Chapter XI: Section V: Of the Church (2)

There was a custom amongst the primitive Christians (during the violent persecutions which raged in those early ages of Christianity) of having churches underground, in order to avoid the dreadful cruelties which a more open profession of their religion would have exposed them to. In imitation of this antient practice the more modern Christians have also had their subterranean places of worship, which were situated under the choirs or chancels belonging to their respective churches, and where they also deposited the bones of deceased persons, which places where called the under-croft, and from the latter use of them charnel-chapels. There seems to have been one of these charnel-chapels formerly under the chancel belonging to this church. The design of them was for a priest to officiate therein, and to pray for the souls of all those persons whose bones were deposited in that place; but after the reformation they ceased being used for any sacred purpose, and were made use of afterwards only as repositories for the bones that were casually dug up in the church or churchyard.

The font in the church is very antient. It is ascended by three stone steps, and on the upper step is an old inscription, almost unintelligible through corrosion. The font is surrounded by two rows of saints, each row consisting of twelve figures; but they were so much injured by Francis Jessope, when he visited the church in 1644, under a commission from the earl of Manchester, as to be almost totally defaced.

On the 12th of June, 1644, Francis Jessope, of Beccles, under a commission from the Earl of Manchester, visited this church, and took away all the brass plates from the grave stones having the inscription “Orate pro Anima, etc.” and others of the like nature, except the following: “Pray for the soul of Lady Margaret Parker, who died the First day of March, Ao. Dni. 1507. On whose soul may God be propitious.” He also disrobed the stones of many brass effigies. All the brass was sold to Mr. John Wilde, of Lowestoft for five shillings; although the quantity was sufficient to be run into a bell, which was used for a chapel. On the bell is the inscription “John Brand made me, 1644.” The stone work of the font is covered with a handsome piece of carved work erected in the year 1734 by John Postle and Edmund Gillingwater, churchwardens.

About the year 1740, the pews in the church being very old, irregular, and much decayed, the Rev. Tanner, the vicar of the parish, in order to recover it from this disgraceful state, and to ornament it with that decent arrangement of seats, so becoming a place dedicated to public worship, and so generally to be met with in other churches, first set the example of new-pewing the church by erecting (in 1746) six neat wainscot seats in the body of the church, in memory of his wife. On these seats was the following inscription: “In memory of Mary, the wife of John Tanner, and daughter of Robert and Mary Knight, 1746. Not unto us, O Lord; not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise. John Tanner, vicar, desires this to be considered as a monument and pledge of love.” In 1747 he added eight more, in grateful acknowledgment of some great mercy he had received from the Almighty. On these seats the inscriptions are “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me. J. T., 1747”; the other is “In memory of Grace Symonds, sister of John Tanner, vicar, 1759.” It is supposed he thus shewed his thankfulness, for having been enabled to complete and publish the great work of learning and antiquity the “Notitia Monastica,” which his brother, the Bishop of St. Asaph, left unfinished. The town being stimulated by so pious and useful an example, undertook within a few years after, to complete what Mr. Tanner had so laudably began; for in the year 1770 the whole design of new-pewing the church was completed; and by the addition of a very elegant desk and pulpit, is become one of the neatest and best pewed churches in the county.

In the year 1778 a resolution was formed by the minister and churchwardens to erect an organ in the church, and in pursuance thereof, a large gallery was built that year, at the west end of the middle isle, for the purpose of an organ loft; and in 1780 a large chamber organ, which formerly belonged to the late Dr. North, of Shanfield, near Saxmundham, was purchased at the price of eighty pounds, and erected in Lowestoft Church, and is the first instrument of the kind ever placed there.

There was a large brass eagle in the church. It formerly stood at the west end of the middle isle, but was removed into an obscure corner. The original use of the eagle, so general, formerly, in most of the churches, was for the purpose of being used as a litany desk; which part of the Church service, after the Reformation, was read or sung, at a different time of the day, from that where morning prayers were read. Also, possibly, the great English Bible, which, in 1538, Thomas Cromwell, Lord Privy Seal, ordered to be placed open in each parish church, for everyone to have recourse to, was laid upon these eagles. The ardour with which men flocked to read this bible is almost incredible. They who could, purchased a Bible, and they who could not, crowded to read it, or to hear it read, in churches; where it was common to see little assemblies of mechanics meeting together for that purpose, after the labours of the day. Many even learned to read in their old age, that they might have the pleasure of instructing themselves from the Scriptures.

In many parts of the Church are stones with matrices, or moulds, wherein plates of brass had formerly been laid; but all are now disrobed, together with the inscriptions, during the ravages under the usurpation of Oliver Cromwell.

The churchyard belonging to the parish, was nearly square, but not so before the year 1769, for at the south-west corner there was a small piece of glebe land, about a quarter of an acre, which projected into it. The parish had formerly made application to the late Vicar, Mr. Tanner, to exchange it for a piece of equal value; but the answer he always returned was, that he had no right to make any alteration in the property of the church. However, in the year 1769, the parish made an amicable agreement for it with the Rev. Arrow, and it was enclosed with a wall and laid into the churchyard, which made it of a regular form, but the piece of ground was never consecrated. On the death of the Rev. Arrow, the Vicar, in June, 1789, the dwelling-house, of which he was the proprietor, was purchased of his executors, for £550, under the powers of an Act of Parliament, passed some years since, for the better securing the residence of the clergy. But as the Act did not authorise an incumbent to raise more than two years value upon his benefice, and that sum amounting only to £430, the deficiency was made up in the following manner: Dr. Bagot, the Bishop of the Diocese, £20, and the parish of Lowestoft £100; and accordingly the house is now settled upon the Vicars of Lowestoft for ever.

In the churchyard formerly stood a cross, some remaining fragments of the stone work which supported it were visible a few years since. On the north side of the church is a tomb belonging to the family of the Barkers; in which are interred the remains of John Barker, Esq., a native and benefactor to the town; who died at his house in Mansel street, London, the 1st November 1787, aged eighty years. He was one of the elder brethren of the Trinity House, a govenor of the London Assurance, vice-president of the Magdalen house, and one of the directors of Greenwich Hospital. His body arrived at Lowestoft on the 8th of November; and after laying in state at the Queen’s Head Inn till the next day, it was conveyed with great funeral pomp to the burial place of the family; where an elegant mausoleum has been erected, he having left by will £500 for that purpose, and also charged £1000 Bank stock, with the payment of £30 per annum for keeping the same in repair for ever; and what was not wanted of the said £30 for that use, is to be given to the poor of Lowestoft, in bread, at the church every Sunday after divine service. He also gave £200 to the poor of Lowestoft, to be given in coals, etc., immediately after his decease, which was done.

John Barker in his Will says:

I direct that my body be buried in the yard of the parish church of
Lowestoft, in the County of Suffolk, in the vault wherin my late wife
Elizabeth lies interred; and it is my desire that my executors
hereafter named do cause a handsome tomb and monument to be erected
over the said vault to our memory; but not to lay out a greater sum
than £500 in erecting the same. And it is my intent, that the said
vault, tomb, and monument be kept, in every respect, in perfect
repair, pursuant to the provision hereafter by me made for that
purpose.

I give and bequeath the sum of One thousand pounds, three per cent.
consolidated Bank annuities, unto the Accountant General, for the
time being, of the High Court of Chancery; but to, for, and upon the
uses, trusts, intents, and purposes following, that is to say, Upon
Trust to permit and suffer the minister and churchwardens of the
aforesaid parish of Lowestoft, for the time being for ever, (subject
to the control and direction of the said Court of Chancery, in case
if any misapplication of the said trusts, Bank annuities, contrary to
the true intent and meaning of this my will), to receive and take the
interests, dividends, and proceeds of the said one thousand pounds
Bank annuities, to and for the following uses (to wit): In the first
place thereout to keep, maintain, and support the said vault, tomb
and monument herein before by me directed to be erected in Lowestoft
churchyard, as aforesaid, not only neat, clean and decent, but in all
respects in perfect repair. And in the next place, as to what
overplus shall remain of such interest, dividends and proceeds, after
keeping the said vault, tomb, and monument in perfect repair, I do
empower the said minister and churchwardens, for the time being, to
lay out such overplus in the purchase of bread, and to distribute the
same, after divine service be finished on a Sunday, to and among such
persons in low and indigent-circumstances, of the said parish of
Lowestoft, as they shall think fit objects of this charity. But it
is my will and meaning, that my nephews, the aforesaid William Bell
Barker and Samuel Barker, and after the death of the survivor of
them, the persons for the time being for ever, who shall be heirs at
law to my said nephews, William Bell Barker and Samuel Barker, shall,
from time to time, have and enjoy the privilege of nominating to the
minister and churchwardens aforesaid, twelve of such poor persons to
receive the benefit of the said charity; and to which twelve poor
persons to be nominated as aforesaid, the preference shall be always
given, of having the said bread first delivered to them, anything
herein before contained to the contrary thereof, in any wise
notwithstanding. And it is my will, that all such expenses as at any
time may attend the execution of the said trust, shall be first
deducted out of the interest, dividends, and proceeds arising from
the said one thousand pounds trust Bank annuities. And it is my
further will, that if the aforesaid stock, commonly called three per
cent. consolidated Bank annuities, shall at any time be paid off;
then, and in such case, the produce of the said one thousand pounds
stock shall be re-invested in the name of the Accountant General for
the time being, on other Government security, to, for, and upon the
like uses, trusts, intents, and purposes hereintofore expressed of
and concerning the same.

Mr. John Wilde, of Lowestoft, having, by will, dated the 22nd of July, 1735, given several estates to this town, after the decease of Elizabeth Smithson, for the purpose of a school for the education of children belonging to this parish; and the said Elizabeth Smithson (afterwards Perryson) having departed this life the 3rd of December, 1781, the minister and churchwardens, in pursuance of the trust reposed in them by the said will, on the 21st of March, 1788, began to erect a building, for the purpose of a schoolroom, according to the directions of the said will; which building is thirty-six feet in length and twenty-five feet in breadth, and is situated at the bottom of the hill, on the east side of the Stone House which he gave to the parish by the said will; which house stands on the east side of High street, a little to the north of Rant’s score. Under the first stone of this building are deposited several silver and copper coins of his Majesty.

Subjoined is an extract of the Last Will and Testament of JOHN WILDE, of Lowestoft, gentleman, (who died in April, 1738,) bearing date the 22nd of July, 1735:

Also I give and devise unto the town of Lowestoft, for ever, all that
my dwelling-house, fish-houses, yards, gardens, and appurtenances
whatsoever to the same belonging, in the occupation of the Rev.
Shewell. Also I give and devise to the said town of Lowestoft, for
ever that all my meadow, in Lowestoft aforesaid, now in the
occupation of John Pope. Also I give and devise unto the said town
of Lowestoft, for ever, all that my house commonly called Rotterdam,
with the yards, gardens, and appurtenances whatever to the same
belonging, now in the occupation of James Pottle. Also I give unto
the said town of Lowestoft, for ever, all my dole-lands in Lowestoft,
together with all my lands, tenements, and hereditaments (if any
there be not before by me given and bequeathed in this my will)
whatsoever, which I have, at the time of my decease, in the town of
Lowestoft aforesaid. Also I give and devise unto the said town of
Lowestoft, for ever, the reversion (whenever it shall happen, after
the death of the said Elizabeth Smithson) of all my messuages, lands,
tenements, hereditaments, and premises, situate, lying, and being in
Worlingham aforesaid, now in the tenure or occupation of Nicholas
Matcheston, or his assigns, under-tenant, or under-tenants; all which
premises, before by me given to the said town of Lowestoft, I give to
the uses, intents, and purposes hereafter in this my last will more
particularly declared, limited, and appointed. And I do nominate the
minister and churchwardens, for the time being, for ever, hereafter
to be trustees of all these my bequests to the said town of
Lowestoft, strictly charging and commanding them religiously and
conscientiously to discharge their trust, hereby by me given to them
as they will answer it to Almighty God another day, in seeing the
same performed according to the true intent and meaning of this my
last will and testament, which now follows. And, first, my mind and
will is, that all the same estates before by me given and devised to
the said town of Lowestoft, together with the rents and profits
thereof, shall be applied for a virtuous and learned schoolmaster,
who shall teach forty boys to write and read, and cast accounts; and
also shall teach them the Latin tongue. And my mind and will is,
that the said schoolmaster shall be chosen by the said minister and
churchwardens for the time being, upon every vacancy that shall
happen by death, misdemeanour, or misbehaviour of the said
schoolmaster. All which I leave to the discretion and management of
the said Minister and Churchwardens for the time being, to place,
replace, or remove the said schoolmaster as they shall think proper;
desiring them they will act impartially in placing or removing the
said schoolmaster, and not choose by favour or affection, but having
virtue, religion, and merit chiefly in view. And my mind and will
further is, that when all the said bequests, before by me given and
bequeathed to the said town of Lowestoft, shall become due to the
said (then, and not before), the salary of the said schoolmaster
shall be forty pounds per annum; which I will be paid half-yearly to
the said schoolmaster, upon the feasts of St. Michael, the Archangel,
and the annunciation of the blessed Lady Mary the Virgin, by equal
portions in every year. And my mind and will is, that until the
death of the said Elizabeth Smithson, the profits of the other
bequests before by me given and devised to the said town of Lowestoft
shall be at their own discretion, so as the same be expended towards
the encouraging of learning; and therefore would have it employed, as
far as the rents will go, towards educating children in manner
aforesaid. And my mind and will further is, and I do hereby give and
devise unto the Minister of the said parish of Lowestoft for the time
being, for ever, the sum of one pound and one shilling; and unto the
clerk of the said parish, for ever, the sum of ten shillings; and
unto the sexton of the said parish, for ever, the sum of five
shillings. All which said sums of one pound and one shilling, ten
shillings, and five shillings, I will shall be paid out of the rents
and profits of all the messuages, lands, tenements, hereditaments,
and premises, before by me given and devised, in this my will, to the
said town of Lowestoft, for the purposes aforesaid. And I bind all
the same for the payment thereof. And my mind and will is, that the
said several sums shall be paid to the several persons always yearly
upon the twenty-third day of December, in every year; but upon this
condition, nevertheless, that the minister of the said parish of
Lowestoft for the time being, shall always yearly upon the
twenty-third day of December in every year, sometime in the forenoon,
preach a sermon (except the said day should fall on a Sunday, and
then my mind and will is, that the said sermon should be preached on
the Monday next following); and his text I desire should be these
express words—“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he
is old he will not depart from it.” And my mind and will further is,
that the said sermon should chiefly tend upon the great necessity of
the good education of children, and the ill consequence that attends
the neglect of it. And in case any overplus should arise out of the
said several bequests before by me given and devised to the said town
of Lowestoft, after the said salary of forty pounds to be paid to the
said schoolmaster, in manner aforesaid; and the said several sums of
one pound one shilling, ten shillings, and five shillings, to be paid
to the several persons above mentioned, be fully paid and satisfied,
such overplus, if any should be, or whatever it be, I give and devise
the same, for such charitable purposes and uses as the Minister and
Churchwardens of Lowestoft aforesaid, for the time being, shall think
proper to distribute, so as such overplus, if any there be, or
whatever it be, shall be distributed every year.

Will of Mr. John Hayward, of Lowestoft, to whom some of the poor were indebted for weekly donation of bread:

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Hayward, of Lowestoft, in the
county of Suffolk, mariner, being of sound and perfect mind and
memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner
and form following: First. I commit my soul into the hands of
Almighty God, etc., and for settling my goods and temporal estate, I
do give and dispose of the same as followeth: I give and bequeath all
my messuages or tenements unto Mary, my loving wife, during the time
of her natural life. I give and bequeath (after my said wife’s
decease) unto my son, Robert Hayward, all my houses, out-houses,
fish-houses, lands and appurtenances whatsoever, to hold to him for
and during the term of his natural life, and after his decease to the
heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten. And for want of such
heirs, give all the same lands and premises to and amongst all my
daughters that shall then be living. To hold them jointly, and to
their heirs for ever, so as, and upon condition, that my said son
Robert, or his heirs, or my daughters, or such person or persons as
shall enjoy my said messuages, lands, and tenements, shall pay or
cause to be paid unto my grandson, Samuel Mariner, the sum of fifty
pounds, of lawful money of Great Britain, at the age of one and
twenty years. And also shall pay yearly, and every year, into the
hands of the churchwardens of the parish of Lowestoft, and their
successors, for ever, the sum of two and fifty shillings. The first
payment within twelve months next after the decease of my said wife,
and so to be received yearly by the churchwardens, and employed and
laid out twelve pence weekly, and every week in the year, for
fourteen loaves of bread, to be by them given every Sunday, or Lord’s
day, throughout the year, for ever, after divine service in the
afternoon, at the parish church of Lowestoft aforesaid, to fourteen
such poor people as they shall think fit. Which said sums of fifty
pounds, payable to my grandson, Samuel Mariner, and two and fifty
shillings, given payable yearly for ever, for bread for the poor, my
will is, shall be paid out of the estate wherein I now dwell. And I
do make all the same estate liable and subject to the payment of the
same, as fully and amply as may or can be. And my will is, that the
same may so continue for ever. Except such persons as shall enjoy
the same, after the payment of the aforesaid fifty pounds to my
grandchild, shall give any other security to the churchwardens and
trustees of Lowestoft aforesaid, for the continuance of the payment
of two and fifty shillings yearly, for ever, as they, the said
churchwardens and trustees, shall think fit to accept. {134a}

This is a true copy of the clause of Mr. John Hayward’s will, which
was proved at the Bishop of Norwich’s principal office (19th of
August 1719), holden in the precinct of the cathedral church of
Norwich; where the original will may at any time be seen.

JOHN TANNER,

Vicar of Lowestoft, and one of the executors of the said John
Hayward.

* * * * *

A decree, judgment, and orders made sett down by Sir Arthur Heveningham, Sir Miles Corbett, knts., Henry Gawdy, Esq., and Mr. Dr. Sucklinge, doctor in divinity; by virtue of her Majesty’s commission to them and others, out of her Majesty’s High Court of Chancery, under the great seale of England, directed and hereunto annexed, upon a verdict by force of the like commission, to them and others directed by them, the second day of October, in the four and fortieth year of her Majesty’s most gracious and happy reign, taken and returned unto the said Court of Chancery upon the statute made in the High Court of Parliament holden the seven and twentieth day of October, in the three and fortieth year of her Majesty’s reign, intituled an Act to redresse the misemployments of lands, goods, and stocks of money, before the making thereof, given to charitable uses, as followeth:

IMPRIMIS. We do order, adjudge, and decree that the free grammar
schoole mentioned in the said verdict shall be and remain a free
grammar-schoole, and shall have continuance for ever within the said
town of Lowestoft; and the same schoole shall consist of a
schoolmaster learn’d in the art and knowledge of grammar, and able to
instruct and teach the rules and principles thereof and the Latin
tongue, and other things incident, necessary, and belonging to the
said art, to be master, tutor, and teacher of the schollars in the
said schoole, consisting of forty schollars, and not above, to be
taught and instructed within the said schoole.

ITEM. We do order, adjudge, and decree that the house within the
said town of Lowestoft, which is now used for the schoole-house for
the said master and scholars, {134b}, shall, for ever, hereafter,
continue and be the schoolehouse wherein the schoolemaster of the
said schoole shall teach and instruct the schollars thereof; and that
Stephen Phillips, now schoolemaster of the said schoole, shall
remaine schoolemaster thereof; and that he and his successors, and
all other schoolmasters of the said schoole, shall, for ever
hereafter be called and known by the name of “Mr. Annott, his
schoolemaster.” And whensoever, and as often as it shall happen,
that the place and roome of the schoolmaster hall become void, we do
order adjudge and decree, that the Chancellor for the time being, to
the Bishop, for the time being, of the see of Norwich, or sede
vacante the guardian of the spiritualities, shall have the nomination
and appointment of the schoolemaster of the said schoole within the
said town.

We do also order, adjudge, and decree, that the forty schollars of
the said schoole shall be of such children as are or shall be borne
within the said towne of Lowestoft, if there be or shall be
sufficient of such within the said town to supply and fill up the
said number of forty. And for want of a number sufficient of them to
supply or make up the said number of forty, then that the children of
the inhabitants within the said town, albeit the said children be or
shall not be born within the said town, to supply and make up the
said number of forty. And if these also neither are nor shall not be
sufficient to supply and make up the said number of forty, then that
the children of the inhabitants within the hundred of Lothingland and
Mutford shall be nominated, elected and appointed to supply and make
up the said number of forty; the choise and appointment of which
schollars shall be to the said Stephen Phillips, now schoolemaster,
so long as he shall be schoolemaster there, and to such as from time
to time shall supply the roome and place of the said schoolemaster
within the said town; so that he do nominate and appoint to the
number of forty scholars, and not above; and that he shall not take
for the nomination and appointment so by him to be made above the
sume of twenty pence for every schoolar within the said schoole.

(Examined by me,)

RICHARD MOSS, Dep. Reg.

Writings of great length concerning this school could at one time be seen at the Episcopal Office at Norwich. Probably the original deed of Mr. Annott, bearing date 10th of June, 1570, for founding the school, the commission, inquisition and verdict, as well as the above decree, are included amongst them. Mr. Annott dying without issue, his heirs at law disputed the legality of the donation, and endeavoured to recover the lands, for it is recorded that in 1591 it cost the town £120 to defend its right to this school; and it was in consequence of this suit that the heirs augmented the annual payment from twenty marks to sixteen pounds.

On the vacancy of a mastership of this school, a person of good character, and a member of the Church of England, is presented to the Chancellor of the Diocese by the Vicar and Churchwardens of Lowestoft for the time being, who appoints and licenses the same.

About the year 1670 (when the old school-house belonging to Annott’s foundation was decayed) a dispute seems to have arisen between this parish and the Allens of Somerly, respecting a design formed by that family of uniting Annott’s school with one founded by Sir Thomas Allen. One Mr. Henry Britten formerly master of the school at Lowestoft, who had been applied to by the town for information concerning this affair, answered as follows:

TO THE TOWNSMEN OF LOWESTOFT,

Whereas I was desired to give an answer to divers things proposed
concerning the free grammar-school at Lowestoft, during the time I
had to do with it; to which I answer as follows: I was presented to
it by Mr. Thomas London, the then patron, in the year 1667, and
chosen by the general consent of the town, with the minister’s hand
and churchwardens, and generally the whole town; and had also a
license from the chancellor of Norwich, with his seal, to receive the
profits, and did receive, for divers years, the yearly salary of £16
per annum, paid me by the tenants of the school lands at Burrough.
But the tenant being a backward man, was always in arrears, and at
last died, and left at least £10 unpaid. Thomas Perry, steward for
Mr. Thomas Allen, seized what he had, and I was never paid it. But
after that they paid me, and I received it from Sir Thomas himself,
at the hall, but most what his steward paid me, but they also kept
behind in arrears, but told me I should be paid it, only desired me
to forbear awhile, because the tenant had not paid them.

Some while after, old Sir Thomas {136}, erected a school house. When
it had been some while built, and stood empty, Mr. Evans petitioned
that he might keep a writing school in it, which being granted soon
after, Sir Thomas would have me resign, that he might lay the
revenues given to the Latin to his school house, designed for
English. In refusing to sign, there being about two years in
arrears, he told me I should not have one farthing, if I did not
resign, and from that time the money was stopped. He desired also to
see writings belonging to the school, which he did obtain of some of
the townsmen, which he kept, and they could not be found until such
time as we came to agreement, which was many years after.

Thus it continued many years unpaid. Sometimes I had promise of
payment from Sir Thomas Allen, but he was set off again by some or
other. I have had many journeys to Norwich, and applied myself to
the Bishop and Chancellor, and had promise of them to do me right,
but something or other always happened that it was still unpaid. I
had counsel about it, and I was told that I might help myself by the
Court of Chancery, if the town would join with me, otherwise they
would not assist me. I propounded it and found the town cold, and
did not care for stirring in it; so that at last I was forced to
agree with them, there being £200 due. With much ado I agreed with
them to pay me £100, which I did not receive all, till a year or more
after I resigned (in 1696.) Mr. Echard, of Somerleyton, was he that
agreed it with me, as Sir Thomas Allen’s agent. They required me to
give them bond to quit all claim of the school, and also to give in
my license. And, thus, I suppose, I have answered what was desired.

HEN BRITTEN.

Needham Market, Dec. 26, 1701.

An extract of the last Will and Testament of JOHN WILDE, of Lowestoft, bearing date the 3rd of April, 1699, respecting the donation of James Wilde, his father, of twelve loaves of bread to the poor of this parish to be given every Sunday, after divine service, in Lowestoft church. Also his own donation.

ITEM. I give, devise, and bequeath unto my said son John and his
heirs, for ever, fifteen pounds, of lawful English money; the
interest of which said sum of fifteen pounds, with the rent of the
messuage, tenement, and pightle, in the occupation of John Middleton,
aforesaid, I will shall be for and towards the payment of twelve
loaves of bread, given by my father, Mr. James Wilde, deceased, every
Sunday, or Lord’s Day, in the year, for ever, to the poor of
Lowestoft aforesaid. And for and towards the payment of six penny
loaves more, as aforesaid, being my own bequest, to be distributed as
aforesaid, in Lowestoft Church, after divine service in the forenoon,
every Sunday for ever. But my mind and will is that it shall be in
my said son John’s power to choose whether he will give securities to
the feoffees of the town lands and churchwardens of the said tenement
and pightle, and the interest of the said fifteen pounds, or assign
and set over the said tenement and fifteen pounds unto the said
feoffees, to remain for ever to the use aforementioned, the one of
which, my mind and will is, shall be performed and done by my said
son John and his heirs, for ever.

ANN GIRLING, widow, by will, bearing date 8th of June, 1584, gave certain premises therein mentioned to the poor of Lowestoft, to be given them in firing.

LOWESTOFT.—At the General Court Baron, with the leet of Corton,
holden on Saturday, in Quinquagesima week, in the 27th year of Queen
Elizabeth, A.D. 1584–5.

To this Court came William Wilde and John Lawne, and brought into
Court the last will and testament of ANN GIRLING, of Lowestoft,
widow, in which is contained (amongst other things) as follows:
_Item_. My barn, house, with the tenement adjoining and their
appurtenances, being copyhold of this manor of Lowestoft, I give and
bequeath unto Thomas Ward, William Wilde, Nathaniel Arnold, John
Wilde, John Lawne, John Wells, and their heirs for ever. ONLY to the
use of the honest poor of Lowestoft, to be given by the hands of two
of them, in wood, so far as the farm of my said barn and tenement,
with the appurtenances, will reach yearly. So much yearly detained
only as shall keep the same in reparation sufficiently. And they the
said feoffees to see conveyance made from them, when there remaineth
but two of them, to others whom they shall think good to the use
aforesaid. Or as learned counsel shall best advise; and so from
feoffees to feoffees, to the use aforesaid, for ever, as by the said
will, bearing date the 8th day of June, A.D. 1584, it doth and may
more fully and at large appear. And thereupon the said William Wilde
and John Lawne, in their own proper persons, and the other feoffees,
namely, Nathaniel Arnold, John Wilde, and John Wells, by their
attorney, were admitted, etc.

The premises, named, have many years since fallen into decay; and the ground was, in 1773, the garden of a house situated by the old market, and was let for five shillings per annum.

The abuttalments are thus described in the last admission:—“One tenement decayed, with a barn and garden thereunto belonging, in the west lane, near the old market, between the king’s highway upon the south; and the lands of Margaret Whitehead upon the north; and abutts upon the widow Sterry, towards the west; and upon late Stingales, towards the east. In whom it is now vested, is unknown; but the churchwardens dispose of the rent.”