A reply unto M. Hardinges answerA replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare

But be it that both the Reason were good, and the Custom that long sithence hath been abolished,¹ had remained still: Yet is not M. Harding able out of this place precisely, and undoubtedly to prove his Private Mass. For if a man should say, it may possibly be, that these Hermits did not Minister severally each man to him self alone,² but one of them unto the rest of the Hermits dwelling in the wilderness, as it appeareth diversely, they had times to meet, and to pray together: Or that the householders in Egypt, and Alexandria, Ministered not only to them selves, but also to their whole several families, as it is written of Hippolytus Martyr, that being a lay man, he received the Communion of Justinus being a Priest, and bare it home, and Ministered the same to his Wife, his Children, and his Servants: If a man would thus say, perhaps M. Harding would better bethink him self of his Conclusions. This sense may seem to stand very well with S. Basiles words, notwithstanding M. Harding in his Translation into English hath openly falsified the same. For whereas it is written in the Greek, and so likewise in the Latin,³ They receive of them selves, Which may well be understanded, that one of them received of an other for want of a Priest, he hath otherwise wrested it to come to his tune, and hath turned it thus: They do Communicate with themselves alone: Wherein all be it I will not greatly strive, yet neither this word Alone, nor these words with them selves, can be found either in the Greek, or in the Latin.

But be it that bothe the Reason were good, and the Custome that longe sithence hath béen abolished,¹ had remained still: Yet is not M. Hardinge hable out of this place precisely, and vndoubtedly to proue his Priuate Masse. For if a man shoulde say, it may possibly be, that these Eremites did not Minister seuerally eche man to him selfe alone,² but one of them vnto ye reast of the Eremites dwellynge in the wildernesse, as it appeareth diuersely, they had times to méete, and to pray togeather: Or that the householders in Egypte, and Alexandria, Ministred not onely to them selues, but also to their whole seueral families, as it is written of Hippolytus Martyr, that beinge a lay man, he receiued the Communion of Iustinus beynge a Prieste, and bare it home, and Ministred the same to his Wife, his Children, and his Seruauntes: If a man woulde thus say, perhappes M. Hardinge woulde better bethinke him selfe of his Conclusions. This sense may seeme to stande very wel with S. Basiles woordes, notwithstandinge M. Hardinge in his Translation into Englishe hath openly falsified the same. For whereas it is written in the Greeke, and so likewise in the Latine,