Some of the additional sources of income earned by these priory servants can be identified.
The scope of this diversity is clearly shown in the type of work undertaken by these individuals for the priory.
The appointment of monastic bishops had long been an aim of priory chapters, although they had rarely succeeded.
All possible eventualities, including the bishop's absence from the country and a lack of suitable candidates from within the priory, were accounted for.
Practical affairs are often mentioned, including loans and their repayment, marriage, burial rights, alien priories, transfers from one religious house to another, buildings and gifts.
The first three houses were abbeys, the last a priory.
On other occasions, a regular employee, acting in the capacity of contractor for the priory, recruited casual labourers as and when necessary.
The close links with the government can be seen in the types of people recruited to the cathedral priory.
