Henry Lord Marney, by his will, dated 22d Dec., 15 Hen. VIII. (1523), directs a trental of masses to be "first at Scala Coeli, in Westminster." (Testamenta Vetusta, 609.)
Blomefield (Hist. of Norfolk, 8vo. edit., iv. 60) speaking of the Church of the Augustine Friars at Norwich, observes,—
"That which brought most profit to the convent, was the chapel of Our Lady in this church, called Scala Celi, to which people were continually coming in pilgrimage, and offering at the altar there; most folks desiring to have masses sung for them here, or to be buried in the cloister of Scala Celi, that they might be partakers of the many pardons and indulgences granted by the Popes to this place; this being the only chapel (except that of the same name at Westminster, and that of Our Lady in St. Buttolph's church at Boston,) that I find to have the same privileges and indulgences as the chapel of Scala Celi at Rome; which were so great as made all the three places aforesaid so much frequented; it being easier to pay their devotions here, than go so long a journey; all which indulgences and pardons may be seen in Fox's Acts and Monuments, fo. 1075."
In Bishop Bale's singular play of Kynge Johan, published by the Camden Society, the King charges the clery with extorting money
"For legacyes, trentalls with scalacely messys
Whereby ye have made the people very assys."
(p. 17.)
And Simon of Swineshead, after drinking the poison, says,—
"To send me to heaven god rynge the holye belle,