The interpretacyon, and sygnyfycacyon of the Masse Here begynneth a good deuoute boke to the honoure of god, of our lady his mother, [and] of all sayntes, and ryght profytable to all good Catholyke persones, to knowe howe they shall deuoutly here masse. And how salutaryly they shal confesse them. And how reuerently and honourably they shall go to the holy sacrament or table of our sauyour Ihesu chryste, with dyuerse other profytable documents and oraysons or prayers here conteyned, composed and ordeyned by frere Gararde, frere mynoure, of the ordre of the Obseruauntes.

¶ The fourth Chapytre / yf the fyrst masse of a newe preest be better than the secon¦de or the thyrde of another preest.

THe holy sacrament consecrate of the preest / is in all masses & of all preestes of lyke power and myght / as touchynge the holy sacrament. Yet notwith∣stādynge the fyrste masse is cōmonly more

profytable and merytoryous: than the secon¦de or the thyrde: and y^t is for foure reasons. ¶ The fyrst cause is / for in the fyrst masse there be many reuerences and solempnytes done / whiche be not done in other tymes / as to com to offre: to hange the churche with Tapysserye / to cast & sprede herbes in euery place & other ceremonyes / the which be done by deuocyon: & to moue the hertes of catholy¦ke people to feruent prayers and oraysons. ¶ The seconde cause is / for ī the fyrst masse the synnes be more habundaūtly pardoned for certayne pardons and indulgences gy∣uen them / whiche do here the fyrste masse. ¶ The thyrde cause is: for in the fyrst masse the preest{is} be wont to prepare them self mo¦re deuoutly: than at another tyme. And ther¦fore theyr prayers be than more acceptable / deuoute / & feruent to praye for them that do here theyr fyrst masses for to obtayne grace. ¶ The fourth cause is: for in the fyrst masse certayne soules be delyuered from purgato¦rye / the whiche god hath ordeyned to be de∣lyuered at that tyme / and not in none other masses: as it is red of saynt Gregorye / that in his fyrste masse / he delyueryd as many soules as there was folk{is} heryng his masse and of suche examples there be many.