Rood of Grace

[2] During the dissolution of the monasteries from 1536 to 1541, aimed mainly at increasing the Crown's revenues, the Rood was used as one argument among many to denounce superstitious religion practices within English Catholicism.

William Lambarde, in his 1570 book, Perambulation of Kent, describes how the Rood was created by an English carpenter taken prisoner by the French in order to ransom himself.

According to various reports, the Rood was able to move, shed tears, foam at the mouth, turn and nod its head, and make various facial expressions.

On 12 February 1538 John Hilsey, Bishop of Rochester, denounced the Rood of Grace as a fraud, exhibited its machinery and broke it to pieces.

(Reilly notes an animated serpent winding around the tree in the garden, mechanical jaws of hell, and cords used to make a dove descend at Pentecost).