Economist
Economist (a steward), called by Possidius provost of the church-house, was a priest, as stated by Isidore Pelusiotes, appointed by the Council of Chalcedon in 451, and elected by the clergy in the East, to discharge the same duties as devolved on a mediaeval treasurer, provost of canons, and almoners in an English cathedral. In the Western Church he is mentioned in the 4th century, and was a deacon at Milan in the time of Ambrose. His office was contemporaneous with the restriction of an archdeacon to spiritual duties. In the vacancy of the see, by the councils of Chalcedon and Trent, he acted as receiver-general and administrator of the episcopal revenues. At Kilkenny, St. David's, and Exeter, as now at Windsor, he received the capitular rents, and at Westminster provided the common table and paid the servants' wages. At Hereford two economists, or bailiffs, rendered half- yearly accounts of the great commons,
