Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

The Ceremony of taking the black Veil.

All this time the nuns continue to fing; fhe is then conducted, for the last time, to the grate, where the kneels down and receives her candle. At the fame time her crucifix is taken away, and fhe continues kneeling while the nursing the hymn of thanksgiving, called Te Deum laudamus. The hymn being finished, the rifes and bows to the altar; fhe then retires to the facrifti, or parlour, to fee and fpeak to her relations, friends and acquaintance. The curtain being then drawn, and the grate fhut, all the nuns in general retire to their apartments.

At this proceffion, as at the ceremony of the white veil, the nuns have three days recreation, and all the diversions that the aufterity of a convent will allow of. The newmade nun is under an indifpenfable obligation to treat her fifter-nuns just as at the former ceremony. Upon this occafion, fhe is obliged to repair again to the novice-houfe, and refide there during two years, for her farther inftruction. During the time of her noviciate, which lafts three years, one of which paffes between the time of her taking the white veil and the black, and the other two follow the latter ceremony, fhe is only called fifter; but when her noviciate is expired, she receives the appellation of mother.

As I have often taken notice of the nuns being in rows, I fhall here explain the manner in which these are ranged in the choir to the reader. The choir is a large fquare room, with feats on each fide, and fronting their altar. Each nun has her peculiar feat allotted her, according to the time of her refidence in the convent. The oldeft fits next to the fuperior, and the reft are placed according to feniority, to the youngeft, who is placed at the bottom of the choir. On the left-hand fide of the choir, as you look through the grate, ftands the fuperior, with a row of nuns ranged in regular order to the bottom. On the right-hand fide fits the fecond fuperior at the head of another row ranged in the fame manner. Each row ends with the youngest nuns, and thofe that wear the white veils. Behind the nuns are feated the boarders, I mean fuch as are grown up the little ones, who are pretty numerous during a peace, as at prefent, are placed in a corner, on the right hand fide, and clofe to the grate. By this method of ranging the nuns and boarders, which is followed in all convents, a larger vacant place is left in the midft of the choir, and every nun and boarder may be easily feen by any perfon through the grate. I

183

have likewife taken notice of the nuns having candles, without informing the reader whe ther they were lighted or not. It may, therefore, be proper to explain the inftitution of candles in this place, and fhew why the religious make fo much use of them in their churches and ceremonies, and afterwards, to fet forth the benefit obtained by their being bleffed. First, candles are placed on their altars in churches, to the honour and glory of Jefus Chrift, as thefe lights are emblems of. joy, being figurative types of the glory of Jefus Chrift, and denote the light of faith. Se condly, when they carry their candles lighted in their hands, and these are blessed, the meaning of this is, that they beg of God that fuch as religiously use them may obtain his bleffing, and the light of his countenance; though the candles which they carry in their hands do not. receive a formal benediction, but are accounted bleffed, inasmuch as they are dedicated to God and the fervice of religion.

These are the reafons affigned me by a prieft; and I am inclined to think, that they are according to the true fpirit of the Roman-Catholic religion, and that this is the true meaning of these candles, when they are used in their religious ceremonies. At these proceffions, and the times of receiving the facrament, as well as upon fome remarkable holidays, they open a part of their grate about eighteen inches fquare, oppofite to which the officiating prieft is feated. At this place the nun kneels,` as has been already cbferved. However, if this aperture was not made, the grate is fo large, that all in the church can fee whatever palles in the choir.

Thus far I have been as particular as poffible in every thing relative to these ceremonies, which I am the better able to defcribe, as I was an eye-witnefs of them. For the feveral explanations here given, I am beholden to the religious and ecclefiaftics. The reader may, depend upon it, that I have omitted no particulars worth his knowledge, nor shall I infert, any thing from hear-fay: I must therefore pafs by feveral proceffion-days which happen in the winter-feafon. If any of my explanations of the religious practices of the church of Rome fhould prove to be erroneous, I hope the fault will be laid to the charge of the Romish ecclefiaftics, to whom I always applied upon fuch occafions. The form of a nun's lying in ftate I fhall next proceed to give, which the reader will find to be very remarkable and interefting.

[To be continued. ]

[ocr errors][merged small]

A very extraordinary Dedication of Denzil Holles, Baron of Infield, to Oliver St. John, the Sollicitor-General, and Oliver Cromwell the Parliament's Lieutenant-General, and afterwards Protector. Together with a remarkable Anecdote of his Intrepidity.

EX

XAMPLES of Intrepidity, when accompanied with loyalty, caft a luftre upon high birth. They should not be fuffered to fleep in oblivion, in an age which feems fonder of the name, than the enjoyment of freedom. He, therefore, who draws inftances of this nature, from inglorious obfcurity, should be looked upon as a true friend of his country. For it is not poffible for men of noble fouls to read of an heroic action without kindling with a congenial flame, and noble emulation. Thefe reflections are owing to the perufal of a dedication of Denzil Holles, which breathes with true patriotic fire, and fhews an intrepidity which no miferies could extinguish, no difficult es could abate. That your readers may participate with me in my pleasure, I have tranfcribed it verbatim; and doubt not but the fcarcity of the work, to which it is prefixed, will vindicate my officioufnefs from the charge of unfeasonableness or futility.

To the unparallelled couple, Mr. Oliver St. John, his majesty's follicitor-general, and Mr. Oliver Cromwell, the parliament's lieutenant-general, the two grand defigners of the ruin of three kingdoms.

"GENTLEMEN,

"As you have been principal in miniftring of the matter of this difcourfe, and giving me the leisure of making it, by banishing me from my country and bufinefs,,fo it is reafon I fhould particularly addrefs it to you. You find in it fome reprefentation of the groffer lines of your features, those outward enormities, that make you remarkable, and your pictures eafy to be known, which cannot be expected here fo fully to the life as I could wish. He only can do that, whofe eye and band have been with you in fecret councils; who has feen you at your meetings, your Sabbaths, where you have laid by your affumed shapes (with which

Remarkable Inftance

MEN, who are born with great talents, are

regarded with wonder; and every anecdote relating to them carries with it fomething of aftonishment. The works of bishop Jewel have already recommended him to the efteem of the friends of proteftantifm; but the ftrength of his memory excites our admiration. This faculty was naturally ftrong, but he increafed its strength very much by art. He feldom forgot any remarkable thing that

you coxened the world) and resumed your own ;
imparting each to other, and both of you to
your fellow-witches, the bottom of your de-
figns, the policy of your actings, the turns of
your contrivances, all your falfhoods, cozen-
ings, villanies, and cruelties, with your full
intentions to ruin the three kingdoms. All I
will fay to you, is no more than what St Peter
faid to Simon the SORCERER, Repent, there-
fore, of this your wickedness, and pray God, if
perhaps the thoughts of your hearts may be for-
given you. And if you have not grace to pray
for yourselves (as it may be you have not) I
have charity to do it for you, but not faith
enough to trust you.
So I remain,

I thank God, not in your power,
And as little at your service,
DENZIL HOLLES."

At S. Mere Eglide in Normandy,
this 14th of Feb. 1647, St. V.

This addrefs is a specimen of the intrepidity of the celebrated Holles. His indignation was that of a true patriot, indifputably juft and noble. His intrepidity was not confined to his writings, but fhone forth in his actions. We will produce one inftance to confirm this aftertion; and we do it the more willingly, as out of many it will not only be fubfervient to the illuftration of this hero's character, but likewife conduce to the pleasure of the reader,--One day, in a very hot debate in the house, fome rude expreffions having fallen from Ireton, Holles perfuaded him to walk out with him, and then told him, "that he infifted upon his croffing the water immediately to fight him.” Ireton replying, "that his confcience would not fuffer him to fight a duel;" Holles was in fo great a paffion, that he pulled him by the nole, and told him, that if his confcience would keep him from giving men fatisfaction, it fhould keep him from provoking them."

of a strong Memory.

he heard; and generally entered it in his common-place-book. He could repeat exactly whatever he had written after a fingle perufal. During the ringing of the bell, he got a repetition fermon by heart, and delivered it at church, without the leaft hefitation. His custom was to write only the heads of his difcourfes, the other part being fo ftrongly imprinted on his mind, that he frequently faid, "If ten thousand people were quarrelling

or

On the Study of Medicine, particularly in treating the Gout.

[ocr errors]

or fighting, all the while he was preaching, shey could not put him out.' To try his ability this way, Dr. Parkhurft propofed fome of the moft difficult and barbarous words in a calendar; and John Hooper, bishop of Gloucefter, forty Welch, Irish, and foreign words; but after reading them only once, and a fhort recollection, he repeated them all by heart, backward and forward. And, in the year 1563, Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord-keeper, having read to him the latter part of ten lines out of Erafmus's paraphrafe, in a confused and imperfect manner, he fat filent a little while, and, covering his face with his hand, imme

185

diately rehearfed all thofe broken parcels of fentences, in the direct and contrary way, without any hefitation. What is ftill more furprifing, he profeffed to teach this art to others, and he taught it his tutor, Dr. Parkhurft, at Zurich, who in the space of twentyeight days, applying himself only one hour each day, learned all the twenty eight-chapters of St. Matthew's Gofpel, fo perfectly, that he could repeat any verfe in it, if he knew what went before, and what followed it. Non ita pridem e ANTIQUUS. Coll. Jes. Scholaris.

To the Public in general, and Phyficians in particular.

AMIDST the various pursuits of mankind,

towards the attainment of useful knowledge, the Study of Medicine has been held in the highest eftimation by the wife of all ages; as it more immediately concerns the welfare, eafe, and duration of the human frame. And yet notwithstanding so many of the learned have engaged in this beneficial study, and been happy enough to difcover variety of remedies in variety of maladies, it must be confeffed, that many difeafes have ftill eluded their most diligent investigation. This defect in the fcience, I apprehend, might more easily be removed, would the learned diveft themselves of that prejudice, which they conceive against the leis-learned of the faculty. The meanest reptile is of ufe, and the tiny glow-worm affords fome light and comfort to the benighted traveller. In fhort, if a perfect knowledge of the learned languages was effential to the tudy and practice of Phyfic, we had not been indebied to a Sutton for his late moft valuable discoveries relative to the Small-Pox.

Having premifed thus much, it will be proper to acquaint the public, that the Goutthe opprobrium of phyfic-has been my peculiar ftudy for a long feries of years, during which I have proved, by unerring practice, that it is as easily relieved as any other, lefs formidable, difeafe, and by means agreeable to the laws of nature and the dictates of rea

fon-by gentle perfpiration. For wife nature in this, as in most other difeafes, endeavours to relieve herself by expelling the morbific matter through the pores of the fkin. To affift her in this molt falutary effort, I have difcovered a medicine which has not once failed in removing the feverest attacks of the Gout, without offering the leaft violence to the conftitution. As the truth of this atfertion can be fully proved, it would be generous to me, and humane to their gouty patients, if the gentlemen of the faculty would enquire into the validity of it. But if the atteftation

of many gentlemen of rank and integrity will not fuffice, and they fhould rather be difpofed to receive occular proof of the efficacy of my medicine, I am fo little fearful of its failure, that I fhould take it as a favour if they would adminifter it in my prefence, in some fevere vifcera gout, and I will be anfwerable for the confequence at the hazard of my reputation, which is as precious to me as life itself.-The late celebrated Dr. Schomberg was fo well convinced of its falutary effects, that he generoufly offered to recommend the use of it in the course of his extenfive practice; provided I would acquaint him with the compofition, and fuffer it to be published at my decease. But fure a discovery so valuable merited a more confiderable recompence! The compofition of it confifts of a more numerous collection of herbs, flowers, roots, and feeds, than any other medicine directed by the Difpenfatory, and is regularly prepared and compounded agreeable to the art of an Apothecary, of which body I have been a member almost half a century. This medicine, by its cordial nature, diffuses a falutary warmth through the folids and fluids, diffolves the principles of the difeafe, and plentifully difcharges the peccant humours by reviving fweats and urine. It renders irregular attacks of the Gout regular, the fits few and fhort, promotes the work of digeftion, ftrengthens the nerves, fecures the whole vifcera from gouty invafions, and the joints from contractions. Moreover, it prevents the ftone and gravel, dropfy, palfy and jaundice, too frequently complicated with the gout, and caufed by other medicines, which break and destroy the texture and healthy confiftence of the blood, already too cold, and too much impoverished by the difeafe itself. It has no connection with any part of the prefent practice; fuch as opium, antimony, mercury, foap, camphire, bark, piperine ingredients, or any one article which can poffibly prejudice the conftruction. Thefe, how

ever,

ever, I perceive, are frequently made ufe of in large dofes, to alleviate the pangs of this excruciating distemper, along with cathartics, fontanels, and phlebotomy-but I have no more to fay. The grave covers all faults. Dead men can tell no tales. "Fælix quem

faciunt allena pericula cautum." Wife Providence has not left us deftitute of relief, as fome do craftily and impiously fuggeft, did we not overlook the furprifing virtues of the vegetable creation. Almost every field produces admirable remedies in meer fimples; which, rightly managed, might perform wonders in this, as well as in other painful diforders. But if through prevailing obftinacy on the one part, and chicanery on the other, beneficial difcoveries in medicine are flighted, probably becaufe the difcoverer may not be dignified with a diploma (which, by-the-by, is not very difficult to obtain) we need not be furprised that fo many of the illuftrious great fall, untimely, martyrs to the Gout; who might otherwife, by proper application, have lived long, a comfort to their friends, and a bleffing to their country. Notwithstanding what I have already advanced, concerning my medi

cine, and the proof of its efficacy, like Trojan Caffandra, I am not to be believed till it be too late; I have only to fay, that I (an arthritic myself) am ready to take dofe for dofe with any gentleman of eminence; and, upon proper fecurity, to difcover the compofition to him; by which it will manifeftly appear, that there is nothing in the whole Materia Medica more inoffenfive in other refpects, or so proper for this excruciating difeafe.

To conclude: having spent the most valuable part of my life in promoting the eafe and comfort of every individual under my care, am now defirous of retiring from bufinefs, and to transfer the admirable means of relieving the most miferable objects of the human race to more active capacities. I am, therefore, willing to difcover, and affign over, my medicine to any gentleman of the faculty, who may be inclined to advance a reward proportionable to the value of what may be termed a firm freehold, as it is not in the power of the most inquifitive Chymift to analyfe its compofition. York-Buildings, London, Νου. 5, 1768.

R. DRAKE,

An Extract of the Will of Robert Dudley, Baron of Denbigh, Son of John of Northumberland, and Brother to Ambrofe Earl of Warwick.

GENTLEMEN,

THE reflections you favoured us with, in No. III. p. 102, relating to the private manner in which the late archbishop of Canterbury was buried, and the curious extract from the will of the rev. Mr. Hales, have given us great pleasure. I herein have inclosed an extract from a will no lefs fingular: and, without copying the title of this letter, give it you in the words of the original.

"This is the laft will and teftament of me Robert earl of Leicester, her majesty's lieutenant-general of all her forces in the Low Countries, and governor and captain-general of all the United Provinces, written with bis Ton hand, the first of Auguft, in Middleborough, 1758. First, I take it to be the part of every true Chriftian to make a true teftimony of his faith at all times, and especially in fuch a cafe, and at fuch a time, as this is. And, therefore, I do mean here faithfully to make a fhort declaration, to teftify in what faith I do live and depart from this world, through the grace of my Lord and Saviour to continue me in the fame till the feparation of this life and body. And fo I do acknowledge my creation and being to be had and continued by the providence of our Almighty God, the creator of all things both in heaven and earth; and do confess, that above all deeds, that his

divine Majefty in the gift of his bleffed font Chrift Jefus to be the Redeemer and Saviour of his people that be faithfully, by whofe only merits and paflion, I verily believe, and most affured of, the forgivenefs of all my fins, be they never fo great or infinite; and that he only is the fufficient facrifice that hath ap→ peafed the wrath of his Father, and that biefied Lamb, which innocently fuffered all torments

to bear the bitter burden due to us miferable wretches, for his most tender compaffion over all that have grace to believe on him: all which his Grace's goodness and mercy I moft faithfully take hold on, being fo promifed by himself, who is the only truth itfelf, that I am the child of falvation, and to be the inheritor of his everlafting kingdom, and to meet with him at the joyful day of refurrection, with all the faithful children and faints of God. In this faith I now live, and in this faith I trust to change this life, with continual prayer to the throne of grace to grant me, during this pilgrimage of mine, a true, humble and penitent heart for the due recognition of all my offences, and the willing amendment of the fame, and to fly inftantly to the fure anker-bold, my Lord and Saviour Christ Jefus, to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all honour, glory and dominion, for ever, Amen.

"Thus,

Extract of the Will of Robert Dudley, Baron of Denbigh.

"Thus, being in perfect health and memory, and having fet down my faith as a true Christian, and being uncertain of the hour of death, I think it my part to fettle my worldly matters in as good eftate as I can; efpecially being haftily and fuddenly fent over, and likewife having very little leifure fince my arrival to get any time for my private bufinefs. BUT FIRST, my will is, to commit this wretched body of mine, when it fhall please God to feparate it from the foul, to the order of my dear friends that fhall be living, as my executors and my overseers, of this my laft will and teftament, and they to take fuch orders for the burial of my body, as they fhall think meet, always requiring, that it may be done with as little pomp or vain expences of the world as may be, being perfuaded, that there is no more vain expences than that is: a convenient tomb or monument I wish there fhould be. And for the place where my body should lie, it is hard to appoint, and I know not how convenient it is to defire it; but I have always wifhed, as my dear wife doth know, and fome of my friends, that it might be at Warwick, where fundry of my ancestors do lie; either fo, or elsewhere, the queen's majesty shall command for as it was, when it had life, a most faithful, true, loving fervant unto her, fo living, and fo dead, let the body be at her gracious determination, if it fhall fo please her. Touching my bequests, they cannot be great, by reafon my ability and power is little, for I have not diffembled with the world my eftate, but have lived always above any living I had (for which I am heartily forry) left, that through my many debts from time to time, fome men have taken lofs by me. My defire therefore is, and I do charge my executors to have due confideration, that if any perfon fhall juftly after my decease, make fuch complaint, that they fhall be fatisfied, as far as it shall be found, in any equity, it is due unto them, with advantage to them. Befides, I do hereby appoint my moft dear well-beloved wife, the countess of Leicester, to be my fole executrix of this my laft will and testament, and do require her, for all true love between us, that he will not only be content to take it' upon her, but also to see it faithfully and carefully performed. And albeit there may many imperfections be found with the making of this will, for that I am no lawyer, nor have any counsel with me to place things in fuch form as fome are able, yet as my true meaning is, I truft, to exprefs, that accordingly it may

187.

be interpreted, for I mean to make it as plain as I can. And firft of all, before and above all perfons, it is my duty to remember my most dear and most gracious fovereign, whofe creature, under God, I have been, and who hath been a moft bountiful and princely miftrefs unto me, as well in advancing me to many honours, as in maintaining me many ways by her goodness and liberality. And, as my best recompence to her most excellent majesty can be, from fo mean a man, chiefly in prayer to God; fo, whilft there was any breath in this body, I never failed it, even as for my own foul. And as it was my greatest joy in my life-time to serve her to her con tentation, fo it is not unwelcome to me, being the will of God, to die and end this life for her fervice. And yet, albeit I am not able to make any piece of recompence of her great goodness, yet will I prefume to prefent unto her a token of an humble and a faithful heart, as the leaft that ever I can fend her; and with this prayer withal, that it may please the Almighty God, not only to make her the oldeft princess that ever he gave over England, but to make her the godlieft, the virtuoufeft, and the worthieft, in his fight, that ever he gave over any nation. That the may indeed be a bleffed mother and nurse to this people, and church of England: which the Almighty God grant for his Chrift's fake! The token that I do bequeath unto her majefty, is the jewel with three great emeralds, with a fair large table-diamond in the midit, without a foil, and fet about with many diamonds without foil, and a rope of fair white pearl, to the number of fix hundred, to hang the said jewel at, which pearl and jewel was once propofed for her majefty against a coming to Wanttead; but it now muft thus be difpofed: which I do pray you, my dear wife, fee performed, and delivered to fome of thofe, whom I fhall hereafter nominate and appoint to be my overseers for her majefty, &c."

It is very remarkable, that notwithstanding this legacy, and the ftrong attachment the earl profeffed for her majefty, yet queen Elizabeth fuffered his goods to be fold, after his death, to discharge a debt due to the crown, agreeably to a standing maxim, from which she never receded, the maxim of remitting to no one the claims upon them from her trea fury. I am, Gentlemen,

Nov. 9, 1768.

A real Graduate of Oxford.

Wil

« ZurückWeiter »