"Erat autem fere hora sexta, et tenèbroe factoe sunt in universam terram usque in horam nonam. Et obscuratus est sol: et velum templi seissum est medium."—Luke, xxiii. 44, 45.
Should this conjecture be ill founded, I shall be glad to see it corrected; at any rate, I shall be obliged if any of your correspondents can supply other instances of the use of the term, or state what are or were the ceremonies peculiar to the day.
C.H. COOPER
Cambridge, April 4. 1850.
P.S. Since the above was written, I have noticed that "Tenable Wednesday" occurs three times in the Ordinance for "weshing of all mannar of Lynnon belonging to my Lordes Chapell" in the Northumberland Household Book (pp. 243, 244.). In each instance it is placed between Lady Day and Easter Even.
[If our correspondent refers to Mr. Hampson's most useful work, Medii ævi Kalendarium, vol. i. p. 370., to the words Tenables, Tenabulles, Tenebræ, he will find them explained "The three nights before Easter;" and the following among other illustrations:—
"Worshipfull frendis, ye shall cum to holi chirch on Wednysday, Thursday, and Friday at even for to here dyvyne service, as commendable custom of holi chirch has ordeyned. And holi chirch useth the iij dayes, Wednysday, Thursday, and Friday, the service to be saide in the eventyde in derkenes. And hit is called with divers men Tenables, but holi chirch Tenebras, as Raccionale Divinorum seth, that is to say, thieness or derkenes, to commemorate the betrayal of our Lord by night."—Harl. MS. 2247. fo. 83.]
The Buckingham Motto.—Permit me to suggest that your correspondents "S." and "P." (No. 18. pp. 283, 284.) are labouring under a mistaken notion in supposing that the line
Sovente me sorene,
belongs to the French idiom, and answers to our phrase "Forget me not." Such a sentiment would be sufficiently appropriate as the parting prayer or injunction of a lover, but does not possess the essential characteristic of a motto, which one selects for the purpose of declaring his own sentiments of conduct towards others, not to deprecate or direct those of others towards himself.