The one and fortieth chapter prooueth that the masse may bee said and the Sacrament receiued▪ without a number of communi∣cantes at one time in one place.* 1.1
When all is saide and done (saith M. Hesk.) the Masse shalbe holy and good, and this shalbe a trueth,* 1.2 yt a priest saying Masse, or any other man godly disposed, sicke or whole, may receiue the holy sacrament alone: & for profe of this, he vseth this reason: All things forbidden vs to do (as the aduersarie sayth) be conteyned in the scripture, priuate Masse & sole receiuing are not forbidden in scri∣pture, therefore they may be done. His Maior is groun∣ded vpon the authoritie of his aduersaries. But which of his aduersaries sayeth that all things forbidden are for∣bidden by name? In deede we say that all things that are contrarie to Gods commaundment are forbidden, so are priuate Masse & sole receiuing, therefore they are for∣biddē. That priuate Masse & sole receiuing are contrary to Gods commaundement, it is manifest by the instituti∣on of Christ, which is of a communion, & not of a pri∣uate Masse or sole receiuing. Vnus panis, &c. One bread we being many are one bodie, &c. After this fond argu∣ment, which is returned vpon his own neck, he cauilleth at ye proclaimers words, because he saith, he knoweth they haue such replyes, yt as there be many things spoken in ye old doctors of yt communion, so as many things or mo, are spoken by them of ye priuate Masse: but this latter part saith M. Hesk. he passeth ouer & will not rehearse one. I cannot blame M. Hesk. if he would faine haue the Bishop find something for him in ye doctors, yt soundeth for the priuate Masse, because hee can finde nothing him self. But when the bishop sayeth, hee knoweth they haue such replyes, he doth not graunt, that their reply is true, but denyeth it, as false, and if it were so, that any thing