served him for no other use but for waste paper; and that he had been ten years consuming them, and yet there remained still store enough for as many years more. Vast quantities and numbers of these books, banished with the monks and friars from their monasteries, were conveyed away and carried beyond seas to booksellers there, by whole ship ladings; and a great many more were used in shops and kitchens.' It is not surprising then, that so little remains from those immense collections; or rather it is wonderful that so much should have escaped the general devastation. Yet, in the economy of the Reformation, the ruthless deed was, perhaps, an essential preparation for the mighty knowledge that submerged the superstition of a thousand years. The papal hierarchy, from accident, fanaticism, and policy, pursued too often a spurious plan of forcing mankind to become technical automatons of rites and dreams, words and superstitions; and supporting a system which, if not originally framed, was at least applied to inforce a long continued exertion of transferring the world into the hands of ecclesiastics, and too often superseding the Christianity of the Gospels by that of tradition, policy, half-delirious bigotry, feelings often fantastic, and unenlightened enthusiasm.'* Until the time of Luther, religion, which in principle is a pure science, was regarded as an art; it was the occupation of the clergy, who taught it as a mystery, and practised it as a trade.' * Mr. Turner's Hist. Ang. Saxons, vol. iii. p. 516. C From the manifold corruptions of religion resulted the gross practices and delusions which are noticed in the ensuing pages without comment; for the work is a collection of facts, not of inferences. It commences with the Coventry Mysteries; the passages from the Apocryphal Gospels, whereon the scenes are founded, being printed beneath. By referring to the Glossary for words that seem difficult, the perusal of the whole will be easy. It is proper to state that a literary gentleman of the principality, enabled me to mention Welsh Carols, and favoured me with the translation of the Welsh Wassail Carol for St. Mary's Eve. To a bibliopolical friend I am indebted for the notice of the Castle of Good Preservance, which he saw in Dr. Macro's collection. I should with equal readiness acknowledge other assistance, had I received it. Lastly, I am bound to confess the existence of a few errors, not affecting the sense, that were. discovered too late for correction, though in sufficient time to enable me to affirm, as a warning to others, that the worst editor of an author's writings is himself. Ludgate Hill, 5th May, 1823. 27 II. The Brethren of the Holy Trinity of St. Botolph with- out Aldersgate. THE PLAY commences with the speaking of a Pro logue, beginning thus: Cryste conserve this congregation, Fro' perellys past, p'sent, and futur, - And that non oblocucyon, make this mat'er obsc'ure, That cryst, and every creatur', with the conceyte be content. The Prologue proceeds to relate, that the 'mat'er' is of the modyr of mercy.' In fewe wurdys talkyd, that it shulde nat be ted'yous Th'for of this I yow pray, all that ben her' present, B |