UDAL. 19 and thus exposing both me and them to beggary and misery. I pray you call to mind, by what course this misery was brought upon me ; and if you find, by due consideration, that I am worthy to receive the punishment from the sentence ofupright justice, I pray you hasten the execution of the same for it were better, in this case, for me to die than to live. But if it appear to your con- sciences, as I hope it will, that no malice against her majesty can possibly be in me, seeing I pray daily for her majesty's prosperity and happiness, both in soul and body, then I do humbly and heartily desire you to be a means that I may be released. In doing this, I shall not only forget that hard opinion conceived of your courses against me, but alsopray heartilyunto God tobury the same, with the rest of your sins, in the grave of his son, Jesus Christ." Mr. Udal wrote several other letters, expressed in most humble and dutiful language.* But all these ap- plications were tono purpose. The courtwould do nothing till he signed their submission ; which, being directly con- trary to the convictions of his conscience, heutterly refused. At the close of the Lent assizes, Mr. Udal, being called to the bar, with the rest of the felons, and asked what he had to say, why judgment should not be given against him, according to the verdict, delivered a paper to the court, consisting of certain reasons ; the principal ofwhich were the following : 1. " Because the jurywere directed only to find the fact, whether I was the author of the book; and were expressly freed by your lordship from inquiring into the intent, without which there is no felony. 2. " The men on the jury were not left to their own consciences, but were wrought upon, partly bypromises, assuring them it should be no further danger to me, but tend to my good ; and partly by fear, as appears from the grief some of them have manifested ever since. 3. " The statute, in the true meaning of it is thought not to reach my case, there being nothing spoken in the book concerning her majesty's person, but in duty and honour; I beseechyou, therefore, toconsider, whether drawing itfrom her royal person to the bishops, as being part of her body politic,be not a violentdepraving andwresting ofthe statute. 4. " But if the statute be taken as it is urged, the felony must consist in the, malicious intent; wherein I appeal first Strype'p Annals, vol. iv. p. 28-30.
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