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. 28. But al••s, the effect of this corruption and heresie concerning Priestes, hathe it not wrought within these fewe yeares such contempt of al Priestes, that nothing is more odious in our countrey than that name: which before was so ho∣nourable & venerable, & now is, among all men? If ministery or Eldership were growen to estimation in steede thereof, somwhat they had to say but that is yet more contemptible, and especi∣ally Elders and Eldership, for the Queenes Maiestie and her Counsailours wil permit none in gouernement of anie Churche in Englande, and so they haue brought all, to nothing else, but profane lai••ie. And no maruel of these horrible inconueniences, for as the Sacrifice and Priesthoode goe togither, and therfore were both honourable togither: so when they had according to Daniels prophecie, abolished the daily sacrifice out of the chur∣che, what remained, but the contempt of Priestes and Cleargie and their offices, so farre foorth, that for the holy Sacrifice sake, Priestes are called in great despite, Massing Priestes▪ of them

that litle consider, or lesse care, what notable holy learned fathers of all ages since Christes time, this their reproch toucheth and concerneth, as by the testimonies before alleaged is manifest, and whereof the Reader may see a peculiar Chapter in the late Apo∣logie of the English Seminaries.

FVLK. 28. A meruaylous corruption, for vs to cal them Elders, whom you in your translation call Aunci∣ents, and the vulgar Latine before vs both called Seniores. But what is come to passe I pray you by this wonderfull corruption? The name of Popish Priestes is so contem∣ptible, that nothing is more odious in England. And good cause why: both for their blasphemie against God, and traiterous practises against the honourable state of the realme▪ and our most gratious Queene. But Elders and Eldership (you weene) is more contemptible be∣cause the Queenes Maiestie & her Counsailors will per∣mit none in gouernment of any Churches in England, and so they haue brought all to nothing else, but pro∣phane Laitie. This trayterous slaunder of yours, is as true, as all the rest. For although the Queenes Maiestie and the Counsaile do not permitte such consistories of Elders for onely discipline and gouernment, as be in some other Churches, yet doe they not only permit, but also mainteyne and reuerence, such Elders, being signifi∣ed by the Greeke worde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as are necessarie for the gouernment of the Church in doctrine, Sacraments, and discipline to the saluation of Gods people. The day∣ly sacrifice mentioned in Daniell, was the Morning and Euening sacrifice of the old Lawe, wherevnto your blas∣phemous sacrifice of the Masse hath no resemblaunce. You may not therefore looke to recouer the credite of Massing Priestes, by that sacrifice, which being once in∣stituted by God, was at length taken away by the onely sacrifice of Christes death: Against which all the Apo∣logies in the worlde shall neuer be able to defende your Massing Priesthood. As for the chapter of Allens Apo∣logie, wherevnto you refer vs, conteyneth certaine quo∣tations,

& a few sentences of the auncient writers which haue bene answered an hūdreth times, to iustifie massing Priests, but all in vaine, for neuer shall he proue, that any one from the Eldest which he nameth vnto Beda, which is the yongest, was such a Massing Prieste in all pointes, as those traytours are, which by the Queenes lawes and edict are proscribed and prohibited. I meane not for their manners, but for their Masse and all opinions inci∣dent therevnto.

Notes

• Chap. 6.