Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

Quest. 5. Whether the Feasts of Phillip and Jacob be not profaned.

That the Church might not be overflowed with publick solem∣nities and being willing to commemorate Gospel Saints bring sometimes two Apostles in together, perswading her members by their examples to sutable holinesse, as upon the first of May, Philip and Iacob. Unto which the Satanicall and Hethenish practise of erecting May-poles, is an unsutable pro∣phane preface as may appear.

1 From the lawlesse practise of them, neither Church nor State

as now constituted gives strength to such customes. The Church setting apart this day for holy uses, and the state owns it by obedience, but of this custome taking no notice, some other originall would then be inquired after for this annuall custome then law, for no statute was ever made in the least to countenance that irregularity.

2 From the sinfull originall of them, Let this practise be traced up to the times wherein these May-games were first instituted,* 1.1 and a nationall Christian will grant the question without much dispute. They sprung out of this ground (viz.) There was one Flora or Maia, who being a notorious strumpet of the City of Rome when heathen, gathered great riches; leaving the common-wealth her heir, upon con∣dition they should yearly celebrate her birth-day. The Senate being ashamed to own such open prophannesse, coloured the businesse by giving out that she was a goddesse of the fields, meadows, flowres, &c. and except she were pleased and appea∣sed nothing that year would prosper. Upon this her feast is instituted (the Devil being alwayes Gods ape) and observ∣ed the four last days of Aprill and the first of May, at which times all sorts of wickednesse was acted, and women ap∣peared upon the streets of Rome in those dayes naked: the young sort with flowres, garlands, &c. and dancing of Elephants and other exercises spent their time.

The very mentioning of this should make these things not so much as to be named among Saints, &c. yea what height of impiety was con••eived, as when a Mayd out of most parishes was culled out personally to represent this Flora, under the notion of a May-Lady: who oftentimes by relation proved a May-where, &c.

3. From the circumstances that do accompany them, appear they to be sinfull and the day of those glorious Saints prophan∣ed, as

• 1 Stealing, this is so frequent, and so known a custome, that it needs no proof, and so odious that it needs no con∣futation.
• 2 Prophanation of the Lords day, Once in seven years,

• the day set apart for the Lords resurrection,* 1.2 must be abused by those May-games, and the day of the Lords Apostles is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prophaned by these sports, it is held unlawfull to prophane the places set apart for the Lords worship by any thing that is not comly, sure this therefore upon this day ought not to be esteem∣ed decent.
• 3 Great loosenesse, as quarrels, fightings, drunkenesse, which so certainly are known to attend it, that good, honest, moral men have no hand in them, but the loose wicked and de∣boyst. If it were good holy men would own it, if not bad wick∣ed men would not incourage it.

4. Eventualy there is no good in them. What Christians do ought to be for the glory of God, either originaly or eventualy, now these sports originaly tend to his dishonour, casualy pro∣phanes his day, really and sensibly breaks his laws, abuseth his creaturs, and in the close brings no honour to Christ, and therefore are not to be suffered where God or Christ is owned. If this day be set apart in pious memoriall of Christs disciples, for the doctrine of the Gospel to be publickly taught, Flora (who in these May-games is remembred) ought not to be commemorated which so suits to the doctrine of Devils, left prophannesse in the streets hinder our prayers from heaven.

I would have insisted on this longer, but since the de∣livery of this there came forth a tract in particular against May-games called Funebria Flora, to which I referre the Reader.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cod. Rom Aut. lib. 1.7.87. Ovid lib. 5. fast. As a day or place may have relative holinesse though not absolute, so a thing or act may be relatively prophane absolutely no hurt be in it. •••• tubae so∣nitu vocata nudato co∣pore in flora lib. discurat Farn. in Iu∣ven. Sat. 6. Cato severe venistii A•• ideo tantum vn••ras ut exires Mat. epig. lib. 1. Ep. 1. half the mirth is in the poles stealing.
• * 1.2

  More peo∣ple appear at those games, then at the Churches devotion. Th••s suits with the o∣riginal of those game not with the church∣es Institu∣tion of this day. Except it be the sel∣ling of the pole by the Erectors, though this also eventualy is not good.