him at his return he would pay him againe Yet consider they not that in that Parable our Sauiour exhorteth vs to mutuall loue neighbourly charitie and that euery man is bounde to doo good vnto his neighbour in time of néede They denie that faith is sufficient to iustifie vs in Gods sight without our owne merits 8 Good woorkes contrary to the doctrine of the Apostle in his Epistles to the Romaines and Galathians For good works are indeede required at our handes not as the cause but as the effect of our iustification And for this cause workes are required at our hands to be a testimonie of our Faith and a cause that other men may giue the glorie vnto God for our Sauiour saith Math. 5. Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus vt videant opera vestra bona et glorificent Patrem vestrum qui est in caelis So let your light shyne before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heauen Then is it consequent that our iustificatiō commeth no waies of our selues but onely by faith in Christ Iesus After this followeth a most ridiculous doctrine 9 Indulgences and pardons of the Popes Indulgences and pardons wherein he dooth most insolently arrogate to himself the dispensations of Christ his passion applying that to the forgiuenes of sins the forme of which hath an arrogant kind of spéech as thus If a man fast one Friday with bread and water he shal haue plenarie indulgence and if he fast so on another day his pardon shal be limitted for certaine yéeres as 10000. c. or some such like or els a pena et culpa I alwaies thought these trifles vaine but now I sée the blasphemie of them For it is scant possible to get these great Indulgences but by wearing a paire of Beades or a Graine Medall Crucifixe Picture Agnus Dei or such like tromperie It would be too tedious to set downe the manifold kinds of these Indulgences which al tend to one ende that is to the lessening of the vertue of Christ his passion 10 Images Exo. 20. The seconde commaundement plainly forbiddeth vs to make or to haue any grauen Image or the likenes of any thing to worship it But the aduersarie excommunicateth them that denie the necessitie of Images in Churches as it is to be séene in dyuers of their Counsels For say they it is lawfull not onlie to retaine them but also to worship thē The which if it be not against the seconde commaundement let them looke vnto it I for mine owne part doo sée it and am ashamed that euer I was so blockish as to thinke a block or a stone to bee necessarie or godlie I thought it so once but nowe I cannot be so perswaded For he that hath any reason in him to discourse or sence to perceiue cannot be so void of reason or so sencelesse as to exhibit honor or reuerence to a senclesse Image when the same Image if it had sence would not onely refuse that worship but also would willingly fall downe to worship or adore the workman that made it 11 Communion in both kinds They hold and defend that the Laye people may not receiue the Communion vnder both kinds which doctrine is repugnant to the institution of Christ For he said vnto thē that were present with him at hys last Supper Take and eate and drinke ye all of this For though the aduersary say that the Laye people haue not the priuiledge to receiue the Cup because the Apostles who onely were present at that supper were Priestes and not Laye men it holdeth not for by the same reason a man may also barre the Laye people from receiuing of either kinde for the Apostles were Priests and only present at the Supper ergo it is vnlawful for any to be pertaker of that Supper but onlie Priests And yet Christ himselfe in another place saith Ioh. 6. Vnles you eate my flesh and drinke my blood you shall haue no life in you And these words he spake not only to the Apostles but Turbis Iudeorum to the company of the Iewes and therfore I count their dealings iniurious to the people their doctrine blasphemous their proofe to no purpose Finallie all such Articles 12 Dyuers other Articles which are repugnaunt to the word of God I vtterly refuse as in speciall the Seruice in an vnknowne tongue the prohibition of the reading of Scriptures to the Laye people the forbidding of the translation of the same into a vulgare tongue Pylgrimages Vowes and to conclude all such Articles as are contrarie to the Articles of Religion set downe by publique authoritie I doo vtterly renounce and abiure and on the other side I doo willingly and without compulsion and gladly with reuerence receiue embrace and fréelie professe the sayde Articles set forth by publique authority as doctrine without superstition and most agréeable to the word of God Thus haue I generally recanted mine errours in matters of Religion and nowe will I accuse my selfe and my dealings touching my disobedience towards my Soueraigne the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie I haue most stubbornly and wilfullye transgressed her Maiesties Lawes Knowing first the offence of going beyond the Seas and yet caring not for that I procéeded further and willinglie was priested at Rome Thirdly maliciously I came into my Countrey with a will to seduce her Ma. Subiects from the true and sincere Religion and make thē subiects to that tyranny vnto the which I was my selfe subiect Then being banished I returned againe into my Countrey with the same intent that I came in first and for these great faultes of myne I am most hartily sorrie and in the bowels of Gods infinite mercy I desire all them that any waies by my meanes haue béene deceiued doo nowe repent to forgiue me Likewise those that haue not as yet their harts mooued by my example to forsake theyr errours and amend their opinions Thus first of all I aske forgiuenes of almightie God whom like a most ingratefull wilful wretch I haue most gréeuously offended First in abusing his gifts which of his fatherly goodnes he had bestowed vpon me Secondly in refusing and reiecting his holy inspirations And lastly by prouoking others to offend by my example And all this haue I doone not like vnto them vnto whom our Sauiour promiseth a milder iudgment in the latter day but like vnto them of whom S. Paule speaketh Rom. 1. Which when they knew God did not honor him as GOD was to be honoured and therfore my damnation had béene the greater if I had persisted But séeing that it hath pleased him which hath preserued mee from my Mothers wombe to call mee to his wonderfull light I desire you all that are héere present to giue him thankes for the same for there is more ioy in heauen before the Angels of God Luk. 15. for the conuersion of one sinner then for
THE Recantations as they were seuerallie pronounced by VVylliam Tedder and Anthony Tyrrell sometime two Seminarie Priests of the English Colledge in Rome and nowe by the great mercie of almightie God conuerted vnto the profession of the Gospell of Iesus Christ at Paules Crosse the day and yeere as is mentioned in their seuerall Tytles of theyr Recantations VVith an Epistle dedicatorie vnto her Maiestie and their seuerall Praefaces vnto the Reader contayning the causes that mooued them to the same NOSCE TE IPSVM NE QVID NIMIS LOVE AND LYVE AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Charlewood and VVilliam Brome Anno Domini M.D.LXXXVIII DIûa potens cuius decantant Sydera laudes Quae tibi dante Deo regia sâ—eptra tenes Pro te pugnantem crûdelis sensit Hiberus Quique domi volûit te spoliare Deum Sceptra tibi seâ— firma maneÌ„t et firma manebuÌ„t Es quoniam fâ—lix te protegente Deo To the most noble vertuous and gracious Princesse Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England Fraunce and Irelande defendresse of the fayth c. Your Maiesties two late conuerted Subiects from Papisme vnto the profession of the Gospell of Iesus Christ Wylliam Tedder Anthonie Tyrrell wysh long health and a most prosperous raigne and finally the eternall health of body and soule with Iesus Christ in the worlde to come NExt vnto the infinite mercie of almightie God most gracious Soueraigne we haue to thanke your Maiestie that we liue not onelie this short and transitorie life which is but a passage vnto death but so to liue that we may die to liue for euermore For what other assurance haue we of eternall life but to die in the true faith of Iesus Christ of the which whosoeuer maketh wracke it cannot bee but hee must perrish euerlastinglie Howe miserablie we haue beene tossed on the sourges of schismes deuisions howe sore we haue beene ouerwhelmed with the waues of heresies and ouerflowen with the floods of Idolatrie and superstition howe vnnaturallie we haue beene carried away from our dutifull allegeance and howe miraculously we haue beene brought home againe your Ma. in viewing this short discourse that followeth in part may vnderstand And since it hath pleased God to conuert vs vnto his trueth and your highnes to pardon our offences and trecheries passed we can not doubt but behauing our selues like true and perfect paenitents vnto almighty God and dutifull Subiects vnto your highnes You will vouchsafe to protect vs for the time to come against all our enemies and aduersaries whomsoeuer Jn hope whereof wee haue presumed to present your Maiestie as a Newe yeeres gift the first fruites of our repentaunce beseeching God so to endue vs with the gift of perseueraunce that we may fructifie better for the time to come And thus beeing loth to offende your Maiestie with manie words most humbly crauing pardon for this that wee haue doone wee ende with our humble and hartie prayers that your Maiestie may long liue and raigne ouer vs to the setting forth and aduauncing of Gods most holie worde comfort and consolation of all good Christians and confusion of Antechrist and all his adhaerents wherevnto vnfainedlie we saie Amen Your highnes most humble and dailie Orators William Tedder Anthonie Tyrrell THE Recantation made at Paules Crosse by William Tedder Seminarie Priest the first of December Anno. 1588. PSALME 118. Impulsus euersus sum vt caderem et Dominus suscepit me I was sore shaken that I was like to fall but the Lord hath vpholden mee VVherunto is adioyned The recantation or abiuration of Anthonie Tyrell sometime Prieste of the English Colledge in Rome pronounced by himselfe at Paules Crosse the next Sunday following in the same yeere Seene and allowed according to the order appointed AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Charlewoode and VVylliam Brome Anno. Dom. 1588. ⧠To the Christian Reader BEfore you come to the reading of this my recantation J thought good to aduertise you first of the cause that moned mee to publishe it in print which is the satisfaction of all my Countreymen First of them that were present at the pronouncing of the same for though they did heare mee speake in that place where I did vtter it yet hearde they not all that heere is sette down for the shortnes of time caused me to omitt that which I did Secondly I haue added something more then was in that copie such are moste of the authorities noted in the margent out of the Scriptures and certaine verses which heere I haue put downe Thirdlie I thought it not sufficient to haue pronounced it in one place I know it had beene sufficient for the assembly there present But my desire is that all her Maiesties Subiects whersoeuer though they heard me not shold haue if it please them a copie of my Recantation in theyr hands First to peruse for their satisfaction Secondly to prayse God for myne effectuall conuersion I am nowe to entreate the Christian Reader not to consider so much the stile wherein I haue written it as the affection wherewith I did write it and when you haue seene the same I beseech you to pray God to continue me in that good worke which his maiestie hath begun very gratiously in mee Your harty welwiller William Tedder ¶ The Recantation of William Tedder Seminarie Prieste pronounced by himselfe at Paules Crosse the first of December Anno. 1588. ALthough euen from my childehoode in a manner I haue béene noseled vp in the faith or rather error of the Church of Rome bothe my Parents béeing vehemently addicted to the same Yet my fault was so much the greater because I did not onely obstinatlie but also in a manner desperatly persist in that Sinagogue against mine owne conscience For I was alwaies distracted in minde with doubts of the greatest points of that Religion As of the Pope his authoritie The doctrine of transubstantiation The presumption of fréewill The fancy of purgatorie The derogatorie sacrifice of the Masse and such like In the which opinions I waded so far that if the helpe of the Lord GOD had not beene at hand it had béene to mine vtter ruine and confusion But séeing it hath pleased God to call mee backe againe I will say as Dauid said Psal 94. If the Lord had not helped me it had not failed but my soule had beene put to silence Againe I was in greater faulte for though I thought they could prooue these Articles by authoritie of Counselles and Fathers and as they beare men in hand by good reasons yet could I finde not so much as the grounde of one worde for them in the holy Scriptures And thus béeing ouerwhelmed with so great waters Psal 69. I was constrained to say with the Prophet I sticke fast in the deepe myre where no grounde is I am come into deepe waters so that the floods runne ouer mee Thrée causes there were which kept me so long in mine obstinancie and errors which béeing
compared with the cause of my returning againe are of no force at all because they were foolish and of men the other was onelie of God whose thoughts are not as the thoughts of men The first of these causes which turned me so farre from the waie was the great delight that I had in the studie of Naturall Philosophie And in this point I was perswaded that I shoulde more profit in the partes beyond the Seas then here at home in mine owne natiue Countrey and therefore partlie by the instigation of my Father and partlie for the desyre that I had to sée forraine Countries and most of all for the loue that I bare vnto the studie of Philosophie I repaired vnto the Countries beyond the Seas little considering the daungers that might ensue thereof as the displeasure of God the displeasure of my gracious Prince and the offence of all my Countreymen The second cause was the feare of worldly shame and tēporall discredite for I feared that then which I finde nowe to bee true which is that they which were once my fréendes would become my mortall enemies which by experience I know I did not consider then Luk. 12. or els I cared not for that sentence of our Sauiour Euery one that confesseth me before men the sonne of man shall confesse him before the Angels of God And hee that denyeth mee before men hee also shal be denied before the Angels of GOD. This was the cause that made mee to take a preposterous waie turning all things to mine own credit when I should haue turned them to the glorie of almightie God Matt. 6 for our Sauiour saith First seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnes of the same and all other things shal be giuen vnto you Thus thinking to get credit by mine obstinacie I did loose the fauour of God the loue of my Soueraigne the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie and the good will of all true subiects which I hope to recouer againe by this my frée Recantation and my further conuersation from henceforth in my Countrey The third cause was the tickling of vaine glorie and this cause I am sure doth detaine most of the contrarie side in their peruerse obstinacie howsoeuer they bragge that they séeke nothing by their dealings but the glorie of God For I was not mooued a little to submitt my selfe to her Maiesties mercie and to embrace the knowledge of the true fayth seeing the wicked counsell and deuillish deuises of the Pope and his Children against the Quéenes most excellent Maiestie and our most déere Countrey Which counsels I thought they woulde neuer haue put in execution But when I saw that great practise come to passe I meane the inuasion of this Land God so moouing me as héereafter I will manifest I thought vtterlie to forsake them although couertlye for vaine gloryes sake I continued a while amongst them I thought it then a goodly thing and woorthy of commendation for mee to defend an euill cause by probable reasons Yet I knew it was an hard thing for Anaxagoras to prooue that Snowe was blacke or yncke white 1. Cor. 1. and for me to prooue light to be darknes or darknes to be light For it is written I wyll destroy the wisedome of the wise and cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent But now séeing it hath pleased almighty God to call me to the knowledge of his trueth 2. Cor. 1◠in detestation of this vaine glorie I will saie with the Apostle Si gloriari oportet quae infirmitatis meae sunt gloriabo◠that is If I must needes boast I will boast in mine infyrmitie 2. Cor. 12 And againe Libenter gloriabor in infirmitatibus meis vt inhabitet in me virtus Christi that is I wyll gladlie boast in mine infirmities that the power of Christ may dwell within me Thus haue I bréefely declared the causes which draue me out of the waie and caused me to delight in vanities and follow lyes so long Psal 4. that if Gods grace had not béene I had béen cléene cast awaie But now I saie againe Impulsus euersus sum vt caderem et dominus suscepit me Psal 118 I was sore shaken that I was like to fall but the Lorde hath vpholden mee But héere you will aske mee the cause of so suddaine a change I aunswere that I knowe no other but the grace of almightie GOD the which worketh when and as it pleaseth him This grace haue I often refused for the causes before alledged me thought I heard him saie vnto me dailie Ecce sto ad ostium et pulso Apo. 3. Behold I stand knocking at thy dores Yet was I not ashamed to thrust him out and to let in his aduersarie the deuill I hearde him cry within mée Cant. 5. Aperi mihi soror mea amica mea Columba mea immaculata mea caput meum plenum est rore et cincinni mei guttis noctium Opē vnto me my sister my friend my Doue my vnspotted my head is full of dew and my locks with the droppes of the night I heard him giue me these louing titles but I refused him gaue him this aunswer Ibidem Expoliani me tunica mea quomodo induar illa Laui pedes meos quomodo coinquinabo illos I haue put off my coate howe shall I put it on again I haue washed my feete howe shall I defile them againe Thus continued I vntill hee by his grace so swéetly and forcibly preuented me that whether I would or not at length hee compelled my revellious wyll to obey So that I which once did so little account of the true and auncient faith that I counted it for an heresie now I sée euidentlie that without the same there is no waie to saluation Therefore if euer you pittied anie mans case I beséeth you haue compassyon vpon mine considering that it is a thing incident to mās nature to erre and to sin but to continue and persist in it is the parte of the deuill I freelie doo confesse acknowledge that I haue sinned against God my Prince Gen. 6. and my Countrey as a man whose nature is prone the thoughts of whose hart is alwaies bent to mischiefe I persisted in mine errours a long time as one that followed the suggestions of the Serpent rather then the inspirations of the spirit of God But by his motion I am returned againe to the shéepfold of Christ Wherfore I request you all for the tender mercies of God that you would receiue mee that returne againe following the steps of our Sauiour Luk. 15 who disdained not to receiue Publicans and sinners who left 99. shéepe in the wildernes and went to séeke one that was lost I haue béen like the prodigall Son which loosely and want onlie spent his portion in ryot luste and was compelled to eate such meate as the Hogges did All this haue I doone I haue spent that Talent which God gaue me
with a company of strangers for an inuasioÌ„ how that Stukeley had beene imployed to the same purpose had he not been as false to the Pope as he was to his Soueraigne These the like considerations at what time I was first committed prysoner into the Counter made me to suspect mine owne cause quarrell that I had taken in hand and God assisting mee with his grace I humbled my selfe and did write a Letter of submission vnto an honorable Counseller of this Realme vnto whom I dyscouered my knowledge of such vile horrible practises as I did knowe to be intended against her Ma. and the state I dislyked the Pope his Religson that noseled men vp in such abhominanable treasons and desired to be better enstructed in matters of faith and saluation and that I might come vnto a more true and godly profession then before I was brought vp in My petition was fauourably accepted I was not only pardoned mine offences but I was also restored into grace and fauour And thys was the first time Thus hauing declared the first principall cause that moued me to forsake the Pope and to exchange my religion I shall in a woord or two set downe the causes that made mee to fall backe againe the which next vnto the prouidence of almightie God that so had appointed it was as I breefly repeated in my recantation my corrupt affection For hauing all the dayes of my life been trayned vp among Papists enstructed in their Schooles and hearing continuallye their Sermons reading their Bookes and giuing my minde little or nothing vnto the studie of holy Scriptures refusing alwayes either to heare or to read any thing that might contrary my first conceiued opinion and hauing all my freendes acquaintance of the Papists parte thinking that I should be left desolate and naked when I were departed from them and hauing more regard vnto the shame obloquie of the world for altering my religion then vnto the testimony of a good conscience for my godly and wel doing and not being so thankfull vnto almightie God for so great a benefit receiued as I ought or so carefull to preserue my selfe from the daunger of falling into the like offence agayne not hauing my soule thorowlye clensed from the dregges of corrupt affection And falling into the companye of such as I could not bee but greatly endangered by them partly by perswasion and partly by flatterie partlye by fayre promises partly by intreaty I was at the length so bewitched as forgetting my dutie vnto God my allegeance vnto my Prince and looue vnto my Countrey I condiscended to returne vnto the Pope agayne and then God with-drawing from me his grace I was not so well minded before as I became nought corrupt afterward nor did not so well acknowledge a truthe shew a repentaunce and make a submission as I endeuoured afterward to heape lye vpon lye in slaundering of my selfe in defending the Pope and in vndooing of all the good which before I had doone In the which minde after that I had framed an Epistle vnto her Ma. for to excuse the Pope his Seminarie Priests and to father slaunders on my selfe other men and had written an Apologie and other Libels to that effect I was speedilie conuaied out of the Realme thinking first to haue trauailed to Rheames and afterwarde to Rome And directing first my course into Scotlande for that I feared to finde anie secure passage at any English Porte I came to Leeth of purpose there to take shypping for Fraunce but finding no passage readie I tooke the next opportunitie offered mee in a Flie-boate to Hamborough in the which after I had sayled fiue or sixe daies and comming neere vnto lande behold there happened such a suddaine tempest storme that neither Maister Mariner or passenger thought euer that hee shold haue escaped drowning I seeing the immineÌ„t perrill and danger I called to memorie the dysobedient fact of Ionas who beeing commaunded of God to goe vnto Ninâ—uie transported himselfe towardes Tharsis who with the like tempest was punished of almightie GOD for his transgression I applyed the example vnto my selfe I thought I had greeuouslie offended in forsaking my Countrey falsifying my faith vnto GOD and my Prince I vowed that if it would please God to deliuer mee from that present danger and to saue the whole company that they might not perrish for mee I woulde desist my purposed iourney and returne againe into Englande with what perril soeuer To be short it pleased God to heare my petition wee came safe to Hamborough where after I had remained awhile I repayred vnto her Ma. Comissioners that were come thether who can beare witnes of my repentaunce Not long after I came back of mine owne accord into England and submitted my selfe vnto her Maiesties mercie Her highnes graciouslie pardoned mine offence and so was I restored vnto grace againe and this was the second time Good Lord what should be the cause of my fall againe O altitudo diuitiarum sapientiae et scientiae Dei O wonderfull depth of Gods profounde Iustice and iudgments My time was not yet come that I was to bee called effectuallie something yet remained that God would haue perfected and doone for the further aduauncement of his glorie for the which hee permitted me to fall more miserably theÌ„ before I had done And like as Peter became worse worse in the denying of his Maister and neuer repented him vntyll Christ looked backe vppon him againe euen so became I worse then euer before I had beene and was past all hope almost of repentaunce had not Christ looked backe vppon me in the very last moment of time for being fallen into the peruersitie of my former opinion neither feare of death shame of the world long imprisonment could once alter mee but if I had beene called vnto my tryall anie time within halfe a yeere after I had I thinke died as obstinatlie as anie before me had doone Howe it pleased God at the last to conuert me I haue set downe in my recantation I neede not heere report it againe thus much I thought good to make a supplie of that which if time had permitted me shoulde haue beene deliuered at such time as I made my publike recantation the which once I had thought altogether to haue concealed but that I remembred that Secretum Regis abscondere bonum est opera autem Dei reuelare honorificum that is To conceale the secret of the King is a good thing but to manifest the wonderfull workes of almightie God is a most honorable thing Now come I to the second cause to giue thee Gentle Reader a fuller satisfaction that my former recantation hath beene doone without all hypocrisie or dyssimulation As my recantation was publicke and before an honourable worshipfull and woorthy assembly so I hope that their harts were so mooued that most of them weâ—e enclined vnto pittie compassion howbeit
such as heard me not shall onely peruse this dombe Letter I knowe not howe they may stande perswaded of my true and faithfull meaning and the more hardlie they may be incensed against me when perhaps they shall heare of my former Lybelles and Letters written in the defence of the Pope and all Seminarie Priests at such time as I was returned vnto the Pope again that hauing written so vehemētlie in their behalfe in reproofe of my selfe and myne owne confessions with protestations that all that I had doone was but in deepe hypocrisie dyssimulation and now affirming the cleene contrary may yet suspect me of double dealing and stand in doubt what to beleeue For if I did saie true then I must dissemble now and if I saie true now I coulde not but write falshoode then For thy better satisfaction in this point good Christian Reader least thy good opinion of mee might be carried awaie by the fraudulent practise of the enemie againe I haue sette downe the true causes that moued me first to reiect the Pope hoping that they be such as no honest or good man may denie them which beeing found to be true in the sight and knowledge of euery man I leaue it then for the indifferent Reader to iudge whether I had iust cause to forsake the Pope as I did whether I haue written anie slaunder against him His dooings beeing far worse then that I haue alreadie spoken and whether I had good cause to suspect his religion sith that our Sauiour saith That euerie Tree is knowne by his fruite and the fruites that the Pope yeeldeth beeing nothing els but horrible practises and Treasons I see not but that the Tree as I said in my recantation together with the body and braunches is to be hewen downe As for my Lybels and writings that I haue penned and made in his defence the more they rome with protestations the more a wise man hath cause to suspect them for surelie they come all from that foule spirit which first was throwne out and beeing returned againe he brought seauen worse then him selfe to hold more sure possessiō But consider good Christian Reader the wonderfull power and mercy of almightie GOD in this one onely thing Had I beene assured that I had setled my former fayth and Religion vppon a stable grounde had not my conscience cryed out against mee at what time the finger of GOD did effectuallie touch mee woulde I thinke you after that I had wilfully forsaken the fauours and mercies of my Prince the libertie of my Countrey the possibilitie of preferments and after I had so desperatlie committed my selfe vnto the open shame and obloquie of the world to the daunger of death in the extreamitie of sicknes when I could hope for no life haue repented mee of that which I had doone and make such a ditection of my faulte such a publique recantation as I haue doone verilie I thinke no wise or reasonable man woulde euer thinke it and therfore if this be not a sufficient and a strong argument to prooue my vnfained repentaunce I can but crie with the Prophet Iudica me Deus er discerne causam meam Iudge me O Lorde and dyscerne my cause I can but referre the matter vnto thee heauenlie Iudge that in the latter day must iudge me and all man kinde and thus much touching the fulnes of satisfaction Now lastlie I thought good to sette out this Praeface for to encounter the enemie who as I heare hath published in Print my former Lybels subscrybed with mine owne hande for the which I giue by these presents al the world to vnderstand that whatsoeuer I haue written heeretofore in the defence of the Pope it hath beene in the time of my seduction in the zeale of Papistrie and therefore those wrytings are not to bee regarded of anie wise or godlie person And truelie the Papists haue deceiued thēselues in the publishing of those Pamphlets for if Charitie coulde not haue perswaded thē to conceale them me thinkes that policie shoulde for they doe but minister matter vnto me to aunswer them wherin I shall be constrained to lay open their nakednes which otherwise I thought to haue couered they heape moe coales on their owne heads then they bee aware of I saie no more at this time vntill I vnderstand further what they haue doone And thus hauing absolued so much as I thought necessarie to ad by waie of Praeface I doe referre thee gentle Reader vnto the Recantation it selfe crauing pardon if I haue troubled thee ouer long From my chamber at S. Katherins the 31. of December Anno. Domi. 1588. Your paenitent Countryman and wel-willer in the Lorde Anthony Tyrrell ⧠The recantation or abiuration of Anthonie Tyrrell c. COnsidering the notorious outragious trespasse after so many mercifull remissions that not many monthes passed I publiquelie committed at this place right honourable worshipfull and welbeloued in the dispersing of certaine infamous Lybels to the great dishonor of almighty GOD contempt of true Religion displeasure of my Prince scandall and offence vnto all good and godly Christians reioycing of Gods enemies and mine own eternall rebuke and infamie I was a fearde least that my name for euer had béene blotted out of the Booke of life and that no place had béene left mee in thys world for true repentance But beholde such hath béene the effect as I hope of some mens good prayers such hath béene the great fauour shewed me in the tolleration of my leude and haynous fact such hath béene the excéeding clemencie of my gracious Prince and Soueraigne but aboue all such hath béene the infinite mercie of almighty GOD in the renuing and perfecting this act of my conuersion that I doo not onely inwardlie féele an assured hope of Gods euerlasting pardon forgiuenes but outwardly also I séeme to sée a most comfortable resemblaunce that all you which haue had iust cause to hate and contemne me will yet be mooued with compassion May it please you therefore to vnderstande that I am come hether as GOD is my witnes not of anie compulsion or for feare of any temporal punishment or hope of worldly preferment much lesse induced thereunto by anie false hypocrisie or dissimulation but onely the frée mercy of almightie GOD so moouing me to confesse my fault to craue forgiuenes to renounce those errors that I haue holden mayntained from my childhoode of the Sinaguoge of Sathan I meane of the Church of Rome and to reunite my selfe vnto the auncient Catholique and Apostolique Church of Christ whereof this Church of England is a part béeing purged and reformed of all herisie Idolatrie and superstition But least you shoulde meruaile by what wylfull follie I was seduced or rather by what madnes I was mooued to fall into that Apostacie hauing twise before renounced the Pope that I woulde so impudentlie returne vnto him againe To yéeld you some satis-faction in that point these may bee also