days: by which the sin of a criminous monk was discovered; "qui die crastino ad processionem psalterium prædictum inter reliquias sanctorum ferre præsumens, completa processionis solemnitate reversus in chorum, idem manibus suis firmiter adhærens deponere non prævaluit." Itinerarium. edit. Camden. p. 824.

P. lix. note 9. Compare the rules laid down by archbishop Winchelsey, as regarded chaplains and assistant priests, in the year 1305: "quod debeant interesse cancello matutinis, vesperis, et aliis divinis officiis, horis debitis, induti superpelliciis, de quibus propriis expensis sibi providebunt." Wilkins. Concil. tom. 2. p. 281. cf. tom. 3. p. 214. With regard to the attendance of a clerk, at Divine Service, besides the priests, in even the smallest parishes, this was frequently insisted on and we find it often specified in the ordinations of vicarages. Cf. Script. x. tom. 2. p. 2098. 2099.

etc.

Among the presentments at the visitation of the archdeacon of Colchester, in 1540, was this. "Notatur per rectorem dictæ ecclesiæ, that there is nother clerke, nor sexten, to go withe him in tyme of visitacion, nor to helpe to say masse, nor to rynge to servyce." Archdeacon Hale. Series of precedents, &c. N°. cccxlviij. compare N°. cccl.

P. lxxix. l. 28. "Forma testamenti." I would insert here the form as it was appointed to be used by curates, when sent for, for that purpose, by their parishioners.

"Forma testamenti. In nomine Domini. Amen. Universis præsentes literas inspecturis. Curatus parochialis de-salutem in Domino. salutem in Domino. Notum facimus quod in nostra præsentia ac testium infra scriptorum ad hoc specialiter vocatorum et rogatorum propter hoc personaliter constitutus honestus vir Petrus .N.

clericus parochianus noster, jacens in lecto ægritudinis, infirmus corpore, sanus tamen mente: Attendens et considerans quod vita hominis est brevis super terram; et quod nihil est certius morte, nihil vero incertius ejus hora; cupiens providere saluti animæ suæ, et ad gaudia felicitatis æternæ pervenire: testamentum suum ac suam ejus ultimam voluntatem fecit, et disposuit, in modum et formam sequentem. In primis enim animam suam recommendavit altissimo Deo, creatori suo, dum de corpore exierit, et beatæ Mariæ virgini, totique curiæ cœlesti. Corpus vero suum terræ vermibus, volens illud inhumari in cœmeterio vel ecclesia de dicto Deinde voluit et ordinavit omnia sua debita solvi: forefacta et male acquisita per eum si quæ sint reddi et restitui locis et personis quibus fuerit faciendum. Item dictus testator de bonis a Deo sibi collatis ob remedium animæ suæ legavit fabricæ vel luminariæ prædictæ ecclesiæ. v. sol. t. Item curato totidem. Item vicario. xij. d. t. Item clerico. vj. d. t. Item fabricæ ecclesiæ beatæ Mariæ. ij. sol. vj. d. t. Item eleemosynæ ejusdem ecclesiæ. xij. d. t. Item hospitalibus. N. cuilibet. vj. d. t. Item conventui fratrum prædicatorum. xij. d. t. Item legavit filiolis, cuilibet xv. d. t. Item confratriæ .N. xij. d. t. Et ad præmissa omnia et singula tenenda dictus testator nominavit executores suos Petrum N. ejus patrem, et Nicolaum N. ejus fratrem. Quibus executoribus pro præmissis omnibus et singulis adimplendis dictus testator obligavit omnia bona sua quæcunque et ubicunque, revocando omnia alia testamenta si quæ sint alias per eum facta. Volens hoc suum robur obtinere firmitatis melioribus, via, modo, et forma, quibus valere potest et debet. In cujus rei testimonium signum meum manuale ego N. præfatus curatus una cum sigillo

apposui

99

prælibatæ parochialis ecclesiæ de -huic præsenti testamento. Acta fuerunt in domo dicti testatoris, Anno Domini die vero N. mensis N. præsentibus Johanne N. Jacobo N. et pluribus aliis testibus ad hoc rogatis et vocatis." Manuale Sar. edit. 4to. 1543. fol. clxvj.

I extract from the English councils a few canons bearing upon this matter. this matter. First of a council at Durham, in the year 1220: "Præcipimus quod laicis frequenter inhibeatur, ne testamenta sua faciant sine præsentia sacerdotis, sicut diligunt, ut eorum ultimæ voluntates adimpleantur. Sacerdotibus similiter inhibemus, ne testamentum suum per manum ordinent laicalem." Wilkins, tom. 1. p. 583. The synod of Exeter, in 1287, has a long constitution directed to this point, to which I must refer the reader, quoting only its conclusion: "In fine autem cujuslibet testamenti hanc clausulam adjici volumus generalem: Cætera omnia bona mea, sive in rebus, sive in manibus fuerint debitorum, in hoc testamento non expressa, volo, ut pro animæ meæ salute per manus executorum meorum in pios usus distribuantur; et quod creditoribus meis per manus eorundem similiter sit satisfactum." Ibid. tom. 2. p. 157. Again, shortly after, the 31st canon of a synod of the diocese of Sodor: "Præcipimus et statuimus, quod quilibet languens in extremis agoniis, cum testamentum condere voluerit, vocet capellanum ecclesiæ, et clericum; et ipsis præsentibus, duobus vel tribus viris adhibitis bonis et fide dignis, testamentum suum ore suo ordinet; etc." Ibid. p. 179. Compare also the monition of archbishop Bouchier, in 1455; tom. 3. p. 575, and Lyndwood, lib. iii. tit. 13. de testamentis. The Pupilla Oculi has also a chapter on the same subject. Pars. ix. cap. viij.

--

Archbishop Parker records a remarkable and dreadful case of a dean of S. Paul's, and treasurer of the king. He had plundered, it seems; and lying at last on his death bed, he refused to receive the holy Eucharist; putting it off until the morrow. "Interea ad testamentum condendum monitus est. Ad quod paratus, exire, præter unum scriptorem, cæteros voluit. Is testamentum scripturus, expectans quid decanus dictaret, ex more testamentorum sic orsus est; ‘In nomine Patris, etc.' Quod cum decanus comperisset, iratus jussit id deleri, et hæc verba tantum scribi. Lego omnia bona mea domino regi, corpus sepulturæ, et animam diabolo.' Quo dicto expiravit. Rex cadaver illius jussit curru exportari, atque in amnem projici et demergi." Antiq. Britan. ecc. p. 228. ad an. 1205.

6

P. cix. Processions. The collections of Wilkins contain very many orders for processions, and for various purposes: sometimes for thanksgivings; sometimes to appease the Divine wrath; and for other causes on these occasions the inferior clergy were generally directed to wear surplices. Not unfrequently the consecrated Eucharist was carried in the procession: as, for example, Walsingham says: "Per idem tempus, [1389], Cantabrigiæ in festo commemorationis S. Pauli, occurrebat et festum dedicationis sanctæ Mariæ ibidem, ad quod festum amplius honorandum, in processione per parochiam deferebatur corpus dominicum, super duos humeros sacerdotum in feretro non ponderoso, etc." Hist. Angl. p. 339. Walter de Whytleseye also, mentions among other gifts made by abbot Geoffry to his church of Peterborough,

unum vas argenteum et deauratum ad modum turris

cum lapidibus impressis, et imaginibus sanctorum circumstantibus pro corpore Christi in principalibus festis ante processionem deportandum." Edit. Sparkes, p. 163. cf. p. 170. And once more, the following from Matthew Paris, concerning Simon, abbot of S. Albans, who gave a splendid shrine to his abbey. "Et ad perpetuendam ipsius cum benedictione memoriam, constituit ut in dominica palmarum, corpus Dominicum in ipso scrinio veneranter reponeretur, et ab aliquo fratrum moribus et ætate venerabili, in casula alba usque ad papilionem in cœmeterio de pretiosissimis pallis compositum, nisi inclementia auræ impediatur, et tunc in capitulum deportaretur, duobus fratribus in cappis, brachia bajulantis dictum vas, honorifice sustentantibus. Et eodem modo, sequente processione, ad ecclesiam venerantissime reportaretur." Vitæ S. Alb. abbatum. p. 1038.

With regard to the processional banners, which were carried in some solemnities, there is a curious question in some diocesan enquiries, published in the year 1253; "An aliqui laici-decertaverint de præeundo cum vexillis in visitatione matricis ecclesiæ." Annal. Burton. Script. Anglic. tom. 1. p. 324. On some occasions, the maniple was ordered to be worn: I mention this, as the question has been much debated, whether that ornament was to be used at any other office, than the celebration of the Eucharist. Roger Hoveden speaks of a procession appointed, "cum sacerdote induto alba, et manipulo, et stola, et clericis in superpelliciis cum aqua benedicta, et cruce, præcedentibus candelabris, et thuribulo, cum igne, et incenso." Annal. edit. Savile, p. 348. To walk in processions with bare feet was frequently directed: for example, in the laws of king