The Interior Op A Gothic Minster.

At each corner of the oblong formed by the stalls , in the nine cathedrals of the old foundation sat a dignitary ; on the S . VY . —as the highest place of dignity ( Scarfantoni on Ceccoperius , lib . i ., tit . ix ., n . 16)—the dean ; on the N . W . the praDcentor : hence the terms used to designate the respective

sides of a choir , Oantoris et Decani ( Stat . Line , 1215 ); the chancellor on the S . E ., and the treasurer on the N . E ., thus exercising a complete supervision . At Chichester these stalls Avere specially canopied . At Salisbury an archdeacon sat next to each of the dignitaries , the sub-dean

iu the third stall , on the dean ' s side ; in the middle were canons ; then priest , vicars , and first deacons , according to age , who Avere tolerated in the upper grade , by dispensation . The succentor Avas in the third stall , on the prcecentor's side . In the second form were minor canons , then deacons and the other clerks ; in the first form were " parvi canonici , " and the other " parvi , " according to

age . Canons first occupied the up 2 Der seats in the choir , in the time of Pope Urban II ., 1088-99 , the inferior ministers using benches or forms ( Thomassin ., P . 1 , 1 . iii . c . 10 ) . Every canon AA as to keep his own seat , and never to occupy the stall of an absent dignitary ( Scarf ., i . 34 , 80 ; iii . 142 ) .

Where all the seats are alike , and the dignitaries ( as archdeacons of churches of the new foundation ) had no appropriated stall , then the canons might occupy the vacant stalls of their brethren in order to preserve the choir from an uncomely and bold appearance , and from the intrusion of other persons

to interrupt their order ( lb ., i . 84 ) . The first stalls on the right and left Avere always reserved to the first and second dignitaries ( lb ., 35 ) . The chaplains or vicars were not to sit in the same line or order Ai r ith canons , and the place of their chief " Magister Chori , " Avho ivas chosen by the chapter , was at the head of the second range ( lb . iii ., 138 . ) There Avas an ordo Personarum and an ordo

Saccrdolum , both having' stalls at Meaux in 1227 ( Ducange , v . 214 ) . Where the seats Avere re--turned the superior occupied the most ivesfcernly stall . At Ely and Carlisle , exceptionally , the bishop , as A ice-abbot , occupied the customary seat of the dean , Avho sat in the prior ' s , or N . W . stall .

A throne like a large choir-stall Avas allotted at the extremity of the range , usually on the south , to the bishop , for preaching , or during the daily office ( Martene , de Ant . Ecc . Rib ., i . p . 132 ) as in the centre , the place of dignity ( Frances , p . 88 ) , and a seat near the altar on the north side , during

pontifical high mass ( Ibid ., 79 ) . In the basilica , liOAvever , the bishop ' s choir-seat AA as in the ambo ( Soe . H . E ., lib . vi . c . 5 ) , and used by him Avhen preaching ( Mayer , i . 38 ) . His faldstool Avas in the midst of the apse , and called his throne , because in his diocese he acted as chief rulerwith

, the priests sitting on either hand and the deacons standing ( Ibid ., lib . xv . p . 50 ) . The thrones of Durham , Exeter , Wells , and Hereford , of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries , show the increase

of episcopal splendour . With a specially solemn meaning at Durham , Bishop Hatfield raised his throne over a tomb also : ( as Mr . Eustace playfully says ) he sat hi g her than the Pope ' s chair . At St . David's the throne , c . 1500 , contains a central stall , with side seats for the collateral canons , with ,

a IOAV partition ( c . 1342 ) round it . The throne of Bristol is c . 1543 . At Durham , the bishop frequently occupied an ordinary stall . The correct position of the archdeacon was facing the bishop , as his " eye . " Certain precedence was given to the sub-dean at Salisbury , Wells , Exeter , and York , and in the latter cathedral to the sub-chanter of the canons . The

ordinary arrangement Avas , that the canons regular , and monks , sat in order of dignity or profession —• seniors before juniors , priests before deacons , and deacons before sub-deacons ; but in secular churches the stalls were marked , being divided into those of priests , deacons , ancl sub-deacons . The name

of his prebend and the antiphon of the psalm which each canon was bound to recite daily for benefactors and departed canons ivere Avritten up over his stall , as at St . Paul ' s , Lincoln , Chichester , Wells , & c , to Avhich was added afterwards a notice of his preaching turn at Hereford . Citations to

residence Avere affixed by the prebendary ' s vicar upon his stall . At Lichfield every canon was provided ivith his OAVH light and book in choir ; and a vestige of the old custom Avas preserved a century since at York , where , on the eves of certain holy daysa branch of seven lights was placed

, before each of the dignitaries' stalls . On feasts of nine lections at Lichfield , the chapter and collect were read out of the last stall on the east . At Canterbury , Westminster , and Wells , the lessons are UOAV read from the stalls . At Exeter ive find books for devotional use

, chained before the altar ; antiphoners chained before the dean , chancellor , and treasurer ; ordinals in front of the precentor and succentor ; aud books chained betAveen the choir-step and altar-step . Such chained books still remain at Selby .

The treasurer provided the lig-hfcs for the choir . At Canterbury , York , Winchester , and Salisbury , a large seven-branched candlestick stood in the centre of the choir . A small candlestick of this kind is in use in the Lady Chapel at Lichfield . At Exeter , on Great Doubles , tAveuty-six lights

burned in choir , and one on the choir-step : the pyx Avas pendant , and silver coroneee were hung lengtliAvise betiveen the altar and screen . At Chichester two tapers during the night offices Avere lighted in the central chandelier , tAvo on the altar step , and one outside the choir near

the step leading to the vestry . At Hereford , Chichester , Exeter , and Lichfield , the central chandelier held tAventy-four large tapers . The exact number of tapers to be lighted was rigidly defined . The priests , vicars , and vicars choral Avere required to learn in their first year of proba-