FIRST PAGE OF CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS, 1490-2. In 1479, 1s. 8d. is charged for 2 torches and 4 tapers at a low mass at the burying of Caxton's father. Caxton's name appears as witness and auditor of the Churchwardens' Accounts. He bequeaths books 'called Legends" to the Church, and in 1491 is entered :"Item, atte bureying of William Caxton for iiij torches, vjs. viijd.” "Item, for the belle atte same bureying, vjd." The second volume of these interesting records was marked by the Churchwardens of 1730, who had them bound, "B," and covers the period from 1510 to 1530. These twenty years extend over the first half of the reign of Henry VIII., during the greater part of which the Reformation was in progress. Luther was preaching boldly in Germany; the movement had spread to Switzerland and Denmark, and France, under Calvin's teaching, was beginning to be moved by it. King Henry, who had written in support of the doctrines of the Roman Church, in 1521 received the title from the Pope of "Defender of the Faith," so the time for the Reformation in England was not yet. It was rapidly approaching, however, for the suggestion had already been made that the Pope's supremacy should be repudiated. The Revenues of the Churchwardens, as here recorded, arise from very much the same sources as before. Tapers are still sold, apparently with undiminished demand, at the old prices. "Peales" of bells, in addition to "Knylles" at 6d., can be had by the well-to-do for 2s. at "beryalls," month-myndes and yearmyndes. The Gaderyng days," including Hok-Monday and Hok-Tuesday, produce nearly the same amount as before. Pew-rents are still collected, and in addition to the receipts from "Abyngdon's Rents" (not always easily obtained) the following are posted:: ... "Item. Receyvyd of Nicholas Wyse, of Hendon, for his ferme rent of the land belongyng to the fyndyng of the lamps in the queyre (choir) for the first year of this accompte Extraordinary "floreyn-receiptes" must have been the following:1514 Item receyved of Courte the Bedyll ffor a ffedder bed, that the clerks had to lye upon in the Vestry+ Item receyved of John Lawrence for stuff of the Church lent 66 59 ... xviiis. viiis. xxd. Those who recollect the revival of the volunteer movement forty years ago, will not be unfamiliar with the sobriquet of feather-bed soldiers as applied to the newly-formed corps; but no one would think, nowadays, of associating feather beds with public life, or of seeking repose in the parish vestry room. Considerable expenditure was caused "touching the steple." In 1518 the workmen's wages for the year (52 weeks) amounted to £65 10s. 7d.. The mastermason received 3s. 4d. per week; masons, "handleyers," carpenters, 8d. per day; labourers, 4d. a day; Barnestone and Kayn (Caen) stone each cost 5s. the ton; Rygate stone, 4s. 8d. the ton; Rag-stone, 13d. and 14d. the ton; flints, rod, the load; lime, 6s. 4d. the load; chalk, 8d. the ton; sand, 2d. or 3d. the load; timber, 5s. 4d. the load; a rope to make a pair of slyngs, 6d. ; a ladder of 17 steps, rod. Clerks' wages are also given for collecting in 1514 in Kyngestrete, totehil strete and Long ditch, Sanctuary, St. Stephen's Aley, Wol-staple, and Charyng crosse. But probably the most interesting thing in the book is a complete inventory of the "Goodes, Juelles, and Ornaments" in 1511, which will be found among the appendices. In the third volume, which is marked "C," are the accounts from 1530 to 1550, a period covering the last half of the reign of Henry VIII., and the com *The extract is given in fall on page 42. The purchase of a bedstead is shown in the accounts for 1482-4. mencement of that of Edward VI.—an important time of transition in ecclesiastical matters. The Declaration of the King's supremacy in 1534, and the consequent abrogation of the Pope's authority, apparently made no immediate change in Church ceremonies and customs. It is not until 1542 that the Churchwardens of St. Margaret's describe the King as "Defender of the Faith, and in Erthe of the Church of England and also of Ireland, Supreme Head." How gradual was the change may be seen by these entries, which occur in juxtaposition in 1539:Ffyrst payd to Robert Graunt for a hole suyte of vestmets of blewe velvett wt Aungells and a cope to the same suyte, pre of all, xl. Item, payd for the half pte of the Bybell accordyngly after the King's Injunctoyne, ixs. ixd. Item, payd for a desk for the Bybell, iijs. viijd. But in the last five years to which this volume relates changes came more rapidly. In 1545 £21 19s. 4d. is received for old broken plate "by the Adviss of the Masters of the Parish towards the bying of the hie alter table," and in the next two years 4s. 8d. for old brass, with 6s. 8d. and 2s. 4d. for two Tabernacles that stood in Trinity Chapel. In 1548, when the Boy-King Edward VI. was newly seated on the throne, Patrick Kelly, plasterer, is paid for lyme and other stuff for "the whytting" of the Church, £8 os. 10d., while the same year's accounts record that 12s. 8d. was paid "for a honest dysshe of mete and for wyne for the Kinge's Visitours." Whether they came to contemplate the newly whitened Church of upon some other occasion is not told. The expenditure of 18d., two years earlier, for “6 books of the Littony in English" is much pleasanter to contemplate. As might have been supposed, the mundane joys connected with religious ceremonies were not allowed in the days of "Bluff King Hal" to fall into disuse. Holly and ivy are still purchased for the Christmas decorations. The observance of St. Margaret's Day (July 20) might wane and disappear, but the feast of Corpus Christi a few weeks earlier replaced it. Bread, ale, and wine for the Worshipful of the Parish then cost 4s.; flowers and garlands,* 20d.; bearing of 4 torches, 8d.; bearing of 2 crosses, 4d.. Dedication Day, which these accounts tell us is always the first Sunday in October, is more prominently brought forward, and 6 Burdens of Rushes, in 1548, to strew the Church,† are bought in anticipation of it, at a cost of 18d. Bread, ale, and beer for the worshipful of the Parish seem to have been necessary adjuncts to its observance, as well as to that of Palm Sunday and Whit Sunday. The receipts for Tapers, Torches, Knells, and Peals continue to flourish. The loan of the Serklett to be worn by maidens at their marriage brings in a shilling a time (reduced to 8d. on one occasion for a mayd in pety ffraunce), but the fee of 8d. for the use of the Clothe of St. George (pall) produces, in 1545 and 1546, 418. 4d. each year. The Gathering days diminish to Whit Sunday, Dedication Day, All Hallows' Day, and Easter. Nicholas Wyse, the occupier of the lampe lande at Hendon, pays throughout the whole period 18s. a year "for the lampe in the Quere burning before the Blessed Sacrement" (1544). *Garlands of rosemary and woodruff were formerly used to decorate the churches on St Barnabas' Day (June 11), as appears from many old entries in church books, e.g. -in the Churchwardens' Accounts of St. Mary-at-Hill, 1478-80, "For Rose garlandis and Woodrove garlandis on St. Barnabas' Day, xjd. The reason why woodruff was used Gerard tells in his Historie of Plantes, P. 965-It doth well attemper the aire, and cool and make fresh the place, to the delight and comfort of such as are therein." [The Rev. J. E. Vaux, F.S.A., Church Folklore, p. 267.] There were also burial garlands which continued to be hung in churches so recently as 1873; but as they were provided by the friends of the deceased, the charges for them would not appear in these accounts. Mr. Vaux, who gives many instances of their use, quotes from the Gentleman's Magazine, 1747, p. 264, and The Reliquary, vol. I., p. 7. The origin of the custom of "rush-bearing" and strewing the churches with rushes appears to be lost in obscurity. Brand in his Popular Antiquities refers to it at length. By some writers it is attributed to the dampness of the earthen floors, or rather to the absence of floors before stone flagging was used; by others it is considered to have been brought into use as a protection against the coldness of the stone flooring; but, although the Rush-bearing Festival was kept at various times in different localities, it almost invariably took place in the dry season-between May and October. Entries relating to the expenditure of churchwardens for strewing rushes abound in the parochial accounts of parishes in all parts of the country, as early as 1504 and as late as 1864, when the rushcart was last used in Rochdale. An article in a popular magazine for May, 1900, gives a photograph of the "Rush-bearing wake" at Delph, presumably in Yorkshire, as held in 1892. Numerous references are made to the custom in Hone's Every Day Book, Table Book and Year Book. The items of expenditure are full of other interesting details, but only three more can be given here: 1537 Item paid for ringing of bells when Te Deum (at the birth of Edward VI.) was songe, and again to the Queene xiid. 1547 Also payd to the Ringers at King Henry the VIIIth his ... 1549 Also payd for Bred, Ale, and Wyne for the Gentelmen and viiid. The twenty years covered by the fourth volume marked " D," (1550-1570), were among the most eventful to be found in English History. At their commencement the youthful Edward VI. had been on the throne barely three years, during which time the Reformation had been proceeding apace. There were still some few things remaining connected with the old worship, e.g., the "Overplusse of a Crosse" increases the revenues by £18 7s. 10d., and also a lyttel whyght Box garnished wt. Sylver" by 5s.; but the “takynge downe of the iij Aulters and the barynge oute of the Rubbes of them" cost 5s. 1d. The fabric of the Church itself had tempted the despoiling hands of Protector Somerset, but had happily been preserved through the vigorous and defiant action of the parishioners. The nakedness of the interior of the Church, now that its old ornaments had been banished, seems to have become uncomfortably apparent. Consequently appears "Also payde to a Carpynter for a dayes workynge for to set up the skaffold for hym that did wryght the vj chapter of Saynte Johnes Gospell in ye. qre., viijd.” The writer received 40s. for this, 13s. 4d. for additional work in the choir, as well as £3 9s. 8d. for " wrytynge and trymynge of the Northe yle and the Sowthe yle." The "makynge of ij Communyon cuppes" (for the use of the laity) cost £9 6s. 8d., two others cost £4 4s. 11d., and 10s, was paid for a new table for the Blessed Comunyon." The debased condition of the silver coinage, which was not rectified until Queen Elizabeth took the matter in hand, probably accounts for the entry :— "Ffyrder, the sayde Accomptantes dothe aske alowance of and for the losse of the fall of the money, £3 6s. 7d." But the accounts for the years 1553-4 show many changes. Master Hogys pays 6s. 8d. for the "grate ship cheste." Upon the accession of Mary to the throne, however, the sale of discarded articles ceases, and the purchase of a variety of things to refurnish the Church has prompt attention, e.g. :— 66 "A manuell an ymnall & a precessionall," cost 8s. iij Greate Antiphoners, ij Grayles and a Masse Booke," cost 44s. A blew Chesable of satten of bridgis' wt, flowers wt. stole & fannell and for a holly water stock," cost 10s. A pix of Copper all gylte, a Censer of Copper, iij payre of latten Candillstickes, Grene sylke lase, Taffata, iiij Gylte Knoppes and iiij Tasselles, etc., etc., have to be purchased. Sir John Arundell, Knyght, gives 50s. "towards the byenge of necessarys to the churche." The Comunyon Table sells for 8s. Labourers get 4d. for beryng the holy water stocke from Mr. Smallwoodes house." Mr. Brown's servant receives 8d. upon his bringing the Cope, "the which his Mr. dyd gyve, to the churche." The ringers get 16d. for ringing on three occasions for her Majesty, and there is "Allso payde for bread and drynke on ashewensday at the Victory & overthrowe of Wiat and his Adherentes" to the extent of 8d. A few months later a painter receives 12d. to wash out the Scripture decorations, in obedience to an order given by Bishop Bonner, presumably when he attended at the Reconcyliacon of the Church, under circumstances to be presently referred to. C |