236 



The Churches of Devizes. 



successours for ever to the Intent that the said Mayre and brethren should 

 fynde one honest preeste to singe at the Aulter of saint Leonard w th in the said 

 Churche for the soule of the said John Cardmaker for ever and the same to have 

 for his salarye or stipend yerelye — vj 1L iij s - iiij d - 



the said Incumbent is a right honest man well learned and right able 

 to serve a Cure. Albeit a verye pore man and hath non other lyvinge but this 

 salarye also he hath occupied him selfe in and about the preachinge of goddis 

 worde ever sith he had the same Chauntree. 



Thomas Hancock, however, notwithstanding his "honesty, learn- 

 ing," and "ability to serve a Cure," met with the same fate as 

 chantry priests in general. He was shortly afterwards ejected, 

 and the property which had formed the endowment of the chantry 

 was, it is presumed, confiscated to the crown. In the corporation 

 books are entries for a sum, corresponding nearly with the above 

 stipend, paid annually to the king, called " rent for Cardmaker's 

 Chauntry." These items continue as late as the eighteenth century. 



The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 



This Church (as will be seen by the accompanying plan) consists 

 of a Chancel, A. ; Nave, B. ; North and South Aisles, C. D. ; 

 Western Tower, E. ; and South Porch, F. 



Of these, the Chancel is the most ancient. The style of its 

 architecture like that of St. John's (with which, though inferior in 

 workmanship, it nearly corresponds) is Norman. The South Porch 

 is somewhat later in date, and is of the Transition style from 

 Norman to Early English. The Nave, Aisles, and Tower, afford 

 a good example of the Perpendicular style. The name of the 

 founder as well as the date of his death, is fortunately preserved 

 by an inscription on the roof, which is valuable as giving also the 

 age of these parts of the building. 



The extreme length of the church is one hundred and thirty- two 

 feet ; the greatest width sixty-five feet. 



the chancel 



is thirty-three feet from east to west, and twenty-one from north 

 to south. The walls are about four-and-a-half feet in thickness, 

 and faced both inside and out with small squared stones, the 



