Pilgrimage, Book 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Of their ceremonies at home, after their returne, at their meales and otherwise: and of their Euening Prayer.
THus hauehave we seene the Iewish Mattins, which they chaunt (saith another) aRela. of Relig.in the West.in a strange wilde hallowing tune, imitating sometimes trumpets and one ecchoing to the other, and winding vp by degrees from a soft and silent whispering, to the highest and loudest Notes, that their voices will beare, with much varietie of gesture: kneeling they vse none, no more then doe the Graecians: they burne Lampes: but for shew of Deuotion or Eleuation of spirit, that yet in Iewes could I neuer diseerne: for they are reuerend in their Synagogues, as Grammar boyes are at schoole, when their Maister is absent. In summe, their holinesse is the very outward worke it selfe, beeing a braine-lesse head, and a soulelesse-bodie. Meane-while, the good wife at home, against her husbands returne, sweepeth the house, that nothing may disturbe his holy cogitations, and layeth him a booke on the Table, either the Pentateuch of Moses, or a booke of manners, to reade therein the space of an hower before hee goeth out of the house about his businesse. This study is required of eueryevery deuout Iewe, either in his owne house, or else in their schoole or Synagogue, And beeing thus come home, they lap vp their Tephillim in a Chest, first that of the head, then that of the hand.
They account it healthfull also to eate somewhat in the morning before they goe to worke: for whereas there are threescore and three diseases of the gall, a bit of bread, or draught of Wine can cure them all. About eleuen of clocke his wife hath prepared his dinner, pure meates, purely dressed: but if she hauehave pullen or cattell, she must first feede them. For it is said, bDeut.11.13I will giuegive grasse in thy field for thy cattell, and thou shalt eate and bee satisfied: you see, the Cattell are first mentioned. And to keepe such Domesticall cattell, is good in respect of the disastrous motions of the planets, vvhichwhich must some way sort to effect. But if they bee studious of almes and good vvorkes, then Saphyra Rabba the great Chauncellor (some Angell) according to his office, registreth the same, and commendeth them vntounto GOD saying, Turne away that planetaire misfortune from such a one, for he hath done these and these good workes. And then doth it befall some wicked man, or else some of the Cattell. Before they come to the Table they must make triall againe in the priuy what they can doe: for it is written, cLcu.26.10.Thou shalt carry out the olde, because of the new. Especially let there bee cleane water, wherein the houshould must first wash, then the wife, and lastly the good man, who presently without touching or speaking ought else might more purely giuegive thankes. He (saith R. Iose in the dTalmud. tract.sotah.c.1.Talmud) that eateth with vnwashen hands, is, as hee that lieth with an Harlot, for it is written. eProu.6.26.For the strange woman a man commeth to a morsell of bread. They must wash before meate and after, so strictly, that they may not keepe on a Ring on their finger, for feare of some vncleannesse remaining vnderunder it. I had rather (saith R. Akiba) die for thirst, then neglect this washing tradition of the Elders: when he had onelyonly so much water brought him into prison, as might serue him but to one vse of washing or drinking, at his owne choise.
On the Table cleanely spread, must be set a whole loafe well baked, and the salt, and then the housholder or the chiefest Rabbi at Table taketh the loafe into his hands, and in the cleanest and best baked part therof, maketh a cut into it, and then setting it down and spreading his hands on it, saith Blessed art thou LORD GOD, King of the world, who bringest bread out of the earth: and then breaketh off that peece of bread which he had cut before, and dipping it into the Salt or broth, eateth it, without speaking a word (for if he speake hee must say ouer his grace againe:) After this, he taketh the Loafe, and cutteth for the rest. Then hee taketh a cup of Wine (if they hauehave any) with both hands, and with the right hand holdes it vp a handfull higher then the table, and locking stedfastly on the cup saith, Blessed &c. who hast made the fruit of the Vine. Ouer water they pronounce no blessing: and if there be not three at least at the Table, each man must blesse for himselfe: if three or more, the rest say, Amen. Salt is religiously set on in remembrance of the sacrifices. If when they cut, they should cut off the peece of bread, it would offend GOD. Both hands they spread ouer the Loafe in memory of the ten Commandements, which GOD hath published concerning Wheate, of which bread is made. The bread must be had in speciall honour, no vessell supported with it, or set vponupon it: and a fRobin-good-fellow, or the spirit of the buttery among the Iewes.spirit called Nabel giueth attendance, as deputed to obserue such as (through negligence) tread it vnderunder foote, and to bring them into pouertie: and another man (dogged by this spirit, which sought to bring him to pouertie) eating victuals one day on the Grasse in the field, the spirit hoped to effect his purpose: but this deuout Iewe, after he had eaten, pared away the grasse, and threw it with the crummes scattered into it, into the Sea for the fishes, and presently heard a voice, saying, woe is mee foole, who hauehave attended to punish this man, and cannot hauehave occasion. They dreame that Elias and eueryevery mans proper Angell attendeth at Table, to heare what is said, if they talke of the Lawe: otherwise an ill Angell commeth and causeth bralles and diseases: and in respect of these spirituall attendants, they cast not their bones beside or behinde them. They are curious not to eate flesh and fish together: but first flesh, and then scoure their teeth from the flesh, and eate a bit of bread, and drinke a draught of drinke, before they eate the fish. They must not vse the same knife to meates made of milke, which they vsed in eating flesh. Milke must not stand on the Table with flesh, nor touch it.
Besides the 23. Psalme set before them in the meale time, they testifie their deuotion by multitudes of new graces or thanksgiuings, if any better Wine or dainties be set before them, yea besides the particulars of their cates, euen for eueryevery good sent, as of Oyle, Roses, Spices, &c. and are of opinion, that to vse any thing without thanksgiuing is to vsurpe & Steale it. Let this be spoken to the shame of many profane Esaus with vsus, that will rather sell Gods blessings for their meate, then seeke them to their meate: although in them the paiment of these by tale, & not by weight is no better then a beadsuperstition. They make a religion of leauing some leauings of their bread on the table: but to leaue a knife there were dangerous, euer since that a Iewe once in the rehearsing that part of their grace after meate, which concerneth the reedifying of Ierusalem in a deepe agonie tooke his knife so left, and thrust into his heart. This their grace is long containing a commemoration of the benefits vouchsafed their forefathers, and a prayer for regranting the same: to send Elias, and the Messias: and that they may not be brought to beg or borrow of the Christians: and for his blessing vponupon all of that house, &c. Wherevnto is answered with a loude voice, Amen: and they say to themselues: gPsal.39.10.11.Feare the LORD ye his Saints, for they that feare him hauehave no want: the Lyons lacke and suffer hunger, but they which seeke the LORD shall want nothing that is good: and while this is said, there must not a crum me left in their mouthes. The prayers must be in that place where they hauehave eaten: or else they shall loose the benefit of buriall: and a certaine deuout Iew in the field, remembring that hee had forgotten his grace, returned backe to the house, and there performing his duty, had miraculously sent vntounto him a doue of golde.
In Cities where are Synagogues, about fiue in the afternoone their hScholae …uls… tor among the Iewes, is as our Sexten.Clearke (or some such officer) goeth about and with knocking at their doores giues them notice of euening prayer. Thither being come, they sit downe and saie this prayer (of the first word, called Aschre.) iPsal 8 44. & 144.15. & 145.5.Blessed are they which dwell in thy house praising thee continually, Selah. Blessed are the people that are thus, blessed are the people whose GOD is the LORD. I will magnifie thee O GOD my King, &c. all that 145. Psalme throughout: he which saith this Psalme thrice a day shall hauehave his portion in eternall life. Then the chiefe Chorister or Chaunter, singeth halfe their prayer called Kaddesch: and then all say those eighteene praises mentioned in Morning Prayer. Then goeth their Chorister out of his pulpit, and kneeleth downe vponupon the steps before the Arke, and falleth downe with his face on his left hand (all the people doing likewise) saying, O mercifull and gracious GOD, I hauehave sinned in thy sight, but thou art full of mercy: be mercifull vntounto me, and receiue my prayer proceeding from an humble heart. Reproue me not O LORD in thy wrath, nor correct me in thine anger, and so proceedeth through that whole sixt Psalme: his countenance couered and inclined to the ground. This is done in imitation kIosh.7.6.of Ioshua. Then the Praecentor or chiefe Chorister, againe rising vp saith, And we know not what to doe, but that we direct our eyes vntounto thee. And then they say vp the other halfe of their Kaddesch: and so endeth their euensong.
Now should they goe home, and after supper returne to performe their Night deuotions: but because a full belly would rather be at rest, and might easily forget this dutie, after some pause and stay, they proceede before they go to their other taskes and in that time of pausing betweene their vespers & nocturnes, if there be any strife betweene any, and reconciliation cannot be made, then he which cannot reconcile his neighbour, goeth to the common prayer-booke, and shutting it, knocketh thereon with his hand, saying ani kelao, I conclude the businesse; as if hee should say, I conclude praying till mine Aduersarie be reconciled to me: vntill which thing be effected they may not pray further: and so sometimes their prayers are intermitted then and diuers daies together, if one party will be stubborne. These prayers are for substance much like the former: as against the Christians, and for their owne restitution by their Messias. They depart out of the Synagogue with repetition of those sentences mentioned in the former Chapter.
At supper they behaue themselues as at dinner. Going to bed they put off the left shooe before the right: their shirt they put off, when they are couered in their beds for feare of the walles beholding their nakednes. He that maketh water naked in his chamber, shall be a poore man: and the prayer lDeut.6.4.Heare Israel, must bee his last words on his bed, and sleeping on the same, as in Psal.4.5. speake in your heart on your bed, and be silent: Selah. If he cannot by and by sleepe, he must repeat it till he can: and so his sleepe shall proue good to him. The bed must be pure: for how else should they thinke on the name of GOD? And it must bee so placed, that they must lye with their heads to the South, their feete toward the North, for by this meanes they shall be fruitfull in male children. They hauehave also their Chamber-Morals, instructing of duties betwixt the man and wife, vnmeete for sober and chaste eares. Tis time for our pen to sleepe with them, and end this Chapter.