Note FL — THE 'LIVES' (continued 6)

(P. 326.) The matter of this paragraph is put a little more clearly in MS. Aubr. 3, fol. 28: 'Westport juxta Malmesbury:—The church was dedicated to St. Mary. Here were three aisles[1673] which tooke up the whole area. And <the church was> reported to be more ancient then the abbey. In the windowes (which were very good) were inscriptions which declared so much. Quaere, if Madulph the Scottsman taught here—unde origo monasterii? Vide Camdenum de hoc.

Before the late warres here was a prettie church, where were very good windowes and a faire steeple, higher than the other, which much adorned the towne of Malmesbury. In it were five tuneable bells, which Sir William Waller or his army melted into ordinance, or rather sold. The church was pulled downe that the enimie might not shelter themselves against the garrison of Malmesbury.'