In Mr. Fosbroke’s “British Monarchism,” the observation of this catholic
ceremony is noticed as being mentioned in “Ernulphus’s Annals of
Rochester Cathedral,” and by Selden. From thence it appears to have
taken place just before the octaves of Easter. Austin says, “that it
used to be sung in all churches from Easter to Pentecost, but Damasus
ordered it to be performed at certain times, whence it was chanted on
Sundays from the octaves of Epiphany to Septuagesima, and on the Sundays
from the octaves of Pentecost and Advent. One mode of burying the
Alleluia was this: in the sabbath of the _Septuagesima_ at Nones, the
choristers assembled in the great vestiary, and there arranged the
ceremony. Having finished the last ‘Benedicamus,’ they advanced with
crosses, torches, holy waters, and incense, carrying a turf (Glebam) in
the manner of a coffin, passed through the choir and went howling to the
cloister, as far as the place of interment; and then having sprinkled
the water, and censed the place, returned by the same road. According to
a story (whether true or false) in one of the churches of Paris, a choir
boy used to whip a top, marked with _Alleluia_, written in golden
letters, from one end of the choir to the other. In other places
_Alleluia_ was buried by a serious service on Septuagesima Sunday.”
* * * * *