Scarcely a vestige of this altar is now left, except a cross-bar near the east end. It is hardly necessary to add, that the "precious leg of St. George," and the "great piece of the Holy Cross" were taken away, and, most probably, destroyed, at the period of the Reformation.

ST. MAGNUS, LONDON BRIDGE.

In that singular miscellany called "Arnold's Chronicle," which seems to have been chiefly compiled in Henry the Seventh's reign, are the following curious particulars relating to this Church.

"Th Articles founde by the Inquisitours at the Visitacion done in the Chirche of Saint Magnus. First, that the chirche and the chauncel is not repaired in glasinge in dyuers placis.

Item that the bookis and vestmentis bien broken & vnhonest for dyuine service.

Item that many of the priestis and clerkis often were [wear] foul and vncleanly surplesis.

Item we fynde not that any cliere inuentory is made of

the goodis and landis of the chirche.

Item that the londis and tenementis of the chirch,

by fauour of the chirchewardeyns afore tyme, ben laten vndir the very value by xx. li. yerly, and more.

Item we fynde that for defaute of good prouision bothe of the chirche wardeyns and also of the masters of the salue, neither the priestis nor clarkis that ben retayned for the chirche wil nat com to our lady masse nor salue, nor the clarkis and priestis that bien retayned by the mastirs of the salue wil com to masse or matyns in the quyer, were it myght be wele brought abowte of the

maystirs of the salue, and the wardeyns of the chirch wolde for the maytenyng of Goddis seruice, at the time of ressayuing of such priestis and clarkis, gif theim charge for asmoch as they haue so profitable and resonable salery, that they all sulde as wel attende vpon masse, mateyns, and euynsong as vnto oure lady masse and salue, and other seruice, the whiche to doo shulde encrease in the priestis and clerkys good custum of vertu and grete encrease of dyuyne seruice.

Item that chirch wardeyns wil not shewe vs the willes of them that haue geuen goodis or londis vnto the parish, wherby we shulde further inquyre whethyr the willes be performed or not, for wythout them we cannot haue therof vndirstonding.

Item that ye wardeyns of the chirch and of the brodirhed have not gyuen ther acomptis.

Item that afortymes, for defawte of good & diligent autoryte of the acomptis of the wardeyns ther hath bien many and gret somes of money taken from the chirche, the which myght wel cum to light yf the olde acomptis were wele examyned.

Itim ther is in the handis of dyuers of the perishe, restis of money of the beame light, and of the almés, gaderyng to the sōme of xij. or xvi, li, and that can oon Palmer shewe the trowthe.

Item that the chircheyard is vnhonstly kepte.

Item that dyuers of the preistis and clarkes, in tyme of dyuyne seruice, be at tauerns and alehowsis, at fyshing, and other trifils, wherby dyuyne seruyce is let.

Itm that bi fauor of the wardeyns ther bith admitted bothe priestes beneficed and religyous wher ther myght bee more conuenyent and expedient, and that have more nede to be receyued in ther placis; and theyse bien the names, Sir Robert Smith, beneficed; and a monke, Sir

Jhn Botel, beneficed; Sir Jhn Bate hath a thinge that we cannot vndirstonde."

SUPPRESSION OF THE BOOK OF SPORTS.

The Proclamation of King James the First, usually called the Book of Sports, has been recited in the preceding volume. It gave great offence, not only to the precisions of the day, but likewise to many of the more liberally-disposed members of the established Church. Several Bishops declared their opinions against it, and Archbishop Abbot would not suffer it to be read from his pulpit at Croydon, not withstanding the king's injunction. When re-proclaimed by Charles the Second, it proved equally obnoxious to serious minds, and, at length, in 1643, when presbyterianism had obtained ascendency, it was, by an Ordinance of Parliament, ordered to be burnt by the common hang

man:

The following is a copy of an official notice, or placard, which was printed on a half sheet, and fixed up, on the occasion, in different parts of the metropolis.

"Die Veneris 5o Maij, 1643.

"It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that the Booke concerning the enjoyning and tollerating of Sports upon the Lord's Day be forthwith burned by the hand of the common Hangman in Cheapeside, and other usuall places: and to this purpose, the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, respectively, are hereby required to be assistant to the effectuall execution of this order, and see the said Books burnt accordingly. And all persons who have any of the said Books in their hands, are hereby required forthwith to deliver them to