church a let (cherchal)

[ The Church - ales , called also Easter-ales, and Whit sun a les, from their being sometimes held on Easter-Sunday, and on Whit-Sunday, or on some of the holidays that follow'd them, certainly originated from the wakes. Strutt , Sports and Pastimes, p. 471. For the church- ale two young men of the parish are yearly chosen by their last foregoers to be wardens, who, dividing the task, make collection among the parishioners of whatsoever provision it pleaseth them voluntarily to IMG:content-0393.png:[blocks in formation] churches.