A19563:112
An answerAn aunsvvere
An answer by the Reverend Father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and metropolitan, unto a crafty and sophistical cavillation, devised by Stephen Gardiner Doctor of Law, late Bishop of Winchester against the true and godly doctrine of the most holy sacrament, of the body and blood of our saviour Jesus Christ Wherein is also, as occasion serveth, answered such places of the book of Doct. Richard Smith, as may seem any thing worthy the answering. Here is also the true copy of the book written, and in open court delivered, by D. Stephen Gardiner ...An aunsvvere by the Reuerend Father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, primate of all England and metropolitane, vnto a craftie and sophisticall cauillation, deuised by Stephen Gardiner Doctour of Law, late Byshop of Winchester agaynst the true and godly doctrine of the most holy sacrament, of the body and bloud of our sauiour Iesu Christ Wherein is also, as occasion serueth, aunswered such places of the booke of Doct. Richard Smith, as may seeme any thyng worthy the aunsweryng. Here is also the true copy of the booke written, and in open court deliuered, by D. Stephen Gardiner ...
London: printed by John Daye, 1580London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1580
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I desire you well beloved brethren in the Lord, that you will pray to God for me, to forgive me my sins,1 which above all men both in number and greatness, I have committed: but among all the rest, there is one offence which of all at this time doth vex and trouble me, whereof in process of my talk you shall hear more in his proper place, and then putting his hand into his bosom, he drew forth his Prayer, which he recited to the people in this sense.
I desire you well beloued brethren in the Lord, that you will pray to God for me, to forgeue me my sinnes,1 which aboue all men both in number and greatnes, I haue committed: but among all the rest, there is one offence whiche of all at this tyme doth vexe and trouble me, wherof in processe of my talke you shall heare more in his proper place, and then puttyng his hand into his bosome, he drew forth his Prayer, whiche he recited to the people in this sense.
- 1The words of the Archb. to the people.The wordes of the Archb. to the people.
¶ The Prayer of Doct. Cranmer Archb. of Cant. at his death. Good Christen people,1 my dearly beloved brethren and sisters in Christ, I beseech you most heartily to pray for me to almighty God, that he will forgive me all my sins and offences, which be many, without number, and great above measure. But yet one thing grieveth my conscience more then all the rest, whereof God willing, I intend to speak more hereafter. But how great and how many soever my sins be, I beseech you to pray God of his mercy to pardon and forgive them all. And here kneeling down, he said: O Father of heaven: O Son of God redeemer of the world: O holy Ghost three persons and one God, have mercy upon me most wretched caitiff and miserable sinner. I have offended both against heaven and earth more then my tongue can express. Whether then may I go, or whether should I fly? To heaven I may be ashamed to lift up mine eyes, and in earth I find no place of refuge or succour. To thee therefore (O Lord) do I run: to thee do I humble my self, saying: O Lord my God, my sins be great, but yet have mercy upon me for thy great mercy. The great mystery that God became man, was not wrought for little or few offences. Thou diddest nor give thy son (O heavenly Father) unto death for small sins only, but for all the greatest sins of the world, so that the sinner return to thee with his whole hart, as I do here at this present. Wherefore have mercy on me O God, whose property is always to have mercy: have mercy upon me O Lord, for thy great mercy. I crave nothing O Lord, for mine own merits, but for thy names sake, that it may be hallowed thereby, and for thy dear son Jesus Christ sake: And now therefore, our Father of heaven, hallowed by thy name. &c.