344 The H ISTORY of the PURITAN S. Chap. VII - teen " ledge her laws to be both lawful and godly, and to be obeyed by every Elizabeth, ,, fub e t. Feb. 1 559o. j 59 0- 1." No arguments or threatnings of the judges could prevail with Udal to fign this fubmißion ; but the day before fentence was to be patted, he of- fered the following, drawn up by himfelf. " " COncerning the book whereof I was by due courfe of law convicted, by referring my felf to the trial of the law, and for that by the " verdilt of 52 men, I am found to be the author of it, for whichcaufe an ee humble fubmißìon is worthily rrequired and offered of me: Although ee I cannot difavow the caufe and fubftance of the doctrine debated in it, which I mutt needs acknowledge to be holy, and (fo far as I conceive it) " agreeable to the word of God ; yet I confefs, the manner of writing it, is " fuch in fome part as may worthily be blamed, and might provoke her " majefty's juft indignation therein. Whereof the trial of the law impu- ting to me all fuch defaults asare in that book, and laying the punifh- " ment of the fame in moft grievous manner upon me ; as my molt hum- " ble fuit to her molt excellent majefty is, that her mercy and gracious " pardon may free me from the guilt and offence which the faid trial of " the law bath cat upon me, and further of her great clemency, to te- " (tore me to the comfort of my life and liberty, fo do I promife in all hum- ble fubmiffion to God and her majefty, to carry my fell in the whole <4 courfe ofmy life, in fuch humble and dutiful obedience, as thall befit a " minifter of the gofpel and dutiful fubjem , fervently and continually " praying for the good prefervation of her highnefs'sprecious life, and hap- " py government, to thehonour of God, and comfort ofher loyal anddu- " tiful fubjeds. Feb. 19. 1590 -1." Íiispetitions. Mr. Udal had often, and with great earnettnefs, petitioned his judges for their mediation with thequeen : In his letter of Nov. 11th. he Pays, " I pray youcall to mind my tedious fiate of imprifonment, whereby my " felf, my wife and children, are reduced to beggary pray call tomind " by what courfe this mifery is brought upon me, and if you find by due " confideration, that I am worthy to receive the punifhment f?om the " fentence of upright juftice, I pray you to haften the execution of the " fame, for it were better for me to die than to live in this cafe ; but if it " appear to your confciences (as I hope it will) that no malice againft her " majefty can poffibly be in me, then do I humbly and heartily defire you " to be a means that I may be releafed ; then I (hall not only forget that " hard opinion conceived ofyour courfes againft me, but pray heartily to God to bury the fame, with the refs of your fins, in the grave of his fon His own fubmijion.
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