LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 223 



in their legal rights, by the injunctions he gave 

 on that occasion. 



To understand the ground of their complaints, 

 and the foundation and extent of the power he 

 used in making the regulations which he did, 

 some previous account ought to be given of the 

 old constitution of that church before its disso- 

 lution, and of the alterations made therein at 

 its refoundation by Henry VIII. 



Saint Mary, the Virgin, of Southwell, is sup- 

 posed to have been founded by one of the first 

 Archbishops of York, who accordingly have 

 always been patrons of the church, as well as 

 the lords of the manor there. The ancient go- 

 vernment of it was by a certain number of canons 

 secular, who lived in common together, till they 

 were converted into prebendaries. 



The number of these prebendaries, taking in 

 those of later foundation, were, at the time of 

 the dissolution, sixteen ; with their sixteen 

 vicars choral, and thirteen chantry priests. And 

 the whole revenue of the Church was divided 

 into five parts. 



I. The commons, appropriated to so many of 

 the prebendaries, as were also residentiaries. 



II. The corps appropriated to the prebendal 

 stalls. 



III. Estates appropriated to the vicars choral, 

 of which they had the management ; they being a 



ii 



