The Relics of Rome, Part 21 – Part 27

The Relics of Rome · Part 21 – Part 27

p. 102Of receauing the Sacrament vnderunder both kindes according to Christes Institution.

POpe Gelasius ordayned,A good and godly law. The sacramēt ought to be receaued vnderunder both kīdes that all Christians, be they spirituall or temporall, as they terme them, shoulde receaue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ in both kinds according to Christes institution: and that if any would not so receaue it, the same should abstayne from the whole. In the yeare of our Lord .494. dist. 2. de consecrat. cap. Comperimus.

Pope Iulius the first also commaunded, that the people should receaue the mysteries of Christes body and bloude accordyng to Christs institution, both the breade and the cup, one seuerall from the other, as the Apostle sayth: let a man examine himselfe and so eate of that breade, and drinke of that cup. In the yeare of our Lord .338. de consecrat. dist. 2. cap. Cum omne.

In a certain councell holden at Basile, it was concluded, that according to christes institution the lay people also should receaue the Sacrament in both kindes. And this decree was not onelyonly established by the authoritie of the emperour Sigismund, and the cōsent of the other noble and learned men, whiche were there present, but it was also confirmed, approued, and allowed by Pope Eugenius the fourth. In the yeare. &c 1430. Lib. Concil. Chron.

Not only in the primatiue churche, but also in the time of S. Cipriane. s. Hierome. S. Ambrose. S. Austen. S, Iohn Chrisost. &c. and many hundred yeares after, the lay people receaued the Sacramēt of Christes body and bloud vnderunder both kindes, as they lykewise had the Sacramētal bread geuen thē in theyre hādes and not put in theyre mouthes, as the Papistes vse in these our dayes. Are not these the wordes of saint Ambrose vntounto the Emperoure Theodosius, when he would hauehave receaued the Sacrament, comming blustring and blowyng from sheding innocent bloud? O Emperour, saith he, howe shalt thou with p. 103such handes take the holy body of the Lord? With what folishe hardinesse shalt thou receaue in thy mouth the cup of the precious bloud, seing that thorow the madnesse of thy wordes so muche bloude is wrongfully shed? Seuen thousand men, sayth the historye, were slaine at the commaundement of the Emperour. Tripar. hist. Lib. 9. cap. 30 That this Emperour Theodosius was a lay man,☜ the Papistes themselues will confesse I doubt not. Here then learne we two notable thinges, one is that in the tyme off. Ambrose, the lay people accordyng to Christes institution, receaued y^t Sacrament vnderunder both kinds The second is, that the lay people also had the Sacramentall bread geuen thē into theyr hande of the ministers, and not thrust into theyre mouthes, as the massyng Papistes vse at this daye but this godlye plant of Christe, hath that wild bore of Rome with his Antichristiane and filthy pigges …oted vp, subuerted and destroyed. Take eate, sayth Christe Drinke ye all of this, sayth he. Matth. 26. Marke. 14. Luke. 22. 1. Cor. 11. All saith he, and not priestes only.

The cup of the mysterie of Christes bloud was so frelye suffred before the tiranny of the Romish bishop preuayled,Note. that not onelyonly it was ministred to auncient people, but also to yong children, as the monumentes of the olde writers do manifestly declare. Cipr. in serm. de lapsis.All the east churche receaue the Sacramēt vnderunder both kindes.

The Grekes, the Ethiopes, and the Bohems, with diuers other nations (as histories make mention) hauehave vntounto this daye alwayes obserued and kepte the auncient and Apostolique maner of receuing the Sacramēt vnderunder both kinds according to the institution and ordinaūce of y^e Lorde Christ, by no meanes obeying the wicked decree of y^e bishop of Rome vntounto the contrary.

Of receiuing the Sacrament vnderunder one kinde after the popes inuention.

Whē y^e mistery of the Lords blud was taken away from the communion of the Laytye.POpe Innocent the thyrd (as some write) did firste of all forbid in the councell Laterane, that the lay people should receiue the holy communiō of the body and bloud of Christ vnderunder both kindes: about the yeare. &c 1215. Other affirme (whiche I iudge to be more true) that that wicked decree p. 104of taking awaye the cup of the mystery of Christes bloud from the laye people contrary to christes institution and commaundement, was first of al graū ted confirmed and established in a coū cel holden at Constance, Iohn Wicliffe, Iohn Husse, Hieronimus de Praga.the xiii, session, where y^e most famous clerk Iohn Wicklief our countrey man was condemned for an heretike, & the two learned men Iohn Hus & Hieronymus de Praga were most cruelly and most vniustly murthered and brent also for heretikes of the bloudy Papists, notwithstandyng the Emperours safeconduct, for deniyng the Popish article of Transubstantiation and maynteyning the receyuing of the Sacrament vnderunder both kindes.With what forhead thē dare ye, O vnshamfast Papists, after the institucion of Christ. In the yeare. &c. 1415. This is worthie to be noted, that the Papistes them selues in that theyr deuilish decree confesse and graunte, that Christes institution is, that the lay people shoulde receaue the Sacrament vnderunder both kinds, and that in the primatiue Churche all the communicātes did not only receiue the mystery of christs body, but also y^e mystery of Christs bloud, one seuerall from the other, according to y^e instituciō of christ And notwithstandyng the premisses, they straightly charge and commaūde, that from that time forwarde, none of the Laytye shal receaue the Sacramēt, but onelyonly vnderunder the kind of bread, and that they must beleue certeinly and by no meanes doubt, that the whole body and bloude of Christ is truely contayned as well vnderunder the kinde of breade alone as vnderunder the kinde of wine also: & that therfore it is sufficient for the laytye to receaue the Sacrament vnderunder one kynd, and that whosoeuer frō that tyme fourth shall presume to receaue the Sacrament vnderunder both kindes (except he be an holy annoynted) or think of this decree otherwise than well: he shall be taken, iudged, condemned and punished like an heretike accordyng to the appointment of the ecclesiasticall lawes, that is to say, brent to ashes, as the good mōke of Eye in Suffolk was in the dayes of kynge Henry the eight,The good Monke of Eye. O woluish and bloudy Antichristes. A Christen man to be murthered for obeiyng the commaundemēt of Christ, yea, and that of them, whiche will be taken for the heades of Christs church, p. 105whiche also ought rather to shed theyr owne bloude, than y^t any iot or title of Gods worde should be left vndone?Gala. iii▪Gal 3 O tirannye incomparable. It is not lawfull eyther to put to or take ought frō y^e testament of a mortall man, if it bee once allowed: and shal y^e vile donghills of the earth presume to alter & chaūge the blessed and euerlasting Testament of y^e only begotten sonne of god,Math. 26.Matt 26 which he sealed with his most precious bloud & deliuered to his church to be inuiolably kept vntil his returne? Drinke ye all of thys, sayth Christ, and not ye smeared shorelyngs only.

In a councell holden at Basile, Priestes may not receaue vnderunder both kinds. except they Masse.it was decreed, y^t not only the lay people, but the priests also, when they themselues make not Goddes body, shuld communicate onelyonly vnderunder one kynde. In the yeare, &c. 1437.

Of confyrmation or bishoppyng of Children.

POpe Clement the fyrst (as the papistes fayne) fyrste of all ordayned the confyrmation or byshopping of children,The bishopping of children. and commaunded y^t ☜the childe being once baptised, shuld as sone as is possible, be bishopped. For sayth he, he is no perfect christiā which not of necessity, but of negligence or of set purpose leueth this thing vndone. In the yere, &c. 92. Lib. Concil. Fas. Temp. Pol. Pantal.

Some attribute this decree to pope Siluester the fyrste, whiche liued in the yeare, &c. 315. Plat. Volat. D. Barns.

The aforesaid pope also appoynted, y^t none should consecrate the oyle and creame,Byshops only muste confirme children. but byshops onelyonly, and y^t they likewise, & none other, should confirme children. Plat. Volat.

Pope Iginius ordayned, that children shoulde hauehave a Godfather or Godmother, when they were confyrmed and catechised. In the yeare, &c, 143. Ioannes. Laziardus.

In the councell Meldense it was ordained, y^t bishops shuld be fasting,Byshops must be fasting, when they confyrme children. Rules concerning cō fyrmation. whē they confyrme children. Lib. Concil. Dist 5. de consecrat.

In a councel holdē at Aurelia, it was decreed, y^t the sacrament as they cal it, of confirmation, shuld be geuen to such young ones as were of perfect age, as p. 106xii, or .xv. yeares olde, & to such as were come to mans state: and y^t all such, before they be bishopped, shuld be shriuē, and come fasting to their byshoppyng. Lib. Concil. Guilielmus. Durand.

Of Matrimonye.

POpe Euaristus made a law,A lawe not to be …espised. y^t al priuye contracts of Matrimony, y^t wer made without y^e consente of the parents, shuld be of no force: and y^t the mā & the woman shuld be openly maryed together in the church, of a priest before the congregation, or els y^e maryage to be taken as adulterous, incestuous and abhominable. In the yeare, &c. 110. Lib. Concil. Epist. 1. ad episc. Aphrican. Polid. D. Barns.

Pope Sother decreed, y^t no wife shuld be holden lawful,Agaynst pr… uy cōtracts and stollen maryages. except she were fyrst blessed of a Priest. Ranulphus. Cestrensis. Agayne, y^t al mariages should be made not secretly, but openly, and with great solemnitie. In the yeare, &c. 168. Grati. Volat. Sabell.

The same law also made Pope, Nicolas y^e fyrst. In the yere of our Lord. 87… Quaest. 3. Cap. 1. Nostrates. Laziard.

…Pope Hormisda likewise strayghtly commaunded, that the mariage of the Christians shoulde not bee celebrated in hocker mocker, but openlye in the Church of Christ before the multitude In the yeare, &c. 514.30. Qu. 5. Cap. Nullus fidelis. Ioan. Stella.

Halowing of the wedding bed.Pope Martine the fyrst ordayned, y^t the man and hys wife shuld not lye together, before the priest had blessed thē and halowed their bed. In the yeare, &c. 643. Chron.

Pope Theodorus dyd inhibite fyrst of all,A wicked acte. y^t a man might not mary y^e mayde, to whom his father was Godfather. In the yeare of oure Lorde. 636. Sabell. Gratian.

Degrees of marying.Pope Fabian made a decree, y^t no mā shuld marrye any of his kyndred with in the fyfth degree, In the yere, &c. 242. Grat. Sabell. Volat. Plat.

Pope Iulius the fyrst made a lawe, y^t no man should marrye any of his kyndred vntounto the seuenth degree. In the yere, &c. 338. Cau, 35. q. 3. Null. Pol. Pant.

This lawe was afterwards confyrmed by Gregory the fyrste. But Pope p. 107Innocent the thirde disalowing the decrees both of Pope Iulius and of Pope Gregory, A more reasonable decree.renued the decree of Pope Fabian, licensyng al men to marrye from the fourth degree vpward, as it is specifyed in a decree, that beginneth, Non debet. In the yeare, &c. 1215. Paul. Phrig. …olidor. Pantal.

Pope Honorius the thirde ordayned,An homely ma…ter. that if any womā wuld come, & declare before the ordinarye, y^t her husbande is not able to geue her y^e due beneuolence although it be three yeares after they hauehave bene maryed, shee shall be separated from her husbande, In the yeare of our Lord. 1214. Dec. 5. Tit. 33. Cap. 28.

Pope Nicolas y^e fyrst decreed, that no mariage ought to be solemni…ed in the tyme of Lente,Maryage forbidden in Lent. In the yeare, &c. 871. Grat. Chron.

There is also a decree made in the councell Ilerdense that frō Septuagesime vntounto the Octaues of Easter,Whē mariage maye not be celebrated. &, iii. wekes before the feast of S. Iohn Baptist, otherwyse called Mydsomer: again, that from Aduente vntounto Twelf…yde after Christmasse, maryage in no condition maye be solemnised. If any presume to marrye in those forbidden tymes,What if a man purchase a dispensatiō for money? Shal it not then be lawfull. A folishe lawe. the popes lawe is, y^t thei shal be separated. 3. Qu. 4. Cap, Non oportet.

Pope Gregory ordayned, that y^e man, which slepeth or lyeth with his wyfe, may not enter into the churche, before he hath washed himselfe with water, & made himself cleane. Caus. 33. Quaest. 4. Vir cum propria.

Of Auricular confession.

POpe Innocent the thirde ordayned auriculare confession in the councell Laterane, Confession of sinnes to the Curateand commaunded y^t al men, women and children, euē so many as are of age, shal at the leaste once in the yeare confesse their synnes to their own Curate. In the yeare, &c. 1215. Paulus. Phrig. Massae. Polid.

The aforesayd pope also made a law that if any prieste dyd vtter, disclose, or tel abroade the confession of any man,Confession may not be disclosed. he shoulde be thrust into a monasterye to do penaunce al the tyme of his lyfe. De. 5. Tit. 30. Cap. 13.

Pope Gregorye also made a law, that no confessour or ghostly father should p. 108bewraye any mans confession eyther by becke, signe, token, worde or by any other meanes. Dist. 6. de paenitentia. Ca. Sacerdos. Ansel. Ryd.

In the Greke Churche there was a certayne kynde of auricular confession vsed of such as should receaue the communion,If this wer put in practise here in england: it were not amisse, namely for the youthlings sake. more than a thousand yeares paste. Before they came to the Lordes Supper, their manner was to goe vntounto y^e minister, to learne of hym y^e right vse of that holy mystery, and how they might prepare thēselues to come worthely vntounto that holy and heauenly table: Againe, if any thing troubled their conscience, to declare it to a godly learned minister, and to aske his councell and aduise in redresse thereof, as y^• mā ner at this present is in diuerse places of Germanye, where the Gospell is preached. Under the cloke of thys auriculare confessiō, much mischiefe was wrought, in so muche it was proued, y^t a certayne Deacon dyd most shamefully abuse a noble citizens wife diuerse times, when shee came vntounto y^e churche vnderunder this pretence, euē to be cōfessed. Which thing when Nectarius bishop of Constantinople perceaued,Nectarius. he vtterlye abrogated and put awaye y^e arricular confession, leauing the communicants to their own consciences. In the yeare of our Lord. 395. Hist. Trip. Lib. 9. Cap. 5. P. Phrig.

Of Annoilyng, or extreme vnction.

The annoiling of the sicke.POpe Felix the fourthe did institute y^t such as were in extremes & like to die, shuld be annoyled. In the yere, &c. 525. Chronic. Volat. Polydor. D, Barns. Pantal.

Pope Innocent the fyrst ordayned also, that y^e sicke shuld be ānoynted with oyle, being afore consecrate of a bishop In the yere, &c. 404. Lib. Concil. Petrus de natal.

Of praying for the dead.

Diriges & Masse of Requ…em.POpe Pelagius the fyrst ordayned fyrste of all the funerall Exequies or Diriges wyth Masses of Requiem to be done for the dead. He also commaunded, that the priestes at theyr Masses shuld daylye praye for the dead in theyr seconde Memento. In the yere, &c. 52. p. 109Grat. Plat. Pol.

Pope Gregory the thyrde commaunded,Sacrifice for the dead that oblations & sacrifices shoulde be offered of the Priestes at their Masses for y^e dead. In the yere of our Lord. 740. Nauclerus. D. Barns.

Pope Leo appointed the Masse to be a sacrifice for the dead.The masse a sacrifice for the dead In the yeare of our Lord. 444. Vol. Ansel. Ryd.

Pope Benet the thyrd ordayned,One good turne aske an other. that the Clergy should be present at the burial of the Byshops, and sing Dirige for their soules: and that the Bishops likewise should be present at the buriall of the Clergy, & syng Dirige also for their soules. In the yeare. &c. 861. Chron. Plat.

Pope Iohn the .xviii. at the instante desyre of Oclilo the Monke,The feaste of al soules appoynted one seuerall day in the yeare to praye for all Christen soules departed: which we cōmonly call the feast of all soules. In the yeare. &c. 999. Chron.

Pope Gregory the fyrst by prayer obtayned of God (as they write) that the soule of Traianus the Emperour,A tale of a tubbe. which many yeares before had bene most miserably tormented in the most bytter paynes of hell fyre (where they saye is no redemption) was deliuered oute of hell, & brought vntounto the glorious kingdome of heauen. In the yeare of oure Lord. 590. Polichronicon.