[311] Morebath Acc’ts (ed.  Binney), 34, s. a. 1531, seem to offer a genuine example of such a payment of Peter’s pence.  But the Minchinhampton wardens (Acc’ts in Archaeologia, xxxv, 422 ff.), confuse their payments to the mother church, made in 1575 ff., with Peter’s pence.  See, e.g., s. a. 1575, the entry:  “to the sumner [or apparitor] for peterpence or smoke farthynges sometyme due to the Anthecriste of roome ... xd.”

[312] See, e.g., Sam’l.  Barfield, Thatcham, Berks, and its Manors, ii, 122 (Midgham and Greenham called upon against their will for contributions to mother church). Surtees Soc., lxxxiv, 123 (Dispute ending in a suit between St. Oswald and St. Margaret. 1595 ff.). Memorials of Stepney, 1-2 (Parishioners of Stratford Bow forced to contribute to St. Dunstan’s, the mother church).

[313] E.g., the vestry of St. Christopher-le-Stocks, London (Minutes, ed E. Freshfield), agree to cess “the parishioners” for money to prosecute a suit for certain parish lands in 1585-6.  When the lands were recovered each was to have his money back (Minutes, p. 12).  But those assessed numbered only 38 (p. 13), whereas we see by a list (p. 12) that 43 persons were here assessed for the Queen’s subsidy; and subsidy men were the wealthier men of the parishes.  Cf. assessment at Lapworth for Barford bridge levied on 26 tenements, cottagers not being assessed.  Hudson, Memorials of a Warwickshire Parish, 115.

[314] Hale, Crim.  Prec., 198 (One Spencer presented for not paying his proportion for the ringing on the Queen’s anniversary, “being rated at iiijd.”) Hudson, op. cit. supra (Barford bridge assessment of 4s. 4d. spread out over 26 tenements).

[315] Canterbury Visit, xxvii, 214 (John Basset “cessed” at 2d. a quarter, but thought well able to pay 3d. for the clerk’s wages.  Robert Sawyer, ditto. 1577). St. Margaret, Lothbury, Minutes, 16 (ed.  E. Freshfield), where in 1584 thirty-four parishioners make a “free offer” of sums from 2d. to 6s. 8d. to pay a lecturer. Ibid., 10 (18 parishioners give from 1d. to L2 towards the erecting of a clock. 1577).

[316] Rates for bread and wine were commonly so levied.  See supra, p. 78 and note 80.

[317] See p. 80 supra and note 87.

[318] Houghton-le-Spring Acc’ts, Surtees Soc., lxxxiv, 271 (1596).  Binney, Morebath Acc’ts, 34 (1531). Ibid., 85 (1536).

[319] E.g., See Hale, Churchwardens’ Prec., passim, e.g., where the parishioners of Elstree ("Idlestrye"), Herts, cannot agree in 1585/6, some contending for assessment “by their welthe and goods only, and some others do require that the taxation might be made by the acres of grounde only.” Canterbury Visit., xxvii, 218 (2d. an acre). Ibid., xxv, 42 (4d. an acre). Ibid., xxvi, 33 (Ploughland of 140 acres paying 6s. 8d. for clerk’s wages). Ibid., xxv, 33 (Two “cesses” at Minster church, one at 20d. the score [of pounds?], the other at 12d.). The Reliquary, xxv, 18 (Levy made in Morton, Derbysh., of 8d. the oxgang of 15 acres).