The first point of interest in connexion with these is the ordination
of vicarages. The Liber Antiquus of Bishop Hugh of Wells names
forty-five vicarages[1] in this archdeaconry, already ordained ; but it is
most probable that some of these (described as ' ex dudum ordinatae ')
were arranged before his time, though their actual date cannot be fixed.
There is, indeed, a charter [2] of Bishop Robert de Chesney, confirming
to the monastery of Tickford a large number of churches, and contain-
ing also the provision that the monks should ' choose and present to the
bishop vicars,' to whom they should secure a vicarage therein. As this
charter is witnessed by Theobald, archbishop of Canterbury, it must be
earlier than the year 1 1 54, and it is interesting as showing an effort to
assign proper portions for the vicars even before the Lateran Council of
1179, from which they are usually dated.[3]
The portions assigned in this archdeaconry are of the usual value, comprising the lesser tithes, and the ordinary offerings made at the altars of the church, amounting altogether, in most cases, to about £5 a year : this, with addition of a ' competent manse," seems to have been enough for a single man to live upon until the Great Pestilence brought such changes in the value of property. The portions of the vicars of New- port Pagnel and Great Missenden differ slightly from the rest, as their churches were closely connected with the monasteries to which they were appropriated. There was, indeed, in both cases a manse outside the monastery ; but the vicars were to take their meals in the refectory with the monks, and only to have a small stipend (20s. annually) out of the altarage to provide them with clothes and other necessaries : a clerk and a horse were also to be furnished by the monks.[4]
During the episcopates of Grossetete, Gravesend and Sutton, a few more vicarages were ordained,[5] though they cannot all be accurately
- ↑ Lavenden, Cold Brayfield, Filgrave, Astwood, Little Brickhill, Wolverton, Chicheley, Great Woolstone, Willen, Bradwell, Stantonbury, Newport Pagnel, Stowe, Caversfield, Westbury, Thorn- borough, Hillesden, Steeple Claydon, Wotton Underwood, Worminghall, Hogshaw, Upper Winchendon, Long Crendon, Chilton, Ashendon, Shobbington, Illmer, Wendover, Great Kimble, Haddenham, Great Missenden, Dinton, Hedsor, High Wycombe, Turville, Medmenham, Chalfont St. Peter, Chesham Leicester and Chesham Woburn, Upton, Stoke Poges, Wing, Marsworth, Mentmore and Whaddon. The monasteries to which they belonged have been already given.
- ↑ Round, Calendar cf Documents relating to France, p. 444 s No. 1231.
- ↑ Stephens, History of the English Church, ii. 294.
- ↑ Liber Antiquus (ed. A. Gibbons), 12-19.
- ↑ Under Grossetete the vicarage of Medmenham was ordained anew (Line. Epis. Reg., Rolls of Grossetete, 1239); under Gravesend, Swanbourne (Ibid. Rolls of Gravesend, 1255); Burnham (Ibid. 1266) ; Little Missenden (Ibid. 1267) ; Stewkley (Ibid. 1271) ; Padbury (Ibid. 1274). Stone is called a vicarage in 1271 in the Gravesend Roll, and Barton Hartshorn was ordained ' under Bishop Richard ' (Ibid. Inst. Sutton, 99d). A vicarage was ordained for the prebendal church of Aylesbury in 1271, and for its four chapels taken together in 1294 (Ibid. Inst. Sutton 118d). Linslade was already a vicarage under Bishop Sutton (Ibid. Memo. Sutton 223) ; and so also was Penn.
To Winchester : West Wycombe and Ivinghoe. To Chicksand : Linslade. To Rochester : Haddenham with the chapels of Kingsey and Cuddington. The Hospitallers had the churches of Hogshaw, Ludgershall, Oving, Addington, Cholesbury, Cres- low and Quainton ; and the Templars Radnage. A few of these changed hands later : they will be noted as they occur. Others were appropriated after the Taxatio. The reference for all these is generally to the Lincoln Episcopal Registers : except the St. Alban's churches, which are dealt with in the Gesta Abbatum Man. S. Albani (Rolls Series).
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