548 - The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. IV. k. Charles I. to the parliament ; or, Zion's plea againfl prelacy, wherein he fpeaks not only with freedom, but with very great rudenefs and indecency againft ntsxors ; calling themmen ofblood, and Paying, that we do not read of a greater perfecution and higher indignities done towards Gov's people in any nation than in this, fince the death of queen Elizabeth.. He calls the prelacy of the church antichriftian. He declaims vehemently againfi the canons and ceremonies ; and adds, that the church has her laws from the fcripture, and that no king may make laws for the houle of God. He ftiles the queen a. daughter of Heth, and concludes with Paying what pity it is that fo ingenuous and tradable a king, fhould be fo monfiroufly abufed by the bifhops, to the undoing of him£elf and his fubjeots. Now though the warmth of there expreflions can no ways be juftified, yet let the reader confider whether they bear any proportion to the fentence of the court. The caufe was tried yune 4, 163o. The defendant, in his anfwer, owned the writing of the book, denying any ill intention; his defign being only to lay there thingsbefore the next parliament for their confideration. Ne.. verthelefs, the court adjudged unanimoufly, that for this offence the doctor altsfentence. Jhould be committed to the prifon of the Fleetfor life, and pay a fine of ten thoufand pounds; that the ntGH COMMISSION fhould degrade himfrom his min ry; and that then he fhould be brought to the pillory at Wefiminffer, while the court wasfitting andbe whipt after whipping be fit upon the pil- lory a convenient time, andhave one of his ears cut of, one fide of his nofe flit, and be branded in theface with a double S. S. for a fower offedition That thenhe fhould be carriedback to prifon, and after a few days be pit- lory'd a fecond time in Cheapfide, and be there likewife whipt, andhave the other fide of his nofe flit, and his other ear cut o and then be Phut up in clofe prifon for the remainder of his life. Bifhop Laud pulled off his cap while this mercilefs fentence was pronouncing, and gave God thanks for it /its fifer- Between pafhng the fentence and execution, the dolor made his efcape m ad cha- out of prifon, but was retaken in Bedfordfhire, and brought back to the "' Fleet. On Friday November 6. part of the fentence was executed upon. him (faysbifhopLAun in his diary) after this manner. "He was feverely " whipt before he was put in the pillory. 2. Being let in the pillory, " he had one of his ears cut off. 3. One fide of his nofe flit. 4. Branded on the cheek with a red-hot iron with the letters S. S. On that day «. feven-night his fores upon his back, ear, nofe and face, being not yet. " cured, bewas whipt again at the pillory in Cheapfide, and had the remain- ,' der of his fentence executed upon him, by cutting off the other ear,, Pierce, " flitting the other fide of his nofe, and branding the other cheek."He p 579, 18r. was then carried back to prifon, where he continued in doleconfinement for ten years, till he was releafed by the long parliament. The doftor was. between
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