who are more familiar than myself with the Manuscript treasures of
the British Museum, and of our University Libraries, whether they
have ever met with (except in MSS. of Chaucer) the remarkable "Night
Spell" which the Father of English Poetry has preserved in the
following passage of his _Miller's Tale_. I quote from Mr.
Wright's edition, printed for the Percy Society:--

"'What Nicholas, what how man, loke adoun:
Awake and think on Cristes passioun
I crowche the from Elves and from Wightes.'
There with the night-spel seyde he anon rightes
On the foure halves of the hous aboute
And on the threissh-fold of the dore withoute.

"'Lord Jhesu Crist and seynte Benedight,
Blesse this hous from every wikkede wight
Fro nightes verray, the white Paternoster
When wonestow now, seynte Petres soster.'"

This charm has long occupied my attention, and as I hope shortly to
submit to the Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries an attempt to
illustrate some parts of it which are at present certainly involved
in very great obscurity, I shall be glad to be informed whether any
other early version of it is to be found in MS., and if so, where;
and also whether any other version, corrupted or not, is still
preserved, if not in use, at least in memory. I should also be
especially glad of references of any other allusion to the "white
Paternoster" or "seynte Petres soster," or for any information as to
sources for ascertaining the history, whether authentic or
legendary, of the personage supposed to be alluded to in the closing