tants of Okebrook shall come and pay as before rehearsed. And if he be away at one Ale, to pay at the toder Ale for both, &c."[1]
Though this document is dated before the Reformation, times had not changed materially in this respect by 1602 when Carew first published his Survey of Cornwall. In it he says: "For the church-ale, two men of the parish are chosen by their best foregoers, to be wardens; who, dividing the task, make collection among the parishioners, of whatsoever provision it pleaseth them voluntarily to bestow. This they employ in brewing, baking, and other acates, against Whitsuntide; upon which holy-dayes the neighbours meet at the church-house, and there merily feed on their owne victuals, contributing some petty portion to the stock; which, by many smalls, groweth to a meetely greatness: for there is entertayned a kinde of emulation betweene these wardens, who by his graciousness in gathering, and good husbandry in expending, can best advance the churches profit. Besides the neighbour parishes at those times lovingly visit one another, and this way frankely spend their money together. The afternoons are consumed in such exercises as olde and yong folke (having leysure) doe accustomably weare out time withall." Stubbes, in the Anatomy of
- ↑ Vol. I., p. 177.
