ACCOUNTS OF ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER.
"1510.
"Item. The said wardens, now accomptants, received of Mrs. Elizabeth Morley, widow, towards the new making of a Rood, Mary, and John, in the roodeloft, at the time the parish be of power and substance, to build and make the same rood loft, the sum of £10. 0s. 0d.
"Item. Received of the gift of Watir Gardynar, to the making of the rode-loft in the middle isle within the church, as more plainly appeareth by acquittance made by the said churchwardens to the said N. Watir, dated the ... day of October, the 9e yere of the reign of King Henry VII., £38. 0s. 0d."
The next item occurs in the reign of Edward VI.—
"Paid to Thomas Stockdale, of XXXV ells of cloth for the frunte of the rood-lofte, whereon the commandments be written...."
It appears from this, that the commandments were set up originally in the rood lofts, and not over the altars. But in the succeeding reign of Mary, this cloth, on which the commandments were painted, was turned to a different purpose, for in 1557, we find the following item:
"For making iii serplys of the cloth that hung before the rode loft, written with the commandments, 2s. 0d."
In 1559, the rood was destroyed, and in a barbarous manner, for we find the following items:
"Paid to John Rial for his iii days' work to take down the roode, Mary, and John, 2s. 8d.
"Item. To the same for cleaving and sawing of the rood, Mary, and John, 1s."
In 1561, "Paid to joyners and labourers about the taking down and new reforming of the rood loft, as by a particular book thereof made doth appear, £37. 10s. 2d."
This is the last item which occurs respecting the rood loft of this church.