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Saturday 25 January 2014

Embezzled Church Goods of Essex (5): Transactions n.s. Volume 13 Part 3

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

{Part 5}
{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. 42.] THE DEANERYE OF SAMPFORDE AND NEWPORTE.
{THE DEANERY OF SAMPFORD AND NEWPORT}

WALDEN. Robert Turnour, and John Hubbarde, Churchwardens, Thomas Boyton, John Cotten, John Smythe Junior, Jamys Williamson, John Dawson, parryshenours, there Doo say That for the relief of the pore peple and for the mayntenaunce of a free Shoole [sic] within the saide Towne with other charitable deeds haue sold the Juells plate and ornaments of the churche as hereafter foloweth videlicet; Syxe scoore and nyne vunces of gylte as vs. iiijd. the vunce … … xxxvijli. xvjd.
Item, Sevyn scoore and xv. vunces of whyte plate at iiijs. ixd. obolus[1] the vnce … … xxxvijli. ijs. viijd.
Item, lij. vunces dimidium of gylte plate at vs. iiijd. the vunce  … … xiiijli. iis.
Item, xxxiij. vunces dimidium of whyte plate at iiijs. ixd. the vunce … vijli. xvjs. viijd.
Whereof a greate parte ys putt in to occupiers handes payeng therefore ijs. for every pound. And the profytt thereof ys putt in the Towne Cheste for the purpose above said.

{SAFFRON WALDEN.  Robert Turner, and John Hubbard, Churchwardens, Thomas Boyton, John Cotton, John Smyth junior, James Williamson, John Dawson, parishioners, there do say that for the relief of the poor people and for the maintenance of a free School within the said Town with other charitable deeds have sold the jewels plate and ornaments of the church as hereafter followeth viz: Six score and nine ounces of gilt plate as 5s.4d. the ounce … … £37.16d.
Item. Seven score and 15 ounces of white plate at 4s.9d. obolus the ounce … … £37.2s.8d.
Item, 3½ ounces of gilded plate at 5s.4d. the ounce … … £9.2s.
Item, 33½ ounces of white plate at 4s.9d. the ounce … £7.16s.8d.
Whereof a great part is put in the occupants hands paying therefore 2s for every pound. And the profit thereof is put in the Town Chest for the purpose above said.}

NEWPORTE AT THE PONDE. Henry Douham, Thomas Marten, Churchwardens doo presente and say That they and Rapfe Stammers [?], gentleman, Thomas Cole, John Brand, John Coles, Rychard Grace, and Rychard Stanys hath solde of the churches goodis thees thingis folowinge videlicet ;
A greate bell of the same churche brooken wayeng xxiiijti. hundreth, pryce xxvjli. xijs.
Item, certayne latten Candlestychis that stood before thaulter and the roodloft wayenge one hundreth and an half and a quarter solde for xxxjs. vjd.
Summa xxviijli  iijs. vjd.
And they say that the same bell and Candlestycks were sold to repayre the churche there and to amende a Tenemente belonginge to the same church called gacys which tenement was gyven towardis the relief and use of poore people there, And payments of the Kingis Taxes.

{NEWPORT. Henry Douham, Thomas Marten, Churchwardens do present and say that they and Ralph Stammers, gentleman, Thomas Coke, John Brand, John Coles, Richard Grace, and Richard Stanys have sold off the church goods these things following viz:
A great bell of the same church broken weighing 24 hundreth, price £25.12s.
Item, certain brass candlesticks that stood before the altar and the rood loft weighing one hundredth and three-quarters sold for 31s.6d.
Sum £38.3s.6d.
And they say that the same bell and candlesticks were sold to repair the church there and to amend a Tenement belonging to the same church called Gacys which tenement was given towards the relief and use of poor people there,And payment of the King’s Taxes.}

EMBEZZLED CHURCH GOODS OF ESSEX. 163

BRADFIELD [? Bardfield] PARVA. Thomas Perry, Churchewarden presenteth That he with the consent of the parryshe did sell these thingis folowing which did belong to the saide churche. a brasyn potte, a panne, and the Candlestycks which dyd stand before the Rood for the Somme of xs. vjd. obolus[2] whiche money ys putte in an honest mans handis of the same parryshe for the relief and succours of the poore people, he sayth also that one Walter Whyte, paryshenour, there did sell as moche brasse and latten as came to iijs. with a paske[3] [sic] of syluer whiche money he the same Whyte hath in his custodie.

{LITTLE BARDFIELD.  Thomas Perry, Churchewarden, presents that he with the consent of the parish did sell these things following which did belong to the said church. A brass pot, a pan, and the candlesticks which did stand before the rood for the sum of 10s.6d. obolus whch money is put in an honest man’s hands of the same parish for the relief and succour of the poor people, he says also that one Walter White, parishioner, there did sell as much brass and brass [copper or other metal?] as came to 3s. with a pax) of silver which money he the same White has in his custody.}

BYRCHANGER. William Thorowgood, Thomas Ramsay, Churchewardens doo say That the parryshoners there hath sold a grove of underwoodde of the churche landis conteyning iiij. acres for the Somme of vijli. of the whiche iiijli. hathe been employed to the use of the churche as in buylding and in other necessaries. The resydue being iijli. remayneth in thandes of the same churchewardens which was soulde abowte twoo yeares paste.

{BIRCHANGER. William Thorogood, Thomas Ramsey, Churchwardens, do say that the parishioners there have sold a grove of underwood of the church lands containing 4 acres for the sum of £7 of which £4 has been employed to the use of the church as in building and in other necessaries. The residue being £3 remains in the hands of the same churchwardens which was sold about two years past.}

ELNESHAM. James Waylott, Nycholas Thorowgod, Doo say That they have sold synneth mychaelmas last past boordes that Imagis dyd stande in to the value of ijs. viiijd. whiche Somme yet remayneth in theyre handes.

{ELSENHAM. James Waylott, Nicholas Thorogood, do say that they have sold since Michaelmas last past boards that images did stand on to the value of 2s.9d. which sum yet remains in their hands.}

SAMPFORDE PARVA. John ffynche, John Sulman, Churchewardens doo say That thole paryshonours there for the reparacions of the steple whiche was sore decayed sold two chalyces for vli. xviijs. iiijd. which hollie was putte and bestowed (as they say) to thuse aforesaid.

{LITTLE SAMPFORD. John Finch, John Sulman, Churchwardens do say that the whole parishioners there for the reparation of the steeple which was sore decayed sold two chalices for £5.18s.4d. which wholly was put and bestowed (as they say) to the use aforesaid.}





[1] Obolus = a small weight for balancing a scale (OED online)
[2] Obolus = a small weight for balancing a scale (OED online)
[3] Paske = pasch = pax = a tablet of gold or silver etc depicting the crucifixion which is kissed by the celebrating priest and other participants of the mass

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