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XVII. Evidence of a Lavatory, appertaining to the Benedictine Priory of Canterbury Cathedral; and Observations on Fonts. By the Rev. Samuel Denne, F.S.A. In a Letter to Richard Gough, Esq. Direcior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

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In your copious description and illustration of fonts, inserted in the tenth volume of Archaeologia, N° XXIV. at note t, p. 201, you have suggested, that Mr. Gostling seems to have given up his conjecture that the dome on the North side of Canterbury cathedral, and placed opposite to the entrance into the East cross aile, was a baptistery; and that I think the edifice was a lavatory. Concerning both these points it is my intention to trouble you with some observations, and to add miscellaneous remarks on fonts in this country, which you will be pleased to transmit to our brethren in Somerset Place, should you deem the paper worthy of their attention.

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Research Article
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Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1792

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References

page 109 note [a] See a letter from Dr. Pegge, in Gent. Mag, vol XLIX, p. 405.

page 109 note [b] Gent. Mag vol. XLV. p. 13.

page 109 note [c] See advertisement to this edition.

page 109 note [d] Walk in and about Canterbury, p. 186.

page 109 note [e] Ibid. P. 398.

page 109 note [f] Ibid, p. 397.

page 110 note [g] Wilkins, Concil. Magn. Britan. vol. I.

Page 329, C. I. Dominica prima hujus menfis (Octobris) cum appropinquaverit tempus horas tertise, pulsetur a secretario modice signum minimum quam Skillam vocant, et statim pergant (a clauslro) in dormitorium, et calcient se diurnalibus, et cultellos accipiant; deinde ad Lavatorium veniant, et prius lavent se, et postea pectinent, deinde ad ecclesiam veniant, aquam benedictam sumant, in chorum vadant.

Page 329, c. 2. Quarta et sexta seria, cum tempus processionis secretarius in stare prospexerit, sonet unum de mediocribus signis, quo audito, statim silentium siat in claustro—discalcient se, manus abluant, in ecclesiam vadant.

Page 331, c. I. In nocte dominicae Nativitatis omnia figna primum pulsentur. In tertio nocturnio–tunc fratres qui ad missam induendi sunt vadant ad locum constitutum, ubi sit optimus ignis a samulis camerariis praeparatus: baccilia quo-cue et manutcrgiaet aqua calida adabluendas manus. Hac fola vice antequam lavent, peftent capita sua. Alio enim tempore, prius lavent, postea pectinant. Post haec pergant in ecclefiam, et fasla oratione incluant se ad celebrandam missam: facerdos honorisice, levita, dalmatica, duo subdiaconi tunicis.

Page 332, c. 2. Apparente luce—signo audito, expedite surgentes omnes, et ab-luti manus et sacies, qui ad missam indnendi sunt vadant in oratorium, factaque oratione induantur, ficut ad priorem missam—expleta missa vadant in dormitorium calciare se, postea folito moreloti, et pexi saciant in oratorio orationes ties folitas; dista tertia, omnes induti cappis processionem saciant.

Page 333, cap. 1. In his duabus feriis (Dominica prima quadragessimæ quarta et sexta) post nonam fedeant in claustro—tunc discalcient se omnes et lavent manus, veniantque in chorum.

P. 334, c. 2. Dominica in Palmis ad invitatorium duo in albis—post matutinalem missam benedicatur aqua, ad quam sint omnes albis induti, fiat processio, &c. Post mensam in meridiana hora in leftis suis quiescant. Appropinquante horâ nonâ pulset secretarius lignum minus modice. Tune omnes et lavent manus et facies, et peclent fe, et pergant in ecclefiam, sedeantque in choro. Cum insantes loti suerint etad tersoria ire cœprint, pulsante majus lignum secretario, surgant-omnes de sedilibus et ingressis chorum insantibus sacient prius orationem, poilea cantent nonam.

P. 340, c. 2. Diebus Rogatiomim—cantata sexta vadant in dormitorium, sicut alio tempore quando meridianis horis in ledis quiescere solent, et sasto inter-Vallo parvisiimo, puisetur Ikilla; dehinc nudis pédibus de domitorio descendant, manus abluant, ad ecclesiam vadant, orationem saciant.

Page 341, c, 2. Feria secunda (Pentecostes) post sextam agatur meridiana: a qua surgentes nudis pedibus in claustrum veniant asserentes calciamenta sua: post abluti et pestinati veniant in ecclesiam, et facta oratione, pulsatisque duobus signis inchootinsans Exfurgs Domine, etcetera. Sicut longe fuperius diftum est, hic ordo fervandus est seria quarta et sexta ufque ad sestivitatem Omnium Sanctorum, nifi sit vigilia, cujus missa solennius celebretur, tune enim proceffio ex to to dimittitur.

Post sextam in dormitorium cadant, et post parvissimum interallum pulsato minimo signo descendant, lavent, ad monasterium pergant, sactaque oratione, dictaque litania, missam celebrent.

In Elomeiield's History of Norfolk, v. II. p. 440, is this passage.—' At Norwich monastery, the Ceikrar's lodgings were on the South side of the cloister, on which the Refedtory, or common hall, kitchen, cellar, and buttery, were placed by the dormitory, or dortour, all which are now standing, converted to other uses. On the left hand as you go out of the door of the South-west corner of the cloiiler is the lavatory*, or washing place, where the monks washed their hands there being as much good fellowship in walhing as in eating together.

page 113 note [h] Vetusta Monumenta, vol. II pi. XV.

page 113 note [i] Custuinale Rossense, p. 30. De famulis ecclesiæ quid facere debent.—Similiter accendunt lucernam post cantica ad lavatorium pro illis qui vestiendi sunt. See also the Memorials of the Church of Rochester, in the same volume, p, 177.

page 113 note [k] Walk, p 186.

page 113 note [l] Gent. Mag. vol. XLIV, p. 553.

page 114 note [m] Mr. Hutchinson's History and Antiquities of Durham, vol.11, p. 65, note. From Davies' Rites of Durham, 1672, p. 130.

page 114 note [n] Qui Ecclesiam in Orientali parte majoris ecclesias eidem pene contiguam in honore biati Johannis Baptiste sabricavit; ut et baptisteria, et examinationes judiciorum pro diverfis causis ad corredionem scelerum inibi celebrarentur; et Archiepiscoporum corpora in ea sepelirentur. Angl, Sacr. vol. II. p. 75.

page 115 note [o] Page 86.

page 116 note [p] Bingham's Antiquities, B, VIIL c. vii. f. 6.

page 116 note [q] Yet Mr. Watkins in his Travels, I. 287, says, all the children of Florence are baptized in it.

page 116 note [r] Wiikins, Concil. v. I. p. 96. art. ix. Ut presbyteri per loea et regiones laicorura quæ sibi ab episcopis provineise infinuata et injuncta sint evangelicae prædicationis officium in baptizando, et docendo, et visitando sub legitimo ritu acdiligeati cura tudeant explere. Art. xi, Ut cundi presbyteri omne sacerdotale suum ministerium, uno eodemque modo et ratione in baptizando et docendo; & studeant agere.

page 117 note [s] Wilkins, Concii. vol. I. p. 226. art. xv. Docemus etiam wt quilibe facerdos baptismum peragat simulac rcquiritur, et deinde in parochia sua præcipiatintra xxxvii dies.

page 117 note [t] Wilkins, Concil vol. I. p. 213. art. ix. Si presbyier jvsto tempore chrisma non quærat, solvat xii oras.—x. Quilibet insans mature baptizetur intra ix dies sub pœna vi orarum, &.

page 117 note [u] Johnson's Coll. of Ecclesiastical Laws.

page 118 note [v] Walk, p. 26. and Archæologia, vol. X. p. 187.

page 118 note [w] Archæologia, vol. X p. 212.

page 118 note [x] De Gest. Reg. Angl. Lib. II. c. 10. init. Cum pusiolus in fonte baptismi mergeresur, circumstantibus episcopis alvi prosluvio sacramenta interpolavit; quare ille (Dunstanus) turbatus, per deum inquit et matrem ejus ignavus homo erit.

page 118 note [y] Wilkins, Concil. vol. I. p. 576.

page 118 note [z] Ibid p. 594.

page 119 note [a] Wilkins, Concil. p. 623.

page 119 note [b] Ibid. p. 614.

page 119 note [c] Ibid. p. 636. art. ix. Tit. quod fontes sint sub sirma senira—Fontes sub serura—clausi tencantur propter sortilegia. Chrisma similiter et oleum sacruni fab clave custodiantur.

Art. x. Tit. De Baptistevio, etde aqua baptismali, et quid sit saciendum cum aqua et vase in quibus propter necessitatem pueri domi baptizentur.

Baptisterium habeatur in qualibet ecclesia baptimali lapideum vel aliud, competens; id decenter cooperiatur, et reverenter conservetur, et in alios usus non conservetur. Aqua veto in qua baptizatus est puer, ultra septem dies in baptisterio non servetur. Sivero puer a laico domi propter necessitatem suerit baptizatus aqua propter reverentiam baptismi vel fundatur in ignem, vei ad ecclesiam in baptisterium sundenda deseratur, et vas iiiud vel comburatur, vebad usus ecclesiæ deputetur.

page 119 note [d] Archæologia, voL X. p. 210.

page 120 note [e] Baptisterium, i. e. locus, five statio baptismatis, five baptizatorium.

page 120 note [f] “Propter sortilegiam,” which, according to Lyndwood, was better concealed than explained, quæ honestius eft tacere quam dicere.”.

page 120 note [g] Archaeologia, vol. X. 195.

page 121 note [h] Axchæol. vol. X. p. 191; and Thome's Antiquities, p. 112.

page 121 note [i] Wilkins, Concil, vol. II. p. 512. Item parvuli consirmati tertio die post consirmationem deportentur ad ecclesiam, ut frontes eorum per manus sacerdotum in baptisterio propter reverentiam chrismatis abluantur ibidem.— Baptiterio, i. e. loco in ecclesia, ubi sit baptismus, non enim debes intelligere quod ista lavatiosiatin fonte baptismali, nee de aqua fontis, sed debet sieri in loco ubi scituatur sons, viz. juxta ipsum fontem. Lyndwode.

page 122 note [k] Wilkins, Concil. vol. I. p. 667.—Qui consirmati suerint, post triduum portentur ad ecclesiam, in fonte baptismatis abluendi.

page 122 note [l] Quae sit solida, durabilis, sortis, ac aquas insusas retentiva.

page 122 note [m] Lapideum vel ligneum. The font in which the king's children in Scotland were baptized was of brass. Willis, Mitred Abbeys, vol. I. p. 15.

Archæol. vol. X. p. 187. You mention four fonts made of lead. It appears from Aubrey (Antiquities of Surry, vol. II. p. 290.), that in the church of Walton upon the Hill, there is a very old leaden font adorned with nine figures, in a sitting poslure, their faces much mangled.:

You inform me that you have since heard of another at Clifston, near Dorchester, in Oxfordshire.

page 122 note [n] Competent, quod baptizandus possit in eo mergi. Lyndwood.

In qualibet ecclesia baptismalis sit sons lapideus, decentis amplitudinis et prosuditatis. Wilkins, Concil. vol. I. p. 666.

page 122 note [o] Mr. Thorpe's Antiquities, p. 94.

page 123 note [p] The font at Preshute is two feet and an half diameter. Archaeol. v. X. p. 186.

page 123 note [q] Copied in Archæol. vol. I. p. 150.

page 123 note [r] Mr. Thorpe's Antiquities, plate xvii.

page 123 note [s] Plate X.

page 123 note [t] Wheatley on the Common Prayer, p. 340.

page 124 note [u] Wilkins, Concil. vol. I. p. 650. Sed quidam in partibus istis diabolica ut audivimus sraude decepti, periculum suspicantur, fi praesatis diebus pueri scaptizentur.

page 124 note [x] Ibid. vol. II. p. 36.

page 125 note [y] Wilkins, Concil.v. II. p. 53. Forma autem sacramenti in lingua vulgari consistit non solum in significatis, verum etiam in ordine eorundem, quo ipsum sacramentum est divinitus institutum; quo Christus Dominus illis verbis et taliter ordinatis, ut funt, in lingua Latina regenerativam contulit potestatem. Dicitur ergo die a taliter baptizantibus; ‘Ich criftin the in the Fadere's name,’ &. vel aliter in lingua materna secundum patriæ consuctudinem, vel in Gallico fic. ‘Je baptize tey en noun del peere’ &c.

page 126 note [x] Archaeolog. vol. X. p. 221.

page 126 note [a] Claris Mystica, p, 215.

page 127 note [b] Tour in Wales, vol, II. part II.

page 128 note [c] Wilkins, Concil, vol. IV. pp. 169—61—25

page 128 note [d] Ibid. vol. II. p. 139. cap. xii. Baptisterium lapideum bene seratum.

page 128 note [e] Ibid, vol. I. p. 698.—Fons sacer cum serura.

page 128 note [f] Ibid. VOL I. p. 666. Fons lapidcus, in quo paivuli baptizentur.

page 129 note [h] Wilkins, Concil, vol. I. p. 623. cap. 4. de ornatu corporis ecclefiæ—Fons baptismalis, Iapideus, et decenter coopertus.

page 129 note [i] Ib. v. I. p. 614. Fontes sub sera clausa custodiantur. Chrisma fimiliter, &c. Baptisterium habeatur in qualibet ecclesia baptismali lapideum vel ligneum competens, &c.

page 129 note [k] Ibid. vol. I. p. 576. Tit. Fontes sub sera claudantur

Fontes sub sera clausi teneantur propter sortilegium.

Chrisma similiter, et sacrum oleum sub clave cuslodiantur.

page 129 note [l] Ex MS. Cott. Otho. A. XV. fol. 28. b. collat.cum MS. Lambeth, n. 17. et Eliensi, note, p. 235. vide art. ix. and x. p. 119. note c.

page 129 note [m] Concil. Dunelm. Aqua vero in qua baptizatur puer ultra septem dies in baptisterio non servetur.—Concil. Scoticanum—in qua baptizatus fuerit.

Concil. Edmund.—in qua bapt.zatus eft.

page 130 note [n] It is, perhaps, worthy of remark, on the subject of the word fontes, used, in the plural number, as mentioned by Mr, Denne, that the French, in speaking of the font, do, to this day, use the plural number. They say, for example, “II a été tenu sur les fonts baptismaux.”

I do not pretend to give any reason for this mode of speaking.

page 130 note [o] Wilkins, vol. II. p. 139.

page 130 note [p] Ibid. vol. I. p. 623. Vas stanneum vel plurnbeum ad minus ad aquam benedictam.

page 130 note [q] Dr. Middleton, in his Letter from Rome, p. 137, observes, ‘The next thing that will of course strike one's imagination is, their use of holy water; for, nobody ever goes in or out of a church, but is either sprinkled by the priest, who attends for that purpose on solemn days, or else serves himself with it from a vessel, usually of marble, placed just at the door, not unlike to one of our baptismal fonts.”

page 131 note [r] See Johnson's Eccles. Laws. Boniface's Constitut. MCCLXI. C. 22. note K.

page 131 note [s] Labrum. Isidor. xx. p. 6. vocatur eo quod in eo lavationeir solitum eft sieri infantum. Dufrefne adds, “Vox Latinis non ignota, et ab Anastatio in S. Silvestro pp. usurpata ad indicandum fontis baptismalis concham, in qua continebatar aqua ad baptismum necessaria.”

page 132 note [t] Walk, p. 94.

page 132 note [u] Gent. Mag. vol. XLV. p. 116.

page 133 note [x] Wilkins, ConciL vol. II.. p. 247, Custumalc Rossense, p. 30. Serviens in domo insirmorum maxime custodiet hostiurn ab ingressu laicorum, ne aliquis absque licentia magistri sui introcet.

page 134 note [y] Archaeol. vol. X. p. 202.

page 134 note [z] Registrum Rossense, p. 564. Item quod bene liceat dictis parochianis baptisterium in dicta ecclesia five capella erigere et quoscunque parochianos ejusdem in ea baptizari facere.

page 134 note [a] Ubi baptismus administrari consuevit, which bishop Gibson has inadvertently rendered, where baptism is to be administered.

page 135 note [b] The whole of Lyndwood's Glofs is as follows: Ecclesia baptismali, five cathedrali, five parochiali, tali, viz. quæ habet populum; nam in ecclesia collegiata vel conventuali quæ non habet populum non debet esse baptisterium.

page 135 note [c] Newcourt, Repertor. vol. I. p. 392.

page 135 note [d] Willis, Mitred Abbeys, vol. I, p. 15.

page 135 note [e] Vol, I. p. 253.

page 136 note [f] An objection to this is, that the stone screen, with its altar-, at St. Alban's, is considerably weft both of the high altar and the centre tower.

page 136 note [g] Newcourt, Rep. vol. II. p. 166.

page 136 note [f] Ibid. vol. I. p. 380.

page 136 note [g] Ibid. vOI. I. p. 35.

page 136 note [k] Newcourt, vol. I. p. 364.

page 136 note [l] Plate XII.

page 137 note [m] Collections for Worcestershire, vol. I. p. 400.

page 137 note [n] Leland, Itin. vol. IV. part II. fol. 168 b.

page 137 note [o] Gent. Mag. vel. XLV. p. 13.

page 138 note [p] Archaeologia, vol. X p. 208. The fourth canon of a council held in France about the year 615, prohibited baptizing in monasteries. Dupin, vol. VI. Eccl. Hist. p. 55.

page 138 note [q] Wiikins, Concil. vol. III. p. 685. Ordinationes et statuta per Thomam Wolfey, &c, per singnla monasteria canonicorum regularium Sti, Augustini obseryanda. A. 1519.

Cap. V. De fœminis insra rnonastermm non admittendis.

Item, statuimus, quod nulli soeminae cujuscunque setatis, propinquitatis zat conditionis extiterint, permittatur accessus in dormitorium, innrmariam, clauftrum, aut canonicorum cellas seu cameras, vel alium Jocurn privaturn quemcunque, sed duntaxat ad loca pro hospitibus deputata, &c.

page 139 note [r] Wilkins, Concil. vol. II p. 48 Statut. A. Peqkhara.

page 139 note [s] Fuller's History of the Holy War, Book II. c. 5.

page 140 note [t] Wilkins, Concil. vol. I.. p 742, A. 1259. Constit. et Statut. Eccles. Sarisbur.

Thesaurarii ossicium est, ornamenta etianv ecclesise suis expensis resicere, panem, vinum, aquam, et candelas singulis altaribus ecclesix, excepto parochiali, administrare.

page 140 note [u] Dugdale's History of St. Paul's. Appendix, p. 252. 261.

page 141 note [w] Dugdale's Hist, of St. Paul's, p. 243. De virgiseris. Praeterea quia res uxoria eft saepenumerores negotiosa et turbulenta, atque mariti uxori, utdominze suae oporteat Hudeant, virgiseri nostri matrimoniali solicitudine distrafti in ecclesia ossicium suum negligant, aut necessitate coacti (quia duobus dominis nemo bene servire posset) deserant; idcirco statutum eft a domino decano, capitulo consentiente, et conclufum, ut deinceps in ecclefia S. Pauli non sint ullo modo virgiferi, nisi tales qui sine uxoribus coelibes vitam ducant, et continentiam teneant; quod fi talis a Thesaurario praesentetur decano qui uxorem habet, audito uxoris nomine, statim repellatur.

page 142 note [x] Strype's Life of Archbishop Parker, p. 107.

page 144 note [y] Antiquities of Canterbury, p. 100. Addition signed N. B.

page 144 note [z] On examining the Prelates' will, I noticed the underwritten clause concerning this donation.

“Whereas I formerly gave, for the making and remaking of a font in the cathedral church of Christ, in Canterbury, five hundred pounds, I now further give cat unto the same body five hundred pounds to be beltowed in books for the late erected library.” Would five hundred pounds have been adequate to the expence of constructing two fonts to elegant and costly? Bishop Warner's bequest to the library is not mentioned in “Cantuaria Sacra.”

page 145 note [a] In the specimen of the sacrilegious outrages committed in the parish churches of Cambridge, anno Domini 1643, under the church of St. Giles is this note— “ We brake a dove from the high loft of the font, and a bo'y-water font at the porch door.”

page 146 note [b] Most probably the pulpit in the sermon-house, because he sarcastically adds, “where a sermon had not been preached near twenty years before,” being however studious to conceal from his readers, that during those years sermons had been regularly preached in the choir. For reasons mentioned by Mr. Gostling (Walk, p. 198.), it was judged expedient that the practice should be discontinued of the congregation's moving after prayers from the choir to the sermon-house, which before the Reformation had been the chapter-house of the prior and the convent.

page 148 note [a] See Memorials of Rochester Cathedral, published with Custumale Rossense, p. 169.