AN ANSWER UNTO THE CATHOLIQVES SUPPLICATION, PRESENTED Unto the King's Majesty, for a toleration of Popish religion in England. WHEREIN IS CONTAINED A confutation of their unreasonable petitions, and slanderous lies against our late Sovereign Queen Elizabeth, whose happy and gracious government, the Papists in their said Supplication do so peremptorily traduce. Together with an information unto his Majesty of divers their wicked and treasonable practices, attempted in the life time of our late Queen his worthy predecessor, whose life they always sought means to extinguish. Whereunto is annexed the Supplication of the Papists, word for word as it was presented unto the King's Majesty: With some necessary annotations thereupon. Newly corrected and augmented.  
Written by Christopher Muriell the elder.  
Imprinted at London by R. R. for Francis Burton, and are to be sold in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the White-Lyon. 1603.   

TO THE MOST GRAcious renowned Christian King; JAMES by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the true Catholic and Apostolic faith: All divine, and celestial graces, mercies, and blessings, be multiplied from generation to generation, for evermore: Amen.  
MOst Gracious, and renowned Christian King, whereas the Papists, (who usurp the name of Catholics) having posted unto your Majesty, to exhibit unto your royal person a Supplication full of untruths: I one of the meanest of your majesties most humble and loyal subjects, moved with zeal of the holy and undoubted true religion, now professed in England; have thought it not inconvenient (with your Grace's favour, which I humbly crave) to answer the chief and most material points of the said supplication, because it tendeth to the grievous slander of our late deceased Sovereign Queen Elizabeth, and also of the noble and worshipful personages of this your Grace's Realm of England: and the rather, because I hear that some favourites of the Roman religion, do so highly extol and advance the learned and eloquent penning of the same, and the imaginary validity and force thereof, that they vaunt that it cannot be contradicted, yet doubt I not but that the plain verity of this short answer will be of sufficient force to daunt their expectations, and to bewray their untruths, to their deserved discredit. The said Supplication consisteth of seven several parts, as by perusal thereof may appear.  
1. The first part is their exordium, wherein they pretend faith and dutiful obedience, and loyalty unto your Majesty, the which protestation I pray God they may effect in verity, in as effectual and ample manner as they have in flourishing and glozing show of words professed the same. But I commit that to God who searcheth the hearts and reins, time trieth all things: nil fictum diuturnum essepotest.  
2. In the second part they do complain that they were overwhelmed with greevom persecutions, by the severity of our late deceased Queen: We do not a little marvel that they blushed not to inform your Grace with so manifest untruths, if they supposed (as they in words pretend) that God hath blessed you with a wise and understanding heart, rightly to discern between truth and falsehood: For I dare boldly affirm that they cannot prove that any one received the sentence of death only for professing the Romish religion, except treason were thereunto also annexed: And if it may please your most Gracious Majesty to weigh in equal balance the persecutions (to use their own words) they suffered either by imprisonment or fining by the purse, (wherewith very few in comparison were touched) your highness shall understand that their own wilful obstinacy, and not the Queen's majesties feveritie urged the same; for whensoever it pleased them to resort to their parish churches unto divine prayers, they had present releasement both of their imprisonment, and also of their fines and fees: But seeing that their unjust exclamations enforce me to call to fresh remembrance the most savage and brutish dealings of the Papists in Queen mary's days, how they then dominered your highness cannot be ignorant: how unmercifully did they torment unto death the faithful servants and Saints of God, for professing the glorious Gospel of our redeemer Christ jesus? Some they tormented with most sharp and long imprisonment, some they whipped with rods, some they secretly murdered in prison, but the greatest and general number were sacrificed in the fire, in which kind of torment they spared none, no not any degrees of persons, not so much as women great with child, but tormented them to death, even when the children did fall out of the mother's wombs into the fire, in the view of the Papists, who being past shame and grace, nothing regarded it. Yea such was their raging madness, that they digged up the dead bones of those two godly and learned father's Martin Bucer, and Paulus Phagius, and burned them in Cambridge: It is manifest unto the world, that the Papists tortured to death, as grave, as wise, as virtuous, and as learned, and Catholic fathers, as Europe affordeth: 
Acts and Monuments.  The records of these things are so manifest, so true, and so fresh in memory (of many yet living) that they cannot be contradicted. But to return to our late deceased Queen, whereas the Papists do unjustly charge her, that she was A grievous persecutor of them, their assertion consisteth of contrarieties, for after the death of her brother King Edward, they undelayedly persecuted her Grace: in the days of Queen Mary, they tossed her from prison to prison, threatening her with continual death, so that she daily expected the Axe to sever her sacred head from her Princely shoulders: 
a D. Sutcliffe in his reply to the Apo. pa. 84.  and once a precept was given for the executing thereof, to the Lieutenant of the Tower, by the treacherous dealing of one of the Pope's 
b Gardiner Bishop of Winchester.  minions (the bearing great sway in England,) in so much that if the Lieutenant of the Tower had not himself presently posted unto the Court unto the Queen her sister, to understand certainly her pleasure therein, she had died before the Queen had been acquainted therewith. But in process of time, she by God's providence being freed from that danger, and herself enjoying the royal Crown, Sceptre, and dignity of the Realm: did not the Pope deal with her as his predecessor did in former time deal with King john? By his cursed Bull he cursed and excommunicated the aforesaid King, & interdicted the whole realm: So that for divers years none were suffered to be Christianly buried: he charged all his subjects that none of them should relieve, help, or secure him by any means, either directly or indirectly, upon pain of his curse: so that the rebellion of his nobles was so great that of force (to procure his peace) he was constrained to 
c Stowes Chro: in the life of K. John. Page 255. and 256.  resign both the kingdoms of England and Ireland into the Pope's hands, and did take it again of the Pope by fee farm, paying one thousand marks yearly for the fame. And even the like he practised against our late Sovereign Queen Elizabeth: But the sacred word of God had taught her subjects a better lesson of fidelity, & loyalty to their Prince, then to regard his vain & wicked Bull which by his 
d Felton. Stowes Chro: page 129.  agents he caused to be hanged upon the Bishop of London his gate. After this he instigated a mighty Prince (who is now dead and gone) to attempt his pretended invincible invasion, and with his many fold forces utterly to subvert the flourishing state of this Realm, and to extirpate (if it had been possible) the true worship of God. Moreover also the Pope instigated Parry, Babington, & Lopez, and divers others their confederates to conspire the Queen's untimely death, he fent also his cursed brood of jesuits and Seminaries (the firebrands of sedition in all kingdoms) to induce her subjects to rebellion: whereunto also the Pope (their unholy father) added his yearly curse at Rome with book, bell, & candle: hereby may you plainly see and perceive, that the Pope & Papists which pretend to be (but indeed desire rather to make) Martyrs, did continually persecute her Majesty and sought all the mean that they possibly could to procure her untimely death, yet shame they not to cry with open mouths unto your Majesty that they were persecuted. As for our Queen, the only, omnipotent, wise, & all seeing God, preserved her from all their bloody practices, & gave unto her an happy, joyful, & peaceable end, to his glory, her own and our comforts, & to their unspeakable grief & sorrow.  
3. In the third part, this generation of vipers relate unto the world their own wicked and treacherous endeavours to induce some now living, to aspire unto the royal dignity of this kingdom. O cursed Parasites and false hearted Papists, cannot you be solicitors of mischief, but you must needs brag thereof; it argueth that discord and rebellion are the chiefest virtues (if I may so say) of your new and false Catholic Romish religion. But most gracious King, let us praise and glorify God, who hath so directed your godly proceed by his holy spirit, and hath also given you wisdom and fortitude to rely upon his divine providence, who workerh all things for the best, to them that serve and love him. And that it hath now pleased God to crown your royal head with the crowns of these kingdoms of England, France and Ireland, it cannot be any wise imputed unto the Papists, for they were (like traitors) wholly bend another way, until they perceived that their designs were in vain, and their hopes frustrate. For no sooner had it pleased God to call unto his mercy our gracious Queen (who at & before her death resigned unto your highness, as unto whom of right it appertained, the royal sceptre of all her dominions) but that once her, now your most faithful nobles, caused your rightful title unto all her kingdoms, to be by open proclamation published unto the world, the undoubted truth of which your royal and lineal descent, together with the spirit of God working in their hearts to acknowledge the same, hath so united the hearts and minds of all the nobility, clergy, and communality of this land, that all (the Papists excepted) do joy to behold your royal face, and are ready to serve, honour, and obey you, with their bodies and goods even unto death: The Lord bless and preserve you from the practices and conspiracies of the wicked Romanists (for surely they hate you in their hearts because you profess the Gospel of Christ as your predecessor Queen Elizabeth did) who if (notwithstanding their flourishing show of words) their wicked and desired expectations had been effected, when the general invasion of this land was intended (your Majesty knoweth by whom) never had your Grace enjoyed the sceptre of these kingdoms of England & Ireland, yes hardly (if they could have effected the contrary) should you have retained the kingdom of Scotland, which then (& now also God be thanked) you possess quietly.  
4. In the fourth part they do grievously complain of two evils that do vex their hearts: The first is, that this Realm of England is divided into fourereligions, to wit, Protestants, Papists, Puritans, & Athists, over all which the Protestants did domineer all the reign of our late diseased Queen: Thus much we do truly, to the glory of God confess, that all such as did profess the sacred Scriptures, were protected first and principally by God, next by her Majesty as an instrument from God, against the tyranny of the Pope, and all bloodthirsty Papists; and that the Barrowistes (who may most justly of all other among us be termed Puritans) as jesuits which are the Popish Puritans amongst them, and all Pharisaical justiciares, together with all turbulent Atheist, (if any such be) which have sprung up in this flourishing time of the Gospel as evil weeds amongst good Corn, have been continually repelled by the preaching of the Gospel, by the wise, advised and faithful ministers and dispensers thereof in this kingdom. And we are fully assured that the said religion is so firmly established and founded upon the sacred Scriptures, yea even upon Christ jesus that sure rock, and is so mightily defended with the two-edged sword that proceedeth from the mouth of God, which is able to cast down strong holds, and every high thing that shall exalt itself against God and his true Church: that the gates of hell (that is to say, the Devil himself, nor cursed Pope, Turk, Heretic, Infidel, Papist or Atheist) shall never be able to prevail there-against so long as the world endureth. The second thing they complain of is, that wars and bloodshed have seldom ceased, Tasks and Subsidies never so many, discontented minds innumerable Behold the children of the Devil cannot but lie, for their father the Devil hath been a liar from the beginning: How injuriously do they charge that blessed buried corpses whose spirit is inglory, with these untruths? did not every man sit under his own Vine, and eat the labours of his hands quietly and peaceably without molestation, forty and four years and better to the great admiration of the world? 
* See the Kings own testimony of her Majesty in the latter end of the preface prefixed before the book of instructions to his son. The words are these. But notwithstanding since there is a lawful Queen there presently reigning, who hath so long, with so great wisdom and felicity governed her kingdoms, as (I must in true sincenty confess) the like hath not been red nor hard of either in our time, or since the days of the Roman Emperor Augustus, etc.  If it please your gracious Majesty to peruse the Chroncicles, you shall find, that no King nor Queen before her time hath ever governed this realm in so godly peace and Christian unity, so long time protecting it most: miraculously against the tyranny of the Pope, and all other foreign and domestical enemies. Moreover, her Majesty hath been a nourishing mother, and a loving Neighbour unto divers Princes, countries and states about her (as their consciences can witness) and their ingratitude cannot but acknowledge, if not requite, and graciously protected she the distressed people from the bloody tyranny of their implacable, insolent, and cruel enemies. Yet hath she resigned her Kingdoms unto your Gracious Majesty in such state as your own eyes do now and long may behold, and the world doth admire. And no doubt, but as the Protestants have been faithful unto her, so will they also be unto your Majesty: wherefore let all faithful Christians, extol, praise and magnify, the omnipotent and only wise God, who hath waged his battles by her hand, being (in the respect of her sex) a poor Grasshopper (in man's judgement) against all the enemies of his sacred Church, as he waged battle against Pharaoh and all his host, with an army of Grasshoppers: And therefore let the Papists cease to publish so great untruth, redounding unto their own perpetual shame and discredit for ever.  
5. In the fift part, they make their humble suit unto your Grace, that they may obtain freedom to use the Romish religion freely without molestation, though not openly, yet secretly, alleging two reasons: the first is, that because they be restrained of that liberty, your kingdoms is abhorred of all kingdoms that profess the Romish Religion. The second reason is, that it would be a joyful thing to all the said Kingdoms, to grant them their said suits. And to the end to induce your Grace to grant their requests, they allege two arguments. The first is, that the now French King yielding to the Papists to secure the use of the Romish religion, they honoured him with these venerable titles, Pater patriae, et pacis restitutor. If it be true that he now deserveth these honourable titles, why then since that time hath not that honourable King been freed from the dangerous conspiracy of the Papists, who have divers times since sought to murder him? If it please your renowned Majesty to peruse the treacheries of the Papists, you shall find that they have greater murdering hearts then cursed Cain, who murdered his own brother. For to omit the many and continual treasons and conspiracies of the Papists against our diseased Queen, did not a graceless Monk poison King john? did not a cursed Friar of France murder with a poisoned Penknife the last diseased French King? 
In vita Pii quintí.  did not the Bishops, Monks, Friars & jesuits of Spain, cause the king's eldest son of Spain to be murdered, in letting him blood? did not the Papists of France urge the King of France to commit a tragical Butcherly massacre at Paris, in poisoning the Queen of Navarre, and in a brutish butcherly order to murder the most part of the peerless Nobility in France, their wives and children, with a great number of the common people in diverse parts of his realm: So that in one year by one means and others, they did massacre a hundred thousand, as by their own histories it doth appear. But why should I stay upon recital of particularities? doth not the bloody Inquisition at this day testify, that this tyranny is still continued in Spain, in Rome, and amongst other their confederates? Behold the fruits of the professors of the Romish Religion.  
The second argument is drawn from the grave and wise counsel of salomon's Counsellors unto Roboham (si loquaris eis bona verba, etc.) This Text is as rightly alleged, as the devil alleged the Scripture unto our Saviour jesus Christ, when he tempted him: for there was no request made unto Roboham as concerning religion, but only for a mitigation of grievous exactions. And the Counsel of salomon's counsellors in that behalf, was both wise, right, and good.  
But in causes of religion, O most renowned King, let the sacred Scriptures be your direction, and prefer them before and above all worldly policies, royalties, dignities, and honours whatsoever: for therein consisteth your true honour, your true wisdom, your true authority, and royal dignity. Moses teacheth from the mouth of God, 
Deutero: the 15. chapter & 6. verse.  that if thy brother the son of thy mother, or thy own son, or the daughter of thy wife that lieth in thy bosom, or thy friend that is as thy soul, shall entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go serve other gods: thou shalt not consent to him, nor hear him, neither shall thy eye pity him, nor show mercy, nor keep him secret: but thou shalt kill him, thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death. And our Saviour jesus Christ hath assured us, that if we confess him before men, he will confess us before his heavenly Father. And if we deny him before men, he will deny us before his heavenly father. And whosoever loveth Father or Mother, brother or sister, wife or children, or any worldly honour, riches, dignity, or regality, more than him, is not worthy of him: for we cannot serve two Masters, for we shall either love the one and hate the other, or else we shall hate the one and love the other. And to this effect serveth the persuasion of Eliha unto the Israelites, If God be God, serve him, etc. Therefore let the fear of God and his sacred word, be your direction; Let it be a Lantern to your feet, and a light unto your paths, that God may be with you and bless you in all your actions. And then (as the Apostle saith) If God be on your side, who can be against you? But if God be against you, who can be with you? For most gracious King, if all the Kings and Potentates in the world did love, favour, and honour you, what is it to the purpose if God be against you? And therefore the Lord bless you with his grace and holy spirit, that no worldly thing may separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ jesus our Lord, Amen.  
6. In the sixth part they employ their wits to persuade your most gracious Majesty, that their religion is venerable for antiquity, constant for continuance, irreprehensible for doctrine, inducing to all virtue and piety, maintained by the first Christian emperors, sealed with the blood of millions of Martyrs, etc. We do not a little marvel that they be not ashamed to avouch so great untruths. But it is truly said (amisso pudore omnis virtus ruit) for if their ascertions were true, why hath one Pope caused the dead corpses of his predecessor to be digged out of his grave and to be dismembered, and have condemned him for an heretic, and all his works for heresy? And the next successor hath ratified the first dismembered Pope to be good and Catholic, and all his works Catholic: we must needs be here in a Labyrinth, not knowing how to judge which is the Catholic Pope: the condemnor, or the condemned, have not some Popes been condemned and deprived by general counsels? hath there not been two Popes at once, and sometimes three, and every one hath cursed other, and excommunicated others, and fought bloody battles one against another, to the disturbance of all Christendom, and the shedding of the blood of many thousand Christians? And he that was the valiantest tyrant, was the most religious Pope. But to let them pass; let us remember Constantine the Emperor, who first endowed the Pope with stately revenues: But in his days where was their holy Bread, and holy Water? where were their pardons of free remission of sins, both venial and deadly? (sold now for money throughout Christendom to redeem souls out of purgatory) where was their Lady's Chapel, their ladies Masses, their pilgrimages to Saint james of Compostella, & c? Where was their praying to saints? Where was their diabolical authority to deprive Kings and Emperors of their Kingdoms, and to dispose of them at their free will and pleasure? Where was the supremacy of the Pope universally over all Realms, Kings, and Emperors, and over all degrees of persons spiritual and temporal? but it hath been since great honour for an Emperor to lead the Pope's horse by the bridle, and for a King to hold his stirrup, yea for an Emperor to be a footstool to the Pope to tread on when he went upon his horse: This Luciferian pride was not heard off in Constantine's time, nor long since: and as for the religion that was professed in those days and long before Constantine's time, it was the same religion that we in England do now profess. And it is for certain that the Heathenish and Infidel Emperors, both long before Constantine's days, and long since, did persecute the now professed religion in England, and that it was sealed with the blood of many Martyrs, adorned with the virtues of many thousand confessors, beautified with the blood of the pure and Immaculate virgins: neither were the Bishops of Rome in those days, freed from the said persecutions. But when Infidel Emperors by Gods divine providence ceased their tyranny; Then the Luciferian Popes by degrees and steps climbing the highest staff of the ladder of pride, did so far exceed in haughtiness of heart, insolency, and tyranny, that they first did shake off the lawful authority of Emperors in the electing and admitting the Pope, and then presently after, they did domineer and tyrannize over Emperors, Kings, and all degrees of persons spiritual and temporal, so that it is to be doubted whether the heathenish Emperors in their time, or the irreligious Popes in their time have persecuted and tormented to death the greater number of faithful Christians and the Saints of God. It is superfluous to rehearse the stories of these things, seeing they be recorded in all Ecclesiastical Histories, and in the Chronicles of all kingdoms: And we are persuaded that your grace hath both seen and read the History of these bloody tragedies: But of late time the Pope hath been well plumed tof his borrowed feathers, and his Luciferian pride somewhat depressed: Yet, if the Papists will so be content, we will join with them to procure that a General and free Counsel may be held in Christendom, whereunto both Papists and Protestants may freely repair, that thereby the Church of Christ may have peace, and the ignorant may be confirmed in the true faith: and to this purpose hath one of our learned Divines offered himself to dispute with any Papists whosoever (and many other will do the like) so that his person may be secured red from peril. 
D: Sutcliffe in the reply to The word. pag. 43.  This I pray God that it may be effected, and that he that is the true God may be worshipped of all, and that Baal may be utterly forgotten, that all Christian kingdoms agreeing in true doctrine and sincere truth may jointly acknowledge one verity, one faith, one baptism, one religion, and one only God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, Amen.  
7. In the seventh and last part they make a solemn profession before God and his holy Angels, of as loyal, as obedient, and immaculate allegiance to your Grace, at ever did faithful subjects in Scotland or England unto your progenitors, and intent sincerely and truly with goods and lives to serve your Grace, for confirmation whereof they confess merit in obeying, and demerit in disobeying, and therefore cannot but in soul be grievously tormented for the least prevarication: This protestation is indeed with a flourishing show of good words, let the fruits of their obediences try the verity thereof: where was the fruits of their obediences in the days of their anointed Queen now deceased that they may have merit for it? These Romanists have sugared words, but their hearts be full of deadly poison, for although they be a generation of vipers, yet they can change their shape into an Angel of light, to deceive the very elect, if it were possible. The world can testify that the manifold treasons and conspiracies of the Papists, were sufficient testimonies of their demerit: And if they must needs be tormented in soul and conscience for their least prevarication, needs must thousands of their souls and consciences be tormented for their many treasons & conspiracies, against their late anointed Queen now deceased. But whatsoever they profess in words, it is impossible so long as they profess the Romish religion to be faithful subjects unto your grace, for this is a maxim in the minds of most papists, fides non est servanda cum hereticis, & we are sure that the Pope hath censured all Protestant Princes for heretics, and their religion for heresy: Therefore whatsoever they profess in words, they cannot serve God and the devil, neither can they truly serve and obey you and the Pope: (Two so great contrarieties cannot concur in one subject) And thus I conclude, praying to God (as our bounden duty requireth) that of his great goodness, he will vouchsafe to bless, preserve, and defend your royal majesty, our noble Queen, and all your Princely Children, from all your enemies both foreign and domestical, spiritual and temporal, and from the treasons and conspiracies of all Romanists: That your sacred Majesty and your posterity, may live and reign over us in the fear of God, and to his honour and glory, in regal dignity, happy prosperity, godly peace and unity, and that after this life, you may have celestial felicity in the life to come for evermore, Amen.  
Your majesties most humble and dutiful subject CHRISTOPHER MURIEL, Senior.   

THE CATHOLICS SUPPLICATION.  
Most puissant Prince, and orient Monarch,  
Such are the rare perfections and admirable gifts of wisdom, prudence, valour and justice, wherewith the bountiful hand of God's divine Majesty hath endued your Majesty, as in the depth of your provident judgement, we doubt not but you foresee what concerneth both the spiritual and temporal government of all your kingdoms & dominions. 2. Notwithstanding your Grace's most afflicted subjects and 
I pray God that your Majesty never stand in need of their service.  devoted servants, the Catholics of England, partly to prevent sinister informations, which happily may possess your sacred ears, before our answer be heard; partly almost as men overwhelmed with 
If they be persecuted, themselves are the cause thereof, for they are never well but when their heads are hatching of rebellion.  persecutions for our consciences, we are enforced to have speedy recourse, in hope of present redress from your Highness, and to present these humblelines unto your royal person to plead for us some 
As you deserve, so I pray God you may have.  commiseration and favour. 3. What 
Nay, what desperate and unnatural designments will they not, to their power, at the Pope's commandment attempt against them? for they hold it a matter of great merit at the Pope's commandment to kill and murder their lawful Princes. See Parry his Treasons, Squire his treasons: Likewise Peter Barricre, and john Chastell, their desperate attempts againsts the French King, jesuits Catechism 3. book, page 148. 155.  allegiance or duty can any temporal Prince desire or exped at his vassals hands, which we are not addressed to perform? How many Noblemen and worthy Gentlemen, most zealous in the Catholic Religion, have endured some loss of lands and livings, some exile, others imprisonment, some the effusion of blood & life for the 
Busy fellows, that would take in hand such treasonable actions before they had acquainted the party for whom they undertook them therewith. jesuits Catechism 3. book, page 138.  advancement of your blessed Mother's right unto the sceptre of Albion? Nay, whose singer did ever ache, but Catholics, for your majesties present title & dominions? How many 
Happy is that country, that is rid of them, for it is better have their room then their company.  fled to your Court offering themselves as hostages for their friends, to live & die in your Grace's 
His Majesty in public Print acknowledgeth (and ever did) that Queen ELIZABETH was lawful Queen, and therefore must those that so offered themselves, by the Kings own testumonie be traitors.  quarrel, if ever Adversary had opposed himself against the equity of your cause? If this they attempted with their Prince's disgrace, to obtain your majesties grace; what will they do? nay, what will they not do, to live without disgrace in your Grace's favour? 4. The main of this Realm, if we respect Religion (setting petty sects aside) consisteth upon four parts: Protestants, who have dominiered all the former Queen's days: Puritans, who have crept up apace among them: Atheists or Politititans, who were bred upon their brawls and contentions in matters of faith: And Catholics, who as they are opposite to all, so are they detested of all, because Error was ever an enemy to Truth. Hardly all, or any of the 
No thanks to them, for if their designs could have been effected, all protestants throats had been cut long agone: call to mind they year 1588., and then judge whether it be so or not.  first, two, three can be suppressed: and therefore we beseech your Majesty to yield us as much favour, as others of contrary religion (to that which shall he publicly professed in England) shall obtain at your hands. For if our fault be like, or less, or none at all; in 
They plead miustice against the King's Majesty, if they may not be permitted freely to use their Idolatrous religion.  equity, our punishment ought to be like, or less, or none at all. The Gates, Arches, and Pyramids of France proclaimed the present King Pater patriae & pacis restitutor, because that kingdom being well nigh torn in pieces with civil wars, and made a prey to foreign foes, was by his provident wise doom and valour acquired in itself, and hostile strangers expelled; the which he principally effected by condescending to 
Hath he been since that time freed from the danger of Papists, search the French Chronicles, and you shall find the contrary.  tolerate them of an adverse religion, to that was openly professed. Questionless, dread Sovereign, the kingdom of England, by cruel persecution of Catholics, hath been almost odious to all Christian Nations: Trade and traffic is decayed, wars and blood hath seldom ceased, Subsidies and taxes never so many, 
None (or very few) discontented but Papists, whose heads do always ache but when they are working of treasons, and drawing of others into the same state of discontentment with them.  discontented minds innumerable; all which your majesties princely connivency to your humble Suppliants, the afflicted Catholics, will easily redress, especially at your highness ingress. Si loquaris ad eos verba lenia, erunt tibi servi cunctis diebus, said the sage Counsellors of Solomon to Rehoboham. For enlargement after affliction resembleth a pleasant gale after a vehement 
The Papists have caused more storms & tempests to arise in this land, than all other Sects beside that they can invent names for. Who but Papists sought means induce the late Earl of Essex (if he would have been atraytour to his Prince) to be a pensioner for the King of Spain? Earl of Essex his own Apology. Yet had they underhand acquainted therewith the late Lord Treasurer Sir William Cecil, insomuch that if the Earl had consented unto them, presently had he been entrapped. Watson the Priestin his book of Quod libetts.  tempest: and a benefit in distress doubleth the value thereof. 5. How grateful will it be to all Catholic Princes abroad, and honourable to your Majesty, to understand how Queen Elizabeth's 
A manifest slander of his Majesty, for she was far more merciful unto them then ever they deserved. Nay the Priests themselves in their own books acknowledge the justice of his majesties laws against them  severity is changed into your royal clemency: and that the lenity of a man re-edified that which the misinformed anger of a woman destroyed: That the Lion rampant is passant, whereas the passant had been rampant? How acceptable shall all your subjects be to all Catholic countries, who are now almost abhorred of all, when they shall perceive your Highness prepared not and pikes and prisons for the professors of their faith, but permitted them Temples and 
To offer sacrifice upon unto their Popish Idols  Altars for the use of their Religion? Then shall we see with our eyes, and touch with our fingers that happy benediction or Esay in this land, that swords are changed into ploughs, and lances into scythes. And all Nations admiring us will say, Hi sunt semen cui benedixit Dominus. We request no more favour at your Grace's hands, then that we may securely profess that Catholic religion, which all your happy Predecessors professed, from Donaldus the first converted, unto your majesties peerless Mother last martyred. 6. A Religion venerable for 
D. Sutcliffe in his challenge unto N.D. hath proved the contrary, chap. the 2. page 27.  antiquity, majestical for amplitude, constant for continuance, irreprehensible for doctrine, inducing to all kind of virtue and piety, dissuading from all sin and wickedness. A Religion beloved by all primitive Pastors, established by all ecumenical Counsels, upheld by all ancient Doctors, maintained by the first and most Christian Emperors, recorded almost alone in all Ecclesiastical Histories, sealed with the blood of millions of Martyrs, adorned with the virtues of so many Confessors, beautified with the purity of thousands of Virgins, so conformable to 
Therein I think they speak more truly than they are aware of.  natural sense and reafon, and finally so agreeable to the sacred text of God's word and Gospel. The free use of this Religion we request, if not in public Churches, at least in private houses; if not with approbation, yet with toleration, without molestation. 7. Assure your Grace that howsoever some Protestants or Puritans, incited by moral honesty of life, or innated instinct of nature, or for fear of some temporal punishment, pretend obedience unto your highness laws; yet certainly the only 
Are the chiefest stirrers unto rebellion in all Christian commonwealths.  Catholics for conscience sake observe them. For they defending that 
A mere untruth, for no Protestants maintain any such position.  Prince's precepts and statutes oblige no subject under the penalty of sin, will little care in conscience to transgress them which principally are tormented with the guilt of fin. But Catholics confessing merit in obeying, and demerit in transgressing, cannot but in soul be grievously tortured, at the least prevarication thereof. Wherefore most merciful Sovereign, we your long afflicted subjects, in all dutiful submission, protest before the Majesty of God and all his holy Angels, as loyal obedience, and as immaculate allegiance unto your Grace, as ever did faithful subjects in England or Scotland unto you Highness progenitors; and intent as sincerely with our goods and lives to 
As long as your Majesty will serve their purposes, but no longer. Let them all oh Lord, if it be thy will, be converted and agree with us in one truth. Amen.  serve you, as ever did the loyallest Isralites King David, or the trusty legions the Roman Emperors. And thus expecting your majesties customary favour and gracious bounty, we rest your devoted Suppliants to him whose hands do manage the hearts of Kings, and with reciprocate mercy will requite the merciful.  
Your sacred Majesties most devoted Servants. The Catholics of England.