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 cōscience: 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 acknowledgmēt 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 [...]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 [Page 8] 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.

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.

Sir Thomas Tresham at NorthamptonThe dangers and difficulties that some amongest vs passed in per­forming thereof in times so greene and doubtfull.

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 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, [Page 9] 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 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 [Page 10] 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. reasonWe 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 [Page 11] 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 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 [Page 13] 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 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 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 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 [Page 14] 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 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; 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 [Page 15] 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.) 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 [Page 16] 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 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.

[Page 17]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, 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 & 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 The Church of Rome euen vvas and is the Mother Church. al the Churches in the world either did in their begin­ninges, [Page 18] 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 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 S. Bead, Cambden, Stovve, Hol­lenshed, and Sauel [...]. 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. reasonBut 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, [Page 19] 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, Knox in his exhortation to England prin­ted at Geneua. 1559. contempt of power, and authoritie Luther in his booke de po­testate seculari: & in his com­ment vpon the 1. of S. Peter, cap. 2. neglect of lawes, Goodman in his booke of obedience: all vvh [...]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 satisfaction. And therefore if we may obtayne this [Page 20] fauour at your Graces handes, to be assured in conscience, by the decisi­on of the learned Deuines of both sides, that the act of going to the Pro­testants sermones and seruice, is not a damnable sinne: then if after such A most hum­ble and reaso­nable request A Councell, conference of disputation. dispute, decision, & information, we shall refuse to conforme our selues to your Maiesties will and example, we thinke then there is reason to giue life and reestablishment to the lawes made against vs. And this may suffise (we hope) for discharge of the dutifull respect we beare to your Maiesty, and desire we haue to giue your Grace all possible satisfa­ction in matter of our beleefe and Religion.

CHAPTER 5. The proofes of the lay Catholike fidelities.

Reasons of loyaltie. AND nowe we come to the matter of our loyaltie & obedience (GRATIOVS SOVERAIGNE) in the defence whereof we are driuen by the necessity of our affaires; and importuni­ty of our oppugners, to insist more particulerly, then other­wise were conuenient in respect of our owne modesty, or your High­nes bounty and magnanimity; who neuer yet omitted to recompence and pay, suo loco & tempore, loue with loue, subjection with protection, and vertue with honour.

For the full & finall clearing therefore of that point of disobedience, and disloyalty, wherewith wee are so often charged rather in hatred of Religion, then of any ground or substance that euer could justly bee shewed: may it please your Highnes to consider that there be Three vvaies of triall. three wayes for a prudent and circumspect Master, to trie out the honesty, and fidelity of his seruant accused of treachery.

Former beha­uiour.The first, by making inquisition of his former life and behauiour, what Master he serued before, in what estate, and for howe long time, and with what successe and trustines.

Present car­riage.The second, to looke narrowly into his present quality and carriage, and to be assured howe he is and hath beene affected to him, his fore­fathers, friendes, and dependers.

The last, to compare his actions and comportments, aswell past as present, with those that traduce him; and to see what caution he can giue (to stoppe his enemies suggestions) for his future fidelitie.

[Page 21] Comparison betvveene the Catholikes & nevv Clergies comportments To this forme of triall (DREAD SOVERAIGNE) we submit our selues, our liues and actions, and will indeauoure to giue you full sa­tisfaction in all the foresaid points of our carriage: Vt obstruatur os loquen­tium iniqua, to the end that the mouth of him that speaketh wicked things may be stopt, that you may (not withstanding what exclamations soe­uer to the contrary) serue your selfe of our poore forces, liues, and ha­bilities, in all your fortunes and imployments against all your foes and enemies whosoeuer.

To beginne then where we left when your Maiesty made your happy enteraunce into this Realme, and to put you in minde by what degrees, and for what desertes wee were brought into that miserable estate your Highnes found vs in. It is well knowne that before our imprisonment and restraint, vpon the statute of recusancy, for the only Testemony of our consciences, some of vs did beare offices in the common wealth, and were dignified by the late Queene: in which charges and negotiati­ons (without vaunt be it said) our carriages were Catholike behauiours before their re­strainte & dis­grace for recu­sancy. ciuill, laudable, and loyall; and some of vs liued without charge, yet not without credit and estimation, of worshipfull and honest men, and were aswell accepted & reputed in the Countries and Prouinces where we dwelt, and had com­mandment in, as were any other of our neighbours of the like calling and degrees.

After our restraint our Their de­meanure after their restrainte behauiour was such as became Catholike Chri­stian subjects towardes Christian Magistrates, with all humility, respect, modestie, and subjection; euer either readylie doing what they enjoy­ned, or patiently suffering what they imposed.

The long time of our persecutions: the number of them that were af­flicted: the diuersity of their rankes & qualities, and of their humors and dispositions: the perpetuity and variety of temptations & tribulations: the infinite indignities we passed thorowe for so many yeares, if they had fallen out among any other constitutions of men then Catholike, they might haue wroung (very probably) out of men well mortified & pa­tient, some action of dislike, or perilous practize of discontentment, when such multitudes of all degrees were so assayled; especially of people so resolute in that supreamest degree of fortitude: which is as Aristotle defineth it, Tristia pro virtute tollerare, to indure heauy thinges for vertues sake, a point very dangerous, and whereof there want not plenty of lamentable euents, rising from cases of desperate necessity: which Abner the generall of Saules armie objected to Ioab Dauids Lieuten­nant, in these wordes: Exclamauit Abner ad Ioab & ait: Reg. 2 cap. 2. num vsque ad in­ternecionem tuus mucro d [...]saeuiet? an ignoras quod Desperatio periculosa. periculosa est desperatio? vsque­quo [Page 22] non dicis populo vt omittat persequi fratres suos? And Abner cried out to Ioab, shall thy sword be cruell euen to the death? Knowest thou not that desperation is perilous? Why dost not thou commaund the people that they cease to persecute their brethren?

But this may wee glory in, (REDOVBTED SOVE­RAIGNE) that in all this time, no diligence of our Aduersaries, no Malice, no Polecy, no Curiosity, no Argus eyes (of which there was great store, greedely prying into all our doinges) could euer e­spie the least shadowe of disloyaltie, in any one action of the pub­like weales professors and most sufferers in the cause, notwithstan­ding the long and perpetuall course of their seruitudes and vexa­tions.

The true reason whereof is, the Doctrine we are taught by the Re­ligion which wee professe; which telleth vs, that we must obey our Princes: Non propter iram, sed propter conscientiam: not for anie indignation, but for conscience sake; and that to resist them, is to resist Gods or­dinaunce: and this is the bitte and bridle that euery true Catholike car­rieth in his mouth, to restrayne him from that by grace and feare of Gods judgementes, which flesh and bloud otherwise with the liuely sence and feeling of insupportable miseries and afflictions, might driue him vnto.

In this case of our The laye Catholikes fi­delity to the late Queene. dutifull behauiour in the late Queenes dayes, fiant immici nostri iudices, let our enemies be our judges therein: let the Roles, Registers, and Recordes speake, sithence the great penal­ties imposed vpon vs for recusancy, what hath beene our Innocency, our Integrity; our vnimpeachable carriage and demeanour: how free we haue beene from the least suspition of treason and practise, as it pleased the Lordes of the late priuie Councell to tell vs, Catholikes iustified by the Lordes of the Councell. 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 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 [Page 23] freehoulders, should be exempted from that so behoofefull and hono­rable seruice: wee with voluntary aduenture of our liues and worldly fortunes 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 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 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 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 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 [Page 24] 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 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, 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 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 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 [Page 25] 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 probation, and therein not to be any way stayned.

The second triall of our fidelities consisteth in matter likewise of fact 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 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 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 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 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 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.

[Page 26] Queene MaryIt 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 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 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 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 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 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 [Page 27] 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 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 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 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 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 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 [Page 28] 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 [Page 29] 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 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 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 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 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 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 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: 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 [Page 30] of the Iesuites Catechisme 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 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 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, Reconcilia­tion, treason. to absolue from sinne and reconcile, or to be so absolued or reconciled. 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 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 200 markes for laing, 100 markes for hearing a mas. Masse, or to pay xx. pound monethly for 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 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 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 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 [Page 31] 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 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 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 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 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 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 [Page 32] purgations for such crimes, as were proper and peculiar to them­selues.

Neuer was it heard of that in England or Scotland any Minister or Mini­sters euer suffred any thing for that gratious Lady, or your Maiesties Title, but infinite are the In Scotland, Setons, Gor­dens, Simples, Maxuelles. families of the Catholikes that haue suffered for them both. As the Seatons, the Gordens, the Simples, the Maxuells in Scotland: the In England, Havvards, Persies, Pagettes, Treshammes, Throgmor­tons, Salisbu­ries, Abing­ton, Winsor. Hawards, Persies, Vauxes, Pagets, Treshams, Throgmortons, Winsors, Sa­lisburie, Abington, and diuers other worthy Gentlemen in this Land, the shipwrackes of whose opulent abundant states and fortunes, are inuin­cible testemonies of the Libellers falsehood and follie in this his obje­ction, and of the constant fidelity of Catholikes to your Maiesty and all your race and predecessors, in all their fortunes whatsoeuer.

And thus your Maiesty doth see the comparison of our former times, and our precedent behauiours, with our present affection and future as­surance: If then we be not rewarded, and respected as all others are of other professions that haue done their duties, as we did, in aduauncing your Maiesties affaires, and acknowledging your rightfull Authority: yet at the least we hope that it will not be thought reasonable, that we should be left in the same masse of misery, which your Maiestie found vs in at your entrance.

Make vs then (SWEETE SOVERAIGNE) as able as we are wil­ing to serue you, not by newe dignities and authorities, but by restoring vs to our pristine honours, and honest reputations, and to our birth-right freedome, and liberty by your only Peerles justice, clemency, and benignity; permitting vs to liue in peace, & comedere buccellam nostram sine dolore, to put a bitte of meate into our mouthes without sorrowe, without frights, without slights, and without circumuenti­ons of our Aduersaries: our woundes are so deepe and dangerous in matters of our honours, states, and liberties, that no Phisition can cure vs but your self with the soueraigne balme of your renowned Clemen­cy. What pleasure or profit can redowne to your Maiesties person or estate, if we your approued and assured seruants and subjectes rotte in prison, die in banishment, and liue in penurie and disgrace; for no other crime or offence, but for the constant profession of that Religion, which in conscience we are perswaded to be the only true worshippe of God, & saluation of our soules? Of which our faith and beliefe, we haue ren­dred so sufficient reason, that we hope, it will fully satisfie and content, so wise, learned, politique, and discreete a Prince, as your Maiesty hath shewed your selfe to be in all occasions presented to make triall there­of, which maketh vs the more confident in our just and reasonable de­fence, [Page 33] because we sue to a most wise, just, and learned Monarch.

And albeit more then this can hardly be required of men, whose fi­delities are so sufficiently tried and testefied (as appeareth by the whole substance and tennor of this our Apologie) yet pro abundantiore cautela, we humbly lay downe at your Maiesties feete this forme of submission, and security following, in behalfe of our Priests and Pastors.

CHAPTER 7. The forme of the Catholikes submission.

IF we may be permitted to enjoy some quiet, graue, The lay Ca­tholikes sub­mission. and ver­tuous Clergie men for the comfort of our soules, we doubt not but to giue your Maiestie a farre greater security for the fewe hundreds of our Priests, then was giuen for the many thousands of Queene Maries Priests, and Prelates in the late Queene Eliza­bethes dayes; against whome, albeit aboue 10000 Cler­gie men lefte their liuings, rather then they vvould leaue their re­ligion. ten thousand of them, did abandon their Ecclesiasticall Liuinges, rather then they would con­forme themselues to the times (especially the All Queene Mary Bishops forsooke their Prelatures, ra­ther then they vvould forsake their chiefe Pastor. holy Senate of Bishops, no one excepted) yet in the time of the said Queene, for the space of thirty yeares extreame and restlesse persecution, no capitall lawes were made or executed. And in the The booke intituled exe­cution for trea­son, & not for religion, made by the late L. Burleigh. booke intituled Execution for treason, and not for Religion, composed & set forth by the late L. Burleigh then high Treasourer of England, on whome for his great wisdome and polecie, the menaging of the Common wealth of this Realme (vnder the Queene principally depended) Anno 1583. and Anno Regni Eliz. 26. it is in ex­presse wordes set downe what fauour these Priests found, in tearmes as followeth. And though there are many subiects knowne in the Realme that dis­ser in some opinions of Religion from the Church of England, and yet doe also not for­beare to professe the same; yet in that they doe all professe loyalty & obedience to her Majestie, and offer readely in her defence to impugne and resist any forraigne force, though it should come or be procured from the Pope himselfe, None of Q Maries Priests or Prelats persecuted for re­gion. none of these sort are for their contrary opinions in Religion persecuted, or charged with any crimes or paines of treason, nor yet willingly searched in their consciences for their contrary opinions that sauour not of treason. After which Narration, he reckoneth vp great numbers, as D. Heath, Arch-bishop of Yorke. D. Heath, Arch-bishoppe of Yorke, B. Poole. B. Tunstall, B. White, B. Oglethrop, B. Thurlby, B. Watson, B. Turberuill: none of all these were pressed with any capitall paine, though they maintayned the Popes authority, [Page 34] against the lawes of the Realme: he recounteth Abbot Fee­nam. one Abbot & diuers Deanes, whome he commendeth for learning, modestie & knowledge, & con­cludeth that none None of all these held or punished as traitors, though they maintay­ned the Popes authority a­gainst the lavves of the Realme. of these, nor yet diuers others of the like morall, and indifferent carriage, were euer called to any capitall, or bloudie question vpon matter of Religion; nor were not depriued of any of their goodes, or proper liuelihoods: of the like indulgence and leni­ty mention is made in the same booke, vsed towardes the layetie in wonderful pleasing wordes as followeth.

There are great numbers of others being lay men and of good pos­sessions in Lands, and men of credit in their countries, that doe en­joy their estates, though they holde contrarie opinions in Religion for the Popes authority, and yet none of them haue beene sought he­therto to be impeached in any point or quarrell of treason, or losse of life, member, or inheritaunce: So that it may plainely appeare, it is not, nor hath not beene for contrary opinions in Religion; or for the Popes authority alone (as the Aduersaries doe boldly and falsely publish) that euery person hath suffered death since her Maiesties Raigne: yet some of this sorte are well knowne to hold opinion, that the Pope ought by authority of Gods word, to bee supreame and only head of the Catholike Church throughout the whole world, and that the Queenes Maiestie ought not to be 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 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 [Page 35] person for person, and life for life, for euery such Priest 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 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 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, 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 [Page 36] 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 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 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 Cicero the pretor and pa­tron of Sicily Sicilians, whome none but Cicero or the 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 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 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 [Page 37] 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.

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.