[538] Matthæus Paris. ad ann., 1228, Chron. maj. 3, 161.
[539] Wilhelm. Malmsbur., Gesta Reg. Angl. 4, 338. Migne, Patr. Lat., clxxix., 1290. Eadmer., Hist. Nov., Præf. et passim. Migne, clix. 347.
[540] This appears from a decree of Bishop Walter of Rouen in 1207, printed in the collection of Bigot in Migne, Patr. Lat., ccvii. 1179. Walter had withheld certain endowments which his predecessor Rotricus appointed for the metropolitan chapter on certain festivals. These he now restored. Vacandard (Les origines de la Fête d. C. Imm.: Révue des Questions Hist., 1897, 166) was unacquainted with this decree, else he would have arrived at a different conclusion. Moreover he himself brings forward proof that the feast was celebrated during the twelfth century in Jumièges and St Owen, but not until the thirteenth century at Fécamp.
[541] Syn. Rotom. of 1189, can. 1. Migne, Patr. Lat., ccvii. 1180.
[542] Henricus a Gandavo, Quæst. quodlib., 15 qu. 13 fol., 584 B.: “Normanni, in quorum territorio dicitur hujusmodi revelatio facta fuisse, præ ceteris populis illam conceptionem praccipue celebrant.” Again, fol. 385 A., it is twice called “festum quod a Normannis celebratur.” It would appear from this that the Normans before 1260 were still the only people who kept the feast.
[543] This legend must have enjoyed a wide circulation, since the Greek Breviary finds it necessary to attack it. See the edition of Constantinople, 1843, 77.
[544] Passaglia (De Imm. Conc., iii. 1755 seqq.) is not at all shaken in his opinion by the fact that Mabillion, as he himself admits, has shown the falsified life was not written by Ildefonsus, Acta Ord. S. Bened., ii. 521. The title “conceptio S.V.M. Genitricis Domini” refers to Christmas. It is an altogether absurd idea that the Jews in the seventh century joined in the celebration of the 8th December. Unfortunately Schwane (Dogmengesch., iii. 414) has copied Passaglia’s mistake.
[545] Leslæus, Miss. Mixtum. Migne, Patr. Lat., lxxxv. 933 A.
[546] Passaglia (op. cit., iii. 1760) relies on a deed of gift of 1047, in which occurs the expression “Conceptio Immac.,” at that period unknown—a clear proof of falsification. The document comes from Antonio Dragoni, an industrious fabricator. See Sickel, Acta Regum, etc., i. 23.
[547] Sicardus, Mitrale, c. 43. Migne, Patr. Lat., ccxviii.