Archbishops in Olden Times.

Manawatu Herald, 29 September 1896, Page 2

Archbishops in Olden Times.

Very curious are some of the incidents recorded concerning arch* hi.- hops four centuries ago, in an article in the August Windton Magazine. " One of the churchwardens solemnly complains to the arch* bishop that his churchyard is ' ' haunted with hogs ' — though it does not appear whether this state* im>nt implies grazing or ghostfl. What could exceed the pathos of the following returns by wardens asked to describe the condition of their parish— 4 Desperate ' ? The parochial clergy too appeal to the archbishop, A vicar complains that a canon (who had apparently received his education at the monastery where no grammar was taught) came and addressed him as follows : ' Howbeit thou beareth thee bold, and was instituted by my lord of Canterbury ; he hath nought to do here, for we are exempt from, so tell him.' Another priest is interrupted by an irate parishioner during the solemnisation of the marriage service. It is evident that tho tediousness of wedding festivities felt by those not directly concerned is not a thing of to day, for we are told that this guest suddenly shouted to the officiating clergyman who was putting the necessary questions enjoined by the rubric, ' If tbou ax them any more here I will styk thee.' A sidesman states that when attempting, during service time, to get a parishioner out of a pub'io house to attend worship (was this one of their duties ?), that person offensively, but somewhat enigmatically, told the officer to go and ' c-ba!<e his ears.' The peaceful residents of Kennington parish may be surprised to learn that a former parishioner, named Richard Ricards, threatened, in tho year 1511, to slay hi.* vicar. These cases of insubordination are the more incompre-ht'n-iiblt* when it is remembered that humiliating penances, excommunication, conn* cation, torture, and death | by burning, were punishments dealt out by the authorisation of the pre» la tea of the day."