together with clear Confirmations of the Truth of what we meet with in the Fourteenth and other Decrees of the Third Action of this Synod to wit That the Three great Doctrines of Popery the Pope's Supremacy Transubstantiation the Adoration of Images were never believed nor practised at any time in this ancient Apostolical Church but on the contrary were rejected and condemned by her and that in her Publick Offices So that upon what we learn from this Synod and History I think one may venture to say That before the time of the late Reformation there was no Church that we know of no not that of the Vaudois abating that one thing of her being infected with the Heresie of Nestorius of which too she is cleared by one of the Roman Communion that had so Few Errors in Doctrine as the Church of Malabar If the Synod I here publish should be well received as I have reason to hope it will by all Protestants and lovers of Truth upon the account of the clear Discoveries it makes of the forementioned Popish Errors having never been at any time the Doctrines of the Universal Church which we know is confidently affirmed and much boasted of and for further satisfaction in so important a Matter the above-named History should be desired I shall be ready to translate and publish it with all expedition alone and in the same Volume with this of the Synod together with the best Account I can procure of the Church of Malabar and the other Oriental Churches that were never within the Bounds of the Roman Empire for it is in those Churches that we are to expect to meet with the least of the Leaven of Popery As to the Synod to prevent all surmises of its being a Piece either forged by some Protestant or of no Authority in the Church of Rome tho' set forth by a Member of her Communion I have together with the whole Title Page which tells where when and by whom it was printed translated and published all the Licences that it came out with And if any should suspect the Translation if they please they may satisfie themselves of its Fidelity by having recourse to the Original in the Bodleian Library at Oxford to which as the safest as well as noblest Repository of Books in the World I design to give it I have here and there added some short Remarks upon some Passages which will not I hope be unacceptable to the Reader The DOCTRINES wherein the Church of Malabar agrees with the Church of England and differs from that of Rome 1. SHe condemns the Pope's Supremacy 2. She affirms that the Church of Rome is fallen from the true Faith 3. She denies Transubstantiation or that Christ's Body and Blood are really and substantially in the Eucharist 4. She condemns Images and the Adoration of them as Idolatrous 5. She makes no use of Oils in the Administration of Baptism 6. She allows of no Spiritual Affinity 7. She denies Purgatory 8. She denies the necessity of Auricular Confession 9. She knows nothing of Extream Vnction 10. She allows her Priests to Marry as often as they have a mind and Ordains such as have been married three or four times and to Widows without any scruple 11. She denies Matrimony to be a Sacrament 12. She holds but two Orders Priesthood and Diaconate 13. She Celebrates in Leavened Bread 14. She Consecrates with Prayer 15. She denies Confirmation to be a Sacrament In the Account that is given of the Doctrines of the Church of Malabar in the Eighteenth Chapter of the First Book of the Visitation SHe is said 1. Not to adore Images 2. To hold but Three Sacraments Baptism the Eucharist and Order 3. To make no use of Oils 4. To have had no Knowledge of Confirmation or Extream Unction 5. To abhor Auricular Confession 6. To hold many enormous Errors about the Eucharist insomuch that the Author of the History saith he is inclined to believe that the Hereticks of our Times meaning Protestants the revivers of all forgotten Errors and Ignorances might have had their Doctrine about the Eucharist from them 7. To Ordain such as have been married several times and to Widows and to approve of her Priests marrying as often as they have a mind 8. That she abhors the Pope and the Church of Rome as Anti-Christian in pretending to a Superiority and Jurisdiction over all other Churches A Diocesan SYNOD Of the Church and Bishoprick of ANGAMALE Belonging to the Ancient Christians of St. Thomas in the Serra or Mountains of MALABAR Celebrated by the most Reverend Lord Dom Frey Aleixo de Menezes Archbishop Metropolitan of Goa Primate of the Indies and the See being vacant of the above-named Bishoprick by virtue of two Briefs of the most Holy Father Pope Clement 8th on the third Sunday after Pentecost being the 20th day of July in the Year of our Lord 1599. in the Church of All-Saints in the Town and Kingdom of Diamper Subject to the King of Cothin an Infidel in which the said Bishoprick with all the Christians thereunto belonging submitted it self to the Pope and the Holy Roman Church Printed at Conimbra in the Shop of Diogo Gomez Laureyro Printer to the University in the Year of our Lord 1606. THE Father of the Society of Jesus intrusted with the revising of Books in Conimbra having perused the Synod mentioned in the following Petition and the Inquisition of the said City having upon his Approbation given Licence to Print the same we do Order That after it is Printed it be together with the Book Intituled The Journey of the Serra or Mountains transmitted to this Council that it may be compared with the Original and Licensed without which it shall not be made publick Marcos Teixira Ruy Piz de veiga I Have perused this Synod and to me it appears to be a Work that deserves to be Printed for besides the sound Doctrine contained therein it will be of great Use and Consolation to all and very necessary to the extirpating of the Errors Schism and Heresies sown by Hereticks and particularly the Nestorians in the ancient Christianity planted in the Indies by the Apostle St. Thomas Octob. 23d 1605. Joan Pinto BY virtue of a particular Commission to us granted in this behalf by the Council of the General Inquisition of these Kingdoms having seen the Information of Father Joan Pinto Revisor of this City we give Licence for the Printing of the Book Intituled The Synod and the Journey of the Serra provided that after it is Printed it be sent to the said Council to be compared with the Original and to have leave to be made publick Jan. 11. 1606. Joan Alvarez Brandon It may be Printed Conimbra 25th of Feb. 1606. The Bishop Conde THE PUBLICATION and CALLING OF THE SYNOD DOM Frey Aleixo de Menezes by the mercy of God and the Holy Roman See Archbishop Metropolitan of Goa Primate of the Indies and the Oriental Parts c. To the
Reverend in Christ Father George Archdeacon of the Christians of St. Thomas in the Serra of the Kingdom of Malabar and to all other Priests Curates Deacons and Subdeacons and to all Towns Villages and Hamlets and to all Christian People of the said Bishoprick Health in our Lord Jesus Christ We give you all and every one of you in particular to understand that the most Holy Father Pope Clement VIII our Lord Bishop of Rome and Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ upon earth at this time presiding in the Church of God having sent two Briefs directed to Vs one of the 27th of Jan. in the Year 1595 and the other of the 21st of the same Month in the Year 1597 in which by virtue of his Pastoral Office and that Vniversal Power bequeathed to the Supream Holy and Apostolical Chair of St. Peter over all the Churches in the World by Jesus Christ the Son of God our Lord and Redeemer he commanded us upon the death of the Archbishop Mar-Abraham to take Possession of this Church and Bishoprick so as not to suffer any Bishop or Prelate coming from Babylon to enter therein as has been hitherto the Custom all that come from thence being Schismaticks Hereticks and Nestorians out of the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and Subject to the Patriarch of Babylon the Head of the said Heresy and to appoint a Governour or Apostolical Vicar to Rule the said Diocess both in Spirituals and Temporals until such time as the Holy Roman Church shall provide it of a proper Pastor which being read by us we were desirous to execute the Apostolical Mandates with due Reverence and Obedience besides that the same was incumbent on us of right the said Church having no Chapter to take care of it during the vacancy of the See as Metropolitan and Primate of this and all the other Churches of the Indies and the Oriental Parts But perceiving that our Mandate in that behalf had no effect what we had ordered not having been obeyed in the said Diocess so that what our most Holy Father the Bishop of Rome had designed was like to be frustrated after having laboured therein for the space of two Years Schism and Disobedience to the Apostolical See having been so rooted in that Diocess for a great many Years that the Inhabitants thereof instead of yielding Obedience to the Apostolical and Our Mandates on the contrary upon the intimation thereof did daily harden themselves more and more committing greater Offences against the Obedience due to the Holy Roman Church after having commended the Matter to God and ordered the same to be done through our whole Diocess and after mature Advice by which Methods the Apostolical Mandates might be best executed and being also moved by the Piety of the People and the Mercy God had shewn them in having preserved so many thousand Souls in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ from the time that the Holy Apostle St. Thomas had Preached to them until this day notwithstanding their having lived among so many Heathens and been scattered in divers places their Churches and all belonging to them having been always subject to Idolatrous Kings and Princes and incompassed with Idols and Pagods and that without holding any correspondence with any other Christians before the coming of the Portuguezes into these Parts we being likewise desirous that the Labours of the Holy Apostle St. Thomas which still remained among them should not be lost for want of sound Doctrine and that the Apostolical Mandates might not be frustrated did determine and having provided for the Government of our own Church during our absence did prepare to go in Person to take Possession of the said Bishoprick to see if by our Presence we might be able to reduce them to the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and purge out the Heresies and false Doctrines sown among them and introduced by the Schismatical Prelates and Nestorian Hereticks that had governed them under the Obedience of the Patriarch of Babylon as also to call in and purge the Books containing those Heresies and according to our Pastoral Duty so far as God should enable us to Preach to them in Person the Catholick Truth Accordingly going into the said Bishoprick we set about visiting the Churches thereof but at that time Satan the great Enemy of the good of Souls having stirred up great Commotions and much opposition against this our just intent great numbers departing from us and forming a Schism against the Holy Roman Church after having passed through many troubles and dangers out of all which God of his great mercy not remembring our sins and evil deeds was pleased to deliver us and to grant us an intire Peace for the Merits of the glorious Apostle St. Thomas the Patron of this Christianity but chiefly of his own great Clemency and Mercy which makes that he doth not delight in the death of a sinner but rather that he should return and live and by coming all to the light of the Truth may joyn with us in the Confession of the Catholick Faith approving our Doctrine and Intention and submitting themselves to the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church which being by us observed after having returned Thanks to God we thought fit in order to the compassing and securing of all those good Effects to assemble a Diocesan Synod in some commodious place near the middle of the said Diocess there to Treat of all such Matters as are convenient for the honour of God the exaltation of the Holy Catholick Faith and Divine Worship the good of the Church the extirpation of Vice the Reformation of the Christians of the said Diocess and the profit and peace of their Souls to which end having pitched upon the Town and Church of Diamper We do hereby let all the Inhabitants and Christians of the said Bishoprick as well Ecclesiasticks as Laicks of what State or Condition soever to understand that we do call and assemble a Diocesan Synod in the said Town of Diamper on the 20th of June of this present Year 1599 being the Third Sunday after Whitsuntide and do therefore by Virtue of holy Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication latae Sententiae Command the Reverend the Arch-Deacon of this Diocess and all the other Priests of the same that shall not be hindered by Age or some other just Impediment to be present in the said Town of Diamper there with us to celebrate a Diocesan Synod conformable to the Holy Canons And whereas by immemorial Custom and a Right introduced into this Diocess from its Beginning and consented to by all the Infidel Kings of Malabar the whole Government as it were and the Cognizance of all Matters wherein Christians are any ways concerned has belonged to the Church and the Prelate thereof and it having likewise been an ancient Custom in the same to give an Account to the People of whatsoever has been ordained in the Church in order to its being the
nor no need of any created assistance to help her to bring forth or afterwards there being nothing in her but what was pure the Eternal Word made Flesh springing out of her Womb the Claustrum of her pure Virginity being shut when the time determined in the Consistory of the Holy Trinity was come to the great Spiritual Joy and satisfaction of the said Blessed Virgin for which reason she ought truly to be stiled the Mother of God and not only the Mother of Christ and that when she departed this Life she was immediately carried up into Heaven where by a particular privilege due to her Merits she enjoys God both in Body and Soul without waiting for the general Resurrection there being no reason why that Body out of which there was most Holy Flesh formed for the Son of God made Man should as other Bodies be dissolved into Dust and Ashes but that it should be immediately exalted and glorified and placed high above all the Quires of Angels as Holy Mother Church sings and confesseth concerning the whole of which matter the Impious Nestorian Hereticks have spoke and writ even in the Breviaries used in this Bishoprick a great many Blasphemies and Heresies Decree VII THe Synod is with great sorrow sensible of that Heresy and perverse Error sown by the Schismaticks in this Diocess to the great prejudice of Souls which is That there was one Law of St. Thomas and another of St. Peter which made * Two different By all this which the Synod calls Two Laws the Christians of St. Thomas meant only That the Churches planted by the Apostles in divers Regions had nothing of Superiority or Jurisdiction over one another which is a most certain and ancient truth two different and distinct Churches and both immediately from Christ and that the one had nothing to do with the other neither did the Prelate of the one owe any obedience to the Prelate of the other and that they who had followed the Law of St. Peter had endeavoured to destroy the Law of St. Thomas for which they had been punished by him all which is a manifest Error Schism and Heresy there being but one Law to all Christians which is that which was given and declared by Jesus Christ the Son of God and preached by the Holy Apostles all over the World as one Faith one Baptism there being but one Lord of all and one Catholick and Apostolick Church of which our Lord Christ God and Man who Founded it is the only Spouse and one only Universal Pastor to whom all other Prelates owe obedience the Pope and Bishop of Rome Successor in the Chair of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles to whom our Lord Jesus Christ bequeathed that Supream Authority and by him to his Successors which Catholick Doctrine is necessary to Eternal Life Wherefore the Synod doth command all Parish Priests and Preachers to Treat often of this matter by reason of the great need there is of having this Bishoprick well instructed therein Decree VIII FOr that till the very time of the most Illustrious Metropolitan entring into this Diocess there was a certain Heresy twice repeated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and twice more in the Divine Office in calling the Patriarch of Babylon the Universal Pastor and Head of the Catholick Church in all places and as often as they happen to name him a Title that is due only to the most Holy Father the Bishop of Rome Successor of the Prince of the Apostles St. Peter and Vicar of Christ on Earth the Synod doth therefore command in virtue of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred that no Person of this Bishoprick Secular or Ecclesiastical shall from henceforward presume by Word or Writing either in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or in the Divine Office or in any other occasion to bestow that Title on the said Patriarch of Babylon or on any other Prelate besides our Lord the Bishop of Rome and whosoever shall dare to contravene this Order shall be declared Excommunicate and held for a Schismatick and Heretick and shall be punished as such according to the Holy Canons And whereas the Patriarchs of Babylon to whom this Church was subject are Nestorians the Heads of that cursed Sect and Schismaticks out of the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and Aliens from our Holy Catholick Faith and are for that reason Excommunicate and accursed and it not being lawful to joyn with such in the Church in publick as stand Excommunicate Wherefore this Bishoprick upon its having now yielded a perfect Obedience to the most Holy Father the Pope Christ's Vicar upon Earth to which it was obliged by Divine Authority and upon pain of Damnation shall not from henceforward have any manner of dependance upon the said Patriarch of Babylon and the present Synod does under the said precept of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred prohibit all Priests and Curates from henceforward to name the said Patriarch of Babylon in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or in any other Divine Office in the Prayers of the Church even without the false Title of Universal Pastor but instead thereof shall name our Lord the Pope who is our true Pastor as also of the whole Church and after him the Lord Bishop of the Diocess for the time being and whosoever shall maliciously and knowingly act the contrary shall be declared Excommunicate and otherwise punish'd at the pleasure of his Prelate according to his contumacy Decree IX WHereas all the Breviaries used in this Church are Nestorian and by the commands of Prelates of the same Sect on a certain day the impious and false Heretick Nestorius is Commemorated in this Bishoprick and a Day is kept to his Honour and at other times Theodorus Diodorus Abbaratho Abraham Narsai Barchauma Johanan Hormisda and Michael who are also Nestorian Hereticks were likewise Commemorated Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus being commemorated on the Friday after the Nativity and on the seventh Friday after that Abraham and Narsai and all the above-named and all of them on every Thursday in the Year in the said Nestorian Office and every day in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Divine Office and notwithstanding in some places they have not of late named Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus but do still continue to name Abraham Narsai Abba Barchauma Johanan Hormisda and Michael in the Blessing that the Priest gives to the People at the end of the Mass wherein they desire Hormisda to deliver them from evil being his Disciples as also on all Fridays in the Year they commemorate as Saints the said Hormisda Joseph Michael Johanan Barchauma Barianda Rabba Hedsa Machai Hixoiau Caurixo Avahixo Lixo Xaulixo Barmun Lixo Metidor Cohada Israel Ezekiah Lixo David Lixo Barai Israel Julianus Haudixo c. who were all Nestorian Hereticks and as is evident from the said Masses and from their Lives Commemorations
shall meet with no Priests in the Church they shall then assemble as many Christians together as conveniently they can and bury the Corps in the Church-yard praying for their Souls with Christian Charity And whosoever shall neglect to bring their Dead to the Church and shall bury them in Profane Ground shall be severely punished by the Bishop Decree XXXIII WHereas the Small-Pox is looked upon in these parts as a very dangerous and infectious Distemper for which reason a great many Christians dying thereof are not carried to the Church nor buried in Holy ground herefore the Synod doth very much recommend it to the Vicars to take order that the Corps of such as die of that Sickness may be brought with due caution to the Church-yard where they with the rest of the Clergy at some distance are to recommend them and pray for them as they do for others and to see them interr'd all which Christian Charity will teach them to do according to the Obligation of their Office Decree XXXIV THe Synod doth order that no Town or Village wherein there is a Church dedicated to any Saint shall dedicate the same to any other or if they do they shall appoint another Orago or Wake so as to have two Festivals to prevent those Emulations that are common in these parts The Synod also condemns the * Ignorance Upon S. Teresa being joyned with St. James in the Patronage of Spain by Pope Vrban the VIIIth how loud did a great many people complain of the Indignity done to St. James their old Patron and General in all their Wars by that Partnership Among others Quivedo as in Honour bound being a Knight of the Order of St. James drew his pen in his Patron 's Quarrel and having laid down this as an undeniable position That St. James must necessarily be disparaged by having one joyned with him and especially a Woman in a Patronage he had enjoyed solely for so many Ages did manfully maintain that its being said in the Pope's Bull That nothing was granted therein to S. Teresa that should be in any wise to the prejudice or diminution of St. James did make that whole grant null and void for that joyning her with St. James in such an Office must necessarily lessen him 2dly That the Saints in Heaven did resent such Affronts 3. That it was monstrous Ingratitude in Spain to treat a Patron thus who had fought personally on Horseback for her in all her Battels with the Moors among whom to this day the Captain on the Whitehorse was formidable As to the Text in Scripture urged by S. Teresa's Friends for such a partnership viz. It is not good for man to be alone I will make him an help meet for him He saith That considering what was the true intent of those words when they were spoke such an application of them was profane and Heretical Ignorance of those Christians who imagine that they do an injury to a Church in dedicating a New one in the same Country to a different Saint from whence it is that all the Churches in the same Country are as it were called by the same Name and doth furthermore command That upon the Orago's of Churches where there are Sermons people having no Sermon in their own Parish do repair thither that so there may be no divisions among Churches to the prejudice of Charity and Christian Unity as the Synod is informed there is in many places all which it is desirous to remove as not becoming Christians and for the further service of the Church commands Fraternities to be erected but especially for the festivities by which means such things as are necessary for the Church may be greatly advanced Decree XXXV THe Synod doth very much recommend it to the Vicars of Churches and other Priests to labour much in the Conversion of Infidels and that by just and gentle methods namely by the preaching of the Gospel to bring them to the Catholick Faith and to omit no opportunity of instructing as well the Naires as the Chegos or baser sort of People in the knowledge of the Truth but above all the poor Malleans who live in the Heaths who as the Synod is informed are less wedded to their Errors particularly that of the Adoration of Idols and are much better disposed to receive the Evangelical Doctrine than others and whensoever any Infidel is converted the Priest shall advise the Prelate thereof that he may take such order therein as he shall judge most convenient and to be most for the service of Christ earnestly entreating that the Conversions that are begun in some parts by the most Reverend Metropolitan may be carried on by the Clergy of this Diocess by providing themselves continually of such Priests as are fit to advance the same and where-ever there is any considerable number of Converts they shall immediately build Churches and appoint Vicars to take the Cure of their Souls Decree XXXVI VVHereas the Synod is informed That the meaner sort of People are much better disposed to receive the Faith than the Naires or Nobles and being extreamly desirous to find some way whereby such well disposed People may be made Christians so as to assemble together with the old Christians as why should they not since they all adore the same God with whom there is no distinction of Persons and are all of the same Faith and do all use the same Sacraments and whereas after mature deliberation and having oftentimes recommended the matter to God and conferred about the most proper methods for the effecting of it in the Congregations we have not been able to find any that are effectual by reason of the Heathen Kings and Lords to whom all the Christians in these parts are subject who if they should observe that we withdraw their common Subjects from their Religion would correspond with us no longer to the loss of the Trade and Commerce we do at present maintain with them all which being observed by the Synod it doth command that if any of the poorer sort of People shall desire to turn Christian that they be received to Baptism and the Prelate shall be advised thereof that he may give order for the building of distinct Churches for them and may appoint Priests to take the Cure thereof that so the meaner sort of People may not have the Gate of Christianity and Salvation shut against them as it has been hitherto in this Church and in case they have not a Church to themselves they shall then hear Mass without doors in the Porch until Christ shall provide some better way for them and the Heathen Kings shall be brought to allow the mean People that turn Christians to be esteemed as Noble upon the account of the Relation that all Christians stand in to one another and the Synod doth beg it of His Majesty the King of Portugal that by means of the great Power he has in these parts he would procure this privilege of
Favors would be pleased to take us under your protection and to concern your self in all our Affairs and to favour the Prelate which the Metropolitan with his wonted kindness and benignity to his Flock intends to leave among us And seeing your most Illustrious Lordship in your Charity has been pleased to favour us with a Letter we take confidence from thence to beg of you That whereas our Priests both for their Spiritual Consolation and other Necessities do frequently resort to your City and several parts of your Diocess where it will be necessary for them to say Mass which they have hitherto been hindred from doing by reason of their not being in a perfect Vnion with the Holy Mother Church of Rome we now being in such an Vnion as much as can be desired the Synod doth humbly beseech your Lordship that you would be pleased to give leave to such of our Priests as have a Licence from our Prelate to say Mass in your Churches at least the Roman translated into Syrian that it may appear thereby that we are all one in the Vnity of one only Catholick Church and that the division which Satan had made betwixt us and most other Churches is at an end all Churches making one onely Catholick Church as your Lordship has clearly taught us as a vigilant Pastor in your learned Letter The Lord preserve your Lordship's most Illustrious Person and prolong your Years for the good of the Church and the profit of the Sheep of Christ Writ in the Synod of Diamper the 25th of June 1599. Praise be to God A Preface to a MISSAL The Mass that is henceforth to be used by the ancient Christians of St. Thomas of the Bishoprick of Angamale in the Serra of Malabar in the East-Indies purged of the Nestorian Errors and Blasphemies it abounded with by the most Illustrious and Reverend Dom Frey Aleixo De Menezes Arch-Bishop of Goa and Primate of the Indies at the time when he reduced them to the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church Translated word for word out of Syriack or Syrian into Latin AMong the other things which the most Reverend Arch-Bishop of Goa and Primate of the Indies Dom Frey Aleixo de Menezes put in Order in the Diocesan Synod assembled by him in the Bishoprick of Angamale of the Serra of Malabar of the Christians of St. Thomas in which he purged the Church of the Nestorian Heresies and reduced it to the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church one of the chief was the reforming the Syrian Mass which was said in the Chaldee Tongue in this Bishoprick which having been composed or inlarged by Nestorian Hereticks was full of Errors and Blasphemies both in the Prayers and Commemorations of Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus and several other Nestorian Hereticks to whom as to Saints they prayed for to intercede for them And whereas this People was in a profound Ignorance nay the very Bishops who came from Babylon not knowing the true Form of Consecration all of them adding to it and taking from it at their pleasure there being no certain particular Form of Consecration among them until a certain Arch-Bishop came who had more knowledge than the rest in Ecclesiastical Matters and the Holy Scriptures who perceiving that the Form wherewith they Consecrated contained in it some Errors contrary to the Truth of the Divine Sacrament did establish the true Form adding some words to it both in the Consecration of the Body and Blood in contradiction to the Error and Heresie of those who say that the Sacrament is only the Figure of the Body of Christ our Lord. From whence it is more than probable the Hereticks of our Times the revivers of the Errors of all the ancient condemned Sects took this Opinion The Form established by the forementioned Arch-Bishop was This is in truth my Body this is in truth the Cup of my Blood which was shed for you and for many for the propitiation and remission of your Sins and this shall be a Pledge to you for ever and ever in which Form they have now Consecrated for several Years But the most Reverend Arch-Bishop Primate having removed the words that are not necessary established the proper Form used in the Catholick Church as it is in the Roman Missal laying aside divers and Sacrilegious and ignorant Ceremonies also which signified some Heresies and Errors that were amongst them And having thus reformed their Mass he continued it however in its ancient Form until such time as he had consulted the Apostolical See about it to know what our Lord the Pope would determine in that Matter many of the emendations are noted in the Synod Dec. 10. Act. 5. of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and in the Action of Matters of Faith where they are to be seen I shall here present the Curious only with the Mass reformed and as it s said among them at this time I Have Published this Preface for the sake of the Testimony that is therein of this Church's not having believed Transubstantiation but have forbore to Print the Missal it belongs to because it is the Missal that was imposed upon this Church by Arch-Bishop Menezes or their Old Missal so altered and mangled by him as to be truly what Father Simon calls it A confused indigested Office and withal very tedious FINIS