Page:The New Forest - its history and its scenery.djvu/249

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Contents of Churchwardens' Books.

	I^t for mates (mats) about the Communyon tabelle	xiij^d
	I^t payde the Person for keeping the Stocke	iij^s iiij^d"

These accounts, too, like all others, are full of items for the repairs of the bells and bell-ropes, confirming what may be found in the narratives of old French and Italian travellers concerning our English passion for bell-ringing. The following looks very much like cause and effect:—

"1636.	It~m to the Ringers one y^e Kinges daye.	ij^s vj^d
	It~m for one belroape	i^s iv^d"

The "King's day" was that on which the King ascended the throne. Again, to show the mixed and varied contents of the Churchwardens' Books, we will once more go back to those of Ellingham. Under the date of 1556 we find:—

"It~m for a baudericke of the great bell	xij^d
It~m for a lanterne	viij^d
It~m for nailes and sope	iij^d"

Under the head of "Layinges out in the secunde yere," meaning 1557, we meet:—

"It~m for a pot of claye	iij^d
It~m payed for ij bokes	x^s
It~m payed for smoke sylver	ij^s xi^d"

And, again, under the "Layinges out in the thyrdde yere," we find:—

"It~m payed for storynge of the tythynge harnesse	xviij^d
It~m for white lether	iij^d
It~m for lyme and vj creste tyles	xxi^d

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