not suffringe this holye signe thus to be prophaned threwe downe the image dagon sent greuous punshiments to the Philistines in such sort that they were constrayned to restore the Arke of the couenaunt of god This holye signe was so precious that for as muche as the Bethsamites which were not of the order of the Leuites had abused it 50000. of the common people and 70. of the chiefe rulers were rooted out slayne by the vengeaunce of god Against corruption of holy signes This example mighte make all those to tremble whyche enterpryse to abuse the holy sygnes and sacramentes ordayned of god 2. Samuel 6. Osa Osa also for that he abused the same sacred sygne notwithstandinge that he did it of a good intention for to lift vp the Arke of witnes hanging to much on thonside was he not punished with death Of others abuses committed by the Isralites Osias 2. Chron 26. there is many examples Osias was punished with liprosie for abusing the sacrifices Saule 1. Samuel 13. Ioseph lib. 7. cap. 4. of the Iewes antiquities in takyng vpon hym the ministery of encensing appointed to the priestes onely Saule he first elected king of the Isralits was slaine his kingdome geuen vnto another as was declared before of Samuell for abusyng the sacrifices and suffering his people to commit the lyke abuses His successours in the kingdomes of Iuda Israell haue not they alwayes continued in abusing corrupting the sacrifices sacraments ordeyned of God when they did offer sacrifices to the gods 1. Kyngs 8.11 Astaroth of the Sidonions to Chanios of the Moabites to Melcom or Moloch of the Ammonites in so much that they buylded temples oratories euen to offerencens to do sacrifices vnto them Hieroboam king of the Israelites Hieroboam 1. Kyngs 12. did not onely cause a Golden calfe to be erected as the high priest Aaron had abused before but also did ordeyne two Golden Kyne in the two Temples of Bethell Dan and ordeyned straunge priests corrupting the lawe of God and causing them to do sacrifice after the fashion of Aaron 1. Kyngs 14. This idolatrie corruption of sacrifices did continue amonge the Israelites more than .400 yeres during the raigne of their kyngs who had taught them to corrupt the true vse of the sacrifices in chapels perticuler oratories buylded in the tops of hils thick forests consecrated inviolating the law of sacrifices ordeyned by God in the holy temple 1. Kyngs 15. within the holy citie For particuler examples of the abuses committed agaynst the trew vse of sacrifices the historie of Maacha mother of kyng Asa is manifest who erected an image of the god Pan did consecrate dedicate vnto him a thicke forest offeryng sacrifices vnto it Achab. 1. Kyngs 16. Achab another kyng of the Israelites did erecte an aulter made sacrifices to the God Mars otherwyse called Baal vnto whom he dedicated a Groue to satisfie hys wycked wyfe Iesabell Ioseph lib. 8. chap. 10. He caused also another aulter temple to be erected to the God of the Tyrians he ordeyned Priests Sacrificers and instituted foure hundred false Prophetes Hys sonne successour Ochosias taught of his father to corrupt the vse of the sacrifices Ochosias dyd not onely offer to Baal otherwyse called Mars but went forwarde in greater abuse 2. Kyngs 1. Ioseph lib. 9. chap. 1. he buylded a temple vnto the god of Accoronites called by Iosephus Myos and by the Gréekes Priapus vnto the which god he did sacrifice To be short what more abhominable corruption can be described Purgatorye than the inuention of the fyer Purgatorie 2. Kyngs 16. 2. Kings 16.23 in the booke Alcoran Asoar 29.46 Asoar 5. wher with the Israelites did transgres causing their children to passe through the fier in Tophet a valley of the sons of Ennon sacrificing vnto the God Moloch This corruption of sacrifices not withstanding that it was in the tyme of Moyses ignē gehēnae non nisi numero dierum preterminato animas sentire docet Acorani liber ad diem veritatis omnes accedere operum suorum mercedem accepturas Asoar yet the Idoll Moloch in the valley of Ennon was not caste downe tyll the raygne of good Kyng Iosias more then nyne hundred yeres after Moyses Neuerthelesse this abuse doth continue among the Arabians Affricans to this present so that the Alcoramists Mahometists haue this beliefe that the soules of the departed muste passe thorowe the fyer to be purged and purified from theyr offences By this briefe gathering a man may clearely perceyue that from the beginning of the world man by his own fault hath fallen into the bottome of errour corruption of holy signes sacrifices sacraments ordened to him of god But the principall abuse Cause of the corruption of sacraments whereof is sprong the originall of all idolatrie entred by this meanes that fleshly and carnal men did stick more to the visible signes outward ceremonies then to the things signified by the Sacraments Apo. 13. for in place of circumcising their harts cutting awaye the old skinne of synne to be regenerated and purified by the bloud of the heauenly sacrifice offered before all worlds Deut. 10.30 they haue taken circumcision carnally for the cutting of the carnall skynne Wherefore did they not folowe the interpretation of god by Moyses to circumcise the foreskynne of their hearts Wherefore did not the children of Israell geue credit to the good prophet Ieremie Ierem. 4. whiche admonished them of the spirituall circumcision to circumcise the foreskynne of their hearts in puttinge awaye the foreskynne of their naturall corruption The lyke is come to passe of the sacrifices holye sygnes ordeyned of god for figures of the sacrifice fulfilled by Iesus Christ For the carnall man resteth in the corporall bloud of earthly beasts where he ought to lyft vp his spirite to heauen to comprehend conceyue that which is figured signified by the sacrifices of beasts offered vp For this therefore the iustice of God is declared by the Prophetes What nede haue I sayth the Lord god of your sacrifices Esay 1. I am werye of your offerings of shepe Moreouer I take no pleasure in the blood of beasts lambes goates offered Wherefore trauell you to addresse aulters vnto me I wyll non of your offerynges vayne sacrifices I abhorre your incens I can not suffer your newe Moones your Sabothes your assembles your feasts all is but vanitie I hate your feasts of new Moones O Israelites your solemne feasts I am wery in suffering so much You haue goodly directed your prayers vnto me I wil not heare you any more for the abuses which you haue cōmitted with your handes embrued with bloud Moreouer I wil not receiue of the house of Israell any bull Psalm 51. Esay 66. Ierem. 6. because your
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
ornaments and consecration of priestes speciallye the ornament called the Ephod Ephod the which the sacrifices the Israelites did abuse by their idolatries Another holy signe there was of the purging sprinckling water Pourging water cōsecrated Num. 19. ordeyned by god to Moyses Aaron the high prieste This sprinckled water was consecrated with ashes gathered by a cleane person of the sacrifice offered in Holocausta To witte of a Cowe all redde with out any spot which had neuer ben laboured The Wood ordeyned to make the fyer for the burntofferyng was Cedre Hisope Purple with Crimsin With this water were sprinckled poluted persons for the purging cleansing of their corporall defylings At the enteryng of the temple or tabernacle was a Lauer made of Brasse Exod. 38. and forged first with thimages of the women of Israell in this Lauer was put the sprinckling water wherew t the sacrificers are sprīkled before the celebrating of their sacrifices to the end they might be purified obteyne grace remission of their synnes After the death of the great priest Aaron the people of Israel vnthankfull to god for the goodnes sent them of him murmuring as anoyed with the heauenly Manna frely geuen vnto them for their norriture were punished by the biting of venemous serpents But the mercifull god gaue vnto thē an holy signe whereby thei shuld be saued restored to helth to witte the brasen serpent Brasen serpēt Iohn 3.7 lifted vp in the ayre a figure of Iesus Christ crucified These were in sūme the most part of the signes sacrifices sacramentes ordeyned of god in the first church of the Israelites figures of the true perfect sacrifice performed by Iesus Christ the true Messias euerlasting priest sitting at the right hand of god the father Sacramentes broken by Adam Gene. 3. Now resteth in summe to bring forth how man by his owne proper fault dyd fall in obliuion and disobedience of god his creator abusing gods fauour and corrupting the holy signes sacrifices and sacramentes ordeyned to hym What persuaded our first father and his companion to hyde them selues at the hearing of gods voyce but because they had abused the holy signe and broken the lawe of the fruites to them forbidden This holy signe which our first and vniuersall father had abused was the originall of other vices corruptions hereafter described into the which all men are fallen sauoring of the corrupted lumpe of Adam Leauing the perticuler corruptions of the signes sacrifices and sacramentes Corruption of the sacrifice by Aaron Exod. 32. Deute 9. before the law written by Moyses we wil begin to bring forth briefly the most notable errours committed by the most great sacrificers as kinges priests and others hauing the chief gouernment of the people When Moyses was abiding in moūt Synay to receiue the commaundementes of God his brother Aaron the high priest forged a calfe of gold of the golden earings geuen vnto him by the people of Israell he buylded an aulter offered incens and celebrated sacrifice causing the common people to worshyppe the molten Image Was not this an abusing of the sacrifices ordeyned of god a corrupting of the true vsage of the same in causing the Calfe to be worshipped in place of the slaine offered sacrifice as it was appoynted in the lawe Corruption of the sacrifice by Nadab and Abiu Leui. 10. Num. 11. His sonnes also Nadab Abiu were not they consumed with fyer for abusing the vse of sacrifices in takyng vnhallowed Wood corrupting the lawe The people of Israel vnthankfull for the goodnes done vnto them in being delyuered from the Pharoanicall captiuitie did they not murmour against the holy sacrament of heauenly Manna when they did disdeyne and contempne this bread of lyfe demaunded fleshe to eate iosua 7. Acham the sonne of Charmes did not he violate the laws of holy sygnes when he committed sacrilege and kept backe the spoyles of Hierico vowed consecrated to god for sacrifices If any more curiously desyre to sée the continuall abuses corruptions of the people them selues let hym read the histories of the Iudges of Israell iud 2.3.6 8.9 in all times he shal fynd man neuer to be content with the true worshipping ordained of God But in stead of outwarde signes ordayned of god to drawe the people to feare obedience they haue forged inuentions And in place of reuerēsing the aulters arke of couenaunt in the name of the onely god beyng outwarde sacred signes Iudg. 10. The Isrelites infected with the Idolatries of their neighbours the Sirians Sidonians Moabites Ammonites Philistines did erect alters vnto their strang gods Baall and Astaroth Iephtha iudge captaine of the Isralites did not he corrupt the law of sacrifices when he sacrificed his owne proper daughter excusing himselfe by a vowe whyche he made which was not appointed to him of god The vngentle sacrifice of Iephtha iud 11. The holy signe ordayned of god for the hygh priest to celebrat sacrifices in called Ephod the vppermost garment iudg 8.9 idolatrye by the golden EPhod Iudg. 17.18 was not it abused by Gedeon captayne of the Isralites whan as of the spoiles of the Madianites of their earings he made an Ephod of gold wherby the people fell into great idolatrye How long time was this holy outward signe Ephod abused an ymage beyng erected by the mother of Michas in Silo priestes sacrificers appointed expressly to sacrifice therevnto an alter buylded and the true vse of sacrifices corrupted So longe as the temple contynued in Silo into what wicked maners dyd the priestes and sacrificers fall which were ordained of god for the ministery of sacrifices holy sacramentes when they vsurped by long possession to haue thys priuilege of the people that when they did sacrifice and the fleshe of thoffered sacrifice was seathing 1. Samuel 2. their boye or seruaunt hauing a three grained fleshoke of yron in his hand had liberty to catche out of the potte or cawdron all that he cold carry with his hoke further the leuiticall tirranny was such that this seruant of the priest had liberty to demand of the sacrifice geuer fleshe to roste for the sacrificer otherwise to take it by force euen as he wold Was not this a great abuse detestable corruption practised by the priestes chiefe sacrificers vnder the pretence of sacrifices What greater corruptiō can be declared than that of the sonnes of the chiefe priest Ely called Ophni Phinees Ophni Phinies corruptera of the sacrifices 1. Samuel 4. Who vnder pretence of deuotion committed shamefull whoredom with the couered wemē behinde the holy Tabernacle instituted of god for the whiche wickednes they were miserably slayne and the arke of couenaunt taken awaye by the Philistines 1. Samuel 5.6 Which they set in the temple of their god dagon The arcke of the holy couenaunt but god
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
their vnfaithfulnesse the Turks in their Alcoran law the christians in their Masse Idolatries It is not for vs to dispute of the incomprehensible secretes of god but with all humilitie to take againe the waye of truth when it shall please him to geue it vs after long and déepe darknes whereunto the people in all ages hath fallen tourned from the true worshippinge ordinaunce of god euen so as briefly before we haue declared of the Israelites the chosen people of god the which notwithstanding that they had Moyses the prophets which did admonish thē by many miracles threatenings how they shuld honor god kepe the law neuerthelesse they neuer ceased by mens inuentions to cōmit idolatries So that during the raigne of the princes Iudges of Israel when the people were gouerned as in Aristocratia than after submitted vnder the yoke of kings as in a monarchie and last of all brought vnder the gouernement of the priests hauing gotten both the temporalitie spiritualitie the lawe of god hath bene corrupted the sacrifices and sacramentes defaced defiled and idolatry continued more then 1600 yeres from the law written by Moyses vnto the incarnation of Iesus Christ What maye one hope for then of the people of Rome instructed in all Idolatrie as a dry tree a heathenishe bastard people But these Massalian heritikes can not vaunt themselues of very long possession of their Masse sacrifices except of the ix pieces before described restored borowed of Numa Pompilius for the other parts of the Masse wer inuented at diuers times by diuers antichrists corruptours of the holy sacraments ordained of God And to vnderstand the times yeres of the chiefe builders Agapet Pope of Rome raigned in the yere of christ .533 brought in the processiō after the order prescribed by Numa The Confiteor was restoored by Damase raigning the yere .577 The Kyrie eleyson the Letanies by Gregory raigning in the yere .593 The graduel the collects the Traict by Gelase raigning in the yere 493. The Sequences by Gothere abbot of Sandale The Gloria in excelcis by Simmach raigning in the yere .508 The incens the offertorie restored from the auncient doctrine Pompilian by Leo the third of that name in the yere .800 The kissing of the pax by Innocent the first of that name in the yere .408 Agnus dei instituted by Sergius in the yere .697 The commemoration of the dead inuented by Pelagius in the yere 558. The Canon forged by Gelase Siricie Leo Pelagi raigning in the yeare 800. The transubstanciaciō instituted by the bishops of Rome about the yeare of christ 1062. Wherfore of what impudencie are these Alcoranists Masse doctours to be condempned the which faulsely do affirme that the holye Apostles of Iesus Christ did celebrate their missal sacrifice Seinge that this sacrifice was not restored to his integritie after Numa Pompilius but after Christ .800 yeres In what approued histories is there mentiō made that such Idolatrie was commytted by the holy apostles of god How is it possible to beleue or to thinke it whē as this great whore of Babilion hath not bene restored with her deceipt maske of holines till longe time after the incarnation of Iesus Christ But it behoueth to returne to our historie of Rome more more to discouer the true original of the masse Continuing of histories We haue declared in discouering the parts chief members of the masse sacrifice how the auncient Romains before they were accustomed to sacrifice with the blood of bests did vse litle round cakes consecrated in the honour of their gods the which standing they did eate within the temple aboute the end of the sacrifice These litle roūd hosts of wheate flowre were taken vp of the massalian sacrificers but they haue enriched the witchcraft idolatrie of Numa Pompilius in so much as they haue decked the litle rounde hosts with images pictures printed within the round circle of the sayd hosts Abhominable idolatrie Against the idolatrie of the rounde Hosts to thend to make them more holy euen to be worshipped by thinuention of Honorius antichrist of Rome the yere 1226 the which Numa the coniurer neuer practised ne yet came to this abominable idolatrie What more detestable heresie can ther be discouered then to paint the maiestie of god in form likenes of a man as the Antropomorphits imagen Who taught you o massalians to corrupt the holy sacrament of our lord Iesus christs supper in making litle roūd hosts if not Numa the cōiurer When Iesus christ celebrated hys holy supper with his apostles did he ordeyne to haue litle roūd hosts to print them ful of pictures likenesses of men to adiure coniure with crossings blessings odde or euen to make them to be worshipped Acknowledge then o Massalians your principal part of the masse to wit your litle roūd hosts to haue takē their beginning of Numa more then 700 yeres before the incarnatiō of Iesus christ who neuer cōmaūded you this roūdnes of hosts nor that they shuld be rather roūd then square thre cornered or eight cornered But so far was he frō chusing the figure of roūdnes after the fashion of Numa that contrariwise when he instituted the holy sacrament of the cōmunion of his body he vsed breaking of the bread in morsels which he distributed to his disciples for a simbol signe figure signifiyng really sacramētally his body by the vertue of tholy gost And the massalians haue not only chosen the fashion rounde in their lytle consecrated hosts printed full of pictures to cause them to be worshipped after the maner of the auncient Romaynes but further they haue exceded al Idolators For in the tyme of Neuma Pompilius those that assisted at the sacrifice of the Masse did eate together standinge the said lytle round hosts consecrated But since the Massalians haue reserued for them selues the communion of the sayd litle rounde hostes consecrated vsing no charitie towarde those that stoode by at their missall sacrifice Is this to followe the ordinaunce of Iesus Christ who brake the bread and gaue it to his Apostles Iesus Christ the euerlasting sacrificer was he alone at the aulter eating one lytle round host grauen full of images when he celebrated the holye communion of his body Can you O Massalians toto abhominable and muche lesse charitable Idolators than all the auncient Romains so muche playe the subtell sophisters that you wyll make men to vnderstand that your masse sacrifice wherein the sacrificer alone deuoureth all the lytle round host printed full of pictures without geuyng parts to any other is a cōmunion by a merueylous witchcraft to cause the assistans at the sacrifice to beleue the thei haue cōmunicated together with the priest not withstanding that they neyther receyued nor did eate any portion of the rounde hoste And besyde this for a more extreme idolatrie the massalian doctours
and coniuringe by sygnes of the crosse fyrst he ought to make thre crosses vppon the rounde hoste to fygure the threfolde doctrine of christ To witte by the father by himselfe and by the holy ghost in pronouncing these words Haec dona haec munera haec sancta sacrificia illibata Other doctours Alcoranists Massalians interpret the third crosse to signifie the treason of Iudas who deliuered his maister into the hands of the Iues. Beside the foresaid thre crosses doth folow fiue mo to figure the fiue dayes of respit from paulme sonday to good fryday or otherwise to represent the fiue wouÌ„ds of christ two in his hands two in his feete one in his right syde Of the which fiue crosses the thre first must be made vpoÌ„ the chalice vpon the round host to figure the deliuering of christ vnto the priestes scribes Pharisies or to figure the price that christ was sold for to wit thre tymes ten which is .30 pence The two other crosses are seperatly made the one being the fourth vpon the host thother vpon the chalice alone to play the two persons of christ iudas which the massalian sacrificer doth continuing styll his mocks mummeries stretching out hys armes to figure christ stretched on the crosse Then he lifteth vp his round host printed full of pictures to cause it to be worshipped And that he beginneth agayne to make thre other crosses One vpon the host another vpon the cuppe and the thyrde vpon hymselfe to playe the personages of thre estates of those that be in heauen in purgatorie and in earth He smiteth afterward vpon his brest to play the personage of the these hangyng vppon the crosse whiche repented hym selfe But the smiting of the stomack must be with the thre hyndermost fyngers of the hande for the thombe and the next fynger be reserued to consecrate and transubstantiate the round host Moreouer he must smyte his brest thre tymes to fygure the threfolde offence of the heart mouth and deede In lifting vp hys voyce to represent the thefe or the centurion which confessed god in the passion Sixe other crosses are made once againe thre vppon the chalice couered to figure the thre houres that Christ hanged on the crosse on lyue and the thre other crosses are made vpon the chalice discouered with the round hoste lifted vp again to fygure the thre houres that christ hanged vpon the crosse dead Then after the massalian hath kissed his chalice there are yet two crosses more to fygure the mysterie of the bloude and water issuyng out of christs syde Besyde the dumme mummeries abouesayde the priest must take the couering cloth from the chalice and couer it with the plantyn to figure the breaking of the vaile of the temple in the middest at the death of christ This done the round host is put froÌ„ aboue the chalice is couched vnder the corporas to figure the buriyng of christ The priest thus hauing played the person of the hanged thefe of the traitour Iudas of christ of the publicans playeth afterwarde the personage of the centurian in singing the Pater noster But the Alcoran of Durand expoundeth by the seuen petitions of the Pater noster the seuen wepings of the virgin Marye or the seuen vertues or the seuen giftes of the holy ghost or the seuen Beatitudes or the seuen deadly synnes This song finished the Massalian a lytle whyle kepeth silence to fygure the silence or rest of christ in the tombe Re diuina ceremoniis celebratis sacerdos tunc I licet succlamabat qua voce illos qui inter fuerant missos faciebat Alex ab Alex lib. 4. cap. 17 Parts of the masse ordeyned by Neuma 700 yeres before the incarnation of Iesu christ Another aperie or muÌ„merie doth the Massalian play with his round hoste the vvhiche he layeth vppon the paten to fygure the vnitie of the diuinitie with the humanitle but when he playeth the secrete mysterie then the host is hyd out of syght The sacrifice thus finished the litle rouÌ„d hosts eateÌ„ Numa ordeined to sing these wordes I licet vel Itâ—e missa est that is to say go it is graunted the assemble is suffered to go home Be not all these partes of the Masse sacrifice ordeyned by Numa the coniurer more then 700 yeres before the incarnation of Iesus Christ to witte the vestments the aulbe the chasuble the holy purginge water coniured with salt to chase away diuells the aulter the taper light the the turnings and trauersings along the aulter with prayers and meditations toward the East The processions with shrines and relikes carried vppon the shulders of the priests clothed in whyte surplices crownes vppon their heads the Confiteor made to the he sainctes she saincts the playing on the Organs the Canticles Peanes Hymnes and Odes the Censour and the Encens the communion of lytle round bread consecrated in the name of their godds and in th end this song Ite missa est Do ye not acknowledge O ye Massalians that ye haue borowed all these partes members of your Masse of Pompilians religion Why doe you holde this worde Masse Math 27. Luke 20. Mark 14. 1. Cor. 11. seing Iesus Christ did name it a supper or the partaking of his bodye Why haue ye taken vp these vestementes the Aulbe paynted Chasuble proper to the auncient romain Idolators of the which garments Christ ordeyned nothing Why haue ye geuen more credit vnto the witchcraft of Pompilius to chase away diuels with salt water coniured called holy water then vnto the holy ghospel of Iesus Christ the which doth assure you in his name to driue awai diuels not with witchcraft of salt Mark 16. Who but the spirite of Neuma did inspire you to shaue your crowne round to deck your selues with whyte surplices to beare the shrines banners in procession When Iesus Christ celebrated his holy supper instructed his apostles of the coÌ„munioÌ„ of his body blood did he coÌ„maund theÌ„ to folow the religion of the auÌ„cient romain Idolators to haue their alters enriched with images to vse turnings trauersings alonge the alter to be shorne rouÌ„d to haue aulbs chasubles addressing their praiers coÌ„fession to he she saincts to pipe with organs to ê‘fume their alters images with encence to go to the offrings to cary monie to the priests box to eat litle rouÌ„d hosts coÌ„secrated laste of all to sing Ite missa est But I well perceyue O Massalians your Masse subtelties wherby you shal confesse to me that the body and chiefe parts of the Masse toke their beginning and creation of Numa Pompilius Neuerthelesse the deckinges and enrichings were inuented by other bishops of Rome speciallye by a monke called Gregorye the first of that name that came to the Popedome Who was instructed in the Magike and Philosophie of Pythagoras and had also studied the lawes of Tullius Hostillius king
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