[Illustration: Title page]
NOTES AND QUERIES
FOR
Worcestershire.
BY JOHN NOAKE,
AUTHOR OF "THE RAMBLER," &c.
LONDON:
LONGMAN AND CO.
AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
MDCCCLVI.]
=PRICE FIVE SHILLINGS=.
[Illustration]
DEDICATED BY PERMISSION
TO
JOHN GOODWIN, ESQ.,
TWICE-ELECTED MAYOR OF WORCESTER;
AND UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF
THE VERY REV. DR. PEEL, DEAN OF WORCESTER,
THE RIGHT HON. EARL BEAUCHAMP,
J. H. H. FOLEY, ESQ., M.P.,
AND
R. PADMORE, ESQ.
In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire,
With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales
Of ages long ago betid.
Preface.
Another trifling instalment towards the history of Worcestershire is
now respectfully presented to its inhabitants, and the Author ventures
to express a hope that it may meet with the general favour of the
reading public, equal to that which his previous works have elicited.
The materials of historical works usually consist of tables of
pedigrees, charters, battles, sieges, enumerations of manors, with
their successive owners, statistical details, and other tedious
though useful information. These, however, are but the dry bones--the
skeleton of history. The spirit of the past can only be evoked by
a deep and extensive research among documentary and traditional
evidences--by careful comparison and analysis--by judicious deduction
and inference. To perform this effectually, even for the limited area
of a county, the coöperation of many minds is almost indispensable.
Let us take Worcestershire as an instance. Habingdon, Nash, Thomas,
Green, and others, have accumulated large masses of the matter
which conventionally passes for history, and I would not for one
moment desire to detract from the merit of their labours: yet the
history of Worcestershire remains to be written. What do we yet know
of the manners and customs, the hopes and aspirations, the social
every-day life, the habits and thoughts, of our ancestors? Yet surely
this is not the least considerable feature of the times of which
we would fain glean tidings. Who would not vastly prefer an hour
or two's conversation with one who was in the flesh some centuries
ago--could that be possible--to studying the pages of the most
intelligent contemporaneous historian? Education had rendered the world
dissatisfied with the old modes and precise forms of this department
of literature, when such pens as Macaulay's were soon ready to supply
the new want. Yet Macaulay could have done but little service in
this way had he been content to receive old stereotyped facts which
had for centuries been lazily copied by preceding writers. It was
by industriously and perseveringly investigating public and private
libraries, hunting up all available resources, and systematically
comparing and arranging the information thus obtained, that he was
enabled, by the potency of his genius, to erect on a new foundation a
superstructure that has delighted and astonished all beholders. That
great man's industry, at all events, if not his genius, may, and must
be, imitated by all who would successfully labour in the field of
history for the future. The annals of even so circumscribed an area
as a county must not be written without at least searching the records
of its principal courts of judicature, nor that of a city before
consulting the dusty relics in the parochial chests and the municipal
closets. Yet these fertile sources of authentic information have been
almost entirely neglected by Worcestershire historians. The Author of
this little work has made a commencement, humble though it be, towards
furnishing data for the required undertaking; yet how much remains to
be done! Nor can a single individual, confined to the requirements of
an absorbing profession, be expected, alone and unaided, to achieve
much. If some one in each parish would undertake to search the
register, the old vestry and churchwardens' books, and any manuscripts
or other material that may exist in the parish; if others would
investigate the archives of the municipal towns, the Assize records
(which I presume are in the possession of Mr. Wilde, at Clifford's
Inn), the MSS. and rare books which may be found in the libraries
of private gentlemen and the British Museum, and, though last, the
most important of all, the ancient ecclesiastical registers and other
records in Edgar Tower--the labour of a life--some material would then
be gleaned from which a competent editor might produce a history worthy
of the county--a picture of the life and manners of our ancestors, and
not a mere record of names and dates and crude undigested facts.
The fragments which the Author has rescued from the accumulating dust
of past ages are here presented, in the hope that others more competent
will be stimulated to similar exertions in the various departments
above indicated. Two insuperable reasons prevent his undertaking the
task himself--first, that it would prove overwhelming and impossible to
one who can spare only an occasional hour for the purpose, while, if
divided amongst many, the accomplishment would be easy; and secondly,
that much of the work to be done--especially the examination of ancient
ecclesiastical documents--requires far greater scholastic attainments
and a more intimate knowledge of the middle ages than he possesses.
"Divide and conquer" must be the motto, if the work is to be done.
Meanwhile it will be noted with satisfaction that every successive
exploration into the past indicates more distinctly the decided
progress we have made, and exposes the fallacy of the belief in the
"good old times:"
"The good of ancient times let others state:
I think it fortunate we're born so late."
In the few sheets here collected, evidence is given of civil and
religious strife, such as we are now happily exempt from; of coarse
habits, and a reckless expenditure of public funds on gross sensuality;
the primitive state of the highways and the miserable travelling
consequent thereon; the infancy of science in almost every department,
and the greater prevalence of disease; superstition pervading all
classes; women flogged in public, and the gaol a very specimen of
barbarism; the poor hunted out of their cottages in every parish like
wild beasts, and nearly all descriptions of trade fettered by absurd
restrictions; nonconformity persecuted, and constitutional liberty,
as we now understand the term, unknown. Nor were the manners and
customs of our ancestors much more desirable than our own, although
there was a greater heartiness in them and apparently a more general
mixing of classes. When Parry was searching for the north-west passage,
a boat was one day sent on shore, under charge of a petty officer,
who received, besides the usual instructions to keep a look-out for
anything remarkable, a printed form, on which, under the heads of
"Manners," and "Customs," to record what he saw among the natives.
In due time the boat returned to the ship, the man delivered in his
report; and an extraordinary one it was for pith and brevity, running
thus:
MANNERS | CUSTOMS
None at all. | Very beastly.
That the same report might have been truthfully applied even to English
society in the last and preceding centuries the following pages prove,
and still more conclusively might the charge have been brought home had
the author felt himself justified in printing _in extenso_ some of the
documents he has consulted, especially among the county rolls. Let us,
however, not quarrel with our predecessors, but rightfully appreciate
the blessings of advanced civilization by endeavouring, each one in his
limited sphere, to inculcate contentment with our lot and an earnest
desire to assist in the great work of human progress, both physical and
moral.
In conclusion, the Author begs to offer his warm thanks to the patrons
of this book (individually named in the dedication), without whose
kind promises of support the work would not have been published;
to Sir T. E. Winnington, Bart., M.P., for the inspection of many
interesting manuscripts; to the clergy and churchwardens of the city,
for their courtesy in permitting the examination of the registers and
other parish books; to Mr. Carrington, barrister-at-law, for several
valuable contributions and highly prized literary assistance; to Mr.
Lewis, of the County Clerk of the Peace's office, for the trouble he so
willingly incurred in displacing and re-arranging the Sessions' rolls;
and lastly, to the general body of subscribers, who have so numerously
signified their intention to take copies.
Index.
Abberley, 161, 240, 255, 289.
Abberton, 207, 297.
Abbot's Lench, 253.
Abbot's Morton, 177.
Abington's Manuscripts, 144.
Acton family, 264, 267, 270, 293, 315.
Acton Beauchamp, 159, 173.
Affiliations, 20, 42, 54.
All Fools' Day, 210.
All Saints' parish, 60, 222, 227.
Alfrick, 157, 173, 200, 204, 249, 289, 316.
Alvechurch, 102, 109, 132, 241, 253, 256, 271, 316.
Anabaptists, 117.
Ancient Inns, 258.
Archaic words, 251.
Areley, 202, 294.
Ascension Day, 208.
Assize notices, 273.
Astley, 80, 166, 246, 261, 289, 295, 310, 312, 313.
Astwood, 189.
Babes of Bethlehem, 205.
Badging paupers, 19, 41, 63, 68.
Badsey, 316.
Balls at Assizes, 279.
Baptisms, 176, 206.
Barneby family, 155.
Bearcroft family, 311, 315.
Bees, 179.
Belbroughton, 125, 182, 132, 254, 260, 310.
Bells, 17, 34, 47, 48, 52, 64, 177, 214, 240.
Beoley, 104, 126, 187, 132, 228, 253, 254, 316.
Berkeley family, 159, 160, 267, 293, 325.
Berrow, 253.
Besford, 234, 295.
Bewdley, 15, 75, 76, 100, 103, 125, 145, 150, 162, 173, 185,
198, 215, 232, 239, 245, 247, 253, 258, 264, 268, 301, 308,
318, 322, 328.
Birlingham, 125, 126, 315.
Birtsmorton, 203.
Bishampton, 101, 241, 272, 294, 314.
Bishop Skinner's Memoirs, 151.
Bishop Swinfield's Roll, 145.
Bishop Thornborough's monument, 287.
Black pear of Worcester, 228.
Blockley, 126, 272, 312, 315.
Bloody pond, 263.
Blount family, 120, 310.
Bockleton, 155, 315.
Brawling, 110, 118.
Bredicot, 297.
Bredon, 111, 126, 249, 256, 311, 313.
Bredon's Norton, 112.
Bretforton, 102, 199, 241.
Bricklehampton, 90, 316.
Bride ales, 218.
Bridges and highways, 130.
Broadheath, 64.
Broadwas, 208.
Broadway, 98, 238, 252, 266, 301, 312, 317.
Bromsgrove, 52, 65, 75, 84, 85, 100, 102, 106, 110, 113, 117,
124, 125, 198, 200, 132, 133, 235, 240, 260, 266, 268, 271,
289, 294, 296, 301, 305, 310, 312, 313, 316, 321.
Broughton Hackett, 203.
Burying in woollen, 26, 50.
Bushley, 295, 312.
Carriers, 101.
Cast-iron grave slabs, 231.
Castle Morton, 100, 129, 172, 290, 312.
Cathedral and precincts, 3, 9, 11, 12, 23, 25, 64, 96, 149,
152, 182, 196, 131, 142, 143, 206.
Catherning, 215.
Cattle market, old, 38.
Chaddesley, 106, 125, 126, 130, 182, 201, 217, 253, 255, 271,
290, 310, 312, 314.
Charlton family, 94.
Charms, 180.
Chaseley, 316.
Chimney money, 25, 28.
China trade, 254.
Christmas customs, 219.
Church and the people, 105.
Churchwardens of Worcester, 17, 26, 39, 45, 51, 56, 59, 62, 66, 69, 73.
Civil Wars, 10, 126, 318.
Claines, 70, 93, 271, 295, 311, 313.
Cleeve Prior, 316.
Clent, 196, 206, 240.
Clergy of seventeenth century, 108.
Clerks and sextons, 17, 259.
Clifton-on-Teme, 159, 161, 195, 137, 301.
Clothing trade, 305.
Club-men of Worcestershire, 324.
Cofton Hackett, 153, 132, 311.
Collins's fire, 60.
Comberton, 79, 127.
Communicants in 1548, 270.
Compositions to the king's household, 133.
Cookes family, 313.
Corn trade, 99.
Costume of the bar, 273.
Cotheridge, 229, 293, 315, 325.
Council of the Marches in Wales, 8, 15, 47.
County Sessions Records, 74 to 134.
Coventry family, 10, 18, 75, 87, 100, 122, 275.
Crabbing the parson, 206.
Crime, 82.
Cromwell pilloried, 229.
Cromwell's parliament, 292.
Cromwell's property tax, 264.
Croome, 75.
Cropthorne, 102.
Crowle, 188, 311.
Cuckolds, 84, 106.
Curfew, 214.
Cutnal Green, 181, 189.
Daylesford, 297.
Defford, 108.
Diary of Joyce Jeffries, 137.
Dineley family, 93, 135, 264, 310, 314, 323.
Dineley Manuscript, 135.
Dissenting meeting-houses, 124.
Distemper in cattle, 51, 103.
Doddenham, 289.
Dodderhill, 57, 125, 253, 312.
Doddingtree Hundred 200 years ago, 154.
Dogs and cats, slaughter of, 317.
Doverdale, 102, 297.
Dowdeswell family, 87, 122, 310.
Dressing a parson in 1627, 9.
Drinking healths, 210.
Droitwich, 11, 108, 115, 146, 203, 208, 243, 271, 289, 290,
294, 297, 301, 305, 308, 312, 313, 317, 321.
Dr. Prattinton's papers, 232.
Dudley, 75, 91, 100, 114, 125, 126, 171, 184, 185, 204, 231,
240, 267, 301, 319, 329.
Dunclent, 127.
Easter tokens, 16.
Eastham, 158, 236.
Echoes, 289.
Eckington, 245.
Edvin Loach, 159, 297.
Eldersfield, 265, 272, 314, 316.
Elmbridge, 291, 295, 310.
Elmley Castle, 142, 234, 266, 289.
Elmley Lovett, 79, 290, 312.
Evesham, 15, 75, 102, 126, 147, 196, 208, 238, 239, 248, 264,
272, 288, 293, 294, 301, 302, 305, 308, 319.
Excommunications, 32, 105.
Feckenham, 41, 75, 105, 118, 132, 148, 201, 242, 255, 258, 259, 313, 314.
Fees of Clerk of Peace in 1753, 76.
Female scolds, 106.
Fifth monarchy men, 116.
Figures, introduction of, 13.
Fishermen of St. Peter's parish, 40.
Fladbury, 102, 180, 240, 289, 295, 314.
Floods, 67, 239.
Flyford Flavel, 207.
Foley family, 92, 159, 264.
Foresters of Feckenham, 148.
Four children at a birth, 296.
Frankley, 266, 316, 328.
Funeral customs, 208.
Gaols, 37, 85.
Garden and butter markets, 38.
Ghosts, 187.
Giants, 237.
Gloucester city gates, 258.
Good Friday, 178.
Grafton, 124, 126, 241.
Graveyard punning, 265.
Grimley, 294.
Guy Faulx, 209.
Halesowen, 125, 200, 218, 233, 241.
Hallow, 253, 313.
Hampton Lovett, 271.
Hanbury, 15, 57, 102, 124, 147, 295, 311, 313.
Hanley Childe and William, 158.
Hanley Castle, 100, 104, 254, 310.
Hartlebury, 75, 125, 142, 154, 175, 180, 205, 210, 211, 232, 246, 248.
Harvington, 148, 215, 219.
Heaving, 211.
Hemp and flax, 102.
Henry the Eighth's obsequies, 5.
Hermitages and caves, 246.
Himbleton, 125, 231, 234, 241, 253.
Hindlip, 23.
Holt, 189, 256, 293, 295.
Holy loaf, 233.
Honeybourne, 102, 238.
Hop cribbing, 222.
Hop-pole hotel, 35.
Hops, 228.
Hopton family, 322.
House of Industry, 38, 43.
Housling pence, or Sacrament money, 31.
Huddington, 188, 205.
Iccomb, 95.
Image, destruction of at Worcester, 285.
Incumbents of Worcester, 17, 26, 39, 45, 51, 56, 59, 62, 66, 69, 73.
Inkberrow, 78, 83, 125, 177, 132, 218, 253, 311, 315, 316, 321.
Javelin men, 281.
Jeffries' Manuscripts, 136.
Kempsey, 15, 131, 147, 245, 271.
Kidderminster, 3, 14, 75, 100, 103, 125, 127, 151, 184, 185,
201, 211, 217, 249, 264, 268, 271, 293, 302, 305, 308.
King Charles's coins, 228.
King Charles's staff, 236.
King's Norton, 96, 103, 104, 113, 132, 203, 210, 240, 254, 260,
265, 271, 283, 292, 294, 310, 313, 314, 316.
King's tax, 27, 234.
Kington, 4, 80.
Knighton, 156, 272.
Knights of the Royal Oak, 266.
Knightwick, 128, 142, 166, 200, 252, 326.
Knightwood, fines for not taking, 309.
Kyre, 158, 161.
Lechmere family, 104, 122, 264, 292.
Lee, Rev. Dr., 261.
Legends and traditions, 193.
Leigh, 95, 185, 188, 215, 235, 253, 272, 289, 312.
Lindridge, 112, 147, 149, 156, 157, 142, 294.
Littletons, 102, 315.
Longdon, 90, 220, 240, 259, 311, 312, 314.
Longevity, 255.
Love spells, 189.
Lulsley, 158, 200, 253.
Lygon family, 37, 87, 88, 121, 123, 184, 264, 267.
Lyttelton family, 266, 267, 286, 294.
Magistrates in 1483, 267.
Malvern, Great, 126, 133, 147, 171, 186, 195, 256, 264, 311, 313.
----, Little, 154.
Mamble and Bayton, 83, 165, 210, 255.
Manuscripts, county, 135.
Marine store dealers, 228.
Martin Hussingtree, 255.
Marriage custom, 208.
Marriages by Justices, 57.
Martley, 129, 160, 165, 252, 255, 257, 310, 313, 326.
Mathon, 169, 181, 253, 263.
May-poles, 112, 210.
Memory, fine, 259.
Milward evidences, 230.
Morris dancing, 213.
Mortuary Cloth of Clothiers' Company, 305.
Moseley, 126, 265, 294, 317.
Mothering Sunday, 210.
Nash family, 37, 57, 119, 121, 123, 265, 310.
Naunton Beauchamp, 207.
Needle trade, 228.
New Year's customs, 221.
Nicknames, 218.
Nonconformity, 268.
Norbury family, 119, 120.
Northfield, 125, 132, 241, 253, 310.
Norton-juxta-Kempsey, 131.
Norton near Evesham, 205, 239.
Oddingley, 128, 202.
Offenham, 179, 210, 215, 253, 298, 313, 315.
Oil lamps first set up, 38, 41, 55.
Oldberrow, 297.
Oldbury, 116, 305, 313.
Old customs, 205.
Old family, 239.
Old sayings, 238.
Oldswinford, 80, 271.
Ombersley, 128, 266, 295, 310.
Organs at Cathedral, 152.
Orleton, 158.
Overbury, 262.
Oxford circuit, 275.
Pageant-house, 232.
Pakington family, 71, 122, 130, 270, 294, 310.
Paper, early mention of, 284.
Papists, 31, 75, 112.
Pensax, 155, 165, 288.
Pensham, 315.
Peopleton, 270.
Perambulations, 13, 22, 29, 41, 51, 55, 64, 68, 72, 222.
Pershore, 125, 174, 179, 239, 245, 252, 265, 270, 271, 303,
310, 311, 314.
Pillory, 84, 230.
Plague, 132.
Plum-pudding and pancake bells, 215.
Plymouth, Earl of, 87, 93.
Poor, 89.
Population of Worcester parishes, 17, 26, 39, 45, 51, 56, 59,
62, 66, 69, 73.
Powick, 55, 64, 253, 289.
Primitive Cathedral customs, 206.
Printer, first at Worcester, 236.
Quakers, 36, 39, 53, 112, 114.
Queen Elizabeth, 292, 298.
Queries, 228.
Rats, old English, 284.
Records of the City of Worcester, 1 to 73.
Redditch, 132, 228.
Redmarley, 261, 272, 311, 312, 315, 316.
Reformation, 4.
Ribbesford, 75, 163, 165, 193, 272, 294, 315.
Ridley the martyr, 261.
Ringing for the parson, 205.
Ripple, 75, 237, 272, 289, 314.
Rock, 150, 161, 204, 255, 256, 257, 272, 312, 314.
Roundhead's description of Worcestershire, 249.
Rouselench, 235, 316.
Royalists compounding, 292.
Royal oak day, 209.
Rushock, 79, 102, 182, 314.
Rushout family, 87, 122.
Saddle silver, 66.
Saffron, 237.
Salt, 36, 101, 297.
Salwarpe, 57, 85, 187, 271, 282, 291, 295, 312.
Sandys family, 123, 266, 295.
Sapey, 159.
Sculptures on churches, 235.
Seabright family, 295.
Seal of Worcester, 284.
Sedgberrow, 289.
Severn Stoke, 2, 13, 15, 271, 294, 313.
Shelsley, 75, 137, 159, 160, 185, 187, 199, 253, 256, 297.
Ship money, 308.
Shipston, 77, 303, 322.
Shrawley, 80, 166, 180, 293, 311.
Small parishes, 296.
Social regulations, 97.
Somers, the great Lord, 1.
Spetchley, 126, 228.
St. Alban's, 56.
St. Andrew's, 45, 197.
St. Clement's, 66, 197, 225.
St. Helen's, 52.
St. John's, 61, 285, 294, 312, 313.
St. Martin's, 57.
St. Michael's, 1, 131, 295.
St. Nicholas, 26.
St. Peter's, 39, 131.
St. Swithin's, 17.
Stanford, 137, 142, 145, 154, 161, 204, 248, 252, 314.
Star and Garter hotel, 35.
Staunton, 314, 316.
Stewponey, 232.
Stockton, 165.
Stoke Prior, 102, 132, 180.
Stone, 240, 249, 293, 314.
Stourbridge, 75, 100, 103, 124, 125, 133, 161, 182, 186, 206,
218, 231, 232, 233, 240, 253, 271, 304.
Stourport, 289.
Stourton Castle, 127, 232, 328.
Strensham, 256, 294, 295, 314.
Suckley, 158, 173, 249, 272, 296, 310, 314, 316.
Sunday schools, 38.
Superstitions, 167.
Talbot family, 266, 282, 295.
Tardebigg, 102.
Tenbury, 75, 103, 125, 142, 147, 149, 158, 180, 200, 220, 237,
238, 239, 255, 256, 272, 304.
Tenure, 218.
Theatres, 132.
Tibberton, 203, 313.
Tobacco, 103, 242.
Touching for King's evil, 27, 181.
Townsend Manuscripts, 141.
Traces of the Stuarts, 318.
Tradesmen's tokens, 298.
Traveller's passport, 129.
Tredington, 240, 312.
Trial by combat, 147.
Trumpeters at Assizes, 282.
Tything, 93.
Upton-on-Severn, 75, 85, 125, 130, 146, 270, 311, 313, 314.
Upton Snodsbury, 61, 245.
Upton Warren, 132, 253.
Vacarius' Roman law, 143.
Valentine's Day, 212.
Vernon family, 264, 295.
Versified will, 262.
Vineyards, 288.
Virtuous parish, 296.
Wages of Magistrates, 291.
Waits, 213.
Wake at Claines, 72.
Ward, Lord, 87.
Watchman, the last, 38.
Weather rhymes and sayings, 306.
Welland, 57, 126.
Whipping, 84.
Whitbourne, 128.
White Ladies, 212, 256.
Whitsun farthings, 14, 23, 56, 65, 69.
Whoop custom, 217.
Wichbold, 312, 313.
Wichenford, 295, 315.
Wick, 207.
Winnington family, 87, 123, 137.
Witchcraft, 78, 183, 142.
Witley, 75, 125, 160.
Wolverley, 142, 201, 259, 311, 325.
Yardley, 313, 314, 316.
PARISH RECORDS
OF
THE CITY OF WORCESTER.
St. Michael's.
The register of this parish commences with the year 1546, but as
the entries for about half a century are apparently in the same
handwriting, it is probable that in or soon after the year 1597, when
an order was issued that all parochial registers should be transcribed
on vellum, an older register of St. Michael's was copied on that
now existing. It is on vellum and in excellent preservation--which
probably will not be said some two or three centuries hence respecting
the common and perishable paper registers now in use by Government
authority. The first entry which attracted my attention in this
register was--
"1648.--John Somers, gent., and Katherine, the daughter of John
Seaverne, gent., and Mary his wife, were married Nov. 13."
And among the births are the following:
"1650.--John the sonne of John Somers, gent., and Katherine his
wife, was born the fourth day of March."
"1653.--Mary, daughter of John Somers, gent., and Katherine his
wife, was born 15th Oct."
"1655.--Katherine, daughter of John Somers, gent., and
Katherine his wife, born 7th April."
Here, then, are the means of deciding a fact which has long been the
subject of dispute. Mr. Cooksey, in his "Life of Lord Somers," asserts
that he was born at the White Ladies; but Dr. Nash mentions the
tradition that the famous Lord was born in the College Churchyard, in
a house since pulled down, adjoining the south side of the old church
of St. Michael; "but as during the Civil Wars (says that veracious and
_painstaking_ chronicler, Chambers) the registers were discontinued,
or very irregularly kept, _though the Doctor diligently searched, his
birth could not be found_, either in the parishes of Severn Stoke, St.
Michael, St. Helen, St. Peter, or the Tything." The "diligence" of the
Doctor's search must now be a matter of doubt, as the four entries
copied above are not only easily observed, but are somewhat prominent.
The "John Somers, gent.," whose marriage with Katherine Seaverne is
recorded in 1648, was unquestionably the attorney who resided for
some time at the White Ladies, and afterwards within the Cathedral
precincts; and their first-born, who was introduced to the world on
the 4th of March, 1650, was afterwards the celebrated nobleman who
became the head of the Whigs and Lord High Chancellor of England--whose
eloquence, knowledge of the law, inflexible integrity, and great
capacity for public business, made him an ornament to his country--and
whose defence of the seven bishops, in opposition to the tyranny of
James II, entitles him to a place in the foremost rank of the defenders
of our constitutional liberty. The death of his parents is not entered
in St. Michael's register, as they both died and were buried at Severn
Stoke. Lord Somers himself was buried in Hertfordshire.
The period of the Civil Wars is distinguished by blank pages, but
regularity again commences in 1660. The burial of "Sir Gilbert Jerrard,
governor of Woster," is recorded on the 20th of January, 1644; and that
of John Cox, master of the College school, on the 30th Dec., 1663. The
prisoners and debtors who died in the Castle (the old prison stood
on the site of the Castle, near the Cathedral, now converted into
gardens) were buried at St. Michael's. It appears likewise that St.
Michael's was considered the parish church for the whole of the College
precincts, and that if any marriages were performed at the Cathedral,
they were duly entered in St. Michael's register, and the incumbent of
course received the fees.
"Mr. Richard Smith, minister, and Mrs. Anne Foulks, were
marryed in ye Cathedrall on ye 13 day Feby., 1676."
"Jonathan Dixon of Kidderminster and Mary Henzey of this parish
were married at the College by me, Oct. 7, 1737, by license.
Thomas Smith."
An archdeacon was also married in the chapel of the Bishop's Palace
at Worcester, and an entry in this register duly records the fact.
Marriages were solemnized here between persons belonging to almost
every town or place in the county, and entries of those occurrences
are more numerous than in any other register of the city. The list of
marriages closes with this note:
"See a marriage register book from the year 1754, in pursuance
of an Act of Parliament passed in the 26th year of King George
III, which restriction commences from the 25th March, 1754."
In the birth department the children of dissenters were for some
years put under a separate head, and specified as such, and there are
frequent records of "children left," and "children picked up" in the
parish. Lastly, there is mention made of Henry Humphreys having, by
will in 1729, left £4 yearly to the incumbent of St. Michael's and £1
to the clerk, on condition they take care that his grave shall not be
opened or touched except for the burial of his wife. This money was
payable out of "a freehold messuage or tenement, lands, and premises in
the parish of Kington, Worcestershire;" but the bequest has long been
lost sight of and the estate is not known; there is, however, no doubt
that the identification of the estate might be readily made out if its
present owners were inclined to do justice to the claims of the church.
Perhaps a former owner compounded with the then incumbent for a sum of
money or other consideration.
By far the most interesting and valuable of all the parochial records
in the city are those of St. Michael's, the oldest account book going
back to the year 1543, and, with the exception of from 1611 to 1640,
which years are omitted, the records come up to the present century.
As these books take us back to a period before the completion of the
Reformation, they contain evidence of religious ceremony and social
custom which entitle them to the first place in this work. Among the
ceremonials of the unreformed Church, the most conspicuous was that at
Easter, when the Resurrection was represented. For this purpose a tomb
or sepulchre was arranged in the chancel (a recess still to be seen
in the chancel wall of most old churches), in which the effigy of the
Saviour was laid, and watched day and night by persons appointed for
the purpose, as well as by religious devotees, till it was raised out
of the tomb on the morning of Easter Sunday, when the previous darkness
in the church suddenly ceased, and a flood of light, together with the
richest music, incense, and every sign of rejoicing, celebrated the
event. In St. Michael's church, the clerk was paid 2d. (worth 2s. 6d.
now) for watching on Easter eve, and also was presented with a pair of
gloves. "Tacketts (small nails), pynnes, and thrydde, to dresse the
sepulchre," were charged 2d., and 4d. for the labour of dressing, great
pains having evidently been taken. Arras tapestry hangings or curtains
were provided for the tomb, large wax lights and flowers were arranged
on the altars (of which there were three in St. Michael's church),
and the rood, which was a carved representation of the Crucifixion,
elevated on the chancel arch, was also splendidly lit up and decorated
with flowers, as were the niches containing figures of the saints. Oil,
frankincense, and robes, are charged for in the accounts, the lighting
of the rood and sepulchre amounting to as much as 7s. 1d.; for making
25 lbs. of wax, 12d., and for flowers for the tapers and rood light,
2d. A taper was also fixed over the font. The celebration of this
festival did not terminate with the church, as the wardens on the same
day (Easter Sunday, 1543) spent the sum of 3d. at the tavern. There is
likewise an entry of 2d. paid for "nayles and pynnes for the sepulter
on Palme Sunday, and wyer for the curteynes for the sepulter at Ester."
The following obsequies were observed at St. Michael's church on the
death of Henry VIII:
"At the kyngs highnes dirige and masse.
Item for fyve tapers x_d._
Item a masse i_d._
Item for mendynge of the bere and herse ii_d._
Item for the colourynge of two wodden canstycks blacke ii_d._
Item for brede and ale for the ryngers then iv_d._
Item for ryngynge vi_d._
Item for two papers of the kyngs armes to set on the kyngs herse iii_d._"
The progress of the Reformation during the reign of Edward VI
is distinctly marked in these records, by the mode in which the
churchwardens were compelled to set their house in order. A man named
John Davyes was employed to "hewe downe the seates of the images in
the church and to whytelyme it," for which he received 15d.; "an ares
cov'yng (arras covering) wh. was used at the sepulter" was sold to Mr.
Bland for 6s. 8d.; the lamp and censer, weighing 20 lb., for 4s.; "two
standerdes of brasse, two cansticks, and a tynacle of brasse for holly
(holy) water, weying 3 lb.," 14s.; "a coppe crosst," (the priest's
cope, with a cross on it) 2s.; a platter, 18d.; "a holy water pott of
led, and certein organne pypes of led, weying half C. and 12 lb.," 2s.
10d.; for "13 lb. of pewter of organne pypes and shelles for tapers,
at 2d. a lb.," 2s. 2d.; two small bells were sold for 9d.; the top of
the pulpit went for 2s., and the foot for 2d.; the organs, the "fayle
and old clothes to cover the saynts," the tables that stood on each of
the altars, the "trymmer" of the high altar, the altars themselves,
and all the other appointments, disappeared like useless lumber. Two
inventories of the church goods were written out for the commissioners,
and the churchwardens and their friends made merry on the occasion at
the tavern. Instead of the gorgeous altars, two "frames," or trestles
(or "oyster boards," as the Bishop of Exeter would term them), were
provided for the Lord's Supper; and in lieu of carved saints and mural
emblazonments, a man was engaged to "write the Scriptures and paint
the church at 2d. the yard," on those parts of it, at least, where the
whitewasher's brush had not taken the precedence. In the fifth year
of King Edward, the old churchwardens handed over to the new ones the
church goods, of which the following is an inventory:
"A chalice, two pattens, the cover of a pyx, foot of a silver
cross, a crucifix that was on the cover of the pyx, a little
silver bowl, the little bowl of the pyx that the crucifix stood
on, six pieces of silver and gylte, and a little image of St.
Michael of silver gylt, a little bell without a clapp., two
brasen canstycks, two painted clothes, a pawle of silk, two
sirplices for children, two aubs (albs), a table cloth, five
towels, the parson's sirplice and the clarks sirplice, a course
pawle, and bere cloth."
Under the reign of Mary, old customs were partly revived, as charges
were again made for the pascal taper, wax, frankincense, and charcoal
in Lent; Mr. Blunt's man was remunerated "for his paines when he sett
the cross and the rest of the stuffe;" Father Charlemayne was paid 6d.
for mending the crysmatory; 7d. was charged for chains for the censer;
"Raffe Pynner" mended the pyx; and apparently the high altar was
reinstated, for after the death of her Majesty, 6d. was paid for taking
down the altar, and 3s. "for paving the place and making clean of it."
The parish went to but small expense in solemnising Queen Mary's death,
9d. only having been spent "for quene majesty's obit." The Paraphrases
of Erasmus had been previously purchased at a cost of 11s., and, with
a Bible in English, chained to a lectern. The rood loft was now pulled
down, and sold as old timber for 3s. This was in 1561, at which time
another inventory of the church goods was furnished, as follows:
"A processional, the portuas in two parts for the whole year,
a missal, a manual, a book for christening and burying, a
pall lyned, and a old pall onlyned, an old vestment of silk,
a front of an alter of red and white satten, with flourdelich
(_fleur de lis_), two albes, two surplices for childern, a
little pillow of green, two towels with blew thredd, a bible, a
book of comon ----, six stoles for the neck and arm, a book of
the paraphrasis, two parelles for albes, a lamp, and certaine
pieces of an old lamp, two iron roddes with stockynns upon
them, and two curteins of red and yellow, the pastall tapur
and eight endes of other tapurs, the sepultre without a hedd,
a cross cloth of green silk, a corp ---- case, a chalis and
patten, two table cloths, two surplises for men, one old cloth
to cover the com'n bord."
A "cupp and pott for the com'n bord" was purchased in 1566 at a cost of
3s., and 6d. for the carriage of it from London. The "frame where our
little bell hanged"--probably the sanctus bell--was taken down in 1580.
Fifteen years later, Nicholas Archbold, the churchwarden, chargeth
himself with 7s. 9d. "received from Fowlke Broughton for the old bible
of the church, and also with 12d., which this accountant, before the
sale thereof, received of one Mr. Morrys, a relator to the Council in
the Marches of Wales, in earnest of the said bible, which 12d. was
forfeited by him, for that he fetcht not the book as he p'mised." Mr.
Morris, no doubt, was more punctual in his subsequent dealings with
churchwardens. The old communion book was also disposed of for 3s. 4d.;
but "a newe fayer Englishe bible of the last translacon authorised in
the church" was purchased for 16s., and a new communion book for 6s. 8d.
Sittings in the church were paid for yearly, at the rate of from 4d.
to 6d. each. In 1567, a Mr. Doctor gave 5s. for a seat "which the
parishioners promised should remain to his house for ever." Also, in
the same year, "received of Mrs. Bland for the seat that her husband
paid for her frendes to knele in, 12d.;" and the keeper of the Castle
(then the county gaol) paid the like sum for himself and wife. A Mr.
Richard Jones was paid 3s. 4d. for preaching two sermons on Palm Sunday
in the year 1624; but the usual mode of paying ministers who did not
belong to the parish when they preached was by treating them with a
quart of sack, claret, or other wine. The Bishop sometimes preached
here; and on one occasion the vestry treated his lordship to a rundlett
of sack, costing £1. 10s. 10d., besides a quart of sack and a quart of
white wine--the rundlett probably for the use of the numerous suite
which bishops in those days always brought in their train, and the
other for his lordship's own dinner table on the day that he honoured
St. Michael's pulpit. On the same occasion a silk girdle, costing 8s.,
was given to Mr. Parr, one of the Bishop's chaplains, for preaching
twice. The number of needy and itinerant preachers in the seventeenth
century must have been considerable, judging from the frequent relief
allowed them. Probably one of these is referred to in the following
curious entry:
"Given to one that come with Tres patents out of Turkie, that
had bin long in prison for the maintenance of the ghospel,
vi_d_."
Muscadell was used for the communion wine. At Christmas the church was
decked with rosemary and bays, sometimes with ivy and holly. A curious
illustration of the poorness of the living occurs in these books. It
seems that about the year 1551, the living, which was a peculiar, in
the gift of the Dean and Chapter, lapsed to the Crown, and has so
continued ever since, it not being worth while to pay the expense of
the seals, &c., on account of the smallness of the rectory. The custom,
therefore, was for the parishioners to make a present of 40s. annually
to the parson--a sum equivalent to £20 of present money. In addition to
which, in the year 1627, their benevolence expanded into the donation
of a suit of clothes to his reverence, Mr. Hoskins. For this purpose
they purchased, "by general consent," five yards of "russett kersey,"
three yards of white cotton, half an ell of "russett bayes," an ell
and quarter of linen cloth, three dozen buttons, and silk, also a
sheepskin to make him pockets; all of which, including the making, cost
£1. 5s. A yearly pension was also paid by the church of Worcester (the
Cathedral) to one Roger Follyott, for the use of the parson of St.
Michael's, but about the year 1590 the said Roger fell into arrears;
a great controversy arose, which was settled by the Dean ordering him
to pay 50s. to the churchwardens. Much care seems to have been taken
of the parish records, and in 1630 a memorandum specifies that "the
church and parish evidences and writings were removed forth of the old
chest, and brought and put into the new frame of cubbords or boxes by
the feoffees of the lands belonging to the church and parish, and by
the churchwardens and divers others of the ancient and better rank of
the parish, on Sunday, Nov. 5," and five keys were distributed amongst
them with abundant precaution. The period was approaching in which all
their care and solicitude were necessary. The first indication of the
troublous period of the Civil Wars was the outlay of 12d. for a book of
"prayers for the Parliament for a fast." Then, in 1642 (the year of the
siege of Worcester), on the 24th of September, being the day when the
Earl of Essex took possession of the city, after defeating the Princes
Rupert and Maurice, and driving them, together with Lord Coventry,
Sir William Russell, and their forces, over the bridge towards
Herefordshire, a general pillage ensued, but the churchwardens of St.
Michael's apparently compromised the matter by "giving to captains
and soldiers for preserving our church goods and writings," 10s. 4d.
Widow Ward's chimney, however, was broken down by the soldiers, and its
reparation cost 12d.
The "coming of the princes" had been welcomed by a plentiful ringing
of the bells of St. Michael's, but "Colonel Essex" was treated to a
pottle of white wine and sugar at the Talbot. The jumbling together
of incidents at this period is amusing, for about the same time the
sum of half-a-crown was spent upon a Mr. Hackett, "in wine, beare, and
tobacko, he reading prayers and preaching with us;" also 17s. "for a
musket and bandeleer for the parish use, by command of the Governor
and Commissioners, remaining with Abraham Pilkington, trained souldier
for the parish." Providing one soldier seems to have been the fixed
requirement for this parish, as in 1560 a charge of 3s. 2d. was made
"for settyng forthe of a man in the warres to Berwick." The second
siege of Worcester was in 1646, but the only allusion to military
matters in that year are the donations of 5s. to "a soldier's wife
delivered of a child in the Dark Alley, her husband having gone from
her;" and 6d. "given in charity to one goodwife Packman, a very pore
woman, whose husband was killed at Stowe fight, and she beinge at old
Gyles his house in the Colledge, and in great miserie, was recommended
by Mr. Moore, one of the committee." The year 1651, when Cromwell's
crowning victory put the loyal city of Worcester to so much trouble,
left numerous traces of the event in the books of this parish. After an
inventory of the church plate and furniture then in their possession,
the churchwardens say that "All the rest of the parish goods were
plundered by Generall Cromwell's souldiers after the routinge of the
Scotish army at Worcester ye 4th September last, viz., one flaggon, a
pewter pott of three pints, one carpet of stript stuffe, half silk,
being the gift of Richard Wannerton, one fayre carpet of branched
green velvet, frindged about with deep green frindge, being the gift
of Nicholas Archbold, gent., one holland table cloth for the comm'n
table, one covering of fine holland to lay over the cushion upon the
com'n table, with buttons at the four corners thereof, one table
napkin of holland for the com'n board, two old velvet cushions." It
seems that shortly after this sanguinary struggle, a County Session
was held at Droitwich, and the sum of £500 was granted for the relief
of the poor of Worcester, so much impoverished in the war. St.
Michael's churchwardens acknowledge receiving the tenth part of this
sum; and at the same time there was also laid out the sum of £2. 9s.
4d. "for buryall of the Scots that were slain and dyed in our parish,
the Pallace, the Colledge, the Colledge Green, Castle Hill, and ye
precincts of the said several places, and of divers others that were
brought out of ye citty of Worcester and layd in the churchyard."
From this interesting entry it is evident that large numbers of the
combatants in those eventful days are resting beneath the sod of St.
Michael's churchyard--
"Their bodies dust--their good swords rust--
Their souls are with the saints, we trust."
Just a century later it was ordered that for all bodies buried in the
church the sum of one guinea should be paid, and a brick arch turned
"to avoid the offensive smells which the inhabitants too often have
been annoyed with;" and in October, 1767, appears the following:
"Ordered, that whereas it appears to us that the sextons of the
College having unjustly received for many years past 20s. for
the use of the Rev. the Dean and Chapter, and 8s. for their
trouble in receiving the same, making in the whole £1. 3s.,
for every person buryed in the said parish churchyard, not
being a parishioner, besides tacking of horses, and tolerating
pedlars and other strollers to sell their ware thereon, as
also in the passage leading unto the High Street, to the great
detriment of the parish and a nuisance to the community in
general, ordered that the officers of the said parish do set
forth their grievances to the Rev. Dean and Chapter, and humbly
request their assistance towards fencing the said churchyard
in a decent manner, the said parishioners having been at large
expense in repairing and beautifying the parish church, and a
numerous poor rendering them incapable of doing the whole."
About a century ago the parsonage house was ordered to be excused from
all manner of payments, upon consideration of the minister preaching
a sermon on Good Friday yearly; part of this parsonage house was
called "the coffee-house," and was probably used for that purpose. An
annual guinea was paid to the clerk "for singing a psalm every Sunday
_between_ the two services;" the same amount to Mr. Staples to act as
parish attorney to give his advice at any time; Mrs. Mary Linton was
allowed "to have the sole use of the gallery of the church in her time,
to take her scool there, on condition that she be at the expense of
a new staircase to the gallery;" and "ordered, that the parish pump
be locked down, and not to be used (except in case of fire) without
the parishioners who make use of it will contribute towards the late
expense of the said pump."
This brings us to the subject of parochial expenditure. The first year
that figures are introduced into the accounts (and then only for the
dates) was in 1557; small numerals were used in carrying out the sums
of the items until the year 1644, when figures regularly superseded
them. The churchwardens and their friends met and drank together on
Easter Day, chiefly at the Talbot, when new churchwardens were chosen,
also at the visitation, at "beating the parish bounds," going to
inspect the parish property at Clifton, Severn Stoke, and on many other
occasions. In 1624, on account of the perambulation, the church was
dressed with boughs and rushes, by the clerk, at a charge of 4d., and
the sum of 5s. 8d. was spent at the Talbot; the prisoners of the county
gaol received 6d. wherewith to forget their sorrows for a time, bread
was given to the poor, money to the ringers (there were three bells
and a "tinking bell" at that time); and 8d. was "paid to a bottman
for carrienge by water the minister and other of ye p'ishe when they
went the p'ambulacon round by the Castle Hill and B'pp's Pallace." The
poor had grown so numerous and burdensome by the year 1701, that an
order was made for no officer to spend money on any of these public
occasions; but the lust of the flesh soon reassumed its ancient sway,
for in the succeeding year a meeting of twenty of the parishioners,
including most of those who had been so considerate for the parochial
purse, ordered that the old custom of spending £1 at the perambulation
and election of officers should be revived. Many other subsequent
efforts at economy were made, but without any permanent effect; and
in 1778 I find that no less than £5 for processioning and 18s. for
cakes, besides other sums for various parish meetings, were allowed.
The total receipts of the parish in 1657 were £56. 4s. 3d., and the
disbursements £55. 2s. 9d., but of the balance in hand the accountant
observes--"in which money there was a leaden shilling which had long
been in the parish stock, and was now broken to pieces by consent of
ye parishioners." The Whitsun farthings paid by the officials from the
beginning of these records regularly amounted to 5d. per annum. For
an explanation of this item, as also for hoseling or houseling money,
which was regularly paid, see some of the following chapters.
It would seem that the poor were cared for as well as the imperfect
arrangements of those days permitted. Minute details are given of the
"rigging out" of parish apprentices. In 1623, Gervase and William
Johnes, two pauper lads, were put out, the former to Thomas Fletcher,
who received £1. 6s. with him; and the latter to William Spender, who
had £1. 10s.; in one case the indentures cost 4s., in the other 1s.
The two suits of apparel given to the lads were made of 8 yards of
Kidderminster stuff at 14d., 2 ells canvas to line their doublets, 2
ditto for their hosen, an ell straight lining, buttons and thread, 6
yards cotton at 7d. for their hosen, 1-1/2 dozen points 3d. (Query,
what were these?) 6-3/4 ells "huswife's cloth to make fower shirts" 6s.
9d., making 12d., washing old shirts 2d., making 2 doublets and 2 pair
of hozen 5s., 2 pair of stockings 2s., 2 bands 1s., 2 hats 4s., 2 pair
shoes 2s. 6d. One Stanton, a waggoner, was paid 7s. in August, 1635,
to carry a boy to London, and 2s. more "to let the sister of the boy
ride sometimes who went along with him." On the carrier's return he was
allowed 4d., "disbursed by him for victuals." Cider was given to Mary
Lench, a poor parishioner, in 1722, "to take two doses of physic in
for the jaundice, and 6d. to let her blood;" and subsequently, 6d. "to
buy alicampane powder and two leeches for her distemper." Mr. Sergeant
Groves was likewise treated to a shilling's worth of cider in 1707,
"when he was pleased to give his advice for the parish." In 1726,
"given to a pore widow near ye Palace, to buy a pair of specktacles
to see to work," 6d.; and "a pair of pumps for the foundling" was on
two or three occasions charged for, at 10d. each. Did this term denote
thin, light shoes? The sum of £5 was received by St. Michael's officers
every Christmas during the life of the good Bishop Hough, being their
share of £100 annually devoted by his lordship to the poor of this
city. There was beside a liberal amount of charitable bequests from
property left by benevolent persons, and many small sums to be lent
for the benefit of young beginners in trade. The parish possessed
houses in St. Peter's and St. Helen's; lands at Hanbury; Beanhall Farm,
Kempsey; a small estate at Clifton, in the parish of Severn Stoke, and
some other property. The churchwardens also regularly received a small
payment "for the Talbot passage," which was probably for a right of way
to the Talbot inn, there being a house belonging to the parish close
by the top of the Talbot entry. Considerable litigation occurred at
various periods with reference to the parochial possessions, especially
those at Severn Stoke. The churchwardens had occasionally to ride
to Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Bewdley, and Shrewsbury, where the Council
of the Marches sat, to obtain judgment in their suits, one of which
had reference to the sale of some trees by the churchwardens. More
on the subject of the jurisdiction of that Council will be found in
the chapter on St. Andrew's. The following looks like a case of grave
suspicion, in reference to a period when the character of judges was
not like that of Cæsar's wife, and when juries of "honest and true" men
did not disdain a "refresher." Robert Walker, the churchwarden in 1573,
hands in a "reckoning" thus:
"Paid at Evesham Assizes.
In p'mis, for the juries dinner. ix_s._ vi_d._
To John Wiche, for attending upon the jury. iv_d._
For m'gment (probably "management") of the p'vie
(privy) verdict. xii_s._
To the judge for the same. vi_s._ viii_d._
To the baylye Button for watching the jury. ii_s._"
The clerk of the assize, the crier, and others, also had their fees on
the occasion.