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Saturday, 1 February 2014

Embezzled Church Goods of Essex (7): Transactions n.s. Volume 13 Part 3

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

{Part 7}
{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. 50.] THE DEANRYE OF LEXDEN AND TENDERYNG.
{THE DEANERY OF LEXDEN AND TENDRING}

CLACKETON MAGNA. Thomas Gardener, Thomas Westborne, Churchwardens doo say that they by the consent of the parryshe hathe sold one brooken Crosse and one brooken Chalyce wayeing lviijti. vunces vs the vnce Summa xiiijli. xs. wherof was bestowed in makinge of stooles[1] and a pulpytt in the Churche xxxijs. and in reparacions of the saide churche iiijli. xvjs.

{GREAT CLACTON.  Thomas Gardener, Thomas Westborne, Churchwardens do say that they by the consent of the parish have sold one broken Cross and one broken chalice weighing 58 ounces, 5s the ounce Sum £14.10s whereof was bestowed in making of stolls and pulpit in the church 32s. and in reparations of the said church £4.16s.}

WESTDONYLAND. The Churchwardens there do presente and saye That they haue solde five lytell bells belonginge to the same churche of the gyfte of Mr. Audeley esquyer and the money thereof receaued ys bestowed vpon the newe churche.

{WEST DONYLAND. The Churchwardens there do present and say that they have sold five little bells belonging to the same church of the gift of Mr Audley esq., and the money thereof received is bestowed upon the new church.}

ALL HALOWES. The Churchwardens there do presente That they haue solde so myche brasse, yron, and waxe as they receaued xviijs. for, wherewith they boughte an hutche[2] with iij. lockes and keyes which coste iijs. iiijd. And the reste remayneth in thandes of the same churchewardens.

{ALL HALLOWS, COLCHESTER. The Churchwardens there do present that they have sold so much brass, iron, and wax as they received 8s for, wherewith they bought a chest with 3 locks and keys which cost 3s.4d. And the rest remains in the hands of the same churchwardens.}

EMBEZZLED CHURCH GOODS OF ESSEX. 165

MYCHE BENTLEY. John hawen, John Orves, Churchwardens doo presente That synnith the Kingis maiestis visitation Thomas Westenay by the consent of the parryshe hath sold of the churche plate there a Crosse parcell gylte and enameled, a Chalyce, a senser, ij. Cruettis one broken, a lytle Crucyfix gylte of an ynche lengithe for the Somme of xxiiijti. poundes.
Item, ii. Candlestyckis one broken, an handebell, a broken holywater payle, all of latten, and bowies of leaden Candlestyckis by estimacion xixli. solde for xiiij. shillingis, of whiche sommes they saye they haue bestowed in repayring and amending noysome highewayes and daungerous bridgis vijli. And vpon other bridgis, in almes amongeste poore people, and vpon Almeshouses xxvjs. viijd. And in mendinge the Churche xjs. iiijd.

{GREAT BENTLEY. John Hawen, John Orves, Churchwardens do present that since the King’s Majesty’s visitation Thomas Westenay by the consent of the parish have sold off the church plate there a Cross partly gilded and enamelled, a chalice, a senser, 2 cruetts one broken, a little crucifix gilded of an inch length for the sum of £24.}

ST. MARYES PARRYSHE. John Welle, John Parke, Churchwardens doo presente and say that the parryshonours there about xiiij. yeres past hath sold of the churche plate theese parcells folowinge; A pyxe of sylver and gylte wayeng xxxvjti. vunces quarter whyche was employed in putting upp of the steple.
Item, as moche sylver plate as amounted in dyverse parcells to the value of xili. whereof they paid for castinge of the great bell iijli. And distributed to xxxti. housholdes of poore people in the parryshe xs. And the reeste being vijli. xs. remayneth in a stocke with dyverse men of the same parryshe.
Item, they have sold a Chalice of sylver and gylte wayeinge xxxvti. vunces and a lyttle broken pyxe of sylver and gylte wayeing vij. vncis at vs. the vnce. Summa totalis xli. xs., whereof they haue payed for whyte lyminge of the Churche and Ile with scriptures iijli., for glasinge and defacinge the churche wyndowes xvs. iiijd. And for a cheste with iij. lockes bounde with yron teene shillingis.

{ST MARY’S, COLCHESTER.  John Welle, John Parke, Churchwardens do present and say that the parishioners there about 14 years past have sold off the church plate these parcels following: A pyx of silver and gilded weighing 36¼ ounces which was employed in putting up the steeple.
Item, as much silver plate as amounted in diverse parcels to the value of £11 whereof they paid for casting the great bell £3 And distributed to 30 households of poor people in the parish 10s. And the rest being £7.10s. remaining in a stock with diverse men of the same parish.
Item, they have sold a chalice of silver and gilded weighing 35 ounces and a little broken pyx of silver and gilded weighing 7 ounces at 5s the ounce. Sum total £11.10s. whereof they have paid for white liming of the church and aisle with scriptures £3, for glazing and defacing the church windows 15s.3d. and for a chest with 3 locks bound in iron ten shillings.}

THORINGTON. John Gawton, Churchwarden there by thassent of thole parryshe hath solde by thandes of John Clare and William Colman certayne of the churcheplate to the Somme of xxxli. viijs. vjd. to the vse of the reparacions of the Churche and makinge of a bridge called Borefleet brigge which standeth in daunger of the See as they say.

{THORINGTON. John Gawton, Churchwarden there by the assent of the whole parish has sold by the hands of John Clare and William Colman certain of the church plate to the sum of £30.8s.6d. to the use of the reparations of the church and making a bridge called Borefleet brigge which stands in danger of the Sea as they say.}

ALRESFORD. Stephen Gardener, R[ob]art Anderton, Churchewardens doo presente That they haue solde of the churche goodes thees parcells folowing videlicet one bell wayenge vcweight at xviijs. the cweight, Summit iiijli. xiiijs. Item, two Standerdis and two small Candelstyckis xis., one Croosse of latten iiijd., one chalyce wayenge xij. vunces iijli. Summa totalis viijli. vs. iiijd. And they have layed owte thereof for glasinge, for an hutche, and for a pulpitt, xxs. viijd. And so remayneth at this presente tyme vijli. iiijs. viijd.

{ARLESFORD. Stephen Gardener, Robert Anderton, Churchwardens do present that they have sold off the church goods these parcels following viz: one bell weighing five-hundredweight at 18s. the hundredweight, Sum £4.14s. Item, two standard and two small candlesticks 11s., one Cross of brass 4d., one chalice weighing 12 ounces, £3. Sun total £8.5s.4d. And they have laid out thereof for glazing, for a chest, and for a pulpit, 20s.8d. And so remains at the present time £7.4s.8d.}

PELDON. William Hoy, Gregory Sake, parryshenours there do presente that they have solde of the churche plate two chalyces, a shippe a Cruette, a paxe, and a Senser, conteyninge in waighte vjxx iiij. vncis at iiijs. the vnce. Summa xvli iijs. iiijd. whereof they haue layed owte and bestowede in repayringe of highewayes and bridges xijli. xiijs. iiijd. And the residue remayneth in thandis of the saide parrysheners.

{PELDON. William Hoy, Gregory Sake, parishioners there do present that they have sold off the church plate two chalices, a shippe(?) a Cruett, a paxe, and a senser, containing in weight 6lbs 4 ounces at 4s the ounce. Sum £15.3s.4d. whereof they have laid out and bestowed in repairing the highways and bridges £12.13s.4d. And the residue remains in the hands of the said parishioners.}



[1] Stooles = stolls = a long robe or garment (OED online)
[2] Hutche = hutch = a chest or coffer in which things are stored

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