The protestation and profession of thirteen Popish Priests, exhibited to Queen Elizabeth, F. M. at that time excommunicated, and sententially deposed by pus Quintus of her Regal Power  
WHereas it hath pleased our most gracious Queen( as it appeareth by the late Proclamation) in some measure to aclowledge the fidelity of us the secular Priests, native Subjects of her Majesty: And seeing she according to her Princely clemency, hath given an ample earnest of her favour, and some mercy towards us( being all subject by the Laws of this Realm to death, by our return into the country, after our taking the order of Priesthood since the first year of her Majesties Reign) and seeing also, she being content with the sincere profession of our Allegiance only which might render her secure of our loyalty toward her Royal Person, Crown, State and dignity, requires nothing further. We whose Names are under written, being most humbly prostrate at her Majesties feet, acknowledging ourselves most strongly obliged to her Highnesse for these so great favours, are most willingly ready to give her majesty in this matter, such fealty, and satisfaction, as any catholic Priests can, or ought to give to their Princes.  
First therefore we aclowledge and confess, that the majesty of our most gracious Queen, doth Reign with no less full authority and superiority over us, and the rest of the Subjects of her kingdom, then any of her ancestors at any time ever did. Furthermore, we profess that we are willingly ready to obey her commands in all cases and conditions, so far as at any time, ever any Christian Priests, either in this kingdom, or any other Christian kingdom, are bound by the Divine Law, and Christian Religion, to obey their temporal Prince, as to pay tribute, and all other customs of the Crown, and to be obedient to her Laws and Magistrates in all civil causes; and pray to God, that according to his sacred will, she may obtain a happy and quiet Reign in this life, and after this life, eternal bliss. And this our acknowledgement we conceive to be so solidly grounded upon the divine word, that noe authority nor cause, nor pretence of cause, can or ought to give us any just and lawful dispensation, more then to any Protestant whatsoever, whereby we should detract our obedience to her majesty in any civil or temporal affairs.  
Secondly, seeing in these last years there have been many conspiracies contrived against the Person & State of her majesty, & hostile enterprises undertaken for the invading her Majesties Dominions, under certain new pretences, & counsels of restoring the catholic Religion by Arms( a thing attempted in other parts of the world against her majesty and her kingdoms, chiefly and solely beyond any other, who receeded no less then she, from the Religion of the apostolic See) by which violent endeavours her majesty, otherwise of a singular clemency towards her Subjects, might be highly moved to make more sharp Laws, and to take care to have them executed against the catholics( who being joined to the See apostolic in matters of Faith and Religion, might easily be suspected to favour these conspiracies and invasions) then perhaps, unless these acts of hostility and war had intervened, would ever have been made, or thought upon. We therefore, that we may( even in this particular cause) approve our loyalty to her majesty, do sincerely profess, and by this public act make known to the whole Christian world, that we in these cases of conspiracies and machinations against her Majesties life, invasions, and whatsoever hostile attempts, which be made by any foreign Prelate, Prince or Potentate whatsoever, either jointly, or severally to the perturbation or destruction of her Majesties Person, State, kingdom or Dominions, under any colour, show, pretence, or design of restoring the catholic Religion in England or Ireland, shall be ready to defend her Majesties Person, State, kingdoms and Dominions, from all such horrible and violent incursions, and injuries ▪ And moreover, to detect, and lay open all conspiracies, plots, which we shall understand to be undertaken by any Prelate, Prince, or Potentate whatsoever, against her Majesties Person or Dominions, for what cause soever, as was said before; and also to our uttermost power to resist them, and earnestly persuade all catholics( as much as in us lye) to do the same.  
Thirdly, if after any sentence of Excommunication declared, or to be declared against her majesty, or before any such conspiracies, invasions, or horrible attempts, as above, to be made, even the Pope should excommunicate all born within her Majesties Dominions, that should not receded from the defence of her majesty and her Dominions, and join to the party of the conspirators and invadours, in these and the like cases: We in these and all such cases, do by no means esteem ourselves or the Lay-Catholicks, to be any ways bound by the law of conscience to obey this, or any the like censures: But notwithstanding any authority, and whatsoever sentence of excommunication denounced or to be denounced( as above) will defend our Prince and country, which we think to be our duty, and yield in temporal causes all obedience to her majesty.  
Fourthly, but because it is most certain, while we thus endeavour by our Christian and sincere protestation to approve our pious affection and loyalty to her majesty, there will not be wanting many who would condemn this our lawful Act, and interpret it to the worst sense; and moreover traduce this act of ours with unjust censures and calumnies to the Christian world, and especially to his Holinesse, to the great prejudice and hurt of our credits and persons, unless we should timely prevent their endeavours, we humbly beseech her majesty, that as in this our recognition, while we render unto her Highnesse the things which are Caesars, by her gracious concession it may also be lawful for us, for the avoiding of malevolent scandals, by the like public act openly testify, that we by acknowledging of our obedience to her Majesty, receded from no law of Christian duty, which we owe to the supreme pastor.  
Fifthly, wherefore we aclowledge & confess, that the Bishop of Rome in that See, is successor to S. Peter, & that he hath not less, yet not more ample authority or jurisdiction over us and the rest of the Christians then that Apostle had by the concession & command of our Saviour Christ. And that we will be ▪ obedient to his Holinesse, as far as we are bound by the Divine Law, which we doubt not may rightly stand with our Allegiance which we have professed to our temporal Prince; for as we are most ready to pour forth our blood for the defence of her Majesty and our country, so we are resolved to part with our life, rather then violate the lawful authority of the catholic Church of Christ.  
Will. Bishop. John Colleton. John much. Rob. Charnock. John Bossevile. Anthony Hebborne. Roger cadwalader. Robert Drury. Anthony Champny. John jackson. Francis Barneby. Oswald Herdham. Richard Button.