at Basingstoke, by Charles the First. 



63 



Of its general history various editions of Camden's Britannia 

 have told us that both Free Chapel and Guild were founded by 

 William Lord Sandes 1 (Lord Chamberlain and Privy Councillor to 

 Henry VIII) and Bishop Fox, in 1525, pursuant to royal license. 

 " The Guild " was established for the promotion " of works of piety, 

 religion, and charity/'' and as a firstfruit built this chapel and a school, 

 where a priest was appointed to officiate and teach. 



As to the architectural beauties of the chapel an opinion may 

 be formed from its ruins, and no doubt it was worthy of some 

 admiration, iC elegantly finished in the style of the florid Gothic 

 degenerating into Greek." Much was thought by Mr. Camden 

 of the paintings within it. Upon the roof " the history of the 

 prophets, apostles, and disciples of Christ is very curiously described, 

 with their several pictures." 4 



Lord Sandes, 3 the founder, was buried here in 1542, though there 

 is no trace now of his grave, or indeed of himself, beyond his 

 arms coupled with those of his wife, Margery Bray— the heiress 

 of the Brays— cut in the wall of the hexagonal tower at the south- 

 west corner of the building. 



Soon after William Lord Sandes death the Guild appears to have 

 entered troubled waters, and was dissolved either in the thirty-seventh 

 year of Henry the Eighth's or early in Edward the Sixth's reign. 



But it was revived in 1556 (third and fourth years of Philip and 

 Mary) and again became moribund under James the First. 



1 Variously spelt— Sands, Sandes, and Sandys. 

 2 Gibson's "Camden," 1722. 



3 There is amongst the papers of Thurloe, Cromwell's Secretary, vol. hi., p. 647, 

 the following deposition relating to the Lord Sandes of 1654—1655, which would 

 place the latter amongst the followers of Saint Hubert :— 



"Wm Houston (Wroughton) the elder of Willcott in the County of Wilts confesseth, that 

 twice or thrice he was in company with Major Clarke, Mr. Bowles, and others of the late Risers 

 (the Rising in the West, A D. 1655), this last winter at hunting near Everlie, and dined with them 

 at the said Everlie after their sport ended. He saith further, he had a son engaged in the re- 

 bellion, as also that he sold the Lord Sandys at Ludgershall the day the rising was at Sarum (12th 

 March, 1655) four horses of a good price, and went thither the same day on purpose to hunt with the 

 said Lord Sandes. He denieth that he met on purpose with the said Clarke, Bowles &c, to hunt 

 (it had been prohibited by O rder in Council), but accidentally as he was airing his horse upon the 



d °» This acknowledgment was made by the above-mentioned Mr. Houghton unto me upon the 14th 

 of July, 1655, and upon enquiry after him I find him to be a reputed Cavalier and to have been 

 formerly questioned by Major Boteler. (( Holton " 



