Note 164 — HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF WELLS. (continued 3)
Reading edition
Bishop Godwin tells the whole story in his quaint way (p. 301). "This man is famous for the first foundation of our Vicars close in Wels. The memory of which benefit is to be seene expressed in a picture upon the wal at the foot of the hall staires. In it the Vicars kneeling, seeme to request the Bishop in these words:
Per vicos positi villæ, pater alme rogamus, Ut simul uniti, de [te?] dante domos maneamus. Disperst about the towne, we humbly pray, Together, through thy bounty, dwell we may.
He answereth them thus:
Vestra petunt merita, quod sint concessa petita, Ut maneatis ita, loca fecimus hic stabilita. For your demaund, deserts do plead, I will do that you crave, To this purpose established, here dwellings shall you have.
This picture being now almost worne out; at what time of late yeeres the Vicars by the gratious favour of her Maiesty had their revenues confirmed to them, being in danger to be spoyled of them by certaine sacrilegious cormorants; they likewise caused a picture of excellent workmanship to be drawen, contayning a memoriall of both the one and the other. These buildings being erected; toward the maintenance of some hospitality in them, he gave unto that new Colledge, the mannor of Welsleigh, and allotted them twenty nobles yerely to be paid out of the vicarage of Chew. He built moreover a house for the Queristers and their master."