“_On Easter Eve the fire all is quencht in every place,_ _And fresh againe from out the flint is fetcht with solemne grace:_ _The priest doth halow this against great daungers many one,_ _A brande whereof doth every man with greedie mind take home,_ _That when the fearefull storme appeares, or tempest black arise,_ _By lighting this he safe may be from stroke of hurtful skies:_ _A taper great, the Paschall namde, with musicke then they blesse,_ _And franckensence herein they pricke, for greater holynesse:_ _This burneth night and day as signe of Christ that conquerde hell,_ _As if so be this foolish toye suffiseth this to tell._ _Then doth the Bishop or the Priest, the water halow straight,_ _That for their baptisme is reservde: for now no more of waight_ _Is that they usde the yeare before, nor can they any more,_ _Yong children christen with the same, as they have done before._ _With wondrous pompe and furniture, amid the Church they go,_ _With candles, crosses, banners, Chrisme, and oyle appoynted tho:_ _Nine times about the font they marche, and on the saintes doe call,_ _Then still at length they stande, and straight the Priest begins withall,_ _And thrise the water doth he touche, and crosses thereon make,_ _Here bigge and barbrous wordes he speakes, to make the devill quake:_ _And holsome waters conjureth, and foolishly doth dresse,_ _Supposing holyar that to make, which God before did blesse:_ _And after this his candle than, he thrusteth in the floode,_ _And thrise he breathes thereon with breath, that stinkes of former foode:_ _And making here an ende, his Chrisme he poureth thereupon,_ _The people staring hereat stande, amazed every one:_ _Beleeving that great powre is given to this water here,_ _By gaping of these learned men, and such like trifling gere._ _Therefore in vessels brought they draw, and home they carie some,_ _Against the grieves that to themselves, or to their beastes may come._ _Then Clappers ceasse, and belles are set againe at libertée,_ _And herewith all the hungrie times of fasting ended bée._” (313) It is said that formerly all the fires in Rome were lighted afresh from the holy fire kindled in St. Peter’s on Easter Saturday. (314)