HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 219 



A small board fastened to the wall, contains the following record, 

 in black letter : 



" In this church lieth the body of THOMAS HARVIE, late of Wellington, who 

 died and was buried the 28th of June, Anno Domini 1630. Who gave, by 

 his will, 160 pounds to buy land, and the rent thereof to buy Medley cloth 

 for ye poor of ye parish of Leigh yearely for ever, with and for such uses as 

 are more at large expressed in his will. Which was performed and done by his 

 executors." 



Another benefaction to the same purport, dated in 1641, provides 

 24 yards of Medley cloth yearly, to be given alternately, one year 

 to six men to make coats, and another year to six women to make 

 gowns. This Medley cloth, as it is called, was striped, and seems 

 to have been fashionable in England in the time of Shakspeare 

 for Jaques, in "As you Like it." exclaims, "Medley's the only 

 wear." The benefaction of clothing is given yearly, but in plain 

 cloth. Among other charitable legacies, is that of John Blurton, 

 who, in 1743, bequeathed o6.4s. to be given to the poor of the parish 

 of Leigh, to purchase shoes at the rate of 3s. 9d. a-pair ; and that 

 sum is now given in money to each individual entitled to it. 



Mrs. Elizabeth Whitehall gave ten pounds per annum to the 

 parish of Leigh for ever, " to set out two poor children appren- 

 tice." 



The following curious caution to ringers is painted on a board, 

 and attached to one of the columns in the church : 



" If that to ring you do come here, 

 You must ring well with hand and ear j 

 And if a bell you overthrow, 

 Fourpence is due before you go; 

 And if you ring in spur or hat, 

 Two pots of ale are due for that j 

 And for a pledge to make it sure, 

 Your hat shall be the forfeiture j 

 Our laws are old, they are not new, 

 Therefore the clerk must have his due." 



The Church is dedicated to All Saints, and is a rectory, under 

 the patronage of Lord Bagot, whose brother, the Hon. and Rev. 

 Richard Bagot is the present rector, and the Rev. Henry Thomas, 

 curate. This benefice was formerly estimated at .300., but it is 

 now, from the improved state of the parish, worth ,700. a-year. 



The parish of Leigh is extensive, and contains Church Leigh, 

 the principal village ; another hamlet called Lower Leigh, on the 

 banks of the Blithe ; Upper Leigh, which contains several farm- 

 houses, and Park Hall, a mansion belonging to Walter Evans, Esq. 



