, GLOSSARY OF ECCLESIASTICAL ORNAMENT AND COSTUME, Comptleti from ancient aut&ortttes antf tramples!, BY A. WELBY PUGIN, AECHITECT, PROFESSOR OF ECCLESIASTICAL ANTIQUITIES AT ST. MARIE's COLLEGE, OSCOTT, ILLUSTRATED BY EXTRACTS FROM THE WORKS OF DURANDUS, GEORGIUS, BONA, CATALANI, GERBERT, MARTENE, MOLANUS, THIERS, MABILLON, DUCANGE, ETC. A SECOND EDITION ENLARGED AND REVISED BY THE REV. BERNARD S M I T H, M. A. of st. marie's college, oscott. LONDON: HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. MDCCCXLVI. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/glossaryofecclesOOpugi_0 gfntrotrurttott* OF SYMBOLISM IN ART. That Art has its fixed principles, any departure from which leads to inconsistency and unmeaning effect, is a truth never to be lost sight of. And if all Art is subject to fixed laws, which define her province and inform her purpose, least of all is Christian Art to be regarded as exempt from rule, not merely of ecclesiastical precedent, but of philosophical and scientific principle. The conventional forms of ecclesiastical antiquity contain within them certain unchanging elements of character, the ignorance of which precludes the possibility of our either appreciating or imitating the great works of the old Christian artists. To help to illustrate these principles, which are, as it were, the polar star, by which 'the disciple of the ancient Masters must steer his course, forms the main object of the present volume. Ornament, in the true and proper meaning of the word, signifies the embellishment of that which is in itself useful, in an appropriate manner. Yet by a perversion of the term, it is frequently applied to mere enrichment, which deserves no other name than that of unmeaning detail, dictated by no rule but that of individual fancy and caprice. Every ornament, to deserve the name, must possess an appropriate meaning, and be introduced with an intelligent purpose, and on reasonable grounds. The symbolical associations of each ornament must be understood and considered : otherwise things beautiful in themselves will be rendered absurd by their application. It is to the neglect of these principles that we may trace half the blunders and monstrosities that have disgraced modern art. Ornaments have been regarded as mere matters of whim and caprice. Accordingly, the most opposite styles have been mixed : and emblems, of characters the most distinct, Christian and Pagan, ecclesiastical and civil, have been jumbled together in unutterable confusion. Only for ornament is the usual reply to an inquiry respecting the intention of various details and combinations frequent in modern designs ; although it is not possible for any forms or enrichments to be ornamental that are not appropriate and significant, if their utility extends iv Jntntouctfoit no farther. It has been said poetically, that, ' Where use is exiled, beauty scorns to dwell :' and the sentiment is founded in truth and reason. Go to the fountains of historical antiquity, and you will find this illustrated in every age ; and under every successive system. Each system developed certain forms characteristic of itself, and which became appropriated, by the laws of symbolism, to the illustration of that system, more or less exclusively. In the ancient Egyptian designs, from the immense Sphinxes and Lotus Cups to the minutest hieroglyphic on the walls, all was done in accordance with rule and system ; and all was fraught with mysterious meaning, and allusion to the Egyptian religion and manners. Under the Jewish Dispensation, and in the Temple of Solomon itself, all the arrangements, down to the smallest details, so far from being arbitrary, were ordered in accordance with a Divine Revelation ; — and in a spirit as well of religious obedience, as of an overflowing zeal. Witness David's exhortation to his son Solomon, recorded in ch. xxviii. of I. Paralipomenon : — ' And thou, my son Solomon, know the God of thy father, and serve him with a per- fect heart, and willing mind ; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the thoughts of minds. If thou seek Him, thou shalt find Him : but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever. Now, therefore, seeing the Lord hath chosen thee to build the House of the Sanctuary, take courage and do it. And David gave to Solomon his son a description of the Porch, and of the Temple, and of the treasures, and of the upper floor, and of the inner chambers, and of the House for the Mercy Seat, As also of all the Courts which he had in his thought, and of the chambers round about, for the treasures of the House of the Lord, and for the treasures of the consecrated things : And of the divisions of the Priests and the Levites, for all the works of the House of the Lord, and for all the vessels of the service of the Temple of the Lord. Gold by weight for every vessel for the ministry : and silver by weight according to the diversity of the vessels and uses. He gave also gold for the golden candlesticks, and their lamps, according to the dimensions of every candlestick, and the lamps thereof. In like manner also he gave silver by weight for the silver candlesticks, and for their lamps, according to the diversity of the dimensions of them. He gave also gold for the Tables of Proposition, according to the diversity of the Tables : in like manner also silver for other tables of silver. For flesh-hooks also, and bowls, and censers of fine gold, and for little lions of gold, according to the measure he gave by weight for every lion. In like manner also for lions of silver, he set aside a Jntrttourttom v different weight of silver. And for the Altar of Incense he gave the purest gold : and to make the likeness of the chariot of the Cherubims spreading their wings, and covering the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. All these things, said he, came to me written hy the Hand of the Lord : that I might understand all the works of the pattern.' And the details, thus ordered, were typical and illustrative, all of them, of the Mosaic Dispensation : Cherubim, Lions, Oxen, Lilies, and Pomegranates, were introduced as the religious emblems exclusively appropriate. Descending to the architecture of Greece and Rome, we find that the religious systems and manners of those countries developed new varieties of ornament and decoration : and the same principle of symbolism here displayed itself in a new field, and with different results and combinations. The various divinities worshipped had their own peculiar forms of representation, and their own emblems. The bas-reliefs and sculptures on the Altars were indicative of the worship of that particular god, to whom they were erected: from the Thunderbolt and Eagle of Jupiter, to the Ears of Corn and Poppy of Ceres. Bulls' Heads and Paterae alternately, were proper in the Friezes of their Temples, as just and significant symbols of their rites and worship. Nothing- was left to arbitrary choice ; the same form of Temple, the same animals, plants, and insignia were attributed, by unvarying rule, to the several divinities worshipped. The Forms of Art were conventional; I had almost said con- secrated. While yet the Christian Church was under the persecution of the Roman Emperors, we have evidence that the self-same principle of symbolism was at work. A new set of emblems already began to distinguish the Tombs of the Martyrs in the Roman Catacombs. Christ and His Miracles are repre- sented, together with subjects taken from the Old Testament; the Raising of Lazarus, Noah in the Ark, Adam and Eve are of frequent occurrence. The Lamb, the Palm-branch, the Ship, the Anchor, the Dove appear. Neither is any exception to the principle contained in the fact, that many of these, as the Nimbus and possibly the Monogram of Christ's Name, can be traced to a still earlier original.* The subjects chosen, were, therefore, exclusively those of a Christian interest and significancy, even during those first days of persecuting rage on * Take the instance of the representation of our Lord, not uncommon, under the figure of Orpheus, as being the true Charmer of hearts harder than the rocks, and more deaf to wisdom than the unlistening woods. Here is no violation of our principle : on the contrary, there is a beautiful illustration. For here, by an economy and instance of reserve proper to the period, a symbol was made use of, at once full of meaning to the initiated, and unsuspicious to the persecutor of the infant Faith. vi Jntrtitmrtfoit the part of the world, and of concealment and secrecy on the part of the faithful. The same may be said of Mosaics of the Basilicas, at a later period, when the Cross was no longer hidden ; the same of the Decorations peculiar to the Byzantine churches ; the character of these, even where they are rude in execution, is in a Christian point of view most highly edifying. Sufficient justice has not yet been done to the magnificent beauty of this style, which is such as to dispute the palm with the later developments of the Gothic : although from circumstances, the revival of this branch of Christian Architec- ture is not with us a practical question. The same idea afterwards developed itself in the Saxon, Norman, and Pointed periods of Architecture and Art, in this country. Art was ennobled by its connection with the mysteries of Religion : and Religion herself received aid and illustration, through the services of Christian Art. Within the magnificent churches which rose in such variety of detail, but with such oneness of principle and design, the richness and consistency of Christian ornament shed a lustre over the services of Religion. Fonts, Altars, Chalices, Vestments, Shrines, Images, Triptychs, Lecterns, and all the furniture of a Catholic Church were formed after a Christian model and idea : all spoke the same language, and inspired the same sentiments of Catholic piety and devotion. It was not till the unhappy period that severed England from the Communion of the Church, that any change took place in the conventional forms which moulded every work of art, according to fixed and recognized laws. Propriety was till that time considered as the very soul of beauty : and use, the spirit, and guiding principle of ornament. Upon the interval that has elapsed between the sixteenth and present century, it were superfluous here to comment. Suffice it to say, that there have not been wanting in the Church learned ecclesiastics, who have raised their voices in condemnation to the prevailing taste, and have witnessed in favour of the dignity and consistency of ancient Catholic art. Some of these are frequently cited and referred to in the present volume : and the object of the writer will have been more than gained, if he can succeed in calling attention to these, and through them, to the ancient authorities on whom they rest. They gave their testimony in evil times, when few listened or regarded. But their words may have more weight under present circumstances, than they had in their own day. Indeed, it is reasonable to hope and expect that they will have. Jntrotmrtfon. vii A mighty movement has commenced in favour of the revival of the architecture of the middle ages. We as Englishmen have no choice which side we will take, when this question is mooted. All our national buildings, of any interest belong to the solemn and instructive architecture, which prevailed in these countries, during the ages of Faith. And our choice once made in favour of their architecture, consistency itself will lead us to admire and imitate the manner in which they developed the same principles in minor matters of detail. But with those who are prepared to embrace the principles, the practice yet remains involved in difficulty. To procure examples and patterns of Christian design is no easy matter ; now that these have become so scattered, and comparatively rare. The present volume will, it is hoped, render knowledge upon many of these subjects more accessible; and save much time and trouble to those interested, whether in the way of research, or practically, in the matters treated of. This is the object of the following work, and at the present time, when so much veneration and interest has been awakened for the works of Catholic antiquity, both in England and on the Continent, it is indispensably neces- sary for all ecclesiastical artists, not only to understand the true forms and symbolical significations of the sacred vestments and other adornments of a church, but also how to apply the various decorations in a consistent manner to the edification of the faithful, and as lively illustrations of the Sacred Mys- teries. The subject is, however, one of such an extensive nature that it is scarcely possible to bring it within the compass of a single volume ; indeed, a separate work might be written on almost every word described. But so elaborate a book would not only have consumed too long a time in preparation, but would have become so voluminous and expensive as to be almost unattain- able to the very persons who would most require it. It has been, therefore, thought advisable to condense the mass of documents and authorities collected by the compiler into its present form, in order to meet the exigencies of the day, rather than to delay the publication till a more elaborate treatise could be composed. It is to be hoped that in its present form it may be the means of imparting information on some obscure points connected with Catholic antiquities, and aid the restoration of that truly beautiful furniture and deco- ration that anciently adorned every one of our churches, and of which the combined attacks of sacrilege and of the revived Paganism of the last three centuries have left us such poor remains. A. W. P. VUl Jntnitmrttcm The following Notices of some of the Authorities quoted in the Glossary may not be uninteresting. Dtirandus (Guillaume Durand), the author of the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum, and divers other works, was born at Puy-Moisson, in France, in 1232. His reputation caused him to be called to Rome by Pope Clement IV., and, after filling several offices, he was in 1287 made Bishop of Mende; and, in 1295, was offered the Archbishopric of Ravenna. He is a writer of great interest, for the mystical interpretations wherewith he every where abounds : and in which he is a close follower of Pope Innocent III. De Mysteriis Misscc. It is not necessary to do more than allude to the interesting translation of the first book of Durandus' Rationale, recently published at Leeds. Durantus (Jean Etienne Duranti), was the first President of the Parliament of Thoulouse. He distinguished himself as an advocate. He is the author of the work De ritibus Ecclesia. He suffered death during some political disturbances in 1589. Du Cange (Charles Du Fresne), born at Amiens, in 1610, was a barrister, and the author of many works : among which, Glossarium ad Scriptores Media et injimce Latinitatis, Paris, 1678, 3 vols, folio. Of this work a new edition, in 6 vols, folio, was published by the Benedictines, between the years 1733 and 1736 ; and to this a Supplement was added by Carpentier, in 4 vols. fol. in 1766. The value of the Glossary, of course, consists in the antiquity and rarity of the monuments which it quotes. J. Mabillon, one of the celebrated Benedictines of the congregation of St. Maur, was born at St. Pierremont, in the diocese of Rheims, Nov. 23, 1632. One of his first steps on obtaining manhood, after a youth of spotless purity, was to take the vows at the Abbey of St. Remi, at Rheims. Soon after his profession, in 1654, he was appointed to superintend the novices; but violent head-aches, brought on by the arduous duties of his employment, soon compelled his superiors to remove him, first to Nogent-sous- bourg, then to Corbie, and afterwards to Paris. He was at the Abbey of St. Denis for a whole year, his chief occupation being to shew the magnificent treasures of the place, among which are the monuments of the French sovereigns. All his spare time had hitherto been divided between his devotions and his studies. He was now called upon to assist Dom Luc D'Achery in the publication of his famous " Spicilegium," a collection of inedited documents, which has ever since been so highly prized by all students of ecclesiastical or profane history. Shortly after this, he was employed in editing the works of St. Bernard, on which Dom Claude Chantelou had been at work for a long time previous to his death. Mabillon's edition of St. Bernard may be considered the first of that magnificent series of the Benedictine Fathers, as they are called, which have superseded all other editions, whether published before or after them. His next publication, which he undertook in company with D'Achery, was the " Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti." This work occasioned a controversy between himself and Cardinal Bona, with reference to the antiquity of the use of unleavened bread in the administration of the Eucharist in the Western Church ; the Cardinal not dating it earlier than the period of the Greek schism, whereas Mabillon maintained it to be of much higher antiquity. It need scarcely be said, that the controversy between these two holy and learned men was conducted throughout with the utmost gentleness, mutual respect, and Christian feeling. The " Vetera Analectz" were next published. This was an important collection of many valuable documents of the utmost use to ecclesiastical students. The treatise " De Re Diplomatica" was the first result of Mabillon's extensive researches among charters and other original documents ; and though subsequent researches have brought the science to greater perfection, it has always been acknowledged as a work of the greatest authority, and as being confessedly the ground work of all others. Mabillon's jfutrofcurtion* work throughout attacks the criterions which Papebroke had laid down in a volume of the Bollandists' ' Acta Sanctorum,' for judging of the age of charters, manuscripts, &c. This pious, learned, and justly celebrated Jesuit, of whom Mabillon never spoke without expressions of the deepest respect, but who had taken rather a sceptical view of the question, candidly acknowledged his mistake in a letter which he addressed to Mabillon, with permission to make it public. In 1683 he was sent into Germany to examine into the libraries for documents relative to the history of France or of the Church. Though he was absent only five months, he collected a vast number of the most interesting and important documents, besides making many useful discoveries, which he left for others to improve upon. His success caused him to be sent with his learned friend, Dom Michel Germain, who had had a part in the treatise De He Diploma tied and the Acta Sanctorum, into Italy, for the purpose of examining the libraries there. The Museum Italicum was the result of their under- taking. This work professed to be an account of their travels, but it has been observed, that little is said therein of the honours which the great and learned paid to its author in Italy. The Royal Library was increased by an addition of three thousand valuable books, printed and manuscript, which Mabillon brought from Italy. The ' Museum Italicum' contains an account of many valuable discoveries made by him of works of the Fathers, and other precious remains of Christian Antiquity. In 1690, he published a new edition of St. Bernaixl's works, with additional notes, fresh disser- tations, and nearly fifty hitherto unpublished epistles of the holy Abbot of Clairvaux. The edition had scarcely been published, when he was called upon by his superiors to write upon the important question, " whether it be lawful for monks to apply to deep studies." De Ranee, of La Trappe, maintained the negative ; but it was clear enough to every one, that both parties agreed in sanctioning serious, and reprobating frivolous studies. This controversy, as all others in which Mabillon was involved, was carried on with the most perfect equanimity on both sides ; the two pious disputants feeling great love and respect for each other. Mabillon's last work was the 'Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti;' the four first volumes alone of which were published before his death, which occurred December 27, 17^7? at the Abbey of St. Germain des Pres, in Paris. He published several other works of great value besides those above enumerated, the principal ones being a Dissertation on the Authorship of the " Imitatio Christi," which he assigns to Gerson, and one on the ancient Gallican Liturgy. Mabillon was certainly one of the most learned men France ever produced, and one whose writings have been most extensively useful. Nor must it be forgotten that his intellectual gifts were surpassed by his deep humility, his ardent devotion, his purity of heart, and the regularity and holiness of his life. Jean Baptiste Thiers was born at Chartres, Nov. 11, 1636. He studied at the College of Chartres, and distinguished himself greatly by his classical attainments. After being for some time "professeur de seconde," at the College of Plessis, at Paris, he became curate of Camprond, in 1666, which he exchanged in 1692, for the cure of Vitraye, in the diocese of Mons, where he died, Feb. 17 Bcneventance , 4to. 1725. III. De cathedrd episcopali Setia? cioitatis, 4to. Rome, 1727, reprinted in 1751. IV De titurgia Romani pontificis in solemni celebratione Missarum, 3 vols. 4to. Rome, 1731, 1743, and 1744. Entrotuicticn. xi V. De 3fonogrammate Christi,4to. Rome, 1738. He was interested and well versed in matters belonging to the old English Church, as will be seen by the extracts from his treatise De Lit. Rom. Pont., a work stored with erudition and noble sentiment, recommended by a masterly and perspicuous style. — See JBiographie Unicerselle. Martin Gerbert, a learned prelate of the Church, born at Horb, in Austria, in 1720. He studied at the Abbey of St. Blase, in the Black Forest, whei'e he made his profession at the age of sixteen years. In 1744, he was ordained priest, and taught philosophy and theology in the Abbey. After he had trained up others to fill his place in their turn, he was entrusted with the care of the Abbey Library. In this office it was, that he made his great researches into the church history of the middle ages, and collected the materials for his History of Music, and of the Antiquities of the German Liturgy. After travelling in France, Italy, and Germany, Gerbert was elected, in 1764, Prince- Abbot of the Monastery of St. Blaise. He still devoted himself to the pursuit of Letters, and published many works. The principal of these are : — 1. De Cantu et Musicd sacra a primd Ecclesice cctate usque ad prcesens tempus, St. Blaise, 1774, 2 vols. 4to. 2. Vet us Liturgia Alemaunica disquisitionibus prceviis, notis et observationibus illustrate/, St. Blaise, 1776? 2 vols. 4to. Gerbert died in 1793, leaving in his works a rich specimen of monastic industry and learning. Stephen Borgia, Cardinal, and Prefect of the Propaganda, was born at Veletri in 1 73 1. He early evinced a decided turn for antiquarian research, and collected a considerable museum himself at Veletri. In 1770 ne was made Secretary of the Propaganda, and thus thrown into correspondence with missionaries in all parts of the globe. This was the occasion of his becoming acquainted with MSS., medals, and monuments of the most varied description. In 1801 he was made Rector of the Roman College. Attending Pius VII. to France in 1804, owing to his age and the inclemency of the season, he was seized with an illness which terminated fatally at Lyons. Among his works are, Vaticana Confessio B. Petri, chronologicis testimoniis illustrata, 1776, 4to. De Cruce Veliternd commentarius, 1780. Also another, De Cruce Vaticand, from which large extracts are given in the Glossary. Antonio Bosio, (died 1629) was born in Malta, and though employed much upon the business of the Order of the Knights of St. John, found time in his leisure hours for examining the subterraneous antiquities of Rome. He has the merit of being the first writer upon the subject. His work appeared in 4to. after his death, a.d. 1632, under the title of Roma Sotteranea. An enlarged edition by R. Severano was published 1650; then came Aringhi's Latin work in two folios, which was built upon it; and at a later period Clement XIV. desired Bottari to prune away any redundances in the book and republish it ; Bottari, however, remodelled the whole work, and eventually brought it out in 3 vols, folio, a.d. 1737-50. Aringhi (Paul), a priest of the Oratory, who died in Rome, his native place, a.d. 1676, composed a Commenta y on the work of Bosio, mentioned above, which is generally known as Aringhi's Roma Subterranca, it being, in fact, almost entirely his work. It is generally allowed to throw great light upon ecclesiastical antiquities ; but subsequent excavations have added so much to our resources upon these matters, that the new edition of the work now (it is believed) in the course of publication by the learned Father Marchi, will probably be almost an entirely new treatise. The first edition came out in Rome a.d. 1651. Buonarotti (Philip), a noble Florentine, who died a.d. 1763, was the author of a learned treatise upon Ivory Diptychs both pagan and ecclesiastical (a.d. 1716), as also of other treatises less to our purpose to notice. His previous work on Medallions, in a.d. 1698, ought however to be mentioned here. Ciampini (John Justin) was born at Rome, a.d. 1633. Though employed under Clement IX. he found time for himself pursuing, and inducing many others to pursue, learned researches in physics, xiv {ntroiniction. Animal Human Beasts, Reptiles, and Insects . . 5. Terrestrial S Birds Fishes Vegetable { 1 ne Arm 1 tie Head The Eye n^u TT L l he Heart mi i The Foot Ihe Leg ine nana Adder Horse A nf plnnp XX 11 IC1UUC Tjpnrifirfl ■utuum VI Ape Lion Bee Lizard Crocodile Ox Dog Ram Dragon Snake Ermin Oi Stag Fox owine Goat liger Grasshopper 1 ortoise Greyhound 1 ni/)Avn u nicurii it., i. Hart Bat Hen and Cock Chickens Crane Owl Dove Peacock XT' 1 Eagle Pelican Falcon Raven Kite Swan Crab XT' 11.. Escallop Dolphin JrlKe Apple The Pomegranate Corn The Rose Daisy The Thistle Herb-bennet The Vine Ivy Trefoil, Quatre- The Lily foil, Cinqfoil, The Marygold Sexfoil. Sept- The Oak foil The Palm LIST OF PLATES. No. I.— Title Page ; shewing various Examples of Church Furniture and Decoration. II. — Form and Sizes of the sacred Vestments. III. — The proper Names by which the various Vestments are distinguished. IV. — English Priests. V. — Roman, French, and German Priests. VI. — Roman, English, and German Ecclesiastics. VII. — Roman and English Bishops. VIII. — Embroidered Frontals for Altars. IX. — Diagrams illustrative of the construction of Christian Ornaments. X. XI. XII. XIII.- Alphabets- XIV. XV. — Crosses for marking Altar Linen. XVI. XVII. — Bordures for Altar Cloths. XVII. — Crochets for Stencilling, Stained Glass and Embroidery. XIX. — Bordures. XX.— Crowns and Cresting, 1. & 2. Patterns for Stencilling ; 3. Red and White Rose ; 4. G. & 7. Crosses and Fleur-de-lis; Lily of Blessed Virgin. XXI XXII. XXIII.— Patterns of Powdering, Stars, Crosses, Rose, Trefoil, Rose en Soleil. XXIV. — Diapering for our Blessed Lady ; Annunciation and Monogram. XXV. — Ditto. 1. The Five Wounds, with Cherubim ; 2. Lion and Cross; 3. Flower and Cross. XXV 1.— Ditto. I.The Lily; 2. The Lion and Knot; 3. Wine and Cross; 4. Fleurs-de-lis. XXVII.— Ditto. 1. Quatrefoils ; 2. Fleur-de-lis; 3. & 4. Five Wounds ; 5. & 6. Powderings, Qu AT RE FOILS AND ROSE. XXXVIII.— Ditto. 1. Cross and our Blessed Lady ; 2. Rose and Fleurs-de-lis; 3. Red andWhiti: Rose, en Soleil. XXIX. — Ditto. Trefoil and Pomegranate. XXIX.* — Diapering from Cologne Cathedral. XXX. — Apparels of Albes. 1. Cross; 2. Rose ; 3. Cross Flory ; 4. Fleur-de-lis. XXXI. — Ditto. 1. Five Crosses; 2. Quatrefoils. XXXII.— Ditto. 1. Cherubim and Cross ; 2. The Lily ; 3. Cross Flory. XXXIII. — Ditto. 1. Cross Flory in Squares; 2. Ditto in Circles; 3. Quatrefoil ; 4. Ditto with Roses. XXXIV. — Stoles and Maniples. 1. Vine; 2. Double Vesica ; 3. Quatrefoil and Cross Flory. XXXV.— Ditto. 1. Cross in Square ; 2. Five Crosses and Circle. XXXVI. -Ditto. 1. The Cross, Circle, and Vesica ; 2. The Five Crosses; G. TheFyliot. XXXVII. — Ditto. 1. Cross Flory for M.; 2. The Cross and Fleurs-de-lis; 3. Cross and Crown; 4. Quatrefoil Flory. XXXVIII. — Ditto. I. Roses; 2. Lion and Cross; 3. Fleur-de-lis, Stars and Monogram; 4. Cross Leaves ; 5. Fleurs-de-lis ;. G. Cross. XXXIX.— Ditto. 1. The Holy Name and Cross Alternate ; 2. Cross and Oak Leaf, with Gems ; Cross Flory in Quatrefoil. LIST OF PLATES. No. XL. — Orphreys of Copes. 1. Star of seven points ; 2. Fleurs-de-lis, Monogram, and Roses ; 3. Lions. XLI. — Ditto. 1. St. George with Shield and Dragon ; 2. The Five Crosses with the Holy Name in the First. XLII. — Ditto. 1. The Vine ; 2. Crosses Flory in Quatrefoils. XLIII. — Ditto. Borders and Canopy with an Image of St. Pancras. XLIV. — Ditto. Ditto. Ditto, with an Image of St. John. XLV. — Hood of Cope, a floriated Trefoil. XLVI. — Ditto. The Holy Name surrounded with Cherubim. XLVII. — Ditto. Our Blessed Lady's Name, with Crowns, Stars, and Fleurs-de-lis. XLVIII. — Ditto. The Crucifixion of our Lord, with our Blessed Lady and St. John. XLIX. — A floriated Cross. L. — Six floriated Crosses. LII. — A Cross for a Frontal or Vestment, with Fleurs-de-lis, Crowns and Stars. LIII. — Ditto with Five Crosses, Rayonne and Crowns. LIV. — Ditto with the Holy Name in a Quatrefoil. LV. — A Monogram of the Holy Name with our Blessed Lord, St. Mary and St. John. L VI. — Four Monograms of the Holy Name. LVII. — Monogram of our Blessed Lady's Name with the Annunciation. LVIII.— Eight Monograms of our Blessed Lady's Name. LIX. — Emblem of the most Holy Trinity. LX. — The Mysteries of the Rosary. LXI. — Emblems of St. Peter and St. Paul, the blessed Sacrament, and the Lamb of God. LXII. — Emblems of the Four Evangelists. LXIII. — The Five Wounds of our Lord Glorified. LXIV. — Emblems of our Lord's Passion. 1. Judas' Head, Thirty Pieces of Silver, Sword and Lantern; 2. Pillar, Rope, Rods, and Scourges; .3. Dice, Raiment, Basin and Sponge ; 4. Cross, Lance and Reed, Crown of Thorns, Hammer and Pincers. LXV. — Emblems of our Lord's Passion, 1. Nails and Crown of Thorns; 2. The Five Wounds ; 3. Cross, Ladder, Scourges, Lance, Hammer, Pincers, Nails, etc. ; 3. The Holy Name and Cross. LXVI. — Conventional Forms of Animals ; Eagle, Dragon, Hart, Lion, Swan, Lamb, Martlet. LXVII. — Ditto. Lions; rampant, passant, and passant regardant. LXVIII. — Various Forms of the Nimbus. LXIX. — Four precious Mitres. LXX. — Altar and Dossell, with Curtains. LXXl.— Altar with Shrine. LXXII. — Funeral Palls for a Herse and a Coffin. LXXIII. — An Altar hung for a Funeral Mass. GLOSSARY OF ECCLESIASTICAL ORNAMENT AND COSTUME. &ttllptfr?« The fourth or highest of the Minor Orders, whose principal office is to bear the candlesticks, and crewetts containing the wine and water The habit of those in acolythe's orders was a plain chasuble, according to Georgius ; afterwards, in the twelfth century, an albe, fastened round the loins by a girdle, which is still retained in several of the continental churches. The surplice has been often substituted for the albe in later times ; and in the Roman Pontificals, printed in the sixteenth century, those receiving this order are figured in surplices. The cotta, a sort of short surplice, but without sleeves and exceeding ugly, has superseded the long and full surplice for acolythes in some modern churches. It has neither grace nor dignity ; nor does it convey the mystical meaning of chastity and modesty signified by the long and girded albe. Martene de Antiquis ecclesice ritibus. — Acolyti aliquando exsufflantes. — Et primo notandum non semper ab episcopo aut baptismi ministro peractam fuisse : sed aliquando a diaconis — aliquando ab exorcistis — aut a simplicibus clericis sive acolythis. Ex Missali Gellonensis monasterii. — Denuntiatio pro scrutinio quo III. hebdomada in quadragesima in tertia feria initiantur. — Acolyti inscribentes catechumenorum nomina vel suscipientium et vocantes. — Ut autem venerint ad ecclesiam, hora tertia scribuntur omnia nomina infantum vel eorum, qui ipsos suscepturi sunt ab acolyto. Acolyti signantes cruce. — Tunc venit acolythus iterum faciens crucem in frontibus singulorum dicens In Nomine Patris, &c. — Ibid. Acolyti symbolum pro infantibus decantantes. — Et tenens acolythus manum super caput pueri dicit symbolum hoc decantando, &c. Ordo Scrutinii in ecclesia Leodiensi hactenus celebrati. — Acolyti septem et septem. Finito tractu * Post heec Pontifex accipit et tradit omnibus candelabrum cum candela extincta, quod sucessive manu dextera singuli tangant, Pontifice dicente. — Accipite ceroferarium, cum cereo, et sciatis vos ad accendenda Ecclesite luminaria mancipari in nomine Domini. R. Amen. Tunc accipit et tradit eis urceolum vacuum, quern similiter tangere debent, dicens communiter omnibus. — Accipite urceoluin, ad suggerenduin vinum et aquam in Eucharistiam Sanguinis Christi, in nomine Domini. R. Amen. The solemn ordination of acolythes is an edifying proof of the great sanctity which the Church attaches to every thing connected with the Holy Sacrifice; and that lay youths and persons should be permitted to act in this capacity, is merely owing to the impossibility at the present time of finding a sufficient number of clerics to serve in the sanctuary. The intentions of the Church, and the sacredness of the duties, remain unchanged; and it is most painful to see the careless and irreverent manner in which the modern substitutes for regular acolythes frequently perform those functions, which they should consider as a great and important privilege. Extracts from Liturgical Writers respecting Acolythes. / 2 procedant de sacrario bini et bini octo presbyteri cum septem diaconibus et totidem subdiaconibus, et septem acolythi* cum cereis accensis, et septem alii cum thuribulis, decantantes officium : Sitientes venite ad aquas, Sfc. Acolythi duo cum incenso. — Quando vadunt ad evangelium, &c. Post clericulos vadunt duo acolythi cum incenso. Martene, Lib. I. c. 4. art. 6. — Acolythi in omni missa ministrent quid et quomodo. Acolythi eucharistiam ad altare deferentes. — Initio missae eucharistiam ad altare deferebant. Oblationis ordo. — Oblationes a pontifice suscipit subdiaconus regionarius, et porrigit subdiacono sequenti, et subdiaconus sequens ponit in sindonem quern tenent duo acolythi, &c. Acolythi aquam ministrent. Tunc vero erigunt se : et acolythi ministrent aquam ad manus, &c. fAcolythi sindonem duo tenentes. Acolythi est in omni missa ministrare in altari sacerdoti vinum post communionem, et tunc detinere urceolum vinarium, protecta manu sua pallio quo eum indui jam praedixi, &c. Ibidem. Ex antiquo Rituali MS. insignis ecclesia S. Martini Turonensis. — Acolythi in cappis sericis. Si festum septem candelabrorum venerit Dominica, fiat processio in cappis sericis. Debent esse ad missam revestiti sex diaconi simplices et praepositus qui legit evangelium ; et sex subdiaconi, quinque de tertia statione unus de quarta qui portat tripodium et praepositus qui legit epistolam, et duo acolythi de secunda statione revestiti in cappis. J De Moieon Voyages Liturgiques en France. — A Sainte-Croix de Poitiers les religieuses en aube et manipule servaient autrefois d'acolythes a la grande Messe, et eclairoient au diacre pendant l'Evangile avec le chandelier, et dans leur ordinaire on lit : In die Epiphanias dum legitur novissima lectio, induitur diaconus dalmatica et acolythi alba et amictu. St. Martin de Tours. — Le celebrant sort precede de deuxBedeaux,de sept portechandeliers en tuniques, de deux thuriferaires en chappes qui encensent continuellement, de sept acolythes en tuniques, etc. Durantus de Ritibus ecclesia. — Acolytorum officium est cereos deferre ante diaconum quando legit evangelium in ecclesia non ad effugandas tenebras, cum sol in die rutilet : sed ad demonstrandum, quod de tenebris infidelitatis venimus ad lucem fidei ; et ut signum sit laetitiae, quatenus sub typo corporalis luminis, lux ilia in memoria habeatur, de qua dicitur : Erat lux vera, qua? illuminat omnem hominem venientem in liunc mundum. Georgius in Liturgia Romani Pontificis. — Unus autem ex acolythis stationarius praecedit pedester equum pontificis, gestans sanctum Chrisma manu in mappula involuta cum ampulla. — vol. 1. p. 38. Si quando autem in Romana ecclesia servatus est hie ritus, ut acolythi non vero subdiaconi ex altari patenas cum sacris oblationibus acciperent ab archidiacono, et ad sedem patenam pontifici communicari deferrent, id a vetustissimo Romanae Ecclesiae more non abhorret. Vestis acolythorum antiquitus fuit planeta, quae iis in ipsa eorum ordinatione tradebatur. — Nullis admirationi haec vestis acolythorum esse debet, quum clericis omnibus, ut saepe diximus, olim planeta communis fuerit. Sed saeculi XII. initio acolythi superhumerali, id est amictu, alba, tunica induebantur ; — " Ostiariis namque, lectoribus, exorcistis, acolythis albae vestes conceduntur, ut angelos, Dei ministros, per castitatis munditiam imitentur, et eis, in carne gloriosa eflfecta, spiritualia quasi in albis vestibus socientur." Mox vero : " Subdiaconis tres supradictae vestes nimirum amictus, seu, superhumerale, alba et cingulum * De Moieon, in his Voyages Liturgiques de France, mentions seven acolythes heading the procession at the church of St. Maurice, Vienna, when the archbishop celebrated. The same in solemn feasts in the cathedral church of Lyons. At the consecration of the archbishop of Rouen, seven acolythes walked in the procession with candlesticks and lighted tapers. f Acolythes are represented in several early illuminations as holding the linen cloth for the communicants. I In the inventory of York Minster, a white cope for the acolythe is mentioned. arolptfce* Stijmts; Mtu 3 conceduntur, et duae superadduntur, scilicet subtile et sudarium," &c. His igitur verbis intelligitur indumenta clericorum in divinis ministeriis tunc fuisse amictum, albam, et cingulum. Horum loco subsecutis temporibus successere superpellieia, et insuper superpelliciis seu cottis acolythi rochettum addidere. Nunc etiam superpelliceo supra rochettum acolythi cum superpelliceo inservire debent. Hie autem ritus monet, ut de antiquis acolythorum Romanae ecclesiae agamus. Initio quinti ecclesiae secuh acolythi, qui pontifici die Dominica celebranti astabant, eucharistiam in Missa ab ipso pontifice eonfectam, ad ecclesias titulares urbis deferebant. Interim haec raptim de acolythorum muniis per- stringimus. Eorum erat sacrum chrisma interdum, et candelabra in processione ad Missam pontificalem deferre ; vas item in quo eucharistia recondita erat, manibus tenere ; librum evangeliorum super altare ante Missam collocare, et post evangelium reponere ; candelabra quoque, dum evangehum legebatur. deferre. Ad acolythos spectabat, calicem cum corporali ministrare diacono ; calicem item, in quern oblationes vini, et sindonem, in quam oblationes panis refundebantur, tenere. Unus eorum patenam ante pectus ab initio Canonis usque fere ad illius finem, velo co-opertam gestabat. Ad communionem sindonem expansam pro confractione sustentabant. Manutergium denique, et aquam ad lavandas pontificis manus ministrabant : insecutis vero temporibus, praeter candelabra, thuribulum et incensum, quae ubi opus est deferunt ac ministrant; cum pontifex sacris indumentis ad Missarum solemnia peragenda ornatur, ea ex altari sumunt et diacono et subdiacono patinis porrigunt, aliaque id genus in Missa pontificali praestant, quae fusius suis locis explicabimus. Sum of the above. — Acolythes in the early ages of the Church were vested in chasubles, in common with ecclesiastics in general. Subsequently they used albes ; which custom is yet retained in the French and several continental churches, and was general in England previous to the schism. In the sixteenth century they used the surplice in the Roman church ; and at the present time cottas, which are linen tunics reaching to the middle, and sometimes without sleeves. During the middle ages acolythes were often vested in tunicles on great feasts, and sometimes in copes, which practice is still followed in many French and Spanish churches. 8ijmi3 Mt\, are cakes of consecrated wax, stamped with the image of the Lamb, and inscribed " Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata Mundi." (See Plate lxi.) These are consecrated by the sovereign Pontiff during the first year of his pontificate, and every seventh year. The wax of which they are composed is partly the remains of the paschal candles of the preceding year, and partly fresh, furnished by the Apostolic Chamber. On the Easter Tuesday the sacristan of the Pope blesses water, and on the day following the Pope, after the High Mass, pours the holy chrism into it in the form of a cross, with appropriate prayers ; the wax pieces are then blessed and thrown into the water blessed previously. On the Saturday, after the mass celebrated by the cardinal priest, at which the Pope assists, the Agnus Dei are brought in procession to the chapel, and distributed by the holy father to the clergy and faithful. The latter are enjoined to have them encased in the same manner as Relics ; and persons out of holy orders are not permitted to touch them. These Agnus Dei are blessed with especial reference to protection from certain dangers, the benefits to be derived from their possession depending of course on the dispositions and intention of the re- ceivers being in accordance with the intention and spirit of the Church.* The first volume of Father Thiers' Traite des Superstitions, p. 311, contains some very interesting details on the observance of holy things, and the abuses of them. See Lamb. * Balsamus ac munda cera, cum cbristnatis unrla, Peccatum frangit, ut Christi sanguis et angit, Conficiunt Agnum, quem do tibi munere magno, Dona profert dignis, virtutem destruit ignis, Fove velut natiun per mystica sanctificatmn ; Morte rcpentina salvat, Satameque ruina ; Fulgur desursum depellit et omne malignum, Si quis adorat eum, retinebit ab hoste triumphum. Praegnans servatur, sine vi partus liberatur, Agne Dei miserere mei. — Vide Ducange, torn. I. p. 247. Portatur munde, servat de fiuctibus undce, 4 an*. %lbt. (See Plates n. in. iv. v. vi. vn. xxx. xxxi. xxxn. xxxin.) A long- linen garment reaching to the heels, and folded round the loins by a girdle, formerly the common dress of ecclesiastics.* It is now used only in sacred functions, and is the second vestment put on by the priest in preparing for the celebration of the Mass. The albe is worn by bishops, priests, deacons, sub-deacons, acolythes, and choristers. It should be made of fine linen, either plain, or ornamented with apparells. These apparells were worked in silk and gold, embroidered with ornaments or sacred imagery, and were even enriched with pearls and jewels; they either went round the bottom edge or wrists, which is the most ancient style, or they consisted of quadrangular pieces, varying from twenty inches by nine, to nine inches by six for the bottom, and from six inches by four to three inches square for the wrist. Apparells of this description were universally worn from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century, and continued in occasional use down to the end of the last century, and have been recently revived. Albes of various colours were formerly in use in the English churches, but white is now exclusively employed. Silk albes were also worn during the middle ages, but linen is the regular material of which they should be made. Modern albes are for the most part strange departures from ecclesiastical antiquity; they are frequently embroidered with paltry and unmeaning designs, as high as the waist, on a sort of open net work, and occasionally plaited like the folds of a frill. In Ireland they are indescribably ridiculous in appearance, and very often made of uncanonical materials, to suit the caprice or whim of individuals. A clergyman habited in one of these modern albes has much the appearance of wearing a lady's dress, and both dignity and mystical signification are utterly lost through these paltry substitutes for those anciently used. The albe is the origin of all surplices, and even rochets, as worn by bishops ; the use of which is by no means so ancient as that of the former. — See Surplice and Rochet. The following mystical significations have been attached to albes by ecclesiastical writers. — Alcuin de divinis offic. — Quid significat vestimentum, quod vulgo alba dicitur ? Significat autem perseverantiam in bona actione. Tunica usque ad talum est opus bonum usque ad consummationem. In talo enim finis est corporis. Hasc ad talos usque descendit ait Rabanus Maurus, quia usque ad finem vitas hujus, bonis operibus insistere debet sacerdos, praecipiente ac promittente Domino : Esto fidelis usque ad mortem. Et alba item, ait S. Germanus, (in Theoria rerum ecclesiasticarum), Divinitatis splendorem indicat, et sacerdotis splendidam conversationem. Tunica alba vestem albam repraesentat, in qua Herodes illusit Christum. — Vide Durandi Rationale, lib. 3. cap. 3. Ex Stephano Eduensi Episcopo. Alba designat gloriam Dominicae Resurrectionis, quam nunci- antes angeli, apparuerunt in vestibus albis : ideoque induitur veste alba, ut candidatione virtutum ostendatur ornandum esse novum Sacerdotium. — Diirantus de Ritibus, p. 216. Innocentius III. lib. 1. Myst. Missae. cap. 41. — Haec vestis, in veteri sacerdotio stricta fuisse describitur. In novo longa est propter spiritum adoptionis in libertate. Quod autem auriphrygium habet, et gemmata est diversis in locis,\ et variis operibus ad decorem, illud insinuat quod propheta dicit in Psalmo : Astitit Regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato, circumdata varietate. Durandus. lib. 3. cap. 3. num. 3. — Habet autem alba caputium, quae est professio castitatis : habet etiam lingulam, quae significat linguam sacerdotalem, qua ligat contumaces et absolvit pcenitentes. — v. Georgium de Liturgia, vol. 1. 137- L'aube signifie la purete de l'ame conformement a l'oraison Dealba me domine, qu'on dit en s^en * In a decree attributed to Pope Leo IV. about the middle of the ninth century, " Nullus in alba, qua in usu suo utitur, missam cantare prarsumat." Again, in the synodical statutes of Riculfus, bishop of Soissons, end of the same century, " Ut nemo ilia alba utatur in sacris mysteriis, quo in quntidiano vel ext'eriori usu induitur." t Albes were frequently jewelled in the apparells during the middle ages. 5 revetant, et comme elle se blanchit dans l'eau, et avec des grands soins, cela nous marque que notre purete nous vient de l'eau spirituelle, des larmes qu'une sainte penitence nous fait couler de nos yeux, et sur tout de sang du l'agneau sans tache, dans laquelle les ames innocentes ont blanchi leur vetement, comme dit St. Jean ; dealbaverunt stolas suas in sanguine agni. — Explication du Breviaire et du Missel par M. Raymond Bonal,prhre de Lyons, 1679. Prayers recited by the Clergy in putting on the Albe. — In Missa Illyrica hae sunt : — Circumda me, Domine, fidei armis, ut ab iniquitate et flagitiis erutus, valeam aequitatem et justitiam custodire. In codice S. Dionysii sub Carolo Magno : Conscinde, Domine, saccum meum, et circumda laetitia salutaris tui. — In Pontificali Prudentii Episcopi Trecensis : Indue me, Domine, vestimento salutis, et indumento justitiae circumda me semper. — In Sacramentario Moylacensis monasterii annorum 800. Indue me, Domine, vestimento salutis, et indumento justitias circumda me semper. — Georgius de Liturgia. Roman Missal. — Dealba me Domine et munda cor meum : ut in sanguine agni dealbatus, gaudiis perfruar sempiternis. Extracts from Bocquillot ; Traite Historique de la Liturgie. — La tunique de lin, ou d'autre toile, etoit fort en usage a Rome et dans tout l'empire. Elle etoit longue jusqu'aux pieds ; les Grecs a cause de cela l'appeloient Poderes, et les Latini Talaris ceux-ci luy donnerent aussi le nom D'Alba, parce qu'elle etoit de couleur blanche, don est venu le nom D'Aube qu'elle porte aujourd'hui. Les eveques, les pretres, les diacres, les soudiacres et les lecteurs en etoient revetus dans leurs fonctions, et durant tous le temps du sacrifice. Les pretres, et meme les clercs inferieurs porterent l'Aube dans l'usage commun aussi bien en France qu'en Italie. Cela paroit visiblement dans une homelie de Leon IV. de cura Pastorali, dans les statuts, ou capitulaires de Riculphe eveque de Soissons. Extracts from De Moleon's Voyages Liturgiques. — St. Martin de Tours. — En les grandes fetes de sept chandeliers l'officiant, le chantre et le maitre d'ecole, le chambrier et le chefcier ont encore Vancien habit de cha;ur, c'est a dire, l'amit et l'aube avec la ceinture sous la chappe le surplis qui nest que Vaiibe racourcie, etant beacoup posterieur au temps de la secularisation de cette eglise. Notre Dame de Paris. — L'on voit encore aujourd'hui que les enfans de chceur, qui n'ont point change les anciens rits, ont encore retenu l'aube, mais aussi que les choristes ou chappiers la portent encore dans cette eglise durant l'octave de Paque. St. Maurice D'Angers. — II y a a la Messe trois diacres et trois soudiacres, savoir les quatre revetus dont nous avons parle, et deux chanoines qu'on appelle grand diacre et grand soudiacre. Le celebrant et ces deux ci le servent d'amict et d'aubes purees. St. Agnan D'Orleans. — Le celebrant, le diacre et le soudiacre se servoient d'aubes partes a la messe. Abbaye de Port Royal. — L'aube a des paremens en bas conformes aux ornements : ce qui s'appelle dans les brefs alba parata, on sensert encore aujourd'hui dans les eglises cathedrales et dans les anciennes abbayes. St. Jean de Lyon. — Aux jours du Saint Sacrement et de St. Jean Baptiste, apres un salut et la benediction donnee l'officiant revetu de chappe reporte processionellement le saint sacrement dans l'eglise paroissiale de Sainte Croix, precede du soudiacre chanoine comte ayant la mitre en tete, et de petits orfrois de tunique sur son avbe.* Claude de Vert. — Explication des ceremonies de l'eglise, t. 2. — A Saint Sauve de Montreuil dc l'ordre de St. Benoist, au diocese d' Amiens, l'on conserve une aube tres ancienne ornee par le haut d'une bande, au defaut de la chasuble, pour garnir cet endroit et le faire de meme parure que la chasuble. Bien plus en plusieurs eglises du royaume et chez les Jacobins, ou pare aussi pour la meme raison, le * In Picart's Ceremonies Religieuses, vol. 2. is a plate representing- the procession on Palm Sunday, with the celebrant and assistants before the door of the church, singing- the Gloria laus, &c. They are all vested in apparelled albes, similar to those fig-ured in old illuminations ; and what is very remarkable, their heads are covered with apparelled amices. (See Amice.) This work of Picart's was published about the same time as De Moleon's Voyage, and the illustrations are evidently taken from the French churches. 6 bas de Vaube par devant et par derriere, et pareillement le bout des manches et c'est ce que les anciens ordinaires appellent une aube paree. L'amict est semblablement garni d'une bande de la meme etoffe, comme il est encore usite dans toutes les anciennes eglises et parmy les jacobins. Le parement dont nous parlons regnoit meme autrefois tout autour de l'aube ainsi qu'au tour des manches comme on le voit a Senbs a Faube de St. Frambourd qui vivoit au septieme siecle,* ces parements sont nommez a Paris plages, Plagulae, ce qui signifie des bandes ou bordures. These observations of De Vert, on the apparells of albes are exceedingly interesting, as they prove the use of these beautiful and appropriate ornaments, down to the early part of the eighteenth century, and there is no doubt of their having continued till the destruction of the churches in the great Revolution. In the treasury of the cathedral church of Sens, the albe used by the blessed Thomas of Canterbury, when an exile from England, is yet preserved. It is long, full, and ornamented by purple and gold apparells, of a quadrangular form. These apparells were not peculiar to any country, we find them in England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. They are invariably represented on the sepulchral effigies of Roman ecclesiastics, executed previous to the sixteenth century, and many of these monuments remain in the most perfect state in the various churches of Rouen, existing testimonies of the ancient practice. These apparelled albes are also figured in Roman Pontificals of the latter part of the sixteenth century, and in illuminated MSS. of the same period. Extracts from Georgius de Liturgia Romani Pontificis. — It was the custom anciently for the albe to be ornamented with orphreys and bands (grammse), which custom Anastasius the Librarian has observed in the life of Benedict III. where he relates that the King of the Saxons, when at Rome, offered to the Blessed Apostle Peter various gifts, among which were albes, all of silk, apparelled, and with golden orphreys. St. Angilbert, Abbot of Centule, gave to the Church of his Monastery, A.D. 800, six Roman albes, adorned with gold, with amices to them, and 260 albes of linen. Leo of Ostia relates, that Victor III. dying A.D. 1087, left to the Monastery of Casino various sacred ornaments, and among them, two large albes (camisi), with gold on them, together with their amices, and seven others of silk. Falco, the imperial judge, A.D. 1197, offered to the Church of St. Margaret, near the city of Bisegli, one amice, with a large orphrey (frisium), and one albe with striped orphreys (gramatis frisiis.) The albe in which Boniface VIII. was buried is thus described : — the albe or camise, was of fine cambric, with apparells (fimbriis) before and behind the vest, which apparells are three and a-half palms in breadth, and one palm in depth, and on them are embroidered, in silk and gold (in work called Riccamo), the following subjects, viz. : the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Vision of Angels to the Shepherds, and others. The albe came down to the feet, and on the breast was an apparel with a figure of the Annunciation. Extracts from English Authorities relative to Albes. — St. Peter's Church, Sandwich. — For making of ye Paruris of ye childryn awbys, and fore ye settyng on yeroff, xid — for in quarters of a yard of rede bokeram for ye same paruris vnc?. — for washing of an awbe and an amyce parteying to the vestment of the garters and flour de lice, and for sewing on of the parelles of the same, xd.-f — Boys's Collection, p. 364. Guntons History of the Church of Peterburgh. — Red albes for Passion week 27. — Item, 8 albes, with crowns and moons. — Item, 14 red albes. — Item, 40 blue albes of divers sorts. — Item, 27 other albes, to be worn on single feasts. — Item, 6 albes, with Peter keys. — Item, 6 albes, called the kydds. — Item, * Albes, richly apparelled all round the bottom, are figured in the Benedictional of St. Ethelwold. Also in two figures of Saxon Priests given by Strutt, in his Manners, Customs, &c. of the Inhabitants of England, plate 27, from the registry of Hyde Abbey. Schnebbelie, in the Antiquaries' Museum, lias figured the Life of St. Guthlae, from an early parchment roll ; and in the eighteenth subject, representing the dedication of Croyland Abbey, an abbot is habited in an albe, apparently jewelled round the bottom edge. f From this item it is evident that the apparells were taken off when the albes were washed. 7 7 albes, called Meltons. — Item, 6 albes, called Doggs. — Item, 1 old albe, richly embroidered. — Item, 8 albes, with apples of cloth of gold. — Item, 8 albes, with apples of blue tissew. — Item, 5 old albes, with red tissew. — Item, 8 albes, embroidered with vines. — Item, 14 albes, embroidered with divers sorts. — Item, 30 albes of old cloth of Baudkyn. — Item, 9 albes, embroidered with green. — Item, 14 green albes, with counterfeit cloth of gold. — Item, 4 albes, called Ferial white. — Item, 7 albes, called Ferial black. This is the most curious list of albes I have ever met with, and is one among the many proofs of the use of coloured albes in the English church ; but I have not found any document which mentions this practice on the continent. St. Paul's Cathedral, London. — Item, Una alba cum toto apparatu bene breudato, cum ymaginibus Coronationis Beatae Virginis anterius ; et ymaginibus Baptistae Petri et Pauli a leva ; et Magdalenae, Catherinae, Margaretae : et a parte posteriori Trinitatis cum tribus angelis ad laevam ; et Thomae et Stephani et Laurentii ad dextram. Item, Una alba cum parura breudata anterius cum ymaginibus beatae Mariae, Margaritae, Mag- dalenae, Katharinae, S. Fidis ; et a parte posteriori cum ymagine Salvatoris, Petri, Pauli, Andreae, et Bartholomaei ; et cum toto alio apparatu breudato de ymaginibus Virginum ex dono Radulfi de Baudak — Decani Ecclesiae S. Pauli, ut cum illis celebretur in festis beatae Mariae.* Item, Una alba cum paruris consutis de serico, cum nodulis et cum crucibus in medio nodulorum de nigro serico. In the first Prayer-Book of Edward the Sixth, amongst things retained for the use of the church, 30 albes to make surplices for the ministers and choristers. Previous to the schism, the choristers of the cathedral and abbatial churches were habited in albes while serving in choir. Cathedral Church of Lincoln. — Item, 3 albes, one of the albes lacking his apparell. Item, 3 albes with all their apparell. — Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum. The albes in the Lincoln inventory are all mentioned with the separate suits of vestments to which they belonged ; occasionally we find three albes plain, that is, without apparells. In the first Prayer Book of Edward the Sixth, the celebrant is ordered to be attired in an albe plain, with a Vestment. In the inventory of the plate, jewels, and ornaments belonging to the late Priory of Ely, exclusive of what had been taken away for the king's use, — item, 37 albes, with the apparells, and 20 albes without apparells. Canterbury Cathedral. — Albae de Serico in Vestiario. — Albas 14 de panno diasperato cum parura brudata. — Item, Alba una de albo samicto cum parura brudata. — Item, Alba una de Symonis de Sancto Paulo de sindone, cum parura brudata de historia Sancti Thomae. — Item, Alba Stephani de Ikham de sindone, cum parura de Indico samicto, brudata aquilis et leonibus. — Item, 5 Albae de serico pleno, cum parura brudata. — Item, Alba Sancti Thomae de serico. — Summa Albarum de Serico, xxm. — Albae de Lineo Panno in Vestiario. — Albae 10 cum paruris nigris brudatae, unde una cum imaginibus stantibus in tabernaculis. — Item, Albae sex cum paruris de Indo samicto brudatae. — Item, Albae sex cum paruris de viridi panno diasperato brudatae. — Item, Alba Eleonorae Reginae cum paruris albis, brudata cum imagi- nibus stantibus. — Item, Alba G. de Ikham cum paruris de samicto rubeo brudata. — Item, Alba? 1 2 cum parura de samicto rubeo brudatae. — Item, Albae 5 cum parura de rubeo sindone brudatae. — Item, Alba Johannis de Wokking cum parura de historia Sancti Thomae brudata. — Item, Alba Thomae de Stureye, cum parura de Indo velveo, cum magnis rosis brudata. — Item, Alba ejusdem, cum parura de Inde velvet, cum scutis et floribus de Liz brudata. — Item, Alba Johannis de Taneto, cum parura de rubea sindone de tripe brudata cum rosis. — Item, Alba Andreae de Hardz, cum parura de viridi samicto * These albes are very similar to that described by Georgius, as belonging to Boniface the Eighth. It is beyond a doubt that much of the embroidery used at Rome was sent from England, and it is more than probable that this splendid albe was of English work. 8 aibe* 9Itar* brudata scutis. — Item, Alba de viridi panno de Tharse, cum quercubus et glandibus brudata. — Item Alba G. de Chilcham, cum parura de Indo samicto brudata et floribus de Liz. — Item, Albae 8 Katherinae Lovel consutae. — Item, Alba W. de Cherring, consuta cum scutis, et nigris litteris. — Item, Alba M. de Clive, consuta cum scutis et litteris nigris. — Item, Alba R. de Prittlewelle, de rubeo samicto brudata cum scutis et popejays. — Item, Alba ejusdem consuta cum scutis. — Item, Alba R. Poncyni, cum parura de rubea, sindone stricta brudata rosis infrecta. — Item, Alba ejusdem, de rubea, sindone brudata albis rosis de serico infrecta auro. — Item, Alba ejusdem consuta de Losenges cum armis Regis Anglian et de Leyburn. — Item, Alba ejusdem consuta cum scutis et cum litteris aureis brudata. — Item, Alba j. de Welles cum capitibus Regum et Episcoporum in circulis brudata de angelis argenteis. — Item, Duae Albae ejusdem consutae cum scutis. — Item, Alba Stephani de Worthe, cum parura de Indo brudata rosis et floribus de Liz. — Item, Alba ejusdem consuta cum acpiilis et gryphonibus aureis. — Item, Alba R. de Adesham, consuta cum scutis. — Item, Alba Thomae Brian, consuta de armis de Northwode et Ponying in quadranguUs. — Item, Alba J. de Wy, consuta cum scutis. — Item, 4 Albae cum paruris de samicto rubeo, unde 2 cum aurifrigio in medio. — Item, Una Alba consuta. — Item Una Alba cum parura texta. — Item, Duae Albae cum parura et samicto de Indo, cum magnis floribus desuper consutis. — Item, Albas 10 cum parura de panno serico. — Item, Albae 3 Daniel de Siffleton, consutae cum scutis. — Item, Alba ejusdem consuta cum quadrangulis. — Item, Alba J. de Lynhestede, consuta de Losenges et alba frec- tura. — Item, Alba Eudonis de Bocton consuta cum scutis. — Item, Albae 7 cum parura de diversis coloribus. — Item, Alba Richardi de Scharstede brudata cum una aquila aurea et alia argentea. — Item, Alba ejusdem consuta stricta cum scutis. — Item, Alba Richardi de Clive, consuta et brudata de diversis scutis. — Item, Alba ejusdem consuta de diversis armis in Losengis, cum frectis purpureis cum stola et manipulo ejusdem operis. — Summa Albarum de lino cum parura brudata 53. — Summa Albarum cum parura consuta et texta 28. — Summa Albarum communium cum parura diversorum colorum 29. — Summa omnium Albarum in Vestiario, cum Albis de serico 132. — Dart's History of Canterbury, Appendix, p. viii. References to some authorities for the form and ornaments of ancient albcs. — Benedictional of St. Ethelwold. — Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, vol. ii. p. 23. 53. 81. 143. 116. — Waller's Brasses, Plates. — Cotman's Brasses : West Lynn Church, Brisley Church, Heylesdon Church. — Morgan's Sphere of Gentry, p. 'JO, Second Book. — Strutt's Manners and Customs, vol. i. plate *J, fig. 5. 27- fig. 4. 57- 64. fig. 1. 66. vol. iii. p. 27- — Strutt's English Dresses, vol. i. p. 25. 48. 68. — Strutt's Regal Antiquities, Supplement, plate 7- 10. 11. Picart's Ceremonies Religieuses, vol. ii. Procession des Rameaux. In this plate, the officiating clergy are in apparelled albes, and the acolythes in plain. The plate beneath this, representing a procession of the Fete Dieu, is curious from the albes being bordered all round the lower edge with narrow lace : this must have been about the period when such edging was first intro- duced. Two very fine apparelled albes, from sepulchral incised slabs, in the church of St. Urban, Troyes, are figured by Arnaud, in his Voyage dans le departement de L'Aube — Sacrarium vaticanae Basilicae Cryptarum monumenta, in Tab. LVI. et LVII. — Two effigies of Popes Urban VI. and Innocent VII., are figured with large and rich apparells on their albes. Sltar* (See Plates lxx. lxxi. lxxxiii.) The Table whereon the holy Evicharistic Sacrifice is offered. In primitive times there was but one altar in each church, and this was placed immediately in front of the apsis, where the bishop and clergy sat in a a semi-circle. There is also good reason to believe that these altars were often constructed of wood, overlaid with precious metals. Stone altars were occasionally used at a very early period, but they were not enjoined till the sixth century, and these were generally open, consisting of slabs supported by pillars, beneath 9 which the Relics of the Saints were deposited in small shrines. To protect them from dust or irreverence, curtains were suspended, hung on small rods, inside the altar ; and these, subsequently, suggested the idea of ornamenting the altar fronts with embroidered hangings, which were called the antependium or frontal. See Antependium. The ancient altars stood under a canopy, called a ciborium, supported on four pillars, and sur- mounted by a cross. To these four pillars rods were fixed at the height of a few feet from the pavement, and from them other curtains of costly stuff were suspended, and occasionally drawn during the cele- bration of the Divine Mysteries. These ciboria yet remain in some of the Roman churches, but we have no authentic account of them in England, although it is more than probable that they were intro- duced with the mission of St. Austin. See Ciborium. The ancient altars were all detached, without any screen or reredos behind them. But after the thirteenth century they were invariably fixed against a wall, or stone screen. In this country altars may now be constructed with equal propriety in the following different manners : — 1 . Of four stone w r alls, supporting a stone slab, with a frontal of embroidery, chased metal or mosaic work. It is necessary, however, in constructing an altar of this description, to leave a hollow space in the centre, and to bore apertures for the admission of air. 2. Four or six low pillars of stone, marble, or metal, standing on a raised base, supporting the slab. 3. Stone corbels, projecting from the wall, with angels or other imagery, on which the altar stone rests. This method is only available for small altars. 4. Stone walls, with the front divided into compartments, with niches and images somewhat after the fashion of a high tomb. The first existing example of this kind, is the high altar of the Minster, Cologne. Care must be taken in altars of this description, to give the slab a good projection, or the vestments of the officiating clergy will be chafed and injured by the carved ornaments. There should also be a contrivance for the occasional suspension of an antependium. In all cases the slab must be of one stone, without fracture or blemish. The wall behind the altar may be enriched by niches filled with sacred images, or garnished by a low reredos made of oak, gilt and pannelled, or of precious metals, enamelled and jewelled. Sometimes the wall was simply hung with needle-work, varied with the festivals, or decorated by a triptych, with folding leaves, painted on both sides, to be opened during the time of offering the Holy Sacrifice. See Dossell and Triptych. Curtains should be hung on either side of the altar, about eighteen inches from the ends : these may be supported either by irons fixed into the wall, or rods running from the wall to upright shafts on each side of the altar, supporting images of angels with lights. The following treatise on Altars is extracted from Traite Historique de la Liturgie Sacree, par M. L. Andre Bocquillot, pp. 81 — 112. " Les Evangelistes en racontant l'Histoire de l'Eucharistie, nous apprennent que Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ se servitde la Table commune sur laquelle on luy avoit servi a souper: ainsi le premier Autel de la nouvelle Loy a ete certainement une Table commune, et apparcmment de bois comme les autres. Ce que saint Luc dit de l'institution des Diacres, qu'ils furent etablis pour scrvir aux Tables, donne lieu de croire que les Apotres celebroient aussi les saints Mysteres sur des Tables semblablcs a celles dont ils se servoient pour manger. Mais cette Table, quoique commune par sa forme et sa matiere, ne laissoit pas d'etre appellee Autel par saint Paul : Nons avons, dit-il, un Autel dont ceux qui rendent encore un culte au Tabernacle Judai'que, n'ont pas pouvoir de manger. Lors meme que ce saint Apotre donne a 1' Autel du Seigneur le nom de Table, il le donne aussi en meme-tems aux Autels des demons : "Vous ne pouvez," dit-il, " participer a la Table du Seigneur et a la Table des demons." Et pour montrer que les Tables dont il parle en cet endroit, sont des Autels, il n'y a qu'a voir ce qu'il venoit de dire auparavant. " Ceux qui mangent de la Victime immolee, ne prennent-ils pas ainsi part a l'Autel ?" c 10 altar. Et c'est de-la qu'il conclut avec raison qu'on ne peut done participer a la Table du Seigneur et a la Table des demons. II y a beaucoup d'ajmarence que durant les persecutions, les Eveques et les Pretres ont imite la simplicite des Apotres, en prenant pour Autel une Table commune de bois ou de pierre, telle qu'ils la trouvoient sur les lieux ou ils vouloient celebrer les saints Mysteres. On put bien en dresser par tout ou l'on batit des Eglises dans le troisieme siecle ; mais l'on ne seait si ces premiers Autels erigez a l'honneur de Jesus Christ etoient de bois ou de pierre, ni meme s'ils etoient fixes. Les reproches que les Payens faisoient aux Fideles, et l'aveu de ceux-ci, qu'ils n'avoient point d' Autels, donnent beu de croire que nos Autels alors n'etoient point fixes ; mais que ce pouvoit etre des Tables de bois que l'on pouvoit transporter facilement d'un lieu dans un autre. Ce n'est done que depuis la paix de l'Eglise, et sous Constantin, que l'on peut assurer que nos Autels ont ete fixes dans nos Eglises. Alors on les faisoit de toutes sortes de matieres indifferemment, d'or, d'argent, de marbre, de jaspe, de pierre, ou de bois. On dit que le Pape saint Sylvestre ordonna des-lors qu'ils seroient de pierre ; mais on le dit sans preuves, aucun ancien Auteur n'ayant jamais fait mention de ce pretendu Decret. L'Auteur du Livre Pontifical qui parle tant de saint Sylvestre, ne dit pas un seul mot de ce Decret ; ce n'est pas manque d'occasion d'en parler, puisqu'il dit que Constantin fit faire plusieurs Tables d' Autels d'argent. A quoi bon cette depense s'il eut ete defendu de se servir d' Autel d'argent, ou de toute autre matiere que de pierre ? Pres de cent ans apres saint Sylvestre, les Papes Sixte III. et Hilaire, firent faire chacun un Autel d'argent. Anastase le Bibliothecaire qui rapporte ces faits, ignoroit done encore dans le neuvieme siecle le pretendu Decret de saint Sylvestre. Dans les Eglises d'Afrique les Autels etoient communement de bois, comme nous l'apprennent saint Optat et saint Augustin. Ce dernier racontant les cruautez que les Donatistes exercerent de son terns contre un Eveque Catholique nomme Maximien, dit, qu'ils briserent sur luy 1' Autel de son Eglise dans lequel il s'etoit cache, et que des morceaux du bois de cet Autel ils le battirent si cruellement, qu'il remplit de sang le lieu ou il etoit. J'avoue qu'il n'est fait mention que d'un seul Autel en ce passage de saint Augustin ; mais saint Optat va parler en general du grand nombre d' Autels brisez par la fureur impie des Donatistes, comme s'il n'y en avoit point eu d'autres que de bois. Apres avoir demande a ces furieux, pourquoi ils avoient rompu les uns, racle les autres, et emporte les autres, il repond luy-meme par cette espece d'ironie : " Pour moi," dit-il, " je crois que vous avez brises les Autels dans les lieux ou vous aviez abondance de bois, et que dans ceux ou le bois etoit rare, vous vous etes contente de les racier." Le passage de saint Augustin marque visiblement que les Autels de bois etoient creux, et qu'ils s'ou- vroient et se fermoient, puisqu'un homme pouvoit se cacher dedans. C'etoit comme une espece de coffre ; aussi Gregoire de Tours luy donne-t-il ce nom, en parlant de l'Autel de bois de sainte Croix de Poitiers. Les Autels de pierre, et d'autre matiere, etoient aussi creux, et non de massonnerie solide comme les notres. L'Autel de l'Eglise d'Irene a Constantinople etoit creux, puisque saint Alexandre, Eveque de cette Ville, se prosterna contre terre sous cet Autel, pour demander a. Dieu qu' Arius fut puni du scandale qu'il avoit excite. Ce vide des Autels servit dans la suite a enfermer les Reliques des Saints, et elles y etoient disposees de maniere qu'on pouvoit les voir par une petite ouverture qui etoit ou derriere l'Autel, ou par les cotez. Celuy qu' Angelbert Eveque de Milan, fit faire vers le milieu du siecle, avoit deux petites Portes par les cotez, et une petite ouverture derriere par ou l'on pouvoit voir les saintes Reliques qui etoient dedans. Dans le seizieme siecle les Autels qu'on erigeoit etoient encore creux et concaves, et l'on y mettoit des corps entiers de Saints quand on en trouvoit ; mais l'on cessa d'y laisser des ouvertures par ou l'on put voir les Reliques, et l'on fit prudemment : les nouveaux Heretiques prechoient deja contre la vene- ration des Saints et de leurs Reliques, et il etoit aise de voir qu'ils s'emporteroient jusqu' a les profaner, comme ils ont fait dans la suite. Cette sage precaution des Eveques du seizieme siecle, et du suivant, qu'on ignoroit faute d'attention, a fait que dans notre siecle, on s'est mis dans la tete que ces Autels, qui altar. 11 paroissent n'avoir point de Reliques, n'avoient pas ete consacrez, que sans doute il n'y avoit point de Reliques dedans, et qu'il ne falloit plus y celebrer la Messe. Cependant il se trouve de ces Autels tres- riches en Reliques, quand ils viennent a etre demolis, ou expres ou autrement. Ce qui arriva a Autun le 25. Fevrierde l'annee derniere 1699. estune preuve evidente de ce que je dis. Dans l'ancienne Eglise Cathedrale, derriere le grand Autel, il y en avoit un plus petit, dont la Table etoit de marbre. II tomba le jour que je viens de marquer, de grosses pierres de la voute sur cet Autel, qui briserent la Table en plusieurs pieces. Un Chanoine vint sur les lieux, s'approcha de 1' Autel brise, appercut une boite d'etain, l'ouvrit et y trouva une attestation ecrite en parchemin, portant que cet Autel avoit ete consacre le deux d'Avril 1530. par Jacques Huraut, Eveque d' Autun, lequel y avoit mis le corps entier de saint Racho Eveque. Apres une assemblee de Chapitre, on vint dans cette Eglise, on leva tous les morceaux de la Table brisee, au dessous de laquelle immediatement on trouva la tete, et tous les ossemens de ce saint Eveque d' Autun, envelopez fort proprement d'une ancienne etoffe, parsemee de diverses figures et couleurs. L'on transferaces saintes Reliques dans lanouvelle Cathedrale, ou il se fait, dit-on, depuis cetems beaucoup de miracles. Cette histoire que j'ay crii devoir rapporter ici en preuves, doit porter les Eveques et leurs grand Vicaires a ne pas interdire des Autels, pour cela seul qu'ils n'y trouvent pas les memes marques de consecration qu'on exige aujourd'hui, sur tout si ces Autels sont bien placez, et dans des Eglises anciennes. Tout les Autels ne se fermoient pas neanmoins, comme ceux dont je viens de parler. II y en avoit un grand nombre qui etoient posez sur des colomnes : les uns n'avoient pour appuy qu'une seule colomne. Tel etoit 1' Autel de pierre de Notre-Dame de Blacherne a Constantinople. D'autres etoient posez sur plusieurs colomnes, les uns plus, les autres moins, et c'etoit anciennement l'usage le plus commun, comme il paroit visiblement par ceux qui restent encore dans les Cryptes ou Chapelles souterraines de Rome. II y en a meme quelques-uns en France. Celuy de Chartres qui est de jaspe est pose sur six colomnes de raeme matiere. Synesius Eveque de Ptolemaide, suppose que ces Autels etoient communs de son terns: " J'entreray," dit-il, " dans le Temple de Dieu, je tourneray autour de 1' Autel, j'arroseray le pave de mes larmes, fembrasseray les sacrees colomnes qui soutiennent la Table immacidee." On voit la meme chose dans la Lettre circulaire ou le Pape Vigile raconte la violence qu'on luy avoit faite dans l'Fglise de sainte Euphemie. " Comme nous etions la," dit-il, " et qu'on commencoit a nous tirer par les pieds, nous nous attacliam.es aux columnes de V Autel, et la Table en fut si fort ebranlee, qu'elle seroit tombee sur nous sans les mains de nos Clercs qui la soutinrent." II y a grand nombre d'autres exemples dans l'Histoire Ecclesiastique de ces Autels appuyez sur des colomnes et vuides par dessous, que nous pour- rions rapporter pour prouver que ceux qui sont d'une massonnerie pleine et solide son nouveaux. Mais s'i ya des gens a qui ce que je viens de dire ne sufHse pas, je les renvoye aux Rubriques memes du Breviaire Romain, qui supposent visiblement que l'ancien usage des Autels vuides par dessous dure encore. C'est dans l'Office des Tenebres, en parlant des cierges du Chandelier triangulaire. Les Rubriques veulent que le dernier cierge soit cache sous 1' Autel au coin de l'Epitre, pendant l'Antienne Traditor. Sub altari absconditur in cornu Epistolte. Toutes les fois qu'on celebroit les saints Mysteres, il y a beaucoup d'apparence que la sainte Tabic etoit couveite d'un voile de toile ou d'etoffe des les commencement. La proprete le demandoit ; et ce voile ou cette nappe etoit encore plus necessaire dans des siecles ou il y avoit plus de fragmens d'Hosties a recueillir qu' a present. Je ne rapporte point en preuve de cet usage le Canon, siper negligentiam, qui suppose que des le second siccle il y avoit trois nappes sur 1' Autel comme aujourd'hui, outre le Corporal qu'on mettoit par dessus ; car ce Canon est faussement attribue a saint Pie par l'Auteur des fausses Decrctales si decrie parmi les Scavans. Le Canon Consulto, vient de la meme source, et n'a pas plus d'autorite, quoi qu'il soit cite par des Auteurs du ncuvieme siccle, et des suivans ; et quoique divers Bre- viaires attribuent comme luy a saint Sylvestre d'avoir ordonne qu'on se servit d'un linge, et non d'un voile de soye, ou d'autre etoffe dans les saints Mysteres, pour mieux reprc senter le linceul dans lequel le Corps du Seigneur avoit ete enseveli. II faut done chercher ailleurs de meilleures preuves que celles-la 12 altar Saint Optat nous en fournit une bien claire et bien forte. II se moque de la folie des Donatistes, qui pour purifier les Autels des Catholiques, les racloient. Apres leur avoir demande pourquoi ils en usoient ainsi, et s'ils apprehendoient que nos Pretres eussent touche l'Autel en celebrant, il ajoftte : " Qui est celuy d'entre les Fideles qui ignore que la Table est couverte d'un linge toutes les fois qu'on celebre ? Quis jidelium nesciat in peragendis Mysteriis ipsa ligna linteamine cooperiri ? On a bien pu toucher ce linge ou ce voile/' dit-il, " mais l'on n'a pu toucher le bois qui en est couvert. Velamen potuit tangi, non lignum. Si l'attouchement du linge a pu penetrer jusqu'au bois, il a pu aussi penetrer du bois a la terre. Que ne foui'ssiez-vous done la terre comme vous raclez le bois ?" Peu apres cet Eveque donne le nom de Pcdle a ces linges d'Autel. " Vous nous avez ote," dit-il, " les Palles et les Livres sacrez. Pour purifier les Palles, vous les avez lavees ; mais qu'avez vous fait pour purifier les Livres ? Quoi, vous lavez la Palle, et vous ne lavez pas le Livre ? Pcdlam lavas, codicem non lavas." C'est done une chose indubitable et certaine qu'on mettoit une nappe sur l'Autel pour celebrer les saints Mysteres. Ce n'est point un usage nouveau ni particulier aux Eglises d'Afrique ; car cet Eveque en parle comme d'une chose qu'aucun Fidele ne peut ignorer. Quis Jidelium nesciat? Cette nappe d'Autel, n'etoit autre chose que ce qu'on a appelle depuis le Corporal, parce qu'elle sert au Corps du Seigneur. Elle couvroit tout l'Autel, comme il paroit dans ce passage. L'Ordre Romain le dit precisement en luy donnant le nom meme de Corporal. Le Diacre prend le Corporal dessus le Calice, et l'ayant mis sur l'Autel a sadroite, il jette l'un des bouts au second Diacre qui l'etend avec luy. Le sixieme Ordre Romain dit que ce Corporal doit etre de lin, pour mieux ressembler au linceul dans lequel fut enseveli le Corps du Seigneur, et qu'il doit couvrir toute la surface de l'Autel : ainsi l'on ne peut pas douter de la verite de cet ancien usage ; mais l'on peut douter s'il y avoit sous le Corporal une autre nappe ou de linge ou d'etoffe. Saint Optat ne fait mention que d'un seul voile ou Corporal ; et comme son raisonnement auroit eu encore plus de force contre les Donatistes, si l'Autel avoit ete couvert de deux nappes au lieu d'une, il y a lieu de croire qu'on ne se servoit que d'une, au moins en Afrique. Parmi les Grecs on en mettoit davantage, si nous en croyons Simeon de Thessalonique, et le Pere Goar, qui assurent que leur maniere ancienne de couvrir les Autels y subsiste encore. Ils mettoient a chaque coin de l'Autel un morceau de drap, qui portoit le nom et l'image d'un Evangeliste : a cause de cela ou appelloit ces quartre pans de drap Evangelistes. Pardessus on mettoit une premiere nappe de toile, qu'ils appelloient ad carnem, parce qu'elle represente le linceul dans lequel Joseph d'Arimathie ensevelit le Corps de Notre Seigneur. Sur cette nappe on en mettoit une seconde de fil plus deliee, et sur celle-ci le Corporal. II y avoit done deux nappes sur l'Autel dans l'Eglise Grecque, outre le Cor- poral qu'on etendoit encore par-dessus. Simeon de Thessalonique donne des raisons mystiques de ces divers linges d'Autel, qui selon toutes les apparences ne tomboient pas dans l'esprit des Romains durant les neuf premiers siecles : car excepte le Corporal qui etoit de toile, ils couvroient leurs Autels plutot de tapis d'etoffe precieuse que de nappes. Anastase le Bibliothecaire dit que l'Empereur Constans etant a Rome dans l'Eglise de saint Pierre, il y fit present d'une couverture de drap d'or pour couvrir l'Autel, ou l'on celebra la Messe. Le meme Auteur rapporte un grand nombre de presens de cette sorte, faits par les Papes, et par d'autres, pour couvrir les Autels. Le nom qu'il leur donne, et la maniere dont il en parle, ne permettent pas qu'on entende cela de paremens d'Autel, semblables a ceux dont on se sert aujourd' hui. II falloit qui ces tapis couvrissent entitlement l'Autel, la Table, le devant, le derriere et les cotez : aussi les appelle-t-il vestes altaris, les robes de l'Autel. II y a des Eglises ou l'on voit encore de ces anciennes couvertures d'Autel, qui servent tout ensemble de nappes et de paremens. II y en a une de toile d'or dans l'Abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu en Auvergne, dont on se sert aux Fetes solemnelles. II en etoit de meme dans nos Eglises de France, comme nous l'apprenons de saint Gregoire de Tours. II dit que des scelerats etant entre la nuit dans le Monastere de sainte Croix de Poitiers, dans <3ltat\ 13 le dessein de tuer l'Abbesse, celle-ci ne pouvant se sauver, parce qu'elle etoit goutteuse, se fit porter devant l'Autel de sainte Croix. Sa Prieure nommee Justine, avec d'autres Soeurs, la cacherent sous la Palle qui couvroit l'Autel. Justina prceposita cum aliis sororibus Palla altaris. . . . Abbatissam operit Si ce voile ou ce tapis n'avoit point couvert l'Autel de tout cote, il est evident que l'Abbesse n'auroit pas ete cachee aux assassins qui la cherchoient. C'est done un fait certain qu'en France, comme a Rome, la couverture d'un Autel l'embrassoit entitlement. II est encore evident par ce recit, que l'on couvroit l'Autel hors le terns meme des saints Mysteres : car on ne songeoit pas a les celebrer lorsque ces Reli- gieuses apporterent leur Abbesse a l'Eglise ; mais peut-etre avoient-elles aussi apporte la Palle de l'Autel : il n'y a pas d'apparence ; car s'il eut ete rare de voir un Autel couvert, ceux qui cherchoient l'Abbesse, auroient eu quelque defiance en voyant cet Autel couvert de sa Palle, a une heure ou il ne devoit pas l'etre. Outre cette couverture d' Autel, nous avons deja (lit qu'a Rome on se servoit d'un Corporal de toile qui couvroit toute la Table sainte, et e'etoit sur ce Corporal etendu qu'on disposoit par ordre toutes les oblations. Je n'oserois assurer qu'on fit la meme chose en France dans les six premiers siecles : car je ne vois aucun temoignage de nos anciens Auteurs qui prouve qu'ils etendissent un Corporal de toile sur la premiere couverture de l'Autel. Peut-etre que cet usage etant general dans les autres Eglises de Grece, d'Afrique et de Rome, on a quelque droit de penser qu'il etoit aussi pratique dans les Eglises de France. Mais comme elles avoient un usage particulier de couvrir les dons sacrez, different des autres Eglises, elles pouvoient encore avoir celuy de se servir d'un Corporal d'etoffe dans les saints Mysteres, quoique les autres Eglises se servissent d'un Corporal de lin, ou d'autre toile. Nous voyons comment nos ancetres couvroient les Oblations, dans le recit que fait Gregoire de Tours d'un songe qu'il avoit eu. "Je songeois," dit-il, "que j'etois dans l'Eglise, et que je celebrois la Messe. L'Autel etles Oblations etoient deja couverts du voile de soye, pallio serico. . . . lorsque je vis entrer le Roy Gontram, qui crioit : Qu'on tire cet homicide de l'Autel de Dieu. . . . Ayant oui ces paroles, je me tournay vers vous, et je vous dit : Tenez le voile dont les dons sacrez sont couverts, de peur qu'on ne vous tire hors d'ici. Vous prites le voile ; mais la frayeur vous empechoit de le tenir fortement. Cependant j'exhortois le Roy a ne vous point faire violence ; mais sur ce qu'il resistoit a tout ce que je pouvois dire, vous lachiez le voile pour vous mettre derriere moy, &c." J'ay rapporte avec un peu d'etendue ce passage de Gregoire de Tours, afin que nous puissions micux decouvrir de quoi et comment nos Autels etoient ornez et couverts autrefois dans la celebration de la Messe. II est certain que ce que cet Historien appelle ici Pallium et Palla altaris, la Palle de l'Autel n'est qu'un seul et meme voile ; que ce voile etoit de soye et non de toile ; qu'il etoit plus long et plus large que l'Autel, puisqu'il devoit le couvrir ; qu'on ne le mettoit point sous les dons sacrez, mais dessus pour les couvrir et empecher qu'on ne les vit. Voila, ce me semble, dequoi l'on ne peut point douter. Mais peut-on conclure de la qu'il n'y avoit sur l'Autel que ce seul voile, qu'on ne mettoit qu'a- pres l'offrande ? Je ne le croi pas. Les Oblations etoient-elles placees sur la Table toute nuc ? Gre- goire de Tours ne dit point qu'il n'y eut rien sur l'Autel avant qu'on y posat les Oblations. II nous a dit qu'il etoit couvert d'une Palle hors le terns des saints Mysteres. On peut done croire qu'on y laissoit au moins cette premiere couverture. Le passage meme que nous examinons semble supposer qu'il y en avoit deux pour le moins : c'est dans la reponse que luy fit Eberulpbe, apres qu'il luy eut raconte son songe : " J'avois resolu/' dit il, " de tenir d'une main les Palles de 1' Autel, Pallas altaris. II y en avoit done deux au moins, l'une sur l'Autel, immediatement sur laquelle se mettoient les Oblations, et l'autre qui les couvroit. La premiere est appellee le Palle de l'Autel, et l'autre la couverture du Corps du Seigneur, dans le Concile d'Auvergne, Canon 3. Opertorivm Dominici Corporis. II etoit defendu aux femmes de toucher celle-ci, que le Concile d'Auxerre appelle la Palle du Seigneur, pour la distinguer de la Palle de l'Autel qu'elles pouvoient toucher." Nous voyons dans le Missel des Francois une Preface pour benir les linges servans a V Autel: mais 14 altar. Dom Mabillon dans l'cdition qu'il en a donne, avertit que cette Preface peut etre tiree de l'Ordre Romain, et que ce Missel est tout au plutot du septieme siecle. Ainsi l'on pouvoit alors avoir change 1'ancien usage des Gaules de se ser\ r ir de Voiles et Corporaux de soye pour les saints Mysteres, et avoir pris des Corporaux de toile pour couvrir et enveloper le Corps et le Sang du Seigneur, suivant les termes de cette Preface : Benedicere consecrare-que diyneris hcec linteamina in usum altaris tui ad tec/en. dum involvendumqve Corpus et Sanguinem Filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi. Je ne scay meme si nos anciens Francois entendoient ce mot linteamina altaris, dans un sens si etroit, qu'ils ne l'etendis- sent pas jusqu'aux voiles de soye dont ils se servoient depuis long-tems pour couvrir les saints Mysteres. lis pourroient fort bien avoir pris des Romains cette priere pour benir les linges d'Autel, en l'appliquant aux Couvertures et Palles de soye et d'etoffe qui etoient en usage parmi eux. Ce qui fortifie a mon sens cette conjecture, c'est que depuis qu'on a separe les Palles des Corporaux, en laissant le Corporal pour le Corps du Seigneur, et se servant de la Palle pour couvrir le Calice, nous voyons que toutes ces Palles sont d'etoffe dans nos Eglises de France, excepte celles que l'on a faites depuis le commencement de ce siecle, ou meme depuis l'etablissement des Seminaires. Ce que je viens de dire des couvertures d'etoffe precieuse qui se mettoient sur les Autels a Rome, en France et ailleurs, ne convient manifestement qu'aux Eglises riches, mais pour les pauvres, et sur tout celles de la campagne, il y a beaucoup d'apparence qu'on se contentoit d'une couverture de toile et d'un Corporal. C'est pourquoi le Pape Leon IV. ne demande autre chose aux Curez, sinon de couvrir leurs Autels de linges tres-propres. Altare sit coopertum mundissimis linteis. Ce Pape n'avoit garde de defendre les couvertures d'etoffe, luy qui en fit faire une de soye, mouchetee d'or pour l'Autel de saint Pierre. Le Concile de Reims cite par Burchard, et qu'on croit etre de ce tems-la, ordonne la meme chose que le Pape Leon: "Que la Table de Jesus-Christ," dit-iL " soit couverte de linges et Palles propres." Comme ce fut dans ce neuvieme siecle que parurent pour la premiere fois les fausses Decretales, il y a beaucoup d'apparence que le Canon Si per negligentiam, fit impression sur l'esprit de ceux qui le recurent comme un veritable Decret du Pape saint Pie. Ceux-la. commencerent done les premiers a mettre trois nappes de toile sur l'Autel, conformement a ce Canon. Dans la suite des terns l'autorite des Decretales, qui fut d'abord contestee par les plus habiles de nos Eveques de France, s'etablit a la fin presque par tout. De-la vint le changement de la plupart des anciens usages, et en pai*ticulier de celuy des Autels qu'on couvroit enfin en plusieurs Eglises de trois nappes de toile. Ce dernier usage subsiste depuis long-tems ; il est quasi universel dans les Eglises d'Occident ; il a ete prescrit dans plusieurs Synodes, tant Diocesains que Provinciaux, tenus depuis le quinzieme siecle, dans les Missels, et dans les Ceremoniaux qui sont venus ensuite. Ainsi quoi-qu'on soit pleinement convaincu de la faussete des Decretales, cet usage venu d'une telle source, doit etre retenu dans les Eglises ou il l'observe de terns immemorial selon la regie de saint Ambroise et de saint Augustin, que dans ces choses la coutume du Peuple de Dieu doit nous tenir lieu de loy. Mais dans les Eglises ou l'ancien usage d'une seule nappe s'etoit conserve jusqu'au siecle dernier, comme on le dit de celle de Lyon, je ne scay de quoi on s'avise de mettre trois nappes sur l'Autel. Ce fut aussi dans le neuvieme siecle qu'on commenca d'exposer sur l'Autel les Reliques des Saints. Jusques-la on s'etoit contente de les mettre sous la Table sacree et dedans l'Autel, ou dans des Cha- pelles sous terre, sur lesquelles l'Autel etoit place. L'on en mettoit aussi dans les Baptisteres, ou dans les Sacristies, ou dans des Armoires faites dans le mur a droite ou a gauche de l'Autel, ou dans des Chapelles particulieres qui tenoient au corps meme de l'Eglise. Enfin l'on en mettoit presque par tout ; excepte sur la Table sacree, que l'on consideroit comme un throne uniquement destine et consacre a Jests-Christ, et qui ne devoit etre rempli et occupe que par luy seul. C'est pomquoi l'on n'y mettoit aussi ni Chandeliers, ni Images, ni Vases a fleurs, comme je vais le prouver. Ce n'est pas qu'on ne revtrat comme on devoit les Reliques des Saints des les premiers siecles. Au contraire, les Eveques les altar 15 plus saints et les plus scavans, avoient plus de respect pour ces precieux restes que nous n'en avons. Un peu de terre ou de poussiere de leurs tombeaux, un morceau de frange des tapis qui les couvroient, un mouchoir ou un morceau de taffetas, ou d'autre etoffe qu'on avoit suspendu quelques momens sur leurs sepulchres, etoient pour eux de precieuses Reliques. On nommoit ces Reliques Branded, on les mettoit sous l'Autel ou dedans pour les consacrer, et ces Reliques faisoient des miracles comme les Corps memes des Saints qu'elles representoient. Ce n'est done pas encore un coup, manque de respect pour les Reliques des Saints qu'on ne les placoit point sur l'Autel dans les premiers siecles. Saint Odon Abbe de Cluny, cite un fait rapporte par l'Abbe Bernon, qui montre que cet ancien usage duroit encore de son terns. Voici le fait. Les Reliques de sainte Galburge ou Gauburge, ayant 6te tirees du lieu ou elles etoient, et posees sur l'Autel, aussi- tot elles cesserent de faire des miracles. Quelque-tems apres, la Sainte apparut a, un des malades qui imploroient son assistance, et luy dit : Ce qui fait que vous n'etes point gueris, e'est que l'on a mis mes Reliques sur l'Autel du Seigneur, qui ne doit servir qu'aux saints Mysteres. Cette Sainte n'est pas la seule qui se soit offensee de voir ses Reliques placees sur l'Autel. Saint Bercaire Abbe de Montier-en-Der en fit autant. Le Sacristain de l'Eglise ou reposoient ses Reliques les ayant une nuit placees sur l'Autel, ou sa devotion particuliere les trouvoit mieux, le saint Abbe luy apparut, et l'obligea par ses menaces de les reporter a leur place ordinaire. On croit avec raison que cet ancien usage a dure huit cens ans. Au commencement du neuvieme siecle on souffrit les Reliques sur l'Autel. Le Pape Leon IV. qui mourut vers l'an 847, le permit nommement, en defendant de rien mettre sur l'Autel, excepte les Chasses des Reliques, le Livre des saints Evangiles, et la Boete ou le Corps de Seigneur est enferme. Le Concile de Reims peu apres fit la meme defense, et en excepta aussi les Reliques et le Livre des Evangiles ; et dans le siecle suivant, Rathier Eveque de Verone, enjoignitla meme chose a ses Curez, en inserantdans une Epitre Synodale les paroles du Pape Leon IV. Ce n'est que depuis ce siecle que l'usage de mettre les Chasses de Reliques sur l'Autel est devenu commun. On peut done y en mettre a present, puisqu'il y a plus de six cens ans que l'Eglise le permet. Mais il seroit injuste de trouver mauvais que des Eglises Cathedrales et Collegiales s'en tiennent a. l'ancien usage qu' elles ont toujours conserve. Pour ce qui est des Images, on n'a commence d'en mettre sur l'Autel que depuis le dixieme siecle, et peut-etre long-tems apres. Si le silence des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques de ces dix siecles n'est pas une preuve suffisante de ce fait, on ne peut disconvenir que les paroles de Leon IV. du Concile de Reims, et de l'Eveque de Verone n'en soient une bonne et solide. Quoi de plus clair que ce que dit le Concile de Riems ? Que l'on ne mettre rein sur l'Autel, que les Chasses des Reliques des Saints et les quatre Evangiles. Nihil super eo ponatur nisi capsce cum Sanctorum Reliquiis et (juatuor Evangelia. Si les Eveques de se Concile, si Leon IV. et l'Eveque de Verone avoient eu la moindre pensee qu'on put mettre des Images sur l'Autel, ils l'auroient specific aussi-bien que le reste : car il s'agissoit de regler ce qui se pouvoit ou ne ce pouvoit pas mettre ou laisser sur l'Autel. Ils font une defense generale de rien mettre sur la sainte Table, a laquelle ils apportent quelques exceptions ; on doit done conclurc que tout ce qu'ils n'on pas excepte, est eompris dans leur defense. Ainsi les Images, les Chandeliers, les Vases a fleurs, sont au rang des choses qu'ils ont defendue's de mf ttre sur l'Autel. J'avoue neanmoins que Baronius et Binius ont cru que des le sixieme siecle on mettoit des Images sur l'Autel. Mais surquoi l'ont-ils cru ? Sur un Canon du second Concile de Tours, qu'ils ont cru entendre, et dont le sens est difficile a decouvrir. Voici le Canon : Ut corpus Domini in altari non imaginario ordine, sed sub crucis titulo componatur. Les habiles gens sont partagez sur rintelligencc de ce Canon, et luy donnent deux sens plus naturels et plus vrai-semblables que celuy de Baronius, a present abandonne de tous. Voici le premier sens : " Que les parcelles de l'Eucharistie qui sont sur l'Autel, ne soient pas disposees selon la fantaisie du Celebrant, mais en forme de croix." Ce sens parol t fort naturel, mais il suppose l'une ou l'autre de deux choses difficiles a prouvcr, ou que l'ont ait donne au pain non consacre le nom du Corps du Seigneur, ou que l'on ait attenduque la consecration fut faite 1(> pour disposer les Hosties sur l'Autel. Le second sens cpi'on donne a ce Canon me paroit plus conforme aux termes du Canon, Le Voici : e< Que le Corps de Seigneur soit place sur l'Autel ou au-dessus, in altari, sous la croix, qui etoit placee au sommet du Ciboire, et von pas au rang des Images, c'est- a-dire, a droite ou a gauche du cote des peintures qui ornoient les murailles et les colonnes voisines des Autels. Mais quoi qu'il en soit du vrai sens de ce Canon, toujours est-il vrai qu'il ne peut servir de preuve qu'il y eut des Images sur l'Autel dans le terns qu'il a etc fait puisque de tous les sens qu'on luy donne, ccluy-la est les moins naturel, le moins probable, le plus abandonne des Scavans, et que d'ailleurs il est contredit par l'ancien usage de l'Eglise, suffisament prouve par les autoritez que nous avons rapportees ci dessus. Ces memes autoritez donnent droit de conclure aussi qu'il n'y avoit ni Chandeliers, ni Fleurs sur la sainte Table. Ce n'est pas que des les premiers siecle on ne se soit servi de lumieres dans les Eglises aux Offices meme du jour. On en a des preuves certaines dans saint Jerome, dans saint Paulin, &c. etj'ay deja montre dans le Chapitre precedent qu'il y avoit des lampes suspendues des lustres, des chandeliers fixes ; mais ils etoient placez par tout ailleurs que sur l'Autel, comme je l'ay deja dit. Pendant la Messe plusieurs Acolytes portoient des chandeliers avec des cierges allumez ; mais ils les posoient a terre de la maniere que nous le dirons ailleurs. II en etoit de meme des fleurs, on en mettoit par toute l'Eglise, excepte sur la Table de l'Autel. On en posoit sur les tombeaux des Martyrs, d'oii on les retiroit ensuite pour guerirles malades. On en faisoit des guirlandes pour couronner le faite des Autels, c'est-a-dire, le dome du Ciboire. On en attachoit aux murailles des Eglises, comme saint Gregoire de Tours la raconte du Pretre saint Severin, on en bordoit les Portes des Eglises, on en jonchoit le semi et le pave, Sparyitc t flore solum, praitcxite limina sertis. " Parsemez le pave defeurs, Cotironnez-en la porte, Sfc.'' Mais pour ce qui est de la sainte Table, on ne voit aucun temoignage durant les douze premiers siecles que l'on y ait mis des fleurs pour la parer. Depuis meme que les Religieuses par un piete plus digne de leur sexe que de la gravite de nos mysteres, se sont avisees d'y mettre des vases de fleurs natur- elles et artificielles, leur exemple n'a ete suivi que dans les Eglises des Mendians, et dans les Paroisses de la campagne, ou pour l'ordinaire ce sont des femmes devotes qui ornent les Autels. Ce nouvel usage, que je nommerois abus si l'Eglise ne le toleroit, n'a pu s'introduire jusqu'ici dans les Eglises Cathedrales, ni dans les Collegiales, ni chez les Moines, du moins ceux qui ont quelque soin de conserver les anciennes pratiques. II faut done s'en tenir a l'ancien usage par tout ou le nouveau ne s'est pas encore introduit, persuadez comme nos saints Peres que la Table sainte est uniquement consacree pour le Sacrifice, et qu'on n'y doit rien mettre de superflu. Si l'on demande pourquoi done l'on y met le Livre des saints Evangiles ; je repons en premier lieu que e'est pour observer l'ancien usage de l'Eglise, si bien marque dans les paroles de Leon IV. et du Concile de Reims, raportees ci-dessus : secondement qu'on pourroit meme y laisser ce saint Livre le jour et la nuit, comme les Grecs ont toujours fait jusqu'a present ; et troisiemement que ce Livre sacre qui contient la vie et les paroles de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ, a toujours ete regarde par les plus grands saints et les plus celebres Eveques a peu pres avec le meme respect que son precieux Corps. " Ce ne'est pas un moindre crime," dit S. Cesaire, " d'entendre la parole de Dieu avec negligence, que de laisser tomber a terre par sa faute le Corps de Jesus-Christ." On seait que les saints Eveques du Concile de Nicee donnerent au Livre de l'Evangile la place de Jesus-Ciirist meme, en lemettent sur un throne, au milieu de leur sainte assemblee. II ne faut done pas s'etonner si nous laissons ce Livre sacre sur l'Autel, en presence meme du Corps et du Sang du Seigneur. Mais on doit s'etonner de ce qu'on y met sans scrupule aujourd'hui, malgre les defenses de l'Eglise et le respect du a la altar. 17 grandeur denos mysteres, tant de choses qui en sont tout-a-fait indignes. Je ne mets point dans ce rang ni les Reliques, ni les Images, ni les Chandeliers, puisque l'Eglise souffre presentement que l'on en mette sur l'Autel : je voudrois seulement, a l'egard de ces choses, que dans les Eglises ou on ne les a point encore admises, on se tint ferme dans ses anciens usages, et que dans celles ou ces pra- tiques nouvelles sont etablies, on gardat au moins les regies de la bienseance et de la moderation, en sorte qu'on ne defigurat point l'Autel du Seigneur a force de la vouloir parer. Mais quant aux choses qui en sont tout-a-fait indignes, comme un chappeau, un bonnet, un calotte, des gants, un mouchoir, en toute autre chose de cette nature ; les mettre sur l'Autel, c'est le profaner, c'est en faire une Table commune, et temoigner peu de foy pour les mysteres qui s'y passent, et qu'on celebre soi-meme. Cet abus qui n'est que trop commun, m'en remet un autre dans l'esprit, qui passera bien-tot pour un usage recu si l'on n'y prend garde. On n'a jamais vu ni dans l'antiquite, ni meme dans le dernier siecle ces corniches de bois que nous voyons ajotiter aux Autels dans celuy ou nous vivons. On ne les souffre point dans les Eglises Catheclrales, ni dans les Collegiales, ni meme dans les Monasteres d'hommes qui n'aiment pas les nouveautez. Elles sont expressement defendues dans le Ceremonial des Eveques. * Ces corniches sont encore proscrites dans le Ceremonial des Chanoines du Pere de Braillon, 4. p. append. 2. c. 2. §. 3. dansle Ceremonial de Paris, p. 4. c. 3. n. 6. dans le Commentaire de Gavantus sur les Rubriques du Missel Romain ; dans le Rituel d'Aleth, &c. Outre ces defenses, les Auteurs que nous venons de citer montrent que les corniches sont indecentes, incommodes, qu'elles gatent les ornemens du Pretre et des Ministres. On les a fait si larges en quelques lieux, qu'on ne peut faire les ceremonies prescrites dans les Missels, comme de baiser l'Autel et les Reliques. Cependant malgre toutes ces choses, la nouveaute prevaut, parce qu'elle est favorisee de l'epargne et de la paresse. II faut l'avoiier de bonne foy, c'est l'epargne ou la paresse, ou les deux ensemble, qui ont fait eclorre cette invention nouvelle, et qui l'introduisent presque par tout. II faut un peu moins d'etoffe pour un devant d'Autel a corniche, que pour un autre qui n'en a point. Cela sufflt pour determiner des filles, qui sont naturelle- ment menageres : aussi est-ce aux Religieuses q'on attribue cette belle invention. Un devant d'Autel cloiie sur un chassis est bien-tot place dans une corniche, il faut un peu plus de tems pour un Autel qui n'en a point ; c'est assez pour determiner plusieurs Clercs seculiers et reguliers qui aiment besogne faite. Voila les deux motifs de cette nouveaute dans la plupart. L'amour de la mode emporte les autres. Au-dessus de l'Autel il y avoit dans les commencemens un petit edifice fait en forme de voute, de dome ou de tour, soutenu de quatre colonnes et d'autant d'arcades. Cela s'appelloit Ciborium, Ciboire, terme que les Latins avoient emprunte de Grecs, pour signifier le convert ou les dais de l'Autel, Tcgimen ct umbraculum ultaris. Les colonnes etoient hautes, et la voute exaussee et ornee de peintures. A chacune des Arcades il y avoit un grand rideau pendant jusqu'a terre, que l'on tiroit en certains tems de la Messe pour cacher tout l'Autel. Ces rideaux qui etoient communs en Orient et a Rome, n'etoient point en usage en France ; et meme ils y auroient ete inutiles, parce que nos ancetres cachoient les mysteres de la maniere que nous avons deja dit, en etendant une palle ou voile de soye, ou d'autre etoffe, qui couvroit tout l'Autel. II y avoit une croix plantee au sommet du Ciboire et en dehors, et cet usage etoit commun. Dans plusieurs Eglises, et sur tout en France, il y avoit au milieu de ces Ciboires par les dedans, et au-dessous de la croix une colombe d'or ou d'argent suspendue, dans laquelle on conservoit PEucharistie pour les malades ; et c'est peut-etre par rapport a cet usage que l'on doit expliquer le second Canon du Concile de Tours dont nous avons park'. On voit des preuves de ces Colombes en divers Auteurs anciens et nouveaux. II en est parle dans la Vie de saint Basile, ecrite par un * Nulla coronides lignese circa altaris angulos ducantur, sed earum loco apponi poterunt fasciie ex auro vel serico elaborate . . . quibusipsa altaris facies apte redimita ornatior appareat.— C'aremon. Episc. lib. i. cap. 12. D 18 SUtar. ancien Auteur, dans le testament de Perpetue cinquieme Eveque de Tours apres saint Martin, ou elle est appellee Columba ad repositorium, pour la distinguer de celles qui n'etoient que representatives. Cet usage des Colombes suspendues pour conserver le Corps du Seigneur, subsiste encore en plusieurs Eglises. Ainsi il seroit inutile de rapporter plus de preuves pour une chose que nous voyons de nos yeux. Quant a ce qui regarde les Ciboires, je ne scay depuis quand on les a demobs ou laissez tomber en France, ou ils etoient autrefois aussi communs qu'ailleurs, au moins dans les principales Eglises ; car pour les Eglises de la campagne et pour les Chappelles, on se contentoit de mettre autrefois sur l'Autel un dais d'etoffe, suspendu comme nous les voyons a present partout. Et afin qu'il ressemblassent en quelque chose aux Ciboires, on peignoit au fond du dais le saint Esprit, sous la figure d'une Colombe. II y a beaucoup d'apparence que dans les Eglises oii ces anciens Ciboires sont venus a tomber de vieillesse, la plupart ne se sont pas trouvez en etat d'en faire de nouveaux. II a done fallu se con- tenter d'un dais suspendu, en attendant que Dieu mit dans le coeur de quelques personnes riches, de fournir a la depense d'un Ciboire. Mais ce terns est encore a. venir. II y a neanmoins deja des Eglises en France ou l'on a ressuscite l'usage des anciens Ciboires ; celle de l'Abbaye du Val de Grace de Paris, et celle de l'Abbaye du Bee ; mais e'est une Reine qui a fait faire le premier, et ce sont des Religieux riches, et qui sc^vent faire un bon usage de leurs biens, qui ont fourni a la depense du second. On peut done croire que cet ancien usage n'a cesse que faute de biens, et qu'il revivroit par tout, si l'on avoit dequoi reedifier les anciens Ciboires, dont l'ont peut juger par ceux que je viens d'indiquer. Tout ce que nous avons dit des Chceurs et des Autels jusqu'a present, demontre visiblement qu'ils etoient situez en sorte que l'on tournoit tout autour. Cet usage dure encore. Que l'on regarde des Autels des Eglises Cathedrales, Collegiales, et Monacales, je ne scay si Ton trouvera un seul grand Autel (ce n'est que de ceux-la. que je parle) autour duquel on ne puisse tourner. Je renverrois de meme aux Eglises Paroissiales des Villes et de la campagne, oii les Autels etoient aussi disposez de cette sorte ; mais il n'y en a presque plus que l'on ait laisse dans leur ancienne situation. En divers endroits on les a plaquez contre la muraille au fond de l'Eglise, les uns pour gagner du terrain, et les autres pour appuyer ces grands Tabernacles dorez, si fort a la mode dans notre siecle, et si peu connus des anciens. Dans les lieux ou ils occupent encore leur premiere place, on a pris toute la derriere pour en faire une Sacristie, que les uns ont fermee d'un mur, et les autres de ces grandes machines d'architecture ou de menuiserie, qu'on appelle retables. Voila comme se changent les usages les plus anciens, les plus universels, et les plus commodes. Ce n'est que depuis les changemens arrivez au Chceur des Eglises, que l'on a pense a ces ornemens nouveaux. Depuis meme que l'on a recule l'Autel, et mis au-devant le Presbytere avec le Chceur des Chantres contre le premier usage, ces nouveautez n'ont pii s'introduire dans les Cathedrales et les Collegiales, oii l'on tourne encore a present autour de l'Autel. II est vrai qu'en quelques-unes on a mis un Tableau sur la sainte Table de toute sa longueur ; mais ces Tableaux memes, dont il est si aise de scavoir l'age, sont des preuves sensibles de cette nouveaute. On a mis aussi des gradins sur l'Autel en quelques-unes de ces Eglises, quoi qu'il n'y ait point de Tabernacle ; mais l'usage qu'on fait de ces gradins, marque visiblement leur epoque. Car a quoi servent- ils ? a mettre Chandeliers, la Table des Secretes ou du Canon, celle de l'Evangile de saint Jean, et celle du Pseaume Lavabo. Or combien y a-t-il que toutes ces choses se mettent sur la sainte Table ? On peut decouvrir facilement depuis quand on a commence d'y mettre des Chandeliers. La maniere donl ils sont faits en decouvre l'age aux connoisseurs. S'ils ont ete donnez par quelqu'un, le nom ou les armoiries de la personne seront peut-etre gravez dessus ou dessous ; si e'est une Eglise de Chanoines, on peut voit la datte de l'Acte capitulaire du don, des charges, et de Facceptation ; car depuis le douzieme siecle on n'a presque plus fait de dons a l'Eglise sans charge. Si e'est aux frais du Chapitre que ces Chandeliers d' Autel ont ete faits, on en peut decouvrir la datte dans les comptes. Je croy que si l'on examinoit ce que je dis ici, on trouveroit que les plus anciens Chandeliers mis sur l'Autel des altar. 19 Cathedrales ou Colhgiales n'ont pas deux cens ans. Pour moi je connois de ces Eglises ou il y a des Chanoines encore vivans qui ont contribuc aux frais des premiers Chandeliers posez sur leur Autel. Avant cela il y avoit dans ces Eglises quatre Chandeliers fixes de cuivre a. hauteur d'homme, placez aux quatre coins de 1' Autel sur le pave, et une poutre elevee qui traversoit la largeur du Choeur, a l'entree du Sanctuaire, garnie du plusieurs petits Chandeliers de cuivre. Pour ce qui est de la Table des Secretes, et de celles de l'Evangile de saint Jean et du Lavabo, elles sont encore plus nouvelles, et de plus on pourroit s'en passer facilement. Ce n'est que depuis le Pape Pie V. qu'on recite l'Evangile de saint Jean a la fin de la Messe, comme nous le prouverons ailleurs ; et il y a encore plusieurs Eglises en France ou cet usage n'est point recti, du moins pour les grandes Messes. II n'y a done qu'un peu plus de cent ans qu'on met une Table de l'Evangile de saint Jean sur 1' Autel. Celle du Lavabo est encore moins ancienne ; car Gavantus en parle comme d'une chose inventee de son terns pour une plus grande commodite. De cent Pretres a peine s'en trouve-t-il un qui en ait besoin, tous recitans par memoire le Lavabo et l'Evangile de saint Jean. La Table des Secretes ou du Canon est encore moins necessaire ; car qui empeche qu'on ne lise dans le Missel, comme autre- fois, tout ce qu'elle contient ? Tout le Canon y est ecrit expres en gros caracteres. Si 1' Autel etoir aussi vuide et degage qu'il etoit autrefois, on pourroit placer le Livre presque devant soi, et y lire le Canon aussi commodement qu'on le lit dans la carte. Ainsi les gradins, principalement les doubles qui occupent trop de place, nuisent beaucoup plus qu'ils ne servent, et defigurent un Autel au lieu de le parer. S. Etienne de Bourges. Le grand Autel est orne d'un parement devant et d'un autre audessus, sans quoi que ce soit, que le saint Ciboire qui est suspendu dans un petit pavilion tout rond, et un voile immediatement audessous et par devant ; ce qui empeche de voir le Ciboire : il y a trois cierges de chaque cote. Au milieu de 1' Autel qui est fort large, on met un escabeau pour poser le Crucifix dessus et appuyer le Canon. Au pied du cierge qui bride devant le saint Sacrement est une barre de fer grosse comme le bras, laquelle soutient une petite poutre longue du travers du Choeur, sur laquelle sont trente-deux cierges. De la jusqu'a. 1' Autel il y a six grands chandeliers de cuivre hauts de quatre ou cinq pieds. II n'y a ni rideaux ni balustres. Notre Dame de Rouen. Si le grand Autel n'avoit pas un retable eleve si haut, on pouroit dire qu'il seroit le plus auguste qu'il y eut en France. II est detache de la muraille, ainsi que l'ordonne le Rituel de Rouen. La table de 1' Autel est une des plus grandes que j'aye jamais vues. Elle a audevant un parement, et un autre audessus au retable. A la meme hauteur sont quatre grands rideaux soutenus sur quatre grandes colonnes de cuivre fort bien travaillees, audessus desquelles sont quatre Anges pareillement de cuivre, qui portent des chan- deliers et des cierges qu'on allume aux Fetes Doubles et Triples. II n'y a point de cierges ni sur 1' Autel ni sur le retable. Audessus du retable il y a aux deux cotez deux images de la Vierge, a. la place des deux croix qui sont a Lyon : et entre ces deux statues de la Vierge il y a un grand tableau d'un Crucifix qu'on estime, et qu'on dit etre de la facon de Michel Ange tres-celebre Peintre. Audessus de ce tableau est une petite avance triangulaire sur laquelle il y a un Ange a genoux qui tient de ses deux mains le saint Ciboire suspendu sous un petit pavilion, et encore sous un grand dais audessus, qui le couvre aussi-bien que tout 1' Autel. — Account of several Ancient Altars, extracted from the Voyages Liturgiques, by De Moleon. 20 altar ClotO* SUtar Clotlh The term may be indifferently applied to the linen coverings of the altar, and to the embroidered hangings which were suspended over the back or in front of the same.* Every altar is now required to be covered with three linen cloths, in addition to the cere or wax cloth ; the two under ones need not exceed the length of the altar, but the uppermost should hang down at each end, nearly to the pavement, being rather more than the width of the altar. It should likewise have five crosses worked on it, in the centre and four angles, with borderings of various patterns. (See plates 14, 15, 16, 17.) In primitive times it appears that the altars were covered with a rich tissue or precious stuff", over which one linen cloth was laid during the time of celebrating. This served also for the corporal, and was called a pall. Subsequently the corporal was a distinct linen cloth set apart especially for the purpose. (See Corporal.) The cloths used in covering the altars were designated by the word pallce, down to a late period, t Extracts touching Altar Cloths from TV. Thiers' Dissertation sur Les Autels. — Les nappes dont on couvre adjourd'hui les Autels, doivent etre de linge et au nombre de trois. II faut que les deux de dessous soient plus courtes que celle de dessus car celle de dessus doit pendre jusqu'a. terre. Deux neanmoins peuvent suffire pourvu que celle de dessous soit pliee en double. Le Missel Romain et tous les autres nouveaux Missels le veulent ainsi dans leurs Rubriques. " Altare," dit le Missel Romain,J " operiatur tribus mappis, seu tobaleis mundis, ab Episcopo vel alio habente potestatem benedictis, superiore saltern oblonga, quae usque ad terram pertingat, duobus aliis brevioribus, vel una duplicata." Mais je doute qu'anciennement on couvrit ainsi les Autels dans Pune et dans Fautre Eglise, c'est a dire dans FEglise Grecque et dans l'Eglise Latine, et je ne pense pas en douter sans fondement. Dans l'Eglise Grecque on ne les couvre pas autrement adjourd'hui que l'on fesoit autrefois. Or voici comment on les couvroit autrefois. I. On mettoit aux quatre coins quatre morceaux de drap qu'on appelloit Evangelistes EvayyeXiarac, parce que le nom et l'image de chacun des quatre Evangelistes y etoit, pour marque que l'Eglise, qui est representee par la sainte table, est composee des fideles que Jesus-Christ a assembles des quatre coins du monde, qu'elle est fondee sur la parole de ce divin Sauveur et que la voix des quatre Evangelistes s'est repandue par toute la terre. f< Quatuor," dit Symeon Archeveque de Thessalonique,§ " superstrati mantilis partes in veli quatuor angulis habet sacra mensa, quoniam plenitudo Ecclesiae ex quatuor mundi finibus contexta est, et in quatuor illis angulis quatuor Evangelistarum nomina, quandoquidem per illos fundata et constituta est et universum terrarum orbem Evangelii annunciatio pervagata est." II dit encore a peu pres la meme chose ailleurs : || " Primo quidem quatuor panni, singulis Evange- listae alicujus nomen et personam sustinentibus, in quatuor mensae angulis locantur. Ecclesiam namque universam a finibus terrae a Domino congregatam, et Evangelico praeconio gratiaeque verbo super illo sedificatam, et velut e lino herba munda conflato, a tentationibus expurgato, contextam, mensa repraesentat." II. Sur ces quatre morceaux de drap on mettoit une premiere nappe appellee Kara capm ad carnern, parce qu'elle est la figure du linceul blanc, dans lequel le corps de notre Seigneur fut enseveli par Joseph * One altar-cloth of two kings and bishops. — Item, two altar-cloths of purple velvet, embroidered with eagles and flower-de-luces.— Item, two altar-cloths of silver.— Item, one altar-cloth of white diaper, with a border embroidered with bucks.— Item, three white altar-cloths, one of them diaper, with three old painted fronts.— Gunton's History of Peter- borough. t Inventa in Capella Carnarii in cimiterio S. Pauli Lond.— Item septem pallse, quarum quinque benedictae et duse non benedictae, et debiles. Inventa in Capella S. Radigundis.— Item, du6pov. Enfin on mettoit par dessus ces quatre morceaux de drap et ces deux nappes, un coporal, qui etoit tout ensemble la figure de la mort et de la Resurrection de Jesus-Christ, parce que ce qu'apres la Re- surrection de ce divin Sauveur les Apotres virent en un meme lieu et le linceul dont sa tete avoit ete enveloppee, et les nappes qui avoient servi a ensevelir son corps. De la vient qu'on le plie et qu'il s'appelle uXrirbv a. cause que la tete du fils de Dieu y a ete envelloppee. C'est sur ce corporal que repose la sainte Evangile au milieu de l'autel. Voici ce qu'en dit le meme Archeveque :£ "Corporate tandem in mortis simul et Resurrectionis Christi signum explicatur, quia post Resurrectionem, capitis linteum cum funereis pannis in uno loco involutum Apostoli viderunt. CompHcatur propterea etftXrjroi' vocatur, ut quod Christi caput involverit ; unde et sacrum super eo Evangelium reponitur." Saint Isidore de Damiete§ appelle ce Corporal aivdwv, qui signifie en general ceul, et dit qu'il est la figure du linceul dans lequel Joseph d'Arimathie ensevelit le corps de notre-Seigneur Jesus-Christ qui a rendu la vie a tous les hommes. De sorte qu'il ne le distingue point de la premiere nappe Kara aapKa. "Ad carnem. Pura ilia sindon," dit-il, "quae sub divinorum donorum ministerio expansa est, Josephi Arimathensis est ministerium. Ut enim ille Domini corpus sindone involutum sepulturae mandavit per quod universum mortalium genus Resurrectionem percepit ; eodem modo nos propositionis panem in sindone sanctificantes, Christi corpus sine dubitatione reperimus, illam nobis immortalitatem fontis in modum proferens, quam Salvator Jesus, a Josepho funere elatus, postea quam a morte ad vitam rediit, largitus est." Ainsi les Grecs ne couvroient l'autel que de deux nappes et du corporal. Car a proprement parler les quatre morceaux de drap qu'ils mettoient aux quatre coins, n'etoient pas une couverture. Le Pere Goar || le reconnoit avec Symeon de Thessalonique. " Tria," dit-il, " in Orientis Ecclesia superponuntur altaribus ornamenta ; to Kara capua, tobalea nostro Pontificali dictum ; l-rrtvSvaiQ sive lirivdurrig, mappa exterior : aArjTov, corporale." Et cela est marque par ces paroles de 'Eluchologe dans " l'office de la dedicace du Temple/'^ ou il est dit qu'apres que la sainte table de l'Eglise a ete netoice l'Eveque la couvre de la premiere nappe, de la seconde, et du corporal : " Mensa Antimensiis expurgata, accipit Pontifex ad carnem dictum, quod est sabanum novum aut purum linteum, &c. his peractis Pontifex accipit mappam,hoc est sanctse mensae superiorem ornatum ti)v tirhdvmv, &c. apponit quoque corporale, to £i\r)Tov. Et tandem Evangehorum librum." A l'egard des Latins, il n'est pas si facile d'expliquer de quelle maniere ils couvroient anciennement les Autels. Je dirai neanmoins ce que je sais la-dessus, I. II y a apparence qu'avant le Pontificat de S. Silvestre, qui commenja l'n 314. les corporaux dont on couvroit les Autels, et sur lesquels on consacroit le corps adorable de Jesus-Christ etoient les uns d'etoffe et les autres de linge. Car quoique les regies de l'honnetete, l'exemple du fils de Dieu fesant la Cene avec ses disciples, et la pratique ordinaire des Apotres, demandassent peut-etre qu'ils fussent pultot de linge que d'etoffe, il n'y avoit cependant nulle loi qui defendit de les faire d'etoffe. Et une marque qu'ils n'etoient pas toujours de linge, c'est que S. Silvestre fut le premier qui ordonna qu'ils en seroient, et non de soie, ou de quelqu'autre etoffe teinte par la raison que le corps de notre-Seigneur a ete enseveli * L. de Sacramentis. j ibid. | Ibid. | L. i. Epist. 123. § In Notis in Eucholog-. pag. 849. col. 2. n. '20. % Tit. Ordo et offic. in dedicat. templi pay. 838. 22 9Itar Clot!) dans un linceul fort blanc et forte propre, dont ils sont la figure. Le Canon Consulto,* le 2^ me ' Concile de Rome sous S. Silvestre en 324. fAnastase le Bibliothecaire JRaban Archeveque de Maience, § Pierre le mangeur, || Platine, ^le Breviaire Romain, **et les Breviaires de quantite d'autres dioceses ffle temoignent ainsi. " Constituit," dit Anastase, " ut sacrificium altaris non in serico, necque in panno tincto celebraretur nisi tantum in lineo ex terra procreato sicut corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi in sindone linea et munda sepultum fuit." Ncanmoins le Canon Si per negligentiam,X% qui est attribue au Pape Pie I. plus ancien d'un siecle et demi que S. Silvestre, suppose que les corporaux et les trois nappes de dessous etoient de linge. u Si super linteum altaris," dit ce Canon, a stillaverit calix, et ad aliud stilla pervenerit, quatuor diebus pceniteat Sacerdos. Si usque ad tertium, novem diebus pceniteat. Si usque ad quartum, viginti diebus poeniteat." Mais ce Canon est suppose au Pape Pie I. et comme il n'a nul tcmoignage considerable de l'antiquite, on le doit compter pour rien en cette matiere. Or les corporaux etoient autrefois beaucoup plus grands qu'ils ne sont aujourd'hui. Car autrefois ils couvroient toute la surface des Autels. L'ordre Romain le temoigne par ces paroles :+t " Tunc venit Subdiaconus ferens. . . . super calicem corporate, id est sindonem, quod accipiens Diaconus, ponit super altare a dextris, projecto capite altero ad Diaconum secundum, ut expandant." Et encore plus positivement par celles-cy :§§ " Diaconus accipiens corporale ab Acolytho, alio se adjuvante, super altare distendant ; quod utique linteum, ex puro lino esse contextum debet quia sindone munda corpus Domini legitur involutum in sepulchro, et tantae quantitatis esse debet, ut totam altaris superficiem capiat." Aussi etoit-il necessaire, dit Monsieur le Cardinal Bona|| || qu'ils fussent tels, puisqu'on mettoit dessus autant de pains qu'il en falloit pour communier tout le peuple qui assistoit a la Messe. Car ce n'est que depuis que cet usage a cesse que Ton a fait les corporaux plus petits. Cependant Guillaume Durand qui ecrivoit son Rational en 1286. comme il le remarque lui-meme^[1[ dit que de son tems en certaines Eglises les corporaux couvroient encore tout l'autel. " Nota," c'est ainsi qu'il parle,*** " quod in quibusdam Ecclesiis palla corporalis, qua; calici supponitur, in longum altaris extenditur, quia ut aiunt quidam, linteamen quo Christi corpus involutum fuit per illam figuram, extensum longitudine sepulchri inventum est." II. Je croirois bien que jusqu'a la fin du^ me siecle on couvroit les Autels tantot de linge, et tantot d'etofTe. Saint Optat assureftt que les Autels de bois, sur lesquels on celebroit les saints mysteres, etoient couverts d'une nappe de linge : " Quis fidelium nescit in peragendis mysteriis ipsa ligna lintea- mine cooperiri?" Mais la nappe de linge dont il parle semble n'etre qu'un corporal. Car il dit imme- diatement apres, qu'on peut bien toucher au linge qui couvre les autels, mais non pas au bois dont ils sont faits : " Inter ipsa sacramenta velamen potuit tangi, non lignum." Et comme le corporal couvroit autrefois tout l'autel, le Pretre pouvoit bien toucher au corporal en disant la messe, mais il ne pouvoit pas toucher a la nappe qui etoit sous le corporal. Saint Victor Eveque de Vite en Afrique rapporte^iJ que Proculus aiant ete envoie par Genseric Roi des Vandales dans la Province de Zeugin, emporta par violence tous les ornemens et tous les livres des Eglises, que les Pretres lui avoient refuses, et se fit faire des chemises et des calcons des couvertures des Autels : " Ipse rapaci manu cuncta depopulabatur, atque de palliis Altaris, pro nefas ! camisias sibi et femoralia faciebat." Mais je ne voudrois pas assurer que ces couvertures fussent de linge, quoique Proculus s'en foit fait faire des chemises et des calcons, parce que dans les pais chauds, comme est 1' Afrique, on en porte fort communement de soie ou de quelque autre etoffe legere. * De Consecrat. dist. I. f I Q Epilogo brevi. J In Silvestro. § L. i. de instit. Cleric, c. 33. || Histor. Evangel, c. 180. f In Silvestro. ** Die ultima Decemb. tt De Consecrat. dist. 2. H Tit. Ordo Processio. ad Eccles. etc. Tit. Incipit Ordo etc. Tit. In nomine Domini, etc. ^ Tit. Ordo processio. Si quando, etc. |||| L. i. Rer. Liturgic. c. 25. n. n. f H L. 8. c. 9. n. 2. *** L. 4. c. 29. n. 4. fff L. G. de Schis. Donatist. fere initio. JtJ L - *• persecut. Vand. post med altar Clotl), 23 Saint Gregoire de Tours, sur la fin du sixieme siecle, rapporte un songe qu'il eut, et qui fait bien voir que de son tems les Autels etoient couverts d'un voile de soie, aussi bien que les dons precieux qui etoient offerts en sacrifice. C'est lorsqu'il parle d'Eberulfe Valet de chambre du Roi Gontram. " Putabam me/' dit-il,* "quasi in hac Basilica sacrosancta Missarum solemnia celebrare : cumque jam " altarium cum oblationibus pallio serico opertum esset, subito ingredientem Gunthramnum regem con- " spicio, qui voce magna clamabat :" " Extrahite inimicum generationis nostra?, evellite homicidam a " sacro Dei Altario." At ego cum haec audirem, ad te conversus dixi : " Apprehende pallium Altaris, " infelix, quo sacra munera conteguntur, ne hinc abjiciaris." Cumque apprehenderes, laxabas cum " manu et non viriliter detinebas Cumque reverteres ad Altarium apprehendebas pallium. . . . Et " ille, " deliberatum," inquit, " habuit ut si me rex ab hoc loco juberet extrahi, ab una manu pallas altari " tenerem, etc." Polydore Virgile ditf que Boniface III. qui vivoit au commencement du septieme siecle, a ete le premier qui a ordonne que l'on couvriroit les Autels de nappes blanches : Bonifacius III. Auctor fuit ut Altaria candidis operirentur ac linteis pannis. Mais Polydore Virgile ne el prouve pas, et il n'a pas asses d'autorite dans la Republique des Lettres pour que l'on doive jurer sur ses paroles, s'agissant particulierement d'un fait historique, qui n'est atteste ni par Anastase le Bibliothecaire, ni par aucun des autres Auteurs dignes de foi qui ont ecrit la vie de Boniface III. joint qu'on fait d'ailleurs que Polydore Virgile n'a pas toujours eu la verite de son cute, et que c'est pour cela qu'il s'est attire cette Epigramme du Poete Anglois Jean Ovven.J Virgilii duo sunt, alter Maro, tu, Polydore, Alter : tu mendax, ille Poetafuit. Anastase le Bibliothecaire temoigne que l'Empereur§ Constans etant venu a Rome, et ai'ant visite l'Eglise de saint Pierre, il y fit present d'une piece de drap d'or pour couvrir l'Autel : " Obtulit super Altare illius pallium auro textile, et celebratae sunt Missae." II temoigne aussi || que le Pape Zacharie fit faire une couverture de meme etoffe pour le meme Autel, sur laquelle il fit representer la Nativite de notre Seigneur, et qu'il enrichit de pierreries : " Fecit vestem super Altare beati Petri ex auro textam, habentem nativitatem Domini Dei et Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christ, ornavitque earn gemmis pretiosis." II dit encore^ qu'Adrien I. en fit faire deux pour le grand Autel de l'Eglise de sainte Marie Major, l'une de toile d'or pur garnie de pierreries avec l'image de l'Assomption de la sainte Vierge, et l'autre de soie a fleurs ou a. figures, bordee d'ecarlate tout autuor : " In Ecclesia Dei Geni- tricis ad praesepe fecit vestes duas super altare majus, unam ex auro purissimo atque gemmis, habentem Assumptionem sanctae Dei Genitricis ; et aliam de Stauracim, ornatam in circuitu blattin." Et que Leon III.** en fit faire une de soie ornee de clous d'or avec l'histoire de la Nativite et de saint Symeon et un bracelet au milieu, sur le grand Autel de la meme Eglise : " In sacratissimo Altari majori fecit vestem de Chrysoclabo habentem historiam Nativitatis et sancti Symeonis et in medio cheritismum une autre d'ecarlate avec de grands Gryphons, et deux roue's ornees de clous d'or, d'une croix et d'une frange rouge, aussi ornee de clous d'or, dans le titre d'Eudoxie : " Fecit vestem in Titulo Eudoxia super altare Tyriam, habentem gryphas majores et duas rotas chrysoclabas, cum cruce et periclysin blattin et chrysoclavam ;" une autre de soie avec des clous d'or et l'histoire de la passion et de la Resur- rection de notre Seigneur, sur le grand Autel de l'Eglise de saint Laurent : " In sacro Altari vestem sericam chrysoclabam, habentem Historiam Dominicae Passionis et Resurrectionis ; trois autres sur le grand Autel de l'Eglise de saint Paul, la premiere de soie blanche avec des clous d'or, et l'histoire de la Resurrection: " Vestem super Altare albam chrysoclabam habentem historiam sanctae Resurrectionis;" La seconde de soie a clous d'or avec l'histoire de la Nativite de notre Seigneur et des SS. Innocens : " Aliam vestem chrysoclabam habentem historiam Nativitatis Domini, et SS. Innocentium ;" La troi- * L. 7. Histora. Francof. c. 22. t L. 5. de inventor, rer. e. 0. J Epigram, lib singulari, Epigram. 49. In vit. Vitaliani PP. || In vit. Zachari*. f In Hadriano I. ** In Leone III. 24 altar Clot!). sieme d'ecarlate avec l'liistorie de l'aveugle ne et une Resurrection : " Aliam vestem Tyriam habentem historiam caci illuminati et Resurrectionem ;" Enfin il raporte ce que Pape en fit de merae sur les grands Autels des Eglises de saint Pancrace, de Callixte, de saint Marie de Cosmedin, de sainte Sabine, de saint Cosme et de saint Damien, de saint Valentin, de saint Sauveur, de saint Pierre, de sainte Andre, de sainte Petronille, de saint Estienne, de sainte Croix, de sainte Suzanne, de saint George, du Titre de Pammaque, et de saint Cyriaque. II importe beaucoup d'observer ici les expressions de cet Auteur in Alturi, super Altare, qui temoig- nent, et bien nettement, que ces couvertures n'etoient pas simplement pour etre mises au devant des Autels, comme l'on fait les paremens, ni au haut des Autels, comme l'on en met aux Retables, puis qu'anciennement il n'y avoit point de Retables aux Autels, ainsi que nous le dirons dans le chapitre XXIII. Mais sur les Autels, comme l'on fait les nappes de linge sur lesquelles on pose les corporaux. Ce qui n'empechoit pas qu'outre le dessus des Autels elles ne couvrissent aussi le devant, et ne servissent de nappes et de paremens tout ensemble, bien qu'elles ne fussent que d'une seule et meme piece d'etoffe, Car c'est ainsi que je pense qu'etoient faites autrefois la pi ii part de ces couvertures ; et ce qui me le fait penser, c'est qu'il y en a encore aujourd'hui de semblables en certaines Eglises. II y en a une entr'autres qui est de toile d'or dans l'Eglise de l'Abbai'e de la Choise-Dieu en Auvergne. Elle fert aux Fetes solemnelles et elle couvre le dessus, le devant, et les cotes du grand Autel. Le B. Lan- franc Archeveque de Cantorbery parle* aussi d'une nappe, sans pourtant specifier si elle etoit d'etoffe ou de linge, qui couvroit le dessus de 1' Autel et qui pendoit par le devant : " Palla qua Altare cooper- turn est cujus pars anterior pendet." Avant le milieu du neuvieme siecle le Pape Leon IV. recommandef aux Cures de couvrir les Autels de linges tres-propres : Altare sit coopertum mundissimis linteis. Mais outre que par ces linges tres- propres il veut peut-etre dire des corporaux ; il est constant qu'il ne fait pas un precepte positif aux Cures de couvrir les Autels de ces linges, puisque lui-meme, ainsi que l'assure Anastase le Bibliothecaire % fit faire une couverture de soi'e avec des clous d'or sur le grand Autel de l'Eglise de saint Pierre : " Fecit super sanctum Altare Ecclesiae vestem de Cbrysoclabo, habentem in medio Historiam Salvatoris inter Angelicos vultus fulgentis, Petroque Apostolo Claves regni ccelorum tradentis, et in dextra laevaque gloriosam Petri et Pauli passionem fulgentum ;" et que Benoit III. son successeur immediat et fit faire une de meme etoffe sur le grand Autel de l'Eglise de sainte Marie de Transtevre ;§ "In Ecclesia beatae Mariae Dominae nostrae, quae ponitur trans Tiberim ; fecit vestem in altari majori de Chrysoclabo habentem Historiam Assumptionis Dei Genitricis. La verite est que depuis Benoit III. je ne trouve plus gueres de couvertures d'etoffe sur les Autels ; et c'est ce qui me fait croire que ce n'a ete que vers le milieu du neuvieme siecle qu'on a cesse dans la plupart des Eglises, de se servir de ces sortes de couvertures pour prendre celles de linge. En effet le Concile de Reims raporte par Burchard|| et par Ives de Chartres et que le Pere Mabillon** estime etre de ce tems-la, veut qu'on ait un soin extreme de couvrir les Autels de lignes et de couvertures tres- propres : " Observandum est ut mensa Christi, id est Altare, mundissimis linteis et palliis diligentissime cooperiatur." Vers le milieu du dixieme siecle Ratherius Eveque de Verone recommandeft aussi bien que Leon IV. qu'on les couvre de linges propres: "Altare coopertum de mundis linteis." Et en 1050. le Concile de Coyaco dans le Diocese d'Oviedo en Espagne, ordonneJJ qu'on les pare honnetement et qu'il y ait dessus une nappe de linge propre : " Altare sit honeste indutum et desuper lineum indumentum mundum." Ces reglemens, quoique particuliers joints a celui de Leon IV. ont ete asses communement observes * In Decret. pro Ordine S. Bened. c. 18. t In Homil. de Cura Pastorali. J In Leone IV. § Anastas. in Benedicto 3. || L. 3. Decreti c. 97. IT 2. p. Decret. c. 132. ■ ** Pra?fat. saecul, 3. Act. SS. O. S. B. Observat. 29. n. 103. ' ft In EpistoL Synodic. t'C.3, altar €lotih 25 dans la suite des terns, et quoiqu'il paroisse par ces paroles des Anniversaires de l'Eglise du Vatican,* qu'il y avoit encore des nappes tant de soi'e, que.de facon d'AUemagne, du tems de Boniface VIII. qui ne mourut qu'au commencement du quatorzieme siecle : " Item 20 tobaleas tarn sericas quam operis Alemanici on peut dire sans offenser la verite, que l'usage ou est maintenant toute l'Eglise Latine, de couvrir les Autels de nappes de linge, n'a pas de fondemens plus solides. Mais d'ou vient qu'il faut aujourd'hui trois de ces nappes pour les couvrir ? Cette pratique me semble n'avoir pour appui que le Canon Si per negligentiam, qui est suppose au Pape Pie I. et qui n'a nul temoignage de l'antiquite, comme nous venons de le dire. Car encore que saint Victor de Vite, Leon IV., le Concile de Reims, et Ratherius Eveque de Verone parlent des linges, ou nappes de l'Autel au pluriel, — " Pallia altaris, mundissima lintea, munda lintea," — ils ne disent pas pour cela qu'il y en doive avoir trois, outre le Corporal, pour le couvrir, non plus que le Sacramentaire de saint Gregoire :f " Pallae quae sunt in substratorio in alio vase debent lavari, in alio corporales pallae ni le Concile de Meaux :% " Ad corporale lavandum et ad pallas altaris propria vasa habean- tur, in quibus nihil aliud fiat;" ni le Missel des Francois§ publie par le Pere Mabillon:|| " Pragfatio linteaminum. Linteamina in usum altaris f ni l'Ordre Romain " Benedictio ad omnia vasa, lintea- mina et instrumenta in usum Ecclesise. Cum his altaris linteaminibus et on ne fera nulle violence a leurs paroles quand on soutiendra qu'elles se peuvent fort bien expliquer d'une seule nappe et du corporal. Aussi est-il extremement probable qu'avant le 15, siecle on ne couvroit les Autels que d'un corporal et d'une seule nappe. 1 . Saint Optat dit** que les Autels n'etoient couverts que d'une nappe de linge, ou d'un corporal qu'il appelle une fois linteamen, et deux fois velamen au singulier : " Quis fidelium nescit in peragendis mysteriis ipsa ligna linteamine cooperiri ? Inter ipsa sacramenta velamen potuit tangi, non lignum. Aut si tactu possit penetrari velamen, ergo penetrantur et ligna." 2. S. Benoit ne marque aussi qu'une nappe de l'Autel dans sa Regie. ft " Si quelque personne noble (dit-il) offre son fils a Dieu dans le Monastere, et que l'enfant soit fort petit, le pere et la mere feront la demande dont il a ete parle cy-devant, et outre l'offrande ils enveloperont cette demande et la main de l'enfant dans la nape de l'autel (in palla altaris) et l'offriront en cette maniere," La nappe dont parle ce S. Patriarche des Moines d'Occident n'etoit pas le corporal, parce que les femmes n'avoient pas la liberte de le toucher, suivant ce canon % X du Concile d'Auxerre en 5/8. " Non licet mulieri manum suam ad pallam Dominicam mittere." Le Canon Sacratas,§§ le defend meme aux Religieuses et a plus forte raison aux Laiques. Mais comme il est tire d'une fausse decretale du Pape Soter,|||| je ne m'y arrete pas. 3. Le B. Lanfranc Archeveque de Cantorbery, ne s'exprime pas d'une autre maniere que son pere S. Benoit lorsque parlant de la meme ceremonie il dit " Involvant parentes manus in palla qua altare coopertum est, et cujus pars anterior pendet." 4. Guillaume Durand, qui est mort a Rome sur la fin du 13. siecle, et qui a explique dans son Rational les usages communs et ordinaires des Eglises, ainsi qu'il le temoigne lui-memc,*** dit positive- ment,ftt q ue l'autel doit etre de deux nappes, pour marquer l'habit du corps et celui de 1'esprit : " Debet altare duplici mappa operiri, ad duplicem stolam, mentis scilicet et corporis, designandam." Or que le corporal soit une de ces deux nappes, il est aise de Pinferer de ce qu'il dit un pen auparavant, que la nappe blanche sur laquelle on etend le corporal, est ordinairement appellee Palla en Latin : * Apud Johan. Rubeura in vit. Bonifacii 8. pag-. 345. Ex Glossar. D. du Cange, V. Tobalea. f Tit. Ordinatio Subdiaconi. I Apud Burchard, 1. 4. decreti c. 13. § Tit. prsefat. linteaminum. || L. 3. de Liturg. Gallic, p. 315. f Tit. Ordo de tedific. Ecclesia. ** Supr. ff C. 59. H Can. 37. ^§ Dist. 34. c. 26. |||| Epist. 2. Omnibus Episc. Italia. In decretis pro ordine, S. Benedict, c. 18. *** Praefat. n. 10. ftt L- 4. c. 29. n. 7. E 20 altar Clotf), " Communiter palla vocatur munda mappa super quam distenditur corporate." II ne dit pas les nappes blanches au pluriel, mais la nappe blanche au singulier, parce qu'effectivement il n'y avoit qu'une nappe blanche sur laquelle on etendoit le corporal, qui etoit une autre nappe, puisqu'autrefois il couvroit tout l'autel, et qui avec la nappe sur laquelle il etoit etendu, fesoit les deux nappes dont il assure que l'Autel doit etre couvert. Ce n'est pas que du terns de Durand, et si vous voulez avant lui, on ne le couvrit dt'ja de deux nappes, et meme de trois, en quelques Eglises, surtout en celles de l'Ordre de Cisteaux, selon ce qui est dit dans le livre de ses Uz ;* mais il me paroit que la coutume de le couvrir de trois nappes, ne s'est gueres plutot etablie dans tout l'Eglise que vers le 15. siecle. Encore depuis ce tems-la se trouve-t-il des Theologiens, et entr'autres Silvestre Maitre du sacre Palais,t le Pere Barthelemi Fumee, auteur de la Somme appellee Aurea Armilla,% le Cardinal Tolet,§ Suarez|| et Jean Chappuis^f qui pretendent qu'il suff it de le couvrir de deux nappes. Le Pere Scorce rapporte** que les Ru- briques du Missel de Pie V. n'en demandent pas d'avantage ; ce Communiter duas tantiim toballia; exis- timantur necessariae, ex rubrieis Missalis Pii V." Et le meme Jean Chapuis temoigneft qu'il y a des Docteurs qui soutiennent qu'une seule suffiroit, si l'on ne pouvoit pas en avoir trois : " Dicunt Doctores quod si tres mappae non liaberentur, sufficeret una." Mais enfin les reglemens de plusieurs Synodes, tant diocesians que provinciaux, qui ont ete depuis le 15. siecle, et les rubriques des Missels et des Ceremoniaux qui ont ete publies depuis ce tems-la, en veulent trois, ou deux au moins, dont il y en ait une pliee en double; et le Synode d' Angers en 1507. tt sous Francois de Rohan Eveque d' Angers, aussi bien que le Concile provincial de Toulouse en 1590.§§ en veulent absolument trois. Altar e, (dit ce Synode) tribus mappis debite ornetur Et ce Concile provincial : " Tribus mappis altare unumquodque instruatur." — pp. 153 — 171. From this account we may gather the following interesting facts. 1. That the primitive altars were covered entirely with rich stuff, or silk, occasionally embroidered with imagery, and even enriched with precious stones. 2. That over this covering a second, of silk or linen, was laid, during the celebration of the sacred Mysteries. 3. That after the end of the ninth century the altars were always covered with a linen cloth for the celebration of the holy Eucharist. 4. That the custom of covering the altar with three cloths is not older than the fourteenth or fifteenth century. 5. The custom of the Greek Church has ever been to place four small pieces of cloth, marked with the names of the Evangelists, on the four corners of the altar, and over these, two cloths and a corporal. 6. That the present Rub rick of the Latin Church requires three cloths, two short and one long, besides the corporal. According to De Vert, the altar was stript of its linen coverings and ornaments immediately after the Mass, and not covered till near the time of celebrating on the following day.|||| This is also men- * C. 53. t I" Sum. v. Missa, I. q. 2. J v. Missa n. 6. § Instruct. Sacerdot. 1. 2. c. 2. n. 6. || To. 3. in. 3. p. S. Thom. disp. 81. sect. 6. % Comment, in Summul. S. Raymundi de Pennafort. Tract. 3. Tit. de exterior. Sacerdot. Prtepar. fol. 45. ** L. 2. de sacros. Miss. Sacrif. c. 14. n. 8. \\ Supr. II Tit. de. celebrat. Missse. 3. P. c. 1. n. 17. Illl On voit dans l'Ordre Romain xiv. qu'on estoit encore plus exact la dessus au xiv. siecle, et quele Diacre n'estendoit precisement le Corporal, qu'avant l'Oblation du pain ; c'est qu'en effet ce ligne paroist j usque la entierement inutile sur l'Autel ou mesme il se salit a credit. D'ou vient mesme que dans les Eglises ou le Corporal se mettoit sur l'Autel des la Collecte ou l'Epistre, parceque c'estoit en effet le temps d'y apporter le Calice, on observoit toutefois de ne le pas deplier qu'apres VO remits, qui precede l'Offertoire. Ne pulveribus maculctur, dit le Ceremonial de Bursfeld, ce qui estoit aussi ordonne par le Ceremonial Romain du xxi. siecle ; nec expUcetur, propter pulverem, usque ad vblalionem Calicis. Bien mat Clotl), 27 tioned by De Moleon, in his Voyage Liturgique, in describing the churches of St. Jean de Lyon, and St. Maurice d' Angers ; — " ce sont les enfans de choeur qui mettent les nappes de l'autel, immediatement avant la grande messe. Dans les chappelles de cette eglise les Autels selon l'ancien usage sont a nud — de sorte que ce n'est qu'un moment avant que d'y dire la messe, qu'on y met les nappes/' The altar cloths which hang in front of the altars may also have originated from the custom of placing the shrines of Saints beneath those altars which were supported on pillars, and suspending curtains on rods fixed under the slabs, to protect them from dust.* These rods were concealed by a fringed border- ing of stuff" hung before them ; and this narrow lappet is still found on many frontals. From the Inventory of cloths formerly belonging to the High Altar of York Minster. Item, three pieces of white Baudekin, with gold flowers wove in it ; Item, two pieces of white velvet, one of them with a Crucifix, the other with the Salutation of the Blessed Virgin ; Item, two pieces of blue sarcenet, with the images of the Crucifix, Mary, and John, stained; Item, two pieces of white linen cloth, with a red cross, for Lent ; Item, one great pall for Good Friday ; Item, twelve diaper palls ; Item, a pall of cloth, with front parts wrought in gold. — Monasticon Anglicanum. Silk cloths for the High Altar, Lincoln Minster. Imprimis, A costly cloth of gold, for the high altar, for principal feasts, having in the midst images of the Trinity, of our Lady, four Evangelists, four angels about the Trinity, with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, virgins, with many other images, having a frontlet of cloth of gold, with scriptures, and a linen cloth enfixed to the same ; — ex dono Ducis Lancastriae. — Item, a purpur cloth, with an image of the Crucifix, Mary, and John, and many images of gold, with a divers frontlet of the same suit, with two altar cloths, one of diaper ; Item, a cloth of gold, partly red, and partly white, with an image of our Lady in the midst, with her Son in a circle, with eight angels ; and on her right hand, an archbishop standing in a circle, with eight angels ; and on her left hand, a bishop standing in a circle, with eight angels ; with a frontlet of the same suit, having in the midst the Trinity, with two angels incensing on every side ; — ex dono Ducis Lancastriae. — Item, a cloth of white, with troyfoils of gold, having the salutation of our Lady in a red circle, having a frontlet of the same, with two cloths of diaper. — Monasticon Anglicanum. plus, selon l'Ordre Romain, cite plus haut, la nappe de dessous ne se mettoit mesme qu'au commencement du Credo; et lorsqu'il n'y avoit point de Credo, elle ne s'y mettoit qu'apres l'Offertoire. Aujourd'lmy ce n'est plus cela, et les Sacristains, presque partout, pour s'epargner la peine de remettre cette nappe tous les jours, ont trouve le secret de la laisser jour et nuit sur l'Autel ; ensorte qu'il n'y a plus que la nappe dessus, je veux dire le Corporal, qu'on observe toujours de ne mettre encore que quelques momens avant l'Offrande. Voyez a la Remarque xxii. ce que nous dirons sur cette nonchalance des Sacristains. Exceptons icy cependant l'Eglise d' Arras, ou l'Autel ne se couvre encore que pendant Tierces, de la nappe que le Diacre et le Soudiacre ont apportee de la Sacristie. A Rlieims les mesmes Ministres decouvrent l'Autel au com- mencement de la Messe, plient le tapis, estendent les nappes, mettent les Corporaux &c. A Clervaux on decouvre l'Autel apres Tierces de la Vierge, et on fait deborder la nappe d'un pied sur le parement a peu prea connne celle qui couvre nos tables communes et qu'on laisse pendre de tous costez. Les Rubriques en effet ne disent point que la nappe ne doit point passer le devant d'Autel, ni qu'elle y sera consiie ou attachee avec des epingles. Aussi plusieurs Eglises, mesmes celebres, sont elles encore a cet egard, dans le mesme usage que Ton garde a Clervaux. — De Vert, Explication des Ceremonies de V Eglise, vol. Hi. p. 159, 160 * Comme ce parement ou rideau, qui etoit au devant de l'Autel, tenoit par des anneaux a une tringle ou verge de fer; tout cela, pour la bienseance et la proprete, etoit couvert d'une pente ou bande garnie de franges. Et de la, le tissu, appelle f range ou crepine, qu'on voit encore, communement au haut des paremens d'Autel. C'est ainsi que pour cacher les tringles, dont on se fert ordinairement pour passer les anneaux d'un rideau de lit et de fenetre, on fait pendre du ciel de ce lit ou du haut de ces fenetres, de semblables bandes ou tissus, sur les rideaux. Que si en quelques Eglises on se contente aujourd'huy d'orner le devant de la table d'Autel, de quelque sculpture ou peinture, sans le couvrir d'aucun rideaux ou ornement ; c'est apparemment que depuis qu'on a cesse de mettre les corps des Saints sous l'Autel, ces rideaux ou paremens qui scrvoient a en conserver les Chasses et a les garentir de la poussiere, ont etc regardez comme inutiles. Je vis a Galardon, village dans le pays Chartrain, en 1689, au mois de Decembre, un de ces paremens, tenant ainsi avec des anneaux a une tringle. II etoit de meme etoife que les courtines ou rideaux qui fermoiunt les cotez de l'Autel. — De Vert. Ibid. vol. it. p. 387. 28 altar 3Sreafc* It is evident from the words " having a frontlet of the same" that the cloths described were intended to hang over the back of the high altar. (See Reredos and Dossell.) In the Inventory of St. Paul's. — In Capella Carnariae. Item, Pannus frontalis de baudekyno ; et pannus super -frontalis de rubeo cendato cum turrilibus et leopardis deauratis ; Item, a cloth for the hie Awt r of blew baudekin, with the picture of our Lord, Mary, and John, and a front of the same ; Item, one awter cloth of white fustyan, with red roses, with a Crucifixe, Mary, and John, broydered, and fronte of the same, and two curtains. — Jacob's Hist, of Faversham. $ltat* 33rea)JL The bread prepared for Consecration in the Holy Eucharist. According to the Latin rite altar-breads should be unleavened, and of a circular form. They are baked between two irons,* and receive an impression of a sacred image or emblem. In early represen- tations of the Host, in a chalice, on the tombs of priests, we find the figure of a simple cross ;f later, an thjS, or the, or a Crucifixion, with the Blessed Virgin and St. John. This representation, however, seems inconsistent with the nature of this holy Sacrament ; and the Cross, the Holy Name in a trefoil, or an Agnus Dei, are far more appropriate devices. J The altar breads for the mass are now made considerably larger than those for the communion of the faithful. Formerly they were all large, and broken in parts for the communion ; a particle only being carried to the sick. The small altar breads appear to have been introduced in the middle of the eleventh century. In the first prayer-book of Edward the Sixth it is ordered that the communion bread be made round and unleavened, but somewhat thicker, and thereon no prints. The use of wafer bread for the communion was kept up in the Anglican church till the great Rebellion. § In the Scotch service-book round unleavened wafers are ordered for the communion. || Such was the reverence with which all matters connected with the holy Sacrifice of the Altar were regarded, by our catholic forefathers, that altar breads were made fasting, and with a particular Office. The account of this edifying custom is so interesting that I have extracted it at full length from Bocquillot. Pour apprendre au Sacristains de nos Eglises comment ils doivent faire les pains destinez au Sacrifice, il est bon de rapporter ici comment les anciens Moines les faisoient. L'on faisoit des Hosties toutes les fois qu'on en avoit besoin dans les Monasteres ; il y avoit neanmoins deux terns principalement destinez a ce travail ; scavoir, une peu devant Noel et devant Paque. Cela prouve en passant qu'il falloit que ces pains fussent assez epais et solides pour durer si long-tems. Les Novices trioient les grains de froment sur une table l'un apres 1' autre ; on les lavoit ensuite, et on les etendoit sur une nappe blanche pour les faire secher au soleil. Celuy qui les portoit au moulin lavoit les meules, se revetoit d'une Aube, et mettoit un Amict sur la tete. Le jour de faire les pains etant venu, trois Pretres ou trois Diacres avec un Frere Convers, apres l'Office de la nuit mettoient des souliers, se lavoient les mains et le visage, se peignoient, et recitoient en particulier dans une Chapelle POffice des Laudes, les sept Pseaumes et les Litanies. Les Pretres ou les Diacres revetus d'Aubes venoient dans la Chambre oii les pains se devoient faire ; le Convers y avoit deja prepare le bois le plus sec et le plus propre a * The method of making altar breads is as old as the ninth century, according to several ecclesiastical writers. f De Vert asserts that the origin of this cross was the indented lines made in that form on the breads intended for communion, to facilitate their fraction. X Lebrun describes the altar breads, used by the Armenians, to be round, of about the thickness of a crown-piece, and sometimes even thicker, stamped with an image of the crucifixion, or a chalice with our Lord rising out of it. § The altar of the Cathedral church of Canterbury, in the time of Charles the Frst, was furnished with two candle- sticks and tapers, a basin for oblations, and a silver-gilt canister for the wafers, fyc. Among the directions given to the chaplain, when Prince Charles was going to Madrid, we find the following. The communion to be as often used as it shall please the Prince to set down ; smooth wafers to be used for the bread. — Collier, ii. 726. || In this Service-Book far more Catholic practices were enjoined than in the English, and for this reason it gave such violent offence to the Puritan party. For a very curious account of this book, see Gordon's History of Scots' Affairs, printed by the Spalding Club. — Vol. ii. p. 59. Sitae Carto—amire. 29 faire un feu clair. lis gardoient le silence tous quatre ; l'un repandoit la fleur sur une table polie, propre et faite expres, dont les bords etoient relevez pour contenir l'eau qu'il jettoit dessus, et delayoit la pate. C'etoit de l'eau froide, afin que les Hosties fussent plus blanches. Le Convers avec des gants tenoit le fer, et faisoit cuire les Hosties six a la fois. Les deux autres coupoientles Hosties enrondavec un couteau fait expres ; et a, mesure qu'on les coupoit, elles tromboient dans un plat couvert d'une linge. Ce travail duroit long-tems dans les grandes Communautez, et se faisoit neanmoins a jeun ; mais on soulageoit aussi leurs peines par une meilleure portion a leur dine. Dom Martene dit que cet usage a dure dans les Monasteres jusqu'au quinzieme siecle. Dom Claude de Vert Tresorier de l'Abbaye de Clugny, assure que de nos jours il subsistoit encore chez eux, et qu'il n'a cesse que depuis que la reforme s'y est etablie. Etoit-ce la une pratique a reformer ? Mais combien certains Seminaires de Province font-ils de pareilles reformes dans les Dioceses ou ils sont etablis ? Dieu soit beni de la piete qu'ils inspirent aux Ecclesiastiques qu'ils elevent ; mais qu'il nous preserve, s'il luy plait, de la reforme qu'ils voudroient faire dans nos Eglises en abolissant de tres-saints et tres-anciens usages, qu'ils prennent pour des abus, faute de les connoitre. — M. BocquilloVs Traite Historique de la Liturgie ou de la Messe, pp. 289—291. — The same manner of making altar breads is enjoined in Lane- franc's Decrees. See De Antiquitat. Monach. nig. S. Benedicti in Anglia, Clem. Reyneri, Duaci, 1625. — Appendix, 236. Slltar CartlS. The name given to certain portions of the mass, such as the Lavabo, words of consecration, Gospel of St. John, &c, printed separately on three sheets of card-board, and placed against the reredos of the altar. These are of comparatively modern introduction. There is no doubt that they might be dispensed with, their contents being in the missal itself. At any rate they should be as small and unobtrusive as possible ; and the custom of mounting them in large gilt frames, glazed, as ornaments to the altar, which has been recently introduced in some modern chapels, is exceedingly absurd and offensive in effect, magnifying an accessory, — which the authorities of the church and the modern rubricks allow,— into a leading feature in the decoration and furniture of an altar. 9titlitt. A white linen napkin or veil, worn by all clergy above the four minor orders. It is the first of the sacred vestments that is put on, * first on the head, and then ad- justed round the neck, hanging down over the shoulders. In several dioceses of France, the Priests, deacons, and subdea- cons, wore the Amices on their heads, from the Feast of All- Saints till Easter ;f letting them * Ad amictum, dum ponitur super caput, dicat : — Impone Domine capiti meo galeam Salutis, ad expugnandum dinbolicos incursus. t St. Maurice d' Angers. II y'a a la Messe trois Diacres, et trois Soudiacres, scavoir les quatres revetus dont nous avons parle, et deux chanoines qu'on appelle grand Diacre et grand Soudiacre. Le celebrant et ces deux et le servent 30 fltm'rc fall back on the shoulders during the Gospel, and from the secret till the first ablution. M. Thiers, in his treatise Sur Les Perruques, has advanced several objections against this practice, in his eighth chapter, which I have here given at length. Lcs Pretres, les Diacres, les Soudiacres, et ceux que l'on appelle a Paris les lnduts, portent des Amits sur leurs tetes a l'autel en certains dioceses, depuis l'octave de saint Denis, ou depuis la Toussaints jusqu'a Paques. Cet usage a de grands, d'illustres, de savans patrons. Mais ils me permettront bien de leur dire avec tout le respect que je leur dois, qu'il ne me paroit pas fort regulier. Premierement, parce que selon le Canon Nullus,* explique par l'auteur de la Somme Angelique,f par Silvestre Maitre du sacre Palais,! par l'auteur de la Somme intitulee Armilla,^ par Jeande Tabia,|| par Emanuel Sa,^[ par Escobar,** etparun tres-grand nombre d'autres Canonistes, et d'autres Theolo- giens, les Pretres ne peuvent, sans cause raisonnable, dire la Messe la tete couverte. Cette cause raison- nable suppose une infirmite considerable ; cette infirmite doit etre attestee. Cette attestation doit etre suivie d'une permission des Superieurs a qui il appartient de la donner. Cependant combien y a-t-il de Pretres qui la disent avec un Amit sur leur tete, sans que besoin soit, qui la diroient fort bien la tete nue sans en etre incommodes, qui la disent sans etre infirmes, ou, qui l'etant en effet, ne font point attester leurs infirmites, et ne demandent point permission de la dire en cette posture ? II y en a une infinite, a Fegard desquels par consequent l'usage de la dire ainsi n'est pas fort regulier. S'il ne l'est pas a leur egard, il ne l'est pas non plus a l'egard des Diacres, des Soudiacres, et des lnduts, qui, quoique forts et robustes, servent a l'autel en cet habit sans aucune raison legitime. Secondement parce que les Amits ainsi disposes sur la tete, sont assez semblables aux coeffes que les Ecclesiastiques portoient autrefois et particulierement en Angleterre, en Normandie et en Anjou. Car enfin ces coeffes, comme celles des filles et des femmes parmi nous, couvroient toute la tete, ensorte qu'elles ne laissoient que le visage decouvert. Et voila justement ce que font les Amits dont il s'agit. Ces coefFes neanmoins sont condamnees par le grand Concile d' Angleterre, en 1268, par les Conciles provinciaux de Rouen en 1299 et en 1313, par le Synode de Nicosie en la meme annee, et par le Synode d' Angers en 1314. Troisiemement, parce que les Statuts du Diocese de Soissons en 16/3, defendent tres-expressementtt aux Ecclesiastiques sous peine de suspense, de dire la Messe ou d'y servir en qualite de Diacres, de Soudiacres ou ft lnduts, avec un Amit sur la tete. Lcs Ecclesiastiques disent-ils celebreront la sainte Messe, ouy assisteront le celebrant, avec la tete nue, et non couverte de la calotte ou de V Amit, sous peine de suspension et imprimeront par une modestie exemplaire, dans V esprit des peuples, Vhonneur et le respect qui est du aux choses saintes Mais au reste si l'usage de dire la Messe avec un Amit sur la tete, n'est pas fort regulier, il n'est pas non plus fort ancien, quoi qu'en pense le Docteur Navarrre. I. Parce que n'etant fait nulle mention de l'Amit parmi les ornemens sacres avant l'empire de Char- lemagne, il semble qu'on n'a commence de s'en servir dans l'Eglise Latine, qu'au neuvieme 3iecles,JJ et que les prieres que Ton dit en le mettant ne sont pas plus anciennes. C'est peut-etre pour cela que dans l'Eglise de Milan et dans celle de Lyon, l'on ne met l'Amit qu'apres l'aube et la ceinture, comme le temoigne Monsieur le Cardinal Bona.§§ La meme chose se pratiquoit autrefois a Rome selon le premier|| || et le cinquieme^|^[ Ordre Romain du Pere Mabillon, et les Maronites la pratiquent encore presen- tement.*** se revetant d'Amicts et d'Aiibes Partes et ont en tous temps l'Amict sur la tete, qu'ils n'abaisent que depuis le Sanctus jusqu'a la communion. (St. Etienne de Bourg-es.) Leurs Aubes ne sont pas par parees mais seulement leurs Amicts. — De Muleon Voyages Liturgiques en France. * De consecrat. dist. 1. t V. Missa. n. 9. J V. eod. 1. n. 2. In Sum. § V. eod. n. 7. || V. eod. n. 18. In Sum. If V. eod. n. 17. in Aphoris. Confess. ** Tract. 1. Examen. 11. c. 2. tt Tit. 1. de Service divin. U [This assertion is denied by other Ecclesiastical commentators. — A. W. P.] L. 1. Rer. Iiturg. c. 24. n. 3. et 1. 2. c. 1. n. G. |||| n. 0. p. 0. et 7. Tom. 2. Mussei Italici Mabillon. H 11 n. 1. p. GG. Ibid. *** Mabillon. Not. in Ord. Rom. 1. n. 6. 31 II. Parce que les Ecclesiastiques n'ayant assiste a. l'Office la tete couverte que vers le milieu du treizieme siecle (l'exception toutesfois des Eveques, s'il est vrai qu'ils y aient assiste en Mitre avant ce tems-la) il est extremement probable que les Pretres n'ont dit la Messe la tete couverte, que long-tems apres, parce que, comme on vient de le dire, ils ont toujours marque plus de respect en celebrant les divins mysteres, qu'en assistant aux autres Offices de l'Eglise. Aussi l'Eglise ne leur a-t-elle donne permission de porter la calotte a l'autel que depuis quelque vingt-six ans. III. Parce que l'Amit, de soi et par son institution, n'est pas tant pour couvrir le tete, que pour couvrir le cou et les epaules. Fortunat Archeveque de Treves ne le rapporte qu'au cou pour la conser- vation de la voix et de la parole. " Amictus" dit-il* u est primum vestimentum nostrum, quo collum undique cingimus. In collo est namque vox, idebque per collum loquendi usus exprimitur. Per amictum intelligimus custodiam vocis." Le Ceremonial des Eveques en fait de meme, lorsqu'il explique la maniere dont l'Eveque, le Diacre et le Soudiacre, se revetent de l'Amit. II dit de l'Eveque :f " Diaconus et Subdiaconus orTerunt Episcopo amictum osculandum in medio ubi est designata parva crux, mox ilium diligenter aptant circa collum Episcopi, ita ut vestium summitates, quae vulgo collaria vocantur, omnino tegat, deinde chordulas," etc. Puis de Diacre :J Amictum sibi aptabit circa collum, ita ut collaria tegat, mox albam, &c. Et enfin de Soudiacre : Accipit paramenta sibi convenientia, quae eadem fere sunt quae superius Diacono conveniunt, excepta stola." Hugues de S. Victor au contraire ne rapporte l'Amit qu'aux epaules, sans parler ni de la tete, ni du cou. " Humeros" dit-il§ " quibus onera portantur, amictu velamur, ut jugum Christi patienter ferre doceamur.'' Innocent III. dit dans le meme sens :|| " Lotis manibus Sacerdos assumit amictum, qui supra humeros circumquaque difrunditur." Onufre Panuin dit aussi ce qui fait^[ Anabolagium, alias Anaboladium, d verbo Graco avafiaWo/xai, quod est suprajicio, vel rejicio, appellabant amictum album lineum, qui, quod humeris imponeretur, superhumerale etiam vocabatur. Et voici l'oraison que le Pretre doit dire en prenant l'Amit, selon la Messe d'lllyricum, qui est l'ancienne Messe Romaine, a quelques oraisons pres qui y ont ete ajoutees :** "Humeros nostros sancti Spiritus gratia tege Domine, renesque nostros vitiis omnibus expulsis praecinge, ad sacrificandum tibi viventi et regnanti in saecula saeculorum.'' La verite est que Rupert,ft Guillaume Durand^ et quelques autres ecrivains ecclesiastiques, assurent que le Pretre doit se couvrir la tete de l'Amit, et que l'oraison Jmpone Domine capiti Sfc. insinue la meme chose. Mais ni cette oraison, ni ces ecrivains ne marquent pas que le Pretre le doivent tenir sur sa tete pendant la sainte Messe hors le Canon, comme l'on fait en quelques Eglises, II doit seulement le mettre d'abord sur sa tete, puis le rabattre sur son cou et sur ses epaules avant que d'aller a l'autel, parce qu'il doit avoir la tete nue a l'autel. Et voila la raison qu'en apporte Monsieur Grimaud Chanoine et Theologal de Bordeaux, dans sa Liturgie sacree. " Le Pretre" (dit-il§§) "met l'Amit sur sa tete et le prend comme un beaume. Mais parce que pour offrir ce sacrifice il doit avoir la tete decouverte, en le mettant, il le fait descendre sur le col et sur les epaules." Voila quel est le vrai usage, l'usage legitime de l'Amit dans l'Eglise Latine. Mais enfin dans les Eglises meme ou les Pretres, les Diacres, les Soudiacres et les Induts, portent l'Amit a l'autel, ils l'abattent sur le cou durant l'Evangile, et depuis la Secrete, ou depuis la Preface, jusqu'apres l'ablution, et le Soudiacre le tient encore ainsi abattu pendant qu'il chante l'Epitrc, comme le disent fort nettement le nouveau Missel,|||| et le Ceremonial de Paris,flf Et cette maniere d'abattre l'Amit sur le cou pendant la Messe, nous marque deux choses. La premiere qu'il reste encore de grands * L. 2. de Divin. Offic. c. 17. f I- 2. c. 8. t k 1- 9. § L. 1. Erudit. Theolog. c. 40. || L. 1. de Myster. Missae.c. 50. If In Interpretat. voc. &c. ** Ad calcem libri de reb. Liturg. Card. Bona. tf-L. 1. de Divin. Offic. c. 19. \\ L. 3. Rational, c. 2. n. 1. et 3. |§ P.l.c. 6.n. 1, HII Tract, de Ritib. in Missa servand. c. i. art. 5, 6, 7. art 12. et c. n. art. 9. HIT P. 2. c. 2. n. 2. et 24. c. 5. n. 3. et c. 7. n. 3. 32 8mta* vestiges de la Tradition et de la Regie de l'Apotre saint Paul dans les Eglises meme qui semblent s'en etre les plus eloignees en ce point. Et la seconde qu'il n'y a que la necessite qui oblige les Ecclesiastiques de se couvrir la tete durant la celebration des saints mysteres, puisqu'ils ne le font qu'en hyver et dans la seule vue de se garantir du froid de la tete et des rhumes. — Thiers Histoire des Perruques, chap. viii. pp. 96-106. De Vert — Explication des Ceremonies de la Messe. 3. L'Amict se mettoit autrefois sur la teste.* Comme l'ymettent encore, dumoins en allant a l'Autel, ceux qui, en celebrant la Messe, retiennent toujours l'ancien capuce ou capuchon d'etoffe ; tels que sont la plupart des Religieux et quelques Chanoines seculiers ; par example, ceux de l'Eglise de Langres^ de Narbonne, &c, ou l'Amict se met encore sur le Chaperon. II est vray que les uns ni les autres ne le conservent pas long-temps sur la teste, et que regulierement ils se decouvrent par respect, en arrivant a l'Autel et en commencant la Messe. Tel etoit aussi l'usage de plusieurs autres Eglises, de ne rabbattre ce linge qu'a l'Autel. Mais enfin communement par tout, principalement dans les Eglises seculieres, on regard aujourd'huy comme plutot fait, de l'abbaisser et le mettre sur le cou, des la Sacristie et en s'habillant. Seulement quelques Pretres, par un reste d'impression de l'ancienne coutume, observent toujours de faire toucher cet habillement a. leur teste, avant que de le mettre sur le cou. Et meme les Capucins le mettent sur la teste nue en s'habillant et non sur le Capuchon, et le portent ainsi jusqu'a l'Autel ; ou, venant a se decouvrir, ils le laissent tomber dans le Capuchon. Et de meme, en retournant a la Sacristie apres la Messe, ils se couvrent de nouveau la teste de l'Amict seul. Ceux qui celebroient sans Capuchon, faisoient retomber cet habillement sur la Chasuble ; et c'est ainsi qu'on en use encore a Paris, a la Rochelle, &c. L'Eveque observe toujours aussi a l'Ordination, d'en couvrir la teste du Soudi- acre. Imponit super caput singulis, dit le Pontifical Romain ; mais ce Ministre le rabbat dans la suite sur le cou, selon le rit le plus usite. A Paris, on le porte encore en hyver sur la teste, jusqu'a la secrete ; a. la Rochelle et a Angers hyver et este, jusqu'au commencement du Canon. Et en ces trois Eglises on le reprend apres la Communion. A Soissons, les Pretres qu'ils appellent Cardinaux (pour la raison que nous avons marquee en notre premier Volume, pages 56 et 57.) n'otent point l'Amict de dessus leur tete, pendant toute la Messe, qu'autrefois ils celebroient conjointement avec l'Eveque, et a laquelle aujourd'huy, ils se contentent d'etre presens dans le Sanctuaire et autour de l'Autel, sans y avoir d'autre part que le reste des assistans ; ce qui fait qu'ils sont toujours assis. Et c'est ce que je pris la liberte de repondre en 1684, a feu M. l'Eveque de Soissons (Charles de Bourlon,) lorsque, peu content de cette posture de ses Pretres Cardinaux, il me fit Fhonneur de me demander ce que j'en pensois. Je luy dis que cette situation convenoit assez a des gens oisifs : mais que pour faire lever ces Pretres, il n'avoit qu'a les obliger de concelebrer avec luy, suivant l'ancien usage, encore observe en quelques Eglises, princi- palement le Jeudy-Saint. — Vol. ii. pp. 254 — 256. Durandi Rationale. " The celebrant, after washing his hands, takes the Amice, which is properly the covering for the head ; to which is applied what the Apostle says, Ephesians, vi. Take the helmet of Salvation. It is an emblem, then, of salvation. It signifies also purity of heart, because it encompasses the breast. Falling over the shoulders it designates strength to labour ; as the Apostle exhorts St. Timothy to " labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." — II. St. Timothy, ii. 3. In some places, however, there is a commendable * On voit sous le grand Autel de l'Abbaye de Saint Acheul, pres d'Amiens, la figure deS. Firmin, premier Evequeet Martyr d'Amiens, representee en relief sur son toinbeau de pierre, qu'on rapporte au commencement du VII. siecle, avec ses habits Sacerdotaux ou Pontificaux, comme on voudra dire (car e'etoit assez la meme chose dans les premiers temps, ainsi que nous dirons plus bas) la teste enveloppee de l'Amict, en forme de Capuchon fort serre. Qu'on juge apres cela qu'elle foy on doit ajouter, a ce qu'avance M. Thiers, en son Traite des Perruques, qu'on n'a commence a se servir de l'Amict dans l'Eglise Latine, qu'au ix. siecle. — [This effigy must have been executed long posterior to the seventh century. — A. W. P.] 33 custom of putting on a linen Alb or Surplice first, over the cassock, and then the Amice over it, by which is signified that faith must go before good works. The Amice is also turned down over the neck of the Vestment, to shew that good works ought to spring from charity. The Amice also binds the throat, to be a check upon the voice and tongue. The head is covered, that the eyes may not wander and distract the mind. The Amice, wherewith the priest is shrouded, signifies also the Veil of Christ's flesh ; for the head of man is Christ. — 1 Cor. xi. 3. And therefore the head is veiled to shew that the Divinity was hidden in the flesh, and by the flesh was made known. Lastly, the Amice represents the cloth with which the Jews covered our Saviour's face, when they said Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who is he that struck Thee. — Matt. xxvi. 68. Amices were formerly richly ornamented with gold and embroidery. Georgius de Lit. Rom. Pont, torn. i. p. 133. Antiquitus amictus aureis texturis exornari consuevit; nam in testamento Riculfi Episcopi Helenensis condito a.d. 915, habetur Riculfum legasse ecclesiae suae amictos cum auro quatuor. Victor Papa III. a.d. 1087, dono dedit monasterio Casinensi Camisos magnos deauratos cum amictis suis duos, et alios de serico septem. Fulco Imperialis Judex obtulit a.d. 1197 ecclesiae S. Margaritae prope urbem Vigiliarum in Apulia unum amictum cum frisio magno. Item duos amictos cum grammatis. These embroidered or apparelled amices were generally used in the English church, previous to the reign of Edward the Sixth. Duo Amictus de filo aureo aliquantulum lati et plani. Item, Amictus cum puro aurifrigio veteris ornatus. Item, Amictus breudatus de auro puro, cum rotellis, et amatistis, et perlis. Item, Amictus planus per totum de aurifrigio. Item, Amictus Rogeri de Weseham, habens campum de perlis Indicis, ornatus cum duobus magnis episcopis et uno rege stantibus argenteis deauratis, ornatus lapidibus vitreis magnis et parvis per totum in capsis argenteis deauratis. Item, Amictus cum parura de rubeo sameto breudato cum imaginibus. Item, Amictus cum parura contexta de nodulis de filo aureo, viridi et rubeo, serico cum nodulis serico compositus de magnis perlis albis, de dono Ricardi de Gravesende Londinensis episcopi. Item, Parura amictus cum campo de perlis albis parvulis cvim floribus et quadrifoliis in medio, et platis in circuitu per limbos argenteos deauratos, cum lapidibus et perlis ordine spisso serico insertis in capsis argenteis et sex bullonibus de perlis in extremitate. Item, Amictus diversis scutis breudatus. Item, Amictus cujus parura de serico novo consuta. — Dugdalefs Hist, of St. Paul's Cathedral. The apparells were sewed on to the Amices, and when these were fastened round the neck, they formed the collar which is invariably represented on the effigies of ecclesiastics. In the list which I have given above, the apparell is sometimes mentioned by itself, (as Parura Amictus) sometimes in conjunction with the Amice, (as Amictus cum Parura.) When the Amice was pulled up over the head, the apparell appeared like a Phylactery. (See Wood-cut.) In the Plate representing the procession of Palms in Picart's Ceremonies Religieuscs, Vol. 2, the officiating clergy are figured wearing apparelled Amices on their heads. SlnttSlSu (Almutium) confounded by Du Cange with the Amice (Amictus), was a hood of fur, worn by Canons, intended as a defence against the cold, whilst reciting the Divine Office. It is found in brasses ; the points coming down in front, something like a stole. In this respect it was worn somewhat differently from the present mode of wearing it on the Continent. The usual colour was grey, (almutiis grisiis vestiti) : but for the cathedral chapter, white ermine ; in some few cases, where the bishop was a temporal prince, spotted ; the tails of the ermine being sewed round the edge. The academical hood is a distinct thing from the Amess, though not wholly dissimilar. F 34 ampul. A small vessel, vial, or crewett, used for containing consecrated Coil or wine and water for the eucharistic sacrifice. ^> Item, an Ampul plain, with a foot silver and gilt, and a spoon with an acorn ordained for Chrism ; Item, an Ampul of berral, closed in silver and gilt for the Oleum Sanctum, with a spoon having an acorn in the top : Item, an Ampul of glass, wherein is contained the Oleum Infirmorum, with a spoon of silver and an acorn in the top. — Inventory of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln. — Dugdale's Monaslicon. A vial containing sacred balm, that was used in anointing the Kings of France at their Coronation, was found at Rheims in the custody of the Grand Prior of the monastery of S. Remi, and was commonly known as the Sainte Ampoule. The origin of this interesting relick is lost in anti- quity; the legends related concerning its miraculous introduction and powers not having sufficient weight and authority to warrant their reception ; but there is no doubt that it was used for its sacred and important purpose for many centuries. AMPUL. It was composed of antique glass, about an inch and a half in height, seven-eighths of an inch in circumference at the neck, and thirteen-eighths at the base ; the balm which it contained was of a reddish colour, and so thick as not to be transparent. In the year 1/60 the vessel appeared about two-thirds full. When a king of France was to be crowned, a small portion of this balm extracted on the point of a golden pin, was mixed with the holy Chrism. On the morning of the Coronation the holy Ampul was brought by the Prior of S. Remi in great state, from the monastery to the Cathedral, where the procession was met by the Archbishop, who deposited the vessel on the altar ; and after the ceremony it was returned to the custody of the Grand Prior, who was conducted back to the monastery in the same manner as he came. This vial was inclosed in a reliquary, representing a golden dove, encompassed by a circlet of silver gilt, set with jewels, and attached to a silver chain, by which it was suspended round the neck of the Prior, when carried in procession. Shortly after the execution of the unfortunate Louis the XVI th, this most venerable relick was destroyed by a violent republican of the name of Ruhl. — Tresors de VEglises de Rheims par Prosper Tarbe,f. 200. Ampulla est vas amplum, sive olla ampla in quo servatur vinum vel aqua. — Ducange, fol. 404. Shuftor* An emblem of hope and trust. Small anchors made of the precious metals were frequently offered in churches and at shrines, by seamen delivered from imminent danger. Appurtenances to the tomb of the lord Scrope. — 10 silver ships with a silver anchor: Item, an anchor and 77 hooks : Item, 4 anchors and hooks. — Inventory of plate and jewels formerly belonging to York Minster. — Dugdale's Monasticon. I desire my executors to cause four images of gold, each weighing 20lbs., to be made like unto myself, in my coat of arms, holding an anker betwixt my hands, and so to be offered and delivered in my name as follows : one at the shrine of St. Alban to the honour of God, our Lady, and St. Alban ; another at the shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury ; the third at Bridlington, in Yorkshire ; and the fourth at the shrine in the church of St. Winifred, at Shrewsbury .— Will of Richard Earl of War- wick — Tcstamenta Vetusta, Vol. 1. 232. 35 $ngtl£»* Of good angels there are nine degrees, which may be classed as follows : Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. Durandus. — " Angel is the name, not of an order of beings, but of an office, and means messenger : wherefore Angels are represented with wings. Archangels are principal or Chief Angels. Among these, the name of Gabriel denotes ' the Power of God ;' Michael, e who like God ?' Raphael, ' the Healing of God f Uriel, < the Fire of God.' S. Dionysius relates that there are three Hierarchies of Angels, and three Orders in each. The three highest are, Cherubim, Seraphim,* and Thrones ; the three middle ones, Dominions, Princedoms, Powers ; the three lowest, Virtues, Archangels, and Angels. Two Cherubim of beaten gold were figured on the Propitiatory, under the Law, — Exodus, xxxvii. 7- Cherubim signifies the ' plentitude of knowledge ;' Seraphim, e burning,' i. e. with Divine Love." Sylvanus Morgan. — " Seraphim, whose chief is Uriel, are represented with wings, signifying their spiritual motion ; and their ardent affection is signified by a flaming heart. Their office is to sing continually the praises of God. Cherubim, signifying fulness of knowledge and wisdom, are represented young, having four wings to cover their faces and feet, (and in the Ark of old they did signify to the Jews God's presence,) and looking one upon another : of this order was Jophiel. The last of the first triplicity is Thrones, represented kneeling, whose ensigns are a palm and a crown, representing Equity and Justice, under the dominion of Zaphkiel. Dominions, disposing of the office of angels, whose ensign is a sceptre, under the regiment of Zadchiel, bearing a sword and cross. Virtues, being a degree of angels that execute His holy Will, whose ensign is a crown of thorns in the right hand, and a cup of consolation in the left ; their principal is Haniel. Powers, being the assistant spirits, to withstand the power and assaults of evil angels, under their chief captain, Raphael, whose ensigns are a thunder-bolt and flaming sword. Principalities, which take charge of Princes, to the bridling of their power and might, whose ensign is a sceptre and girdle across the breast, being the angel guardians of kingdoms, whose chief is Camael. Archangels are extraordinary ambassadours, whose ensign is a banner hanging on a cross, as repre- senting victory ; and armed, having a dart in one hand, and a cross on the forehead, whereby Michael and his angels warred with the devil and his angels. Angels, having the government of men, being messengers of grace and good tidings, — men being made little lower than the angels, — to whom Gabriel brought the glad tidings of peace ; whose ensign is a book and a staff ; they are represented young, to shew their continual strength ; and winged, to shew their unweariedness ; and girt, to shew their readiness : — their garments either white, to shew their purity, or gold, their sanctity and glory ."f — Sphere of Gentry, by Sylvanus Morgan. Angels are often represented by the artists of the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries as * Seraphim are represented with six wings, according to the Vision of Isaiah :— " Upon it stood the Seraphims: the one had six wings, and the other had six wings." — Isaiah, vi. 2. f Grimbaud, in his treatise on La Liturgie Sacree has printed a most interesting commentary of Innocent the Third, on the Preface of the Mass, with reference to the angelic spirits. It is as follows : — " Le second point, que j'ay reserue a examiner sur la Preface, est sur une remarque faite par Innocent III., qui est en verite digne de son esprit, et qui merite d'estre releuee ; afin de nous rendre plus attentifs sur tout ce qui se dit et se fait en ce Mystere. C'est tou- chaut les mots qui suiuent apres ceux que nous venons d'examiner pour les Chceurs des Anges qui sont icy nominez: — Per quem Majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates ; Cceli, Ccelorumque Virtutcs ac heata Seraphim socio, exultatione eoncelebrant, $e. La difficulte est, en ce qui l'Eglise en ce lieu ne fait mention que de six Chceurs, qui exaltent Dieu, et passe les autres en silence ; coinme s'ils en estoient exclus, et qu'ils manquassent a ce 3G vested in copes, chasubles, dalmatics, and tunacles ;* also in apparelled albes with stoles ; but in the earlier works they are usually figured in albes, white, with gold wings, and barefooted.t Sometimes angels were drawn as feathered all over like birds ; and this representation is by no means uncommon in carving and stained glass of the latter part of the fifteenth century. Examples are to be found at Tattershall Church, Beauchamp Chapel Warwick, Wells Church Norfolk, Southwold Church Suffolk, and many others ; but the effect is far from good, bordering indeed on the ludicrous, and the idea is not warranted by the traditions of Christian antiquity. Cherubim are frequently represented of a bright red colour, to set forth the intensity of Divine Love ; and usually standing upon flaming wheels, in reference to the vision of the prophet Ezekiel : — " And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them : and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go they went, thither was their spirit to go ; and the wheels were lifted up over against them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels." — Ezekiel, chap. i. 19, 20. In the fifteenth century, St. Michael was usually represented in complete armour ; but in earlier works, simply in an albe, which is far more consistent. The body armour savours too much of human conflicts. In the church of St. Michael the Archangel, at Ravenna, a.d. 545, St. Michael and St. Gabriel are represented standing on either side of our Lord. They are thus described by Ciampini, P. ii. c. viii. " Ad ejusdem Salvatoris dexteram stat beatus Michael Archangelus, ut ipsa epigraphe designat, qui arundinem, sive baculum aureum, cum parva cruce in summitate gestat. Baculum nil aliud innuere autumo, nisi baculum viatorium ; cujus forma etiam apud Episcopos pro cambuca inserv iebat ; de hujusmodi baculis disseruimus in nostro opere, Vet. Mon. parte 1. cap. 15. — (See Staves). Ad ejus- devoir. Pour bien entendre la question, il faut supposer ce que la Theologie enseigne, apres l'auoir appris, tant des saintes Lettres, que des anciens Peres de Saint Denys, Saint Ignace, Saint Gregoire de Nazianze, Saint Athanase, Saint Gregoire le Grand, et autres ; lesquels assurent que ces nobles Intelligences sont diuisees en trois Hierarchies dont chacune contient trois Chceurs ; si bien qu'ils sont distribuez en neuf Chacuns. Le premier en montant, est celuy des Anges ; parce que bien que ce nora d'Ange soit commun a tous les Esprits celestes, toutefois il est propre a ceux qui tiennent le premier Choeur : le second, des Archanges ; le troisieme, des Virtus. Voila pour la premiere Hierarchic En la seconde sont les Puissances, les Principautez, et les Dominations : En la troisieme et plus haute, les Thrones, les Cherubins, et les Seraphins. De ces neuf choeurs la Preface n'en nomme que six, et laisse les autres trois : et encore de ces trois, elle en omet vn de chaque Hierarchie, que est celuy qui tient le milieu. De la plus basse, elle laisse les Archanges ; de la inoyenne, les Principautez ; de la troisieme et superieure, les Cherubins : ou il faut prendre garde auec ce docte Pontife, que sans le nom des Cieux, Cceli, il faut entendre le Chceur des Thrones, qui est le premier de la plus haute Hierarchie ; qui sont ainsi appellez, par le rapport qu'ils ont avec le Ciel qui est nomme Throne de Dieu. Disons maintenant, a quoy sert vne telle omission, a quoy sert cette preference dans vne partie de la Messe si solennelle 1 Est ce que les Archanges, les Principautez, les Cherubins manquent de zele, ou qu'ils ont moins de ferueur a servir, adorer, et loiier Dieu ? Ce seroit vn crime seulement de le penser : C'est, dit ce grand Pontife, qu'en ces trois Hierarchies, et en ces neuf Choeurs de ces Celestes creatures, Dieu a voulu grauer la similitude de son ineffable Trinite ; coinme en tous ses ouvrages il en a imprime quelque vestige ; Mais bien plus expressement en ces nobles Esprits, si nous considerons seulemont cet ordre admirable, dans lequel ils ont este produits, et dans lequel ils paroissent auec tant de g-loire et de splendeur en la celeste Hierusalem ; benissant et magnifiant incessamment par leurs Choeurs, qui font le nombre de trois fois trois, les trois Personnes de la Trinite, dans la verite de leur Essence ; neaninoins comme elles sont au rang des creatures, ayant leur estre finy, quelque nobles et parfaits qu'elles soient, et de quelques qualitez naturelles ou surnatu- relles qu'elles soient douees, elles ne peuuent representer cette Diuine Trinite, qu'auec vn extreme rabais et diminution, comme dit tresbien ce grand Homme. C'est pourquoy l'Eglise interromp l'ordre des Choeurs Angeliques, et n'en nomme que deux de chaque Hierarchie, bien qu'ils soient trois ; afin de faire entendre cette verite, et que ces trois ordres des Anges sont insuffisants pour representer au vray la Diuine Trinite en sa perfection et sublimite." * These vestments, when represented on angels, should be all of cloth of gold, diapered with orphreys of pearls and precious stones. The angels sculptured in the arches of the magnificent Portals of Amiens cathedral, are represented habited in tunics and dalmatics, holding crowns, candlesticks, thuribles, and incense ships. f Barefooted, as always ready to carry the glad tidings of which they are the messengers. Stofflttamim $pu&— Banner* 37 dem Salvatoris sinistram pariter stat Gabriel Angelus, eadem forma ut alter vestitus, baculumque itidem manu perstringens." Above, there is another image of our Lord, with angels on either side, thus described : — " Prope Salvatorem duo cernuntur Angeli, alter scilicet ad dexteram, alter vero ad sinistram, vestibus palliisque albis induti ; cum alis verb et stolis violacei coloris, auream arundinem manibus tenentes. Quatuor itidem ad dextram, tres ad sinistram sunt angeli, simili forma induti, qui tubas aureas in sonandi actu ori admotas retinent," &c. In Christian design, Angels are continually introduced : — in sculpture and painting, as corbels, bearing the stancheons of roofs ; as bosses, or in pannels and spandrils bearing labels with scriptures, or emblems of sacred things, or (in late designs) shields of arms ; supporting the head of a monumental effigy ; on shafts and beams holding candlesticks ; as reliquaries bearing phials in their hands ; in adoration round sacred symbols, or persons ; winged, with the hands extended, and standing on wheels. The representation of winged cherubim are most appropriate in chapels devoted to the reservation of the Blessed Eucharist, as they were intended, under the Mosaic dispensation, to signify in an especial manner the presence of God. The nine orders of angels are frequently introduced in the magnificient Rose windows of the con- tinental churches, diverging from the centre in nine circumferences of rich tracery. On the revival of Pagan design, in the sixteenth century, the edifying and traditional representations of angelic spirits were abandoned, and in lieu of the albe of purity and golden vests of glory, the artists indulged in pretty Cupids, sporting in clouds ; or half naked youths, twisting like posture-masters, to display their limbs without repose, dignity, or even decency of apparel. SUtgltrattum <2&pu& The English embroidery of sacred vestments was so famous during the middle ages, as to be known on the Continent under this denomination, and was so described in antient inventories. Quinque aurifrigia quorum tria sunt de opere Cyprensi, et unum est de opere Anglicano. — Ducange, 438. 9totiuentltum* See Frontal. 8ppa«U« See Albe. gpe. Introduced as a symbol of lust, and therefore generally found in the subsellse of stalls, placed under a seat as a degradation and mark of contempt.* In several illuminations at the head of the seven Penitential Psalms, representing David looking on Bathsheba, an ape, chained to a tree, is introduced, in allusion to the sin of the Psalmist. grrljawreK See Angel. 8tT0ili£», are sometimes introduced as marks of martyrdom, as for St. Edmund the king, also as emblems of pestilence, death, and destruction ; and occasionally as a rebus on the name of Fletcher, being the name by which the makers of arrows were formerly known. 33aniuU\ For example, see Title Page. Every church was antiently provided with one or more banners to bear in the processions, on rogations, and other holy days. Banners were also hung up in churches as cxvotos in token of victories. * For the same reason, other emblems and representations of a similar description, are frequently found under Stalls. 38 Banner,— 33a$on " The king of Scots' antient and his banner, with divers other noblemen's antients, were all brought to S. Cuthbert's feretory ; and there the said Lord Nevil made his petition to God, and that holy man S. Cuthbert ; and offered the jewells and banners to the shrine of that holy and blessed man, S. Cuthbert, within the feretory ; and there the said banners and antients stood and hung till the sup- pression of the house." — Rites of Durham Abbey. Description of a Banner formerly belonging to the same church, from the same work : — Shortly after, the Prior caused a very sumptuous banner to be made with pipes of silver, to be put on a staff five yards long, with a device to take off and put on the said pipes at pleasure, and to be kept in a chest in the feretory, when they were taken down, which banner was shewed and carried about in the abbey on festival and principal days. On the height of the uppermost pipe was a pretty cross of silver and a wand of silver, having a fine wrought knob of silver at either end, that went over the banner cloth, to which it was fastened ; which wand was the thickness of a man's finger, having at either end a fine silver bell. The wand was fastened by the middle to the banner staff, under the cross. The banner cloth was a yard broad, and five quarters deep, and the bottom of it was indented in five parts, and fringed, and made fast all about with red silk and gold. It was also made of red velvet, on both sides sumptuously embroidered and wrought with flowers of green silk and gold ; and in the midst thereof were the said holy relique, and corporax cloth inclosed, which corporax cloth was covered over with white velvet, half a yard square every way, having a cross of red velvet on both sides, over that holy relique, most artificially compiled and framed, being finely fringed about the edge and skirts with fringe of red silk and gold, and three fine little silver bells fastened to the skirts of the said banner cloth, like unto sacring bells ; and being so sumptuously finished, was dedicated to holy St. Cuthbert ; to the intent, that for the future, it should be carried to any battle, as occasion should serve ; and was never shewed at any battle, but by the special grace of God Almighty, and the mediation of holy St. Cuthbert, it brought home victory. Which banner cloth, after the dissolution of the abbey, fell into the possession of Dean Whitingham, whose wife, called Katharine, being a French woman, (as is credibly reported by eye witnesses), did most despitefully burn the same in her fire, to the open contempt and disgrace of all ancient reliques." a To ye berars of baneris on rogacion dais, and on holy thursday, and on Corpus Christi daii, viii' 1 , for a baner for ye stepill ajenst our dedycation day xiii d ." — Churchwardens Account of St. Peter's, Sandwich. — Boys' Collections. De Moleon, in describing a procession at Laon, mentions the bearing of two banners ; one with the representation of a dragon, and the other that of a cock : which he conjectured to signify the serpent, crushed by the Blessed Virgin, patroness of the cathedral, (Ipsa conteret caput tuum), and the cock in reference to the canons of St. Peter's. The staves on which the banners were suspended were made in lengths and joined together by screws, formerly called wrests. These staves were surmounted by crosses, devices, or images of saints. An heraldic banner is attached to the staff on which it is carried by one side, while the ecclesiastical banner is suspended from the top of the staff by means of a yard. 33aS01U Basons were used in churches for the following purposes : — 1. For collecting alms and oblations. 2. For washing the hands of bishops during the celebration of the sacred rites. 3. Suspended with prickets to hold burning tapers before altars and shrines. 4. To hold the crewetts containing the wine and water. They were made indifferently of silver parcel or whole gilt, copper gilt, brass or latten, either quite round or sexfoil, with enrichments of chasing, engraving, and enamelling. 39 " Duae pelves argenteae cum ymaginibus regum in fundis deauratae, et scutis, et leunculis similiter deauratis, de dono Philippi de Eye, ponderis C. Item, duae pelves argenteae cum fundis gravatis, et flosculis ad modum crucis in circuita gravatis ponderantibus in toto Vmarc. X s ." — Inventory of Old St. Paul's. " Imprimis, two fair basons, silver and gilt, chased with nine double roses, and in the circuit of one great rose, a white rose of silver enamelled ; of the which, one weigheth eighty-one ounces, and the other seventy-nine ounces, the gift of the Lord Roulf Crombwell, one of them having a spout like a lion's face. Item, two fair basons, silver and gilt, plain, with a rose chased in the midst of either of them ; having the arms on the back side, that is to say, one having one scutcheon of azor, two cheverons gilt, three roses silver, and the other an escutcheon of azor, a falcon, gold, fitting upon a rose, with one scripture. Item, two basons, silver and gilt, with two stems in the midst, with troyfoyls within pounced ; of the gift of Philip, the Bishop of Lincoln, weighing seventy-three ounces and a half." — Inventory of Lincoln Cathedral. — Duydalefs Mo- nasticon. " Likewise there was pertaining to the said high altar two goodly great basons of silver, one for principal days, double gilt, a large great one, and the other bason for every day, not so large, being parcel gilt, and engraven all over. Before the high Altar within the quire, were 3 fine silver basons hanging in chains of silver, one on the south side of the quire, above the steps going up to the high altar ; the 2nd, on the north side opposite to the first ; the 3rd, in the midst between them both, just before the high Altar. These three silver basons had latten basons within them, having pricks for serges or great waxen candles to stand on ; the latten basons being to receive the drops of the three candles, which burned day and night in token that the house was always watching to God." — Rites of Durham Abbey. Three most interesting and beautiful enamelled basons of the thirteenth centuiy, are figured in the first volume of Willemin's Monumens Francais inedits. a The custom of washing the hands, which bishops and priests use, before putting on the sacred vestments, is most ancient, and found even in the Old Law. Moses was commanded to make " a laver between the altar and the tabernacle, and to fill it with water," — Exod. xl. 7 : and in this laver, Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet before they approached the altar. This custom of washing the hands before prayer, and of praying with uplifted hands, is supposed to be alluded to by S. Paul, where (1 Timothy ii. 8,) he wills that Christians " pray, lifting up pure hands, without anger and contention." There are abundant testimonies to shew that not priests only, but all the faithful in the first ages, washed their hands previously to entering churches. The words cantharus, concha, nymphaeum, and with the Greeks phiala, are names of the vessel (answering to the H. Water stoup,) which stood for this purpose near the entrance of their temples. These vessels usually appear to have received the water from a spring, which, among the Greeks, was blessed once a year. The priest, while washing his hands before celebrating, recites certain prayers, to obtain the grace of purity of heart. A bishop removes his cappa (or mantiletto) and his ring, and vested in the alb or rochet, receives water from the acolyth kneeling, and afterwards puts on the sacred vestments." — Georyius de lotione manuum celebrantis, 8fc. p. 98. 40 2$at»— Beams* 23at* This creature, between a bird and a beast, was frequently introduced in ancient sculpture, especially under stalls. " The Batt may signifie men of quick and secret execution." — Sylvanus Morgans Sphere of Gentry. BauiJflqw* For patterns of baudekins, see Plates of Diapering. The name given to precious stuffs, and for vestments and altar hangings. Item, a baudekin cope wight with lions and hands of gold. Item, 6 baudekin copes, with leopards passant gold and flowers, wight. Item, 8 baudekin copes, with lions rampant, gold. — Inventory of York. — Dugdale's Monasticon. Item, 2 altar cloaths of bawdkyn, with leopards and stars. Item, 2 altar cloths of white bawdkyn. — Gunton's Hist, of Peterborough. " Baldahinus, baldehinus. Pannus omnium ditissimus, cujus utpote stamen ex filo auri, subtemen ex serico texitur, plumario opere intertextus, sic dictus quod Balducco, seu Babylone in Perside, in Occidentales provincias deferretur. Vincentius Bellov. 1. 32. c. 30. Tertia Die fuerunt omnes in blaveis purpureis, et quarta in optimis baldakinis, cap. 31. De Baldakino erat tectum superius, sed alii erant panni exterius. Matth. Westmonaster. an. 1260. Tumbae (S. Albani) obtulit optimum baldekinum Matth. Paris, a 1247. Dominus Rex veste deaurata facto de pretiosissimo baldakino . . . sedens. — Porro vernacule Baudequin Galli et Angli dixerunt. — Gloss. MS. a Spelmanno laudatum : Baudekin, Cloth of Silke Olosericus. Qua appellatione donata etiam legitur moneta minutior, cujus in commerciis usum prohibendum efflagitarunt monetarii an. 1308. Item qu'e?i I'en face fair e la defense de Baudequins, qui courent communement pour six deniers in veteri scripto Camera; Comput. Paris., forte quod Rex sub Baldekino seu umbraculo in throno sedens, in ea repraesentaretur." — Du Cange, Gloss. " I will that my red cloth of baudkyn be laid upon my body in the said church of Asshe, and so there to remain for a perpetual remembrance." — Will of William Norreys — Testamenta Vetusta. The word baudekyn was also used to signify a pall. In the inventory of Old St. Paul's, under the head Baudehyni : — " Item, baudekynus rubeus cum ymagine S. Petri, de funere Domini Henrici de Alemannia. Item, baudekynus purpureus cum magnis rotellis et Leopardis, de funere Johannis de Bayllol. Item, baudekynus rubeus cum magnis rotellis cum Aquillis et Leopardis in rotellis, de funere J. de Muchegros. Item, baudekynus purpureus cum columnis et arcubus, et hominibus equitantibus infra de funere Comitissae Britannia;. Item, baudekynus purpureus, cum una lista pulchra, et nodis et avibus infra nodos de funere domini Ricardi de Montfichet. Item, baudekyni varii coloris ; scilicet rubei, Inch, et albi cum Castellis, de funere H. filij Regis E." A sort of imitation of baudekyn appears to have been occasionally used. In the Lady Chapel, Ely Cathedral. " Item, an altar front of rede countrefete bawdkyn." The principal manufacture of precious stuffs and cloths of gold at the present time, is carried on at Lyons ; but the designs are mostly poor and unmeaning, composed without reference to symbolical traditions, and are rather tawdry in effect. The splendid suit of rich baudekyn vestments presented to St. Chad's Church, Birmingham, by the Earl of Shrewsbuiy, were composed of stuff manufactured at Spitalfields. The pattern of stuff intended for chasubles should not be too large in detail, as there can necessarily be but a small surface of the stuff visible at the same time. The design figured on old chasubles generally consists of a multiplication of small parts, almost like powdering, which have a rich effect without detracting from the effect of the orphreys. — See the tomb of John de Sheppy, discovered a few years since, at Rochester Cathedral. 33fantS» Beams were antiently fixed or suspended in churches to bear lights and Roods ; these were often overlaid with precious metals, and much adorned with chasing, and sometimes even with jewels. Beam*— Beams 41 Brompton (ap. Du Cange). — " Of one beam of the said church he melted down 5000 marks of silver, with which he supplied the hand of the king." Chronicle of Atino,* a.d. 1061. — " He made also two beams of iron, one in the choir, and another out of the choir, to place candles on." Beams were sometimes transversely placed in arches, and over altars : — Lives of the abbots of St. Albans (ap. Du Cange). — " The old transverse beam, which was placed above the High Altar .... on which beam also the series of the twelve Patriarchs and twelve Apostles, and in the midst a Majesty, with the Church and the Synagogue, is repre- sented." Hariulfus. Book II. ch. 9. — " We have taken care to divide the Reliques of the other Saints, in twelve other smaller shrines, most gloriously adorned with gold and silver, or precious stones ; and to place them over the beam which we have set in the arch over the altar of St. Richarius." Ch. 10. " Lesser beams, with their arches enriched with silver." Book III. ch. 3. " Before the altar of the same Saint stand six great columns of brass, adorned with silver and gold plates, supporting one beam, likewise of brass, adorned with silver and gold plates. There are also three other smaller beams of brass, adorned with silver and gold plates, round the altar or choir (round the absis of the choir), sup- porting seventeen arches (arched pieces), made of brass, enriched with silver and gold, between which stood images of beasts, birds, and men."f Da Cange, Supplement, torn. 4. p. 46. {Beam on a Coin of Heraclius). — " I know not whether the three lamps suspended from the beam do not indicate the very temple which Theophanes relates was raised by the Blessed Helena, at Jerusalem, under the name of the Church of the Resurrection, and the life-giving Cross treasured up there. For in sacred edifices lights were either hung from the beams overlaid with gold, silver, or brass, or were placed upon them, whether the beams were fixed in the walls of the temple, or whether they were disengaged and hung from the roof by little chains or cords. Leo Ostiensis thus writes concerning these beams : ' A beam also cast in brass with candle- sticks, 50 in number, in which so many wax-candles were placed on principal Feasts, 36 lamps hanging below from the same beam on brazen hooks. Which brazen beam being supported horizontally by brazen arms and hands, was suspended from a wooden beam, which Desiderius had most beautifully sculptured and diapered^ with gold and colour.' Concerning such beams, Peter the Deacon, of Casino, Hariulphus, the Chronicle of Atino, Brompton, and others have treated." In the Monk Gervase's account of Canterbury Cathedral, quoted by Hasted in his History of Canterbury, is the following : — " At the east corners of the High Altar were fixed two pillars of wood, beautified with silver and gold : upon these pillars was placed a beam adorned with gold, which reached across the church : upon it there were placed the Glory (see Majesty), the images of St. Dunstan and St. Elphege, and seven chests or shrines overlaid with gold, full of the Reliques of many Saints. Betw een those pillars was a cross, gilded all over, and upon the upper beam of the cross were set 60 bright crystals." — Hasted' s Hist, of Canterbury, p. 508. Churchwarden's Accounts. " S. Mary Hill, London. — Scouring the latten candelstycks, standard branches, bolles upon the beame, anenst Estir, Is. \\d. For nywe wax for the use of the church as in beme-light tapers, prykkets, and candillis, 1/. 14s &d." — Nichols's Illustrations. Beamsi, or ftapesL Beams or rays of glory are frequently depicted round saints, and proceeding from the nebulae or clouds. Under angels, they should always be blazoned or, on an azure field. * An English Cistercian of the Abbey of Jorvale in the reign of Edward III. He wrote the Chronicle which goes by his name. t Query, were not these the Evangelistic Symbols ? J For interim fecerat, read interinfecerat ? G 42 35rasstsi* — Bee* 33eaS"tSu Beasts are introduced in Christian ornament to typify virtues and vices, according to the natures of the animals represented. For the particular signification of the various species, see the proper names. 33eatis!* The Rosary, or a chaplet, consisting of a certain number of beads of various sizes, originally intended to assist the unlearned* to meditate with greater edification on the Mysteries of the Christian Faith. Alban Butler says, the Rosary is a practice of devotion in which by fifteen Our Fathers, and one hundred and fifty Hail Marys, the faithful are taught to honour our Divine Redeemer in the fifteen principal mysteries of his sacred life, and that of his holy Mother. It is therefore an abridgment of the gospel history of the life, sufferings, and triumphant victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and an exposition of what he did in the flesh, which he assumed for our salvation. The Mysteries are divided into five Joyful ; five Dolorous ; and five Glorious. The first are— 1. The Annunciation. 2. The Salutation. 3. The Birth at Bethlehem. 4. The Adoration of the Wise men. 5. The Presentation in the Temple, and Purification of the B. V. M. The second are, — 1. The Agony in the Garden. 2. The Flagellation. 3. Our Lord crowned with Thorns. 4. Our Lord bearing his Cross. 5. The Crucifixion. The third are, — 1. The Resurrection of our Lord. 2. The Ascension of our Lord. 3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. " 4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. 5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, and the bliss of Heaven. From the term Rosary, was probably derived the practice of carving roses on the larger beads between the decades, and the whole of the mysteries are occasionally represented on a large rose. See Plate LX. In some curiously wrought rosaries the small beads are carved into roses and buds, while the large beads are three-sided ; on every side one of the mysteries, cut in a trefoil. The materials of which rosaries are composed, have varied according to the wealth or taste of the possessor. In general they are formed of seeds, beads, or hard wood turned ; but they are occasionally worked in the precious metals, enriched with stones and enamels. Mrs. Howard, of Corby Castle, has still in her possession a rosary of massive gold, used by the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots, when on the scaffold. 33ft* Bees were regarded by the Egyptians as an emblem of regal power, and it is probable that the same signification was attributed to them in the middle ages.-j- " Bees have three properties of the best kind of subjects : they stick close to their king : they are very industrious for their livelihood, expelling all drones. They will not sting any but such as first provoke them, and then they are most fierce." — Guillim , s Heraldry. * " As for the use of beads, the ancient authorities and others frequently counted the number of their prayers by little stones, grains, or other such marks ; as is clear from Palladius's Lausaic Hist., from Sozomen, &c. {See Benedict xiv de Canoniz. par. 2. c. 10, p. 11.) Those who could neither read nor recite the Psalter by heart, supplied this by a frequent repetition of the Lord's Prayer, as a regular devotion corresponding to those of the Psalter, recited by the clergy and many others. S. Albert of Crespin, and Peter the Hermit are mentioned long before St. Dominic, as having taught those among the laity, who could not read the Psalter, to say a certain number of Our Fathers, and Hail Maries in lieu of each canonical Hour of the Church Office ; but the method of reciting fifteen decades or tens of the angelical Salutation, with Our Father before each decade, in honour of the principal mysteries of the Incarnation, including two peculiar to the Blessed Virgin, is ascribed to St. Dominic." — Alban Butler on the Festival of the Bosary. t In the tomb of Childeric I., a great number of gold ornaments were discovered having the form of bees. Mont- faucon in his Monarchie Francaise, has figured sixteen of them, of various sizes, in plate 4. vol. 1. Bishop*— 23Iartu 43 33t£»f)rjp» The Vestments and Insignia of a Bishop are as follows: 1. The Buskins and Sandals. 2. The Amice. 3. The Albe. 4. The Girdle. 5. The Pectoral Cross. 6. The Stole, worn pendant, not crossed. 7. The Tunic. 8. The Dalmatic. 9. The Gloves. 10. The Chasuble. 11. The Mitre, (of three sorts, simplex, aurifrigiata, and pretiosa.) 12. The Ring. 13. The Pastoral Staff. 14. The Rochet. 15. The Cappa Magna. 16. The Cope. 17. The Gremial. — See Plates n. in. vn. For a particular account of these, see the names of each. Of the manner in which a Bishop is vested for the various functions of his Office, according to the Roman Pontifical. — For Confirmation; white cope, and stole, over an" amice and rochet, and orphreyed mitre. For Ordinations ; the same vestments as for High Mass, according to the colour of the day. For the Consecration of a Bishop ; the consecrator, vested as for High Mass, according to the colour of the day, the two assistant Bishops in rochets, copes, amices, stoles, and white mitres. For the Profession of a Nun ; vested as for High Mass. For the Coronation of a Sovereign ; vested as for High Mass, according to the colour of the day ; the assistant Bishops in rochets, amices, white stoles and copes, and white mitres ; according to the English rite, all the Bishops were in full pontificals, and carried their pastoral staves. For Laying the First Stone of a Church ; in rochet, amice, white stole, cope and mitre, pastoral staff. For the Consecration of a Church ; the same, till the Mass, when full pontificals of a white colour are used. For the Reconciliation of a Church or Cemetery ; the same. For the Consecration of the Holy Oil s on Maundy Thursday ; full pontificals of a white colour and rich, with orphreyed mitre. At a Synod, held in a Cathedral Church; rochet, amice, red stole and cope, precious mitre. At the Procession of Palms ; albe, amice, purple stole and cope, white mitre. At the Procession on Candlemas Day ; the same. At the Procession of Corpus Christi ; albe, amice, stole, tunic, dalmatic, and cope of rich white, with a precious mitre borne behind him : according to the old English rite, and usage of the French Church, red was the colour used for Corpus Christi. For the Rogation Days ; albe, amice, purple stole and cope, white mitre. Some of the ornaments now peculiar to Bishops were formerly used by inferior clergy ; few priests in ancient times were used to celebrate without putting on sandals appropriated to the service of the altar. The tunic and dalmatic were also occasionally w r orn by priests, and in that remarkable illumi- nation, engraved by Balucci, in his Capitularia Regum Francorum, in which a number of canons of the Cathedral of Metz are represented presenting a Bible to the Emperor Charles the Bald, they are all figured in dalmatics under their chasubles. The Pectoral cross was an ornament commonly worn even by laymen, and is not entirely disused at the present time. De Vert, as a proof that neither sandals, buskins, dalmatic, tunic, or pectoral cross, belong exclusively to the episcopal office, alleges their not being solemnly invested with them at their consecration, but only with the mitre, pastoral staff, and ring. Bishops formerly dined in their pontifical habit and mitres on solemn occasions, such as inauguration feasts, coronation banquets, and great festivals. De Moleon describes the Archbishop of Vienna as dining in his mitre and vestments on Easter Sunday, when he visited that city. 33Iacfe, in heraldry called Sable, is the colour ordered by the Church to be used on Good Friday, and in the Office for the dead. Black vestments were not, however, commonly used for the latter purpose in antiquity ; they are seldom figured in the earlier illuminations, even in miniatures of the sixteenth century. The celebrant 44 at a funeral is often represented in a coloured cope or vestment. In Georgius de Liturgia Rom. Pont., however, several authorities for the use of black vestments in the Roman church, in the ninth century, are advanced. See below. " Black is a colour contrary to white, having little participation of light, whereby it is apparent that black is of less perfection than white : for what thing soever there is that hath light or heat, or else life, either animal or vegetable, the same being once extinct, the thing itself becometh black, which is said to be the colour of honour and distinction ; for which respect mourning garments are made of that colour." Guillim's Heraldry. According to Randle Holme, black also signifies counsel and antiquity. " Black copes and chasubles. A chasuble of black velvet, with flowers of gold and silk, embroidered ; also a good orphrey of needlework, with images of the Holy Ghost, the Crucifix and our Lady. Item, two copes of black sattin, with orphreys of red damask braided with flowers of gold, having on the back souls rising to their doom, either of them having on their hood an image of our Saviour, sitting on a rainbow." — Inventory of Lincoln Minster. — DugdaWs Monasticon. Georgius de Colore nigro. — I. Black is the third of the four sacred or canonical colours, and is used by the Roman church (and formerly by the Eastern too), on penitential days. There are many shades of black, expressed in Latin by the words ater, niger, fuscus, grisius, ater being the deepest black, and grisius the lightest, inclining to a grey. ii. Fuscus is the word for black often used by ecclesiastical writers. [It is used also by the classics, as, Roma magis fuscis vestitur, Gallia rufis. Martial, xiv. 19.] The lower order of the Roman people wore dark-coloured* clothes ; and hence, as being the dress of the poor, it was adopted by ascetics and holy virgins, iii. Alcuin states, that, on Good Friday, according to the use of the Roman church, the archdeacon and deacons wear black chasubles in the church, iv. Some black chasubles, too, of an earlier date, occur in Mosaics, v. And in the vestments of S. Germanus, mention is made offuscana casula, Apud Mabillon. vi. vii. viii. Brown (color Castaneus,) which maybe reckoned here as a shade of black, is found in some ancient delineations of chasubles, ix. Alcuin de Divin. Offic, cap. vii., says, that the Pope and his clergy were vested in black, for the procession and distribution of candles on the F. of the Purification. Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople, a.d. 811, sent, among other presents to Pope Leo, a chasuble of dark brown (castanei, seu subnigri coloris), which proves that the Roman Pontiff used this colour. Again, in the monastery of Centule, a.d. 831, were kept forty brown chasubles, five of black silk, and a brown cope with gold ornaments, x. On what days the Roman church uses black, has been shewn in a separate tract on this subject in Italian, by the same Georgius. 23Ittf» In heraldry termed azure. " Signifies piety and sincerity." — Academy of Armoury by Randle Holme. tc Blue signifieth divine contemplation. In moral virtues, it signifieth godliness of conversation, and is of the colour of the air, attributed to celestial persons, whose contemplations have been about divine things, which was the cause it was so mainly used about the garments of the high priests under the Jewish dispensation." — Sphere of Gentry, by Sylvanus Morgan. Our blessed Lady has been always traditionally represented in a blue mantle, on account of the mystic signification of this colour. * Sometimes, however, they put on deeper black (ater) for mourning. Tacitus (Ann. iii. 1.) relates, that the ashes of Germanicus were carried in procession, ab atratd plebe, et a trabcatis eqiiitibus, where the learned J ustus Lipsius remarks that the trabea far from denoting- mourning, was merely the rich dress of the knights, which distinguished them from the plebs, or common people, who were in this case dressed in mourning. Blue* 45 Blue is not now considered one of the five canonical colours for vestments ; but blue copes and chasubles were formerly very frequently made, as will appear from the following extracts from old inventories: " Imprimis ; a chasuble of blue damask, with a good orphrey ornate, with mitres and crowns in the orphrey, with two tunacles and three albes, with their apparell. Item, a chasuble of blue velvet with an orphrey of images and tabernacles, and divers birds in the orphrey, with two tunacles, having three beads behind and before, with three albes, with their apparell. Ex dono Johannis Welborne, treasurer. Item, two copes of the same suit and of the same colour, having good orphrey s of cloath of gold, broidered with divers images, of the which, one of them is Herod, slaying the children of Israel ; and the other, broidered with the history of St. John the Baptist. Ex dono, J ohannis Welborne." — Inventory of Lincoln Minster. "Item, one suit of blue velvet, with five albs." — Hist, of Peterborough. Blue vestments are still used in parts of Spain and Italy on festivals of the Blessed Virgin. Ceilings of Churches were generally painted blue, and powdered with stars, to represent the canopy of heaven over the faithful. These stars were often made in lead, gilt, and fastened to the panels of the roof. This is the case in the Clopton chauntry, Long Melford, Suffolk. De Colore Violaceo. — I. The violet or blue colour was anciently thought so nearly allied to the colour black, that the Roman church used them indiscriminately for one and the same, on days of mourning and fasting. The ancients were fond of dark purple, which they called purpura nigra, or violacea. At funerals they wore black, or nearly black. II. The ancients also used a bright purple (color amethystinus). The word pavonaceus, sometimes interpreted of this colour, seems rather to mean of a peacock pattern, as many vestments were wrought over with the figures of animals, and among others, of the peacock. This colour was called cceruleus, blue, and, puniceus, bright purple ; and was used by the church on days of a penitential character. III. & IV, Of the violet Virgil says, " Viol.e sublucet purpura Nigk^:." — Georg. iv. 275. and St. Jerome writing to the monk Rusticus, says, " Non mihi nunc per virtutum prata ducendus est rivulus, nec laborandum ut ostendam tibi variorum pulcritudinem florum : quid in se lilia habeant puri- tatis ; quid rosa verecundiae possideat ; quid viol,e purpura promittat in regno." Epist. vi. — V. There are some examples in mosaics at Rome, of chasubles of this violet colour : and in an illumination of a MS. of Rabanus Maurus, of the ninth cent., S. Martin is represented in a violet-coloured chasuble. There is a memoir by Bp. Conrad, in his Chronicon of the affairs of Mentz, of some vestments plun- dered from the Sacristy of the Church of Mentz, a.d. 1153, He says, "Inter casulas autem sic de quolibet colore duo p aria, 8fc. But of chasubles there were two of a suit, of each colour : two black, with gold orphreys, and two dalmatics of the same work, and two tunics (subtilia) ornamented with broad orphreys: and all these were in very good condition. Also two chasubles of white velvet (samitum) , and two dalmatics of the same, with two tunics (subtilia) ornamented with gold, all very good. Also two chasubles of red velvet, and two dalmatics, and tunics with gold orphreys. Also two chasubles of green velvet with dalmatics and tunics to match, with gold orphreys, very good. Among the rest was one chasuble violet, long and ample, with broad and great orphreys, having golden moons and stars embroidered on it, which was of such weight, on account of the gold, that it could not be folded, and scarcely any one, except he was very strong, could celebrate the Divine Mysteries in it. The bishops, however, were vested in it to sing mass on principal feasts. But after the Gospel, the Offertory being sung and the oblations offered, putting off this, and taking one less weighty, they finished the Sacrifice in that.'' In a present of church ornaments to the Church of Bisegli in La Puglia, a.d. 1197, mention is made of four copes, one of them of red velvet (xamito rubeo), another of black velvet (fusco), another of sky-blue (ccelesti), tbe other of violet coloured (violato). VI. In later writers lividus is often used for blue. We read also of 46 color Indicits, which Du Cange says is blue mixed with purple, or indigo blue. VII. Concerning the days on which the Roman Church formerly used, and now uses black and purple vestments, see Innocent III., Durandus, and the Ordo Romanus of Card. Cajetan. — Georgius, V. I. p. 412. 3Soai% Emblematical of ferocity and sensuality. 33ts>I)Ci}J* Inventory of ornaments belonging to : — Imprimis, 1 myter well garnished with perle and precious stones, with nowches of silver and gilt, before and behind. Item, iij rynges of silver and gilt, with four redde precious stones in them. — I tern, j Pontifical, with silver gilt, with a blue stone in hytt. — Item, j owche broken, silver and gilt, with iij precious stones and a perle in the mydds. — Item, a crosse with a staff of coper gilt, with the ymage of St. Nicolas in the mydds. — Item, j vestment redde with lyons with silver, with brydds of gold in the orferes of the same. — Item, j albe to the same, with stars in the paro. — Item, j white cope stayned with tristells and orferes, redde sylke with does of gold and whytt napkins about the necks. — Item, iij capes, blew sylke with red orferes trayled with white braunches and flowers. — Item, j steyned cloth of the ymage of St. Nicholas. — Item, j tabard of skarlet and a hodde thereto lyned with whytt sylke. — Item, a hold of skarlet with blue sylke. — Poulson's Beverlac, p. 659. 33tU'£ie* See corporas case. (A corporas case is figured in Plate n.) £tl£»fcm£» Are made of precious stuff, or cloth of gold, and worn on the legs by bishops when celebrating, and kings, at their coronation and on other solemn occasions. The Buskins worn by Bishop Wainflete, founder of Magdalen College, are still preserved by that society, and are the only remains of this founder's episcopal ornaments that have escaped the sacrilegious hands of Reformers and Puritans. Sandford in his Coronation of James the Second, has given the following description of the Buskins used on that occasion : — " The Buskins were made of cloth of tissue, as also the supertunica, and fined with crimson Florence sarcenet. The length of them eighteen inches, the compass at top fifteen inches, and from the heel to the toe eleven inches." Georgius, Lib. I. c. 13. — "The Buskins (caligae, anciently called campagi,*) are put on by the bishop when preparing for mass, before any other of the sacred vestments, with the prayer Calcea Domine pedes meos, Sf'c. " Let my feet be shod, O Lord, with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace : and protect me under the shadow of Thy wings." The use of the Buskin (campagus), we are informed by a document, about a.d. 666, was anciently confined to the Sovereign Pontiff. By permission from the Pope their use was afterwards extended to the Clergy of Rome : and after by special privilege, to some others. But in the 9th century, buskins were worn by all bishops. For we find among some verses of that period, on episcopal habiliments, the following : " Linea crusque pedesque tegant talaria ut apte, Quis super addatur Campagus ipse decens." Buskins and sandals have often been confounded; but they are to be kept distinct. — Vide Sandals. Sicardus, Bishop of Cremona in the 1 2th century, speaking of the mystical meaning of sacred vest- ments, says, " the buskin was all of silk, to signify that purity of which our Lord said : He that is washed needet/t not save to wash his feet, but is clean wholly : and had red bows to signify the patience of martyrs." * A word variously corrupted to gambagus, compagus, campobus,