A19563:2398
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.
1An other cause why I refused the popes authority is this, that his authority as he claimeth it, repugneth to the crown imperial of this realm and to the laws of the same, which every true subject is bound to defend. First for that the Pope saith, that all manner of power, aswell temporal as spiritual, is given first to him of God and that the temporal power he giveth unto Emperors and Kings to use it under him, but so as it be always at his commandment & beck. But contrary to this claim, the Imperial crown and jurisdiction temporal of this Realm, is taken immediately from God to be used under him only, and is subject unto none but to God alone.
1An other cause why I refused the popes authority is this, that his authority as he claimeth it, repugneth to the crowne imperiall of this realme and to the lawes of the same, which euery true subiect is bound to defend. Fyrst for that the Pope sayth, that all manner of power, aswell temporall as spirituall, is geuen first to him of God and that the temporall power he geueth vnto Emperours and Kinges to vse it vnder him, but so as it be alwayes at his cōmaundement & becke. But contrary to this clayme, the Emperial crowne and iurisdiction temporall of this Realme, is taken immediately from God to be vsed vnder him onely, and is subiect vnto none but to God alone.
- 1The second cause is for that ye Popes laws are contrary to the crown and laws of England.The second cause is for that ye Popes lawes are contrary to the crowne and lawes of England.
1Moreover the imperial laws and customs of this realm the king in his Coronation, and all Justices when they receive their offices, be sworn, and all the whole realm is bound to defend and maintain. But contrary hereunto the pope by his authority maketh void and commandeth to blot out of our books, all laws and customs being repugnant to his laws, and declareth accursed all rulers and governors, all the makers, writers, & executors of such laws or customs, as it appeareth by many of the Popes laws whereof one or two I shall rehearse. In the decrees, distin. x. is written thus: Constitution contra canons & decreta praesulum Romanorum vel bonos mores nullius sunt momenti. That is, the constitutions or statutes enacted against the Canons and decrees of the Bishops of Rome or their good customs are of none effect. Also, Extra de sententia excommunicationis, merit. Excommunicamus omnes hareticos utriusque sexus quocumque nomine censeantur, & fautors, & receptatores. & defensores eorum: nec non & qui de catero sernari fecerint statuta edita & consuetudines, contra ecclesia libertatem, nisiea de capitularibus suis intra duos menses post huiusmodi publicationem sentencia fecerint amoveri. Item excommunicamus statutarios, & scriptores statutorum ipsorum, nec non potestates, consules, rectors, & consiliarios locorum, ubi de catero huiusmodi statuta & consuetudines edita fuerint velseruatae, nec non & illos qui secundum ea praesumpserint judicarem, vel in publicam formam scribere judicata. That is to say, we excommunicate all heretics of both sexes, what name so ever they be called by and their favourers and receptors and defenders, and also them that shall hereafter cause to be observed, statutes and customs made against the liberty of the Church, except they cause the same to be put out of their books or records within two months after the publication of this sentence. Also we excommunicate the statute makers and writers of those statutes, and also the potestates consuls, governors and counsellors of places where such statutes and customs shall be made or kept, and also those that shall presume to give judgement according to them or put into public form of writing the manners so judged.