Licenced, Octob. 11. 1677. Roger L'Estrange. Festa Anglo-Romana: OR, The Feasts of the English and Roman Church, with their Fasts and Vigils. Being an Exact and Concise Account of their various Etymologies and Appellations, with the Reasons and Grounds of their Celebration. Together with a Succinct Discourse of several other Grand Days in the Universities, Inns of Courts, and the Collar and Offering Days at White-Hall; Tending, To the Instruction of all Persons in all Capacities, and the Dilucidation of several seeming Difficulties in the Ancient, as well as Modern English and Roman Calendar. By a True Son of the Church of England. London, Printed for William Jacob, and John Place, and are to be sold at the Black Swan, and Furnivals-Inn-Gate in Holborn. 1678. blazon or coat of arms MUNIFICENTIA REGIA. 1715. GEORGIV● D.G. MADGE BRURET H●●●●● F.D. To the READER. I Design not to Preface this small Tract with a Prolix Epistle; for that were to make the Porch larger than the Temple; but only to acquaint you, that it is an Historical Collection of all the Feasts (with the Fasts Vigils and Octaves) Registered both in the English, and Roman Rubric; together with their approved Etymologies, Various Names, and the True Grounds and Reasons of their Celebration; A Treatise which differs from all others of this Nature that are hitherto extant, both in its Method and Compendiousness; for it gins (according to the old Roman Computation of the year) at the 1st of January, and ends with the last of December, giving an account of all the Festivals, as they are placed successively in the Calendar. And withal, I must Advertise you, to avoid Confusion, that our Festivals are Entitled in an English, and the Roman in an Italic Letter. And thus I leave the Reader, with these few necessary Instructions, to the perusal of the Contents of this Book, which may (I presume) tend to his more ample and plenary satisfaction. The TABLE. NEw-years Day. Pag. 4 Epiphanie. Pag. 6 St. Paul. Pag. 10 january the 30th. Pag. 11 Purification of the Blessed Virgin. Pag. 12 St. Mathias. Pag. 15 Sunday. Pag. 20 Valentines-Day. Pag. 23 Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima, and Quadragesima. Ibid. Shrovetide. Pag. 27 Ash-Wednesday. Pag. 28 St. David. Pag. 29 St. Patrick. Pag. 36 St. Joseph. Pag. 37 Annunciation of the Holy Virgin. ib. Palm-Sunday. Pag. 39 Good-Friday. Pag. 42 Easter. Pag. 44 Low-Sunday. Pag. 51 St. George. Pag. 52 St. Mark. Pag. 53 Misericordia. Pag. 54 Philip and jacob. ib. Holy-Cross. Pag. 56 Rogation-Sunday. Pag. 58 Holy Thursday. Pag. 63 King Charles Birth & Return. Pag. 65 Penticost, or Whitsuntide. Pag. 67 Trinity-Sunday. Pag. 68 St. Barnabas. Pag. 69 Corpus Christi. Pag. 72 St. john Baptist. Pag. 74 St. Peter and St. Paul. Pag. 75 Visitation of Mary. Pag. 78 St. Swithins-Day. Pag. 79 Dog-Days. ib. Spanish Invasion. Pag. 81 St. james. Pag. 86 St. Ann. ib. Lammas-Day. Pag. 87 Gowrie's Conspiracy. Pag. 91 Transfiguration. Pag. 94 St. Laurence. Pag. 95 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Pag. 96 St. Bartholomew. ib. Decollation of St. John Baptist. Pag. 97 September the 2d. the burning of London. Pag. 98 Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pag. 99 Holy-rood-Day, or Holy Cross. ib. St. Matthew. Pag. 100 St. Michael the Archangel. Pag. 102 The Apparition of St. Michael. Pag. 103 St. Luke. Pag. 104 Ursula a British Virgin. Pag. 105 St. Simon and jude. ib. All Saints. Pag. 108 All Souls. ib. Gunpowder-Treason Day. Pag. 110 Queen Catharines' Birthday. Pag. 119 Presentation of the Virg. Mary. Pag. 120 St. Clement. Pag. 121 St. Andrew. Pag. 123 Advent Sunday. Pag. 124 Conception of the Virg. Mary. ib. St. Lucia. Pag. 125 St. Thomas. ib. Christ Mass-Day. Pag. 126 St. Stephan. Pag. 128 St. john. Pag. 130 Innocents'. ib. In the Press a Printing in a Pocket-Volume, England's Remarks, very much enlarged; a fit Companion for all Travellers and others. Festa Anglo-Romana. Holiday, in the Sacred Phrase, is the same as separate, or set apart to God; being taken out of ordinary Days, and dedicated to the Holy Service of God, and his Worship; though none of them are certainly declared in the New Testament; nor is any Christian obliged to the observance of those in the Old: But the Holy Church hath thought fit and necessary for the Confirmation of Faith, and the Exercise of the true Christian Religion, that peculiar days should be culled out of the common, whereon we should convene (Politic affairs being laid aside) in the Public Assembly, to hear God's Holy Word, and to offer up the Calves of our Lips in Prayers to, and Praises of the Almighty, with Reading and Meditation. Now, as there is a Holy Feast, Nehemiah the 8th, and the 10th. which our Church hath dedicated to the Religious Commemoration of some eminent Mercies and Blessings received (among which some Festivals are of a superior degree, in regard of the greatness of the Blessing remembered, and the solemnity of the Service appointed to that purpose) so there is an Holy Fast, Joel 2. such as are Ash-Wednesday, Good-Friday, and the whole Week before Easter, which the Church hath dedicated to God's solemn Worship in Fast and Prayer. The holidays we divide into General and Particular. The General are such as are generally celebrated by all Men, and termed Solemnities; as the Circumcision, Epiphany, Purification, Annunciation, Resurrection, Ascension, etc. the Particular are solemnised by some particular Church, or some Country, called Commune; as those dedicated to the Apostles, or by some Bishop's Sea, Parish-Town or called the proper holidays of the Place. They are again divided (in respect of the days whereon they fall in the Calendar) into Movable, and Fixed. The Movable are those, which though celebrated on the same Weekday, have no fixed seat in the Calendar. The Fixed are such, which fall upon divers days of the Week, yet upon one and the same day of the Month. New-Years Day. The first of January, commonly called New-year's Day, of the old Roman Account, which began the year from that day; otherwise the Circumcision of our Lord, being celebrated eight days after his Birth inclusively, as it was on the Male-childrens of the Jews, according to the Judaical Law, in memory of his Circumcision, as the old Law commanded, Genesis the 17th, and the 12th. when he was named Jesus, (Gr. a Saviour) as the Angel had foretold, St. Luke 1.32. Circumcision is derived from the Latin Circumcido, which signifies a cutting round about; and in truth to speak more properly, it is the cutting away of the Praepuce, or double foreskin, which enfoldeth the Head, or Extremity of the Virga Virilis; and was performed with a very sharp Stone, ordered and fitted for that use; and not with an Iron Knife steeled, as some are of Opinion, though mistaken. It was a Ceremony Prescribed by the Great Jehovah, to Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, and his Posterity, who were Heirs of the Divine Promise, and Commanded to be sacredly observed by the Hebrews, upon the severe penalty of Death; as a sign and seal of the Covenant betwixt God and them, and a mark of Distinction from all other Nations; which Ceremony was always strictly observed among them; but abrogated after the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Fast is one of His Majesty's Offering-Days at Court, whereon Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense is offered; and being celebrated on the first of January; the second is termed the Octave of St. Stephan, the third of St. John, and the fourth of the blessed Innocents'. Epiphanie. The next we meet with in the order of the Calendar, is Epiphanie, or Twelfth-day. Epiphanie is a Greek word, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, & signifies an Arparition, so called and celebrated in memory and honour of our Saviour's manifestation made to the Gentiles by a miraculous Comet, or Blazing-Star, by virtue whereof, the three Magis, or Sages (vulgarly called the three Kings of Colen) were conducted to him, who, upon Discovery of that Star, came out of the East to Palestine, or Jewry, to adore him in the Manger, where (a Twelvemonth after Christ's Birth) the first of them is (as Tradition delivers it down to us) named Melchior, an aged Man, with a long Beard, who offered Gold to our Saviour, as to a King, in testimony of his Regality; the second Jasper, a Beardless Youth, who offered Frankincense, as unto God, in acknowledgement of his Divinity; the third Balthasar a Black, or Moor with a large spreading Beard, who offered Myrrh, as to a Man, that was ready or fit for his Sepulchre, thereby signifying his Humanity; of which this Distich is extant, Tres Reges Regi Regum tria dona ferebant; Myrrham Homini, Uncto Aurum, Thura dedêre Deo. Englished thus, Three Kings the King of Kings Three Gifts did bring; Myrrh, Incense, Gold; as to God, Man and King. And the Poet Prudentius sings sweetly on this Subject, in this following Tetrastich. Hic pretiosa Magi sub Virginis ubere Christo Dona ferunt Puero, Myrrhaeque & Thuris, & Auri; Miratur Genitrix tot casti ventris honores, Seque Deum genuisse, Hominem, Regemque supremum. And thus Translated by Dr. Spark in his Primitive Devotion. The Wisemen here choice Treasures do dispense To Christ, and Mary, Myrrh, Gold Frankincense; While thus astonished at this Glorious thing; A Maid at once to bear God, Man, and King. Or 'tis so called from the appearing of the Holy Ghost in the shape of a Dove, at his Baptism, 30 years after (for this sixth of January was the day of our Saviour's Baptism, and is Celebrated as such by the Church) and therefore 'tis termed by Alcas Cyriacus, an Arabic Manuscript of Astronomical Tables in the Archbishop's Archives, in the Library of Oxford; the Feast of Epiphanie, or Benediction of Waters. On this day also is commemorated the first Miracle performed by our Saviour at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee, where he turned Water into Wine. The Vigil (or Eve of this Festival, so named from Vigilia in Latin, Watohing; because than Christians were wont to Watch, Fast, and Pray in their Churches) was called in the Primitive Times, Vigilia Luminum; and the Ancients than were accustomed to send Lights one to the other. This day was of old Celebrated in honour of Augustus Caesar by the Romans, for his Conquest of Media, Egypt, and Parthia, which were after added to their Empire; but the Holy Church willing to alter that Solemnity, and introduce a better, instituted this Feast of the Epiphanie in lieu of it. 'Tis styled Twelfth-Day, because Celebrated on the 12th day after the Nativity of the Blessed Jesus exclusively, not taking in Christmas-Day for one. This is also one of His Majesty's Offering-days at Whitehall. St. Paul. January the 25th. is kept the Festival known by the Name of the Conversion of St. Paul, that once bloody Persecutor of the People of God; though through his Mercy, he afterward became the great Apostle of the Gentiles, and was Martyred at Rome for the faith of Christ; but inserted in our Rubric since His majesty's Restauration, Anno Dom. 1664. January the 30th. January the 30th. A Day— Nigro carbone notandus;— and not to be thought upon without Horror & Consternation. 'Tis kept annually, as a solemn Fast for the barbarous, unexampled Murder of the best of Kings, Charles the First, of blessed Memory, and is by Act of Parliament, 12. Car. 2di. set apart to implore the Mercy of God, that the guilt of the innocent Blood of this Royal Martyr may not hereafter be visited upon us, and our Posterity, etc. Purification of the blessed Virgin. February the 2d. is Candlemas-Day, or the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. Candlemas-Day 'tis called from the Saxon, Candlemaesse, the Mass or Feast of Candles (the old Saxons term all holidays, Mass-days, because they were obliged to hear Mass on those days, or because High Mass was then Sung) for before Mass is said on that day, the Roman Church blesseth, deputeth, or sets apart her Candles for sacred use; which do serve in the Church all the ensuing year, and goes in Procession with Hallowed Candles, carried by the Romanists, in commemoration of the Divine Light, wherewith our Saviour Illuminated the Universal Church, at his Presentation, when the Good & Aged Simeon styled him a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of his People Israel, Luk. 2.32. and both by Simeon and Anna proclaimed to be the true Messiah. 'Tis named also the Purification, from Purifico, to Purify; kept in memory, both of the Presentation of our Blessed Lord, and the Purification of the Holy Virgin in the Temple of Jerusalem, within the space of forty days after her Happy Delivery of the Holy Child, Jesus; in obedience to the Mosaical Law, as it is set down, Leviticus, the 12th. and the 6th: not that the Blessed Virgin had contracted any Impurity by her Childbirth, which stood in need of Purification (being the Mother of Purity in the very Abstract) but partly because (as Mr. Lightf. says in his Harmony of the four Evangelists) that Christ in nothing might be wanting to the Law; and partly that this might be an occasion for the first public Declaration of him by Simeon and Anna: The Dutch call this Day Lichtmiss, the Mass, or Feast of Lights; see the Saxon Dictionary by Summers: and was Instituted by Justinian the Emperor, Anno Christi 542. Besides, 'tis one of the four Gawdy, or Grand-Days in the Inns of Court, which singly fall out in every Term: Candlemas, or the Purification in Hilary; Ascension, or Holy Thursday in Easter; Midsummer, or St. John Baptist's in Trinity; All Saints, or Allhollandtide in Michaelmas Term. These four are no Days in the Courts at Westminster: and in the Inns of Court on these Days double Commons are allowed, and Music and Revelling on All-Saints: and Candlemas-Day, as the first and last day of Christmas. The Etymology of the word may be taken from Judge Gawdy; who as 'tis affirmed by some, was the first Instituter of these Days; or rather from the Latin Gaudium, because they are Days of Joy, and furnish the Tables in the Inns of Court with good Cheer. In the Colleges at the Universities they are usually called Gawdy, in the Inns of Court Grand-Days, and at His majesty's Court, White-Hall, Collar-Days; for on these Days at Court, the King, Knights of the Garter, and Judges wear their Collars of S.S. It is also one of His majesty's Offering-days. St. Mathias. On February the 24th. (but in Leap-year the 25th) is Celebrated the Feast of St. Mathias, who was one of the 70 Disciples, and elected Apostle by lot, in the room of that Arch Traitor Judas, after the Ascension of our Blessed Lord: He Preached the Holy Gospel in Macedonia (and after Traveled into Judaea) where he was first cruelly stoned by the Jews, and then Beheaded according to the Roman Custom, Anno Dom. 51. and it is also one of His Majesty's Collar-Days, without Offering; here we may properly come in with our Discourse concerning Bissextile, or Leap-year. 'Tis termed Bissextilis, because the 6th of the Calends of March are twice reckoned, viz. on the 24th and 25th of February; so that Leap-year has a supernumerary day more than other years; according to that old Rhythm, Thirty Days hath November, April, June, and September; February hath Eight and twenty alone, And all the rest have thirty and one; But when of Leap-year cometh the time, Then Days hath February Twenty and nine: Observe also this Latin Distich; though in old Monkish Rhythm, regardless of true Quantity, Bissextum Sextae Martis tenuere Calendae, Posteriore die celebrantur Festa Mathiae. This Leap-year is observed every fourth year, and was first invented by Julius Caesar, the Perpetual Dictator of Rome, to accommodate and even the year with the Course of the Sun; and takes the name of Julian Account from him, who before the Incarnation of Christ, the space of 44 years, observing the erroneousness of the Account then in use; ordered the year to consist of 365 days and six hours which six hours, in four years' time, made 24 hours, or a Civil Day, and were added to the end of February; and upon this account every fourth year contained. 366 days, and was called Annus Bissextilis, for the reason prementioned, and the thing itself Intercalatio, an Interlacing or putting any odd thing between even ones, meaning the odd day in Leap-year, in which account for many years there was no sensible Error discovered; yet in process of time it was found not to be so exactly agreeable with the Sun's natural Motion; for the Julian exceeded the true Solar year by 10 Minutes, and 48 seconds, and caused the Aequinoxes and Solstices, yearly, to alter and change their places, and recede or fly back so many Minutes and seconds; in consideration whereof, Pope Gregory the 13th of that Name, by the advice ●nd assistance of Antonius Lilius, ●is Brothers, and other Eminent Mathematicians, did, in the year of our Lord 1582. correct the Roman Calendar, appointing the year to contain 365 days, 5 hours, 49 Minutes, and 12 seconds, and that the Vernal Aequinox which was then on the 11th of March, might be reduced to the 21th as it was at the time of the first Council of Nicaea; he commanded, that 10 days in October should be totally omitted, viz. from the 4th, to the 14th; so that the 4th day of the Month was counted the 14th. Hence it is, that the New, Foreign, Gregorian, or Lilian is 10 days before the old, or our Julian account. Here it is also observable, that every Leap-year (to prevent all Ambiguities that may arise at Law) it is provided by the Statute de Anno Bissextili, 21 H. 3. that the 24th and 25th of February, in Suits at Law, shall be accounted for one day only. Britton f. 209. Dyer 17 Eliz. 345. but for keeping of Fairs, it is ordered, that those which use to be on the 24th of February, shall be kept on the 25th, because the Feast of St. Mathias is not till the 25th of February in the Leap-year. It is called Leap-year from the Dutch Loop-iare, qu. Leap-year, because it exceeds the bounds of other years by a day. Sunday. As for Sunday or the Lordsday, it is the weekly Feast of the Resurrection of Christ; not Instituted by him, or God himself, but by his own Apostles in the place of the rejected Sabbath of the Jews, for these ensuing Reasons: 1. That Christians should not be obliged to the observance of Judaical Ceremonies; but testify the Abrogation of their Feasts, and the liberty received by the coming of Christ. 2. That as the Jewish Sabbath did continually put them in mind of the former World finished by the Creation; so the Lord's-Day ought to keep us in the constant Remembrance of a far better world begun by our Saviour, who came to restore all things, and make Heaven and Earth new; therefore for this Reason did they Honour the Last day, we the First in every seven, annually. 3. In regard that the Lord risen from the Dead on this day, and perfected the great and wonderful Work of Man's Redemption. 4. We cannot more congruously apprehend the Majesty of the Supereminent and Puissant Jesus, by any other Creature than by the most resplendent and glorious Light of the Sun, the Ruler of this day; for it is written, Et in sole posuit Tabernaculum suum, & exiit de Tribu Judae, cujus Signum (Leo) est Solare Animal. The Lord's-Day (when any happens) between Candlemas, and Twelfth-Day, hath no certain Name; but is called the first, or second Sunday (on which it falls) after Christmas; but those that succeed the Epiphanie, are denoted according to the Numeral order, as the first Sunday after it is styled the first Sunday after Epiphanie, the next the second, etc. whereof there are five this present year, sometimes only four, but more or fewer, according to the greater quantity of the Intervallum majus, though the Sunday immediately preceding Septuagesima is ever counted the last Sunday after Epiphanie. Valentine's-Day. Valentine's-Day is on the 14th of February, so called from Valentine (Powerful, Lat.) a Roman Bishop, whose Feast is kept this day: about this time the Birds make choice of their Mates for the ensuing year, and we among us of our Valentines; that is, Men and Women chosen for special Loving Friends; it signifies also Saints chosen for special Patrons for the year. The next 4 Sundays are known by the Name of Septuagesima, Seragesima, Quinquagesima, and Quadragesima. The three first have their Names from the Order in which they precede the 4th Quadragesima, and so of the rest. Septuagesima was Instituted, as 'tis generally believed, for these three Reasons. 1. For Suppletion; i.e. making up what is wanting; for because some did not use to fast on the Friday (and therefore Sexagesima was Instituted, as you shall understand by and by) neither upon the Saturday, in regard that our Saviour on that day rested in his Grave, to denote our future Rest (and 'tis observed by St. Augustin, that the Inhabitants of Asia, & some others, grounding their Practice on an Apostolical Tradition, would not Fast on the Saturday) therefore the Week called Septuagesima, was added to supply the seven days of Sexagesima. 2. For it's own Signification; in that thereby is signified unto us the Exile and Affliction of Mankind from Adam to the last general Conflagration; and therefore all Holy Hymns, and Sacred Anthems of Joy are intermitted by our Holy Mother the Church, during the time of Septuagesima. 3. To represent the 70 years' Captivity of the Jews in Babylon: and as at that time the Israelites laid aside their Instrument, saying, Quomodo cantabimus Canticum Domini, etc. so the Church leaves off her Songs of Praises during this time. Sexagesima was instituted by Melchiades Bp. of Rome, a Martyr, who flourished, An. Dom. 311. and ordained, that none should Fast on Friday, because of the Lord's Supper, and his Ascension on that day; so neither on the Sunday (which being the first day of the Week) solemnizeth our Saviour's Resurrection, to distinguish between Christians, and Gentiles; therefore the Ancients (to redeem the Fridays in Quinquagesima) added this other Week to the Fast, called by them Sexagesima. The next Sunday is Quinquagesima. The Holy Church Commands a Fast to be observed, consisting of 40 days, before Easter, styled Quadragesima, or the Holy time of Lent, wherein there are but 36 days, besides the Lords-days, on which she fasts not, for joy of the Resurrection; now to supply this Defect, four days of the foregoing Week were added to the Quadragesimal Fast; and afterward it was (first by Telesphorus Bishop of Rome and Martyr, who flourished, Anno Dom. 142. and since that by Pope Gregory the Great) Decreed, that all Priests should begin their Fast two days sooner, viz. two days before the additional four prementioned; that as they preceded the Laity in Dignity, they might also in Sanctity and Holiness; therefore this Week Quinquagesima was added to the Week Quadragesima. Shrovetide. Next we come to Shrovetide or Carneval, which is derived from the Saxon Shrive, or Shrift; and the Belgic Tide or Tijdt, i.e. the time of shriving or confession of Sins; for about this time the Roman Catholics use to confess their Sins. and receive the blessed Sacrament; to the end they might more Religiously observe the Holy time of Lent then immediately ensuing. 'Tis called Carneval (being a dissolute Season, or Licentious Time) qu. valeat caro, because than they bid adieu to eating of Flesh, and feed on Fish. Ash-Wednesday. Ash-Wednesday is the Beginning, or Head of the Fast of Lent, and was by Gregory the Great, (Pope of Rome) Dedicated to the Consecration and sprinkling with Ashes (and therefore called in Latin, Dies Cinerum, or Ash-Wednesday, by the Ancients Caput Jejunii, the Head of Fasting, or first beginning of Lent) yet (as Hospinian affirms) there is extant an Homily composed by Maximus Bishop of Tours, in France, with this Inscription, In Die Cinerum, which shows the Institution thereof to be before his Time, because Maximus Taurinensis lived 170 years before him, viz. Anno Dom. 420. 'Tis called Ash-Wednesday, from the ancient Ceremony of Blessing Ashes on that Day; and therewith the Priest signeth the People on the Forehead in the form of a Cross, affording them withal this wholesome Admonition; Memento Homo quod Pulvis es, & in Pulverem reverteris; Remember Man, that thou art Dust, and to Dust thou shalt return; to mind them of their Mortality, and prepare them for the Holy Fast of Lent; the Ashes used this day in the Church of Rome, are made of the Palms consecrated the Sunday Twelvemonth before: and formerly in the Easterin Countries, they usually on this Day wore Sackcloth, and sprinkled Ashes on the Heads of the People, which was done in token of sincere Humiliation, and a true and unfeigned sorrow for Sin. St. David. St. David's, vulgarly and ludibriously nicknamed St. Taffie's Day, which is on the first of March, is a British Holiday, and observed by them very solemnly, in Honour and Commemoration of St. David, their worthy Patron, who is by their Records and Tradition, justified to be a Prelate of Eminent Holiness and Austerity of Life, a Person of great Learning, a most Florid and Eloquent Preacher of the Word of God, and Archbishop of Menevy, now taking from him the Name of St. David s in Pembrokeshire. He flourished in the fifth and sixth Age after the Incarnation of Christ, and died aged 140 years, as Dr. Pits testifieth in his Treatise Entitled, De Illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus: The Britain's on this Day constantly wear a Leek, in Memory of a Famous and Notable Victory obtained by them over the Saxons; they, during the Battle, having Leeks in their Hats, for their Military Colours, and Distinction of themselves, by the persuasion of the said Prelate, St. David. The first Sunday in Lent is called Quadragesima, the second Reminiscere, the third Oculi, the fourth Laetare, the fifth judica, the fixth Dominica Magna; of these in order. Quadragesima, or the first Sunday in Lent; so called because it is distant 40 days from the grand Feast of Easter, containing the Lenten Fast, as it was observed by the Primitive Christians, in imitation of our Saviour's Fasting in the Desert 40 days, and 40 nights; it is called also Invocavit, because on that Day the Church sings Invocavit me, & ego exaudiam eum, or that taken out of Psalm the 90th, v. 3, 4. 'Tis styled Lent, so called from the old Saxons, who nominated March, Lenct Monat, i. e. Length Month, because the Days than begin to lengthen, and exceed the Nights. Now this Month being so named by our Ancestors, when they did first imbibe or embrace Christianity, and therewith also the ancient and Religious Custom of Fasting; this Season is peculiarly termed the Fast of Lent, by reason of the Lenct-Monat, or Month of March, wherein the major part of the time of this Grand Fasting always happened. Sir Richard Baker saith in his Chronology, that it was first commanded to be observed here among us in England, by Ercombert the 7th King of Kent, in or about the year of our Lord 641. So that it is of Antiquity in this Nation, and no upstart and new-fangled Fast. Then we meet with Ember-Week, so named from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, i. e. Die; Days, by way of Emphasis, the Grand Days of Fasting, as some are of opinion; others conceive, that they are called the Days of Ashes, or Ember-Days from that as Ancient, as Religious Custom of wearing Haircloth, and using Ashes in times of Public Penance and Piety, or from the Antiquated usage of eating no other Food on those Days, till Night, only a Cake baked under the Embers or Ashes, which they called, Panem Subcineritium, or Ember-Bread, Turb. Cath. Yet Sir Henry Spelman saith, De Conciliis, that the true and genuine word is Imber, from the Saxon Imbren, i. e. a Circle; because the Ember-days move round the year, as it were in a Circle. These Ember-Weeks are four in the year; and they of old, in every one of them fasted on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, as you will find it in this ancient Couplet. Post Cineres, Pentec: post Crucem, postque Luciam. Mercurii, Veneris, Sabathi, Jejunia fiant. That is, the next Week after Ash-Wednesday, Whitsunday, Holy-Rood, or the Exaltation of the Cross, and St. Lucie's Day. They are of great Antiquity in the Church, being times of Public Prayer, Fasting and Procession, and styled Quatuor Anni Tempora, by the Ancient Fathers; for besides the first Institution of them for quarterly Seasons of Devotion, proportioned to every part of the year, that the entire year, & each Division thereof might be blessed thereby; they were partly instituted for the successful Ordination of Priests in the Roman Church, and partly to beg a Blessing on the Fruits of the Earth, and render thanks to God for the same; nay, besides their answerableness to those Jejunia Quatuor, or solemn Fasting-days instituted by the Jews, and mentioned by the Prophet Zachary, ca 8. that we Christians might not be inferior to them in so Holy a Duty; the Church hath assigned them an Excellent use, in imitation of the Apostles, Acts 13.3. See a Book Entitled, A View of the Directory, fol. 56. Much about this time the Aequinox happens, which is an Imaginary, fancied Line, passing just between the two Poles in the midst of Heaven, which Lines the Sun travels to twice a year (namely about the 11th of March, which is called the Vernal, and the 11th of September, the Autumnal Aequinox) and equals the Day and Night for length throughout the Universe (except with the Inhabitants directly under the Poles) and therefore termed Equinox. The second Sunday in Lent is named Reminiscere, from the Entrance of the 5th Verse of Psal. 25. Reminiscere miserationum tuarum Domine, etc. Call to Remembrance, O Lord, thy tender Mercies, etc. The third Sunday in Lent is called Oculi, from the entrance of the 14th v. of the 25th Psalm, Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, etc. My Eyes are ever looking unto the Lord. March the 17th. St. Patrick's- Day; a great Saint, Worker of Miracles, and the much honoured Patron of Ireland. The fourth Sunday is called Laetare, from the beginning of the 10th v. of the 66th Chap. of Isaiah, Laetare cum Jerusalem, etc. Rejoice with Jerusalem, etc. It is also termed Dominica de Rosa, from the Golden Rose which the Pope of Rome carrieth in his hand when he walks before the People in the Temple; as also, Dominica de Panibus, or Refectionis; because the Miracle of the five Loaves in the Holy Gospel is explained on this Day in the Roman Church; but we here in England truly style it Mid-Lent Sunday. March the 19th. in the Roman Church is Celebrated in Commemoration of St. Joseph Confessor, the Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Annunciation of the Holy Virgin. The 25th of this Month is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin, the Conception of our Saviour, vulgarly Lady-Day; and this is Celebrated in Commemoration of that most Happy Message, or rather Embassy from God, which was pronounced by the Angel Gabriel, in which she was Declared and Proclaimed the Blessed Mother of God, St. Luke 1st. 31, 32. The fifth Sunday in Lent is called Judica, and Passion-Sunday; from the entrance of the 35th Psalm, Judica me Deus, Discern Causam meam, etc. Judge me, O Lord! Plead thou my Cause, etc. 'Tis termed Passion-Sunday, from the Passion of our Lord, which is then near approaching, and was Instituted to prepare us worthily for the Religious Celebration thereof. On this Day the Romanists cloth all their Crucifixes in their Churches with Mourning Colours, in remembrance of our Saviour's going out of the Temple, and absconding Himself, in order to Dispose us to a Compassion with him. Palm-Sunday. Palm Sunday, Dominica Palmarum, or Dominica Magna, is the 6th and last Sunday in Lent, immediately preceding Easter. 'Tis called Palm-Sunday, or Dominica Palmarum (which is the same in Latin) from the Branches of Palm which the Jews strewed under his feet, at his Triumphant Entrance into Jerusalem upon an Ass, crying Hosanna to the Son of David, St. Matth. 21.25. and hence it is that the Romanists do annually on this day, bless the Palm, and go solemnly in Procession, in honour of our Saviour's Triumph, all the people carrying Boughs, or Branches of Palm in their hands. It hath the Name Dominica Magna, or the Great Lord's-Day; because of the Great and many Infallible good things that were conferred on the Faithful, the Week ensuing; namely, Death abolished, Slander and the Tyranny of Satan removed, by the painful and ignominious Death of our Saviour. This is called the Holy-Week, because Men gave over their worldly employ, Courts were shut up, Prisoners freed, and many Prayers and Offices performed by the Holy Church, in order to our Preparation for the Grand Feast of Easter, and the Week of Fasts, because fasting was then increased, with Watching & Prayer, for they did lie on the ground, and when they did eat on these six days, their Food was only Bread, Salt and Water. The next Wednesday after Palm-Sunday, was the Day whereon the Scribes and Pharisees sat in Council against the Lord of Life; the Thursday following, the Parasceve (Greek) or Preparation of the Legal Passeover, and the Institution of the Lord's Supper, that very night, which is otherwise named Maundy Thursday, quasi Mandati Thursday (being the last Thursday in Lent, and first before Easter) from fulfilling the Mandate or Command of our Saviour, which arose from an ancient Ceremony frequently practised by Prelates in Cathedral Churches and Religious Houses, and is in imitation of Christ; who on the Evening of this Day, after his last Supper, and before he Instituted the Blessed Sacrament, washed his Disciples feet; acquainting them withal, that they must do so likewise to one another; which is the Mandate whence the Day takes Denomination. At the beginning of the said Ceremony, Christ uttered these words, soon after he had washed their feet, Joh. 13.34. (which are sung as an Antiphone) Mandatum novum do vobis, ut diligatis invicem, sicut dilexi vos. Good Friday. The next Day is styled Good-Friday, because the Good Work of Man's Redemption was then Consummated; the Cause of all our good, and true ground of all our joy; it being the most Sacred and Memorable Day of the Bloody Passion of Christ on the Cross; which was a sufficient Atonement or Satisfaction for the Sins of Mankind. And here it will not be amiss for the Reader to take notice (in order to his understanding it, when he meets it in Authors) that in the Roman Church, the Offices called Tenebrae, are Sung on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, of this Holy, or Great Week, and that in Lamentation of our Saviour's Passion; and because these are still anticipated in the Rehearsal, the Evening of the foregoing Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, hath obtained the Appellation of Tenebrae-Days from the Latin Tenebrae, or the French Tenebres, Days of Darkness, or Dark Days, because thereby they represent the Darkness that attended and accompanied our Lord's Crucifixion; and then also that Church extinguisheth all her Lights; and after some silence, when the whole office is concluded, they make a sudden great noise, to represent the rending the Veil of the Temple, and the disorder the whole frame of Nature was in at the death of her Maker. Their Matins also, or Morning-Service is, on the first three days before Easter begun with very many Lights, but ended in Darkness; representing thereby the Nighttime wherein they seized and apprehended our Saviour in the Garden Gethsemani; in which Office there are 15 Tapers lighted at the first, and placed in a Candlestick of a Triangular form, viz. as many as there are Canticles in the Office; and at the conclusion of every Canticle or Psalm, one of the 15 Tapers or Lights is put out, and so gradually, till they are all extinguished. Easter. The next to this great Week, that Great and High Feast of Easter, or the Resurrection of the Holy Jesus, after his three days Interment in the Grave, succeeds; and is styled Pasche, (Pascha) or Easter. 'Tis called Pascha, a Passeover (not in memory of the Angels transit in Egypt, (the Jewish Passeover being a Holy Action appointed by God in the kill and eating of a Lamb; partly that the Church of the Jews might remember the Benefits God conferred upon them in passing over the Houses, and not smiting them, Exod. 12.11.) but our Feast is celebrated in Commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ; though we still retain the Name Pascha, not only because the Lamb that was killed by the Jews of old in their Passeover, was a true Type of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, which was sacrificed for Man's Salvation; but because at that very time he passed to his Father from this World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pesach, signifies Transitio, a passage from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pasach, Transire, to pass) or because then there was made a passage from an Old to a New Life; in Span. named Florida a florido & vernanti anni tempore, from the flourishing and Springtime of the year in which it falls. 'Tis called Easter, from Eoster, a Goddess of the ancient Saxons, whose Feast they kept in the Month of April, Cam. or as Minshew gives it in regard that then the Sun of Righteousness did rise, as the Sun in the East; and therefore Easter comes from the East. Now this is the Basis of all the Lords-days in the year, though it be a Movable Feast, and falls sometimes higher, sometimes lower, (as all the Movable Feasts do) but the time of Easter being known, the rest are soon discovered; and thus you may know when Easter will fall: Post Martis Nonas, ubi sit Nova Luna requiras, Et cum transierit bis Septima Pascha patebit. Or thus, Ind dies Solis tertia Pascha venit. But take it in English more plainly thus: Easter-Day is always the first Sunday after the first full Moon, which shall happen next after the 11 day of March, and if the full Moon fall on a Sunday, the Sunday after will be Easter Day. Now though this Rule be true enough as to the Gregorian, yet it is not applicable to our Julian Account, which the Table of Movable Feasts in the Common-Prayer Book Calculated for 40 years regardeth only, and must be followed till His Majesty Commands another; and one reason is, the Precession of the Aequinoctium Vernum, which from the first Nicene Council, to this time hath Anticipated 11 days, falling now the 10th of March; whereas it was on the 21th. and the reason of this Anticipation is, that the Julian exceeds the Solar year 10 Minutes, and 48 Seconds, or thereabout; which causes the Aequinoxes and Solstices yearly to change their Places, and go backward so many Minutes and Seconds. The Lunations also, by reason of the great quantity allowed them, do every 19 years anticipate almost an hour and a half, and in 312 years and a half, one whole day; and therefore not exactly to be found by the Golden Number, though on those Lunations, Easter depends, as of it all the Movable Feasts, which is the other Cause of those Errors, and both together the first occasion of the Roman Emendation, whereby that Church doth always produce Easter on the Sunday following the first full Moon next after the Vernal Aequinox, according to the Deeree of the Nicene Council. This occasioned that Error that all the Astrologers were guilty of, viz. 5. Weeks Mistake in 1663., and one Week in 1664; and it is the 20th time it hath so happened since 1600: but in the Years 2437, 2461, 2491, there will be 42 days Error, and some time afterward no less than 49 days; and after the Year 2698, (if the Old Calendar be still retained) it will never again happen according to the Rule of the Church, as before: Thus far Mr. G. Wharton. Easter-Day, (and the rest of the Movable Feasts) Anno 1668, according to the Julian Account, fell full as soon, or low in the Year, upon its nearest Limit or Boundary, as ever it could, which hath not happened from 1573, till this Year; nor will so fall out again in 247 years, till the year 1915, which will be 239 years from this Year, before it so happen. Here you may also Observe, That Easter always falls between the 21th of March, and the 26th of April, these two days being excluded; for it never happens on, but between them. Easter-day is one of his Majesty's Offering-dayes at Court, being a Houshold-day also, when the Besant is given by the Lord Steward, or one of the other White-Staffe-Officers. All the Holidays in Easter week are his Majesty's Collar, but not Offering-dayes. Next follows the Quinquagesimal Interval of 50 days between Easter and Whitsuntide, which the Primitive Christians observed as an entire Festival, in honour of the Resurrection and Ascension of the Holy Ghost, with great Exultation and exceeding Joy, it contains 6 Sundays. Low-Sunday. The first is Low-Sunday, Dominica in Albis, or Quasimodogeniti. 'Tis styled Low-Sunday, because 'tis a Low Festival in comparison of Easter-Day, the preceding high Festival. It is the Octave of Easter-Day, named Dominica in Albis, in regard of the Angels who appeared at the Resurrection in White Garments; and from the Catechumeni, or Neophyts (i.e. persons lately Converted to the Faith, newly taught the Principles of Religion, but not Baptised; or if Baptised, not yet admitted to the Eucharist, White Garments, (the Emblems of Innocence) which in old times they usually put on at their Baptism, and in the Church on this day were solemnly devested of them; or for that those who had been Baptised, received then the Bishop's Confirmation, and put on other white Vestments, which they wore till the next Sunday. 'Tis called Quasimodogeniti, from the entrance, in the 1 Peter, 2.2. Quasimodogeniti Infantes Rationabiles sine dolore lac concupiscite. St. George. April the 23th. is the Day Dedicated to the Memory of St. George, the Martyr, of Cappadocia, and is honoured by the Georgians the Inhabitants of a Country called Georgia. situated between Colchos, Caucasus, the Caspian-Sea, and Armenia, heretofore Iberia and Albania; they do highly reverence and honour this Saint. He also is our Patron, and the same Person that the Knights of the Garter have formerly so much honoured, they being always, on that day only, Installed at Windsor. This is one of his Majesty's Collar-days without Offering, at White-Hall. St. Mark. The 25th of this Month is St. Mark's Day. A Feast in Honour of the Evangelist, who wrote the Life, Acts, Miracles, Death and Resurrection of our Saviour Christ. He was the first Prelate of Alexandria, where he Taught the Gospel, and also all over the adjacent Regions from the Country of Egypt to Pentapolis. He was Martyred at Alexandria in the time of the Tyrant Trajan, which was thus executed. They fastened a Cable-Rope about his Neck, wherewith they dragged him from the place called Bucolus, to another termed Angels, where the raging Idolaters burned him to ashes, (against whom he preached) Anno Domini 63. and was Interred at Bucolus praementioned. This is one of his Majesty's Collar-dayes without offering. Misericordia. The second Sunday after Easter is termed Misericordia, from the Entrance of the fifth Verse of the 32 Psalms, Misericordia Domini plena est Terra, etc. Philip and jacob. Mayday, or St. Philip, and St. James, vulgarly, but falsely called Philip and Jacob; (Philip is a Greek word, and signifies a Lover of Horses. Jacob, Hebr. a Supplanter, May-day 'tis called, because the first of May, a day of Mirth and Jollity among the Common Herd; and Philip and James, because dedicated to the two Apostles and Martyrs of that name. The former of the City of Bethsaida, who preached in Phrygia, and Converted the Eunuch Candaules. It is affirmed by some Authors, that he sent 12 Disciples into our Country of Britain, to work the Conversion of them. In conclusion, the Pagans seized him, and put him to the Ignominious death of his Lord and Master, at the City Hierapolis, about the Year of our Lord, 53. The later, viz. St. James the Lesser, (James is a Name wrested from Jacob) was Son to Alphaeus and Penman of that Excellent Epistle which goes under his Name; for his Wisdom and Piety surnamed the Just. He was created Bishop of Jerusalem after the Ascension; and Governed that Church 30 years complete; where he was most Inhumanely first stoned, and afterward being placed on the Top of a Pinnacle of the Temple, precipitated from thence, and being half dead, and his Thighs broken, and lifting up his hands to Heaven, he was knocked on the head with a great Fuller's Club; this Bloody Butchery was Executed on this Saint in the Seventh Year of the Sanguinary Emperor Nero. This is also one of his Majestie's Collar-days without Offering. Holy Cross, or Holy-Rood-day. May the 3d, is Inventio Crucis, i. e. the Invention of the Holy-Cross, or Holy-Rood-day, and is in the Roman, though not in our Rubric; of which there are two called Holy-Rood-dayes, viz. this, being on the 3d. of May, and the Exaltation of the Cross on the 14th of September. 'Tis a Feast in Commemoration (as the Romanists believe) of the Miraculous and Wonderful Invention, or finding out the Holy Cross, on which the Blessed Jesus suffered, by St. Helen, the Mother of Constantine the Great, after it had been concealed and buried in the Earth by the Painims, the space of 180 years, in place whereof they had erected a Statue to their wanton Deity, Venus. 'Tis called Holy-Rood-Day, and Holy Cross, because of the great Sanctity it received, by touching and bearing the Oblation of the most precious Body of Christ, and Rood is an old Saxon word, signifying a Cross, or the Image of Christ on the Cross, being composed generally of Wood, and erected in a Loft for that purpose, just over the passage of the Church into the Chancel. Fuller. The third Sunday after Easter as it falls in course here, is styled Jubilate, from the beginning of Psalm the 65. Jubilate Deo omnis Terra, etc. The fourth Sunday Cantate, from the entrance of the 98th Psalm, Cantate Domino Cantieum Novum, etc. May the 14th. our most Gracious and Sovereign Princess Donna Catarina Landed at Portsmouth, in order to the confirmation of her solemn Nuptials, with His Majesty our Dread Sovereign, Charles the Second, whom God long preserve in health and happiness. Rogation-Sunday. Next follows Rogation-Sunday, the fifth Sunday after Easter, (the Week following is called Rogation-Week, or Vocem Jucunditatis, the Institution or Restauration whereof, is by Historians attributed to Claudius Mamertus, or Mamercus Bishop of Vienne in France, Anno Dom. 452. or as some say, 466. being the fifth Sunday after Easter, from the like entrance Vocem Jucunditatis annunciate & audiatur, etc. and Rogation Sunday, or Week, which is always the next but one before Whitsunday, à Rogando Deum, as being once (though we cannot affirm that now) Consecrated above all other Weeks of the year in an extraordinary manner, unto Prayers, Litanies, and Supplications, (and are still enjoined by the Church to all persons among the Roman Catholics on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) with Abstinence from flesh, for these Reasons: First, for a Devout Preparative to the Feast of Christ's most glorious Ascension, and Pentecost, which is shortly after. 2. Because the fruits of the Earth are tender, and in danger, being in the Blossom. 3. For that much about this time of the year, Monarches and Potentates begin to undertake their Wars; upon both which Considerations, all Good and Pious Christians have great Reason to be frequent with God in Rogations and Prayers, at this time, particularly; and for this cause it is, that the Solemnisation of Matrimony is prohibited by the Holy Church from the first day in this Week, until Trinity Sunday following. The Belgians or Dutchmen call it Cruys-Week, that is, Cross-week; and so 'tis also named in some Parts of England, because the Priest on these days goes in Procession with the Cross before him. In the old Saxon 'tis named Gangdagas, i. e. Days of Walking or Perambulation. In the North of England Gang-week, from the ganging or going in Procession (for Gang there, as well as in the Saxon, signifies to go) from an Ancient and Commendable Custom (though discontinued in the time of the late Unnatural Rebellion) to make Perambulations and Processions with the Young Children in every Parish and Township with us, to view and understand the Ancient Limits and Boundaries of every Parish, to prevent all manner of Encroachments, Contentions and Suits at Law. In the Inns of Court 'tis known by the name of Grass-week, because the Students Commons on some days that Week, consist much of Salads, hard Eggs, and Green-sauce. The Robigalia and Ambarvalia of the Ancient Romans, did, after their Heathenish manner, in something, resemble these In●●itutions; They were called Robigalia, from Robigus, one of their numerous Deities, to whom they ascribed the preserving of Corn from Blasting, therefore these Feasts were sacred to him particularly. And Ambarvalia, quòd victima arva ambiret, because the Sacrifice to be offered at that time did walk round the Fields. May the 21th. 1662. K. Charles was Married at Portsmouth to Donna Catarina, Infanta of Portugal, by Gilbert Bishop of London. May the 22. is a Feast dedicated by the Romanists to one Julia, a Holy, Devout Virgin, and is placed in their Rubric, not mentioned in our Calendar. Holy Thursday, or Ascension-Day. The next Feast celebrated by our Holy Mother the Church, is Holy-Thursday, or Ascension-Day, which is the 40th day after Easter, or his Resurrection; called Holy-Thursday, because so Holy a Work was performed on this Holiday; and Ascension-day, in memory of our Saviour's Ascension into Heaven, in the sight of his Apostles and Disciples then present, Acts 1.9. there to prepare a place for all true Christians, being preceded by whole Legions of Angels, and attended by Millions of Saints, whom he had discharged & set at large out of their imaginary Prison of Limbo: (as the Romanists fond conceive) In short, and in truth, this Festival of Christ's Ascension, is the Consummation of all he did and taught, during his Residence here upon Earth, and therefore it was (not without great reason) termed by the Ancients, Felix Clausula totius Itinerarii Filii Dei, the Sabbath, or Consummation of all his labour in the Great and stupendous Work of Man's Redemption. This is one of his Majesty's Offering-dayes. Next comes the 6th Sunday after Easter, called Exaudi, from the beginning of the 27th Psalm, Exaudi Domine vocemmeam, etc. The Week after Ascension-Day is Expectation-Week; for now the Apostles were earnestly expecting the promise of our Lord; If I go away, I will send the Comforter to you, Jo. 16.7. King Charles 2d. Nat. May the 29th is Celebrated upon a double account, first in Commemoration of the Birth of our Sovereign King Charles the Second, the Princely Son of his Royal Father Charles the First of happy Memory, and Mary the Daughter of Henry the 4th, the French King, who was born the 29th day of May, Anno 1630. and also by Act of Parliament 12 Car. 2. by the Passionate desires of the People, in Memory of his most Happy Restauration to his Crown and Dignity, after 12 years forced Exile from his undoubted Right, the Crown of England, by Barbarous Rebels and Regicides; and on the 8th of this Month his Majesty was with Universal Joy and great Acclamations Proclaimed in London & Westminster, and after throughout all his Dominions; the 16th he came to the Hague; the 23th with his two Brothers Embarked for England, and on the 25th he happily Landed at Dover, being received by General Monk and some of the Army; From whence he was, by several Voluntary Troops of the Nobility and Gentry, waited upon to Canterbury, and on the 29th 1660, he made his Magnificent Entrance into that Emporium of Europe, his Stately and Rich Metropolis, the Renowned City of London. On this very day also Anno 1662. the King came to Hampton-Court with his Queen Catharine after his Marriage at Portsmouth, as is before mentioned. This as it is his Birthday is one of his Collar-days without Offering. Pentecost or Whitsunday. After this succeeds the Grand Solemnity of Pentecost or Whitsunday. Pentecost, from the Greek, because 'tis the 50th day from Easter or Christ's Resurrection; and Whitsunday, or White-Sunday, from the Catechumeni, who were apparelled in White Garments, and on the Eve of this Feast admitted to the Sacrament of Baptism. But Verstegan affirms, That it was of old named by our forefathers, Wied-Sunday, or Wihed-Sunday, because Wied or Wihed, in the Saxon Tongue, signifies Sacred. Now this Festival was anciently celebrated among the Jews on the 50th day after the Passeover, in the memory of Promulgation of the Divine Law of God on Mount Sinai; and our Whitsunday is kept 50 days after Easter by all True and Good Christians; to commemorate the Mission of the Holy Ghost, on that day, (which descended on the heads of the Apostles, in Tongues resembling fire, Act. 2.3.) who is the only and most Infallible Interpreter of the Divine Law. This is one of his majesty's Offering-dayes, and a Houshold-day when the Besant is given by the Lord Steward, or one of the other White Staff-Officers, and all the Holidays, in Whitsun-Week, are Collar-days without Offering. Ember-Week follows Whitsun-day, which is one of the 4 Grand Seasons of the Year, as is before specified at large. Trinity-Sunday. Trinity-Sunday falls next in course, (which is always the Lord's day following, and the Octave of Whitsunday) so nominated in Honour of the most Blessed Trinity; and to signify unto us, that the holy Works of our Redemption and Sanctification, which were then Consummated, are common to all Three Persons in the Trinity. This Festival was first Instituted by Gregory the 4th, who then sat in the Episcopal Chair, in the year of our Lord 827. It is one of his Majesty's Offering-days at White-Hall. St. Barnabas. June the 11th. St. Barnabas the Apostle comes next in the Calendar; commonly called Barnaby. The Name is Hebrew, signifying Son of the Master, of Prophecy, or of Comfort. The proper Name given him at his Circumcision was Joses, for Joseph, by a sweeter Termination, or Cadence: From the Apostles he received the Surname of Barnabas; He was born in the Isle of Cyprus, an Island in the Mediterranean, between Cilicia, Syria, and Egypt, whose Ancestors fled thither for their greater safety, in the Tumultuous and Distracted Government of Antiochus Epiphanes, or as some imagine, when Pompey with his Romans Conquered Judaea. He descended of the Tribe of Levi; his Parents were Opulent, and Pious; he was committed to the Tutelage of the Great Doctor of the Law, Gamaliel, at whose Feet he was educated with his Fellow-Pupil St. Paul. He was an Eye-witness of the Miracle in the Cure of the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda, which soon convinced him of the Divinity of our Saviour. He was one of the 70; sold all his Lands on Earth to Purchase in Heaven; and when God gave Saul his Fiat for an Apostle's Place, they two were Joynt-Commissioners for the Church, Fellow-Travellers, Consorts, and Zealots for Christ, etc. Dr. Brough on the Fest: And both Preached the Gospel in Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos, Cyprus, Perga in Pamphilia; and here Mark the Son of Barnabas his Sister Mary, whom they took with them, as their Minister and Attendant, weary of this Troublesome, Itinerant Life, departed from them, (which occasioned the unhappy Difference between these two Apostles Paul and Barnabas) afterwards they Travelled to Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and so back to Antioch, and then they parted with some discontent, because Barnabas would take his Cousin Mark with him, which St. Paul denied, by reason of his weak Desertion, and he went to Silas, but Barnabas with his Cousin Mark to his own Country Cyprus, though some say Rome, but 'tis most probable Cyprus, in the last period of his Life, where he Converted great numbers; but some Syrian Jews coming to Salamis, where he than was furiously set upon as he was Teaching in the Synagogue, in a Corner whereof they shut him up till night; then brought him forth, and after unexpressible Tortures, stoned him. This Barnaby-day, or thereabout, is the Summer Solstice or Sun-sted, when the Sun seems to stand, and gins to go back, being the longest day in the year; about the 11th or 12th of June; it is taken for the whole time, when the days appear not for 14 days together either to lengthen, or shorten. Corpus-Christi. June the 14th is Corpus-Christi-day, that is the Festival of the Body of our Lord, a Feast that owes its Institution to Urban the 4th Prelate of Rome, about the year of God 1264. in honour of the Body of Christ, or Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. On this Day in all Catholic Countries, during the Octave of this Feast, and the Sacrament is most solemnly carried about in Procession, to be adored by the People; the Priests and they all Expressing their Devotion in Hymns, Songs, and Prayers, accompanied with all the Testimonies of Pious Affections (as they term it) as Music, Lights, Flowers strewed all along the Streets, their richest Tapestries hung out upon the Walls, etc. The next Sunday is the first Sunday after Trinity, and the Sundays after are called 1st, 2d, 3d, etc. according to their Numeral order, from their succession of Trinity, till the 1st Advent-Sunday. St. john Baptist. The 24th of June is St. John Baptist's, or commonly Midsummer-Day, which needs no interpretation. The Name John in Hebrew is Gracious, and Baptist is a Greek word, signifying Washer or Dipper, by way of Eminence; because he Baptised our Saviour in the River Jordan, and was the first that Baptised. This Festival is in Commemoration of St. John, the Son of Zachary and Elizabeth, who was one of the Tribe of Levi, and he that shown us the Lamb of God, who taketh away the Sins of the World, yet was this Devout and Austere Saint, the Praecursor or Forerunner of our Saviour, beheaded by Herod the Bloodthirsty Tetrarch, at the desire and request of Herodias (the Relict of his Brother Philip) Anno Dom. 30. This is one of His majesty's Offering-Days at Whitehall, and the day appointed for the Election of the two Sheriffs of London and Middlesex. St. Peter and St. Paul. On the 29th of June is celebrated the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. Peter in the Greek signifies a Stone, or Rock; Paul, Hebrew, Wonderful, or worst; but Cardinal Baronius derives it from the Latin, and makes it signify Little, or Humble. They are both joined in one Solemnity for these Reasons; because they were both Principal and Joint Co-operators under our Lord and Saviour, in the Conversion of the World; it falling to St. Peter's lot to Convert the Jews, and St. Paul's, the Gentiles; for this Cause St. Paul was named the Apostle of the Gentiles; as also in regard they were both Martyred at Rome. St. Peter, the Chief and Head of the Apostles, Preached the Gospel in Pontus, Cappadocia, Bythinia and Galatia, and at last at Rome, where he was disgracefully Crucified under that Tyrant and Monster of Men, Nero, with his Head downward; for according to Tradition, it was his own desire, and there he was also Interred. St. Paul, whose former Name was Saul (Hebr. Lent of the Lord, or as some will have it, Fox) before his Conversion; being a violent Persecutor; when St. Stephan was stoned; kept the Murderers ; and when cruel Commissioners were sent to Scourge, Kill and slay all that called on the Name of Christ, he carried the Letters. He was a Jew born, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, Learned and (his Principle pardoned) Conscientious too. The Voice of our Saviour to him out of Heaven, Acts 9.38. with a Light, struck him blind, and down, and did both unhorsed and un-Jew him. He asked, and was directed what course to steer; goes to Ananias, and receives at once his Sight and Baptism; and thenceforth the World becomes his Charge, and Conquest; and the Gentiles his special care. Being thus called after Christ's Assumption, and Registered in the Catalogue of his Apostles; he Preached the Gospel (the Professors whereof he formerly persecuted with so great fury and heat) from Jerusalem to Illyricum, Spain and Italy, and was beheaded by the bloody Sword of the Emperor Nero, on a Sunday, being the third Calends of July, or the 29th of June, according to our Julian Computation, and so was also St. Peter; now as they both suffered, they both lie buried together. This Day the Church keeps, and we most concerned (his Gentile-Converts) have greatest cause of all to observe to his Memory, but to thy Glory, O Christ! Dr. Brough of the Holy Feasts and Festivals of the Church of England. This is one of the King's Collar-days without Offering. Visitation of Mary. In July, the first we meet with, is the Visitation of Mary, instituted and observed by the Church of Rome, in Honour of the Mother of God; and in Memory of her visiting St. Elizabeth, after she had Conceived the Son of God; at whose presence, St. John the Baptist leapt in the Womb of his Mother, St. Luke 1.41. This is a Festival in the Roman Rubric, not in ours. St. Swithin's-Day. On the 15th of this Month is St. Swithin's-Day (Swithin Saxon comes from the old English Switheahn, that is, very High, as Celsus with the Romans.) This name was taken up in Honour of St. Swithin, the Holy Bishop of Winchester, about the year of our Lord 860, and called the Weeping St. Swithin; for that about this time Praesepe & Aselli, two Rainy Constellations in the Sign Cancer arise Cosmically (that is together with the Sun, or in the same Degree of the Ecliptic with him) and commonly cause Rains. Cambden. Dog-days, Dies Caniculares, or Sirius; certain days that begin toward the latter end of June, and end the latter end of August, so called of Canicula, the little Dog-star, which then riseth with the Sun, being Predominant, and greatly increaseth his heat, during the time of its Reign. 'Tis named Sirius from the Greek, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h●e. Siccand●, to dry up; Propterea quod & fluvios & fontes nimio calore exiccet, because it dries up the Rivers and Fountains by its Excessive heat; vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab evacuando, from evacuating, quod Corpora nostra sudoribus evacuet; because it cleanseth our Bodies by sweat. Here I presume we may appositely insert an account of the Spanish Invasion, abstracted out of History; because they were Engaged, and Discomfitted this Month, In the 21th year of the Reign of Q. Eliz. Anno Dom. 1588. the Spanish Invasion happened; Their Navy consisted of 130 Ships, in which there were 19290 Soldiers, 8050 Mariners, 2080 Galleyslaves, 2630 Great Ordnance, and for the greater Sanctification of the Action, 12 of their Vessels were called by the Names of the 12 Apostles. The Commander in Chief of the Fleet, was Don Alphonso, Duke of Medina; the next in Authority was Martin Recalde, an Able Seaman. They came out of the Groin in May, but were dispersed, and the Queen in the mean time made the following Preparations; the Lord Charles Howard Lord Admiral of her whole Navy, and Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral, were to be ready at Plymouth; the Lord Henry Seymor (second Son to the Duke of Somerset) with 40 English and Dutch Ships to guard the Coasts of the Netherlands, and keep the Prince of Parma from coming forth for Land-Service. Three were placed along our Southern Coasts 20000 Soldiers, and two Armies of Trained Men Levied, the one commanded by the Earl of Leicester, consisting of 1000 Horse, and 22000 Foot, who pitched his Tents at Tilbury; over the other (appointed as a Guard to Her Majesty's Royal Person) consisting of 24000 Foot, and 2000 Horse, the Lord Hunsdon was General. Now all things on both sides being in a readiness, the Spanish Navy set forth in May, as before, but were drawn back and distressed, and their first Appearance was July the 21th. The Admiral of England, coming out of Plymouth, sent a Pinnace, named, The Defiance, before; which, by a Great Shot, Challenged the Spaniards to Fight, and they speedily fell to it, but the English had the better. The 23th of this Month they had a second Fight, where there was little hurt done by the Spaniards; the 24th they rested on both sides, and the 25th which was St. James his Day, they fell to it the third time, and the English got the better; after which the Spaniards held on their Course, and turned no more upon us. The 27th of the Month, towards evening, the Spaniards cast Anchor near Calais, the English then having 140 Ships; though but 15 of them bore the brunt of the Battle. The 28th the Lord Admiral made eight of his worst Vessels Fireships, and sent them in the Night to the Spanish Fleet; at the sight whereof, they made a hideous noise, cut their Cables with great confusion and astonishment. The Spanish Navy being now destitute of many necessary Provisions, and no hope of the Prince of Parma's Assistance, resolved for Spain Northward, in which they lost many Ships and Men; the English Navy still pursued closely, till they were fain to leave them, for want of Powder. Thus this Invincible Armada, (for so it was styled in a Spanish Bravado) that was three whole years preparing; in the space of one Month was often beaten, and at length put to flight; many of their men slain, above half their Ships taken and sunk; not above 100 of the English missing at the most; not so much as a Ship, but Cock's small Vessel; thus sailing about all Britain by Scotland, the Orkneys and Ireland, they returned to Spain with as great dishonour, as they set out with Ostentation; for indeed, Mendosa in France Triumphed before the Victory in Print. Now Q. Elizabeth for this Happy Success, appointed Prayers and Thanksgiving in all Churches throughout England; and She (as it were in Triumph) came in Person attended with a numerous Train of her Nobility into the City, went into the Cathedral of St. Pawles (where the Banners taken from the Enemy were publicly exposed to the view of Spectators) and there gave thanks to Almighty God in a most humble manner, for so great a Deliverance from, and defeat of a Foreign Enemy. St. James. July the 25th, is the Feast of St. James (Hebr. the same as Jacob) the Apostle, surnamed the Greater, Brother to St. John, the Sons of Zebedee, who was both an Apostle, and Martyr: This is he that Taught the Gospel to the 12 dispersed Tribes; and was Murdered by the Sword; or (as some say) Beheaded in Judaea by Herod Agrippa, Anno Dom. 45. where he was buried, and consequently the first of the 12 Apostles that was translated to the Kingdom of Christ. This is one of the King's Collar-Days without Offering. St. Anne. The next day, being the 26th, is by some People Celebrated to the Memory of St. Anne (Hebr. Gracious) who was the Holy Mother of the Blessed Virgin. This Day is not in our, but the Roman Rubric. Lammas-Day. August gins with a Feast; the first, being called Lammas-Day, the Gule, or Yule of August, St. Peter advincula, or St. Peter's Chains. 'Tis named Lammas, qu. Lamb-mass; because on that Day in the time of Popery here among us in England, the Tenants that held Lands of the Cathedral Church in York (which is Dedicated to St. Peter ad vincula) were obliged by their Tenure on that day, to bring a live Lamb into the Church, whilst they were singing High-Mass, or (as some conceive) it may take its Derivation from the Saxon, Hlarmaesse, i.e. Loaf-Mass, or Bread-Mass so called, as a Feast of Thanksgiving to God for the first fruits of the Corn, and it seems hath been observed with Bread made of new Wheat; and accordingly it is a Custom in some Places, for Tenants to be bound to bring their Lord that years' Wheat, on or before the first of August. Ham. Resol. 2.6. Queries p. 465. 'Tis called the Gule or Yule of August, which some Conjecture to be only a Corruption of the British word Gwyl-Awst, that is, the Feast of August. Others again conceive (and I think more truly) that Gule comes from Gula in Latin, or Gueule in French, a Throat; and St. Peter ad vincula for this Reason following, which you have in Durand's Rationali Divinor. l. 7. Ca De festo Sancti Petri ad vincula: (a Catholic Story) that one Quirinus a Tribune of Rome, had a Daughter who was troubled with a painful Disease in her Throat; and therefore, (I presume, other means failing) Addressed himself to his then Holiness Alexander the 6th of that Name, from St. Peter; and desired to borrow or see the Chains that St. Peter was chained with under Nero; which Request being obtained; his Daughter kissing the said Chains, was as miraculously, as Immediately cured of her Malady— (Credat Judaeus Appella,— Non Ego)— whereupon Quirinus with his whole Family turned Christians, and were baptised: Tunc dictus Alexander Papa (as Durand hath it) hoc Festum in Calendis Augusti Celebrandum Instituit, & in Honorem Beati Petri Ecclesiam in Urbe Fabricavit, ubi Vincula ipsa reposuit, & ad vincula Nominavit, & Calendis Augusti Dedicavit; so that this Day being before only known by the Name of the Calends of August, was afterward upon this very occasion termed, either of the Instrument that wrought this Miracle, the Day of St. Peter ad vincula, or of the part of the Daughter, namely, the Throat, whereon the Miracle was wrought, the Gule of August. This day is kept by the Papists, as they say, in Honour of those Chains, wherewith Herod caused St. Peter at Jerusalem; to be bound, from which he was disengaged by the Angel of God, Acts the 12th. by the sole Touch whereof, not only the , but many other Miracles were wrought; nay, some of that Church are so superstitiously Credulous, as to believe their Miraculous joining together many years after into one entire Chain, with those Iron Fetters wherewith the Holy Apostle was loaden, when he was Imprisoned at Rome. August the 5th. in some of our ancient Calendars, is known by the name of Gowrie's Conspiracy, and though now omitted, (the reason thereof you shall soon understand) yet it was kept very devoutly in the Reign of King James, as a Day of Thanksgiving to the Almighty for his Deliverance from the Treacherous Conspiracy of the Gowries in Scotland. The Story runs thus, as Baker relates it in his Chronicle, p. 382. out of which take this Abstract. The Earls Gowry, Marre, Lindsey, and others, Invited the King to the Castle of Reuthen (in the absence of the Earl of Arran and Lenox) and there detained him, not permitting him to walk abroad; all his Trusty Servants they removed from him, and Compelled the King by Letters to Queen Elizabeth to approve and allow of this his Thraldom. After his Mother Queen Mary had sent to Queen Elizabeth, complaining of the Usage of her Son, he himself sent Colonel William Steward, and John colvil to the Queen of England; and after the Death of Lenox in France, the Surprizers being lifted up in their Conceits, thinking they had him safe enough; he, on a sudden (though scarce 18 years of age) with some few others, conveyed himself to the Castle of St. Andrews, to whom the Nobility Repaired, with Armed Bands, fearing some danger might befall him; afterward with fair words he advised some of his Surprizers to go from Court to avoid Tumult, promising them Pardon, if they would crave it; but Gowry only asked Pardon, and submitted himself, using this Distinction, that he had not offended in Matter, but in Form: and farther, Baker saith, p. 384. that Gowry was tried by his Peers at Sterling, Anno 1600. where being accused of many Treasons, though he gave colourable Answers to them all; yet was found Guilty, Condemned, and Beheaded; whose Head his Servants sewing to the Body, committed to the Grave. Baker farther saith, p. 428. At this time, Anno 1603. the King forgot not a Deliverance he formerly had; which though it were in Scotland, yet he would have notice taken of it in England, which was this his Deliverance from the Conspiracy of the Gowries, on the 5th of August 1600. three years before, and thereupon, Friday, being the 5th day, was by Commandment appointed to be Holiday; with Morning-Prayer, Sermon, and Evening-Prayer read, with Bonfires at Night, which was then, and after, during his Life, solemnly observed. August the 6th. is the Transfiguration; (from Transfiguro, Lat. to change shape) a Feast Celebrated by the Papists in Memory of our Saviour's Transfiguring himself upon Mount Thabor, and showing a Glimpse of his Glory to his Apostles, St. Peter, St. James, and St. John; And his Face (saith the Text) shone as the Sun, and his Garment became white as Snow, Matth. 17.2. and in them also unto us, for our encouragement to Virtue, Perseverance in Faith and mutual Love one toward another. St. Laurence. The 10th of this Month, is a Day Dedicated to St. Laurence (Lat. flourishing like a Bay-Tree; the same as Daphnis in Greek) who was Deacon to Pope Xistus, then sitting in the Chair at Rome, a very Zealous Person, according to Tradition, for the Catholic Cause; who thereupon in the Primitive times, was by the Cruel and Barbarous Pagans, most inhumanely Broiled on a Gridiron, for the Faith of Christ; which Martyrdom he suffered with undaunted and matchless Fortitude. This is in the Roman, but not in our Rubric. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The 15th of this Month is, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Holy Jesus, so called from Assumo, Lat. to assume, or take up; 'tis observed in Memory of her being Assumed, or taken up (as the Papists confidently maintain) into Heaven, both Soul and Body after her Dormition, or Dissolution, and this is a constant Tradition of their Church. This is also in the Roman, not in our Rubric. St. Bartholomew. The next is the Festival of St. Bartholomew, solemnised on the 24th of August. The Name is Chaldee, and signifies the Son of him that makes the water ascend. He was Nephew (as some maintain) and Heir to a King of Syria; yet both an Apostle, and Martyr. He Preached the Glad Tidings of the Gospel to the Indians, where he, by the Command of Polemius, King of India, was sorely beaten with Cudgels, the first day; the next Crucified and Excoriated, or flean alive, while he was fastened on the Cross; and finally (still breathing, and alive) Beheaded in the year of our Lord 51. For this Reason it was named Duplex Festum, some observing the 25th. as we the 24th of August. Here was a Complication of Punishments for no Crime at all. This is one of His majesty's Collar-Days without Offering. The 29th is the Decollation of St. John Baptist. Beheaded by Herod, at the request of Herodias; which we have praementioned in the Festival of St. John Baptist. Septemb. the 2d. On this day happened that Dreadful Conflagration of the City of London, about one of the Clock in the Morning, Anno 1666. beginning at the House of one Mr. Farryner, a Baker in Pudding-Lane, near New Fish-Street, which consumed in four days time the greatest part of this Flourishing Metropolis. 'Tis supposed to be fired by one Robert Hubert of Rouen in Normandy, with one Peidloe, the chief, there being in all 23 Complices, as he confessed; for which he was hanged at Tyburn, and died a Roman Catholic. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The 8th of this Month is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, (Heb. Exalted, or from Marah, as some conceive, i. e. Bitterness) which is a Festival observed by our Holy Mother the Church, in Commemoration of her Happy and Glorious Birth, who brought into the World the Author of all Life and Salvation, our Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Holy-tood-Day, or Holy-Cross. The 14th. is the other Holy-rood-Day; or Holy-Cross, (the Invention of the Cross being on the 3d of May, which we have given you an account of) 'tis called Holy Cross, or the Exaltation of the Cross, in Memory of the Exaltation, or setting up the Holy Cross which was found by St. Helen. (as we have already acquainted you) by Heraclius, the Emperor; who having regained it a second time from the Persians, after it had been given over for lost, the space of 14 years, carried it on his shoulders to Mount Calvarie, and there Exalted it with more than ordinary Solemnity. Then follows the Ember-Week, according to the Rule before laid down, Post Cineres, etc. this being the third in the year, following Holy-Cross, or Holy-rood-Day. St. Matthew. On the 21th of this Month, is Celebrated the Festival of St. Matthew, (Heb. Reward) an Apostle, and one of the four Holy Secretaries of the most Sacred Gospel. He was by Birth a Jew, by Profession a Publican, or Toll-Customer; was at length Converted, and became a Disciple, Apostle, Evangelist and Martyr. He wrote the Gospel of Christ in the Hebrew Language, and delivered it to James, the Brother of our Lord, who was at that time Bishop of Jerusalem. He Preached in the Kingdom of Aethiopia, where he was kindly entertained by the Eunuch (Chamberlain, or Chief Governor to Candace, Queen of Aethiopia; as it is Recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, Acts the 8th. 27th.) and was so successful in his Teaching, that he prevailed and persuaded Aeglippus the King, and his People to be Baptised; but after his Decease, there succeeded him one Hyrtacus by name, who Detested the Apostle, and therefore Commanded him to be run through with a Sword; which was accordingly done, Anno Dom. 71. This is one of His majesty's Collar-Days, without Offering. St. Michael the Archangel. The 29th of this Month is the Feast of St. Michael (Heb. who is like God) the Archangel who figured Christ, or Michaelmas, that is, a Solemnity or Mass in honour of St. Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host, and one of the Nine Orders of Angels, aswel to Commemorate that famous Battle fought by him, and them in Heaven, against the red Dragon (or the Devil) and his Apostate Angels, Apoc. 12. in Defence of God's Honour; as also (say the Romanists) to Commend the whole Church of God to their Patronage and Prayers; and by them 'tis named the Dedication of St. Michael; because there is a Church at Rome, dedicated on that day to St. Michael by Pope Boniface. This is one of King Charles his Offering-Days at His Court of Whitehall. And on this day also the Lord Mayor of the City of London, for the year ensuing, is Elected. There is another Feast observed by the Romanists, called the Apparition of St. Michael, and is in Commemoration of his Wonderful Appearance on Mount Garganus, where (as the Papists fond flatter themselves) by his own appointment a Temple was Dedicated to him, in the time of Pope Gelasius. St. Luke. October the 18th. is a Day Consecrated to the Memory of St. Luke (Heb. Taken) the Evangelist. Syria was the Place of his Nativity; by Profession he was a Physician of Antioch, after that an Evangelist, and the Holy Penman of the Acts of the Apostles in their Peregrination; but especially of St. Paul's. He died at Ephesus, in the 84th year of his Age, where he was inhumed, Anno Christi, 74; and was (together with Andrew and Timothy) Translated to Constantinople, many years after, in the Reign of Constantius, Son of Constantine the Great; but Nicephorus, the Historian says, that he was Hanged on a Green Olive-Tree. This is one of His majesty's Collar-Days, without Offering. The 21th of this Month Dedicated to Ursula (Lat. a little She-Bear) The Name of a Female Saint heretofore of great Honour, and still continued in the Calendar, and this Day was kept solemnly in Commemoration of a Famous, Religious British Virgin, who notwithstanding the Tenderness of her Sex, and her Zeal for the true Religion, was most Inhumanly Martyred under Attila King of the Huns; styled Flagellum Dei; a Bloody, but Valiant Scythian, who over-ran Italy, and Gallia; and at the Persuasion; or rather Entreaty of Pope Leo, retired into Hungary. St. Simon and Judas. The 28th is the Festival of St. Simon and Judas. Simon (Heb. Hearing, or Obedient) surnamed Zelotes (Gr. Fervent) was born in Cana, a Town of Galilee, the Son of Mary and Cleophas, as Euseb. affirms, L. 3. C. 11. and taught the Gospel in Egypt and Persia; from thence he returned, and succeeded St. James in the Bishopric of Jerusalem; where, under the Reign of the Emperor Trajan, he was Crucified in the 120th year of his Age, and consequently the last Martyr of all the Apostles. St. Judas (Heb. Judas, Judah, and Jehudah; all three signify Confession called also Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus) Preached the Holy Gospel to the Edessaeans; a sort of People of Edessa, a City of Syria, and throughout all Mesopotamia; he was Murdered at Berytus, a City of Phoenicia, in the Reign of Agbarus, King of Edessa, according to the most Authentic Tradition, where he was very Honourably Sepulchred, in the year of our Lord 21. This is one of His majesty's Collar-Days, without Offering. The next day after, being the 29th, is a day whereon the Elected Mayor for that year, accompanied with the Aldermen of London on Horseback to the River of Thames; and the Companies of Freemen wait upon him in Barges, with Drums and Trumpets, to Westminster, and there he walks with the Aldermen round the Hall, and then goes up to the Exchequer, where he is Sworn, and returns to the City; and at his Landing, he is waited upon by several Companies of Soldiers, and several stately Pageants are erected, and carried about in a Triumphant manner. All Saints. November 1st. Gins with the Festival of All Saints, or Allhallows, and this time is commonly called Allhallontide; 'tis a Solemnity in Honour and Memory of all the Saints, (as the Papists maintain) that so at least they may obtain the Patronage and Prayers of them all; since the whole year is much too short to afford us a Particular Feast for every Saint. All Souls. The next day, Novemb. 2d. is All-Souls; a Day Instituted by the Church of Rome, in Commemoration of all the Faithful departed this Life; that by the Prayers and Suffrages of the Living, they may be discharged of their purging Pains, and at last obtain Life Everlasting; to this purpose the Day is kept Holy till Noon. Hence proceeds the Custom of Soul-Mass Cakes; which are a kind of Oat-Cakes, that some of the Richer sort of Persons in Lancashire, and Herefordshire (among the Papists there) use still to give the Poor, on this Day; and they in Retribution of their Charity, hold themselves obliged to say this old Couplet, — God have your Saul Beens and all. Both these days were of such eminent observance with our Ancestors, that they still continue no Court-days at Westminster-Hall, but are the Lawyers and Judges holidays. All-Saints is one of His majesty's Offering-Days at Whitehall, and one of the Houshold-days, when the Besant is given by the Lord Steward; or one of the other White-Staff-Officers. November the 5th, commonly called Gun-Powder-Treason-Day, Anno 1605. and in the third-year of the Reign of King James, in England, of Happy Memory, of which take this Brief Narrative Collected out of Sir Richard Baker, in the said King's Reign. The 19th day of March-was a second Parliament appointed to sit at Westminster, & the said Parliament beginning, the King made a long and Loving Speech to both Houses wherein he signified the Cause of his Calling it; but in the time, when it should have proceeded, there was suddenly discovered a Plot of Treason, so Damnable, and Foul, that Posterity will hardly think it true, when they shall hear of it. The Plot was to blow up with Gunpowder both Houses of Parliament, at a time when the King, Prince, and all the Nobility should be sitting in the Upper House, and all the Knights and Burgesses in the Lower. The Principal Contriver of this Plot, was Robert Catesby; a Gentleman of great account in Northamptonshire, descended from that Catesby, who had been a special Councillor of King Richard the 3d. to whose Family the Divine Providence had now ordained a disastrous Period. This Catesby, not able to perform the Work alone, draws in many to assist him; as namely, Tho. Piercy, Tho. Winter, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, John Wright, Francis Tresham, Guido Fawks, and at last Sir Everard Digby, all earnest Papists, and all bound by Oath, and by receiving the Sacrament, To be secret for effecting this Plot, they hired a House close adjoining to the Upper House of Parliament, where they were to dig through a Wall for the fit placing of their Powder; about Candlemas they had wrought the Wall half through, and suddenly they heard a noise in the next Room, which made them fear they had been discovered; but sending Guy Fawks (who went now under the Name of John Johnson, as Mr. Piercy's Man) to see what the matter was, he brought word, that it was a Cellar, where Sea-Coals had been laid, and were now a Selling, and the Room offered to be Let for a yearly Rent: this Room therefore, as most fit for their purpose, being right under the Parliament-House, Mr. Piercy presently went and hired, laying into it 20 Barrels of Powder, which were covered with Billets and Faggots, that they might not be discovered. Thus the 1st part of the Plot was put in good readiness, it now remained to consider what was to be done, when the Blow should be given, intending to surprise the Duke of York, who was absent, and the Lady Elizabeth, at the Lord Harrington's, in Warwickshire, where she than lay, under pretence of a Match at Hunting, near Dunchurch; but their Tenderness, lest their Friends should Perish, overthrows them; for to prevent such Promiscuous Slaughter, a Letter was framed, and sent to the Lord Monteagle, Son and Heir of the Lord Morley, brought him by one of his Footmen, which he received from an unknown Man in the Street. The Letter was as followeth. My Lord, OUt of the Love I bear to some of your Friends, I have a care of your Preservation; therefore I would wish you (as you tender your Life) to forbear your Attendance at this Parliament; for God and Man have Concurred to Punish the Wickedness of this Time; and think not slightly of this Advertisement; for though there be no Appearance of any stir, yet I say, they shall receive a terrible Blow, this Parliament, and yet shall not see who hurts them. This Counsel is not to be Contemned, because it may do you good, and can do you no harm; for the Danger is past, as soon as you have burned this Letter; and I hope you will make good use of it. My Lord having read this Letter, tho much perplexed, yet went presently to the Court, (the King being then a Hunting at Royston) and delivered it to the Earl of Salisbury, Principal Secretary of State; and the Earl having read it, acquainted first the Lord Chamberlain with it, and then the Lord Admiral, the Earls of Worcester, and Northampton; who, as soon as the King was returned from Hunting, acquainted him with it; but the King apprehended some Violent Motion, and that it must be some sudden danger by Blowing up with Powder; and diligent search being made by the Lord Chamberlain, and the Lord Monteagle, who entering the Cellar, found great store of Faggots and Billets, and more diligent search being made, there were found under the Billets 36 Barrels of Powder, together with other Instruments fit for their purpose, and apprehended Fawx there, and found in his Pocket a piece of Touchwood, a Tinderbox to light the Touchwood, and a Watch, which Mr. Piercy had bought the day before, to try the short, or long burning of the Touchwood, that was prepared to give fire to the Train of Powder. Most of the Confederates met at Dunchurch, according to Agreement; but the Plot being thus Discovered, Catesby & Piercy were both slain, coming out of Mr. Littleton's House in Worcestershire; so were John and Christopher Wright, the rest taken; and on the 27th of January following, a Commission was directed to divers Lords, and Judges of both Benches, for Trial of the rest of the Confederates, who were all Condemned, and had Judgement to Die; and on the Thursday following, Sir Everard Digby, Robert Winter, Grant, and Bates, were accordingly Drawn, Hanged, and Quartered at the West End of St. Paul's Church, London; and on Friday the other four, Tho. Winter, Keyes, Rookwood, and Fawks, were Executed in the Parliament-Yard at Westminster. This Plot was Discovered to the Rejoicing of all People; insomuch that the King of Spain's, and the Archduke's Ambassadors made Bonfires, and threw Money among the People, in token of Joy. And now King James, not to be unmindful of the Lord Mounteagle, for being the means of Discovering this Treason, gave him in Fee-farm of Crown-Lands 2000 l. to him and his Heirs, and 500 l. a year besides, during his Life; and not to be Unthankful to God for the Deliverance, he caused the 5th of November, being the day of the Discovery, to be kept Holy with Prayers, and Thanksgiving to God, which was then solemnly performed, and hath been since, and is likely for ever to be continued. The 28th of March following, Henry Garnet, Provincial of the English Jesuits, was Arraigned in Guildhall, for concealing the aforesaid Treason, where he had Judgement to be Drawn, Hanged; and Quartered; and accordingly on the 3d of May, was Drawn from the Tower unto the West End of St. Paul's Church, and there Executed. At his Death he Confessed his Fault, asked Forgiveness, and Exhorted all Papists never to Attempt any Treason against the King, or State, as a Course which God would never prosper. By an Act 3d Jac. 'tis ordained, that all Persons appear at their Parish-Church, for the Observation of this Day. This is one of his majesty's Collar-days without Offering. Queen Katherine's Birthday. November the 15th, is the Birthday of our most Gracious Queen Katherine (Gr. Pure) whom God preserve, and grant her length of Days, Health and Happiness in this world, and in the world to come. The 19th of this Month is Celebrated in Commemoration of the Nativity of our King Charles the First, of Blessed Memory, a Royal Monarch, and Glorious Martyr, who was born this day, at Dunfernling, in Scotland, Anno Dom. 1600 and is placed in our English Rubric. Presentation of the Virgin Mary. The 20th, or as ours hath it the 21th of this Month, is the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, in the Roman Rubric; a Feast in Commemoration of her being presented in the Temple at the age of three years, where she Vowed herself to God, both Soul, and Body. St. Clement. The 23th, is Dedicated to St. Clement (Lat. Merciful) who was Fellow-Labourer with St. Paul, and according to all Probability, Rome was his Native Place, descended of a Noble Race; his Father's Name Faustinus, or as some think Faustus; he was the Youngest of three Sons; he had the good fortune to be under the Pupilage of St. Barnabas in Judaea, who came to Rome, and followed him to Alexandria, Judaea and Caesarea, where he met with St. Peter who Discipled, Baptised, and as some over-consecrated him Bishop of Rome. Now that which made him Martyr was this: He had Converted the Noble Roman Lady Theodora, and her Husband Sisinnius, Kinsman and Favourite to the then late Emperor Nerva; and for this Torcutianus, a Grandee of Rome, with the Mutinous Rabble, charging him with Magic and Sorcery, the Emperor being acquainted therewith by Mamertinus, the Praefect, he returned this Answer, That he should either Sacrifice to the Gods, or be Banished to a disconsolate City, beyond the Pontic Sea, and was Transported thither to dig in the Mines, a horrid Punishment, Et mortiproxima; here he Converted great Numbers, which incensed them so highly, that Aufidianus the Precedent by the Emperor's Order, Commanded he should be cast into the Sea, that the Christians might not find his Body. There are many Miracles handed down to us by Tradition of this Pious Man; for which, see Dr. Cave's Apostolici; for we design but an Abridgement. He was thus destroyed on the 24th, or as some say, the 9th of November, in the 3d year of the Emperor Trajan, about two years after his Exile, he having been nine years, and some controverted Months Bishop of Rome. St. Andrew. The 30th day of this Month, is the Festival of St. Andrew (Gr. Manly) the Brother of Simon Peter; by Profession an Indigent Fisherman, yet an Holy Apostle, and at length a Blessed Martyr, who Instructed the Scythians, Sacians, Sogdians, and the Inhabitants of the middle Sebastopolis, in the Gospel of Christ. After this he Preached in Cappadocia, Galatia, Bythinia; and all along the Euxine Sea: Lastly, in Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly and Achaia; where in the Reign of the Emperor Vespasian, he was Crucified by the King of the Edessaeans, Aegeas by Name, and Sepulchred at Patris a City of Achaia, Anno Dom. 80. or thereabout. This is one of his majesty's Collar-Days without Offering. Advent-Sunday. The next is Advent-Sunday, so called ab Adventu Domini in Carnem, and they are four in number Instituted by the Holy Church, to the end, that from the first of them, until the Nativity of our Blessed Lord, we might prepare our Minds for a sober Life, and Pious Meditation of his Birth then approaching. Parate viam Domini, rectas facite semitas Dei nostri; and this is the last of the Movable Feasts in the Calendar. The 8th of December, is the Conception of the Virgin Mary, a Feast among the Romanists, Celebrated in Memory of her Miraculous Conception, who was conceived by her Parents St. Joachim and St. Anne in their old and infirm Age, and Sanctified from the very first instant in her Mother's Womb. The 13th of this Month, is in remembrance of St. Lucia (Lat. Lightsome, or Bright) who is by Tradition reputed to be an Unspotted Virgin, and Resolute Martyress. This is usually counted the Winter Solstice, at which time the Sun comes to the Tropic of Capricorn. The next Week ensuing is the 4th and last Ember-Week in the year. St. Thomas. The 21th is Dedicated to St. Thomas, the Apostle (Tho. is Hebr. a Twin, or as some will have it, Bottomless pit, he was surnamed Didymus, Gr. a Twin, because a Twin-born, or on some such occasion) was our Saviour's Holy Apostle and Martyr, who instructed the Parthians, Medes and Persians in the Gospel; as also the Caramanians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians and Magicians, and was at last wounded to death with a Dart at Calamina, a City in India; and there honourably Interred, Anno Christi 35. This is at Whitehall one of the King's Collar-days without Offering. Mat. Christ. The 25th of December, beyond all Controversy, is the Day of our Saviour's Nativity at Bethlehem, or Christmas-Day (as the Saxons use to term their Feasts, from the Mass appropriated to the day, of which you have an account before) which is sufficiently and Learnedly proved by Modern Authors, namely, Edward Fisher Esq; in his Vindication of our Gospel-Festivals, and the Great Selden in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or God made Man; and by the Ancients St. Austin and St. Chrysostom. And of old Epiphany (which is Manifestation) was taken for Christmas Day upon this Identity of the word, it being the time, when our Saviour was incarnated, or manifested in the flesh. In the North of England, 'tis commonly called Yule, from the Latin Jubilum, which imports a Time of Joy and Festivity. The Latin or Western Church named it Luminaria, or the Feast of Lights; because therein were used abundance of Lights and Tapers; or rather, (as some conceive) because Christ the Light of Lights; the true Light than came into the World; and this is the Foundation and Basis of all the other Christian Festivals, and to be Celebrated with greatest Solemnity and Veneration. This is a Grand day in His Majesty's Court, and one of the Houshold-days, when the Besant is to be given by the Lord Ste ward, or one of the White-Staff Officers. Immediately after Christmas, follow as Attendants upon that high Festival, St. stephan's, St john's, and St. Innocents'; not that this was the very time of their Suffering; but because none are thought fit Attendants on Christ's Nativity, who have laid down their Lives for him, from whose Birth they received Spiritual Life. Dr. Spar. Rationale of these as they succeed in the Calendar. St. Stephan. First of St, Stephan, (Gr. a Crown) The Proto-Martyr; the Holy Writ gives us no particular Satisfaction; of the Country, Parents, or Relations of this Pious and Zealous Christian. He was a Jew without question, and by the Ancients agreed to be ordained one of the 7 Proto-Deacons; Ut bona communia curaret, eaque viduis & Pauperibus rectè distribueret; which was but part of their Office; for they were elected by our Lord to be the Apostles Coadjutors and Fellow-Labourers, not only to distribute justly the Alms of the Church, according to their emergent Necessities; but to Baptise, Preach and Absolve too in some Cases. He zealously and strennously confuted the Jews in their erroneous Tenets concerning the true Messiah; maintaining that Jesus of Nazareth was the true one foretold by the Prophets; He was for this accused of Blasphemy, Condemned and Stoned by the Jews at Jerusalem, An. Dom. 35. St. john. The next in order is St. John's, (John in the Hebr. signifies Gracious) who was the Brother of James, an Evangelist, and the best Beloved Apostle. He taught the Gospel to the asiatics, but the Tyrant Trajan Banished him into Patmos, an Isle in the Aegean Sea, where he penned his Holy Gospel, which was afterward published at Ephesus by his Deacon and Host. After the death of the Emperor, he returned to Ephesus, and continued there till he lived 120 years, and then died of an Apoplexy, in the year of our Saviour's Incarnation 104. Innocents'. The 28th. Innocents', or Childermass-Day, that is the Feast of the Children, the Holy Innocents' of Bethlehem, who were Massacred by Herod the Great most Inhumanely in our Saviour's stead, though not for his sake; among whom, his own Son (as Historians affirm) escaped not the fate of his Cruelty; which extorted this saying, from the Emperor Augustus Caesar; Melius est esse Herodis Porcum, quam Puerum; It is better to be Herod's Hog, than his Son. Dr. Sparrow in his Ration. saith upon the account of these three Festivals. There are three kinds of Martyrdom. p. In Will, and Deed, which is the Highest. 2. In Will, but not in Deed. 3. In Deed, but not in Will. In this order they attend. St. Stephan 1st, who suffered both in Will and Deed; next, St. John, who suffered Martyrdom in Will, but not in Deed; being Miraculously delivered out of the boiling Cauldron into which he was put before Pont. Latin in Rome. Lastly, the Holy Innocents', who suffered in Deed, but not in Will; yet are reckoned among the Martyrs, because they suffered for Christ, whose Praise these his Witnesses Confessed and showed forth, not in speaking, but in dying. And thus we have done with the Festivals; only it is observable, that as the Romanists open, so they close the year with a Festival in the Popish Rubric, though not in ours, which is the last day of December, and consequently of the year as to our Method, being a Day Dedicated to the Memory of Sylvester, who once sat in the Seat of Rome, and died a Confessor. This is in the Roman, not our Rubric. Now I conceive it will not be amiss to give you a just, but Concise account of the Vigils and Fasts of the Church on the Eves of the Feasts. Vigil comes from the Lat. Vigilo, and signifies to watch. In the time of the Apostles, and for some continuance after, when Persecuted and Dispersed Christians dared not appear in Public, by reason of the many Treacheries and daily snares laid for them by their violent Persecutors, they were compelled for their own Preservation, and Self-security to Assemble in private Holes, Corners, and Subterranean Places, to Exercise their Religion, and Perform their Devotion to their God. But in the Primitive times immediately succeeding the Blessed Apostles, when they apprehended no danger of Persecution, they Fasted and watched in their Oratories all the whole Easter-Week (but those Fasts are now voluntary, and not enjoined; for there is no Fast commanded betwixt Easter, and Whitsunday, Christmas, and Epiphany) and the Vigils of this Festival, by large Waxed Tapers, were made as Light as day, through the whole City, to represent mystically the Light of Salvation, then ready to diffuse it se●● all over the Universe. And this is the Original of that usage among Christians, both Men and Women, to Watch and Fast on the Eves of their High Solemnities in the Churches, and at the Tombs of the Saints departed; the Authors of which custom are credibly Reported to be Diodorus of Antioch, together with Flavianus; but in process of time, this Usage at watching and fasting at Sepulchers was at the persuasion of Leontius, than Bishop of Antioch, restrained to the Church only, Anno 375. The Watch by Night they used to divide into four parts: the 1st Vigil began at 6 in the Evening, and continued till 9; the 2d. at 9, and continued till 12; the 3d. from 12 to 3; and the 4th from 3 to 6 in the Morning. But at length these Promiscuous Nocturnal Vigils were the Cause of Great Impiety, as some are of Opinion, therefore Women were denied admission, because as the Canon saith, under the pretext of Prayer, many Crimes were secretly Committed, at length the Vigils themselves were prohibited, (though not for the reason aforesaid, others are of opinion; but rather because Zeal and Fervour in Religion grew cool, and Christians became more remiss in their Devotion) and the Fasts now observed on the Eves of great Festivals were Instituted in their room; yet they still retain the name of Vigils, as being the Denomination of a Duty required therein, this was confirmed by Pope Innocent the 3d, about the year of the Incarnation 1210. Thus you have a short and true account of all the Feasts, Fasts, Vigils, both of the English and Romish Rubric; with several other holidays not heretofore taken notice of in Treatises of this Nature. FINIS.