By Mr. Edward Kite. 



239 



COMPARTMENT OF NAVE ROOF. ST. MARY'S. 



was, no doubt, originally filled with boarding as shown in the 

 engraving, but is now plastered over and whitewashed. The wood- 

 work appears to have been painted in bright colours. In the 

 second compartment from the east, the following inscription painted 

 in black letter, is still distinctly to be read : it commences on the 

 cornice of the north wall, continues across the tie-beam, and ter- 

 minates on the opposite side : — 



"<£rate • pro • ata • OStUt • gmgtf) • qui • teta • ecrltam • tot • Udt • 

 qui • aUtt • $rtmo • Ifts • mcnate . mutt • mm • ftnt ■ mill® ccccrrrilt. ,, 



[Pray for the soul of William Smyth 1 who caused this church to be built : 

 and who died on the first day of the month of June, Anno Domini 1436], 



THE AISLES. 



North. 



This is of nearly the same length as the nave, and eleven feet in 



1 It is to be regretted that little has been preserved relating either to this individual or the 

 family to which he belonged. The name of Roger le Smyth occurs in a deed of 1347. This may 

 possibly have been an ancestor, and Robert Smyth, who was Mayor of Devizes in 1420, a brother of 

 William Smyth. William's son, Thomas, was a chantry priest, and together with his father, be- 

 queathed the annual rent arising from two houses in Devizes, towards the maintenance of an obit, 

 three Sepulchre tapers, and the Font taper, in this church. At a later date (1474) John Smyth was 

 instituted to the Rectory of Devizes, and in 1546 another individual of the same name occupied two 

 tenements and gardens belonging to a chantry founded by William Coventre in the church of St. Mary. 

 In the Registers of both parishes, which commence about the middle of the sixteenth century the 

 name of Smyth is of such frequent occurrence that there is considerable difficulty in tracing the 

 family of this particular individual. 



2 i 2 



