Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 128.djvu/65

Rh The consumption of candles in the old cathedrals must have kept the wax-chandlers the most devout of men. In the Sarum rules we find such directions as the following "Among the 'duties of the treasurer,' he is to provide on Advent Sunday, both at vespers and matins, and at mass, four wax lights — namely, two above the altar, and two others on the step before the altar. The same on Palm Sunday. All other Sundays of the year, and whenever the choir is regulated and the Invitatorum is said by two, he is to supply two others; at mass and on all Sundays, four; on Christmas-day, at vespers, and at mass, eight each of a pound at least about the altar; and two before the image of the Blessed Mary. At matins the same, and six besides, on the elevation before the relics and crucifix, and the images there placed; and on the chandelier "corona" before the step, five of half a pound at least. Five also are to be placed on the wall behind the desk for reading the lessons. The same is to be observed mall double feasts, with processions, from Whitsuntide to the nativity of the Blessed Mary."

The punishment of monks guilty of any offence was severe, but if the whole convent was committing the same crime, as often happened, they escaped all harm. At the weekly chapter an accuser would often stand up and say, "I accuse Brother —— of ——." The accused monk made no answer, but at once left his seat and advanced to the abbot, bowing. The accuser then simply stated his charge. If guilty, the accused man at once asked pardon, and confessed his fault. If not guilty, he replied that he did not remember to have done what Brother —— affirmed. The accuser bowed and returned to his seat, and then called the witnesses. A reprimanded monk stood in a central place in the room, called "the judgment," and when the final sentence was pronounced he bowed and retired to his seat. If condemned to receive discipline, the culprit was sometimes stripped to the waist, seated in a chair, and then beaten with a rod. During the discipline the monks hung down their heads. A hand-bell, according to Du Cange, was sometimes hung behind the delinquent. For other offences convicted monks had to carry large lanterns for penance, stood with arms expanded in the form of the cross, or sat down on chairs in the middle of the choir, walked barefoot to the cross, repeated penitential psalms, and joined in penitentiary processions. For other offences monks were banished from the dinner-table, sent to coventry, and compelled to publicly prostrate themselves. For extreme faults a keeper was appointed to the prisoner, and whenever the bell rung for divine service the culprit had to remain prostrate at the gate of the convent, and bow to every one who passed. As the order left the church the prostration was renewed, and the monks, as they passed their abject brother, said each one, "Lord, have mercy upon you." After various disciplines at several chapters, promise of amendment, and the intercession of his brothers, the offender was at last pardoned. In some cases a monk was sent to board at another convent for a certain term. In the lesser excommunications the offenders had to fast on bread and water purposely defiled, or were kept in church during dinner till the abbot sent the prior to summon them.

Among the amusements of the monks we must include the Feast of Fools and the Feast of Asses, when there was much noisy buffoonery and inconsistent horseplay, and they acted those religious plays which presented vivid pictures of biblical events to the eyes of the poor. In these representations the monks' pent-up minds found, as it were, a secret way to the drama.

And now, after these brief scenes of monkish life, let us end with the last scene of all that ends "this strange eventful history." At the death of a monk the news of the event was at once forwarded to all neighbouring religious houses, of whatever order. The body was at once washed and clothed in the hood, cloak, and cowl, and carried to the church, the bearers singing psalms, and the bell tolling. There was no great delay about the funeral ceremonies; he was usually buried the day he died, after mass and before dinner. If it was found difficult to keep up the psalm-singing, the body was buried almost immediately.

The ceremonies observed during the day's vigil were numerous. A cross was placed at the head of the corpse, and lighted tapers stood at the head and feet on the breast was a chalice of wax or silver; the body was anointed on a stone table in the infirmary, and it was censed by the deacon. The abbot absolved the corpse after a sermon to the chapter, silence was preserved in the cloister, the grave and corpse were sprinkled with holy water, and a written absolution was placed on the breast of the deceased.

And so passed away the poor brother, 