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7th.—That the Church Wardens and Overseers have from time to time
every one of them a Coppie of these orders.
The observance of the sixth rule was, however, attended
by some inconvenience for in the Minutes of the 5th October,
1687, the following record appears:—
"Upon consideration of the indecency of passing through the Church to
the Vestry by the Overseers of the Poore and others in time of prayers,
"It is ordered that a doore be forthwith made out of the Vestry into the
Churchyard as Mr. Church Warden Combs shall direct."
But the duties of the Vestry included other matters also.
Thus on the 12th August, 1685, it is recorded that "John
Dissell of Portugall Street lets the use of his lower roome and
part of his yard to this Parish for £8 per annum for a watch
house," and at the same meeting the Churchwardens were
desired to "find out a fitt place for an Engine house."
Again, on the 5th October following, it was ordered, "That
Mr. Church Warden Haines doe forthwith cause a paire of
stocke and a whipping post to be erected in some convenient
place of the Parish." On the 2nd December in the same
year the Yestry ordered "That Mr. Church Warden doe
hasten the purchase of the peece of ground from Mr. Pawlett
for a burying place," and at that meeting did also order that
"a night prison be built forthwith in the yard belonging to
the house where the constables now keepe theire watch."
The Watch-house was sometimes occupied by undesirable
tenants, as appears, for instance, from the following Minute
of Yestry dated the 28th September, 1693:—
The churchwarden acquainted the bord about Tompson, a maddman, and
lately a servant to the Earle of Shrewsbury, who had laine some days in
the watch-house during which time the churchwarden had made it his business
to know if the said servant had any settlement here which proveing
soe he had taken care and put him into Bethlem Hospitall."