A Retentive to Stay Good Christians, Title page
A RETENTIVE TO STAY GOOD CHRISTIANS IN THE TRVETH OF THE GOSPELL, WRITTEN BY W Fulke against the Motiues of R. Bristow, and by him directed to his friends of the Popish Church.
AMong such English papistes, as hauehave written within these twentie yeares, against the religion of God nowe mainteyned by publike authoritie in this Realme, some hauehave shewed greate witte, some muche readinge, some flowing eloquence, some all these indifferently: but among them all, none hath shewed lesse witte, learning, or good vtterance, then this Richard Bristow. So much the more doe I meruell, when I heare that many Papistes make so great accompt of his witlesse and senselesse writinges. But it fareth with them, as with litle children, to whome newe trifles seeme alwayes most worthy to be played with al. And verily I had thought of all other, least to hauehave delt against this peuish prater, both because he bringeth no newe matter, but such as in other of his cote, was with more coullor of trueth set foorth before, and also for that I had alreadie made aunswere to Ryshtons challenge, which as I take it, is that table of the Church, which Bristowe confesseth to conteine all his demaundes, whiche demaundes are almost all conteined in his motiues. But my friendes requiring mee not onelyonly to aunswere this, but all other writinges also of the papistes, what soeuer they hauehave set foorth in the englishe tongue since the happie raigne of our soueraigne Ladie, I hauehave condescended to confute euen that which deserueth no confutation, and somewhat the rather, because Bristow would hauehave this alone to bee a sufficient motiue vntounto poperie, that wee hauing nothing to gainesay most of their popish bookes, hauehave not dared, (I vse his owne wordes) once to goe about the aunswering of most of the saide Catholikes bookes. But are faine to get them forbidden by proclamation, althoughe ourselues hauehave prouoked confidently the Catholikes to write them. Whervppon also he noteth that Iewels challenge is turned into proclamations, how rightly or truly, he that hath but halfe an eye may see. His preface to the reader, conteining neuer an argument or motiue which is not repeated either in the treatise it self of motiues, or in the demaundes, I will passe ouer, and come to the firste motiue, gathering the principall contentes out of his owne table, as I hauehave done with the rest.