BAINBRIGG. 401 4" ment, only for refusing to take the oath : whereby we " are greatly restrained of that liberty which other scholars " do enjoy ; and our bodily health is so endangered as one " of us hath been constrained very inconveniently in the " place to take physic. Our duties, also, to our pupils, " whom their parents have committed unto us, are very "much hindered ; besides our common duties as fellows " of our college and scholars of the university, all the "benefits whereof we want, together with the hearing of " the word of God preached, and participation of the " sacrament administered ; our private studies in the time " of our preparation for the ministry of the gospel, long " interrupted, and much disappointed ; our good name "among our friends abroad and strangers every where, " that hear of our imprisonment, but not of the cause, " greatly impaired ; and our exhibition, whichshould have " been employed to the maintenance of our studies, " exceedingly wasted in the charge of the prison. In all " which considerations we humbly bexechyour good lord, " that by your lordship's good favour, we may obtain "at length, some release of that long imprisonment, " whichwe doubt not your lordship judgeth sufficiently to "have met with our offence. " We refuse not to answer any matters wherewith we 4C can be charged, to put in bond or sufficient surety to " appear, either before your lordship, or before our gover- " nors here, when we shall be called. Besides, our fellow- " ships, the only stay of living that wehave, will sufficiently " bind us hereunto. This is the whole sum of our suit, " which we refer wholly to your honour's wisdom and " equity. The Lord Almighty bless your honour with long life, increase of honour in this life, and everlasting " life in the world to come, amen. From our prison in " Camb. May 22, 1589. Your honour's most humble supplicants, Cure. BAINBRIGG, FRAN. JOHNSON." The vice-chancellor and heads of colleges laid the case before the high commission. This was going the sure way, to work. The highcommissioners denominated the sermons ofthe two prisoners, factious, slanderous and offensive, and authorized the vice-chancellorandhis colleagues to examine and proceed against the preachers, according to their discretion.. The dangerous doctrines said to have been Baker's11.8, Collec. vol. vi. p. 185. VOL. 1. ao 2
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