ame; as, the prebend of Willenhall. In the
course of time the tithes derivable from these lands became alienated.

Sampson Erdeswick, whose history of this county was commenced in 1593,
says the foundation was effectuated in 970 by King Edgar, at the request
of his dying sister, Wulfruna.

"She founded a chapel of eight portionaries (is the way Erdeswick puts
it) whom, by incorporation, she made rector of that parish
(Wolverhampton) to receive the tithes in common, but devisable by a
yearly lot. The head or chief of these she made patron to them all, and
sole ordinary of that whole parish."

The foundation was designated the "royal free church of Wolverhampton,"
the term "free" signifying that it was free of the ordinary supervision
of the ecclesiastical authorities, being exempt from both episcopal
jurisdiction and the papal supremacy. Indeed, it had been better for the
church had it been less free, for in the time of King John the
debaucheries and gross immoralities of these undisciplined parochial
clergy brought much discredit upon the priestly college.

The dean and the prebends had special seats or stalls in the choir of the
church; the sacrist had no stall, neither had he any voice in the
chapter. In modern times (1811) the sacrist has become the perpetual
curate of the parish.

It will be noted that the head of this college of seculars was styled the
"sole ordinary" of the parish, which is equivalent to saying he was
invested with judicial powers therein like a bishop in a diocese. He had
authority cum omnimoda jurisdictione, and was exempt not only from the
episcopal over-lordship of Coventry and Lichfield by express composition,
but also by papal bull from the legates and delegates of Rome for ever.
In fact, so independent was the foundation made at the outset, it
remained for centuries subject only to the royal authority of the Majesty
of England, and under it to the perpetual visitation of the Keepers of
the Great Seal for the time being.

In the year 1338, Edward III. confirmed the charter of the church as a
royal free chapter, giving the Dean the jurisdiction of a Court Leet, and
a copyhold Court Baron, to be called the Deanery Court of Wolverhampton.
About this time, too, the church was rebuilt on more spacious and
magnificent lines. Mrs. Fellows, in her topographical rhyme, previously
quoted, sings of the erection of the tower

In the third Edward's time.

The college then consisted of