A19563:1764
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 this matter being so clear, neither your fine disguising, nor your painted colours, nor your gay Rhetoric, nor witty inventions, can so hide and cover the truth, that it shall not appear, but the more you labour to strive against the stream, the more faint shall you wax, and at length the truth hath such a violence, that you shall be borne clean down with the stream thereof.
And this matter being so cleare, neither your fine disguising, nor your painted colours, nor your gay Rhetorike, nor witty inuentions, can so hyde and couer the truth, that it shal not appeare, but the more you labour to striue agaynst the streame, the more faynt shall you waxe, and at lēgth the truth hath such a violence, that you shall be borne cleane down with the streame therof.
In the end you compare Nestorius and Cyril togethers, alluding (as it seemeth) to this contention between you and me,1 which comparison if it be throughly considered, hath no small resemblance, although there be no little diversity also. Nestorius (say you) was a great archbishop, and so (say I) was Cyril also. Nestorius (say you) as appeareth had much learning, but cloaked his heresy craftily. But the Histories of his time (who should know him best) describe him in this sort, that he was a man of no great learning, but of an excellent natural wit and eloquence, and full of craft and subtlety, by means whereof, he was so proud and glorious, that he contemned all men in respect of him self, and disdained the old writers, thinking him self more wise then they all. Now let the indifferent Reader Judge, whom he thinketh in this your illusion should most resemble the qualities and conditions of Nestorius.
In the end you compare Nestorius and Cyrill togethers, alludyng (as it seemeth) to this contention betwene you and me,1 which comparison if it be throughly considered, hath no small resemblance, although there be no litle diuersitie also. Nestorius (say you) was a great archebishop, and so (say I) was Ciril also. Nestorius (say you) as apeareth had much learnyng, but cloked his heresie craftily. But the Histories of his tyme (who should know him best) describe him in this sorte, that he was a man of no great learnyng, but of an excellent naturall witte and eloquence, and full of craft and subtiltie, by meanes wherof, he was so proude and glorious, that he contemned all men in respect of him selfe, and disdained the old writers, thinkyng him selfe more wise then they all. Now let the indifferent Reader Iudge, whom he thinketh in this your illusion should most resemble the qualities and conditions of Nestorius.