Berry — History of the Religions Gild of S. Anne. 37 



the benefit of the gild endowments, which were gradually being con- 

 verted to superstitious as well as private uses. Lowe affirmed that 

 the fraternity was bound to support a chanting minister (to which 

 post he claimed to be appointed) and six vicars. The gild pleaded 

 that its entire revenue was but £74 14s. yearly, which sum was 

 expended on the parson, organist, choristers, and singing men. The 

 commission, however, reported that the annual rents amounted to 

 £289 Is. 7c/., by composition made with tenants for houses and pre- 

 mises discovered up to the date of the report. With reference to 

 these transactions, nothing further appears to be discoverable. 



During the years 1642-1644 the House of Commons had before it 

 the affairs of the gild. In the first-named year, a committee was 

 appointed to consider its grievances, which would appear to not have 

 made any report. In April, 1644, the master and wardens petitioned 

 for an attachment against some of their tenantry, which took effect, 

 as in August of that year Christopher Handcock, one of the body, 

 prayed for release from custody, and that the gild be left to its legal 

 remedy against him. It was ordered that John, bishop of Derry, 

 Randall Jewett, Zachary Turnepenny, Peter Stringer, John Tadpoole, 

 and Thomas Lowe should appear and answer in writing the new 

 petition of the gild ; but the Journals of the House are silent as to 

 any subsequent proceedings. 



On 27th March, 1682, the prebendary and chui'chwardens of 

 S. Audoen's, on behalf of the parish, filed a Bill in Chancery against 

 alderman John Eastwood, master; Michael Chamberlain and Eobert 

 Eall, wardens; Thomas Browne, James Gernon, John Boit, and 

 Ignatius Purcell, brethren of S. Anne's gild, — from the recitals in which 

 a good deal of the foregoing information has been gleaned. As in the 

 case of Lowe's action, the plaintiffs proceeded on the assumption that 

 in its present circumstances S. Anne's gild and its revenues were to 

 be used solely for the benefit of S. Audoen's church and parish. The 

 Bill stated that the fraternity had originally been formed for the 

 purpose of founding a chantry of six priests, two choristers, and six 

 singing men, together with an organist, for the worship of God in said 

 parish church, and that its annual revenues now amounted to £2500, 

 as to which very large sum a gross breach of trust was being com- 

 mitted. It was asserted that the reason the gild had not long ago 

 been prevented for their illegal perversion of funds was, that before 

 1641 the greater number of the members were Eoman Catholics. For 

 some little time after its affairs had been inquired into by the Council, 

 and new brethren appointed under Council orders, the church services 



R.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXV., SEC. c] [4] 



