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XX.—Recent discoveries in the Cloister of Durham Abbey.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2011

W. H. St. John Hope  and
J.T. Fowler
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Extract

The custom of washing the hands before the principal meal of the day, based, as it is, upon common decency and convenience, has at all times been observed by civilised people. The Greeks and Romans, or at any rate the more leisured and luxurious among them, not only took their baths before the chief meal, but had water for their hands brought round repeatedly during the meal, which would be the more necessary when the fingers were used in eating much more than they are now. The disciples of Christ were accused by the Pharisees and certain of the Scribes of transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands when they ate bread. The “tradition of the elders” is abundantly illustrated in the literature of the Jews, and similar traditions prevail among the Mohammedans and other Orientals. In religious minds the act of washing the hands has naturally acquired a symbolical meaning. Hence the Lavabo in the Eucharistic rite which i s described by Cyril of Jerusalem (A.D. 348-386) as not merely for the sake of personal cleanliness, but as a symbolic act, connected with the words of Psalm xxvi. 6, “I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord, and so will I go to thine altar.”

Type
Research Article
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Archaeologia , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , 1903 , pp. 437 - 460
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1903

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References

page 437 note a Smith, , Diet. Antiq. 1870, pp. 185, 186, and reff.Google Scholar; Becker, , Gallus, tr. by Metcalfe (ed. 1895), 113Google Scholar.

page 437 note b St. Matthew xv. 2; St. Mark viii. 3, 4.

page 437 note c Mishna, , Tract, YadaimGoogle Scholar(Hands) and the commentaries on it in the Talmud;Barclay, J., The Talmud (London, 1878), 324Google Scholar ; Hershon, P. J., A Talmudic Miscellany (London, 1880)Google Scholar , Index under “Hands.”

page 437 note d For other references see Smith, and Cheetham, , Dictionary of Christian Antiquities (London, 1880), ii. 938.Google Scholar

page 438 note a Smith and Cheetham, ii. 939.

page 438 note b Archæological Journal, v. 85.Google Scholar

page 438 note c De Septimanariis Goquinæ.-Egressurus de septimana sabbato mundicias faciat. Linteamina cum quibus sibi fratres manus ant pedes tergunt, lauet. Pedes vero tarn ipse qui egreditur, tarn ille, qui intraturus est, omnibus lauent.-Beg. S. Benedicts, cap. xxxv.

De infirmis fratribus. -Balnearum usus infirmis, quoties expedit, offeratur. Sanis autem, et maxime juvenibus, tardius concedatur.-Beg. S. Benedicts, cap. xxxvi.

page 438 note d Lavacrum etiam corporum ususque balnearum non sit assiduus, sed eo quo solet intervallo temporis tribuatur, hoc est, semel in mense. Cujus autem infirmitatis necessitas cogit lavandum corpus, non longius differatur: fiat, etc.- Epistola, S. Augustiniccxi. in Observances in use at the Augustine Priory at Barnwell, ed. Clark, J. W., 1897, p. 14 n.Google Scholar

apge 438 note e Indumenta vestra secundum arbitrium prepositi lauentur, siue a vobis siue a fullonibus, ne interiores anime sordes contrahat munde vestis nimius appetitus. Lauachrum eciam corpori cuius infirmitatis necessitas cogit minime denegetur. Fiat sine miirmure de consilio medici, ut eciam si nolit, iubente preposito faciat quod faciendum est pro salute … Nee eant ad balnea, siue quocunque ire necesse fuerit, minus quam duo vel tres.-Begula S. Augustini, in Barnwell, p. 14.

page note a Lavacra etiam, cuius infirmitas exposcit, minime denegentur. Sed fiat sine murmuratione de consilio medicinre. Ita vt etiara siue lauari nolit ille, qui infirmus est, iubente seniore fiat, quod opus fuerit pro salute. Si autem nulla infirmitate compellitur cupiditati sues non præbeatur adsensus.

Nota.-Iuxta hanc constitutionem S. Radegundis quæ S. Cæsarii Regulee seruiebat, fundatrix cœnobii sanetæ crucis in vrbe Pictauensi balneum in eodem monasterio construi iussit ad vsum sanctimonialium, vt notum est ex S. Gregorio Turonensi lib. 10, hist. cap. 16.

Reg. S. Gsesarii Episcopi, cap. xxix. § 22, in Abbatis, S. Benedicti AnianæGoncordia Regularum (Paris, 1638), 670.Google Scholar

Focos vero in schola pcenitentes (si fuerint) bini et bini per hebdomadas faciant. Similiter ad caput fratrum lauandum per singula sabbata, vel balnearum vsus per festas solemnitates præparent; aut si simt alia extrema, pcenitentes faciant.

Notæ:.-In schola, Id est, in dormitorio.

Ad capul fratrum lavandum. Olim monachi caput lauabant, quod apparet ex MS. Columbani Pcenitentiali: Poenitentes fratres, quamuis opera difficilia et sordida efficiant, non lauent capita, nisi n i die Dominico, id est, octauo. Sin autem, nisi in quintodecimo die, aut certe propter fluentium capillorum incrementum.

Vel Balnearum, etc. … Legendum,per certas. Olim monaclii et moniales quibusdam solemni-tatibus instantibus, maxime Paschæ et natalis Domini balneis vtebantnr. (Quotations from Concordia S. Dunstani cap. 3, Lantfrancus in decretis c. i. § 2, Vsitatorium monasterii Cultaræ Cenomanensis, Beda lib. 4, hist. Angl. c. 19, Acta S. Vviboradæ martyris inclusse in monasterio S. Galli, S. Augustinus, lib. 9, Confessionum, cap 12.) Neque haæ Regulæ S. B. aduertantur, qui non omnino a sanis balneum remouit, sed tardius concedendum edixit.-Ex Begula cuiusdam Patris, cap. xii. § 26, in Goncordia Regularum, 830 ff.

Balnearum usus vel cura medendi summo adhibeatur studio. Sanis vero prsecipue iuuenculis tardius concedatur.-Ex Regula cuiusdam, cap. xv. § 25, in Concordia Rsgularum, 672.

page 439 note b St. Ethelthryth (Audrey) would hardly take a warm bath except before the greater festivals, as Easter, Pentecost, and Epiphany. Bede, , Eccl. Hist. lib. iv. cap. xix. Plummer, in his note on the passage, shows such abstinence to have been a regular feature of the ascetic life, dating even from Apostolic times.Google Scholar

page 439 note c Vigilia Thomæ Apostoli si dies Dominicus non fuerit radantur fratres et sic balneentur qui volunt balneari. at duobus diebus, ante Dominicam nativitatis sint omnes balneati. Si necesse sit ipso Apostolicæ festivitatis die balneari possunt.-Lanfranc in Reyner, App. 213.

Feria tertia (tempore Passionis Dominicæ) radendi sunt fratres, in claustro simul ipsa die, et i n crastino debent esse balnea prasparata. Quæ quo ordine fiant, et quomodo illuc fratres ire, et qualiter ibi se habere debeant, superius dictum est cum sermo esset de balneis ante Christi nativitatem præparandis.-Lanfranc in Reyner, App. 218.

page 439 note d Tune lesciva in claustrum deferatur, et qui vult caput lavet, quisque sibi, nullus alii, præter magistros infantnm, qui parvulis pueris, qui id non possunt, capita lavare debent.-Lanfranc in Reyner, App. 239.

page 440 note a Ad camerarium precipue pertinet aquam calidam prouidere ad rasturam conuentus, et saponem capitibus fratram abluendis. Ad balnea fratrum, si petatur, saponem prouidebit.-Barnwell, 194.

page 440 note b Compotus fratris Johannis Fossor, Camerarii Dunelm. 1324-5. Expense necessarie. In 13 boll pro pedibus fratrum lavand., 18d.… in reparaoione cacabi sartrine, 3d. Exp.minute. In reparacione unius cuve in sartrina in qua lavantnr fratres, 5d.-Durham Account Bolls (Surtees Society, vol. xcix.), 167.Google Scholar

page 440 note c Dictionnaire de l'Architecture, vi. 174, referring to Dictionnaire du Mobilier, l'article Lavoir.

page 440 note d Cum appropinquaverit tempus horæ tertiæ pulsetur a Secretario modice signum minimum, quam skillam vocant, et statim pergant in dormitorium et calcient se diurnalibus et cultellos aooipiant; deinde ad lavatorium vadant et prius lavent se et postea peotinent: dehinc ad ecclesiam veniant, aquam benedictam sumant, in chorum vadant, et incumbentes terras infantes expectent. Cum vero infantes loti fuerint et se pectinare incoeperint pulsetur majus signum ad Horam, .– Decreta D. Lanfrand fro ordine S. Benedicii inGoogle ScholarReyner, , Apostolatus Benedictinorum in Anglia (Duaci, 1626), Appendicis tertia pars, 212.Google Scholar

Post horam prior pulset signum. Vel cui iniunxerit ipse. Quod si forte per negligentiam cibus nondum paratus fuerit, non pulset (signum) donee paratus sit, nee fratres abluant manus, sed interim sedeant in leotione donee signum pulsetar. Quod et ad omnes refectiones similiter teneantur. Ablutis igitur manibus et detersis, intrent refectorium, et venientes ante sedes suas inclinent se versus principalem mensam.–Guignard, , Les Monuments Primitifs de la Regie Oistercienne, Consuetudines lxxvi., De refectione, 180.Google Scholar

Apries l'eure doit li prieuse souner u autre cui ele le coumande. et se li mangiers n'est aparellies par negligence se laist on à souner et à laver les mains, et siece on en lecon dusque adonc que on sounera. Et ce tiegne on à tous mangiers. Quant on a lavées ses mains et essuées se doit on entrer en refroitoir et aler chascune en son siege, et encliner à le haute table.- Ancienne Traduction Franqaise, Guignard, 490.

Exeat Circator, et tintinnabulum pulsat ad rofectorium, cunctique pariter illuc venientes lavant manus, et intrant, expectantque Domnum Abbatem.-Ex antiquis consuetudinibus Germaniæ nu. 33, in Martene, , M.onumenta Bitualia (Bassani, 1788), lib. I. cap. viii. 29.Google Scholar

Sine ullo strepitu festinent lotis manibus introire refectorium.-Ex antiquo ordine conversa-tionis monasticæ c. 11, in Martene, , Mon. Sit. lib. I. cap. viii. 29.Google Scholar

Facto igitur signo, fratres intrent refectorium, et ablutis manibus inclinantes versus Crucifixum, stent in ordine suo dispositi ante mensas.-Constitutiones Bursfeldenses, in Martene, , Mon. Bit. 29.Google Scholar

Quando percutitur cymbalum, si fratres in ecclesia fuerint, finita hora exeant cum processione ad lavatorium, quod si in claustro sederint, ad primum cymbali pulsum, statim surgentes libros in armario reponant, et in claustro ita se ordinent, sicut ad capitulum determinavimus. Congregatis itaque uuiversis fratribus, prior iterum percutiet cymbalum, et fratres statim surgentes, junioribus præcedentibus et senioribus subsequentibus per ante capitulum cum processione ibunt ad lavatorium. Venientes autem secundum modum lavatorii se ordinent. Si non possunt simul omnes, juniores prius lavent, deinde seniores. Cum igitur singuli quique manus et laverint et deterserint, venient et stabunt in latere supra ad introitum refecborii, hinc inde ordinati secundum utrumque chorum versi ad se de contra, quousque laverint universi. Nullus qui comedere debeat ilia hora in locutorio remaneat; sed mox ut fratres ad lavatorium venerint, debet exire, et cum aliis manus abluere. Ille etiam qui eonventum tenet, hoc maxime cavere debet, ne postquam fratres laverint, moram faciendo faciat eos de foris refectorium diutius expectare. Procedente autem abbate ad lavatorium, percutiet prior semel cymbalum, et statim procedent omnes per ordinem, ita ut nullus prsecurrere ant ordinem perturbare prsesumat. Ingredientes autem refectorium dividet se uterque chorus hinc inde in utroque latere juxta mensas, etc.—Antiques Consuetudines canonicorum regularium 3. Victoris Parisiensis, Martene, , Eccl. Rit. 1788, Appendix, 253.Google Scholar

Die aliquantulum fulgente, prior considerans diei quantitatem, aliquando temporius, aliquando serius ante alios surgat, et campanulam dormitorii concutiet: tune omnes fratres surgant, et expleta corporis necessitate, ordinate, ut dictum est, ad lavatorium veniant: ibi secundum modum lavatorii lavando se ordinent, et si simul lavare non potuerint, juniores prius lavent. Lotis manibus ad partem claustri quæ est a parte ecclesiæ venientes, hinc inde ordinati secundum utrumque chorum versi ad invicem alios expectent, quousque laverint universi. Cavere autem debent diligenter omnes fratres, ne cum manutergiis aut nares emungant, aut dentes fricent, aut sanguinem abstergant, aut aliquam immunditiam tractent; et similiter intelligendum est de mensalibus in refectorio, et aliis manutergiis in ecclesia: deinde ecclesiam ingrediantur, etc.-Constitutiones Canonicorum Begnlarium S. Dionysii Bemensis, Ord. S. Augustini; Martene, Eccl. Rit., Appendix, 297.

Post refectionem et gratias, ascendentes omnes dormitorium, dormiant usque at nonam: ad signum nonse intrent ecclesiam eo modo quo ad primam; post nonam lotis manibus bibant simul in refectorio, et dato signo eant ad laborem usque ad vesperas.-Primaria Instituta canonicorum, Præmonstratensium, Martene, , Eccl. Rit. (Bassani, 1788), App. 326.Google Scholar

Hora competenti ante prandium vel coenam a sacrista paucis ictibus campana pulsetur, ut si qui foris sunt ad refectionem sine mora festinont: tune prior pulset cymbalum. Quod si forte per negligentiam cibns nondum paratns fuerit, non pulset donee paratus sit; nee fratres abluant maims, sed interim legant donee cymbalum percutiatur: ablutis vero manibus et detersis, sedeant extra refectorium, donee prior nolam refectorii uno ictu percutiat, et tune suo ordine ingrediantur, etc.-Ibid. 327.

De refectorio. Sciendum est quod quando non fit spatium inter missam et horam, debet fieri ante cymbali percussionem: qua pulsata, hebdomadarius incipiat, post cujus finem prior preecedens pulset cymbalum, et alii fratres euntes comestum, veniant per lavatorium, et lavent eo ordine quo mane, et disponant se ante refectorium donee laverint universi; deinde intrent refectorium: ita ut nullus præcurrere aut ordinem turbare videatur: sed dividat se chorus uterque hinc et inde juxta mensas suas, quilibet ante mensam suam, etc.-Const. S. Dionysii Remensis, Ibid. 299.

Egressi de dormitorio lotis manibus et capitibus pectinatis antequam alicubi diuertant, prins ad ecclesiam ire debent, vbi, aqua benedicta aspersi, pure oracioni deuocius insistentes, primum querant regnum dei et iusticiam eius.-Barn/well, 106.

Quando fratres exeunt processionaliter de ecolesia ad prandendum, si custos ordinis semel percusserit cymbalum, licite possunt fratres manus abluere. et in refectorium intrare, et sedendo expectare. Si autem cymbalum non percusserit, forte quia prandium non est paratum, uel quia panis est in clibano, uel quia celerarius cum claue est alibi occupatus, tune non debent manus abluere, set in sedibus suis in claustro sedere, et orare uel legere, quousque cymbalum percuciatur.— Barnwell, 156.

page 443 note a See post.

page 443 note b Street, G. E., Gothic Architecture in Spain (London, 1865), PL. xxiii.Google Scholar

page 443 note c Due, Viollet le, Dictionnaire de l'Architecture, vi. 170 ff. under Lavabo.Google Scholar

page 443 note d Photographs in possessionf the Rev. Dr. Farrar.

page 444 note a See post.

page 444 note b See post.

apge 444 note c Camerarii est procurare …. tersoria in claustro pendentia.-Lanfranc in lieyner, App. 237.

page 444 note d See the account in the Appendix to this paper.

page 444 note e Ad ipsum (refeetorarium) eciam pertinet lavatorium et sordes et feces que sunt in fnndo lavatorii mundare, at fratres honeste aqua munda possint manus et ora sua lauare; sabulumet cotum pro purgandis et acuendis cultellis semper ibi paratum habere.-Barnwetl, 154.

page 444 note f There is a well within the abbey precinct, other than that in the cloister, of which the following notices occur in the accounts:

1338-9.-In mundacione fontis infra Abbathiam, 2s.–Rot. Burs, in Bolls (Surtees Society, vol. c), 536.Google Scholar

1340-1.-Et in structura unius domuncule lapidee supra le Welleheued, 23s. 6d.-Ibid. 539.

1349-50.-In juncturis, Stapils, Hupis, Grugeons, GHrdils, Spykyng, et Scotnayls pro fonte infra Abbathiam et pro grangia de Beaurpayre de novo edificanda, de proprio ferro, 3s. 3d.-Ibid. 550.

1354-5.-In mna sera reparanda pro le Welhousdore, cum I clave empt. pro eodem, 4d.-Ibid. 555.

1384-9.-Item Henrico Plumer pro mundacione fontis infra Abbathiam, 3s.-Ibid (vol. ciii.), 595.

1466-7.-pro punctuacione super stabulum hospitum et le Wellehouse infra abbathiam, 13s. 6d.-Ibid. 641.

1470-1.-pro emendaoione unius fontis in orto curiali abbathie, 6s. 8d.

pro nova tectura unius parve domus supra fontem in orto Abbathie, 2s. 6d.-Ibid. 643.

The following notices of the Sartry well are also found:

1324-5.-repar. del buket de fonte, 4d.-Rot. Camerar. 167.

1342-3.-in. … reparacione fontis sartrine.-Ibid. (vol. xcix.), 170.

1447-8.-in repar. cujusdam fontis ex opposite le Saretree, ac unius gardini ibidem vocati Paradise, 5s. 10½d.-Ibid. 186.

The Sartry was the tailor's shop, which was in the same building with the Chamberlain's checker and the bath-house, afterwards assigned to th e first prebendal stall.

There is a well in the Gralilee, in a small building projecting from its west wall, but no notices of it have been found in the Rolls.

page 447 note a Bites of Durham, 1593 (Surtees Society, vol. cvii.), 82, 83., See also Notes, 261, 262.Google Scholar

page 448 note a Durham Account Rolls (Surtees Society, vol. ciii.), 735.

page 448 note b Histories Dunelmensis Scriptores Tres (Surtees Society, vol. ix.), Appendix, No. cccxlvi. p. ccccxliii. See also the Appendix to this paper.Google Scholar

page 451 note a Historiæ Dunelmensis Scriptores Tres (Surtees Society, vol. ix.), p. cclxxiii.Google Scholar

page 451 note b Ibid. Appendix, No. cccxlvii. p. ccccxlv.

page 453 note a I am indebted to Mr. Micklethwaite for reminding me of this interesting arrangement.

page 454 note a Notices of the Layers and the Well in the Cloister-garth, in the Durham Account Rolls (Surtees Society, vols. xcix. c. ciii. 103):

1278.-In reparacione lavatorii ad hostium Refectorii, 7s.- Rot. Burs. p. 486.

1316-17.-In plumbo empto pro Lotorio Claustri, 13s. lid.-Ibid. p. 513.

c. 1337.-In omnimodis expensis factis circa emendacionem Lotorii Conventus in Claustro, 101i. 9s. 4d. -Ibid. p. 535

1338-9.-Et mulieribus portantibus aquam de Were usque ad Abbatiam pro pistrina, Bracina, et Coquina per diversas vices quando pipa gelidata fuit, 8s. Mulieribus portantibus aquam pro bracina et pistrina et coquina in septimana post festum Purificacionis eo quod pipa fuit gelidata, 6s. In aqua Wyndanda de fonte tracticio in claustro ad idem, et pro opere circa pipam, 16d.-Ibid. p. 536.

1368-9.-In reparacione lavaororum in claustro, 26s. 8d.-Ibid. p. 575.

1473-4.-Et pro 3 longe (sic) rapys, vidz. pro carecta, ustrino, et fonte in claustro, 4s. 4d.-Ibid.. p. 644.

1557-8.-In factura unius hostii pro le layers, 8d.-Treasurer's Booh, Ibid. p. 715.

1570-1.-For mending a sink at the Layers, 7s. 8d.-Ibid. p. 717.

1593.- Plumber's work ouer yc douescott.-Miscellanea, Ibid. p. 735.

page 456 note a The Wenlock lavatory is fully illustrated, with plan and drawings by Mr. Paul, Roland W., F.S.A., in The Builder for 14th December, 1901 (lxxxi. 530, 531).Google Scholar

page 458 note a Historiæ Dunelmensis Scriptores Tres. Appendix No. CCCXLVI. p. ccccxliii. In the printed, as probably in the MS. version of this, the items run on, but they are here printed separately for greater convenience of reference.