The phrase that denoted excommunication from the Catholic church.

Origin of Bell, Book, and Candle

In the excommunication ceremony officials close the book, quench the candle and toll a bell, as for someone who had died. The phrase is old and first appears, in Old English, circa 1300:

"Curced in kirc an sal ai be wid candil, boke, and bell."

Shakespeare used the phrase in King John, 1595:

BASTARD:
Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back,
When gold and silver becks me to come on.

(I learned something new today--thanks)

EDIT: see also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell,_book,_and_candle

Also and a couple Americanized triplets: bacon,eggs, and hash browns;  breakfast, lunch and dinner; hop, skip and jump.