Page:St. Botolph's Priory, Colchester (1917).djvu/14

8 a full member of the convent, taking his place in everything which went on, and being promoted to Holy Orders as soon as possible, in order to take his share in the masses which formed part of the daily round.

The administration of the house entailed on the brethren a number of different duties, and the responsibility for their proper performance was divided up among them by the creation of a number of offices, the holders of which were called Obedientiaries. The number of such offices varied with the size of the house, but those at Barnwell Priory near Cambridge, a larger house than St. Botolph's, were as follows.

At the head of the house was the Prior, with his deputies the Sub-prior and Third Prior; the Precentor had charge of the services in church and of all books, being also the Librarian, and had as his assistant the Succentor; the Sacrist, with his assistant the Sub-sacrist, had charge of the church and its contents, and the provision of everything necessary for its upkeep. The Sub-sacrist was specially deputed to be the timekeeper and bell-ringer, and to interview casual visitors. The constant supervision required from the Sacrist and Sub-sacrist may be realized from the fact that they not only took their meals in the church, but also slept in it. The Cellarer, in addition to the general supervision of the food and drink, acted as the Steward or Bursar, being jointly responsible with the Prior for the management of the estates and possessions of the house. He also had charge of the lay brothers. The Grainger, who took charge of the produce of the estates, and the Receiver, who accounted for the money, worked in close connection with the Cellarer. The Sub-cellarer had care of the oven and beer-cellar, and also of the guest house. The Fraterer had to see that the frater was sufficiently supplied with food and drink and all necessaries, and the Kitchener was equally responsible for the kitchen, keeping the accounts, and having a cook and a caterer under his orders. The Chamberlain looked after the making and washing of the clothes of the brethren, and provided warm water and soap for shaving and for baths. The Hosteller entertained all the guests of the monastery, and the Infirmarer had charge of the Farmery or Infirmary and those who lived in it, whether temporarily or permanently. The Almoner fulfilled the same functions in the Almonry, and also dispensed the charity of the house in the matter of outdoor relief.

In addition to the fully-professed brethren, the Canons regular, there were lay brethren, or Conversi, men usually of the craftsman class, and of course not in holy orders. They