"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 xxxiij_s_. iiij_d_.
Item, for gilding of the same Mary and John
and the Crosse and iiij'or Evangelysts
vj_l_. vj_s_. viij_d_.
"1530. Item, payd to a labourer for helpying up the
Roode Loft into the stepull viij_d_.
"1534. Payd for a present for Mr. Alford and Mr.
Herytage for ther good wyll for tymber for
the newe Rode lofte ij_s_. ij_d_."
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 iij_s_. vj_d_.
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 vj_d_. xxiij_s_. iiij_d_.
Also payd to hym that dyd wryght the said
x Commaundements and for ther drynking
lxvj_s_. ix_d_."
Queen Mary succeeds the boy-king Edward VI.,
and restores the Ritual of her Church.
"1566. Item, payed for the Roode, Mary and John x_l_.
"1557. Item, for peyntyng the Roode, Mary and John
xl_s_.
For makyng xvij candilsticks for the roode-light
xj_s_. iiij_d_."
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
ij_s_. viij_d_.
For clevying and sawyng of the Roode, Mary
and John xij_d_.
"1560. Rec'd for the beame the Roode stood on, for
boords and other tymber parcell of the
Roode loft xlij_s_.
For the rest of the stuf belongying to the
Roode lofte ix_l_.
For the great clothe that hong before the
Rode xx_s_.
Item, paide to joyners and labowrers abowt
the takying downe and new reformyng of the
Roode Loft, &c. xxxvij_l_. x_s_. ij_d_.
Item, paide for boordes, glew, nayles, and
other neccessaries belonging to the saide
loft xiiij_l_. xiij_s_. ix_d_.
Item, paide to a paynter for payntyng the
same xij_d_.
"1562. For bearinge stones for the muringe up of the
dore of the late rood lofte viij_d_."
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 1_s_."