A19563:1413
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.
And I have not so far overshot my self or been overseen, that I would §4have attempted to publish this matter, if I had not before hand excused the whole truth therein from the bottom. But because I my self am certain of the truth (which hath been hid these many years, and persecuted by the Papists with fire and fagot, and should be so yet still if you might have your own will) and because also I am desirous that all my country men of England (unto whom I have no small cure and charge to tell the truth) should no longer be kept from the same truth, therefore have I published the truth which I know, in the English tongue, to the intent that I may edify all by that tongue, which all do perfectly know and understand. Which my doing it seemeth you take in very evil part, and be not a little grieved thereat, because you would rather have the light ⟨p. 234⟩of truth hid still under the bushel, then openly to be set abroad that all men may see it. And I think that it so little grieveth M. Peter Martyr, that his book is in english, that he would wish it to be translated likewise §5into all other languages.
And I haue not so far ouershot my selfe or bene ouersene, that I would §4haue atempted to publish this matter, if I had not before hand excussed the whole truth therin from the botome. But bicause I my selfe am certayne of the truth (which hath bene hid these many yeares, and persecuted by the Papistes with fyer and fagot, and should be so yet still if you might haue your owne will) and bicause also I am desirous that all my contrey men of England (vnto whome I haue no smale cure and charge to tell the truth) should no longer be kept from the same truth, therfore haue I published the truth which I know, in the English tongue, to the entent that I may edefy all by that tongue, which all do perfectly know and vnderstand. Which my doing it semeth you take in very euell part, and be not a litle greued therat, bycause you would rather haue the light ⟨p. 234⟩of truth hid still vnder the bushell, then openlye to be set abroad that all men may see it. And I thinke that it so little greueth M. Peter Martyre, that his booke is in english, that he would wish it to be trāslated likewise