“Vnde incepto Jube domine benedicere none leccionis dabit ille benediccionem qui propinquior fuerit dignitate. et iste modus seruetur omni tempore nisi ita sit quod omnes canonici sint absentes. tunc suus clericus incipiet Jube et cetera et ipsemet lector dicat benediccionem. Deinde leget” (p. 372).
Also we find the following references to the use of the rood-loft:—
“Gloria, ergo incepto; Eat principalis subdiaconus in pulpitum per dexteram partem chori subdiacono (secundario) librum portante precedente, Vnde si contingat leccionem aliquam precedere sicut in natali Domini siue in septimana Pentecostes iiijᵒʳ temporum; secundus subdiaconus leget, et sacerdos cum suis ministris dicet epistolam. et Gradale et Alleluia et Sequenciam et hijs dictis eat ad suum sedile et ibi dicet oraciones. Lecta epistola in pulpito recedet subdiaconus principalis ex sinistra parte chori socio suo prenotato precedente et librum portante,” &c. (p. 377).
The following passage has against it in the margin:—
“De modo eundi ad euangelium in magno pulpito. Et preparent se omnes ministri altaris ad eundum pro euangelio lecturo scilicet iij diaconi et iij subdiaconi Principalibus diacono et subdiacono textus portantibus et ij turiferarij et ij ceroferarij et ij clerici pueri ferentes cruces et hij omnes per chorum exeant Set in eundo ad euangelium diaconi ire debent ex parte dextra chori precedentibus vno turiferario et ceroferario et vna cruce et subdiaconi ex sinistra precedentibus vno thuriferario et ceroferario cum cruce, Vnde incepto evangelio stabunt coram diaconis subdiaconi omnes et clerici cruces portantes principali subdiacono portante textum ante pectus Lecto evangelio ibunt ad altare modo contrario quia diaconi ibunt ex parte sinistra et subdiaconi ex parte dextra. Vnde semper quando aliquis vel aliqui venient in pulpitum magnum ad legendum euangelium siue epistolam siue exposicionem; venient in dextra et recedant in sinistra et dabit sacerdoti euangelium ad osculandum,” &c. (p. 379).
Again—
“Completorium pulsatur” in a given way. “Vnde sciendum quod quando iij cantant ad lectrinam in choro siue in magno pulpito.... Nota quod quandocumque canonicus leget siue cantet in magno pulpito siue in choro sequetur eum ministrando vicarius siue clericus in habitu nigro nisi chorus capis induatur sericis” (p. 382).
Later, i.e. in 1236, there are directions for the choir to face the altar whilst the Gospel is being read at the altar, we may presume, for the next sentence runs thus: “Et dum legitur in pulpito debet chorus se convertere ad lectorem euangelij donec euangelium perlegatur.”
There seems to be little doubt that the principal organ (if the church possessed more than one) was frequently placed on the rood-loft, or “pulpitum,” and the smaller one in the choir. There was an organ as late as Hollar’s time over the “Den” in the fourth bay of the north side of the choir at Lincoln. By the extracts already quoted from The Rites of Durham, there was evidently one pair of organs (meaning one complete organ) on the north side of the choir, and another pair on the pulpitum there, and from Henry VI.’s “owne avyse” we learn that it was expressly ordered that the Eton College rood-loft should likewise serve as an organ-gallery. Among the many interesting items in the accounts of Louth steeple, dating from 1501-1518, is this:—
“For setting up the Flemish organ in the rood-loft by four days xxd.”