments of the church,
which were of a costly and most varied character. There is another
comprehensive inventory of the year 1527.^

There are 103 rolls of churchwardens' accounts, several of two
or four years, pertaining to the parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate,
in the Guildhall Library. They extend from 1406-7 to 1632-3,
with gaps from 1602 to 1608 and from 161 1 to 1632, are in good
condition and of much value. The rolls follow a set form. The
receipts always begin with certain quit-rents, followed by the rent
of a tenement called the Church House, which was next door to
the " Peacock " in Aldersgate ; the third entry was always concerned
with the rent of a garden " without Temple Bar." Other receipts
were for " pitts and knells " for the hire of torches and tapers for
funeral or obit purposes, and gatherings for special objects. The
same marginal headings are often repeated even if there was
nothing to chronicle. Thus two headings always appear in the
receipts : " Money gadered for surplyces and rochetts," and " Money
gadered for Vestmentes." The following are the returns under
these items in 1489-90: —

Of any money gadered among the paryshioners thys yere for surplices
and Rochetts they Answer not Forasmuche as no such money was gadered
thys yere. Nevertheless in the furst yere of the Reyne of the forsayd Kyng
Henry the Seventh hit was answered of suche gaderyngs iiij s. iiij d. ob.

Of any money by thym gadered among the paryshioners for vestmentes,
forasmoche as there was no suche gaderynge thys yere. Neverthless in the
second yere of the Reyne of the sayd Kyng Henry the Seventh there was
gadered for vestmentes xxxv W. ix s. vj d. ob.

Amongst the '' casual recipes " of the days of Henry VII and
Henry VIII are curious entries, which at first sight look puzzling,

^ Exact transcripts of the whole of these accounts, with facsimiles of the first three
pages, appear in a quarto volume by Rev. Dr. Cox and W. H. St. John Hope, entitled
Chronicles of All Saints^ Derby^ published by Bemrose & Sons in 1881.

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 33

as to moneys received " for standyng aboute the churche " on St.
Bartholomew's Day. Thus, in 1507, 3s. id. was received on this
plea from " Henry Browne Herdwerman (hardware man) and
dyvers other persons." In 1509 the receipts under this head were
4s. 8d. ; in 1519 they had grown to 7s. id., and an additional 6d.
from one standing " at este ende of the churche gate." The
explanation is obvious from the entry of 1534, when 9s. iid. was
obtained from persons "standing at St. Bartelomew's Fayer."
Standings on church ground were let to certain dealers in small-
wares during the holding of the great St. Bartholomew's fair
on Smithfield ; the fair charter was granted by Henry II, and it
was not suppressed until 1855. The receipts from this source in
1601-2 amounted to 30s.

There is a chartulary of the Gild of the Trinity and of SS.
Fabian and Sebastian of this church in the British Museum
(Add. MS. 37,664). It was founded in 1377, and refounded in 1446.
The brethren and sisters paid a penny each to find " xiij taperes
aboute ye sepulcre of Criste at Este in ye churche of seynt Botulphe
wjoute Alderesgate in Loundone." Accompts of the fraternity are
given from 1432 to 1456, with one or two omissions. There are
various lists of the members, headed by the two masters. In 1377
they numbered 80, including many married couples; they paid
annual sums chiefly of 1 2d., but extending in a few cases to 2s.
and 4s.

The churchwarden accounts of St. John, Peterborough, begin in
1467 and continue up to 1571. The pre-Reformation entries
are of exceptional interest, and they would well repay printing in
extenso. Details as to the repairs and purchase of vestments are
frequent. Various items are quoted under subsequent headings;
a few of the more important, which cannot be readily classified, are
here cited : —

1473. Payd for ryngyng agense my lord of Lyhgkcoln at hys

vysytacyon . . . , . . . ij d.

1474. Payd for the yere tyme of Abbot Genge . . . vj d.

^ A knell for a woman burnt at the stake. The law of England, up to 1790, provided
that women guilty of high or petty treason should suffer this form of capital punishment.
Petty treason included murder of a husband or an employer. The last instance was at
Portsmouth in 1784.

3

34 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1475. Rec of the woman y* was byrnt for the bellys^ . . ij d.

1476. Payd to the ryngers to the worschypp of God and for the

Duke of York sowle and bonys commyng to Fodrynghey ^ iiij d.
1476. Rec of the wyffys of Pet'burgh that Elyn Man and Elyn

Watson gadyrd among them for the qwythyng^ of the

chyrche and to the west ward . . . . x s.

Item payd for qwythlymyngs of the chyrche . . xiij s. iiij d.

1500. For the dirige of the Founders . . . . xvj d.

1 5 12. For meyt and drynke at the fownders deryge and messe ij s. iiij d.
15 15. Payd for a lattys to the shryvyng howse^ . . . ij $.

1536. Payd for Ryngers when my Lady Katern was buryed* . ij s. vj d.

Item payd for mendyng a flower for a candellstyke of ower

Ladys chappell . . . . . . ij d.

In 1889 the Shropshire Archcgological Society (N.S. vol. i.)
printed the churchwarden accounts of 1469 and 147 1, which are in
the possession of Ludlow Corporation. Between 1471 and 1540
there is a prolonged gap. The accounts temp. Edward IV are
of value as dealing with the latter period of the erection of the
great central tower.

The churchwardens' accounts of Ludlow, extending from 1540
to the end of Elizabeth's reign, were for the most part transcribed
by Mr. Thomas Wright, and printed by the Camden Society in
1869. The receipts of the first year of these accounts and for
all its successors were chiefly obtained by gatherings at Easter ; in
1840 they amounted to 37s. 9d., and in the following year to 39s. 2d.
The next highest item of the receipts was 26s. 8d. for four
" leystalles " ; Mr. Wright failed to understand this entry, and
thought it was a kind of pew, but the word simply means a grave
within the church, for which the general charge throughout the
kingdom was half a mark. The receipts for 1541 include 6d.
of Thomas Heytone " for the reversyonn of his fathers pew," and 8d.
for a " knelynge place for Rycharde Rawlens wyf."

The parish accounts of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, begin 1470.
See extracts in Bristol Past and Present (1881), vol ii. pp. 206-10.

The churchwardens' accounts of St. Martin Ongar (Guildhall
Library) do not begin until 1710, but the first volume of the vestry

^ Duke Richard fell in battle at Wakefield, 1460, and was buried at Pontefract ; but
the body was subsequently translated to the royal collegiate church of Fotheringhay.
2 Quickliming, i.e. whitewashing. s Confessional.

^ The divorced Katherine of Aragon.

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 35

minute books extends from 1471 to 161 5. This great volume is
thus headed : —

" This boke belongith to the Church of Seynt Martyns Ongar
beside Candehoyk strete in London begun the xxv day of Juyn
the yere of oure Lorde god MCCCCLXXJ, that tyme beyng parson
Maist' Elysaunder Broun, than beyng Wardeyns Harry Jacom
drap' and John Wysall Grocer, the which had ye Rowle of all the
Rentis of iij chaunterys belonging to the sayde Church yat is for-
tosay of Westons Rentis, Hyde, and Crowners Rentis as hyt
appoints folowynge, every chantery be hymself."

The property of Westons Rents is entered as of the annual
value of £1^ Ss., and that of Hydes £1^ i6s. Sd.; the next
folio is missing. The particulars are given of the obits of William
Hyde, and of John Mathew, alderman and mayor of London. The
churchwardens' accounts for two years, 1469-71, are set forth in
full. The receipts show that during this period the wardens
received from three donors five barrels and a kilderkin of
" godeale," valued at 20s. 4d. Later on in the book occurs the
churchwardens' accounts for 1577-91, and a large number of
the seventeenth century.

The churchwardens* or proctors' accounts of St. John Baptist,
Bristol, begin in 1472, and are of much value in the pre-
Reformation period. Various extracts appear in Nicholls' and
Taylor's Bristol Past and Present (i88i), vol. ii. pp. 154-7.
Among the archives of the church is the original writ, of ist June
1409, for the consecration of the burial-ground in St. John Street.

In the East Anglian, N.S. vol. ii. 180-1 (1887-8), a few
extracts are given, as alleged, from old churchwarden accounts of
Blythburgh, Suffolk, beginning in 1472; but it is not stated from
whence they are taken. In Suckling's Suffolk, vol. ii. 1 5 5-7
(1848), other extracts are given, and mention is made of an old
tattered churchwardens' book, bearing the date 1547. The
present writer was permitted to make a careful search in 1903,
but no early accounts could be found.

The churchwardens' accounts of St Stephen, Walbrook (Guild-
hall Library), begin in 1474 and continue to 1487. The first
volume also contains the accounts for 1507, 15 10, 15 18-9, 1522
1525-7, 1529, 1531, 1534, 1536-7, 1577, 1580, and 1583. Three

36 THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

more volumes carry on the accounts consecutively from 1649 to
1812. The first account covers the period from 1474 to 1478.
During those years voluntary gifts to the amount of £26 9s. 2d.
were made by parishioners to the " Reparacon of the stepuU " ; and
£\'^ 2s. lod. was raised by assessments granted to "the feneysyng
of the stepull."

There is a folio volume of wardens' accounts of Snettisham,
extending from 1474 to 1536, and another from 1588 to 1661.
They are both in the library of Hunstanton Hall, Norfolk.

The early churchwarden accounts of Croscombe, Somerset, are
in a paper book mutilated at both ends. They run from 1474-5
with a few exceptions, 1547-8, when spoliation set in with cruel
vigour. From the latter date to 1559-60 the accounts occur
irregularly. The audit was generally held in January when the
two wardei)s were elected by the parishioners. The gilds who
presented their offerings at the audit were generally six, namely,
the Young Men or " Younglyngs," the Maidens, the Webbers
(weavers), the Tuckers (fullers), the Archers (represented by Robin
Hood and Little John), and the Hagglers (labourers). On one
occasion (1483-4) 6s. 8d. was contributed of "the Wyfes dansyng."
Each gild received a stock of one or two shillings for immediate
charges, such as the maintenance of a light ; this was supplemented
by a gathering or profits on their special revel or feast day, After
fulfilling their social and religious obligations, they brought back
at the audit to the wardens the "new and old," namely, the stock
with which they had been entrusted, together with the "crese" or
increase which had been made during the year. Occasionally there
was no profit, when it is entered that they " broughte yn noughte."

The gild offerings are entered after a quaint fashion, which we
have not observed in any other warden accounts ; the phraseology
brings before us, after a lively fashion, the audit in the church,
with the "approach" to the wardens and the chief parishioners, in
due order of the representatives of each gild, with their balance or
offerings, as well as of those who desired to make a special gift.
Here, as an example, are entries made at the audit of nth January
1476:—

Comes Thomas Blowre and John Hill and presents in of Roben
Hod's recones (reckonings) , , , , . xl s.

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 37

Comes John Joyce and Roger and presents in of font tapur and

Kendal of encres . . . . • • . nj s.

Comes Walter Mayow and presents in of the gyfte of Isobel
Mayow j payer vestments of white damaske and delyvered into
churche . . . . • ■ • ....

Comes the Weyhers Harry Mewe and Thomas Symonds and

presents in xxij d., and they receive a yen for a stoke . . xij d.

Comes William Brabuck and presents in of old and new of Synt

Myghel light which remayns al in his hands . . vj s. viij d.

Comes the Hogglers, and presents in of old and new iij s. x d., and

they received a yeu for a stoke . . . . • y s.

Comes Youngmen William Cogen and Nichol Edmonds and
bryng in of encres of the past iij s. ixd. that remayns in their
hands delyvered to them more by Heyman of his gaderyng
of old . . . . . . . . ij s. ij d.

Comes Tokers and Roger and Costrell and presents in clere

ij s. ij d. and Roger and Braunch received a stok of . . xij d.

Comes the maydens and bryng in of encres cler . . . ix d.

Comes Mayster John Toker (a master fuller) and gyfes to the
new legent . , . . . . * vj s. viij d.

.The largest item of this year's receipts came from the " Crok "
or " Croke," i.e. the great processional cross ; it had its special
keeper, who bore it through the parish at festal seasons, on which
occasions alms were gathered.

The money of the Crok of the yere comes to . . lix s. vij d.

Paid to Harper for his yers wages . . . . .vs.

Paid to Harper for kepyng of the Croke . . . . xx d.

The Croke money was usually considerably higher; it exceeded
£^ at two or three of the fifteenth-century audits.

The gifts to this church were most varied and sometimes of
considerable value. Occasionally a gift accompanied the fee for
the burying or pit within the church. Here are a few examples : —

1476-7. Jane Fenton at her det gaf to our lady a ring gylt.

Of the gyfte of Maud Malleny a sylver ring gilt and a
token gyrdei of sylver.
1477-8. William May, an ewer, bras.

Thomas Blower, j vyolet long gowne ingrayne, a ryng
gold with a torcus (turquoise) and a kerchef of syper
(Cyprus silk) to mak a wiper.

38 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

1481-2. Of the gefte of the Lady Schefton a ryng of gold with

a ruby.
1483-4. Richard Down for a kow of the gyfte of his dowgter . vj s. viij d.
1488-9. Of the gyfte of Syr John Comb, parson of Corscombe, a

grette maser with a stone.
Of the gyfte of Syr John Camell ij powchys of felewote

(velvet), one of rede felewote and another of blake.
1496-7. Of Master Richard Mawley and Alsun his wife a portoss

called a leger, a grayll and precessioner, ij new

couchers (large books), and ther wedyng ryng of gold

to our lady.
1497-8. Of John Jons a neue and a lam (an ewe and a lamb).
1498-9. Of my lady Mayow a gold ring to our lady and a nobule

(noble) for her pytt.

Wimborne Minster, Dorset, has three volumes of early wardens'
accounts — (i) 1475-1580; (2) 1 581-1640; and (3) 1640-96.
There is a gap from 1550 to 1560. The chief receipts came
from the church-ale {taherna cerevisi(B) ; the profits were £6 in
1475. The wardens let out brewing utensils from the church-
house on hire. Oblations brought to the feet of St. Cuthberga,
St. Laurence, and other saints realised in this year 31s. The
wardens received fair tolls, in the churchyard, on the Sunday after
the Feast of St. Cuthberga. Fee for burial in the church was
6s. 8d. ; for those under fourteen, 3s. 4d. No seat-letting is named
until 1565; usual seat payments were 2d. and 4d. A large
number of entries are cited in History of Wimborne Minster {iS6o)y
pp. 87-125. The "wyve of the cuntrey" and the ** wyfe of the
towne " were two women who made and sold cakes for the benefit
of the church; they jointly gained £^ in 15 10; in 1516 the former
obtained £4 13s. 4d. and the latter £4. 6s. 8d.

The sacristan or sexton and his deputies and other servants of
the church received as wages the offerings that were made on the
occasion of three parochial processions, namely, on St. Stephen's
Day, Easter Monday, and Whitsun Tuesday; but the amount was
occasionally increased by further sums from the wardens* common
fund.

The old churchwardens' account bqok of Ashburton, Devon, is
a quarto of paper with parchment cover, extending from 1479-80
to 1579-80, with only two omissions, namely, those of 1480-1 and

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 39

1 48 1 -2. A pamphlet of 50 pages was printed in 1870 by Mr.
J. H. Butcher, giving a large number of selected extracts. The
chief annual receipt came from a Whitsuntide church-ale, and
secondly from the surplus of the annual collection of wax-silver.
The Whitsuntide church-ales of Ashburton were the principal
source of income in that parish. In 1482-3 the profits were
;^S 13s. 4d.; in 1558-9,^6.

There were a considerable number of separate " stores " in this
parish, all of which contributed to the general fund of the church-
wardens. Thus in 1511-2 the wardens of the following stores
contributed as follows: The wardens of the store of the Great
Torches, 13s. 4d. ; of the Junior Torches, £2 ; of the Blessed Virgin,
£^ ; of the Blessed Mary at the font, los. ; of the Wyvyn (wives)
Store of the Blessed Mary; £2\ of the High Cross, j£'4; of
St. George, 26s. 8d. ; of SS. Katherine and Margaret, 20s. ;
of St. Clement, £2 ; of SS. James and Eligius, 20s. ; and of
St. Thomas of Canterbury, 2s. Each of these gilds or fraternities
maintained lights before the respective images, and put aside the
surplus contributions for the general church funds. The entries of
this particular year represent the debts or accumulations of several
years which were then paid into the common fund. The church
was shortly afterwards reseated and reglazed.

The wardens' accounts of Chagford, Devon, begin in 1480. A
few desultory extracts occur in the Transactions of the Devonshire
Association.

The earliest wardens' accounts of St. Thomas, Launceston,
begin in 1480. A valuable series of extracts are given in R. and B.
Peter's Histories of Launceston and Dunheved (1885), pp. 356-83.
The gilds of All Saints and of St. Mary held stocks of cattle.
There are various curious entries in Elizabethan days relative to
the burial of criminals executed at the Castle and the disposal of
their clothes.

The churchwardens' accounts of Sutterton, Lincoln, from 1483 to
1536, are at the Bodleian (Rawl. MSS. Miscell. 951). The main
receipts of 1483 were from small payments for candles burnt for
the dead, varying in amount from id. to lod. The *' kyrk house " is
often mentioned from 1484 onwards. Various extracts are given
in a paper in vol. xxxix. of the Archcsological Journal (1882).

40 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

The churchwardens' accounts of Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincoln-
shire, begin in 1484 ; with them are the accounts of one of the five
gilds, that of Corpus Christi, associated with the church. There is
a good short paper on these parish records in the Antiquary,
vol. xix. (1889). The other gilds were those of the Holy Sepulchre,
St. John Baptist, the " May gilde," and the " Pluygh (plough) gilde."

Considerable extracts are given in Nichols' Illustrations of
Manners (1797) from the churchwardens' accounts of Wigtoft,
Lincolnshire, for 1484-6, 1487, 1499, 1500, 1505, 1507, 1509, 1512,
1519. 1520, 1523, 1524, 1525, 1532, IS33, 1535, IS43, 1544, 1549-58,
and for several years of Elizabeth's reign down to 161 2. The date
for giving in the accounts varied considerably ; the financial year
of the first entry began and ended with the Feast of St. Peter in
Cathedra (Feb. 22), and soon afterwards was changed to that of
St. Peter ad Vincula (Aug. i), and in 1561 it was Good Friday.
The most unusual feature of the receipts is an annual rent of I4d.
for a " salt panne " ; Wigtoft was at that time a sea-board parish.
There were gatherings both in money and corn of the parishioners,
and it is of special interest to note —

Item reasvyd of gaderyng in ye kyrk of strangers .

The chief outgoings of the first account included charges for
keeping and dressing the clock, and also iid. for

Scouryng of iiij candelsticks afore ye hye auter, and ye candelstyk afore
Seynt Peter and for saudryng of the holy water fatte.

In 1580 the "orgun pllayur'' received 7s., and 7|-d. for his
expenses.

The parish accounts of St. Nicholas, Bristol, both of the upper
and of the crypt church, are of considerable interest, particularly in
pre- Reformation days. Those of the latter church begin in 1489,
and are much concerned with the observance of obits. An obit
was held "for all good dowers" (doers) on the eve of Holy Rood
Day, when the services, attended by ten priests and two clerks, were
followed by considerable feasting. The festival of the boy-bishop
was celebrated at this church on 6th December (St. Nicholas' Day)
with great completeness. All the services, except Mass, were
conducted by the youthful bishop and his fellow quire boys. The

uj s.

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 41

mayor, sheriff, and the town council attended evensong to hear
the boy-bishop's sermon, and to receive his blessing. Many
extracts from these parish accounts are given in Nicholls' and
Taylor's Bristol Past and Present (1881), vol. ii. pp. 160-4.

The accounts of the Upper or High Church begin in 1520.

The churchwardens' accounts of St. Martin, Leicester, were
printed by the late Mr. Thomas North in 1884. The volume
contains (i) a few extracts from Nichols' Leicestershire, between
1489 and 1513, taken from a book of accounts long since missing;
(2) an exact transcript of entries from 1544 to 1566; (3) copious
extracts from 1566 to 1644; (4) extracts by Nichols from 1645 to
1737 ; and (SJ extracts from original documents from 1744 to 1844.
The accounts for 1634-S supply many particulars as to prepara-
tions for a visit from Charles I. The royal arms were repainted ;
two rows of seats were removed ; two loads of rushes were provided
for 2od. — they must have come from a distance, for their carriage
cost 3s. ; the mayor and brethren's seats were taken away, and a
fee of 4s. was paid to the " Kings Officer for the Floare where his
majestic satt." , The ringers, eight in number, were paid iSs. ; a
new surplice was provided at a cost of 49s. 4d. ; and 3d. was paid
" for flowers for the Kings Cushion."

The King was again in Leicester in 1643-4 ; two entries refer to
this visit : —

Paid to Norman for flowers and herbs to straw the church at the
Kings comeing . . . . . . .is. 8d.

Paid to Knowles for six burdens of rushes for the church at the
Kings comeing . . , . . . . 2s. od.

The churchwarden accounts of the small country parish of
Cratfield, Suffolk, begin in 1490 and continue to 1642. The
earliest accounts, down to 1502, were transcribed verbatim, with
extracts and abstracts of the remainder by the Rev. W. Holland, the
rector of an adjacent parish, and printed posthumously, with an intro-
duction by Dr. Raven, in 1895. They are of considerable interest,
and contain separate accounts of the parish gild from 1534 to 1540.
The receipts of 1490 were entirely raised from church-ales ; four of
them produced 33s. 8d. ; the results of a fifth ale are not set down.
The expenses were only 12s. 4d., including 4s. 4d. for the sexton's

42 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

or rather sacristan*s wages. The receipts for 1491 amounted to
S6s. 7d., and included gatherings on Plough Monday in addition to
various ales.

The awkward habit was adopted in 1585 of each churchwarden
keeping a separate account, a custom which prevailed down to
the Commonwealth. A large portion of the later accounts pertain
more strictly to the constables office. There is a good deal of
matter relative to the vexatious system of purveyance for the royal
household in Elizabeth's reign, which is discussed in the last
chapter.

The churchwardens' accounts of St. Mary-de-Castro, Leicester,
from 1491 to 1571, are largely cited in Nichols' great history of the
county (179s), vol. i. pp. 309-u. The receipts were largely aug-
mented by church-ales; three of these ales in 1495 produced Sis.
in clear profit. The wardens made special gatherings in church
for particular objects on Sundays, such as for new quire stalls in
1495, and for mending the windows in 1498. Up to 1520 the
churchwardens are termed " churchmasters."

In 1887 an old wardens' account book of this parish, from 1652
to 1729, was restored to the church by the will of Joshua Chawner,
These accounts are fully cited in vols. vi. and vii. of the Transactions
of the Leicestershire Archceological Society, The vestrymen of this
period were known as " The Thirteen."

The churchwardens' books of All Hallows, Staining, begin,
according to Londinium Redivivium^ in 1492 ; interesting extracts
are given (vol. ii. pp. 19-22); the church was rich in costly images
and tabernacles, and exceptionally well furnished with vestments
and plate.

The Kingston-on-Thames accounts extend from 1496 to 1681.
See Hist. MSS. Commission^ Third Report, pp. 331-2.

The churchwarden accounts of Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire,
begin in 1497, and are continued in the same volume down to
1538, but with several gaps. The book opens with an elaborate
inventory of church goods, dated 17th April 1498. Various long
quotations appear in subsequent pages. A transcript of these
accounts was made by Mr. Alfred Rogers for Mr. Henry Bradshaw
about 1870. This transcript is in the Cambridge University
"Library, Add. 2792.

EARLY WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 43

The earliest church accounts of Pilton, Somerset, date from
1498 to 1530, but with several omissions. After a great gap
comes a second volume, beginning in 1584, and a third which
begins in 1626 and ends in 1641. Up to 1530 a single warden
administered the parish funds ; but under him were four pairs of
wardens annually elected, namely, those of Our Lady, of St. John's
Gild, of the Highlight on the Rood-loft, and those of the Key,
Kye, or Kine, that is, the Cows pertaining to the church. Within
the parish was the chapel of North Wootton, with its own pair of
wardens, but they appear to have been independent and directly
responsible to the diocesan authorities. See Somerset Record
Society^ vol. iv. pp. 49-77.

CHAPTER III

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF
OF THE SIXTEENTH
CENTURIES

WARDENS' ACCOUNTS
AND SEVENTEENTH

AN analysis of the extant accounts of the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries, on the same lines as the earlier
instances in the previous chapter, had been prepared, but
exigencies of space has compelled their omission. In their place
a table has been prepared, in chronological order, setting forth the
initial year of each cited instance, with a reference to any work
wherein extracts have been printed. Unless stated to the contrary,
it is to be assumed that the account book or books are in the parish
to which they belong. Where the third column is left blank, I am
not aware of any matter in print. It is not to be assumed that
these lists are complete, especially in the seventeenth century, but
much diligence has been expended in endeavours to make them
thorough.

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

I 500-1648

1501-1521
1 502-1547

I 504-1633

1504-1635

I 504-1 557
1507-1525 (re-
sumed 1547)
1507-9, 1518-28
1510-1540

Worfield, Salop

Louth, Line. .
Stoke Courcy, Som.

Great St. Mary, Cam-
bridge
Holy Trinity, Cambridge

Lambeth

St. Margaret Pattens,

City
Horley, Surr.
Fordwich, Kent

Trans, of Salop Arch, Soc,, Third

Series, vol. iii., etc.
Archfsologia^ vol. a. (1792)
HisL MSS. Com. J Sixth Report, 348-

351
Printed by Camb. Antzq. Soc.

Transcript in Camb. Antiq. Soc.

Library
Archmologia^ vol. vii. A few extracts
Sacristy, vol. i. 258-262 (1871)

Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 6173
Hist, MSS. Com., Fifth Report, 607-
608

. ^^i^Y^^tS^^r/T*^^^^^^'^^^'-^.

>.- ''-^P ^ .; v

'Vf^if

^^/^

-p^^

v^

-^

-t^-

'.*-

CHURCH EXPENSES OF WARDENS OF STRATTON, 1521

t 4 t I t

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WARDENS^ ACCOUNTS 45

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

1511-1797
1515-1539
1515-1714
1516-1546 (Gild

Accts. 1371-

1547)
1517-19. 1565-

69
1518-1546
1519-1520
1520
1520-1548

I 520-1 545

1520-1557
1 52 1 onwards
1523-1853
1524-1613
I 525-1699
I 525-1603
1527

1527
1529

1529-1596
I 529- I 709

1530

1530-1663

1531-1614

1534

1536-1558
I 536-1602
1536-1565

1536

1538-1628
1538
1539-1603

1539-1640

1540-1560

1541-1696

1541-1728
1543 to present

day
1543-1608

1543-1699

I 544-1 628

I 544-1649

Shipdam, Norf.
St. Martin Outwich, City
Hawkhurst, Kent .
Bardwell, Suff.

Rainham, Kent

St. Giles, Reading .
St. Helen, Worcester
St. Nicholas, Bristol
Huntingfield, Suff .

Ecclesfield, Yorks .

Morebath, Dev.
Bramley, Hants
Bungay, Suff. .
South Tawton, Dev.
Spelsbury, Oxon. .
St. Martin's-in-the-Fields
St. Alphege, London

Wall
Wing, Bucks .
St. Nicholas Cole Abbey,

City
Boxford, Camb.
Badsey, Wore.
Christ Church, Bristol .
Elmsett, Suff.
Culworth, Northants
Christ Church, Bristol
St. Mary, Dover .
Snowdon, Kent
St. Mary -on -the -Hill,

Chester
Bolney, Sussex
North Elmham, Norf. .
St. Andrew, Clifton
St. Michael -in-Bedwar-

dine, Warwick
St. Mary Woolnotte,

City
St. Mary Magdalen, Milk

Street
Mendlesham, Suff, .

Stoke Charity, Hants
Crondall

Steeple Ashton, Wilts .
Weyhill, Hants

Cheswardine, Salop

Worksop, Notts

Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 23,009
Lond, Rediv,, iv. 407-410
Arch. Cant, J v. 55-86
Suff. Inst, of Arch, i vol. xi. {1903)

Arch. Cant., xv. 333-337

Printed by Rev. W. L. Nash, 1881
Wore. Hist. Soc, 1896
St. Paulas Eccles. Soc, vi. 53-67
Inv. of 1534, Proc. Soc. ^ Antiq,,

N.S., i.
Registers of Ecclesfield^ by Sir A, S.

Gatty, 148-162
Som. Rec. Soc, iv. 208-224
Vict. Co. Hist, of Hants, iv. 144
East Anglian, vols, i., ii., and iii.
Trans. Rec. Soc, vols, xxxviii.-xli.
Typed copy by Dr. Oldfield
Printed by Mr. J. V. Kitto in 1903
Guildhall Library. Pamphlet by G. B.

Hall, 1880
ArchfEologia, xxxvi.
Lond. Rediv., iv. 548-551

Camb. Antiq. Soc, vol. i. (1859)
Midland Antiquary, vol. i. (1852)
Bristol Past and Present, vol. ii. (1748}
East Anglian, vol. i.
N^hants Herald, 1902, Feb. and March

Brit. Mus. Egerton MSS. 1912
Arch. Cant., ix. 224-235

Suss. Arch. CoU.^ vol. vi.
Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 23,008

Wore Hist. Soc, 1896

Extracts by J. M. S. Brooke, 1881

Kept at church of St. Laurence,

Jewry
Hist. MSS. Com., Fifth Report. Co^-

594 ^^^

C.C.C., Oxford
In five vols.

Wilts Notes and Queries, 1908-1912
Restored to parish from Queen's Coll.
Oxford, 1912 '

White's Worksop, 315-321

46

THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

1544

1544

1544

I 546-1 592

1546-1612

1547-1603

I 547-1 73 I

I 547-162 I

1548

1549

1549-1693

1550-1602

1550-1662

1551-1569

1553

1554 to present
day

I 554-1 600
1554-1569
1555-1713
1555-1763
1555

1555-1689

1555-1615
1556-1853
1556
1557-1613

I 557-1668
1557-1620

1557

I 5 58- I 620

1558-1747

1558-1614
1558-1675

1558

1558
1558
I 5 59- I 708

1559-1564,1588-

1723
1560-1725

I 560-1669

1560
1561-1631

St. Thomas, Bristol
St. Martin, Leicester
EUingham, Hants
St. Olave, Southwark
Melton Mowbray .
St. Matthew, Friday

Street, City
St. Botolph, Aldgate, City
St. Nicholas, Warwick .
St. Werburgh, Bristol .
St. John, Winchester
St. Benedict, Gracechurch
Stanford, Berks
St. Mary, Reading.
Saxilby, Line.
Brockdish, Norf. .

Loddon, Norf.

Eltham, Kent
Mildenhall, Suff. .
Minchinhampton, Glouc.
Strood, Kent .
St. Pancras, Soper Lane,

City
Wilmslow, Cheshire

All Hallows, Hoo, Kent .

Mere, Wilts .

St. Katharine, Aldgate .

Bungay, Suffolk

Chelmsford

Pulham St. Mary, Norf. .

Holy Trinity, York

Pulham St. Mary Magd.,

Norf.
Prestbury, Cheshire

Chudleigh, Devon .
Wootton, Hants

SS. Philip and James,

Bristol
Barnstaple

St. Mary-le-Port, Bristol
Burton Latimer, N'hants
Seal, Surrey .

Holme Pierrepoint, Notts

St. Mary Woolchurch,

City
Portsmouth .
Thatcham, Berks .

Kept at Bermondsey Town Hall
Trans, of Leic. Arch* Soc.^ vol. iii.
Brit, Arch. Journ,j vol. xxv.

Rev. A. G. B. Atkinson, 1898
Trans, in Par, Mag., 1890, etc.
Bristol Past and Present^ ii. 220-224

Lond, Rediv.j i. 314-318
Antiquary, vol. xvii.
Printed 1893, preface by Bishop Stubbs
Assoc. Soc. Reports, xix. 376-389
Blomefield's Norfolk (1769), vol. v.

338
Norf Arch., vol. ii.

ArchcBologia, xxxiv. 51-64
East Anglian, vol. i.
ArchcBologia^ xxxv.
Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 36,937
Lond. Rediv., vol. ii. 167-171

Earwaker's E. Cheshire, vol. ii. Ill-

117
Kent Records, 22-25
Wilts Arch. Mag., vol, xxxv.
Lond. Rediv., vol. iii. 303, 334

Cath. Ch. of See of Essex, 1908
East Anglian, vol. iv.
Assoc. Soc. Reports, xxx. 641-654
Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 23,610

Earwaker's E. Cheshire, vol. ii. 217-

231
Jones' Hist, of Chudleigh, 1852
Kitchen's Manor of Many down, 171-

175
Bristol Past and Present, ii. 236

Wainwright's Barnstaple Records
Bristol Past and Present, ii. 225-229

Surr, Arch. Coll., vol. ii.

Old Nottinghamshire, Second Series,

93-104
Extracts printed by Rev. J. M. S.

Brooke
Portsmouth Records
Barfield's Thatcham, \. 121-126; ii.

92-115

%cttf

^'•jJm^ik

CHURCH RECEIPTS OF WARDENS OF STRATTON, 1534

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 47

Date.

Place.

1 561 to present

day
I 563-1604
1565
1565

1565
1565

1566

1566 to present

day
1567-1741

1567

1568-171S
1568

1569-1599

1569
1569

1569

1570

1570

1571--1612

1573

I 573-1 899

1 574-1850

1574
1574-1676

1575
1575-1602

1575
1576-1678

1 576-1609

1577-1596
1577-1S16
I 5 78- I 840
1579 intermit'
tently to 1662
I 580-1 700
I 583-1691
1583-1685
I 584-1 748
1584-1699
1585

1585

15S5-1623
1586
1586

Wigan, Lanes

St. Peter, Ipswich .
Chiddingstone, Kent
St. Helen, Bishopsgate
Kingsthorpe, N*hants
Abbey Church, Shrews-
bury
St. James, Bristol .
St. Peter Chesil, Win-
chester
St. Laurence, Southamp-
ton
St. Martin, Salisbury
St. Martin, Ludgate
St. Botolph, Bishopsgate
St. Stephen, Norwich .
Bewdley, Wore.
St. Ethelburga

St. Peter, Mancroft, Nor-
wich

St. James, Clerkenwell .

St. Mary Aldermanbury,
City

St. Saviour, Southwark

St. Ives, Cornwall .

Redenhall with Harles-
ton, Norf.

St. Antholin, City .

St. Gregory, Norwich

St. Matthew, Ipswich .

St. Martin Ongar, City

St. Christopher-le-Stocks,
City

St. Michael, Bristol

St. Margaret, New Fish
Street, City

Little Cornand, Suff.

Condover, Salop

Oswestry, Salop

Mortlake, Surrey .

Lindfield, Sussex .

St. Oswald, Durham
Loughborough, Leic.
Repton, Derb.
Berkhamsted, Herts
Pittington, Durham
St. Columb Major, Corn-
wall
St. John Evangelist, York
Staplegrove, Som. .
St. Mary, Norwich
Wakefield Cathedral

Printed References, etc.

Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 25,344
A>«^ Records, 35-3^

Kingsthorpiana, 1883

Bristol Past and Present^ ii. 36-40

Davis* Southampton^ 372-375

Wilts Arch, Mag,, xxi. 384-388
SL PauVs Eccles. Soc, v. 1 17-128
Lond. Pediv., i. 226-230
East Anglian, N.S., viii.
Burton's Bewdley , xii.-xxxv,
A few extracts in pamphlet by Dr.
Cobb

Ixnd. Rediv., iii. 202-209
Lond. Rediv., ii. 127-128

Matthews* Hist, of St. Ives
East Anglian, vol. i.

Guildhall Library

East Anglian, N.S., vol. iv.

Privately printed by Dr. Freshfield

Bristol Past and Present, ii. 169-170
Guildhall Library

East Anglian, N.S., vol. i.

Vict. Co. Hist. Surrey, vol. v. 73, etc.
Suss. Arch. Coll., vol. xix.

Surtees Soc, vol. Ixxxiv.
Fletcher's Loughborough, 1883
Derb. Arch. Journ. , vol. i.
Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 18,773
Surtees Soc, vol. Ixxxiv.

Assoc. Soc. Reports, xxix. 304
Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 30,278

Walker's Wakefield Church, 267-276

48

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

1587-1731

Weybread, Sufif .

East Anglian^ vols. i. and ii.

1588

Great Paxton, Hunts

1588 to present

Wootton St. Laurence,

day

Hants

1588

Milton Abbot, Devon

Monthly Magazine,, vol. xxix. (1818)

I 590-1890

St. George, Botolph Lane,

City
St. Laurence, Norwich

Guildhall Library

1590

1591-1785

St. John Zachary, City .

Guildhall Library

I 592-1642

Morton, Derb.

Reliquary, vol. xxv. 17-25

1593 to present

Marlow, Bucks

day

1594-1652

Lilleshall, Salop

1594-1652

St. Clement, Ipswich

East Anglian^ N.S., vols. iii. and iv.

1595-1865

St. John Baptist, Wal-

brook
St. Augustine, Farring-

Guildhall Library

1595

Lond. Rediv.j ii. 86-91

don Within

1595-1699

Houghton-le-Spring, Dur-
ham

Suriees Soc, vol. Ixxxiv,

I 596-1 698

St. Bartholomew, Ex-

Privately printed by Dr. Freshfield,

change, City

1893

1596 to present

North Waltham, Hants

day

1596-1669

Cottingham, N'hants

1597-1701

Hartland, Devon .

Hist. MSS.Co7fi., Fifth Report yS72-$'JS

I 598-1677

Stockton, Salop

1598-1857

St. Botolph, Billingsgate

Guildhall Library

I 598-1609

Knebworth, Herts .

William's Library, Gower Street

1598 to present

Vateley, Hants

day

1598

Ryton, Salop .

Notes and Queries, Eighth Series, v. 188

1598-1714

Cowden, Kent

Suss. Arch. Coll., vol. xx.

1598

Flitton, Beds .

Vict. Co. Hist. Beds., ii. 332

1599

Child wall, Lane.

I 600- I 645

St. Botolph, Cambridge

I 600-1 709

St. Neots, Cornwall

Arch. Journ., vol. xlviii.

1600

Ringwood, Hants

1601-1662

Whitegate, Chester

The Cheshire Sheaf, N.S., vol. i.

1601-1657

Kenley, Salop

Much mutilated

I 602-1 894

Bray, Berks

1602-1891

St. Swithin, London Wall

Guildhall Library

I 602- I 827

Marston-sur-Dove .

Churches of Derby shire ^ iii. 206-7

1602

Southam, Warw.

Proc. of Warw. Field Club, 1892

1602

Henley, Suff. .

East Anglian, N.S., vol. iv.

1603

Toft Monks, Norf. .

East Anglian, N.S., vol. iii.

I 603- I 649

Lowick, N'hants

I 604- I 669

Marston Trusseil, N'hants

1604-1783

Chirbury, Salop

1604- 1755

Youlgrave, Derb. .

Churches of Derbyshire, ii. 333-343

1605-1850

St. Benet, Paul's Wharf .

Guildhall Library

1607-1619

Hampnett, Glouc. .

Glouc. Notes and Queries, ii.

I 608- I 844

St. Benedict, Norwich .

East Anglian, vol. iv.

I 609- I 642

Woodford Halse, N'hants

N^hants Notes and Queries, 1884-

1885, 41

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 49

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

1610-1869

St. Katheritie, Coleman .

Guildhall Library

1610

St. Benet Fink, City

Guildhall Library

1610

Yarnlow, Oxon.

Stapleton's Three Oxon. Parishes

1611-1645

Mellis, Suff. .

Proc. W. Suff. Arch. Inst., vol. i.

1612-1674 (single

Cheddar, Som.

Hist. MSS. Com., Third Report, 329-

leaf of 1599)

330

1612-1681

Hartshorn, Derb. .

Derb. Arch. Soc. Journal , vol. vii.

1613-1673

St. Werburgh, Derb.

Reliquary, vols. i. and ii.

1614-1662

St. Stephen, Ipswich

East Anglian, N.S.j vol. i.

16 1 4 to present

St. Mary - le - Tower,

day

Ipswich

1616-1712

Wellingborough, N*hants

1616-1756

Eastington, Glouc. .

Glouc. Notes and Queries, iii. 246-254

1616-1861

All Hallows the Great, City

Guildhall Library

1618

All Hallows, Honey Lane,

City
Sidbury, Devon

1618-1723

Brit, Mus. Add. MSS. 34,696

1619-1873

St. Michael, Wood Street,

City

Guildhall Library

1619-1874

Whitchurch, Salop

I 620- I 662

Clunbury, Salop

1620

St. Mabyn, Cornwall

London Society, vol. xliv.

I 620- I 680

Birchington, Kent .

ArchizologicB Cantiana, vol. xii. 406-9

1621-1750

St. Julian, Shrewsbury

1622

Barnsley, Yorks

Jackson's Hist, of Barnsley

1624

St, George, Southwark .

Kept at Southwark Town Hall

1625

St. Bartholomew the
Great, City

1625-1680

Beccles, SufF. .

East Anglian, N.S., vol. ii.

1625-1723

Stockton, Norf.

Norfolk Arch., vol. i.

1625-1801

St. Dionis, Backchurch,
City

1625-1810

Cound, Salop

1625-1710

Lydbury North, Salop

1627

Basingstoke, Hants

Baigent's Hist, of Basingstoke, 499-

532
Trans. Salop Arch. Soc. , vol. xii, 357-

1627-1693

Uffington, Salop .

369

I 627-1 702

St. Mary, Shrewsbury

1627

Weedon Bee, N'hants

1 628 -1 639 and

St. Giles, N'ton .

Serjeantson's Hist, of St. Giles, 212-

1653-1678

239

1629-1782

Barrow, Salop

1629-1811

Donnington, Salop

1630-1710

Great Weldon, N'hants .

A few fragments

1630-1855

All Hallows the Less,
City

St. Michael, Wood Street

Guildhall Library

I 630- I 662

Guildhall Library

I 630- I 680

Tong, Salop

1631-1712

Swainswick, Som. .

Peach's Annais of Swainswick

1633-1711

Shawbury, Salop

1634-1674

St. Sepulchre, N'ton

Hist, of St. Sepulchre, 220-228

1635

St. Mary Bourne, Hants .

Stevens' Parochial Hist., 228-254

163S-1637

Byfield, N'hants .

Nhants Notes and Queries, 1884-
1885, pp. 25-28

so

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

1635-1905

CoUyweston, N'hants

•>

I 635- I 700

Great Houghton, N'hants

I 636-1697

Langton-Long-Blandford,

Som. and Nor. Notes and Queries^ vol.

Dor.

iii. .

I 636-1 662

St. Ann's, Aldersgate

Guildhall Library

1636

St. Clement, Eastcheap .

Guildhall Library

1638-1753

Eastbourne, Sussex.

Suss. Arch. ColL^ vol. xiv.

1638-1686

Collingtree, N'hants

1639

St. Magnus, City .

Guildhall Library

1639-1647

Ashton-under-Lyne, Lane.

I 640-1 660

Upham, Hants

1643-1695

Mavesyn Ridware, Staff.

Shaw's Staffordshire^ i. 197-199

1647

Middleton, Lane. .

Transcribed by Mr. Giles Shaw

1647

Prestwiek, Lane. .

'^Q%1on% Memorials of Prestwiek^ iS~

46
Guildhall Library

I 648- I 662

St. Mary Magdalen, Old

Fish Street

1648-1712

Mainstone, Salop

1649-1872

St. Martin, Ludgate Hill

Guildhall Library

1650

Ribehester, Lane. ,

T. C. Smith's Ribehester

1650-1878

Edgmond, Salop

1650

St, Katherine Cree, City .

Guildhall Library

1650

Aldwinkle St. Peter's,

N'hants

1651-1848

Wenhaston, Suff. .

Curious Parish Records^ 20-23

1651-1710

More, Salop

1652

Elstead, Surrey

1653

St. Peter, Bristol .

Bristol Past and Present^ ii. 132-135

1653-1672

Church Pulverbatch

1654-1723

Dallington, N'hants

N^hants Notes and Queries^ N.S.,
vol, iii.

I 656- I 809

Hammersmith

Faulkner's Hist, of Hammersmith,
216-223

1656

Bolton, Lane.

1656

St. Michael, Southamp-
ton
Alberbury, Salop

I 656- I 702

1658

Wirksworth, Derb.

Churches of Derbyshire, ii. 539, 552

1658

Kendal, Westmoreland .

Camb. and West. Arch. Trans,, vol.
ix. 269-283

1658-1673 and

Wroxeter, Salop

1687-1713

1659-1813

Glinton,^N'hants

1659-1773

Enstone, Oxon.

Jordan's Hist, of Enstone, 1857

I 660- I 696

Bromfield, Salop

1661-1738

Piddington, N'hants

1

I 662- I 720

Chetwynd, Salop

1663-1714

Stokesay, Salop

1663

Cobham, Kent

Kent Records

1663-1693

Thornby, N'hants

1663-1703

Thornhaugh, N'hants

1663-1712

Ufford and Ashton,
N'hants

1663-1686

Kinnerley, Salop

I 664-1 763

Greenwich, Kent .

Hasted's Kent, i. 103

*0\ «./;»' ./(^s-

X.

ypt?i^/'^^^^

WARDENS' ACCOUNTS, SIDBURY: INVENTORY, 1G4S

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WARDENS' ACCOUNTS 51

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

1664

East Budleigh, Devon .

Trans, of Devon. Assoc, vols, xxii.,
xxiii.

1665

Deptford, Kent

Hasted's Kent, i. 34-35

1665-1703

St. Nicholas, Durham .

Surtees Soc, vol. Ixxxiv.

1667 . .

St. Michael -on -Wyre,
Lane.

1667-1697

Frees, Salop

1 668

St. Leonard, Eastcheap,

City
Liskeard, Cornwall

1669

Allen's Hist, of Liskeard, 143-145,

148-149

1669 to present

day
1670-1887

Lyraington, Hants .

Bostock^s ffisi. of Farisk Churchy 1912

Bolnhurst, Beds

1670-1705

Staple ton, Salop

1670-1793

Broughton, N'hants

1670-1885

Ashby St. Legers, N'hants

1671-1710

Overstone, N'hants

1671-1768

East Haddon, N'hants .

Overseers of the Poor

1672

Forncett St. Peter, Norf.

East Anglian^ vols. ii. and iii.

I 672-1 678

Clungunford, Salop

1672

Torpenhow, Cumber-
land

1673-1698

Rostherne, Cheshire

Cheshire Sheafs vol. i.

1674-1839

Quatford, Salop

1674-1798

Acton Round, N'hants

1675-1769

Sudborough, N'hants

1676-1728

Dunham Parva, Norf. .

Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 23,008

1676

St. Swithin - over - Kings-
gate, Winchester

1676

Waberthwaite, Cumber-
land

1677-1653

Ruardon, Glouc. .

Trans. Bristol and Glouc. Arch. Soc,
vol. viii.

1678-1688

Lydham, Salop

1679

Badger, Salop

I 680-1 830

Berrington, Salop

1681-1719

Diddlebury, Salop

1682-1694

Castle Ashby, N'hants

1683-1796

Great Harrowden, N'hants

1683-1816

St. Martin, Chester

Hist. Soc. of Chester and N. Wales,
vol. viii.

1684-1S33

Yarwell, N'hants

1684-1756

St. Peter the Less, Chiches-
ter
High Ercall, Salop

Suss. Arch. Coll., vol. xliv.

1685 to present

day
1685-1728

Salop Arch. Soc, Second Series, vol. vi.

Kensington .

Faulkner's Hist, of Kensington, 277-
286

168S-1780

Clun, Salop

1689

Ibsley, Hants

1690

Flixton, Lane.

Lawson's Flixton, 24, 43 ; Longton's
Flixton, 53-71

1691

Sherfield - upon - Lodon,

Hants

52

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

I 692- I 764

Ruyton Eleven Towns,
Salop

1692

Bedhampton, Hants

1693-1753

Culmington, Salop

1693 to present

day
I 693-1 785

Atcham, Salop

Thruxton, Hants

1695-1864

Newport, Salop

1696

Hawkshead, Lane. ,

Cooper's Hist, of Hawkshead^ 1899

I 696- I 803

Woolwich

Hasted's Kent, vol. i. 167

1698-1760

Sil Chester, Hants

I 698- I 782

Pitchford, Salop

1699

Hexham, Northumber-
land

1699

Holy Rood, Southampton

1699-1748

Lamport, N'hants

1699-1799

Bolas Magnar, Salop

CHAPTER IV
RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM

Receipts of St. Edmund, Sarum — Receipts' — Gatherings — Font Taper —
Paschal money — Dona et Legata — Burial fees — The Holy Loaf— '* Increase "
from lights — Standings or stalls — Hire of vestments — The Bede Roll — Church-
ales— Hocktide — Dancing— ^Seats or pews

THE church account rolls of St. Edmund, Sarum, from
1463 onwards are so unusually full of detail, and so aptly
illustrate the varied sources of income upon which the
mediaeval warden depended, as well as the methods In which the
income was expended, that it has been thought well to confine this
and the following chapter to an exclusive consideration of the
receipts and payments of this one parish. The general working of
a town parish church in mediaeval days will thereby be abundantly
illustrated.

The various pre-Reformation methods for obtaining money to
sustain the fabric and services of the church of St. Edmund,
Sarum, were unusually diversified. The oblations in connection
with special papal pardon days have been already named.

(i) The gatherings at the church door or in church on a
few special days, at Eastertide, usually come first in these accounts.
The following is a table of the days and amounts thus collected
on the first twelve of the complete extant rolls : —

Years

Days

Amount

1461-2. Maundy Thursday and Easter Day

.^204

1462-3.

„

. 2 II 3

1468-9.

„

. 2 14 \i\

1469-70.

„

. 2 8 loi

I473-4. Good Friday

5)

.270

1474-5. Maundy Thursday

- I 7

1477-8.

>»

.230

Amount

.£2

14

8

, 2

13

4

■ 3

3i

. 2

10

7J

. 2

13

I

54 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

K?i2rj Days

1481-2. Easter Eve and Easter Day
1483-4. » „ . .

1490-1. Good Friday, Easter Eve, and Easter Day
1491-2. „ » „

1495-6. Maundy Thursday and Easter Eve

(2) The gatherings are usually followed by the sums received
for the Font Taper. The collections ad serum fontis were usually
made on Easter Eve and Easter Day. This gathering appears
annually in the accounts until Elizabeth's reign, when it became
intermittent, and though the name occasionally appeared, it is
practically certain that the ceremonial taper was no longer made.
In 1564 the sum collected under this head was 40s. ; the last entry
is 1588, " for the fontaper 53s. 4d." Afterwards an approximately
similar amount appears as " The Hawpence " for Easter dues, and
thus continues till 1641, when it became merged in the Quarter
Book. Reverting to the earlier accounts, the amount gathered was
4s. 9jd. in 1461 ; 50s. id. in 1462 ; 7s. iid. in 1468; 43s. in 1469;
47s. 2d. in 1473; 44s. 8d. in 1474; S7s. iid. in 1480; and 49s. 3jd.
in 1490. The considerable variation in the collection at once
shows that the exact sum could never have been spent on font
tapers. Indeed, the opposite side of the accounts at once proves
this, for the making of the font tapers is always included in the
expenses under the head of Wax. The cost is usually associated
with that of the great Paschal Taper, and the two together never
exceeded a few shillings. The number of font tapers required
varied in accordance with the number of baptisms ; occasionally
three were required during the twelve months. The following are
a few specimen entries : —

1468-9. In iij^"^ Fontaperis cum pascall' Taper renovatis hoc anno

in toto . . . . . . vj s. viij d.

1474-5. In factura xxxiiij lb cere nove et veteris ad pascale sereum

et iij cerea fontes ...... xvij d.

1477-8. In cerea ad Pascal' et le fontapere cum fectura eorundem

hoc anno in toto . . . . . vj s. iiij d.

1483-4. Pro factura sex librorum cere pascereis fontes de Instauro

ecclesie tempore grave infirmitatis . . .iij d.

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 55

In this last entry the cost of the wax is not included. The
probable meaning of the phrasing is that it was a plague year,
and that various font tapers were made to avoid infection.

It becomes evident from these and like entries in other
accounts that font taper money, originally intended for that
special purpose, went either to the general fabric fund, or was
ear-marked for some other definite expenditure. At St. Thomas,
Sarum, this collection was made under the title " Font Taper and
Deacon's Wages,'' which was afterwards termed " Deacon's Wages
and Halfpence at Easter."

(3) The Paschal money, originally devised for providing the great
Paschal Taper, was paid by all parishioners of houseling age, when
they " took their rights," which meant confession, absolution, and
Easter Communion. The Paschal Taper was blessed on Easter
Eve, was kept lighted till Holy Thursday, and was lighted again at
Whitsuntide. It was elevated on a large stock, and entries occur
for painting and dressing the same, and also for mending the case
in which the taper was moulded. At St. Edmund, Sarum, where
the weight of the great taper is given, apart from font tapers and
other candles, it usually weighed about thirty pounds; in 1491 the
weight was thirty-six pounds.

"Coleys on est' eve for holy fyre," in 1491, cost a penny; and
an entry in Latin in 1495 names

" Pro una mensura Carbonis in Vigilia Pasche apud benediccionem
ignis j d."

These entries refer to the Holy Fire, kindled by burning glass
or flint on Easter Eve, whence all lamps and tapers, previously
extinguished, were relighted by hallowed tapers.

The paschal money eventually became merged in the general
gatherings at Eastertide already named,

(4) Dona et Legata is another frequent heading among the
receipts. These gifts and bequests in kind are most varied ; they
include live stock such as sheep and bees, gowns, cloths, brass pots
or mortars, oak coffers, silver spoons, jewels, and rings. A few
instances of such entries must suffice. Such goods were usually
placed in the treasury to await a convenient opportunity for sale,

56 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

whilst live stock (especially in country parishes) was more usually
farmed.

1474-5. Et de XX d. rec' de pretio j debilis et veteris toge proveni-

entis ex legac' uxoris Robert! Beller.
1481-2. Unum manutergium de Dyaper de leg' Ade uxoris.
1482-3. Et de xs. vid rec' pro una oUa enea ponderante Ixiij libr

precij libr ij d. ex legal' Alicie nuper uxoris Roberti

Drover.
1491-2. j peire of bedys of coralle with gaudys gilt, a Woman's

girdelle of silver and over gylt, both of Jone Taverners

gifte.
1523-4. ij schepe yt was gevyn by a man of the countre . . xx d.

Money gifts were usually for a specific purpose, such as three
donations of 4.6, and two of 2d., in an undated roll of Henry VIII,
towards " the crosse and candelstyckes." Sometimes money was
left or given to the church fabric or general fund ; such gifts were
contributed by all classes of the community. A tailor gave 4d. in
1469, and another groat was the contribution in 1482 of the wife
of a barber. Half a mark was bequeathed in 1499 by Thomas
Blakker, " late mair of this Citie," whilst in the following year 4d.
was the gift " cujusdam pauperis in la bedredyn rowe."

(5) Burial fees and tollings went to the general fund of the
churchwardens. Up to the end of Henry vilfs reign there was a
definite charge for the passing bell, picturesquely known as the
" Forthfare," which was rung for those zn extremis^ as the soul was
passing forth on its last journey. It served the twofold purpose
of summoning the priest to the administration of the Church's last
offices, and of inviting the intercession of the faithful. A shilling
was the charge "pro magna compana in extremis pulsante'' in
1468-9, when there were four such entries, and six in the following
year. In 1474-5 there were three cases of lod. charged for
" fourthfare," but in each of these instances 6s. 8d. was also paid
for interment within the church. The fee for the great bell was
dropped to 8d. in 1477-8, and remained so for more than a decade,
when it reverted to I2d. and soon afterwards (1494-5, etc.)
advanced to 2od.

The forthfare seems to have ceased with the advent of

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 57

Edward VI, when knylls or knells rung after death took their
place, at a charge of two shillings.

In the days of Queen Mary (i5S7-8) occur these entries: —

Mystrys short' for her husbandes knyll and for all the belles at his

buryal . . . . . . . ix s. vj d.

Goodwyf Marshall for the fyve belles .... viij d.

Sir harrys twelmonethis mynd ..... viij d.

The fee for burial in the church, including as a rule a grave-
stone, remained at 6s. 8d. up to about 1640, when it was raised to
los. There are occasional entries of a fee for a gravestone in the
Litten or churchyard, varying from 46. to 4s.

An elaborate fee table was drawn up in 1608 as to the fees for
bells at burials and their division.

VI Belles. Imprimis for all the bells x s. Whereof to the Churche vij s.
iiij d. If the partye be buried in the Churche for the grave and stone xj s.
Whereof to the Churche vij s. ij d. If the partye be buried in the Churchyard
and Chested, the Churche must have for the grave and Chest iiij d., without a
Chest ij d.

Item for the V Belles vij s. x d. Whereof Due to the Churche yf the partye
be chested v s. iiij d., without a Chest v s. ij d.

For the iiij belles iiij s. ij d. Whereof Due the Churche yf the partye be
Chested iij s., without a Chaste ij s. x d.

For the iij belles. Whereof Due to the Churche yf chested ij s., without x d.

For the ij belles xij d. Whereof Due to the Churche viij d.

Mem^ when the Fyfth bell maye be Ronge w"^ one man, then the Churche is
to have iiij d. more for every burial.

Further we agree that a straunger shall paye for the belles as abovesayde,
but shall paye to the Churche for his knell only ij s. vj d. Yf he be not buried
in the parishe, he shall paye for his knell only ij s. vj d.

The remainder of the bell fees not taken by the wardens was
divided between the minister and clerk.

" Ornamentes " were occasionally hired from the wardens for
funerals in the earlier days. Thus a hearse cloth was hired for
i6d. in 1491-3; the best candlesticks in 1494-S for I2d. ; in 1510,
Sd. for a black pall, I2d. for the best cross and candlesticks on two
occasions, and 4d. for the second best. Fourpence was charged
in 1538 for the cross and candlesticks used at the burial of the

S8 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

sexton of St. Thomas, and a similar charge for the same occurs in

'IS43-4-

No charge seems to have been made for the use of the " here,"
*' paleborde," or " shrowdeborde." The ordinary plan for burial was
to place the shrouded body on the parish bier or open coffin and
thus carry it to the church and afterwards to the graveside, whence
it was lifted, uncoffined, into the earth. Fees for " Buryalles,
Christenynges, and Banes " began with the reign of Elizabeth and
continued to the Commonwealth. They brought in a considerable
annual income, varying from £i to £g. The burial fees produced
by far the largest share. Thus in 1575-6 the burials stood at £i
14s. 3d., the christenings 5s. lod., and the banns 4s. 6d. It seems
probable that the baptismal money was a voluntary offering and
not, it is to be hoped, expected from the poor. " Weddinge
offringes" first appear in 161 1-2, when six wedded couples offered
sums varying from 4s. to i8d. ; it is clear that the wedding entries
of this period were not compulsory fees. When entered, the name
of the married couple is always set down, and in some years when
the return under this head is nil^ the registers show that there were
marriages.

(6) The Holy Loaf ox panis sanctificatus occurs occasionally in
these accounts. This loaf was brought into the quire after Mass
on Sunday, and, after being blessed (not consecrated) by the priest,
was cut up and distributed to the congregation to be consumed in
token of friendly amity. Amongst the payments |on the roll of
1 5 10- 1 is the entry —

Pro uno Coffane ad portandum imponendum panem sanctificatum . vj d.

The entry in 1534-S of "bred on' palme sonday id." probably
refers to the holy loaf. A collection was made at the time that it
was carried round. On this same roll, among the receipts, occurs —
" the Holy cake cantell ij d." Cantell or cantle is a term implying
a small piece, a corner, or a slice of anything, and it came to be
used in the meaning of pieces of the holy loaf. An undated roll,
temp. Henry VIII, includes amongst the receipts —

Cantell, gatheryd for one Hole yer after viij d. a wek for the
cantell ,.,.,.. xxxiiij s. viij d.

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 59

The Cantell gatherings for 1560-1 produced 17s. 46., and the like
in 1563-4, 1567-8, and 1568-9. In 1 570-1 £1 14s. 8d., at the old
rate of 8d. per week, is entered.

Gathered from trynitie Sundaye laste paste after viij d. the wyke
for the Cantell ...... xxxj s. iiij d.

is the entry for 1575-6. Entries at the like rate for the Cantell
continue up to 1588, when they cease; but a like amount continues
to be entered up to 1641 under the heading of " Bread and Wyne."
(7) Among the receipts occur, from time to time, such terms
as " Incresis," " Encrese of lightes," or '* Incrementes of lightes."
These are the sums brought into the general fund by the various
Gilds at their annual festival. When the stewards found that they
had an " increase " or balance, after the due maintenance of their
light and the fulfilment of their religious and social obligations,
and also after retaining a sufficient stock in hand wherewith to
start another year, they brought the surplus to the church to be
hallowed, and transferred it to the churchwardens.

1473-4. Incresis. It y receyved of the stuards of the lighte of
senct Christopher and at halowyn of Increse of this
yere . . . . . . . xj d.

The churchwardens were fortunate in 1494-5 i^i obtaining "in-
crease" from the Fraternity of Jesus Mass to the amount of 57s.,
from the light of St. Catherine 8d., and 4s. from the light of St.
Christopher.

In 1497-8, the steward of the light of St James gave an in-
crease of 3s. 4d., and two stewardesses of the maidens' light 6s. 4d.
In the same year the wives of the parish presented the handsome
sum of £g " de incramento luminis beate Marie virginis in ecclesia
predicta."

The City trades gilds of the Bakers, Ironmongers, Joiners,
Parchment-makers, Shoemakers, and Weavers are among the crafts
making offerings at St. Edmund's.

Lights were so distinctive a feature of England's mediaeval
churches that it may be well here to briefly chronicle the lights
and gilds of St. Edmund's as revealed in those accounts. In the
Lady Chapel to the south of the quire were two altar lights, and
a lamp before the Blessed Virgin sustained by the gild of the wives.

6o THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

At the high altar in the quire were two lights, and a lamp
supported by a gild before the Blessed Sacrament. At Christ-
mastide there were also "two torches of rosom," and in 1501-2
mention is made of two for the high altar on double festivals,
weighing 30^ pounds. Over the Sepulchre at Eastertide, itt addi-
tion to the great sepulchre taper and the Paschal taper, were a
hundred candles fixed on prickets or pins of beech. The chapel
of the Jesus Mass, with its special well-endowed gild, had two
tapers for the altar and a torch of rosin weighing 1 1 pounds. This"
gild supported the Morrow Mass held at 6 a.m. at the Holy Cross
altar, and the accounts show that there was a yearly supply of six
pounds of tallow candles for the Morrow Mass in winter-time. The
Weavers' gild had a chaplain who used the Morrow Mass altar. In
the nave was the specially supported Rood light, in addition to
the Trendall or hanging corona of lights, as well as candles on the
Rood-beam. In the north aisle was a chapel of St. John Baptist
with a light, and mention is also made of the lights of the Trinity,
Maidens, Servants, and of St. Christopher, St. Catherine, St.
James, and St. Sebastian.

Each year a special wax taper or tapers were made for carrying
before the Blessed Sacrament at times of visitation. This, for
example, is the entry in 1482-3 : —

Pro candelis cereis ad usum Sacramenti Altaris in tempore
visitationis Infirmorum . . . . . ■ iij cl. ob.

A lantern had been bought in 148 1-2 to shelter the tapers.

Pro una laterna emptu ad usum ecclesie ad portandum diebus et
noctibus cam sacramento altaris . . . . . vij d.

There are fairly constant references to the cost of making up
the wax for the greater tapers, mixing the old wax with new.
The following late instance must suffice : —

1 543-4. Makynge Ixx li. of olde waxe for the roodlyght . ij s. xj d.

XXX li. of new waxe at vj d. the li. . . . . xv s.

XXX li. of old waxe makynge for the pascall . . xx d. ob.

V li. of new waxe for the same . . . . ij s. vj d.
makynge ij li. of olde wax for the foonte taper . . j d.

V li. of new waxe for the same . . . . ij s. vj d.

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 6i

(8) The Standings or Stalls at St. Edmund's fair, both without
and immediately within the walls of the litten or churchyard,
brought in a small but steady income to the churchwardens. Under
the " Foreyne Receites " of 1490-1 is entered —

Rec of dyverse men chese sellers which stode at the Church Walle . xviij d.

The " Perquis' Nundine" of 149S-6 amounted to i6d., received
of those who had stalls within the cemetery. In the following
year the fair rents paid by stallholders within and without the
cemetery amounted to 2s., and in 1900 to 22d. The entry is
longer and the amount larger for 1510-1 : —

Rec " de perquis " nundinarum Sci Edmund's pew stallis et sta-
tionibus diversis frimatutoribus et aliis Artificiariis traditis et
dimissis infra interiorem partem et exteriorem muri lapidis
Cimiterii ecclesie predicte tempore nundinarum predicta-
rum . . . . , . . . iij s. viij d. ob.

Three undated rolls, temp. Henry Vlll, record the respective
receipts of 3s., 2s. 6d., and 2od. " of the Cheesemen that stode under
the Churche wall." In 1550-1 the receipts from the Cheesemen
amounted to 23d., and the like amount in 1556-7. In the follow-
ing year the sum fell to i6d., but it rose to 2s. in 1 560-1, and
to 7s. 8d. in 1 561-2. The last time apparently that the cheese-
mongers were permitted to take up their stations at the church-
yard wall was in 1576, when the receipts amounted to 2s. lod.

If the churchyard wall was to be used for wares at fair time,
the sale of cheeses was a tolerably cleanly trade, but at least on
one occasion butchers' stalls were sanctioned : —

1474-5. It. of the Gift of the Bochers for grounde for ther Stallys

without the letton . . . . . . ij s.

(9) The Hire of Vestments was an occasional source of in-
come. Thus in 1475-6 the wardens received 3s. 4.6. from Mr, John
Dagoad, of the chapel of St. Mary, for the loan of vestments out
of the church store to celebrate Mass for his parents. In the same
year these funeral vestments were again loaned to Mr. William
Nessyngwyke for a like sum to enable him to celebrate on behalf
of Andrew Brante and other of his benefactors.

(to) Gifts in kind and in money were made, from time to time,

62 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

with the object of having the donors' names, or those of their
ancestors, placed upon the Bede Roll. The bede roll was always
recited from the pulpit by the parish priest on Christmas Day,
Michaelmas, and on every Sunday. For fulfilling this duty the
priest usually received 4s. per annum.

Among " Giftys and bequests " of 1478-9 is —

It. paide to the Paryshe prest for the prayers of the bedrolle . vj s.

The following is a long entry under 1499-1500: —

Giftes for namys to be put in the bede rolle this yere. It. rec' of the gift of
Robert South Gent at the namys ofhym Alys his wiffe their faders and their
moders be set in the bede rolle of the seide Churche of Saynt Edmunde that
the pepulle then beyng present may pray for ther Sowlys Amongist all Cristyn
every Sonday when the parisshe preste rehersithe thare then in all xl s. Of the
gift of Stephyn Walwyn and Kateryne his wif a vestment for the pryst of
Crymson Velwet with alle thapparelle at their namys be put in the same bede
rolle for like cause.

The accounts clerk for 1500-1 duly entered the heading
" Nomina in le bede rolle hoc A° registrata," but he had to add —

Null, quia nemo hoc Anno desideravit.

A bequest of Master Copper to the bede roll of 6s. 8d. is
entered under 1538-9.^

(11) Church-ales, in pre- Reformation days, were generally among
the most prolific and popular methods of obtaining income both in
town and country. St. Edmund was no exception, especially
between 1461 and 1497. The Scotale House stood near the
church in a small street still known as Scotts Lane; there are
various charges for its repair, e.g. It. in 1474-^ *'pro domo scotali."
There are no entries for malt or brewing vessels ; it may therefore
be assumed that the ale was bought and then sold at a profit.
The Maundy ale was certainly purchased, for the names of the
sellers are several times set forth.

Ales were held on three occasions, namely, the week before and
the week after Whitsunday, and at the translation of St. Edmund
(9th June). They were called King ales, because a man and a
woman were chosen to preside {regnare) over them ; anyone failing

^ As to the Bede Roll, see subsequent chapter, also Abbot Gasquet's Parish Life,
222-5. Its place has been taken by the later form of the Bidding Prayer.

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 63

when appointed was fined 8d. In 1461 the Scotales, diversis
jocalibus regibus et reginis^ actually produced for the churchwardens
the sum of ^^23 8s. lod., equal to about ;^300 of the present day.
In 1469-70 four ales produced £g i8s. 6d.

Et de xliij s. vid rec' de denar' hoc anno collect' per Willm Smythe et Aliciam
uxorem Roberti South de servisia regali viz. in Septimana proxima ante
festum Pentecoste. Et de xx s. rec' de denar' collect' per Johannem Payne
Vever (weaver) et Johannem Noke Vever de servisia regali viz. in Septi'a
Pentecoste. Et de Ixs. rec' per Johannem Chapman et uxorem Radulfi Hayne
de servisia regali viz. in Septi'a profine post festum Pentecoste. Et de Ixxv s.
rec' per Willm Harrys et ux'm Willi Pole de servisia regali viz. in Septi'a
qua accidit festum translacionis Sei Edmundi.

An Ale was the chief means of raising money for any extra-
ordinary demand. Such Ales were usually promoted and managed
by two of the parishioners. The accounts for 1474-5, when
gatherings were made for the great bell, show that three of
these Scotales produced £g 5s. sd.

Scotalis with Gifts to the grete Belle.

It. of the gaderyng of Robert Parche and Xtoper Flemynge xxxiij s. ij d.

It. of Robert A Neve and Walter Dawbeny in lyke wise . . liij s.

It. of John Holberne in lyke wise . . . . ix s. iij d.

In 1490 the word "kyng" is erased, and the phrase is thus
entered —

Also receyved of Alys Plaies that yere in the somertyme as it apperyd in
oure qweyer for our remembrance made and upon this accompt examyned and
shewed iij li. xj s. xj d.

These Ale plays were probably religious mysteries or miracle
plays, not infrequently in naves of churches ; but their performance
in the quire (not the presbytery or sanctuary) was surely most
exceptional. In the 1461 accounts are charges amounting to
x6s. lo^d. for players' apparel and properties, such as chevrons or
perukes, fustian, and tinfoil. Other properties and labour were
supplied gratuitously. The charges also included 2s. for 34 dozen
tickets {signorum jocallum)^ and I4d. for a pyx in which to collect
and take care of the money. It would appear, from the conjunc-
tion of the accounts, that the receipts from these Corpus Christi

64 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

plays went towards the payment of two silver-gilt candelabra
recently purchased.

In 1469-70 the sum of lis. lod. was paid for the apparel
of the Corpus Christi players, in addition to 4d. for a woollen
shroud for " le Kingplay."

The waits, who were musicians attached to the Corporation,
served for orchestra on such occasions. The waits are named in
accounts for 1538-9 and 1543-4 as "bryngynge in of y*" proces-
syon," for which they received the respective payments of 8d.
and 1 2d.

The chief part of the clerk's salary came from his annual Ale
for a long period. It was not abolished until 1697, when the
vestry allowed him henceforth 40s. "uppon ye accompt of not
keeping an Ale." At the neighbouring church of St, Thomas
the clerk's Ale was abolished, in favour of a regular money pay-
ment, in 165 1.

(12) Among the receipts of St. Edmund's from 1497 until 1581
are the collections for church work at Hocktide. The Hock days
were the second Monday and Tuesday after Easter. The accounts
for 1497-8 name 15s, lo^d. as collected by the wives "in festo
Hokkes." In 1499 the churchwardens received 5s. "of diverse
wiffes and maydens to save them from byndynge in Hok
Tuysday."

There is a much longer Latin entry in 1510-1 : —

Colleciones in festo lez hokkis. Et de iiij s. rec' et collectis in festo de les
hokkis de donacionibus diversarum feminarum sexuum quos deder^ ad com-
modum ecclesie predicte ad custodiend' illas a ligacione eodem tempore ut ab
antiqua consuetudine in quolibet consimili festo colligi solent per Gardianos et
Custodes ibidem pro tempore existentes.

In 1532-3 the "devocyon of the people on Hocke Tuysday"
produced 6s. 8d., and in 1538-9, 8s. 6d. The gatherings at Hock-
tide on an undated Henry VIII roll produced the much larger sum
for the churchwardens of 36s., and another roll of doubtful date
(probably Henry vil) reaches the far higher total of 60s. A third
undated Elizabethan roll, probably 1 572, also yields a total
gathering of 60s. A further sixteenth-century roll, as to whose
date there is some doubt, is of interest as showing gatherings on
both the Hock days ; on the Monday there was a collection of 13s.,

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM

65

and on the Tuesday of 4s. 5d. The double entry for 1540-1 also
testifies to receipts on both days, gathered by the two sexes —

Hocketyde. Itm the
sayde gatherede at
Hocketyde by the
chirchemen viij s. iij d.
Itm thy receyved of the
gatherynges whiche the
Women gathered at hock-
tyde and at Wytsontyde
xxj s. iiij d.

In 1 561 the Hock-
tide gatherings a-
mounted to 20s. id.,
but in 1562 and 1563
to 40s. The amount
had increased to £'^
in 1572, and in 1576
to ^3 153. The last
entry occurs in 1581,
when the sum
gathered was £2^ is.

Once or twice
there are payments
on the other side of
the accounts towards
Hocktide refresh-
ments. Of this there
is an amusing in-
stance in 1510-1.
The gatherings a-
mounted to 4s., and
of this sum the
churchwardens ex-
pended 3s. 4d. in a
dinner to the women
"in die le Hockes,"
leaving a net bal-
ance of 8d. for the church funds.
5

MAY-DAY DANCERS : WINDOW, EETLEY HALL,
TEMP. EDWARD IV

STAFFS

66 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

(13) Dancing. The mediaeval Church of England was ever
ready, not only to maintain and regulate and bend to its own ends
ancient customs such as that of Hocktide, but also to promote and
take in hand other amusements in addition to the mystery plays.
The accounts of St. Edmund's show that sums were not infrequently
"gotten to the profitte of the churche" by dancing. Dancing at
Whitsuntide was taken advantage of in the way of gatherings for
the church. An undated roll, temp, Henry vii, records amongst
the receipts 3s. 4d. for " Whytsontyde dawnsynge.'' There are
frequent entries throughout Elizabeth's reign of the receipt of
3s. 4d. from this dance gathering, and in 1567 it amounted to 6s.
There was a further advance in the earlier years of James' reign.
The Whitsun dance produced 20s. in 1607, and los. in each of the
four following years. At that period it seems to have died out.

A much more interesting dance recorded as bringing profit in
these accounts was the Maypole dance of the children. The first
definite mention of this entertainment occurs on the 1490 roll,
where this entry is found among the payments : —

To Willm Belrynger for clensinge of the Churche at ye Dawnse

of Powles ........ viij d.

From this it is clear that the dance took place within the
church, almost certainly in the nave. This dance evidently
required a special framework; the repairs for 1491-2 include the
following : —

For a pece of Tymber for a ynner grounselle of Powlis Daunce

and hordes for other necessaries . . . . . iij s. j d.

To Will Joynour for workmanship of the seid Powlis Daunce . x s. ij d.
For nayles bi the hands of Stephyn Rotherforde. . . . iij s. x d.

To John Lokyar for xxiiij grete nailes for the Daunce of Powles . iiij d.

An entry in 1468-9 for an ash pole and ironwork connected
with it may refer to the accessories of this dance, but it is stated
in the introduction to these Sarum Accounts that " the Beden or
Birch pole used at these dances probably gave its name to Beden
Row running on one side of the Litten." The last reference to
this dance is in 1594, when the "childrens daunce" procured
20s. id. towards the church funds.

(14) Seats and Pews. A considerable income was eventually

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 67

gained by the churchwardens of St. Edmund from the odious
system of letting seats and pews. We know of no other parish
accounts wherein the scandal of mapping out the whole area of
God's House in accordance with the wealth and position of the
parishioners attained to such egregious proportions, or where the
evil can be shown to have originated from such small and com-
paratively innocent beginnings.

The first entry in the printed accounts is in 1477-8 under the
heading ** Assertaciones Seditium," when 6d. was received for the
assigning of a seat to Robert Romsey, and I2d. for two seats for
John Thornton, In 1480, seat money, "Conduccio sed* il'," for
four persons produced 2s. 8d. ; one of them was for the mother
of John Saunders, chaplain. The letting of four seats in 1482-3
yielded 5s. 4d. ; 2od. each was paid for two seats. Under the head
of "Conduccio sedil'" in 1483-4 is the entry "nil hoc Anno." In
the following year los. 6d, is put to the credit of the church fund
from 13 seats, chiefly assigned to women. " Hyrynge 17 Setys"
yielded 5s. 4d. in 1490-1, six out of eight were for women. The
"Setys assigned "of 1491-2 brought in 3s. id.; in 1494-5, los. 2d.,
and in 1495-6, los., when all but one were for women. The
receipts were ids. 4d. in 1499-15 10, but dropped to 4s. in the follow-
ing year; they rose again to 9s. 8d. in 1510-1. The word " Pewes"
first occurs in an undated roll of a little later date, when the receipts
sprang up to 23s. 6d. ; these pews or sittings were- chiefly appro-
priated to householders' wives. " The goodwiefe of the blew bore "
secured one for 4d. ; but in the following year " the goodwyffes
doughter of the Blew bore " had to pay 2od. for her seat. In 1523-4
" the Settes in the Churche " produced 17s. id. ; " Cecyly Maneforde
and Wascottes wife for thyre ij Pewis " paid lod. Among the entries
for ''Pewys" in 1532-3 are "a woman syttyng under the clock
iiij d " and " ij other women syttyng by Robert viij d." An undated
roll, temp. Henry VIII, yielded the large seat income of 29s. 3d.

With the changes that began in Edward vi's reign, when the
pulpit was exalted above the altar, the income from this source
occasionally rose; in 1 560-1, 24s. 6^d., and in 1568-9, 32s. 8d.
In 1587-8 the price per seat was advanced to I2d. each; in
1589-90 the receipts realised £2 os. 6d., and in 1602-3, 33s. 2d.
During James' reign the large income from pews of 50s, occurred

68 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

in 1607-8. In 1620 a record appeared, for the first time, of the
seats in the different pews. There were five pews under the north
wall ; 20s. was paid for the front one. Eight pews were against the
west end of the church. Thirteen pews are described as " againste
the piller where Mr. Willyams pewe is." Three pews were ** aboute
the pulpitte piller," for the front one of which 30s. was paid. Six
pews were '' on both sids of the Quire doore." Twelve " weomens
pewes were on the north side of the north Rowe." Twelve pews
were on the south side of the north row ; whilst eleven pews were
on the north side of the south row. The total receipts for this new
arrangement were ;^io los. 8d. The pew receipts of 1622-3
were £4 14s. lod. The payments of 1623-4 included

A painter for wryttinge figures in everie seat in our Church . 2s. 6d.

On 6th January 1624 it was ordered by the Vestry

That the Seates on the northe side of the Churche nexte to the northe wall
shall be enlardged at the ends towards the walke, and the Seates to be narrower,
to the ende that more Pewes maye be made in that space, for the benefitt of the
Churche, the speciall purpose beinge that seates maye be prepared and afforded
for the sonnes and daughters of the Aldermen, 24, and 48 : And for the Children
of other of the better sort of the parishe, for wch the fathers and friends of them
are to give to the Church suche somes of monie as shalbe taxed by the Vesttie.

It is now declared accordinge to anncientt use That boathe the Seates at the
ends of the two foremost Pewes in the Churche, where the maior and Aldermen
sitt, are proper onelie to be preserved and kepte for the 24 onelie, It being
the Ancient Use of this Cittie, that not onlye the Aldermen and ancientes of
the 24 of the Parishe wherein they dwell are to sitt and be placed in those
foremoste Pewes in the parish Churche where they dwell, but alsoe in everie
other parishe Church of this Cittye yf they come thither. It is ordred and
declared That when anye persone of this parishe be chosen and sworne of the 24,
he is to yeald of the seate where he sate before to the Churche, and to take his
place in one of these Pewes of the 24, accordinge to his place, And his wyfe is
lykewise to give of her seate where she sate before to the Churche and to take
her places in the Pewes of there wives of the 24.

1627-8. Goody Langley for a small hanging (flap) seate 6d.

16 January, 1629. All the poore of the new Almeshouse and all other the
Church Poore shall sitt in the Church, according to former orders made, upon
Formes sett of purpose for them. And the Churchwardens are to see who are
missing, and to keepe backe that weekes pay unles they can excuse it. And
that the Formes may be knowen and not sate upon by others, there shalbe these
wordes painted in great Red letters upon the Formes, For the Poore. Never-
theless old John George and John Fudges and Susan Beckett, and such others

RECEIPTS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 6g

as have already used stooles may use their former places, if it prove- not
inconvenient. Item the Churchwardens are to place every person in the Pewe
where he or she shall sitt in the time of morning prayer on the Sundayes, and
noe person shall presume to place him or herselfe in any Seat or Pew in any
other manner.

1633-4. Pew receipts £\o 14s. 6d.

1637-8. Rec for y'' Portable Seats that are set up for the youth of the
Parish in y^ lies of the Church — for y*^ long and portable seate in y^ North
lie 13s. Mr. M. Aylerugge for y^ litle portable seate in y^ N. He against his
owne seate dore for his children 2s., and he hath agreed to paie 2s. per an' for
this seate soe long as he lives in the Parish. Mr. T. Lawes for one of y*^ litle
seates in y'= S. He to place in EHz., Dorothy, Margaret, and Anne his
daughters 6s., etc. . . .

1641-2. Pew receipts ^13 9s.

1648-9. Mr. G. Masters and Jane with 3 children, Mary, Samuell and Abigail,
also a bench for servants, 20s. Mr. Ambrose Smith with Mary and 4 children,
he to fix a new bench for his Servants at his own charges, 15s.

In 1651-2 an elaborate new scheme for sittings with names of
parishioners was drawn up ; the following are among the items : —

Nic. Billen and his wife for a bench fixt to the maiors pew, 2s. — Mrs. An
Carter hanging seat for servant, is. — Jone wife to Perigan Dawes sliding seat
before Magistrates Pew in S. row, 2s. 6d. — Ric. Blacke and Kath. hanging seat
against Aldermens Pew N. row, 2s. — Mrs. Battes widow a clap seat fixt to
her owne for servant, 6d. — J. Willice widow to a clap seat fixt to Mrs. Foster
her seat in Midle He for nothing.

After the fall of the tower, the nave of the church was pulled
down and the quire reconstructed in 1653, when a new scheme of
appropriated and rented seats was devised.

CHAPTER V
OUTGOINGS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM

The Payments or Outgoings of St. Edmund, Sarum — Keeping the Accounts —
The Maundy — The Gang-week — Banners — Wages — Repairs to fittings — Clock
— Smoke Farthings — Repairs to Fabric — Fall of tower, 1653 — Rebuilding
scheme — Litten or Churchyard — Trees — Specimen " Solutyon-" roll

■A:

(i) \ NECESSARY annual charge was that of Keeping the
Accounts. In 1461 and the following year the charge
.was 3s. 4d. Subsequently for several years the pay-
ment rose to Ss. At the end of the account roll for 148 1-2 is this
entry :— "^

Mem : that Rob Southe made this boke of accompte at his owne charge.
Nothing asking for his labor which hath savyd to the Churche v s, which William
Wynne was wont to have yerely for makyng of th' accompte.

In 1495 the charge for a clerk writing the accounts was 3s. 4d.
and 3d. for parchment. The price paid in 1539 was 2s., and only
IS. in 1542 and the following year. The charge rose to 4s. in 1551.
In the earlier part of Elizabeth's reign the charge was again a
quarter of a mark or 3s. 4d. ; in 1594 the charge had risen to
4s. 4d., but the clerk was to find his own parchment. This latter
fee was paid till 1626, when this entry occurs : —

Parchmentt and wrytinge this accounte . . . .4s. 8d.

In 1632 the charge was raised to 6s. 8d., and thus remained until
the close of the Commonwealth.

(2) Among the earliest outgoings of these accounts are
those connected with the Maundy, or Mandatum Novum, as it is
set down in Latin. The accounts of the church and of the Jesus
Mass were annually made up on Maundy Thursday, zn die
parascenes. In 1461 twenty-four gallons of good ale were purchased
at a halfpenny a gallon, and twelve cups of ashwood for /d. where-

OUTGOINGS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 71

with to drink it. The drinkers were presumably the auditors, the
wardens, and other invited parishioners. Like entries under these
two heads occur, with certain variants, for upwards of a century.
In 1468 two gallons and a bottle of wine were bought, in addition
to the ale, and one gallon in the following year. The ale averaged
about 2s, 3d., computed according to a variety of measures. The
v/hite or ashen cups increased in price to I2d. by 15 17; they
numbered three dozen in 1527. The entry in 1538 is as follows : —

iiij dosen of mawndy cups ij s. — a Cowle of Ale on Mawndy thursdaye xviij d.
— the hyer of ij dosen of mawndy cruses.

There are several like entries up to the close of Henry viii's
reign. The Maundy is not mentioned in the accounts during
Edward vi's reign. The last entry pertaining to it that we have
noticed occurs in 1562-3 : — ■

iij dosyn maundy dyshes iiij s. vj d. Ale for the maundy ij s. iiij d. —
mayngates (manchets) an Cakes vj s.

In addition to the keeping of the Maundy by drinking when
the accounts were made up — always within the church, presumably
in the vestry — there was another charge, constantly entered, for
a jantaculum^ sometimes translated a breakfast and sometimes a
dinner, on the morning of Easter Day, of which the accountants or
auditors and the wardens partook. It was no extravagant meal,
for the usual cost was 6d. The customary dish was ^' calvishede
cum le hengel' that is calf's head, with the heart, liver, and lights.

(3) In the Gang-week or Rogationtide, with its ceremonial pro-
cessions round the bounds of the parish, there was^ an invariable
charge for boys and men carrying the banners on this occasion.
The entries respecting it are usually associated with like outside
processions on other great days or festivals, such as Corpus Christi,
Whitsuntide, St. Mark, St. Thomas the Martyr, etc.

1461-2. Et pueris hastas et vexilla portant' diebus rogacionum
ascenscionis domini foris in Septimana Penthecostis
et corporis Christi ..... xviij d.

1 480- 1. Paid to divers men and children beryng Baners in

processions at Seynt Marks tyde, etc. . . xvij d.

1490-1. In money paid to dyvers Children and men for berynge
of baners as well in the Rogacion Weke as at Whit-
sontyde and Corpus Xpi day . . , » xvj c}.

72 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

1499-1500. For bred and ale for diverse persones that renge the
bellys and here the banerys ther in all the Roga-
cione Weke and afterwards in Holy days scil Whit-
sontide Trynyte vSonday and Corpus Xpi day in

alle

1532-3. Baner barers in the Procession weke
„ on the Ascension Day

„ the Thursday in the Whitson weke

,5 on Corpus Xpi day

ij s. ix d.

vii/d.
iij d.
iij d.
iij d.

The banners themselves were no small initial cost, and their
repair involved fairly frequent charges. Small bells were at-
tached to their fringes. On festivals, when not in procession, they
decked the church walls, and at other times were kept in the
vestry. Among the particular banners of this church were those
depicting St. Edmund, Our Lady, the Passion, St. George, St.
Nicholas, and St. Eustace; they numbered seventeen.

1468-9. In viij banerstavis empt' per Will'm Taverner precii in

toto , . . . . . . X s.

1483-4. For hepys and stapplys to make fast the baners at

churche ....... viij d.

1491-2. To Will Joynour for ij crukhis to here up the banerstaffes

in the vestry .........

1 501. Johi Coplande stayner pro le steynynge de magno

vexillo . . . , . . vj s. viij d.

Pro j frenge de cerico pro eodem vexillo . , . vs.

Pro filo de cerico circa idem vexillum occupato . . ij d.

Pro j baculo pro eodem ..... viij d.

Johi Shirville brawderer pro emendacione divers' vexill' . xx d.

Pro fihs lineis circa eadem vexilla occupatis . . ij d.
Michl Smythe pro xvj Canillis (bells) de ferro ad pen-

dende predicta vexilla per easdem canillas in toto . xij d,

ij doss' de punctis de leder circa eadem vexilla occupatis ij d.
1523. Whyte lether for to mende the banars and for ij

clappers to the bellis of ye banars . . . iiij d.

The banners were sold in 1552-3, but they were restored under
Queen Mary. In 1556-7 the banner-bearers received 3d. for
drink on each of the three Rogation days and on Holy Thursday.
On Corpus Xpi day they received 4d., whilst 3d. was bestowed on
those "that dyd were copes." When Elizabeth came to the
throne, the banners were again sold, and no further Gang-week pay-
ments occur except to the bell-ringers.

OUTGOINGS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 73

(4) Wages or payments of the parish clerk, sexton, those in
charge of clock, bells, organ, the priest for reading the bede roll,
and a variety of incidental craftsmen and labourers occur in
abundance in these, as in all other accounts. The more striking of
these items appear under subsequent general headings. Washing
of the church linen and scouring of the brass and latten utensils
also come under this head.

(5) So tQo with regard to church fittings and ornaments,
such as sepulchre, plate, font, pulpit, clock, organ, books,
vestments, seats, etc., which constantly required repair or renewal.
Their noteworthy points will be afterwards mentioned. It may,
however, be here remarked that the first clock, mentioned in
the earlier accounts, was obviously one in the interior of the
church ; it had a jack or figure which struck the hours. The bells
perpetually needed attention, and the expenditure over them was
often a serious item. Payments to the ringers on particular
occasions are discussed elsewhere, and so too are payments for
special forms of prayer. Certain valuable Rood and Rood-loft
entries are cited later on under that specific heading, but one class
of exceptional entry as to interior repairs may as well be just
mentioned in this place.

In the quire stood a "grete chere," which must have been of
some size, for on one occasion 13 feet of board as well as iron rings
were used for its repair. Payments are also entered for chairs that
stood by the altars of Our Lady and St. Nicholas.

1477-8. Et sol' pro emendacione unius Cathedre ad altare beate

Marie deserviendum . . . . . vj d.

1480-1. Et solut' pro emendacione unius Sedile juxta Altare Sei

Nicholai . . . . . . . ij d.

It has been suggested, with some probability, that these chairs
were used by priests when hearing \:onfessions.

(6) Smoke farthings, more often described as Pentecostals or
Whitsun farthings, in old church accounts, caused a small and
interesting payment during the sixteenth century. A tax of a
penny or less on each hearth was collected from Saxon times on
St. Peter's day, and sent to support the English College in Rome,
hence the name of Romescot or Peter's Pence. In the thirteenth

74 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

century definite sums were allotted to each diocese, and this was
subdivided among the parishes. The share of Sarum diocese was
£j^ and the annual amount required from St. Edmund's was Ss. o-|d.
This tax was for a time forbidden by Edward III. It first appears
in these accounts in 1510; it was diverted from Rome by
Henry VIII in 1534, but restored by Queen Mary in 1556.
Though the house-to-house collection of Peter's Pence was generally
made on St. Peter's Day, it became customary to carry this
parochial offering in procession with cross and banners to the
cathedral or chief minster church of the district in Whitsun week.
The sum collected was lisually less than the amount required,
and hence the difference was entered on the payment side of the
accounts. If the full amount was gathered there was no necessity
for the Smoke farthings to be in any way named. In Elizabeth's
days this due was again diverted from Rome, but continued to be
claimed long afterwards by cathedrals and old minster churches.
In this later period it was usual to take the whole sum from the
general accounts.

1510-1. Et pro oblacionibus a retro existent' ecclesie Cathedr'

Sarum vocatis Smoke vortliyngis . . . xvijd. ob.

1 517-8. At oure lady churche for smoke sylver . . . xxijd. ob.

15 18-9. Smoke farthynges to cure lady Churche . . . xxijd.
1 541-2. At Wytsontyde at our lady Chirche for smoke farthynges . ij s. x d.

1556-7. Of tbe parishoners for Smoke Farthynges . . iijs.iiijd.

1574-5. C Ladye Church for Smok' Fardinges . . . v s. ob.

(7) The gravest and most frequent charge on this and other
parishes was the continuous strain of keeping the fabric in repair.
In this instance the building was of considerable size. The old
church was 176 feet long, with central tower and transepts, and both
quire and nave had aisles and three-gabled roofs. The walls
required repair or buttressing from time to time, and the interior
painting or whitewashing, the parapets renewing, the windows
reglazing, and more especially the roofs restoring. The "Reparatio
infra ecclesiam et extra" of 1469-70 amounted to 64s. 4d. These
expenses included the reroofing of the south quire aisle, which was
the Lady Chapel ; it was covered with stone tiling from the
celebrated Wilts quarries of Chilmark, and 4000 "stone nayles"

OUTGOINGS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM 75

or wooden pins for securing the stone tiles were bought for 4s. 8d,
In 1473-4 there was a far heavier outlay, £26 9s. ojd. being spent on
" Expenses necessary with the cost of the Steple." This steeple
was a short spire^ of lead-covered timber on the summit of the
tower, which was at that time reconstructed. New lead cost
£\% 2s. id., and the casting and laying of 95 cwt. of old and new
lead £1 19s. 9^d. The repairs of 1483-4 amounted to £\j 6s. 6Jd.
By far the heaviest item was lead for roofing, but the account
included 49 feet of glass for the great west window at 3d. a foot,
and also I4d. for mending two panes of (coloured) glass in the
same. Occasionally the repairs were of far less moment — thus
"Reparacyons done uppon y^Churche"in 1523-4 only amounted
to 46s. 9d.

A close study of the early repair accounts of this or any other
old church will always result in interesting and detailed particulars.
Thus the accounts of St. Edmund's show that the upper room of
the south porch was used as the sexton's chamber ; it was reached
by a newel stairway, at the top of which was a door on to the leads
secured by a padlock or " hanginge lokke."

There but seldom appears to have been any difficulty in raising
extra money by voluntary appeals for any unusual expenditure in
pre-Reformation days, when enforced church rates were unknown.
This was particularly the case in the event of new bells being
required. Thus at St. Edmund's in 1474-5, when the great bell
required rehanging, a new clapper, and a new frame, etc., £% i8s.
was specially raised for the purpose. Again in 1497-8 the wives
collected 15s. io|-d. for a new window, and the total of voluntary
gifts amounted to £2 los. io|-d.

In post-Reformation days, when forcible levies could be raised,
the matter was far simpler. In 1619-20 the total disbursements
were £t^ 17s. i-|^d., when the chief expenses were for a new
" Ringinge Lofte " under the central tower, fitted with pews.
Another year of somewhat heavy expenditure was 1624-5, when
the quire and its aisles were repaired, and particularly "the great
windowe at the East end of the Churche,"

The great catastrophe of the fall of the tower in 1653, when
the western half of the fabric was reduced to ruins, produced a fairly
generous response from the parishioners when their donations were

T6 the CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

solicited, but the work of making the body of the church fit for
worship, and that on a reduced scale, could not be carried out save
by the imposing of a heavy rate to be levied in the course of the
next ten years.

In May 165 1 a motion was made *'to take downe the bell upon
the top of the Tower" of St. Edmund, Sarum, "it being hurtful]
to the Tower," but the matter was adjourned. On 6th June 1653
the sexton was ordered to ring no bells save one for a knell or a
sermon. On 8th June it was reported that the tower was in jeopardy
through the foundering of the foundation of the south-west pillars,
and it was resolved in order to ease it of some of the weight to
take down the bell on the top of the tower, together with its
lead-covered frame; the sexton was to ring the treble bell at
5 o'clock a.m. in place of the one removed. On 19th June the whole
parish as well as the vestry was summoned ; they found that the
tower was " so clift with shaking by meanes of the Ringing of
the Belles," that the churchwardens were ordered to remove all
the bells except the great bell for summoning the people to
church and the treble for five o'clock ringing.

The tower fell with a crash on Monday, 27th June 1653,
destroying much of the nave of the church. A long and
magniloquent entry as to the catastrophe was made in the vestry
book, from which some sentences are cited. On Sunday, 26th June,
the church was crowded with a large congregation, including the
mayor and principal inhabitants of the city.

" The maine pillars did bulge out and sensiblely shake ; the cleftes
in the walles were seen to open and shutt with Ringing the Sermon
Bell yt day, neither were there any considerable Proppes under set
to Support it, So yt nothing but the very hand of God did keep
the Stones and Timber from falling untill the next morning yt his
own people were all Secure at home, and then he so sweetly
Ordered the fall of the Tower yt (albeit many woorkemen were about
it yt day) neither Man Woman nor Child received any hurt thereby.
When wee consider what God hath formerly permitted when the
Tower of Siloa fell, and when the Church of Blake fryers in
London fell upon a people mett as wee were for worship but in
another Religion . . . wee cannot but Breake foorth in to Praise and
say Salvation and glory, and honour, and Power qnto the Lord our

OUTGOINGS OF ST. EDMUND, SARUM TJ

God. . . . Wee doe Order and Appoynt yt the twenty-six day of
June yearly shall bee unto the people of Edmundes parish a day of
soleme and publique Thankesgivin^ ... so long as ther shall bee
one stone upon another in Edmundes Church and an Inhabitant
left alive in Edmundes parish. . . ."

A systematic scheme for collecting funds for the rebuilding of
the tower and body of the church was at once set on foot, service
in the meanwhile being held in the chancel. The moneys collected
being not sufficient, a ten years' rate was imposed in December,
the parishioners' subscriptions to be therefrom deducted. The
accounts of 1653-4 show that the subscriptions amounted to
^702 13s. 3d. In 1655 a committee was appointed to ask for sub-
scriptions from " Thomas parish, Martines parish, and the Close/' and
others, towards setting up the tower. '* Free Guift Money " was
subscribed in answer to this appeal to the amount of £g\ is. 4d.,
the largest donation being that of Earl Pembroke for £20.

The Litten or churchyard was also a source of fairly frequent
payment. It was entered by a lychgate, sometimes called the
style; the gate beneath it had a lock, and when locked entrance
was by a whirligig or turnstile.

1462-3. Et pro ij capit' mearemii pro le lychegate et impositionem

ejusdem ....... viij d.

1477-8. Amendyng of the church Style xij d., yrepere to the same

vj d., a laborer to helpe make ij d., a pece of Tymber to

the Whirlegogge ij d.
1648. Ordered to wall up the place where the great gate stood

that the Carts came in and out at, and only leave a door

convenient to bring the Corps in.

Small sums were frequently expended on the walls, and also on
clearing the churchyard of weeds and worse nuisances.

1475-6. To John Gibbes for the weding^ of diverse anoysance with

in the Churche yerde ..... iiij d.

1499-1500. To John Frye for cuttyng downe of the Netylles and

Wedes in the Churchyerde . . . . ij d.

In 1644, when an extra rate was being raised for the repair of
the church and the south windows, it was ordered that six of the
churchyard elms were to be felled and the rest lopped and sold

78 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

for that purpose. Soon after this successors must have been
planted, for there is an entry in the 1650-1 accounts of

Wattring the young Trees this last somner .... 5s.

In December 1693 it was resolved that

Elm trees be planted in the room of those that are dead, and as many more as
the C. W. shall think convenient.

Thereupon William Baker, gardener, supplied 16 English elms at
2s. 6d. each, and 3 sycamore trees at 3s. each, and promised

to keepe and make grow the above said trees together with those planted last
year.

The following will serve as an example of the general payments ;
it is taken from an undated English roll, about the beginning of
Henry Vlll's reign: —

Solutyons — The sayde Accomptantes asketh Alowaunce for suche solutions as
they have layde out in the yere aforesayde for the sayde Chirche as here after
foloweth ' — Jn primis for squarynge iij peces of Tymber ij s. — Jtem for ffellynge of
an Elme and for the loppynge thereof byfore vi d. — for sawynge of vij hundreth'
and dl of borde and leges vij s. vi d. — for xxviij li. of souder and the workeman-
shyppe xiij s. iiij d. — for an C leade spent on our lady yle and the body of the
Chirche iiij s. viij d. — for redyng of the Beade rolle the hole yere iiij s. — for
wasshynge of the Chirche Ornamentes ij s. — to Will Andrew for kepynge the
Cioke from Ester vntylle mydsomer xx d. — for makynge cleane the gutters and
the wyndowes iiij d. — for makynge of Ixxvi ''• of olde waxe for the roode lyglit
iij s. ij d. — for xxxvi ''• of new wax for the same lyght'xviij s. — for talow candle ij d.
— for j ^- of vysytatione lyght' vi d. — for torches agaynst Corpus Crysti daye viij s.
j d. — makynge xxvi ^^- of olde waxe for the paschalle xiij d. — for v ^'- of New wax to
the same ij s. vi d. — for makynge of ij ''• and di of olde waxe for the fonte taper
jd. — for iiij ''■ and di of newe waxe for the same ij s. iij d. — for kepyng the roode
lyght' xij d. — Jtem payde at our lady Chirche for smoke ferthinges iij s. iiij d. —
to the waytes for hryngynge in of the processyon xii d. — to the ryngers on
mundaye twysdaye wendensdaye and thursdaye in Crosse Weke on the pro-
cessyon daye and Corpus X pi daye ev'y daye iiij d. and ev'y one of those dayes
in breade and drynke spent upon' the Baner berers ij d., iij s. — for iij dosen of
mawndy dysshes ij s. vi d. — for the hyer of ij dos' crewses ij d. — for a Cowle of
Ale xviij d. — for holy oyle j d. — to Peryn Goldesmythe for mendynge the crosse
and candelstyckes iiij s. — for ij Bawdryckes ij s. iiij d. — for a Bawdrycke for the
V belle xxi d. — for a Bawdrycke for the Dawbneye belle vi d. — for ij whyte
lether stroppes for the orgauns iij d. — for a shepes skynne to mende the bellowes
of the orgauns ij d. — for a spade for the chirche v d. — for besomes ij d.— for ij
sackes of Coles vi d. — for makynge of this Accompte xij d. — to Robert Martyn
for yron for the V belle and the workemanshype and for mendynge of a Cofer
in the vestrye x d» S'ma totalis solut' iiij li. xvi s. xi d.

CHAPTER VI
THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH

Native workmanship — Fifteenth - century examples— St. Michael, Bath;
St. Laurence, Reading ; St. Mary, Sandwich ; St. Andrew, Holborn ;
Ludlow ; Bodmin ; Great St. Mary, Cambridge — Roofing, shingles, stone-
tiles— Flints for walling — Porch and other chambers — Glazing — Whitewash —
Galleries

WARDENS' accounts bear abundant testimony to the
generous free-will offerings of parishioners towards the
due maintenance or rebuilding of their church, in days
long before the institution of compulsory church rates. The follow-
ing are a few noteworthy instances from fifteenth-century returns.

It may here be remarked that throughout the hundreds of
parish accounts, both printed and in manuscript, which have been
consulted in the compilation of this book, not one single statement
or even hint has been detected of the importation of foreign labour
or of foreign material in the construction of church fabrics or their
fittings, with the single exception of bringing Caen stone from
across the seas.

The wardens of St. Michael, Bath, set about building a new
Lady Chapel in 1425. Towards the cost a church-ale (one of the
only ones in these long accounts) realised 24s. There was a
payment of 4d. for horse hire for one seeking a mason; id. for
placing in position the foundation stone; 33s. 4d. to the mason;
4s. 8d. for clearing away the old walls of the chancel and chapel ;
7s. for the carriage of the stone ; and 4s. for stone purchased at
Claverton. Every item is entered in connection with the car-
penter*s work in roof and doors, in the tiling and leadwork, and
in the glazing and ironwork of the windows. Two men were
paid 8d. for moving the old Lady Altar, whilst a fee of 6s, 8d. was
paid to the suffragan bishop for consecrating the new altar. The

total cost of erecting the chapel was £17 7s. lod.

79

So THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

The account roll of St. Laurence, Reading, for 1440-1 gives a
list of subscribers to the opus ecclesie '* then in progress." There
were %6 subscribers and the total gathering came to £g 6s. S^d.
There were two subscribers of half a mark, and four (including the
vicar) of a quarter of a mark ; on the other hand nine subscribed
twopence each, and one a penny. The singularly fine and well-
proportioned tower, the pinnacles of which rise to a height of
1 1 1 feet, was brought into its present form in 1458 ; a considerable
portion of the materials of its Norman predecessor were reused.
The roll for that year originally gave a long list of the donors to the
" Emendation of the Campanile," but unfortunately the parchment
has suffered so much from damp that only 26 names are partially
legible. Considerable church repairs were begun in 1518 and
continued until 1521.

15 18. Gyven by dyverse persons toward the reperacon of the
chuixh gatherid every Sonday after new yers day unto
Sonday after Michelmas day which amounteth to thesm
of . . . . . . . xxj li. ij s. j d.

Payd to Meller the Joynor in pte of payment of iiij li. vj s.

viij d. for makyng- of the p'close in the new chapell xxvj s. viij d.

Payd to Harry Horthorne for tymber workmanshipp and for

bowrdyng of men as apperith by his bills . . vij li. iiij d.

The south window of the tower lost its tracery in 1567, when
the great bell was lowered to be recast.

Anno 1567. For xlii foote of boorde for ye south window in the steple
when the bell was taken out and in, and one hondreth
and a half of nayles , . . . xj s. vj d.

The accounts of St. Mary, Sandwich, supply interesting partic-
ulars as to the stone used in 1446 in the rebuilding of the steeple.

To Robert carpenter for ye takyng down of the stepill and to

cover hit agen ....... iiij li.

For a m" of breke ...... iiij s. vj d.

Spendit on the mason of Crystchirche for to have an ynsyght
yn the Cane (Caen) stone for the stepill . . . . v d.

For V ton of Cane stone ...... xxv s.

For iiij of here (Beer, S. Devon) stone for the stepill . . xxs.

For iiij^ fete of okyn bord and a half and ix odde fete for ye
stepyll, prec de C. ij s. iiij d. Sum' . , . . xj s. x d»

For vj ton and j pip of Folston (Folkestone) rag . . .vij s.

THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH 8i

For XX yong elmys for scaffold tymbyr . . . i j s. ij d.

To ye masones for ye castyng of ye stepill without with

mortar ...... xxvj s. viij d.

To J. C. carpenter yn party of payment of xvj li. xiij s.

iiij d. for the makyng of ye spere of ye stepyll . . vij li.

Bentley's MS. book (1584) at St. Andrew, Holborn, says that
the steeple of the church was begun in 1446 and the bells placed
in it in 1456, but not completely finished until 1467-8. The north
and south aisles were rebuilt about the same period.

And note that all this, as many things else in the church in those days,
even when the church had most lands, were nevertheless builded by money
given of devotion of good people, then used to be gathered by the men and
women of the parish in boxes, at ales, shootings, etc., for the only purpose,
through the parish weekly, during the time of these works as by their accounts,
yet remaining, may and doth appeal'.

Certain detached Ludlow accounts of 1469-71, as well as an
undated portion of the same period, deal largely with the later
work of the erection of the fine central tower. The executors of
John Hosier paid 6s. 8d. as the wages of the master-mason for
two weeks. Bequests and gifts were made "to help forthe y°
quarriers"; among the donors were the Crafts or Gilds of the
carpenters, cordwainers, tailors, smiths, dyers, barbers, bakers, and
butchers. One Hugh Lotrier contributed gd. towards a grindstone,
and the same man received 8d. " for styling and mendyng of axes."
John Hope paid 3s. "for iij dosen lyme." Among the payments
of 1469-70 were 9s. lod. "for belyng of the staple," and 39s. 8d.
for the carriage of 122 "fother^' of stone. The fother was 19 cwt.
Hughley and Felton are named as places from which stone was
fetched.

The accounts for 1577-8 abound in details as to the taking
down and re-erecting of the great " pole of the weather cocke."
Felling and sawing the tree selected for the new pole, covering it
with lead, making the iron cross to surmount it, hauling it up, with
frequent ale to the wainmen, sawyers, and every kind of labourer
etc., brought the expenses to about £2,

The church accounts of Bodmin, giving full details of the re-
building of the greater part of the fine parish church of St. Petrock
between 1469 and 1472, afford striking evidence of the whole-
6

82 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

hearted spirit and marvellous unanimity with which church
restoration was undertaken in the fifteenth century.^ There is no
reason of which we are aware to consider the zeal of Bodmin in
this direction as anything of an exceptional nature, save that a
remarkable wave of Celtic fervour for the enlargement and beauti-
fying of the Houses of God was at this time flowing from one
end of the Duchy to the other, and that it naturally culminated
in what was then its most important town. Bodmin, too, had even
for those days an exceptional number of gilds, the members of
which vied with each other not only in contributing from their
common funds, but also in their individual gifts in money or in
kind. Of these fraternities, numbering about forty, five were
Trades Gilds founded to sustain certain crafts. These were the
Gilds of St. Petrock, for skinners and glovers ; of SS. Dunstan and
Eloy, for smiths; of St. Anian, for shoemakers; of St. Martin, for
millers; and of St. John Baptist, for drapers and tailors. The
large number of smaller associations were brotherhoods united
together under some special patron saint for the furtherance of
social and religious obligations, and connected with the parish
church or other subsidiary places of worship within the town. An
interesting contribution was Ss. from William Mason and his
fellows, the players '' yn the Church Hay " or churchyard.

Every one seems to have given according to his means. Not
a few who gave money gave labour in addition, and some only
labour. The well-to-do gave trees off their estate, others gave
stone, lime, timber, and parcels of nails. N'ow and again the
wardens received gifts in kind, such as a cow sold for 7s. 6d., a
lamb sd., and a goose 2d. One woman, in addition to her sub-
scription, gave her " crokke," and it realised 2od. The vicar gave
his year's stipend, whilst a "hold woman" in the poorest quarter
of the town contributed 3s. 2^d. A house-to-house gathering
resulted in voluntary gifts from 460 inhabitants, including several
servants. The principal folk lived in Fore Street ; here there
were four subscriptions of a mark (13s. 4d.), thirteen of half
a mark, and one as low as 2d. Reyn Street was in one of the
poorest quarters, and here there were several gifts of a penny. The
women of the congregation had a special collection on Easter

^ These accounts were printed in the Camden Society Miscellany ^ vol. vii. p. 875.

THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH 83

Eve; the "maidenys yn Forstret" contributed 6s., and the
" maidenys of the borestref xvij d." A certain number of persons
agreed to contribute a penny a week, and others a halfpenny
whilst the work continued. The whole sum was raised within the
limits of the parish, with the exception of some trifling donations
from strangers passing through the town.

The total receipts from all sources during the first three years
of the work amounted to £ig6 7s. 46. This has to be multiplied
by at least ten to give any idea of the present value of money.
The expenditure would also have been far greater, probably quite
double, had not so much of the material been freely granted.
Thus an expenditure of ijd. in wine seems to have sufficed to
secure stone from the quarry of Tregarthyn ; and many costly
windows were erected and glazed by individual donors.

The parish had not much breathing-time wherein to recover
from their great effort in church-building, before they realised that
the old fittings were not worthy of the new fabric. In 1491 a
contract was entered into for new seating and a new pulpit, to be
completed by Michaelmas 1495, at a cost of £g2y the parish pro-
viding the timber.

Valuable historical and architectural notes on the church of
Great St. Mary, Cambridge, by Mr. Sandars were printed by the
Cambridge Antiquarian Society in 1869, together with the
"Annals of the Church" by Canon Venables. The church was
used for the public purposes of the University as early as the
thirteenth century. In 1522-3 the magnificent rood-loft or
Theatrum imaginis Crucifixi, extending across the church from
wall to wall, was erected at a cost of ^92 6s. 8d. The original
contract is still preserved in the parish chest; it was to be made
after the models of the rood-lofts in the churches of Gazeley,
Suffolk, and Triplow, Cambridgeshire. During the celebra-
tions of the Commencements in Arts, the church was fitted up
with stages Hke a theatre for the accommodation of the University.
This custom was continued on a diminished scale until about
1740, when what remained of the ceremony was transferred to the
Senate House.

The foundation-stone of the tower was laid in 1491, but funds
came in very slowly, though the University diligently begged in

84 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

all directions. About forty years after its commencement, namely,
in 1530, it had but reached the level of the top of the west
window. From that date its progress was still slower. The upper
or belfry stage, which gave the tower a height of 131 feet, was at
last taken in hand in 1593, and completed in 1608. The original
design of a spire was never attempted.

On Easter Monday 1593 the elaborate system of electing
wardens for Great St. Mary, Cambridge, resulted in the appoint-
ment of Richard Love and Richard Golsborows. At the same
time it was entered that —

The said Electors and all the other parishioners of this parish have named
and appoynted Mr. Ball, Mr. Norkott, Mr. harvie, Mr. Foley, Mr. Wolfe, and
Mr. Skarlett to go forwardes in the building and fynishinge of St. maries steple
and to do their best indevor to procure things necessarie, And what they or any
two of them shall do the whole parishe do promise to ratifie.

A subsequent entry stated that —

The whole Sum of the money Received by one John Foley towards
the bulding of greate St. maries Steple in Cambridg as yt dothe
appear in anno 1593 and 1594 the Som of . . 179 li. 12s. 7d.

The several items of these contributions numbered 193. All
sorts and conditions of men were among the donors. *' Straungers
whose names I colde not take" subscribed ;^i i lis. lod. The
Earls of Essex, Shrewsbury, and Rutland, the Bishop of Lincoln
(" his Surname was Wickham "), aldermen of London and Bristol,
and a variety of knights and squires of different counties were
among the contributors ; and so too were the " fellowes and scoHers "
of the colleges of Trinity, Christ's, King's, Emanuel, Gonville and
Caius, Queen's, and Bennet's, together with aldermen, doctors,
vintners, stationers, printers, tailors, joiners, shoemakers, and
" Lychfielde barber of Trinite colledge."

The fullest details are supplied of the building accounts.
" Fremasons " were paid at the rate of I4d. a day, " roughe masons "
at 1 2d., and labourers at 8d. A large number of bricks were bought
at i8d. the hundred. In June 1594 fifty-eight tons of " Asheler or
freston from Ramsey " were purchased at 6s. 8d. the ton, including
carriage to the Antelope. In August sixteen tons of stone were
bought of the "quarrey man of Eversden" at 4s 8d. the ton. At
the same time fourteen tons of" Ragge and ij Tonne of freston were

THE TOWER, GREAT ST. MARY, CAMBRIDGE

FRO:\r AN OLD PRINT

THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH 85

purchased for 52s. 6d." Later in the year various other small
quantities of stone were obtained from Eversden, and large free-
stone or ashlar from Thorney Abbey at 8s. the ton, as well as a
large amount of rag at 4s. the ton.

Two other entries are worth citing, for they show the excep-
tional pains taken to secure subscribers : —

Item paid for iij paste bords to make iij platformes of the Staple

when we did gather for yt at the commensement . . iij d.

Item paid to a paynter for drawing of a plotforra of St. maries
Steple apon velam parchement for my Lorde archebyshopp of
Caunterburie .....-• xviij d.

The earliest material used for roofing English churches was
thatch ; many thatched churches remain in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The next most frequent use, at all events in wooded districts, was
a covering of shingles, that is of thin pieces of oak forming small
wooden tiles. These shingles are still in use as the covering of
timber spires and wooden belfries in several parts of England ;
but the employment of shingles in other parts of the building has
died out so rapidly with the last century that the nave of only a
single old church, that of Tenterden, Sussex, remains thus roofed at
the present day. Wardens' accounts simply abound with references
to shingle roofing.

1550 {St. Nicholas^ Warwick), Payd to the shyngler for shynglyng

of the body off the churche in sertin places . . . xiij d.

To Thomas Harris for iij C. off nayles being occupyed in

the same ivorke off shynglyng .... xviij d.

1568 {Eltham^ Kent), Payments to Sylvester Page, the Shingler
for the Reparations of the Church Steeple.

Paid to Sylvester Page . . . . .iij li. iij s. iiij d.

The like . . . . . . . iij li- iij s. iiij d.

Pd to Sylvester Page for 200 shingles . . . . vj s.

Pd to Sylvester Page for 7 dayes work and 3 men . xxxij s. viij d.

In addition to roofing with lead, baked tiles, and slates proper,
thin slabs of stone, usually termed stone-tiles, were frequently
used and are still employed in certain districts, as in Oxfordshire,
Northamptonshire, Surrey, and Sussex. The following is an
example of their use at Staplegrove, Somerset, in 1620: —

For ix thousand ij hundred of healing stones from Huish iij li. vj s. iij d.

86 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Flints for church walling were constantly used in East Anglia,
Essex, parts of Wilts and Hants, and in other stoneless districts.
For this purpose the flints were usually gathered from the surface
of the soil. In the accounts of North Elmham, Norfolk, 1538-9,
it is interesting to note that child labour was employed when the
chapel of St. James was under repair.

To ye scolers for bred and drynk when they gathered stones ij d.

1590 {Exning^ Suffolk). Paid to Sparrow of Moulton the firste day
of maye for gatheringe of ten lodes of flinte stones for the
Church walls ... ... xxij d.

Priests' or clerks' chambers in towers, over vestries, and over
porches were of fairly frequent occurrence. Especially were they
provided in towns and cities for the convenience of the morrow-
mass priest, who said the first mass often as early as ^v^ o'clock.
The old church of St. Peter Cheap, destroyed in the Great Fire
and never rebuilt, had a large vestry on the north side, abutting
upon Cock Alley. This vestry was built by special benefactions
in 147s, and had three upper chambers, which were apportioned
to as many priests.

1 519. S*^ Wyllam Abee, S*^ Thomas bostocke, S"^ Raufife Yonge,

each a chamber.
1574. Off the Rent off the morowe masse preests chambre which

is gevyn hym . . . . . vj s. viij d.

1533. The paryshe preest for hys chambre . , vj s. viij d.

Syr Thomas Dybon for hys chambre . . vj s. viij d.

Syr Wyllam the morrow masse preestys chambre . vj s. viij d.

1526-7 {St. Mary -at- Hill). For a Bedsted for the priestes chambre

that kepeth the first mas . . . , , xiiij d.

Chambers over the porches — by an absolute misnomer often
termed *' parvis " or " parvise " — were undoubtedly constructed, as a
rule, for the occupation of a priest, deacon, or sacristan, who acted
as church-watcher.

1594-5 {Ludlow). For Tymbre for the Roofe of the deacons chambre

over the churche porche . . . . . iij s.

1620. Pd to Roger Lea for setting up Thomas Hinde his bed in

the Belfry, and for puttinge one barr into the olde grate . x d.

The repairing of the glazing of windows, and the supplying
them with new pictures are of continual occurrence in the old

the

vij s. iiij

d. ob.

.

xij d.

.

vij s.

iij s.

. iiij d.

great

.

ijd.

of ij

.

xij d.

THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH 87

parish accounts. Here are a few examples set out in chronological
order : —

1385-6 {Tavistock). To repairing a glass window in
vestry ......

To making three figures in the vestry window

To six feet of new glass ....

To eight feet of old glass ....

To repairing three shutters {cloturias) to the
window in the end of the church .
1447 {St Peter Cheap). To the Glasyer for makynge
ymagies heds .....

1496 ( Walberswick^ Suffolk). By a gadering of the Wyvys in the

Towne for a Glaswyndow . . . . . ix s.

1503-4 {St. Mary-at-Hilt). To the glassyng of the gret wynddow

wythe the Trenyte in the south yell . . xxv s. iiij d.

1 52 1-2 For settyng in of xxiij newe quarrelles in the wyndowe of

the Trynyte whiche was blown downe with the wynde . xx d.
1 52 1 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). To Symond Symonds for
mendyng of the glass windows and the ymagery works
that were broken with the grete wynds before Christmas ij li.

1539. To the glazier, in reward fro the parish, tooards the setting

up of the Kinges armes and of my Lord Princes armes
and of my Lord Privy Seals armes in the east window
in the Trinity chapellee . . . . . x s.

1540. To Symon Symones glasier for making and setting up of

divers armes in the Trinity chapell by the advice and
commandement of Mr. Lancaster Herrold at armes . x s.

A good deal of old glass suffered at the time of the Reforma-
tion, but the beautiful glass of the fine church of Ludlow, much
of which remains to the present day, was not only spared, but
from time to time repaired.

1550 {Ludlow). For mendynge of saynt Katherine wyndow vj s. viij d.

For mendynge of saynt Margetts wyndow . . . xx d.

For ix fote of new glasse to the west wyndow . . vj s.
1 581-2. Payd to Season for takinge downe the glasse and settinge

it up agayne in the Weavers chauncell . . . ij s. x d.

1592-3. For vj fete of new glasse . . . . . iij s.

For the making iiij foote of o"" owne glasse , . .xij d.

For fourescore and thertene quarreys at j d. a quarel vij s. ix d.

For bonds for the glasse windowes and iij li. of leade . vj d.

Hardly anything was done during Elizabeth's long reign to

88 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

beautify the churches ; contrariwise, for the most part they
suffered severely, but occasionally blazoned arms were inserted
in the windows.

1 567-8 ( Tavistock), For the quenes armes and my lord of Bedfords
and for Setting of the same and for xxx quarrels sett at
the same tyme . . . . . xv s. viij d.

For master Fytz armes and for the Setting the armes

and mendyng certyn quarrells att the same tyme . . x s. iiij d.

1570-1 {St. Matthew^ Friday Street), For the new glasing of the
windows in the Quire contayninge j'xli foote at 5d. ob.
ye foote . . . . ■ iij h- iiij s. vij d. ob.

For placeing of the armes in the quyre wyndows . . iij s.

For the quenes armes to sete in the quyar wyndow xiij s. iiij d.

For the goldesmythes armes to seate in the same wyndow . x s.

For the Salltars armes to seate in the same wyndow . viij s.

Instances are fairly frequent of substituting plain glass for
coloured where Puritanism was in the ascendant.

It was ordered by the vestry of St. Edmund, Sarum, in 1629

That Mr. Recorder may, if it please him, take down the windowe wherein
God is painted in many places, as if he were there creating the world : so he
doe in steed there of new make the same window with white glasse, for that
the sayde windov/ is somewhat decaied and broken, and is very darksome,
whereby such as sitt neere to the same cannot see to reade in their bookes.

Henry Sherfield, the Puritanical Recorder, was not, however,
satisfied with having the offending window removed after an
orderly fashion, but publicly broke it with his staff by way of
protest. For this offence he was punished by the Star Chamber —
" Laud, who, though a disciplinarian, was strictly just, explaining
that although sacred art might be within its province in depicting
the humanity of Christ, it could not be defended in an attempt
to represent the Father; yet, granting this, nothing could justify
contempt."

A somewhat similar window had been mutilated about half a
century earlier at St. Thomas, Sarum. The accounts of 1583-4
contain the following entry : —

Hacker putting out the picture of the father in ye east windowe at

Mr. subdeanes comandement ..... iiij d.

THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH 89

In August 1641 the Puritans, " those poor withered souls "as
Sir W. Richmond, R.A., justly styles them, in order to remove all
that was fair and beautiful from the Houses of God, succeeded
in inducing the Commons to insist upon "the taking away of
all scandalous Pictures out of Churches." Soon afterwards one
William Dowsing, an uncompromising and blatant iconoclast,
was appointed parliamentary visitor of the Associated Eastern
Counties. This miscreant and his agents dealt, dire destruction
to painted glass in many hundreds of churches. Dowsing left
behind him a diary as to his evil progress, containing such
entries as this pertaining to Gorleston, Suffolk : —

. . . We broke seven popish pictures in the chancel window, one of Christ,
another of St. Andrew, another of St. James, etc. ... A picture of St. George
with divers pictures in the windows which we could not reach, neither would
they help us to raise ladders, so we left a warrant with the constable to do it
in 14 days.

We are content to give two instances from scores of wardens*
accounts of this wave of desolation : —

1643 (Toft Monks^ Norfolk). Laid out to Ruseles the Glaysher for

taken Down of the painted Glase . . . , is. 6d.

1644 {Lowick^ Northants). P for glasing the windowes when the

Crucifixis and scandalus pictures was taken downe xij

of July . . . . . . , I2S.

The once prevalent notion that the whitewashing of the
interior of churches was a debasing idea of post-Reformation
origin can be easily refuted by record evidence from the time of
the white-liming of the retroquire of Peterborough in 1190 down
to numerous entries in sacrist rolls of the first half of the sixteenth
century. Notwithstanding the abundance of good mural figure
and design painting, there were frequently large surfaces in our
parish churches which, from their uneven surface or from lack of
funds, were treated, from time to time, with the whitewasher's
brush.

In the 1394 accounts of St. Michael, Bath, full record is made
of the whitewashing of the church both within and without {tarn
infra quant extra) ; the lime cost 12s. 4d.

90 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

1482-3 {St Edmund, Sarum). Et sol' circa dealbacione pariet'
capelle Sci Johis Baptist ex una parte Chori ecclesie
capiendo in toto ..... iiij s. iiij d,

1490 (.S7. Duns tan, Canterbury). Receyvid of the beqweth of

Mother Bollyng to the whyte lymynge of the Churche vj s. viij d.
Payde to Wyllyam Ingram a bargain penny for the

whyte lymyng of our Churche . . . . j d.

Payde to the same Wyllyam for whyt lymyng of the

Churche . . . . . . vj s. viij d.

Considerable sums were spent on galleries in the seventeenth
century.

1 64 1 {St. Margaret, f^^j/MzViJ-/^^). Worke about the new gallery

(in all) ...... £'221 IIS. 2d.

1670 {Sidbury, Devon). To John Shoulders for building y°

gallery ...... ^10 9s. 3d.

CHAPTER VII

THE ALTAR AND THE EUCHARIST

Altars of St. Laurence, Reading — Diverse altar excerpts^ — The Pyx and
cover — Communion Wines, excessive quantities— Nature of the Wines —
Odious distinctions— The Holy Loaf— Wafer Bread— Cost of the Elements, St.
Margaret, Westminster— Communions of the Commons— Communion Tokens —
Number of Celebrations — Poor Folk and Sacrament Sundays — Processional
Canopies — HouseHng Cloths — Altar Rails — Altar Coverings

IT may be well to follow up the church-book entries as to
altars in a single typical case.
The accounts of St Laurence, Reading, beginning in 1410,
name no fewer than twelve altars, but possibly they did not all
exist at the same time. Those mentioned, in addition to the High
Altar, are the altar of St. John Baptist in the north quire aisle,
the altars of Jesus and Our Lady on either side of the chancel
entrance, those of St. Blaise, St. Thomas, the Sepulchre, St. George,
St. Nicholas, the Trinity, St. Clement, and one erected in the
vestry in 15 18. There are a variety of highly interesting entries
relative to the High Altar.

1 503. Payed for whipcord to draw the blak cloth at sakeryng of

masse . . . . . . . . j d.

1508. Payed for a carpyntors lyne to draw the black sarsenet

before the Sacrament at the Hy Auter ^ . . . j d.

1 5 10. Payed for a small lyne to hang the Kanape over the Hy

auter . . . . . . . . j d.

In 15 13 the "front" (probably the slab or mensd) of the High
Altar was transferred to the altar in St. John's Chapel and a

^ Mr. Kerry's note (p. 26) to this entry runs as follows: *'It was a custom in the
old English Church to draw a vail before the altar during the consecration of the
elements, in accordance with the words : * Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor
have entered into the heart of man to. conceive the things which God hath prepared
for them that love Him.' "

91

92 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

new High Altar stone erected at a cost of 14s. This involved the
consecration of both.

1513. Payd to a Suffrygan for Halowyng of the High Awt', Seynt

Johns awt', and a supaltare . . . . vj s. viij d.

Payd to John Knyght for makyng crossis to the Hygh
Awtar and other service ..... viij d.

1526. To the paynter for payntyng the transfiguracon over the

hygh Awt' . . . . . • yj li. xiij s. iiij d.

Rec' of dyvers persones towards the gyldyng and paynt-
yng of the transfyguracon over the high aut' as by a byll
it doth apere . . . , . -iiij li- xiij s. j d.

To Robt Pasteler for making a skaffold and enlargeyng the

High awt' . . . . . . iij s. iiij d.

1528. For enlargyng the Awt' clothes for the hygh Awt' with all

man' of stuff therto belongyng . . . xxij s. ix d.

In 1548 the High Altar was bought by Mr. Bell for 6s. 8d., but
when Mary came to the throne there is a 1553 entry: —

Paid for making of the high Awt' and paving in the churche . xij s.

The irreverent Puritanism of Elizabeth's days finds due entrancie
in the accounts.

1560. For dressyng the high alter and the wall beneth and the

bourdes where the altar stode . . . ij s. viij d.

1568. To Martyn Woodnett for makinge of the Frame for the

comunion table ...... xxij d.

To Edmund Paynter for colloringe of ye same . . iij d.

1569. To the joynor for makyng the comunion table and

benches, with a doore ..... iiij s.

There was a return to the old position in the Laudian days.

1638. Pd to the jynor for making the new and mendinge the

oulde winscotte above the comunion table . . . ;£i is.

1638. One velvet cover for the Com' Table with silke fringe of the

gift of Mrs. Saunders ..... ;£8

One velvet quisheon and a booke of Comon prayer gilt

for the Com' Table of the gift of James Read and Mr.

Henry ^3

There are many entries relative to the numerous subsidiary
altars of the church, especially those of the Lady Mass and the
Jesus Mass, and the one in St. John's Chapel. The 1524 inventory

THE ALTAR AND THE EUCHARIST 93

gives lists of the vestments and ornaments pertaining to each. All
these altars were destroyed in 1 547, and the slabs or mensce sold
for two or three shillings. '

The chief altars were re-established and hallowed under Queen
Mary.

M^ that in the yere of our lorde 1557 and the iij"* and iiij**" yers of the
reignes of our Souveraigne lord and lady Phillipp and Marye by the grace of
God Kyng and Quene of England, etc., the Second Day of May beyng Sonday,
Willm Fynche Suffrigan unto the Bisshoppe of Bathe and welles hath hallowed
the churchyarde of the p'rishe of Saynt Laurence in Redyng, And also the
same day and yere hath hallowed in the seid p'rishe fyve awters of stone, that
site with the High Awter of Saynt Laurence ; in the chauncell next called
St. Johns Chauncell one awter called Saynte Johns Alter : in the body of the
churche the myddell alter ther called Jesus Alter : in the South syde ther
one Alter called our ladye Awter of the Nativitie : and in the north side ther
one Awter called Saynt Thomas Awter.

The following are selected as brief examples of various altar
references elsewhere : —

1448 {Yatton). Vor lyme to wassche the awterys . . . ij d.

1495 {ibid^. For makyng of an awter to Thomas Cotyng . vj s. viij d.

For a stone to hale (cover) the auter . . . . ij s.

1474-6 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For an auter cloth of Golde . iij li.

To Robert Nevill for makyng of thaut' cloth and frontell . xx d.
For frenges for y^ same frontell ... ij s. iiij d.
1493-4 {St. Mary-at-Hill). For makyng of the crossys on the

superaltarys . . . . . . . iiij d.

1554 {Stanford^ Berks). Rec of henry Snodam gent for a tabuU
w^ a frame ye whiche served in ye churche for ye comunion
in the wycked tyme of sysme [pen struck through last

six words] . . . . . , , vs.

The English use of placing the Reserved Sacrament in a pyx
or box suspended above the high altar is fully treated of in
English Church Furniture, 39-45- The reference to the cords for
suspending the pyx are very frequent in wardens' accounts,

1491 {St. Edmund, Sarum). For a corde to fastene the sacrament iij d.
1510-1 {Ashburton^ Devon), For a cord to hang the pyx , , iij d.

Above the pyx was usually a small canopy with a fringe, of
which a solitary example remains at Hessett, Suffolk.

94 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1507 {TinfinhuU), For makynge of a frenge with bottyns and

tassels to a kerchew to hang over the sakerment . ij s. viij d.

1554 {Yatton). For y^ nette clothe ower y^ pyxe . . . xviij d.

For tassells for ye pyxk . . . . . ij d.

1555. For ye pyxe and palle cloth for ye same . . xx s. viij d.

Communion Wine
The amount of wine consumed at Celebrations in post-Reforma-
tion days— even after making allowance for the large number of
communicants in times when absence was, alas, penalised in various
ways — is most startling. The conclusion is inevitable that there
must often have been peculation in connection with such returns
by the wardens and their allies.

1 561 {St. Peter Cheap). For breade and one gallon of wyne the

25 day of October for cviii comunycants . . . j s. ix d.

[In this year there were also, on 19th July, 68 communi-
cants ; at Christmas, 96 ; 2nd February, 56 ; Easter Day,
112.]
For a pynte of wyne 13 daye of Aprill for xxij comunycants
at the marriage of Gabriel newman . . . ij d.

1562. For Bread, and wyne for clxvij comunicants xj*^ of Aprill
1562-3 {St. Martin, Leicester). Payd for wyne for the Communeon
at Estur iij quartes of mamse and ix quartes of claret
wyne ...... iiij s. vj d.

1590 {Exning, Suffolk). Paid for bread and a gallonde of

Malmesye agaynste Easter Daye . . . iiij s. iiij d.

For a quarte of wine and bread agayn marndye Thur. for
the commiunion . . . . . . xij d.

For iij pintes of wine and for bread agaynste ester evene xix d. ob.
For a quarte of wyne and bread agayn the sondaye after

ester . . . . . . . xij d.

For a pynte of wyne and for breade agaynste trinitie

sondaye . . . . . . . vij d.

1 59 1. Inprimis for a pint of muscadine and for breade agaynste

the sondaye before easter . . . . . vij d.

Item for iij pintes of muscadine and for breade agaynste

marnde thursdaye . . . . . xx d.

Item for a pottell of malmeseye againste ester evene and

for breade . . . . . . . ij s. ij d.

1605 {St. 'Mary^ Reading), For our Easters Comunions for

Wine ...... xiiij s. vjd.

For 25 quartes and a pinte of wine for the monthelie Com-
munione . . . . . xxj s. iij d.

THE ALTAR AND THE EUCHARIST 95

1614 (St. Mary, Reading). For xlij quartes of muskydine and a

pinte at xjd. the quarte . . . xxxviij s. xj d. ob.

1 61 7. For Ivij quartes of muskidine for the monthlie Corn-
union . , . . . . liij s. lij d.

The amount expended on wine at Hartland, Devon, although
it was a wide and fairly populous parish, was amazing-. In 1614
twelve gallons and a quart of Canary wine were bought "against
Easter," at gd. a quart, amounting to £\ i6s. gd.

The most scandalous case of excess of wine, purporting to be
for the Easter Communion, is that of St. Neots, Cornwall. In
161 8 the charge is 34s., and in 1619 35s. 7d. ; the quantity is
not stated, but the usual price at that period, judging from other
accounts, was 6d. a quart. But this extravagance was far surpassed
after the Restoration. In 1664 ten gallons of sack for Easter
Communion were purchased at £2 3s. 4d. Under 3rd May
169s comes the following entry : —

We have examined this account, but finding that the 23 quarte of wine
which was provided for the comunion at Easter to be soe exceedingly bad
and that the churchwardens have charged 2s. 4d, for each quart of it, whereas
the wine was not really worth I2d. a quart. However wee are contented to
deduct out of the superfluous charge only 13s. gd. for the whole.

1625 {Beccles, Suffolk). Paid to nathainyell Browne and Abraham
Tood for xxxviij quarts of muskdine for y^ Comuneon y°
Sonday after Ester ; xxiij quarts from Browne at xij d.
ye quarte and xiiij quarts Todds at xiiijd. y*" quart . xl s. iiij d.

[On Easter Day 33 quarts of muskadine had been sup-
plied.]

1679 {Wirksworth, Derbyshire). Paid to Edward Millond for 31

quarts of wine at I4d. a quart for 4 Comunion Days £1 i6s. 2d.

1694 {Ibid.). Paid for 18 quarts of wine for Michaelmass and

Christmas Corns . . . . . • ^i 9S.

As to the wines most usually named in wardens' accounts, in
addition to claret — Malmsey, a strong, sweet wine, first made in
Greece ; Muscadel or Muskadine (spelt variously), a rich, sweet-
smelling wine from Spain, and corresponded in some respects
to Tent, the usual Communion wine of the early Victorian period ;
Bastard, a sweet red wine from Spain and Corsica, usually mixed,
hence the name; Sack, the name given to any Spanish white
wine, and equivalent to sherry ; Canary, or Canary Sack, a
superior white wine from the Canary Isles and from Malaga.

96 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

A most odious distinction was made in a few churches, notably
at Salisbury, whereby the well-to-do were supplied with the
luscious and more expensive wine, and the ordinary folk with the
lighter and cheaper claret.

\^T^-df{St. Edmitnd^ Sarum) Mrs Smallam wyne 22s. Qd., and

bought besydes for y'= masters and Mrs. 7 pintes of

muscodal ... 2s. 4d.

1629. It is ordered that the Churchwardens shall provide

Muscadine only for the wine at the Comunions, and shall

not provide any more Claret wine for that use.

Holy Loaf

Entries as to Holy Loaf are of continuous occurrence. As to
the accounts of Sutterton, Lincolnshire, Mr. Peacock says : —

"This year (15 1 2) the wardens bought 'ij holybred maundes*
(baskets) for lod. This is an additional proof, if proof on such
a matter is needed, that the holy bread or eulogise was almost
universally distributed in this country before the Reformation. . . .
This holy loaf had nothing whatever to do with the eucharistic
elements, but was ordinary unleavened bread, such as was
commonly eaten in the parish, which was blessed by the priest
after he had said Mass, cut into small pieces, and given to the
people to eat. When the custom originated, it is perhaps hardly
safe to affirm. It was intended as a symbol of the brotherly love
which ought to exist among Christians. . . . One of the demands
of the Devonshire men, when they broke out into rebellion in 1549,
for the purpose of resisting the changes in faith and ritual, was
that they should have * holy bread and holy water every Sunday.'
The holy bread was distributed as long as the old services con-
tinued in use. Baskets for containing it are mentioned several
times among the things removed as ' monuments of superstition '
from the Lincolnshire churches, 8 Elizabeth."^

To this clear statement on a matter so constantly misunder-
stood and wrongly described, it may be added that the cost of
providing and baking the weekly holy loaf was imposed in some
parishes on certain landholders in rotation ; that in other parishes

^ See also interesting depositions as to providing Holy Bread at St. Oswald's,
Durham, in Surtees Society Proceedings^ vol. xxi.

THE ALTAR AND THE EUCHARIST 97

it was always baked in the Church-house (sometimes called, as at
St. Michael, Bath, the *' Holybrede House"), and the cost defrayed
by a definite gathering; that the name and not the reality
lingered in many places right through Elizabeth's reign, and even
later; and that the gathering, when continued, was used for
providing bread, and in some cases wine, for the Holy Communion.
A sufficient number of excerpts are given from wardens'
accounts to establish these various points : —

1 5 1 1 {St Edmund^ Sarwn). Pro uno Coffane ad portandum et

imponendum panem Sanctificatum . . . •. v d.

c. 1538 {Bolney). Thys be the Hole breds of the parysh of Bolney —

John Bolney pays for Blast Wayseld and v acres of land . iij

Holybreds, ii s. iiij d. ob. for taper and treyndell.

William Lang for iij lands pays iij holybred.

John Gratwek pays for on land on holebred.

Hari Costredell pays for Wylvorn land on holy bred.

Myderd Byrtynshaw for Barnards land pays on holy bred.

John Dunstall on holy bred.

[Followed by 41 other payers of holy bred.]
1537 {St. Alphege^ London Wall). For the holy bread baskett . iiij d.
1542-3 (Tintinhuil, Somerset). Rec' of the increase (surplus) of

the holy loffe ...... iiij s. iij d.

1 55 1 {St. Laurence, Reading). It was concludid and agreed that
from hensforthe every inhabitant of the p'sche shall here
and pay every Sonday in the yere v d. for every tenement
as of old tyme the Holy Lofe was used to be paid and be
received by the p'sche dark wekely, the seid dark to have
every Sonday for his paynes id. And iiij d. residewe to
be paied and delyvered every Sonday to the churchwardens
to be employed for bred and wyne for the communyon.
And if any overplus therof shall be, of suche money so
received to be to the use of the churche ; and if any shall
lacke, to be borne and paied by the seid churchwardens ;
provided allwey that all such persons as ar poore and not
able to pay the whole, be to have Ayde of such others as
shall be thoughte good, by the discrecon of the Church-
warden.
1555. Rec' of money gathered for the holy lofe . . ix s. iiij d.

1 560 {Melton Mowbray). For y^ holly lof v sondays in lent . xvj d.

1588. Recevid for t^ holye loffe for Ixij days at iiij d. the daye xx s. viij d.

Entries under the head of "The holy Loafe" occur in the
Mere, Wilts, accounts up to 1590, and were then continued for
7

98 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

some years after a like fashion, but under the head of " The
Comunion bread."

1585. Item receyved of Robte Goodyn for the rent of the holy
loafe over and above iij d. wch the Bedman yearly hath
accustomably receyved to his owne use on Easter day xij s. ix d.

1591. Item receyved of Robte Gowdden for the rent of the
Comunion bread this yeare over and above iij d. gyven
the bedman for collecting the same as in the yeare
before . . . . . . xij s. ix d.

The Holy Loaf appears in the St. Mary, Reading, accounts
from 1564 to 1618. The cessation of this entry coincides with the
imposition of a penny from each communicant for the elements.
It was agreed in that year that every householder should pay 2d.
" for the hoUe Loffe every yere according to the Olde Custome."

The belief that the use of wafers at the Communion was
forbidden at the Reformation is a common blunder; the exact
contrary is the truth. In 1 549 it was ordered that the Eucharistic
Bread was to be " throughout the realm after one sort and fashion,
unleavened, round as it was before, but without all manner of
fruit."

In Queen Elizabeth's Inquisitions it is ordered that the sacra-
mental bread shall be of the same fineness and fashion, though
somewhat bigger in compass and thickness, as the usual bread and
water heretofore named singing cakes, which served for the use
of the private mass."

" Houseling bread " was the smaller form of wafer for the
communion of the people ; " singing bread " (so called from the
chanting with which its manufacture used to be accompanied) was
the larger or priest's wafer.

Wafer bread was used by Archbishop Parker, and its use was
maintained at Westminster Abbey up to 1643.

The evidence from wardens' accounts as to the use of wafer breads
throughout Elizabethan and Stuart times is overwhelming ; it may
also be remarked that the paten-covers of the Elizabethan chalices
were obviously made for wafers. Five quotations must suffice : —

1549 (St. Mary Redcliffe). To a pair of wafer Irons . iij s. iiij d.

\tf^^ {Wimborne), Singing bread . . . . . ij d.

THE ALTAR AND THE EUCHARIST gg

1573 {Redenhall^ Norfolk). Payde for wafer breade . . viij d.

1579 {Eltham). Paide unto John Browne for wafers for ye

Comunion . . • . - . . vj d.

J t^c^T {Worksop). For ij hundrethes and a halfe of Comunion

breades or wafers . . . . . . xv d.

[We have found " wafer irons '' included in several
Jacobean church inventories.]

Various difficulties arose in the Elizabethan and subsequent
days as to the cost of the Elements.

1575 {Spelsbiiry). Yt ys agreed by the worshipfull and all the pryshoners
there that every comunicant within the paryche shall gyve one ob. (farthing)
to by bred and wyne for the blessed Comunion, not only agaynst Easter, but
to serve for every monthe in ye yere for ye same purpose, as yt ys there
ministered and receyved ; and that every howse holder shall answer and pay for
all those that be within hys howse, and ye tythyng man within every towne
and village shall gether or take up the same sume of every hose houlder, and
the same so gethered or taken shall withoute delay delyver the same unto the
churchwardens for that tyme beyng ; and they to provyde for bred and wyne at
all tymes as ys before named. And further yt ys agrede that yf any house
holder denye to paye for all ye comunicants within hys howse that then the
sayde tythyngman shall strayne for the same sum, and the stresse so taken shall
cari and beare awaye and make saile thereof for so much as ye summe
comyth to in that howse, and ye stress to kepe tyll yt be anncered.

Meanwhile it was found that this compulsory levy of a farthing
from each communicant did not suffice to supply the materials for
the Celebration, and at a parish meeting in 1580 it was resolved
that every communicant was to pay an annual halfpenny for this
purpose, that the tithingman was to collect the sum from house to
house on or before Mid-Lent Sunday, and that if any person made
default they were not to " receyve the Sacrament untill they have
discharged the same/'

The " Paschall money at Easter " occurs in the St. Mary,
Reading, accounts for 1557, and continues under the one word
" Paschall " until 1598. The paschal taper continued to be made
for the first two years of Elizabeth. In 1599 the entry
'* Communion at Easter " begins to take the place of Pascall. The
sum raised under this head paid for the Elements at the Easter
Communion. The surplus was divided between the vicar and the
wardens' fund.

loo THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1601 (JSerkhamstead). Mem'^ it is now concluded upon and agreed by the
minister, churchwardens, and the rest of the Vestrie that all single communycants
shall paye for ever hereafter towardes the charge of the bread and wine at
Easter for evrie of themselves id., and the rest of the parishioners accordinge
to theire abillyties,

1625 {Pittington^ Durham). That for the provision of bread and wine every
communicant shall pay one penny to the churchwardens, and that every maister
of the family shall pay for himself, wife, children, and servants.

1663 {St Thomas^ Sarum). Every person rated to the poor to pay for him-
self wife and children and apprentices that are fit to use the Sacrament a groat
apiece besides a convenient allowance for bread and wine.

A special interest attaches itself to the subjoined excerpts, and
their phraseology, from the accounts of the important church of
St. Margaret, Westminster.

1502. For a brekefaste upon Ester day for them wch helpen

the pepull to be husleth . . . . . ij s. iiij d.

1538. For matts for the parishioners to kneel upon when they

reverenced their Maker . . . iiij s. iiij d.

1548. For bread, ale, and wyne for the gentlemen and children
of the Kings chapel for their paynes in helping of the
divine service at the blessed communion on our Ladys
day in Lent . . . . . . . ij s. xj d.

1620. For 14 loads of gravel laid into the churchyard against

the comunion of the lower house of parliament . xvijs. viij d.

1625. Rec. of the Commons House of Padiament when they

took the Comunion on July 3rd . . xlvij li. v s. viij d.

1627. For bread and wine when the Commons (being 468 persons)

received the Comunion in 1626 . . . . ^5 17s.

It has usually been supposed that the objectionable custom of
supplying tokens as a warrant of admission to Holy Communion
was a post-Reformation device. The following entries, however,
from the accounts of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields prove that it was of
earlier origin, but probably of quite exceptional occurrence : —

1535. Received and gathered for the howsellyng tokens in the

Churche ...... xiij s. vij d.

1540. Receved and gathered on Ester daye in the church for

hoslyng tokons . . . . . . x s.

1542. Receyvyd on Ester day for howseling tokyns . . xxxj s.

In the next two years, receipts under this head exceeded 40s.
In post-Reformation days the custom was firmly established,

THE ALTAR AND THE EUCHARIST loi

in the parishes of St. Thomas and St Edmund, Sarum, of each
communicant, on some day in the week preceding the Celebration,
notifying his intention to the clerk and receiving a metal token.
One halfpenny was paid to the churchwardens at the time of
communicating, when the token was given back. These sums are
sometimes entered as "halfpence for monthly communion." A
steel die was used to strike these tokens, which were sometimes of
brass, but more usually of lead. The following entries occur, inter
alia, in these two Sarum accounts : —

1572-3- Altering of the stampe and strikinge of ye tokens . . 6d.

1573-4- Alteringe y^ stampe and strikinge of the tokens . . 6d.

1574-5- Alteringe of the stampe and strykinge of the Tokens . 6d.

1575-6. Gravinge the stampe ..... 4d.

1622-3 C-^^- Edmund). Tokens to deliver to the Comunicantes . I2d.

1641. Comunicants that pay to the relief of the poor and are
able to do so, to pay 2d. each time they come, or send
for tokens in order to their receiving the Lordes supper

1651-2. Brasse Tokens and for a Box to put them in and Two

Steele stamps . . . . . . i8s. 2d.

The following brief extracts give other instances of this town

use:-

1559 {^^' Michael, Worcester). For ledd and makyng of tokens at

Easter . . . . . . . . vj d.

1$^'^ {St. James, Bristol). Paid for tokans to deliver to the

howselynge people at Easter. . . . . vj d.

1628 {Sidbury, Devon). For twoo hundred of tokens . . x d.

The most remarkable and detailed evidence of the use of
Communion tokens are the returns for the years 1619, 1620, and
1621 of St. Saviour's, Southwark. The book for 1619 begins with
Winchester House, ten tokens being obtained by Sir Charles
Montagu, Bart. ; then follows Rochester House, and afterwards all
the streets and *' rents " of the parish ; the number of tokens issued
was 1489. In 1621 they amounted to 1722, and in 1622 to 1936.
Communion tokens were very largely used in Scotland in Presby-
terian and in some Episcopalian churches. See Wood's Scottish
Pewter Ware, pp. 106-21 ; they were first introduced in 1560.

In post-Reformation days the number of Celebrations were
usually surprisingly few, but opportunities for communicating were
often multiplied at Eastertide. At Holy Trinity, Cambridge,

I02 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

there were Celebrations on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday,
Easter Eve, Easter Day, Easter Monday, and Low Sunday.

In 1585 at Staplegrove, Somerset, there were eight Celebra-
tions, namely, on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Easter Eve,
Easter Day, May, August, All-Hallowtide, and Christmas Day.

At Seal, Surrey, in 1588, there were only three Celebrations,
namely, at Easter, All-Hallows, and Candlemas. In 1589 like pro-
vision was only made at Easter and Hallowtide, and in 1590 merely
for the one great feast of Easter. The accounts of 1591 include the
quantity of wine purchased. In 1592, and for several subsequent
years, the Communion was administered at Candlemas, Easter,
Midsummer, Hallowtide, and Bartholomewtide ; but in 1609 there
was a new departure, Palm|Sunday being added to the list. In
161 8 there were administrations on Palm Sunday, Easter Eve, and
Easter Sunday, and in 1634 and 1639 on Good Friday.

There were daily Celebrations of the Holy Communion in the
church of St. Oswald, Durham, in 1610, from Palm Sunday to
Easter Day inclusive, when a total of 34 quarts of wine were
supplied at 8d. the quart. The following year 31 quarts were
supplied for a like period, and 33 quarts in 1 61 3.

The bread and wine at the Communion cost the parish of Holy
Cross, Canterbury, £1 4s. 4d. for the year 1698; it was only
administered four times a year. In 17 18 there were the like
number of administrations ; fifteen pints of tent were bought at
2s. a pint, and the bread cost 8d.

Kindly provision was now and again made, at the expense of
the rates, for poor folk attending church from a distance on
" Sacrament Sundays."

1676 {Leek, Staffs). P^ 7 dinners on Sacrament dayes . . 7s-

iy66 {Hayfield, Derbyshire). P'^'for two mens Dinners 3 Sacra-
ment Days ....... 3s.

Canopies over the Reserved Sacrament when carried in pro-
cession were naturally objects upon which much cost and art were
expended. The two great days for such processions were the
festivals of Palm Sunday and Corpus Christi. The latter was by
far the most important, for on that occasion the procession
traversed the main streets or roads of the town or village, instead
of merely going round the churchyard.

THE ALTAR AND THE EUCHARIST 103

1475-6 (5^. Edmund^ Sarum). Costs of the new portable Canape.

Paied for ij yards di and j nayle of Satyn to the same . xxij s.
Paiede for iiij unce j quart of selken frenge to the same . v s. ij d.
In iij EUys of Garnesey cloth to the same . . . xx d.

In iij yerdes of purpul Velvet to the same . . . xlviij s.

i^i^-^ {Holy Trinity^ Cambridge). The Costes and Charges of

the Canopy.
Furst vij yardis dim of Blake velvet the prise of a yard

ix s. vj d. . . . . . . iij li. xj s. iij d.

For the valance iij yardis dim and halfe quartum Cremesyne

velvet . . . . . . xlj s. iij d.

For the ymage of the Trinitie with xiiij Chales (chalices)

for the same ..... xxxiij s. vj d.

For xvij unces dim of fring to the same . . . xvij s.

For vj yardis of Bakeram for the lyneyng . . . iij s.

For makyng of the Canopy - . . . . v s. iiij d.

Summa . . x li. vij s. vij d.

For mendyng and payntyng of the frame and iiij staves ij s. vij d.
For a dosen silke poyntes . . . . . xv d.

For haspis and staphs for the same frame . . . viij d.

For Cariage home from London of the Canopy . . vj d.

For twys Rydyng to London, horse mete and mans mete

and horse hyre . . . . . vj s. viij d.

To Robert Taylore . . . . . . xx d.

To Richard Rolfe ...... viij d.

Summa totalis alloc' . . xiij li. xv s. ixd.

When chancel screens were the invariable rule of the Church
of England, there was no need for altar rails, so far as keeping dogs
and other profanities at a distance was concerned. It was probably
always the custom to place kneeling benches for the infirm or
aged communicants, and thereon would be placed the white linen
houseling cloths, which were otherwise held by clerks at the time
of the laity's communion. Only a single pre- Reformation example
need be given : —

1546 {Askburtonj Devon). For x yards of linen for towels called

housslyng cloths . , . , . . xx d.

The use of the houseling cloth has been of late years restored
in several churches ; it is said never to have died out at Wimborne
minster. In many places it survived the Reformation, as is evident
from the long towels mentioned in various Elizabethan and seven-

I04 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

teenth-century inventories, and also by direct evidence, of which
the following entries are examples : —

1602 (St Botolph^ Cambridge). Two Lyninge To wells for the

Chancell at Comunion tymes

161 7 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For twenty yards of diaper

towelling for the desks . . . . j li. iij s. iiij d.

That the large majority of English churches had altar rails in
Elizabethan or early seventeenth-century days has been completely
established in English Church Furniture^ pp. 17-9, and the state-
ments need not be here repeated. The earliest wardens' accounts
entry as to altar rails, hitherto noticed, occurs in iS74 at Hawk-
hurst, Kent.

For makyng the partycyon of the chauncell lower and makyng

the Rayles about the place of the Comunyon Table . Iiij s. vj d.

A 1602 inventory of St. Bartholomew Exchange names
"certayne ould Rayles that have stood aboute the Comunion
Table." This phrase is repeated year by year up to 161 1. At St.
Mary, Reading, "a newe rayle about the Comunion table'* was
erected in 1635 at a cost of £6 los., clearly showing that these
rails succeeded an older set. Altar rails were provided at St.
Werburgh, Bristol, in 1620,

The use of forms and other conveniences for communicants are
illustrated by the subjoined excerpts : —

1 550-1 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). The leggyng of a Forme to serve

for people when the do receyd the Comunyon . j d.

1622-3. Joyner for a Seven foote of Brackettes to mend the place
to kneele uppon at the Comunion beinge made to narrow
at firste . . . . . . . 2s. 6d.

xl yards of newe matt for the Comunicauntes to kneele uppon 5s.

1626. That furmes be provyded for the comunicantes to knell at in

the Quire . . . . . . ....

1560 {Ludlow). For a planke to knele upon at the communyon

tabulle . . . . . . . iiij d.

1566-7 {St. Mary WoolnotK). For a borde of tenne foote long

for the bench to kneel on before the Comunyon table . ij d.

1593-4 {St. Martin., Leicester). Payd to goodman Kyrke for ij

mats for the formes to the Communion table . . viij d.

1603 {Wimborne). For fotestoles in the quier about the Com
munion Table .....

THE ALTAR AN13 THE EUCHARIST 105

1625 {S^. Mary, Cambridge). For 18 yardes of Matt for the parish-
ioners to kneele on at the Comunion . . iiij s. vj d.

1638 {All Saints, Derby). For mattinge and rushes in y*= chancell

to kneele on . . . . . . . 5s. 3d.

The visitation by Archbishop Laud of his province in 1633
brought about the restoration of rails in several puritanical
churches whence they had been ejected or never erected, and
caused the position of others to be changed so as to run north
and south straight across the chancel.

1635 (All Saints, Derby). Pd Mr. Aderly for Raile about y'' Com-

union table ...... £1 6s. 8d.

Given Frierson for Henges and for Cariage of y"^ Raile to

y^ Church . . . . . . • 3S. 3d.

1636 {Cratfield, Suffolk). For setting up the rails in the Chancell . £1
For fetching of the rails from Laxfield . . .3s. 4d.

In 1641 Parliament took upon itself to forbid altar rails ; but
the order was at first disregarded in the loyalist half of England.

1646-7 {St. Thomas^ Sarum). Rec'* for ye railes about ye Com-
union table . . . . . . .17s. 6d.

Once removed, altar rails were not readily resupplied in out-
of-the-way or poorly supervised districts. In his visitations of
1703-4 of the diocese of Carlisle, Bishop Nicholson found 35
unrailed chancels.

The following illustrate the occasional care taken to provide
good coverings for the Holy Table in the seventeenth century : —

1608 {St. Margaret, Westminster). Bought a cloth of gold and a
cushion for the comunion table and a cushion for the
pulpit . . . . . . . - . XX li.

1624 {Seal, Surrey). P^ for three yeards of Cloyth for the Com-
union Table and Pulpit at iij s. vj d. per yeard . . x s. vj d.
Pd for the greene frindge for them ... iij s. iiij d.
P^ for makinge them . . . . . . iij d.

1628-9 {St. Martin, Leicester). For 4 yards the quarter and halfe
quarter of broad cloth at xij s. vj d. y^ yard for a carpett
cloth for the Comunion table .... liiij s. x d.

For fringe and silke ..... xxvij s. iij d.

For making of the Com" Carpett cloth . . .xij d.

CHAPTER VIII
BOOKS

MS. Service Books — Bassingbourn inventory — Binding — Printed Books —
Caxton's Golden Legend — Reformed Service Books — The Commonwealth
Directory — The Homilies — The Bible — Erasmus' Paraphrase — Foxe's Martyrs
— Jewel's Works — Chained Books — Other Books

THE early book entries of St. Michael, Bath, are interesting.
Thus in 1349, William de Wyke bequeathed 2S. towards
a missal ; 2d. was paid for a skin to bind it ; and 46s. 2d.
was the full cost of the missal. In 1370, Ss. was paid for bind-
ing books, and 13d, for sheepskins and thread. A breviary cost
£\ 3s. 4d. in 1371 ; and a processional 5s. iid. in 1426, of which
5s. i-|-d. was collected towards the purchase. A manual was bought
at Bristol, in 1439, for i6s. 8d. ; an additional i8d. being spent on
two men riding to fetch the book.

The following entries serve as reminders of the prices of the
old service books : —

1401-2 {Tavistock). A new missal for the church . iiij li. xiij s. iiij d.

1442 {Thame). For a manuel . . . . . x s. vj d.

1 474-6 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For ij gx'ett Bokes called

Antiphoners ....... xxij li.

1484 {St. John^ Peterborough). Solut' Dno Johni Crowland pro

scripto unius libri de servicio bte Marie . . xxiij s. ij d.

1485 {St. Ditnstan^ Canterbury). Payde to the prest of Amery for

owr Antifyner ...... Iiij s. iiij d.

Payd to Syr Rychard Lang for owr Massebooke . . xl s.

1499 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). To Thorn Herte xx s. in
parte of payment of xl s. for the makyng writtyng notyng
lumynyng byndyng and for the stuffe of iij newe festis that
is to sey, the visitacion of our ladi, de nomine Jhu and
transfiguracion of our lorde, that is to witte in v anti-
phoners and a legende, iiij graelles, iiij masse bokes and

iiij processionares . . . , . . xx s.

106

5t^ 6^ 9f- -^/iU^ *^Ljw^ *f|*(m*^«y**.K«

.«fli»f

>8&-&rt-fs5f^y^^

. - %^,\ «Aw*«^ rfT^/i #ift O^ f^^«ay««

(tf^ii <i\ .»^*^«*^^ fi^y'/* ■

il^li Til""--

INVENTORY. WARDENS' ACCOUNTS; ST. MARGARET. NEW FISH STREET,

1472

*i^*--.-i

INVENTORY, WARDENS' ACCOUNTS; ST. MARi^ARET, NEW FISH STREET, 147-2

(continued)

BOOKS 107

The 1472 inventory of St. Edmund, Sarum, shows that the
church possessed a large number of service books. There were
5 missals, 9 grayles (the mass music), a gospeler, an epistoler,
4 breviaries, 6 antiphoners (music for the canonical hours), 14 proces-
sionals, 2 legends (book of the lessons for mattins), "j newe grete
legant bought by the church godes called a Temperall " (the lessons
from Advent to Trinity), a collection or book of short lessons, a
dirge book, a psalter, an ordinal or collection of rubrical directions,
a book of the lives of the Saints {Legenda Aurea), and "j boke for
the organes."

Another most interesting item of this list is : " Hugucon y
chaynyd in our lady Chapell." This volume was also chained in
the lady chapel of All Saints, Derby. It was the Vocahularium of
Hugutio of Pisa, a book never printed, but fairly frequent in
manuscript. An admirable book of reference.^

It is singular to note that there is no mention of a manual, the
book of occasional services, in the 1472 list. Its omission must
be accidental, for no church could possibly be destitute of at least
one copy of this essential service book. A subsequent entry, of
1482-3, tells of the binding of a manual.

Bishop Beauchamp secured in 1456 the canonisation of Osmund
the founder of the cathedral church of Old Sarum. In 1472 a
special indulgence was granted by Pope Sixtus IV to all penitents
visiting St. Osmund's shrine on 17th July, the day of his festival.
The authorities of St. Edmund's bought parchment and caused
the life of St. Osmund to be engrossed thereon in 1474, doubtless
to read to the congregation and thus further the cause of the cathe-
dral pardon. The accounts of 1474-5 name this and also supply
interesting particulars relative to the binding and care of the service
books.

1474-5. In pergamento empto ad inscribendam Historiam Sci

Osmundi ....... xvij d.

In scripture Sequenc' Sci Osmundi .... iiij d.

In 1479 a further copy of the life of St. Osmund was made for
the same church, apparently for use in the Lady Chapel.

^ See Mr. Albert Way's Preface to the Promptorium Parvulorumj p. xxiii.

io8 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Item paid for viij quayres of Velum bought to write the Visita-
cion of our Lady and Seynt Osmand stories to the use of
the Church . . . . . . . vj s.

Item paid to Sir John Odlond for wrytyng of the same in-
grosse . . . . . . .vs.

1475-6. Paid for a boke -Called a Sentenciall for the use of the

church. . . . . . . xxj d.

[The Create Sentence, or commination of sinners, ordered
to be read on ist Sunday in 'Advent, ist Sunday in Lent,
Sunday after Whitsuntide, and Sunday after the Assump-
tion.]
1477-8. Sol' pro uno libro vocato a legende empto ad usum ecclesie xl s.

The full inventory of church goods of 1498 in the wardens'
accounts of the country parish of Bassingbourn, Cambs, is of much
interest in the book entries. It has not hitherto been printed.

Item iij messbokes one off the gifte of Ric hychen late of Bass' with Claspes
of sylver over giltid. Item the ij*^ of the gifte of parson Goldburne sometym
parson of the seid Bass' as it is expressid in the seid mess book bitwixt the
prefacis and the canon that he gaff it. Item the thyrdde a lesser than any
of the ij with the prefacis canon and sequences in newe quayeres wrytten.
Item be yt remembrid the said Masboke of Ric hychen gyfte basse a Rigestir
pynne of sylver and over gyltid with regesteries of sylk.

item ij Masse bokes of printe yat one of William lyon geft and ye other of
Thomas Bolnest geft and agn' his moder.

Item an other masbok havyng y^ colet of Saint Andre in ye hend of ye bok.

Item iij Gradualles one of the gift of Katar Bolnest somtyme the wiff of
Thomas Bolnest as it showith in the begynyng of the booke of the giff'r thereof
Item the seconde of a lesser volume with viij bolsteres of latayne. Item the
thirde of the gyft of parsone goldeburne bifor spokyn of as it showith in the
seyd Grad' in the leefe betwixe the observances of Buryinge and the fest of seynt
Andrewe.

Item a graylle with ye serves of ye vycytacion of our lady in ye begyning of
ye boke.

Item a Cowcher of the gifte of one Thomas Bolnest and Katar' his wyffe as
it is expi-essid in the said cowcher aftir the sawtyr in the next leefe befor the
Derige. Item a Portays with sylver Claspis of the gift of Mr. Ric' Caudry somtym
parson of Bass' as it shewithe in the seyde book for the nexte leeffe before the
Comune of the Apostelles with his Armes their pyctured.

Item iij othir Bookes of the seyd parson gift as it shewithe in the sayd
Portays that is to saye j antiphonare with newe quayres of the Chaptures
Colettes of the hole yer with the fest of Corpus Christi and Seynt Anne
next bifor ye Fest of seynt Andrewe and ther the foresaid armes pyctured.
Item one legendar with the saids armes ordrid in nexte leef bifor the viij day

BOOKS 109

of our lady the nativite of her. Item ij processionarys with the seid armes
in thende off bothe bookes.

M"^ that ther ys in quayres for the masse of Ihu for ij gradualles for the
processyon as for iij processyonaryes wound up in a skyn.

Item another cowcher of the gyft of the holle pareche with the Rolle of jesse.

Item ij bookes of the gyft of S"" John Hubbertes one the bybull one other
book begynnyng with manipulus curatorum.

Item a py in pryntt with a calander for ytt.

Item a nother processionar of the gift of the holle pareche having Omnes
sancti befor Rex sanctorum in the mydst of the book.

Item j othir processionar of a mor volume than any of the othir ij. Item
one EpistoU book with the Invitatores and venites in the fyrst parte of the book
with iiij Bolsteres of latyne. Item ij manuelles a newe with an olde the
newer orderid with the Genealogies of the fest of cristemasse day and the fest of
the Epiphanie with the halowinge of the Fonte next bifor the vij psalmes nye
the myddes of the boke. Item in the old manuall the vij psalmes yn the latter
ende of the book. Item j olde Sawter with an olde antiphonar with the legend
ther yn. Item j olde Ordinall.

An inventory of 15 16 shows how bountifully St. Laurence,
Reading, was supplied with service books. In addition to two
costly books — a gospeler and epistoler — bound in silver, there
were 5 antiphoners, 7 missals, 4 manuals, 6 graduals, an ordinal,
a martyloge, a legend, 2 psalters, and 4 processionals, as well as
the following, which had better be given in the exact phraseology : — '

A portos (breviary) not Sarum.

A legend Scor' (the Golden Legend) chayned byfore the vicars stall.

ij quaires in prent of the visitacon of our lady.

A queire of the fest' of Cristmas.

A new legend prynted of the gyft of John Barefote.

A grale pryntyd of the gyft of Thomas Whyt.

Bokes of Pricksong
A great boce of vellem bourded for masses of the gifte of Willm Stannford.
Another boke bourded of paper w* masses and antemfines.
An old boke bourded w* antemfines.
Anoyther of vellame bordyd w* antems and exultavits.
1466 {Croscombe, Somerset). Item the Wardenes have paid for

stoff and writtyng of the new legent which is xlvi

queyres, pres per queyer iij s. Suma . . vj li. xviij s.

1500 {St. Dunstanh^ Canterbury). To the parson of Harbaldowne

for a book callyd Legenda Sanctoris . . . xx s,

1538 {Wimborne). For a new Legend of the Story of St.

Cuthborow . . . . . . yj s. viij d.

no THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

With the accession of Edward VI came a grievous destruction
of the costly and often beautiful service books. Occasionally they
were sold at an absurdly low price.

1550 {North Elmham). Rec. of Henry Holme for ye gret
Antyphoners Grayles Legends Masbokes and all other
kynds of boks of ye old service . . . . x s.

Under Queen Mary the Latin books, both written and printed,
were again in demand. In certain cases the old concealed books
came once more to light, but many parishes had to pay for new
copies.

1553-4 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). An Antyfoner and ij Grayles xxx s. iiij d.

A processhyonell . . . . . . iij s.

1554-5 {Yatton). For a missall . . . . . xvj s.

For a manwell . . . . . vj s. viij d.

Before leaving the old service books some other extracts may be
given showing that binding and repairing v/as a heavy charge on
the mediaeval parish. The size of the volumes and their daily use
made repairs inevitable.

A fourteenth-century entry in the accounts of St. Augustine,
Hedon (E. R., Yorks), is of much interest as showing the use of
sealskin : —

1397-8. Pro iiij sele skynnes pro cooperturis . , . . vij d.

1442 {Thame). For a manual . . . . xx s. vj d.

1453. For a bagg of a bukskyn to ye massboke . , . viij d.

1457. For makyng of a bagge for ye grete legger for y^ p'sche p'st vj d.
1 46 1. For mendyng of y^ gret portiform .... xviij d.
1465. We payde for byndyng of ye best masboke . . . xl d.
145 1 ( Yatton^ Somerset). For the byndyng of the boks . . vs.

1458. For byndyng of ij portoes bokys ... iij s. iiij d.
1480. For the byndyng of the sawter .... xvj d.
i486. Payd to the bokebyner .... xxvj s. viij d.
1537. To ye buckebynddar ..... xxiij s. iiij d.

More to y*^ buckebynddar . . . . . xv s.

For ye furst buke to ye sayd buckebynddar . . . vj d.

To ye buckebynddar for another bargayne . . xxvj s. ix d.

To ye buckebyndar . . . . . vj s. viij d.

1491-2 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). For mendynge byndynge and
coverynge of a grayle lyenge daily in the South syde of

the queer byfore y^ parisshe preste . . iij s. iiij d.

■ ■ rttgni ^W fa^tQ %3 auceo
^ t ^ x^tcl 50 aCtbcp fommc 3oo!i?

f6e not Bpfe / 7ltt&2 (^ fJoCg tjo^m
fa^ni aiif2pt> TaetQ nj t^ fooG of t6e
Ca8om of inpnKee/t^t no man |2von«[c
OK mgg^e e^ Gaft>u:e ott^QI ta 6e ^
^; U]9t<^ <auft tbQdi) j ^0 (xafbut. ^

e^gfioxgectmnftafc&youf of ftsfifigE
■ it) ta engEpflfe o< t^p twii!c|Jc of cei 4

ae (figffcotgc of f^c KcugeC,of ^xc^J
teftfooOoftQc cftfTc/ fPiCQgficr^^ief
3ciro»J / ^fc 6>'f2otp: of ff'ff nif'ttom"
of ^ tbozCO / t^i 5^ a>ofi«l% of -fift^f .

FIRST PAGE OF CAXTON'S "GOLDEN LEGEND'

BOOKS 1 1 1

1499-1 500 {Bassingbourn^ Cambs), Payed to a book bynder of
Cambrigg repayryng and mendyng deffaurtes off v
bookes, ij antiphon', j portas, ij gradual, psalter, a
pystilbot, ij processionar', ij myssalles, with kevering a
legendar' ...... xvij s. iiij d.

1509-10 {Holy Trinity^ Cambridge). Payed to Frier Jeffrey for
the bindyng and new covering and penyng of one
Antiphoner and a great legend in ij volums . xvj s. viij d.

With regard to printed books, it is interesting to find that
Caxton bequeathed a copy of his Golden Legend to St.
Margaret's, Westminster. He died about 1492 ; he first printed
this book in 1483 ; it was again issued in 1487, and for a third
time in 1493.

1502 {St. Margaret, Westminster). A prynted legende booke of
the bequest of Willm Caxton.

An elaborate inventory of church goods in the wardens' accounts
of Pilton, Somerset, of the year 1507, shows that printed service
books were coming into general use; the church possessed "a
masse booke prynted," *' iiij prosessionaries prynted," *'a manel
boke prynted," and " a grete portuas of prynte."

1509-10 {Bassingbourn, Cambs). Payd for a newe antiphonar in

pryntte ...... viijs.jd. ob.

1520-1. Rec' att the gaderyng in the cherche to mende the

legende and the printydd mass boke . . . iij s. ix d.

1 527 ( Wimborne). For a prynt legend , . . . x s. iiij d.

Reformed Service Books

In June IS44 ^ litany in English was put forth by authority
shortly before the king set forth to invade France. Litanies at that
time were always sung in procession, and the words were usually
called a " processioner." In the following year Cranmer was
instructed to draw up a revised English litany, translated from the
Latin procession. This was practically the same as the Litany
now in use. It was first sung at St. Paul's on Sunday, i8th October
1 545, and was printed with the Primer.

1544 {Worksop), For makyng iiij bowks in ynglyesh for the

prossessyons . . . . . . . vj d.

1544 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For vj books of the Litany in

EngUsh ....... xviij d.

112 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1545 {St. Mary, Cambridge), For iiij Inglyeshe processioners . xvjd.
To the clerke for wrytyng ij Englyeshe processioners . xyj d.

1546 {Croscombe, Somerset). Paid for bokes for the prossyon . xj d.

For the due understanding of the following selected references
to the English service books, a few words may be helpful. An
" Order of Communion/' approved by Convocation, 30th November
1547, and ratified by Parliament on 20th December, was issued
under a proclamation by the Crown on 8th March 1547-8. The
first Prayer Book of Edward vi was issued in 1549, the second
Prayer Book of Edward vi in 1552, and the first Prayer Book of
Elizabeth in 1559. The Psalter was frequently translated into
Anglo-Saxon and mediaeval English. After the issue of the
first authorised version of the Bible in 1540, English Psalters were
taken from that text ; it was printed in that year both in Latin
and English.

1547-8 {Melton Mowbray). For a book off the nue service . vj s.

For a salltre in ynglishe . . . . . xij d.

1547-8 {St. Nicholas, Warwick). The Communion boke . iiij s.

1548 {Yatton). To Syr Nicholas Poore-for wrytynge ye masse

in Englych ...... -viij d.

1548 {St. Edmund, Sarum). For viij Salters in English xiijs. iiij d.

1549-50 {St. Thomas, Sarum). Payed for ij bokes of the Comunyon
called the ordynall' thone for the preste and thother for
the quyer . . . . . . . viij s.

Syr Bartram for a Saulter boke for the quyer . . ij s. iiij d.

For a Saulter boke for Syr John Rusdean . . xvj d.

To the Curate for a Sawter boke . . . . xvj d.

1 55 1 {St. Mary, Cambridge). For ij prymers bowt at ye fyrst

tyme of ye inglyse servys . . . .xvj d.

For ij bookes of ye servys for ye comunyon . . viij s,

155 1 {St. Martitis4n-the- Fields). For a comunion booke for y*^

chyrche . . . . . . iij s. viij d.

For a Salter and a homyly book ... iij s. iiij d.

For ij salters more . . . . . iij s. iiij d.

1551-2 {Yatton). For a boke for the Comunion . . iiij s. iiij d.

155 1-2 {St. Mary, Dover). Payed for a new boke of the servyce
of the Churche caulid the Communyon boke agaynste
hallowtyde and for charge in fetchinge the same boke
at Canterbury . . . . . vj s. viijd.

1552 {St. Mary, Devises). V^ for the new Books of Common

Prayer ...... iiij s. viij d.

BOOKS

113

TITLE-PAGE OF FIRST PRAYER BOOK IN ENGLISH

114 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1553 ('5'^- Mary^ Cambridge). For iij commewnyon bookes xvs. iiij d.
For iij saulter bookes in ynglyse to sing or say y*"
salnies of y^ servys . . . . . vij s.

Ye copy of ye servys in inglys sette oute by note . iij s. iiij d.

For wryghtynge and notyng part of yt to syng on bothe

sydes of ye quyre ...... xvj d.

1555. For presheoneres and imnals . . . • vj s.

1558-9 {Yatton, Somerset). For a booke of the prossessyon

(Litany) in English . . . . . ij d,

1559. For the boke of common prayer . . . .vs.

1559-60 {St. Thomas^ Sarum), 3 bokes of the presessyon . . 4s. 9jd.

4 communion bookes and 3 psalters . . . 21s.

1596 {Seal, Surrey). For a newe booke of Common Praier

bought at London , . . . iij s. vj d.

1596 {St. Nicholas^ Warwick). For a Communion Booke of

the great /vollem . . . . . . vij s.

1616 {St. Nicholas, Warwick). For a new Booke of Common

prayer . . . . . . vij s. vj d.

1662 {St. Edmund, Sarum). Paid for a Common Prayer Book,
and binding Bishop Hall's works, belonging to the
church . . . . . . . 17s. 6d.

1661-2 {St. Giles, Northampton). Payd to the parritor for bringing

the booke of Common Prayer . . . , is.

Payd for the Common Prayer Booke . . . los. 8d.

1707 {All Saints, Derby). M' Nisbett for a Common prayer booke 12s. 6d.

1717. For a Church Communion prayer booke . . . 15s.

1723, I Common Prayer and Playfords Psalms to Job Grice . 7s.

2 Common Prayer Books . . . . . ;£i 12s.

1770. Paid M'^-Roome for a Prayer Book for y^ Clerk , . iBs.

1789. M' Drewry for hymns for Christmas . . . 2s. 6d.

1793. April I. Ordered that one hundred Books containing the

new Version of Psalms be ordered of M"" John Sanders

and distributed amongst the Inhabitants of this Parish

by the Churchwardens.

The Commonwealth provided certain service books after their
own fashion. " The Directory for the Public Worship of God," put
forth by the Assembly of Westminster Divines, was enforced on
the nation by Parliament in 1644-5. Every parish was bound to
purchase this Presbyterian formulary, and anyone found using the
Book of Common Prayer, publicly or privately, was to be fined ;^5
for the first offence, £10 for the second, and imprisonment and loss
of all goods for the third.

BOOKS 1 1 S

DIRECTORY

FOR

The Publique Worfliip of ^ !D,

Throughout the Three

KINGDOMS

OF

England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Together with an Ordinance of Parlia-
ment for the taking away of the Book of

C O MM O N-PR A YE R:

AND

For eftablifhing and obfervmg of this prefcnt Dire c tory
throughout the Kingdom o{ England^ and Dominion oi H^ates.

Die ^ovis, 13. UHartu^ 154.4.-

ORdered by the Lords and Commons afTemblcd m
Parliament 5 That this Ordinance and Direciory bee
forthwith Printed and Published;

J^oh: Brovon^ Clenc, fi. Elfynge^ Cfer.

Parliament or urn, FarLl),Com,

-"^-^ *^^ L O N D O N:
Printed for Evm Tyler ^ Alexander Fsfield, Kalfh Smith, and
^9hn Field '^ And are to be fold at the Sign of the Bible
in Cornhilljneerthe RoYALL-ExcHANaE- i€d^

TITLE-PAGE OF ** DIRECTORY*' OF 1644

ii6 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1645-6 {Stroud, Kent). For the Directory and the Covenant . 4s. 6d.

1646 (All Saints, Derby). For a Directory ... is.
1657 {All Saints, Derby). For a Psalme Book to Church . 2s. 8d.

1647 {St. Edmund, Sarun^. For a Directory and a Psalme

booke . . . . . . .3s. 4d,

1648-9. A booke of Ordinances for Presbyterial government . gd.

The first book of Homilies was enjoined to be procured in every
parish by Edward vi's Council in 1 547 ; the second book was put
forth by Convocation in 1563. They were to serve in lieu of
sermons where there was no licensed preacher.

1 541 {St. Mary, Cambridge). For a booke of y^ homylys . xx d.

1547-8 {Yatton, Somerset). For the Omelys and injuncsions . ij s.

1560 {St. Edmund, Sarum). A booke of the homyles . . vj d.

1562-3 {St. Nicholas, War^wick). For the Boocks of the Homilies, v s. iiij d.

1566 {St. Peter, Ipswich). For the homelies booke of the Seconde

tome , . . . . . iiij s. iiij d.

1570 {St. John, Winchester). Omelies book . . . xij d.

For the due understanding of the frequent references to Bibles
in parish accounts, a few preliminary words are essential. Con-
siderable portions of the Scriptures had been translated into Anglo-
Saxon and mediaeval English ; but it was to Wyclif that England
owed the first translation of the whole Bible. That translation was
so deliberately falsified in parts, and so marred by prologues and
glosses of an extreme levelling character, that the Church naturally
did its best to suppress it. The same is true, though in a less
degree, of both Tyndale and Coverdale*s sixteenth-century transla-
tions. Sir Thomas More's Dyalogue ought to be read by any-
one desirous of understanding the objections to Tyndale's New
Testament; his well-weighed perversions are there set forth in
detail.

In August 1536, Crumwell, as the King's vicar-general, issued
a set of injunctions to the clergy, one of which required " every
parson or proprietary of any parish church within this realm " to
provide before ist August 1537 a whole Bible in Latin and also
in English, and to lay them in the quire for anyone to read. This
is one of the numerous contradictory orders of that period of
flux. There was then no printed authorised version ; all that
was available was Coverdale's rendering, avowedly made from the

BOOKS 1 1 7

" Douche (German) and Latyn in to Englishe " ; it took no account
of either Hebrew or Greek. This version was printed abroad in
October 1535, and though dedicated to Henry VIII was not then
authorised for sale in this country. Probably there was a very
restricted obedience paid to the 1536 injunction. Bible purchase
at that period only appears in one or two parish accounts ; but it
must be remembered that the clergy were directed to supply this
English Version, and if they complied there would be no charge
on the parish.

In August 1537, another English Bible appeared, dedicated
to the King by Thomas Matthew. It gave great satisfaction to
Cranmer, but was in reality no new translation; it was a compila-
tion, with a few minor alterations, from Tyndale and Coverdale.
The work was begun abroad, but finished in London, and Richard
Grafton was licensed to sell it. A new set of injunctions was issued
by Crumwell, ordering, inter alia, the setting up of this large
English Bible in every church, the people to be admonished to
read it. The expense was to be divided between the minister and
the parishioners, hence the expression "half Bible" in several
accounts, an entry which has been supposed by more than one
good recent writer to mean one Testament, not the whole book !

The Great Bible of 1540, often termed Cranmer's Bible, was but
a reproduction on a larger scale of that attributed to Thomas
Matthew. An injunction of Edward VI, in 1547, ordered each
parish to provide ** one Boke of the whole Bible of largest volume
in English'' ; this injunction was repeated in 1559- The Genevan
Bible, completed by three English exiles at Geneva in 1560, went
through many editions, and was for threequarters of a century the
popular Bible for private use ; it but seldom found its way into
churches. Archbishop Parker's version, called the Bishops' Bible,
was issued in 1568. Several parish accounts bear witness to the
fact that the old Bible was sold when the new version was purchased,
and the like took place when the Authorised Version of 161 1 was
issued. Two or three instances are given of the extravagantly
high prices paid for church Bibles towards the close of the
seventeenth, and throughout the eighteenth, century.

1 535 {Si- Alphege, London Walt). For abybyll for y^ chirch . iiij s.
1 548. For a Bybyll of the large volome .... xxvj s.

ii8

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1538-9

1548-9

1539
1540.

1540.
1548.

1539

1 541-2

1561-2
1568-9

1570-1

1573-4.

1578

1597.
1590

1612
1614

1619
1620

1662

1673
1696

1731
1762

( Yatton^ Somerset). Payd for a bybyll

{Ibid.). Payd for a bybull of the largyst volume

{St Mary^ Cambridge). For halfe the byble .

For halfe the byble ....

For halfe the gret byble

For halfe the byble ....

{St. Mary Woolnotk). For the half of the

church whiche cost xiij s. iiij d. .
{Tintinhull, Somerset). For the halfe price of the

this year bought .....
{Tavistock). For a bybyll of the largis volume
{St. John^ Winchester). Pd for a Bible
Rec for an old Bible .....
{St. Thomas^ Sarum). For a greate Bible
Harry Hamon seting of boses on y^ bybyll and 2

strapes also for the savinge of him .
{St. Mary, Cambridge). For an englyshe geneva bible
For a large bible for the churche

ix s. vj d.

xj s.
ij s. vj d.

ij s.

ix s.

vij s.

Bybill in the

vj s. viij d.
Bible

. vj s. V d.

xxvj s. viij d.

xiij s. iiij d.

vj s.

.216

large

2 6

xvij s.

. xxviij s.

{Exning, Suffolk). Paid for the byble at London and for

bringinge of y* from the Stationers to my ende . xxviij s. ij d.
( Wimborne). For the Church Bible . . . ij li. xvj s.

{St. Mary^ Devizes). Sam' Clark for a new Bible of the new

Translation . , . . . . . ij li. vj s.

( Youlgrave, Derbyshire), A newe byble . .240

{Great Wigston, Leicestershire). Paid for the New Bible .200
Sold the Old Bible . . . . . . 10 o

( Wirksworth, Derbyshire). Pd Mr. Heape for the Church

Byble . . . . . . . 2 13 4

{Prestbury, Cheshire). V^ for a New Church Byble . .560

P** for carriage thereof from London . . . "59

{St. Edmund, Sarum). Paid for a large Bible ruled for the

church . . . . . . .400

( Youlgrave^ Derbyshire). A new Bible for the church .510 o

{All Saints, Derby). George Killar for a Large Bible .990

The injunction of Edward VI, 31st July 1547, ordered the setting
up "in some convenient place within the church within one twelve-
month " of a translation, pronounced by scholars to be a very bad
one, of Erasmus* Paraphrase of the New Testament.^ This injunc-
tion was afterwards enforced by Archbishops Parker and Bancroft.

' For a list of the few churches still retaining copies of the Paraphrase, see English
Church FurniHire (1907), pp. 337-40.

BOOKS 119

1548-9 ( Yation). For a bucke callyd paraphrasas and Erasmus xj s. iiij d.
1 5 50-1 (Croscombe^ Somerset). For the perrafrase . . - v s. ij d.

155 1 {St. Mary, Cambridge). For dim' y^ parafrases of Erasmy vs. vj d.

1 566 {St, Peter, Ipswich). For the Paraphrases of the Epistles and

Gospels of Erasmus . . . . . , xij s.

John Foxe, when in exile, produced two editions of his Book of
Martyrs. An English edition, purged of many gross detected
errors, but still most inaccurate, appeared in 1563. "The Govern-
ment commanded it to be placed in each parish church; more
than any other influence, it fanned the flame of that fierce hatred
of Spain and the Inquisition which was the master passion of
the age. Nor was its influence transient. For generations the
popular conception of popery has been derived from its melan-
choly and bitter pages " {Encyc. Brit^. It is singular to find so
very few entries in Elizabethan parish accounts relative to the
purchase of these volumes, but finding of chains for their preserva-
tion and binding them at later dates are of frequent occurrence.

A third work ordered in 1564 to be placed in every church was
Bishop Jewel's Apology for the Church of England. Archbishop
Bancroft renewed this order in the days of James I. About two
score copies remain in our churches ; they are mostly of early
seventeenth-century date.

i6ii ( Ko«/^n?t/tf, /?£ri5_yj^z>^). For a boke called Jewells Works . i 6 o

Chained Books

Incidental reference has already been made to early examples
of chained books in churches both in pre-Reformation and
Reformation days. A long list of such books now extant, either
chained or showing traces of former chaining, is given in English
Church Furniture (1907), pp. 336-40. The following are a few
details as to the purchase of chains, etc., by the parish authorities
for this purpose. But first of all the highly interesting list, c. 1525,
must be cited from the All Saints, Derby, accounts : —

These be the bokes in our lady Chapell tyed with chenes y^ were gyffen to
Alhaloes Church in Derby.

In primis one Boke called summa summarum.
Item A boke called Summa Raumundi.

120 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Item Anoyer called pupilla occuli.

Item Anoyer called the Sexte.

Item A boke called Hugucyon.

Item A boke called Vitas patrum.

Item Anoyer boke called pauls pistols (English).

Item A boke called Januensis super evangeliis dominicalibus.

Item A greete portuose.

Item Anoyer boke called legenda Aurea (probably printed).

[Mr. Henry Bradshaw, University Librarian, Cambridge, supplied a valu-
able series of notes on these books to the Chronicles of All Saints^ pp. 175-7.]

foxe's "book of martyrs," chained
st. mary axe, london

1475 {St. Michael^ Cornkill). For lengyng of an yron cheyne
and makyng to serve to the glosed sawter in our Lady
chapeli . . . . . . . ij d.

1540 {St. Mary WoolnotK), For makyng a deske to sett on the

bibill . . . . . . . vjd.

For ij stapulls for the chayne of the said bibill . . ij d.

1542 iWimborne). For a desk and chain for the Bybyll . . xiiij d.

For a Chayne and settinge in thereof for the fastenynge

of the Dictionarie in the Scholehowse . . . ix d.

For Three Chaynes of Iren with plates and for the
fastenynge of the Bible, Paraphras of Erasmus, and
Mr. Juells booke in the Churche . . . . iij s. ij d.

1593-4 {St. Martin^ Leicester). Also receaved 7 bookes that were
chaynedd in the Church and geven by Symon Crafter.
Pd to John Langford for bayndding of seven bookes . v s.

BOOKS 121

Pd to christofer nedome for one chene and stapiles for
the bookes ....... xiiij d.

1626-7. For a chaine for the booke of Martyrs and another booke vj d.

1632-3 (5/. Nicholas^ Warwick). Mending the Ch : booke and

setting on the chainis to ye Bookes of Martirs . . lod.

1636 [St. Mary, Devizes). Pd for the Chaynes wherewith the

Bookes of Martyrs are tyed . . . j s. viij d.

Pd for a Chayne and Staple to tye the booke of the para-
phrases of Erasmus ... . viij d.

Other Books

Libraries of books were frequently placed in church during the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries for the use of parishioners ;
a long list of these is given in English Church Furniture (1907),
pp. 1 3 1-6. They very rarely, however, obtain mention in church-
wardens' accounts, as they were the gift of private donors. Repton
is an exception; the following interesting list of books, placed in the
custody of the wardens, appears in the parish books of 1622-3 : —

Bookes sent by M"" Will"" Bladone to be emploied for the use of the parrishe,
and to be disposed of at the discretione of M"^ Thomas Whiteheade.

Rec*^ by M"^ Robert Kellett, Godfry Cantrell, Roger Bishope, and Robert
Orchard, Churchwardens 1622, the xxv*^ of December, the said bookes,
videlicet : —

First, a faire Bible well bound.

2. Bp Babingtone, his worckes.

3. M"" Elton on the Colossians.

4. M"^ Perkins on the Creede.

5. M"* Dod and Cleaver on y^ Comman dements.

6. Bellymy his Catechesmie.

7. M*^ Young his Household Govermentte.

8. The first and second partte of the new Watche.

9. The third partte of the said by M"^ Brinsley.

10. The Plaine Manne's Pathewaye, & Sermon of Repentance by

M"^ Dentte.

11. Bradshawes P'paracon to y^ Receavinge of y^ Bodye & Bloude.

12. Hieron his Heipe to Devotione.

13 and 14. AUsoe to we bookes of Martters.

The peculiar feature of this benefaction is that none of the
books were to be chained or retained definitely in the church.
The gift was accompanied by certain " Condicions to be observed

122 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

concerning the using and lendinge of the foresaid bookes " by the
minister and churchwardens. Is not this the earliest known
instance of a church lending library ?

1630 (5/. Oswald, Durham). King David his psalmes translated

by King James and commanded to be had in all churches 2 4

[Sir William Alexander, afterwards Earl of Sterling, is
supposed to have been the chief author.]
1633 {St. Petrocky Exeter). For a book lately set forth for

Recreatyon . . . . . . . vj d.

[The Book of Sports and Pastimes issued by James i
was re-issued by Charles i.]

CHAPTER IX
HALLOWING AND VESTMENTS

Setting apart for holy purposes of churches, churchyards, altars, vestments,
etc. — Consecration Crosses — St. Mary - at - Hill ; Yatton ; Tintinhull ; St.
Edmund, Sarum ; Sutterton ; Holy Trinity, Cambridge — Reconciling St. Mary,
Cambridge — Martin Bucer — Short References — Louth Steeple

Vestments — Early Extracts — St. Edmund, Sarum; St. Mary-at-Hill ;
Bassingbourn, Cambs ; St. Laurence, Reading ; St. Mary, Cambridge ; St.
Stephen, Walbrook — In Elizabethan days — The Surplice — Gloves — Hoods —
Surplices for clerks — Rochets — Gowns

TH E Benediction, Blessing, or Consecrating of altars,
altar plate, vestments, bells, etc., as well as the consecrat-
ing or dedicating of churches or churchyards, and their
reconciliation, if polluted, naturally occupies a frequent place in pre-
Reformation wardens' accounts. In these documents the ceremony
is usually termed " hallowing,'' that is the setting apart for holy
purposes.

The subject of consecration crosses at the dedication of a
church, about which many blunders have been published, is fully
treated in an appendix to this book ; see also the able article by
Rev. E. S. Dewick in the Archceological Journal, Ixv. No. 257.
The same article gives a list of the various requisites for a mediaeval
church consecration. The two ells of cloth, supplied by the
wardens of Yatton in i486 " for my lords apryn," were probably
intended to screen his pontificals from the holy oil, etc.

The consecration of altars, superaltars, and bells was strictly
reserved to bishops. The hallowing of altar plate and of various
vestments was usually performed by bishops, and parishes went
to the expense of having such articles taken to cathedral cities
or to episcopal manor-houses to secure their due hallowing ; but

such matters were also in the power of parish priests, provided

123

124

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

they had received a faculty at the hands of the bishop for the
exercise of such functions.

The various phases of hallowing or solemnly blessing of fabrics
and of church vestments and furniture for sacramental use are
well illustrated by the following selected entries from various
accounts : —

1426-7

1489-90.
1493-4-

1500-1,
1503-4

1510-1.

151 1-2.

1519-20.

1 520-1.

1555-6.

1453
1482.

i486.

(Sf. Mary-at-Hilt). To Sir John Norfolke for halwenge of

the auter clothis .....
For the halowing of a vestyment
To the soffrican of London for halowyng of Sentt Stevyn ys

autyr ......

To mastyr parson for hallowyng of the westementes

To Maister John for hallowyng of iiij Awtrys

(S. aisle rebuilt). For box at the hallowyng of the Cherche to

vasche (wash) the Aultyres ....
For a skop and a grat laddyll ....
For bred ale and vyne at the hallowyng of the Cherche
To the suffricans man for the barrellys and tubbys .
For hallowyng of xi Albis, v Amyses and iiij Surplises for

children . .....

Paid the Sufifregan for haloyng of a Chales, iiij Corporasses

and iiij Vestimenttis ....

iiij d.
vj d.

X s. iiij d.
xij d.
iiij d.

jd.

ij d. ob.
vij d.
iiij d.

xij d.
' vij d.

xij d.
viij d.

nj s,

xnj s.
iij s. xj d.
vj s.

1499.
1503.

For a reward gevyng to the Bishoppis servant at the

halowyng of the vestmenttis ....

To John Balahans for ij days to make clene the Steple

agenst the halowyng of the bellis ....
For the dynner of the suffrican yat day he halowed the

altars and others y* did service with hym .
Payde in Claret wyne, sacke and sugar
( Yatton^ Somerset). Pro consecratione campane, suffraganeo
Paide to the Bushop ys man for halowyng of the new sute

of vestements . . . . . . vj d.

For the blessynge of the Chalys • . . . ij d.

Payed for dyverse costs for hawluyng of the Cherche erde .
Imprimis payd to the Byschepe . . . xxxiij s. iiij d.

It payd for ij ellys of cloth for My Lords apryn . . xviij d.

It payd for the brekefast of the Lords men .
It payd for rydyng to Wellys ij tymes
It payd for rydyng to Bristowe
It payd for dyverse vessells ybought to the halowyng of the

Cherchyerd . . . . . . ij s.

Payd for y^ halowyng of y^ chalys
Payd for blessyng of ye vestment

iiij d.
xij d.
xij d.

viij d.

viij d.

ixd.

HALLOWING AND VESTMENTS 125

1 508. Payd to y^ monke for caryng of ye awter cloth to Wells for

to be blessyd . . . . . . v d.

1 517. Payd for blessyng ye chales that was new cast . . ij s.

1527. For halowyng of iiij awter clothys .... viij d.

1536. Payd at Ban well for halowyng ye sewte of vestments . viij d.

1504 {Tintinhuil, Somerset). In expensis apud Kyngesbury pro

consecratione ij corporalium . . . . .iiij d.

1508. For costs done at the halowynge of the bellys and of the

High Awter . . . . . . . vij s. x d.

1 514. For blessyng of a pair of vestments . . . . ij d.

An entry in the Yatton accounts for 1476 clearly refers to the
hallowing of a superaltar, or small portable altar slab: —

For the caryage (probably on horseback) of the Altar and table
from Wellys . . . . . . . ij d.

In 1526 John Holcum gave to the church of Morebath "a
super-altar yblessyd," price iij s. iiij d.

1474-5 {St. Edmund, Saruin), In cleansyng of the Lytton

(churchyard) . . . . , . xj d.

Paid to John Lumbard for his labour to the Suffragans costs

and hors hure for to halowe the letton . . iij s. iiij d.

1483-4. Pro attachiatione trium personarum qui polluerunt Cimi-

terium ac prO implitacione eorum . . . . xj d.

Sol' pro expensis Suffraganei tempore quo fuit apud

Sarum ...... xxviij s. viij d.

Et in regardo facto eidem Suffraganeo ad consecrandum

dictum Cimiterium .... .iiij li.

Et in regardo facto famulis suffraganei pro laboribujs suis . xvj d.

Et in regardo facto BaUivo Sarum pro auxiliorum ad re-
cuperandem versus transgressores qui polluerunt Cimi-
terium . . . . . . vj s. viij d.

Et inden' sol' pro commissione acquista de Domino Episcopo

Sarum . . . . . . . x s.

In the 1474 case the pollution of the churchyard was evidently
caused by some accident, and the process used was " reconciling."
The offence of 1483 was evidently one of such gravity and delibera-
tion that the Bishop decided on the costly ceremony of rededi-
cation. The receipts for 1483-4 show that the three offenders,
William Sawyer, Roger Carpynter, and Thomas Carpynter, paid
over to the church fund the respective sums of 38s., 31s., and 30s.,
so that the parish suffered but little monetary expense.

126 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Sutterton church, Lincolnshire, was so much rebuilt in 1493
that it required consecration. The fee paid to the suffragan bishop
was five marks, which probably covered all the various, incidental
expenses of the elaborate ceremonial. The wardens, however,
included in " ye costes for halloyng of ye chyrche " the provisions
for a great parish feast or dinner, for which a swan, beef, mutton,
lamb, chickens, " ij pygges," butter^ eggs, spice, bread, wine, and
beer were liberally provided.

There are interesting entries in the 1510-1 accounts of Holy
Trinity, Cambridge, as to the hallowing of that church. The fee to
the suffragan was 5 3s. 4d. Red wine, salt, frankincense, and two
ladles were provided for the ceremony at a small cost. The three
last entries are well worth citing in full. Lighted tapers were
affixed to the walls before the consecration crosses.

For ij pounds wax for the Crosses .... xliij d.

To the peynter for making of the Crosses about the church iij s. iiij d.

Item to a masone for settyng up of the seyntes in the Cherch . iiij d.

The dinner, in addition to two calves' heads, two breasts
of veal, and a quarter of lamb, included such delicacies as "a
Marebone j d. " and " an henne iij d." " An hoggett of hostell ale"
and " a quarte of Maumisey " were also provided.

An entry in the 1557 accounts of St. Mary, Cambridge, calls for
brief explanation.

For the new halloweinge or Reconcyleing of our chyrche forbeyng
Interdycted for the buryall of Mr. bucer, and the charge therento
belongeing frankensens and swate perfumes for the sacrament
and herbes etc. ..... . viij d. ob.

Martin Bucer, the German Reformer, was originally a Dominican
friar, but he abandoned his order and married a nun. Archbishop
Cranmer invited him to England in 1549. He was appointed
teacher of theology in the, University of Cambridge, and was a
persona grata with the young King's advisers. He died in iSSij
and his burial in St. Mary's was made an occasion of much pomp.
The accounts for that year indicate a crowd : " Item for nayles to
mend y^ seates in y^ chyrche when Mr. doctor busar was buryed ij d."
Five years later his body was disinterred and burnt and his tomb
demolished. Queen Elizabeth in her turn ordered the reconstruc-
tion of the monument.

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128 THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

jubilant entry as to the triumphant crowning of that most noble
broach or steeple which had been fourteen years in building, and
at last attained to a height of 360 feet : —

Memorandumj the xv**" Sunday after Holy Trinity of this year (1518) the
weathercock was set upon the broach on Holy Rood Eve, there being William
Ayleby, parish priest, with many of his brethren priests there present, hallowing
the said weathercock and the stone that it stands upon, and so conveyed upon
the said broach : and then the said priests singing Te Deum Laudamus with
organs, and then the kirkwardens would ring all the bells, and caused all
the people there being to have bread and ale, and all the loving of God, Our
Lady, and all saints.

Vestments

The entries in wardens' accounts as to vestments — using the
term in its wider sense and not limiting it to chasubles — -are of
course exceedingly numerous, and in many cases bear witness to*
high expenditure.

1385-6 {Tavistock). To five yards of hnen to make a rochet ij s. ij d. ob.
To making the said rochet . . . . . vj d.

To eight feet for a girdle ..... viij d.

1426-7. Eight yards of Cornub' {Cornish) cloth for rochets for the

clerks . . ....vs.

For making the same . . . . . xvj d.

1449 {Thame). To Thom Waltar for the bryng' of a payr of

vestementy of the quest of y^ besshope of lynkolne . xij d.

1473-4 {St. Ewerij Bristol). Memorandum that the new blew sewte
of Vestementes of vellewett cost xxx li. Also xij d. the
halowinge of the same.
1481 {Yatton^ Somerset). Paide att Bristowe for a sewte of

vestments and a cope ..... xxvj li.

The vestments named in a 1472 inventory of St. Edmund,
Sarum, were numerous and costly ; they included a suit of white
damask wrought with gold eagles, and two copes and altar cloths
of the same ; a suit of blue damask and two copes, with gold eagles ;
a suit of purple, with branches of gold ; a suit and two copes
of cloth of gold, with white dogs ; a suit and a cope of cloth of
gold, with red . . . ; a cope of blue velvet with the Passion on
needlework orphreys, called St. Edmund's cope ; a cope of green,
with crowns of gold ; 7 copes of white, " with puffe fethers in
manner of escalloppys"; a cope of purple velvet with eagles of

HALLOWING AND VESTMENTS 129

gold, the gift of John Chapman, fishmonger; a suit and cope of
black ; and an old suit of cloth of sylver, " the ground blewe with
bestys and byrds." There were also two palls of cloth of gold for
the Sepulchre, and one for the canopy ; 16 albs and 5 amices ; various
altar cloths; a store of towels and napkins; and 15 banners,
2 streamers {getons), and 20 staves. There was also, in the hands
of the deacon, another store of vestments, which comprised
5 complete suits, a chasuble, 8 copes, 4 palls, and an altar cloth.

The following items in the accounts of 1491-2 tell of the parish
purchasing two most costly copes : —

For a newe cope boughte bi M** Briges and M>" Hampton at

london . . . . . . ix li. xviij s. iiij d.

To the Carior for Carryyng of the same Cope from London to

Sarum . . . . . . . . xij d.

The vestment entries in the accounts and inventories of
St. Mary-at-Hill are of exceptional interest.
The inventory of 1496-7 includes

yj Copes for children of dyvers sorttes.

A Myter for a bysshop at seint Nycholas tyde, garnyshed with sylver and
an*elyd and perle and Counterfetestones.

vij Rochettes for children.

vj Albys for chyldren, and vj Ameses with parelles, and iij Albys and
Ameses withowte paralles.

The inventory of goods delivered up in 1553 to Edward Vl's
commissioners enumerates "viij Chilldrens Copes."
The following entries relate to surplices : —

1 5 12-3. For X elles of holand cloth for a surples for M*^ Doctor,

X d. the ell . . . . . . viij s. iiij d.

For makyng of the same surples to woodhokes wyfFe . xx d,
1523-4. For makyng of xij Surplices for men . . • YJ s.

For makyng of xij Surplices for children . . . vs.

For makyng of iij Children Surplices, of the which Surplices
M"^ Clayton gave the clothe of them . . . xv d.

[Forty-eight ells of linen cloth had been bought for these
surplices.]
1 53 1-2. Paid for xx elles of holland cloth at vj d. ob. the elle, for
surplices, x s. x d. And for makyng of v surplices ij s.
vj d. for the conductor. And for iiij surplices for the
childern x elles at 6d. the elle and for makyng the
same iiij surplices xvj d. Suma . , . xix s, viij d.

I30 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Badger skins were purchased in 153 1-2 to make warm hoods
or tippets for the two rectors, or directors, of the quire.

For ij stolys for the Rectours in the quyre and ij Greyes skynnes . iij s. ij d.

The vestment inventory of 1498, among the wardens' accounts
of Bassingbourn, Cambs, is unusually full for a small country
parish. It has not hitherto been printed ; the main portion is now
given in extenso : —

Item a clothe of velewet of purpur Colour for the Canopy to be born over the
blyssid Sacrament with the ymage of the Crucifige broydr'd in the myddes of
the seid clothe and the namys of the gifferes in the iiij Corneres.

Item iiij Sewtes of vestimentes to yche sewte bilonging a Cope and a
vestment for the priste with the vestures for a dyacon and subdyacon with all
their apperaunce — Fyrst sewt of the iiij of Rede velewet purpur colour with
aungelles wrought or broydryd in golde, off the gift of Ric' lychen. The seconde,
of the gifte of George lonkyn of Blewe velewett. The thirde of the gift of M""
Ric' Caudry beyng of Rede colour, the Cope of velewett broydryed with
aungelles of gold, incloudes the vestyment thereof of Red sylke wroughte in
the myddes thereof with colores and flowres of delic' in golde the grownde
thereof in the seid myddes beyng of blewe velewett. The iiij*^ sewte, beyng
of the g" pt of parson goldebourne bifor spokyn of, of the salutacion of our
blyssid lady in silke.

Item iiij othir synglar vestymentes, iij of them for sondays and other duble
festes, the firste of the iij of wyghte silk strayled with grene sylke, the seconde
of Rede sylk wroughte with lyons and swannes yn golde, the third of velewet
wroughte in Chekir with a red cross and broydryd with Crownys of golde.
The iiij'^ of blacke silke With a Rede Cross with the armes of parson Caudry
the giffer therof in Red velewet and wyghte servyng for Masse of Requiem.

Item V othir vestymentes iiij of theym for Feriall dayes, the first of the iiij
of Gren sylk with a blak cross broydryed in the crosse with braunchis of golde,
the ij of Rede sylk with a Crosse of grene, the iij^ lynon with a Crosse of Rede,
the iiij^*^ of wyght fustion for lentan, ij of these v vestymentes wantyng albes
and amysses as the Red and a wyteth.

Item ij Copes for a priste, the one of Rede silk with a Crosse broydryd in
Golde, the othir of Grene sylke medled with blew with lebardes yn Golde
broydryd. Item ij small Copes for Chylder of Rede sylke. Item one wyghte
Chesible of sylk with the phanon lacking and stole and albe with the amysse.
Item ij amysses of Red sylke broydrid with Egles of gold.

There were also 6 corporas cases, 6 " stenyd surplysses,"
21 rochets for men, and 11 rochets for children.

The high altar had 5 altar cloths, 3 frontals, 2 hangings, and
2 pair of curtains ; the lady altar 6 altar cloths, 2 frontals, and

HALLOWING AND VESTMENTS 131

3 hangings. Side altars had 2 new frontals; St. John's altar,
6 altar cloths, i frontal, and 2 hangings.

Linen: 5 long towels, 29, 19, 8, 5, and 3 yards respectively in
length, and 8 small towels.

There were also 3 herse cloths, 3 lectern cloths, 6 banners with
banner poles, 3 Lent cloths, 8 sheets of linen, 4 old cloths lying in
the rood-loft, and other linen cloths for covering the tabernacles
of the Trinity and Our Lady in the chapel.

According to the inventory of 15 17, St. Laurence, Reading, was
singularly rich in apparel. There were 26 copes, most of which
were evidently fine examples. Here are two of the descriptions: —

A Cope of crymson velwett w* orphrays imbrowdred and angels flowres
imbrowdred of the gifte of M'' Thomas Justice vicar.

A Cope of White Damask tissue w' orfrey of Bawdekyn and rosis of gold
of the gifte of Raphe White of Okyngham.

There were 25 suits of vestments; also 25 altar cloths. Of the
latter two or three of the more detaile(4 descriptions are given : —

An Awter Cloth of panes of cloth of gold and velwett imbrowdred w* Arch-
angells and flowres.

ij Awt' Clothes of tissue red and grene w* a cover of the halpase (high pace)
of the same and ij Curteyns.

An Awter Cloth of black velwett and bawdekyn paned with an Image of
Saynt Laurence.

An awter cloth of black velwett and bawdekyn w' an Image of Saynt
Edward and for the nether pte of the same an Awter cloth of Sarsenett orenge
color and blew paned w* curtyns of the same.

ij Awter clothes of blew saten a brydges imbrowdred w* flowres w*^ an
Image of Saynt Clement for c^ Lady Awt', and ij Curteyns of blew taffeta.

ij awt' cloths w^ red cross^ for lent w*^ Curteyns to the same.

There were fifteen cushions or pillows, chiefly used for missal
rests on the altars; but "iiij pillows of russett ray for weddyngs"
would doubtless be used as kneelers for bride and bridegroom.

Also nine corporas cases ; one of them, according to the 1503
inventory, was a royal gift.

Also another corpas case the one syde of cloth of gold and the other syde of
blak velwett w* I'res of gold R. and S. of the gyft of quene Elizabeth by the
procuryng of M"^ Richard Smyth yoman of the quenys robys w* iiij knoppis of
sylver w* a corpas cloth to the same.

132 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Five palls are named in the inventory, followed by an entry
which is difficult to explain : —

A Cloth of gotis to ley in the weddyng cheyre.

Eight banners and three streamers are enumerated ; five of the
former bore the arms of England, and one the images of the Trinity
and Our Lady. The following items are specially noteworthy : —

A sepulcre Cloth of right Crymson Satten imbrowdered w Imagerye \v^ a
frontaill of panys conteyning in length iiij yards w' ij clothes of lawude for
the sepulcre,

A canape of tissue for the Sacrament and a lawude w* iiij botons wrought
w' gold and tassells of gold for the pix.

A Canapye of Crymson velwett imbrowdred w* gold flowres and the Holy
lombe in the mydle.

A cloth of ray Silk to bere the crysmatory at Est^

A purse of crymysin cloth of gold pyrled for the vets.

The slight puzzle as to this last entry is cleared up by the
variant of the 1523 inventory, where the purse is described as
" pyrleyd for visytacons."

Twenty " Awter Clothes of Lynen " ; the size of each is set
forth. The first one is of the great length of five yards, and
several are fully four yards — this would allow for the cloth hanging
down at the ends ; the breadth varies from a yard to a yard and
a half There were also seven towels of diaper ; the great length
of several of them, eleven to nine yards, denotes their use, as in the
Bassingbourn inventory, for houseling cloths before communicants.

The 1503 inventory of St. Laurence, Reading, has a remark-
able list of stained, i,e. painted, cloths : —

ij staynyd clothis w ryddeles to the same and a coveryng for the halpace
(high pace) over the hy awlt' stayned w' red damaske warke and an ymage of
Seynt Laurence in the mydd^

A cloth staynd w' the byrthe of o"" Lord for the fonte and a noy' cloth for the
same of lynnyn w' panys white and blew.

An aut clothe staynyd w' an ymage of o"^ lady of Pyte and ij angels, and a
nother w' the sepulcre, and ij angells for the hy awlt* in lent.

An ault' cloth of ray silke for the nether parte of the hy awter w' a frontell
of styrrs of gold.

A nother awt' clothe staynyd w* an ymage of o"" lady onely.

A nother aut' clothe staynyd w* o"^ lady, Seynt Gregory Pyte, and Seynt
Anne.

HALLOWING AND VESTMENTS 133

A nother awt' cloth of the salutacon and of the byrthe of o"^ lorde.

A coverlynt of blak and grene w* M and rosys white and red of the gyft of
Alyce Adene.

An awt' cloth stayned of thassumpcion of o"" lady, seynt Anne, and seynt
Margaret.

The accounts of St. Mary, Cambridge, for 1525 supply interest-
ing details relative to the making of a festival cope within the
parish.

For V yardes and iij quarters for the cowpe and the halfe quarter of
whytte dammaske at v s. viij d. ye yarde and for i unce of golde
at iij s. viij d. ye unce ..... xxxvj s. xi d.

For vij yardes of grene bukeram at vj d. ye yarde . . iij s. vj d.

For ij elles of Canvas at iiij d. ob. per ell . . . . ix d.

For V unces of Sylke and iij skenes of blacke Sylke vj d. at xij the

unce . . . . . . . . V s. vj d.

For whytte threyde . . . . . . . ij d.

Paid unto the Brothers for viij wekes and iij days workyn of the

Cowppe ....... xxiij s. iij d.

For iij unces and a quarteryn of Fenys (Venice) gold at iij s.

viij d. ye unce . . . . . . xj s. xj d.

For iij unces of fyssemen (vestment) rebyn at xij d. ye unce . iij s.

The vestments and other church goods of St. Stephen
Walbrook were exceptionally rich and varied. In 1550 the
parishioners were shrewd enough to make merchandise of the
"Vestementys and other Implementes of the churche" in their
own interests, rather than suffer spoliation at the hands of the
Crown. Their sale realised (without any plate) the great sum of
£112 IIS. lod. ; the names of all purchasers are entered in the
accounts.

The subjoined entries bear witness to the fact that chasubles,
copes, albs, rochets, etc., remained (apparently in use) in many
churches far into the reign of Elizabeth. They corroborate in a
remarkable manner the common-sense view of the "Vestment
Controversy," namely, that vestments were understood to be sanc-
tioned by the Ornaments Rubric, but that their u^^ gradually died
out, owing to the frequent ascendency of a Puritan spirit and the
great cost necessary for their maintenance.

1561-2 {Tavistock). One payre of Sarples.
A payre of Reade Sylke vestement.

134 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

A pere of whette Damaske vestement for Decon and Subdecon.

A sute of vestemente of yelow Sylke Decon and Subdecon.

One whytte Coppe of Sattyn bourgis.
1565 {Strood). A cope a vest an alb, 2 stoles, and a yellow and

blue silke ait clo', a torch and a crysmatury.
1568. Pyx, pair of censers, baner stuff.

1571. Sold at St. Dunstun time "the crosse and other gere" . 6s.

1573. A cope.

An Elizabethan inventory, of 1 560-1, of All Saints, Derby,
shows that the church retained a cope and suit of vestments of
black velvet, as well as " a fyne Vestment that M^ Reyd gave."
An inventory of 1563-4 names, in addition, "A Coope of blew
Chamlet." The last year in which copes are mentioned in the
yearly inventories is 1567-8, but albs are enumerated year by
year up to 1576-7.

An inventory of St. Michael, Worcester, of i8th January 1561,
included an old vestment, two albs with apparels, and six stoles.

1562 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). One vestment of blew cloath of tissue
with the tunicles for deacon and subdeacon.
One cope of crymson cloth of tyssue.
ij coorse copes of blew tissue.
One cope of purple cloth of tissue.

One other cope of crymson velvet with skall of shells of silver.
One cope of crymson velvet with flowrs of gold.
»

In 1565 Christ Church, Bristol, retained four costly copes
and five chasubles. The list of "implements" belonging to the
church of St. Werburgh in the same city, for the year iS67)
specifies a cope of blue velvet.

1584-5 {Ludlow). Receaved for an olde Blewe Coape being worne

oute and full of holes . . . . . ij s.

For other old Coapes . . . . .vs.

" A cope and a Vestemente and three stooles " in the church of
St. Ewen, Bristol, appear in an inventory of 1596. Two years
later they were sold for 50s. " by consent.''

A costly cope remained in the church of St. Christopher-le-
Stocks, London, up to 1618, when it was sold for 50s.

The once generally used post-Reformation vestment, the
surplice, eventually rose to a considerable price.

HALLOWING AND VESTMENTS 135

1547 (SL Nicholas, Warwick), vj elles of lynen Clothe for a

surplese . . . . . . . iiij s.

1566 {St. Peter, Ipswich). For a newe Surplis . . . xj s.

1572-3 {St. Thomas, S arum). Making of 2 surpiises yt were made

of iiij of the albs wche be in y® vestry . . v s, vj d.

1584 {St. John, Winchester). Ten ells for a surplece of Holland xxs.

Making of the same . . . . . . xvj d.

1590 {Seal, Surrey). For sixe elles of hoUand to make the

surplusse at xx d. the ell . . . . . x s.

For cutting of the surplusse . . . . . ij d.

For twopenyworthe of white threede . . . ij d.

For making of the surplusse. . . . . xij d.

1603-4 {St. Botolph, Cambridge). For a new surplusse . xxv s. v d.

1632-3 {St. Martin^ Leicester). V^ for viij elles and iij quarters of

Holland for a surplesse at 4s. 7d. . . . ii li. ij d.

P^ for making of yt . . . . .vs.

1638. For 8 ells of Holland to make a surpHce . . ^180

Item for making the same . . . . .50

1695. For 12 yards of fine Holland ^£3, for making of a surplice 7s. 6d.

Entries for gloves are of occasional occurrence.

1524-5 {St. Mary-at-Hill). For Glovys at Estur for the church-
warden and the clerk . . . . . vj d.

Item more for that was paid at Estur for ij peyre of gloves
for the churchwardens the Summe of vj d., which shall
not be for no presedent hereafter.
1545 {St. Michael, Worcester). For a peare of gloves for the

clerkes ease . . . . . . ij d.

1 561-2 {Tavistock). For a payre of glovys for M"^ Vicar . . xv d.

1584 {St. Christopher-le-Stocks). For a payer of Gloves geven
unto the Bushopp of St. Androues in the name of the
whole parish by M"^ Parson .... iiij s.

The 58th canon of 1603 provides that "such ministers as are
graduated shall wear upon their surplices such Hoods, as by the
orders of the Universities are agreable to their degrees." The
same canon orders that the surplice was to be provided '* at the
charge of the parish." Some ministers were ingenious enough to
persuade their parishes that the canon intended the hood to be
provided after a like fashion ; but it is quite obvious that this was
never intended.

1612 {St. Mary, Reading). For M"" Wolfes hood contayninge one
yeard and a quarter of Read Clothe at xiiij s. a yarde and
for one Elle of Rydee Taffetie with the Silke and makinge 34s.

136 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1626. For a Scarlet hood for M' Doctor Denison . . . i 7 10

1634 {All Saints, Derby). To D*" Williamate for his Hood . i 10 o

1637. For a Hood for M"" Crawftur . . . . .154

1663 (Redenhall^ Norfolk). For a master of Arte his hood for the

Minister . . , . . . .160

1670 {St. Martin, Leicester). Ordered that the churchwardens
provide a hood for M^ WilUam Barton, at the charge of
the parish, and so to be kept for the use of the parish.
1680 {Edenbridge). Will Stephens for silke to new Lyne ye Hood . 5s. 8d.

In several town parishes, surplices were provided in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for clerks and sextons ; it
should be remembered that " sexton " is a corruption of " sacristan."

1551 {St. Michael, Worcester). The clerks sorples (Inventory).

1568. For mendyng the clerks surplls . . . . ij d.

1563 {St. Martin^s-in- the- Fields). Makyng the preste Surplese and

mendyng the clarke ij surplesses . . . . ij s.

1565. For washinge of the Clarkes Surples . . , . vj d.

1567. For washinge the vicars clarkes and sextons surplyses for

or lady day quarter . . , . . . xij d.

1574 {Ludlow). For lynen clothe to make ij surpleses for

Higges sounes and for makinge the same . . . vs.

1628 {St. Margaret, Westminster). For thirteen ells of Holland to

make surplisses for the two clerks and sextons, at 3s. 4d.

the ell . . . . . . . 3 16 o

The accounts of the Durham parishes of St. Oswald and St.
Nicholas, and of Pittington and Houghton, co. Durham, show that
the use of the surplice by the parish clerk in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries prevailed in all four instances ; it appears in
the accounts of St. Nicholas as late as 1679.

The rochet, or sleeveless surplice, continued in occasional use
long after Reformation days.

1571-2 {St. Petrock, Exeter). For x yardes of morles (Morlaix)

clothe for a surplece . . . . . xv s.

For iij yardes of dowlus, to make a rochet for the clerk .
1 591 {Staplegrove, Somerset). Two surplices and one Racheit

used a(t) comunion.
1602 {St. Botolph, Cambridge). An old Rouchett without Sieves.
1626 {Sidbury, Devon). A Surplisse and rochett.
[Like entries up to 1648.]

HALLOWING AND VESTMENTS 137

The following are instances of parish-provided gowns : —

1595-6 {St. TkomaSf Sarum). M"" Lascombe the preiste for his

Gowne ....... los.

1662 (5/. Thomas, Sarum). M} Hussey to provide a convenient

handsome gown, at a cost not exceeding £2,, to lie in

the Vestry for the use of any strange minister coming

here to preach at lecture.

1 68 1 {St. Martin, Leicester), Paid for cloth for the clerk's

gown . . . . . . ^146

For trimming and making it . . . .48

CHAPTER X
CHURCH PLATE— IMAGES

Chronological entries of exceptional plate — Tavistock, 1385, to St. Martin,
Liidgate, 161 1 — Inventories of St. Laurence, Reading — Inventory, 1498, of
Bassingbourne — Lectern

Images — St, Laurence, Reading — Patron Saint — Tabernacles — Chrono-
logical extracts — Saffron Walden, 1464, to images of the Marian revival — Boxes
for offerings — Cult of St. George — Articles of personal jewellery — Image
decking

A

LTAR Plate — consisting of the Chalice, Paten, Cruets,
Pyxes, and Ciboria, and at a later date the Monstrance —
is necessarily of frequent occurrence in the parish accounts,
as well as Censers and Incense Vessels, the Pax, the Chrisma-
tory, the altar or processional Cross, and Candlesticks. To these
may be added Croziers or Pastoral Staffs, Mitres, and the occa-
sional jewelled binding of the Missal or Textus. All these are
dealt with, explained, and illustrated in English Church Furniture
of this series of books (pp. 28-59).

A few extracts may be given to illustrate the value and elabor-
ate character of Church Plate both in town and country.

A Tavistock inventory of 1385-6 enters a cup and cover of
silver, with two silver-gilt angels holding a glass receptacle
{vitreum clausurn) wherein the Body of our Lord is borne.

1464. {Yatton, Somerset). Pro emptura nove calicis . v li. vj s. viij d.

Isa wyts to ryde to Woke (Bp. Bekynton's manorhouse) to

blesse the chals . . . . . . iij d.

For a case for the chals ..... viij d.

In 1488-9 the churchwardens of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, " Answer of cxiiij s.

ij d. by theym recevyd for an olde crosse of sylver and gylt solde by the assent

and agrement of the parishioners, pond " xxxij unc.

1470-1 {Tavistock). One beryl set in silver and with a chain of

silver, to hang to the pyx with the Body of Christ on

the principal feasts.

138

CHURCH PLATE— IMAGES 139

1538-9. For mendyng of a lock to the Coffur that kepithe the

Syngying bredd in . . . • ■ j d.

1478-9 (5/. Ewen, Bristol), Rec. of the bequest of Giilam Sampson a
Sylver Cup covered, weying xxv unces and iij quarters, price the
unce iij s. Suma iij li. xvij s. iij d. The which cup is altered and
changed into a Chalice to the use and behof of the church.

The inventory of St. Edmund. Sarum, for 1472, shows a con-
siderable wealth of plate. There were 15 chalices with their patens
of silver gilt, five of them enamelled ; 6 silver-gilt crosses with
staffs ; 4 candlesticks, a pair of censers and ships, a bason, 4 cruets,
a pix, a cup, a monstrance, a pax, 2 chrismatories, and a small bell,
all of silver, and either gilt or parcel-gilt.

1480-2 (^/. Margaret^ Westminster). For peyntyng of the nether

parte of the Crosse staffe . . . . . xx d.

For gyltyng and burnysshyng of the upper parte . . iiij s.

For the new crosse weying ^ unc p^ce every unc vs.

Sma ...... xxxij li. x s.

1482-4. For a pair of basons of silver . . . xxiiij iij d.

1480-2 {St. Andrew Hubbard). For ij Candelstikes of Selver to
the high aulter weying xl unces and a quarter price the
unce workmanship and weight iiij s. Suma viij li. xij d.
Of the which some certyn well disposed men of the
parissh gave of their gode willes toward the charge of
the seid candelstikke, as it appeareth hereafter xviij s,
iiij d. And so was paid of the chirche mony outt of the
box . . . . . • vij li. ij s. viij d.

The first entry of the 1483-4 inventory of St. Petrock, Exeter, is

"A box of gold with a berell to bare the Sacrament in ponderyng xviij di
unc."

This pyx was then valued at £2/^. The silver-gilt plate, including
six chaHces, weighed 28 1;^ ounces, and was valued at £/^o 4s. 2d.

In 1509 a payment was made of £^ 4s. to the wardens of
St. Botolph, Aldersgate, by

John Marlow parish clerk, price of chalis by hys neclygence lost.

It appears from the accounts of North Elmham that there was an
unusually early sale of church plate, etc., in 1 542 ; these sales were
probably to some extent the result of heavy fabric charges during
that year; but the tone of the parish must have been towards

140 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

reform, to have admitted of making merchandise of church plate
of the character.

Rec. of Symond Newton of Norwyehe for certen plate after iiij s.

ye unce ........ xxiij s.

Rec. of ye same Symond for ye Sylver yt was upon the Crosse y^

the relyques wher yn' .... xix s. ij d.

Rec. of M'^ Nycholle for ye sylver shews wych wer upon y^ brown

rodes fete . . . . . . . x s.

1544 (Mendlesham^ Suff^. x day of January, Wyltur Seynard and Thomas,
etc., have soulde unto Gylbart y^ gouldsmyth of Ipyswch j payre of
sensers, j payre of chalys of dubyll gylte, j pyxe, a schepe and
a spone, after iij s. vj d. the ounce, the wyche same mountythe
unto xvj li. ij s. vj d., by ye consente of WyUiam Singulton gentyll
and Willyam Dunckyn ye elder. And a croslyt of plate and gylt
w*^ stones and ij payre of challysys of paarsyl gylt.

1543. Item sould the iij daye of February a crosse of gylt for xij X\.

In 161 1, Henry Swedall, churchwarden, gave to the church of
St. Martin, Ludgate, a second cup of silver, double gilt, weighing
36 ounces, owing to the number of communicants which had
necessitated the borrowing of another cup whenever there was a
celebration.

The earliest book of church accounts of St. Laurence, Reading,
contains three inventories, dated respectively 1503, 1517, and 1524.
The one of 1517 is unusually full, and sets forth the magnificent
appointments of this church in detail. It is given in extenso in
Mr. Kerry's annals. The total weight of the church plate, mostly
of silver-gilt and parcel-gilt, amounted in that year to 583 ounces,
but by 1 523 it had been increased to at least 700 ounces. All kinds
of altar vessels and ornaments were included ; the two following
items merit special mention : —

It. ij bokes a gospeller Ixix unc' and a pistellor Ixv unc' the one side cov'd
w* silver p'cell gilt w' Images uppon the same and the other side w* boces of
silver weyng yn all cxxxiii unc' of the gifte of M"^ Richard Smyth yemen of the
robes w' our sovrayne lord the kyng.

It. a gredyson of silver and gilt w* a bone of Saynt Laurence therein weyng iij
q'rt of an unc' of the gifte of Thomas Lynde senyer.

In 1538, when Henry Vlll's spoliation schemes first began to
develop, the churchwardens sold plate to the value of ;^20 lis, i id.,
and again in 1544 to the value of £26 13s, 4^d. So soon as

CHURCH PLATE — IMAGES 141

Edward vi came to the throne, the Reading authorities realised
that the policy of sacrilege was about to be carried to its extreme
limit, and they are not to be blamed for doing what they could to
dispose of much of their plate for the advantage of the parish, rather
than suffer it to be absorbed by the insatiable greed of the Crown.
Plate, therefore, was sold in 1547-8 to the value of £^,7 i8s.
It only just escaped the clutch of the royal commissioner. In the
same year's accounts are the three following entries : —

Paid to M"^ Bell, Mayor, of that was made of a chalice for pavyng

in the strets . . . . . . . iiij s. iiij d.

Paid and delyvered to M"" Bell, Mayor, by M. Nicholas uppon
the ij Chalices by him sold towards the pavyng of the Strets
by the assent of the p'sche . . . . . . v li.

Paid for makyng of Inventories for the Church goods to the

Comyssioners at ij tymes ..... iij. s. iiij d.

It is some satisfaction to feel that the forethought of the wardens
saved upwards of one hundred pounds' worth of plate from passing
to the Crown.

The following is the first part of the elaborate 1498 inventory of
church goods of Bassingbourn, Cambridge, not hitherto printed : —

In primis iiij Crossis ij of Copir and over gilted, with ayther of theyme a
fote of the same, and one of the same Crosses having a staffe of coper and over
giltid with ij knottes of the sam metalles. Item to the saide Crosses ayther of
theym having a Clothe of sylke the best of Rede sylk the secunde of yalowe
sylk with the ymage of trinite pyctured in ayther of theym. Item the othir ij
Crossis beyng of laten the one of theis ij havyng a stafFe with a cloth pyctured
with the ymage of seynt John the baptiste nyghe worne.

Item a baner Clothe of Rede sylk of Elnor lyon maid gift with the ymage of
the trynitie ther uppon.

Item a pyxe of laten with a crucifixe of silver for the hyghe altar.

Item to the same pixe iij Clothis one of Rede silke the othirs of wyghte
lawne and ayther of the thre clothes having iij tacelles.

Item a crysmatorye of pewter ij Cruetes of Coper and over gilted.

Item iij Crewettes and a wyne Botell of pewter. Item a pott for water of
pewter.

Item ij holywater stoppis of laten. Item j Basyn and ij laverys of lateyn.
Item j styppe of lateyn. Item one othir clothe for the seid pixe of lawn with
the frenges of gren sylk and reed and iiij tasilles of Reed sylke with the
blyssid full name of ihesu broydryd in iiij places of the seid clothes.

Item ij kercheff of lawn to leye uppon the crucifixe.

Item iij smalle frontylles of lawne to the ymages of Seynt Kataryn, Item ij
frontynelles to the ymage of y® salutac' of our ladye.

142 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Item j Chalys of the gift of Robert bolnest of sylver with his name and his
wyfif uppon the fote of ytt.

Item j chahs bylonging to the trinite gild of the giftes of sur hughe Wyche
and dame Alic his wyff and that other of Kateryne Bantlowe.

Item ij Chahs mor one of the geft of Ric Gelyngate and the other of
M^ J one lynn.

The following post-Reformation entries of city church accounts
may perhaps find a place under " Church Plate " :—

1564 (S^. Michael, Cornkzl/). For makinge cleane the greate deske

of Latten called the Fawcon . . . . . ij s.

1566. For skowringe the Egill at Ester . . . . ij s.

1 581 (5/. Christopher-le-Stocks), Rec. for the Egle of Lattin or

brasse . . . . . . . xlj s. vj d,

1555 (St. Peter Cheap). For a deske called a fawton with feete of

lyons all latten . . . . . iij li. vij s. vij d.

[A subsequent entry shows that this was an " Egele of Bras."]

The accounts of St. Laurence, Reading, afford a good instance
of the number and richness of the Images in the more im-
portant town churches. In addition to the invariable Rood
with SS. Mary and John, there were statues or images of Our
Lady (2), St. Laurence (3), St. John Baptist, St. Michael, St. Mary
Magdalene, St. Clement, St. George, St. Vincent, St. Katherine,
and St. Leonard. There were also several smaller ones standing
in niches on the piers of the nave and aisles. There were two
external images of the patron saint, the one on the right hand of
the west entrance of the tower, the other, of late date, at the
east end.

1520. Paid for boards for makyng of the fentice over the Image
of Saynt Lawrence and for setting upp the same Image
without the church at that end of the quere . iiij s. ij d*

But the chief figure of St. Laurence was in the proper place for
the patron saint's image, namely, immediately to the north of the
high altar against the east wall. The chief images of a church
were usually of an earlier date and of a better style than those of
the fifteenth century, and hence are rarely named in extant accounts
save by way of embellishment. The following entry helps us to
realise the magnificence and beauty of church adornments ; and it
may here be remarked that the " tabernacles " of church accounts,
whether expressed in English or Latin, usually signify the

CHURCH PLATE— IMAGES 143

canopied recesses, of either stone or wood, wherein images stood,
and not " shrines," which is a frequent but erroneous explanation.

1 5 19. Paid to John Paynter in Ernest of xiiij li. xiij s. iij d. for
gilding of the ij Tab'nacles in the quere with all neces-
saries thereto . . . . . . xx s.

The cost of this work, according to our present money-
standard, and including the wages of a good craftsman and his
assistant, would be about ;^I40. Another entry about this date
mentions a fee of 6s. 8d. paid to the " Kyngs paynter " for seeing
or passing judgment on the work of embellishing a tabernacle.

The second tabernacle in the quire, which was gilded after so
costly a fashion, would doubtless be one to Our Lady immediately
to the south of the altar. There was another image of the Blessed
Virgin by the Lady altar at the east end of the nave on the south
side of the chancel arch. A cloth and a kerchief were given to this
altar by Juliania Roche in 1436 ; a new bench (for kneeling purposes)
was placed before this image of St. Mary in 1441, at the cost of 8d. ;
and an entry of 1506 names 6d. for mending "one of the grate
candlestikks before O^ Lady." The wardens of the Lady Mass,
sung at this altar, were charged with an annual payment of 33s. 4d.
towards the sexton's or sacristan's wages.

There must have been an image of St. John Baptist in the
important north chapel of the quire usually termed " St. John's
Channcell," by the side of his altar; the great candlesticks before
that altar, supplied in 1503, weighed 103 lb., and cost 51s. 6d.

1523. To an Alabast' man for makeying clene the table at Saynt

Johns Autr' and other ymages .... xvj d.

An image of St. Michael was supplied at a late date ; the cost
is not set forth in the accounts — it was probably the donation
of some modest benefactor, but there are entries of certain
particulars.

1 5 19. Paid for canvas for coveryng of Saynt Michell . . iij d.

Paid for cariage of the Image from Maynatd of London . iiij d.

The following entry tells of an image of St. Vincent : —

1524. To John Paynters wyff for gyldynge of pte of Saynt Vyncent

Tabernacle . . . . , . iij g. iiij d.

144

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

St. Clement's altar, with his image, stood in the north aisle.

1 516. Paid for mendyng of the beame for Saynt Clement's light . viij d.
1520. Payd for mendyng of the cloth before Saynt Clement . iiij d.

Mr. Kerry gives good reasons for believing that this altar, as
well as the great mounted figure of St. George, stood on a continu-
ation of the rood-loft at the entrance to St. John's chapel, and over
the altar of St. Thomas. The following interesting items occur in
1534) under the heading "Charge of Saynt George"; they show
that St. George was given a realistic horse.

For iiij Caffes skynes and ij horse'skynnes'. , . iiij s, vj d.

For makinge the loft (dais) that Saynt George standeth upon . yj d.
For ij planks for the same loft ..... viij d.

For iiij peeces of clowt lether . . . . . ij s. ij d.

For makeyng the yron that the hors resteth upon . . . vj d.

To John Paynter for his labor ..... xlv s.

For roses bells gyrdle swerd and dager . . . iij s. iiij d.

For settyng on the bells and roses . . . . . iij d.

For nayles necessarie therto . . . . . . x d. ob.

The image of St. Mary Magdalene was one of those which were
dressed or specially garbed, usually only on festivals. The cloth-of-
gold coat was probably a royal mantle with falling sleeves ; one
phase of her legend represented her as of royal extraction and of
the castle of Magdala. The following entry is made in the full
inventory of 15 17, under the head of Vestments : —

Id. a Cotte for Marmawdlyn of clothe of gold.

The lights of St. Catherine were in the chapel of St. John ; they
are first mentioned in 1433, and again in 1436. Where there were
lights, there would certainly be an image.

The following brief excerpts from a variety of parish accounts,
arranged chronologically, will help to give an idea of the expendi-
ture and skill bestowed upon these representations of the saints
both in town and country: —

1464 {Saffron Walden). Solut' Johi Dawys pro uno grosso arbore
ad faciend imag' be* Marie .....
[The carving and painting of this image and its taber-
nacle cost £<) I2S. lid.]

UIJ s.

CHURCH PLATE— IMAGES 145

1467 (VaUon, Somerset). To the peynter to peynt cure Lady . iiij H.
For peyntyng the Crystofer . . . . ij li. iij s. v d.

1474-5 i-^^' Nicholas^ Hedon), Pro pictacione tabernaculi Sancti

Nicholai . , . . . . ij s. iiij d.

1479 (St. Botolph^ Alder sgate). For amendyngof theiabernacleof

Seynt Botulph . . . . . . x s.

To a kerver for half a day for settyng up of the Image of

Seynt Botolph ...... iiij d.

1493 (Eastfield^ Suffolk). To Thomas Bottre for peyngtyng of ye

image of our lady . . . . ■ ij li. xiij s. iiij d.

To y^ seyd Thomas for y^ peyngtyng of tabernacell of Seynt

Edmund ....... viij s.

1^94. To Thomas Bottre for y* tabernacell peyntyng of our lady . vij li.
1498. To Thomas Bottre for y^ peyntyng of the image of Saynt

Edmunde i y' tabernacle .... viij li. vj s. viij d.

I ^()y~i ^00 {St Andre%v Hubbard). For the settyng in off the ymage

of Our lady in her tabernakyll to a Joyner . . . yd.

1498 (Bassingbourfiy Cambs). John turpyn senior bequethed to

the peynting off the Tabernacle off seynte James . . x s.

1502. Robert Knott off lyttUyngton off George Kenton byquest to

the peynting off the Rodeloft . . . vj s. viij d.

John Turpyn the yonger byquethid and gaff to a Booke for
bass' Chyrche by his executor to be boughte . viij marks

1507. In Ernest to a Kerver fcr the ymage off seynt Marg' . i d.

Delivered to the Kerver for the ymage off seynt Margar' . xs.

Payd to the peyntur of Barkwey for iiij panes and the ymages
off seynt Margar and saynt Kateryn with their tabernacles
peynting ...... iiij li. vj s. viij d.

1 5 15. John Dykan of bass'dy off Ric' sely byquest to the peynting

of seynte Christoffer and off seynt Nicholas . . xx d.

To the peynting off the ymage of seynt Margar' and seynt

Kateryn and the tabernacle . . , . iij s. iiij d.

1 5 18 {Wimborne). John Rekeman hath paid x pounds for the gilt-
inge of oure lady with the images about her in oure lady
chapel: for which x pounds he is discharged for ever, and
no man shall put him nor charge him to be Churchman
{Le. Churchwarden).

" Fixes " or boxes stood at the feet of images of St. Cuthberge,
St. James, St. Laurence, Our Lady, and " King Harry " (Henry vi)
and the Rood, in Wimborne Minster, to receive offerings.

There was a remarkable development in many parts of England,
at the beginning of the sixteenth century, in the devotion shown to
the patron saint, St. George.

146 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

A chapel was added to the north side of the chancel of Cros-
combe, Somerset, to provide for the cult of the newly established
gild of St. George. A " Gorgemaker '' was employed to make a
great trophy, at considerable outlay, of England's patron saint on
horseback in his encounter with the dragon.

1506-7. John Carter, Gorgemaker, Vremassyn (Free mason) of

Exeter recyved of the parish of Croscombe the sum of . iiij li.
Item payd the fryst of January to the same man . . iiij li.

1 508-9. The wardens hath y payd owtte of the box of the church

money xxx s. unto John Carter, the Gorge maker at the

settyng uppe of the Gorge.
151 1-2. Item the cost of the Gorge, the holle sum of all the

coste ..... xxvij li. xj s. viij d.

The accounts of 1515-6 and subsequent years show that this
gild of St. George maintained a light before the image, presented
an annual sum to the wardens of their profits, and had a box in the
chapel for offerings. In 1522-3 there was an ale of St. George,
the "crysse" of which amounted to 13s. /d.

1506-7 {Holy Trinity^ Cambridge). Money R' by Harry Cryswell

and Roland Smythe toward the setting uppe off seynt

Gorge in the Church .....

R' Gaddert off the kynges Grasse and hys lordes at Seynt

Jorge day anno xv^iij*^ .... xxxvs. iij d.

R'' off the Gyid money off seynt Gorge the same year and

tyme ...... xxviij s. xj d. ob.

R' and gaddert off the Chanons when the Chapter was at

Barnewell . . . . . . . x s. j d.

R' off M"^ Mowrons and hys wyfe for the bequest off

Mastrys Cope in parte off pament off a mont sum . xxv s.

R' off M"^ Wood for Mastrys bohon , . . vj s. viij d.

R' off the parrych that was Gaddert by Wylliam Wortwall

and Jamus Goldsmyth ..... xxvj s.
Summa . . vj li. xij s. ob.

1547 (Ludlow). Rec. for the lofte that saynte George stode one vj s.

For the image of saynt George that stode in the chapelle . xviij d.
For a volte . . . that the image stode on . . iij s. iiij d.

For a image of Jesus that stood Beawpie chapelle . . xd.

For a tabernacle that saynt Margett stode in . . YJ d.

For a image of Jhesus that stode in Beawpie chapelle . x d.

For a tabernacle that saynt Margett stode in . • vj d.

For the dragan that the image of saynt George stode upon vij d.

CHURCH PLATE— IMAGES 147

For the tabernacle of the image of saynt Kateryne . vj d.

For the case that stode in Trynitie chancelle . • ij s. ij d.

For the tabernacle that saynte Anne stode in . . viij d.

1 531 (St. Margaret^ Westminster). To the payntour for payn-

tyng and gyldyng of the Ix storys of saynt Margaretts

tabernacle . . . . . . iij li- yj s. viij d.

For gyldyng of xij small images for the small tabernacle ij li. viij s.
1533. Payd to Willm Hulle, carvar, for makyng the gorge and

the dragonne . . . . .viij s. viij d.

For nayles and yarn warke to ye gorges . . xvj d. ob.

Under Queen Mary, not only were the Roods re-supplied, but
also images of the patron saints.

1556 (5/. Michael^ Cornhiir). To Peter the Joyner for Saint Mihell iii li.
For a stone that Saint Mihell standes on . . . iiij s.

Labor to sett it upe . , . . . .vs.

1556 {Smarden, Kent). For the ymage of Saint Michell . . xx s.

[The patron saint.]

1557 {St Peter Cheap). To lewes the copper smyth in gutter lane

for the Image of Saynte Peter . . . . li s.

The parish accounts frequently afford evidence of the mul-
tiplicity of gifts and bequests of articles of jewellery, especially
of wedding rings, assigned to the church. Occasionally such
gifts were sold by the wardens and the proceeds added to the
general church fund ; but much more frequently they were used
to deck favourite images. Special jewellery or costly vestures
were sometimes reserved to brighten particular festivals.

Among the bequests at St. Margaret, Westminster, in 1499
were included ; —

A paire of Coral beds banded w* silver and giltt w^ a litill Rynge w' a knop
of perle gyven to the worship of God and our ladi and Seynte Margarett to
be hanged uppon the ymage of Seynte Margaret every day or else every
halyday as they will.

On the apron of the image of St Cuthberga, Wimborne, in
1530, there actually hung 130 rings, 3 silver spoons, and 4 ''great
Buckylls of sylver and gilt/'

The inventory of the chapel of St. Mary of the Bridge, Derby,

148 THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

in 1488, among the wardens' accounts of All Saints, appears the most
remarkable example I know of the decking and adorning of

Our Lady of the Bryge

In p'mis on' Cote of crymyson Velvett ende'ted w^ gold that my lady Gray
gaffe / & opon hytt ys Ixvj penyes ii gilte penies on' gylte ob (farthing) ij
penese of ij d. on' grotte An' Ee' (?) of silver ij shells of sylver / on' herte of silver
/ A mowne (moon) of silver on' bx'oche of Copeer & gylte / ij shafts of silv'r
on' cristall ston inclosed In silver.

Also on' Cote of blewe velvett y' my lady chamburlayn gaffe Ther' opon
ys A crown of sylver & gylte that John boroes gaff Itm a grett broche of
silv' & gylte w* A stonne In hytt Also on casse of Redde satten w' buttons of
silv^ & gilt Itm Ix pens iij Gylte pens / on' peny of ij*^ / on crosse of sylv' Itm
a casse of velvett / on' broche / & on' peny of hytt And a crystall stonne.

Itm on' Garment y' my lady longforth gaff of blewe velvett and Rede And
on' y' ys A crucifix of silv' & gylt w' A Ryng of Golde that Maistres bonyton
gaff Itm on' tablet of golde y' Maistres Stanlay gaffe Also A Ryng of silv'
& gilte Anoy"^ of Cop*" / vi ster D & iiij D & vj halfepens / iij grotes iij pens of
ij** vi flewers of silver & gilte Itm x Curall bedes w^ ij silver Gawdyse.

Itm on Cote to o*" lorde of Crymyson velvett furred w* menyver y'= my lady
longforth gaff Opon hyt y^ A shylde of sylv' w* v bende pens Itm xi pens
And v gylte pens / A peny of ij"^ Itm on' payr of beds of silver / gaudred
wt chorall y oxle wyff gaff Itm on' ston closed in silv' w' on cros of silver / on'
broch of silver / ij oy broches of silv' & gilte w'on' colar of blak perle w"^ xvij
belles of silver And gylte.

Itm on' payr of bedes of Corall gauded havyg gaudeses of silv' & gilte
w' iiij Ryngs & ij c"cfix^ of silv' & gylte w' a c'stall ston sett 1 silv' And a ston
of curall that Richerd Baker wyfe gaffe.

Itm Anay^ P^yr of bedes of Corall w^: gaudeses of silv' and gylte w*^ on' golde
Ryng & ij Rings of silv' and gilte w*^ ij crucifix' of sylv' & gylte that Richerd
Sale wyfe gaffe.

Itm on payr of bedes of Corall gaudede w* sylv' y*^ Richerd Colyar wyffe
gaffe.

Itm on' payr of bedes of blak Jette.

Itm on' payr of bedes of Corall w' p'ciose stones w*^ xxv gaudres of silv'
w a tufte sett w' pedes y* Rog' Justice wyf gaffe.

Itm on' gylte gyrdel y' maistress entwysel gaffe.

Itm on' p''pull gyrdel yEdmunde dey wyfe gaffe.

Itm on' blewe gyrdell sylv' herneste w' vij studds on hytt y^ John hyll
wyffe gaffe.

CHAPTER XI
FONTS AND PULPITS

East Dereham font — Cowfold — St. Laurence, Reading — Font-cover, Yatton
— Chrismatory clothes— Font locks — St. Mary, Cambridge — Brass locks — Font
cloths — Fonts forbidden under the Commonwealth — Fonts of St. Giles, North-
hampton and Wirksworth — Pulpits universal — Entries from Arlington, 1458, to
St. Mabyn, 1654 — Puritan love for costly pulpit hangings and cushions — The
Bede Roll from the pulpit

ENTRIES relative to fonts are naturally often found in
wardens' accounts. Full details are fortunately preserved
in the accounts of East Dereham, Norfolk, for 1466, of
the cost of the material (brought over the seas from Caen) and
the vi^orkmanship of one of the finest of the East Anglian fonts.
See Archceologia^ x. 196. The font cost about £1^0 of our money.

Imprimis, payd to the mason quan he toke the said funte in arneft iiij d.
Item, payd for makyng of an oblegaceon in the which he was

bound for the seyd work ...... iiij d.

Item, payd for lying of the frestone, that was for the seyd funte

atte Lynne ....... xxij d.

Item, payd for carryng of the seyd stone . . . ij s. viij d.
item, payd for carrying iiij lods of the seyd fre stone fro Lynne to

Est Derham per i lod carying ij s. vj d. . . summa . x s.
Item, payd to Thomas Platfote for carrying of iij lodes of frestone

the seyd space takyng for a lode, iij s. . . summa . ix s.
Item, payd for di chalder of lyme xx d. and cc tyle bourt at

Norwich xvj d. . . summa . . . iij s.

Item, payd to Robert Crane, for carrying of the seyd lyme and tyle xx d.

Item, payd to Ric Wefthave, for ironwork to the seyd funte . xi d.

Item, in expens upon help quan the funte was in the reeping . ii d.

Item, payd to the mason for workmanship of the seyd funte . xli s.

Item, to his reward . . . . . . . xx s.

Item, payd to Will. Plomer for ledyng of the new funte . . ij s. v d.

Item, payd to Will. Pylche for makyng of the stole to the funte

and keverying of the same . . . . . xx d.

Item, payd for making of a quetance betwixt our mason and us -, ij di

149

ISO

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

The following particulars relate to font-making on a much
meaner scale : —

1471-3 {Cowfold^ Stissex). Solvere to the masyn for makyng of

the fonte . . . . • ■ .vs.

For cariag-e of stone ...... vuj d.

For lym iiij d. and for fechyng ij d.

Helpyng of mortar and other stuf . . . . ij d.

Some of the font entries in the accounts of St. Laurence,

THE FONT, EAST DEREHAM

Reading, are noteworthy. Master Cheney was employed at
Cardinal Wolsey's new works at Hampton Court when an
honorarium secured his services as a font-maker at Reading.
Cheney's font, though much scraped, still stands in the church ; it
is a fairly handsome one of a usual and diagonal design ; a few
remains of the original colouring could still be traced on both
bowl and shaft when we saw it in the " eighties " of last century.
It was if) this font that Archbishop Laud was baptized,

I

FONTS AND PULPITS

iSi

1520. For a Hose cloth gyven to the overseer of my lord
Cardynalls werks to license Chayney the mason to
cum fro them ..... iiij s. iiij d.

For chargis in Ridyng for Chaney the mason . iij s. iiij d.

1521-2. Rec' for led of the old font sold . . . . vij s.

Payd for boarding of the olde seatts where the olde font

stode ....... xviij d.

I572--5. To Chenye the mason for makeyng the fonte . xxxj s. viij d.
To the plumar for makeyng the font and mendyng of
the stepall . . . . . ■ . ix s. x d.

A single example must serve to
illustrate entries as to font covers : —

1449 ( Yatton, Somerset). Johanni

Crosse carpentario pro

coopertione baptysterii . xvj s.
Proglutino et clavi eidem

baptysterio . . vj d.

For a lyne to the font . ij d.

For the poley of gren to

the fonte . . . xviij d.

Various entries in wardens' accounts
and church inventories shov^ the costly
nature — usually silver-gilt and often
jewelled — of the chrismatory, or box
containing the hallowed oils and chrism.
This box was always locked, and usually
kept in an almonry or locker in the
chancel. It was treated with much
reverence, and when carried from the
chancel to the font for baptismal use
was always wrapped up in a special cloth reserved for that purpose.
At St. Ewen, Bristol, the chrismatory cloth was of " rede silke " ;
at St. Mary, Worcester, of " turkey silke " ; and at St. Laurence,
Reading, of " ray silke."

1504 {St. Mary, Cambridge). (Inventory.) An olde Clothe of

silke to lie in the Crysmatorye to the Fownte.
1527 {Wimborne), To the somner for bryngyng home of the

holy oyle from Sarum at Easter . . . . xi d.

For a Towell of sylke to lay on the holy oyle Boxe . ij s. vj d.

1538. For a purse to carry the holy oyle box . , . xij d,

THE FONT, ST. LAURENCE
READING

152

THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Three or four of these silk -embroidered chrismatory cloths
fell into private hands at the time of the Reformation, and are
mistakenly used for carrying infants to the fonts, a use for which
they are obviously unsuited.

Locks for font covers are fairly common entries in the earlier
accounts.

1 5 19 (Sif. Mary, Cambridge), For a lokke for the fonte
1540. For a keye and mendyng of the loke of the fonte

ijd.

iij d.

The few following extracts will serve to illustrate the treatment
of certain fonts in post-Reformation days, though archidiaconal
records show how frequently they were neglected. The custom of
painting the stonework of fonts continued.

1571-2 (5/. Martin^ Leicester^ For iiij li. of leayde to set fast y*^

hooke over the font . . . . .iij d.

To a plumar for settinge fast of y'^ same . . . iiij d.

Payde unto Christovar Node for woorkmanshipe abowt

y® fonte . . . . . . . vj d.

Receyved of M"^ Byshope for the beever that did hynge

over the font ...... xviij d.

1622-3 {St. Edmund^ Saruiri). For mending the Cover of the
Faunte and the Painter for newe dressinge of the
Faunte , . . . . . . iis.

1631-2 {Stockton^ Norfolk). For coullering for the fonte . . is.

For the Cover of the funte . . . . .13s. 4d.

For the painting of the funte .... 4s.

1633 {St. Mary, Cambridge). To George Tompson for the

makeinge the funt ...... ;^2

For bread and beare spent on him and his servants . 3s.

For a barrell of Lintseed oyle to painte the fonte the

porch and church dores . . . . .14s. 6d.

To David Blisse for payntinge the fonte etc. . . ;£i

For makeinge the rayles about the fonte . . ^2 7s. 9d.

1634 {Hawkhurst, Kent). For the font cover . . . los.
For a cord to draw it up . . . . . 8d.

1639 {St. Marti7t, Leicester). To John Milkesop for a brasse

cock for the font ...... 4s.

A brass tap of seventeenth-century date may still be seen driven
into the side of the mediaeval font of Talland, Cornwall. There
used to be one of these uncanonical abominations in the font of

FONTS AND PULPITS 15 3

Castleton, Derbyshire, and we believe there is another still in the
ancient font of Mellor in the same county.

It was customary, preparatory to baptism, after the locked
cover had been raised or removed to cover the font with a fair
linen cloth. Out of more than a score of collected references to
font cloths from wardens' accounts and inventories, it must suffice
to cite two.

1455 (St Ewen, Bristol). A white cloth for the font.

1556 (St. Nicholas., Warwick). Payd for Iron and workemanshype

to hange the clothe on over the Font . . . iiij d.

A special use of the font cloth is named in a rubric of the
Sarum Manual. In the midst of the office of Benedictio Fontis —
an elaborate ceremony used on the eves of Easter and Pentecost,
the seasons when in old days it was customary to baptize — after
the taper had been immersed in the water, the priest is directed to
pause, and if there were none to be baptized, the oil and chrism
were not to be added, but the font was to be covered with a fair
linen cloth [linteamine mundo\ and thus reserved until the end
of Easter or Pentecost.

When the Puritans came into power in the Commonwealth
days, the use of the old fonts was forbidden ; baptism was to be
administered out of a mere bason, for which a stand or bracket
near the minister's seat was sometimes provided. The bason was
usually a mean thing of pewter; accounts show in a score or more
of cases that it was provided, as at Aldwincle St. Peter, Northants,
at a cost of 6d. The following are among the more noteworthy
entries relative to font destruction and their subsequent restoration.
The destruction began in many parishes immediately on the issue
of the Presbyterian Directory of 1644-5,

1644-5 {Strood, Kent). For pavenyng the place wheare the Fonte

stood . . . . . . . 2s. 6d.

1645 {St. Martin, Leicester). For a bason to be used at baptism 5s.

For a standard to bear the same . . . .15s.

For laying the same in marble colour ... 5s.

1 66 1. Agreed that the font of stone formerly belonging to the
church shall be set up in the ancient place, and that the
other now standing near the desk be taken down.
P^ Widow Smith for the font stone, being the price her
hysband paid for it , , . . . 7s,

154

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1647, April 7 (6*/. Edmund^ Sarum). By virtue of an order from
y® Comittee presented to y^ Vestry Concerning the taking
downe of ye Pontes in all the Parish Churches in this
Cittie and Close of Sarum, It is ordered that M""
Nicholas Beach doe take downe y^ Font wherein baptisme
was foi'merly administered and ye place where it stood
made plaine with pavement stone and yt a frame for a
font be forthwith sett up in a Convenient place
neere y^ Ministers Iseat for ye administration of

ye Sacrament. M**
Beach to set up in
the place where the
old Font did stand
Portable seates of
wainscott for the
benefit of the Church.
1647-8 {St. Tho-
mas y Sarum). Take-
ing downe the fonte
and laying the stones
1660. Forthwith
sett up the Font in
the place where it
formerly stood and
allso to place the seat
for the midwife ad-
joyninge to it as here
to fore.

1650 {Hawkhurst^
Kent). Rec. for the
lead of the old font
and for old brasse .
1656 {St. Peter,
Ipswich). One bason
for baptizing and a
frame.

8s. od.

13s. id.

FONT, WIRKSWORTH, DERBYSHIRE

The old font of St. Giles, Northampton, was removed in 1658,
and the lead with which it was lined sold for i6s. The church-
wardens' accounts for 1661-2 contain the following items: —

Laide out for y® font worke . . . . . .3s. 4d.

Paide for taking downe the Presbiterian font ... is.

The first of these entries refers to the repairs of the ejected
font. The font now in use is a handsome ope of fifteenth-century

FONTS AND PULPITS iS5

design, much restored, but parts undoubtedly original. By a
" Presbiterian font," a bason on an iron stand is probably signified.
The most elaborate font and font cover of any English church
of Restoration date is that of Wirksworth, Derbyshire. The
following items appear in the wardens' accounts of 1662 : —

pd ye Joyner for ye Cover of y*" funt . . . . . ;^i 15s.

P"* John Ashmore And ye Carrier and Ashmore's man for settinge

ye funt and other worke ...... £^ 7s.

pd w™ Greene for painting ye funt, etc. . . . .110

And for Ale at the hanginge up of y® funt cover . . . 6d.

The whole question of fonts, and of the fonts of different
counties, is treated of at length in English Church Furniture^
pp. 160-235. See also Mr. Francis Bond's Fonts and Font Covers
(1908) and Mr. Wall's Porches and Fonts (19 12). The hallowing
of the font is treated of under Holy Week.

Pulpits

The common notion that mediaeval pulpits were exceptional in
English churches is completely disproved by a study of parish
accounts. Almost all those of pre-Reformation date contain
entries relative to the repair of the pulpit, usually of a trivial
character and not worth, citing. Preaching was a continuous
feature of the old Catholic days ; it received a severe rebuff during
the changes of the sixteenth century, when the authorities dared not
permit the open expression of the views of the clergy. There was
far less preaching in Elizabethan days than at any other period
in the history of the Church of England, Matters somewhat
improved towards the close of the century ; but a full clergy list of
1602 for the diocese of Lichfield shows that out of 433 clergy less
than a tenth, namely 42, were licensed to preach.

Here are a few of the more important pulpit entries from the
earlier accounts and from those of the seventeenth century : —

1458 {Arlington^ Sussex). Et ij s. iiij d. ob. p' faciend' de la
pulpitte.
147S-80 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For a pulpite in the Chirche

Yerde agenst the preching of Doctour Penkey . ij s. viij d.

1447-8 ( Yatton). For the makyng of the pulpy t , , iij s. iiij d.

IS6 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1503-4 (St Mary -at- Hilt). To John bull for hys labyr for mak-

kyng the pulppet . . . . - ix s. viij d.

To hys man for xiij dayys wark to the sam . . xiiij s. iiij d.

For Nayllys to the sam pulppet . . . , ij d.

[Other items for fixing it 2s. 7jd.]
1 5 17-8. Resc' of M"" Doctor for the olde pulpet that stode in the

chirch . . . . • . .vs.

1553 {S^- Margaret^ Westminster), For the pulpet where the
Curate and the Clarke did reed the chapter at service
tim . . . . . . . xiij s. iiij d.

1578-9 (St. Thomas^ Sarum). Mychell Joynes for a cover over the

powlpete . . . . . . . 10 10

1583-4 {St. Matthew, Friday Street). To the joiner for makinge

the pulpitt . . . . . . iij ii. xv s.

To the carpenter for a planck and for makinge the way
to the pulpitt ..... viij s. iij d.

To the Smyth for Iron Work about the pulpitt . . vj s.

1584-5. For a candelstyck for the puUpytt .... viij s.

1603-4 {St. Botolph^ Cambridge). For Lininge the pulpitt with

greene Bayees, flockes and workmanship . . iiij s. x d.

1609-10 {Hartland, Devon). Paid for a new pulpite . . xxxiij s. iiij d.

1634 {St. Mabyn, Cornwall). To making a new Pulpit . . ixli. vs.

To ye Painter for painting ye Pulpet . . . .vs.

The accounts of St. Laurence, Reading, show that a new
pulpit was purchased in 1639.

It. by a tax of the parishioners towardes the new pulpett and church

reperations ...... 1311.195. 3d.

It. pd goodman hine for mooving the pulpit and setting him lower 4s. 3d.

But in 1 741 this pulpit was sold to the churchwardens of Aldworth,
Berks, for four guineas ; and it can still be seen in that church.
The accompanying drawing taken from Mr. Kerry's book shows
that this pulpit is of a distinctly good Renaissance design.

The Puritan element which objected so strongly to bright
colours in vestments, altar cloths, and even in painted glass, and
desired to reduce the Houses of God to a dreary greyness,
apparently found it impossible to reduce everything to neutral
tints, and gave way in the case of pulpit hangings and cushions.
It was the easier to do this as the pulpit exalted preaching, the
most human part of the service. Bishop Stubbs, when writing about
seventeenth-century pulpits, says : " The cushion of which seems to
have been an object of special devotion."

FONTS AND PULPITS

157

1593 (St. Martin' S'in-the-Fields), P^ for the olde Churchwarden
beinge presented before M"" Doctor Stanhope for not
having a pulpett cloth . . . ' . • x s.

1 594. P"^ for iij yardes and iij q'^^^ of blacke velvett for a cloth for y^^

pulpett and for frindge and Buckeram . . . iiij h-

For y'' fiowres theron ymbrodered .... xxiiij s.
1603-4 {St, Martin, Leicester). Paydto Coldwestfor Worke abowte

the pulpitt . . . . • • . vj s.

Item for paintinge of it . . ■ • • vs.

1605-6. For halfe a yarde and a reale of grene carsie for a cushione

for the pulpitt . . . . • . iij s.

PULPIT FORMERLY AT ST. LAURENCE, READING

For j read skyne and white skyne for the same . . xviij d.

For vij and a halfe of fethers fringe and Crewell for the
same . . . . . . iiij s. iiij d.

1620 {St. Mary, Reading). For Silke for the pulpit cussen and for

canvis . . . . . . vij s. viij d.

For halfe yard of greene broddcloth for the cussen . vj s. vj d.

For making the cussen and triming of the pulpitt . . iij s.

162 1 ( Youlgrave, Derbyshire). Three quarters of yellow serg for the

pulpit quishen . . . . . .026

Two brazile skinnes . . . . . .024

Seven yeards of fringe and fyfteen skeynes of silke for the

sayde quishen . . . . . . o 3 11

158 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

For making the s*^ quishen . . . . .005

Fyve li. of flocke to stuff the s"^ quishen '. . .020

1622 {Basingstoke). Received a pulpit cloth of green velvet which
is the gift of JuUan Hatfield, gentlewoman, and she
desireth that it might serve and be hung upon the pulpit
every festival day and Sabbath day and every Lecture day.
[If used at a burial or christening, I2d. to be given to the
wardens for the poor.]
1678-9 {St, Martin^ Leicester), For a new cover for the pullpit and

the coveringe it .... . xxj s. vj d.

For a pullpitt cloth of velvet and a cushion of the

same ...... xvj li. xviij s. viij d.

For two yardes of grene cotton at xvj d. the yard for a case
for the velvet cushion . . . . ij s. viij d.

[These heavy charges for the beautifying the pulpit were
disallowed at the vestry meeting, the minute being signed
by 18 parishioners.]
1634-5 {St. Oswald^ Durhain). For 5 yeardes of Padua Serge

togither with Silke for making the pulpitt cloth and cushion 321
For making the pulpitt cloth and cushion . . .70

For workinge the fringe for the pulpitt cloth and cushion
and for fethers and a ledd . . . . .110

1635-6 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). Stuffe and fringe for y^ Pulpit

Cusheon . . . . . . .130

1646-7. Eleven yardes and a quarter of velvett at I5d. the yard for

the Pulpitt cloth and Pulpitt Cusheon . . .389

Eleven ounces of fringe ingraine and 3 quarters at 2s. 6d. per

ounce . . . . . . .191

Foure Tassells for the Cusheon . . . .80

Embroydering the figures on y^ Cloth . , .120

Buckrum and silke and making up the Pulpitt Cloth and

Cusheon . . . . . . .140

More to B. Beckham for woorke don, as by his bill . . 2 10 o

1652. The pulpit Cloth bee forborne to bee layd because the
Color is offensive to the sight of some of the parish. . . .

The laying of the Pulpit cloth to be left to the discrecion
oftheC.W.
1666. {Wirksworth^ Derbyshire), Payd to M*" Anthony Bunting

for the Pullpitt Cushion . . . . -5150

1669 {Leek^ Staffs). Pulpit-cloath and fringe . . .300

Thos. Hulme for making itt . . . . .020

In connection with the pulpit, mention ought to be made of
the Bede-roll, to which reference has already been entered in the
accounts of St. Edmund, Sarum.

FONTS AND PULPITS 159

The bede-roll, afterwards termed the bidding prayer, i.e, bidding
the prayers of the congregation for the souls of benefactors, was
read from the pulpit, usually by the parish priest, but occasionally
by clerk or sexton. A small payment from the parish accounts
was usually made to the " bedeman " for this service.

1477-9 i.^i' Mary-at HUT). To the parish preste to Remember in
the pulpite the sowle of Richard Eliot which gave to
the Churche workis vj s. viij d. . . . . ij d.

1489-90. To M"" John Redy (parish priest) for rehersing of the

bederoU ....... viij d.

1490-1. To M"^ John Redye for the Rehersing of the names of
Founderes of the chauntryes in the bederoll for a hole
yer at Michelmus . . . . . . xvj d.

1498-9. For makyng of a tabyll for the beyd Roll . . . ij d.

1 520-1. To M' Alen for the Bede Rowle of the Church . . ij s.

1477-8 {Tintinhult). For the bedrowyll to the prest at iiij tymes . xij d.

CHAPTER XII
LIGHTS AND BURIALS

Ceremonial lights — Early use — Wax — Tallow for illumination — Torches-
Serges — Paschal candle — Font taper — Special lights at St. Mary-at-Hill;
St. Botolph, Aldersgate ; All Saints, Derby j Spelsbury, Oxon — Trendle or
Roundle — Square tapers — Judas candles — Snuffers — Short extracts — Under
Queen Mary — Under Elizabeth — Ludlow — Under James i

Burials in churches — "Lairstall" — Crowded churches and churchyards —
Charnell House — Hearse — Bier fees for passing corpses — Burial without coffins
— -Funeral knells — Loan of funeral gear — Historical entries

THE employment of ceremonial lights during the celebra-
tion of the Eucharist and other religious offices is one of
the best authenticated and earliest uses of the Christian
Church. The custom prevailed in a stronger degree in England
than in any other part of Christendom, owing probably to the
greater gloom of our climate. On the general use of lights see
Rock's Hierurgia^ pp. 391-41 1; and on their use in English
churches, Dr. Cox's ** The Lights of a Mediaeval Church " in Curious
Church Gleanings (1896) and English Chuixh Furniture (1907),
pp. 320-30 ; also Staley's Studies in Ceremonial (1901), pp. 169-94.
The candles used at Mass were always to be of pure wax, save
that in Masses for the dead they might be de communi cera^
i.e. of yellow wax. The use of lights at funerals goes back to
the fourth century. Torches — torchcB, originally of twisted wax
" intorticia " — were used at Lincoln Cathedral ad corporis Christi
levacionem, and occasionally at other ceremonial functions ; but
latterly the term was generally used for a coarse form of taper,
largely mixed with resin, and employed in escorting the corpse to
the church, and from the church to the grave. Most churches
kept a stock of these torches, and they were loaned for funeral
purposes. The large tapers burning by the corpse in the church,

]6o

LIGHTS AND BURIALS i6i

and lighted again at the " month's mind," or at definite obit services,
were of wax, and a usual name for them was Serges (Fr. cierge).
Tallow candles were quite admissible in church, provided they were
only used for illuminating purposes, as at early Christmas services,
or at mattins.

The great Paschal candle, or column of wax of exceptional size,
stood in a massive candlestick on the gospel side of the high altar.
It was lighted with much ceremonial from the newly blessed fire
on Easter morn, and remained in the Sanctuary until Ascension
Day.

The Font taper — quite distinct from the small candle placed
in the hand of the infant or person at baptism according to the
Sarum rite — was a large candle used at the solemn ceremony of
the blessing of the font on the eves of Easter and Whitsunday, and
apparently lighted at all times of baptism.

The providing of ceremonial lights of various kinds was the
most costly of all church charges in mediaeval England. Up to
the time of the Reformation, they were provided most readily by
all classes of the community, not only in towns but in the smallest
country parishes.

The copy of the will of John Causton, 1353, "englished" in
i486, among the parish records of St. Mary-at-Hill, is of much
interest as to special lighting of the old church in the middle of
the fourteenth century. He provided that two tapers were to be
kept

brennyng upon the Iren Beame afore the image of our lady atte high awter on
Sondayes and halidays, and ij tapers brennyng before the Aungelles Salutacion of
the ymage of our lady in the body of the said Church every evenyng at the
tyme of syngyng of Salve Regina from the begynnyng to the endyng.

A fifth taper was to burn at the south altar between the figures
of St Thomas and St. Nicholas.

John Warton, by will of 1407, provided for

ij torches of waxe to bume every Sunday and other holy daies at the high
awltr in the masse tyme at the levacion of the blessed Sacrament and after as
is the use.

Richard Gosselyn, by will of 1428, provided for a five-pound
taper to burn beside the altar of St. Katharine on Sundays and
II

1 62 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

feast days. John Bedham, by will of 1472, instructed the
wardens to

fynde and sustayn for evermore a lampe with oyle in the quire and high
Chauncell to burne alwey as well on Dayes as on nyghts before the blessed
Sacrament.

Gatherings for the " bemelyght "■ — that is, for the light or lights
on the rood-beam — are continuous throughout the accounts of St.
Mary-at-Hill.

1477-9, For the beme light, Receyved in the said ij years . . xlij s.

1490-2. For the Beamelighte . . . . xvj s. xj d.

1496-7. Receved for the biemlight this yere besydes them that
wold not paye er the light neare sett upe and them that
be owyng . , .... xviij s. iiij d.

In the sixteenth century the beam - light money dropped
considerably, and is usually entered jointly with the paschal money.

1 530-1. Rec' for pascal money and Beame light this yere . xj s. vijd. ob.
1537-8. Rec' for the pascal! money and the beame light gaddred

this yere . . . . . . . xj s. ij d.

As to candlesticks, the following are the more important
entries : —

1431 (Inventory.) vj candelstykkis of laton more or lasse and a
kandelstyk of laton with foure nosis.
1 490-1. For the Scouryng of y^ laten desk standardes candil-
stickes and laten bolles anent oure lady day Ester and
Christmas . . . . . . .iiij s.

1496-7 (Inventory.) ij standardes of laton.

On the high auter ij gret candylstykes and iij small.
On Sent Stephyns Awter ij Candylstykes.
iij small Candylstykis of laton for Tapors.
iiij Candylstkes of laton with braunches for Talough
candell.
1509-10. For ij hand canstickes . . . . . j d.

1 531-2. For ij hangyng candylstykis for the quyre . . v d.

In 1525-6 six sconces were provided for the quire, and in the
same year occurs a most rare entry of " ij lamp stands for the
chirche ij d."

The parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, spent ^405. 3^d. in 1466--7

LIGHTS AND BURIALS 163

on " wax for the heme light and other lightes in the churche " ; as
well as i8s. 6d. for 18^ gallons of oil.

Fyrste paide for Ij lb. and di of new wax bought for the heme lighte
agayn Alhalowen day ..... xxij s. j d.

It. for makyng of xxvj tapers for the said heme light . vs. vd. ob.

It. for ij grett tapyrs weying vj lb. to sette up at buryinges . iij s.

It. for ij grett tapyrs of iiij lb. to sette up byfor the Rode while the
beme lights was in makyng . . . . . ij s.

It. for Ivj lb. of new wax bought for the beme light agyne Ester-
day ........ xxviij s. vj d.

It. for makyng of xxxj tapers for the said beme light . v s. v d, ob.

From later accounts it appears that there were occasional
gatherings for special lights in this church for St. Katherine and
St. Christopher, St. George, St. Margaret, and the Salve light.
Mention is also made of lights before Our Lady of Pity in
the Trinity chapel, and before SS. Fabian and Sebastian. The
receipts of 1468-9 name Ss. from the " Wardyns of the Brotherhed
of Seynt Fabyan and Seynt Sebastian."

The following is a transcript from the accounts of the sepulchre
or funeral serges and craft serges maintained in the collegiate
church of All Saints, Derby, in 1483. It was by no means unusual
for the great wax candles which burnt by the side of bodies in the
church to be afterwards removed to burn before some particular
altar or image, where they were renewed by special bequest or by
sorrowing relatives,

Sepulcur Serges

Inp ms on Sepulc"" serge In the holdyng of John hardyng that now kepeth
uppe Richerde Strynger delyv'de to hym by the church Reves that tyme beyng,

Itm Anoy"" in the holdyng of Willia Cowp' yt aft^ was delyv'de to conay
bargear by the churchwardyns y* nowe holdes up Edmu'de Rawlynson.

Itm Anoy' in the holdyng of John Hoghton delyv'de aft' to John Newton by
the church reves nowe in the kepyng of Rawfe Coke.

Itm Anoy*^ in the holdyng of Roberte Weste de lynde aft" to thomus bradshae
by y^ churchreves And aff his dethe to Richerde Hatfelde or els wolde Elise
stokks that wedded Thomus Bradshae wyfe have had ye Away aft' hyr decesse
to Sancte Werbur church, whe' he dwelled att thabbey barnes. [A list of
23 other sepulchre serges follows.]

Serges Holden up by Crafts
& oy'wyse as foloeth.

Inp'mis Sancte Catne lyght ys upholden by gederyng of the candyllyght*
and conteneth xx serges.

1 64 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Itm Sayncte Nicholas lyght ys upholden by the parische clerke, by his
gederyng of sancte Nicholas nyghte & conteneth xij serges.

Itm whosoe ev' ys scolemayster by gederyng amonge hys scolers upholdrs
before Sancte Nicholas iiij wax serges.

Item vj wax serges befor' sancte loy that be upholden by the farrers.

Item V serges before Sancte Clemente upholden by the Bakars.

Item V serges before o*" lady upholden by the Shoemakers.

Item V serges before the Roode Willia Walkar one John drap-

Anoy^ Thos. ffarynto' the thrydde, Thoms payn the forthe, TJiomas Bradshae
the ffyfte.

Itm V serges before the mary of pety holden up by Rawfe Mayre wyfFe.

Itm in o"^ lady Chapell before o" lady ys fFonde iij serges, Willia Walkar
one, Thomas Knolles anoy'^ Richerde baker y^ thrydde.

Itm in the same chapelle ys on' before sancte John baptiste holden up by
Wilha Walkar.

Itm V serges before sancte cristofer Att the fyndyng of Mastres Willugby,
John farynton, John peneston wyffe, William bancrofte, and Edmunde busby.

Itm iij serges y* Anf^ Gey"^ fonde on' before o' lady Anoy"" before sancte
Cat'ne the third before the trinite Alter.

Itm ij serges befor' sancte Edmu'de hoide' up by the gederyng of the Gierke
on sancte edmu'de nyghte And goyng with sancte Edmunde w* in the parishe
As y^ doe of sancte Nicholas nyght.

The wardens' accounts of Holy Trinity, Cambridge, of Wing,
Berks, and of St. Thomas, Sarum, have many light entries of
exceptional interest, but the extracts are suppressed on the score
of space. Room has been found, however, for these notes from
the unprinted accounts of a comparatively small country parish of
Oxfordshire.

These were the lights of Spelsbury church, in 1531, together
with the amount collected for their sustenance, and the day
appointed for the respective gatherings: — (i) The Trinity light.
Candlemas Day, 22s. 8d. ; (2) Our Lady's light, the Annunciation,
4s. ; (3) The " Hersse " light, any day before Allhallowtide,
i6s. lod. ; (4) St. Nicholas light, i6s. 2d. ; (s) St. George's light, St.
Matthias Day, 22s. lod. ; (6) St. Clement's light, St. Clement's
Eve, 5s. 7d. ; (7) St. Katherine's light, St. Thomas of Canterbury,
8s. 4d. and 3-J- strike of barley ; (8) St. Erasmus' light, St.
Stephen's Day, 4s. 8d., a sheep worth 2od. and two bushels of
barley; (9) St. Christopher's light, New Year's Eve, 4s. 4d. and
two bushels of barley; (10) St. Anthony's light. Shrove Monday,
14s. ; (11) St. Michael's light, St. Michael's Day, 2s. and 4 bushels

^ ^<f ^#^*|f*v^^^^

0/0^ i

FIRST PAGE OF WARDENS' ACCOUNTS, ALL SAINTS, DERBY, 1466

LIGHTS AND BURIALS 165

of barley; (12) St. Andrew's light. There are somewhat varying
details as to these lights from 1525 to 1539, but the accounts for
1531 are the fullest in this respect There were two wardens
(custodes) for each light, who were responsible for the gatherings
and had to make a yearly account. There were also two more
wardens or keepers of the bells, who gathered this year 3s. 5d. and
1 1" strike of barley, and other wardens who provided the torches
for funerals and obits. In some years there was also a gathering
made for the light of the Pieta, or Virgin with the Dead Christ, as
distinct from the image of the Virgin in the Lady Chapel. It
therefore follows that there were about thirty male parishioners
responsible for diverse church collections in addition to the general
churchwardens.

Nor would it be right to omit the following single extract
from the valuable and unprinted accounts of Bassingbourn,
Cambridgeshire : —

1 5 14-15 (Torches). Payd for xliiij li. of Rawe waxe bought att
Sterbyryche (Stourbridge) Fayer with the caryage for
the Rod lyghts at Mydsomer and Michaelmass quarters
and for Waxe to iiij Torches thys Madsummer xix s. iiij d.

Item payd for xl li. Rosen and viiij h. wyke to those iiij
torches . . . . . , ij s, viij d.

Item payd for gold foyle and Colours off those iiij torchis viij d.

Item payd for fyr wood and meyt and drynk to those iiij
torchis making . . . . . . x d.

Item payd to the werkeman Robert Blane chaunndelor
for his labur in makyng . . . . . xvj d.

Trendal or Trendle was the name for the ring, circle, or hoop
wherein candles were fixed ; it was"suspended in front of the Rood.
It corresponded with the Roundel, which was the more usual term
in the Midlands and East Anglia.

1439 {Tintinhull^ Somerset). Pro una corda empta ad le trendel . iij d.

1440 „ „ Pro vj libris uno quartero caree emptis

pro le pascal taper, et le trendell ... iij s. ix d..

1440 ( Yatton, Somerset). For makyng of the trendyl . x s. iiij d.

For colours to the trendyl . . . . . xxd.

For peyntyng of the trendyl . . . . , xij d.

1508 {Pilton^ Somerset), For waxe and makyng of the trendell ij s. iiij d.

1510 » )j For a rope for the trendell . . ix d.

1 66 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

The great majority of tapers were round, but occasionally they
were cast or moulded in a square form.

1474-6 (6*/. Margaret^ Westminster), Item in Square lyghtes in
ye Rodeloft weying" j^y xvj lb.
1480. For new wexe in tapers square and Rownde and making

of broken waxe and a pascall . . iiij li. ij s. vj d. ob.

For iiij newe torchis weyng xxix lb. p'ce the lb. v d. xxxvij s. j d.
For ij torchis and a torchet weyng xlvij lb. p'ce the
lb. V. d. . . . . . . xix s. vij d.

151 5 {St. Ewen, Bristol). For xij new Judas for the square

tapers . . . . . . . vj d.

The "Judas/' about which much would-be learning has been
wasted, was a wooden painted stock to imitate a candle. Those
for the pascal candle were often of great size, others were smaller,
of the nature of a "saveall." A most appfl-opriate name; Judas
was apparently an apostle, but he was in truth a sham, and gave
forth no light.

1451 {Tintinhull^ Somerset). Ad faciendum de novo xl Judaces

ligneas ad portandum luminaria stantia coram alta cruce . x d.

1553 {St, Peter Cheap). For Judas Candell weying ij li. for pascall

taper . . . . . . . . ij s.

1524 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For xij Judaiis to stand with

the tapers . . . . . . . ij s.

Snuffers are occasionally mentioned in the accounts.

1 5 17-8 {St. Mary-at-FIiU). For Snoffers of plate for to put owte

the tapours . . . . . . v d.

1574 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). The makynge of the Snoffer to

serve candelles in the ciiurche .... iiij d.

The following are a brief selection of short 'Might" extracts
arranged chronologically : —

1476-8 {St. Andrew Hubbard). For Ironwork for the droppyng of

the Tapirs before our lady of pitie . , . ix d.

1485 {St. Dunstan, Canterbury). For strykyng of the pascall

and the font taper . . . . ' . ij s. iij d.

1 501 {St. Margaret, Westminster). Payde to Richard Chaun-
deller for iij li. v q^'trn of newe waxe in small tapers for
the tenables (tenebrae) lyghts and a curse candell for the
halowyng of the fire on Ester Even . . . xxiij d.

LIGHTS AND BURIALS 167

1505 (5^. Margaret^ Westminster). For a dossen of Candyll to
set aboute the Churche uppon Cristenmasday in the
Momyng . . . . ■ • . xii d.

For Candyll for burning in the lanteryn on Wynter

mornings in the body of the Churche . . . x d.

1536 {St, Mary, Cambridge). Resceyved of the wyfFes that

Gadir for our ladylyght .... xxxvij s. iiij d,

1537 . . . Payed for xxxv li wex for the

sepulcre and the Roode lyghtes price of a li. vij d. ob.
Summa . . . . ■ . xxj s. x d. ob.

Payed for the making of the said wex . - • vs.

Payed for a Dyner at the making of the said wex . ij s. iij d. ob.
Payed to John Capper for settyng up the hyrse and

kepyng of the Sepulcre lyght . . . ■ ij s.

1537-8 {St. Mary, Dover). Paid for strekyng^ of the pascall, the
processioners, the Angell'' tapers, the Judas Candeles,
the font taper, and for mete and drynke . ■ • ij s.

Paid to them that take paynes with settyng up of the

pascall in mete and drynke .... iiij d.

1508 {Heybridge^ Essex). Memorandum that in the 21st yere
of Kynge Henrye viii the bachellers of the paryshe of
Heybryge have delyvarede the ix tapers belongynge to
the sepulker, at the feste of Ester, each taper con-
taynynge v pownde of waxe.
Also in the said yere the maydens of the said parishe
have delyvered on to the ix tapers belongynge to the
seid sepulkre, at the feste of Ester, every taper
contaynynge v. pownde of waxe.
1544 {Smarden^ Kent), First layd out for Uij li. of waxe for the

crosse lyght ..... xxvj s. vj d.

It. for iij li. of waxe candyll strekyng .... xxj d.
It. for ij li. of waxe for depyng of torches . . . xij d.

It. to Holnesse for strekyng of the crosse lygth and the

paschall and for strekyng of ij li. of small candles iij s. iiij d.

It. to Holnesse for strekyng of the torches , . . xviij d.

It. payd for a H. of talow candell . . . . ij d.

During Queen Mary's reign the ceremonial use of lights at
once revived.

1554 {Stanford, Berks). For ye pascall Tryndell christening taper

and font Taper agaynst Est"" . . . • vj s. ij d.

^ Streking or striking as applied to tapers has been erroneously explained to mean
painting them in streaks or stripes ! It is, however, simply an old term for casting or
moulding the wax in taper form.

i68

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1556. For wax candull that wer burned the wensday thursday and

fryday before esf at ye Tenebree . . . . vij d.

1555 {Yatton). For ix poundes of wax and a quai'ter against

Ester . . . . . . . . ix s. iij d.

1556 {St. Nicholas^ Warwick). Payd to Thomas Payne for a

li. off talow candelle one crystemas day in the mornyng . ij d.

The following entry tells of King Philip's visit to St. Paul's : —

1555-6 {St. Matthew^ Friday Street). For candells for to lyght
ye Chirche in the mornyng when ye Kynge came to
powlls . . . . . . . j d.

Throughout Elizabeth's reign mattins were said in cathedral
and many town churches at 5 a.m. in the summer and at 6 a.m.
in the winter ; and the practice continued during most of the
seventeenth century. Hence charges for candles are frequent in post-
Reformation accounts, of which Ludlow affords striking examples.

1571-2. 2 lynkes and 2 li. of great candels to lyght in the churche at
the entry of the Queenes Ma'ties at service tyme and
sermon ......

1572. For a lynke to servise at the Comunion on Christmas
daie ......

1574-5, For ij li. of candles on Christmas daie in the mornyng
To the deacon the 19 of decembre a pound of candles
ij li. of greate candles for the table and the organ .
More to the deacon ij. li of candles .
ij platys of Candles ,
a pounde of sise candles
ij lynks

To the deacon a pound of Candles the weke after Xmas
the 16 offebruary ij li. of Candles .
half a li. of Sise Candles the same tyme
To the deacon the 27 of Septembre a pounde of candles
To him the 8 of October
more a li. of candles to the deacon .
The 10 of november a pounde of candle
' The 16 of november „ * „

[Further candle entries of this year amount to 3s. 5jd

161 1 {St. Mary, Reading), For vj pounde of Candles for

Morninge Prayer ......

For eight Plate Candlesticks and for nayles to fasten
them .......

For iij poundes of Candles more used for Morning Prayer
1612. For XV pounde of Candels for Morninge Prayer

20 d.

viij d.

vj d.

iij d.

vj d.

vjd.

vd.

xij d.
xviij d.

iij d.

vij d.

vj d.
iij d, ob.
iij d. ob.
xj d. ob.
iij d. ob.
iij d. ob.

ijs.

ij s. j d.
js.
V s.

LIGHTS AND BURIALS 169

Burials in Churches, — " Pit money," as it was often termed, or
payment for burial within the church, was such an easy way of
adding to church funds that it was doubtlessly often encouraged
by the wardens. This odious custom, originating with reverence
towards the bodies of the faithful departed, was carried to such an
excess that many a church became literally a pest house for the
living, and was among the primary causes of the constant out-
breaks of the plague in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Not a few churches were packed with dead bodies gradually de-
composing in shallow graves from end to end and from side to
side, and they were constantly being disturbed by new arrivals.
Take the case of St. Neots, Cornwall. The number of intramural
interments from 1606 to 1708 was 548. The internal area of the
church is 85 ft. by 52 ft, but from this must be deducted about
100 square feet for the footing of the six pillars on each side of the
nave. It thus follows that the whole area of the church must have
been stocked with corpses considerably more than twice over within a
century. And the process was considerably increased within many
town churches.

In sixteenth-century parish accounts of co. Durham the obsolete
word "lairstall," for which the wardens received payment, is of
frequent occurrence. It meant a grave within a church, the stone
laid over such a grave being called a " lairstone." The term
corresponds with the " leystalle " or '' laystalle " of the Ludlow
accounts. The usual fee for burial within the church was 6s. 8d.
throughout England.

The old churchyards of England, especially in towns, became
almost as crowded with interments as the churches. Hence we find
continuous references to the bone-holes or charnel houses that were
required for the disposal of the bones disturbed by fresh interments ;
they usually took the form of vaults beneath the fabric. The follow-
ing examples are selected from several score of a like character : —

1510-1 {Holy Trinity^ Cambridge), For making clene of the

Charnell house . . . . . . ij d.

1616 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). To several men for foure
daies worke apiece in digging a large pit of twelve foot
deepe, thirty foot long, and about ten foot broad to bury
the bones in the churchyard, at xviij d. a day apiece . ij li. ij s.

I70 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1653-4 (5/. Maty, Warwick). V^ to Andrew Kington for a scuttle

for the gravemaker to gather up bones . . . is.

P^ to John Glendall and his boyes for piling up the bones
in the bonehouse . . . . . . is.

The word hearse or herse is nowadays exclusively used for
a funeral car; but its original English meaning was a frame for
holding candles. When a corpse was brought into the church
this wooden framework was placed over the body. Over it was
placed the pall or hearse-cover, whilst at the angles and sometimes
on the ridge were iron sockets for candles. Occasionally these
wooden hearses were reproduced in iron or other metal and made
prominent parts of the tombs of persons of distinction buried
within the church, tapers being lighted at the obit and anniversary
of death. A few of these survive, notably at Tanfield and Bedall,
Yorks, and at Spratton, Northants. Over Richard Earl of Warwick's
^ffigy> in the Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick, is a hearse in brass, to
bear the pall, thus styled in the contract for the tomb, 1439.^

The accounts and inventories of St. Mary, Cambridge, amply
illustrate the use of the word hearse,

1 511. A covering of Tappestry work for the herse.

A Grene Coverlyght for the said herse.
1 55 1. One herse clothe of black velvet.

1 568. For making of ye hearse cover . . . . xx d.

For Bords for the hearse . . . , . xvj d.

Two Iron Finns and a Iron plate for the herse . vjd.

For Inch bord to make a cover to the herse . . . xx d.

For a Borde at the side of yt . . . . iij d.

1570. For mendyng ye bear and hearse . . . . xij d.
1600. A pall Cloth for the hearse.

1625. Payd to Neale Peerc for a newe hearse makinge . . xls.

Paid to the Smith for ironwork for the same . . . x s.

The bier for carrying the body to the church was sometimes
called 2.fertory ox fertur, from 'L^t. ferere, to carry.

1 5 14-5 (Holy Trinity^ Cambridge). Resceyved of the gyfte of
Elizabeth Williferd wydow towardes the bying of a
Fertur . . . . . . vj s. viij d.

^ On the evolution of the word hearse, see a learned chapter by Mr. Peacock in
Andrew's Church Gleanings (1895).

LIGHTS AND BURIALS

171

CANDLES ON HEARSE OVER COFFIN, BODLEIAN MS., DOUCE

172 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Resceyved of money geven by the M** and Brethern of seint

George's Guylde towardes the bying of the said Fertor . v s.

Resc' of the gyfte of the Dukke of Bukkyngham towardes
the bying of the said Fertor . . . iij s. iiij d.

Now and again the term hearse was used as equivalent to bier
three centuries ago, of which certain particulars as to the burial of
prisoners at St. Nicholas, Warwick, afford an example.

1608. Bell for M' Phippes a prisoner . . . . xij d.

[The usual charge for the passing bell was 4d.]
„ Also rec. for the hearse to bring M*" Phippes from the

Jubett (gibbet) . . . . . . . xij d.

„ Also rec. of Richard Hendes, for the same reason, to bring

a prisoner from the Jubett ..... viij d.

When dealing with Pmnsh Registers (pp. 126-7) attention was
drawn to an illegal but customary claim made by church officials
in the case of a corpse being carried through the parish. Burial
was offered, and if refused the usual burial fees claimed. This
custom is met with in various wardens' accounts.

1623 {Basingstoke). Received for the passage of the corpse of a

knight . . . . . . . 6s. 8d.

1627. Received for the passage of the corpse of the Bishop of Bath

and Wells 6s. 8d.

1 63 1. Received for the passing of Lord of Pembroke's corpse

through the toun . . . . . . 6s. 8d.

On the subject of uncoffined burials see Dr. Cox's Parish
Registers, 1 19-21. Up to the end of the eighteenth century, in the
large majority of burials, the corpse was simply in its shroud. It was
the custom for each parish to provide one or more shells or coffins
to rest on the bier ; the body was lifted out of the coffin at the
edge of the grave. The Yorkshire churches of Easingwold and
Howden still retain these parish coffins.

1 501 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For a new bere and a coffyn

for chyldren . . . . . . vj s. viij d.

For meynding of the olde beres [three in number, each with
its own coffin] . . . . . . iij d. ob.

1545 {St. Martin^s-in-the-Fields). To John myller for styropes and

nayles for the coffyn ...... viij d.

For the making of the Coffyns . . . vj s. viij d.

LIGHTS AND BURIALS 173

1 538. For makynge a Coffyn for the beere . . . ij s. iij d.

1554 {Sf. Michael^ CornhilT). For mendynge of the coffin that

carrys the corsses to the churche . . . . xij d.

1567-9 {St. Michael^ Friday Street), For ij coifyns bought to cary

corses to the church . . . . .vs. viij d.

1569 {St. Alphege^ London Walt). For a newe coffin for the use

of the P'sch . . . . . . .vs.

For making of a penthouse in the church yarde for the
keeping drye of the said cofifen . . . vj s. viij d.

An inventory of the church goods of Hartshorn, Derbyshire,
for the year 161 2 makes mention of **a beare with a coffin." But
the parish was soon afterwards presented with a new one.

Memord that Mr. James Roylle of Shorthaselles gave to the churche a newe
beere beinge made att his owne coste and charges, box woode and
workmanshipp this presente yeare 1626.

Reference has already been made to funeral knells, but a few
extracts pertaining thereto had better be set forth in this place.

Burials were paid for at St. Martin, Leicester, according to the
number of bells rung. The ordinary use was three bells, for
which there was a charge of 8d. Three cases of five bells, in 1544,
incurred a fee of 5 s. 4d. These fees are confirmed by various
subsequent entries, and also the payment of 2od. for four bells.
The charge for five bells "and lyenge in y'^ church " was 12s.
The bells for obits were on a like scale.

1636 {St, Thomas^ Sarum). Sexton not to ring any knell on the death of
any person above the space of one Houre.

In 1653 it was agreed at St. Edmund, Sarum, that the ringers
were to be paid 6s. on the death of any parishioner who had the
bells ; the sexton 3s. for ringing a single bell and making a grave
in church, chancel, or chapel ; and for such as are buried in the
churchyard with a coffin i8d., and without a coffin 8d.

The last clause was repeated in 1673.

In several parishes a small but steady income was made by
the letting out on hire of the great funeral candlesticks and such-
like ornaments of the church. (See pp. 26, 57-8.)

1504-5 {Holy Trinity^ Cambridge), Off Adam Sampyll wyfFat the

beryyng off hyr husband for the ij standers . , iiij d.

Off Mistres Potecare for to borow our copys and west-
ment at hyr husbondes monyth day . . , iiij d.

174 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Off Mastres Merns for mastres cope for her derege for ij

stander and ij small tapers .... viij d.

Off Wylliam berbur goldsmythe for hys wydyr derege and
for the borowyng off the ornamentes off the churche with
the standers ..... iij s. iiij d.

On the occasion of a funeral mass for royalty, or other
distinguished persons, it was customary in the larger churches to
place the parish hearse, with lighted tapers, in position as though
the corpse was really present.

1547 {Si. Nicholas, Warwick). At the Kyngs Highness dirige a masse.

For fyve Tapers x d. — a masse ij d. — for mendynge of the here
and hearse ij d. — for the colourynge of two wodden canstykys
blacke ij d. — for bred and ale for the. ringers then iiij d. ob. — for
ryngynge vj d. — for two papers of the Kynges Armes to sett on the
Kyngs herse iij d.

The two following entries from St. Margaret, Westminster, tell
of the terrible death-rate of the prisoners of the battle of Worcester,
and of the crowds at the Great Protector's funeral.

165 1. To Thomas Wright for 67 load of soyle laid on the graves
in Tothill fields, wherein 1200 Scotch prisoners taken at
the fight at Worcester were buried, and for other pains
taken with his teeme of horse about mending the Sanctury
highway when general Ireton was buried . . . i 10 o

1658. Rec. for 240 foot of ground in the old church yard lett to
build scaffolds at the Lord Protectors funerall, at the rate
of IS. the foot . . . . . . 1200

CHAPTER XIII
ROODS AND REFORMATION CHANGES

Roods and Rood-screens — Yatton ; St. Mary-at-Hill ; Thame — Short extracts
— The four periods of Reformation changes — St. Martin, Leicester ; St. Mary,
Cambridge ; St. Mary, Devizes

ROODS and rood-lofts and the screens which carried them
formed the most striking feature of our old parish churches,
both small and great. Their elaboration and ritual char-
acter were essentially English. The story of these rood-screens is
told at length, together with county lists of surviving examples,
in English Church Furniture (pp. 72-144). See also Mr. Francis
Bond's Screens and Galleries (1908), and especially Mr. Aymer
Vallance's admirable articles on the screens of Kent, Derbyshire,
Surrey, Middlesex, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire, in
the County Memorial series of Messrs. G. Allen & Co.

The wardens' accounts throughout -the kingdom simply teem
with entries relative to roods and rood-screens ; the difficulty of
making a sufficiently brief selection out of hundreds of transcripts
has been considerable.

The wardens of Yatton, in 1446-7, rode forth to Easton-in-
Gordano to see a model rood-loft with an "' alle " or alwie, i.e, gallery,
and to inquire the cost before proceeding with one for their own
church. They also rode to Selwood Forest to procure timber, and
selected a special oak for felling. In 1447-8 a considerable supply
of timber was felled and brought to the church. Crosse the car-
penter was paid £^ 19s. 8d. in the following year for making the
rood-loft ; and in 1450 £2. 6s. 8d. for the same, as well as 13s. 4d.
pro solaria. Crosse worked steadily on at the fixing and carving
of the rood-screen and loft; at different dates in 1451 he was paid

£2 13s. 7d. " for the Aler," in addition to such small entries as i id.

175

176 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

" for glewe to the Aler/' or 2od. " to Crosse ys chylde in reward."
The carpenter's work was not completed until 14S4, and this was
followed by the painting.

Johanni Crosse pro solario ..... xxvj s. viij d.

For divers colers to the Aler . . . . . vj s. vj d.

Costage for settyng uppe of the Aler the fyrste daye . ij s. vij d.

For colers late boffte at Bristow . . . . . ij s. j d.

For the paynter ys hyre a wyke . . . . . xx d.

For the same payenter ys bedde . . . . . ij d.

For feschyng of a stone from Chelsey to grynde colers therewith . J d.

For a quarte of peyntyng oyll . . . . . v d.

For dyvers colers boffte ...... xxij d.

For golde to paynte the angell . . . . . vj s.

For colers ....... xiij s. vj d.

This same year Crosse proceeded to work at the "syler" or
ceiling of the rood-screen, receiving £2 6s. 8d. for the same. He
was presented with a pair of gloves, price lod., as a complimentary
fee when the ceiling was finished ; on another occasion 2^d, was
spent on " ale gevyn to Crosse to make him wel wellede " (well-
willed) ! Special timber was bought for this delicate work, both
at Southampton and Bristol, at a cost, including carriage, of £\
OS. lod. In 1455 there were many disbursements of large sums
for varnish, painter's oil and colours " for the loffte," together with
painter's and carpenter's work. Also

For expenses at Crosse ys ale yn settyng uppe of the posts of the
rodelofte . . . . . . . . iij d.

For the chandeler yn the rodelofte, to Jenken Smyth of Comys-

bury ........ xiij s. iiij d.

For ernest peny to the ymage maker . . . . j d.

To settyng up of the ymages . . . . . . iiij d.

For the ymages to the rodelofte yn number Ixix . . iij li. x s. iiij d.

Finally, in 1458, 33s. was spent in foreign (walsche) timber "for
to cely (ceil) the Rodlofte/' and ^3 for painting the same.

A rood-loft was set up or considerably reconstructed at St.
Mary-at-Hill in 1426-8; to this work 21 persons subscribed
£2.g 4s. 2d. A contract was entered into with William Serle,
carpenter, but the items of expenditure are confused, because an
" under clerkes chambre " attached to the church was being built
at the same time.

ROODS AND REFORMATION CHANGES 177

In 1496-7 the old rood-loft was reconstructed at a cost of about
£T, a " master workeman " received 2id. for three days' labour,
whilst several '* karvers " were paid at the rate of 8d. a day \
ordinary labourers' wages were 5d. a day.

To Sir John Plumer for makyng of the fygyrres . . . xx d.

To the karvare for makyng of iij dyadems and of one of the
Evangelystes, and for mendyng the Roode, the Crosse, the Mary
and John, the Crown of thorn with all othyr fawles . . xs.

To Undirwood for payntyng and gyldynge of the Roode, the
Crosse, Mary and John the iiij Evangelistes and iij dyadems,
with the ij nobilles that I owe to hym in moneye. . . vli.

Further interesting details as to the " costes made for settyng
up of the Roode " appear in the accounts for 1497-8, including the
following : —

For cartage of borde from Suthwarke for the skaffold . iiij d.
For XV foot of bord for the pilars of the marye and John

and for the mastes of the Crosse . . . . ij s. ix d.

To Bakar mason for a days labor settyng up of the Steye-

bare . . . . . . • viij d.

To Undirwood the peynter for a Reward mor than his

covnant . . . . . . vj s. viij d.

To Richard Garrett Smythe for xxiiij li. new Iryns to

strengthen the steybare of the Roode that goeth from

wall to wall at j d. ob. the li. . . . . iij s.

For iiij Stayes of new Iryns weyng xx li. . . . Ij s. vj d.

For the long bolt of Iryn comyng down from the Roofe

and for stapilles and spekynges to fasten it to the

Roode weyng xliiij li. . . . . . v s. vj d.

For ij hookes for the lentyn cloth byfore the Roode

1 499- 1 500. For iij elles lynyn clothe for to mende the cloth afore

the Roode ....

To Harry Mershe for peyntyng of the same clothe

1 501-2. For makyng of a lectorne in the Roodloftes

1 520-1. For mendyng of y* Judassis in the Roodeloftes .

1547-8, For cariage of tymbre for scaffoldes for the Rode loft

when yt was paynted ....

For paynting of the Rode lofte with sculptures

Iri 1555-6 the Rood was restored.

ijd.

Ij s. vj d.

iiij s.

xij d.

viiij d.

xiiij d.

iiij li.

For the Roode Mary and John . . , • vij li.

For xxvj boUes of laton for the Roode lofte . xxxiij s. viij d.

1556-7. For iiij wooden pynnes for the tapers in the Roodeloftes . xij d.
12

178

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1 559- For takyng downe of rood ye Mary and the John . xvj d.

For bringying downe of ye Imagis to romeland and other

things to be burnt. . . . . . xij d.

The following is an early example of popular gifts and bequests
to the rood and rood-light in the parish of Thame in 1444 : —

Of Jone carp'y'ter for a testemente to the rodelyte .
Of Marchory hoggs for a testemente to the rodelyte
Of Verdur of schyllydon for hys modyr to the rode ij
malte ......

Of John powly to the rode a boschel of malte .

Of hew grene for hareyn hodde to the rode .

It. also we rescyved atte Kyrstimasse to the rode lyte

Of thomas schapman for hysse modir to the rode .

Of John sage for hys wyffe to the rode

Of mykole stone to the rode . . .

Of halyson mowlschofe for her hosbonde to the i-odelyte

Of wyllyam hogge for hys wyfFe to the rodelyte a boschell

Of pyrrse mapuldram to the rode a boschell barly .

Of tomas bosse for hys Wyffe to the rode .

Of harry torch for hys Wyffe to the rode lyte

boschel

barly

iiij d.
vj d.

viij d.
iij d. ob.

ijd.

xiiij s.
iiij d.
iiij d.
iiij d.

ijd.

iij d.
iij d.
vj d.
iiij d.

XX d.

XX d.

xxj s.

The rest of the selected items are arranged chronologically.

1454-6 (5/. Andrew Hubbard). For new Rode lofte clothe iiij s. yj d.

For steynyng of the same clothe .... xxiiij s.

151 1-2. For makyng of the pewys in the Rode lofte . vj s. viij d.

1455 {St, Margaret^ Souihwark). For peyntyng of the Rode
lofte .......

For makyng of the mortasis for the baners in the Rode
lofte . . . . .

1475 {St. Michael^ Cornhilt). For makyng of the yron warke
in the Rodelofte the whiche stondyth by the orgones
and holdythe ye Rodeloft together
To the carpenter for workmanshyppe in the Rodeloft to

make stondyng for the seyd organes . . . v s. vij d.

1556. To Peter the Joyner for makinge the Roode Mary and

John ...... viij li. x s.

1478-80 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For a dore in the Rode

lofte to save and keep the people from the organyns .

For makyng a newe staire into the Rodelofte and the

stufFe .......

For brede ale and wyne in to the Rode lofte on Saynte
Margarits day ......

To a carpenter for makyng the crucyfix and the Berne he

standith upon , . . . . . xl s.

xij d.

xxxs.

XX s.

ROODS AND REFORMATION CHANGES 179

For karvyng of Mary and John and the making newe xxxiij s. iiij d.
For gilding of the same Mary and John and the crosse

and iiij evaungelystes . . . • vj li. vj s. viiij d.

For gytyng down of a heme in the body of the chirche afore
the crucifix and settyng up a newe one Archewyse and
horde to sealyng thereof and other stuffe . . xxvj s. viij d.

1491. For iij li. wyre to hold up the tapers of the roode light . xij d.

1495-6. Johanni Coleyn pro pictura Crucis cum Maria et Johanne

et pro deauracione Imageium cum stellis deauratis in toto xyj li.
Johi Sendall prolex Crampayne' ponendis al fixand'

Crucem nov operis cum Maria et Johanne in toto . . ij s.

151 1. For money gathered for the roode lighte on crystmas daye ixs. iiij d.
1503-4. {Basstngbourn, Cambs). For sewing togeder the sheetes

and wasshing bifor the Rod loft . . . . iij d.

To the smyth for ij stapilles of yron and wyre for that clothe vj d. ob.
For whyppe Cord to the sam Cloth . . . . j d.

For Rynges for the clothe before the Rod^loft . . iiij d.

1507. Item giffen in Ernest to a peyntur for iij panes and ij ymages

with their Tabernacles in the Rodloft . . . iiij d.

15 15. Payed for a lyne for the basyn bifor the crucyfixe . . iiij d.

1508 {Pilton^ Somerset). Payed to David Jonys the paynter of

the Rode loftie ..... xxvj s. viij d.

To John Foreste smythe for yron worke for ye Rode lofte ij s. v d.
To David Jonys peynter .... iij li. vj s. viij d.

To the peynters . . . . -iij h. viij s. j d.

For xij ellys of lenyn clothe for the Rode lofte . vij s. vij d.

For lynes and rynges for the sayed clothe . , .vij d.

1525 {St Dunstan^ Canterbury). For the ledding of the newe

wyndow agen the Rode . . . . .vs.

To the plumber hymself for the seid wyndow . . vs.

1528 {St. Mary, Cambridge), For the guyldyng of the Trinite in

the Rode lofte . . . . . . Ix s.

1533 {S^- Peter Cheap). To the goodman gante for paynting of the

Judas or stook of the Roode lyght . . . iiij s. iiij d.

1535- To Mounslowe for a newe Rode with Mary and John . vij li.

For ix ells of canvas for to hange before the Rode . iiij s. vj d.

1533 ("S*^- John Baptist^ Bristol). Paid unto old Solbe for peynting

of oure rode lofte and mending the images . . iij li.

Unto the said Solbe for peynting of the nether roode and
lofte more with the ij small images and the xij apostles
with the angels . . . . . ij li. xiij s. iiij d.

1536 {St. Alfihege, London Wall). For payntyng of the Rode

Marye and John . . , , . . x s.

1555. For y*" Roode and the hymmages of Mary and John w* the

Crosse , . . . . . v h. vj s. viij d.

i8o THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1538-9 (Ashburton^ Devon), For painting the south part of the

Roodloft with the separation of the ij aisles xvj li. xiij s. iiij d.

1545-6. For the settyng up of Mary and John . . . . xvj d.

1547-8. For taking down the Rood and other images . iij s. iiij d.

1549-50. For the takyng down the Image and the Tabernacles and

burnyng the same ..... iij s. iiij d.

1554-5. For mending of the rode loft . . . . . vj d.

For strykyng oute of the scription opon the rode loft . vj d.

For staples for the banners to stand yn . . . iiij d.

1555-60. To Marty n the kerver for makyng of the Rode . . xls.

For the full payment of the crosse . . . xiij s. iiij d.

To George Wyndegate for his paynes in settynge up the Rode ij d.
1559-60. For taking down the rode ..... viij d.

1 563-4. For pullyng downe of the Roode loufte . . ij s. viij d.

1547 (St. Margaret^ Westminster). For xxxv ells of clothe for the
fronte of the rode lofte whereon the Commandments be
written ...... xxiij s. iiij d.

1555-6 {St. Mary^ Dover). Boughte and paied for a Roode at
Canterbury to be set up yn the Churche accordinge to
the Kynge and Quenes procedinges and the Auncient
use . ..... xxvij s iiij d.

Paied for the payntinge and guyldinge of the saied Roode . x s. x d.
Paied for bringinge the saied Rode from Canterbury . xxij d.

Paied for nailes occupied yn setting up the Roode . . ij d.

Paied yn expenses at Canterbury and for ij horse hires

when I made bargain for the Roode . . .vs. iiij d.

1559-61 {Mere, Wilts). For takynge downe of the Rode in the

Churche . . . . . . . vj d.

For wasshyng oute of the Rode and the trynyte . . viij d.

For lyme for the same . . . . . . vij d.

For the defacynge of the Images of the xij Apostles which

were paynted in the Face of the Rode lofte . . xij d.

1562-3. For the takyng downe of the Rode loft by the commande-

ment of the Byshop . . . . . . x d.

For lyme to amende the same place ageyn . , . xvj d.

For the amendynge of the same ynewe . . iij s. iiij. d.

For lathes to amende the Rode lofte . . . . xvj d.

1603-4 {St. Botolph, Cambridge), For all the timber and for deales
used about the p'ticion twixt the church and chancell
and for sawing the same for deales . . .xij s.

1639 {Hartland, Devon). 2nd Nov. It is agreed on that John
Gibbins shall before Christmas next erect and new build
upon the rood lofte in our church, on both sides of the
organs there, so many seates as the same will conveniently
Gontaine ; and the said John is to have the benefit of the

ROODS AND REFORMATION CHANGES i8i

first sitting of the same for the term of their lives that shall
be therein respectively placed, and for their only use that
shall be so placed ; and that the said John shall not
nominate or place anyone in any of the said seates without
the approbation and consent of the 24 governors of the
parish church of Hartland or the most part of them, and
each one that shall sit in any of the said seates is to pay
yearly towards the reparation of the said Parish church one
penny.

Scores of the v^ardens* accounts testify to the four marvellously
rapid changes in the ritual and doctrine of the National Church in
less than a quarter of a century, from the time when Henry VIII
flung off papal allegiance in 1534 down to the accession of
Elizabeth in 1558. There is nothing so astounding in history,
ancient or modern, as the four startling transformation scenes
that took place within the whole of England*s churches during
those few short years. The chief sadness of it all was that
England as a whole (with many notable exceptions) was content
to follow blindly four successive sovereigns in their completely
diverse notions as to the nature of public worship to be offered
to the Most High. To form any true idea of the bewildering
rapidity of these transitions, it is necessary to recollect that the
religious revolutions brought about successively by Henry Vlll,
Edward Vl, Mary, and Elizabeth took place in a shorter period
of time than that which has elapsed since Victorians first
jubilee!

We now proceed to draw examples from three sets of parish
records as to the outward signs of these upheavals, which may
fairly be taken as typical of the external changes in worship in
all the churches of the land.

It is but seldom that church plate was sold before the advent
of Edward VI to the throne. But the accounts of 1545-6 of St.
Martin, Leicester, show that plate to the value of ;£"24 5s. was
sold by the wardens "to Mr. Tallance then maire of Coventre."
The sales from this church in 1547 included seven cloths hanging
before the Rood, 3s. 8d. ; eight tabernacles, 17s. ; old iron, 6s. 2^d. ;
brass vessels and ornaments to the value of £^ us. 6d. ; wax,
32s. 9d.; and the chamber (case) of the organ and some pipes,
24s. 6d; also "the hors y' the Georg Roode on," 1 2d., and the

1 82 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

"forth and the vente that the George stood on," 3s. lod., making
a total of ^13 2s. 2^d. In the following year, vestments and
hangings and other "old gere" were sold to the value of £S Ss. 3d.
Three men were paid i8d. for taking down the rood-loft. A
crown of wood and two crowns of wood covered with silver
realised ;^3 6s. 8d. in 1552. The accounts presented in 1553
included the sale of several superior copes and vestments, two
copes and a vestment being of blue velvet, which produced
;£"20 3s. 4d.

The accounts presented in 1554 record the sale of "an olde
black vestment and a tunycle " for los. ; but'on the 6th of July the
boy-king died and was succeeded by Queen Mary, when the
other side of the scale went up. The selfsame accounts show
that the wardens were apparently quite willing to purchase two
copes and a vestment of blue velvet, quite possibly the very ones
that they had so recently sold. The altars were remade, a rood
provided, pyx, candlesticks, corporas cases, banners, further copes
and vestments, a canopy for the altar, St. George and his banners,
etc., were purchased. An organ was replaced and repaired by
Sir William Burrows, one of the priests of the church. Sir
William had evidently bided his time with patience and had
rescued some of the books of the ancient services which they
were expected to destroy. Consequently the wardens were
able to purchase from him, at the modest expense of i6s. 6d.,
a missal, a psalter, processional, a manual, and a coucher.
In 1556 the rood-loft was repaired and re-erected, and it
was supplied with "ix taper dysshes." In 1557 "a thyng to
loke the Sacrament in " (a pyx) was purchased for i6d., whilst
the making and gilding of the " Roode Mary and John'' cost
i6s. 8d.

After various payments for the Lenten veil and hanging it up
before Lent 1558, comes an entry " for ale to the Ryngers when
the queues grace was proclamyd, viij d." Mary died on 17th of
November, and soon after the accession of her sister Elizabeth
the making desolate of the church was again renewed. In 1559
four men were given drink to the value of 3d. when taking down
the altar, and new service books were bought at a cost of 14s. id.
In 1 561-2 vestments, banner clothes, and a rood cloth were again

ROODS AND REFORMATION CHANGES 183

sold. The following entries relate to the destruction of the rood
and rood-loft : —

Pd to John Wyntershall and is man for ij dayes worke to graunseyll
y° setes and to make up y* holies where ye bame was in ye
Rodelouft . . . . . . . . xxd.

Pd to boddeley for taking up ye border in ye Roode lorft . . iiij d.

Meanwhile the organ was suffered to remain, and 6s. 8d. was
paid for a dinner "that wast bestode upon y" Clarkes y' kept
y^quyre at crissenmas." Puritanism, however, soon came to a
head, and in 1562-3 "the organ chamber'' was pulled down at a
cost of 2s. In the same year iij s. iiij d. was paid to a " clevar carvar "
for making a frame to the Communion Table. In 1566-7 the
sum of 4d. was expended in '' puttyng out the Imageyse out of the
pulpyte," and in 1570-1 further mutilations were carried out which
are thus described : —

Payd -unto yreland for cuttynge downe the ymages hedes in y^

churche . . . . . . . . xx d.

Payd unto hyme for cuttynge downe a bord over the font . . xiiij d.

Payd unto hyme more for takynge down the angels wynge and

removynge of his fether . . . . . . xij d.

The accounts of St. Mary, Cambridge, for 1548 name the sale
of an unusually large cross.

For a crosse of sylver parsell gylt sold to Henry Ryngsted by the
account of the paryshenors the xij day of October anno domini
1 547, weynge iiij score and xij unces at iiij s. x d. ye unce. xxij li. iiij s. viij d.

Also two silver censers with their ships, weighing over five score
ounces, were sold for ;^23 lis. 4d. ; whilst " sartyn old
ymplymentes of y'^ churche," such as painted cloths, latten candle-
sticks and wooden images, brought in a further sum of 22s.

In 1550, certain parcels of old church stuff, chiefly vestments
and hangings, were sold for about 80s. In 155 1, the sale of the
two great candlesticks of latten and other small candlesticks
realised £^ 6s. lod. Two candlesticks of silver, 5 chalices,
2 paxes, and a crysmatory, all of silver, and a great variety
of vestments and hangings remained in the hands of the
churchwardens.-

In the first half of 1553, the churchwardens expended 22s. 5d.

1 84 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

in new English Communion books and psalters, sold some
remnants of " churche stuffe," and paid for bread and wine for
the Communion ; but in July the boy-king died, Queen Mary
succeeded, and the same wardens set to work to supply the church
again with cheap reproductions of the very details they had been
selling. Candlesticks were bought for 8s,, a vestment, albe,
cope, and three books for 28s., a fayer messe boke and a legent
for 14s., a manual for 5s., and a crysmatory for 2s. 6d., etc. ; whilst
two altar cloths of blue velvet were bought back for 50s. from
Doctor Blythe, who had been churchwarden in the worst spoliation
year under Edward VI. The Rood was restored ; the painting of
it in 1555 cost 6s. 8d. The inventory of 1556 attained to fairly
decent proportions, though infinitely inferior to the richness of
the church prior to its pillaging; it included "xiij lattyn
candylstyckes to y^ Roode Loft." The tapers burning before the
Sacrament for the whole year cost los. 5d., and the "synging
bredes" for the year cost I2d.

In 1558, as the parish was recovering from the shock of the
strenuous action of Edward vi's rulers, a pair of chalices, double
gilt, were bought in London for £6 os. lod. ; but in November
of that year Mary died, and with Elizabeth came a renewed but
more gradual "purifying'' of the church. In 1560, "takyn downe
the alteres" cost 2s. 8d., taking down the tabernacle lod., and
" y*" communyon table" 6s. The 1562 accounts record the receipt
of 4s. " for a piece of tymber y^ ye Rood stoode on " ; and a penny
was paid for " a booke y* was sent to us for y^ pullying down of
y^ Rood lofte." Incense continued, however, to be used ; its
purchase appears in the accounts for the years 1559, 1566, 1568,
1571, 1572, 1573, and 1575. Queen Elizabeth does not appear to
have been popular at Cambridge; in the 1566 accounts there is
an entry of 2s. 2d. which was given to '*ye Quens Almoners
servaunte for not ringinge at y^ Quens comminge."

Sales of church goods and ornaments continued throughout
1568, when it was stated that the total result of such sales
amounted to £2,0 los. 2d. The sales included candlesticks and
lamp of the rood-loft, the Lenten veil, and a further selection of
vestments and hangings. " One William a Singing man '' gave
6s. for "the Image of our ladie which was taken of the blewe

ROODS AND REFORMATION CHANGES 185

velvet alter cloth be the comaundement of the archdeacon," In
the same year William Prime was paid 4d, for *' washing owte
Images oute of the glass windowes." In the following year 3d. was
paid for pulling down the rood-loft, whilst the sale of its fragments
realised about 20s.

The following items indicative of the rapid changes of church
policy and ritual in the midst of the sixteenth century occur in the
accounts of St. Mary, Devizes : —

1550. 4 Edw, VI. Pd for their labor at the plucking down of

the Alters, and for meat and drinke . . . xiiij d.

Pd for their labor at the taking downe of the side Altar . xij d.

1553. I Mary. Pd to Bartlett for setting up the great Altar . viij d.
Pd to James Benett the mason for his work about the Altar vj d.

1554. 2 Mary. Pd for holye oyle . . . . . iiij d.
To Wm. Jefferiesforij tapers of a pound and a half and more xviij d.
For the new making of the same tapers against Easter . xj d.
There is to be accounted for of old ix days work for George

Tylar and his man, at vij d. the day, for putting and
making up of the organ loft , . . . v s. iij d.

1555- 3 Mary. Pd for defacing the Scriptures on the walls ij s. iiij d.

Pd for making of the altar and for defacing the x command-
ments and putting - . . in the Rodloft . . . vj s.

Pd for making Mary and Joseph (? John) . . v s. iiij d.

1557. 5 Mary. Pd for makyn of ij alters . . . iij s. viij d.

Pd for stones for the same alters . . . ij s. viij d.

For tymber to make the pyctor that standeth by the Rode

nanled Mary and John . . . . . ij s.

For mendyng of a crewet
For mendyng of ij Albes
For frankinscens ....

1 561. 4 Elizabeth, For taking down of the Roodloft

jd.
ijd.
jd.

vj s.

CHAPTER XIV

CHURCH SITTINGS

Stone bench-tables — Pre-Reformation examples of sale of seats — St.
Laurence, Reading ; St. Ewen, Bristol ; Ludlow — Short extracts — Quire desks —
Pew doors and locks — Numbered pews — Poppy-heads — Separation of sexes —
Seats for the wealthy — A seat on the pulpit stairs — Corporation seats —
Shriving pews — Churching pews

PROBABLY the early general rule for a congregation in
England, as in other churches of Christendom, was to stand
when not kneeling. Stone bench-tables against the walls
or round the piers, many of which still remain of considerable
antiquity {English Church Furniture, 261-2), would suffice for the
aged and infirm. The custom of providing wooden seats for the
congregation seems to have originated with patrons and founders
of chantries and chapels causing seats to be fixed within their
parcloses or screens, and thence gradually spreading to the body
of the church. There is no proof, however, of any general pewing
of churches until the fifteenth century is reached. Mr. W. J.
Hardy's paper of 1890, " Remarks on the History of Seat-
Reservation in Churches" {ArchcBologia, vol. liii. pp. 94-106), has
completely vindicated the Reformers from the often repeated
charge of inventing appropriated seats and pews, though reserva-
tion and sale naturally grew with startling rapidity as soon as the
listening to sermons came to be considered by many as almost
the chief object of church attendance.

The grievous evil of seat-rents, through which the Church of
England has for centuries so bitterly suffered, by making the
Houses of God the very centres of class distinctions engendered by
wealth, was begun from comparatively innocent motives in early

days as shown in the previous discussion as to seats at St.

186

CHURCH SITTINGS 187

Edmund, Sarum. The evidence supplied by the accounts of
St. Laurence, Reading, shows, in common with several others,
that the idea originated in the fifteenth century with the supplying
of women only, and those probably of an aged or delicate nature,
with an allotted seat. Here is the first entry of the kind, in the
wardens' rolls of this church, which begin in 1420: —

ijoni 1441-2. Et de iiij d. de dono ux'is John Tamer j"" j setell,

^ groat was also paid by three other wives, and 6d. in a single

^. By 1498 — for the evil soon began to grow — the seat-rents

amounted to 6s. 6d., which was the sum paid for sittings

exclusively pertaining to wives of the congregation. In 1515-6

was agreed that all women taking seats were to pay 6d. each,

e;.. tpt in the mydle range and the north range beneath the font, the which
shall pay but iiij d. and that every woman to take her place every day as they
cumyth to churche excepte such as have ben mayors wyfs.

There is a somewhat remarkable and pathetic entry in 1 520-1 : —
Item of my lord for his moder sete , . . . .iiij d.

By " my lord " is signified the lord abbot of the great abbey of
Reading. At this time that high spiritual office was held by
Hugh Faringdon, a man of good family, who had just been
promoted to the abbacy. It is of interest to note that he placed
his mother among those who occupied the cheaper front seats.
It will be remembered that Abbot Faringdon was judicially
murdered by Crumwell before the abbey gateway in 1539, the
sentence being fixed before the trial began.

In 1522 a number of new seats were provided at a cost of
£S I2S. 2d.

1527. Rec' of M^ Barton for a seate for his madens . . viij d.

Rec' of M"^ Hyde for his mades seat .... iiij d.

1529. Rec' of Willm, barb*" to my lord abbot, for his wyffes seat . vj d.

1545. It is ordered and enacted that all women of the parrishe
whose husbands now be or heretofore have been bre-
therne of the Mass of Ihc shall from hensforth sitt and
have the highest seats or pewes next unto the mayors wifs
seate towards the pulpitt.

The Reformation gave a great impetus to the seat-letting

1 88 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

movement An ordinance of iS73, from the St. Laurence records,
is well worth quoting in extenso : —

In consideracion that the coUecions or gatheringes heretofore accostomably
used for and towards the mayntenance of the Church as well on the feast of
All Saintes, the Feast of the Byrthe of our Lord god, as on Hocke Monday,
Hocke Teuesday, Maye Daye, and at the feast of Penticost comonly called
Whitsontyde, togyther with the Chauntry Landes are lefte of, and cleane taken
from the Churche to the great Impoverishment thereof, the wch heretofore dyd
muche healpe the same. It is theretofore of necessytye by and with the assent,
consent and aggreament of the p'isheners then and there beinge present for and
towardes the mayntenaunce of the contynuall chardges of the Churche by these
presentes for evermore Ordayned concluded upon and fully aggreed as hereafter
followith, That is, that every woman that heretofore hathe byn sett by any of the
Churchwardens, or that of themselves do or have used to sitt on the Sondayes
or holydayes in any of the seates beneathe the pulpett and above the southe
syde church doore, or in any of the seates in the mydel Raynge of seats above
the saide churche doore Shall yerely pay iiij d. a pece for the church profytt
and towardes the contynuall chardgs therof at two Feasts in the yere, That is
to say at the feast of the Byrthe of o'' Lord god, and at the feast of pentycost
by even porcions. And that all women that be or have byn sett by or without
the Churchwardens in any of the seates on the south side rainge above the
pulpett Shall yerely paye vj d. apece at the foresaid feasts by even porcions.
The same to be gathered by the Churchwardens or their assignes for the tyme
beinge at theire perell.

Matters continued to advance in this evil direction, and by the
year 1607 the parish was ripe for parcelling out the whole area of
God's House into ranges of pews or seats in accordance with the
position or wealth of the occupants of both sexes, the whole of the
names being duly entered. In " St. John's Chancell" were placed
8 men at 4d. each. In "the North He" were placed 28 men at
4d. each in the five front pews, ^6 men at 3d. each in the next
thirteen pews, and 3 ''goodwives" in the back seat. In "the
Middle He " 4 men were allotted seats in the front pew at is. each,
10 men at 8d. each in the next two pews, 6 men in the fourth pew
at 6d. each, 5 women in the fifth pew at 4d. each, 37 women in the
next six pews at 3d. each, 18 men at 2d. each in the three next
pews, whilst in the last four pews 12 women were allowed to sit at
a penny apiece. In "the Sguth He" the two front seats were
allotted to Sir Francis and Lady Knollis ; 63 women were seated
at 4d. each, and 21 women in the back pews at 2d. apiece.

CHURCH SITTINGS 189

1637. Item p^ W"" Meerbancke for rearing the seate higher for

the Burgesses wives . . . . . .90

The accounts of St. Ewen, Bristol, afford early (1454-5) proof
of the sale of seats, the two first of this short list being the wardens
or proctors.

Receytes for the saal of segys.

In primis, of Richard Batyn, Goldsmythe, the procurator forseid,

for his sege & his Wyf ....
Item, Robert Core procurator forseid for his Wyf is Sege
Item, of Lawrence Wolf for his sege and his Wyf is
Item, of John Wolf for his sege and his Wyf is
Item, of Jamys Swetmane for his sege

Summa

xij d.

vj d.
xij d.
xijd.

vjd.
iiij s.

The Ludlow accounts afford another sad instance of the
monstrous growth of the appropriated pew-rent system. The
accounts begin fairly well. In 1541 the receipts record: —

Res' of Waher Torites wyf for Annes Davis knelynge place . xij d.

Res' of Rycharde Rawlens wyf for Elsabeth Gwyns knelynge
place . . . . . . . . viij d.

In 1542, 8s. 4d. was spent over the making and repairing of " the
ccTmyn pewis"; but there are also entries of three private pews,
paying collectively 13s. 4d. With the advent of Edward VI, the
pew system got into full swing. In 1550 fifteen parishioners
bought ** pew places " of the wardens at prices varying from
13s. 4d. to IS. The " pew place " signified a specified area within
the church whereon the purchaser usually built his pew, which
became his property, and he could sell it or bequeath it, or other-
wise his heir inherited it. It became, however, the Ludlow custom
(as in modified forms in other town churches) for a form of
surrender to be made to the parish at the death of the owner,
when a further fee was exacted. In 1571-2 the wardens granted
eight pews, for which they received the aggregate sum of 24s. 8d.
Here are two of these entries : —

Of William Allsope, for hallfe a pewe with William Browne,

late beinge his mothers, in the north yle afore the pulpite . x d. ob.

Of Richard Brasir, for hallfe a pewe on the north syde the
churche, with John Clee, surrendered into the parishes handes
by master Wayliefe Brasier late his wyffes . . .xij d.

190 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

In the accounts of St. Michael, Bath, there are two fifteenth-
century entries as to the payment for church seats, and others are
cited in chronological order.

1441. P^ pro una sede de Thorn. Bradwey.

1494. R** pro sede una in ecclesia de Eleanor Tyler.

1449 {Thame). For makyng of the setys yn ye norye quarter of

the chyrch at seynt jemys tyde . . . xiij s. iiij d.

For makyng of the setys at Seynt hew ys tyde . xiij s. iiij d.

Item to Wyllyam karpentyre at hocketyde . . xiijs. iiij d.

For bed and borde and x days tym and ys schilde . . xvij d.

Item yn bred and hale to men to helpe hym to drive the

setys to the wall . . . . . . ij d.

Item to on of ys neyborys for the karyg of the tymbyr from

schylton hedyes man ...... xvij d.

1495 {St. Mary^ Leicester). Memorandum on St. Vincent day the
churchmasters began to gadyr for the desks in the great
quire, and received xxj d. ; Sexagesima Sunday received
xj d. ; and so they continued to gadyr every Sunday.
For free stone for the desks .... viij s. iiij d.

For carrying the same . . . . . . ij d.

For sawing timbir for the desks and other matters about the

desks which this year were made in the great quire iiij s. vij d.

For making the images before the desks . . vj s. viij d.

1 5 1 5 (5/. Margaret Pattens). A Kaye for masster Waddell's pew

dowre , . . . . . . ij d.

In the 1546 accounts of St. Michael, Worcester, there is an
entry of 22d. "for makyng of dores to seats in the churche"; but
-from the amount paid it can only refer to a few seats. As a rule
the sexes were separated, as is clearly shown by entries of 1596
and 1597. Here as elsewhere the evil of paying for seats — the
price from 4d. to is. depending on position — steadily grew from
small beginnings. From 1595 to 1602 there were 116 allotted
seats for which payments were made.

1570 {St. Matthew^ Friday Street). On 5 of Januarye hyt was
agreed that the xvj woomens pewes shoulde be nombred
as hyt ys nowe sett uppon.
1548-9. For ix Benches to knylle upon in the pewes . . . xij s.

For ix matts to lay in pewes . . . . . iij s.

1 569-70. For payntinge numbers uppon pewes . . . . vj d.

1572-3. For V dossen of pynes to hange capes on . . . xix d.

1572 {St. Martin^ s~in-the- Fields), Payde for the Carvinge of xxvij

poppee heeds for the leftt side of the church . . xxxvj s,

CHURCH SITTINGS 191

Payde for the Carvinge of xxv for the Right of the

Churche . . . . . . xlj s. viij d.

1574 {Stroodj Kent). For makinge of the Seates for the preste

and the clerke to sitt with their faces towardes the people v s.

At Pittington, Durham, the vestry in 1584 allotted the seats or
"rooms," by name, to every male householder, "as well gentle-
men as also husbandmen and cote men," at a charge of " iiij d. a
roume att everye first entrye."

The two following excerpts are cited as examples of parish
expenditure on the seating of the wealthy : —

1 563-4 {St. Martin, Leicester). V^ to Thomas Oliver for a day worke

aboute my lordes seate (Earl of Huntingdon) . . x d.

P^ to Them w^ holpe us about mi lordes seate . . j d.

P"^ for mattes for my lordes chappel . . . iiij s. iiij d.

P*^ for a skin of red lether and halfe a thousand red neles
for mi lordes seate . . . . . . xyj d.

P^ to Richard Perker for v yerdes of broade grene, and
iij quarters of narrow grene for my lordes seate . • vj s. ij d.

1577 {St. Stephen, Walbrook). For Alderman Bondes pewe, viz. — xxxj
yeardes greene saie at xvj d. le yeard xli s. iiij d. ; for xvj dosen
of lace at viij d. the dos. x s. viij d. Three workmenn ij dais a
pece xij s. : ij Mattes xx d. : Candels one pound iij d. : for Coles
viij d. Bredd beare and butter xij d. To a painter vj d. Nailes
v"* V s. And to a Carpenter iiij d. In all the charges of this
pew iij li. xiij s. v d.
1602 {St. Botolph, Cambridge). 3 formes for youth to sitt one, 2 longe one
short.

1608 {St. Oswald, Durham). That no younge man, joumaman nor

prentice, beinge parishioners, shall presume in the Quire to sytt or
above the crosse alleye upon payne of ij d. for everye default and
tyme except he can reade and helpe to saye service and have a
convenient place assignede hime by the Churchwardyns to sytt in.

That no younge women or maide servantes shall presume to sytt in
any wives stalls above the crosse allye upon payne of ij d. everye
default, except gentlewomens waytinge maides or others having
convenient places assigned them by the churchwardens as to do.

That no man younge or olde shall in tyme of Divine Service sytt
upon the sides or edges of womens stales upon payne of ij d.

1609 {St. Mary, Reading). It is agreed that whosoever hereafter shalbe

Removid by the Churche Wardens from their Seates to anie others.
And her or thaie beinge so Removid will not tarrie and Abyde in
the seid Seat but Will or Doe come backe again, shall paie for
everie time so Doinge to the Churche Wardens xij d. for the

192 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

mayntenance of the Churche, And if it be a Woman wch hathe a
husband That shall so Offende, Then her husband to paie xij d. for
her, And if it be a widowe then shee to paie xij d. for her selfe.

A list of " them which have seates " was set up in the church
of Horley, Surrey, in 1604. The foremost and the two next seats
were each allotted to four persons, and the fourth seat to five
persons. Half of these seats were assigned to special lands, prob-
ably those that brought in the heaviest rates, and the rest to
certain names or " to whome he shall assigne it" The system of
seating at the expense of individual proprietors was further ex-
tended in 1634, when an entry was made, after a long list of seat-
holders, to the effect that

These setes were winescoted and planked and repared and paide for by
them above writen.

1610 {Spelsbury), IVf^ that the churchwardens and the parishe have per-
mitted Thomas CoUinge, the younger, of Deane, and John Sansome
of Spelsbury to set up a newe seate adjoyninge to the font, for their
wives, under this condition that they shall avoide the seate as often
as the fonte is used. If they refuse so to doe, then they shall claime
noe title any longer to the seate, but must leave it to be disposed
of by the minister, churchwardens, and the paryshe, And they paie
to the Churche for the place to sett it up viij d.
1616-7 {St, Peter^ Ipswich), Delivered unto y*" Churchwardens 2 newe
long formes of 3 inch plank for y^ midle ally for y^ poore to sitt on.
162 1 {St. Mary, Cambridge). A locke for y^ Ministers pew doore j s. iiij d.
1625. For two formes for the poor to sitt on . . . iiij s.

1630-1 . Cularyng the Ministers seate and mending my Lord

Bishopes pewe . . . . . .60

1641-2 {St. Edmund, Sarum). P^' to Joseph Bradley for peggs

for the 48 mens hatts . . . . .18

1642-3. Given to M"" White, the Countess of Devon gent, for setting

up the Kings throne in our Church . , .50

1664. Paid for railing the seats in the middle aisle . . 14 o

1669. For work about the catechising seat for boys . ,28

1679. For removing the schoolmaster's seat . . .40

1681. For 45 yards of rails and banisters for the Aldermen and

48 men's seats, at I7d. the yard . . . '339

1697. Agreed that the Churchwardens shall take off the two locks
of the seat formerly called M*" Inge's seat, lately set on
by order of M'^ Inge and by order of M"^ G. Bent late
churchwarden, and if any controversy shall arise, the
parish shall bear them harmless.

CHURCH SITTINGS 193

1658 {Wzmborne). Sold to Francis Frost the cooper one roome

on the pulpit stayers for himself to sit on . . . 16

The following are two or three examples of the provision of
seats in town churches for corporation officials : —

1490-1 {St. Martin, Leicester). M'^ mayor's pew made.

1572 {St. Peter Cheap). For payntinge over my ladye mayres

pewe . . . . . . . . X s.

For a pace of sages formy lorde mayres and my ladyes pewes xl s.
For lattyn naylls and blacke nayles for my lord mayres pewe

and my ladies . . , . . . vij d.

For lace for them Twos pewes .... iiij s-

To a plasterer for whiting over my ladye mayres pewe . xx d.

To the joyner for the silke for my lorde mayres pewe iij li, x s. iij d.
For xij li. of flax to make ij settills for my lorde mayres and
my ladye mayres pewe at iij d. ob. . . . . iij s.

1593-4. For latches and catches for the outer Dores where the

Eyght and forty sytts ..... xvj d,

1628-9 ('S'/* Thomas, Sarwn). Setting a bord against an Eight and

Fortye seate.

Any seat or pew that hath bene used by anye of the xxiiij or

by their wieves not to be let to any other person but by

the consent of a Vestrye according to the Anncyent custom.

1665-6 {St. Mary, Leicester). For a new Bench in the 48 mens

wives seats making it a little wider . . . .111

For matting the 48 wives seat . . . .23

There is abundant proof that confessions in the mediaeval
Church of England were for the most part made by the chancel
screen or within the chancel ; but two or three instances in city
wardens* accounts refer to shriving pews or confessionals.

1493-4 {St. Mary-at-Hill). For a matte for the shrevyng pewe . iij d.

1499-1500 {St. Andrew Hubbard). For gere for the Shryvyng pewe . j d. ob.
1 5 1 1 {St. Margaret Pattens). A clothe for Lent to hang before

the Screvyng pewe . . . . ....

1 51 5. Dressing y^ yrons of the shrevyng pew . . . j d.
1548 {St, Michael, Cornhill). Tothe joyner for takynge down the

shryvyng pew and making another pew in the same place iij s.
1589-90 {All Saints, Bristol). Payd for mendinge of a pewe called

the shrivinge pewe . . . . , is.

A sixteenth-century custom in some churches, continued long
after the Reformation, was to have a certain seat or pew set apart
for women who came to be " churched," who were usually accom-
13

194 THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

panied by the midwife. There was, of course, no need for such a
pew under the Commonwealth, when churching was abolished.

^538-9 (SL Mary, Dover). Paid for the pullynge downe of the
chyldewyffes pue of saynt Martyns Churche and for the
bryngyng of hit home . . . . . iij d.

1617 (St. Margaret, Westminster). Midwives Pew . ^250

1634 {Cundall, Yorks). A Childwife Pew .... 26s. 8d.

1646-7 {St. Thomas, Sarum). For the Midwives old Pew for Ric

Bristow . . . . . . . 20 o

1683 {Edenbridge). P^ to Thomas Wells for a Matt and aTrottfor

y^ Churching Seate . . . . . . 6s. 8d,

CHAPTER XV
ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN

Origin of organs — " Pairs of organs " — Partial suppression under
Elizabeth — Extinction under Commonwealth — Organ notes of St. Laurence,
Reading, Wimborne Minster, St. Mary-at-Hill, and shorter notes — Organ
opening at Ashborne — Other instruments of music — Shawm — At Church-ales
— Church bands — The bassoon — Singing men and boys, at St. Mary-at-Hill
and St. Edmund's, Sarum — Short extracts — ** Hymns " in honour of Elizabeth

Organs

CHURCH organs were introduced into England at least
as early as the dawn of the eighth century. Aldhelm,
ob. yog, states that native workmen ornamented the front
pipes of their organs with gilding. From that date onwards, the
evidence of organs in the large minsters or abbeys accumulates.
By degrees it came about that the ordinary parish church became
possessed of these aids to vocal music, until at last their adoption
was practically universal. So far as the investigation of pre-
Reformation churchwarden accounts is concerned, not one single
case has been found wherein the mention of these instruments is
omitted. They are always described as organs in the plural, and
usually as *' a pair of organs." This latter term, often erroneously
explained, is simply an equivalent to the word " set," and means
an instrument of more pipes than one. A " pair of beads " used to
be an equally common expression, not meaning two but a set ;
nearly a score of like examples of the use of the word "pair'' in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries could be given ; we still
speak or write of a pair of steps or stairs when a flight of several
steps is intended. The parish accounts very rarely mention the
small " regals " or other portative organs which could be carried

and played at the same time. As to the construction, use, and

195

196 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

gradual development of organs, with their bellows and other
accessories, reference should be made to Hopkins and Rimbault*s
The Organ J 3rd ed. (1877), and more especially to Galpin's
English Instruments of Music (1910). English church organs of
the time of which we are treating usually stood on the rood-loft,
or occasionally on a special loft of their own. A smaller pair of
organs, in the larger churches, often stood in the quire or in the
Lady Chapel, There are also various references to the com-
paratively small positive organs, which, though played from a
stand, could be moved about as required from one part of the
building to another or even transferred for a time to another
church. The frequent entries in the old accounts as to ropes for
the organs refer mainly to their use in working the bellows.

Objections to the use of organs were strongly urged by the
more puritanical of the reformers in the sixteenth century.

On 13th February 1562 among articles put down for dis-
cussion by the Geneva element in the Lower House of Convocation
was one to the effect *' That the use of Organs be removed."
There were 117 votes recorded, and organs were only saved by a
majority of one! In 1561 Bishops Grindal and Home wrote to
their Continental supporters that they disapproved of the use of
organs. It is no wonder, then, that various parishes got rid of
their organs about the middle of Elizabeth's fickle reign, anti-
cipating that they would shortly be seized by the Crown or by
Church officials. This is the explanation of an entry subsequently
cited from the accounts of St. Peter Cheap. The attack on organs
was renewed some ten years later, and certain parishes, like St.
Laurence, Reading, avowedly sold their instruments lest they
should be " forfeited into the hands of the organ -takers."

In 1644, ordinances of the Lords and Commons of 9th May
enjoined that " all organs and the frames and cases in which they
stand, in all churches and chappels shall be taken away and
utterly defaced, and none other hereafter set up in their places."
Nevertheless some escaped, but chiefly in cathedral or collegiate
churches.

Organ references are so very numerous in wardens* accounts,
coming next in many of them to bells, that it is difficult to select
the more telling or interesting notes. Of a few churches, a fair

ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN 197

number of items are given ; such are those of St. Laurence, Reading ;
St. Mary-at-Hill; Wimborne ; St. Peter Cheap; and St. Mary,
Cambridge ; in a large number of other cases, arranged so far as
may be chronologically, only an odd item or two are cited.

The fickleness of payment to the organ player is strikingly
illustrated throughout these extracts. In the earlier days much
was done gratuitously in this direction by those attached to the
church in minor orders, or by chaplain priests.

The organ entries in the St. Laurence, Reading, accounts have
various interesting points. The old organs were removed from the
rood-loft in 1506.

1505. For whitleder to the belys of the organs . . . iij d.

1506. For setting up the rode Mary and John, for removing of th'

organs and for making ye sete for the player of the same

organs . ..... xx d.

1 5 10. Paydto Barkeleye uppon a bargen of apeyre of organnes at

the instaunce of the p'rishe at ij times . . . iiij li.

1 5 1 2. Rec' for bryk and mort' left at the makyng of the vowt (vault)

for the belys of the organs . . . . . xxj d.

Paied to Robt Barkle organ maker . . . xiij s. iiij d.

To M"" White for waynscott to the new organs . . xxxj s.

To Robt Turner for such stuff as he delyvered to the same

organs . . . . . . xv s. x d.

For carrying of the leder fo the belys of the same organs . ij s. ij d.
For vj waynscotts at London ..... xiiij s.

To Ric' Turner and John Kent for the organ made at one

tyme ....... xxxj s. vj d.

To Ric' Turner and John Kent for the organ made at another

tyme . . . . . . . . j s.

For led to ley upon the belis of the organ . . vj s. viij d.

The bellows for this large instrument were evidently in a
vault beneath the floor-level. In addition to the above items,
masons and labourers were paid 12s. id. for making the vault
during the same year. The old instrument was retained, for yd.
was paid in mending "the belis of the old organs and for a H,
of glew" in 15 12.

1513. To Hew Smyth for iron worke in the new organ loft . x d.

For ij lokks to the organs, one for the stopps and the other

the keys . . . . . . . xj d.

To Robt Berkle organ maker for a reward , . vs. iiij d.

198 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

For rydyng to Wyndsor to set Mr. Wod to see the new organs x d.

To the same M"" for his costs at hys comyng . vij s. x d.

For mendying and grownde pynnyng of the posts under the

organs . . . . . • . ij d.

All was not right with the new instrument, hence the visit of
the organist of St. George's, Windsor. In 1S14-S legal pro-
ceedings were taken against Barkley, the organ builder, and in 1519
the pipes weighing 291 lbs. were sold to Segemond, another organ
maker, for 40s.

1 520. Paid to Segemond for transposing of the grete organs vj li. xx d.

1521. Paid to Segemond bythadvyse of the p'yde tranposyng and

new castyng ye for fronte of the organs and settynge yn ye

new stope ...... xiij s. iiij d.

Segemond's organ also proved a failure, law proceedings were
taken against him in 1522-3, and it cost 4s. in repairs in 1524.
In 1524-5 another new organ was purchased, but from the cost it
was evidently but a small instrument for the quire. It was bought
ready made, for isd. was paid in carrying it "from the water to
the churche/'

1529. For mendyng the case of the lytell organs in the chauncell

and the bellows of the same at ij times . . . ij s. vj d.

1531. For mendyng the stopps of the grete organs . . ij d.

1533. Rec' of the Freres in Oxford for the great organs . . x li.

Subsequent entries show that the great organ was sold to the
friars for £\2 los., but the remaining 50s. never reached Reading
owing to the destruction of all friaries.

The next organ fell a victim to Puritanism within the Church.

1578. In^ on St. Andrews Day, 1578, it was agreed that the organs in St.
Johns chauncell, for that they shoude not be forfeited into the
hands of the organ takers shoulde be taken downe and solde ; and
the tymber of them be applied to sett up two seats higher for Mr.
Main and his brethrene above the seate yt now they sett in.

Pd for taking downe ye organies . . . . xj d.

Solde to Rocke 37 li. of leade which was organ metall viij s. vj d.

Item xxiiij li. of leade . . . . . . iij s.

Organ entries in the accounts of Wimborne Minster are
exceptionally interesting. Richard Gilbert and John Harris, of
Christchurch, received lis. 2d. for mending the organs in the Lady

ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN 199

Chapel in 1495, and Thomas Green, in the same year, iid. for
"glyw and lether" for the organs in the rood-loft. Gilbert
received 2s. 8d. as keeper of the organ. In 1526 the organ-
player received 3s. 4d., and 2S. 4d. was charged for a manual or
keyboard. In 1526 "lether to amend the organs" cost 3s. 4d.,
whilst 4s. 4d. was paid to " the Pryst for mending of them." John
Vaucks received 12s. for mending the great organ in 1531, and at
the same time £2 os. /d. was expended on new (small) organs ;
there were numerous other small payments this year incidental to
the organs, including a reward to the bedeman as blower. Vaucks
received 9s. 3d. in 1534 for further organ repairs, and 41s. 5d. for
the like in 1535. " John Clifford organ pleyar" received the large
sum of £d^ for a year's wages in 1539. The sum of 21s. 3d. was
paid in 1590 for " 8-^ ells of holland to make a surplisse for the
orgenyst." " Taking down the orgaynes," in 1609, cost i6s. 6d.,
but in the following year they were again set in their place. " The
Great Organ'' was tuned and repaired in 1620, but it seems to
have been destroyed in the Commonwealth struggle; in 1643 the
wardens received 6d. " for sum of the organ pipes." But the organ
loft, i.e, the rood-loft, still remained, for in 1650 the wardens sold
*' 3 roames in a seat in the organloft " for 20s. In 1663 a rate
was levied for repairing the church and buying a new organ ; it
produced the sum of ;^253 13s. Of this sum ;^i88 iSs. 6d. was
expended on " a payre of organs erect and set up by Robert
Hayward of the City of Bath organ master." Messrs. Tompkins &
Silver, of Sarum, obtained £^ for coming over "to prove the organ
where it was sufficient according to our Covenants." Setting up a
canopy over the organ in 1666 cost £^ 4s. 3d. In 1668 a gift of
£^ towards the organ by Sir J. Rogers was disposed of by putting
his armes on the three biggest pipes, and by beautifying the king's
arms on the top of the organ in gold.

There were two organs at the church of St. Mary-at-Hill, the
smaller one in the quire and the larger one probably on the rood-
loft. The inventory of 1496 names "ij peyre of old organs,"
whilst the inventory of 1553 mentions "ij paire of Organs y^ one
gretter yen y^ other." The accounts for the latter year enter
5s. 6d. "for mending the great organs and mendynge the bellowes
and for mendynge the lytell organs." In 1477 one Walter Pleasance

200 THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

was paid 6d. " for playing at the organs " on St. Barnabas
day.

1519-20. For Bryngyng of the Orgons from Seint Andrewys to

our chirche agent Seint Barnabas Eve . . • y ^<

For the beryng home of the Orgon to Seint Andrewys . iij d.
1521-2. To the Orgonmaker for the Orgons in money besidse
that was gaderid and for bryngyng home of the same
orgons . . . . . . X s. viij d.

To the Orgonmaker as aperith by Indenture for the

oversight of the orgons for certen yeris, yerely to now xij d.
1523-4. To John Northfolke for a Rewarde for kepyngthe Quere

and the Orgons all the xij days in Cristemas . vj s. viij d.

Paid for brede and Drynk spent uppon the Orgonmaker
and other of the parisshe in the tyme of the Amendyng
of the Orgons . . . . . . xj d.

1524-5. To the Orgonmaker for mendyng the Orgons accordyng

to the Mynde of M" Northfolke and at his devyse . ij s.

To the iij Almesmen, to every of them ij d. for theyre
weke when they do blaw the orgons when ther weke
comyth ...... viij s. viij d.

Father Howe, the organ maker, mentioned in the St. Peter
Cheap accounts as tuning the organs of that church for a shilling
yearly fee from 1547 to 1560, did the like service at St. Helen,
Bishopsgate, for a two shillings annual fee. On April 23rd, 1561,
"Thomas How, organ maker, was brought up before the Lord
Mayor on a charge of not having received the Communion since
the Queen's accession " {Dom. State Papers, Eliz. xvi. 60) ; he was
doubtless a priest of the unreformed faith, and his arrest brought
his organ tuning services to an end.

1433 (5/. Peter Cheap). For ye Organs mendyng . . vj s. viij d.

1522. To the organ maker for the new organys . . . vij li,

1524. For iiij porters for Removynge of the organs into the

Roode lofte .... . . xij d.

For mendyng of the lyttyl organs . . . . xij d.

1525. For the bryngng downe of the organs oute of the Rode

lofte ........ viij d.

1 526. For one of the yrons of the stoppys of the organs . . .^ xij d.
For the Forme and the deske at the organs . . ij s. iiij d.

1555. To Howe organ maker for his fee for kepynge the organs . ij s.

To Howe the organ maker for makynge sprynges to the
doble regalls and for tonges of the ij regalls which is
called the prynceypalls in the base regalls , , . iij s.

ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN 201

1556. To Howe for ij new pypes for the organs and brasse to

the regalls . . . . . . . ij s.

1566-7. Rec' more for the orgaynes sold by consent of the whole

parishe .... . . iiij li.

1 513 (St Mary J Cambridge), Payed to a blak Fryer in Estir

holidaies for to pley atte Orgaynes . . . . xvj d.

1526. For a skynne ledir to amend the organs . . . ix d.

1527. For a newhandell makyng for the orgayne to keylle . ij d.
P'' for a quartt off Suett wyne to the orgyn makyr for ys re-
labor . . ..... iiij d.

1537. Payed for ij lokkes and iij Jemens (hinges) for the Organnys xiiij d.
Payd for a staffe for the Belowes of the said Organnys . iiij d.
1543. Item of Thomas Canam for xHiij li. of tynne comyng of the

old orgayne pypes , . . . . xj s.

1557. Payd to Dyall for playeng of our orgaynes from the xij*^ of

May to the iiij^^ of June . . . . ij s. viij d.

1559. For a booke called a grayle for the organys . . iij s. iiij d.

For byndyng of the booke for the orgayns . . . viij d.

1564. To betts y^ synggeman for mendyng y^ orgaynes and

makyng new pypes . . . . . . xij s.

[In an inventory of 1583 the organs are entered as
"broken."]

[The inventory for 1601 names "An Organ Case with
some pypes."]
1613. Received of M^ Fawle Thompson for the Oargen case . xx d.

1455 {St. Ma7-garet, Southwark), For a peyre of newe

Organes . . . . . . v li. vj s. viij d

For a pleyer to pley upon the same Organes hyred in

Chepe . . . . . . xiij s. iiij d.

To Mychell for pleying upon the organes . . .xij s.

1457. To John Fychelle Organ pleyer . . . , xl s.

The accounts of St. Petrock, Exeter, show that a rood-loft was
erected in 1458-9. In 1472-3 a seat was made at a cost of 7s. for
use when playing on the organs in the rood-loft ; about this date
the clerk of the church received 6s. 8d. a year for playing the
organs. In 1519 new organs were purchased for ;^io and "the
olde pair sold."

1 5 10 {St. Stephen^ Walbrook). For makyng of the lofte for the
organs and translatyng of the rode loft Payd to the
carpent' for Ixvj ft of stron borde tember . . x s. viij d.

[Twelve other items, including the " Bynch of ye
organs," came to 44s. iid.]

1497 {Cratfield^ Suffolk). Payd for horgans . . ij s. viij d.

202 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1499. For Bord y°iiij days of a man for guldyng (gilding) of y^

ordell (organ) ...... viij d.

1576. For takynge downe the organ case .... iiij s.

151 1-2 (Bassingbourne^ Cambs). Payed for mending or Reparaton'
don on the organes, as his wages xl d., his bord iiij dayes
viij d., iij skynes xxj d., ij calf skynnes and j shepis skyn.
For glewe and nayles, colys, ale v d. ob. The hole
summa . . . . . . vj s. ij d. ob.

1 5 13 {Shipdham^ Norfolk). Payd to the clarke for ye mendyng
y^ orgwanys, and he shall take charge of y*^ pypys andy®
bellows y^ space of ij yerys at hys owne charge . . vs.

Payd to the new clarke for ye fryst quarter . . x s.

1 5 14-5 {Holy Trinity^ Cambridge). For the amendyng of th organs xj s.

For a weighte of leade for the belowes of the said organs . xij d.
1 520-1. Resceyvyd of money and other of the parochyanours by
them graunted towardes the makyng of a newe peyer of
organs as apperith by a bill owen and examyned upon
this accompte . . . . v li. vij s. x d.

Rec' for the olde Organ pypis . . . viij s.

Rec' of the gyft of the master and brethern of seint
Katryn giylde towardes the sam newe organs . . xij s.

Suma . . vj li. vij s. x d. ob,

9 Hen. VIII. {St. Andrew^ Holborn). The little organs were made
and bought at the charges of the parish and devotion of
good people and cost £6. The loft cost 40s.
2 Edward VI. My Lord of Lincoln gave a pair of organs.

I Mary. The parish gave young White £^ for the great organs
which his father gave to the church.
1 519 {St. Helen^ Worcester). For the taking downe of the old
organs and the lofte of them and for mending of the
Rode loft . . . . . . iiij s. iiij d.

1526 {All Saints^ Bristol). A new paire of organs was bowt yt

cost X li. y^ cariage xiij s. iiij d.
1528 {St. Alphege^ London Wall). To an organ pleyar for

Wytsonday and Corpscristi day .... viij d.

1532 {St. Mary Woolnoth). To Gregorie the clerk for playing

at the organse one hole yere . . . xiij s. iiij d.

1540 {Ludlow). To the organ bloere for his yeares wages ij s. viij d.

1543. For a corde to oure Ladye organs . . . . j d.

1547. For the olde case of the organs . . . . xij d.

1 551. For mendynge ij peyre of organs . . . . xij d.

1556. For a corde to the organs in the lofte . . . j d.

1558. For makynge a barrelle to the organs . . .xij d.

1583. For turninge and putting up of xiiij pillars before the

organs . . . , . , . vij s.

ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN 203

For tymber to mak iiij of them .... xvj d.
For payntinge the said pillors and the defaced places in

the chaunsell ..... iij s. iiij d.

The accounts of St. Andrew Hubbard for various years show-
casual disbursements for organists on special occasions or for
certain periods; e.g, the following sums in 1495 : —

To a Organ player . . . . . . iij s. iiij d.

For an Organ player . . . . . . iij s. iiij d.

For an Orgyn player for a day . . . . . ij d.

For an orgyn player at witson tyde ..... xiij d.

Subsequently this parish reverted for a time to the employment of
a regular organist.

1 506-7. Paid to John Smyth organ plaier for A quarter ending at

our Lady Day in lent . . . . .vs.

The organist of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields was paid, in 1528, by
quarterly gatherings in the church, which amounted to 12s. lod.
In 1526, Mr. Watts received i6s. 5d. "for his Child to pley at
Organs by all that yeres." " Nicholas our Clarke'' received 13s, 4d.
for playing on the organs in 1533. For many years the organ
maker received I2d. a year " as his fee in lokyng to the Organs
and mendyng of them." At a later period in Elizabeth*s reign he
received 6d. a quarter for discharging the same duties. Two
organs were purchased in 1544-5 ^7 subscription at a cost of
£6 13s. 4d. There were 45 donors in sums varying from 40s.
to 2d.

1549 {Smarsden^ Kent). For the olde orgaine pippes sold x s. vij d.

1500 {St. Mary^ Devizes), for mending the Organs , . viij d.

1529 5, „ pd for mendyng of the Orgheyn

bellows . . . . j d.

1533 » » pd for the Organs . . . xiiij s.

1562 „ „ Recv*^ for xxxx pound of the organ

pypes at yj d. the pound . . xx s.

1562 „ „ Recv'* of the bellows of the organist . ij s.

1554 {St. Michael, Cornhill). For mendinge of the greate
Orgaynes and the small paire being broken in the
takinge downe ...... xxiij s.

1556-7 {Mere, Wilts). To Jerande for blowynge of the byllows

of the Organs for the hole yere nowe endyd . . viij s.

204 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1558 (SS, Philip and James ^ Bristol). Payd for a coat and a

pair of hosen for the organ player . . vij s. iiij d.

Payd for the making of his coat, doublet and hosen . iij s.

1 561-2 {Tavistock). Unto Ellis Drake for the blowynge of the

organs . . . . . . . xvj d.

1639 {Sidbury^ Devon). For mending the Organs . ;£5 o o

For wax and candle used about the Organs . .004

For men and horses to help hand the Organes . .018

1645 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). Rec. for the organ pipes .400

These desultory organ notes can scarcely be better concluded
than by the following remarkable notes as to the opening of an
organ at Ashborne, Derbyshire.

10 May, 1 7 10. Henry Valentine of Leicester first brought hither the great
Organ, and some days after began to work at it towards fitting it up.

"The great Organ being sett up and almost compleated on Sunday the 6th
of this month (August, 1710) Thomas Cook of Trusley Esq. and his servant
and Mr. Richard Bassano came in the afternoon, and after evening prayers and
sermon ended they first plaid a grave Sonata as Voluntary, then Mr. Bassano
before the Church full of people sang the 121 Psalm — M will lift up mine eyes'
■ — as an Anthem.

" September, 17 10. The great Organ in the Church being now compleated
and put in tune, and y® iron standard Rods and curtains of the Organ loft being
sett up it was opened and dedicated in the manner following. On Sunday
(i6th) the Vicar preached from Psalm 92 — i, 2, 3 (here follows an abstract of the
sermon, and an account of the part taken by the organ in the services). But
in the afternoon Mr. Matthew Haines, one of the singing men of the Quire at
Lichfield, gave a fine long anthem just after the Italian manner. The anthem
has much variety of musick in it, and is contrivefd with intermixture of frequent
Symphonies or Riturnalles, which Riturnalles were touched and plaid upon
two Violins by two gentlemen who stood behind the curtain in the Organ loft.
This performance was very fine as well as grave and solemn.

'* But the grand performance was on the following Wednesday, when there
were many voices and instruments (of which a full list is given) and an audience
of five thousand people. Mr Rathbone of Nottingham played the Organ, and
Mr. Henry Valentine, who made the Organ, stood by him with a trumpet. At
night in the great parlour of the Blackmore's Head they made a fine consert
both of Instrumental and Vocal Musick, and so concluded the musick of
the day."

Other Instruments of Music

The close study of hundreds of early churchwardens' accounts
has only resulted in the discovery of a single entry of a musical

ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN 205

instrument for church use other than organs until the seventeenth
century was far advanced. In the Wimborne accounts of 1531,
the somewhat puzzling entry occurs of " an iron bar for the shalms,
viij d." The shalm was a form of pipe or trumpet, ■ somewhat
resembling the later clarionet. In various accounts mention is
made of trimming banners with little bells, sometimes of silver;
their tinkling sound, on great procession days, would be heard
within the cl^urch, as well as in the open air. Small chiming bells
were used as an occasional accompaniment to organs, and possibly
some of the chimes named in the accounts served partly for such a
purpose and not merely as adjuncts to the clocks in the interior of
the churches.

In connection with the church-ales, the payment of special
instrumentalists is occasionally named, such as a harper at
Reading in 1504, pipers at St. Ives, Cornwall, and a drummer
at Seal, Surrey, the last two in Elizabethan days. Minstrels
are frequently mentioned in connection with ales and plays,
and now and again, as at Barnstaple, it is expressly stated that
they played in church. Then again, town waits, or professional
musicians, were now and again hired to take part in church
holyday processions.

In the eighteenth and early part of the nineteenth centuries,
church bands were common adjuncts to church music, especially
in country villages. The most usual instruments were the
bassoon, violin, base viol or violoncello, flute, clarinet, and
hautbois.

It must suffice to cite a few instances of eighteenth-century
church music from certain Derbyshire parish accounts. At
Youlgrave these two entries occur : —

1742. For hairing the bowe of the viole .... 8d.

1 75 1. Gave Ben Jones to buy Reeds for y* Basoon. . .30

From a loose sheet of paper in the church chest, it appears that
the parish acquired a " Base Voile" in 1785, and it was decided at
a vestry meeting that it should be appropriated solely to the use
of the church, " and not be handled about to Wakes or any other
places of profaneness and Diversion," excepting the club feasts of
Youlgrave, Elton, and Winster.

2o6 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1772 {Hayfield), Spent with Singers when new Bazoon came ^o 2 6

1772. Charges when the Bassoune came . . . .036

1779. For repairing the Bassoon . . . . .016

1783. For reeds for the Bassoon . . . . .030

1793- Paid John Line for a Hautboy. . . . .110

1789 {Hartskorne). Paid for one Haughtboy for the Church . o 19 o

1790. Paid for a Haughtboy and Reeds . . . . o 19 o

i8i8 {Mars ton-on- Dove), Pd to repairing the Bassoon . .110

At Church Broughton the old church bassoon is still preserved
in the parish chest, though not played within the memory of man.

The present writer well remembers the village band in front of
the west gallery of Luccombe Church, of which his father was for
some years rector. When old Robert Ketnor, the clerk, called upon
us to " sing to the honour and glory of God," the whole congregation
turned round to face west. The Luccombe church band expired
in 1859; in the neighbouring village of Selworthy the church
orchestra remained in the gallery until after the death of " Old Sir
Thomas Acland" in 187 1. In fact, throughout West Somerset,
there were far more village church bands than organs down to
1850 or somewhat later. The Rev. F. W. Galpin, however, in his
delightful Old EngHsh Instruments of Music (1910), brings down
the survival of a Dorsetshire church band to a much later date ; it
did not expire at Winterbourne Abbas till about 1895.

Singing Men and Boys

References in town accounts to singers in the quire, both men
and boys, are fairly frequent. A variety of extracts are given
from the wardens' books of St. Mary-at-Hill and St. Edmund,
Sarum. These are followed by a series of shorter entries from
numerous other churches, especially those of the City of London.
It is hardly necessary to state — but there is some ignorance on
the matter — that the reformed Prayer Books of Edward vi and
Elizabeth abound in rubrics as to " singing," not only at mattins
and evensong, but at the Holy Eucharist. Marbeck's Booke of
Common Praise noted was issued in 1550. The 49th of
Queen Elizabeth's Inquisitions, of 1559, was most explicit as to
the continuance of " syngynge or musycke in the churche."

ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN 207

Special reference is made in a later chapter to the singers on Palm
Sunday.

There are frequent entries in the St. Mary-at-Hill accounts as
to singing men and boys in the quire.

The descriptive word " conduct " occurs fairly often ; it means
a hired man, and usually is applied to a singing man, whether lay
or cleric ; the term is still in use at Eton College for a chaplain.
Occasionally the singer was a priest, as is implied by the prefix
" Sir."

1477-9. To Sir John Henley for syngyng (St. Barnabas day) . viij d.
To iiij Childre of Saynt Magnus for syngynge . . iiij d.

1484-5. To syngers on St. Barnabas evynyn wyne at Easter and
at many other festes of the yer to syngers within the
quere . . . . . , .vs.

1493-4- To a chylde that songe a trebyll to helpe the quere in

crystmas halydayis . . . . . xij d.

1498-9. To William Raynesford, conduct, which weas hired from

shroftyde to lammas ..... xxij s.

To Symond Vaireson for helpyng of the quiere all the

halydays of Crystmas . . . . iij s. iiij d.

1502-3. To Wylliam Wylde for a reweard in helpyng of the

quere at Ester and Whytsontyde . . iij s. iiij d.

1527-8. To a singingman of Sent Anthis for keping of our
ladymas in thabscence of gose and the clerk when
they were takin to Ipswich ... iij s. iiij d.

1529-30. For Brede and Drynk att the hyring ofF Sir Symond

the Bass that cam from Saint Antony's . . iiij d.

1531-2. To Richard the Bass for ix daies wages that he served

before Michelmas .... iij s. iiij d.

1534. iij syngyng men at easter for helpyng the quyer . . vs.

1535- ij singing men to singe in the ester hoUydayes and upon

loo sondaye . . . . . . vj s.

To seven conductes to sing ev'songe upon our Ladis even xx d.
1539-40- To a trebyll for synging in the quier . . iij s. iiij d.

1 55 1-2. To William Dawe, our base, for his wholle yeares wages vj li.
1556-7- To Sir John Parkyur, a base, for to helpe the quere
when Hobbes was dead and to have viij d. day everie
holy daye and sundayes . . . xv s. viij d.

To John Hobbes, condocke, for one quarters wages
endynge at thannunciacion of our Ladye and bor-
rowed xvj s. viij d. of the nexte quarter and dyed Ivj s. viij d.
• 1556-8. To Tamor, the basse, for one quarter from mykellmase

to chrystmas . . . . . . ij li.

2o8 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

To a pryste that dyd synge a basse for vij wyckes at

ij s. viij d. the wycke .... xviij s. viij d.
To a syngynge man on palme sonday . . • xij d.

To a syngynge man in the ester holy days . . vs.

To a syngynge man at Whyttsontyde . . iij s. iiij d.

The accounts of the Fraternity of Jesus Mass within the church
of St. Edmund, Sarum, contain various references to singing men
and choristers on special occasions, from which the following
selections are taken : —

1476-7. In clericis cantantibus Salve qualibet die Veneris

quadragesima ...... xviij d.

1505-6. Propend et Servicia pro potacionibus Cantorum qui

cantant Salve quaUbet die Veneris in XL"^ . . ij s.

1507-9. Pro potacionibus presbiterum et Clericorum cantantum

Salve . . . . . . . ij s. ixd.

1532-3. For brede and ale for prestes and Clarkes syngyng at

Salve in Lent . . . . . v s. viij d.

1538-9. Drynkynges in lente after Salve on the Frydayes iij s. iiij d.

1539-40. Bread and ale spent on the Frydayes in lent after Salve

upon the syngynge men and quyristers . iiij s. vj d.

At the dedication of the eastern part of the new cathedral of
Sarum in 1223, Bishop Poore instituted the daily Mass of the
Blessed Virgin known as Salve}

This special Salve Mass was revived during Lent in the time
of Queen Mary, as shown by the following entries in the general
accounts of the church of St. Edmund : —

1556-7. The fyrst Fryday in the lent to make the syngynge men

drynke . . . . . . . xij d.

The secon Fryday in lent to make the syngynge men

drynke after Salve . . . . . iij d.

Thyrde Fryday in lent to make the syngynge men

drynke after Salve ..... xxiij d.

Fourth Fryday in lent to make the syngynge men

drynke after Salve . . . . . xx d.

The Fyveth Fryday in lent to make the syngynge men

drynke after Salve ..... xvij d.

1557-8. ij pounde of Fygges ^ for them that dyd helpe to syng at

Salve the fyrst fryday in the lent . . . vj d.

^ ^^ Salve sanda parens.^' See Missale Sarum, p. 779) s-^id Wordsworth's Notes on
Medi^^al Services {1%^%)^ pp. 273-4.

^ Smyrna figs are still known in parts of Wiltshire as " Lent figs."

ORGANS— OTHER MUSIC— SINGING MEN 209

vij li. of fygges ..... xvij d. ob.

iij li. for the Syngyn men that sang at Salvy the frydeyes
in the lent . . . . . yj d. ob.

In all for brede and drynke for the Syngyn men that dyd

Synge at Salvy . - . . . v. s iiij d.

Edmond the syngynge man ... iij s. ij d.

1 560-1. John Saunderis for to helpe synge in the quyer . . iiij s.

1572-3. John Sanders for to helpe synge in the quyre . v s. iiij d.

1574. A strange Singinge man of Steple Ashtone yt dyd

labour for S'vice . . . . . . iij s.

John Mill for the travel to Steple Ashtone to cause the
sayde Singinge man to come to the Master of the
parisshe abowte service . . . . . vj d.

1472 (5/. Michael^ Cornhilt). To Clydrowe for singing in the

Chirch by all Cristemas halydaies . . vj s. viij d.

1473. To my Ladye Bokyngham clerkes for their syngyng . viij d.
1484-6 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For brede ale and wyne

on Corpus Xtiday for syngers of the Kyngs Chappell , xij d. ob,
1496-7 {St. Andrew Hubbard). For wyne for Singers on our

Chirch eholyday ...... viij d.

1528-9. To the conducke for senggyng in the holydays . . xvj d.

1531-2. Apone sent Andrewes day to the Syngyne men . . xij d.

To the porter for syngen yn y^ queer . . vs. iiij d.

1 5 18 {St. Stephen^ Walbrook). To the syngers on o'' church

holyday . . . . . . . xx d.

To the syngers on the Invencyon off Synt stevyn . xx d.

1 531-2 {Ashburton, Devon). Given to a boy John Bartlett for

singing in the church this year for a reward . iij s. iiij d.

1 541 {St. Maty WoolnotK). To iiij Preists and ij clarks of this
church for kepyng of our Lady masse by note in the
time of the vacation of a Conduct . . . xij s.

To our Conduct for lyke service doon by him and his

children for iij quarters of a yere . . . vj s.

1 561-2, To the children of Paules for helping . . . vj d.

1543 {St. Nicholas^ Cote Abbey). Paid to M"" Reynolds and his
company for their pains in the Lent season for
anthems . . . . . . . ij s.

1526 {St. Stephen, Walbrook). Payde at the ale house over

the syngers on Seynt Stephyn Evyn . . . vj d.

Payde in Rewarde to the syngers that day . vj s. viij d.

Spent on them at the ale house after the last evynsong . vij d. ob.
1549-50 {St. Matthew, Friday Street). Paid to M'' Russell for a

synging man at Ester to sett the quire in order . iiij s.

1 560-1. To v syngyng men on Sant Mathewes daye for sarvyng

in ye Churche and for boroyng of song bouckes . iiij s.

14

2IO THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1557 {Ludlow). For a lynke of iij li. and iij quarters to lyght at

after evensonge to synge carolles at the same tyme . xij d.

1564 {Ludlow). For a booke for one of the singeinge boyes . vj d.

1576-7. For songes singed upon the Q. Ma*'®^ birthedaie . . viij d.

To a sumner for bringing the same songes . . iiij d.

It was not until 1576 that it was decided, on obvious political
grounds, to have an elaborate " Fourme of Prayer with Thankes-
givinge to be used of all the Queenes Majesties loving subjectes
every yeere, the 17 of November, being the day of her Highnes
entrie to her Kingdom." At the end of this ultra-loyal special
form of prayer is a doggerel effort in rhyme, of fourteen long
stanzas divided into two parts. These are evidently the " songes "
of the Ludlow entry. The writer blundered in considering the form
was for Elizabeth's birthday ; 17th November was the day of her
accession. On the opposite page the first three stanzas are
reproduced from an original copy.

1584 {St. fames'^ Bristol). Paid to the singing men of the

College at Christmas . . . . . x s.

1585. Payd unto the waytes at Christmas for a carroll . • ij s. vj d.

1601-2 {St. Botolph, Aldersgate). Money received amongest the
parishioners towardes the payment of the stipendes and
wages of the Clarke Sexton and others healpinge to
singe and serve in the Quyer .... xiij li.

Occasionally a chorister was recompensed in kind.

1582-3 {St. Thomas^ Sarum), 5f yards to make Distine the boye

w*^^ singeth in the quire a coat and a pair of breches , 7 8

JLX UXclXllVClglUilJgjtU UC

fang asthc 8i,Pfelme,

B(B ligl^t anD glaU, in dPotJ tet'ot^cc,
t^t)ic]^ tjS our ftrengti^ anD (lap:
23etopftrtlanU lift tjppmwiiopcc,
fo J tW moft i^appic Bape*
^inS^fit^S^^'^^S^wto tl^ejLojDe,

jjoit^ meloUtc moft f iweetet ^
%tt i;eart anti tongue in one acco^H^^
ajSitigiiuftanlimecte,

2 ^in9lal}oDebntot]^e)Lo^tieabouc,
tmw l^im Ixiit^ glaD intent:

clappe pour i^auDeiS in (tgne of loue^

fojtgisi i»]^icl)]^e]^at]^fent.
^inspjapfe,ttns pjapfctoitl^ l^arpeanHJLute, '

ttjtt^ iop let iJiSbefeene:
23efO}eour dSoD letnouebemute,

but latxijoe \)irn fo^ oiir Mvmt^^

3 ^ounti out tide trumpe^couraseouflPj
bloijoe as; onO)Iemne Dapej^:

23otbbi8i^antK lotoecomefifUtbe^pe^

twit^rtoeete tcIbunDin5P?d|>ife»
dfo? tobF?ft)^eni»c toere bounU in tl^jsll,

auD efee in gtiefebib ftanD,
Cbe^tojUbtofetbiSfreeftoman,

bpti^i^ i^isfferuantgii^anD*

4 a)urfeluestti^crcfojet»Kl»]^olIpbinJ)e/
a^acrtecetobeCj

^n tolien of our t\)m%tMi mintie
, (:®<!DOlimoftDearej tbtj^cc/
Co tijec toe crpe , aniJ al& giue

ntoft l>igi^tl)anfeesf>lai0Dlie^nl» pjapfe^
fojtbpgcoSgifteiaitxJi&icljtxiereceiue,

bo^nojopeanB allourQape^.

ELIZABETHAN HYMN: FROM "A FORME OF PRAYER," 1578

CHAPTER XVI

BELLS AND RINGING

Bell repairs—Explanation of terms— The passing bell— Bell ringing against
Thunderstorms — Festival ringing — Early Mattins— Ringing for Royalty — Fines
for neglect — Elizabethan ringings — Stuart ringings at Salisbury — Historical
Ringing selections — Episcopal ringing — Curious ringings

THERE is no one subject which occupies near so much
space in wardens' accounts as that concerned with the
casting, purchasing, and continuous repairs of bells, and
the supplying them with bell ropes. Nevertheless the story of
the actual bells is almost entirely excluded from these pages to
make space for other material ; and this can be done with
hardly any regret, because the majority of English counties
are already in possession of good monographs on church bells,
wherein liberal extracts constantly appear from churchwardens'
books of various periods. There are, too, several valuable
books on church bells in general, the best and most compre-
hensive of which is The Bells of England (1906), by the late
Dr. Raven.

A brief paragraph or two may, however, be spared, for the help
of those who are not campanologists, and who may be puzzled by
unusual terms of frequent occurrence in old parish books relative
to bells and their repairs.

Baldrick — spelt in an almost infinite variety of ways, such as
"baudrik," "bawdrick," "balltrix," etc. — was a leather thong, by
which the clapper was suspended from a staple in the crown of the
bell ; it naturally required frequent renewal. It has since been
superseded by a wooden block.

Cotter is a small wedge of iron put through a rod to prevent a
nut coming off; the term is still in use.

212 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Brasses are the sockets in which the gudgeons or axles of the
bells work.

Quartering a bell is turning a bell round, after it has hung
many years, so that the clapper may strike on a fresh place.

Brief references to the blessing of bells will be found under the
section on hallow:ing.

The passing or soul-bell has been discussed under the receipts
of the wardens of St. Edmund, Sarum, where it was known by
the picturesque name of the forthfare bell. This mediaeval and
beautiful custom, said to be peculiar to England, fell for the most
part into disuse with the Reformation, when the knell at the time
of burial took its place. These knells produced a good income
for the wardens of populous parishes, eg. St. Martin*s-in-the-FieIds
and St. Margaret, Westminster. Occasionally, as at present, the-
knell was tolled immediately after the death, and still retained the
incorrect name of the passing bell. Kindly provision was made
by some parishes for knell-ringing without a fee when the friends
or relatives of the deceased were poor.

Thus at St. Mary, Warwick, the regular charge for ringing the
passing bell at death was 2s. 6d. for the great bell, is. for the
seventh bell, and 6d. for the fifth bell. It was, however, provided,
in 1686,

"that every person that dyeth, having not money to pay for the ringing of the
5th bell, may have liberty to send any person to ring that bell without paying
for the same. And if the party dec'd hath none to ring the bell for him, nor
money to pay for the same, the clarke shall ring the said bell without receiving
any pay for ringing the said bell."

There was an old superstition that bells had the power of
dispersing tempests. Here are four early instances from parish
accounts : —

1450 (St. Mary-at-Hill, City). Dat' hominibus pulsantibus in

nocte Sci Petri pro tornitura .... viij d.

1457-8 {Yeovil). In potacione dat' pulsatoribus dum tonatruat . j d.

1464 (St. Mary^ Sandwich). For bred and drynke for ryngers in

the great thunderyng . . . . . iij d. ob.

I ^i<) (Spalding). Pd for ryngyng when the Tempest was . . iij d.

This custom was preached against vehemently by the Re-
formers, although Lord Bacon thought there was a certain scientific

BELLS AND RLVGING 213

basis in justification of the practice. The idea did not readily die
out. We have found an Elizabethan entry of its continuance in
a Norfolk parish, and one of the seventeenth century in Kent ; but
most unfortunately both these excerpts, culled many years ago,
have been mislaid.

The early ringing of bells for Mass and the services of the
Hours was usually done by clerks of the church ; it was conse-
quently gratuitous and is not named in wardens' accounts ; but it
was different at the times of popular festivals.

1483-4 {S^. Edmund^ Sarum). For the beringe of the banners and

for ryngyng in Rogacyon weke .... iiij d,

Payd on holly thersday and on oure thankyng Day and on

Corpus cryts day for ye baners beringe and for Rynkers . vj d.
[Several similar later entries.]
1 517-8. Payde for ale for the Ryngers the gang weke and ye wytson

wyke . . . . . . . . ij s.

1 5 18-9. Rynggers at Seynt Martynes ..... iiij d.

Rynggers on the dawnsynge day . . . . ij d.

Ryngyn on Corpus Xtiday . . . . . ij d.

The Rynggars for Rynggynge off generalle prossessyone . iiij d.
1 506 {St. Laurence, Reading). Payed for bred and ale to the

ryngers in the rogacion weke . . . . ij d.

1508. For ij galons of ale for the Ryngers on Dedycacion . . iij d.

To the ryngers on Holy Thursday of coustom to ryng at
p'cession . . . . . . . iij d.

For ryngyng on Corp* Xtiday at p'cession . . .iij d.

1523-4(5/. Mary-at Hill, City). To the Ryngers on our lady day

for Ryngyng . . . . . . . viij d.

1525-6. For Ryngyng of None Curfew and day pele, and Courfew

and other pelis on our lady day the Assumpcion . . xij d.

A dish of calves' head is mentioned in several accounts as a
customary reward to ringers and others on Corpus Christi day.

1524 {St. Dunstan^s, Canterbury). For calves heddes for the

ryngers for ij yeres ...... xiiij d.

1525. For a calves hede flagges and thredde at Corpus Christi

day for ryngaris . . . . . . . vij d.

A shortened form of mattins at five or six o'clock was custom-
ary in various town churches in the days of Edward vi and through-
out Elizabethan times. This was the case at St. Edmund, Sarum.

2 14 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

I553"4- Ringinge to mornynge prayer . . . vj s. viij d.

Rynginge of none for sayntes yeves and Saturdays for one

whole yere xviij d. a quarter . . . . vj s.

1 560-1. Ryngyng to the mornyng prayer . . . vj s. viij d.

Ringing for none or nones, ue. 3 p.m. evensong on saints' eves
and on Saturdays, continued at the same church throughout
Elizabeth's reign.

1568-9. Ryngynge none on Satterdays and sayntes yeves . . vs.

1592-3. Ringing at noon (sic) on Satterdays for ye whole year . 6s.

The ringings on special festivals are often entered separately.

1 58 1-2. For whitsonday, against cristmas, on Candlemas day, at

ester day . . . . . . .21s.

1587-8. Ascension day 4d., Christmas day 6d., Ester day 6d. . is. 4d.

1591-2. Ascension daye, Witsondaye, Christmas day, and Easter

daye ........ 2s.

1603-4. Quarter Ringinge ...... 6s.

For the Ringers at iiij severall feasts of the yeare that is to
saye the feaste of the Ascension, of pentecoste, of our Lord
God (Christmas), and Easter . . . . 2s.

1625-6. Ringing on Feastifull dayes in the morning ... 8s.

1622-3 {St Martin, Leicester). For ringeinge to praiers every

Sabboth and Holie daie . . . . . iij s.

Six honest able men were appointed ringers at this latter
church, in 1664, at 4s. each per annum, "for ringing and chiming
on Sundays, holydays, and other days, as the churchwardens shall
appoint, for giving convenient notice to the parishioners for pre-
paration to come to church."

The earliest entry in parish accounts of ringing on the advent
of royalty, of which we have any knowledge, was on the occasion
of Queen Margaret visiting Saffron Walden in 1444.

For ryngyng wanne y® quene was her .... iiij d.

On a second visit in 1455 the entry is in Latin —

Pulsantibus quando dna Regina vent' in istam villam . . iiij d.

Henry VI about this period visited Bristol in two successive
years, as recorded in the accounts of All Saints in that city : —

1448. To ryngnys aganst ye Kynge. .... viij d.

1449, ii March. For ryngyng ageynst ye Kyng . , . iiij d.

BELLS AND RINGING 215

It was customary for the church bells of each parish through
which the king or queen passed to be rung on both entry and
exit. The royal almoner claimed the right to levy a fine on the
neglect of this loyal custom, and he, or others of the king*s servants,
went so far as to seal up the church doors until the fine was paid.
This happened when Henry VI visited the abbey of Saffron
Walden in 1445. The wardens had to pay a fine which is thus
entered : —

Sol' servis dne Regie p defect' p pulsacionis qn' vent' ad
Abbathiam . . . • . . . ij s.

1 5 10 {Wimborne). To the kyng hys servant for defawte of

ryngyng at the Quenes departyng .

Catherine of Aragon's visit to Reading in 1528 caused the
wardens of St. Laurence to be fined,

To the quens servants, for that the bells were not rung at her

comyng in to the towne ...... viij d.

On the visit of Henry VIII to Dover in 1538-9, the bells of
St. Mary's were duly rung; but a fine of Ss. was enforced for
neglect on his departure.

For the ryngyng in of the Kinge to the ryngers . . . viij d.

For the sealyng up of the Church dores at the Kynges departyng
owt of the town . . . . . . .vs.

The accounts of St. Margaret^s, Westminster, for 1548 show
that that parish got off with a lighter fine in the case of the boy-
king Edward VI : —

Paid to the King's amner when he would have sealed up the
church door at the departure of the King majesty the 2^ day
of July because the bells were not rung ... ij s. iiij d.

Queen Elizabeth was characteristically determined to uphold
enforced ringing as the accompaniment of her constant movements.
This became a somewhat serious tax upon Westminster and
London parishes. There are at least four recorded cases of the
sealing of church doors and the exacting of penalties through
neglecting to be prepared for her movements. Were all the
extant Elizabethan ringings in wardens' accounts to be set down
in these pages they would about fill the volume. Of course

2i6 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS /

there were ringings throughout the land on her birthday andl
her day of accession. The wardens* accounts of St. Martin's-in-i
the-Fields fairly bristle with Elizabethan peals. Here are three
entries of the Michaelmas quarter of 1566, which must serve as|
an example : —

For ringinge at the quenes remove from grenewich to St. James

the 29 of June ....... viij d.

For ringinge at y^ quenes remove from St. James to hir progress

theight of Julye ....... viij d.

For ringing the 27 day of September at y^ quenes remove from

Rychmonde to Whithall ...... viij d.

Visits to Salisbury, especially to Wilton, the residence of the
Earls of Pembroke, were frequently undertaken by the Stuart
kings. The wardens of St. Edmund, Sarum, had to be watchful
to escape fines. The following are examples of a large number
of like entries : —

1613-4. Ringers the 3rd of August for the Kenge and Queenes
comminge to Sarum

At the Kengesgoinge awaye (5th August) .

At the Queenes goinge awaie.
1625-6. Ringing for the Kinge Sept 12

Ringing when the Quene rod to Wilton

More when the queene come into the Close

Ringing when the Kinge went away

When the Queene went away

Analogous to the royal compulsion as to the use of church
bells was the action of the Palatine Bishops of Durham in insisting,
subpcena^ on visitation ringing.

1630 {St. Oswald^ Durham). At the Bishopps going in his

visitacion not being formerly fined for not ringing . .29

The Cavalier General Lord Goring insisted on similar belfry
recognition during the Civil War.

1644-5 (•5*^' Edmund., Sarum). The martiall gen'all of the Lord
Gorings Army for not ringing the Bells w^*^ he de-
mannded for his fee . . . . . . 10 o

A very limited selection is now given of the ringings recorded
in parish books to commemorate historical events under different
reigns. The following from St. Mary-at-Hil], City, refers to the

12

3

3

12

4

10

6

5

6

BELLS AND RINGING 217

betrothal at Paul's Cross of Margaret, the eldest daughter of
Henry VII, to James IV of Scotland, "in rejoycement whereof Te
Deum was sung, and other signes of publike joy declared '' : —

1502-3. For ryngyng of our bellys when the kyng came from

Waynardes castell to powelles (St. PauPs) . . iij d.

Henry viii

1508-9 (S^. Mary-at-Hilt). To sevyn men that rang the bellis
when the Kynges grace whent to Westmyster to be
crownnyd . . . . . . . j s. ij d.

1509 {SU Laurence^ Reading). For x Rynggers at the parting

of the Kyng and for drynke and to the sexton . . ij s. ob.

1 513. For a galon of ale for the Ryngers at the getting of

Turwyn . . . . . . . ij d.

For a galbn of ale for the Ryngers at the deth of the

Kyng of Scots [Flodden Field] . . . . ij d.

15 13 {St. Andrew.^ Holborri). Election of Leo X. Bently,
referring to the old accounts, writing in 1586, says :
" The bells were accustomed to be rung always at the
election of the Pope in this parish as in 5 Hen. Vlll is
in all lands over."
1524-5 {St. Mary-at-Hiir). For Ryngyng of the belles at the
Triumphe for the takyng of the French Kyng [Battle
of Pavia] . . . . . . , iij d.

1533 {St. Laurence^ Reading). For ryngyng at the birth of the

princes (Elizabeth) ..... iiij d.

1536 {St. Alphege^ London Walt). To v Ryngars for Deryge

and Masse of queene Jane . . . ij s. viij d.

1 539 {St. Andrew Hubbard). Payd for Rynggen for the

empourers wyfife (Isabella, wife of Charles v) . . vj d.

1 546 {St. Mary Woolnoth). For ryngying at the French kings

funrall . . . . . . . xx d.

1546-7 {Ashburton^ Devon). For ringing after the death of King

Henry viij"^ for whose soul may God be propitiated . xyj d.
For ryngyng the peales at y^ Kynges buryal . • ij s. vj d.

{St. Martin^ s-in~the-Fields). Payed to the Ryngers and
holders of Torches when our late Souveraygne lorde
King Henry theyght went to buriall . . . ij s.

Edward vi

1 547 {St. Michael., Worcester). To iij men for rynginge at the

procession for the victorye in Skotlande [Battle of Pinkie] iij d.

21 8 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

[Christ Churchy Bristol). For rynging of the bellis at the
generall processyon for the Kyng when peace was taken
at Bollen [Boulogne] ..... iiij d.

1552-3 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). Ryngers at y^ cumynge of y^

Kinges grace ...... xiiij d.

Mary

1553 {^i- Margaret^ Westminster), For bread and drink on

Ash Wednesday to the ringers at the victory and over-
throw of Wyat and his adherents .... viij d.

1554 {St. Michael, Cornhill). Paide thevij'^daye of February

when Captayne Wyat (Sir Thomas Wyatt) was taken, for
ringinge the belles and singeinge Tedu (Te Deum), to the
" --^ clerkes and sexton for all beadesmen . . . ij s.

1555. To vj Ringgars when the Kinge and the Quene cam

thorrow the Cittie . . . . . . ij s.

Paide to Ringgers (30 April) when worde was brought that
the Quene was brought to bed . . . . ij s.

1553-4 {St. Laurence., Reading). Pd to Ringers at the Kyng and

Quenys cumyng and goyng . . . . xx d,

1555 {St. John Baptist, Bristol). Paid the sexton to ring for our

holy father the pope . . . . . ij s.

1556. Paid for ringing the bells for the visitation of our holy

father the pope [Cardinal Pole's visitation] . . iiij s.

1556 {Strood, Kent). Paid to y^ Ryngers when my lord Card-

enall came to Rochester in Lente . . • XJ d.

1556-7 {St. Mary-at-Hill). To fyve ryngars that ronge the same
daye that the Kynge and the Quenes hignes came
through London, by commaundement of the bisl:%)p to
rynge . . . . . . .

1558-9 {Ashburton, Devon). For ryngyng of Quenes majestys

knyll . . . . . . . viij d.

{St. Martin^ S'in-the-Fieids). For ryngynge at the buryall of

Queene . . . . . . . vij d.

Elizabeth

1558 {St. Nicholas, Warwick). Item for brede and aylle to the

ryngeris at the generalle prosessyon for quyne elsabethe . viij d.

1568 {St. Laurence, Reading). To the Ryngers at the Queens

comynge in ...... xvj d.

1569 {St. Michael, Worcester). Ryngyng at the daye of the

Quenes entry ...... viij d.

1570 {St. Margaret, Westminster). Forringing when the Queen's

Majesty went to the Burse .... iiij d.

XX d.

BELLS AND RINGING 219

[" Burse " given the name of " Royal Exchange " on
the occasion of Queen's visit 23 Jan. 1570-]
When the Queen went to Sir Thomas Greshame and

came back again . .. • • ■ . viij d.

1 571. For joy of the great victory that the Christians have gotten

of the Turks ij s. vj d.

(St MartifCs4n-the-Fields). Payd for brede and drink for
the Ringinge at the overthroe of y^ turk [Battle of

Lepanto] vij d.

1585-6 {St. Thomas^ Sarum). Geven to the Ringers the Kinge

of Portingalles beinge heare . . . . 6d.

1586-7 Ringinge the Quenesma"''^ escape from the treason con-
spired [The Babington Conspiracy] . . . 6d.
Ringers when newes came of the Queene of scottes

beheddinge ...... 6d.

Lest it should be imagined that the ringing for the Queen of
Scots' beheading was of the nature of a dirge, the following coarse
entry made by the parish clerk of St. Botolph, Aldgate, may be
cited. The execution was on 8th February 1586-7.

Mem'^ that we did ringe at oure parish churche the ix day of Febrarie in
ano 1586 and was for joye that the Queene of Skotts that ennemy to oure most
noble Queens Ma*'^ and ower contrie was beheaded for the wch the Lorde God
be praysed and I wold to God that all her confederates weare knowne and cut
of by the lyke means.

There is something peculiarly repellent in the ringing of joy
peals over an execution, but it was commonly done throughout
England as well as in every belfry of the City of London.

1 586 {Minehead^ Somerset). Ringers for joy when newes

reached us of beheadinge of quene of scottes . . xij d.

1586 {Stanford, Berks). Ringers 10 Februarie for the execucon

of y'= Quene of Scotts on scaffolde . . . j s. iiij d.

1585-6 {St. Christopher- le-Stocks). For ringing when Babington
with the other traytors were ap'hended and were taken
and also when the quene of scotts was p'claimed con-
spirator to y^ quene and our realme . . iij s. iiij d.
For ringing on the daye of execution of ye Skotts queene ij s.

1588 {St. MartitCs-in-the- Fields), V^ for ringinge at her ma*'^^
goinge and comynge to and from y® Campe at Tilbury
in Essex . . . . . . . ij s.

1588-9 {St. Thomas, Sarum). On the twesdie and followinge for
the great Victorie against the spanyardes by the mightie
hand of God . . . . . .80

2 20 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Ringers brbakfast at that tyme . . . , 2 lo

1590 {St. Martinh-in-the- Fields), Paid ye xv*^ day of marche for
ij Dayes ringinge for the victoria the kinge of Navar
then obtyned (Battle of Ivry, 14 March) and for a
prayer Booke ..... iiij s. iiij d.

1 592-3 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). For ringing the Triumphing daye

(Armada) ....... 4s.

1595 {St. Alphege, London Wall). Spent on the Ringers at the

retume of or ships from caUis . . . . ij s. ij d.

1595-6 {St. Martifis-in~ the- Fields). Paid for Ringing the viij^'^of
Auguste being upon Comaundment from the Counsell
for the good success that the Erie of Essex and the
reste of his followers had at Gales voyadge . . iij d.

1601-2 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). Ringers for ringinge for ye

Triumphe in Ireland (defeat of O'Neil at Kinsale) . I2d.

James i

1603-4 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). On the Kinges byrthdaye being

the xxix of June ...... 4s.

On the V of August being the Kinges hoHedaye in the which
it pleased almightie God to deliver him from his enemies
in Scotland [alleged Cowrie Conspiracy] ... 6s.

For his Coronation being St. James his day . . 6s. 8d.

When C Kinges Majestic came in his progresse for iiij
dayes followinge and parte of nightes from ye xxvj of
August unto the xxx ..... 34s.

On the xx**' of October when the Queens majestie came to
the Close of Sarum and the xxj of the same moneth
when the Kings ma^**" and the younge Prince roade through
Sarum to Wilton ...... 14s.

When the Kinge and Queene came to o"" Ladie church to
the sermon upon all saintes Daye, and at other times
when his ma*'*^ Roade through the Gittie towardes the
Parke to hunt ...... ys;

When the Kinge removed from Wilton . . . 5 s,

Beinge the xxiv of march in which day he was proclaimed

Kinge of this Lande . . . . .6s. 8d.

When the Lord of Pembrooke passed through ye Cittie . I2d.
1605 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). When the parliament house
should have been blown up [chosen out of a number of
like entries for its quaint language] . . . xxx s.

1606. Augt. 4*^ When the King of Denmark came to the Abbey ij s. vj d.
1610. When the citizens met the Prince, when he was created

Prince of Wales, and when the fireworks were made . vij s. ij d.

BELLS AND RINGING 221

1614. When the King of Denmark came to Londen . . ij s.

1623. When the Kings Majesty feasted the Spanish ambassydor

in July . . . . . . . ij s. vj d.

1617-8 (5/. Edmund^ Sarum). For the birthe of the Prince

Palgraves child . . . . . . 3s. 4d.

1623-4. Ringeing when newes came of the princes safFe returne

from Spain ....... 2s.

Ringing when newes came that the matche was broken ofif
between the Prince and the Infanta of Spain . . 2s.

[Many like entries up and down the country.]
1623-4 {St. Mary, Cambridge). Payed to John Hall money that he
sayethe he spent uppon the ringers the vj**", vij'^ and viij'^
dayes of October when the prince returned from Spayne iij s.

Charles i

1625-6. For Boniferes and Ringers at the Queues Coming . vj s. yj d.

1628. For a Bonfyre and ringinge, by M'^ Vice Chancellor and

M"^ ma'iors appoyntment for joy of the'Queens conceiption iijs. iiij d.
1633-4. For the Ringers whenn the duke of York was borne by

Command of the vicechanclor and bonfiars . . 5s.

1624-5 {St. Edmund, Sarum). Ringinge when Kinge Charles was

proclaymed Kinge of England, Scotland, France, and

Ireland ....... 8s.

1624-5 (^^- Martin, Leicester). Pd to 5 Ringers for Ringinge at

the first and second time proclaiminge the Kinge . v s.

1630-1. For Ringing of the Bells when newse was brought the

Queene was brought to bed . . . . ij s. vj d.

1633-4. Given the Ringers for ringing at the birth of the young

Duke ....... xviij d.

1628 {St. Margaret, Westminster). When his Majesty granted

the petition of right • .... 5s.

1630. On the conclusion of the peace with the King of Spain ; . 2s. 6d.

1640. On that day which the Triennial Parliament was agreed

upon in the House of Parliament .... 5s.

1 64 1. When there was a Thanksgiving for our unity with the

Scots

5s.

Parliament Struggle

1 64 1 {St. Mary, Reading). Ringing the Kings returne from

Scotland (25 Nov.) ......

1642 {St. Benedict, Gracechurch). To ringers when the bishops

were voted downe by parliament ....

1642-3 {St, Mary, Reading). For ringing for the King at his

reterne from Branford (Brentford, after battle of Edgehill)

222 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1644-5. For ringing when the King came to Coley (Royalist army
came from Newbury to Reading on 16 May 1644 ; king's
headquarters at Coley House) ... 5 ^

The town of Leicester was in the thick of the conflict.

1646 (6*/. Martin^ Leicester). Paid the 7th of May to the ringers

when New-worke was surrendered up unto Parliament . 2 6

Paid to the ringers when the Lords and Commons, and
Judges were at Leicester . . . . .40

Paid to the ringers Jan. 22, 1646, when the Lords and
Commons came to Leicester, by appointment of the
Committee . . . . . . .60

Paid to the ringers when his Excellency came to

Leicester . . . , . . .26

Paid to the ringers when the King came to Leicester . 3 o

The Leicester ringings during the fateful year 1648 included
peals for a victory over the Scots, for good tidings from Wales, on
the day of thanksgiving for regaining of Leicester, and for a
victory over the enemy at Willoughby. The bells continued to
celebrate the i8th of June, the day of regaining the town, until
the close of the Commonwealth.

In 1652 the ringers were paid 2s. 6d. on 25th August in
honour of General Cromwell's passing by, and 3s. 4d. on the news
of beating the Scots.

Salisbury was another town well in the line of conflict.

1646-7. {St. Edmund^ Saruin), Ringing when Sir Thomas Fare-
fax came through the towne with his great gunnes . 5 6
Ringers upon the Publeque day of thankesgiving (Nov.
22) for the delivering the Castles and Fortes into the
handes of the Parliament . . . .80

1648 {St, Thomas^ Sarum). 7*^ day of Sept. for a great victory

over the Scotts , . . . . .80

1650-1. Ringing for the Scots overthrow per order M"" Maior . 5 6

165 1-2. Ringing for the Victory at Worcester against the Scottes

by M' Mayors orders ..... 12s.

1653-4. Ringers April 3** for victory over the Hollanders . . los.

165S-6. Ringing thanksgiving day the 26 of June . . . 12s.

The title of Lord Protector was conferred on Cromwell, i6th
December 1653.

1653-4 {St, Ma7y, Reading). For ringing for the Lord Protector . 6s.

BELLS AND RINGING 223

It is not a little remarkable that some degree of respect was
paid to the King by way of ringing the bells on his birthday in
most of the towns of the kingdom throughout the strife, and even
on his last birthday, 19th November 1648.

1645 (St Margaret^ Westminster). On 5*** February being a
day of publick thanksgiving for Dartmouth, Hereford,
and the West . . . . . .50

1648. Paid to the ringers for ringing on the King's Majestys

birthday (19 Nov.) . . . . .50

1651. On 4*^ September upon intelligence of the overthrow of

the Scottish armey at Worcester . . .60

On 24"^ October, being a day of thanksgiving for the

victorie over the Scots at Worcester . . .70

1653. On that day when the Lord Protector was installed . 3 o

1653 {St. Christopher-U-Stocks). For ringing ye Bells when ye

Lord Protector dyn at Egromes Hall . . .26

1657-8 {St. Mary^ Reading). For ringing the day the Lord Pro-
tector proclaimed , . , . . .50

[On refusing kingship, Cromwell was formally installed
Lord Protector with much pomp on 26 June 1657.]
1658-9. For ringing att y^ proclaiming the Lord Protector . 5 o

[Richard Cromwell accepted as Protector 27 January
1659.]

Charles ii

1660 {St, Michael^ Worcester). On the day that the King landed

and on the day that his Majesty came to Whitehall . no
1660 {St. Mary, Reading). For ringing proclaiming day and

for 5*^ of November . . . . . 14 o

1660-2. For ringing on Coronation Day . . . . 15 o

1680 {St. Alphege^ London Walt). Ringing the Bells when his

Ma*'^ was at Supper at Fishmongers Hall . .51

1660-1 (5/. Thomas, Sarum). Ringing on the day the Kinge was

proclaimed . . . . , . 1 8s.

Ringinge of Bells of M^ T. Cutlers desire at the Kings

Landinge ...... cs.

1669. Ringing for the Tuskie Prince by order of the Vestery . 2s. 6d.

[Cosmo, Grand Duke of Tuscany.]

1673-4. Ringing when Peace was proclaimed . . .100

1677-8. Ringing for the Prince of Orange . . .180

1682-3. Ringing at the Duke of Yorkes deliverance . . 15 o

Ringing June i for the restauracon of the King to his

health . . . . . . . 18 o

1683-4. June 28 for the recovery of the King . , . 18 o

2 24 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

James ii and William hi

1685-6 {St. Thomas, Sarum). Ringing for his Majesties most

gracious speech to the Pari* . . . . 12 o

May 25'*^ . . . . . . .120

For joy of Arguiles (Duke of Argyle) being taken . .106

For Monmouth and Grayes being taken . . . 10 o

When Monmouth was taken . . . .120

For the deUverance of his Majestie from his enemies, on

a Thanksgiving day . . . . .120

1688-9. Riri&ing for ye Prince of Wales ye i of July . .120

„ for ye Bishops . . . . .100

„ when the King came to town . . . 10 o

„ when the Prince of Orange came to town . 10 o

„ when the King was proclaimed . . . 10 o

„ to King William and Queen Maries Coronation ,120

1685 (St. Peter, Bristol). To the ringers when Sir John

Churchill (Duke of Marlborough) was made Master of

the Rowles, order of M*^ Mayor . . .60

1688. To the ringers on the Bishops being admitted to Bale . 5s.
To the Ringers when the Bishops was discharged out of

ye Tower . . . . . . .5 s.

1689. Augt. 5'^ (St. Giles, Northampton). To the ringers at the

joyfull news of the death of Dundee (Killiecrankie) . 3s.

1688 (Edenbridge). For ye Dyatt given to ye Ringers when ye

Bishopps were Acquitted ..... 4s.

To ye Ringers when ye Prince of Orange came to

London ....... 4s.

1694. P*^ John Eeles for Ringing ye Bells when Queen Mary

dyed ........ 3s.

1 69 1 (Kensington). Paid the ringers when the news came of

Limerick's being taken, and 'twas false . . .16

Paid that night when the true news came for faggots for

a bonfire at Little Chelsea and for drink . .150

1689 (St. Martin, Leicester). Paid November the last for

ringing for the Princess Ann . . . .56

1695. Paid for tolling at the Queen's interment . . .20

1696. Paid for ringing on the King's birthday, and the King

coming through Leicester the same day . . .50

Historical Ringing of Eighteenth and Nineteenth

Centuries
Two or three paragraphs must suffice to make a brief record,
after a superficial fashion, as to the parish-book entries of bell-ring-

BELLS AND RINGING 225

ing of the eighteenth century and of the early part of the nineteenth
century. The capture of the fleet at Vigo in 1702 was observed in
all town and in many country belfries. The Duke of Marlborough's
vigorous campaigns must have been specially gratifying to the
general body of ringers for several years.

The ringers of the parish church of Kensington had a busy
and profitable time of it during those wars, for on each of these
patriotic occasions they received a mark, i.e. 13s. 4d., from the
parish. In 1709 they were paid for the taking of Tournay, for
the taking of the citadel of Tournay, for the taking of Mons, for the
Thanksgiving day of 22nd November, and for " forcing the French
lines." In the following year they received a mark on the occasions
of the taking of Douay, Bethune, and Aire, and also for the two
Spanish victories of Almanara and Saragossa. They also had a good
time through the frequent passage of royalty to and from Hampton
Court, and on the various royal birthdays. On 2nd November 17 14
a mark was given by the parish to the ringers " on the King's
coronation," and another mark " for the pious memory of Queen
Anne." The accession of the Hanoverians proved a godsend to the
ringers of the east coast, for the Georges were constantly crossing
and recrossing to Hanover by way of Harwich.

The ringers of Holy Cross, Canterbury, obtained four 5s. pay-
ments in 1728 for royal peals; namely, for ringing on George ii's
accession and coronation, for the Queen's birthday, and for "ye
prince of whale Birthday."

In the second half of the century came stirring events, such as
the capture of Quebec, the taking of Pondicherry and the Havanah,
and the victories of Admiral Rodney and Lord Duncan. A good
list of the chief bell-ringings of this century will be found in the
Chronicles of All Saints^ Derby (1881).

Nelson's and Wellington's achievements are chronicled in several
hundreds of extant wardens' accounts ; here are two or three brief
notes from those of St, Mary, Warwick : —

1802-3. "Sept. 3"^ gave the ringers for ringing for Lord Nelson,

at Warwick, by order of the Mayor" . . . /i i o

1805-6. "Nov. f^ gave the ringers for Nelson's victory £1 is. ;
Nov. 23^ gave the ringers for tolling and buffing the
bells one hour for Lord Nelson's burial, los.''
15

226 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1815-16. "Paid to the ringers for news of the battle of Waterloo,
£;i 2s. ; ditto for taking of Bonaparte, £\ iis. 6d."

Episcopal Ringing.

It was a mediaeval custom for the church bells to be rung when
the bishop passed through the parish when on visitation or other-
wise. A single extract must suffice.

1509-10 {Bassingboiirn, Cambs). In expenses on Ryngers at the

coming by of the bisshope of Ely . . . . j d.

The following are a i^ssf of the sixteenth-century ringings for
bishops among the parish records of St. Edmund, Sarum : —

1501-2. Diversis personis pro laboribus suis inpulsand' campan'
ibm erga invencionem Episcopi Sarum ad Civitatem pre-
dictam in visitatione . . . . . vj d.

[Primary Visitation of Bishop Audley.]
1557-8. Ryngers that Range my lord bysshoppes beyll . . xvj d.

[John Salcot, ob. 6 Oct.]
1 560-1. Ryngers when my lorde byshop cam in . . . xiv d.

[John Jewel consecrated 22 Jan. 1560.]
1571-2. Allowed to the ryngers at the buryal of Bisshop Juel . iiij d.

[Ob. 23 Sept. 1571.]
1592-3. Ringers for Ringing in of the Bushope . . . 2s.

[Bishop Coldwell, consecrated 26 Dec. 1591.]
1641-2. Ringers when y^ Bishop was installed ... 8s.

[Bishop Brian Duppay translated to Sarum 1641.]

The accounts of All Saints, Derby, bear witness to the loyalty
of the bells to the episcopate when visiting the county town.
Some of these seventeenth-century extracts must serve as examples
of many others.

1620. Paid to the ringers for ringing at my L** Bushops coming to

visit . . . . . . . .58

1630. For ringing twise for the Bishop . . . .44

1663. To the ringers when Bishop was in towne . . . 13 4

To ringers when Bishop came from Chesterfield . .50

1666. P^ for ringing for ye Bishopp . . . . . 12 6

1669. Ringing at the Bishopp's Visitation . . . . 10 o

Episcopal visits in 1673, 1679, and 1685 brought equally liberal
payment to the ringers. The exact orthography of the last of
such entries for this century is worth preserving.

1693-4. For wringing at y^ bishops coming . . . .50

BELLS AND RINGING 227

Curious Ringings

1733 (All Saints^ Derby). April 19. The dealers in tobacco
caused all the bells, in each of the churches at Derby, to
be rung on the arrival of the news of the duty on that
article being taken of.
1736. March 18. Upon receiving the news, on Monday last, that
the dissenters had miscarried in their endeavours to get
the Corporation and Test Acts repealed, orders were given
for ringing all the bells in each of the parish churches,
which was continued most of the afternoon.
1626 {St. Martin^ Leicester). P** to the Ringers for Ringinge
3 dayes when the Earls came to the Chusinge of the
knights for the shire . . . . . ij s. vj d.

1639-40 {St. Thomas^ Sarum). Ringinge two dayes at the chusinge

the Knightes of the shire . . . . . los.

1646-7 {St, Edinund^ Sarum). Ringing the Race day that ye Erll

of Pembrook his horse woon the cuppe . . -So

1687 {St. Peter, Bristol). To the Ringers a duck hunting day . 3s. 6d.
1689. June 2i£l. To ye Ringers for duck hunting ... 3s.

CHAPTER XVII

CLOCKS— HOUR-GLASS— ROYAL ARMS— TEN
COMMANDMENTS

Clocks in England in seventeenth century — Dials not till fourteenth century
— Tower clocks without dials — Clock usually inside churches — St. Laurence,
Reading — Short extracts — ■Chimes — Sundials — Hour-glasses — Short extracts
— Royal arms in churches — Henry Vlll — Elizabeth — The StuartS' — Common-
wealth — Charles ii — Lymington — Ten Commandments

Clocks

MECHANICAL clocks were known in England in the
twelfth century, or perhaps a little earlier, but dials
were not introduced till the fourteenth century. In
1344, the dean and chapter of St. Paul's entered into a contract
with Walter the Orgoner of Southwark to supply and fix a dial,
from which it has been inferred that the previous clock had no
dial The earlier clocks simply struck the hours and usually the
quarters. Well on into the seventeenth century village church
clocks had often no dials. The clock in the church tower of
Luccombe, Somerset, dated 1672, struck the hours on one bell and
the half-hours on another bell. As a youth the writer often
examined it. It had no face or dial. The majority of the clocks,
even in large town churches, such as St. Edmund, Sarum, in the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, had no outside faces, and were in
clock-houses within the church. This can often be proved from a
careful examination of wardens* accounts. The clock bell or bells
were frequently struck by figures called jacks. There are striking
jacks still at work at Rye, Sussex, St. Mary Steps, Exeter, and at
several cathedral churches. In a few cases old jacks have been
recently restored. There are interesting old disused jacks at

Southwold and Blythborough, Suffolk, and at Minehead, Somerset,

928

CLOCKS— HOUR-GLASS— ROYAL ARMS, ETC. 229

It is a common but bad mistake to imagine that church clocks
were a great rarity. Even a scholar like Dean Burgon, when
writing of the church of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, in early days,
stated that it had a clock, " that rare luxury." The fact is there
was hardly a clockless church to be found in either town or
country in the fifteenth century. The present writer has not as
yet examined the extant records of
fifteenth or early sixteenth centuries
date, of any single parish, without
finding evidence of clock repairs
among the older entries. The follow-
ing is a very small selection of such
entries. In the first case a number
of entries are cited, but in the other
instances we have to be content
with briefer extracts. The clock is
mentioned at St. Petrock, Exeter, in

The story of the successive clocks
of St. Laurence, Reading, is revealed
in the accounts. In common with
the majority of mediaeval church
clocks, it was inside the fabric in
sight of the congregation without
any external dial, struck by a jack,
and lighted for late services.

1433. In resol' John' Tylere p' custodia orologii et illuminacioe'

lumen' ••.....

In stipendis factoris orologii .....

1495. Payed for the settyng of jak, with the hanging of his bell

and mendyng his hond .....
Payed for makyng part of the cloke howse with ij pec' of

tymber set into the walls with a mason . . . viij d.

For wyer to the same cloke . . . . . xj d. ob.

For settyng of a pece of tymber at the clok ham' with

^ayles iij d. ob.

For led to make the payee (weight) of the clok . .vs. vj d.

For cartyng the payee . . . . . . iiij d.

JACK O' THE CLOCK, SOUTHWOLD

VIJ S.

ijs.

iiij d.

1510. Rec<^ of Willm Velde for a seate for hymself under the clock
hows .....

iiij d.

2 30 THE CHUKCH WARDENS* ACCOUNTS

The successor of the old clock obviously stood in the tower and
had an outer dial.

1520. To the clockmaker for a new clok in pte of payment of v" xl s.

1521. To the clockemaker in pte payment of vj li. x s. for the new

cloke and the dyall . . . . . . iij li.

1522. For giayssyng the stepell wyndow over the dyal with pt of

the old glass and pt newe . . . , vij s. vj d.

1586. Paid to H. Osmund for mending y*^ clocke broken with the

fall of y^ gret bell clapp . . . . . ij s. vj d.

In the following year the dial was repaired and gilt, etc., at a
cost of ;^3 13s. 8d. Timber and boards for a new clock-house
cost los. id. in 1596.

William Young, locksmith, of Oxford, covenanted in 1673 with
the churchwardens for the sum of 20s. in hand, and for a further
sum of ;£^29, to supply and set up ** a firme, good, substantiall, and
tuneable sett of Chymes to two Tunes " — the tunes of the cxlviii.
and cxiii. Psalms, or any other two tunes best approved by the
wardens — " to strike upon all the eight bells in the tower of equall
and good notes." He further covenanted to make " a good and
substantial Quarterne clock to strike on the aforesaid eight bells
in an orderly manner," and also to put the clock then standing
in the tower in thorough repair. All this work was satisfactorily
accomplished in 1680.

1436 {Tintinhull^ Somerset). Pro oleo pro clocke . . . j d.

1439. In emendatione oriscopii ville . . . . . v d.

1448. Pro j corda empta ad le payse oriscopii . . . xxj d.

1449. Cuidam fabro de Kyngsbury locato ad emendandum unum

karrillum oriscopii ferreum portantem le sayllor^ . iiij d.

1443 {Thame). For kepyng of ye kloke to harry sexton for iij

yer . . . . . . . . x s.

1473 (5/. John, Peterborough). Payd to Syr Wyllm Wellys for

keping of the chyrch clocke chyme at Morrowmesse for

half a yere . . . . . . iij s. iv d.

1537 {Yatton, Somerset). To William Sensam in ernes for mak-

yng a clock and chyme . . . . . j d.

1539. To William Sensam for ye clocke

To y^ clocke howse makyng in ye church

1540. For takyng down of ye (old) clocke howse
In part for ye clocke .

XX s.

iij li. xiij s. iiij d,

xij d.

xxxiij s. iiij d.

^ Perhaps a jack in the form of a sailor.

CLOCKS— HOUR-GLASS— ROYAL ARMS, ETC. 231

And to ye seid clockemaker . . . • . xx s.

For bryngyng home ye clocke . . ■ ij s. vij d.

For bryngyng home ye frame of ye clocke . . . vj d.

1544-5 {St. Martin^ Leicester). Paid to Rodis for a rope for the clock iiij d.
Paid to Syr William borough for mending the Cloke and

chyme . . . • ■ ■ • y d-

1546-7. For a gret rope for the plome of the Cloke . . . xiiij d.

For mendynge of the barrells that the chyme goyth with to

the smyth at the west bridge .... xij d.

1597-8. For 3 yardes great Wyer to make a Soon Dyall with which

Master Belgrave made to set the Clock by at the end of

the New Ospitall . . . . • . xij d.

1664. Agreed that Francis Molloy for making a tuneable pair of

chimes shall have £ 1 2, 4s. od. ; and for keeping them yearly

20s. with the materials of the old chimes now in the vestry.

1687. Agreed that a new clock shall be made at the charge of the

parish. Received for the old clock 20s. of Mr., Wilkin.
1563 {Ludlow), For mendyng the chymes and the barrelle and

jake of the clocke house . . . viij d.

The 161 1-2 accounts of St. Mary, Reading, show that there
were special collections for a new clock. The subscriptions of
104 parishioners amounted to £2J 4s. lod. A further subscription
raised the amount to £y^ los. 2d. The total outlay on the clock
and dial was £dp os. pd. The clockmaker was Robert Duglas ; he
was paid Ss. a year for keeping it in order.

1633 {St. Giles, Northampton). Paid Sheffield for the clock .500

For mending the clock ..... 6

1642 {Yarnton, Oxon). Paid for the Clock besides the old Clock . 5 18 o
To Francis Mull for seven daies work about the clock and

clockhouse . . . . . . .60

1651. A pond of wire for the clock . . . . .14

The smith and his boy for coming over to mend it . . 38

For mending him again when the Rogue pulled him in pieces i o
For carrying the wheels on my back to Oxford three times to

mend . . . . . . .10

1670 {Wirksworth, Derbyshire). Payed to Francis Mattison for

makinge of a New Clocke . . . . .700

References to Sundials are but rarely found in the earlier
wardens' accounts. The following may be cited in addition to
the one already named at St. Martin, Leicester : —

161 5 {St. Mary, Reading). For a Brasse for the Sunn Dyall . xij d.

For Payntinge the Dyall and gravinge over the Porche . ij s. vj d.

232

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1663-4 ('S'/. Thomas^ Sarum). A new Sundial to be made in the
place where the old one was or else in some more
convenient place according to the discression of the
Churchwardens.

1672-3. Two Sundialls on the south and west side of the Tower . 3 10 o

The religious controversies of the sixteenth century brought

longer sermons into use, and hour-glasses became the pulpit

accompaniment of theologians of different

schools. The preacher in Holbein's " Dance

of Death" has an hour-glass beside him in

his pulpit The frontispiece of the "Bishops*

Bible/' of 1569, represents Archbishop Parker

with an hour-glass on his right hand. Their

use by clergy of the unreformed faith is

illustrated in a tract called " Fatal Vespers,"

relative to an incident that occurred at a

meeting of Papists in Blackfriars in 1623: —

" About three o'clock the expected preacher

came in . . . attended by a man that brought

after him his book and hour glass." See

English Church Fm^nitu7'e, 2nd ed., pp. 15^-9)

where nearly 100 instances of hour-glass

stands (and occasionally the actual glasses)

are given as still remaining in parish churches.

There must have been vehement preachers

at St. Peter Cheap. A shilling was paid for

an hour-glass, a stiff price, in 1563, and in

the following year another was purchased for

a like sum. In 1584 are the entries : —

Payde for the hower glasse the xxij^ of October . . xij d.

Payde the same dale to the Turner for the foote for hower

glasse to stand uppon . . . . . xij d.

1572 {Barnstaple). Paid to John Blackman for an hour glass for

the Preacher ...... 4d.

1577-8 (St. Martin^ Leicester). Payd for an houre glase . . iiij d.

1598 {Ludlow). For makinge of the frame for the hower glasse . xxd.

For oyling and coloringe yt . . . . . ij d.

1612 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). Makeinge the foote to holde the
hower glasse standing on the Pulpitt

HOUR-GLASS AND STAND
BLOXWORTH, DORSET

An Hower glasse and the Cadge to sett him on

1 2d.
I4d.

CLOCKS— HOUR-GLASS— ROYAL ARMS, ETC. 233

1622-3. Frame for the Cure glasse standinge uppon the Byble

deske . . . . . . . 3s. 2d.

1648-9. An Houre glasse ...... 8d.

i6u {Berkhampstead). Payed for an hour glasse . . . x d.

Payed for the Irone that the houre glasse standeth in . xviij d.

1629 {St. Mary, Devizes). Pd to John Bennett, Cutler, for a

branch to carry the hour glass in the church . . ij s. vj d.

1673-4 {St. Edmund^ Sarum). Frame for the Ower glasse stand-
inge upon the Byble deske . . . . 3S- 2d.

1672 {Prestdury, Cheshire). Pd. for the Houre Glasse, Houre
Glasse Case, and the guildinge and the setting upp the
same . . . . • . . .170

From the frequency of hour-glass entries in parish accounts
during the seventeenth century it may fairly be assumed that they
were owned by at least the majority of churches. An hour-glass
at Seal cost 8d. in 1639; one at Bletchingley (where the stand is
preserved) yd. in 1643 ; one at Chippenham yd. in 1657 ; whilst at
Church Pulverbatch the hour-glass of 1653 cost I2d., and another
in 1683, gd.

Royal Arms

As to the occurrence of Royal Arms in churches, much has
been said in English Church Furniture (pp. 351-6), but we were
not able then to adduce, as is now done, a definite instance of
Henry viii's arms. The following extracts from wardens' accounts
do not infringe on what is set forth in that volume.

1541-2 ( Yatton, Somerset). To a gylter of Brystow for gyltyng y^

kyngs armys ..... xiii s. vii d.

1565 {Strood^ Kent). For payntyng and wrytynge y'^ Armes

and Rood lofte ..... xiiij s. iiij d.
For makyng y® table for ye quenes ma*^" armes and

nayles to it . . . . . . . xiiij d.

1572-3 {St. Thomas, Sarum). Makingof the waullhyer w'cheisin
the uper end of ye quire for makinge of the quenes
armes and y^ Comaundementes . . . .50

1573-4. Adam Marbell peynting and gilting of ye queenes armes
and making y^ x Comaundementes and other skripture
at the uper ende of ye quire . . . .2134

1593-4 {St. Martin, Leicester). Payd to george Longlaye the
paynter in payment for washing and payntynge and
gyldinge the queenes armes in our church bye sevrall
portyons ..... iiiij li. xj s. viij d.

234 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1599 (5/. Mary Woodchurch) Unto Benge the Smith for 6

irons for the Quenes Arms . . - .40

Unto Daniel the painter for painting Jehovah over the

Quenes Arms . . . . . .26

1605-6 {St. Edmund^ Sarwii). Payed for the Kinges Armes . ^7

1613-4 (5/. Thomas^ Sarum). For the Kinges Armes frame .190
i6i2 {Hartshorne^ Derby). Itm. march 23 p'* ffor inlarging y®
Kings Armes w*^ Helmett Crest & mantell & paintinge
lords praier and y^ beleivfe . . . .54

1623. Ite. p*^ goodman Johnson for makinge a frame for the
paintinge of the kinges armes for wood, workmanshippe,
and nailes . . . . . . vij s vj d.

Most churches during the Commonwealth seem to have been
content with destroying or defacing the King's Arms ; but in a few
cases the States Arms (a plain cross) were put up. The wardens
of St. Thomas, Sarum, spent 4s. 6d., in 1650, in '' washing out " the
Royal Arms. At Hartshorne, Derbyshire, the "washing out" only
cost 5d. ; whilst at St. Martin's, Leicester, the "washing down" of
the King's Arms cost 6s.

165 1 {St. Mary Woodchurch). Paid niy Lord Maiors officer and
dark for a warrant he brought for the putting out of the
church the late Kings Armes . . . .20

165 1 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). To John Gomersall for paintinge

and guilding of the States armes in several places of the

church and vestry . . . . . 50 o o

1652 {Vffington^ Salop). To John Dickens for drawing of y®

Armes of y^ Comonwealth ..... los.

At the Restoration the process was reversed. In country
churches they were sometimes content at the outset to clear off
the States Arms from the surface of the old Royal Arms, and to
spend a small sum on restoring the latter. Thus at Uffington,
Salop, 1 2d. was spent in "blotting out y^ states armes," and
2 IS. 2d. in restoring those of royalty; and at Wootton Courtney,
Somerset, 2s. 6d. was laid out in " cleaninge off the States arms," and
4s. in " paintinge againe the Kings arms." Even in a town church
like St. Thomas, Sarum, the wardens in 1660-1 only spent 3s. 4d. in
" washinge y^ Kinges Armes and makinge them cleane " ; whilst at
Strood, Kent, 12s. was laid out for "the new beutiffieing of the
King's Armes.''

Many parishes, however, showed their loyalty by a large

CLOCKS— HOUR-GLASS— ROYAL ARMS, ETC. 235

expenditure on the new arms of Charles ll. St. Columb Major,
Cornwall, paid the highest of any accounts I have seen, namely,
£iS; St. Mary, Reading, spent ten guineas; the City church of
St. Mary Woodchurch paid ten pounds, and St. Mary, Warwick,
paid the like with the addition of 1 2d. for a pint of sack for the
limner. The exact entries from four parishes are given out of
over fifty that have been copied.

1660 (A/l Saints^ Derby), Gave Ralph Richardson and other
workmen at severall tymes to drinke at setting up y^
Kings armes . . . . . .21

To Ralph Richardson for drawing y^ Kings armes 10 o i

To William Carew for 2 frames for ye Kings armes . 14 4

More for 3 ell of Canvis to draw ye armes in . 140

1660-1 {Beccies^ Suffolk). Paid to M"" Parrish of Yarmouth in part

of the Kinges Armes the sume of . . . . .4 10 o

Item more for the Cherubim over the Kings Armes
1662 {Redenhall^ Norfolk). V^ for the King's Arms at London,
for a box and bringing downe
For the frame for the Kings Armes .
1676 {Lymin^ton, Hants). Gave the men to drink to help to set
up the Kings Armes ....

1716 {Lyminglon, Hants). To workmen in beere about helping
downe the King's Armes ....

To John Cleves for painting the King's Armes

These last-named Arms, well painted on panel, still hang in
Lymington church. They are those of 1676; in 17 16 the date
was altered, the churchwardens' names at the bottom of the frame
changed, and the white horse of Hanover introduced on an
escutcheon of pretence.

The Ten Commandments

On the general subject of affixing the Ten Commandments to
the church or chancel walls see English Church Furniture, pp.3 56-7.
The following is a much abbreviated collection of references from
wardens' accounts arranged in chronological order : —

1547 {St. Michael^ Worcester). For the pane of the Pater Noster
the Articles of our Faith with the Ten Commandments
of God . , . . , . . ij d.

100

470
9 o

I o
10 o

2 36 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1548 (5/. Mary, Dover). Payed to John Pullyn for payntynge of

the X Comaundementes in the Rode lofte . . . iij s.

1558 {Stanford^ Berks). For a paperof thetenne Commandements

and a calender boke to say servis by in ye churche . xyj d.

1559 {St. Martifi s-in-the-Fields). For the payntenge of the ten

Comaundementes . . . . . .vs.

Queen Elizabeth's letter to the Commissioners for causes
ecclesiastical, of 22nd January 1560-1, orders that "the tables of
the commandments be comlye set or hung up in the east end
of the chauncell, to be read not only for edification, but also to give
some comlye ornament and demonstration that the same is a
place of religion and prayer."

1560 {St. Mary WoolnotK). To the Bysshoppe of London

somner for a table of commandements and a booke with
calendar howe the chapters shal be read m the Church
1560-1. For moyses tables to set at the high altar . . . i8d.

1 561 {Ludlow). 26 Marche paid for the table of commaunde-

mentes and the new kalender . . . . xviij d.

3 April for settinge of the commaundementes in a

forme, etc. . . . . . . iij s.

1 561-2 {St. Martin^ Leicester). P'^ for a tabyell of y^ Commande-

mentes and a Kallynder ..... xvj s.

For y^ paint to y^ ten commandementes . . xiij d. ob.

To Wyllam Bargard for wrytyng y ^ten commandementes ij s.

1563-4 {St. Petrock^ Exeter). For a hundred of nails for the
painter to nail up the cloth for the Ten Commande-
mentes . . . . . . . ij d.

1565 {Wimborne). For the x Commandments in Collers

(colours) . . . . . . . XX d.

1576 {St. Mary, Devizes). To the painters for writing the

X commandments on the church wall . . . xv s.

1597 {Exning, Suffolk). Paid to Thomas Orders for making of
a table of bord for the tenn Commaundementes, and
one other table for the degres prohibited in marryadge ij s. iij d.
Paid to Owldfyld the Smithe for makinge of certain Irone
worke to hang the sayde table of the tenn commaunde-
mentes in the church . . . . . vj d.

1606 {Minchinhampton^ Gloucester). For a ringe to hange the

table of the commandements .... iiij d.

1607 {Pittington, Durharn). Payed in the court when William

Hall was cyted about Christmas and enjoyned to provide

a table of the x commandmentes . . . i j s

CLOCKS— HOUR-GLASS— ROYAL ARMS, ETC. 237

1634 (5A Mary^ Cambridge). For James Priest for paynting

y^ C Oman dements the Creed and Lords prayer. .100

To him more for wryting 2 tables upon ye wall paynting

the woodwork . . . . . . 17 6

1657 (All SazntSj Derby). Pd old Hawley for setting upp 10
Comandments, Beliefs, Lords Prayers, and Death and
Tyme . . , . . . . i 15 10

CHAPTER XVIII

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES— CHURCH'S
CALENDAR

Flowers in processions — Birch, Box, Willow — Garlands of roses worn by-
clergy— St. Mary-at- Hill; St. Andrew Hubbard; St. Peter Cheap ; St. Martin's-
in-the-Fields ; Morebath — Short extracts — Under Queen Mary — Post-
Reformation garnishing — Rushes — Christmas decorations — Prohibited by
Commonwealth — Star at Epiphany — Plough Monday — Lent, white the
liturgical colour — The Lent veil — Rood veil — Image veils — Lent crosses and
banners — Licences for flesh — Penance in white sheet — Palm Sunday — St.
Peter Cheap; St. Mary-at- Hill— Short extracts — The Palms— Tenebrae—
Washing the altars — Discipline with the rod — Creeping to the Cross — Easter
Sepulchre — Holy Fire — Hocktide — Rogation days ^ Whitsuntide — Corpus
Christi

THE decking of churches with flowers and greenery^
usually termed "garnishing," at the chief festivals was
a usual custom throughout mediaeval England. The
wardens' accounts or parish books of cities and towns bear
abundant testimony to the prevalence of these customs ; contrariwise,
such entries are very rarely found in country accounts, and that
for the very natural reason that flowers and garniture were readily
and most gladly offered without any charge, as is the case at the
present day. The special uses at Christmastide and on Palm
Sunday are discussed separately ; but the various entries
immediately cited bear testimony to decorations at Easter,
Ascensiontide, Whitsuntide, and the vigil of St. John Baptist,
or Midsummer Day, and also on the patronal festivals of the
respective churches. Birch was the customary garnishment of
Midsummer Day, as it still is in many parts of the Continent
The decking of the churches with yew at Eastertide, as the special

emblem of immortality, was widely prevalent particularly in country

338

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 239

districts ; indeed, this significant custom prevailed vpry widely up
to the midst of the nineteenth century throughout Herefordshire
and in parts of Worcestershire and West Somerset. Box and
willow (the English " palm ") were widely used on Palm Sunday, as
will be presently noted. The flowers often distinctively named
are red roses, usually woven into garlands for use on Corpus Christi
Day and other great festivals. By way of contrast, there were
other garlands of white sweet-woodruff, and sometimes the two were
mingled. Garlands were hung on the processional crosses, and
flowers bedecked the great processional tapers. On the return of the
processions it was customary to hang the garlands in suitable
places within the quire or on the screen. Other flowers that are
specifically named in wardens' accounts are lilies, St. John's wort,
and gillyflowers. The nature of the herbs that were strewn is
very seldom mentioned, save rosemary and fennel.

It has more than once been stated, with some show of authority,
that rose garlands borne in procession by clergy or clerks were
carried in the hands. But this is a blunder. For instance, old
Stow (1598) in his Survey tells us that at the procession at St.
Paul's, on the feast of the Apostle, the dean and chapter, " apparelled
in coats and vestments, with garlands of roses on their heads,
issued out at the west door." It is the same chronicler who states
that " on the vigil of St. John Baptist and on SS. Peter and Paul the
Apostles, every man's door in London was shadowed with green
birch, long fennel, St. John's wort, orpin, white lilies, and such
like, garnished upon with beautiful flowers,"

The entries in the accounts of St. Mary-at-Hill as to decking
the church with flowers and greenery are full of interest.

I477-9* Payd for birche at Midsomer .... viij d.

For Garlondis one Corpus Christi day . . , x d.

For Rose garlondis and wodrofe garlondis on Saynt
Barnebes day (11 June) . . . . . xj d.

1487-8. For ij dossen and a halffe Roose garlondes on seynte

Barnabas daye ..... viij d. ob.

1490-1. For Birch at Midsomer ..... iiij d.
For Roose garlandes and off Wodroffe for Corpus Christi
day and Seynte barnabe daye , . . . ix d. ob.

1519-20. For iij dossen Garlondis on Corpus Christi day for the

procession . . . . . , . xv d

240 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

For ij dossen of Grene Garlondis for that procession
For ij Garlondis for M"^ Doctor and the parish prest
For iij Garlondis for the iij Crossis ....

1522-3. On Seint Barnabis day for v dossen of Roose garlondis

for the crosses and for the queer . . . ij s.

1539-40, For garllandes on the Ascencion daye
For garlondes on corpus crysti daye
For byrche at Mydsomer
1485-6 {St Andrew Hubbard), For bircche and lylies at
mydsomer .....

1487-8. For fenell and erbis ....

1488-9. For bircche and fenell at mydsomer

1491. Paid at Corpus Cristi tyde for garnysshyng of xij torches
at iij d. the pece ....

Pd for Rose garlandes

Paid at mydsomer for byrche and flowers for the chyrche
and the dore ......

1492-3. Paid on corpus Cristi day for garlandys of Rossys and

woodroffe for the quyre ...
1495-6. For Bows (boughs) and flowrys at witsontyde
1498-9. Paid at mydsomer for fynell for the chirche dore .
1 499-1 502. For byrcche and flowers at mydsomer

1505. Mydsomer. For birche and flowres for Dressing the

Church door ...... viij d.

1 501-3. Apone the Assencione day for Swytt Erbes and for

garlandes . . . . . . . x d.

1524 {St. Margaret Pattens). For birch for the chirch agenst

midsom . . . . . . . ij d.

For garlondis on Corps Xti day for the quere . . yj d.

For ij doss garlondes on seint Mgretts day . . xiij d.

[Gillyflowers were named for St. Margaret's Day
in an earlier account.]

Here are a few of the decorative entries from St Peter
Cheap : —

1534. For garlands on White Sonday, corp' Xti Daye, Holy

Thursday, and Saynt Peters Day . . . . ij s. vj d.

1555. For garlandes and strawing herbes for assension daye . vj d.

1598. For yerbes on Easter daye . . . . .16

On Corpus Christi Day, at St. Martin's-in-the- Fields, garlands
of red roses were carried in procession. For these garlands 8d. was
paid in 1543, and 7d. and 6d. in other years, when doubtless the
roses were blooming niore freely. The processional torches were

ijd.

iij d.

viij d.

s. iiij d.

xj d.

ijs.

vj d.

ijd.

j d. ob.

iiij d.

iijs.

xiij d.

vj d.

xiij d.

V d. ob.

vd.

vj d.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 241

also garnished with flowers. In ISSS, lod. was paid upon Corpus
Christi Day "For Flowers and herbs/' Garlands were also
provided for Holy Thursday ; in 1546 and 1547 they cost 6d., and
in 1555 lod. Birch was used at Midsummer.

1525. Payd for byrche at Midsom' . . . . . ij d.

[Like entries occur until the accession of Elizabeth.]
1528 {Morebaih, Devon). Johan Hyllyer gave a canstycke of

lattyn to stonde afore Sent Sydwell, prisse . . . vj d.

Upon the wyche canstycke sche doth mayntayn a taper
before Sent Sydwell trymmyd with flowrs to borne there
every hye and prinscypall fests : this she doth entende to
mayntayne whyll sche lyvyth, gracia divina.

Garlands were used in processions at St. Botolph, Aldersgate, on
St. Botolph^s Day (17th June), as well as on Corpus Christi Day.

1474-6 {St. Margaret, Westminster). On Corpus Cristy day for

garlands for iiij torches . . . . . j d.

1484-6. For garlonds of Reed Rosis on Corpus Xti day . . v d.

1489. To moder Kateryn for Rosis for garlands on Saynt

Margarets day . . . . . . ij d.

1490. For bo wis (boughs) on Seynt Margarets day . . j d.

The floral decorations in the sixteenth century of St. Matthew,
Friday Street, corresponded closely with those of St. Peter Cheap
on the opposite side of Cheapside. Palms (willow blooms) were
obtained for Palm Sunday ; holly, ivy, and rosemary for Christmas ;
birch for Midsummer ; and garlands of roses for Ascension Day and
Corpus Christi.

1528 (St, Alphege^ London Wall). For Garlons on holy thursday x d.

[Several like entries.]

There was considerable revival of garnishing during the short
reign of Queen Mary.

1555 {^i- Benedict GracechurcK). 12 garlands on St. Benedicts

day IS. and strewing herbs 4d.

1556 {St. Michael, Cornhill). For Garlandes on Corpes Cristye

dale for them that caried the canapye and otheres . xvj d.

1557. For Garlandes on Ascencyone daie . . . . vij d.

1557-8 {St. Edmund, Sarum). Makyng of xxx garlons at Whyte-

sontyde for the prestes . . . . .xvj d.

16

242 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Here follow a few seventeenth-century extracts from parish
books as to the garnishing of churches. It is not a little interest-
ing to note that the Puritans of the Commonwealth, though
endeavouring, with but small success, to suppress Christmastide
garnishing, were ready enough to strew herbs on their own days
of either victory or humiliation.

1615 {St. Petrock^ Exeter). For bays and flowers in the church . 2 o
1634. For flowers and herbs for the church . . . .10

1645. For roasmay and bay to put about the church at Christide

and Easter . . . . . . .20

[Of frequent subsequent occurrence.]
1624 {St. Mary, Reading). For Decking of the Church with Rose-

nniarie and bayes, holly and ivey at Christmas, Easter, and

Witsontide . . . - . . .60

[A like entry the next year with the addition " and

greene bowes."]
1644 {St. Laurence, Reading). P^ for Ewe for the church against

Easter, and for sticking itt upp . . . .18

1647. Strewing aubes (herbs) and flowers to strowe the sitis in

the Church win the Ginerall was in the towne . . lod.

1650 {St, Margaret, Westminster). For herbs that were strewed

in the windows of the church and about the same att two

severall dales of humihation . . . . 3 10

For herbs that were strewed in the church upon a day of

thanksgiving . . . . . . .26

1651. For hearbs strewed in the church on the 24'^ day of May

being a day of humiliation . . . . ■ 3 o

For hearbes and lawrell strewed in the church on October

24"=^ [Thanksgiving for victory at Worcester] . .80

As to post-Restoration garnishing, two or three excerpts from
a single parish book may suffice as an example : —

1662 {St, Peter, Bristol). Given to y^ Saxton for herbes to dress

.ye church against Eastir . . . . .10

1663. Gave the Saxton for Holly and bay against All Saints day. 6

1664. To Goodope dark to buy Earbs and flowers to dress the

church against whitson tide .... 6

1678. Rosemary and bayes for the Church, All saints day . .10

"Birkes/* or branches of birch, cost is, 8d. for setting up in the
church of St. Nicholas, Durham, in 1670, at Whitsuntide. There
is a like entry in 1672.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 243

1673. Forseting the birches and strowing the reshes and dresing

the church . . . . . . .26

1674. For 12 burthen of rushes . . . . .40
For 1 1 burthen of birkes . . . . • 3 ^

1676. For birkes and rushes, being 4 of birch and 6 of rushes . 4 6
For the church and pewes clensing and the birkes putting
up and the rushes stroweing therein . . .26

Rushes

At a time when our churches were for the most part unpaved,
the habit of strewing Rushes on the floor at certain seasons must
have been welcome both for cleanliness and warmth. In town and
country it became a general use to spread rushes at particular
festivals or in honour of distinguished visitors, and in the seven-
teenth century on " Sacrament Sundays " in the chancel.

Throughout the first quarter of last century the custom was
general in the north of Derbyshire and Cheshire of having the floor
litter of rushes renewed every summer. The rushes were carted
to the church, bedecked with garlands and flowers, and spread
throughout the church and pews on some Sunday in July and
August.

1732 {Prestbury^ Cheshire). Spent on nine several Townships at

the Rushbearings, when they brought rushes and flowers .178

1766 {Hay fields Derbyshire). Upon the account of the Rush Cart. 5 o
[Like entries as to rush cart nearly every year down to
1794, when the accounts end.]

This custom of rush-bearing tarried, to the writer's knowledge,
in several village churches of Westmoreland and Cumberland,
in the "fifties" and early "sixties" of last century. It is still
maintained at Grasmere, but merely as a show for the visitors
and for no purpose of utility or honour. See full account. Churches '
of Derbyshire, ii, 202-4; Dyer's Churchlore Gleanings, 328-32;
and Vaux's Church Folklore^ 264-5.

The following are some of the earlier rush entries : —

1385-6 {Tavistock). To rushes gathered against the feast of St.

John Baptist . , . . . . iiij d,

[An annual entry.]
1392-3. Rushes bought for strewing the rood loft . . , j d.

1493-4 {St. Mary-at-Hill^ London). For ij burdens of Russhys

for the newe pewys . . , , . iij d.

244

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Rushes were in constant use at St. Margaret, Westminster, on
their chief festivals.

1501. Paid to John Wrigar for ij dos' burden of Russhes agenst
Whytsonday iijs. Itm paide to hym for ij dos' burden
of Russhes agenst the feste of All Halowen iij s. Item
paide to hym for ij dos' burden of Russhes agenst St.
Margeretes Day iij s. Item paide to hym for ij dos'
burden of Russhes ageynst Cristmasse iij s. Item paide
to hym for ij dos' and di burden of Russhes ageynst
Ester day iij s. ix d. Sum totales xv s. ix d.

Rushes were freely used in the City church of St. Andrew
Hubbard ; the following entries occur for the year 1522-3 : —

For Rushes .......

The ix day of May for rushes, garlondes, etc. . . vj

For a borden of russhes on whitson evyn .

For garlondes and russhes on corpus christi day .

For iiij burdens of Russhes agenst the dedycacon day kept

the iij*^ day of October .....

For Russhes agenst alhalow day .... iiij

For Russhes on Saint Andrews evyn

For Russhes .......

1535-6 (5/. Mary-on-the-Hzil, Chester). Russhis Agaynst Est'

Russhis Agaynst Penticost ....

1559-60 {St. Botolph^ Aldersgate), For carriage of Russhes at

Christemas . . . . . . iiij d.

1571 {St. MartirCs~in-the- Fields). For Rishes and strawing

herbes when the bishoppe came in visitacion to ye
churche . . . . . , , xij d,

1572 {Ludlow). For two burden of roshes to straw master

baylyes seate ...... viij d.

1580 {St. Ives^ Cornwalt). Payde for x horses to carye
morash Russches frome connerton gevyn unto the
paryshe churche of seynt yves yerlye by S"^ John Arundell
of lanhorne knyght and hys awncetors tyme out of mynde
and ther labours that gatheryde the same Russches v s. viij d.

1602 {St. Laurence, Reading). For flowers and Rushes for the

Churche when the Queene was in towne . . . xx d.

1620 {All Saints, Derby). For rushes for my Lord Bishops seate 4d.

1626. For two burthens of Rushes .... 4d.

1627. For Rushes for two Communions . . . . 8d.
For Rushes at other Communions . . . . is. 2d.

1631. For 3 burthen of Rushes at Easter . . . . 6d.

1636. A burne of rushes ...... 4d.

iiij d

d.ob

ijd

vj d

vd

d.ob

iij d

ijd

ixd

iij d

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 245

For rushes for the chancell .... 3d.

For 2 burn of rushes ..... 6d.

1663 {Kendat). Payd for Bent (long coarse grass) to strawe in

the High quire against Sir Joseph Cradock (Archdeacon

of Richmond) come ..... 2d.

1665. Payd for 8 burden of Rushes to straw in the High quire . i o

Straw occasionally took the place of rushes in the winter, as at
Mailsham, Sussex. At Scarcliffe, Derbyshire, the abbey of Darley
provided I2d. a y^^x pro stramento ecclie Skarcli in hyeme.

1605 {Pittington^ Durham). For two thrave of strawe for the stalls

(seats) in the church . . . . . . vj d.

Christmastide

The earliest wardens' accounts testify to the decking of English
churches with holly and ivy at Christmastide, and occasionally,
at a later date, with rosemary and bayes. By bayes or bays,
laurel or bay-laurel would be implied. It was one of the few old
English customs which received no check at the time of the
Reformation. The Puritan Parliament attempted to suppress
Christmas, and hence the adorning of churches at that season.
But, as will be seen, they were disobeyed in the very church at
their gates, St. Margaret's, Westminster. A few scattered refer-
ences as to this custom are cited ; they are chiefly gleaned from
town accounts; doubtless the custom was just as closely followed
in the country, but in the villages there would be no necessity
to purchase evergreens, and hence they do not appear in the
wardens' books.

1465 {Thame). We gave to Chyldryn to gadr yvy oh. (a halfpenny)

1457-8 {St. Ewen, Bristol). For condels and bowes ageyne

Cristesmas ....... iiij d.

1468-9. For talowe candels and holmyn bowes agaynes Cristmas . v d. ob.
1474-5. For tallow candell holme and Ivye agens Cristmesse . iiij d.

The wardens of St. Martin, Leicester, paid a halfpenny for
holly and ivy at Christmas in 1493; a penny in 1494; twopence
in 1495 ; and so on for many years.

At Christmas the church of St. Mary-at-Hill was always
decked with holly and ivy; up to 1539 holly is entered under its
older name of " holm '' or " holme."

246 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1427-8. For holme and yve anenst Cristmas . . . j d.

1556-7. For holy and Ivye agaynst Cristmas to garnishe the

Churche ij s. viij d.

1422-4 (5/. Margaret^ Westminster). For holme (holly) and yve iij d.

1503. For holy and Ive agenst the fest of Crystenmas . . iiij d.

For candyll for the holy Busche . . . ....

1524 {St. Margaret Pattens). For holly and Ivy agenyst

cresmas . . . . . • . ij d. ob.

The wardens of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields spent 2d. on holly
and ivy for Christmas in 1525; ere long the annual expense
under this head rose to 4d., in 1564 to I2d., in 1565 to i6d.; at
which last figure it remained right through Elizabeth's reign ; in
the later years " rosemary and bayes" are usually included.

xij d.

3 4
vd.
vd.

1529 (St. Helen, Worcester). Holly and eyvy agenst Crestomas ij d.

1534 {St. Peter Cheap). For holly and Ivey at Xmas . . iiij d.

1572. For hollye Rosemarye and bayes on Christemas daye
1599. Rosemary and bayes at Christide
1535-6 {St. Mary- on-ihe- Hill ^ Chester). For the Holyn .
1536-7. For holyns to make the holyn of .

1 539 {St. Mary Woolnoth). For Holy and Ive against

Chrystmas . . ... . , iiij d.

1566-7. To Goodman Plommerthe xxiiij*^day of December for to
buy holly for the churche and for packthryd to tuy up
the same . . . . . . , ix d.

1 547 {St. Michael, Worcester). For flowers (Christmas) for the
Tapers of the Roode lyght ....

1540 {Ludlow). For yve and holye at Chrystemas
1543. For candles, evy, andholle at Christmas .
1555. Forcordesto hange evy andcandelles upon at Christmas
1564. For cordes to hange up evy at Christmas about the

churche .......

1557-8 {St. Edmund, Sarum). Holly at crystmas
1579-80. For holle .......

1580 {St. Mary-le-Port, Bristol). Payed for^hollye bayes and

rosemary at Christmas . . . . . vj d.

1668. Payd for rosemary and bay and an almanack for the

church . . . . . . .22

1693, To money gave Gammer Morgan, Crism, for bay and

lorrell to dress y^ churche . . . ,20

1619. {St. Mary, Cambridge). For flowers and herbes in the

Church on Christmas and Easter dales . . iij s. vj d.

J624-5. For Triming the Church against Christmas . , ij s. vj d,

ijd.

ijd.

iij d.

vj d.

viij d.

jd.

jd.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 247

1637 (5/. Mary Woolchurch). For Rosemary and bayes at

Christmas . . • . ■ • 5 o

1644 (5/. Laurence^ Reading), P^ for Holly and Ivy, Rose-
mary and Bayes at Christmass . . . . i 10

1644 (5^. Michael, Bristol). Paid for holly ivy and other

herbage to White . . . . . ij s. vj d.

1647 {St. Margaret, Westminster). For rosemarie and baies

that was stuck about the Church at Christmas - .16

Paid in fees unto M"" Freind and M' Denham, twoe of
the messengers unto the Serjeant att armes, attending
the Common House of ParHamant, when their ac-
comptants were committed for permitting ministers
to preach upon Christmas day and for adorning the
church . . . . . . .300

1660-1 (5/. Thomas, Sarutn). Rosemary and Bayes . .10

1661-2. Holly and bayes at Christmas . . . .10

1676-7. Boughs and Rosemary to deck the church - .26

1670. Dec. 17 {St, James, Bristol). Rosemary and bay to

dress the church . . . . . .is. 6d.

Epiphany

In certain churches the feast of the Epiphany was observed by
the display of the Star which drew the wise men to Bethlehem.

In the wardens' accounts of Yarmouth, between 1462 and
1 5 12, there are several entries as to making a new Star, leading
the Star, and ** a new balk line to the star and ryving the same star,"
etc. With regard to these Mr. Bolingbroke writes {Norfolk
ArchcEology, vol. xii): —

" These items relate to the mechanical contrivances employed in
the production of the ceremony known as the ' Feast of the Star,'
as performed upon the festival of Epiphany. The magi entered
the church by the west door, and proceeded up the nave, until,
on approaching the chancel, they perceived a star hanging before
the great crucifix on the rood-loft, whereupon they exclaimed,
' Behold the star of the east.' The star, moving back by means
of lines and pulleys, led them to the high altar, where, drawing a
curtain aside, a living child would be discovered, representing the
infant Saviour. At the same time the magi dressed as three Kings
made their offerings . . . and a boy, representing an angel, said,
' All things which the prophets said are fulfilled/ and then the
festival concluded with chanting."

248

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

The following entries from the accounts of St Mary, Cam-
bridge, refer to annual Epiphany pageants of a like kind : —

1540-1. For the holyn . . . . . . v d.

For naylis and tymber to make the mone under the holyn iiij d.

For ConduUis under the holyn . . . .vs.

For makyng a skaffolde to take downe the mone . , ij d.

1541-2. Candles to the holyn . . . . iij s. iiij d.

1545-6. For candels to ye sterr and to y*= hollyn . . . iij s. v d.
1555-6. For iiij li. candles for the holyn .... xviij d.

For holend to the stare and mone . . . . vj d.

1557-8. For makyng of a stare . . . . - . xx d.

For the pentyng and gyldyng of the same stere . . xx d.

For wyer to the stere . . . . • ij d. ob.

For a rope to the stere . , . . . ix d.

For the holyn . . . . . . vj d.

For a man to get the rope into the policy . . ■ ij d.

For candylls for the stare and the holyn . . .iij s.

Plough Monday

An occasional form of church receipts is met with in early
accounts as accruing from gatherings made on Plough Monday,
of which one example may be quoted : —

1529 {B oxford J Cambs). Resceyved off the gaderyng on Plow

mundy clerely . . . . . . iij s. viij d.

Such receipts are notable in the village accounts of Cratfield,
Suffolk, beginning in 149 1. The collections are entered annually
up to 1499 ; they varied in amount from 9s. lod. to 4s. Plough
Monday, the Monday after the Epiphany, was the season when
the labour of the plough and other rustic toil began. The young
men were in the habit of dressing up fantastically and yoking
themselves to a plough. They went about from house to house
soliciting money, or gifts in kind, and if it was refused the ground
before the door was ploughed up. In the old days the Church
made this an occasion of blessing the tilling of the ground. The
plough used for this purpose was kept in the church, and it was
solemnly censed before the procession started. In many churches
there was a Plough Light kept burning by the husbandmen, and
chiefly from the Plough Monday collections. In 1547 the wardens
of Cratfield bought a plough for this purpose for 8d.; but in 1548

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 249

all Plough Mondays, Wakes, etc., were abolished. It was found
impossible, however, to stamp out this well-rooted custom, and
here and there church gatherings continued in connection with it
in post-Reformation days. Thus at Wigtoft, Lincolnshire, the
churchwardens in 1575 received 20s. "of y^ plougadrin." As a
rule the later collections were solely used for feasting the plough-
boys and their friends. The custom survived in certain districts
within memory, and possibly still lingers in remote parts.^

Lent

Mr, St. John Hope has abundantly established the fact, in his
valuable paper on "The English Liturgical Colours" (St. Paul's
Eccl. Soc. Trans, ii.), that the usual old English colour for Lent was
white; there is no necessity to cite from the various inventories
among parish accounts to confirm this fact. It is, however, of some
interest to note that returned chrisom cloths were sometimes
used in the fashionings of Lent hangings.

1448 {Thame). Aparell made of crysomes for lent,
ij aut' clothes of crysomes for Lent time.

The Lent veil hung in parish churches a little distance in
front of the high altar, and not, as is so often asserted, at the
chancel arch ; it has been discussed in English Chui'ch Furniture
of this series, p. 83. On Wednesday in Holy Week, in the reading
of the Passion, at the words " And the Veil of the Temple was
rent in twain," it was dropped and not put up again until the next
year.

The great Cross of the rood-loft had its own special Lent cloth
suspended in front of it; it was dramatically withdrawn, by an
arrangement of pulleys, rings, and cords, on Palm Sunday.

White cloths or veils were also used throughout Lent for
covering up the various images and pictures of the church ; they
remained thus covered until mattins on Easter morning.

The following are a few selections from wardens' accounts ;
others have been printed by Mr. Feasey.

^ I am old enough to remember the custom, at Parwich, Derbyshire, in the ''forties "
of last century, when, as a small boy, I saw a surly farmer's strip of front garden roughly
ploughed over.

250 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

The Lenten Veil

1 43 1 (St Peter Cheap), j veil steyned w* j crosse of red for lent in

the quer.
1436 (Tintinhull^ Somerset), Pro una lente clothe . . xiiij s. ij d.

1447. Pro una corde empta pro le lente clothe suspendendo . j d.

1448. {Thame). A white veyle for the Church in lent tyme and

another whyte veyle to be hangyng in the chancell before

the hy auf in lenten tyme.

1454 ( Yatton^ Somerset). For a lyne to the leynte clothe . . ij d.

1 501. To John Haryce for mendyng of y^ Lent clothe . . iiij d.

1 509. For xiiij yerds of lynyn to make y^ Lent clothe . iiij s. viiij d.

For steynyng- of y^ seyd Lent clothe . . . vj s. viij d.

1507 {Pilton, Somerset). For lynes for lent clothe . . . vj d.
1521. For hangyn uppe of ye Lent clothe .... iiij d.

1510-1 {Ashburton, Devon). For xx yards of straunge (cord) for

hanging the Lent cloth ..... iiij d.
For xxxiij rings for the said Lent cloth . . • nj d.

1526 {Morebath, Sojnerset). John Holann gave to this churche a
Lent clothe ypaynted, a red clothe ypaynted, and a
sepulture clothe ypaynted, price of all . . . x s.

1527-8 {St. Mary -at- Hill). For a grett iron to hang the veill of

the chauncell against lent . . . . . xij d.

For mending of the same veill and for curten ringes , xij d.

1537 {Si- Mary^ Cajnbridge). Paied for a lyne for the veile atte

heigh aulter ....... iiij d.

1 504. A vayle for Lenton of white clothe.

1556. A vale for lent with a Rope and ij stapelles.

1568. Rec. for the vaile used in lent of linnen clothe . . vj s.

1540 {Ludlow). For rynges and crule and the sowynge on of

them on the clothe on the mydys of the heygh chancelle iij d.

1557 {St. Martin^ Leicester). For steynnyng the veyle . . vij s.

1558. For soying of the veale . . . , . vj d.

For a Cord for the veale . . . . . v d.

For ij yrdes about the same veale .... iij d.

The Rood Veil

1508 {Yatton). Payd for ix yardes ofbukeram for y^ Rood clothe iij s.
1555. For iij yards of Green cloth for ye Rode . . . ij s.
1524 {St. Laurence^ Reading). For a lyne to pull upp the clothe

before the rode . . . . . . vj d.

1538 {St. Mary^ Cambridge). For making a poly to draw up the

vale before the rode . . . . . vj d.

1548-9 {Holy Trinity^ Cambridge). A clothe to hange before the
Roode in Lent,

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 251

1549 (St. Dunstan-in-the-East). A greate cloth that dyd hange
before the Roode in the Lenta.

Image Veils
1495-6 (St. Edmund^ Sarum). Pro anulis pro lente clothe Coram

See Niche Epi iiij d., et pro factura eiusdem iiij d.
1507-8 (Bassingbourne, Cambs). Paid for a barr of yron or rodde
with ij stapilles and x Ryngges to hangg uppon a Clothe
bifor the ymages of Seynt Mary and seynt Kateryn . iiij d.

For mending of Clothes to Kever the sayntes in Lenton . ij d.

1 52 1 (St. Laurence, Reading). Paid for canvas for coveringe of

Saynt Michell . . . . • . iij d.

1527 (Wimbome), Paid to the ij Clerks for hanging up of the

Lent Cloths upon Ashe Wednesday . . • ij ^'

1529-30 {Stoke Courcy, Somerset). To the two clerks for coveringe

the images in Lent . . . . • . ij d.

A special plain cross, without the crucifix, was reserved for
processional use in Lent. The Sarum use directed it to be
painted red, but the London use was to paint it green.

i486 (St. Margaret Pattens). A crosse and a crosse staffe to serve

for lentten, paynted green withoute ymages wt iij white

silver nailes
1 531 (St. Peter Cheap). Paid for paytynge the greene cross for

lent . . . . . . . . ij d.

1555 {^^' Michael, Cornhilt). Paide for a Crosse and a staffe for

Lente of wood . . . . . . xij d.

Special banners were also used during Lent

1 541 (St. Margaret Pattens). Two Banar Clothes of the paschion

steyned for lent.
1554 (St. Ewen, Bristol). Two banars of the Passion for lent.

The money paid for licences to eat flesh in Lent and from
butchers for licences to kill, in accordance with the statutory pro-
clamations of Edward VI and Elizabeth, went to the poor. Hence
examples are usually found under overseers' accounts when they
were kept separate from those of the wardens'. The following are
examples culled from the poor accounts of St. Margaret,
Westminster.

1571. Of John Dod for his lisensefor kylling of flesh in lent vj s.viij d.

Of Mr, Harye dudle for his lisense for etynge of flesh vj s. viij d.

252 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1618. Of the right worll Mr. Doctor Townson, Deane, hcense by
him made to eat fleshe in the Lent season videHcet.
Of the Right honourable Lord Pagett for a Ucense xxvj s. viij d.

Twenty-six like receipts are entered for this year as granted by
the Dean, including the Bishop of Lichfield, Sir Christopher
Perkins, Sir Randolph Crewe, Lord Knevitt, and Lady Fortescue,
all residents in the parish. The fees were £2 6s. 8d. for the
nobility, 13s. 4d. for knights and ladies, and 6s. 8d. for commoners.
Applications for these dispensations had to be accompanied by
certificates from physicians.

The following are four other sample references to Lenten
abstinence from city wardens' accounts : —

1596 {St. Alphege^ London Wall). June 23d. Mr. French and Mr.
Dager for March foUowinge for to look for meat in Cookes
shopes and taverns . . . . . ....

1605 {St. Benet^ Pauls Wharf). Received of Mr. Frankwoode for

a license to eate fleshe in Lent . . . .6s. 8d.

1621-2 {St. Anthonie). Receyved of Mr. Bridges for his flesh Hcense 6s. 8d.
[Two similar licences that year.]
1609-10 {St. Mary Woolnoth). Licence to eat flesh . , .6s. 8d.

Licences of this description are also frequently entered in
parish registers. See Cox's Parish Registers of England, 222-5.

At Henley-on-Thames, in 1596, the wardens presented Robert
Chamberlain " for roasting a pigg in his house on 24 March
(Lent)," Henry Wauker " for seethinge ij pec of bacon," and
Thomas Widmore for " rosting a shoulder of veal."

Penance

Penance is so closely associated with Lent, that it may be well
in this place to cite a few examples of its public performance in
post-Reformation days, as mentioned in wardens' accounts ; much
under this head, as recorded in registers, is set forth in Parish
Registers of England, 217-20. The churchwardens of the
Peculiars of Canterbury were ordered early in the seventeenth
century

to provide a convenient large sheet and a white wand, to be had and kept
within your church and vestry, to be used at such time as offenders are censured
for their grievous and notorious crimes.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 253

The offences for which public penance was enjoined were for
the most part incontinence and slander.

The Ecclesiologist (vol. xxiii. 199) cites the following from
the parish books of All Saints, Huntingdon : —

1 62 1. Johannes Tomlinson, Rector. Oliverus Cromwell, fiiius Roberti,
reprehensus coram totam ecclesiam pro factis.

1626. Hoc anno Oliverus Cromwell fecit penitentiam coram totam ecclesiam.

A few eighteenth-century entries are cited as examples.

1 701-2 ( Woodbury^ Devon). Pd. for the charges of a woman doeing

penance ....... 9^-

1702-3. Pd. the charge for a woman doing penance . . . 7^.

At Wakefield, in this century, it was customary to hire sheets
for penance, of which the entries are frequent.

1732. Oct. 8. Pd. for the loan of 7 sheetes for penances . .is. gd.

1714 {ptterton^ Devon). Paid to procure sheet and wand for Peter

Longworth standing penance . . . . is.

1735. Paid for washing the Parish sheet for Club's wife to stand

penance in . . . . . . . 2d.

1764. 20 June. It is agreed at a parish meeting by us the parish-
ioners who were then present, that the Churchwardens
shall takeout an Order of Penance against Pascho Potter
who was presented at the last visitation of a Bad child,
and that the expenses of it be allowed and reinfurced
then either out of the poor or Church Rate.

1764 {Little Glenhajn, Suffolk). Pd. the Parish when the Widow

Chrisp did penance ...... 5s.

For ye use of a sheet and washing it . . . . 6d.

As to nineteenth-century public penance records, the latest
in 1882, see Vaux's Chmxh Folklore (1899), 173-8, and Dyer's
Churchlore Gleanings (1891), 53-60.

Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, the usual procession before Mass went
outside the church and round the churchyard bearing palms
which had been previously blessed. The Holy Sacrament was
carried beneath a canopy. On returning to the church by the
south entrance, a station was made at the porch, where a
scaffold was usually erected, when the boys sang the Gloria

254 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Laus. From the porch roof or from the tower, it was customary
to throw down flowers and cakes among the people.

A chief feature of the P^lm Sunday Mass was the chanting of
the long Gospel of the day, usually termed the " Singing of the
Passion," during which the Lenten veil before the rood was
drawn aside. It was sung from the rood-loft. A tenor voice
(vox media) rendered the evangelistic narrative in recitative ; but
a treble or trebles {vox alto) sang any sayings of the Jews or the
disciples, whilst a bass {vox basso) sang the words uttered by the
Saviour. After the Gospel, a prophetic lesson was sung by one
or more Prophets, who were usually quire boys, garbed and
bearded to look the parts — "an acolyte in the guise of a
prophet," as the Sarunt Processionale has it.

The various points are all illustrated in the following extracts
from churchwardens' accounts. By far the best and fullest descrip-
tion of the Old Palm Sunday rites will be found in Feasey's
Ancient English Holy Week Ceremonial {i^gy), pp. 53-83.

1447 {St. Peter Cheap). Payd on Palme Sunday for brede and

wyne to the Reders of ye passion . . . . iij d.

1 5 19. For hyering of the heres (wigs) for the p'fetys uppon Palme

sondeye . . . . . . . xij d.

1521. Spent uppon palme sonday for cut flowers box and palme . vij d.
For nayls for ye frame over ye churche dore . . . j d.
For lathe and nayls for the skafolde . . . . ij d.
For the hyer of ye heyr for the profytts . . .xij d.

1522. For hyre of heyrs for ye profytts upon palme sundy . . xij d.

1523. For brede wyn and alle for them that rede the passyon . vj d.
1525. Palme sondaye. For lathes naeylles and hooks for the

pageante and for settyng up the same . . . x d.
1529. For bowes flowrys caakes and for pynnys for lathys and for

makyng of the Framys on palme sondeye . . . ij s.
1534. For the settyng up of the stages for the prophetts on Palme

Sonday . . . . . . . iiij d.

1556. For palme flowers and cakes for palme Sondaye . . xij d.

1557. For palme and Ewe on palme Sondaye . . . xij d. ob.
1565. To the sexton on palme sonday for hearbes . . . ij d.
1451 {St. Mary-at'Hilt), Pd to Loreman for playing the p'het on

Palme Sonday ...... iiij d.

1493. For setting up the frame over the porch on Palm Sonday Eve vj d.
1 5 18-9. Paid a pece for the frame that standeth on the lede for

palme sonday ...... viij d.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 255

1519-20. For the skaffold over the porche agenst palme sonday and

for a carpenters labour to mend the same . . . vij d.

1534-5- ^^^ the frame over the north dore of the chirche that is for

the profettes on palme sonday, for workmanship . . iij d.

1530-1. For papur for the profettes on palme sonday in ther hondes j d.

For clothes for one Towre on palme sonday . . . xij d.

For heres (wigs) Berdis and garmenttes on palme sonday . xij d.
[There are several other entries for hire of raiment for
the prophets in subsequent years.]
1480-2 {St Andrew Hubbard). For a frame and workmanshippe

over the chirch dore for palme sundaye . . .vij d.

1492-3. For a laddyr for the chirche porche on palme sonday . x d.

1520. For the hire of an angell ..... viij d.

1535' Foi^ a- Preest and a chylde that playd a messenger . . viij d.

1509-10. For palme flours and kakes . . . . . vij d.

1 49 1 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). For brede and wyne for them

that Redd the passyon on palme sonday . . viij d. ob.

1505 {St. Laurence^ Reading). To the clerk for syngyng of the

passion on Palme Sonday in ale . . . . j d.

1 509. For a quart of bastard for y^ syngers of the Passhyon on

Palm Sonday . . . . . . liij d.

1524. For drynk in the roode loft uppon Palme Sonday . . j d.
1 541. For a quarte of Malmesey for the clerks upon Palme

Sonday ....... iiij d.

1549. For a quarte of wyne on Palme Sonday at Redyng the

Passion . . . . . , . iiij d.

15 18 {St. Stephen^ Walbrook). Paid on Palm sonday for brede

and ale and for wyne . . . . . xv d. ob.

1 5 19. For hyere of a berde for a proffyt on Palme Sondaye . ij d.

For bred ale and wyne and dressyng of the proffyttes the

same'daye . . , . , . . xx d.

1525. For bred ale and wyne for the syngers and profetts on

palme sondaye ..... xiiij d. ob.

For the hyre of the hayres for the profette on palme
sondaye . . . , . , . vj d.

1524 {St. Margaret Pattens). For palme flowers and cake against

palme Sunday ...... iiij d.

1539 k^i' Mary Woolnoth). For brede ale and wyne geven to

the preists and clarkes at reding of the Passion on Palme

Sunday vij d.

For Palme flowers and cakes on Palme Sunday . , v d.

1545. For setting up the railes for prof hetes . . . jj d.

1556. For palme ewe and boxe and cakes for the chirche . . 6d.

1540 {St. Alphege^ London Walt). Payde to the Chyldern that

playyd the p'fytes on Palme Sonday . . . ij d.

256 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1555 {Ludlow). Charges for "pyns and poynts to dress the
canopie to bear over the sacrament on Palme Sondaye '^ —
"pyns and poynts upon Palme Sondaye to tye up the
coverelette in the churche over the offrynge place."

1557 {St. John Baptist^ Bristol). Pd to the parson for syngyng

the Passion on Palme Sunday . . . . vj d.

1548-9 {St. Ewen, Bristol). For Readynge the Passion . . j d.

1562 {St. Michael^ Cornhill). Paide to a clerke on Palme Sonday

for syngyng . . . . . . . iiij d.

The following entries relate to the dramatic withdrawal of the
rood-veil on Palm Sunday, to which reference has already been
made under Lent.

1540 {Ludlow). For ij cordes to draw up the clothe afore the

roode on Palme Sondayese . . . , . ij d.

1555. For hangynge the clothe before the rood in seat and iij cordes

for the same ....... iiij d.

1556. For cordes and packethrede for the rood clothe agaynst

Palme sonday ..... viiij d. ob.

1 5 58 {St. Mary-on-the-Hill^ Chester). For a corde to ye Roode

clothe for pame Sondays . . . . . ij d.

As to the actual Palms which were blessed, carried in pro-
cession, and distributed in the mediaeval Church of England on
Palm Sunday, controversy has arisen from time to time. There
can, however, be no doubt that the recent revival of the use of
the true Eastern palm on this occasion is in full accord with the
old English precedent.^ Without multiplying arguments, it is
sufficient to reproduce the woodcut from the printed Sarum
Processionale of 1502. The rami pro clericis are clearly true
palms, whilst \hQ frondes et cetera pro laicis are the catkin-bearing
willow branches. The former, owing to its cost and difficulty of
transit, would be but rarely used even by the clergy, save in
cathedral or great conventual churches ; whilst the latter is
doubtless the " palm " of scores of early wardens' accounts. The
flowering willow is still known in English villages throughout the
land as "palm;" it is gathered by the children under that
name and placed in the churches or houses. Another com-
mon English substitute for palm was the evergreen box, and
a third was the yo.-^. The use of the y^sR as a palm was

^ The old English word Palmer, a pilgrim, had its origin in the custom of returning
with palms as a testimony of the journey to the Ploly Land.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES

257

exceptional, for as the emblem of immortality, the true and general
English use of the churchyard yew was for garnishing the church
on Easter Day.

The purchases of palm (flowering willow), box, and flowers and
occasionally yew are continuous throughout the St. Mary-at-
Hill accounts.

BLESSING OF PALMS : SARUM PROCESSIONAL

1490-1. For palmes and flowres for palme sondey . . . vij d,

1492-3. For palme boxe and flowrys on palmson eve . . . viij d.

1539-40. For pallme box and yue ..... xiiij d.

For Palm Sunday the garnishing entries of St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields are constant until Elizabeth's accession. In 1525 the entry
simply runs : —

For palmejAgaynst palme sonday . . , . iij d. ob,

and there are several like entries.

1533. For palme youe and booxfagaynste palme sonday
17

iiij d.

258 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

This threefold form of Palm Sunday decoration occurs under
many years ; the variant spellings of yew are quaint, e.g, *' ew,"
"ewe," "you," and "ewghe." In 1542 and 1546 "flowers'' are also
named. "Palme and boxflowers" are named in the St. Martin,
Outwich, accounts of i S 10 ; " palme and yew " at St. Andrew Cheap
in 1511, and palme and box in 1527; and " palmes and flowers"
at St Botolph, Aldersgate, in 1519. It is in vain, as has been
already said, to look for such entries, save very rarely, in country ^
accounts, for abundance of greenery could readily be obtained
without purchase.

Tenebrae and Good Friday

The ancient office of Tenebrae was sung on the evenings of
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in Holy Week. At this night
office, originally said at midnight, a triangular candlestick or
hearse, of latten or iron, was placed on the south of the altar. The
tenebrae candles of yellow wax, usually twenty-four in number,
typifying the twelve prophets and apostles, were extinguished, one
by one, at the beginning of each antiphon and responsary whilst
the office was being sung. A single white taper representing
our Lord was left burning.

1525-6 {St. Andrew Hubbard). Payd for j lb dim of tenebrae

Candylls . . , . . . . x d.

1535 {St. Michael^ Cornhill), Payd for the Paskcull with the crosse
candellj and ij lbs of Tenebre candles weiyinge all vij
lbs at xj d. a pounde . . . . . . vj s. v d.

After evensong the altars were stripped and the menscB or altar
slabs washed.

On Good Friday the altar slabs were rubbed with fragrant
herbs, or carefully dusted. The following entries may relate to
this ceremonial : —

1 503 {St. Mary-at'HilT). For box at the hallowing of the chirche

to washe the aultyr . . . . . . j d.

1493 {Walberswick). For a Bessume of Pekoks Fethers . . iiij d.

Disciplining with the rod was a Good Friday public penance,

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 259

when the priest smote the hands of those who desired it with a
bundle of small rods.

1 5 10 {St, Mary-at-Hilt). For disseplynyng roddis . . . ij d.

The Adoration of the Cross, usually known as " Creeping to
the Cross," was an invariable Good Friday usage in the Church
of England from Anglo-Saxon days onwards. At this adora-
tion offerings were made in money or in kind.

1514 {St. Ewen, Bristol). Yn Offryng money to the Grose.

1 541 {St, Margaret^ Westminster). Received on Good Friday,

for crepinge to the Cross the same yere . . . v d.

The Easter Sepulchre

Nothing need be stated here as to the nature of the Easter
Sepulchre and the various rites connected with it, for the subject
has been so often explained ; it is fully discussed in English Church
Furniture^ 74-78; it may, however, be as well just to cite some
pertinent entries from a few parish accounts.

r426-7 {St. Mary-at-Hill). For the sepulcre for divers naylis and

wyres and glu . . . . . . ix d. ob.

To Thomas Joynour for makyng of the sepulcre . . iiij s.

1492-3. For takyng downe of the sepulture . . . . ij d.

15 17-8. For a wayneskot for the Sepulcre . . . . x d.

For a newe boorde and nayles for the sepulcre . . iiij d.

1529-30. For iij Tapurs for the Sepulcre more than were gadred

of the parish ...... xiij d.

1468-9 {St. Edmund^ Saruin). Et in uno Nomine conducto pro
laboro suo circa Sepulctrum, videlicet Petro Joynor
in toto . . . . . . . XX d.

Et in candelis emptis et expentered' circa opus sepulchri j d.

Et Johi Smythe pro xvj lib' ferri occuput' circa sepul-

chrum . . . . . . . ij s. vj d.

Et eidem Johi Smythe pro labore suo in operatione

proprii ecclesie circa sepulchrum occupat' . . xij d.

Et Johi Russhe Turner pro factura xlvij pynis de Beche
et Asshe ad standum supra sepulcur' pro cerce ibidem
ardente ....... xviij d.

1475-6. Et sol* pro ferramento de novo ocupto pro firmacione et

factura de la Sepultur' ibidem . . . xiij s. iiij d.

1476-7. To William Karver for the makyng of a newe Sepultur' . vj s. iiij d.

For the beryng of the same to the Church . . . iiij d.

iiij d.

vj d.

ijd.

jd.

viij d.

iij d.

iij d.

ijs.

xiij d.

ijd.

iiij d.

260 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1477-8. Et sol' pro ferramento de novo empto pro firmacione et

factura de la Sepultur' .... xiij s.

1557-8. Watchyng of the Sepulker .....

Setting upp of the Sepulker .....

Pynnes to pyn the Sepulker ....

1507-8 {^Holy Trinity^ Cambridge), To a warkeman for makyng

of a Cofer to the Sepulcur . . . vj s.

Item paied to Richard Rolfe for two waynskottes to the
same Cofer ......

Item paied to George Foyster for nailes and claspys to
the same Cofer ......

To the clerk for kepyng of the sepulcr lyght

1514-15. The sepulkyr lyght weyd when yt was taken down nyne

skorre and xviij pound the vij yere of Kyng Henre viij^^

1500 {St. Mary^ Devizes). To iiij men for keeping of the

Sepulchre ij nights .....

For the making of the Sepulchre and taking down
1557. For the Sextane watching at the Sepulcre .
1527. For watchyng of the sepulcre and for pynnys and naylls
and other necessaryes to hange up the clothe and for
wat'g upon good fryedaye and on Ester Evyn . . xiij d.

Payd a Reward to Ambros Barkars s'vant for mendyngof
the clothe that henge abowte the sepulcre by consent
was droppyd with candyll . . . ij s. iiij d.

1533. To the carpenter for mendyng of the sepulcre . . xxd.

For watchynge the sepulcre at easter and for brede and

drynke for them that watched . . . . ij s.

For ij sakks of coles for the wachmen to make fyer w'

all on Easter Eve ...... xviij d.

1536 {St. Maryy Cambridge). Payed for a peece of Tymber for

the sepulcer . . . . . . x d.

Payed for sawyng of the same Tymber , . . ij d.

Payed to the joyner for workyng of the Tymber in the
sepulcer ....... xiiij d.

Payed to Thomas Grene for payntyng the sepulcer . xij d.

1537- )» ^or mendyng of the wice (device) of the Resur-

rexcion ....... iiij d.

1539. To John Capper for watching the sepulcre and hys meate ij s. xd.

For pynnes spent abought the sepulcre . . . ob.

1542. Payd for xiiij li. wax putt to the sepulcre light . . vij s.

For settng up the sepulcre and watchyng the same . ij s.

1544. For makyng of the vyce (device) of the sepulcre . . xiij d.

The hallowing of the New Fire, though generally carried out
on Holy or Easter Saturday Eve, was occasionally accomplished

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 261

in England on Maundy Thursday. All lights were extinguished
throughout the church, and they were again rekindled from renewed
flames solemnly lighted by a burning glass or by flint and steel.
1 540-1 {St Mary, Dover). Payd for a bushell of charcoles at

Easter evyn . . . . • . iiij d.

1555-6. Paied for woode for the hallowed fire ester evyn for lacke

of cole . . . . . • . ijd.

The devout parishioners usually rekindled their cold hearths
by a brand from the Holy Fire.

HOCKTIDE ^

Hocktide^ with its quaint customs, judging from old parish
accounts, used to be observed in all parts of England. Anti-
quaries have differed much as to its origin, but the most generally
accepted opinion is that it commemorated the massacre of the
Danes on St. Brice's Day, 1002. Collections were then made and
the proceeds handed over to the churchwardens. The Hocktide
festivities were held on Monday and Tuesday of the week following
Easter week. On the Monday the men, and on the Tuesday the
women, intersected the public roads with ropes, impounding,
respectively, after a merry fashion, the opposite sex, and only
releasing the captives on their paying a fine to the church. The
women usually met with more success than the men. A few
selections are made from scores of examples. There has been
much learned as well as fanciful discussion as to the meaning of
the term Hock. The Oxford Dictionary decides that none of the
conjectures as to its origin are correct, but fails to supply a
solution. The word in its earliest form was Hoke, a dissyllable.
As to the survival of a portion of this eccentric custom up to a
recent date, see the Bishop of Oxford's preface (p. ix.) to the
Churchwardens' Accounts of St. Mary's, Reading.

In the Hocktide gatherings at St. Mary-at-Hill the women
were as usual more successful on the Monday than the men on the
Tuesday. In 1496 the men gathered 6s. 8d. and the women
20s. id.; in 1497 the men Ss. 8d. and the women 14s. 8d. In the
latter year the wardens gave a dinner to the wives that gathered,
consisting of " iij Rybbes of bief ale and bred" at a cost of i6d.

^ See also pp. 21, 64-5.

262 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

The like proportion of receipts continued for many years. By
1526 it appears that the men's action fell into abeyance, only the
wives are entered.

Rec of the Gadryng of the wyfFes on hok Monday , . . xx s.

The following are a few extracts, taken from scores of others,
arranged in chronological order : —

1457 {Thame). We ressevyd of hockmoney of ye womanys

gaderyng . . . . . . vj s. viij d.

1497 {Bassingbourn^ Ca7nbs). Payed toward a Torche besides

xl d. off hokyng money the whiche was Rec' off the wiff
of Rob* Bolne of that he and his company gadered the
last hocke tuesday.

1498 {St. Laurence^ Reading). Rec' of Hok money gaderyd of

women . . . . . . . xx s.

Rec' of Hok money gaderyd of men . . . iiij s.

[In 1500 the women gathered 17s. 6d. and the men
5s ; in 1546, women 31s. 3d. and the men 8s. 4d.]
1498 {St. Margaret., Westminster). Rec. of Maistres Bough
Maistres Burgeys and Maistres Morland for hotckyng
moriy ...... xxx s. iiij d.

Rec. of Maister Bough Maister Morland and Maister

Rabley for hokkyng money . . , xvj s. vij d. ob.

1508-9 {Holy Trinity., Cambridge). R' that was gaddert in

hokeyng money . . . . . ij s. viij d.

1 5 16-7 {Lambeth). For oke money of the men . . . vs.

For ooke money of the wyffs . . . vj s. iiij d.

1 5 18-9. Of William Elyot and John Chamberlayne for hoke

money gyderd in the pareys . . iij s. ix d.

Of the gaderynge of the churchwardyns wyffes on Hoke

Monday . . . . . . viij s. iij d.

The Hocktide gathering of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields on Monday
and Tuesday, 1525, amounted to 13s. 2d.; in 1526, 15s, 4d. ; in
1527, 13s. id.; and in 1528, 13s. 4d. The women's gatherings on
Hock Monday 153 1-2 were used towards new altar hangings.

1555 {St.Mary^ Reading). Rec. for Hoc money and Whytsontyde

money , . . . . . vj li. ix s. x d.

1556. Pd. for the wymens sopper at hoctyde . . iij s. iiij d.

1557. Rec. of the mens gathering wymens gathering and Maydens

gathering at Hoctyde and uppon Mayday . . . xxxix s.

1559. Rec. of the mens gatheringe .... vij s. iij d.

Rec. of the womens gatheringe . . . xxvij s. v d.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 263

[In 1560 the men gathered 5s. and the women 23s.; in
1 561, the men 4s., the women 12s. The last entry of
hocktyde money is under 1568-9, when the total was 15s.]

Rogation Tide

Parochial Perambulations or processions were customary from
an early date on the three days before Holy Thursday or
Ascension Day, when litanies were sung for the prevention of
pestilence or plague, and for a blessing on the fields or crops.
Hence these days were usually termed Rogation Days. The
parish books abound in references of this nature.

The Yeovil accounts of 1457-8 show that 2^ ells of linen cloth
were bought for iSd., to make two banners to be carried round the
fields ; id. was spent on dyeing the same ; 6d. in making the banners ;
and 2|-d. for seven wooden rods to carry them in procession.

1484 {Saffron Walden). To the gawing forth of viij baners on

y® Monday in going wyk ..... viij d.

1503-7 {Bassingbourne, Cambs). For the Banyeres bering about

the Feldes in theis iij yeres .... xxiij d.

1 540-1 {St. Mary, Dover). Paid to them that bare the banners

upon the Assencyon and Corpus Xtiday . . vij d.

1557-8 {SL Thomas, Sarum). To the baner beai;ers and to the

ryngers upon Saynt Thursday . . . . vj d.

For iiij belles to hange at the endes of the baners . viij d.

To the Baner Bearers to the ryngers and for drynke
the Monday, Tuesday and Wedensday and Thursday
in the Rogation weke ..... xxij d.

1605 {St. Margaret, Westminster), For bread, drink, cheese,
cream and other necessaries when the Worshipfull
and others of the parish went the perambulation to
Kensington . . . . . . xv li.

1610 {Yamton, Oxon). Paid for bread and beere at the tyme

of goinge in Procession . . . . . i6d.

1612. P*^ forty for the processioning 22d. For bread and beare

at the Procession 2s.
1620. Cakes and bread for the Perambulation . . .2s. 5d.

1639 {St, Peter, Ipswich). For a dinner at the bell at the

Perambulation . . , . . .17s.

For bread and beere for the boyes .... 8s.

1638-9 {St. Martin, Leicester). For bread and beere at the

Perambulacon . . . . . .36

For poynts and ribbons given to children the same time . 3 o

264 THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

Gave to M"" Lins a quart of wine when we went on
perambulacon . . . . . .14

1641-2. P** for expenses at our perambulacon and points given

away .... ..49

1666. P^for bread and drink upon the people and parson when

we went upon perambulation ... 6s.

To the young people in points . . . . 2s. 6d.

1688. Paid for ale, bread, and tobacco on Holy Thursday . 19s.

For points i8d., marking the bounds is.

The Perambulation entries in the accounts of All Saints, Derby,
are very frequent during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Fifty selected entries are given in the Chronicles of All Saints \
seven or eight must suffice for quotation in these pages.

1623. For dynners, ringing, and preparing y*^ way for perambu-
lation . . . . . . .38

1632. For makeinge y^ gappes at perambulation ... 8

1668. Two quarts of Clarit at perambulation . . .16

1672. Given to 2 maids w'^'^ Attended us in O"^ perambulation at

Little Chester . . . . . .20

1690. For Buns and Ayle att Darly Hill . . . • 6 3

1756. For meat for the Prossessioning Dinner . . .88

For meat for the Singers and Ringers . . .48

1782. For 16 doz. Buns for y^ prossessioning . . . 16 o

1663 {Stdbury, Devon), For the dinner and dressing for them

that did ride to vew the bounds of the parish at the

perambulacon . . . . . . 22 9

1664. For the perambulation in Beefe and Mutton. . .90

For to Legs of Veale 2s 8d., for bread is. 8d. . . 44

For baken, flower, fruits, saferon and clovis . . .31

For beare 3s. 6d., for dressing the dinner 2s, . . . 56

^673 {Hawkhurst^ Kent). For ribbon and plumes for y^ boyes

y' went ye bounds . . . . . .56

For vittles and beere when we went y^ bounds . .10

1684. May 8 {Deptford). Pd M"" Douse for a processioning dinner
£^, 7. o, ; p"^ M*^ Cox at the halfway house for meat, bread,
beer, and cakes at the processioning £2. 16. o. ; pd the
widow Spett for cakes £1 ; p*^ Rob Phipps for bread and
beer at ye Black Jack and Shovel 4s. 6d. ; p'^for 2 bottles
of Canary which we had in Peckham Lane, 4s. ; pd to
make ye boys drink when we came home is. ; pd more
ye same day with ye gentlemen of ye parish at M"" Douse's
after dinner, 8s. 6d.

GARNISHING OF CHURCHES 265

The sum of £g 7s. ^<^. was spent in the City parish of St.
Alphege, London Wall, on an Ascension Day dinner in 1707,
after the beating of the bounds. Other expenses included 4s. 5d.
for ale in the vestry, 8s. for ale for the boys and girls, 7s. 6d. for
300 wands for the boys, 14s. i|-d. for ribbons, 28s. for " four grosse
of Taggs and 8 Dozen of Laces," and, by way of bathos, 3s. " for a
Leg of Mutton for the poor."

1546 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). Pd on Ascension even for
bread, ale, beer and wyne for the prebendaries and quyer
of the mynster after mass was done . . • j s. ij d.

1555. For spiced bread on the Ascension even and on the

Ascension Day . . • . • • j s.

Whitsuntide

To impress the lessons of Pentecost or Whitsuntide a pageant
was frequently arranged, especially in the larger churches, to
signify the descent of the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove.
Here are three out of many references in old parish books.

i^oQ {Walberswick^ Suffolk). John Alpeyngham left money to
provide for "the Holy Ghost goyng upp and down with a
cheyne.''
1 5 10 {Louth). Robert Boston for the Holy Ghost appearing in the

kirk roof . . . . . . . ij s.

1540-2 (5/. Mary-on~the-Hilly Chester). Paide for wyre to sett up

the holy goste . . . . . . j d.

Corpus Christi

The festival of Corpus Christi, on the Thursday after Trinity
Sunday, used to be greatly honoured by processions throughout
mediaeval England. It was usual to have a feast at the conclusion
of the outdoor procession.

At St. Ewen, Bristol, the Corpus Christi breakfast or dinner
for clergy and choir, after the great procession, continued to grow
in substance and expense throughout the fifteenth and early years
of the sixteenth century. In 1479 six gallons of ale, and three
rounds of beef, in addition to other pieces of beef and mutton, were
consumed. In 1489 the meat included '* a double Rybbe of beef,

266 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

the purtenanceof a lambe, powdered (salted) beeff, a chekyn, and a
Gose." Eventually on 19th February 1535,

'* It is agreyd by the consent of the whole paryshoners That the procktors
for the tyme byeng shal be alowed for the brekefast upon Corpus Cristi day
2s. for the parson priestes and the clerkes and for no more.

\^y> {St. John BapHsty Bristol). Payd to iij priests upon Corpus

Xtiday . . . . . . . xij d.

Payd to the sexton upon that day .... iiij d.

Payd for ij quarts of wyne ..... iiij d.

Payd to ij chyldn that bare the candlesticks . . . ij d.

CHAPTER XIX

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES

Plays in churches — Plays at Harling ; St. Margaret, Southwark ; St.
Michael, Bath ; Ashburton ; St. Laurence, Reading ; Bassingbourne ;
Braintree ; Heybridge ; Bungay — Short extracts — The Boy-bishop — Church-
yard of St. Katherine Cree — Summer games at St. Ives ; St. Columb Major,
Wootton, Hants — Robin Hood plays — Mayday and Whitsuntide games —
Church-ales — Church House, Yatton, Cratfield, Bassingbourn, Seal, and Mere

Church or Parish Plays

THIS is a vast subject. If all that could be found relative
to plays in wardens' accounts were duly set forth and
briefly annotated, it would occupy far more space than the
whole of this book. By far the best book to study on this
question is Chambers' Mediceval Stage (1903), two vols., especially
appendix, vol. ii. 329-406. There is a good article by Mr. L. G.
Bolingbroke on " Pre-Elizabethan Plays and Players in Norfolk "
in Norfolk Archceology (1892), vol. xi. At Braintree, Chelmsford,
Halstead, Heybridge, Leicester, and Salisbury there is direct
evidence of play-acting within the church ; at Bungay and St.
Katherine Cree (London) in the churchyard ; at Harling at the
church gate ; at Bassingbourn in a croft near the church ; and at
Louth, Reading, etc., in the market-place. They were invariably
acted to bring profit to the general church fund. The long
accounts relative to the Bassingbourn play of 151 1 are set
forth at length, as they have not hitherto been printed ; twenty-
seven adjacent villages contributed to make this play a success.
Remarkable evidence is here given, much for the first time, of the
survival of these church plays right through Elizabeth's reign.
Mr. Chambers, usually so accurate, is quite mistaken in stating

that the last of these parish plays occurred at Hascombe, in

267

268 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Surrey, in 1549. The latest I have found is at Wootton, Hants, in
the year 1680.

The earliest is in the accounts of St. Augustine, Hedon, for
the year 1339-40, when 7s; was received from players in the
church on the feast of the Epiphany. Certain liturgical plays were,
of course, always enacted within the church, such as that of the
Epiphany, and the more striking drama of Palm Sunday.

In the year 1500 the church of St. Dunstan, Canterbury,
possessed upwards of fifty books, about a dozen of which were
religious plays — such as, according to the inventory, *' A queer off
Corpus Xti and Saint Anne," and ** ij queers off the story of Saint
Anne " — they formed part of what is known as the cycle of Corpus
Christi Plays.

The following references to church plays up and down the
country are arranged in chronological sequence :—

1452 {Marling^ Norfolk). Pd for the original of an Interlude

played at the Church gate . . . . ....

1457. Pd for bread and ale when Lopham Game came to this town xij d.
For bread and ale to Garblesham Game . . . vj d.

1463. In expenses when Keningale Game came . . . vj d.

1467. Bred and ale to ye Kenyngale Players . . . vj d.

The plays performed within the church of St. Margaret,
Southwark, on the feasts of St. Margaret and St. Lucy are several
times named after a brief fashion in the accounts of the reign of
Henry VI.

1453-4. Peid for a pley upon seynt lucy day, and for a
upon seynt Margrete day ....
1454. For the grete procession upon seynt Margrete day .

1458. Upon seynt lucy day to the Clerkes for a pley
1460. To the Pleyers upon seynt Margrete day (a frequent entry)
1460. To the Mynstrell for the procession .
1460. For hyryng of the Germentes ,
1466. To Hary for his Chyldren upon Seynt Lucy day

1481-2 {St. Michael, Bath). Pro potacione le players
recordacione ludorum diversis vicibus
Pro ij busels frumenti ad idem ludum

Waltero Comyar pro liquo ad faciendum scrinium dicto

tempore ....... viij d.

Johi Slugg pro pane et floribus ad idem . . . v s. vj d.

Pro ij dosyns servicie ad idem ludum . . iij s- "U "•

xiij s. iiij d.

.

XX s.

vjs,

. viij d.

i)

vij s.

.

xvjd.

.

xiiij d.

.

xijd.

in

.

iiij d.

.

ijs.

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES 269

Robto Chapman pro caseo ix d, et Johe Guntschere pro caseo iiij d.
Ricdo Tanner pro pelles ad idem ludum . . . xx d.

1490-1 {Ashburton^ Devon). For the profit of ale called the

playerin ale ...... xxxiij s. iiij d,

1491-2. From Widelambe for players clothinge . . . xij d.

1519-20. For keeping the players clothes . . . ij s. viij d.

1528-9. For painting cloth for the players and making their tunics
and for making staves for them and crests upon their
heads on the festival of Corpus Xti . . ixs. ix d.

1533-4. Recomded and alowed to the pleirs of Crystmas game that

pleyd in the churche . . . . . ij s.

1534-5. To the stenar for payntyng of the playyng clothes and gold

skynnys bought to the same . . iiij s. iiij d.

To the pleyers of Exeter playyng a Chrissmas game . ij s.

1 1^36-7. For playing gammys . . . . . . iiij s.

For ij schepe skynnes for playing cloths . . • vj d.

For a hed of here (hair) and other thynges for the players . ij s.

1537-8. For a pair of silk garments for Herod on Corpus Xtiday . xij d.
1542-3. For ij devils heads and other necessary things for the

players . . . . . . . ij s. j d.

1555-6. For a payr of glovys for hym that played God Almighty

at Corpus Xti daye . . . . . . ij d.

For vi^yne for hym that played Saynt Resinent , . vj d.

1556-7. For payntyng the players clothes at Totnes . . . xx d.

1558-9. For a payr of glovys to hym that played Christ on Corpus

Xti daye . . . . . . . ij d.

1562-3. To the bearwards of Lord Robert Dudley . . iij s. iiij d.

The entries as to plays are frequent in the accounts of St.
Laurence, Reading; they were for the most part acted on the
open space, near the church, termed the Forbury.

1498. Rec. of the gaderyng of a stage play . . . xvij s.

1507. Rec. of the Sonday afore Bartylmastyde for the pley in the

Forbery ...... xxiij s. viij d.

To the labourers in the Forbury for setting up the polls for

the schafhold . . . . . . ixd.

To the Bereman for her for the pley in the Forbury . x d.

For bred and ale and here yt longyd to the pley , . ij s. vj d.

For j ell quart' of croscloth to make j payr of hosyn and j ell
of a doublett . . . . . . , x d.

For course canvass to make xiij capps wt the makyng and wt

the hers (ears) thereto longyng . . . ij s. iiij d.

For ij ells di of croscloth for to make Eve a cote . . x d.

For dyed flax (for wigs) iij li. . . , . . v d.

270

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

For makyng of a dublett of lethur and j payr of hosyn of
lethur agaynst Corp' Xti day .... viij d.

The valuable Reading accounts also bear witness to the
performing of a Resurrection play. The entry of 1507* wherein
there is mention of 3d. paid " for rosyn to the resurrecyon play,"
has been ingeniously interpreted by Mr. Kerry to resin used for
the burst of light at the moment of the Resurrection.

1534. Payd to Mr. Laborne for reformyng the Resurrecion Play viij s. iiij d.

1535. Payd to S"" Laborne for a boke of the resurrecion play for

a qu'r of paper and for byndyng thereof . . ixs. ixd.

1 5 10-2 {Bassingbourn^ Cambs). Rec' atte the play had on seynte

Margar' day anno domini M' v^ and xj™" had in brassingburn off the holy

martir seynt georg, att that tyme Chirchewardeyns John Ayworthe and John

good the elder in bass' in the westend by theym rec' than as apth followith : —

First rec
Item rec

Item rec'

off the Townshyppe off Royston suma . . xij s.

off the townshyppe off Therfeld suma . . yj s. viij d.

Melburne vs. iiij d., off Lyttellyngton vs. ij d. ob.

suma . . . . . . xs. vj d. ob.

Whaddon iij s. iiij d. ob., off Stepulmorden iij s. j d.

suma ...... viij s. v d. ob.

Berly iiij s. j d., off Asshiwell iiij s. suma . viij s. j d.

Alyngton iij s. iiij d., off Orwell iij s. suma . vj s. iiij d.

Wendey ij s. ix d., off Wyndpole ij s. vij d. suma v s. iiij d.

Meldreth ij s. iiij d., off Arryngton ij s. iiij d. suma iiij s. viij d.

Shepreth ij s. iiij d., off Kelsey ij s. v d. suma . iiij s. ix d.

Wyllyngham xvij d., off Fulmar xxv d., suma . iij s. vj d.

Gyldymorden xvj d., off Tadlowe xij d. suma . ij s. iiij d.

Crawdyn xvj d., off Hattely x d. suma . ■ ij s. ij d.

Wrasthyngworthe ix d., off Hasselyngfeld ix d. suma . xviij d.

Bankwey viij d., off Foxtoun iiij d. suma . . xij d.

Kneseworthe with vj of hekys suma . . • ij s. vj d.

the townshipps off bass' on the Mondaye and on

the Tewysday next after the playe, together with

other commeres on the Mondaye . . xiiij s. v d.

upon the Wednesdaye next after the playye with a

potte of ale at Kneseworthe all wch deduct suma .

for food ale and small ale sold out suma .

off Thomas taylor in bass', bocher, in money of his gyft .

William Pynk off his gyft in mony

John Dubur iiij d., off Thomas Marchall servant of Mr.

Mulvey iiij d. suma .....

Robert Freeman iiij d., off John Good at Cross iij d.
Frank leon and Robert Serle ayther of them ij d.

XIX d.

x d. ob.

XX d.

xd.

viij d.

vij d.

iiij d.

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH- ALES 271

Item rec' off William lamkyn ij d., off John Comes ij d., and John
Dykon. Item of Will' Taylor suma .
„ J, Robert blandes geft of buntford suma .
J, „ John good karpentur and whelewhryght off his geft in
workemanshippe off falchons, and tourmentours,
axes, parts of the stuffys of his own and for a
Rymbyll of a whele suma together
„ „ John Hobard priste towardes theyse costes in all out
of his labour for beryng the playe booke, with iij d,
for a boss' of malte suma
Mem^ the geffles in Brewing of the maltes —
First ux' Egidii asshewell j quarter ....
Item ux' Thomas Taylor bocher a j quarter malte brewing .
„ ux' John Good the Elder gaff the brewing of iiij boss'
„ ux' Roberti Serle „ „ „

„ ux' Waltur Taylor „ „ „

„ ux' John Thomas gaffe the brewing a quarter
„ ux' Georg Noorthe „ „

„ ux' Thomas bolnest „ „

„ Maryon loskyn wydow „ „

„ ux' Roberti bolnest „ „

„ ux' John Good at Cross „ „

„ rec' off Morgan gyft of Gylden mordon a shepe pc
„ „ John Gosselyn geft in bass' a shepe pric'
„ J, fur ale lefte summa mor than afor rec
Item rec' in maltes first of Mr. Antony Malare
Item off John lyon Corss
Robt bolnest

Thomas bolnest and his wiff and Robert Laurence
Thomas Asshewell
Georg noorthe
Will Thomas of Wyndpole
John Ayworthe
John Thomas of bass'
Booz' hasyldeyn
Will frodde parysh clerk
John game of kness'
WillEdsyn .
John Cateil .
good senior in westend
Will Asshewell
Robt Taddelowe
W. Soyleyard
Robert Crane
John Pynk . .

viij d,
xij d.

xvj d.

xxj d.

xd.

xd.

vd.

vd.

vd.

vd.

vd.

vd.

vd.

ijd.

ijd.

xxij d-

XX d.

xj d. ob.

j quarter

ij quarter

j quarter

V boss'

iiij boss'

iij boss'
ij boss'

iiij boss'
j boss'

272

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Item off Maryon loskyn . . . . . . j boss'

„ „ Rie gibbs .

„ J, John Cran .

5, „ John Gibson

,j „ Robert Skampion .

„ „ Robert lane and J. grouger . . . . . ij boss'

„ „ Harr' lavenok . . . . . . j boss'

„ „ John Stephenson . . . . . . iij pakes

„ ,5 Will good and Everard

„ „ Agnes Katell ...... j pak

Summa in maltes xj quarter iij boss' iij pekes.

M^ in wheetes rec' of Mr. Malary iij boss', item of Gyles Asshe

iiij boss'.
Item of Will Soyland of W. Watters, of Th' gyfte in Kness' of

John Hobard prist ayther of them a boss'. Suma . . xij boss'

Expenses and Charges off the sayde playe as followith : —
First paid to the garnement man for garnementes and proprytes

and play books , . . . . . . xv s. ij d.

Item payd to mynystrelles and iij waytes of Cambrigg for the
Wednesdaye sondaye and monday ij of theym the first day
and iij the other dayes . . . . . v s. vj d.

„ in expenses on the playeres when that the playe was shewed
in bred and ale and for other vytalles att ryston on
those players . . . . . . . iij s. ij d.

„ in expenses on the playday for the bodyes off vj shape one

of theym of Morgan of Morden . . . . ix s. ij d.

„ for iij Calfis and halfe a lambe pric' . . . viij s. ij d.

„ a shepe giffen off John Gosselyn pric' .... xxij d.

„ payd to Thomas taylor and Gyles Asshewell for ij quarter

of whete ...... viij s,

„ „ to John goode off the westend for j lode of wood ij s. viij d.
„ „ for V days bord off one pyke propyrter making for
himselfe and hys servaunte one daye and for his
horss pastur vj days Summa . . . . xvj d.

„ „ Thomas polgrave Coke ix d. , and toFrank Asselar iiij d. xiij d.
„ „ turneres off spittes and for salte ij d. togeder . . ix d.

„ „ Anne Ayworthe for iij Chekynes to the gentylmen . iiij d.
„ „ Yssabell Asshewell for Fysshe and bred . . iiij d.

„ „ for nayles to lamkyn Smyth paid j d. and for a Jorrny

to Westwell . . . . . . ij d.

„ ,, John bocher for peynting of iij Fawchones and iiij

tormentoures axes ..... xvj d.

„ „ Gyles asshewell for Easement of his Crofft to play in xij d.

„ „ John hobarde brotherid priste for the play book

beryng . . . . . ij s. viij d.

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH- ALES 273

M brewinges of maltes and ayworthe for di quartr paid .
Item to Kateryn taylor for di quarter malte brewing paid .
„ Jone bolnest ux' Robert for j quarter brewing
„ Jone taylor ux' Thomas taylor „ „

„ Maryon loskyn wydow for di quarter „
J, helyn good for j quarter malte brewing
„ yssabell Asshwell „ „

„ Jone Scerle for di quarter „

„ Agnes good „ „

„ Margarett Thomas for j quarter „
„ Alic Noorthe ux' Georg for di quarter brewing
„ Jone bolnest ux' Thamas „ „

„ Kateryn lyon for a quarter and to Elyn pynke for di
quarter ......

„ payd for halfe a shepe mor on the tewysdaye after the
playe .....

„ „ for spyces to that sayd besynes and play
„ „ for bred bought off Jone bolnest uxor upon Rob'
„ ,, for fetchyng the dragon in expenses biside the car'
„ „ for gryndyng off x quarter malte and dim' .
J, „ for bred and vitalles and also setting uppe the stages
„ „ to Will gronger one of the asselares on the play day
„ „ for pastes uppon the tewsdaye as for the flower
M*^' the-'bakyng off the wheetes viz. iij quarter and dim ny uppon

gyffen except the gorgond thei had.
uxor Thome Taylor dim a quarter, Item uxor Gyles j quarter
Item uxor John Pynk dim quarter, Item uxor John good sen'
dim quarter. Item uxor John lyon Corss dim quarter, Item
uxor Thomas boln' and the wyff off georg noorth betwyx
theym dim a quarter.
M^ all thynges allowed and accowyntyd the suma totalis off the

Reman' xxxij s. j ob.
M^ the sUmes off mony gaderid towardes an ymage off george primo
die marcii anno domini M^ v*= and xj First delyveryd at this datte
by John ayworthe to Thomas taylor than electe Chirche ward'
the sayd xxxiij s. ob.
Item at this daye in the handes off gyles asshewell xj s.
Item at this daye in the handes off Kateryn lyon uxor John xxviij s.

iij d. ob.
Summa iij li. viij s. iij d. ob.

M'^ dettes besyde owing graunted to seynt Georg.
Fyrst John ayworthe d' vith vj boss'.
M** graunted for the mony occuping his tyme.
Item Summa xiiij boss' maltes.
Item thomas soyland in boss' d' in Rye ij boss'.

vd.
vd.
xd.
xd.
vd.
xd.
xd.
vd.
vd.
xd.
vd.
vd.

XV d.

xd.
xlj d.

iij d.
viij d.

ixd,

vd.

ij d.
iiij d.

274

THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Item the same thomas soyland and John Gosselyn for Thomas

Rooyn of Kneseworthe j bos' malte.
Item Rye' buckenell off his promyss d'

Item Kid Wightnys d' off his promyss ....
Summa in hi' xv boss'.
Item in Rye ij boss'
Item in mony vj d.

iiij d.
ijd.

The wardens' accounts of Braintree, Essex, mention, in 1523,
a play of St. Swithin, acted in the church on a Wednesday, net
profits to the church, £^ 13s. 7jd. ; in 1525, play of St. Andrew,
acted in the church on a Sunday, profits £2 17s. 8d. ; and, in 1534,
play of Placidas a/zas St. Eustace, profits £S 2s. 8^d. In 1567 the
wardens received £s of the play money; in 1570, £g 7s. 7d., and
also IS. 3d. for letting players' garments; and in 1571, for a play
book 2od., and 8s. 7d. for play gere. Finally, in 1574, the players'
apparel was sold for 50s. See Karl Pearson's Chances of Death
(1897), ii. 413-4.

On the Sunday before Whitsunday, 1532, a play was acted
at Weybridge, Essex, which made a considerable stir in the country-
side. Unfortunately the accounts, which are imperfect, do not
give the name of the play or pageant. It was well supported by
many of the adjacent townships.

Thys ys the sume of moneys of all the Townes the wryde was browgte in att
the day of ower playe : —

£

s.

d.

£ s. d.

Maldon .

I

3

4

Tottam and Gold Angere 8 6

Bylygh .

8

I

Terlynge .

12 2

Cockshall

II

. Tolfonte Magna

4 2

Braested Magna.

6

Wycham .

S 4

Inford

I

I

Woddam Ferys

I

Braested Parva .

4

3

Felstede .

6 8

Purly

4

2

Keldon .

I i^

Woddam Mortymers

2

i^

Ferynge .

I

Tolesbury

7

Hatfield .

6 8

Woddam Walters

1

4

Tolfonte Daffys

3 6

Langforde

3

5

Moche Tottam

10

Owlde .'

I

5

5 17 II

Gatherings were

made

to

supply abunda

nt

pr

ovision for

feasting the visitors and players in wheat for baking, and in malt
for brewing ; whilst the meat included " a quartere of ij beffes,

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH- ALES 275

7 cawys (calves), 6 shepe and 8 lambys." Gatherings in ready-
money amounted to £1 15s. 7|d. The total receipts in cash on
the day of the play were £y los. 2^d., and they also "resayved of
the parson the next daye" 13s. id.

The following are among the payments : —

For 4 dosen potts . . . . . . .22

To the pagentt players . . . . . . 13 4

For baryng of the boke ...... 6

To 5 payr of gloves ....... 7

To the minstrell . . . . . . . 10

To Colben for his tabor ...... 2

To Hoowe that playd the foUe . . . . .18

To the cookes . . . . . . . .10

To she that turned the spitt ...... 8

To the basteter ....... 4

Two Items that relate to the gilding of the tabernacle and for
" a locke for the porche door " show that the performance of this
play was within the church. When the accounts were made up
there "remayneth clere above all charge £"/ los., the wych restyth
in the churchwardeyns handys."

1558 (^£?/k Trinity, Bungay, Suffolk). P*^ to WilUam Ellys for

the interlude and game book ....

Pd for writing the parte .....

1561. For making the scaffold for the interlude in the churchyarde,

meat and wages ......

Pd at Norwiche for expense when my lord of Surrey, his

apparel, was borrowed for the interlude
Pd for staynyg certayn clothes for the interlude
Given to Kelsage the vyll (fool) for his pastyme before the

plaie and after the play both daies ....
To Holbrook for his visors (masks) . . . *.

For carrying home the apparell agayne to Norwich .
For dying heares (wigs) for ye interlude players

iiij d.
ijs.

XX d.
xij d.

ijs.
iiij d.
xij d.

ijd.

Similar items appear in the accounts of 1567 at 13s. 6d., the
performance in the latter year taking place in the castle yard.
In 1577 the warden acknowledges the receipt from his predecessor
of

All the game players gownes and coats that were made of certayne peces
of olid copes.

276 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

The last item relative to the plays occurs, in 1591, when 5s.
was received for the " players cootes/'

The following are a few desultory extracts and notes in
chronological sequence.

In 1451 a play called " Christmasse play" resulted in a profit
of 6s. 8d. to the church account of Tintinhull.

The old church accounts of Yarmouth show that the wardens
drew a considerable income from plays ; plays on Corpus Christi
day are mentioned in 1473 and i486; at Bartholomewtide in
1484 ; and on Christmas Day in 1493 : —

1474 {St. John, Peterborough). Rec of men of depyng (Deeping) for

hyryng of iiij garments ..... xvj d.

1479. To the players that playd in the church at crystemesse . xxd.

Vestments for the Boy-bishop and his companions often occur.

1487-8 {St. Andrew Hubbard). For makying of seint Nicolas

cope . . , . . . . ij s. ij d.

1488-9. For iij yardes bokeram for a childes cope . . . xv d.

1469-70 {Holy Trinity, Cambridge). For the makyng of seint

Nicholas Coops and for dim elle bokeram . . xv d. ob.

For canvas for seynte Nicholas Coope bought of annye

Matterhead by thodore of the Clerks . . . vj d.

For a Rochet makyng by thordore of the Clerkes . . vj d.

1492 {St. Martin, Leicester). Paid, to the players on New years-

day at even in the church . . . , . vj d.

There are various references to plays in the Sutterton accounts,
Lincolnshire. In 1519, "For ye pluars rewarde of Quoublods
(Whaplode) ix d." There are charges for candles for the players
in 1521 and 1522. In 1524 the wardens received from sundry
people 9s. 6d. " for increments for the play playd on the day of
the assumption of our lady." In the following year players from
Swineshead received 3s. 4d., and those of Donington I2d. ; and in
1526, Sutterton was visited by two other bands of players from
Frampton and Kirton.

1525 {St. Martin^ s-in-the-Fields). Payed for the Pagantes played

on palme Sunday . . . . . . xvj d.

1538. Resceyved of the pleyers that played in the church . ij s.

1555. Paide to the players uppon Ester Daye in the morenenge . xvj d.

1535 {Boxford, Cambs). M^ here after follows all the sumes of
money receyved by a play made in y^ yere of o"^ lord god

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES 277

mcccccxxxv by William Cox and John Scott Chirche
Wardyns in that yere.

[This entry is followed by 19 items from different indi-
viduals and townships amounting to ^17 12s. 6d.,
as **profets on the play," which were assigned
towards the rebuilding of the steeple.]
1539 {S/. Mary Woolnoth). On Alhalowen day for v herps for

virgyns to play . . . . . . ij s.

For garlandes for the same virgyns . . . . ij d.

For lampes for the same virgyns .... iiij d.

1548-9 (Barnstaple), Paied to the players that played at Church ij s. viij d.
1552-3 Paid to minstrells for playing and singing in the church iij s. iiij d.
1554. Paid to the King's Juggler on St. Peters day . . vs.

1560. Paid to my Lord Bishop's players who played in the

church. . . . ■ . . ....

1 561-2 {Tavistock). Payed unto the players . . vj s. viij d.

Payed unto the quenes majestyse is players . xiij s. iiij d.

1 561 (St. Martin^ Leicester), Receved for serten stuff lent to

the players of fosson * . . . . vj d.

In the wardens' accounts of Chelmsford for 1562 occurs the
following interesting list of properties stored in the church ready
for the acting of miracle plays : —

Garments

Fyrst iiij gownes of red velvet.

It'" a longe gowne of blew velvet.

It"^ a short gowne of blew velvet.

If" ij gownes of red satten.

It'" a gowne of borders.

It"* a gowne of clothe of tyssew.

It"* a jyrkyn of blew velvet w**' sleeves.

It'" a jirkyn of borders without sleeves.

Itm. viij jyrkyns without sleeves.

Itm. ij vyces coats and ij skalpes, ij daggers.

It™ V prophets cappes.

It"^ vj capes of furre and one of velvet.

It™ iij jyrkyns, iij sloppes for devils.

It™ iiij shepehokes, iiij whyppes.

It™ a red gowne of sage.

It™ xxiij Bredes [beards] and xxj hares [wigs].

It™ a fornet of blew velvet with borders.

It™ a mantell of red bawdekyn w*'^ sieves.

It™ iij jerkes of red bawdekyn with sieves,

278 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

This list is followed by entries as to the payment of 20s. to the
minstrels on two occasions, in addition to los. for a trumpeter,
3s. 4d. for a flute-player, and 5s. for a man "playeing on ye
Drome." There were also further charges for their meat and
drink. The plays were evidently committed to writing, for in
1562 one Christopher received 2s. for writing out seven parts.
The cost of ironwork for making "the hell" was 4s. Amongst
various other entries of this year, one Lawrence received 4d. "for
watchinge in the Churche when the Temple was a drying." ■ This
evidently refers to the drying of the paint on a part of the
scenery. It is quite clear from various entries that the play was
performed in the nave of the church on Sunday and on the
following Monday. Watchers remained in the church on Sunday
night to guard the scaffold. Mention is made of a third play
during this year. Our Lord was evidently one of the characters, for
John Wright received i6d. "for makynge a cotte of lether for
Christe." Another man received 7s. for "payntenge the Jeiants
and the pajeaunte and writtinge the plaiers names."

From various entries of the years 1563-76 it appears that the
churchwardens of Chelmsford received a considerable addition to
their income from letting out the players' garments for the use
of other parishes. Thus in 1563 they received from the men of
Colchester " for the here of our garments " 53s. 4d. on two different
occasions ; from Billericay, 26s. 8d. and 20s. ; from Walden, in
Hertfordshire, for the hire of three gowns, los. ; from Stratford,
^3 6s. 8d. ; from Little Baddow, 26s. 8d., and from the children of
Baddow, 6s. 8d. In subsequent years substantial payments were
received for the same reason from Boreham, Langham, Witham,
Colchester, Brentwood, Writtle, and Hatfield. In 1570 the Earl of
Sussex's players paid 26s. 8d. for the hire of the players* garments
of Chelmsford. Occasionally the Chelmsford players performed
outside their own parish, particularly at Braintree and Maldon,
and possibly the larger sums mentioned above included the hire
and expenses of some of the actors as well as their properties.

We believe that the performance of miracle plays within a
church was an exceptional custom in Elizabethan days, and it is
singular to find it so prevalent at Chelmsford and in this part of
Essex» The last performance in Chelmsford church occurred in

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES 279

1576, and from an entry of that year it would appear that there
was probably some little disturbance. Eightpence was paid to
one Drane " for mendinge of x broken holes in the church windowes
which was done at the late playe." Various other players' extracts
from these accounts appear in Karl Pearson's 'Chances of Death
(1897), ii. 415-23.

In Bentley's MS Book (1564), citing from old wardens' accounts
of St. Andrew, Holborn, occurs this passage : —

19, 21 & 22 Henry vil. The wardens and parishioners were ac-
customed yearly to make plays in convenient places,
and great shooting matches among the parishioners ;
as also to keep ales or drinkings, with barrels of ale
given by some well-disposed parishioners to the church,
and all to the intent that the overplus and gain thereof
might be received and converted to the use of the
church works, as appeared at large in many accounts.
1565 {St. Katherine Cree). Receyved of Hugh Grieves for
lycens geven to certen players to playe their enterludes
in the churche-yarde, from the feast of Easter, 1565,
untyll the feaste of Seynt Michaell Tharchengell next
evenynge, every holye daye, to the use of the
parysche ...... xxvij s. viij d.

Receyved of Rychard Dyckenson for lycens geven to hym
to make scaffoldes in the churche-yard ; and the
paryshe to have the thyrde penny ; bearying no charge
for that he doth receyve of the persons that dothe
stand upon the scaffolde for 3 holy daies in the Easter
weeke, 1565 : to the use of ye paryshe . . vj s. viij d,

Receyved more of Richard Dyckenson, for Lent Sunday
1565, and for Maye Daye followinge, and the Sunday
after, beinge the syxt of Maye, for the thyrde peny for
those persons that stoode upon the scaffolde within the
churche-yarde, to the use of the paryshe, the some of xj s, viij d.

Receyved of Richard Dykenson, for vj Sonday and iij
holy dayes, reckonnynge the 13th day of Maye, 1565,
and endynge the 18 daye of June and iij holy dayes.
Ascension daye and ij holy dayes in Whytson weeke ;
of the wyche 3 of these dayes, the players did not paye
for the thyrde peny of the Persons that stode upon ye
scaffolde in ye churche-yard to the use of the paryshe . 5s.

An entry in the wardens' accounts of Bewdley in 1572 records
the payment of $s. 8d. to " the quenes plaiers in the Churche."

2 8o THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

A King and Queen of the Summer Games were chosen annually
at St. Ives, Cornwall. It was the King's duty to hand over his
receipts for the relief of the poor; this amounted in 1575 to
14s. 6d. Plays were acted apart from the games; they were
repeated for several days, and appear to have been popular in the
district. The following are the receipt entries in 1575 : —

Received the firste daye of the playe . . . . xij s.

Received the seconde daye wch amounteth to , . j li. xij s. ij d.

„ third )) jj • • Jiij !'• ^ s. xij d.

,j fourth „ „ . . j li. xix s. ij d.

„ 5 „ „ ... iij li. ij s.

» sixt „ „ ... iij li. j d.

More received for drincke money . . . . . j s. ij d.

More received of William Trimrith in the churche veard whiche

amounteth to . . .

Received for drinck money after the playe
Pd to the pypers for ther wages (town).

j li. XV s. ijd.
ijd.

In Dyde's History of Teivkesbury (1803) it is stated that the
churchwardens' accounts for 1578 have an entry — " Payd for the
players geers, six sheepskins for Christs Garments." Also in an
inventory of 1585 occur "eight heads of hair for the apostles, and
ten beards, and a face or vizer for the devil"

Among the church goods of St. Columb Major were certain
stage properties as well as costumes for Morris dancers. The list
of parish goods for 1585 includes "v coates for dancers, a Fryer's
Coate, 24 dansing belles, a Streamer of Red Moccado and locram,
six yards of white wollen clothe." In 1585 the coats for dancers
were reduced to three. From an entry of iS9S) when 2s. was paid
" for hedding three Moryse pykes,'' it would appear that the parish
armour was lent to the stage when not required for more serious
use. Sometimes the stage wardrobe of St. Columb was lent to
other parishes; thus in 1588 the wardens received i8d. "for the
lone of the Robbyn hoodes clothes," and in 1595 there is an entry
to the effect that " Thomas Brabin hathe brought in the dancyng
Coate."

The church books of Great Marlow, Bucks, beginning in
1592-3, are cited in Nichols' Illustrations of Manners (1797); they
show the retention of play-acting in the church towards the close

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH- ALES 281

of Elizabeth's reign, and of the keeping of players' properties in
the days of James I.

1595. Received of players for playinge in the church lofte . . 2 4

Payde to one for the carrying of the morrys coate to

Maydenhed ....... 4^.

1608. Among goods belonging to the church, fyve payr of garters

of bells, fyve coats, fower fathers.
1612. Received of the churchwardens of Bysham, loane of our

Morris coats and bells . . . . .26

The accounts of a church-ale at Wootton, Hants, in 1610 show-
that the proceedings included a play —

Receipts for the Kingale fas foUoweth for the Sunday after

Midsumer Day, Juni xxix, 1600.
Rec. at the first table . . . . . xv s.

„ seconde table

„ thirde „

„ fowerth „

„ fifte „

„ sixth „

the same day at the tronke
for pewtre the same day
out of the Churchowse for drink thear .
for the felles ....
more out of the Churchowse

Summe

ij s. viij d.

. xj s. ij d.

. X s. iij d.

viij s. iiijjd.

xj s.

. ij s. x d.

X s. vij d.

xij d.

xvj d.

viij d.

iij li. xiij s. ix d.

The receipts on the following Sunday, 6th of July, amounted
to £4 2s. The payments for this King-ale, extending over two
Sundays, included 23s. lod. "To the minstrills for minstrelsie"
and 2s. "to Whitburn for his play." The meat purchased were
three calves, five lambs, three sheep, and a couple of chickens.
Fish, eggs, butter, fruit, and spice were also purchased, as well as
malt and hops for brewing the ale.

Robin Hood and Maid Marian were frequent characters in
May and summer games, and often took the part of "king" and
" queen " of the revels. They were usually accompanied by Little
John, Friar Tuck, and "the whole joyous fellowship of Sherwood
Forest." Expenses with regard to their equipment appear with
considerable frequency in wardens' accounts, whilst the collections
or gatherings made by Robin and his merry men often appear

282 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

on the other side of the balance-sheet. On the question of this
celebrated outlaw, see Child*s Ballads ; also Chambers' Medimval
Stage, vol. i. 171-81.

The Robin Hood gatherings were for many years by far the
most popular of the six parish gilds or fraternities of Croscombe,
Somerset. Thus in 1480-1 the " Roben Hode money" amounted
to 40s. 4d. In 1483-4 ''Ric Willes was Roben Hode and presents
in for yere past xxiij s, " ; the next highest offering at that audit
was 9s. 6d. from the maidens. At the audit of 1486-7 " Robyn
Hode" presented to the wardens £1 6s. 8|-d. ; the maidens came
next with 20s. 4d. In 1490-1 Robin offered 50s. and the next
highest was 25s. In 1 500-1 there was a considerable drop —
" Camyth in Robyn Hode and Lytyll John and presentyd in
XV s. " ; but the next highest that year was 4s. 4d. from the young
men. The audit of 1505-6 shows that 53s. 4d. was "presented in
of the spoil of Roburt Hode and hys company," whilst the
maidens came second with 17s. 5d. In 1510-1 Robin's contri-
bution was £1 6s. 8d. and the next highest only i6s. lod. The
last appearance of Robin in the Croscombe accounts was at the
audit of 1526-7, when he and his company of archers presented
the wardens with the handsome contribution of £d^ os. 4d.

The Robin Hood references in the accounts of St. Laurence,
Reading, are numerous.

1499. Rec of the gaderyng of Robyn Hod . . . . xix s.

1502. Rec of the May play callyd Robyn Hod on the payne day . vj s.

For ij^^ (200) Coverays (badges or ribbon) . . . viij d.

For makyng up of the maydens banner cloth . . viij d.
1504. Rec of the gaderyng of Robin Hod x busshells malt (for

brewing church ale) . . . . . .vs.

Rec of the gaderyng of same Robyn Hod j busshell of

whete . . . . . . . xij d.

Rec' of the gaderyng of the seid Robyn Hod in money . xlix s.

Payed to an harper on the church holyday . . . iiij d.
Payed for bred and ale to Robyn Hod and hys company

the 5 day . . . . . . . iiij d.

Payed for a cote to Robyn Hod . . . .vs. iiij d.

Payed to a Taberer on Philips Day and Jacob for his wagis

mete and drink and bed ..... viij d.

For fellyng and bryngyng home of the kow set in the m'cat

place for settyng up of the same inete and drynk . . viij d,

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES 283

1505. For Robin Hods cote and he's house . . . vj s. vij d.
Rec of the maydens gadering at whitsontyde at the tre at

the church dore, clerely . . . . . ij s. xj d.

For wyne to Robyn Hod of Handley and his company . vj s.

To the taberer . . , . . . . vj s.

1506. For a supper to Robyn Hod and his company w^hen he

came from Fynchamsted ... . xviij d.

1508. Rec' of the gadering of Robyn Hod pley . . xvij s. x d.
1 5 10. Rec' on Seynt Phylypp and Jacob day for ij stondyngs at

the church porch .... . vj d.

1529. For Fyve ells of Canves for a cote for made Maryon xvij d. ob.

To the carpyntre for ij dayes to make a ladder of the May

poole and for hys mete and drynk .... xiiij d.

1557. For the yeough tree ...... iiij d.

For fetchinge the summar pole , . . . ij d.

For a breakfast for the yonge men . . . . xvj d.

For a quartre of veale and quartre of lambe . . iij s. iiij d.

1504 {Kingsto?i-upon- Thames). Paid for ye mensterell apon may
day, iiij d. ; for their drink, j d.
Painting the banner of Robin Hood, iij d. ; a gown for the
lady, viij d. ; bells, xij d.

1509. Rec'd for the gaderyng of ye Kynge at Whitsontyde, 19s,

and at hoctyde, 17s.
while the gathering at the Kyngham ^ and the Robyn Hode

produced 4 marks, 2od.
Paid for mete and drynke for ye mor^ (morris) daunsers,

ij d., and on Corpus Christi day, iiij d.
Sylver paper for the mor^ daunce
Paid to Robert Neyll for goyng to Wyndesor for Master

Doctors horse, ageynes the Kyngham day
to a loborer for beryng home of ye gere after ye Kyngham

was done .....
For vj peyre of shone [shoes] for ye mor^ daunsers
Thomas tothe for half Robyn hod^ cote
bote hire going up to Waltar Kyngham
for Kendall for Robyn hod^ cote
Rec*^ at ye Kyngham .
Robyn hod^ gaderyng .

Paid out of ye churche box at Walton Kyngham
Paid out of ye churche box at Sonbury Kyngham

1 5 10. Paid for Robyn Hods cote and for littell Johnys cote and

viij d.

iiij d.

\

jd.

.

inj s.

VIJ

s. vj d.

.

xd.

.

XV d.

.

lUJ s.

nij

marks

ly

s. vj d.

.

xxij d.

for ye frer^ [friar's] cote

XXX s. vj d.

^ Kingham is probably a corruption of "King Game,"

2 84 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

15 14. Rec** for Robyn hods gaderyng" . . . . xij s.
Robyn hod gaderyng at Croyden . . , ix s. iiij d.

1538-40 (5/. Andrew Hubbard). Resceyved of mestres maryan xiij s. iiij d.

Resceyved in the Churche of the players . . . xij d.

1566 {Abingdon). For setting up Robin Hoodes bowere . . i8d.

Mayday and Whitsuntide were usually the occasions of festiv-
ities under the control of the wardens, the profits or gatherings
being handed to the church funds. Morris, Maypole, hobbyhorse,
and other kinds of dancing, with much minstrelsy and music,
were common forms of amusement at both these festivals. At
Reading it was customary to act the King Play at one or other of
these seasons; it represented the adoration of the Magi, tradi-
tionally true kings; their heads were eventually enshrined at
Cologne, hence described as Kyngs of Colen. The chief part of
the drama took place within the church, the Star of the Epiphany
being displayed from the rood-loft, as at St. Margaret's, Westminster.

This play must not be confused with Mayday or Whitsuntide
frolics, which were sometimes called " King's Revels," the name
being taken from the king and queen, or lord and lady, chosen
to superintend the Ale and its accompanying sports.

King's revels brought income to the wardens of Croscombe on
three occasions, namely, in 1476, 1498, and 1504. A king's revel
was held on a large scale at Yatton in 1 5 34.

1499 {^^- Laure?tce^ Reading). For horse mete to the horssys for

the Kyngs of Colen on May Day . . . . vj d.

To mynstrells the same day . , . . . xij d.

1 503. Rec' of the Kyng play . . . . , xj s.

1508. For carrying of a bough for the King play at Whitsontyde . iiij d.

To the taberer at Whyssontyde . . . iiij s. viij d.

15 1 5. For a Kykhenkyn of here agenst Wytsontyde . . xvj d.
For a dosen of good ale and iij galons of penyale . . xx d.
For carriage of the tree at Witsontyde . . . yj d.

15 17. Of the yong men for the gatheryng at the Kyng play . xxiij s.
For the tree of the Kyng play late stondyng in the m'catt

place . . . . . . . . xij d.

1 5 19. To Thomas Taberer for the Kyng pley at Whisontide . x s.

1539. Forwarding the sepulc' and for Colen . . . x d.

1 541. Rec of the Kyng game this yere ... iij W. viij s.

1557. The churchwardens gatheringe at y'' Kingale in the

Whytsontyde at the church ale suppars . . . xlviij s.

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH- ALES 285

1483 (5/. Margaj'et^ Westminster). For the Corde to the Sterre

in the rode lofte . . . iiij d.

For amending and dressing of the Sterre . . . ij s. vj d.

1484. For hanging up of the sterre in the rode lofte . . vj d.

1563 {JVz'n^j Bucks). Receaved of the May ale . . . Ij s. vj d.

1564. Item, Resavyd of the Maye ale . . . iij H. ixs. vij d.
Memorandum that this yere at Whytsontyde was chosen for

the Lorde John Taylor of Ascot, and Catheryn Chapman
of Crofton. Note — an ordre mentioned in the end of this
boke for the Lord and Lady at Wytsontyde made this
yere, 1565.

[The order here referred to is as follows, viz. : — ]
Memorandum that S. Wylliam Dormer knyght, ffraunc^
darrell and John a more gentlemen, with the consent
of the churche wardens th"^ beyng, and the rest of the
parryshe have agreed and taken an order that all suche
yonge men as shall hereafter by order of the hole parryshe
be chosen for to be lorde at Whyts-ontyde for the behafe
of the churche, and refuse so to be, shall forfeyt and pay
for the use of the churche iij s. iiij d. to be levyed vppon
the sayde yonge men and theyr fathers and maysters
wherere the just default can be founde, and every mayde
refusyng to be lady for the sayd purpose to forfet vnto the
sayde vse xx d. to be levyed in lyke order as is before
expressed. And yt is provydyd that all suche bowses out
of the wliiche the sayde lordes or ladyes, or one of them,
are chosen to stand fre from that purpose and charge for
the space of vj yere then next ensuynge. This order was
taken, agreed upon, and in this boke noted the xth day of
June, in the yere of our lorde god MCCCCCI.XV.

1565. Item thys yere above wrytten was harrye kene chosen lorde

and refused, and so payde to the Churche . . iij s. iiij d.

Robarte Rychardeson the servaunte of Thomas Lygo was

then chosen lorde and Kateryn Godfrey lady.
Item receaved of the Maye ale all thynges thereto belonging

dis-charged ..... iij li. xiiij s. viij d.

The following are some desultory excerpts relative to these
two seasons : —

1464-5 {Tavistock). To Mayers child for dawnsyng with the hobye

hors . . . . . . . . ij d.

1499 [St, Margaret, Westminster). Rec. of Symand Smyttes wyffe
and Lymken barbers wyffe of money by them gadered wyth
Vyrgens upon May day . . . ■ vj s. vij d. ob.

286 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

15 18. Given by the children of the May game . . . xiij d.

1 5 13 (•5*^- Laurence^ Reading). Payed for a hope (quart pot) for
the joyaunt and for ale to the Moreys dawncers on the

dedicacon day. . . . . . . iij d.

Payed to the Mynstrells for iiij days .... xxij d.

1529. For bells for the Morece dauncers . . . iij s. vj d.
For iij hatts for the Morece dauncers . . . . vj d.
For iij yerds of bockerham for the morece daunsers . . xij d.

1530. For a grosse of bells for the morece dauncers . . iij s.
1541. For lyverge and payntyng the mores cotes . . • xj d.

Payments made to minstrels constantly occur in the later
Yatton accounts, usually at Whitsuntide.

1528. To a mynstrelle for pleyng at Saynt James Day . . xij d.

1530. To a mynstrell at Wytsonday . . . . ij s. viij d.

1 537. To y^ Mynstrells . . . . . . x s. j d.

1540. For ij mynstrells ..... vj s. ix d.

1555. Unto Menstrells at Wyttsondaye . . . .vs.

1 538-9 {St. Edmu7td, Sanim). The gatherynge of the wyffes

dawnce ...... xiij s. iiij d.

1 574. The gatherynge of the wyffes at Whytsontyde for Daunsynge iij s. iiij d.
1541 {Culworth). Payntyng of tlje hoby horse clothes . . iij s.

1557 {St. Mary^ Reading). Payed to the minstrelles and the

hobby horse uppon May day . . . . iij s.

1558 {St. Martin^ Leicester). Rec^ for the mawrys daunce of the

chyldren ... . . . . . iij s.

1594-5 {St. Thomas^ Sarum). Childrens Daunce . . . 20s. id.
1613 {Lowick, Northants). Payd to Robert Brandin for makeinge

the Maypole . . . . . . . iiij s.

Church-ales

In discussing Church-ales, it should be remembered that the
mediaeval Church of England prohibited labour on festal days,
and required the people of all classes to attend the church services
as a religious obligation. Hence it came about that the Church
busied itself to find entertainment and amusement for the
assembled people, and thus the Holy Day. became identified in
the Holiday. Every kind of popular amusement contributed
towards the general or particular church funds. "The Church-
ale," says Bishop Hobhouse, "was, by the end of the fifteenth
century, the most universal churchwardens* resort for eliciting the

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES 287

bounty of the parish." It was a parish feast, a main feature of
which was doubtless ale-drinking. The ale and food were usually-
given and sold for the benefit of the general church fund, or for
some particular object, such as the building of the steeple, the
providing a bell, or the erection of a rood-loft. Occasionally the
ale was held within the church itself even at a comparatively late
date. Thus in the St. Laurence, Reading, accounts —

1506. To Macrell for makyng dene of the Church agaynst the day

of drynking in the seid Church .... iiij d.

For flesh spyce and bakyng of pasteys agaynst the said
drynkyng . . . . . . ij s. ix d. ob.

For ale at the same drynkyng .... xviij d.

For mete and drynke to the Taberer . . . . ix d.

For the most part, however, the ale was held in the church
house, a building close to, the church, erected or bought for the
purpose of becoming the focus of the social life of the parish.
Bishop Hobhouse is probably right in thinking that its origin
was the providing a place for the baking of the holy loaf, and
possibly, too, of the altar wafers. Afterwards brewing gear was
added for providing what was sometimes called the "holy ale"
of Christian fellowship. The wardens sometimes added to the
church income by letting the oven and the brewing vessels for the
use of private persons. Eventually the church house was usually of
sufficient size for the entertainment of large numbers of general
parishioners or members of particular gilds, or of anyone wishing
to help in a certain church object. With the leave of the wardens,
one or more parishioners proclaimed an ale (termed in church-
wardens' Latin a taberna or tavern), and the inhabitants were
generally ready to flock to it and bring their contributions in
kind. At the church house were held Bride-ales, to celebrate
the wedding of those too poor to provide their own wedding feast;
Clerk-ales, to find the stipend of the parish clerk ; or Bid-ales, to
help some poor man in trouble. As they grew in size, parishioners
were sometimes enabled to extend the hospitality of the church
houses to neighbouring parishes at the times of their dedication or
other special festivals, as can be shown from extant accounts of
Somersetshire, Cornwall, Derbyshire, and Norfolk. These parish
houses were usually well supplied with utensils.

288 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

This be perselles that longyth to the Cherche howse (Yatton) the yere A.D.
mcccclxxxxij delyveryd to the Wardens that yere.

Imprmis a chettyll
It. ij grett crocks
„ ij lyttl crocks
,j iiij pannys
„ a botum for a panne
„ a brandyre
„ V tun vats

It. ij kyve vates
„ ij trowys (troughs)
„ ix stands
„ barellys

„ xxj trendyllys (trendies)
„ vj borde clothis

Entries as to the purchase of wooden bowls and cups and platters
or trenchers are frequent in wardens' accounts up and down
the country. Even the young folk were anxious to keep their
church house well equipped.

1583 {Stanford^ Berks). There was brought to the churche this yeere fowre
newe platters and too newe potyngers the w^'* were of the colection
and provision of the young youthes of this Toune such as were
betwyxt x years of age and xiij haveing one bushell of the churche
whayte towards theyre charges.

The revelry and excess that occasionally attended these church-
ales probably helped to their gradual extinction ; but that their
influence was often towards innocent social enjoyment and level-
ling of too rigid class distinctions cannot possibly be doubted.
Stubbes, in his Anat077tie of Abuses (1583), attacks these ales with
his usual puritanical virulence. Against this abuse should be set
the absolutely opposite judgment of Carew as to Cornish ales,
and of Aubrey as to those of Wilts in the next century. Moreover,
the Bishop of Bath and Wells (William Piers) wrote warmly and
with some eloquence in favour of these ales, then rapidly being
suppressed, in 1633, to Archbishop Laud.^

The early accounts of Yatton, Somerset, show the constant
dependence of the wardens on this means of raising funds.

1446. Received of the Wardenys of the ale making at Whytteson

day ....... iiij li. xx d.,

^ All these authorities and others are cited in full in Hieronima Anglicana^ iii. 129-137.
It ill becomes Churchmen of the twentieth century, with their bazaars, fStes, refresh-
ments, whist-drives, and every variety of dramatical and musical entertainments, to speak
slightingly of the church-ales of our forefathers ; and certainly the old ales were never
disgraced by imitations of palmistry and fortune-telling, which are contrary to the laws
of God and man.

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES 289

1447. Received of the Wardenys of making of Ale at Wyttsundey

to the cherche ...... iiij li.

1448. For a taverne that ys made of y'' Church Ale . v marcs xj d.
145 1. Pro tabema servicie in festo Pentecoste . . . iij li.
1464. For vij tavemys made at the Churche house . . ix s. iiij d.
1509. Receyvd of Saynt Jamys Ale . . . • "j mark iiij s.
1527. For ij dosyn and a halfe drynkyng bowls and a dosyn and a

halfe of mate dysses and iiij dosyn trenchers and a ladyle xyj s.

1546. For our taverne Ale at Whytsondey . . iiij li. xiiij s. iiij d.

1547. Our taverne Ale at Wysontyde . . . v li. xx d.

In the sixteenth century it became customary at Yatton to
hold three parish ales annually, — namely, at Whitsuntide, at Mid-
summer Day, and at Hocktide in the second week after Easter
week. In 1524-5 the three ales realised £2'^^ and in 1547-8 the
great sum of £2^ 2s.

The receipts from ales of the Somersetshire parish of Tintin-
hull were on a much smaller scale. The ale of 1443 only
realised 2s. The accounts of 1447-8 show an ale profit on St.
Margaret's Day of 12s. id., and on the feast of SS. Philip and James
of 13s. 4d. These two ales were subsequently of annual occur-
rence.

Three "drynkys made by the chyrchrevys" of Shipdham,
Norfolk, in 1551, produced a profit of 38s. 4d.

The country parish of Cratfield, Suffolk, was exceptionally
dependent on church-ales for funds for the general sustentation
of the church. In 1490 a Potatio ecclesiastica (the only time we
have met with this Latinised form) was held on Passion Sunday,
at Whitsuntide and on All Saints Day, and there were two others
of private origin. In 1493 " churche-ales " were held on Passion
Sunday, Whitsunday, in harvest, and on All Souls Day, and a
fifth for Thomas Kebyll. These five also produced profits of
£2 13s. I id. for the church expenses j and the whole receipts for that
year were only £'x^ i6s. 9d. The receipts for 1494 were £'^ 15s. 7d.,
and the whole of that sum, save 7s. id., came from six ales. Other
days on which parish ales were held about this period were the
Dedication day, first Sunday in Lent, second Sunday in Lent,
Midlent Sunday, and Candlemas.

There are frequent entries as to ales in the Bassingbourne,
Cambs, accounts. In 1497-8 ten ales were held, which realised
19

290

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

;£'i47s. 3|d., towards the cost and carriage of a new treble bell from
London.

Rec' att the Fryste may ale and all charges borne . . xviij s. ij d.

Rec' att an Ale next after the seid may ale . . . vij s. xj d. ob.

Rec' att one other Ale in the Feste off the transfiguracion off

our lorde ihesu criste . . . . . x s. ij d, ob.

Rec' att an ale the next sondaye after the Assumpcion off our

blyssid ladye . . . . . . . vj s. ij d.

Rec' att an Ale the next Sondey after Mich'daye . . vij s. viij d.

Rec' att an ale that day xiiij*^^ next after . . . . v s. ij d.

Rec' atte one othir ale on the next Sunday aftyr the Feste of

seynt Kataryn the virgin and martyr . . , vj s. viij d.

Rec' att an ale on Rogacion sondaye . . . . vj s. x d.

Rec' att the laste maye ale with the towne and heynes obitt, as

with bred and ale . ..... xxvj s. viij d.

Rec' att an ale on Mydlenton sonday . . • YJ s. xj d. ob.

In losse off evyll money taken at the may ale . . . viij s.

Transcripts had been made of church-ale entries from Stoke
Courcy and Croscombe, Somerset ; St. Nicholas, Warwick ;
Wimborne, Dorset ; Great Marlow, Bucks ; All Saints, Derby,
etc. etc., but lack of space forbids their insertion. Room
must, however, be found for details of the festivities in two other
parishes.

A Whitsuntide church-ale at Seal, Surrey, in 1592, is set forth
with much circumstance in the wardens' book.

Charges laide out concerning our Churchayle-
In. primis for iij Bushells of wheatte
It. for ix Barrells of Beere
It. for veele and lame
It. for a loade of woode and the carriadg
It. for spice and frutte
It. for Butter, Creame, and mylke
It. fer clettes and nailes to the smythe
It. for Gune powder .
It. for more wheatte

It. paide to the musitions for v days play
It. to the drumer
It. for more Butter and Creame
It. for more spice and frutte

It. to Goodman Shrubbs wyfe for helpinge att the tyme
It. for meatt and Beere for the musitions and other helpers

xuj s.

xls.

xxij s. ix d.

. v s. vj d.

. vij s. j d.

iiij s.

xiiij d.

iiij s.

viij s. ij d.

XX s.

}} s.

. ij s. iij d.

. iiij s. ij d.

xij d.

viij s. iiij d.

CHURCH OR PARISH PLAYS— CHURCH-ALES 291

The accounts of the church-ale of 161 1, which lasted for four
days, are still more elaborate in detail. The meat on that occasion
included three calves, a fat sheep, and eleven lambs.

P^ the Vice, otherwise the Footle . . . . .vs.

Pd for silke points and laces . . . . . . xij s.

The church-ale was the great source of income at Mere, Wilts.
Jn 1557 the profits were £\2 os. 6d. ; in 1567, £6 i6s. 9^d.; in
1574, £j OS. I id. ; and in 1578, £7 6s. lod. In 1579 the ale was
superseded by a definite collection for the church and for the pay-
ment of the clerks' wages ; it amounted that year to £16 i8s. 4d.

1566. For Tynnen spoones and trenchers and potts bought to

thuse of the Church . . . . . . vij s.

1567. John Watts the soone of Thomas Watts is appointed to be

Cuckowe King this next yeare according to the old order,
because hee was Prince the last yeare. And Thomas
Barnerd thunger is elected Prince for this next yeare.
And because John Watts hath ben long sick hit is agreed
that if hee be not able to serve at the tyme of the Church
ale, that then John Cowend shall serve and be King in
his place for this yeare. [Like appointments up to 1578.]

In 1588, however, the "collection" gave way to the old church-
ale, the profits from which amounted to £\dr 2s. 6d. In 1593
" there was not Church ale made nor other collecion for the repayre
of the Church." The ale was resumed in 1594, when a profit was
made o{ £g. The ale profits of 1605 amounted to £1^ 6s., and in
1607 to the great sum of ;^23 6s. 8d. The last ale entry occurs in
1613, after which a definite rating system was adopted.

CHAPTER XX

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN

Gifts of Live Stock : Sheep, Cattle, Pigs, Bees — Bassingbourn, Cambs —
Short extracts — Common Bulls — Bees, Wax, and Honey — Crow Nets — *' Noyfull
Fowles and Vermyn" — Sparrow heads — St. Neots, Cornwall — Sidbury, Devon
— Eastington, Gloucestershire — Short extracts — Birds in Churches — Rats in
Churches — The Dog-whipper — Dog-tongs — A Dog Wicket

Live Stock

THE gifts of live stock to the Church were frequent.
Occasionally such gifts or bequests were speedily sold
and the cash received entered in the accounts. But in
other cases they were retained and farmed out at so much the year
by the wardens, pledges being expected for their safe custody. In
some instances the sheep and cows belonging to the church or
assigned to particular altars were numerous. Another form of
live stock were hives of bees; offerings of this kind doubtless
originated with a desire to provide pure wax for altar lights. Now
and again the wardens sold honey. In addition to the parishes
from whose accounts extracts are made, there are many particulars
of sheep at Bardwell, Suffolk ; Culworth, Northants ; Stanford,
Berks ; Munden, Herts ; and St. Michael, Bath. Also of cows at
Worfield, Salop ; and at Culworth, and Pulham St. Mary Magdalen,
Norfolk ; at the last of these there was a herd of 40. Pigs occur
in the Morebath, Devon, accounts ; and bees at Morebath and
Culworth.

^407-8 {Tavistock\ Letting of an ox xvj d., of . . . cows ij s. iiij d.
141 1-2. Letting of cattle iiij s. viij d. ; sale of wool ij s. ; sale of four cows
xlviij s. vj d. ; sale of ten goats xij s. iiij d.

Bassingbourn, Cambs, was largely dependent for its church

income on the farming of cows,

292

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN 293

1478. M** that Alls Rooge and William Rooge gaff and wyllyd a Cowe to
kepe with their obyt yerly one daye in the yer the whiche Cowe
the Chyrchwardens shuld be the betteres off the whiche John a
Condall hath in his handes and yerly keping the seid Obytt.

In 1515 the wardens received 3s. id. as rent for " i j nnylchebestes."
In the same year it was covenanted that one George Richardson
should have —

a cow of M*^ Dalyrons obett for to pay thatt yere sche hath a cawyth iij s.,
and when sche hath non xx d., deliveryd at the annunciacion of our lady
day, to pa by the halfe yer.

Among the receipts of i S 19-20 were 3s. id. for " ij milche keyse," and
three separate payments of 2s. for " one milche kowe.*' In 1524-5
there were four Hke payments of 2s. each, and two of 3s. 4d. each.
In the same year the wardens bought a cow for 60s.

The wardens of Stoke Courcy, Somerset, made a profit out of
a few parish cows, temp. Henry VII and Vlll ; 2od. was the usual
fee for a year's hire of a cow.

1 5 1 1 {Ptlton, Somerset), Ric. Sergeant and Willyam Canard
Wardens of the churche Key (Kine) a compte for iij yers.

Friste for the hyre of vj key ij yer . . . . xij s.

Item for the iij yer the hire of the key . . • vj s.

Over all charges remaneth to the chirche stocke . . iiij s.

The names of them that hath the key to hyr wt ther bonnd
and plegge.

Fyrste John Elyns j cow ; Item William Canard of East
Compton j cowe, plegge John Canard ; Item Johan Knoll
a cowe, plegge Johan Jennard ; Item John Dunkerton a
cowe, plegge Johan Barwn ; Item Johan Brouse of Pultun
a cowe, plegge Ric Sergeant ; Wyllyam Knoll a cowe,
plegge Wyllam Canard ; Stephans Aylwarde for a cowe,
plege Wylelm Aylwarde-at-Crosse ; John Tannysende of
West Compton a cowe, plege Edwarde Holdson ; Rob.
Stoke a cowe precid xiij s. iiij d.

In the 1543-4 accounts of Elmsett, Suffolk, there is a list of
thirteen cows bestowed upon the parish, with the name of the donor
and chief object of the gift, and also the name of the then farmer.
They were all given to sustain lights "afore o*" lady in the
chauncell," " afore o^ lady in the north syde of the churche," " in the
Rode Lofte,'' " before Seynt Peter," or " to fynd the pascall and

294 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

syngyng light." There is a list of nine parish cows under the
year 1564.

1 5 1 1 (5^. Edmund^ Saturn). Of Master Chasey for the hire of xx
shepe wiche John Ludlow did geve to the Mayntenyng of
Seynt Sebastians light . , . . . . vj s,

1554 (JVorksop). Rec. of John Roynes for xiij shepe and iij

lambes ........ xxvij s.

The Hants parish of Wootton had a considerable stock of sheep
and cows. Twelve sheep were given to the church by ten donors
in 1558. Among the receipts for 1600 were rents paid for four
cows at 1 2d. each, and for twenty-seven sheep at 2-^d. each. In
1623 it was agreed that they which had any of the church stock
were henceforth to bring it to the churchwardens at any feast of
All Saints, " or else give a pledge for the securitie of the Churche."

1560 {Weykill, Hants). The Stocke of the Church

John North iiij shepe . . . . . . xvj d.

John Helliar for v shepe . . . . . xij d.

John Tarrant j shepe . . . . . . iiij d.

John Knyght and John Tarrant a li. of wax p'annum Robt
Manfeld hath in his landes of shepe viij the pryce of any
shepe ij s. iiij d., or the shepe at the paryshe plesure and
to pay for the viij shepe by the year . . iij s. iiij d.

The parish of Spelsbury, Oxon, held a large stock of sheep in
the second quarter of the sixteenth century, termed in the church-
wardens' accounts Oves Ecclesie. They were hired out in lots of
from 20 to 4 for periods varying from one to five years. A rental
was paid of from 2od. to i6d. per sheep, but usually the former
scale. Sureties were required for the due return of the sheep.
The number of sheep hired in the first year of the accounts was
153. Afterwards they dwindled in numbers ; they disappear from
the accounts after 1556.

Funds for church expenses at Pittington, Durham, from 1584,
were almost entirely raised from the profits of a flock of sheep,
called "The Church Shepe," during the sixteenth century and
the first quarter of the seventeenth century. These sheep were
pastured gratis on the several farms, one sheep to be fed for every
4 rental A special rate was only resorted to for some particular
purpose on a few occasions. The accounts show year by year the

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN 295

receipts for sheep, lambs, and wool, and the disbursements and
purchases of stock. But in 1674 the church flock, being in a
decayed state, was sold for £6 3s. 2d. ; it then consisted of six
wethers, ten ewes, and five lambs. Thenceforth the system of
regular rates was adopted.

Occasionally sheep were given or bequeathed to the wardens,
and almost immediately sold. Thus at St. Columb Major two
sheep were given by different donors, and were sold respectively
for 3s. and 2s. 6d. In 1556 "one ew sheepe " was left by will to
the church ; it was sold for 4s.

1 63 1 {St Mabyn^ Cornwall). For pitch tar and tallow for signe-

ing y^ Parish sheepe . . . . .7s. 6d.

The keeping of a parish bull, even when there was no stock of
parish kine, was by no means an exceptional incident, but was
only part of the general semi-communistic principles upon which
the unenclosed lands of England {i.e. by far the larger portion of
the soil) were then, and for long afterwards, held. We have met
with entries relative to the parish bull in old parish accounts of
Allestree, Marston-on-Dove, and Tickenhall, and, in short, in all
the old accounts of Derbyshire parishes that we have searched.
At Eckington there was a parish boar.

1592 {Repton). It, given to Rycharde Prince for Recevynge the

bull and looking to hym . . . . j d.

At Bassingbourn, Cambs, the " comyn bull " was sold for 9s.
in 1503-4, and for 12s. in 1515. A common bull was bought for
7s. in 1507, and another in 1500 for los. gd. A "town bull"
repeatedly occurs in the Culworth, Northants, accounts.

In 1458 the wardens of Tintinhull paid 3|-d. for a beehive.
Thomas Trychay, in 1529, "gave unto the store of Jesus and to
the store of Saint Sidwell " a swarm of bees to maintain a taper
before them in the church of Morebath.

1500 {Worfield^ Salop). Pro duobus apiaribus (hives) . . ij d.

In 1603 the parish of St. Columb Major owned " a but of bees
with three swarmes with Mr. heugh Boscawen." In the following
year Mr. Boscawen held four butts and had to give to the wardens
an *' inventory indented " to show that two butts were the parish

296

THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

property. In 1616 the parish sold honey to the extent of 1 2d.
The wardens of Culworth and Fordwich also profited by the sale
of honey from church hives.

In 1532 it was enacted (24 Hen. VIII, c. 10), in consequence of
the "innumerable number *' of rooks, crows, and choughs, that
every parish, township, or hamlet was to provide itself with a net
for their destruction, to maintain it for ten years, and to present
it annually before the manor court steward. Twopence was to
be paid for every 12 old crows, rooks, or choughs by the owner or
occupier of the manor or lands.

THE CROWE NET SET OR BENT ^

In 1566 it was provided (8 EHz. c. 15), in an Act for the
preservation of grain, that the last-named Act as to rook nets be
renewed. It was further provided that the churchwardens, with
other six parishioners, should assess holders of land or tithe for
the destruction of " Noyfull Fowles and Vermyn'' to provide a
fund to reward every person bringing " any Heades of old Crowes,
Choughes, Pyes, or Rookes, for the heades of every three of them
a penny, and for the Heades of everie syxe yong Crowes, etc., a
penny, and for everie Syxe Egges of anye of them unbroken a penny,

^ An exceedingly rare small 4to book, by L. M(ascall), was printed in 1590, termed
Sundrie Engines and Trappes. It is full of woodcuts, from which this drawing of the
parish Crow Net and the three following cuts of traps are taken.

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN 297

and lykewise for everye twelve Stares (starlings) Heades a penny."
Such heads and eggs were to be brought before the wardens and
assessors at least once a month, and a time of account was to be
made in writing as to what money had been paid for them, and also
for *' the Heades of suche other ravenyng Byrdes and Vermin. For
everie Heade of Martyn Hawkes, Furskytte, Moldekytte, Busarde,
Schagge,Carmerat,orRyngtale(hen harrier),two pence; andfor every
two Egges of them one penny ; for evry Iron (Heron) or Osprayes
Head, fower pence; for the Heade of everie Woodwall (Green
Woodpecker), Pye, Jaye, Raven or Kyte, one penny ; for the Head
of everie Byrde which is called the Kinges Fysshr, one penny ;
for the Head of everie Bulfynche or other Byrde that devowreth
the blowth of Fruite, one penny ; for the Heades of every Foxe
or Gray, twelve pence; and for the Head of everie Fitchere,
Folcatte, Wesell, Stote, Fayre bade or Wilde Catte, one penny ;
for the Heades of everie Otter or Hedgehogges, two pence ; for the
Heades of everie three Rattes or twelve Myse, one penny ; for the
Heades of everie Moldewarpe or Wante one halfpenny." The
heads and eggs, after account had been taken of them, were " to
be burned, consumed, or cut in sunder before Churchwardens and
Taxours."

This Act was expressly renewed in 1572 (14 Eliz. c. 11), and
again in 1598 (39 Eliz. c. 18).

In the Court Leet Records of Leominster for 1566 it is entered
that—

They (the jury) present the churchwardens of the towne to have incurred
the penalty of the Statute in that case made and provided for not keeping of
such netts as whereby crowes and such other vermine might be destroyed,
which devoure and spoyle come to the greate prejudice of many of the
inhabitants within the Borough.

For a short time after the passing of the Elizabethan Act, it
would appear that the statutable rate for the destruction of
vermin was maintained. This was the case at St. Michael, Bishop
Stortford, where Edward Waglley, " Collectore of all man' of
veyrmane/' received, between 12th April 1569 and the like date
1571, ^2 I2s. 7^d., in payment for the slaughter of 141 hedgehogs,
S3 moles, 6 weasles, i polecat, 1476 mice, 80 rats, 202 crows' eggs,

2 98 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

128 pies' eggs, 154 heads of crows and jackdaws, 24 starlings,
S hawks, and 5 kingfishers.

Five years earlier than the Elizabethan Act, the wardens of
Woodbury, Devon, felt justified in charging a vermin destroyer
in their accounts.

1560-1. Paid to John Westcott and John Holwell for a fox nett

bought this yere . . . . . iiij s. viij d.

There was evidently no intention in Elizabethan days of
suffering the Act to become a dead letter. In 1575 the Shropshire
parish of Worfield was " amased by the commysoners at bridge-
north for not destroyinge foules and varmynt according to the
Statute in that behalf xxx s. x d." As a consequence of this a
general massacre took place in the following year of foxes, otters,
badgers, polecats, hedgehogs, rats, and mice, as well as of magpies,
rooks, crows, choughs, kites, bullfinches, and even of the innocent
little titmice.

Rewards for the killing of urchins first appear in the accounts
of St Nicholas, Warwick, in the year 1570, when one John Seynte
received 4d. " for kyllynge off serten urchyns," and a further penny
"agayne for ye same doynge." In 1501, Henry Winfilde obtained
21 pence fox " kyllinge off xxj orchins." The price had risen to
twopence a head in 1585. Twelve urchins were paid for at
twopence a head in 1589, " accordinge to the statute." Twelve
more urchins were slain in 1590, one of them by *' Cawdelles wyffe."
A few are mentioned almost each year down to i6i8, when the
numbers amounted to seventeen. In 1622 the number of those
slaughtered had grown to thirty-two.

The entries as to the destruction of noxious fowls and vermin
are frequent in the parish accounts of Minchinhampton, Gloucester-
shire ; the victims included otters, badgers, foxes, and hedgehogs,
also kites, jays, and pies.

1575. For a crowe nett . . . . . ij s. iiij d.

To John Boure at Gloucester for the forfuytinge of the
statute of noysome fowles and vermyne lost in the tyme
of John Hawkes and Thomas Kembridge . . . x s.

1596. For a grayes head ...... xiij d.

1634. For the destroying of noysum foule and varments . . 14s.

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN

299

The accounts of Cratfield, Suffolk, about 1580, show that
payments were made for the heads of buzzards, magpies, " cadowes "
(jackdaws), "haupes" (bullfinches), and "hoddespyts" (probably
woodpeckers, still locally called woodspites).

The wardens' accounts for 1585-6 enter six payments for
" wilde cattes '' at 6d. a head.

In 1619 the St. Columb Major accounts record payment to
one John Bay for bringing in the heads of three " Auters.'' In
the earlier years of the St. Columb accounts, which begin in 1585,
the vermin entries are rare, but towards the end of the seventeenth
century the cost sometimes ran up to £2 in the year. The vermin
heads were brought into the church. In 1785 the parish "ordered
that no more Fitchers Otters and Badgers Heads be paid for by the
Church Wardens.*' In 1795, 3d. a dozen was offered for sparrows.

The amount of vermin destroyed in Cheddar parish, according
to the accounts from 1612 to 1674, was simply prodigious. As to
the birds, next in number to the sparrows, the payment for which
was id. a dozen, came the *' whoops" or bullfinches, the tariff price
for which was I2d. the dozen heads. Choughs were valued at
6d. the dozen heads, and crows, rooks, jays, and " peimaggetes" or
" meigetepeys " (magpies) at I2d. the dozen. Polecats and
hedgehogs realised 2s. the dozen, \yhilst badgers and foxes fetched
1 2d. a head.

The parish accounts of St. Neots, Cornwall, are prolific in
vermin entries throughout the seventeenth century. The ten
following representative years give a fair idea of the nature and
number of the vermin annually destroyed.

Year.

Fitches.

Foxes,

Wild

Cats.

Badgers.

Kites.

1621
1640
1658
1660
1670
1680
1682
1687
1690
1700

33
32
37
53
44
35

3f
56

2
4
9
2

9

II

6

9

I

2

5

22

2

5

3
6
6

I
I
I

IS
6

18
6

300 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Fitches, spelt also " fitchets " and " fitchews," was the usual
name for polecats, but the term occasionally embraced stoats and
weasels. An otter occurs once or twice, and now and again
" vautors." Vautors appear to have been sea birds, but they were
certainly not vultures, as has been somewhat wildly suggested.
Rats to the number of 52 were paid for in 1677, and ten years
later 28.

At the end of an inventory of goods in the church of Ragnall,
Notts, occurs the following entry : —

If there is likwise a crow nett and a birdnet with the implements thereunto
belonging in the hands of John Ashton 1620. These netts still remayneth in
the hands of the sayd John Ashton, viz., anno 1621.

The parish accounts of Sidbury, Devon, hold the palm, so far
as our experience goes, in the wholesale and varied destruction
of fauna, not a few of which were as beautiful as they were
harmless. The killing of " woopes," " oops," or bullfinches began
in 1622 ; in 1667 a penny apiece was paid for 45 heads. Six greys
or badgers were destroyed in 1622 ; they are of frequent subsequent
occurrence, the reward varying from 6d. to I2d. In 1625 occurs
one of the earliest references to sparrow slaughter : —

For the kyllinge of 8c sper' .... • viij d.

Foxes became such a nuisance that in 1651 £2 was paid to
a professional " fox catcher " ; he was evidently a stranger from a
distance, for one Richard Westcott was paid is. 2^d. **to show
the fox-catcher about the parishe."

In 1667 four greys, two foxes, and seven jays were destroyed;
but 1668 was a record year up to that date — the victims included four
greys, eight foxes, five hedgehogs, forty-two jays, and fifty-seven
" oops." In the following year the greys' heads numbered thirteen.
In 1676 the "bag" of vermin was large and varied; it included
a polecat, seven stoats, seven greys, a fox, twenty-one hedgehogs,
forty - one jays, twenty - five *' woops," seven " maggate pyes,"
sixteen rooks, and a sparrow hawk. The rooks were probably
crows ; the wardens also spent 7s. this year " for a Rooke net."
In the following year two kites were among the victims, and the
fashion having once been set in magpies, the wardens received eleven
heads, though the reward was only a halfpenny each. In 1678

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN

301

sixty-one beautiful magpies were slaughtered, and in this year the
term rooks was dropped in favour of crows ; the magpies' deaths
rose to sixty-eight in 1679, and to seventy-five in 1682. The
head of a " woodwall," or green woodpecker, obtained a penny.
In 1686 the victims Included nine kites.

The vermin payments for 1687 had increased so rapidly that
the wardens gave up entering exact details in their accounts,
and several times made entries such as this : " For diverse more for
vermine 6s. 4-Jd." Foxes by this time had risen considerably in

A HATCH TOJtAKE POLECATS, AS ALSO OTHER VERMIN

value; 53. was paid for an old fox and 2s. 6d. for a young one.
The total vermin expenditure of this year was £2 us. 3-|-d., or
more than a tenth of the total disbursements, which in 1687
amounted to £2.1 153. 6^d. In 1689 fifteen fitchers or polecats
were killed ; the term may sometimes perhaps be applied to a
stoat or weasel, but not so in this case, as there are separate
entries of these smaller animals; twelve fitchers occur in 1691.
In 1703 twopence apiece was paid for sixty-one hedgehogs, and
the same price for seventeen polecats. The last of these Sidbury
accounts is that which was presented in 1724; the vermin

3 4
9 7
7 2i

302 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

enumerated are eight greys, three foxes, six polecats, ten stoats,
fifteen hedgehogs, five sparrow hawks, thirteen jays, nine " hoops "
or bullfinches, and absolutely fifty-five titmice at a farthing
apiece !

There are many noteworthy vermin entries in seventeenth- and
eighteenth-century accounts of Eastington, Gloucestershire.

1628. Layd out for crowes or devouring fowles . . . iiij d.

1663. Layd out to y^ Sparrow Catcher . . . .20

1697. For Hegogs and Fichers
1699. For 18 hedghoggs and a fitche
1703. Pd for Hedghogs and other vermints
17 14. P^ for Birds and Varments
1722. P"^ to Ed Stephens jun*^ for seven Wood pickers . .12

P*^ my son for 3 Hedghoggs and 5 Hoops and 6 wood
pickers . . . . . . . i 11

1724. Pd for wood peckers, hedgehoggs, hoops, Kites (9), joyes,

fitchers, and foxes . . . . . 127

1733. For all sorts of vermants . . . . 3 16 9

The payments for 1740 amounted to ;^3 2s. lod., including 12s.
"for sparrows and tomtits," and 9s. lod. for "hickwalls" In 1744
the vermin charges rose to £4 19s. lo^d. Hickwall or hackwall is
a south-west provincialism for the smaller or blue tit.
At Pittington, co. Durham, in 1628 —

It was agreed upon by the gentlemen and twelve of this parish that who-
saver shall take any fox, or pate or badger in this parish and bring the heade
to the church shall have twelve pence paid by the churchwardens.

'* Pate " is a north-country a/zas for a badger, and is still in
occasional use.

The slaughter of ravens, foxes, and hedgehogs was excessive
in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, and must have seriously interfered
with the economy of nature. In 1688 sixteen foxes were killed.
The wholesale destruction of ravens was grievous ; in 17 10 no
fewer than 191 ravens were paid for, at 3d. a head. The following
years were most fateful to hedgehogs.: 64 in 1672,62 in 171 1,
103 in 1720, 123 in 1721, and 161 in 1725.

The Kendal accounts testify to much seventeenth-century
destruction of vermin. In some years payment was made for as

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN

303

many as 20 fox heads and 18 badger heads. On 19th January
1679 the parish decided on the following scale of payments : " Fox
head I2d. ; brocke 6d, ; otter 6d. ; a clean mart 4d. ; a foul mart 2d. ;
a wild catt 46. ; a raven 2d., if sane to flying. The said heads to
be brused and caryed to the Kent side and thrown in to midle of
the water."

There are other notable and frequent vermin entries in the
accounts of Hartshorne, Derbyshire ; Hartland, Devon ; Camborne

THE WHIPPE OR SPRINGE TRAPPE

and Liskeard, Cornwall, and Thruxton, Hants, for which space
cannot be found.

The following are a further selection from vermin gleanings,
needing no comments, from parish accounts up and down the
country, arranged, so far as may be, chronologically : —

1566-7 (Tavistock), To William Gaye towards his charge of

kyllyng of Foxes . . . . . . x s.

Jf573-4- To Willm Gayefor kyllyng of a Fox . . . xij d.

For Willm Gaye half yeres rent for takyng of Foxes . ix s.

1627-8. For killinge of Fyve foxes . . . . .vs.

304

THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

For killinge of seaven foaxes . . . . vij s.

1567-8 {S. Tawton, Devon). For iij hopes heads . . . iij d.

For vj hopys and ij pyes . . . . . vj d.

1568. {^North Elmham). For ij foxes heades accordinge to the

statute . . . . . . . ij s.

For iiij polecattes and a wilde cattes hed . . . vd.
For a rooke net . . . . . ij s. viij d.

1569 {Ludlow). For xvij dosen of myce heades . . . xviij d.

For ix krowes heades . . . . . iij d.

For iij young crowes heades unto M" Smithes son of

Crednyll . . . . . . . j d.

For iij crowes heades unto M^ Barnabes sone . . j d.

THE MOULL TRAPPE

For vj chohes (choughs) heades . . . . j d.

1572. Paid M"" Farrers man Coxshall for raittes heades, at the

apoyntment of M"" Bayleff Mason . . . xij d.

1577. For a rattes head and a wontes (mole) . . . j d.

For XX wontes heades . . . . . x d.

1584 {Burton Latimer). For foure dosyn of mooles . . xvj d.

1590. Paide to the molecatcher . . . . vij s. vj d.

1601 {Great Wigston, Leicestershire). Twopenny levy a yerd-

land for catching moles . . . . .1120

1620. Paid for 16 dozen of sparrows . . . .14

1622. Paid to a man earnest to take 100 dozen sparrows . 6

1608 {St. Oswald, Durham). To John Medcalf for three fox

heads that he did kill within this parish . . .iij s.

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN

305

1610. For two oulde foxheades .....

For fower yong fox heades .

[Also in various subsequent years.]
1636 {Strood^ Kent). Paid to Thomas Coulter for Three Foxe
heads .......

Paid to Henry Story for Two grayes heades

[Seven more fox heads and two badgers' heads this
year.]
1657 (PrestwicK), P^ to Robert Ward for killinge of 130
roackes, crowes, and pies ....

For ringteals (hen harriers) and kiets and one heron
Laid down for severall varments
1666 i^Wimborne), For 57 dozen of Sparrowes .
1674 {St. Mabyfis^ Cornwall), To John Stevens[for four Kites
heads .....

1682. To Will Jory for two fitches head and one stotte

To John Philips for a wild cats head
1709. For twelve polecats ....

1677 {RuardyUy Gloucestershire). For 12 Fox's heads

1683 {Meihley^ Yorks). Given to M"" Savile boy for a fox

head ....

Paid to M"" Savile man for two fox heads
1684. To John Arnell for foure foumards heads

Paid for two folmards heads
1686. For two fox heads .
1689. Paid for an otters head

1684 {Edenbridge). For 4 Polcats Heads 8d., for 3 Hedgehoggs'

heads 6d.
1730 {Hawksheadj Lancashire). For two foxes killing near
Graithwaite 3s. 4d. per piece and 2 cubs in Claiffe is.
8d. per piece

1731. 4 Ravens kiUing 4d. p. piece
A fox kiUing .

1732. For an old fox and one cubb
1 1 raven heads

1734. For one old fox and 3 cubbs

[Foxes and ravens continued to fetch similar prices for
later years.]

ijs.
xvj d.

3 o
2 o

3 4
I 6

15 9

4S. 9d.

8d.
3d.

6d.

2S.
I2S.

1 O

2 O
I O

10 O

I 4

5 o

7 6

3 8

12 6
several

Occasional entries of payment for snakes appear in late
eighteenth-century and early nineteenth-century accounts. Thus
at Culworth, Northants, in 1715, 6s. 8d. was paid for a score of old
snakes, and 6s. 6d. for 39 young snakes. In 1802, los. 6d. was
paid for 143 young snakes.

20

3o6

THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Birds in Churches

Churchwardens were called upon from time to time, as they
are at present, to deal with the nuisance of birds gaining entrance
to churches. The following extracts will suffice to illustrate this
trouble : —

1 5 12 ( Wigtoft^ Lincolnshire). To Robert Haddenelle for stopping

of Caddows (jackdaws) oute . ....

1555 {Smarden^ Kent). Paid to the sexton for mendinge holes to

kepe the culvers (pigeons) out of the churche
1559 {Worksop). For makyng of the trellyeses to kepe out

Crowes . . . . . . . ij

1566 {St. Michael^ Worcester). To WiUiam the Tyler for ij dayes

worke, stoppyng between the raughters of the churche to

kepe furthe pygeons, etc. ....
1588 {Stanford^ Berks). For stoppinge out the pygeons .
1587 {Ludlow). For stoppinge choughes out of the churche
1599 {Morton, Derbyshire). To John Lye for stoping the churche

forth of the Caddowes (jackdaws) the loth of May
1618 {Sidbury, Devon). For stopping out the Culvers (pigeons)
1627 {All Saints, Derby). For powder and shott to kill pigeons

in the Church ....

1631. For stopping the pigeons out of Church
1702 {Hexham). P^ for powder to banish the pidgeons
171 1 {Redenhall, Norfolk). For worke and stufife and nailes in

stopping out y^ owles at ye church .
1562-3 {St, Martin, Leicester). Payd for ij pound and a half of

bird-lyme for to kyll the starlings abowt the churche
1563-4. P*^ for gunpowder to beate ye starlings from y* churche
1564-5. Pade for iiij boltes for to shoute at starlins .

Payde for halfe a pound of gunpowder for to shout

starlins ......

1625-6. Pd for powther and shott to kill starlings in the Church
1746 {Sapcote, Leicestershire). For shooting sparrows in

church and powder .....
1759. {St. John, Chester). Paid for bird lime to catch Owles in the

Church .....

at

ye

iiij d.

ijd.

s. vj d.

xij d.
iij d.
iiij d.

iij d.

74d.

1 o.
lod.

3 6

XX d.
ijd,
vjd.

ixd.
ijd.

2 6

The following entry in the wardens' accounts of Bradeston,
Norfolk, probably refers to precautions against the entrance of
birds : —

1544. Paid for a hesppe of twynne for y'= nette at ye church

dore . . . . • • . . ij d. ob.

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN 307

Rats in Churches

There is testimony in some of the earliest warden accounts of
the mischief done by rats in churches. In 1457 the purchase of
"rattes beyte" is mentioned in the accounts of St. Andrew
Hubbard. Three " rat trappes for the chirche " were purchased by
the wardens of St. Michael, Cornhill, at a cost of 6d. The follow-
ing entries in the books of a third City church, St. Mary-at-Hill,
tell of the definite mischief effected by rats, and of the means
taken to destroy them : —

1501-2. For mendyng of the best Antyphones Cuveryng the whych

the Rattes had hurte . . . . . xij d.

1523-4. For Milke and Rattisbane for the Rattes in the chirch . j d. ob.

1527-8. For an eln of fyne lynnyn cloth to amend the sepulture

cloth wherat it was eiton with rattes . . .xij d.

1537-8. To the rat taker for laying of his bayts . . . iiij d.

The Dog-whipper

In days long prior to a dog tax, dogs abounded in great
numbers, and almost every cottager possessed one to aid in
fetching his cow or a few sheep from the common. They were
often in the habit of attending church with their masters, from
the squire downwards. To regulate their behaviour and to
remove the unseemly, almost every parish possessed a modestly
paid official termed the dog-whipper. The absurd suggestion has
been printed by several would-be folklorists, and repeated in a
Herefordshire volume in 191 2, that the custom of taking dogs to
church was introduced by the Puritans to show their contempt
for the sacraments, and for old-fashioned reverence. This is
ridiculous, for entries as to dog-whippers occur in pre-Reformation
wardens' accounts, and at the present time dogs attend mass in
out-of-the-way chapels in Ireland; I have myself seen fine wolf-
hounds crouching behind the shepherds in churches of the French
Pyrenees.

A dog-whip still hangs in the vestry of Baslow, Derbyshire;
it has a stout lash, some three feet long, fastened to a short ash
stick, with leather bound round the handle. See Cox's Churches
of Derbyshire^ \i. 61-2.

3o8

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

ROBERT SCARLETT, SEXTON OF PETER-
BOROUGH CATHEDRAL (OB. I591), WITH
DOG- WHIP

tury south door of St. Mul-
lion, Cornwall, has at the
base a diminutive latchet
door 1 1 in. square, contrived
to expedite the ejection of
dogs without the necessity of
opening the big door.

In later days it was cus-
tomary to add the care of
unruly young bipeds to the
duties of the dog-whipper.
The following are a selection
from the very numerous re-
ferences to this official which
occur in old parish books : —

1 536 {Culworth), For
whypps for
dogges . ij d.

In the church of Clynnog
Fanon, North Wales, there is
a wonderful instrument for
the removal of ill-behaved
dogs. It is a long pair of
iron " lazy keufs," with short
spikes at the end for laying
hold of the unhappy victim.
There is another wooden pair
at Llanynys, near Denbigh;
when closed they are about
2 ft. 6 in. long, but when
opened for use would extend
to a distance of 6 or 7 feet.
A third wooden pair used
to be in the Herefordshire
church of Clodock, but they
have been removed to a
Welsh museum.

The early sixteenth -cen-

WOODEN DOG-TONGS, CLODOCK
HEREFORDSHIRE

LIVE STOCK— VERMIN 309

1542 {Ludlow). For whippynge doges out of the church . . viij d.

1569. For ij belle for the whip to whip dogges out of church . iiij d.

1578-9. Payd Edward Humfries for his wage for keepinge doggs

oute of the Chuche . . . . . .vs.

In the volume of churchwarden's accounts of St. Nicholas,
Warwick, extending from 1547 to 1621, the dog-whipper is named
almost every year. At first his annual salary was 6d., but after a
time it increased to I2d. The various ways of describing his
office are not a little amusing. In 1574 occurs the entry: — ■

" Payde to John Whetley for Rebukyng the dogges owt off the churche,

xij d."

In 1581 other duties were assigned to this official: —

" Payde to John Whettley for whippynge dogges owt of the church and
keepinge order amonge boys, xx d."

A little later these twofold duties received a further rise in salary,
and the maximum of 2s. was reached. The following is the entry
of 1596: —

" Paid to John Rose his whoU yeres waiges for Overseinge of the boyes, and
to whipe the Doges forth of the church, ij s."

1618 {Staplegrove^ Somerset). To Richard Searll for whipping

the dogges . . . . . . . j s. iiij d.

1663. For a Coard for Searll to whippe the dogs ... id.

1618 {Bray, Berks). Paid for a jerkin to Edward Johnson accord-
ing to ancient custom for whipyng dogs out of the church vj s. iiij d.
1 63 1 {Prestburyy Cheshire). To a boy to beate dogs forth of the

Church . . . . . . . X d.

1635 {Hartshorne^ Derby). Geevin for a wip to wip dodges out of

church . . . . , . . ij d.

Paid to Robert Cock for whiping the doges out of the church xij d.
1647 {Barnsley). To Richard Hodgaris wife for whipping dogs . 2 o

One instance among very many of the manifold duties assigned
to the dog-whipper in the eighteenth century may be cited : —

1736 {Prestwick, Manchester). Resolved that 13s. a year be given to
George Grimshaw and a new coat (not exceeding 20s.) every other
year, for his trouble and pains in wakening sleepers in ye church
whipping out dogs, keeping children quiet and orderly, and keeping
ye pulpit and church walks clean.

CHAPTER XXI
OLLA PODRIDA

Incense — Juniper — Peter's Pence or Smoke Farthings — The Cap trade —

Wine at weddings — Jewellery for brides — King's Evil — Sugar loaves— Plague-
Fire appliances — Some odds and ends

THE entries as to the purchase of Incense are curiously-
few, considering its constant use, in pre- Reformation
accounts. Mr. Atchley is probably right in saying that
" in most places it was the business of the curate to provide in-
cense ; hence the churchwardens' accounts do not, as a rule, contain
the notes of payment for it."^ The All Saints, Bristol, accounts
begin in 1407, and there is no incense entry until near the end
of Henry viifs reign. The following are all the incense entries
for that parish : —

1 533-4. Costes halowyng of the gret belle : payd for di a li of franke-

insens . . . . . . . jd. ob.

1539-40. Item frankeinsense . . . . . . ij d.

1553-4. The Setting up Another Awter : pd for halfe a pounde of

franceinnsense . . . . . . j d.

1555-6, Payed for franckyn sense . . . . . iij d.

1557-8. Paid for frangencence . . . . . . ij d.

[Repeated three times].

1559-60, Item for frangensence . . . . . . iij d.

Mr. Atchley cites the comparatively few incense entries from
printed accounts such as those of Ludlow, Weybridge, Morebath,
Yatton, St. Mary Cambridge, and of several City churches. Those
that I have noted in unprinted accounts confirm the statement
that ceremonial incense entries seldom found their way into
wardens' accounts. It is not, therefore, fair to argue that cere-
monial incense ceased altogether in Edward VI or Elizabeth's reign
because of lack of entries.

^ Incense in Divine Worship (1903), pp. 359-60.
310

OLLA PODRIDA 311

Nevertheless it is but just to state that in the great majority of
the numerous cases in which incense occurs in parish books from
the accession of Elizabeth to the end of the eighteenth century, its
use was obviously to perfume the building or to act as a disinfectant.
The following are but a fourth of the instances collected : —

1562 (St Mary, Ca7nbHdge), For frankincense to perfume the

church . . . . . . . j d.

1579-80 {St. Edmund, Sarum). Coles and fronkinsence agains^^

Christmas ... ... xiv d.

1588 {St. Peter, Winchester). For p'fume at M"'= Palmers buriall iiij d.
1603. For the perfuminge the Churche the som of . , . 20

1604 {St. Ewen, Bristol). For frankansehce and holly for the

Church . . . . . . iij d.

i593~4 {^i' Thomas, Sarum). Frankansence and sweete wood . I2d.

1630-1. Frankinsense ....... 2d.

1637 {Redenhall, Norfolk). For frankinsense for the church and

sweete wood . . . . . . . vj d.

1639-40 {St. Martin, Leicester). P^ for sweete wood to burne in the

church ........ 6d.

In three cases the use of frankincense has been noted in con-
nection with the burial of paupers ; it was probably placed on the
body in infectious cases.

1541 {St. Columb Major). Paid George Collins for a shroude for ye pavers
daughter and for an halfe pounde of Francke encence and for a penarde of
threede, 8s. 5d.

An interesting entry occurs in 1595 of the non-ceremonial use
of incense at St. Margaret, Westminster : —

Also pd for franckensence in the church in the time of visitation, iiij d.

■ This does not refer to any episcopal or archidiaconal visitation,
but to an outbreak of plague.

During the period of the great Civil War, the church of St.
Laurence, Reading, was repeatedly used as a temporary barrack by
the soldiers of both parties. In 1664 a shilling was spent on frank-
incense to sweeten the church after one of these visits. The
following entries in the next two years speak for themselves : —

1645. Pd to Val. Fallowe for mending seats in the church wch the

souldiers broke downe , , , , ,32

312 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Pd to Dauid Browne for making clean the Church twice,

and for pitch and frankincense . . . -50

1646. Pd for lu of frankincence and of pitch to perfume the

church ....... 8

Pd for 2^' of pitch and 2li of frankincence used in the

church . . . . . . .14

Pd to Dan. Browne for watching and making cleane the

church when the soldiers were last here . . .40

1665 {Solihull^ Warwickshire). Payd for bread and wine and

frankincense for the first Sacrament . . .13s. 4d.

1741 {St. Peter^ Barnstaple). Pd for Tobacco and Frankincense

burnt in the Church . . . . . .26

1752. Pd for Frankincense, Senemon and Charcole . .30

Sprigs of juniper, burnt on a brazier, were sometimes used in
churches as an adjunct to, or in place of, frankincense for odorous
or deodorising purposes.

1563 {All Hallowes^ Steyning). In the time of the sickness: for

gennefore for the Church ..... viij d.
1584 {Cratfield^ Suffolk). Pd to William Clamp for a swete ode

(hod) off Juneper . . . . . . iiij d.

1589 {Pittington., Durham). To Bettres Dobson and her daughter

for bringinge of two burthen of Jenepers to the church . iij d.
1667 {St. Nicholas^ Durham). For frankencence and juniper . 6d.

1675. For juniper and frankincence to Rob'''^ Healey upon the L'^

Bpps comeing into the church . . . .10

1680. FoJT frenkincence, benjamin and juniper att the Bpp's

preaching . . . . . . .26

[Benjamin, i.e. Benzoin, a drug much used as a perfume.]
1677-8 {St. Mary^ Reading). For oyle frankencence and juniper . 6s. 3d.

Peter's Pence

The nature and origin of Peter's Pence, known otherwise as
Smoke farthings, Whitsun farthings, Pentecostals, etc., have been
already set forth under St. Edmund, Sarum (pp. 73-4). St.
Nicholas, Worcester, paid 5d. yearly to the Dean and Chapter as
Whitsun farthings, but at St. Helen in the same city they were
called Peter farthings. Milton Abbot, Devon, paid sd. annually
as Peter farthings. St. Neot, Cornwall, contributed I2d. a year to
Exeter Cathedral down to 1642, usually under the title of Peter
farthings. Smoke farthings is the term continually used in the

OLLA PODRIDA 313

accounts of St. Mary, Reading, from 1555 to 1642 ; the sum varied
from 2s. id. to 2s. 3d. Smoke farthings occur in Yarnton, Oxford,
accounts from 161 1 to 1702.

1349 (St Michael, Bath). Pro denariis beati Petri . . vij d. ob.

1 5 18 {St. Giles J Reading) For Petre pens to the official . iiij s. j d.

1574 „ To the Official for smoke ferthynges . iiij s. j d.
1 544 ,j To the official for petre pens alias smoke

ferthynges . . . . ij s. j d.

1547-8 {St. Nicholas, Warwick). Payd for whitson ferthynges to

the Sumner , . . ij s.

1549-50 „ „ Payd to the bisshope of Wyss-

ieters offyceres callyd Whytson Farthinges . . ij s.

1557-8 {Mere, Wilts). For Smoke Ferthynges to Rome . . xix d.

1575 {Minchinhampton, Gloucester). To the sumnerfor peterpense

or smokye farthynges somtyme due to the Anthecrist of

roome . . . . . . . x d.

1 576. For Pentecost money, otherwyseipeterpence, sometyme payed

to Antechryst of Roome ..... xyj d.

In 1570 a sumptuary statute was passed for the supposed
encouragement of home manufacture, whereby it was enacted that
any male person over six years of age (except nobles, knights,
gentlemen of 20 marks by year in land, or such as have " borne
office of worship " ) who did not wear upon the Sundays and holy
days a " cappe of wool, knit, thicked and dressed in England, and
only dressed and finished by some of the trade of cappers, was to
be fined 3 s. 4d. for each day's transgression. This statute, like
others of its class, speedily became a dead letter in most parts of
England ; and where it was put into operation the fines were much
mitigated. There are various entries with respect to these caps in
the Cratfield, Suffolk, accounts.

1578. Payde at Blybrough before the Comyssoners for caps . xj s.

1580. Payde to the baly for a default of weanng of cappes . ij s.

1582. Payed to the Baliffe for a mercyment for all the Townsmen

for not wearing their Cappes according unto statute . ij s.

1585. To the Queues Balye for not wearing of capps . . ij s.

[Like entries for 1588, 1589, and 1592 show that the

general fine on the township for not complying with this

statute was reduced to is.]
1588 {Milton Abbot). To John Cragge for the fyne of wearing of

hats this year . . , . . . xij d.

314 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1598 {Minchinhampton^ Gloucester). Payed for a forfett for not

wearinge of Cappes . . . . . . iiij d.

1605 {Tavistock). Payd to M"" Thomas Mohun the Earll of Bed-
fords hundred Bayleif in burdewyke Court sett upon
the p'ishners for that they offende the Statute in not
wearing Capps on the Sondaie . . . iij s. iiij d.

A singular marriage custom was enjoined by the old Sarum
Use. At the end of the Mass a bowl of wine was produced in
which were soaked certain small cakes or wafers termed sops.
The priest blessed the bowl or maser in these words : —

Benedic Domine panem istum et hunc potum, et hoc vasculum, sicut
benedixisti quinque panes in deserto, et sex hydrias in chanaan Galilee,
sed sint sani et sobrii atque immaculate omnes gustantes ex iis.

The contents were then drunk by the bridegroom and bride.
An inventory of 1507 in the wardens' accounts of Pilton
names

A stonding maser to serve for brides at their weddyng.

A silver-gilt bridal cup of this nature was bequeathed to St.
Laurence, Reading, in 1534. Prior to the visit of the marauding
commissioners, the authorities astutely passed the following
resolution to prevent its seizure : —

St. Michael 25 Hen. viii. At this day it is agreid that the Gilt Cupp of
the gifte of Mrs. Hide always to remayne in the custodye of the Mayor,
if the Mayor dwell in the p'sshe. And if the Mayor dwell out of the
p'sshe then to remayne and be in the Custodye of hym that was last
Mayor of the same p'sshe, to thuse declared in the will of the said
Mrs. Hide.

An early Elizabethan entry adds : —

The said Cuppe was given for the use to be carried before all brydds that
were wedded in St. Lawrence Church. And now is turned to be
occupied there at all tymes when nede is to occupie more than one
commyon cuppe at one tyme, to use and occupye it y" as a commyon
cuppe.

This cup is also named in 1607, when it had reverted to its
original custody : —

A fayre cupp with a cover. Whosoever is mayor in this parishe keepeth
him.

OLLA PODRIDA 3^5

Various parish books testify to the. fact that the use of the
bridal cup in church by no means expired with the Reformation.
Several entries, such as the following from Devonshire, have
generally been misinterpreted to refer to celebration of the
Eucharist at the wedding: —

1595 (Talaton). Paid for bread and wine for 3 weddings . . 6d.

1601 „ Paid for bread and wine against a wedding . 2d.

So firmly was the custom maintained that a Bristol church
made special provision for the preparation.

1569 (St. James^ Bristol). Payd for the little table to dress sops

in wyne at any weddinge . . . . • ij s. vj d.

Shakespeare, in the Taming of the Shrew (iii, 2), alludes to
the practice when Gremio relates how the bridegroom

" . . . quaff d off the muscadel,

And threw the sops all in the sexton's face ;

Having no other reason,

But that his beard grew thin and hungerly,

And seem'd to ask him sops as he was drinking."

In some churches it was the custom to provide special jewellery
to be worn at the wedding. The most notable instance is that of
the parish church of Henley, where a set of valuable jewels was
presented in 1518, with the double object of decking maidens at
the time of their marriage, and providing funds for maintaining
lights before the Lady altar. If lent by the wardens outside the
parish, a fee of 3s. 4d. was to be paid, if lent to the daughter of a
burgess 2od., or to any other maiden within the town 2s. 4d.
There are entries in the accounts of the loan of the jewels under
the years 1529 and 1531. The set consisted of a fillet with
26 pearls, *'a past with a stone set full of perlys," and also a
coronal " with viij great stones and set full of perles." The " past,"
" paste," or " partlet " was the name of a collar or collaret, in this
instance of silver gilt.

The wardens' accounts of Steyning, 1561, enter 6d. for the hire
of " a Bryde paiste."

1540 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). To Alice Lewis a goldsmiths

wife for a serclett to marry maydens in . , . iij li. x s.

3i6 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1 564 (St. Margaret^ West7ninster), One past for brydes set with
perle and stone [Inventory].

The English custom of the royal touch for curing scrofula
or the King's Evil can be traced back to the days of Edward
the Confessor ; it expired with the advent of George I, " who
believed in little or nothing." Part of the ceremony consisted,
according to the rubric, in the King " crossing the sore of the sick
person with an angel noble ; and the sick person to have the same
angel hanged about his neck, and to wear it until he be full
whole." Hence the ribband supplied by Minchinhampton. See
Parish Registers of England y 179-183.

1634 {Seal^ Surrey). To WilPm Giles for his charitie and travel!
to London with Widowe Hilles children to be cured of the
King's evill, by a rate for that cause made by the parishe
as appears under divers of their hands . . . ix s.

1663 (Minchinhampton^ Gloucester). For one yeard of rebband to

Jonathan Harris, his child that has the King's evill . 5d.

[Similar entries are continued up to 1736.]

In 1684, at St. Martin, Leicester, payment was made for his
Majesty's declaration "for the times when his Majesty touches
for healing/'

1683-4 {Mavesyn Ridware^ Staffs), For a boke for the Kings cure . is.

Sugar loaves were usual presents to dignitaries in the latter part
of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Dr. Wilmot, who was
minister of All Saints, Derby, from 1632 to 1643, received such
gifts from the parish on three occasions : —

1637. For a sugar loff to carry to Mr. Dr. . . . .116

1639. For a sugar loaf of 12^3 ounce given D"" Wilmott on New-

Years Day . . . . . . .100

1640. For 2 Sugar loavs 15*^ 2 ounces for ye D" . . .126
1588 (St. Christopher-le- Stocks). For iiij sugar loffes wch was

given to the Judges . . . . . .iiij li. j s.

[Judgment had been given in favour of the parish in a
lawsuit as to property in Fleet Street.]

In 1626, 1629, and 1634, sugar loaves were presented to the
Bishop at Christmas by the parish of St. James, Bristol.

OLLA PODRIDA lij

Much has been given in The Parish Registers of England
(pp. 144-176) as to visitations of the plague; the subject is,
however, dealt with after a different fashion in the wardens'
accounts.

The parish of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields suffered much from the
plague visitation of 1593 ; 40 bills were purchased on loth August
for i8d. for posting on the doors of the visited houses, and 4d. was
spent on red wands which were carried by the searchers. On
22nd July *' bearers and searchers " had been appointed, namely,
two men and two women at a weekly wage. Collectors were
appointed to gather from house to house to assist the visited ; in
the fourteen weeks beginning 19th September they collected
£^ 6s. 6d., and they also received " further benevolence of divers
honorable and worshipfull men to the amount of ;^I2 los. 6d.'* It
was also agreed by the vestry to employ Daniel Stocken of West-
minster as dog-killer for the parish, allowing him 2d. for every
killed dog ; they were rightly considered " very apt cattell to carry
the infection." Daniel had earned 3s. 4d. by i6th September,
Further expenditure of a like character was incurred in 1603.

1573 (Si, Christopher-le- Stocks). For red wandes and bylles for
the plague .... . .

For foure bookes set out by y® byshope for y*' plague
1628. P^ for earthen Pannes, Charcolles, stare, pich, franconsence
and Incense to burn in the streate according to my Lord
Mayor his order ......

1592 {St. Alphege, London Wall). For redd wandes for the plage
For two searchers for the plage ....

For a booke of orders for the plage ....

1605. For settinge 5 red Crosses on the doores of vyseted houses .

For red wands for serchers of vyseted houses to carry in

their handes ......

1609. For settinge red crosses on houses infected .
1625. For setting up the Crosses on the visited houses . vj s. viij d.

1665. Distributed to the releefe of the poore infected that were
shutt upp, and for the Coles which made the fires by
order of the Lord Mair .... .^52127

1593-4 {St. Martin^ Leicester). Paied for mendinge the beer whereon

vysyted folkes were carried, and nayles to y* same . viij d.

1610-1. Given to Robert Humier in consideracon that he shoulde
watche no more to the visited people nor could not have
no worke . . . . . . . iiij s.

vj

d.

viij

d.

:s. 8d.

ij

d.

viij

d.

iij

d.

I

8

2

I

4

3i8 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

1611-2. Payde to the Seckerston for burieyng of the poore visited-

people by M"" Maiors appoyntment . . . iijs. iiij d.

1626-7. Pd to the pariter for bringinge a letter from the Lord

Bishop concerning the plagge . . . . vj d.

1602 (St Margaret^ Westminster). To two surgions to search a

coarse suspected to be of the plague . . vj s. viij d.

1603. June 19th. To Robert Walls for killing of fore score dogs vj s. viij d.
[Walls was paid for killing 422 more dogs this summer
at id. each.]
For the graves of 45 1 poor folke . . . j li. xvij s. vij d.

1625. Rec, of the Lord Bishop of London, of money collected, for

the relief of the poor visited of this city of Westminster . ;£3oo

For killing 14 dozen and ten dogs in time of visitacion . ^i 98

For killing of 24 dozen of dogs . . . .180

1626. For 272 loads of gravel for the churchyard . . . 13 12 o
To the graves of 1447 poor people this year . . ,100

1 63 1. For bills for visited houses . . . . ,10

1639. To Bummer the beadle for watching a house all night in
Gardiners Lane which was shut up and supposed to be
visited ....... 8

1642. Rec. out of the black chest at several tymes for the building

of the new pest houses ..... 200 o o

1643. For relief of a child that died of the plague in the Still yard,

and of a poore woman that was shutt up in her house

there . . . . . . . 10 o

1644. Disbursements for the poore visited with the plague this year 59 4 4

[In 1645, £%\ IS. 5d. ; in 1646, ^154 13s. 9d. ; in 1647,
^165 IDS.; in 1648, i;73 ; and in 1649, £1 i6s.]

1603 {St. Benedict^ Gracechurch). Pd for pitch and faggots yt

were burnt in ye streete by my Lord Maiors command . ;£i 15 o

1627. Pd for putting forth of the perfumes in time of the sicknesse . 10 o
1603 {Melton Mowbray). Payd to Walter Parker and Hickson for

keepinge the townsfolke of Tythe and Asswell out of o""
market being suspected for the plague . . • VJ ^'

1625-6. Payde to Wydow Powlie for Vittelinge yonge Queniboroghe
lodging in the feild being suspected of the plague for
hys dyet j month and watching some nights of hym vij s. viij d.
1606 {St, Mary^ Cambridge). For a double guilte boule, which was
given to Mr. Wattes our minister for his extraordinary
paines taking amoungst us in the parrishe at two severall
tymes when the sickness was amongst us . . iiij li. v s. vj d.

Constables* accounts, of country districts, during the several
outbreaks of Charles I's days bear witness to the fact of generous
grants being made hy one township to others of the same district

OLLA PODRIDA 319

during the time of visitations. Thus the parish of Stathern,
Leicestershire, contributed seven several times in 163 1-2 to the
" visited people " of Loughborough sums varying from 3s. 4d. to
20s., and on three occasions in the same twelve months to the visited
people of Plungar. From July to October in 1637, Stathern
contributed monthly sums, varying from 12s. to 153., to Melton
Mowbray when in like sad plight.

1638 (5/. Giles, Northampton). For pitch, tarre and roszen to

perfume the church at the siknes time . . .20

1666-7 {Basingstoke). Paid for three chafing dishes, resin, franck-
incense and tobacco sticks to burn in the church in the
time of the Visitation . . . . .is. 6Jd.

Appliances for the extinguishing of fires in towns and larger
villages were almost invariably stored in the churches, usually
under the tower. They chiefly consisted of leather buckets,
ladders, and strong iron hooks attached to great poles. The hooks
were used for the dragging down blazing timber houses to save the
adjoining tenements- They were thrown over the ridge-beams,
and there were generally iron rings at the ends of the poles and
part way up to which horses were attached or companies of men.
The poles varied from 20 to 30. ft in length. There is a fine pair
in the church of Raunds, another pair at Stanwick and a single
one at Harringworth, all in Northants. For the orders made as to
buckets and hooks at Northampton, see Borough Records, ii. 240,
252, etc. The parish books of All Saints, Northampton, show
that there were 190 buckets in the four churches of that town in
1628, and " one hundred and three-score and fyve buckets " in charge
of the All Saints' churchwardens in 1629. A pair of fire-hooks are
crossed over the west entrance to the parish church of Tunbridge,
under the tower.

A 1598 inventory of St. Martin's-in-the- Fields names 23 leather
buckets, the respective gifts of six parishioners, 5 ladders, and " ij
greate fyer hoockes w'*" their Cheynes." In Michaelmas quarter,
1600, occurs the following entry : —

Paide unto yj poore men for helping home with the hoockes
and lathers from Durham house when the stable was a fier . xviij d.

The accounts of St. Bartholomew Exchange name two dozen

320 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

leather buckets, four ladders, and two great hooks yearly from
1597 to 1602, but in 1603 there were "iij greate poules with Iron
hooks." In 1610 the hooks had increased to four. Shortly after-
wards there were three dozen buckets and six ladders. There
were also " six wooden scoopes." Their exact use is explained in
an entry of 1624: —

For six scoopes according to the Lord Mayors precept to cast
water for daungerof scatte fyers, and for shooing them and
binding them with plate , . . . . 12 o

1527 {Wimborne). For a fyre croke to help draw down the houses

that are aventured with fyre. . . . . v d.

1 583-4 {St. Matthew ^Friday Street). Paid for 20 buckettes at ij s. iij d. xlv s.
Paid for payntinge them . . . . . ij s, v d.

1583 {Ludlow). Paied to a mason for hanginge up the new

buckettes on the walle in the church . . . ij s. vj d.

1602 {St. Botolph, Cambridge), xij Leather Bucketts. Ye townes.

One hooke of Iron with a handle of wood. Ye Townes.
161 1 {St. Benet Fink), A fyer hook poiz 124 lbs sett upon a powle.
1 6 1 8 {St. Bartholomew Exchange). For bringing home the

hookes from the fyer in Cornhill . . . . 4d.

1632-3 {St. Botolph^ Aldersgate). One Brasse Squirt to quench fire
with in a case : thirtie tv/o Leather Bucketts : two greate
Ladders : two hooks.
1655 {St. Christopher-le- Stocks). Paid Porters for carrying the yron

hooke when ye fire was in Threadneedle st . .10

1661 {St. Petrock^ Exeter), xlvj Lether Buccetts with the Parrish

name on Them.
1677 {Wellingborough). Twelve new leather buckettes . . 2 14 o

Eight poles for Hookes . . . . .94

Making the Hookes . . . . . . 13 o

The following are a bundle of odds and ends, which defy any
kind of classification, arranged chronologically : —

1485-6 {St. Andrew Hubbard). For loppyng of the tree on the

chircheyarde for caterpillars . . . . ij d.

1499-1500(5/. Botolph^ Aldersgate). A tabyll for the Popys bull . vij d.

1546 {St. Margaret^ Westminster). On Ascension even for bread
ale beer and wyne for the prebendaries and quyer of the
mynster after Mas was done .... xiiij d.

1583-4 {Thatcham^ Berks). Payde for the ingoing to Burfield to the
cunnyng woman for to make enquire for the comunione
clothe and the ij outher clothes that were lost out of the
church . . . . . . . . xvj d.

FIRE-HOOKS IN RAUNDS CHURCH, NORTHANTS

OLLA PODRIDA 321

1610 (5/. Margaret^ Westminster). To Goodwyfe Wells for salt

to destroy the fleas in the churchwardens pew . . vj d.

161 1 „ For five vines and one apricock tree and for planting of

them before the vestry window . . . . x s.

„ For a pound of orris powder to put among the churche linon. x d.

1630 [St, Benedict^ GracechurcK). Pd for paynting Queen Eliza-
beths tomb with ye frame of it . . . .800

[This was a picture of the Queen lying on her tomb,
which was common to several London churches.]

1641 {St. Clement^ Ipswich). For wryghting faire of 700 names of

them that took the protestation to deliver to Mr Bailies 312 o

1643 {St. Margaret^ Westminster), For drawing out the names of
all such persons as have taken the covenant and putting
them in an alphabetical way : alsoe for the drawing up
as well of all the names of such as had not taken the
covenant, etc . . . . . . .3114

1644. For a table with the Covenant to hang in the church . 3 o
1643-4 {St. Martin^ Leicester). Paid for a skin of Parchm^ to

register their names that tooke the vow and covenant .006
Paid for engrossing the said vow and covenant . .034

Paid for another sheete of parchment to enter their names

that took the covenant . . , . ,006

Paid for writing faire in two schedules ye names of all those
that gave to the releife in Ireland . . . .050

[The distinction between the Protestation and the
Covenant is fully discussed in Cox's Parish Registers, pp.
198-200.]
1644 {St. Margaret, Westminster). Rec for 29 pound of fine
brass at 4d. a pound, and 96 pound of coarse brass at 3d.
a pound, taken off from sundrie toombe-stones in the
church . . . . . . . I 13 6

1644 {Loughborough). Payd to John Wright and William

Ragsbee for dressinge the Church after the Souldiers and

for frankincense to sweeten it . . . .24

1645. Payd for dressing ye Church after ye Souldiers lay in yt . 30

1646. Payd for helpe to dresse the Church and our charges

when souldiers had lyen 2 nights and a day in it when ye

scots mony was here . . . . .34

1645 {St. Martin, Leicester). The moneys received at the Com-

munions on April 13th and May 11, being about 30s.,
were taken out of the poor man's box by the soldiers at
the taking of Leicester.

1646 {St. Martin, Leicester), At a parish meeting it was put to

the vote whether there should that day be the election of
a minister in the room of M' Grace ; the ayes were 33 and
21

32 2 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

the noes 7. The choice fell upon M' Thomas Palmer of
the City of London.

1658 {Sf. Margaret, Westminster). To Richard May for inform-
ing of one that played at trap-ball on the Lords day . 18 o
1665-76 {St. Mary, Leicester). In beer and Tobacco from first to last 7 10

1671 {St. Alphege, London Wall). For Pipes and Tobaccoe in

the Vestry . . . . . . .20

For a grosse of pipes at severall times . . .20

1739- Ordered that there be no Smoaking nor Drinking for the
future in the Vestry Room during the time business is
doing on pain of forfieting one shilling, Assention Day
excepted.

1783 {Bramley, Yorks), Dec. 8**^, Expenses on bargaining with
conjuror from Skipton to cure Matthew Hudson's
daughter . . . . . . .10

1784. Feb 1^' Astrological Doctor for Hudson's daughter . . 12 6

CHAPTER XXII
CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS ^

Office and Duty of Constable^Weights and Measures — Soldiers — Butts and
Bows and Arrows — Parish Armour — Gunpowder — Saltpetre Men — Purveyance
— Vagrants — Rogue Money — Gipsies — Beacons — Ducking Stool — Stocks and
Whipping Posts — Constables Accounts of (i) Wimeswold,'(2) Manchester, and
(3) Combe

CONSTABLES' Accounts are often found, particularly in
smaller parishes, blended with those of the churchwardens',
or entered in the same books. Occasionally they are
found set forth, with much valuable detail, in separate books, of
which those of the Leicestershire parishes of Wimeswold and
Stathern^ are notable instances. Anything tending to throw
light on the character and duties of an office which was founded
fourteen centuries ago, and which, under the varying designation
of Tythingman, Headborough, Provost, or Constable, was the very
centre of our local self-government, is possessed of value, and
throws a similar light on the secular history of the parish to
that thrown on the religious history by Churchwardens* Accounts.
The constabulary arrangements of our ancestors were based upon
a very simple but sound view of human nature. That view is, as
Toulmin Smith has remarked, that those most immediately con-
cerned in the taking care of their own safety, and in the protection
of their own property, are the most likely to take vigorous and
efficient means to secure these ends. The constantly maintained
policy of the old English system was to fix on all men the closest

^ Everything connected with the office and duties of High Constables and Petty
Constables will be found set forth at length or fully discussed in Dr. Cox's Three
Centuries of Derbyshire Annals^ 2 vols., 1890.

^ A valuable annotated transcript of much of the Stathem Constable Accounts from
1630 to 1649 has appeared (as we go to press) in the Arch(^ological Journal^ vol. Ixix,
(1912), from the pen of Mr. Everard L. Guilford.

324 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

sense of their responsibility as citizens, and to impress upon them
that those who would be well governed must take an active part in
governing themselves.

For the right understanding of old constabulary records a few
paragraphs dealing with the most important of their duties are
necessary.

Watch and Ward were the terms used, from the earliest period
of parochial law, to imply the general duties of the parish constable
or constables. The number of men who were bound to keep night
watch to arrest strangers, in each city, borough, and town or
parish, is specified in the Statute of Winchester (13 Edward I).
Every inhabitant was held responsible for the watch and ward —
that is, for the due peace and safety of his neighbourhood — and
inquests before sworn juries of freemen used to be periodically
held in every place to see that the local arrangements were in
working order. The present system of " Special Constables," by
which every householder is called upon to act as a constable in
certain emergencies, is a remnant of the old custom of watch and
ward that used to be binding on all. Watching and warding was
a serious tax upon the parish when kept strictly during troublous
or tumultuous times. Certain inhabitants were generally nomin-
ated to discharge this duty during fair or week days.

All Weights and Measures used in the parish were under the
constable's charge; they had to be stamped by a clerk of the
market of the nearest town, and annually inspected by the same
official. By the statute 1 1 Henry vii, cap. iv,, only certain towns
were allowed to keep imperial standards. Very few of the old
standard weights and measures remain, owing doubtless to their
frequent renewal consequent upon new statutes. Some good
examples are preserved at Cambridge, Derby, Lancaster, and
Northampton. An illustration is here given of an Elizabethan
standard bushel from the last of these towns.

Ancient rights oi Purveyance, or providing for the victualling and
carriage of the sovereign and his household when in progress, came
by degrees to assume the form of fixed charges levied throughout
the county, whether royalty was in progress or not. The whole
system was under the control of the central Board of Green Cloth
in Elizabethan and Stuart days, and was a constant source of

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 32S

friction with both county and parish authorities. The authorised
purveyors were supposed to pay "a reasonable price" for all they
claimed by right of pre-emption, but in practice everything was
exacted far below its market value, and in quantities infinitely
beyond any possible requirements. The purveyors were usually
open to a money composition. This odious system died out under
the Commonwealth, and was never re-established.

Trained Soldiers and Mariners were relieved by parochial
assessments, according to three acts of the latter part of Elizabeth's
reign (35 Eliz. c. 4 ; 39 Eliz. c. 21 ; 43 Eliz. c. 3). By the first of
these, the relief of maimed or sick-pressed soldiers or mariners
was placed upon the rates, provided that no parish for this purpose

ELIZABETHAN STANDARD BUSHEL; NORTHAMPTON

was to be rated higher than lod. a week or lower than 2d. a week.
The rate to be collected by the churchwardens and petty constables.
The pension had to be granted by the county treasurer ; it usually
amounted to I2d. a week. The treasurer could grant a pass en-
titling them to relief in each parish through which they passed
when travelling to their own county.

The main part of the English Ar^ny of old days was raised by
means of the parishes, which were considered in all respects as the
units of the State. Every parish, according to the Parliament
Rolls of Edward ll, was required to furnish one foot soldier,
ready armed and equipped, for sixty days. When the forces
required any sudden increase the additional numbers were usually
procured by raising the quota supplied by the parishes ; thus, in
1449, proclamation was made " in every parishe " that every thirty

326 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

men should furnish one horseman, the whole number so raised
being computed at 60,000. Every parish was bound to keep ready
for use a certain amount of armour, and a man or men, if necessity
arose, properly trained to the use of this armour. This armour
was not intended for merely local use, still less for show, but for
practical service in the field, either at home or abroad, against the
national enemies. At the conclusion of the inventory of armour
in the parish accounts of Fulham, Middlesex, for the year 1583,
is added in a later hand : " N,B. All sett owte into Flanders, anno
1585, by Rowland Fysher, except one harquobusse," etc.

According to the Statute of Winchester (1285), it was enjoined
that " viewe of armour be made every yere two times, and in all
hundredes and fraunchises two constables shal be chosen to make
the view of armour, and the constables aforesaide shal present before
Justices assigned such defautes as they doe see in the countrey
about armour.'' This act was much elaborated by 4 & 5 Philip
and Mary, cap. 2, which made many provisions as to parish armour,
its custody, and its annual viewing.

The Train Band soldier, who was to a certain extent a
volunteer, originated in the Armada days, when certain select men
of the General Musters (pressed soldiers) were selected for training
in bands both in the gun and long-bow. These trained bands
assumed more definite form under James I.

The parish armour was almost invariably kept within the
church, even in large town parishes such as St. Martin*s-in-the-Fields,
St. Margaret, Westminster, or the various churches of Colchester,
Leicester, Bristol, or Taunton. In country parishes the room over
the porch was often used as an armoury in Elizabethan and
Stuart days, there being hardly any church valuables left requiring
the guard of a church watch.

The following are brief explanations of the terms of constant
occurrence in old constable accounts, in their inventories or entries
as to parish or church armour.

The musket was a heavy gun, which could not be fired with
any precision without the use of a forked support or rest. The
arquebuse was a lighter form of hand gun with a curved stock.
The caliver was the regulation firearm of Elizabethan days,
so called from the calibre being according to standard; it had a

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 327

wheel-lock, was 3 ft 2 in. long, and usually had a magazine
for bullets in the butt. The large flasks were for the powder, and
the touch-boxes were diminutive flasks that held the priming powder.
The bandoleers were small wooden or tin cases, covered with leather,
each containing a single charge for the caliver, and fastened to a
broad band of leather worn over the shoulder.

In addition to swords and daggers, certain soldiers of the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries carried pikes, weapons with
very long shafts and a sharp head ; or billSy a kind of concave
battleaxe with long wooden handle ; or halberds, which had
shafts some 6 ft. long, surmounted by an axe-like instrument,
balanced on the opposite side by a hook or pick.

The defensive armour of the old parish soldier consisted of a
morion^ an open helmet without beaver, or visor, or a sallet,
a lighter form of helmet with a projection behind. Mere skullcaps
of steel were also used. The corslet, usually of leather, was the
only armour of pikemen or billmen. The^c?^^^^ was plate armour
for the defence of the throat. Almayne-rivettes was armour
of German invention, made flexible by means of rivets. The
brigandine was a corslet of leather upon which were sown a number
of small plates of iron.

The Act of Parliament of 1466 directed that Butts should be
made in every township at which the inhabitants were to shoot up
and down on all Sundays and holy days under pain of a halfpenny
fine for every omission. Every Englishman was to have a long
bow of his own height, the price was fixed at 3s. 6d. for the best
bow stave; this was confirmed in 1512, and again in 1542.
References to butts are fairly frequent in parish accounts. The
following entries occur in the parish books for 1538-9 of Cratfield,
Suffolk :—

The Cost of Y^ Butts

Itm to Edmund Myllys for v dayes worke and for hys horde
Itm Thomas Smythes man for v dayes worke and hys horde
Itm John Smythes man for one days worke and for hys horde
Itm John Sparham one dayes worke and for hys borde
Itm ye bryngyng downe of the tymber and for Thomas Smythes
boyes worke .......

ij s. vj d.

ij s. j d.

vd.

vj d.

viij d.

vj s. ij d.

328 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

There was further legislation with regard to butts in the days
of Elizabeth and Charles I.

1568 (North Elmhafn). At the makinge of the buttes . . xij d.

1597, May 1 6th (St. Margaret^ Westminster). For making of
the butts in Tothil and for carting of a ditch about
the butts . . . . . . . IIS. 4d. '

1603 (Eltham^ Kent). Pd for felling three trees for the buts and

cutting them out . . . , . . xij d.

For carrying the same timber . . . . xij d.

To Hamshere for 2 daies worck to mak the postes and

pails for the buts, and set them up . . ij s. iiij d.

Pd to four men that digged turf and labord at the buts . iiij s.
For one hundreth and a half of nails . . . iij d.

Pd in charges for their suppers for all them that wraght
at the buts, which were three or four more than were
hyred, becas we would end them in one day . . iiij s.

For the two bars for the buts, with the staples and iron-
work thereunto . . . . . • ij s. ij d.

1621-6 (Stockton^ Norfolk). For bread and beere when the butts

were made . . . . . . .52

To the Boweman for his fees . . . .10

[Expenditure on the butts as late as 1637.]
1628 (Strood^ Kent). Pd for y^ Proclamacon that came from

the Kinge for Bowes and Arrowes and going to the butts i o
1628 (St. Maryy Reading), To the repayrrng of the buttes . 8 o

The wardens' accounts, where there were no separate constable
accounts, occasionally mention bows and arrows. Yew bows were
always considered the best, and various legislative acts endeavoured
to prevent any exhaustion of the supply. Archery formed an
important quota of the equipment of the general musters of I5SS~9»
and also of 1588. " A bowe of yew " could be purchased from " the
Quenes Magistis Store'' for 2s. 8d. and a sheaf of arrows (24)
for 2od. The use of the long-bow in warfare lasted much longer
in England than on the Continent; it played a considerable part
in the lesser battles and skirmishes of the Commonwealth struggle.
The parish constable of North Wingfield, Derbyshire, arrested a
vagrant in 1633 for cutting boughs for bows from the churchyard
yews.

1512 (Shipdham^ Norfolk). Item for a bowe . . . xxiij d.

1532 (Cratfield^ Suffolk). Receyvd of Edmund Smyth for a

scheff of arrows . . . . . . iij s.

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 329

Payd for heads for a scheff of arrows

viij d.

1538 {Cratfield). For a bowe and arrowes . . iij s. viij d.

1557-8 {Ashburton^ Devon). For a sheff of arrows . . xx d.

1558-9. Rec. from loppng the yew tree . . . iij s. iiij d.

1559-60. To the Bowyer for makyng of bowes . . . xij s.

1560-1. From Edmund Tayllr for i piece of le yew sold to him .

1558 (St Michael^ Worcester). To John Oseland for a sheffe of

arrowes . . . . . . . ij s. vj d.

To the same John for a bowe ... iij s. iiij d.

1598 {Wigtoft^ Lincolnshire^ Item ij bowes, whereof one fully
fumy shed.

Some time before the Armada scare, namely, in 1569,
commissioners were appointed to press the exercise of the bow,
" which was then much decayed " ; and for many years com-
missioners for this purpose moved about the country.

'^Vll {Cratfield). Payde for the charges befor the Comyssiones

for bowes . . . . , . . ij s. vj d.

1580. To the comyssioner for bowes and arrowes at Yaxford . ij s. iiij d.

1 58 1. Payed to Gregory Rown for agreying with the Comyssioner

for the bowes when he was at Laxfield . . ij s. iiij d.

It was not long, however, after the appointment of the first
Elizabethan bow commissioners that the superiority of weapons
charged with gunpowder became generally admitted, and the
harquebus or large form of pistol came into common use. The
interesting Cratfield accounts make the first mention of gunpowder
^" I577» when 8d. was spent on its purchase. In 1578 a Suffolk
county meeting held at Stowmarket determined that " they should
spend their time principally in the shot with the bullet." In 1585
the parish of Cratfield paid to the constables the great sum of
£1 los. *'for powder and lynt" (match).

Henceforward, for fully a century, it became customary to
place considerable stores of gunpowder, bullet, and match within
the parish churches, ready for parochial use. In 1559, the fine
church of St. Columb Major gave shelter to "twelve li of matchs
and some gunpowder," and in 1591 to 56 lb. of gunpowder. In
1595 there was "a rate made for powlder" which brought in
^3 153. Sd. In 1596 a like rate brought in the large sum of
£>7 3s. 9d., and it is recorded that there was a store of 74 lb. of
powder in barrel, besides 9 lb. of old powder. The churchwardens,

330 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

here as elsewhere, occasionally traded in the parish store of
powder. In 1595 Thomas Pollamaunter bought a pound of gun-
powder for i8d., and Francis Benny a pound for is. In 1596 the
parish actually sold £"] 3s. 2d. worth, as well as some barrels and
match, and even then had no less than 83 li. of powder left in store.
In 1617 a barrel containing " five score pound weight " cost £^ los.
Eventually this church suffered severely from being used as a
powder magazine.- Through the conduct of some mischievous
boys, in 1676, the grand chancel and fine chapels were greatly
damaged by a powder explosion.

A score or two of cases could readily be cited of powder stored
for many a long year in fine churches such as St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields ; St. Margaret, Westminster; Morpeth and Newcastle in
the north ; Mere, Wilts ; Sidbury and Honiton, Devon ; Minehead
and Dunster, Somerset; Chelmsford, Essex; and Beccles and
Worstead, East Anglia. The marvel is that more churches did
not suffer.

1589 {Mere, Wilis). For a hundred pownd and a half of Gun-
powder at xiiij d. ob. the pownd wth the barrel! and the
charge of fetching the gune powder . . . vj li. iiij s.

1642 {SL Margaret, Weslminster). For the carpenters worke of
the floore over the stairs where the powder and bullets
and match lyethe . . . . . .1150

1646 {Basingstoke). Paid for twice drawing and engrossing of the
petition delivered to the Committee at Winchester for
allowance towards the reparation of the church, being
much torn by the blowing up of gunpowder lying in the
church . . . . . . .35. 4d.

The following are representative examples of parish armour
and parish soldier extracts selected from upwards of fifty that we
had copied : —

1546. {Cratfield, Suffolk). To John Newson for j harnes (set of
armour) ....

To John Rowse for j sheve of arrows (24)

To John Thurketyll for j dagger

To Thomas Smyth for j byll .

To William Crysp for a Sallet

To Richard Baldry for a Sallet and a gorgett

. ij s. X d.

xiij d.

xij d.

ij s. iiij d.

iij d.

1569. For the corslet ..... vjs.vjd.

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 331

1587. For carrynge the Colyver to Beckles .
For a head pese
For a sworde ....

1588. Payd to the constables for the cotes for the sowldyers iij li. x s. viij d

1596. For powder for the Toune Mosket

1597. Pd for the towne musket

1 62 1. For a hamper for the town armr

1625. Paid to Mr. Stevun the armourer for triming of

town Corslets and the new gorgetts .
1628. For powder and match for the 9 trained soldiers

xvj d.
vs.
vj s.

vj d.
2 IS. 6d.
4S.
the two

. 15 o

Part of the church of St. Martin*s-in-the-Fields served as a
storehouse for the parish armour. One Abraham Leeds received
IDS. a year in Elizabethan days " for kepeinge and lookinge unto
the Armor." From 1550 onwards the references to armour in
these accounts are incessant. In 1556, 3s. gd. was paid for
"fetherenge of thre sheaf of Arrowes." In 1569 "a newe presse
for the armour " cost £^. There was an expenditure of 1 2d. in 1586
"for y"" makinge cleane of y^ shert of male/' An inventory of
1598 records: —

In the Armory

Item iij Arming swordes. one horsemans sworde and ij backe swords, vj
Calevers and a horsemans peece. iiij flaskes and touche boxes, iij
Daggers, iiij white Corsettes and ij blacke Corslettes. iij Almayne
Ryvettes. iiij morrions. iiij Sallettes. one buffe Jerkyn. one Coate of
Mayle. ij blacke bills and vi Pykes.
1558 (St. Margaret^ Westminster). To Law, fletcher, forfetheryng

of iiij sheffe of arrowse and new triming of the heads . iiij s.
1562. Ten pair of allmen rivettes, one harnis for a horseman, vj
blak billes, vij shefs of arrowse, and vj daggers. For the
new fethering of two sheaf of arrowes . . ij s.

1567. For mending and setting up the coate armour in Our Lady

chapel . . . . . , . vj d.

1569. P** towards the harness that came from the Tower of

London . . . . . . . v li.

1577. For new stocking of five calyvers . . . . xij s.

1579. For scowering of the armor and shott against the muster in

Totehel Fields . . . . . . j li. vj s.

For powder for the soldiers upon the mustering day xij s. iiij d.

P*^ to the soiers, the ansyant (ensign) bearer and to him
that played upon the drome . . . . j li. vij s. iiij d.

1574-5. {Tavistock). Delyvered to Mr. Constable for ij Costeletts

bought at Plymnothe . . . . . iij li.

332

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

For one halberde . . . . . vj s. viij d.

For one flaske and touch box . . . . . ij s. vj d.

Delyvered the Constable for settinge fourthe the sawdyers

into Ireland and for armor at that tyme . . • vij li.

1594-5. For a Sword and a pyke , . . iiij s. iiij d.

For ij dayes service with the parish armor . . . xvj d.

For makyng Cleane the armor and Carynge of the same to

Plympton . . . . . . . ij s. ij d.

1605-6. For keepynge Cleane of the Churche armour . - . viij d.

In 1583, St. Columb Major, Cornwall, possessed

4 pairs of Corslettes, 6 long pikes, 3 Callyvers, 3 Flaskes and
touche boxes, 7 swoordis, 3 daggers, 6 hangings for swoordes,
2 murryens.

In a later account were added *' 2 burgonettes (bayonets),,
3 calyver mouldes, and some gunpowder,"

1590. A Note of the armoure of Repton receaved into the handes
of Rycharde Weatte, beyinge Constable.
Inprimis ij corsletts w"^*^ all that belongeth unto them,
t. ij platt' cotts (coats of plate armour),
ij swordes and iij daigers and ij gyrgells.
ij calevers w*^ flaxes and tuchboxe.
ij pyckes and ij halberds,
t. for the Tr'band Souldiar a cote and bowe and a shiffe
of arowes and a quiver.
1601. It. spent in gatheringe y"^ money for the meamed soldiers . xviij d.
"t. payd to the meamed Souldiers for the whole year iij s. iiij d.

It. payd to Sir Homfry Ferrers, Knyght, at the Muster,

y^ 4 day of August .....
t. paid at same Muster in charges w*^ the Souldiers
t. paid for one letheringe for y^ flaxe (flask)
t. for one dagger sheathe and a sworde scaber
t. payd for y*" swordes . . . ' -

t spent at Clockesmithes receavinge y® armore
t. given to y*^ prest Souldiers . . . . .

t. pay^ for one Horse to carry y*^ armor.

It. spent ledeinge ye armor to Darby
1597-8 {Hartland, Devon). Paid to George Husbande for iij bullet
bagges for the iij churche musquettes

For lace to fasten the lyning of the morians belonginge
to the churche corselettes .....

For mendinge the head of one of the churche pikes .

For a hilt and handle and a scabart for a sworde and for
mendinge a dagger of the church ....

XXX s.

iij s. vj d.
vj d.
xij d.
iij s.
iiij d.
xij s.
xiii. d.

ij.d.

xij d.

ijd.
jd.

ijs.

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 333

Paid att Exon for a corslett furnished and iij musquettes
furnished, haveinge one dagger and for a pike , yj li. xiij s.

1598-9. Paid the x of November for the carriage of iij mens armor

at Torrington, when the souldiers went into Ireland . xij d.

Paid for the amendinge of one of the churche caHvers, with
a morian, flaske, a tochebox, and other furniture for the
same . . . . . . . x s. vij d.

Paid at Plymmouthe for two swordes for the pyoners . ij s. iij d.

Paid for a black bill for the pyoners . . . ij s. iiij d.

1608 {Wimeswold). Payd for the swordes dressinge and for oyle

for the harness ...... xxij d.

Carryinge the Armour to fysson .... viij d.

1623. Payed to Rawlin for dressing the Arraoure . . - . iiij d.

Payed for bandeleyres . . . . . ij s. iiij d.

1627. Pd for a musket rest ...... lod.

P^ for a sack to carry the armor in . . . . is.

For earring of the Armor to Leicester . . . 2s.

1635. For browninge two of the trained mens swordes . . 4d.

1637. To the armor men for dressinge the Townes Armor for a

yeare ...,,... 4s.

1639. For making a rest . . . . . . 5d.

For mendinge a musket and for settinge the Irons upon

arrest ........ 4d.

1640. For a Picke mendinge, and for mendinge two Rests and a

Gyrdle ....... 2od.

It was agreed in 1622, by the parish of Pittington, Durham,

That the comon Armes, being 3 muskets with the furniter belonging to
them, and 3 costolets with the pikes and all the furneter belonginge to
them shall be made complet and fully furnished att the charg of the
whole parishe by generall sesment . . . and that upon Easter Teueseday
yearly in the fore noone the whole six common armors shalbe brought
in and viewed by the Twelve of the parish, what case it is in, that it may
be mantaned and keept as it ought to be.
1632 {Cheddar). For setting up a frame in the churche to hange

the armor upon . . . . . . xij s.

For carryinge the armor to Bridgwater and Axbridge vj s. vj d.

For dressinge the armor . . . . vj s. viij d.

1638. John Bale hath agreed to keepe the armor of Chedder

yearly at viij s. the year, viz^ that is to keepe it cleane and
other reparacions, as in former tyme it doth appeare hee
hath done, that is with buckels, nailes, and leather.

The searching for Saltpetre was a great source of trouble to
constables in late Elizabethan and Stuart days. When the use

334 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

of firearms became general towards the end of the sixteenth
century, nitre was much needed for the manufacture of gunpowder.
It was discovered that the top soil of farmyards, cattle stalls, stables,
and other places exposed to the vapours of putrefying matter
afforded, when mixed with ashes, a considerable supply of nitre.
Hence these substances were claimed by the Crown, and granted
to individuals or companies for the making of saltpetre. The
rigour of these saltpetre men became most burdensome, as they
insisted on the right of entering stables and even houses in search
of material. Hence, to avoid such entrance, it became customary
not only for individuals, but also for townships, to bribe or
compound with the saltpetre men to escape their visits, and to be
free from the privilege they claimed of using the parishioners'
carts, without payment, for the conveyance of material to their
works. A proclamation of 1627 by Charles I considerably
increased the extent of this odious burden ; but at last, in 1656,
an Act of Parliament forbade any entry into houses or enclosed
lands for this purpose without the leave of the owners.

1596 {Cratfield^ Suffolk). Layd out to the goodman Rous for the

sault peter man ...... xxxvj s.

1602 {Repton^ Derby). Spent with ye salt peter men . . ij d.

1601 {Wimeswold^ Leicester). Pd for carryinge Ashes to Leicester

to the sault peter worke . . . vj s. viij d.

As to Purveyance, the wardens' accounts of Burton Latimer,
Northants, for 1566, contain entries relative to that parish's share
in the provisions for the Queen's household during her progress
in June- Two men received iid. *' for dryvyng of y^ Quenes
cariege."

Queen Elizabeth visited Suffolk in 1572, 1573, 1577, 1578, and
1579, and in several subsequent years. The Cratfield accounts
are eloquent as to the burden these visits imposed on her
subjects.

1572. Payed unto the Constables for the Quens gesse . . xxvj s.

1573. „ „ for a callfe for the Quene . iij s.

1577. „ „ for the Quenes hotter . . xvs.

1578, Payd to John Gylharde and John Smyth for bryngng forth

the calves for the Quenes Majestyes house . . x d.

Payd for the losse of the calves to mak good the pryse xvj s. iiij d.
To John Melles for carrynge the Quenes hotter . . vj d.

CONSTABLES^ ACCOUNTS 335

1586. To John Mells for a cafe to serve ye Quen . . xiij s. iiij d.

1587. Laid out to Clark the purvar (purveyor) for the carriage

of the Quenes chese and butter .... xvj d.

In 1585, Cratfield received from the royal purveyor 4s. 6d. for
4 capons, 5 pullets, and 6 hens, but these poultry had cost the
parish 5s. iid. in addition to carriage expenses.

1590. Pd to Willm Aldus for a calfe for the Quene . . vj s. iiij d.

Pd to Willm Warne for a combe of wheate for the Quene . xj s.

Pd to chief constable for deliverye of same wheate . . vj d.

Pd to Meeke for caring of the same wheate . . . xvj d.

The grievances in connection with the seizing of provisions
for the royal household, and the inadequancy of the payment for
the same, grew to such a pitch that the Queen was forced to permit
the counties to arrange composition for the same. A scheme
for Suffolk was drawn up at Stowmarket in September 1592. The
high constable for each Hundred was ordered to present at sessions
all who refused to pay. The Cratfield accounts for 1595 show
that that parish was amerced at 30s. Before 1592 the loss sustained
by Cratfield was frequently in excess of this commuted sum. Thus
in one year the loss on two weighs of cheese and ij barrels of
butter was 45s. 4d., which was the difference in the price given by
the parish and that which was received from the purveyors. The
purveyance composition varied greatly year by year; Cratfield's
share ran up to £4 in 1597, but fell to £^ 5s. in 1598.

Purveyance compositions were continued under James i, but
after a lax fashion. In 1609, Cratfield paid as its share of the
royal household provisions £^ i6s., but had also to pay a further
sum of 1 28. 6d. as the county compoundes fell short by £i^S "by
reason of the great price of things."

1586 {Mendlesham^ Suffolk). Item payd to the constables for that
they layde oute more than the quenes price for on weight
and three quarters of chese and six firkins of butter, and
ther charges ...... xxij s. vj d.

Item pay to them more for thre combe oates more than the
quenes price . . . . . . . x s.

The Leicestershire parish of Stathern, adjoining Belvoir Castle,
has detailed constable accounts which bear testimony to the
burdens of the visits of Charles i.

336 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

1633. Payed for the cart that went for the Kinges bysenes the

i8th of May . . . . . . .68

It payed to Branston men for finding a part of a Drafte for

the Kings use Julie 22 , . . . .14

It payed to Branston men finding a draughs to goe about the

Kings bysenes the 25 of Julie . . . . 10 4

It payed to Mr. Elson for his majestie provision 13th April .100
It payed for poultree the same day . . . -70

1634. It payed to foer men that went with the carrages about the

King busines . . . . . . .40

It payed for heay and straw and other the King provision . 120

It spent at that time at Belver . . . . . i o

It payed to Raph and William Walker when they went with

the cartt to Lessester about the Kings bisines august 9 . 50

It payed to Raph Baynes for earring capens to Lessester . i 4

It payed for three capens and three puUites . - . . 50
It payed to M"" Elson for cooles to make salt Peetr for the

Kinges servis the i of October , . . .68

1636. It payed to M^ Elsten of Muston for otes hay straw carte

and carrages for his ma^'^ Court at Belver August the 28 i i 6

It payed for a aquittance for the same ... 4

It spent when I was at lunson with the maire . . 2

There were few more constant drains on parish funds than the
relief of licensed vagrants travelling with passes or passports, or
other tramps in distress. The amount of traffic of this nature
through parishes traversed by any main road can only be gathered
from those few cases in which full constable accounts have been
preserved. Here, for instance, are the particulars of the relief of
this nature granted by the constable of Stathern in the single
month of May 1630 : —

Paid for a passe making y^ j*^ of May

Geven to tow poore men ye vj'^ of May

Geven to one poore man y^ vij*^ of May

Geven to a poore man that had a passe y^ xv*^ of May

Pay"^ for a passe making y^ 18*^ of May

Geven tow men and there wifes and one child y^ 24*** of May

Geven to one man and two children y^ 25*^ of May

Geven to tow women and one child y^ 26*'' of May

Geven to one man and a child that had pa yer 27*^ of May

Geven to one man and his wife and two children ye 29*^ of May

Geven to thre me y*^ 31*=^ of May that had a passe .

Rog money or Rogge money is a fairly frequent entry in sixteenth-

2
2
I
I
2
6
2
2
I
2
2

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS

337

and seventeenth-century constable or parish accounts in the north.
It is thus defined in Houghton, Durham, accounts of 1658 : —

The Rogue money is a yearely payment by this Parish at Midsoumer,
payable to the High Constable for prisoners in goale, correction, etc., and
since the yeare 1623 the said payments hath bin eleven pound five shillings
a yeare.

Early Elizabethan legislation (18 Eliz. c. 3) provided that in
every shire there should be at least one House of Correction for
rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars. In the next reign the
purpose of these houses, differing in several respects from regular
gaols for convicted criminals, was more specifically defined ; in
addition to being places of detention of rogues and vagabonds, and
all poor persons who would not employ themselves on appointed
work, they were to provide temporary imprisonment for those who
by incorrigible or dangerous habits set the parish constable at
defiance.

DUCKING-STOOL FOR A SCOLD

{From an old Chap book")

Each parish also possessed its stocks and whipping-post^ and
the larger ones a pillory^ a ducking-stool for scolds, and a cage or
lock-up for immediate detention. The constable was responsible
for the repair or reconstruction of all these implements of
punishment.

1572 (A^zw^j/f?;?). The making of the cucking stool . . viij s.

Ironwork for the same . . . . . iij s.

Timber for the same . . . . vij s. vj d.

Three brasses for the same and three wheels . iiij s. x d.

22

338 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

1588-9 {Berkhampstead). For mendinge of the stockes . . vj d.

1 598 {St. Michael^ Cornhzll). For making of Irons to the pillory

for a whipping place, for locks, paynting, and to the

Carpenter in all . . . . . xiij s. ij d.

1630 {St Alphege^ London Wall). For Irons for the

Whippinge poste and a locke , . . .20

1631. It payd to Roger Lee for mending the stocks . . 4d.

1655 {Cowden^ Kent). Yron for the stocks and whipping post,

23 cwt. . . . . . . . 9 10

Timber for the stocks and whipping post . . .80

The constable was responsible for the usual whipping of men,
women, and mere children for such crimes as begging without a
licence. See Parish Registers^ pp. 230-2. To find an execu-
tioner required a small outlay ; and after the whipping, the vagrant
had to receive a small sum, usually 2d., as an aid to proceeding to
another parish.

1 598 {St, Bartholomew Exchange). For whipping of a poore man vj d.

For whipping one at the poste .... iiij d.

1600. For whipping Elizabeth Justice .... iiij d.
For her pasainge money . . . . . ij d.
For her provision all night, being brought at vj of the

Clocke at iiight . . . . . . vj d.

1601. For the whippinge of Joan and Amys Brown and for ther

pas to Norwich . . . . . . xij d.

For whipping of Gillime Anderson the same day being a

merchante daughter of newcastle, and for her pas . vj d.
1602 {Melton Mowbray). Geven to Robert Moodee for wippin

tow pore folkes . . . . . . ij d.

And gave them when they were wipped . . . ij d.

Geven to Tomlyn's boy for whippin a man and a woman . ij d.

And gave them when they went . . . . ij d.

At St. Columb Major the whipping was done by the same
man who was the official vermin killer; in 1616 he was paid 7d.
" for a precept for the Ayde and for whipping a beggar."

It is supposed that Gipsies did not come into England until
about the year 1500. In 1530 their itinerancy was forbidden by
statute, and they were expelled the realm. It was afterwards
enacted by statutes 2 Philip and Mary, c. 4, and S Eliz. c. 20, that
any gipsy remaining a month in the kingdom would be judged
guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy. A further statute of
1562 adjudged anyone guilty of felony who consorted with

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 339

"Egyptians" for forty days. Under this last cruel Elizabethan
statute five men were hung at Durham in 1596, and thirteen
persons were executed under the same law at a single assize in the
days of Charles I. This odious statute was not repealed until
1783. The gipsies, however, persisted in coming to England and
were for the most part mercifully treated, in defiance of the laws,
by the constables and parish authorities.

1602 {Reptoriy Derbyshire). Given to Gipsies ye xxx daye of

Januarye to avoyde ye towne . . . . xx d.

161 3 {Melton Mowbray). Gyven to the gippsis to ride the towne

of them . . . . . . . xij d.

1632 {Stathern). Given to a great Companie of gipes 16 August. i 4

1638. Given to a companie of gepsies May the 2*"* . . .10

Given to a Companie of gepsies Sept the 1 5*^^ . . 9

The Constable's Account Book of Helmdon, Northants, for the
years 1653 to 17 17, which is now in the Bodleian Library, contains
among the entries of expenditures a number of references to money
paid to bands of passing gipsies.

Fol. 5^ (Between Sept. and Oct. 29, 1658.) Item giuen (un)to a Company
of Gipsees that were brought with a passe from Wapenham, 4d.

Fol. 26. Dec. 12, 1682, giuen to a Company of Geipsseys, i o.

Fol. 27. April 10, 1683, giuen to a Company of Gippseys that had a
passe, I o.

July 24, giuen to a Company of Gipses, i o.
Sept. 20, giuen to a Company of Gipeseses, i o.

giuen to Jeningsis Boay to haue the Gipseses out of the towne, id.

Fol. 37. Oct. 5^ 1688, given a Company of Gipsyes 8 in Number who came
with a Passe from Eaton in Kent to Passe into Cumberland. Witnesse Jo.
Hawten, Sen., 6d.

Fol. 38. Jan. 29, 1689. Giuen a Company of Gipsyes 12 in Number who
Came with a Guide & to Pass into Essex, 6d.

Fol. 41. March 14, 1689. Given to 14 Gipsyes who had a Pass, 6d.

Fol. 42. May 27, 1689. Given a Company of Gipsyes n'''^- 15 who had a Pass
to pass out of Kent into Cheshire, i 2.

Fol. 44. 1690. Given to a Company of Gipsyes 13 number who had a
pass, lod.

Fol. 54. 1693-4. pd. to Nat. Crosse for 6 gipses laying their one Night
ordered by Rich. Clarke, 1-06.

Fol. 68. (Between Aug. 2 and 23, 1697.) giuen to 8 Gipsyes who had a Pass
to goe to Robin Hoods Bay, i o.^

^ These extracts kindly given me through Mr. R. A, S. Macfie, honorary secretary
of the Gypsey Lore Society.

340 THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

Another interesting duty pertaining to the office of constable in
certain parishes was the building up, maintaining, and lighting of
Beacons. Legislative enactments of Richard II, Henry IV, and
Elizabeth provided for beacons to warn of dangers on various high
lands, and more especially within sight of the coast " Attached
to the service of them, were some of the men called * hoblers,' who
are often named in old Acts among the men-at-arms. They were
men lightly armed, who rode on a light nag or ' hobby,' and so
could instantly and quickly carry intelligence if need were."

1566 {Eltham^ Kent). Paid for watchinge the beacon on Shutters

Hill vs.

1570. Paid to Richard Bosi for the beacons . . . xxxs.

1574. Paid to John Bebley for making the beacon . . iij s. iiij d.

In 1619 the wardens of Seal gave 2s. "to the constable
tourdes billding the beakon."

It now remains to give a good general idea of the voluminous
civil duties that used to fall to the lot of the parish constable by
giving (i) an analysis of the seventeenth-century Wimeswold
accounts, (2) a brief reference to the important printed Constable
minutes of Manchester Manor, and finally (3) to the remarkable
and more recent MS. documents of Combe, Oxon.

The Constable Accounts of Wimeswold, Leicestershire, from
1602 to 1669 (Brit. Mus. Add. 10,457) ^'^^ contained in a MS.
volume of 319 folios. Nicholls, the historian of the county, made
some extracts from this highly interesting MS. in the second
part of his third volume.

The following are the chief disbursements for 1608 : —

To the payment of the seaventh fyfteene .... iiij li.

To the mayned soUdiers and hospitalls at Easter * . iiij s. iiij d.

To the jeale att the same tyme , . . . iij s. iiij d.

To the provysyon ....... xxxiij s.

To the provision of poultrye . . . . . vj s. viij d.

Spent when I went before the Clarke of the Markett wyth strikes,
for our dinnour . . . . . . . xv d.

To one which had losses by fyre on saynt James day with passport ij d,

Gyvyn to a poore woman which lay in the Church porch and to goe
forth of the towne because she had a child which were borne in
the toone for to take yt wyth her . . . . . vj d.

Seventeen tramps, with passports, were relieved this year by

ij s. vij d.

vs.
vij S;
bestes ij s. viij d.

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 341

the Wimeswold constable ; the rehef varied from id. to 3d. a head.
The total disbursements were £j 19s. 4d.

The levies made at Wimeswold in 1688 for the discharge of
the usual constable*s accounts were in the first instance raised at the
rate of i|d. a beast, and 6d. a score of sheep. The following are
the first six entries of the levy of 17th April 1608, " for the payment
of the Fyffteene."

Mr. Ballard, xiij score sheepe And xxiij bestes . . ix s. x d.

Mr. Calton, iij score sheepe And ix bestes .

Mr. Poulson, ix score and x sheepe And ij bestes

William Barrett, ix score sheepe And xx bestes

Edward Blunt junior iij score and xv sheepe and vij

William Blunt senior iij score and xvij sheepe and xvij bestes . iiij s. ob.

There were no fewer than 92 cattle or sheep owners in the
parish. The entries for this levy afford proof of general prosperity
in connection with the unenclosed common system. Twenty-one
householders possessed two cows, and nine owned a single " beste."
The total of this levy amounted to £^ 9s. 6d.

A second levy was made on 5th June of the same year for " A
subply of soldiers, after xx'^ Acres of Land iiij d. and Cottigers a
id. a beaste.'' The total of this levy is missing. There were
forty holders of land, varying from Mr. Ballard who held eleven
score acres, down to "Thomas Wildman for beste and land ij d."

A third levy for general constable's expenses was collected on
Sth August 1608, after a penny a beast; it produced 36s. 3d.,
showing that the kine numbered 435.

The following are among the items " layd forthe by Thomas
Franke junior," constable for this year : —

Payd to the heigh Constable towardes bringe of gune powder for

our majesties service the x day of Januarie . . xiij s. iiij d.

Geven the xix day of januarie to a woman wch came forth of bedlam

wyth passport .......

Geven the same day to ij solldiers forth of Ireland with passporte .
Spent the first day of Februarie when we were before the Clarke

of the Markett . . . . . . . ij 1

Paye for alowinge the wayghtes .....

Geven to a Bygg belly woman to goe forth of the towne .

Geven to a lame v/oman wh had but one legg

Geven to a man and a woman with a child on horse backe which

had losses by fyer wyth passport . . . , .iiij d.

jj

d.

vj

d.

s. ij

d.

iiij

d.

y

d.

ij

d.

342 THE CHURCHWARDENS^ ACCOUNTS

Mendinge the stockes . . . . . . ij d.

Provision for his majesties household .... xxxj s.

The provision of poultrey . . . . . vj s. viij d.

The payments this year for maimed soldiers and hospitals were
4s. 4d. a quarter, and for the Fifteenth £/!\. 2s. A considerable
proportion of the passported tramps of 1608 were soldiers, one of
whom was blind ; some of the tramps came from the far north,
one from Carlisle and another from Newcastle.

The following entries from these constable's accounts have been
selected as showing the diversity of local and national subjects
which they so abundantly illustrate during a critical period in
England's history : —

1602. Payd for carryinge Ashes to Leicester to the sault peter

worke . . . . . . . vj s, viij d.

1607. Geven to a poore man and a woman which were punished

accordinge to the statute . . . . . ij d.

161 1. Paide towardes the releiffe of the visited folke in Thrumaston v s.

Paid to the visited folkes in Leicester. . . . vj s.

Paid to John Smyth and his wyef for three weeks when they

were kepte in there house beinge suspected of the Plague ix s.

1623. Given to WiUiam Henson for catching of mooles . . xs.

Payed for a payre of stocks . . . . vs. iiij d.

1627. To a poore man with seaven children . . . iij d.
For a criple with two children and for a horse to carye him

to Burton . . . . . . . vij d.

1628. For y^ soulgers Coulors ..... 4s.
For a pound of gunpowder and 2 yards of match the second

trayning . . . . . - . is. 2d.

1630. To two shouldgers wch ad beene commanders in ye lowe

cuntreys ....... 4d.

1632. To a Seafaring man wh was taken by the Dunkerkes . 3d.

1634. For two Carts and Carriage for Carryinge the Kinges M*'*^

provision from Belvoire to Newarke . . . 30s.

Paid to Thomas Burton for wardinge and keepinge begars
etc. forthe of the towne vij d. a weeke, for his whole years
wages ....... 30s. 4^-

1635. Spent when I was before the Justices at Syston to presente

the Recusantes and the punishinge of Roagues . . 2s. 6d.

Spent when wee wente with the Poppitt Player before Mr.

Roosley ....... is.

To the Postmayster to free the Towne of Post Horses for

this yeare , , , t . , .,,

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 343

To Foure men for wardinge on the Wake day . , is. 4d.

1636, For makinge a pass for a man which I sett in the Stockes

which had 4 children with him .... 2d.

For makinge the Billes the last yeare and this yeare which
the inhabitantes was severally taxed and assessed to pay
towardes the makinge of his Ma*'" Shippes . . 3s. 4d.

1637. Given to a great bellyed woman wch came from Hoton

with a passe ....... 6d.

Paid for a Carte and a Mydwyfe and two women to go with
her to Wylloughby . . . . . .is. 4d.

1639. For two Loades and a half of Coales for the salt peter men . los.

1640. Spent on myself and my horse goeinge two days to

Leicester about the stayinge the Sessements of the Shipp
Money . . . . . . . 2s. 8d.

Paid to Mr. Browne the Salt Peter maker for freeing the
towne for carryinge 2 lode of Ashes from Loughborro to
Ashley . . . , . . .17s. 6d.

1643. To a blind minyster with a pass from Constable to Con-
stable and for his charges for his super and his lodginge at
Richard Leakes ...... 6d.

1642. Given to James Dallenocke of Oukeham Relater for the

King to see ther be nether Roogues Seminaries nor
Jesuits inhabiting in our towne and y' our buts and high
v/ayes be in good repaire ..... is.

Given to Richard Herbert of Christ Church in ye He of
Man wch had great losse by fire by reason of y^ pirats
shooting wild fire into their Towne and had Certificate
and manie Earls Lords and Knights hands at it . . 7s.

To Robert Leake for carieng the King's goods from

Nottingan . . . . . . .100

To William Blunt for the like . . . . . 10 o

1643. To John Hall for lodginge thre troophers . . -39

[Several like entries.]

1644. For two hundered of CoUes wch was burnte in the church

when the troupers billited at o towne . . .18

1 647. Spent when the souldgers made their tickets at the

Church . . . . . . .10

For the poore visited people of Loughborrow . . 14 o

A tax made the 20th of September for the Raysinge of
money towardes the payment of S*^ Thomas Fairefax
armyes and for carryinge on the warr in Ireland by
divers of the inhabitants of Wymeswoold (90 in all) 10 15 4

1649. Paid the souldiers to quarter themselves a weake Aprill 23** 14 o

[Seven other like weekly entries.]
16 ji. To the Ringers when they Rong for y^ Cottes (Scots) Route 2 o

344

THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

1653. A Certificate from the Keepers of the liberties of England .
1655. Paid for the Whipin post and the Ringes which are one it .

1658. Given to two vagerand women that was stocked and whiped

1659. Given to fore soulgers which would have had horsses to ride

after the Armie to Darbe .....
Pd to fore men that wached the foolish man one night and

for ale and bread and candles ....

Warand for provition monie for the Kings househould
Given to a man that brought an order for bows and arrows .
Pd to head Constable for proision monie for the Kings

househould .......

1660.

1661.

4 4

I 2

10

I o

I 10

STOCKS AND WHIPPING POST: UFFORD, SUFFOLK

1662. My charges going to Throggington to put in a bill of pre-

sentment of such as goe not to Church . . .14

Spent on the Kings Crownation Day with y^ Ringers . i o

For Catching 4 dussen of Sparrows .... 6

1663. Spent at Gadsby when I went before the Justices with the

auld souldgers baptists and quakers . . .60

The full and valuable Constable Accounts of the Manor of
Manchester were transcribed and edited by Mr. J. P. Earwaker, in
three volumes (1891-2) ; they extend from 1612 to 1776. The
introduction supplies a good summary of the origin and duties of
the office of constable. The following are among the entries
relative to the Plague : —

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 34 5

1625. Oct. 19. Pd a Messenger which the Constables of Stafford
sent to o"" Constable to Cartiefie against infectious goods in
xij packes newlie come from London, and thus it were
right they were put out of ye town .... 6d.

1631. July 24. Pd and given to 8 persons to cause them to retorne
whence they came because they were Suspected to have
been in some Infected place . . . 20s.

1631. Oct. 27. For the releefe and watching of those at Cabbins £11 11 11
[Cabins or wooden huts were erected on Collyhurst
Common for the isolation of those suffering from the plague.]

1645. Sept. 26. To Dr. Smith for pte of his wages for his service

in y° tyme of visitacon ..... ^39

The diversity of subjects treated of in these volumes may be
judged from the following list of headings : —

Aletasters, Alehouse Keepers, Ballad-singers, Beacons, Beadles,
Bell (market), Branding, Cage, Candles for watch, Catchpole
or Bailiff, Clerk of the Market, Coroners, Cuckstool, Cock-
crowing, Drunkards, Fire Buckets and Engines, Fortune-tellers,
Gibbet, Gipsies, Handcuffs, House of Correction, King's Evil, Lent,
Leper, Market, Militia, Pillory, Plague, Players, Recusants, Rogues,
Saltpeter-man, Scolds' Bridles, Searches (Privy), Soldiers, Stocks,
Trained Bands, Whipping, and *' Window Peepers."

The parish of Combe, near Woodstock, Oxfordshire, has
Constable's accounts extending from 1788 to 1822. The mole-
catcher was paid two guineas in 1791, and in the same year
£\ 1 6s. was paid for " crow-keeping in seedtime," a most unusual
entry. The "stox" were repaired in 1792 at a charge of i8s. 4d.
New stocks cost £'^ 4s. in 1805 ; they were repaired for 12s. in
1821. A pair of handcuffs was bought in 1802 for 5s. The chief
annual charge was the levy under the head of Marshalsea (spelt
with endless variants) money, chiefly for gaol expenses. It was
paid twice a year and fluctuated considerably in amount ; in 1788
it amounted tO;^6 7s. gd. ; in 1791, ;£"4i4s. 9d. ; in i809,;^4 los. ; in
1810, ;^8 ijs. ; and in 1813, ;£'34 5s. At the head of each year's
accounts is the entry as to the swearing-in of the constable and
the tithingmen, his two assistants, at the Park Gate Court ; this
court was the Court Baron of the Duke of Marlborough, held at
the Woodstock Park Gate, as Combe parish (with several other
adjacent parishes) was a member of the Honour of Woodstock

346 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Manor, formerly ancient demesne of the Crown, Other regular
entries related to the preparing of the jury list and taking it to
Oxford to be signed ; and making the militia lists and attending
at the balloting for the same. The constable's services for
"keeping the peace at Combe feast" are usually entered at is. 6d.,
but he was occasionally able to discharge this duty at the lower
fee of IS. This feast is the annual fair held on the village green
on the Monday and Tuesday after the loth of August; the church
is dedicated to St. Laurence. On two occasions the constable
received is, for keeping the peace at the 5th of November
" bonfire."

There is a highly remarkable entry in the last of these village
constable records under date 28th September 1822 : —
Paid Francis Norrays\

John Slatter
Joseph Strickley
Wm. Motley

For guarding the Church
James Hone \ Night and Day.

Rich. Tallett ^140

James Tallett
Timothy SUngs /

On the constable's accounts coming before the parish vestry,
strong objections were raised to this charge. They considered it
an " imposition as there were no orders issued from the church-
wardens to the constable to guard the church, the church-
wardens being present at the time, and the constable has declared
repeatedly that Dr. Mavor as a magistrate had given him orders
never to act on consecrated ground. Instead of the constable
preserving the Peace, he came in the night with part of these
men and most disgracefully violated the Peace."

This so-called " guarding of the church " was the culminating
point of an unhappy parish scandal. The rectory of Combe was
appropriated to the College of Lincoln in the fifteenth century, and
the college was bound by statute to appoint a chaplain to serve
the cure, instead of a duly instituted vicar in accordance with
usual precedent. The chaplain was appointed by the Rector or
Head of Lincoln College, and removable at will. Dr. Edward
Tatham, who was Rector of Lincoln for forty years in the first
half of last century, was a m^n of headstrong will and of a COc^rse,

CONSTABLES' ACCOUNTS 347

turbulent character. Sooner or later he seems to have violently
quarrelled with every one with whom he came in contact. In 1817
he appointed Rev. Bartley Lee, M.A., to Combe chaplaincy, assuring
him, as Mr. Lee stated, that it was a life appointment. For two
years Mr. Lee lived quietly at the chaplain's house with his invalid
wife, worked hard, and won the respect and affection of the
parishioners. Then Dr. Tatham had some disagreement with the
chaplain, and in November 1820 gave him peremptory notice to quit,
and appointed another chaplain, who was to take duty on the
Sunday following the letter. On Sunday, 3rd December, the new
man, Mr. Rose, a fellow of the college, appeared in surplice in the
church before the morning service, but found Mr. Lee (who had
taken legal advice) already in the reading desk. Mr. Rose was
ordered to leave by the churchwarden. The Rector then took
action against Mr. Lee in the Court of Arches ; the suit dragged
on through the greater part of 1821, when it was dismissed with
costs on the ground that the Court had no jurisdiction. Mean-
while the college withheld all payment of salary, and Mr. Lee had
very small means. In the midst of the worry his wife died. But
friends came to his support, and nothing would induce him to
leave.

Dr. Tatham, furious at the chaplain's opposition, and having
failed in his legal methods, determined to use force to carry out
his purpose. Accordingly, in September 1822, he brought over to
Combe, without warning, a locksmith, four Oxford constables, and
two Lincoln undergraduates. The locksmith applied new locks to
all the church doors, and handed the keys to the Rector, who
intended to let himself into the church on the following Sunday
and conduct the services. One of the constables was locked in the
church on Saturday evening, with instructions to be ready to
admit Dr. Tatham on the morrow and to assist to keep Mr. Lee
out should he attempt to enter. This constable was supplied with
provisions, but the night was cold, and he wrapped himself up
in the altar cloth and some other church hangings — a fact that
was brought up against Dr. Tatham at the subsequent trial. On
Sunday morning, between ten and eleven, the Rector, carrying his
surplice, appeared in the churchyard, and was startled to find the
whole enclosure filled with a crowd of villagers, augmented by not

348 THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

a few from neighbouring parishes, forming a crowd of four or five
hundred persons. Loud shouts were raised of " No Tatham ! Lee
for ever ! " Tatham with his few partisans made for the south
chancel door, but the crowd blocked his approach with threatening
gestures, and he withdrew to the rectory, " in fear of his life," as he
subsequently stated. Meanwhile Lee, ready vested and accom-
panied by his lawyer brother and by Lord Charles Churchill
(brother of the Duke of Marlborough), approached the main door-
way on the north side of , the church. The door was soon
wrenched from its hinges by the aid of crowbars, and fell with a
crash into the church. The Oxford constable was found within
ready to resist Mr. Lee's entrance, but he and his paid companions,
who joined him, were flung out one by one from the church with
their clothes torn to ribbons. Mr. Lee's friends completely filled
the church, and the service proceeded. By the irony of events it
was " a Sacrament Sunday.''

This distressful event was the so-called Combe Riot. At the
next Oxford assizes, Dr. Tatham indicted Mr. Lee, Lord Churchill,
and twenty Combe labourers for riot with violence in Combe
churchyard ; three labourers were convicted and sentenced to
short terms of imprisonment, the rest were acquitted. The
chaplain's house was the freehold of the college, and the turbulent
Rector, to the grief of nearly the whole parish, won the day by
legally ejecting Mr. Lee from his residence. Tatham was burnt in
ef^gy on the village green.

APPENDIX

CONSECRATION CROSSES

THERE are few subjects as to which more blunders have been made
in the past (by myself included) than that of consecration crosses, and
several misconceptions still survive.^ The earliest English Pontifical, that
of Egbert, Archbishop of York, 732-766, directs that at the dedication of
a church, the bishop was to make crosses with his thumb dipped in chrism

ANOINTING A CONSECRATION CROSS
PONTIFICALUM ROMANUM VENITIIS, 162O

on the walls of his church. A Winchester Pontifical of the end of the
tenth century directs the anointing of both the internal and external
walls. Later Pontificals prescribe that the walls were to be anointed in
twelve places within and twelve places without ; it was also ordered that
the places were to be marked beforehand by crosses, which were to be

^ On this matter the earlier ecclesiological hand-books are all wrong. The two
authoritative papers are those by the late Dr. Middleton {Archaologia, xlviii. 456) and
by the Rev. E. S. Dewick {Arc kcBologzcal Journal, Ixv., No. 257), but the former is

wrong in the misapplication of the term.

349

3 so THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

placed within circles, and that brackets for candles were to be attached to
each place. The best known instances of the survival of these crosses in
an elaborate form is that of Salisbury Cathedral, where eight survive on the
outside and a like number on the inside. The indents in this case were
originally filled with metal crosses ; about three inches below each cross is
a small hole, to which the branch for the candle was attached, to be lit on
the day of dedication. At Edington, Wilts, consecrated in 1361, eleven
of the internal crosses remain, and eight on the outside ; Uffington, Berks,
consecrated in the thirteenth century, also has an almost perfect set of
external crosses. In both these cases the indents were originally filled
with metal. Two other notable instances occur at Ottery St. Mary,
Devon, and at Liskeard, Cornwall. A great number of interior consecra-
tion crosses, simply painted on the walls, as at Tong, Cheltenham, and
Worstead, have come to light during recent years. Mr. Dewick stated
in 1908 that he had a list of one hundred and seventy English parish
churches in which they had been noted. With a little industry, such a
list might readily be extended to upwards of two hundred. During the
present century several such crosses have, to our knowledge, been cleared
away owing to ignorance and, in at least one case, to bigotry. Good
examples may be readily noticed at Arundel, Sussex ; Darenth, Kent ;
and Stansfield, Sufi"olk. In short, there are several instances extant, either
interior or exterior, in almost every English county. In Cambridgeshire
they occur at St. Botolph and Holy Trinity, Cambridge, Fen Ditton,
Isleham, Lynton, and Winningham. In Norfolk they may be noted at
the three Norwich churches of St. John Sepulchre, St,. Saviour, and St.
Peter Permentergate ; also at Barningham Winter, Burcham Tofts,
Blofield, Bodney, Carleton Rode, Horning, Ovington, Oxborough, North
Repps, Shottisham All Saints, Thrigby, and Worstead. In Sussex
external crosses, formed of black flints, may be noted at Boxgrove,
Broadwater, Seaham, and Westham, and they are painted upon the
inside walls at Amberley, Climping, Ford, Poling, Pevensey, Slindon,
Trotton, and Warminghurst.

A few words are necessary as to the common habit of speaking of
consecration crosses where they do not really exist. It is fairly common
to find quite small crosses incised, with more or less care, on the jambs of
doorways. Sometimes there are several in this position, the later ones
probably careless imitations of the original. In certain cases such
crosses have been incised with some care, as at Tideswell, Derbyshire,
and Boston, Lincolnshire. Nevertheless, not one of these crosses has
any right whatever to the word " consecration." Such a term is only to

APPENDIX 351

be used for crosses which were anointed with chrism by the bishop at
the time of the church's dedication ; this was never done on doorways,
for the chrism was always applied at a sufficient height to avoid casual
contact. Where these doorways crosses were made deliberately, it would
be with the general idea of the power of the cross to keep off evil influ-
ences, just as it is expressed in the Roman Pontifical, when the officiant,
on entering the church, makes the sign of the cross with the lower end of
his crozier on the threshold, saying —

Ecce crucis signum fugiant phantasmata cuncta.
Again, the word consecration must not be applied to crosses painted or
incised on church furniture, or in places impossible for anointing pur-
poses, such as over a chancel arch, or in flints on an outer clerestory. At
Cheltenham there is a cross on the piscina ; at Lanreath, Cornwall, Bide-
ford, Devon, and Windermere, Westmorland, there are incised crosses on
the fonts; in each of these cases the word " consecration " is habitually
but wrongfully applied.

ADDENDA

LIST OF WARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Date.

Place.

Printed References, etc.

Edw. in to
Edw. IV

Bridgwater

Bishop Hobhouse's Churchwardens^
Accounts {iSg:^) J 230-1

1509-1675

Rotherfieldj Sussex

Suss. Arch. Coll., vol. xli. 25-48

1515-1579

West Tarring, Sussex .

Suss. Arch. Coll., vol. xli. 68

1516-1603

Banwell, Somerset.

Bishop Hobhouse's Churchwardens^
Accounts (1890), 229-30

1527-1568

Lydd, Kent .

Finn's Records of Lydd (191 1), 329-
427

1527 . .

Great Dunmow, Essex ,

Scott's Hist, of an Essex Parish (1873)

1528

Great Witchingham, Nor-
folk

Norfolk Archcsology, vol. xiii. 119-216

1524-1700

Burfordj Oxon

Monk's ZTzV/. of Burford {\%^\)

1547

Narborough, Norfolk

Edw. VI .

March, Cambs.

Rood entries interesting

1552-1628

Chelsea, Middlesex

Lyson's Environs of London, ii. 145-
146

1560

Coventry, Holy Trinity .

Sharp's Holy Trinity (1818)

1573-1636

Fulham, Middlesex

Lyson's Environs of London, ii. 394-6

1585-1709

Finedon, Northants

1598-1762

Hastings, Sussex .

Suss. Arch. Coll., vol. xxiii. 85-118

1606

Deerhurst, Glouc.

1644-1813

Preston, Lane.

Smith's Record of Par. Church (1872)

23

INDEX TO WARDENS' ACCOUNTS

(ARRANGED UNDER COUNTIES)

Bedfordshire —
Bolnhurst, 51
Flitton, 48
Berkshire —
Bray, 48, 309
Henley, 315

Reading, St. Giles, 45> 3^3
St. Laurence, 18-9, 91-3, 97, 109,
127, 131-2, 140, 142-4, 150, 152,
187-8, 213, 215, 217-8, 229-30,
242, 244, 247, 250-1, 262, 269-70,
282-4, 286-7, 3". 3H
St. Mary, 13, 46, 61, 94, 98-9, 104,
13s. 157, 19I5 197-8,222,232, 235,
242, 262, 286, 312, 313, 328
Stanford, 46, 93, 219, 236, 288, 292,

306
Thatcham, 46, 320
Bucks —
Marlow, 48, 280-1, 290
Wing, 45, 285
Cambridgeshire —
Bassingbourn, 42, 108-9, m» 130-I)
141-2, 145, 165, 179, 202, 226, 251,
262-3, 270-4, 289-90, 292-3, 295
Boxford, 45, 247, 276
Cambridge, Great St. Mary, 9, 44, 83-4,
105, 112, 114, 116, 1 18-9, 126, 132,
151-2, 167, 170, 179, 183-4. 192,
201, 221, 237, 246, 248, 250, 260,
310-1, 318
Holy Trinity, 4, 44, loi, 103, iii,
126, 146, 164, 169-70, 202, 250,
260, 262
St. Botolph, 48, 104, 135-6, 156, 180,

191, 320
March, 353
Cheshire —

Chester, St. John, 306
St. Martin, 51

St. Mary-on-the-Hill, 45, 244, 246,
256, 265
Prestbury, 46, 118, 233, 243, 309
Rostherne, 51
Whitegate, 48
Wilmslow, 46

3S.5

Cornwall —

Bodmin, 8 1-3

Camborne, 301

Launceston, 39

Liskeard, 51, 301

St. Columb Major, 47, 235, 280, 295,
299, 311. 329-30. 322, 338

St. Ives, 47, 205, 244, 280

St. Mabyn, 49, 156, 295

St. Neots, 48, 169, 299, 312
Cumberland —

TorpenhoWj 51

Waberthwaite, 51
Derbyshire —

Allestree, 295

Ashborne, 204

Derby, All Saints, 31-2, 105, 114, 116,
118, 134, 136, 163-4, 225-7, 235,
237, 244, 263, 306
St. Mary-on-the-Bridge, 147-8
St. Werburgh, 49

Eckington, 295

Hartshorne, 49, 173, 206, 234, 301, 309

Hayfield, 102, 206, 243

Marston-on-Dove, 48, 206, 295

Morton, 48, 306

North Wingfield, 328

Repton, 12, 47, 121, 295, 332, 334, 339

Tickenhall, 295

Wirksworth, 50, 95, 118, 154-5. 158,
300

Youlgrave, 48, 118-9, 157, 205
Devon —

Ashburton, 38-9, 93, 103, 180, 209, 217,
269, 329

Barnstaple, 46, 232, 277, 312

Chagford, 39

Chudleigh, 46

East Budleigh, 51

Exeter, St. Petrock, 20, 122, 136-7, 229,
236, 242, 320

Hartland, 156, 180, 301, 332

Milton Abbot, 4, 48, 312-3

Morebath, 12, 45, 125, 250, 292, 295, 310

Otterton, 253

Portsmouth, 46

356

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Devon {continued) —

Sidbury, $, 49, 90, loi, 136, 204, 264,

300-2, 306
South Tawton, 45, 304
Talaton, 315

Tavistock, 17-8,87-8, 106, 118, 128, 133,
135, 138, 204, 243, 277, 285, 292,

303, 314, 331
Woodbury, 253, 298
Dorset —

Langton-Long-BIandford, 50
Wimborne, 38,98, 103-4, 109-11, 118,
120, 127, 145, 147, J51, 195, 198-9,

215, 236, 251, 290, 320
Durham —

Durham, St. Nicholas, 51, 312

St. Oswald, 47, 102, 122, 158, 191,

216, 304

Hough ton-le- Spring, 48, 337
Pittington, 13, 47, 100, 236, 245, 294,
300, 312, 333
Essex —

Braintree, 274
Chelmsford, 46, 277-9
Great Dunmow, 353
Saffron Walden, 20, 144, 214-5, 263
Weybridge, 274
Gloucestershire —

Bristol, All Saints, 18, 193,202,214-5,310

Christchurch, 45, 134, 218

St. Ewen, 23, 128, 134, 139, 153, 166,
189, 245, 251, 256, 259, 311

St. James, 47, 101, 210, 247, 315

St. John Baptist, 35, 179, 218, 256, 266

St. Mary-le-Port, 46, 246

St. Mary Redcliffe, 34

St. Michael, 47, 247

St. Nicholas, 40

St, Peter, 50, 224, 227, 242

SS. Philip and James, 46, 204

St. Thomas, 46

St. Werburgh, 46, 104
Clifton, St. Andrew, 43
Deerhurst, 353
Eastington, 45, 302
Hampnett, 48

Minchinhampton, 46, 236, 298, 3 1 3-4, 3 1 6
Ruardon, 51
Hampshire —

Basingstoke, 5, 49, 158, 172, 3i9. 33°

Bedhampton, 52

Bourne, St. Mary, 49

Bramley, 45

Crondall, 45

Ellingham, 46

Ibsley, 51

Lymington, 51, 235

North Waltham, 48

Ringwood, 48

Sherfield-on-Loddon, 51

Hampshire {continued) —

Silchester, 52

Southampton, Holy Rood, 52
St. Michael, 50

Stoke Charity, 45

Thruxton, 52, 301

Upham, 50

Weyhill, 294

Winchester, St. John, 116, 118, 135
St. Peter Chesil, 47, 311
St. Swithin-on-Kingsgate, 51

Wootton, 46, 281, 294
St Laurence, 48

Yateley, 48
Hertfordshire- —

Berkhamstead, 47, 100, 233, 337

Bishop Stortford, 297

Hertford, St. Andrew, 145

Knebworth, 48

Munden, 292
Huntingdonshire—

Great Paxton, 48

Huntingdon, All Saints, 253
Kent—

Birdington, 49

Canterbury, Holy Cross, 102, 225
St. Dunstan, go, 106, 109, 179, 213,268

Chiddingstone, 47

Cobham, 50

Cowden, 48, 338

Deptford, 51, 264

Dover, St. Mary, 45, 112, 167, 194, 215,
236, 261, 263

Edenbridge, 136, 194

Eltham, 46, 99, 328, 340

Fordwich, 44, 296

Greenwich, 50

Hawkhurst, 45, loi, 152, 154, 264

Hoo, All Saints, 46

Hythe, 19

Lydd, 353

Rainham, 45

Sandwich, St. Mary, 21, 80-1, 212

Smarden, 147, 167, 203, 306

Snowdon, 45

Strood, 46, 116, 134, 153, 191,218,233,
328

Woolwich, 52
Lancashire —

Ashton-under-Lyne, 50

Bolton, 50

Childwall, 48

Flixton, 51

Hawkshead, 52

Middleton, 50

Preston, 353

Prestwick, 309

Ribchester, 50

St. Michael-on-Wyre, 51

Wigan, 47

INDEX TO WARDENS' ACCOUNTS

357

Leicestershire —

Great Wigston, ii8, 304

Loughborough, 47, 321

Leicester, St. Martin, 41, 94, 104-5, ^20,
13S-6, 152-3, 157-8, 173, 181-3,
191, 193, 214, 222, 224, 227, 231-3,
236, 245, 250, 263, 277, 286, 306,
311, 316-7, 321
St. Mary-in-Castro, 42, 190, 193, 322

Melton Mowbray, 12, 46, 97, 112, 318,

338-9
Sapcote, 306
Stathern, 319, 335-9
Wimeswold, 333-5, 340-4
Lincolnshire —

Kirton-in-Lindsey, 40
Louth, 44, 1 28, 265
Saxilby, 46
Spalding, 212
Sutterton, 39, 96, 126, 276
Wigtoft, 147, 249, 306, 329
London (including Westminster and
Borough) —
All Hallows the Great, 49
the Less, 49
Honey Lane, 49
London Wall, 33
All Hallows, Staining, 42
St. Alphege, London Wall, 9, 45, 173,
179, 202, 217, 220, 223, 241, 252,
255, 265, 317, 322, 338
St. Andrew Cheap, 258
Holborn, 21-3, 81, 202, 217, 279
Hubbard, 24, 139, 145, 166, 178,
193, 203, 209, 217, 240, 244, 255,
258, 307, 320
St. Ann Aldersgate, 50
St. Antholin, 47, 252
St. Augustine, Farringdon Within, 48
St. Bartholomew Exchange, 48, 104,
319-20, 338
the Great, 49
St. Benet Fink, 49, 320

Gracechurch, 46, 221, 241, 318, 321
Paul's Wharf, 48, 252
St. Botolph Aldersgate, 32, 138-9, 145,
162-3, 210, 241, 244, 258, 320
Aldgate, 46
Billingsgate, 48
Bishopsgate, 47
St. Catherine Aldgate, 46

Coleman, 49
St, Christopher-le-Stocks, 47, 1 34-5?

142, 219, 317, 320
St. Clement Eastcheap, 56
St. Dionis Backchurch, 49
St. Dunstan-in-the-East, 251
St. Ethelburga Bishopsgate, 47
St. George, Botolph Lane, 48
Southwark, 49

London [contintied) —

St. Helen Bishopsgate, 47, 200, 229
St. James Clerkenwell, 47
St. John Baptist Walbrook, 48
St. John Zachary, 48
St. Leonard Eastcheap, 51
St. Magnus, 50

St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, 8, 14, loo-l,
112, 136, 157, 172, 190, 212, 218-
20, 236, 244, 257-8, 276, 317, 331
Ludgate, 47, 140
Ludgate Hill, 50
Ongar, 34-5
Outwich, 45, 258
St. Margaret, New Fish Street, 47
Pattens, 44, 190, 193, 240,246, 251, 255
Southwark, 22, 178, 201, 268
Westminster, 27-8, 87, 90, 93, 100,
104-5, m» 127, 134, 136, 139,
147, 155-6, 166-7, 172, 178, 180,
194, 209, 212, 216, 218-23, 234,
241, 242, 244-6, 251, 255, 257, 259,
262-3, 265, 285, 315-6, 318, 320-2,

330-1

St. Mary Aldermanbury, 47

-at-Hill, 5, 13, 19, 86-7, 93, 124,

129, 13s, 156, 159, 161-2, 166,

176-8, 193, 199-200, 207-8, 212-3,

218, 239-40, 243, 245, 250, 254,

258, 259, 261-2. 307, 311
Woodchurch, 46, 234-5
Woolnoth, 45, 104, 118, 120, 202,

209, 236, 246, 252, 255, 277
St. Mary Magdalene, Milk Street, 45

Old Fish Street, 50
St. Matthew, Friday Street, 46, 88, 156,

168, 190, 209, 241, 320
St. Michael Cornhill, 24, 120, 127, 142,

147, 173, 178, 193, 203, 209, 218,

241, 251, 256, 258, 307, 338
Wood Street, 49
St. Nicholas, Cole Abbey, 209
St. Olave Southwark, 46
St. Pancras, Soper Lane, 46
St. Peter Cheap, 20, 86-7, 94, 142, 147,

166, 179, 193, 200-1, 240, 246,

250-1, 254
St. Saviour Southwark, loi
St. Stephen Walbrook, 35-6, 133, 193,

201, 209, 255
St. Swithin, London Wall, 48
Middlesex —
Chelsea, 353
Fulham, 326, 353
Hammersmith, 30
Kensington, 51, 224
Norfolk —
Brockdish, 46
Dunham Parva, 51
East Dereham, 149

358

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Norfolk {continued) —
Forncett St. Peter, 51
Great Witchingham, 353
Harling, 268
Loddon, 46
Narborough, 353

NorthElmham,45, 86, 110,139,304, 328
Norwich, St. Benedict, 48

St. Gregory, 47

St. Laurence, 48

St. Mary, 47

St. Peter Mancroft, 47

St. Stephen, 47
Pulham St. Mary, 46

St. Mary Magdalene, 48, 292
Redenhail, 47, 99, 235, 306, 311
Shipdham, 45, 202, 2S9, 328
Snettisham, 36
Stockton, 152, 328
Swaffham, 23-4
Toft Monks, 48, 89
Yarmouth, 29, 276
Northampton^

Aldwinkle St. Peter; 50

Ashby St. Legers, 51

Broughton, 51

Burton Latimer, 46, 304

Byfield, 49

Castle Ashby, 51

CoUeyweston, 50

Collingtree, 50

Cottingham, 48

Culworth, 45, 286, 292, 295, 305, 308

East Haddon, 51

Finedon, 353

Glinton, 50

Great Harrowden, 51

Haughton, 50

Weldon, 49
Helmdon, 339
Kingsthorpe, 47
Lamport, 52
Lowick, 48, 89, 286
Marston Trussell, 48
Northampton, All Saints, 319

St. Giles, 49, 114, 154, 232, 319

St. Sepulchre, 49
Overstone, 51
Peterborough, St. John Baptist, 33-4,

106, 230
Piddington, 50
Stanford, 46, 93
Sudborough, 51
Thornby, 50
Thornhaugh, 50
Ufford, 50
Wecdon Bee, 49
Wellingborough, 5, 49, 320
Woodford Halse, 48
Yarwell, 51

Northumberland —

Hexham, 306
Nottinghamshire—

Holme Pierrepoint, 46

Worksop, 45, 99, III, 294, 306
Oxfordshire —

Burford, 353

Enstone, 50

Oxford, St. Michael, 17
St. Peter-in-the-East, 21

Spelsbury, 6, 45, 99, 164-5, 192, 294

Thame, 20-1, 178, 190, 230, 245, 250

Yarnton, 231, 263, 313,
Shropshire —

Acton Round, 51

Alberbury, 50

Atcham, 52

Badger, 51

Barrington, 51

Barrow, 49

Bolas Magna, 52

Cheswardine, 45

Chetwynd, 50

Chirbury, 48

Church Pulverbatch, 50, 233

Clun, 51

Clunbury, 49

Clungunford, 51

Condover, 47

Cound, 49

Culmington, 52

Diddlebury, 51

Edgmond, 50

High Ercall, 51

Kenley, 48

Kinnerley, 50

Lilleshall, 48

Ludlow, 34, 81, 86-7, 104, 136,
146, 189, 202, 210, 230, 236, 244,
246, 250, 256, 304, 306, 309, 310,
320

Lydham, 51

Mainstone, 50

More, 50

Newport, 52

North Lydbury, 49

Oswestry, 47

Pitchford, 52

Prees, 51

Quatford, 51

Ryton, 48

Shaw bury, 49

Shrewsbury, Abbey Church, 47
St. Mary, 49

Stapleton, 51

Stockton, 48

Tong, 49

Uffington, 49, 234

Whitchurch, 49

Worfield, 12, 44, 127, 298

INDEX TO WARDENS' ACCOUNTS

3S9

Somersetshire—
Banwell, 353
Bath, St. Michael, 15, 16, 79, 89, 106,

190, 268, 292, 313
Bridgwater, 353
Cheddar, 49, 299, 333
Croscombe, 36, 109, 112, 119, 146, 282,

290
Minehead, 218
Pilton, 4, 165, 179, 293, 314
Staplegrove, 47, 85, loi, 309
Stoke Courcy, 44, 251, 290, 293
Swainswick, 49
TintinhuU, 28, 94, 97, 118, 125, 159,

1 1 5-6, 230, 250, 289, 295
Yatton, 22, 93-4, III, 112, 114, 116,

1 18-9, 124-5, 128, 138, 145, 151,

15s, 165, 168, 175-6, 230, 233, 250,

288-9, 310
Yeovil, 26, 212, 262
Staffordshire —
Leek, 102, 158
Mavesyn Ridware, 50, 316
Suffolk —
Bard well, 45, 292
Beccles, 95, 235
BIythburgh, 35
Bungay, 43, 275
Cratfield, 41-2, 105, 201, 247, 289,

299» 312-3, 327-9* 335
Eastfield, 145
Elmsett, 45, 293
Exning, 86, 94, 236
Henley, 48
Huntingfield, 45
Ipswich, St. Clement, 48, 321

St. Mary-le-Tower, 49

St. Matthew, 47

St. Peter, 47, 54, 116, 119, 135, 154,
192, 263

St. Stephen, 49
Little Cornand, 47
Little Glenham, 253
Mellis, 49

Mendlesham, 45, 140
Walberswick, 23, 87, 127, 258, 265
Wenhaston, 50
Wey bread, 48
Surrey
Bletchingley, 233
Elstead, 50
Hascombe, 267
Horley, 44, 192

Kingston-on-Thames, 42, 283-4, 337
Lambeth, 44, 234, 262
Mortlake, 47
Seal, 46, loi, 105, 114, 135-6, 205,

233, 290-1, 316
Weybridge, 310

Sussex—

Arlington, 26, 155
Bolney, 45, 97
Cowfold, 28, 150
Eastbourne, 50
Hastings, 353
Lindfield, 47
Mailsham, 245
Rotherfield, 353
Steyning, 7, 42, 312
West Tarring, 353
Warwickshire—

Coventry, Holy Trinity, 353
Solihull, 312
Southam, 48

Warwick, St. Mary, 170, 225, 235
St. Michael, 45

St. Nicholas, 112, 114, 116, 121, 153,
16S, 172, 2i8, 290, 298, 309, 313
Westmoreland —

Kendal, 50, 245, 300
Wiltshire —
Chippenham, 233
Devizes, St. Mary, 112, 118, 121, 185,

203, 233, 236, 260
Mere, 5, 46, 97-8, 180, 203, 291, 313,

330
Salisbury, St. Edmund, 4, 29, SSj 90,
93) 96-7. loi, 103-4, 107, no.
114-6, 118, 125, 128, 139, 154,
158, 166, 173, 192, 193, 208-9,
213, 222, 227, 232-4, 241, 246,
251, 254, 256, 294, 311
St. Martin, 47

St. Thomas, 4, 88, 100-4, ii4. uS,
I3S-7, 154, 156, 173. 194. 210,
219, 222, 224, 232-4, 247, 253,
263, 286, 311
Steeple Ashton, 45, 269
Worcestershire —
Badsey, 45
Bewdley, 47, 279
Tewkesbury, 280

Worcester, St. Helen, 45, 202, 246, 312
St. Mary, 152
St. Michael, 13, loi, 134-5, 217-8,

235. 246, 306, 329
St. Nicholas, 312
Yorkshire —

Bamsley, 49, 309, 322
Bramley, 322
Cundall, 194
Ecclesfield, 45

Hedon, St. Augustine, 16, 268
St. James, 16
St. Nicholas, 17, 145
Wakefield, 47
York, Holy Trinity, 46
St. John, 47

GENERAL INDEX

Ale. See Church-ale
Almayne-rivettes, 327
Altar cloths, stained, 132-3

covers, 105

rails, 104-5
Altars, 91-3
Antiphoners, 106-n
Apricot trees, 321
Arch(zologia^ 44-7, 149, 1S6
Archers, 36
Armada, 219, 329
Armour, parish, 326-33
Army, English, 325-6
Arquebuse, 326
Ascension Day, 18, 240
Astrological doctor, 322
Atchley's Incense in Divine Worships
Audit feasting, 9

Babington Conspiracy, 219

Badger skins, 130

Badgers, 297 et seq.

Baking, 20. Also under Church-ales

Baldrick, 211

Bandoleers, 327

Bannersj 71-2, 263

Baslow, 307

Bastard (wine), 95

Bay, 242, 245

Beacons, 340

Beam-light, 162-3

Bede Roll, 62, 158-9

Beer stone, 80

Bells and bell-ringing, 211-27

funeral, 56-8, 172-4

small, 139, 205
Bibles, 1 16-8
Bier, 57-8, 170-4
Bills, 327
Birch, 238-40
Birds in churches, 306
Boar, common, 295
Bolingbroke, Mr., 247, 267
Bond's Screens and Galleries, 175
Bonfires, 28, 224
Bookbinding, 107-11
Book of Sports, 122
Books, 18-9, 106-22

310

361

Boulogne, peace of, 218
Bows and arrows, 327-9, 344
Boy-bishop, 40-1, 129
Boyle's History of Bedon, 16
Boy's History of Sandwich, 21
Bradshaw, Henry, 120
Brass pots, gifts of, 20, 37
Breviary or porthose, 108-11
Brewing, 201. Also ««.^<fr Church-ales
Bridal cup, 314-5

jewellery, 315
Brigandine, 327

Bristol Fast and Present, 18, 34-5, 44
Bucer, Martin, 126
Bull, common, 295
Bullfinches, 297 et seq.
Burial of criminals, 39
Burials in churches, 22, 24, 34, 169
Burke, Mr. A. M., 27
Burning of women, 33 «.
Butchers, 61, 251
Butts, 327-8
Buzzards, 297-305

Caen stone, 79, 80, 149

Cage, 337

Cakes, 71, 254-5

Calfs head, 71, 213

Caliver, 326

Canary, 95

Candles or tapers, 18, 27, 29, 39, 60,

160-8
Candlesticks, 31, 40, 57-8, 138-42, 162-3,

241
Canopies for Blessed Sacrament, 101-3,

132
Cantell or cantle, 58-9
Cap trade, 313-4
Carols, 210
Caterpillars, 320
Cattle, 26, 29, 43, 292-5
Caxton's Golden Legend, 1 1 r
Celebrations, number of, 101-2
Censers and ships, 138-42
Chained books, 107, 1 19-21
Chair in quire, 73
Chalice, 138-42
Chapelwardens, 3

362

THE CHURCHWARDENS* ACCOUNTS

Charnel houses, 169-70

Choristers, 207-10

Choughs, 296-306

Chrismatories, 138-42, 151

Chrismatory cloths, 132, 15 1-2

Christening fees, 58

Christmastide, 245-7

Church-ale, 21, 22, 38-9, 41-2, 62-4,
287-91
house, 20, 39, 287-8
plate, 138-42
rates, 2, H-2, 75-8

Church Broughton, 2c6

Churching pew, 194

Churchwardens, office of, 1-14 ; solely
ecclesiastical in origin, 1-2 ; post-
Reformation civil duties, 2-3 ; their
number, 4-5 j all elected by parish,
5 ; fines for refusing office, 5-6 ;
women wardens, 6-7 ; election and
audit feasting, 7-9 ; time of audit, 10 ;
election by vestry, 13-4; stipend of
wardens, 16

Churchyard stalls, 61

Claverton stone, 79

Clerk's salary, 63, 73

Clocks, 19, 40, 73J 228-31

Clodock, 308

Clynnog, 308

Coffins, 57, 172-4

Combe, Constable Accounts, 345-8
Riot, 346-8

Common Prayer, 112-4

Commons, House of, at Communion, 100

Communion Books, 112-4

"Conduct," 207-9

Confessionals, 193

Conjuror, 322

Consecration Crosses, 349-51

Constables' Accounts, 323-48

Cope, festival, 133

Cormorants, 297 Bt seq.

Corporation pews, 193

Corpse, passage of, 172

Corpus Christi, 40, 64, 239-41, 265-6

Corslet, 327

"Cotter," 211

Covenant, the, 321

Cowchers, 108-9

Cox's Church Furniture, 160, 175, 186,
233-5, 249
Parish Registers, 172, 252, 316-7, 321,

338
Three Centuries of Derbyshire Annals,

323
Creeping to the Cross, 259
"Croke," 37
Cromwell's funeral, 174
Crow net, 296, 298
Crows, 296-305

Cruets, 138-42
Cunning woman, 320

Dancing, 22, 36, 66, 255-6
Dewick, Rev. E. S., 123

Dials, 228-9
Directory, the, 114-5
Dog killers, 318-9

whipper, the, 307-9
Dowsing, William, 89
Duck hunting, 227
Ducking-stool, 337
Duncan, Lord, 225
Durham, Bishop of, 216
Dyer's Churchlore Gleanings, 243, 253

Eagle brass, 142

Easter Sepulchre, 33, 60, 129

Election and audit feasting, 7-10

of mayors in churches, 31
Elizabeth, Queen, 210, 215-6, 218-9
Epiphany, 247-8
Episcopal ringing, 216, 226
Erasmus' Paraphrases, 1 1 8-9
Eton College, 207
Eversden stone, 84-5

Fabric charges, 74-7

of the church, 79-90
Fair of St. Bartholomew, 33
Fairs, 16, 61

Feasey's Holy Week Ceremonial, 254
Feasting at elections, 7-8, 10
Felton stone, 81
Fennel, 239-40
Fertur (fertor), 170
Fire, Holy, 55, 260-1
Fire buckets, 319-20

hooks, 319-20

scoops, 320
Fitchers (fitchets), etc., 298 tt seq.
Fleas, 321
Flints, 85 -
Flodden Field, 217
Folkestone rag, 80
Font cloths, 153

taper, 31, 54-5, 60, 161

taps, 152-3
Fonts, 149-57

Forthfare or passing bell, 56-7
Foxes, 297 et seq.
YoyiQ^s Martyrs, 1 19
Freewill offerings, 77, 79
Funeral gear, hire of, 26, 57-8, 173-4

Galleries, 90

Galpin's English Musical Instruments,

196, 206 *

Gang-week. See Rogationtide
Gardner's History of Dunwick, 23

GENERAL INDEX

363

Garlands, 239-41
iarments, gifts of, 37-8, 55-6
rarnishing of churches, 238-41
Gatherings at church door, 24
in church, 17, 22, 25, 27, 28, 40, 42,

. 53-4 ^

in streets, id, 24
lazeley, 83
tenge, Abbot, 33
Gifts and bequests, 26, 28, 31, 37-8, 55-6,

147-8
Gilds, 31, 36-7, 39-41, 43, 59-60
GiUyflower, 239
Gipsies, 339 _

Glazing of windows, S7-9
Gloves, 135
Good Friday, 258-9
Gorget, 327
Goring, Lord, 216
Gorleston, 89
Gowns, 137

Gowrie Conspiracy, 220
Graduals, 108
Grasmere, 243
Grayles, 106-11

Gudgeons," 212
Guilford, Mr. E. L., 323
Gunpowder, 329-30, 342

[agglers, 36
[alberds, 327
[allowing, 123-8
[ampton Court, 225
[arwich, 225
[avanah, 225
[awks, 296-305
[earse, 57, 170-2
[edgehogs, 297 et seq,
[enry viii, death of, 217
[erbs, 240-2

[ire of funeral gear, 26, 57-8, 173-4
Ustorical MSS. Commission^ 19
[istorical ringings, 217-25
[obby-horse, 285-6

[obhouse, Bishop, 11, 15, 21, 22, 286-7
[ocktide, 21, 64-5, 261-3
[ogmaney, 26
[ognell silver, 26
[oily (or holme), 241, 245-7
[oly Fire, 55, 260-1
Loaf, 58-9, 96-8
[omilies, 116
[oods, University, 135-6
[ope, John, 81
[osier, John, 81
[our-glasses, 232-3
[ouse of Correction, 337
[ouseling bread, 98
cloths, 103-4, 132
tokens, loo-i

Hughley stone, 81
Hugutio's Vocabularium, 107
Hunstanton Hall, 36

Image veils, 251
Im^es, 142-5
Incense, 31, 310-2
Indulgences, 19, 30-1
Ivry, battle of, 220
Ivy, 241, 245-7

Jack o' Clock, 73, 228-9
Jackdaws, 297 et seq.
Jays, 297-315

Jewellery, gifts of, 37-8, 55-6
]eviQVs Apology, 119
Judas candles, 166, 177, 179
Juniper, 312

Kerry, Rev. C. , History of St. Laurence,

Readings 19
Killiecrankie, 224
Kingfishers, 297 et seq.
Kingplay, 64, 284-5
King's Evil, 316
Kites, 297 et seq.

Lairstalls (laystalls), 34, 169

Laud, Archbishop, 288

Laurel, 242, 245

Lazy tongs, 308

Lee, Rev. Bartley, 347-8

Legenda, 19, 106-11

Lent, 249-53

Lenten Veil, 250

Libraries, 12 1

Licences for flesh in Lent, 251-2

Lights, 160-8

wardens of, 4, 22, 59-60
Lincoln College, 345-6
Litany, 11 1-2
Live stock, 292-6
Llanynys, 308

Londinium Redivivium^ 23, 45—7
Lotrier, Hugh, 81
Loughborough, 319
Luccombe, 206, 228

Magdala, castle of, 144

Magpies, 296-305

Maidens, 22, 37

Malmsey, 96

Manchester, Constable Accounts, 344-5

Manuals, 106-11

Marbeck's Book of Common Prayer noted,

206
Marlborough, Duke of, 224-5, 34^
Marriage fees, 58
Mary, Queen of Scots, 219

3^4

THE CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS

Mascall, Sundrie Engines and Trappesy

296
Mattins, early, 213-4
Maundy Thursday, 31, 70-1
May games, 65-6, 284-5
Meynell, Mr. Godfrey, 31
Mice, 297 et seq.
Midsummer Day, 239-41
Midwife pew, 194
Missals, 106-11

Moldewarps (moles), 297 et seq.
Monstrance, 138
Morion, 327
Muscadel, 96
Muscadine, 96-7

Music y English Instruments of, 196
Musical instruments, 204-6
Musicians, 63
Muskets, 326

Nelson, Lord, 225

Obits, 21, 27, 35, 40
Organ books, 106

makers, 197-204
Organists, 40, 198-204
Organs, 19, 195-204
Ornaments Rubric, 133-4
Orpin, 239
Otters, 297-305

Pall, 57-8, 170
Palm Sunday, 249, 253-S
Palms, 239, 254-8
Parwich, 249
Paschal Monday, 55, 99
taper, 55, 60, 99, 161
Passes, 336, 343
Patens, 138-42
Penance, 252-3

Pentecostals. See Peter's Pence
Peter's Pence, 73-4, 3^2-3
Pews. See Seats
Pikes, 327

Pinkie, battle of, 217
Plague, 317-9. 342, 345
Plays and playmg, 21, 22, 63-4, 2&7-SO
Plough Monday, 42, 248-9
Plungar, 319
Pole, Cardinal, 218
Polecats, 297-305
Pollution of churchyard, 125
Pondicherry, 225
Pope, obit of, 23
Porch, chamber over, 23, 75, 06
Porthose or breviary, 106-11
Pricksong books, 109
Priests' chambers, 86
Printed books, 1 1 1
Processionals, 106-11

Processions, 38, 72

" Prophets" of Palm Sunday, 254-5

Protestation, the, 321

Psalter, 112-4

Pulpits, 155-8

Puritans, 307

Purveyance, 42, 324-5, 335-0

Pyrenees, 307

Pyx, 93-4, 138-42, 145

Quebec, 225

Rag stone, 80

Rates. See Church Rates

Rats, 297 et seq.

in churches, 307
Raunds, 319

Raven's Bells of England, 211
Ravens, 297 et seq.
'* Reconciliation" of church, 226

of churchyard, 225
Reformation changes, 181-5
Reformed Service Books, 1 12-4
Ringers and ringing, 211-27
Robin Hood, 36, 280-4
Rochets, 136
Rock's Hierurgia, 160
Rodney, Admiral, 225
Rogationtide, 71-2, 263-5

Rogue money, 337

Rood-lights, 17, 60, 162, 166

screens and roods, 17, 23' 83, 175-**^
Veil, 250-1

Rooks, 296-305

Rosemary, 240, 246-7

Roses, 239-41

Roundel, 165

Royal Arms, 41, 233-4

Rushes, 41, 243-5

Sack (wine), 96

Salisbury, Bishops of, 226

Sallet, 327

Saltpetre men, 333-4* 342-3

Salve Mass, 208

Scarlett, Robert, 308

Seats and Pews, 66-9, 186-94

Select Vestry, 12-4

S el worthy, 206

"Sentencial" or Great Sentence, loe

Serges, 161, 163-4

Shags, 296-305

Shingles, 85

Shriving pews, 193-211

Sidesmen, 3

Singing bread, 98, 139

Smith, Mr. Toulmin, 323

Smoke farthings. See Peter's Pence

Snakes, 305

Snuffers, 166

GENERAL INDEX

365

prat boats, 23

t. George, cult of, 142, 145-6
t. John's wort, 239
t. MuUion, 308
t. Osmund, 107

taley's Studies in Ceremonial^ 160
tails at church door, 24
in churchyard, 26
tar of Epiphany, 247-8
tarlings, 297 et seq.
tipend of wardens, 16
toats, 297 et seq.
tocks, 337 et seq.
tone-tiles, 85
tourbridge fair, 165
towmarket, 329
urplice, 134-6

'abernacles, 142-3

'allow candles, 18, 161, 167-8, 245-6
i'apers. See Candles
'atham, Dr. Edward, 346-8
'empests and bells, 212-3
'en Commandments, 235-7
'enebrae, 166, 256
'horney Abbey, 85
'imes of service, 26
'itmice, 297 et seq.
'obacco, 322
duty, 227

'okens, houseling, loo-i
'orches, 39, 40, 160-1, 163
'othill Fields, 174
ouch -boxes, 327
'ournay, 225
Vain Bands, 326
'regarthyn stone, 83
Vendal, 163, 167
Viplow, 83

''allance, Aymer, 175

^aux's Church Folklore^ 243, 253

Veils, Lenten, 250-1
Vermin, 296-305
Vestment Controversy, 133-4
Vestments, 128-37

hire of, 26, 61
Vestry, 10-4
Vigo, 225
Vines, 321

Wafer bread, 98-9

Wages of clerk, sexton, etc., 73

Waits, 63

Wakefield, 34 «.

Watch and Ward, 324

Waterloo, 226

Wax, 19, 26

Weasels, 297-305

Webbers, 36

Weights and Measures, 324

Whitewash, 34, 87-8

Whitsun farthings. See Peter's Pence

Whitsuntide, 265

games, 285-6
Wild cat, 297 et seq.
Willow, 239, 256-7
Wilton, 216, 220
Winchelsea, Archbishop, il
Winchester, Statute of, 326
Wine for Communion, 94-6
Wolsey, Cardinal, 150
Woman burnt, 33
Women wardens, 7
Woodruff, 239-40
Wood's Scottish Pewter Ware^ loi
Woodwell (woodpecker), 297
Worcester, battle of, 174
Wright, Thomas, 34
Wyat's Rebellion, 218

Yew, 238-9, 254-5
York, Duke of, 34
Young men, 37

Printed by

Morrison & Gibb Limited

Edinburgh

A SELECTION OF BOOKS

PUBLISHED BY METHUEN

AND CO. LTD., LONDON

36 ESSEX STREET

W.C.

CONTENTS

FAGK

rAGB

General Litarature

3

Little Quarto Shakespeare

19

Ancient CitisB.

Z3

Miniature Library

IS

Antiquary's Books.
Arden Shakespeare
ClatiicB of Art
"Complete" Series
Connoisseur's Library .

IB

13
13
13
14

New Library of Medicine
New Library of Music
Oxford Biographies
Three Plays .
States of Italy
Westminster Commentariei

19
ig
19
ao
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20

Handbooks of English Church

" Young " Series .

ao

History ....

.

H

Shilling Library .

31

Handbooks of Theology
**Hoine Life" Series .
Illustrated Pocket Library of
Plain and Coloured Books

14
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15

Books for Travellers
Some Books on Art.
Some Books on Italy

31
31

33

Leaders of Religion

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Fiction

33

Library of Devotion

•i6

Two-Shilling Novels .

37

Little. Books on Art

z6

Books for Boys and Girls .

27

Little Galleries

»7

Shilling Novels .

38

Little Guides .

17

Novels of Alexandre Dumaa

38

Little Library ;

x8

Sixpenny Books .

29

JULY 1912

A SELECTION OF

MESSRS. METHUEN'S

PUBLICATIONS

In this Catalogue the order is according to authors. An asterisk denotes
that the book is in the press.

Colonial Editions are published of all Messrs. Methuen*s Novels issued
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price for ordinary books.

This Catalogue contains only a selection of the mora important books
published by Messrs. Methuen. A complete and illustrated catalogue of their
T>u1 'lications may be obtained on application.

Andpewes (Lancelot). PRECES PRI-
VATAE. Translated and edited, with
Notes, by F. E. Brightman. Cr. Bvp. 6s.

ApistotIO, THE ETHICS. Edited, with
an Introduction and Notes, by John
Burnet. Demy Bvo. xdj. dd, net.

Atkinson (.0. TO- A HISTORY OF GER-
MANY, 1715-1815. Demy Bva. 12s. 6d. net.

Atkinson (T, D.). ENGLISH ARCHI-
TECTURE. Illustrated. Fca^. Zvo. 3*. i)d.
net.

A GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN
ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE. Illus-
trated. Second Edition. Fcap. Zvo. 3*. 6d.
net.

ENGLISH AND WELSH CATHEDRALS.
Illustrated. Demy Zvo. 10s. 6d. net.

Bain (F. W.). A DIGIT OF THE

MOON : A Hindoo Love Story. I<iinth

Edition. Fcap. Zvo. gj. 6d. net.
THE DESCENT OF THE SUN : A Cycle

of Birth. Fifth Editiott. Fcap. Zvo.

y. 6d. net.
A HEIFER OF THE DAWN. Seventh

Edition. Fcap. Zvo. 2J. 6d. net.
IN THE GREAT GOD'S HAIR Fift/i

Edition. Fcap. Zvo. 2s. 6d. net.
A DRAUGHT OF THE BLUE. Fourth

Edition. Fcap. Zvo, as. 6d. net.

AN ESSENCE OF THE DUSK. TAini

Edition. FcaP. Zvo. 2s. 6d. net.
AN INCARNATION OF THE SNOW.

Second Edition. Fcap. Svo.- y. 6d. net.
A MINE OF FAULTS. Secoftd Edition.

Fcap. Zvo. 3J. td. net.
THE ASHES OF A GOD. Fcap. Zvo.

3J. 6rf. net.
•BUBBLES OF THE FOAM. Fcap ^io.

Ss. net. Also Fcap. Zvo. ^s. 6d. net.

Balfoup (Graham). THE LIFE OF
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON. Illus-
trated. , Fifth Edition^ in oti^e , Volume.
Cr.'Zvo. Btickram, ts. Also Fcap. Zvo.
If. net. . , r

Baping CHon. Maurice), A YEAR IN
'RUSSIA. Second Edition, Demy Zvo.
lew. 6rf. net.

LANDMARKS IN RUSSIAN LITERA-
TURE. Second Edition. Crown Zvo.
6r. net.

RUSSIAN ESSAYS AND STORIES.
Second Edition, Crown Zvo. ks. net.

THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. Demy Zvo.
15s. net.

Baring-Gould CS.). THE LIFE OF

NAPOLKON BONAPARTE. lUusti-ated.
Second Edition. Foyal Bvo, los. 6d. net.

General Literature

THE TRAGEDY OF THE C.ESARS :
A Study op the Characters of the
Casars of the Julian and Claudian
Houses. Illustrated. Seventh Edition.
R0y<d%vo. xof. 6(/. net.

THE VICAR OF MORWENSTOW. With

. aPbrti-ait. TMrd Edition^ Cr. Zi/o. 3s* 6d.
*Aiso Fcdp. Zvo. IS. net.

OLD. COUNTRY LIFE. Hlustmted. Fifth
Edition. Large Cr. Zvo. 6s.

A BOOK OF CORNWALL. Illustrated.
T'hird Edition. Cr, Zvo. 6s.

A BOOK OF -DARTMOOR. Illustrated.
Second Editiofi. Cr. Bvo. 6s.

A. BOOK OF DEVON. Illustrated. Third
Edition. Cr. Svo. 6s.

BaHng-GouId CS.) and Sheppard (H.
Fleetwood). A GARLAND OF
COUNTRY SONG. English Folk Songs
with their Traditional Melodies. Demy ^to.
6s.

SONGS OF THE WEST : Folk Songs of
Devon and Cornwall. Collected from the
Mouths of the People. New and Revised
Edition, under the musical editorship of
Cecil J. Sharp; Large Imperial Svo.
Ss. net.

Barker (E.). THE POLITICAL
THOUGHT OF PLATO AND ARIS-
TOTLE. Demy Zvo. los. 6d. net.

Bastable (C. F.)- THE COMMERCE
OF NATIONS. Fifth Edition. Cr. Svo.
as. 6d.

Beckfopd (Petep). THOUGHTS ON
HUNTING. Edited by J. Otho Paget.
Illustrated. Third Edition. Demy Svo. 6s.

Beiloe (Hi). PARIS. Illustrated. Second

Edition^ Revised. Cr. Svo. 6s,
HILLS AND THE SEA. Fourth Edition.

FcaA:- Svo. ^s.
ON NOTHING AND KINDRED SUB-
JECTS. Third Edition. Fcap. Svo. sj.
ON EVERYTHING. Third Edition. Fcap.

Svo. s^'
ON SOMETHING. Second Edition. Fcap.

Svo. 5f.
FIRST AND LAST. Secoftd Edition.

Fcap. Svo. " SJ.
JdARIE ANTOINETTE. Illustrated.
; Third Edition. Demy Svo. 15s.net,
THE. ^PYRENEES, Illustrated. Second

Edition. Demy Svo. ys. 6d. net.

Bennett (W. H.). A PRIMER OF THE

BIBLE. Fifth Edition. Cr. Svo. zs. 6d.

Bennett (W.H.) and Adene_y (W. F.). A
BIBLICAL. INTRODUCTION. With a
concise Bibliography. Sixth Edition. Cr.
Svo. ys. 6d. A Iso in Two Volumes. Cr.
Svo, Each 3J-. 6d. net.

Benson (Archbishop). GOD'S BOARD.

Communion Addresses. Second Edition.
Fcap. Svo. IS. 6d. net.

Blcknell (Ethel E.). PARIS AND HER
TREASURES. lUustrated. Fcap. Svo.
Round comers. 5s. net.

Blake (William). ILLUSTRATIONS OF
THE BOOK OF JOB. With a General In-
troduction by Laurence Binyon. lUus-
trated, Quarto, sis. net.

Bloemfontein (Bishop of}. ARA CCELI :
An Essay in Mystical Thholocy.

Second

Fifth Edition. Cr. Svo. -xs. 6d. net.
FAITH AND EXPERIENCE,
Edition. Cr, Svo. 3J. 6d, net.

Bowden (E. M.). THE IMITATION OF
B U D D H A : Quotations from Buddhist
Literature for each Day in the Year, Sixth
Edition. Cr. itmo. ss. 6d.

Brabant (F. G.). RAMBLES IN SUSSEX.
Illustrated. Cr. Svo. 6s.

Bradley (A. G.). ROUND ABOUT WILT-
SHIRE. Illustrated. Second Edition. Cr.

the' ROMANCE OF NORTHUMBER-
LAND. Illustrated. Second Edition, Demy

Svo, "js. 6d. net.

Braid (James). ADVANCED GOLF.

Illustrated. Seventh Edition. Demy Svo,
los. 6d. net.

Brodrick (IQapy) and Morton (A. Ander-
son). A CONCISE DICTIONARY OF
EGYPTIAN ARCHEOLOGY. A Hand-
book for Students and Travellers. Illus-
trated. Cr. Svo. 3J. 6d.

Browning. (Robert). PARACELSUS.
Edited with an Introduction, Notes, and
Bibliography by Margaret L. Lee and
Katharine B. Locock. Fcap. Svo. y. 6d.
net.

Buckton {A. M.). EAGER HEART: A
Christmas Mystery-Play. Tenth Edition.
Cr. Svo. IS, net.

Bull (Paul). GOD AND OUR SOLDIERS.
Second Edition. Cr. Svo. 6s.

Burns (Robert). THE POEMS AND
SONGS. Edited by Andrew Lang and
W. A. Craigie. With Portrait. Third
Edition. Wide Demy Svo, 6s.

Caiman (W. T.). THE LIFE OF
CRUSTACEA. Illustrated. Cr, Svo. 6s.

Carlylo (Thomas). THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION. Edited by C. R. L.
Fletcher. Three Volumes. Cr. Svo. iSs.

THE LETTERS AND SPEECHES OF
OLIVER CROMWELL. With an In-
troduction by C. H. Firth, and Notes
and Appendices by S. C. Lomas. Three
Volumes. Demy Svo. iSs. net.

Methuen and Company Limited

Celano <Bpothep Thomas of). THE

LIVES OF S. FRANCIS OF ASSIST.
Translated by A. G. Fekrers Howell.
With a Frontispiece. Cr, Zvo. 5s. net.

Chambers (Mrs. Lambert). LAWN
TENNIS FOR LADIES. Illustrated.
Cr. Bvtt. as. 6d. net.

*Chessep, (Elizabeth Sloan], PER.
FECT HEALTH FOR WOMEN AND
CHILDREN. Cr. Zvo. 3^- ^- net.

Chesterfield (Lord). THE LETTERS OF
THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD TO
HIS SON. Edited, with an Introduction by
C. Strachey, and Notes by A. Caltheop.
Two Volumes. Cr. Zvo. isj.

Chesterton (G.K.)- CHARLES DICKENS.

With two Portraits in Photogi-avure. Seventh

Edition. Cr. Zvo. 6s.
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. Sixth

Edition. Fcap. %vo- ^.
TREMENDOtfS TRIFLES. Fourth

Edition. Fcap. Bvo. 5s.
ALARMS AND DISCURSIONS. Second

Edition. Fcap. Svo. 5s.
THE BALLAD OF THE WHITE

HORSE. Third Edition. Fcap. Bvo. 5^.
•TYPES OF MEN. Fcap. Zvo. 5*-

Clausen (Georgel. SIX LECTURES ON
PA INTI N G. Illustrated. Third Edition.
Large Post 8vo. 3J. 6d. net,

AIMS AND IDEALS IN ART. Eight
Lectures delivered to the Students of the
Royal Academy of Arts, Illustrated. Second
Edition. Large Post Svo. ss. net.

Clutton-Brock (A.) SHELLEY: THE
MAN AND THE POET. Illustrated.
Demy Bvo. 7J. 6d. net.

Cobb (W.F.). THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
W ith an Introduction and Notes. Demy Svo.
los. 6d. net.

Conrad (Joseph). THE mirror OF
THE SEA : Memories and Impressions.
Third Edition. Cr. Svo. 6s.

Coolidge OV. A. B.). THE ALPS : IN
NATURE AND HISTORY. Illustrated.
Demy Svo. 'js. 6d. net.

•CorrevonCH.). ALPINE FLORA. Trans-
lated and enlarged by E. W. Clavforth.
Illustrated. Square Demy Svo. i6s. net.

Coulton (G. GO. CHAUCER AND HIS
ENGLAND, illustrated. Secottd Edition.
Demy Svo. 10s. 6d. net.

Cowper ("William). THE POEMS.
Edited with an Introduction and Notes by
J. C. Bailey. Illustrated, Demy Svo.
zof . 6d. net.

Cox (J. C). RAMBLES IN SURREY.
Second Edition. Cr. Svo. 6s.

Crowley (Ralph H.). THE HYGIENE
OF SCHOOL LIFE. Illustrated. Cr.
Svo. 3f. 6d. net.

Davis (H, W. C). ENGLAND UNDER
THE NORMANS AND ANGEVINS:
1066-1272. Third Edition* Demy Svo.
JOS. 6d. net.

Dawbarn (Charles). FRANCE and

THE FRENCH. Illustrated. Demy Svo.
ios, 6d. net.

Dearmer (Mabel). A CHILD'S LIFE
OF CHRIST. Illustrated. Large Cr.
Svo. 6s.

Deffand (Madame du). LETTRES DE
MADAME DU DEFFAND A HORACE
WALPOLE. Edited, with Introduction,
Notes, and Index, by Mrs. Paget Toynbee.
In Three Volumes. Demy Svo. £3 y. net.

Dickinson (G. L.). THE GREEK VIEW
OF LIFE. Seventh Edition. CrowttSvo.
zs. 6d. net.

Ditchfleld (P. H.). THE PARISH

CLERK. Illustrated. Third Edition.

Demy Svo. fs. 6d. net.
THE OLD-TIME PARSON. Illustrated.

Second Editio?i, Demy Svo. -js. 6d. net. ,
*THE OLD ENGLISH COUNTRY

SQUIRE. Illustrated. Demy Svo^ loj. 6d.

net.

Ditchfleld (P. H.) and Roe (Fred).
VANISHING ENGLAND. The 13ook by
P. H. Ditchfleld. Illustrated by Fred Roe.
Second Edition. Wide Demy Svh', 15J. net.

Douglas (Hugh A.). VENICE ON FOOT.

With the Itinerary of the Grand Canal.

Illustrated. Second Edition. Jiound .

comers. Fcap. Svo. 5s. net.
VENICE AND HER TREASURES.

Illustrated. Found corners. Fcap, Svo.

$s. ftet.

Dowden (J.). FURTHER STUDIES IN
THE PRAYER BOOK. Cr. Svo. 6s.

Driver (S. R.l. SERMONS ON
SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH THE
OLD TESTAMENT. Cr. Svo. 6s.

Dumas (Alexandre). THE CRIMES QF

THE BORGIAS AND OTHERS. Witli

an Introduction by R. S. Garnett.

Illustrated. Second Edition. Cr. Svo. .6s.
THE CRIMES OF URBAIN GKA^-

DIERAND OTHERS. Illustrated: Cr.

Svo, 6s.
THE CRIMES OF THE MARQUISE

DE BRINVILLIERS AND OTHERS.

Illustrated. Cr. Svo. 6s.
THE CRIMES OF ALI PACHA AND

OTHERS. Illustrated., Cr.Svo. 6s.

General Literature

MY MEMOIRS. Translated by E. M.
Waller. With an Introduction by Andrew
Lang. With Frontispieces in Photogravure.
In six Volumes. Cr. Zvo, 6s. each volume.
Vol. I. 180Z-1821. Vol. IV. 1830-1831.
Vol. II. 1822-1825. Vol. V. 1831-1832.
Vol. III. 1826-1830. Vol. VI. 1832-183:1.
MY PETS. Newly translated by A. R.
Allinson. Illustrated. Cr. %vo. dr.

Duncan (F. M.). OUR INSECT
FRIENDS AND FOES. Illustrated.
Cr. Zvo. 6s.

Dunn-Pattlson (R. P.). NAPOLEON'S
MARSHALS. Illustrated. Demy Zvc.
Second Edition, lar. 6d. net.

THE BLACK PRINCE. Illustrated.

•.Second Edition. Demy Svo. js. 6d, net.

Durham (The Earl of). THE REPORT

ON CANADA. With an Introductory
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Dutt (W. A.). THE NORFOLK BROADS.
Illustrated. Second Edition. Cr. Zvo. -6s,

Egerton (H. E). A SHORT HISTORY
OF BRITISH COLONIAL POLICY.
Third Edition. Demy Zvo. "js, td. net.

Evans (Herbert A."). CASTLES OF
ENGLAND AND WALES. Illustrated.
Demy ^vo. > X2f, 6d. ttet.

Exeter {Bishop of). REGNUMDEL
(The Bampton Lectures of igoi.} A Cheaper
Edition. Demy ^vo, ys. 6d. net.

Ewald (Carl). MY LITTLE BOY.
Translated by Alexander Tbixbjra de
Mattos. Illustrated. Fcap. %vo. 5x.

Fairbrothep (W. H,). THE PHILO-
SOPHY OF T. H. GREEN. Second
Edition. Cr. Zvo, ■^. 6d.

•ffoulkes (Charles). THE ARMOURER
AND HIS CRAFT. Illustrated. Royal
^to. £2 2s. net.

Firth (C. H.). CROMWELL'S ARMY:
A History of the English Soldier during the
Civil Wars, the Commonwealth, and the
Protectorate. Illustrated. Second Edition.
Cr. Bvo. 6s.

Fisher (H. A. L,). THE REPUBLICAN
TRADITION IN EUROPE. Cr. Zvo,
6s. net.

FitzGerald (Edward). THE RUBA*IYAT
OF OMAR KHAYYAM. Printed from
the Fifth and last Edition. With a Com-
mentary by H. M. Batson, and a Biograph-
ical Introduction by £. D. Ross. Cr. Zvo.
6s.

Flux (A. W.). ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES.
Defny Zvo. 7^ . 6^, net.

Fraser (J. F). ROUND THE WORLD
ON A WHEEL. Illustrated. Ei/tA
Edition. Cr. Bvo. 6s.

Galton (Sir Francis). MEMORIES OF
MY LIFE. Illustrated. Third Edition.
Demy wo. tos. 6d. *^i.

Gibbins (H. de B.). INDUSTRY IN
ENGLAND; HISTORICAL OUT-
LINES. With Maps and Plans, Seventh
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THE INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF
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Eighteenth and Revised Edition* Cr. Bvo.

ENGLISH SOCIAL REFORMERS.
Second Edition. Cr. Bvo. 2s. 6d.

Gibbon (Edward). THE MEMOIRS OF
THE LIFE OF EDWARD GIBBON.
Edited by G. Birkbeck Hill. Cr. Bvo. 6s.

THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE
ROMAN EMPIRE. Edited, with Notes,
Appendices, and Maps, by J. B. Bury,
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Glover (T. R.). THE CONFLICT OF
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Godley (A. D.). LYRA FRIVOLA. Fou7-ih

Edition. Fcap. Bvo. 2s. 6d.
VERSES TO ORDER. Second Edition.

Fcap. Bvo. 2s. 6d.
SECOND STRINGS. Fca^. Bvo. 2s. 6d.

Gostllng: (Frances U.). THE BRETONS

AT HOME. Illustrated. Third Edition.
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AUVERGNE AND ITS PEOPLE. Illus-
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•Gray (Arthur). CAMBRIDGE AND ITS
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net*

Grahame (Kenneth). THE WIND IN

THE WILLOWS. Illustrated. Sixth
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Granger (Frank). HISTORICAL SOCI-
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Grew (Edwin Sharpe). THE GROWTH
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Griffin (W. Hall) and Minchin (H. C).
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Hale (J. R.). FAMOUS SEA FIGHTS:
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Methuen and Company Limitei>

*HaUiH. R.). THE ANCIENT HISTORY
OF THE NEAR EAST FROM THE
EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PER-
SIAN INVASION OF GREECE. Illus-
trated. Demy Zvo. 151. net.

Hannay (D.). A SHORT HISTORY OF
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Vol. II., 1689-1815. Demy Zvo. Each
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Harper (Charles G.). THE AUTOCAR
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Vol. I. — South of thk Thames.
Vol. 11. — North and South Wales

AND West Midlands.
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•Vol. IV. — The North of England and
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Harris (Frank). THE WOMEN OF
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HassaU fApthur). THE LIFE OF
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Headley (F, W.). DARWINISM AND
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Henderson (M. Sturge). GEORGE
MEREDITH : NOVELIST, POET,
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Henley (W. E,). ENGLISH LYRICS:
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Hill (George Francis). ONE HUNDRED
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Hind (C. Lewis). DAYS IN CORNWALL.
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Hobhouse (L. T.). THE THEORY OF
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Hobson (J. A.). INTERNATIONAL
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PROBLEMS OF POVERTY; An Inquiry
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Hodffson (Mrs. W.). HOW TO IDENTIFY
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Holdsworth (W. S.). A HISTORY OF
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Horsburgh (E. L. S.). LORENZO THE
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Inge (W. R.). CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM.
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JenkS (E.). AN OUTLINE OF ENG-
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LlALLADS. loSth Thousand. Thirty-first

Edition. Cr. &vo. 6s. Also Fca^. Zvo,

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Fiction

23

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Fiction

25

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