270 MAMBLE AND BAYTON.

meete there." The incumbent of Mamble was then Daniel Mullard, "who by reason of his age and weakness is not able to supply the cure but hath p'vided Timothy Pyp (?) to officiate there, who preacheth duely ev'y Lord's Day and receaveth the p'ffitts for his salary and paynes takeing there." On the other hand, the Bayton people, wishing to retain their own church, protested that their vicar, John Simons, was "an able and painfull* teacher," and that their church "was very well situated in a hansum and convenient place for a p'ish church, and there is noe convenient place for a church to bee built in our liberty." So both churches were retained, but in one living. Rev. D. Davies is the vicar; patron, the Lord Chancellor; value, £328; diocese, Hereford. There is a population of about 750 in the united parish, the greatest want of which is an influx of young bachelors, there being at present and for a long time past, as computed, three women to one man. Another great attraction to the place is its marvellous healthiness. Centenarians are by no means unusual things here, and I have by me a long list of venerables who attained the ages of from 90 to 126! If then, two of the finest things in life - good health and a good wife - may be attained so easily in the Mamble district, I shall expect, after the publication of this notice, to hear of a great rush of bachelors in that direction, and myself to receive no end of gloves and wedding favours. More than five centuries ago Mamble was considered a desirable place of residence, as in 1344 Thomas Aleyn, rector of St. Clement's, Worcester, stipulated to exchange livings with John Curdwale, vicar of Mamble, "because the corrupt air of the city (Worcester)| did not agree with his constitution, and because his neighbours of Wych (Droitwich) made him such frequent visits, and put him to such expense in eating and drinking, that he could not afford to live there."

* Painstaking.

| There had just been a destructive plague in Worcester, and no wonder, with dunghills, pigs, and filth then kept in the street!.