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 .