He pro

the acquisition of the oriental languages, a deep knowledge of which was by no means common at the time. ceeded to the degree of bachelor of divinity; and dissensions immediately afterwards springing up in his college, and himself being suspected of holding puritanical opinions in consequence of his close intimacy with Cartwright, he was ejected from the society. Driven from his college, he commenced a course of lectures, and held disputations in a house which was afterwards the Falcon Inn. These were attended by a numerous class of students.

The time was however approaching, when his fortunes were to witness a beneficial change; for the Earl of Leicester, who was anxious to promote men of merit, irrespectively of trifling differences of opinion, had singled him out as eminently deserving preferment. Through his means he was presented, Aug. 10, 1571, to the rectory of Warley in Essex, and soon afterwards, March, 1573, to that of Dennington in Suffolk. On the earl of Lincoln being sent as British ambassador to Paris, Fulke was appointed one of his suite, a circumstance which enabled him to obtain the honorary degree of doctor of divinity.

The same influence may have contributed to his advancement to the mastership of Pembroke College in 1578, on the promotion of Dr Young to the see of Rochester. He had in this elevated station ample leisure to devote his talents to polemical theology; and that he advantageously availed himself of it, is sufficiently evident from the numerous works he has left to posterity in vindication of the reformed religion. He was also engaged in 1580 and following years in repeated disputations with the Papists, sometimes in the Tower, and once at least in Wisbech Castle. (See No. 17, in the subjoined list of his works.) This castle, originally built by William the Conqueror, was afterwards converted into a palace of the bishops of Ely, and in the reign of Elizabeth was used as a prison for popish conspirators.

One account states that he was also Margaret Professor of Divinity; but this fact appears to be at least very doubtful. Having filled the office of vice-chancellor, and governed his college for eleven years, Fulke died in August, 1589.

The voluminous writings he left behind him are monuments of that industry and love of study, which (it is supposed) alone prevented his higher advancement in the church; and they furnish satisfactory evidence, that among contemporary scholars none surpassed him in erudition, in a grammatical and deep acquaintance with the learned tongues, in acuteness and closeness of reasoning: none devoted more vigorous and untiring energy in supporting the bulwarks of the CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

He was buried in the chancel of his church at Dennington, and the following epitaph was placed by one of his admiring successors over his tomb.

30. November. 1621.

In Memoriam

Reverendi Gulielmi Fulke, Sacræ Theologiæ Doct. Aulæ Pemb. in Cantabrigia Præfect. Hujus Ecclesiæ Dinningtoniensis pastor, ac in Testimonium amoris sui perpetui erga eum, hoc Monumentum posuit Robertus Wright, Sacræ quoque Theologiæ Professor, et nunc ejusdem Ecclesiæ Pastor. Corpus illius Terræ traditum fuit 28 Die Augusti 1589, et in hoc sacello jacet resurrectionem expectans per adventum Christi.

If deepest Learning, with a zealous Love

To Heaven and Truth, could Priveledges prove
To keep back Death, no Hand had written here
Lies Reverend Fulke, 'till Christ in Clouds appear;
His Works will shew him free from all Error,

Rome's Foe, Truth's Champion, and Rhemishes Terror.

Heureux celui qu' apres un long Travaill

S'est assure de son repos au Ciell.

The present volume, it is believed, will be found to be an accurate reprint (with a corrected punctuation, which was much needed) of the original edition of the "Defence," 1583. But in one or two places a correction has been introduced from the folio edition, 1633: ex. gr. p. 550, senseless for insenseless, which, though not perhaps absolutely necessary, it appeared desirable and safe to adopt on such authority. In several instances also, in which the quotation from Martin was inaccurately given by Fulke, the mistake has been corrected by reference to the original.

In both the old editions there was subjoined to the present work (but with a separate paging), A briefe confutation of all such quarrels and cauils, as have bene of late vttered by diuerse Papistes in their English Pamphlets, against the writings of the saide William Fulke;' as the reader will see in the copy of the original title-page prefixed to this publication. This Confutation,' however, has no connection whatever with the Defence of the Translations' it is therefore not here re-printed with it, but is reserved for a future volume of Fulke, where it will come more appropriately in company with the works which it undertakes to defend.

Besides the Defence' reprinted in the present volume, Fulke was the author of the following works:

1. Antiprognosticon contra inutiles astrologorum prædictiones Nostrodami, Cunninghami, Loui, Hilli, Vaghami et reliquorum omnium. Authore Guilielmo Fulcone. Authoritate Londinensis episcopi juxta formam in edictis reginæ prescriptam. Sexto die Septembris, 1560. Lond. 8vo.

A translation of this work was published in the year 1561, (Tanner says 1560), with the following title: Antiprognosticon, that is to saye, an Inuective agaynst the uaine and vnprofitable predictions of the astrologians, as Nostrodame, &c. Translated out of Latin into Englishe. Whereunto is added, by the author, a short treatise in Englishe, as well for the better subuersion of that fained arte, as also for the better vnderstanding of the common people, vnto whom the fyrst labour seemeth not sufficient. Lond. 1561, 8vo.

2. A goodly gallery, with a most pleasaunt prospect into the garden of naturall contemplation, to beholde the naturall causes of all kind of Meteors. As well fyery as ayery, as watry and earthly, of which sorte be blasing starres, shootinge starres, flames in the ayre, &c.; thonder, lightninge, earthquakes, &c.; rayne, dew, snowe, cloudes, springes, &c.; stones, metalles, earthes. To the glory of God, and the profitte of his creatures. Lond. 1571, 8vo. 1634, 1640, 8vo. From the colophon of the edition of 1571, it appears that this book was printed in 1563, but no copy has been found with that date on the title-page, and the edition of 1640 is styled the third. Tanner mentions editions in 1563 and 1580, under the title of Meteorologia, Anglice.'

3. Ovpavoμaxía, hoc est, Astrologorum ludus ad bonarum artium et Astrologiæ in primis studiosorum relaxationem comparatus, nunc primum illustratus, ac in lucem æditus per Guilielmum Fulconem, Cantabrigiensem. Abacus et calculi væneunt apud Guilielmum Jones, in longa officina, ad occidentalem Paulini templi portam. Londini per Thomas Eastum et Henricum Middeltonnum impensis Guilielmi Jones. 1571, 1572, 1573, 4to.

4. A confutation of a Popish and sclaunderous libelle, in form of an Apologie: geuen out into the courte, and spread abrode in diuerse other places of the realme. Written

by William Fulke, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and felowe of S. Johns Colledge in Cambridge. Imprinted at London by John Kingston for William Jones, and are to be solde at the newe long shop at the west ende of Poules. 1571, 1573, 1574, 12mo.

5. A Sermon preached at Hampton Court on Sonday, being the 12th day of Nouember, in the year of our Lord 1570. Wherein is plainly proued Babylon to be Rome, both by Scriptures and Doctors. Preached by William Fulke, Bacheler of Diuinity, and Fellow of S. Johns Colledge in Cambridge. Apocalips. 14. She is fallen, she is fallen, euen Babylon, that great citie, for of the wyne of the fury of her fornication, she hath made all nations to drinke. Imprinted at London, by John Awdely. 1572,

12mo.

There was a subsequent edition with the same title, except that Fulke was described as Doctor' not 'Bacheler', and lately Fellow', &c. Imprinted at London by John Charlewod, 1579, 12mo.

6. In sacram Divi Johannis Apocalypsim prælectiones. Lond. 1573, 4to. Translated into English by George Gyfford. Lond. 1573, 4to.

7. A Comfortable Sermon of Fayth in temptations and afflictions. Preached at S. Botulphes wythout Aldersgate in London, the xv of February, 1573, by Maister William Fulke, Doctor of Divinity. 1 John v. 4. Imprinted at 1574, 1578, 1586, 12mo.

London by John Audeley.

8. Two treatises written against the papistes; the one being an answer of the Christian protestant to the proud challenge of a popish catholicke: the other, a confutation of the popish churches doctrine touching purgatory and prayers for the dead. By William Fulke, Doctor in Divinitie. Lond. Thomas Vautrollier, 1577, 8vo. pp. 464.

9. A sermon preached on Sundaye, being the 17th of March, anno 1577, at S. Alphage's church within Creplegate