A19563:1501
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 as for the confession of all the clergy of this Realm in an open council,1 the authority of Rome ceasing, you speak here a manifest untruth wittingly against your conscience. For you know very well (and if you will deny it, there be enough yet alive can testify) that divers of the clergy, being of most godly living, learning, and judgement, never consented to the articles, which you speak of. And what marvel was it, that those articles (notwithstanding divers learned men repugning) passed by the most voices of the Parliament? seeing that although the authority of Rome was then newly ceased, yet the darkness and blindness of errors and ignorant that came from Rome, still remained and overshadowed so this Realm, that a great number of the Parliament had not yet their eyes opened to see the truth. And yet how that matter was enforced by some persons, they know right well that were then present. But after, when it pleased almighty God, more clearly to shine unto us by the light of this word, our eyes by his goodness were opened, darkness discussed, and that which was done in ignorance and darkness, was by knowledge and light in public Council rehearsed and taken away, as well concerning the doctrine as the hardness of the law. For if the doctrine had been true and godly, there is no christen hearted man, but he would have desired the establishment and continuance thereof. But the doctrine being false and such as came only from Rome, they be not worthy to be likened to those truths, which came from God, and were uttered by Balaam and Caiaphas, but to be numbered among those lies, which came from his vicar,2 who when he speaketh lyes, ex proprijs loquitur, he speaketh properly of himself.
And as for the confession of all the clergy of this Realme in an open counsell,1 the authority of Rome ceasing, you speake here a manifest vntruth wittingly agaynst your conscience. For you know very well (and if you will denie it, there be enough yet aliue can testify) that diuers of the clergy, being of most godly liuing, learning, and iudgement, neuer consented to the articles, which you speake of. And what meruayle was it, that those articles (notwithstanding diuers learned men repugning) passed by the most voyces of the Parliament? seing that although the authority of Rome was then newely ceased, yet the darkenes and blindnes of errours and ignoraunte that came from Rome, still remayned and ouershadowed so this Realme, that a great number of the Parliament had not yet theyr eyes opened to see the truth. And yet how that matter was enforced by some persons, they know right well that were then present. But after, when it pleased almighty God, more clearly to shine vnto vs by the light of this word, our eyes by his goodnes were opened, darkenes discussed, and that which was done in ignoraunce and darkenes, was by knowledge and light in publique Counsell rehersed and taken away, as well concerning the doctrine as the hardnes of the law. For if the doctrine had bene true and godly, there is no christen harted man, but he would haue desired the establishment and continuaunce therof. But the doctrine being false and such as came onely from Rome, they be not worthy to be likened to those truthes, which came from God, and were vttered by Balaam and Cayphas, but to be numbred among those lyes, which came from his vicar,