Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 10.djvu/180

142 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 S. X. FEB. 25, 1922. which opens literally and figuratively a fresh page, was celebrated on Dec. 20, 1655, when there

The entries of subsequent marriages under this system are not so full, but in each case it is stated that the banns were called "without contradiction." In January, 1656, "Philipp Pearse gentleman and Maior of this towne" again officiated, it being noted that the banns had been published "in the Congregation," but the last three words were subsequently struck out. In the March the banns appear to have been called by his orders "on three severall markett days," but Sundays were named in every other instance during the remainder of this mayoralty, in the course of which fifteen marriages were celebrated. In October, John Hicks was chosen mayor; and in his year of office he celebrated nine marriages, the banns for only one of which were pro- claimed on market days, and, as is specially noted, "in the Markett Place at Launceston," the others being on Sundays, and, as frequently mentioned, "in the Church of lanceston." In the next mayoralty (October, 1657-October, 1658) that of Nicholas Comins, seven weddings were celebrated by the mayor, for one of which the banns were "published in the markett Place of Lanceston Three severall markett days three weekes following without contradiction."

Signs that the purely lay marriage system was breaking down now begin to show themselves in the Register. In January, 1658, a couple were married by Comins and "also by Mr. William Oliver Minister of this Towne"; and in the following month the mayor was assisted by "Thomas Seamor Minister of Luffingcott in Devon." On March 4, Colonel Robert Bennett, a local landowner who had represented Launceston in more than one Parliament and had been a member of Cromwell's first Council of State, celebrated a marriage; but twelve days later a wedding is entered as having been performed "by Mr. Oliver," no layman being mentioned, while in April, when the bride was a "daughter of Nicholas Comins of this Towne gentn. deceased," no celebrant was named. Richard Grylls, who filled the vacancy caused by Comins's death, and now for the second time elected mayor, officiated at only one marriage; and Henry Bennett, who for the second time became mayor in October, 1659, is not mentioned as having celebrated any. It may not be without significance that it was in the year of his mayoralty that Bennett himself was married; but it was after Charles II. and the Church of England had both come into their old place again that we find it recorded that on Sep. 17, 1660, there were wed "Henry Bennett, gent. mayor, and Johan, daughter of Mr. John Bewes." It is interesting to note that the previous June 29 had been kept in Launceston as a thanksgiving day for the Restoration, while on an unnamed day "when the Kinge was proclaimed" the Corporation, of which Bennett was the head, gave away "2 hogsheads of beere and syder" and "six seames of wood for bunfires."

was certainly suffering from some epidemic during the years 1653 and 1654, as the number of deaths is almost three times the average of the last years of Queen Elizabeth's reign, and the population had not increased during the seventeenth century but exact figures cannot be given owing to the loss of the second Register. There were several serious outbreaks of smallpox and perhaps the authorities were responsible to some extent, for we find the following:—

The Elizabethan Register (1558-1600) is a transcript of the original paper book, transcribed on parchment according to the order of Oct. 25, 1597. It is beautifully Written, practically in one hand, and in very good state of preservation. It has been transcribed, and hopes are entertained