[73] that I suffer, so I can never be deprived of the comfortable support which such a consideration carries in it; having, I hope, learned in some measure to be conformed to Him who endured the cross, and who will shortly appear the righteous Judge of all. Knowing how much depends on your Lordship's favour and clemency as to the penalty I am liable to, I entreat for it; and am,Your Lordship's, &c.
When he appeared to receive judgment, and refused to retract, the Chief Justice sentenced him to suffer a year's imprisonment, to pay a thousand pounds to the Queen, to be imprisoned till the fine was paid, and to find security for good behaviour during life. Instead of the pillory, which he was told was dispensed with because he was a man of letters, he was led round the four courts with a paper on his breast to be exposed. After passing this severe sentence, the judge added insult to injury by magnifying its clemency; reminding the prisoner, that if this case had been tried in Spain or Portugal, the stake would have been his portion! It is remarkable that the process upon the writ de haeretico comburendo had been abolished in Ireland only seven or eight years before; ‘else I know not,’ says Mr. E. ‘but I might have been put to the fiery trial, which I hope I should have been enabled to endure, through Him whose grace is sufficient.’
After sentence, he was closely confined in the house of the Under-sheriff for about a quarter of a year, but was then transferred to the common gaol, where he lay for five or six weeks in a close
