deaconry of Buckingham,[1]and of these only twenty-two are returned
- Omnia bene.' Of the remainder about fifteen were in need of repair in
walls, porch or bell-tower, that is to say, by default of the parishioners ; while twice as many needed repair to the chancel, showing neglect on the part of the rector. Quite thirty of the rectors were non-resident, and their rectory-houses consequently in ruins ; about half a dozen had not sufficient books or vestments. The font was often not properly covered ; but the most conspicuous neglect was shown in the careless keeping of the churchyards, 45 of which were insufficiently enclosed, and constantly desecrated by cattle which came in to pasture there.[2] Cases of immorality reported among the people were not very numerous, but seven among the incumbents of churches were accused of having women of doubtful character to keep house for them.[3] In four or five cases it was complained that people talked and gossiped in church during the time of divine service. It seems to have been a case of ' as with the people, so with the priest.' The churches appropriate to religious houses were not at this time any better served than those under lay patronage : of several of these it was reported that there was no distri- bution of alms to the poor, and the abbey of Nutley in this county was sadly conspicuous for its neglect of the churches under its care, Ashen- don and Chetwode being in a ruinous condition, Hillesden and Dorton devoid of chaplains altogether[4] few specially bad cases may be given in detail. The church of Ellesborough, appropriate to Sandwell Priory, was altogether in decay, so that the divine offices, when said at all, were said in a ruin. The rectory house was quite fallen down, owing to the non-residence of the rector, who neither served the church himself nor provided any honest vicar to take his place, so that for the most part there were no services at all. And the prior of Sandwell, while he allowed this state of things to go on, drew every year 10 marks from the parish and exacted four quarters of wheat besides. At Marsworth, appropriate to Caldwell Priory, both chancel and church were in decay ; there was no distribution of alms to the poor ; the vicar was very old and had women in his house. At Hardwick the rector was ' not peace- ful but litigious ' ; he had struck one of his parishioners and torn his clothes, and drawn his sword upon another ; he was not regular in reciting the evening offices and allowed his chancel and rectory to remain in a ruinous condition. At Hawridge the rector was non-resident, and left his cure to be served by a most unfit person, who thought more of sport than of the duties of his office [5] he lived out of his parish, at Chesham, and even in the Holy Week sometimes said the whole office
- ↑ The following account from the original returns of the Visitations of Bishop Atwater in the Alnwick Tower at Lincoln.
- ↑ In two cases they were deliberately sent in ; once by a rector, once by the farmer of a rectory.
- ↑ It is only fair to explain that though the phrase used is sometimes feminam (or mulierem) suspfctam, in other cases it is simply stated ' the rector has a woman in his house ' ; by which perhaps no reproach may be intended ; for in two other instances it is said that the rector has his sister living with him, as if even that were an unusual circumstance.
- ↑ The chapels of Brill and Boarstall, appropriate to St. Frideswide, were also destitute of chaplains.
- ↑ He is described as lusor ad pilam pedalem in camisia sua, and as playing at other games besides.
300
