Parish priests and their people in the middle ages in England . xt he gives metrical paraphrases of the LordsPrayer, Ave and Creed, with a brief explanation ofthe Creed, and a curious illustration of the doctrineof the Trinity :— Water and ice and eke be thre things as ye may see,And yet the three all water be. Then he gives a long instruction on the rightadministration of baptism, and on confirmation :— Which in lewde mens menyng, Is y-called the bishop confirraeth and maketh sad tThat that the priest before hath made,^Wherefore the name that is then y-spokeMust stand
Parish priests and their people in the middle ages in England . xt he gives metrical paraphrases of the LordsPrayer, Ave and Creed, with a brief explanation ofthe Creed, and a curious illustration of the doctrineof the Trinity :— Water and ice and eke be thre things as ye may see,And yet the three all water be. Then he gives a long instruction on the rightadministration of baptism, and on confirmation :— Which in lewde mens menyng, Is y-called the bishop confirraeth and maketh sad tThat that the priest before hath made,^Wherefore the name that is then y-spokeMust stand firm as it were loke,§ which is an interesting allusion to the right of alteringthe Christian name at Confirmation. Then comes a general sentence of excommunica-tion II to be said two or three times a year when the * The churchyard was frequently called the sanctuary. t Ratified. \ In baptism. § Locked. 11 There are various forms on record of this general sentence of excommunication. Two are given at pp. 86 and 119 of the York Manual (Surtees Society).. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARISH PRIESTS. 239 parish is met together, with cross and candle andbell tolling. It declares that all persons are accursedwho break the peace of the church, or rob it, orwithhold tithes; all slanderers, fire raisers, thieves,heretics, usurers, etc., etc. Then the candle is to bethrown down, and the priest is to spit on the ground,and the bells to ring. This general sentence ofexcommunication is clearly the origin of the form ofCommination still said on Ash Wednesday. Then comes an instruction on the mode of hearingconfessions, and some practical advice on the kindof penances to give, if the penitent does notknow the Pater, Ave, and Creed, he is to have sucha penance set as will make him learn them ; and heis to be examined as to his belief. Next, as part of the instruction in the art of con-fession, comes a practical exposition of the tencommandments one by one ; and in the same wayan exposition of
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