ABSTRACT
THEREFORE, as these three days continued till all the food was consumed, they would enter the church to hear holy words from the parish priest or curate, 1 just as they go in nowadays, and faithfully pray to the Lord for themselves, their dear parents, and their friends both living and dead, after making plentiful offerings. 2 They beg Him to grant peace, health, life and all the necessities of life, and mercy to their departed predecessors; and entreat that He may never let them fall into evil company, and meet neither the wrath of their masters nor ruin from the enemy. The following custom has been established for them when they afterwards return from there to the banqueting tables. To the aldermen among such a great number of people, in their due order, appointed servants, wearing white stoles, 3 present copious horns filled with choice drink for them to drain after the manner of the ancients, in high memory of the Holy Trinity. Next they follow the same rites, offering horns with similar liquor to be drunk in memory of the Virgin, mother of God, and thirdly to the patron saint invoked in the dedication of the parish church. Once these ceremonies have been performed, there are normally read, from a high position alongside an alderman, the ordinances for the guild members, on what should be diligently observed in pure and honourable fashion, both there and at home, for every condition, season, and age, as though these regulations were set out for the attainment of present and future joy in our one brief life. Nor are transgressors excepted from the liability of paying a penalty, in this case so many pounds of wax to be assigned to the sacred altars. Thus the memory of the saints is renewed with lasting veneration at these feasts, which occur at their own set times and are celebrated by large throngs.
