By the Rev. Canon W. H. Jones. 281 



then returning to Calne, he went with his own people into their 

 well-loved churchy and whilst he lay prostrate on the ground before 

 the holy altar, they solemnly chanted " Te Deum Laudamus,'' — 

 sounds of sorrow mingling with notes of joy. 



This example is a good illustration of the way in which each 

 " prebend " became, in a faithful carrying out of the cathedral 

 system, the centre not only of the civilization, but of the christian- 

 izing, of each district. The duties and powers of a Prebendary 

 with respect to his prebend are defined and urged in this view. 

 He is exhorted so to fulfil them as that his people may desire 

 {appelant commorari) under his headship. His prebend was or- 

 ganically connected with the cathedral, and all leases granted 

 by him were to be approved by the chapter. Any complaints 

 concerning his administration could be made to the Dean and 

 chapter, and appeals also from him could be dealt with by the 

 same authority. It is worth notice how prominently the duty which 

 a canon owed to his especial prebend is recognized, at all events in 

 principle, in the ecclesiastical canons of 1603. All the canons were 

 required to preach, not only in their cathedral church, but in 

 " other churches of the diocese, especially in those places whence 

 they and their chui'ch received any yearly rents and profits.''' 

 (Canon xliii). 



Nor was this all ; for, in olden times, the more surely to secure 

 the proper care of all such cathedral prebends, the Dean was em- 

 powered — in fact required — to visit them at stated periods. In the 

 register of St. Osmund we have a full account of such a visitation 

 in the year 1220 by the Dean, William de Wenda, and a very 

 thorough one it was. A number of extracts are printed in MaskelFs 

 "Ancient Liturgy of the Church of England" (p. ISl). The 

 enquiry extended not only to the state of the church, but to the 

 efficiency of all its officers. Even the vicars were subjected to an 

 examination, and, if found wanting, suspended or removed ; the 

 prebendary at the same time being warned that unless better pro- 

 vision were made for the spiritual wants of the parishioners, the 

 Dean would take the benefice into his own hands. Records of such 

 visitations still exist, and very instructive they are, as showing the 



