probation and therein not to be any way stayned The second triall of our fidelities consisteth in matter likewise of fact a Catholikes behauiour tovvardes his Maiesties Predecessors and him selfe towardes your Maiesties Predecessors your Title in them and in your selfe and the effect of our loue and affection performed in all occasions that might giue contentment to your Maiesty both before and since your entraunce into this your Kingdome of England which we will endeauour to touch as briefly as we can It cannot be denied then in the first ranke of these our comportements but that we our selues in our times and our Catholike Parents before vs at all times of opportunity offered haue declared our deuouted affections to your said Highnes b Catholikes alvvayes affected to the K. Title to England right to this Crowne the testemonies whereof are in printed bookes and publike facts so manifest to the world that we neede not long dwell on that point vouchsafe therefore patience we beseech you DEARE SOVERAIGNE to heare some instances of the c Blessinges benefittes his Maiesty hath receiued by Catholikes blessinges and the benefits your Maiesty hath receiued by Catholikes and by our seruices and fidelities King Henry the vij th and his eldest Daughter from whome your Maiesty hath receiued lineally and directly your birth right and naturall succession to this Crowne were most zealous and religious Catholikes and for that singuler affection he did beare to the d Henry the 7. preferreth the Scotish King before the Frensh Scotish nation principally for their great zeale at all times to the Catholike religion preferred the same before Fraunce bestowing his said eldest Daughter on your Highnes great Grand-Father and the younger vpon the French King by which happy marriage came that lineall and rightfull descent of bloud that made your Maiesties renowned Mother Heyre apparant to this Crowne of England who also was the vndoubted e His Maiesties Mother lineall heire to King Edvvard the Confessor lineall Heire to King Edward the Confessor by his sister Margaret Queene and Saint and consequently your Maiesty from your Catholike Mother and her Catholike Predecessors hath not only receiued the hereditary succession of the Kingdome of Scotland but also a double right to the Crowne of England as f His Maiestie true heire both to the Saxon Norman Princes heire to the Saxon lineall line by a holy Saint Catholike Queene and heire to the Norman line by a most worthy Catholike Prince and a blessed Martir and all them vnited in her and nowe duly descended to your Maiesty Queene Mary It was the pious and vertuous Queene Mary and her Catholike subjects who cancelled the forged will of her Father King Henry the eight exceeding preiudiciall to your right in this Crowne that disproued it in Parliament and deposed the Protestant vsurping Queene Iane a Queene Iane set vp by Protestants deposed by Catholikes set vp then by the Protestants to the disinheriting of Henry the eight his daughters Queene Mary and Queene Elizabeth and his eldest sisters issue vvho was your Maiesties great Grand-mother and whose issue were in all right to haue beene preferred before her younger sister Grand-mother to the vsurping Protestant Queene Iane who so deposed by that renowned pious Catholike Queene Mary the Crowne by her royall prouidence was reserued to the rightfull and lawfull heires thereof consequently descended nowe to your Maiestie conformable to the lawe of God Nature and Nations The serpentine inuectiue made by Hales and other Protestants in the beginning of Queene Elizabethes raigne directly against your Maiesties Title thereby intending b Hales inuectiue against the Title of Scotland the aduauncement of a pretender potently in those daies possessed in the breastes of no meane multitudes was vpon the setting forth thereof in the time of Queene Elizabeth indelayedly vndertaken fully answered learnedly confuted by c Hales ansvvered by Iustice Brovvne M. Ployden both Catholikes Sir Anthony Browne then one of the Iustices of the common Pleas and lately before in Queene Maries raigne had beene chiefe Iustice of the same Court and M. Edmund Ployden famous Lawyers with the assent of other Catholike Diuines ciuill Lawyers and Gentlemen of good worth judgement and experience Howe many d Havvardes Persies Pagets Vaux Treshams Throghmortons Salisburies Abington families of Catholikes haue endured great damages and detrimentes in renowne and state for desire they had to maintaine the right of your most blessed Mothers Title in remainder and aduentures made to relieue her and deliuer the afflicted Princesse out of her captiuity with much abundant loue teares and affection your sacred mother testified publiquely at the end of her life Since your Mothers death we remayned euer e Catholikes behauiour after the martirdome of his Maiesties Mother constant to your Maiesties right to the succession of this Crowne not ebbing and flowing in our affections but resolute euer to liue or die with your Maiestie in that most just pretence but if any particular person in forraigne countries hath spoken or written to the contrary for his priuate and particular pretentions he is to answere for himselfe and his owne fact for therein we disclaime which party as we are credibly enformed hath both before and sithence the Queenes death done great diligence to giue your Maiesty satisfaction And your Maiesty is not ignorant we are assured what hath beene the carriage opinion and opposition of vs and our friendes euen in that particuler in the fauour and defence of your Maiesties right both within and without the Realme what a The daungers damages and disgraces vvhich M. Charles Paget Cap. Tresham M. Iohn Stonor of Stonor and diuers others suffred therefore are notorious dangers we haue passed at home and what slaunders and damages very many of our Catholike brethren haue suffered abroade for shewing themselues Scotish in faction as we were tearmed that b Scotish infaction vvhat is firmely immoueably affected to your Maiesties right of succession to this Crowne your Maiesty haue heard and we haue felt and shall feele our honours and estates thereby being extreamely diminished and eclipsed whiles we liue vnlesse your Maiesties pious royall hart vouchsafe to repaire and relieue the same Neither did your Maiesties c His Maiesties zeale in the Protestants Religion did nothing diminish the Catholikes forvvardnesse tovvardes his right and iustice zeale in the Protestant religion any way alter or diminish the just conceit and dutifull consideration we carried to that justice and right which God and nature had prepared for you from your cradell If then our carriage and affection to your Maiesty was such when your Religion was to ours so different your Person to vs vnknowne your fortune doubtfull the factions diuers the oppositions in all likelyhood very great and the euent of your affaires very vncertaine what may your Maiesty presume of vs nowe or rather what may you not
that the reason of our imprisonment was not in respect of any doubt made of our loyalties but only to preuent the Spaniardes hopes of our assistance in their pretended inuasions In the yeare c The carriage of Catholikes the yeare 88. Eightie-eight when the Spanish Armado came with intētion to inuade this Realme our offers at Eely to the Lord North then Lord Lieutenant in those partes in the presence of the Deane of Fely and many others else of worshippefull calling there present at that time for the hasting away of the forces of those Countries to Tilbery-Camp were these wee beseeched and instantly importuned that wee might be imployed in those seruices in the defence of our Prince and Country and not indure that dishonour that the whole Realme should be indaungered and we no vnworthy members thereof and no meane freehoulders should be exempted from that so behoofefull and honorable seruice wee with voluntary aduenture of our liues and worldly fortunes a Their offer of seruice in person offered to serue in Person with our Sonnes Seruants and Tennantes at our owne charges as desirous most joyfully to imbrace that oportunitie to make manifest our loyalties in our Prince and Countries cause we desired to be placed in the first front of the battaile wee offered to serue in the places of the hottest and most dangerous seruice and if we might not obtaine that fauour of trust and seruice for greater security and liuely demonstration of our true English hartes we did offer and implore to be placed b They offer to bee placed vnarmed in the forefront of the battaile vnarmed in our shirts before the formost ranckes of our battailes to receiue in our bodies the first volly of our enemies shotte to leaue an vndoubted Testemony by that our death to stoppe the mouthes of the serpentine maligners of our vnspotted integrity and true English loyalties But if none of these instant requestes would bee graunted vs yet those handes vvhich should haue valorously beene vsed against the enemie should bee zealously lifted vp to God for the deliuery of our Prince and Countrie and to obtayne renowned glorious victory against the Inuador wherein wee failed not answereable to the dutie of loyalest English Subjectes all which was offered by vs to bee performed notwithstanding the late Queene was twice c They plaie the partes of good subiects notvvithstanding al excommunications excommunicated And this is a demonstrable and vndoubted argument that wee are not conditionall Subjectes a calumny so frequent in the mouthes of the Ministry and by them endlesly objected against vs. The like offer to that the Catholikes at Eelie made the d The like offer made the L. Vaux Lord Vaux then prisoner likewise for Testemony of his conscience vnder the charge of the Arch-bishoppe of Canterbury offered and in like sort would haue donne all the Catholikes in England vpon like occasion and opportunity When the Spanish Armado was dispersed and their forces defeated the Vice-Chauncellor of Cambridge associated with the Deane of Eelie sent to Eelie to the Catholike recusants there imprisoned from the Lords of Queene Elizabethes priuie Councel with e A forme of submission sent dovvne to the Catholike from the Councell a forme of protestation of their dutie and allegeance penned by the said Queenes learned Councell with direction and commission to take the said recusants subscriptions thereunto being altogither vnexpected of them they being close prisoners and hauing no intelligence at all of any Commisioners reparing to them So soone as these Commissioners had read some part of their commission to the Catholikes there they forth with were seuerally deuided and in close prison restrayned And notwithstanding the said formall originall sent purposely for them to subscribe vnto yet the Commissioners as it seemed for a more triall or for a more aduantage taking against the Catholikes there taxed euery of them to set downe immediately the protestation of their allegeance and dutie to like purpose as was set forth in the originall sent to them from the Lordes of the Councell which the Catholike Gentlemen were permitted to haue but one only time read vnto them This seuerall forme of submission in such strict order exacted by the Commissioners was in that a The Catholikes exhibite a forme of submission farre more complete then that vvhich vvas sent them ample manner performed by the said recusants that the said Commissioners singulerly extolling and greatly preferring the same before the said originall accepted thereof and required not at all the Catholikes to subscribe to the said originall so penned by the said Queenes learned Councell addressed by the Lordes of the priuie Councell to whome the said protestations being sent and by them perused they receiued such a full approbation that after that time neuer any odious imputation or calumniations against the fidelity of the Catholikes preuayled The like was the valour b The fidelity of Irish Catholikes fidelity laudable seruice of the Irish Catholike recusants at Kinsale in Ireland Anno 1600. who joyning their forces with the late Queenes against the Spanish powre and against their owne Countrimen Kinsmen expelled with their assistaunce the Spaniards and were speciall meanes to keepe Ireland in obedience to the Crowne of England which otherwise in the opinions of the Commaunders of the English forces then there had beene vtterly lost And none of judgement there doubted but that it was in the power of those Irish Catholike Earles Barons Knights Gentlemen and their followers to haue betrayed then that Realme of Ireland to the hands of the Spaniards if either zeale of extirping the Protestant religion thence and firme establishing of the Catholike religion could haue preuayled with them or dread of c Excommunication hindred not the Irish Catholikes to doe the duties of good subiects excommunication or threatning of the powerfull inuader proclayming by sound of Trumpet and deuulging proclamations that his sword should no more spare a Catholike recusante disobeying that excommunication then it should doe a Protestant resisting in armes And this singuler act of loyaltie so shortly after seconding and confirming the like of the English Catholikes in Eighty-eight without all gayne-saying conuinceth that the English and Irish Catholike recusants are not d English and Irish Catholikes no conditionall subiectes condicionall subjects but most true loyall and faithfull subjects to their Prince and to the Crowne of England therein giuing place to no subjects of those two Realmes whosoeuer or of what degree soeuer and whose proofe and triall herein farre excelleth all other the subjects of those Realmes if preheminence should in that behalfe be attributed to any profession of Religion in the said Kingdomes This argument of our former behauiour and of our obedience vnder the seueritie of the late Queene may in all reason assure your Maiestie that in matter of our loyaltie we are like pure Gold fined and refined in the fine of many yeares
by some indiscreete Ministers who in their bookes and Sermons make it euident that they thinke no abuse or indignity offered vs sufficient to satisfie their rigorous mindes or suppresse our righteous cause that we are driuen thereby to breake our determinate course of silence vrged inforced thereto by these sequent occasions First that we see our selues as superstitious persons The first reason excluded from that supreame Court of Parliament that was first founded by and for Catholike mē was furnished with Catholike Prelats Peeres Personages and was indowed with those goodly priuiledges prerogatiues by Catholike Princes so continued from the first conuersion of our Nation from Paganisme for so many hundred yeares without alteration till the times of Edward the vj. a Childe and Queene Elizabeth a Woman and by the lawes made by Catholikes in those Parliaments the honour peace and wealth of this Realme hath beene and is maintayned and your Maiesties right and succession to the Crowne mightly against all your aduersaries fortified and supported The 2. reason We see daylie billes and bookes exhibited against vs in Parliament and else where taxing vs very vnjustly with most odious names of heretikes sectaries superstitious persons and Idolators The 3. reason We heare that your Maiesty is often sollicited to extirpate the very roote rase and memory of vs out of your Dominions and rather to admitte Miscreants and Iewes then Catholikes The 4. reason We heare a newe motion is made for the reuyuing of the former Capitall lawes and pecuniary payments other penalties rather charging vs with a heauier hand then easing vs of our former burdens we heare that men are to pay for their Wiues recusancy which in the hardest and heauiest times neuer was admitted that the hauing or keeping of a Schoolmaster not allowed by the Diocesan is to be punished with xl shillings a day that all such as goe ouer to study in forraigne partes without speciall licence are to be disabled of all Inheritaunce Landes Legacies or other goodes chattels or possessions whatsoeuer These instances duly considered cause vs greatly to feare that your Maiesty may in time by the importunat and daylie clamors and calumniations of our aduersaries be incensed and incited against vs your most faithfull subjects who liuing in certayne security of their owne innocency and your Maiesties mercy and bounty labour not by vnquiet oppositions to contradict the false informations of our aduers part but only rely vpon the prouidence of God almighties protection your Maiesties who tanquam Pater patriae is and euer hath beene the certayne sanctuary and common support of all just and innocent men And since the discharge of our minde can in our poore opinion bring no other inconuenience then light to your resolutions in such thinges as your Highnes is now to determine of in this present Parliament being the fittest time for your Maiesty to heare the desires and requests of your people and we hauing no other meanes to make them knowne but by this our dutifull Petition we are the boulder to present vnto your Maiesties viewe this our simple sincere Apology least God should be offended with vs for our silence in matter of his honour least the Christian world should condemne vs of negligence in defence of our poore distressed cause least our Children and posterity should argue vs of carelesnes and pusilanimity in a cause concerning their liues estats and their very soules saluation finally least our aduersaries should insult ouer vs and repute vs tanquam confitentes reos if after so many blowes giuen we should not hold vp the Buckler-hand to saue our heads from vtter confusion and destruction and leaue some monument to our posterity of our zeale and deuotion in negotio animarum of our duty and affection in cultu Principum Yet so desirous we are to giue your Maiesty all possible contentment and satisfaction so loath not only to commit but to conceaue any thing that might justly offend your Grace that being by the reasons aforesaid pressed to put penne to paper and to haue recourse to your Highnes by way of intercession we seeke not for all that to importunate your Maiesty with concourse of multitudes nor with the subscriptions of thousandes of your lay Catholike subjects handes a As the Millenary Ministers lately did as some others haue done in alio genere for the furtherance of their affaires but some fewe of vs only in the name of the Catholikes of all degrees who euery way joyne with vs in our submission and purgation doe present this our sincer Apology and humble Petition wherein if we seeme more tedious forth diuers important pointes wee must necessarily handle by this occasion then is conuenient for men that deale with so mighty a Monarche busied so extreamely with the waighty affaires of so many Kingdomes pardon O noble Prince this our indecorum for that we are driuen to touch somewhat in this discourse which in Parliament we should haue said if we thether had bin admitted that which to our aduersary we would vtter if they had the patience to heare vs and that which we should answere to their sinister suggestions if we might haue that accesse to your Royall person as the extreamity of our cause requireth and the true and hartie affection we beare to your Maiestie and the common wealth of your Potent Monarchie deserueth It is not our meaning most mighty Monarch being meere lay men that make no profession of lettres to examine curiously contentiously all that our aduersaries haue thundred of late against vs or to dispute with them in moode figure which combate we leaue to the diuines of both partes when your Maiesty shall thinke good thereof but with due respect to giue your Grac◠an account and reason of our beleef and Religion and a full and ampl securitie and satisfaction of our fidelities and submission CHAPTER 3. The Estate and quality of your Maiesties Catholikes subiects FOR the cleare vnderstanding of which two points may it please your Grace to consider first what is the state and condition of your faithfull Catholike subjects both for number quality and desert next what Religion it is they professe vpon what groundes lastly what they are of your Maiesties subjects of their Ranke that for former or future seruices and submission in all ciuill and temporall causes against all both domesticall and forraigne enimies haue and will goe farther or venter more willingly their liues liuings for the honour and defence of your person greatnes and posterity then they and their friends both haue and will doe In deliuery of which points we hope your Maiesty will expect no farther arte or eloquence then may be required of men plunged and perplexed with the flux and reflux of perpetuall vexations which is truth that craueth justice and teares that cry for mercy It is euident DREAD SOVERAIGNE that the subjects of your Maiesties Realmes of
England and Ireland consist of Catholikes Protestants Puritans and other sectaries the Catholikes and Catholikely affected in this Realme not withstanding the long persecutions in the late Queenes dayes were at the entrance of your Maiesty to this Realme 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 auisin terris that are of any account or freehold but are professed Catholikes besides those that are Catholikely affected And as for the Catholikes of this Realme it is well knowne that their Ancestors haue deserued well of this common wealth both in warre peace both at home and abroade and for their fidelities and laudable seruices haue bin aduanced by your Maiesties progenitors vnder whome they liued and serued from whome we hope that in no point we degenerate only that which in them was esteemed the polestarre of all their vertues to witte the Catholike Religion is in vs punished for wickednes and impiety This did our Catholike Parents dignified by your Maiesties Catholike progenitors leaue vs to succeede them in their Religion towards God their fidelity towards our Princes their natiue freedome in this your Realme of England which we haue lost of late yeares vnder the Raigne of our late Queene for no other crime or offence then for that we endeuoured to serue God as our Catholike Forefathers haue done before vs euer since the conuersion of our Country from Paganisme to saue our soules which are more pretious in his sight then all the Kingdomes in the world and although we were debarred from all offices and dignities and liued as it were in perpetuall banishment and confinement yet was it neuer heard that any one of our number of such suffering recusants euer lifted vp a finger to the least damage or detriment in the world of our Prince or Country And thus by these few lines your Maiesty may see the multitudes condition and disposition of your Catholike subjects who humbly prostrate at your Maiesties feete craue to be restored to their former and ancient freedome What we haue here spoken or shall hereafter speake of our hard vsage in our late Queenes dayes we are driuen thereto by necessity for mouing your Maiesty to commiseration by comparing in your wisdome the grieuousnes of our punishment with the quality of our deserts that there vpon you may temper the asperity of the former proceedings against vs which our late Soueraigne her selfe in her late dayes beganne to doe giuing the world to vnderstand by the last proclamation that euer she made in that kinde that she beganne to distinguish betweene Religion and Treason and aswell therein as in diuers other bookes proclamations tending to that purpose before published vpon any notorious execution done vpon Catholikes she diuers times and by her Ambasadors to diuers Princes abroad did promise and protest that her will and intention was not to punish her subjects for their a Our late Queene euer made profession that shee meant neuer to punish for Religion Religion and conscience whereby we conceiued some hope and found some effect a litle before her Maiesties death and in this minde and disposition God did take her and your Maiesty found vs which considered we hope your Maiesty hauing no occasion to hate vs and we many old and newe occasions to loue you that you will rather imitate your predecessor in her first best and last disposition tending to mildnes mercy and moderation then in her other hard and sharpe courses sithence the fruites and effects of the one were b The fruites of a svveete milde course joy peace abundance and vniuersall vnion and combination of mindes affections both at home abroad which your Maiesty seemeth most to desire and the harbingers and handmaydes of the other haue beene c The handmaids of bloud persecution warres discensions discontentments bloud and beggery which your Grace cannot so well digest And that appeareth most euidently by the first twelue yeares of the late Queenes Raigne which as they were free from bloud and persecution so were they frawght with all kinde of worldly prosperity no Prince was for that space better beloued at home or more honoured or respected abroad no subjects euer liued with greater security or contentment neuer was the Realme more opulent or abundant neuer was both in Court and Country such a generall time of triumph joy and exultation but no sooner did she beginne to alter her course to enter into bloud but all was filled with feares and suspitions at home with warres and diuisions abroad and with continuall fright and allarames of strange attempts either against her person or state and in fine when her treasure was exhausted her subjects Kingdomes extreamely impouerished and all the Kingdomes almost about vs disgusted and in open tearmes of jelosie and hostilitie with her she beganne agayne to thinke of her former fortunate dayes and to incline to a milder course as the only meanes to settle her and her Realme in peace security and former prosperity which times compared together doe demonstrate that the seuerity of lawes made against Catholike were the forerunners of infinite mischiefes and miseries And least your Maiesty beholding such bloudy strange laws made against vs with their rigorous execution by the space of so many yeares in so long a Raigne as was that of our late Queene might thereby conjecture that such newe and neuer hard of decrees could not without vrgent or notorious occasions haue beene inuented constituted and so seuerely executed least this apprehension of these former proceedinges might make the like impression in your minde auersion from vs we humbly craue your Maiesties gratious eares and attention And when you shall reuiewe and consider deeply the lawes made against vs and compare them with the objected crimes that then some ouerture may be proposed to the present Parliament for clearing the lawes by reason which is the soule of the lawe to them that distinction may be made by justice betweene the innocent and guilty persons for howsoeuer the late a The reason that might moue the late Queene to make lavves against Catholikes Queene might haue pretention to make them both by reason of her illegittimation by her owne Father in publique Parliament notoriously diuulged and the jelousie she euer stood in of the Queene your gratious Mother both for the backe and alliaunce she had with Fraunce and the right she seemed to haue by the sentence of the Church pronounced against the diuorce of her Father and the diuers censures and excommunications promulgated against her Yet your Maiesty of whose rightfull succession most lawfull and legittimat possession of this Crowne Satan himselfe being put to his shifts can make no doubt or difficulty against whome no Cōpetitor either hath or had purpose or powre to contend b Vide D. Giffordes commission and
Monsieur de Bethunes lettres whome the Sea of Rome is so farre from censuring that she hath already censured all those that shall any way seeke to giue you any disturbaunce or molestation with whome all the Princes in Christendome are in perfect peace and amity whome Catholikes haue as yet no way offended but by all meanes indeuoured to serue satisfie cōtent a His Maiestie hath no such reason to continue the lavves against Catholikes as the late Q. had to inact them Your Maiestie we say for these respects hath no such apparent cause to continue those lawes as the late Queene had to inact them the reasons and foundations of those lawes being by this happy mutation of state time and persons vtterly remoued If then DREAD SOVERAIGNE we haue beene are and will be as we haue and will demonstrate as loyall faithfull and affectionate to your Maiesty your predecessors and posterity and euen to those Princes that dealt most hardly with vs and to the good and peaceable estate of our Country as any sorte of your Maiesties subjectes within the Realme of our Ranke whatsoeuer we see not howe by authority we can be driuen to forsake our Catholike Fathers faith and beleefe vnlesse authority can by reason conuince vs that our faith is Infidelity our Religion superstition and the seruice we vse Idolatry or the Doctrine we receiue heresie These are points first to be decided and determined amongst Deuines and learned men of both partes and therefore that Magistrates should proceede against vs as men conuicted of those crimes before our cause be heard and determined by them that are by God appointed to handle those high and important pointes of diuinity we hope your Maiesties clemency and piety will not permitte But judgment being past on our side already in so many generall Councels abroade and conuocations and Parliaments at home commending and approuing the faith we professe what reason can giue life to that lawe that doth reuerse a sentence so authentically giuen without the full forme of justice and processe therein required CHAPTER 4 The reasons why we are so resolute in our Religion Reasons of Religion THE first reason that we giue of our faith Religion SACRED SOVERAIGNE why we ought not to suffer therefore as delinquents is that neither obstinate pride The 1. reason nor presumptious pertinacy nor dislike of order or Discipline nor contempt of authority nor curiosity affectation of nouelty or discontentment in our priuate humors maketh vs so constant and resolute in the profession thereof but our consciences meerely so informed and inforced in manner by the instinct of Gods grace and reuelation of his holy word and will but our vnderstanding captiuated in obsequium fidei by most euident a In no Religion but the Catholike only doe all these Testemonies concurre Testimony of holy Write of Vnity Vniuersality Succession Antiquity authority of Scriptures Fathers Saints Doctors Councels Parliaments Virgins and Martirs which all concurre only and joyntly in the Catholike Religion and in no other profession whatsoeuer which considerations accompayned with the feare of Gods judgments the danger of Hell fire and the desire of eternall Saluation commaund vs by the rules of reason in the practise profession of that Religion to obey the lawe of God before the lawe of Man The 2. reason It is an instance and maxime that suffereth no exception that neuer any generall or vniuersall innouation or alteration in matters of Faith or Religion from badde to better hath beene heard of either in the whole world or in any particular nation be it either from Iudaisme Gentilisme Paganisme Atheisme or Idolatry but that the commission and vocation of the messengers haue beene authorised Domino coöperante sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis Mar. 16. our Lord working with all and confirming the word with signes that followed which sithence our new messengers and reformers as yet haue not duly nor clearely shewed pretending as they doe to purge Christendome of superstition and Idolatry howe can they in reason craue at our handes credit or conformity to the newe lawes made on that behalfe God is ipsa vita lux veritas God that is the life The 3. reason light and truth it selfe cannot giue commission credit and authority to death darknes falshood but it is most euident and cannot be doubted of or denied that the first Apostles Conuertors of this our nations of England Scotland Ireland Fraunce and Germany were sent from the Church of Rome and deliuered vs the same Romane faith we nowe professe the same Masse and the same Sacraments and preached the selfe same Doctrine Mar. 16. Domino coöperante sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis our Lord working with all and confirming the word with signes that followed Reason then cōcludeth thus that either God in this case hath giuen testemony to falshood or else the doctrine confirmed by the testemony of God is true and auowable and not to be forsaken for feare of any humane lawes till we haue like testemony from Heauen to the cōtrary when our aduersaries shal duly reproue ours herein and make their owne mission as manifest by the word of God then if we doe not conforme our selues to the newe lawes imposed vpon vs worthely we are to endure these late inflicted penalties for matter of recusancy To conuince vs then that either we haue not the true Scriptures The 4. reason or interpret them not as we ought or that we dishonour God in honouring his Saintes or erre in the number or nature of our Sacraments or that our Doctrine is false and defectiue and to condemne vs and punish vs therefore as Heretikes and Idolators requireth in all reason an absolute commission from God the which when it shall be produced willingly we will obey If they alleadge Scriptures the Scriptures are common to vs both The 5 reason yet more likely in reason to be ours then theirs because that if the Church of Rome had not conserued them and communicated the same vnto vs our aduersaries had beene at this day Scripturelesse the very originall Bible the selfe same numero which S. Gregory sent in with our Apostle S. Augustine being as yet reserued by Gods especiall prouidence as a Testemony a We receiued the Scriptures from the Church of Rome that what Scriptures we haue we had them from Rome and haue nothing of our reformers but that we haue not so many bookes of Scriptures discanonized and rejected because they be expresse Testimonies against their newe and negatiue Religion If they stand vpon the sence and true interpretation we stand on that point more confidently then they they hauing no further warrant then their priuate 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 piller
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
and contriuers of all his Mothers troubles and calamities his proofes are the authour of the Iesuites Catechisme a The authour of that Catechisme an inueterat enemy of that order therfore more credulous then conuenient in matter of theirs dishonour written in disgrace of that order which booke is of as great credit with men of tender consciences and vpright carriage in matter of truth and equitie as Lucians Dialogues Watsons Quodlibets or Esopes fables and what this Catechiste wrote of priuate passion without any authenticall warrant this libeller doth vrge with the like perturbation And here DREAD SOVERAIGNE we might as readely as liuely produce a world of inuinceable proofes in reproofe of this libeller by prouing the actors of that complotment and tragicall proceeding not to haue beene any one of them Catholikes or their well-willers but we carefully shunning to charge any with bloudy imbrumentes in that lamentable fact of Englands agony and only to free our selues from that most odious impudent and falfe calumniation wee soly resort to matter of highest record dayly extant to bee seene of all men in publike printed statutes being the fore-runners of that strange execution of your blessed and most glorious Mother Whereby it is most euident and well knowne etiam lippis tonsoribus to blinde men barbers that they were not Catholikes that made and enacted those statutes of the thirtenth of Queene Elizabethes Raigne for the b 13. Elizabeth Limitation of the right of the Crovvne limitation of the right of the Crowne to the disposition of the Lords and Parliament from the free right and course of bloud 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 crovvne be not subiect to the actes made in Parliament hould or say that the common lawes of England and statutes to be made in Parliament are not of sufficient validity to gouerne the persons and to binde and limitte the Titles of any that hath any possibility to the Crowne They were not Catholikes that made it treason in the same Parliament d Reconciliation treason to absolue from sinne and reconcile or to be so absolued or reconciled e Agnus Dei Beades or Crosses premunire A premunire to bring in any tookens called Agnus Dei or Crosses Pictures or halowed Beades or to haue or receiue them They were not Catholikes that the 23. of Queene Elizabethes Raigne made it treason f 23. Elizabeth treason to persvvade men to the Catholike religion to perswade men to the Catholike religion and the losse of 200. markes to heare g 200 markes for laing 100 markes for hearing a mas Masse or to pay xx pound monethly for h xx pound a moneth for recusancy refusing to goe to the Protestants seruice or the forfeits of x. pound monethly for such as should keepe any i x. pound a moneth for keeping a schoolmaster Schoolmaster not allowed by the Bishoppe of the Dioces and refusing to goe to Church They were not Catholikes who made an act 27. of the said Queene by vertue whereof your gratious k 27. Eliz. the act vvas made vvhich caused the death of his Maiesties Mother Mother lost her life and in the same Parliament it was made treason for all l In the same yeare it vvas made treason to be a Priest and come in or remaine in the land felony to receiue or releeue them Priests or Religious men that had taken orders by any forraigne authority to remayne or come into this Kingdome and fellony to relieue or entertayne them It was made treason to be brought vp in the Seminaries premunire to send thither any reliefe In the 28. of the said Queene it was enacted that the two partes of the landes and leases of such recusantes as should faile to pay the xx pound a moneth in the Exchequor at the tearmes prefixed should be seazed into the Queenes handes In the 35. it was enacted that euery m 25. Elizab. certayne recusants vvere by an act then made to abiure the realme recusant aboue the age of sixteene yeares being not worth twentie markes exceeding his confined limittes should abjure the Realme and if he refused to abjure or retourned after abjuration to be accounted a fellon Item that the partie should pay ten pound a moneth that n Ten pound a moneth for keeping a recusant in the hovvse keepes any recusant in his howse after warning In the same Parliament recusantes are o The same yeare vvas the statute of confinementes enacted restrayned to their certayne vsuall and common places of abode and are not to remoue aboue fiue miles thence without licence of the Bishoppe and two Iustices vpon payne of forfeiting of all their goodes and all their free and coppyhold landes and annuities during life all such recusants that had not landes of twentie markes value by yeare or goodes of fourtie pound if they conformed not themselues or repayred not to their places of limitation shall abjure the Realme By the course and contriuing of such capitall and cruell lawes at the same time and in the same sessions aswell against Catholikes as against your gratious Mother it seemeth by all probability to persons esteemed of judgement great experience in the insight of worldly driftes both in this Realme and in forraigne Regions that the principal marke which was aymed at in those times was at the selfe same season by seuerity and shadowe of the same lawes an instance to ruinate ouerthrowe the p The person of his Maiesties Mother her right and Title and the Catholikes cause all shotte at by the same lavves and at the same time person of your gratious Mother and her right and the professors of the Catholike religion supposing that those three must either stand or fall togither of necessitie but non est consilium contra Dominum there is no councell against God her right posterity hath God bethāked preuayled the poore Catholikes from that time to this the more they haue beene oppressed the more they haue increased which cannot fall out otherwise vnlesse it proue false which God hath said by the mouth of his Saints and seruants Preciosa in conspectu Domini mors Sanctorum eius pretious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Saints Et sanguis Martirum semen Ecclesiae the bloud of Martirs the seede of the Church We accuse no man in particuler in this case and could haue beene content vlcus hoc intactum leuiter pertransire to haue sleightly past ouer this boch vntouched but that this respondent would needes deale with vs as Putifars q The libeller like Ioseph his Mistris Susannas iudges wife did with holy Ioseph or the carnall judges with the chaste Susanna viz. put vs to our plunges and purgations for such crimes as were proper and peculiar to themselues Neuer
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