The Archdeacons of London, Middlesex, and Colchester had their own
stalls in the cathedral, but had no voice in the Chapter.
The Minor Canons, twelve in number, formed a separate college, founded
in the time of Richard II. They were, of course, under the authority
of the cathedral, though they had independent estates of their own.
The Scriptorium of St. Paul's was an important department, and was
well managed. Much of the work produced in it perished in the fire;
but there are some of its manuscripts still happily preserved, notably
the _Majora Statuta_ of the cathedral, in the Library there, and a
magnificent folio of Diceto's History, now in Lambeth Library.
Incidental notice has been taken in the preceding pages of Chantries
in St. Paul's, but we have to speak more fully of these, for they
formed a very large source of income, especially to the Residentiary
Canons. These Chantries were founded for saying masses for the souls
of the departed, even to the end of the world. St. Paul's was almost
beyond measure rich in them. The oldest was founded in the reign of
Henry II., after which time they multiplied so fast that it would
be impossible to enumerate them all here. There is a return of them
(quoted at length by Dugdale), which was made by order of King Edward
VI. Take the description of the second of them as he gives it. "The
next was ordained by Richard, surnamed Nigell [Fitzneal], Bishop of
London in King Richard I.'s time, who having built two altars in this
cathedral, the one dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr, and the other
to St. Dionis, assigned eight marks yearly rent, to be received out
of the church of Cestreheart, for the maintaining of two priests
celebrating every day thereat; viz., one for the good estate of the
King of England and Bishop of London for the time being; as also for
all the congregation of this church, and the faithful parishioners
belonging thereto, and the other for the souls of the Kings of England
and Bishops of London, and all the faithful deceased: which grant was
confirmed by the Chapter." This is a fair specimen; they go on page
after page in Dugdale's folio. William de Sanctae Mariae ecclesia (he
was Dean 1241-1243) leaves 120 marks for bread and beer yearly to
a priest who shall celebrate for his soul and for the souls of his
predecessors, successors, parents, and benefactors. Sometimes special
altars are named at which the Mass is to be said, "St. Chad, St.
Nicholas, St. Ethelbert the King, St. Radegund, St. James, the twelve
Apostles, St. John the Evangelist, St. John Baptist, St. Erkenwald,
St. Sylvester, St. Michael, St. Katharine." I take them as they
come in the successive testaments. The following passage is worth
quoting:--"In 19 Ed. II. Roger de Waltham, a Canon of this church,
enfeoft the Dean and Chapter of certain messuages and shops lying
within the city of London, for the support of two priests to pray
perpetually for his soul, and for the souls of his parents and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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