On the Great Bell, Gloria in Altissimis Deo
LATER PARSONS OF GRASMERE
Grasmere settled down then, after the Restoration, to an absentee rector, the Rev. John Ambrose; and under him was a curate-in-charge, the Rev. John Brathwaite. One of his name, son of William, "pleb.," matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford, in 1631, aged 18, whom Dr. Magrath thinks may have been he.[157] Under Mr. Thomas Brathwaite's will, 1674, "Mr. Brawthwaite minister of Grassemire" received a legacy of 20s., which shows that he enjoyed the esteem of that Puritanical gentleman. He often appears in the Account Book. For churching the squire's wife he received regularly 5s.; until there comes the melancholy item in 1675:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Apr. 17—Given to Mr. Jo. Brathwait for preaching of my Dear Wifes Funerall Sermon (upon Prov. 31, 29) and often visiting her dureing ye time of her sickness and praying by her | 02 | 00 | 00 |
Other items are more cheerful; for often the minister's little daughter would carry offerings of fruit, cherries and wild blackberries to the Hall, for which she would receive a douceur in return. Also, as boys apparently then caught woodcocks in springes, as they did later (see Wordsworth's Prelude), the item occurs in 1782:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Dec. 12—Given Parson Brathwait's Son who brought some Wood-cockes | 00 | 00 | 06 |