A confutation of a popishe, and sclaunderous libelle in forme of an apologie: geuen out into the courte, and spread abrode in diuerse other places of the realme. VVritten by VVilliam Fulke, Bacheler in Diuinitie, and felowe of S. Ihons Colledge in Cambridge.

The Papiste.

My poore witte, learnyng, and conscience being fully perswaded, that al the premises, be of suche truthe, and veritie, as I haue expres∣sed. I thought it good to make declaratiō ther of chiefly for discharge of cōscience, and part∣ly to meete with this common obiectiō, that we haue nothyng to saie, but stande wholie vpon a wilfull frowardnesse, obstinacie, and vainglory, hauing neither scripture, doctour, argument nor reason to alledge, for the de∣fence of the matter, that wee stande in. And for some triall to be made of my fidelitie, and truth, in the allegatiōs of the premisses, I doe offer my self to turne the bookes of the scri∣ptures, doctours, and holy fathers, whē wher, and before whom I shall bee called. And by the bokes beeyng indifferently redde, iudge betwixte vs. Doubtlesse this is the whole de∣sire, and intente I had in the writing hereof, &

not any other desire, I had of liberty, enlarge∣mente, or heare to liue. For what desire should a christian man haue, to liue in that Realme, that sleaeth them that would their wealth, and is angrie with them that would helpe their e∣uilles, what desire should a christen man haue, to liue in that realme, that setteth naught by, and destroyeth, those that dooe watche, and praie to doe good, and setteth by those, that do watch, and trauaile for to doe euill? VVho would desire to liue in suche a Realme, where the Elders, and aunciente menne thereof, the wise, godly, and verteous, doe liue disconten∣ted, and wheras the youth, witlesse, gracelesse, and vitious, doe liue best contented, and plea∣sed? who would desire to liue in that Realme, where suche vices are of subiectes openly cō∣mitted, whiche in all other Christian realmes thei feare to doe in secrete? and where all that thei desire, thei procure, and all that thei pro∣cure, thei doe attaine, and all that is euill, thei thinke, and all that thei thinke, thei saie, and all that thei saie, thei maie dooe, and that that thei may dooe, thei dare do, and putte in ope∣ration. And therfore, I can haue by no righte reason, any desire of enlargemente of libertie, or yet hope any while to liue.