Foure others use to beare alonge Saint John before the bread doth go, and poynting towards him, A number great of Sacring Belles with pleasant sound doe ring, I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, PEW S. ARCHEOPHILUS. To the Editor of the British Magazine. SIR,-Having read the article in your Magazine entitled "Pews," (p. 245) I have been led to offer to your notice the following extract from Mr. Staveley's "History of Churches in England;" from which it appears that although they undoubtedly existed before the Reformation, yet that they were not numerous, and by no means formed the same conspicuous portion of the church's furniture as they do at present. The passage is taken verbatim from the beginning of chap. xvi. "Now though churches were always furnished with some necessary seats for ease and convenience; yet those of that sort which we now have were set up but at, or since the Reformation, for many ceremonies, and processions, and other services, could not be performed, if seats had been posited as now they are. And for regulating the ancient seats, such as they were, I find this constitution in a synod held at Exeter by Peter Wivil, Bishop of that diocese, in the fifteenth year of King Edward III. [Synod Exon. A.D. 1287. cap. 12.] Item au divimus, quod propter sedilia in Ecclesiâ rixantur multoties Parochiani, &c. i. e. 'Whereas we are given to understand, that the Parishioners do often quarrel about the seats, to the great scandal of the church, and disturbance of Divine Service, frequently two or more challenging the same seat; we do ordain that from henceforth none shall claim any property in any seat in the church except noblemen and patrons: And if any come into the church to say their prayers, let them do it in what place they please.' From this constitution, and for other reasons, I apprehend, that before Henry VIII. his time, that is, before the Reformation was begun, there were not any pews or seats to be seen in our churches, except some that were appropriated to persons of quality and distinction: and some are apt to think, that those which our ancestors then had were moveable, and the property of the incumbent; if so, consequently at his disposal. For before the Reformation, it was the use for the people to thrust up together near the priest, without respect to the condition and qualities of persons: and some would place themselves near to some altar, pillar, or tomb, with the convenience of a matt, cushion, or some small stool or form, to rest upon. But when the service of the mass (performed generally at the high altar, the priest turning his back to the people) was laid aside, and Divine Service ordered to be read in a desk, then both that and the pulpit were placed for the most convenience of the people's hearing; and the whole church furnished with seats for that purpose; the ordering of the same being in the power of the ordinary, who placed the people and their families therein in decent manner, according to their respective ranks and qualities, as we see them continued to this day; and thereupon in time, some seats become appropriated to some certain capital messuages within the parish." The instances brought forward by your correspondent seem to strengthen Mr. Stavely's account; as only three memoranda of mending and making pews occur during a space of more than forty years; one of which particularly mentions the site being "the Lady Chapel," and the locality of the others is not named. As to the reference in the note to Shakspeare (Richard III.), for the occurrence of the term "pew-fellow," it may be sufficient to remark, that his anachronisms are most numerous. Any one feeling disposed to turn to Vol II. of "Douce's Illustrations of Shakspeare," will there find a long list of them enumerated.* Longbridge, Nov. 8, 1832. I am, Sir, your faithful servant, W. S. SELECTIONS FROM EVELYN'S DIARY. Continued from Vol. II. p. 475. 1658. 23 May.-There was now a collection for persecuted and sequestered Ministers of the Church of England, whereof divers are in prison. A sad day! The Church now in dens and caves of the earth. 1659. 9 Nov.-We observed our solemn Fast for the calamity of our Church. 18 Dec.-Preached that famous divine Dr. Saunderson (since Bishop of Lincoln), now 80 Yeares old, on 30 Jer. 13, concerning the evil of forsaking God. 1660. 6 Jan.-Dr. Allestree preached at the Abby, after which 4 Bishops were consecrated, Hereford, Norwich...... 1661. 29 May.-This was the first Anniversarie appointed by Act of Parliament, to be observed as a day of General Thanksgiving for the miraculous Restauration of his Majesty. Our Vicar preaching on the 118 Psalm, 24, requiring us to be thankful and rejoice, as, indeed, we had cause. 3 Nov.-One Mr. Bretont preached his probation sermon at our Parish Church, and, indeed, made a most excellent discourse on 1 John, 29, of God's free grace to penitents, so that I could not but recommend him to the patron. • W. S. mistakes the Editor's meaning in the note referred to. All that was meant was, that pew-fellow was a word in familiar use in Shakspeare's time, which would hardly have been the case if pews had been unknown till after the Reformation-ED. + Hee obtained the living. VOL. III.-Jan. 1833. G 10. In the afternoone, preach'd at the Abby, Dr. Basire, that greate travailler, or rather French Apostle, who had been planting the Church of England in divers parts of the Levant and Asia. He shewed that the Church of England was, for purity of doctrine, substance, decency, and beauty, the most perfect under Heaven; that England was the very land of Goshen. 20. The Bishop of Gloucester preached at the Abby at the funeral of the Bishop of Hereford, brother to the Duke of Albemarle. It was a decent solemnity. There was a silver mitre with episcopal robes, born by the Herald before the Hearse, which was followed by the Duke, his brother, and all the Bishops, with divers Noblemen. 1662. 15 Jan.-This solemn Fast was held for the House of Commons at St. Margaret's. Dr. Reeves, the Dean of Windsor, preach'd on 7 Joshua, 12, shewing how the neglect of exacting justice on offenders (by which he insinuated such of the old King's murderers as were yet reprieved and in the Tower) was a maine cause of God's punishing a land. He brought in that of the Gibeonites as well as Achan and others, concluding with an eulogie of the Parliament for their loyaltie in restoring the Bishops and Cleargie, and vindicating the Church from sacrilege. 17 Aug. Being the Sonday when the Common Prayer Booke reformed and ordered to be used for the future, was appointed to be read, and the Soleme League and Covenant to be abjured by all the Incumbents of England, under penalty of loosing their livings, our Vicar read it this morning. 21 Dec.-One of his Majesty's Chaplains preach'd, after which, instead of the antient, grave, and solemn wind musiq accompanying the organ, was introduced a concert of 24 violins between every pause, after the French fantastical light way, better suiting a tavern or Playhouse than a Church. This was the first time of change, and now we no more heard the cornet which gave life to the organ, that Instrument quite left off, in which the English were so skillful. I dined at Mr. Povey's, where I talked with Cromer, a great Musician. 1663. 17 April.-I saluted the old Bishop of Durham, Dr. Cosin, to whom I had ben kind and assisted in his Exile, but which he little remembered in his greatnesse. 29. Dr. Creighton preach'd his extravagent Sermon at St Margaret's, before the House of Commons. 5 Nov.-Dr. South, my Lord Chancellor's Chaplain, preached at Westminster Abby, an excellent discourse, concerning obedience to Magistrates, against the Pontificians and Sectaries. I afterwards dined at Sir Ph. Warwick's, where was much company. 1665. 24 Feb.-Dr. Fell, Canon of Christ Church, preach'd before the King, on 15 Romans, 2, a very formal discourse and in blank verset, according to his manner; however, he is a good man. • Dr. William Nicholson. + Mr. Exton, it seems, had a predecessor in his poetie fancies. See Review department. Ed. 2 Aug. A solemn Fast thro' England, to deprecate God's displeasure against the land by pestilence and war; our Dr. preaching on 26 Levit. 41, 42, that the meanes to obtaine remission of punishment was not to repine at it, but humbly submit to it. SACRED POETRY. FROM THE GREEK. ALAS! the mallows, when along the dale Thus sung the ancient bard of Sicily, The shepherd poet, as he wander'd forth And saw the flowers of summer droop and die, Rare visitant of that unclouded sky. Was watch'd by Nature's God, and clothed in sleep That it might live. What demon whisper'd there, How dull a thought! that God, whose love can bless F. D., CH. Cн., B.A. SONNET. GLORY and Excellency of this land! Hath turn'd me grey, and scarce my limbs aspire Seven weary years I dwelt alone and mute, A. H. VERSES Found one Morning pinned to a Lady's Cabinet Pianoforte. IF, through music, outward sense Like heav'n's bounty and our need; If that boon may be betray'd, Let the song that lightens care, The song that strengthens love, be there; Lock'd in twin and triple sound; Where, though varying notes pursue Touching graces! joys divine! CORRESPONDENCE. The Editor begs to remind his readers that he is not responsible for the opinions ON PARABOLICAL SCRIPTURE. To the Editor of the British Magazine. SIR, Of all the modes of construing Holy Writ, there is none so dangerous, or which furnishes so convenient a cloak for total irreligion, as the indefinite, and therefore unlimited right assumed of accepting The author's sister. † Alluding to the fashion after which this sort of instrument is made. |