The custom of the clerk carrying round the parish Easter cakes prevailed also at Milverton, Somerset, and at Langport in the same county.]

In addition to his regular wages and to the dues received for delivering holy water and in connection with the holy loaf, the clerk enjoyed sundry other perquisites.  At Christmas he received a loaf from every house, a certain number of eggs at Easter, and some sheaves when the harvest was gathered in.  Among the documents in the parish chest at Morebath there is a very curious manuscript relating to a prolonged quarrel with regard to the dues to be paid to the clerk.  This took place in the year 1531 and lasted until 1536.  This document throws much light on the customary fees and gifts paid to the holder of this office.  After endless wrangling the parishioners decided that the clerk should have “a steche of clene corn” from every household, if there should be any corn; if not, a “steche of wotis” (oats), or 3 d. in lieu of corn.  Also 1 d. a quarter from every household; at every wedding and funeral 2 d.; at shearing time enough wool for a coat.  Moreover, it was agreed that he should have a clerk’s ale in the church house.  It is well known that church ales were very common in medieval times, when the churchwardens bought, and received presents of, a large quantity of malt which they brewed into beer.  The village folk collected other provisions, and assembled in the church house, where there were spits and crocks and other utensils for dressing a feast.  Old and young gathered together; the churchwardens’ ale was sold freely.  The young folk danced, or played at bowls or practised archery, the old people looking gravely on and enjoying the merry-making.  Such were the old church ales, the proceeds of which were devoted to the maintenance of the poor or some other worthy object.  An arbour of boughs was erected in the churchyard called Robin Hood’s Bower, where the maidens collected money for the “ales.”  The clerk in some parishes, as at Morebath, had “an ale” at Easter, and it was agreed that “the parish should help to drink him a cost of ale in the church house,” which duty doubtless the village folk carried out with much willingness and regularity.

[Illustration:  THE OLD CHURCH-HOUSE AT HURST. BERKSHIRE NOW THE CASTLE INN]

[Illustration:  THE OLD CHURCH-HOUSE AT UFFINGTON.  BERKS NOW USED AS A SCHOOL]

Puritanism gradually killed these “ales.”  Sabbatarianism lifted up its voice against them.  The gatherings waxed merry, sometimes too merry, so the stern Puritan thought, and the ballad-singer sang profane songs, and the maidens danced with light-footed step, and it was all very wrong because they were breaking the Sabbath; and the ale was strong, and sometimes people drank too much, so the critics said.  But all reasonable and sober-minded folk were not opposed to them, and in reply to some inquiries instituted by Archbishop Laud, the Bishop of Bath and Wells made the following report: