A19563:1523
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 where you boast, that you have convinced me in the matter of the real presence of Christs body, I trust the indifferent Reader will say, that you triumph before the victory, saying that you have won the field, when in deed you have lost it, and when Goliaths head is smitten of with his own sword.1 But the old English Proverb is here true, that it is good beating of a proud man: for when he is all to beaten back & bone, yet will he boast of his victory, and brag what a valiant man he is.
And where you boast, that you haue conuinced me in the matter of the reall presence of Christes body, I trust the indifferent Reader wil say, that you triumph before the victorie, saying that you haue wonne the field, when in deede you haue lost it, and when Golyathes head is smitten of with his owne sword.1 But the old English Prouerbe is here true, that it is good beating of a proude man: for whē he is all to beaten backe & bone, yet will he boast of his victorie, and bragge what a valiant man he is.
- 12. Re. 17.
And it is an other vain brag also that you make, when you say, that you have showed before, that Christs words were not figurative, when he said, This is my body. For you have neither proved that you say, nor have answered to my proofs to the contrary (as I refer to the judgement of all indifferent Readers) but you have confessed that Christ called bread his body, & made demonstration upon the bread, when he said: This is my body. How can then this speech be true, but by a figure, that bread is Christs body? seeing that in proper speech (as you say) every yea containeth a nay, and the affirmation of one thing is the denial of an other.
And it is an other vayne bragge also that you make, whē you say, that you haue shewed before, that Christes wordes were not figuratiue, when he sayd, This is my body. For you haue neither proued that you say, nor haue aunswered to my proofes to the contrary (as I referre to the iudgement of all indifferent Readers) but you haue confessed that Christ called bread his body, & made demōstration vpon the bread, when he sayd: This is my body. How can then this speach be true, but by a figure, that bread is Christes body? seyng that in proper speach (as you say) euery yea conteineth a nay, and the affirmation of one thyng is the deniall of an other.