ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



two or more challesses or cupps according to the multitude of the 

 people every such churche or chappell and also such other ornaments 

 as by their discretions shall seme requisite for the devyne servyce in 

 every such place for the tyme.' When the work was finished a certifi- 

 cate was delivered into court, entitled ' A just veue and perfyt inventorye 

 of all the guds, plate, juells, bellis, vestiments, and other ornaments 

 within every pariche churche, chapell, brotherheid, gyld, or fraternitie 

 in the countie of Cumbreland, maide by Sir Thomas Dacre, Sir Richard 

 Musgrave, knights, William Pykerynge, Thomas Salkeld, Robert 

 Lamplughe, Anthony Barwis, esquiers, auctorisid by the Kyngs Majes- 

 tie's commission heronto datid the vjth day of May in the sext yeir of 

 his Majesties reign.' The commissioners returned the schedules of 

 church goods according to wards, ranging the churches under the 

 wards of Cumberland, Leith, Eskdale, Allerdale above Derwent and 

 Allerdale below Derwent : the Leath ward entries have been divided 

 into two sections. As might be expected in a scattered and poor 

 diocese like Carlisle, the sacred instruments of divine service were 

 neither numerous nor valuable. A chalice of silver, a couple of vest- 

 ments and a bell or two were the only requisites of some of the churches, 

 but most of them of average wealth and importance possessed two 

 candlesticks of brass and a pair of censers. In larger churches like 

 Carlisle cathedral and Greystoke college the ornaments presented a 

 greater and richer variety. By subsequent mandates directions were 

 given for the disposal of the spoils. Churches were entitled to retain 

 one or two chalices ' to thintent the said churches and chappelles may 

 be furnysshedd of convenyent and comely things mete for thadmynystra- 

 cion of the holy Communyon ' ; a proper cover for the ' communyon 

 table ' and a surplice or surplices for the minister or ministers, the resi- 

 due of the linen ornaments and implements to be distributed freely 

 among the poor of the parish ; but all copes, vestments, altar cloths 

 and other ornaments, as well as all parcels or pieces of metal, ' except 

 the metall of greatt bell, saunce bells in every of the said churches or 

 chapells,' were ordered to be sold to the King's use. 1 Before the whole 

 of the proceeds of the sale reached the royal coffers, Edward VI. died, 

 and Mary, who succeeded, at once stopped the spoliation of the parish 

 churches. On inquiry in 1556 it was found that much of the plunder, 

 of which the plate alone weighed 265 ounces, was in the custody of 

 the Lady Ann Musgrave, the widow of one of King Edward's commis- 

 sioners for Cumberland. No doubt, as much of the plate as was re- 

 covered and could be identified was returned to the parishes to which 

 it belonged, but the vestments and other ornaments, which had been 

 ' prysed by the sworne men ' and sold, were lost or destroyed.* 



> The Rev. H. Whitehead, a most diligent and painstaking antiquary, has printed the instructions 

 of the commissioners for Cumberland and the full text of the survey from the ' Exchequer Q. R. Church 

 Goods 3*5 and -fa 6 Edward VI.' (Cumbld. and Westmorld. Arcbaeol. Soc. Trans, viii. 186-204). 



3 Mr. Whitehead has written a very interesting appendix on ' Queen Mary's commission of inquiry 

 as to church goods ' in Old Church Plate in the Diocese of Carlisle (pp. 316-8) from the original documents 



ii 57 8 



