RELIGIOUS LIFE 61

a number of clergy besides the parish priest attached
to it: the number varied from one to ten or more
according to the number of chantries at the church.
Each priest was helped a great deal in parochial
affairs by the parish clerk. The latter was the
chief lay official for business in connection with the
parish church. His duties required him to be a man
of some education.

The Archbishop was both bishop of the diocese
of York, and head of all the dioceses which together
formed the Northern Province of the two provinces
into which England was divided for the purpose of
Church rule. His diocese formerly extended so
far south as to include Nottingham and Southwell.

The Archbishop was a Primate and occupied a
high position in the State. Besides- being supreme
head of the Church in the northern province, he was
a great landowner. He possessed, besides his palace
near the Minster, a number of seats (like Cawood
Castle) in the country. When he was in London
he resided at his fine official palace, York House.
The Archbishops were great lords of the realm in
every way. Archbishop Neville, brother of Warwick
" the king-maker/' celebrated his installation in
1465 with a very famous feast. The huge amount
and delicacy of the dishes prepared, the number
of retainers employed, the splendour of the scene,
which was honoured by the presence of the Duke of
Gloucester and members of some of the most noble
families in the kingdom, all the details of this
sumptuous feast, were intended to impress King
Edward IV. with the might of the Nevilles.

Ecclesiastical preferment was often a reward for
services in other branches of the service of the State.
Sometimes great offices in the Church and the
State were held simultaneously. Thus, Archbishop