Album (Vol. vii., p. 235.).—The origin and the earliest notice of this kind of friendly memorial book is to be traced to the registers of the deceased that were formerly kept in every church and monastery. Such a book was called the album, i. e. the blank book, in which the names of the friends and benefactors to the church or monastery were recorded, that they might be prayed for at their decease, and on their anniversaries. The earliest writer belonging to this country who uses the word is the Venerable Beda, who in his preface to his prose life of St. Cuthbert, written previous to the year 721, reminds Bishop Eadfrith that his name was registered in the album at Lindisfarne, "in albo vestræ sanctæ congregationis." (Bedæ Opera Minora, p. 47., ed. Stevenson.) Elsewhere Beda calls this book "the annal" (Hist. Eccles., lib. iv. c. 14.). At a later period it was called, both in England and abroad, the Liber Vitæ, or Book of Life, a name borrowed from St. Paul (Philippians, iv. 3.).
The earliest specimen of an English album, and perhaps the most elegant one that this or any other country ever produced, may be seen in the British Museum (Cotton MSS., Domitian VII.). It is the Album, or Book of Life, of the monastery of Durham. Nor need we add that this album affords a relief to the eye wearied with looking over the pages of a modern album, and to the mind sick of the endless but monotonous repetition of imaginary ruins, love sonnets, and moss roses.
Ceyrep.
Gesmas and Desmas (Vol. vii., p. 238.).—For the information of your correspondent A. B. R., I copy the passage referred to by you in the disputed Gospel of Nicodemus, formerly called the Acts of Pontius Pilate. The extract is from an English version, printed for William Hone, Ludgate Hill, 1820:
"But one of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus, whose name was Gestas, said to Jesus, If thou art the Christ, deliver thyself and us."—vii. 10.
"But the thief who was crucified on his right hand, whose name was Dimas, answering, rebuked him, and said, Dost not thou fear God, who art condemned to this punishment? We indeed receive rightly and justly the demerit of our actions; but this Jesus, what evil hath he done?"—vi. 11.
"After this, groaning, he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom."—vi. 12.
It thus appears the names have been differently received: here they appear GESTAS the impenitent, and DIMAS the penitent.
I have a fine old engraving, nineteen inches by fourteen, bearing date "Greg. Huret, Lugd. inv. et sculp. 1664;" published in Paris, cum priv. Regis.
The three crosses, with their inscriptions (each in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin), appear.
The Latin on the cross of the thief on the right hand of our Lord (and, from the expression of countenance, confessed the penitent) is DISMAS LATRO: the other is GESTAS LATRO.
W. C. H.