SERIES XXVI NOS. 7-8
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY STUDIES
IN
HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
Under the Direction of the Departments of History, Political Economy,
and Political Science
THE ELIZABETHAN PARISH IN ITS ECCLESIASTICAL AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS
BY
SEDLEY LYNCH WARE, A.B., LL.B.
Fellow in History.
PUBLISHED MONTHLY
July-August, 1908
PREFACE
These chapters are but part of a larger work on the Elizabethan parish
designed to cover all the aspects of parish government. There is need
of a comprehensive study of the parish institutions of this period,
owing to the fact that no modern work exists that in any thorough way
pretends to discuss the subject. The work of Toulmin Smith was written
to defend a theory, while the recent history of Mr. and Mrs. Webb
deals in the main with the parish subsequent to the year 1688. The
material already in print for such a study is very voluminous, the
accumulation of texts having progressed more rapidly than the use of
them by scholars.
My subject was suggested to me by Professor Vincent, to whom as well
as to Professor Andrews I am indebted for advice and assistance
throughout this work. In England I have to thank Messrs. Sidney Webb,
Hubert Hall and George Unwin, of the London School of Economics, for
reading manuscript and suggesting improvements. For similar help and
for reference to new material my acknowledgments are due to Mr. C.H.
Firth, Regius Professor of Modern History, Oxford, and to Mr. C.R.L.
Fletcher, of Magdalen College. At the British Museum I found the
officials most courteous, while the librarians of the Peabody
Institute, Baltimore, have given me every aid in their power.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT OF THE PARISH.
ITS IMPORTANCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ARCHDEACONS' COURTS
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM ACT BOOKS OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
CHURCHWARDENS' DUTIES
MINISTERS' DUTIES
OBLIGATIONS EXACTED FROM ALL ALIKE
CONTROL OF CHURCH OVER EDUCATION AND OPINION
HOW COURTS CHRISTIAN ENFORCED THEIR DECREES
EFFECTIVENESS OF EXCOMMUNICATION
EVILS AND ABUSES OF THE SYSTEM
JURISDICTION OF QUEEN'S JUDGES IN ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS