ANNATES, among ecclesiastical writers, a year's income of a spiritual living.

There were, in ancient times, given to the Pope through all Christendom, upon the decease of any bishop, abbot, or parish-clerk, and were paid by his successor. At the Reformation they were taken from the Pope, and vested in the king; and, finally, Queen Anne restored them to the church, by appropriating them to the augmentation of poor livings.