The Grand Sacrilege of the Church of Rome, Chapter 11 · Section 15
SECT. XV. The testimonies of the practice of the Church from 1400. to 1500.
IOhn Hus, and Hiero. of Prage by the books of Wickliffe, were brought vntounto the knowledge of the truth. And as in other points they concluded for that holyfaith, which we at this day professe against the errors and corruptions of the Church of Rome: so in this they were most earnest, and so preuailed in the Kingdome of Bohemia, that from the time of the effusion of their blood for the testimonie of the Gospell vntill this day the Cup of the new Testament in Christs blood hath beene deliuered to the people in these parts, and the entire Communion preserued.
Anno 1410.
Petrus Dresensis taught publikely, that the Laietie might not communicate vnderunder one kind; as is confessed by Didacus de Tapia in sent. lib. 4.
Anno 1412.
cAeneas Syluius in Histor. Bohem. edit. per Orthu… num Gratium. …aepit … populum ne … communionem calicis quo▪ quo pacto neglige…ent.Iacobellus Misnensis, a Preacher of Prage, being admonished by Petrus Dresensis, after hee had searched into the writings of the ancient doctours, and by name Dionysius, and Saint Cyprian, and finding in them the communicating of the Cup to the Laiety commanded, he from thence forth exhorted the people by no means to neglect, or omit the receiuing the Communion of the▪ Cup.
Anno 1414.
In the Councell of Constance, in which the entire Communion is professedly oppugned, yet the Truth extorted frō her bloody aduersaries a remarkeable confession of the practise of the Primitiue Church, and of the continuance of it in diuers parts, euen vntil the time of the calling of that Assembly. In the petition of those, that procured this Synod, it is expressed, that one cause, for which the procurers desired that the Church should take order for the establishing of a law touching the laieties cōmunicating in one kind, is declared to be, dQuia in nonnullis mundi partibus sacerdotes laicos sub viraque specie, panis scilicet & vini, communica…e non cessant.because in some parts of the world the Priests did not forbeare to administer the communiō to the laiety in both kinds, against the custome of the Romish Church. Here we hauehave the continuance of this practise; the antiquity whereof they likewise acknowledged in the preface to their sacrilegious decree against it. Although Christ instituted, eSess. 1…. Li…èt Christus instituerit, & …ederit sacramentum post coenam sub v…raque specie discipulis, &c. ab ipso ducit opes animumque ferro. Hor. Od. 4. lib. 4.and gaue the sacrament after supper in both kinds to his disciples, and in the primitiue Church it was in like wise administred: yet the Councell for certaine reasons commands, that the sacrament be otherwise administred. As the tree f gaines more branches by being lopped with the axe; so the Truth gaineth much lustre and authority from the very Canon of the Councell of Constance, by which her aduersaries doe seeke to oppresse her. For who will not rather follow Christs institution, then their ordinance, and the ancient acknowledged practise of the Primitiue Church rather, then a late custome of the present Romish Church?
Anno 1420.
Martin the fifth after the Councel of Constance vponupon Easter day, after hee had deliuered the body of our Lord with his owne hands to the Laiety, gCard▪ Cusanus epist. ad clerum. permisit laicis accedere ad susceptionem san▪ guinis de man… Diaconi.suffered them to receiue the blood of Christ at the hands of the Deacon. The like hHenricus Kal… ▪ contra Bohem▪ percipiens Pap… Martinus sic se elusum, ex tunc subtraxit calicem communionis laicis.Henry Kalteysin reportes of other Popes, and withall acquaints vsus with the cause, why the Pope left off this custome. It fell out, saith he, that a certaine Bohemian came amongst the rest to the Popes chappel, and receiued the Communion at his hands and hee wonderfully bragged of it, whereof Pope Martin being aduertised, and much inraged, that such a trick was put vponupon him, from that time tooke away the Cup from the Laiety.
Anno 1430.
iTom. 1. cap. 88. & 94. contra Wick…ff. Matoribus è populo, Rectoribus in…gnium locorum, & alijs dignitate praestantibus, fide fortibus, & discretis fidelibus, vt doctoribus, Regibus, alijsque, qui tanta re digni iudicabantur, hoc donatum suisse, vt sacrificium, & eius sacramentum, scili… ad commu nicandum sub …traque specie, assumerent.Thomas Waldensis, who tooke vponupon him to refute Wickliffes bookes, howsoeuer he maintained the decree of the Councell of Constance touching Communion in one kind; yet hee witnesseth, that greater personages amongst the people, and men of note or place, as Kings, and doctors, and others that were thought worthie so great a mystery, were admitted to the Communion in both kinds.
Anno 1413.
In the Councell held at Basil, as Nauclerus writeth, tom. 2. generat. 48. a kinde of hope was offered to the Bohemians, that vponupon certaine conditions, the vse of the Cup might be restored vntounto them. The order of the Councell is conceiued in these words: kSi perseuerauerint Bohem. &c. Sacer conuentus Bohemi… & Morauiae sacerdotibus communicandi sub vtraque specie personas sibi subiectas libertatem impertietur.If the Bohemians continue in the desire of the Communion in both kinds, and send an Embassage to the Councell to that purpose, the holy assembly shall giuegive libertie to the Priests of Bohemia and Morauia, to administer the Communion in both kinds to such persons, as being in yeeres of discretion shall reuerently desire it.
Anno 1438.
The Bohemians put the faith and honesty of the Fathers of Basil to the Test: they send comissioners Iohn Belouar of Prage, Iohn Rokyzana, Peter Panie, Procopius, and others, to treat about the concession of the Cup, and to expresse their earnest and vnfained desire thereof. To whom the Councell returneth this answer; That the request should be granted them, so that they will really, & effectually keep vnitie with the Church; and conforme themselues in all other things, saue the communion in both kinds, to the faith, and rites of the vniuersall Church.