'5 



5Easter Uoll for tfjc IJartsI) of ^opt : for 

 tt}t ^rar 1658. 



Bv J. Charles Cox, LL.D., F.S.A. 



|HE following pages are a transcript from some folio 

 i papers pinned together, pertaining to the Dean and 

 I Chapter of Lichfield, which are indorsed " Hope Easter 

 Booke, pro annis, 1658, 1659, 1660 : Arthur Jeynson, 

 George Armestrong." The entries for the two last years are short 

 and fragmentary, but a literal copy is given of the whole of the year 

 1658. The list is evidently a complete record of those who paid 

 their accustomed ecclesiastical dues at Easter, according to 

 custom, and hence may be looked upon as a full census of all the 

 householders of this extensive parish. These Easter offerings 

 differed widely in amount and character even in adjacent parishes. 

 It is said that they had their origin in compounding by a payment 

 in money for the oblations in kind to furnish the Eucharistic 

 elements ; and the amount was supposed to cover the cost of the 

 elements throughout the year. These offerings throughout England 

 assumed the form of personal tithes, and usually amounted to 2d. 

 for an adult (that is over 16), and id. for children and servants, 

 which were sometimes compounded for by a general payment of 4d. 

 per household. A study of this and other lists of the Peak seems 

 to show, that in the Peak parishes subject to the jurisdiction of the 

 Dean and Chapter, a high rate of Easter offering was maintained. 

 The lowest payment is 6d., which we believe to be the offering for a 

 single adult. 



In addition to the personal tithe, in some parishes special 

 Easter dues were paid (quite distinct from the tithing of animals) 



