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 aunswere.

The Apostles in that Counsaile, made not a perpetuall lawe, to binde any man∣nes conscience, but onely a temporall de∣cree, to auoide offence of the weake Ie∣wes: who were accustomed to abstaine from suche thinges, and this decree, as oc∣casion serued, was broken, and altered. But where you saie, wee can admitte no fastyng from meates, and drinkes, at all. You shall vnderstande, that we compte it no fastyng, to abstaine from one kinde of meate, and to fille your beallie with an o∣ther kinde, as to refraine fleshe, and to

glutte your stomack with fishe. Or as the Maniches abstained from liuyng creatu∣res, and riotted in fruictes, spices, and de∣licate confections. Neither did the Apo∣stles, by that decree commaunde any fa∣styng, but onely abstinence from bloode, and strangled beastes, whiche was offen∣siue to the Iewes. And for suche ende of auoidyng offences, or for ciuile pollicie, we can, and doe admitte abstinence, from some kindes of meates, and drinkes, but not for Religions sake, neither accoump∣tyng any suche abstinence to bee fastyng. But true fastyng, to tame the bodie, and to bryng it into subiection, to humble our selues, to make vs more apte to praie, we commende, and exhorte menne vnto it, although we make no tyrannicall lawes, to entangle any mannes conscience with all. Your féeble kinde of reasonyng, should not incurre so greate reprehension, if you had not as well in your title, as in youre conclusion, made so bolde bragges, of your plaine proofes, whiche be so plaine in dede that euery manne maie see, thei haue no force at all in theim. And whereas you threaten to shewe, that wée dooe all thyn∣ges,

contrary to the primitiue Churche, you doe well to sate, it shall bée performed in suche sorte, as you haue proued already, that wee haue none agreaunce with the same. For he that hath experience, howe pithely you haue reasoned out of the scrip∣tures, can not but hope, that you will di∣spute, euen as profoundly out of the Doc∣tours.