Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/156

 136 Hiftory of Domejiic Manners houfe, with a foler, or upper room, above. The individual intended to be reprefented was Alan Middleton, who is recorded in the catalogue of officers of St. Alban's as " colle6tor of rents of the obedientiaries of that monastery, and efpecially of thofe of the burfar." A fmall tonfure denotes him as a monaftic officer, while the penner and inkhorn at his girdle denote the nature of his office ; and he is juft opening the door of one of the abbey tenants to perform his funftion. The door is intended to be reprefented opening outwards. Thefe Benediftines of St. Alban's No. 9 have alio immortalifed another of their inferior officers, Walterus de Hamuntefham, who was attacked and grievoufly wounded by the rabble of St. Alban's, while ftanding up for the rights and liberties of the church. He appears (cut No. 92) to be attempting to gain flicker in a houfe, which alio has a foler. There was one fixture in the interior of the houfe, which is frequently mentioned in old writers, and muft not be overlooked. It was frequently called a perche (pertica), and confilled of a wooden frame fixed to the wall, for the purpofe of hanging up articles of clothing and various other things. The curious tra6t of Alexander Neckam, entitled Summa de iiominilus