RURAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 1641. 87 



assembled and mette togeather, the Commissioners will acquainte 

 them what subsidies are gi-amited to his Majestie, and when 

 and in what manner they are to bee assessed and colleckted ; 

 then doe they alsoe enquire after all such places as have for- 

 merly beene unequally rated and assessed, and accordinge to 

 theire discretion some places are raysed and others againe 

 abated, and hkewise of some subsidymen they will make onely 

 bearers, and on the other side subsidymen of some whoe formerly 

 have beene but bearers, accordingly as they finde them of 

 abihty, and altered in theire estates. Then, after this is done, 

 the commissioners appointe a newe daye of meetinge, per- 

 happs a weeke after, whearin all pettie constables have charge 

 given to bringe in theire bills, thereby to shewe howe everie 

 towne hath formerly payd. 



The manner of a constable's bill, as for example the constable 

 of EhnsweU his biU. 



Elmswell rate for the subsidy. 



April 28th, 1641. 



Assessors for the subsidy there, | ^ymilm Finder. 

 Henry Best in bonis 7^. 

 William Whitehead in bonis 3Z, 



The bill ends here. 



Henry Best his rate for the subsidy of 11. in bonis, which for 

 two subsidyes commeth, att 2s. 8d. per pomid, to 37s. 4(7. ; 

 wheareof hee himselfe is to pay 31s. 4fl, and Edward Lynsley, 

 his bearer, 6s. 



WiUiam Whitehead SI. in bonis commeth to 16s., wheareof 

 William Finder, a bearer with him, payeth 3s. 4<d., and Eichard 

 Farrott, another bearer with him, 2s. 8(Z. ; soe that his owne 

 part commeth but to 10s. just. 



The reason why these bills are given in is to shewe and in- 

 forme the commissioners whoe are the ablest men in each 

 towne, and wheather they bee rated in lands or in goods ; and, 

 lastly, the constables are to sette within theire bills, the names 

 of all Recusants within theire several! constableryes, of what 

 sexe, age, or condition soever they bee ; nowe to knowe what 

 everie towne and place hath formerly payd they neede not trou- 

 ble the constables for this, for they have olde Coui-t-rowles kept 

 in the common hall whear the Sessions are held, that wiU sa- 

 tisfie them in this, for theire is one of tlie justices eleckted to 

 keepe the ancient recordes and court-rowles, whoe is tearmed 

 Gustos Rotulorum, keeper of the rowles, or Master of the Re- 

 cordes, soe that there is allwayes an olde court rowle brought 

 and dehvered to the commissioners, to bee compared and tryed 



