"Six quarts of sack to the minister who preached when he had no minister to assist, 9s.; for a quart of sack bestowed on Jillett, when he preached, 2s. 6d.; for pint of brandy when George Bell preached here, 1s. 4d.; for a stranger who preached, a dozen of ale. When the Dean of Durham preached here, spent in a treat in the house, 3s. 6d."
Birthdays.
It is not generally known that the custom of keeping birthdays is many thousand years old. It is recorded in the fortieth chapter of Genesis, twentieth verse: "And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants."
Toppling Flower Pots.
An Act of Parliament was passed to "put down" the flower pots, "which were accustomed to topple on the walkers' heads, from the windows of houses wherein flower-fanciers dwelt."
Electioneering in 1640.
In Sir Henry Slingsby's diary is the following entry respecting the election at Knaresborough, in 1640: "There is an evil custom at such elections, to bestow wine on all the town, which cost me sixteen pounds at least."
Monks Ordered to Shave.
In the year 1200 the Council of Lateran ordered the monks to shave off their beards, "lest in the ceremony of receiving the sacrament, the beard might touch the bread and wine, or crumbs and drops fall and stick upon it."