St Laurence's Churchwardens' Accounts

Richard Watlyngton, clothier, was a member of a large and prominent parish family and had been churchwarden the previous year (1552–3). He served as cofferer in 1560 (Guilding, Reading Records, vol 1, p xlvi). He contributed 7s for one part of the new churchyard wall (BRO: D/P 97 5/2, p 275; Dils, St Laurence Churchwardens' Accounts, pt 2, p 112). The only Richard recorded in the obituaries did not die until 1595–6 (Kerry, Municipal Church of St Lawrence, p 197). Presumably the king play had taken place in 1553.

Mary ascended to throne on July 19 and at the end of the expenses for this year they are buying service books that include an antiphoner, a processional, and a small mass book.

Saunders had no verification for his assertion that he had given the costumes to Buckland, since Buckland had died in 1550–1 (BRO: D/P 97/5/2, p 263; Dils, St Laurence Churchwardens' Accounts, pt 2, p 83). Buckland, a vintner, had been churchwarden 1544–6 and was again the year before his death (1549–50). He was another party to the ordinance concerning the Jesus Mass in 1547. In 1549 while warden he paid 4s to buy the Jesus altar and the St Thomas altar (BRO: D/P 97/5/2, p 259; Dils, St Laurence Churchwardens' Accounts, pt 2, p 78). During his first term as churchwarden (in which he and Saunders served together for the year 1545–6), he sold off excess plate to the total of £26 14s 4d ob. In 1549–50 he held three positions simultaneously – churchwarden of St Laurence's, mayor, and justice of the peace. Martin remarks that during that year 'the office of churchwarden was temporarily elevated to an unprecedented level' ('People of Reading,' p 188). That year was a momentous one in Berkshire when Protector Somerset issued a directive concerning the 'commotions and uproars' in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. That there was disaffection in Reading and that Mayor John Buckland and other local dignitaries were vigilant is demonstrated by the appearance of a Reading shoemaker, Thomas Bonham, before a special commission of oyer and terminer on a charge of high treason. On 10 December 1549 he and two weavers from Newbury were accused of having 'machinated and compassed the King's death' on the previous 20 November. Despite their pleas of innocence, they were found guilty and executed at Reading (Martin, 'People of Reading,' p 245).