SUNDRF ARTICLES. 647 



cheap j the labour of the scribe could be easily procured: and 

 though these books were generally written with greater care 

 and in larger letters than the farm accounts, yet this alone 

 will not account for the high rates which volumes fetched. 



Among the articles occasionally quoted is frankincense, not, 

 that is, the common thus or resin, but some fragrant substance 

 obtained from tropical countries. It is bought at 6d. a pound 

 in 1 284 for the castle of Clare. On three other occasions, in 

 1371, 1373, 1382, it is purchased by the monks of Bicester, 

 in the first year at is. 8*/., in the other two at is. 4^. the 

 pound. 



In 1284 an image is bought, at the cost of ic*., for Harlech 

 Chapel; and in 1398 three almaria and an altar are bought in 

 London for New College from c Adam the Joiner.' The price 

 paid for these articles is not given, but the carriage cost z. 

 Almaria, it appears, means a chest, used generally for ecclesi- 

 astical purposes, and these probably stood by the altar and 

 contained the relics and vestments belonging to the church. 

 A list of the relics presented by the founder and his friends to 

 New College is given in the Liber Albus. 



1 do not know whether a c Judas,' for which Merton College 

 gave $-r,d. in the year 1300, was a figure dressed up for some 

 of the solemnities of Passion Week, nor can I guess at what is 

 meant by a c capa diaboli' which appears among the charges of 

 the Ersham estate in 1306. 



In the year 1290 the bailiff of Elham expends i 8s. io%d. 

 on a church clock (horologium) ; and in 1371 the corporation of 

 York Cathedral pay ^13 6s. 8d. for a similar convenience. 

 A cheaper means for shewing the time is found in the 

 clepsydra bought at Southampton in the year 1399 for id. 



The inventory of Senekworth's effects gives four silver spoons 

 valued at lod. each. These must have been very slight. The 

 same official possessed two rings worth is. each. In 1316 and 

 1318 Merton College gives a ring, probably with a seal, to 

 John Bledelowe's wife Bledelowe was a name among the 

 founder's-kin ; and in 1321 the society makes a similar pre- 



