THE DESTRUCTION OF WILD ANIMALS lxxi 



expended in 1770. The figures even of Foulmarts are very 

 scanty, and yield absolutely no figures that can bear comparison 

 with those of Kendal. The only quaint feature they reveal is 

 this, that the townsmen of Appleby sometimes sent a maid- 

 servant to claim a payment of fourpence for a Foulmart's head 

 at the Easter vestry meeting. Thus we read in 1766: 'Mr. 

 Chris. Harreson's maid, 1 foulmart, £0, 0s. 4d. Thos. Marton, 

 Taylor ( = tailorys servant, 1 ditto, £0, 0s. 4d.' In Kendal 

 parish four books of accounts have been preserved. The first of 

 these runs from 1658 to 1687. The second book runs from 

 1688 to 1732. The third book covers the period between 1733 

 and 1776. The fourth book continues the story down to the 

 year 1849. The formal decisions of the parochial representatives 

 to exterminate the ferce naturce of their district, are stated in 

 successive judgments. The first was passed on January 19, 

 1679: 'We doe likewise order that touching Virmin-heads, 

 such prices shall be paid by the churchwardens as is hereafter 

 pticularly limited and sett downe, viz*, a fox head, 1 2d. ; a brocke, 

 6d. ; an otter, 6d. ; a clean mart, 4d. ; a foul-mart, 2d.; a wild- 

 catt, 4d. ; a raven, 2d. (if come to flying) ; provided alway that 

 no such Virmin-heads shall come, but shall be presented by the 

 churchwarden or churchwardens of every respective Hamlett 

 w th in the said p r ish of Kendal, and that upon p r emptory days 

 only and every y r said Virmin-heads to be brought in the first 

 peremptory day next after such Virmin-heads be killed, and alsoe 

 to be brought in w th the haire or downe on. And euery church- 

 warden soe p r senting these heads in maner and according to 

 conditions aboue mentioned shall receiue for such head or heads 

 according to y r p r ticular rates or prices abouesaid, to be paid to 

 the p r ty who kild any such head or heads, and the said heads 

 to be brused and carryed to the Kent side and thrown into 

 middle of the water.' This order held good for forty years ; 

 but on June ye 29th, 171 8, it was 'ordered then by the Generall 

 consent of the Churchwardens at their publick meeting in 

 Kendall Church that hereafter nothing be paid for any virmin- 

 Heads except for Foxes and Eavens, which are to be continued 

 as formerly, viz., for every Fox Head brought in upon any 

 Peremptory Day, one Shilling ; and every Raven Head, two 



