A19563:2415
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.
This was written in an other Letter to the Queen.
This was written in an other Letter to the Queene.
I Learned by Doct. Martin, that at the day of your Majesties Coronation, you took an oath of obedience to the Pope of Rome, and the same time you took an other oath to this Realm to maintain the laws, liberties & customs of the same. And if your Majesty did make an oath to the Pope; I think it was according to the other oaths, which he useth to minister to Princes, which is to be obedient to him, to defend his person, to maintain his authority, honour, laws, lands, and privileges. And if it be so, then I beseech your Majesty to look upon your oath made to the crown and the Realm, and to expend and way the two oaths together, to see how they agree, and then to do as your graces con science shall give you, for I am surely persuaded that willingly your Majesty will not offend, nor do against your conscience for nothing. But I fear me there be contradiction in your oaths, and that those which should have informed your grace throughly, did not their duties therein. And if your Majesty ponder the two oaths diligently. I think you shall perceive that you were deceived, and then your highness may use the matter as God shall put in your hart. Furthermore I am kept here from company of learned men, from books, from counsel, from pen and ink, saving at this time to write to your Majesty, which all were necessary for a man in my case. Wherefore I beseech your Majesty that I may have such of these as may stand with your Majesties pleasure. And as for mine appearance at Rome, if your Majesty will give me leave I will appear there, and I trust that God shall put in my mouth to defend his truth there, aswell as here, but I refer it wholly to your Majesties pleasure.
I Learned by Doct. Martin, that at the day of your Maiesties Coronation, you tooke an othe of obedience to the Pope of Rome, and the same tyme you tooke an other othe to this Realme to maintaine the lawes, liberties & customes of the same. And if your Maiestie did make an othe to the Pope; I thinke it was accordyng to the other othes, which he vseth to minister to Princes, which is to be obedient to him, to defend his person, to maintaine his authoritie, honour, lawes, landes, and priuileges. And if it be so, then I beseech your Maiestie to looke vpon your othe made to the crowne and the Realme, and to expēd and way the two othes together, to see how they agree, and then to do as your graces cō science shall geue you, for I am surely perswaded that willyngly your Maiestie will not offend, nor do agaynst your conscience for nothyng. But I feare me there be contradiction in your othes, and that those which should haue enformed your grace throughly, did not their dueties therein. And if your Maiestie ponder the two othes diligently. I thinke you shall perceaue that you were deceaued, and then your highnes may vse the matter as God shall put in your hart. Furthermore I am kept here from company of learned men, from bookes, from counsell, from penne and incke, sauyng at this tyme to write to your Maiestie, which all were necessary for a man in my case. Wherfore I beseech your Maiestie that I may haue such of these as may stand with your Maiesties pleasure. And as for myne appearaunce at Rome, if your Maiestie will geue me leaue I will appeare there, and I trust that God shall put in my mouth to defend his truth there, aswell as here, but I referre it wholly to your Maiesties pleasure.