spurless (sperles)

[ Our cathedrals (and above all St. Paul's) were, in Jonson's time, frequented by people of all descriptions, who, with a levity scarcely credible, walked up and down the aisles, and transacted busine of every kind, during di vine service. To expel them was not po ible; such, however, was the noise occasioned by the ince ant jingling of their spur-rowels, that it was found expedient to punish those who approached the body of the church, thus spur- money, exaction of which was committed to the beadles and singing-boys. wing, winglet, or alula; the bastard quills, composing the alula. See cut under alula.