as an offering at churching, occasionally figure in the wardens’ receipt items.  See, e.g., J.E.  Foster, St. Mary the Great (Cambridge) Acc’ts, 156 (1565-7), et passim.  St. Thomas, Sarum, Acc’ts, 282 (Chrisoms farmed out by the parish in 1562-3.  In 1567-8 the value of the chrisom offerings is 40s.).  See Introd. to St. Edmund and St. Thomas, Sarum, Acc’ts, p. xix.

[294] See p. 27 supra.  Also p. 35 supra.

[295] Provision for the poore now in penurie Out of the Store-House of Gods plentie, Explained by H. A[rth], London, 1597 (No pagination).  “Wednesday suppers” refers to fasting nights appointed by proclamation or by statute.  A not uncommon entry in the act-books is “no levy of the fyne of 12d.”  See, e.g., Manchester Deanery Visit., 57, et passim.  Barnes’ Eccles.  Proc., 119, et passim.  Hale, Crim.  Prec., passim.  Cf. in Bishop Stortford Acc’ts (J.L.  Glasscock, Rec. of St. Michael, B. S.), 64, the rubric:  “Rec. of defaultes for absence” (9 names follow, each for 12d., except one for 3s.). Dean of York’s Visit., 215 (Hayton wardens report to commissary that they have a small sum from absentees yet undistributed to the poor:  “But it shalbe shortlie”. 1570).

[296] See examples in note 32, pp. 19 supra.

[297] Warrington Deanery Visit., 189 (Penance of three days standing in white sheet for fornication commuted—­the offender “humiliter petens”—­to 13s. 4d. to be paid to vicar and wardens of Ormschurch to be distributed to poor, etc.).  Hale, Crim.  Prec., 232-3 (Commutation of a penance for having a bastard into L5 to be paid for the repair of St. Paul’s, London, and also into 34s. 4d. to be paid to wardens of Horndon-on-the-Hill for the poor. 1606).  See also Chelmsford Acc’ts, 212 (20s. received in 1560 “toward the pavynge of oure churche for part of his penance"). Abbey Parish Church Estate Acc’ts, s. a. 1578 (20s. received for a “purgation” to go to parish poor and to church).

[298] For some interesting receipt items see The Westminster Tobacco Box, Pt. ii, Overseers Acc’ts, 18 ff. (Fines in 1569 from a player beating a drum in service time; for selling coals on Candlemas day; for selling wood on Sunday; for driving a cart on that day, etc.  In 1570 fines are received for retailing during service time, from proceeds of forfeitures of pots and dishes, etc., etc.).  Wandsworth Acc’ts, Surrey Arch.  Coll., xviii, 146 (Receipts for 1599 from fines for bricklaying on Sunday; for being in ale-house at service time—­a number).

[299] See John Hawarde, Les Reportes del Cases in Camera Stellata. 1593-1609 ed.  W.P.  Baildon (1894), passim.  E.g., p. 91 (Offender fined L10 to use of poor for not laying sufficient ground to his cottages). Ibid. (Ed. Framingham, of Norfolk, fined L40 to use of poor for same offence.  Oct. 14th, 1597). Ibid., 71 (Council commend a justice of the peace for condemning a Wilts engrosser to sell his corn to the poor 8d. under the price he paid for it).