OF SELBORNE 281 



Item 26th. The visitor herein severely reprimands the canons 

 for appearing publicly in what would be called in the universities 

 an unstatutable manner, and for wearing of boots, "caligae 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 imprisonment 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 remarkable 

 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 32d. The bishop says in this item that he had observed 

 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 he there- 



" attention seems to have been thought almost indispensable: for, in a will, from 

 " whence no extracts have been given, the testator left every one of his god-children 

 1 ' a bushel of barley. ' ' Sir John Cullum's Hist, of Hawsted. 



" D. Margarets filiae Regis primogenitas, quam Jlliota.m, quia ejus in baptismo 

 " compater fuit, appellat, cyphum aureum et quadraginta libras, legavit." Arch- 

 bishop Parker de Antiquitate Eccles. Brit, speaking of Archbishop Morton. 



1 Du Fresne is copious on caligce of several sorts. "Hoc item de Clericis, 

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

 'utentibus dicimus esse censendum." Statut. Eccles. Tutel. The chequered 

 x>ots seem to be the highland plaid stockings. " Burnetum, i.e. Brunetum, 

 ' pannus non ex lana nativi coloris confectus." " Sotularium, i. e. subtalaris, quia 

 ' sub talo est. Peculium genus, quibus maxime Monachi nocte utebantur in 

 ' aestate : 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. 



2 " Men abhorred the offering of the Lord." i Sam. chap. ii. v. 17. Strange as 

 this account may appear to modern delicacy, the author, when first in orders, 

 twice met with similar circumstances attending the sacrament at two churches 

 belonging to two obscure villages. In the first he found the inside of the chalice 

 covered with birds' dung; and in the other the communion-cloth soiled with 

 cabbage and the greasy drippings of a gammon of bacon. The good dame at the 



