A14461:660
The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise
The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take great pleasure in the reading thereof. Translated out of French into English, by John Brooke of AsheThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise: set out with such grace, that it cannot be, but that a man shall take greate pleasure in the reading thereoff. Translated out of French into English, by Iohn Brooke of Ashe
London: printed by Thomas East, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Hillarius. Truly he should have now other occasion to write the same, if he did see the train that the Papists do hold: as well towards the quick as towards the dead: we may assuredly affirm that Pluto was no less the author ⟨p. 131⟩of the Dbsequies, Funerals, Dbites, Legates, Anniversaries 1and other like things, which are at this day used among the Christians, as among the Paynims. For Pluto is the God of riches. And what hath been the first cause, and first foundation of all these things, and of Purgatory, and of those dependencies, and the occasion of so much augmenting & increasing of them, but the insatiable avarice & covetousness of the great Romish Pluto, & of his Mercuries, & other like Gods, which are joined with 2him? For if we by just occasion, do call him Pluto, we have no less occasion to compare both him & his unto Mercury, 3whose office is among the Gods, to lead & bring the souls in those Plutonical & infernal regions & kingdoms, after that they be separated from the body, He hath to do now in heaven, now in the earth, and by & by in hell. The which thing was one of the causes, wherefore the Paynims did paint his picture & Image, having three heads. In steed whereof our Pluto, hath his three crowns, for to declare 4that he hath power in heaven, earth & hell, and that he holdeth the place of Hecate, unto whom the Idolaters do attribute three forms, and such a power: the which the Pope doth attribute unto himself altogether. For he is mounted and ascended into such arrogance and pride, that he dare take upon him to command the Angels and the 5Devils, and to stretch forth his hand even to the hells, for to pull from thence the souls, and those which are thither descended, but it is after that sort as Orpheus went to seek his wife Eurydice, Pollux his brother Castor: The• seus and Pyrothus who ravished Proserpina: Dr as Hercules descended thither, for to bring away Cerberus. For I doubt not, but that these poetical fables do contain as much truth, as that which yt Pope would make us to believe. And I believe that his Musicians & Singers have no more tertue, then the Harp of Orpheus for to draw the souls from Purgatory: