WHereas wee the poore di­stressed Catholiques Recu­sants of England, have by reason of the penall Lawes in former time made and e­nacted against us, whereby we have to our great hinde­rances many times bin con­strained to part with our good Chattills and money, and sometimes imprisonment also to the great hinderance of our estate and calling. Yet nothing more grievous un­to us, then the remembrance of that most detestable plot of the Powder-Treason, onely wrought by some decayed fur [...]ous discontented and evill minded persons, professors of the same Religion, but quite contrary to all godly or humane Lawes, neglecting, transgressing and most inhu­manely forgetting all goodnesse, duty, and obligation to God their King and Coun [...]ry, which detestable or rather most d [...]mnable plot still singing in the eares of the people and daily augmenting and encreasing the memory of the same, by many strange Discoveries of unknowne Plots, wherein we that truth hath little share, onely divised and set forth by some evill willers to Catholique Religion, to make us hatefull to the world, knowing the vulger sort apt to believe (through the evill minds of some bad Ca­tholiques [Page]or rather detestable Traytors) actors of the Plot, whatsoever is or can be invented, or set forth a­gainst us in any other newly divised Plots, now daily spred about the City and Country, in many pamphlets which we hope and perfectly know to bee false other waies we should have more hanging, drawing, and quar­tering then now we have, but hartily wish it to all offen­dors in such like hands that shall deserve it and desiring that we being innocent and cleare from all Conspiracies or Plots of Treason, or any such things hurtfull to our King and Countrey, may not be alwaies made reproacha­ble and contemptable to the world.

Let not the faults of some detestable persons be still inflicted and laid to our charge, doe not for a few despe­rate or ill conditioned Traytors condemne the whole Church to be so, but let a more gracious conceit spring from your hearts, and truely concurre us, as you would your selves be censured by the highest and most dreadfull Judge, for wee ought not to judge of others more then certainly we can prove for truth, least that judgement light upon our selves. If any of us deserve to suffer, let us suffer, but let us not scourge the innocent, least we suf­fer stripes, forgive, as you would be forgiven, and esteem of us, as you would be esteemed, true Subjects, as wee have alwayes beene and ever will be, in witnesse whereof we have here set downe some little Protestations for our Royalty and truth to our King and Country.