48 



The Parish Church of 8. Michael, Merc. 



There are many entries from 1556 onwards for leather "bal- 

 dricks," or " bawdricks," for the bells, and bnckles for the same, 

 also for payments to ringers on various occasions, thus : — 



" 1636. To the Ringers when Mr. Dockter Chafin went throughe the Towne 



and p'cession xij d ." 

 " 1685. Itm to the Ringers when Munmoth was taken. 00=05=00." 

 " 1691. Itm p d for beero gave the Ringers the Gunpowder Treason and the 



Thanksgiving day for the reduceinge of Ireland. 01=09=06." 

 " 1704. Itm to y e Ringers the Thanksgiving day for y e Duke of Marlboroughs 



victory obtained aganst y e french. 00=18=06." 



The bells were in 1705 rung from a new gallery erected in the 

 tower in that year. 



Very interesting are the many entries in the churchwardens' 

 book relating to ritual and to the arrangements and the fittings 

 and furniture of the Church : — 



" 1556. Itm Receuyd of Edithe Brabante whiche she gave to the Churche of 



devocyon to be prayed for. xij s ." 

 " Itm payed to Robert Cowherd, for the Redemynge of certeyn sylvre 



spones of the Churche stock, which he had in gage, by the delynd 



of the Churchwardeyns for sis. o£ money borowed of hym to thuse 



of the Churche xl s ." 

 " Itm payed for the lampe Taper, and the Trendell. iij 9 . vj d ." 

 " Itm for a bawdrick for the belles. ij s . viij d ." 

 " Itm payed for a Buckell for a Bawderick. ij d ." 

 " Itm to Robte Peareman for the pascall Taper and for too other 



Tapers for the Aulter. ix s .' ' 

 " Itm for mendynge of the Stremer and of the sylke banner, Ageynst 



the p'cessyon weke, this yere. xvj d ." 



(The " Pascall taper " was doubtless for use at the Easter 

 sepulchre.) 



" 1636. More to the Ca'penter for 210 foote of borde to laye under the Ledd 

 of the South He at ix 8 per ® is xix 3 . 

 " Ifor a quarter of Tymber to Lyne 1 the Jesse there. v s ." 



1 "Jesse. A large brass candlestick, with many sconces, hanging down in the 

 Middle of a Church or choir, which Invention was first called Jesse from the 

 similitude of the branches of those of the Arbor Jesse ; and this useful ornament 

 of Churches was first brought over into this Kingdom by Hugh de Flory, Abbot 

 of St. Austin's in Canterbury about the year 1100. (Chron. Will. Thorn, 

 1796.)" From Jacob's Law Dictionary . 



To " line the clothes " is a local term for hanging them out to dry. 



