By the Rev. Canon W. H. Jones. 273 



It must not be imagined, however, that canonical life and cathe- 

 dral work began and ended with cathedral service. Though at- 

 tendance at those services was an essential part of the life of the 

 canons, it was probably a very small part of their loork. The rule 

 at Lincoln, and St. Paials, though not formulated in ouv statutes, 

 was no doubt that also at Sarum — "We exact but a moderate assiduity 

 (assiduitatem moderatam) : not that a canon should be bound to 

 attend all the ' hours,' but one ' hour ' every day, or the High 

 Mass, unless he have leave of absence or be infirm, or sick, or is 

 occupied elsewhere in the affairs of the church." Still there were 

 other works which engaged the canons. Not only is study con- 

 templated for themselves, but education for others ; for whilst the 

 chancellor " ruled the schools " in the close and in the city, he was 

 assisted by the canons. Moreover there were other works of charity 

 or usefulness which occupied them. " Resedencia debet esse laboriosa 

 nan desidiosa," — so ran the rule laid down for them; and some 

 cathedral statutes expressly enjoin that no one shall be appointed 

 whose health is not likely " to endure the labour." The great 

 Robert Grosteste — himself originally one of ourselves, the gift of 

 Sarum to Lincoln — well defines the work of a canon, when, in 

 offering a prebend to a scholar of high character on condition of his 

 coming at once into residence, he required him to help in feeding the 

 flock with the three necessary things, viz., "The work of preaching, 

 the pattern of a holy conversation, and the devotion of single-hearted 

 prayer." And it was for the sake of a greater efficiency in the 

 same work, that he at one time resigned a higher dignity, and be- 

 came by his own act a poorer man. 



Mention has already been made of the vicars, of whom there were 

 at one time no less ^oxi. fifty -three, each canon being bound to ap- 

 point one to supply any lack of service on his own part, and to pay 

 them certain sums out of his " prebend," the rest being supplied 

 from the " communa," or common fund, of the cathedral. The 

 latter payment was called " stall- wages," and was paid to a com- 

 paratively recent period : indeed a sum, considered to be an equivalent 

 to the old payment, is handed over to the Vicars Choral of Sarum to 

 the present day. 



