AN

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF

THE ORIGIN OF THE COMMISSION,

APPOINTED TO INQUIRE CONCERNING

CHARITIES

IN ENGLAND AND WALES;

AND,

AN ILLUSTRATION OF

SEVERAL OLD CUSTOMS AND WORDS,

WHICH OCCUR IN

THE REPORTS.

BY NICHOLAS CARLISLE, F.R.S., M.R.I.A.,
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN TO HIS MAJESTY,

AND FELLOW AND SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES
OF LONDON.

AND NOW ABIDETH FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, THESE THREE; BUT THE
GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY.

1 Corinth. c. xiii. v. 13.

LONDON:

MESSRS. PAYNE AND FOSS, No. 81, PALL MALL.
1828.

Printed by W. Nicol, Cleveland-row, St. James's.

TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

CHARLES MANNERS SUTTON,

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

&c. &c. &c.

SIR,

WHEN I requested to have the

honour of Dedicating this Work to YOU, I anticipated the Courtesy which I should receive.

The Reports, to which the following Observations refer, have been welcomed by the Unanimous approbation of the Country, and are an eminent instance of