inhabited by rich or poor, receives a loaf.1

WHITSUN ALES, AND CHURCH HOUSES.

There is an ancient customary donation of a quantity of Malt, which is made annually at Whitsuntide by the Proprietor of Kempston Mill. The Malt is always delivered to the Overseers of the Poor for the time being, and brewed by them into Ale, which is distributed among all the poor inhabitants of Biddenham, in the County of Bedford, on Whit-Tuesday.2

Mr. AUBREY, in his Introduction to the Survey and Natural History of the North Division of the County of Wilts, p. 32, gives the following curious account of Whitsun Ales,

"There were no rates for the Poor in my Grandfather's days,—but for Kingston St. Michael (no small Parish) the ChurchAle of Whitsuntide did the business. In every Parish is (or was) a Church House, Rep. XII. p. 281. 2 Rep. vi. p. 33.

to which belonged spits, crocks, &c., utensils for dressing Provision. Here the Housekeepers met, and were merry, and gave their charity. The young people were there too, and had dancing, bowling, shooting at butts, &c., the ancients sitting gravely by, and looking on. All things were civil, and without scandal. The Church-Ale is doubtless derived from the Ayanaι, or Love Feasts, mentioned in the New Testament.'

And he adds, "Mr. A. Wood assures me, that there were no Alms-Houses, at least they were very scarce, before The Reformation, that, over against Christ Church, in Oxford, is one of the ancientest. In every Church was a poor man's box, but I never remembered the use of it,nay, there was one at great Inns, as I remember it was before the Wars.-These were the days, when England was famous for the grey goose quills."

In 1648, JOHN HARRIS, in consideration of the love and affection which he bore to the parishioners of Cheriton Fitz

.

paine, and for the better maintenance of their poor, granted to certain persons the moiety of a messuage, on the East side of the church-yard, called " The Church House," and the moiety of a parcel of ground, called "The Church Hay," adjoining the church-yard, and used theretofore as a place of recreation and sporting for the Youth of that parish,-reserving to himself, and his heirs, the use of the chamber of The Church House, called "The School House," for holding Courts, -and the feoffees to convert the said chamber to any other use, for the meetings of the Parishioners for the business of the parish.3

Near the gate of the Church-yard at Hackney, and adjoining to the street, is an ancient building, which is described in the Chantry-Roll at the Augmentation Office, as "a tenement buylded by the Parishioners, called The Churche-howse, that they might mete together and comen (commune) of matters as well for the

year

Kyng's business as for the Churche and Parishe, worth 20s. per annum. It appears by an inscription still remaining on the front, that it was built in the 1520, when CHRISTOPHER URSWICK was Rector. This house was for many years occupied by The Free School, but is now used again for it's original purpose.*

DOG WHIPPERS, AND SLEEPERS IN THE CHURCH.

There are certain donations, which it may be difficult to view with becoming gravity. In the Wills of four persons we find distinct Payments to be made to individuals, for whipping dogs out of the church during the time of Divine Service. And with equal solemnity, a person is directed to awaken Sleepers, who are thus unmindful of their devotions."

4

Lysons's Environs of London, vol. ii. p. 512.

5 Rep. iv. p. 249.-Rep. v. p. 635.-Rep. vii. p. 471. -Rep. vII. p. 582.

Rep. iv. p. 249.-Rep. v. p. 634.

The humourous account which is given of Sir ROGER de COVERLEY by THE SPECTATOR, No. 112., has, therefore, some grounds for it's reality,

"As Sir ROGER is Landlord to the whole Congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will suffer no body to sleep in it besides himself,-for, if by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at Sermon, upon recovering out of it he stands up and looks about him, and if he sees any body else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servant to them.'

Even at Oxford, so late as 1697, a bequest was made for a poor man, to sweep and keep clean the doors of St. Mary's Church, and to keep the same quiet from noise and disturbance during the time of Divine Service at Morning and Evening Prayers."

This is now, probably, the petty Officer of a Parish, called the "Beadle."

7 Rep. VI. p. 438.