26 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Very specific directions for observance of an obit are contained 

 in a deed (No. 5) executed in 1529 by Eicbard Talbot, mercbant, of 

 Dublin, wbo bestowed on S. Anne's gild certain premises in tbe city, 

 on condition tbat tbe priests maintained on S. Anne's " Eent " sbould 

 yearly in S. Audoen's, on tbe Sunday before tbe feast of S. Barnabas, 

 observe same witb solemn mass and dirige, by plain song. On tbe 

 Saturday previous, according to tbe old laudable custom," tbe city 

 bellman,^ was to go to tbe old station-places appointed in the city to 

 " bid " a 2^ater noster and ave for said Talbot. 



Anotber obit to be observed by tbe gild was tbat of William 

 Queytrot (I^o. 11), wbicb, in 1545, tbey bound themselves to keep 

 yearly "during tbe world," on the Sunday next after the feast of 

 S. Bartholomew, with requiem mass by note, with fine pryketts " of 

 wax burning. 



A similar agreement (No. 12) was entered into in 1545, pursuant 

 to the will of Alexander Bessy ke (No. 22), under which money was 

 paid to the college, in consideration of the obit^ of himself and his 

 wife being observed. He was to be buried in S. Clare's chapel. 



The deeds are full of information as to the district immediately 

 round S. Audoen's; and a study of them has made it possible to 

 describe, with some approximation to accuracy, the position of the 

 various buildings connected with S. Anne's gild. It seems certain 

 that, from the time of its foundation, the six chantry priests were 

 accommodated with distinct sets of apartments, each denominated a 

 chamber,^ but whether specially erected for their use is not clear; 

 most probably houses in the vicinity of the church, which had from 

 time to time been bequeathed to the fraternity, were used as residences 

 for the chaplains. In 1425, a house standing by the stile of the church- 

 yard,* was described as the chamber of S. Mary's chaplain" ; this, 



1 A chaplain was to celebrate in S. Martin's church, Leicester, for certain 

 souls, under a deed of 1452, and the mayor and community were to keep the obit 

 on 8th August by requiem mass with music. The bellman (polictor) of the town 

 was to go through it to announce the obit, as was the custom of the town. 

 [Records of the Borough of Leicester, 1327-1509, ed. by Miss M. Bateson.) 



2 See Obits and Martyrology of Christ Church (ed. Todd), Introd., p. xxviii, 

 as to celebration of obits under wills, by which testators bequeathed valuable 

 gifts to the priory. Dr. Todd notes the fact of the observance of obits being made 

 the subject of regular purchase and stipulation. 



3 This would include at least a "hall" and sleeping-room. In Christ 

 Church the Precentor's Chamber, in addition to these, contained a study, garret, 

 and kitchen. 



4 This turnstile stood at the upper end of S. Audoen's-lane, near the Com 

 Market. 



