I would write you more about this matter, if time did permit me. Hence I will conclude here, and pray the Lord, that he will strengthen you and all the godfearing and lovers of the truth, in virtue and godliness, to the salvation of the soul. Amen.
Your obedient son,
* * * * *
Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator, 1 Peter 4:19.
THE FOLLOWING WRITINGS ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP PARTLY BY THE ASSISTANCE OF SAID JAQUES DE SOMERE, AS A FAVOR TO THE PRISONERS, WITH THEIR CONSENT.
_A supplication, presented to the Queen, in behalf of the prisoners in England, but not received by Her Majesty._
In consideration of your Majesty’s laudable goodness and grace, famous far and wide among all nations, because you have always used discretion in all matters, and especially in the matter of religion and conscience, and have recently shown this in our fellow-believers; we entirely trust to your Majesty, that you will be pleased to show us poor prisoners and strangers the same mercy, since we are in the same state and condition, and in the same faith, which we humbly present to your Majesty in Christ, for Christ’s sake, that your Highness be pleased to peruse the same, and, according to your wisdom and grace, considering the unimportant difference, graciously judge of it. We testify before God and your Majesty, that if we could feel or understand otherwise in our conscience, we should with all our heart accept and confess the contrary, seeing it would be a great error on our part, not to prefer living in a true faith, to willfully dying in a false faith. Likewise, will Her Majesty be pleased to consider according to her innate goodness and wisdom, that it does not behoove us to speak dissimulatingly, otherwise than we believe with the heart, in order thus to escape the danger of temporal death, and that it is impossible to believe differently from what we feel in our conscience; as also, that it is not in our power to believe this or that, even as an evil doer can voluntarily do well or cease to do evil; but that the true faith must be poured into men’s hearts by God, whom we daily pray, that he would give us his Spirit, that we may understand his truth and Gospel.
Moreover, it is well-known to Her Majesty, that we are not a turbulent people, neither seek to instigate any rebellion against Her Majesty, but much rather daily pray the Lord for her prosperous reign and welfare according to soul and body (Jer. 29:7); finally, that we have not sought to spread our faith in this country, nor are we able to do it, since we are simple and unlearned trades-people, and inexperienced in divinity. These and other reasons we humbly entreat Her Majesty to consider for our benefit, and in particular to be mindful of Her laudable and princely grace, which is a marvel to all nations, and which has ever appeared in all matters, but especially in the matter of religion and conscience.
It was subscribed:
HENDRICK TERWOORT, JAN PIETERSS, CHRISTIAEN KEMELS, GERRIT VAN BYLER, HANS VAN STRATEN.
A CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE PRISONERS IN ENGLAND, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PRECEDING SUPPLICATION.
Touching our faith of Jesus Christ our Savior: We not only believe in his incarnation, but also regard him, who denies that Christ is come in the flesh, to be the antichrist. 1 John 4:3. Hence we believe with the heart and confess with the mouth, that the eternal Word of God was from the beginning with God; that the Son of God became man when the fullness of the time was come, for the salvation and redemption of men; that he was conceived of the Holy Ghost, and through the power of God the Most High, born of the blessed virgin Mary, and manifested of the seed of David; that he is the fruit of the body of Mary; and that inasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. Hebrews 2:14.