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done much hurte, and what charges shall be laydd out for the
same shall be allowed off.
3rd September, 1662. Ordered that the present Overseers of this
parish doe take care for the present reliefe Goodwyfe Connorway,
a person distracted, and that they inquire of the usuall
course taken for getting such people into Bedlam, and do
endeavor her speedy admittance accordingly.
17th Jany., 1690. Ordered that the Churchwardens cause Thomas
Daniell to be put into Bethlehem.
But skilled treatment was not always allowed in such
cases:—
1st March, 169 2/3. That Mr. Redding, Governor of the House of
Correction doe provide a Roome for one Pudsey, a Lunatick,
committed to his custody, his ffriends providing him Victualls,
and psh allowing the straw.
A variety of expedients was resorted to by the Vestry
during William III.'s reign to avoid increasing the compulsory
poor rate. An experiment was made by way of a
collection at the Church doors" on every first Sunday in
the month in the morning"; but nine months saw it
abandoned. The King was then appealed to, and with
good effect. On the 13th July, 1698, the Churchwardens
announced that His Majesty had been pleased to grant" for
the use of the poor of the parish, towards defraying the
great debt of the parish, the Bell* commonly called Great
Tom of Westminster," and the tower or steeple in which it
was suspended. The matter was taken in hand without
loss of time, for within a few days the Charter under the
Privy Seal was produced, and the machinery for "realising"
set in motion.
1 Aug., 1698.—This day the Churchwardens produced his Matys
Grant under the Privy Seal for the steeple near the New Palace
and the Bell therein called Great Tom of Westminster, and
desired this Board that they may have liberty to pull down the
said steeple and bell. Ordered that the thanks of this Yestry be
given to the Churchwardens for their care in procuring the said
Grant and that they do forthwith cause the said steeple and Bell
to be pulled down and to make the best advantage of lead, stone
and other materials as they can and that the sole care therein bo
left to the Churchwardens to take the advice of Sir Christopher
*Mr Walcott (pp. 197-9) gives an interesting notice of this Bell.