[39]

Hangings, Altar-cloths, Candlesticks, &c. at S. George's Chapel, Windsor.

1643.] "Item. The hangings of the head of the choir, 12 feet deep, of crimson velvet and gold.

"Item. The great Bible ruled, covered with purple velvet, with thick silver bosses, double gilt, strung with blue riband, fringed with gold.

"Item. Another large Bible embossed.

"Item. Thirteen rich copes, embroidered and wrought in gold. "Item. Two rich copes of wire gold.

"Item. A pulpit-cloth and long cushion of crimson tufted velvet, interwoven with gold.

"Item. Another large pulpit-cloth, crimson damask, interwoven thick with flowers-de-lis, portcullises, roses, and crowns of gold. "Item. A large carpet of wire gold, for the Communion-table. "Item. A large cushion of the same suit.

"Item. Two fair standing brass candlesticks, double gilt.

"Item. The great brass desk in the middle of the chapel, with the Bible in two volumes, on each side fairly bound and embossed." -A Memorial of the Goods and Monuments belonging to the King's Majesty's Free Chapel and Treasury at Windsor.*

"We see in the foregoing inventory, taken 1643, that formerly there was belonging to the altar a large carpet of wire gold: this we find mentioned in the inventories taken the 4th of Feburary, an. 43 Eliz. the 9th of November, an. 17 Jac. R., and the 12th of December 1638, an. 14 Car. I.; and being seized on by Colonel Ven, as aforesaid, is now [1670] supplied in a covering, given by the present Sovereign [Charles II.], consisting of seven panes of cloth of gold and purple velvet, with a fair broad gold fringe towards the front, and a narrow gold fringe on the two sides. There is now also two diaper table-cloths, diamond work, made to lie upon the altar, and two fine Holland cloths with great buttons and red crosses in the middle, to cover the consecrated elements in the time of the Communion...... The east wall of the Chapel is now adorned with twenty-two panes of cloth of gold and purple damask, the gift of the

Nearly all the plate had been carried away in the preceding October, by one Captain Fog.-Ashmole, p. 496.-Edd.

present Sovereign: but those in the late Sovereign's reign were of crimson velvet and gold. In the middle of these hangings over the altar, have been heretofore placed very rich altar-cloths, concerning some of which, we have met with a memorial which informs us, that it pleased the late Sovereign, in a chapter held at Windsor the 6th of November, an. 9 Car. I., to give command that two little pieces of arras-hangings, the hanging over the altar (in one of which was wrought the picture of S. George on horseback, and on the other the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin) should be preserved in such places where the Dean and his Lieutenant should think best, for the use of the said altar at the Grand Feast, and other festivals of the Order. Hereupon they were fetched from Windsor, to set over the altar in the Chapel at Whitehall, an. 11 Car. I., the feast of S. George being then celebrated. There are now two other pieces of arras, which are appointed to that use: the one hath the pictures of CHRIST and His disciples at Supper, given by the late Right Reverend Father in GOD, Bryan Lord Bishop of Winchester, Prelate of the Order; the other, of CHRIST and the two disciples at Emmaus, wrought after Titian's original, given by the Right Hon. the Lady Mordant, wife to the Lord Mordant, late Constable of Windsor......It may be judged how other of the Sovereign's Chapels, wherein the solemn services at the Grand Feast were celebrated, besides this of S. George at Windsor, have been set forth and adorned by one or two examples......At the feast of S. George, held at Whitehall, an. 5 Eliz. the Chapel was hung with cloth of gold, and the stalls both before and behind with cloth of tissue, set with scutcheons at their back. The Sovereign's royal stall was adorned with cloth of state, and furnished with cushions, as were the Emperor's, the French King's, and the Sovereign's Lieutenants. But an. 7 Eliz. all the stalls of the same Choir were hung with carpets, both before and behind. At the feast held there an. 19 Car. II. the Chapel was hung with rich hangings of silk and gold...... The altar was furnished with chased gilt plate, viz. one large bason in 、the middle, and two less on either side, two fair candlesticks with unlighted tapers, and two large water-pots: on the lower rank was set another bason, four flagons, and two service-books, covered with like gilt plate and lastly, the Sovereign's stall had the rich furniture of cloth of gold and purple velvet, fetched from Windsor to adorn it."-Ibid. pp. 497–500.

[40]

Hangings, Consecrated Plate, and Altar Lights in Cathedrals.

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL.

1635.] "He [Abp. Laud] began with Canterbury, his own cathedral, where he found the Table placed at the east end of the choir by the Dean and Chapter, and adoration used towards it by their appointment......which having found in so good order, he recommended to them the providing of candlesticks, basons, carpet, and other furniture for the adorning of the altar, and the more solemn celebrating of the blessed Sacrament."-Cyprianus Anglicus, p. 291.

[41]

"To make the adoration [towards the altar] more significant, the altars in Cathedrals were adorned with the most pompous furniture, and all the vessels underwent a solemn consecration. The Cathedral of Canterbury was furnished, according to Bishop Andrews' model......with two candlesticks and tapers, a bason for oblations, a cushion for the service-book, a silver-gilt canister for the wafers, like a wicker basket lined with cambric lace, the tonne on a cradle; a chalice with the image of CHRIST and of the lost sheep, and of the wise men and star, engraven on the sides and on the cover. The chalice was covered with a linen napkin, called the aire, embroidered with coloured silk; two patens, the tricanale, being a round ball with a screw cover, out of which issued three pipes, for the water of mixture; a credentia or side-table, with a bason and ewer on napkins, and a towel to wash before the consecration; three kneeling stools covered and stuffed, the foot-pace, with three ascents, covered with a turkey carpet; three chairs used at ordinations, and the septum or rail with two ascents. Upon some altars there was a pot called the incense-pot, and a knife to cut the sacramental bread."-Neale's History of the Puritans, vol. ii. pp. 223, 224.

[42]

Circa 1775.] "On Sunday, when this altar is dressed up for the Sacrament, and covered with its costly and splendid service of rich plate, it has......an appearance of grandeur and magnificence that blots from the mind, as far as possible, a regret for its having been bereaved of its former ornaments..........All the plate (except the two great candlesticks) was new gilt, which altogether make a very handsome and splendid appearance."-Hasted's History of Kent, vol. IV. pp. 526, 527, and note, fol. 1799.

WORCESTER CATHEDRAL.

[43]

1635.] "At Worcester, Manwaring, who succeeded Juxon in that Deanery......having erected a fair table of marble, standing on four well-fashioned columns, he covered the wall behind the same with hangings of azure-coloured stuff, having a white silk lace upon every seam, and furnished it with palls and fronts, as he had observed in his Majesty's and some bishops' chapels; and ordered the King's scholars, being forty in number, who used formerly to throng tumultuously into the choir, to go in rank by two and two, and make their due obeisances at their coming in."—Neale's History of the Puritans, vol. I. p. 292.

LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL.

[44]

1635.] "At the Cathedral at Lichfield, a very large crucifix, with a picture of CHRIST almost as big as a giant, was hanging over the high altar, with the pictures of men and women kneeling down before it and praying to it."- Canterbury's Doom, p. 80.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL.

[45]

1628.] "But the mass coming in brings in with it an inundation of ceremonies, crosses, and crucifixes, and chalices, and images, copes, and candlesticks, and tapers, and basins, and a thousand fresh trinkets which attend upon the mass; all which we have seen in this church since the Communion-table was turned into an altar...... Before, we had ministers, as the Scripture calls them, we had Communiontables, we had sacraments; but now we have priests, and sacrifices, and altars, with much altar furniture, and many massing implements ......If religion consist in altar decking, cope wearing, organ playing, piping, and singing, crossing of cushions and kissing of clouts, oft starting up and squatting down, nodding of heads, and whirling about till their noses stand eastward,* setting basins on the altar, candlesticks, and crucifixes, burning wax candles in excessive number when and where there is no use of lights; and what is worst of all, gilding of angels and garnishing of images, and setting them aloft.... if, I say, religion consist in these and such like superstitious vanities, ceremonial fooleries, apish toys, and popish trinkets, we had never

*After this manner does this "pestilent fellow" ridicule bowing at the Holy Name, and adoring towards the East.-EDD.

more religion than now."-Sermon by Peter Smart, pp. 11, 23, 24, 4to. 1628.

CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL.

[46]

1642.] "The rebels, under the conduct of Sir William Waller, entering the city of Chichester on Innocents' Day 1642, the next day their first business was to plunder the cathedral church; the marshal, therefore, and some other officers, having entered the church, went into the vestry; there they seize upon the vestments and ornaments of the church, together with the consecrated plate serving for the altar and administration of the LORD's Supper: they left not so much as a cushion for the pulpit, nor a chalice for the Blessed Sacrament."-Mercurius Rusticus, p. 223, 12mo. 1646.

WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL.

[47]

1642.] "They seize upon all the Communion plate, the Bibles and service-books, rich hangings, large cushions of velvet, all the pulpit-cloths, some whereof were of cloth of silver, some of cloth of gold."-Ib. p. 234.

EXETER CATHEDRAL.

[48]

1643.] "That the ornaments of the church might be answerable to the beauty of the structure itself, Bishop Grandesson bestowed upon it vessels of gold and vessels of silver, books, and all other kinds of rich furniture, copiâ immensâ, immensi pretii-in exceeding great measure, of exceeding great price. All which, with many other things of necessary use and public ornament, became a prey to the schismatical rebels."—Ibid. p. 240.

NORWICH CATHEDRAL.

[49]

1666.] "After the Restoration the city gave £100, with which the fine large offering dish and pair of silver candlesticks, all double gilt, were purchased."-Blomefield's Topographical History of Norfolk, vol. IV. p. 32, 8vo. 1806.

LINCOLN CATHEDRAL.

[50]

"A magnificent silver-gilt altar service, of the value of 1000 guineas, was presented some few years ago, for the service of his cathedral, by the present venerable Dean of Lincoln.”—Anderson's Ancient Models, p. 131, note. 2nd Edit. 1842.