1557 July 25 Sunday: On this date the vestry sent 'one John Sadlar clerk and Lawrence the sexton unto the Counter for their disobedience in serving of God within the choir'.

    1557 September 11 Saturday: On this date the vestry ordered 'that the clerks shall always at their entering into service shall put in sufficient sureties and be bound in an obligation unto the parish for all such goods as shall be put into his hands by an inventory the which doth belong unto the church'.

    1560/1 March 20 Thursday: On this date the vestry ordered that 'forthwith before the feast of Pentecost next coming a fair great book be made for a ledger always to continue and remain in this Vestry and that before the same feast be substantially entered and orderly registered as well all and singular the rents, revenues, and yearly profits from henceforth to be due to this church of and for all and singular their lands, tenements, and hereditaments due to the this church, as also in the same register book belonging to the said church, as also in the same register book to be orderly written in a convenient form, all the tithes and clerk's wages from henceforth to the said church to be due by all and every the inhabitants and parishioners of this parish, whereby it may duly and conveniently appear what and how much ought to be yearly received and levied to and for the use of the said church, as well of the lands, tenements, and hereditaments of the same church, as of and for the said tithes and clerk's wages of the parishioners and inhabitants of this same parish, in such sort that from henceforth the yearly rents and revenues of the said lands, tenements, and hereditaments may be yearly received and levied profitably to the use of the said church, and the tithes aforesaid likewise yearly, and all the said clerk's wages to be from henceforth quarterly gathered and that the churchwardens which for the time being from henceforth shall be, shall do and use such diligence for the gathering of the said rents, clerks wages, and tithes, as in them shall be and orderly be possible to be done to the best commodity of the said church'.

    1568 October 4 Monday: On this date the vestry 'agreed that Roger the clerk is departed out of the parish at Michaelmas by the consent of these names hereunder written'.

    1571/2 March 3 Monday: On this date the vestry agreed 'that the churchwardens shall give to Richard Rawton the clerk warning to provide him in another place against the feast of St John Baptist next ensuing, and further to provide another in his place to be a good bass and a tenor, that the choir may be the better served'. [This reference may be to the clerk of the choir, another parish office]

From Vestry Minute Book P92/SAV/450, 1582-1628:

    1600/01 February 23 Monday: On this date the vestry denied Richard Humble's petition to have a lease of the well house on the west side of the Bull Head, arguing that 'he hath used words to discredit the parish's lease and hath laid wagers that the same lease is naught'. The matter is deferred until 'further conference had with Mr Bacon clerk and till they shall be otherwise advised'.

    1602 November 2 Tuesday: On this date the vestry determined 'that from henceforth the clerk shall have 2d for every child according to the custom baptized at the font', and that William Butterton the minister is 'contented to leave to the clerk 2d for the banns of matrimony for every one asked, both the parties asked dwelling in the parish, and 4d the women asked being no parishioners'. Also on this date 'Mr Gabriel Bolte was chosen for clerk of this parish (the Ordinary's consent being obtained thereunto) and to have for his pension £5.6s.8d per annum and the ordinary duties belonging to a clerk, together with the duties for asking of banns of matrimony and for the names of children baptized as above said. Also he is to read divine service in the College of the Poor and to have for the same per annum 40s. Whereunto Mr Bolte is contented and to claim no ministerial duties save only as abovesaid, but to serve and do all duties as a clerk. Also he is more to have yearly 6s.8d for his month's bills and to do the duties belonging to the same'.

    1603 September 15 Thursday: On this day 'Mr Gabriel Bolte clerk did seal an obligation in the vestry to the use of the churchwardens of the penalty of £40 with condition to this effect viz to make a true and just account unto the churchwardens and their successors of all such money as he shall receive to their use when and so often as he shall be by them thereunto required and not to do anything which shall or may be prejudicial to the said churchwardens or their successors at any time hereafter'.

    1604 March 5 Monday: On this date John Boston was 'chosen to be clerk instead of Gabriel Bolte deceased, and to have the fee which he [Bolte] had, provided he put in sufficient sureties to the churchwardens to perform all such duties as shall belong to his office within one month. Also that for the pains which Mr Wager took who stood for the clerkship, he shall have given him 20s.

    1604 April 23 Monday: At this meeting of the vestry 'were brought to be locked up into the chests four bonds, whereof one was sealed by Mr John Payne warden for the parish, one other by Mr Franklyn warden for the College according to the common order touching their office, and one other bond by John Boston clerk made this year, and one other by Robert Loward sexton made before, which bonds were delivered to Mr Howse till the next Vestry'. Also it was 'agreed that Mrs Bolte shall have the bond delivered in which her husband, late clerk, did seal to the churchwardens touching his place, and that her tithes for a year past shall be forgiven her'.

    1605 July 3 Wednesday: On this date the vestry decided 'that the clerk shall have the keeping of the book for all banns and the whole duties for asking of the same'.

    1608 June 21 Tuesday: On this date the vestry noted that 'as touching the vails and fees belonging to the corporation and usually allowed heretofore, and that hereafter shall be agreed upon and set down in a table, for the discharging of the ministerial function: It is ordered that the same shall be collected and taken up by Mr Boston the clerk, and by him at every month's end parted and divided between Mr Simonds and Mr Frances, part and part alike equally'.

    1608/9 March 11 Saturday: On this date the vestry ordered 'that the churchwardens shall cause the pulpit to be removed and placed in such sort that the people may the better hear, and that the reading pulpit shall be also removed and placed by the other in the convenientest manner, and a meeter place provided for the clerk if it may well be done'.

    1616 September 24 Tuesday: On this date John Browne' lease (formally agreed to be granted unto him) was brought in by James Read clerk and openly read and ordered to be sealed by the corporation'.

    1620/1 January 16 Tuesday: On this date 'Mr Boston the clerk being sent for and motion made to him to read prayers for Mr Archer at such time as Mr Archer is to preach, for Mr Archer's ease, he yielded so to do, And for allowance therefore he referred himself to the house, Whereupon it is agreed that the churchwarden which keepeth the great account shall pay him 30s per annum for reading prayers at those times, And shall also pay him 10s per annum for his catechizing the poor of the College. Both sums to be paid him during so long time only as the churchwardens shall think fitting'. It was also noted that 'the said sum for reading prayers was at first but 16s; and afterwards at the next vestry it was agreed it should be made 30s per annum to the end Mr Boston should the more willingly perform the said service'.

    1623 April 28 Monday: 'Upon Mr Boston's petition for some allowance for burials of poor people which leave naught wherewith to pay for their burials, it is ordered that to his wages of 16 nobles per annum shall be added four nobles to make it £6.13s.4d per annum for the year ensuing only to be accounted from the second of March last'.

    1624 May 24 Monday: 'It is this day ordered that the clerk shall not henceforth return any nihils in his month's bills without consent of the churchwardens first had and obtained'. [A 'nihil' in the accounts signals 'no charge' for services, usually upon grounds of poverty]

    1625 April 2 Saturday: On this date 'Rose Muske, aged [blank] years, who hath inhabited within this parish the space of [blank] years, was chosen by general consent to be one of the College in place of the widow Russell deceased; and this house did then order Mr Archer, or Mr Boston, shall examine her whether she can say the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the 10 Commandments or not, and if she be fit to be chosen'.

    1625 October 7 Friday: On this date the vestry noted that John Rice, 'after he hath read a chapter openly in the Church and tuned a psalm, both were well liked of, he was with a general consent made choice of to be parish clerk in place of Mr John Boston'.

    1625 October 21 Friday: On this date the vestry ordered 'that some course in law be taken to call Mrs Boston to an account for the money which Mr Boston received this last summer for the use of the churchwardens'. It was also ordered 'that the parish clerk shall be bound in the sum of £100 to perform the condition to be made according to the ancient form'.

    1625/6 February 23 Thursday: On this date the vestry 'ordered that Mr John Rice being now made deacon (as he affirmed) shall have and receive by order from this house (as a farther gratification unto him) all such duties as Mr Boston had time past before him, performing such and the same services as Mr Boston did'.

    1626 April 20 Thursday: On this date the vestry ordered 'that Mrs Boston and her now husband Mr Thomas White shall be spoken withal, and demand made of the money due upon Mr Boston's bills by the churchwardens, And what their answer shall be, the churchwardens shall certify the house'.

    1626 December 6 Wednesday: On this date the vestry 'ordered that the parish clerk shall from henceforth have the churchwardens' hands to their bills for burials, and that care be had that no exaction be used by the sexton touching the duties required for bells or otherwise'.

    1626/7 February 27 Tuesday: On this date 'Mr John Rice came into this house and made complaint that his means or profits arising by his office of parish clerk is not sufficient to maintain him, pretending that the whole profits thereof doth not arise to any more than £28 yearly, whereupon this house doth think fit (in respect of his long sickness, and [his] removing household being new come to the said place, that he shall have paid unto him (for this time only) as a free gift from this house the sum of £4'.

    1627 December 31 Monday: On this date the vestry ordered 'that the churchwarden for the great account shall give unto Mr Archer and Mr Marten for their New Year's gift £10 apiece as a gift or gratuity from the corporation in the good regard they have unto them both, and likewise shall give unto Mr Rice the parish clerk for his New Year's gift 40s, and also the like New Year's gift unto Edward Collins clerk of this Vestry to be paid when the Vestry book of orders shall be made perfect'.