312 The Churches of Devizes. 



The name "Organ" appears to have originally signified any instrument of 

 music, but at an early period was confined to the sense which it now hears. 

 The first organs were, however, very different from those now in use, and very 

 much smaller. In old parish accounts we find frequent mention of a pair of 

 organs ; and wherever such arc found there are also frequent charges for repair- 

 ing the bellows. The large modern instruments were not put up in their present 

 conspicuous situation, in the place of the ancient roodloft, until after the Refor- 

 mation. On the continent they were also introduced in the course of the 17th 

 and 18th centuries ; but are usually placed at the west end of the church. In 

 tliis country previously to the Reformation, the organ was frequently placed on 

 the north side of the choir, or in the north transept. 



"Oxford Glossary of Architecture." 



The remains of a pair of ancient organs are, or were until lately, preserved in 

 the church of Wingfield, Suffolk ; the largest pipe is about 5 feet long, of wood. 



The foregoing items are intended to illustrate, in some measure, 

 the appearance of the Church, together with its furniture, vest- 

 ments, &c, prior to the Reformation ; the following, which occur 

 during the reign of Edward the Sixth, will be found of a totally 



different character: — 



1550. 4 Edw. VI. 



It. pd. for their labor at the plucking down of the 



Alters, and for meat and drink xiiijd. 



pd. for their labor at the taking down of the 



side Altar xijd. 



1552. 6 Edw. VI. 



Itm. pd. for our charges at Marlbro' when the 



Inventorie was called and the custodie 



of the goods committed to John Blanford 



and James Travers for v of us and horse 



hire, and of Robert K. . . .s horse. . . . vjs- ijd- 



It. pd. for other charges when the commissarie 



was here ij s - iij<i- 



It. pd. for the new Books of Common Prayer. . iiijs. viijd. 



On the accession of Queen Mar}'' the entries again resume an 



ante-reformation character, and indicate a temporary revival of 



the ancient furniture, ornaments, and vestments of the church 



during that reign. 



1553. 1 Maey. 



It. pd. to Bertlett for setting up the great [High] 



Altar viijd. 



