A14461:836
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. Afterwards you do make the same honour 1unto the Virgin Mary, which the Romans did unto the Harlot Flora, whom they have made a Goddess and canonised her, because that she made them heirs of her goods, which she had gained by whoredom. 2And afterwards for to cover and hide their honour, have called her Chloris, and have given unto her power to make the Earth to fructify and increase. Do ye not great honour unto that holy Virgin, to give unto her Flora, that abominable bawd and harlot for a companion? or to put her in her place? And the time agreeth well to the feast. For the Florales and the feast of Candlemas of Flora were dedicated unto 3all licentiousness, shameless plays, villainies and dissolutions, the which the false Christians do practise, all that time which is between the Kings and Shrovetide, afterwards they begin again at Caster and do continue until the month of May, and almost all the year. ⟨image 173⟩But chiefly at the feasts of Caster & in May after their 4lamentations of Lent. Furthermore the Paynims do hold Proserpina & Hecate for the Goddess and Queen of hell, and do light unto her Torches and candles and do beseech her for the dead, to the end she be favourable, as well for her own part, as towards her husband Pluto. And you, do ye much less of the Virgin Mary, you do 5call her Queen of heaven: And you do make her Queen of hell and of the dead, as the Poets do of Hecate, whom they do also take for Proserpina and Diana unto whom they do attribute great power in heaven and in hell: as it appeareth by that, that Virgil saith.6 To cast in sacred fire redemption chief of deeds amiss. And on Diana calls, in heaven and hell that mighty is. Also in like manner you would make of Jesus Christ a Pluto, or at the least the difference is not great. And if you will deny it I will have no more to prove it, but your prose & sequence of the dead, which is in good time, but yet nevertheless