A14461:842
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. Yet there remaineth the feast of Palis, the Goddess of the Shepherds, in the which also they did make the purging fires, and the shepherds did leap upon the flames, thinking that by those fires they were purified. I think y• of that custom came y• fires of Saint Brandons, 1for those that were new married, and those of Saint John: ⟨image 175⟩afterwards in that same feast they made perfumes, besides 2the holy ashes of which we have already inademē tion off, and of the holy water, aswell for to purge the men 3as the beasts, and did make sprinklings upon them, for to •eepe them from evill• The which ceremonies Ovid hath all comprised in these vestek. And surely I my self in hand.4 the sacrifice did take The bean stalk, and the ashes which the burned Calves did make. And thrice I past the fiery flames in order placed there Which all be sprinkled with the dew of dropping Laurel were. And of the perfumes in that same book he saith Perfumes from virgins alter fetch which Vesta will give thee For by the vet•ue of her gift thou purified shalt be. Thy perfumes shall be Horses blood And ashes of a Calf The third thing them shall be the stalks of beans for that behalf Let shepherd then make sacrifice at dawning of the day Let him cast water on the earth and sweep the dust away. Then sheepfolds trimly let be decked with boughs and branches green And let their wreathes and garlands gay upon the doors be seen Let bluish smoke likewise be made of Brimstone good and fine ⟨p. 169⟩And let the Sheep smeared with the smoke, his bleating voice resign, Male Olives then with fire consume, the Juniper and Pine, And let the Laurel crackling leaves, be burnt in chimney thine, You have also the torches and holy Candles, and the encensings and perfumes, your holy ashes, which you give the first day of Lent: and you have always your holy water ready, and your holy torches, as remedies against all diseases and dangers, of men and of beasts, and ye do give and vow them unto the Virgin Mary, and to the Saints and Saints, as they did to the Goddess Pales, which had the charge of the beasts.