I 



256 -Notes on the Manor of Aldbourne. 



indecently and inconueniently thronged together when they are to drawe neiro 

 and take the holy sacrament and that the frequent celebratio. thereof may never 

 the lesse be continued I doe further appoynt that thrice in the yeare at least 

 there be pubhque [notice] given in the Church for fower Comunions to be held 

 vpon fower Sundaies together and that there come not to the Comunion in one day 

 above two hundred at the most. For the better observation whereof and that 

 every man may know his proper time the Curate shall divide the parishioners 

 into fower parts according to his discretio. and as shall most fittingly serve to 

 this purpose. 



" And if any turbulent spirit shall disobey this our Order hee shall be proceeded 

 against according to the quality of his fault and Misdemeanor. 



'■ In wittnes whereof I have herevnto set my hand and seale Episcopall this 

 seventeenth day of May, 1637, and in the yeare of our consecration the sixteenth." 



This order is referred to, and its date mentioned, by Archbishop 

 Land—" Laud's speech at the censure of Basterwick," in his works 

 (vol. h\, p. 58, of the ed. of J 637)— and is printed in the Oxford 

 edit, of Archbishop's Laud's works, edited by the Bev. James Bliss, 

 A.M., vol. vi., p. 60. 



The population of the parish of Aldbourne in 185 I consisted of 

 one thousand six hundred and twenty-two inhabitants, and it would 

 hardly be supposed that the number of communicants would be so 

 large as it would seem to be from Bishop Davenant's order. But it 

 appears from the certificates of Chantries (2 Edw. VI.) that the 

 number of communicants in the parishes in the Wiltshire Towns 

 was then very considerable. It appears from the certificate of 

 chantries of Wilts, in the General Record Office, No. 58, that in 

 2 Edward VI. (1548) the number of communicants at 



St. Edward's, Sarum, was 



1700 





800 



Chippenham ... 



667 



Calne 



860 



Malmesbury ... 



860 



Devizes 



900 



Bradford [on Avon] 



576 



Marlborough ... 



1057 



and with respect to Aldbourne it is there stated as follows :— « Also 

 there be w th in the p.isshe of Alborne the number of 400 people 

 wiche receyve the blessed Commu n ion and no preest to helpe the 



