Chapter I: Preface

A great mass of material has of late years been brought within reach of the student, bearing upon the history of the religious life and customs of the English people during the period from their conversion, in the sixth and seventh centuries, down to the Reformation of the Church of England in the sixteenth century; but this material is still to be found only in great libraries, and is therefore hardly within reach of the general reader.

The following chapters contain the results of some study of the subject among the treasures of the library of the British Museum; much of those results, it is believed, will be new, and all, it is hoped, useful, to the large number of general readers who happily, in these days, take an intelligent interest in English Church history.

The book might have been made shorter and lighter by giving fewer extracts from the original documents; but much of the history is new, and it seemed desirable to support it by sufficient evidence. The extracts have been, as far as possible, so chosen that each shall give some additional incidental touch to the filling up of the general picture.

The photographic reproductions of illuminations from MSS. of various dates, illustrating ecclesiastical ceremonies and clerical costumes, are enough in themselves to give a certain value to the book which contains and describes them.

The writer is bound to make grateful acknowledgment of his obligations to the Bishop of Oxford, who, amidst his incessant occupations, was so kind to an old friend as to read through the rough proof of the book, pointing out some _corrigenda_, making some suggestions, and indicating some additional sources of information; all which, while it leaves the book the better for what the bishop has done for it, does not make him responsible for its remaining imperfections.

The writer has also to express his thanks to the Rev. Professor Skeat, Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge, and to the Rev. Dr. Cunningham, formerly Professor of Economic Science, K.C.L., for their kind replies to inquiries on matters on which they are authorities; and to some others who kindly looked over portions of the book dealing with matters of which they have special knowledge.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. OUR HEATHEN FOREFATHERS.

The land only partially reclaimed, 1--The Anglo-Saxon conquest,
2--Civil constitution, 4--Religion, 7--Structural temples, 8--Priests,
11.

CHAPTER II. THE CONVERSION OF THE ENGLISH.

Conversion of the heptarchic kingdoms, 14--Its method,
16--Illustrations from the history of Jutland, Norway, etc., 17--The
cathedral centres, 20--Details of mission work, 21--Mission stations,
24.

CHAPTER III. THE MONASTIC PHASE OF THE CHURCH.

Multiplication of monasteries, 28: in Kent, 29; Northumbria, 29; East
Anglia, 31; Wessex, 31; Mercia, 31--List of other Saxon monasteries,
33--Constitution of the religious houses, 35--Their destruction by the
Danes, 37--Rebuilding in the reigns of Edgar and Canute, 37.

CHAPTER IV. DIOCESAN AND PAROCHIAL ORGANIZATION.

Character of the new converts, 38--Coming of Archbishop Theodore,
40--Union of the Heptarchic Churches, 41--Subdivision of dioceses,
41--Introduction of the parochial system, 43--Northumbria made a
second province, 49--Multiplication of parishes, 50--Different classes
of churches, 53--Number of parishes at the Norman Conquest, 54.

CHAPTER V. THE SAXON CLERGY.

Laws of the heptarchic kingdoms: of Ethelbert, 57; of Ine, 57; of
Wihtred, 57--Council of Clovesho (747), 60--Laws of Alfred, 65; of
Athelstan, 66--Canons of Edgar, 66--Laws of Ethelred, 72--Canons of
Elfric, 74--Privilege of sanctuary, 75--Tithe and other payments,
78--Observance of Sunday and holy days, 79--Slavery, 81--Manumission,
81.

CHAPTER VI. THE NORMAN CONQUEST.

Foreign bishops and abbots introduced, 84--Parochial clergy
undisturbed, 85--Papal supremacy, 85--Separation of civil and
ecclesiastical Courts, 86--Norman cathedrals and churches, 87--Revival
of monasticism, 90--Appropriation of parochial benefices, 91.

CHAPTER VII. THE FOUNDATION OF VICARAGES.

Mode of appropriation of parishes, 95--Evil results, 97--Ordination of
vicarages, 98--Its conditions, 99--Not always fulfilled, 108--Abuses,
109.

CHAPTER VIII. PAROCHIAL CHAPELS.

Chapels-of-ease for hamlets, 110--Some of them elevated into churches,
110--Rights of mother churches safeguarded, 121--Free chapels, 123.

CHAPTER IX. THE PARISH PRIEST--HIS BIRTH AND EDUCATION.

Saxon clergy largely taken from the higher classes, 127--The career
opened up by the Church to all classes, 129; even to serfs,
130--Education of the clergy, 131--The Universities, 136--Schools of
thought, 136--The scholastic theology, 137--The contemplative,
138--Oxford: its colleges, 140--The students, 141--Ordination,
144--Institution, 146.

CHAPTER X. PARSONAGE HOUSES.

Like lay houses, 149--Examples at West Dean and Alfriston, Sussex,
152--Descriptions of: at Kelvedon, 154; Kingston-on-Thames, Bulmer,
Ingrave, 155; Ingatestone, 156; Little Bromley, North Benfleet, 157;
West Hanningfield, 158--Hospitality, 158--Smaller houses,
160--Dilapidations, 162.

CHAPTER XI. FURNITURE AND DRESS.

Sumptuary laws, 164--Disregard of them, 167--Contemporary pictures,
169--Extracts from wills, 172--Introduction of sober colours,
174--Wills, 175.

CHAPTER XII. FABRIC AND FURNITURE OF CHURCHES, AND OFFICIAL VESTMENTS.

Grandeur of the churches compared with domestic buildings,
184--Furniture of churches, 187, 190--List of necessary things,
189--Clerical vestments: pallium, chasuble, 191; stole, maniple,
amice, dalmatic, 192; cope, surplice, 193; amyss, 194--Fanciful
symbolism, 196; a bishop in “full canonicals,” 198.

CHAPTER XIII. THE PUBLIC SERVICES IN CHURCH.

Matins, mass, and evensong, 200--Sunday attendance, 201--Communion,
200--Laxity of practice, 204--Week-day services, 205--The Bidding
Prayer, 207--Bede Roll, 211--Chantry services, 212.

CHAPTER XIV. PREACHING AND TEACHING.

Not neglected, 214--Manuals of teaching, 214; Archbishop Peckham’s,
216--Helps for preachers, 223--Analysis of sin, 226; _Arbor Virtutum_,
229; _Arbor Viciorum_, 230--Types and antitypes, 231.

CHAPTER XV. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARISH PRIESTS.

Analysis of a book of that title by John Myrk, 232--The personal
character and conduct which befit a priest, 233--A parish priest’s
duties, 234--Non-communicating attendance at Holy Communion, 235,
_note_--The “holy loaf,” 235--Behaviour of the people in church,
236--The people’s way of joining in the mass, 236--Behaviour in
churchyard, 238--Visitation of the sick, 239.

CHAPTER XVI. POPULAR RELIGION.

Education more common than is supposed, 241--Books for the laity in
French and English, 242--Creed and Vision of “Piers Plowman,” the
tracts of Richard of Hampole and Wiclif, 242--“Lay Folks’ Mass-book,”
243--Primers, 249--Religious poetry: Cædmon, 250; “The Love of Christ
for Man’s Soul,” 255; “The Complaint of Christ,” 256.

CHAPTER XVII. THE CELIBACY OF THE CLERGY.

Object of the obligation, 258--Opposition to it, 259--Introduced late
in the Saxon period, 260--Endeavour to enforce it in Norman and later
times, 261--Evasion of the canons, 268--Legal complications,
270--Popular view, 271--Disabilities of sons of the clergy,
273--Dispensations for it, 275.

CHAPTER XVIII. VISITATION ARTICLES AND RETURNS.

Visitation of parishes, 279--Visitation questions, 280--Examples from
returns to the questions, 285--Popular estimation of the clergy, 289.

CHAPTER XIX. PROVISION FOR OLD AGE.

Assistant chaplain, 290--Coadjutor assigned, 291--A leprous vicar,
294--Retirement on a pension, 295--A retiring vicar builds for himself
a “reclusorium” in the churchyard, 295--Parish chaplain retires on a
pension, 296--Death and burial, 296.

CHAPTER XX. THE PARISH CLERK.

Ancient office, 298--Its duties, 299--Stipend, 301--Sometimes students
for orders, 302--Gilds of parish clerks, 303--Chaucer’s parish clerk,
304.

CHAPTER XXI. CUSTOMS.

Sanctuary for persons, 306; and property, 307--Belonged to some
persons, 308--Pilgrimage, 308--Special ceremonies, 311--Lights,
311--Miracles and passion plays, 315--Fairs, markets, and sports in
the churchyard, 316--Church ales, 317.

CHAPTER XXII. ABUSES.

Papal invasions of the rights of patronage, 319--The intrusion of
foreigners into benefices, 320--Abuse of patronage by the Crown,
321--Pluralities, 323--Farming of benefices, 324--Holding of benefices
by men in minor orders, 324--Absenteeism, 330--Serfdom, 332.

CHAPTER XXIII. THE CATHEDRAL.

Served by secular canons, 334--Organization of its clerical staff,
334--The dignitaries, 335--The dean and chapter, 335--Monastic
cathedral, 336--Archdeacons, 337--Synods and visitations, 337--Lincoln
Cathedral, 338--Bishop’s palace, 339--The close, 340--Residentiary
houses, 341--Vicars’ court, 341--Chantries, 342--Chapter house,
342--Common room, 344--The first dean and canons, 343--Revenues of
the bishop, 344; of the dean and dignitaries, 345; of the
prebendaries, 350; of the archdeacons, 353; of the vicars choral, 354;
of the chantry priests, 355; of the choristers, 356--Lay officers,
356--Chichester Cathedral, 359--Revenues of bishop, dean, dignitaries,
prebendaries, archdeacons, and vicars choral, 360-362--Prince bishops,
363.

CHAPTER XXIV. MONKS AND FRIARS.

Character of the monks, 365--Place of the monasteries in social life,
366--Influence upon the parishes, 369--Friars, their origin;
organization, 370--Work, 373--Rivalry with parish clergy,
374--Character, 377--Faults of the system, 378.

CHAPTER XXV. THE “TAXATIO” OF POPE NICHOLAS IV.

Origin of firstfruits and tenths, 380--Taxation of a specimen deanery,
381--Number of parishes, 384--Value of parochial benefices,
386--Number of clergy, 389.

CHAPTER XXVI. THE “VALOR ECCLESIASTICUS” OF HENRY VIII.

Number of parishes, 394--Income, 395--Sources of income,
397--Comparative value of money in 1292, 1534, and 1890,
404--Economical status of parochial clergy, 406.

CHAPTER XXVII. DOMESTIC CHAPELS.

Early existence, 408--Saxon, 409--Norman, 409--Edwardian, 410--Later,
411.

CHAPTER XXVIII. THE CHANTRY.

Characteristic work of the centuries, 438--Definition of a chantry,
438--“Brotherhood” of the religious houses, 439--A chantry a kind of
monument, 441--Began in thirteenth century, 442--Their distribution
over the country, 443--Foundation deed of Daundy’s chantry,
444--Chantry of the Black Prince, 446--Burghersh chantry, 447--Chantry
of Richard III., 447; of Henry VII., 447--Parochial benefices
appropriated to chantries, 449--Nomination to, 451--Chantry chapels
within the church, 453; at Winchester, 453; Tewkesbury, 454--Additions
to the fabric of the church, 454--Separate building in the churchyard,
455--Temporary chantries for a term of years, 457--Mortuary services,
458--Remuneration of chantry priests, 461--Number of cantarists,
464--Their character, 465--Hour of their services, 466--Some chantries
were chapels-of-ease, 467--Some were grammar schools, 469.

CHAPTER XXIX. GILDS.

Definition, 473--Trade gilds, 475--Religious gilds, 476--For the
augmentation of Divine service, 478--For the maintenance of bridges,
roads, chantries, 478--Services, 479--Social gilds, 482--Methods of
obtaining better services and pastoral care, 483.

CHAPTER XXX. THE MEDIÆVAL TOWNS.

Description of, 486--Parochial history of the towns, 489--Peculiar
jurisdictions, the origin of town parishes, 490--Norwich, 490--London,
492--Exeter, 497--Bristol, 499--York, 503--Ipswich, 506--Burton,
508--St. Edmund’s Bury, 510--St. Albans, 513--Manchester,
514--Rotherham, 516--Sheffield, 519--Newark, 523--Recluses,
526--Bridge-chapels, 527--London Bridge, 529.

CHAPTER XXXI. DISCIPLINE.

Definition, 531--Exercise of, in Saxon times, 532--Norman and
subsequent times, 533--Examples of, among the clergy, 533, 537--Laity,
535--Resistance to, pictorial illustrations, 543--General sentences of
excommunication, 544.

CHAPTER XXXII. RELIGIOUS OPINIONS.

Schools of thought: progressive, 546; and conservative, 547--Religious
character of the centuries: twelfth, 547; thirteenth, 548; fourteenth,
549; Chaucer’s “Poore parson;” fifteenth, 552.

APPENDIX I.

The history of the parish of Whalley, 557.

APPENDIX II.

Comparative view of the returns of the “Taxatio,” the “Valor,” and the
modern “Clergy List” in the two rural deaneries of Barstaple, Essex,
562; and Brigg, Canterbury, 564.