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Borough of Southwark.
His Arms, in a Field Argent, on a Cheveron Azure, three Leopard's Heads Gold, their
Tongues Gules, two Angels Supporters; on the Crest a Talbot.
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Armigeri Scutum nihil
a modè fert sibi tutum,
Reddidit immolutum * morti
generale tributum,
Spiritus exutum
se gaudeat esse solutum,
Est ubi virtutum
Regnum sine labe statutum.
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*Quær.
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The Roof of the middle waste Ile fell down in the Year 1469. This Priory was
surrendred to Henry the Eighth, the one and thirtieth of his Reign, the seven and
twentieth of October, the Year of Christ 1539. valued at Six hundred twenty four
Pounds, Six Shillings, Six Pence, by the Year.
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About Christmas next following, the Church of the said Priory was purchased of the
King by the Inhabitants of the Borough. Dr. Stephen Gardener, Bishop of Winchester,
putting to his helping hand, they made thereof a Parish-Church for the Parish-Church
of St. Mary Magdalene, on the South side of the said Quire, and of St. Margaret on the
Hill; which were made one Parish of St. Saviour.
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Priory of St. Mary Overy made a Parish Church
for Parishioners of St. Mary Magdalen and St. Margaret's on the Hill.
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There was an Act of Parliament, Anno 1540, 32 Henry VIII. for the uniting of these
two Parishes, viz. St. Margaret's and St. Mary Magdalen's, whereby the
Churchwardens elected by the Parish were a Body Corporate. After some Years, thirty
of the Parish, instead of all the rest of the Parishioners assuming to themselves the
Management of the Business and Revenues of the whole Parish, upon pretence of
avoiding the Confusion of the Multitude, became very uneasy to the rest of the Parish.
Insomuch that in the fifth Year of King James I. they appealed to the Parliament for a
Regulation. The whole Cause at large is worth the recording, as I have it from an
authentick Writing, which was as followeth:
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St. Margaret's and St. Magdalen's Parishes
united.
J. S.
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Henry VIII. By Act of Parliament the two Parishes of St. Margaret's and St. Mary
Magdalen, in Southwark were united and made one; and the Church of the Monastery
of St. Mary Overy made the Parish Church, and called by the name of St. Saviour's:
The Parishioners enabled, amongst themselves, yearly to nominate and elect four or six
Churchwardens, the Churchwardens made a Body Corporate and capable in the Law.
To them is graunted Lands and Tenements to the value of twenty Marks a Year,
belonging to the dissolved Fraternity of Brothers and Sisters in St. Margaret, and divers
other Hereditaments belonging to the Churchwardens of the same St. Margaret's.
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A Fraternity in St. Margaret's.
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The Parishioners did choose Churchwardens eighteen Years together, according to the
said Act, and did take the Churchwardens Accompts: They provided that the Revenues
and Profits of the Church were carefully employed for the common Good: They
prevented lavish and unnecessary Expences, and ministred unto every Man equal Right,
until about 5 Mar. in Anno 1556. some of the Parishioners perceiving the Revenues and
Profits of the Church to be encreased to 300l. a Year, or thereabout, and being desirous
of the Rule and Sway of the rest, pretended, that the Assembly of the Multitude, at the
choice of Churchwardens occasioned much confusion, suggesting that the election of
the Churchwardens, and the dispensation of the Revenues and Profits of the Church
were transferred to a selected Number, the Confusion would be avoided, and all other
Business better ordered.
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The Parish governed by Thirty.
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By which Intimation thirty Parishioners assumed unto themselves the sole Authority to
manage the
Revenues and Profits of the Church, to exclude the Ministers and Parishioners for ever
from the Election, the Accompts of the Churchwardens, and all other Business and
Privileges belonging unto them; they choose the Thirty themselves, Six Churchwardens
and Four Auditors to take their Accompts, out of the Thirty: They call themselves
Vestrymen, Masters and Governors of the Parish: They spend thirty Pounds a Year, or
thereabouts, in Feasting themselves and their Wives, upon the Revenues of the Church:
They allow the Churchwardens Four Pounds a Year Fees, and their Auditors Twenty
Shillings. They benefit themselves with Leases of the Church Lands, to the great
hindrance of the Poor. They make By-Laws and Constitutions, against the Statutes.
They yearly lose great Sums of Money in the receipt of Tythes, Clerk-wages, and at the
Communion Table. The Parish hath lost fifty six Pounds by one of their Company that
ran away being Churchwarden; a hundred forty one Pounds two Communion-Cups and
a Cover, that was supposed to be stoll'n out of the Vestry by a Vestryman. And is
many hundred Pounds the worse for their election and managing the Revenues and
Profits of the Church, but no way advantaged by the same. Therefore the Parishioners
desire that the former Act may be confirmed with these Alterations:
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They abuse their Trust.
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That the Ministers and Subsidy Men of three, four, or five Pounds may have the
election of the Churchwardens, and an oversight in all the Business belonging to the
Church, and the Revenues thereof. That the Churchwardens may enter into Bonds to
make true Account, and do no Act but with consent of the Ministers and Subsidy Men.
That all the Lands belonging to the Parish, and all other Profits may be confirmed and
established. That the Churchwardens, with consent, may purchase Lands, and take
Legacies for the Relief of the Poor. That all the Actions of the precedent
Churchwardens may be good and effectual. That the surplus of the Revenues may be
converted to the use of the Poor. That five Pounds Fine may be imposed (or under)
upon them that refuse to bear Offices, &c.
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A Regulation of the Parish endeavoured.
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Reasons for the ground thereof.
That the Statue which first gave life to the Corporation, and endowed it with Revenues
and Profits, may no longer be subject to serve the private Affections and Passions of a
few Ambitious Men, but be reverently obeyed. That the election of Churchwardens
may be limited by Statute; because those that are chosen by the Thirty are not capable of
Lands and Possessions, nor to do any Act as a Corporation. That the Lands and
Possessions of the Church and Parish, now subject to Suit by the undue election of the
Churchwardens, and all the former Actions of the precedent Churchwardens (yet void
in Law) may be confirmed and made good. That the Lands and Revenues of the
Church consecrated to charitable Uses, may be preserved from lavish Expence and be
employed to the common Good. That the Office of Churchwardens may hereafter be
managed according to Law, Custom, Equality, and Parity; which for many Years hath
been unequally distributed, to the discontent of many the better sort of Parishioners,
and the evil Example of many other Parishes. That the Churchwardens may make their
Accounts before the Ministers and Subsidymen: whereby all means of Corruption may
be prevented.
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The Manner of election of Churchwardens by thirty Vestrymen, now sought to be
altered, hath these grounds to uphold and defend it self.
The election of Churchwardens, now used, was by consent of the Parishioners
transferred to Thirty.
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Election of Churchwardens by 30
Vestrymen.
1 Objection.
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© hriOnline, 2007
The Stuart London Project, Humanities Research Institute, The University of Sheffield,
34 Gell Street, Sheffield, S3 7QY
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