CATHEDRAL OF SALISBURY.

CHAPTER IV.

Erection of the Hungerford, Beauchamp, and Audley Chapels.-Chantries.— Treasure and Relics.-Transactions of the Establishment after the Reformation.-General convocations, and repairs of the Fabric.-State of the Establishment during the great Rebellion.-Transactions at, and subsequent to the Restoration.-Report of Sir Christopher WrenRepairs of the Fabric made by his suggestion.-Experiments to ascertain the decline of the tower and spire.-Repairs under Bishops Sherlock, Hume, and Barrington.-Present state of the Establishment. 1456

1813.

From other

BETWEEN the Canonisation of Osmund and the Reformation, the Records throw little light on the history of the church. sources, however, we are enabled to ascertain some of the most important changes in its structure, if we except the erection of the spire, since the first foundation.

Walter Lord Hungerford, who had given so liberal an endowment for the repairs of the spire, obtained leave from the dean and chapter to inclose the space between two pillars supporting the second arch from the tower, on the north side of the nave, for the erection of a chapel to the honour of

the blessed Virgin. Here he founded a chantry for two priests, who, besides the morning service, were to celebrate two masses daily, one for himself and several members of his family, and the other for the good estate of the living in general. * A similar building was erected, about 1470, by Margaret, relict of Robert Lord Hungerford, on the north side of the Lady Chapel; and the following year she obtained licence to found there a chantry for two priests. Soon afterwards, bishop Beauchamp built another chapel on the south side of the Lady Chapel; but of this foundation no particulars have been preserved except those already given.† Although this last edifice and the Hungerford Chapel were fine specimens of the rich style of architecture which then prevailed, it is to be lamented that the founders consulted rather their own fancy than the general effect, and even the stability of the church itself. By additions thus preposterously attached to the most beautiful part of the fabric, the uniformity of the exterior was destroyed; while, by the removal of buttresses, and the breaches formed in the walls for entrances, the elegant Lady Chapel was considerably injured; and even the safety of the building was endangered, by weakening the part where the vast pressure of the spire had produced an alarming effect.

In the beginning of the following century, bishop Audley constructed the still more beautiful chapel which bears his name. Unlike the former founders, however, he consulted the general appearance of the structure, while he followed the taste of his age in the style of architecture. He erected his chapel on the north side of the choir, where it is seen to advantage, and forms a pleasing termination to that division of the edifice.

Before we quit this subject, it will be proper to advert to chantries of anterior date, which probably led to the inclosure of different parts of the building, for the formation of separate chapels. Besides the three altars originally consecrated by bishop Poor,* others were added at different times, namely, those of St. Martin, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Thomas the Martyr, St. Edmund, St. Andrew, St. Anne, and the Morning Altar. Also those of the Holy Relics, founded by bishop Waltham; and of the blessed Virgin, St. Dionysius, and St. Laurence, by John Thatten, in 1433. At these altars the following chantries were established :-That of bishop Bridport, in 1263, at the altar of St. Mary Magdalen; of bishop Longspee, at the altar of St. Stephen; of Henry Blundesdon, in 1335, at the altar of St. Thomas the Martyr; of Roger and John Clown, before 1390; of bishop Chandler, in 1394, at the altar of St. Andrew; of Robert de Carwyle, canon and treasurer, at the altar of the Holy Relics; of bishop Metford, about 1406; and finally, the Hulse Chantry, which was founded between 1430 and the Reformation.

During the reign of Henry the Eighth, the church of Salisbury underwent the same visitation as other ecclesiastical establishments. Among different enquiries made by the visitors, we find a particular question put to the canons," Whether the Book of Customs, attributed to Osmund, was genuine?" To this question an answer was given, by oath, in the affirmative. An Inventory of the jewels and riches belonging to the church was also delivered by Thomas Robertson, the treasurer. +

An antient mass book, written about the time of Edward the Fourth, with corrections and additions, which shew that it was again brought into

use under Mary, proves that the church of Salisbury vied with other establishments in regard to its rich treasury of relics. In his book a list is preserved, of no less than two hundred and thirty-four, divided into the four classes of Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, and Virgins. It also contained a list of those benefactors who were regularly commemorated in the prayers of the church. *

Of the transactions which occurred before the Reformation was established by Elizabeth, we have no authentic records, and can only judge that the change was accompanied with the same circumstances as in other places. An Inquisition, however, during the reign of Edward the Sixth, conveys some information relative to the number and nature of the Chantries then maintained +

* "Pray for all kings' souls, patrons of this church; and all other lords that have worshipped it with their bodies, rents, or jewels; and especially for the souls of the kings, William Rufus, Henry I. King Stephen, Henry II. Richard I. John, and Henry III. Also Edward I. Edward II. Edward III. and Edward prince of Wales's soul, who gave great goods to the table of the High Altar. The soul of Richard II. and of Henry IV. Henry V. and Henry VI. King Edward IV. Henry. VII. Henry VIII. Edward VI. and Mary I.

For William Longspee, earl of Sarum; James, lord of Audley; John Lord Lovel; Thomas Montacute, late earl of Sarum; Thomas Hungerford, Knt.; Hubert of Burgh; Walter Lord Hungerford; Alice Brewer; Dame Katherine Hungerford; Robert Lord Hungerford, and Dame Margaret, his wife. Sir Humphry Stafford, Knt. Sir John Cheney, Knt. Sir Francis Cheney, Knt. Dame Katherine Chidioke, John Melbourne, Walter Chirley, Joan his wife, and Richard their son. Nicholas Harding, and Agnes, his wife; William Swayne, and Christian, his wife; Thomas Norton, of Wilton; Simon Bedell; Thomas Maple, and Alice, his wife; Nicholas Legge; John Andrew, and Felice, his wife; John Sparwell; Henry Logshaw, and Joan, his wife; Richard Gilpurne, and Alice, his wife; Nicholas Porpasse; William Home, and Margaret, his wife; John Ramiger, and Alice, his wife; William Ramiger, Agnes Barrow, Margery Mesurer, and their children; William Lambard, Roger Geary, and Sir John Home; Thomas Cooke, merchant, the special benefactor of this church; and John Stone."

+ BLUNDESDON CHANTRY, Plate 12 oz. Clear value of the land 91. 5s. 9d. Goods and ornaments 4s.AUDLEY CHANTRY, Plate 30 oz. Land 167. 8s. 6d. Goods and ornaments 1. 1s-CLOWN CHANTRY, Plate 13 oz. Land 6. 16s. 10d. Goods, &c. 2s. 6d. HUNGERFORD CHANTRY, Plate 26 oz. Land 16l. 13s. 4d. Goods, &c. 11. 6s. 6d.-WALTER HUNGERFORD'S CHANTRY, Plate 10 oz. Land 171. 6s. 8d. Goods, &c. 12s. 4d.-HULSE CHANTRY, Plate 6 oz. Land 91. 6s. 8d. Goods, &c. 6s. 6d. CHANTRY, Plate 9 oz. Lands 57. 6s. 8d. Goods, &c. 13s. 2d. From the Chapter Records.

WALTHAM'S

In the course of the period now under consideration, various changes took place in the establishment. The archdeaconry of Dorset, with its jurisdiction, was taken from this see by Henry the Eighth, and annexed to that of Bristol. Besides other alterations, of which no evidence has been preserved, the prebends of Ogbourn St. Andrew, and Ogbourn St. George, Hungerford, and Sherborne, were transferred, by Henry the Eighth, to the dean and chapter of Windsor; that of Oxford and Bedwin, by the same monarch, or Edward the Sixth, to the earls of Hertford; that of Faringdon, by Edward the Sixth, to William Hening. Those of Uphaven, Loders, and Horton, were also alienated at a time which is now unknown; and finally, the prebend of Shipton was granted, by James the First, to the chancellor and scholars of the University of Oxford, *

After the establishment of the Reformation, we find the members of the church displaying the zeal and activity which were natural to a new establishment, struggling for existence. In 1564 a general convocation took place at Whitsuntide, for the repairs of the fabric; † and the canons and prebendaries agreed to subscribe the tenth part of their respective incomes, according to the value of the prebends in the king's books. In 1566 a new pentecostal meeting was held, to inforce the observance of the statutes. The body of lay vicars was formed, either at this juncture or immediately after the Reformation; for at this meeting the first regulations relative to their office occur. These convocations again took place in the two

* Dean Peirce's Vindication, p. 9. In addition to the confirmations of the property and privileges of the church obtained from different sovereigns, which have been already mentioned, or of which an account would be superfluous, James the First, in 1610, granted to the members of the establishment the same civil jurisdiction over the Close and its precinct as was exercised by the Justices of Peace in the city of Salisbury.

+ By a letter from Jewel to Peter Martyr, May 27, 1560, it appears that the church had been struck with lightning, which occasioned, "a clift all down for twenty feet." Burnet Hist. Reformation, part 3, p. 29, fol. 3.