No women at the shrine
D[AVIES], J[ohn].
The ancient rites, and monuments of the monastical, & cathedral church of Durham. Collected out of ancient manuscripts, about the time of the suppression. Published by J.D. of Kidwelly.
London: for W. Hensman, 1672.
Small 8vo (145 × 90 mm.), pp. [viii], 164. Trimmed at head, sometimes just touching pagination, catchwords just trimmed at foot on final two leaves. Nineteenth-century sprinkled calf gilt, to style, by Jenkins, sometime expertly rebacked preserving original spine. A very good copy.
First edition, prepared by John Davies of Kidwelly, putatively from a Latin manuscript dating from the "Suppression". It is a detailed antiquarian survey of the church and particularly of the shrine of St Cuthbert, which is described in quite sumptuous detail. It includes (not from the original manuscript, if it existed) an explanation of the tradition forbidding women from entering into the presence of the relics of St Cuthbert. The saint had once lived as a hermit at Corwen and was falsely accused of deflowering the local King's daughter. When challenged by King and daughter, Cuthbert prayed to God, to the effect that the ground opened with a hissing sound, promptly conveying the lying princess to Hell. Through Cuthbert's generous intercession the Princess was returned to life, on the condition that no woman should ever resort to him again.
Wing D392.
£300.00
US$596.37*
* Given as a guide only. Based on an exchange rate of £1 = US$1.987896 for the day 5 July 2008 but liable to fluctuate.
5 July 2008