52 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. disposition, voidof mercy and compassion, and grudged those whom his rage and despotic power had reduced to very great extremities, even the pity and relief of friends. What worse character can exist ? Who can be more justly odious to every man, than a vain mortal armed with power, and using it to wreak his vengeance onhis foes ? Ought not the memory of such wretches to be treated with a proper indigna- tion ? These are certainly strong expressions ; but how much truth they contain is left with the candid reader to judge. While the three prisoners were on theirway to their distant places of confinement, the tyrannical archbishop, not content with the order sent along with them, procured a- fresh one, dated July 30, 1637, which was sent after them, and by which he obtained a more severe imprisonment. In this order there appeared, however, one clause in favour of the prisoners, that, during their close imprisonment, his majesty would give them allowance of their food. The whole order was as follows : " Whereas Henry Burton is, by the late " sentence of thehigh court of star-chamber, to be committed " to the goal, in the castle of Lancaster, and there to be kept " close prisoner. Their lordship's conceiving that the said " Burton cannot be in a common goal kept so close a " prisoner as by the, said sentence is intended; upon con- " sideration thereof, do hereby will and require the constable " or other chief officers of the said castle of Lancaster, andhis " deputy or either of them, to suffer the sheriff of the county " of Lancaster, or the keeper of the said goal, still to use " such room or chamber without the said goal, and within the " said castle, as shall be most fit and convenient to keep the " said Burton a close prisoner there.: and that none of the " other prisoners,or any other person or persons, be permitted to come into the said castle to confer or in any way to " converse'with the said Burton, suchonly excepted as are " to take care of his safety, or to attend the said Burton to " givehim daily sustenance and relief. And the saidBurton " is not to be permitted to have the use of any pen, ink, or " paper, or any book or books save only the Bible, the Book " of Common Prayer, and such other canonical books, as he " shall desire for his comfort and devotion, and which are " consonant to the religion professed in the church of " England. In regard of which close imprisonment, his " majesty will give allowance for his diet, for all which this " order shall be a sufficient warrant unto the said constable, Harris's Life of CharlesI. p. 231, 232.
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