P.S. The word "corrigia" is taken from the word "corium," a skin of
leather.
[Were not these leather coverings?--that for the rope, to prevent its
cutting the ringer's hands (as we constantly see), and also to prevent
his hand slipping; and that for the clapper, to muffle it--straps of
leather girded round them.]
* * * * *
_Tu Autem_ (Vol. iii., pp. 265. 308.).--The "Tu Autem," still remembered
at Oxford and Cambridge, and yet lingering at the public dinners of the
canons of Durham, is the last fragment of what was once a daily, or at
least an almost daily, religious form or service at those ancient
places; and it is rather strange that such a fragment should have
remained so long in the collegiate and cathedral refectory without
having preserved any remembrance of its real origin and meaning. If
Bishop Hendren or Father Holdfast would forego their favourite pursuits
for a few minutes, and look into your interesting and improving
miscellany, they might inform you that in the Romish Breviary--which, no
doubt, has preserved many ancient religious services--there is a form
entitled _Benedictio mensæ_. As the generality of your readers may not
have the Breviary at hand, I send you so much of the service as may
suffice for the present purpose.
"BENEDICTIO MENSÆ.
"_Ante prandium Sacerdos benedicturus mensam, incipit_, Benedicite,
_et alii repetunt_, Benedicite. _Deinde dicit_ Oculi omnium, _et alii
prosequuntur_. In te sperant, Domine, et tu das escam illorum in
tempore opportuno" &c. &c. Then "Gloria Patri" &c., and "Pater noster"
&c. &c.
"_Posteà Sacerdos dicit_:
"Oremus.
"Benedic Domine nos, et hæc tua dona, quæ de tua largitate sumus
sumpturi. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
"_Deinde Lector._ Jube Domine benedicere. _Benedictio._ Mensæ
coelestis participes faciat nos Rex æternæ gloriæ. Amen.
"_Post prandium aguntur gratiæ hoc modo. Dicto à Lectore_, Tu autem
Domine miserere nobis. Deo gratias, _omnes surgunt_.
"_Sacerdos incipit._ Confiteantur tibi Domine omnia opera tua. Et
Sancti tui benedicant tibi. Gloria Patri, &c.
"_Posteà Sacerdos absolutè dicat_: _A_gimus tibi gratias, omnipotens
Deus, pro universis beneficiis tuis, &c.
"_Deinde alternatim dicitur Psalmus._ Miserere mei Deus.
"_Vel Psalmus 116._" (in our version, 117.), &c. &c. &c.
The service then proceeds with very much repetition. The performance of
the whole would probably occupy twenty minutes.
I must note that there are variations in the service depending upon the
season, &c. &c.