The creatures of the high-commiffioncourt went to Dr. Leighton in Newgate, and would have examined him; but he refused to answer them, or acknowlege the authority of that court; though he profeffed himself ready to answer any officer, who came to examine him, by the king's authority.

Thus Dr. Leighton (having already fuffered in body, liberty, family, eftate and house) at the end of fifteen weeks was ferved with a fubpoena, on information, laid against him by Sir Robert Heath, his Majefty's attorneygeneral, who went to him in Newgate; and (as Dr. Leighton himself expreffes it) used him with cruelty and deceit. Afterwards one

Reeves, another tool of Bishop Laud's, went to Newgate, and, with flattering, deceitful promises, got Dr. Leighton to confeffe, that he wrote the book he was charged with. After that, he went again to Newgate, and would have had Dr. Leighton to have confeffed who put him upon writing the book; promifing him not only pardon, but other favors, if he would frankly tell him. But Dr. Leighton, like a brave man, would not mention one of near 500, who had set their names to his book, by way of approbation; as knowing the miferies, to which he would have exposed them by fuch a nomination. Upon that refufal, he was brought into the Star-chamber-court, and required to put in an answer to a long invective, called an information.

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formation. Which he did, to the fatisfaction of all unprejudiced perfons. He owned the writing of the book, but faid that it was done with no ill intention; his defign being only to lay these things before the next parliament, for their confideration.

But things were carried with fo high an hand, that no council dared to plead for him, nor any body to appear in his behalf.

There were other circumftances, which discovered the inveterate malice of his enemies. It did more than appear to four phyficians, who examined the cafe, that poison had been given to Dr. Leighton, in Newgate. For his hair and skin came off, in a diftemper, which was attended with loathfome fymptoms. But, notwithstanding a certifi cate was given under the hands of those four physicians, and an affidavit made by an Attorney, that his disease was defperate, and it was unfit to bring him into court, yet nothing would serve Bishop Laud; but, in the midst of that defperate diforder and great diftreffe, the following fentence was paffed upon him, though absent; and that court unanimously decreed, June 4, 1630. "That "Dr. Leighton fhould be committed to the

prifon of the Fleet for life, and pay a fine " of 10,000l. (though they knew he was not "worth so much) that the high-commiffion "thould degrade him from his ministry; and

that then he should be brought to the pil

"lory

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"lory at Westminster, while the court was fiting, and be whiped. After whiping, "be fet upon the pillory, a convenient time; "and have one of his ears cut off, one fide of "his nofe flit, and be branded in his face, "with a double S. S. for a Sower of Sedition. "That then he should be carried back to prifon; and, after a few days, be pilloried "again in Cheapfide; and be there likewise whiped, and have the other fide of his "nofe flit, and his other ear cut off; and "then be shut up, in close prison, for the "remainder of his life."

That pious, merciful, and truly Christian Bishop, Dr. Laud, pulled off his cap, when this horrible fentence was pronounced, and gave God thanks for it; like one who had obtained a fignal victory over his moft mortal enemy.

A Knight moved one of the Lords about the dreadful nature of the sentence, intimating that it opened a gap to the Prælates, to inflict such disgraceful punishments and tortures upon men of quality. That Lord replied, "It was only in terrorem, and that he "would not have any one think that the " fentence should ever be executed." But Bishop Laud was refolved it should be executed, and accomplished his cruel intention.

Between paffing the fentence and the execution of it, Dr. Leighton found means to escape out of the Fleet prifon; by the affist

ance

ance (I fuppofe) of two Scots gentlemen, Mr. Elphinstone, and Mr. Anderfon. For they were fined 500l. a piece, for helping their countryman to flie from that infernal punishment. However, Dr. Leighton was overtaken in Bedfordshire, and brought back to the Fleet.

November 26, part of the sentence was executed upon him, and that in a most tremendous manner; the hangman having been plied with ftrong drink, all the night before; and likewife threatened, if he did not execute the sentence in a cruel manner.

When he came to the place of execution, befides other torments, his hands were tied to a stake, where he received 36 ftripes on his naked back with a triple cord, every lash whereof brought away the flesh. Then he was fet in the pillory, in which he stood almoft two hours in cold, froft and fnow. While he was in the pillory, one of his ears was cut off, one of his noftrils flit, and one cheek branded with a red hot iron, with the letters S. S. So that he was made a difmal fpectacle of mifery to God, to angels and to

men.

After that, he was remanded to prison; and the next cruel handling of him we may take in the words of Bishop Laud, who has recorded both the executions in his diary. " On "that day fe'night, his fores upon his back,

ear, nofe and face, being not yet cured,

"he

* he was whiped again, at the pillory, in "Cheapfide; and had the remainder of his " fentence executed upon him, by cuting off "the other ear, fiting the other fide of his "nofe, and branding the other cheek."

Being fo broken with fuch terrible fufferings, he was unable to walk. However, the warden of the fleet would not suffer him to be carried in a coach; but hurried him away, by water, to the Fleet; to the further indangering of his life.

In that prifon, he went through much harsh and cruel ufage, for the space of eight years; paying more for a room than the value of it; and not being allowed a bit of bread, or drop of water, but what he or his friends paid for. And, to increase the mifery of that unhappy man, the Clerk of the Fleet once fent for him to his office, and (without warrant, or any fresh offence given) fet eight ftrong fellows upon him, who tore his clothes, and bruifed his body, so that he never was well after; and then carried him, head and heels, to that loathsome place, the common goal; where (befides the filthineffe of the place and vileneffe of the company) various projects were fet on foot to take away his life.

Thus the reader has fome account of Dr. Leighton's remarkable fufferings: but many particulars are not recited, for the fake of brevity.

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