The offices consisted of mass and the canonical hours. All who could rise attended the chapel on bended knees, the bedridden worshipping simultaneously. Even sick people could join in the intercessions; thus the master of St. John Baptist’s, Bath, agreed that the name of a late canon of Wells should be daily recited before the brethren, sisters and poor in the infirmary (1259). [Illustration: _PLATE XVIII._ ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL, CHICHESTER] (a) _The Staff._—In regular hospitals helpers were directed to keep the canonical hours unless reasonably hindered, [p159] each being expected to pray according to his powers and education. The lettered repeated the _Hours_ and _Psalter_ of the Blessed Virgin, _Placebo_ and _Dirige_, penitential psalms and litany. Those who did not know the offices said _Paternoster_, _Ave Maria_, _Gloria Patri_, and _Credo_. The brethren rose early for mattins; after prime and tierce, mass was celebrated; sext and none followed. They then gave themselves to household duties, until the day closed with vespers and compline. Attendance at the night offices sometimes caused them to fall sick with the cold, on which account the brethren of St. John’s, Bridgwater, asked the bishop for relief (1526). Accordingly they were allowed to hold their first service at 5 a.m. in summer and 6 a.m. in winter, provided that they first rang a bell to waken travellers, workmen and others, that they might attend mass and ask God’s blessing before going about their work.[100] (b) _Lepers._—When a leper was solemnly set apart, he was counselled to say devoutly every day _Paternoster_, _Ave Maria_, _Credo in Deum_, _Credo in Spiritum_; he was to say often _Benedicite_ and protect himself with the sign of the Cross. In most leper-houses inmates were required to hear mass daily and keep the canonical hours. At Dover, they were instructed not only to say their two hundred _Paternosters_ and _Aves_ by day, but as many at night; one brother roused the slumbering by ringing the dormitory bell, and the prayers were repeated sitting erect in bed. At St. James’, Chichester, a similar custom was confirmed in 1408; the first hour after midnight, the brethren (unless too feeble) had to rise together from their cubicles and say the night office. The prayers included not only [p160] the Creed, Lord’s Prayer and Salutation, but intercessions for the Catholic Church, king and queen and benefactors; if omitted, they must be said next day. Bishop Stratford of London, in compiling regulations for Ilford (1346) writes:— “We also command, that the lepers omit not attendance at their church . . . unless prevented by grievous bodily infirmity: they are to preserve silence there, and hear mattins and mass throughout, if they are able; and whilst there, to be intent on prayer and devotion, as far as their infirmity permits them.”