MEDIÆVAL EMBLEMS OF THE PASSION.
The venerable Priory Church of Great Malvern contains a series of these emblems, among which are some I have never before met with; and as they may be interesting to some of your readers, I have made a note of them. They have evidently been moved from some other part of the church to their present position in St. Anne's Chapel, and as a few of the more usual emblems are wanting, the series has probably been more complete than it is now. The date of the glass is the latter half of the fifteenth century, and consists of a series of demi-angels, each bearing a shield, upon which these emblems are depicted.
On the first are two heads, representing Judas kissing his Master, the head of the Saviour being surrounded by the usual cruciform nimbus.
2. The reed, here drawn as a bulrush with flag leaves, crossed by a mace.
3. The lantern.
4. Christ blindfolded; represented symbolically as having a thin muslin bandage over His eyes, which are seen through it and depicted wide open, as if not at all affected by it.
5. Two hands issuing from the dexter side of the shield, as if in the act of buffeting; from the sinister side issues one hand pulling a beard or lock of hair.
6. The spear of Longinus, with drops of blood and water trickling from it, crossed by the reed and the sponge.
7. The cock that warned St. Peter.
8. The crown of thorns.
9. The cross.
10. The falchion of St. Peter crossed by another mace.
11. The seamless vest.
12. The hammer between two nails only.
13. The purse of Judas overflowing with money, represented as a merchant's gypciere.
14. The ladder.
15. Two scourges or flagelli crossing each other.
16. The sacred monogram, I.H.C.
17. The five wounds.
18. St. Veronica, with the napkin outspread impressed with the sacred head.
19. An impudent repulsive head in the act of spitting.
20. The lower portion of the pillar entwined with the cord.
To this Note I wish to add a Query. Have any of your correspondents ever met with, in similar representations, the instruments I have described as maces in shields 2. and 10.? The first has a round termination, with three triangular-shaped spikes issuing from it, one at the end, and one on each side of the ball; the second has a pointed oval, or egg-shaped end, and is quite studded with spikes, not triangular, but straight like the teeth of a woolcomb; they evidently refer to the "weapons" mentioned in St. John xviii. 3., and I am not aware of the existence of any similar types. I may also state that those mentioned on shields 1. 4. 5. and 19. are by no means usual.
While on this subject I will add a list of the other emblems I have met with not included in this series, and shall be glad to receive from any of your readers any additions to it.
The ear of Malchus; the two swords which they showed the Lord when He said "It is enough;" the three dice; the pincers; the thirty pieces of silver; the pitcher of water which our Saviour used when He washed His disciples' feet; the towel, generally represented hanging from a ring, with which He wiped them; the fire at which St. Peter warmed himself, and the three spice-boxes for embalming. I shall also be glad to hear if the representation of two nails only instead of the usual number of three, occurs in any other instance.
Norris Deck.
Great Malvern.