486 Malmesbury Abbey. 



wont to singe the 9 lessons in the old time on principall days standinge 

 with theire faces towards the high altar. ' 



Crossing the nave at Malmesbury afc the third pair of piers was 

 another screen which would have in front of it the nave altar and 

 a doorway at either end. Above would stand the great rood. 



In the triforium on the south side of the nave altar is a box-like 



projection of the fourteenth century which had a square loop to 



the east, north, and west and a brattished cornice but no covering 



(fig. 19). It was built, apparently to hold the organs for the nave 



altar services and not, as is usually stated, to contain a patient 



watcher who could see little beyond a detailed elevation of the 



nave wall opposite nor could possibly reach the ground before any 



depredator was well clear of the precinct. There was in the \ 



corresponding position at Durham 



A loft for y e m r <fc quiresters to sing Jesus mass every Fridaie conteyninge 

 a paire of orgaines to play on & a fair desk to lie there bookes on in 

 tyme of dyvin s'vice. 3 



In the secular church of Exeter the similar contrivance remains, 

 gained from the parvise over the north porch, and the front is 

 decorated with niches having angels with musical instruments. At 

 Worcester is a wide doorway from the triforium immediately over 

 the site of the nave altar which probably gave on to a similar 

 gallery, which has now gone. 



The fourth bay of the aisles on both sides was parted off by 

 screens, to form chapels flanking the nave altar, the cuts for which 

 still remain. 



Between the rood-screen and the pidpitum was a space known 

 as the retro-quire where at Durham were seats " where men dyd 

 sytt to rest theme selves on & say their praiers and here devyne 

 service," 3 



Westward of the nave altar the nave and aisles were usually 

 clear of fittings, and no indications of any now remain at Malmes- 

 bury. 



Last, but not least, must be mentioned the monument called 



1 Bites of Durham, 16. " Ibid, 34. 3 Ibid, 34. 



