LEIGHTON. 4791 physicians and an attorney was given of the dreadful state of his complaint.* But it will be requisite to give a particular account of the charges brought against this unhappy man. June 4, 1630, an information was exhibited against Dr. Leighton in the star-chamber, by Attorney-general Heath, when he was charged with having published and dispersed a scandalous book against the king, peers, and prelates, entitled, " Sion's Plea against the Prelacie ;" in which, among other things, he sets forth these false and seditious assertions and posi- tions following : 1. " That we do not read of greater persecution, and higher indignity done upon God's people in any nation professing the gospel, than in this our island, especially since the death ofQueen Elizabeth. 2. " He terms the prelates of this realmmen ofblood, and enemies to God and the state ; and saith, that the maintain- ing and establishingof bishops within this realm, is a main and master sin established by law, and that ministers should have no voicesin council deliberative and decisive. 3. " He avows the prelacy ofour, church to be antichris- tian and satanical, and terms the bishops ravens and mag- pies, that prey upon the state. 3. " He terms the canons of our church, made in 1603, nonsense-canons. 4. " He disallows and contemns the ceremonyof kneeling in receiving the sacrament, alleging that this spawn of the beast was brought forth by the prelates, to promote their own unlawful standing. 5. "He affirms that the prelates have corrupted the king, forestalling his judgment against God and goodness, and most audaciously and wickedly calleth his majesty's royal consort, our gracious queen, the daughterof Heth. 7. "He most impiously seems to commend him who committed the barbarous and bloody .act of murdering the late Duke of Buckingham, and to encourage others to second him in the like wicked and desperate attempt, to the destruction of others. 8. " He layeth a most seditious scandal upon the king, state, and kingdom, wickedly affirming, That all who pass by us spoil us, and we spoil all who rely upon us.' And amongst other particulars, instanceth the black pining death of the famishedRochellers, to the number of fifteen hundred General Ludlow's Letter to Dr. Dollingwortb, p. 82. Edit. 1692.- limy on Charles I. p. 83, 84, Edit. 1748. Jer
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