Source 3

Draft government proclamation, 1588 (SP 12/211)

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TRANSCRIPT

This extract has been translated into modern English with line numbers added.

Line 21 ...     whose profession is certainly known in favour of the 
                   Pope whom they make their God on the earth, to deny their 
                   allegiance to her Majesty their sovereign natural Lady and Queen, 
                    and to change and subvert the happy state of the realm, and
Line 25         to make the same subject to the Popes will, and the Crown to be 
                    translated to such a foreign potentate as he shall thereto name 
                    to usurp the same, for so by therein writing they do directly 
                    pronounce the intentions of the Pope to be, in procuring of the 


                    King of Spain, and other potentates vasselled to the Pope, to invade
Line 30         this Realm, and to gain the Crown and the realm with the 
                    wealth thereof to therein devours, which cannot be imagined to be done 
                    without a full tyrannical conquest of the same, by depriving of her 
                    Majesty, and by slaughter of all such her subjects of all degrees both 
                    noble and others, as shall for their conscience towards Almighty
Line 35         God, persist in the true profession of Christian Religion, and for their 
                    allegiance towards her Majesty (according to their bond of nature, being 
                    naturally born her subjects: (shall hazard their lives, both in defence 
                    of her Majesty's person, and to the maintenance of this Crown, Kingdom 
                    Country, and people, in the Kingly honour, and ancient liberty wherein 
Line 40         it hath remained and been inhabited with kings and people of mean
Line 41         English blood, more than this five hundred years: ...


SIMPLIFIED TRANSCRIPT

Line 21 ...     They are certainly known to be in favour of the 
                    Pope whom they make their God on the earth, denying their 
                    loyalty to Her Majesty their natural sovereign Lady and Queen, 
                    and changing and threatening the happy state of the realm,
Line 25         making it subject to the Pope's will, with the Crown 
                    given to a foreign ruler named by him 
                    to take over. In writing they openly 
                    say the intentions of the Pope are, in getting hold of the 


                    King of Spain and other rulers who are the Pope's vassals, to invade
Line 30         this realm, and to gain the Crown and the realm with its 
                    wealth to devour it. This cannot be done 
                    without a full and cruel takeover of the country, depriving Her 
                    Majesty, and the murder of all her subjects of all levels, both 
                    noble and others, who for their conscience towards Almighty
Line 35         God continue in the true Christian Religion, and for their 
                    loyalty towards Her Majesty (according to their bond of nature, being 
                    naturally born her subjects) risk their lives, both in defence 
                    of Her Majesty's person, and in keeping this Crown, kingdom 
                    country, and people in the kingly honour and ancient liberty in which
Line 40         it has remained, and been inhabited with kings and people of ordinary
Line 41         English blood, for more than 500 years: ...