Page:VCH London 1.djvu/407

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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY certain ' filthy annoyances ' from the chapel behind the high altar in St. Saviour's Southwark, which he rented. He ignored the injunction, and in the following December the vestry were informed that he was still using the chapel as a ' swine-stable.' "* His lease was cancelled in consequence,^*' but was renewed in 1579 on the understanding that he would keep the chapel 'sweet and clean.*' There are a few instances, besides fines for Sabbath-breaking,'" of the exercise of that ' godly discipline,' '** which was so fast dying out in the EngUsh Church. In 1569 the churchwardens of St. Olave's Southwark purchased 'a penitent stool for the church '; "" and in 161 9 the church- wardens of St. John's Walbrook paid a charge in the archdeacon's court for the bringing of a woman into public penance in the church."" At some churches ' token money ' was collected once or twice in the year and given to the parson. This was the case for example in 1559—62 at St. Olave's Southwark, where the money was gathered at Easter ; '" and at St. Margaret's Westminster, where it was collected regularly at Easter and Trinity from 1566 onwards."^ Tokens were in use at St. Botolph's Aldgate in 1597,"' and at St. Margaret's Lothbury in 1584."* Considerable sums were spent by some parishes on their church music, payments being made to organ-makers, ' organ-keepers,' organists, ' conduckes,' '^^ players on wind- instruments,"' and singing-men, who were frequently hired to assist at great festivals.'" Owing to the prevailing custom of burying within the City churches it was found necessary to strew herbs "* on the floor, and sometimes even to use frankincense, juniper, or ' perfume ' to purify the air."' The use of rushes to cover the floor ^° was continued till about 1583, when they were gradually superseded by matting, which was renewed once or twice a year.*""' Floral decorations do not appear to have been used in most churches during Eliza- beth's reign. At St. Martin Orgar holly and ivy were usually bought for the purpose at Christmas, and ' boughs and birch ' were set about the church on Midsummer Eve.^°^ St. John's Walbrook was decorated with ' rosemary and bays' at Christmas 1597 ; ""^ and St. John Zachary with birch boughs in 1593 ; ^"^ but for the most part the practice seems to have been dropped at the Reformation, and not revived till the beginning of the 17th century. The sermons at Paul's Cross were still a prominent feature of London Church life. In spite of the danger resulting from the insanitary condition '" Vest. Min. 1576. This chapel had been let out for the benefit of the parish school in 1 5 59. Vest. Min. "« Ibid. 1577. '^Mbid. 1579. See below. "' Bk. of Com. Prayer 1549, Commination Service. "' Chwdns.' Accts. 1568-70. '="' Ibid. 1619-20. '^' Ibid. 1558-62. '" Ibid. 1566, &c. ■» Bodl. Lib. Rawlinson MS. D, 796, a, fol. 1 19-20. '" Vest. Min. i 584. '" This official appears to have fulfilled the functions of choir-master, and sometimes those of organist as well. In some churches there were two or even three ' conduckes.' "" At Christ Church Newgate, which was noted for the elaborate character of its music. '" Chwdns.' Accts. gen. '" St. Margaret's New Fish St. Chwdns.' Accts. 1596 ; St. Stephen's Walbrook Accts. 1583, &c. "'St. Stephen's Walbrook Chwdns.' Accts. 1574, 1577, 1581 ; St. Martin's Orgar Accts. 1578; St. Margaret's Westm. Accts. 1592-4, &c. '"» St. Stephen's Walbrook Chwdns.' Accts. 1584, &c. ™' Ibid. 1590 ; St. Martin's Orgar Accts. 1583 ; St. Margaret's New Fish St. Accts. 1582, &c. "" Chwdns.' Accts. 1574-87. "" Ibid. 1597-8. '" Ibid. 1593-4 ; see also Chwdns.' Accts. of St. Botolph's Aldersgate, 1597. I 321 41