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but that after the Cross was stolen by the infidels no mortal has ever been allowed more than 23!

BISHOP SQUIRE.

A living in Carmathenshire, in the gift of Squire, bishop of St David's, becoming vacant, a nobleman wrote a letter to him, strongly recommending a gentleman to the appointment, and promising his own interest and that of his friends in behalf of the bishop at all times. Before the bishop returned an answer to the nobleman, a poor curate, miserably dressed, came to the bishop's house at Aberguilly, and sent in a letter to his lordship, in which he stated that he had a wife and five children; that his income was only twelve pounds a year, and therefore they wanted the common necessaries of life; that he had no friend to recommend him, but hearing of the goodness of his lordship's heart, and his generosity, he was come to petition his lordship for the vacant living. The bishop ordered him in, gave him a dinner, which he much needed, for he had walked upwards of twenty Welch miles; required a certificate of his good behaviour, which he produced; found him qualified for the office; and not only presented him with the living, but also gave him money to discharge the expences of induction.

SAINT MICHAEL AND THE HEAVENLY HOST:

In the preamble to the statutes instituting the Order of St. Michael, founded by Louis XI. of France, in 1469, the archangel is not only honoured with the title of "My Lord," but also created a "Knight;" the words are:

"In consequence of the perfect and singular "love we bear to the noble Order of Chivalry, to "the Glory of God, and the Virgin Mary, and in "honour and reverence of my Lord, ST. MI

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CHAEL, the archangel, and first knight, who "in order to revenge the quarrel of God, fought "against the Dragon, the enemy of mankind, "and tumbled him headlong from heaven: we, on the first day of August, 1469, the ninth of "our reign, in our castle of Amboise, have "created and established an order of fraternity, or good-fellowship, under the name of ST. "MICHAEL."

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Ridiculous, not to say impious, as was this strange mixture of devotional and worldly interests, Louis, although ancestor of the present royal family of France, cannot be charged as the inventor of this and many other absurdities equally gross, which had in fact prevailed for more than two centuries prior to the reign of that devout prince. The APOSTLES had been denominated NOBLES or KNIGHTS; and to

add to the inconsistencies and abominations of those dark times, the PAGAN HEROES were all canonized. Thus there were Saint THESEUS, Saint ALEXANDER, Saint CESAR, &c, and Earl PETER, Count PAUL, Baron STEPHEN, &c. innumerable instances of which may be found in historical accounts, both devotional and political. The introductory comment to one of the Sermons or Epistles upon ST. STEPHEN'S Festival, thus prepares the reader for the subject it contains:

"Entendes toutes a chest Sermon,
"Et clair et lai tutes environ ;
"Contes vous yueille la pation !
66 De Saint Estieul le Baron."

That is, attend all of you to this sermon, as well Clergy as Laity, for by this you will be informed of the passion of the Baron SAINT STEPHEN.

In latter times also, when chivalry had abated in its influence, and even after the Reformation, this silly and wicked desire of making things sacred, more esteemed for human causes, still was persevered in; and we are assured by the author of a small work, in quarto, entitled, "The Blazon of Gentrie," that not only the Apostles were "Gentlemen of blood, and many of them "descended from that worthy Conqueror, Judas

Maccabeus, though, through the tract of time, "and persecution of wars, poverty oppressed the "kindred, and they were constrained to servile "works;" but it is profanely added, as a climax to such absurdity, "Christ was a gentleman, as "to his flesh, by the part of his mother, and might, if he had esteemed of the vain glory of "this world, have borne Coat Armour"!!!

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BARA.

Mr. Howel, in his descriptive travels through Sicily, gives a very particular account of the magnificent manner in which the festival of the Assumption of the the Virgin is kept by the Sicilians under the title of BARA, which, although expressive of the machine he describes, is also, it appears, generally applied as a name of the feast itself. An immense machine of about 50 feet high is constructed, designing to represent Heaven; and in the midst is placed a young female personating the Virgin, with an image of Jesus on her right hand; round the Virgin 12 little children turn vertically, representing so many Seraphim, and below them 12 more children turn horizontally, as Cherubims; lower down in the machine a sun turns vertically, with a child at the extremity of each of the four principal radii of his circle, who ascend and de

scend with his rotation, yet always in an erect posture; and still lower, reaching within about 7 feet of the ground, are placed 12 boys, who turn horizontally without intermission around the principal figure, designing thereby to exhibit the 12 Apostles, who were collected from all corners of the earth, to be present at the decease of the Virgin, and witness her miraculous assumption. This huge machine is drawn about the principal streets by sturdy monks; and it is regarded as a particular favour to any family to admit their children in this divine exhibition, although the poor infants themselves do not seem long to enjoy the honours they receive as Seraphim, Cherubim, and Apostles; the constant twirling they receive in the air "making," says this facetious author, "some of them fall asleep, many of them "vomit, and several do still worse!"

SAINT LAWRENCE.

When the præfect of Rome demanded of St. Lawrence the treasures belonging to the Church of which he had known him to have been guardian, and to have disposed of, "The opulence "of the Christian Church," said St. Lawrence, "consists in its poor; take them, and afford

them shelter, you will find their custody superior to all other riches." "The Christian

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