Mortuaries were death duties owed to parish priests. The early sixteenth century was a pivotal moment in their long history. In 1529, an act of parliament significantly altered these dues. This article explores mortuary practices in the preceding decades. It examines what mortuaries were, who gave them, and what purpose they served. The importance of local custom is emphasised. The article reconsiders the modern view that mortuary dues were generally disliked. A more complex attitude explains both why mortuaries were reformed and why they would survive for centuries thereafter. Mortuary dues exemplify the symbiotic relationship between law and custom.

太平间是教区神父的死亡职责。十六世纪初是他们漫长历史中的关键时刻。1529 年，一项议会法案显着改变了这些会费。本文探讨了过去几十年的太平间做法。它检查了太平间是什么，谁给了它们，以及它们的用途是什么。强调了当地习俗的重要性。这篇文章重新考虑了通常不喜欢太平间会费的现代观点。一种更复杂的态度既解释了为什么对太平间进行了改革，也解释了为什么它们会在之后的几个世纪中存活下来。太平间费体现了法律与习俗之间的共生关系。