NOTES ON A MINUTE BOOK. 153 



(including Capt. Churchill perhaps) to pay " poore souldiers " that 

 served the 2 days this week in the Borough (1) arms. Somehow 

 this brings to mind the recruit who served at the wappenshaw in 

 the TuUietudlem arms. Whatever were the difficulties, however, 

 the Mayor and the " Company " persevered. On Feb. 27, 1642 

 (3) " By consent of the Mayor and Capital Burgesses the Church- 

 wardens and Overseers of each of the 3 parishes have made a rate 

 for payment of soldiers." The names and addresses of twenty- 

 eight "as now this day listed " are given. The odd thing is that, 

 except W. Wilson, "late of this town stuflF-weaver," not one of 

 them belonged to Dorchester, one comrng from so far off as 

 Taunton. Here this group of warlike notices must end, brought to 

 a sudden full stop by the vexatious "discontinuance of this booke 

 by reason of the Warres." The substituted book would perhaps 

 give us quite new lights on various points now dim and doubtful. 

 Especially there is the sojourn of Cromwell at Dorchester, so 

 imperfectly recorded in history. But, as yet, that much-desired 

 book appears not. 



3. The Care of the Borough and of the poor, taken separately. 

 Thoughtfulness for the well-being of the borough is shown in the 

 very first page of the book. On July 14, 1637, "Master Maior 

 ppownded that a day be considered for ' a meeting of all the 

 Company to examyn the debte of the corporacon and what meanes 

 may be used to come out of debt. . . ." It was decided to 

 meet on July 31 at 7 a.m. I have not observed any record of 

 •what was done. The borough finance was complicated as to 

 sources of income, There were fines on renewal of lives in leases 

 of market standings, and no doubt in other leases. There were 

 rents of various pieces of property, such as two plots called the 

 ♦School Closes, apparently where the Grammar School cricket 

 ground and Messrs. Pope's malthousc now are. There was income, 

 over and above stipends, from Seaton, Fordington, and other 

 " Parsonages." And there was this " Brewhouse." I am not able 



* But from one entry this rent seems to have gone to school salary. 



