But I will content my self at this tune, with the conference of Mortuaries, and with that which belongeth unto them, which have been among the paynims, the which you have kept, and the things which have some affinity with them.
Then I demand of thee first of all, if Durand did find anything to say unto the Christians, which did celebrate the Nensuaines, because of the affinity that they seemed to have with the Paynims: Wherefore then do you allow 1those which do celebrate the Anniversaries of the dead? For the same never had other for his first authors then the Paynims, as I will prove unto thee by and by, by their Theologians. Thou art not contented with that which Theophilus hath answered thee in, that sithence the time of Pope Pelagius and Gregory, those manner 2doings have taken great force, and have been much augmented among the Christians, and thou doest no wrong: For they are a great deal more ancient, yea, and invented long before the time of the Apostles, if we will believe Diodorus, who affirmeth Pluto, ⟨p. 129⟩to have been the author & inventor of them, and of the funeral ceremonies, as I have already told thee before.
After whom came Aeneas, who in the honour of his 3Father Anchises, ordained and made Anniversaries and yearly feasts, and sacrifices for the dead, as the ancient histories do witness, whom the Poets have followed, who do describe those things very amply, and chiefly Virgil, who bringeth in Aeneas speaking unto his companions in this manner.
You mighty Trojans, from the blood of great Gods that descend,4
This time is come about, a perfect year is now at end,
Since when my father Anchises blessed bones were put in ground
And mourning alters for his holy relics we did found.
And now the day (if I do not mistake) approacheth near,
That unto me, shall ever doleful be, and ever deer.
Since Gods hath pleased so: If I this day were cast a land,
Among the savage Moors, or on the shotes of Syrtes sand.
Or eaught on Greekish seas, or in Mycenae town a•slave,
Yet pay my yearly vows I would, with pomp of duties brave,
And gifts in feastfull guise, on alters large I would advance,
Now here in haven we be, among our friends, not by no chance,
But by the Gods (I trust) of purpose wrought, and for the nonce,
To worship here my fathers blessed dust, and precious bones.
But I will content my selfe at this tune, with the conference of Mortuaryes, and with that which belongeth vnto them, which haue bene among the panims, the which you haue kept, and the things which haue some affinitie with them.
Then I demaund of thée first of all, if Durand did finde anything to say vnto the Christians, which did celebrate the Nensuaines, bicause of the affinitie that they séemed to haue with the Panims: Wherfore then doe you allow 1those which doe celebrate the Anniuersaryes of the dead? For the same neuer had other for his first authours then the Panims, as I wil proue vnto thée by and by, by their Theologians. Thou arte not contented with that which Theophilus hath aunswered thee in, that sithence the time of Pope Pelagius and Gregory, those manner 2doings haue taken great force, and haue bene much augmented among the Christians, and thou doest no wrong: For they are a greate deale more auneyent, yea, and inuented longe before the tyme of the Apostles, if wee wyll beléeue Diodorus, who affirmeth Pluto, ⟨p. 129⟩to haue bene the authour & inuentour of them, and of the funerall ceremonies, as I haue already tolde thée before.
After whom came Aeneas, who in the honour of his 3Father Anchises, ordained and made Anniuersaries and yéerely feastes, and sacrifices for the dead, as the auncient histories doe witnesse, whome the Poets haue followed, who doe describe those thinges verye amply, and chieslye Virgile, who bringeth in Aeneas speakinge vnto his compaignions in this manner.
You mightie Troyans, from the bloud of great Gods that discend,4
This time is come about, a perfect yeare is now at end,
Since when my father Anchisos blessed bones were put in ground
And mourning alters for his holy relikes we did found.
And now the day (if I doe not mistake) approcheth neere,
That vnto me, shall euer dolefull be, and euer deere.
Since Gods hath pleased so: If I this day were cast a land,
Among the sauage Moores, or on the shotes of Syrtes sand.
Or eaught on Greekish seas, or in Mycena towne a•slaue,
Yet pay my yeerely vovves I vvould, vvith pompe of dueties braue,
And gifts in feastfull guise, on alters large I vvould aduaunce,
Now here in hauen vve be, among our friends, not by no chaunce,
But by the Gods (I trust) of purpose wrought, and for the nones,
To vvorship here my fathers blessed dust, and precious bones.
- 1Anniversaries.Anniuersaries.
- 2The beginning of the feasts and Anniversaries for the dead. Pluto. Call. lecsant. li. 17. ca. 2The beginning of the feasts and Anniuersaries for the dead. Pluto. Cal. lecsant. li. 17. ca. 2
- 3Aeneas. Anchises.
- 4Virg. Aene. 5
