256 The Churches of Devizes. St. Mary's. 



There is, however, a tradition 1 still preserved in connection with 

 it, which is as follows: — 



A boy or man of the name of Coventry, passing through Devizes in a state of 

 great destitution, received from a baker of the town a small loaf of bread in 

 alms ; having subsequently reached London, and having there, by some means, 

 acquired a considerable fortune, he directed a small loaf of bread to be given 

 annually, on a particular day, to every man, woman, or child who should be 

 found in the town, whether inhabitants or strangers. 



The charity appears to have been dispensed by the mayor and 

 burgesses of the Borough, to whom the property, from which its 

 annual income was derived, was no doubt bequeathed. 



From the corporation books 2 it appears that £4 17s. lOd. was 

 the sum expended on behalf of the charity in 1620, and £9 Is. in 

 1663. At a general assembly, held December 22nd, 1663-4, it was 

 resolved that it should for the future be reduced to the certain sum 

 of £4 yearly, and that all persons charged with taxes should not 

 receive any part of the same. In 1668, however, the sum again 

 rose to £7 16s., and in 1669 to £9 Is. 6d. 



No entries appear from 1670 to 1687. In 1688 is the following: 

 "Item, paid for the dole bread, £6 9s." In 1691 the sum paid was £8 7s. 



The corporation cash accounts are missing from 1691 to 1725. 

 In 1726 the sum paid was £14 9s. bd. No other entry occurs till 

 1730. From 1726 to 1786 the entries are extremely irregular, 

 both with respect to years and sums. 



In 1786, as far as can be ascertained, a penny loaf was given to 

 every townsman, and a two-penny loaf to every traveller. After 

 this year the " Dole Bread" (then probably the only one remaining, 

 with the exception of the almshouse, of all the charities bequeathed 

 at various times to the town and churches of Devizes by this family) 

 ceased to be distributed, and the endowment itself has long been 

 considered as lost. 



( To be concluded in our next ). 



1 As traditions, although often sadly distorted, are seldom without some found- 

 ation, it is not improbable that the one in question (as it is the only one relating 

 to the family which has been preserved) may have some reference (especially if 

 the charity was bequeathed by either of its early members) to their origin, as 

 well as the manner in which some of their wealth was acquired ; but how far 

 this is to be relied on the writer cannot, in the absence of anything which would 

 tend to confirm this suggestion, undertake to say. 



2 See the report of the charity commissioners. 



