Page:Textile fabrics; a descriptive catalogue of the collection of church-vestments, dresses, silk stuffs, needle-work and tapestries, forming that section of the Museum (IA textilefabricsde00soutrich).pdf/135

 called, bound over her eyes. What to our seeming this bandage really was, must have been a large piece of fine linen embroidered by her own hands—Mary wrought much with her needle, as specimens of her doing yet remain at Chatsworth, and at Greystock show—meant for, perhaps too once used as a pyx-cloth, and not an altar corporal.

Whilst these pages were going through the press, one of these old English pyx, or Corpus Christi cloths, was found at the bottom of a chest in Hessett church, Suffolk. As it is a remarkable and unique specimen of the ingenious handicraft done by our mediæval countrywomen, we notice it. To make this pyx-cloth, a piece of thick linen, about two feet square, was chosen, and being marked off into small equal widths on all its four edges, the threads at every other space were, both in the warp and woof, pulled out. The checquers or squares so produced all over it were then drawn in by threads tied on the under side, so as to have the shape of stars, so well and nicely given that, till this piece had been narrowly looked into, it was thought to be guipure lace. Of a textile so admirably wrought, it is to be regretted that there is, as yet, no sample in this collection. This curious liturgical appliance is figured in the April number, for the year 1868, of the "Ecclesiologist," page 86.

For the several very curious sorts of ornamental needlework about it, and the somewhat intricate manner after which it is cut out, the old alb, No. 8710, p. 268, as well as the amice, No. 8307, p. 185, having both of them the apparels yet remaining sewed on to these church garments, must draw the attention of every inquirer after such rare existing samples of the kind.

Some very fine threaden cloths—now become rare—for liturgical purposes, deserve attention. In the old inventories of church furniture in England, they are known under the name of "filatoria," about which we have spoken just now, p. cix. At No. 4457, p. 99, is a towel which, it is likely, was spread under the tapers for Candlemass-day, and the twigs of the sallow, or willow (our so-called palm), and slips of the box-*tree, for Palm-Sunday, while they were being hallowed before distribution. For several lectern veils, we shall have to go to No. 7029, p. 120; No. 8358, p. 210; and No. 8693, p. 261.

Those two linen napkins, formerly kept hanging down from just below the crook on a pastoral staff or crozier are become so excessively rare, that we unhesitatingly believe that none of our countrymen have ever been able to find, either in England or abroad, a single other sample; they are to be seen, No. 8279, p. 174, and No. 8662, p. 250.

Those who have ever witnessed on a Sunday morning in any of the