NOTES AND QUERIES. The Library. Preaching in Medieval England. By G. R. Owst. (Cambridge University Press. 17s. 6d. net). THIS IS new member of the Series of Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought is intended as an introduction to sermon manuscripts of the period from c. 1350-1450. Taking this description strictly we should suppose the book addressed to a small and also to a highly learned public, since those who have chance or inclination to read mediæval sermon manuscripts are assuredly exceeding few and likewise probably veterans, or else enthusiasts, in study. However, Dr. Owst certainly writes with the general reader-at any rate with the student who uses printed books rather than originals -well in view, and though the deepest profit will be gained by one who can turn up the numerous references to manuscripts, plenty of satisfaction and information will reward the humbler seeker also. Nevertheless, we wish that Dr. Owst had distinguished more clearly in his own mind between the wants of these two classes of readers, and had get himself more definitely to meet the one or the other. If he is writing for people who already know the religious life of the middle ages pretty well a good part of what he puts down is superfluous; if he is writing for those to whom that is virtually unknown, then he deals far too much in mere allusion, gives far too little in the way of clear statement, neglects far too light-heartedly the modest advantages to be derived from system and coherence. We have long perceived with regret that the writers of serious studies intended like this to be thorough-and which are in fact thorough so far as main substance goes are becoming more and more infected (so to put it) by the general manner and by the conventions in detail of the literary essayist. Thus the rhetorical device of apparent casualness is useful in an essay, meant to prick up attention, and give new suggestion on some old topic; it fails where it is a question of imparting new information. Further, we regret the negligent style of Dr. Owst's English, not only because of its tediousness, and the not infrequent necessity of going over a sentence twice before we could gather the meaning, but also because this negligence has led here and there to absurdities and to actual incorrectness. We have marked several examples, but will give two to illustrate our meaning, both taken from the early part of the chapter on Sermonmaking. We are told that there were three great influences" in the matter of style affecting the sermon-types of the period under discussion. The first "influence" is said to be "the genius of exposition 'secundum ordinem textus ""; the second is called 143 "the second great style," and is that to be associated intimately with the method of the University." What it is we are not told till we come to the sentence "there is positive evidence that the new way, with its logical distinctions and its pretty formality whence we are led to infer that its characteristic was the use of formal divisions of a subject. "The anecdote, the fable, the entertaining legend and marvel provide us with making of the past"-thus is our third great element from the sermon وو the third influence brought before us. But style," influence," and "element are not ideas belonging to the same category, and though one gets to see what is meant without much trouble, one does so by rejecting expectation aroused and adjusting oneself to incoherence. The instance of absurdity (we are aware it is a mere inadvertence) occurs at p. 319: the real meaning of the Pater Noster.' It is a prayer these wandering, unlettered minds have repeated so often and so carelessly in their crude Latin.' There is something exquisitely ludicrous in referring to the Latin of the Pater Noster' as 'crude": and what are we to say about its being imputed as their Latin " to the wandering, unlettered minds? We have ventured thus to criticise the writing at some length because we regard this Series of Medieval Studies with a special interest, and have observed in more than one member of it this combination of immense stores of matter, with a sort of incapacity, largely by reason of an invertebrate English style, for setting it out to advantage. Largely-but not solely; for the actual framework of these books, though the main divisions are, as in this of Dr. Owst's apt to be very good, sometimes exhibits poor interior articulation. The reader, then, who attacks the volume before us, must arm himself with patience; but, if he consents to that much, he will rise from his labours enriched. A few characters-Fitzralph, for example, and Master Rypon, and John de Bromyard, will be added to his medieval circle of acquaintance if not as entirely new, yet as brought closer to him. The general picture in his mind of religious life and thought in this century will probably be little altered in its main features and proportion of parts, but the function of the preacher (and especially of those who were Bishops and Curates ") will be magnified. It is of some importance, too, to note where modern popular writers are shown to be misleading: Dom Bede Jarrett, for example, and Cardinal Gasquet, who have generalised too hastily, and from data not altogether sufficient. Dr. Owst's treatment of the use of legends, and the strange tales which provoked derision in later and wiser ages shows insight and sympathy, especially where he brings out the connection of credulity with emotional force. A valuable chapter is that entitled Wandering Stars,' dealing with those preachers (such as pardoners, and hermits) who belonged neither to the religious orders nor to the secular clergy of diocese : and parish. In them we touch both the highest heights of spirituality attained at that time, and the lowest depth of superstition and hypocrisy and here again we and Dr. Owst handling his wealth of material with sensitive understanding. Following it come two chapters abounding in interesting illustration, concerning the Preaching scene" in the church, at the cross and in in these chapters, is particularly good care procession. All the part addressed to the eye fully drawn up and vivid; and good, too, are the stories and incidents' with which it is furnished. In the chapter on Sermon Literature and its Types, Dr. Owst makes the interesting point against Gasquet's supposition in the matter-that the fourteenth century preacher, even if his sermon is preserved in Latin, composed and preached it in the vernacular, translating it into Latin afterwards if need were. This conclusion is clinched by the declaration in the collection of over eighty Latin sermons by Fitzralph that, with the exception of half-a-dozen or so, all were delivered in vulgari." Another noteworthy point in this topic is the suggestion that the writing out of manuals in Latin was a characteristic custom of the friar, its motive being to exclude from the use of his labours laymen and halfliterate priests. This chapter may be con. sidered as the core of the whole work. The Home of the Monk. By D. H. S. Cranage. (Cambridge University Press. net). sermons interest to even the ordinary reader;" such ALTHOUGH 5s. some people maintain that of the language is unnecessary to comprehenstages sion and appreciation of our life and literature, their view has no support from fortunate persons who have studied origins. Mr. Wyatt, levelled at these studies, gives us, in a small who is impressed by charges of dulness compass, excerpts from Anglo-Saxon poetry and prose sufficiently vivid and stirring to silence such criticism, and, considering his restricted space, varied enough to be representative. He is particularly successful in his extracts from Beowulf,' the story being conveyed by the addition of a fore-note and short connecting explanations. He thus avoids the denuded significance apparent previous Readers.' and includes Wisely, he Beowulf's dying speech. Some may regret that The Seafarer,' on grounds of space, is curtailed. The Glossary and Notes afford a beginner the the help he needs. 6s. R. CRANAGE intends this little book, related to and shewn by monastic buildings, for the ordinary reader,' in the hope of inducing him to take more interest in the ruined and unruined monasteries of England. The first seven chapters therefore describe the several parts of the building, setting forth their uses for and influence on daily life; the eighth describes the monastic Church. Reference is chiefly made to Benedictine houses, specially those of the Cistercian development: Carthusian buildings are hardly referred to " as the writer remarks. In the course of his description of the Cloister, he says that "at first the monasteries "educated also large numbers of boys who had no intention of becoming monks;" which view needs the correction of Abbot Butler's careful and tentative enquiry, on this obscure point, in ch. xix of Benedictine Monachism.' DR descriptive of monastic life specially as The book is enriched with attractive illustrations, of which that of Wenlock is singularly gracious; while the snapshot of Rievaulx, a place so difficult to convey trulyis unusually happy. Since it is hard to say anything fresh or profitable, in a dozen pages, on the Dissolution, and since this matter is not germane to the main purpose of the work, chapter xii might well have been omitted, and the space so saved devoted to matters of BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUE. MR. GEORGE GREGORY of Bath sends us his Catalogue No 278. In a list of rare or choicely bound books we noticed some interesting Lamb items, of which we should covet most, ‘Elia,' and The Last Essays of Elia,' in first editions -2 vols., post_8vo., half green morocco-£12 12s., and Mr. E. V. Lucas's edition with Life of Lamb's Works (1903-06: £12 128.). An early edition of Alice in Wonderland,' and a first edition of Alice through the Looking-glass,' the two volumes bound by Bayntun, are also attractive, (£12 12s.); and another good item is the 1773 edition of Molière by Bret, in 6 vols., bound in contemporary French calf£35. In the list of First Editions of 19th and 20th century authors we noticed Ainsworth's 'Jack Sheppard' (£13 138.); Hardy's Return of the Native' (£12); Stevenson's 'Underwoods (£3 38.); Trollope's 'Eustace Diamonds' (£7 108.); Flecker's Hassan (£1 18.); and Frederick Locker's 'Patchword (158.). The Catalogue contains also a list of useful and inexpensive works on Topography and Archæology. CORRIGENDA. At ante p. 70, col. 1, line 13, for " grace" read grave. At ante p. 101, col. 1, line 52, for "D'Ager " read D'Agar. Printed and Published by the Bucks Free Press, Ltd., at their Offices. High Street. Wycombe in the County of Bucks. FOR READERS AND WRITERS, COLLECTORS AND LIBRARIANS. Seventy-Seventh Year. 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Textual Notes on some Passages in Hamlet,' 147-Suffolk Churchyard Inscriptions relating to other counties and countries, 149 The Scots Greys: Sergeant John Weir-Stocks: The last in London Streets-Hammond Family, QUERIES:-The Mayflower Scottish Catholic New Testament St. Botolph's, Cambridge 'De Regibus Siciliae': Parallel Alfonsina,' 151-Tankerville Tombs Hours of evening meals Arms for identification H. C. S. Macqueen Japanese Street-names in Great Britain-Glaiston Park, Rutland Hütte von Auspach—“ Aldid": Woman's Christian name, 152" Black butter "-Liverpool Museum: British Gallery-Stammerers-Zair Family of Birmingham La Princesse de Cleves: Bibliography The "Grand Monde in Balzac's novels-The Names of the Popes Curious Street-names Memorial to Edward Thomas, Denbigh-Two seventeenth century pamphlets, 153-Charles Jephson William Kensington Godschall Johnson-" Oxford in the United States-Pere Louis Lallemant Gervase and Stephen Alard-Disraeli Quotation wanted Author wanted, 154. 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The material for the first volume, now ready for the press, consists of a series of early Royal Charters, and of more than 1,200 documents relating mainly to Berkshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Middlesex and Warwickshire. It will be recalled that at the time of his death, Canon Westlake, Custodian of the Abbey, was at work on this material, with a view to its being published, and the accomplishment of his design will form a very fitting memorial to him and to his devotion to the antiquities of the Abbey. N Aug. 23 The Times published a delight ful sketch of the Seven Sisters, the famous cliffs on the Sussex coast between Seaford and Beachy Head. The point of their article is to make known that, like the Devil's Dyke the other day, the beautiful tract of downland which terminates at these cliffs is threatened by the speculator. The valley between Crowlink Point, midmost of the "" sister cliffs, and the " to the east, is to be the centre and beginning of the scheme of the edge of the cliffs already announces that a London syndicate, and a notice-board at building plots may be purchased. The cliffs between Brighton and Newhaven have been |