Thomas Sparke, capellanus, in 1504, He resigned, and his successor was

Henry Molle, capellanus, who on the 19th of December, 1504, was collated by Archbishop Warham, to whom the right of presentation devolved by the neglect of Ellen Weldon, widow of Robert Weldon, and that of the Vicar and the churchwardens of the Church of Croydon, who did not present within the time limited by the Founder.

Richard Parrer, capellanus, who, on the presentation of Ellen Weldon, widow, and Hugh Weldon gent. was admitted on the 31st of January 1508. He resigned, and after him

came

Henry Marshall, capellanus, who, being presented by the same Patrons, was admitted on the 2d of June, 1509. Upon his death the presentation devolved to Archbishop Warham, by whom was collated

William Shanke, capellanus, on the 19th of October, 1521. Upon his death succeeded

Nicholas Sommer, capellanus, who was admitted on the 11th of May, 1531, on the presentation of Hugh Weldon, Esq. He was the last Incumbent, and had at the dissolution of this Chauntry, in the first year of King Edward VI. a pension of £6 13 4 allowed him for life.

Copy of a decree of the Court of Exchequer.

Jovis die Februarii 1679-80*.

WHEREAS Walter Hatcher, gentleman, Christopher Bowyer, William Greene, Thomas Piggot, John Leake, Thomas Harding and Elizabeth Suelling, widow, for and on the behalf of themselves and all others, owners or occupiers of any messuages, lands, or tenements, for which any tithes or dues are payable, within the town and Parish of Croydon, in the county of Surrey, did heretofore (that is to say) in Michaelmas Term, in the nine and twentieth year of his Majesty's reign, that now is, exhibit their English Bill into this Court, against William Clewer, Doctor in Divinity, Vicar of Croydon aforesaid, in the said county of Surrey; for the establishing and confirming of certain ancient and laudable customs, usages, and manner of payment of tithes, which during the time, whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary, have been used within the town and parish of Croydon aforesaid, and further setting forth that the Plaintiffs are occupiers of certain lands and tenements in the parish of Croydon aforesaid, in the said county of Surrey, and that the Vicars of the said parish have time out of mind received part of the tithes belonging to the said Vicarage in kind, and in composition in lieu thereof, which being paid, ought to be accepted in lieu of all tithes, except such as are hereinafter particularly mentioned, to be paid in kind, viz: (to wit) for the tithe of every cow, and the proceed of such, four-pence: for every working horse

* Hilary Term, 31 and 32, Charles II. No. 17, page 201.

four-pence; for every colt above two years old, two-pence; for every dry beast, two-pence; the tenth in kind of pigs, except of the first farrow; for every garden and orchard, whereof the owner makes no benefit by the sale of any thing that grows therein, one penny; for every sign at an inn, or ale-house, six-pence; for every master tradesman for his apron, four-pence; for every cock, one penny, in lieu of tithe eggs; the tenth in kind of all apples, pears, plumbs, and other fruit and herbs that follow the spade, the owner whereof doth sell and make profit thereof; for every single man receiving the Sacrament, four-pence; for every single woman, three-pence; for every man and his wife, five-pence; for every marriage, the banns being published in the parish church, two shillings and four-pence; for every marriage by licence, five shillings; for every man taking a wife out of the said parish, and not marrying her therein, five shillings; for churching every woman, eight-pence; for every person buried in the church-yard of the said church, above the age of two years, two shillings, and under that age, one shilling and four-pence; for burying every person above the aforesaid age, without a coffin, one shilling, and the like for every person of the same age, buried at the parish charge; for every parishioner above the age aforesaid, buried in the body of the said church, six shillings and eight-pence; for reading the burial, two shillings; for every person under the said age, three shillings and four-pence; for reading the burial, two shillings; and for every stranger, double duties; for every person buried in any of the chancels of the said church, above the age of two years, thirteen shillings and four-pence; for every person under the said age, six shillings and eight-pence; for reading the burial to either person, two shillings; and for every stranger double duties, as aforesaid; for going before the corpse of a deceased parishioner, one shilling, and of a stranger, two shillings; the tenth fleece of wool, shorne within the said parish; for the fall of every lamb, two-pence; and the tithe in kind of honey; which payments ought to be made at Easter,

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or some other certain times in the year, yearly: that the aforesaid tithes, duties, and compositions, have been time out of mind, paid to, and accepted by the Vicars of Croydon afore said, for the time being, or his farmers and deputies in manner and form as aforesaid; that, although, the premises are well known to the defendant, yet the said defendant, by confederacy with divers persons, doth endeavour to infringe, violate, and destroy the aforesaid ancient and laudable customs and usages of the said parish of Croydon, and endeavours to introduce duties and exactions of his own devising, which were never before demanded or paid within the said parish. That, therefore (and for that several of the witnesses which are able to prove the said ancient custom, are aged and infirm) the said defendant may set forth what payments and daties ought to be paid to him as Vicar of the said parish, for the before-mentioned lesser tithes, and for what respective messuages and tenements, when, by whom, and in what raaner, the same ought to be paid, and whether he hath not been informed of the said customs, and might set forth what they are, as he believes," and might set forth why the same ought not to be observed. And that the said ancient and laudable customs, usages, and manner of payment of tithes within the said parish, to the Vicar there, might be established and confirmed by the decree of this Court, and that the defendant might be stayed in his proceedings at law against the plaintiffs, and might answer the premises; and that the depositions already taken in Chancery, touching the same matter, might be made use of at the hearing of this cause, and the plaintiffs relieved in the premises, is the scope of the bill. To which bill, the defendant, being duly served with processes, appeared and answered, and by his answer set forth, that he knows not that any other of the owners or occupiers of lands or tenements within the parish of Croydon, are privy to the bill, or the matters therein contained. And is advised, that in regard to the scope of the said bill, is to have a settlement of divers customs for payment of tithes, and

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other duties, the plaintiffs ought to have made the patron and ordinary of the diocese, parties to their bill; and also doth not know what customs have been used time out of mind within the said parish, for payment of tithes and duties, or compositions in lieu thereof to the Vicar; nor that such as in the bill are set forth, have been time out of mind used within the said parish; but believes the contrary, because, by some ancient endowment he finds the tithes to be much otherwise than in the bill. And the defendant further by his answer sets forth, that he knows not of such custom, as by the bill, for the tithe of a cow, and has been paid otherwise for the same; and saith he has been informed there was such a custom for the tithe of an horse, mare, and colt, and hath not demanded or received otherwise than according to the same; knows not any such custom for the tithe of a dry beast, or pigs, as in the bill; nor of any garden, orchard, inn, ale-house, trades, man, or eggs, as by the bill is set forth. And further saith, that he has received for gardens, yearly tithe in kind, or money agreed for the same; for every inn, or ale-house, sixpence; and for every tradesman's apron, six-pence; and for eggs, he hath not received any, and therefore cannot set forth what is due for the same; believes that for fruit, it hath been usually paid in kind, or money, in lieu thereof, and accordingly, the defendant, or his farmer, hath received the same; and in like manner, for herbs, and things which follow the spade; knows not of such custom for persons receiving the sacrament, or marriages, as in the bill; or for churching of women, but having been informed of such custom, has sub→ mitted thereto. And the defendant, further by his answer, sets forth that he knows not of the custom concerning the bu rials; but having been informed thereof, has submitted thereto, except for a person under two years of age, buried in the church, for which he hath two shillings, and no more, and except where persons are buried at the parish charge, in a coffin, in which case, he demands the same as if buried by their friends, believes tithe wool is payable in kind, and also tithe