TO THE HONOURABLE, THE KNIGHTS, CITIZENS AND BURGESSES OF THE COMMONS HOUSE IN PARLIAMENT NOW ASSEMBLED. The humble Petition of the Lay-Catholiques Recusants of England  
Sheweth,  
THat the chiefest and most glorious Attribute of power, being Mercy, the safest address thereto must be Submission, which makes us in all humility offer unto the consideration of this Honourable Assembly, the great and heavy burden under which we groan, and though to Laws we humbly shall submit, yet such is the weight of some that lie upon us, that nothing less than linity can let us live, nor can we any way find out relief, but by applying ourselves unto this High Court, whereas Fathers and supreme Judges, you reside, retaining still full power to frame, or change, according to the exigency of times, and occasions, and being prudent and merciful, can afford us patience, and favour in this short Petition, wherein we shall yield ourselves fit Subjects for your mercy, or obedient Submittees to your wills and resolutions.  
The many penal Laws in force against your humblest Petitioners are to this Honourable Assembly known, as is the ground on which they first were made not out of memory, having had their birth but under Queen Elizabeth, when partly extraordinary proceed from the See of Rome against her person, and partly the claim our dread Sovereign's Grandmother (wholly devoted to that Religion) laid to the immediate succession of the Crown, occasioned several distractions, and even cast jealousies and suspicions upon all, that in Religion had relation to that See, whereupon from emergent reason of State, and by way of prudent cautions, and prevanting future disobedience (and not to put restraint upon the conscience of the Subject or to punish contrariety of opinion or belief) these laws as we conceive were made, and afterward much aggravated and made more heavy to us all, by occasion of that ever most derestable plot, of those few decayed turbulent and desperately discontented persons, indeed professors of the same Religion, but quite neglecting and transgressing, and most inhumanly therein forgetting all duty and obligation.  
If thus (Right noble Gentlemen) these Laws originally were appropriated to these times, and no such reason now (we hope) appears, and still these Laws overwhelmes us. It is either for the personal offences of other men, whose wicked facts, we (are not ways guilty of) with all good Christians utterly abhor, or for supposed errors of our understanding and belief, which as in itself (according to all Divines) is an effect immediate of grace, and therefore not to be enforced: So in its tenets, there is not any thing forbids, invites, or hinders the professors of it, from their due obedience to their Prince, and faithful preservation of their Country's liberties. In prosecution of which truth, we here abjure as false, and most erroneous, both assasination of Princes, and faith is not to be kept with all sorts of people, and do detest them both, as most oppugnant to humanity, and not to be allowed by any Religion whatsoever; We also shall, and will be ever ready to maintain and defend with all our powers, lives, and fortunes, all our Country's liberties, the Rights, and Privileges of the Parliaments, the Subjects lawful Rights, liberty and propriety, the peace and unity of his Majesties three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, and in all just and honourable ways, endeavour the punishment of all that seek or work the contrary; as dutiful obedient and loyal Subjects are obliged, and as true borne Lovers of their Country's good are bound; All which (under favour) as the Laws now stand we no ways are permitted, as having neither freedom, nor fortunes of our own, for strictly are our actions, Judgements, and our tongues tied up.  
But the approaching storm that seems to threaten here, moves us to take shelter under your mercy's wings, most freely spread to comfort all aggrieved, where we do hope for shadow and protection. And humbly are Petitioners, that you will be pleased to ease our sufferings, by mitigating the Rigour of those penal Laws, that either ruin us, and our posterity, or cast a thraldom on our consciences, so as we meekly walking in our forefather's steps, aspiring unto nothing but possessing ourselves in peace, as people that seek ease not honours, and that the crime of Catholics before this Honourable Assembly ●o●… appears, but only different ways in serving the same God you serve, the same Christ which you believe (for whosoever in any other sort offends Quipeccaverit ipse moriatur) we most humbly in your prudence and your goodness trust, in this public jubilee (when all's intended to be joy and consolation) we shall not be the only Subject of sorrow and desolation, nor that the Laws made for offenders in one time, should lay upon the innocent in another. And therefore humbly beg, you will cast your eye upon the Schedule of these Laws annexed and then your merciful repeal of what your wisdoms and mercy find, shall give the conscience relief that is afflicted, & not the mind content that is ambitious, and a thing we thirst not after.  
And for so great a charity your humble Petitioners shall ever (as in duty bound) pray for Your continual prosperity and eternal happiness.   

Printed, 1641.