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Notice, and thereupon doe Repayre to ye Church to seeye Churchwns,
who be goeing forth of their Office, deliver up their
Accoumpts and Ballance Moneys, and also to understand who be
Chosen Churchwns for ye yeare ensueing.
Then they have A Table sett in ye Chancell at which ye Dor or
Minister of the parish, and ye rest of the Vestrey Men doe sitt.
And thither ye Churchwardns in bringing their Accoumpts
fairely engrossed and bound np in Veilam, together with ye Ballance
Moneys, the Antient Vestrey Men at ye upper end of the
Table Receiving them, and Inspecting at least ye Totall Sumes of
what hath beene received, what pd, and what Remaines to
Adjust ye sd Churchwns Acct.
Then they Older and appoynt some that have already Executed
ye same Office of Churchwardne to Audit ye sd Accoumpt, and
within one Moneth to make Report thereof.
This being done ye Vestrey men Adjourne from thence into ye Vestrey
Roome and there take out of ye Records of the Names of former
Overseeres of ye poore the Names of 8 or 10 persons and sett them
down in this manner—
A B
C D
alwaies setting down ye Younger of ye present Churchwardens
first. Then they Debate ye fittest Man for that office and soe
every one Crossing those whom they Judge the Meetest for it,
he that hath the most Crosses stands Churchwarden for ye yeare.
As soon as this is done they give ye paper into ye Hands [of] ye Reeder
who immediately goeth therewith into ye Reading Pew and there
in ye open Church and audience of the Parishioners psnt Publisheth
and Declareth ye names of ye persone elected for Churchwardens
to ye end they may have notice of ye same.
After this ye Churchwns expired doe used to Invite ye Dor or Minister
together withe ye Vestrey Men & other antient Inhabts of the
Parish to A Supper at ye Charge of the sd Churchwardens.
Now Whilest ye Minister and Vestrymen were in the Vestry Roome
Electing ye Churchwns after ye antient manner for ye year 1667
Mr. Samuel Baker and Mr. Thomas Edwards having A Mind and
Longing desire for ye Office of Churchwns believing (as well they
might) That ye Vestreymen would not now choose them, procured
those few that were Remaining in ye Chancell when
ye Minister and Vestreymen withdrew themselves from out of
the Chancell into ye Vestrey Roome who as the sd Mr. Edwards
and Mr. Baker say chose and Elected them in ye church porch
to be Churchwns of the psh of St. Margts Westmr for ye yeare
1667 by which they would Act, and accordingly declared abroad
that they indeed were the Churchwardens which were chosen for
ye said psh, though few or none would own it but themselves.
And thereupon with Confidence they Enter A Caveat that
ye Churchwns which were lawfully and justly chosen should not