stepped forward, and held it open over the vicar's head while he made his speech. When some of them were afterwards on their trial at Lewes, Mr. Kirby went to intercede for them, and, mentioning this little incident to prove no serious mischief was thought of, obtained a more lenient sentence for them than would otherwise have been the case. The "riot" wound up at Crowborough, where Mr. Howis, then the principal employer of labour there, listened to their grievances, promised to consider the matter, gave them something to eat and drink, and induced them to disperse. CHAPTER IX. THE earliest papers in the church chest are tied in bundles, and contain between eighty and ninety indentures or bonds of parish apprentices, made between the churchwardens and overseers of the one part, and employers of labour of the other part, with the assent of the Justices of the Peace. They extend from 1612 to 1664, with one of 1696. The boys are apprenticed by statute to the age of twenty-four; the girls to the age of twenty-one, or, in some instances, till they marry. The churchwardens and overseers sometimes pay premiums to the persons taking the children. The highest sum appears to be £11 (in 1656); the lowest sixteen shillings. A number dated from the "7th yeare of the reigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles" are signed by Thomas Pelham and Anthony Fowle; the names too of Thomas May, the historian of the Long Parliament, and Mr. Maynard, the Puritan vicar, appear on some of the documents. A copy of one of these indentures in full will suffice, with a list and a few details of the others. (b.a. stands for bound apprentice.) This Indenture, made the first day of June, in the yeere of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James, by the grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., the one and twentieth, and of Scotland ye lvi.th; Betweene Alexander Eliot and John Relfe, the elder, Churchwardens of the parish of Maighfield, in the Countie of Sussex, Thomas Packhame, John Stevens, and Simon Wilmshurst, overseers of the poore of the said parish, on the one parte, and Edward Besbech, of the same Maighfield, husbandman, on the other parte, witnesseth that the said Churchwardens and overseers of the poore, of one mutuall assent and consent, and by and with the consent of two such Justices of the Peace as the Law in this case doth require, doe by these presents bynde William Ligh, sonne of Edward Ligh, late of Maighfield aforsaid, deceased, unto the said Edward Besbech, and after the manner of an apprentice with him to remaine, abide and dwell from and after the day of the date of these presents, until he shall attain the full age of fower and twentie yeeres. During all which terme the said William Ligh, an apprentice unto and with the said Edward Besbech, as his maister, well truly and faithfully shall serve, and from the service of the said maister neither by day nor by night shall be absent or prolong himselfe, except it be with lawfull licence from his said maister, but in all things as it doth become a just, true, faithfull and diligent servant, shall he order, demean and behave himselfe towards his said maister, as well in words as in deedes. And hee, the said Edward Besbech, the said William Ligh, his servant, all that trade, misterie, arte, or science of Husbandrie which hee now useth, shall instruct teach and informe or cause to be taught instructed and informed therein, as much as thereunto in any wise appertaineth. And in due and reasonable manner to correct and chastise him, and to finde and allowe unto him sufficient meate, drinke, lodginge, rayment, lynnen, woollen hose, shoes, and all other things els fitt, necessary and convenient to an apprentice of such condition, as well in sickness as in health. Allso the sayd Edward Besbech shall and will give unto the sayd William Ligh, his servant (during the said terme of his service), every quarter of a yeere, two pence of lawfull money of England, and at the end of his said time or yeeres of service the said Edward Besbech shall give unto him, the said William, two decent and sufficient suites of apparrell, one for the holidayes, and the other for the working dayes. And furthermore, the said Edward Besbech, for him, his executors and assignes doth covenant, promise and grannt to and with the above named Churchwardens and overseers for the poor, and their successors and every of them by these presents, that hee, the sayd Edward Besbech, his executors, administrators and assignes, shall and will, during the tyme of yeeres above specified, discharge the said parrish of Maighfield of the said William Ligh, and of and from all or any further cost and charges which may come unto the said parrish by the said William. In consideration whereof the said Edward Besbech doth receive of the said Churchwardens and overseers three poundes and five shillings, of lawfull mony of England. In witness whereof the parties above said, to these present Indentures interchangeable their handes and seales have sett, the day and yeere above wrytten, 1623. 15 Nov., 1612. 3 Apr., 1614. R. AMHERST ROBERT MORLEY. Seal. Edward Hygate b.a. to Henry Marten, haberdasher. £2 and a "suite of apparell" as premium. 20 Apr., 1614. Elizabeth Marshall, b.a. to William Moone, yeoman. 2 Oct., 1614. 26 Mar., 1615. Anne Duke, b.a. to John Emery, "milner." 23 July, 1615. Elizabeth Collyn, alias Laugham, b.a. to John Dopp, husbandman. £1 premium. 3 Jan., 1615(6). Thomas Greene Leave, bastard son of Agnes Greene Leave, b.a. to Richard Morchaunt, yeoman. £5 premium. 23 May, 1616. John Wenboorne, b.a. to Solomon Wenboorne, blacksmith. 9 June, 1616. Lynus Bolte, bastard son of Beatrice Bolte, b.a. to William Maynard, yeoman. £1 premium. 20 July, 1616. Joan Turner, b.a. to Caleb Kinge of Buxted, weaver. £1 108. premium. 2 Aug., 1617. premium. Anne Mannser, b.a. to Richard Stevens, weaver. £4 21 March, 1617(8). Elizabeth Harrice, b.a. to John Carpenter, miller. £1 premium. 28 June, 1618. Joan Harrice, b.a. to Anthony Marchaunte, husbandman. £4 premium. 6 June, 1619. William Collen, alias Laffam, b.a. to Richard Wilmishurst, tanner. £1 13s. 4d. premium. 25 Feb., 1619(20). James Barden, alias Moone, b.a. to Benjamyn Furninger, of Wadhurst, husbandman. £6 premium. 13 Aug., 1620. Joan Wenborne, b.a. to Solomon Wenborne, blacksmith. £1 premium. 27 Aug., 1620. Thomas Payne, b.a. to Timothy Pettit of Heathfield Chirurgeon.' £6 138. 4d. premium. 66 3 Sept., 1620. Richard Stone, alias Maunser, bastard son of Joan Maunser, b.a. to Richard Daniell, collier. £3 10s. premium. 20 May, 1621. Richard Marshall, b.a. to William Holland, husbandman, and to John Holland, his son. £4 premium. 1 Sept., 1622. William Barham to Thomas Emery, miller. 16 shillings premium. 1 June, 1623. William Ligh, b.a. to Edward Besbech, husbandman. £3 58. premium. The apprentice to receive pay of 2d. a quarter. Richard Barton, b.a. to Richard Pococke, shoemaker. 12 June, 1624. £4 premium. 10 April, 1625. Richard Wells, b.a. to William Wells, husbandman. 16 shillings premium. 23 Nov., 1625. James Lawrance, alias Kent, bastard son of Johane Lawrance, b.a. to James James, of Maunser, yeoman. £4 10s. premium. 20 Apr., 1626. Agnes Melwerd, b.a. to Thomas Morgan, husbandman. £2 premium. 20 Apr., 1626. Robert Levet, b.a. to John Stevenson, shoemaker. £4 108. premium.、 30 June, 1626. William Melward, b.a. to Josias Brick, yeoman. £3 108. premium. 30 June, 1626. John Stevenson, b.a. to Samuel Relfe, yeoman. £2 108. premium. 24 Feb. 1626(7). Thomas Soale, b.a. to William Fuller of Langton, collier, for eight years. £2 premium. 20 Oct., 1627. Richard Davyes, b.a. to Abraham Lucker of Buxted, husbandman. £2 premium. 1 Aug., 1628. John Spickornell, b.a. to Sallomon Wenboorne, blacksmith. £5 premium. 13 Mar., 1629. £6 premium. Richard Stevenson, b.a. to John Stevenson, shoemaker. 8 Jan., 1629 (30). John Melwerd, b.a. to Thomas Morgan, husbandman. £5 158. premium. 6 Apr., 1631. Mary Peckham, b.a. to Lewes Mepham, husbandman. Dorothy Sole, b.a. to William Fuller of Heathfield, 21 Sept., 1631. collier. 23 Dec., 1631. Jorden Andrews, b.a. to Thomas Pyper, yeoman. Thomas Whapham, b.a. to John Pellyn, of Horsted Canes, 16 Apr., 1633. husbandman. 22 Apr., 1633. Henry Barthemewe, b.a. to James Kerrey, of Barcombe, collier. 30 Apr., 1633. John Lambert, b.a. to Matthew Kellet of Water Lambeth, co. Surrey, blacksmith. £5 premium. 7 May, 1633. Robert Collins, b.a. to Richard Maynard, husbandman. 15 June, 1633. William Billings, b.a. to William Milborne, junior, gentleman. 15 June, 1633. 15 June, 1633. 15 June, 1633. 15 June, 1633. 15 June, 1633. 15 June, 1633. 15 June, 1633. yeoman. 3 Mar., 1634. 3 Mar., 1634. yeoman. 3 Mar., 1634. 3 Mar., 1634. gentleman. Thomas Bristoe, aged 14, b.a. to Thomas Daye, yeoman. Nicholas Taylor, aged 15, b.a. to Alexander Ellyot, James Brooke, aged 14, b.a. to Robert Rellfe, husbandman. Henry Foster, aged 11, b.a. to John Baker. Abraham Martine, of 9 years, to Abraham Edwardes, 3 Mar., 1634. Mary Morris, aged 14, b.a. to Thomas Diploc (who signs his name Duplack), husbandman. 3 Mar., 1634. gentleman. Richard Tullie, aged 10, b.a. to Thomas Loughton, 3 Mar., 1634. Elizabeth Turnes, aged 14, b.a. to Thomas Anscombe, Esquire. 7 Mar., 1636(7). Elizabeth Peckham, of 12 years, b.a. to Ralph Poope, yeoman. 30 Oct., 1637. Richard Fullye, b.a. to Solomon Wenborne, blacksmith. 20 Feb., 1642(3). Nicholas Wood, b.a. to Thomas Bodle, yeoman. |