"Item, Rycharde Howghtone, layte of Wormley, embessilled away from the said churche of Wormley a Challis, the true weight therof we know not.

"Item, John Chyswrighte, layt parsone of Bal-docke and now deceassed, tooke into his handes about xij yeares paste, ij candellsticks of sillver, the vallue thereof we the said Commyssioners knowe not, and the said John haythe left no gooddes wherwithe the said thinkes may be Aunswerredde to our knowleadge.

"Item, Thinhabitants of Stoetford say that Lorde Morley hathe Resayved into his handes out of the Churche Box of the Towne aforesaid iiijli.

I "Inventory of Furniture and Ornaments remaining in all the Parish Churches of Hertfordshire in the last year of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth; transcribed from the Original Records." (Oxford, Parker and Co., 1873).

"Item, Mychaell Cammyawell.... haythe em-bessillede a Crose and ji candellstickes of sillver from the Churche.

"Item, Sr Willyam Candyshe, knighte, layte of Northhawe, haythe taken into his handes owte of the said churche a challise of sillver.

"Item, Sr Thomas Josylyne of Essex, knight, hayth taken into his hands ffrome the Church of Sabbrytch-worth, a Rytch Coppe and a Suytte of vestmentes, the true Coolores and vallue therof we know not.

"Item, Jonsone, layte of Alburye, about v yeares past, cam into the Church of Alburie, and for money that the Vicar of the same towne ought hime tooke away their {forcible a challise.

"Item, the Churchwardeynes of Kellshull say that abowte vj yearres past thier was a challise em-besyllede owte of the churche aforesaid, and thei say thei suspect Mr. Toddc, who was then parsone their, and now chapplyne to the kinges Maiestie.

"Item, Richarde Songar, Gent......dyde embessile away ffrom the said churche of Pellam a Challyse of Silluer, the value whereof we know not.

"Item, thinhabitants of Saint Albonnes paryshe in the towne of Saint Albonnes, have solde sartaine gooddea and Ornamentes of Saint Albonnes, amount-inge to the Sume of xvjli ija.....

"Item, thinhabitants of Kinges Langley haue sold . . . and a lyttyll pake of sillver for xjli xiiijB vjd sum in the hoall xiijli xiiij' ijd".

It will be seen at once by the above that peculation was not confined to any one class; the parsons as well as the parishioners were charged, and no doubt justly, while lords and knights seem to have been the chief sinners; probably they were in most cases the patrons. When Elizabeth came to the throne history repeated itself. Some six years after her accession, a Commission in the diocese of Lincoln obtained returns, which shew that during the whole of those six years thieving had been going on; and the Archdeacons' books of this period, where they are preserved, shew that their courts were frequently occupied with tracing out, by sworn witnesses, the embezzlement of Church goods. No doubt the more valuable, or rather such as would more readily produce money, went first, and the Inventories with which we have to deal exhibit but the residue of the valuable furniture which the churches named once possessed.

It might well be asked why the Crown, in issuing the Commissions, above named, to take the Inventories of the Church goods, had not then and there given power to their Commissioners to sell those goods, and to pay their produce into the Exchequer? There may be many reasons which would suggest themselves, and amongst them, no doubt, would stand chiefly that of policy. But certain it is, that so far as these inventories, or the Commie-sione under which they were taken, are concerned, there is no intimation that it was then intended to confiscate them on the ground of any change in ritual. In the following year, however, that is in January, 1553, we do find a Commission issued for the confiscation of such of the Church goods as could he conveniently turned into money and paid into the Exchequer. Chalices were confiscated, not because chalices were now and henceforth illegal (although, as said before, the name was left out of the new Prayer-Book), but because one chalice it was thought would be sufficient for use in a small parish, and two chalices in a larger one; and therefore, without any detriment to the proper administration of the Holy Communion, the others might be melted down to help fill the king's privy purse. There is not a single word as to the superstitious use, or a hint why it should be abolished, otherwise than for purely pecuniary reasons; a fact which at once sets aside the theory, that the omission of the chalice, etc, in the Second Book implied prohibition. This will be more clearly seen by an examination of the Commission itself, which is printed here, although the inventories of which we have especially to speak were completed five months before the Commission in question was issued.

III. Rot. Pat. 6 Edw. VI., p. 7, m. 11, in dorsom.

"Jan. 16, 1553. "Edwarde the syxt, &e. To our trustye and ryght welbeloved Counsaillours, syr Richard Cotton, knyght, Comptroller of our houshold, syr John Gale, knyght, of Vicechamberley (sic), syr Robert Bowes, knyght, maister of the Holies of our high Conrt of Chauncereye, Sy John Baker, knyght, and Syr John Mason, knight, and to our truatie and welbeloved aervaunts, syr Walter Myldmaye, knyght, one of our Generall Surveyours, John Lucas and Thomas Myldmay, Esquyers grating. Wherupon divers great and urgent consyderacions as movying, We have lately directed our severall Commyssions into divers and sundrye shyres and Countyes within this our Realme, to divers and sundrye persons for the vieu and survey of all and singuler goodes, plate, Jewelles, belles, and ornaments belongyng or in any wyse apperteynyng to any churche, Chapell, Guildo, Brothered, Fra-ternytye, or Company within this our Realme of Englond, and to retourne the full answers and cer-tyfycat of the same vieu and survey unto us and our Pryvey Counsall in wryting according to the same our Commyssions and certain Instructions sent everallye unto the same Commyssioners therwith, lyke as in the same Commyssions and instructions at large ys conteyned. We mynding to understond the full and hole reporte of the same vieues and surveys frome all places of this our Realme, and mynding also to precede for divers great con-Byderacions us movyng to further order touching the said goodes, plate, Jewelles, belles, and ornaments. Trusting in your fidelyties and approved wisedomes have appoyncted and assigned you to be our Commyssyoners, and by these presents do geve unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or foure of you, full power and auctorytye by lettres, precepts, or any other wayes or meanes to you semyng resonable, to collect and bringe togeyther frome thandes of said Commyssioners or any of theym, or frome thandes of any other person or persons all and singular, suche full and hoole certyfycat or oertyfycates in wryting Which are and ought to be retourned in aunswere of our said Commyasions and instruccions touching the survey and vieu of the goodes, plate, Jewelles, belles, and ornaments aforesaid. And yf uppon the same your Colleccion of the said certyfycates it shall appeare that Commyssions have not bene awarded for those purposes into all sheres, Countyea, and places within this our Realme, but that eyther by neclygence or other occasions somme of the Commyssions of the same sheres, Counties, and places have byn omytted and not sent furth according to our former commauadement, Then our pleasure is that you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you shall make relacyon of the same omys-sion and lacke to us our Pryvey Counsaill, to thintent order may be geven with expedicion for the spedy sending furthe and addressing of such Com-mysayons so lacking or omytted. And Wee do further geve unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, full power and auetorytye ymmedyatelye to collect, or cause to be collected and brought togey-ther, all and stnguler redye money, plate, and Juelles certyfyed by our Comrayssioners aforesaid to re-mayno in any church, Chapell, Guild, Brothered, Fraternitye or company, in any shire, Countye, or place within this our Realme of Englond, causing the said ready money to be delyvered by indenture to our use to thandes of our trustie servaunt sir Edmond Peckham, Knyght, and causing the said plate and Juelles to be delyvered lykewiae by Indenture to our use to thandes of the maister of our Juell house for the tyme being. And to thintent the said Churches and Ghapelles may be furnysshedd of eon-venyent and comely things mete for thadmynystra-cion of the holy Communyon in the same, Wee geve unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, full power and auetorytye to leave or cause to be leaft out of the said plate for the same purpose and to the same use in everye Chathodrall or Collegiat Churche where Chalyces bo remaynyng one or two chalycs by your discreacion, and in every small paryshe or chapcll where Chalycs be remaynyng one chalyce, delyreryng or causing to be deyvered the same chalycs so appoynted to remayn to thnse aforesaid to thand the deane, Provost, Churchewardens, or other Mynysters of the said Churches and Chapells by Indenture in wryting, wherby to charge them and their successours with the same herafter. And we gyve unto you, seven, syxe, fyve, or foure of you, full power and auctory after the honest and comely furnyture of coverynges for the communyon table and surples or surplesses for the mynyster or my-nysters in the said churches or chapells by your dis-crecions, to distribute or cause to be distrybuted and geven frely to the poore people in every parysh wheare the same churches and chapells stond and be, The resydue of the lynnyn, ornaments, and ym-plements of the said churches and chapells in suche order and sort as may be most to Godes glory and our honor. And we gyve unto seven, syx, fyve, or four of you full powe and auctory to sell or cause to be sold to our use all and singuler copes, vestments, Aulter clothes, and other ornaments whatsoever re-maynyng or being within any of the said churches or chapells not appoyncted by this our Commyssion to he Ieafte in the said churches or chapelles, or to be dystrybuted to the poore as afore ys declared. And also to sell or cause to he sold to our use by weight all parcells or pecea of metall except the metall of greatt bell, saunse bells, in every of the said churches or chapells. The money commyng of whiohe sales so to he made in forme before declayred and all other sommes of money whiche shall comme and be brought into our use by vertue of this Commyssion, We will ye shall delyver, or cause to be de-lyvered by Indenture to thandes of the said syr Ed-mond Peckham to our use, and our further pleasure and commaundement ys and we geve unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, full power and auctorytye straiglitlo to charge by all suche meanes and wayes as to you shall seme most convenyent, the Deanes, provosts, Churche Wardens, mynystres, or paryash-onura of the said Churches and Chapells, that they and everye of them do safely kepe unspoiled, unem-besiled, and unsold all suche bells as do remayne in everye of the said churches and chapells, and the same to conserve untill our pleasur be therein further knowne. And yf yt shall appere unto you uppoa the said certyficats or otherwyse that any of the goodes, plate, Juelles, belles, or ornaments of the said Churches or Chapells have bene at any tyme heretofore sold, embesilled, withdrawen, or consealed by the Deanes, Provosts, Churchwardens, mynystres, parysshonera, or any other person or persons, and the Just pryses or profetts thereof not employed or converted to the godly and laufull uses of the said Churches or Chapelles. Then we geve unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, full power and auctoryty by lettres, precepts, proces, or any other wayes or meanes to you semyng convenyent to cause and compell all and every person and persons, their executors or assignes, which have sold, bought, embesilled, withdrawen, or concealed any of the said goodes, plate, Juells, bells, or ornaments, to make unto us due satysfaccion and payment for the same as to you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, shalbe thought reasonable. And forasmuche as ye cannot personally and presently execute your selfes this our Commyssion in every shere, countie, and place of this our Realme, according to the tenor of the same, and specyally in those sheres, Counties, and places whiche be farre dystant frome our Cyty of London. And we mynding to have delygent expedicion used for our service herein do geve unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, full power and auctorytye to dyrect out lettres, precepts, or Instruccions under thands of you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, to any shere, Countye, or place within this our Realme to any suche person or persons as ye shall thinke mete for our service in the same, aucthorysyng therby them, or so many of them as ye shall thinke conve-nyent to make collection to our use of the said ready money, plate, and Juells, and make sale to our use of the said coopes, vestments, and ornaments of sylke, without gold, sattyn of bridges, dornix, worsted, Saye, and of other thynges appoyncted to be sold as ys before declared, and to leave in every churohe and Chapell suche Chalyce or Chalyces and suche lynnyn fornyture for the same Churches and Cha-pelles as ys before appoynted, and to dystrybute the resydue of the said lyunyn, ornaments, and ymple-ments to the poore of everye paryshe in sort before declared. The same persons and every of theym retournyng unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, the said redy money, plate, and Juelles.and the money commyng of the goodes so to be sold, and also all such Coopes, vestments, and ornaments as be not within the lymytt of their sale at a certayne daye to be prefyxed in your said lettres, precepts, and Instruccions, to thintent the said ready money, plate, and Juells may be delyvered to our use to thandes of suche persons as before are named and appoincted. And that the Coopes, vestments, and ornaments so to be brought to you by the said Comyssioners not sold may be by you sold to our use, and the money therof lykewyse delyvered to our use as ys before assigned. And yf yt shalbe thought unto you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, mete and covenyent for our more assured service and for the better aucthorytie of suche as shall serve us in forme aforesaid in those sherc's, places, and Counties wher your selfes cannot personally attend the thexecucion of the premysses, that Commyssions be awarded frome us severally into everye of the same Shires, places, or Counties for thexecucion of the same. Then Wee will that you, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, shall make report unto us our pryvie Counsaill of your opynyons therein frome tyme to tyme, to thintent Commyesions may be sent forthe by us to thend and effect before declared. And yf you shall-fynde any person or persons that wilfully or stubburnly will refuse to obey any precept or commaundement whicho you our said Commyssioners, seven, syx, fyve, or four of you, shall geve unto them in or abute thexecucion of the premisses, That then we gyve unto you full power and auctorytye to commytt every suche person and persons to warde and pryson, there to remayne without bale or maynpryse untill such tyme as you shall thinke the same ympryson-ment to be condigne for his or their offences, or shall have made such fyne for his said offences as to your wysdomes shalbc thought convenyent. Wherfore We will end command you and every of you to attend and execute the premisses accordingly. And moreover We will and commaund all and singuler Mayours, Sheryves, Justices, Baillyffs, Constables, Hedboroughes, all Curats, Parsons, Vicars, Churchwardens, and all other our Officers, Myny8ters, and faithfull Subjects, that they and every of them be ayding, helpyng, counsailling, and assisting, and furthering you in and about the due execucion herof as they tender our pleasure, and will aunawere to the contrary at their extreme parells. And this our Commyssyon shalbe to you and every of you sufficient Warrant and Discharge in that bebalfe. T. R. apud Westmonasterium xvj die Januarii. Per ipsum Regem, etc".