ENGLISH CUSTOMS.*
Mn. SNELL tells us that his book is intended to set forth, or rather to help in Betting forth—for he is commendably modest—the significance of the customs which he describes and "their fundamental relations to the organised life of the Middle Ages." Readers will not find the work less attractive because of its purpose. Picturesque and entertain- ing it could not help being ; and it is not the less so because it really means a great deal more. Take, for instance, the fifth chapter in the " Ecclesiastical " division of Mr. Snell's researches, "The Boy Bishop." The "Boy Bishop's" period of office lasted from the Feast of St. Nicholas (Decem- ber 6) to Holy Innocents' Day (December 28th). It was therefore a Christmas festivity, and it is peculiarly interesting as being a link between the Pagan Saturnalia and the Christian celebration of the Nativity. A prominent feature of the Saturnalia was the inversion of social rank : "slaves assumed the position of masters, and masters of slaves." So in the Christian form of the festival the lowest member of the clerical order figured as the highest—the choir-boy became the bishop. How far the imitation went it is not easy to say. Mr. Snell thinks that the mock bishop did not say Mass, though a proclamation of Henry VIII. affirms that he did. Such a document, however unfair, would hardly state what was flagrantly false. Possibly practice varied; possibly the farce stopped short of what would have been unpardon- able irreverence. That he preached the sermon is certain, and after that he gave the Benediction. All this may seem not a little shocking, and it certainly had its scandalous side. On the other hand, it indicates, as does the kindred fact of the Miracle Plays, a familiar presence of religion in daily life which has now been practically banished, not without loss. Mr. Such follows his "Ecclesiastical" section with one which he entitles "Academic." Begging scholars, the University chest which lent money to the needy, the " Nations " into which the University was divided, Australs and Boreals, the work of the Friars in promoting academic objects, and various other matters are dealt with. It is curious to note that Oxford is far more prominent than Cambridge. We cannot follow Mr. Snell into his other sections, ." Judicial," "Urban," "Rural," and "Domestic," but we cordially dcnnmend his book to our readers.
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