The assault of the sacrame[n]t of the altar containyng aswell sixe seuerall assaultes made from tyme to tyme against the sayd blessed sacrament: as also the names [et] opinions of all the heretical captaines of the same assaultes: written in the yere of oure Lorde 1549. by Myles Huggarde, and dedicated to the Quenes moste excellent maiestie, beyng then ladie Marie: in which tyme (heresie then raigning) it could take no place.

WHen Sagittary had dominion , The nightes then being very long and cold I mused on the straunge opinion , the which diuers men did diuersly hold Against our sauiours own wordes plainly tolde Which troubled me so , that as it did chaunce , With the same study , I fell in a traunce , Then with that I had a wonderfull dreame , In the which me thought Morpheus drue neere And toke me by the hande & with strength extreme He drue me furth , and bade me nothing feare , But go with him , and as we going were , Let not my comming quod he the displease , For thou shalt finde , it shall be for thine ease . I know that thou dost sore trouble thi minde With the fondnes of men which thou doest see , Against Christes wordes cauillation to finde , The which in the scripture so plaine written be , And how one with an other do not agree : Is not this thy trouble , I pray the tell trewe , It is trueth quod I , euen as thou dost shewe , Well quod he , I shall shew the more anone , Then came we in to an hall long and wide , The like before I neuer loked vpon , Most gorgiously hounge it was on eche side , With noble storyes which I wyll not hide , Wrought in fine arrase , with pure silke & golde , It rauishte my witte this hall to beholde . Then did I loke vpon the lefte hande , ●●od xxv and ●vii . 〈◊〉 ix . ●●od . xvi . There sawe I the Arke of God purely wrought Of fine golde as it orderly doth stande In the byble , whiche seing I me be thought , 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 . Of the stories ther , which to my minde brought , What the Arke , and all the reste did signifye , Whiche on the lifte side of this hall did lye . ●ene ●liii . ●he s●cond fi●●●e of Mel●●izedech . First there I sawe Melchizedech the King Meting Abraham the great Patriarche From slaughter of the. iiii . kinges , for which thing He offred to God in a mystery darke , Breade & wine , the which thing as I did marke , A hande in the cloudes wrote this him before : Thou arte a priest it saied for euer more . ●sal . cx . Then stode ther king Dauid redy with his penne , And wrote it in the spirite of prophecy , Pointing to that priest which shuld saue al men , Saying thou arte a priest eternally , After Melchizedeches order truely : The which when I sawe , I burnt in desire , To se all the rest my hart was on fyre . ●xod. ●ii . ●he thirde fi●ure of th● pas●●al lambe . There I sawe howe that the Iewes also Did eate the paschall lambe as God commaunded , When he did saue them from wicked Pharao , Whiche with all his army was there confounded In the rede Sea , where he deliuered , His people drye foote , to shewe his powre great , In remembrance wherof , the lambe they did eate . Nexte to this story I sawe rychely wrought , Howe that Manna from aboue did discende , Exod. xvi . The fourth figure of Manna . To fede those whom god out of thral had brought Thus God his goodnes to them did extende : Kyng Dauid stoode by and this truely pende , Prophesieng therby a mystery great , Saying , man the bread of Angels hath eate , A goodly table then sawe I there spreade , By the which the high priestes stode honorably , Leui. xxiiii . The fifthe figure of the ●hewe breade . And did set theron the holy shewe breade , Of the whiche none might eate but they only , Then in that place also I did espye , Where king Dauid did writ this sentence cleare : God geueth meat to those that him truely feare . Psal. cxi . Then as I stode musing these thinges to scanne I could not with all my wyttes them define , Then came there to me an auncient man , Whiche semed to be some noble deuine , He bad me mine eares to him incline , And he would open to me by and by , What all these thinges did truely signifie . Of that I was glad , and gaue attendaunce , To here how he would these figures discusse , Whiche he did truely with noble vtteraunce , And first of the Arke his saying was thus . The Arke quod he whiche is so glorious , Doth signifye Christ his churche be thou sure , Which hath in it the swete Manna most pure . This Manna is the holy sacrament , Of the blessed body and bloud of our Lord , Whiche he lefte here to be permanent , As a pledge most sure of our soules comford : Aarons rodde also doth signifie his worde , By the whiche his churche is gouerned here , But by Manna is figurde his body most nere . Secondly where Melchizedech the king , Brought furth breade and wine before Abraham , That did signifie Christes holy offryng , Whiche he offred when he to his maundy came , Christes order of priesthod consisteth in the same , Sith Melchizedeches order in his sacrafice , Was none other but that , scripture plaine trise , And where he saieth , thou art a priest for euer , Did not only signifie Christes eternitee , But also his order whiche ende shall neuer , Whiche he ordained , here at his maundie , Fulfylling Melchizedeches order truely , Yet is he the priest which doth worke this thinge In his ministers , dayly ministring . Christ is not 〈◊〉 now too me●it a ne●d , ●s he did by h●s passed , for tha● wa● 〈…〉 do●e on●● for all , but we do desire that this sacrifice offered in remembrannce Stay there sir quod I , by your pacience , Did Melchizedeches order only consyst , In these two thinges , me thinke of congruence , It doth extende farther or els I haue mist , Ye for soth quod he who wyll that resyst , For when Christ offered him selfe by his passion He became for euer our propiciation . In consideration wherof we do here , of his death may be a mean to applye the merite of that his death unto vs . Offer to the father this swete sacrifice , Of his blessed sonne , to him moost dere , Whose death for mercy for vs dayly cryes , For workes haue we none , that before his eyes , Are worthy of mercy , therfore we do all , In that same death for mercy dayly cal . The next figure quod he to this agreeth wel , Exod. xii . Where as the Iewes the paschal lambe did eate In the remembraunce as scripture doth tell , Of their deliueraunce by myracle great , Out of Egypte , Exod. xiiii . of whiche figure to entreate , It wyll require a longe circumstaunce , But lette not the tyme to the be greuaunce , Egypte the darknes of synne doth signifie , In the whiche man was after his fall , And by Pharao is figured the deuill truely , Under whom man was both subiecte and thral , And Moyses in figure Christ I may call , Whiche Moyses ledde the children of Israel , Through the redde sea from Pharao cruell . Euen so our Moyses Christ our sauiour , Deliuered his people through his redde bloud , From Pharao the deuill and all his hole power , Under whom man then in great daunger stood : Now when God by Moyses , was to man thus good He wilde man yerely for a memoriall , To eate a lambe which they named the paschall . Then for as muche as our lord did fore se , How the nature of man was corrupted With forgetfulnes , for the whiche he , For mens commoditee this ordeined , That they shoulde eate a male lambe vnspotted , In a remembraunce how they deliuered were From wicked Pharao as ye before did here . In like maner our sauiour Christ Iesu , Ordeined for a perpetuall memorye A lambe to be eaten our mindes to renewe In dayly remembraunce of his mercy , Whiche he procured by his death truely , The lambe that he lefte was himselfe in dede , As in the Euangelistes plaine we do reade . That christ is the lambe it doth plaine appeare . Ioan. i. Beholde the lambe of God , saint Iohn doth say , That taketh awai the sinnes of the world cleare Which he did truely by his death that day , That his fleshe was broken , none can this denay . Now then to Christes maundy let vs resorte , And se there what weight his wordes doth importe . Christ at his last supper toke bread in his hand : Math. xxvi . He blest it , and brake it , and those wordes saied , This is my body , thus doth his wordes stande , The whiche for you , saith he , shal be betrayed . These were his wordes it can not be denaied . But he spake thus , quod I , only in figure , That doth not , quod he , agree with scripture . Thou must nedes graunt , ꝙ he , that christ came here The figures of the olde lawe to fulfyll , Cheifely all suche as of his comming were , And that not with figures , to thinke so were yl , Whoso affirmeth that , can litle skyll In the scripture , i. Cor. ● . for thus writteth saint Paule , That the lawe to the Iewes was in figures al. And yet this same sacrament is a figure , But not only of Christes body naturall , For that it containeth , but this we read in scripture , That the fourme of bred , which we se material , Is a figure of Christes body mysticall , As to the Corynthes we do plainely reade , To recite the wordes I thinke shall not nede . But now to note christes words how thei were spoken Thꝭ is my body , that geuen for you shal be , Whiche the next day on the crosse was broken For the sinnes of all men , this by faith we se. Now that christ is trueth , needes we must agre , Wel then , of the bread , truth these words did say . Which truely was true , if he died the next day . Thus is Christ the lambe that continuallye Is eaten of vs in his memoriall , Because we should not forget his mercy , Whiche by his death he purchast for vs all . This to his comming truely continue shall . The Iewes then eate the lambe in figure onlye , But we eat the true lambe , the scripture doth try . The Manna also which came from aboue , Exo. xvi . To feede Gods people in the wildernes , Doth signifie this great token of loue , With whiche Christ doth fede his people doubtlesse As the Prophetes saying , here plain doth expresse The breade of Angels , man hath eate , saith he , And christ this same breade , nameth himself to be . Ioan. vi . I am the breade of lyfe saieth our sauiour , Whiche from heauen aboue did truely descende , To geue lyfe to man doth passe mannes power , I am the true breade , which doth to that extende : Manna from hounger , did man only defende , but who that eateth of this bread , sure of life shal be And the breade that I wyll geue , is my fleshe saieth he . Came his flesh from heauen ꝙ I , that wold I here For I beleue of trueth , he toke it of Marye , And yet by your wordes , me thinke it doth appere That the bread was his flesh which came from a hie I thinke this saying true ye can not trye , For if ye can so , my faith I wyll forsake , For I do beleue his fleshe he did here take . Loo , here thy ignoraunce thou dost shew to me , Did not christ like case , say these wordes plainly : truly , Ioan. iii. No man ascendeth to heauen but only he , Which came downe from heauen , the sonne of man Which is in heauen , marke what these wordes doth try the son of man which is in heauen , & yet he , Was in his manhode here , as all men might se. To discusse that ꝙ I doth farre passe my wit , Why wilt thou then quod he , in thy faith dispute , Thou wouldest dig a pitte , & thi selfe fall into it , As many other doth , them selues to confute , But do not thou like case from thi faith transmute , And now to shew the I wyll take in hand , How these two places true together stand . But first one text I wyll note to the more : What wyll ye say saieth Christ , Ioan. vi . when ye shall see , The sonne of man ascende where he was before , Doth not this text now expresse vnto thee , His manhode in heauen before that to be , May not I say than , his fleshe is that bread , Which came from heauen , wherwith our soules be fed . Then toke he no fleshe here that I perceiue wel , Yes forsoth ꝙ he this dothe not that disproue , For why , s. Iohn doth writ in his gospel , That the word was made flesh , euen Gods sonne aboue By eternal generacion , Ioan. ● . none can that remoue , So God & man was knyt , alwayes to remaine , But one in ꝑsonage , though in natures twaine : Nowe syth our nature vnto God is knyt , Beyng one in person as I before did say , To know how this should be , doth passe al mens wyt Yet that this is true , no man can denay , But that man is God , and God is man alway : Now then Christes holy fleshe by this vnitie , May truely be said alwaye in heauen to be . Now this heauenvly bred vnder which christ is here The breade of Angels the prophet well may cal , For the foode of Angels is the glorie clere Of the blessed godhead most celestiall , With the whiche godhead Christ was euer equal . So then where christ is , the godhead is alway , Then the bread of Angels we eate , we may say . Leui. xxiiii . Then , quod he , here the shew breade is set out Wherof none but the priestes alone might eate , The which doth signifie , no christen man wil dout This most blessed bred , which is of vertu great , The shew bread was vsed as an heauenly meat : For none but the priestes God did therto admit , And all the people did reuerence to it . This most heauenly meat of christes fleshe and bloud , Being , as I saied , the perfitte veritie , Figured by this shew bread , by which the priestes stood , Only of priestes also eaten here must be : Of priestes made by order , nay so take not me , i. Pet. ii . But both priestes & kings , as Peter doth vs cal , Which offreth to god the sacrifice spirituall . How we are kinges , & priestes thou must vnderstand : We are not all priestes in ministracion , No more then we are kinges gouerning a lande : Yet kinges we are by Peters nominacion , And so are we priestes by Paules probacion . Make your bodies , saieth he , a liuely sacrifice . Roma . ii . By this mean & such other al men priests he tries . He may be called a king , learned me doth say , Which doth his carnall affections subdue , But if he do not that as muche as he may , He is in this case , neither king nor prieste true : But if he be a king thus then will insue , He is a worthy priest so spiritually , Whose godly workes then God doth accept hye . Now this kingly priesthod whoso doth attaine , Without the feare of God it can neuer be , Then the prophetes promisse , here doth folow plain : God geueth meat to those , that feare him saith he : Geueth he meat to none els ? yis forsoth , we se By his gifte infidelles haue their sustenaunce , Then doth he mean meat , of an hygher substaunce . And what that meat is , christ doth plain declare : My fleshe , saieth he is very meate in dede , And my bloud is drinke , this is no figure bare , These wordes are plain , the gospel thou maist rede : now thou seist to what end this figure doth lede To the faithful christ his fleshe & blod doth geue : Then they eate it not , ꝙ I , that beastly do liue . Nay I say not so , thou dost me mistake , For euen the wicked receiueth Christes body , Or els our receite should it his body make , And if I so ment , I should meane wickedlye , For Paule saith , who that eateth it vnworthily , Eateth his own iudgement , because no difference He maketh of christes body , this is plain euidence . They say ꝙ I that S. Austen doth say , That wicked men eath not Christes flesh & bloud , Tho they eate the sacrament euery day , Upon which thei conclude that none but the good Only eateth christes fleshe , this with stout mood They do defende and say , this doth trye , That it is not Christ , but to the good only . Thou must vnderstand , ꝙ he , that this worde Iesus Is as much to say as a sauiour true , And to all men Christes wyll is to be thus , Yet is he not so , the scripture do shewe , But why , because they folowe not vertue , By whiche they loose the benefite of that name , Yet Iesus is a sauiour thou wilt grant the same . Blessed are those saith christ whiche are not hurt by me Who can be hurt by Christ , who is all goodnes , Truely suche as wicked and vnfaithfull be , Whiche receiueth him not after his worthines , Whose iugement , as I sayd , s. Paule doth expresse Now like as Christ was with the Iewes present So is he with vs in the sacrament . Christ is not quod I ▪ with vs now present , As he was with the Iewes , I mean not so ꝙ he That he so should be , is not conueniente , For with them he walked in his humanitee , Fulfylling all thinges that fulfyld should be , Which done vp to heauen he did ascende , And from thence shall come againe at the last end . Than can he not be here , ꝙ I , by your owne tale . That canning , quod he , will not be let by me : For if I said , as thou saist , we should both faile , But the tale that I tell , if it mine should be , My canning could neuer proue vnto the , How his body could be both here and aboue , But loking who spake it , faith wil how remoue . Now wher saint Austen saith that the wicked here Eateth not Christes fleshe , but the good only , Meanes not , but that Christ is eaten eueriwhere , Both of good and ill , him selfe doth plaine trye : The euill doth eate it , and not eate it truely : Sacramentally thei eat Christes fleshe & bloud , Though not to their soule health , as doth all the good . Now those that do not eate it to that effecte , Are counted then not to eate it at all , As he that with any sickenes is infecte , And digesteth not his meat , it norisheth but smal For which as not eaten be counted it shall . Euen so he that eateth Christ with a faith vntru , Is counted not to eate , because hurt doth ensue . Christ must be Iesus , to those that him receiue , Or els to their hurt , they receiue him , we se , As did the euil Iewes , by this thou maist perceiue That for to eat Christes flesh , in such sort must be . To nourishe his soule in Christ , or els he , Eates not a sauiour , though it be Christ in dede , But greater iudgement , i. Cor. ●● . as in S. Paul we rede . By this thou mayest perceiue , s. Austens minde , Is not to deny Christ in the sacrament , For that truth in his workes most plain thou maist fide , Therfore nothing lesse then thou saist he ment , As vnto the I haue proued euidente . I lyke your proffe , ꝙ I , I wyl no more contend . Then for this time , ꝙ he , I haue made an ende . Nowe whan he had all these figures declared , Sodainly he vanisht fro me a way . Then whan I sawe that , I me selfe prepared To se more in this hall , and then with out stay , I loked on my ryght hand , on the which side lay But two stories of the newe testament , Which were the verites that the figures mente . The first was the solemne supper of our lord , At the whiche his body he did consecrate , ●rasm . in his ●araphrases ●ō the .xxiiii. Luc. ●ebr. i● . Plasing a newe sacrifice for the comforde , Of his newe churche , which shall not consummate , Untyll he come againe hir to congregate , To raigne with him : which sacrifice he did ordaine , In place of all the olde , tyll than to remaine . Next vnto this was very rychly wrought , Howe Christ on the crosse suffred passion , Wherby all mankind with his bloud he bought , Procuring therby eternall redemption , Leuing on his parte , scripture doth mention , Not one iote concerning his death & suffraunce , Therfore he is not now offred , but in remembraunce . For there remaineth no sacrifice for sinne , By any shedding of bloud or death suffring : For Christ ones by deth Gods fauour so did win , He needes to dye no more : for that one offring Was sufficient , whiche death as remembring , We offer to God , as was tolde me before , As our cheife meane of mercy to him euermore . Then betwen these stories stood Dauid the king , With a scrole in his hande all alonge spreed , And indifferently to these stories pointing , This verse he had written , which I theron redde : Thou arte a priest for euermore , Psalm ●● . Hebr. ●●● . it fed , After Melchizedeches , order then in fine I thought of the worde tolde me by the deuine . This done euen sodainlye I did espye , A goodly lady of beauty excellent , Decte with golde and stone wondrous costly , Whiche glistred like the sterres in the firmament : Then the Euangelistes I sawe redy bente , Hir to defende with the apostell saint Paule , And also there was the ancient doctours all , This lady on a thre cornerde stoue did stande , In the whiche , Christus was grauen very well , And an hoost consecrate she helde in hir hande , With muche more reuerence then I can tell , Then stood the Euangelistes ech with his gospel And S. Paule also , eche shewing euident The place wher they defende this holy sacrament . Then al the doctors , toke of them for their defence , Eche of them a sworde sharpe and durable , And faith toke them targattes of noble science , By which to withstande , al men they were able . Thus they stood stoutly lyke men firme & stable , Alway redy with these wepones to fight , Against all that woulde not lady faith vse right . Then sawe I on their targattes written plaine Scutum fidei , and farthermore lyke case , Upon their swordes uerbum dei certaine , Thus orderly they stood eche in his place , This lady to defende assisted with grace , Whiche had on her breest , in letters of golde , Fides catholica , moost goodly to beholde . Then I seing all this , with great reuerence , On my knees to Christ I kneled by and by , And with diuine honour as God in one assence , With the father and the holy ghost truely , ca●on rebelth againste ●eth . I did him there worship in that mystery . Then reason in a corner spied me right soone , And calde me Idolater , for that I had done . Then , ꝙ I to him , why dost thou reproue me For geuing of honour , where honour is due ; I would agree , quod he , if I that could se , But til then , I wyll not thinke it to be true . I se but very bread , therfore doth ensewe , It is but bread , which is not honour worthy , For whiche I call it plaine Idolatry . Thou maist se here , ꝙ I , that scripture doth hold That vnder the forme of bread is christes body , Which here is defended by the doctours olde : Do not all these proue the a very nody ? To dispute this , quod he , I wyll not stody : For why of me selfe my power is but small , But being ioyned with man then dispute I shal . Thou knowest , quod he , that I am but a powre , Geuen by god to mans soule , to know good & ill , I haue no grosse body , though at this houre I appeare to the thus , because thou canst no skill , Of a gifte as I am , but this say I wyll . In that I am a gifte in mannes soule to dwel , The number of my dwellinges no tonge can tel . Therfore now seing that I can not attaine How Christes body vnder fourme of bread can be Some men I wyll sure , earnestly constraine To assaulte this faith , whiche I here do se. For in no case , I wyll thereto agrree . Therfore in to some heades suche blastes I wyll blowe , That I trust anone her cleane to ouerthrowe . Then in a great fume he vanished away , Which seing , towardes faith I turned my face . O man quod she now in me thy hart stay , And let not reason out of thy hart race This holy sacrament , called good grace , For the great profyte , that to man it doth bring , If he it receiue with faith according . The firste assaulte of the sacrament , by Berengarius . Then with that sodainely came rushing in Reason with a standerde , which would not bowe , Faring as though al the feelde he would winne , Crying thou false faith defende thy selfe nowe . And on his standard was written , how how how . His captaines name theron also was written thus The noble archedeacon Berengarius . Then when I sawe this I was abashed , Cheifly to se them come for suche intent . Asyde for a tyme then I reculed : But not fro the sight of the sacrament , Nor out of the reache of faith I neuer went , But ioyned my selfe vnto the doctours olde , Whiche to defende faith did styll together holde . Then vewing these warriours of wicked minde . I meene Berengarius , with his retenue , Their wepons were such , that I mused to finde Any suche , excepte it were of a turke or Iewe , Whiche are the enemies that doth faith persue . Turkey bowes they bare all , on whiche I did se This worde plainly written incredulitie . Then eche of them had an arowe in his hande , The which had heades very sharp , named error , Fetherd with scripture falsly vnderstand , Because to perse hartes they should haue the more powre Than began they all to shote a great scowre : And gaue a sore assaulte with an out crye . Hocest , quod they , this is , doth signifie . Then the olde doctours hering this out crye , Made by christen men , thought it monstruous . And they sawe the arrowes of errour flye To distroy this sacrament moost glorious , then thei with their targetes , like men vertuous Bare of their great shoote , and then againe , With their swordes they cut al these arrowes in twaine , Then soberly eche man did say his sentence , According as the Euangelistes doth tell , Affirminge the trueth in the litterall sense , Alowing no glose that trueth to repell , But to be taken , as it standes in the gospell : Whiche is , hoc est corpus meum , to be ment , That Christ lefte his own body in the sacrament . Then as Berengarius was preparing , More arrowes against the sacrament to shote , A number of doctours was redy , not sparyng Their studies to spende his errour to roote Out of his hart , so that he coulde not boote Any more against the sacrament to striue , Then with their swordes to the grounde they did him driue . Then with that reason did let his standard fal , And at the foote of faith he fell prostrate . This Berengarius recanted thrise . Then Berengarius for Gods grace did call , And forsoke his errour so contaminate , Doinge penaunce therfore after suche rate , That God was pleased , & his penaunce did take , As he doth of all those that doth sinne forsake . Then this assaulte for that time finished , And faith stood constaunt as she did before , Holding the sacrament nothing diminished , But stood in honour as it did euermore . Then of people I sawe there many a score , Which gaue to the sacrament honour diuine , Without any checke therefro to recline . Thus lady faith quietly stoode a great while , Tyll sathan the deuill therat had enuy , Which sought busely some men to begyle , As he had done before ful deceitfully . The which came to passe experience did trye ▪ For anone I hard a great trumpet blowe , Then some enemies was nigh , by that I did know The seconde assaulte of the sacramente , by wykcleiffe and his felowes . Hierome of Prage , Hus and zuinglius ▪ &c. Then came in reason with a standard new , Which had theron the same superscription , That the other had , which did faith persewe , Changing but only in one condicion There captaines names , which had the tuicion , Of that wicked hoost , them was Iohn Wyikcleffe , Hierom of Prage & Husse workers of mischeif . All their weapones were of the same sorte As the other were , sauing as I did here Their out crye was so terrible and short , As though lady faith thei wold cleane ouer here . Their arrowes flew so thicke , my flesh shoke for fere . them al their cheife crie as these arrowes came Ioan. vi . Was these wordes , caro non prodest quicquam . Then the doctors all their targets furth did hold , From their cruel shot faith for to defende , And with their swerdes like warriours most bold , Thei stroke at them sore , but yet thei would not bend , But arrogantly much tyme thei did spend Against lady faith , but nothing preuailing , The doctors so well withstode their assailyng . Who all with one voice did wholy agre , That this text , the fleshe doth profite nothing . Was in this sense onely taken to be , Nothing it profites after the Iewes meanyng , For thei vnderstode a carnal eating , As though thei should eate it in gobbets dedde , As we do eate fleshe wherewith we are fedde . Whiche errour to remoue , Christ before sayth : The spirit it is that quickneth , as he would say , To eate this fleshe of mine as your iudgementes hath Conceiued , so would profite you no way , But because therby profite haue ye may , Ioyned with the holy spirit ye shal haue it plain , By whiche to geue life , the fleshe shall attaine . Thinke ye that I meane that ye my flesh shal eat In this forme , as I stande here before you all Mangled out in pieces , as ye do other meat ? Nay , that ye are deceiued well perceiue ye shall . For this body ye shall se by power potencial , Ascend wher it came fro . What will ye say than ? Then shal ye well know I am more then a man . Thus the doctours all did affirme and say , That of Christes words this was the profite sense , Prouing that Christ these wordes to the Iewes did lay Because of his godhead they shuld haue intelligence , And then to his words to haue geuen credence . But yet thei wold not beleue more then they sawe , Whiche was his manhod , his godhod they would not knowe . Nedes would thei know how thei his flesh shuld eat , Or els they would not beleue him at all . Plainly he tolde them of this heauenly meate , But in contention with Christ they would fall , the tyme thei wold not tary , but stil on Christ cal With a doubtful howe , whiche Christ knew full well , Therfore howe they should eat it , Christ would not tell . But afterwarde to those that would not contend , But with humble silence Christes wordes did beleue , At the tyme whiche he before did intende , He gaue them his fleshe their soules to releue , Under suche a fourme , that it did not greue Their stomakes , for vnder the forme of bread it lay With whiche their bodies were fed euery day . Yet these enemies of Christ hearing all this , Would not in any case thervnto agre : But cryed that all they had sayd amys , And that in their sense taken it must be : Whiche was , that Christes fleshe could profite in no degre To be eaten : & then the doctors this seyng With their swordes droue them away , they had there no beyng . Thus when with their words thei had ouerthrown This wicked host , which against Christ did striue , That long after thei wer neither seen nor knowen , Tyl that the deuil another drift did dryue Against fayth , the whiche plainly to discriue : When fayth a great while had stande at a stay , New trumpettes I heard blowe , & great horses bray . Nowe as my duetie was , & as I did before , I worshipped Christ there with honor diuine . In came reason , The third assault of that sacrament , by Luther and his felowes and with him many a score , And at this my dede they did sore repyne , Saiyng , an idol I made of bread and wyne . Then sawe I their standardes , whiche were in numbre thre Their names I wyll tell you as I did them se. The first standard had theron Martine Luther , Whiche of that wicked host was cheif captaine , He gaue his assault like a wycked tuter , With great gunshot , but yet for to be plaine , He shot not so sore as did the other twayne . For in their crye , but a signe thei did it make . But Luther and his the litteral sense did take , Whiche was , that hoc est , must litterally Be taken as it standes , as Christ had it tolde , But yet because bread remayned to his eye , That it was bread styl , styfly he did hold , And yet Christes body , that by Iudas was sold. But thei wer sore withstand by the doctors stout . Then with that Luther on saint Paul cried out I will sayth Luther take witnes here of Paul , Whiche I am sure spake by the holy ghost . For euen as it is , bread he doth it call : And you maister doctors in eche place almost , Where ye treate of this matter this I dare bost , You call it bread also , defende this and ye can , Then to honor bread God hath forbidden man . Then one of the doctors hearing this reason , In person of all began to dispute . Errour quod he with the is not geason . Why doste thou thy selfe madly confute With saint Paule , and vs after the same sute ? Nay quod Luther , your own wordes against you I lay , For I am sure you cal it bread , as I say . Saint Paule quod the doctor doth cal it bread , Not meanyng it is so , but doth so appeare : Because it so was , our iudgementes is led , To call it bread styll , as though it bread were , The whiche kynd of speche the scripture doth bere , Whiche sayth that the rods of Aaron did deuoure , The rods of the Egyptians made by the deuils power . Yet were they no roddes , but serpentes aliue , But because thei were rods , rods they be called . Ioan. ii . Also when Christ in Galile by prerogatiue Turned water to wyne , and then commaunded To geue it to the bridegrome , which anone thei did When he had tasted of the water , sayth S. Iohn : Here he calde it water , when it was wine alone . Euen so saint Paule and all these doctors here Calth the sacrament bread , because bread we se , which proues it no more bread , then the serpents rods were Nor the wyne water in Cana Galile : But here nowe one thing obiected may be . Obiection The serpentes were seen serpentes natural , And the wyne tasted wyne material . So here was two of the senses satisfied , Therfore that this was true , reason must agre , But now howe can this be verified In the sacrament , where we no chaunge do se , In sight nor in tast that perceiued can be ? Where the senses cannot reache , faith doth attain ▪ This for our soules health , Answere . Christ hath lefte vs plaine . For him selfe vnto saint Thomas did say , Thou beleuest , sayth he , because thou dost se : But I say to the , blessed be all they , That though they se not , yet wil beleue in me . To beleue in Christ what iudgest thou to be ? Is it not to beleue all that Christ doth teache In mysteries of fayth aboue reasons reache ? Of the whiche among all that Christ hath left here , This sacrament doth all other excel : First , because Christ is there & yet seen no where But by fayth , which in this doth reason down fel , Whiche with all our senses against it doth rebel , And yet fayth doth byd vs it to defende , Whiche we intende to do vnto our lyues ende . Now while this doctor & Luther talked thus , In came a standard all abrode displayed , The fourth fault of ye●●●rament , 〈◊〉 Decolā●●dius and his felowes Under whiche came in Oecolampadius , Faring as though he wold make them all afrayde , And agaist the sacrament like a beast he brayde , And as did Beringarius , so did he it assayle , But the doctours defeded it , he could not preuail . Then Decolampadius in his assaultyng Heard Luther defende Christes presence bodily To be vnder the sacrament , & not withstanding The substaunce of bread to byde with the body , For the whiche he did reproue Luthers foly , Saiyng that no learned man would agre , Two substances in one body to be . Christ was promist quod he to be incarnate , So that God & man one substaunce should be , But who euer red he should be unpanate , And take the nature of bread in vnitee Of person , and so make his natures thre , Thou shalt 〈…〉 to see ●rruption . ●sai . xxv . Of the whiche , one wyll corrupt we spye , And then shal be false , the prophetes prophecie . These inconueniences with diuers other mo , Decolampadius plainly declared , With the doctors all confirmed to be so : But then to speake more he him selfe prepared , For to be mistaken very sore he feared , All inconueniences cleane to put away , It was but onely a signe of Christ he did say . Thus Luther and he began to contend , Though thei both did erre , yet did thei not agre , Of the whiche debate or they had made an ende . Carolstadius cummyng anone I did see , The fift assault of the sacrament , by Carolstadius and his felowes His assault before Luther gaue he , But hearing them newe gloses to inuent , To lose his fame so , he was not content . Fyrst he hearing Luther defende so stoutly That hoc est corpus meum , must be vnderstand , That with bread was Christes own very body , And then on the other side how he was withstand By Decolampaduis whiche that text scand , That hoc est must nedes be , this doth signifie , And stepping betwene , he sware thei both did lye Than of proud Nembroth I though at that houre Whom God preuented with all his company , At buildyng of the Babilonical towre . By confusion of tongues God letted their foly , And so did he theirs , experience did trye , For when they thought lady faith to ouerrunne , They were as nye as when they fyrst begunne . For when the other twayne as I before say , Had these wordes of Christ so interpretate , He affirmed plain that thei toke the wrong way , And that the spirit of truth did his heart inflate : The sense of these words sayth he , are in this rate To be vnderstande , not est for signifie , But est , for is , euen as the text doth lye . So then , this is my body , Christ did say plaine . But to what pointed he , when he did so say , To the bread ? nay there deceiued are ye twayne : He pointed to him selfe sitting there that day , Not meanyng of the bread by any way , But that thei should eate it in the remembrance , Both of his great loue , and also his sufferance . Then eche of them affirmed his owne sense To be the very truth , although contrarie They were eche to other , they stode in defence Of their sayinges , and so beganne to vary . Yet , though eche showde him selfe aduersarie Unto ladie fayth , yet at the last they fell , Through pryde one against another to rebel . But when the doctors harde Carolstadius Of christes plain wordes , so false a glose to take : O wicked man , quod thei , herken vnto vs , what scriptur hail thou that for thi part doth make ? For what cause toke Christ bread & these words spake : Take , eat , this is my body , marke this thing well , And to what thing Christ did point this wyll the tell . Christes taking of the bread in his holy hand , His geuing of thankes , blessing and breaking And bidding them eate , can no way be scande , But that his act did concurre with his speaking , Saiyng , this is my body , what playner thing Can there be , to proue that that which thei did eat Was his owne body , that most heauenly meat ? Of all foolishe gloses , that is moost madde , To say that of the bread Christ ment not at all , And if that should be true , then the Iewes had A better repast in eating their paschall , That was fleshe & bloud , & had life naturall , Then with christ in figure they were truely fedde , But we haue not so muche , if Christ ment not of the breade . When he had this saied , these wretches all Began against faieth to be more vehement , Euery kingdome deuided in it selfe shall be desolate . Math. xii . But then because in to sectes , they did fall , Hauing amonge them no kinde of agrement , Conserning the right faieth in the sacrament , Eche against other his fancye did defende , Thus brauling with them selues this assaulte did ende . Then lyke brainles beastes they fell in decay , Lyke those that had sought their own confusion , Leuing lady faieth in hir olde godly staye , To whom all the doctours in conclucion , Submitted them selues with out abusion , And vnto Christ there in the sacrament , They kneled downe with deuotion reuerent . Then stood lady faieth quietly in rest , Holding the sacrament honorably , Yet some now and then would haue hir opprest , Meane scolderd F●ythe . Lambert , Ty●d●ll &c. Whiche were souldiours of wicked heresye , Assaulting hir ofte very cruelly , Whom for to hurte when they sawe they lacked power , They fled backe all to the tente of errour . Wherin they did rest , I sawe them no more , Then kneled I downe doyng reuerence , Unto Christ there as I had done before , Suppossing the deuilles deadly diligence , Had bene debarde by the doughty defence , Of all the doctours , and as I there stood , I harde horses bray as they had bene woode . The .vi. assault against the sacrament here in Englande . Then began my hart for great feare to quake Me thought al the world against faith was bent , But then faith bad me a good hart to take , For this assaulte , quod she , wyll be feruent , But looke that fro me thou be not absent , The target of faith and the sworde of the word of God . And take here , quod she , this target and sworde , Glad was I then of hir to heare that worde . Then as I toke these my selfe to defende , In came reason whiche a standard did beare , Upon the whiche in blacke letters was pende . The names of al those which his captaines wer . Whom when I beheld like byshoppes did apppere , Whiche in my mynde was a straunge sight to se , Byshoppes on that sort disgysed to be . The first was two Archbyshops whom I did know , The third Rydley , which on the quene did raile , The fourth was Hoper , the fifte was Barlowe , The syxt was Poinet , & the seuenth was Bale , The eight was Brown , & the ninth Couerdale , Farrer and Tayler made twelue with Skory , To se them in this case my hart was sory . Their foote men thei had which by them did ronne As Rogers , Rose , Horne , Saunders & Harlay , Cardmarker , Becon Crouley , and Sampson , Peter Hart , Carter , and olde Bylney , Tomson , Kyrkame , Douglas , Knokes , & Makbray Bradforde , old Steuens & yong Samuel , With the two Turners , and mo then I can tell . For whom I did then most hartly praye , That our lord in time would turne their hartes all , For by their yll doctrine many a daye , They haue caused many from faieth to fall , But God graunte that his churche Catholicall , They may learne to knowe and to hir to come , Then shall they reigne with hir in his kingdome . In armour as blacke as any ynke they were , And on the creast of their helmetes on hye , A womans foresleue eche of them did bere , The which as I toke it , did signifye , That for womens loues their manhoodes they wold trie , Turkey bowes eche of them had redy bent , To shote out therof their errours pestilent . Then sawe I the cheife byshop of them all , Cranmer . Rushe to the doctours vnreuerently , And rent out of their bookes in gobetes small , Peices for his purpose , whiche peruersly , He chewde with his teeth , and then spitefully , Shot them at lady faieth in pellet wyse , And beastly did the sacrament despise . Then certaine byshoppes on lady faithes part Catholyke by●oppes . Dinchester . London . Dorcestor . The ●hester and ●ucesine . Began against him hir stoutly to defende , Which when I sawe did comfort my hart . But then or this their debate had an ende , The deuyl new souldiors against faith did sende , Whiche came vnder the standerd of ignoraunce , Of whom selfe wyl had the cheife gouernaunce . By helpe of these the byshoppes effeminate , The byshopes aboue named . Against lady faith did so much preuaile , That certain of hir men to them was captiuate , And for hir sake was laide fast in gayle , The dayly oblation was taken away . Then before hir was drawne such a vaile , That she was so hid , fewe men could hir se , Tyll God sawe time , that seene she should be . For the whiche as I a longe time did pray , The commynge in of quene Mary . I harde trompetes blowe very swete and hye , Then did my hart reioyce putting care away , Me thought the sounde was of some victory , With that comming in I sawe sodainly , A noble standard all of white and grene , Imbrodred with roses royally beseene . After the whiche standard did enter in , One tryumphantly as the cheife captaine , Whiche was a crowned quene and vyrgin , Who seing lady faieth so had in disdaine , The dayly offring set vp againe . Drue backe the vaile that I might se plaine , Lady faieth styll holding the sacrament , To the which the quene did knele continent . Geuing to our lorde harty laudes and prayse , Whiche had geuen to hir so great a victory , Against hir enemies in so fewe dayes , With out bloude shede most miraculously , Commaunding streight to set at libertye , The prisoners deliuerd which suffred for lady faiethes sake . All these whiche imprisonment did take , And were punished for lady faiethes sake . Whiche done euen sodainely as I there stoode , Al that I had seene vanisht fro my sight , The which sodaine chaunge made me chaunge my mood But then Morpheus came again to me right , And bade me feare nothing , them fast as he might He brought me to my bed , & with that I did wake , Then to write this vision some paines I did take . Finis .