standing tax, being established by the laws of King Canute, Edward the
Confessor, the Conqueror, &c. The bishops, who were charged with the
collecting it, employed the rural deans and archdeacons therein.

Edward III. first forbade the payment; but it soon after returned, and
continued till the time of Henry VIII., when Polydore Virgil resided
here as the Pope's receiver general. It was abolished under that prince,
and restored again under Philip and Mary; but it was finally prohibited
under Queen Elizabeth.

WALTER E.C.

* * * * *


POPISH RELICS.

Ere the bright dawn of the Reformation lighted upon England, the
furniture of churches appears, from ancient records, to have been of
a splendid description; and vast sums are stated to have been lavished
upon the images of saints, &c. Great Saint Mary's Chapel, Cambridge, is
in the possession of an inventory of the goods and chattels possessed
by that ancient edifice in the 19th year of Henry VII., of which the
following is a transcript:--

"_Item_--A coat of tawney damask, purfled with velvet, appertaining to
our Lady.

"_Item_--A coat for her son, of the same satin, purfled with black
velvet, and spangled with gold.