other ornaments delivered to him belonging to the chantry, an inventory of which is annexed to the indenture, and, at his departure, to re-deliver them to the master and wardens. They were of the usual kind for an altar, though some of the vestments were richly ornamented. There is only one hook mentioned in the inventory, and that is a great mass book of vellum "lymmbde" with gold. Nor is there more than one chalice, but it is worthy of notice as having on it two coats of arms; one is said to have been a shield of red with a white lion with a crown on his head of gold, which we shall presently see was the coat of Sir Nicholas de Wokyndon, the founder; the other had a field red with three flours de lis blue, which is false heraldry, and I cannot identify it; but it may have been intended for the arms of his wife, or, more correctly speaking, those of her father. What the jewels were is not quite clear: probably they were the chalice, the paten (which was enameled with the Trinity), two corporases, the pax, and the richest parures of the vestments; for there was a great chest of iron with a bar running through with a lock, to keep the jewels of St. George in. There was another chest with a lock, but no key, and therefore not likely to have been used for keeping any thing of value.
In the deed exhibited the chantry is stated to have been founded by Joan, late wife of Nicholas de Wokyndon, Knight, but it appears to have had its origin in his will. We read in Dugdale's History of St. Paul's,[1] where he speaks of some chantries in the new work on the north side, that in the "15th year of King Edward II. did Nicolas de Wokyndon, by his testament, devise 100s to the before specified building called the new work, in regard that in it he intended to be buried; and, to maintain a chantry priest therein celebrating for his soul, bequeathed certain lands lying in the parish of St. Olaff (London) to the dean and chapter of this Church; and moreover, for the like consideration, gave an 100l. to purchase rents for the finding of another chantry priest at the altar of St. Thomas, and to the keeping his obit and the obit of Joan his wife for ever." It appears by deeds in the possession of the Armourers' Company, that his widow, who was his executrix, purchased the rents required, and endowed the chantry at the altar of St. Thomas with them in January 1320-1, reserving the advowson of the chantry to herself for her life, and afterwards to the heirs of her late husband. This reconciles what is said of her having been the founder with that part of the deed which traces the advowson from his heir; it shows, at the same time, that the 15th Edward II. mentioned by Dugdale as the date of his will must be a mistake; probably it should be the 13th Edward II., which regnal year ended
- ↑ Second edit. p. 32.
