27 



WINTEKSLOW CHUBCH KECKONIffGS, 



1542—1661. 



By the Kev. "W. Symonds. 



Commencing 33 Henry VII L the Winterslow reckonings afford 

 great variety of interest. The wardens of " Al Seyntes p'yssche 

 churche " include among " recyttes " the profits of Whitsun-ales, 

 Cock-shies at Easter, and May-day sports, the hire and sale of 

 bullocks and sheep with their skins, fleeces, and wool; fees for 

 burials in the Church and for bell ringing, knells, &c. ; gifts and 

 bequests in kind and money ; the sale of goods, chips, old bell 

 ropes, &c. (including much spoil of Church goods, temp. Edw. VI. 

 and Elizabeth). Among their " chargis " and " layynges forthe for 

 the churche " are, roof shingles (home-made), repair and furniture 

 of bells, glazing windows ; ritual accessories, and elements for Holy 

 Communion, and, till 1558, oil and tapers; washing "y e churche 

 geyre " ; repair of " setys " and other furniture ; making y' churche 

 boke," register books and transcripts ; Cathedral dues, Smoke 

 farthings, visitation fees and dinners, bills of presentment, &c ; 

 and (from about 1620) Gaol and Marshalsea money, and contri- 

 butions to travellers, mainly Irish people, but including "a frinch 

 prist." 



The writing of volume I. is excellent, the parchment fine, the 

 ink clear, and the figures well formed. It deteriorates towards 

 the close. The entries for 1612 — 14 are now missing, they would 

 naturally occur between the pages now numbered 148 and 149. 



Until 1602 the reckoning was made in the autumn near the 

 time of the patronal festival of All Saints. 



I. — Dealings with Live Stock. 



The wardens, being destitute of any fabric fund in land or house 

 property, occasionally received gifts and legacies of sheep and 



