[314] Hale, Crim. Prec., 198 (One Spencer presented for not paying his proportion for the ringing on the Queen's anniversary, "being rated at iiijd.") Hudson, op. cit. supra (Barford bridge assessment of 4s. 4d. spread out over 26 tenements).
[315] Canterbury Visit, xxvii, 214 (John Basset "cessed" at 2d. a quarter, but thought well able to pay 3d. for the clerk's wages. Robert Sawyer, ditto. 1577). St. Margaret, Lothbury, Minutes, 16 (ed. E. Freshfield), where in 1584 thirty-four parishioners make a "free offer" of sums from 2d. to 6s. 8d. to pay a lecturer. Ibid., 10 (18 parishioners give from 1d. to £2 towards the erecting of a clock. 1577).
[316] Rates for bread and wine were commonly so levied. See supra, p. 78 and note 80.
[317] See p. 80 supra and note 87.
[318] Houghton-le-Spring Acc'ts, Surtees Soc., lxxxiv, 271 (1596). Binney, Morebath Acc'ts, 34 (1531). Ibid., 85 (1536).
[319] E.g., See Hale, Churchwardens' Prec., passim, e.g., where the parishioners of Elstree ("Idlestrye"), Herts, cannot agree in 1585/6, some contending for assessment "by their welthe and goods only, and some others do require that the taxation might be made by the acres of grounde only." Canterbury Visit., xxvii, 218 (2d. an acre). Ibid., xxv, 42 (4d. an acre). Ibid., xxvi, 33 (Ploughland of 140 acres paying 6s. 8d. for clerk's wages). Ibid., xxv, 33 (Two "cesses" at Minster church, one at 20d. the score [of pounds?], the other at 12d.). The Reliquary, xxv, 18 (Levy made in Morton, Derbysh., of 8d. the oxgang of 15 acres).
[320] Order of Wiltshire justices, Michaelmas, 1600, that three of their number shall call certain constables and others before them, "and examine them what overplus of money is remaining in their hands w[hi]ch they have collected of their hundredes for anie service whatsoever, and if there be anie founde remayning the said Justice to distribute the same amongst the inhabitants of the same hundredes according to their discretion." Rec. of Wilts Quarter Sess. in Wilts Arch, (etc.) Mag., xxi, 85.
[321] According to the 22 Hen. VIII c. 5, where it cannot be known who ought of right to repair a bridge, the justices of the district shall call before them the constables of the parishes of the surrounding hundreds, or of the whole shire, and "with the assent of the … constables or [chief] inhabitants," tax every inhabitant of the towns and parishes of the shire (if necessary). This looks like a county bridge tax, but in practice the justices either threw a lump sum on a hundred, or on a parish, and left each parish to raise this sum according to local rating. Such, at least, would seem to be the usual practice according to the churchwardens accounts, which contain many lump payments made to constables for bridges.
[322] See Wilts justices order, 20 Eliz., Wilts Arch. (etc.) Mag., xxi, 80-1. Cf. ibid., 16, the appeal of Hilprington and Whaddon that they have been compelled by the inhabitants of Melkesham to pay a third part with the last named parish of these lump assessments, though the acreage of Melkesham is much greater than either of theirs, "and far better ground."
[323] See p. 81, note 91 supra.