Moreover the Christen fast riseth also of an heart fervently given to godliness. In this behalf also y• popish fast agreeth nothing with Christen abstinence.1 For the Papists minds are set on no true godliness in the time of their fasting, but altogether on superstition & hypocrisy. Their godliness, yea rather ungodliness, when they fast, consisteth in observing the popes ceremonies and mans inventions. If they fulfil those, they think themselves godly enough, when notwithstanding ⟨image 33⟩they •e furthest from all true god lines. Nether do they direct their fasts unto any godly end, but as every one fantasieth so do they fast, yea and that for sundry purposes. S•me fast bread and water,2 some eat nothing but fruit, some taste no kind of meat or drink that is dressed with fire, some in their fast go woolward, barefooted, and barelegged some are so scrupulous & superstitious in their fasting, that in the time of their fast they will neither eat nor drink, nor sleep, nor yet swallow dow•e their own spittle, If they do they think them selves damned. Provided alway that they also must be first and last at church. If they observe these fasts, they promise them selves, I know not how great ⟨image 34⟩rewards, an how hie seats in heaven about other, and how many gay garlands of red roses an• sweet violets, that God and our Lady and the blessed saints shall give them after this life for their devout fasting and pretty pains. O fond foolishness & foolish fondness, worthy rather to be lamented then to be laughed at. If it be done of a good intent, say they, all is well whatsoever we do. If we fast the blessed Saints evens,3 and worship them with a Pater noster, Ave and Creed, they will do for us whatsoever we axe. S. George will defend us in battle against our enemies. S. Barbara will keep us from thundering and lightning. S. Agasse will save our house from burning. S. Antony ⟨image 34⟩will keep our swine. S. Luke will sa•e our. Ox. S. Job will defend us from the pox. S. Gertrude will keep our house from mice & rats. S. Nicholas will preserve us from drowning. S. Lo• will cure our horse. S. Dorothe will save our herbs & flowers. S Sith will bring again whatsoever we lose. S. Apoline will heal th• pain of our teeth. S. Sweteladde and. Saint Agnes will send us Maids good husbands. Saint Peter will let us in at heaven gates, with a thousand such like.
Moreouer the Christē fast riseth also of an hert feruētly geuē to godlynes. In thys behalfe also y• popish fast agreeth nothing with Christē abstinence.1 For the Papystes myndes are set on no true godlines in the time of their fastyng, but altogether on supersticion & hipocrisie. Theyr godlynes, yea rather vngodlynes, when they fast, consisteth in obseruyng the popes ceremonies and mans inuencions. If they fulfyl those, they thynke thēselues godly ynough, when notwithstāding ⟨image 33⟩they •e furdest from all true god lines. Nether do they direct their fastes vnto anye godly end, but as eueri one •antasieth so do thei faste, yea and that for sondry purposes. S•me fast breade and water,2 some eate nothinge but fruit, some taste no kynde of meate or dryncke that is dressed with fyre, some in theyr faste go wolwarde, barefoted, and barelegged some are so scrupulous & supersticious in their fasting, that in the time of theyr faste they wyll neither eate nor dryncke, nor sleepe, nor yet swalowe dow•e theyr owne spittle, If they do they thincke them selues damned. Prouided alway that they also muste be fyrste and laste at churche. If they obserue these fastes, they promyse theym selues, I knowe not howe great ⟨image 34⟩rewardes, ane how hie seates in heauen aboud other, and howe many gay garlandes of red roses an• swete violetes, that God and oure Ladye and the blessed saints shal giue them after thys lyfe for theyr deuout fastyng and pr•aty paines. O fond folishnes & folysh fondnes, worthy rather to be lamented then to be laughed at. If it be done of a good entent, say they, al is weil whatsoeuer we do. If we fast the blessed Saintes euens,3 and worshyppe them wyth a Pater noster, Aue and Creede, they wyll do for vs whatsoeuer we axe. S. George wyl defend vs in battell agaynst our ennemies. S. Barbara wyll kepe vs from thondring and litenyng. S. Agasse wyl saue our house from burning. S. Antony ⟨image 34⟩
- 1In what the ••ynges of y• papists consisteth.In what the ••ynges of y• papistes consisteth.
- 2The fondness of the •apists in their fastyng•.The fondenes of the •apists in theyr fastyng•.
- 3The superstitious worshipping of Saints.The supersticious worshyppynge of Sayntes.