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.

Our sauiour Christ, commaundeth vs to Baptise, in the name of the Father, and of the Soonne, and of the holie Ghoste,

whiche, whether it bée by dippyng the bo∣die into the water, or by powryng water vpon the bodie, the misticall signification of washyng, is sufficiently expressed, and so longe the Baptisme is right, as for the nōber of dippinges, is nothyng materiall. We read in the scriptures, diuers formes of washing. The Eunuche, was Baptised by Philip, goyng in naked into a Riuer or Brooke. And so Baptised Ihon in Iordan. Other that were Baptised in their hou∣ses, it is moste like that water was pow∣red on them, as Cornelius, and them that were with hym. And the keper of the pri∣son, with his housholde. Actes. xvj. And as for the Ceremonie of thrise dippyng, al∣though it was vsed of many, to signifie the Trinitie, yet was it not generall, nor of any necessitie. For in the fowerth Coun∣saile of Toledo, it was determined, that all was one, whether a childe were Bap∣tized with three dippynges, or with one, alone. And yet it was there decreed, vpon a good consideration, that in Spaine thei should vse but one dippyng. The woordes are these, in the fowerth Counsaile Tole∣tane, and the fiueth Canone. Ne tamen hae∣reticis

videamur consentire, qui tertio mergum, dum eorum morem seruamus, cautum est ne in Hispaenia, fiat baptismus, nisi in vna mersione. that is to saie. Least we should seme to a∣gree with heretikes, whiche vse to dippe thrise, while wee reteine their maner of baptisyng, it is decreed, that no Baptisme in Spaine, bee ministered but with one onely dippyng. In this decree of the Coū∣saile, twoo thynges especially are to bee noted. Firste, that the three dippynges was not alwaies, and in all places obser∣ued, as a necessarie matter: and therefore your argumente is fallen to the grounde, Secondely, that it is profitable to alter, and chaunge suche Ceremoeies, as are v∣sed of heretikes, that wee seme not to a∣gree with theim in any thyng, in whiche it is lawful for vs to disagree. And for this consideration, doe we refuse to dip thrise, because we would not seme to agrée with you, whiche are heretikes, although wee acknowledge, that of it self, it is a thyng indifferente, to dippe twise, or thrise, or ones, or not at al to dip, but onely to poure on water, in signe of that spirituall ablu∣tion, whiche is represented by that Sa∣cramente

of Baptisme. Wherefore, you haue a verie quicke sight, that can espie a knotte in a Rushe, and of so small a gnat, to make so great an Elephante, as though all Christianitie stoode in thrise dippyng of a child in Baptisme, whiche I haue pro∣ued not onely, not to haue been alwaies obserued, but also by decree of a Counsaill to haue been expressely forbidden. Which Ceremonie, although it bee noumbred e∣mong the canons, commonly called of the Apostles, yet hath he a meane iudgement in antiquitie, that can not descerne theim from Apostolike writynges. But because you bryng in the Tradition of the Apo∣stles, you muste nedes giue me leaue, to presse you, with the same aucthoritie, and to shewe that you your self, obserue not the Traditions of the Apostles. In the vj. Canon of the Apostles, it is commaunded that no Bishoppe, Prieste, nor Deacon, shall put awaie his wife, vnder colour of religion, and thei that doe so shall be exco∣municate. And in the ninthe, and tenthe Canons it is decreed, that whosoeuer is presente at the Communion, and dooeth not communicate, that he should bee ex∣communicate.

How these Canons of the Apostles (if you will needes haue them so called) be obserued in your Popishe Cler∣gie, and your priuate Masse, what nede I to rehearse? And yet you agree with the primitiue Churche in all thynges, and we haue none agreaunce therewith at all.