University of Virginia Library

See the beautiful and frequently occurring passages in S. Chrysostom's earlier homilies on the Statues, where this idea is expanded, and applied to Job, and to the Three Children.

“He resteth in Abraham's bosom,” says S. Jerome, speaking of a departed friend: “if thou enquirest what felicity is contained in that expression, I cannot tell; God knoweth: whatsoever joy is therein signifled, that doth he who hath left us partake.”

“A tearless eternity.” Such is Pindar's noble expression, in describing the Fortunate Islands and their inhabitants: αδακρυν νεμοντας αιωνα. Olymp. II. 120.

By the advice of his priests, Ethelbert received S. Augustine under an oak, that tree being supposed to possess a virtue against magic.

History has preserved the litany sung at the entrance of the missionaries, when they took possession of Canterbury: “By Thy mercy, O Lord, we beseech Thee to turn away Thy wrath from this city, and Thy Holy Temple; for we are sinners. Hallelujah.”

Bretwalda, that is, Wielder of Britain,—a title of honour given to certain of the most powerful Saxon princes.

For King Edwin's seat was at York; and the Church in Britain, as elsewhere, generally followed in her divisions and territorial distinctions those of the state.

Hunting-mass was an abbreviated kind of Mass, used when the urgency of war, and, alas! too often when the pleasures of the chase, interfered with the full forms. S. Ethelred's behaviour, on an urgent occasion, in insisting on the whole office, we shall presently have occasion to notice.

S. Birinus was sent into Wessex by Pope Honorius. Having baptized Cynegils, he was placed by that prince in the city of Dorchester, of which he was the first Bishop. His connexion with S. Oswald arose from the latter having married a daughter of King Cynegils.

This is an anachronism. Anna was not overthrown by Penda till twelve years afterwards. Penda, after having thus vanquished three excellent monarchs, Edwin, S. Oswald, and Anna was himself defeated and slain by Oswy, King of Northumbria, in the great battle of Winwidfield.

S. Oswald fell on August 5; and that day was, till the Reformation, celebrated by the English Church in his memory.

This is a favourite subject of representation in stained glass. The most perfect legend of Saint Etheldreda in this material with which I am acquainted, occurs in Eaton Socon Church, Bedfordshire.

The simplicity of the Anglo-Saxon language has no word for disciples. The compound “learning-knight” is therefore employed.

SS. Oswald, Ethelred, Edward, C. Edward, M. Edmund, Alkmund, Charles. By a singular mistake, an author, to whom the English Church is deeply indebted, speaks of the last of these as the only man who ever joined the titles of a King and Martyr. Many in other countries might be added, e. g. S. Olave.

S. Edmund frequently occurs represented on the pannelling of rood screens, especially, perhaps, in the east of England.

The Abbey of S. Edmund's Bury, of which now scarcely a vestige remains, was the richest in England. The little church of Greensted, Essex, the nave of which is rudely formed of chesnut trees, placed together stockade wise, is supposed to have been erected in 1009, as a temporary resting-place for the body of the martyr, on its way from London, where it had been removed for safety in another eruption of the Danes, to Bury.

Ceorl, retained in our own language, under the form churl. Heretoch and hold were the names of officers in the Anglo-Saxon armies. Their functions are not accurately known.

King Alfred, we are told, had sent an embassy to the Christians of Meliapour; and from them he received a large present of eastern spices and jewels.

It is said that the period of his captivity was passed by S. Elphege in labouring for the conversion of his captors.

True Martyr. “Ye see,” said S. Thomas of Canterbury, as he went to his passion, “ye see the shrine of the Prelate and truly Martyr, Elphege; and in short space shall another Archbishop have attained unto the self-same crown.”

S. Elphege was stoned at Greenwich, on the spot where the old parish church, dedicated in his honour, now stands. Archbishop Lanfrane, who, notwithstanding, his piety, was probably not free from Norman prejudices, had some scruples as to allowing the title of Martyr to S. Elphege. He was at length convinced of its justness by S. Anselm.

Leofwin and Gurth were the brothers of Harold. They requested him to allow them to lead the army, since the guilt of perjury could not attach to them. They were both slain in the battle.

William of Normandy is said to have made Harold swear fealty to him over a chest, of the contents of which the latter was ignorant. They proved to be the relics of the most famous saints, collected from the various churches of his duchy.

The battle of Stamford Bridge was fought fifteen days before that of Hastings. The Norwegians received in it a signal defeat.

“Martyris in Christi Festo cecidere Calisti,” said the inscription commemorating the event in Battle Abbey.

Waltham Abbey was founded by Harold: he was probably burled there. The only legend to his sepulchre is said to have been ‘Harold Infelix.’

It is proper to observe that Waltheoff, though accounted by his countrymen Martyr, and reverenced as such, has never been formally enrolled among the Saints.

S. Etienne, at Caen, now called the Abbaye aux Hommes, is one of the most perfect specimens existing of the severest Norman.

These are the exact words of the contemporary annalist.

One of his servants was forewarned, in a dream, on the preceding night, by an old man who appeared in the form of a Bishop, that his lord's end was approaching. The sleep of the King himself was disturbed, and he only dispelled his presentiments by indulging largely in the pleasures of the feast.

“Trahas, trahas arcum ex parte diaboli,” are the words which the annalist puts into the King's mouth.

S. Thomas probably chose this position,—at the north-east end of the north transept, and since called the Martyrdom,—as wishing to fall at the shrine of one, who, like himself, was an Bishop and Martyr.

The remains of the Martyr were translated with great pomp into Becket's Crown, July 7, 1207: and that day was celebrated by the English Church to his memory with greater solemnity than that of his death, probably as falling at a more convenient period of the year.

The mangonel discharges stones; the balista, quarrels or arrows, and the petraria, rocks.

Bishop Montague, of Norwich, suffered from the intolerable presumption of the Commons as early as the end of King James the First's reign, and he was persecuted by them, more or less, till his death. Bishop Wren of Ely was imprisoned in the Tower during the whole of the Civil War. He fortunately survived the Restoration.

Called to this day Standard Hill.

The following lines endeavour, however feebly, to express the feelings of those great and good men who drew their swords for the Church and the King:—

S. Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, had a hermitage about a mile from the present site of the Cathedral, in a place now called Chadstowe, or Stowe. There he is said to have been miraculously supported by a stag, and S. Chad's well is shewn to this day.

These three spires, however, were not then, as they are now, unique among the English Cathedrals.

His name was Dyott: he was a brother of the knight of the same name.

Lord Brooke (a high Calvinist) had always objected to the petition in the Litany against sudden death.

It is well known that Cromwell regarded September the 2nd as a fortunate day, and had often referred to it as such.

Cromwell's disease was a Tertian Ague. In all probability the Peruvian Bark would have saved his life. But this medicine was regarded, at its first introduction, with great jealousy by physicians. When King Charles the Second was labouring under an ague, his physicians were most reluctant to administer it; and it was only done on his positive command. It probably saved his life.

Among other demonstrations of the popular hatred of the Commonwealth, one of the most favourite was the roasting rumps, in mockery of the Rump Parliament.

The case of Mr. Mompesson, of Eyam, will probably occur to the reader's memory.

The Greek Church celebrates the Holy Fathers of Nicæa on the 19th of May.

The Cathedral Church of Wells is dedicated in honour of this Saint; from S. Andrew's Wells the Town derives its name.

The Virgin's Tower is a small turret in the Palace.

The consecrators were Dr. Paterson, Bishop of Glasgow; Dr. Rose, of Edinburgh; Dr. Douglas, of Dunblane.

The Bass Rock is a remarkable object in the strait that divides New Holland from Van Dieman's Land.

The Yarrayne is a river to the west of Sydney.

“Of Polycarp and Ignatius, Bishops like ourselves,” said the Bishop of Australia in his farewell address.

For the convenience of Daily Service, the Bishop took with him a tent, constructed in the form of a cross. It accompanies him on his journeys.