ENGLISH PROTESTANTS PLEA, AND PETITION, FOR ENGLISH PRIESTS AND PAPISTS, TO THE present Court of Parliament, and all persecutors of them: divided into two parts.  
IN THE FIRST IS PROVED by the learned protestants of England, that these Priests and Catholics, have hitherto been unjustly persecuted, though they have often and publicly offered so much, as any Christians in conscience might do.  
IN THE SECOND PART, IS PROVED by the same protestants, that the same priestly sacrificing function, acknowledging and practice of the same supreme spiritual jurisdiction of the Apostolic See of Rome, and other Catholic doctrines, in the same sense we now defend them, and for which we are at this present persecuted, continued and were practised in this Island without interruption in all ages, from S. Peter the Apostle, to these our times.  
Odio habuerunt me gratis.  
They have hated me without cause.  
With permission, Anno 1621.   

THE PREFACE TO ALL INDIFFERENT AND EQVALL READERS.  
RIght honourable and the rest, my dearest and most beloved countrymen, kindred, and friends: I have by the great providence, protection and mercy of God lived now amongst you, a priest in persecution, little less than half the life of an aged man: That which remaineth, is chief my debt by nature to dye, and make account to my highest King, and judge, as of late our most reverend Arch-preist within these few weeks hath done: who (as I interpret his letters) bequeathed as a legacy to me unworthy, this charge: To write, and publish to the world this ensueing treatise, which I name. The protestants Plea, and petition to the parliament for priests, and papists: (so many protestants please to style Catholics. If this charge had not been committed unto me by my so honoured and reverend friend, yet having been so long a partaker of the miseries which english catholics have in these times endured, and being well acquainted with the proceed of both sides, and knowing by certain experience, that besides their sufferings to their immortal honour, their published books by diverse our learned priests have so convinced the understandings of our greatest adversaries in all chief questioned things. That no protestant Bishop or other writer hath now after diverse years made any answer at all unto them: and of many former most humble petitions of our learned priests and catholics, both to our protestant princes, and parliaments, to have audience in disputation with their best learned protestant Bishops & doctors, whether to thy could convince us as guilty and worthy to be persecuted, as we have been, which hither they would never grant, but have so long and grievously without any trial or condemnation, executed and persecuted us in so strange a manner: and the present protestant rather puritan parliament, stormeth now more against us, than the wisest of us can see reasons to warrant them: I therefore for the honour of God, and reputation of his holy church and Religion, the love of my country, and to perform my friend's request, do puplish this remembered work to be divided into two parts, and either of them to be invincibly proved by the learned protestants of this kingdom. In the first, because the holy scripture so describeth the duty of well living men: Declina à malo, & fac bonum, decline from evil and to good: I am to prove by these remembered protestants, that the catholics of England do most religiously decline from your Religion, and all participating therein, and their offers considered, the protestant state doth most unjustly persecute them. In the second, to justify, that fac bonum, we do well, and therein perform the holy command of God, in professing the catholic Religion, the same with the church of Rome, shall be demonstratively proved by these protestants, and the best Antiquities and monuments they have of our first true Apostolic Religion, in these kingdoms of our present most honoured sovereign king james, that not only those chiefest questions, for which we are so persecuted, as namely holy preisthood, now treason, the sacrifice of the mass so punished and the spiritual power, and jurisdiction of the see Apostolic, here now so penal and contemptible, but if need require, all other controversies between us of substance, have ever from the time of S. Peter the Apostle, in every age, and hundred years, until these days been practised and continued here, without interruption, in such sense, manner, & meaneinge, as we catholics of this kingdom with the church of Rome now do profess. And here I entreat no Religious order to take my Title, plea and petition for priests and papists, as any excluding of their holy labours, and deserts, which I embrace and reverence: for although I will maintain for them, that monastical life in England is so ancient, as the days of S. joseph of Aramathia, who brought it hither, and died here, with his holy company in that profession: yet I find we had both priests, and Bishops here, in, and of this nation, long before that time, and many Catholic Christians of the same Religion we now profess, and so continued until this time without the least discontinuance or total interruption; which I dare not to affirm of our Religious men, ceasing for an hundred years after S. josephs' death: and in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time for twenty years almost together, failed here, when many holy priests were laboureing here in this holy work: and after some Religious men of the society had come hither, they went and left us alone for diverse years. Therefore to speak consequently (which I must perform) I must give this happy prerogative to our reverend priests, who never failed or fainted in this cause and country. They were the first converted this kingdom, and did never cease. They first took this quarrel in hand in the time of Q. Elizabeth, and only were they, that never gave it over. They are principally they, who in the catalogues of our holy writers of this time, are styled with that honour. They are the spiritual fathers, and in Christ jesus have begotten, both the present Religious and other catholics of this kingdom. They, who with their holy doctrine, and effusion of their sacred blood, for this most glorious cause, have above all others (eight or more to one) been the continual preachers and propugners of this true faith with us. They (who both in the presence and absence of all religious) have often offered and humbly sought, public defence thereof by disputation against the best learned and selected protestant Bishops and Doctors of this nation. Therefore leaving these peculiar honours unto the Reverend priests of England, I will with such inequality as I have before proposed, maintain for all priests, Religious, and all catholics, that our holy preisthood, sacrifice of Mass, spiritual Roman jurisdiction, and the like were used and continued ●ere without change, or intermission, in the same ●enure wherein Catholics now profess them, from S. Peter to these days, by our protestant warrants and Antiquities. And so I rest  
Your most loving and well wishing country man.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Court of parliament: especially such as therein be persecutors of Catholics: and to all other such persecutors.  
A Breviate of the undoubted truth of catholic Religion persecuted in England.  
Right honourable, and the rest.  
THe penalties, and persecutions, which in these days of Protestants, have been heaped upon, and prosecuted against the sacred priests, and renowned Catholics of England, have been so heavy, and great by his Majesty's regal sentence, in publice parliament, that they moved him, to these words of commiseration. My mind was ever free from persecution, or thrallinge my subjects in matters of conscience: I was so far from increasing their burdens with Roboham, as I have so much, as either time, occasion, or law could permit, lightened them▪ Your Court well knoweth, what the case of Roboham was (we need say no more, and what other heavy burdens have been since then heaped upon us; And by your present assembly now again to be invented and added. in his public speech in his 1. parlam.  
You cannot possibly be ignorant what an eminent man in your house, and company, hath written of the opinion of the christian world, of these proceed: The sufferings (Sir Edwyne Sands speaketh unto you, in his book of the relation of the state of Religion) and martyrdoms of English catholics in these times, are accounted to the height of Nero's, and Dioclesian's persecutions, and the sufferings on their side, both in merits of cause, in extremity of torments, and in constancy and patience, to the renowned martyrs of that heroical church age. What Nero, and Dioclesian were, among the greatest tyrants, and persecutors, your place, and lawemakers may not plead ignorance; neither what the honour and glory of that most sacred preisthood, sacrifice and Religions, which so vehemently, and beyond example, you persecute. If all catholics would be silent, your own protestant Bishops and Antiquaries have published in theatres, & histories to the present world, and future posterities, that the very same were planted and embraced here, in the Apostles time, and were never changed in any material thing, until your pretended reformation. Protest. Bishops in the Theatre of Brit. l. 6. Holinsh. ●ist. of Engl. in Claud. Cambden in Britan. Godwyn Conuers. Parker. antiq. Brit. Grymston book of Estates in Engl. Scotland, Ireland.  
If we appeal to kings and parliaments, ● whereon you build,) all the ancient parliaments, laws, & lives of the kings of Scotland, ●ry out unto us, that after 80. Christian kings ●here, king james is the first, and only protestant king. The parliaments, laws, lives of kings, and histories of England, and Ireland do publish unto us, that of all his primogeni●ors kings of these nations, he alone is protestant king of them. He claimeth nothing from king Henry 8. Edward 6. or Q Elizabeth ●ee enjoyeth, (and long and happily God grant him to enjoy it) this Empire by a bet●er and truer right, than they could give him. Hector Both. Vereca & alij hist. Scot all English & ●rish hist. with their parlam. etc.  
Your histories and the laste wills and testaments of those kings, are witnesses against them and your Religion, that they laboured most ●niustly against the law of God, and nature ●o suppress the unquestionable right of our sovereign, and his holy mother. (Edw. Howes preface historial in king Henr. 8. last will of king Henr. 8.) All those laws, parliaments and antiquities are warrant, that from our first conversion to Christ, we had no other Bishops, priests, ministers, or church service, which you call communion, but Roman catholic Bishops, priests (whom you make Traitors) and sacrifice of mass, for the living and the dead, now so persecuted by you, until the second parliament of king Edward 6. a child, most childishly began this innovation. (Parliament 2. Edw. 6. cap. ●. & an. 5. c. 1. Confer. at hampt. court.) And in Scotland your ministry and communion devised there by that Traitor to God, and prince, is of a younger standing, in the years 1560. and 1571. (Commun. book etc. of the kirk of Scotland by john knox 9 of march. an. 1560. and 1571.) Your protestant Antiquaries mustar unto us about 1000 approved classical writers, in this kingdom that be renowned in the christian world; who were such priests, said mass, preached and proved that Religion they tell us of many thousand Bishops by continual succession from our first christianity, of above 1000 canonised Saints, of diverse thousands of Religious men and women, living in continual poverty, chastity, and obedience, since the time of Saint joseph of Arimathia, that buried Christ, and brought monastical life into this kingdom, we had 700. Religious houses founded for them, which you have defaced. Baleus l. de Scriptor. centur. 1.2.3.4. joh. Leland. de script. Pitseus de vir. illustrib. aetate 2.3.4.5. etc. Capgrau. & al. de Sanct. histor. Angl. passim. Theatre of Brit. per tot. Stowe hist. Holinsh. histor. Eng. Scot Irland. Camb. Britan.  
Our Religion builded those churches which ●ou have reserved, & many thousand which ●ou have defaced; We enjoyed above the ●hird part of England to our Religion 600. ●eares paste, and after we had more kings, Queens, and princes Saints in this Island, and ●reland, by your own histories and calendars, ●hen there ever were since in all the world of ●our Religion. (Tom. 1.2.3.4. Concil.) Our Religion had for external warrant above 20. general counsels. From the first of nice in the time of Constantine, our King, Emperor, and con●ryman, and Sardyce, where the pope's suprea●acy, mass, and preisthood are confirmed, Concil. Nic. 1. can. 6.7. Sardic. council. Theatre of Bri●an. in Brit. Stowe hist. Holinsh. ib. Camb. Brit. which our brittist bishops received, until the ●aste of Trent in the time of Q. Elizabeth to which our catholic Bishop Pates of worcester, subscribed for England for us, and against you, as your protestant Bishop telleth us. (Godwyn. Catalogue. of Bish. in worcester in Rich. Pates) we had consequently all holy fathers, and Bishops present in them to warrant us. we had, and have, as your protestants acknowledge, (Casaubon. respon ad Cardinal. Peron. pag. 69.70.) all Apostolic seas for us, against you. we had and have consequently, all those true, and undeniable motives of true Religion, which moved the christian world, to embrace the law of Christ, to assure and confirm v● in this truth, we see and know that this our holy faith according to the foretelling of Christ, his prophets, and Apostles, is preached and planted in all the world, Europe, Africa, Asia, and America, never any Religion in the law of nature, of Moses, jews, Turcks, Tartars, protestants, pagans, or other, is, or was at any time in any degree dilated, as it is. Grymston Book of estates in k● of Spain, Europe, Asia, afric, America.  
And for external splendour at home, it was so great, when king Henry 8. begins to envy the glory of it, that he promised the parliament (as your protestant histories assure us, if it would grant him power to visit the Religious houses: He would create, (your protestants words) and maintain 40. Earls 60. Barons 3000. knights, and 40. thousand soldiers with skilful captains and competent maintenance for them all for ever, out of the ancient church reveneves, and the people should be no more charged with loans, subsidies and fifteen. Of all these blessings, and benefits we are spoilt, and by your Religion deprived; And not only we, that now be catholics in England, but all faithful souls already departed out of this world, and those that are not yet borne, if they shall be of the posterity of those holy founders, to be prayed for, to the end of the world, by those Religious fowndations, and all poor hungry bodies ●ere relieved with those donations, which ●otestant times have converted to vanities, ●d that which is , to persecute the religion, which founded these holy houses. ●nd with such vehemency and cruelty we are persecuted, as you have before acknowledged, our laws, records, registers, & our miseries, calamities, and martyrdoms have published ●o all the world. Edw. howes in his historial pre●reface in king Henry 8.  
All this you do unto us, under pretence ●hat we will not forsake our holy Religion ●oe firmly, and undoubtedly proved, by so ●any undeniable testimonies, in your own ●udgments, that we cannot be deceived, except God (which is impossible) can deceive ●s. And in remaining and persisting wherein, ●nd following and frequenting that order, which it prescribeth, the sacrifice and Sacraments which it useth, we shall by your best ●earned protestants writing, with your public privilege, be sure to be saved, when contrariwise if we should be so graceless, as for ●eare of torments, and afflictions, to hearken unto you in matters of Religion, the same your ●est learned protestant Bishops, and others assure us again, we shall come into a fallible, ●eceaueable, and actually erroneus Religion, ●nd consequently shall be damned for ever. ●oue prot. Bish. persuas. Field l. of the church pag. ●7. 182. Covel. def. of Hooker pag. 68.73.76. Field pag. 69. willet Antilog. pag. 144. Theatre of grea● Brit. Saxons. Sam. Daniel. hist. etc. Feild pag. 20● Isaac Casaub. praef. respon ad Gard. Peron. Do● persuas. Morton Apolog. part. 2. pag. 315. will● Antilog. praef. to the Read. universities answer 〈◊〉 the mill. pet. Confer. at Hampt. pag. 47. Protest. R● lat. of that conference printed by joh. windet in thr● several copies 1.2.3.  
And if God and the truth of his holy caus● maintained in our books, against you, ha● not enforced and necessitated these your public writers, thus publicly to condemns you, and forewarn us from communicating● with you, in these affairs: yet the lamentable and desolate experience itself in your parliaments of king Henry 8. k. Edward 6. Q. Elizabeth etc. crieth out unto the world, that all the parliaments and princes supreme heads of Religion by you, have been deceived, and deceived all, that followed them in these things. King Henry 8. was the first, (parliament of k. Henr. 8. after an. Reg. 22.) and was herein contrary to all antiquity, contrary to k. Edward his son (parlam. Edw. 6.1.2.3.) daughter Elizabeth (parlam. 1. Elizab. iniunctionis of Q. Eliz. an. 1.) and king james. (Articles of Relig. ann. 1562) and to himself by diverse parliaments, and his Religion dead with him, and condemned by you. King Edward was contrary to his father, his sister, to you, and to himself in diverse public parliaments, and his public injunctions. Queen Elizabeth was in the same ●se of contradiction, to her father, brother, to ●u, and herself by public practice, parliament, proclamations, and injunctions, in less ●me than three quarters of one year. And ●uchinge that piece of her first parliament, ●herein she condemned the mass, there was ●ot one divine, Bishop or other, that gave con●ent or could give it unto her, but all against. ●nd their extravagant proceed therein, were such, as they be related by your own antiquaries, Cambden, Howes, and others, ●hat Paganism, Turkism, Epicurism, Iudais●ne, Atheism, or any other heresy, might as easily have been settled here, as protestantisme was: which is not here to be entreated. King ●ames our present sovereign is generally ta●en to be to too wise, and learned, to learn Religion of such Tutors. Cambden in Apparat. ●d Annal. & in Annal. in Elizabeth. Howes histo●iall preface in Q. Elizabeth and others.  
King Henry the 8. desired at his death, as protestant histories sufficiently insinuate, and ●iuers then living in his Court have testified, ●o be reconciled to the church of Rome, and ●n one of his laste Acts the inscription of his Tomb, doth plainly omit, and relinquish ●or ever his pretended supremacy. And in his ●ast will and testament (Howes supr. in k. Henr. 8. stow an. vlt. Henr. 8. in his laste will & testament) ordained priests, & masses, (so odious now, and chiefest cause pretended of our perfection▪ to continue in England to the end of the world, willing and chardgeinge (the words of his will) prince Edward his son, all his executors, all his heirs and successors that should be kings of this Realm, as they will answer before almighty God, at the dreadful day of judgement, that they, & every of them do see it performed. (Exempl. an. 1. Edw. 6. die 14. Februar.) King Edward 6. was but a child, but both he and his protectors by which he was ruled, should have been ruled by this will, yet as protestants ule to do, presently breaking it, for their worldly ends, and breingeing in the protestant Religion. (Fox to. 2. Acts and monum. in k. Henr. 8. and an. 1. Edw. 6.)  
The chief Actor, and Author of those proceed, the Duke of Northumberland Lord protector, when he came to die, renownced protestant Religion for heresy, and as your protestant histories tell us, (Stowe histor. an. 1. of Queen Mary: and others.) was reconciled unto, and died in the unity and faith of the Roman church. For Queen Elizabeth, she, as some noble men, and diverse ladies of honour can inform you, and some have so testified, died no good protestant, neither could endure the sight of her protestant Bishops, at that time: & protested in her life to the lady Saint-Iohn, widow to the Lord Oliver Saint-Iohn of Ble●soe, Deus testis, so she confidently related, and said see could show that Queen's letters to that purpose, that she would have lived a Catholic, but for her overruling Protestant Counsel: naming some of them, no happy members of this kingdom; which your Protestant historians give way unto, that she did very often, before such men by politic devices withdrew her from it; frequent the Sacraments of Confession, & of the blessed body of Christ, Mass, ●nd the rites of Catholic Religion (Edw. Howes historical preface in Queen Elizabeth.) and protested in public Parliament, never to vex or trouble the Roman Catholics concerning any difference in Religion. Like was the case of William Cecile Lord Burleigh her great Counsellor, both ●or his Religion, in that time; and at his death, charged his son Robert Earl of Salisbury, ne●er to persecute any of that Religion. Thus he acknowledged to a worthy and noble witness; who, as God is witness, so hath testified.  
We do not, we will not contest, with our present, most honoured, wise, and learned Sovereign; neither enter into his private judgement: But if any the best learned protestant Archbishops, or Bishops you have, will justify all those public speeches, writings, and books which go under the name of our King, to proceed from him; if it will please him to give way unto ●t, they shall have maintained against them, that ●y those published writings, it is damnable for ●hem to persecute us, and we in conscience cannot, if to gain a thousand worlds, be of your protestant Religion. And we humbly hope this nothing derogateth to his prudent Majesty; for we openly and willingly write, that concerning all your best learned Bishops, and others that have written; as namely Whitguist, and Bancroft, of Canterbury, Bilson, and Andrew's of Winchester, Dove, Barlowe, Godwyne, Field, Bridges, Hooker, Covell, and all the best students amongst you, were in judgement far from persecution of Catholics, and as far from assurance, that they themselves were in true Religion. It is no vain boasting now to write it; because in all controversial points, we have many years since invincibly proved it by your best learned Protestant Bishops, and Doctors, (Protestant's Recantation in matters of Religion. l. 1. & l 2 Protestants Demonstrat. for Catholics Recusancy &c. both in general; that neither Scriptures, Traditions, Counsels, Apostolic Churches, Fathers, or any authority in divine matters is for you, but all against you, that you have not, neither hereafter by your Religion can possibly find any Rule or direction to bring you into truth: That there is not, nor can be any true and competent judge or Consistory with you to decide these contentions, and bring you into the right way. That there is neither true Bishop, Priest, or Clergy man in your Congregation: That in all particular questions between us, you are in error.  
All these things so invincibly proved by yourselves, that now after diverse years our books receive no answer at all: And your best ●earned are so far from taking this charge in ●and, that but for disgrace of these times with ●ou, they would in their lives and health ●ot live in your wavering religion, but be reconciled to the Roman Church, as many of them ●ately at their deaths have been. And now in ●his your Parliament time, to move you and London, to know the truth, the late Protestant Bishop thereof, Doctor King, in his life ●or external carriage, a great persecutor of Priests ●nd Catholics, a little before his death did plainly denounce your Religion to be damnable, renounced (as we had proved before of all such) that he was any Bishop or Clergy man; was penitent for his protesting heresy, & humbly at the feet of a Priest, whom he had formerly persecuted, confessed his sins, received Sacramental absolution at his hands, and was reconciled to the Catholic Roman Church, of which he had in his life been so vehement a persecutor. Zealously and openly protesting, there was no salvation to be had, out of that holy Catholic Roman Church. Therefore we need not to dispute these matters anew.  
But because by the present tempests you raise against us in this your Parliament, we are assured that your storming persecutions are not ceased, if your wills and anger can maintain their blustrings, therefore we cannot but still defend our innocence, and humbly admonish you, that by these courses you offer and do, & we receive and suffer wrong. And because you see and know, you are neither able to instruct us, or yourselves, persisting in persecution, you fall into that lamentable estate, preached unto you out of Pulpit by your now Archbishop of York (D. Matthewes Serm. before the Parliament) and in public Parliament denounced by his Majesty: Persecution without instruction, is but tyranny (K. james speech in Parliament.) That you cannot, or uncharitably will not (both lead to that damnable estate) we are now evidently to demonstrate to you, and make known to the world for our own excuse; which we can do by no better or more certain means in this case, then publish and make known to our dearest country, that from the first beginning of these your persecutions broached and borne in the first Parliament of Queen Elizabeth, we have in all humble and best means we could, requested, and sought for instruction, from your best learned Bishops, Doctors, and instructors, among you, if we be in error, by many and sundry petitions to our protestant Princes, Parliaments, and others, that were in chief place and command, to procure it, if there had been any in your Religion that could perform it. If you had that could, and would not, your estate is more than dangerous, if you have none, can instruct us, which you make apparent, if you still persist in persecution. You hear our King and your Archbishop call unto you: Correction without instruction, is but tyranny.  
Therefore in this first part of this Protestant plea, and petition of your best learned Protestants in both parts to be undeniably proved, & justified by them; we propose some of those most humble suits and petitions we have by the best warrant spiritual we had in England, our most Reverend Archpriest, his learned Priests, and chiefest renowned Catholics, presented, to procure, and obtain this instruction, in conference and disputation, with your best learned Protestant Bishops and Doctors, and with such unequal conditions on our behalf, that except the Catholics of England had been assured, they were in truth, and their disputant Priests could not be instructed by any the best learned in your Religion, they could not in conscience have made so large and disaduantageous offers unto you, as their several petitions and suits will witness: Except you will think (to flatter yourselves) that these renowned Priests and catholics, did doubt of their Religion (which their martyrdoms and sufferings for it, do invincibly reprove) and appeal to you for instruction, which you denying and yet so persecuting them, can never free yourselves from that doleful condition remembered by our gracious King and your Archbishop; you will further receive in this first part such just and most reasonable and unanswereable reasons by the Religions, and proceed of all your supreme heads in spiritual business until his majesty's time (wherein silence will be used) King Henry 8. King Edward the 6. and Queen Elizabeth; that as they are set down by your best protestant writers, we cannot yield to you in matters of Religion; neither you in conscience either persecute us in these things, or yourselves secured in that profession.  

How Catholic Religion was unjustly suppressed by Queen Elizabeth, not one Spiritual person having voice in Parlament consenting: no disputation or ordinary defence thereof permitted to the Catholic Bishops and Clergy: and their dutiful loyalty notwithstanding their piety honoured by their protestant enemies.  
IN THE first year and Parlament of Queen Elizabeth, when our ancient holy Catholic Religion was so unholy, and irreligiously suppressed, and the new Protestant manner and fashion, by her authority received, as partly before remembered, from our Protestant Histories, and will by them more amply be declared hereafter: All the Catholic Bishops of England then living, so fare opposed against it, that as a Protestant Antiquary relateth, observing the wilful and indirect proceed of her, and some few of her secret Counsellors, and advisers in that so importunate business, far above the compass, calling, and correction of a young woman, and lay men, diverse of them urged to proceed to excommunicate that Queen at that time. (Cambd. Annal in Elizab. p 37. But others which prevailed, advised to reserve it to the Pope of Rome: And they all jointly contradicted that innovation, and then and there offered as all protestant historians agree (Stowe and Howes hist. an. 1. Eliz. Holinsh. hist. of Engl. Ibid. Theatre of Brit an. 1. Elizab. Cambd. in Annal. supr.) publicly to defend and maintain by disputation, against all adversaries whatsoever, their holy profession and religion, and to that purpose assigned and appointed these disputants: The than Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Lichfielde, the Bishop of Chester, the Bishop of Carlisle, who had crowned her, the Bishop of Lincoln, Doctor Cole, Doctor Harpesfield, Doctor Langdal, and Doctor Chadsey.  
But that protestant Q. & her favourites knowing the weakness of their cause to be such, and how their chiefest champions had been not long before in public schools at Oxford, in the time of Queen Marie so shamefully convinced, by some of these Catholics, that they were hissed by the learned Auditors, durst not join with them in trial (Fox in Q. Mary, Cranmer. etc. But the Parliament beginning on or about the 23. of january, they had so prepared their way before, that almost in the beginning of that Parliament, they obtained their purpose, for the receiving their new Religion, and effected that in the very first Act or law of that Parliament (Statut. an. 1. Eliz. cap. 2.) and would never hearken to any motion, or petition for disputation, until the laste day of March (Stowe, Howes, Holinsh. & supr.) almost two months after they had thus utterly excluded the Pope's authority, and the catholic religion, used and practised here in this kingdom, ever since the time of Pope Elutherius, and King Lucius, as the catholics offered in Parliament to maintain, fourteen hundred years together, without interruption (Feckh. orat. 1. Elizab.) and public Mass and service of ●he church to have been here so long, celebrated in the latin tongue. And would not then condescend to any disputation at all, except the catholics would accept, (to write in Protestants words; That Baconus in Theologicis parum versatus, pontificus in festissimus, & ordinis v●ndex, tanquam iudex praesideret: Bacon (a lay man) unskilful in divinity most infestuous enemy to Papists, and persecutor of their order, should be judge (Camden Annal. pag. 27.)  
And if we may believe the present protestant Archbishop, the director of M. Francis Mason in their book of consecration, among so many essential matters controversed between the Protestants and us, they would not dispute any one at all, but only three, concerning some ceremonies. (Fr. Mason in praef. of their book of consecrat. and pag. 103.) 1. about common prayer in the Latin or vulgar tongue. 2. Of the power of Churches to change ceremonies. The third and last; whether communion was to be ministered in both kinds: and the trial of these three ceremonies to be made by a fourth most strange ceremony, in disputation, only to be put in writing, within two days warning at the most, unum & alterum diem de quaestionibus praemoniti; as your Antiquary writeth, and delivered to their said offensive enemy, Sir Francis Bacon (Cambden annal. pag. 27.) A thing so ridiculous and unequal in the judgement of all learned and wise men, that if it had been offered before Catholic religion was there condemned, it could not in conscience, either by those learned Bishops and Doctors, or the most learned that ever were in the Church of Christ; nor by the holy Apostles themselves if they had then and there been, be accepted.  
Yet Queen Elizabeth and her advisers in this, notwithstanding that she had in open Parliament before, as before is testified by our Protestant writers (Howes historical preface in Q. Elizabeth.) openly pronounced that she would never vex or trouble the Roman Catholics, concerning any difference in Religion: in that very parliament, where she spoke these words, and made that promise, proceeded to cruel penalties, against those Roman Catholics; all our holy Bishops were deprived, imprisoned, or exiled: (Stow histor. an. 1. Eliz. Holinsh. ibid. Cambden Annal. an. 1. Elizab. Theatre of Brit. an. 1. Eliz. &c.) So were all other Ecclesiastical persons that would not do, as pleased her. Great forfeitures and punishments were imposed upon all, that should hear Mass, or not be present at the new devised service, (Parl. an. 1. Eliz. cap. 1.2.) praemunire loss of lands goods, and perpetual imprisonment, and loss of life also, with note of Treason to them, that should deny that supreme spiritual power to be in her, which many Protestants and learned both then and at this time said, and say, she was incapable of. All which notwithstanding that most worthy clergy in exile, and prisons at home, so carried themselves in all civil duty to that Queen, that they are in that respect recommended and honoured by their greatest Protestant adversaries and persecutors; and for learning and piety dignified and exalted more by theirs and our enemies, than ever any Protestant Bishops or Ministers, which invaded their holy places since that time. (Protest. def. of English justice.. Godwine cattle, in those Bish. Camden in Annal.) But of this strange innovation of Religion by Q. Elizabeth, I shall write more largely from these Protestants hereafter.   

The virtue, learning, and dutiful loyalty of the Seminary or secular (as some name them) Priests which came after into England, the unjust persecution of them, and catholics here, and their most christian and religious offers and behaviour.  
AFter Q. Elizabeth had by profane devices & inventions of some few irreligious councillors, suppressed the ancient catholic religion of this nation, by such sinister proceed, as are before insinuated, & to the wonder of the christian world, orbe christiano mirante, as this Protestant chiefest antiquary truly noteth (Cambden Ann. p. 39) for the unconscionable manner, & effecting hereof: though she had in open Parliament, as before protested, never to vex or trouble the Roman Catholics, concerning any difference in Religion (How's historical preface in Q. Elizabeth) yet being assured, as the truth was, by her pauculi intimi, her very few secret friends (Cambd. supr.) that except she became a persecutor, against her faith & promise so publicly, and lately given, & so join craft and violence together, the weakness of her cause was such, and the learning and conversation of life, of those her Protestant ministers, whom she must employ in this business, so unequal, and inferior to the Catholic Bishops, and Clergy of England, that no hope of such succede as they sought could be, except these holy and worthy men were deprived, imprisoned, banished, or utterly one way or other, put to silence, in such manner, that after their deaths, our most sacred order of Priesthood, which had continued in this nation here, in honour and glory, from S. Peter the Prince of the Apostles, as we have made demonstrance in other places, might utterly and for ever be abolished and extinguished, as these few secret friends of those designments open Antipriests, or Antichristians (for the Religion of Christ, cannot be without the Priests of Christ's) plotted and hoped to effect. Your principal protetestant Antiquary, thus relateth that cruel Tragedy. (Camden in Annalib. pag. 36.)  
Parlamento dimisso, ex eiusdem authoritate, Episcopis pontificijs & alijs ecclesiasticae professionis iuramentum suprematus proponitur. Quotquot iurare abnuerunt, beneficijs, dignitatibus exuuntur, 80. rectores ecclesiarum. 50. prebendarij, 15. praesides Collegiorum, Archidiaconi. 12. totidem decani. 6. Abbates & Abbatissae, & episcopi 14. Omnes qui tunc sederunt, praeter unum Antonium Landavensem, sedis suae calamitatem.  
The Parliament being ended, by the authority thereof, the oath of the Queen's supremacy was proposed to the popish Bishops, and all Ecclesiastical persons, as many as refused to swear, were deprived of their benefices, dignities, and Bishoprickes. 80. Rulers of Churches, 50. Prebendaries. 15. Masters of Colleges, 12. Archdeacon's. 12. Deans. 6. Abbots, and Abbases, and 14. Bishops; all that then remained except one Anthony Bishop of Landaffe, the calamity of his See. These Bishop's inferior in virtue and learning to none in Europe, as your Protestants acknowledge (Mason lib. 3. consecrat. c. 1. pag. 100 Cambd. in Annal. sup. Stowe histor. an. 1. Eliz. Holinsh. hist. of Engl. 16.) thus deposed and imprisoned, and there to languish to death, they thought none could survive to consecrate any more priests for England: and all rulers of our Colleges in our (then renowned) Universities thus expelled, that would not forswear themselves in such a sacrilidgeous manner, they thought themselves assured, we could have no succession of Catholic students here to enter into that holy priestly order.  
But, non est consilium contra Dominum, there is no counsel against our Lord. The profane craft and wiliness of a few wicked men, joined with a woman's spiritual supremacy, was too weak to oppose and battle against the heavenly wisdom and will of God. For a very small number, and those of the meanest then, of our glorious Clergy, transporting themselves to Catholic nations, and by such poor means as they could procure, living in collegiall discipline and order at Douai in Flaunders, where our common happy and spiritual Nurse and Mother is, have so wonderful and far beyond the reach of your protestant policies and stratagems, to the honour of God, and his holy cause, against you, multiplied and increased, that the number and glory of our renowned publicly styled writers, which in this time have come from thence, giveth not place to any age, since our firste conversion to Christ (Pits. de virg. illustrib. Brit. aetate 16.17.) our holy Martyrs violently put to death by your Edicts, and proceed (Stowe histor. in Henric. 8. Elizabeth. & jacob. Catalogue. martyr. sub Henric. 8. Elizab. & jacob. 1.5.) exceed the number, & are not exceeded in glory by any, that histories among us remember, or whose memories by iniquity of times are not remaining, except the novenius persecution, during but nine years (Gyldas de excid.) ours ninetimes as long) under Dioclesian the tyrant. The Religious men of our Nation, all the spiritual Children of that Mother, are now possessors of many Religious Colleges, and Monasteries, under Catholic princes, and some of them in England, with so many of ours, are enroled in the Catalogue of glorious martyrs, and a great number here still working in this holy labour with us. And if to enter into schools with your best learned, we needed their assistance, we doubt not, but diverse of them are both well able, and also ready to assist us.  
But we have ever been so far from either needing or requiring it, of them, that when you gave us the greatest hopes of disputation, we never sent for any of our own re-●enowned professors living in foreign nations: But as true Priests of England are the successors of Saint Peter the glorious Apostle, and his holy Disciples in this Nation, by a continued and never yet interrupted hierarchical succession to this day, as we will justify against your best antiquaries, and divines; and firste after our Bishops by you deprived, imprisoned, and persecuted, undertook this quarrel of God in hand against you, and gained many souls to Christ; and for no cruelty or persecutions you raised, or exaggerated against them, could at any time be forced to forsake that holy combat, they had undertaken: But as true Pastors they adventured, and gave their lives for the sheep of our highest shepherd and redeemer: so to the hazard of the honour of Catholic Religion, if Protestants could have put them to foil, in all these miseries and afflictions, destitute of books, conference and harbour, oftentimes to hide their heads, they were ever ready to offer, and entreat for trial, with unequal conditions; and so unequal and prejudicial to the disputante Priests, and Catholics of England, that except they had been so confident in their cause, that they could not be overcome, and the Protestant Bishops and Doctors completely furnished and provided of all things requisite to such a conflict, if their quarrel were just, had not been desperately diffident in these matters; neither might the Catholics in conscience have made those suits and offers, or these protestants without damnable shame have refused them: as the petitions themselves will be everlasting witness to the world.  
And when the protestant state of England had in above twenty of the first years of Q. Elizabeth, afflicted us with many miseries, and had put many of our renowned and best learned priests, M. Sherwine, Ford, and others, to whom they durst not grant private disputation (in the Tower itself though never so secret) unjustly to cruel death: and had used M. Campion, the glory of that Society in England, in such measure, never allowing him to defend his own written book, though never so privately, until by tortures and racks they had almost deprived him of his life; and after with many of our learned and holy priests, did deprive him thereof; had banished M. Heywood, and M. Parsons had forsaken England, the three prime English jesuits of that time; And no other religious man either of that, or any other order, but only priests being here; and of them above thirty in prison in the Tower, Marshalsea, Kings-bench and other places: About which time, the 27. year of her reign, Queen Elizabeth was so unmindful of her promise made in her first parliament before remembered, that by degrees she clambered up, to the highest pitch of persecution, against her Catholic subjects, that she imposed twenty pounds for every month absence, from that her new service (Parl. of Q. Eliz. tit. Recusancy) at which to have been present, had been damnable sin and heresy, from our first conversion to Christ, until the year of K. Edward the sixth a child, both by the laws of the whole Catholic Church, and of this kingdom.  
And not content with this, proceeded to that contempt of the Priestly dignity of our most blessed Saviour and Redeemer, his holy Apostles, and all holy Bishops, and Priests since their time; that she intended to make it treason; and all that willingly received such men (as Christ our Saviour commandeth all men to do) under a great woe and penalty of loss of liberty, lands, goods, and life also, which she after enacted for a law in that Parliament. Whereupon, and for prevention of so  proceed, the chiefest catholics of this nation, with the consent and direction of their learned secular Priests, then only here remaining (and no religious men being at that time, or diverse years after in England) humbly preferred to that Queen, in her Parliament time, when she decreed that bloody edict, this most christian, and more than equal petition, following word by word.  

TO THE Queen's MOST Excellent Majesty, the humble petition of her Catholic subjects of England, in the 27. year of her reign, wherein their innocence is justified, and their Religion offered to be maintained for holy, against all Protestants.  
MOST mighty, and most excellent, our dread Sovereign Lady, and Queen: the necessity of our lamentable Case hath emboldened, yea necessarily enforced us, your Majesty's Catholic and approved Loyal subjects, to present our manifold griefs and miseries, to the merciful view, of your Majesty. We could still have been contented (as hitherto we have been) with silence to have made virtue of exceeding great necessities: But now most gracious Sovereign, the Law of God and nature doth Council us, to appeal unto your most excellent Highness, our head-spring, and fountain of mercy, for the lightning of some heavy yokes, which by common report we have just cause to fear, are intended shortly to be laid upon our weakened and wearied necks.  
To speak to so potent and prudent a Prince, as it may be reported boldness; so not to speak in a poor and distressed subject, may be deemed guiltiness. We do therefore, most dear sovereign, with all humility and no less sorrow, cry out and complain, that our afflicted hearts have conceived an unspeakgriefe: For what wound can be more mortal to the body, as treasonable accusations to innocent minds? We your Catholic subjects, which hitherto have been, and ever will be as well careful to please your Majesty, as not to displease almighty God, what lamentable state was ever like to ours, that we poor wretches in discharging our conscience toward God, are reported of, and that before your sacred Majesty, to be evil affected towards your Royal person, and princely dignities, and that upon the ●yle action and intent of every lewd person, we must be condemned all for traitors? as it appeareth in books daily printed against us, wherein we are most odiously termed bloodsuckers, and by uncharitable exclamations, it is published, that your Majesty is to fear so many deaths, as there be Papists in the land. Would God our hearts might be laid open to the perfect view of your Majesty, and all the world; no doubt our thoughts should appear correspondent to the expectation of so merciful a Queen, in all loving, true, and faithful subjection, and would give dew desert of mercy for reward.  
For most dear Sovereign, where our greatest accusation riseth upon our recusancy, or absence from the Church, which hath devoided us of all your wont graces, and special favours, we take almighty God to witness, that this our refusing and absenting ourselves is not grounded in us upon any contempt of your Majesty's Laws, or any other wilful or traitorous intent, but altogether upon mere conscience, and fear to offend God. This God knoweth the searcher of all hearts, and to the end, that our sincerity and dutiful meaning may appear the better; we do protest before the face of the eternal God, and Lord of us all, and do crave his dreadful indignation in this world, and sentence of endless damnation to be our portion in another world, if we do practise, speak, or write any thing in this point, more or less in respect of any worldly policy, but only as the duty of every good Christian Catholic bindeth him. In which opinion, if happily we be deceived, yet if we should do contrary to that we think in conscience to be right, we may justly be accounted men void of all grace and honesty, pretending in show, and thinking otherwise in heart, false dissemblers, hateful to God and man, and in truth the most dangerous and worst subjects that may be in a common wealth, as aptest to any wicked or desperate attempt.  
No less is verified in the late most excecrable example of that monster Parry, whose detestable endeavours, do give evident testimony, that the cruel vypar, ever temporizing and making shipwreck, of all faith and Religion, hath thereby at length, lost both taste and habit of the grace and fear of God. Let such diabolical dissimulation, and traitorous thirst after hallowed blood, sink according to God's judgement to their deserved doom of deep damnation; we for ●ur parts utterly deny, that either Pope, or Cardinal ●ath power or authority to command, or licence ●nie man to consent to mortal sin, or to com●it, or intend any other act, contra ius diui●um; much less can this disloyal wicked and unnatural purpose, by any means be made lawful; to wit, that a natural subject may seek the effusion, of the sacred blood of his anointed Sovereign: whosoever he be therefore spiritual, or Temporal, that maintaineth so apparent sacrilege, we therein renounce him, and his conclusion as false, devilish, and abominable.  
But now to return, to our purposed matter, we do promise, that we will hereafter be ready and willing to resort unto Churches, and other places, where public exercise of prayer is used, if the learned now assembled in convocations, hall be able by sufficient grounds of Divinity, to prove to the learned of the catholic Church, that we (being in Religion Catholic) may without committing mortal sin, frequent those Churches, where the contrary religion is professed, and exercised. If conscience only had not pressed us in this point, those of our Religion would never have suffered therefore so many disgraces, & impoverishments.  
And if that the merciful eyes, of your clement Princely nature, could but see the continual terrors, the straight imprisonment, the reproach full arraignment, making no difference, in place nor time, between murderers, felons, & rogues, and between gentlemen of all degrees, descended of honourable and worshipful parentage. Their arraignements being only and directly for matters of conscience, as also the famine, and miserable end of diverse imprisoned, the pitiful whip, the penalty of twenty pound a month, by reason whereof many good and worshipful householders, their wives and children are brought to extreme poverty: Many stand outlawed, and a number of poor souls remain prisoners for that cause: beside many other strange distressed Catholics, whose miseries heretofore not throughly known to your Majesty, have been and are digested with mildness, and tempered with dutifulness: hoping that now at length our approved patience, will move your most tender heart, to have some pity and compassion of us.  
Moreover (most gracious dread sovereign Lady and Queen) it may please your most excellent Majesty, to grant us the grace and favour to hear the unfolding of our greater, and more dangerous calamity hanging over our beads. For as much as nothing is more often and deeply to be called to our minds then the frailty of men, and how apt and prone we are to all sin and wickedness: for the stay and remedy whereof our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, hath instituted and left behind him, most holy and blessed sacraments, for the comfort of mankind, and hath commanded the use of them to be continued and preached in the Catholic Church, as the conduits of his grace, without the which the benefits of his dear passion cannot ordinarily descend or be applied unto us, as by which we are received, confirmed, remitted, fed, governed, multiplied and absolutely prepared to life everlasting.  
These benefits are to be valued at no less price to us, than they were to our forefathers, who religiously esteemed the want of them more dangerous, and uncomfortable than death itself. The ordinary ministers whereof are, and always have been catholic Bishops, and Priests, lawfully called and anointed, to that charge and spiritual authority, whom by divine ordinance we are bound to hear, receive and obey, with due honour, and reverence, and to seek unto them as to the dispensers of the mysteries of God, for counsel and help how to live and die in the love and favour of him, who hath power to cast both the body and soul of his enemies, into perpetual torment of hell fire.  
In consideration of all which necessary points, and for the humble and true purgation of ourselves, we do protest before the living God, that all and every Priest, or Priests, who have at any time conversed with us, have recognised your Majesty their undoubted and lawful Queen: Tam de iure, quam de facto. They speak reverently of you: They duly pray for you; they zealously exhort your subjects to obey you; they religiously instruct us, to suffer patiently what authority shall impose on us; yet they precisely admonish us, that it is an heresy condemned by general Counsels, for any subject to lift up his hand against his anointed. This is their doctrine, this they speak, this they exhort; and if we know, or shall know, in any of them one point of treason, or treacherous devise, or any undecent speech, or any thought injurious to your Royal person: we do bind ourselves by oath irrevocable, to be the first apprehenders and accusers of such.  
If now (most Gracious Lady) these Priests, who have not at any time been detected, accused or charged, with any act, or device of treason, shall offer to continue within this your Realm, and for so doing, shall be adjudged traitors, be it for their coming hither, or continuance here, or for practising, or administering of the blessed Sacraments only: then consequently, we your faithful and loving subjects are like to be capitally touched with the same, treason: and we know by no possible means, how to clear and keep ourselves from it. For when the Prophets, and anointed Priests of God, moved by zeal to gain souls, do repair hither, to distribute Spiritual comforts, according to every man's need; and coming to our gates to crave natural sustenance for their hungry and persecuted bodies, promising us also ghostly food, and medicine for our unclean souls: What shall we now do? we do verily believe them to be Priests of God's Church, we do certainly know, that they do daily pray for your Majesty. Their predecessors in that calling have ministered Baptism, and Confirmation unto your Majesty, anointed you Queen, and ordinarily and rightly placed you in your Royal seat, as all your Majesty's ancestors have been.  
O poor worms! what shall become of us! what desolation are we brought unto! O God of Heavens, Earth and Men witness with us, and plead our cause. O most lamentable condition, if we receive them, by whom we know no evil at all, it shall be deemed Treason in us: if we do shut our doors and deny temporal relief to our Catholic Pastors, in respect of their function, then are we all, already judged most damnable Traitors to Almighty God, and his holy members, and are most guilty of that curse, threatened to light upon such as refuse to comfort and harbour the Apostles and disciples of Christ, saying whosoever shall not receive you, not hear your words, truly it shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom and Gomorra in the day of judgement, etc. against which irreprooveable sentence, we may in no wise wrestle.  
Behold (most gracious and Liege Sovereign) into what straight we are plunged; be favourable we beseech your highness, to the lives and souls of men, it is the force of your Royal word, and the protection of your large prerogative, that can only disperse these torments, and direct us, to the calm and safe haven of indemnity of conscience. The minds of men, (most heigh and royal sovereign, are uttered in their wills, and their wills with affections are commonly expressed in their words and deeds. Let our deeds throughly be examined, and there shall be found harboured, neither in our wills evil affects: neither in our minds disloyal thoughts. Wherefore with most deep sighs, prostrate before the throne, and at the feet of your Highness royal Majesty, we with all humility, do submit these our lamentable griefs: And albeit, that many ways we have been afflicted, yet this affliction following (if it be not by the accustomed natural benignity of your Majesty suspended, or taken away) will light upon us to our extreme ruin, and certain calamity, that either we (being Catholics) must live, as bodies without souls: or else lose the temporal use both of body and soul.  
O most mighty Queen, let your excellent and heavenly virtues now take their chief effects, let your rare and incomparable wisdom enter into the consideration of these points, and let that Orient pearl and gracious work of nature, which in your royal person hath so many wealthful years shined amongst us, and administered most bright and comfortable beams of grace to all men: Let this unspeakable and singular good nature of yours, dear Lady and Queen, delight to work another thing like itself, or at least dislike to suffer a thing contrary to itself. Knit the body and the soul together; Let not us your catholic, native, english, and obedient subjects stand in more peril, for the frequenting the blessed Sacraments, and exercising the catholic religion, and that most secretly, then do the Catholics subject to the Turk publicly: then do the perverse and basphemous jews, haunting their Synagogues, under sundry Christian Kings openly: and then do the Protestants enjoying their public assemblies under diverse catholic Kings and Princes quietly. Let it not be treason, for the sick man in the body, even at the last gasp to seek ghostly council for the salvation of his soul of a catholic Priest: so shall both soul and body, spiritual and temporal, according to our most bounden duty serve you truly: and pray for your long and most prosperous reign effectually. Then shall this your gracious toleration sound out your most famous memory so triumphantly to all nations, that the same shall be preserved of record from age to age, and consecrated to endless glory and rerenowne.  
Accept most merciful Prince our faithfulness, regard our dutiful heart: despise not our sincere affection. Let our rehearsed miseries be relieved with your renowned mercies; account those subjects to be undoubtedly faithful in whose accusations and lives, hath appeared a chief and special care not to offend God. It now behoveth us most humbly to crave your majesty's gracious pardon: for that we have not observed the usual brevity of supplications, being destitute of friends to speak in our behalf; we are driven to set down somewhat largely by writing that which might by speech with les tediousness been uttered. Finally we make our humble petitions, that your excellency will give us such credit and affiance to our words & oaths, that we may from henceforth be deemed clear & voy●e of all suspicion, both in thought, word & deed: to refrain public places of prayers, only for fear to fall into damnable sin, & not in any hope or regard of any worldly preferment or policy. Secondly to have that pitiful consideration, & remorse of our calamities, as may be thought most expedient to the comfort of us afflicted, and most agreeing with your M. most gracious pleasure & good liking. Thirdly & chief, not to suffer any law to be made, whereby Catholic Priests of this realm shall be banished, & their receivers highly punished. Grant, O merciful Q. that we may do the works of mercy & charity to God's Priests, so long as they pray for your M. & use themselues dutifully: we are the more encouraged thus boldly to entreat with your M. because in former years it hath been delivered in pulpits, & published by books late printed, & otherwise diuulged, that your clemency neither hath, nor will punish any of your catholic subjects for their conscience, in matters of religion only. For our parts what success soever shall grow unto us by reason of this our humble supplication, we do advisedly & firmly vow to God, that your M. shall find such subects, as God requireth, and your M. desireth. That is most loving, most loyal, and most dutiful. Our Lord God preserve your M. to our inestimable joy, and your endless felicity. Amen.    

The Parliaments unjust proceeding against Priests and Catholics, and persecution without all cause by their own judgements.  
HItherto the petition of the Catholics of England penned by the reverend Priests in that time, and by their assent presented to Queen Elizabeth, and to her hands delivered by M. Shelly, in the 27. year of her reign, as she walked in her Park at Greenwich, and at the time of the Parliament then held, by which Parliament, all English men made Priests since the feast of the nativity of S. john Baptist, in the first year of her reign, were made Traitors, and the receivers of them felons. The same M. Shelly for his presuming to deliver it unto that Queen, not acquainting her privy Council therewith before, and for no other cause, as he often protested, was by Sir Francis Walsingham then chief Secretary, committed close prisoner to the marshalsey, where he died; which was the sum of the answer made unto this most humble and religious petition, which notwithstanding, that Queen and her Parliament then proceeded in making that cruel Law, as commonly the Protestants since have presumed: Although M. Robert Apreece of Washingly in Huntingtonshire lately deceased, and in his life, a worthy Confessor, did often affirm before diverse & credible witnesses, approving it again not three weeks before his death in the presence of many, being thereof of purpose demanded, that the Earl of Kent which then was, and present in that Parliament, did constantly affirm that Queen Elizabeth did not confirm that statue, but said I' a visera, which disabled it to be a law.  
He testified further, God is called to witness of this true relation, that a gentleman named M. Hambdon, at that time gentleman usher of Bromeley, then L. Chancellor, and present when the Queen came to allow or disallow the laws, then entreated, and assuredly justified to the same M. Apreece, and diverse other gentlemen assembled together at a supper that very day, that this Bill was not passed by the Queen's consent, but she said as the Earl before affirmed; and that giveth more strength for this to be so. The same M. Apreece confirmed upon his own knowledge, that this statute was not put in the written copy or Catalogue of the laws that passed in that Parliament, & was diuulged, and so continued a fortnight together in common acceptance, without contradiction.  
But howsoever the truth of this is, most true, and too true it was and is, that by only pretence of such a law, many holy and worthy Priests have been most cruelly put to death, and most grievous afflictions raised and prosecuted against the Catholics of England by that only warrant. Yet this Queen sometime before her death, or at least some of her privy Council gave some hope of a mitigation, thinking perhaps that after her death, his majesty that now is, being undoubtedly by his true and most lawful right to succeed, could no be so well pleased to find the Catholics of England, which had endured so much for their constant defence of the most unquestionable title of him and his holy mother, to be so grievously afflicted by the Protestants estate of this kingdom which had not been so friendly and favourably unto it. Therefore some hopes were given to the Archpriest of England then, that his Priests should at the laste have disputation with their Bishops and Doctors; and this was so credibly related and denounced unto him, that two several times he summoned & apppointed four of his learned Priests to undergo that combat. His assigned disputants were these: D. Weston. D. Smyth. D. Tho. Wright, and M. Richard Broughton. Three of these also he appointed to dispute, D. Smith, M. Wright and M. Broughton at the Parliament in K. james his time, when the new oath was enacted, and for the fourth assigned Doctor Bishop.  
And to confirm further this relenting disposition in that Queen, and the wisest of her counsel, besides that which is written before, those Priests whom he that writeth for the new oath under the name of M. Roger Widdrington doth untruely challenge for his opinion, as both their late Apology to the contrary, the martyrdom of some of them for only refusing it (as namely M. Robert Drury) and the confession and acknowledgement of that author himself upon certain knowledge do testify, they still justify that the council of Q. Elizabeth promised quietness and toleration, upon Priest's acknowledgement of temporal obedience unto her, which none denied: and this was the motive as these Priests have often protested (for I am none of them) that they were willing to yield so much as their spiritual bond and duty to the See Apostolic which they except, would permit to Queen Elizabeth then their Sovereign.  
Neither can we without great aspersion of dishonour, and all hope of all kind of penitency in that princess be of other mind. For having publicly so protested in parliament, never to vex or trouble any Roman Catholic for matter of Religion, her case (even by protestants judgement, not to persecute for Religion) should be too desperate by their own proceed, especially if we a little reflect upon that, which all the christian world can witness both for priests and Catholics, and our protestant histories themselves thus deliver unto us in these words: Elizabeth succeeded her sister, & began her reign with so general applause, as her sister did, by reason the Clergy, the Nobility, and most of the commons were Roman Catholics, who nevertheless, although they knew her full determination, was to alter their settled course in Religion, yet they all with one consent being set in the Parliament house, when the certain news was brought them of Queen Mary's death, they acknowledged her immediate right, and presently declared the same by diverse Proclamations, and forthwith prepared themselves to perform their homage and fealty, which she graciously accepted. (Howes Historical preface in Queen Elizabeth. Stows History. anno 1. Elizabeth. Cambden in apparal. Annal.)  
Thus these Protestant historians, and these renowned Bishops, Priests and Catholics were so far from raising the least resistance against her, when as we see they might easily have kept her from being Queen, if they would have proceeded as Protestants use to do, that those holy Bishops, as your greatest Protestant antiquary writeth (Cambden annal. pag. 27.) though they both thought Queen Elizabeth at that time to deserve the censure of Excommunication, and that they had power and authority to inflict it on her, yet they refrained to do it, jest by that means the people and subjects of England would take arms against her, and so depose her, being by them excommunicated. And thus tender of this Queen's safety and quiet (though after excommunicate, and for her birth by our Protestant historians and statutes themselves not in the best estate, were all Priests of England, after that not only at that time of the statute against them, they were all most free and innocent, as is justified in the petition before, & confirmed by our Protestant historians, which cannot charge any one Priest of those days with temporal disobedience; but ever after continued in the same duty and loyalty, not any one accused of the contrary, except they will instance in M. Ballard, for the business of the Queen of Scotland, and her son his Majesty that now reigneth, and long and happily may he reign amongst us, which we think for their duty they own to our Sovereign and King james, Protestants should not be hasty to urge: and if they should, and that matter were as the Protestants then pretended, yet but one Priest in 44. years, serving for their purpose, they may now acknowledge how unequal and unjust a thing it was, to condemn so venerable & heigh a function, generally for so an heinous offence, when they find none guilty by their own proceed.  
And this innocence of Priests was that, which in those latter days of Q. Elizabeth so enforced that Queen and her council, so cunningly as they could with their politic reputation, not to be altogether contrary to themselves, and not ingeniously acknowledge the wrongs and injuries they had offered and done to that sacred vocation, to stay the fury, and mitigate the rage of their former persecution, by occasion whereof, and Priests proved thus innocent, diverse religious men, which spareingly before (as those of the Society) or not at all (as the Monks of the order of S. Benedict, had visited England) resorted hither in some numbers in those latter days of that Queen. And thus much of the honour and loyalty of Priests, and undeniable truth of the Religion they taught in her time.   

How the Priests and Catholics of England, never deserved the least persecution or affliction, under our Sovereign King james, but rather favour, honour, and reverence.  
NOW let us come to the time of our dread liege and Sovereign King james: as the world well knoweth, the affection and dutiful love of the Priests and Catholics of England toward his Majesty's right and most undoubted true title to this kingdom, in the days of Queen Elizabeth, yet ever performing due obedience unto her, was not inferior to the best Protestants of this nation: so it pleased his Majesty without any exception of Priest or Papist, generally to speak in public Parliament of this whole Island. I am the husband, and all the whole I'll is my lawful wife: I am the head, and it is my body: I am the Shepherd, and it is my flock (King james parl. 1. sess. 1.) He therefore accounteth us poor members of this his wife, his body, & flock, for being but one husband, head and shepherd, he hath but one wise, body and flock by that relation. And at his entrance hither, by his regal testimony, we that be priests and Catholics applauded and embraced it with as great joy and alacrity, as those that were Protestants, and of his Religion, as they pretend: his Majesty termeth it (sess. 1. supr. parl. 1.) a joy full and general applause, and unexpected readiness of our deserts, memorable resolution, most wonderful conjunction, and harmony of our hearts, in declaring and embracing our undoubted King and governor at his first entry into this kingdom, the people of all sorts rid and ran, other flew to meet him; their eyes flaming nothing but sparkles of affection, their mouths and tongues uttering nothing but sounds of joy, their hearts, feet, and all the rest of their members in their gestures, discovering a passionate longing, and earnestness to meet and embrace, their new Sovereign.  
Thus it pleased him to embrace us in general, as his most loving and dutiful subjects: and in particular thus he pitied our former afflictions, and intended to mitigate and relieve them: my mind (saith he) was ever free from persecution or thralling my subjects in matters of conscience. (King james in Parliament) therefore of himself he did not think us worthy to be persecuted or enthralled, but rather lightened of those miseries, as his next words a warrant: I was so far from increasing their burdens with Roboam, as I have so much, as either time occasion, or law could permit, lightened them. And in his censure against Conradus Vorstius the Dutch heretic, recounting the differences between protestants and us, he findeth not one for which we may be persecuted, but the contrary.  
At his coming in, he set the Catholics and Priests at liberty, gave free pardons unto all of them, both priests and others, that would sue them forth, and pay four or five Nobles at the most for them to the Lord Chancellor: In those pardons, he remitted both the guilt and danger from priesthood, and much more than any of us had transgressed in, he styled us as our dignities, discentes, or callings were, gentlemen, priests, or of what degree, dignity, or preeminence soever he were, his beloved subjects: which words and state are incompatible wtth the name of Treason: in those pardons he pardoned whatsoever could be in any rigour interpreted to be within the danger of that Law, both our coming into England, and abiding and remaining here: so that by pardon being dead, they cannot possibly be revived, because the grant is irrevocable. Our coming in, was but one indiviall act and offence in Law, and so remitted, cannot be offence: our continuance, and remaining so long as we do not reiterate it again, by going forth, and coming in the second time, is also but one particular, singular, and individual action, without discontinuance, one ens fluens, as all such not interrupted be: an hour, a day, a week, a month, a year, a life, an age, and the like. This all philosophy, & common reason (whereon our common law is, and must be founded) teacheth us. Thus diverse protestant, & good lawyers have answered: thus his Majesty esteemed, when hearing of a priest named M. Freeman, put to death for his priesthood, by the judges of Warwick, soon after his Majesty's coming hither, with sign of sorrow answered: Alas poor man, had he not four nobles to buy his pardon: by which he concluded, that a priest being pardoned for his priesthood, could not after for being a priest be put to death, or termed a traitor, or endanger his friends and receivers, but was a free and lawful true subject, from that imputation. His Majesty also allowed the times of Constantine for times of true Religion, and the Roman Church then, and after, to be the true, & our mother Church, and not to be departed from.  
Then we may not so undervalue the learning and judgement of our learned and Sovereign in divinity, and histories, but he well knoweth (which no learned man is ignorant of) that in the time of Constantine, the Church of Rome had the same holy sacrifice of Mass, and the same holy sacrificing priesthood, which now it hath, which I will hereafter demonstrate by the best learned protestant antiquaries of this nation, as also that the Church of Rome at the revolt of King Henry the 8. was the same in all essential things, which it was in that prefixed time of Constantine; And to be liberal to my needy protestant countrymen in this case, I say, that the Church of Rome, & the Religion of the Priests of England, their priesthood, and sacrifice of the Mass, is the same which were in Rome, and in this Island also in S. Peter's time, & in every age without interruption since then, unto these days of Protestants. And if we may believe Isaac Casaubon, the stipendary champion for the Protestants of England, who saith, ab ore regis accepi, and haec est Religio Regis Angliae, etc. (Isaac Casaubon contra Cardinal Peron. Pag. 50.51.52.) I have it from the King's mouth, this is the Religion of the King, this is the Religion of the Church of England: The fathers of the Primative church did acknowledge one sacrifice in christian Religion, that succeeded in the place of the sacrifice of Moses. The sacrifice offered by Priests, is Christ's body and the same object, and thing, which the Roman Church believeth.  
These and such things troubled the heads of some great Protestant persecutors in England, (their consciences being guilty of somewhat not good) that they could not endure the least clemency of his Majesty towards his loyal and truest catholic subjects, but old stratagems and tragedies of Queen Elizabeth's time, must needs be renewed and played again, to bring not only the Catholics of England, but their holy religion (if possibly it could be done) into obloquy, especially with his gracious Majesty: and thereupon an execrable and most damnable treachery by gunpowder was to be invented, for a few wicked & desperately minded men to do, whom many protestants termed papists; although the true Priests and Catholics of England knew them not to be such, nor can any protestant truly say, that any one of them was such a one, as their laws and proceed against us, name Papists, Popish recusants, or the like. What he was, papist or protestant, rich or poor, noble or unnoble, of Court or country, that was inventor of this horrible devise, I will not discuss, but refer all indifferently minded men, and of judgement able to discern the probable truth in such a cause, to the history and circumstances thereof, as they are set down by the Protestant historian, M. Ed. Hows (histor. of Engl. in King james.)  
But to grant to our Protestant persecutors, for argument's sake (that which I may not) and they will as hardly prove, that this wicked enterprise was first invented by Catesby, and some of his consorts, and that diverse of them were papists, and had acquaintance with the chief jesuite then in England, who at least in confession knew of this conspiracy, & did not reveal it: that there were four of this company arraigned for the conspiracy, three gentlemen (though two of these, Fauxe and Keyes were but serving men) as the fourth, Thomas Bates styled yeoman. that one Knight and three Esquires concealed it, of which the Knight was so ignorant, that as the Protestant relator of this matter saith, at his death he spoke these words (Howes supr. in Sir Edward Digby) If he had known it first to have been so fowl a treason, he would not have concealed it, to have gained a world: Which he could not have truly said, if he had known it in particular, & in itself a most horrible damnable thing; and the rest as this author writeth, died penitent; and besought all Catholics, never to attempt such a bloody act, being a course which God did never favour nor prosper. Those that were up in tumult with Catesby, were (as the Protestants relateth (Howes supr.) never full fourscore strong, besides many of their household servants (no doubt papists if their masters were so) forsook them how early: yet they diuulged many detestable untruths against the king & state, omitting no scandal which they thought might serve their traitorous purpose, & that they were assembled and prepared to some special service, for the advancement of the catholic cause, hoping thereby to have drawn into their rebellion, those of that religion, & other wilful malcontents:  
And to make evident, it was rather a mad desperate attempt of one private kindred, or acquaintance, then of any religion. Thus it is creedibly recounted by them that knew their descents (for I was a stranger to them all) Catesby and Tresham were sister's children; the two Grants brethren, and the elder intermarryed with Winter's sister, calling his eldest son Winter Grant: the Winter's Grandmother, was sister to the Grandmother of Catesby & Treshame, and so they were kinsmen. York, and the Winter's sister's children, by the Englebies: the two writeth long time dependers of Catesby, and their sister married to Percy: Catesby, Tresham, T. Winter, two wright's and Grant were in Essex rebellion. All these were young except Percy, who gave the Pistol to his Master the old Earl of Northumberland in the Tower: And if any of these were Catholics, or so died, they were known Protestants not long before, and never frequenters of Catholic Sacraments with any Priest as I could ever learn: & as all the Protestant courts will witness, not one of them a convicted or known Catholic or recusant. And of all these remembered of that conspiracy or acquainted with it, the L. Mounteagle, now L. Morley, who disclosed it, was most noted to be a Catholic, as his Lady and Children were.  
Therefore seeing (as the Protestants have testified) no Catholics could by any devise, be drawn into this matter, not one among so many hundreth, or thousands of known Catholics privy unto it, but detesting it when it was known, the Archpriest by writing condemning it presently when he understood it, all his Priests abhorring it, & every one of them with the Archpriests warrant, and the consent of the chiefest Catholics in England, and all they in their petitions hereafter condemning it for a most horrible offence (Archpriest letter of prohibit. Author of moderate answ. epist. dedicat. to the king. catholics petitions to the parliament and chief Secretary) And not one either Priest or known Catholic, with all those strict and diligent searches and examinations then made by the protestant state about it, was either proved, or probably suspected to be guilty of it: but so fare freed, that the Lords of the Council, requested that a Priest should be apppointed to persuade and assure Fauxe (a chief agent in it) that he was bound in conscience to utter what he could of that conspiracy, and M. Tho. Writ a learned Priest did hereupon come to the council, and offer his best service herein, and had a warrant to that purpose subsigned with 12. privy Councillors hands, which he shown unto me, and I am witness of his having such a warrant. But as he said, Fauxe had confessed all they could wish before he could come unto him, so that no man of conscience can, or will think, but generally all the Priests and Catholics of England did rather deserve favour, honour, and enfranchisement, from all afflictions, for their most religious, and holy serving of God, and as loyal obedient and dutiful truth, allegiance and fidelity to our protestant King and country, than the least disfavour for this practice.  
For if the Priests and Catholics so many thousands in England would have entertained it, no man can be so malicious, and simple to think, but there would have been a greater assembly than fourscore, to take such an action in hand; and the council could not be so winking eyed, but they would have found forth some one or other culpable, which they could never do, though some of them most powreable in it, tentered and racked forth their envy and hatred against us, to the uttermost limits they could extend. To confirm this our innocence, the king's Majesty in his second proclamation against that wickedness, calleth all the confederates, men of lewd insolent disposition, and for the most part of desperate estate (Proclamat. 2. against Percy, etc. an. 1605.) and in his third Proclamation, when they were all discovered and known, thus he proclaimeth and publisheth: (Procl. 3. an. eod. 1605.) It appeareth now in part who were the complices in this detestable Treason, published by our former proclamations, in their assembling together, to move our people to rebellion, although perhaps many of them did never understand the secret of his (Percies) abominable purpose. Where we plainly see, that the King and his counsel then knew the complices, and partakers of that villainy, yet they never taxed any Priest, or known catholic therewith.  
And it further proveth, that they which joined therein knew not the practice in particular, neither durst the workers of it disclose it to them, lest for the vileness of it, they would have rejected or revealed it, as all true Catholics would have done. And his Majesty in public parliament, doth free Catholics as much as Protestants in this invention, when he plainly saith (as truth is) if it had taken effect, Protestants and Papists should have all gone away, and perished together (King's speath parl. an. 1605.) And to demonstrate from his majesty's public act, that Priests and catholics were as innocent as Protestants, and as the King's Majesty himself, of this, and all such vileness, he declareth by Proclamation (Proclamat. die 7. Novembr. an. 1605) We are by good experience so well persuaded, of the loyalty of diverse subjects (of the Roman religion) that they do as much abhor this detestable conspiracy, as ourself, and will be ready to do their best endeavours, though with expense of their blood, to suppress all attempters against our safety, and the quiet of our estate, & to discover whomsoever they shall suspect to be of rebellious or traitorous disposition. Thus his majesty by good experience hath publicly pronounced.  
And though I am no jesuit, yet religion, justice & charity draw my pen to write thus much, for the supposed guiltiness of M. Garnet, superior of jesuits here at that time, we have but the protestants affirmation, and him denying it, and we have from the same protestants, that which rather iustifyeth his denial, than their affirmation: for they published his examination before the Council, wherein they set down his opinion (H. Garnets' examination before the Council. anno 1605.) That the Pope could not depose the king, and they add his reason thus; because the King was never subject to the Pope; which reason I do not examine, but thus justify, that if in his opinion, the pope could not depose the king; and the king was never subject to the pope, than the pope could not licence any man, supposed a Catholic, so to proceed; for himself could not by this his opinion so do, much less any papist by his allowance: and if the king was never subject to the pope, he could never be subject to any papist, the pope's and his own subject. And whereas the protestants condemn some other jesuits for this matter, and among them Father Baldwyne, yet having him prisoner diverse years, under their strictest examination, they at last dismissed him as innocent and guiltless therein, & that with honour. And how-so-ever the case stood with the accused jesuites, we are evidently taught by these greatest authorities, that both priests and catholics were upon this pretence most unjustly persecuted; although besides all these reasons, we by public consent both of Archpriest, best learned clergy and Catholics, presented and offered to maintain our cause & innocence in these humble petitions: and first to his majesty in this manner.  

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT and mighty Prince, our gracious and dread Sovereign, JAMES by the grace of God, King of great Britain, France and Ireland, in the year 1605. justifying the Innocence of Catholics, and truth of their holy Religion, against all best learned protestant adversaries.  
Most gracious Sovereign.  
THe late intended conspiracy against the life of your royal majesty (the life, union, rule, and direction to these united kingdoms) was so heinous an impiety, that nothing which is holy, can make it legitimate, no pretence of Religion can be alleged to excuse it, God and heaven condemn it, men and earth detest it, innocents bewail it, the nocent and unhappy delinquents themselves in repentance have lamented it, and your dutiful, religious and learned Catholics, Priests and others, which have endured most for their profession, hold it in greatest horror, and will swear, protest, promise and perform to your Majesty, whatsoever loyalty, obedience and duty, is due from a subject to his temporal prince, by the word of God, law of nature, or hath been used by the subjects of this kingdom, to any your christian progenitors from the first to the last: acknowledge and render to your honourable counsel, and all magistrates in civil causes, so much honour, reverence and submission, and to all other protestant subjects, like amity and neighbourly affection, as if they were of the same Religion, which we profess.  
Yet, this is the miserable and distressed state, of many thousands your most loyal and loving subjects (dread liege) for their faithful duty to God, and a Religion taught in this kingdom, and embraced by all your progenitors, and our ancestors, so many hundred years; that every adversary may preach, & print against us, and make their challenge, as though either for ignorance we could not, or for distrust of our cause, we were unwilling to make them answer, or come to trial: when quite contrary, we have often, earnestly, and by all means we could, desired to have it granted, with equal conditions, against the most selected, and best learned doctors of that Religion.  
And at this present, when your chiefest Protestant Clergy, Bishops and others is assembled, we most humbly entreat, this so reasonable a placet, that although they will not (as we fear) ever consent to an indifferent choice, opposition, and defence in questions: yet at the least, to avoid the wonder of the world, they will be content, that we may have public audience of those articles, opinions and practice, for which we are so much condemned and persecuted. If we shall not be able to defend or prove any position generally maintained in our doctrine, to be conformable to those rules in divinity, which your Majesty and the protestant laws of England (we can proffer no more) have confirmed for holy, the canonical scriptures, the first general counsels, the days of Constantine, and the primative Church, let the penalties be imposed and executed against us. If we perform it, or this petition may not be admitted, we trust, that both our office to God, and duty to our Prince, is discharged in this point.  
Your royal person, and that honourable Consistory now assembled, are holden in your doctrine, to be supreme sentencer, even in spiritual business in this kingdom; we therefore hope, you will not in a Court from whence no appeal is allowed, and in matters of such consequence, proceed to judgement, or determine of execution, before the arraigned is summoned to answer, hath received or refused trial, is, or can be proved guilty. If we be condemned, and our cause be just, and religion true; it is God, & not man, against whom you proceed in sentence. If our profession be erroneous, and yet for consent with so many nations, and so long continuance, it is less unpunished: you only pardon the frailty and ignorance of earthly men, and fight not with the heavenly. Deny not that to us (your ever true and obedient subjects) in a religion so ancient, which your collegued princes, the King of Spain, and the Archduke, do offer to the so many years disobedient Netherlandes, upon their temporal submittance, in so late an embraced doctrine: that which the Arrian Emperors of the east, permitted to the Catholics (Bishops, priests, Churches) toleration: what the barbarian Vandals often offered, and sometimes truly performed in Africa: What the Turkish Emperor in Greece, and Protestant Princes in Germany, and other places, conformable to the examples of Protestant rulers, not unanswerable to your own princely piety, pity, and promise, no degust to any equally minded Protestant or Puritan at home, a jubilee to us distressed, a warrant of security to your Majesty in all opinions, from all terrors and dangers. From which of what kind soever, we most humbly beseech the infinite mercy of Almighty God to preserve your Highness, and send you, your Queen and posterity, all happienesse and felicity, both in heaven and earth, Amen.   

Another petition of the Catholics of England to his Majesty, at the same time.  
REmember most worthy Prince, not only how grievous, but how general the penalties against your catholics be enacted; and yet new threatenings be made, that new & more strange (as nec inter gentes) shall be ordained: The bodies, honours, reputations and riches of the husbands, to be punished for their wife's religion and souls, to which they are neither husbands nor superiors; children to be taken from their parents, & parents to be deprived of their education, which Catholic princes do not, and in conscience cannot offer to jews themselves, though (in some opinions) the slaves of Christians. Children, servants, kinsmen and neighbours to be made hired espials, to betray their parents, masters, kindred, in things as unlawful, which the whole catholic world honoureth for holy. Commendable arts, functions of physic, and which have no connexion with religion, to be put to silence in catholics. The severe penalty (twenty pound a month) for not monthly professing the protestant faith in churches (when in all divinity the precept of profession of true and undoubted faith, in se & ex se, bindeth but seldom) is to be increased. And others of such condition, too many here to be mentioned, and too grievous and unnatural: we hope, in your princely opinion, to be concluded by a king's consent under favour, for all, we instance in one most heavy, and general in those of our deceased Queen. All Priests, though never so dutiful or obedient, be censured for traitors, equally with the greatest offendor, in the sin of treason, when many guiltless souls of that sacred order, would not for thousands of worlds once consent to any such, or far inferior offence. A thing most strange, and beyond all example, that men in respect only of their calling and function, and that function so reverenced by all our forefathers, should without further cause be condemned, as guilty of so detestable a crime.  
We defend holy Priesthood to be a Sacrament, which being ordained by God, cannot be changed by man, Pope, Prelate, or humane power, but remaining in all things, substance and doctrine, the same, which in those days when it was so honourably esteemed of all your Christian progenitors, and when our mother church kept her first integrity by your highness judgement, as we are ready to make defence. It is the honour of our King in heaven (most mighty Sovereign) for which we continue in combat: that religion which the whole catholic world in all general counsels, pope's, doctors, and learned men, have ever professed; wherein this nation (as our Protestants acknowledge) was converted, all our Christian ancestry embraced, and which all princes in the school of Christ (of whom your Majesty is descended) maintained in themselues & in their subjects. That which is so general, cannot be surrendered by a small number, of one kingdom: It is not in the power of man, to resign the honour of God: if it will please your Majesty to vouchsafe us licence to request, and grace to obtain, that your own princely sentence & censure may stand, that we ought not to depart further from the Roman Church, our mother Church (by your judgement) than she is departed from herself, when she was in her best, and flourishing state: And that the time of Constantine was incorrupted in religion, we humbly again offer trial before your heignesse, with equal conditions of schools, against the most selected and chosen protestant Bishops and doctors of your dominions, to prove or defend any, or every substantial article, which we now profess, to be agreeable unto (and not, dissenting) the known public Catholic doctrine of that mother Church, in those your mentioned incorrupted days of Christianity.  
And seeing the disfavour and penalties against lay Catholics, are grounded upon their recusancy, to be present at your protestant service: we humbly beseech, it may be called to memory, how they have protested in several supplications, one to your Majesty, before the end of the laste parliament: and the other to Queen Elizabeth, in the twenty seventh year of her reign, to be builded only upon fear of offending God. To which their so long and manifold disgraces, losses, imprisonments, and sufferings, are sufficient witness: And for further trial thereof, have offered to repair to your Protestant Churches, and service, without further exception, if the learned of your Religion can, and do prove to the learned of their profession, that it may be performed without offence to God, which is so much in the opinion of all divines, as any Christian subjects can offer in this case.  
Th●s if your Protestant Clergy do refuse, or do not satisfy so Christian a request, we hope your Majesty being wise, learned, judicious, and gracious, will perceive, that the severity of the laws against them, for that cause, is not to be put in practice. These things in most humble manner, we commend to your highest and merciful consideration: And so desiring of the Almighty, to grant all happiness and prosperity to your Majesty, and posterity: we conclude in all dutiful subjection, with that ancient Father (Tertullian in Apollget.) We will faithfully serve you in your Palace, we will accompany other your subjects in the market, we will join with them in the field, against your nemies, only to you we leave the Churches.   
These two petitions were printed and presented to his Majesty in the Parliament, when the new oath was enacted, and the four remembered Priests appointed by the Archpriest then to perform that challenge or petition; likewise at the same time was presented to the Parliament, by the hands of Sir Francis Hastings, and Sir Richard Knightly, two Puritans of that Parliament, from the chief Catholics of England, with the allowance of the Archpriest, and his clergy; this petition following to the same purpose.  

The humble petition of the chief Catholic Recusants of England, presented to the heigh Court of Parliament, in the year 1605. by the hands of Sir Francis Hastings, and Sir Richard Knightly, then of that house of Parliament: to both which it was delivered, by the said Catholics.  
THe proceed of that heigh Court of Parliament, in the days of our late Queen Elizabeth, against the Catholic subjects of this kingdom, were for severity far beyond example; which they hoped for many most just, reasonable true causes, & were to receive their end, when she should cease to live, and by death, determine her personal quarrels and contentions against the Religion, and Apostolic power of the Sea of Rome. Especially by the joyful and happy entrance & Coronation of our most honoured King james, most free from those terms wherewith she was entangled, at temporal peace, amity, and unity with that holy Sea, with the sacred Empire, all Christian Kings and Princes, by undoubted royal descent, the most lawful, legitimate, and rightful King of all these his united kingdoms. We that be Catholics in England, and had ever been so true and faithful to the only united true title of him and his blessed Mother, and never entered into any dissotiation against it, assuredly hoped, he would not singularly draw his sword of persecution against us, his most dutiful, faithful, and obedient subjects, in whom he could find nothing to revenge or punish: for he publicly protested in that Court of Parliament: his mind was ever free from persecution or enthralling his subjects in matters of conscience, and the burdens of Catholics were rather to be lightened, then with Roboam to be increased (king james speech in parliament. 1. sess. 1.)  
But seeing all this notwithstanding, your Parliament now assembled (contrary to our hopes, and otherwise our deservings, as we hope have been) doth rather presage an intended increase, then either ceasing, or mitigation of these our miseries, and extreme afflictions: we fear least silence in us might be taken as an interpretative yielding or consent, that we are not altogether unworthily afflicted, with so strange calamities: for the world cannot otherwise in wisdom censure, that such punishment by so heigh a judgement should be imposed upon men (subjects, friends, and kinsmen, so generally) except guilty of some most heinous, or execrable fact or offence against God, our King and country. Wherefore you must give us leave in this perplexed case, to contest against you in the humblest & best manner we may, and leave it a memorial to potesteritie, that if you persist or proceed in persecution, we protest before God, and in our consciences, we shall be unjustly persecuted. If you will continue or increase persecution, you must pretend some motive to do it, and if you desire to  or shadow it, with any cloak or colour of justice, it must be founded upon some probable conviction, if our general deserving such punishments to be so generally prosecuted against us, which must needs be some universal disobedience, or disloyalty in us all, either temporal to our terrestrial king and country on earth, or spiritual to God and the heavenly kingdom; we know no thirde to whom your Religion would wish us to perform obedience.  
For our discharge to the first, we have served now under your vigilant, and surveying eyes, diverse apprenticeships in continual persecution; yet from the first beginning thereof, unto this day, you have not found by all those narrow searches, and scrutinies you have made, that we (whom you thus persecute under the name of Religion) have been thus found disloyal to our temporal prince, neither is that pretended in any of your laws against us. And in this late ungracious and hellish conspiracy, if they had been such as your laws and proceed style Papists and Recusants, yet his Majesty by his public proclamation (King james Proclamation in Septemb. an. 1605) giveth that testimony of the loyalty, and love of his Catholic subjects unto him, that you which persecute us do not, & by his regal words cannot accuse us therein. And the number of these certainly known convicted Catholques, which you persecute for religion, and both by his majesty's declaration, and all protestant most diligent searches and examinations, thus innocent, and which detest all disloyalty, are 500 to one of those which you prove guilty, by your public Courts and records. Neither can you find by any such proceed against Catholics, that these malefactors were of the number of those which you have so punished and persecuted for our religion. The Archpriest of England, and the reverend priests of his company (who best knew who be Catholics by their frequenting holy Sacraments) have by public writings utterly renounced them, and condemned their lewd enterprise, for most wicked impiety.  
Therefore in conscience and justice you cannot upon this pretence, raise a general persecution against us: for in so doing, you should uniustly persecute thousands of those that be as innocent, as yourselves can be, or his Majesty himself by his own testimony of us (King jam procls. supr. an. 1605.) We are by good experience so well persuaded of their loyalties, that they do as much abhor this detestable conspiracy as ourself, and will be ready to do their beast endeavours, though with expense of their blood to suppress all attempts against our safety, and the quiet of our state, & to discover whom soever they shall suspect to be of rebellious or traitorous disposition. This is his Majesty's sentence by good experience of us his catholic subjects, your petitioners. Therefore we are confident, we rather deserve fafavour then affliction at your Court. And yet if contrary to the laws of this Kingdom, you would say, that the lands, goods, and lives of delinquents (which we do not think you intend, or we will wish you to spare in these offenders) do not satisfy in such cases, you must notwithstanding (to contain your proceed within the shadow of justice) not impose the offence and punishment of the guilty, upon those that be so innocent: The highest law and rule enacteth: anima quae peccaverit, ipsa morietur: and as a great Counsellor and secretary of estate hath now published in print for your direction (solum necis artifices arte perire sua (Rob. Earl of Salisb. in his book an. 1605.) Therefore we stand so clear in your own knowledges and consciences from all temporal disobedience, that in rigour of justice, it taketh from you all cause, and pretence, why these or any afflictions at all, should be imposed upon us, in those respects.  
Then you must directly make your quarrel to persecute for religion, or recusancy, a dependency thereof: If Religion be objected, we answer as we have ever done, and desire no further favour for our Religion (in your own knowledge here so ancient) than you obtained of us for your own so new, that the examples of Queen Marie her time, (which many of your profession account notwithstanding tyrannical) may be followed. Let a competent number of our learned priests, be called to any of your universities, or other public place, where the best learned of your religion shall give them meeting: let such questions and propositions as concern the especial points in controversy be proposed, sufficient time of consideration allowed, and other such equal conditions granted, as were to your chiefest Bishops and doctors, in the mentioned time. And if our catholic disputation shall not be able to justify and maintain our religion and cause to be holy, you may at your pleasure proceed against us, if we persist therein. You have long time, and with grievous punishments persecuted us, yet you would never vouchsafe us so mean a trial and justice in this kind: Execution (as you know) before conviction is preposterous and cruel injustice, & both by your Bishops and majesty's censure in public, Correction without instruction is but tyranny. (D. Matthew now protest. Archb. of York, Serm. before the K. and parl. K. james speech in parliament.  
If our recusancy, or refusal to be present at your new church-service, is alleged a pretence against us, being a practical act and profession of religion, it dependeth upon the former question, concerning religion: for neither catholics nor protestants do teach, that men so far differing therein as we and you, can in conscience communicate together in such things. And no enemy or persecutor of us can imagine, or invent any allegation for this our refusal, but either obstinacy in our wills, or ignorance in our understandings: non datur medium: we cannot conceive what you can otherwise device. Our imprisonments, losses, disgraces, and severest punishments in so many years, being the whole life of a man, from time of discretion) the known bridles of obstinate people) will condemn all men of too much will, and little judgement, that could charge us with this former. That which we have offered in religion, freeth us in the second, and condemneth our accusers.  
And to manifest now, (as often we have done before) that we are neither carried away by wilfulness or ignorance in this debate, we have at sundry times by most earnest suits & petitions desired and offered and still do, that if your best learned Protestant Bishops and divines can, and shall prove unto the learned of our side, that we may repair unto your churches, and there be present at your service, without most grievous offence to God, we will willingly perform it. Wherefore ye hope that you who in your own profession would be esteemed zealous and religious, will judge this our offer to be such, that no Christians can offer more: And consequently further reflect and consider how dishonourable, shameful, and sinful it would be to your Consistory, & whole Religion, to impose and multiply penalties upon us (these offers considered) for not doing those things, which by your own knowledge, your best learned in divinity, on whose words and warrant you hazard your souls, cannot, nor will not, take upon them, to maintain, as lawful for us to do.  
But if so many suits, supplications, reasons, and examples will not call you to a contrary mind, but you have set up your resolution, without any answer or defence by us, to be our accusers, judges, and executioners, and singularly without any example at all, in the world, either of Christians, or others, to persist in vehemency of persecution against our religion: let us find you so far to hearken unto us, that to retain the name of lawemakers, you will retain some proportion & anology (as all so named must do) with the most ancient law of God, of nature, nations, and this kingdom, not to punish twice one and the same offence. If by strong hand you will have that to be offence, which we assure ourselves is so far from that name and nature, that the contrary is great and heigh offence to God; Non consurgat, duplex tribulatio, and afflixi te, non iterum affligam: and again. Deus non punit bis in idipsun. And as a double punishments is not to be inflicted for one offence, so by these laws, pro mensura delicti erit & plagarum modus; which our ancient laws in our great charter of England follow: Nullus liber homo amercietur, sed secundum modum delicti ipsius, saluo tenemento suo (Magna Charta cap. 14.) Peruse if it please you, but the heads of the punishments provided against us, for sundry respects, (questionable whether any offence or no) and shall perceive that your laws do not impose you or prosecute such severe penalties by many degrees upon sins, that certainly and by all judgements are confessed and acknouledged to be sins, yea, and great sins against the law of God, nature, all nations, & this Kingdom.  
By this we hope you understand, that if you will have example, either in heaven, or earth to follow, your persecutions must die, or must diminish, for we have yielded full satisfaction to all your pretended reasons to persecute us. That which remaineth, we desire you to consider what a resemblance there is, or should be between yours & the heavenly court, from whence the irrevocable law is proceeded, & with great terror published: Woe to them that make unjust laws, and writing, have written injustice, that in judgement they might oppress the poor, and do violence to the cause of the humble of my people, that widows might be their prey, and the spoil of fatherless. So beseeching the almighty, that in these and other causes, in that heigh Court now in hand, you may in such sort proceed, as may be to his honour and glory, the security & good of his majesty, his offspring & posterity, and this common wealth, we leave you to God's holy protection.  
Your wel-wishing Countrymen, kinsmen, alliance, & friends, the Catholic Recusants of this realm of England.   
An other also of the like tenure, which here ensueth, was then with the same assent subscribed with 23. hands of the chiefest Catholic gentlemen of England, and presented to the chief Secretary of estate, potent in those times in court and council, and as the Catholics then feared, not equally effected towards them, though never so innocent and well-deserving, who was one of them who with other of the council declared to diverse of these gentlemen (as they confidently reported upon their reputation) that the King's pleasure was they should pay no more the penalty of twenty pounds a month for their recusancy; and after when he had persuaded his majesty to the contrary, denied his former assertion, of the release thereof, although the gentlemen most sincere and just, still insisted and maintained that this message was so delivered unto them: which also the then Earl of Northampton, L. Henry Howard, did freely confess & acknowledge to be most true. And the same Catholics were more than jealous, that this practice of conspiracy was no great secret to that Secretary, long before diverse of them that were actors in it, and by him named Catholics, were acquainted with it. We may not enter into judgement, where men are not defamed of such inventions, to entrap those they do not affect: for the rest, let M. Howes his history of that matter make relation who it was, a great protestant that had more, or not much inferior know ledge of it by his relation, than some that wer-put to death for concealing it. But howsoever, the petition followeth in these terms.  

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, ROBERT, Earl of Salisbury, chief Secretary of estate to his Majesty: the petition of the Catholics of England.  
IF the corrupted and obscured understanding of men not knowing God, could among other clouds and mists of ignorance, be so far blind in that wherein the law & light of nature itself doth give sufficient instruction to all people and nations, that Princes and rulers in authority are to be honoured and obeyed: yet the heavenly and supernatural illumination doth clearly deliver all Christians (especially Catholics) from such darkness and want of duty, giving knowledge that every soul must be subject to superior powers; that God is he, per quem reges regnant: and, he that resisteth power, resisteth the ordinance of God.  
Wherefore we your Lordships humble suppliants, the Lay Catholics of this Kingdom, so long probationers for religious causes, have ever in our hearts, words and works abandoned all contrary proceed, as a Babylonian building and insurrection against the might and command of heaven: damnable and rebellious unto all regal and princely power, peace, and unity on earth. Therefore being admonished by the wisest King, that there is as well, tempus loquendi, as tacendi: and occasions of these times being such as enforce us to speak, least by silence we might be censured by some no equal minded-men unto us, to be suspected criminal in that, wherein as all matters of that nature we do, and ever did, by long-knowne experience, stand most innocent: we therefore protest, concerning the late conspiracy, that we do condemn it for a most impious, unnatural, barbarous, and execrable offence, against the law of nature, the sacred word of God, and the canons and practice of the holy Catholic Church, wherein we do live: to which, no pretence of holiness, no petence of Religion, no pretence of private or public authority, can give warrant to make it lawful. And we take God to witness that we were neither consenting, conspiring or privy to that, or any such w●ked designment, but the very remembrance that any such enterprise should be intended or devised by any man (especially bearing the name of a Catholic.) is the continual sorrow of our hearts, and among all tribulations, the object of our greatest grief.  
And for this present, and all future times we offer, profess, and promise, as great, ample, true, and faithful obedience, loyalty, & duty to his Majesty, as though he were a Prince of our own religion: as much as any our ancestors in this Kingdom did yield to any his highness progenitors, Kings and Princes thereof, or as is required of Catholic subjects in other countries to their Protestant rulers, or as any Protestant subjects observe or perform to their Protestant or Catholic Sovereigns, in civil obedience: That neither we can offer, nor his Majesty or estate require more of us, all worlds and generations of men, Catholics, Protestants, Christians, Pagans, & whatsoever in this and all other Kingdoms, past, present, and to come, will witness for us. And for our sincerity, dutiful and obedient meaning herein, we appeal to all our persecutors, their most strict, politic, and cunning inquiries and examinations of our behaviour, and carriage from time to time, by which we stand as clearly unspotted, as irreprehensible, as irreprooveable, as dutiful in all civil respects and duties, as any Protestant in this Nation.  
Therefore, Right honourable, if some few unhappy men of our religion have made transgression of their allegiance, we hope it shallbe no motive to change your grave and unresolued mind from thinking it undue to impose a burden upon innocents, for the fact of the guilty, according to your own excellent speech heretofore used, and now at this present: Solum necis artifices arte perire sua. And your Lordship's most christian desire, of one uniformity in true religion in this kingdom, bringeth no small hope unto us, that now at last, our so-long and many times in humble manner requested petitions concerning our not coming to your churches, may by your honourable mediation to his Majesty, be brought to trial, by the learned of both parties, whether without committing sin, it may be done by us, which we take to be the only means to bring this kingdom to your so-much desired uniformity in religion.  
For if your Protestant now assembled, or best learned doctors, can and do prove it lawful to our learned divines, we absolutely offer to perform it, without delay or further exception. And may it please your Lordship to call to mind, the ordinary known practice of Catholics and Protestants in France, Heluetie, Germany and other countries, where they communicate in civil societies, and not in churches, and spiritual communications: which pleadeth that our refusull is not singular, but having ground and patronage, both from Catholics and Protestants in this point. Our confidence now is, that his Majesty, your honour, and the state, will not take this our humble and necessary petition in evil part, considering that catholic Emperors, Kings of France and other Princes, have granted the like to their Protestant subjects, and this in those countries where no other Religion, than the Catholic Roman Religion hath been publicly exercised at any time, since their first conversion from Paganism.   
All these petitions being presented according to their titles at that time, though the two first to his Majesty were printed, and the book after his manner answered by D. Norton a Protestant Bishop, yet he never took notice of either of those petitions, or any one sentence of them: and the Parliament was as silent, for that presented unto it. Only this Secretaty was so much distasted with the gentlemen that subsigned it, that he told M. Anthony Skinner, who presented it unto him, that if they were present, he would set them all by the heels, a punishment for rogues, & not for men of their worth and reputation. There was no other answer made to these petitions, but only this, the oath was enacted, and after prosecuted with such violence as the world can witness, such account and regard hath been made of our misery by these Protestants.   

Whether any reformation may be found in the pretended reformers of religion for Catholics to follow. And first of King Henry the 8. with whom neither Catholics nor Protestants now join in Religion.  
NOW, seeing if we be in error, we cannot possible by all means we can work, procure that the learned protestant bishops, and doctors, who have controlled all the christian world in their secret assemblies, will undertake to instruct a few Priests of England, but suffer in their proceed many thousand of Catholics by this means to be tyrannised over both in bodies and souls: let us return to the first founders of this religion in England. The father King Henry the 8. his young son and daughter, and see if we can find any motive in their proceed to move us from our error, if we be in error. And first to begin with the first, the father in this new Religion, and spiritual power, all Protestant antiquaries, Fox, Parker, Stowe, Holinshed, Cambden, Howes, and the rest entreating of this matter assure us, both that King Henry the 8. and his fit instrument Cranmer, for a clergy man, were the principal and first actors in this Tragedy (Fox tom. 2. in Henr. 8, and Cranmer. Parker antiq. Brit. in Cranm. Stow hist. in Henr. 8. Holinsh. ibi. Theatre of great Brit●in eod. Howes historial praef. Cambd. praef. hist. Eliz. &c.) and the occasion King Henry took to make his revolt from the Church of Rome, because the pope would not consent for his putting away his wife Queen Katherine, that holy Lady of Spain. For before that time, king Henry was so obedient a child to the Sea, and Religion of Rome, that by the pen of the blessed Bishop Fisher (whom he after put to death, for denial of his assumpted Supreamacy) in his own name he defended them against the scurrilous books of Martin Luther: and was for that styled by the Pope, Defensor fidei, defender of the faith (Henr. 8. l. cont. Luther) which his Majesty King james still useth by virtue of that donation.  
One of late among the rest, with greatest warrant, speaking of this his first revolt, hath these words (Howe's historical preface to his Hist. in Henry 8.) This was done after the king was divorced from Catherine of Spain, his first wife, with whom he had lived above twenty years, and by her had five children. The clergy nor parliament notwithstanding the King's importunity would never yield to the divorce, by reason they could not find any just cause. The King made Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury, who was very apt, and ready to perform the Kings will, and he denounced the sentence of divorce. Then the King, contrary to the good liking of all men, married Anne Bulleyne, by whom he had the Lady Elizabeth. And then by act of Parliament, made it treason against all men, that should say the marriage was not lawful. And presently after her birth, he picked a quarrel against Queen Anne, and then repealed the former act, & made a new act of Parliament, whereby it was enacted, that it should be heigh treason, for any to justify his former marriage to be lawful, and the next day after her behedding, he married her handmaid, jane Seymor, and then declared the Lady Elizabeth to be illegitimate. Thus word by word this Protestant historian: Then by this, & such like proceed, as first bringing the clergy into danger of Praemunire, threats, importunities, and such practices, as these Protestants tell us (Parker, Stow, Hollinshed, Theatre, ut supr.) procuring the title of Supremacy to himself in matters ecclesiastical.  
This Protestant antiquary thus proceedeth in this King's proceed: The king obtained the Ecclesiastical supremacy into his particular possession, and therewithal had power given him by parliament, to survey & reform the abuses of all Religious houses & parsons. But the King because he would go the next way to work, overthrew them, and razed them. Whereat many the Peers and common people murmured, because they expected, that the abuses should have been only reform, and the rest have still remained. The general plausible project, which caused the Parliaments consent unto the reformation, or alteration of the Monasteries, was that the King's exchequer should for ever be enriched, the Kingdom and nobility strengthened and increased, and the common subjects acquitted and freed from all former services and taxes: to wit, that the Abbots, Monks, Friars, and Nuns being suppressed, that then in their places should be created forty Earls. threescore Barons, and three thousand Knights, and forty thousand soldiers, with skilful captains, and competent maintenance for them for ever, out of the ancient church-revenewes, so as in so doing, the King and his successors should never want of treasure of their own, nor have cause to be beholding to the common subject, neither should the people be any more charged with loans, subsidies and fifteen, since which time there have been more statute laws, subsidies, and fifteen, then in five hundred years before, and not long after that, the King had subsidies granted, and borrowed great sums of money, and died in debt, and the forenamed religious houses were utterly ruinated, whereat the clergy, peers, and common people, were all sore grieved, but could not help it. He also suppressed the knights of the Rhodes, and many fair hospitals. This was done after the king was divorced from Catherine of Spain his first wife. He began his reign prodigally, reigned rigorously, lived proudly, and died distemperatly. Through fear and terror he obtained an act of Parliament, to dispose of the right of succession in the Crown, and then by his last will and testament contrary to the law of God and nature, conveys it from the lawful heirs of his eldest Sister, married to the king of Scotland, unto the heirs of Charles Brandon and others, thereby to have defeated prevented, and suppressed the unquestionable, and immediate right from God, of our gracious Sovereign king james. At his death he was much perplexed, and spoke many things to great purpose, but being inconstant in his life, none durst trust him at his death. Thus your Protestant historian hath described this first protestant supreme head of the church in England.  
They that desire more knowledge of him, may resort to his own statutes, the Protestant Theatre of Brittany, Sir Walter Raleigh his preface to his history of the world: and a book of the tyrants of the world, published by the Protestants of Basile, where they may find him a supreme head among them (statut. Henr. 8. ab an. Regni 21. Theatre of Brit. in Henr. 8. Walter Ral. histor. of the world. praef. lib. of Tyrant. Basil.) And his ghostly father Cranmer his chief instrument in those most execrable sins, for a Clergy man was not inferior unto him. He was as your first protestantly ordained Archbishop Parker in his life, with others witnesseth, both the moved and moving instrument of this king, in this, and many other his wicked designments. He was of all the Religions of King Henry the 8. & Edward the 6. He diverse times swore to the Pope, and was forsworn: He swore to King Henry the 8. and was forsworn, when he swore otherwise to king Edward his son, and was publicly proved a perjured man: he was a chief executor of king Henry the 8. his will, and within 24. hours of his death, a chief breaker thereof. He was a continued fellow unto him in his life, married against his laws, making it felony in such men: he was for chastity, to my reading the first, last, and only trigamus, a Bishop, husband of three wives in the world. He counterfeited the hands and seals of 50. convocation men, and among the rest of the blessed martyr, Bishop Fisher. He gave chief consent, and swore, that Edward the 6. a child of nine years old, was supreme head of the Church, had all jurisdiction spiritual in himself (Parker antiq. Britan. in Cranmer. Fox tom. 2. in Cranmer. Stow histor. in Har. 8. Holinsh. Hist. of Engl. ibid. Theatre of great Brittany in K. Henr. Godwyne Catalogue of Bishops in Canterbury in Tho. Cranmer. Stow, Holinsh, Theatre, Fox, and others in Q. Marie. and Edw. the 6. Harpesfield, in the life of B. Fisher) and all that Cranmer had he received from him, yea your Protestants witness, by the Protestant Confessions themselves of Helvetia, Bohemia, Belgia, Augusta, Wittenberg, and Swe, that boys could not take or give such power. (Th. Rogers pag. 140. artic. 23. Confess. Heluet. Bohem. Belg. August. Wittenb. etc.)  
If any thing now controversied, defended & sworn unto, can make a man an heretic, Crammar professing and swearing unto them all, was an heretic and traitor to God: If conspiracy, open hostility, and rebellion to his true and lawful prince, Queen Marie, doth make a man a traitor to his Sovereign: If to be hissed in the public schools of Oxford, in public disputation, after all these changes doth convince a man, undertaking so many matters, to be a man unworthy and ignorant: If to recant heresy, & fall to it again, putteth a man in case of relapse of heresy, all these things be written of this Archbishop, Archactor, Architector, Arch-hereticke, Archtraitor, Arch-periured & profane wretch of your Religion, by your own writers here cited, and were publicly to the eternal infamy of that unhappy and graceless man, and his followers therein, proved against him. Therefore, although King Henry the eight did rather differ from the Church of Rome in matter of jurisdiction spiritual (by his claimed Supremacy) as your protestants testify, and his laws are witnesses (Stow histor. in. Henr. 8. Holinsh. and Theatre ibid. statut of K. Henry 8. etc.) them any way in matter of doctrine, catholics cannot in conscience by your Protestants, join either with him, or you therein, being the first (as they have assured us) that ever claimed it in this kingdom; and procuring it in so vile & unlawful manner, as your historians have declared; and practising it to his wanton and ambitious end, against his own conscience. For all the foundations of our Religious houses being pro remedio animarum, to say Mass & pray for their posterity for ever. For the honour of God, the most blessed Virgin, and other Saints, as all our antiquities give warrant to write: he in all his life time continued in these doctrines, and at his death in his last will and testament, protested himself to continue in that opinion (Bed. Henric. Hunt. Guliel. Malmesb. Roger. Hoveden. Matth. West. Flor. Wigor. Camb. Stow. Holinsq. Theatre, etc.) And for the supremacy itself (as hath been proved in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and your protestant historian, hath sufficiently insinuated) he recanted it (Book entitled, Lesters common wealth) your Protestants words of him these be: At his death he was much perplexed, & spoke many things to great purpose, but being unconstant in his life, none durst trust him at his death (Howes super. hist. preface in Henry 8.) which relation from a protestant writer, can carry no other construction. And I take God to witness, I have heard my father (then living in Court) often make relation, that this king Henry the 8. at his death, was sorry for his taking that title of supremacy upon him, was willing to relinquish it, and laboured to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, promising if he lived, so far as he could to make restitution. But being demanded of him presently to take order therein, he was prevented by death, and died with such burden and horror of conscience, as chanceth in such cases: which this Protestant before aimeth at, when he saith, he was much perplexed, and spoke many things to great purpose. Therefore the Catholics of England, are rather confirmed by this king, then weakened by him, in profession of their holy faith.  
And though in his life he persecuted and put to death many renowned Catholics, for denial of his supremacy, and sacramentary Protestants (such as those in England now are) for heretics, yet he never recalled this second, as he did the first, neither made any new law, by which they were put to death, but left their trial to the ancient Canons of the Catholic Church; yet put those Catholics to death only by pretence of his new enacted Edict of his supremacy, never heard of in England before, as Protestant antiquaries have told us. Therefore this first supreme head of religion in England, in all things confirmeth the religion of Catholics, and condemneth that of Protestants: and this the more if we add from your Protestant historians, how fraudulently, or rather forcebly he obtained his first colourable title to that his spiritual supremacy, by which he kept such turbulent stirs in this kingdom. A Protestant historian and an Esquire by state, as he styleth himself, thus relateth it. William Martin Esq. in histor. of Henr. 8. pag. 388.389.  
Cardinal Wolsey being dead, the King by his Council was informed, that all the clergy of England was guilty of praemunire: because in all things they supported and maintained the authority, and power legatine of the Cardinal: wherefore to prevent mischief, before it fell upon them, they gave to the King for their redemption, and for their pardon, the some of one hundreth thousand pounds, and by a public instrument in writing, subscribed, and sealed by the Bishops and fathers of the Church; they acknowledged the King within his own kingdoms and dominions, to be supreme head of the Church. Thus unjustly he procured that unlawful prerogative, & more unjustly as before, made his wicked use thereof. I need proceed no further in his proceed, for they are dead with him: the present protestant state, as his own children before, by laws and Parliaments condemn them; all Protestants in the world reject them, and he himself before his death (by the most mannerly fashion he could) refused his title of supremacy, in which he most differed from the church of Rome, as I have brought Protestant witnesses before: therefore catholics are rather confirmed, then weakened in their religion, by the proceed of this King.   

That English catholics cannot be persuaded unto, but much dissuaded from Protestant Religion, by the Protestant proceed in the time of King Edward the 6.  
NOW let us come to the next temporal rule, that claimed supremacy in spiritual matters in England: King Edward the 6. he was but 9 years old, when this charge was laid upon him, yet he was elleven years old, when your religion was first borne in this nation, in the second or third year of his reign, as all laws and histories of that time give record. (Parl. 2. & 3. Edw. 6. Stow hist. in Edw. 6. Holinsh. Theatre, and others ibid.) So this child begot it, and his sister Q Elizabeth nursed it. We know for shame you will not tie us, to the censure of an infant king; than you must appeal to those that instructed, and directed him in so great a business, These were temporal, and spiritual, and chief those that were of council, and had sworn otherwise to King Henry the 8. during his life, lived in his Religion, and after his death continued the same under this young king in his beginning and first Parliament (Parl. 1. of Edw. 6. Stow. Holinsh. & in k. Edw. 6.) were executors of the last will and testament of king Henry the eight, in which concerning matters of trust in religion, they truly executed nothing at all: but in the exheredation of his Majesty's holy Mother and himself, as much as they could they executed it (how's historial preface supr. Stow, Holinsh. Theatre, & in Q. Marie & Edward. 6.  
The chiefest of these for spiritual men was Cranmer their Archbishop, and the rest of the Bishops of that time that were not Catholics, of which we find but two, only Hooper and Ferrar put to death for their Religion by Queen Marie: For Cranmer, Ridlie, and Latimer were condemned for treason (Fox tome. 2. Monumen. in Q. Marie. Godwyne Catalogue of Bishops of K. Edward's time.) and what can we account of the religion of these two, changing their profession so often with king Henry and K. Edward? and Ferrar (to use your Bishop's words) was thrust out of the Bishopric, in the beginning of Queen Marie, for being married, and ended his life in the fire: more for being desperate how to live, then for love of Religion, so far as we can gather. (Godwyn in S. Daudis 79. Robert Ferrar) The other, Hooper (Godwyn in Worcester. 75. Gloucester. 2. john Hooper) a man of such conscience, as your Bishop writeth, that being made Bishop by the child king anno 1550. Bishop of Gloucester held also the Bishopric of Worcester in commendam by licence of King Edward the sixth; this is his commendation. The rest that fled not the Realm for treason (which were not of your Protestant religion, but Puritans in foreign countries) were deprived in England for being married, which by no Religion Bishops might do: such were Bush of Bristol, Harley of Hereford, Holgate of York and others that became Catholics (Godwyn in Brist. Heref. York, etc.) Coverdale was set at liberty by Q. Marie, and of so small esteem with you in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth her reign, that no Bishopric was allowed him.  
Now let us come to your chief temporal counsellors then, these were by their own creation, the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland, called Protectors to the young king (Stow and Holinsh. and Theatre. K. Edw. 6. and Q. Marie) the first basely put to death in that time for felony: the other for treason and open rebellion against Q. Marie: And after he had been thus with Cranmer, the chief instrument to overthrow Catholic Religion, and set up protestancy in the time of that young king: he plainly recanted his new faith, and was reconciled to the Church of Rome. And yet among these unworthy men, under that young king there were but 6. Bishops, and 6. others that made the Church-bookes of their religion then: (Statut. An. 3. Edw. 6. cap. 12. Fox, Stowe, and others in Edw. 6.) and for religion itself, they had no Canons, articles, or decrees of it in all the time of that king. Howes your historian thus writeth of it: Edward, at nine years of age succeeded his father, and then the Church was fleest again, the Bishoprickes cut and pared, all Chantries suppressed, the Bishopric of Durrham alienated. By all which, the King's Exhequer was very little enriched, neither was the common wealth eased, or benefited; nor the ancient nobility any way dignified, only some few preferred. The Earldom of Northumberland given to the Suttons, who obtained the title of the Duke of Northumberland. In the first and second year of his reign, the Mass was wholly suppressed, and part of King David's Psalms were turned into english verse, by Hopkins and Sterneholde, Grooms of the King's chamber, and set them to several tunes, consisting of galliards and measures. The Duke of Somerset, uncle to the King by the mother's side, being the King's Protector, did all things in the King's name, and inclined overmuch to the subtle counsel of his secret enemy, the Duke of Northumberland, who was fully bend to defeat and suppress the apparent heirs of God and nature unto the Crown, and to prefer the heirs of the Duke of Suffolk, according to the injurious determination of k. Henry the eight. For the better effecting whereof, they made a combination, which had as good suc-successe, as so bad a practice deserved. The Protector among other things that crossed his greatness in popularity was, the spoiling of churches and chapels, the defacing of ancient tombs and monuments, & namely, twelve goodly tombs in : his attempting was to pull down all the Bells in parish Churches, and to leave but one Bell in a steeple, whereat the commonalitie were ready to rebel He reigned seven years, met with a trick of treason. He meaneth that he was poisoned by his protestant Protector Cranmer, & other protestants of that most wicked combination.  
They that desire to know more of that young king's times, may resort to your Protestant histories of Fox, Stowe, Holinshed, Speed (Fox tom. 2. in king Edw. Holinsh. and Theatre ibid. Injunctions an. 1. Ed. 6.) and the childish Injunctions in matters of Religion, set out in the name of that Novice, and Novecins supreme head of your church: where he may find the chief care of the council and executors, left by king Henry the eight, spiritual and temporal, to load themselves with new and great titles, and honours of dignity, grow rich, by the last ruins of the Church, and to be of no settled religion at all: For we do not find either in histories, or in confession of Protestants diligently collected by them, or in any private or public monument, any form, fashion, shape, articles, canons or decrees of Religion, either under king Henry the 8. k. Edward the 6. or Q. Elizabeth, until her fourth year, anno 1562. when the book of the articles of your religion was first contrived and published to the world. Book of Articles of Religion, an. 1562.  
Therefore we may not join with these men in Religion, as neither you do, especially with king Henry the eight, but rather marvel why you and all that claim title to religion from them, do not find great motives rather to bethink what wrongs they did unto us, then persist in heaping new and more pressures, and persecutions upon the Catholics of your own nation, and kindred. For you have heard from your Protestants before, that they obtained that their power against the Religeous houses of England, only upon this motive to reform abuses, if they could find them: To create and maintain for the perpetual defence and security of this Kingdom. 40. Earls, 60. Barons, 300. knights, and fourscore thousand soldiers, with skilful captains, and competent maintenance for them all for ever, out of the ancient Church revenues: and yet to leave for the maintenance of religious parsons, professing and living in the perfect way of christian Religion, chastity, obedience, and poverty, watchings, fastings, prayers, and austerity of life, continued & maintained here from the coming of S. joseph of Aramathia into this Island by our kings, even the Pagan kings, Aruiragus, Marius, and Caillus, and other Christian Princes, and holy founders after, to these days (antiq. Glaston. apud Lel. in assert. Arthur. Capgrave in S. joseph. & S. Patric. & protest. histor.) which neither the Religion of King Henry the 8. King Edward the 6. Queen Elizabeth, or King james, did or doth condemn.  
Neither can any of them (as these Protestants have before been witnesses) dissallow of their Masses and prayers for the dead, but acknowledged the contrary opinion to be heretical and damnable: yet both to the temporal and spiritual damage of many thousands, from that time they still persever in that estate of injustice, so obnoxious to restitution, and are so fare from performing King Henry the eight his condition, to maintain so many thousand soldiers & others, and ease their kingdom of taxes and contributions, that they are not now able to perform the first, nor to maintain their dignities without the other. In all which, the Catholics of England, are only innocent, and yet they alone for their innocence, are condemned, and persecuted.   

THAT THE PROCEED OF Q. Elizabeth are no warrant for protestants to persecute Catholics, nor no true conviction, but rather a confirmation of the Roman Catholic Religion: by the writings of English protestants themselves.  
ALl these protestant arguments conclude much more strongly against the proceed of Queen Elizabeth in these matters: for if it was publicly addiuged for law in the time of king Henry the seventh (our laws remaining the same) That the parliament could not make the king being a lay man, to have spiritual jurisdiction. (temporibus Henrici 7.) How much more an impossible thing is it, to entitle a woman, and such a woman to that dignity by such donation? for first even by our protestants, it is the Pepuzian heresy to say a woman at all is capable of that spiritual vocation she stuck upon herself, and presumed to impart to others. (Epiphan. & Aug. in haeres. Pepuzian.) And thereupon your protestants assure us: The Queen's majesty's parson was never capable of any part of spiritual power: (Ormerod. protest. Assert. an. 1604. pag. 218.) Then much less of that supreme power. And if she had been a man, yet in that case your protestant historians before have told us, made illegitimate by public parliament, the King, Lords spiritual, and temporal with the rest, there must have been as great a power to recall it, which was not in that her first parliament, for the Lords spiritual, who only have power in such cases, did utterly descent to yield her any such privilege, so that no man, or company that had power of dispensations, in such things, dispensed with her, but contrary.  
Again, it is a maxim in the Laws (as you Lord Cook writeth (l. 4. fol, 23.) nemo potest plus iuris in alium transferre qnàm ipse habet. None can give more power to an other, than they have to give, and the contrary is impossible: Therefore seeing no Parliament that ever was in England, when all the Bishops and Abbots, and chief spiritual men it ever had were assembled, had at any time, either for themselves, or to give unto any other, that supreme spiritual power, but as your Bishops have told us before, it was wholly in the Pope of Rome ever from our conversion, and so could never be derived to King Henry the eight, or Edward the six. (Parker antiquit. Britan. in Cranmer. Polydor. Virg. in Henr. 8. l. vlt. histor. etc.) it is much more strong against Q. Elizabeth, both for her sex, and the other incapabilitie, as Protestants assure us. And for her or any to claim it, by that Parliament wherein she took it upon her, is a thing more than to be wondered at: for all men of that Parliament, which had any spiritual jurisdiction (as the Catholic Bishops) did by all means resist and contradict it: and the words of the statute (as your Protestants have published it) by which she took upon her to exercise it, and persecute Catholics only by pretence of this power there given unto her, are these: Most humbly beseech your most excellent Majesty your faithful and obedient subjects, the Lords Spiritual, and Temporal, and the whole commons in this your present Parliament assembled. That the supreme power spiritual, should be in that Queen, when it is evident by all our Protestant histories, that not one Lord Spiritual, either desired it, or consented unto it, but all repugned and gainsaid it; and for that cause were committed to prison, or otherwise most grievously afflicted. (Stow histor. an. 1. Elizab. Holinsh. Theatre. an. 1. Eliz. Cambd. annal. rerum Anglic. in 1. Elizab. &c.) And yet there was not any man in that Parliament, that could give unto her, if she had been capable (as she was not) the least spiritual jurisdiction over the least parish in England.  
And if she had not insisted in her father's steps of flattery, terrors, & dissimulation, promises of great matters without performance, & in some degrees (by the cunning of some about her without conscience) exceeded him, she might have found as little applause, and consent in the Lords temporal and others; For using all means she could, to further her strange proceed, (partly to be hereafter from her Protestant writers remembered) yet she found such and so manifest reasons opposed against her, that the scars of those wounds then given to your religion, will never be recovered. A principal antiquary among you writeth (Cambden Annal. in Eliz. pag. 26.) that the Lord Viscount Montague, which a little before had been Ambassador at Rome, with Bishop Thursby of Ely, for the reconciling of England to the Church of Rome in Queen Mary's time, publicly in parliament these opposed.  
Hic ex Religionis ardore, & honoris ratione acriter instabat, magno Angliae dedecori esse, si ab Apostolica sede, cui nuper se submiss reconciliarat, mox deficeret. He out of love of religion and care of honour, did earnestly urge, how great a shame it would be to England, if it should so soon revolt from the Sea Apostolic, to which it had lately submissively reconciled itself: and would turn to greater danger if excommunicated, it by such defection be exposed, to the rage of neighbouring enemies. He in the name of the nobility, and all degrees in England, in their name had done obedience to the Pope of Rome, and must needs perform it. Therefore he urgently besought them, that they would not departed from the Roman Sea, to which they were indebted, both for first receiving the faith from thence, and from thence having it continually preserved.  
This was sufficiently proved at that time of the reconciliation of England to the Church of Rome, in open Parliament also by Cardinal Pole, as your first protestantly ordained Archbish. in these words affirmeth (Parkerant. Brit. in Reginald. Polo) Hanc in sulae nobilitatem, atque gloriam Dei providentiae, atque beneficientiae soli accepta ferendam, sed tamen viam ipsam atque rationem qua hac nobilitas atque gloria parta est, sede Romana nobis prima semperque monstratam, & patefactam fuisse. In Romana exinde fidei unitate nos semper perseverasse, fuisseque nostram antiquissimam Romanae ecclesiae subiectionem. The nobleness of this Island, for being the first of all the Provinces of the world, that received the Christian faith, and the glory thereof, is to be acknowledged to have proceeded from the providence and goodness of God, yet the way itself and means, by which this nobility & glory was won unto it, was first & always showed and laid open unto us from the Sea of Rome: we have always from that time persevered in the unity of the Roman faith, and our subjection to the Roman Church is most ancient.  
And this reconciling of England then to the Roman Church, was so joyful and honourable a thing to this nation, that to use your Protestant Archbishops words (Parker antiquit. Britan. in Polo) In Synodo decretum est, ut dies ille quo pontifici Romano authoritas restituta fuerit, quotannis festus dies celebraretur, atque Anglicanae ecclesiae reconciliatio diceretur. It was decreed in a Synod, that the day on which authority was restored to the Pope of Rome, should yearly be kept holy day, and called, the Reconciliation of the Church of England. Abbot Fecknham (in Parlm. Elizab.) in his oration to that Parliament of Q. Elizabeth hath thus: Damianus and Fugatianus as Ambassadors from the Sea Apostolic of Rome, did bring into this Realm 1400. years past, the very same religion, whereof we are now in possession, and that in the latin tongue, as the ancient historiographer Dominus Gylduas witnesseth, in the prologue and beginning of his book of the Britain histories, which he would not have dared to utter, in that time and place, but that then he could produce that antiquity to be his warrant: which with many others condemning the new religion of Protestants, are by them suppressed. All the Bishops (of whom more hereafter) and whom termeth your Protestant glorious & renowned men, obfirmate refragati sunt. Did stoutly give their voices against this innovation. They offered public defence by disputation of Catholic Religion, both for doctrine and jurisdiction. Cambden Annal. pag. 26. in appart. ad annal. pag. 36 Mason lib. 3. consecrat. pag. 206. cap. 5. Stow hist. an. 1. Eliz. Holinsh. ibid. Godwyn. Catol.  
But the Protestants knowing how their chiefest champions, had been before so convinced by them, that they were hissed by the auditors, durst not come to trial. But the Parliament beginning on the 23. day of january, they presently proceeded to make Queen Elizabeth supreme head of the Church, and by that title to make a religion what pleased her, and her few favourites, which by such indirect means, as is here testified by these Protestants, they brought to pass in the beginning of that Parliament, and in the very first act and statute thereof. (Theatre of great Britain. lib. 9 cap. 24. parag. 4. Godwyn Catal. in the Bish. depriu. an. 1. Elizab. Parliament. 1. an. 1. Eliz. cap. And would never hearken to any disputation whatsoever, until they had thus obtained their purpose, and until the last day of March two months after, as all Protestant histories give evidence.  
And when they had by only 6. voices of laye-men, condemned our learned Bishops, and their holy religion: the religion of the universal Church of God, they would not then allow them (though condemned thus unjustly) any disputation at all, except they would accept of that babble and mockery of disputation, and all religion; which I have from these Protestant's remembered before (Cambden in Annal. lib. pag. 27.) Therefore let us pass it over in this place, and desire your instructing Protestants a little further to instruct and inform us, how she proceeded, and so strangely prevailed in this matter. Orb Christiano mirante, to the wonder of all the Christian world, for the profane proceed then used, as your Protestants before have testified (Camben annal. supra.)  
So soon as she was proclaimed Queen, & long before her Coronation, by proclamation she silenced the Catholic Bishops and Clergy not to preach, and by her Injunctions, gave warrant to her lay protestant commissioners, to give licence to preach (Proclamation of Q. Elizabeth. an. 1. Stowe histor. an. 1. Elizab. Injunctions of Q. Elizabeth, a.) She put in practise the oath of Supremacy amongst many which refused that oath, was the Lord Chancellor, D. Heath, Archbishop of York, from whom she took the privy seal, and remitted it to Sr. Nicholas Bacon (Stowe histor. in Queen Elizabeth an. reg. 1.) she put many from the council, and took new cownsaylers: suis adiunxit, saith your best Antiquary, (Cambden Annal. in Elizabeth pag. 18.19) pro temporum ratione, Gulielmum Parrum, Marchionem Northamptoniae, Franciscum Russellum, comitem Bedfordiae, Thomam Parrum, Edwardum Rogers, Ambrosium Cawm, Franciscum Knolles, & Guilielmum Cecilium, pauloque post Nicholaum Bacon, singulos protestantium doctrinam amplexos, nulloque sub Maria loco: Quos ut reliquos, in eorum locum iam inde suffectos, ita temperavit & cohibuit, ut sibi essent devotissimi, & ipsa semper sui iuris, nulli obnoxij. She joined to hers for the state of the time, William Parr, marquis of Northampton, Francis Russell, Earl of Bedford, Thomas Parr, Edward Rogers, Ambrose Cave, Francis Knolles, and William Cecile, and soon after Nicholas Bacon, all become protestants, in no office under Q. Mary, which as the rest which she put in for those she displaced, she so tempered, and kept them in awe, that they were most serviceable to her, she always to do what pleased her, none to contradict her.  
She concluded cum paruulis intimis (Cambden supr. pag. 22.23.) with a few most inward with her, de nobilibus à regio consilio amovendis episcopis & ecclesiasticis de gradu deijciendis, judicibus qui pro tribunalibus sederunt, & hirenanchis per singulos comitatus, qui regnante Maria re & aestimatione magni erant, hos locos deturbandos, & legum severitate coercendos, nullosque nisi protestants add rerum administrationem adhibendos, & in collegia utriusque academiae coaptandos censuerunt, fimulque pontificios praesides ex academijs, scholarchas ex wintoniensi, Aetoniensi, caeterisque scholis submovendos. Q. Elizabeth presently after the death of Q. Mary taketh order, with very few of her inward friends how to restore protestant Religion. The plot by them was, that new commissions should be directed to judges, with provision, they should not give any office: new justices of peace, and sheriff's should be made in all countries, the noble men should be put from the council, Bishops and ecclesiastical men displaced, all judges and justices of peace that were in estimation in the time of Q. Marry, should be removed in all shires, and severely kept under, and none but protestants to be admitted to government in the common wealth, and placed in the colleges of both universities, and all popish precedents of houses, and schoolmasters to be renewed from Wincester Eton and other schools.  
And according to this conclusion, this Elizabeth neither being crowned Queen as yet, nor having by any pretence power to meddle with the Title of supremacy, because to speak in your protestants words, (Stowe histor. an. 1. Eliz ab. statut. in parlam. an. 1. Mariae) Queen Mary restored all things according to the church of Rome, reduced all ecclesiastical jurisdiction, unto the papal obedience: yet to write in the same protestants pen and words: (Stowe histor supr. an. 1. Eliz.) The Queen took an exact survey of all her clergy and officers of estate, and put in practise the oath of supremacy, and amongst many which refused that oath, was the Lord chancellor D. Heath Archbishop of york: she committed the custody of the great Seal unto S●. Nicholas Bacon, a man most malicious against papists, who from that time was called Lord keeper. Cambden supr. annal. pag. 27.  
Having thus displaced through the kingdom all catholic magistrates, and dissolved the catholic parliament, continueinge at the death of her Sister Queen Mary, and put new protestant officers in their places, with all speed she summoned a parliament to begin in january followeinge, within two months of her sister's death. (Stowe supr. Holinsh. histor. an. 1. Elizab. Theatre of Britan. 16. Cambd. Annal. ann. 1. Elizab.) And having thus provided for a fit company in the lower house of parliament, swearers to the supremacy, she and her pauculi intimi, were as provident to pack some in the upper house also. Therefore a few days before the parliament, to speak as your protestant, (Stowe an. 1. Elizab. Cambden annal. supr.) the 13. of january, the Queen in the Tower created Sr. William Parr, ob laesam maiestatem sub Maria gradu deiectum, attainted of treason in Q. mary's time, Lord marquess of Northampton, Edward Seymor son to the late Duke of Sommersett, attainted, viscount Beuchamp, and Earl of Hertford: Tho. Howard second son of Tho. Duke of Norfolk, viscount Bindon; Sr. Oliver Saint John, Baron of Bletsoe; and Sr. Henry Carey, Lord Hounsdon. Qui singuli à pontificia Religione alieni, all which were alienated from the pope's Religion, all which that Queen and her pauculi intimi, very few that consented unto her, knew by that means would give their voices in parliament to what she should desire, and not content with this, proceeded so in these indirect courses, that as your protestants have written: (Cambden Annual. pag. 27.) plures è protestantibus data opera, è comitatibus tum è civitatibus, & burgis fuisse electos, & Norfolciae ducem, Arundeliaeque Comitem, inter proceres potentissimos, in suam sive rem, sive spem, Ceciliumque sua solertia suffragia emendicasse. The papists complained, that more protestants of set purpose were chosen out of Countries, cities, and burroughts, and the Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Arundel most potent among the nobility, either for their own good, or hope (by the Queen's promises of marriage or such things) and Cecyle by his cunning had begged voices. And to help and further so bad a cause, the Queen herself (your protestants words) openly protested at that time in parliament, that she would never vex, or trouble the Roman Catholics, concerning any difference in Religion.  
Neither did this Queen or her pauculi intimi, Cecile and Bacon, take this strange course in hand, for dislike of catholic Religion: for your Antiquary telleth us of Q. Elizabeth herself: ad Romanae Religionis normam sacra audiret, & saepius confiteretur. Missam permisit post mortem Mariae & litanias. Q. Elizabeth heard mass after the Roman order, often went to confession, and after Q. mary's death allowed mass and litanies, (Cambden in Apparatu pag. 13.) The like is as well known of those her intimi at that tyme. But they had other little laudable ends, by protestant proceed now, thus expressed by your chiefest Antiquary: (Cambden in Annal. Rer. Anglic. in Elizabeth pag. 21.22.) Nonnulli ex intimis Consiliarijs in aures assiduè insusurrarunt mollissimo ingenio virgini, dum timerent ne animus in dubio facillimè impelleretur, actum de ipsa & amicis esse, conclamatum de Anglia, si pontificiam authoritatem in dispensando, aut alia quacunque re agnosceret: duos pontifices matrem illegittimè Henrico 8. emptam pronuntiasse, & inde in eorum sententia iam lata Scotorum Reginam ius in Regnum Angliae sibi arrogare pontificem sententiam istam nunquam rescissurum. Some of her inward Counsellors did daily whisper into her ears, being a maiden of a most tractable disposition, while they feared lest her mind in doubt might most easily be driven forward (to marry with king Philip of Spain, and so continue the catholic Religion, that she and her friends were undone, if she should acknowledge the pope's authority in dispenseinge or any other matter. For two pope's had already pronounced, that her mother was unlawfully married to Henry 8. and so in their sentence denownced the Queen of Scots did challenge right to the kingdom of England. And that the pope would never recall this sentence.  
And again: Prospexit huiusmodi matrimonium ex dispensatione contrahendo, non posse non agnoscere seipsam iniustis nuptijs natam esse. She thus perceived that this marriage with king Philipp of Spain her Sister's husband, to be by the pope's dispensation, must needs acknowledge that she was borne in unlawful wedlock. And they knew also that she remaining a catholic must seek for the pope's dispensation of this her birth, not only made and declared illegitimate, by the pope, but by her father himself, and the whole parliament, and Title to the crown given her only by the will and testament of her father, parliament Henr. 8. of Illeg. Lady Elizab.) against which in this case your protestant h●an thus exclaimeth: (Howes histor. preface in Henry 8.) through fear and terror Henry 8. obtained an Act of parliament to dispose of the right of succession to the crown, and then by his last will and testament (K. Henry 8. in his last will and Testam.) contrary to the law of God, and nature, conveys it from the lawful heirs of his eldest sister, married unto the king of Scotland, unto the heirs of Charles Brandon and others, (his daughter Elizabeth and of these others) thereby to have defeated, prevented and suppressed the unquestionable, and immediate right from God, of our gracious sovereign, king james, as if it had been in the power of his will, or of the parliament, to disinherit, and prevent the divine free gift, and grace of almighty God, by which the kings of this land do hold their crowns.  
Thus your protestant and privileged historians: by which is evident that this proceeding by such exorbitant courses concerning Religion, was not for love or liking of their protestant Religion, further than it gave them licence and liberty to do and live as pleased their sensual appetites, which the church and Religion of Rome would not allow. And yet all these sinister and profane proceed not withstanding, to insist in your protestants words in chaungeing Religion in that her parliament. (Howes historial. preface. in Q. Elizabeth.) In this parliament notwithstanding the presence of the Queen (to countenance their bad cause) with the apparent likelihood of her long life, and hope of issue to succeed her, yet the mayor part exceeded the minor but in six voices, at which time (to wring out consents) the Queen openly pronounced, that she would never vex, or trouble the Roman Catholics, concerning any difference in Religion. Which promise of hers was as well performed, as that condition of her fathers before, of bestoweinge the church revenues, for as your protestants have related, her persecutions which so unprincely and unchristianely in her name and power of that strange claimed supremacy in a woman, and such a woman, equaled, or exceeded those of Nero, and Dioclesian, infensive tyrants and enemies of Christianity. Sir Edwin Sands in Relation of the state of Religion.  
And in that parliament itself, where she spoke these words, and proceeded to cruel inflicted penalties, against those Roman Catholics, as all our holy Bishops were deprived, imprisoned, or exiled, so were all other ecclesiastical parsons that would not do as pleased her. (Stowe histor. an. 1. Elizab. Holinshed Theatre ibid. Cambd. in Annalib. Rerum Anglicarum in Elizab. Parliament. 1. Elizabeth.) great forfaictures and punishments imposed upon all, that should hear mass, or not be present at her new devised service, praemunire, loss of lands goods, and perpetual imprisonment, and loss of life also with note of Treason, to them that would not acknowledge that spiritual supreme power in her, of which she was so far uncapable in the judgement of her own protestants, that diverse of them wrote, and published to the world, that a woman could not be a supreme governor in things temporal; (Knox, Godman and other protest. against the Regim. of women.) and they were so violent herein, both in England and Scotland, against those two blessed Queen mary's: that Q. Marry of England was enforced to make a statute in parliament, to suppress it: the Abridgement thereof is thus. (parliament 2. an. 1. Mar. 20. die April. 1554. cap. 2.) The Regal and kingly power of this realm, and all the dignities, and prerogatives of the same, shall be as well in a Queen, as in a king.  
How the protestants in England upon such good doctrine rebelled against that Q. Marry, all know; And in Scotland they rather choosed to crown our Sovereign in his cradle, than the true Queen his mother should reign, & have any power spiritual, or temporal at all, in her own hereditary kingdom, (Holinsh. histor. of Scotland. Stowe hist. an. 1. jacob.) but by the violence of those Scottish protestants, to be drivert from thence. And landeinge in this kingdom of England. (Cambden in Annal. in the life of Q. Mary of Scotland.) Where by these protestants before she had such just right of succession, as they have declared, & left that most undeniable Title, and interest, by which most truly, lawfully and undoubtedly, her son our sovereign king james now enjoyeth both this whole kingdom of Brittany, Ireland, and all the adjacent Lands by hereditary right from her, she found no further favour here of the English protestants, but to be a perpetual prisoner in her life, and to her eternal glory, and english protestants so long endureinge shame, murdered and martyred at her death. Stowe Holinsh. Theatre of Brittany in Q. Eliz. etc.  
Moreover in this so termed parliament, besides the takeinge of this great and supreme spiritual charge and office unto a woman (never heard of in the world before) and suppressing of the holy sacrifice of the mass, ever since Saint Peter's time (as before is proved) excepting three years of king Edward the 6. a child, and in place thereof admitting a form of communion and common prayer never used by any people catholics or protestants, but in that short time also of that young king in England, not any one Article of protestant Religion either against the 7. Sacraments of the church, invocation of Saints, prayer for the dead, purgatory, validity of good works, merit, justification or whatsoever else now contradicted by these protestāns, was then, or until the fourth year of Q. Elizabeth, concluded by any parliament protestant Authority in England, but left arbitrary for every man to believe and practice as his fantasy served, without any rule at all. Book of Articles and Convocation an. 1562.  
And for the communion Book itself, it had not any approbation of any one parliament man, divine or other, as your protestants assure us, but the charge of making or mareing that was only committed saith your prime protestant Antiquary with others, Cambden annal. pag. 23. Parkero, Billo, Maio, Copo, Grindallo whitheado & Pilkingtono Theologis, Thomaeque Smitho Equiti: To Parker, Bill, May, Cope, Grindall Whithead and Pilkington divines, and Thomas Smyth a knight. The first and chiefest of these seven being Matthew Parker, had been of seven Religions under king Henry 8. Edward 6. Q. Marry and Q. Elizabeth, changing in every one of those changes, as before is proved, (Godwyne Catalogue. of Bish. in Canterbury Matth. Parkr. Fox to. 2. in k. Henr. 8. Edw. 6. Q. Mar. etc.) and all Q. Mary's time professing the catholic Roman Religion in England, both before and after his deprivation of his liuings, in the second year of Q. Mary for being married.  
For the rest of these protestant divines, they were fugitives for marriage against the canons of the church, and conspiracy against Q. Mary, before which time they were in the same disease of chaungeing Religion with the former princes, and after their going forth of England, professed the religion, & discipline also of the puritan churches where they lived, namely to exemplify in the liturgy or common book of prayer of the protestants of Franckfort, published an. 1554. in Q. mary's time, denying both the supreamacy of temporal princes, and other matters of english protestant Religion: this is the subscription of the english protestants then in all their names. (Liturgia seu ritus ministerij in Ecclesia peregrinorum Francofordiae an. 1544. per Petrum Brubachium in fine in subscript.) Subscribunt Angli ob Euangelium profugi totius Ecclesiae suae nomine. johannes Mackbraeus etc. The protestants of England that were fled for the Gospel, subscribe in the name of their whole church. John Mackbree minister, John Stanton, William Hamon, John Bendall, William whithingham, and to assure us that these men in particular before named, be Authors or correctors of it, & neither did, nor in their own judgement could allow it, it is evident: first both because they were of this protestant Frankford congregation, secondly because: The first protestants of this kingdom (your protestants words. Covel in examine. pag. 72.) in a letter subscribed with eleven of their hands, whereof Knox, Gilby, whithinghame and Godman were four, most of them having judgement and learning, utterly condemned it. (Covel against Burges pag. 69.122.47.185.) So did calvin at Geneva, Ridley your protestant Bishop and supposed martyr in a letter to Grindal himself a chief agent in it: all the Caluinists in the world abroad in their public confessions, and at home have likewise ever, and do still condemn it, as also all Lutherans that ever were, and all those writers or correctors of it themselves, and all the protestants in that first parliament in all probable judgement, except four new cownsaylers of Q. Elizabeth, the marquis of Northampton, Earl of Bedford, John Grey of Pyrge, and Cecile her pauculi intimi, to whom only (as saith your historian. Cambden supr. in Annal. in Elizab.) this matter was communicated unto: re nemini communicata, nisi Marchioni Northamptoniae Comiti Bedfordiae, johanni Greio de Pyrgo, & Cecilio.  
And this matter was sufficiently proved by some of your late Bishops in the Conference at Hampton Court, publicly between the protestant Bishops and puritans, before our king himsemselfe; where Barlowe your Bishop in relating of that disputation, (Barlowe Conference at Hampton Court pag. 14. 15.) bringeth in Babington, a protestant Bishop of yours openly to acknowledge, that in the beginning, your protestants religion, and communion book thereof, was proposed and approved in that first parliament by ambiguous and indirect dealeinge of the composers of that communion book, and citeth the Archbishop of york to that purpose. And if we may believe your protestant Relations of that dispute printed with privilege, (Their protestant Relations of that Confer. printed by John windet cap. 1.2.3. all annexed to Barlow's Relation.) we are told, that your protestant Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of London, & Bishop of Wynchester did here upon their knees before his majesty confess as much of the errors of that book, and their Religion: thus we have from them in three several relations, and from the fourth by your Bishop Barlowe as before  
Finally thus we poor catholic priests and catholics have toiled ourselves in searching, seeking and preaching all protestants proceed, parliaments, laws writings, lives & dealeings of these pretended reformers, and the further we wade, the deeper we are in error, if Catholic Religion could possibly be error; for as is evident before, we can find nothing in any of these protestant patterns and examples, but such as confirm us in that faith we profess with the catholic christian world in all ages. To which God of his mercy convert them that be in error. And so much for this first part of this protestant Plea and petition.  
But seeing we cannot find any comfort by your own writers and relators of these things to join with you in your New Religion: we will next prove unto you by your own doctors and Antiquaries, that holy Religion which we embrace (& for which you persecute us) to be the same which was first preached here by Saint Peter and his holy disciples, and so consequently delivered by Christ himself, and continued in this nation in all ages even since then, until these times.   
FINIS.   

APPROBATIO.  
Ego infrascriptus legi libellum Anglicanum cui Titulus praefigitur, Protestant's plea and petition for Priests and Papists, & nihil in eo reperi fidei Catholicae vel bonis moribus adversum, quin potius eundem utilem futurum iudico, & dignum qui in lucem prodeat. Datum Duaci 19 Septemb. 1621.  
MATTHAEUS KELLISONUS.