W. S. T.
VERMIN, PAYMENTS FOR DESTRUCTION OF.
(Vol. iv., pp. 208. 389.)
The authority by which churchwardens paid for the destruction of vermin, is by acts of parliament (8 Eliz. cap. 15. and 14 Eliz. cap. 11.), but not AS churchwardens; and the payment for vermin out of the church-rate is illegal: but they are ex officio appointed by the statutes quoted, "with six other parishioners," as shown by FRANCISCUS, Vol. iv., p. 389.
There can be no doubt, that in course of time this assessment got into desuetude; that churchwardens, being the "distributors," they charged it on the church-rate by way of simplifying the machinery. This, and other duties of churchwardens and other parish officers, many of which have become obsolete, may be seen in Lambard's Eirenarcha, or Office of the Justice of the Peace, first published in 1581, which passed through many editions from that date to 1637. The work is commended by Blackstone as deserving the perusal of students.
With regard to the old names of vermin, Glead and Ringteal are described by Osbaldiston, in his Dictionary of Recreation, as a sort of kite; the latter with whitish feathers about the tail. Greas'-head and Baggar he does not notice. May they not be provincialisms?
H. T. ELLACOMBE
Clyst St. George.
In further illustration of this Query, and of J. EASTWOOD'S reply (p. 389.), may be quoted:—
"That the distributers of the provision for the destruction of noysome foule and vermine being chosen, and having money [as before shown by me, Vol. iv., p. 389.], shall give and pay the same money so to them delivered, to every person that shall bring to them any heades of old crowes, choughes, pies, or rookes, taken within the several parishes, for the heads of every three of them a peny; and for the heads of every sixe young crowes, choughes, pyes, or rookes, taken, as is aforesaid, a peny; and for every sixe egges of any of them unbroken, a peny; and likewise for every twelve stares heades, a peny. All which said heads and egges, the said distributers in some convenient place shall keep, and shall every moneth at the least bring foorth the same before the said churchwardens and taxors, or three of them, and then and there to them shall make a true account in writing, what money they have laid forth and paid for such heads and egges, and for the heads of such other raveinous birds and vermine, as are hereafter mentioned, that is to say:
- "For everie head of merton, haukes, fursekite,
moldkite, bussard, scag, carmerant, or ringtaile
iid - For every two egges of them
id - For every iron or ospraies heads
iiiid - For the head of every woodwall, pie, jay, raven, or kite
id - For the head of every bird which is called the kingsfisher
id - For the head of every bulfinsh, or other birde that devoureth the
blouth of fruit
id - For the heads of every foxe or gray
xiid - For the head of every fichewe, polcat, wesell, stote, faire,
badger, or wildecat
id - For the heads of every otter or hedghog
iid - For the heads of every three rats or twelve mice
id - For the heads of every moldwarpe or want,
an halfe-penie. - "All which sayd heads and egges shall be foorthwith, after such account made in the presence of the sayd churchwardens and taxors, or of three of them, burned, consumed, or cut in sunder.—Vid. 8 Eliz. c. 15.; 14 Eliz. c 11.; and 39 Eliz. c. 18."