Page:A history of the gunpowder plot-The conspiracy and its agents (1904).djvu/291

Rh many others of worth and quality, through the undertaking spirits of some more turbulent than truly zealous and dispassionate Catholics hath made the general estate of our Catholic cause so scandalous in the eye of such, whose corrupted judgment is not able to fan away and sever the faults of such professions from the profession itself, as whoso is found to be of that religion is presumed at least in mind to allow, though God knows, as much abhorring it as any Protestant whatsoever, the said former most inhumane and barbarous project. And, whereas some of His Majesty's Council, but especially your Lordship, is known to be (as the Philosophers term it) primus motor of such uncharitable taking advantage by so foul a scandal to root out all memory of Catholics either by sudden massacre, banishment, prisonment, and some other unsupportable vexations, and oppression, or perhaps by decreeing in this next Parliament some more cruel and horrible law against Catholics than is already made. In regards of the promises there are some good men, who through their earnest desire for continuing of Catholic religion, and for saving of many souls, both at this time and of future posterity are resolved to prevent so great a mischief though full assurance aforehand of the loss of their dearest lives.

'You are, therefore, hereby to be admonished that, at this present, there are five who have severally undertaken your death and have vowed the performance thereof, by taking already the Blessed Sacrament, if you continue your daily plotting these tragical stratagems against Recusants. . ..