A HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE 



of three uncusped lancets, set considerably to the east 

 of the centre-line of the gable, and in the east wall 

 are two recesses, that to the north having a wide and 

 tall pointed arch, continuing down to the floor level, 

 and lighted from the back by two lancets with a 

 quatrefoiled circle over, while the second recess, whose 

 sill is some four feet from the floor, has a trefoiled 

 head, and fortunately retains most of its original 

 plastering, with remains of painting on it ; traces of 

 a Majesty in a vesica are to be seen. In the south 

 jamb of the large recess is a piscina and a small locker, 

 and it is probable that there were two altars in the 

 transept. In the north wall near the north-west angle 

 is a large square-headed locker, rebated for a door ; the 

 reason for the irregular setting of the three-light 

 window to the east of it may be connected with some 

 former arrangement of a vestry or cupboards in the 

 west angle of the transept. 



The south transept, which, perhaps because of the 

 nearness of the High Street on the south, has been 

 built of less projection than the north transept, has a 

 single lancet on the east, and below it an arched 

 recess like that in the north transept, and formerly 

 lighted by a single lancet. To the north is a second 

 recess corresponding to that in the north transept, 

 but much narrower, with a trefoiled head, and pre- 

 serving traces of paintings on the back. In the south 

 wall are two lancets, and over them a single lancet in 

 the clearstory, while in the west wall is part of a 

 similar lancet, destroyed in the seventeenth-century 

 alterations, and in the south-west angle a small door- 

 way leading to the vice already mentioned. 



The only remaining part of the central tower is 

 the east wall, on which show the internal quoins of 

 the eastern angles, and the eastern piers of the cross- 

 ing, which have lost their old capitals and are fitted 

 with clumsy substitutes. 



The nave is of four bays, the eastern bay, repre- 

 senting the crossing, being wider than the others, 

 and has round-arched arcades springing from tall 

 Tuscan columns which support large curving north 

 and south galleries with panelled fronts. At the west 

 is an organ gallery containing a fine organ, said to 

 be by Father Smith, set up here in 1718. At the 

 crown of the east arch of the north arcade is the date 

 1691, and in the corresponding position on the south 

 T.B.M', for Thomas Brouncker, mayor. 



The nave has a coved plaster ceiling, and a canted 

 ceiling over the galleries, both pierced with sky-lights 

 which appear as a double row of dormers on the 

 external elevation. The aisles beneath the galleries 

 are lighted by square-headed three-light windows. 

 The west tower is very plain and massive, having 

 small belfry windows which are nearly hidden by 

 large clock dials in the upper stage, below a plain 

 parapet with embattled angles, and at half height a 

 moulded string-course, below which, on the west, is 

 the west window and doorway. The tower is capped 

 by a large wooden domed cupola set up in 1702, with 

 a lantern above, from which rises a spirelet adorned 

 with a fine gilded vane in the form of a three-masted 

 ship with flags on the bowsprit, fore, main, and mizen 

 masts, and a large flag on the gaff. This was set up 

 in 1710, the flag on the fore-top being inscribed 

 MCES 1710. 



The fittings of the chancel are almost entirely 

 new, but the pulpit dates from 1695, and has a new 

 sounding board copied from a former one, sur- 



mounted by the gilt figure of an angel. The soffit 

 of the sounding board is covered with wooden stars- 

 made from famous old ships, the Tremendous, Queen 

 Charlotte, Actacon, and Chesapeake, and the central 

 star is of wood from the Victory. The poor- 

 box under the western gallery and the mayor's seat 

 and desk were also made in 1904 from the wood of 

 the Tremendous. The carved wooden head of the 

 west door of the nave is dated 1674. On the 

 pulpit is a red velvet hanging with a silver fringe and 

 the date 1694, and the altar table has a similar 

 frontal of 1695. There is a good modern mace- 

 stand in the mayor's pew. The font, at the west 

 end of the south aisle, is of the fifteenth century, 

 with a panelled octagonal bowl, ornamented with 

 blank shields in the panels and on the chamfered" 

 lower edge of the bowl, the shaft and moulded base 

 being also octagonal. 



The monuments in the church are of no great 

 interest, except that of the duke of Buckingham, 

 assassinated here in 1628. It was formerly at the 

 east of the chancel, and is now in the west bay of 

 the south aisle of the chancel. The upper part 

 consists of a phoenix on an urn, under a pediment 

 bearing the duke's arms, and flanked by warlike 

 trophies, while on the base is a marble slab with an 

 inscription between two alle- 

 gorical female figures. In the 

 tower are eight bells, five of 

 which are said to have been 

 brought from the Roman pha- 

 ros in Dover Castle in 1702, 

 and recast at the expense of 

 Prince George of Denmark. 

 They are the present treble, 

 second, third, fifth, and sixth, 

 and are by Abraham Rudhall, 

 of Gloucester, 1703 ; the 

 fourth is by Joshua Kipling, 

 of Portsmouth, 1737 ; the 

 seventh by Thomas Lester, of 



Whitechapel, 1 749 ; and the tenor by Richard Phelps, 

 of Whitechapel, 1730. There is also a fire-bell, 

 bearing on the waist the arms of Leon and Castile, 

 the work of Matthias Solano, at the beginning of the 

 eighteenth century. It is possible that it was brought 

 here as loot after the taking of Gibraltar. 



The plate is of very great interest, consisting of 

 two communion cups with domed covers, two flagons, 

 two patens, ten plates, and a strainer. On 12 No- 

 vember, 1687, James II gave to the church a set 

 of plate comprising a chalice and small paten, two 

 flagons and two standing patens, weighing 119 02. ; 

 the record of this gift being preserved in the registers 

 on the back of Charles IPs marriage certificate. The 

 small paten has been lost, but the five pieces which 

 remain and are older than 1687 together weigh 

 113 oz. 8 dwt., leaving the very probable weight of 

 5 oz. 12 dwt. for the lost paten. 



It so happened that in 1683 the garrison of 

 Tangier was brought home by Lord Dartmouth, 

 landing at Portsmouth, and among other things the 

 plate of the church of St. Charles the Martyr was 

 brought with them. Lord Dartmouth in a letter of 

 5 November asked that the plate might be given to 

 Godshouse chapel, 563 and a list of the plate, 563 exactly 



VILLI E RS, Duke of 

 Buckingham. Argent 

 a cross gules tvith Jiiff 

 scallops or thereon. 



563 Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xv, App. i, 34. 



568 Ibid. 



