453 



The said 6/8 is thought fitt by the Parishioners to be returned to my 

 Lord's officer, Mr. Brice. 



Mem., that upon giving up this account it was agreed upon by joint 

 consent of the parishioners present that if any man hath purchased 

 a parish seat and doth absent himself for one whole year having no 

 estate in the same, he shall loose his seat ; and if any other person 

 hath purchased a parish seat having an estate in the same and do 

 neglect or refuse to pay the yearly rent after notice left by the 

 churchwardens of the demand of the same, then the said person to 

 loose his seat, and moreover if any person having purchased a seat 

 in the church having an estate in the same shall in his absence let 

 or dispose of his said seat to any other person for a benefit, that then 

 it shall be lawful for the churchwardens to take and receive the 

 benefit thereof or to dispose thereof to the use of the parish. 



The entries in this parish account extend from 1634 to 1675. 

 They are clearly written, and a charge is entered in the yearly 

 account, in many of the years, for engrossing the account. It 

 appears — 



1. — From the first entries, that seats in the church have been 

 let from the commencement of the account, and how much earlier 

 it is impossible to say. The custom, therefore, in Wrington 

 Church prevailed as early as the time of Charles I. 



2. — We find also that a rate was annually made and collected, 

 but not enforced upon those who objected to pay. Such parishioners 

 were charged a small sum when they attended the sacrament of the 

 Lord's Supper, and also for the tolling of the bell in case of death. 



3. — Frequent charges are made for destroying foxes, polecats, 

 otters, and hedgehogs, which were considered detrimental to the 

 general good, and therefore paid for out of the rate. These have 

 now almost disappeared under the improved cultivation of the 

 land, and greater extent of clearing. 



4- — Great attention appears to have been paid to keeping the 

 church in good repair, the bells, the clock, the organ, and every- 

 thing pertaining to Divine service, whatever might have been the 

 political feeling of the time. 



5. — Very clear intimations are given of the distress occasioned 

 by the civil wars, in the entries for rehef afibrded to various 

 sufferers. 



