Forest of Rossendale. 135 



1801-2. 



To Expenses with Abm. Cropper, James Haworth, and John 



Haworth, to Holmes Chappel, .. .. .. .. ^086 



Many entries similar to the last occur. Previous to the 

 appointment of Magistrates in Rossendale, prisoners were 

 conveyed to Holmes Chapel to be tried before the Justice of the 

 Peace there. 



1803. 



20 Trunsheons from Burnley for Constables, .. .. .. ;f2 16 6 



Paid Jas. Nuttall for 22 Trunsheons for Constables at New- 

 church, &c., .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 360 



1804. 



To 2 pair of Steel Ruffles, .. .. .. .. .. .. 066 



[A Polite name for Handcuffs.] 

 1804. 



Paid in the Vestry of Newchurch, for obtaining fines of the 



Inhabitants of Rossendale in respect of Sunday Rules, .. 200 



To a Constable Staff for Bacop, .. .. .. .. ., 076 



Salaries for the Sextons Ringing eight o'clock at Newchurch, 



Bacop, and Goodshaw Chapel, for one year, los. each .. i 10 o 



Parish Clerk in giving Public Notices in the Church, .. .. 026 



In bygone days, when printing was more a luxury than a 

 necessity_|of life, and only to be resorted to on grand occasions, 

 our simple-minded forefathers were in the habit of making public 

 from the Clerk's desk in the Church, after service, all those secular 

 transactions in which the general community were expected to feel 

 an interest. If a sale by auction was arranged to take place during 

 the coming week, the fact was duly made known. If any acts of 

 trespass or wilful damage had been committed, the particulars were 

 set forth, and a reward offered for such information as would 

 lead to the conviction of the offenders. It is even whispered 

 that Bull-baitings formed a common subject of announce- 

 ment ; but for the truth of this, not having trustworthy evidence, 

 we are not prepared to vouch. In some places the Clerk, 

 instead of giving his Notices within the walls of the sacred 

 edifice, came out into the Churchyard, and, from a convenient 



