"Verses on the Eucharist"

by King Edward VI

  In Eucharist then there is bread, 

Whereto I do consent: 

Then with bread is our bodyes fed; 

But farther what is ment? 

  I say that Christ in flesh and bloud 

Is there continually: 

Unto our soule a speciall food, 

Taking it spiritually. 

  And this transubstantiation I 

Beleeve as I have read: 

That Christ sacramentally 

Is there in forme of bread. 

   S. Austen sayth the Word doth come 

Unto the element: 

And there is made, he sayth in somme, 

A perfect sacrament. 

   The element then doth remaine, 

Or els must needes ensue: 

S. Austen's words be nothing plaine, 

Nor cannot 'be found true. 

  For if the Word, as he doth say, 

Come to the element: 

Then is not the element away, 

But bides there verament. 

  Yet who so eateth that lively food, 

And hath a perfect faith: 

Receiveth Christes flesh and bloud, 

For Christ himselfe so saith. 

  Not with our teeth his flesh to teare. 

Nor take bloud for our drink: 

Too great absurditie it were 

So grossely for to thinke. 

  For we must eate him spiritually, 

If we be spirituall: 

And who so eates him carnally, 

Thereby shall'have a fall. 

  For he is now a spirituall meate, 

And spiritually we must 

That spirituall meate spiritually eate, 

And leave our carnall lust. 

  Thus by the spirit I spiritually 

Beleeve, say what men list: 

None other Transubstantiation I 

Beleeve of the Eucharist, 

  But that there is both bread and wine, 

Which we see with our eye: 

Yet Christ is there by power divine, 

To those that spiritually 

Do eate that bread and drinke that cup, Esteeming it but light:

As Judas did, which eate that sop,

Not judging it aright.

  For I was taught not long agone, 

I should leane to the spirit:

And let the carnall flesh alone, 

For it did not profite. 

  God save him that teaching me taught, 

For I thereby did winne: 

To put me from that carnall thought 

That I before was in. 

  For I beleeve Christ corporally 

In heaven doth keepe his place: 

And yet Christ sacramentally 

Is heere with us by grace. 

  So that, in this high mysterie, 

We must eate spiritual meate, 

To keepe his death in memory, 

Least we should it forget. 

  This do I say, this have I sayd, 

This saying say will I: 

This saying though I once denaid, 

I will no more to dye. 

FINIS.