w deration the abolition of the clerical function, as 

 "savouring of popery; and the taking away of 

 " tithes, which they culled a relict of Judaism. 

 " Learning also, and the universities, were deemed 

 "heathenish and unnecessary. But of all the ex- 

 " traordinary schemes adopted by these legislators, 

 tf they had not leisure to finish any, except that 

 ** which established the legal solemnization of mar- 

 K riage by the civil magistrate alone, without the 

 w interposition of the clergy. 



HUME'S HIST. OF ENG. chap. 61. 

 On running the eye over the entries contained in 

 these registers, it is melancholy to observe the 

 names of so many families, who once figured there, 

 now become extinct, or removed to some other part 

 of the country. To this observation, the family of 

 the Peacocks form a singular exception ; for that 

 name may be traced as far back as the year 1567 ; 

 io that they have resided as tenants on this estate 

 upwards of 250 years ; and probably, if there were 

 registers left by which they could be traced, they 

 would be found to have resided here in reality a 

 much longer period. From the year 1567 to the 

 present moment, they occupy a distinguished place 

 in the register ; and if any conclusion may be drawn 

 from existing circumstances, they are likely to per- 

 petuate their name on the estate ; for in a population 

 of 400 inhabitants, of which this small village con- 

 sists, there are no less than six distinct families of 

 that name. In the list of burials in 1610, I dis- 

 covered this entry : " 1610. James FavcocV, oftbfc 

 age of 100 years, died the 10th oi Feb.'* 



