And what soever our adversaries, pretend against us, yet dare we say both before God and man, that we suffer for none other cause, but for maintaining our Lord Jesus Christ, to be the only Saviour and redeemer, and his doctrine to be the only doctrine, of life and salvation. And this is the only ⟨image 143⟩cause, why the hands of hangmen, have been so oft embrued, with the blood of your poor subjects: Who sparing neither life nor goods, for maintenance of this Confession of faith, have manifestly declared to all the world, that they were moved thereto, by a far mightier spirit, then any spirit of man, which is more careful of quietness and commodity, then of the honour and glory of God. And therefore, according to the goodness and clemency, which your Majesty promiseth, to show to us, your poor subjects: we most humbly beseech you, to be so gracious, as to take in hand, the knowledge of the cause, by which (being daily pursued to death, or banishment) we lose the power and mean, to show to you that most humble service, which of duty we owe. May it therefore please your Majesty, in stead of fire and sword, heretofore used, to examine our Confession by the word of God, and to grant us sufferance and safety in the mean while. And then we hope that your ⟨p. 98⟩self shall judge of our innocency, & well perceive, that there is neither heresy, nor rebellion in us: but that we only tend to this end, to live in quietness of conscience, serve God as he hath commanded, and to obey your Majesty in all humble obedience and service. And because the preaching of the word of God, is necessary to put us in remembrance, as well of our duty towards him, as towards you: we most humbly beseech your Majesty, that we may sometimes gather together, to be exhorted to the fear of God by his word, and confirmed by the administration of the Sacraments, which our Saviour Christ hath appointed to his church. And if it would please you, to grant us some open place, where all the world might see our assemblies, that only sight should discharge us of those heinous crimes, that heretofore our said assemblies have been charged withal. For, there is nought to been, but modesty and chastity, nought to be heard, but praise to God, exhortation to his service, and ⟨image 144⟩prayer for the conservation of your Majesty and kingdom.
And what soeuer our aduersaries, pretēde against vs, yet dare we saie bothe before God and manne, that we suffer for none other cause, but for maintainyng our Lorde Iesus Christe, to bee the onely Sauiour and redemer, and his doctrine to be the onely doctrine, of life and saluacion. And this is the onely ⟨image 143⟩cause, why the handes of hangmen, haue been so ofte embrued, with the bloodde of your poore subiectes: Who sparyng neither life nor gooddes, for maintainaunce of this Confession of faithe, haue manifestly declared to all the worlde, that thei wer moued therto, by a farre mightier spirit, then any spirit of manne, whiche is more carefull of quietnes and commoditie, then of the honour and glorie of God. And therefore, accordyng to the goodnesse and clemencie, whiche your Maiestie promiseth, to shewe to vs, your poore subiectes: wee moste humblie beseche you, to bee so gracious, as to take in hande, the knowledge of the cause, by whiche (beyng daily pursued to death, or banishemente) wee lose the power and meane, to shewe to you that most humble seruice, whiche of duetie wee owe. Maie it therfore please your Maiestie, in stede of fire and sweard, heretofore vsed, to examine our Confession by the worde of God, and to graunt vs sufferaunce and sauetie in the meane while. And then wee hope that your ⟨p. 98⟩self shall iudge of our innocēcie, & well perceiue, that there is neither heresie, nor rebellion in vs: but that we onely tende to this ende, to liue in quietnesse of conscience, serue God as he hath cō maunded, and to obeye your Maiestie in all humble obedience and seruice. And bicause the preaching of the word of God, is necessarie to putte vs in remembraunce, as wel of our duetie towardes hym, as towardes you: wee moste humbly beseche your Maiestie, that we maie sometymes gather together, to be exhorted to the feare of God by his woorde, and confirmed by the administracion of the Sacramentes, whiche our Sauiour Christe hath appoincted to his church. And if it would please you, to graunte vs some open place, where all the worlde might see our assemblies, that onely sight should discharge vs of those hainous crimes, that heretofore our said assēblies haue been charged withall. For, there is nought to been, but modestie and chastitie, nought to be heard, but praise to God, exhortacion to his seruice, and ⟨image 144⟩praier for the conseruaciō of your Maiestie and kyngdome.
