read this inscription,—"O spes divina, via tuta, potens medicina Porrige subsidium, O Sancta Maria, corp. (sic) consortem sancte sortis patrone ministram. Effice Corneli meeritis (sic) prece regna meri.
O celi porta, nova spes mor. (sic) protege, salva, benedic, sanctifica
famulum tuum Alebertum crucis per sinnaculum (sic) morbos averte corporis et anime. Hoc contra signum nullum stet periculum. O clemen. (sic) Domina spes dese'erantibus una."
The ends of this stole, German work of the 14th century, widen like most others of the period, and in their original state seem to have been studded with small precious stones, the sockets for which are very discernible amid the beads; and in each centre must have been let in a tiny illumination, as one still is there showing the Blessed Virgin Mary with our Lord, as a child, in her arms; and this appears to have been covered with glass. Amid the beads are yet a few thick silver-gilt spangles wrought like six-petaled flowers. As a stole, the present one is very short, owing, no doubt, to a scanty length of the gold tissue; in fact, it might easily be taken for a long maniple. When it is remembered that the Suabian house of Hohenstaufen reigned in Sicily for many years, till overthrown in the person of the young Conradin, at the battle of Tagliacozzo, by the French Charles of Anjou, A.D. 1268, we can easily account for Sicilian textiles of all sorts finding their way, during the period, into Germany. In his "Geschichte der Liturgischen Gewänder des Mittelalters," 4 Lieferung, pt. xviii. fig. 3, Dr. Bock has given a figure of this stole.
8589.
Piece of Silk and Linen Tissue; ground, yellow, with a band of crimson; pattern, crowned kings on horseback amid foliage, each holding on his wrist a hawk, and having a small dog on the crupper of his saddle. Sicilian, early 13th century. 1 foot 4-1/2 inches by 7 inches.
From a small piece to the left, figured with what looks like an
English bloodhound or talbot, it would seem that we have not the full
design in the pattern of this curious stuff, which speaks so loudly of the
feudalism of mediæval Italy and other continental countries. Seldom
was a king then figured without his crown, besides carrying his hawk on
hand and being followed by his dogs, like any other lord of the land.
