"Have you a carpet of silk, satin, damask, or some more than ordinary stuff to cover the Table with at all times?"—Visitation Articles, Bishop Montague, 1639.
[160] The pall is an archiepiscopal vestment, forming at the back a figure like the letter Y, as seen on the armorial bearings of our archbishops.
[161] "All Deans, Archdeacons, Parsons, Vicars, and other Ecclesiastical persons shall suffer from henceforth no torches nor candles, tapers, or images of wax to be set before any image or picture. But only two lights upon the high altar (the only altar now retained in our Church) before the Sacrament, which, for the signification that Christ is the true Light of the World, they shall suffer to remain still."—Injunctions of King Edward VI.
"And here it is to be noted, that such ornaments of the Church and of the ministers thereof, at all times of their ministration, shall be retained and be in use, as were in this Church of England by the authority of Parliament in the second year of the reign of King Edward the Sixth."—Rubric before morning Prayer.
[162] Durandus, who wrote about A.D. 1290, says, "At the horns of the altar two candlesticks are placed to signify the joy of Jews and Gentiles at the Nativity of Christ."
In the Sassetti Chapel at Florence is a beautiful fresco painting, by Ghirlandaio (A.D. 1485), representing the death of St. Francis. The painting, which has been copied by the Arundel Society, has all the character of a really historical work, and is particularly interesting as representing an altar with the two candlesticks upon it.
[163] Ps. cviii, 1.
[164] 2 Chron. v. 11-14.
[165] Organs appear to have been used at a very early period, and some have thought that allusions to them are to be found in the Psalms of David; but till the commencement of the last century they were probably used in very few country churches. In cathedrals the organ was sometimes placed in the clerestory; its position over the choir screen is in every respect most objectionable.
[166] Vestry, so called because it is the place where the vestments of the priests and their assistants are kept. It is also called the sacristy, because the sacred vessels and other furniture for use at the altar are kept there. The keeper of the vestry is properly called the sacristan. This word has now degenerated to sexton.