Theophilus. I do marvel? how they dare deprive the people from the cup, more then from the bread, sith that Jesus Christ hath said expressly, take ye, and drink ye all. But there is no doubt, y• the private & particular 1masses, have engendered this error. For even as the Priests have usurped the office to celebrate y• supper for others, to make their dignity to be of more value, so they would make theirs to differ from y• same of others, & to take y• both kinds for themselves, & leave only but one unto y• people, to y• end they do esteem, y• the mass & supper, which the priest celebrateth, were more worthy & of more greater merit, then y• other faithful, & that it bringeth unto them more gain. For after that the people were persuaded in y• opinion, every one did set them awork, as workmen hired by days for to sing, both for the quick & for the dead: whereof they received great gain, of which we do yet at this day see y• great riches & treasures of the Monks of the order of S. Benet, & of Cluny, who by y• other monkish orders have followed 2which have ben hatched, engibred & brought up of that came hen. Now when they did perceive y• their gain waxed very great, they have always better magnified their ⟨image 195⟩•oorke, and went v•to it with such a fervent zeal and affection, that there was a Priest which would singe three or four Masses in one day, so that they would give him money: i• such sort that there was in no Fair whatsoever it were & any merchandise more frequented and used then this heers in their shop. Wherefore 3the Popes were constrained to forbid, that no Priest should singe any more then one Mass in one day, without dispensation, except in the sense of Christmas: And they attributed that ordinance unto Pope Alexander, who invented the holy water? It was in like manner decreed that none should take upon him to celebrate, but that there should be at the least two 4for to hear it. And they do add the reason, saying: If there be not two at the least, how can the Priest saye, Dominus vobiseum: The Lord be with you? O rate pro me fratres: Brethren pray for me?
Theophilus. I doe meruaile? how they dare depriue the people from the cup, more then from the bread, sith that Iesus Christ hath sayd expresly, take yee, and drinke ye al. But ther is no doubt, y• the priuate & perticuler 1masses, haue ingendred this error. For euen as ye Priests haue vsurpled the office to celebrate y• supper for others, to make their dignitie to be of more value, so they would make theirs to differ frō y• same of others, & to take y• both kinds for themselues, & leaue onely but one vnto y• pleople, to y• end they do estme, y• the masse & supper, which ye priest celebrateth, were more worthy & of more greater merite, then y• other faithful, & that it bringeth vnto thē more gaine. For after that the people were perswaded in y• opinion, euery one did set thē aworke, as workmen hired by daies for to sing, both for the quick & for the dead: whereof they receiued great gaine, of which we do yet at this day see y• great riches & treasures of ye Monks of ye order of S. Bener, & of Cluny, who by y• other mōkish orders haue followed 2which haue ben hatched, engibred & brought vp of that came hen. Now whē they did perceiue y• their gaine wared very great, they haue alwayes better magnified their ⟨image 195⟩•oorke, and went v•to it wyth such a feruent yeale and affection, that there was a Priest which woulde singe three or foure Masses in one daye, so that they woulde giue him money: i• such sort that there was in no Fayre whatsoeuer it were & any merchaundise more frequented and vsed then this heers in their shoppe. Wherefore 3the Popes were constrayned to forbidde, that no Priest shoulde singe any more then one Masse in one daye, wythout dispensation, except in the sens of Christmas: And they attributed that ordinaunce vnto Pope Alexander, who inuented the holy water? It was in lyke manner decréede that none shoulde take vpon hym to celebrate, but that there shoulde bée at the least two
- 1Mat 26. c. 27. Marc. 14. c. 22. Luc. 22. b. 19
- 2The Convent of Monks.The Conuent of Monkes.
- 3Multitude of Masses for hidde De con dist. 1. ca. sufficit.
- 4What company ought to have the Masse De con. dist. 1. ca. Hoc. quoqueWhat company ought to haue the Masse De con. dist. 1. ca. Hoc. quoque
