CHAPTER IV

XJFE

A. Civic LIFE

aT)ARISH government formed the unit in the
JL government of the city. Each parish was
a self-governing community, electing its own officers
with the exception of its rector, making its own
bye-laws., and, to meet expenses,,, levying and
collecting its own rates. Its constables served as
policemen, attended the Sessions, and acted as the
fire brigade. They looked after.the parish-trained
soldiers, acted as recruiters, and had the care of the
parish armour, which was kept in a chest in the
church. They distributed money among lame
soldiers, gathered trophy money, relieved cripples
and passengers, but unfeelingly conveyed beggars
and vagabonds to prison. The parish soldiers kept
watch and ward over the parish defences. The
parish stocks, in which offenders were placed, stood
near the churchyard stile. The constables were also
responsible for such lighting as the parish required,
and kept the parish lanthorn.

" The officials looked after the parish poor, dis-
pensing charity by gifts of bread and money.
The parish boundaries were perambulated every
Ascension Day. Parish dinners were held on the
choosing of the churchwardens, the visitation of
the Archdeacon, etc. The parish officials invoked

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