320 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. nobleman, earnestly desiring him to move the queen to discharge them from prison, on account of their great sufferings, and their extreme poverty and want. But these two petitions were without effect.. The prisoners still remained in close confinement, enduring many extreme hardships ; and though they were committed to prison three months previous to receiving the sentence, and remained in prison twelve months after conviction, according to the cruel tenor of the sentence, they could not even at the expiration of that period, obtain their liberty. Under these afflictive circumstances, they presented the following petition to the lords of the council : cc Whereas, right honourable lords, your poor and daily " orators, JohnField and Thomas Wilcocks, being indicted " before the lord mayor and court of aldermen, in the city " of London, upon a statute of the first year of hermajesty's " most happy and gracious reign, entitled c An Act for the " Uniformity of Common Prayer,' &c. were adjudged to " suffer imprisonment by the space ofone whole year, which " they have already fully endured, according to the effect " ofthe said statute. And nowbeing given to understand, " that theycannot be discharged otherwise than by a special " order from your good lordships, they most humbly, and cc for Jesus Christ's sake, pray and beseech your honours, " to take pity of their great poverty and extreme necessity, " now come upon them and their poor wives and children, " through their so long imprisonment. And that in your " accustomed clemency, so graciously and continually " extended towards all her majesty's subjects, youwill also " vouchsafe, in compassion to theirgreat misery, take order " for their enlargement. And as in duty they are bound, " so they and theirs will daily pour out their hearty prayers "to Almighty God, for his merciful favour, and most " gracious protection, to be extended to your lordships for " ever, Amen."-t During their imprisonment, they also petitioned the Earl of Leicester, humbly entreating him to be a means of forwarding their petition to the council. In this petition, they express themselves thus :-c This in all humility " sheweth unto your honour, that your poor and faithful " orators, JohnField and Thomas Wilcocks, upon October " 2, 1572, by virtue of a certain statute made the first year "'of her majesty's reign, were convicted and committed to MS. Register, p. 118. + Ibid. p.
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