"Pastores sunt admoniti ad communionem uti, non musto aut aliis liquoribus illicitis, sed puro vino, juxta institutionem."
Lastly, in Rymer's Fœdera, vol. x. p. 762., there is a petition from the Bishop of Skalholt to the English government in 1440, stating the depressed state of the commerce of Iceland at that period, and that no wine, beer, or indeed any liquor except milk and water, was to be found in the country. Such was its wretched condition, that he expresses his fear, unless supplies were received from England, divine service, the celebration of the communion, and of baptism, would soon cease.
From this last document it would seem that wine was no longer made in Iceland from the crowberry, and that the fermented juice of the
grape was deemed absolutely necessary by the bishop of that day for the celebration of the sacrament. We are not aware of any decree or bull of the court of Rome, by which any other liquor than that obtained from the grape was permitted to be used, as such would be entirely contrary to all the canons of the church, and the opinions of all her theologians.
Edward Charlton.
Newcastle-on-Tyne.
The following quotation bears upon your correspondent J. Eastwood's Query:—
"Gregorious episcopus, &c.
[Sigurdo archiepiscopo] Nidrosiensi.
Tuæ fraternitati quærenti, an deficienti in quibusdum ecclesiis suffragancorum tuorum eucharistia propter frumenti penuriam simplex oblata undecumque confecta populo, ut sub quadam decipiatur pietatis specie, ac cervisiæ vel potus alius loco vini, cum vix aut nunquam vinum reperiatur in illis partibus, sint tradenda, taliter respondemus, quod neutrum est penitus faciendum, cum in hujus modi sacramento visibilis panis de frumento et vini de uvis debeat esse forma in verbo creatoris per sacerdotis ministerium consecrata, quod veritatem carnis et sanguinis non est dubium continere, quamquam dari possit populo panis simpliciter benedictus, prout in quibusdam partibus fieri consuevit. Datum Viterbii v. Idus Maii, pontificatus nostri anno undecimo." (A.D. 1237.)—Diplomatarium Norvegicum, p. 14.: Christiania, 1847.
Emayle is no doubt enamel, used for ice, or frozen wine. Chevela is answered in the Query. I may add a letter from the same Pope to the same Archbishop on baptism in ale:—
"Cum, sicut ex tua relatione didicimus, nonnunquam propter aquæ penuriam infantes terræ tuæ contingat in cervisia baptizari, tibi tenore præsentium respondemus, quod cum secundum doctrinam evangelicam oportet eos ex aqua et spiritu sancto renasci, non debent reputari rite baptizati, qui in cervisia baptizantur. Datum Laterani, viii. Idus Julii anno xv." (A.D. 1241.)—Ibid. p. 21.