Parish Priests and Their People in the Middle Ages in England Part 36

In 1296 the abbot and convent of Stanlaw, with the leave of their founder, H. de Lacy, and with the sanction of Pope Nicholas IV., removed their house to the more healthy site afforded by their new estate at Whalley.

Two years after, in 1298, Walter Langton, Bishop of Lichfield, ordained the foundation of a perpetual vicarage with a manse, thirty acres of meadow and corn land, with rights of pasturage, etc., and the altarage of the mother church and its seven chapels.

Thirty-two years afterwards, on the pet.i.tion of the abbot and convent, who represented the necessities of the house (it was in that year that the foundation of the abbey church was laid) and the immoderate endowment of the vicarage, Roger, Bishop of Lichfield, reduced the endowment of the vicarage to a manse and yard within the abbey close, with a pittance, for which he was to pay 13_s._ 4_d._ a year, hay and oats for his horse, the glebe lands of the chapels, and fifty-six marks in money, for which he was to bear the burden of the chapels, find a priest for each chapel, bread and wine for the Holy Communion, etc. The fourth vicar, William de Wolf, was required, before his presentation, to bind himself by oath never to procure an augmentation of the endowment.

So things continued till the death of the fifth vicar, John of Topcliffe, brother of the abbot, when the abbot and convent presented one of themselves to the vicarage, and so added its endowment to the revenues of the house.

The next matter of interest in the history of the parish is the beginning of new foundations to supply the spiritual needs of new centres of population. Padiham was founded in 30 Henry VI.; Whitewell, Holme, and Marsden between the reigns of Henry VI. and Henry VII.; then Newchurch in Rossendale, 3 Henry VIII.; Goodshaw, 32 Henry VIII.; Newchurch in Pendle, 35 Henry VIII.; Accrington was taken out of Alvetham in 1577; and lastly, Bacup in Rossendale was founded in 1788.

To complete the story: at the dissolution of the monasteries the Abbot of Whalley was hanged on a charge of treason. The king made a compulsory exchange of the great t.i.thes of the parish of Whalley, on which he seized as part of the abbey property, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, for some of the lands which belonged to the Kentish see. Archbishop Juxon augmented the living by surrendering to it, on the renewal of a lease which brought it within his power, the whole Easter roll and surplice fees, on condition that the curates of the chapels should receive the house, and pay to the vicar in different proportions 42, which, with 38 hitherto paid, would augment the vicarage to 80. Archbishop Sancroft, on a subsequent renewal (1685), with the fine purchased lands to provide stipends for the curates of the chapels-of-ease hitherto unprovided for.

The record of an inquisition in the time of the Commonwealth into this and neighbouring churches survives, and gives an interesting account of the parish and its chapelries. In every case the account ends with the statement that the inhabitants desire to be made a parish.

APPENDIX II.

We have in the case of two Rural Deaneries, by way of sample, tabulated the benefices as entered in the "Taxatio" and the "Valor" with one another and with the modern Clergy List; with a few notes upon them.

DIOCESE OF LONDON.--DEANERY OF BERDESTAPLE.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- From Domesday Book. | "Taxatio" of Pope Nicholas | | IV., 1292 A.D., p. 21. | -------------------------------------|--------------------------------| | s. d.| The Manor and Church belonged to the |Ecclia de Thurrok pva 5 6 8| See of London. | | | | | | | | Ditto | " Oresith | | (c.u.m Vicar) 16 0 0| Cedd the Apostle of the East Saxons | " Westilleb? 13 16 4| founded one of his centres of | | evangelization here, A.D. 653. In | | the time of Edward the Confessor it| " Estilleb? 14 13 4| was divided into West T. held by | | Aluric, a priest and freeman, and | | East T. held by Tedric, a freeman. | | | | | | In Saxon times these were one parish.| " h.o.r.n.yngdone 12 0 0| Time of the Confessor "a certain | Vicar ejusdem 4 13 4| deacon had here 30 acres and of | | a church." | | This church belonged to Barking | | nunnery. | | From Saxon times belonged to Barking | " Mockyng 14 13 4| nunnery. | | Probably had a church in Saxon times.| " Stanford 16 0 0| Afterwards Wm. de Septem Moles gave| | his manor with a free chapel to | | Waltham Abbey. | | In Saxon times the manor and church | " Bulephen 13 6 8| belonged to Barking N. | | After the Conquest this parish | " Coringham[644] 8 0 0| belonged to B. of London. | | | " Bures 6 13 4| | " Bourgsted[645] 13 6 8| | | The manor and church in the time of | " Burgsted | the Confessor belonged to Earl | parva[646] 4 13 4| G.o.dwin, after the Conquest to the | | See of London. | | Manor and church given at the | " Leyndon 13 6 8| Conquest to the See of London. | | | | | | | | | " Fobbing 10 0 0| | " Chaldewell 5 6 8| Originally one parish: by the time | " Magna | of Ed. Confessor a large manor in | Benafleth 6 13 4| S. Benfleet with church belonged to| " Benefleth | Barking Abbey; a large manor in N. | parva[648] 0 0 0| Benfleet with church belonged to | | Earl Harold. | | Time of E. Confessor princ.i.p.al part | " Dontone 5 6 8| belonged to a priest. Wm. gave it | | to the Albini family, founders of | | Bec Abbey. They gave this manor to | | Okeburn, Wilts., a cell of Bec. | | After the Conquest, King Wm. gave | " Hoton 9 16 8| this manor and church to Battle | " Schenefeud 10 0 0| Abbey. | | At the Conquest, known as Ramsden, | " Duddyngeherst 8 0 0| subsequently divided into 2 manors | " Gingg Rad'i 6 13 4| and parishes, distinguished by | | names of their owners. | " Ramesden Cray 5 6 8| | " Ramsden | | Belhous 6 13 4| | " Dounham 5 6 8| | " Fangge (or | | Fanga) 6 13 4| | " Novendon[650] 0 0 0| | " Thunderle[650] 0 0 0| | " Wykfore[650] 0 0 0| | " Piches[650] 0 0 0|

----------------------------------------------------------------------- | "Valor Ecclesiasticus" of Hen. | Clergy List, 1895 A.D.

| VIII., 1534 A.D., I 448. | |------------------------------------|--------------------------------- | s. d.| |Thurrock Parva R 3 15 0|Thurrock East (or Little) 400 | | |Thurrock Grays V per |Thurrock West, with Purfleet 170 | ear{m} Epi Lond. dal' | | 6 Apr., 1582 5 0 8|Grays Thurrock 175 |Orsett R 29 4 8|Orsett 500 | Chantry 6 13 4| |Westilbury R 20 0 0|Tilbury West 480 | Free chapel of a hermit 1 6 8| | Chantry 10 0 0| |Estilbury V 12 17 0|Tilbury East 160 | Free Chapel which W. | | Pace lately held 3 0 0| | Another Free Chapel | | which W{m} More | | lately held 1 11 0| |Esthornden R 9 14 0|Horndon East 435 | Free chapel 0 5 0| |Westhorndon R 14 13 4|Horndon West, with | | Ingrave[643] 380 |Horndon super Montem V 14 6 8|Horndon-on-the-Hill 250 | | |Mocking V 10 0 0|Mucking 172 | | |Standeford le hope R 12 19 8|Stanford-le-Hope 600 | Free Chapel 2 0 0| | Chantry 7 18 0| | | |Bulfanne R 23 0 0|Bulphan 345 | | |Corringham R 22 3 8|Corringham 560 | | |Boures Gifford R 25 0 0|Bowers Gifford 406 |Burstede magna V 17 6 8|Burstead, Great 100 | Chantry 7 0 0|Billericay 320 |Burstede Parva R 11 10 4|Little Burstead 270 | | | | | | |Laindon R with chapel of |Laindon with Basildon 500 | Bartilsdon annexed 35 6 8| | Free Chapel 3 6 8| | Chantry 6 0 4| |Langdon R[647] 10 3 8|Laindon Hills 224 |Fobbing R 21 0 0|Fobbing 534 |Chadwell R 17 13 4|Chadwell 220 |South Benflete V 16 5 4|South Benfleet 180 | | | |North Benfleet 430 | | | | | | |Donton R 14 12 8|Dunton Waylett 320 | | | | | | | | |Hutton R 8 0 0|Hutton 230 |Shenfield R 14 18 4|Shenfield 390 | | |Duddinghurst R 10 3 8|Doddinghurst 420 |Ingraffe R 7 13 5| | | |Ramsden Cranes R 19 12 0|Ramsden Crays 380 |Ramsden Belhous R 14 0 0|Stock-Harward with | Free chapel[649] 3 0 0| Ramsden Belhous 400 |Downeham R 12 2 8| Downham 340 |Fange R 14 0 4| Vange 141 | | |Novingdon R 10 13 4| Nevendon 150 |Thundersley R 14 13 4| Thundersley 400 |Wykeford R 13 13 4| Wickford 310 |Pittesey R 10 13 4| Pitsea 300

DIOCESE OF CANTERBURY. DEANERY OF BRIGG.

----------------------------------------------------------- "Taxatio" of Pope Nicholas IV., | 1292 A.D.[651] | ----------------------------------------------------------| s. d.| Ecclesia de Wyngham p. portione Prepositi et 40 0 0| Vicarii | Portio Capellae de Esse [Ash] c.u.m Capella [of 60 0 0| Overland] eidem annexa | | Portio de G.o.dewynstone 46 13 4| Portio Capellae de Nonynton c.u.m Capella de 53 6 8| Wymelingwelde eidem annexa | | [NOTE.--Wingham was a tract of country part of | the possessions of the See of Canterbury from | the earliest Saxon times. No doubt the | churches and chapels here mentioned had been | built by successive archbishops. Archbishop | Kilwardby, 1273 A.D., designed to found a | College of secular priests in the Church of | Wingham, but, being interrupted by death, his | successor Peckham carried out the design. He | made the Vicar also the Provost; made the | chapelries (except Overland) distinct | parishes, appointed Vicarages in them, and | gave the parishes as prebends to the 5 | Canons, and appointed 2 priests, 2 deacons, | 2 sub-deacons, and a s.e.xton to the service of | the church. At subsequent periods 2 chantries | were founded in Ash Church, one valued in the | "Valor" at 14 13_s._ 4_d._, out of which a | life pension of 5 was paid to the late | cantarist, and the other at 7 6_s._ 8_d._] | | | | | | | Ecclia de Sturmine c.u.m penc'(40_s._ to the 12 13 4| Prior of Leeds) | Ecclia de Preston (appr' to St. Augustine, Cant.) 20 0 0| Vicar ejusdem 4 15 4| Ecclia de Eylinston 10 0 0| Ecclia de Adesham c.u.m capella 53 6 8| | Ecclia de Chilindene 5 6 8| Ecclia de Lyvingesburn[655] 10 0 0| Ecclia de Wytham 33 6 8| Vicarius ejusdem 5 6 8| Ecclia de Littleburne (appr' to St. Aug., 20 0 0| Cant.) | | Ecclia de Pat'kes burne (appr' to the Prior of 33 6 8| Merton) | | Ecclia de Kinggeston 12 0 0| Ecclia de Bisshopes burne c.u.m capella 33 6 8| | | Ecclia de Pecham 20 0 0| Vicarius ejusdem 4 6 8| Ecclia de Waltham 11 6 8| | Ecclia de Elmestede c.u.m penc' (20 marks 16 0 0| to Mr. Solomon de Burn for his life) | Ecclia de Chertham 26 13 4| | Ecclia de Chileham 40 0 0| | Vicarius ejusdem 6 13 4| | Ecclia de Magna Hardres c.u.m capella 26 13 4| | | | Ecclia de Croyndale c.u.m penc' (25_s._ to 11 16 8| Prior of Leeds) | Ecclia de Brok 6 13 4| Ecclia de Wy (appr' to Battle Abbey) 43 6 8| | Vicarius ejusdem 10 13 4| | [NOTE.--I, Kempe Archbp. of York, founded the | | College of secular priests in the Church of | Wye, 1447 A.D.][656] | | | | | Ecclia de Bocton Allulphi 40 0 0| | | Ecclia de G.o.dmsham c.u.m capella 53 6 8| | | | Ecclia de Itham 30 0 0| |

------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Valor Ecclesiasticus," | Clergy List, of Hen. VIII., 1534 A.D.[652] | 1895 A.D.

---------------------------------------------------|-------------------- s. d.| Wyngham c.u.m Capellis de a.s.she, G.o.dwynston |Wingham 162 Nonyngton et Wymyngweld appr' Preposito |Ash (Chapel of 260 et Canonicis de Wyngham | Overland | ruined) |G.o.denstone 200 Master Edmund de Cranmere[653] p'vost hath |Nonington 280 in the Church of Wyngham 45 6 8 |Womenswold 160 Profits of the Chapel of Overland 20 0 0 | -------- | Deduct for parish priest he is | bound to keep there 9 0 0 | And for the s.e.xton of Wyngham 3 0 0 | And for life pension to the late | provost, Mr. Wm. Warham[654] 22 0 0 31 6 3| -------- | The 5 canons gross receipts | from the t.i.thes of Ashe | with the chapels of | Rusheborough, Nunnington, | Goodneston, and | Wymengewelde 143 7 7 | | The deductions including | salaries of 5 priests to | serve the 5 chapels at | about 6 each, and for | two priests doing service | in Wyngham Church 6 11_s._ | 8_d._ each, for 2 quiristers | each 13_s._ 4_d._, for | s.e.xton's daily service in | church 4 6_s._ 8_d._, and | for divers obits 51 5_s._ | 4_d._ 59 0 12 84 5 11| -------- | Stormouth 18 19 10|Stourmouth 300 | Preston appr' to St. Augustine, Cant. 0 0 0|Preston 000 The Vicar has 9 15 0|Vicarage 150 (Not mentioned in "Valor," or by Hasted.) | Asham with chapel of Staple annexed 28 12 0|Adisham 450 The priest at Staple has 6 13 4|Staple 450 Chelynden 4 18 8|Chillenden 120 Bekesborne[655] 5 13 8|Bekesborne 150 Wikham breux 29 11 6|Wickhambreux 603 | Lytelbourne (appr' to St. Augustine, |Littlebourn 250 Cant.) | The Vicar has 8 0 0| Patryksborne with the chapel of Brigge 11 7 4|Patrixbourn 350 (appr' to Merton) | The priest of the chapel has 2 13 4| Kyngston 16 0 0|Kingston 350 Bysshoppysborne with Church of Barham 35 19 9|Bishopsburne 500 annexed | Stipend to the priest of Barham 8 0 0|Barham 650 Petham (appr' to St. Osyth Priory) 0 0 0}| The Vicar has 8 0 1}|Waltham with 575 Waltham (appr' to St. Gregory, Cant.) 0 0 0}| Petham The Vicar has 7 15 4}| Elmeston 6 7 7|Elmstone 180 | Chartham with the chapel of Horton 41 5 10|Chartham 550 Salary of priest at Horton 1 6 8| Chelham with the chapel of Molayshe 0 0 0|Chilham 700 (appr' to Abbess of Sion) | Vicar has 5 3 4|Molash 90 Salary of priest at chapel 6 13 4| Grete Hardres with Chapel of Stelling 19 13 0|Upper Hardres 400 annexed | with Deduction for life pension to late 0 0 0| Stelling parson (6 13_s._ 4_d._) | Crundale with pension to Prior of Leeds, 11 10 8|Crundale 320 35_s._ | Broke 7 7 0| Church of Wye (appr' to the monks of 0 0 0| Battle) | College of Wye Richard Walker Vicar and 0 0 0| Master of the College | Total receipts of the College, 125 93 2 0|Wye Vicarage 270 15_s._ 4_d._ | Deductions. Among them for 3 priests, | clerks, quiristers, scole master and | other ministers, 68; to the Provost, | 13 6_s._ 8_d._; to poor people, 3 | 6_s._ 8_d._; founder's obit, 3 3_s._ | 4_d._; etc., 32 13_s._ 4_d._ | Bocton Aluph (appr' to College of Wye) 0 0 0| The Vicar has 5 16 10| G.o.dmersham c.u.m capella de Chullok (appr' 0 0 0|G.o.dmersham 160 to Xt. Ch., Cant.) | Vicar, 16 0_s._ 12_d._; deduct for 9 7 8|Challock 250 priest to serve chapel, 6 13_s._ 4_d._ Ikham 25 11 8|Ickham 803 Stodmarsshe (appr' to hospital for poor 0 0 0|Stodmarsh 135 priests, Cant.) |

APPENDIX III.

The ill.u.s.trations which we have been able to give of our subject from the pictures in Mediaeval MSS. are only a handful selected out of a very great number. It may be useful to some students to have references to the MSS.

in the British Museum, where other ill.u.s.trations of special interest may be found.

The most useful for ill.u.s.trations of ecclesiastical rites, and incidentally for the vestments of all orders of the clergy, and for _instrumenta_, are the Pontificals; _e.g._--

The Pontifical of Landulph of Milan, 9th century, engraved in D'Agincourt's _L'Art par ses monuments_; Painting, Plates x.x.xVII. and x.x.xVIII.

Tiberius B. VIII. contains two MSS. One English, of the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century.

The other French, date, A.D. 1365.

Egerton 931. French, of the Diocese of Sens, date, 1346-1378.

Lansdown 451. English of Diocese of Exeter, 14th century.

Egerton 1067. French, 15th century.

Add. MS. 14805. German, 15th century.

Add. 19898. French, late 15th century.

An early printed Pontifical, 471, f. 2, with engravings, Venice, A.D.

1520. There are other editions printed in other countries, but with the same engravings.

BAPTISM.--_By affusion._--16 G. VI. f. 128, 14th century. Egerton 745, f.

1, early 14th century. Egerton 2019, f. 135, late 15th century.

_With aspersion._--10 E. VI. f. 230_b_, early 14th century. (Adult in temporary font, bishop sprinkling with aspersoir.)

_By immersion._--10 E. IV. f. 125, early 14th century. 16 G. VI. f. 128, 14th century. 6 E. VI. f. 171, and f. 318_b_, 14th century. Harl. 2278, f.

76, 15th century. Add. 29704, f. 18, close of 14th century. Nero A. IV. f.

81_b_, 14th century. Lansdown 451, f. 225_b_, 15th century. 20 C. VII.

190_b_, 14th century. 16 G. VI. f. 14.

CONFIRMATION.--6 E. VI. f. 372, 14th century. Egerton 1067, f. 12, late 15th century. Printed Pontifical 471, f. 2, page 2, A.D. 1520.

MARRIAGE.--Nero E. II. f. 115 and f. 217, 14th century. Harl. 2278, f.

462. 6 E. VI. 257, and f. 375 and f. 414_b_, 14th century. 10 E. VI. f.

229_b_ and f. 313, 14th century. 14 E. IV. f. 30 and f. 275, 15th century.

Harl. 4379, f. 6, 14th century. 16 G. VI. f. xx., 14th century. 20 C. VII.

f. 10, 14th century. Nero E. II. f. 115, 14th century. Printed Sarum Primer, A.D. 1531, Paris. G. 12136, in Kalendar, June.

PREACHING.--Egerton 745, f. 46, 14th century. Add. 29433, f. 16, early 15th century. Add. 17280, f. 55, late 15th century. 6 E. VII. f. 75_b_, 14th century. 14 E. III. f. 9_b_, early 14th century.

CONFESSION.--6 E. VII. f. 500, 14th century. Add. 25698, f. 9, Flemish, c.

A.D. 1492. Arundel 83, f. 12, 14th century. Egerton 2019, f. 135, c. A.D.

1450. 6 E. VI. f. 357, and f. 369_b_, and f. 414_b_, 14th century. Add.

18851, f. 69_b_, end of 15th century. 6 E. VII. f. 506_b_, 14th century.

Printed Pontifical 471, f. 2, p. 177, and p. 203_b_, A.D. 1523. _To a Friar_, Royal, 16 G. VI. f. 159, etc. Egerton 2019, f. 135, 15th century. _Of Clergy_, Royal, 6 E. VII.

PENANCE.--16 G. VI. f. 421, 14th century. Arundel 83, f. 12, 14th century.

6 E. VII. f. 443, 14th century.

Printed Pontifical 471, f. 2, p. 155, A.D. 1520.

CELEBRATION OF Ma.s.s.--10 E. IV. f. 211, _with housel cloth_, 14th century; and 2 B. VII. f. 260_b_, late 13th century. 16 G. VI. f. 130 and f. 139, 14th century. Nero E. II. f. 129_b_, 14th century. Egerton 2125, f. 143, late 15th century. Royal 14 E. III. f. 17, early 14th century. Royal 6 E.