A defense of the sincere and true translations of the holie Scriptures into the English tong against the manifolde cauils, friuolous quarels, and impudent slaunders of Gregorie Martin, one of the readers of popish diuinitie in the trayterous Seminarie of Rhemes. By William Fvlke D. in Diuinitie, and M. of Pembroke haule in Cambridge. Wherevnto is added a briefe confutation of all such quarrels & cauils, as haue bene of late vttered by diuerse papistes in their English pamphlets, against the writings of the saide William Fvlke.

FVLK. 3. We expound not the Scriptures after our owne priuate conceite, and fantasie: but as neere as God

giueth vs grace, according to the plaine and natural sense of the same, agreable vnto the rule or proportiō of faith, which bene approued by the auncient fathers, and Ca∣tholike church of Christ, in al matters necessarie to eter∣nall saluation. Not bringing a newe and straunge sense which is without the Scriptures, to seeke confirmation thereof in the Scriptures (as the manner of heretikes is rightly noted by Clemens) but out of the Scriptures thē∣selues seeke we the exposition of such obscure places as we find in them, being perswaded with S. Augustine, that nothing in a manner is founde out of those obscure and darke places, which may not be found to be most plaine ly spoken in other places. And as for the approued sense of the holy auncient Fathers, and Catholike Church of the eldest and purest times, if the Papists durst stand vnto it, for the deciding of many of the most waightie con∣trouersies, that are betweene vs, there is no doubte, but▪ they should soone and easily be determined, as hath bene shewed in diuerse and many treatises, written a∣gainst them. In which if any thing bee brought, so plainely expounding the Scripture against their popish heresies, as nothing can be more expresse nor cleare, then they are driuen to seeke newe and monstrous ex∣positions of those Fathers interpretations: or else they answere, they are but those Fathers priuate expositions, appealing to the Catholike churches interpretation, which is nothing else but their owne priuate conceipte and fansie, hauing no recorde to proue that Catholike Churches interpretation, but the present hereticall opi∣nions, of this late degenerated Antichristian congregati∣on. And whē they haue discoursed neuer so much of the Catholike churches interpretation, they reduce and sub∣mitte all mens iudgements to the determinatiō of their Councels, & the decrees of the Councels to the appro∣bation of their Pope, which as he is oftentimes a wicked man of life: so is he ignorant and vnlearned in the Scri∣ptures, to whose most priuate cēsure, the holy Scriptures

themselues, and al sense and exposition of them is made subiect, vnder colour that Christ praying for Peter, that his faith should not fayle in temptation, gaue all Popes suche a prerogatiue, that they could not erre in faith▪ though they were wicked of life, voyde of lear∣ning, ignorant in the Scriptures, destitute of the spirite of God, as is proued moste inuincibly by example of diuerse Popes, that haue bene heretikes, and maintey∣ners of such errours, as are not now in controuersie be∣tweene vs (least they should say we begge the principle) but of the secte of the Arrians, Monothelites, Eutychi∣ans, Saduces, and such other.