580 ANTIQUITIES 



enjoins them lor the future to see that the plate, cloths, 

 and vestments, be kept bright, clean, and in decent 

 order: and, what must surprise the reader, adds that 

 he expects for the future that the sacrist should provide 

 for the sacrament good wine, pure and unadulterated ; 

 and not, as had often been the practice, that which was 

 sour, and tending to decay: he says farther, that it 

 seems quite preposterous to omit in sacred matters that 

 attention to decent cleanliness, the neglect of which 

 would disgrace a common convivial meeting 13 . 



Item 33d says that, though the relics of saints, the 

 plate, holy vestments, and books of religious houses, 

 are forbidden by canonical institutes to be pledged or 

 lent out upon pawn ; yet, as the visiter finds this to be 

 the case in his several visitations, he therefore strictly 

 enjoins the prior forthwith to recall those pledges, and 

 to restore them to the convent ; and orders that all the 

 papers and title deeds thereto belonging should be safely 

 deposited, and kept under three locks and keys. 



[Item 34th. That as religious men ought continually 

 to be advancing in holiness, he enjoins them, when they 

 have performed the observances of their order and 

 regular discipline, to frequent the cloisters for the 

 reading of the holy scriptures and for devout contrm- 

 plation.] 



[Item 35th. A special injunction to the prior, exem- 

 plifying the hospitality that prevailed in monastic 

 establishments. That when any relation of any of the 

 canons should come on a visit to him, his reception 

 should be liberal according to his condition : suggesting, 

 however, that the brethren should avoid being over- 

 burthensome to the Priory in such matters.] 



[Item 36th. It avails but little to make laws unless 

 attention is paid to their execution. In order that they 

 may by frequent hearing be impressed on the most 



13 ' . ne turpe toral, ne sordida mappa 



Corruget nares ; ne non et cantharus, et lanx 

 Ostendat tibi te . ." 



