50 



The Parish Church of S. Michael, Mere. 



"1748. Pd for a new common prayer book. 15/6." 



" 1781. For a Royal folio Bible in Rough Calf for use in the Church. £3. 13. 6." 



" One demy folio prayer book. 17/-." 

 *' 1789. A new prayer book. 20/-." 



It may be well to give a translation by the late Dr. Baron, 1 of 

 Upton Scudamore, with his notes, of the inventory of Dean William 

 de Wanda's visitation, 1220. 2 This is given in Appendix C, to- 

 gether with translations, with notes, of extracts from the Sarum 

 Eegisters of Deans Chandler (1404 — 1418) and Sydenham (1418 

 —1425). 3 



From these extracts we are able to form a good idea of the books, 

 vestments, and ornaments belonging to the Chnrch at these periods. 

 The book having a cross on which oaths are sworn, the portable 

 altar of marble, the ivory pix hanging over the altar, the silver pix 

 for conveying the Lord's Body to the sick, the ivory comb for the 

 ceremonial combing of the celebrant's hair, the processional cross of 

 copper with a subsequently-acquired cross of agate, the linen cloth 

 for covering up the cross in Lent, the silver-gilt chalice ornamented 

 with the crucifix, the three linen cloaks to cover up the image of 

 the Blessed Virgin, and the various vestments are of peculiar 

 interest and show how richly this Church was appointed. 



The entries in the churchwardens' book as to Church plate 4 are 

 numerous — probably some of them refer to vessels used for Church 

 ales, of which mention is made yearly down to 1613, in which year 

 the profits are entered as £21 5s. It was not unusual to pawn 

 the articles to raise money, as we see by the entry (1556) quoted on 

 p. 48. 



In 1625 there is an entry in the churchwardens' book of :- — 



" A double rate this yeare alsoe for this yeare alsoe for that the Church was 

 verie much in Decay." 



In 1707 Michael Downes was paid £2 14s. 8^. " for putting up 

 the iron barr to goe a-Thwart ye Church " ; it may be gathered 



1 Dr. Baron's translation has been slightly altered in one or two places in order 

 that it may agree with the Latin text as printed here. 



2 Mere Parish Magazine, September and October, 1884. 

 3 Ibid, November, 1884. 4 Appendix I. 



