Historical Notes 



boughs of trees and with flowers, to imitate, the 

 preaching of S. John in the wilderness. 



Hearne, in his Diary, 25th June, 17 16, says : "Yes- 

 terday preached at Magdalen College, Mr. Lydall, 

 B.D., and Fellow of that college. It is customary 

 upon this day to preach in a stone pulpit in the 

 quadrangle, all beset with boughs, by way of allusion 

 to S. John Baptist's preaching in the wilderness ; but 

 this being a damp morning, the sermon w^as preached 

 in the Chapel, as it always is when the morning proves 

 wet." 



In the parish book of S. Margaret, Westminster, we 

 find entries as late as 1647 • — 



1647. **Payde for garnyshyng the iiij torches for Cor- 

 pus Christy e day . . . . . ijs. 

 Flowres to the same torches . . . vjd. 

 Item, payd for rosemarie and bayes that was 



stuck about the Church at Christmas . js. vjd." 



In Herbert's "Country Parson," 1675, page 56, the 



author tells us: — "Our parson takes order that the 



Church be swept and kept clean, without dust or 



cobwebs; and at great festivals strawed and stuck 



c 



