APPENDIX A. 



The Account Book, whence the following entries and prices have 

 been extracted, is a small quarto paper book, with a limp parchment 

 cover, containing seventy six pages. From the following memoranda 

 it would seem to have belonged to an Essex tradesman : — " Wylliam 

 Dene of Dunmow bought of him 56 cwt. of candell the 16th of October, 

 1600, at 42s. 6d. per cwt. ; given in part 12d. ; to bee deKvered eveiy 

 fortnyght 1 cwt. or 2 cwt. Kecd. 5 of November 1600, the summe of 

 twenty three shillynges in full for hopes before delivered, Wyllyam 

 Maynard." 



On the first page are the sums of money " received out of the shopp" 

 each week, from June the first, 1616, to 22 Feb., 1616-7, amounting 

 altogether to 326?. 4s. 8d., or 4201. per annum, supposing the receipts 

 to be uniform. These entries I dare venture to pronounce the hand- 

 writing of Henry Best ; there is no doubt as to the remainder of the 

 book being in his hand; page 8 he has marked as "foil. 1." In this 

 book are entered but few household expenses ; those probably perished 

 with " the allmanack," mentioned on page 83. The bargains made 

 with the servants hired ; the quantity of corn sold to them (for they 

 seem generally to have taken in kind and forestalled their wages); and 

 receipts for tithe, from the Vicar, the Proctor, and their deputies, oc- 

 cupy the greater part of the book. 



His grandson, Charles Best, filled up the few blank leaves of the book 

 with his tithe accounts, the autographs of the different recipients being 

 inscribed in it. Amongst these are the names of Francis Paul, 1617; 

 John Pearson, 1628; Eoger Bradshawe, 1623; Francis Hodgson," 1624; 

 Ralph Mason, Vicar, 1625, 1645; John Pearsonn, 1641 ; Henry Brad- 

 ley, Vicar of Driffield, 1678; William Dickinson, Vicar, 1681, 1684; 

 H. Garnett, 1685; Francis Parkinson, Curate de Driffield Parva, 1687, 

 1690; Ealph Hardwick, Curate de Driffield Parva, 1691, 1698. 



In making this collection the various subjects of the Farming Book 

 have been kept in view. 



THE ACCOUNT BOOK 



OF HENKT BEST, OF ELMSWELL. 



1616, Dec. the 14th.'' Pd to the churchwardens of Braintry, Adrian 

 Mott and John Hawkins, for my benevolence towards the building of 

 the Gallery, 16d. 



^ Torre, in his MSS., says Edward Hodgson was Yicar from 1623 to 1625 ; but 

 from the wording of the receipt it is clear he was mistaken as to the christian name. 



t' 1620, Nov. 29, Henry Best, of Elmswell, gent., gives bond for 200/, to dis- 

 charge, "My father in law John Lawrence of Braintry, grocer, of a bond wherein he 

 Btandeth jointly bound with me in 300/. to my uncle Keighly of Bocking, clothier, 

 and Mr. Lawrence of London, salter, for the payment of 100/. to Mr. Marke Mott of 

 Brayntry, gent." Mary Lawrence his wife, was buried at Little Driffield Dec. 10. 



