The Elizabethan Parish in its Ecclesiastical and Financial Aspects Part 9

[232] Legge, _North Elmham Acc'ts_, 87-90. So too at Eltham, Kent, where the "Fifetene peny Lands" have special wardens who account for their revenue. _Archaeologia_, x.x.xiv, 51 ff.

[233] _Statutes of the Realm_, iv, Pt. ii, 968-9.

[234] Cardwell, _Doc. Ann_., i, 189 ff.

[235] Dr. Pilkington's will, _Surtees Soc_., xxii, Append., p.

cx.x.xviii. For a few other examples of bequests for parish utilities see _ibid_., p. ciii (George Reyd's will, 1559). _Ibid_., p. cx ff.

(William Birche's will of 1575 in which are many bequests to poor artificers, to prisoners--a very frequent bequest--to "needfull briggs or highe waies," etc.). See also _Benefactions to Dorset Parishes, Churches_, etc., in _Notes and Quer. for Somer. and Dorset_, x, 164 ff. Also T.P. Wadley, _Notes on Bristol Wills, pa.s.sim (e.g_., Thos.

Kelke's will of 1583, on p. 230. He leaves 13 to Newgate prisoners, a frieze gown to 12 women and 12 men--a frequent bequest--6s. 8d. each to 52 poor maidens for their marriage, etc.). Also _Wills and Inventories, Surtees Soc_., x.x.xviii, Pt. ii, _pa.s.sim_. Surrey Wills in _Surrey Arch. Coll_., x (1891), _pa.s.sim_.

[236] _The crie of the poore for the death of the right Honourable Earle of Huntington_ (printed 1596), Joseph Lilly, _A Collection of Seventy-Nine Black-Letter Ballads and Broadsides_, 1559-1597 (1870), 230.

[237] _Ibid_., 263.

[238] _The poore people's complaynt, Bewayling the death of their famous benefactor, the worthy Earle of Bedford_ (Died 1585). Bedford was described as "a person of such great hospitality that Queen Elizabeth was wont to say of him that he made all the beggars." Clark, _Shirburn Ballads_, 256.

[239] J.C. c.o.x, _Three Centuries of Derbyshire Annals_, i, 136.

[240] E. Freshfield, _St. Bartholomew, Exchange, Acc'ts, s.a_. 1598, _et pa.s.sim_. Freshfield, _St. Margaret, Lothbury, Vestry Book_, 32 (1595). _St. Margaret's, Westminster, Overseers' Acc'ts_ in _The Westminster Tobacco Box_, Pt. ii (1887), _e.g., s.a_. 1572-3, where we find donations from Lord Burghley, the Lord Chief Justice, the Dean of Westminster, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Hertford, etc.

[241] Though by 37 Hen. VIII c. 9, sec. 3 (_Stats. of Realm_, iii, 996) interest up to 10 per cent. per annum was permitted, all interest was prohibited by the 5 & 6 Ed. VI, c. 20, sec. 2 (_Stats. of Realm_, iv, Pt. i, 155). Interest is here dubbed usury, "a vice most odyous and detestable." Interest up to 10 per cent. was, however, again made lawful by the 13 Eliz. c. 8, sec. 4 (_Stats. of Realm_, iv, Pt. i, 542) which, however, stigmatizes usury as sinful.

[242] Examples are, _Vestry Minutes of St. Margaret, Lothbury_, 32 (Gift of 20 in 1595 to be employed in wood and coal for the use of the poor. A committee of four was appointed to invest and make sales.

See their account for 1596, p. 34). _The Westminster Tobacco Box_, Pt.

ii, 22 (One of the overseers of St. Margaret's to keep a gift of 42 "untill the same may be bestowed upon somme good bargaine as a lease or somme other such like commoditie w[hi]ch may yeelde a yerely rente to the pore." 1578). Cf. _St. Bartholomew, Exchange, Acc'ts Books_, 3 ff., where in 1598, and regularly in subsequent years, appears the item: "Alowed to this account for the geft of the Lady Wilfordes xx li for the pore xx[s]." Also another item, likewise of 20s. yearly, on Mr. Nutmaker's 20--in other words, 10 per cent. in each case every year. Cf. Jas. Stockdale, _Annals of Cartmel_ (Lancashire, pub. 1872), 37-8 (65 6s., money belonging to Cartmel grammar school "placed" in the hands of various persons, some of whom give pledges, others mortgages, for repayment. The revenue from this is 6 10s. 7d., _i.e._, 10 per cent. in 1598). In 1613, in allowing the overseer's accounts of Swyre, Dorset, the local justices indorse: "Upon this condition that from henceforth the overseers and Churchwardens do yearlie charge themselves with the some of xxs. for thuse of a stocke of xli [_i.e._, 10 per cent.] giuen to the poore by the testam[en]t of James Rawlinge." The practice above ill.u.s.trated is simply that enjoined by 18 Eliz. c. 3, amended and completed by 39 Eliz. c. 3 and 43 Eliz. c. 2, with an object of making the poor administration self-supporting as far as might be. The fact that Elizabethan poor laws were based on the best-approved parish customs made them perdurable. For a model administration of parish stock according to the poor laws see the Cowden Overseers Acc'ts, _Suss.e.x Arch. Coll_., xx, 95 ff. (1599 ff.).

[243] _E.g._, in St. Michael's in Bedwardine (_Acc'ts_ ed. John Amphlett) one Stanton left 50s. to the poor in 1588 (_Acc'ts_, p.

97-8). Robt. Chadbourne paid 5s. for the use of this money for several years (_Acc'ts_, p. 108, etc.). It then was loaned to John Brayne, an entry being made from time to time that the princ.i.p.al was owing as well as the interest (_Acc'ts_ p. 108). Brayne paid the 50s. to the wardens in Sept., 1595. Cf. preceding note (Cartmel school money).

[244] _St. Michael's in Bedwardine Acc'ts, supra, 96_ (One Fletcher loaned 30s. in 1586, he depositing with the wardens "a gilt salt with a cover"). For numerous gratuitous loans of parish money, see the Mere Acc'ts, _Wilts Arch. and Nat. Hist. Mag_., x.x.xv (1907), _pa.s.sim_. Cf.

also the doc.u.ment of 1586 relating to the parish of Heavitree, in _Devon Notes and Quer_., i (1901), 61, where it is stipulated (_inter alia_) that if any parishioner of good character upon reasonable cause shall desire to borrow from any surplus funds of the church for a season, "such a one shall not be denyed."

[245] See _Wilts Arch. Mag_., x.x.xv. Cf. J.E. Foster, _St. Mary the Great_ (Cambridge) _Acc'ts_ (1905), 208.

[246] In 1564 the parishioners of Chagford, Devon, bought from the lord of the manor for 10 the local markets and fairs, subject to a yearly rent of 16s., which they had always paid as tenants. They then repaired and enlarged the market house. Presumably their venture was a profitable one, for in 1595 the revenue from these markets and fairs was 3 10s. G.W. Ormerod in _Devon a.s.soc. for Adv. of Science_, etc., viii (1876), 72. Same, _Local Information reprinted from the Chagford Parish Mag_. (1867) in _Topographical Tracts_ in Brit. Mus. As it was sometimes hard for the authorities to prevent the churchwardens from utilizing the church for plays, so it was hard for them to keep the wardens from giving up the churchyard or outlying portions of the church structure for fairs and stall-holders. In Herts Co. Rec.

Quarter Sess. Rolls (ed. W.J. Hardy, 1905), p. 13, we read, _s. a_.

1591-2, that a presentment was made that some part of the "fayer of Starford has usually been kept within the compase of the churchyard."

See also _St. Edmund and St. Thomas, Sarum, Acc'ts_ (ed. H.J.F.

Swayne, _Wilts Rec. Soc_. 1896), introd., p. xxiii (St. Edmund's fair held within and without the churchyard. Wardens receipts from cheesesellers, butchers, etc., for stalls and standings).

[247] As late as 1633 the bishop of Bath and Wells could write to Archbishop Laud: "I finde that by Church-ales hertofore many poore Parishes have cast their Bells, repaired their Towers, beautified their Churches, and raised stocks for the poore." Wm. Prynne, _Canterburies' Doome_, etc. (1646), 151. Cf. Philip Stubbes, _Anatomie of Abuses_ (4th ed., 1595), 110-11. _Spudeus:_ "But, I pray you, how do they bestow that money which is got thereby?" [_i.e._, by church-ales]. _Philopomus:_ "Oh well, I warrant you, if all be true which they say; for they repaire their Churches and Chappels with it; they buy bookes for service, Cuppes for the celebration of the Sacrament, Surplesses for Sir John [_i.e._, the parson], and such other necessaries. And they maintaine other extraordinarie charges in their Parishes besides."

[248] Bath and Wells to Canterbury, Prynne, _supra, loc. cit_. In 1536 at Morebath, Devon, the parish agreed that the clerk should gather his "hire meat" (_i.e._, so much corn of each one) at Easter, "& then ye p[a]rysse schall helpe to drenke him a coste of ale yn ye churche howse." J.E. Binney, _Morebath Acc'ts_ (1904), 86. When in 1651 at St.

Thomas', Salisbury, clerk-ales were abolished, "both the clerk and s.e.xton claimed compensation for the loss of income sustained." The same was true of St. Edmunds' (in the same city) in 1697. Swayne, _St.

Edmund and St. Thomas Acc'ts_, introd., p. xvii.

[249] Stubbes, _Anatomie_, etc., 110. The above account of church-ales has been derived partly from Stubbes and from a curious little pamphlet, edited by Rev. Fredk. Brown in 1883, ent.i.tled _On some Star Chamber Proceedings_, 34 _Eliz_. 1592; partly, also, from many churchwardens acc'ts, in particular the Seal Acc'ts in _Surrey Arch.

Coll_., ii (1864), 34-6 (See items in detail for the ale of 1592, and especially the ale of 1611. Expenses for all manner of provisions and delicacies, for minstrels and evidently, too, for a play occur. In 1611 the festivities lasted at least 5 days). Cf., too, the _Expenses of the Maye Feast_ at Dunmow in 1538 (Cooks, minstrels and players mentioned), _Ess.e.x Arch. Soc_., ii, 230. Also Kitchen, _Manor of Manydown_, 172-3 (Lists of delicacies provided at the Wootton ale in 1600. Expense items for lords' and ladies' liveries, players, etc.)

[250] The Parish of Chagford in _Devon a.s.s. for Adv. of Science_, viii, 74.

[251] _Wilts Arch. Mag_., x.x.xv (1907), Mere Acc'ts, 30. These have been transcribed verbatim by Mr. T.H. Baker.

[252] _Op. cit_. Because of greatly increased expenses the wardens here thenceforth resorted to collections according to a book of rates.

They also devised other means of income, such as parish burial fees, collections for the holy loaf (_i.e._, blessed but not consecrated bread), etc. This casting about for new sources of revenue was characteristic of all parishes as the reign advanced.

[253] _Op. cit_., 26.

[254] _Op. cit_., 92.

[255] In 1605 and 1606, doubtless to meet some extraordinary expenses, the Mere wardens roused themselves to great efforts at their church-ale, and netted 15 6s., and 20 respectively. Sir Rich. Colt h.o.a.re, _Hist. of Modern Wiltshire_ (1822), i, 21.

[256] Kitchen, _Manor of Manydown_, 174. At this ale there were six tables and the receipts from each were tabulated separately. For other large receipts see the Wing, Bucks, Acc'ts, _Archaeologia_, x.x.xvi, 219 ff. In 1598 the ale here yielded 9 16s. 4d. At Morebath, a small and poor parish, an ale had produced 10 13s. 5d. in 1529. but the receipts from this source fell off here in Elizabeth's time. At Stratton, Cornwall, up to 1547, at any rate, if not later, ales were the chief source of income. _Archaeologia_, xlvi, 195-6.

[257] _Devon Notes and Quer_., iii (1905), 224. Cf. the Young Men Wardens' ales at Morebath (Binney, _Morebath Acc'ts_, 213 [1573], _et pa.s.sim_). Also St. Anthony's Gild ales at Chagford. _Devon a.s.s. for Adv. of Science_, viii, 74 (1599). Various persons at Milton Abbot sold ale and bread. _Op. cit_., vol. xi (1879), 218.

[258] _Notes and Quer. for Somer. and Dorset_, v (1897), 48. The same year in these acc'ts we find three conduit wardens mentioned. These are to have "the a.s.sistance of William Ellis plomer [plumber]." Of them it is also determined that they "do kepe an alle for the comodetie of the [Transcriber's note: WORD ILLEGIBLE] dytts in the sayd Towne to be kept abowts the tyme of Shrofftyde," [Transcriber's note: WORD(S) ILLEGIBLE] just before Lent.

[259] Butcher, _The Parish of Ashburton_, 41. It would seem that there were special wardens here for ale drawing. (See p. 44 [1570-1].)

[260] _Archaeologia_, x.x.xvi, 235.

[261] "And because John Watts hath ben long sick, hit is agreed that if hee be not able to s[e]rve at the tyme of the Church ale, That then John Coward ... shall s[e]rve and be king in his place for this yeare." Mere Acc'ts (_Wilts Arch. Mag., l.c_., 34) _s.a._ 1561. Cf.

J.H. Matthews, _History of St. Ives_ (1892), 144, _et pa.s.sim_.

[262] Bishop Hobhouse, _Churchwdn's Acc'ts of Cros...o...b.., Pilton_, etc., _Somerset Rec. Soc_., iv (1890), 80, where he says: "The [Yatton] wardens attended these festivals at Ken, Kingston, Wrington, Congresbury, etc., with more or less regularity, making their contributions, commonly xijd. in the name of the parish and at the cost of the parish ..." Cf. _Morebath Acc'ts_ (ed. Binney), 224: "It there was payd a trinite Sonday at the Churche ale at Bawnton [Bampton] for John Skynner ... xjd." (1565). Mere Acc'ts (_Wilts Arch.

Mag_.), 60: "Item paied for bread and drink to make the Sum[m]er Lord of Gillingham Drink ... ijs. vjd." (1578-9). T. Nash, _Hist. and Antiq. of Worcestershire_, ii, appen., p. xxix (Halesowen Acc'ts: "Paid when we went to Frankley to the church ale 20d.").

[263] See the precedents given for the Western Circuit in Prynne, _Canterburies' Doome_, 152. Cf. also, _ibid_., 128 ff. That these ales died hard in Devon and Somerset is seen by the repeated judicial orders. See also J.W. Willis Bund, _Social Life in Worcestershire ill.u.s.trated by the Quarter Sess. Rec_. in _a.s.soc. Archit. Soc_., xxiii, Pt. ii (1897), 373-4 (1617). A.H. Hamilton, _Quarter Sessions from Elisabeth to Anne_ (1878), 28-9. Harrison, _Descrip. of Engl_., Bk. ii, New Shak. Soc., 32. Saml. Barfield, _Thatcham, Berks, and its Manors_, ii, 105 (Wardens Acc'ts 1598-9: "Item wee were bounde over by Mr. Dolman, Justice, to appeare at Reading a.s.sizes, where it cost T..

L.. and R.. C.. conserning our business wee kept at Whitsuntide xvs.

apece, somme x.x.xs.")

[264] Hale, _Crim. Prec_., 149 (Hornchurch wardens bringing players into church. 1566). _Ibid_., 156 ("Tromperie" and "paynted stuff for playes in the chefe parte of the [Rayleigh] church." 1574). _Ibid_., 158 (Two plays in Romford Chapel by "comon players." Wardens plead in extenuation that proceeds went to "a poore man in decay." 1577).

Leverton, Lincolnshire, Acc'ts, _Archaeologia_, xli, 333 ff. (Several examples of plays in the church. 1579-95).

[265] In the Chelmsford Acc'ts, _Ess.e.x Arch. Soc_., ii, 225-6 (1562), is a most interesting inventory showing an elaborate stage outfit.

That it was used for miracle plays is seen on p. 227 (" Cotte of lether for Christe," and "lyne for the clowdes," etc.). From various towns the Chelmsford men received in 1563, and subsequently, large sums for the hire of these properties, e.g., 3 6s. 8d. from "Starford" (Bishop Stortford?); 43s. 4d. from Colchester.

[266] Examples are Thos. North, _St. Martin's, Leicester, Acc'ts_ (1884), 80 (Children's morris-dance. 1558-9). Ibid., 85 (Robin Hood play). St. Helen, Abingdon, Acc'ts, _Archaeologia_, i (2d ed.), 15 (1560). J.H. Baker, _Notes on St. Martin's_ (Salisbury) _Church and Parish_ (1906), Wardens Acc'ts, 153 (Whitsun dance in 1588 yielding 13s. 4d.). _St. Edmund and St. Thomas, Sarum, Acc'ts_, introd., p.

xvii. Also both acc'ts, _pa.s.sim_ ("Feast of Hokkes," "Childrens daunse." At St. Edmund's 3 12s. collected in 1581 [p. 131]; at St.

Thomas' same year 3 6s. 8d. [p. 291]). T.N. & A.S. Garry, _St. Mary, Reading, Acc'ts_ (1893), 28-9, et pa.s.sim (Whitsuntide and Hocktide money here drop out as early as 1575. There was also here a Christmas gathering).

[267] Examples: Wandsworth Acc'ts in _Surrey Arch. Coll_., xvii (1902), 158 (1567-8). John Nichols, _Ill.u.s.trations of the Manners etc.

of Antient Times_ (1707) (Great Marlow, Bucks, Acc'ts, 135. 1612), etc.

[268] _Wilts Arch_. (etc.) _Mag., loc. cit_. (Mere Acc'ts: bra.s.s crocks in inventory of 1584). Chagford Acc'ts in _Devon a.s.s_. (etc.), 74. Binney, _Morebath Acc'ts_, 132. A.E.W. Marsh, _History of Caine_, 368 (Church furnace, 1529. Wardens expenditures for sowing church lands, mowing them, and carrying the corn and storing it in the church-house). _The Antiquary_, xvii, 169 (Stanford, Berks, Acc'ts, _s.a._ 1569: laying corn in church-house, and making malt there).

_Morebath Acc'ts_, 132 (Spits put up in the church-house).