A CRAFTY AND SOPHISTICAL CAVILLATION DEVISED BY The title of the book of Steven Gardiner, late Bishop of AN EXPLICATION AND ASSERTION OF THE TRUE CATHOLIC FAITH, ALTAR, WITH CONFUTATION OF A BOOK WRITTEN AGAINST THE SAMES. The Answer of Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, &c. 1. HEKE before the beginning of your book, you have pre- BOOK ferred 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 a [To this title is added in the original edition of the Explication: "Made by Steven Byshop of Wynchester, and exhibited by his owne "hande for his defence to the Kynge's Majestie's Commissioners at "Lambeth." This public presentation took place on the 26th of January, 1551, and is thus described by Foxe. "The said Bishop. for part "of his proof of his matter justificatory, did exhibit and leave among "the articles of this cause, a certain book written and made by him, as he said, concerning his opinion and true belief of the sacrament of "the altar, and of the true catholic faith therein, for confutation, as he "affirmed, of my Lord of Canterbury's book, lately set forth upon the "said matter, and not provoking, as he said, the said judges presently to dispute thereupon, offered himself to be ready at the will and plea"sure of the judges, at any time and place convenient, and before a "due audience, by learning to defend the said book, which book he re"quired to be inserted among the articles of this cause, and a copy "thereof to be granted to him." Foxe, Acts and Monuments, p. 799. (edit. 1563.)] I. BOOK crafty cavillation and subtle sophistication to obscure the truth thereof, and to hide the same, that it should not appear. And in your whole book, the reader, if he mark it well, shall easily perceive how little learning is showed 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 showed 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. more Wherefore inasmuch as I purpose, God willing, in this defence of my former book, not only to answer you, but by the way also to touch Doctor Smythe, 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 yourselves no have in deed. But to answer both than books your you in few words: the one showeth nothing else, but what railing without reason or learning, the other, what frowardness armed with wit and eloquence, be able to do against the truth. And Smythe, because he would be vehement, and show his heat in the manner of speech, where 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. Winchester. FORASMUCH as amongst other mine allegations for defence of 1 myself in this matter, moved against me by occasion of my Ser b[Cranmer might well make this assertion, for most of the authorities alleged against him are to be found in his own common-place book still preserved in the British Museum, having been extracted by him, as is evident from some marginal notes, while he was still a believer in the Corporal Presence. Royal MSS. 7 B. xi. xii.] C [This Sermon was preached on the 29th of June, 1548, by command of the Council. The chief grounds of complaint against it were, that Gar I I. mon made before the King's most excellent Majesty, touching BOOK partly the catholic faith of the most precious sacrament of the 2 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 named touched in the said book, the rather to utter partly that I 3 have to say by confutation of that book; wherein I think nevertheless not requisite to direct any speech by special name to the person of him that is entitled author, because it may possibly be that his name is abused, wherewith to set forth the matter, being him- I would as much as self of such dignity and authority in the commonwealth, as for may be do that respect should be inviolable. For which consideration, I my due to shall in my speech of such reproof as the untruth of the matter and him necessarily requireth, omitting the special title of the author of also. the book, speak only of the author in general, being a thing to [1580.] 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. I Canterbury. the matter ter in the The first entry of your book showeth to them that be The craft wise, what they may look for in the rest of the same, except of Winchesthe beginning vary from all that followeth. Now the be- beginning. ginning is framed with such sleight and subtlety, that it may deceive the reader notably in two things. The one, that he should think you were called into judgment before the King's Majesty's Commissionerse at Lamhith for your catholic faith dyner had failed in his promise of declaring his concurrence in certain changes of religion, and in particular, that he had not asserted the authority of the King while under age. He was, however, charged also with having "declared divers judgments and opinions on the sacrament "of the altar, to the manifest contempt of his Highness's inhibition." See the articles and other proceedings against him in Foxe, vol. ii. p. 726, and Burnet, Ref. vol. ii. p. 340. vol. iii. p. 379. It must be recollected that the later editions of Foxe contain an abridgment only of Gardyner's trial. For a full account of it, the first edition of 1563 must be consulted. The Sermon, as collected by Udall, may be there seen at length, p. 771.] с [See Defence, &c. book. iii. chap. 8. vol. ii. p. 376.] [See the definitive sentence of these Commissioners in Foxe, vol. ii. p. 738. It was passed on the 18th of April, 1551, Burn. Ref. vol. ii. p. 340.] For BOOK in the sacrament: the other, that you made your book for your defence therein; which be both utterly untrue. your book was made or ever ye were called before the said Commissioners, and after you were called, then you altered only two lines in the beginning of your book, and made that beginning which it hath now. This am I able to prove, as well otherwise, as by a book which I have of your own handwriting, wherein appeareth plainly the alteration of the beginning. And as concerning the cause wherefore ye were called before the Commissioners, whereas by your own importune suit and procurement, and as it were enforcing the matter, you were called to justice for your manifest contempt and continual disobedience from time to time, or rather rebellion against the King's Majesty, and were justly deprived of your estate for the same, you would turn it now to a matter of the sacrament, that the world should think your trouble rose for your faith in the sacrament, which was no matter nor occasion thereof, nor no such matter was objected against you, wherefore you need to make any such defence. And where you would make that matter the occasion of your worthy deprivation and punishment, (which was no cause thereof,) and cloak your wilful obstinacy and disobedience, (which was the only cause thereof,) all men of judgment may well perceive, that you could mean no goodness thereby, neither to the King's Majesty, nor to his realm. But as touching the matter now in controversy, I impugn not the true catholic faith which was taught by Christ and his Apostles, as you say I do, but I impugn the false papistical faith invented, devised, and imagined by Antichrist and his ministers. And as for further forbearing of my name, and talking of 3 the author in general, after that you have named me once, and your whole book is directed against my book openly set out in my name, all men may judge that your doing herein is not for reverence to be used unto me, but that by suppressing of my name you may the more unreverently and unseemly use your scoffing, taunting, railing, and de 2 |