"I cannot," he wrote, "reasonably expect your Honour's protection.

God's will be done.

I must choose suffering rather than sin." [373] On the evening of the eighth of June the seven prelates, furnished by the ablest lawyers in England with full advice, repaired to the palace, and were called into the Council chamber.

Their petition was lying on the table.

The Chancellor took the paper up, showed it to the Archbishop, and said, "Is this the paper which your Grace wrote, and which the six Bishops present delivered to his Majesty ?" Sancroft looked at the paper, turned to the King, and spoke thus: "Sir, I stand here a culprit.