passed. To the office of prior belonged all obventions and fees under common seal, and all the tythes of Bengeworth both great and small, arising from land there belonging to the convent. These were appointed to purchase parchment for the manuscripts employed in transcription by the monks. To the same office belonged the hall at Bengeworth, with its crofts, meadow, vineyard, and garden; as also those messuages in the croft which stood round the hall; viz. from the house of Thomas Algar to the house of Walter Bellard.

The Second Prior, called also the sub-prior, prior of the cloister, and preserver of order, uniformly attended the first prior; in whose absence the punishment of offenders devolved upon this officer, except in serious cases. He was also particularly enjoined to preserve order among the brethren whilst in or about the cloister. To this office belonged one tenement with a court adjoining, situate in the High-street of Evesham on the western side, opposite to the gate by which vehicles entered the cemetery. 137 From this endowment the sub-prior was to furnish lamps in the cloister and certain corridors of the monastery, during the time of procession to the church. The Third Prior is mentioned in the Institutes as the fourth conventual officer. His duty seems principally to have consisted in acting as accessory to the sub-prior.

The Dean of the monastery held visitations at all the chapels in the vale. These were St. Lawrence Evesham, All Saints Evesham, Bengeworth, Midlittleton, Southlittleton, Offenham, Bretforton, Badsey, Churchhoneybourne, Norton, Hampton, and Wickhamford.138 To this office belonged the fees of all causes pertaining to the deanery; also Peter's-pence, wheresoever such were not collected by the diocesan, from whence this deanery paid to the pope twenty shillings.

The Precentor directed the chaunts during service, and corrected any irregularity in the time or key. He also previously informed

137" In alto vico Eveshamiæ, ex parte occidentali, ex opposito portæ per quam intrant carragia in cimiterium."-Carta Johannis Abbatis, A. D. 1450, in Cott. MS.

138 Deanery of Evesham in the exempt jurisdiction of the Abbot and Convent, as given by the Commissioners in Valor Ecclesiasticus, 26 Henry VIII. [1534-5] vol. iii. page 255, et seq.

the abbot what chaunts he was to sing or lead off. Any others appointed to read or sing were to await and follow his leading off, unless it was previously arranged otherwise. He was likewise to have in charge the books belonging to the convent, provided he were qualified by sufficient study. He was to deliver them from the library-which was over the cloister-to such members as required them; but none were to receive any till it was entered on

his list.

The books were to be used only in the cloister, and he was to take care that none were left there through neglect.139 Α distinct apartment with a chamber over it and a stable near, were appropriated to his use. There pertained to this office the tythe of Stokes, with certain lands in Hampton and at Alcester. From this fund the precentor was bound to furnish parchment for briefs,

139 The engraving introduced above, is copied from an illustration in the MS. Valerius Maximus, to which we have already referred in note 92.

charters, and leases; also ink, colours for illuminating manuscripts, materials for binding them, and requisites connected with the organs. This officer, according to Mr. Green, had usually in his keeping the seal belonging to the abbot and chapter. 141

140

The Sacristan and Subsacrist had in charge most of the altar furniture and ornaments, including vestments, incense, and wax. If the sacrist was in priest's or deacon's orders he washed the ampullæ and chalices, which was to be done weekly; and washed the corporals also, at least yearly before Easter.142 The vessels employed in these ablutions were to be used for no other purpose, and the water was to be poured through the sacrarium, which conveyed away superfluities in the altar-service. The formation of the host or sacramental wafer-superstitiously regarded as destined to embody the actual presence of the Lord-was likewise entrusted to the sacrist's care. For this purpose every grain was to be examined, and then most carefully ground and boulted, after which the farina was to be wetted, kneaded and baked, with the utmost caution in reverential silence.143 The sacristan also uncovered the altar, took away the text, and carrying a lamp or taper preceded the officiating priest in his way from the altar to the lectern, where on the great festivals he deposited the legenda, which he first took to the abbot that he might appoint the lessons for matins, 144 According to Mr. Green, this officer also administered baptism and likewise buried the dead.145 The former, we presume, was only done by him in cases of emergency; for according to "the Evesham Office" the abbot in person administered baptism in the church. 146

140Necessaria ad organa."-Cottonian MS. Augustus II. number 11. 141 Green's History of Worcester, vol. i. page 122.

142 The ampullæ or cruets held the wine and water, separately, previous to their admixture for consecration in the chalice. The corporal was the linen cloth which enveloped the wafer.

143 Vide Instructions in Harleian MS. 3763, folio 201 b.

144 The Lectern was the reading-stand where the epistle and gospel were sung, on which were also placed the Legendæ ; one of which contained the Lessons for Morning Service, and the other the Lives of Saints.

145 Green's History of Worcester, vol. i. page 122.

146 Ordo Baptismatis, ubi oleo chrismate et de candela in manum dextram infantis baptizata posita,-in Barlow MS. vii. folio 175.

The tapers burned during the various offices in the church were provided by the sacristan in conjunction with the altar-keeper and seneschal. Certain of the conventual tenants were bound to yield their rents in wax; and great must have been the consumption, when of the tapers noticed as burning incessantly, three stood at the high altar, one before St. Ecgwin's shrine, a fifth before St. Wulsin's, a sixth at the altar of St. Mary in the aisles, 147 and a seventh before the altar of St. Mary in her chapel.1 148 But daily during mass twenty-four additional tapers with thirty-three other lights were burned in the Lady Chapel only.149

The provision for defraying the expenses of the sacristan's office were proportionately large. Six chapels in the vale-now parish churches excepting one-Norton, Lenchwick, Moreton, Offenham, with All Saints and St. Lawrence at Evesham, belonged entirely to it. Also a hundred and thirty-one acres of demesne land at Bretforton and five virgates and a half of villanage land, together with the corn-tithe of forty-one virgates and a half in the same village, 150 and all its tithe of wool. At Lench there were three hides and a half of land belonging to the sacristy, together with all the great tithes ; at South Littleton six acres, with all the tithe of nine virgates; at Badsey the tithes of five virgates; and at Pikesley in Herefordshire the tithes of demesne lands there. Yearly payments in money, and occasionally in wax, were also made to this office from the churches of Badby, Whitlaxford, Weston, Stowe, and St. Alban's Worcester; also from land in Salford, Worcester, and Hampton. In Evesham, there pertained to this office shops near the abbey-gate; numerous chief-rents and tenements in Merstowe, Bridge-street, High-street, and Cowl-street; with

147" Ante altare sanctæ Mariæ in criptis."-Destroyed Cottonian MS. Vitellius E xvii. folio 239-40; copied in Dugdale, page 40.

148 Ante altare sanctæ Mariæ."-Ibid.

149 Præter hæc ad missam sanctæ Mariæ debent accendi cotidie cerei xxiiii. Item ad eandem missam debent cotidie accendi lampades xxxiii.-Cottonian MS. Vitellius E xvii. folio 240; in Dugdale.

150 The virgate varied from fifteen to even thirty acres; apparently according to the quality and culture of the soil. We may therefore fairly estimate the above at eighteen acres to each virgate, which will give a total of 747 acres.

payments from lands distinguished as near the bridge, and in the Rynal, as well as other parts more vaguely noticed; also rents of tenements described as being over shops situate near the gate of the cemetery; together with all oblations made at the high altar and at all the other altars in the church, excepting that in St. Mary's chapel. 151 The whole of the mustard seed raised at the different granges of the monastery belonged also to the sacristan. 152

The Chamberlain provided the vestments, shoes, beds, and bedding; and was to employ a tailor to make up such garments as lay within his trade. To this office the manors of Maugresbury, Swell, and Taddlestrop were appropriated; and in 1319 William de Stow the sacristan assigned certain rents, from whence two shillings were to be paid yearly to each of the monks-excepting one of the priors and the chamberlain-for the purchase of winter boots. 153 The chamberlain had daily allowance for a servant, with provender for a horse, in the same manner as the servants belonging to the abbot.

To the office of Manciple or clerk of the kitchen belonged the chapelry of Bretforton; the third fishpool beyond St. Ecgwin's fountain; a weekly payment of five shillings and three halfpence, and a yearly payment at the beginning of Lent of four thousand salted fish, from the old vill and market-place of Evesham ; 154 and four shillings weekly from the vill and market of Stowe. Considerable payments, as well in money as in sticks of eels, were also made from the occupiers of the several mills at Evesham, Hampton, Offenham, Folke, Twyford, Chadbury, Badsey, Wickham, White

laxford, Aldington, and Sandford. Extensive payments to this

officer are further enumerated as due yearly from lands at Moreton, Whitelaxford, Ombresley, Gloucester, Winchcomb and Penwortham; from land in Brut-street at Evesham, and that of one Fitzwilliam

151 "Omnes oblationes ad omnia altaria ecclesiæ, nisi in capella sanctæ Mariæ."Cottonian MS. Vespasian E xvii. folio 244.

152 Tota sinapis omnibus grangiis.—Ibid, folio 240.

153 Caligas yemales.-Cottonian MS. Nero iii. folio 243; in Dugdale, page 32. 154"Et vetus villa et forum de Eovesham, de quibus percipit coquinarius qualibet die sabbati quinque solidos et tres obolos, et annuatim in capite jejunii quator millia aletium."-Cottonian MS. Augustus II. number xi.