These appropriating corporations, or religious houſes, were wont to depute one of their own body to perform divine ſervice, and adminiſter the ſacraments, in thoſe pariſhes of which the ſociety was thus the parſon. This officiating miniſter was in reality no more than a curate, deputy, or vicegerent of the appropriator, and therefore called vicarius, or vicar. His ſtipend was at the diſcretion of the appropriator, who was however bound of common right to find ſomebody, qui illi de temporalibus, epiſcopo de ſpiritualibus, debeat reſpondere[1]. But this was done in ſo ſcandalous a manner, and the pariſhes ſuffered ſo much by the neglect of the appropriators, that the legiſlature was forced to interpoſe: and accordingly it is enacted by ſtatute 15 Ric. II. c. 6. that in all appropriations of churches, the dioceſan biſhop ſhall ordain (in proportion to the value of the church) a competent ſum to be diſtributed among the poor pariſhioners annually; and that the vicarage ſhall be ſufficiently endowed. It ſeems the pariſh were frequently ſufferers, not only by the want of divine ſervice, but alſo by withholding thoſe alms, for which, among other purpoſes, the payment of tithes was originally impoſed: and therefore in this act a penſion is directed to be diſtributed among the poor parochians, as well as a ſufficient ſtipend to the vicar. But he, being liable to be removed at the pleaſure of the appropriator, was not likely to inſiſt too rigidly on the legal ſufficiency of the ſtipend: and therefore by ſtatute 4 Hen. IV. c. 12. it is ordained, that the vicar ſhall be a ſecular perſon, not a member of any religious houſe; that he ſhall be vicar perpetual, not removeable at the caprice of the monaſtery; and that he ſhall be canonically inſtituted and inducted, and be ſufficiently endowed, at the diſcretion of the ordinary, for theſe three expreſs purpoſes, to do divine ſervice, to inform the people, and to keep hoſpitality. The endowments in conſequence of theſe ſtatutes have uſually been by a portion of the glebe, or land, belonging to the parſonage, and a particular ſhare of the tithes, which the appropriators found it moſt troubleſome to collect, and which are
- ↑ Seld. tith. c. 11. 1.
