and beast Albeit I cā rather take it to be an imitacion of y e olde Romayne feastes whiche thrise in the yere had sacrifices for the prosperous successe of their corne one Vinalia for their wynes the other Robigalia for all their grayne least it should be mildued The third Floralia for all their fruites These vayne superstitious old bishoppes of Rome turned to a godly vse and trāsposed their feastyng into fastyng that the rather at the contemplacion of oure praiers and fasting God might prosper the increse of al the fruites to the sustentacion of his creatures The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Watches were turned into fastes fastyng of Fridaies and Wednesdaies namyng the daies of the weke in sundry wise IT was the maner from the begynnyng of oure christen faith that for so much as it pleased our sauioure to be borne in the night priestes dyd ryse in the nighte season and song the houres canonical otherwyse named the Matyus the laye people was accustomed on those sainctes euens that were any solemne feastes to watch at the tombes of Martyr spraiyng and singyng holy psalmes Which thing the testimony of Plinie doeth well approue wher he writeth in a pistle to Traiane how that much nomber of people was slaine in whom he could neuer espye any faulte sauyng that afore daye at certayne tymes and feastes they arose and song of cōmendacion of Christ whom they called God But as tyme is corrupter of al thynges worldely in processe as deuocion beganne to abate in stead of hymnes they song dissolute balades praier was turned into wanton daliaunce The youth went about lyght amorous companye the eldest personnes practised baudry women were not ashamed to geue them selues to be corrupted in al kynd of whordome Vpō this occasion the olde fathers seyng least it myght growe to a further in conuenience turned the Vigilles into fastyng dayes Notwithstandyng the priestes vsed their ordinarye tymes of seruyse as they were wont to do and suche feastes were called by the name of Vigilles and obserued with no lesse reuerence then the faste of Lent This remedy was prouided after sainct Hieromes tyme whiche died the yere of oure Lorde cccc.xxii when Bonifacius the seconde was bishoppe of the sea of Rome The lyke custome was also obserued among the Egyptians whiche on the euens of theyr hyghe feastes fasted and after thei had slepte thei offered a cowe all suche night sacrifices and obseruances for like causes wer by a perpetuall lawe in Grece abrogated by Diagundas a Thebane The faste of wednesdaie and Fridaie was cōmaunded by the fathers bicause on the one daie Christ was crucified and on the wednesdaie Iudas purposed in his minde to betray him as Apolonius the eloquent oratoure supposed Siluester the first bishoppe of Rome abhorryng the memorial of the vain Gentile godes decreed that the daies of the weke whiche had afore the names titles of the Sonne Moone Mars Mercury Iupiter Venus and Saturne should be called the first second third fourth fifth sixte seuenth ferie in semblable maner as the Iewes coumpted their daies frō the Sabboth daie He did also call y e firste ferie Dominicus dies that we name Sonday and called Saturday Sabbatum of the olde holy daie and rest of the Hebrues al these thynges wer dooen at the sute of Constantine then Emperour Albeit the Apostles afore that tyme had consecrated the Sondaie to the Lorde bicause that daie he rose from death the Iewes Sabboth was turned into it as maie appere by the decree of Pius that ordained the Easter to bee kepte on the Sundaie and therfore I thynke Siluester did but onely renewe thesame acte of the Sundaie It was the inuencion of the Egiptians y t the daies wer firste named after the seuen planetes as Diodorus recordeth Sācte Gregory was the authour that neither fleshe nor any thyng that hath affinitee with it as chese milke butter egges should bee eaten on suche daies as were fasted Wee haue also a maner vsage of hallowyng the table and meate afore wee bee set that begonnen of the imitacion of Christ whiche vsed thesame fashiō ouer the fiue loues in the wildernesse and at Emaus also he did insemblable wise consecrate the table in the presence of his disciples so was the fourme of saiyng grace after supper taken like wise of the custome that Christe commonly kept at his suppers The maner to reade apart of the Bible at dyner tyme hath been of long continuance and did proceade of the Godly doctryne that Christe instructed his disciples in at all tymes but namely at his last supper wherein he treated of y e perfecciō of al y e misteries of our religiō And thus our fathers to kepe in memory suche an holsom instituciō did bryng in this maner of readyng the scripture at meate or meale tyme. ⧠The .v. Chapiter ¶ The originall of holy daies Paschall candelles birthe daies LYKE as the Iewes had in their law whiche was but onely a shadawe of thynges too come holy daies appoyncted for the execucion of the misteries of their religion whom thei in one generall terme named Sabboth dais of the rest and vacasiō that thei had from bodely labours semblably our fathers haue ordaigned festiuall daies in the new testament wherein Christen men all profane businesses and eiuil maters laied aparte might wholy apply and bend themselfes to Godly and spirituall meditacions As the perusyng and readyng of scriptures heryng of deuoute sermons renderyng honor to God by sacrificyng praiyng and well dooyng bee woorkes fete and conuenient for the holy daie and also reuerencyng the memoriall of sainctes on suche daies as bee assigned to that purpose is on the holy daie laudable For oblacion is onely due to God as Paule Barnabas did openly testifie at Listra For whē he had commaunded by the power of the worde of God that the man whiche was lame from his mothers wombe should arise and walke the people for wonder and maruaile of the miracle would haue dooen sacrifice to them but thei renting their clothes departed out of the prese and with sharpe woordes rebuked their enterprise as a thyng vnmete to bee dooen to any mortall man or worldly creature Firste of all the feaste of Easter was instituted by y e Apostles and prescribed by Pius the first to be solemnised on the Sondaie Afterward as it chaunsed that alteracion of that matter arose Victor that was bishop of Rome aboute the hundred nynetie and sixe yere of our lord decreed that it should altogether bee kepte and celebrated on the Sondaie frō the fourtene daie of the firste moneth that was Marche vntill y e .xxii of the same least our ordre coumpte should agree with the Iewes whiche kept it somewhat soner then that appoyntemente speaketh of albeeit many foreyne bishoppes at the firste refused that cōstitucion bicause thei thought it not out of
An Abridgement of the notable woorke of POLIDORE VERGILE conteignyng the deuisers and firste finders out aswell of Artes Ministeries Feartes ciuill ordinaunces as of Rites and Ceremonies commoÌ„ly vsed in the churche and the originall beginnyng of thesame CoÌ„pendiously gathered by Thomas Langley ¶ IMPRINTED AT LONdon vvithin the precincte of the late dissolued house of the Grey Friars by Richard Grafton Printer to the Princes grace the .xvi. daie of Aprill the yere of our lorde M.D.xlvi Cum priuilegio adimpris mendum solum TO THE RIGHT vvorshipfull sir Antony Denny knight his daily oratour Thomas Langley vvisheth prosperitee and long continuance of vvorshippe LACTANTIVS writeth that certain philosophers of Epicures feet did sore bewayle the estate o◠〈◊〉 as weke and far vnder the degre of beastes bicause thei wer by nature fensed as well â—roÌ„ all displeasures grefes of vnseasonable ayre as armed againste the assautes and inuasions of their enemies and onely man destitute voide of all suche and other like succours purueighaunces For bothe beastes birdes haue euery one accordyng to their kynde skynnes hides or fethers to sustein the sharpenes of the cold and to bere of the stormi raynes and teÌ„pestes also weapoÌ„s as hornes tuskes and other like munimentes too resist their foes or at the least thei haue agilitee and swiftnes to escape and preserue them selfes froÌ„ daunger CoÌ„trarywise mankynd is of his nature so delicate and teÌ„der that he can abyde no heate no colde no raynes nor tempestuous wether so feble also he is that his membres be not able to helpe his owne wekenesse muche lesse too vnderstaÌ„d or auoide the power of his enemies But if these grosse and carnal Philosophiers hadde withdraweÌ„ their heartes froÌ„ vewyng the behauour of the body and applied their mynde to the contemplacion of the worthines of the solle they should haue wel perceiued their owne erroure the base and vile coÌ„dicion of beastes the high dignite of the solle the excellent noblenes of man For albeit this frayle and yearthly body of oures is not so strong as the brutishe carkeses of beastes be yet by reason of their grosnes they be vnfit to receiue the spiritual solle of man or to be mete instrumentes of the same where as the imperfection of mannes bodye is abled by the inuentiue and politike reason of the solle whiche deuiseth all necessaries for the vse of the sayd body by all endeuoure and industrye And that manne whiche can shifte for himself decline froÌ„ thynges hurt full forsee also thynges to come is iudged reputed worthye the title and name of a manne so he likewise farre excelleth al kindeâ— of liuyng creatures whiche althoughe thei bee better armed with the giftes of nature â–ª yet for defaute of reason to gouerne the same thei be far inferiours to the noblenes of manne whiche knoweth through the dotes qualites of the solle too deuise all necessaries fit for his affaires and businesse Wherefore me thynke them worthy of high commendacion that haue bent them selues wholy to adorne and garnishe this life mortal with their inuencions to accomplishe the feble indigeÌ„ce of our condicion by the diligence of their prouision as thei y t haue excogitated imagined any arte wherby the commen welth of the worlde is preserued or any other handy craftes or ministeries too the maintenaunce ayde and comforte of the body Howbeeit thei be worthy to haue greatest laude and praise that by their deuises haue found out the sciences liberall wherewith the diuine and imperiall parte called the solle of manne is bewtified yet maie we not therefore forgette writers of meaner thynges but be of deutie bound to make some worthy memoriall of their benefites declaryng our kindnes toward theÌ„ to the intente other might bee incoraged to enterprise the acheuyng of like endeuoures to the great ayd and preferment of the whole common wealth considryng that their suche deuises shalbee regestered to their perpetuall fame renoune And seeyng that the artes and craftes with other like feates whose inuentours be contained in this booke are in this realme of Englande occupied put in daily exercise to the profet of many and ease of all menne it were in myne opinion bothe a poynt of detestable vnkyndnes and a parte of extreme inhumanite too defraude theim of their praise and perpetuall memorie that wer autours of so great benefites to the vniuersall worlde For as a beneficiall gift conferred to a man that hath nede therof is of the owne propre nature commeÌ„dable so if the receiuer of that so liberall benignitee shewe hymself in mynde inwardly obliuious and forgetfull or in dedes outwardly vnthankefull it is naturally hated and as an vnnaturall vice abhorred In consideracion whereof I was moued to take in hande too compile out so well as my learnyng would serue me in a brefe some suche thynges as Polidore Vergile hath copiousli gathred togither by muche readyng by loÌ„g study hath written with greate lernyng consernyng the inuentours of thynges to thentent the autours of suche necessary artes might not be forgotteÌ„ Polidore for his great payne and trauaile in collectyng and celebratyng the said artes and sciences might receyue thankes accordyng to his desertes And althoughe the booke translated might haue been for the diuersitee of matter profitable and for the authours high lernyng laudable finally to a good translatoure commendable yet in so muche as for the greatnes it should haue been to the berers greuouse for length to the reders tediouse I thought it best to omit some parte not bycause any thyng was superfluous or otherwise written theÌ„ wel But for as muche as many thynges mighte bee taken diuersly and other wise then thei wer meÌ„t Therefore I haue not admitted any thyng in too this abridgemente whereby the reader maie bee iustely offended nor haue on the other syde omitted any suche sentence that either coÌ„cerned the title or that mighte in any parte please or profit the readers And as Polidore in his booke written in latin dooth pretende to replenishe enriche latin menne with delectacioÌ„ and knowlage of thinges delectable worthie knowlage not myndyng to derogate either any laudable ceremonies or to define vpoÌ„ any matter now or then beeyng in controuersie euen so I muche desirouse accordyng to the litle talent that God hath giuen me to dooe all menne good haue translated the saied booke of Polidore into oure Englishe toungue to the ende that also artificers and other persons not expert in latin might gather knowlage and take pleasure by the readyng therof ALTHOVGH this booke be but simple vnfitte to be presented to your good mastership ye it semed of verye right due to bee offered to you bicause you haue bene alwaies as the moost parte of men reporte and many by experience can testifie not onely enflamed with desire of knowledge of antiquites but also a fauorable supporter of al good lernyng and a verie Mecenas of all towarde wittes
Paganes and Heathen people whiche for so muche as thei excede the bondes of humanitie haue in them no hope of resurreccion at this presente I omit and ouer passe thē The Romaines bicause the dedde coarses that died in externe battaill were after their buriall digged oute of the grounde instituted the maner of burnyng the carcases of menne departed whiche rite was executed on Sylla chief of al the house and kyndrede of the Corneliās whiche feared leste he should bee serued as he had vsed Marius Thei had also in Rome a maner of deifiyng or hallowyng their emperoures ded bodies after this sorte Whē the emperour was ded and his body reuerently buried with greate exequies thei fourmed an Image of the emperour pale as though he wer sicke and laied it at the gate of the palace in a bed of Iuory and the phisicions resorted thither to the bed .vi daies continually the lordes of the senate and noble ladies and matrōs stādyng on euery side of the bed The seuēth daie the young lordes and nobilitie bare hym on their shulders in the bed ▪ first into the old place of iudgementes called Forum Vetus and then into the felde named Campus Martius where thei chose their magistrates and highe officers where thei laied hym in a tente buylded for the nones like a towre and filled it with drie woode and swete oyntemētes and after thei had finished the rites and ceremonies of their lawe he that should succede in the empire put a fire brande to the tente and then other laied to the fire good plēty And by and by after all was burned thei let flie an Egle out of the top of the turret whiche as thei supposed caried the solle of the emperour to heauen and from thence furth thei honored hym as a God Commendacions to the worship of ded bodies at funerales Valerius Publicola first made in y e praise of Brutus and that was long afore the Grekes had any notwithstandyng Gellius writeth that Solon ordained that lawe in Athens in the tyme of Tarquinnins Priscus The Romaines vsed to praise the women at their burialles bicause on a time thei wer contented to giue their goldē iuelles to make a boulle to sēd to Delphos to the God Apollo The .viii. Chapiter ¶ Who made spires called Obelisti the markes of the broches the Egipcians letters firste Sanctuary OBelisti whiche maie bee called lōg bruches or spires wer great and houge stones in Egipte made of masons from the botome smaller and smaller of a large lēgth and were consecrated to the Sonne bicause thei bee long muche like the beames of the sonne The first of thē was instituted by Mitres whiche reigned in Heliopolis beyng commaunded by a vision too make it and so it was recorded and writtē in thesame Kyng Sothis set vp foure that were euery of theim xlviii cubites long Ramises in whose tyme Troy was destroyed reared vp one fourty cubites of length another of eight hundred and nyntene foote euery side was foure cubites broade Ptolomaeus Philadelphus made one at Alexandria of fourescore cubites And Phaeron set twoo in the temple of the Sonne of an hundred cubites length a pece and foure cubites broade on this occasion It fortuned that this kyng for a greate cryme that he had committed was stryken blynde and cōtinued so tenne yeres and after by reuelacion at the citee Bucis it was tolde hym that he should receiue his sight if he washed his yies with the water of a woman that was neuer defiled with any strange manne but was alwaie contente with her housbande Firste he tried his owne wife and afterward many other til at the last he receiued his sight and maried her by whose vryne he was healed and recouered his sighte and all the other with his first wife he caused to bee burned at once Then for a remēbraūce he made his oblaciō with the twoo foresaied spires in the tēple of the Sonne Augustus Caesar brought two of these broches into Rome and sette one in the greate Tilte yarde or Listes if I maie call Circus in those termes the other he sette in the felde called Campus Martius In these broches for the moste parte wer written Images of beastes wherby their posteritie and successoures mighte perceiue the renowme of suche princes and the maner of their vowes and oblacions FOR the Egipcians vsed the Images of beastes in the steade of letters and as Cornelius writeth thei declared their myndes by the figures and shappes of beastes as by the Bee they sygnified a Kyng rulyng his commons with greate moderaciō and gentlenesse by the Goshauke thei mente spidie perfourmaunce of their affaires Sanctuary as Stacius writeth made firste by Hercules neuewes in Athēs and was called the temple of mercie From thence it was not lawfull to take any manne violētly that repared thither for ayde and comfort notwithstādyng Moses whiche was lōg afore Hercules did institute three franchised tounes wither it was permitted for theim to go that had doen any murther vnware or by chaunce-medly Next after hym Romulus ordained a sanctuary in Roome to encrease his citezens and to haue more numbre too buylde the citee There was a sāctuary in the Isle Calauria dedicated too Neptune and another in Egipte at Canobicus consecrated to Hercules another to Osyridis in Siria one halowed to Apollo And there bee many at this daie in chrstēdome and namely in Englande but now the libertie and numbre of them is sore minished bicause thei wer occasion of greate crimes enormites The .ix. Chapiter ¶ Of Theatres and Amphitheatres and Bathes THEATRES wer certain places as scaffoldes with pentises wherin the people of Athens stoode to beholde the enterludes that were shewed and thei were made like halfe a circle with benches one aboue another that thei might without any impedimente see the places Dionisius did firste institute theim in Athens in the middes of the scaffolde or theatre stoode the stage wherin Comodies Tragedies with other shewes were exibited too the common sorte Of theim the Romaines toke example to make suche scaffoldes whiche Quintus Catulus caused to bee couered with linen clothes and hanged it with silke where as afore thei had no vaulte to bere of the sonne or raine But Marcus Scaurus beeyng Aedil that is hauyng the ouersight of all publike and priuate buyldynges made the firste in Rome that endure◠for the space of thirtie daies it was made vp with pillers of Marble Caius Curio at his fathers buriall builded twoo theatres of timber after suche a fashion that thei might in time of enterludes stād one cōtrary to another in suche wise that neither plaie should disturbe other and whē it liked hym he turned theim together and made an Amphitheatre whiche was a roūde scaffold full of benches of diuerse hightes wherin he
onely vsed in the congregacion first deuided theim into Patriarches and Archebishoppes Patriarches at the firste were of Roome Antioche Alexandrie Hierusalem and Constantinople Archbishoppes had their title to bee called Metropolitaines bycause their sea was in the mother citee of the prouence Clement the first ordaigned that all Patriarches and Archbishoppes should weare a paule whiche dooth signifie mekenesse and iustice wherwith thei should specially bee garnished Then also the inferior orders begonne too bee deuided as that the Archedeacon should bee aboue Deacon and Arche-prieste aboue the prieste and ouer theim the Deanes and then wer ordained cannons that syng in cathedrall churches Antherius permitted that a bishoppe might chaunge his bishoppericke for another vpon an honeste cause if he wer thought sufficient to discharge a greater for his learnyng and Godlinesse Caius firste made a statute that a prieste might not bee conuented afore a temporall iudge but least any manne should bee circuÌ„ueÌ„ted by fraude or gyle Entichianus instituted that the accusacion should bee putte in writyng afore the iudge Likewise Cornelius decreed that a manne should not take or require an othe of a priest but onely in matters concernyng our religion and faithe THE maner of swearyng was in old time of this sorte He that should sweare tooke a stone in his hande saied if I deceiue you to my knowledge Iupiter banishe me out of all good meÌ„nes compaignie preseruyng the reste of the citee as I cast awaie this stone from me And as Plinie dooeth write it was not lawfull for any manne too beare an office fiue daies onlesse he wer sworne In like maner our bishoppes kynges Priestes and other officers sweare afore theâ— bee admitted to the office Iustinianus emperour appoyneted firste that menne should sweare by the Gospell and now a daies al that sweare laie their hande on the booke and kisse it saiyng so helpe me God and the holy Gospell bycause as the Gospell of our religion and faithe maie for no cause bee violated so an othe in no case maie bee broken THE fashion of excomunicatyng menne that bee obstinate and dissobediente too the officers Or common transgressours came as some thinke out of the rites of the Iewes whiche banished out of their Sinagoge all those that ranne in obstinacy against their tradicions AND some suppose it sprong of the religiouse folcke in Fraunce named Druides whiche as Caesar recordeth If ether a priuate maÌ„ or officer wer not coÌ„formably ordered after their ceremonies excluded hym out of their compaignie The .ix. Chapiter ¶ Consecratyng Nunnes takyng of our cappes kissyng the Popes feete and washyng of feet THE custome to consecreate Virgyns makyng a vowe of chastitee was first found by Pius the first whiche instituted â–ª also y t none should bee made afore she were twenty and fiue yeres olde and that thei mighte bee consecrated at no tyme but in the Epiphanie or twelfe daie Easter euen and on the feastes of the Apostelles oules it were when any vnprofessed wet in poyncte to die And Sotherus caused that a decre was made that no suche professed should touche coape or put eâ—sence into the Censoures the yere of our Lorde GOD an hundred thre score and fiftene It semeth too haue begonne of the Apostelles whiche is proued by Paules woordes wher he saieth Lette no widdowe bee chosen afore she bee three score yeres of age with diuerse like saiynges Linus byshoppe of Rome commaunded that no woman should entre into the congregacion or temple with her heade bare whiche appereth to haue bene taken of the Hebrues for the bishoppe in the olde lawe might not vncouer his head and in Arabia Cartage it was takeÌ„ for an vnhonest and vnreuerent thyng if a woman should vncouer her head go bare The takyng offe of our cappes to our superiours signifieth y t wee should disclose and shewe them all suche thynges as we haue in our custodie The rite diabolike of kissyng the byshoppe of Romes feete tooke it originall of the maner of the Romaynes whiche in their Paganite vsed to kisse the feete of their priestes and other nobles in token of obedience as Seneca telleth howe Caius Caesar stretched out his left foote that Pompeius a Carthagien might kisse it PoÌ„ponius Laetus writeth that the Emperours vsed to gyue their handes to be kyssed of the nobles and then to take them vp to kysse their mouthes and the coÌ„mons kyssed their knees but Caius Caligula and Dioclesianus made them to stoupe to their feete This Pagane example oure christen bishop and Goddes vicar ful vngodly and vngoodly doeth counterfet Al other bishoppes vsed to deliuer their right hand to be kyssed of suche as came to salute them for the right hande as Plinie saieth in the leuenth booke hath in it selfe a certain religion and therefore we make all couenaunces and promises with it The maner of salutyng with kysses is verie auncient for it was the vsage of the Hebrues to kisse straungers at their fyrst metyng as Iacob kyssed Rachel afore he broke vnto her that he was of her kyndred and Laban after he knewe him to be his sisters sonne embraced him with his armes kissed him And the Romaynes custome was to kysse theyr kinsfolke but afterward it was exteÌ„ded to further familiaritie is now frequented very laciuiously Albeit in Rome it was an ordinaunce that women should kysse their kinsefolke bycause that yf she had dronke any wyne contrarie to the lawe made against the women for drinkyng of wyne by suche meanes she might be espied Washyng of feet on Maundye thursday that the priestes vse among them selfes and nobles to inferiour persons is a counterfeete of the institute of Chryste whiche to shew them a patron of humilitie and mekenesse washed the Apostles feet The kynges and quenes of England on y t day â–ª washe the feete of so many poore menne and women as they be yeres olde and geue to euery of them so many pence with a gowne and an other ordinary almes of meate and kysse their feete and afterward geue their gownes of their backes to them that they se most nedy of al the nomber It is a godly institute I would there were mo suche ceremonies to helpe the poore For they be now neglected not regarded but lye dead often in the stretes for lacke of sustenaunce The .x. Chapiter ¶ The institucion of priestes called Flamines with other religions of the Romaynes NVMA Pompilius the seconde kyng of Rome willyng to reclayme y t fierse nacion froÌ„ warre and chiuarie to the regarde of iustice and kepyng of peace ordayned to the highe God Iupiter a sacred persone called Flamen Dlalis that is Iupiters priest And to aduaunce the order he set him in a chariot of Iuorie and a costely robe but so sone as his wife was disceased he was discharged and gaue ouer his office He
caurse or amisse to kepe that feaste after the precident of saincte Ihon the Apostle whiche renued euer the rite of the Iewes in the feast of Easter THE custome of hallowyng Paschall candelles on Easter euen was commaunded by Zozinus to bee frequented in euery churche THE maner of kepyng holy the birthe daie of euery manne was muche vsed in Rome albeit the Persians had that vsage afore theim for there it is the fashion that euery manne after his habiliteâ— should with many obseruances and greate dentie feastes worship the daie of their birthe and of theim the Romaines receiued that supersticion ⧠The .vi. Chapiter ¶ Of the institucion of holy daies and canonisyng AS you haue hearde y e sanct Ihon the Apostle did celebrate the feast of Easter eueÌ„ so the other Apostles as it is saied wer authores not onely of the same Easter feast but also ordained those daies wherin our sauiour had doen any mistery concernyng out saluacion or informacioÌ„ should be kept holy and to the entent thei might be more reuerenced of their posteritee thei themselfes kepte theim duryng their life very deuoutly as the Sondaies Aduent the Natiuitee CircuÌ„cision and Epiphanie of our Lorde the Purificacion of our lady called Candelmas Lente Palme Sondaie Maundy Thursdaie when Christ after supper washed his disciples feete Goodfridaie Easter the Ascension and Witsondaie As for the feaste of Pentecost was afore vsed of the Hebrues for .l. daies after that the laÌ„be was sacrificed in Egipt y e law written by the handes of God was giuen by Moses in the Mount Oreb in the wildernes of Sinay And .l. daies after the death of Christ whiche like a lambe was offered of the Iewes for our Paschal the Apostles receiued y e lawe of the spirite The feast of transfiguracion came also of the Iewes for like as Moses his face was transposed into a perfect brightnes after he had commoned with GOD in the Mounte so nowe after the shadowe and vaile wer taken awaie by Christ his comyng it pleased God to shewe to his disciples his transfiguracion as a declaracion of the shadowe past and a figure or significacioÌ„ of the immortalite to come In consideracion wherof the holy fathers perceiuyng the vse of suche holy daies coÌ„firmed and ratified theim by a decree made in the couÌ„saill had at LioÌ„s in FrauÌ„ce furthermore commaunded that suche daies as either our holy sainctes departed this life orels wrought ani miracle or did any notable deede to y e encrease of our religioÌ„ should be kept holy bycause christen people mighte haue more oportunitee too heare the woorde of God and more deuoutely serue hym in an vniforme ordre THEN were instituted the feastes of saincte Stephen Inuocentes Siluester IhoÌ„ Baptist the Apostles daies Conuersion of Paule our lady daies Laurence Michell Martyne and generally of all sainctes whiche was the constitucion of Bonifacius the fourth For he caused that the teÌ„ple whiche Marcus Agrippa did edifie in honoure of all the Romaynes Idolles as the name Pantheon doth pretende was by the license of Phocas then Emperoure turned into the churche of all Hallowes and consecrated the twelfe daie of Maie and Gregory the fourth afterward willed it too bee kepte the firste daie of Nouember THE festes of the inuencion and exaltacion of the crosse and Corpus Christi daie were dedicated by Vrbane the fourthe and denounced for holy daies Siluester at the suâ—e and instance of the Emperouâ—â— Constantine assigned the daie of ad Vincula sancti Petri called commonly Lammas in memoriall of Peters paines persecucion and punishment that he suffered for the religion Felix y e first of purpose to magnifie the gloriouse commendacion of Martyres made a statute that yerely oblacioÌ„ should be had in memoriall of theim and Gregory would that Masse should bee saâ—ed ouer their bodies whiche thing Vigilantius thought woorthy to bee reiected refused albeit the reporte goeth that Anacletus was of this coÌ„stitucion the first authour The same Felix instituted firste that the daie whereon any temple was dedicated should bee hallowed of that village or toune and made also a lawe that suche churches as menne doubted of whether thei wer consecrated or no should be hallowed again And Felix the fourth did ordain that bishoppes onely should dedicate them and that the same dedicacion daie should bee kepte holy yerely afterwarde THE fashioÌ„ to deifie menne that had dooen any benefites to the common wealth is one of the moste auncient vsages that I reade of For antiquitee euen froÌ„ the beginnyng was accustomed to make goddes of their kynges whiche either by aboundaÌ„ce of benefites or notable qualites and prowes had wonnen the heartes of their coÌ„mons And specially the Romaynes did that with greate pompe of circumstaunces and many obseruaunces as I did declare afore in the thirde booke out of Herodiane Of theim our bishoppes learned as by a paterne their rite of canonisyng sanctes and the yerely sacrifices that Gregory and Felix appoyncted coÌ„cerned nothyng els but too declare that those Martyres were sainctes and of the housholde of God Last of all AlexaÌ„der the third ordained that no suche diuine solemnitee should be giuen to any man openly without he wer canonised and admitted to bee a saincte by the bishoppe of Rome his bulle bicause no manne should chose hymself any priuate sainct or committe any peculiare Idolatry ⧠The .vii. Chapiter ¶ Institucion of yere daies or Obites and the maner of Mournyng FVNERAL exequies that be dooen ouer ded bodies were the institucion of Pelagius albeeit Isidorus ascribeth the originall of it to the Apostles and he hymself did augmente the rites that wee vse in this tyme. Ambrose supposeth that it proceaded of the custome of the Hebrues whiche lamented Iacob fourty daies and Moses the space of thirty daies for that tyme is sufficient for the wise to wepe in It was also y e vsage of auncient Romaines to mourne For Numa Pompilius assigned oblacions to the infernall goddes for the ded and did inhibite that a childe vnder the age of three yeres should bee bewayled and that the elder sorte should be mourned no mo monethes then he had lyued yeres But commonly the loÌ„gest tyme of a widowes mournyng was but tenne monethes and if any were maryed within the space agayne it was coumpted a greate reproche wherefore NVMA ordaygned that suche as had mourned vp afore the daie limited should offer a cowe that was greate with calfe for an expiacion Neuerthelesse if that rite wer vsed now a daies and namely in Englande we should haue smal store of veales there be so many that mary within y e tyme prescribed Plutarch writeth that the womeÌ„ in their mournyng laied a parte all purple gold and sumpteous apparell wer clothed bothe thei and their kinsfolk in white apparell like as theÌ„ the ded body was wrapped in white
clothes The white coloure was thought fittest for the dedde bicause it is clere pure and syncer and leaste defiled and when the tyme of their wepyng was expired thei put on their other vestures Of this ceremonie as I take it the Frenche quenes toke occasion after the death of their housebandes the kynges too weare onely white clothyng and if there bee any suche widdowe she is commonly called the white quene The Iewes ended their mournyng after .xxx. daies and Englishe men kepe the same rite The mournyng garmentes for the moste parte bee altogether of blacke colour and thei vse to weare theim a whole yere continually onlesse it bee bicause of a generall triumphe or reioysyng or newe magistrate chosyng orels when thei bee toward mariage But the custome of mournyng is no other thyng then mere supersticion specially if womeÌ„ or men haue a â—ouryng loke and a laughyng herte For all suche lameÌ„tacioÌ„ helpeth nothyng the dedde corps or solle of the deceased and disquieteth sore the liuyng THE maner of washyng ded bodies and specially of noble men and anoyntyng theÌ„ was receiued of our auncetrie whiche vsed to washe the bodies of the dedde and it was the office of theim that wer nerest of his kyndred to dooe it Solle Masse daie that is the second daie of Nouember was begon by Odilo that was Prouoste or Prouinciall of the Monkes of Cluniacenses order vpon the occasion that he heard about Aetna the mouÌ„tain of Sicilie oftentymes great wepyng lamentacion criyng whiche he supposed to bee the yellyng of eiuill spirites that bewailed bicause the solles of dedde menne wer taken from theim by the peticions and sacrifices of wel disposed christen people therfore he perswaded his coueÌ„te in the tyme of Ihon bishop of Rome to make a generall obite of all solles the daie next after the feast of al sainctes Aboute the yere of our lorde M and twoo our fathers receiued it as a godly institucioÌ„ full of pitiful charitee thus by processe of this Monkes supposicion sprong muche vain supersticion ⧠The .viii. Chapiter ¶ Of the seuenth daie thirty daie old maner of buriall hallowyng chalices priestes garmentes with other thynges HORATIVS the Poete and Seruius write that the Romaynes vsed customably y e nynth daie after the buriall to renewe the sacryfices and solemne rites of the funerall whiche thei named in latyne Nouemdialis of this we in our religioÌ„ haue gathered the fashion of kepyng the seueÌ„th daie with exequies and other ordinary oblacions And in England the custome is to kepe the thirty daie or moneth mynde with like Obites as were dooen on the buriall daies Or els it mighte seme that this kepyng of the seueÌ„th daie was brought vp after thesame sort emong vs as in mariages thei vsed in old tyme to renewe their vowes the seuenth daie For like as that daie was the soleÌ„ne beginnyng of encreasyng the issue of mankynde so thesame daie of burial is or should be the complet finishyng and ende of euery thyng The Massiliens in Fraunce passed and spente the daies of their burialles with priuate oblacions and feastyng of their kinsefolke without any maner lameÌ„tacion or sorowe whiche thyng the Englishe at this daie vse commonly to dooe In burials the old rite was that the â—ded corps was borne afore and the people folowed after as one should saie we shall dye and folowe after hym as their laste woordes to the coarse did pretende For thei vsed too saie when it was buried on this wise fare well wee come after thee and of the folowyng of y e multitude thei were called exequies Albeeit thei vsed at kynges and noble mennes funeralles to goo afore with tapers â–ª whiche custome we kepe still CHALICES wherin the bloud of Christe is consecrated were at the first of woode and that was the institucioÌ„ of the Apostles whiche would preuent all occasioÌ„ of auarise in priestes but Zepherinus afterward commaunded that thei should consecrate in a vessel of glasse NotwithstaÌ„dyng in processe that custome was broken And Gratianus decreed y t thei should saie Masse and consecrate with chalices of siluer or golde orels if those mighte not bee gotten in chalices of tynne albeit some referre this to Vrbane the firste Sextus the firste commaunded that the corporaces should bee of linen clothe onely and that of the finest and purest and he forbade that any laye manne should handle the hallowed vessels and namely womeÌ„ wer inhibited The hallowyng of priestes vestures and altare clothes with other ornameÌ„tes of the churche and the diuersitee of vestures of sundry orders was taken out of the Hebrues priesthod vsed in our churche fyrst by Steuen bishop of Rome fyrst of that name For at the beginnyng priestes in their massyng vsed rather inwarde vertues of solle then outward apparel of the body whiche is rather a gloriouse gase then any godly edifiyng Sabinianus decreed fyrst that the people should be assembled together to heare seruice at certayne houres of the day by ringyng of belles And Iohn the .xxii. ordeined that belles should be tolled euerye daye thrise in y e euenyng that then euery maÌ„ should say thrise the Aue maria The vse of belles came fyrst of the Hebrues wher y e high priest or bishop had in the skyrtes of his vppermoost vestures litle belles to ryng when he was in the holy place within y e vaile And euen the vayle hangynges candelsteckes with other vessels that we vse in the churche came also of theyr ceremonies The baners that be hanged abroad in the easter tyme may be vsed to declare the triumph of Christ ouer death the deuil and hel were taken of the heathen whiche in their victories did beare baners to declare signifye y e coÌ„quest of their enemies The .ix. Chapiter ¶ Of vowes goyng barefoote Letanies praiyng for them that neese crossyng the mouth when men yawne WHen we be brought into any extreme calamytie or dauÌ„gerouse adueÌ„ture y t can by no mans power or prouision bee releued the vrgent necessytie coÌ„strainyng vs we fal to praiers and vowes makyng as when we promise to set vp caÌ„dels Images of waxe or siluer w t other lyke supposyng therby to obteine remedy of our grief This custome was borowed of the Hebrues whiche vsed to make suche vowes to God diuerse other couÌ„tries of the GeÌ„tiles vsed y e ryte to their false gods In like maner goyng barefoote was taken vp of the Iewes fashion whiche in their sickenes other misfortunes were woÌ„t to pray coÌ„tinually .xxx. dayes forbeare wyne shaue their heare and after go barefoote to the temple make oblacion This maner of vowe was so ernestly vsed in the tyme of y e emperour Nero when Florus was president of Iurye y e Bernice sister to kyng Agrippa went her selfe barefote to the teÌ„pte of Hierusalem to obteine some
be y t say one Redo earle of mount Granel did institute them in Fessulus in the tyme of Gregorye the .xii. Yet there be that say that the originall of this brotherhod was instituted of Hierom in deserte that Eusebius of Cremona with other deuoute and holy men whiche kept conuersacion with him did enlarge and augment the familie of that profession As concernyng the Channons reguler ther be two opinions for some saye that Austen by and by after he was created byshoppe broughte hys Chānons in this rule and fourme of liuyng wherin they haue bene so lōg trayned and noseled vp other some bragge and make their vaunt that it was deuised of the Apostles and of this opinion was Thomas of Aquine But howsoeuer the matter go Austen was doubtles ether the inuentour of the secte or renewer of it and therfore maye be iustlye taken for an autoure of that faction and so was he likewyse of Augustines Hermites The Chanons clothyng was a white cote a linnyn rochet vnder a blacke coape with a scapuler to couer their head and shoulders The Hermites haue a contrary vesture a blacke coat with alike scapuler and another coat of whyte a lether gyrdle Of these there be diuerse orders As y e order of s Sauiour of the scopettines whiche wer ordeined by one Steuen Iames two men of Senes in the tyme of Vrbane the .v. the yere of Christ M.ccc.lxx and Gregory the .xi. by his consent confirmed thē in their hipocrisie The Frisonaries is another brood which began among the Hetrurians in the countie of Luces that is other wise called lateraneuse by the diuise of Iames Britiane in y e tyme of Ihō the .xxiiii. the yere of Christ M. cccc.xii thei were amplified encreased bi Eugenius the .iiii. The .iii. order is titled y e brethred of s Gregory de Alga this was ordeyned at Venece by Laurence Iustinian in the time of Innocencius the .vii. y e yere of our lord M cccc vii with diuers other orders whiche forsomuche as they rise sodēly like toad stoles in a raine I wyl omit thē Bruno of Colen y e red sometime the philosophi lecture at Paris did institute the Charterhouse monkes in the diocese of Gracianopolis at a place named Cartusia in the yere of our lord M.lxxx vnder Gregorye the .vii. their life was outwardly ful of painted holines in forbering flesh fasting bread and water eueri friday ful of solitarines muche silence euer pinned in and women were banished out of the house with other semblable ceremonies The Carmelites or white friers wer as some say begon in mount Carmelus after the example of Helias y e prophet which liued their lōg solitary they wer fyrst assēbled together by Almericus B. of Antioch y e yere of our lord M.clxx in y e time of Alexander the .iii. they wer so called our Lady friers of a chapel of our lady y t was in y e hil Carmelus Neuertheles vpon cccc yeares after in the tyme of Innocentius the third they were reformed by Albartus byshop of Hierusalem accordyng to the rule of Basilius and the colowre of their coape was turned into whyte by Honorius the third where afore it was russet The order of Pemōstratenses was instituted in the diocesse of Laudune by Northbergus a priest and the preceptes of that couent were gathered out of s Austens rules and admitted for good by Calixtus the seconde in the yere of our lorde M.C.xx. The Crouch or crosse Friers began about the yere of our lorde M.cc.xv. by the diuise of Cyriacus bishoppe of Hierusalem whiche shewed Helene mother of Constantine wher y e crosse lay hyd And in memorial of y e crosse he caused this brotherhod colledge of Friers to beare the crosse And yet they neuer knew what y e crosse weied in their bodyes or in their heartes forsomuche as they were sore wasted Innocentius the .iii. renewed the religion The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Blacke and Gray friers the Trinite order Brigidians Iesuates new Hermites and Bonhomes ABOVTE the tyme of Innocentius the third arose two famouse founders of two supersticious sectes I meane Dominicke the Spaniarde and Frauncis the Italian of the countrie of Vmbria Dominicke at the fyrst was a Chanon but bycause he could not suffre to haue a superior and was also wery of the cloyster he inuented a newe fraternite named Dominicans black Friers or Friers preachers bycause they had the charge to preache y e Gospel without mixture of any pharisaical leauen The newe guyse of their vesture made innocente Innocentius to wonder But Honorius the .iii. by his bulle honorably admytted them the yeare of our lorde M.CC.xx. and Gregory the ninth putte the matter out of all doubt canonised Dominicke and by his bulle vnder lead alowed him for a sainct Frauncesse that was fyrst of y e friers Austens thinkyng that secte not to be sufficiently furnished with hipocrisie beganne a newe trade of liuyng in the mounte Appoeninus in a place named cōmonly Iauerna doubtles a ground worthy for suche a foūdacion as was besyde the worde of God it was set vp in the tyme of Honorius aforesayd They were named Minores of the humilitie lowlynes of hart that thei shuld haue but that was smally regarded furthest from their study Two yeres after y t was the yere of oure Lorde M.CC.xxix Frauncisse was sanctified by Gregory made a sainct Fraunciscanes afterward fel at cōtencion for the rules of their profession They that fayled somewhat of y e vnperfecte perfection of them retayned the name of Minorites styl the other titled them selues obseruauntes more worthy to be called obstinate The latter felowes were broughte into England by kyng Edwarde the iiii were greatly enhaunced by the famouse prince kyng Henry the .vii. At the same tyme was Clara the Vyrgyn countrie woman to sayncte Frauncisse whiche was a great foundresse of Nunnes of y e same rule that Frauncesse gaue his couent of them sprōg the basterde penitencers in the dayes of Iohn the .xxii. and the yere of our lord M.CCC.xv The order of the Trinite vnder the sayd Innocentius was begonne by Iohn Marta and Felyx Anachorita in Fraunce in the countrie of Meldine Then also was founded or els not long after in the tyme of Martin the fourth the brotherhod of Mayres seruauntes by one Philip of Florencia a Phisician and Benedicte the .xi confirmed it in the yere of our Lorde M.CCC.lxxxv The order of Brigidians was instituted by Brigidia a wyddowe that was princesse of Sueta vnder Vrbane the .v. in the yeare of oure Lorde M.ccc.lxx it was aswell of men as women albeit thei dwelled seuerally by them selues The familie of Iesuites was the inuēcion of Iohannes Colūbinus in the citie of Senes in the time of the same Vrbane the yere of
oure lord M.ccc.lxviii they were no priestes nor consecrated persons but wer men of the laye sort geuen addicted to praiers had the name of Iesuites bycause the name of Iesus should be often in their mouth they be muche like to our bedemen in England The secte of new Hermites began in Vrbine a cytie in Italy in the coūtre of Vmbria where Polidor Vergile was borne and was the deuise of one Petrus an Hetruriane and they had in the same cytie a goodly hospital or guylde hal The Bonhomes were instituted in England by Edmunde sonne of Rychard erle of Cornewel whiche was brother to Henry the .iii. and was elected kyng of the Romanes heyre apparant to the Empyre by the princes electours aboute the yere of oure Lorde M.CC.lvii The special head place of that religion was Astrige wher the noble kyng Henry the .viii. hath nowe a goodly Palace This Edmund brought the blood of our sauiour as it was sayd into the realme The .v. Chapiter ¶ The original of sacred knightes and white secte WHILEST the cytie of Ierusalem afore our christenmen had cōquered it in y e yere of our lord M.xcix. was in subieccion to the Saracēs the Latine christians that liued ther tributaries purchased a lycence to buylde nere vnto the holye sepulchre dwellyng houses and among other they made an hospital of our lady to receyue the straunge pilgrimes and appoincted a prouost to entertain thē This was in Siluester the fyrst hys tyme the yere of our Lorde .ccc.xiiii. and renewed the yere of Chrst M.ccc xcvii in the tyme of Celestine the .iii. bishop of Rome After the paterne of this house was deuised a like house of virgyns in me mortal of Mari Magdalen to receiue the women that resorted thether It beganne in the .ii. Vrbanes daies the yere of our Lorde M. lxxxxix Notwithstandyng because the multitude of latine pilgrimes waxed very great they builded thre hospitals of s Ihō Baptiste as some saye albeit some thynke it was of Iohn Eleemosinarius that was the patriarke of Alexandria in the reigne of the emperour Phoca This secte one Gerardus adourned with a white crosse in a black vesture grand captain of these knightes was Ramundus when Clement the .v. had the sea of Rome about the yere of our Lorde M.ccc.x yet some affirme that the beginnyng of them was in the .iii. Alexanders dayes the yere of Christ M.c.lxxix and they be called of y e order of s Iohn or knightes of the Rhodes because thei wāne the Rhodes from the Turkes which afterwarde they lost againe in Ianuary in the yere of oure saluacion M. CCCCC.xxiii albeit they dyd long defend it manfully The templers order was begon in Gelacius the .ii. his daies in the yere of Christes incarnacion M.C.xxviii by Hugo Paganus and Gaufradus de sancto Alexandro they were named templers bycause they kept in a parte of the buyldynges neare to the temple they kepte Barnardus rule in their liuyng But Clement the .v. deposed thē partly for that they renoūced the faith conspired w t the Turkes partly forother notable crimes The order of Tentonickes or dutch Lordes beganne in Hierusalem by a Dutche manne whose name is not knowen Their office was to fight against the enemies of Christes crosse it began in the dayes of Clement the third the yere of Christes incarnacion M.C.xc. Petrus Fardinandus a Spaniarde began the order of sainct Iames knightes that lyued after s Austens rule vnder Alexander y e .iii. and in the yere of our lord M. c.lx.iii the same bishoppes daies ¶ Sāctius a kyng ordeyned the factions of Calatrauean knightes which professed the rule of y e Cisterciences Of the same profession be they of the order of Iesus Christes knightes whiche were instituted by Iohn the xxii bishop of that name in Portingale to resist the Saracens Alexandrians brotherhod of knightes in the realme of Castel y t begonne in Gregories tyme the .ix. aboute the yere of oure saluacion M.CC.xl. but who was auctor of thē is vncertaine Iames kyng of Aragonia dyd foūd ii sectes of knightes one named of s Mari de Mercede of those the office was to raunsom suche as were taken prisoners in warres against the Turkes The other sect is called Montasian knightes and they were a redde crosse both these orders Gregory the xi did alowe the yere of our lord M. The order of Minimes or lest brethren were founded by one Franciscus Paula a Silician after the example of Frauncisse his Mmorites The Apostolike brethren begāne in the yere of our lord M.cclx by the institucion of Gerardus Sagarelus in the toune named Perma in Lōbardie in the tyme of Alexander the fourth The whyt sect sprong vp in the Alpes descended into Italye hauyng apriest for their captayn But Bonifacius perceiuyng they should do no good to his honourable estate if they continued caused their captain to be headed at Viterbium as attainted of some heresie the yere of our lord M. cccc They wer a great nomber dyd no other thyng but lamēt the state of mākynd bewayle the sinnes of the people Theren as of this fashion both men women were called the whit sect because they weare whyte clothyng The .vi. Chapiter ¶ The Niniuites Assirians Antonians and Ceretanes NO lesse supersticion is in the fraternite of the Niniuites although they auaunce thē selues to haue receyued their maner of liuyng of y e Apostles for the end of their doynges is to worke their owne saluacion by dedes satisfactory to God wher in dede they derogate the effecte and power of Christes blod The rites be specified with outward holines as often assēblyng to praier hiryng of chauntry priestes supportyng pouertie be clothed in sackcloth and scourge one another w t whippes Of this painted penaunce they call them selues Niniuites as though they appeaced Gods wrathe in the same wyse as they of Niniuie dyd where in deede they had heartie cōtricion for their offēces these haue but pretenced holines and penitence they beganne vnder Clement the .iiii. the yere of our lorde a thousand two hundreth threscore and fiue The maner of theyr whyppyng came of the Romayne sacrifices and Lupercalia whereof I spake afore for thei vsed the same custome of a supersticious opinion Or if a manne wold be curious in boultyng out the original of their beatyng it may appeare to haue proceded of an obseruaūce of the Egyptiens For y e vsage was there that whilest they offered a cow with many ceremonies to their gret Idole as Herodotus witnesseth during y e burnyng therof they shuld one beate another miserably with wandes or roddes The title of their fraternitie came of the Romaynes whiche had diuers felowshyppes as Sodales Titii and Fratres Aruales that sacrificed to Ceres Goddesse of corne Another sort there is not onely idle but also
theuishe they be called Assirians the same that we name commonly Egyptians These as all men haue hearde and many haue by experience proued be so lyght fyngered and suche rigbies chyldren that they wyll fynde two thynges afore they lose one The men by suche pyllery thefte and playne stealyng and women by palmestrye blessynges with lyke other sorcery and wytchecrafte furnished with lyes seduce and deceyue a great nomber of symple people in euery country and region And bicause they should haue more libertie to spede their purposes they saye it is their vowe and penaunce is geuen them to go in continual pilgremage Fye on that pylgremage that is mayntayned by pickyng and redoundeth to the profit of none but to the extreme losse of manye as well countries as men The occasion that these vacabundes stray thus abrode came of an old Idol that they worshypped in their Paganisme named the goddesse of Siria wherwith they vsed to gadde froÌ„ place to place to begge monye wyne mylke chese corne and other stuffe as Apuleius writeth The same people nowe thei be christened playe theyr partes in like maner with sundry subtilties and that they get by liyng pickyng stealyng brybyng they make monye of and so returne home laughyng to scorne all those symple persons that they haue thus deceyued Seyng all other supersticions be abolished and roted vp it is pitie that this should take styl effect and be vnpunished The Antonians were a counterfect of Antonies perfection but they differ as muche froÌ„ his holynes as whyte froÌ„ blacke they haue a on their brest that meneth Tolle teaching them to take what they can get be it cowe oxe calfe or pigge for they offer swyne to him as they dyd sacrifice shepe to Bel in Babilon thei were instituted in the yere of Christ CCC.xxiiii The Ceretanes began in Ceretum a cytie of Vmbria euer they vsed to go a beggyng at the latter end of haruest when the barnes were stuft with corne and so like drones deuour that that other haue gotteÌ„ with the swet of theyr browes Of these valiant beggers there be in euery place mo then a great meny but I caÌ„not tel what tyme they were instituted and howe sone they be put doune it skylleth not ⧠The .vii. Chapiter ¶ The originall of Mahometes sectâ— OF all these supersticâ—ouse sectes afore rehersed ther is not one so diabolicall as the sect of Mahometanes as well for the filthinesse of al vnlawfull lustes as other outrageouse naughtinesse that thei occupie daily to the greate endomagyng of christendome and encrease of their owne infidelite OF this vnreuerent religion Mahomete a noble manne borne in Arabie or as some reporte in Persie was authoure his father was an Heathen Idolater and his mother an Ismaelite wherfore she had more perceueraunce of y e Hebrues lawe This wicked plante brought vp and fostered vnder his parentes and enstructed like a mungrel in either of their lawes be came experte and of a redy witte And after the deathe of his father and mother he was in houshold with one Abdemonaples an Ismaelite whiche putte hym in truste with his marchandice and other affaires and after his decease he maried his mastresse a widdowe There he fel in acquaintaunce with the Monke Sergius an heretike of Nestors sect that fled from Byzans into Arabie and by his counsaill and aduise this Mahomete aboute the yere of our Lorde sixe hundred and twentie and the .xii yere of the reigne of the Emperoure Heraclius began in Arabie to found a newe secte by sedicious sermons seduced muche people and many couÌ„trees He conquered by helpe of the Arabians diuerse landes and subdued theim as tributories and compelled theim too liue after the tradicion of his lawes that he gathered out of the newe and olde Testamentes and diuerse heresies of Nicolaires Maniches and Sabellians He died the fourtie yere of his age and his body was caried by the Saracenes into a citee of Persia called Mecha and laied in a coffyne of Iron Caliphas succeded Mahomete but he was deposed for his supersticioÌ„ and another of the same name was substituted in his roume Homar was the thirde that reigned and he after the conquest of the Persians wanne Hierusalem and all Siria the yere of our Lorde fiâ—e hundred and fourescore in the tyme of Agathö bishop of Rome and Constantyne the fourthe Emperoure This secte waxeth daily bigger and bigger partely throughe the discorde of Christen princes and partely by reson of our synfull liuyng y â— daily groweth to greater enormities that deserue the heuy hande of GOD ouer vs. ¶ Here endeth the abridgemente of the seuenth booke The eight booke ⧠The firste Chapiter ¶ Of Reliques stacions the yere of Iubilie Pardons NOT LONG after the martyrdome of Peter and Paule bothe many that of diuerse sortes as well men as women 〈◊〉 the example of their constaÌ„cie were encoraged to suffre sundery kindes of tormentes in seuerall partes of y e world for the mainteignance of Christe his religioÌ„ But namely in Rome muche murther of innocente bloudde was committed of tyrantes by many maner of punishementes and a greate number died in Chrstes cause emong other certain bishoppes to the soume of thirty and twoo were slain by extreme persecusion onlesse it were seuen of theim whiche by deathe were preuented afore thei attaigned the croune of Martyres Therefore consideryng that muche martyres bloud was spente that specially in Rome and many from other places wer coÌ„ueighed thither Cletus and Anacletus bishoppes there did seriously go about to reuerence them For the one appoinâ—ted a place where Martyres should seuerally haue their sepultures aparte from the laye people and the other by degree denounced hym accursed as a sacrilege that by word or deede hyndered mennes deuocion from visityng the toumbes of the Apostles Vpon this occasion Calistus the firste buylded beyonde Tyber a churche in honoure of our Lady and Constanstyne Emperoure edified to Peter Paule and Laurence temples This matter was by Gregory the sainct sette forwarde to the encrease of supersticious deuocion For he appoyncted these Letanies of sainctes with Ora pro nobis too bee songen with Masses on certayne solemne daies in the chief temples of the citee promisyng theim â–ª that repaired thyther at suche solemne feastes cleane remission of synnes by his pardone And he named the pompouse sacrifices stacioÌ„s bycause thei wer celebrated on certain daies limited and prescribed by statute Bonifacius the eight in the yere of our Lorde a thousande three hundred appoyncted the yere of Iubile or grace to bee kepte euery hundred yere with cleane remission A pena culpa to all theim that visited the temples of the Apostelles Peter Paule And this was taken vp of the example of the Hebrues albeet thei did kepe it euery .l. yeres or els as
Shippes lxxx Shomakers crafte lxix Shroueâ—wesday ciii Sycles lix Silke lxix Silla xli Siluer lviii Siluer coyned in Egina lix Siluester commaunded that a prieste should haue but one wife C.v. Simony C.l. Simonides iii Singyng psalmes by course C xix Syngyng to the lute â—xiiii Syngle liuers ix Sithes xlix Siues sarces lxvi Slynges xlix Smityng fire with woode lix Smithes forge lviii Socrates xxiii Solicitours C.xlix Soll. xliiii Solle masse daie C. and xxvii Somners C.xlix SoÌ„nes of Noha vii SoÌ„nes of Seth fouÌ„d the letters xiii Sotheryng of Iron lviii Speares xlviii Speakyng of the nature of God is dauÌ„gerous lii Spyndelles lxix Spinnyng lxviii lxix Spirites xxxiii Spirituall priestehod lxxxviii Spurius Caruiliê° x. Squire lxxviii Stacions C.xlvii Stallyng a bishoppe xci Staâ—es xlviii Steples lxxiii lxxiiii Stephen is martyred lxxxiiii Sterres of what power thei bee xxvi Stewes lxxxi Stithee lviii Stockes xli Storye of a Kynges daughter ix Strikyng of y e clocke xliiii SubdeacoÌ„s lxxxviii Subsydes and taxes xli Succession in priestehoode lxxxviii Sundery deuision of the daie xlv Supersticion turned into religion C.xix Supplicacions C.xxx Susanna lxxxi Swearyng xcvi Swyne commended in sacrifices lxvii Swordes xlviii Sworde plaiers liii T TAbles li. Akyng of housell at Easter C.xiiii Talus li. Tapers C. Targettes xlviii Taxes or Subsidye that thei paie which haue benefices C.xlix Taxes or Subsidies xli Telesphorus did appoyncte Lente to be kepte afore Easter C.xix Tennis li. Tentes lxxii Textes prouyng confession C.xvi. Thales ii xlii Theatres lxxviii Themistocles xxiii Theodosius coÌ„maunded that no Crosse should be grauen on the grounde C vii Theseus first tyrante xxxix Thessaly vsed Magike xxxiii ThraciaÌ„s fashion of buriyng lxxiii Thre strynges in the harpe xxiii Three partes of philosophie xxv Thre masses on Christemasse daie C.xiii. Three partes of phisike xxx Thre kyndes of lawes xxxvi Three powers of the starres xxvi Tyle and slate lxx Tyrians were connyng Carpenters lxxix Tysias gaue rules of Rhethorike xxi Tithes C.xxxii Titles of Bishoppes of Rome C.xlviii Tonges lviii Towers lxxi Tragidies xvii Tragos xvii Transfiguracion C. and xxiiii Tribunes xl Triumphes lv Tryx xviii Trewe faste C.xix Truse for yeres liii Tubalcain xxii xlviii and lviii Turnyng oure faces Eastward C.ix. Two kyndes of prophesiyng xxxv Twoo partes of graÌ„mer xiiii V. VEnus lii Enus a commen woman lxxxi Vermilion lxi Vigilles C.xx Visers wer found by Echilus xviii Voyces xxxix Vowes C.xxix and. C.xxxv. Vse of Scotlande ix Vses in the seruice C.xviii Vulcanus lviii Vultursii lii Vxor ab ungendo x. W WAggons l. Alles of houses lxx and .lxxi. Washing of feete on maundy Thursday xcviii Washyng dedde bodies C xxvii Watche woordes xlviii Watches Wardes xlviii C.xx Water is cause materiall iiii Water diall xliiii Weightes and measures xxix Weuyng lxviii Wethercockes xxviii Whitsondaie lxxxvii What men were deified i. Wymble lxxviii Wyndes xxvii Wine lxvi Wyne tauernes Ivi Winter garlaÌ„des lvi Wolle lxix Women had commeÌ„dacioÌ„s in Rome lxxv Women maye not bare their heddes in the churche xcvii Women of Inde lxxiiii Woorkes due on the holy daies C.xxii. Worlde made of naught iiii World was made by meter xvi Wrestlyng li. Writyng in Egypte lxxvi Writyng tables C.i. X. X Letter xiiii Xamolxis xxv Xerxes li. Y YAwnyng C.xxx Ere who founde it xlii Ymages lxi Ymages of the wyndes xxviii Ymages of waxe C. Yokyng oxen lxv Yron lviii Yuye xxxii Z. ZEno vi Oroastes found Magike xxxiii ⧠The ende of ⧠the Table IMPRINTED at London vvithin the precincte of the late dissolued house of the grey Friers by Richard Grafton Printer to the princes grace the .xvi. daie of Aprill the yere of our Lorde 1546. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Ephe. vi Good angels Oracles doubtful What men were deified Isis Neptunus Faunus Pallas Apollo Iupiter Belus Opinions of the philosophiers Thales Cleanthes Anaxagoras Chrysippus Diagoras Protagoras Epicurus AnaximaÌ„der The Egyptians Saturnus father of the goddes To speake of the nature of God is dauÌ„gerous Simonides One God what God is Water is cause material Fyre Foure elementes Ayre Atomos The worlde was made of naught Plato Two opinions of the birth of man The second opinion The Egiptians opinion of man Mice engendred of the mudde The story of Psammaticê° Ethiopians opinion of man Aborigines AnaximaÌ„der Democritus zeno Poetes God made man â–ª Adam the fyrst man Diuersitee of speches Religion Babilon Deuision of nacions Sonnes of Noe. Auctours of the names of countries Institucion of wedlocke Mariage beganne in paradise Cecrops The maners of diuers nacions in mariages Massagites Arabians Punishment for aduoutry A storye Biyng of wiues Nasamones The vse of Scotland Malcolme kyng of the Scottes Single liuers DeuorcemeÌ„t Spurius Seruilius Moses ordeined deuorcementes Rites of mariages â–ª Fyre and water geuen in token of chastitee Maydes of Rome and Grece Vxor abvn gendo Occasion of Idolatry Images of kynges Melissus Belus Ethiopians Ianus Cadmus Orpheus Cecrops Cain Abel Enos Letters Diodorus Menon The Egyptians letters Plinie Cadmus founde .xvi. letters Palamedes added foure letters Epicarmus Cadmus Eumolphus â–ª Moses Sonnes of Seth found the letters Hebrue letters Euander brought letters into Italy Demaratus taught the Hetrurians letters The letter f. was taken of the Aeolians F. for u. consonant q. letter x. letter Two partes of grammer Epicurus taught grammer first Crates taught grammer in Rome Antonius Enipho a scholemaster Poetrie Poetes be called holy of Ennius Hebrues were auctours of Poetry Moses Dauid The Psalteâ— of Dauid Salomon Iob. Orpheus Linus Liuius Andâ—onicus The worlde was made by meter Dyuerse kindes of meter Heroical verse Archilocus found iambê° Daphnis founde y e sheperdes carols Tragedies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vysâ—rs were founde by Eschilus Famous tragedies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Tragedie A comedie Archilaus A satyrâ— Two sortes of Satires Lybeâ—ye of the old satyre New Comedye Menander Satires wherof they were named Hystories Cadmus wrote the story of Syrus Moses dyd write the fyrst storye Priestes of Egypt wrote stories Pheresides Prose Greke stories Latin stories Rhethoryke Marcurie Empedocles Corax and Thisias gaue rules of Rhethorike Dâ—mosthenes Cicero Partes of Rhethorike Oratoure Rhethoricien Declamator Orpheus Fynders of Musike after diuers authours Dionisius zethus Amphyon Archadiens Marcurye found the coÌ„cordes Cubalcain Nature gaue musyke â–ª to men Labourers passe the time with songes Musyke maketh men effeminate Socrates Themystocles Salii martiâ— Dauid Harpe Marcurâ— â–ª Thre strynges in the harpe Amphyon Goddesses of sauoure Shalmes Dardanius Trezenus Pype Singyng to the Lute Δ Regalles Nables Dulcimers Brasen troÌ„pe Dyrceus capitayne of the Lacedemonians Moses fouÌ„d the trompe Archadiens brought instrumentes into Italy Lacedemonians maner in warre Drumslades in warre Pypers and Fidlers Philosophie Magiciens Chaldees Gymnosophistes Druides Ochus Xamolxis Orpheus Atlas Hebrues were auctours of Philosophie Pythagoras calleth him selfe a Philosophier Thre partes of Philosophie Fiue partes Dialoges Thre power of the sterres Obseruyng of daies Chaldees Astrologie Egiptians Mercury
founde Dedalus slewe his neuewe for enuie Pythagoras rule Penthesilia Axe Tyrians wer connyng carpentars Barelles Speusippus Baskettes Ceres Who was ruler on the sea firste Neptune Rowyng in boates Erichthras diuised boates English seas Firste shippe Noha made the first ship Galey Barges Lighter Howe Keele Brigantyne Barke Boates of one pece Corke â—oate Rudders Sayles Maste Crosse pece Ferry boates Ancores Grapull Stemine Sterne Battaill on the sea MarchaÌ„dise Philosophiers wer marchantes Cartagiens firste marchantes Dionisius taught the trade of marchaundise Hebrues dyd bye and sel Lidians Mercers Venus a common woman Stewes Maydes of Cypres Bacchanalia Maskes Bonefyres Spu. Posthumius abrogated Bacchus feastes CoÌ„mon women were of long tyme. Punishment for aduoutry â–ª Lucretia Susanna Ioseph Diyng of heare Brode foreheades Bunglyng Phisicians are blamed Barbours P. Ticinius Mena. Thynges whose auctours be not knowen Atheneus in the .iiii. booke sayeth that Câ—essebius a barboure of Alexandria fouÌ„d out the orgaÌ„nes and bringeth the testimony of Aristotle Our religion beganne of the Hebrues Enos called fyrst on God Israel xii tribes Iob. Ioseph Egiptians superstitiouse Moses deliuered the Israelites from bondage Gods mercy is shewed God is made man What yere Christ was incarnate Christ was persecuted to death The yere of Christes deth resurrection The holy gost is sent Peter conuerted iii. M. Stephyn is martyred Philippe Men were fyrst called christians in Antioche Thomas Mathewe Bartlemewe Andrewe Peter bishop of Atioche Mari the virgyn died Paule is conuerted Paule was headed Peter was crucified CircumcisioÌ„ Abraham circumcised Why y e blod was shed The second circumcision CircumcisioÌ„ Other countries do circumcise What circuÌ„cision signifieth Baptisme Iohn Baptest auctoure of baptisme Signes of Baptisme Christenyng of enfantes Godfather godmother When lay men may christen Thre baptismes The olde custome of baptisyng Whitsonday Laytie Clergy Priesthod Aaron fyrst priest Noe made the fyrst alter Leuites Ministers Subdeacons Sextyns Readers Chaunters Coniurars Succession in priesthod Christ auctor of our priesthod Spiritual priesthod All christen menne are priestes Second priestehode is a ministery Apostles Discipâ—â—s Priestes Bishoppes The maner of consecratyng in the apostles time Laiyng on of handes The fashion of the primatyue churche A bishoppes office Scripture â—ereth these Rome made mo orders Iginius did diuise firste orders The office of a prieste The shauen croune is the prestes badge Occacion of shauyng crounes Peter was mocked for his baldnesse ShaueÌ„ crounes came of the Nazarees Priestes of Egipte wer shauen What the croune signifieth Anacletus forbade priestes too haue beardes Siricius decree of theim y t were twyse maried Lame meÌ„ne maie not be priestes The age of priestes Stallyng a bishoppe Dionisius Churches Churcheyardes Parishes Dioceses Cures in Rome Cardinalles Innocencius Cardinalles ride Cardinall hattes Scarlet roabes Order of cardinalles Notaries Who ordayned notaries Chamberlaines Offices bee sold in Rome The bishoppe of Rome mai chaunge hys name Sergius inueÌ„ted the chauÌ„gyng of his name Bishoppes of Rome be borne on mennes shulders Eleccion of the bishoppe of Rome The Empire is remoued in to FrauÌ„ce by bishoppes of Rome The cardinalles chose hym nowe Charles gaue the laÌ„des to y e sea of Rome Otho a Germain is made Emperoure Princes Electoures Decre by the Bishoppe of Roome Patriarches Archebishoppes The paule is decreed to the patriarches Archdeacons Chaungyng of bishopprickes A priest might not bee conuented An oth might not bee required of a priest The maner of swearyng Sweryng by the Gospell Excomunicacion Druides Nunnes The age of Nunnes at their profession The tyme of professyng Nunnes might touche no coape nor encense When it beganne Women may not be bare headed in the churche Takyng offe of cappes Kissyng the bishop of Romes feete Right hande Salutyng with kisses Law for drinkyng wyne Washyng of feete on mauÌ„dy thursday Kynges and Quenes of England Flamen Dialis Vestals Amata Pontifex maximus Salii Faciales Sacerdotes Pater Patratus Rex Sacrificulus Epulones Sodales Titii Deckyng of churches Offeryng Images of waxe or tapers Candelmasse day Lampes Hangynges Lightes Writyng tables of miracles Fyrst Masse of priestes Dâ—inkyng on Maundy thursday Castyng of mony abrode Newe yeres gyftes The laudable maner of the Italians Daunsyng Maskes Maiyng Christenmas lordes Fastins euen Bonefyres Disguisyng Kynges and priestes were anoynted Anointyng is the token of kynges Purple robe is the difference of the Emperoure Aaron and Saul fyrst anoynted The nature of oyle Anoyntyng of children christened Churches Chalices The coÌ„fection of our oile Chrisme CoÌ„firmacion The maner of confirmyng Felix Exteme vnction WheÌ„ a priest mighte not mary Siluester Bishoppes maried maides A priest might but mary onâ— Paule Peter Philip had wifes Panuâ—ius withstode the counsaill of Nice Subdeacons forsake their wifes Gregory stablished the single life of pristes Degrees of kindred inhibited God brother God sister Lamech had twoo wifes Purificacion of women at child beryng Moses buylded a tabernacle The Arke Salomon made the first teÌ„ple to God The firste churche of christians First churche in Rome A churchyard Abraham ordaigned the firste place of buriall Noha buylded the first alter Bonifacius caused alters to be couered with lenyn clothes CoÌ„staÌ„tine for bade puttyng too death on the crosse No Image of the crosse mighte not bee grauen in yearth Helene found the crosse Cain and Abel sacrificed firste Menne were sacrifyced by the Gentiles PunishmeÌ„tes that thei suffred for omittyng the oblacions Holy daies Dedicatyng of churches Fire Emperoures of Rome had fire bourne afore theim Oracles seased at Christe his comming Holy Water Praier Prayer was at the beginnyng Christ prescribed a praier Beades Turning our faces Eastewarde Preachyng IhoÌ„ Baptist The institucioÌ„ of the sacrament Alexander decreed that the Sacramente should be consecrated of swete breade The olde rite of consecratyng Iudicame deus Confiâ—eor Kyrie eleeson Gloria iÌ„ excelsis Collectes Grayle Alleluya â–ª Sequences Epistle Gospell Saincte Hierome did deuide the Epistles and Gospelles Standing at the Gospell Credo Offertory Prefaces Washyng of the handes Ensence Canon Qui pridie Hanc igituâ— Pax. Blessyng with chalices Agnus dei Turnyng aboute of the prieste Ite missa est Masse Ceremonies One Masse on a day Thre Masses on Christmas day Masse must be sayd in places coÌ„secrated Corner masses be forbodden Dayly communion Vncharitable persons were interdited from seruice Takyng of the housel at Easter Kepyng the Sacrament in Churches We be reconciled bi Christ Repentaunce a remedy of synne Desperacion is forbodden Auticular Confession Innocencius dyd ordayne confession to the priest Common penitencers Textes prouyng confession Matyns Pryme and houres Apuleius de asino aureo libro .xi. Pelagius charged priestes to say maryns daily Deus in adiutorium was added by Gregory Lady matyns Nocturnes Who made Gloria patri Syngyng Psalmâ—s by course Our coÌ„mon singers be rebuked Athanasius Libro confes and .x. The Crede was sayd euery houre Tunes of the hymnes Legendes Common Legendes Vses in the seruice Benettes vse Fastyng Almesse Moses made the fyrst