Parish Priests and Their People in the Middle Ages in England Part 57

[491] Alternate vertical stripes of white and red (?).

[492] "Fifty Earliest English Wills," etc., E. E. Text S., p. 5.

[493] The longest time allowed for saying a ma.s.s is an hour; those who say it in less than half an hour are reproved (J. H. d.i.c.kenson, "The Sarum Missal").

[494] Mallory's "History of Prince Arthur."

[495] "Autobiography of Anne Murray," in the time of James I. (Camden Society).

[496] In Saxon times the priest and brethren of Bath admitted Saewi and Theodgefu his wife to brotherhood and bedrdenne (prayer) for life and death (Thorpe's "Diplomatarium," p. 436). Gilbert Tyson, _temp._ William I. or II., gave land to Selby "for the soul of my lord King William, and for my soul and the souls of my wife and children, ... on condition that I be _plenarius frater_ in the said church." Sir Roger Tromyn and Dame Joan his wife were admitted, in 1307, to share in the prayers of the Abbey of Wymore, and to have their obsequies celebrated when they deceased as for a brother of the house ("Eccl. Doc.u.ments," Camden Society, pp. 49, 72).

[497] Osborn, Abbot of St. Evroult (1063), inst.i.tuted an anniversary, on the 26th June, for the fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters of all the monks of St. Evroult. The names of all the brethren were registered in a long roll when professed. This roll was kept near the altar throughout the year, and an especial commemoration was made before G.o.d of the persons inscribed, when the priest says in celebrating ma.s.s, "Animas famulorum famularum que tuorum," etc. "Vouchsafe to join to the society of Thine elect, the souls of Thy servants, both men and women, whose names are written in the roll presented before Thy holy altar." At the anniversary, on 26th June, the roll of the deceased was spread open on the altar, and prayers were offered, first for the dead and afterwards for living relations and benefactors and all the faithful in Christ ("Orderic Vitalis," i. 447).

William de Ros, clerk of Bayeux, gave 40 sterling to the monks of St.

Evroult.... His name was inscribed in the register by the monks of St.

Evroult for the many benefits he conferred on the abbey, and ma.s.ses, prayers, and alms were appointed for him as if he had been a brother there professed (i. 269).

Some of the monks of St. Evroult contributed largely to the monastery, and procured from their relations, acquaintances, and friends donations of t.i.thes and churches, and ecclesiastical ornaments for the use of the brethren.

[498] Surtees Society, the "Liber Vitae of Durham."

[499] There were, in fact, a few others; _e.g._ the Domestic Chapel at the Vyne, Hamps.h.i.+re, had been founded as a chantry.

[500] In Yorks.h.i.+re, less than a dozen are recorded before the fourteenth century, about a quarter of the whole number were founded between 1300 and 1350, the greatest number from 1450 to 1500 (Page's "Yorks.h.i.+re Chantries,"

Surtees Society).

[501] If groups of united chantries be reckoned as one, or 53 if each be counted separately; served by 52 priests, with an average income of 7 9_s._ 6_d._ The chantry priests lived in a mansion founded for them called Priest's House, or in the chambers of their respective chantries ("St.

Paul's and Old City Life," p. 100, W. S. Simpson).

[502] For another example of a foundation deed of a chantry, see that of Thomas, Earl of Derby (p. 469), in Blackburn parish church, 1514 (Whitaker's "Whalley," ii. 322)

[503] Dan John Raventhorpe leaves a wooden side altar with a cupboard beneath the said altar (almariolum subtus idem altare) to keep the books and vestments. So also in the will of Richard Russell, citizen of York, 1435 ("Test. Ebor.," ii. 53).

[504] Wodderspoon, "Memorials of Ipswich," p. 352.

[505] Chantry Certificates, Co. York, Roll 70, No. 6.

[506] "York Fabric Rolls," p. 87.

[507] "Register" of Bishop Buckingham, p. 282.

[508] A. Gibbons, "Early Lincoln Wills," p. 91.

[509] S.P.C.K., "Diocese of Lichfield," p. 161. So at the Free Chapel at Kingston (see p. 125).

[510] "Early Lincoln Wills," p. 29.

[511] Ibid., p. 60.

[512] Ibid., p. 150.

[513] Newcourt's "Repertorium."

[514] "Diocesan Hist. of Hereford," S.P.C.K.

[515] "Lichfield Diocese," p. 115, S.P.C.K.

[516] Here are a few examples from Lincoln Diocese only, within fifty years. William Aghton, Archdeacon of Bedford, 1422, left a bequest for ma.s.ses for his soul. Richard of Ravenser, Archdeacon of Lincoln, 1385, leaves 2_s._ to every nun of the Order of Sempringham and every anchorite or recluse in Lincolns.h.i.+re and Yorks.h.i.+re, and numerous other bequests to religious houses, besides a manor and certain tenements to be sold in aid of a chaplain of the vicars [choral] of Lincoln, to celebrate at St.

Giles's Without, Lincoln, for him, etc. William Wintringham, Canon of Lincoln, 1415, left 200 marks for mortuary ma.s.ses. Richard Croxton, Canon of Lincoln, 1383, left 50 for ma.s.ses for ten years. John of Haddon, Canon of Lincoln, 1374, left 21 to find two chaplains for two years. Robert of Austhorpe, Doctor of Laws and Licentiate in Arts, 1372, left 20_s._ for ma.s.ses. Stephen of Hoghton, Rector of the Mediety of Lesyngham, 1390, left 20_s._ and two books to the Prior and Convent of Nocton for a perpetual anniversary. Robert of Lottryngton, Rector of Gosberkyrk, 1391, left 10 and his portiforium and psalterium to his church, and a bequest for two chaplains to celebrate for him for a year. Richard Morys, Rector of Bryngton, 1396, leaves 4 to Mr. William Ynflet, to celebrate for him (A.

Gibbons, "Early Lincoln Wills").

[517] "Early Lincoln Wills," p. 158.

[518] There are chantry chapels in two stories at Hereford and Gloucester Cathedrals, and Tewkesbury, and two at East Horndon, Ess.e.x.

[519] A. Gibbons, "Early Lincoln Wills," p. 201.

[520] Baines's "Manchester" (Harland's edition), p. 45.

[521] "Test. Ebor.," iv. 121.

[522] See calendar of perpetual obits in St. Paul's Cathedral in appendix to Milman's "Annals of St. Paul's."

[523] In the "Sarum Manual" the rules which follow death began with a _Commendatio Animarum_ [Exequiis] consisting of psalms and prayers for the dead. The body was then washed and laid on a bier; vespers for the day were said, followed by the _Vigiliae Mortuorum_, divided into several parts, the special vespers and special matins known from their respective antiphons as the _Placebo_ and _Dirige_. The body was then carried in procession to church. There the _Missa Mortuorum_ was said, and after it came the _Inhumatio defuncti_.

[524] See p. 348.

[525] Hingeston-Randolph, "Stafford's Register," p. 399.

[526] Wodderspoon, "Ipswich," p. 392.

[527] Ibid., p. 399.

[528] It was a very humble imitation of the primitive custom of giving a funeral feast.

[529] Ibid., p. 393.

[530] "Ess.e.x Arch. Trans.," vol. i. part iii. p. 150 (New Series).

[531] "Diocese of Bath and Wells," p. 136, S.P.C.K.

[532] "Diocesan Histories, Lincoln," p. 81, S.P.C.K.

[533] Ibid., p. 197.

[534] "Early Lincoln Wills," p. 209.

[535] "Early Lincoln Wills," p. 164.