Original Documents.
Amongst the records in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, London, numerous memorials of interest are preserved, which well deserve careful examination. For the following extracts from the archives, consisting of accounts of the sacrist and keeper of the treasury of that church, towards the latter part of the thirteenth century, we are indebted to the kindness of the Ven. Archdeacon Hale. It were much to be desired that a series of documents of this nature could be formed, valuable, not merely as supplying information regarding ecclesiastical usages, but on account of the precise data which they afford for the comparison of the value of money at various periods, the price of merchandise, rate of wages, and other points of statistical enquiry.
In the annual account of disbursements of Thomas de Culing, keeper of the treasury, from Easter, A.D. 1276, the following particulars occur.
The consumption of incense during the year amounted to eighteen pounds and a half, at tenpence the pound, eight pounds at ninepence, and nine pounds and a-half at seven pence. In other years it was purchased at a still lower price, namely at sixpence the pound.
Item, in carbone, cum cariagio, ij.s. ix.d. Item, in brachinellis, die pentecostes, ij.s. Item, in cirpis, iiij.d. qa. Item, Dominica in ramis palmarum, in bucsis et palmis, vj.d. In scopacione ecclesie, per annum, v.sol. xi.d. qa. Item, in mactis[1], per annum, xj.sol.
Charcoal was used, doubtless, for the patella or chafer, named in another place, which supplied embers for the censers. Regarding the "brachinellis" at Pentecost, it may be confidently surmised that the term relates to the feasting which occurred at the Whitsun-ales; if, indeed, an error may have been made by the scribe or the transcriber, the true reading would be "crachinellis," cracknels[2]; as, however, the chief preparation on these joyous occasions appears to have been the concoction of ale, the word may be some diminutive derivable from brachinum, or braciatorium, a brewery. Many notices might be given of the usage of strewing churches with rushes, a precaution, probably, as likewise the mactæ, or mats, against cold and damp, when the daily services were followed with regularity[3].
Item, in stipendio trium famulorum ecclesie, per annum, x.sol. Item, in stipendio lotricis, per annum, ij.sol. vij.d. Item, in stipendio consutricis, pro tribus quarteriis anni, iiij.s. vj.d. Item, in victu clerici, per annum, xv.sol. In stipendio ejusdem, vj-sol.[4]
Item, in j. serico magno empto, viij.d. Item, in j. serico minore, j.d. Item, in tunicula cujusdam panni de serico, et inde offertorio effecto, xviij.d. Item, in ij. phialis de stangno, iij.d. Item, in quatuor clochis in festo dedicationis ecclesie, j.d.
- ↑ In an account of the year 1279, the corresponding item gives this word as "natis," mats; in another "naclis."
- ↑ "Crakenelle, brede, Creputellus, fraginellus, artocopus." Prompt. Parv.
- ↑ Of the custom of strewing churches see the notes on country wakes, in Brand's Popular Antiquities, by Sir Henry Ellis.
- ↑ In another roll he is called clericus de vestibulo, and rated at 7d. a week.
