Acts of Parliament were enacted during the latter half of the seventeenth century to help protect the woollen industry etc. from foreign imports. The act included items that were not to be used - flax, hemp, silk, hair, gold, silver in burials. The restriction on gold and silver suggests other economic issues were at play. The format of the act was set forth in affidavits that had to be signed by either a relative or friend of the interred in the presence of a responsible member of the community such as a vicar. Affidavit number eleven is mostly printed which sets the format and upon studying the affidavits, one detects a certain irritation of having to administer this added bureaucracy.

Only ten affidavits are reproduced here, ranging from 1679 to 1684. They were copied in the record office at Worcester a few years ago so there may well be others that survive. Robert Blondell was the Vicar of Norton who may be a replacement for the Rector of Harvington, see under Rectors.

Unable to read - original at Worcester Record Office
 
							   

Way one:
Bradley          Stephen

                       Bradley
Mr Anthony fferryman   
                         Bradley 

Way two:
                       B Rowney
					   
                         Rowney
BA 8698/3


Way three
	            Stephen Bradley

ffrances Fluck of the Parish of Harvington
in the county of Worcester maketh Oath That Elizabeth
Holbrook of the Parish of Harvington in the count: of
Worcester lately Deceased, was not put in wrapt or wound up
or Buried, in any Shirt, Shift, Sheet or Shroud, made or mingled with Flax,
Hemp Silk Hair, Gold or Silver, or other then what is made of Sheeps
Wool only, Nor in any Coffin lined or faced with any Cloth, Stuff, or any
other thing whatsoever made or mingled with Flax, Hemp, Silk, Hair, Gold
or Silver, or any other Material but Sheeps Wool only. Dated the
twentieth day of August in the thirty first 
yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second King of 
England Scotland France and Ireland Anno Dom 1679

Sealed and Subscribed by us
who were present and witnesses
to the Swearing of the above said
affidavit

Peter Holbrook
Sa-- Holbrook[?]
 
 I Edmund Grindley Esqre one of the Kings Majesties
 Justices of the Peace for the county of Worcest er
 do hereby Certify that the day and year abovesaid ffrances
 Clarke came before me and made such Affidavit as is Above
 specified according to a late Act of Parliament intituled, An Act for
 burying in Woollen Witness my hand the day and year first Above
 written.
 
                               --- Dingley
							   
11 [figure written in red at a later date]

We Mary Pratt and ffrances Elliotts of the parish
of Harvington in the County of Worcester Maketh
[Oath] John Pratt of Harvington aforesd 
{lately) deceased was not put in, wrapt, wound up or
buryed in any Shirt Shift Sheete or Shroude [made or]
mingled with any flax Hemp Silke Ha[yre] Gold or 
Silver or any other than what is made of Sheeps=
wooll only, Nor in any Coffin Lined or ffaced with
any Cloth Stuff or any other thing whatsoever
Made or Mingled with fflax Hemp Silke Hay[re]
Gold or Silver, or any othere Materiall but Sh[eeps]
wooll only, dated the Sixteenth day of July
In the  three and thirtyeth year of the Reigne of
our Soverigne Lord Charles the second by the  grace
of God of England Scotland ffrance & Ireland
King deffendor of the ffayth --[?] Anno ys[?] Domini 
                                        1681:
Sealed & subscribed
by us who were pesent	
and witnesses to the --
swearing [of the] affidavit	
above sd ----

      Edward Clarke										
      Hen: Perkes 

I Robbert Blondell Vicar of the parrish of Norton
and Lenc in the County of Worcester = 
do hereby Certify that the day and yeare above sd the --
Mary Pratt and ffrances Elliotts 
came before mee and made such effadavitt as is Above sd
According to the late Act of Parliament, Intituled,
An Act upon the Burying in woollen: 
witness my hands the day & yeare first Above written:

                                    Robt.Blondell


12 [figure written in red at a later date]

Septemb ye 9th 1682

These are to certify whom it may concern of
franc: Elliott of ye parish of Harvington in
ye county & Diocese of Worcester came before
me & made Oath yt John Wills of
Harvington in ye County & Diosese aforesd
lately deceased was not wrapt wound up
or buryed in any shroud or shift but 
it was made of sheeps wool only accrding
to a late Act of Parliamt made in 
this behalf wittnessed my hand

                             Robt Blondell Vic
Sworn before me in
the presence of 

Step: Bradley
Phillip: Blondell

13 [figure written in red at a later date]

ffeb: 23d 1682/3

These are to Certify yt Ann Bearn of ye parish of Harvington
& Diocese of Worcestr came before us & made  
oath yt Susanna Abell of ye parish &
diocese aforesd lately Deceased was not putt in
wrapt or wound up or buried in any shift
shirt or shroud made or mingled with any
materiall but sheeps wooll only
according to a late Act of parlamt 
witnesseth my hand
                                 Robert Blondell Vic

14 [figure written in red at a later date]

I ffrances Elliots of Harvington in the County of Worcester Maketh Oath
that Valentine Abell of the same towne & County (late deceased)
was not put in wrapt wound up or Buryed in any Shirt Shift Sheete
or Shroud other than what is made of Sheeps=wooll onely: Nor put
in wound up or Buryed in any Coffin Lined or faced with any stuff
silke hayre Gold Silver hemp fflax or any other Materiall
whatsoever other than what is made of Sheeps wooll onely
dated the 16th day of August: Anno: 1683

Sealed & signed by us              John Perkes [signed]
who were pesent and 
witnesses to the Swearing
of the Affidavit above sd          Sarah Symons [signed]  

Sworne before mee             Robert Blondell of Norton Vicor
the day & year above sd

15 [figure written in red at a later date]

John Huband of Harvington in the County & Diosese of
Worcester Maketh Oath that Thomas Tisoe junior[?] 
(late deceased) was not put in wrapt or buryed
in any Shift Shirt Sheete or Shroud made
or mingled with any Materiall whatsoever other
than what is made of Sheepswooll only Nor put in
wrapt up or Buryed in any Coffin lined or faced wth
with any Silver or other Stuff other than what
is made of Sheepswooll Onely Dated the 13th
day of ffebruary Anno Domini: 1683:

              Sworne before mee Robert Blondell
			  the day & years Above written
In the pesence of
Hen: Perkes
Anne Blondell

16 [figure written in red at a later date]

I Ann Browne of Harvington in the County of Worcestr
Oath that Mary the wife of Thomas Hucksly of the same towne 
aforesd; was Not wrapt up or Buried in any Manner of linen
silke: Stuff: Haire Gold or Silver or any other Materiall exept
what is made of Sheeps wooll only Nor in any Coffin Lined
or faced with any other thing exept what is of sheeps wooll only

Sealed signed and subscribed             
the 17th day of September 1684

Anne Blondell        

Mary Jordan                             

17 [figure written in red at a later date]

I ffrances Worrall of Norton in the County & Diocese of Worcestr Make Oath
that John Clarke of the same Towne & county (late deceased) as not
put in wrapt or wound up in any Shirt Shift Sheete or Shroud or 
any other thing then what is made of Sheeps=wooll Onely now put in
or buryed in any Coffin lined or ffaced with any Gold Silver hayre
Stuff Silk or any other Materiall whatsoever other than what
is Made of Sheeps=wooll onley dated the first day of November
Anno Dominj 1684.

Sealed & subscribed                      Hen: Perkes [signed]             
by those who were pe sent 
at the Swearring of
the Affidavit above sd                   Wm Holmes [signed]

Sworne the day & year first above written
before mee   Robbet Blondell Vicr                                          

18 [figure written in red at a later date]

March ye 28th 1684
These are to certify yt Elizabeth Baylis of Har-
vington came before uss & made oath yt [that] Eleanore 
ye wife of Thomas Tysoe of Harvington aforesd in ye
county & diocesse of Worcester lately deceased was buri-
ed in woollen onely according to a late Act of Plament [Parliament]
intituled an act for burying in woollen.

Sworne by mee     Robt Blondell vicor of Norton

    wittnesses to ye same   Anne Blondell
                                        ye mark of
                                           Sarah Symon										

19 [figure written in red at a later date]

I Anne Borne of Harvington in the County of Worcester Maketh that
Jane Clark (late deceased) was not put in wrapt wound up or Buryed in any
Shirt Shift & Sheet or Shroud or any other thing than what is 
made of Sheeps=wooll only nore put in any Coffin lined or faced
with any Gold Silver Silke Stuff or any other Material
whatsoever other than what is made of Sheeps wooll only
according to an Act of parliamt ---- the burying in woollen
Dated the 7th day of January Anno Domini 1684:

sealed & signed in the 
presence of us who were
present at the Swearing            John haines [signed]
of the Affidavitt above sd
                                  Joseph Willkes [signed]
Sworne the day & year above written
before mee
                                       Robt Blondell
20 [figure written in red at a later date]

I --udrina Evitts of Harvington the County of Worcester widow Maketh ----
that Mary the wife of Edward Clark of the same town & County aforesd
(late deceased) was not put in wrapt up wound or buried in any Shirt
Shift Sheet or Shroud other than what is made of Sheeps Wooll
only Nor put in wrapt wound up or buryed in any Coffin lined or 
faced with Gold Silver Silk Stuff linen or any other Materiall
whatsoever other than what is made of Sheeps=wooll only: Dated
the 25th day of March 1686:

I the presence of us who were
present at or to the Swearing               Anne Blondell [signed]
of the Affidavitt above 

Sworne before mee   -   Robt Blondell Vic:
the the day & year above witten

21 [figure written in red at a later date]

I Frances Elliots of Harvington in the County of Worcester Maketh
Oath that Ellenor the Daughter of Henry Perkes of the same
Towne & County aforesd (lately deceased) was not wrapt up 
wound put in or Buryed in any Shift Shirt Sheete or
Shroude but what is made of Sheeps wooll onely Nor
wrapt or wound put in or Buryed in any Coffin lined or
faced with Gold Silver Silke hayre Stuff or linnen 
or any other Materiall whatsoever than what is made of
Sheeps wooll only dated the 24th day of September 
                                                      1686:
In the presence of us            Anne Blondell
who were prsent and     the mark of
witnesses to the swearing          ----- [Sarah] Symons
of the Affidavit above sd

22 [figure written in red at a later date]

Sworne the day & years above sd
before mee         Robt Blondell