As for Melanchton, quod I, that maister Fecknam spake of, I marueile that ye wyl alleadge hym, for we are more nie an agrement here in England, then the opinion of Melāchton to you: for in this point we all agree here, that there is in the Sacrament but one materiall substaunce: and Melanchton (as I wene) sayeth there is two. Ye saye truthe, quod M. Secretary: Melanchtons opinion is so: but I praye you, ye haue redde that the Sacrament was in olde tyme so reuerenced, MarginaliaCatechimene and others wēt out at the ministratiō MarginaliaErgo ther is no substance of bread in the sacrament. than how manye were there that were forbidden to be present at the ministration thereof: Catecumeni quod he, and many mo: truth syr quod I, there was called some Audientes, some Pœnitentes, some Catechumeni, some Energumeni, which was cōmaunded to depart: now, quod he then, and how can ye thē make but a figure or a signe of the Sacrament, as that booke whiche is set forth in my Lord of Caunterburies name.
It is not clear to which book of Cranmer's Bourne is referring. He may have been citing Justas Jonas's catechism (STC 5992.5), which was produced under Cranmer's auspices. But, given the context, it is more probably a reference to Cranmer's Defence of the true and catholike doctrine of the sacrament of the body and bloode of Christ (STC 6000).
[Back to Top]Maister Secretary, quod I, that booke was made of a great learned man, and him whiche is able to do the like again. As for me I ensure you (be not deceaued in me) I was neuer able to do or wryte any suche thing like. he passeth me no lesse, then the learned maister his yōge scholer.
Nowe, here euery man would haue his saying, whiche I passe ouer, not muche materiall for to tell, but sir, quod I, me thinkes, it is not charitably done, to beare the people in hand, that any man do lightly esteme the sacrament as to make of it but a figure, for that (but) maketh it a bare figure without any more profit: whiche that booke doth often denie, as appeareth to the reader most plain: yes, quod he, that doth he.
[Back to Top]Sir no, quod I, of a truthe: and as for me I ensure you, I make no lesse of the sacrament then thus. I saye whosoeuer receaueth the sacrament, he receaueth therewith other lyfe or death. no, quod maister Secretary, scripture saieth not so. syr quod I, although not in the same sould of wordes, yet it dothe in the same sense, and S. Augustine saieth in the sounde of wordes also, for Paule saieth, the bread which we breake, is it not the partaking or felowship of the body of Christ? and S Augustine, manduca vitam, bibe vitam.
[Back to Top]Then said maister Pope, what can ye make of it, when ye saye, there is not the reall body of Christ, which I do beleue &c. & I pray God I maye neuer beleue other. how can it bring, as ye say, other life or death, whē Christes body is not there? Sir quod I, when ye heare
gods word truely preached, if ye do beleue it and abide in it, ye shal and do receaue life with all, and if ye do not beleue it, it doth bring vnto you death: and yet Christes body is still in heauē & not carnal in euery preachers mouth.
MarginaliaObiection I pray you tel me quod he, how can you answere to this, quod pro vobis tradetur? was þe figure of Christes body geuen for vs? No Sir, quod I, but the very body it self, wherof the sacrament is a sacramentall figure. how saye ye then, quod he, to quod pro vobis tradetur: MarginaliaQuod expounded forsooth, quod I, Tertullians exposition maketh it plaine. for he saith, corpus est figura corporis now put to quod pro vobis tradetur, and it agreeth exceeding well. In faith quod he, I wold geue xl. pound, that ye were of a good opiniō. for I ensure you I haue heard you, and had an affection to you.
[Back to Top]I thankeyou maister Pope, for your harte & minde, and ye knowe quod I, I were a very foole if I wold in this matter dissent frō you, if that in my cōscience the truth did not enforce me so to doo. for I wisse, as ye doo perceaue, I trow, it is somwhat out of my way, if I wold esteme worldly gaine. what say ye, quod he, to MarginaliaCiprian.Ciprian? doth he not saye plainly, Panis quem dedit dominus non effigie sed natura mutatus omnipotentia verbi factus est caro?
The English translations of passages from patristic fathers and from the Vulgate, which appear throughout this dialogue, were introduced in the 1570 edition.
Trewe Sir, so he doth saye; and I answere, euen the same which once by chaunce I preached at Pawles crosse in a sermon, for the which I haue bene as vniustly and as vntrewly reported as eny poore man hath bene.
In the dialogue Ridley refers to a Paul's Cross sermon he had delivered (1563, p. 930; 1570, p. 1591; 1576, p. 1357; 1583, p. 1428). The sermon was delivered in the first year of Edward VI's reign and is mentioned earlier in Foxe (1563, p. 855; not in any subsequent edition).