148 LIVES OF THE PUHJTANS. home and abroad, frequently sought his advice in the most weighty matters.. In the year 1583, Mr. Cartwright was earnestly pressed by many learned persons, to publish a refutation of the " Rhemist Translation of the New Testament." That translation being looked upon by all true protestants, as a work of a. very dangerous tendency, designed to promote the errors and superstitions of popery, most persons wished it to be ,answered by the ablest pen that could be found. And no man was thought so suitable to undertake the laborious work as. Mr. Cartwright. Indeed, the.queen. applied to the learned Beza of Geneva, soliciting him to undertake the answer ; but he modestly declined, saying, she had a person in her own kingdom far better qualified to perform the work than himself; and declared that this was Mr. Thomas Cartvirright.± Sir Francis Walsingham, who in this affair, as well as many others, was accounted the mouth and hand of the queen,,wrote to Mr. Cartwright, earnestly entreating him to undertake the work, sending, at the same time, one hundred pounds towards the expense, with assurance of such further assistance as he might afterwards deem necessary. The ministers of London and Sufiblk, in like manner, urged him to undertake it. He was also warmly solicited- by some of the most learned and celebrated divines of Cambridge.t In their letter to hint, they express themselves in the following manner :-" We " are earnest with you, most reverend Cartwright, that you " would set yourself against the unhallowed endeavours of " these mischievous men, either by refuting the whole " book, or some part thereof. It is not for every one " rashly to be thrust forth into the Lord's battles ; but such " captains as are to be chosen from amongst David's "worthies, one of which, we acknowledge you to be, by " the former battles undergone for the walls of our city, " the church. We doubt not, if you will enter this war, " but that you, fighting for your conscience and country, 44 will be able to tread under foot the forces of the Jebusites, " which set themselves to assault the tower of David.-You " see to what an honourable fight we invite you. Christ's Clark's Lives, p. 19. + During Mr. Cartwright's exile, travelling to Geneva, he became particularly intimate with Beza; who, at that time, writing to his frierwl in England, gave him the following character : " Here is now with us your " countryman, Thomas Cartwright, than whom, I think, the son {loth not " see a more learned Inan."-Ibid. p. 18,19. 1: Fuller's Church flint. b. ix. p.171.-Strype's Whitgift,p. 253,254.
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