Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/98

Rh Baptist till Michaelmas Day. And if they make default herein, the Dean shall loose 20s., to be abated out of his wages for the year wherein he doth not accordingly reside. And every Prebendary so offending shall likewise loose and forfeit 10s. to be abated out of his stipend. And the said abatements, forfeitures, and losses to be divided into three equal parts, whereof the one to be distributed among the poore prisoners in the Castle and Northgate, and other Poor of the City, who might have had relief by their residence and hospitality if they had not been absent; and (2) another third part among the rest of the Dean and Chapter which doe reside according to these Injunctions, and (3) the last third part among the singing men which shall be found resident and diligent that year.

Item. The Dean and every Prebendary shall diligently resort to divine service in their surplice and hood, and whosoever shall be deficient herein shall forfeit for the same yearly 5s. out of his said stipend. And because great complaint hath been made of that Corporation of preaching their courses in this Church, some of them never or very seldome preaching, and most or all of them leaving their courses either unprovided altogether, or supplied by mean and insufficient men, or by such as are surcharged elsewhere; it is therefore decreed and enjoyned — every one of them — that from henceforth the Dean and the Archdeacon, and every Prebend, shall in their own persons preach soe oft as it comes to their course, upon pain of 10s. for every default.

Item. Because the great negligence of the petty Canons or Singing Men hath done much wrong to God's service, and brought the Church into contempt and obloquy, it is decreed and strictly enjoyned every member of the Quire, namely, the petty Canons, clerks, organist, and choristers, that from henceforth they do not absent themselves from Divine service any day (above 6 weeks in one year, which are allowed them for their necessary occasions to be absent) upon pain of 2d. to be forfeited by him that shall be absent for every service in this Church. And every one of them that shall come tardy after the Confession is said, or goe out before the end of divine service shall forfeit 1d. for every such default. And because the defects of the organist, or his neglect in tutoring the choristers, hath unsufferably impeached and impaired the service of God, and almost utterly spoyled the children, he is therefore (besides the censure now to be laid upon him) admonished to present reformation;