Hillarius: The Bull of Pope Clement may bear witness of it, the which is kept yet at this day well sealed with seals of lead at Vienna, Limoges, Poitiers, & in the coffers of yt privileges. It is very true that the Sorbonists of Paris would not allow it, but condemned it. But yet nevertheless it must needs be that it must pass by their hands. He hath also a great many other properties in him, for the which one may compare both him & his unto Mercury, who was in 1like manner holden & accounted of the Paynims, for the God of gain, of merchants, deceivers, hers & thieves. And therefore they painted him with a scrip, did set his Image in the middle of the market, & before the gates of the houses, for to keep them, & for to drive away the other thieves: because that he was the greatest, & Prince of others. For did the earth bring forth ever such deceivers, abusers, and liars, such merchants, and more covetous of filthy gain? They may well carry the scrip. For that is the cabin from 2which do come forth all these laws, canons & decrees, for to yet the money both of the living and also of the dead. And he carieth not the key without a cause, for to open and shut the gates, and to empty the coffers and scrips, and to take away the pray from other thieves, of whom he is the Captain. At the leastwise, none can ⟨p. 132⟩deny, but that the doctrine of the Paynims, as much as concerneth the dead; is more reasonable then that of the Papists. For although that the Theologians of the 3Paynims, do allow the Ceremonies, Feasts, and Anniversaries of the dead, yet nevertheless they do also teach, that it is not now needful to bestow any great cost about them, but that they content themselves with a little thing, even as Ovid the master of ceremonies, witnesseth 4in his Calendar, in these words.
It is an honour dew to souls
and bodies that be dead
To bring such gifts to irksome grave,
as satisfy their mead.
The souls do much delight therein
and much the same doth crave,
By means whereof themselves they think,
from Pluto's force: to save.
With flowers green and garlands gay,
their heads they do adorn:
And wine and salt is put thereto
with other fruits and corn.
Nor things of more weight I reprove
For souls therein delight,
On grave say thou thy prayers then,
that ghosts may have their right.
Hillarius: The Bull of Pope Clement may beare witnes of it, ye which is kept yet at this day well sealed wt seales of lead at Vienna, Limoges, Poictiers, & in the coffers of yt priuiledges. It is very true yt the Sorbōnists of Paris would not allow it, but condempned it. But yet neuerthelesse it must néeds be that it must passe by their hands. He hath also a great many other proverties in him, for the which one may compare both him & his vnto Mercurie, who was in 1like manner holden & accompted of the Panims, for the God of gaine, of merchants, deceiuers, hers & théeues. And therfore they painted him with a serip, did set his Image in the middle of the market, & before the gates of the houses, for to kéepe them, & for to driue away ye other théeues: bicause that he was the greatest, & Prince of others. For did the earth bring foorth euer such deceiuers, abusers, and liers, such merchaunts, and more couetous of filthy gaine? They may well cary the scri•. For that is the cabin from 2which do come foorth all these lawes, canons & decrees, for to yet the money both of the liuing and also of the dead. And hee caryeth not the key wythout a cause, for to open and shut the gates, and to empty the coffers and scrippes, and to take awaye the praye from other théeues, of whome hée is the Capitayne. At the leastwise, none can ⟨p. 132⟩denfe, but that the doctrine of the Panims, as muche as concerneth the dead; is more reasonable then that of the Papistes. For althoughe that the Theologians of the 3Pamins, do allow the Ceremonies, Feasts, and Anniuersaries of the dead, yet neuerthelesse they doe also teache, that it is not nowe néedefull to bestowe any greate cost about them, but that they content themselues with a little thing, euen as Ouid the maister of ceremonies, witnesseth 4in his Calender, in these wordes.
It is an honor dew to soules
and bodies that be dead
To bring such giftes to yerksome graue,
as satisfye their mead.
The soules doe much delite therein
and much the same doth craue,
By meanes whereoff themselues they thinke,
from Plutos force: to saue.
With flowers greene and garlands gay,
their heads they doe adorne:
And wine and salt is put thereto
with other fruites and corne.
Nor things of more waight I reproue
For soules therein delight,
On graue say thou thy prayers then,
that ghostes may haue their right.
- 1Other offices of Mercury Rhod. lectant. li. 16. ca. 19 The Image of Mercury
- 2The scrip of MercuryThe scrippe of Mercury
- 3A little cost about the dead.A lyttle cost about the dead.
- 4Ovid. Fast. 2,Ouid. Fast. 2,
