198 St. Peter's Church, Marlhorough. 



of the late Mrs. Dowding, the lamented widow of a revered pre- 

 decessor of mine, that on one of these occasions, when the pinnacles 

 were repaired, the masons started re-building it on incorrect lines ; 

 discovered, when it was half done, that it would run up too high 

 for the rest if carried out on those lines, and then (instead of 

 pulling down their inaccurate work) finished it off with a blunted 

 curve to the just altitude. 



We have not many historical memories connected with this 

 church. 



Soon after it was built it was occasionally used for ordinations, 

 if indeed one of these was not held in the older church. I noticed 

 these dates in registers at Salisbury : — 



19th Dec, 1450, an ordination here by Bishop Beauchamp. 



20th Dec, 1466, ditto. 



18th Feb., 1496-7, ditto by Augustine Church, Bishop of 

 Lydda, Sufiragan. 



10th March, 1497-8, ditto ditto. 

 There were ordained : — 



In Feb., 1497, five acolites, fifteen sub-deacons, six deacons 

 two priests. 



March, 1498, nine acolites, thirty-four sub-deacons, six deacons, 

 four priests. 

 The four last mentioned were J. Benall, having a title from 

 Staverdale Priory, Somerset; W. Lane and J. Kingsman, two 

 brethren of Edyngdon conventual (or collegiate) house ; and the 

 one who is named first as a candidate for the priesthood, no less a 

 personage than " Thomas Wolsey, A.M., deacon of Norwich diocese, 

 perpetual fellow of St. Mary Magdalene College in the University 

 of Oxford by letters, etc., on the title of the said college." Mr. 

 H. E. Maiden has pointed out that, if the future cardinal had been 

 ordained a year or so earlier, he would have received a legacy under 

 his father's will, dated 30th Sept., 1496, by saying mass for the 

 repose of his soul. It pleases me to think that Wolsey purposely 

 forewent his legacy, feeling a want of vocation for the priesthood ; 

 but that the filial duty of carrying out his father's wishes sub- 

 sequently prevailed. A printed copy of the extracts from the will 



