Contents of Churchwardens^ Books. 231 



I' for mates (mats) about the Com- 



munyon tabelle .... xiij** 



I' paycle the Person for keeping the 



Stocke ...... iij'' iiij'' " 



These accounts, too, like all others, are full of items for 

 the repairs of the bells and bell-ropes, confirming what may 

 be found in the narratives of old French and Italian travellers 

 concerning our English passion for bell-ringing. The following 

 looks very much like cause and effect : — 



" 1636. Itm to the Ringers one y*^ Kinges daye. ij* vj** 

 Itm for one belroape . . . . i^ iv'"' 



The '' King's day " was that on which the King ascended the 

 throne. Again, to show the mixed and varied contents of the 

 Churchwardens' Books, we will once more go back to those of 

 Ellingham. Under the date of 1556 we find : — 



*' Itm for a baudericke of the great bell . . xij'^ 



Ilfn for a lanterne ..... viij*^ 

 It in for nailes and sope > . . . . iij'' " 



Under the head of " Layinges out in the secunde yere," meaning 

 1557, we meet : — 



" Itm for a pot of claye .... iij" 



Itm payed for ij bokes . . . . x" 



Itm payed for smoke sylver . . • ij^ xi" " 



And, again, under the " Layinges out in the thyrdde yere," 

 we find : — 



" Itm payed for storynge of the tythynge 



harnesse ...... xviij** 



Itm for white lether . . . . . iij*^ 



Itm for lyme and vj creste tyles . . . xxi" 



231 



