Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ...of these charges and counter-charges may seem trivial and insignificant, but they serve to show that considerable irregularity was rapidly springing up in the Cathedral. The 15th century was in many respects an evil one for the Church, and the Chapter Acts bear witness to it, for the charges of immorality brought against Vicars and Poor Clerks thicken as the century draws to a close. The causes are not far to seek. The long and disastrous struggle with Prance, the unhappy reign of Henry VI. with the terrible dislocation of Society made by the Wars of the Eoses, and the growing corruption of the Monastic Clergy, all conspired to unsettle and disturb the nation; nor is it to be wondered at that the Vicars of Lincoln Cathedral caught, the infection. And so from time to time the Chapter were called upon to admonish "refractory" Vicars who would not rise in time for Mattins, or to keep the peace between quarrelsome members of the Community, besides having to sit in judgment on gross acts of immorality. The year 1441 was memorable for the fact of the Vicars being made a legal Corporation by Henry VI., but this has already been more fully stated and the Charter given at length. On the 10th September, 1442, the Dean and Chapter, after full consultation, unanimously agreed that Organs of a better kind should be put up in the great Choir before the ensuing Christmas, and a bill was drawn up between the Chapter and one Arnald Organer, of Norwich, by which the latter covenanted to do it for five marks, which were to be paid him out of the Fabric Chest by the hands of Eobert Patryngton and Boston, Vicars. It would be interesting to know whereabouts in the Choir the Organ stood. After the Eestoration it was on the north side, opposite to the...
