“1609. Itm laide out for a pint of muskadine viid”
“1616. It for viij dayes’ worke for three men xxiijs
It for a new beel-Rope iijs iiijd
It for a daye’s worke for three men iijs iijd
It for a booke of artykeels iijs
It for mates (mats) about the Communyon tabelle xiijd
It payde the Person for keeping the Stocke iijs iiijd”

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. Itm̄ to the Ringers one ye Kinges daye ijs vjd
Itm̄ for one belroape is ivd”

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:—

“Itm̄ for a baudericke of the great bell xijd
Itm̄ for a lanterne viijd
Itm̄ for nailes and sope iijd”

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

“Itm̄ for a pot of claye iijd
Itm̄ payed for ij bokes xs
Itm̄ payed for smoke sylver ijs xid”

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

“Itm̄ payed for storynge of the tythynge harnesse xviijd
Itm̄ for white lether iijd
Itm̄ for lyme and vj creste tyles xxid
Itm̄ for surplus for the clerke (clergyman) iijs
Itm̄ for smoke silvar xvijd”

All these entries, to the church historian, and no less to the general student, cannot be without peculiar interest. The smoke silver, which so frequently occurs, is either the money paid for certain privileges of cutting fuel, which, as we have seen, was formerly the case in the Forest, or an assessment on the houses according to the number of hearths, but more probably the former.[263] The general reader will scarcely care for more, but I trust elsewhere to give further extracts from these most interesting books.