160 NOTES ON A MINUTE BOOK. 



Ireland." At the same time £3 are to be given " to Master White of 

 Ireland his phamyly." And similar sums were given to the same 

 "phamyly" repeatedly. Then long after, on Nov. 18, 1653, it is 

 recorded that the overseers of St. Peter's had spent £7 16s. 9d. 

 " upon extraordinary charges of people avc^ come out of Ireland." 

 Again, we find large sums sent to the distrest in England also, 

 whether from fire or pestilence. One example of each must suffice. 

 On July 23, 1640, Master White and the other ministers are to be 

 moved to collect for the distrest in Taunton, at this time of 

 pestilence." No less a sum than £60 10s. was sent. And a few 

 days after, on Aug. 5, they sent £40 to Yeovil where fire had 

 caused great loss. It may be here noted that, while a post to 

 London is spoken of, on one occasion a small sum was given to 

 the poor here because the Company did not know how to send it 

 to " Lancasheere," for which it was subscribed. 



It is now fully time to close this paper with a few quotations 

 which cannot well be classified. First, as to the trade of the 

 borough. The evidence on this subject in C. 12 is not full. There 

 were a number of standings in the market. On one occasion 19 

 are enumerated as in the East and W^est Rows. This looks as if 

 they were in some place running North and South — namely, in 

 Bull Stake (miscalled North Square) or Cornhill. If so these 

 19 were only a part of the total number. For there were some, 

 apparently many, in High Street. For instance, one is described 

 as being in front of Trinity Church door. Some of them were 

 held by people from a distance, a chandler from Cerne Abbas, for 

 example. Dorchester was much connected with the then great 

 fair on Woodbury Hill. On Aug. 31, 1653, a remittance to poor 

 folk at Marlborough is ordered, but "deferred until after Wood- 

 bery fair." But more noteworthy is an order of Sept. 1, 1648, 

 that " , . . In respect the publike thanksgiving falls out to be 

 on W^oodbery fair Eve, at av^'^ time most of the Towne will be 

 from hoine. Master Ben be desired to observe the Wednesday 

 following for a day of thanksgiving." I find a passage which seems 

 to imply that at least one Dorchester man was a merchant to other 



