316 



AN INVENTORY OF THE JEWELS, ORNAMENTS, VESTMENTS, 



&c., BELONGING TO THE PRIORY OF 



St. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, CORNWALL. 



Bv H. MICH ELL WHITLEY, Ho,i. Mem. 



This interesting Inventory is written on two sheets of parch- 

 ment, is preserved in the Public Record Office, and known as 

 Q.E.. Church Goods No. i» 



There is no original heading or title to the document ; but 

 the internal evidence is conclusive that it relates to St. Michael's 

 Mount, Cornwall, and in my opinion it dates from the early part 

 of the 16th century, wdth a later addition. 



The Inventory is the most complete of any yet discovered 

 relating to the Priories or Churches of the County, and is of 

 great value to all interested in its Ecclesiastical history. 



JUELLYS^ 



Fyi'st a pyx^ of sylver wherin the Blyssed sacrament 



is wayng . . . . . . . . . . iiju"oes qi- 



Item the canapye over the sacrament, of sylver and 



parcell gylt w* a crowne of sylver weyng viij"""'*^ q'' 



Item a monstrance^ of sylver & gylt w'' a berall in 

 the meddes to here the sacrament in per- 

 cession weyng . . . . . . . . ix'^n*"'^ q'' 



Item a nother monstrance of sylver & gylt y* came 



frome my lady* weyng . . . . . . xxiiij"^""®^ 



1. In old inventories this means anything precious, made of valuable materials, 

 or richly adorned. 



2. A vessel of precious metal, often in the form of a dove, here of silver, for 

 the reservation of the Host: it was generally suspended over the high altar by a cord 

 or wire with a canopy over it, and a lamp burnt continually day and night before it- 



3. A receptacle usually made of crystal or some other transparent material' 

 through which the wafer could be seen, and which was mounted on a stand as an orna- 

 mental receptacle in which to place the Host to exhibit it to the people in order to 

 receive their adoration, and for use during what was called the Benediction with the 

 Blessed Sacrament (North's Chronicle of the Church of St. Marthi, Leicester, p. 65.) 

 It was also used for carrying the Sacrament in procession to the sick, as stated in 

 this inventory. 



4. "My lady"' is, doubtless, the Abbess of the Convent of SS. Mary and 

 Bridget, Syon, Middlesex, to whom the Priory was granted by Henry vth. 



