A19563:2408
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.
Moreover as the pope taketh upon him to give the temporal sword, or royal and imperial power to kings and princes: so doth he likewise take upon him to depose them from their imperial states, if they be disobedient to him, and commandeth the subjects to disobey their princes, assoiling the subjects aswell of their obedience, as of their lawful oaths made unto their true Kings and princes directly contrary to Gods commandment, who commandeth all subjects to obey their kings or other rulers under them. One John Patriarch of Constantinople in the time of S. Gregory, claimed superiority above all other bishops, to whom S. Gregory writeth, that therein he did injury to his iii. brethren which were equal with him, that is to say, the bishop of Rome, of Alexandria, and of Antiochia, which iii. were Patriarchal seas, aswell as Constantinople, and were brethren one to an other. But saith S. Gregory, if any one shall exalt himself above all the rest to be the universal Bishop, the same passeth in pride: but now the bishop of Rome exalteth himself not only above all Bishops, but also above all Kings and Emperors, and above the whole world, taking upon him to give and take away, to set up and put down, as he shall think good. And as the devil having no such authority, yet took upon him to give unto Christ all the kingdoms of the world,1 if he would fall down and worship him, in like manner the Pope taketh upon him to give Empires and Kingdoms being none of his, to such as will fall down and worship him and kiss his feet. And moreover his Lawyers and glossers so flatter him, that they say he may command Emperors and Kings to hold his stirrup, when he lighteth upon his horse and to be his footmen, and that if any Emperor or King give him any thing, they give him nothing but that is his own, and that he may dispense against Gods word, against the old and new Testament, against S. Pauls Epistles and against the Gospel.
Moreouer as the pope taketh vpon him to geue the temporall sword, or royall and imperiall power to kinges and princes: so doth he likewise take vpon him to depose them frō their imperiall states, if they be disobedient to him, and commaundeth the subiectes to disobay their princes, assoyling the subiects aswell of their obedience, as of their lawfull othes made vnto their true Kinges and princes directly contrary to Gods commaundement, who commaundeth all subiectes to obay their kinges or other rulers vnder them. One Iohn Patriarche of Constātinople in the time of S. Gregory, claymed superiority aboue all other bishops, to whom S. Gregory writeth, that therein he did iniury to his iii. brethren which were equall with him, that is to say, the bishop of Rome, of Alexandria, and of Antiochia, which iii. were Patriarchall seas, aswell as Constantinople, and were brethren one to an other. But sayth S. Gregory, if any one shall exalt himselfe aboue all the rest to be the vniuersall Byshop, the same passeth in pride: but now the bishop of Rome exalteth himselfe not onely aboue all Byshops, but also aboue all Kinges and Emperours, and aboue the whole world, taking vpon him to geue and take away, to set vp and put downe, as he shall thinke good. And as the deuill hauing no such authority, yet tooke vpon him to geue vnto Christ all the kingdomes of the world,