NOTES ON A MINUTE BOOK. 159 



pevliops trustoil, to take serious cases in hand. For example on 

 June 14, 1654, there is an order for the widow Devenish "to he 

 sent downe to Master fforrester for cure of her distemper." This 

 was serious evidently, for the pay was to be more than £15 ; " out 

 of the Towne purse V li., out of her OAvne state V li., out of honest 

 people's purses V li., and so pportionably." During that year 

 Master Colston received only £4 10s. for " physick given to the 

 poor." Besides these and other doctors there were doctoresses. 

 Canander Haggard had had £3 on account. On Jan. 5, 1654 (5), 

 there was an order " to pay her " £3 more "for finishing the great 

 cure on John Drayton otherwise Kense." Can this odd name he a 

 mistake for Cassandra 1 Several other lady doctors are mentioned, 

 for instance "Master Phillipp Davis his wife of Martinstowne." It 

 is noteworthy that on Apr. 27, 1649, £1 was ordered for "the 

 wedo louiburd to helpc hir to the bath," for relief of rheumatism, 

 I suppose. But .some, not for illness but for poverty, were helped 

 farther than Bath. On Apr. 4, 1651, a church collection is 

 proposed " towards the conveyance of 3 familyes w'^^ are poore and 

 unable to subsist here into Ireland for the planting of that Country." 

 AVhich was done, for on Apr. 24, Benjamin Hoskins is ordered to 

 have £1 for his horses to Bristol and conveying thither of three poor 

 families going to Ireland under Capt. llidout. But this invasion 

 of Ireland might be called only (jaid pro quo. IMuch money had 

 been given to Irish fleeing hither from the rebels in their own 

 country. Indeed one instance looks as if the Irish were at that 

 time more upheld when in want than the English. On July 2, 

 1642, two distressed persons were relieved. An Irishman was to 

 have £2. The widow " of a certain man of Wymborne killed by 

 theeves and robber.s, who were (I suppose the man and his wife) 

 the children of godly parents and under that consideracon tlioir 

 condicon tendered to the people," was put off with los. But the 

 £2, above, was a trifle compared to like payments before and after 

 that date. On Apr. 20, 1642, Master Whiteway is to be 

 "intreated" to receive the Lady Kerry and her con)[iany, his 

 charges to be paid back out of " the money for the distressed in 



