MARIA PLENA GRACIE MATER MISECORDIE
SCA MARIA                                 

The treble (by William Oldfield of Canterbury) is the survivor of a ring of three, all doubtless the same date (some time late in Henry VIII's reign). We get the following account of them in Hasted (Folio Edition vol. iv., pg 185):

On the treble bell is this legend in old English letters, 'Maria plena gracia mater misericordie'. An escutcheon, on each side of which 'Sca Maria'. The arms: Quarterly 1st, Cocls; 2nd, per chevron, in chief 3 escallops; 3rd, two bends; 4th, a bend ermine between two swans, impaling Clifford and Guldeford, quartered with Colepeper.

On the 2nd bell, 'Istœ tres nolœ sunt fratrum dona duorum'. An escutcheon - on each side 'Scs Thomas'. Arms: Cocks and the other three coats first above mentioned.

On the 3rd bell, 'Hic olim pastor atq: patronus erant'. Arms the same as the 2nd bell, and under, 'Scs Edmundus Rex'.

The arms are all reversed from what is mentioned above through the ignorance or mistake of the bell founder. At the end of each of the above sentences is the reverse of a silver coin of the date of the bells - probably Henry VI.

Thomas Cocks, who died in 1558, was the parton, and his brother, William Clericus, was the pastor. They were the sons of Alice Cocks, the daughter of - Litchfield. Thomas married Margaret, daughter of Sir Lewis Clifford, by Bennet, daughter of John Guldeford, which Sir Lewis was the son of Alexander Clifford by Mary, daughter of Walter Colepeper.

The coat of arms (reversed) on the treble is:

FORMER BELL

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Date

Founder

Fate

2 (of 3)

3-1-18

Mid 16th Cent.

William Oldfield

Recast 1859