A19563:50
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.
Now as concerning his behaviour and trade of life towards God and the world, being entered into his said dignity: True it is, that he was so throughly furnished withal properties, qualities, and conditions belonging to a true Bishop, as that it shall be very hard in these strange days to find many,1 that so nearly resemble that lively exemplar described by S. Paul the Apostle in his several Epistles to Titus and Timothy. So far he swerved from the common course of common Bishops in his time. But because the same is very well deciphered in the story at large, it shall not be so needful to discourse all the parts thereof in this place. Yet may not this be forgotten. That notwithstanding the great charge now committed unto him: The worthy Prelate gave him self evermore to continual study,2 not breaking the order that he used commonly in the University. To wit by v. of the clock in the morning in his study, and so until ix. continuing in prayer and study. From thence until diner time to hear suitors (if the Princes affairs did not call him away) committing his temporal affairs aswell of household as other foreign business to his officers. For the most part he would occupy him self in reformation of corrupt Religion, and setting forth true and sincere doctrine, wherein he would associate him self always with learned men, for the sifting & bolting out one matter or other for the commodity and profit of the Church of England. After dinner if any suitors were, he would diligently hear them and dispatch them: in such sort as every man commended his lenity and gentleness. That done to his ordinary study again until five of the clock, which hour he bestowed in hearing common prayer. After Supper he would consume an hour at the least in some godly conference, and then again until it. of the clock at one kind of study or other. So that no hour of the day was spent in vain, but was bestowed as tended to Gods glory, the ⟨image 7⟩service of his Prince, or the commodity of the Church.
Now as concernyng his behauiour and trade of lyfe towardes God and the world, beyng entered into his sayd dignitie: True it is, that he was so throughly furnished withall properties, qualities, and conditions belongyng to a true Byshop, as that it shalbe very hard in these straunge dayes to finde many,