FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
76
this order began first by Richard Cceur de Lion, atlhe siege of Acre [1101] where, in his great neces&ity, there were but twenty-tix blights that firmly and suiely abode with the king, where he caused all them to wear thongs of blue leather about their legs; and a fterwards they were called the Knightt af tht IJlue Thuny."
Bcu^Ui the inspiring; banner of England's pa- tron Saint,* a long and splendid line of nobility have sprung, illustraiing by their deeds in ainna, their faith in counsel, and with heails of cour- tesy, a THRONE, venemble from inheritance, and iinspotled by dishouour; abroad respected; ap- proached with general aflcctiou at home; and possessing all lliose enercies which, triumphant as ther have been in a whirlwind of contention, are stil proved soundly wise in a diet of repose.
On the 30th of March, 1363, Edward III. first distributed the ilaundaiff and purified the poor.
1377, July 16. The coronation of Richard II. may illustrate the manners of these times. The young prince, then in hb twelfth year, pa.ssed froin the tower to the abbev under a canopy of blue silk, borne on spears ol silrer by the barons of the cinque ports. " In the market of Cheaii- ade, was erected (by the merchants) a buildi ng in the form of acaslle, out of which ran two streams of wine. On its four turrets were placed four pris, dressed in white, and of the same age with die Idsg. As he approached, they blew towards himsmall shreds of goldlcaf; then showered u]ion him florins made of paiier; and coming down, bdped him and his attendants to wine out of CBps of gold. To conclude this loyal exhibition, mangel descended from the summitof the castle, aad ufleied to the king a golden crown." The baron Percy was created Earl of Northumberland upon that great occasion.
1377, Ike. 28. Wiclif divulges his opinions npon the pope's mandate.
1378. The clergy and scholars of St. Paul's Kbool in London, presented a ]>etition to Richard n. praying him "to prohibit some unexpe't people (rom presenting the history of the Old and New Testament, to we great prejudice of the said clergy, who have been at great expense in order to represent it publicly at Christmas."
- Bmi nit qni mal y peme. — Confluioit to iithimouraMi
li^Ut.~Motto of tht Omttr. Our indent word of courage, fair St. Oeorgc^SAoJIrt-
t Mtonday Thursday records the Institution of the holjr acrament of the Lord's Supper, when our Saviour teMnted, for the last time, the national passorer. Ac- oortiilf to Spelmao, the mande is the tiand-tiasket In vUcfa tile tdn^ was accustomed to give alms to the poor . bat its derivative is most probably the Initial mandate in ft* Greek text — that the poor should always be remem bered. even as this woman (Mary of Bethany) had remem- bered me; or pertiapa a corruption of the murtm^ the casket of odorous funeral ointment bestowed by her upon <l>e petson of the Saviour. This ointment, said Judas Is- cariot, who was the pune-btarer or almoner of Christ and Ike apostles, we might have purchased, and with it em- balmed or purified the poor; but Christ rebuked him, say- v^"lkt poor always ye have with you, but me ye liave not always."
The ceremony of purifying the poor was disoontinned at m Bevolution; but the provisions and silver piece* are ■bU bestowed upon Mannday Thursday by the Idnc's sub- 'iaana in the royal chapel at WhitehaU.
From Mysteries- the hoys of St Paul's school proceeded to more regular dramas; and at th« commencement of a regular theatre, were the best and almost the only comedians. They became at length so favourite a set of players as often to act at court, and on particular occasions of festivity, were frequently removed from Loudon for this purpose only, to the royal houses at some distance from town. In early times, while no settled or public thealrewas known, and itinerant minstrels acted in the halls of ibe nobility at Christma.s, plays were performed by the boys of the public schools, and have contiuued to be so to the present time, of which the practice of acting Latin plays at Westminster, Eton, and other seminaries, are examples. The ancient consuetudinary as it is called of Eion school, containing all its old and original customs, reUtes that about the 30ih of November, the master was accustomed to choose such Latin plays as were most excellent and convciiient to be played in the following Christ- mas holidays before public audience.
1379. At this period red wine was four-pence a gallon; and Ruenish sixpence; in the follow- ing vear it was four pounds a tun.
The Vintners or Viuionners, were incorporated in the leigii of King Edward III. They were originally divided into Vinetarii et Taveiriarii; Vintners who imported the wine, and Tavemers who kept taverns, and retailed it for the former. The companv flourished so much, that from its institution till 1711, it produced no fewer than fourteen lord mayors, many of which were keep- ers of taverns. Sir John Strodic, vintner, who was lord mayor in \:V>7, gave the land ou which Vintner's hall in Thames-street was built. It was called the manor of the vinetre.
Our great wine trade was at first with Bour- deaux, and the neighbouring provinces; it com- menced as early as the conquest, perhaps sooner. For in 979, or the reign of Etheldred, mention is made of ships from Rouen, laden with.wiues, but what duly was paid is not known; a small vessel was to pay " ad Biljiiggesgate" one penny halfpenny as a toll; a greater, bearing sails, one penny; a keel or hulk (Ceol vcl Hulkus) fourpence; a ship laden with wood, one piece for toll; and a boat with fish, one halfpenny; or a larger, one penny.
But our trade in wine became very consider- able in the reign of Henry II. by rea-son of his marriage with Klianor, daughter of the duke of Aquitaine; our conquest of that, and other great wine provinces of France, increased the trade to a high degree, and made great fortunes among the adventurers of this company. In after times, when sweet wines came into Cishion, we had considerable intercourse with the Canary islands.
1380. The romance of Avtadis de Gaul was written by Loberia.
1380. Wiclif, the Morning Star of the Re. formation, completed hb translation of the whole Bible unto Englbh, including the apocryphal*
- The books called the Apocrypha, and appended to our
bibles, are denominated fTom the (ireck apokrupto to Aide, either because they arc of doubtful or hidden authority.
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