s in glass and ten other in
stone, three brass inscriptions, Pray for y^{e} Soules, and a
Cross to be taken of the Steeple (6s. 8d.) and there was divers
Orate pro Animabus in ye windows, and on a Bell, Ora pro Anima
Sanctae Catharinae."

"_Trinity Parish, Cambridge_, M. Frog, Churchwarden, December 25,
we brake down 80 Popish pictures, and one of Christ and God y^{e}
Father above."

"At _Clare_ we brake down 1000 pictures superstitious."

"_Cochie_, there were divers pictures in the Windows which we
could not reach, neither would they help us to raise the ladders."

"1643, Jan^{y} 1, Edwards parish, we digged up the steps, and
brake down 40 pictures, and took off ten superstitious
inscriptions."

It is terrible to read these records, and to imagine all the beautiful
works of art that this ignorant wretch ruthlessly destroyed. To all
the inscriptions on tombs containing the pious petition _Orate pro
anima_--his ignorance is palpably displayed by his _Orate pro
animabus_--he paid special attention. Well did Mr. Cole observe
concerning the last entry in Dowsing's diary:--

"From this last Entry we may clearly see to whom we are obliged
for the dismantling of almost all the gravestones that had brasses
on them, both in town and country: a sacrilegious sanctified
rascal that was afraid, or too proud, to call it St. Edward's
Church, but not ashamed to rob the dead of their honours and the
Church of its ornaments. W.C."

He tells also of the dreadful deeds that were being done at Lowestoft
in 1644:--

"In the same year, also, on the 12th of June, there came one
Jessop, with a commission from the Earl of Manchester, to take
away from gravestones all inscriptions on which he found _Orate
pro anima_--a wretched Commissioner not able to read or find out
that which his commission enjoyned him to remove--he took up in
our Church so much brasse, as he sold to Mr. Josiah Wild for five
shillings, which was afterwards (contrary to my knowledge) runn
into the little bell that hangs in the Town-house. There were
taken up in the Middle Ayl twelve pieces belonging to twelve
generations of the Jettours."

The same scenes were being enacted in many parts of England.
Everywhere ignorant commissioners were rampaging about the country
imitating the ignorant ferocity of this Dowsing and Jessop. No wonder
our churches were bare, pillaged, and ruinated. Moreover, the
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