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.

M. Hardinge by a Rhetorical Correction, vpon better aduise, putteth him selfe in remembrance, that there is mention made of Peculiar & Priuate Masses, as he sayth, in certaine auncient Councelles, and in the schoole Doctours.* 1.1 He might haue named Ste∣uen Gardiner, and Albertus Pigghius, that wrote the defence of Priuate Masse, & he him selfe acknowledgeth abuses, & errours in the same.* 1.2 Yet wil he not, I trowe, confesse, that eyther of them both was the Disciple of Sathan.

Here M. Hardinge standeth vpon termes, and saith, the Masse is called Priuate in respecte of place, time, audience, and other circumstances. And euen suche be their Priuate Masses for the most parte, sayde in side Iles, alone, without companie of people, onely with one boye to make answere, so priuate, that the people of God is there∣by depriued, and robbed of al comforte. And thus it séemeth Thomas vnderstan∣deth the priuate Masse.* 1.3 For thus he sayth, In Missis priuatis sufficit, si vnus sit praesens, scilicet, Minister, qui populi totius personam gerit. In priuate Masses it is sufficient, if there be one presente, I meane, the Clerke, that standeth in steede of the whole people.

Touching the allegations in the margent, the Schoole Doctours are al of ve∣ry late yeeres: The place of S. Augustine is forged, and not S. Augustines: the place of S. Gregorie nothinge to purpose, not once naminge priuate Masse: the Councelles that are called so auncient, were al at the least seuen hundred yeeres after Christe, and so without the reatche of my compasse.

But to agrée vpon termes, and not to flie the name of Masse, althoughe it be very seldome, and for the most parte neuer founde in the olde Catholike wry∣ters: that we cal the Common or Publike Masse,* 1.4 whereas the priest and people receiue the holy Communion togeather, whiche was the auncient order of the A∣postles

and holy Fathers in the primitiue Churche. But whereas the priest re∣ceiueth the Sacrament him selfe alone, without distribution made vnto others, that we cal the Priuate Masse,* 1.5 yea although the whole parishe be present and looke vpon him. For a thinge may be priuate although it be doone by the publike Mini∣ster, and for the people, and in the middes of al the people. And thus Thomas of Aquine séemeth to take these woordes Priuate, and Common. First (saith he) the people is prepared to receiue by the Common prayer of al the people, which is the Lordes praier: and also by the Priuate prayer, which the priest offereth specially for the people.* 1.6 Here the praier is called priuate, notwithstandinge it be made by the priest, for the people, and in the middes of the Congregation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In the Bishops booke.
• * 1.2

  Alber. Pigghi∣us in locis Com∣munib. De Pri∣uata Missa.
• * 1.3

  ••ar 3. q. 83▪ ar. 5.
• * 1.4

  Publike Masse.
• * 1.5

  Priuate Masse.
• * 1.6

  3. Par. q. 183. ar. 4. In explana∣tione Missae Ro∣manae.