26 CHAINED BOOKS IN DORSET AND ELSEWHERE. 



moreover, it is fastened to the top edge of one of the boards, 

 instead of to the middle of the outer edge. MSS. notes of 

 baptisms, too, on some of the margins seem to prove that it 

 was at one time in the Church. There can be but little doubt 

 that this is the identical "B Jewel's booke " alluded to 

 above, which the Church accounts show was purchased and 

 and chained to a desk in the Minster in 1614. 



There are those still alive who can remember two books, a 

 Bible and Prayer Book, and the Whole Duty of Man (dated 

 1702), chained to a desk in the Trinity Chapel at Wimborne 

 Minster. Shortly before the restoration of 1855-7 they were 

 removed to the (Chained) Library, where they are deposited 

 in the glass case in the centre of the room. The following 

 extract from the will of William Fitch, Esq., of High Hall, 

 dated 24th Feb., 1740, and proved 12th Dec., 1743 (P.C.C., 

 Boycott 359) relates to them : 



" I desire a long reading desk may be fixt over the (Family) 

 Vault in Wombourne (sic), and that the Bible, the whole 

 duty of man, Mr. Nelson's f feasts and Fasts, and Doctor 

 Sherlock's Book concerning Death and the immortality of 

 the soul be chained to ly on the said desk." 



And so we conclude with the thought of this good man, 

 whose devotional companions these books had been during 

 his life, bequeathing them to the church in which he had 

 been accustomed to worship, with the desire that after his 

 life on earth was over they might be helpful to the souls of 

 his fellow parishioners. 



