The ende of the Canon.
NOw it remayneth (as we haue promised before) to en∣treate of the partes and parcels of the Masse, decla∣ring likewise how and by whome this popish or rather a∣pish Masse became so clamperd and patched together with so many dyuers and sondry additions: whereby it may the better appeare what hath bene the continuance of the same.
First, in the beginning of this Preface it was declared before, how this word Masse was neuer vsed nor knowne in the old primatiue Church among the first Christians, nor among the Grecians. Therefore they that deduce and deriue the origine of the Masse from Sainct Iames, and Basilius, are farre deceiued. As I thinke that Sainct Iames was once Byshop at Ierusalem, so I thinke not contrary, but sometymes he ministred the Communion there in breaking of bread, and that not without the Lords prayer, and other prayers of thankes gyuing. As we now in our Communion vse like prayers, and these prayers make not the Communion to be a Masse. And like is to be sayde of Sainct Peter: who though he dyd celebrate the Communion at Rome, yet it followeth not that he sayde Masse at Rome, as some report him to do.
Neither is it hard to fetch out the origine how this er∣rour first came vp among the people,* 1.1 that Sainct Iames sayd Masse at Ierusalem, if a man consider well histories and authors which haue written. For in the history of Eu∣sebius, Egesippus thus writeth of Sainct Iames, Eum ab Apostolis primum constitutum fuisse Episcopum & liturgum, &c. vpon the which word liturgus, it is not vnlike, and di∣uers suppose this errour to come, that Sainct Iames dyd first set and institute the order of Masse. For so lightly the old translators, wheresoeuer they synde liturgia, or collecta, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they translated it Missa: whereupon, the greatest occasion of this errour riseth to make the people beleeue the Masse to be so auncient to proceede from the Apostles, and from Sainct Iames. Notwithstanding that errour as it lightly came vp, so it may be as lightly exploded. For how could Sainct Iames say Masse then at Ierusalem, or Sainct Peter at Rome, when as yet neyther the name of Masse was heard, nor the partes thereof inuented. And although Sigibertus in his Chronicles reporte, that in the Citie of Uasath, being delyuered from the siege of the H••••es, the pastor of that Churche dyd celebrate Masse with thankes geuing aboute the yeare 453. yet Sigibert in so saying is to be taken, as speaking rather after the vse and maner of his time,* 1.2 when he wrote it, then of that time when it was done. For in all the workes of Saint Augu∣stine, and of Chrisostome, and in all that age, the name of Masse is not founde, but is called eyther the Supper of the Lord, or the Lords boord, or communion, Synaxis, sa∣crifice, oblation, mistery, celebration of the Sacrament, Eu∣charistia, the misticall table, Mistagogia, coena mystica, or with some other like tearme they nominate it. The name of Masse was not yet deuised, nor the patches thereof com∣piled.* 1.3 Platina testifieth, that before Celestinus Pope, on∣ly the Epistle and Gospell were read at the Communion, which being done, the Communion ended. And Gregory sayeth,* 1.4 that the Apostles afore the ministration of the Sa∣crament, did vse only the Lords prayer, that is, the Pater noster. Let vs heare what Walafridus Strabo writeth of that matter, lib. de rebus Ecclesiastic. Capitu. 22. Quod nunc agimus multiplici orationum, lectionum, cantilenarum, & con∣secrationum officio totum hoc Apostoli, & post ipsos proximi, (vt creditur) orationibus, & commemoratione passionis domi∣nicae, sicut ipse praecepit, agebant simpliciter, &c. i. That which nowe is done in the Church with such a long circumstance of so manie orisons, lessons, or readings, songs, and consecrations: all that the Apostles, and they that nexte succeeded the Apostles (as it is thought) dyd accomplishe simply with prayer onely, and wyth the commemorati∣on of the Lords passion, &c. it followeth in the same Au∣thour. And, as the report is, like as it is in the Romane Church vpon Good Friday, where the Communion is wont to be taken without any Masse: so it was in the old time with them, &c.
Now how this Masse hath growne vp and increased since, let vs search out, by the Lords helpe, out of Authors, so much as may be found.