the landless man or cottar would be laid in the garth outside. Frequently in wills the testator expressed his wish to be buried as near as possible to a deceased relative, or the place where he had worshipped. He was in any case buried within the limits of his township's division in the church. In 1563 Mr. John Benson, of Baisbrowne, who was a freeholder and probably a cloth merchant, desired to be buried "in the queare in the parish church of gresmire as neare where my wife lyethe as convenientlye may be." After the Fleming family of Rydal and Coniston became possessed of the advowson, they were many of them--beginning with William the purchaser in 1600--buried within the choir; though no monument or tablet exists prior to the one commemorating Sir Daniel's father, 1653. The tithe-paper shows the rate of payment for interment in the higher or lower choir. Besides fees paid to the officials of the church, the townships, through their individual wardens, took payment for all "ground broken," as the phrase went, within their division, and the receipts from this source appear regularly in their accounts. The usual fee for an adult was 3s. 4d. (a quarter mark), and out of this 2d. had to be paid by the wardens for laying the flag. Less was charged for children, while women who died in childbirth were buried for nothing but the actual cost of the flag-laying. Under the year 1693, when seven parishioners were laid within the church soil, we read "& more for the burying of two Women yt. dyed in Childbed in the Church00li 00s 04d." There were seven burials in 1723, five in 1732, five in 1766, and four in 1773. As late as 1821 Rydal and Loughrigg buried one inhabitant in the church, and Langdale three. It is singular that the Grasmere township discontinued the custom before the two others, for no interment took place in her division after 1797. The following extracts from the wardens' accounts show how frequently the floor of the church was disturbed and levelled:-- £ s. d. 1674 It. for lying Flags of 2 graves in our third 00 00 04 1689 For lying the Grave Flags and mending Forms 00 00 06 1690 All three townships pay for "lying Flags and mending Fourmes." 1713 For Lying ye Flaggs upon Several Graves wh. had fallen in 00 01 00 1728 For mending the Flaggs and Fourms 00 02 02 1729 For flagging and Leavelling ye Church floor 00 00 10 1763 Grasmere mende forms and levell flags, 1s. 6d.; Loughrigg and beneath Moss the same, 1s. 8d. 1772 New flags bought, and extensive work done upon the floor, at a total cost of £9 8s. 1-3/4d.: the flagging of the "low end" not being completed till next year. 1774 For "mending Furmes in Church & a Soal-tree" 12s. 4d. is paid.