8. West of Westport church, in a narrow street leading to the 
horsefair, an ancient doorway and a perpendicular window 
are thought by some to have been part of a chapel: and 
Aubrey reports the tradition of another near it. (See plan 
in Wilts Collections.) But both these are uncertain. 
The Valor Eccles. names as in the Abbey Church, a chapel 
of St. John Baptist, the chapel of the B. V. M., and the shrine 
of St. Aldhelm: but no notices of any of these having been 
endowed have been met with. In the list of confiscated 
chantries 1 Edw. VI. are named, “ Lands given for the main- 
tenance of a Priest within the parish of St. Paul: Thomas 
Washebourne, aged 60 years, Incumbent. Clear yearly value 
£vii xiis.,” and “lands for the maintenance of a Priest in 
Westport parish. John Wymbole, aged 44 years, ‘Stipendiary.’ 
Clear yearly value £v xiiiis. ixd.” The Commissioners report 
that “Malmesbury was a great Towne, and but two parish 
churches, wherein be DCCOIX people which receyve the 
Blessed Communion,! and no preests to helpe the Vicars in 
admynistration of the Sacraments saving the said stipendiary 
preests: wherfore the inhabytants there desire the King’s most 
honourable Councell to consider them accordinglie.” But the 
“honourable Councell” seem to have been rather swayed by a 
marginal note annexed to the report, “The Vicar’s man doe 
yt well ynoughe.” | 
Marxzoroucu. No Town in Wiltshire seems to have been more 
abundantly supplied with the opportunities of religious service 
before the Reformation than Marlborough. 
The Religious Houses were four, all on a small scale. 
1. Sr. Marcaret’s Priory. White Canons, of the Sempringham 
Order, half-a-mile south of the Town: of Royal Foundation, 
temp. John: endowed with tithes and lands in the neighbour- 
hood. Roger Marshall was Prior, both of this and of Easton 
Priory, near Burbage, in 1534. [Valor Eccles. ] 
1In those days, every one above the age of confirmation who did not make 
confession and receive absolution in Passion week, could not receive the Holy 
Eucharist at Easter : and those who did not do so, dying within the year, would 
probably have been refused Christirn burial. 
294 Ancient Chapels, &c., in Co. Wiits. 
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