Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/95

 and other work, and learning the Church Catechism, as the produce will pay for, the said rector and church-wardens being tied to keep plain fair-written accompts, in a bound book, which shall be produced to the minister, church-wardens, and overseers of the poor of the parish of Fersfield, or to any one of them, within one week after notice given, which notice must be on a Sabbath day, immediately after divine service, and sermon is ended; and if the accompts be not produced in the time, the whole is forfeited, and vested in the minister, church-wardens, and overseers of Fersfield, to the same uses; and further, the rector, church-wardens, and their successors, are tied to agree with all that shall hereafter occupy the premises, that they shall have no manner of commonage on the great common of Brisingham, but that the right of commonage which belongs to this tenement shall be laid to the new built house and lands called Ten Acres, for ever, especially on that part of the common which comes down to the same lands; and the said tenement, as an acknowledgment that it hath no right, shall pay 1d. yearly, if demanded; and for want of such bargain, the lands are forfeited to Fersfield rectory and church-wardens, and if they fail performing it, then to be forfeited to the heir at law for ever. And in another clause concerning the Ten Acres, is this: "Item, I give unto my kinsman, Francis Tilney of Stradbrook, in the county of Suffolk, barber, all my lands, tenements, houses, and outhouses in Brisingham and Fersfield, with all and every their appurtenances, now in the occupation of John Fisher only, upon condition that the said Francis Tilney, and all other owners of the said premises, shall keep up the altar tomb, now erected over my dear deceased husband, on failure of which, my will is, that the church-wardens of Fersfield, shall seize upon the same, and pay themselves, what moneys they shall be out of in repairing and beautifying the same, together, with all their charges."

The town also receives 2s. a year from the blacksmith's shop at the Cross-ways.

The vestry on the north side of the chancel was demolished in 1658.

The bell that hung between the church and chancel, in 1618, was run into the fourth bell.

In 1549, the cross was pulled down, and the materials sold, as was all the church plate, (except enough to make a new cup,) with a vestment, rochet, cross-cloth, and altar-cloth, but in Queen Mary's time, they bought a new rochet, and procession book in English.

About this time the Buts were made, and the town ordered to find a foot arms.

This town, as appears from ancient evidences, notwithstanding the common received opinion to the contrary, was most field unenclosed; for at all times, great number of licenses were granted the tenants to enclose their lands, and vast numbers of them in Henry the Seventh's time, when it seems they completed the whole, and