Thomas. I would not give y• counsel. For then the salt would ware very deer, if Solomon hath said true, writing, 1that the number of the fools are infinite. Hlilarius. Thy reason is good. For y• inconvenience which thou speakest off would follow, and an other more greater: To wit, that S. Maturyn who healed the fools, should loose his occupation: Besides that I believe that the salt, although there 2be great quantity & store of it, will not much profit y• souls when the Priests do mingle them with the Water. For the disease is very incurable. But for to return to our Priests, I do believe that of that salt & Water, they would make such pottage for the souls, as my Mother did 3once make for her self & for me & my little brother which were not much above twelve or xiij. years of age, without putting into it either Oil or Butter, because that she would have us to fast with her with bread & water: For if there had been any fatness in the broth or pottage, it had not been a perfect fast. If it be so, our Priests on this side the sea, which dwell far from it, should have better colour & cause to salt & season the water, then those y• dwell hard by it. For if they would make pottage for the souls, they shall find enough of such sodden Water in the sea, & they shall not need to seek after the example of Elisha for to make him their Author: For he was never such a Cooke: But 4they must give the honour of that invention unto Pope Alexander the first of that name. For if they will purge the ⟨p. 36⟩dead through water, I would give them counsel rather 5to wash them altogether with hot Water, as the Paynims did theirs, and call that washing the last bath or washing, even as our Priests do call their last an cling or unction, the latter Sacrament: In which they do herein differ from the Paynims, that they anointed men a little before they dye, & the Paynims anointed them afterwards. Wherefore their unction was a little more latter. But least you should think that I speak without authority, as many Divines and Preachers do, when they do preach their own fables and dreams, I will bring out first for mine Authors that ancient Poet Ennius, saying.6
When death with dreadful dart, bereft, king Tarquin of his life
His body washed and nointed was, by hands of his own wife.
And Virgil speaking of the burning of Misenus, saith:
Thomas. I would not giue y• counsaile. For then the salt would ware very déere, if Saloman hath said true, wryting, 1that the number of the fooles are infinit. Hlilarius. Thy reason is good. For y• inconuenience which thou speakest off would follow, and an other more greater: To wéet, that S. Maturyn who healed the fooles, should loose his occupation: Besios that I beléeue that the salt, although there 2be great quantitie & store of it, wil not much profit y• soules when the Priestes doe mingle them with the Water. For the disease is very incurable. But for to retourne to our Priests, I doo beléeue that of that salt & Water, they would make such potage for the soules, as my Mother did 3once make for hir selfe & for me & my little brother which were not much aboue twelue or xiij. yeares of age, without putting into it eitheir Oile or Butter, bicause that she would haue vs to fast with hir with bread & water: For if ther had bene any fatnesse in the broth or potage, it had not bene a perfect fast. If it bée so, our Priests on this side the sea, which dwell farre from it, should haue better coulour & cause to salt & season the water, then those y• dwell hard by it. For if they would make potage for the soules, they shall finde inough of such sodden Water in the sea, & they shall not néede to seeke after the example of Eliseus for to make him their Authour: For he was neuer such a Cooke: But 4they must giue the honour of that inuētion vnto Pope Alexander the first of that name. For if they will purge the ⟨p. 36⟩dead through water, I woulde gyue them counsaile rather 5to wash them altogether with hotte Water, as the Panims dyd theirs, and call that washing the last bath or washing, euen as our Priests doo call their last an cling or vnction, the latter Sacrament: In which they doe héerein differ from the Panims, that they anoynted men a lyttle before they dye, & the Panims anointed them afterwardes. Wherefore their vnction was a little more latter. But least you should thincke that I speake wythout authoritie, as many Diuines and Preachers doe, when they doo preache their owne fables and dreames, I will bring out first for mine Authours that auncient Poet Ennius, saying.
- 1Eccle. 1.
- 2Saint Ma••in.Sainct Ma••in.
- 3pottage for the souls.potage for the soules.
- 4Alexander. 1 the first inventor of holy water.Alexander. 1 the first inuentour of holy vvater.
- 5platine in vit. Alex. 1. de consecra. dist. 3 cap. aquam. The bathes of the dead.
- 6Ennius.
