CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS OF BEDFORDSHIRE. 167 



The earliest entry in the Church Book appears in 1680. 

 Killing of Hedgehogs — often spelt " hoghog," and sometimes 

 "hedghoogg" and "hedgehoges" — seems to be a regular yearly 

 item thenceforward until 1692. 



Caedington. 

 Payments for the destruction of Sparrows appear in 1836, 

 when 7s. 6d. was paid ; in 1837, £3 7s. 7d. ; 1838, £2 0s. 2d. ; 

 1841, £1 ; 1842, £2. 



COPLE. 



Entries for Sparrows only appear, the earliest being 9th 



April, 1812. 



Dean. 



1797. s. d. 



For 2doz. Bats 1 



For a Fox 1 



1810. 

 13 doz. Batfces at 6d 6 6 



The payments appear to commence in 1797, and the last 

 entry of any vermin is in 1834. The payments for Bats are of 

 particular interest, no less than 852 being killed, all at the rate 

 of 6d. per dozen. There are also entries for 25 Foxes at Is. each. 

 The precise dates of payment do not appear to be given. 



1815. s. d. 



May 29. Pd. Paine 4 dozn Spars 8 



4 old ones 1 



Aug. 9. John Gurney 2 Hogs 4 



Oct. 30. Pd. Merrewetber 4 Poll Cats 1 4 



1816. 



Jan. 8. Merry weather and others for fox caught in trap ... 3 



May 27. Housted 3 Egoges 6 



June 16. Chambling boy 3 dozen speors J 7 



,, Jas. Waring one dozen of Speores 2 



July 27. Houlet boy one snake 2 Hegogs 6 



Nov. 6. Pd. Housted 5 PoU Cats 1 8 



1817. 

 Mar. 8. Pd. C. Disher 2 Dozen old Spors 6 



1821. 



June 27. Paid Saml. Sage for fifteen dozen sparrows 3 9 



Do. for a viper 2 



1824. 

 Oct. 20. Pd. foraNotter 10£ 



(To be continued.) 



