Читать книгу Notes and Queries, Number 13, January 26, 1850 - Various - Страница 4

I send you a few Notes, collected out of the Churchwardens' Accounts of St. Margaret's, Westminster.

1stly. Some regarding the weight of bells in ancient days:—

"1526. The first bell weith                    ccccc lb.

The second bell weith               ccccccxxj lb.

The third bell weith                    ixCvj lb.

The fourthe bell weith                    M.x lb.

The fyfthe belonging to our grete Lady

Bretherhed                        MvjCxiiij lb.

The sume of all the weight          MMMMVIIC Li lb.

"1592. The broken Tennor waied               xvjCxxj lb.

The new tennor ys.                      xiijC di

The greatest bell ys     xxjC and di at lvjs. the C.

The iiij bell ys       xvijC and di and xiiij lb.

The xiiij bell taken awaie was         xiijC di.

The ij bell carried awaie was    viijCiij qters.

The new bell                           viijC di.

Som totall of the bells, yron, tymber, and

workmanshipp                     lxxvl. vs. vd."

This appears to have been a sorry bargain, for soon after occur sad complaints of these bells, "very falsly and deceytfully made by Valentyne Trever." Perhaps your correspondent "CEPHAS" may explain the following entry:—

"1846. Item, paid for makying of a newe clapper to

Judas bell                                xd."

2ndly. Some entries, which make up a little history of a rood-loft:—

"1460. Item, sol' pro le skoryng de la belles sup' le

Rode lofte                             iiijd.

"1480. Item, paide for a doore in the rode lofte to

save and kepe the people from the Orgayns

xijd.

Item, paide to a carpynter for makyng of the

Crucyfix and the beme He standeth upon   xls.

Item, paide for kervying of Mary and John

and the makyng newe         xxxiijs. iiijd.

Item, for gilding of the same Mary and John

and the Crosse and iiij'or Evangelysts

vjl. vjs. viijd.

"1530. Item, payd to a labourer for helpying up the

Roode Loft into the stepull          viijd.

"1534. Payd for a present for Mr. Alford and Mr.

Herytage for ther good wyll for tymber for

the newe Rode lofte              ijs. ijd."

The fickle tyrant Henry VIII. dies; a more consistent reign happily ensues.

"1548. Item, for the takying downe of the Roode, the

Tabernacle, and the Images    iijs. vjd.

Also payd to Thomas Stokedale for xxxv ells

of clothe for the frunte of the Rode Lofte

whereas the x Commandements be wrytten,

price of the ell vjd.        xxiijs. iiijd.

Also payd to hym that dyd wryght the said

x Commaundements and for ther drynking

lxvjs. ixd."

Queen Mary succeeds the boy-king Edward VI., and restores the Ritual of her Church.

"1566. Item, payed for the Roode, Mary and John  xl.

"1557. Item, for peyntyng the Roode, Mary and John

xls.

For makyng xvij candilsticks for the roode-light

xjs. iiijd."

Upon the accession of Queen Elizabeth once more, and this time for ever, the rood was destroyed, and the loft, though "reformed," did not long survive it.

"1559. Payde to John Rialle for his iij dayse work

to take downe the Roode, Mary and John

ijs. viijd.

For clevying and sawyng of the Roode, Mary

and John                              xijd.

"1560. Rec'd for the beame the Roode stood on, for

boords and other tymber parcell of the

Roode loft                           xlijs.

For the rest of the stuf belongying to the

Roode lofte                            ixl.

For the great clothe that hong before the

Rode                                   xxs.

Item, paide to joyners and labowrers abowt

the takying downe and new reformyng of the

Roode Loft, &c.           xxxvijl. xs. ijd.

Item, paide for boordes, glew, nayles, and

other neccessaries belonging to the saide

loft                    xiiijl. xiijs. ixd.

Item, paide to a paynter for payntyng the

same                               xijd.

"1562. For bearinge stones for the muringe up of the

dore of the late rood lofte         viijd."

The rapacious Puritans, of course, did not suffer any portion of the church-goods to escape their sacrilegious and itching palms, if convertible into money, so we read—

"1645. Received of Arthur Condall in part of 5li for

the screen and Organ-loft              1s."

MACKENZIE WALCOTT, M.A.

S.M.W., Dec. 22. 1849.