shop of
London in King Richard I.'s time, who having built two altars in this
cathedral, the one dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr, and the other
to St. Dionis, assigned eight marks yearly rent, to be received out
of the church of Cestreheart, for the maintaining of two priests
celebrating every day thereat; viz., one for the good estate of the
King of England and Bishop of London for the time being; as also for
all the congregation of this church, and the faithful parishioners
belonging thereto, and the other for the souls of the Kings of England
and Bishops of London, and all the faithful deceased: which grant was
confirmed by the Chapter." This is a fair specimen; they go on page
after page in Dugdale's folio. William de Sanctae Mariae ecclesia (he
was Dean 1241-1243) leaves 120 marks for bread and beer yearly to
a priest who shall celebrate for his soul and for the souls of his
predecessors, successors, parents, and benefactors. Sometimes special
altars are named at which the Mass is to be said, "St. Chad, St.
Nicholas, St. Ethelbert the King, St. Radegund, St. James, the twelve
Apostles, St. John the Evangelist, St. John Baptist, St. Erkenwald,
St. Sylvester, St. Michael, St. Katharine." I take them as they
come in the successive testaments. The following passage is worth
quoting:--"In 19 Ed. II. Roger de Waltham, a Canon of this church,
enfeoft the Dean and Chapter of certain messuages and shops lying
within the city of London, for the support of two priests to pray
perpetually for his soul, and for the souls of his parents and
benefactors, within the chapel of St. John the Baptist in the south
part of this cathedral; as also for the soul of Antony Beck, Patriarch
of Jerusalem, and Bishop of Durham. And further directed that out
of the revenue of these messuages, &c., there should be a yearly
allowance to the said Dean and Chapter, to keep solemn processions in
this church on the several days of the invention and exaltation of the
Holy Cross, as also of St. John Baptist; wearing their copes at those
times in such sort as they used on all the great festivals; and
likewise out of his high devotion to the service of God, and that it
should be the more venerably performed therein, he gave divers costly
vestments thereto, some whereof were set with precious stones,
expressly directing that in all masses wherein himself by particular
name was to be commended, as also at his anniversary, and in those
festivals of the Ho