the Danes spoiled and burned both the city and the Cathedral of Canterbury, putting the people to the sword, and after seven months' imprisonment, stoned the good Archbishop, because he would not pay a large ransom for his life, at Greenwich, on the spot where the parish Church now stands, and which is one of those named in his honour. He is represented with his chasuble full of stones: and sometimes with a battle-axe in his hand, the weapon by which his life was terminated. His body was said to have been found entire and incorrupt ten years after his death, and was translated from S. Paul's, where he was first buried, to the Cathedral of Canterbury, and there enshrined near the high altar1. Three Churches are named in his honour in Kent, one in Middlesex, and one in Warwickshire. The festival of the translation of his body was celebrated on Dec. 28. He APRIL 23. S. George, Martyr, A.D. 290. S. George is honoured in the Church as one of the most illustrious martyrs of Christ, and is the patron saint of England. was a native of Cappadocia, and passing thence into Palestine he entered the army of Dioclesian. Having complained to the Emperor Dioclesian himself of his severity and bloody edicts, he was immediately cast into prison, and after many tortures beheaded. i William of Malmesbury, b. ii. c. 10. Lactantius says he was generally supposed to have been the person who pulled down the edicts against the Christians which Dioclesian caused to be affixed to the Church doors. The legend of S. George's combat with the dragon is too well known to need repetition here. His connection with England is derived from his having appeared at the head of a numerous army carrying a red cross banner, to help Godfrey de Bouillon against the Saracens at the siege of Antioch, since which time he has been regarded as the champion of Christendom as well as of England. He was first acknowledged as the patron saint of England at the synod of Oxford in 1220, though there is ample proof that he was popular in this country even in Anglo-Saxon times, and his combat with the dragon formed a favourite subject for sculpture in the tympanums of Norman doorways, (see page 67.) Previous to that period S. Edward the Confessor was the patron saint of this country. The chapter of the order of the Garter was always held on this day. His popularity in England during the middle ages is well attested by a hundred and sixty-two Churches being named in his honour alone; two in honour of SS. Mary and George; one SS. George and Lawrence, and one combining the two thoroughly English saints, SS. George and Edmund. Emblems: the representation of S. George and the Dragon, though so well known, often varies; sometimes he is on foot, trampling on F the dragon, though most frequently on horseback ; more rarely a female is praying in the distance, occasionally too he is represented without the dragon, but then always on foot, with a spear or sword in one hand, and a white flag, or banner, or shield, with a red cross on it in the other; he is generally completely covered with armour, and is usually represented as a young man. The cut we give from an illuminated manuscript, is an uncommon variation, and represents the devil in the place of the Dragon; thus making the allegory much simpler. The S. George's crosses on the saint's surcoat, and on the caparison of his horse, as well as on his shield, also deserve notice. In some Clog almanacks his day is distinguished by a shield, in others by a spear-head. APRIL 25. S. Mark the Evangelist, A.D. 68. S. Mark was of Jewish extraction, and though not mentioned in the Gospels is traditionally said to have been the man bearing the pitcher of water, and in whose room the last supper was prepared. (Mark xiv. 13-15.) He was a disciple of S. Peter, and was sent by him from Rome to found other Churches; and the large and flourishing Church at Alexandria, then the second city in the world, seems upon undoubted authority to have been founded by him. Here at Easter time, when the unconverted Egyptians were worshipping Serapis their god, the holy Evangelist's denunciations of their idolatry so incensed them that |