322 



The Churches of Devizes. 



The following extract from the Injunctions of King Edward VI. 1547, will he 

 found to contain the authority for the latter work — The Paraphrase of 

 Erasmus : — 



Also — " That they shall provide within three months next after this Visitation, 

 one Book of the whole Bible, of the largest volume in English. And within 

 one twelve months next after the said Visitation, the Paraphrase of Erasmus 

 also in English upon the Gospels, and the same set up in some convenient place 

 within the said Church that they have Cure of, whereas their Parishioners may 

 most commodiously resort unto the same, and read the same." " Sparrow's 

 Collection" 4to. 1684. p. 4. 



1637. 13 Charles I. 



Itm. reed, of Walter Eedes for iron bars wch came 



from the west window ixs. ix<l. 



It. reed, more for iron bars of the Churchwarden 



of Stert vjs. ixd. 



It. pd. for charges for setting up the pinacle next 



the Tower on the south side of the church. . vjs. ijd. 

 pd. for viij hundred of brick to amend the 

 west window at ijs. iiijd. the hundred xviijs. viijd. 



It. pd. Ambrose Zealy for the tymber and work- 

 men about making the rails for the Commu- 

 nion Table . jli. xvs. 



The Visitation articles of this date require that the Communion Table should 

 be " enclosed and ranged about with a rail of joiners' and turners' work, close 

 enough to keep out dogs from going in."i 



Before the Reformation, when the Rood-screen was in existence, altar-rails 

 were not needed ; a long linen cloth (as is the case at present abroad) was 

 simply held up before the communicants. 



1638. 14 Chaeles I. 



Itm. payd to Hugh Cooke for tymber and sawing 



to build the Roofe of the Porch . . xiiijs. iiijd. 



payd Richard West for mending of two pin- 

 nacles on the north side of the Church .... xs. 



payd Edward Mallard for making of cramps 

 for the pinnacles ijs. ijd. 



1 That the canine race had become excessively numerous, and were in the constant habit of in- 

 truding themselves into the church, on oceasions of public worship, is evident from the fact of an 

 official, known as a " Dog-whipper," having been appointed in many parishes, during the 16th and 

 17th centuries, for the purpose of excluding them. See " Wilts. Magazine." Vol. i., p. 89. 



