II.

INDULGENCE, WITH LETTERS OF FRATERNITY, GRANTED IN 1512 BY ROBERT, MINISTER OF ST. ROBERT'S BY KNARESBOROUGH, OF THE ORDER OF H. TRINITY AND REDEMPTION OF CAPTIVES, TO RICHARD GILYBREND, CHAPLAIN.

T

O ALL MEN who shall look upon the present letters, ROBERT, minister of the House of Saint Robert by Knaresborough, in the diocese of York, of the Order of the Holy Trinity and Redemption of Captives of the Holy Land, who are imprisoned by the paynim for the faith of Jhesu Christ, health and greeting in Him. of whom is full remission of all sins.

We make it known that whereas sundry reverend pontiffs have endowed all and singular the brethren and sisters associate of our Order with many privileges; and in particular that the brethren and sisters associates of our community may choose unto themselves annually a fit priest, either of Seculars or of any Order whatsoever, even of the religious begging friars, as their confessor, who may absolve them of all their sins which be not reserved to the Apostolic See, and once in their lifetime of all sins, even in cases to the Apostolic See howsoever reserved; the which privileges the most holy father and lord, Lord Julius, of our day, the Second, hath himself confirmed and approved; also that their confessor may have power to confer remission and plenary indulgence of all their sins in the hour of their death.

TO [PARISH] PRIESTS and clerks and other Secular priests, or

to men of religion as well as to women, of whatsoever religious rule or habit, as to nuns, if they have sent contributions of their goods to the said Order, whatsoever they shall have omitted through inability, negligence, forgetfulness, or bodily weakness, in divine service. or canonical hours, it is utterly excused them. And each associate brother shall have a writing of the said fraternity; and church burial shall not be denied him, by whatsoever death he may die, unless he shall have been expressly excommunicate by name. Whereas therefore we receive with devotion in Christ Richard Gilybrend, chaplain, he has promised his confraternity after the manner of his confraternity, and hath contributed of his goods, fulfilling the tenor of the letters Apostolic, we make him our partner accordingly, both in life and death, together with all his friends living and departed, and in all the prayers of our religious rule aforesaid.

Given under our seal in our said house in the year of our Lord 1512.

1-2 There is some obscurity as regards the grammar,

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST of His most loving pity absolve

thee; and I, by authority Apostolic committed to me in this behalf, and granted to thee, do absolve thee of all thy sins truly. repented and confessed, not reserved to the Apostolic See.

OUR

Absolution to be given once in a lifetime.

UR LORD JESUS CHRIST of His most loving pity absolve thee; and I, by authority Apostolic committed to me in this behalf, and granted to thee, do absolve thee of all thy sins truly repented, confessed, or forgotten, even from cases to the Apostolic See in any wise soever reserved. In the Name of the Father, and of the S[on, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen].

Absolution of plenary character and release in the

Hour of Death.

UR LORD JESUS CHRIST of His most loving pity absolve thee; and I, by authority Apostolic committed to me in this behalf, and granted to thee, do absolve thee of all thy sins truly repented and confessed or forgotten, and I give thee also plenary remission of all thy sins, and indulgence, remitting to thee the pains of purgatory which thou hast deserved to suffer for sins and offences, so far as the keys of holy Mother Church can reach. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, [and of the Holy Ghost. Amen].

FRA

I.

RATER RICARDUS minister domus sancti Roberti iuxta Knaresburgh' ordinis sancte Trinitatis et redempcionis captiuorum qui sunt incarcerati pro fide Ihesu Christi a paganis dño Wilelmo bakerston Salutem et sinceram in dño caritatem.

Cum in priuilegiis Apostolicis per sanctem sedem apostolicam nobis et ordini nostro predicto ab antiquis temporibus indultis, et per eandem sedem de nouo canonice confirmatis, inter cetera quedam spiritualia contineantur indulta continentie subsequentis.

Omnibus vere penitentibus et confessis qui ad sustentacionem dicti ordinis manus porrexerint adiutrices sex annos et octaginta dies de iniuncta penitencia relaxamus. Eciam concedimus quod omnes confratres et consorores predicti ordinis qui dederint certam quantitatem bonorum suorum et annuatim fratribus vel nuncijs eiusdem ordinis beneficia persoluerint, possint eligere annuatim ydoneum presbiterum in confessorem, qui, eorum confessionibus diligenter auditis, eis pro commissis penitenciam impendere valeat salutarem, nisi talia sint propter que sedes apostolica sit merito consulenda,

Presbiteris et clericis et alijs sacerdotibus secularibus ac viris religiosis cuiuscumque religionis et habitus quam monialibus si dicte domui de bonis suis transmiserint quecunque per impotenciam necligenciam oblivionem aut corporis debilitatem in diuinis et horis canonicis obmiserint, penitus est eis remissum. Et quilibet confrater habebit scriptum dicte fraternitatis, et eidem sepultura ecclesiastica non negetur si1 nominatim fuerit excommunicatus. Si quis benefactor infra annum moriatur, de omnibus peccatis suis vere contritis et confessis est de nostra gracia speciali absolutus, capitulo de abusionibus non obstante.

Nos, tue deuocionis, qua fraternitati dicti ordinis humillime postulas mancipari, sincerum considerantis affectum, te in confratrem nostri ordinis tenore presencium auctoritate nobis indulta admittimus. Et concedimus ut dictis et alijs priuilegijs nostri ordinis confratribus eiusdem indultis sub formam et effectum eorundem libere perfruaris tue anime ad salutem. Adicimus insuper tibi beneficium de gracia speciali quod cum in nostro conuentuali capitulo post obitum tuum presentium facta fuerit exhibicio literarum, eadem pro te fiet commendacio que pro fratribus nostris defunctis ibidem fieri consueuerit. In cuius rei testimonium, sigillum nostrum presentibus est appensum. Datum in domo nostra predicta, Anno dñi millesimo ccccmo xlo ixo.

The seal, formerly attached, is gone. This Indulgence, or Letters of Fraternity, is written in fourteen long lines, on a narrow strip of parchment, measuring 11 in. by 41 in., as folded for sealing. It is endorsed: "27: H: 6," in an old hand (? seventeenth century), and is recently numbered "5" in pencil.

V

II.

NIUERSIS presentes literas inspecturis ROBERTVS minister domus sancti Roberti Juxta Knaresburgh' Eborum dioces' ordinis sancte Trinitatis et redempcionis captiuorum terre sancte qui sunt incarcerati pro fide Jhesu Christi a paganis salutem in eo per quem omnium peccatorum plena sit remissio Notum facimus quod cum plurimi Reuerendi pontifices omnes et singulos confratres et consorores nostri ordinis multis priuilegijs dotauerint presertim in eo quod nostri confratres et consorores possint sibi annuatim eligere ydoneum presbiterum secularium vel cuiusuis ordinis eciam mendicancium Religiosorum in confessorem qui eos absoluat ab omnibus peccatis sedi apostolice non reseruatis et semel in vita ab omnibus peccatis eciam a casibus sedi apostolice quomodolibet reseruatis qui2 1 Judging from similar documents, we might suggest the reading ‘ni' or ‘nisi.'

2 Sic, in MS.

VOL. XIX.

E

quidem priuilegia ipse Sanctissimus in Christo pater et dñus dñs Julys Julys' secundus modernus confirmauit et aprobauit; et in articulo mortis plenarium omnium peccatorum suorum remissionem et indulgenciam eis impertiri valeat.

PRESBITERIS et clericis et alijs sacerdotibus secularibus vel viris religiosis tam mulieribus cuiuscunque religionis et habitus quam monialibus si dicto ordini de bonis suis transmiserint, quicquid per impotenciam, necligenciam, obliuionem aut corporis debilitatem in diuinis vel horis canonicis obmiserint, penitus est eis remissum. Et quilibet confrater habebit scriptum dicte fraternitatis, et eidem sepultura ecclesiastica non negetur quacunque morte moriatur, nisi nominatim fuerit excommunicatus, cum igitur deuote recipimus in Christo Ricardo gilybrend capellano . . . fraternitatem suam3 modo confraternitatis confratrie sue promisit de bonisque suis contribuerit tenorem literarum apostolicarum adimplendo ideo ipsum associamus in vita pariter et in morte vna cum omnibus amicis suis viuis et defunctis, et in omnibus suffragijs nostre predicte religionis.

Data sub sigillo nostro in domo nostra predicta Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo duodecimo.

(Dorso)

DOMI

Absolucio Annualis.

OMINUS noster Jhesus Christus per suam pijssimam misericordiam absoluat (te), et ego auctoritate apostolica michi in hac parte commissa et tibi concessa absoluo te ab omnibus peccatis tuis vere contritis et confessis et oblitis sedi apostolice non reseruatis.

Absolucio semel in vita.

DOMINUS noster Jhesus Christus per suam pijssimam misericordiam absoluat te, et ego auctoritate apostolica michi in hac parte commissa et tibi concessa absoluo ab omnibus peccatis tuis vere contritis confessis et oblitis, Eciam a casibus sedi apostolice quomodolibet reseruatis. In nomine patris e[t] fi[lij et spiritus sancti. Amen].

Absolucio plenaria et remissio in mortis articulo. DOMINVS noster Jhesus Christus per suam pijssimam misericor

diam absoluat te, et ego auctoritate apostolica michi in hac parte commissa et tibi concessa absoluo te ab omnibus peccatis tuis vere contritis confessis et oblitis et do tibi eciam plenariam omnium peccatorum remissionem et indulgenciam remittendo tibi penas purgatorij, quas pro peccatis et offensis pati meruisti, in quantum claues sancte matris ecclesie se extendunt. In nomine patris et filij.

The original is written on two sides of a strip of parchment, measuring 8 in. in length; and in depth 4 in. at the left-hand margin, reduced to 3 in. where two narrow shreds are cut, the first for attaching the seal, the other for a thong to tie round the scroll, as a surgeon or nurse splits a bandage at the end for the like purpose. The seal is a better impression of that appended to the Bradford Antiquarian and Historical Society's "letters" of 1501. (Y.A.S. Transactions, xvi. 420.)

In Dr. Walter de Grey Birch's catalogue of British Museum Seals, vol. i. p. 606, one example of a seal of the Trinitarians of Knaresborough is noticed, n. 3378 (lxxiv. 74). He describes it as a sulphur cast from an imperfect impression (fourteenth century) of a seal which, when perfect, measured about 2 in. by 1 in.

"Pointed oval: the Trinity on a carved throne, under a canopy. Below, under a carved arch, a man seated to the right, under a tree, reading a book.

The one now before us is likewise a pointed oval, but it is a smaller seal, measuring 1 in. by 1 in. A man (presumably St. Robert) sitting on a stone, or bank, between trees, reading a book. [SIGILL. DOJMVS. STI. ROBRTI. DE. KNARE

Legend:
BVRGH.

AN EXORCISM.

By way of supplement to a former paper on Charms, &c. (vol. xvii. pp. 377-412), I here communicate the text and translation of an exorcism, which was written in a small handwriting in the sixteenth century (probably in the North-West of Germany, on the Dutch border), upon the flyleaf of a printed volume of sermons, for Sundays, and for holy-days of the B.V. Mary, composed by Pelbart de Themeswar, a Franciscan Observant (an Order of friars of good repute). The printed work is known as Pomerium Sermonum, and Stellarium Coronae; and the edition in question was printed in parts in 1515-17. "Impensis Jo. Rynman de Oringaw, in officina Hen. Gran in Hagnaw." The volume belongs to the Rev. J. B. Grattan, of the Wesleyan manse, Marlborough. The middle portions, which should contain sermons de Sanctis, and the Quadragesimale triplex has a note written on the title page by one of the first owners, to

1 I read the discernible letters, S... ROBERTI: DE: [KN]ARE[SBVJRGHE: The Lombardic (the

last letter but one) comes out quite plainly in a photograph, taken from Mr. Ready's

cast.