[2 ol. ὩΣ Bu ΙΝ]
[AN ^ i” n? “LABES YS se dos b.]
js CRAFTY AND SOPHISTICAL CAVILLATION, 4 DEVISED BY
Sephen Gardiner, Doctor of Law, Late Bishop of Winchester
ih AGAINST THE TRUE AND GODLY DOCTRINE OF THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OUR SAVIOUR CHRIST (CALLED BY HIM 1 “AN EXPLICATION AND ASSERTION THEREOF”), WITH AN ANSWER E UNTO THE SAME, MADE BY THE MOST REVEREND FATHER
In God, Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury,,! Primate of All England and Metropolitan. The Title of the Book of Stephen Gardiner
Εἰ LATE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER: i AN EXPLICATION AND ASSERTION OF THE TRUE CATHOLIC FAITH, TOUCHING THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR,
With Confutation of a Book Written Against the Same.!
i THE ANSWER OF THOMAS ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, &ch Here before the beginning of your book you have prefixed a goodly title; but it ——agreeth with the argument and matter thereof, as water agreeth with the fire. For your book is so far from an explication and assertion of the true catholic faith in the matter of the sacrament, that it is but a crafty cavillation and subtle sophistication, to obscure the truth thereof, and to hide the same, that it should not appear. And in 1 -your whole book, the reader (if he mark it well) shall easily perceive, how little learning — is shewed therein, and how few authors you have alleged, other than such as I brought — forth in my book, and made answer unto: but there is shewed what may be done by — fine wit and new devices to deceive the reader, and by false interpretations to avoid the plain words of scripture and of the old authors.
Wherefore, inasmuch as I purpose, God willing, in this defence of my former book, mot only to answer you, but by the way also to touch D. Smith? two things I would wish in you both: the one is truth with simplicity; the other is, that either of you both had so much learning as you think you have, or else that you thought of yourself “o more than you have in deed. But to answer both your books in few words: the one sheweth nothing else, but what railing without reason or learning, the other what frowardness armed with wit and eloquencé, be able to do against the truth. And Smith, because he would be vehement, and shew his heat in the manner of speech, here the matter is cold, hath framed in a manner all his sentences throughout his whole book by interrogations. But if the reader of both your books do no more, but diligently read over my book once again, he shall find the same not so slenderly made, ——but that I have foreseen all that could be said to the contrary; and that I have fully answered beforehand all that you both have said, or is able to say.
[d PD Made by Stephen, bishop of Winchester, — [? Dr Smith’s book was set forth under this]
[and exhibited by his own hand for his defence to title: “A confutation of the true and Catholic]
[the King’s Majesty’s Commissioners at Lambeth.”’ Doctrine, &c.”—Strype, Memorials of Cranmer. p.]
[Original edition. ] 1089. Oxford edition, 1840. App. Ixi. p. 900.]]
WINCHESTER. 3 Forasmuch as among other mine allegations for defence of myself in this matter, moved against me by occasion of my sermon! made before the king’s most excellent majesty, touching — partly the catholic faith of the most precious sacrament of the altar, which I see now impugned by a book set forth under the name of my lord of Canterbury’s grace; I have thought — - expedient for the better opening of the matter, and considering I am by name touched in the — Said book, the rather to utter partly that I have to say by confutation of that book; wherein — - ra I think nevertheless mot requisite to direct any speech by special name to the person of him 1 thot is entitled author, because it may possibly be that his name is abused, wherewith to set. forth the matter, being himself of such dignity and authority in the commonwealth, as for that respect should be inviolable. For which consideration, I shall in my speech of such reproof as the untruth of the matter necessarily requireth, omitting the special title of the author of the book, speak only of the author in general, being a thing to me greatly to be marvelled at, that such matter should now be published out of my lord of Canterbury’s pen; but because he is a man, I will not wonder, and because he is such a man, I will reverently use him, and forbearing further to name him, talk only of the author by that general name.