aren eee Sees 
157 
tion. The intrusion of dogs into churches gave rise to the closing 
in of the communion table with close rails and gates ; and bishops 
in their charges not unfrequently pressed upon churchwardens the 
necessity for providing such close enclosures to the communion 
table. 
In Wotes and Queries a short time ago a dog-in-church legend is 
given; it says, once upon a time a dog entered the church of 
St. Crux at York and stole a consecrated wafer. He was pursued 
and slain in that part of the street called Colliergate. The sac- 
religious act excited general indignation, and either by civic 
ordinance or licensed custom it became the practice of the town 
- boys to have an annual whip-dog day in that street, which in this 
way gradually acquired the name of Whipma Whipmagate. 
After the year 1655 parish affairs, like those of the nation, are 
in a state of chaos. The following year there is only an account 
_of eight mortuary gifts to the poor, amounting to £43 13s. 8d., 
and its distribution amongst one hundred and seventy-three poor 
persons. 
For the next two years there is no entry of receipts or expendi- 
ture. Two blank pages were left, probably to receive them, but 
they were never filled up. In 1658, the year of the Restoration 
of the monarchy, the accounts are resumed by three churchwardens, 
Richard Hyndson, John Clarke and Henry Smith, continued in 
1659 by Bowerbank, Rayson, and Martin, in 1660 by Nelson 
Curwen and a name something like Beadman, in 1661 by a Simp- 
son, Robinson, Clarkson, and Jefferey Blamire. I note these 
_ names as they are mostly old Penrith names. 
From the commencement of the book in 1655, a vicar’s name is 
not mentioned until we come across this entry: “The 18th day of 
_ April, 1663. We, the Minister and Churchwardens for this year, 
with the consent of Mrs. Elizabeth Hutton, conjointly and unani- 
mously agree to the binding of John Steward an apprentice with 
the money paid by the said Mrs. Hutton. Signed, Simon Webster, 
vicar, (and, bracketed together as churchwardens) Edward Page 
—his mark, Richard Shepard—his mark, Charles Carter—his 
mark, Launcelot Harrison—his mark,” 
