[180-*] The placing of more than two lights on the altar seems never to have been practised in the churches of this country; at least I have not met with any ancient illumination in which more than two are represented. [181-*] The cover of an ancient thurible of latten was lately discovered in the chest of Ashbury Church, Berkshire: the lower part is of a semi-globular or domical form, from which issues an embattled turret or lantern in the form of a pentagon, which is finished by a quadrangular spire; the sides both of the lantern and spire are partly of open work, and round the domical part is inscribed _Gloria Tibi Domine_. [181-†] A small ampulla of brass or latten, supposed to have been an ancient chrismatory for the consecrated oil used in the sacrament of extreme unction, has been within the last few years discovered in the castle ditch, Pulford, Cheshire: this curious little relic is not more than two inches high; the body is semi-globular, or bulges in front, with a plain Greek cross engraved on it, and is flattened at the back; and at the neck are two bowed handles, by chains attached to which it appears to have hung suspended from the shoulders. [182-*] Harding, in his controversy with Bishop Jewell, mentions “the monstrance or pixe” as if one and the same article.--Defence of the Apology, &c., p. 343. [183-*] Quo finito sacerdos cum suis ministris in sedibus ad hos paratis se recipiant et expectent usque ad orationem dicendam vel alio tempore usque ad _Gloria in excelsis_.--MS. Rituale pen. Auc. [183-†] This arrangement was different to that directed by the rubrical orders of the Roman missals, on their revision after the council of Trent, by which the celebrant was to be seated between the deacon and sub-deacon: “In missa item solemni celebrans medius inter diaconum et sub-diaconum sedere potest a cornu epistolæ juxta altare cum cantatur _Kyrie eleison, Gloria in excelsis_, et _Credo_.”--Missale Romanum, Antverpiæ, MDCXXXI.; Rubricæ Generales, &c. One of the queries published by Le Brun, whilst composing his liturgical work, was, “Si le prêtre s’assied au dessus du diacre et du soudiacre, ou au milieu d’eux.” [186-*] Prope altare collocatur Piscina seu Lavacrum in quo manus lavantur.--Durandi Rat. de Ecclesia, &c. In ancient church contracts the term _Lavatorie_ was sometimes used for the Piscina, as in that for Catterick Church. In the Roman Missal subsequent to the Tridentine council the word _Sacrarium_ is used. [187-*] At Alvechurch, Worcestershire, the custom prevails of the priest washing his hands in the vestry before the administration of the sacrament, and napkins are brought to dry his hands.