FOOTNOTES:
[91] “Notes and Queries,” First Series, viii, 467; Third Series, ix, 176, 249; Fourth Series, i, 292; iii, 415.
[92] The doubtful date of the calendar should be rendered 1633-4.
XX
LITERARY EXPENSES IN ST. MARGARET’S, WESTMINSTER, 1530-1610
The important historical information given in the accounts of the Churchwardens justifies the reproduction of those selections which testify to the rapid changes in religion and education. William Russell and Thomas Cloudesley were churchwardens from 2nd June 1530 till 11th May 1532, and they “Payd for a Prick Song book xxᵈ.” The next Wardens “payd for the covering of the Pryksong book ijˢ.” Thurston Amere and William Combes 1538-40, in their “first yere” “payd for a book to registre in the names of the Buryalls Weddynges and Cristeninges ijˢ.” This entry is exceedingly interesting for many reasons. Archbishop Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell issued a set of Injunctions dated 11th October 1538; of which a contemporary copy is preserved in the Public Record Office, (uncalendared Papers of Henry VIII, 253). The second of these ordained
The Bible in English to be sett up in the churches Royal et parrochim.... Sixth, A sermon to be preached at least every quarter.... Twelfth, Register-bookes to be kept of weddings Cristenings and Burialls, and for safe keeping thereof, the Parish to finde a cheste with two locks and two Keyes to be taken out every Sunday and the Parson in the presence of the Wardens to write.... etc.
For every omission a fine of 3s. 4d. to be levied.
St. Margaret’s is one of the few churches whose Registers are preserved from this early date. This entry proves promptness in obedience, as the books themselves show carefulness in preserving. In their second year these Wardens “payd for the halfe parte of the Bybell accordingly after the King’s injuncions ixˢ ixᵈ, Item payd for a desk for the Bybell iijˢ viiiᵈ. Item payd for a Quire of Paper for a parucker booke for this 2ⁿᵈ yere ijᵈ.” Among the Foren payments are repairs to the organ, and “payd for two hympnalls for pdco, ijˢ viiiᵈ.” The “accompt of Robert Smalwood gent, and William Heynings, grome of the King’s most honourable Chamber,” wardens from 1540 to 1542; in relation to pew-letting mentions “the purchase of a book for the pewes of freemen xiᵈ.” Passing over the regular items of quires of paper for their “particular books”; of “parchment for their general book” and of help “in the writing of the same; in the Accompte of John Kenet and Thomas Massy 36ᵗʰ to 38ᵗʰ Hen. VIII,” we find amid the “foren payments of the first yere,” “Also payd for VI Bookes of the Lattony in Englyshe xviiiᵈ.”
In the account of Nicholas Ellys and Richard Dod, 12th June, 38th Henry VIII to 17th May, 2nd Edward VI, after mentioning the dirge for Henry and the expenses contributed to his funeral, recorded in the second year.
Also payd in Christemas quarter to Goodman Beyton for makynge of the stone in the body of the churche for the priest to declare the pistolls and gospells, ijˢ.