RECTORS AND VICARS OF HEANOR. 15 



own registers exact (though they have been much spoilt by 

 later erasure, etc.), and to correct, as far as possible, the neglect 

 of his predecessors. 



The first register begins in the handwriting of this vicar, 

 thus : — 



'' The names of all thoes that wear buried according as they 

 wear set dowen in ye olde Regest' booke as foUoweth : 



At ano Dni 1559. "Weddings at Ano Dom | 1560 | ad 

 ann dom | 1577 | and forward w"" as many as have ben found 

 in ye old Register book." This note is interesting as bearing 

 on the mandate of 1597, in which it was ordained that parch- 

 ment registers should be purchased at the expense of the 

 parish, and therein should be transcribed the entries contained 

 in the former paper books. 



The following appears neatly printed in black ink over an 

 erasure, and is without signature : — 



" Nota. This Register is very defective as to the four 

 previous years 1579, 1580, 1581, 1582, wherein the Burials 

 and Christenings were [for the] greatest part omitted, and the 

 subsequent years to 1591 (being nine years more) are totally 

 omitted." 



The original ink is of a reddish colour, and the note may 

 have been re-copied by James Rathborne, who appended to 

 the entries of 1634 the following note: — 



" Memorandu. — That what is above written in this page 

 concerning the year 1634 (being in a different character fr5 

 the other) was transcribed there by reason that the Register it 

 selfe (through the decay of the ink) was almost obliterated. 



"James Rathborne." 



[William Asheby made several entries on business matters, 

 and notes for the benefit and guidance of his successors.] 



1633. JosiAS Hawksworth. During his incumbency the 

 registers were abominably neglected, vide note by James 

 Rathborne. 



