LEIGHTON. 481 consideration, and give such redress as might be most for the honour of the king, the advantage of the people, and the peace of the church. When the cause was heard, the doctor's defencewas read at length, and the various particulars contained in his chary s were read out of his book. In answer to the first charge, viz. " That we do not read of greater persecution of God's people, in any nation professing the gospel, than in 'this our island, especially since the death of Queen Eliza- beth ;" he confessed the words, and said, " The thing is too true, by the prelates taking away the life and livelihood from many ministers and private men, many of whom have been pined to death in prison ; and many have wandered up and down, their families being left desolate and helpless : and besides this, the blood of souls bath been endangered, by the removal of the faithful shepherds from their flocks." This was a most cutting truth"; at which Laud was so exceedingly enraged, that he desired the court to inflict the heaviest sentence that could be inflicted upon him. This they did to his lordship's fullest satisfaction. For Leighton was condemned to be degraded from his ministry, to have his ears cut, his nose slit, to be branded in the face, to stand in the pillory, to be whipped at a post, to pay ten thousand pounds, (though they knew he was not worth so much,) and to suffer perpetual imprisonment. The grateful sentence being passed against him, laud pulled off his hat, and holding up his hands, GA YE THANKS TO GOD, WHO HAD GIVEN HIM THE VICTORY OVER HIS ENEMIES.. A certain knight having moved one of the lords relative to the dreadful nature of the censure, intimating that it opened a door to the prelates to inflict the most disgraceful punish- ments and tortures upon men ofquality; that lord replied, that it was designed only for the terror of others, and that he would not have any one to think the sentence would ever be executed. This worthy lord, however, was greatly mistaken; for Laud and his adherents caused the dreadful sentence to be executed with the utmost rigour and severity. The ruling ecclesiastics proceeded with proper decorum, and a due observance of ecclesiastical order. Therefore, November 4th, he was degraded in the high commission ; and on the 10th of the same month, being a star-chamber day, the barbarous sentence was to be executed; but the Rushworth's Colter.vol. H. p. 56, 57.-Ludlow's Letter, p.22, 22. VOL. II, I 11110NNIRDws.aa.taffs. Airsramiki gpitun, _,Of
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