RICHARD CHANCELOR a.d. 



1553- 

 abrogated by his precious death and passion : therefore, 



(say they) we observe little or none thereof. And I doe 



beleeve them. For if they were examined of their La we 



and Commaundements together, they shoulde agree but 



in fewe poynts. They have the Sacrament of the Lords 



Supper in both kindes, and more ceremonies then wee 



have. They present them in a dish in both kindes 



together, and carrie them rounde about the Church upon 



the Priestes head, and so doe minister at all such times 



as any shall require. They bee great offerers of Candles, 



and sometimes of money, which wee call in England, 



Soule pense, with more ceremonies then I am able to 



declare. They have foure Lents in the yeere, whereof 



our Lent is the greatest. Looke as we doe begin on the 



Wednesday, so they doe on the Munday before : And 



the weeke before that they call The Butter weeke : And 



in that weeke they eate nothing but Butter and milke. 



Howbeit I beleeve there bee in no other countrey the 



like people for drunkennesse. The next Lent is called 



Saint Peters Lent, and beginneth alwayes the Munday 



next after Trinitie Sunday, and endeth on Saint Peters 



even. If they should breake that fast, their beliefe is, 



that they should not come in at heaven gates. And when 



any of them die, they have a testimoniall with them in 



the Coffin, that when the soule commeth to heaven gates 



it may deliver the same to Saint Peter, which declareth 



that the partie is a true and holy Russian. The third 



Lent beginneth fifteene dayes before the later Lady day, 



and endeth on our Lady Eeven. The fourth Lent 



beginneth on Saint Martins day, and endeth on Christmas 



Eeven : which Lent is fasted for Saint Philip, Saint 



Peter, Saint Nicholas, and Saint Clement. For they foure 



be the principall and greatest Saints in that countrey. 



In these Lents they eate neither Butter, Egges, Milke, 



nor Cheese ; but they are very straitely kept with Fish, 



Cabbages, and Rootes. And out of their Lents, they 



observe truely the Wednesdayes and Fridayes throughout 



the yeere : and on the Saturday they doe eate flesh. 



237 



