A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.

The B. of Sarisburie.

The authoritie, and credite of this Councel of Toledo is no parte of our que∣stion. It was holden almoste seuen hundred yéeres after Christe, And of greater Antiquitie M. Hardinge is hable to allege none. Whiche thinge, I trust, the in∣different, and discrete Reader wil wel remember.

Concerning these fiue notes, whereof one onely toucheth this purpose, As this [ 1] Councel saithe, The Priest offereth the Sacrifice at the Aultar, or Holy Table, euen so Leo* 1.1 saithe, Euery of the whole Faithful people likewise offereth vp the same Sacrifice. I say not any other, but the very selfe same Sacrifice, and that in as ample manner, as it is offered by the Priest.

[ 2] Touchinge Real presence, M. Harding seemeth to doo, as Children sometimes vse to doo, that imagin horsemen, and Banners, and other strange miracles in

the Cloudes. It is onely his owne fantasie: For there is no suche woorde, or men∣tion in the Councel. The mater of Aultars is already answeared. Priuate [ 3] Masses, and also Multitudes of the same, consideration euermore had to the com∣putation [ 4] of the yeeres, might easily be graunted without hinderance. Yet hath [ 5] not M. Harding in the space welneare of seuen hundred yeeres,* 1.2 hitherto founde in one Churche more, then twoo Masses in one daie: al this his greate studie, and tra∣uaile therein taken notwithstandinge.

But the woordes of the Councel be plaine, Plurima Sacrificia, that is, many Sacrifices, and therefore, saithe M. Hardinge, many Masses. Hereby it may ap∣peare, that M. Hardinge either considereth not his booke, or els hath no great re∣garde to that, he writeth. His owne bookes wil reprooue his ouersight, and shewe, how much he is deceiued. For, Plurima, in this place signifieth not, Many, that is, neither sixe, nor fiue, nor foure, nor three, but onely twoo. And for trial hereof, I reporte me to the Glose it selfe vpon the Decrées.* 1.3 The woordes be these, No••a h••c, plurima dici de duobus. Quia plura non licet. Marke here, that this woorde, Plurima, is spoken onely of two. For, to say moe Masses then ••woo, it is not lawful.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Leo ad Diosco∣rum epist. 81.
• * 1.2

  Anno. 68••.
• * 1.3

  De Conse. dist. ••. Relatum est. In Glosa.