CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS OF BEDFORDSHIRE. 163 



1746. s. d. 



Feb. 18. Paid Henry Gray for a pole cat 4 



July ye 29. pd. Francis Coalman for a heghhog 4 



Sept. ye 21. pd. Henry Gray for a polcat 4 



Oct. ye 24. pd. Richard Sandy for 2 polcates 8 



1753. 

 Oct. 16. For killinga Stote 6 



1766. 

 Paid for Hedgehogs 1 6 



Entries commence in 1719, and continue until 1772, the total 

 of slain being — Badgers 3, Foxes 3, Polecats 75, Hedgehogs 197, 

 Stoats 1 ; Sparrows only being included in a few years. In some 

 few items only the money paid is stated without number of the 

 various vermin being given. The prices given continue the same 

 throughout the entries, with exception of the two instances in- 

 cluded above of Polecat 6d. and Hedgehogs Is. 6d. 



Arlesey. 



1751. £ s. d. 



Nov. 18. Pd. for a pol-cat and hedge-hog 8 



Nov. 28. pd. Richd. Phillipps for 9 Moles 1 1£ 



1752. 



Feby. 19. Hooper. Pole-cat . 4 



June 12. paid W. Robinson for Killing a Fox 2 



1753. 



March 24. pd. R. Phillips 6 Monies 9 



August 21. pd. Ruals for a Haghog 4 



Sept. 22. pd. Ruals boye for a Haghog 4 



Dec. 19. pd. R. Phillips for 3 Mouls 4| 



1765. 



June 18. paid for Sparrows and eggs 3 



Aug. 8. paid for 2 doz. Sparrow's eggs 2 



16. paid for 2 doz. Sparrows 3 



The Churchwardens' Accounts are in three volumes — A, 1735 

 to 1758; B, 1758-1775; C, 1775-1793; the first entry for 

 killing vermin being in 1751 (as already given), and the last in 

 July, 1775, for the destruction of Polecats. The payments 

 include Foxes, Polecats, Hedgehogs, Moles (about 450 were paid 

 for from 1751-53), Sparrows, and their eggs. The prices paid 

 show no variation. 



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