_The Churchwardens' Accounts of St. Antholin's_ (Vol. i., pp. 180,
260.).--In my additions to Mr. Cunningham's _Handbook for London_, I
noticed two folio volumes of churchwardens' accounts, belonging to the
parish of St. Antholin's, that had _accidentally_ got away from the
custody of their proper guardians. This notice roused from his slunbers
one of the said guardians, the present overseer of the parish, W.C.,
Junior, who stated in your journal of February 23. that
"The churchwardens' accounts are in good preservation, and
present (in an unbroken series) the parish expenditure for
nearly three centuries."
The worthy overseer also wishes to impress your readers with a belief
that I had been misled by Thorpe's _Catalogue_, and that the books to
which I referred were merely _extracts_. In justice to myself, I
therefore give the entries in Thorpe's _Catalogue verbatim as they
occur_. Your readers will then be better able to judge which is the
"true" Dromio:--
"The Churchwardens' Accounts from 1615 to 1752 of the Parish of
St. Antholin's, London. Folio, 3l. 3s.
"This curious and interesting volume appears to have been kept
purposely for the various clergymen to write their receipts for
preaching the morning lectures at the above church for nearly a
century and a half. It contains the autographs of many eminent
divines; among others, John Goodwin, R. Pearson, J. Berriman, J.
Withers, J. Cooksey, R. Vann, T. Shepperd. W. Scott, R. Chambre,
J. Todd, Lilly Butler, J. Botham, C. Evans, T. Clarke, J.
Williams, J. Povey, J. Hotchkis, W. Stringfellow, W. Pott, C.
Bancroft, R. Clarke, W. Gearing, and many others."
"The Chuchwarden and Overseers of the Parish of St. Antholin's
in London, Accounts from 1638 to 1700 inclusive. Folio, 3l. 3s.
"An interesting record of the expenses of this parish for
sixty-four years. It commences with the gifts of various sacks
of coals, faggots, &c., to the poor, receipts for flesh
licences, collections, interest money, the Lady Martaine's
gifts, Sir W. Craven's gifts, the Merchant Tailors' Company's
gifts, Mercers' ditto, the Company of Ironmongers _forty
fagots_, the Company of Mercers a load of charcoal, the gift of
the late King James seven loads of Newcastle coals,--_this royal
bequest appears to have been annual gift for ever. Query, if now
in payment?_ ANNUAL gifts of Lady Coventry for putting out two
poor children born in this parish. Lady Martin's, and many
others, are annual gifts, which ought to be forthcoming to the
parish at this time."
This last note contains some Queries which I should be glad to see
answered.