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.

Fulke.

WE haue also aunswered before, that words must not be alwaies translated, according to their originall and ge∣nerall signification, but according to such signification, as by vse they are ap∣propried to be taken. We agree also that words taken by custome of speech into an Ecclesiasticall meaning, are not to be altered in∣to a straunge or profane signification. For such vanities and nouelties of wordes, the Apostle prohibiteth, wher∣of the popish translatiō of the new Testament is fraught full. Notwithstanding our meaning is not, that if any Greeke termes, or words of any other language, haue of long time bene vsurped in our English language, the true vnderstanding of which is vnknowen at this day, to the common people: but that the same termes may be either in translation, or exposition, set out plainly, to en∣forme the simplicitie of the ignorant, by such wordes, as of them are better vnderstoode. Also when those termes are abused by custome of speech, to signifie some other thing, than they were first appointed for, or else be taken ambiguously for diuers things: we ought not to be su∣perstitious in these cases, but to auoide misvnderstan∣ding, we may vse words according to their originall sig∣nification, as they were taken in such time, as they were written by the instruments of the holy Ghost. As for ex∣ample, if a Bishop be mistaken by the people, either for such an idoll as the Papistes vsed to make of their S. Ni∣colas bishops, or else for a great Lord onely, that rideth about in a white rochet, they may be told, that the name of a Bishop describeth his office, that is, to be an ouer∣seer of the flocke of Christ, committed to his charge. Likewise if the word Deacon, be taken for such an one, as at a popish masse standeth in a disguised tunicle, hol∣ding

a patten, or some other Idolatrous bable vsed of them: the people must be taught, that this name signifi∣eth a minister, which was ordeined not to serue the Po∣pish altar, but the poore mens tables, that is, to prouide for the poore, and to see the Churches almes bestowed vpon them. Also if the name of Martyrs be not vnder∣stood, but taken onely for them that are tormented and rent in bodie, as the common speach is to say, of men & beasts, that they are martyred, whē their bodies are woū∣ded and mangled: here it is needefull to shewe, that the Saincts that suffered for Christe, had their name of their witnesse or testimonie, not of their paines & torments. The name of Baptisme is so common to Christians, that it neede not to be changed into washing: but yet it may and ought to be explicated vnto the vnlearned, what this worde doth signifie, which is no prophane signification, but a true and general vnderstanding of the word, which is vsed of the Euangelist for other washings than the Sa∣crament of Baptisme, and so, you are inforced to tran∣slate it, Marc. 7.

Notes

• 1.