Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

THE PREFACE TO THE Fourth Part.

HUndreds and Tythings were appointed by King Alfred, who be∣gan his Reign over England about the Year of Christ 872. Malmesbury de Gestis Regum, lib. 2. cap. 4. These were ordained for the better suppressing of Robberies: for every free born Man was now to be ranked, or put into some Hundred and Ty∣thing; and if there were any Person of such dissolute Carri∣age, that he could find no Pledge or Surety in the Hundred and Tything for his good Demeanour, he was to be Impriso∣ned, as a Man unworthy to be at liberty. And if any Person guilty of a Robbery (whether before such Pledge found, or after) should flie and make an escape, all the Inhabitants of the Hundred and Tything were to be Amerced by the King: So that by this means there was such a Calm of Peace in the Nation in a short space, that if any Man had left Bracelets of Gold, or Bags of Money in the High-way, there was none durst take them away, as both Malmesbury and Ingulphus do inform us.

Now these Freeholders, or free-born Men, were cast into several Companies, by ten in each Company, whence in the Western parts of the Realm they were called Tythingmen. And every of these Pledges or Sureties were yearly presented and brought forth by their chief Pledge, at a general Assembly for that purpose, which we yet in remembrance thereof do call The View of the Frank Pledge, or The Leet-Court: and as ten times ten do make a hundred, so because it was then also appointed that ten of these Companies should at certain times meet together for Matters of greater weight; therefore that Assembly or Court was called The Hundred-Court. Lamberd in his Book of the Duties of Constables, Borsholders, and Tythingmen, pag. 7, 8, 9. as it is commonly added at the end of his Eirenarcha.

In this County of Cheshire we had formerly twelve Hundreds, as we find them in the Record of Dooms-day Book, viz.

• Attiscros Hundred.
• Erestan Hundred.
• Chester Hundred.
• Wilaweston Hundred.
• Dudestan Hundred.
• Warmundestreau Hundred.
• Riseton Hundred.
• Roelay Hundrrd.
• Mildestric Hundred.
• Hamstan Hundred.
• Bucklow Hundred.
• Tunendon Hundred.

But these Hundreds were reduced by a later Division into seven Hundreds, as at this day they stand divided and called, to wit,

• Bucklow Hundred.
• Maxfield Hundred.
• Northwich Hundred.
• Nantwich Hundred.
• Broxton Hundred.
• Edesbery Hundred.
• Wirrhall Hundred.

Which new Division I conjecture doth not exceed the Reign of King Edward the Third.

And as there must needs be an enlargement of the number of the Towns in each Hundred of the new Division above the old, because the whole is contracted to a lesser number of Hundreds, so they have all begot new Names, except this of Bucklow Hun∣dred, which both retains its old Name, and hath now the Towns of the other old Hundred of Tunendon annexed to it.

For the proportion of the old Hundreds to the new, it is to be observed, that the Towns comprehended in the old Hundreds of Attiscros and Erestan, were by the Sta∣tute of 33 Hen. 8. cap. 13. taken from Cheshire, and annexed to Flintshire, onely Dodle∣ston yet remains to Cheshire, belonging to Broxton Hundred. And for Chester Hundred, the City of Chester was made a distinct County of it self (except the Castle onely, cùm pertinentiis) by the King's Charter, Dated 6 Aprilis, 21 Hen. 7. 1506.

• Mildest-vich Hundred, is now, called Northwich Hundred.
• Wilaweston Hundred, now called Wirrhall Hundred.
• Dudestan Hundred, now called Broxton Hundred.
• Warmundestreu Hundred, now called Nantwich Hundred.
• Hamstan Hundred, now called Maxfield Hundred.
• Riseton and Roelay Hundreds, now comprehended in Edesbery Hundred.
• Bucklow and Tunendon Hundreds, now comprehended in Bucklow Hundred.

Many more Towns are now in Cheshire than we find in Dooms-day Book; for many were then waste, which have been since improved and inhabited.

The Hundred of Bucklow now comprehendeth these Townships following, which I have placed Alphabetically, for the more ready finding of any in particular, and con∣taineth two Divisions; the East Division comprehending the old Bucklow Hundred, and the West Division comprehending the old Tunendon Hundred; either Division ha∣ving a Head Constable yearly elected respectively.

Such as are marked thus [E.] belong to the East Division; such as remain un∣marked, belong to the West Division; onely observe, that Cogshull, now belonging to the East Division, was anciently part of the old Hundred of Tunendon; and Limme, now belonging to the West Division, was anciently within the old Bucklow Hundred.

		The ancient Mize.
		l.	s.	d.
	1. Acton Grange, Dominus pro quarta	00	13	04
E.	2. Agden, Dominus pro quarta	00	03	10
E.	3. Altrincham, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	09
	4. Anderton, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	08
	5. Appleton & Hull, Dominus pro quarta	01	00	06
E.	6. Ashley, Dominus pro quarta	01	07	04
E.	7. Ashton super Mersey, Dominus pro tertia	00	14	00
	8. Aston juxta Sutton, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	00
	9. Aston Grange, Dominus pro quarta	00	08	00
	10. Aston juxta Great Budworth, Dominus pro quarta	00	16	00

E.	11. Baggiley, Dominus pro tertia	00	16	00
	12. Barnton, Dominus pro quinta	00	09	00
	13. Barterton, Dominus pro quarta	00	05	00
E.	14. Bexton, Dominus pro duabus partibus	00	02	09
E.	15. Bollington, Dominus pro quarta	00	06	00
E.	16. Bowdon, Dominus pro quinta	00	10	00
	17. Budworth, that is, Great Budworth, Dominus pro tertia	00	10	08
E.	18. Carington, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	09
	19. Clifton, Dominus pro tertia	00	08	00
E.	20. Cogshull, Dominus pro sexta	00	08	00* 1.1
	21. Comberbach, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	00
	22. Daresbury, Dominus pro quarta	00	07	00
E.	23. Dunham-Massy, Dominus pro quarta	00	08	00
	24. Dutton, Dominus pro quarta	00	16	08
	25. Gropenhall, Dominus pro quarta	00	14	00
E.	26. Hale, Dominus pro quarta	01	12	10
	27. Halton, Dominus pro sexta	01	02	06
	28. Hatton, Dominus pro quarta	00	14	00
	Hull, vids Appleton.
	29. Kekwike, Dominus pro quinta	00	05	00
E.	30. Knotsford Superior, Dominus pro quarta	00	06	08
E.	31. Knotsford Inferior, Dominus pro quarta	00	13	04
	32. Lachford, Dominus pro quarta
	33. Legh juxta Barterton, vulgo Little-Legh, Dominus pro quarta	00	15	04
E.	34. Legh, vulgo High-Legh, Dominus pro quarta	01	13	00
	35. Limme, Dominus pro tertia	01	16	00* 1.2
	36. Merebury, Dominus pro dimidio	00	04	00
E.	37. Marston, Dominus pro tertia	00	10	00
E.	38. Marthall, cum Little Werford, Dominus pro tertia	00	13	04
E.	39. Mere, Dominus pro quarta	00	19	00
	40. Middleton Grange, Dominus pro duabus partibus	00	06	00
E.	41. Millington, Dominus pro quarta	00	09	04
E.	42. Mobberley, Dominus pro quarta	01	18	00
	43. More, Dominus pro quinta	00	12	00
	44. Newton juxta Daresbury, Dominus pro sexta	00	10	00
	45. Norton, Dominus pro duabus partibus	00	12	00
E.	46. Owlarton, Dominus pro quarta	00	08	00
	47. Partington, Dominus pro quarta	00	06	08
E.	48. Pever Superior, Dominus pro quarta	01	00	00
E.	49. Pever, vulgo Little Pever, Dominus pro quarta	00	09	04
E.	50. Picmere, Dominus pro dimidio	00	12	02
E.	51. Plumley, Dominus pro quarta	00	13	04
	52. Preston, Dominus pro quarta	00	13	00
	53. Runcorne Superior, Dominus pro sexta	01	01	04
	54. Runcorne Inferior, Dominus pro sexta	01	01	04
E.	55. Rosthorne, Dominus pro quarta	00	14	00
E.	56. Sale, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	09
	57. Stokham, Dominus pro quarta	00	08	00
	58. Stretton, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	00
	59. Sutton nigh Frodsham, Dominus pro sexta	00	08	00
E.	60. Tabley Superior, Dominus pro quarta	00	13	04
E.	61. Tabley Inferior, Dominus pro quinta	00	12	00
E.	62. Tatton, Dominus pro tertia	00	11	08
	63. Thelwall, Dominus pro quarta	00	16	00
E.	64. Timperley, Dominus pro sexta	00	10	09

E.	65. Toft, Dominus pro tertia	00	08	00
	66. Walton Superior, Dominus pro quarta	00	06	00
	67. Walton Inferior, Dominus pro quarta	00	10	00
E.	68. Warburton, Dominus pro quarta	00	12	00
	69. Weston, Dominus pro quarta	00	11	01
	70. Whitley Superior, Dominus pro quinta	01	18	00
	71. Whitley Inferior, Dominus pro quarta	00	16	00
E.	72. Winsham, Dominus pro quarta	00	12	02
	Werford Parva. See Marthall supra
	Sum	46	10	02

The Abbot of Salop for Fishing in Thelwall, stood Charged with 3 s. the Mize in the ancient Mize-Book, but this is now lost, and is not known where to be Charged.

The Method I propose to my self in this Fourth Part, is to take the particular Townships of this Hundred of Bucklow in order according to the Alphabet, to the end I might spare the labor of an Index or Table; and so observe in them particularly what I can discover from old Deeds or Records, concerning the Owners of those Places since the Norman Conquest; adding also the Pedegrees of many of the better sort of the Gentry in this Hundred (so many as my leisure will permit me to go through, and for which I have seen good Deeds and Records proving the same) placed at the end of such Towns where such Families have been respectively Seated in ancient time.

And as Speed calls our County-Palatine of Chester, The Seedplot of Gentility, and Learned Cambden in his Britannia stiles it, The most surpassing Nursery of ancient Gentry above any other County in England, so I may not unfitly call this Hundred of Bucklow, The prime Border of that Nursery, as having a more numerous company of Gentry therein, proportionably to its compass, above any other Hundred in our County.

Concerning the Churches and Chappels of this Hundred, I shall add what I can gather concerning them in those particular Towns where I find them situated; and my Authorities, as well for these as all the rest of this Fourth Part of my Book, shall either be put down verbatim (where it is most necessary, and of most concern) or else be referred unto, and in whose Hands the Original remaineth.

Those Books quoted and referred unto in this Treatise following, stiled Lib. A. or Liber B. or Liber C. are Books of Collections of Deeds taken by me from the Ori∣ginals, some more largely, some extracted in brief.

In the mean time I shall here give you a Catalogue of all the Parish Churches, Pa∣rochial Chappels, Chappels of Ease, and Domestick Chappels, as well within every Hundred of this County, as in the City of Chester. The Letter R. denotes a Rectory or Parsonage; the Letter V. stands for Vicarage.

1669. Bucklow Hundred.

Parish Churches.

• 1. GReat Budworth
• 2. Runcorne
• 3. Gropenhall
• 4. Limme
• 5. Warburton
• 6. Ashton super Mersey
• 7. Bowdon
• 8. Rosthorne
• 9. Mobberley

The present Patrons.

• V. Christchurch Colledge in Oxford.
• V. Christchurch Colledge in Oxford.
• R. Byrom of Byrom in Lancashire.
• R. Legh of High Legh de Westhall of one Mo.
• R. Warburton of Arley of the other Moiety.
• R. Warburton of Arley.
• R. Brereton of Honford.
• V. Bishop of Chester.
• V. Venables Baron of Kinderton.
• R. Mallory of Mobberley.

Parochial Chappels.

• 1. Daresbury, within Runcorn Parish.
• 2. Aston Chappel nigh Sutton, Consecrated 1637, within Runcorn Parish.
• 3. Nether Knotsford Chappel, within Rosthorn Parish.
• 4. Over-Pever Chappel, within Rosthorn Parish.

Chappels of Ease.

• 1. Halton Chappel, in Runcorn Parish.
• 2. Thelwall Chappel, infrà Daresbury Parish, both within Runcorn.
• 3. Poosey Chappel, now in decay, within Runcorn Parish.
• 4. Nether Whitley Chappel, in Great Budworth Parish.
• 5. Stretton Chappel, in Great Budworth Parish.
• 6. Little Legh Chappel, in Great Budworth Parish.
• 7. High Legh Chappel, in Rosthorn Parish.
• 8. Over-Tabley Chappel in the Street, in Rosthorn Parish.
• 9. Nether Knotsford Chappel in the Town, in Rosthorn Parish.
• 10. Ringey Chappel, in Bowdon Parish.

Domestick Chappels.

• 1. At the Mannor Hall at Dutton, very ancient.
• 2. At Arley in Aston, not so ancient as Dutton by much.
• 3. At Dunham-Massy Hall, made 1655. when Sir George Booth, after Lord Delamere, converted two Ground-Rooms into a Chappel.
• 4. At Ashley Hall, lately built by Thomas Brereton of Ashley, about 1653.
• 5. At Tost, but now converted to other Uses.

1669. Maxfield Hundred.

Parish Churches.

• 1. NEther Alderley
• 2. Prestbury
• 3. Gowesworth
• 4. Taxall
• 5. Mottram Longdendale.
• 6. Stopport
• 7. Chedell
• 8. Norden
• 9. Winslow

The present Patrons.

• R. Stanley of Alderley.
• V. Legh of Adlington.
• R. The Lord of Gowesworth.
• R. Downs of Offerton.
• R. Bishop of Chester.
• R. Warren of Pointon.
• R. Buckley of Chedell.
• R. Dean of Chester.
• R. Trafford of Trafford in Lancashire.

Nether Alderley Parish and Gowesworth, were both formerly taken out of Prestbury.* 1.3

Parochial Chappels.

• 1. Maxfield, within Prestbury Parish.
• 2. Marton, within Prestbury Parish.
• 3. Bosley, within Prestbury Parish.
• 4. Dishley, within Stopport Parish.

Chappels of Ease.

• 1. Duckenfield Chappel, in Stopport Parish.
• 2. Marple Chappel, in Stopport Parish.
• 3. Norbery Chappel, in Stopport Parish.
• 4. Chad-kirke, in Stopport Parish.
• 5. Adlington Chappel, in Prestbury Parish.
• 6. Newton Chappel, in Prestbury Parish.
• 7. Siddington Chappel, in Prestbury Parish.
• 8. Chelford Chappel, in Prestbury Parish.
• 9. Pointon Chappel, in Prestbury Parish.
• 10. Pot Chappel, in Maxfield Chappelry.
• 11. Winkle Chappel, erected tempore Car. 1. in Maxfield Chappelry within Prestbury Parish.
• 12. Woodhead Chappel, in Mottram-Longdendale Parish.

Domestick Chappels.

• 1. At Bromhale Hall.
• 2. At Wittenshawe.
• 3. At Honford Hall.
• 4. At Lime Hall.
• 5. At Sutton Hall.

1669. Northwich Hundred.

Parish Churches.

• 1. DAneham
• 2. Middlewich
• 3. Sanbach
• 4. Lawton
• 5. Warmincham
• 6. Swetenham
• 7. Astberie
• 8. Brereton

The present Patrons.

• R. Savage Earl Rivers.
• V. Lord Brereton of Brereton.
• V. The Lord of Wheeloke.
• R. Lawton of Lawton.
• R. Crew of Crew.
• R. Davenport of Davenport.
• R. Huchenson.
• R. Lord Brereton of Brereton.

Domestick Chappels.

• 1. Witton Chappel, within Great Budworth Parish.
• 2. Nether-Pever Chappel, also within Great Budworth.
• 3. Holms Chappel, within Sanbach Parish.
• 4. Goostrey Chappel, within Sanbach Parish.

Chappels of Ease.

• 1. Congleton, in Astbery Parish.

Brereton Church was formerly a Chappel within Astberie Parish, built about the Reign of Richard the First, and Dedicated to St. Oswald, whose Wakes or Feast of Dedication, is on the fifth day of August yearly, and was made a Parish Church, and endowed with the Tythes of Brereton cùm Smethwick, about the Reign of Hen. 8.

The Original of this following Deed is now in the possession of Smethwick of Smethwick.

EGo Radulfus de Brereton dedi—Deo, & Sancto oswaldo, & Capellae de Brereton, pro Salute animae meae—in perpetuam Eleemosynam, totam Terram de Smethwick—Ità quòd Ormus Filius Turgitani de Smethwick nepos meus, & Haeredes, eam in Feodo habebunt: Reddendo annuatìm memoratae Capellae de Brereton duodecim Denarios ad Festum Sancti Os∣waldi pro omni Servitio.—Testibus Radulfo Capellano, Petro Chanuto, Waltero Parsonâ de Rodeston, Willielmo de Brereton, Osberto de Erclid,—&c.

1669. Nantwich Hundred.

Parish Churches.

• 1. WIbenbury
• 2. Aulym
• 3. Bartumley
• 4. Coppenhale
• 5. Baddiley
• 6. Aghton
• 7. Church-minshul
• 8. Wistarston

The present Patrons.

• V. Bishop of Lichfield.
• V. Smith of Hatherton.
• R. Crew of Crew.
• R. Bishop of Lichfield.
• R. Manwaring of Baddiley.
• V. Wilbraham of Woodhey.
• V. Cholmeley of Vale-Royal.
• R. Walthall of Wistarston, and Delves of Do∣dington, alternis vicibus.

Parochial Chappels.

• 1. Merebury, within Whitchurch Parish.
• 2. Wrenbury, within Aghton Parish.
• 3. Nantwich, within Aghton Parish.

Chappels of Ease.

• 1. Burley-Dam Chappel in Dodcot cùm Wilkesley, in Aulym Parish.
• 2. Haslington Chappel, in Bartumley Parish.

Domestick Chappels.

• 1. At the sumptuous House of Crew, lately built by Sir Randle Crew, in the Reign of King Charles the First.
• 2. Another old one at Woodhey Hall.

1669. Broxton Hundred.

Parish Churches.

• 1. ALdford
• 2. Christleton
• 3. Coddinton
• 4. Dodleston
• 5. Eccleston
• 6. Farndon
• 7. Hanley

The present Patrons.

• R. The Lord of Aldford.
• R. Mostyn of Mostyn in Wales.
• R. Dean of Chester.
• R. Dean of Chester.
• R. Venables Baron of Kinderton.
• R. Bishop of Lichfield.
• R. Dean of Chester.

Parish Churches.

• 8. Harthill, a Donative.
• 9. Malpas two Rectories.
• 10. Plemston
• 11. Pulford
• 12. Shoklach
• 13. Sutton-Gelders.
• 14. Tilstan
• 15. Totenhale
• 16. Warton

The present Patrons.

• Brereton of Brereton.
• Idem Brereton of both ferè, excepting the eighth Course of the one.
• V. Bishop of Chester.
• R. Warburton of Arley.
• V. Pilston of Emrads.
• V. Stanley of Alderley.
• R. Lord Brereton two Turns. Corbet of Stoke third Turn.
• R. Bishop of Chester.
• R. Bishop of Chester.

Parochial Chappels.

• 1. Pulton, now in decay, within Pulford Parish.
• 2. Churchen-Heath Chappel, within St. Werburge of Chester's Parish.

Chappels of Ease.

• 1. Chad Chappel in Malpas Parish.
• 2. Cholmeley Chappel in Malpas Parish; sumptuously repaired by Robert Lord Cholmeley Earl of Leinster, Anno Domini 1652.
• 3. Boughton Chappel in St. Oswald's Parish; it is now demolished, and was within the Liberties of the City of Chester.
• 4. Hargreve Chappel, in Tarvin Parish.
• 5. Wyrvin Chappel.

Domestick Chappels.

• 1. At Eaton Hall, the Seat of Grosvenour.
• 2. At Lea Hall, the Seat of the now Lady Calveley.

1669. Edesbery Hundred.

Parish Churches.

• 1. TArvin
• 2. Barrow
• 3. Thorneton
• 4. Iuce.
• 5. Frodsham.
• 6. Weverham
• 7. Torperley
• 8. Over
• 9. White-gate; See Stat. of 33 H. 8. c. 32.
• 10. Bunbury, See Web's Collections put out by Dan. King, in his Vale-Royal of England, pag. 104, 105.

The present Patrons.

• V. A Prebendary of Lichfield.
• R. Savage Earl Rivers.
• R. Booth of Dunham-Massy.
• V. Cholmeley of Vale-Royal.
• V. Christchurch Colledge in Oxford.
• V. Bishop of Chester.
• R. Crew of Utkinton.
• V. Bishop of Chester.
• R. Cholmeley of Vale-Royal.
• V. The Company of Huber dushers in London.

Parochial Chappels.

• 1. Little Budworth, within Over Parish.

Chappels of Ease.

• 1. Watenhall Chappel, in Over Parish.
• 2. Alvandeley Chappel, in Frodsham Parish.

Domestick Chappels.

• 1. At Stapleford Hall.
• 2. At Darley Hall.

1669. Wirehall Hundred.

Parish Churches.

• 1. BAckford
• 2. Bebington
• 3. Bidston,
• 4. Brunborough
• 5. Burton
• 6. Estham
• 7. Haswell
• 8. Neston
• 9. Shotwyke,
• 10. Stoke, a Donative,
• 11. Thurstraston
• 12. Walleysey
• 13. West-Kirkby
• 14. Woodchurch
• 15. Overchurch in Upton,

The present Patrons.

• V. Bishop of Chester.
• R. Stanley of Hooton.
• Bishop of Chester.
• R. Cholmeley of Vale-Royal.
• R. Bishop of Lichfield.
• V. In Dispute between the Dean of Che∣ster and Stanley of Hooton.
• R. Clegge of Gayton, and Brown of Upton, al∣ternis vicibus.
• V. Dean of Chester.
• Dean of Chester.
• The Lord of Dutton.
• R. Dean of Chester.
• R. Bishop of Chester.
• R. Dean of Chester.
• R. Birch of Chester.
• Stanley of Hooton.

Chappels of Ease.

• 1. Moreton Chappel, in Bidston Parish.
• 2. Birkenhead Chappel, now in decay, in Bidston Parish.

Domestick Chappels.

• 1. At Hooton Hall.

Sum total, according to this Catalogue, in the whole County of Chester, be∣sides the City of Chester,
Of Parish Curches	75
Of Parochial Chappels	18
Of Chappels of Ease	34
Of Domestick Chappels	17
	In toto of all sorts	144

1669. Churches in the City of Chester.

• 1. SAint Werburge, or the Cathedral Church, with a square Steeple in the middle, having the Parish Church of St. Oswald in the South Isle thereof, because St. Oswald's Church, which was wont to be the Parish Church, is now the com∣mon Hall of the City.
• 2. St. Peters, with a Spire Steeple, by the High Cross.
• 3. Trinity Curch, with a Spire Steeple also, in the Water-gate Street.
• 4. St. Martin's of the Ash.
• 5. St. Maries, by the Castle.
• 6. St. Toola's, that is, St. Olaves, near to the Bridge.
• 7. St. Michaels, in the middle of the Bridge Street, formerly a Monastery. See Mo∣nasticon, Pars 2. pag. 185.
• 8. St. Brigits, over against St. Michaels, on the other side of the Street.
• 9. St. John's Church, by the River side, without the Walls.
• 10. Little St. Johns, without the North Gate; it was demolished in the time of the late War, about 1645.

Concerning the Churches and Chappels of Bucklow Hundred, I shall speak more particularly in their due place and order, as within the compass of my intended Task; onely we may take notice here, that Parishes were first distinguished in England under Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury, about the Year of Christ 636. Cambden's Britannia Printed 1607. pag. 116. Parker's Historia Cantuariensis, pag. 52.

Ridley, in his View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law, tells us, pa. 176, 177. that Fonts in the Primitive Times, were not in the Churches; but the Custom of those elder Ages, was to Baptize in Rivers and Fountains; and that Custom being discontinued through Persecution, Fonts were erected in private Houses; and in more peaceable Ages they made bold to build their Fonts a little distance from the Church: after∣wards they obtained to set them in the Church Porch; at last they got them into the Church: But they were not at first placed in every Church immediately; for at the first they were found onely in the Cathedral Church where the Bishop resided: and though Service might be said in the lesser Minsters and Rural Churches, yet the Right of Sepulture and Baptism belonged to the Cathedral Church, unless it were in case of necessity; and it was therefore called The Mother-Church, because as People in their Mo∣thers Womb were born Men, so in the Fonts of Baptism, as in the Churches Womb, they were born Christians. In succeeding Ages, when it was found that the Mother-Church was too far distant from some Villages, and so situated, that in the Winter the People could not repair thither, consideration was had of this Inconvenience, and the Bishop took occasion hence to transfer the Rite of Baptism and Sepulture to the Rural Churches, and this, together with the Rite of Tythes, made it a Parish Church of that kind which we now have. But because also in many Parishes some Families lived so remote from the Church, that they could not conveniently frequent the same, it was indulged to such, that they might build a private Oratory in or near their Mansion-places, reserving for the most part the Rite of Baptism and Sepulture to the Parish Church, which, in respect of these lesser Oratories, was to be accounted the Baptismal or Mother-Church. It was also provided, that these Families (notwithstanding their Grant from the Bishop for a private Oratory) should upon more solemn Feast-days, re∣pair to their Parish Church, as it seems by the Council held at Agatha. These private Oratories were afterwards called Capellae, Chappels; and those that did Exercise in them the Ministerial Function, were called Capellani, Chaplains. Thus Ridley.

Now the word Capella, quasi Capsella, is a Diminutive from Capsa, which signifies a Chest or Coffer, because the Relicks of Saints or holy Persons were kept in such a

Chest; and the place, where such Chest was kept, was so called also; undè Nomen Capella, Capellanus, &c. So Spelman in his Glossary upon that word.

Beatus Rhenanus, with Durand, do derive the word Capella from Capa or Cappa, St. Mar∣tin's Hood being so called barbarously, and carried about for good luck by Lewis the French King in all his Wars. But others derive it à Pellibus Caprarum, wherewith such portable Tents for God's Service, as were to be removed in their warlike Expeditions, were covered. Dr. Prideaux, in his Consecration Sermon of Excester Colledge Chap∣pel in Oxford, pag. 26.

None might of right build Oratories without Licence from the Bishop, at least none might Administer Divine Service there without the Bishop's special Licence.

Oratories erected in the Houses of Great Persons, for the use of a private Family, I call such Domestick Chappels.

When built by one, or several Persons, in some convenient place, for the use of se∣veral Families, or of a Township or Townships, not having liberty of Baptism or Bu∣rial, I call such Chappels of Ease.

When built by a more numerous multitude of the Neighborhood, consisting of one or more Villages, having got liberty for Baptism and Burial, with Consecration thereof by the Bishop, and sometimes an Allowance in Money or Tythes from the Mother-Church, I call such Parochial Chappels: for these have all the Rites and Ceremonies as the Mother-Church or Parish Church hath, except the Tythes; so that indeed they are as lesser Parishes created within the greater for the benefit of the Neighborhood.

As to the Consecration of Churches, we find the Jews had their Encaenia, or Feasts of Dedication of their Temple, John 10. ver. 22.1 Maccabaeorum, cap. 4. ver. 59.

But there was no Dedication of our Christian Churches to Saints, until Praying to Saints was in use; and after Churches began to be Dedicated to Saints, their Dedica∣tion Feasts were usually kept on that Day, which was the Feast-day appointed in the Kalendar for commemoration of that Saint, to whom such Church was particularly Dedicated. This time was called with us, The Wakes, from Waking, as the Latine word Vigiliae, à vigilando, because at such times the People Prayed most of the Night before such Feast-day in the Churches. And though the Primitive Custom herein was sacred, yet how it was abused in the Reign of King Edgar, Anno Domini 967. aut circi∣tèr, appears by the Canons of the Church in his Reign, Num. 28.—Docemus, ut in Ecclesiarum Encaeniis unusquisque se modestum exhibeat, & orationi incumbat diligentèr, non poculis, non luxui deditus. Spelman's Councils, Pars 1. pag. 451. And at last it turned to Feasting and Merriment of Neighbors.

Now Invocation of Saints for three hundred years after Christ cannot be found among any of the Fathers: None did teach Invocation of Saints, till by Rhetorical Expressions, and Poetical Fancies, like Invocating of the Muses, Basil, Nyssen, and Nazianzen had led the way. Dr. Prideaux, Lecture 15. pag. 243.

Notes

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• * 1.2

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• * 1.3

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