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33
mittee was required to meet for several successive years
at six o'clock in the morning.
Parish
Boundaries.
Reference having already heen made, in the
opening pages, to the various changes made in
the limits of Westminster from the Saxon era onwards, it
is only proposed to touch briefly here upon the proceedings
of the Vestry thereon.
Memorand. That holden the fifthe Daye of June 1606 the vestry men
hereafter named Did order and agree that the Churchwardens
for the tyme beeinge and all other Churchwardens wch shall be
choscn hereafter shall not disburse nor bestowe of the church or
parishe goodes above the some of ffive poundes for the pambalacons
to Kensington or other boundes of the parishe Duringe the whole
time of two yeres wherein any such churchwardens shall contineuc
in the sayd office and if there shal bee above the some of ffive
poundes bestowed in anye two yeres in any such perambulacons
that then the sayd churchwardens shall pay the surplusage
themselves and not bee allowed above five poundes for two yeres
upon their aceomptes.
Wednesday, 9th May, 1679—It is Ordered that a Perambulation be
made this yeare for Yisiteing the Parish Bounds according to
the discretion of the Churchwardens who are desired to be
moderate in the Charge thereof.
Wednesday, 6th April, 1681—That the Church Wardens be desired
not to make any Enterteynmt at Visiteiug the out Bounds of
the parish this yeare saveing for Boyes onely and such officers
as are needfull And as to the Inn bounds ye charge thereof
is left to the discretion of the Church Wardens which shall be
Allowed in their Acct.
Sunday 15th Apll 1683—Ordered that the Preambulation for this
yeare bee kept according to the antient custome Soe that the
charges doe not exceed Twenty Nobles* (but no Wine) besides
the charge of the bread and cheese and beere for the boyes for
the Outward bounds And for the inward bounds to be kept alsoe
according to the antient custome and the charges thereof to be
left to the Discretion of the Churchwardens.
The time honoured custom of " beating the bounds " was
observed every two years, and orders in the foregoing terms
occur many times. The elaborate Letters Patent of Henry
VIII. (1534), already reproduced in extenso, see pp. 5 & 6, did
not effectually remove the uncertainties in the minds of the
*The value of the "Noble," a gold coin, was 6s. 8d. The limit of expenditure
was thus £6 13s. 4d., representing about £30 in the present day.
D