By C. Haskins. 9 



have been inserted in the top of the old tomb and which record 



the names of Thomas Chafin, Esq., 1679, and Thomas Chafin 



Markes, Esq., 1727, lead one to suppose that when the first-named 



died in 1679, his grandson, Thomas Chafin Markes, appropriated 



this monument, and that it was used as a tomb for his grandfather 



and also for himself when he died in 1727, and although he had not 



the wit to take off the ancient merchant's mark, he left 10s. yearly 



for repairing the tomb for ever, "and that no other person should 



be buried in it." 



The old font, which is a plain bowl of Late Norman character, 



was restored to the Church from a neighbouring garden in 1895. 



This font is supposed to have been turned out of the Church in 



1647, and a small substitute provided, when the order was made 



that all fonts were to be taken down in Churches and placed near 



the minister's seat. The account of the churchwardens for 1647 



shows a payment for a board for the Parliament's declaration, &d. ; 



also : — 



" paid to J. Holloway for takeinge downe the fonte and laying the 

 stones, 8*." 



After the restoration, viz., on May 18th, 1661, Humphrey 

 Beckham was paid for moving the pulpit back to its old position 

 and for a covering for a new font, £4 15s. 5d. 



The loose stonework is the remains of two carved figures which 

 stood in the niches on the exterior wall of the south side of the 

 tower and represented the Virgin and Child, and Thomas-a-Beckett. 



The old chests contain the registers from 1570, the church- 

 wardens' accounts from 1545, and other old documents. 



The vestry, which is a building of three floors, is thought to be 

 the house, or a portion of the house, which William Swayne built 

 as a residence for his chantry priests in 1465 — 7, the erection of 

 which resulted in ten years' litigation between the corporation 

 and Bishop Beauchamp, and the imprisonment of the redoubtable 

 mayor, John Halle, for disrespectful behaviour towards the king 

 in council. The ceiling of the vestry room is original work, but 

 the sides were new wainscoted in 1733 8ft. high, and the partition 

 on the east side was added so as to form a small inner chamber. 



