A19563:679
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.
1Now forasmuch as all their proof hangeth only upon these words, this is my body: the true sense and meaning of these words must be examined. But (say they) what need they any examination? what words can be more plain, then to say: This is my body.
1Now forasmuch as all their proofe hangeth onely vpon these wordes, this is my body: the true sence and meaning of these wordes must be examined. But (say they) what neede they any examination? what wordes can be more plain, then to say: This is my body.
- 1The answer.The aunswere.
1Truth it is in deed that the words be as plain as may be spoken, but that the sense is not so plain, it is manifest to every man that wayeth substantially the circumstances of the place. For when Christ gave bread to his disciples and said: This is my body. there is no man of any discretion, that understandeth the english tongue, but he may well know by the order of the speech, that Christ spake those words of the bread, calling it his body: as all the old authors also do affirm, although some of the Papists deny the same. Wherefore this sentence can not mean as the words seem and purport, but there must needs be some figure or mystery in this speech, more then appeareth in the plain words. For by this manner of speech plainly understand without any figure, as the words lye, can be gathered none other sense, but that bread is Christs body, and that Christs body is bread, which all Christian ears do abhor to hear. Wherefore in these words must needs be sought out another sense & meaning then the words of themselves do bear.
1Truth it is in deed that the wordes be as plain as may be spoaken, but that the sence is not so plain, it is manifest to euery man that wayeth substantially the circumstances of the place. For when Christ gaue bread to his disciples and said: This is my body. there is no man of any discretiō, that vnderstandeth the english tongue, but he may well know by the order of the speache, that Christ spake those wordes of the bread, callyng it his body: as all the old authors also do affirme, although some of the Papistes deny the same. Wherfore this sentence can not meane as the wordes seeme and purport, but there must needes be some figure or mistery in this speech, more then appeareth in the playne wordes. For by this manner of speeche plainly vnderstand without any figure, as the wordes lye, can be gathered none other sence, but that bread is Christes body, and that Christes body is bread, which all Christian eares do abhorre to heare. Wherefore in these wordes must needes be sought out another sence & meaning then the words of themselues do beare.