By the Rev. Canon W. H. Jones. 



273 



It must not be imagined, however, that canonical life and cathe- 

 dral work began and ended with cathedral service. Though at- 

 tendance at those services was an essential part of the life of the 

 canons, it was probably a very small part of their work. The rule 

 at Lincoln, and St. Pauls, though not formulated in our statutes, 

 was no doubt that also at Sarum — "We exact but a moderate assiduity 

 (assiduitatem moderatam) : not that a canon should be bound to 

 attend all the ' hours/ but one ' hour ' every day, or the High 

 Mass, unless he have leave of absence or be infirm, or sick, or is 

 occupied elsewhere in the affairs of the church.' ' Still there were 

 other works which engaged the canons. Not only is study con- 

 templated for themselves, but education for others ; for whilst the 

 chancellor " ruled the schools " in the close and in the city, he was 

 assisted by the canons. Moreover there were other works of charity 

 or usefulness which occupied them. <( Resedencia debet esse lahoriosa 

 non desidiosa," — so ran the rule laid down for them ; and some 

 cathedral statutes expressly enjoin that no one shall be appointed 

 whose health is not likely " to endure the labour/'' The great 

 Robert Grosteste — himself originally one of ourselves, the gift of 

 Sarum to Lincoln — well defines the work of a canon, when, in 

 offering a prebend to a scholar of high character on condition of his 

 coming at once into residence, he required him to help in feeding the 

 flock with the three necessary things, viz., u The work of preaching, 

 the pattern of a holy conversation, and the devotion of single-hearted 

 prayer." And it was for the sake of a greater efficiency in the 

 same work, that he at one time resigned a higher dignity, and be- 

 came by his own act a poorer man. 



Mention has already been made of the vicars, of whom there were 

 at one time no less than fifty-three, each canon being bound to ap- 

 point one to supply any lack of service on his own part, and to pay 

 them certain sums out of his " prebend," the rest being supplied 

 from the " communa" or common fund, of the cathedral. The 

 latter payment was called " stall- wages," and was paid to a com- 

 paratively recent period : indeed a sum, considered to be an equivalent 

 to the old payment, is handed over to the Vicars Choral of Sarum to 

 the present day. 



