The bishop of Chester then took a writing out of his bosom, and began to read the sentence of condemnation; but when he had proceeded half through it, the chancellor called him, and said, “Good my lord, stay, stay! for if you read any further, it will be too late to call it again.” The bishop accordingly stopped, when several priests, and many of the ignorant people, called upon Mr. Marsh, with many earnest words, to recant. They bade him kneel down and pray, and they would pray for him: so they kneeled down, and he desired them to pray for him, and he would pray for them. When this was over, the bishop again asked him, whether he would not have the queen’s mercy in time? he answered, “he gladly desired the same, and loved her grace as faithfully as any of them: but yet he durst not deny his Saviour Christ, lest he lose his mercy everlasting, and so win everlasting death.” The bishop then proceeded with the sentence for about five or six lines, when again the chancellor, with flattering words and smiling countenance, stopped him, and said, “Yet good my lord, once again stay, for if that word be spoken, all is past, no relenting will then serve.” Then turning to Mr. Marsh, he asked, “How sayest thou? wilt thou recant?” Many of the priests and people again exhorted him to recant, and save his life. To whom he answered, “I would as fain live as you, if in so doing I should not deny my master Christ; but then he would deny me before his Father in heaven.” The bishop then read his sentence unto the end, and afterwards said unto him, “Now, I will no more pray for thee than I will for a dog.” Mr. Marsh answered, that notwithstanding, he would pray for his lordship. He was then delivered to the sheriffs of the city; when his late keeper, finding he should lose him, said with tears, “Farewell, good George;” which caused the officers to carry him to a prison at the north gate, where he was very strictly kept until he went to his death, during which time he had little comfort or relief of any creature. For being in the dungeon, or dark prison, none that would do him good could speak with him, or at least durst attempt it, for fear of accusation; and some of the citizens who loved him for the gospel’s sake, although they were never acquainted with him, would sometimes in the evening call to him, and ask him how he did. He would answer them most cheerfully, that he did well, and thanked God highly that he would vouchsafe of his mercy to appoint him to be a witness of his truth, and to suffer for the same, wherein he did most rejoice; beseeching that he would give him grace not to faint under the cross, but patiently bear the same to his glory, and to the comfort of his church.