[247] As late as 1633 the bishop of Bath and Wells could write to Archbishop Laud: "I finde that by Church-ales hertofore many poore Parishes have cast their Bells, repaired their Towers, beautified their Churches, and raised stocks for the poore." Wm. Prynne, _Canterburies' Doome_, etc. (1646), 151. Cf. Philip Stubbes, _Anatomie of Abuses_ (4th ed., 1595), 110-11. _Spudeus:_ "But, I pray you, how do they bestow that money which is got thereby?" [_i.e._, by church-ales]. _Philopomus:_ "Oh well, I warrant you, if all be true which they say; for they repaire their Churches and Chappels with it; they buy bookes for service, Cuppes for the celebration of the Sacrament, Surplesses for Sir John [_i.e._, the parson], and such other necessaries. And they maintaine other extraordinarie charges in their Parishes besides." [248] Bath and Wells to Canterbury, Prynne, _supra, loc. cit_. In 1536 at Morebath, Devon, the parish agreed that the clerk should gather his "hire meat" (_i.e._, so much corn of each one) at Easter, "& then ye p[a]rysse schall helpe to drenke him a coste of ale yn ye churche howse." J.E. Binney, _Morebath Acc'ts_ (1904), 86. When in 1651 at St. Thomas', Salisbury, clerk-ales were abolished, "both the clerk and sexton claimed compensation for the loss of income sustained." The same was true of St. Edmunds' (in the same city) in 1697. Swayne, _St. Edmund and St. Thomas Acc'ts_, introd., p. xvii. [249] Stubbes, _Anatomie_, etc., 110. The above account of church-ales has been derived partly from Stubbes and from a curious little pamphlet, edited by Rev. Fredk. Brown in 1883, entitled _On some Star Chamber Proceedings_, 34 _Eliz_. 1592; partly, also, from many churchwardens acc'ts, in particular the Seal Acc'ts in _Surrey Arch. Coll_., ii (1864), 34-6 (See items in detail for the ale of 1592, and especially the ale of 1611. Expenses for all manner of provisions and delicacies, for minstrels and evidently, too, for a play occur. In 1611 the festivities lasted at least 5 days). Cf., too, the _Expenses of the Maye Feast_ at Dunmow in 1538 (Cooks, minstrels and players mentioned), _Essex Arch. Soc_., ii, 230. Also Kitchen, _Manor of Manydown_, 172-3 (Lists of delicacies provided at the Wootton ale in 1600. Expense items for lords' and ladies' liveries, players, etc.) [250] The Parish of Chagford in _Devon Ass. for Adv. of Science_, viii, 74. [251] _Wilts Arch. Mag_., xxxv (1907), Mere Acc'ts, 30. These have been transcribed verbatim by Mr. T.H. Baker. [252] _Op. cit_. Because of greatly increased expenses the wardens here thenceforth resorted to collections according to a book of rates. They also devised other means of income, such as parish burial fees, collections for the holy loaf (_i.e._, blessed but not consecrated bread), etc. This casting about for new sources of revenue was characteristic of all parishes as the reign advanced. [253] _Op. cit_., 26. [254] _Op. cit_., 92.