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Sunday, 12 January 2014

Embezzled Church Goods of Essex (2): Transactions n.s. Volume 13 Part 3

EMBEZZLED CHURCH GOODS OF ESSEX.
BY EDWARD PERCIVAL DICKIN, M.D.

{Part 2}
{Transcribed for the internet from the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society (now the Essex Society for Archaeology and History), ‘New Series’ Volume 13 Part 3 (1913).}

THE church goods of Essex have received considerable attention in the Society's Transactions. The late Mr. H. W. King's transcripts of inventories of confiscated church goods were printed in vols. iv. and v. (o.s.) and in vols. i., ii., and iii. (n.s.). Mr. R. C. Fowler and Mr. W. C. Waller printed some further inventories in vols. x. and xi. respectively. These all referred to goods taken into the king's hands in 1552, and in some cases the goods previously sold are also named.

The following transcript (the Essex part only of S.P.D. Edw. VI., vol. v., no. 59) refers to the goods which the churchwardens and parishioners had sold by 1548.

[p. 28.] THE DEANERY OF ROCHEFORDE.
{THE DEANERY OF ROCHFORD}

SHOPLAND. John Thorneton, John Marchaunte, Churchewardens doe presente and saye That within these iij. yeres they with the consent of the parryshe hathe sold one chalyce belonging to the same churche for the Somme of iijli. whereof they say parte they haue bestowed upon the reparacions of the same churche and the resydue yett still remayneth in thyre handes for like reparacions to be made.

{SHOPLAND.  John Thornton, John Marchant, Churchwardens do present and say that within these 3 years they with the consent of the parish have sold one chalice belonging to the same church for the sum of £3 whereof they say part they have bestowed upon the reparations of the same church and the residue yet still remains in their hands for like reparations to be made.}

RAYLEIGHE. John Bour, John Lowe, John Bullock, Churchwardens Doo presente and say That Henry boode, John Hasteler, Roberte Clerke, and John Bour, beinge Churchewardens there dyd sell two basyns of sylver parcell gylte for the Somme of ixli, iis. viijd., which Somme yet remaineth in the churchewardens handes nowe beinge for the necessarie reparacions of the same churche. They say also that one Thomas Alen did take downe and sell two bells which hanged in a little Chapell there and a Chalyce belonginge to the same Chapell there and a payre of shepes[1] of sylver but for what intente he sold them or for how muche they cannott tell.

{RAYLEIGH.  John Bour, John Lowe, John Bullock, Churchwardens do present and say that Henry Boode, John Hasteler, Robert Clerke, and John Boor, being Churchwardens there did sell two basins of silver partly gilded for the sum of £9.2s.8d. which sum yet remains in the churchwardens hands now being for the necessary repairs of the same church.  They say also that one Thomas Alen did take down and sell two bells which hung in the little Chapel there and a chalice belonging to the same Chapel there and a pair of shippes of silver but for what intention hesold them or for how much they cannot tell.}

MYCHE STANBRIDGE. Thomas Dayes, Richard Dryver, Churchewardens there doo presente and say that they at Whitsontyde laste with the consent of the parryshe hathe sold one Chalyce belonginge to the same churche for the Some of iiijli. and two upper garmentis for Deacon and Subdeacon for vjs. viijd., all whiche money they saye they have bestowed upon an highway and vpon the reparacions of the same churche.

{GREAT STAMBRIDGE.  Thomas Dayes, Richard Driver, Churchwardens there do present and say that they at Whitsuntide last with the consent of the parish have sold one chalice belonging to the same church for the sum of £4 and two upper garments for the Deacon and Subdeacon for 6s.8d. all of which money thay say they have bestowed upon the highway and upon reparations of the same church.}

ESTEWOODD. John Noble, John Chiche, John Bennett, Stephyn Keyle, William Burne Doo presente and say the same Noble, Chyche, and Bennett, That they haue sold abowte candlemas last past one broken chalyce of the said churches for the Somme of xlijs. And they say there was bestowed thereof upon necessarie reparacions doon in the same churche xxxs. iiijd. And the resydue of the same money still remayneth in the church boxe.

{EASTWOOD.  John Noble, John Chiche, John Bennett, Stephen Keyle, Wiliam Burne do present and say that the same Noble, Chiche, and Bennett that they have sold about Candlemas last past one broken chalice of the said church for the sum of 42s. and they say there was bestowed thereof upon necessary reparations done in the same church 30s.4d. and the residue of the same money still remains in the church box.}

EMBEZZLED CHURCH GOODS OF ESSEX. 159

PRYTTELLWELL. William Salmon, William Morecocke, John Nell', Marmaduke Myddellwall, Doo presente and say That there hathe been sold within these ij. yeres of the churche plate there by the same William Salmon and William Morecocke with other of the said parryshe videlicet John Bradcock, and John Harryes, thees parcells hereafter folowinge videlicit:
A monster of sylver gyhe[2] wayeng xxiiijti. vuinces iij. quarters, a crosse of sylver parcell gylte wayeng lxxvj. vunces dimidium, a senser wayenge xxxj. vunces, two paxe[3]s wayenge xvj. vunces iij. quarters at vs id., every vnce one with another, cxlix. vncis ... Summa xxxvijli. xvijs.
All which plate they saye was solde to fyrnyshe a Roofe in the same churche. They say also that there at ij. years paste was sold more of the said churche plate a Chalyce, a Shyppe, and two Cruettis[4], for the somme of vijli. And the same Somme they saye was bestowed in makinge a bell frame in the saide churche.

{PRITTLEWELL. William Salmon, William Morecocke, John Nell, Marmaduke Middlewall, do present and say that there has been sold within these last 2 years of the church plate there the same William Salmon and William Morecocke with other of the said parish viz: John Bradcock, and John Harris, these parcels hereafter following viz:
A monster[5] silver gilded weighing 24¾ ounces, a cross of silver partly gilded weighing 76½ ounces, a senser weighing 31 ounces, two paxes weighing 16¾ ounces at 5s.1d. every ounce with another 149 ounces … sum £37.7s.
All which plate they say was sold to furnish the roof in the same church.  They say also that there 2 years past was sold more of the said church plate a chalice, a shippe, and two cruets, for the sum of £7. And the same sum they say was bestowed in making a bell frame in the said church.}

RATCHFORDE [?Rochford]. John ffreeborne, John meeke, Thomas Tyler, John Grymbill, Parryshenours there doo presente and saye That there hath been solde of thornamentes of the same churche in October last past iij. old stremerss an olde Aultare clothe and an old Coope for a childe for the Somme of xijs. which was bestowed among the poore.

{ROCHFORD.  John Freeborne, John Meeke, Thomas Tyler, John Grimbill, parishioners there do present and say that there have been sold off the ornaments of the same church in October last past 3 old stremerss(?)[6] an old altar cloth and an old cope for the child for the sum of 12s which was distributed among the poor.}

LIGHE. William Aston, Curate, John Pope, Doo presente and say That there hathe been sold by the consent of the parryshe within these ij. yers of the churche plate there lxxxiiij. vunces at iiijs. ijd. the vunce and xxti. vnces at iiijs xd. the vnce. Summa iiijli. xvjs. viijd., whereof they say xvijli. xs. was layed owte and gyven for redemyng of certayne men of the same parryshe which were taken prysoners in ffraunce. And the resydue ys bestowed in repayringe the saide churche and amending an highwaye.

{LEIGH.  William Aston, Curate, John Pope do present and say that there has been sold by the consent of the parishioners within these 2 years of the church plate there 74 ounces at 4s.2d. per ounce and 20 ounces at 4s.10d. the ounce.  Sum, £4.16s.8d. whereof they say £17.10s was laid out and given for redeeming certain men of the same parish which were taken prisoners in France. And the residue is bestowed in repairing the said church and amending a highway.}

HADLEY. John Wade, Thomas Edwardis, Thomas Cocks, Doo presente and say That they the same William Wade and Thomas Edwardis dyd sell one Chalyce of the Churches for the Somme of xxxiijs. iiijd. And they say they bestowed the same Somme in and abowt the reparacions of the Churche there.

{HADLEIGH.  John Wade, Thomas Edwards, Thomas Cocks, do present and say that they the same William Wade and Thomas Edwards did sell one chalice of the church for the sum of 33s.4d. and they say they bestowed the same sum in and about the reparations of the church there.}

CANWEDON. James Anderkyn, John Michell, Churchewardens doo saye That he the same James Anderkyn and John Eckforthe then being Churchewardens dyd sell with the consent of certayne of the parryshe of the churche plate there ij. Cruettis with other brooken Juells for the Somme of iijli. xvs. vd. And a senser, a shippe, two chalyces, and a paxe for the somme of xviijli. xijd. And the said Sommes they say were lenyd to be bestowed in shinglinge and in other reparacions to be doone on the saide churche.

{CANEWDON.  James Anderkyn, John Mitchell, Churchwardens do say that he the same James Anderkyn and John Eckforthe then being churchwardens did sell with the consent of certain of the parish off the church plate there 2 cruetts with other broken jewels for the sum of £3.15s.5d. and a senser, a shippe(?)[7], two chalices, and a pax for the sum of £18.12d. And the said sums they say were lent to be bestowed in shingling and in other reparations to be done to the said church.}




[1] Shepes = shippes. The Oxford English Dictionary gives no clue other than to indicate –ship as an old suffix, as in worship.
[2] Gyhe = not recorded in OED but perhaps intended to be gilded
[3] Paxes = pax = a tablet of gold or silver etc depicting the crucifixion which is killed by the celebrating priest and other participants of the mass
[4] Cruettis = cruetis = cruet = a small bottle or vial for holding liquid (OED online)
[5] Monster, as in large, but what?
[6] unknown
[7] unknown

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