The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25

decree in 1915; and the present rule. en-.
Joined at Eanham In 1909 under st. hlphegc
and again ut Lambeth In 1873 that every
one should communicate thrice year. Wa
not by any means generally observed
Monthly communion was In 1909 considered
miracle Of saintliness.
The service books. as we'll az other ChurcA
goods in the province OF Canterbury, Were,
according to a constitution OF 1905, TO BE-
provided by the parishioners.
The Prymer was the Prayer Book Of III
lay folk from the thirteenth century to the
period Of the Reformation; II is the boo
occasionally referred to az the Book of
Hours" and of all the books Of medieval
times It was the most common and best
known. Interesting references to it IN
fifteenth century wills at Somerset House
London are these: my best prymmer
my myddell prymmere. my CRETE prym-
mere Though the greater number o,
Prymers still preserved are in Latin, a
considerable number we're in English as
is prov d by the existence to-day Of no
fewer than a dozen in manuscript and
twenty nine printed editions.
The Prymer is found with great wealth
OF decoration, with elaborate borders and
beautiful oolored pictures, sometimes with
clasps Of gold and clasps Of silver gilt with
arms thereon, while others. belonging to the
poorer folk. are quite plain and devoid Of
ornamentation. Some Prymers, preserved
in the British Museum, have numerous pict-
ures Of great interest; others have royal
autographs and inscriptions, while many
have many exquisite pictures and borders
with beautifully written texts.
Not the least interesting feature Of the
book Is the account Of the royal touch,
and its reference to "cramp rings As
Is we'll known, multitudes OF people afflicted
with the isease called in old English Kings
evil" In technical language, -scrofuls,
from the time Of Edward the Confessor ill
the reign OF QUEEN Anne. believed in tn,
virtues OF the royal touch. In later time.
probably Immediately after the Common.
wealth, q custom was introduced OF wear.
ing touch pieces generally in the form
OF coins, a notable instance OF this being
that given by Queen Anne to the famous
photographer. DR.. Samuel johnson which
we believe, is still In existence. King Ed
ward the Confessor is said to have cured
scrofula by his royal touch, and he gave
bed the ring which had been given him BY
the mysterious pilgrim from Jerusalem.
In the fifteenth century silver was taken
from the Kings offering to make -mediici-
nable rings for the cure OF the falling sick
ness and also for cramp. In 1900 Dame
Elizabeth Hylle OF London bequeathed
"a little oramp rynge Of golde upon my
fyngar.' So late as 1898 the belief in III.
curative powers OF such rings survived III
Suffolk, which suggests that the same SUI
perstihon Is not altogether extinct at the
present day. when we see the large number
of rheumatism rings" worn by educated
people We must not omit TO add that certain
ceremonies for the blessing Of cramp rings
were held on Good Friday In the Chapel
Royal.
Visitors to the British Museum DESTROYS
Of discovering the style Of The common
binding Of English medieval service books
will find an excellent example in the frag-
ment Of Gospel book (No. 22,572), The
sides of that book are formed OF wood
covered with leather, extremely dark with
age. The ornament stamped on the leather
consists Of three long panels filed with
varied figures, the whole being enclosed
In a square OF similar ornamentation. Al
each corner big brass stud, Of the sort
anoenuy known a. "noduli. protects the
cover from friction. 'fst
The very useful new book which We
have been considering contains accounts
Of the cost Of Mass. Epistle, Gospel and other
service books; how provided, by whom
written and much other interesting in
formation. There arc thrty-eight illustra-
tons. reproduced in facsiu,ile from English
originals.