Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/234

 200 NOTICES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS. each but one attendant, two wore allowed when the anchoress had to Bend far for her food (p. 42.")). It would seem that dirtorent devotees im- posed on themselves different restrictions. Sonic had lands and rents, hut the generality subsisted on alms. Some kept cows (pp. 4l7, 419), from which we must not infer the animals were accommodated at the anchor- houses, for slieds might have been hired for that purpose at a short dis- tance from them ; and when we read of some taking in other people's cattle (ibid.), the}' had probably rented more space than their own required. Such practices, however, were discountenanced by the writer, who allowed these ladies to keep no other animal than a cat. Some are mentioned who took their meals with their friends out of the house (p. 415), which is strongly reprobated, as contrary to anchorite order ; indeed such an anchores.s must have either broken her vow or taken one less strict than was usual. We learn the ordinary failings of the class from what these ladies were instructed to avoid. Thus we read of " staring, peering, and cackling " anchoresses. They were much addicted to gossip, and the cell was such a focus of news as to be proverbial — *' from mill and from market, from smithy and from anchorhousc, men bring news " (p. 88). The " gathering " anchoress was ambitious of the reputation of a bountiful anchoress, and begged that she might give. Some interesting allusions to more worldly matters are scattered through the volume, but our limits restrict us to notice only the following : — We read at p. 214, of the practice of making "figures of augrim " in ashes, " as those reckoners do that have nmch to reckon up." This, no doubt, refers to what are called the Arabic numerals. At p. 301, the crucifix is compared to a shield, broad above and narrow beneath, " because, as men suppose, the one foot was placed upon the other foot," which is in conformity with what is found in western art. The materials of a shield are mentioned (p. 303) to be wood, leather, and painting ; to which arc likened the wood of the cross, the body of the Saviour, and the blood which stained it. The writer then adverts to a custom of hanging up a viiliant knight's shield in the church after his death to his memory, and he adds, *' so is this shield, that is the crucifix, set up in the church." Neither here nor elsewhere in the treatise have we found any allusion to armorial insignia ; the absence of which is consistent with the earlier date at which we have suggested it might possibly have been written. The painting on the siiicM may have been otdy ornamental ; hut it was most likely peculiar, HO that the shield would be known by it as that of the deceased knight. In conclusion wc may remark, that a vein of good sense runs thr(mL;;h the volume, which is far in advance of the age, and leaves a favourable impres.sion of the author ; whose learning also must have made him con- spicuous among his coutcmporaries. SYMBOLS AND PIMIJLKMS OV KAULY AND MKDLKVAL CIIIUSTIAN ART. liy L(»iibiii Twiiiiii};. London : Loiif;iiiiiii ^ dt. 4 to, 'J'.i I'liitos. It is a remarkable circumstance in the history of the literuturo of Chrihliun art in thi.s country, that some of our best work.s are (lu^ pntdiution.s of the ffumlo pen ami pcofil. Mrs. .Iiiineson's three works on Sacred and Legendary Art exhibit a pr(jl"oiiM(l knowKtlge of tlie sulijccts ou which