SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

EXCISSLisTICAL ARCHEOLOGY, Begistrum Episeopatus Aberdonensis, Ecclesle Cathedralie Aberdonensis Repesta que extant in untnn collects. In two volumes. Printed/or Me Spalding Club.

FICTION,

Githa of the Forest. By the Author of " Lord Deere of Giisland," " Rodenhurst," &c. In three volumes Churton. StOesAmrr, Memoir of the late Rev. John Reid, M.A., of Bellary, East Indies ; comprising Inci- dents of the Beller), Mission for a period of eleven years, from 1830 to 1840. By Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. Hackney, Glasgow.

BEGISTRUM EP/SCOPATUS ABEEDONEN8I8.

TIEffilE volumes are more strictly germane to the purpose of a society like the Spalding Club than any of their predecessors, excepting perhaps the last publication, devoted to the municipal antiquities of Aberdeen. The "Miscellany" of the Club, the extracts from the Presbytery Book of Strathbogie, Mr. Patrick Gordon's "Short Abridgment of Britane's Dis- temper," and the " Breiffe Narration of Father Blackhall," were of that life- Re and popular character that they might almost have been published as a bookseller's speculation, albeit perhaps a losing one. The municipal an- tiquities, and still more the volumes before us, are so strictly limited by their subject to the archmologist, and contain so much matter of a minute or a dry character, that only a society like the Spalding Club could be found in these days to undertake their publication. And fortunate it is that such a club exists ; for it is very desirable to have such a picture of the wealth, power, laws, and economy of an ecclesiastical body like the Bishop of Aberdeen and his Chapter, collected together, and readily accessible to all who may wish to consult them.

The documents contained in the volumes are collected from various sources, most of them from manuscripts in King's College, Aberdeen, or the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh; but some have been printed before. The dates commence in 1062; though, as the first five charters are said to be ecclesiastical forgeries, the first undisputed date is a bull of Adrian the Fourth to the Bishop of Aberdeen in 1157; whence they proceed continuously till about 1560, when Scottish Romanism was tottering to its fall. The muniments themselves relate to an infinite variety of matters ; which have been classified and arranged by the editor in a manner that brings analogous subjects appropriately together, and enables each class to tell its own story as far as practicable. The first volume is entirely devoted to questions connected with privileges or property,—charters from Monarchs, bulls from Popes, foundations by the pions for the good of their souls, leases by the Bishop, disputes about boundaries or the property itself, and the bargains, quarrels, and business of all kinds, that may be supposed to arise during three or four centuries in the management of extensive domains, where the corporate landlord possessed the power of excommunication and other spiritual censures in addition to that of the feudal law. The subjects of the second volume are more various. The most important and generally interesting docu- ments are the collected body of the canons of the Scottish Church, and the particular statutes of the Cathedral of Aberdeen ; the former a curious collection, able valuable for its exibition of the law of discipline in the national church, the light it throws upon the manners of the times, and the possible backsliding-s of the ecclesiastics, as well as for its picture of artful Popery in Scotland. Various inventories of the books, plates, vestments, jewels, and furniture belonging to the Cathedral, occupy the next place ; and though possessing an antiquarian rather than an historical interest, they are curious, especially for the manuscripts, which, considering the age and the remoteness of the place, form a fair library. The remainder of the volume consists of documents of a very miscellaneous kind,—as anniversaries, or days fixed for the performance of service for the benefit of particular souls, bulls upon various subjects, and some conventions rather relating to the religionists of the district than to the Cathedral. Upon the whole collection the editor thus fairly though favourably observes— "It will be found that the first volume:of these collected Registers throws light chiefly on the ancient territorial state of the Bishoprick, its lands, churches, and revenues; its relation to neighbouring proprietors; and the condition and progress Of the people of the diocese; while the second illustrates the Church-law of Scot- land; the particular institutions of the diocese of Aberdeen; its Cathedral consti- tution and customs; its ritual, and church-service and ceremonies; the interior of the choir, the treasury, and the chapterhouse. "The first volume is calculated to be oftenest referred to, and perhaps most practically useful. No one living within the bounds of the diocese can turn it over without finding something to interest him—something throwing light on his family, his property, or his parish—showing the ancient state and occupation of Ins own residence, or of conterminous property. It may require somewhat more reflection to appreciate the body of Church muniments in the second volume. Ent, rightly considered, the interest of mere local history is secondary to that of the Christian antiquities of our country. If it be possible to trace the introduc- tion of Christianity in its first simplicity, the weak beginning of the Church when struggling for existence, its progressive acquisition of security, wealth, and power, it cannot be unprofitable to examine dispassionately the causes of its success, by what means it controlled the minds of men not easily led, and in- fluenced their laws, banished all sectarianism even in thought, and brought it about that men gave to the Church in the full confidence that they were giving to God."

To this sunnnary may be added the utility of many documents in the first volume, to what is called the black-letter lawyer ; a man who is supposed to waste his time in mastering what is now obsolete, though it would seem that such knowledge must give him a better acquaintance With the principles or printordia of the law. The panegyric must be received with limitations. The inhabitants of Aberdeen and its neigh- bourhood may doubtless occasionally meet with the enjoyment the editor Prepares them for ; but the interest of each must be limited to one set of muniments, unless the reader happens to have very various posses- mons. To enjoy anything beyond this, he should have the eye and mind of the archeologist. The great majority of the documents are in Latin, Rot of the purest, with peculiar terms he may not always understand. The attraction which family antiquities or the history of our own pos- sessions has for us, would carry the laird or the merchant through what relates to his own property : to get further, he must have the stimulus of a pursuit, with its archleological lore. A term of law must call up a principle; a descriptive phrase must revive to his mind the form of the ceremonial, with its mooted learning perhaps; a list of vestments and implements, which to the ignorant are barren, must suggest to him all the splendour of the Romish worship, when a more than theatrical pro- cession in " gorgeous pall came sweeping by."

These peculiarities necessarily limit the matter available to us for ex- tract ; not merely because much Latin is not adapted to the pages of a newspaper, but because its style is not very interesting. The substanoe of the following, however, has an interest, for the light it throws upon the opinion of the Romanists on lay baptism; a subject lately revived by the Tractarians, who show themselves "more Popish than the Pope."

Quoniam baptisms prima tabula eat post naufragium et magna eat virtus at efficacia buius sacramenti cum ab ipso Deo institutum sit et eiris sanguine rubri- catnm precipimns vt hoc sacramentum celebretur cum bonore et reuerentia at magna cautela maxime in distinctione verborum in q.nibus tole vii huins sacra- menti consistit et sal= puerorum . Forma autem baptazandi hoc eat . EGO asp- TIZO TE IN NOMINE PATRIS ET FILII ET SPIRITUS SANCTI AMEN . In &MAW

vero at etiam Anglico ydiomate sub eadem forma doceant sacerdotes frequenter at posse at debere se baptizare pueros in necessitate . Et pater at meter baptizent filium suum iu necessitate cum she desint persona et sine preiudicio matrimonij." • • • •

"Si vero puer a laico doini baptizatus fuerit aqua propter reuerentiam baptismi vel in ignem fundatur vel ad ecclesiam deferatur in baptisterium fuudenda . Item vas illud in quo baptizatus fuerit vel in igne comburatur vel ad vsus ecelesie de- utetur. . Cum autem laicus in necessitate baptizaueritpuerum sacerdos ixetea diligenter inquirat ab soquid dixerit aut quid fecerit et Si mueniat laicum discrete etiam in forma ecclesie bapfizasse in quocunqne ydiomate approbet factum . sin autem ipso sacerdos baptizat puerum sic dicendo . N. NON TN BAPTIZO SET SI NON ES BAPTIZATUS BAPTIZO TN IN NOMINE PATRIS ET FILII ET SPIRITUS sAzicri AMEN . Sub ista forma pueri de quibus dubium eat an sint baptizati baptizentur."*

Both the following are curious for the crafty spirit they exhibit.

CLERICAL BEHAVIOUR AT CONFESSION.

In audiendo confessionem sacerdos habeat vultum bumilem et oeulos ad terrain demissos nee sepius indiscrete faciem respiciat confitentis et maxima mulieris . at pacienter audiat quicquid dixerit et in spiritu lenitatis eum supportet at ei pro posse persuadeat plurimis modis quod integre at de omnibus.peccatis pan teat at confiteatur rafter rem confessio non eat vera . Preterea inquirat visitata singil- latim invisitata autem non nisi a longe per circumstancias vt sic expertis detur materia confitendi at inexpertis nulls detur occasio delinquendi . personarum no- mina cum quibus peccauerit non inquirat set per confeasionem potest inquirer* vtrum laicus vol clericus sacerdos vel diaconus vet monacbus fuerit . moneantur autem laici in principio QUADRAGESLME confiteri at cito post lapsus.

BACKSLIDDTGS OF THE CLERGY.

Si (OS sacerdos enm filia sun spirituali fornicatns fuerit sciat se graue &dal- terium commisisse . id circo si femiva laica sit orcuda derelinquat et IVAI au= pauperibus tribuat et conuersa in monasterio Deo value ad mortem serniat . non debet episcous vel presbyter commisceri cum muheribus que ijs confesse stint peccata . Si forte quod abut sic contigerit sic peniteat quomodo at de filia sun sprituali . Episcopus annis quindecem presbyter annis duodecern. paniteat at

deponatur (amen as iii comecientiant populi merit.

The home subjeet of tithes is handled with great elaboration by the law. But we leave the Latin, for some Scotch-English addressed by the Chapter to Bishop Gordon, who had asked their advice, in 1558, as to the best mode of suppressing the growing heresy, which was so soon to overturn the old ecclesiastical system.

"The counsall given be the Deyne and Cheptour of Aberdeen to my Lord Bischop of Aberdene their othinar at his Lordschips desyr, for reformatiotm to be maid, and stanching of heresies pullulant within the Diome of Aberdene; and the order prescrivit to be observit to the samyne effect. " Imprhnis, that my Lord of Aberdene cause the kirkmen within his Lord-. schip's Diocie to rcforme thaimselfis in all their sclanderous manner of Lyving, and to remove their oppin concubinis, alswell greit as small, under sic pants as is contenit in the Law and actis provincial]; and the Cheptoure of Aberdene sail do sicklike amangis thaim in all scharpeist manor, conform to the Law alsweill on thairseffis as thair servandis, or ony other personis dwelland under thair jtuis- &cumin."

This was was sailing near the wind; the following is very close indeed.

"And that the premissis be the help of God may talc the better effect, the Deyne and Cheptour forsaidis humblie and hartlie prayis and exhortis my Lord thair Ordinar, for the honour of God, relief of his awin conscience, and wail of his Lordschips diocie, eveting of greit riclander, and becaus all that that ar con- trarious to the religion Christian, prornitts faithful' obedience to the Prelatis, awn that thai will mend their awin 'pis and their inferiours, conforme to the laweof God and haly Klrk; In respect beirof that his Lordschipwald be so gude as to schew gude and edifimitive example; in speciale in removing and dischargeing himself of company of the gentillwoman be quhom he is gretlie slanderit ; without the quhilk be done, diverse that ar partinaris sayis they cannot accept column and correctioun of him quhilk will nocht correct himself; And in lyk manner' nocht to be our familiar with thame that ar suspect contrarius to the Kirk, and of tbe new law; and that his Lordschip evaid the samyn: that quhen his Lordsc.hip plesis to vesey the fieldis to repois himself, [he] cheis sic cumpany as efferia till his Lordschips awin estate; and cause his Lordschips servailds to reforme tham selfis ; becaus, next himself; it seems him to begin at his awin houshald."

* " Forasmuch as baptism is the first plank after shipwreck, and great are the virtue and efficacy of this sacrament, since it was instituted by God himself and sealed with

his blood, we enjoin that this sacrament should be celebrated with honour and reverence, and with great circumspection, above all in the particularity of the words, wherein the whole force of the sacrament and the salvation of the children consist. Now the form of

baptizing Is this—q baptise thee in the name of Me Father, and of the Son, and of Me Holy Ghost; Amen.' The priests should frequently teach, that, under the same form in the Roman and likewise in the English idiom, [the people?] themselves both can and ought to baptize children hi case of necessity. Moreover, the father and mother may baptise their own child In case of necessity, in the absence of other persons, and without regard to their being married. [Alluding to the ordinary rule of celibacy as a condition of the performance of holy offices.] * • • • But if a child shall have been baptized by a laic at home, the water, out of reverence for baptism, shall either be poured into the fire or brought to the church to be poured into the font ; also, the vessel in which the baptism shall have been performed, shall either be burned or be set apart for the use of the church. And when a laic shall, in case of necessity, have baptized a child, the priest shall diligently inquire of him what he said, and ,,bat he did ; and if he find that the laic has baptized discreetly accenting to the form of the church, in whatever idiom, he shall approve the act : but If otherwise, the priest himself shall baptize the child, saying= hr. I do not baptise thee ; but if thou art not baptised, I baptise thee, in the eases of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' Under that form, children whale baptism is uncertain shall be baptized." (The ambiguous passage "se baptizare pueros," &cc. would also perhaps bear the CAA- Exaction that young persons may baptize themsdcwin extreme cases !) The following singing-contract, of the date of 1537, is curious.

"At Abirdene the auchtene day of December the zeir of Gad M.D.XXXVII

saris • It is contractyt appoinctyt and finalie aggreit betwix • • mister Alexander Kyd subchantour of Aberdene • • • and Sir Wilzeme Myrtone insister of the sang schayll of the eathedrall kyrk of Abirdene for hyme and his auccessoris with consent and assent of the bisschope done and cheptour • - • That the said maister Alexander • • • sail infeft the said Sir Wilzame in his tenment lyand in Auld Abirdene aforenent the cors of the samynge one the weist • • • Resernand the foirsaid tenment • • inclining the tyme of his kvif allanerlie the said maister paynge thairfor induringe the tyme of his liyf to the said ser Wilzame mister of the sange schuyll and his successoris the

Bourne of fourtie schillingis allanerlie - ffor the quhilkis the foirsaid sir Wilzame maister of the sang schuyll of the cathedrall kyrk of Abirdene and his successoris God wlland sail cause sex hernia of the queir in their honest surplesis to conueyne at ane alter in the cathedrall kyrk of Auld Aberdene quhilk alter sal be assygyt and schawyne be the said maister Alexander to the said sir Wilzame tyme and plais congruent euerilk day bayth feryall and festwall perpetwall tymis to cum • And thair at ye said alter one thair kneyf denotlie sell syng Aue gloriosa ane anteme of our lade in honour and laud of that glorious lade im- mediatlie eftir ye lade mess quhene the lade mess sal be sounge and quhene the lade mess is nocht sownge the foirsaid sex bernis in their honest habetis at the first bell of the his mess anent the foirsaid alter sall syng the said anteme Atte gloriosa sine thair kneis deuotlie in plaine singynge one ilk feria!i day and in prik singynge one ilk hely day quhene it is abstenit fra laboris with ane collet of our lade eallyt Concede nos to be sowng be ane of the sex hernia • and ane othir col- let pro animabus Alexandri Kyd A gnetis Lyndesay et mart= prolium quhilk beand donne the foirsaid borne that sang the twa collatis alta voce sail sa Beata viscera Marie virginis etc. And in kess the said hernia or on ane of them be absent fra the said Atte gloriosa in thair honest habetis as said is halie day or wark day at the our assygyt to syng the said anteme the said sir Wilzame and his successoris salt pay tway pennies for ilk barns absent of the sex • quhilk faltis salbe wryttne owklie and daylie be the collectour and cornmound procuratour of the cheplandis and callit one the Satirday among the laif of the faltis in the cheptour quhilk faltis salbe appliyt to the cheplandis warkis • Item in the kaise thair be na sang schuyll nor berms in the queir to obserf the premissis as may of auentonr happyne in the tyme of vniuersall pest or be ony vdir accident way Thane and in that Icaise or in ony sicklyck keise the malys and the prophetis of all and hayll the foirsaid tenment outland inland bygyt and for to be bygyt zerd and with all commoditeis and prophetis pertinyng or suld pertane thairto salbe rasauyt luftyt and ouptane frelie be the commound procuratour of the viccaris of the queir in the cathedral! kyrk of Abirdene and salbe distribuit amang the semynge."

The volumes are edited with the usual care of the Spalding Club, and appear with the sober magnificence which characterizes its publications. Besides a descriptive account of the sources whence the muniments have been derived, and a general review of the contents of the volumes, the Preface contains an historical sketch of the Bishopric of Aberdeen and a notice of its Bishops. Tables of contents and elaborate indexes facilitate reference, or point attention to the different muniments ; and the fac- similes of various manuscripts, either plain or gorgeous, exhibit the ma- terial literary splendour of Popish Aberdeen.