and the prebends of High-Offly and Flixton, now held by him. The sixth residentiaryship to consist of the house enjoyed by the reverend W. Lamb, D. D. and the prebend of Freeford, and also the prebend of Handsacre and Armitage now held by him. The advowsons of the vicarages of Colwich, Bishop's Itchington, Tachbrook, Longdon, HighOffley, and Tervin, are now vested in the bishop, in lieu of the prebends which were before in his patronage. THE CLOSE OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH, "Here aged Trees Cathedral Walks compose, THE Close or space surrounding the Cathedral, is so called because it was formerly, and in some part now is, inclosed with a stone wall, and a deep dry trench, on all sides, except the South toward the City, where it is defended by a pool of running water, which supplies the adjacent corn-mill; "Where the mantling willows nod, Patient with his well thrown rod, Many an Angler breaks the tide.” There were also gates on the South-east side, The antient stone gateway on the West, built by Bishop Langton, has lately been taken down, and the space, including some garden ground, filled filled with alms-houses for widows, erected and endowed by T. Newton, esq. brother of the late amiable bishop Newton, The Close is supplied with water from Maplehay, about a mile and a half to the North-west; two fountains having been bestowed on the church by Thomas Bromley, for ever, on the annual payment of 15s, 4d. This donation was made before 1293; for in that year a dispute arose between the dean and chapter and Thomas de Abbendale, about the passage of the water through his lands. This dispute was compromised, and a further grant made by Thomas de Abbendale, that the dean and chapter might alter or enlarge the pipes, and fence out the springs with a wall, gratis. William Bell de Pipe granted, by deed sans date, to Thomas Bradford, canon of Lichfield, a fountain rising in his land at Pipe, near the head of the conduit, standing above the other two fountains, with licence to bring it through his grounds, for which grant he was paid 12s. sterling, William William de Harpesley, of Lichfield, granted leave to bring the pipes through his orchard, near the West gate of the Close, notwithstanding the same should be sown or built upon. Robert Cooke, Robert de Kynttecote, and Agnes de Sparham, his wife, granted the like permission. King Henry VIII. (1489) in the presence of the great officers of state, decreed, that sir Humphrey Stanley should not interrupt the dean and chapter in repairing the pipes, &c. The whole Close is of exempt jurisdiction, and quite independent of the city. The inhabitants are possessed of many privileges. The charter of King Edward IV. (dated 13th Dec. 1461) constituted the dean and canons residentiary for the time being sole justices of the peace for the precincts of the Close; and declared that the Close should be a separate franchise from the city and county of Lichfield, and that the magistrates of that city, or of the * At that time the wife did not take the name of the husband. county county of Stafford, should not have jurisdiction there; and that neither the sheriff of Staffordshire, nor the sheriff of Lichfield, should have power to arrest any person in the Close, unless the process be granted or indorsed by a magistrate thereof. Queen Elizabeth and King James, in their respective reigns, confirmed the charter of King Edward, and granted farther immunities. The Deanery, being nearly destroyed in the Civil Wars, was rebuilt after the Restoration. The Prebendal-houses are built around the Close. The whole property is in the church, except two houses on the South side, bordering on the pool, which, before the present causeways or bridges were made by bishop Langton, in the time of king Edward I. were granted to the City, that the inhabitants might have landing places and access to the Cathedral; which, in antient times, had a vast concourse of devotees to the shrine of St. Chad. The Vicars were formerly collegiated, and had their hall and houses at the West end of tle |