March 19.] MAUNDY, OR CHARE THURSDAY.
March 19.]
MAUNDY, OR CHARE THURSDAY.
The day before Good Friday is termed Maundy Thursday, because, says the British Apollo (1709, ii. 7), on this day our Saviour washed his disciples’ feet, to teach them the great duty of being humble; and therefore he gave them a command to do as he had done, to imitate their Master in all proper instances of condescension and humility. The origin, consequently, of this custom is of very great antiquity, and, unlike many other ceremonies connected with the Church before the Reformation, remains in existence in a modified form up to the present day. The original number of poor persons whose feet were washed by the king or queen was thirteen, but this number was afterwards extended so as to correspond with the age of the reigning sovereign.
Matthew Paris mentions Maundy money, and the Benedictional of Archbishop Robert at Rouen, a manuscript of the 10th century, cap. xxix., contains a “Benedictio ad mandatum ipso die” (Archæologia, vol. xxiv. p. 119), and Wlnothus, Abbot of St. Alban’s, ordained a daily performance of the mandate. In other houses it was customary to wash the feet of as many poor people as there were monks in the convent, on Holy Thursday, and on Saturday before Palm Sunday: the day of the latter ablution received the name of mandatum pauperum, to distinguish it from the Mandati Dies. During the ceremony the whole choir chanted the words of Christ, “Mandatum novum do vobis” (“A new commandment I give unto you”). Du Cange quotes from the life of St. Brigida by Chilienus:
“Proxima cœna fuit Domini, qua sancta solebat
Mandatum Christi calido complere lavacro.”
(Du Cange, Gloss., tom. iv., col. 399.)
Archdeacon Nares, however, apparently following Spelman and Skinner whose opinion is adopted by Junius, in opposition to Minsheu, says that this day is so named from the maunds, in which the gifts were contained, and he maintains that maund is a corruption of the Saxon mand, a basket.
The glossographer on Matthew Paris explains the word mandatum, to be alms, from the Saxon Mandye, charity. Somner has no such word in his Dictionary; and it seems more probable that Maunday Thursday has originally been Mandate Thursday; Mandati Dies being the name where the Saxon mands were totally unknown.
Ælfric, Archbishop of Canterbury, having employed the Latin name of this day, Cœna Domini, gives these directions to the Saxon priests: “On Thursday you shall wash the altars before you celebrate mass, otherwise you must not. After vespers you must uncover the altars and let them remain bare until Saturday, washing them in the interior. You shall then fast until nones. Imple mandata Domini in cœna ipsius. ‘Do on Thursday as our Lord commands you;’ wash the feet of the poor, feed and clothe them; and, with humility, wash your feet among yourselves as Christ himself did, and commanded us so to do.” On the whole there seems to be no reason to doubt that the name maundy is derived from the mandate obeyed on this day.
The bread given to the poor on Maundy Thursday was named mandate bread, mandati panes, in the monasteries; as the coin given was called mandate money.—Med. Ævi Kalend. i. 183-185.
One of the earliest instances on record of a monarch observing this custom, and which is the more curious as it shows that the practice of regulating the amount of the dole given on Maundy Thursday by the age of the king was then in existence, is preserved in the “Rotulus Misæ, or role of the wardrobe expenses of the 14th year of King John,” in which there appears an item of “fourteen shillings and one penny, for alms to thirteen poor persons, every one of whom received thirteen pence at Rochester, on Thursday, in Cœna Domini” (Holy Thursday), John having then reigned thirteen complete years.
In the wardrobe expenses of Edward I. we find money given on Easter eve to thirteen poor people whose feet the Queen had washed; which latter custom is said to have been performed by the sovereign so late as the reign of James II.—Thoms, Book of the Court, 1844, p. 311.
Henry VII. gave, when thirty-eight years old, thirty-eight coins and thirty-eight small purses to as many poor people:
“March 25. To thirty-eight poor men in almes, £6 0s. 4d. For thirty-eight small purses, 1s. 8d.
There are several entries for the Maundy in the “Privy Purse expenses” of this sovereign, as in 1496:
“April 10. For bote hire for the Maundy and the kinges robe, payed by John Flee, 4s.”
The order of the Maundy, as practised by Queen Elizabeth in 1579 is here given—(from No. 6183, Add. MSS. in the British Museum):
“Order of the Maunday made, at Greenwich,
19th March 1579, 14 Elizabeth.”
“First.—The hall was prepared with a long table on each side, and formes set by them; on the edges of which tables, and under those formes were lay’d carpets and cushions for her Majestie to kneel when she should wash them. There was also another table set across the upper end of the hall somewhat above the foot pace, for the chappelan to stand at. A little beneath the midst whereof, and beneath the said foot-pace, a stoole and cushion of estate was pitched for her Majestie to kneel at during the service time. This done the holy water, basons, alms, and other things being brought into the hall, and the chappelan and poor folks having taken the said places, the laundresse, armed with a faire towell, and taking a silver-bason filled with warm water and sweet flowers, washed their feet all after one another and wiped the same with his towell, and soe making a crosse a little above the toes kissed them. After hym, within a little while, followed the sub-almoner, doing likewise, and after him the almoner himself also. Then, lastly, her Majestie came into the hall, and after some singing and prayers made, and the gospel of Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet read, 39 ladyes and gentlewomen (for soe many were the poor folks, according to the number of the yeares complete of her Majesties age), addressed themselves with aprons and towels to waite upon her Majestie; and she, kneeling down upon the cushions and carpets under the feete of the poore women, first washed one foote of every one of them in soe many several basons of warm water and sweete flowers, brought to her severally by the said ladies and gentlewomen; then wiped, crossed, and kissed them, as the almoner and others had done before. When her Majestie had thus gone through the whole number of 39 (of which 20 sat on the one side of the hall, and 19 on the other), she resorted to the first again, and gave to each one certain yardes of broad clothe to make a gowne, so passing to them all. Thirdly; she began at the first, and gave to each of them a pair of gloves. Fourthly; to each of them a wooden platter, wherein was half a side of salmon, as much ling, six red herrings and lofes of cheat bread. Fifthly; she began with the first again, and gave to each of them a white wooden dish with claret wine. Sixthly; she received of each waiting-lady and gentlewoman their towel and apron, and gave to each poor woman one of the same, and after this the ladies and gentlewomen waited no longer, nor served as they had done throughout the courses before. But then the treasurer of the chamber, Mr. Hennage, came to her Majestie with thirty-nine small white purses, wherein were also thirty-nine pence (as they saye) after the number of yeares to her Majestie’s saide age, and of him she received and distributed them severally. Which done she received of him soe many leather purses alsoe, each containing 20sh. for the redemption of her Majestie’s gown, which (as men saye) by ancient order she sought to give some of them at her pleasure but she to avoid the trouble of suite, which accustomablie was made for that preferment, had changed that reward into money, to be equally divided amongst them all, namely, 20sh. a piece, and she also delivered particularly to the whole company. And so taking her ease upon the cushion of estate and hearing the quire a little while, her Majestie withdrew herself and the companye departed, for it was by that time the sun was setting.”
Charles II. observed this custom, as we find in a letter preserved in the Rawdon Letters, p. 175:
“On Thursday last his Majesty washed poor men’s feet in the Banquetting House, an act of humility used by his predecessors on Maundy Thursday to as many poor men as he had lived years. To each poor man he gave two yards of cloth for a coat, three ells of linen for a shirt, shoes, stockings, two purses, the one with thirty-three pence, the other with twenty pence, one jole of ling, one jole of salmon, a quantity of red and white herrings, one barrel with beer, and another with wine, with which they drank his Majesty’s health. The queen did pay the same observance to several women about one of the clock at St. James.”
After these illustrations of the ceremonies formerly observed in the distribution of the royal alms on Maundy Thursday, it becomes interesting to witness those which obtain at the present time.
The following is taken from the Times newspaper (April 6th, 1871):
“Those ancient and royal charities designated the Queen’s Maundy were distributed yesterday in Whitehall Chapel during Divine service with the customary formalities, to fifty-two aged men and fifty-two aged women, the number of each one corresponding with the age of her most gracious Majesty.
At three o’clock a procession, consisting of a detachment of the yeomen of the guard under the command of a sergeant-major (one of the yeomen carrying the royal alms on a gold salver), the Rev. Dr. Jelf, D.D., Sub-Almoner, Mr. Joseph Hanby, Secretary and Yeoman of the Royal Almonry, and his Assistant, Mr. John Hanby, accompanied by senior children from the National Schools in the parish of St. John the Evangelist and St. Margaret, Westminster, who had been selected to participate in this privilege for their good conduct, proceeded from the Almonry office, in Scotland Yard, to the Chapel Royal, Whitehall.
The arrival of the procession having been signified to the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor, Lord High Almoner, and to the Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal, they, preceded by Mr. Chapman, Sergeant of the Vestry, met it at the entrance, and took their places immediately after the yeoman of the guard bearing the salver with the royal alms.
The whole procession then advanced in the following order:
Boys of the Chapel Royal,
Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal,
Priests of the Chapel Royal,
Sergeant-Major of the Yeoman of the Guard,
The Yeoman with the Salver of Alms,
The Sergeant of the Vestry,
The Lord High Almoner,
The Sub-Almoner and Sub-Dean,
The Children of the National Schools,
The Yeoman of the Almonry and his Assistant,
And the Yeomen of the Guard.
The procession having passed up the centre aisle to the steps of the altar, the Lord Almoner, the Sub-Almoner, and the Sub-Dean, and those forming the procession having taken their assigned places on either side of the chapel, the royal alms being deposited in front of the royal closet, the afternoon service (a special service for the occasion) was read by the Rev. Dr. Vivian, senior priest in waiting, commencing with the Exhortation, Confession, Absolution, &c. Then followed the
41st PSALM (The Grand Chant).
FIRST LESSON, St. MATTHEW, Chap. xxv. 14-31.
First Anthem (Psalm xxxiv.)—“O taste and see how gracious the Lord is.” Goss.
£1. 15s. distributed to each woman. To each man, shoes and stockings.
Second Anthem.—“O Saviour of the world.” Goss.
Woollen and linen clothes distributed to each man.
Third Anthem.-—“I waited for the Lord.” Mendelssohn.
Money purses distributed to each man and woman.
SECOND LESSON, St. MATTHEW, Chap. xxv. v. 31, to the end.
Fourth Anthem (Psalm xxi.)—“The king shall rejoice in thy strength.” Greene.
Then were read two prayers composed for the occasion, after which followed the prayer for the Queen, and so on to the end.”
The minor bounty and royal gate alms, &c., were, in accordance with ancient usage, distributed at the Almonry Office, in Scotland Yard, on Friday and Saturday in the past week, and on Monday and Tuesday during the current week, to aged, disabled, and meritorious persons who had been previously recommended by the clergy of the various parishes in and round London.
There were over four thousand persons relieved.
The selections were made by the Lord High Almoner, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Jelf, D.D. The payments were conducted by Mr. Joseph Hanby, secretary and yeoman of Her Majesty’s Almonry in ordinary, who has officiated on these occasions since Easter, 1812, inclusive.—See also the True Briton, 1801.
In Nares’ Glossary (1859, vol. i. p. 151) occurs the following article:
“Chare Thursday.—The Thursday in Passion week, corrupted, according to the following ancient explanation, from Shear Thursday, being the day for shearing, or shaving, preparatory to Easter. Called also Maundy Thursday:
“‘Upon Chare Thursday Christ brake bread unto his disciples, and bade them eat it, saying it was his flesh and blood.’—Shepherd’s Kalendar.
“‘If a man asks why Shere Thursday is called so, ye may say that in holy Chirche it is called Cena Domini, our Lordes Super day. It is also in Englyshe called Sher Thursday, for in old faders dayes the people wolde that day shere theyr hedes, and clippe theyr berdes, and poll theyr hedes, and so make them honest agenst Ester day. For on Good Fryday they doo theyr bodyes none ease, but suffre penaunce in mynde of him that that day suffred his passyon for all mankynde. On Ester even it is time to here theyr service, and after service to make holy daye.
“‘Then, as Johan Bellet sayth, on Sher Thursday a man sholde so poll his here, and clype his berde, and a preest sholde shave his crowne, so that there sholde nothynge be between God and hym.’”—Festival, quoted by Dr. Wordsworth, in Eccles. Biog. vol. i. p. 297.
In Brand’s Pop. Antiq. (revised by Sir Henry Ellis), London, 1841, in the chapter headed “Shere Thursday, also Maundy Thursday,” the same derivation is given; and in one of the notes, a passage is quoted from the Gent. Mag. (July 1779, p. 349), in which the writer says:
“Maundy Thursday, called by Collier Shier Thursday, Cotgrave calls by a word of the same sound and import, Sheere Thursday. Perhaps—for I can only go upon conjecture—as shear means purus, mundus, it may allude to the washing of the disciples’ feet (John xiii. 5., et seq.), and be tantamount to clean. See 10th verse, and Lye’s Saxon Dictionary v. Scip. If this does not please, the Saxon scipan signifies dividere, and the name may come from the distribution of alms upon that day, for which see Archæol. Soc. Antiq., vol. i. p. 7, seq.; Spelman, Gloss. v. Mandatum; and Du Fresne, vol. iv. p. 400. Please to observe, too, that on that day they also washed the altars, so that the term in question may allude to that business.—See Collier’s Eccles. History, vol. ii. p. 157.”
Chare Thursday, however, says Dr. Hahn (N. & Q. 3rd S. vol. viii. p. 389), is the correct expression, and has nothing whatever to do with shearing or sheer, or scipan. Shere is only a corruption of chare = char, care, or carr.
In Germany Passion Week is called Charwoche, and Good Friday Charfreitag. But in former times Char was prefixed to every day of Passion Week, and we find Charmontag (Chare Monday), Chardienstag (Chare Tuesday), &c. The origin of Chare Thursday is therefore evident. Char is an old German word signifying luctus, solicitudo; Goth. kar, kara; Old Saxon cara; O.-H.-G. chara; Anglo-Saxon cearu, caru, allied to Latin cura, &c.[27]
[27] See [Care Sunday], [p. 121].
The original signification chare having become obsolete, a word of similar sound was substituted in its place, and hence Shere Thursday.