38 Malmeshury Abbey in its Best Days. 



The object was, that in a half settled or rather unsettled country, as 

 England then was, there should be in every parish, however small, 

 one person at any rate of a certain education, to be settled on the 

 spot, whom the rest might look to as a sort of head, or general 

 adviser, to try and keep things in some kind of order. The laymen 

 landowners would be always liable to be called away for war or other 

 purposes. A parish ruler or rector, more sure to be at home, seemed 

 a wise arrangement. With this object, a certain part of the produce 

 of the parish was set aside for him. That was the intention of tithe. 

 But what did the monasteries do ? Not only did they receive large 

 gifts of laiid from old Saxon kings and others : but they had in- 

 fluence enough to take the tithes also : leaving only some very small 

 part for a deputy who should live at the place, and do all the duties of 

 the clergyman. This deputy they called their vicar, or representative. 

 That is the reason why vicarages, generally speaking, are so small 

 in emolument. 



Malmeshury monastery was no wise behind the rest in this unfair 

 system. It obtained for itself several rectories in this town and 

 neighbourhood. The vicars of Malmeshury, of Seagry and of Sutton 

 Benger, might have a word or two to say upon this subject. 



One case not very far from Malmeshury I can tell you of, where 

 the bad effect and inconvenience arising from that system continue 

 to be felt to this hour. Just on the other side of Malmeshury 

 Common lies the little village of Norton, a small parish of 

 about one thousand acres of land. Of that thousand about seven 

 hundred and fifty belonged to the monastery here. Not satisfied 

 with the lion's share, they must take the clergyman's too, leaving 

 him, their vicar, an insignificant stipend as the reward of his 

 labours. They did not even give him a decent abode to live in. 

 The old vicarage house of the monks, was still standing a few 

 years ago. It was simply a hovel : with one room below, and 

 one above : and a small den or cell at the side, to serve for 

 kitchen, larder, sticks, coals, &c. As nobody in the position of 

 a clergyman, could possibly live in such a hole, and as nobody 

 had come forward to provide another, the parish has always been 

 attended and the church duty served by some clergyman lodging else- 



