A.D. 1581 - 1614

Culworth

In addition to the parish registers of births, deaths, and marriages, Culworth has preserved a large portion of the parish accounts—a rare piece of good fortune; for as a rule parish accounts, balanced and settled, were destroyed or suffered to perish.  The records in question are full of matters of local interest, and they would, in conjunction with the parish registers, the tombstones in the church and churchyard, and the Lay Subsidy Rolls, enable a local historian to trace the rise and fall of the village families since at least the beginning of the sixteenth century.

The Culworth accounts are contained in five volumes, of which the first contains those from the year 1531 to the year 1608, and the names of parish officers till the year 1614.  Originally the volume contained one hundred and seventy-four pages, of which, however, some are now missing, while other pages are much mutilated.  Unhappily the second volume of the accounts, which carried on the record till the year 1652, is lost.  Had it been preserved, we should have found therein many reminiscences of the period of the great rebellion.  The remaining four volumes contain the accounts from the year 1653 to the year 1739 inclusive.

The Nature of a Parish

The parish was a corporation, and had its officials, the principal of whom were the two churchwardens, who were elected annually by the whole parish.  In the early years there is no mention of a vicar’s churchwarden, nor, indeed, of the parish priest or vicar, nor is the lord of the manor ever, as such, mentioned.  The parish was a republic, and the whole parish voted at the election of its officials.  Besides the churchwardens, there were in early times ‘church-men’ (who were probably the sidesmen), wardens of the church-stock, wardens of St Christopher’s light, wardens of the rood-loft light, torchmen, overseer of highways, constable, town-soldier, young men, cowherd, hogherd, heyward, want(mole)-taker, crowkeeper, and minstrels.  Further, belonging to the parish was the church-house11.1 in which the parish goods, such as the church-ale and the outfit for the parish soldier, were stored.  Here the officials of the parish met for business and for feasting, and here the church-ale was sold and the parish accounts were kept.

The parish had its own land on which the barley for the church-ale was raised, and it had also its hay-lands and pastures, on which the cattle, sheep, and swine belonging to the Corporation were tended by the parish herdsmen.  The lands seem to have belonged to the parish in its corporate capacity, and were distinct from the common or village field.  At the time when the parish records begin, the common land remained entire.  Lords of the manor had scarcely as yet begun to encroach upon their poorer neighbours’ rights, and the land, according to custom, would be divided into three strips, separated by ‘baulks’ three or four yards in width.  The villagers had all an interest in these strips, one of which was left fallow every year, while on one of the others wheat was grown, and on the third oats and barley, peas and tares.  Besides the arable land, there was the meadow-land on which the village hay was grown; but so soon as the hay was gathered in, all enclosures were removed, and the village cattle grazed freely over the land.  This ‘common land’ is, however, to be distinguished from the waste, which was unfit for cultivation, and was free for the pasture of their cattle to all the villagers alike.11.2  The churchwardens controlled the expenses connected with repairs of the fabric of the church and its furniture, and those also which attended upon the public performances and feastings which broke the monotony of the parish life, and were the only sources of public amusement to which the villagers might look forward.

The principal revenue of the parish was derived from the sale of the parish ale,11.3 which flowed freely at the parish festivals, and not the less freely because the villagers were instructed that the amount of the Church revenue depended upon the heartiness of their potations.  Other sources of revenue were the sale and hire of parish stock,11.4 the proceeds of the sale of wool and hides, rent of the church lands, hire of the parish grindstone, and collections made by the ‘young men’ at the time of the games and dances which took place around the village cross.

From the accounts we learn that lights were kept burning in the rood loft before the crucifix, before ‘the Trinity,’ probably an altar so dedicated, and before the shrine of St Christopher.  Also in the accounts we find at Eastertide charges for the sepulchre lights, which were kept burning before the sepulchre from Maunday Thursday till Easter morning.  The sepulchre was a temporary structure placed usually in an arched recess in the north wall of the chancel.  In it the Host and the crucifix, taken from the altar, were deposited on Maunday Thursday, and were concealed there, but carefully watched night and day, till restored to the altar on Easter morning.  Other charges were for candles for the altar and holy-water stoup, and for the ‘haesling’ or visiting torch, which was borne before the priest when he carried the Holy Sacrament for the houseling of the sick.  On Easter eve all these lights were extinguished, and with them the fires in the houses of the villagers, to be rekindled on Easter morn from flint and steel consecrated by the village priest.

Parish Accounts

To return to the parish accounts.  They were no doubt kept after a fashion prior to the year 1531.  However, that year the parishioners resolved to revise and amend their system of account-keeping, and accordingly bought a new book, and entered the following resolution upon its first pages: ‘Anno Dni Mo quigentesimo tricessimo (primo) Hytt was agred & ordenyd by thassent off ye hole pysshe yn the yere of owr lord god Mcccccxxxj that the churchwardeyns & also all other that should have any offyce belongyng unto ye churche that they should make theyr accompte apon the sonday next folowyng the fest of the coversyon off seynt paule the peyn off thys ffor nott kepying off thys day enacty d .  .  .  ns y .  .  .  r to pay xxd. apese to the churche use & also that all other that have the occupying off any off the church goods shall be p’sent att the same accompte upon the off forfeyttyng off xiid. apese.’

Then, in a different handwriting: ‘Hytt was also agreyd by thässent off the hole pyshe in ye yere above reherseyd thatt the wardens off sentt X posser [St Christopher] shud kepe the anniversary off henry Thomys upon seynt .  .  .’

Then follow the accounts of the year: Imprimis, for the wintyring of the town bulle 2s. 4d. Itm for whytlether and makyng of 3 baldrygs 18d.  (The baldrick is the strap of leather by which, on the old plan, the clapper is suspended by its bow from the crown-staple of the bell.)  Itm for the makyng off ye bellropps 2s.  Itm for the fallyng and cokyng off ye churche barley 12d.  Itm for skoreyng off ye canstyche and ye holy water stope 12d.  Itm for sope 41/2d.  Itm for the obit of Sr Wyllm Halthem 8d.  (The obit, mynd, or dyrge was the anniversary service for the repose of the soul of an individual who bequeathed money for the purpose.) Itm for a lantern 6d.  Item was spent att the carying off ye churche barley 11/2d.  Item spent att 3 visitations 12d.  Item for makyng off the haesling torch off wax 4d.  Item paid to Moulton Parke 4d.  (Moulton Park was a royal park, an appanage of Northampton Castle.  Certain towns and villages were responsible for the fences—murage—of the park; amongst these was Culworth.)  Item for makyng off ye kanstyke before ye trite (Trinity) 2d.  Item for makyng off a key for ye steple dore 4d.

The accompte of Nycolas Person and Wyllm Collyer made before the hole pysshe in ye 22 yere of the Reynge off our sovrayn Kynge Henry 8, and Nycholas Person was dyscharged and Symond Gardyner was chosen felow wyt Willym Collyer, and ther remayneth in theyr hands althyngs allowyed £5. 9s. 9d.  Next follow the much mutilated account of the receipts of St Christopher, and of Thomas haulthen’s wardens, and then the reseyts off the church men.  Imprimis for the church ale 18s. 4d.  Item for a cow that John Nycoll hath 2s. 4d.  Item for a cow that Rycd Wodward hath 2s.  Item for the grasse off the Crech wey 12d.  Item for a bauke off Short Wotthyl 2d., off Shypmarke wey 9d.  Item for a flese of wolle 6d.  Item for depcombe bauke 2d.  Item reced off Nycolas Hulle 3 stryke off barley, yt was hys father’s [figures lost, as are those also of the following receipts] for Corncroft, pysforlong wey, a bauke in hempe crofte, off the torchmen, off the hobyehorse nyght.  Next follows an entry that Symon Adams and Nycolas peerson were made wardens of the town stock, and that xxs. xixd. was delivered into their hands.

Purchase of a New Bell

Then follows a series of entries which relate to the founding and purchase of a new bell for the church.  The church men travelled with a cart and horse by way of Lutterworth to Leicester, where, at the time, Thomas Betts had his foundry.  As early as the fourteenth century John de Stafford had a bell-foundry at Leicester, and was followed by others, of whom Betts was one.  Betts was Mayor of Leicester in 1529, and is styled in the Roll of Mayors, Bellfounder of Allsaints and ancestor of the Newcombes.  Betts died in 1538, leaving his property to Robert Newcombe, who had married his daughter.  No. 4 of the present Culworth Church peal was made in 1612 by Newcombe, of Leicester.

The size of the new bell is not given, and the number of pounds of metal paid for has been torn away; but the church men took with them 15 pounds of their own metal, for which 221/2d. was allowed, and they paid 10s. 4d. to the founder for new metal, which was possibly charged at the same price as the old.  On this assumption, the new bell would have been a small one, of about 100 pounds in weight, and 14 or 15 inches in diameter.11.5

Fyrst at Lutterworth ffor ale 1d.  Item at lecettar the fyrst nyght 5d.  Item our dynr on the next day 10d.  Item a supper for the workmen 1s.  Item ale for the labourers 2d.  Item 2 cart clowts 2d.  Item for ale in oure chamber att nyght 2d.  Toward a pere of shoys for shreve 5d.  Workmen for ye mornyng 2d.  Workmanship off ye bell £3 . . . pod off hys own metall 10s. 4d.  Workmanshyppe off 15 pod off oure own metall 221/2d.  For parchment for our obligation 2d.  Reward for the servants 4d.  Ale when we dyd lode 2d.  Horse mete 22d.  Day journeying homeward 4d.  Taking down off ye bell 8d.  Hangyng off ye bell 2s.

The accounts which follow the above are, until the year 1535, mutilated and disarranged.  Those for 1535 are as follows: Payments of the Church-men.  Fyrst for whytlether 12d.  For makyng off the vysyting torch 7d.  For fallyng off ocks in yard 7d.  For working off hempe for bellropps 101/2d.  For fallyng and cokyng off ye hadlonds (the strip of grass at either end of a ploughed field on which the plough turns) 10d.  For bred and ale att ye sowyng off the . . . 4d.  Spent at 2 vyscitations 8d.  For mendyng off the handbell 4d.  For a lock and keye for a cofer 4d.  For trussing up off ye fore bell and ye thyrd bell 6d.  For ynkle (braid or tape) for gyrdells 3d.  For sope and starch and for ye clark’s yernyst 3d.  For mendyng off baudryggs 4d.  Sm 6s. 101/2d.

Receipts 1535.  Bauke at Chymsware 1d., at Turfynch 1d., att Grenweys yard 1d., at Hempcrofte 1d., at Pysforlong wey 1d.  For bellropps ends 10d., for barke 20d., for a cow hyde yt dyed 3s. 111/2d., ye hyer of a barenge cow 6d, 4 shepeskyns 121/2d.  Fourth payment of Willm Lovell and ye last 11s.  Sum £4 11s. 41/2d.

Payments off ye town stocke.  Ffyrst for ye scowrynge off ye harnesse 12d., for dressyng off a sword 2d., for ye parchment off ye swererynge 2d., for a dagger sheth 1d., for makeing off ye bille before ye Justys 4d., Ffor ye yernyste for ye heyward and ye herd 2d.

Res. off ye lyght wardens, for ye hobby-horse dawnse 3s. 2d.  Payments.  Agenst Estr ffor wax and makyng 3s. 1d.

Resd off X possers (Christopher’s) men, ffirst for hyer of cow 2s., for a sheps felt 5d., for 2 pound of wolle 10d.  Payments.  Ffor three pods off wax 2s. Ffor three pods of weke 3d.  Ffor henry Toms dyrge 1d.

The acompt off Thoms Wyon and Randall Jenkenson wardes off seynt X possers lyght made ye day and yere above seyd and yr remaynth yn yr honds off ye old stock and ye new althyngs alowyed xxs. iijd.

As regards the names of fields many of them such, as Nole Hill, Woad Ground, Hemcraft, Rye Hill, Plank Mead, Flax Ground, Jewsharbour, Bankcroft, Peas Furlong, are in present use at Culworth.

Arming of the Parish Soldier

It will be observed that a portion of the equipment of the town-soldier was kept in stock, and in the year 1536 we find him fitted out and dispatched on duty, probably in consequence of the insurrection in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire—‘the Pilgrimage of Grace.’  The payments on the occasion are as follows:

Whyte cote for hys cote, 16d.; for a horse, 8s.; for a brydyll and spoure and a gwrth, 71/2d; for a gurdyl and ale at ye settyng forth, 2d.; for a new helvynge (handle) off ye byll, 3d.  The soldier had with hym toward ye costes, 6s. 8d.; for a pere of bots, 18d.; for mendyng of hys sallet (helmet) and hys sadle, 3d.; for 3 yards of canvass, 15d.; for lynynge off hys dublet, 11d.; for a lether skyne for a gerke (jerkin), 10d.; for a dozen off poynts (laces), 3d.; for makyng off hys cote, 4d.; for makyng off hys dublet and jerkin, 8d.  He had to hys costes at home 2d.

The following year, also for the soldier, a sheffe of arrowys, 4s. 8d.; a saddle, brydell, gurths, sturrup lethers, 4s. 6d; a chape to the swerd, 2d.; dd to the soldyer, 6d.; for a bowe, 2s. 4d.; for a horse, 18s. 10d.; for the soldiers mony, 8d.; to Wodward for caryeng the harnesse, 4d.; for a sword gyrdle, 21/2d.; for a dosen of poynts, 11/2d,; for a dager, 6d.

The soldier appears to have been armed with sword, bill, and dagger, and with bow and arrows.  The latter was still the favourite weapon of the English foot-soldier, and the statutes enforced the practice of archery upon every individual not exempt owing to infirmity.  Only some twenty years previously the battle of Flodden Field had been mainly won by the skill and bravery of the English archers; nor was it till towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth that the people were allowed to shoot as they listed, and with such weapons as suited their pleasure.

In the year 1533 there is a receipt of viijd. at the burial of a child of Mr Danverse.  The same year occurs a charge of 3d. for making a Rochett, and of 5s. 8d. for binding the ‘Antyphon,’ the antiphoner or book in which was collected all that was sung or said in the choir excepting the lessons.  Other entries are payments for the ‘kyng’s caryge’; for the sovereign had an ancient right, and one freely exercised till the time of Charles II, of ‘purveyance’ for himself, his family, and of officials when on his business.

In the year 1536 fourpence is paid as earnest at ‘ye serchynge for the church goods’—a search which, as Culworth was a living in the gift of the Priory of Canons Ashby, was probably made under the Order in Council of this year for the visitation of all conventual institutions.

In the year 1537, 3s. 8d. is charged for a vayle cloth, and 3s. 8d. for painting the same, while 3s. 3d. is charged for paynting ye cloth for ye hygh altar, and 3s. for paynting of the hoby horse clothes.  In the year 1540 is entered ‘my lade bequest’ 6s. 8d.  This is the half mark which Lady Danvers (Anne of Dauntesey), who died in the previous year, bequeathed to Culworth Church.

In the year 1543 is a charge of iiijd. for settynge upp off ye table of the hyghe altar, and 3s. 3d. for workmanship of ye tymber of ye vestry, and for the byble 10s.  The following year a byble is again charged for, and the price is 12s.

Contemporary Events

The setting up of the high altar, the building of the vestry, and the purchase of the Bible for the church, all tell of the ecclesiastical changes which were taking place in the kingdom.  The Priory of Canons Ashby, to which the rectory and the advowson of Culworth Church belonged since the end of the thirteenth century, had been recently dissolved, and the rectory, with its tithes, had been granted to Richard Andrewes and John Howe, who the following year made over their rights to John Danvers.  The purchase of the Bible and its introduction into the church was in consequence of the publication in April, 1539, of the ‘Great Bible,’ the work of Myles Coverdale, which was authorised to be used and frequented in every church in the kingdom.  The price of the unbound Bible was officially fixed at 10s., and of one bound and trimmed and clasped at 12s.  We note another change this year.  Formerly 6s. 4d. was the charge for wax and workmanship for candles at Easter, but we find this year, ‘for talow canayll for Ester day mornynge 1d.’ But then the entry above this runs, ‘Payde to ye xvth 13s. 3d.,’ and in the previous year we have, ‘Ffyrst payd for the xvth peny iijli iiiijs ixd.’  Tallow in the place of wax must suffice for God’s house now that the village has to send away money to pay for the King’s wars, and for the magnificent living of himself and of his court.

In the year 1545, 10s. is paid for the casting of the sanctusbell, and eightpence for three rochetts.  Probably the so-called rochetts were surplices for the priest; for the rochett was then, as now, worn only by a bishop.  Another item is for ‘mendyng a surplys,’ twopence.  For a gryndell-stone three and eightpence is paid, and fourpence ‘for fetchynge off it.’

The following year 10s. is paid to ‘Master Davers for a harnes’ (the soldier’s armour), and four marks is paid as a subsidy to the King.  Twopence is paid for lace for the canopy.  In the year 1547, for a sheaf of arrows the charge is 2s. 4d., and for a gallon of ale fourpence.

About this time (1549 to 1557) the accounts were not fully kept, or parts of them have been lost.  In the year 1554 the outgoing churchwardens deliver to their successors two diapered and two plain cloths, six surplices, eight tablecloths, the Bible, Homily-book, and Communion-book, the latter no doubt a book of the office for the use of the priest at the altar.  It is not till the year 1558 that we have again a full account of the receipts and expenditure of the parish.

Changes on Queen Mary’s Accession

In the year 1554 is the first record of administration of the communion in both kinds (authorised in 1547): ‘The vykar must fynd us wyne and bread till Saint Andreys daye.’

In the year 1558 (last year of Queen Mary’s reign) besides the annual charge for making the ‘bawdryckes’ for the church bells, we find a charge of twopence for a ‘gyrdell’ for the vycar, and other charges which show that the old religious customs were again practised.  Thus sixteenpence is charged for a holy-water stocke (stone or stoup), two shillings and twopence for wax for the sepulchre lights, and tenpence for ‘betynge’ candles.  These ‘betynge candles’ were probably the tapers used for lighting the candles at the altar and on the rood-loft and before the sepulchre, and the name is derived, no doubt, from the old English word ‘beit,’ or ‘bete,’ to improve, to restore, or to kindle.  The glazier is paid three shillings and fourpence for work in the church.11.6  In the year 1564 occurs the first charge for ‘brede and wyne’—fifteenpence only for the whole year.  Subsequently the charge is annual one.  In the year 1565 appears a charge of two shillings and fourpence for ‘goon powder,’ and we may therefore assume that the town-soldier was now armed with a matchlock in the place of a bow.  The following year sixteenpence is paid towards the cost of ‘a byble and communyon boke,’ twelvepence for stone to pave the church, and two shillings for laying the same.  In 1567 twenty-two pence is paid to the herd for killing five dozen and a half ‘wantes’ (moles), and twopence to Ketche for mending the seats of the church.  The collections by the young men are on May-day six shillings and eightpence, and at Whytsuntide sixteen shillings, and no mention is made of any sale of the church ale; indeed, regular annual receipts from that source had ceased for about ten years.  In the year 1568 there are two separate charges for mending the stocks—testimony to one of the crying evils of the day, vagabondage, which, despite the severe laws against it, was greatly on the increase.  Discharged soldiers and sailors, labourers whom the formation of large farms had thrown out of employ, gave plenty of work to the parish beadle, the stocks and the cage.

Changes During Queen Elizabeth’s Reign

In the year 1568, or 1569, the parish subscribes twenty shillings to a lottery.  Lotteries had been carried on in the country since the year 1567, and must have been in very general favour, or we should not have a country parish investing more than one-half its annual receipts in this way.  We do not find any entry of receipts from the lottery, so the parish drew a blank.  In the year 1569 we have amongst the accounts a reminder that the year was a memorable one, the year of the rising of the Roman Catholic party in the North in the interest of the Papacy and of Mary Queen of Scots.  The insurgents marched to Tutbury, where the Queen was imprisoned, but failed in their enterprise, as the Queen had been removed to Coventry, and the delay that consequently occurred gave time for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth’s levies from the South.  Of these no doubt were the soldyers on whose settyng forth the parish expended fourteen shillings.  At the same time six shillings was delivered to the Carters at their ‘gooying furth.’  Either the carts carried the soldiers, or more probably were levied to transport the baggage of the Northamptonshire militia.  Early in the next year two shillings and fourpence is paid for a sword, twelvepence for a dagger, and thirteen shillings and fourpence for a horse for the soldier.  The same year twenty-eight shillings and eightpence is paid as the price of the town bull.

In the year 1570 two books are bought for the church.  Of these one is the ‘boke of Iniunccyons’ (book of injunctions), for which eightpence only is paid; the other book is ‘Mr Jowells,’ which cost nine shillings and tenpence.  The injunctions were first issued in the year 1547, and, eleven in number, were directed against the superstitions of the people and the negligence of the clergy, the worship of relics, the offering at the shrines of saints of candles or tapers, the use of beads in prayer, pilgrimages to shrines.  The rood-loft and other lights, excepting those upon the high-altar, were forbidden.  The clergy were enjoined to preach at least once a quarter, and to see that an English version of the Bible was set up in their churches.  Morning and evening service, creed and prayers to be said in English, and a homily to be read every Sunday.  Only one mass was to be celebrated in each church, but that daily, and at 9 a.m.  Shrines and their coverings, pictures and paintings in the churches were to be destroyed.  On the accession of Queen Mary the injunctions became void; but in 1559, in the first year of Queen Elizabeth, other injunctions, founded on those of 1547, were issued, and no doubt it was a copy of them which was bought for Culworth.  ‘Mr Jowells boke’ was ‘the Apology for the Church of England’ of Bishop Jewell, which was first published in the year 1562.  It was translated into English by Lady Bacon, wife of Lord Keeper Sir Nicholas Bacon, and was ordered to be read and chained up in all parish churches.

In the following year threepence is paid for a book of the degrees of marriage, and sixteenpence for a paper of the commandments.  In the year 1572 sixteenpence is paid to the Ryngers when the Quenes grace came to Edgecote; also three shillings is paid to John Gardener when he wynt to serve the quene with his cart, and five shillings is paid for pece (peas) for the quene—presumably for the Queen’s horses.  All this refers to a little bit of history elsewhere unwritten.  Edgcote is the parish which marches on the west with that of Culworth, and the respective churches are about a mile and a half apart.  Thomas Cromwell, Vicar-General to Henry VIII, and afterwards Earl of Essex, bought Edgcote in the year 1535 from Sir Edmund Bray.  Cromwell appears to have enlarged the old manor-house, adding, amongst other offices, a famous kitchen.  On his execution in the year 1540, Edgcote escheated to the Crown, and was given in dower to Ann of Cleves.  Ann, in the year 1543, sold her rights in the property to William Chauncey, of an old Northampton family.  William—or Sir William, as he became—died in the year 1585, and was, with his wife Joan, buried in the church beneath a fine alabaster altar-tomb, on which their effigies recline.  This William Chauncey was, therefore, the Queen’s host when the bells of Culworth rang their welcome to her.  It was this year that the Queen made one of the most famous of her progresses.11.7  On August 12 she was received at Warwick, and thence she passed to Kenilworth, where she was magnificently entertained by the Earl of Leicester.  From Kenilworth she returned by Warwick to Compton, where she rested at Lord Compton’s, and thence she journeyed to Banbury, and thence to Woodstock, where she was on August 24.  Now, Edgcote is only some four or five miles from Banbury, and it is probably that thence the Queen rode out to Edgcote.  Her Majesty had a double interest in the place.  It had belonged to Ann of Cleves, and earlier had been the home of Cromwell, who was mainly instrumental in placing the Queen’s mother, Ann Boleyn, upon the throne.  He it was who, after Wolsey’s fall, counselled the King to cut the knot of the divorce which he sought, by declaring himself supreme head of the Church of England.

In the year 1576 Culworth Church must have been very thoroughly whitewashed, for whereas the usual charge on this account was but a few pence, this year it was as much as six shillings; a penny, too, was paid for a stryke of glovers shreds, which no doubt were used in the preparation of size for the whitewash.  Not improbably the religious teaching of the day had roused the churchwardens to hide from the view of the worshippers the rude frescoes on the walls of the church which had comforted and taught their forefathers.

The same year appears a charge of fourpence for carrying money to Collyngton Haven—part no doubt of a collection for the defence of the southern ports in anticipation of war with Spain.

This year also there is a charge for ‘cappes’ at Brackley, and a few years later ‘cappes’ for the Commissioners are paid for.  Probably the Culworth scribe intended to write ‘capes,’ as the plural of ‘cape,’ a judicial writ; or perhaps ‘capeats’ may have been intended.

Church Accounts

In the year 1579 charges for several repairs about the church given an idea of the cost of wages and materials at the time.  The ‘plummer’ gets five shillings for five days’ work, and is paid eightpence a pound for 191/2 pounds of ‘soder.’  Two strykes of lime cost sevenpence.  Eighteenpence is charged for ‘wood to make fyre for the plummer,’ and the mason is paid eight shillings and sixpence for paynting the steple.  Half a hyde of white leather for the baldricks is charged eighteenpence.  There is the annual charge for the ryngers on saint hewy’s day (Queen’s accession).  Eightpence is paid to ‘a straunge man whyche gethered for the reparying of a churche.’  Next year amongst the payments is one of five shillings leid owt to the menestre, probably a special preacher.

In the year 1583 John Gardiner is paid three shillings for serving the Queen with his cart, and five shillings is paid for peas for the Queen.

At this period the parish had begun to sell the malt made from the parish barley instead of brewing therewith the church ale, and the officials received for ten strikes the sum of nine shillings and eightpence.

In the year 1583 threepence is paid for the Book of Articles—the Articles no doubt which were revised by Convocation in the year 1571, and subsequently translated into English and set forth by authority.

About this period entries are very frequent of small sums paid to poor men and women, or to gatherers collecting for the support of the poor.  Evidently vagabondage and pauperism were very much on the increase, and shortly after this a law was passed which obliged each parish to provide for the impotent, and to find work for the able-bodied, while indiscriminate alms-giving was forbidden under pain of severe punishment.  As for the beggar, he fared ill; if caught he was whipped the first time, his ears were cropped the second, and death was the penalty for a third offence.  In the time of Elizabeth I collectors— the ‘gatherers’ probably of the register—asked each man and woman what they could give, and in case of refusal handed the recusant over to the Bishop to be dealt with.  In the year 1573 the power of compulsory assessment was given to the Justices, and ‘abiding-places’ (poor-houses) were ordered to be provided for the aged and infirm.

In 1588 thirty-three shillings is paid for a Bible, and now for the first time occurs a note of the payment ‘by strangers at a Comunyon xvjd,’ and, again, ‘payed by Mr Howell and others at Comunyon ixd.’  (William Howell married Prudence, sister of Samuel Danvers.)  This is the Armada year, and there are entries of two shillings for gyrdles for the souldyeres, and three shillings for gunpowder.

Income in 1589

Greatly changed are the sources of the parish income in 1589 as compared with those of thirty years before.  Now there are no receipts from Whitsun or church ales, and even the collections by the young men at the village cross and church-house have ceased.  But, though the church lands are fewer in number, those that remain pay better rents than of yore.  Grass is sold for 15d.; 26s. 8d. is the rent of the towne headlands, on which in the old times the church barley was grown.  And 12s. 3d. is received from strangers which died communicate, and a new item of income is 2s. 1d. from John Yeamans for Bancrofte Forde, probably a toll levied at the ford.

Amongst the payments this year (1589) is 9d. to Daniell Davers for a piece of timber, and viijd. is paid on one occasion for wynne for Communion, but no-bodye came and therefore the wyne was given to Mr King.  So the name reads, but the name may be Knight, as Mr Knight was vicar of the parish at the time.

In 1591 we have a list of the church goods as follows: Com cup and cover, 7 pieces of lynen and one bucorum cover for ye com table.

The rent of the parish land is advancing, and 50s. is the sum paid this year for the church headlands.

Five poor men receive alms, one of them coming with a lysence from my lorde Admyrall.  Sixpence is paid for the Queen’s injunctions, and for a tithing table, and for the bishop’s articles 2s. 10d. is the charge.  A gathering man receives 6d., and another who did gather for the Queen’s bench 3d.

Election of Churchwardens

This year for the first time the minister in his official capacity is recognised.  The churchwardens give up their reckonings in the presence of ‘ye minister and pishioners,’ and the incoming churchwarden is chosen by them jointly.

In 1593 the minister chooses one churchwarden, and the old churchwarden remains with the consent of the rest of the parishioners present.

At the Bishop’s visitation 6d. is ‘layd out’ for a Prayer-book and as much for the Articles, and sixpence also for the Bishop’s prayer.  The dinner of the churchwardens and the sidesmen at the same time cost 3s.

Four shillings and eightpence is paid for a Book of Common Prayer (which must have been the revised book of the year 1559, with perhaps the new calendar and the few verbal alterations which were made some three years later).

1595.  The church headlands are let to Mary Frankelen for forty-nine shillings and eightpence, and two shillings is received for grass.  This year, or possibly the following year, is an account of ‘the recetes of James Stockley (churchwarden) for the grete bell.’  Master Samuel Danvers heads the list, paying 20s.  This is followed by Master Kirton, who pays 12s.; and he by Master ‘dannell danvers,’ who pays 5s.  Other parishioners pay more than Daniel Danvers, but are not honoured with the title of ‘Master.’  Thus, we have Wylliam garner 10s., and Thomas Watts 13s. 4d.  Edward lely and Robard Shrefe pay 6s. each.  Altogether there are forty-one payments, the smallest subscription in the parish being 1s.  The total sum collected was £8 19s. 8d, and £9 was paid to the bell-founder.

In 1597 is a curious entry: ‘Md, yt whereas John Wattes pad but 5s. for ye buryell of his father in ye churche the reason ys for yt he payd for pavynge or closynge up of ye ground agayne.’  John Webbe the same year pays 6s. 8d. for the burial of his father.

The laying out for bred and wyne at Easter has steadily increased.  In the year 1564 it was but 6d.  In 1566 the amount is 3s. 4d.; in 1574, 3s. 8d.; in 1589 the payment is 6s. 8d., and now it is 9s. 2d.  There are twenty-two payments for briefs and to poor men and women; 14s. for a pulpit, and 3s. to the smith for an hour-glass stand.

The receipts of the parish in the year 1597 amounted to £5 10s., and include as much as 26s. for grasse.  The headlands pay 49s. 10d.  The levy of 2d. on the yardland produced 9s. 2d.  There are no less than twenty-three payments for briefs, and to gatherers and to poor men; and as the case of Culworth exemplifies what was going on throughout England, the need for an amendment of the poor laws must have been very pressing.

In the record of the year 1598 occurs a note that ‘Mr Daniell Danvers hath institutions of Calvin.’  Delivered the said booke to the churchwardens by the said Danyell Danvers in Easter week, 6s. 71/2d.  This year also the churchwardens bought the paraphrases of Erasmus.

In the year 1602 twelvepence is paid to a ‘man who came to see whether the church were well,’ and sixpence is paid ‘to the woman that did the churche.’  The following year a rate was levied for the repair of the church, and another of a groate a yardland for ‘Jenevye.’  This and a subsequent rate, when the name is correctly spelt ‘Geneva,’ were probably levied for the support of Protestant refugees in that city.

In the year 1604 we find ‘a levy for breade and wine, a penny everyone yt touche the communion.’  Sixty-two parishioners pay, very few paying so little as a penny.  Twelve shillings and ninepence is the amount collected.

During the years 1606 and 1607 sixpence is paid for a book of the Articles, eightpence for a Book of Common Prayer, sixpence for a Prayer-book for the King, probably the form of prayer for November 9.  For a book of Juell and Harding (Bishop Jewell’s reply to Harding, the Roman advocate) seven shillings and sixpence is paid.  The same year eighteen shillings and ninepence is paid for a ‘sans bell,’ and two shillings and eightpence for the cost of hanging it.  Twelvepence is paid to John Wygson for a day’s work laying tiles.  Ten shillings is paid for paving the church, fifteen shillings and eightpence for glazing, and seven shillings for a cover for the font.  The following year, 1608, which is the last year of accounts entered in the first volume, Daniel Watts and Richard Kimbell are churchwardens, Robert Hitchman and John Brath are sidesmen, Robert Wigson and Richard Boswell overseers of highways.  Ten shillings is this year paid for a cloth for the communion table.  Bread and wine for communion are charged for on two occasions, respectively four shillings and eightpence and ten shillings and sixpence.

New Bell

About this time—the record does not with certainty fix the date—ten pounds is paid to the bell-founder for a new bell.  Probably this was in the year 1612, when a bell was cast for the church by Newcombe of Leicester.  The receipts this year were: From the church headlands £4 6s.; from the grass, 17s.; from two levies of 2s. a yardland, £13; from others that had no land, 14s.; from sale of the bell clapper, 6s.

Church Library

At the end of this, the first volume of the parish accounts, appears a note of ‘such books as appertaine unto the Churche of Culworth’:

Imprimis a Bible.
It.  a olde Bible.
It.  a como prayer booke.
It.  the first booke of the Homilies and the injuctions.
It.  the seconde.
It.  Calvin’s institutions.
It.  Erasmus paraphrases.
It.  The booke of articles.11.8

Ordinances and Rules for Culworth11.9

Beneath the list is written:

NOTES TO CHAPTER ELEVEN

11.1 For church-houses see Rev. T . F. Dyer’s Church-lore Gleanings. London, 1891.

11.2 Cf. Gibbin’s Industrial History of England, p. 116.

11.3 Church ales, cf. Dyer’s Church-lore Gleanings, p. 322.

11.4 Parish cattle, ibid., p. 264.

11.5 Thorold Rogers (History of Prices) states that the cost of bell-metal at the period was 4d. per pound, and if so, the bell must have been half the stated weight.

11.6 The dates are not given, but the entries are four in number: for brede and wyne, 6d.; for wyne, 3d.; for bred and wyne at Crystemas, 4d.; for wyne, 2d.

11.7 See Nichol’s Progresses of Queen Elizabeth.

11.8 Church libraries, cf. Dyer’s Church-lore Gleanings, p. 284.

11.9 The original copy of the Ordinances and Rules for Culworth (in Macnamara’s possession in 1894) was found amongst a number of ancient Culworth deeds.  It is not dated, but the handwriting and internal evidence fix its age at about that of the earliest of the parish accounts, i.e., 1531.

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Digital edition first published: 1 Mar 2020             Updated: 12 Jul 2023                garydanvers@gmail.com