HEN the abbacy was converted into a bishopric, a.d. 1109, the office of Abbot merged into that of bishop, and an officer called the Prior, or Lord Prior, became the head of the community; he presided in chapter, and governed generally the affairs of the monastery; and in the reigns of some of our kings he was summoned to sit in Parliament. The first Prior after this alteration was Vincent, and there followed in succession thirty-six others, the last of whom, Robert Wells otherwise Steward, surrendered the monastery, with its goods and possessions, into the hands of King Henry the Eighth, at the general dissolution in November, 1539. Agreeably to the powers vested in him by Parliament, the king, by letters patent dated September 10th, 1541, "did grant his royal charter for erecting the Cathedral Church of the late monastery of St. Peter and St. Etheldreda at Ely into a Cathedral Church, by the name and title of "The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely" to consist of one Dean, a priest, and eight Prebendaries,[15] priests, with other ministers necessary for the celebrating Divine service therein." And "did ordain the said Cathedral Church to be the Episcopal See of the Bishop of Ely and his successors, with all the honours and privileges of an Episcopal See and Cathedral Church. And that the said Dean and Prebendaries be one body corporate, have perpetual succession, one common seal, be the Chapter of the then Bishop of Ely, and his successors, and be called 'The Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely:' also did give and grant unto them the whole site of the late dissolved monastery, with all the ancient privileges, liberties, and free customs of the same, and nearly all the revenues thereof." Robert Steward, the late Prior, was made the first Dean, since whose time twenty-three others have held the office exclusive of the present Dean, who was appointed in December, 1869.

We append a list of the Priors and Deans of Ely.

PRIORS.

1. Vincent.
2. Henry.
3. William.
4. Tombert, or Thembert.
5. Alexander.
6. Solomon.
7. Richard.
8. Robert Longchamp.
9. John de Strateshete.
10. Hugh.
11. Roger de Brigham.
12. Ralph.
13. Walter.
14. Robert de Leverington.
15. Henry de Banccis.
16. John de Hemingston.
17. John de Shepreth.
18. John Saleman.
19. Robert de Orford.
20. William de Clare.
21. John de Fresingfield.
22. John de Crauden.
23. Alan de Walsingham.
24. William Hathfield.
25. John Bucton.
26. William Walpole.
27. William Powcher.
28. Edmund Walsingham.
29. Peter de Ely.
30. William Wells.
31. Henry Peterborough.
32. Roger Westminster.
33. Robert Colville.
34. William Witlesey.
35. William Foliott.
36. John Cottenham.
37. Robert Wells, alias Steward, last Prior, and first Dean.

DEANS.

a.d.
1541.Robert Steward, or Wells, M.A., last Prior.
1557.Andrew Perne, D.D., Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.
1589.John Bell, D.D., Master of Jesus College, Cambridge.
1591.Humphrey Tindall, D.D., President of Queen's College, Cambridge.
1614.Henry Cæsar, or Adelmare, D.D.
Dean Cæsar was a great patron of Music. A musical Service, known as "Cæsar's Service,"
but written by John Amner, Organist, is preserved among the MSS. in the Cathedral Library.
1636.William Fuller, D.D. In 1646, Dean of Durham.
1646.William Beale, D.D., nominated but never admitted; Master of St. John's College, Cambridge. Died at Madrid, 1650.
A vacancy of ten years.
1660.Richard Love, D.D., Master of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1661.Henry Ferne, D.D., Master of Trinity College, Cambridge; in 1662 Bishop of Chester. Died five weeks after his consecration.
1662.Edward Martin, D.D., Master of Queen's College, Cambridge. Died a few days after his institution.
1662.Francis Wilford, D.D., Master of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1667.Robert Mapletoft, D.D., Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.
Dean Mapletoft left several acres of land to augment the Stipends of the Singing Men.
1677.John Spencer, D.D., Master of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1693.John Lamb, M.A., Chaplain to King William and Queen Mary.
1708.Charles Roderick, D.D., Provost of King's College, Cambridge.
1712.Robert Moss, D.D., Fellow and Tutor of Bene't College, Cambridge.
1729.John Frankland, D.D., Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
1730.Peter Allix, D.D., Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge.
Commenced important repairs in the fabric of the Church.
1758.Hugh Thomas, D.D., Master of Christ's College, Cambridge.
1780.William Cooke, D.D., Provost of King's College, Cambridge.
1797.William Pearce, D.D., Master of Jesus College, Cambridge.
1820.James Wood, D.D., Master of St. John's College, Cambridge.
1839.George Peacock, D.D., Lowndean Professor of Astronomy, Cambridge.
Extensive repairs and restorations were commenced in 1844.
1858.Harvey Goodwyn, D.D. In 1869, Bishop of Carlisle.
1869.Charles Merivale, D.D., D.C.L.

Arms of the Deanery—Gu. three keys or. These were the arms of Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester, and from him assumed as the arms of the monastery.

The Dean and Chapter have the patronage of sixteen livings in this diocese, three in the diocese of Norwich, and one in the diocese of Rochester. They also appoint to the Minor Canonries and other offices connected with the Cathedral.