Notes and Queries, Number 47, September 21, 1850Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 47, September 21, 1850
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
_Pilgrims' Road_ (Vol. ii., p. 237.).--Your correspondent S.H., in
noticing the old track "skirting the base of the chalk hills," and known
by the name of the "Pilgrims' Road," has omitted to state that its
commencement is at Oxford,--a fact of importance, inasmuch as that the
Archbishops of Canterbury had there a handsome palace (the ruins of
which still exist), which is said to have been the favourite residence
of Thomas ‡ Becket. The tradition in the county thereupon is, that his
memory was held in such sanctity in that neighbourhood as to cause a
vast influx of pilgrims annually from thence to his shrine at
Canterbury; and the line of road taken by them can still be traced,
though only portions of it are now used as a highway. The direction,
however, in which it runs makes it clear (as S.H., no doubt, is aware)
that it cannot be Chaucer's road.
While on the subject of old roads, I may add that a tradition here
exists that the direct road between London and Tunbridge did not pass
through Sevenoaks; and a narrow lane which crosses the Pilgrims' road
near Everham is pointed out as the former highway, and by which Evelyn
must have been journeying (passing close, indeed, to the seat of his
present descendant at St. Clere) when he met with that amusing
robber-adventure at Procession Oak.
M(2).
_Pilgrims' Road to Canterbury._--In the _AthenÊum_ of Nov. 2nd, 1844,
there is a notice of _Remarks upon Wayside Chapels; with Observations on
the Architecture and present State of the Chantry on Wakefield Bridge_:
By John Chessell and Charles Buckler--in which the reviewer says--
"In our pedestrianism we have traced the now desolate ruins of
several of these chapels along the old pilgrims' road to
Canterbury."
If this writer would give us the results of his pedestrianism, it would
be acceptable to _all_ the lovers of Chaucer. I do not know whether
PHILO-CHAUCER will find anything to his purpose in the pamphlet
reviewed.
E.S. JACKSON.
_Combs buried with the Dead._--In Vol. ii., p. 230., the excellent vicar
of Morwenstow asks the reason why combs are found in the graves of St.
Cuthbert and others, monks, in the cathedral church of Durham. I imagine
that they were the combs used at the first tonsure of the novices, to
them a most interesting memorial of that solemn rite through life, and
from touching affection to the brotherhood among whom they had dwelt,
buried with them at their death.
M.W.
_The Comb_, concerning "the origin and intent" of which MR. HAWKER (Vol.
ii., p. 230.) seeks information, was for ritual use; and its purposes
are fully described in Dr. Rock's _Church of our Fathers_, t. ii. p.
122., &c.
LITURGICUS.
_AÎrostation._--C.B.M. will find in the _AthenÊum_ for August 10th,
1850, a notice of a book on this subject.
E.S. JACKSON.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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