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106
or as is quite as likely, greater laxity in enforcing the
penalties.
Collections for the poor, both at the church doors and also
from house to house, formed a recognized portion of the
revenue of the Parish. On the 24th November, 1693, Mr.
Clinch, one of the overseers, desired "that the time of asking
for the poore at the church doors on Sacrament Dayes might
be in the afternoones," but it was left with the Rector to give
such directions in the matter as he thought fit.
The winter of 1693-4 was apparently exceptionally severe,
for on the 26th December, 1693, the Rector brought under
the notice of the Vestry the King and Bishop's letter read in
the church on the previous Sunday advising a collection for
the relief of the poor " this hard season."
A collection was thereupon ordered, several of the vestrymen
agreeing to accompany "the Ministers, &c., in makeing
the same in the severall wards of this Parish.'' This collection
realized the sum of £168, which was ordered to be kept
distinct from the money applicable to the relief of the ordinary
poor, and disposed of among poor housekeepers and other
necessitous people who were not on the pension list, in the
following manner:—
Halfe a crowne to each person, man or woman, and to each of their children
one shilling, and to ancient people and people sick and bedrida five shillings
or more as the money will hold out.
In bringing these remarks on the early accounts of the
Parish to a conclusion, it may be remarked that the total
revenue of the overseers for the year 1689 amounted to but
£1,290 Is. 9d.
In the early rate books there is neither a ''rateable value"
nor a pound rate, and the principle upon which the several
sums were assessed does not appear on the face of the rate.
Probably the general circumstances of the parishioners were