Disputation at Oxford betweene D. Smith, with his other Colleagues and Doctors, and Bishop Ridley. Aprill. 17.
* 1.1THe next day folowing which was the 17. of April, was brought forth D. Ridley to dispute, against whom was set D. Smith to be principall opponent. Touching whych D. Smith,* 1.2 for so much as mention heere happeneth of hys name, first the reader is to be aduertised what is to be at∣tributed to his iudgement in religion, which so oftentimes before hath turned and returned to and froe, grounded (as it seemeth) vpon no firme conscience of doctrine, as both by hys articles by him recanted may appeare, and also by hys owne letter sent a little before in king Edwardes dayes to the Archbishop of Caunterbury from Scotlande. Which letter I thought heere to exhibite as a certaine Preface be∣fore his own arguments, or rather as a testimonie against him selfe, whereby ye reader may vnderstand how deuout∣ly he magnified them, and their doctrine a little before, a∣gaynst whome he nowe disputeth so busely. Reade (I be∣seeche thee, his Epistle, and iudge.
The true copie of a certaine Epistle of Doctor Rich. Smith, declaring his affection to the setting forth of Gods sincere woorde.
MOst honorable, I commend me vnto your Lordship, doing the same to vnderstand,* 2.1 that I wrote letters to your grace in Ianuarye last, and the 10. day of Februarie, declaring the causes of my sodaine & vnaduised departyng from your grace ouer the sea, and desiring your good lord∣ship of your charitye towarde them that repent of theyr ill Acts, to forgeue me your selfe all that wrōg I did towards your grace, and to obtaine in wryting the kings maiesties pardon for me in all poyntes concerning his lawes:* 2.2 vpon the receit wherof I would returne againe home, & wyth∣in halfe a yeare (at the vttermost) afterwarde wryte, de Sa∣cerdotum connubijs. &c. a Latine booke that should be a iust satisfaction for any thing that I haue wrytten agaynste the same. Reliqua què omnia dogmata vestra, tum demum libenter amplexurum, vbi Deus mentem meam, vt ea citra cōscientiae lae∣sionem agnoscam, doceamquè. I wrote not this that I want any good liuing heere, but because mine absence oute of the realme, is dishonour to the Kings highnes and Realme, and because I must needes (if I tarie heere a quarter of a yeare longer) wryte an aunsweare to your Graces booke of the Sacramente, and also a Booke of common places a∣gainst all the doctrine sette foorth by the kinges Maiestie, which I cannot do wyth good conscience. Wherefore I be∣seeche your Grace helpe me home, assoone as yee may con∣ueniently for Gods sake, and ye shal neuer I trust in God repent that facte.
Ex vrbe diui Andreae 14. Feb.
Richardus Smithaeus.
And thus much touching the forenamed Doctor Rich. Smith, being set heere (as is sayde) to dispute against By∣shop Ridly,* 2.3 who was brought now ye next day after to the Archb. to aunswer in the diuinitie schoole. Against whome also besides D. Smith disputed, D. Weston, D. Tresham, D. Oglethorpe, D. Glin, D. Seton, D. Cole, M. Warde, M. Harpsfielde, D. Watson, M. Pye, M. Hardinge, M. Curtop, M. Fecknam. To all them hee aunsweared very learnedly. Hee made a preface to these questions, but they woulde not let him goe forth in it, but caused him to make an end of the same, and sayde it was blasphemie, and some saide he droue of the time in ambiguous things, nothing to the purpose, & so they wold not suffer him to say his mind. D. Smith coulde get nothing at his hand: in so muche that other did take his argumēts and prosecuted them. He she∣wed himselfe to be learned, & a great clearke. They coulde bring nothing, but he knew it as well as they.