Notwithstanding Guilihelmus Durandus, 1saith, that Pope Innocent, made a constitution, that the saturday in Lent should not be fasted, because the Lord rested in the sepulchre on the saturday, •or a token of the quietness and rest, that we shall hereafter have: wherein •• ⟨image 199⟩in the Festival on this manner.2 Good friends, this week ye shall have Ember days, that is, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: the which days Calixtus the Pope ordained four times in the year, to all that be of convenable age to fast for certain causes, as ye shall hear. Our old fathers fasted four times in the year, against four high and solemn feasts: and if we will show us good children, we must fast, and follow the same rule that they used. And therefore we fast four times. First in march The second at Whitsuntide. The third between harvest & seedtime. And the fourth before Christmas. March is a time that drieth up the moisture that is in the earth. Wherefore we fast that time to dry the earth of our body of the humours that be noyous to the body and to the soul. For that time the humours of lechery tempteth a man most of any time of the year. Also we do fast at Whitsuntide, to get grace of the holy Ghost, that we may be in love and charity to God, and to all the world▪ Charitas cooperit multitudinem peccatorum Charity covereth the multitude of ⟨p. 171⟩sins. Also we must fast for to have meekness in our hearts, and to put away all pride that reneweth within us.3 Also we fast between harvest and seed time for to have grace to gather fruits of good works into the house of our conscience, and so by ensample of good living among the people, that we be common with both rich and poor. Also we fast in winter for to slay all stinking weeds of sin and of foul earth and fleshly lusts, that maketh good Angels & good people to withdraw them from us. For right as a nettle burneth roses and other flowers that grow nigh him. In the same wise a vicious man or woman stirreth and setteth on fire them that been in his company. And for these causes we fast four times in the year, & every time three days, ye betokeneth three special virtues that helpeth a man to grace, that is fasting, devout praying, and alms deed doing.4
Notwithstandynge Guilihelmus Durandus, 1saith, that Pope Innocent, made a constitution, yt the saterdaye in Lent should not be fasted, bicause the Lorde rested in the sepulchre on the saterday, •or a token of the quietnesse and reast, that we shall hereafter haue: wherein •• ⟨image 199⟩in the Festiualle on this manner.2 Good frēdes, this weeke ye shall haue Imber dayes, that is, Wednesday, Friday, and Saterday: the which dayes Calixtus the Pope ordayned foure times in ye yeare, to all that be of conuenable age to fast for certayne causes, as ye shall heare. Our olde fathers fasted foure times in the yeare, agaynste foure high and solemne feastes: and if we will shewe vs good children, we must fast, and folow the same rule that they vsed. And therfore we fast foure times. First in march The secōd at Whitsontyde. The third betwene haruest & seedetyme. And the fourth before Christmasse. Marche is a time that drieth vp the moysture that is in the earth. Wherefore we fast that time to drie the earth of our body of the humours that be noyous to the bodye and to the soule. For that tyme the humours of letchery tempteth a mā most of any time of the yeare. Also we do fast at Whitsontyde, to get grace of the holy Ghost, that we may be in loue and charitie to God, and to all the worlde▪ Charitas cooperit multitudinem peccatorum Charitie couereth the multitude of ⟨p. 171⟩sinnes. Also we must faste for to haue meekenesse in oure heartes, and to put awaye all pride yt renueth within vs.3 Also we faste betwene haruest and sede time for to haue grace to gather frutes of good workes into the house of oure conscience, and so by ensample of good liuing among the people, that we bee common with both ryche and poore. Also we faste in winter for to slea all stinckyng weedes of sinne and of foule earth and fleshly lustes, yt maketh good Angells & good people to withdrawe them from vs. For ryghte as a nettle brenneth roses and other flowers that growe nie him. In the same wyse a vicious man or woman styrreth and setteth on fyre them yt bene in his companye. And for these causes we faste foure times in the yeare, & euery tyme three dayes, ye betokeneth three speciall vertues that helpeth a man to grace, yt is fasting, deuoute praying, and almesse dede doing.
- 1Reasons why we ought not to fast on saterdayes in Lent.Reasons why we ought not to faste on saterdayes in Lent.
- 2The doctrine on the Festival days concerning Imbring days.The doctrine on the Festiuall dayes concerning Imbring dayes.
- 3i. Pe, iiii.
- 4Why they be called Imber days.Whye they be called Imber dayes.
