In many of the larger churches, also, benefactors or fraternities had arranged for the singing of a _Salve_ or other anthem of Our Lady in the evening time at her altar or statue. At these times also tapers would usually be lit in honour of Christ’s holy Mother. In the church of St. Mary-at-Hill, for example, in 1353, the practice existed, for in that year a parishioner left money to support a priest, and among his duties it is said “that he be every day in the same chirch after evensong, at the time of syngyng of _Salve Regina_, and that he sing the same, or else help the syngers after his cunnyng, in honour of our blessed lady the Virgin.” At other places, as at St. Edmund’s, Salisbury, for instance, the singing of the _Salve_ was only undertaken at stated times. In this case the Fridays in Lent were apparently chosen for this evening hymn to Our Lady. Chaucer, in _The Prioress’s Tale_, makes a little boy, who doubtless had taken his part in this, ask his older schoolfellow what another such anthem of Our Blessed Lady meant--the _Alma Redemptoris_. “Noght wiste he what this Latin was to seye, For he so yong and tendre was of age; But on a day his felow gon he preye T’ expounden him this song in his longage, Or telle him why this song was in usage. * * * * * “His felow, which that elder was then he, Answerede him thus: ‘This song, I have herd seye Was maked of our blisful Lady free, Hir to salue, and eek hir for to preye To been our help and socour when we deye.’ * * * * * “‘And is this song maked in reverence Of Christe’s moder?’ seyde this innocent: ‘Now, certes, I wol do my diligence To conne it all eer Christemasse is went.’” _Sunday in the Parish Church._--It is time to pass to the consideration of what took place in the mediæval parish church on the ordinary Sundays of the year. In the _Prymer_ of 1538 are to be found some verses called _The Dayes of the Weke Moralysed_, in which the duty of the Christian in regard to Sunday is thus set forth:-- “I am Sonday ye honourable, The hede of all the weke dayes. That day all thyng labourable Ought to rest and gyve lawd and prayers To our Creatour, that alwayes Wuolde have us rest after travayle Man-servant and thy beeste he sayes And the other or thyn avayle.” The first question that arises is as to the attendance of the people at the Matins which preceded the parochial Mass. It would seem to be quite certain that even in the smallest churches on Sundays and Holy days the Office was recited by the priests, or, in the cases where there was only one, by the priest and his clerk in the early morning. Further, from the various directions and instructions given to the people, it seems practically certain that they were not only expected to be at the Matins, but, as far as possible, were actually present at them.