208 THE ANTIQUITIES [LETT. 



Item 26th. The visitor herein severely reprimands the canons 

 for appearing publicly in what would be called in the universi- 

 ties an unstatutable manner, and for wearing of boots, " caligre 



de Burneto, et sotularium in ocrearum loco, ad modum 



sotularium." 1 



It is remarkable that the bishop expresses more warmth 

 against this than any other irregularity ; and strictly enjoins 

 them, under pain of ecclesiastical censures, and even imprison- 

 ment if necessary (a threat not made use of before) for the 

 future to wear boots, " ocreis seu botis," according to the regular 

 usage of their ancient order. 



Item 29th. He here again, but with less earnestness, forbids 

 them foppish ornaments, and the affectation of appearing like 

 beaux with garments edged with costly furs, with fringed gloves, 

 and silken girdles trimmed with gold and silver. It is remark- 

 able that no punishment is annexed to this injunction. 



Item 31st. He here singly and severally forbids each canon 

 not admitted to a cure of souls to administer extreme unction, 

 or the sacrament, to clergy or laity ; or to perform the service 

 of matrimony, till he has taken out the license of the parish 

 priest. 



Item 32nd. The bishop says in this item that he had ob- 

 served and found, in his several visitations, that the sacramental 

 plate and cloths of the altar, surplices, &c., were sometimes left 

 in such an uncleanly and disgusting condition as to make the 

 beholders shudder with horror ; " quod aliquibus sunt horrori ;" 2 



baptismo compater fuit, appellat, cyphum aureum et quadraginta libras, 

 legavit. ARCHBISHOP PARKER, De Antiquitate Eccles. Brit, speaking of 

 Archbishop Morton. 



1 Du Fresne is copious on caligte of several sorts. '' Hoc item de Clericis, 

 presertim beneficiatis : caligis scacatis (chequered) rubeis, et viridibus publice 

 utentibus dicimis esse censendum." Statut. Eccles. Tutel. The chequered 

 boots seem to be the Highland plaid stockings. "Burnetum, i.e. Brune- 

 tum, pannus non ex lana nativi coloris confectus." " Sotularium, i.e. sub- 

 talaris, quia sub talo est. Peculium genus, quibus maxime Monachi nocte 

 utebantur in sestate ; in hyeme vero Soccis." 



This writer gives many quotations concerning Sotularia, which were not to 

 be made too shapely ; nor were the caligce to be laced on too nicely. 



3 "Men abhorred the offering of the Lord." 1 Sain. chap. ii. v. 17. 

 Strange as this account may appear to modern delicacy, the author, when 



