The Theater of the Popes Monarchy, Part 6
The order and maner of christening of Belles, with the ridiculous ceremonies vsed there in by the papists.
Stuperius.
WHen the… … disposed to christen any Bell first of all there in warnyng therof giuen in the church,The order and maner of christening of bel… amongst the papists. & good while befo…e & the day appointed which day being come▪ the people …ock thicke and threefold to see this commedie played. The godfathers & godmothers also being warned before by the churchwardens are present in all the best apparrell that they hauehave. Besides whom you shall hauehave 2. or 3. … present eueryevery one striuing & contending who shall bee godfathers,They striue who shall offend god most. & godmothers to the bell supposing it a wōderful preferment, a marueilous promotiō, & singuler credit so to be.
Thus all things made readie, the bishop in all his masking geare commeth foorth like a coniuring iugler, and hauing made holy water with salt, and other sibbersause, he sprinkleth all things with the same, as a thing of an vnspeakable force. And althogh it be at noone dayes,His tapers why not, to light hym to the diuell. yet must he hauehave his tapers burning round about on eueryevery side: & then kneeling downe hee very solemnely desireth the people to pray, that God wold vouchsafe to graunt to this Bell a blessed and happie Christendom: and withall a lustie sounde to driue away diuels, and … against all kinde of peril and …pe…s whatsoeuer.The oly… wyll make the gentleman bel too looke with a cheareful coū tenance. This prayer ended, the Bishop …m…yuteth the bell in … pla…s with oyle, and chrisme, mumblyng … himselfe certaine coniurat…ons & exorcismes, whiche no man heareth but he alone, and yet doe all mē vnderstande i… as well as hee. Then commandeth hee the godfathers, & godmothers too gyue the name to the Bell which being giuen, hee powreth on water three or foure seueral times, annointing it with oyle and chrisme as before, for what cause I knowe not, except it bee either to make his bellie soluble,Why oyle is giuen to the bel. his ioynts nimble, or his colour fayre. This done hee putteth on the Bell a white linnen Chrisome, commanding the godfathers and godmothers thereof, too pull it vp from the grounde by ropes,It were fittes the ropes serued to hang you all in, than to pluck vp the bell wythall. and engines made for that purpose. Thē fall they downe before this new christened bell, all prostrate vponupon their knees, and offer vppe to this idol giftes, golde, siluer, frankensence, myrrh, and manye other thinges, eueryevery one striuing who shall giuegive most. These Sacrifices, and offeringes too the Diuell ended, the Bell is hanged vppe in the steeple, with great applause of the people, eueryevery one reioysing that the bel hath receiued such a happie christendome. For ioy wherof they celebrate a feast to Bacchus,Bacchus feaste celebrate by the papistes. spending all that day, & peraduenture 2. or 3. dayes after in daunsing and ryotting in feasting and banketting, in swilling, and drinking like filthie Epicures, tyll they being as drunken as swine,The papists sobrietie and christianity▪ vomite and disgorge their stinking stomackes, worse then any dogges. And thus endeth this satyre, together with the plaies Enterludes, Pageants, office, and ceremonies of this Suffragan bishop.
Now whether there bee anythinge heere, either proueable by the woorde of God, or by the example of the primitiue Apostolicall churche, or any particuler member of the same euer since the beginning of the worlde, I referre it too the iudgemente of the wyse and learned.
Phile.
What Courtes hathe the pope vnderunder him, I pray you for it can not bee that suche a mightie monarchie can stand without any?