A19563:1937
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 if the rude and simple people understand not substance from accidents (as you here affirm) then this thing they may at the least wise understand, how little they be beholden to you Papists, that would bind them to believe, under peril of damnation, such things as they be not able to understand, making articles of their faith, to snare them rather than to save them. But what skilleth that to the Papists, how many men perish,1 which seek nothing else but the advancement of their Pope, whom they say no man can find fault withal. For though he neither care for his own souls health, nor of his christen brother, but draw innumerable people captive with him into hell, yet (say the Papists) no man may reprehend him, nor ask the question why he so doth.
And if the rude and simple people vnderstand not substaunce from accidentes (as you here affirme) then this thing they may at the least wise vnderstand, how little they be beholden to you Papysts, that would bynd them to beleue, vnder perill of damnation, such thinges as they bee not able to vnderstand, making articles of theyr fayth, to snare them rather thē to saue them. But what skilleth that to the Papistes, how many men perish,1 which seeke nothing elles but the aduaūcement of their Pope, whom they say no man can finde fault withall. For though he neither care for his own soules health, nor of his christen brother, but draw innumerable people captiue with him into hell, yet (say the Papistes) no man may reprehēd him, nor aske the question why he so doth.
- 1Distin. 40. Si Papa.
1And where you speak of the soberness and devotion of the school authors (whom before you noted for boasters) what soberness and devotion was in them (being all in manner monks and fryers) they that be exercised in them do know, whereof you be none. For the devotion that they had, was to their God that created them (which was their Pope) by contention, sophistication, and all subtle means they could devise by their wit or learning, to confirm and establish whatsoever oracle came out of their Gods mouth. They set up their Antichrist directly against Christ, and yet under pretence of Christ, made him his vicar general, giving him power in heaven, earth and in hell. And is not then the doctrine of Transubstantiation, and of the real and sensual presence of Christ in the sacrament, to be believed (trow you) seeing that it came out of such a gods mouth, & was set abroad by so many of his Angels?