“Also, where as the curatis of the cyte have used often tyme herebefore to selle their offring (at mariag), whereby the pisshes where such sales be made comenly be lettid fro messe or matyns, and otherwhiles from both, by so moch as the frendis of the pties maryed vsen to goo abowte vij. or viij. dayes before, and desiryg men to offryg at such tymes as more conuenyent it were to be at diunyne seruice.  Plese it my Lord Mair, Aldirme, and Come Couseile, to puide remedy, so that the sayd custume be fordone and leid aparte.”—­p. 86.

“Also, to thentent that the ordre of priesthood be had in dew reuerence according to the dignite therof, and that none occasions of incontinence growe bee the famylyarite of seculer people.  Plese it my Lord Mayre, Aldirmen, and Comon Counsyll, to enacte that no maner persone beyng free of this citee take, receyue, and kepe from hensforth ony priest in comons, or to borde by the weke, moneth, or yere, or ony other terme more or lesse, vpon peine thervpon to be lymytyd, prouided that this acte extede not to ony prieste retayned wyth a citezen in famyliar housolde.”—­p. 89.

“Also, plese it my Lord Mayre, Aldyrmen, and Comon Counseylle, that a communication may be had wyth the curatis of this citee for oblacions whiche they clayme to haue of citezens agaynst the tenour of the bulle purchased att their owne instance, and that it may be determined and an ende taken, whervpon the citezens shall rest.”—­p. 89.

“Also, yf ther be ony priest in seruice within the warde, which afore tyme hath been sette in the toune in Cornhyll for his dishoneste, and hath forsworne the cyte, alle suche shulde bee presentyd.”—­p. 92.

Upon these I shall make no remark.  They will make different impressions on different readers; according to the extent of prejudice or liberality existing in different minds.  They show that even during the most absolute period of ecclesiastical domination, there was one spot in England where attempts to legislate for the priesthood (though perhaps feeble enough) were made.  The legislative {101} powers of the corporation were at that time very ample; and the only condition by which they appear to have been limited was, that they should not override an act of parliament or a royal proclamation.

Is there any specific account of the “tonne in Cornhyll” existing?  Its purpose, in connection with the conduit, admits of no doubt; the forsworn and dishonest priest had been punished with a “good ducking,” and this, no doubt, accompanied with a suitable ceremonial for the special amusement of the “’prentices."[3]

I have also marked a few passages relative to the police and the fiscal laws of those days, and when time permits, will transcribe them for you, if you deem them worthy of being laid before your readers.

T.S.D.