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THE OBEDIENTIARIES
The officials of a monastery
were frequently known by the name of obedientiaries.
Sometimes under this name were included even
the prior and sub-prior, as they also were appointed by the abbot, and
were, of course, equally with the others in subjection and obedience to
him. But as usually understood, by the word obedientiaries was
signified the other officials, and not the prior and
sub-prior, who assisted in the general government of the monastery.
Various duties were assigned to all
obedientiaries, and they possessed extensive powers in their own
spheres. Very frequently in medieval times they had the
full management of the property assigned to the special support of the
burdens of their offices. Their number naturally varied considerably in
different monasteries ; but here it may be well
to describe briefly the duties of each of the ordinary officials, as
they
are set forth in the monastic Custumals that have com down to us.
The cantor was one of the most
important officials in the monastery. He was appointed, of course, by
the abbot, but with a necessary regard to the varied qualifications
required for the
office ; for the cantor was both
---58--- singer, chief librarian, and
archivist. He should be a priest, says
one English Custumal, of proved, upright character, wise and well
instructed in a knowledge pertaining to his office, as well as
thoroughly conversant
with ecclesiastical customs. Under his management all the church
services were arranged and performed : the
names of those who were to take part in the singing of Lessons or
Responsories
at Matins or other parts of the daily Office were set down by him on
the table,
or official programme, and no one could refuse any duty assigned to him
in
this way. In everything regarding the church services the cantor had no
superior except the abbot, although in
certain cases, where the Divine Office, for example, had been delayed
for some
reason or other , the sacrist might sign to him in suggestion that he
should
cause the singers to chant more briskly. What he
arranged to be sung had to be sung, what he settled to be read in the
refectory
had to be read ; the portion of Sacred Scripture, or other book that he
had marked for the evening Collation, had to be used, and no other.
The place of the cantor in the church was always on the right hand of the choir ; that of his assistant, the succentor, or sub-cantor, was on the left. It was part of the cantor's duty to move about the choir when it was necessary to regulate the singing, and especially when any Prose, or long Magnificat with difficult music was being sung. Above all things, he had to guard against mistakes, or even the possibility of mistakes, in the divine service by every means in his power. With this end in view, he was instructed to select only music that was known to all, and to see that it was sung in the traditional manner. To guard against faults in reading and singing ---59--- he was obliged by his office to
go over the Lessons for Matins with the younger monks, and to hear the
reader in the refectory before the meals, in order to point out defects
of pronunciation and quality, as well as to regulate the tone of the
voice and rate of reading.
---60--- When the abbot had to give out an Antiphon or Responsory on one of the greater feasts, the cantor always attended him, and helped him in there were need. If the abbot was unable to take any of this duties in church in the way of singing, such as celebrating the High Mass or intoning the Antiphons at the Benedictus and Magnificat, the cantor took them as part of the duties of his office. On all greater feasts of the second class, the cantor, by virtue of his office, gave out the Antiphon at the Benedictus and at the Magnificat. At the Mass and other solemn parts of the Divine Office on these occasions, he directed the choir with his staff of office : assisted on first-class days by six of the brethren in copes, and on feasts of the second class by four. His side of the choir was always to take up any psalm he had intoned ; the other side of the choir, under the direction of the sub-cantor, doing the same in regard to what he intoned. Even when the cantor himself was not directing the choir, as on ordinary days, he had to be always ready to come to the assistance of the community, in the case of any breakdown in the singing or hesitation as to the correct Antiphons to be used, etc. If an Antiphon was not given out or given out wrongly, or if the brethren got astray in the music, he was to set it right with as little delay as possible. If the tone of the chanting had to be raised or to be lowered, it was to be done only by him, and all had to follow his lead without hesitation. On festivals it was his duty to
select the singers of the Epistle and Gospel, and he was to be ever
guided in his choice of deacon and sub-deacon by his knowledge of their
capacity
to do honor to the feast by their good singing. When the community were
walking in procession through the
cloister or elsewhere, it was his duty to walk up and down, between the
ranks of
the brethren, to see that their singing was correctly rendered, and
that it
was kept together. The brethren were charged unhesitatingly to follow
his suggestion and his leading.
Besides this, the cantor was naturally to the instructor of music in the community, and at certain times he took the novices and trained them in the proper mode of ecclesiastical chanting and in the traditional music of the house. In many monasteries he had also to teach the boys of the cloister-school to read, and the exasperating nature of this part of his office may be perhaps gauged from a provision inserted in some statues, that he was on no account to slap their heads or pull their hair, this privilege being permitted only to their special master. On account of the cantor's care of the church services and necessary labour entailed thereby upon him, some indulgence was generally accorded to him in regard to his attendance at the parts of the Divine Office where his presence was not specially required. He was, however, forbidden to absent himself from two consecutive canonical hours, and was not to stay away from Matins, Vespers, or Compline. On Saturdays, like the rest, ha had to wash his feet in the cloister. So much with regard to the
duties of the precentor, as chief singer of the monastery. He was also
the librarian, or armarius ; the two offices, somewhat
strangely, perhaps,
---61--- to our modern notion, always
going together. In this capacity he had
charge of all the books contained in the aumbry, or book-cupboard, or
later in the book-room, or library. Moreover he had to prepare the ink
for the various writers of manuscripts and charters, etc.,
and to procure the necessary parchment for book-making. He had to watch
that the books did not suffer
from ill use, or misuse, and to see to the mending and binding of them
all. As keeper of the bookshelves, the
cantor was supposed to know the position and titles of the columns, and
by
constant attention to protect them from dust, and injury from insects,
damp, or
decay. When they required repair or cleaning, he was to see to it ; and
also to judge when the binding what
to be repaired or renewed, For the purpose of
this renovating the manuscripts under his care, he had, of course
frequently to employ skilled labour. At such times he
received an allowance of food for the workmen engaged on
"cleaning the bindings of the choir books," etc. Special revenues
also were at his disposal "for making new books and keeping up
the organs."
At the beginning of Lent the cantor was to remind the community in Chapter of those who had given the books to their house, or had written them ; and subsequently it was his duty to request that an Office and Mass for the Dead should be said for such benefactors. And, during the morning Mass of the first Sunday of Lent, he was to bring a collection of volumes into the Chapter-house, that the abbot might distribute one volume to each monk as his special Lenten reading. In the ordinary course, the precentor was bound to give out whatever books were required or asked for, taking care always to enter their ---62--- titles and the names of the
borrowers in his register. He was
permitted sometimes to lend the less precious manuscripts ; but if the
loan was made to someone outside the monastery, he had to see that he
received a
sufficient pledge for its safe return.
---63--- All writings of the church, or made for the church, came under the charge of the precentor. He made, for example, the tabulae, or lists of those taking any part in the services. These were graven on waxen tablets, the writing of which could easily be changed, and for makingand repairing of which the sacrist had to furnish the wax. Moreover, the precentor had to supply the writers with the parchment, ink, etc., for their work, and personally to hire the scribes and rubricators who labored for money. Also he was supposed to provide those in the cloister who could write and desired to do so, with whatever materials they required ; but before receiving these the religious had first to obtain leave from the abbot or superior, and then only to signify their wants to the precentor. He was told to give them what they needed, remembering that none of the brethren wrote or copied for their own personal good, but for the general utility of the monastery. The precentor also, in his capacity of librarian, had to provide the books used for reading and singing in the church and for reading in the refectory and at Collation. He had personally to see that the public reader had his volume ready, and that is was replaced in the aumbry at night. To prevent mistakes, as far as it was possible to do, the cantor was supposed to go over the book to be read carefully, and to put a point at the places where the pauses in public reading should be made. It was also his duty as
archivist to enter
the names of deceased members of the community and their relatives in
the necrology of the house, that they might be remembered on their
anniversaries. In this same capacity, at the time of the profession of
any brother, he received from the abbot the written
charter of the vows that had been pronounced, so that the document
itself might be
placed in the archives of the house. He was also required to draw up
the "Brief" or
"Mortuary Roll," wherewith to announce the death of any brother to
other
monasteries, etc., and to ask for
prayers for his soul. This document, often executed in an elaborate
manner and illuminated, after it had received the
sanction of the Chapter was handed to the almoner, who sent it by
special messenger, called
a "breviator," to the other religious houses. In like manner the
cantor
received from the almoner all
such notices of deaths as came to hand, and presented them to the
conventual Chapter to obtain
the suffrages asked for. If, as was frequently the case, the roll had
to be endorsed with the name of the
monastery, with the assurance of prayers, or some Latin verses in
praise of the
dead or expressive of sympathy with the living at the loss, it was the
precentor's duty to see that all this was done fittingly before the
roll was committed again into the almoner's hand to be returned to the
"breviator" by whom
it had been brought.
The cantor also was one of the three custodians of the convent seal, and he held one of the three keys of the chest which contained it. When the die, often in the shape of single or double mould, was needed for the purpose of sealing a document he was responsible for bringing it to the Chapter with the necessary wax in order ---64--- [Illustration: Heading of a Mortuary Roll, Thomas Brown, Bishop of Norwich, d. 1445.] [Download 1,400KB jpg.] ---blank page not numbered-- to affix the common seal to the document, in the presence of the whole convent, and for then returning it to its place of safe custody. Such an important office as
that of precentor obviously required many high
qualities for its due discharge. According to one English Custumal, he
should "ever comport himself with
regularity, reverence, and modesty, since his office, when exercised
with the characteristic virtues,
is a source of delight and pleasure to God, to the angels, and to men.
He should bow down before the altar with all
reverence ; he should salute the brethren with all respect ; he should
in walking
manifest his modesty ; he should sing with such sweetness,
recollection, and devotion
that all the brethren, both old and young, might find in his behaviour
and
demeanour a living pattern to help them in their own religious life and
in
carrying out the observances required by their Rule from each one."
The succentor, or sub-cantor, was the cantor's assistant in everything.When the precentor was absent he took his place and performed his duties. In ordinary course he regulated the singing on the left-hand side of the choir, and attended to such details of the cantor's administration as might be committed to him. It was part, however, of his own duty, as fixed by rule, to see that all the brethren who were tabulated for any duty, or who were involved in any change made in the daily tabula, had knowledge of it, in order to prevent the possibility of mistakes, which would interfere with the solemnity of the divine service, and by such carelessness manifest a want of that respect due to the community as a body. Moreover, before the morning Mass and the High Mass ---65--- the succentor was to be at hand to point out to the celebrants the Collects that had to be said in the Holy Sacrifice, and the order in which they came. If, whilst at the altar, notwithstanding all his care, the priest could not find the proper place, or made delay from some other reason, he was at once to come to his assistance. Lastly, to take one more instance of the succentor's duty : if during the course of the night Office he should see any of the brethren drowsy of forgetting to recite, it was his duty to take his lantern and go towards them, in order to remind them that they were to be more alert as "watchmen keeping their vigil in the Lord's service." Next
in importance to the office of cantor, especially in regard to the
church services which formed so integral a part in the daily life of a
monastery, was
the sacrist. To him, with his several assistants, was committed the
care of the church fabric, with its
sacred plate and vestments, as well as of the various reliquaries,
shrines, and
precious ornaments, which the monastery possessed. It was his duty to
provide for the cleansing and lighting
of the church, to prepare the choir and altars for the various
services, to see that
on feast days they were decked out with the appropriate hangings and
ornaments ;
to provide that the vestments for the sacred ministers were ready for
use
as required, and that, on days when the community were vested in albs
or
in copes, these were rightly distributed to the brethren. The
High Altar was specially in his own personal care : he had to see
that it was becomingly decked for the great feasts, and he was
particularly enjoined never to leave it without a frontal of
---66--- some kind, that he might not seem to neglect the place where the daily Sacrifice was offered. Upon the sacrist was especially
enjoyed the necessary virtue of cleanliness. Every Saturday he had to
see that the sconces of the candlesticks were all scoured out, and that
the pavements before
the altars were washed and cleaned. The
floor of the presbytery was, like the High Altar, to be his own special
charge. He was directed constantly to change the
linen clothes of the altar and all those otherwise used in the Holy
Sacrifice, remembering as a guiding principle that it was "unbecoming
to
minister to God, with things unsuitable for profane use." The
corporals he was also to wash and prepare himself, polishing them
with a stone, known as lisca "lischa," or
glass-stone.
For this and the making
of the altar breads--concerning which work the minute legislation of
the
Custumals testifies to the care required in the production of the bread
for the
Holy Eucharist--the sacrist and his assistants had to be vested in albs
and were required to take every precaution in order to secure spotless
cleanness
of hands and person. During the operation psalms
and other prayers were to be said. Once a week, also on Saturdays, if
he were a priest or a deacon, the sacrist was ordered to wash
thoroughly all the chalices and sacred vessels used at
the Holy Sacrifice, and to see that no stains of wine, or marks of use,
were
left on them. If he were not in Sacred Orders he
had to get one of the brethren who was to do this office for him. On
the Wednesday of each week all the cruets
were to be thoroughly cleansed at the lavatory, as also all the jugs
and
utensils under his care or belonging to his office.
Another function of the sacrist was the care of the ---67--- cemetery where the dead
brothers were laid to their last rest. He was to
keep it neat and tidy, with the grass cut and trimmed, and the walks
free from
weeds. No animals were ever to be allowed to feed among the graves or
to disturb the peace of
"God's acre." This evidence of his care was intended to
show to all that it was here that the bodies of the holy departed were
laid to their peaceful repose to "await the day of the great
Resurrection." In some places the
sacrist also had care of the bells, especially of those which summoned
the brethren to the
church ; and of the clock, where there was one, and this last could be
touched by no
one but himself or one of his assistants on any pretence whatsoever.
Perhaps his most important duty, however, was that of looking after the lighting of the entire establishment. His offices in this matter, somewhat curiously as it may appear to us, was not confined to the church ; but from him the officers of other departments had to obtain the candles or to the light they needed. He had to purchase the supply of wax for making the best candles, and the tallow or mutton fat for the cressets and the commoner sort of lights, together with the cotton for making the wicks. At certain periods of the year, it was his province to hire the itinerant candle-makers and, having provided the necessary material, to preside over the process of manufacturing the waxen and other lights that would be needed by the community. For his store he had to supply the church with all necessary lights for the altars, for the choir, and for illuminating the candle-beams and candelabra on feast days. To light up the dormitory and church cloister, the sacrist had to rise before the others were called for Matins, so that all might be in readiness ---68--- for beginning of the service.
For those who had to read the Lessons, he was warned to provide plenty
of lights, especially in view
of the difficulty experienced by "old men and those with weak
sight," if the light was poor. Moreover, he had to furnish the
novices,
who as yet did not know the psalms by
heart, with candles to read by. At Matins, he himself was always to
have a lighted lantern ready in case of any
difficulty, and at the verse of the Te Deum, "The
heavens and the earth are full of Thy glory," he took this lantern
and,
going to the priest whose duty it was to read the Gospel, bowed, and
gave it
to him so that he might hold it to throw its light on the sacred text.
At the conclusion of Matins he received back
his lantern, and going out from the choir rang the bells for Lauds.
For the use of the monastery, as has been said, the sacrist had to find the material for lighting the cloister. When it was dark he had to light the four cressets, or bowls of tallow with wicks, which, one in each part of the cloister, can have done very little more than help to make the darkness visible. When more light was needed the sacrist found tallow or wax candles for particular purposes. He did the same in the church, where also great cressets, one in the nave, one at the choir-gates, one at the steps of the sanctuary at the top of the choir, and one in the treasury, were always kept burning during the hours of darkness. Moreover, the sacrist had to furnish the two candles for the abbot's Mass, and to give a certain specified amount of wax to each of the community to make their candles. At St. Augustine's, Canterbury, and Westminster, for instance, the abbot had to receive 40 lbs. of wax for his yearly supply of candles ; ---69--- the prior had 15 lbs. ; the
precentor, 7 lbs. ; each of the senior priests, 6 lbs. ; and the
juniors, 4 lbs. He had likewise to find all the
candles necessary to light the refectory and chapter-room, and to give
the cellarer and the infirmarian what they needed for the purposes of
their offices. In winter, after the evening Collation, the sacrist
waited in the chapter-room after the community, standing aside
and bowing as they passed out. When all had departed, he extinguished
the lights and locked the door. As one amongst the many minor duties of
his
office, the sacrist had each Sunday to obtain from the cellarer the
platter of salt to be blessed for the holy water. For
this he could either himself enter the kitchen, otherwise out of the
enclosure, or send another to fetch it. After the Sunday blessing of
the salt, he was himself to
place a pinch of the blessed salt in every salt-cellar used in the
refectory.
In brief, the sacrist, as one of the English Custumals has it, "should be of well-tried character, grave at his work, faithful in all his duties, careful in keeping the brethren to traditions, and watchful over the things committed to his care." "If he love our Lord," says another, "he will love the church, and the more spiritual his office is, the more careful should he be to make the church becoming and attractive for use, and to study to make it in every way more fitting" to be called "the House of God." The sacrist in most of the greater monasteries appears to have had under him four principal assistants : the sub-sacrist, called in some places the secretary, in others the matricularius, and in others, again, the master of works ; the treasurer ; the revestiarius ; and the assistant ---70--- sacristan. The first named, the
secretary, had charge of the offerings made to the church, and was to
look after the fabric of
the church. He was entrusted also with the general bell-ringing, and
was exhorted by the Custumals to endeavour to
study to master the traditional system of the peals, which in most
monasteries was
very elaborate. The secretary also had to see that wine was provided
for the altar, and that a supply of
incense was procured with it was needed ; also that the store of
charcoal, wax, and tallow was
replenished and not allowed to fall too low. He had to purchase these,
and the materials, such as lead,
glass, etc., for the repair of the fabric, at the neighbouring fairs ;
and he was warned to
keep and eye to the building so that it might not suffer by neglect.
Besides these duties, he was the official chiefly concerned in the opening and closing of the church doors at the appointed times, and in seeing to the safe custody of the monastic treasures. For this purpose, he with two other under-sacristians always slept in the church, or close at hand, whilst the treasurer and one other monk slept in the treasury, and even took their meals near at hand, so that the church was never left without guardians either day or night. The revestiarius, as his name implies, was mainly concerned with the vestments, the copes, albs, curtain, and other hangings belonging to the church. He was responsible for their care and mending, and for setting them out for use according to their proper colour, and as their varied richness was appropriate to the order and dignity of the ecclesiastical feasts. By his office he was also charged with giving the albs to the brethren when ---71--- they were vested in them, and
also with bringing to the precentor in the choir sufficient copes for
him to distribute one to each of the community on festivals when the
office
was celebrated in cappis ; or at other
times to the schola cantorum, who
assisted him in the singing or the lectern.
The treasurer was appointed for the purpose of looking after the shrines, the sacred vessels, and other church plate under the orders of the sacrist. He assisted also in other duties of the sacrist as he might be required ; for example, after Compline, he, with the others, when the community had retired to bed, prepared whatever lights would be necessary for the night office. Several times a year it was the general duty of the officials of the sacristy to sweep the church and remove the hay with which it was mostly carpeted, and to put fresh hay in its place. Once a year also they had to find new rush mats for the choir, for the altars, for the steps of the choir, to place under the feet of the monks in their stalls, and before the benches, and at the reading-place in the chapter-house. Various farmsteads, belonging to the monastery, were usually bound at certain times to find the hay, straw, and rushes necessary for this part of the sacrist's work. The cellarer was the monastic
purveyor of all foodstuffs for the community.
His chief duty, perhaps, was to look ahead and to see that the stores
were not
running low ; that the corn had come in from the granges, and flour
from the
mill, and that is was ready for use by the bakers ; that what was
needed of
flesh, fish, and vegetables for immediate use was ready at hand. He had
to
---72--- provide all that was necessary
for
the kitchen ; but was to make no great purchases without the knowledge
and consent of the abbot. In some places it was enjoined that every
Saturday he was to consult with the prior as to the
requirements of the coming week, so as to be prepared with the changes
of diet associated by custom with certain times and feasts.
To procure the necessary stores, the cellarer had of course to be frequently away at the granges and at neighbouring fairs and markets ; but he had to inform the abbot and prior when he would be absent, and to leave the keys of his office with his assistant. As the "Martha" of the establishment always busy with many things in the service of the brethren, he was exempt from much of the ordinary choir duty, but when not present at the public Office, he had to say his own privately in a side chapel. He did not sleep usually in the common dormitory, but in the infirmary, as he was frequently wanted at all hours. As part of his duty the cellarer had charge of all the servants, whom he alone could engage, dismiss, or punish. He presided at their table after the conventual meals, unless he had to be present in the abbot's chamber to entertain guests, when the under-cellarer took his place. At dinner, the cellarer stood by the kitchen hatch to see the dishes as they came in, and that the serving was properly done. On days when the community had dishes of large fish, or great joints of meat, or other portions from which many had to be served before the dinner, the dishes, after being divided in the kitchen, were set in the vestibule of the cellarer's office and there the prior inspected them to see that the portions were ---73--- fairly equal. At supper it was his duty to serve out the cheese and cut it into pieces for the brethren. In the case of Westminster and
St. Augustine's, Canterbury,
the cellarer was urged to look well to the supply of fish, both fresh
and
salt. In the case of the first, he was to be careful that it had not
been caught longer than a couple of days
or so, and that is was always properly cooked. In
regard to all the meals he was to see that the cooks were prepared
and in time with their work, since, says the Custumal, "it were better
to let the cook wait to serve the dinner, than to oblige the brethren
to sit
wanting for their meal."
In Benedictine Monasteries, on those days when, in the daily reading of the Rule, the part dealing with the duties and qualifications of the cellarer was read, he was supposed to furnish something extra to the brethren in the refectory. On those occasions he was to be present when the passage of the Rule was read out, and to make sure that he might not be away, was to ask the cantor to let him know a few days beforehand. Besides the main part of this office as caterer to the community, on the cellarer devolved many other duties. In fact, the general management of the establishment, except what was specially assigned to other officials, or given to any individual by the superior, was in his hands. In this way besides the question of food and drink, the cellarer had to see to fuel, the carriage of goods, the general repairs of the house, and the purchases of all materials, such as wood, iron, glass, nails, etc. Some of the Obedientiary accounts which have survived show the multitude and variety of the cellarer's cares. At one time, on one such Roll, beyond the ordinary expenses ---74--- [Illustration: Adam the Cellarer.] [Download 815 KB jpg.] --page not numbered.-- there is noted the purchase of
three hundred and eighty quarters of coal for the kitchen, the carriage
of one hundredweight of wax from London, the process of making torches
and
candles, the purchase of cotton for the wicks, the employment of women
to make
oatmeal, the purchase of œblanket-cloth for jelly strainers,
and the employment of "the
pudding wife on great feast days to make the pastry." He had, of
course, frequently to visit the
granges and manors under his care, to look that the overseer knew his
business
and did not neglect it, to see that the servants and labourers did not
misconduct themselves, and that the shepherds spent the nights watching
with
their flocks, and did not wander off to any neighbouring tavern.
Besides this he was charged to see that the
granary doors were sound and the locks in good order, and in the time
of
threshing out the corn he was to keep watch over the men engaged in the
work and the women who
were winnowing. He was constantly warned by the Custumals that he
should frequently discuss the details of his work
with his superiors, and take his advice, and get to know his wishes.
Finally, in one English Custumal at least, he is warned, in the midst
of all his numberless duties undertaken for the
community, not to let it affect his character as a religious. He should
avoid, his is told, ever getting
into the habit of trafficking like a tradesman, of striving too eagerly
after
some slender profit, or of grinding out a hard bargain from those who
could ill afford it.
As chief assistant the cellarer had an under official, called the sub-cellarer, who was told to be kind and to possess polished manners. Besides taking the chief's place when occasion required, in most well-regulated ---75--- religious establishments
certain
ordinary duties were assigned to the sub-cellarer. They were mainly
concerned with the important
matters of bread and beer. He kept the
keys of the cellar, and drew the necessary quantity of beer before each
meal. When he took his place in the refectory he
handed his keys to the cellarer, in case anything should required
during the meal. He was specially charged with
seeing that the cellar was kept tidy, and that the jugs and other
"vasa ministerii" were clean. When the barrels were
filled with new beer,
they were to be constantly watched by him for fear of an accident. In
winter he was to see that straw or hay
bands were to be placed round the vats to protect them from frost, and
that, if
need be, fires were lighted ; in summer he should have the windows
closed with
shutters, to keep the cellar cool. He was not to serve any beer till at
least the fourth day after it had
been made.
His special help, in seeing to the bakery and the bread, was the granatorius, or guardian of the grain. It was his duty to receive the grain when it came from the farms, and to note and check the amounts, to see to the grinding, and to superintend the bakery. He had to watch that the flour was of the proper quality, and on feast days he was supposed to give a better kind of bread and a different shape of loaf. At times the community might have hot bread "a special treat" and if it were not quite ready, the meal could be delayed for a short time on such occasions. The granator was supposed to visit the manors and farms several times in the year, to estimate the amount of flour that would be required, and to determine whence it was to be furnished, and when. Under the assistant-cellarer and the granator were several official servants, of ---76-- whom the miller, the baker, and
the brewer were the chief. It was the
sub-cellarer's place to entertain any tenants of the monastic farms who
might
come on business, or for any other reason, to the monastery ; and from
him any
of the monks could obtain what was necessary to entertain their
relatives or
friends when they visited them, or the small tokens of affectionate
remembrance, called exennia, which
they were permitted to send them four times in the year.
The refectorian
had charge of the refectory, or as it is sometimes called, the frater,
and had to see that all things were in order for the meals of the
brethren. He should be
"strong in bodily health," says one Custumal, "unbending in his
determination to have order
and method, a true religious, respected by all, determined to prevent
anything
tending to disorder, and loving all brethren without favour." If
duties of this office required it, he
might be absent from choir, and each day after the Gospel of the High
Mass he had
to leave that church and repair to the refectory, in order to see that
all was
ready for the conventual dinner, which immediately followed the Mass.
Out of the revenues attached to his office, the refectorian had to find all tables and benches necessary, and to keep them in repair ; to purchase what cloths and napkins, jugs, dishes, and mats might be required. Three times a year he received from the monastic farms five loads of straw, to place under the feet of the brethren when they were sitting at table, and the same quantity of hay to spread over the floor of the refectory. Five times a year he had to renew the rushes that were strewn about the hall ; and ---77--- on Holy Saturday, by custom, he
was supposed to scatter bay leaves to scent the air, and to give a
festal spring-like appearance to the place. In summer he might throw
flowers about, with mint and fennel, to purify
the air, and provide fans for changing and cooling it.
In preparation for any meal, the refectorian had to superintend the spreading of the table-cloths; to set the salt and see that it was dry ; to see that in the place of each monk was set the usual loaf, that no wood-ash from the oven was on the underside of the bread, and that it was covered by the napkin. The drink had to be poured into jugs, and brought in, so as to be ready before the coming of the community ; and on the table the cup of each monk was to be set at his place. In some houses the spoons also were distributed before the commencement of the meal ; but in others, after the food had been brought in, the refectorian himself brought the spoons and distributed them, holding that of the abbot in his right hand a little raised, and the rest in his left hand. Both cups and spoons were to be examined and counted every day by the refectorian, and he had to repair them when necessary, and see that they were washed and cleaned every day. Amongst the refectorian's other duties may be mentioned his care of the lavatory. He was to provide water--hot if necessary--for washing purposes, and was to have always a clean hanging-towel for general use, as well as two others always ready in the refectory. All towels of any kind were to be changed twice a week, on Sundays and Thursdays. The refectorian was to be blamed if the lavatory was not kept clean, or if grit or dirt was allowed to collect in the washing-trough. He had to keep in the ---78--- lavatory a supply of sand and a
whetstone for the brethren to use in scouring and sharpening their
knives. When the abbot was present at meals, he had
to see that the ewer and basin with clean towels were prepared for him
to wash
his hands. On Maundy Thursday the tables were to be set with clean
white cloths, and a caritas,
or extra glass of wine, was to be given to all the community. At the
approach of All Saints
the refectorian had to see that the candlesticks were ready for the
candles to
light the refectory ; one candlestick being provided for every three
monks at
the evening meal from November 1 to the Purification--February 2.
Lastly, it was the refectorian's duty
to sample the cheeses intended for the community. He could taste two or
three in a batch, and if he did not
like them reject the whole lot. At Abingdon a œweight
of cheese was equal to eighteen stone, and such a œweight was
supposed to last the community five days!
The office of kitchener was
one of great responsibility. He was
appointed in Chapter by the abbot with the advice of the prior, and he
should
be one who was agreeable to the community. According to the Custumal of
one great English abbey, the kitchener was to be almost a paragon of
virtue. He ought to be œa truly religious man, just, upright, gentle,
patient, and trustworthy. He should be ready to
accept suggestions, humble in his demeanour, and kind to others. He
should be known to be of good disposition
and conversation ; always ready to return a mild answer to those who
came to
him. He was œnot to be lavish, nor too niggardly, but ever to keep the
---79--- happy mean in satisfying the
needs of his brethren, and in his gifts of food and
other things to such as made application to him. And as the safeguard
of all the rest, he should strive ever to keep his
mind and heart in peace and patience.
The needed to be well instructed in the details of his office. he had to know, for example, how much food would be required for the allowances of the brethren, in order to know what and how much to buy, or to obtain from the other officials. he was to have what help he needed, and, besides the cooks, he had under him a trustworthy servant, sometimes called his emptor, or buyer, who was experienced in purchasing provisions, and knew how and at what seasons it were best to fill up the monastic store-houses. It was obviously of great importance, in order to prevent waste, that the kitchener should keep a strict account of what was expended in provisions and of what amounts were served out to the brethren. Each week he had to sum up the totals, and at the end of the month he had to present his accounts for examination to the superior, being prepared to explain why the cost of one week was greater than that of another, and in general to give an account of his administration. As his name imported, the kitchener presided over the entire kitchen department. he was directed to see that all the utensils made use of were cleaned every day. He was to know the number of dishes required for each portion, and to furnish the cook with that number ; he was to see that food was never served to the community in broken dishes, and was to be particular that the bottoms of the dishes were clean before allowing them to leave his charge, so that they might not soil the napery on the ---80--- refectory tables. Whilst any
meal was being
dished, he was to be present to prevent unnecessary noise and clatter,
and he was to see that the cooks got the food ready in time, so that
the
brethren might never be kept waiting. If the High
Mass and Office, preceding the dinner, were for any reason protracted
beyond
the usual time, the kichener was to warn the cooks of the delay. In the
refectory his place was opposite to
that of the prior on the left, but if there were need, he could move
about
during the supper and arrange or change the portions. In a special
manner he was to see to the
sick, and serve them with food that they might fancy or relish or that
what was
good for them.
In some places the office of kitchener, like many of the others, was endowed with special revenues which had to be administered by the kitchener. At Abingdon, for example, the rents of many of the town tenements were assigned to it. From his separate revenue the abbot in the same place paid into the kitchener's account more than £100 a year, to meet the expenses of his table, chiefly in the entertainment of guests. Besides money receipts, in most monasteries there were many payments in kind. In the same abbey, to take that place as a sample, at the beginning of Lent various fisheries had to supply so many "sticks of eels." So, too, on the anniversary of Abbot Watchen, the kitchener had the fish taken from the fish-stew at one of the monastic manors ; and during Lent, from every boat which passed up the Thames carrying herrings, except it were a royal barge, the ktichener took toll of a hundred of the fish, which had to be brought to him by the boat's boy, who for his personal service received five herrings and a jug of beer. ---81--- The character of the religious kitchener as sketched in one English Custumal is very charming. "He
should be humble at heart and not merely in word ; he should possess a
kindly
disposition and be lavish of pity for others ; he should have a sparing
hand in
supplying his own needs and a prodigal one where others are concerned ;
he must
ever be a consoler of those in affliction, a refuge to those who are
sick ; he
should be sober and retiring, and really love the needy, that he may
assist
them as a father and helper ; he should be the hope and aid of all in
the
monastery, trying to imitate the Lord, who said, 'he who
ministers to
Me, let
him follow Me.'"
---82--- The long list of duties for the kitchener to attend to set forth in the monastic Custumals, and the grave admonitions which accompany them, show how very important a place that official occupied in the monastery. He had to attend daily in the larder to receive and check the food. When the eggs were brought, for example, by the œvitelers, he had to note who brought them, and whence they came, and to settle how they were to be used. He was to see that the paid œlarderer had meat and fish, salt and fresh, and that the fowls and other birds were fed whilst they were under his charge, waiting for the time why would be wanted for the table. After having made his daily inspection of the outer larder, the kitchener was to visit the inner larder, in order to see that all the plates and dishes were properly scoured, that all the food ready for cooking was kept sweet and clean, and that all the fish was well covered with damp reeds to keep it fresh. Moreover, he was to inspect the fuel, to see that the supply was always kept up by the doorkeeper of the kitchen, with the help of the turnbroach. The kitchener was warned, not
without reason, no doubt, to be careful about his keys. They
were to be kept in his room, and no one might touch them without
having first obtained his leave. "And," says the Custumal, "he should
prudently take heed not to put
too much trust in the cooks and the servants, and on account of the
danger of temptation
should not let them have his keys without going personally to see what
they wanted
them for." In this way only was it
possible to guard against waste and alienation of the monastery goods.
In discharge of his duties, which were exercised for the common good, the kitchener might easily be excused from choir duties. During the morning Office he was permitted, for example, to say his Mass, and his first daily duty was to visit the sick to see if there were anything that would relish that he could get, and to cheer them with a few kindly words. Among the many things that the kitchener might be called upon to provide at various times for the brethren, it may be mentioned that he had to furnish the cantor with some of the best beer when he desired to mix the ink for the writers. 6. THE WEEKLY SERVERS IN THE KITCHEN Closely connected with the
office of kitchener
is that of the weekly servers, for they were among his chief, though
constantly changing, assistants. They entered upon
their weekly duties on the Sunday after Lauds, when those who were
finishing their week and those who were beginning had to ask and
receive the
triple blessing. Immediately after receiving
the benediction, the new officers went to their work. They drew water
to wash with, and
---83--- after their ablutions went to the kitchen to be ready to do whatever might be needful. During their week of service,
if there were two Masses, one server went to the
first, the other to the second. Whilst the
community were in the cloister at reading-time, both were to be at work
in the kitchen. They had to be in the refectory
ready to serve at meal times, and before all refections they were to
see that the lavatory was prepared for the brethren. If
there were a frost they had to provide basins of hot
water and put them near the washing-place, and they were to make ready
the water,
towels, and other things requisite on shaving days. After
each meal one of the weekly servers in an apron went to the
kitchen to assist in washing up the dishes and plates.
On Saturdays they had to
prepare hot and cold water, with towels, in the
cloister, for the weekly feet-washing ; to clean out the lavatory and
scour the
pot used for boiling water in the kitchen ; to
help to sweep up and tidy the kitchen, and to prepare wood for the fire
next day. In the evening, as the last day of their weekly service, they
performed the mandatum,
or feet-washing : the first server washed the feet of the brethren,
beginning with those of the abbot, and the second wiped them with the
towels he
had already dried and warmed. As a last act
they returned and accounted for all the vessels and other things they
had received when entering upon their duties on the previous Sunday.
---84--- -end chapter- |
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