Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

The Psalme. Iudica me deus, &c.

And before the Priest do prepare himselfe to his Masse,* 1.1 first with the Psalme, Iudica me deus & decerne causam me∣am, &c. that was ordeined by the sayd Coelestinus.

☞And where they ascribe to Sainct Ambrose the two prayers which be vsed in the preparation to the Masse, and be added to the bookes of Ambrose, Erasmus iudgeth the same to be none of his, and that rightly as it seemeth, for therein is conteined errors, not else to be found in the bookes of Ambrose, both in geuing adoration to the bread in the Sacrament, and making inuocation to Sainctes, namely, to blessed Mary: as in the second prayer, where he sayth: Vt efficax haec mea sit deprecatio, beatae Mariae virginis suffragia peto, &c. i. And that this my prayer may be of effi∣cacie, I desire the suffrage and intercession of blessed Mary the virgine, &c. Whereby it may appeare, learned Ambrose not to be the authour of such an errour.

Chrysostome in the xj. homely vpon the Gospell of Math. sayth,* 1.2 that in his time (and afore his time) the vse was to sing whole psalmes, till they were entred and as∣sembled together. And so belike Coelestinus borowed thys custome of the Greekes,* 1.3 and brought it into the Laten Church as Rupertus writeth.

Gregory the great (as some write) called a Sinode at Rome, about the yeare of our Lord 594. In which Sy∣node he appointed,* 1.4 that the introite of the Masse should be taken out of some psalme.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Platina. Sigibertus in vita Ser••¦gij. Sigibertus.
• * 1.2

  Chrisost. ••om. 11. in Mat.
• * 1.3

  Rupertus Tuitiensis. i. ••. de diui ••ffic. ca. 21.
• * 1.4

  Chro. chro▪ ••asci. temp.