St. Martin's Church

is situated at the east end of the city, the patronage of which belongs to Mr. Wyndham.

There was in ancient times another St. Martin's Church, which stood in the meadow below, about a quarter of a mile to the south-west, near to St. Nicholas's Hospital, as Leland witnesseth, v. iii. p. 68; "On the north side of this hospitale, is an old barn, wher in tymes past was a paroch chirch of St. Martine. This chirch was prophaned, and another new made in Saresbyri for it, bearing yet the name of St. Martine. The cause of the translation was by, cause it stood exceeding low and cold, and the river at rages cam into it. This chirch of St. Martine, and the hammelet or village of Harnham, stode or ever any part of New Saresbyri was buildid.” In another part of his Itinerary, he says, "the cause of the relinquisching of it was the moystenes of the ground often overflowen. For this chirch was ther anew, dedicate to St. Martine in another place that yet stondith." Leland visited this place about the year 1542.

Holingshed, who wrote in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, says, “Harnham was a pretty village before the erection of New Sarisbury, and had a church of St. Martin belonging to it, but now instead of this church, there is only a barn standing in a very low meadow, on the north side of St. Migell's (Nicholas') Hospital."

Willis, in his History of Salisbury, denies the situation of the church to have been ever changed, and censures Holingshed for inaccuracy, but surely Leland's testimony confirms it. When Leland says there were but two parish churches in Salisbury, p. 57, he must have considered St. Martin's as still belonging to Harnham; and likewise, because it stood within the town ditch or fosse, made for the defence of the city, which ended at the corner of St. Anne's-street. An ancient road still remains,

which passed between the city and the spot where St. Martin's stands. This was the road from Bishopstone, a residence of Bishop Hubert's and of King Richard I., to Clarendon, through Milford hollowway and through Harnham, where was then no bridge, only a deep ford, called Earle's Wade, as appears from Madox's History of the Exchequer.

The spot now called Payne's Hill, being the highest part in the city, and near the extremity of the town ditch, towards the road to Clarendon, was a place well adapted for a watch tower; and it is more than probable, there was a building of that kind erected there.

We come next to consider who the patron St. Martin was, to whom the church was dedicated. If conjecture may be permitted where there is no abs solute record, I am inclined to think it may be him mentioned by Camden in his Britannia, by the name of Martin, the most holy Bishop of Tours. In the time of the Emperor Valentinian, in the year 385, when Maximus usurped the purple in this island, and crossing over to Gaul, made it his chief residence; a council was held at Bourdeaux to condemn the doctrines of Priscillian and his followers, as heretical; on whom sentence of excommunica tion passed. Priscillian on this appealed from their decisions, to Maximus the Tyrant, who, to please the orthodoxy, passed sentence of death on him. This Bishop, the holy Martin, was very averse to this interposition of the civil power, and labored hard to have it set aside, alleging, says Camden, "that the secular judge had no right, and therefore ought not to interfere in causes of a spiritual nature, which belonged to the church only." Camden says, "that this was the first instance on record (which was strongly opposed by the most holy Martin), of a practice which has left a foul stain, and has become a dangerous precedent to posterity."

Thus are our three patron Saints distinguished for opposing the encroachments of regal power.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

INFIRMARY.

This structure owes its origin to the munificence of Anthony, Lord Feversham, who, in 1763, bequeathed five hundred pounds to the first public charity of this kind that should be established in the county of Wilts, within five years after his decease. To so benevolent a purpose the nobility and gentry gave every possible encouragement, and the subscriptions arose in a short time to a considerable sum. The benefactions, subscriptions, legacies, and other charitable donations and collections, during the sixty-two years from the first establishment, Sept. 24, 1776, to August 31, 1828, amountea to 979321. 8s. 4d.; and its general and great utility may be proved from the following abstract of the number of In and Out-Patients during the sixty-one years from the first establishment, May 2, 1767, to August 28, 1828:

In-Patients 24232.

Out-Patients 31936.

It is situated in the parish of Fisherton, and is a large brick building, with the following inscription in front:

General Infirmary supported by voluntary Contribution, 1767.

HOSPITALS.

Trinity Hospital, in Trinity-street, was founded in the reign of King Richard II. in the year 1420, for twelve men, who are each allowed three shillings and sixpence per week, and coals. It has been greatly improved since, by Mr. Henry Fox, of Farley, ancestor of the present Lord Holland; and by the late Mr. Moulton, formerly an eminent builder in this city. The Mayor and Corporation are master.

Bricket's Hospital, in Exeter-street, was founded in the year 1519, for six widows, who are paid three

shillings and sixpence per week each. In the gift of the Corporation.

Eyre's Hospital, without where Winchester gate formerly stood, was founded in the year 1617, for six men and their wives; their pay three shillings and sixpence per week each, during their joint lives. On the decease of either, the survivor receives three shillings per week.

Blechynden's Hospital, in Winchester-street, was founded in the year 1683, for six women, whose pay is two shillings per week each. The trustees are six gentlemen of Salisbury.

Taylor's Hospital, in Bedwin-street, was founded in the year 1698, for six men, who are each paid three shillings and sixpence per week. In the gift of the Corporation.

Froud's Hospital, in Bedwin-street, was built in the year 1750, for six men and six women, allowing them four shillings and sixpence per week. The trustees are six gentlemen of Salisbury.

LEGACIES.

Three Houses in St. Anne's-street, in the gift of the vestry of St. Martin, the legacy of Mr. Sutton. No pay.

Six Houses in Culver-street, supposed to be a donation from Bishop Poore; also in the gift of the vestry of St. Martin. No pay.

In Bedwin-street are about twenty Houses, given by Mrs. Marks, formerly an inhabitant of this city, some of which are in the gift of Sir John Webb. No pay.

In Castle-street are thirteen Tenements, presented to the Corporation for the use of the poor of the city, by the late William Hussey, Esq. who was one of the representatives in parliament. At his decease he endowed them for men and their wives, who receive three shillings and sixpence per week. In the gift of the Mayor and Corporation.

SECT. V.

The See of Salisbury, Cathedral, Spire, Choir, Monuments, Library, Chapter-House, Cloister, and Custom of Choral Bishops.-The Close, the Bishop's Palace, and Bishop Ward's College of Matrons.

SEE OF SALISBURY.

THIS See has undergone many alterations from the time it was first established, to its final settlement in Salisbury. Its first seat was at Sherborn in Dorsetshire, and the diocese then had episcopal jurisdietion over all those counties which now constitute the dioceses of Salisbury, Bristol, Wells, and Exeter; but Wells and Exeter were dismembered from it, and erected into two distinct bishoprics in the year 905, and a few years afterwards another See was formed out of the remaining jurisdiction of Sherborn, and seated at Wilton, in Wiltshire. But this last See, after having had eleven Bishops of its own, was once more united to Sherborn; and soon after the seat of the See was removed to Old Sarum, which had a Dean and Canons from the time of King Henry I. Herman, the then Bishop, began to build a cathedral there, which was finished by St. Osmund. Bishop Richard Poor brought the seat of the See from the hill of Old Sarum to Salisbury,

* Called in the Roman Itineraries Sorbiodunum.