l. 6s. But though several of them were lost, some were preserved, and put up in the Hall windows, as the emblem of the Trinity, St. John the Evangelist, St. Catharine, the Holy Virgin, and St. Margaret, together with the arms of Verdon, and Pilkington, and Bohun Earl of Northampton, viz. az. on a bend arg. three mullets sab. between two cotises, and six lions rampant, or; all which (except the last coat) are now put up in the east chancel window, at the expense of the present rector. [1736.] This church suffered much in these times, for in 1664, 54l. 11s. 8d. was raised by rate to put it in order, and to buy it ornaments, of all which it was spoiled.
About 1668 the town purchased, of the widow Lanham, certain lands called Le Holmes, with the stock that remained of Baldrio's land which was sold, and 10l. of the town money; 3 roods of it (in two pieces) lie upon Fersfield manor, and pays 6d. lord's rent, and 1 acre on Brisingham, which pays 1s per annum. It is now let at 39s. per annum. [1736.]
The town close lying against Brisingham great common, heretofore called Chedbury Close, is freehold, and is let at 2l. 10s. per annum; this hath belonged to the church many ages even before 1400.
The town-house, in which two poor families dwell, [1736,] standing on the east side of the great common, was erected about 1630, by the inhabitants, upon a piece of their common.
Matthew Walter of Bliford gave 20s. per annum to the poor. (See his Will, under Fersfield.)
Mr. John Welham, late an inhabitant here, obtained leave of the inhabitants, to enclose a cartway that led into the grounds at the east end of his orchard, and to make it a footway only; in consideration of which, he settled 40s. a year; 3s. 4d. of which to be distributed the first Sunday in every calendar month, in bread to the poor, and tied his estate in Brisingham for the payment thereof; it is now owned by Mr. John Prentice of Botisdale, and is called Welhams. [1736.]
Elizabeth, widow of Mr. John Barker, rector of Fersfield, by will dated June 18, 1728, gave to the rector of the parish of Brisingham, and the church-wardens there, who should happen to be so, at the time of her decease, 2 acres of land called Round Meadow, and one tenement, and 2 acres and 20 feet of land, and half an acre of marsh, copyhold on Brisingham manor, lying in the said town, all which they are to hold to them, and the longest liver of them: and when all three are dead, the next rector and church-wardens to be admitted, to the use and trust following: that after the deduction of charges, the profits shall be by them applied, in the teaching of as many poor children (whose parents are settled inhabitants of Brisingham) above eight and under ten years old, in reading, writing, spiri ning,