368 2?e HI STORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VII!. ,ueen " and juflice, be without refiráint profecuted by the enemy in the El1592th,, " land ; then not only the perfecuted (hall daily cry from under the altar 5eiv " for redrefs, but God's wrath be fo kindled for :the (bedding the innocent " blood ofmen, even theblood of his own fervants, (of whom he has faid, " touch not mine anointed) that if Noah, Daniel, and yob, fhould pray "' for this people, yet fhould they not deliver them. Pleafeth it then your lordfhip to underftand, that we her majefly's " loyal, dutiful, and true hearted fubjeds, to the number of threefcore " perforas and upwards, have contrary to all law and equity been impri- " foned, feparated from our trades, wives, children, and families; yea, " (hut up clofe prifoners from all comfort, many of us the fpace of two " years and a half, upon the bilhop's foie commandment, in great penury " and noifomnefs of the prifons; many ending their lives never called to " trial ; fume haled forth to the feffions ; fome cart in irons and dungeons; " fome in hunger and famine; all of us debarred from any lawful au- " dience before our honourablegovernors and magiftrates, and from all benefit and helpof the laws; daily defamed and falfly accufed by pub- " lifhed pamphlets, by private fuggeflions, often preaching, flanders, " and accufations of herefy, fedition, fchifm, and what not. And a- in bone all, whichmolt utterly toucheth our falvation, they keep us from all fpirìtual comfort and edifying by doi trine, prayer, or mutual con- °` ference, &c. " And feeing for our confcience only we are deprived of all comfort,- we moil humbly befeech your good lordfhip, that fome more miti- " gate and peaceable courfe might be taken therein, that fome free and " chriftian conference publickly or privatelybefore your honour, or be- " fore whom it would pleafe you, where our adverfaries may not be ;` our Judges [might be had]; that our cafe, with the reafon and proof " on both fides, might be recorded by indifferent notaries and faithful " witneffes and if any thing be found in us worthy of death or bonds, " let us be made an example to all poflerity; if not, we intreat for fome compaffion to be ¡hewn in equity according to law for our relief ; [and] " that in the mean time we may be bailed to do her majefty fervice, walk á` in our callings, to provide things needful for ourfelves, our poor wives, " difconfolate children and families lying upon us, or elfe that we might be prifoners together in Bridewel, or any other convenient place at " your honour's appointment, where we might provide filch relief by " our diligence and labours as might preferve life, to the comfort both ` of our fouls and bodies." Signed byyour poor fupplicants in thefollowingprifons ; In
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