New Discovery of Old Pontifical Practices, Report of court proceedings 2
A Declaration of that which paſſed betweene the Judges and Mr. Vdall at the Aſſiſes in Southwarke Febru. 19, 1590.
BEcauſe you are▪ …ſirous to underſtand of me the particular things which paſſed betweene the Iudges and me the 18▪ 19, and 20. daies of …b. 1590. Albeit I had rather you ſhould learne it of others, yet ſeeing the ground of all dependeth upon ſome things that paſſed between them and me in private, I am the rather induced to ſatisfie your requeſt praying that it may be kept ſecret amongſt thoſe friends that may have good by it, and not given out unto any ſuch ſort as may aggravate this heavy burthen that is already …aid upon me. Being called the firſt day of the Aſſiſes in the afternoon Sergeant Puckering ſaid:
Puck.
We do not meane now to deale with you, only I muſt put you in mind that you have made a▪ Petition, wherein you promiſe to ſubmit your ſelfe to ſuch order as her Majeſty ſhall appoint; conſider of it, and looke that you … it, for … …an tell you, it is looked for at your hands▪
Vda.
I know not my Lord what you meane▪ I made a Petition but to her Majeſty, and will willingly performe any thing promiſed therein:
Puck.
Well, adviſe well with your ſelfe and looke that you do it, I tell you aforehand.
Vda.
Unleſſe you meane that I know not your meaning.
Juſtice
Fenner dwelling in …urre ſat on the Bench and ſaid, Mr. Vdall, I muſt needs ſay ſomething unto you, I have heard much good of you, and that you are learned, it were pitty you ſhould do otherwiſe then well, I pray you take heed that thoſe good things which are in you, be not marred for want of humility: I tell you humility is a ſpeciall vertue in a man of your Calling▪ the want whereof marreth all in them that waht i… ▪ I pray you ſtand not in your own opinion too much, I have heard that you have don much good▪ let not humility be wanting, &c.
Vda.
My Lord, I acknowledge that humility is a vertue generally required in men of my Calling, without which all other gifts are nothing▪ for God reſiſteth the proud, and giveth wiſdome to the ſimple: and I deſire that the ſame vertue may be found in me; but I truſt your meaning is not thereby to perſwade me to deny the truth, which I truſt the Lord will keepe me from, whatſoever befall me.
Fenner.
I ſpeake to you of good will, I would not have you ſtiffe in your own conceipt.
Puck.
Remember what I ſaid unto you.
And ſo I was carried into a Chamber to be conferred with by ſome of the Bench▪ &c. And when that promiſe which the Judge ſo much ſpake of came to be examined, it was nothing but a ſentence in my ſubmiſſion to her Highneſſe, the meaning whereof is (as the words going before it and immediately following it do declare) that I profeſſed my ſelfe willing to live or die, according as that power which God hath given to her Majeſty▪ ſhall appoint.
I having bin dealt withall to this effect the firſt day of the Aſſiſes (by certaine of the Bench in private) as alſo the ſecond day by ſome of them to this effect▪ that I would make ſuch a ſubmiſſion as would condomne the Booke in queſtion▪ and juſtifie the Hiera…chy▪ and perceiving that I was not to be heard till the laſt day▪ I intreated Sir William Moore and Mr. Bowyer to be a meane to the Judges for me▪ that (for aſmuch▪ as▪ my caſe was rare, and I had (as I was perſwaded) ſufficient to alleadge why (notwithſtanding the verdict againſt me) Judgement ought to be ſtayed) I might be heard overnight, that ſo (according to that good councell given by them unto me▪ to adviſe with my ſelfe, and to conſider what I would do) alſo they mig… have a night to thinke of what I had to ſay, and the next day to do with me as God ſhould move them.
Hereupon I was …etcht forth before the Judges in private, immediately after dinner, who uſing many perſwaſions to draw me to relent (which being in private I will not expreſſe) told me that they ſent for me, for that they underſtood I deſired to be heard over-night, which they were willing then and there to do: I anſwered: My Lords, my meaning was not to deſire private but publique hearing, ſeeing I have nothing to ſay: but ſuch as would prevent my ſelfe, and diſappoint my publique ſpeech, if I ſhould utter it in private: yet becauſe they told me their other affaires would not permit them to have any time with me till the latter end of the Aſſiſes, I was rather willing that I ſhould be prevented, then they ſhould be conſtrained to determine on a ſuddaine upon ſo weighty a matter; whereupon I did draw out a paper for each of them, containing theſe reaſons following.
I humbly pray your Lordſhips to conſider, whether theſe reaſons ought not in conſcience to move you to ſtay the ſentence notwithſtanding the verdict againſt me, and to be meanes of my releaſe.
1. It ſeemeth that my caſe is not eſteemed Felony by the Judges of the Land▪ ſeeing they do uſually ſit in the High-Commiſſion Court, where the printing and diſperſing of the ſame and ſuch like Bookes are uſually enquired after as tranſgreſſions of another nature.
2. No judgement in Law ought to be given in caſe of Felony, but upon a party firſt found guilty thereof by verdict of twelve men, but I am not ſo, for proofe whereof I pray you it may be remembred, that your Lordſhip gave the Jurie in iſſue onelyonly for the triall of the fact, whether I were Author of ſuch a Booke, and freed them from enquiring the intent, without which there is no Felonie.
3. I humbly pray you to call to minde by what meanes the Iury was drawne to give that verdict they did, whether they were left wholly to their own conſciences, or were wrought unto it partly by promiſe aſſuring it ſhould be no further danger unto me, but tend to my good; and partly by feare, as appeareth in that it hath bin an occaſion of great griefe unto ſome of them ever ſince. And then I pray you to conſider, whether upon ſuch a verdict ſo drawne from twelve ſimple men, Chriſtian Iudges in a good conſcience, may proceed to ſentence of death?
4. In caſe the verdict were never ſo free, yet your Lordſhips being men of wiſdome and knowledge are to conſider, whether the Statute whereupon I am Indicted, do agree to my caſe in the truth and meaning of it, there being nothing in that Booke ſpoken of her Majeſties perſon, but in duty and honour; and whether the drawing of it from her Majeſty to the Biſhops (as being a part of her body politique) be not a violent depraving and wreſting of the Statute, which if it be, you being Chriſtian Iudges, cannot in a good conſcience upon ſuch a ground proceed to ſentence, contrary to your own knowledge.
5. But if the Statute be to be taken ſo as it is urged, it ought to be conſidered that without a malicious intent againſt her Majeſties perſon, the Statute it ſelfe maketh no act forbidden by it to be Felonious; wherein I appeale firſt to God, and then to all men that have ſeene the whole courſe of my life & to your Lps. own conſciences wherin I pray you to examine your ſelves in the ſight of God, whether either by your ſelves or the juſt report of any other you can finde me guilty of any act in all my life, that ſavoured of any malice or malicious intent againſt her Majeſty or of any other behaviour than ſtandeth with the allegiance and duty of a moſt dutifull and Chriſtian ſubject. Of which malice or malicious intent againſt her Majeſty, if your conſciences cleare me before God, the act wherewith I am charged being not felonie without ſuch an intent, I hope you will conſider that you cannot with a good conſcience proceed to judgement.
6. Yet if the Statute and intent were ſuch as it is ſaid, in caſe of life the evidences ought to be pregnant and full living witneſſes (I am ſure by the word of God, and I truſt alſo by the Laws of this land) were to have bin produced face to face to charge me. But I have none ſuch againſt me, neither any other thing▪ ſaving onelyonly papers and reports of Depoſitions taken by Eccleſiaſticall Commiſſioners and others, which kind of proofe the judges of the land caſt away in caſe of lands, and by no meanes allow to be ſufficient, and therefore are much leſſe to be allowed in a caſe of life, which being ſo, your Lordſhips ought to have a conſcience, that upon ſo weake evidences ſentence of death be not pronounced.
7. But if the ſame that hath been given in for evidence in writing, had bin teſtifyed by men living▪ ſtanding out in the preſence of the Court and of mee the accuſed, I truſt your Lordſhips will conſider that no one of the evidences do directly prove me to bee the Author of the booke in queſtion which as it was hath little force in it as appeareth by this▪ that the Author of the chiefeſt teſtimony is ſo grieved, that hee is aſhamed to come where hee is knowne. Whereupon howſoever the Iury have not diſcerned thereof, yet you being men of skill and underſtanding, are to have regard of it, and not upon ſo weake and impertinent proofes to proceed to judgement of death.
8. If all theſe things were ſuch as they ought to bee, yet your Lordſhips are to conſider (ſuppoſing me to be the author of the booke in queſtion) that the ſaid booke for the ſubſtance of it, containeth nothing but that which is taught and beleeved to be a part of the Goſpell of Chriſt, by all the beſt reformed Churches in Europe; wherein nothing being diverſe hom them, I cannot be condemned without condemning in me all ſuch Nations and Churches as hold the ſame doctrine. In which (if there be no error in them) the offence commonly be in forme, circumſtance and manner of writing which ſome men may thinke worthy an admonition, ſome more ſevere worthy correction and amercement, the ſharpeſt cannot judge it to deſerve more then ſome ſhort time of impriſonment. But death for an error of ſuch a kind in termes and words not altogether dutifull of certaine Biſhops▪ cannot be but extream cruelty: Which ſeeing it ought to be farre from any Chriſtian man that hath the bowells of Chriſt in him. Surely Chriſtian judges profeſſing the Goſpell, for a ſervice of the Goſpell (ſaving ſome overſight in words and termes) ought not to proceed againſt me (that hath endeavoured to ſhew himſelfe a dutifull Subject and faithfull miniſter of the Goſpell) to give ſentence of death.
9. My offence not being aggravated but remaining as it was the laſt Aſſiſes▪ when my ſubmiſſion was excepted, and judgement, thereupon ſtayed: I truſt your favour will be the ſame towards mee now alſo, ſeeing I am ready to doe the like.
If all this prevaile not, yet my Redeemer liveth to whom I commend my ſelfe, and ſay as ſometime Jeremy ſaid in a caſe not much unlike. Behold I am in your hands do with me what ſeemeth good unto you; but know you this that if you put me to dea…h, you ſhall bring innocent bloud upon your owne heads and upon t…e land. As the bl…ud of Abell, ſo the bloud of Vdall, will cry to God with a loud voice▪ and the righteous judge of the World, will require it at the hands of all thoſe that ſhall bee guilty of it.
This is the ſumme of that which I delivered to the Iudges.
THe Aſſiſes being almoſt finiſhed, and the other Priſoners that were called to the Barre to hauehave ſentence of death, ſtanding forth to heare the ſame▪ I was at the laſt called, and demanded what I could ſay for my ſelfe, why I ſhould not have judgement to die. Hereupon I humbly craving audience began to this effect.
Vda.
My Lords I doe acknowledge that I have been hitherto proceeded againſt by due courſe of law, and that a verdict was given in againſt me the laſt Aſſiſes as guilty of Felony, &c. But I do not onelyonly (as heretofore) proteſt mine inno…enc…, but alſo think that I have ſufficient to alleadge why (not withſtanding the verdict) judgment ought not to be given where I intreat to be heard.
Iud. Puck.
I pray you ſtay, you ſeeme in the beginning to ſpeake contraries, for firſt you acknowledge the courſe of law to be due, and afterwards ſtand upon it, that you are innocent. How can a due courſe of law condemne the innocent?
Vdall.
Theſe things agree well enough, as I will ſhew if it ſhall pleaſe you to give mee leave: it is by due courſe of law▪ that I have been indited, arraigned, have had a Iury impanelled upon me▪ bin accuſed, heard ſpeake for my ſelfe, and teſtimony produced againſt mee. But in that the proofe by witneſſe was inſufficient and the Iury either in judgement or affection miſſed; thereupon it hath come to paſſe that (notwithſtanding the due courſe of law) guiltin…ſſe is laid upon a guiltleſſe perſon. But I pray you let mee proceed to the reaſons that I have to alleadge for my ſelfe.
Then I leſt the firſt reaſon of purpoſe ſeeing I did rather wiſh that they only ſhould underſtand it (which they did by my papers overnight) then to blaze it to the World ſo that I did begin to ſpeake according to the ſecond reaſon mentioned before; whereupon Sergeant Puckering prayed Baron Clarke to ſpeake, ſeeing it did moſt concerne him.
Iudg. Clar.
I muſt needs tell you, you …e us and the ſeat of Iuſtice great wrong, indeed … told the Iury what was the law in the opinion of all the judges of the land, for it was not my private opinion as I ſaid alſo at that time.
Vda.
It is not materiall my Lord in this caſe what the Judges thinke, for though all the Judges in the World thought ſo, our lawes thought no man a Felon, or capable of ſentence as a Felon till hee bee convicted by the verdict of 12. men.
Clar.
You are ſo convicted as the record will teſtifie.
Vda.
I acknowledge the record againſt mee, but I appeale to your Lordſhips conſcience whether you delivered not unto them ſpeeches to this effect. As …or the Felony you are not ſo much to enquire, but only whether he made the booke, leaving the Felony to us.
Clar▪
You doe me great wrong, I onelyonly told them the law.
Vda.
Well I leave it to your Lordſhips favourable conſideration you perceive my reaſon.
Then I ſpake to the third Reaſon, whereupon it was ſaid.
Puck.
All that you ſay tendeth to the diſgracing of the Court of Iuſtice holden againſt you heretofore, the jury were left to their owne conſciences, and did as they ſaw meet to doe,
Vda.
No my Lords, I ſpeake not any thing to diſgrace the court of juſtice, for I acknowledge both this courſe and all others of the like nature, to bee Gods holy Ordinance, which I ought to reverence, neither doe I ſpeake to defame the Jury, but onelyonly to give your Lordſhips occaſion why you may not to proceed to ſentence, thereupon, for if the Jury did well, why ſhould it grieve any of them? if they did ill your Lordſhips may not proceed to ſentence thereupon.
Puck.
We cannot remember the particular circumſtances that then paſſed▪ …either are we to call in queſtion the verdict▪ but it is our office to give ſentence according to it.
Vdall,
I pray your Lordſhips tell mee one thing, muſt the judges alwaies give ſentence according to the Verdict, or may there not be cauſe to ſtay it?
Clar.
Yes there may be cauſe to ſtay the verdict; ſuch may the caſe be,
Ʋda.
And I deſire no other but that my reaſons may be well weighed whether my caſe be ſuch or no.
Then I prayed for ſo much as they had the ſubſtance of that in writing afor hand which I meant to ſay, it would pleaſe them to give mee leave to ſay at once what I could; leſt my memorie (being ſo much weakened and dulled be impriſonment ſhould faile mee, and ſo I leave ſome materiall thing unſpoken. Then I ſpake according to the 4 & 5 Reaſons▪ wherunto little was replyed ſaving ſuch as things were mentioned at my arraignment. Only Baron clarke uſed a very long ſpeech, wherein he compared Mr. Stubbs his cauſe and mine together and after the end of his ſpeech, Judge Puckering ſaid.
Puck.
Who taught you ſuch law tell you, you are much deceived and abuſed in it; one may bee within the compaſſe of Felony, though hee doe not directly meant any ſuch thing.
Vda.
Your Lordſhip knoweth I pleaded theſe points the laſt Aſſiſes, when I came from cloſe impriſonment to the barre: I underſtand Engliſh which is the language wherein the Statute was written, and I profeſſe my ſelfe a Scholler and therefore to have (through Gods mercy) ſome underſtanding of the ſence of that I read. It ſeemeth to me moſt direct, and no otherwiſe to be taken then I underſtand it.
Then I ſpake according to the 6, and 7, reaſons whereunto it was replyed thus.
Puck.
You are deceived in that you thinke the witneſſes againſt you the leſſe lawfull becauſe the parties were not preſent. It is an ordinary thing to have witneſſes examined in the Chancery and other ſuch like Courts, which doe remaine thereof as ſufficient credit for ever, as they were when the parties oath was taken upon the ſame.
Vda.
Then would I have anſwered that the caſe was not alike, ſeeing the High-Commiſſion is no Court of Record, but I was not then ſuffered to ſpeake, for that it was ſaid by the other Judge.
Clar.
Where do you finde that there muſt needs (by the word of God) be two witneſſes face to face?
Vda.
It is ſo cleare as the witneſſes were alſo to have the firſt hand in executing the puniſhment upon the party offending.
Puck.
That was according to Moſes Law, which we are not tyed unto.
Vda.
It is the word of God, which hath a parpetuall equity in it, for the life of man is ſo precious in the ſight of God, as he would not have it taken away without moſt evident and manifeſt proofe, ſuch as in his Law is ſet down.
Clar.
We are not now to call in queſtion the proofes, ſeeing the Iury did thinke them ſufficient; This ſpeech of yours tendeth to prove the Iury perjured.
Vda.
Not ſo my Lord, I thinke of them that they did according to their conſciences, but being men unlearned, and the caſe being ſtrange unto them, they may have don their beſt, and yet you being men of more knowledge and judgement, are to looke further into the matter.
Puck.
Whereas you ſay that none of the witneſſes did directly prove you the Author of the fact, that was not neceſſary, for if all layd together, and the circumſtances conſidered do prove it, it is as good a proofe as if every witneſse were direct.
Vda.
But the Law of God from which I truſt our Laws diſ-agree not, would that every proofe be direct.
Puck.
And do you thinke indeed, that the Laws of this Land are agreeable to the word of God.
Vda.
I do not profeſſe to know them, but ſurely I have ſo reverent an opinion of them▪ that I truſt the grounds of them are according to the word of God, however in ſome particulars the proceedings may miſſe thereof.
Puck.
Then the Government by Arch-Biſhops and Lord Biſhops is according to the word of God. ſeeing the Laws of the Land do allow them.
Vda.
I pray you my Lord take me not ſo generall, for that will not follow upon my ſpeeches.
P.
Well you may not now diſgrace the witneſſes, you ſhould have done it at your Arraignement.
Vda.
I neither meant then nor purpoſe now to diſgrace the witneſſes, but to ſhew the inſufficiency of their teſtimony in this caſe, that your Lordſhips may thereby ſee ſome reaſon to ſtay the ſentence.
The firſt teſtimony that was alleadged, was that of Mr. Chatfield, who affirmeth, that it was not given in againſt me upon his oath, but only in his anger he ſet his hand to, but is now ſorry for it.
Puck.
You ſhould have alleadged this before, it is now too late.
Vda.
It is alleadged too late, to prevent the verdict▪ but if there be any force in it, it ought to be conſidered to ſtay the ſentence▪ I could alleadge it no ſooner, becauſe I knew it not till after the verdict.
Puck.
We may not ſuffer you to proceed ſo to diſgrace that which is paſſed already; If you have any other thing to ſay, ſpeake on▪ otherwiſe we muſt do our office.
Vda.
It is not my meaning howſoever you take it, to diſgrace any thing paſſed hertofore, onelyonly I pray you further to conſider, that Thompkins whoſe teſtimony onelyonly carried ſome ſhew, proteſted before my commitment, that he would not for all the world affirme me to be the Author of the Booke.
Puck.
Why did you not pleade theſe things to the Iury?
Vda.
I did ſo, and offered to produce ſufficient proofe for it, but your Lordſhips anſwered, that no witneſſes might be heard in my behalfe, ſeeing it was againſt the Queene, which ſeeme…h ſtrange to me, for methinks it ſhould be for the Queene to heare al things on both ſides, eſpecially when the life of any of her Subjects is in queſtion.
Puck.
The witneſses were then thought by the Iury ſufficient to prove the matter which we may not now call in doubt, therefore ſay on if you have any more.
Vda.
Then I ſpake according to the eight reaſon, whereupon it was ſaid,
Clar.
I tell you, you are not called into queſtion for the cauſe (as you call it) nor for the body of the Booke, but only for ſlanderous things in the Preface againſt her Majeſties government, and therefore you may let the cauſe alone.
Vda.
But it is for the hatred borne to the cauſe that I am thus entreated, for had not it bin handled in the Booke, ſuch matter as is now made of the Preface had never bin objected againſt me or any other.
Puck.
Well it is beſt for you to leave off all other pleas, and ſubmit your ſelfe to the Queenes Majeſties mercy.
Vda.
I will do ſo with all my heart.
Puck.
But will you do it as you did the laſt Aſsiſes?
Vda.
Yea that I will; And ſo I ſpake according to the laſt reaſon, whereupon it was ſaid:
Puck.
You confeſſed that you were juſtly condemned.
Vda.
I am not yet condemned:
Puck.
I meane convicted by the Iury; then you acknowledged that you had offended her Majeſty, that you were ſorry for it, and promiſed that you would never do the like againe.
Vda.
My Lord, it is not for me to oppoſe my word and credit, (which is nothing) againſt yours, I refer it to them that heard it; onelyonly I pray you give me leave to ſpeake of it, as I take it that it was: Firſt, I did avow (and ſo I do now, and will do whilſt I live) that the cauſe handled in that Booke, is an undoubted truth.
Clar.
How often ſhall we bid you leave the cauſe, and tell you that you are not troubled for it.
Vda.
But it is the cauſe that is ſought to be defaced in my perſon, and therfore I muſt and will ſtill prof…ſſe it and juſtifie it, wha…ver diſgrace I receive by it unto my ſelfe. I pray you let me proceed. Secondly I did proteſt that I never had any purpoſe to deface, but ever to ſeeke …o honour her Majeſty and her Government. Thirdly, I profeſſed that the courſe of Law againſt me was due; whereby what I have meant you have heard. Fourthly, I ſaid that I never had any purpoſe to do any thing to the advancement of this cauſe, but keeping my ſelfe (to the uttermoſt of my power) within the compaſſe of Law. Laſtly▪ I never confeſſed my ſelfe to be Author of the Booke. Then my ſubmiſſion was this, that if I had don any thing to the advancement of ſo holy a cauſe▪ which had brought me within compaſſe of the Law, or might juſtly offend her Majeſty, I was hea…tily ſorry for it; if this be not it, let me have any other drawn, wherein the former points are juſtified, and I will ſet my hand unto it.
Puck.
But all this is nothing to your Booke in particular, what ſay you to it?
Vda.
I ſay this, that though I hold the matter in it to be a moſt manifeſt truth▪ yet I confeſſe the manner of handling in ſome part to be ſuch as might juſtly provoke her Majeſties indignation.
Puck:
Becauſe you ſtand ſo much upon the cauſe, as you call it, you provoke me ſo, as I muſt needs ſay ſomewhat of it, leſt the audience ſhould thinke ſome matter in it more then is.
Vda.
My Lord, you underſtand my judgement therein, I beſeech you ſpeake not againſt it▪ unleſſe you will give me leave to replie unto you.
Puck.
I may not do ſo, you pr…v…ke me to it, your Diſcipline that you ſtand upon, whereupon is it grounded? forſooth upon the ſaying of Chriſt, Tell the Church: which never was expounded theſe 1500. yeares, as you do within theſe few yeares.
Vda.
My Lord, he did abuſe you that told you ſo, Chryſoſtome expoundeth it thus tell the Church▪ that is the governors of the Church:
Puck.
He meant the Governors of the Iewiſh Synagogue.
Vda.
How can that be? when he lived above 400. yeares after Chriſt:
Puck.
Was there never any that could finde it out before now if it were a truth?
Vda.
Yes it hath teſtimony ſufficient if it might be received:
Puck.
And leſt men ſhould thinke that your matter were as good as you pretend I will tell you what I know: It is written in one of your Bookes, that without an Elderſhip there is no ſalvati…n.
Vda.
I am perſwaded that cannot be ſhewed.
Puck.
Yes it is in Theſes Martinianae, one writ that i… is time to number our hot Brethren. Another (Mr. Snape of Northampton by name) wrote that the Biſhops ſhould be p…t down all in one day.
Theſe things he did diſcourſe of at large in an invective ſpeech moſt bitter …ending to perſwade the people that we meant to rebell and ſet up the Diſc…pline, and pull downe the Biſhops by ſtrong hand, and went about to imp…ir… the Queenes Prerogative and patrimony. After which with much adoe I got aud…ence to this effect.
Vda.
My Lord, I proteſt in the preſence of God, and hearing of all this people that neither I nor any of my brethren that ever I was acquainted with to my knowledge, did ſo much as ever purpoſe or ſpeake of any ſuch means as your Lordſhips mentioneth to bring in the diſcipline, but onelyonly by prayer to God, ſupplication to her Majeſtie, and ſuch other peaceable meanes: this is my anſwer to your large invective. And whereas my Lord you ſeeme to bee ſo hardly carried againſt the cauſe I would not doubt▪ but if I might privately conferre with you, with the bleſſing of God to perſwade you to be a friend unto it.
And after ſome other ſpeeches of other bookes, and the aforeſaid ſpeeches in the bookes mentioned already, Judge Puckering ſaid.
Puck.
Nay I tell you there are as foule things in your owne booke, For doe you not ſay that the Church is committed to the Miſtris of the Stewes, and ruled by the laws of a brothel-houſe,
Vda.
It is ſpoken of the Popiſh Canon-law, which is an unfit to rule the Church of Chriſt, as the laws of a brothel-houſe to govern an honeſt woman.
Puck.
And thoſe laws are eſtabliſhed by her Majeſties lawes.
Vda.
It would trouble the learnedſt lawyer in England to prove that.
Then Baron Clarke began a voice, tending againe to compare my caſe to that of Mr. Stubs, and to perſwade me to ſubmit my ſelfe telling me what good I might doe, but becauſe he ſpake low, and I ſaid I did not well heare him, he gave over, and prayed the other to ſpeake, who told mee his meaning, and then ſaid.
Puck.
Wee ſhall make ſhort worke with you, will you here acknowledge all the Lawes Eccleſiaſticall and Temporall of this Land, to bee agreeable to the word of God.
Vda.
My Lord, I have diſgrace enough upon mee already, you may eaſily perceive what I thinke of the preſent Eccleſiaſticall government. I pray you preſſe me not with theſe things, I can yeeld no further then you have heard.
Puck.
Then we muſt doe our office and pronounce ſentence on you.
Vda.
Gods will be done.
Puck.
Yea Gods will be done on you indeed.
Then he gave ſentence upon me and the reſt, After which I did purpoſe to ſpeake according to the laſt ſentence after the reaſons. But the …amors of the other priſoners calling to the Judges to be good unto them diſappointed mee thereof. Thus was I returned to priſon, what will bee the iſſue I know not. The Lord turne to his glory the good of his Church, and ſhame of his foes, and then welcome life or death.