“ Canon Raines adds:—It was specially provided in the "Book of Sports" that women should have leave to carry rushes to the church for the decoration of the same according to their ancient custom. The old churchwardens' accounts have entirely perished from carelessness; but in those after 1700 laudable attention appears to have been paid to the cleansing of the church, and there are regular entries every year as follows:—"Paid for dressing the church against St James's Day, five shillings." The rushes were brought on the rush-cart by the north gate into the church free of expense. ”