whiche we calle churching of childe In memorie wherof the churche vseth that daye solempne procession and halowing of candles The fiue and twentieth of Marche howe the aungel brought woorde to the virgin Marte that Christ shoulde be borne of her being conceyued in her wombe by the ouershadowing of the holy ghoste At the whiche time they willed vs to faste the fourtie daies that he fasted him selfe being with vs vppon earth and to renewe the remembraunce of his passion and deathe whiche he willingly susteined to deliuer vs fro the yoke and bondage of the deuell The laste day of that faste which oftentimes falleth in Aprille to celebrate the highest feaste in al the yere in remembraunce howe he ouercame deathe descended into helle vanquisshed the deuell and retourned againe on liue and appeared in glorious wyse vnto his scholers or disciples In Maye howe all those his scholers loking vpoÌ„ him he by his owne vertue anâ— mighte stied vp into the heauens At the whiche time by thordenaunce of saincte Mamerte bishoppe of Vienne there be made ganginges with the lesse Letanies from one Churche to another all Christendome ouer In Iune and somtime in Maie how the holy ghoste promised to the disciples giuen from aboue appered to them like glowing tongues and gaue them to vndrestande to speake the tonges of al nacioÌ„s Theight daie folowing Trinitie Sondaie The fiueth daie aftre that how Christe in his laste supper for a continualle remembraunce of himself instituted the moste holsome SacrameÌ„te of his bodie and bloud vndre the fourme of breade and wine leauyng it to be sene and eaten of his The fiuetenth of Iuly how the blessed Apostles acordyng as thei ware coÌ„maunded the twelueth yere aftre the Ascencion of their Master into heauen wente their waies into the vniuersalle worlde to Preache vnto all people The departyng of Christes mother out of this life the fiuetenth daie of Auguste And her Natiuitie theight of Septembre And th one and twentie of Nâ—uembre how she from thre yeres of age at the whiche tyme she was presented to the temple vntill she was mariage able remained there seruing God stil a peate And theight of Decembre how she was of her parentes begotten that longe afore had bene barreine The second daie of Iulie how Elisabethe passyng the Mounteines visited her kind eswoman There wars also certeine holie daies appoincted to the .xii. Apostles To certeine Martyres Confessours and Virgines As the fowre and twentieth of Februarie to saincte Matthie To saincte Marke the Euangeliste the .xxv. of Aprille Vpon the whiche daie Gregorie ordeined the greate Letanies to be songâ— The firste of Maie is hallowed for Philippe and Iames the more The .xxix. of Iune for Petre and Paule the .xxiiij. of the same for the Natiuitie of S. Ihon Baptiste The .xxv. of Iuly for Iames the lesse For Bartholomewe the fowre twentie of August For Mathewe the one and twentie of Septembre And the eight and twentie of Octobre for SimoÌ„ and Iude. The last of Nouembre for S Andrewe The one and twentie of Decembre for saincte Thomas And the .vij. and twentie of thesame moneth for IhoÌ„ the EuaÌ„gelist The daie before for Stephin the first Martire And the daie aftre for the Innocentes The tenth of August for sainct Laurence And the thre twentie of Aprille for saincte George Of all the Confessours there are no moe that haue holidaies appoincted but S. Martine and saincte Nicholas The firste on the eleuenth of Nouembre and the other the sixteth of Decembre Ratherine the virgine the fiue and twentie of Nouembre and Marie Magdalene the twentie and two of Iuly There is also vndre the name of saincte Michael alone the .xxix. of Septembre a holy daie for all blessed Angelles And one other in commune for all the sainâ—tes and chosen of GOD the firste of Nouembre Thei would also that euery seuenthe daie should be hallowed of the Christianes by the name of Sondaie as the Iewes doe their Sabboth restyng from all worldly woorke and beyng onely occupied with praising of GOD and the deuine Seruice in the Churche To learne by the Priestes preachyng the Gospelle and the commaundementes of our faith And by what meanes so euer we thinke in our conscience we haue prouoked the wrathe of God against vs all the wieke afore that this daie to amende to sette cliert and aske pardone for In time past tuery Thursdaie also was kepte as the Sondaie But because we mighte sieme therein somewhat to gratefie the Heathen whiche that daie kepte solempne holie daie to Iupiter their Idolle it was laied doune againe More ouer the clerkes and the people vsed bothe Thursdaie and Sondaie before Masse to go round aboute the Churche a Procession and the Prieste to sprinckle the people with holy watre Agapitus instituted the one and the other The Thursdaie in remembraunce of Thristes Ascencion and the Sondaie of his glorious Resurrection whiche we celebrate fro Sondaie to SoÌ„daie continually ones euery eight daies The night afore euery ordenary holidaie or feaste full daie the whole clergie and the people ware bounde to kiepe Vigile in euery churche That is to saie to wake all nighte in deuine seruice and praier But vpon consideracion of many slaunderous crimes and offences that ware by diuers naughtie and malicious persones committed by the oportunitie of the darke this maner was taken awaie and or deined that the daie before the feaste should be fasted whiche yet kiepeth stille the name of Vigile The fathers decreed that the churche in the whole yere should renue the memorie of fiue thynges Fro the Sondaie called Septuagesima because there are seuentie daies betwiene that and the octauaes of Easter thei would vs to renue the memorie of Thristes Fasting Passion Death Be wrialle The miserable falle also of our first parentes and those extreme errours of mankinde by the whiche thei ware ledde awaie fro the knowledge and worshippe of one verte GOD to the wicked supersticion and honour of Idolles and deuelles And further the greuous and intollerable bondage that the people of Israell suffred vndre the Pharao of Egipte Vpon whiche consideracion the bookes of Genesis and Erodus be redde in the seruice of the churche Whiche sheweth then in all her demeanour and appareilyng heauinesse and sorowe From the octauaes of Easter to the octauaes of Whitsontide Christes Resurrection and Ascencion with the commyng of the holy Ghoste And together with that the redempcion reconciliacioÌ„ and at onement of mankinde with God the father throughe Iesus Christe and the restoryng againe of the children of Israell to the lande of beheste Wherein was prefigured our reconciliacion and redempcion aforesaied For that cause is all the seruice out of the newe TestameÌ„t and al thinges done with ioie gladnes From the octauaes of Whitsontide till Aduente rx. wiekes space and more thei would haut to bee celebrated the coÌ„uersacion of Christe here in the worlde with his miracles and woorkes of wondre And
partely for the vse and commoditie of their priuate life For thei neither thincke it mete that any parte of the honour of the Goddes shouâ—d bee omitted or that thei whiche are Ministres of the commune counsaill and profecte should be destitute of necessary commodities of the life For these menne are alwate in matters of weighte called vpon by the nobles for their wisedome and counsaille And to shewe as thei can by their coÌ„nyng in the Planettes and Starres and by the maner of their Sacrifices the happe of thinges to come Thei also declare vnto theÌ„ the stortes of men of olde tyme regested in their holy Scripture to the ende that accordyng to theÌ„ the kynges maie learne what shall profighte or disprofighte For the maner is not emong them as it is emong the Grecians that one manne or one woman should attende vpon the sacrifices and Ceremonies alone but thei are many at ones aboute the honour of their Goddes and teache the same ordre to their children This sorte of menne is priuilged and exempte from all maner of charges and hath next vnto the kyng the second place of dignitie and honour The second porcion cometh to the king to mainte in his owne state and the charges of the warres and to shewe liberalitie to men of prowesse according to their worthinesse So that the Communes are neither burdoned with taxes nor tributes The thirde parte do the pencionaries of the warres receiue and suche other as vpoÌ„ occasions are moustered to the warres â–ª that vpon the regard of the stipende thei maie haue the better good wille and courage to hasarde their bodies in battaile Their communaltie is deuided into thre sortes of people Husbande men Brieders of cattle and men of occupariâ— The Husbandmen buyeng for a litle money a piece of grounde of the Priestes the king or the warriour al daies of their life euen from their childhode continually applie that care Whereby it cometh to passe that bothe for the skoolyng that their haue therin at their fathers handes and the continuall practisyng fro their youthe that thei passe all other in Husbandrie The Brieders aftre like maner learnyng the trade of their fathers occupie their whole life therabout We see also that all maner of Sciences haue bene muche bettred yea brought to the toppe of perfection emong the Egiptians For the craftes men there not medlyng with any commune matiers that mighte hindre theim emploie theim selues onely to suche sciences as the lawe doeth permit them or their father hath taught theÌ„ So that thei neither disdaine to be taughte nor the hatred of eche other ne any thing elles withdraweth them froÌ„ their crafte Their Iudgementes and Sentences of lawe are not giuen there at adueÌ„ture but vpon reason for thei surely thought that all thinges well done muste niedes be profitable to mannes life To punishe the offendours and to helpe the oppressed thoughte thei the best waie to auoide mischiefes But to buye of the punishemente for money or fauour that thought thei to be the very confusion of the commune welfare Wherefore thei chase out of the chief cities as Heliopole Memphis and Thebes the worthiest men to be as Lordes chief Iustice or Presidentes of IudgemeÌ„tes so that their Iustice henche did sieme to giue place neither to the Areopagites of the Athenienses ne yet to the Senate of the Lacedemonians that many a daie after theim ware instituted Aftre what tyme these chief Iustices ware assembled thirtie in noÌ„bre thei chase out one that was Chauncellour of the whole and when he failed the citie appoincted another in his place All these had their liuynges of the kyng but the Chauncellour more honorably then the rest He bare alwaie about his necke a tablette hangyng on a chaine of golde and sette full of sundrie precious stones whiche thei called Veritie and Truthe â–ª The courte beyng set and begunne and the tablet of Truthe by the Chauncellour laied furthe theight bookes of their lawes for so many had thei brought furth into the middes emong them it was the maner for the plaintife to putte into writyng the whole circumstance of his case and the maner of the wrong doone vnto him or how muche he estemed himself to be endamaged thereby And a time was giuen to the defendant to write answere again to euery poinct and either to deny that he did it or elles to alledge that he rightfully did it or elles to abate the estimate of the damage or wroÌ„g Then had thei another daie appointed to saie finally for theÌ„ selues At the whiche daie wheÌ„ the parties on bothe sides ware herd and the fudges had conferred their opinions the ChauÌ„cellour of the Iudges gaue sentence by pointyng with the tablet of Veritie toward the parte the semed to be true This was the maner of their iudgemeÌ„tes And for asmuche as we are fallen into mention of their iudgementes it shall not be vnsyttyng with myne enterprise to write also the aunciente Lawes of the Egiptians that it maie be knowen how muche they passe bothe in ordre of thynges and profite Fyrst to be periured was headyng for they thought it a double offence One in regarde of coÌ„scieÌ„ce not kept toward god and another in gyuynge occasion to destroy credite among men whiche is the chiefest bonde of their felowship If any wayfaryng man shuld espy a man sette vppon with thieues or otherwyse to be wronged and dyd not to his power succour ayde hym he was gyltie of death If he ware not able to succour and to reskewe hym then was he bounde to vtter the thieues and to prosecute the matter to enditement And he that so dyd not was punyshed with a certayne nombre of stripes and was kept thre days without meate He that shuld accuse any maÌ„ wrongfully if he fortuned afterward to be broughte into iudgement he suffered the punishement ordeyned for false accusers All the Egyptians ware compelled to brynge euery man their names to the chiefe Iustices and the facultie or science wherby they liued In the which behalfe if any man lyed or lyued with vnlaufull meanes he felle into penaltie of death If any man willyngly had slaine any man free or bond the lawes condemned hym to die not regardynge the state of the man but the malicious pourpose of the diede Wherby they made men afrayd to doe mischief and death beynge erecuted for the death of a bondman the free myght goe in more sauftie For the fathers that slewe their chyldren there was no punyshement of death appoynted but an iniunction that they shoulde stande thre daies and thre nyghtes togither at the graue of the deade accompanied with a common warde of the people to see the thyng done Neyther dyd it sieme them iuste that he that gaue life to the childe should lose his life for the childes death but rather be put to continual sorowe and to be pyned with the repentance of the diede that other myght therby be withdrawen from the like wyckednes But
a gobet greater then he is able to swallowe so that he be constrained to put it out of his mouth againe thei by and by make a hole vndre the tent and ther drawe him out and cruelly slea him Many other thinges ther are which thei compte for faultes be yonde all forgiuenesse But to slâ—a a maÌ„ to enuade a nother mannes country coÌ„trary to all righte and reason to bereue them of their goodes and possessions to breake the preceptes of God thei estieme as nothinge Thei haue a beliefe that aftre this life thei shal liue for euer in another worlde but what maner of worlde thei cannot telle ther receiue rewarde for their well doinges When any of theÌ„ falleth sicke lieth at the pointe of death thei sticke vp a Iaueline with a piece of blacke clothe at the dore of the teÌ„te wher he lieth that none come in as they passe by For no manne when he seeth this dare entre thether vncalled Aftre what time the sicke is deade his whole house gather together and priuely conueighe the corâ—s into some place withoute the tente chosen for the purpose Ther cut they out a trâ—â—â—he broade and diepe enoughe to sette vp another lyttle tent in so that the toppe of the tent maye be well within the grounde In that thei prepare a table with a banket at the whiche thei sette the deade bodye in his beste appareille And so together as it ware with one haÌ„de couer all with earth againe Thei bewry with him also some beaste of bourden and a horse ready sadled and appointed to ride The gentlemeÌ„ by their life time appointe out a slaue whome thei marke with their brande to be specially bewried with him when he dieth And this do thei vpon perswasion of a life in another worlde wher thei woulde be loth to lacke these necessaries Then doe the deades friendes take another horse and slea him And when they haue eaten the flesshe thei stuffe the hide full of haye and sowe it againe together and sette it vp ouer the graue vpon foure poles in remembraunce of the deade The bones do the two ordenarie women burne for the clensinge and purifienge of the soule But the gentlemen and thei of higher degree handle the hide aftre another maner Thei cut it out into very fine thonges to asmuche lengthe as thei can and measure oute asmuche grounde aboute the Sepulchre as the thonge wille stretche vnto for so muche grouÌ„d thincke thei shall the deade haue in another worlde At the thirtieth daye thei ende their mourning Certaine of the Tartarres professing the name of Christe yet farre from his righteousnes when their parentes waxe aged to haâ—â—e their death â—rame theÌ„ with gobins of farre WheÌ„ thei die thei burne them to â—ouldre whiche thei reserue as 〈◊〉 precious Iewelle to strawe vppon their meate euery daie But to declare with what solempnitie and â—oifulnes thei sette vp their newe Rynge aftre the death of tholde because it ware to longe a thyng bothe for the reader writer to set out as length I will shewe you in brief theffects Abrode in the fieldes in a faire plaine ordenary for the purpose all the Dukes Erles Barons Lordes and the reste of the nobilitie together with the people of the whole kyngdome do assemble Then take thei hym to whoÌ„ the croune is due either by succession or by election And when thei haue set hym vp in a throne of Golde thei all fall doune on their knees and together with one voice crie out a loude aftre this maner We require the yea we will and commaunde the to take the rule gouernaunce of vs. He answereth if ye will haue me doe so then must ye of necessitie be redy to do whatsoeuer I commaunde ye To come when I calle ye to go whether so euer I sende ye to slea whom so euer I commauÌ„de ye without sraieng or srackering and to put the whole kingdome and rule in my handes when thei haue aunswered we are content Saieth he againe from hencefurthe then the speache of my mouth shal be my swearde To this the people yealde with greate shoutes and reioisynges In the meane while the princes and the nobles taking the king our of his throne spread abrode on the grounde a piece of felte vpon the whiche thei cause hym in simple sorte to sitte doune and thus saie to hym Looke vp and remembre GOD aboue the. And now looke doune also and behold this felt vndre the. If thou gouerne welle thou shalte haue all euen as thou wouldest wisshe it But if contrary wise thou shalt so be broughte doune againe and so nighe be bereued of all that thou shalte not haue so muche as this poore felte left the whervpon thou sittest This ones saied thei sette in to hym of all his wiues the dierest derlyng And liftyng vp the felte alofte haile hym by the name of Emperour her by the name of Empresse Then come there preseÌ„tes streight from al countries and peoples of his dominion and all the Threasoures that the kyng his predecessour lefte are brought him Of the whiche he giueth giftes to al the princes and high estates commaundyng the reste to be kepte for himself and so dissolueth the Parlament as it ware In his hande and power is then altogether no manne can or though he can he dare not saie this is myne or this is his No man maie dwelle in any parte of the lande but in that wherevnto he is appoincted The Emperour hymself appoincteth the Dukes the Dukes the Millenaries the Millenaries the Centurianes and thei the Disniers and the Disniers the residewe The seale that he vseth hath this superscripcion GOD in heauen and Chutchuth Cham in earth the force of God and Emperour of all menne He hath fiue armies of greate multitude and force and fiue chiefteines by whom he subdueth all that stande against hym He hymself neuer speaketh to any foreine ambassadours nor admitteth theÌ„ to his presence as is aboue saied excepte bothe thei and their giftes without the whiche specially thei maie not come bee purified by the ordenarie women The Kyng aunswereth by another mannes mouthe And the persone by whom he aunswereth be he neuer so honourable for the tyme that he becoÌ„meth the kynges mouthe kneleth on his knees and giueth so diligent care that he swarueth not from the Kyng in one woorde For it is not lawefull for any manne to chaunge the kynges woordes ne for any man in any wise to replie against suche senteÌ„ce as he giueth He neuer drincketh in open presence but some body first sing to hym or plaie vpon some instrumente of Musicque The gentlemen and menne of honour when thei ride haue a phannell borne afore them on a Iauelines ende to kiepe awaie the Sonne And as it is saied the womeÌ„ likewise These ware the maners and facions of the Tartarres for a two hundred yeres paste The GeorgiaÌ„s whom the Tartarres aboute the same tyme did subdue ware
Christe at one very instaunce shoulde be in many places and of many menne receiued at ones and in sondrye parcelles Ninethly that thoughe the bread it selfe be chaunged into the very flesshe of Christe and the wine into his bloude that yet to all the sences thei remaine breade and wine and neither flesshe ne bloud Further that all these coÌ„modities coÌ„teined in these verses folowing should happen vnto those that worthely eate it It putteth in mynde and kindleth encreaseth hope and strengtheneth Mainteineth clenseth restoreth giues life and vniteth Stablissheth beliefe abates the foode of sinne and all vnclennes quencheth Finally to be very profitable for the saluacioÌ„ aswell of those liuyng as deade for whoÌ„ it is specially offred by the priest in the Masse And therefore to haue to name Eucharistia communio In the beginning of the Christiane faithe and yet amonge certeine schismatiques as thei saye one whole lofe was consecrated of suche bigguenesse as wheÌ„ the Priest had broken it in a platter into smalle pieces it mighte suffise the whole multitude that ware at the masse to participate of For in time paste the Christianes came euery day to communicate by a speciall commaundemente and ordenaunce Aftrewarde but ones in a wicke and that on the Sonday But whan it began to be skant well kepte vppon the Sonday neither then was it commaunded that euery manne should receiue it thrise in the yere or ones at the leaste at euery Easter And that euery christian manne when he stode in any daungier of death beynge whole of minde should receiue it as a waifaring viande to staye him by the waye with as good preparacion of bodye and soule as he possibly mighte Matrimonie whiche is the lawefulle coupling of the manne and the woman broughte in by the lawe of nature the lawe of God the lawe of all peoples and the lawe ciuile is the fiueth Sacrament The holy fathers woulde haue but one mariage at ones that not in secrete but with opeÌ„ solemnitie eyther in the churche or in the churche porche and so that the priest be called to the matier Who shold firste examine the man and then the womanne whether thei bothe consent to be maried together Yf thei be agreed whiche is chiefely in this case requisite he taking them bothe by the right handes coupleth them together in the name of the holy and vnseperable trinitie the father the sonne and the holy ghoste And commaundeth and exhorteth them that thei alwaye remembring this their coupling of their owue free wille consent as longe as thei liue neuer forsake one a nother but loue honour one another be debonaire and buxome one to another giuing them selues to procreacion and not to lecherous luste And that thei honestly and diligently bringe vp suche children as God sendeth them of theyr bodies Aftre that he affiaunceth theÌ„ both with one ringe And sprinckling holy water vpon them reacheth them a stole and leadeth them into the churche where yf thei ware not blessed afore he blesseth them knieling before the altare The woman hath on a redde fillet or frontelette and ouer that a white veile withoute the whiche it is not lawfulle for her fro that daye forewarde to go oute of doores abrode or to sitte by any manne Twelue thinges ther be whiche the holy fathers woulde haue to barre persons from contracting of matrimonie and to disseuer them againe yf thei be contracted Errour of person that is to saye mistaking one for another A betrowthing vpon a condicion CoÌ„sanguinitie or kindred An opeÌ„ crime Diuersitie of secte Force or coÌ„strainte Holy ordres a BoÌ„de or former contracte Commune or open honestie Affinitie and Dishabilitie of engeÌ„drure The sixteth Sacramente is penaunce or repentaunce giuen of Christe as it ware for a wracke boorde wherby men are preserued fro drowninge Eche christian oughte vndoubtedly to beleue that this consisteth in foure poinctes To saie in RepeÌ„tauÌ„ce of our sinnes Canonicalle coÌ„fession Absolucion and Satisfaction or amendes Firste let him sorowe not with a lighte forthinckinge but with a moste earneste and bittre repentaunce in the botome of his conscience for the puritie and innocencie that he had gotten eyther by baptisme or the benefite of former repentaunce and nowe hathe eftsones loste and forgone throughe sinne And let him hope with this repentaunce to be reconciled to the fauour of God againe And let him humbly and truly with his owne mouthe confesse to a wise prieste in the steade of God all those offences wherwith he knoweth him selfe to haue loste his innocencie and clennesse and to haue prouoked the wrathe of GOD againste him selfe And let him assuredly beleue that the same prieste hath power giuen him of Christe as beinge his vicare or deputie on earthe to absolue him of all his sinnes Finally for satisfaction or amendes making for the faulte lette him not with grudginge but chierfully and gladly doe what so euer he shal be coÌ„mauÌ„ded Beleuig with vndoubted faith that he is absolued and quyte of all assone as the priest in dewe forme of wordes hath pronounced the absolucion The seuenth and the laste SacrameÌ„t is the laste enoynting by an oyle that is made to this vse by the bisshope in euery diocesse by an yerely custome vpoÌ„ mauÌ„dy thursdaie like as the chrismatory oyle is And this by the precepte of sainte Iames the Apostle and by the ordinaunce of Felix the fourthe Pope after Sainte Peter was giuen only to them that laie in dyeng being of full age and requyring it Thei vse to enoynte with a prescripte fourme of wordes and with often inuocation of sainctes those partes of the bodie wher our fiue wittes or senses the hearing seyng smelling tasting and touching beare moste stroke with whiche man is iudged chiefely to sinne That is the eares the eyes the nosethrilles the mouthe the handes and the fete Wherby the holy fathers would vs to be leue that there was not onely purchased cleane forgiuenesse of all smaller offences or venialle sinnes but also either presente recouâ—rie or a riper and gentier deathe All the feastes and holydaies throughout the yere whiche the churche hath commaunded to be obserued kept beginne at the Aduente or approche of Christe our Lorde Whiche Peter the Apostle instituted to be obserued in Decembre with fasting and prater thre wiekes and a haulfe before Christemas wheÌ„ we close vp the last viii daies of that moneth with great ioye and feaste Thei deuided the yere into two fiuetie wekes and. xij seueral monthes The monethes coÌ„monly into xxx daies The firste daye of Ianuary the churche recordeth howe Christe was circumcised acordinge to Moyses lawe The. iii. daye aftre howe he was worshipped of the thre Sages with thre sondry presentes and howe beinge baptissed of Iohn in Iordaine the floude he laide the foundation of the newe Lawe The seconde of Februarie how his mother vnspotted obeyeng the maner of her coÌ„try brought him into the temple and suftred her self to be purified or clensed
for the chyld that kylled either father or mother they deuised this kynd of synguler torment They thruste hym and disfigured The Lawes that apperteigned to the trade and occupieng of men one with another ware made as thei saie by one Bocchorides It is commaunded in them that if money haue bene lent any manne without writyng vppon credite of his woorde if the borower deny it he should be put to his othe to the whiche the creditour muste stande For thei so muche estiemed an othe that thei thoughte no man so wicked as wilfully to abuse it And again because he that was noted to sweare very oftē lost vtterly his credite and name many menne affirme that for the regard of their honesties it happened very seldome that any man came to his othe Their Lawe maker also iudgyng that vertue was the engēdrer of credite thoughte it good by good ordres to accustome men to good liuyng and honestie vpon feare to sieme vnworthie of all reputaciō He thought it also to be against conscience that he that without anothe had borowed should not nowe for his own bebeleued with anothe The forfect for non paiment of the lone mought not bee aboue the double of the somme that was borowed And paiement was made onely of the gooddes of the borower the body was not arrestable For the Lawemaker thought it conueniente that onely the gooddes should bee subdite to the debte and the bodies whose seruice was required bothe in peace and in warre subiecte to the citie It was not thoughte to bee Iustice that the manne of warre whiche hasardeth his bodie for the sauftie of his countrie should for an enterest of lone bee throwen into prisone The whiche lawe Solon siemeth to haue trāslated to the Athenienses vndre the name of the lawe Sisarea decreyng that the body of no citezein should for any maner of enterest be emprisoned The giptians also for thieues had this lawe alone and no people els The lawe commaunded that as many as would steale should entre their names with the chief Prieste and what so euer was stollen incontinente to cary the same vnto hym Likewise he that was robbed was bounde to entre with the saied Chiefe Priest the daie time and houre when he was robbed By this meanes the thefte being easely founde out he that was robbed loste the fourthe parte and receiued the residue the whiche fourthe was giuen to the thiefe For the Lawe maker seing it was impossible vtterly to be withoute thieues thought it moche bettre by this meanes that men bare the losse of a piece then to be spoiled of the whole The ordre of Mariage emong the Egiptians is not vniforme for the priest might mary but one onely wife All other haue as many as they wille acording to their substaunce Ther is no child emong them though it be borne of a bought woman slaue that is compted illegitimate For they onely compte the father to be the authour of his kynde and the mother onely but to geue place and nourishemēt to the childe When their childrē be borne they bring them vp with so lytle coste as a man would skantly belieue They fiede them with the rootes of mererusshes and other rootes rosted in the embries and with marshe Caubois and colewortes which partly they seathe and partly they roste and parte giue them rawe They go for the moste parte withoute hosen or shoes all naked the contry is so temperate All the coste that the Parentes bestowe on their children til they be of age to shift for themselues surmounteth not the somme of a noble The priestes bring vp the childrē both in the doctrine of their holye scriptures and also in the other kindes of learning necessary for the commune life and chiefly in Geometry and Arithmetique As for the roughe exercises of wrasteling ronning daunsing playeng at weapons throwyng the barre or suche like thei train not their youth in supposyng that the daily exercise of suche shoulde be to roughe and daungerous for them and that they should be an empeiryng of strēgth Musique they doe not onely compte vnprofitable but also hurteful as making mens courages altogether womanlyke When they are sicke they heale them selues eyther with fasting or vomiting that eyther euery eche other daye or euery third daye or fourthe For they are of opinion that all diseases growe of superstuite of meate and that kinde of cure therfore to be beste that riddeth the grounde of the griefe Men goyng to the warres or traueillyng the countrie are healed of free cost For the Phisicens Chirurgiens haue a stipende allowed them of ordenary at the charge of the communes In curing they are bounde to folowe the preceptes of the auncient and allowed writers regested in their holy scripture Yf a man folowing the prescripte of the scriptures can not so heale the sicke he is not blamed for that But yf he fortune to heale him by any other meanes then is in the scripture appoincted he dieth for it For the lawe giuer thoughte that it was harde to finde a bettre waye of curing then that the which of suche antiquitie was by longe practise founde cute and allowed and deliuered vnto them by suche a continuaunce The Egiptians do worship aboue measure certeine beastes not onely whilest they be onliue but also when they are dead As the Catte the Icneumon the dogge the hauke the woulfe the Cocodrille and many other like They are not onely not ashamed to professe the worship of these openly but setting them selues out in the honouring of them to the vttermoste they compte it asmuch praise and glory to them selues as yf they bestowed the like on the Goddes And they go about on processiō with the propre Images of them from citie to citie and from place to place holding them vp and shewing them a farre of vnto other which fall on their knees and euery one worship them When any one of them dieth they couer it with Sarcener and houling and crieng and beating of their breastes they all to bestrawe the carckesse with salte And aftre they haue enbalmed it with the licour of the Cedre and other fragraunt oyntmentes and oyles to preserue it the longer thei bewrye it in holy sepulture If a man haue slayne any of these beastes willingly he is condempned to death But yf he haue slaine a catte or a snyte willingly or vnwillingly the people ronneth vpon him vppon heapes and withoute all ordre of Iustice or lawe in moste miserable wise torment him to death Upon feare of the which daungier who soeuer espieth one of those lyeng dead standing a farre he howleth and crieth professing that he is not giltie of the death These beastes with great attendannce and chardge are kept vp aboute the cloistres of the Temple by men of no meane reputation whiche fiede them with floure and otemeale and diuers deinties sopped and stiepe◠in milke And they set euery daie before them goose bothe soddē and rosted And before
those that delight al in raw meate they sette birdes and rawe foules Finally as I said they kiepe them all with great diligence and coste They lament their death asmoche as the death of their owne children bury them more sumptuously then their substance doth stretch In so moche that Ptolomeus Lagus reigning in Egipt when there chaunced a cowe to die in Memphis for very age he that had taken charge of the kepyng of her bestowed vpon the buriall of her beside a greate some of mony that was giuen him for the keping fiftie talentes of siluer that he borowed of Ptolome Peraduenture these thynges will seme vnto some men to wondreful but he wil wondre asmoche yf he cōsidre what communely is done emonge euery of the Egiptians in the funeralle of their deade When any man is departed his lyfe all his niere friendes and kindesfolke throwing dirte vpō their heades go wieping and wailing rounde about the citie vntle the Corps be buried And in the meane season they neyther bathe ne drincke wine or eate any meate but that that is most base vile ne weare any apparell that is gorgeous or faire They haue thre sortes of Sepulchres Sumptuous meane and basse In the firste sorte they bestowe a talente of siluer Aboute the seconde twenty Markes and aboute the thirde litle or nothing There be certaine Pheretrers whose facultie it is to sette forthe burialles whiche learne it of their fathers and teache it their childrē These when a funeral happeneth make vnto him that is doer for the deade an estimate of the exequies in writing whiche the doer may at his pleasure enlarge or make lesse When thei are ones fallen at appoyncte the bodye is deliuered to the Pheretrer to bee enterred acordyng to the rate that they agreed vpon Then the bodie beyng laied foorthe commeth the Pheretrers chiefe cutter and he appoincteth his vndrecutter a place on the side haulfe of the paunche wher to make incision and how large Then he with a sharpe stone whiche of the country fro whence it cōmeth they call Ethiopicus openeth the left side as farre as the lawe permitteth And streight with all spiede ronneth his waye frō the company standing by which curse him and reuile him and throwe many stones aftre him For they thincke there yet remaineth a certeine hatred due vnto him that woūdeth the body of their frinde Those that are the seasoners and embalmers of the body whome they calle poulderers they haue in greate honour and estimacion for that they haue familiaritie with the priestes and entre the temples together with them The bodye nowe commen to their handes one emong all the reste standing by vnlaceth the entrailes and draweth them out at the foresaid incision all sauing the kidneis and the harte These entrailes are taken by another at his hande and wasshed in wine of the country Phenicea wherin are enfused many soote odours and drugges Then enoincte they the whole bodye ouer firste with Cedre and then with other oynctemētes xxx daies aboue Then do thei ceare it ouer with Mirrhe Cinamome and suche other thinges as wil not onely preserue it to cōtinuaunce but also make it soote smelling The Corps thus being trimmed is deliuered to the kindesfolke of the deade euery parte of it kepte so whole not an heare of his browes or eye liddes being hurte the it raither lieth like one being in sliepe then like a dead corpse Before the body be enterred the kindesfolke of the deade signefie to the iudges and the friendes of this passed the day of the burial Whiche according to the maner then vsed thei terme the deades passaige ouer the mere The maner wherof is this The iudges aboue xl in nomber sittinge on the farther side of the mere on a cōpassed benche wheling haulfe roūde and the people standing about them The body is put into a litle boate made for the nones and drawen ouer to the iudges by a chorde The body then standing before the iudges in the sight of the people before it be cofred if ther be any manne that haue aught to saye against the dead he is permitted by the lawe Yf any be proued to haue liued euyll the iudges geue sentence that the bodye shall not be buried And who so is founde vniuscelye to haue accused suffreth greate punyshemente therfore When no manne wyll accuse or he that accused is knowen to haue slaunderously done it the kinsfolke endyng their mournyng tourne them selues now to the prayse of the dead nothing aftre the maner of the Grecians for that the Egiptians thinke themselues all to be gentlemen alike But beginnyng at his childehode in the whiche thei reherse his bringing vp nourtering and scholyng thei passe to his mannes age their commending his godlines his iustice his temperaunce the residewe of his vertues And calling vpon the vndre earthe goddes they beseche them to place him emonge the godlye and good To the which wordes all the whole multitude crieth Amen showtyng oute and magnifieng the glorye of the deade as thoughe they shoulde be with the vnder earth goddes among the blessed for euer This done euery man burieth his dead some in Sepulchres made for the purpose and other that haue no suche preparacion in their strongest wall at home in their house setting vp the cofre ther taberbernacle wyse But they that for some offence or debte of enterest or suche like are denied their bewriall are sette vp at home without any cofre vntle their successours growyng to abilitie canne dischardge their debtes and offeces and honourably bewrie them There is a maner emong them sometyme to borowe money vpon their parētes corpses deliueryng the bodies to the creditours in pledge And who so redemeth theim not ronneth into vtter infamie and is at his death denied his bewriall A manne not altogether causeles mighte merueile that thei could not be-contente to constitute lawes for the framyng of the maners of those that are onliue but also put ordre for the exequies and Hearses of the deade But the cause why thei bent them selues so muche hervnto was for that thei thought ther was no bettre waie possible to driue men to honestie of life The Grekes which haue set furthe so many thynges in fained tales and fables of Poetes farre aboue credite concernyng the rewarde of the good and punishment of the euill could not with all their deuices drawe men so vertue and withdrawe them from vices But rather cōtrariwise haue with them that be leudely disposed broughte all together in contempte and derision But among the Egiptians the punishemente due vnto the wicked and lewde and the praise of the godlie and good not heard by tales of a tubbe but sene daiely at the eye putteth both partes in remēbraunce what behoueth in this life what fame and opinson thei shall leaue of them selues to their posteritie And hervppon it riseth that euery man gladly emong thē ensueth good ordre of life And to make an ende of