and transepts.  The nave as it is at present may be neglected, but in the north transept we have a curious hagioscope or other opening in the shape of a cross and there used to be some remains of paintings; the Nativity, the Virgin and Child, the Gloria in Excelsis, the Crucifixion and the holy women at the Sepulchre of Our Lord.  In the chancel were other remains of paintings.  There still remain the very noble stalls which seem to assure us of the monastic use of the church, and a fine altar tomb of the fifteenth century; this on the north side.  On the south are very fine sedilia and piscina.  Close by is a brass to William Thanbury, the vicar here, dating from 1448.  The inscription considering the use of the church to-day, is pathetic; for there we read Credo in SANCT.  Eccles.  CATH., a pleasing misreading of the true text which every one, though for different reasons, will rejoice to read.

We are told by local tradition or gossip that the tomb at the end of the south aisle is that of King Stephen.  This, however, could only be true if this were indeed the church of the monastery.  The tomb is Decorated in style and has a canopy, but is without inscription.

Our Lady of Charity was, however, chiefly famous for its chapel of St Thomas of Canterbury on the north side of the chancel, and for its altars of SS.  Crispin and Crispian and of St Erasmus.  Many pilgrims turned aside from the road to visit Faversham which was not a station on the pilgrimage, for the sake of these shrines and altars and especially to pray in the chapel of St Thomas.

It is said, indeed, that “no one died who had anything to leave without giving something to St Erasmus light.”  As for SS.  Crispin and Crispian they were the patrons of the town and leapt into great fame after the victory of Agincourt upon their feast day, October 25, when the King had invoked them upon the field.

This day is called the feast of Crispian;
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a-tiptoe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we on it shall be remembered.

The two saints, Crispin and Crispian, are not less famous in France than in England.  They were indeed Rome’s missionaries in Gaul about the middle of the third century.  They seem to have settled at Soissons, where now a great church stands in their honour.  There they practiced the craft of cobblers and of all cobblers they are the patrons.  After some years the Emperor Maximian Hercules coming into Gaul, a complaint concerning them was brought to him.  They were tried by that most inhuman judge Rictius Varno, the Governor, whom, however, they contrived to escape by fleeing to England and to Faversham, where, as some say they lived, but as others assert they were shipwrecked.  For us at any rate their names are secure from oblivion, not so much by reason of the famous victory won upon their day as because Shakespeare has gloriously recorded their names with those familiar in our mouths as household words: