Pereeans were the followers of Euphrates of Pera, in Cicilia, who is said to have believed that there are in the Trinity three Fathers, three Sons, and three Holj' Ghosts. It has been alleged that in opposition to this class of heretics was framed the clause in the Athana- sian creed which says, " So there is one Father, not three Fathers ; one Son, not three Sous ; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts."
Peraga, Bonaventura de, an Italian cardinal, was born June 12, 1332, in Padua. He entered the Order of St. Augustine while very young, went to study in Paris, and there taught theology. He was a friend of Petrarch, and it was he who pronounced his funeral oration (1374). Three years later he was elected general of his order (1377). When schism en- tered the Church, Bonaventura declared himself for Urban VI, who rewarded him by giving him a car- dinal's hat (1378). His zeal for the court of Rome proved fatal to him : he Avas killed while passing over the bridge St. Angelo to go to the Vatican, and Fran9ois de Carrara, tyrant of Padua, is suspected of ordering the deed. But no historian has yet given a proof of this crime, and we are ignorant of the precise date of the year in which it was committed, though it was supposed to be about 1390. The cardinal is none the less made a martyr to tlie faith, and the continuators of the Actes des Saints have admitted him into their vast collection (vol. xi, June 10). He had composed commentaries on the epistles of St. John and St. James, lives of saints, sermons, etc. See Petrarque, Rertim senilium, lib. xi, ep. 25 ; Scardeoni, .4 ntiq. Patav. lib. ii ; J. Pamphile, Bibl. Augustiniana ; Tommasini, Bibl. Pa- tavina, p. 75; Tiraboschi, Storia della letter. Ital. v, 139- 141. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gemrale, xxxix, 552.
Perah. See Mole.
Perambulation is the term applied to the Eng- lish practice of walking round a parish in order to as- certain its boundaries. This perambulation was, and still is, usually performed on Ascension djy (q. v.). Dr. Hookc says : " Perambulations for ascertaining the boundaries of parishes are to be made by the min- ister, churchwardens, and parishioners, by going round the same once a year, in or about Ascension week. The parishioners may justify going over any man's land in their perambulations according to usage ; and, it is said, may abate all nuisances in their way." There is a small homily, constituting the fourth part
PERAMBULATION
933
PERARD-CASTEL
of the "Homily for Rogation Week," which is ap- pointed to be read on the above occasion. Perambu- lation is now known as heating the parish bounds, as the marks are struck with a stick.
This ancient custom had a twofold object. It was designed to supplicate the divine blessing on the fruits of the earth, and to preserve in all classes of tiie com- munity a correct knowledge of and due respect for the bounds of parochial and individual propertj\ It ap- pears to have been derived from a still older custom among the ancient Eomans, called Terminalia, and Ambarvalia, which were festivals in honor of the god Terminus and the goddess Ceres. On its becoming a Christian custom the heathen rites and ceremonies were of course discarded, and those of Christianity substituted. It was appointed to be observed on one of the Rogation (q. v.) days, which were the three days next before Ascension day. "Before the Reformation parochial perambulations were conducted with great ceremony. The lord of the manor, with a large ban- ner, priests in surplices and with crosses, and other persons with hand-bells, banners, and staves, followed by most of the parishioners, walked in procession round the parish, stopping at crosses, forming crosses on the ground, ' saying or singing gospels to the corn,' and allowing ' drinkings and good cheer' (Grindal's Remains, p. 141, 241, and note ; Whitgift's Work^^, iii, 2GG, 2G7 ; Tindal's Works, iii, 62, 234, Parker Society's edition), which was remarkable, as the Rogation daj's were appointed fasts. From the different practices observed on the occasion the custom received the va- rious names oi processioning, rogntioning, perambulating, and ganging the loundai-ies ; and the week in which it was observed was called Rogation week; Cross week, because crosses were borne in the processions; and Grass week, because the Rogation daj's being fasts, vegetables formed the chief portion of diet. At the Reformation, the ceremonies and practices deemed ob- jectionable were abolished, and onlv ' the useful and hai-mless part of the custom retained.' Yet its observ- ance was considered so desirable that a homily was prepared for the occasion, and injunctions were issued requiring that for 'the perambulation of the circuits of parishes the people should once in the j'ear, at the time accustomed, with the rector, vicar, or curate, and the substantial men of the parish, walk about the par- ishes, as thej' were accustomed, and at their return to the church make their common praj'er. And the cu- rate, in their said common perambulations, was at cer- tain convenient places to admonish the people to give thanks to God (while beholding of his benefits), and for the increase and abundance of his fruits upon the face of the earth, with tlie saying of the 103d Psalm. At which time also the said minister was reciuired to iHCulcate these, or such like sentences : Cursed be he which translateth the bounds and doles of his neighbor ; or such other order of prayers as should be lawfully' appointed' (Burns, Eccledastical Law, iii, Gl ; Grindal, Remains, p. 1C8). Those engaged in the processions usually had refreshments provided for them at certain parts of the parish, which, from the extent of the cir- cuit of some parishes, was necessarj^ ; j-et the cost of such refreshment was not to be defraj'ed h\ the parish, nor could such refreshment be claimed as a custom from any particular house or family. But small annuities were often bequeathed to provide such refreshments. In the parish of Edgcott, Buckinghamshire, there was about an acre of land, let at £3 a year, called ' Gang Monday Land,' which was left to the parish officers to provide cakes and beer for those who took part in the annual perambulation of the parish. To this day ques- tions of disputed boundarj'^ between parishes are inva- riabh' settled In' the evidence afforded hy these peram- bulations ; for in such questions immemorial custom is conclusive. And so far are they recognised in law that the parishioners on such occasions are entitled to trespass on lands, and even to enter private houses if