Now let us see what examples of the old Fathers we have for the Private Mass.1 Leontius a Greek Bishop of a City in the East Church called Neapolis, writeth the life of S. John the holy Patriarch of Alexandria, who for his great charity was commonly called* Eleemosynarius, that is the alms giver, telleth this story, whereby it appeareth, that at that time Private Mass was used. Though the translator through ignorance of the time he lived in, turned this life into Latin of mean eloquence, yet for truths sake, I will not let to recite that which I take for my purpose, as I find it. Malitiam reseruantem quendam industrium contra alium principem, audiens hic magnus Joannes, monuit eum saepe, & suasit ad concordiam, & non potuit eum conuertere ad pacem. Semel ergo ad eum mi••it, & adducit eum sanctus, quasi pro republica, & facit Missas in oratorio suo, nullum habens secum nisi ministrum suum. Cum ergo sancta benedixisset Patriarcha, & orationem dominicam inchoasset, coepe•unt dicere tantū tres illi, Pater noster. Et cum peruenissent ad sermonem quo dicitur, dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut & nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris: Innuit domestico Patriarcha, ut taceret. Siluit ergo & Patriarcha, & remansit princeps solus dicens versum, dimitte nobis sicut & nos dimittimus. Et statim conuersus sanctus, dicit ei mansueta voce, vide in quàm terribili voce dicas Deo, quoniam sicut ego dimitto, ita & tu dimitte mihi. Et tanquam ab igne sta•im cruciatum ferens praedictus princeps, cecidit in faciem ad pedes sancti, dicens: Quaecunque jusseris domine faciet seruus tuus. Et reconciliatus est inimico suo cum omni veritate. This story soundeth thus in English: This great Patriarch John, hearing that a noble man bare malice to an other noble man, warned him oftentimes of it, and treated with him to be at accord: but he could not bring him to be at peace. Wherefore on a day this holy Father sent for the noble man, and causeth him to come to him, as though it were about some matter of the common weal. At that time 393 he sayeth Mass in his Chapel, having none other body with him ⟨p. 75⟩but his servant. When the Patriarch had consecrated the Sacrament, and had begun to say our Lords Prayer, they three only begun to say our Father, and so forth.
Nowe let vs see what examples of the olde Fathers we haue for the Priuate Masse.1 Leontius a Greeke Bishop of a Citie in the East Churche called Neapolis, writeth the life of S. Iohn the holy Patriarke of Alexādria, who for his great charitie was commonly called* Eleemosynarius, that is the almose geuer, telleth this storie, whereby it appeareth, that at that time Priuate Masse was vsed. Though the transla•our through ignorance of the time he liued in, tourned this life into Latine of meane eloquence, yet for trueths sake, I wil not let to recite that whiche I take for my purpose, as I finde it. Malitiam reseruantem quendam industrium contra alium principem, audiens hic magnus Ioannes, monuit eum saepe, & suasit ad concordiam, & non potuit eum conuertere ad pacem. Semel ergo ad eum mi••it, & adducit eum sanctus, quasi pro republica, & facit Missas in oratorio suo, nullum habens secum nisi ministrum suum. Cum ergo sancta benedixisset Patriarcha, & orationem dominicam inchoasset, coepe•unt dicere tantū tres illi, Pater noster. Et cum peruenissent ad sermonem quo dicitur, dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut & nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris: Innuit domestico Patriarcha, vt taceret. Siluit ergo & Patriarcha, & remansit princeps solus dicens versum, dimitte nobis sicut & nos dimittimus. Et statim conuersus sanctus, dicit ei mansueta voce, vide in quàm terribili voce dicas Deo, quoniam sicut ego dimitto, ita & tu dimitte mihi. Et tanquam ab igne sta•im cruciatum ferens praedictus princeps, cecidit in faciem ad pedes sancti, dicens: Quaecunque iusseris domine faciet seruus tuus. Et reconciliatus est inimico suo cum omni veritate. This story soundeth thus in Englishe: This greate Patriarke Iohn, hearinge that a noble man bare malice to an other noble man, warned him oftentimes of it, and treated with him to be at accorde: but he coulde not bringe him to be at peace. VVherefore on a day this holy Father sent for the noble man, and causeth him to come to him, as though it were about some mater of the common weale. At that time 393 he saieth Masse in his Chappel, hauinge none other bodie with him ⟨p. 75⟩but his seruaunt. When the Patriarke had consecrated the Sacrament, and had b•gunne to say our Lordes Praier, they three onely begunne to say our Father, and so foorthe.
- 1M. Hard. proveth his Mass by a childish fable.M. Hard. proueth his Masse by a childishe fable.
- *John the Almoner began to be in estimation in the year of our Lord. […].Iohn the Al•onar began to be in estimation in the yeere of our Lorde. 〈…〉.
- 3The .39. untruth. There was never Private Mass said in Alexandria, neither before this time, nor at any time sithence.The .39. vntruthe. There vvas neuer Priuate Masse saide in Alexandria, neither before this time, nor at any time sythence.
