On fol. 100 v. is a portrait of one Lawrence, a clerk, who is dressed in a brown gown (toga); another clerk, William by name, is in a scarlet gown and hood. On fol. 93 v. Leofric, a deacon, is in a blue gown and hood. The first of the accompanying engravings from fol. 105 represents Dom. Ricardus de Threton, sacerdos—Sir Richard Threton, priest—who was executor of Sir Robert de Thorp, knight, formerly chancellor of the king, who gave twenty marks to the convent. In the illumination, the gown and hood are of full bright blue, lined with white; the under sleeves which appear at the wrists are of the same colour; and the shoes are red. The next illustration from fol. 106 v. represents Dom. Bartholomeus de Wendone, rector of the church of Thakreston, and the character of the face leads to the conclusion that it is a portrait, and to the conjecture that all the others were intended to be so. His gown, hood, and sleeves are scarlet, with black shoes. Another rector, on fol. 105, Dom. Johannes Rodland, rector of the church of Todyngton, has a green gown and scarlet hood. Still another rector of the church of Little Waltham is represented at half length in pink gown and purple hood. On fol. 108 v. is the full-length portrait of Dom. Rogerus, chaplain of the chapel of the Earl of Warwick at Flamsted; over a scarlet gown, of the same fashion as those in the preceding pictures, he wears a pink cloak lined with blue; the hood is scarlet of the same suit as the gown; the buttons at the shoulder of the cloak are white (perhaps silver), the shoes red. It will be observed that they all wear the moustache and beard.
Sir Roger, Chaplain.
The priest on horseback represents John Ball, who was concerned in Wat Tyler’s rebellion. He is in a churchyard, preaching from the pulpit of his saddle to a crowd of people on the left side of the picture.
The subject receives some illustration from literary sources; the “Instructions to Parish Priests” enjoins—
In honeste clothes thow muste gon
Basdard ne bawdryke were thou non.
But “Piers Plowman” notes their contrary practice. It would be better, he says—
If many a priest bare for their baselards and their brooches
A pair of beads in their hand and a book under their arm.
Sire John and Sire Geffrey hath a girdle of silver,
A baselard and a knife, with botons over gilt.
