OBSERVATIONS ON CHAP. XX. Festa Valentino rediit lux Quisque sibi sociam jam legit ales avem. Quisque legit Dominam, quam casto observet amore Mittere cui possit blandi munuscula Veris. BUCHANAN. BIRDS are said to choose their Mates about this Time of the Year, and probably from thence came the Custom of young Persons chusing Valentines or special loving Friends on that Day: This is the commonly received Opinion.-I rather incline to controvert this, supposing it to be the Remains of an antient Superstition in the Church of Rome on this Day, of choosing Patrons for the Year ensuing; and that, because Ghosts were thought to walk on the Night of this Day*, or about this Time. Gallantry seems to have borrowed this, or rather to have taken it up, when Superstition (at the Reformation) had been compelled to let it fall. I have searched the Legend of St. Valentine, but * This I find in an Observation of the 14th of February, in the old Romish Calendar so often cited: "Manes nocte vagari creduntur." think there is no Occurrence in his Life, that could have given Rise to this Ceremony*. The learned Moresin tells † us, that at this Festival, the Men used to make the Women presents, as upon another Occasion the Women used to do to the Men, but that in Scotland on this Day presents were made reciprocally. Mr. Gay has left us a poetical Description of some I rearly rose, just at the break of Day, To milk my Kine (for so should Housewives do)· In spite of Fortune shall our true Love be‡. * Mr. Wheatley in his Illustration of the Common Prayer, p. 61, tells us, that St. Valentine was a Man of most admirable Parts and so famous for his Love and Charity, that the Custom of chusing Valentines upon his Festival, (which is still practised) took its rise from thence. I know not how my Reader will be satisfied with this learned Writer's Explication.-He has given us no Premises in my Opinion, from whence we can draw any such Conclusion:-Were not all the Saints supposed to be famous for their Love and Charity? Surely he does not mean that we should understand the Word Love here, as implying Gallantry! "Et vere ad Valentini festum à viris habent Fœminæ munera, "et alio temporis viris dantur. In Scotia autem ad Valentini reci"6 procæ fuêre dationes." Moresini Deprav. Rel. 160. Mr. Pennant, in his Tour in Scotland tells us, that in February young Persons draw Valentines, and from thence collect their future Fortune in the nuptial State. Dr. Goldsmith, in his Vicar of Wakefield, describing the Manners of some Rustics, tells us " they kept up the Christmas Carrol, "sent True love Knots on Valentine Morning, eat Pancakes on "Shrove-tide, shewed their Wit on the first of April, and religiously "cracked Nuts on All-hallow Eve." CHAP. CHAP. XXI. Of Shrove-tide; what it signifies; the Custom of the Papists at this Season; that our present Customs are very unbecoming. 4 SHROVE-TIDE signifieth the Time of confessing Sins, as the Word Tide, which signifies Time; and the Saxon Word Shrive or Shrift, which signifies Confession, plainly shew. The Reason why this Time is so denominated is, because it was set apart by the Church of Rome for a Time of Shriving or confessing Sins. For then People were wont to confess their Sins, and receive the Sacrament, that they might be better prepar'd for the Religious Observation of the following Season of Lent. Thus in the Constitutions of* Simon Sudbury, it is ordered, “That Lay Simon of Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury, was made at Lambeth, 4. D. 1373, in the second Year of Richard the Second, in the first Year of Urban the fifth Pope, and Clement the seventh Anti-Pope. This most eloquent Man, who was wise incomparably beyond the rest of the Kingdom; sat about six Years, and at last was beheaded at London by Command of the Rebels, Tyler and Stravo, A. D. 1381. Johnson Const. 1378. I have seen in a Church at Sudbury in Suffolk, a Skull, which is shewn to Strangers for the Skull of this Bishop, and probably it is the true one. "" men men should be admonished to confess in the 66 very Beginning of Lent." And in Theodolphus's Capitula, it is ordered, That on the "Week next before Lent, every Man should go to his Shrift, and his Shrift should shrive him in such a Manner, as his Deeds which "he had done requir'd: and that he should 66 charge all that belong to his District, that if any of them have Discord with any, he "make Peace with him; if any one will not "be brought to this, then he shall not shrive him; but then he shall inform the Bishop, "that he may convert him to what is right, "if he be willing to belong to GOD: Then "all Contentions and Disputes shall cease; "and if there be any one of them, that hath "taken Offence at another, then shall they be "reconcil'd, that they may more freely say "in the LORD's Prayer, LORD forgive us "our Trespasses, &c. And having thus puri"fied their Minds, let them enter upon the 66 Holy Fast Tide, and cleanse themselves by "Satisfaction against Holy Easter, &c., John"son 994. 36. Constitut." This Custom of confessing to the Priest at this Time, was laid aside by our Church at the Reformation: For Sins are to be confess'd to to GOD alone, and not to the Priest, except when the Conscience cannot otherwise be quieted: Then indeed the Grief is to be opened to the Spiritual Guide in private, *That by the Ministry of GOD's Word, he may give the Benefit of Absolution, together with ghostly Council and Advice, to the quieting of the Conscience, and the avoiding of all" Scruple and Doubtfulness. But how this other worse Custom came to be retain'd, of indulging all Manner of Luxury and Intemperance, I know nothing but that the Flesh was too powerful for the Spirit: The Duties of Religion, how justly soever enjoyn'd us, are tamely dispensed with, but what won't we rather do, than give up the Pleasures of Life? Surely the Church never design'd, when she so justly took away the public Confessions of this Season, that Rioting and Gaming, and Drunkenness, should continue amongst us. Are these a fit Preparation for so solemn a Season? Will they qualifie us for the Hearing of the History of our LORD'S Passion? Will they prepare us for the Reception of his Body and Blood? And fit us to meet him in the Morning of the Resurrection? Will they not rather *Exhort. to the Com. speak |
