explained by Ducange. “Qui vinum convivis miscet. Catholicon parvum, Pincerna, Bouteiller. Joan de Janua. Pincerna dicitur vini dispensator, vel potius propinator, qui porrigit ex officio poculum domino suo."

The word "simila" also occurs, which is thus explained by Ducange. "Simila, ut simenellus, panis ex simila, vel etiam placentulæ species, quæ alibi foliata dicitur." "Panis similaceus, ex Simila, Græcis oɛuidaλírns, cui secundum inter panes bonitatis locum assignat Galenus lib. 1. de aliment. Anglis simnelbread. Inde regiis mensis ministrari olim solitus. Liber de situ ecclesiæ Belli in Anglia. Constituens in primo monachis ejusdem ecclesiæ ad cotidianos usus panem regiæ mensæ aptum, qui Simenel vulgo vocatur. Bromptonus ann. 1044. "Eo die præcentor loci recipiat de fisco regio dimidiam marcam, et conventus centum simenellos, et unum modium vini." Glossarium in verb.

Spelman in his glossary says that the simnels were made of the best, and not of any inferior wheat: "Panis purior, sic dictus, quod a simila, hoc est, puriori farinæ parte efficitur." This certainly would have been a reason why the simnels should be especially given to the monks of Westminster, on the festival of a coronation. At any rate it is to be hoped that, whatever they were made of, they were more tempting to look at, (of the taste I cannot speak) than simnels of the present day, which are really offensive in their appearance; * and cannot but be, as another old writer, Constantinus Africanus, has described them, "very indigestible," although possibly "very nutritious." We must commiserate the daily fare of the convent of Westminster, when simnels, such as these, were an extraordinary treat.

*The town of Devizes, in Wiltshire, has long been famous for these "simnels:" and at present, I am told, they are made of

flour, yeast, saffron, currants, and spice. They are first boiled, and afterwards baked.

67 The Pontificals differ in the first rubric of this office: the earlier books are very short in their directions; and some refer to an "Ordo Romanus," not now followed by the pontifical of the Church of Rome, for the benediction "ad introitum," or, "ad Thus the

ostium ecclesiæ.

imperfect Salisbury pontifical in the Bodleian, the Cotton MS. Tiberius E. viij, and B. viij, (of the xijth century), commence: "Benedictio reginæ dicenda in ingressu ecclesiæ secundum ordinem Romanum: Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, fons, etc." It may be as well to give here, in brief, the full order as it continues in those MSS.

"Post hanc sequitur benedictio dicenda ante altare: Deus, qui solus habes." (Here the Bodleian MS. is imperfect.) "Item post hanc in sacri olei unctione sequitur hæc oratio: Spiritus. Sancti gratia humilitatis. Hic unguatur oleo sancto: In nomine Patris et Filii. Hic detur annulus. Accipe annulum. Sequitur oratio. Deus cujus est. Benedictio corona. Deus tuorum corona. Item in eodem ordine, ad coronæ impositionem. Postquam benedicta fuerit, coronabitur. Accipe coronam. "The MS. Tib. B. viij. alone adds: "Alia. Officio indignitatis nostræ. Oratio. Omnium Domine fons bonorum."

To these may be added, the Evesham Pontifical, before cited: which has the same rubric: but the authority of that MS. (an abbatial pontifical, it must be re

membered) is very much lessened by its constant mixture of, and reference to, in many offices, other Uses: not only the Roman, but the Gallican.

It

In the Order of K. Edwd. II. we find this benediction, but, as in the text, no reference is made to the "Ordo Romanus." seems now to have become a settled part of the English Office, and not requiring any longer an external authority. "Ad benedictionem sive consecrationem reginæ, dicetur ab episcopo ad ingressum ecclesiæ oratio. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, fons etc." This Order generally corresponds, except in the shortness of its rubrics, with the text: and I shall mark the chief variations as we proceed.

In the Order of K. Henry I., with which, generally, agrees the Winchester pontifical, this benediction is omitted altogether: whence we may conclude that it was introduced very shortly after his time: the earliest MS. in which I have seen it, being that cited above, Tiberius B. viij. It will be well, in this case as before, to give at once the whole arrangement at this date. A.D. 1100.

"Benedictio reginæ quæ ab episcopo in ecclesia, coram optimatibus, ante altare facienda est. Oratio. Deus qui solus habes. Hic effundatur oleum sanctum super verticem ejus in modum crucis, dicente episcopo: In nomine Patris. etc. Sequatur

oratio. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, affluentem. Hic detur annulus, dicente episcopo: Accipe annulum. Sequatur oratio. Deus cujus est omnis. Benedictio coronæ regiæ. Deus tuorum corona. Hic coronetur. Accipe coronam. Sequatur oratio. Omnium, Domine, fons bonorum."

Lastly, we have the very valuable and important order of K. Ethelred, which has a rubric at the beginning of somewhat greater length, and of no little interest.

"Finit consecratio regis." See above, Note 54. "Quam sequitur consecratio reginæ, quæ propter honorificentiam ab episcopo sacri unguinis oleo super verticem perfundenda est, et in ecclesia coram optimatibus cum condigno honore et regia celsitudine, in regalis thori consortium, benedicenda et consecranda est; quæ etiam annulo pro integritate fidei, et corona pro æternitatis gloria decoranda est.

Incipit consecratio regina: ab episcopo dicenda est: In nomine Patris etc. Oratio. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, affluentem. Hic detur ei annulus. Ac

cipe annulum. Alia. Deus cujus est. Hic coronetur. Accipe coronam. Alia. Omnium, Domine, fons bonorum."