335

NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII.

Note A, p. 313.

Curent autem episcopi, ut fidelium vivorum suffragia, missarum scilicet sacrificia, orationes, eleemosyna, aliaque pietatis opera, quæ a fidelibus pro aliis fidelibus defunctis fieri consueverunt, secundum Ecclesiæ instituta pie et devote fiant; et quæ pro illis ex testatorum fundationibus, vel alia ratione debentur, non perfunctorie, sed a sacerdotibus et Ecclesiæ ministris, et aliis, qui hoc præstare tenentur, diligenter et accurate persolvantur. Canones et Decreta Concil. Trident. Sess. 25, p. 239. Romæ,

1564.

Note B, p. 315.

In mortuariis principale animal ecclesiæ persolvatur, vacca vel bos, aut equus, si fuerit ad valorem vi. sol. aut minus. Et quantum ad vestes, si homo mortuarium persolverit, ad arbitrium ecclesiæ stabit, an vestes aut iii. sol. et vi. den. habere maluerit. Et si pauper fuerit, et nullum mortuarium persolverit, accipiantur vestes, sicuti sunt; et quintus quisque denarius ex liberis. Concilia Magna Britanniæ; in Statut. Synod. Sodorens. vol. i. p. 664. Edit. Wilkins, London, 1737.

Note C, p, 315.

Debita clerico persolvenda sunt hæc. Si homo mortuarium persolverit, clericus habeat ipsius hominis caligas, calceamenta ad pretium vi. den., et caputium, pileum, aut capellum pretii majoris vel minoris, sicuti ipse homo in die natalis Domini ambulaverit. Item camissiam, zonam ad unius denarii valorem, bursam ad unius denarii valorem, et cultellum ad unius denarii valorem. Ibid.

Note D, p. 315.

Item persona, seu vicarius, in obitu cujuscunque terram tenentis, de tenemento defuncti percipiet melius averium post

dominum; et si forte non fuerint ibi plura averia, executores defuncti tenentur satisfacere personæ vel vicario de bonis, quæ fuerunt defuncti, prout facultates suppetunt, antequam alibi aliqua executio de testamento fiat defuncti. Ibid. in Constitut. Egidii de Bridport. vol. i. p. 713.

Note E, p. 316.

Statuendo præcipimus, quod, de bonis cujuslibet decedentis ecclesia habeat optionem de omnibus, juxta consuetudinem vicinarum provinciarum, excepto uno; cum omnibus indumentis suis, et fulcro vel culcitra. Quod si non habeat birretum et culcitram, septem dentur denarii. Et cum quolibet mortuo juxta facultates fiant oblationes tam in denariis, quam in candelis, in ecclesia sua parochiali. Et sub pœna excommunicationis inhibemus, ne aliquis mortuus alio loco deferatur sepeliendus, donec missa pro eo fuerit celebrata in ecclesia sua parochiali. Ibid. in Constitut. Synod. Sodoren. ch. xi. vol. ii. p. 176.

Note F, p. 317.

In semetipsos crudelissimi animas suas proprias defraudent post mortem operibus pietatis, et orationum suffragia, quantum in iis est, penitus subtrahant ab iisdem. Ibid. in Constitut. Synod. Ossoriens. Art. xvi. vol. ii. p. 505.

Note G, p. 317.

Ordinamus et statuimus, quod quicunque in mortis articulo constitutus, vel ante, omnia bona sua donaverit cuicunque machinando mortem proximi sui, vel in fraudem ecclesiæ et creditorum, et animæ propriæ dispendium, ad sepulturam ecclesiasticam nullo modo admittatur sine licentia episcopi speciali. Ibid. art. xvi. vol. ii.

p.

505.

Note H, p. 317.

Donantes insuper, et sua bona in ipsa provincia taliter alienantes, propter sui gravitatem excessus, non obstante quacunque absolutione impensa a prædicta sententia, ecclesiastica careant sepultura. Ibid. in Concil. Londinen. ch. ix. vol. ii. p. 706.

Note I, p. 317.

Statutum est, quod universi fideles in infirmitate positi, confessore suo et vicinis astantibus, cum debita solennitate testamentum condant, et bona sua mobilia, dummodo uxores et liberos habeant, (ære alieno, et servientium mercede exceptis) in tres partes dividant; unam liberis, alteram uxori legitimæ, tertiam propriis exequiis relinquentes. Et si forte prolem legitimam non habuerint, bona ipsa inter ipsum et uxorem in duo media dividantur. Et si legitima uxor decesserit, inter ipsum et liberos bipartiri debent. Ibid. Constitut. Cassiliens. A.D. 1172. Can. 6, vol. i. p. 473.

"It is ordained that all Christians, when visited by sickness, make a will with due solemnity in the presence of their Confessor and neighbours, dividing their moveables (after the payment of debts and servants' wages), when they have wives and children, into three parts; so as to leave one to the children, another to the lawful wife, and a third for the funeral expenses. If a man have no legitimate children, his estate is to be divided between himself [i. e. his dues to the Church] and his wife. And if his lawful wife be dead, between himself and his children."

Note K, p. 317.

Præcipimus et statuimus, quod quilibet languens in extremis agoniis, cum testamentum condere voluerit, vocet capellanum ecclesiæ et clericum; et ipsis præsentibus, duobus vel tribus viris adhibitis bonis et fide dignis, testamentum suum ore suo ordinet: et ipse sacerdos substantiam suam diligenter exquirat, et si in aliquibus creditoribus sit obnoxius, vel de ære alieno oneratus; quod si non fecerit, tanquam intestatus reputetur. Ibid. Constitut. Synod. Sodoren. cap. xxxi. vol. ii. p. 179.

"We ordain and decree, that if any one, in the agonies of death, wishes to make his will, he shall call for the Minister of the Church and a Clerk, that in their presence, and before two or three good and trusty witnesses, he shall dictate his will by word of mouth; and that the Priest himself shall inquire diligently into his substance; to what creditors he is indebted, and with what debt he is encumbered; and that if he does not act thus, he shall be looked upon as intestate."

Ꮓ

Note L, p. 318.

In the following Case it came out in evidence that the "Secular Clergy, who are associated to the General Fund in the counties of Lancaster, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Chester," are bound by the following rules:

"That each of the brethren shall study to promote this stock in apt and fitting ways.

"That he shall with the greatest prudence exhort to this same pious work his friends and patrons, not only at death, but whenever any quantity of alms is to be distributed.

"Each priest shall celebrate mass every month for the benefactors of this stock in general, once for each priest enrolled in the books, thrice when he shall depart out of this life, and also once for every priest throughout England, when notice shall reach him of their death.

"Each priest also in particular shall commend benefactors to God according to the proportion of their donations; that is to say, each priest, beside the general recommendation, shall celebrate specially once for him who shall have given 10l.; twice for him who shall have given 201., and so forth.

"Ten pounds, taken from the Fund, and to be made up from the yearly supply, shall be deposited in reserve with the Superior, to afford help in wills of this kind, which he shall impart according to the equity of his judgment."

These rules are taken from the Latin copy printed in Manchester, in the year 1827, at the press of J. A. Robinson. Copied from a printed Appeal to the House of Lords, pp. 12, 13, in Appendix. See Middleton v. Sherburne. Younge and Collyer's Equity Reports, vol. iv. part 2, p. 358. West v. Shuttleworth. Mylne and Keene's Reports, vol. ii. p. 684. Attorney-General v. Todd. Keene's Reports, vol. i. p. 803. Attorney-General v. Fishmongers' Company. Beavan's Reports, vol. ii. p. 151. Devereux v. Bullock. Phillimore's Reports, vol. i. p. 60. Southey's Book of the Church, chap. x. p. 185. London, 1841.

Note M, p. 318.

"The new doctrine and invention of Purgatory, as it was managed, became a most forcible engine continually to drain the people's money. For when men were made to believe that after

death their souls should enter into a region of fire, there to suffer long and bitter torments, to be purged and fitted for the region of bliss; but yet to be eased there, and the sooner released according to the measure and number of the masses, offices, and prayers which should be made on their behalf here, whilst they lay broiling in that fearful state: people were put upon it to make the best provision they could in their life-time, or at least at their deaths, that such helps and means should be used on their behalf, as they might reasonably reckon upon a short and tolerable continuance there.

"To this purpose the founding and endowing of monasteries, abbeys, and nunneries, by the best and richer sort, and the colleges, free-chapels, and chantries, by the middle sort of people, according to their respective abilities, and the apprehensions they had of this future state, all pointed at the good of the founder's soul after death, and the souls of such others as he appointed.

"But then, alas! for those poor creatures whose small estates and narrowness of fortunes would not reach to such provisions, what would become of them? These then were put to it to make the best shift they could for themselves, by endeavouring in their life-time to get an interest in the favor and merit of some saint, and by purchasing and getting all the indulgences they could: for it was a very sad thing to leave all to chance, or to trust to the voluntary intercession of others; this would leave them at a great uncertainty, and, in articulo mortis, make the poor soul shift its mansion in a most fearful apprehension and horror. Indeed, Sir Thomas More was so charitable a solicitor for these poor souls, that he drew up a most pathetical supplication for them, and presented it in their names thus: To all good christian people, in most piteous wise continually call and cry upon your devout charity and tender pity for help, comfort, and relief, your late acquaintance, kindred, companions, spouses, playfellows, and friends, and now your humble, and unacquainted, and half-forgotten suppliants, poor prisoners of God, the silly souls in purgatory, here abiding, and enduring the grievous pains, and hot cleansing fire, &c.'

"But yet, not trusting to the uncertain charity of others, most persons strained to the utmost, and many most excessively, their fortunés considered, to leave some provision behind them, for that purpose and most commonly by their last wills and testaments,