280 THE ANTIQUITIES 



therefore strongly and earnestly enjoins them that, with all due 

 speed and diligence, they should proceed to the election of proper 

 persons to fill up the vacancies, under pain of the greater ex- 

 communication. 



In Item 17th the prior and canons are accused of suffering, 

 through neglect, notorious dilapidations to take place among their 

 manerial houses and tenements, and in the walls and enclosures 

 of the convent itself, to the shame and scandal of the institution ; 

 they are therefore enjoined, under pain of suspension, to repair 

 all defects within the space of six months. 



Item 18th charges them with grievously burthening the said 

 Priory by means of sales, and grants of liveries ^ and corrodies.^ 



The bishop, in Item 19th, accuses the canons of neglect and 

 omission with respect to their perpetual chantry-services. 



Item 20th. The visitor here conjures the prior and canons not 

 to withhold their original alms, " eleemos}/nas" ; nor those that 

 they were enjoined to distribute for the good of the souls of 

 founders and benefactors : he also strictly orders that the frag- 

 ments and broken victuals, both from the hall of their prior and 

 their common refectory, should be carefully collected together 

 by their eleemosynarius, and given to the poor without any diminu- 

 tion ; the officer to be suspended for neglect or omission. 



Item 23d. He bids them distribute their pittances, " pitancias," ' 

 regularly on obits, anniversaries, festivals, &c. 



Item 25th. All and every one of the canons are hereby in- 

 hibited from standing godfather to any boy for the future, "ne 

 " compatres alicujus pueri de cetero fieri presumatis," unless by 

 express license from the bishop obtained ; because from such 

 relationship favour and affection, nepotism, and undue influence, 

 arise, to the injury and detriment of religious institutions.* 



' ' ' Liierationes, or liberaturm, allowances of corn, &c. to servants delivered at 

 "certain times, and in certain quantities, as clothes, were among the allowances 

 " from religious houses to their dependants. See the corrodies granted by Croyland 

 " abbey.^^ Hist, of Croyland, Appendix, N° XXXIV. 



" It is not improbable that the word in after-ages came to be confined to the 

 "uniform of the retainers or servants of the great, who were hence called livery 

 '* servants.'" Sir John CullunCs Hist, of Hawsted. 



2 A corrody is an allowance to a servant living in an abbey or priory. 



' " Pitancia, an allowance of bread and beer, or other provision to any pious 

 "use, especially to the religious in a monastery, &c. for augmentation of their 

 "commons." Gloss, to Kennet's Par. Antiq. 



^ " The relationship between sponsors and their god-children, who were called 

 ' ' spiritual sons and daughters, was formerly esteemed much more sacred than at 

 " present. The presents at christenings were sometimes very considerable : the 

 " connection lasted through life, and was closed with a legacy. This last mark of 



