DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0052
20
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
The words monastery and convent signify the habitation of a monastic society,
and are therefore applicable either to the abbeys or priories : so the word nunnery
distinguishes only the sex of the religious inhabitants, and may be applied to an
abbey or priory.
A description of the subordinate officers in a monastery will furnish some idea
of the economy of these institutions.
The next officer to the abbot in every abbey was the Prior, who in the absence
of the former had the care of the house, assisted by the subprior: in great abbeys,
there was sometimes a third, fourth, and even a fifth prior. In priories, the officer
next to the prior was a subprior.
The six greater officers in the monastery of Croyland (and perhaps in most
others) were :—
I. Mdgister Operis, or master of the fabric, whose duty it was to attend to the
repairs of the building.
II. Eleenwsynarius, the almoner, who had the distribution of the alms of the
house.
III. Pitantiarius, the person who distributed the pittances, or extraordinary
allowances of provisions.
IV. Sacrista, or the sexton, the person who took care of the vessels, books, and
vestments ; looked after and accounted for the oblations at the altars, and legacies
or utensils belonging to the fabric ; provided bread and wine for the sacrament,
and attended to the burying of the dead.
V. Camerarius, the chamberlain, who had the chief care of the dormitory, and
provided beds and bedding for the monks, razors and towels, and part, if not the
whole of their clothing.
VI. The Cellerarius, or the cellarer, was to procure provisions for the convent.
In addition to these there were Thesaurarius, the treasurer, or bursar; Prce-
centor, the chanter, who presided over the service of the choir, and those engaged
in it; had the custody of the seal, kept the chapter book, and provided the writing
and painting materials for the writers and embellishers of books in the library.
The Hostilarius, or Hospitilarius, was charged with attending to the due enter-
tainment of guests.
The Infirmarius had the care of the infirmary, and of the sick monks ; he pro-
vided them physic and necessaries while living, and washed and prepared their
bodies for burial when dead.
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
The words monastery and convent signify the habitation of a monastic society,
and are therefore applicable either to the abbeys or priories : so the word nunnery
distinguishes only the sex of the religious inhabitants, and may be applied to an
abbey or priory.
A description of the subordinate officers in a monastery will furnish some idea
of the economy of these institutions.
The next officer to the abbot in every abbey was the Prior, who in the absence
of the former had the care of the house, assisted by the subprior: in great abbeys,
there was sometimes a third, fourth, and even a fifth prior. In priories, the officer
next to the prior was a subprior.
The six greater officers in the monastery of Croyland (and perhaps in most
others) were :—
I. Mdgister Operis, or master of the fabric, whose duty it was to attend to the
repairs of the building.
II. Eleenwsynarius, the almoner, who had the distribution of the alms of the
house.
III. Pitantiarius, the person who distributed the pittances, or extraordinary
allowances of provisions.
IV. Sacrista, or the sexton, the person who took care of the vessels, books, and
vestments ; looked after and accounted for the oblations at the altars, and legacies
or utensils belonging to the fabric ; provided bread and wine for the sacrament,
and attended to the burying of the dead.
V. Camerarius, the chamberlain, who had the chief care of the dormitory, and
provided beds and bedding for the monks, razors and towels, and part, if not the
whole of their clothing.
VI. The Cellerarius, or the cellarer, was to procure provisions for the convent.
In addition to these there were Thesaurarius, the treasurer, or bursar; Prce-
centor, the chanter, who presided over the service of the choir, and those engaged
in it; had the custody of the seal, kept the chapter book, and provided the writing
and painting materials for the writers and embellishers of books in the library.
The Hostilarius, or Hospitilarius, was charged with attending to the due enter-
tainment of guests.
The Infirmarius had the care of the infirmary, and of the sick monks ; he pro-
vided them physic and necessaries while living, and washed and prepared their
bodies for burial when dead.