ABSTRACT
Ibeg that every pious reader who thinks fit to read these words of mine without distaste may be willing to remember that the life of man is a campaign and a pilgrimage upon earth, 1 and may consider that there is a way to heaven even from the North, from which every evil spreads, 2 provided there has been amendment of life. Those who wish, either from devotion or because of a vow, to travel from here into foreign lands, to Jerusalem or Compostela or the bountiful City 3 or to other places, as many most illustrious kings and ladies have done in the past, are blessed by a bishop or priest standing over them, together with their scrip and staff, in the following manner: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, founder and redeemer of the world, who didst command Thy blessed apostles to take only staves when they went travelling abroad, 4 we beg with suppliant devotion that Thou wilt deign to bless these scrips and staffs, or sticks, with the purpose that those who are about to accept them as a token of their pilgrimage and in support of their bodies may receive abundance of Thy heavenly grace, and may be able to find in them the protection of Thy blessing; just as the rod of Aaron blossomed in the tabernacle of the Lord 5 and divided his progeny from the number of rebellious Jews, so mayest Thou absolve these, who are decked with the seal of St Peter, from all their sins, that on the day of judgment they may be separated from the ungodly and be set upon Thy right hand. Through Our Lord.’ 6 Versicle: ‘There have come to us the days of penitence, for the redemption of sins and for the salvation of souls. Let us commit ourselves in great patience, through the weapons of God’s just power.’ 7 Then he who delivers the wallet says: ‘In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, take the scrip, or wallet, as the garb of thy pilgrimage, that thou mayest deserve to come through in sound health to the dwellings of the saints, whither thou desirest to proceed, and be found worthy to come safe back to us with rejoicing and exultation.’ 8 Then, giving the staff, he says: ‘In the name of Jesus Christ receive thou also this staff to support thee on thy journey and in thy toil, that thou mayest be strong to vanquish all enemy hordes and come through to the dwellings of the saints, whither thou desirest to make thy pilgrimage; that, when thou shalt have completed the path of obedience, thou too mayest return to us safe and sound with rejoicing.’ 9 Versicle: ‘Make safe Thy servants, etc. Send them help from the sanctuary, and out of Zion, etc. 10 Almighty, everlasting God, maker and restorer of mankind, who didst command Abraham, Thy son, to go out of the land of his birth and to come into the land of the covenant which Thou hadst promised that Thou wouldst give to him; and didst with many marvellous signs make also the people of Israel come to worship Thee in the wilderness, we beg that Thou wilt pluck this man, who is proceeding to the dwellings of the saints, out of all dangers and set him free from the bonds of sin; and do Thou, who art the true way, order well their journey for those who trust in Thee that, among all the troubles of this life, this man may be protected by Thy assistance.
