himselfe to be declared by a counsell holden at hys pleasure bishop Ecumenique the yere of christ 604. that is to saye generall and head of the whole churche Plantin Sabellie But soone after the great Bishops of Rome gaue such order that by treason the Emperour Maurice in Constantinople was cruelly slaine he his wife and familie by wicked Phocas who to recompence this detestable murder committed by the aduise of the Churche of Rome alwayes contrarye to Iesus Christ the yere of christ 612. he declared Boniface the thyrde of that name the generall head of the churche of God takyng vppon hym the authoritie of Iesus Christ the great and euerlastyng high Priest the onely spouse and head of his church Who can better describe an Antichrist than he that doth enterprise a tyrranny in the churche of God a poligamie in the churche the spouse of Iesus Christ attributynge to hymselfe that power Marc. 26. whiche Iesus Christ hath reserued to himselfe to be perpetuall with his churche by the vertue of hys holy spirite to conducte and gouerne the same Maye not he rightlye be called Antichriste whyche doeth enforce hym selfe directlye to goe agaynste the holye Ghospell of Iesus Christ who commaunded hys apostles when he sent them to preache hys worde that they shoulde not institute a Monarchie in the churche as the Prynces Kings Math. 23. Luc. 11. Marc. 2. and tyrraunts of the earth That none amonges them shoulde enterprise to call hym selfe the head or greater then other but all as brethren were humble beynge assured to haue one head and one heauenlye father which wyll tarye with them and assist them for euer to inspire and conduct them to his holy wyll Is not he of good right Antichrist which wyll haue himself called the successour of Iesus Christ in the great bishoprick and in the high priesthode by him exercised The which dignitie he hath reserued to himself abiding a high soueraigne priest for euermore who hath left no successour in his dignitie as Aaron did his successors in the dignities of the high priests of the Iewes But is after the order of Melchidech a king and high priest without any successour in his dignitie Wherefore then O Antichrists of Rome haue you taken vppon you the dignitie of the highest bishoppes as the heads of the church of God and vsurped also the authoritie of Iesus Christ causing your selues to be called most blessed and most reuerend fathers and Popes hauynge instituted a colledge of lytle purple bishoppes to chose the great bishoppe but onely to the end to renewe the auncient romaine religion of Neuma Pompilius the first authour of your pontificall dignities Aboute the same tyme that Phocas the cruell murtherer dyd erect an Antichrist in the romaine churche Mahomet was rysen in the church of Arabia instructed by the Monke Sergius aboute the yere 620 for this apostate heretyke seyng the lawe of God altogether corrupted by the traditions of men and the holye Ghospell contemned sectes and diuers heresies sowed as well by the Iewes Pharises Esseens Saduces Masbutheans Gallileans Seeke the church histories Hemerobaptists and Samaritans as also by the Christians Simoniaques Nicolaites Cerinthiens Memandriens and Ebronites Valentinians Cardonians Marcionistes Montanistes Cataphryges Tatians Eueratites Seuerians Artemonistes Porpherians Helchesaites Nouatians Sabellians Chiliastes Paulianistes Manicheans Automousiastes Arians Eunonians Macedoniās Euuomiotheophroniens Euuomidentichiens Aetians Donatistes Luciferiens Patripassians or Theopathites Photiniens Marcellians Paulosamosetans Apolinaristes Iouinianistes Pelagians Acariens Olimpiens Quaternitaries Monothelites And other heritikes hauing corrupted the true vsage of the holy Sacramētes ordayned of god Seyng also specially the Messalien secte to prosper in their ceremonies taken partly out of the Iudaicall laws partly out of the heathen Idolatry he inuented the great Alcoran decree Wherin he set manye Chapters and articles called Azoares whiche are as lawes and rules of the Machomette religion Thys preface and bryefe discourse of the romayne History me thought necessary to recite before I would beginne to discribe the originall of the sacryfice of the Masse Alwayes to brynge the reader to vnderstand the veritye of the fact How the Empyre of Rome hathe bene gouerned vntyll the decaye thereof aboute the yere of Christ foure hundred and tenne and howe the barbarous Idolatours dyd vsurpe the same for the space of three hundred yeres howe also the Antichristes did ryse and in the ende the Empyre of Rome was transferred to the Almaynes whiche kéepe it to this day fyue hundred yeres being passed OF THE Masse TO begynne this our litle treatise of the Masse first of all it is conuenient to interprete thys terme Masse The originall of the terme of the Masse of the auncient Romaynes called Missa Some haue honored this Missal sacrifice to haue taken his beginning of the Hebrues bringing in the place of Daniell speaking of Maozin Daniell 11. as if they woulde signifie the Masse by Maozin But this terme is verye straunge from Missa or Masse And there is other Hebrewe wordes which are more nearer to witte Messa whiche is as much to saye as conculcation or treading down whereof mencion is made in the historie of the Kynges of Israell Another terme also is founde 4. Kings 11. Missa very conformable vnto this common tearme Masse namely Messall that is to saye Ios 19. Messall hell or graue But I am well assured that the high priests of Rome wyll not take the originall of their sacrifice of the Masse from the Hebrues acknowledgynge their Masse and Messall to be a conculcation graue or hell Messal Hell Further to speake the trueth the Authour of the romaine religion Neuma Pompilius neuer thought of the Hebreus when he first instituted the Masse Much lesse terme this Missa or Masse can haue hys originall of the Greekes seyng they haue no sacrifice of that name not withstandyng that some haue made some reason to bryng in this terme of Greke Myzein that is to saye in Englishe to whysper or hyde in secrete As if the Messalian sacrificers had receyued of the auncient Gréekes Idolatours to keepe secrete the chiefe and principall wordes of their Masses to the ende they shoulde not be vnderstand of thassistance but haue obserued to murmour blowe betwene their téeth the Canons other speciall wordes which neyther they vnderstode them selues nor other whiche behelde them Neuertheles neither the Hebrue termes nor Greeke vocables in no wise can be appropriated to the Missall sacrifice Wherefore it behoueth to haue recourse to the trewe originall of the terme Missa or Masse taken of the auncient Latyns the Romaines Masse taken of the auncient Latins Romains whiche were accustomed to vse these termes Missus Missa Missilis and Missio As we saye in Englishe a messenger a message and missiues for letters sent For when the auncient Idolaters Romaines woulde geue leaue vnto the assistaunce at their Sacrifices celebrated to goe home they caused to
A SVM OR A BRIEF collection of holy signes sacrifices and Sacraments euen since the beginning of the worlde And the true originall of the sacrifice of the Masse Translated out of French into Englishe by N. Lynge MATHEVVE 15. Euery plant which my heauenly father hath not planted shal be plucked vp by the rootes PRINTED AT LONDON by Rouland Hall dvvelling in gutter Lane at the signe of the halfe Egle and the Key 1563. THE EPISTLE OF THE Authour to the Reader COnsidering the controuersies stirred vp amōg those that cal thēselues christians some striuing to hold the vain superstitiōs descended vnto them frō their predicessors some also inuenting nevve sects scismes and heresies and other in number fevver desiring vtterly to roote out the darkenes of ignoraunce that the light of the veritie might shine me thinketh that the moste daungerous poyson that Satan vseth to make men mad vvith all hath bene dravven out of the myne of the Masse stuffed vvith good end couered vvith good intention And although manye haue soore trauailed to discouer vvith discriptions anatomies other vvorks of the Masse this minable rocke yet alvvayes more more to mine contermine this fort vvhich semeth vnminable after I had read the Elassopolitains cōmentaries treating of the number dignitie povver cōditiōs of the high bishops chief priests sacrificers sins the creatiō of the vvorld I haue dravvē out a brief sum of the holy signes sacrifices sacramēts ordened of god frō time to time the corruptiōs crept successiuely into the church of god specially here is described the true originall of the Masse about the vvhich presently men are fallen into so great cōtentiōs diuisiōs For some inuey against it as lately forged other defend it by long possessiō And by these altrications the church of christ hath bene merueylously threshen vvith the flail of seditiō But if thou faith full reader vvilt haue pacience of vvhat sect so euer thou be papist or protestant reading this short discourse tariyng til thou haue the bokes of the cōmētaries in their integritie thou shalt knovv certenly vvhat the originall of the masse is partly very ancient partly nevv vvho vvere her foūders patrons to thend that thou maist beassured of the histories faithfully gathered haue recourse to the authors coted in the mergent Our good god inspire thee vvith his holy spirit THE TRANSLATOVR to the Reader AFter I had read this litle boke set forthe by a certain godly lerned mā in the French language it lyked me so well that partly for the worthynes of the matter and partly for myne owne exercise in that tongue I applyed my selfe to bring the same in to our English speache mynding nothing lesse than to haue it prynted till that I was earnestly moued thervnto by diuers godly persōs whose iust request I could not iustly withstand The boke doubtles wil sufficiently commend it self if the enuy of such as are to much delited with idolatrie and superstition do not let hynder the same The things herein conteyned may seeme to some straunge and perhaps are vnknowen to the most and therefore at the fyrst syght wyll be merueyled at of many But thou good christian reader perusing this short discourse and perceyuing that the moste parts of the masse sacrifice were inuented by Numa Pompilius the second king of the Romains and a great coniurer 700 yeres before the incarnation of iesus Christ cease marueyling and consider that it is no straunge thing if man according to the saying of the Poete be still sauouring of that whiche he firste learned and was brought vp in The bishops of Rome whiche were the greatest corrupters of the holy sacrament true seruice of god with beggerly and superstitious ceremonies had long tyme bene noselled in the religiō of Pompilius Ys it then straunge if they according to the new fanglenes of mans brayne scarse at any time cōtented with the simplicitie of gods worde did bring in their wonted ceremonies vsed in their sacrifices inuented by Numa the coniurer to adorne and deck as they thought the ghospel of christ iesus vnto the which they were lately conuerted and tourned In the tyme of the apostles many yeres after the Masse was not hard of and no ceremonies were vsed but such as were commaunded by our Lord sauiour christ as preaching of the word ministring of the holy sacramēts c. But afterward whē mā waxed werye of the heauenly Manna diligent search was made to find out pleasant thīgs for him to play withal Then in place of preaching cam in massing in place of sincere ministring the holy sacraments came in abhominable witchcraft coniuring and idolatrie in place of the true honoring of god came in these trumperies trifles of Numa Pompilius namely the vestments the aulbe the tunicle the holy water coniured to dryue away diuels the aulter the burnyng of tapers or torches the trauersings along the aulter with crossyngs beckyngs and bowings and prayers towarde the East the procession and banners the reliques and carying of shrynes by the priests clad in whyte surplyces theyr crownes shauen the Confiteor to he and she saincts the Orgaines the canticles the hymnes and odes the censor and the encense the offertorie the eating of lytle roūd cakes consecrated in their sacrifices to their gods in th ende this pleasant songe Ite missa est Be not these abhominable additions to the onely sufficient word of God Peter was iustly reproued for causyng the gentilles to obserue the ceremonies of the Iewes And shal they be commended that cause the christians to kepe and obserue the vayne superstitious rites and traditions of the idolatours gentills Cerrainly I thinke if Paull were present to aunswer them by word he wold affirme that which he hathe written They are worthy to be reproued for as much as they go not simply to the truth of the gospell but professing christianite thēselues cause other that do seldome heare any preaching or if they doe heare it doe hardly vnderstand it to obserue kepe the blynde ceremonies of the infidels and heathen wherein the rude and ignoraunt put such confidence by meanes their senses be cōtinually occupied about the same that christ is quit shut out his gospel not regarded his due worship in spirit truth vnknowē And if any would obiect that some or the most part of the ceremonies aboue mencioned wer first among the iewes and therfore ought or may be reteyned by vs I answere that whatsoeuer was abolished by the comming of Iesus christ may not now be obserued without deniyng of him Fot in retayning of them we do seame to dout weather he hath fulfylled that which was figured and shadowed by the same Wherefore sins the ceremonies of the Iues and the superstitious inuentions of the Gentils are by the sciptures condemned Let those that be true christians vse such onely as maye be to edification and not to contention
bread is it of any more value than his inuention to chase away deuills with water salted coniured And as touching his coniured water ordeyned by him we wyll shewe hereafter that the original thereof came from Neuma Pompilius the great coniurer and Romaine Idolater But as for the mingling of the water with wyne that shoulde séeme to be taught by the religion of the ancient Idolaters which were wont in celebrating their sacrifices in one chalyce to consecrate the water with the bread specially in the feast dedicated to the Sunne which the Persians did worship called of them Mythros Iustin in his apologie And in the feast also of Nephalies water was vsed for the sacrifice According to this comparison Iustin martyr maketh relation of the custome obserued amonge the Idolators Christians for the bread wyne water cōsecrated By the one that is to say by the Idolatours in the name of theyr Idolles by the Christians in the name of theyr trewe God Alwayes this first corruption in the vsage of the holye sacrament by the minglynge of water with wyne beyonde the commaundement ordinannce of God Inno. lib. 4. cap. 5. did not continue without controuersie For the Greekes were of a contrarye opinion that it was not necessarye to mixe water with wyne and that they would not followe the corruption of Alexander Amarcanus was of the same aduice that Alexander was saying that it was necessarye to mingle it with water The subtill Sophiste Scot doeth affirme absolutelye that it is not necesssarye the water to bee myngled wyth the Wyne because sayeth he it cannot be chaunged and transsubstanciated into bloode yf fyrste it be not chaunged into Wyne Other moore ingenious woulde rather interpretate the institution of Alexander saying the Wyne to be conuerted into blood but as for the water it was transsubstantiated into the water whiche came out of the syde of Iesus Christ S. Augustine in his boke of the relikes chapter 26. 64. This first corruption of Alexander did geue occation of many other to succede for some inuented greater brueyngs to mingle it with blood drawen out of yonge infants to mixt with the bread of tholy supper of Iesus Christ as the Cataphriges which began a kynde of transubstantion of wyne into blood really corporally Epipha lib. 2. Tom. 1. heres 49. Some other adioyned therevnto chease called Artotirites that is to say chease bread Others also abusing this sacrament in steed of wyne tooke water vnder pretence of moore greater abstinence Other ordeyned to temper the bread with wyne which the Massalians doe yet holde in their missall sacrificers For another more detestable corruption of the holy sacrament some bishops of Rome haue forbiddē their Massalian sacrificers to minister vnto the christen people which they call laye the body of Iesus Christ vnder both kinds but only vnder the holy signe of bread and not of wine the which they kept for the Priestes Massalians sacrificers Math. 29. Marc. 14. Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. Is not this corruption directly against the holy gospell institution of the supper of Iesus Christ which hath ordeyned and commaunded all faythfull to eate his bodye drynke his blood When he toke the cuppe vsed he not these proper termes drynke al of this wyne in memory remembrance of my bloode shed Hath he vsed anye other tearmes for eating of hys bodye by the figure of bread than he hath done for drynkyng of hys bloode by the sygne of wyne If one should compare herewith the holy signe ordeyned of god in the church of the Israelites a figure of the cōmunion of the body of Iesus christ which was the pascal lambe the fleshe whereof was commaunded to be eaten of all persons wythout exception for as muche as they were circumcised Was there euer anye difference in the eatyng of the pascall Lambe and celebratyng of the Passeouer of the Iewes amonge the Leuites of the stocke of the Priests and the other common people For another detestable corruption the Massalians haue instituted by theyr missall Idolatries to sacrifice and offer the body and blood of Iesus Christ in reiterating by that meanes the sacrifice of Iesus Christ perfectly ended and can not be done againe for that it was not after the order of Aaron but after the order of Melchisedech 1. Cor. 11. an euerlasting sacrificer who hath left no successor Also the holy apostle when he admonished the Corinthiās reuerently to celebrate the supper of Iesus Christ dyd he commaunde them to sacrifice No but to communicate and eate together the body and blood of Iesus Christ The beginning of the holy supper was not to kyll offer and ordeyne a sacrifice to offer to God But onelye to eate and drynke at the holy feast prepared for vs by Iesus Christ the euerlasting sacrifice and euerlasting sacrificer whiche hath reserued vnto him selfe onely this eternall priesthode And yet neuerthelesse hath lefte his holye institution a banquet ordeined for vs of bread wine representing hys body and blood After the corruptions abouesayde Sathan the diligent Babilonicall buylder imployed al his forces strengthes to buyld an inuincible fortresse of Idolatrie to the end to fight against vtterly throw downe the kingdome of Iesus Christ when he did enterprise the buildyng of the Masse to be brought in in the place of the holy sacrament of the supper as we will briefly and so clearely declare that the moste hard hearted Pharisies made olde in their auncient Idolatries shall acknowledge by the veritie of histories their errours and abhominable heresies Before the painting out of this Maze of error whereinto the Massalians are plunged I haue thought it necessarye briefly to discouer the auncient religion of the Romaines the reigne of the occidental empire of the emperors which haue exercised both the temporal office the dignitie of the great bishops supertendents of the religiō church of Rom. All other as well as I shall confesse that the Romaine religion all together for the moste part to haue bene instituted by Neuma Pompilius the seconde kyng of the Romains Titenile lib. 1 Decad. 1. Funestral in his boke of magistrats of Rome about 700 yeres before the incarnation of Iesus Christ Then were instituted the bishops whiche afterwarde were broughte to a certayne number vnto foure than the nūber was augmented to eyght and by Sylla to fyftene In the colledge of bishoppes there was one chiefe bishoppe which was chosen by the other lesse bishoppes of the same order and dignitie lyke as the lytle byshoppes purple Cardinals haue practised the election of the great Romain bishoppe of their estate order and dignitie This Pompilian religion hath bene so well obserued by the Romaines from the father to the sonne that it hath bene impossible to destroye and plucke vp the same but hath continued to this daye as euerye one may easly perceiue by this litle collectiō To confirme this
poynt there is none that can be ignoraunt which lusteth to read the Romaine histories that before the incarnation of Iesus Christ there was not one King Consul Dictator or Romaine Emperour instructed in the law of God But all were Idolaters Infidels folowing the religion of Neuma Pompilius the coniurer And that more is after the incarnation of Iesus Christ for the space of 300 yeres or there abouts there was no Emperour Euseb in hys boke of the church historye the yeres of Christ 34. 68. 94. 112. 113. 167 202 238 254 257 276 292. nor Romain councell which would change his religion to embrace the lawe of Iesus Christ But contrariwise they haue laboured with toothe and nayle to exercise all kynde of crueltie agaynst the churche of Iesus Christ as the ecclesiasticall histories do largely declare painting out great persecutions vnder the great Romain bishops to wit Claud. Tiber. Nero Claud. Domitian Nero Fla. Domitian Traian Elie Hadrian Antonian Phisopher Septime Seuere Iul. Maximus Max. Quin. Traian Dece Licime Valerian Valere Aurelian Diocletian Al which were emperours and gouerned the empire romain religion for 300 yeres after the incarnation of Iesus Christ and in their moneyes sepultures monumēts tytles and autentique letters did holde the name of great bishops high priests as diligently is gathered in a booke of the antiquities of Rome wherein be described the Images moneyes monumentes of the auncient Emperours of Rome In the booke intituled the discourse of the religion of the auncient Romains by Wylliam de Choul bay lye of Daulphine which were all called great bishops by these tytles Iul. Ces Pontif. max. Tiber. Nero Pontif. max. Claud. Nero. pontif max. Vaspasianus Ces pontif max. Traianus Impera Pontif. max. Marc. Aurel. Antonn August Pontif. Heliogabalus summus sacerdos Aug. Adrianus Imper. Pontif. max. Galerius Maximinianus Pontif. max. Tit. Ces Pontif. max. Commod Impe. pontif max. Flauius Constantius Aug. Pontif. max. Which being than Emperous great bishoppes would suffer none other head in the religion Romain church then them selues beynge alwayes enemies of Iesus Christ For when the Apostles did preach Christ to be the soueraine priest great and euerlasting sacrificer without any successour after the order of Melchisedech the tyrauntes of Rome and theyr Lieutenaunts dyd take an occasion to condempne Iesus Christ fearing that the authoritie of the Emperours and great Romaine bishoppes should be deminished With what furour were they inraged for the space of 300 yeres agaynst the Christians Christs religion In the Catalogg of Emperours in the ende of the historie of Nicephors the yere of Christ 410. to defend their auncient religion of Pompilius what answer was geuen to Theodose thmperour by the senate senators of Rome when it was put forth vnto them to chaung their religion and to receiue the religion of Iesus Christ Thei shewed that thei had possessed their Pomlian religion more then 1000 yeres and that all chaunging of religions were the destructions of common welthes Wherefore consisting in their olde Romaine religion they remained without receyuing of the lawe of Iesus Christ By these histories it is easie to be resolued that for the space of 400 yeres and more the bishops of Rome whiche called themselues Christians could neuer obteyne of the Senate Romaine Senatours to receyue the holye ghospell muche lesse could they conuert the Romaine Idolaters causing them to forsake their inueterate Idolatry For the bishops of Rome were to much occupied in restoring the Iudaycall Pagans ceremonies for the destinction of meates In the canon reueled by clement bishop of rome 21 22 62 95. ordinance not to fast Sondaye and Thursday to set an order for table clothes veales vessels of golde and siluer sersors and tapestrye and other ornaments of the aulters whiche consumed with age were ordeyned to be burned and the ashes to be put into the founte Other were merueylously occupyed to restore the Iudaycall ceremonies of sweete bread trauayled their spirites greatly to corrupt the true vsage of the holy sacramentes instituted of god Alexander the firste of that name bishop of Rome in the yere of Christ 110. by mingling of water with wyne bruwing of salte with the water to make it purged and coniured to dryue awaye deuils Other also did trauell to institute Corporasses of fyue linnen to laye vp the consecrated hostes Xistus bishop of Rome in the yere of Christ 121. to ordeyne also albes other vestiments of the priestes for their sacrifices of whyte colour without spot Siluester bishop of Rome Some did torment theyr braynes to inuent the feasts of dedication consecration with coniuring with salt to dryue awaye deuills Higinus bishop of Rome in the yere of christ 140. And some other to inuent oyles and creames to corrupt the holy sacrament of baptisme Moreouer during the reygne of these tyrants Emperours Fabian bishop of Rome in the yere of christ 240. great bishops the bishops of Rome desiring to make their names continue for euer did dreame in their spirites to buylde temples not vnto the honour of God Pius bishop of Rome in the yere of christ 144. but in the name of their he she saincts canonized by them at their pleasure Other did occupye them selues to ordeyne that the consecrated bread and wyne falling vppon the ground should be left to the sacrificer and the rest remaining shoulde be bourned with fyer and the ashes should be layed vp among the reliques Other did trauaile to sette an order amonge chalises Zepherin bishop of Rome in the yere of Christ 200. Calixtus bishop of Rome in the yere of christ 220. Eutich bishop of Rome in the yere of christ 282. whether they shoulde be of glasse or of wood And by other were instituted solempne ceremonies foure tymes a yere to bring Christians to the bondage of distinction of dayes Some were occupied merueylouflye to ordeyne the offering and consecration of fables to celebrate funerals in purple garmentes after the maner of the vestment called Trabea the which the Idolators did vse in triumphes celebrated in the honour of their Gods The red robes of Cardinalles And the lyke purple garment is vsed of the Cardynalles to this daye Others were occupyed to inuent a confirmation for yonge chyldren Siluester bishop of Rome in the yere of Christ 314. and that the Bishoppes onely shoulde consecrate the creame To honour also the Bishop of Hostiense by whose hands the Bishop of Rome muste be consecrated with a cloke called Pallium And to inuent an infinite nūber of other vnnecessary ceremonies contrarye to the libertie of the ghospel geuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ Howe was it than possible that the first Bishoppes of Rome shoulde drawe the princes and Senators Romaynes vnto the lawe of the Ghospell durynge 300 or 400 yeres after the incarnation of Iesus Christ seyng they did not labour but to corrupt the
vse of the holye sacraments and to restore the Iudaicall ceremonies and Idolatries of the Heathen the auncient Romaines But here might one obiect one Philip which some vaūt to haue bene cōuerted to holy baptisme the maners of whome were so wicked that they gaue occation to the most credible authours to describe him vnworthy the name of a christian One might bringe in Constantyn the great Chronicle of Iohn Baptist which caused the coūsel of Nice to assemble but his residēce was in Grecia being called the emperour of the East And yet wolde he neuer receiue the signe of Baptisme Histo tripart lib. 3. cap. 12. to be regenerate by the blood of Iesus Christ vntyll he was lxv yeres olde at what tyme he was baptised by a bishop of Nicomede Arian named Eusebe the same Constantine being at point of death Siluer than the bishoppe of Rome muste not crake that he cōuerted this Emperour to the fayth For this same Siluester woulde not assist the assemble of the counsell holden at Nice in the yere of Iesus Christ 327. Howe soeuer it be it is conuenient to haue recourse always to the veritie of Histories wherein is recited the answere of the Senate and Senators of Rome to the Emperour Theodoze more then 60 yeres after the death of the sayde Constantine the great Which was that they woulde not receyue the lawe of Iesus Christ but obserue theyr auncient lawe Pompilian to auoyde the ruine of theyr common wealthe whiche mighte come by the chaungyng of religion Whereby may be well gathered that than the lawe of god was not receyued nor approued at Rome by the Senate and Senators It resteth that presently we come nearer to the tyme folowyng After the decease of Theodoze the Romaine Empyre of the West began so to bowe that in short tyme it was quyte put out by Wandeloys and Alayns Paul Emil. lib 1. the yere of christ 412. 154. which were the chief that sacked Rome burnt the most part of it and rauished the proper doughter of the Emperour Theodore whome they married to Ataulphe king of the Gothes Blond lib. 2. Decad. 1. A lytle whyle after succeded the Hunnes Then Attilia kyng of the Gothes which vsurped Italy About this tyme the Romaine Empyre of the Weste was spoyled of all Germany Acia Sarmatia Procop. lib. 3. of the warre of the Wandales in the yere of christ 486. and all the Prouinces tributaries vnto Danube Spaygne also Aquitania Gascoygne Bourgoyne al the Gaules did reuolt frō the romain tyrany Then succeded the Ostrogots with their king Valemir Theodemer Theodoricke other Heathen and Infidels The yere of christ 550. 554 The Visigothes also all vsurpers successiuely of Italy Afterward raigned Totilas whiche forced robbed and burned Rome Paul Emil. lib 1. the yere of christ 568. and all Sicile In the ende the Lomberds conducted by their kyngs Alboin did raygne which vsurped Italye These barbarous nations Idolators and Infidels did serue as whippes ordeyned of God to punishe the Idolaters of Rome committed by them whiche had knowledge of the holye Ghospell And yet tourned back from the true worshipping of god Violating and corrupting the holy sacraments by the inuentions of men To punishe also the infidelitie and obstinatie of the Emperours and Senatours of Rome which first of all caused theyr Lieutenaunts and officers appoynted in Iudea to crucifie Christ and his holy Apostles to persecute the Christians and always to resist the lawe of the Ghospell to mayntayne theyr religion Pompilian Thus we maye conclude that during the space of 400 yeres the Romain churche of Emperours and Senatours hath euer bene contrarye and enemies to the lawe of Iesus Christ Than afterward the occidentall Empyre being ouerthrowen Rome and all Italye was ruled and gouerned 300 yeres or there aboute by Kynges Prynces and Dukes Idolators and Infidels namely by the Wandales by the Gothes by the Hunnes by the Ostrogothes by the Visigothes and by the Lumbards in such sorte that duryng the space of 700 yeres or there aboute after the incarnation of Iesus Christ there was no Emperour King nor prince of Rome which woulde embrace the law of Iesus Christ The which gladly and shortly I haue declared to the ende that the reader thynke it not straunge that I haue here shewed the sacrifice of the Masse to haue taken hys beginning of the auncient religion instituted by Neuma Pompilius moore then 700 yeres before the incarnation of Christ And so afterwarde also the same sacrifice hath bene continued by the Idolatrous Romains inueterate hardened so in their Pompilian religion that thei would neuer put away the same But to the ende that nothing in the Romayne histories be kept close which might obscure the clearenes of the veritie during the tyranye vsurping of the nations aforesayd In the yere of christ 572. in Italy was erected a lytle Lordship at Rauenna whiche continued about 183 yeres Plantin Blond Volatteran vntyll it was rauished by a bishop which inuested him selfe and encroiched into the chayre of S. Peter by the meanes of a donation and dimission practised by Pepin in the yere 758 in recompence of a tyranny exercised by Zacharie Grec bishop of Rome Paul Emul 2. Blond lib. 10. who spoyled the true inheritours of the crown of Fraunce namely Chilperic or Childeric whome he shut vp in a Cloyster to make the kingdome to fall to the said Pipin the sonne of Charles Martell bastarde This donation of Pipin thus geuen to the great Romaine bishop was the first originall of the greatnes of the Popes of Rome who do holde vnto this daye the Lordship of Rauenna 800 yeres beyng past with a great number of townes a long the Sea Hadriatick Blond lib. 1. Paul Emul 2. committed vnto them by Pepin contrary to the expresse commaundements of Constantin than raignynge Emperour of the East in Grecia Whyles this lytle lordship was continued at Rauenna The yere of christ 588. longe tyme before the donation of Pepin the bishoppe of that place seing that there were no more Emperours of Rome which was gouerned and kepte vnder by barbarous people and Infidels lift vp his hornes in such sorte that he preferred hymselfe to be bishop of Rome Sabellie made himselfe the head of the Church and also hymselfe and his successours bishops of Rauenna so long as the Lorship hath continued This was the first litle Antichrist which would take vpon him a tyrannye in the churche to folowe the earthly tyrannye of his Lordshippe Afterwarde there rose vp another greater Antichrist in Constantinoble In the yere of christ 600. Blond lib. 1. named Iohn bishop of that place Who seing the occidentall Empyre of Rome ouerthrowen Greg. lib. 4. of his epistles cap. 26. and the other of Constantinople highly exalted he would also folowe the tyrrannye of the worlde and styrre vp a spirituall rule in the churche of Iesus Christ He caused
be pronounced in the ende of the Sacrifice these wordes Apud Graecos Sacerdos functus misterio sic renunciabat Laois aphesis quaâ—… populuÌ„ missum faceret I licet Missa est Depart it is permitted the assemblye hath leaue to retyre or departe And in processe of tyme for that thys songe dyd note vnto the people a licence to go home moste agreable and desyred as a songe and terme most comfortable and pleasaunt it hath bene kepte Apul. lib. 11. de asin aâ—â— and the sacrifice honoured with this terme Masse or Missa To confirme this poynt there is two thousande yeres paste and the same termes be songe yet vnto thys present daye Ite Missa est whiche doeth signifie a leaue geuen to the companye or assemblye to departe and goe home In suche sorte that those whiche doe haunte the temples or churches as soone as they do vnderstande this pleasaunt songe Ite Missa est a man maye see them ordinarelye to awake leape for ioye as beyng assured to haue licence to go to dynner The Arabian Machomistes instructed of long tyme by the monke Sergius as we haue declared haue this terme of the Masse in great commendation In the booke of the discriptioÌ„ of Affrick by Ihon Leon Affricain Messa of the Turkes with which vocable they haue honoured three townes or Cities called Messa situate vppon the mouthe of the Ocean vppon the poynt whiche doeth make the begynnynge of the mounte Atlas Nere vnto the same townes in the suburbes there was a temple muche reâ—eâ—ensed by the Idolatrous Turkes for that they did beleue that in Messa shuld be borne the iust bishop promised prophesied by Machomet They dyd beleue also that vppon the coaste of the sayde place of Messa Ionas was cast after he was swalowed vp of the Whale Messalamans In the boke of the great turkes courte by frere Antony Gueffrei They haue also this name Messalamains in as great honour as we haue the name of Christians As if they woulde signifie by this vocable Messalanian saued Moreouer the Mahomatists do honour also their priests with the name of Masse in the booke aboue sayde Messen Messit calling them Messen and theyr temples Messit or Meschit Those then which are inforced to bryng to lyght the Anotomy or discription of the Masse the pieces the groundes the patches encreasements oughte to describe it with great reuerence hauynge due respect to the auncient religion Pompilion and Alcoran of Mahomet Nowe after that we haue resolued the name of Masse and of Missa in the Latyne tongue Pontife boke 1. of commentaries to haue taken her beginning of the auncient romain Idolatours not of the Greekes or Hebrues It behoueth vs to come to the garments of the Messalian sacrificers But in passing by we must not omit the name Bishoppe to haue hys originall also of the Romaynes as we haue declared in our commentaries Also the name Papa or Pope had his beginning of the auncient Idolatours who were wonte to call vpon their God Iupiter calling him Papa Iupiter specially the Bithinians and Scithes The whiche name Pope is taken of the Greke worde Papus that is to saye great father And also the very tytle written vppon all the requestes presented vnto the great Romayne Bishoppe is moste blessed father and to the lesse purple Bishoppes moste reuerende father and to the lytle Bishoppes reuerende father Holdynge all this worde father or Papa a great father which was wonte to be a common name for all bishops But afterward the great romaine bishops did reserue it for them selues onely There is also another name reserued for the litle bishops called curates whiche are superintendentes in euery lytle parishe 2hauyng borowed this name Curate of the auncient Curions of Rome If one will not deduce the etimologie or signification of the same from the Greeke word Cura Cura Curio sacerdos Cure qui in sua cura id est in sua parrochia sacris praeerat Tit Liu. lib. 1 Decad. 1. that is shauing or polling for that the auncient Curions Sacrificers had their pollings head shauen after the forme of the Babilonians or of the Herculians bishops called for the same cause Stephanophores as bearing a crown vpon their heads Wherfore me thinketh that all the members of the missall sacrifice had their beginning of the Pompilion religion that one should do wrong vnto the auncient romain Idolators Tit. Liu. Fenest Pompo Let. if he shuld take from theÌ„ the original of the names of Masse of bishop of curate as it is iustified and euident by the auncient romain histories Touching the vestiments of the Masse sacrificers Neuma ordeyned that it should be whyte called by the Latin word Alba an aulbe The which name aulbe hath coÌ„tinued to this day for the vestiment of the priest celebrating Masse Aulbe Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 17. Super tunicaÌ„ aeneaÌ„ pectori tegumen Tit. lib. Deca 1. Aboue the aulbe was also ordeyned for the sacrificer to weare a lytle Iacket paynted in colours And aboue that an ornament for the brest of brasse or copper afterward chaunged into gold or siluer whiche the Massalians called a Cheasuble Chasuble they vsed also a vaile to couer their head in sacrificing called an ammas first instituted by Eneas Virgil. lib. Ene 3. purpurâ—o velare comas adoper tus amictu fit capite ante aras phrigio velamus amictu These be the principal vestiments instituted by Numa more then 700 yeres before the incarnation of Iesus Christ True it is that afterward manye enrichementes of the Iewes were added thereto as the Stole the Ephod the Zone or Gyrdle the meter or Thear and certayne other ornamentes the goodlyer to garnyshe the great whore of Babilon But the Massalians wyllynge to disguyse the originall of their vestements of the masse haue imagined the aulbe to fygure the conuersation of Iesu christ in his fleshe Titelman in â—racta de exâ—osi myniste â—issae Gaâ—e Biel. in lib. â—e exposi â—issae or the puritie of his bodye incarnate in the wombe of the virgyn Other do interprete the whyte colour to sygnifye chastitie and continence Others playing and mocking the passion of Iesu christ do sophisticallye sygnifye by the aulbe the whyte garment presented by Herode vnto christ when he was sent backe as a foole to Pilate Philo the Iewe a more excellent philosopher in his treatise of dreames doth subtelly say the aulbe doth sygnifye the certentie of the moste cleare lighte of god which he calleth ens the linnen also whereof the aulbe is made thei do interprete the subteltie of the scriptures And as touching the ammas inuented by Eneas they disguyse it to be the vayle wherwith christ was couered when the Iues in the house of caiphas did mock him in buffeting hym Titelman one of the most subtel massalians doth sophistically say by the ammas to be sygnifyed the diuinitie of christ
to the honour of the gods in the name of whom the sacrifice was celebrated This Offertorie was for the massinge sacrificer whiche he might frely carye into hys owne house for the nourishement of him selfe and his familie notwithstanding there wer other offeryngs distributed to those that wer nedefull After by the couetousnes of the Massalians this vsage was chaunged into an offertorie or offering of siluer or golde to enriche the coffer which some woulde haue attributed to Leo bishop of Rome Platine notwithstandinge that the Offertorie was practised moore then a thousande yeres before him And to the ende to iustifie this by the Romaine histories When Neuma had instituted the Ministers of the religion as Bishops Augures Sauliens Feciaux Curions and others Blond lib 2. de RoÌ„ trium he ordeyned also the meanes howe to nourish and entertayne them he commaunded to make of the common reuenues foundations for the nourishment and maintenance of the religions Vestales Folowinge his example manye particuler persons did the lyke SacerdotioruÌ„ siue beneficiorum duo erant genera vnum quoruÌ„ collatio ad rep aut principem aut ad pontificum collegium spectabat Alterum quoruÌ„ collatio ad aliquam familiam eiusque successores pertinebat quae beneficia vitis patronatus censebantur Blond lib. 2. de RoÌ„ trium A dispence for many benefices Tit. Liuiuius lib. 30. The founding of benefices Vacations setting ouer Offertorie Tertia sacerdotioruÌ„ opulenta a solutionibus inueniebat quas inferiores superioribê° pontificibus impendebant quale apud nos est cum pontifici romano fructus primos antistites his minores sacerdotes ad obtinuenda beneficia pecuniam dissoluunt Biond lib. 2. de RoÌ„ trium Cicero in oratione pro domo sua ad pontifices Blond lib. 3. de RoÌ„ trium So that benefices became riche by foundations The same benefices were of two sortes The one at the presentation bestowing of the prynce or of the comon welth or of the colledge of bishops The other were at the presentation of some particuler patrons of the sayde benefices by whome they were founded and endowed with great riches Of the whiche benefices the great bishoppes of Rome haue vsurped authoritie to geue dispensation to haue two at once euen as it is recited in the historie of Liuie of Fabius Maximus who had by dispence two benefices than when he was created bishop more then two hundred yeres before the incarnation of Iesus Christ This was then first reuenewe of the Massalian sacrificers to haue benefices rychely founded The seconde reuenewe was the Offertorie or offerynge the Offertory and oblations The thyrde reuenewe was the vocations and the first fruicts whiche the Idolatrous Romaine Bishoppes were accustomed to take for the vacation of the benefices whyche they gaue solde or dispensed with The fourthe reuenewe was deathes annualls legacies and bequestes geuen to pray vnto their gods for the soules of the departed The whiche is verified this daye by the monuments and tombes of the auncient Idolatours The first reuenew was amerciaments condemnations and confications leuied by the bishops of Rome as the place house of Cicero when he was banished wer coÌ„fiscate to the colledge of the priests dedicated specially to the sacrifices celebrated in the temple coÌ„secrated to the goddesse Libertie Passing by I thought good to recite this summe of thauncient romain sacrificers to the end that vnto all it maye be knowen that all the abuses and Idolatries succeded in the churche of Iesus Christ are not newe But had theyr originall restored taken of the auncient romaine Idolators As the foundations of Masses Obites Mounthmindes the dispensing of many benefices annalls vaccantes translations offeringes Masse boxe amercementes and confiscations adiudged by the sentence of the bishop of Rome as are also other ordinances restored by the new Romain Bishops continued froÌ„ the one to the other The yere of our lord 383. Blond lib. 2. de RoÌ„ trium To this porpose it is recited in the Romain histories that synce the raign of the Emperour Valentinian the .xii. of that name great sedition happened at Rome betwen the christians the Idolatours priests whych stryued amongs themselues whether had more enriched the church by fundations lagacies bequests offerings other inuentions in such sort that the heathen Idolatours infidels which did vsurpe again the temple presently called the church of S. Peter at Lians did fight against the christians of Rome which would haue dedicated the same to their deuotion After the offertorie the Aleoran of Titleman doth hold that the masse monger must for a time kepe silence Cap. 35. to figure the fliyng of christ or feare of the disciples to confesse him before the Iewes Then after the sacrificer doth singe on hygh Per omnia secula seculorum for thys that christ after that he was in secret did shovv himself openly in the house of Lazarus Then he syngeth sanctus sanctus sanctus to sygnifie the song of the Iues wheÌ„ christ entred into IerusaleÌ„ This musyke ended the sacrificer must secretly murmur betwene his teath counterfetting sadnes without anye tourninges but yet he muste playe a domme mommerie by sygnes of crosses drawen here awaies there awaies as we shall hereafter declare After the offertorie we must come to the ix part of the Masse 9. part of the Masse the round host of floure Plutar in Numa the most ryche most dentie for the Massalians That is the hoste or sacryfyce Wherein dothe consist the principall end or marke of the masse sacrifice Pollux in onom lib. 6. Mysteriis peractis qui sacris intereraÌ„t rotundis panibê° quos in honorem deorum adhib ebant stantes rescebanÌ„tur nec nisi sacrificio perfecto vesci licebat Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 17 In the time of the coniurer Numa the Romaines had not yet in vse to kill offer vp the bloud of beastes But aboute the ende of the Masse sacrifice it was ordained to eate and coÌ„municate togither wythin the temple lytle round Cakes consecrated to the honour of the gods in whose name the Masse was celebrated The lytle rounde hosts of fyne flowre were eaten by the sacrificer and the assistants standing and not sitting The flowre whereof they were made was called Mola whereof commeth this worde immolare to offer There was diuers hosts that is to saye diuers lytle round cakes dedicated vnto diuers gods lyke as they had diuers sacrifices of the Masse With the same round hosts was offered wyne the aulters seruinge in place of tables And whyles the sacrificer and the assistaunts at the sacrifice did eate communicate together the foresayd lytle round cakes consecrated to the honour of their gods there was song hymnes and pleasaunt songs Some playing vppon Orgaynes and Cymbales Before the deuouryng of this rounde hoste prynted with pictures the massalian doctours haue ordeyned that the Sacrificer shal vse adiurations
and successour of Numa to the end to make his name euerlastinge by addinge some new thinge to the missall sacrifice he ordeyned to singe nyne tymes these wordes in Greeke Platine Volaterran Kyrie eleyson Kyrie eleyson For Gregory did greatly esteme this number nyne euen as the auncient romayn Idolators had recourse vnto the nouendiall sacrifice for signes and monstrous wonders Quoties prodigium nunciabatur sacruÌ„ nouendiale per nouem dies agebatur Tit. Liui. lib. 1 Decades 1. He did also ordeine that in the Massesacrifice shuld be song two words of Hebrue to accompanye the two wordes in Greke And that at certaine tymes men shoulde synge these two wordes Allelu ya and certayne tymes they shoulde not In place of which Allelu ya is song another song called the tract with sharpenes of voyce prolixitie of song and heauinesse of notes of musicke to fygure the miseries of this world and he that syngeth Allelu ya must be higher then he that houleth the graduel as the alcoran of Titelman doth recite Is there not witchcraft inough in your sacrifice O Massalians onlesse ye put therevnto Hebrue and Greke wordes and mingle together Pithagoricall numbers and nouendiall songes and institute a difference of dayes to singe and not to sing Hebrue words and inuent crosses and dumme mummeries Be not these corruptions of the holye sacrament of the supper ordeyned of God Platine Sabellie Some other haue enriched the missall sacrifice Gloria patri Agnus dei Kisâ—â—g the Paten ordeyned as Damase bishoppe of Rome with a Gloria patri Sergius with an Agnus dei songe three tymes which Titelman expoundeth to figure the Ascention of Christ Innocent the kissing of the priests Paten The which paten of gold by the doctrine of the Alcoran dothe signifie the diuinitie of christ cap. 14. The Gloria in excelcis by Symmachus the which song pronounced in a voyce swete basse Cap. 56.57 doth signifie as holdeth the Alcoran of Titelman the warlike childishe voice of Christ beyng yet in the cradle O blasphemye and detestable mommry of the sonne of god Leo the second instituted the kissynge of the paxe whych the Alcoran of Titelman sayeth doeth signifye the vnion of christians Pax kissing And that the kissynge of the paxe came in in the place of the holy communioÌ„ obserued in the first church next the Apostles This kissing of the Paxe was songe of the Massalian sayinge these wordes Pax domini and making 3. crosses vpon the Chalice when the thyrd parte of the hoost is cast into the wine to fygure the incarnation of Christ or for the thréefold peace of the time of the spirit and of the euerlastyngnes to come Moreouer the forging of the Canon of the masse is attributed to Alexander The canon of the masse Gelace Syricie Leo and Pelage These be peeces patched to according to the humours of the Bishops of Rome the authours and restorers the founders and augmentours of the masse sacrifice The best enrychynge instituted in the Masse sacrifice must not be forgotten to witte certayne places of the olde new testament called the epistles and Ghospells Platine Sabellie The epistles and ghospels cut in the masse The whiche the Messalians haue cut mingled with the Pompilian Idolatry therein haue prophaned the lawe of god euen as dyd the Apostate Sergius doctour of the Machomet the whiche decked the Alcoran with many places of the holy byble patched a hotchpotch of fables heresies which the holy law of god The massalians haue ordeyned two persons to sing the epistles and ghospelles to the ende to enriche their Massedaunce to wit the subdeacon who marcheth before to play the person of the first law of the Iewes and the deacon whiche commeth after with more great dignitie to represent the lawe of the ghospell the whiche deacon carieth vppon his brest a quoshon to figure the humblenes of hart The subdeacon receyueth not the blessing of the Massing sacrificer as the deacon doth for this saye the Massalian doctours that God sent his prophetes inuisiblie But the deacon playinge the personage of the law of the gospel he receiueth blessyng as being sent among wolues because christ sent his Apostles as men visibly It is ordained that the deacon shall weare a stoell crosswise hanging vpon his shulders one end ouer the other to figure force continence ioyned together in the massemonger The deacon playing his pagen and singing some pece of the gospell in a language vnderstanded neither of him nor of the assistantes must turne himself towarde the north standing vpright Because saith TitelmaÌ„ the north part is cold and malicious And therfore he must make a crosse to chase away the deuills of the north Be not these sorceries and conflictes more horrible than al the coÌ„mentaries of the auÌ„cient Romain bishops idolators Against the long possession and prescription of Idolators Doth not this approue the Alcoran of Machomet the long possession whereof Turks presently haue had for these .900 the yeres past hauing conquered countres Realmes Against Turks and Empiers prospered in al their interprises stil obseruing the abominable law sette oute in the Alcoran Against the people of Israel offering to Moloch Were the people of Israell excused before God when they dyd sacrifice in the valley of Tophet to Moloch with innoceÌ„ts bloud by alledging the long possession accustomed vsage for the space of .1200 4. Kings 16 23 yeres before this Idolatrie was algetother destroied by the good kinge Iosias Against the idolatrie of the brasen serpent Num. 21. Did the Israelits murmur agaynst the vertuous king Ezechias wheÌ„ he destroied the brasen serpent whiche was made by the expresse commaundement of god 900. yeres before Were the same people excused of their Idolatries committed in Dan Bethell Against the image set vp by Hieroboam 3. Kings 12. wherein were the Images of two heffers of gold instituted by their kinge Hieroboam vnder pretence of long possession that they had continued this Idolatrie for the space of .300 or .400 yeres The Iues Against the infidelitie of the iewes now vacaboÌ„ds shall they be excused before the maiestye of god by showing the long possession of their ceremoniall lawe instituted yea of god himself .3 thousand yeres ago Also you O massalians can you aledge against god the continuance and longe possession of celebratinge your Pompilian Masses long time and that you and your predecessours haue vsed sold put to vsurie your Missall sacrifyces is this reason sufficient to grounde vpon long possession as your predecessours senators of Rome did alledge vnto Theodose the Emperour their Pompilian religion to haue been obserued more then a M. yeres This is not an excuse sufficient to bring in long possession vsage of long tyme obserued for the confirmation of your Idolatries For if god of his mercie wonderfull patience did suffer the Iewes in