316 



Ancient Chapels, fyc., in Co. Wilts. 



times of Brook House. But, as Brook House never belonged 

 to the Mauduits (who were owners in quite a different part of 

 Westbury parish), Aubrey's tradition (200 years ago) seems 

 to lend no support to the tradition of the present day, 

 which calls this north chancel chapel by the name of 

 " Mauduit's." 



2. Adjoining the last mentioned, and forming the end of the 

 north transept, is another, which Aubrey (1650), visiting the 

 church as an antiquary, and reporting what was told him, 

 calls the " Leversedge Chapel." A family of this name were 

 larger landowners on the Somersetshire border adjoining 

 Westbury parish, than in Westbury itself. But they had 

 some lands in Westbury : and in the Chantry Rolls (quoted 

 in Sir R. C. Hoare's Westbury, p. 81) it is stated that " The 

 ancestors of Robert Leversage, Esq., appointed owte of certain 

 lands in Westbury, 8s. a year for the maintenance of an obit 

 in the said church for ever." Aubrey's testimony (1650) goes 

 in favour of the current title of this part of the church, so 

 far as to call the " aisle North of the Tower," the " Leversidge 

 aisle :" but here again confusion arises : for he says that 

 " Paveley and Cheney arms were in the window." Now, the 

 arms of Paveley and Cheney were coats assuredly belonging to 

 Brook House, with which estate there is no evidence to show 

 that the Leversedge family had anything to do. 



3. Whether Westbury Church, and Westbury traditions are 

 able or unable to identify and find a place for the chapels of 

 Mauduit and Leversedge, room they are bound to find for a third 

 chapel on the same north side, viz. : for that of William of 

 Westbury, C.J. of the Common Pleas, who died A.D. 1448 : 

 because in this case we have evidence, to which even parish 

 traditions must accommodate themselves. In the Chief 

 Justice's last will, (printed in Sir R. C. Hoare's Westbury, p. 

 16) he speaks of a " perpetual chapel in the north part of 

 Westbury Church : which chapel had been very lately built 

 by his father John Westbury and himself :" in which also, 

 " near the inner wall," he " desires to be buried." Aubrey 



