2.94 7Ze HISTORY of the PURt TANS. Chap. VII. ,seen and in the prefence of two or three hundred people by Mr. Field a non- Elizabeth, conformiP ; for this he was committed to the Gate..hottfe, where he had rs8q. c.ivtJ claili, n ever fnce the year 1579. Ar length he a pp lied to the queen and coon- and in the ftate of bis cafe, declares that he had invited only forty per- fons to the folemnity, that of them there were only twenty prefent ; that he was married in a morning, and according to law ; and when the bifhop fent for him, and charged him with fdition, he cleared himfelf to his fatisfadion ; but that after he was gone home, he gave private or- der under his own hand, for his being apprehended and fent to the Gate- hou/e ; that he was dam up there in a. dungeon eight days, without know- ing the caufe of his imprifonment, though Dr. Hammond, and his faithful father Fox, who were both at the wedding, and law the whole proceed- ing, went to the bifhop and affured him, that he was without wicked - nefs or fault in that way he "went about to charge him ; his lordfhip however, would not releafe him, without filch bonds for his good beha- viour and appearance, as the prifoner could .not procure. " Thus I con- " tinue, fays.Mr. Benifon, feparated from my wife, before I had been " married to her two weeks, to the great trouble of her friends and rela- dons,. and to the flaggering of the patient obedience of my wife ; for " fence my imprifonment, his lordfhip has been, endeavouring to fepa- " rate us. whom God has joined together, in the open prefence of his " people. Wherefore I molt humbly befeech your godly honours, for ". the everlafting love of God, and for the pity you take upon God's true " proteftants and his poor people, to be a means that my pitiful cry ". may be heard, and my, jufl caufe with force credit be cleared, to God's " honour and her majefty's, whole favour I efteem more than all the " bifhop's bleflings or bitter curfings; and that I now being half dead, ". may recover again to get a poor living, with the little learning that God has fent me, to his glory, to the difcharging fome part of my duty, and to the profit of the land." The council were fo moved with Benifon's cafe, that they fent his lord- fhip the following letter. The council's " Hereas Barnaby Benifon minifter,'has given us to underfland, letter in his " the great hindrance he has received byyour hard dealing with favour. " hint, and his long imprifonment, for which if he fhould bring his " altion of falfe imprifonment he fhould recover damages, which would " touch your lordfhip's credit; We therefore have thought fit to require " your lordfhip, to ufe force confideration towards him, in giving him " tomefaam of money to repay the wrong you have done him, and in re- .< fpeét of the hindrancehe hath incurred by your hard dealing towards " him- -- Therefore praying your lordfhip_ to deal with the poor 'man,. " that
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