But The Great Object Was A Figure Of The Virgin Mary,
As Big As The Life, Standing Within A Gilt
Frame, dressed in a
gold stuff, with a large hoop, a great quantity of false jewels,
her face painted and
Patched, and her hair frizzled and curled in
the very extremity of the fashion. Very little regard had
been paid to the image of our Saviour on the cross; but when his
lady-mother appeared on the shoulders of three or four lusty
friars, the whole populace fell upon their knees in the dirt.
This extraordinary veneration paid to the Virgin, must have been
derived originally from the French, who pique themselves on their
gallantry to the fair sex.
Amidst all the scenery of the Roman catholic religion, I have
never yet seen any of the spectators affected at heart, or
discover the least signs of fanaticism. The very disciplinants,
who scourge themselves in the Holy-week, are generally peasants
or parties hired for the purpose. Those of the confrairies, who
have an ambition to distinguish themselves on such occasions,
take care to secure their backs from the smart, by means of
secret armour, either women's boddice, or quilted jackets. The
confrairies are fraternities of devotees, who inlist themselves
under the banners of particular saints. On days of procession
they appear in a body dressed as penitents and masked, and
distinguished by crosses on their habits. There is scarce an
individual, whether noble or plebeian, who does not belong to one
of these associations, which may be compared to the FreeMasons,
Gregoreans, and Antigallicans of England.
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