Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/325

 i2s.vni.APE^2,i2i.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 263 under a penalty of 51. The same summer the epidemic raged in Coventry. Hie in- cepit pestis are the words written by John Bret engirdle against the entry in his register of the burial on July 11 of Oliver Gunn, apprentice to Thomas Gethen alias Deege a weaver in the High Street of Stratford. Gethen was doubtless a foreigner, probably a refugee from Flanders. His alias Deege was pronounced with a hard g and the final e as a. He took a dagger (Dutch : degen), with play upon his name, for his sign- manual. He lived in the house next but one to Ely Street which is now (restored) the Garrick Inn. His wife Joanna, who may have nursed the boy and was the second victim, was buried on July 20. From Jan. 1 to July 20 there had been 22 burials. From July 20 to the 31st there were 16. In August there were 35, in September 84, in October 58, in November 26 and in December 18. Households perished, mostly of the poorer folk, but some well-to-do families suffered lamentably. William Per- rott a brewer in Church Street, brother oJ Aluerman Robert Perrott, was buried on July 24. Two daughters were buried on the 30th, his wife on the 31st, a thirc daughter on Aug. 14, a fourth daughter on Sept. 4, and a son on Sept. 10. Richarc Ainge, baker in Middle Row, lost his wife stepson and apprentice, John Lord the butcher his son, daughter, apprentice, anc maidservant. Christopher Smith the glover (whose wife gave such affront to the Town Clerk in the matter of the pig and gander died with three daughters and a maid servant. Roger Spearpoint died with hi wife and two daughters, William Pinson with his wife and three daughters. The Town Clerk, Richard Symons, lost two sons and a daughter. Most of these were victims of July and August. The Court of Record suspended its sittings during August and September. The Borough Council met at least once in the Gild Garden which John Shakespeare as acting-Chamberlain secured for their use, with its orchard and dovecote and old walnut-tree, seats and bowling- green. ' ' At the Hall holden in our G arden, ' ' runs the minute of Aug. 30, "money was paid towards the relief of the poor " the sufferers, that is, from the pestilence. John Shakespeare was present, so was William Smith the haberdasher. They were both assessed at a shilling. Richer men" paid more, poorer men less. Master Bott of New Place, who had been made an Alder- man as Squire Clopton's agent after very rief, if any, service as a Principal Burgess* )aid 4s., the Bailiff, George Whateley, is. 4c?., the Head Alderman, Roger Sadler,. 2s. 8rf., Alderman Smith, Adrian Quyny, Fohn Wheeler and Robert Perrott, 2s. 6d., Alderman Rafe Cawdrey, Lewis ap Williams, Richard Hill and Humfrey Plymley, 2s., ^rincipal Burgesses William Brace and Thomas Dyer (Gilbert), 2s., Alderman Jef- reys and Principal Burgesses John Ichiver,, William Tyler and John Bell, Is., Principal Burgesses John Taylor, John Lewis, John. Sadler and Thomas Dickson alias Waterman, 8cf., Alderman Robert Bratt, 6c?., and Principal Burgess William Smith, corviser, 4c7. The Town Clerk was not rated, and the minutes are not in his hand. That very day he buried a son and a daughter. Further levies were made at halls held on Sept. 6 and 27 varying from 18c?. to 4c?. and I2d. to 4c?., John Shakespeare paying on each occasion 6d. At a fourth levy, made on Oct. 20, he paid 8d. The minutes of these and subsequent meetings are in the hand- writing of Symons 's deputy. Symons did not return to his duties until Feb. 15, 1565. The old man was vexed by libel as well as bereavement. Young George Gilbert, dyer, brother of the Principal Burgess Thomas Gilbert, had the impudence to tell him, on Sept. 11, 1564, that his servant Annes ought not to go abroad " having a sickness sore running." The Town Clerk told him to mind his own business. Whereupon Gilbert " beknaved " him, and later uttered these words to his wife : "Thy husband is an old knave, and a beggarly knave, and doth owe more than he is worth unto one man that I do know, besides all other." Again the old officer's wrath was kindled. He and his wife were poor ; and it was only twelve days since they buried their sou and daughter. He brought the matter into the Court of Record, with Richard Court alias Smith (kinsman of the Steward) and James Hinton as his pledges, claiming damages 201. Save on the 1st and 7th there were burials daily in September five on the 10th and llth, nine on the 20th, four on the 22nd, five on the 23rd, 24th and 27th. Alderman Henry Biddle was buried with his house- keeper on the llth. This month or later died four in the household of Maurice ap Edwards and four in that of Griffin ap Roberts, both Welshmen, five in the house- hold of Roger Bannister, tippler, six in that of Nicholas Langford, four in that of Richard Bradley, six in that of Roger Green, the