Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/347

 2" S. NO 17., APRIL 26. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

339

King Osviu, tells that prince that, besides some relics of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul, and of other saints, he has sent :

" Conjugi vestrze per praefatos gerulos crucem cla- vem auream habentem de sacratissimis vinculis beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli." Beda, Hist. Heel. iii. 29.

As late as A.D. 1079, writing to Alphonso, King of Castile, Pope Gregory VII. says :

" Ex more sanctorum misimus vobis claviculam auream in qua de catenis beati Petri benedictio continetur." Condi. General, xii. 460. ed. Mansi.

In the following century we find the first men- tion of the golden rose, on Mid-Lent Sunday. That many links of these chains must have, during so many centuries, been worn away by the filing, is certain : hence is it that they are now found so short and light. Often have I kissed them and had them put about my neck in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli at Rome, on August 1, the feast- day of St.'Peter's chains.

The very keys themselves, which were used to lock and unlock the doors of the little sunken chapel, wherein lies enshrined the body of S. Peter, at Rome, and is even yet called the " con- fessional," were looked upon and sought after as relics : St. Gregory of Tours tells us this :

" Multi enim et claves aureas ad reserandos cancellos beati sepulcri faciunt, qui ferentes pro benedictione priores accipiunt quibus infirmitati tribulatorum medeantur." De Gloria Marty., i. 28. op. ed. Ruinart, p. 751.

D. ROCK. Newick, Uckfield.

A few years ago I saw, in a small oratory of the Mammertine (Nero's) prison at Rome, the chains which were said to have bound the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. It is probable that from these chains the pieces referred to are cut. Over the vault in which the Apostles were confined, the church of St. Joseph is built. The priest was so kind as to light his lamp, and show me the vault, a large room, with a stone post, to which the Apostles were attached ; and, I think also in it, a miraculous well of water that had sprung up. The church has commemorated the place by a long inscription on the top of the arch- way leading down to the vault.

As to the " gold and silver keys," about which I felt some curiosity, I could never find any trace of them, farther than their representation on the Pope's arms in the passports, with which every traveller will be acquainted. The old Presby- terian divines used to assert that the keys " hung on the^Pope's girdle," but in no respect possessed any spiritual power.

On seeing a vast number of the ecclesiastical relics of that venerable city, when I could with decency, and without danger of giving offence, put the question, if the parties really themselves

believed in their authenticity, the general reply was, " all by tradition." That might well enough satisfy the pious, but meagre to the antiquary.

G. N.

The practice of presenting keys containing (as was said) filings from St. Peter's chains, appears to have originated with St. Gregory the Great, and such gifts are often mentioned in his Epistles, e. g. 1. vi. 6. ; vii. 26. ; vii. 28. J. C. R.

WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT, NONJURING BISHOP. (2 nd S. i. 175.)

I mention the following particulars relative to Cartwright the Nonjuror, to whom one of your correspondents referred in a previous Number.

In my collection of works by Nonjurors I have a copy of Deacon's Devotions, which was formerly in the possession of Cartwright, who has written as follows on a fly-leaf :

" To his worthy and much esteemed friend, the Rev. Mr. Prythereck.

" From Wm. Cartwright.

E. 0. B. P.

"After Mr. Prythereck's death this book was given back to me at my request. " W. C."

On the page opposite to these notices is the fol- lowing : "W. G. Rowland, 1800."

Cartwright died in 1799. On his dying bed he received the Lord's Supper from Mr. Rowland, to whom he declared his adherence to the Church of England. It is evident that the volume was pre- sented to Rowland by Cartwright.

The volume is remarkable on another account. It has a third title, which I have not seen in any copy that has fallen under my notice, and I have examined nine or ten. The volume has the ordi- nary titles ; but it has this in addition :

"The Order of the Divine Offices of the Orthodox British Church: containing the Holy Liturgy, the Morn- ing and Evening Prayer, the Penitential Office, and the Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrat- ing Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Deaconesses : Together with other occasional Offices as authorized by the Bishops of the said Church. To be used in the Public Assemblies of the Faithful. London, 1734."

By implication, this title brands the Church of England as unorthodox. This copy also has a leaf of Proper Psalms, which is not found in the ordinary copies. Though the book was arranged by Deacon, yet this title mentions the consent of the other nonjuring bishops. In the other titles their consent is not mentioned.

It is probable that this title wns retained only in such copies as remained in the hands of Deacon and his friends. This idea is partly confirmed by Cartwright's anxiety to have the volume again after Mr. Prythereck's death.