Series 1 > Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall, with his observations on public affairs and other memoranda, 1665-1676

32
JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER
up out of the same Thomas amongs others thir, Chastite. Of
Dominicks chastity he sayd he was as sure as of one thats new
borne. Charite, which was so great one tyme that having
nothing to give to the poor, he would have given himselfe
to a poor widow woman; at which we could not but laugh,
tho’ his meaning was that he would have bein content to sell
himselfe that the woman might get the money. He forgot
not also his strictness of life and discipline, so that after his
death their was found a cord in wtin his wery flech he girded
him selfe so strait wt it. Heir he recknoned upe his prudence
and magnanimity. Amongs theduties a man owes to him¬
selfe amongs others he reckned up Temperance; in which he
would gladly have us beleiving that St. Dominick never eated
any in his dayes, so great was his abstinence. Then he came
to compare him wt the caelestial powers, which he divided out
of Dionysius pseudareopagita into the Hierarchies receaved in
the Romish Church, of Angels, Archangels, Powers, Domina¬
tions, Cherubins, Seraphines, etc., and then showed his Dominick
to excell them all. Many stories he told us which are to be
seen in his legends, but never a word of the zeal he had when
he sat doune and preached to the birds (and seing a frier kiss¬
ing a nun he thanked God that their was so much charite left
in the world). His epiloge was that St. Dominick was worth
all the Saincts of them. And to speak the truth, beleiving
him he made him on of the perfectest men of the world,
subject to no imperfection. I could discover no difference
he made betuixt him and Christ.
The forme of their preaching is thus. After they are come unto
their pulpit they signe their foorfront and breast with the signe
of the cross wt that in nomine patris, filij, and S. S., as a means to
chass away Satan ; then they go to their knees for a wery short
space as our bischops do; then raising they read their text;
after which they have a short prayer direct to Christ and his
mother, or even the Sainct, if they be to speak of any, for their
aid and assistance. Then they preach; after which thess that
please to walk may do it. The rest stay out the Yespres.
The forme of the protestant churches differs not much from
ours. On the Sabath morning during the gathering of the
congregation they sing a psahne; the minister coming up by