[The principal points which are at this day in controversy, concerning the holly supper…[The principal points which are at this daye in controuersie, concerning the holly supper…

Chapter .ix.

That there was not at all any particular or private Mass of Supper in the ancient church, and of the declarations and decrees against such as did not communicate at all, nor did tarry the end of the divine service: and of the original spring, and multiplication of particular and private Masses.

That there was not at al any particular or priuate Masse of Supper in the anciēt church, and of the declaratiōs and decrees against such as did not communicate at al, nor did tary the ende of the diuine seruice: and of the originall spring, and multiplication of particular and priuate Masses.

WE do read well in the books of the ancient doctors,¹ and in the Ecclesiastical histories, that it is come often to pass, that because the devotion of the people was already become cold, and that they did very often celebrate the Supper, there were but the ministers and the Deacons and the Ancients of the Church, and those of the Clergy, and certain others which did communicate at the Supper. But yet for all that, such as would communicate, did communicate alway together, were they ministers, bishops, priests, deacons, or others: and there was no one at all which made his Supper apart. And in the mean while that true Bishops and true priests, being the true ministers of the Churches, did never give the people ⟨image 72⟩to understand that it was sufficient that they alone did administer the Supper for them, and for all the rest of the Church, neither did they make merchandises of it, as the Romaine priests do of their masses: but on the contrary, they did greatly blame and rebuke,