Records of the Borough of Nottingham : Vol. V., 1625 - 1702.
(B. Quaritcha—The public spirit of the Nottingham Cor- poration in aiming on this publication of its records is worthy of all praise. The editor apologises, so to speak, for the want of interesting matter in this section of the records. No notice is taken, certainly, of important matters Which we might expect to be recorded. There is nothing, for instance, about the raising of the standard by King Charles. But the documents here printed are not without a real interest. They give, by implication, a minute picture of life as it was in the time included. English- men and Englishwomen were under a very close and minute supervision in those days. Inhabitants of the town, male and female, are "presented" for various misdemeanours, and fined sometimes, it would seem, very heavily. Not attending church in the early days is one frequently recurring offence. Harbouring strangers is another, a significant testimony to the trade jealousy of the time. Henry Armesons was fined 10s. for " keping of a dumb boy that cometh out of the countrie." Another citizen was presented for letting a barn to a "foreigner,"—i.e., non-burgess. The sanitary condition of the town is diligently guarded. That useful animal, the pig, appears as a constant cause of offence. "We presents Robbert King for keeping his swine in the street to the great annoyance of his neaighbour " is a sample of many entries. Mr. King had to pay "mid."
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