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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9> s. x. AUG. 2, 1902.

leave of a book admirable in all respects, into the attractions of which we furnish but the barest glimpse.

The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. Parts 63 and

64. (Leeds, Whitehead & Son.) CANON CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH, Rector of St. Peter and St. Paul's, Marlborough, Prebendary of Lincoln, contributes an admirable paper on cer- tain pardons or indulgences preserved in Yorkshire, issued in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Documents of this kind have ever since the time of Luther been subjects of controversy, and there is a widely extended literature relating to them. They have, however, rarely been treated from a purely historical standpoint. Canon Wordsworth has done this, and in consequence we owe him a great debt of gratitude. He points out that the word indulgentia has come down from the days of the imperial jurists, with whom it had a civil meaning. To them it signified remission of punishment, im- munity from taxation, or amnesty granted by the authority of the emperor. Like so many other legal terms, it became absorbed by the Church, and it is of its ecclesiastical senses that the Canon offers an interpretation. The objects for which indul- gences were granted varied in different places. The author has carefully examined the register of Walter Grey, Archbishop of York, and finds that many indulgences were issued in his time for building churches and chapels, for hospitals, and also for making roads and bridges. At times they were issued for the purpose of raising money to redeem Christian captives who were in slavery to the Moslem. A long list of indulgences relating to this kingdom is given, ranging from the reign of Henry II. to that of Henry VIII. This, though incomplete, will be found very useful.

The Visitations of certain monasteries in the diocese of York in 1534-5 are contributed by the same learned writer, who suggests that they were ordered by Archbishop Lee for the purpose of saving, if that were possible, the religious houses for which he was indirectly responsible from sup-

Eression. The king probably was aware of this, >r before they were complete he ordered the inquiry to cease. So far as they go they witness to a certain amount of laxity there are two flagrant cases but, as Canon Wordsworth says, their state "was by no means so bad as popular report made out."

Mr. M. H. Peacock contributes some certificates of alleged cures of lunacy by a certain John Smith, of Wakefield, in 1615. The original document is in the possession of the governors of the Wakefield Grammar School. Most of the persons named in these certificates seem to have been of the lower order, whom it may be impossible at this distance of time to identify; but there are two, John Went- worth and Henry Nevile, who were most probably members of well-known families in the neighbour- hood. Was John Smith a quack ? Whether he was or not, we should like to know something of his mode of treating his patients.

Mr. Hamilton Hall writes on the well-worn sub- ject of Gundrada de Warenne ; and much hitherto unknown concerning the priory of Kirklees, so celebrated in the tale of Robin Hood, is supplied by Mr. S. J. Chadwick. Engravings of the Nun- burnholme cross have been given as illustrations to a paper on certain Yorkshire churches by Mr. A. D. H. Leadman. For some reason probably

the weathering of the stone they are very difficult to make out. The design of the sculpture is of the kind which the older antiquaries called runic. The cross is now imperfect, but some hope is held out that the missing parts may be brought to light. The author describes the carvings, but does not endeavour to interpret the hidden meaning of their symbolism.

THE most interesting article in the new number of the English Historical Revieiu is that by Mr. C. H. Firth on ' Cromwell and the Crown.' Among the ' Notes and Documents ' those of especial value are one by Miss Mary Bateson, ' A London Muni- cipal Collection of the Reign of John,' and one by Mr. J. C. Black, ' Edward I. and Gascony in 1300.' Mr. Rose also sends a communication on the vexed question of the ' Ice Accident at the Battle of Austerlitz.' Among the reviews we note a severe, but not undeserved criticism of Mr. Lilly's ' Re- naissance Types' by Mr. Armstrong, an interesting estimate of Canon Dixon's posthumous volumes by Mr. Hume Brown, and a very short and inadequate notice of Mr. Bryce's ' Studies in History and Juris- prudence ' by Mr. Pogson Smith.

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