By T. H. Baker. 



269 



Church Ales. 



The Church ales are continued yearly to 1614, after which there 

 is no mention of them. They were suppressed in 1633. 



The presiding officer at Mere was called the " Cuckowe King," 



and the vice-chairman the " Prince." In 1566 is a note : — 



" Thomas Sheppard Rem' Cuckowe King this yeare for that he was Prince the 

 last yeare According to the Custorne. And at this daie John Watts the sonne 

 of Thomas Watts is Chosen Prynce for the next yeare." 



These appointments are noted at the foot of the accounts, together 

 with those of the churchwardens and other parish officers, annually 

 for many years. 



In vol. ii., p. 194, of this Magazine is an article on " The Church 



Ale," and it may be advisable to reprint an extract there quoted 



from " Survey of Cornwall" by Eichard Carew, Esq., as the account 



there given of a " Church Ale " appears to accurately describe the 



doings at Mere : — 



" For the ' Church Ale ' two young men of the parish are yerely chosen by 

 their last pregoers to be wardens, who deuiding the task make collections among 

 the parishioners of whatsouever prouision it pleaseth them voluntarily to bestow. 

 This they imploy in brewing, baking and other achates 1 against Whitsuntide, 

 upon which holydayes the neighbours meet at the church-house and there meetly 

 feed on their owne victuals, contributing some petty portion to the stock which 

 by many smalls groweth to a meetly greatness, for there is entertayned a kind 

 of emulation betweene these wardens, who by his graciousness in gathering and 

 good husbandry in expending can best aduance the churches profit. Besides the 

 neighbour parishes at those times louingly visit one another and this way f rankely 

 spend their money together. The afternoones are consumed in such exercises as 

 olde and yonge folke (hauing leysure) doe accustomally weare out the time 

 withall. 



" When the feast is ended the wardens yeeld in their account to the parishioners 

 and such money as exceedeth the disbursments is layd up in store to defray any 

 extraordinary charges arising in the parish or imposed on them for the good of 

 the countrey or the Prince's service, neither of which commonly gripe so much 

 but that somewhat stii remayneth to cover the purse's bottome." 



The entries relating to the Church ales are : — 



"1556. Itm payed to Robert Cowherd for the Redemynge of 

 certeyne sylv' Spones of the Church stock / which he had 

 in gage by the delyu' of the Churchwardeyns for xh of 

 money borowed of hym to thuse of the Churcho. xl 8 ." 



1 i.e., provisions. 



VOL. XXIX. NO. LXXXVIII. 



u 



