called the "Drapery," in the city to build a chapel in honour of the
Holy Trinity, St. Mary, St. John, and St. Katharine "within the Chapel
of Bablake." William Wolfe, mayor in 1375, is mentioned as a "great
helper" in the work at the church, the original nave and aisles being
probably built at this time, and some reconstruction of the choir.
Records are wanting of the subsequent alterations which gave it its
present form. The north clearstory of the nave shows the original
design while that of the choir and the south side of the nave belong
to the fifteenth century as do the tower and the cruciform arrangement
of the building. Leland's "Itinerary" gives the following
description: "There is also a Collegiate Church at Bablake, hard
within the West Gate (Spon Gate) alias Bablake Gate, dedicated to St.
John.... It is of the foundation of the Burgesses and there is a great
Privilege, Gild or Fraternity. In this College is now a Master and
eight ministers and lately twelve ministers." Stowe adds that there
were twelve singing men and extant deeds mention "Babbelake Hall" in
which the warden and priests lived.

Many interesting entries of expenditure are to be found in the gild
accounts showing how the Eve of St. John (Midsummer Eve) and other
festivals were celebrated before the suppression of the gilds by
Edward VI. In 1541 we have the following (the spelling is somewhat
modernized):

Expenses on Midsummer Even and on the day,--Item, 2 doz. & a half
cakes, 2_s_. 6_d_.; spice cakes, 12_d_.; a cest' ale and 4 gals.
4_s_.; 2 gals, claret wine 16_d_.; 2 gals, malmsey, 2_s_. 8_d_.; 2
gals, muskedell 2_s_. 8_d_.; to Mr. Mayor 3_s_. 4_d_.; the Mayor to
offer, 8_d_.; to priests, clerks and children, 2_s_. 4_d_.; the
waits, 6_s_. 8_d_.; to poor people 6_s_. 8_d_.; to the cross-bearers