598 the HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. V, K Chores I. rence to himfelf he forbears to cenfure them, leaving them to God's mercy 16) and the king's juflice. The cruet Notwithflanding this plaufible fpeech, which the king ordered tobe fentence d f printed, the barbarous fentence pafi'ed upon thefe gentlemen moved the gufts the a com ffion of the whole nation. The three learned faculties of law whale nation, h tck and divinity took it to heart, as thinking their educations and pro_ Claim. y Vol. L p.94. feffions might have fecured them from fuch infamous punifhments, pro - per enough for the pooreft and molt mechanick malefaétors, who could make no other fatisfaEtion to the publick for their offences ; but very im- ?iufhw. proper for perlons of education, degrees, or quality. Nay, the report of P. 335. this cenfure, and the fmart execution of it, flew into Scotland, and the difcourfe was there that they muff alto expel a Star-Chamber to firengthen the hands of their bithops, as well as an high commimon : " No doubt " (lays archbifhop Laud) but there is a concurrence between them and the " puritan party in England, to deftroy me in the king's opinion." Trial and Cruel as this fentence was, Dr. Williams bifhop ofLincoln, and the re- fentence °f verend Mr. Ofbaldejlon chief matter of We min er- chool met with no lefs B=Jh°p I'Vil- hardthip. The bifhop had been Laud's verygoodfriend, in perfuading Hams. Rufhw. king fames to advance him to a bifhoprick; but upon the acceflion of p. 817. king Charles he turned upon his benefahtor, and got him removed from all his preferments at court ; upon which bifhop Williams retired to his diocefe, and (pent his time in reading and in the good government of his Rufhw. diocefe ; here he became popular, entertaining the clergy at his table, and P. 4,7. dilcourfing freely about affairsof church and frate. He fpoke with fome fmartnefs againft the new ceremonies ; and raidonce in converfation, That thepuritans were theking's b>Z fubells, and hewasfare ould carry allat lafl ; and that theking had told him that he would treat the puritans more mildly for the future. LAUD being informed of this expreflion, caufed an information to be lodged againfl him in the Star-Chamber, for re- vealing theking'sfecrets; but the charge not being well fupported, a new bill was exhibited againfr him, for tampering with the king's witneffes; and though there was very little ground for the charge, his lordfhip was fufpended in the high commifflón courtfrom all his offices and benefices ; he wa.f fined ten theufandpounds to the king, one thoufand pounds to SirJohn Moun- fon, and to be imprifned in the Tower during the king's pleafure. The bifhop was accordingly fent from the bar to theTower; all his rich goods and chattels, to an immenfe value, were plundered and fold to pay the fine ; his library feized, and all his papers and letters examined. Among his papers were found two or three letters wrote to him by. Mr. Ofbalde- JIonabout five years before, in which were fome dark and obfcure expref- fions, which the jealous archbifhop interpreted againft himfelf and the lord treafurer Weflon, Upon the foot ofthere letters a new bill was ex- hibited
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