1423-1424.—Solut' pro 4 pypys auri de Cipris, 6s.—Item, solut' Ricardo Buc, pro tecto vestar' celando, et 3 fenestris faciendis, 35s. in plenam solutionem. Item, solut' Radulfo vestmentmakere pro 2 pectoral' et 2 amitt', 20s. Item, solut' pro 1 capa de worsted rubeo, et pro 1 corperascas, 21s. 8d. Item, solut' Johanni Smythe pro marmore empto pro Ecclesia, 9l. 6s. (fol. 136, vo).
The foregoing extracts may serve to give a notion of the curious particulars occurring in these accounts; the general expenses of the establishment are not less deserving of notice, for information on matters of domestic economy and statistics, at the commencement of the fifteenth century. The accounts of 1405—6 give the price of the common-seal of the chantry of Mettingham, for making which a payment of 20s. appears; this entry deserves mention, as fixing the date of this seal,[1] of which an impression exists, appended to a deed, dated 22 Hen. VTII. It is a good example of workmanship of its age. The central device is the Virgin enthroned, and holding the Infant Saviour. On the dexter side is the bearing of the Founder (Party per pale Az. and G. a lion rampant Erm). de Norwich. On the sinister side the coats of Ufford and Vescy, quarterly, (a cross engrailed, quartering a cross molines,) being the arms, apparently, of Robert de Ufford, who espoused Margaret, sister and heiress of Sir Thomas de Norwich, through which alliance it seems probable, that the Uffords, Earls of Suffolk, had a share in the establishment of the college at Mettingham. The master of the college appears also to have had his own official seal, as a charge occurs amongst the "Minute Expense," in 1408—9, "Solut' pro corect' sigilli magistri de Metyngham, 12d." Correctio is a term frequently used in these documents, to express the repair of various objects.[2] The number and costly variety of sacred ornaments and vestments purchased for the services of so small an establishment is remarkable, as also the frequent expenditure for vellum and writing service-books. These last appear to have been mostly produced in the establishment, but the scribes received payment for their labours. Frequent items occur of disbursements to Hugh Dunstone and John Knyf, capellanis, for writing and illuminacion. The decoration of this kind bestowed upon a missal cost 25s.; but as croc' (crocus) only was provided, it does not appear to have been very elaborate; possibly, the term may only apply to rubrication. A Legend of Saints cost 21s. 8d.; the writing of an Antiphoner, 53s. 4d.; the payment for each quire (pro scripcione 1 quaterni) was from 10d. to 14d. A pound of vermilion cost 18d. Copperas, gum and galls, for ink, frequently occur, and 80 letters of gold, apparently in the Antiphoner, cost 30d. A quire of paper cost only 4d.; three quires of vellum cost 14d. John Melton, chaplain, received 15s. 8d. for writing a book of the Gospels. Occasionally, persons not of the establishment were employed: William Lominowr, or the illuminator, is named repeatedly. But the most interesting feature of these church accounts is the information which they supply regarding the sculptured and painted decorations, of which so many valuable examples still remain in the eastern counties. The elaborate and richly ornamented screens, ceilings, and tabernacle work, in the churches of Norfolk and
