256 Notes on the Manor of Aldbourne. 
indecently and inconueniently thronged together when they are to drawe neire 
and take the holy sacrament and that the frequent celebratio. thereof may never 
the lesse be continued I doe further appoynt that thrice in the yeare at least 
there be publique [notice] given in the Church for fower Comunions to be held 
vpon fower Sundaies together and that there come not to the Comunion in one day 
above two hundred at the most. For the better observation whereof and that 
every man may know his proper time the Curate shall divide the parishioners 
into fower parts according to his discretio. and as shall most fittingly serve to 
this purpose. 
“‘ And if any turbulent spirit shall disobey this our Order hee shall be proceeded 
against according to the quality of his fault and Misdemeanor. 
“In wittnes whereof I have herevnto set my hand and seale Episcopall this 
seventeenth day of May, 1637, and in the yeare of our consecration the sixteenth.” 
This order is referred to, and its date mentioned, by Archbishop 
Laud—* Laud’s speech at the censure of Basterwick,” in his works 
(vol. iit, p. 58, of the ed. of 1637)—and is printed in the Oxford 
edit. of Archbishop’s Laud’s works, edited by the Rev. James Bliss, 
A.M., vol. vi., p. 60. 
The population of the parish of Aldbourne in 1851 consisted of 
one thousand six hundred and twenty-two inhabitants, and it would 
hardly be supposed that the number of communicants would be so 
large as it would seem to be from Bishop Davenant’s order. But it 
appears from the certificates of Chantries (2 Edw. VI.) that the 
number of communicants in the parishes in the Wiltshire Towns 
was then very considerable. It appears from the certificate of 
chantries of Wilts, in the General Record Office, No. 58, that in 
2 Edward VI. (1548) the number of communicants at 
St. Edward’s, Sarum, was bai 1700 
Mere Sil Wak e 800 
Chippenham ... “i sa 667 
Calne wie eve se 860 
Malmesbury ... sh ee 860 
Devizes ge M5 ais 900 
Bradford [on Avon] ... is 576 
Marlborough ... ahs a, 1057 
and with respect to Aldbourne it is there stated as follows :— Also 
there be win the p.isshe of Alborne the number of 400 people 
wiche receyve the blessed Commu"ion and no preest to helpe the 
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