A19563:2164
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.
Do you not remember M. Smith the fable how the old crab rebuked her young, that they went not straight forth: and the common experience, that those that look a squint, sometimes find fault with them that look right? You have turned twice, & retracted your errors, and the third time promised, and breaking your promise ran away. And find you fault with me and M. Peter Martyr, as though we for mens pleasures turn like the wind, as we see advantage? Shall the weathercock of Pauls that turneth about with every wind, lay the fault in the church, & say that it turneth?
Do you not remember M. Smith the fable how the olde crab rebuked her young, that they went not straight forth: and the common experience, that those that look a squint, sometimes find fault with them yt look right? You haue turned twise, & retracted your errours, and the third time promised, and breaking your promise ran away. And find you fault with me and M. Peter Martyr, as though we for mens pleasures turne like the winde, as we see aduauntage? Shall the wethercocke of Paules that turneth about with euery wind, lay the fault in the church, & say yt it turneth?
I will not here answer for my self, but leave the judgement to God (who seeth the bottom of all mens hearts, and at whose only judgement I shall stand or fall) saving that this I will say before God (who is every where present, and knoweth all things that be done) that as for seeking to please men in this matter, I think my conscience clear, that I never sought herein but only the pleasure and glory of God. And yet will I not judge my self herein, nor take D. Smith for my judge, but will refer the judgement to him that is the rightful judge of all men. But as for D. Peter Martyr, hath he sought to please men for advantage? who having a great yearly revenue in his own country, forsook all for Christs sake, and for the truth and glory of God came into strange countries, where he had neither land nor friends, but as God of his goodness (who never forsaketh them that put their trust in him) provided for him.
I will not here aunswere for my selfe, but leaue the iudgement to God (who seeth the bottome of all mens hartes, and at whose onely iudgement I shall stand or fall) sauing that this I will say before God (who is euery where present, and knoweth all thinges that be done) that as for seeking to please men in this matter, I thinke my conscience cleare, that I neuer sought herein but onely the pleasure and glory of God. And yet will I not iudge my selfe herein, nor take D. Smith for my iudge, but will refer the iudgement to him that is the rightfull iudge of all men. But as for D. Peter Martyr, hath hee sought to please men for aduauntage? who hauing a great yearly reuenue in his owne countrey, forsooke all for Christes sake, and for the truth and glory of God came into straunge countries, wher he had neither land nor frendes, but as God of his goodnes (who neuer forsaketh them that put their trust in him) prouided for him.