Wiltshire Quarter Sessions. 85 



the Act for the Relief of the Poor gave of compensating losses by- 

 fire was not allowed to lie dormant. 

 Michaelmas, 1600 : — 



" It is ordered that S' James Mervyn Knight, Carew Rawleigh, and Edward 

 Estcourt Esquiers shall call before them the constables of Underdich and such 

 other psou that have ben constables whome the said Justices shall thinke Titt of 

 the hundreds of Cawdon and Cadwor"" and Chalke and examine them what 

 overplus of money is remaining in their hands w"^'' they have collected of their 

 hundredes for anie service whatsoever and if there be anie founde remayning the 

 said Justice to distribute the same amongst the inhabitants of the same 

 hundredes according to their discretion. 



" Forasmuch as it appeareth upon evident pfe (proof) that John Roming oi 

 Catcombe in the pishe of Hilm'ton had upon May dale last his houses and goodes 

 burned and consumed to the value of Two hundred poundes at the leaste It is 

 therefore ordered that the said John Roming dhall have towardes his releife the 

 some of Tenn poundes of money, w'^'' said some shalbe payde him by the Treasorers 

 for the Hospi tails and poore people of this Countie." 



A longer and more formal entry and a more liberal grant (of £50) 

 ensued upon, no doubt, a much more destructive fire which, on the 

 27th September, 1601, at Castlecombe, did special injury to six 

 persons named in the order of the Court. 



Michaelmas, 43rd Elizabeth : — 



" It is agreed .... that the sevral divisions of this Countie may 

 towards all Her Ma"" services be equaUy and indifferently taxed and charged 

 and as nere as may be in an even proporcon and that a greater burthen male not 

 be laide upon any division than upon on an other That Sir William Eyre and 

 Sir Fi-ancis Popham Knights, or Henry Martin Esqre in his absence, Henry- 

 Pole, Henry Sadler, Henry Willoughby, and Alexander Tutt Esquiers shall 

 between this and the next Quarter Sessions .... consider and take some 

 paines to inform themselves as nere as male be of the true estate of everye the 

 said sixe divisions and thereupon to advise what proporcon of charge willbe fitt 

 tobe imposed upon everye ofthe said divisions towards everye of Her Ma''^' saide 

 services that none of the saide divisions be overcharged as in time past it hath 

 been conceyved by some they have ben, and others to much spared, and that the 

 said Comlttees shall at the next Quarter Sessions make the rest of the Justices of 

 the Peace acquainted with there travaile and opinions thereupon whereupon some 

 present order male be then finally taken howe the charges for the said 

 services shallbe thence further rated upon each of the saide divisions and in the 

 meane time the rates agreed on at this Sessions and set downe under our hands 

 to stande in force 



Jo Popham Wm Eyre 



Edward Hungerford Wm Baylief 



Joh Warnford John Dauntesey 



Edw Estcoiu'te Henry Martyn" 



