WHereas it hath pleased our most gracious Queen (as it appeareth by the late Proclamation) in some measure to ac­knowledge the fidelitie of us the secular Priests, native Subjects of her Majesty: And seeing she according to her Princely clemency, hath given an ample earnest of her favour, and some mercy towards us (being all sub­ject by the Laws of this Realm to death, by our return into the Countrey, after our taking the order of Priest­hood since the first year of her Majesties Reign) and seeing also, she being content with the sincere profession of our Allegiance only which might render her secure of our Loyaltie toward her Royal Person, Crown, State and Dignitie, requires nothing further. We whose Names are under written, being most humbly prostrate at her Maje­sties feet, acknowledging our selves most strongly obliged to her Highnesse for these so great favours, are most willingly ready to give her Majestie in this matter, such fealty, and satisfaction, as any Catholick Priests can, or ought to give to their Princes.

First therefore we acknowledge and confess, that the Majestie of our most gracious Queen, doth Reign with no lesse full authoritie and superioritie over us, and the rest of the Subjects of her Kingdome, then anie of her Ancestours at anie time ever did. Further­more, we professe that we are willingly readie to obey her commands in all cases and conditions, so far as at anie time, ever anie Christian Priests, either in this Kingdome, or anie other Christian Kingdome, are bound by the Divine Law, and Christian Religion, to obey their temporall Prince, as to pay tribute, and all other customes of the Crown, and to be obedient to her Laws and Magi­strates in all civil causes; and pray to God, that according to his sacred will, she may obtein a happy and quiet Reign in this life, and after this life, eternal blisse. And this our acknowledgement we conceive to be so solidly grounded upon the divine word, that noe authoritie nor cause, nor pretence of cause, can or ought to give us anie just and lawfull dispensation, more then to anie Protestant whatsoever, whereby we should detract our obedience to her Majestie in any civil or temporal affairs.

Secondly, seeing in these last years there have been manie conspiracies contrived against the Person & State of her Majestie, & ho­stile enterprises undertaken for the invading her Majesties Dominions, under certain new pretences, & counsells of restoring the Catho­lick Religion by Arms (a thing attempted in other parts of the world against her Majestie and her Kingdomes, chiefly and solely be­yond anie other, who receeded no lesse then she, from the Religion of the Apostolick See) by which violent endeavours her Majestie, otherwise of a singular clemencie towards her Subjects, might be highly moved to make more sharp Laws, and to take care to have them executed against the Catholicks (who being joined to the See Apostolick in matters of Faith and Religion, might easily be suspe­cted to favour these conspiracies and invasions) then perhaps, unlesse these acts of hostilitie and war had intervened, would ever have been made, or thought upon. We therefore, that we may (even in this particular cause) approve our Loyaltie to her Majestie, doe sin­cerely professe, and by this publick act make known to the whole Christian world, that we in these cases of conspiracies and machi­nations against her Majesties life, invasions, and whatsoever hostile attempts, which be made by any forreign Prelate, Prince or Po­tentate whatsoever, either jointly, or severally to the perturbation or distruction of her Majesties Person, State, Kingdome or Domini­ons, under any colour, shew, pretence, or design of restoring the Catholick Religion in England or Ireland, shall be ready to defend her Majesties Person, State, Kingdomes and Dominions, from all such horrible and violent incursions, and injuries▪ And moreover, to detect, and lay open all conspiracies, plots, which we shall understand to be undertaken by any Prelate, Prince, or Potentate what­soever, against her Majesties Person or Dominions, for what cause soever, as was said before; and also to our uttermost power to re­sist them, and earnestly perswade all Catholicks (as much as in us lie) to doe the same.

Thirdly, if after any sentence of Excommunication declared, or to be declared against her Majestie, or before anie such conspiracies, invasions, or horrible attempts, as above, to be made, even the Pope should excommunicate all born within her Majesties Dominions, that should not receed from the defence of her Majestie and her Dominions, and join to the partie of the conspiratours and invadours, in these and the like cases: We in these and all such cases, doe by no means esteem our selves or the Lay-Catholicks, to be any ways bound by the law of conscience to obey this, or anie the like censures: But notwithstanding any authority, and whatsoever sentence of excommunication denounced or to be denounced (as above) will defend our Prince and Countrie, which we think to be our dutie, and yield in temporall causes all obedience to her Majestie.

Fourthly, but because it is most certain, while we thus endeavour by our Christian and sincere protestation to approve our pious affection and Loyaltie to her Majestie, there will not be wanting many who would condemn this our lawfull Act, and interpret it to the worst sense; and moreover traduce this act of ours with unjust censures and calumnies to the Christian world, and especially to his Holinesse, to the great prejudice and hurt of our credits and persons, unlesse we should timely prevent their endeavours, we hum­bly beseech her Majestie, that as in this our recognition, while we render unto her Highnesse the things which are Caesars, by her gra­cious concession it may also be lawfull for us, for the avoiding of malevolent scandals, by the like publick act openly testifie, that we by acknowledging of our obedience to her Majesty, receed from no law of Christian duty, which we owe to the supream Pastour.

Fifthly, wherefore we acknowledge & confess, that the Bishop of Rome in that See, is Successour to S. Peter, & that he hath not less, yet not more ample authority or jurisdiction over us and the rest of the Christians then that Apostle had by the concession & command of our Saviour Christ. And that we will be▪obedient to his Holinesse, as far as we are bound by the Divine Law, which we doubt not may rightly stand with our Allegiance which we have professed to our temporal Prince; for as we are most ready to pour forth our bloud for the defence of her Majesty and our Countrey, so we are resolved to part with our life, rather then violate the lawfull au­thority of the Catholick Church of Christ.