The parish of Ashburton [in] the 15th and 16th centuries : as it appears from extracts from the churchwardens' accounts, A.D. (1479-1580) : with notes and comments.

Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The parish of Ashburton [in] the 15th and 16th centuries : as it appears from extracts from the churchwardens' accounts, A.D. (1479-1580) : with notes and comments. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ug to Exeter to the Vycar, iiii3 viii® for iii horses ffettyng of the harnys, that ys to saye xx bills and teen men harnys, xiiisiiiid to William Whitwaye for money clew vnto hym in the syglit of the parysshe, iiiis iiiid for keeping of the players’ clothes, xd for setyng the tymber upon the high anlter, xxvi® viiid to John Harris in part payment for liiii8 iiiid which he laycl outefor the parysshe, xiiis iiiid in part payment for the latyn-crosse, which cost xxvis viiid, iid payd for a payr of glouys (gloves) for hym that played God Almighty at Corpus Xpi daye, vid payd for wyne for hym that played Saynt Resinent, iiii3 iid for iii laborers for iii days worke, vid to one man for ii clayes worke, iis id for the bordyng of iiii men for iiii days, havyng good ale, vid| to the carpenters for messuring of the tymber on holy rode daye yn bred and drynke, viid for the ryngyng of Sir John Wescottys knyll, xxiis for the use of the kyng and Quenes majesties the xxviiith day of November, Anno 1555, xl® to Martyn the kerver for makyng of the Rocle, vis to Thomas Langdon for liys ii ladds for iii dayes and a half for helyng (roofing) and ffynclyng they self, ii® iiiid for makyng the holy water buckett, vi® viiid to Harry ffarewell for hys sextyn ship, iiiid for ffettyng (fetching) of the Rode, xs paid on Easter day for the relief of the poore from suche money as the Vycar asked the parysshe, which was xxs from Boke, xiii® iiiid for the full payment of the crosse, iid to George Wyndeyate for his paynes in settyng vp the Rode, iiid for a cord to draw the cloth before the Rocle, iii® vid for v yerds of lynnyng cloth for to hang afore the Rocle and the makyng thereof, vid for ryppyng vp of the presse of John Littlejohn and setting vp the same yn the vestrye, vis id for the Barr of Iron over the Rocle and mendyng the Barr under the Rocle and vi spykes, iii® for makyng the indentures of the ornaments of the Churche. From the above extracts it will be seen that all the old customs were now being 'restored, and among these the plays on Corpus Christi Day. These appear to have been discontinued during Edward VI.’s reign, but in former accounts frequent allusions have been made to them as well as to those at Christmas. The festival of Corpus Christi, in honour of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, was, in consequence of its not being thought right to keep the feast on Maunday Thursday in Passion Week, kept afterwards, viz., on the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday ; and it was in this country, as still in Roman Catholic countries, celebrated with processions, &c. With regard to the plays which were acted on this day, the following remarks will not be uninteresting : “ The theatres were these plays (or mysteries) were first performed, were ornamented with tapestry, and erected in the churchyards. These church theatres were temporary scaffolds, and the apparel, when they had none of their own, was borrowed from other parishes. In the Corpus Christi plays there were theatres for several scenes, large and high, placed on wheels.” Strutt (in his “ Sports and Pastimes ”) says that ‘ ‘ The ancient stage consisted of three several platforms, raised one above another ; in the uppermost sat