A19563:52
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.
Here is to be noted, that this mans stout and godly defence of the truth herein, so bound the Princes conscience, that he would not permit the truth in that man to be clean overthrown with authority and power, and therefore this way God working in the Princes mind, a plain token was declared hereby that all things were not so sincerely handled in the confirmation of the said vi. Articles, as it ought to have been, for else the Prince might have had just cause to have borne his great indignation towards the Archbishop.1 Let us pray that both the like stoutness may be perceived in all Ecclesiastical and learned men where the truth ought to be defended, and also the like relenting and flexibility may take place in Princes and Noble men, when they shall have occasion offered them to maintain the same, so that they utterly overwhelm not the truth by self will, power, and authority. Now in the end this Archbishops constancy was such towards Gods cause, that he confirmed all his doings by bitter death in the fire, with out respect of any worldly treasure or pleasure. And as touching his stoutness in his Princes cause, the contrary resistance of the Duke of Northumberland against him proved right well his good mind that way:2 which chanced by reason that he would not consent to the dissolving of Chantries until the king came of age, to the intent that they might then better serve to furnish his royal estate, then to have so great treasure consumed in his nonage. Which his stoutness joined with such simplicity, surely was thought to divers of the Counsel, a thing incredible, specially in such sort to contend with him who was so accounted in this Realm, as few or none would or durst gaynstand him.
Here is to be noted, that this mans stoute and godly defence of the truth herein, so bound the Princes cōscience, that he would not permit the truth in that man to be cleane ouerthrowen with authoritie and power, and therfore this way God workyng in the Princes mynde, a playne token was declared hereby that all thyngs were not so sincerely handled in the confirmation of the sayd vi. Articles, as it ought to haue bene, for els the Prince might haue had iust cause to haue borne his great indignation towardes the Archbyshop.1 Let vs pray that both the like stoutnes may be perceiued in all Ecclesiasticall and learned men where the truth ought to be defended, and also the like relentyng and flexibilitie may take place in Princes and Noble men, when they shall haue occasion offered them to maintaine the same, so that they vtterly ouerwhelme not the truth by selfe will, power, and authoritie. Now in the end this Archbyshops constancie was such towardes Gods cause, that he confirmed all his doynges by bitter death in the fire, with out respect of any worldly treasure or pleasure. And as touchyng his stoutnesse in his Princes cause, the contrary resistaunce of the Duke of Northumberland agaynst him proued right well his good minde that way: