Inhabitants of London in 1638: St. Botolph without Aldersgate, London

ST. BOTOLPH WITHOUT ALDERSGATE, LONDON.

MS. p. 350.

The living of St Botolph without Aldersgate, London, is an impropriation to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster who have let a lease thereof for 3 lives to Mistress Moundeford paying rent to them per ann. £20.

Mistress Moundeford hath let a lease thereof to one Wm. Kirby her farmer (reserving to herself the rent of 2 houses worth about £30 per ann. and he payeth her per ann. £120.

The said Wm. Kirby (as I am informed) being now upon taking a new lease will by no means show his book what he maketh thereof lest there should be an improvement made of his rent by Mrs Moundeford but I conjecture he receiveth for tithe about £200. He saith that he will certify himself what it is. The Alderman's deputy and Common counsell utterly refuse to go about with me to value the houses at an indifferent rate though I offered to value those houses at £60 per ann. which were let for £100. (The Church wardens went a little way with me and those which be valued by us are most what by the tenants own consent who would be glad they might have them at those rates, being much under what they pay.) The reason of this denial is: one saith he shall be brought thereby into a praemunire by valuing of others lands, but the true cause the Deputy declared it would come to a mass of money, be as good as a Bishoprick not fit for a subject. Wherefore they have dissuaded the people from telling either the rent or tythe, for as I cannot truly certify, but I persuade myself that the houses being moderately valued at 2s. the pound it would arrise to £1000 per ann.

Now because the cure is great and the pains extraordinary and himself sickly, he is compelled to allow one to assist him in the Cure per ann. £20.