A19563:89
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.
At which words when they saw the constantnesse of the man, they dismissed him, affirming they had no more at that present to say unto him, but that shortly he should hear further. The said Bishop declared afterward to one of Doct. Cranmers friends, that notwithstanding his attainder of treason, the Queens determination at that time was, that Cranmer should only have been deprived of his Archbishopric, and have had a sufficient living assigned him, upon his exhibiting of a true Inventory, with commandment to keep his house without meddling in matters of Religion. But how that was true, I have not to say. This is certain, that not long after this, he was sent unto the Tower, and soon after condemned of treason.1 Notwithstanding, the Queen when she could not honestly deny him his pardon, seeing all the rest were discharged, and specially seeing he last of all other subscribed to king Edwards request, & that against his own will, released to him his action of treason, and accused him only of heresy:2 which liked the Archbishop right well, and came to pass as he wished, because the cause was not now his own, but Christs, not the Queens, but the Churches. Thus stood the cause of Cranmer, till at length it was determined by the Queen and the Counsel, that he should be removed from the Tower where he was prisoner, to Oxford, there to dispute with the Doctors and Divines. And privily word was sent before to them of Oxford to prepare them selves, and make them ready to dispute. And although the Queen and the Bishops had concluded before what should become of him, yet it pleased them that the matter should be debated with Arguments, that under some honest show of disputation, the murder of the man might be covered.3 Neither could their hasty speed of revengement abide any long delay: and therefore in all hast he was carried to Oxford.
At whiche wordes when they saw the constantnesse of the man, they dismissed him, affirming they had no more at that present to say vnto him, but that shortly hee should heare further. The said Bishop declared afterward to one of Doct. Cranmers frendes, that notwithstāding his attainder of treason, the Quéenes determination at that time was, that Cranmer should onely haue bene depriued of his Archbishopricke, and haue had a sufficient liuing assigned him, vpon his exhibiting of a true Inuentorie, with commaundement to kéepe his house without medlyng in matters of Religion. But how that was true, I haue not to say. This is certaine, that not long after this, he was sent vnto the Tower, and soone after condemned of treason.