Croffes, and Crucifixes. fmall cmerades and rabies hanging to a cheyne pillar fafhion fett with xv knottes, everie one conteyning iij rubies (one lacking.)" In the inventory of queen Elizabeth's jewels, plate, &c. made in the Sixteenth year of her reign [&], feveral ornamental books are defcribed, amongft others, " Gone Gofpell booke covered with tif- fuc and garniihed on th'onfide with the crucifix and the Queenes badges of Silver guilt, poiz with wodde, leaves, and all Cxij oz. Item, oone booke of the gofpelles plated with filver, and guilt upon bourdes with the image of the crucifix ther upon, and itij evangelifts in itij places with two greate clafpes of filver and guilt, poiz Jij oz. gr. and weing with the bourdes, leaves, binding, and the covering of red vellat Cxxjx oz" It may not be improper to conclude this memoir with a few ob- fervations on the Sign of the crofs. All religious focieties, whether true or falfe, have diftinguimed themfelves by outward figns and ceremonies ; hence St. Auguftine obferves, that men never could be united or maintained in the ob- fervance of any religion without the ufe of certain figns or Sym- bols. In the Mofaic difpenfation, God was pleafed to multiply out- ward rites, in order to withdraw a grofs people from fuperftition and idolatry, and to conduct them to the paths of truth and virtue, by the impreffions of fenfe. So in the new law, Chrift instituted his holy facraments, and authorifed by his own practice, outward religious rites ; amongft thefe, from the infancy of the church, the ufe of the Sign of the crofs has ever been held facred by the profef- fors of thochriftian religion, both in Afia and in the Greek church, and by feveral denominations of proteftants ; particularly by thofe [] P. 22. The original is in my library; every page is fignecl by lord treafurer Burghley ; fir Ralph Sadler, chancellor of the duchy of Lancafter, and fir Walter Mildmay, chancellor of the exchequer j and contains an account of all the queen's jewels, plate, &c. in the cuftody of John Aftely, Efq. matter and treafurer of her majefty's jewels and plate. of
