The History of Waltham Abby in Essex, Part 4
The ſtate of Waltham Church during the Reign of King EDWARD the Sixth.
OLd things are paſſed away, behold all things now are become new. Superſtition by degrees being baniſhed out of the Church, we hear no more of prayers and Maſſes for the dead. Every Obit now had its own Obit, and fully expired, the Lands formerly given thereunto being imployed to more charitable uſes. But let us ſelect ſome particulars of the Church-wardens accounts in this Kings dayes.
Anno 1549. the 3d. of EDWARD the Sixth.
Imprimis, Sold the Silver plate which was on the desk in the Charnel, weighing five ounces for twenty five ſhillings.] Gueſs the gallantry of our Church by this (preſuming all the reſt in proportionable equipage) when the desk, whereon the Prieſt read, was inlaid with plate of ſilver.
Item, Sold a rod of iron which the curtain run upon before the Rood, nine pence.] The Rood was an Image of Chriſt on the Croſs, made generally of wood, and erected in a loft for that purpoſe, juſt over the paſſage out of the Church into the Chancel. And, wot you what ſpiritual myſterie was couched in this poſition thereof? The Church (forſooth) typified the Church Militant, the Chancel repreſents the Church Triumphant; and all, who will paſs out of the former into the latter, muſt go under the Rood-loft; that is, carry the croſs and be acquainted with affliction. I add this the rather, becauſe aFox Acts & Mon, in the examination of Tho. Hawks, pag. 1590.Harpsfield, that great Scholar (who might be preſumed knowing in his own art of Superſtition) confeſſeth himſelf ignorant of the reaſon of the Rood-ſcituation.
Item, Sold ſo much Wax as amounted to twenty ſix ſhillings.] So thrifty the Wardens, that they bought not candles and tapers ready made, but bought the wax at the beſt hand, and payed poor people for the making of them. Now they ſold their Magazine of wax as uſeleſs. Under the Reformation more light and fewer candles.
Item, Paid for half of the Book called Paraphraſe, five ſhillings.] By the ſeventh Injunction of King Edward, each Pariſh was to procure the Paraphraſe of Eraſmus, namely, the firſt part thereof on the Goſpels, and the ſame to be ſet up in ſome convenient place in the Church.
Item, Spent in the Viſitation at Chelmsford amongſt the Wardens and other honeſt men, fourteen ſhillings four pence.] A round ſumme I aſſure you in thoſe dayes. This was the firſt Viſitation (kept by Nicholas Ridley newly Biſhop of London) whereat Waltham-Wardens ever appeared out of their own Town, whoſe Abbot formerly had Epiſcopal Juriſdiction.
Anno 1551 the 5th of EDWARD the 6th.
Imprimis, Received for a Knell of a ſervant to the Lady Mary her Grace, ten pence.] Copt-Hall in this Pariſh being then in the Crown, the Lady (afterwards Queen) Mary, came thither ſometimes to take the air probably, during whoſe reſidence there this her ſervant died.
Item, Loſt fourty ſix ſhillings by reaſon of the fall of money by Proclamation.] King Henry much debaſed the Engliſh Coyn, to his own gain and the Lands loſs (if Soveraigns may be ſaid to get by the damage of their Subjects) yet all would not do to pay his debts. His Son Edward endeavoured to reduce the Coyn to its true ſtandard, decrying bad money by his Proclamation, to the intrinſick value thereof. But, prevented by death, he effected not this difficult deſign (Adultery in Men, and Adulterateneſs in Money, both hardly reclaimed) which was afterwards compleated by the care of Queen Elizabeth.
Item, Received for two hundred ſeventy one ounces of Plate, ſold at ſeveral times for the beſt advantage, ſixtie ſeven pound fourteen ſhillings and nine pence.] Now was the Brotherhood in the Church diſſolved, conſiſting as formerly of three Prieſts, three Choriſters, and two Sextons; and the rich plate belonging to them was ſold for the good of the Pariſh. It may ſeem ſtrange the Kings Commiſſioners deputed for that purpoſe, ſeiſed not on it, from whoſe hands Waltham found ſome favour (befriended by the Lord Rich their Countrey-man) the rather becauſe of their intentions to build their decaied Steeple.