290 



John's Hospital ; the two Churches of St. Mary were abandoned 

 to their fate. 



We have certain data from which we can approximately fix 

 the dates of their secularization. 



The Church of Stalls was used as the official city Church until 

 1593, for in that year we find the Chamberlain making a payment 

 for "twoe mattes for the maior his seate in Stalles Church,** 

 Probably Stalls Church was soon afterwards given up as a place 

 of worship for in lPOO-1 the partial restoration of the Abbey 

 Church was finished, and money was expended by the Chamberlain 

 in fitting that Church with wainscoting and benches. Writing 

 in 1608 Sir John Harrington says "The tower, the choir and two 

 aisles are already finished by Mr. Billett, executor of the worthy 

 Lord Treasurer Burleigh." 



Probably the transfer from Stalls to the Abbey was in about 

 1606, for in that year we read in the Council Book : — 



"Agreed upon the 25th march, 1606, by the mayor, 

 parson and parishioners of Stalls concerning burials in 

 the great church vault. That any of the degree of a 

 Knight which shall be buried there shall pay for the 

 breaking the ground, 20/-, and 6/8 for ringing the 

 great bell, and others 6/8 for breaking the ground and 

 2/6 for ringing the bell, and every child 2/- for breaking 

 the earth." 

 The following entry in the Chamberlain's account in 1609 is 

 somewhat obscure : — 



"Paid for the Abbey Bell and Stalls ... £20 10 



Paid for the Clipp of the Bell £ 1 1 4 " 



but I am inclined to think it refers to the recasting of a bell, 

 probably the "Inket" or Inquest Bell formerly in Stalls Church, 

 and setting it in the Abbey tower. 



In 1616 the Corporation took possession of Stalls Churchyard 

 and granted each other leases at nominal rents ; the site of the 

 Churchyard can be traced from the block of houses now 

 standing. 



