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.

MART. 11. Insomuch that immediatly in the first Ca∣nons* 1.1 and Councels of the Apostles and their successors, nothing is more common than this distinction of Ecclesiasticall degrees and names, Si Episcopus, vel Presbyter, vel Diaconus, &c. If any Bishop, or Priest, or Deacon doe this or that. Which if the Protestantes or Caluinistes will translate after their maner thus, If a Bishoppe, or Elder, or Deacon, &c. they doe against them selues, which make Presbyter or Elder a common name to all Ecclesiastical persons: and not a peculiar degree, next vnto a Bishop. So that either they must condemne all antiquity for placing Presbyter in the 2. degree after a Bi∣shoppe, or they must translate it Priest as we doe, or they must make Elder to be their seconde degree, and so put Minister out of place.

FVLK. 11. The distinction of Episcopus▪ and Pres∣byter to signifie seuerall offices, we graunt to be of great antiquitie, albeit we may not admitte the counterfaite Canons of the Apostles, nor the Epistles of Ignatius, for suche mens writings as they beare the name to be. We make Presbyter, or Elder, a common name to all Eccle∣siasticall persons, none otherwise, than you doe this word Priest. For Deacons with vs, are not called Presby∣teri, or Elders. As for the distinction of Bishoppes and

Elders names, which the Scripture taketh for the same, doth no more condemne all antiquity in vs, than in you. Who acknowledge that the Scripture vseth those names without distinctiō, in your note vpon Act. 20. v. 28. where they are called Bishoppes, which before ver. 17. are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

which you translate Auncients, and expound Priests: and thus you write. Bishops or Priests (for those names were sometime vsed indifferently, Gouernours of the Churche of God, and placed in that roome and high function by the holy Ghost.

But it seemeth you haue small regard to defende your owne notes, so you might find occasion to quarrell at our wordes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See can. Apost. Conc. 1. Nic. E∣pist. Ignat. Cōc. Carth. 4. Beza in 1. Pet. 5.