ye hand
of a sure maid one be you sure who hath not as yet owther yielded her own
or do then or ever hath worn a garter band there bound by her lover for
such be not fitt and proper maids for the maykinge of Fairy Cakes. The
Cakes thus mayde be they to the number of seven unbaked and mayde to the
biggness of a marke. These cakes thus mayde may be used by any one
wishfull to intercede with or begge a boon from the Fairy folk alwaie
being mindfull of this matter be she passing as a maid lett her not dare
to mayke use of the cakes." Then follows the story of the evils that
befell "one Sarah Heugh who well knowing herself alacking her maiden-head"
tried to pass herself off to the fairies as a "true" maid.

Coming back to the registers of Pickering we find that on the 13th August
1694 Archbishop Sharp held a confirmation in the church and confirmed
about a thousand persons. The note is given in Latin as follows:--

"Memorandum. 13^o die Augusti 1694 Johannes Divina providentia Eboracensis
Archiepiscopus in ecclesia parochiali de Pickeringe Mille (aut eo circita)
Baptizatos Xti Relligioni Confirmavit.

"Joshua Newton.

"_Vicarius Ib._"

The parcel gilt Chalice still in use at Pickering Church belongs to this
period. It is dated 1613, and was made by Christopher Harrington, the
goldsmith of York. The paten was made in 1712 by Seth Lofthouse of London.

During the Commonwealth Levisham and Pickering parishes seem to have been
joined from 1653 to 1661. The Levisham burials and births appear in the
Pickering registers. Among the regular entries of deaths at Pickering are
recorded:--

"1619. Jane Greenwood a stranger buried March.
1631. Ellen Kirbye a poore Girle buried.
1634. A poor traveller buried here the 3 day of
June.
1636. Gawen Pollard pauper Generosus 30th
May."

It would be interesting to know how a pauper came to be a "generosus."

A bequest dated 1658 that seems to have been entirely forgotten appears in
one of the registers. It says: "Be it Remembred that Robert Huggett of
great Edston In the County of yourke Labourer did by his last will and
Testamente bearinge date the Eleaventh day of January in the yeare of
Grace one Thousande Sixe hundred fifty Eight give & bequeste unto
Elizabeth Huggett his Mother in Law all that his Cottage or Tennemente att
Pickeringe with all & singular the Appurtenances theirunto belongeing
duringe hir life Naturall and No longer and then to Come unto James Coat