Parish Priests and Their People in the Middle Ages in England Part 29

Frequently a chantry was endowed for more than one priest; that of the Black Prince in Canterbury Cathedral was for two priests, whose stipends at the end of the fifteenth century amounted to 12 each. The endowment of the early Chantry of Hugh of Wells, at Lincoln, was held by the sacrist who, out of its 21 6_s._ 8_d._ a year, had to find two chaplains and to pay alms to the poor at the obit. The Burghersh Chantry, at Lincoln Cathedral, was for five chaplains and six boys who lived together in the chantry house in the Cathedral Close; the endowment, after paying for the maintenance and schooling of the boys, left 7 9_s._ a piece to each of the cantarists. There was a chantry of six priests at Harwood, Yorkshire.

There were many others with two and three priests. Richard III. commenced the foundation of a chantry of a hundred chaplains in York Minster; six altars were erected, and the chantry house begun, when the king's death on Bosworth Field put an end to the magnificent design.[506] The foundation of his fortunate rival, though not so extravagant, was of regal splendour.

Henry VII.'s chapel at Westminster is the sumptuous chantry chapel in which his monument, with its bronze effigy, protected by the bronze herse, still remain uninjured. The t.i.tle deed of the endowment which he made for the perpetuation of his memory still remains in the form of a handsome volume, whose pages are adorned with miniature pictures, and the great seals are still attached to it, in their silver cases. First, he provided for three additional monks to say ma.s.ses for him, who were to be called the king's chantry monks. On every anniversary, the greatest bell of the monastery was to be rung for an hour, and the bells rung as at the most solemn anniversaries. A hundred wax tapers, each 12 lbs. in weight and 9 feet long, were to be set upon and about the herse, and there continually to burn during all the time of the service of the _Placebo_, the _Dirge_, with lessons, lauds, and ma.s.s of _Requiem_, and all the orations, observances, and ceremonies belonging thereto. Also 24 new torches were to be held about the herse all the time of the service. Twenty pounds were to be given in alms, viz. 25 marks among the blind, lame, impotent, and most needy people, 2_d._ to each man and woman, and 1_d._ to each child so far as it will go; and 5 marks to be given to the 13 bedesmen and 3 bedeswomen provided in the said monastery (of whom one was to be a priest, and all under the government of a monk), 12_d._ to each. A weekly obit was to be held, at which the bells were to be rung; and alms given to the 13 bedesmen and 2 bedeswomen and 124 others, 1_d._ to each. Thirty tapers were to burn at the weekly obit, to be renewed when they had burnt down to 5 feet long; to burn also during high ma.s.s and first and latter evensong, and at every princ.i.p.al feast; and at the coming of the king and queen for the time being into the Church of the said monastery, and of any of royal blood, dukes, and earls. Four of the torches to be held about the herse at weekly obits, to be renewed when wasted to 7 feet long. Four tapers, one at each side and one at each end, were to burn perpetually night and day, besides the 100 aforesaid, to be renewed when wasted to 6 feet.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Abbot, monks, and bedesmen of Westminster Abbey.]

Every year, on some day before the anniversary, the abstract of the grant was to be read in the chapter house, and the Chief Justice or King's Attorney or Recorder of London to be present, and to receive 20_s._ for the attendance, and after the reading to go straight to the herse and say certain psalms. The woodcut, taken from one of the illuminations of this t.i.tle deed, represents the abbot and several monks and the bedesmen above mentioned.

Parochial benefices were sometimes appropriated to the maintenance of chantries; in some cases what was done amounted to this: that the parish church was converted into a chantry for the lord of the manor and his family. Thus, in 1319, Sir John de Trejagu, Knt., founded a chantry for four chaplains in the Church of St. Michael Penkvil for prayers for himself and family. The proposal was approved by the bishop, who made the church collegiate, and the chief of the four clergymen who were to serve it an archpriest, with the care of the parishioners.

So, in 1334, Eresby Church was appropriated to the Chantry Chapel of Spillesby by the bishop, on the pet.i.tion of Sir Rob. de Willughby, Knt., and a master and twelve chaplains of the chantry were founded there by Sir John de W. and Lady Johan his wife.[507] In 1395, Elizabeth de Willughby, Consort of Sir Robert, lord of Eresby, left her body to be buried in the above chantry, and bequeathed to the chantry a crucifix of gold in which is a piece of the cross of our Lord, and set with two rubies and two emeralds, with a circle of pearls on the head, to remain there for ever without being alienated.[508]

Isabel, widow of Sir Fulke de Penbridge (1410), purchased the advowson of Tonge Church, Shropshire, from Shrewsbury Abbey, rebuilt the church in its present beauty, and endowed it with 50, to support a warden, five chaplains, and thirteen old men. The chaplains were not to take other preferment. If any of the poor men were sick or bedridden, they were to be visited three times a week by one of the chaplains. If any stranger dined in hall, the chaplain who introduced him was to pay for his dinner, 3_s._ if at the high table, 1_s._ 4_d._ if at the low.[509]

Sometimes a man founded more than one chantry, perhaps, in churches on his several estates; thus, Ralph Ba.s.set, of Drayton, Knight, in 1389 leaves 200 to found two chantries, "one in St. Mary's Chapel in Olney Churchyard, and one in the new chapel built by me at Colston Ba.s.set."[510] Sir William de Molynes, Knight, in 4 Richard II., leaves bequests "to every chaplain of my three chantries."[511]

The founder of a chantry usually kept the right to nominate the cantarist in his own family. Thus, the founder of a chantry of three priests, who were to dwell together in a house vulgarly called Muston, in the parish of Leverton and Leake, left the right of presentation to her daughters.[512]

Sometimes the presentation was left to the parish priest, as at Edmonton;[513] sometimes it was even vested in the parishioners, as at Harlow.[513]

Chantries continued to be founded up to the very eve of their general destruction: _e.g._ one at Bishopstone Church, Hereford, in 1532; in Lugwardine Church, in 1541; and in Welsh Newton, in a doubtful way, as late as 1547.[514]

It may be worth while to say that the clergy were as much given to making arrangements for posthumous prayers for themselves and their families as the laity. A large proportion of the chantry chapels in cathedrals were founded for themselves by bishops. One of the earliest is that of Bishop Hugh of Wells, of Lincoln in A.D. 1235; Bishop Stavenby of Lichfield, who died 1238, set the example there; and so in other cathedrals. There is a pleasing touch of sentiment in Bishop Weseham's foundation of a chantry in Lichfield Cathedral for himself and his friend, Bishop Grostete of Lincoln, of which cathedral he had himself been dean before his promotion to the episcopate.[515]

Not many parish priests founded chantries, because they were seldom rich enough to undertake anything so costly; but the numerous instances in their wills of provision made for trentals, month's minds, and obits, attest their belief and feeling on the subject.[516] There is a quaint touch of professional experience in the condition of the bequest of John Cotes, Canon of Lincoln in 1433, to the resident canons, vicars, chaplains, poor clerks, and choristers attending his funeral, "and present at the whole office, not to those going like vagabonds through the middle of the church at the time of the said office."[517]

The majority of the chantries were founded at an existing altar of a cathedral, monastic, or parish church; but chantry chapels were specially provided for many of these services, and were the occasion of the introduction of a great deal of architectural variety and interest in existing churches. In the cathedrals, little chapels were screened off in various places. A very favourite locality for the burial of a bishop was between the great pillars of the nave or choir; the s.p.a.ce between the pillars was converted into a little chapel by stone screens which enclosed the tomb and altar, and left s.p.a.ce for a priest to minister and an acolyte to serve, while those attending the service stood or knelt outside, and could see or hear through the open-work of the screen. Without going further than Winchester Cathedral, we shall find ill.u.s.trations of varieties of plan and elevation of these chantry chapels.

Those of Wykeham and Edyngdon on the south side of the nave have the s.p.a.ce between two pillars screened off with elaborate tabernacle work of stone, and are groined above. Those of Fox and Gardiner are on the south and north sides of the choir; each has a small chamber adjoining the chapel.

Those of Cardinal Beaufort and Waynflete are on the south and north sides of the retro-choir. On each side of the Lady Chapel is a s.p.a.ce enclosed for a chantry chapel by wooden screens; that on the south (to Bishop Langton) has benches round the three sides, panelled at the back and canopied by a tester, for people attending the service.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tewkesbury Abbey. The Warwick Chantry Chapel.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cuckfield Church, Suss.e.x--before restoration.]

In a parish church, the place provided for a memorial service was sometimes a chapel added to the choir of the church and opening into it, but part.i.tioned by stone, or, more frequently, wooden screens; these chapels were sometimes architecturally beautiful, and added to the s.p.a.ciousness and dignity of the church. But often, instead of being an addition to the s.p.a.ciousness of the church, they were a practical infringement upon its s.p.a.ce; for the most frequent provision for a chantry was made by screening off the east end of an aisle, either of the chancel or nave. There were rare examples of the chantry chapel being a detached building in the churchyard. At Winchester there is an example both of a chantry at the side of the College chapel and also of another, with a priest's chamber over it,[518] in the middle of the cloister court.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Screen of Chantry Chapel, Dennington, Suffolk.]

It seems desirable to repeat here that some of the domestic chapels were founded as chantry chapels, or had a chantry subsequently founded within them; as the domestic chapel at the Vyne, Hants. There were two chantries in the chapel of Pontefract Castle; one in the chapel of the manor house at Topcliff, Yorkshire, and at Cransford, Dorset, and in the Bishop of Durham's manor house at Darlington. Very probably the service in a domestic chapel always included some commemoration of the departed members of the family.

It was only well-to-do people who could afford to found and endow a perpetual chantry; there were many less costly ways in which men showed their solicitude for their own well-being, and their affection for their belongings, by making such provision for mortuary prayers and ma.s.ses as their means allowed. Sometimes provision is made for a chantry to last for a limited number of years. Thus--

John Cotes, of Tevelby, Canon of Lincoln in 1433, left for a chaplain to sing every day for twenty years, "to have 4 13_s._ 4_d._ per ann., and 3_s._ 4_d._ for wine, wax, and candles, and to engage in no other duty, spiritual or temporal, under pain of my anathema."

Robert Astbroke, of Chepyng Wycombe, 1533, leaves money for "a priest to sing for my soul in Wicomb Church, at Ihus altar for x years, and I desire that there be no prieste admytted to the said servys but that can sing at least his playn song substancyally."[519]

Thomas Booth, in Eccles Church in Lancashire, leaves 100 marks to two chaplains for ten years in two chapels--five marks a year each.[520]

Robert Johnson,[520] Alderman of York, leaves, "to the exhibition of an honest prest to synge at the alter of Our Lady daily by the s.p.a.ce of vij yeres x.x.xv{li.} And I will that what prest that shall serve it every day, when that he hath saide ma.s.se, shall stand affore my grave [which was 'affore the mydste of the alter'] in his albe, and ther to say the psalme of _De Profundis_, with the collettes, and then caste holy water upon my grave."[521]

So, we have bequests of money to provide one or two chaplains for two years; still more frequently one or two chaplains for one year; frequently for a trental of ma.s.ses, and an obit, that is for ma.s.ses for thirty days after death, and after that a ma.s.s on the anniversary of death; most frequently of all, for ma.s.s on the first, third, seventh, and thirtieth day, and on the years' day.[522] In most cases there was a sum left for wax tapers and other funeral expenses, and for a donation to every clerk, or layman, attending the funeral ma.s.s and the obit. In the case of the poorest, the parish priest said a ma.s.s for the dead, and committed the body, with the proper prayers, to the grave.[523]

[Ill.u.s.tration: VIGILIae MORTUORUM. XV. CENT. MS., EGERTON, 1070, f. 54 v.]

Ralph Lord Cromwell, making his will in 1457, desired that his body should be buried in Tattershall Church, which he had rebuilt and made Collegiate,[524] and that three thousand ma.s.ses should be said for his soul.

John Prestecote, 1411-1412 [seems to be a clergyman], leaves stock to churchwardens of several parishes to maintain his anniversary for ever, and anniversaries of others; leaves his best silver-covered cup to the Prioress of Polslo Convent, to remain in that house for ever, and be called by his name "Prestcote" in his memory.[525]

1503. Agnes Walworth leaves to the Church of St. Peter a cup of silver gilt, and to be prayed for in the Bead Roll for one whole year.[526]

1508. Wm. Harcote leaves his body to be buried in St. Peter's Churchyard, and money to purchase a cross, according to the cross of St. Nicholas in the churchyard, to stand over his grave.[527]

1509. Wm. Plesyngton orders his body to be buried in St. Peter's Churchyard; a barrel of beer, with bread,[528] to be given in the church at his cost to the poor of the parish; Sir Jeffrey, his ghostly father, to say a trental of ma.s.ses for his soul in St. Peter's Church, and to be paid 5_s._[529]

Here are some curiosities on the subject--

Dame Eliz. Bourchier, in 1499, leaves "_xx marcs for a yearly obit_, at St. Dunstan's in the East, if the parson and parishioners will have it; if not, at some other church; and each of her servants, men and women, dwelling with her at the _time of death, to have a convenient black gown_ to pray for her soul."[530]

In 1452, Thomas of Beckington, Bishop of Bath and Wells, consecrated a tomb which he had made for himself, and said ma.s.s, in full pontificals, for his own soul, for the souls of his parents, and all the faithful departed, in the presence of a vast congregation.[531]

The Commonalty of Oxford was required to found an anniversary for the souls of the clerks and others, about forty in number, killed in a Town and Gown riot on St. Scholastica's Day, 1354, and to make an offering, to be distributed 1_d._ to each of forty poor scholars, and the rest to St. Mary's Church. It was continued down to the Reformation.[532]

Roger Wylkynson, of Swyneshead, yeoman, 1499, leaves to his G.o.dson his princ.i.p.al messuage and lands, "to him and his heirs in tail, they keeping my anniversary in Swyneshed Church."[533]

Thomas Normanton, of Tynwell, 1533, leaves his lands to his eldest son Richard in tail, "he and his heirs to keep my anniversary in Ketton Church for ever."[534] The "for ever" lasted sixteen years.

John Toynton, of Lincoln, chaplain, 1431, directs his anniversary to be kept ten years for the following alms:--"In the offering at ma.s.s, 6_d._; in the tolling of the bells to the clerks, 2_d._; in candles at the ma.s.s, 2_d._; in bread at the dirge, 1_s._ 4_d._; six chaplains saying dirge and ma.s.s, 12_d._--that is, to each 2_d._; to poor and needy, 7_d._; to the parochial chaplain saying my name in his roll on Sundays at prayers, 4_d._; to the chantry priest, Robert Dalderby, of Lincoln [chaplain], a new vestment of ruby satin, with golden letters upon it, and a new vestment of Borde to Alexander the chaplain, for ma.s.ses."[535]

Robert Appulby of Lincoln leaves a bequest to the Guild of Clerks at Lincoln that his name may be recited among the names of the departed, and the antiphon _Alma Redemptoris Mater_.[536]

We gather with some certainty the amount of remuneration which was usually given to a chantry priest for his services. John Coates, we have seen, in 1433, directs that a chaplain shall say ma.s.s for him every day for twenty years, and shall have four pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence per annum, besides three shillings and fourpence for wine and wax candles, and shall engage in no other service, spiritual or temporal, on pain of his anathema.[537]

Richard de Croxton, 1383, leaves 50 for ma.s.ses for ten years; this would be at the rate of 5 a year. Thomas de Roos, lord of Hamlak and Belvoir, in 1412, leaves 400 for ten chaplains to say ma.s.s in his chapel of Belvoir, for eight years, which, again, amounts to 5 a year to each. J. de Haddon, Canon of Lincoln, 1374, leaves 21 for two chaplains for two years. Beatrix Hanlay, 1389, leaves 20 marks and a silver cup to Thornton Abbey for ma.s.ses, and 30 of silver to six priests to celebrate for a year. So that it is abundantly evident that 5 a year was the usual stipend for a chantry priest. Elizabeth Davy, 1412, leaves cc{l.} for ma.s.ses, which is to be kept in some secret place in Lincoln Cathedral, and distributed annually to the chaplains.

Nicholas Sturgeon, priest in 1454, bequeaths to the Church of St.

Andrew, Asperton, Herefordshire, a vestment of black for priest, deacon, and sub-deacon of the price of 10 or within; his exequies and obit day to be kept solemnly there during the term of seven years, for the expenses of which he bequeaths 46_s._, that is, for every year 6_s._ 4_d._