A19563:2428
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.
First, because I am by an Oath bound never to consent to the receiving of the Bishop of Romes authority into this Realm. Besides this, whereas I utterly refused to make answer to the Articles objected unto me, by the Bishop of Gloucester appointed by the Pope to be my Judge, yet I was content to answer Martin and Story, with this Protestation, that mine answer should not be taken as made before a Judge, nor yet in place of Judgement, but as pertaining nothing to Judgement at all: and moreover after I had made mine answer I required to have a Copy of the same, that I might, either by adding thereunto, by altering or taking from it; correct and amend it, as I thought good. The which though both the Bishop of Gloucester and also the king and Queens proctors promised me, yet have they altogether broken promise with me, and have not permitted me to correct my said answers according to my request, and yet notwithstanding have (as I understand) Registered the same as acts formally done in place of judgement.
First, because I am by an Othe bound neuer to consent to the receiuyng of the Byshop of Romes authoritie into this Realme. Besides this, whereas I vtterly refused to make aunswere to the Articles obiected vnto me, by the Byshop of Gloucester appointed by the Pope to be my Iudge, yet I was content to aunswere Martin and Story, with this Protestation, that myne aunswere should not be taken as made before a Iudge, nor yet in place of Iudgement, but as pertainyng nothyng to Iudgement at all: and moreouer after I had made myne aunswere I required to haue a Copy of the same, that I might, either by addyng thereunto, by alteryng or takyng from it; correct and amend it, as I thought good. The which though both the Byshop of Gloucester and also the kyng and Queenes proctors promised me, yet haue they altogether brokē promise with me, and haue not permitted me to correct my sayd aunsweres accordyng to my request, and yet notwithstandyng haue (as I vnderstand) Registred the same as actes formally done in place of iudgement.
Finally, forasmuch as all this my trouble cometh upon my departing from the Bishop of Rome, and from the popish Religion, so that now the quarrel is betwixt the Pope him self and me, and no man can be a lawful and indifferent Judge in his own cause: it seemeth (me think) good reason that I should be suffered to Appeal to some general Council in this matter: specially seeing the law of nature (as they say) denieth no man, the remedy of Appeal in such cases. Now, since it is very requisite that this matter should be kept as close as may be, if perhaps for lack of perfect skill herein, you shall have need of further advise: then I beseech you, even for the fidelity and love you bear to me in Christ, that you will open to no creature alive whose the case is. And forasmuch as the time is now at hand, and the matter requireth great expedition, let me obtain this much of you, I beseech you, that laying aside all other your studies and business for the time, you will apply this my matter only till you have brought it to pass.