and torch-bearers, 8_d_.; the bellman, 4_d_.; the hire of pots,
4_d_.; boughs, rushes and sweeping, 8_d_.; a woman 2 days to cleanse
the house, 4_d_.; half a hundred 3_d_, nails, 1-1/2_d_.; half a
pound of sugar, 4-1/2_d_.; to the crossbearer and torchbearer for
St. George Day, Holy Rood Day, Shire Thursday and Whit Sunday,
12_d_.; to 2 children for the same days, 6_d_. Summa (total) 38_s_.
2_d_.

That these anniversaries and wakes led to much unseemly revelling we
have evidence that cannot be gainsaid. The Trinity Gild decided in
1542 "that no obite, drynkyng or com'en assemblie, from henceforth
shall be had or used at Babalake, except onelie on Trinitie even and
on the day, which shall be used as it hath been in tymes past. And
that also the P'sts of Babelack shall say _dirige_ on midsum' even and
likewise masse of _requiem_ on the morrowe, as they have used to doo.
And that the Meire shall not come down thether to _dirige_ ov(er)
night for dyv's considerac'ons and other great busynes they used. And
on the morowe thei to go thether to masse and brekefast, as thei have
used to doo."

Dugdale quotes from an old MS. an interesting passage bearing on this
question:

"And ye shall understond and know how the Evyns were furst found in
old tyme. In the beginning of holi Chirche, it was so that the
pepull cam to the Chirche with candellys brennyng and wold _Wake_
and come with light toward nyght to the Chirch to their devocions;
and afterwards they fell to lecherie and songs, daunces, harping,
piping and also to glotony and sinne and so turned the holinesse to
cursaydnesse; wherefore holi faders ordeined the pepull to leve that