Simplified Transcript

Extract 3. Draft government proclamation, 1588 (SP 12/211)

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

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: ...

Close window