A19563:2429
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.
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.
Finally, forasmuch as all this my trouble commeth vpon my departyng from the Byshop of Rome, and from the popish Religion, so that now the quarell is betwixt the Pope him selfe and me, and no man can be a lawfull and indifferent Iudge in his owne cause: it seemeth (me thinke) good reason that I should be suffered to Appeale to some generall Councell in this matter: specially seyng the law of nature (as they say) denieth no man, the remedy of Appeale in such cases. Now, since it is very requisite that this matter should be kept as close as may be, if perhaps for lacke of perfect skill herein, you shall haue neede of further aduise: then I beseech you, euen for the fidelity and loue you beare to me in Christ, that you will open to no creature aliue whose the case is. And for asmuch as the tyme is now at hand, and the matter requireth great expedition, let me obtaine this much of you, I beseech you, that laying aside all other your studies and businesse for the tyme, you will apply this my matter onely till you haue brought it to passe.
The chiefest cause in very deed (to tell you the truth) of this mine Appeal is, that I might gain time (if it shall so please God) to live until I have finished mine answer against Marcus Antonius Constantius,