The information given us in the “Taxatio” of the finances of the diocese in 1291 is scanty:—
The temporalities[388] of the bishop were valued at £462 4s. 6¾d.
The dean and chapter had estates, appropriate rectories, portions, pensions, etc., which brought in a clear income of £310 14s. 6½d.
The dignities of the cathedral are given as follows:—
The deanery with a prebend, £53 6s. 8d.
The chantry, £53 6s. 8d.
The chancellor with the Rectory of Chiddingly, £53 6s. 8d.
The treasurer, per se £46 13s. 4d.
Then came twenty-eight other prebends, ranging from £4 13s. 4d. to £40, making up the total income of the dignitaries and prebendaries to £706 13s. 4d.
When we turn to the “Valor” (vol. i. p. 293), we find fuller details of the condition of things at the end of the fifteenth century. “The annual value of all and singular, the houses, castles, domains, manors, lands, and tenements, and other temporal possessions whatsoever, and also of the tithes, oblations, pensions, portions, and other spiritual profits whatsoever, of the Reverend Father in Christ, Robert, Bishop of Chichester,” amounted to spiritualities, £138 17s. 9d.; temporalities,[389] £589 10s. 2d.; or, after certain allowed deductions, to a clear total of £677 1s. 3d.