ANON. stituted in the place of that which had been appointed by Chrodegangus, and which was observed for the most part in the west till the 12th century. By degrees, these communities of priests, shaking off their dependence, formed separate bodies; whereof the bishops, however, were still heads. In the tenth century, there were communities or congregations of the same kind, established even in cities where there were no bishops: these were called collegiates, as they used the terms congregation and college indifferently: the name chapter, now given to these bodies, being much more modern. Under the second race of the French kings, the canonical or collegiate life had spread itself all over the country; and each cathedral had its chapter, distinct from the rest of the clergy. They had the name canon from the Greek kanon, which signifies three different things; a rule, a pension or fixed revenue to live on, and a catalogue or matricula; all which are applicable to them.
In time, the canons freed themselves from their rules, the observance relaxed, and, at length, they ceased to live in community: yet they still formed bodies; pretending to other functions besides the celebration of the common office in the church; yet assuming the rights of the rest of the clergy: making themselves as a necessary council of the bishop; taking upon them the administration of a see during a vacancy, and the election of a bishop to supply it. There are even some chapters exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop, and owning no head but their dean. After the example of cathedral chapters, collegiate ones also continued to form bodies, after they had abandoned living in community.
CANONS are of various kinds; as,