other bears the date 1528 in Arabic numerals. Of the two other sides the one to the north has a sword crossed with a sceptre, and that to the south a mace or some such object.

"The western capital is of a similar but simpler design, having a variety of human busts in place of the cherubs in the abacus, and the five sides of the lower part displaying several religious emblems or ornaments among the foliage; the side to the south a bundle of tapers, the next side two candlesticks placed obliquely and crossed; the third or east side, opposite the arms of More, a blank shield of decorative design; the fourth side a pail of holy water with a sprinkling brush; and the fifth a prayer-book, or missal, with clasps, suspended by a ribbon. As these various emblems evidently represent the religious ceremonies in which More was accustomed to take part in the Church, the objects introduced in the other capital, which bears his shield of arms, may probably be taken as allusive to his secular offices or employments."

Following on the Inventory above-mentioned is an account of Seyrtyn Goods Sowlde" by the churchwardens with the consent of the parishioners, amongst which are several of those belonging to this chapel. The altar was probably removed before the year 1556, when the Duchess of Northumberland's tomb was placed in the south-east corner of the chapel. The east end of the chapel is now occupied by the sumptuous monument of Sir Robert Stanley, and most of the floor is covered with pews. Roundheaded windows with wooden mullions have replaced the older ones, leaving only the splays of the Tudor work. The fine timber roof, however, remains untouched, except that some painted shields of arms have been placed at the intersections of the beams. These, and the cross of ornamental tiles let into the floor, have no historical significance, being merely embellishments designed by the architect, the late Mr. H. H. Burnell, F.S.A., who carried out the restoration in 1857.

Such are the older portions of the building which were left when the Church was enlarged in the year 1670 by the construction of the rectangular "nave," or body of the Church, which superseded the whole of the western portion of the original fabric; and it remains now to be seen how this enlargement was effected,

As early as the beginning of the seventeenth century the population of Chelsea was outgrowing its Church. Amongst the Scudamore papers is a document, dated June 1631, entitled "Articles and consideracions, to be enlarged or altered as it may seeme requisite for ye advancement and perfecting of ye pious work of enlarging and repayring the Church at Chelsea ;" and another, presumably of the same date, endorsed, “for ye enlargement of the Church," which begins with the following recital:

been

"Forasmuch as ye small parish of Chelsey hath of late yeares greatly increased by the buildings resort and residence of divers great and noble personages whereby the Church is become too little for the Parishioners by wich means also many of the ancient inhabitants and their families are too commonly putt from their seats and in a sort excluded from such right and place to serve God in the Church as is very requisite and which their predecessors enjoyed And whereas it is humbly desired that the said Church may be speedily enlarged...."

The rest of this document relates merely to the provision of money and the disposition of materials. The former document, after some clauses concerning the wharf, proceeds as follows:

"For ye Church itselfe

"1. It shall best fitt to dispose ye doores and passages into all parts of ye Church fayre and easy for ye accesse of ye severall familyes and according to their qualityes or eminency, that they bee placed to their liking and satisfaction in pewes or seats disposed in uniformity notwithstandinge to ye rest of ye Church, for ye decency and beauty of ye same.

"2. That a Register and platforme [scil. plan] bee made and kept of ye contents of every seatroome which may remayne to them and their successors.

"3. That ye doors and windows and all parts bee made soe perfect as that neither cold in winter nor heat in somer may overmuch annoy ye parishioners when they shal be together.

66 4. That ye Churchwards from tyme to tyme cause reparacions of any part within or without ye Church, alike carefully towards everybodyes particular seate; which from tyme to tyme must be leavyed of

every Inhabitant according to ye proporcion or his or their seat

roome;

"5. 5. That great respect bee had to ye monuments or graves of ye deceased att ye said enlargement or reform, so yt if necessity require ye stirring of any of them, it may bee their reedificacion rather than their destruction.

In 1636 there is an entry in the Parish Books seeming to relate to some slight repairs; but nothing of importance was undertaken until in 1667 it was found absolutely necessary to find more room for the people. Accordingly in 1669-70 subscriptions were raised, as appears by another entry in the Parish Books:

"The sum of £580 12s. 10d. was collected by voluntary contributions of the principal inhabitants, for the rebuilding of the Church." This probably includes the £100 given by George Morley, Bishop of Winchester, mentioned in the Stowe MS. 541, fol. 136, amongst his disbursements.

With this and other contributions, the work was at once put in hand, and the Church was enlarged to its present dimensions.

No drawings appear to exist of the Church as it was before this enlargement. Bowack, in the " Antiquities of Middlesex,” published in 1705, states that "the shattered tower and west end of the Church were pulled down, and the north and south aisles carried several yards towards the west by two brick walls. At the west end was built a lofty square tower of brick, being in all about eighty feet from the ground. The walls of the old Church were raised, the windows enlarged, the old parts beautified, the inside new paved, the churchyard considerably raised and enclosed with a high wall of brick; and most of this done at the voluntary charge of the inhabitants, and the whole roof, lead, timber, etc. thereunto belonging, at the sole cost of the Lady Jane Cheyne."

This account, though true in effect, is not exact; and it is worth considering a little more particularly how the difficult problem of enlargement was carried out.

Merely to have lengthened the Church towards the west would have been of but little use, even supposing that the older building was