440
NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. i. MAY 28, 1904.
mitre is variously stated, and Mr. Feasey refers to
the following as some of the suggestions made:
" the cloven tongues of Pentecost, the two Testa-
ments, diverse in rites and ceremonies, or the
hypostatical union of Christ ; the mttce, the literal
and spiritual sense of Scripture ; and the open top
and jewellery emblematical of 'the intellectual
decoration of the prelate's head,' and the richness
of the knowledge of Scripture, in which precious
examples of varied virtue lend their lustre with the
tissue of the sacred history." Mr. Alex. Gordon
writes on ' Somerset Bench-ends.' Ihere are over a
thousand of them, many being in as fine preserva-
tion as when first carved. The article gives the
history of the introduction of pews ; this was a very
gradual affair. " Portable seats or stools were early
in use, but even before these there was a stone
bench running round the whole of the interior,
except the east end." " Large movable seats got the
name of pues, and in some parts of England to this
day movable seats or ale benches in public-houses
are so called. The word ' pue-fellow ' was common
in relation to the occupier of same pue, or a boon
companion." Mr. Gordon states that " the earliest
fixed seats in England (late thirteenth or^ early
fourteenth century) are at Clapton, North Somer-
set " High or family pews were introduced at the
beginning of the seventeenth century. Some of
these had a table and fireplace, also curtains and
window blinds, so as to secure the utmost privacy.
This led to abuses, and Bishop Corbet, remonstrat-
ing said, " There wants nothing but beds to hear
the word of God on. We have casements, locks,
keys and cushions I had almost said bolsters and
pillows. I will not guess what is done in them
but this I dare say, they are either to hide disorder or to proclaim pride." In some of the closed pews card-playing was not uncommon, and the tedium of a long service was sometimes relieved by light refreshment. The separation of the sexes was con- eidered of some importance, and in 1620, at Cripple- gate Within, a Mr. Loveday was brought to task for sitting in the same pew with his wife. This conduct was " held to be highly indecent. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the young women were separated from the matrons, and Mr. (Gordon states that " in some country places pews are still appropriated to unmarried women." 'A Decorated Medieval Roll of Prayers' is the subject of an article by W. Heneage Legge, and Mr. Richard Quick writes on ' Norwegian Hand - Mangles, or "Fjaels" as they are locally called. Among the notes on 'Archaeology' is one on the Bacon cup, old at Christie's on the 4th of March for the sum of 2,50W.
The Rutland Magazine and County Historical Record. Edited by G. Phillips. No. 6. (Oakham, Matkin.)
THE articles in this useful magazine are usually well written and contain information of value ; the present issue shows conscientious research in every one of the papers. The first, which is contributed by the editor, is an account of Egleton. It is a small parish near Oakham, of under nine hundred acres. The church is a curious building, but only a part of the original structure. The south doorway, chancel arch, and font are Norman. The doorway is very interesting, and has, so far as we can make out, been but little mutilated. The tympanum bears a circular ornament which may be intended for the sun, but this is extremely doubtful. There
are, moreover, two nondescript animal forms, one
on each side, in the attitude and position of the
heraldic supporters of more recent days. Though
but a small place, Egleton had its guild, which bore
the name or the Holy Trinity. It was secularized
in 1549, and its property gran ted to Edward Warner
and John Gosnolde, of Eye, in Suffolk.
The ' Plough-Boys' Play ' is, we are glad to hear, still flourishing at the little village of Clipsham, near the Lincolnshire border. Miss Mary G. Cherry has preserved a copy, She tells us that it has never hitherto been committed to writing. She says : "Parts of it are evidently very old; here and there one finds modern innovations, but the ground- plan closely resembles the ancient mummers' plays scattered over our English counties." Many of the words agree with what may be found elsewhere, and much of the feeling is ancient, though parts are strikingly modern. It seems to have undergone its last revision somewhat less than sixty years ago, for Free Trade is mentioned, and there is a curious fling at " Bob Peel," whose name, we may be sure, stands in the place of some unpopular character 01 earlier date.
' An Unnoticed Battle,' by Mr. M. Barton, is an account of the fight at Empingham. A plan is given of the battlefield. Mr. L. C. Loyd contributes a paper on the family of Ferrers and its connexion with Oakham.
ia
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