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XV.—The Prebendal Stalls and Misericords in the Cathedral Church of Wells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2012

C. M. Church
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Extract

I propose in this paper to trace the history of the prebendal stalls in the church of Wells, their number and original arrangement in choir and chapter, and to describe the carved “misericords” still remaining in the stalls.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , 1897 , pp. 319 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1897

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References

page 319 note a Prebends instituted by

Chapters in Early History of Wells, 17, 66, 119, 142

page 320 note a H. Bradshaw.

page 320 note b There is a memorandum in the Chapter Acts 1623, September 17, “Psalmi in choro legendi assignati præbendarüs post admissionem,” which shows that the use had prevailed, but probably intermittently.

page 324 note a 54 + 13 = 67–6 = 61.

page 325 note a Some of these names may be ecclesiastics or laymen, but not canons.

page 325 note b It appears from the Valor of 1536, that the prebends of Holcombe and Cory, at the date of that table, had no vicars, but paid towards the “ceroferarius” or taper-bearer, one of the boys who carried a taper in processions.

page 326 note a Drokensford Register (Som. Record, f. 242).

page 326 note b R. i. f. 173.

page 327 note a R. i. f. 200.

Item quia stalli in choro sunt ruinosi et defoirues ordinatum fuit eodem die quod quilibet canonici qui sunt in dignitate et officio constanti sumptibus privatis faciant stallos suos et ad hoc si necessarium sit per decanum compellantur.

Item ordinatum fuit per decanum et eapitulum in crastino circumcisionis Domini anno Domini 1325, in capitulo quod quilibet canonicus solvet pro stallo suo faciendo xxx solidos, videlicet medietatem in quindena purificationis sancte Marie proxima sequente et aliam medietatem in festo Sancte Michaelis proximo sequente.

Collectors were appointed to receive gifts and enforce payment by ecclesiastical censures. R. i. f. 174 in dors.

Johannes de Godelee decanas Ecclesie Wellensis et ejusdem loci capitulum discretis viris Roberto de Wamberg concanonico nostro et officiali de Mydelton clerico, salutem.

Cum nuper nobis in domo capitulari Ecclesie Wellensis predicte convenientibus ad honorem dei et decorem ipsius ecclesie propter debilitatem et vetustatem stallorum nunc in ipsa ecclesia existentium certam pecunie summam a singulis concanonicis nostris certis temporibus solvendam pro novis stallis in eadem ecclesia faciendis unanimi nostro consensu concurrente ordinaverimus, vero pro hujus pecunie receptione ad presens intendere non valemus, ad colligendam et levandam hujusmodi pecuniam literamque acquietantie faciendam de soluto, et etiam de non solvendis censuris ecclesiasticis si necessarie fuerunt canonice compellandum, vobis et utrique vestrum et conjunctim et divisim vices nostras committimus cum coercionis canonice potestatis.

Datum in capitulo nostro nonas Januarii 1325.

page 327 note b “Ordinatio clericorum in choro et in capitulo,” Creyghton MS. in library of the Dean and Chapter of Wells, copied in Lambeth Library MS. 729, and printed in Reynolds' Wells Cathedral.

page 329 note a 1506, Nov. 3. “‘The Book of the Statutes’ and the book called ‘the Blak register’ to be “chained on the great chest in the chapter-house. Each canon to have a key. Precentor to make chains and keys for each canon ‘ex sumptibus ecclesie.’” Reynolds', Wells Cathedral, App. iii. from Liber Ruber, p. 217.

1507, May 13. “The ordinance of the chantry of bishop Bekinton of blessed memory was read in the chapter-house.” Reynolds, i. 225.

page 330 note a Polydore Vergil's English History has been edited by Sir H. Ellis, for the Camden Society, 1846. He defends him as “an historian beyond his age both in his power of discrimination and in his acquirements.” See Archaeologia, li. 107, for his other writings.

page 331 note a “Indenture between the bishop and the High and Mighty Prince Edward, Duke of Somerset, July 12, 2 Edward VI., 1548, confirmed by the chapter, January 10, 1548–9.” Ledger E. f. 21.

page 332 note a In later times the number was allowed to drop to eleven, until 1875, when the number was increased to fourteen.

page 332 note b To this day the two senior vicars receive from the Dean and Chapter stall wages on the stalls of Cleeve, which was the stall of the abbot of Norman Bee, and of Sutton, formerly the stall of the abbot of Athelney, King Alfred's foundation. The impropriator of the stall of Ilminster appears to have disregarded his obligation. In 1592 that payment had been in arrears for twenty-five years, and the debt to the vicar amounted, at £4 a year, to £104.

page 333 note a Arras hangings for the choir, which Leland saw in 1540, had been given by archdeacon Polydore Vergil, “with his armes in the clothes hanging over the Stalles in the Quier: and the words Hæc Polydori sunt munera Vergilii.”

page 333 note b In justice to the men of that time laymen as well as the canons these extracts from the fabric rolls of the years of Restoration, 1663–1665, will show their forwardness in the work.

No. 10 “Compotus magistri Thome Holt custodis fabrice” 1663–1664.

Pro Organo Domino Episcopo vendito. £50.

Among the “Dona et perquisita”:

De dono Johannis Coventry Balnei militis ad organum. £20.

De dono Willelmi Portman militis et Baronetti ad organum. £20.

Deffrancisco Pawlet Armigero pro Decoratione unius stalli in dicta ecclesia. 02 ․ 02 ․ 00.

De Johanne Hall Armigero pro decoratione unius stalli in dicta ecclesia. 02 ․ 02 ․ 00.

De Doctore Byam prebendario de Compton Dondon pro decoratione stalli ejus in dicta Ecclesia. 02 ․ 02 ․ 00.

Similar sums were also paid by 5 other prebendaries.

Among the necessary expenses:

Thome Wilcox pro le old organ. 002 ․ 10 ․ 00.

Roberto Taunton ad Organum diversis temporibus prout patet per separales acquiettancias. 217 ․ 00 ․ 00.

Johanni Campian pro decoracione chori prout patet per separales acquiettancias suas 106 ․ 00 ․ 00.

Johanni Lewes pro Cancellis ad altare prout per acquiettancias patet. 023 ․ 04 ․ 05.

Roberti Hill et Tristano Towse pro pulvinis et cooperimentis pluteorum Canonicorum in Choro Ecclesie. 014 ․ 05 ․ 06.

No. 11. “Compotus magiatri Thome Holt custodis Fabrice” 1664–1665.

De magistro Willelmo Bisse prebendary de Henstridge pro decoracione stalli in Choro Ecclesie. 02 ․ 02 ․ 00.

Solut' Roberti Baily pro emendacione horologii. 01 ․ 15 ․ 00.

„ Roberto Taunton ad Organum. 07 ․ 00 ․ 00.

„ fflagellatori canum. 00 ․ 10 ․ 00.

page 336 note a Extracts from Chapter Minutes illustrate the differences, political as well as social, in these ordering of seats:

In 1590, April 1. Seats in ye Quire to be made for ye Canons wives and proper to them, and none other.

1595. “The new seats in the Quire to be removed.”

In 1618, Oct. 15, there is a notics in the Corporation records, “that the seats which are to be built in the Quier of St. Andrew's Church for the use of the Masters wives shall be made at the charge of the Committee.”

1619. “It is ordered and concluded (also by the Corporation) that the Clerks of St. Andrew shall have xiii s. xiii d. yearly paid unto them by the Receiver in respect of their attendance upon the Mayor and Masters in providing their seates cleane, and formes for the other xxiiii, and to provide the Magistrates seates in the saide churche.” This is met by a minute of Chapter.

1624, 19 Nov. “No seats in the Cathedral to be altered without ye leave of the Dean and Chapter.”

In 1633, 18 Sept. “New Seats erected over ye Stalls for ye Bishop's, dean's, and canons wifes.”

1635, 1 April. “The seats in ye Nave of the Church removed by my Lord of Cantby order,” Laud's measure to “quench prophesyings.” The Puritan retort follows in 1640, “the doors of ye 2 galleries in the Quire to be nailed up,” as if in preparation for closing the Quire, and setting up again preaching in the nave.

page 339 note a Freeman, Cathedral Church of Wells, p. 189.