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public worship, the assignment of seats, and the execution
of the parochial regulations, elsewhere entrusted exclusively
to Churchwardens. All these, and other functions too
numerous to mention, were jealously controlled by the
Vestry. The "Articles of Agreement," copied below,
point to an excessive exercise of discretion by the Churchwardens
prior to 1591, which may account for the
unusual restraint subsequently exercised:—
Articles of Agreement made and concluded upon the Seventhe
daye of Ffebruarie Anno Dmi 1591 by the general assent
and consent of the vestrie men and churchwardens for the
tyme now beinge for better governement and benefyte for
the Churche as followeth vizt.:—
1. Imprimis that noe Churchwarden hereafter shall make election
or bringe in anye man to be Churchwarden but by the generall
choyse and election of the vestrie men or the moste pte of them
for the tyme beinge The said Churchwardens for the tyme
beinge to be allwaies of the number of the said Electors.
2. Item that noe Churchwarden in the tyme of his or there office
shall buylde or buye anyethinge in to of or for the churche or
churche yarde of the churche money above the value of xls.
wthout the consent of the vestrie men or the most pte of them
for the tyme beinge under their handes in wrytinge unlesse he
or they will paye the overplus of his or there owne proper
charges.
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4. Item it is further ordered and agreed that noe Churchwarden
hereafter or nowe beinge shall sell away any the plate armes or
furnyture bell or bells organs or any other thinge from the said
Church neither shall pull downe anye of the glasse wyndowes
to the ende to alter or change the glass but onelye to amende as
nede shall requyre upon payne that he or they shall paye suche
recompense as by the Vestrie men or the most pte of them
shall awarde agavnste him or them and if he or they shall doe
anye thinge in contempt of theise articles and orders wthout
there handes in wrytinge or the most pte of them first obtayned
then it shalbe lawfull for the said vestrie men or the most pte
of them to put oute such twoe or one of them as they shall see
good And appoynt other in their sayd places.
11. Item it is further agreed and ordered that noe pson man or
woman having a pewe in the Churche and dothe not frequent
the same once in three monthes unless he she or they have
anye lawfull lett to the contrarie he she or they shall lose the
benefit of the sayd pewe and the Churchwardens for the tyme