
By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, #.8.A. 343 
bier” (Buyer-again). The elders are called“ Aldermen :” the Ruler 
of the Feast at the Marriage in Cana “The Archi-tricline” (from 
the Greek). There is also a volume of old English religious poems 
of the fifteenth century, some of them véry simple and touching, none 
of which, so far as I know, have ever been printed. ‘Lydgate’s “ Lite 
of the Virgin Mary,” a MS. of the fifteenth century, afterwards 
printed by Caxton. 
Among a different class of subjects, relating to monastic establish- 
ments, may be named “ Privileges of the Sanctuary of St. Peter at 
Westminster,” an interesting MS. -volume of the fifteenth century. 
Prefixed to it is a charter of King Edgar, by which he ordains that 
the Church of St. Peter at Westminster shall become a sanctuary 
for fugitives of every degree; and other charters of Edward the 
Confessor and William I. confirming the privileges. There are many 
registers of various abbeys, and amongst them one of great Glaston- 
bury, of the fourteenth century, a fine folio of 440 pages in vellum. 
Prefixed to it is a Bull of Pope John XXI., addressed to Adam, 
abbot of the monastery, according permission for his confessor to 
SSSI ot SR ee aes Seas Ween wee Cee Po Seis aes SS 
1 The following are specimens of the style of the ‘‘ Speculum Vite :”— 
I. Christ before Pilate. 
“‘ There was geven him none reste but ever travayle in paynes and sorowe. And yf thou wilt 
knowe in what confiytte and batayle he was, beholde and see. First, one despitouslye leyth hande 
on him and taketh him. Another crying pytteth upon him blaspheme. Another spyteth in his face. 
Another sotely asketh of him manye questyones in desceyte for to acuse him. - Another draweth him 
forth befor the Justice. Another styffely accuseth him. Another hydeth hiseyen. another buff- 
eteth and scorneth him, another dispoileth him. Another byndeth him hard to the pylere. Another 
with sharpe scorges sore beteth him. Another unbyndeth him. Another casteth on him that olde 
sylkene mantelle. Anothere putteth in to his hand a rede. Another taketh it wodelye from him 
and smyteth his sore hede full of thornes. Another in scorne kneleth before him: and so forth now 
one and now anotter. Divers and mayne wth. alle ther wytteand migt besyeu them to tormente 
him in the worste maner. They leiden him as a theefe nowe to the byshop Anne and now to Cayphas 
now to Pylate and now to Herowde: now byderward, and nowe thedirward: now inne and now 
owte. Oo my lorde God what is alle this. Loo, thenketh ye not here a full harde and contennele 
bitter bataylle. Yitt abyde a litle whyle and ye shal seeharder.” 
II. The taking down from the Cross. 
‘Take now good hede in maner of taking down. There are sette tweyne ladders on the sydes of 
the Crosse, one agens anothere. and Joseph gothe up on the ladder, standying on the right halfe, 
and besyeth him to drawe out the nayles of the handes : but hit is full harde. for the nayle is grete and 
longe and hard dryven in to the tree: and with owte grete thrystyng downe of oure lorde’s handes 
it may noute be done, but that is no fors, for oure lorde knoweth that he doth alle trewly and with 
gode entente: and therefore he accepted the dede. And when the nayle was drawe out, Jobn makyth 
sygne to Nichodeme for to take hit to him privily: so that oure lady sce hit nout for disconfortyng, 
And after in the same maner Nichodeme drawith owte the nayle of the lyfte hande, and takith hit 
privily to John. And then Nichodeme cometh down for to draw owt the thrydde nayle of the 
feete.” 
