A PETITION APOLOGETICAL, PRESENTED TO THE kings MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, BY THE LAY CATHOLICS OF ENGLAND, in july last.  
In eo quod detractant de vobis tanquam de malefactoribus, ex bonis operibus vos considerantes, glorificent Deum in die visitationis.  
In that wherein they misreport of you, as of malefactors, by the good works considering you, they may glorify God in the day of visitation.  1. Pet. 2. v. 12. 
Printed at DOUAI by JOHN MOGAR, at the sign of the Compass. 1604.   

THE PREFACE.  
REVEREND SIR. There came to my hands by the way of Brussels, on the xxviij. day of this month, a certain Petition or Apology of the lay Catholics of England (as I stand informed) presented to his Highness about the later end of the parliament: which seemeth so conformable to reason, so absolute in form of their submission, and so admirable for the assurance by them offered for their Priests and Pastors: that the publishing thereof cannot but give contentment (in my opinion) to all sorts of men, that desire both to be clearly informed of the true state of things, and that justice and equity should take place, according to men's comportments & deserts, and not according to the prejudicate opinions of such, whom nothing but the blood and utter beggaring of Catholics can satisfy. And therefore I thought good, in more public manner than it was before, to make the world acquainted therewith.  

Reasons of publishing this treatise.  
THE publishing of this Apology cannot but t 
His majesties honour and service.  end much to his majesties honour, and more to his satisfaction and security; for so much as the Catholics affectionate services and obligations therein contained, must needs be arguments of some supereminent virtue and goodness in his sacred parsonage, that could draw from them at all times such extraordinary effects of love and devotion: and the more manifest the protestations of their purgations shall appear to the world, the more manifold shall be their bonds and obligations of performance, and perseverance therein.  

The Protestant Prelates.  The Protestant Prelates cannot with reason disallow thereof, because herein is nothing required at their hands, but a reasonable conference, and satisfaction in points of their mission and vocation: And when they shall make it evident out of the written word, that they are the true Shepherds and Pastors sent from God to have charge of souls, they make proffer without delay to follow them, and with all conformity to obey them, and hear their voices: which when they shall prove, the controversy is charitably composed, and though they fail of their proofs, yet they remain as they do with their wealth, their wives, their pleasures, and palaces: the poor Catholics desiring only a secret and silent permission of such Pastors, as shall show to them and the whole world, sufficient evidence and approbation for the charge of souls they undertake.  

The Puritan  The Puritans herewith cannot be offended, if they peaceably, and precisely seek after contentment, and not contention: because they shall find divers of their maxims zealously, or rather odiously conceived by them against Catholics, overthrown and evacuated by most evident demonstration and instances in matters of fact, practice and experience: especially in that point of conditional subjects, which is so much urged by the Ministry.  

academics of Oxford & Cambridge.  The flourishing and learned Academics of Oxford and Cambridge may perceive hereby that Catholics know their Priests intus & incute, and take them neither for ignorant in divinity, nor dunces in humanity; neither for Catiline's towards their Senate, nor for Absalon's towards their David, that dare adventure life, & living for their virtues & loyalties. And I imagine that if your Ministers were put to the like plunges, they would hardly find the like pledges: wherefore I could wish that your Ministers would endeavour rather to excel and surpass them in their Godly qualities, then in their pamphlets and pulpits to urge the State to suppress them with severe exilementes and edicts, which are nothing but arguments of their fear, and whetstones of the others fortitude.  

The Artisans, and Prentices.  The Godly and zealous Artisans and Prentices of London, and other places, may learn hereby to moderate themselves a little in their outrageous alarms of Stop the Traitor, when they see an Innocent Priest pass their streets: for by reading hereof they may be rightly and truly informed and instructed, how far the poor Innocent men are from treasons, and all treasonable purposes.  

The Catholics of England.  The Catholics at home must needs hereby be comforted, and animated in well doing, and faithful serving, and obeying their Sovereign in pace & gaudio, if they may be permitted; and if not that, yet in suffering with alacrity what shall be imposed upon them for their Religion, when by this Apology they shall be disburdened of those former clogs and imputatims of disloyalty, and treason.  

The Catholics abroad.  The Catholics not only here in Flaunders, but in the whole Christian world beside must needs be hereby much edified, and excited to the sincere practice, and profession of zeal and piety towards God: of fidelity and obedience towards their Princes: and of a reverent respect, and regard towards their Priests and Pastors, when they find in this present Apology, so rare and remarkable an example of English Catholics constancy in the one, & conformity in the other: and such confidence for the third, that since the Apostles time, and the days of the privative Church of England, never the like Precedent, either in the time of peace, or persecution hath been heard or read of; that the sheep should engage themselves for their shepherds, and make voluntary proffer to be bound body for body, and life for life for their fidelity, except that famous Protomartir of England, S. Alban, who was to them herein a patron and precedent: the end of whose blessed conversation, our English Catholics beholding, do Imitate his faith and fortitude, and do succeed him in a reverenciall but and devotion towards their Pastors. Which heroical mind and resolution of our said English Catholics must needs be as famous to posterity, as it is repugnant to all worldly wisdom and policy; and must also needs be accompanied with as much honour and merit in the sight of God, and all good men; as it cannot but be encumbered with dangers and difficulties in the sight of flesh and blood, and of all those quorum Deus venter est, Whose God is only their belly, profit, and pleasure in this world.  
Of this Apology two copies were sent over, the one to France, and the other to Flaunders: all one in sense and substance, but it seemeth that the copy sent to Flaunders was taken verbatim out of the first fountain and original: And that the other which came to Paris, was not all together so ample and complete. Therefore I have thought good to advertise you, that I have followed and setforth that copy, which I found, or at least presumed to be most consonant to the good minds and affections of them, whom it most concerned.  
And thus willing you to make your profit spiritual of these my endeavours, and of the sequent Apology, desiring God that it may serve to mollify the hearts of our heavy adversaries, and fortify and corroborate the Saints & servants of God in well ●●ing, and patiently suffering, and carrying the Cross of Christ, & Crown of thorns which prick to the quick on every side, I wish you the two most precious jewels that can happen to a Christian soul.  
Gratiam in hac vita, & gloriam in futura.  
From my study in DOUAI, this 16. of OCTOBER 1604. Your very loving Son and servant in CHRISTO DOMINO. IO. LECEY.    

A PETITION APOLOGETICAL, PRESENTED TO THE kings MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, BY THE LAY CATHOLICS OF ENGLAND, in july last.  

CHAPTER 1. The cause of our silence.  
MOST MIGHTY AND GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN. Many are the reasons that have caused us to expect with perpetual patience, and profound silence, your majesties most gracious resolution for some benign remedy, and redress of our most grievous calamities and afflictions: as the confidence of a good cause: the testimoney of an incorrupt conscience: the memory of our constant, and continual affection to the undoubted right & Title, in remainder of your renowned Catholic Mother, to the Crown of England: the imputations, Crosses, & afflictions we suffered many years therefore: the public and grateful acknowledgement that your said glorious Mother made thereof, at the time of her Arraynement and execution, in the presence of the Lords there assembled for her conviction, uttering these words: 
* Her blood is shed, & yet remaineth peace & authority to work them redemption of her so desired.  Woe is me for the ●oore Catholics, and the miseries I foresee they are like to endure for their irremovable affection to me and mine; If I were as free as mine estate and innocency requireth, I would gladly redeem their vexations with my dearest blood.  
The same zeal & promptitude after her decease, we showed in your majesties right and pretension to the Crown of England, the oppositions were made by us and our Catholic brethren and friends abroad and at home, leaving nothing in our power undone, that might lawfully advance your majesties rightful Title, as Heir apparent to the Crown of England, against all practices or projects to the contrary.  

a The L Mont eagle, M Fran. Tresham, Sir Lewis Tresham, in the Tower of London.  Our forwardness in proclaiming your Majesty without any further warrant than the right, and justice of your Title, and the loyalty and affection of our hearts.  

b Sir Thomas Tresham at Northampton  The dangers and difficulties that some amongst us passed in performing thereof in times so green and doubtful.  

c The Viscount Montiguelargly casting money among the people.  The general joy & applause showed by us, with remarkable signs of infinite contentment at your highness entrance into the Realm, with dutiful offices of joy and readiness to proclaim and receive your Majesty, were performed by Catholics, with such alacrity in most places of the Realm, and those in such 
d The L. Windsor, The L. Mordent.  distance one from the other, that they could have no intelligence one with another, how they should behave themselves in that occasion: which maketh it evident, that so general a consent, in so sudden & important an affair, of persons so by places divided, could not proceed from any other fountain, but from an universal and settled devotion to your majesties undoubted Title.  
All which offices of our love and loyalty, we assure ourselves, are aswell known to your Majesty, as your majesties candour & Clemency is known unto us, & by us blazed throughout the Christian world: And not by our tongues and pens only are these your heroical virtues made so notorious, as they are by the often public and gracious promises also, & protestations, which your Majesty (out of the infinite bounty and magnanimity of your mind) hath made, aswell to Princes abroad, as to private Men at home: aswell before as after the Queen's death, aswell before as after your entrance to the Realm; both in private, and in public; both in Palace, and Parliament, that you would have no blood for Religion, that you would have no sale money for conscience contrary to the word of God, that you would review the laws made against Catholics, and give order for clearing of them by reason, in case they have been in times past farther, or more rigorously executed by the judges than the meaning of the law was.  
The intended performance of which your most gracious promises received a memorable commencement in july last passed, some few days before your Royal Coronation, when by special order of your Highness, without any suit or motion of the Catholics, certain Recusantes of the best quality and ability, out of divers parts of the Realm, were sent for to Hampton-Court by the Lords of your majesties privy Council, and were by them very respectively and courteously used, and also assured by the said Lords that your majesties Royal pleasure and Clemency was to exonerate the Catholics of this Realm from henceforth, of that pecuniary mulct of xx pound a month for recusancy: 
The xx pound a month for Recusancy released by the K. voluntary promise in july. 1603.  which your majesties grace & relaxation, the said Lords signified that they should so long enjoy, as they kept themselves upright in all civil and true carriage towards your Majesty and the State, without contempt: whereunto reply was made, that recusancy might be held for an act of contempt: It was answered by the Lords of the Council, that your Majesty would not account recusancy for a contempt: And this your majesties gracious order and pleasure, the said Gentlemen recusants, were willed to signify to all other Catholics.  
Which grace proceeding from your majesties mere Clemency and voluntary good will, in that most dangerous time of the discovery of the conspiracy of the Lord Grace and Cobham, seemed to us so inviolable and so little subject to change or alteration, that comparing these bountiful effects with the repose and trust, which your Majesty (in your Printed book to your peerless Son) seemeth to put in them that were faithful and resolutely affected to your Mother, and with the speech your Highness made the first day of the Parliament tending to some more temperate course in matter of Religion than was of late used, we had great reason to abstain from farther importuning your Majesty, either by friends or petition, but to expect with silence, patience, and all humble submission, how your Majesty should please to dispose of us, without any diffidence or distrust, either in our own merits, or your mercy.   

CHAPTER 2. The Reasons that have driven us to breach of silence, and to a necessary and just defence.  
BUT alas (DREAD SOVEREIGN) we see our silence, modesty, and simplicity so abused by some indiscreet Ministers, who in their books and Sermons make it evident, that they think no abuse or indignity offered us, sufficient to satisfy their rigorous minds, or suppress our righteous cause, that we are driven thereby to break our determinate course of silence, urged & enforced thereto by these sequent occasions.  
First, that we see ourselves, as superstitious persons, 
The first reason.  excluded from that supreme Court of Parliament, that was first founded by and for Catholic men, was furnished with Catholic Prelates, Peers, & Personages, and was endowed with those goodly privileges & prerogatives by Catholic Princes, & so continued from the first conversion of our Nation from Paganism for so many hundred years without alteration, till the times of Edward the vj. a Child, and Queen Elizabeth a Woman: and by the laws made by Catholics in those Parliaments, the honour, peace, and wealth of this Realm hath been, and is maintained, and your majesties right and succession to the Crown, mightily (against all your adversaries) fortified and supported.  

The 2. reason  We see daily bills and books exhibited against us in Parliament and else where, taxing us very unjustly with most odious names of heretics, sectaries, superstitious persons, and idolaters.  

The 3. reason.  We hear that your Majesty is often solicited to extirpate the very root, race, and memory of us out of your Dominions, and rather to admit Miscreants and jews than Catholics.  

The 4. reason.  We hear a new motion is made for the reviving of the former Capital laws, and pecuniary payments, & other penalties, rather charging us with a heavier hand, then easing us of our former burdens: we hear that men are to pay for their wives recusancy, which in the hardest and heaviest times never was admitted: that the having or keeping of a Schoolmaster (not allowed by the Diocesan) is to be punished with xl. shillings a day: that all such as go over to study in foreign parts without special licence, are to be disabled of all Inheritance, Lands, Legacies, or other goods, chattels or possessions whatsoever. These instances duly considered, cause us greatly to fear, that your Majesty may in time, by the importunate and daily clamours, and calumniations of our adversaries, be incensed and incited against us your most faithful subjects, who living in certain security of their own innocency, and your majesties mercy and bounty, labour not by unquiet oppositions to contradict the false informations of our adverse part, but only rely upon the providence of God almighty's protection, & your Majesties, who tanquam Pater patriae is and ever hath been, the certain sanctuary, and common support of all just and innocent men. And since the discharge of our mind, can in our poor opinion bring no other inconvenience, then light to your resolutions, in such things as your Highness is now to determine of in this present Parliament, being the fittest time for your Majesty to hear the desires and requests of your people, and we having no other means to make them known, but by this our dutiful Petition, we are the boulder to present unto your majesties view this our simple & sincere Apology: lest God should be offended with us for our silence in matter of his honour: lest the Christian world should condemn us of negligence in defence of our poor distressed cause: lest our Children and posterity should argue us of carelessness and pusilanimity in a cause concerning their lives, estates, and their very soul's salvation: finally lest our adversaries should insult over us and repute us tanquam confitentes reos, if after so many blows given, we should not hold up the Buckler-hand to save our heads from utter confusion and destruction, and leave some monument to our posterity of our zeal and devotion in negotio animarum, & of our duty and affection, in cultu Principum.  
Yet so desirous we are to give your Majesty all possible contentment and satisfaction, so loathe not only to commit, but to conceive any thing that might justly offend your Grace, that being by the reasons aforesaid pressed to put pen to paper, and to have recourse to your Highness by way of intercession, we seek not for all that to importunate your Majesty with concourse of multitudes, nor with the subscriptions of thousands of your lay Catholic subjects hands 
a As the Millenary Ministers lately did.  (as some others have done, in alio genere) for the furtherance of their affairs: but some few of us only in the name of the Catholics of all degrees (who every way join with us in our submission and purgation) do present this our sincer Apology and humble Petition, wherein if we seem more tedious forth: divers important points we must necessarily handle by this occasion then is convenient for men that deal with so mighty a Monarch, busied so extremely with the weighty affairs of so many Kingdoms: pardon (O noble Prince) this our indecorum, for that we are driven to touch somewhat in this discourse, which in Parliament we should have said, if we thither had been admitted: that which to our adversary we would utter, if they had the patience to hear us: and that which we should answer to their sinister suggestions, if we might have that access to your Royal person, as the extremity of our cause requireth, and the true and hearty affection we bear to your Majesty and the common wealth of your Potent Monarchy deserveth. It is not our meaning (most mighty Monarch) being mere lay men, that make no profession of letters, to examine curiously & contentiously all that our adversaries have thundered of late against us, or to dispute with them in mood & figure, which combat we leave to the divines of both parts, when your Majesty shall think good thereof: but with due respect to give your Grac● an account and reason of our belief and Religion, and a full and ample security and satisfaction, of our fidelities and submission.   

CHAPTER 3. The Estate and quality of your Majesties Catholics subjects.  
FOR the clear understanding of which two points, may it please your Grace to consider; first what is the state and condition of your faithful & Catholic subjects both for number, quality, and desert; next what Religion it is they profess, & upon what grounds; lastly what they are of your majesties subjects of their Rank, that for former or future services, and submission in all civil and temporal causes, against all both domestical and foreign enemies, have and will go farther, or venture more willingly their lives & livings for the honour and defence of your person, greatness, and posterity, than they, and their friends both have, and will do.  
In delivery of which points, we hope your Majesty will expect no farther art, or eloquence than may be required of men plunged, and perplexed with the flux and reflux of perpetual vexations, which is truth that craveth justice, and tears that cry for mercy.  
It is evident (DREAD SOVEREIGN) that the subjects of your majesties Realms of England and Ireland consist of Catholics, Protestants, Puritans, and other sectaries: the Catholics and catholicly affected in this Realm, not withstanding the long persecutions in the late Queen's days, were at the entrance of your Majesty to this Realm, esteemed to be as many, as any other of the said professions of Religion: and as for Ireland few there are of that nation, 
An Irishman a Protestant is cara avisin terris.  that are of any account or freehold, but are professed Catholics, besides those that are catholicly affected.  
And as for the Catholics of this Realm, it is well known that their Ancestors have deserved well of this common wealth both in war, & peace, both at home and abroad, and for their fidelities, and laudable services have been advanced by your majesties progenitors, under whom they lived and served, from whom we hope that in no point we degenerate; only that which in them was esteemed the polestarre of all their virtues (to wit) the Catholic Religion, is in us punished for wickedness and impiety.  
This did our Catholic Parents, dignified by your majesties Catholic progenitors, leave us to succeed them in: their Religion towards God; their fidelity towards our Princes; & their native freedom in this your Realm of England, which we have lost of late years under the Reign of our late Queen, for no other crime or offence, then for that we endeavoured to serve God as our Catholic Forefathers have done before us, ever since the conversion of our Country from Paganism; & to save our souls, which are more precious in his sight, than all the Kingdoms in the world: and although we were debarred from all offices and dignities, and lived as it were in perpetual banishment and confinement: yet was it never heard that any one of our number of such suffering recusants, ever lifted up a finger to the least damage, or detriment in the world of our Prince or Country. And thus by these few lines your Majesty may see the multitudes condition, and disposition of your Catholic subjects; who humbly prostrate at your majesties feet, crave to be restored to their former and ancient freedom.  
What we have here spoken, or shall hereafter speak of our hard usage in our late Queen's days, we are driven thereto by necessity, for moving your Majesty to commiseration, by comparing in your wisdom the grievousness of our punishment, with the quality of our deserts, that there upon you may temper the asperity of the former proceed against us, which our late Sovereign herself in her late days began to do, giving the world to understand by the last proclamation that ever she made in that kind, that she began to distinguish between Religion and Treason; and aswell therein, as in divers other books & proclamations tending to that purpose, before published upon any notorious execution done upon Catholics, she divers times, and by her ambassadors to divers Princes abroad did promise and protest, that her will and intention was not to punish her subjects for their 
a Our late Queen ever made profession that she meant never to punish for Religion.  Religion and conscience, whereby we conceived some hope, and found some effect a little before her majesties death, and in this mind and disposition God did take her, and your Majesty found us: which considered, we hope your Majesty having no occasion to hate us, and we many old and new occasions to love you, that you will rather imitate your predecessor in her first, best, and last disposition tending to mildness, mercy, and moderation, then in her other hard and sharp courses: sithence the fruits and effects of the one, were 
b The fruits of a sweet & mild course.  joy, peace, abundance, and universal union, and combination of minds & affections, both at home & abroad (which your Majesty seemeth most to desire) and the harbingers and handmaids of the other, have been 
c The handmaids of blood & persecution.  wars, discensions, discontentments, blood, and beggary; (which your Grace cannot so well digest.) And that appeareth most evidently by the first twelve years of the late Queen's Reign, which as they were free from blood and persecution, so were they frawght with all kind of worldly prosperity; no Prince was for that space better beloved at home, or more honoured or respected abroad, no subjects ever lived with greater security or contentment; never was the Realm more opulent or abundant; never was both in Court and Country such a general time of triumph, joy, and exultation: but no sooner did she begin to alter her course, & to enter into blood, but all was filled with fears and suspicions at home, with wars and divisions abroad, and with continual fright and allarames of strange attempts, either against her person or state: and in fine when her treasure was exhausted, her subjects & Kingdoms extremely impoverished, and all the Kingdoms almost about us disgusted, and in open terms of jealousy and hostility with her, she began again to think of her former fortunate days, and to incline to a milder course, as the only means to settle her and her Realm in peace, security, and former prosperity: which times compared together, do demonstrate that the severity of laws made against Catholic, were the forerunners of infinite mischiefs and miseries. And lest your Majesty beholding such bloody & strange laws made against us, with their rigorous execution by the space of so many years in so long a Reign, as was that of our late Queen; might thereby conjecture that such new and never hard of decrees, could not without urgent or notorious occasions have been invented, constituted, and so severely executed; lest this apprehension of these former proceedings might make the like impression in your mind, & aversion from us; we humbly crave your majesties gracious ears and attention: And when you shall review, and consider deeply the laws made against us, and compare them with the objected crimes, that then some overture may be proposed to the present Parliament for clearing the laws by reason, which is the soul of the law to them, that distinction may be made by justice between the innocent and guilty persons: for howsoever the late 
a The reason that might move the late Queen to make laws against Catholics.  Queen might have pretension to make them, both by reason of her illegittimation by her own Father in public Parliament notoriously divulged, and the jealousy she ever stood in of the Queen your gracious Mother, both for the back and alliance she had with France, and the right she seemed to have by the sentence of the Church, pronounced against the divorce of her Father; and the divers censures and excommunications promulgated against her: Yet your Majesty (of whose rightful succession & most lawful, and legittimat possession of this Crown, Satan himself being put to his shifts can make no doubt or difficulty; against whom no Competitor either hath, or had purpose, or power to contend; 
b Vide D. Giffordes commission and Monsieur de Bethunes letters.  whom the Sea of Rome is so far from censuring, that she hath already censured all those that shall any way seek to give you any disturbance or molestation; & with whom all the Princes in Christendom are in perfect peace and amity; & whom Catholics have as yet no way offended, but by all means endeavoured to serve, satisfy, & content.) 
a His Majesty hath no such reason to continue the laws against Catholics, as the late Q. had to enact them.  Your Majesty (we say) for these respects, hath no such apparent cause to continue those laws, as the late Queen had to enact them, the reasons and foundations of those laws, being by this happy mutation of state, time, and persons utterly removed.  
If then (DREAD SOVEREIGN) we have been, are, and will be (as we have and will demonstrate) as loyal, faithful, and affectionate to your Majesty, your predecessors and posterity, and even to those Princes that dealt most hardly with us, and to the good and peaceable estate of our Country, as any sort of your majesties subjects within the Realm of our Rank whatsoever; we see not how by authority we can be driven to forsake our Catholic Father's faith and belief, unless authority can by reason convince us, that our faith is Infidelity, our Religion superstition, and the service we use Idolatry, or the Doctrine we receive heresy. These are points first to be decided and determined amongst Divines and learned men of both parts; and therefore that Magistrates should proceed against us, as men convicted of those crimes, before our cause be heard and determined, by them that are by God appointed to handle those high and important points of divinity; we hope your majesties clemency and piety will not permit: But judgement being passed on our side already, in so many general Counsels abroad, and convocations and Parliaments at home, commending and approving the faith we profess, what reason can give life to that law, that doth reverse a sentence so authentically given, without the full form of justice and process therein required?   

CHAPTER 4 The reasons why we are so resolute in our Religion.  

Reasons of Religion.  THE first reason that we give of our faith & Religion (SACRED SOVEREIGN) & why we ought not to suffer therefore as delinquents is, that neither obstinate pride, 
The 1. reason.  nor presumptuous pertinacy, nor dislike of order or Discipline, nor contempt of authority, nor curiosity, affectation of novelty, or discontentment in our private humours maketh us so constant and resolute in the profession thereof: but our consciences merely so informed and enforced in manner, by the instinct of God's grace, and revelation of his holy word and will▪ but our understanding captivated in obsequium fidei by most evident 
a In no Religion but the Catholic only do all these testimonties concur.  Testimony of holy Write, of Unity, Universality, Succession, Antiquity, & authority of Scriptures, Fathers, Saints, Doctors, Counsels, Parliaments, Virgins, and Martyrs, which all concur only, and jointly in the Catholic Religion, and in no other profession whatsoever: which considerations accompanied with the fear of God's judgements, the danger of Hell fire, and the desire of eternal Salvation, command us by the rules of reason, in the practice & profession of that Religion, to obey the law of God before the law of man..  

The 2. reason.  It is an instance and maxim that suffereth no exception, that never any general or universal innovation, or alteration in matters of Faith or Religion from bad to better, hath been heard of, either in the whole world, or in any particular nation, be it either from judaisme, Gentilism, Paganism, Atheism, or Idolatry, but that the commission and vocation of the messengers have been authorized Domino coöperante & sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis: 
Mar. 16.  our Lord working with all, and confirming the word with signs that followed: which since our new messengers and reformers, as yet, have not duly, nor clearly showed (pretending as they do to purge Christendom of superstition and Idolatry) how can they in reason crave at our hands, credit, or conformity to the new laws made on that behalf? God is ipsa vita, lux, & veritas. God that is the life, 
The 3. reason.  light, and truth itself cannot give commission, credit, and authority, to death, darkness, & falsehood; but it is most evident and cannot be doubted of or denied, that the first Apostles & Conuertors of this our nations of England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Germany, were sent from the Church of Rome, and delivered us the same Roman faith we now profess; the same Mass, and the same Sacraments; and preached the self same Doctrine, 
Mar. 16.  Domino coöperante & sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis: our Lord working with all, and confirming the word with signs that followed. Reason then concludeth thus, that either God in this case hath given testimoney to falsehood, or else the doctrine confirmed by the testimoney of God is true and avowable, and not to be forsaken for fear of any human laws, till we have like testimoney from Heaven to the contrary; & when our adversaries shall duly reprove ours herein, and make their own mission as manifest by the word of God, then if we do not conform ourselves to the new laws imposed upon us, worthily we are to endure these late inflicted penalties for matter of recusancy.  
To convince us then, that either we have not the true Scriptures, 
The 4. reason.  or interpret them not as we ought, or that we dishonour God in honouring his Saints, or err in the number, or nature of our Sacraments, or that our Doctrine is false and defective, and to condemn us, and punish us therefore as Heretics and idolaters; requireth in all reason an absolute commission from God: the which when it shall be produced, willingly we will obey.  
If they allege Scriptures, the Scriptures are common to us both, 
The 5 reason.  yet more likely in reason to be ours then theirs; because that if the Church of Rome had not conserved them, and communicated the same unto us, our adversaries had been at this day Scripturelesse: the very original Bible, the self same numero which S. Gregory sent in with our Apostle S. Augustine, being as yet reserved by God's especial providence as a testimoney, 
a We received the Scriptures from the Church of Rome.  that what Scriptures we have, we had them from Rome, and have nothing of our reformers, but that we have not so many books of Scriptures discanonized and rejected, because they be express Testimonies against their new and negative Religion.  
If they stand upon the sense and true interpretation, we stand on that point more confidently than they, they having no further warrant than their private spirit, and we relying on the assistance of the holy Ghost therein promised to his Church for the instruction of all truth; which is Columna & firmamentum veritatis, the pillar & foundation of truth. If they sly to the Fathers, for one place evil understood & some time falsified, some time mutilated, and some time wholly corrupted, we produce a thousand, not by patches nor mammocke as they do; but whole pages, whole chapters, whole books, and the uniform consent of all the ancient Fathers and Catholic Church.  
If they press us with their passed Parliaments and Princes, for one of theirs we have an hundred, and for a Child King, & a Woman Queen, we have for us so many, so Holy, so Wise, so Learned, so Religious, so Victorious Princes, as our Histories without them would be very barren, our Names obscure, our Clergy miserable, our Bishop's beggarly, our Parliaments confused, our Laws intricated, our Universities without Colleges, our Colleges without Scholars, our Scholars without maintenance. Reason then the life of the law, requireth to our understanding more ample and authentical evidence, before we be condemned by law, as superstitious or irreligious.  
The faith we profess, 
The 6. reason. Rom. cap. 1.  is that faith and Religion which S. Paul to the Romans so highly commendeth, which therefore is called Catholic and Roman, because 
b The Church of Rome even was and is the Mother Church.  all the Churches in the world either did in their beginnings, or do for the present agree uniformly with the Sea of Rome in union and communion of faith, doctrine, and fellowship; having recourse thereto as to the Mother Church. From the Pastors and Prelates of this Church, to wit, from 
a S. Gregory the Pope S. Augustine the Monk  S. Gregory the Pope and S. Augustine the Monk, we received the benefit of our conversion and regeneration; from them we received the self same Doctrine, Discipline, Service, Sacraments, Feasts, and laudable Cermonies, which are by us held, practised, professed, and defended with the effusion of our bloods at this very day, and this we find verified by the Histories of 
b S. Bede, Cambden, Stowe, Hollenshed, and Sauel●.  S. Bede, Cambden, Hollenshed, Stowe, and that Tripartite History set out by Master Sauell.  

The 7. reason.  From this Church of Rome we received our Bible, our Gospel, our Creed, our Cannons; which are the same through the whole Christian world among Catholics, both for the translation, sense, and interpretation.  

The 8. reason.  This Church is by your Majesty and by the learned sort of the Protestants, acknowledged to be the Mother Church; we hope than we are excusable, that reverence & love our dearest Mother, from whose breast our forefathers and we have received the sweet milk of our souls.  

The 9 reason.  There was never yet since the Incarnation of Christ any heresy that crept into the Church of God, but we find the names of the authors of such heresies: we find by the Church of Rome Counsels called to condemn them, and Doctors employed to confute them: there is not the least Ceremony or circumstance that hath been added, for the greater Majesty and solemnity in Gods divine service, but the year is known when, and the Pope by whom it was ordained.  
If matters then of so small moment pass not without recording, reason would that the laws that must condemn our Mother Church of Idolatry and superstitions, should tell us the authors that first corrupted her integrity: but if the first jnuentors and jnstitutors of the Mass, of Purgatory, of prayer to saints, and the like supposed errors, cannot be produced, doubtless we must attribute them, as we do indeed to Christ and his Apostles: and as derived from such infallible authority, we are bound in all equity to follow them.  

The 10. reason  But if by the fruits your Majesty will give judgement of the tree, the fruits of our Religion are Love, Unity, Concord, Piety, acts of Charity, and Devotion: as Fasting, Prayer, Alms, building of Monasteries, erecting of Universities, founding of Hospitals, converting of Nations, calling of Counsels, confuting of Heresies, obedience to our Princes though they be Pagans and Infidels, and that for conscience sake, 
a Calu. lib. 4. Inst. cap. 4 lib. 4. cap. 10. 6. 5.  whereas both practisers and professors of the Religion which we are so pressed to embrace, do far differ from us in those points, teaching under colour of the liberty of the Gospel, 
b Knox in his exhortation to England printed at Geneva. 1559.  contempt of power, and authority 
c Luther in his book de potestate seculari: & in his comment upon the 1. of S. Peter, cap. 2.  neglect of laws, 
d Goodman in his book of obedience: all wh●ch teach contempt of authority, and neglect of laws in the places cited.  and obedience. The examples are to late, and lamentable in your majesties Realm of Scotland, and in the Persons of your gracious Mother, and Grandmother; Father, and Grandfather, to pass with silence the tragedies by such like, played in sundry other Countries. Reason then the life of the law will acquit us, if we prefer a Faith that hath taken so deep root, whose goodly fruits we daily see and taste, before a slender, sleight, green, and far less fruitful plant.  
About twenty four years now past, when a certain conference was held in the Tower between Master Campion, and Master Sherwin Catholic Priests, and some of the selected learned Protestant divines, there were then in prison in the Fleet, divers Catholics both of honourable and worshippefull degree, for testimoney of their conscience only; as the Lord Vaux, Master Thomas Somerset brother to the Earl of Worcester, Sir Thomas Thresham, Sir William Catsby, & others: who offered the warden of the Fleet (to procure them licence of the privy Council, to be present at that conference, and to have that question of repairing to the Protestant Church discussed and decided) one hundred French Crowns for every day that this question should remain thus under examination: but their request could not then be admitted, albeit the said warden did undertake the suit, and confidently promised to effect it, and seriously laboured it aswell by his honourable friends in Court, as by all other means he could possibly.  
The same offer of conformity, and desire to be satisfied in this point, which we made then, we in humble wise make now, and that with so much the more greater efficacy, as your Majesty hath a most full and ample possession of our hearts and affections, for manifold important respects, both for the love your gracious Mother did bear us, and the cause for which we suffer: as also for the often (to us most comfortable) protestations your Majesty hath made, and that in public and in private, that you have a mind free from persecution, or thrawling your subjects in matters of conscience; that you would not increase our burdens with Roboam; to which adding your Clemency of which we have tasted, and your Gracious promises where with we live in hope, and your daily discourses springing from your native bounty and benignity; make us strain ourselves to the uttermost, to give your Grace satisfaction. And therefore if we may obtain this favour at your Grace's hands, to be assured in conscience, by the decision of the learned Divines of both sides, that the act of going to the Protestants sermons and service, is not a damnable sin: then if after such 
a A most humble and reasonable request A Council, conference of disputation.  dispute, decision, & information, we shall refuse to conform ourselves to your majesties will and example, we think then there is reason to give life and re-establishment to the laws made against us. And this may suffice (we hope) for discharge of the dutiful respect we bear to your Majesty, and desire we have to give your Grace all possible satisfaction in matter of our belief and Religion.   

CHAPTER 5. The proofs of the lay Catholic fidelities.  

Reasons of loyalty.  AND now we come to the matter of our loyalty & obedience (GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN) in the defence whereof we are driven by the necessity of our affairs; and importunity of our oppugners, to insist more particularly, then otherwise were convenient in respect of our own modesty, or your highness bounty and magnanimity; who never yet omitted to recompense and pay, suo loco & tempore, love with love, subjection with protection, and virtue with honour.  
For the full & final clearing therefore of that point of disobedience, and disloyalty, wherewith we are so often charged rather in hatred of Religion, then of any ground or substance that ever could justly be showed: may it please your Highness to consider that there be 
b Three ways of trial.  three ways for a prudent and circumspect Master, to try out the honesty, and fidelity of his servant accused of treachery.  

Former behaviour.  The first, by making inquisition of his former life and behaviour, what Master he served before, in what estate, and for how long time, and with what success and trustiness.  

Present carriage.  The second, to look narrowly into his present quality and carriage, and to be assured how he is and hath been affected to him, his forefathers, friends, and dependers.  
The last, to compare his actions and comportments, aswell past as present, with those that traduce him; and to see what caution he can give (to stop his enemy's suggestions) for his future fidelity.  

a Comparison between the Catholics & new Clergies comportments  To this form of trial (DREAD SOVEREIGN) we submit ourselves, our lives and actions, and will indeavoure to give you full satisfaction in all the foresaid points of our carriage:  obstruatur os loquentium iniqua, to the end that the mouth of him that speaketh wicked things may be stopped, that you may (not withstanding what exclamations soever to the contrary) serve yourself of our poor forces, lives, and abilities, in all your fortunes and employments against all your foes and enemies whosoever.  
To begin then where we left when your Majesty made your happy entrance into this Realm, and to put you in mind by what degrees, and for what deserts we were brought into that miserable estate your Highness found us in. It is well known that before our imprisonment and restraint, upon the statute of recusancy, for the only testimoney of our consciences, some of us did bear offices in the common wealth, and were dignified by the late Queen: in which charges and negotiations (without vaunt be it said) our carriages were 
b Catholic behaviours before their restraint & disgrace for recusancy.  civil, laudable, and loyal; and some of us lived without charge, yet not without credit and estimation, of worshipful and honest men, and were aswell accepted & reputed in the Countries and Provinces where we dwelled, and had commandment in, as were any other of our neighbours of the like calling and degrees.  
After our restraint our 
c Their demeanour after their restraint  behaviour was such as became Catholic Christian subjects towards Christian Magistrates, with all humility, respect, modesty, and subjection; ever either readily doing what they enjoined, or patiently suffering what they imposed.  
The long time of our persecutions: the number of them that were afflicted: the diversity of their ranks & qualities, and of their humours and dispositions: the perpetuity and variety of temptations & tribulations: the infinite indignities we passed thorough for so many years, if they had fallen out among any other constitutions of men then Catholic, they might have wrong (very probably) out of men well mortified & patiented, some action of dislike, or perilous practise of discontentment, when such multitudes of all degrees were so assailed; especially of people so resolute in that supremest degree of fortitude: which is as Aristotle defineth it, Tristia pro virtute tollerare, to endure heavy things for virtues sake, a point very dangerous, and whereof there want not plenty of lamentable events, rising from cases of desperate necessity: which Abner the general of Saules army objected to joab David's Lieutenant, in these words: Exclamavit Abner ad joab & ait: 
Reg. 2 cap. 2.  num usque ad internecionem tuus mucro d●saeuiet? an ignoras quod 
d Desperatio periculosa.  periculosa est desperatio? usquequo non dicis populo ut omittat persequi fratres suos? And Abner cried out to joab, shall thy sword be cruel even to the death? Knowest thou not that desperation is perilous? Why dost not thou command the people that they cease to persecute their brethren?  
But this may we glory in, (REDOUBTED SOVEREIGN) that in all this time, no diligence of our Adversaries, no Malice, no policy, no Curiosity, no Argus eyes (of which there was great store, greedily prying into all our doings) could ever espy the least shadow of disloyalty, in any one action of the public weals professors and most sufferers in the cause, notwithstanding the long and perpetual course of their servitudes and vexations.  
The true reason whereof is, the Doctrine we are taught by the Religion which we profess; which telleth us, that we must obey our Princes: Non propter iram, sed propter conscientiam: not for any indignation, but for conscience sake; and that to resist them, is to resist God's ordinance: and this is the bit and bridle that every true Catholic carrieth in his mouth, to restrain him from that by grace and fear of God's judgements, which flesh and blood otherwise with the lively sense and feeling of insupportable miseries and afflictions, might drive him unto.  
In this case of our 
a The lay Catholics fidelity to the late Queen.  dutiful behaviour in the late Queen's days, fiant immici nostri judices, let our enemies be our judges therein: let the Rolls, Registers, and Records speak, sithence the great penalties imposed upon us for recusancy, what hath been our Innocency, our Integrity; our unimpeachable carriage and demeanour: how free we have been from the least suspicion of treason and practice, as it pleased the Lords of the late privy Council to tell us, 
b Catholics justified by the Lords of the Council.  that the reason of our imprisonment was not in respect of any doubt made of our loyalties, but only to prevent the Spaniards hopes of our assistance in their pretended invasions.  
In the year 
c The carriage of Catholics the year 88  Eightie-eight, when the Spanish Armado came with intention to invade this Realm, our offers at Eely to the Lord North (than Lord Lieutenant in those parts) in the presence of the Dean of Fely, and many others else of worshipful calling there present at that time, for the hasting away of the forces of those Countries to Tilbery-Camp, were these: we beseeched and instantly importuned, that we might be employed in those services, in the defence of our Prince and Country, and not endure that dishonour, that the whole Realm should be endangered, and we no unworthy members thereof and no mean freehoulders, should be exempted from that so behoveful and honourable service: we with voluntary adventure of our lives and worldly fortunes 
a Their offer of service in person.  offered to serve in Person with our Sons, Servants, and Tennantes', at our own charges; as desirous most joyfully to embrace that opportunity, to make manifest our loyalties in our Prince and Country's cause: we desired to be placed in the first front of the battle: we offered to serve in the places of the hottest and most dangerous service: and if we might not obtain that favour of trust and service, for greater security, and lively demonstration of our true English hearts, we did offer, and implore to be placed 
b They offer to be placed unarmed in the forefront of the battle.  unarmed in our shirts, before the foremost ranks of our battles, to receive in our bodies the first volley of our enemy's shot, to leave an undoubted testimoney by that our death to stop the mouths of the serpentine maligners of our unspotted integrity, and true English loyalties.  
But if none of these instant requests would be granted us, yet those hands which should have valorously been used against the enemy, should be zealously lifted up to God for the delivery of our Prince and Country, and to obtain renowned glorious victory against the Inuador; wherein we failed not, answerable to the duty of loyalest English Subjects, all which was offered by us to be performed, notwithstanding the late Queen was twice 
c They play the parts of good subjects notwithstanding all excommunications.  excommunicated. And this is a demonstrable and undoubted argument, that we are not conditional Subjects, a calumny so frequent in the mouths of the Ministry, and by them endlessly objected against us.  
The like offer to that the Catholics at Eelie made, the 
d The like offer made the L. Vaux.  Lord Vaux (than prisoner likewise, for testimoney of his conscience, under the charge of the archbishop of Canterbury) offered, and in like sort would have done all the Catholics in England, upon like occasion and opportunity.  
When the Spanish Armado was dispersed, and their forces defeated, the Vice-Chauncellor of Cambridge associated with the Dean of Eelie, sent to Eelie to the Catholic recusants there imprisoned, from the Lords of Queen Elizabethes privy Council, with 
e A form of submission sent down to the Catholic from the Council.  a form of protestation of their duty and allegiance, penned by the said Queen's learned Council, with direction and commission to take the said recusants subscriptions thereunto, being altogether unexpected of them, they being close prisoners, and having no intelligence at all of any Commisioners repairing to them: So soon as these Commissioners had read some part of their commission to the Catholics there, they forth with were severally divided, and in close prison restrained. And notwithstanding the said formal original sent purposely for them to subscribe unto: yet the Commissioners (as it seemed for a more trial, or for a more advantage taking against the Catholics there) taxed every of them to set down immediately the protestation of their allegiance and duty, to like purpose as was set forth in the original sent to them from the Lords of the Council, which the Catholic Gentlemen were permitted to have but one only time read unto them. This several form of submission in such strict order exacted by the Commissioners, was in that 
a The Catholics exhibit a form of submission far more complete than that which was sent them.  ample manner performed by the said recusants, that the said Commissioners (singularly extolling and greatly preferring the same, before the said original) accepted thereof, and required not at all the Catholics to subscribe to the said original so penned by the said Queen's learned Council, & addressed by the Lords of the privy Council: to whom the said protestations being sent, and by them perused, they received such a full approbation, that after that time never any odious imputation or calumniations against the fidelity of the Catholics, prevailed.  
The like was the valour, 
b The fidelity of Irish Catholics.  fidelity, & laudable service of the Irish Catholic recusants at Kinsale in Ireland, Anno 1600. who joining their forces with the late Queens against the Spanish power, and against their own Countrymen & Kinsmen, expelled with their assistance, the Spaniards; and were special means to keep Ireland in obedience to the Crown of England: which otherwise (in the opinions of the Commanders of the English forces then there) had been utterly lost. And none of judgement there doubted, but that it was in the power of those Irish Catholic Earls, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen and their followers, to have betrayed then that Realm of Ireland, to the hands of the Spaniards; if either zeal of extirping the Protestant religion thence, and firm establishing of the Catholic religion, could have prevailed with them; or dread of 
c Excommunication hindered not the Irish Catholics to do the duties of good subjects.  excommunication, or threatening of the powerful invader, proclaiming by sound of Trumpet, and dewlging proclamations that his sword should no more spare a Catholic recusante disobeying that excommunication, than it should do a Protestant resisting in arms. And this singular act of loyalty, so shortly after seconding and confirming the like of the English Catholics in Eighty-eight, without all gayne-saying convinceth, that the English and Irish Catholic recusants, are not 
d English and Irish Catholics no conditional subjects.  condicional subjects, but most true loyal and faithful subjects to their Prince, and to the Crown of England; therein giving place to no subjects of those two Realms whosoever, or of what degree soever: and whose proof and trial herein, far excelleth all other the subjects of those Realms; if pre-eminence should in that behalf be attributed to any profession of Religion in the said Kingdoms.  
This argument of our former behaviour, and of our obedience under the severity of the late Queen, may in all reason assure your Majesty, that in matter of our loyalty we are like pure Gold, fined and refined in the fine of many years probation, and therein not to be any way stained.  
The second trial of our fidelities consisteth in matter likewise of fact 
a Catholics behaviour towards his majesties Predecessors and himself.  towards your majesties Predecessors, your Title in them, and in yourself, and the effect of our love and affection performed in all occasions, that might give contentment to your Majesty, both before and since your entrance into this your Kingdom of England; which we will endeavour to touch as briefly as we can.  
It cannot be denied then in the first rank of these our comportements, but that we ourselves in our times, and our Catholic Parents before us at all times of opportunity offered, have declared our devouted affections to your said Highness 
b Catholics always affected to the K. Title to England.  right to this Crown, the testimonties whereof are in printed books and public facts so manifest to the world, that we need not long dwell on that point: vouchsafe therefore patience we beseech you (DEAR SOVEREIGN) to hear some instances of the 
c Blessings & benefits his Majesty hath received by Catholics.  blessings and the benefits your Majesty hath received by Catholics, and by our services and fidelities.  
King Henry the seven th'. and his eldest Daughter (from whom your Majesty hath received lineally and directly your birth, right, and natural succession to this Crown) were most zealous and religious Catholics: and for that singular affection he did bear to the 
d Henry the 7. preferreth the Scotish King before the French.  Scotish nation, principally for their great zeal at all times to the Catholic religion, preferred the same before France, bestowing his said eldest Daughter on your highness great Grandfather, and the younger upon the French King, by which happy marriage came that lineal and rightful descent of blood, that made your majesties renowned Mother Heir apparent to this Crown of England, who also was the undoubted 
e His majesties Mother lineal heir to King Edward the Confessor.  lineal Heir to King Edward the Confessor by his sister Margaret, Queen and Saint; and consequently your Majesty from your Catholic Mother, and her Catholic Predecessors, hath not only received the hereditary succession of the Kingdom of Scotland, but also a double right to the Crown of England, as 
f His Majesty true heir both to the Saxon & Norman Princes.  heir to the Saxon lineal line by a holy Saint & Catholic Queen, and heir to the Norman line by a most worthy Catholic Prince, and a blessed Martyr, and all them united in her, and now duly descended to your Majesty.  

Queen Mary  It was the pious and virtuous Queen Mary and her Catholic subjects, who canceled the forged will of her Father King Henry the eight, exceeding prejudicial to your right in this Crown, that disproved it in Parliament, and deposed the Protestant usurping Queen jane 
a Queen jane set up by Protestants, deposed by Catholics.  set up then by the Protestants to the disinheriting of Henry the eight his daughter's Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, and his eldest sisters issue, who was your majesties great Grandmother, and whose issue were in all right to have been preferred before her younger sister, Grandmother to the usurping Protestant Queen jane; who so deposed by that renowned pious Catholic Queen Mary, the Crown (by her royal providence) was reserved to the rightful, and lawful heirs thereof, consequently descended now to your Majesty, conformable to the law of God, Nature, and Nations.  
The serpentine invective made by Hales and other Protestants, in the beginning of Queen elizabeth's reign, directly against your majesties Title, thereby intending 
b Hales invective against the Title of Scotland.  the advancement of a pretender, potently in those days possessed in the breasts of no mean multitudes, was upon the setting forth thereof in the time of Queen Elizabeth indelayedly undertaken, fully answered, & learnedly confuted by 
c Hales answered by justice Browne & M. Ployden both Catholics.  Sir Anthony Browne then one of the justices of the common Pleas, and lately before in Queen Mary's reign had been chief justice of the same Court, and M. Edmund Ployden famous Lawyers, with the assent of other Catholic Divines, civil Lawyers, and Gentlemen of good worth, judgement, and experience.  
How many 
d Hawardes, Percies, Pagets, Vaux, Treshams, Throghmortons, Salisburies', Abington  families of Catholics have endured great damages and detriments in renown and state, for desire they had to maintain the right of your most blessed Mother's Title in remainder, and adventures made to relieve her, and deliver the afflicted Princess out of her captivity; with much abundant love, tears, and affection, your sacred mother testified publicly at the end of her life.  
Since your Mother's death, we remained ever 
e Catholics behaviour after the martyrdom of his majesties Mother.  constant to your majesties right to the succession of this Crown, not ebbing and flowing in our affections, but resolute ever to live or die with your Majesty in that most just pretence: but if any particular person in foreign countries hath spoken or written to the contrary, for his private and particular pretensions, he is to answer for himself, and his own fact, for therein we disclaim: which party (as we are credibly informed) hath both before and sithence the Queen's death, done great diligence to give your Majesty satisfaction. And your Majesty is not ignorant, (we are assured) what hath been the carriage, opinion, and opposition of us and our friends even in that particular in the favour and defence of your majesties right, both within and without the Realm: what 
a The dangers, damages, and disgraces, which M. Charles Paget, Cap. Tresham, M. john Stonor of Stonor, and divers others suffered therefore, are notorious.  dangers we have passed at home, and what slanders and damages very many of our Catholic brethren have suffered abroad, for showing themselves Scotish in faction (as we were termed, that 
b Scotish infaction what.  is firmly, & immovably affected to your majesties right of succession to this Crown.) your Majesty have heard, and we have felt and shall feel, our honours and estates thereby being extremely diminished and eclipsed whiles we live, unless your majesties pious & royal heart vouchsafe to repair and relieve the same.  
Neither did your majesties 
c His majesties zeal in the Protestants Religion did nothing diminish the Catholics forwardness towards his right and justice.  zeal in the Protestant religion, any way alter or diminish the just conceit, and dutiful consideration we carried to that justice and right, which God and nature had prepared for you from your cradle.  
If then our carriage and affection to your Majesty was such, when your Religion was to ours so different, your Person to us unknown, your fortune doubtful, the factions divers, the oppositions in all likelihood very great, and the event of your affairs very uncertain: what may your Majesty presume of us now? or rather what may you not promise, & assure to yourself of our fidelities, in this time of your majesties present prosperity, and fruition of this Crown, having proved ourselves so faithful to your Majesty in times of your expectations?  
And to conclude, such is the 
d The confidence Catholics have in his majesties royal dealing with them.  confidence we have in your majesties clemency, and so far we rely upon the bounty of your nature and royal proceeding with us, that whereas the not payment of twenty pounds a month for recusancy into the Exchequer, (at the terms by law prescribed) putteth us absolutely into your majesties hands and mercy, for two parts of all our lands and revenues during our lives, and maketh us a prey to the discretion of our enemies & promoters, disabling us to sell our goods, to let or set our lands for our relief, to make jointures for the maintenance of our wives, or estate of lands to our children, albeit by not payment of the said sums at the terms aforesaid we fell within the lapses of the Laws in such extremity of danger, that our case was not to be relieved but by special act of Parliament: yet such of us, as at Wilton in November last passed had recourse to the Lords of your majesties most honourable privy Council, to be secured from the said forfeiture; which otherwise we were to incur in default of payment, as is before said, they were (far besides their expectation) taxed by the Lords of a kind of difidence, or challenging your Majesty with breach of promise for the casing us of the said mulcte-money, in sort as it was delivered us in julie precedent at Hampton-Court, whereupon we resolved absolutely to put our whole Estate into your majesties hands, that your Majesty may see, how we prefer the credit and confidence we have in your majesties justice, equity, conscience, and mercy, before our own security, our lands, goods, and livings; and so do we still remain in the same predicament: where if every penny had been a pound, & every of our mole-hilles mountains, we would (upon such urging of our diffidence) have prostrated all the same at your most Royal majesties feet.   

CHAPTER 6. This carriage and behaviour of our Accusers.  

The carriage of our Antagonistes.  IT resteth now last to consider what hath been the behaviour of some of our accusers (the Ministers we mean, & some hot spirits of their adherentes and followers) from time to time in your majesties affairs (that hath so cherished, dignified and advanced them) and to other their lawful Princes, that have not so fully concurred with them in matter of religion as your Majesty doth, ut contraria juxta se posita magis clucescant, that contraries compared together may the more clearly appear.  
If you demand what they were that accounted it a matter treasonable to retain any book or paper in favour of your majesties Title, and that in public books called your Mother's right to this Crown a pretended Title. Agendum est obsignatis tabulis: and we must needs tell you that it was a Student of lions Inn a Lawer by profession, and a Protestant in Religion, that in a book printed Anno 1584. & entitled (A discovery of treasons against the Queen's Majesty by Frances Throgmorton) amongst other his treasons, 
Pag. 3.  he reckoneth this for one in these words. There were also found among other his papers 12. petegrees of the descent of the Crown of England printed and published by the Bishop of Rosse in the defence of the pretended Title of the Scotish Queen his Mistress. What could be more unjust and injurious to that blessed Lady and all her posterity, then in a book printed in defence of an execution of justice, to call her Title false pretended and unjust, and account the evidences and records thereof as treason in the highest degree?  
If inquiry be made who they were that in prejudice of your majesties right to this Crown did set up the usurping Queen jane, descended from the younger sister of your majesties great Grandmother, that was the eldest daughter to King Henry the seven th'. Our histories tell us that they were 
a The Duke of Nothumb. the Dukes of Somerset, Suffolk, & other Protestants, & all the Protest. Bishop's Clergy & Council, of K. Edward & principally the clergy.  enemies to the Catholic faith which we profess, & the first advancers of the new Religion in this Country.  
If we call to mind the complotters and compassers of the murder committed on the Person of your highness 
b His majesties Father and Grandfather slain.  Father and Grandfather, and the barbarous butchering of your Mother's Secretary in her Royal presence, and the miraculous escape of your Grace's person by God's singular protection, when a 
c His Majesty pursued in his Mother's womb, and miraculously preserved.  charged pistol put to your Mother's womb by one of the traitorous race of the Gowries, to have destroyed you both at one blow, could not give fire; we find by the printed monuments of Scotish annal that the actors, authors, and inventors of those tragedies were not of the Catholic religion.  
If we demand who they were that took 
d The Ministers and Presbytery authors of these tumults.  arms against your majesties gracious Mother, that overthrew her in the field, that laid violent hands upon her sacred Person, and imprisoned her in Lawghleven, that deprived her of her Crown, and expelled her out of her Kingdom, and procured afterwards her captivity in this Realm: no man is ignorant that the 
e The Earl of Moray. Knox the Catiline of Scotland.  Bastard of Scotland with the Presbytery & that runagate Friar john Knox, mortal enemies to all order, rule, and authority, were the Architects of these detestable actions.  
How zealous 
f Bothwell & Gowry, two pillars of the Presbytery.  Bothwell and Gowry were against poor Catholics; and what pillars and patrons they were of the Presbytery, the world knoweth, but your Majesty by experience can best testify what perilous, turbulent, and seditious members they were of the common wealth, and how often your sacred Person was endangered by them, and others of their profession.  
Moreover, we hope that we may without offence to any, confidently affirm, that they were not Catholics that caused your Mother's untimely death: the memory of which times, for many respects we had forborn to touch, but only to remove the odious and unjust imputations, divulged in the time of this present session of Parliament against us in a certain libel, or rather a clamorous calumnious invective, published in this present session of Parliament, against a most modest, learned, and submissive supplication dedicated to your Majesty in March last: where the Libeler calleth Catholics to the Bar, and would have then indited, and pass their trial for that matter: 
g Sutclives own words in the 8. chapter of his said libel.  Which done (saith he) his Majesty may easily perceive that they are to be hated, and abhorred as causers and contrivers of all his Mother's troubles and calamities, his proofs are the author of the jesuits Catechism 
a The author of that Catechism an inveterat enemy of that order & therefore more credulous than convenient in matter of theirs dishonour.  written in disgrace of that order, which book is of as great credit (with men of tender consciences, and upright carriage in matter of truth and equity) as Lucian's Dialogues, watson's Quodlibets, or Esopes fables, and what this Catechiste wrote of private passion, without any authentical warrant, this libeler doth urge with the like perturbation. And here (DREAD SOVEREIGN) we might as readily, as lively, produce a world of invincible proofs in reproof of this libeler, by proving the actors of that complotment and tragical proceeding not to have been any one of them Catholics, or their well-willers, but (we carefully shunning to charge any with bloody imbrumentes in that lamentable fact of England's agony,) and only to free ourselves from that most odious, impudent, and false calumniation, we solely resort to matter of highest record, daily extant to be seen of all men in public printed statutes, being the forerunners of that strange execution of your blessed and most glorious Mother. Whereby it is most evident and well known (etiam lippis & tonsoribus) to blind men & barbers, that they were not Catholics that made and enacted those statutes of the thirteenth of Queen elizabeth's Reign, for the 
b 13. Elizabeth Limitation of the right of the Crown.  limitation of the right of the Crown, to the disposition of the Lords and Parliament from the free right and course of blood and descent. That made it treason in the same Parliament, to 
c Treason to say that the persons Titles & possibilities of all pretenders to the crown be not subject to the acts made in Parliament.  hold or say that the common laws of England, and statutes to be made in Parliament, are not of sufficient validity to govern the persons, and to bind and limit the Titles of any that hath any possibility to the Crown.  
They were not Catholics that made it treason in the same Parliament, 
d Reconciliation, treason.  to absolve from sin and reconcile, or to be so absolved or reconciled. 
e Agnus Dei, Beads, or Crosses praemunire.  A praemunire to bring in any tookens called Agnus Dei, or Crosses, Pictures, or hallowed Beads, or to have or receive them.  
They were not Catholics that the 23. of Queen elizabeth's Reign made it treason 
f 23. Elizabeth treason to persuade men to the Catholic religion.  to persuade men to the Catholic religion, and the loss of 200. marks to hear 
g 200 marks for laying, 100 marks for hearing a mass.  Mass, or to pay xx. pound monthly for 
h xx. pound a month for recusancy.  refusing to go to the Protestants service: or the forfeits of x. pound monthly for such as should keep any 
i x. pound a month for keeping a schoolmaster.  Schoolmaster not allowed by the Bishop of the Diocese, and refusing to go to Church.  
They were not Catholics who made an act 27. of the said Queen by virtue whereof your gracious 
k 27. Eliz. the act was made which caused the death of his majesties Mother.  Mother lost her life; and in the same Parliament it was made treason for all 
l In the same year it was made treason to be a Priest and come in or remain in the land, & felony to receive or relieve them.  Priests or Religious men that had taken orders by any foreign authority, to remain or come into this Kingdom, and felony to relieve or entertain them.  
It was made treason to be brought up in the Seminaries, praemunire to send thither any relief.  
In the 28. of the said Queen, it was enacted that the two parts of the lands and leases of such recusantes, as should fail to pay the xx. pound a month in the Exchequer at the terms prefixed, should be seized into the Queen's hands.  
In the 35. it was enacted that every 
m 25. Elizab. certain recusants were by an act then made to abjure the realm  recusant above the age of sixteen years, being not worth twenty marks (exceeding his confined limits) should abjure the Realm, and if he refused to abjure or returned after abjuration, to be accounted a felon.  
Item that the party should pay ten pound a month that 
n Ten pound a month for keeping a recusant in the house.  keeps any recusant in his house after warning.  
In the same Parliament, recusantes are 
o The same year was the statute of confinementes enacted.  restrained to their certain usual, and common places of abode, and are not to remove above five miles thence without licence of the Bishop and two justices, upon pain of forfeiting of all their goods, and all their free and coppyhold lands, and annuities during life: & all such recusants that had not lands of twenty marks value by year, or goods of forty pound, if they conformed not themselves, or repaired not to their places of limitation, shall abjure the Realm. By the course and contriving of such capital and cruel laws at the same time, and in the same sessions, aswell against Catholics, as against your gracious Mother; it seemeth by all probability (to persons esteemed of judgement & great experience, in the insight of worldly drifts both in this Realm, and in foreign Regions) that the principal mark which was aimed at in those times, was at the self same season by severity and shadow of the same laws an instance to ruinated & overthrow the 
p The person of his majesties Mother her right and Title and the Catholics, cause, all shot at by the same laws, and at the same time.  person of your gracious Mother and her right, and the professors of the Catholic religion; supposing that those three must either stand or fall together of necessity: but non est consilium contra Dominum: there is no council against God: her right & posterity hath (God bethanked) prevailed, & the poor Catholics from that time to this, the more they have been oppressed, the more they have increased, which cannot fall out otherwise, unless it prove false which God hath said by the mouth of his Saints and servants: Preciosa in conspectu Domini mors Sanctorum eius, precious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Saints. Et sanguis Martirum semen Ecclesiae, the blood of Martyrs, the seed of the Church. We accuse no man in particular in this case, and could have been content: ulcus hoc intactum leviter pertransire, to have slightly passed over this boch untouched, but that this respondent would needs deal with us, as Putifars 
q The libeler like joseph his Mistress & Susanna's judges.  wife did with holy joseph, or the carnal judges with the chaste Susanna, (viz.) put us to our plunges, and purgations for such crimes, as were proper and peculiar to themselves.  
Never was it heard of that in England or Scotland any Minister or Ministers ever suffered any thing for that gracious Lady, or your majesties Title, but infinite are the 
a In Scotland, Seton's, Gordens, Simples, Maxuelles.  families of the Catholics that have suffered for them both. As the seaton's, the Gordens, the Simples, the Maxuells in Scotland: the 
b In England, Hawards, Percies, Pagettes, Treshammes, Throgmorton's, Salisburies', Abington, Windsor.  Hawards, Percies, Vauxes, Pagets, Treshams, Throgmorton's, Winsors, Salisbury, Abington, and divers other worthy Gentlemen in this Land, the shipwreck of whose opulent abundant states and fortunes, are invincible testimonties of the Libelers falsehood and folly in this his objection, and of the constant fidelity of Catholics to your Majesty and all your race and predecessors, in all their fortunes whatsoever.  
And thus your Majesty doth see the comparison of our former times, and our precedent behaviours, with our present affection and future assurance: If then we be not rewarded, and respected as all others are of other professions that have done their duties, as we did, in advancing your majesties affairs, and acknowledging your rightful Authority: yet at the least we hope that it will not be thought reasonable, that we should be left in the same mass of misery, which your Majesty found us in at your entrance.  
Make us then (SWEET SOVEREIGN) as able as we are wiling to serve you, not by new dignities and authorities, but by restoring us to our pristine honours, and honest reputations, and to our birthright freedom, and liberty by your only Peerless justice, clemency, and benignity; permitting us to live in peace, & comedere buccellam nostram sine dolore, to put a bit of meat into our mouths without sorrow, without frights, without slights, and without circumventions of our Adversaries: our wounds are so deep and dangerous in matters of our honours, states, and liberties, that no Physician can cure us but yourself with the sovereign balm of your renowned Clemency. What pleasure or profit can redound to your majesties person or estate, if we your approved and assured servants and subjects rot in prison, die in banishment, and live in penury and disgrace; for no other crime or offence, but for the constant profession of that Religion, which in conscience we are persuaded to be the only true worship of God, & salvation of our souls? Of which our faith and belief, we have rendered so sufficient reason, that we hope, it will fully satisfy and content, so wise, learned, politic, and discreet a Prince, as your Majesty hath showed yourself to be in all occasions presented to make trial thereof, which maketh us the more confident in our just and reasonable defence, because we sue to a most wise, just, and learned Monarch.  
And albeit more than this can hardly be required of men, whose fidelities are so sufficiently tried and testified (as appeareth by the whole substance and tenor of this our Apology) yet pro abundantiore cautela, we humbly lay down at your majesties feet this form of submission, and security following, in behalf of our Priests and Pastors.   

CHAPTER 7. The form of the Catholics submission.  
IF we may be permitted to enjoy some quiet, grave, 
The lay Catholics submission.  and virtuous Clergy men for the comfort of our souls, we doubt not but to give your Majesty a far greater security for the few hundreds of our Priests, than was given for the many thousands of Queen Mary's Priests, and Prelates in the late Queen elizabeth's days; against whom, albeit above 
a 10000 Clergy men left their livings, rather than they would leave their religion.  ten thousand of them, did abandon their Ecclesiastical livings, rather than they would conform themselves to the times (especially the 
b All Queen Mary Bishops forsook their Prelatures, rather than they would forsake their chief Pastor.  holy Senate of Bishops, no one excepted) yet in the time of the said Queen, for the space of thirty years extreme and restless persecution, no capital laws were made or executed. And in the 
c The book entitled execution for treason, & not for religion, made by the late L. Burleigh.  book entitled Execution for treason, and not for Religion, composed & set forth by the late L. Burleigh then high treasurer of England, on whom for his great wisdom and policy, the managing of the Common wealth of this Realm (under the Queen principally depended) Anno 1583. and Anno Regni Eliz. 26. it is in express words set down what favour these Priests found, in terms as followeth. And though there are many subjects known in the Realm that disser in some opinions of Religion from the Church of England, and yet do also not forbear to profess the same; yet in that they do all profess loyalty & obedience to her Majesty, and offer readily in her defence to impugn and resist any foreign force, though it should come or be procured from the Pope himself, 
d None of Q Mary's Priests or Prelates persecuted for region.  none of these sort are for their contrary opinions in Religion persecuted, or charged with any crimes or pains of treason, nor yet willingly searched in their consciences for their contrary opinions that savour not of treason. After which Narration, he reckoneth up great numbers, as 
e D. Heath, Archbishop of York.  D. Heath, archbishop of York, B. Poole. B. Tunstall, B. White, B. Oglethrop, B. Thurlby, B. Watson, B. Turberuill: none of all these were pressed with any capital pain, though they maintained the Pope's authority, against the laws of the Realm: he recounteth 
a Abbot Feenam.  one Abbot & divers Deans, whom he commendeth for learning, modesty & knowledge, & concludeth that none 
b None of all these held or punished as traitors, though they maintained the Pope's authority against the laws of the Realm.  of these, nor yet divers others of the like moral, and indifferent carriage, were ever called to any capital, or bloody question upon matter of Religion; nor were not deprived of any of their goods, or proper livelihoods: of the like indulgence and lenity mention is made in the same book, used towards the laity in wonderful pleasing words as followeth.  
There are great numbers of others being lay men and of good possessions in Lands, and men of credit in their countries, that do enjoy their estates, though they hold contrary opinions in Religion for the Pope's authority, and yet none of them have been sought hitherto to be impeached in any point or quarrel of treason, or loss of life, member, or inheritance: So that it may plainly appear, it is not, nor hath not been for contrary opinions in Religion; or for the Pope's authority alone (as the Adversaries do boldly and falsely publish) that every person hath suffered death since her majesties Reign: yet some of this sort are well known to hold opinion, that the Pope ought by authority of God's word, to be supreme and only head of the Catholic Church throughout the whole world, and that the Queen's Majesty ought not to be 
c To deny the Q. to be supreme governess over Ecclesiastical persons not persecuted with charge of treason.  governess over any her subjects in her Realms, being persons Ecclesiastical: yet for none of these points hath any person been persecuted with the charge of treason or in danger of life.  
If then this were the case of Queen Mary's Priests, and other quiet and faithful subjects in the late Queen's days, we hope that our Priests (being aswell qualified in all respects to our Princes good liking & satisfaction, as they were; both for quiet behaviour, civil life, and sincere affection to your majesties service) may for our comfort obtain as much grace now, as they did then, without any such assurance as our Priests shall put in. And to make the case yet more clear, and uncontrollable; we add further, that since 
d No religion can consist without Priests and Pastors.  no Religion ever did or could consist without Priests, Pastors, and men to whom the disposition of divine mysteries did belong, we hope that our desire to have the benefit of such Clergy men, as may stand with the safety of our Prince and Country, is conformable to reason, as commanded by the rules of conscience, charity, and Christianity.  
And that it may be more apparent to the world, that this our lowly Christian desire, and humble demand, shall not any ways be prejudicial to your majesties Royal person or estate, we offer to answer person for person, and life for life, for every such Priest 
a The Catholics offer for their Priests.  as we shall make election of, and be permitted to have in our several houses, for their fidelity to your Majesty and to the state; by which means your Majesty may be assured both of our number, and carriage of all such Priests as shall remain within the Realm, for whom (it is not credible) that we would so deeply engage ourselves without full knowledge of their dispositions: their being here by this means shall be public, the places of their abode certain, their conversation and carriage subject to the eyes of the Bishops, Ministers, and justices of peace in every province and place where they shall live: by which occasion, there may probably arise a kind of virtuous, and not altogether unprofitable emulation between our Priests and your Ministers, who shall exceed and excel the other in virtuous living, and exemplarity of life, and other acts and exercises of piety and devotion, which must needs turn to the edification of the people, and extirpation of vice; and we shall be so much the more circumspect and careful of the comportmentes of our said Priests, as our estate and security doth more directly depend upon their honesties and fidelities.  
To conclude, we do and ever will (REDOUBTED PRINCE) acknowledge your Majesty our lawful King and Sovereign Lord, and will 
b Catholics opposition against all pretenders.  defend and maintain your majesties Heirs and your Successors possession, right, and Title, with life and livelihood against all pretendantes to the contrary.  
Further more, we will 
c Their proffer to reveal and withstand all treasonable at tempts.  reveal, and to our powers withstand and prevent any conspiracy, or intended treason against the person of your Majesty, your Heirs and Successors, and we will to our power defend your Realms and Dominions against all invasions, or foreign enemies, upon what pretence soever.  
We do, and will acknowledge due unto your Majesty from us, what soever is due for a subject unto his Prince and Sovereign, either by the law of nature, or by the word of God, or hath been used by any Catholic subject towards your highness Catholic Progenitors; and this we will perform by protestation, 
d The Catholics oath, and protestation.  oath, or in such other manner, as shall seem best to your Majesty.  
And this same oath and protestation, our Priests so permitted, shall take before they shall be admitted into our houses, otherwise they shall not have relief of us.  
In this sort (we doubt not) but that your Majesty may both in honour and security, take protection of our persons, mitigate our former afflictions, and be assured of our future loyalties, loves, and affections, if you but please to take the view (which your Majesty may do in this our Apology) of the rules of our Doctrine and Religion, in those cases of the experience of our former actions, and of the absolute complete form of this our submission and allegiance: which bands as they are most voluntary on our parts, so are they far 
a Voluntary submission far to be preferred before counterfeit conformity.  more honourable, profitable, and durable for your highness security, than all the laws and rigours in the world.  
And to say the truth, what greater glory or triumph can so magnanimous a Monarch as your Majesty is, have in this world, then to see and behold so many thousands of your faithful Citizens and subjects, manumitted from servitude, refuscitated (as it were) from their sepulchres, recalled from banishment, delivered from prisons, rendered to their wives and children, and restored to their pristine honours, and honest reputations, by your majesties only peerless Clemency and benignity; and to march before your triumphal chariot, with all insignes of liberty, love, freedom, joy, and estimation? of whose affections your Majesty can be no less assured, than a merciful Father of dutiful children. Quos genuit in visceribus charitatis & pretatis suae: whom he hath begotten in the bowels of his charity and piety.  
And if that renowned Roman was wont to say, that he had rather 
b More glory in saving one Citizen then in vanquishing a camp of enemies.  save the life of one Citizen, then overcome a whole camp of his enemies, what now shall your Majesty gain in giving life and liberty to so many thousands (who are sick of the late Queen's evil) whom no physic can cure, but the sacred hands of our anointed King, and are like to the 
c Cicero the praetor and patron of Sicily  Sicilians, whom none but Cicero or the 
d Flaminius' restored the Grecians to their ancient liberties.  Grecians, whom none but Flammius could deliver from the heavy yoke, & insupportable servitude, which the Praetors and Princes their predecessors had imposed upon them.  
We are but half men, if men at all, whom in these later days and times no man durst defend, countenance, converse with, or employ, and (as your Majesty hath well said) we are in deed but half subjects, not that our bodies, minds, wills, wits, understandings, senses, memories, judgements, intentions; or our breaths, bloods, or lives are divided, or devoted to the supreme honour or service of any terrene creature, other than your Majesty only; but that the 
e In what sense the Catholics may be called half subjects  better half of our livings, goods, friends, and fortunes, wherewith we should be the better able, and have greater courage to serve your Majesty, are taken from us, and yet your majesties coffers little the better therefore.  
Our desire then is (most gracious Prince) to become your majesties whole subjects, and your Majesty may so make us in the twinkling of your eye, or stamp of your foot, wherewith you are able to raise up more armies, than ever Pompey the great could do (from whom the metaphor is borrowed) in all his pomp and presumptuous pride.  
Vouchsafe then (DREAD SOVEREIGN) to make us as other your subjects are of all professions, entire and absolute Englishmen; 
The conclusion with an Apostrophe to his Majesty.  for nothing (by God's holy assistance) can or ever shall divide us from our subjection and dutiful affection to your Majesty, but death which is ultima linea rerum, the last period of all things: for all other divisions we renounce, from all other services we disclaim, but that only which is due to God in the supernatural course of our salvation, which being governed by secret influences, and supernatural concurrences of his grace, we alotte to God without diparagement to your Majesty, assuring ourselves that your Majesty (so conversant in all good writers, and perfect Theology) is well assured, that there is no division so honourable for a Prince, as that which was attributed long sithence to Caesar, and now is not improperly applied to your Majesty.  
jupiter in coelis Caesar regit omnia terris  
Divisum imperum cum jove Caesar habet.  
Whiles this Apology or Petition was a printing, there came to my hands the copy of a letter written by the late banished Priests, to the Lords of his majesties most honourable privy Council, which for the coherence of the argument, I thought good to annex hereunto.    

THE COPY OF THE BANISHED priests LETTER, TO THE LORDS OF HIS majesties MOST HONOURABLE privy Council.  
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE OUR VERY GOOD LORDS, THE LORDS OF HIS majesties MOST Honourable privy Council.  
RIGHT HONOURABLE. As we have suffered for Christ his sake, and the profession of the true Catholic religion, (which he planted with his precious blood) many years imprisonment, and deprivation of all worldly comforts and commodities: so do we with the like patience and humility endure this hard and heavy sentence of exile, which is a certain kind of civil death, or rather a languishing and continual dying, especially to them that have the honour and safety of their Prince and Country, in that recommendation, as we ever both have had, and have. Notwithstanding lest it might be imputed unto to us hereafter, that this banishment was rather an extraordinary favour and grace, than an undeserved punishment or penalty: we thought it our duty to let your Honours understand, that as we are content with patience and humility to suffer, and support whatsoever you should impose upon us for our Religion: so are we bound with all, to make protestation of our innocency, according to that of S. Peter: Nemo vestrum patiatur ut fur, aut latro, aut maledicus, aut alienorum appetitor: si autem ut Christianus, non erubescat, glorificet autem Deum in isto nomine. May it please your Lordships therefore to understand, that the quality and condition of those that are comprehended under the self same sentence of banishment, is very different and considerable, both in honour and conscience: among the which some there are that came voluntarily into prison, upon a proclamation set out by your Lordships in the late Queen's days and name, with assurance of favour upon such their submission: some came neither voluntarily into the prison, nor into the Realm, & therefore not subject to any censure: & all of them have been ever most faithful servants and affectionate well-willers of his Majesty, and have to show under the great zeal of England his Majesty's gracious general pardon, by which they are restored unto the peace of his Majesty, and place of true subjects: since which time they have committed nothing against his Majesty's quiet Crown and dignity; as being ever since in captivity: and therefore in the rigour and extremities of those laws (which in their best sense and nature were ever held, both extreme and rigorous) cannot be punished by any form or course of law, with so severe a correction, as aqua & igne interdici, to be deprived of the benefit of the common Air and Elements of our most natural and dear Country. Yet sithence it is your lordships pleasure we should be transported, we are content (in sign of obedience and conformity to that we see is your order) for this time to forbear the Realm for a while, and to absent ourselves; reputing ourselves notwithstanding, as men free from all danger or penalty of laws; and neither by this fact of banishment, nor by any other act of our necessary return into our Country hereafter in worse estate, than your Lordships found us in the prison, when your Lordships warrant came for the carrying us out of the Realm. And so hoping your honours will conceive of us, as of men that have the fear & grace of God before our eyes, and the sincere love of our Prince & Country in our hearts, and dutiful reverence and respect to your Lordships in all actions: we humbly beseech your honours, that if we happen for want of health, or other helps necessary for our relief, to return hereafter into the Realm, this banishment may not any way aggravate our case, or make us less capable of favour and grace, than we were the xxj. of September when your lordships order came to remove us from post to pillar, from prison to exile: & so desiring God to inspire your Lordships (upon whose resolutions depends the repose of the Realm, and the salvation or perdition of many thousand souls) with his holy grace and assistance in all your most grave and weighty determinations, in most humble and dutiful manner we take our leave, from the Sea side this 24. of SEPTEMBER. 1604.  
His Majesty's true and loyal subjects, and your honours most humble servants, The late banished Priests.