Hillarius. Truly I know not: except it be done in stead that as the Paynims after the burning did sprinkle with water all those that were there present, for to purify them 1from the pollution and filth that they might receive, in approaching nigh the dead: with which they did think themselves defiled. And in stead that the Paynims did purify those that be alive, our Priests will purify those that be dead, and when they are upon the earth and under the earth: Or peradventure that custom first came or took his beginning, for that the Paynims did deck and 2beautify their Sepulchres with goodly flowers. Afterwards they sprinkled them with water, to make them continue the longer fresh and sweet. The which is used at 3this day in the country of Bigore, in the City of Bagnieres hard by the hills Pyrenes: And among some other Christians, aswell in Almaigne as in other countries, who do put hats or garlands of flowers, either of Bay or of Ivy within the beer under the body of the dead, because they should keep a long time their verdure and sweetness. But because peradventure you may desire the witness of all these things, which I have now declared unto you of the Paynims, I would y• you should hear them speak themselves, as already before we have done it, translating word for word their Latin verse into English rime, to the end that they may keep the better their stile.
Mark well then the Prince and chief of the Poets, touching the cries and lamentations that they make after the dead, speaking after this manner of the burying of Polidorus.
And holy blood in basins brought, we pour and last of all4
We shright, and on his soul our last with great cries out we call.
⟨p. 38⟩And as touching the effusion of the wine, the sprinkling of the water and of flowers, the which he hath comprised altogether, mark what he saith at the funerals of Misenus.
•Hen fallen his cinders were, and longer blaze did not endure5
His relics & remain of dust, with wines they washed pure.
Then Choryney his bones, in brazen coffin bright did close
And sprinkling water pure, about his mates three times he goes.
And drops of sacred dew, with Olive palms on them did shake,
And compass blest them all, and sentence last he sadly spake.6
To fields of joy thy soul, and endless rest we do betake.
Hillarius. Truly I know not: excepte it be done in stéede that as the Panims after the burninge did sprinkle with water all those that were there present, for to purifie them 1from the pollution and filth that they might receiue, in approching nigh the dead: with which they did thinke themselues defiled. And in stéede that the Panims did purifie those that be alyue, our Priestes will purifie those that bée dead, and when they are vppon the earthe and vnder the earthe: Or peraduenture that custome first came or tooke his beginninge, for that the Panims did decke and 2beautifie their Sepulchers with goodly flowers. Afterwards they sprinkeled them with water, to make them continue the longer fresh and swéete. The which is vsed at 3this day in the country of Bigore, in the Citie of Bagnieres hard by the hills Pyrenes: And amonge some other Christians, aswel in Almaigne as in other countryes, who doe put hats or garlands of flowers, eyther of Baye or of Iuye within the béere vnder the body of the dead, bicause they should kéepe a long time their verdure and swéetnesse. But bicause peraduenture you may desire the witnesse of all these things, which I haue now declared vnto you of the Panims, I would y• you should heare thē speake themselues, as already before we haue done it, translating word for woorde their Latine verse into Englishe rime, to the end that they may kéepe the better their stile.
Marke well then the Prince and chiefe of the Poets, touching the cryes and lamentations that they make after the dead, speaking after this manner of the burying of Polidorus.
And holy bloud in basins brought, we poure and last of all4
We shright, and on his soule our last with great cryes out wee call.
⟨p. 38⟩And as touching the effusion of the wine, the sprincklyng of the water and of flowers, the which he hath comprised altogether, marke what he sayth at the funeralls of Misenus.
•Hen falne his sinders were, and longer blase did not endure5
His reliques & remaine of dust, with wines they washed pure.
Then Choryney his bones, in brasen coffin bright did close
And sprinklyng vvater pure, about his mates three times he goes.
And drops of sacred devv, with Olyue palmes on them did shake,
And compasse blest them all, and sentence last he sadly spake.
- 1The purifications at the funerals.The purifications at the funeralls.
- 2To beautify the sepulchres with flowers.To beutifie the sepulchers with flovvers.
- 3The custom of the Bigordains. Bag•teres. Ratio divi off. de offi. mor. li. 7. Reiserspeeg. Sermo dominie. 20 post Trinita.The custome of the Bigordains. Bag•teres. Ratio diui off. de offi. mor. li. 7. Reiserspeeg. Sermo dominie. 20 post Trinita.
- 4Virg. Aen. 3.
- 5Aene. 6.
- 6Requieseant in pace.
