_Meaning of Senage_ (Vol. iv., p. 6.).--Have the kindness to inform W.
H., that in my extracts from the Parish Account Book of St. Peter's
Mancroft in this city, under the years 1582 and 1588, are entered as
follows:--
"1582. Pd to the Bisshopp for Senage Money ... xxjd.
1588. Pd for Senage and Proxage to the Bisshopp, ixd."
In Cowel's _Law Dictionary_, by Thomas Manley, folio, 1701, under the
term "Senege," he says:
"There goes out yearly in Proxage and Senage 33_s._ 6_d._ Perhaps
senege may be money paid for Synodals, as Proxyes or
Procurations." "Proxyes are yearly payments made by parish priests
to their bishop, or archdeacon, in _lieu of victuals for the
visitor and his attendants_" (which it was formerly the custom to
provide).
"Senage. The Senes be only courts to gather Senage and Proxye. The
bishop should hold a Synod or Sene twice a year."--Becon's
_Reliques of Rome_, p. 213.
"The priests should come to the Sene as they were wont to do."
The senes, courts, or ecclesiastical councils, were held for the purpose
of correcting any neglect or omissions of the Church Reeves (as they
were called), and fining them for such omissions, as well as receiving
the usual and accustomed payments; and sometimes they were fined for
having _secreted some Catholic reliques_, which were discovered by the
visitors (of course after the Reformation), as I have found entries of
fines having been paid; and more frequently are entries of "Payd for the
withdraft" of the charge for some neglect in not providing articles
necessary for the performance of divine worship.
In Sir Thomas More's _Works_, folio, 1557, pp. 909., 991., "Senes or
Indightments" (perhaps Citements or Citations) are mentioned.
No doubt (I think) the term _senege_ is derived from these courts being
termed "Senes" and "Seens."