[243] E.g., in St. Michael’s in Bedwardine (Acc’ts ed.  John Amphlett) one Stanton left 50s. to the poor in 1588 (Acc’ts, p. 97-8).  Robt.  Chadbourne paid 5s. for the use of this money for several years (Acc’ts, p. 108, etc.).  It then was loaned to John Brayne, an entry being made from time to time that the principal was owing as well as the interest (Acc’ts p. 108).  Brayne paid the 50s. to the wardens in Sept., 1595.  Cf. preceding note (Cartmel school money).

[244] St. Michael’s in Bedwardine Acc’ts, supra, 96 (One Fletcher loaned 30s. in 1586, he depositing with the wardens “a gilt salt with a cover").  For numerous gratuitous loans of parish money, see the Mere Acc’ts, Wilts Arch. and Nat.  Hist.  Mag., xxxv (1907), passim.  Cf. also the document of 1586 relating to the parish of Heavitree, in Devon Notes and Quer., i (1901), 61, where it is stipulated (inter alia) that if any parishioner of good character upon reasonable cause shall desire to borrow from any surplus funds of the church for a season, “such a one shall not be denyed.”

[245] See Wilts Arch.  Mag., xxxv.  Cf.  J.E.  Foster, St. Mary the Great (Cambridge) Acc’ts (1905), 208.

[246] In 1564 the parishioners of Chagford, Devon, bought from the lord of the manor for L10 the local markets and fairs, subject to a yearly rent of 16s., which they had always paid as tenants.  They then repaired and enlarged the market house.  Presumably their venture was a profitable one, for in 1595 the revenue from these markets and fairs was L3 10s.  G.W.  Ormerod in Devon Assoc. for Adv. of Science, etc., viii (1876), 72.  Same, Local Information reprinted from the Chagford Parish Mag. (1867) in Topographical Tracts in Brit.  Mus.  As it was sometimes hard for the authorities to prevent the churchwardens from utilizing the church for plays, so it was hard for them to keep the wardens from giving up the churchyard or outlying portions of the church structure for fairs and stall-holders.  In Herts Co.  Rec.  Quarter Sess.  Rolls (ed.  W.J.  Hardy, 1905), p. 13, we read, s. a. 1591-2, that a presentment was made that some part of the “fayer of Starford has usually been kept within the compase of the churchyard.”  See also St. Edmund and St. Thomas, Sarum, Acc’ts (ed.  H.J.F.  Swayne, Wilts Rec.  Soc. 1896), introd., p. xxiii (St. Edmund’s fair held within and without the churchyard.  Wardens receipts from cheesesellers, butchers, etc., for stalls and standings).