much useful and entertaining information upon many subjects of historical importance, and also upon the growth or decline of many uses and abuses more directly connected with the church. Catching at the sug gestion, we craved permission to examine these said registers, a permission readily granted to us by the kind courtesy of the churchwardens of the parish. We found that the books were for the most part beautifully kept, and that all the earlier manuscripts were written in old English. Some of them had very curiously illuminated. capital letters at the commencement of each important entry. But here it should be mentioned, that St. Michael's is the church of the original parish of Coventry, and that Coventry was in earlier days the capital of the Midland counties, and an episcopal see. Frequent mention is made of this city in English history, and Shakspeare introduces it as the scene of two or three important events in his plays. The size and magnificence of the parish church will be referred to hereafter.

In opening, then, the parish registers, we, find that the first entry dated from the year A. D. 1564, or the sixth year of Queen Elizabeth's reign. At that early period we find mention made of pews, which were gradually stealing into and disfiguring our churches. In St. Michael's Church the pews were entirely in the hands. of the vestry and churchwardens, and were let by them at the parish meetings. Some were let at fixed rents for a term of years; some were allotted to certain persons for a life, or lives. Yet that the whole area was not covered with these enormities against taste and convenience

till a later date,

gather from the frequent entries of

Thus,.

licenses for the erection of pews, and also of fines exacted from those who exceeded their allotted space. pews increased, and a large portion of the annual income of the parish was, in the earlier days of Charles the First, derived from the rents of pews. In 1635 the whole

income of the parish from rents, graves, and. the like amounted to £94 1s. 6d., and of this, £34 Is. 1d. was received from pew rents.. In every year's accounts we find entries of moneys received for the mayor and fellowship pews, for pews in the great gallery, the north gallery, &c. In 1672 £1 was the highest amount charged for the annual rent of a pew, and the lowest sum demanded for a sitting was 4d. That most of these pews were erected at the expense of private individuals, and that, too, occasionally, without the consent of the vestry, we gather from such entries as the following:-On April 2nd, 1717, the vestry ordered that five persons named, 'be reimbursed the charge they have been at in building a new seat adjoining to Mr. Ash, his seat, without the consent of the parish, and that the said new erected seat be forthwith set for the best advantage of the parish.' July 29th, 1741, has the following curious entry that the place of Mr. Thomas Chapman, and of Mary, his wife, in the little cross gallery, be made into one eminent pew for their use.' 'But be it always provided that the present incumbent's widow, and the respective widows of all his successors for ever, shall hold and enjoy the first place next the pillar, free from the payment of any rent of the same.' Earlier than this, in the year 1621, a general vestry ordered that the seat Sir W. Tate, Knight took in the long gallery, shall belong to Whitley House, till Mr. Zouch Tate, heir of the same house, come to the age of twenty-one years; he to have the refusing of it, providing always there be paid to the church yearly the sum of five shillings.'

Pews, however, being notorious breeders of quarrels, we find continual proofs that the vestry and church. wardens were beset with difficulties in their management of them. Thus, the corporation often resisted the claims for rents, and private individuals would not pay their arrears. At a vestry, held August 5th, 1734, we find it

ordered that 'Richard Brockhurst doe state the case to Mr. Short, proctor in Lichfield, for his advice how to proceed against such persons, refusing to pay their pew rents.' The question was put, and on August 9th, 1734, Mr. Short answers, that 'as seat rents without doubt are of ecclesiastical cognizance, an action, without doubt, will lie in our court for recovering of arrears.' After this curious bit of law the proctor states, that the churchwardens could take possession of the pews of persons refusing to pay; and then ends with this strange recommendation, that as the vestry will be most likely met in the ecclesiastical courts by many quirps,' and perhaps even by a prohibition, they have best move first by a bill in ex-. ⚫ chequer.' In accordance with this opinion, we find that one Mr. Evans was ordered to be presented for arrears of rent, and that also (31st of July, 1735,) Mr. White, (solicitor,) doe demand of the corporation all moneys due to this parish church, and in default of payment, doe sue for the same.'

Defalcations of rent were not, however, the only difficulties to be overcome. On October 9th, 1751, the proctor at Lichfield is consulted as to whether the mayor. and corporation had any right to put locks on the doors of the mayor's seat,' as by so doing they excluded the vicar, churchwardens, and vestry, from having a free passage to and from the south leads of this parish church.' It is asked at the same time, whether any person has a right to put a lock on the door of his pew,' for, say the vestry, if this practice should wholly prevail, funerals, christenings, visitations, charity sermons, communions, and admission of strangers into proper seats, would be impracticable, and Divine worship deprived of the conveniency, decency, and order which the public offices of our Church require." We did not find any answer to this noble protest; but in November 25, 1751, certain persons were ordered to be presented to the ecclesiastical

courts for refusing admission into the mayor's pew 'to persons of credit,' and to be there prosecuted, if Mr George Hand, proctor, shall think convenient.'

These few extracts will point out to intelligent readers the gradual progress of that wretched system of pew erecting and pew renting, which has for so long been such a deadly enemy to the best interests of the Church, by leading in numerous places to the virtual exclusion of the poorer classes of worshippers.

It is pleasing to relate, that the letting of pews has now ceased in St. Michael's Church, having been abolished with the pews themselves in 1847. A voluntary contribution from the seat-holders now meets the expenses formerly defrayed from this source.

Some may ask, how was the money thus collected expended? At first it was expended in repairing the building, an alternative with which we are again threatened; but on May 4, 1725, we find an order, 'that the seat-rents and other revenues of the church, shall not be employed any longer to the repairs of the building, but solely appropriated to the adorning and beautifying the same, and such other like uses, as the ministers and churchwardens, with the majority of the vestry, shall from time to time think proper.'

Amongst these 'uses' we find entries of payments to the vicar for reading prayers, wages for the sexton, salary for the clerk, and such like items, which had been paid from this source 'time out of mind.'

Speaking of a clerk's salary, we find that this payment was at times made to 'a clerk in orders,' and from this payment arose another to 'a lecturer.' This lectureship was sometimes held by the vicar of the parish, and sometimes by another clergyman. On this point we have the following entries.

1644. 'Paid to Mr. Wale his year's wages, £6 138. 4d?' Mr. Wale is supposed to have been an assistant clergy

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man. In the same year we have also, 'paid to the new reader, by order of the vestry, £3 5s. Od.' In 1652, the living being then in the hands of the Puritans, we find, 'paid Dr. Grewe, for reading and expounding, £13 68. 8d.' In 1658, 'paid Mr. Wilkins, and in 1659, paid Mr. Fox, for reading and expounding, £13 68. 8d.' In 1662 we again find Dr. Obadiah Grewe, who must, according to this date, have been one of the ministers who conformed at the Restoration, receiving one quarter's salary 'for reading and expounding.' After his death, however, the 'reading and expounding' is dropt, and in 1666 we find, 'paid Mr. Feake for reading Divine service, £13 68. 8d.' and in another entry shortly afterwards, the entry simply is 'for reading prayers.' No comment is needed to point out the changes in the conducting of public worship which these entries indicate, and the comparative importance attached at times to the reading of prayers, and at other times to public preaching. We must not, however, leave this point without referring to the following curious entry. In 1731, April 19th, Mr. Benjamin Dawson was appointed lecturer, to preach in the afternoon on Sundays, the vicar agreeing thereto. 'In order to establish a lasting friendship between the said Rev. Mr. Thomas Edwards, and the said Rev. Mr. B. Dawson, they doe mutually promise to doe all kind offices for each other; and particularly Mr. Benjamin Dawson does promise, when he has not other urgent matters on hand, to visit such persons as may be sick of the small-pox.' We need not say that small-pox was the peculiar scourge of that day.

Turning round from pews and lecturers, let us take a glance at some political changes as betrayed by the entries in the parish register. Let us glance at the entries from

1600 to 1660.

1605. Paid for ringing on St. James's Day,' James the First then in favour; and 'paid for a Prayer-Book for the King's majesties deliverance and the realms from the traitorous Papists."