Seats in Churches

The following curious notice of seats in churches occurs in Thompson's *History of Swine*; which is quoted by him from *Whitaker's Whalley*, 2nd edit. 4to. p. 228.:— "My man Shuttleworth, of Harking, made this form and here will I sit when I come; and any cousin Nowell may make one behind me, if he please, and my son Sherburne shall make one on the other side; and Mr. Catteral another behind him; and for the residue the use shall be, *first come first speed; and that will make the proud wives of Whalley rise betimes to come to church*." Which seems to convey the idea, that it was at that time…