ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



the rector or vicar of the church in which the chantry was established 

 was a prevailing feature of these foundations. When Lady Margaret 

 de Wigton conferred the rectory of Wigton on the monastery of Holm- 

 cultram in 1332 on condition that four monks should be added to the 

 inmates of the convent and two secular priests should be maintained by 

 the monastery in Wigton church for the purpose of celebrating masses 

 for the souls of her ancestors and all the faithful departed, the Bishop 

 of Carlisle in ordaining the chantry made provision that the chaplains 

 should be under the control of the parochial vicar. 1 



The bishop presided in the diocesan synod 2 unless prevented by 

 sufficient cause, in which case he commissioned a deputy, often the 

 official or the prior of Carlisle, to act in his place. Though several of 

 these commissions are recorded, one only need be mentioned. Bishop 

 Welton, wishing to have counsel and advice from his clergy on arduous 

 business, issued a mandate in 1353 to the Abbot of Holmcultram, 

 recently made his official, and John de Welton, learned in the law, 

 empowering them to summon together the prior and chapter of the 

 cathedral church, abbots and priors exempt and not exempt, the arch- 

 deacon, rectors, vicars, and other ecclesiastical persons within the diocese, 

 and to expound to them when so assembled the business in hand. At 

 the Michaelmas synod in the following year, the prior of Carlisle was 

 commissioned to convocate the clergy, and to preside in the bishop's 

 absence ; also to certify by his letters the result of their deliberations. 3 

 By virtue of their appropriate churches, abbots and priors of religious 

 houses not situated in the diocese were obliged to attend the Carlisle 

 synod in person or by proxy unless the obligation was remitted by 

 special grace. Bishop Welton was very considerate in granting these 

 remissions. In 1354 he issued licences to Richard, prior of Wartre ; 

 Thomas, abbot of Whitby ; and John, prior of Connishead, excusing 

 their personal presence in synod during their tenure of office. 4 Mulcts 

 (multe] were not unfrequent for non-appearance. In 1402 the abbot of 

 Whitby was amerced in 2OJ-. because ' in no manner ' did he appear in 

 the synod held after the feast of Michaelmas, and the abbot of Fountains 

 was fined IQJ. in 1469 for a like offence. The mulcts of the parochial 

 clergy were naturally smaller than those of abbots and priors, and varied 

 considerably, perhaps according to the richness of the benefice or the 

 contumacy of the offender. The rector of Greystoke had to pay 6s. 8</., 

 and the rector of Brough under Stainmore, IQJ. for non-appearance in 

 1402. The bishops were not very exacting in the levy or recovery of 

 these fines. In 1494 the arrears amounted to the very respectable sums 



chirch and chantre.' With the help of the parishioners the intruders were finally expelled by force and 

 possession was given (L. and P. of Henry Vlll., vol. v. 1433). 



1 Carl. Epis. Reg. Kirkby MS. ff. 280-1. 



2 The holding of synods and the payment of synodals seem to be coeval with the formation of the 

 diocese. The acts of the early bishops of Carlisle assume the one and the other (Reg. of Wetherbal [Cumbld. 

 and Westmld. Arch. Soc.], 44-5, 210-12 ; Reg. of Lanercost, MS. viii. 3, 6). 



3 Carl. Epis. Reg. Welton MS. ff. I, 10 ; Ibid. Kirkby MS. f. 403. 

 ' Ibid. Welton MS. ff. 9, 10. 



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