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

Thomas. What ¹reason had they to imagine that those cries & mournings came of the lamentations that the Devils made?

Thomas. What ¹reason had they to imagine that those cryes & mourninges came of the lamentations that the Diuels made?

1. 1Parentali•.

Hillarius. I cannot understand that it hath had any other reason or foundation then the Poets, and the common people, to think that there was a place there to descend into ¹hell, and the place in which the souls of the wicked were tormented for their sins, because that in that same mountain there is a perpetual fire which always burneth, and ²hath done so of long time. Wherefore they have thought that y• damned were kept in those great burning golfs. By this same reason was Odillo and his Monks moved, and were the Authors, that the Christians gave ³themselves to celebrate feasts, and make sacrifices for the dead in the month of November, even as the heathen Romans did commonly use it in the month of February, by y• ⁴institution & appointment of Numa Pompilius y• second king of the Romans. Al the reason that moved Odillo proceeded but of ignorance, for y• he understood not the cause whereof those groanings, noise and fearful cries which he heard in Sicily about that mountain did arise. But imagined that it was the Devils which haled and fore themselves by the hair, sorrowing with great despite that they saw the souls go out of pains and torments. But his imagination hath brought no hurt to his convent, nor to all the other Monks and Priests. For that same day, is the best fair that they have all the year, and a time in which they make harvest and vintage altogether, with not taking overmuch pains. If the souls of the deceased have as much gain as they, they, may be very joyful of the feast.