"'1. Johannes, fil. Jacobi Gay, clerici, natus apud Meath in com. Devon. lit. gram. instit. per quinquennium apud Torrington sub Mro Reynolds, deinde per biennium sub Mro Rayner, apud Tiverton in com. prædicto. Adm. est Pens. min. anno æt. 18mo sub tut. Mro Nath. Popple, S.T.B., et Mro Laur. Jackson, M.A., 7mo Nov. 1717.'
"'2. Nicholas, fil Jacobi Gay, clerici, natus apud Meath in com. Devon. lit. gram. instit. per quinquennium apud Torrington sub Mro Reynolds, deinde per triennium sub Mro Rayner apud Tiverton, in com. prædicto. Adm. est Sizator 20mo Oct. 1718, anno æt. 17mo, Tut. Laurentio Jackson, A.M.'
"'3. Jacobus, fil. natû max. Revdi Joannis Gay, hujus Collii quondam Socii, posteà Vicarii de Wilshamstead, natus apud Wilshamstead, in com. Bedf. lit. gr. instructus apud Bampton in com. Devon. sub Mro Wood. Adm. est Sizator 24to Aug. 1752, annum agens 17mo, Tut. J. Lawson et J. Cranwell.'
"'4. Johannes, fil. natû max. Nicolai Gay, de Newton St. Cyres in com. Devon. Vicarii, ibidem natus, lit. verò gram. inst. apud South-Molton per sexennium, et apud Ottery St. Mary per triennium sub viro revdo Joanne Colridge. Adm. est Sizator 15to Junii 1762, annum agens 19mo, Tut. Gul. Elliston, Mro Ci et Joh. Hey.'
"Gay (1.) was a scholar of Peter Blundell's foundation, and in 1724 succeeded to a fellowship on the same foundation. This fellowship, of which there are two at this college, is tenable for ten years; and all our fellows are compelled to proceed regularly to the degree of B.D. (seven years after they have taken that of M.A.). Mr. Gay was M.A. in 1725, and might have proceeded to B.D. in 1732: but he never took any higher degree than M.A. He must therefore have vacated his fellowship before 1732. I find no mention of his name in our College Office-book later than 7th May, 1730. He was probably presented during that year to the vicarage of Wilshamstead (which of course would render void his fellowship), and subsequently entered upon another kind of fellowship, one of the results of which was Gay (3.).
"Of Gay (2.) I find it recorded that he was appointed Chapel Clerk in 1719; that he was B.A. 1722, and M.A. 1731. As far as dates are concerned, it might be questioned which of the brothers (1. or 2.) was the author of the 'Preliminary Dissertation.' In our University Library I can find only two editions of Law's translation of Archbishop King's work, viz. the 2nd edit., 1732, which contains the 'Preliminary Dissertation,' but no mention of its author; and the 4th edit., Camb. 1758, at the end of the Preface to which are these words: 'The following Dissertation was composed chiefly by the late Rev. Mr. Gay.' The author of the Dissertation must therefore have died in or before 1758. But in the entry of Gay (4.) 1762 (who was without doubt nephew of 1.), I do not find 'defuncti' attached to his father's name, which it has always been usual to add, in the case of the father being deceased.
"I am convinced in my own mind that the Mr. Gay of Sidney College, mentioned by Paley in his life of Bishop Law, was Gay (1.). There would be no difficulty, I should think, in ascertaining the time of Mr. John Gay's decease. The present vicar of Wilshamstead could no doubt readily inform you. If it should be found that Mr. John Gay died before 1758, then there can be no question but that he is Bishop Law's late Mr. Gay.
"Fellow of Sidney College."
VERMIN, PAYMENTS FOR DESTRUCTION OF, AND ANCIENT NAMES.
(Vol. iv., p. 208.)
The 8 Eliz. c. 15. and 14 Eliz. c. 11. provide that in every parish the churchwardens with six other parishioners shall yearly on one of the holydays in Easter week, and at every other time when needful, tax and assess every land and tithe-owner within the parish to pay such sums of money as they shall think meet according to the quantity of such their lands or tithes, and on nonpayment thereof within fourteen days after demand to forfeit five shillings, which, together with the sum assessed shall be levied by distress on the goods and chattels of such land or tithe-owner; and as well the said sums as penalties shall be delivered to two honest and substantial persons of the parish eligible by the churchwardens, to be named "The distribution of the provisions for the destruction of noisome fowl and vermin." Such is the authority required by J. B. (Manchester), by which churchwardens in old times paid sums of money for the destruction of vermin in the several parishes of England. It will, however, be observed that their authority was not confined to "vermin," but extended to the "fowls of the air;" and the "old volumes of churchwardens' accounts," to which your correspondent has access, amply testify to the fact that those churchwardens were fully alive to their duty, powers, and authority, under the above-named statutes; inasmuch as two, at least, of the ancient names belong to the feathered tribe; glead being identical with kite, and ringteal or ringtail (subbuteo) with a species of hawk, in some districts more commonly called the hobby. Greas' head I must leave to some other head to determine, unless indeed is meant the great-shrike or butcher-bird belonging to the same order (accipitres) as the kite and ringtail or hobby. Notwithstanding J. B.'s diffidence, I am much inclined to adopt his surmise, that the worthy churchwarden really intended badger when he wrote baggar.