A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



any reason for non-residence assigned. Richard Coches, rector of Kelshall, 

 was chaplain to Henry VIII, Master Edward Langton, rector of Flamstead, 

 was clerk of the King's oratory, while the rector of Little Munden and the 

 vicar of Great Gaddesden were chaplains to Lord Douglas and the Countess 

 of Derby respectively. As usual pluralities accounted for a large propor- 

 tion of the non-residence : Dr. Pomell, vicar of Ashwell, was rector of 

 St. Katharine Coleman and lived in London. ' Mr. Cordall ' was rector of 

 the valuable living of Welwyn, but lived far away at Brancepeth in co. 

 Durham ; Dr. Cooke of Bygrave was at St. Stephen's, the rector of 

 Graveley at Ayot St. Lawrence, the vicar of Hitchin at ' Northam in Suffolk ' 

 and the rector of Wheathampstead at Sahsbury. But while these incumbents 

 were recognized as non-resident, it is evident that a still further number only 

 visited their Hertfordshire benefices on occasion, for in the sixty-three 

 parishes visited forty-one curates were employed. 



At a time when the central authorities were enforcing their views on 

 clergy and laity alike, when the whole of the royal policy was bent towards 

 unity of control, it was impossible that the authoritative pronouncement on 

 affairs should be left in each parish to the curate. Non-residence was 

 objectionable not on the grounds of ethical principle but of public policy. 

 In 1542 Bonner insisted on the royal dispensation being obtained for 

 plurality and non-residence," but no further steps seem to have been taken. 

 Elizabeth followed a surer plan and, under the pretext of a clerical subsidy, 

 mulcted the holders of benefices in 6s. %d. for every year in which a curate 

 was employed." The returns made in 1575 show how greatly the practice 

 had decreased, and this evidence is supported by the clergy lists. Thus in 

 1586 in the archdeaconry of St. Albans and deanery of Braughing only 

 eight curates were employed," while at about the same date only ten appear 

 for the whole of the Hertfordshire parishes in the archdeaconry of 

 Huntingdon." 



The most casual observer of the village churches of Hertfordshire can 

 hardly fail to be struck by the very large amount of 14th and 15th-century 

 work they still display. It seems as though the whole people had been seized 

 with impatience at the old things, and as far as was in their power had swept 

 them aside in their endeavour after what seemed the newer and more desirable 

 way. In addition to this longing for reform there seems reason to believe 

 that some of the churches had fallen into disrepair during the late i 3th and 

 early 14th centuries when the drain of men and money to the Scottish 

 and French wars must have diverted much ready money abroad. The bishops 

 seem to have done all in their power to maintain the churches in reasonably 

 good condition, and mention has already been made of the sentence of three 

 years' suspension passed by Bishop Sutton (1280—99) on Thomas, rector of 

 Kelshall, for incontinence and dilapidation of the goods of the church." The 

 responsibility of keeping the chancel in good repair fell, of course, on the 

 rector, but the duty of maintaining the nave rested with the parishioners. 

 That there was sometimes difficulty in enforcing this obligation is evident from 

 various entries in the episcopal registers. The church of Hitchin had been 



" Lond. Epis. Reg. Bonner, fol. 38. ^ Exch. Spec. Com. i j Eliz. no. 3268. 



•' \'isit. 1586 (LonA Epis. Reg.). ** Lambeth MS. lii, no. 2. 



•^ Line. Epis. Reg. Sutton, Memo. fol. 121. 



