Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T09:44:11.819Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

XXII. Extracts from the Churchwardens' Accounts of the Parish of Wing, in the county of Buckingham. In a Letter addressed by Frederic Ouvry, Esq., Treasurer S.A., to John Payne Collier, Esq., Vice-President

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2012

Get access

Extract

The parish of Wing, from the accounts of which I purpose to make some extracts, is situated on an elevated ridge overlooking the Vale of Aylesbury; distant some three miles from Leighton Buzzard, nine from Aylesbury, and about the same distance from Tring.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1855

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

page 221 note a The family of Fountain still exists in the neighbourhood. In the church there was formerly an inscription to the following effect: viz., “Pray for the soules of John Fountayne and Margaret, which John ordered this stone, inthe yere of oure Lord God 1515. On whose soul J'hu have mercy.” Buckmaster is also now a common name in the vicinity.

page 222 note a Added above the line in a different hand.

page 222 note b Sir Ralph Verney, of Penley, knight, by his will proved in the Prerogative Court 20 May, 1525, bequeathed as follows: viz., “Item. I will that the gownes of dame Anne Verney, late my wife, doo make vestiments to be given to Churches according to the discretion of myne Executours.”—Verney Papers, page44. No doubt this ”borther of Clothe of Goolde ” had formed part of dame Anne Verney's wardrobe.

page 223 note a The lightmen, especially of the sepulchre, appear at times to have paid over certain sums to the churchwardens.

page 224 note a The accounts do not show the payment in the previous year to Mr. Robert Dormer and Mr. A. More of this large sum. Robert Dormer was knighted on the 18th Oct. 1537, and in 35th Henry VIII., on the dissolution of Monasteries, obtained a grant to himself and Jane his wife, daughter of John Newdegate, of Harefield, Serjeant-at-law, in fee of the Manor of Wing, part of the possessions of St. Mary de Pré, or de Pratis, near St. Alban's.

Of John à More's family, I find the following inscription was formerly in the church. “Here lyeth John Meredene, otherwere called John of More, the which John died the 30th day of Aug., in the yere of our Lord God 1489; on whose soul God have mercy. Amen.” This was probably on a brass, which showed that he had four sons and nine daughters.

page 225 note a Henry de Weld was vicar 1351.

page 225 note b It is probable that Thomas Mayne was of the same family as Simon Mayne of Dinton, the Regicide. In the Visitation Book of Bucks, anno 1634, in the College of Arms, is the following pedigree of Mayne, and though Thomas Mayne is not foundin it, yet it commences with Jo. Mayne, of Ascott, a hamlet of Wing.

page 226 note a John Fountain appears to have left to the parish a legacy of 20s., and the churchwardens show their gratitude by expending 8d. on his tomb.

page 226 note b I am unable to explain the meaning of “Lady of Gesofe.”

page 226 note c In the succeeding year this is called “the Church all at Octyde,” and “Hocke Ayle.” (See Brand, vol. L, as to Hocking and Hocktide.)

page 227 note a It appears by the payments of this year that the parish went to very considerable expense in purchasing organs and other ornaments from Woburn; probably on the dissolution of the Monastery there.

page 227 note b This “headland” is probably what is called St. Mary way in 1529, ante

page 228 note a This entry is in a different handwriting, probably theautograph of Sir Thomas.

page 229 note a This is the first entry of the receipt of a fine for burying within the church.

page 229 note b This is the first mention of this important official.

page 229 note c Grove is a neighbouring parish, the population of which is now very trifling.

page 229 note d This is the last payment to the organ-player. The organ, however, remained, and was repaired on the accession of Queen Mary.

page 229 note e There is no May ale this year; possibly on account of the sickness.

page 230 note a Robert Dobleye, or Daubene as it is afterwards written, paid some of the yearly instalments, but not the whole debt.

page 230 note b I am not clear whether these two items relate to 1547 or 1548. I believe the former year, in which case the accounts for the latter year are wholly wanting. The sale of the church goods was no doubt consequent on the accession of EdwardVI., and had probably been ordered by the bishop at his visitation.

page 231 note a By a proclamation dated 30th April, 1551, intituled “A proclamation set furthe by the Kynges Maiesty, with the advise of his most honorable Priuey Counsayll, for the valuacion of the shillinges and grotes to a meaner and lower value and rate,” the value of the shilling was reduced to ninepence, and that of the groat to threepence: a copy of this proclamation is in the Collection of the Society. About August following a further reduction by proclamation was made to sixpence and twopence. (See Euding, vol. ii. 106, &c.)

page 231 note b I presume these were the Commissioners to review the Ecclesiastical Laws, and draw a body out of them. See Collier's Eccles. Hist. (Barham) v. 479.

page 231 note c This was the Book of Articles drawn up by Cranmer. “Articuli de quibus in synodo Londinensi, anno 1552, inter episcopos et alios eruditos viros convenerat ad tollendam opinionum dissentionem et consensum verse religionis firmandum regia autoritate in lucem editi.” (See Collier's Ecc. His. (Barham) v. 476.)

page 232 note a 1 suppose the Communion Service, published separately.

page 232 note b King Edward VI. was now dead. The purchase of a Mass-book marks the accession of Queen Mary.

page 232 note c Under the chancel is a crypt of very rude work. It appears formerly to have been entered by steps descending on each side of the steps which leadup to the chancel.

page 234 note a Certain coins called rose-pence had been coined and sent to Ireland, which were returned to England and uttered as current coin. This was suppressed by proclamation dated 16th Sept. in this year, a copy of which is in the Society'sCollection. (See also Ruding, vol. ii. 129.)

page 234 note b No May ale this year.

page 234 note c Probably Queen Elizabeth's injunctions. (See Collier's Ecc. Hist. (Barham) vi 256.)

page 235 note a It seems evident that the people of Wing, probably from the influence of the Dormer family, were willing enough to restore the altars on the accession of Mary, but were slow to pull them down at the command of Elizabeth. The summoner, however, was good-natured, or at least accessible to the softening influence of a bribe.

page 235 note b The curious order here referred to is on what is now fo. 176, and which probably was originally thelast page of this book. The accounts previous to fo. 176 extend to the year 1659, and by the inscription on the cover the book would appear to have been rebound in that year. Additional pages were then doubtless added, upon which the accounts are continued to 1723. I have thought it best to place the order under the year in which it appears to have been made.

page 237 note a Probably the Defence of the Apology, published in 1567. (See Jewell's Works (Parker Society), Biographical Memoir, p. xxviii.)

page 237 note b The Queen probably only passed through Wing. She was at Chenies and Rycot in this year, and may have travelled through Wing in passing from one to the other. In 1554 she had slept at Mr. Dormer's at Wing on her journey from Woodstock to Hampton Court.

page 238 note a This must have been the Bishops' Bible, first printed in 1568.

page 238 note b St. Hugh's day was the 17th November, the day on which Elizabeth became queen.

page 238 note c “A booke of certaine canons concernyng some parte of the discipline of the churche of England.” 4to. Lond., by John Daye, 1571.

page 238 note d Exposition of Lessons from the Old Testament, by Thomas Cooper, Bishop of Lincoln. 4to. 1573.

page 239 note a “Articles agreed upon in the Convocation at Westminster, MDLXXV.” 4to. Lond. by Ric. Jugge, n. d. A copy is in the Bodleian Library.

page 239 note b There seems a blunder in this entry, as there was a May ale in 1579.

page 240 note a This entry does not occur in the interval from 1582.

page 240 note b The receipts for this year are partly wanting. An edition of the Thirty-nine Articles was published n i 1593, and may be the book here referred to.

page 240 note c Possibly the Second Book of Homilies.

page 241 note a The existing Register commences 1546, and is continuedin the same book down to 1749. It would seem, therefore, that in this year the old book wasadded to, and rebound.

page 241 note b I do not find any book of Jewel's published aboutthis time.

page 241 note c “A fourme of prayer, with thanksgiving, to be used yeerly on Aug. 5, for his highness deliverance from earl Gowry's traiterous attempt.” 4to Lond. 1603.

page 241 note d “Certaine prayers collected out of a forme of Godly meditations set forth by his majesty's authoritie, most necessary to be used in the present visitation.” 4to Lond. 1603.