Note 82 — CHAP. IX. Of the Beards of Priests.

Beroalde ridicules the shaved priests of those days. He says it was ordered so, in order that the regret which they have at not daring nor being willing to partake of the pleasures of this world, may in no wise appear; to which you may add that they ought to be merry (venite exultemus), and that theirs is a state of perpetual joy, which must be made appear so, though it were not; and this is the reason why they wear their chins shaved, because a man thus polished up about the gills is always laughing ... from thence came this canon of the council of Quarante: THE PRIESTS SHALL SHAVE WITH HOG’S SWARD, in order that they may always appear laughing, dainty-mouthed, airy, &c. Moyen de parvenir, chap. Allegation.