promise assure to your selfe of our fidelities in this time of your Maiesties present prosperity and fruition of this Crowne hauing proued our selues so faithfull to your Maiesty in times of your expectations And to conclude such is the d The confidence Catholikes haue in his maiesties royall dealing vvith them confidence we haue in your Maiesties clemency and so farre we rely vpon the bountie of your nature and royall proceeding with vs that whereas the not payment of twentie poundes a moneth for recusancy into the Exchequor at the tearmes by lawe prescribed putteth vs absolutely into your Maiesties hands and mercie for two partes of all our landes and reuenues during our liues and maketh vs a pray to the discretion of our enemies promotors disabling vs to sell our goods to let or set our lands for our reliefe to make joyntures for the maintenance of our wiues or estate of landes to our children albeit by not payment of the said summes at the tearmes aforesaid wee fell within the lapses of the Lawes in such extreamitie of daunger that our case was not to bee releeued but by speciall act of Parliament yet such of vs as at Wilton in Nouember last past had recourse to the Lordes of your Maiesties most honourable priuie Councell to be secured from the said forfeiture which otherwise we were to incurre in default of payment as is before sayde they were farre besides their expectation taxed by the Lordes of a kinde of difidence or chalenging your Maiesty with breach of promise for the casing vs of the said mulcte-money in sort as it was deliuered vs in Iulie precedent at Hampton-Court whereupon wee resolued absolutely to put our whole Estate into your Maiesties handes that your Maiesty may see how wee preferre the credit and confidence wee haue in your Maiesties justice equity conscience and mercie before our owne securitie our landes goodes and liuinges and so doe wee still remayne in the same predicament where if euery pennie had beene a pound euerie of our mole-hilles mountaynes wee would vpon such vrging of our diffidence haue prostrated all the same at your most Royall Maiesties feete CHAPTER 6. Ths carriage and behauiour of our Accusers The carriage of our Antagonistes IT resteth now lastly to consider what hath beene the behauiour of some of our accusers the Ministers we meane some hotte spirits of their adherentes and followers from time to time in your Maiesties affaires that hath so cherished dignified and aduaunced them and to other their lawfull Princes that haue not so fully concurred with them in matter of religion as your Maiesty doth vt contraria iuxta se posita magis clucescant that contraries compared together may the more cleerelie appeare If you demaund what they were that accounted it a matter treasonable to retaine any booke or paper in fauour of your Maiesties Title and that in publike bookes called your Mothers right to this Crowne a pretended Title Agendum est obsignatis tabulis and we must needs tell you that it was a Student of Lyons Inne a Lawer by profession and a Protestant in Religion that in a booke printed Anno 1584. intituled A discouery of treasons against the Queenes Majesty by Fraunces Throgmorton amongst other his treasons Pag. 3. he reckoneth this for one in these wordes There were also found among other his papers 12. petegrees of the descent of the Crowne of England printed and published by the Bishoppe of Rosse in the defence of the pretended Title of the Scotish Queene his Mistris What could be more vnjust and iniurious to that blessed Lady and all her posteritie then in a booke printed in defence of an execution of justice to call her Title false pretented and vnjust and account the euidences and recordes thereof as treason in the highest degree If inquiry be made who they were that in prejudice of your Maiesties right to this Crowne did set vp the vsurping Queene Iane descended from the younger sister of your Maiesties great Grand-Mother that was the eldest daughter to King Henry the vij th Our histories tell vs that they were a The Duke of Nothumb the Dukes of Somerset Suffolke other Protestants all the Protest Bishops Clergie Councell of K. Edvvard principally the clergie enemies to the Catholike faith which we professe the first aduauncers of the newe Religion in this Country If we call to minde the complotters and compassers of the murther committed on the Person of your Highnes b His maiesties Father and Grand-father slayne Father and Grand-Father and the barbarous butchering of your Mothers Secretary in her Royall presence and the miraculous escape of your Graces person by Gods singuler protection when a c His Maiesty pursued in his Mothers vvombe and miraculously preserued chardged pistoll put to your Mothers wombe by one of the traytorous race of the Gowries to haue distroyed you both at one blowe could not giue fire we finde by the printed monumentes of Scotish Annales that the actors authors and inuentors of those tragedies were not of the Catholike religion If we demaund who they were that tooke d The Ministers and Presbitery authors of these tumultes armes against your Maiesties gratious Mother that ouerthrewe her in the field that layd violent handes vpon her sacred Person and imprisoned her in Lawghleuen that depriued her of her Crowne and expelled her out of her Kingdome and procured afterwardes her captiuitie in this Realme no man is ignorant that the e The Earle of Moray Knox the Cataline of Scotland Bastard of Scotland with the Presbitery that runnegate Fryer Iohn Knox mortall enemies to all order rule and authority were the Architects of these detestable actions Howe zealous f Bothvvell Govvry tvvo pillers of the Presbitery Bothwell and Gowry were against poore Catholikes and what pillers and patrons they were of the Presbitery the world knoweth but your Maiestie by experience can best testifie what perilous turbulent and seditious members they were of the common wealth and howe often your sacred Person was indaungered by them and others of their profession Moreouer we hope that we may without offence to any confidently affirme that they were not Catholikes that caused your Mothers vntimely death the memory of which times for many respects we had forborne to touch but only to remoue the odious and vnjust imputations diuulged in the time of this present session of Parliament against vs in a certayne libell or rather a clamorous calumnions inuectiue published in this present session of Parliament against a most modest learned and submissiue supplication dedicated to your Maiestie in March last where the Libeller calleth Catholikes to the Barre and would haue then indighted and passe their triall for that matter g Sutclifes ovvne vvordes in the 8. chapter of his said libell Which done saith he his Majesty may easely perceiue that they are to be hated and abhorred as causers
Maiesty are taken from vs and yet your Maiesties coffers little the better therefore Our desire then is most gratious Prince to become your Maiesties whole subjectes and your Maiesty may so make vs in the twinckling of your eye or stampe of your foote wherewith you are able to raise vp more armies then euer Pompey the great could doe from whom the metaphor is borrowed in all his pompe and presumtious pride Vouchsafe then DREAD SOVERAIGNE to make vs as other your subjectes are of all professions intire and absolute English-men The conclusion vvith an Apostrophe to his Maiestie for nothing by Gods holy assistance can or euer shall deuide vs from our subjection and dutifull affection to your Maiesty but death which is vltima linea rerum the last period of all thinges for all other deuisions wee renounce from all other seruices we disclaime but that only which is due to God in the supernaturall course of our saluation which being gouerned by secret influences and supernaturall concurrences of his grace we alotte to God without diparagement to your Maiesty assuring our selues that your Maiesty so conuersant in all good writers and perfect Theologie is well assured that there is no diuision so honourable for a Prince as that which was attributed long sithence to Caesar and nowe is not improperly applied to your Maiestie Iupiter in coelis Caesar regit omnia terris Diuisum imperum cum Ioue Caesar habet Whiles this Apologie or Petition was a printing there came to my hands the copie of a letter written by the late banished Priests to the Lordes of his Maiesties most honourable priuie Councell which for the coherence of the argument I thought good to annexe hereunto THE COPPIE OF THE BANISHED PRIESTES LETTER TO THE LORDES OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONOVRABLE priuy Councell TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE OVR VERY GOOD LORDES THE LORDES OF HIS MAIESTIES MOST HONOVrable priuy Councell RIGHT HONOVRABLE As we haue suffered for Christ his sake and the profession of the true Catholike religion which he planted with his pretious bloud many yeares imprisonment and depriuation of all worldly comfortes and commodities so doe we with the like patience and humilitie endure this hard and heauy sentence of exile which is a certaine kinde of ciuill death or rather a languishing and continuall dying especially to them that haue the honour and safety of their Prince and Country in that recommendation as we euer both haue had and haue Notwithstanding least it might be imputed vnto to vs hereafter that this banishment was rather an extraordinary fauour and grace then an vndeserued punishment or penalty we thought it our dutie to let your Honours vnderstand that as we are content with patience and humility to suffer and support whatsoeuer you should impose vpon vs for our Religion so are we bound with all to make protestation af our innocencie according to that of S. Peter Nemo vestrum patiatur vt fur aut latro aut maledicus aut alienorum appetitor si autem vt Christianus non erubescat glorificet autem Deum in isto nomine May it please your Lordships therefore to vnderstand that the quality and condition of those that are comprehended vnder the selfe same sentence of banishmēt is very different and considerable both in honour and conscience among the which some there are that came voluntarily into prison vpon a proclamation set out by your Lordships in the late Queenes dayes and name with assurance of fauour vpon such their submission some came neither voluntarily into the prison nor into the Realme therefore not subiect to any censure all of them haue beene euer most faithfull seruantes and affectionate well-willers of his Majesty and haue to shewe vnder the great zeale of England his Majesties gratious generall pardon by which they are restored vnto the peace of his Majesty and place of true subiectes since which time they haue committed nothing against his Majesties quiet Crowne and dignity as being euer since in captiuitie and therefore in the rigour and extreamities of those lawes which in their best sence and nature were euer held both extreame and rigorous cannot be punished by any forme or course of lawe with so seuere a correction as aqua igne interdici to be depriued of the benefit of the common Ayre and Elementes of our most naturall and deare Country Yet sithence it is your Lordshippes pleasure we should be transported we are content in signe of obedience and conformity to that we see is your order for this time to forbeare the Realme for a while and to absent ourselues reputing our selues notwithstanding as men free from all danger or penalty of lawes and neither by this fact of banishment nor by any other act of our necessary retourne into our Country hereafter in worse estate then your Lordships found vs in the prison when your Lordshippes warrant came for the carrying vs out of the Realme And so hoping your honours will conceiue of vs as of men that haue the feare grace of God before our eyes and the sincere loue of our Prince Country in our hartes and dutifull reuerence and respect to your Lordshippes in all actions we humbly beseech your honours that if we happen for want of health or other helpes necessary for our reliefe to retourne hereafter into the Realme this banishment may not any way aggrauate our case or make vs lesse capable of fauour and grace then we were the xxj of September when your Lordshippes order came to remoue vs from post to piller from prison to exile so desiring God to inspire your Lordshippes vpon whose resolutions dependes the repose of the Realme and the saluation or perdition of many thousand soules with his holy grace and assistance in all your most graue and waightie determinations in most humble and dutifull manner we take our leaue from the Sea side this 24. of SEPTEMBER 1604. His Majesties true and loyall subjectes and your honours most humble seruantes The late banished Priestes
least presumed to be most consonant to the good mindes and affections of them whome it most concerned And thus willing you to make your profit spirituall of these my endeuours and of the sequent Apology desiring God that it may serue to mollifie the harts of our heauy aduersaries and fortifie and corroborate the Saints seruants of God in well â—â—ing and patiently suffering and carrying the Crosse of Christ Crowne of thornes which pricke to the quicke on euery side I wish you the two most pretious Iewels that can happen to a Christian soule Gratiam in hac vita gloriam in futura From my study in DOWAY this 16. of OCTOBER 1604. Your very louing Sonne and seruant in CHRISTO DOMINO IO. LECEY A PETITION APOLOGETICALL PRESENTED TO THE KINGES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE BY THE LAY CATHOLIKES OF ENGLAND in Iuly last CHAPTER 1. The cause of our silence MOST MIGHTY AND GRATIOVS SOVERAIGNE Many are the reasons that haue caused vs to expect with perpetuall patience and profound silence your Maiesties most gratious resolution for some benigne remedy and redresse of our most grieuous calamities and afflictions as the confidence of a good cause the testemony of an incorrupt coÌ„science the memory of our constant and continuall affection to the vndoubted right Title in remaynder of your renowned Catholike Mother to the Crowne of England the imputations Crosses afflictions we suffred many yeares therefore the publique and gratefull acknowledgmeÌ„t that your said glorious Mother made thereof at the time of her Arraynement and execution in the presence of the Lordes there assembled for her conuiction vttering these wordes * Her bloud is shed yet remaineth peace authority to vvorke them redemption of her so desired Woe is me for the â—oore Catholikes and the miseries I foresee they are like to endure for their irremoueable affection to me and mine If I were as free as mine estate and innocency requireth I would gladly redeeme their vexations with my dearest bloud The same zeale promptitude after her decease we shewed in your Maiesties right and pretention to the Crowne of England the oppositions were made by vs and our Catholike brethren and freinds abroade and at home leauing nothing in our power vndone that might lawfully aduaunce your Maiesties rightful Title as Heire apparant to the Crowne of England against all practises or projects to the contrary a The L Mont eagle M Fran. Tresham Sir Levvys Tresham in the Tovvre of London Our forewardnes in proclayming your Maiesty without any further warrant then the right and justice of your Title and the loyaltie and affection of our hartes b Sir Thomas Tresham at Northampton The dangers and difficulties that some amongest vs passed in performing thereof in times so greene and doubtfull c The Vicount Montiguelargly casting money among the people The general joy applause shewed by vs with remarkable signes of infinite contentment at your Highnes entrance into the Realme with dutifull offices of joy and readines to proclayme and receiue your Maiesty were performed by Catholikes with such alacrity in most places of the Realme and those in such d The L. Winsor The L. Mordent distance one from the other that they could haue no intelligence one with another howe they should behaue them selues in that occasion which maketh it euident that so generall a consent in so suddayne important an affaire of persons so by places deuided could not proceede from any other fountayne but from an vniuersall and setled deuotion to your Maiesties vndoubted Title All which offices of our loue and loyaltie we assure our selues are aswell knowne to your Maiestie as your Maiesties Candor Clemency is knowne vnto vs by vs blazed throughout the Christian world And not by our tongues and pennes only are these your heroicall vertues made so notorious as they are by the often publique and gratious promises also protestations which your Maiesty out of the infinite bounty and magnanimity of your minde hath made aswell to Princes abroade as to priuate Men at home aswell before as after the Queenes death aswell before as after your entrance to the Realme both in priuate and in publique both in Pallace and Parliament that you would haue no bloud for Religion that you would haue no sale money for conscience contrary to the word of God that you would reuiewe the lawes made against Catholikes and giue order for clearing of them by reason in case they haue beene in times past farther or more rigorously executed by the Iudges then the meaning of the lawe was The intended performaunce of which your most gratious promises receiued a memorable commencement in Iuly last past some fewe dayes before your Royall Coronation when by speciall order of your Highnes without anie sute or motion of the Catholikes certayne Recusantes of the best quality and ability out of diuers partes of the Realme were sent for to Hampton-Court by the Lordes of your Maiesties priuy Councel and were by them very respectiuely and curteously vsed and also assured by the said Lordes that your Maiesties Royall pleasure and Clemency was to exonerate the Catholikes of this Realme from henceforth of that pecuniary mulcte of xx pound a Moneth for recusancy The xx pound a Moneth for Recusancy released by the K. voluntarie promise in Iuly 1603. which your Maiesties grace relaxation the said Lordes signified that they should so long enioy as they kept them selues vpright in all ciuill and true carryage towardes your Majesty and the State without contempt whereunto reply was made that recusancy might be held for an acte of contempt It was answered by the Lordes of the Councell that your Majesty would not accompt recusancy for a contempt And this your Maiesties gratious order and pleasure the said Gentlemen recusants were willed to signifie to all other Catholikes Which grace proceeding from your Maiesties meere Clemency and voluntary good will in that most dangerous time of the discouery of the conspiracy of the Lord Gray and Cobham seemed to vs so inuiolable and so little subject to chaunge or alteration that comparing these bountifull effects with the repose and trust which your Maiesty in your Printed booke to your peereles Sonne seemeth to put in them that were faithfull and resolutely affected to your Mother and with the speach your Highnes made the first day of the Parliament tending to some more temperate course in matter of Religion then was of late vsed we had great reason to abstayne from farther importuning your Maiesty either by friendes or petition but to exspect with silence patience and all humble submission how your Maiesty should please to dispose of vs without any diffidence or distrust either in our owne merits or your mercy CHAPTER 2. The Reasons that haue driuen vs to breach of silence and to a necessary and iust defence BVT alas DREAD SOVERAIGNE we see our silence modesty and simplicity so abused
foundation of truth If they slie to the Fathers for one place euill vnderstood some time falsified some time mutilated and some time wholy corrupted we produce a thousand not by patches nor mammocke as they doe but whole pages whole chapters whole bookes and the vniforme consent of all the auncient Fathers and Catholike Church If they presse vs with their passed Parliaments and Princes for one of theirs we haue an hundred and for a Child King a Woman Queene we haue for vs 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 Bishops beggerly our Parliaments confused our Lawes intricated our Vniuersities without Colledges our Colledges without Schollers our Schollers without maintenaunce Reason then the life of the lawe requireth to our vnderstanding more ample and authenticall euidence before we be condemned by lawe as superstitious or irreligious The faith we professe The 6. reason Rom. cap. 1. is that faith and Religion which S. Paul to the Romans so highly commendeth which therefore is called Catholike and Romane because b The Church of Rome euen vvas and is the Mother Church al the Churches in the world either did in their beginninges or doe for the present agree vniformely with the Sea of Rome in vnion and communion of faith doctrine and fellowshippe hauing recourse thereto as to the Mother Church From the Pastors and Prelates of this Church to witte from a S. Gregory the Pope S. Augustine the Monke S. Gregory the Pope and S. Augustine the Monke we receiued the benefit of our conuersion and regeneration from them we receiued the selfe same Doctrine Discipline Seruice Sacraments Feasts and laudable Cermonies which are by vs held practized professed and defended with the effusion of our bloudes at this very day and this we finde verified by the Histories of b S. Bead Cambden Stovve Hollenshed and Sauelâ— S. Bead Cambden Hollenshed Stowe and that Tripartite History set out by Master Sauell The 7. reason From this Church of Rome we receiued our Bible our Gospell our Creede our Cannons which are the same through the whole Christian world among Catholikes both for the translation sence and interpretation The 8. reason This Church is by your Maiesty and by the learned sorte of the Protestants acknowledged to be the Mother Church wee hope then we are excusable that reuerence loue our dearest Mother from whose breast our forefathers and we haue receiued the sweet milke of our soules The 9. reason There was neuer yet since the Incarnation of Christ any heresie that crept into the Church of God but we finde the names of the authours of such heresies we finde by the Church of Rome Councels called to condemne them and Doctors imployed to confute them there is not the least Ceremony or circumstance that hath beene added for the greater Majesty and solemnity in Gods deuine seruice but the yeare is knowne when and the Pope by whome it was ordayned If matters then of so smale moment passe not without recording reason would that the lawes that must condemne our Mother Church of Idolatry and superstitions should tell vs the authours that first corrupted her integrity but if the first jnuentors and jnstitutors of the Masse of Purgatory of prayer to Saintes and the like supposed errors cannot be produced doubtlesse we must attribute them as wee doe indeede to Christ and his Apostles and as deriued from such infallible authority we are bound in all equity to followe them The 10. reason But if by the fruits your Maiestie will giue judgement of the tree the fruites of our Religion are Loue Vnity Concord Piety actes of Charity and Deuotion as Fasting Prayer Almes building of Monesteries erecting of Vniuersities founding of Hospitals conuerting of Nations calling of Councels confuting of Heresies obedience to our Princes though they bee 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 doe farre differ from vs in those pointes teaching vnder colour of the libertie of the Gospell b Knox in his exhortation to England printed at Geneua 1559. contempt of power and authoritie c Luther in his booke de potestate seculari in his comment vpon the 1. of S. Peter cap. 2. neglect of lawes d Goodman in his booke of obedience all vvhâ—ch teach contempt of authority and neglect of lavves in the places cited and obedience The examples are to late and lamentable in your Maiesties Realme of Scotland and in the Persons of your gratious Mother and Grand-Mother Father and Grand-Father to passe with silence the tragedies by such like played in sundrie other Countries Reason then the life of the lawe will acquite vs if we preferre a Faith that hath taken so deepe roote whose goodlie fruites wee daylie see and taste before a slender sleight greene and farre lesse fruitfull plant About twentie foure yeares nowe past when a certaine conference was helde in the Tower betweene Master Campion and Master Sherwin Catholike Priestes and some of the selected learned Protestant diuines there were then in prison in the Fleete diuers Catholikes both of honorable and vvorshippefull degree for Testemony of their conscience only as the Lord Vaux Master Thomas Somerset brother to the Earle of Worcester Sir Thomas Thresham Sir William Catsby others who offered the warden of the Fleet to procure them licence of the priuy Councell to be present at that conference and to haue that question of reparing to the Protestant Church discussed and decided one hundred French Crownes for euery day that this question should remayne thus vnder examination but their request could not then be admitted albeit the said warden did vndertake the sute and confidently promised to effect it and seriously laboured it aswell by his honourable friendes in Court as by all other meanes 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 nowe and that with so much the more greater efficacy as your Maiesty hath a most full and ample possession of our hartes and affections for manifold important respectes both for the loue your gratious Mother did beare vs and the cause for which we suffer as also for the often to vs most comfortable protestations your Maiestie hath made and that in publique and in priuate that you haue a minde free from persecution or thrawling your subiects in matters of conscience that you would not increase our burdens with Roboam to which adding your Clemency of which wee haue tasted and your Gratious promises where vvith wee liue in hope and your daylie discourses springing from your natiue bounty and benignity make vs strayne our selues to the vttermost to giue your Grace
and that the Queenes Maiestie ought not to be c To deny the Q. to bee supreame gouernesse ouer Ecclesiasticall persons not persecuted vvith charge of treason gouernesse ouer any her subjectes in her Realmes being persons Ecclesiasticall yet for none of these points hath any person beene persecuted with the charge of treason or in daunger of life If then this were the case of Queene Maries Priests and other quiet and faithfull subjectes in the late Queenes dayes wee hope that our Priests being aswell qualified in al respectes to our Princes good liking satisfaction as they were both for quiet behauiour ciuill life and sincere affection to your Maiesties seruice may for our comfort obtayne asmuch grace nowe as they did then without any such assurance as our Priestes shall put in And to make the case yet more cleare and vncontroulable wee adde further that since d No religion can consist vvithout Priestes and Pastors no Religion euer did or could consist without Priestes Pastors and men to whome the disposition of diuine misteries did belong we hope that our desire to haue the benefitte of such Clergie men as may stand with the safty of our Prince and Country is conformable to reason as commaunded by the rules of conscience charity and Christianity And that it may be more apparent to the world that this our lowely Christian desire and humble demaund shall not any wayes be preiudiciall to your Maiesties Royall person or estate we offer to answere person for person and life for life for euery such Priest a The Catholikes offer for their Priestes as we shall make election of and be permitted to haue in our seuerall howses for their fidelitie to your Maiesty and to the state by which meanes your Maiesty may be assured both of our number and carriage of all such Priests as shall remayne within the Realme for whome it is not credible that we would so deeply ingage our selues without full knowledge of their dispositions their being here by this meanes shall be publike the places of their abode certayne their conuersation and carriage subject to the eyes of the Bishoppes Ministers and Iustices of peace in euery prouince and place where they shall liue by which occasion there may probably arise a kinde of vertuous and not altogether vnprofitable emulation betweene our Priests and your Ministers who shall exceede and excell the other in vertuous liuing and exemplarity of life and other actes and exercises of pietie and deuotion which must needes turne to the edification of the people and extirpation of vice and we shall be so much the more circumspect and carefull of the comportmentes of our said Priests as our estate and security doth more directly depend vpon their honesties and fidelities To conclude we doe and euer will REDOVTED PRINCE acknowledge your Maiesty our lawefull King and Soueraigne Lord and will b Catholikes opposition against all pretenders defend and maintayne your Maiesties Heires and your Successors possession right and Title with life and liuelihood against all pretendantes to the contrary Further more we will c Their profer to reueale and vvithstand all treasonable at temptes reueale and to our powers withstand and preuent any conspiracy or intended treason against the person of your Maiesty your Heires and Successors and we will to our power defend your Realmes and Dominions against all inuasions or forraigne enemies vpon what pretence soeuer Wee doe and will acknowledge due vnto your Maiesty from vs what soeuer is due for a subject vnto his Prince and Soueraigne either by the lawe of nature or by the word of God or hath beene vsed by any Catholike subject towardes your Highnes Catholike Progenitors and this we will performe by protestation d The Catholikes oath and protestation oath or in such other manner as shall seeme best to your Maiesty And this same oath and protestation our Priests so permitted shall take before they shall be admitted into our howses otherwise they shall not haue releife of vs. In this sorte we doubte not but that your Maiesty may both in honour and security take protection of our persons mittigate our former afflictions and be assured of our future loyalties loues and affections if you but please to take the viewe which your Maiestie may doe in this our Apologie of the rules of our Doctrine and Religion in those cases of the experience of our former actions and of the absolute complete forme of this our submission and allegeaunce which bandes as they are most voluntary on our partes so are they farre a Voluntary submission far to bee preferred before counterfeit conformity more honourable profitable and durable for your Highnes securitie then all the lawes and rigours in the world And to say the truth what greater glory or triumph can so magnanimious a Monarch as your Maiestie is haue in this world then to see and behold so many thousandes of your faithfull Cittizens and subjectes manumitted from seruitude refuscitated as it were from their sepulchers recalled from banishment deliuered from prisons rendred to their wiues and children and restored to their pristine honours and honest reputations by your Maiesties onely peereles Clemency and benignity and to march before your triumphall chariot with all insignes of liberty loue freedome joy and estimation of whose affections your Maiesty can be no lesse assured then a mercifull Father of dutifull children Quos genuit in visceribus charitatis pretatis suae whome he hath begotten in the bowels of his charitie and pietie And if that renowned Roman was wont to say that he had rather b More glory in sauing one Cittizen then in vanquishing a camp of enimies saue the life of one Cittizen then ouercome a whole camp of his enemies what nowe shall your Maiesty gayne in giuing life and liberty to so many thousandes who are sicke of the late Queenes euill whome no phisicke can cure but the sacred handes of our anoynted King and are like to the c Cicero the pretor and patron of Sicily Sicilians whome none but Cicero or the d Flaminius restored the Grecians to their auncient liberties Grecians whome none but Flammius could deliuer from the heauy yoke insupportable seruitude which the Pretors and Princes their predecessors had imposed vpon them We are but halfe men if men at all whome in these later dayes and times no man durst defend countenance conuerse with or imploy and as your Maiestie hath well saied we are in deede but halfe subjects not that our bodies mindes willes wittes vnderstandinges sences memories judgementes intentions or our breathes bloudes or liues are deuided or deuouted to the supreame honour or seruice of any terrene creature other then your Maiesty only but that the e In vvhat sense the Catholikes may be called halfe subiectes better halfe of our liuinges goodes friendes and fortunes wherewith we should be the better able and haue greater courage to serue your