176 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. the prison, they presented their petitiOns to the lords of the council, to which their lordships paid immediate atten- tion. They accordingly addressed a letter to Archbishop Parker and other commissioners, signifying that they should be glad to assist them in any lawful cause against such as refused conformity ; yet they did not like men to be so long detained without having their easue examined, and desire them to proceed in such cases more speedily in future. They, entreat them to examine the cause of the two com- plainants, and, in case they should be found so sick that they could not continue in prison without inconvenience, to suffer them to be bailed till their cause should be ended.. This effort of the council seems to have been without any good effect. Undismayed, however, by the first repulse, they made a second application, but in a style much more peremptory. They addressed another letter to the archbishop alone, signifying, that, for good considera- tions, it was her majesty's pleasure that Bonham and Standen, committed by his lordship for breach of con- formity, should be set at liberty, upon warning to observe the laws in their public ministry in future, or else to abstain from it + Mr. Strype observes, that, during the above year, these two divines were accused of being concerned in Undertree's sham plot, and committed to prison ; but, upon examina- tion, they were found innocent, and were both acquitted and released by order of council.# ROBERT JOHNSON was fellow of King's college, Cam- bridge, and domestic chaplain to Lord Keeper Bacon. He preached and administered the sacrament in his lordship's family at Goranibury, and was statedly employed in the ministry at St. Alban's. In July, 1571, he was brought into trouble for nonconfofmity. He was citedbefore Arch- bishop Parker, and the Bishops of Winchester and Ely, at Lambeth. Upon his appearance, he was threatened to be silenced if he would not subscribe. Accordingly, not being satisfied in every point contained in the articles proposed to him, and refusing subscription, he was immediately sus- pended. Afterwards, he sent the following humble letter to the commissioners, earnestly desiring to be restored to his Baker's MS. Collee. vol. xxi. p. 384. + Ibid. p. 385. Strype's Parker, p. 466.
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