MOst Gratious , and renowmed Christian King , whereas the Papists , ( who vsurpe the name of Catholiques ) hauing posted vnto your Maiestie , to exhibite vnto your royall person a Supplication full of vntrueths : I one of the meanest of your Maiesties most humble and loyall subiects , mooued with zeale of the holy and vndoubted true religion , now professed in England ; haue thought it not inconuenient ( with your Graces fauour , which I humbly craue ) to answer the chiefe and most materiall points of the saide supplication , because it tendeth to the greeuous slaunder of our late deceased Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth , and also of the noble and worshipfull personages of this your Graces Realme of England : and the rather , because I heare that some fauorites of the Romane religion , doe so highly extoll and aduance the learned and eloquent penning of the same , and the imaginary validity and force thereof , that they vaunt that it cannot be contradicted , yet doubt I not but that the plaine verity of this short aunswer will be of sufficient force to daunt their expectations , and to bewray their vntruthes , to their deserued discredit . The saide Supplication consisteth of seauen seuerall partes , as by perusall thereof may appeare .

1. The first part is their exordium , wherein they pretend faith and dutifull obedience , and loyaltie vnto your Maiestie , the which protestation I pray God they may effect in verity , in as effectuall and ample manner as they haue in flourishing and glosing shew of words professed the same . But I commit that to God who searcheth the harts and reynes , time trieth all things : nil fictum diuturnum essepotest .

2. In the second part they doe complaine that they were ouer-whelmed with greeuom persecutions , by the seuerity of our late deceased Queene : We doe not a little maruell that they blushed not to informe your Grace with so manifest vntruthes , if they supposed ( as they in wordes pretend ) that God hath blessed you with a wise and vnderstanding hart , rightly to discerne betweene truth and fashood : For I dare boldly affirme that they cannot prooue that any one receiued the sentence of death onely for professing the Romish religion , except treason were thereunto also annexed : And if it may please your most Gracious Maiestie to waigh in equall ballance the persecutions ( to vse their owne wordes ) they suffered either by imprisonment or fining by the purse , ( wherewith verye fewe in comparison were touched ) your highnesse shall vnderstand that their owne wilfull obstinacie , and not the Queenes Maiesties feueritie vrged the same ; for whensoeuer it pleased them to resort to their parish churches vnto diuine prayers , they had present releasement both of their imprisonment , and also of their fines and fees : But seeing that their vniust exclamations inforce me to call to fresh remembrance the most sauage and brutish dealings of the Papists in Queene Maryes dayes , how they then dominered your highnesse cannot be ignorant : how vnmercifully did they torment vnto death the faithfull seruants and Saints of God , for professing the glorious Gospell of our redeemer Christ Iesus ? Some they tormented with most sharpe and long imprisonment , some they whipped with roddes , some they secretly murthered in prison , but the greatest and generall number were sacryficed in the fire , in which kinde of torment they spared none , no not any degrees of persons , not so much as women great with childe , but tormented them to death , euen when the children did fall out of the mothers wombes into the fire , in the view of the Papists , who being past shame and grace , nothing regarded it . Yea such was their raging madnesse , that they digged vp the dead bones of those two godly and learned fathers Martin Bucer , and Paulus Phagius , and burned them in Cambridge : It is manifest vnto the world , that the Papists tortured to death , as graue , as wise , as vertuous , and as learned , and Catholike fathers , as Europe affordeth : Acts and Monuments . The records of these things are so manifest , so true , and so fresh in memorie ( of many yet liuing ) that they cannot bee contradicted . But to returne to our late deceased Queene , wheras the Papists doe vniustly charge her , that she was A grieuous persecutor of them , their assertion consisteth of contrarieties , for after the death of her brother King Edward , they vndelayedly persecuted her Grace : in the dayes of Queene Mary , they tossed her from prison to prison , threatning her with continuall death , so that she dayly expected the Axe to seuer her sacred head from her Princely shoulders : a a D. Sutcliffe in his reply to the Apo. pa. 84. and once a precept was giuen for the executing thereof , to the Lieutenant of the Towre , by the treacherous dealing of one of the Popes b b Gardiner Bishop of Winchester . minions ( the bearing great sway in England , ) in so much that if the Lieutenant of the Tower had not himselfe presently posted vnto the Court vnto the Queene her sister , to vnderstand certainly her pleasure therein , she had dyed before the Queene had beene acquainted therewith . But in processe of time , she by Gods prouidence beeing freed from that danger , and her selfe enioying the royall Crowne , Scepter , and dignitie of the Realme : did not the Pope deale with her as his predecessour did in former time deale with King Iohn ? By his cursed Bul he cursed and excommunicated the aforesaid King , & interdicted the whole realme : So that for diuers yeares none were suffered to be Christianly buried : he charged all his subiects that none of them should releeue , helpe , or succour him by any meanes , eyther directly or indirectly , vpon paine of his curse : so that the rebellion of his nobles was so great that of force ( to procure his peace ) he was constrained to c c Stowes Chro: in the life of K. John . Page 255. and 256. resigne both the kingdomes of England and Ireland into the Popes hands , and did take it again of the Pope by fee farme , paying one thousand markes yearely for the fame . And euen the like he practised against our late Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth : But the sacred word of God had taught her subiects a better lesson of fidelity , & loyalty to their Prince , then to regard his vaine & wicked Bull which by his d d Felton . Stowes Chro: page 129. agents he caused to be hanged vpon the Bishop of London his gate . After this he instigated a mighty Prince ( who is now dead and gone ) to attempt his pretended inuincible inuation , and with his many fold forces vtterly to subuerte the flourishing state of this Realme , and to extirpate ( if it had beene possible ) the true worship of God . Moreouer also the Pope instigated Parry , Babington , & Lopez , and diuers others their confederates to conspire the Queenes vntimely death , he fent also his cursed brood of Iesuites and Seminaries ( the firebrands of sedition in all kingdoms ) to induce her subiects to rebellion : whereunto also the Pope ( their vnholy father ) added his yeerely curse at Rome with booke , bell , & candle : hereby may you plainely see and perceiue , that the Pope & Papists which pretend to be ( but indeed desire rather to make ) Martyrs , did continually persecute her Maiesty and sought all the meane that they possibly could to procure her vntimely death , yet shame they not to cry with open mouthes vnto your Maiesty that they were persecuted . As for our Queene , the only , omnipotent , wise , & all seeing God , preserued her from all their bloudy practises , & gaue vnto her an happy , ioyful , & peaceable end , to his glory , her own and our comforts , & to their vnspeakable griefe & sorrow .

3. In the third part , this generation of vypers relate vnto the world their owne wicked and trecherous endeuors to induce some now liuing , to aspire vnto the royall dignity of this kingdome . O cursed Parasites and false harted Papists , cannot you be soliciters of mischiefe , but you must needes brag thereof ; it argueth that discord and rebellion are the chiefest vertues ( if I may so say ) of your new and false Catholique Romish religion . But most gratious King , let vs praise and glorifie God , who hath so directed your godly proceedings by his holy spirit , and hath also giuen you wisedom and fortitude to relie vpon his diuine prouidence , who workerh all things for the best , to them that serue and loue him . And that it hath now pleased God to crowne your royal head with the crowns of these kingdoms of England , France and Ireland , it cannot be any wise imputed vnto the Papists , for they were ( like traitors ) wholy bent another waye , vntill they perceiued that their designes were in vaine , and their hopes frustrate . For no sooner had it pleased God to call vnto his mercie our gracious Queene ( who at & before her death resigned vnto your highnesse , as vnto whome of right it appertained , the royal scepter of all her dominions ) but that once her , now your most faithfull nobles , caused your rightfull title vnto all her kingdoms , to be by open proclamation published vnto the world , the vndoubted trueth of which your royall and lineall discent , together with the spirit of God working in their hearts to acknowledge the same , hath so vnited the harts and minds of all the nobilitie , clergy , and communalty of this land , that all ( the Papists excepted ) doe ioye to behold your royall face , and are ready to serue , honour , and obaye you , with their bodies and goods euen vnto death : The Lorde blesse and preserue you from the practises and conspiracies of the wicked Romanists ( for surely they hate you in their harts because you professe the Gospell of Christ as your predecessor Queene Elizabeth did ) who if ( notwithstanding their flourishing shew of words ) their wicked and desired expectations had bin effected , when the general inuasion of this land was intended ( your Maiesty knoweth by whom ) neuer had your Grace inioyed the scepter of these kingdoms of England & Ireland , yes hardly ( if they could haue effected the contrary ) should you haue reteyned the kingdom of Scotland , which then ( & now also God be thanked ) you possesse quietly .

4. In the fourth part they do greeuously complaine of two euils that doe vex their harts : The first is , that this Realme of England is deuided into fourereligions , to wit , Protestants , Papists , Puritans , & Athists , ouer all which the Protestants did domineere all the raigne of our late disceased Queene : Thus much we do truely , to the glory of God confesse , that all such as did professe the sacred Scriptures , were protected first and principally by God , next by her Maiesty as an instrument from God , against the tyranny of the Pope , and all bloud-thirsty Papists ; and that the Barrowistes ( who may most iustly of all other among vs be termed Puritanes ) as Iesuites which are the Popish Puritanes amongst them , and all Pharisaicall Iusticiares , together with all turbulent Athiest , ( if any such be ) which haue sprong vp in this flourishing time of the Gospell as euill weeds amongst good Corne , haue beene continually repelled by the preaching of the Gospell , by the wise , aduised and faithfull ministers and dispensers thereof in this kingdome . And we are fully assured that the said religion is so firmely established and founded vpon the sacred Scriptures , yea euen vpon Christ Iesus that sure rocke , and is so mightilie defended with the two-edged sworde that proceedeth from the mouth of God , which is able to cast downe strong holdes , and euery high thing that shall exalt it selfe against God and his true Church : that the gates of hell ( that is to say , the Diuell himselfe , nor cursed Pope , Turke , Heretique , Infidel , Papist or Athiest ) shall neuer be able to preuaile there-against so long as the world endureth . The second thing they complaine of is , that warres and bloudshed haue seldome ceased , Taskes and Subsidies neuer so many , discontented mindes innumerable Behold the children of the Diuell cannot but lye , for their father the Diuell hath beene a lyar from the beginning : How iniuriously doe they charge that blessed buried corpes whose spirite is inglory , with these vntruths ? did not euery man sit vnder his owne Vine , and eate the labours of his hands quietly and peaceably without molestation , fortie and foure yeares and better to the great admiration of the worlde ? * * See the Kings own testimony of her Maiesty in the latter end of the preface prefixed before the booke of instructions to his sonne . The words are these . But notwithstanding since there is a lawfull Queene there presently raigning , who hath so long , with so great wisedome and felicity gouerned her kingdoms , as ( I must in true sincenty confesse ) the like hath not bin red nor hard of either in our time , or since the dayes of the Romane Emperor Augustus , &c. If it please your gratious Maiestie to peruse the Chroncicles , you shall finde , that no King nor Queene before her time hath euer gouerned this realme in so godly peace and Christian vnity , so long time protecting it most : miraculously against the tyrrannie of the Pope , and all other forraine and domesticall enemies . Moreouer , her Maiestie hath beene a nourishing mother , and a louing Neighbour vnto diuers Princes , countries and states about her ( as their consciences can witnesse ) and their ingratitude cannot but acknowledge , if not requite , and gratiously protected she the distressed people from the bloudy tyrannie of their implacable , insolent , and cruel enemies . Yet hath she resigned her Kingdomes vnto your Gratious Maiestie in such state as your owne eyes doe now and long may behold , and the world doth admire . And no doubt , but as the Protestants haue beene faithfull vnto her , so will they also be vnto your Maiestie : wherefore let all faithfull Christians , extoll , praise and magnifie , the omnipotent and onely wise God , who hath waged his battels by hir hand , being ( in the respect of her sex ) a poore Grashopper ( in mans iudgement ) against all the enemies of his sacred Church , as he waged battell against Pharao and all his hoast , with an armie of Grashoppers : And therefore let the Papists cease to publish so great vntrueth , redounding vnto their owne perpetuall shame and discredit for euer .

5. In the fift part , they make their humble sute vnto your Grace , that they may obtaine freedom to vse the Romish religion freely without molestation , though not openly , yet secretly , alledging two reasons : the first is , that because they be restrained of that liberty , your kingdomes is abhorred of all kingdomes that professe the Romish Religion . The second reason is , that it would bee a ioyfull thing to all the said Kingdomes , to graunt them their said sutes . And to the end to induce your Grace to graunt their requests , they alledge two arguments . The first is , that the now French King yeelding to the Papists to secure the vse of the Romish religion , they honored him with these venerable titles , Pater patriae , et pacis restitutor . If it be true that he now deserueth these honorable titles , why then since that time hath not that honorable King been freed from the dangerous conspiracie of the Papists , who haue diuers times since sought to murder him ? If it please your renowmed Maiesty to peruse the trecheries of the Papists , you shall find that they haue greater murdering harts then cursed Caine , who murdered his own brother . For to omitte the many and continuall treasons and conspiracies of the Papists against our disceased Queene , did not a gracelesse Monke poison King Iohn ? did not a cursed Friar of France murder with a poysoned Pen-knife the last diseased French King ? In vita Pii quintí . did not the Bishops , Monkes , Friars & Iesuites of Spaine , cause the kings eldest sonne of Spaine to be murdered , in letting him blood ? did not the Papists of France vrge the King of France to commit a tragicall Butcherly massacre at Paris , in poysoning the Queene of Nauarre , and in a brutish butcherly order to murder the most part of the peerlesse Nobilitie in France , their wiues and children , with a great number of the common people in diuerse parts of his realme : So that in one yeare by one meanes and others , they did massacre a hundred thousand , as by their owne histories it doth appeare . But why should I stay vpon recitall of particularities ? doth not the bloudy Inquisition at this day testifie , that this tyrannie is still continued in Spaine , in Rome , and amongst other their confederates ? Beholde the fruites of the professors of the Romish Religion .

The second argument is drawne from the graue and wise counsell of Salomons Counsellors vnto Roboham ( si loquaris eis bona verba , &c. ) This Text is as rightly alledged , as the deuill alledged the Scripture vnto our Sauiour Iesus Christ , when he tempted him : for there was no request made vnto Roboham as concerning religion , but onely for a mitigation of greeuous exactions . And the Counsell of Salomons counsellors in that behalfe , was both wise , right , and good .

But in causes of religion , O most renowmed King , let the sacred Scriptures be your direction , and preferre them before and aboue all worldly policies , royalties , dignities , and honours whatsoeuer : for therein consisteth your true honor , your true wisedome , your true authoritie , and royall dignitie . Moses teacheth from the mouth of God , Deutero: the 15. chapter & 6. verse . that if thy brother the sonne of thy mother , or thy owne sonne , or the daughter of thy wife that lyeth in thy bosome , or thy friend that is as thy soule , shall intise thee secretly , saying , Let vs goe serue other gods : thou shalt not consent to him , nor heare him , neither shall thy eye pittie him , nor shew mercie , nor keepe him secret : but thou shalt kill him , thy hand shall be first vpon him to put him to death . And our Sauiour Iesus Christ hath assured vs , that if we confesse him before men , he will confesse vs before his heauenly Father . And if we denie him before men , he will denie vs before his heauenly father . And whosoeuer loueth Father or Mother , brother or sister , wife or children , or any worldly honour , riches , dignitie , or regalitie , more then him , is not worthy of him : for we cannot serue two Maisters , for we shall eyther loue the one and hate the other , or els we shall hate the one and loue the other . And to this effect serueth the perswasion of Eliha vnto the Israelites , If God be God , serue him , &c. Therefore let the feare of God and his sacred word , be your direction ; Let it be a Lanthorne to your feete , and a light vnto your pathes , that God may bee with you and blesse you in all your actions . And then ( as the Apostle saith ) If God bee on your side , who can be against you ? But if God be against you , who can bee with you ? For most gracious King , if all the Kings and Potentates in the world did loue , fauour , and honour you , what is it to the purpose if God be against you ? And therefore the Lord blesse you with his grace and holy spirite , that no wordly thing may seperate you from the loue of God , which is in Christ Iesu our Lord , Amen .

6. In the sixt part they imploy their wittes to perswade your most gracious Maiesty , that their religion is venerable for antiquity , constant for continuance , irreprehensible for doctrine , inducing to all vertue and piety , maintained by the first Christian Emperours , sealed with the bloud of millions of Martyrs , &c. We doe not a little maruell that they be not ashamed to auouch so great vntruthes . But it is truely said ( amisso pudore omnis virtus ruit ) for if their ascertions were true , why hath one Pope caused the dead corpes of his predecessor to be digged out of his graue and to be dismembred , and haue condemned him for an heretique , and all his workes for heresie ? And the next successor hath ratified the first dismembred Pope to be good and Catholique , and all his workes Catholique : wee must needs be here in a Labyrinth , not knowing how to iudge which is the Catholique Pope : the condemnor , or the condemned , haue not some Popes beene condemned and depriued by generall counsels ? hath there not beene two Popes at once , and sometimes three , and euery one hath cursed other , and excommunicated others , and fought bloudy battelles one against another , to the disturbance of all Christendome , and the shedding of the bloud of many thousand Christians ? And he that was the valiantest tyrant , was the most religious Pope . But to let them passe ; let vs remember Constantine the Emperour , who first endowed the Pope with stately reuenewes : But in his dayes where was their holy Bread , and holy Water ? where were their pardons of free remission of sinnes , both veniall and deadly ? ( soulde now for money throughout Christendome to redeeme soules out of purgatory ) where was their Ladies Chappell , their Ladyes Masses , their pilgrimages to Saint Iames of Compostella , & c ? Where was their praying to Saintes ? Where was their diabollicall authority to depriue Kings and Emperours of their Kingdomes , and to dispose of them at their free will and pleasure ? Where was the supremacie of the Pope vniuersally ouer all Realmes , Kings , and Emperours , and ouer all degrees of persons spirituall and temporall ? but it hath beene since great honour for an Emperour to leade the Popes horse by the bridle , and for a King to hould his stirrope , yea for an Emperour to be a foote-stoole to the Pope to treade on when hee went vpon his horse : This Luciferian pride was not heard off in Constantines time , nor long since : and as for the religion that was professed in those dayes and long before Constantines time , it was the same religion that we in England doe now professe . And it is for certaine that the Heathenish and Infidell Emperours , both long before Constantines dayes , and long since , did persecute the now professed religion in England , and that it was sealed with the bloud of many Martyrs , adorned with the vertues of many thousand confessors , beautified with the bloud of the pure and Immaculate virgins : neither were the Bishops of Rome in those dayes , freed from the said persecutions . But when Infidell Emperours by Gods diuine prouidence ceased their tyranny ; Then the Luciferian Popes by degrees and steps climing the highest staffe of the ladder of pride , did so farre exceed in haughtinesse of hart , insolencie , and tyranny , that they first did shake off the lawfull authoritie of Emperours in the electing and admitting the Pope , and then presently after , they did domineere and tyrannise ouer Emperours , Kings , and all degrees of persons spirituall and temporall , so that it is to be doubted whether the heathenish Emperours in their time , or the irreligious Popes in their time haue persecuted and tormented to death the greater number of faithfull Christians and the Saints of God . It is superfluous to rehearse the stories of these things , seeing they be recorded in all Ecclesiasticall Histories , and in the Chronicles of all kingdomes : And wee are perswaded that your grace hath both seene and read the Historie of these bloudy tragedies : But of late time the Pope hath beene well plumed tof his borrowed fethers , and his Luciferian pride somewhat depressed : Yet , if the Papists will so be content , we will ioyne with them to procure that a Generall and free Counsell may be held in Christendome , wherevnto both Papists and Protestantes may freelie repaire , that thereby the Church of Christ may haue peace , and the ignorant may be confirmed in the true faith : and to this purpose hath one of our learned Diuines offered himselfe to dispute with any Papists whosoeuer ( and many other will doe the like ) so that his person may be secured red from perrill . D : Sutcliffe in the reply to The woord . pag. 43. This I pray God that it may be effected , and that he that is the true God may be worshipped of all , and that Baall may be vtterly forgotten , that all Christian kingdomes agreeing in true doctrine and sinceere truth may ioyntlie acknowledge one veritie , one faith , one baptisme , one religion , and one onely God in Trinity , and Trinitie in Vnity , the Father , the Sonne , and the holy Ghost , Amen .

7. In the seuenth and last part they make a sollemne profession before God and his holy Angels , of as loyall , as obedient , and immaculate allegiance to your Grace , at euer did faithfull subiects in Scotland or England vnto your progenitors , and intend sincerely and truely with goods and liues to serue your Grace , for confirmation wherof they confesse merite in obeying , and demerite in disobeying , and therfore cannot but in soule be greeuously tormented for the least preuarication : This protestation is indeed with a flourishing shew of good words , let the fruites of their obediences trie the veritie thereof : where was the fruites of their obediences in the dayes of their annointed Queene now deceased that they may haue merite for it ? These Romanists haue sugered wordes , but their harts be full of deadly poyson , for although they be a generation of vypers , yet they can change their shape into an Angel of light , to deceiue the very elect , if it were possible . The world can testifie that the manifoulde treasons and conspiracies of the Papists , were sufficient testimonies of their demerit : And if they must needes be tormented in soule and conscience for their least preuarication , needs must thousands of their soules and consciences be tormented for their many treasons & conspiracies , against their late annointed Queene now deceased . But whatsoeuer they professe in wordes , it is impossible so long as they professe the Romish religion to bee faithful subiects vnto your grace , for this is a maxime in the minds of most papists , fides non est seruanda cum hereticis , & we are sure that the Pope hath censured al Protestant Princes for heretickes , and their religion for heresie : Therefore whatsoeuer they professe in wordes , they cannot serue God and the deuill , neither can they truely serue and obaye you and the Pope : ( Two so great contrarieties cannot concur in one subiect ) And thus I conclude , praying to God ( as our bounden dutie requireth ) that of his great goodnesse , he will vouchsafe to blesse , preserue , and defend your royall maiestie , our noble Queene , and all your Princely Children , from all your enemies both forraine and domesticall , spirituall and temporall , and from the treasons and conspiracies of all Romanists : That your sacred Maiestie and your posterity , may liue and raigne ouer vs in the feare of God , and to his honour and glory , in regall dignity , happy prosperitie , godly peace and vnity , and that after this life , you may haue celestiall felicitie in the life to come for euermore , Amen .