Pount John, [135].
Powell, a merchant, [167].
Presents brought, [74], [93], [250].
Prest, [83], &c.
This word occurs continually in reference to money advanced to servants on their wages, and clearly meant money paid to persons before their salaries were due. In the Shrewsbury Papers we find Lord Wharton informing the Earl of Shrewsbury in June, 1557, "The olde guarresone not paide for their half yeare, ended the xiiij of Febr. laste; and for this other half year which shall ende the xvjth day of Auguste, excepte money delivered in preste by the layte Treasourer which will appear upon declaracion of his accompt. Hear is noo Treasurer knowne, nor when they shall be paide." To which the Editor has added the following note: "This term, derived from pret, French, ready, was always applied to money transactions, but had various acceptations. In military affairs prest or imprest money usually meant the gratuity by which recruits were retained, from whence the well known phrase, 'pressing into the service.' In this instance it signifies the sums issued from time to time by the treasurer for the current use of the army." Lodge's Illustrations, vol. i. p. 237. The sense, however, in which this word is used in these accounts is derived from the French Prest, a loan. Cavendish uses it in precisely the same way. Speaking of Wolsey's pecuniary necessities he says "it was concluded that he should have by the way of prest, a thousand marks out of Winchester Bishoprick," p. 239.
Priest, paid to a sick, [77].
---- at Hounsdon, to the, [214].
---- to the, that sings at the Roods, [276].
----, money distributed to, [282].