THE now Arch-bishop of Canterbury, with some other Prelates of the Arminian combination, maligning Master Prynne, & Master Burton, for some bookes they had written against the Arminians and D. Cosens his private Devotions; about 12. yeares since, getting the raines of Ecclesiasticall autho­rity into their owne commands, prosecuted them severall times and tearmes in the High Commission, for those their profitable, and innoxious bookes: whence being delive­red by prohibitions, granted them out of the Kings tem­porall Courts at Westminster; these Prelates grew more This Archb. at the delivery of the rule for Master Prynnes prohibitiō was so extreamly enraged, that he and some 3. or 4. Bishops more rose and went out of their Court (then kept in the Consistory at Pauls) in a Fury, saying they would imme­diatly repaire to the King, & make a bolt, or a shaft of it; using ma­ny angry words; and threatning to lay M. Prynne by the heels for delivering the Rule. inraged against them, watching every opportunity, and laying hold on any occasion to worke their ruine. Master Prynne not long after, about Christide 1632, published a booke against common Enterludes, intituled, Histrio-Mastix, licensed for the presse by one Master Buckner, house-hould Chaplin to the then Arch-bishop of Can­terbury, Abbot; and published with his approbation, after serious perusall thereof, both in the written, and [Page 8] printed copy. It came to passe, that some six weekes after the publication of this booke, the Queenes Majesty acted a part in A pastorall at Somerset-house; and there being some passages in this booke against Women-actors, among the ancient Romans, Grecians, and Spaniards, quoted out of Fathers and forraigne authors; and this reference to them in the Table of the booke, Women-actors notorious whores, relating to those Women-actors only whom these authors thus branded; Canterbury & the prelates by their instruments, the next day after this pastorall acted, carrying Master Prynnes booke to his Majesty, M^r. H. I. that first presented, & shewed the booke to the King, was a few moneths after commit­ted prisoner to the Tower for begetting one of the actors of this pasto­rall with child soone after it was acted, and making a reall commentary on M. Prynnes misapplyed text, both the Actresse, and he for this cause be▪comming M. Prynnes fellow prisoners in the Tower, A strange provi­dence▪ and worthy obser­vation shewed him some of those passages, especially that in the Table, and misinformed his Highness [...] and the Queene, that Master Prynne had purposly written this booke against the Queene, & her pastorall; whereas it was licensed, and most of those passages printed neere two yeeres be­fore; and the whole booke finished at the presse at least three moneths, and published six weekes before the per­sonating of this pastorall: But this misinformation onely exasperating the King and Queene against Master Prynne for the present, and not taking effect to worke his restraint, their Majesties being truly informed by others, that this booke was written▪ and printed long before this pasto­rall was thought of; the now Archbishop thereupon cau­sed Doctor Heylin (whom Master Prynne had refuted in Pag. 671 to [...]78. that booke by the by▪ in a point concerning Saint George.) to collect such passages out of the booke, and digest them into severall heads, as might draw Master Prynne into Question for supposed scandals therein of the King, Queene, State and Government of the Realme▪ Hereupon the Doctor drawes up such Collections, digested into seven heads, with his owne malicious In­ferences upon them, not warranted by Master Prynnes Text, and delivers them in writing to Secretary Co [...]ke, and the Arch-bishop. The prelate thus furnished by his [Page 9] minion, takes M^r. Pryns booke, and these collections, and repaireth with them, on the second Lords-Daymorning in Candlemas Tearme 1632, to Lincolns Inne, to Master Noy then Kings Attourney generall; and keeping him on that sacred day both from the Chappell and Sacrament, (which he then purposed to receive) shewed him the said book and collections of some passages out of it, which he said, his councell informed him to be dangerous: & charged him on that duty he owed to his Master, the King, to pro­secute Master Prynne for the same. Master Noy before this, had twice read over the said booke very seriously, and protested, that he saw nothing in it that was scandalous or censurable in Star-Chamber, or any other Court of Iu­dicature; and had thereupon commanded one of the books (which Master Prynne delivered him) to be put into Lincolns Inne library for the use of the house; in so much that he was so discontented at this command of the Arch-prelate, that he wished he had beene twenty miles out of towne that morning. But being commanded hee must obey; and within few dayes after, Master Prynne, by this prelates instigation, was sent for before the Lords to the inner Star-Chamber, and by them sent prisoner, with 4. of the Kings Guard to the Tower of London, on Feb. the first 1632, with this warrant, to which this prelates hand among others, was subscribed.

BY force of this generall warrant, against Law, where­in no cause of co [...]itment is specified, Master Prynne was kept pri [...]r in the Tower, without bayle or maineprise, notwithstanding his oft petitions for re­lease absolute, or upon bayle, till Master Noy, (sending for the said Heylins collections,) exhibited an Inform­ation against him in the Star-Chamber for his said licen­sed booke the 21 of Inne following, and prosecuted it so, that not permitting Master Prynne to be bayled, not yet so much as to repaire to his Counsell, with his keeper; on the 17 of Feb. 1633. he procured this heavy sentence against him in that Court: That Master Prynne should be committed to prison during life, pay a fine of 5000 pounds to the King, be expelled Lincolns Inne▪ disbarred▪ and disabled ever to exercise the profession of a Barrester; degra­ded by the University of Oxford, of his degree there tak [...]; and that done [...]e set in the Pillory at Westminster, with a paper on his head declaring the nature of his effence, and have one of his Eares there cut off, and at another time be set in the pillory in Cheap-side, with a paper as aforesaid; and there have his other Eare cut off; and that a fire shall be [Page 11] made before the said pillory, and the hang-man being there ready for that purpose, shall publikely in disgracefull manner, cast all the said bookes which could be produced, (to gather up which, Messengers with speciall warrants, were sent to bookesellers into divers Counties) into the fire to be burnt, as unfit to be seene by any hereafter; no particular passages of the said booke, on which their unparallelled sentence was grounded, being so much as mentioned in the Information, replication, or decree as by Law they should, and doubtlesse would have beene, had they beene really effensive, demeriting such a Censure. But the innocency of these misconstrued and perverted passages (being for the most part the words of other approved authors,) was the cause of their concealement and not recording: and though many of the Lords never dreamed of any execu­tion of this hard judgement, and the Queene (whom it most concerned) earnestly interceded to his Majesty to remit its execution; yet such was the prelates power and malice, that on the seventh, and tenth of May fol­lowing, (even in cold blood) it was fully executed with great rigour. Whiles Master Prynnes wounds were yet fresh and bleeding, within three dayes after his exe­cution, this Arch-prelate of Canterbury, to adde more waight to his affliction, against all Law and equity, when there was no suite pending against Master Prynne in the High Commission, & his fine in Star-chamber un [...]streated, granted this warrant out of the High Commission for the seisure of the books of his study, (conveyed to his Tay­lors house in Holborne) of which his spies had given him Intelligence.

BY vertue of this warrant one cartlode of Master Prynnes bookes were there seised, and carried away by Crosse; of which Master Prynne complaining, the Archbishop in the open Court in Star-Chamber de­nyed the granting of this warrant, though yet extant under his hand, and promised present restitution of the bookes; and yet gave under hand order for detain­ing them till they were extended, and sold for Master Prynnes fine in Star-Chamber; such saith and truth is there in Prelates words and actions. Master Prynne remained sundry yeares a prisoner in the Tower by force of the former censure: during his imprisonment [...], the prelates brought Doctor Bastwicke into their High Commission Inquisition, for his Elenchus papismi, and Flagellum Episcoporum Latialium: and there▪ without any just ground or cause at all, passed a heavy and unjust cen­sure upon him; by vertue whereof hee remained close prisoner two yeares in the Gate-house, the limbus pat [...]m of our ghostly fathers; where he writ a latine booke sti [...]ed, Apologeticus ad praesules: Anglicanos, dedicated to the [Page 14] Lords of Councell, declaring the injustice of the pro­ceedings and censure against him in the High Commissi­on, which was printed, and a letany in English. Not long after Master Burton upon the fifth of November, 1636. preached two Sermons in his owne parish-Church in Friday-streete in London upon Prov. 24. 21. 22. My sonne feare thou the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with those that are given to change, &c. wherein hee laid open the Innovations in doctrine, worship and ceremonies, which had lately crept into our Church, and wished the people to beware of them, The Archbishop hearing of it, causeth Articles to be drawne up against him in the High Commission, and summoned him to answer them, out of tearme, before Doctor Ducke, at Cheswick; where he ap­pearing, instead of answering, appealed to the King, which appeale was formally entred by the Register: yet not­withstanding, within 15. dayes after, they summoned him to appeare before a private Commission at Doctors Com­mons, by direction from the Arch-bishop, and there suspen­ded him, both from his office and benefice, and granted out attachments to apprehend him: he hereupon keepes his house, prints his Sermons, with an Apologie, to justifie his appeale; which hee dedicated to the King, with Epistles to the Lords of the Counsell, to whom his wife presenting some of those printed Sermons, by his di­rection, was committed by the Lords for her paines. The High Commission pursevants not daring to breake open Master Burtons doores to apprehend him, the Arch­bishop, and Bishop of London made a warrant to one Dendy a serjeant at armes, to apprehend him, of which this is a true Coppy.

BY force of this illegall warrant (expressing no cause of Master Burtons apprehension as by law it ought) serjeant Dendy came to Master Burtons house in Friday-streete, the same evening betweene ten and eleven of the Clocke at night, accompanied with Alderman Abel▪ then Sh [...]iffe of London, and di­verse armed Officers and Pursevants, and be [...]ting his house, Which Act the Parliament hath resolved to bee against Law, and that Serjeants at Armes [...] breake open mens hous [...]. violently broke open his doores with Iron Crowes, and attached him in his house, he mak­ing no resistance: and the High Commission Purse­vants entring in along with him, by warrant from [Page 16] the High Commission under Canterburies hand and o­thers searched his study, and tooke away such bookes, and papers with them as they pleased, and Master Bur­ton that night was lodged where the preachers at Pauls-Crosse were entertained, and there kept prisoner till the next day, when insteed of being brought before the Lords as this warrant required, hee was by another war­rant, without any cause expressed, committed close pri­soner to the [...], the Coppy whereof (to which Can­terbury's [...]) here followeth.

MAster Burto [...] [...]ereupon was shut up sundry weekes close prisoner in the Fleet, so as neither his wife nor friends could have free accesse unto him. In the in­terim, betweene his Sermon preached and his imprison­ment, two bookes, the one intituled, A Divine Tra­gedy, containing a Catalogue of Gods late Iudgements upon [Page 17] Sabbath-breakers, the other Newes from Ipswich, dis­covering some late Innovations in Religion brought in by the Prelates, and some extravagancies of Bishop Wren in his late Visitation, were published in print, without any Authors name annexed to them, wherewith the Pre­lates were much vexed and perplexed. And consulting with themselves which way to vent the extremity of their malice upon Doctor Bastwick, Master Burton, and Master Prynne, they at last resolved to exhibite an information against them into the Star-Chamber in Sir Iohn Banks his Majesties Atturnies name, with these two last named bookes, Doctor Bastwicks Apology and Letany, and Master Burtons Apology of his appeale, and two Sermons, thereto annexed, which was done accordingly. This in­formation was exhibited into that Court the eleventh day of March 12. Caroli, in the Vacation time, against these three Gentlemen, and others, who were ordered to ap­peare and put in their answers to it immediately. They, served with Sub-poenas returnable immediatè, contrary to the usuall proceedings of the Court, refused to ap­peare (being all three prisoners, and two of them close prisoners, before,) unlesse they might have liberty of accesse to counsell, to advise and assist them in their an­swers, it being the Prelates ayme to deprive them of this liberty; Of which the Lords being informed, made this ensuing order; wherein, though they granted them accesse to Councell, yet they denyed them the liberty of conferring together at Counsell, though joynt de­fendants (who might have joyntly answered) con­trary to the rules of Law, and all former presidents. One Coppy of which order (sent indifferently to their three distinct prisons) I shall here annex.

THe Prisoners upon this order having liberty to goe abroad with their Keepers, first repaired to the Lord Keeper, and petitioned for counsell to be assigned them: which granted, they repaired to their counsell at Lincolnes and Grayes Inne, where meeting together, and conferring a short speech (in the presence of their keepers) with their counsell, notice thereof was immediately given to the Archbishop, whereupon their Keepers were sharp­ly checked, and charged not to permit them to meete or speake together any more, which was strictly ob­served.

Master Prynne, fearing that they should not be permit­ted to make a full answer to the Information, drawes up a Crosse-Bill against the Archbishop and others; wherein he charged them, with usurping upon his Majesties pre­rogaetive royall, with Innovations in Religion, Licensing of popish and Arminian bookes, and other particulars: which Bil being ingrossed and signed with all their three hands, Master Prynne tendred to the then Lord Keeper, with a petition, praying; that it might be accepted under their owne hands, since it concerned his Majesty and Religion so much, and counsell durst not signe it for feare of the prelates; alleadging, in the petition, that if the charges of the Bill were true (as they were ready to make good with their lives,) then their Lordships, as they hoped, would thinke meete they should be examined, and the prelates put to answer, and punished for them: If false; that then the Bishops to cleare their [Page 20] suspected Innocency to the World, would be willing to an­swer it, since their declining its answer, would imply a guiltinesse in them. The Lord keeper receiving this Peti­tion and crosse-Bill, upon reading the contents thereof, refused to admit it, delivering it to the Kings Atturney, and (as I am informed) the Archbishop demanded the opinion of the Judges; Whether these three complainants might not be punished as Yea, and have their lives taken away. libellers for exhibiting this Crosse-Bill against him▪ and other Prelates: who all but one, resolved; that they could not, because the Bill was tendred in a legall way, and might not in point of law be refused; the Kings Courts of Iustice being open indifferently to all his Subjects, to sue or be sued. However this Bill was sup­pressed, by the Prelates power, and Master Prynne with­in a weeke after his appearance to the Information, by the Archbishops procurement, had his Chamber in the Tower searched by Master Nicholas, one of the Clerkes of the Counsell, and a This Purse­vant was, so of­ficious that hee searched Mr. Prynnes foule close-stoole, though Master Nicholas wished him to for­beare, where he found nothing but a fitting Nosegay to recompence his industry. pursevant of the Bishops sent to over-looke him; part of his instructions for his answer they s [...]ised, and carried them away to the Archbishop his servant who should sollicite his businesse, was attached by a messenger and kept close prisoner in his house above ten weekes (till after the hearing) without baile or main­prise; which was utterly refused; the liberty of Pen, Inke and Paper, to draw up his answer and instruct his coun­sell was then also inhibited; himselfe shut up close pri­soner, and all his friends debarred from him; by a verball order only. By which strange proceedings he was utterly disabled to put in his answer, which hee earnestly de­sired, and was denied accesse to his councell contrary to the Lords former order; This done, on the 28 of April Master Pryn, and his Co-defendants by an order of the Court, were injoyned to put in their answers to the Information by Munday next came sennight, by the ad­vice of their counsell, and under their hands, or else the [Page 21] matters of the Information should be taken against them pro confesso. He (having no liberty then to goe to his coun­cell, and they for feare of the Prelates being unwilling to repaire to him, or to medle in the cause) thereupon petitioned the Court, that (having beene a Barrester at law) hee might have liberty to put in his answer to this Information under his owne hand; annexing sundry reasons to the petition, why his owne answer, in this case ought to be received without the hands of his counsell. This petition (together with an Affidavit of the particulars therein alleged) was presented and read in open Court the fifth of May 13. Caroli. of which this is a true Coppy.

Upon the reading hereof in open Court, and of a like petition from Doctor Bastwick, to put in his answer under his owne hand, since his counsell refused to signe it; the Court ordered the same day, that they should put in their answers by munday next under counsels hand, or else be then taken Pro confesso; denying them liberty to answer under their owne hands.

Hereupon Doctor Bastwick, when no counsell would signe his answer, tendered it at the Star-Chamber office, under his owne hand, and there left it: and Master Bur­ton having his answer drawne, engrossed and signed by his assigned counsell, Master Holt, who afterwards with­drew his hand, because his other counsell would not subscribe it, out of feare to displease the Prelates, tendered it to the Court, desiring it might be accepted, or Master Holt, ordered to new signe it; upon this the Court, the 10^th of May (being the next sitting) made this Order.

[Page 29]DOctor Bastwick upon this Order, the next Court-day petitions the Court, that his answer left in the Court might be accepted under his owne hand, in default of councell; and Mister Prynne, (much grieved that he could neither gaine liberty nor possibility to an­swer the Information, for his just defence, formerly or­dered to be taken pro confesso against him,) the same day petitioned the Court in this manner.

THis petition being reade in open Court the 12. of May; the Court commanded Master Holt, one of Master Prynnes counsel forth with to repaire to him to the Tower to take instructions for his answer; and in the afternoone the Lieutenant of the Tower, was sent for by the Prelates instigation, and checked by the Lords for suffering Master Prynne to dictate such a petition, and one Gardiner, (a Clerke belonging to the Tower, who writ it from his mouth by the Lieutenants license) was for this capitall offence by a warrant from the Arch-Bishop, and others, the same evening apprehended by a Pursevant, and kept prisoner by him some 14 dayes, and not released, till he had put in bond to appeare before the Lords when [Page 33] ever he should be called; after which he was hunted af­ter by the Archbishops pursevants out of the high Com­mission: Who upon the reading of this petition, and Doctor Bastwicks, made a motion in Court of purpose to prejudge the cause before it came to hearing, tending highly to affront his Majesties prerogative, and thereup­on procured this forejudging order, wherein his insolent motion is recited.

THese three questions highly concerning his Majesties prerogative, debated, and determined by the de­fendants against the prelates for the King, were the maine scandals and libels complained of in this new Information, and the bookes thereto annexed; to pre­judge which before the hearing, without the defendants privity (never summoned to be heard what they could say [Page 35] in these particulars, agaīnst the prelates encrochments, in defence of the Kings right and of themselves) was no­thing else but the extremity of injustice, and a forestalling of the cause by a previous judgement of the Judges (then at Canterburies becke) before it was heard.

Upon this Order, all the Judges before the hearing re­turned this Certificate for the prelates, whom then to disobay or contradict in any thing had beene fatall, if not capitall; whereupon this following order was made, which will abundantly evidence the Archbishops inso­lency, treachery and injustice in the carriage of this cause, and the unpatternd compliency both of the Judges, and Court of Star-Chamber to his ambitious, unreasona­ble, and unjust desires.

DOctor Heylin in his Briefe and moderat [...] Aswer t [...] Master Burton (the matter whereof contradicts the Title) written by the Archbishop of Canterburies spe­ciall command p. 102. avers, that it was positively de­livered by my Lords the Judges, with an unanimous consent, and so declared by my Lords chiefe Justices in [...] last past (before [Page 38] this Certificate) that the Act of Repeal the first of Queene Mary, doth still stand in force, as unto the Statute of first Edward 6 [...]. 2. by you so much pressed, and that the Bishops might lawfully issue out proces in their names, and under their owne seales. Which if true, it is apparant that the Archbishop (from whom the Doctor had his in­formation) had received all the Judges resolutions in this point, not onely before the hearing of the cause, but even before his motion in Court, that the Judges might be attended to know their resolution in these points. Is not this prety under-hand juggling, and square prelati­call proceeding, deserving extraordinary Laud? But to returne to the defendants, where I last left them.

Master Prynne, upon Master Holts resort to him by the Lords command, upon his last petition, to his Chamber at the Tower where he was shut up close priso­ner, gave him both a fee and instructions to draw up his answer by, with all possible speed: hereupon Master Helt drawes an answer according to his owne minde diffe­rent from his instructions which he sent to Master Prynne to peruse; who disl [...]king the generality of it, desired him to conferre with his other counsell, and to amend it in some particulars; whereupon Master Tomlins ano­ther of his counsell, and Master Holt after two meetings agreeing upon his answer, Master Holt gave order to his Clerks to ingrosse it, and promised to signe it the next morning, that it might be put into the Court. Master Prynne informed hereof payed Master Holts Clerks for ingrossing it, and the next morning by his keeper sent another fee to Mr. Holt to signe it according to promise; who then refusing both the fee and the signing of the answer, and being taxed for it by Master Tomlins (who had signed the paper Coppy) and demanded the reason by Master Prynnes keeper, why hee refused to signe it contrary to promise; answered, that he had received [Page 39] expresse order not to signe it, and afterwards being tax­ed for it by master Prynne himselfe, who demanded the reason of this deniall; he told him, that hee durst not subscribe it for an 100 pounds though he had drawne it, for feare of being put from the Barre, he having received a command to the contrary. In the meane time Master Tomlins who was willing to signe it, departed into the Countrey upon his necessary occasions, so that his hand could not be gotten; Master Prynne thus deluded, ac­quaints the Lieutenant of the Tower with this false dealing, requesting him to informe the Lord Keeper of it; and to desire his Lordship in his behalfe, either to enjoyne Master Holt to signe his answer according to promise as hee had done in Master Burtons case; or to accept of it without an hand; or of it, or another answer signed with his owne hand, since he had done his utmost, and had no meanes to compell his counsell to subscribe his answer against their wills; The Lord Keeper upon this Information, answered, that hee had no power to force counsell to signe an answer, and that it was not his use to doe it, or to receive any answer without counsells hands.

Upon the returne of which answer, Master Prynne replied; that if the Lord Keeper being cheife Iudge of the Court, the greatest officer in the Realme under the King, and a freeman, had no power to enforce his counsell to signe his answer according to duty, equity and promise; then cer­tainly he, being a poore close prisoner had farre lesse power to doe it; and ought not to suffer for his default, which he could not remedy. Hereupon insteed of accepting his answer, this order was made against him, and Doctor Bastwick to take them both pro confesso for their contempt in not answering, and to appoint a day for hearing the Cause.

VVhere you see, that the sole charge against them, and the ground of their censures was a supposed contemptuous refusall to answer, when as the Offence, and contempt was on the contrary side, in refusing to accept of their an­swers tendred, and ordering Counsell not to signe their answers.

[Page 41]In the meane time, Master Burtons answer signed by Master Holt, after it had laine in Court neere three weeks, upon Master Atturnies suggestion to the Court, the 19 of May, that it was scandalous, was * referred to the consideration of the two chiefe Justices, Bramston and Finch: who calling Master Holt privately unto a Cham­ber, before them, Judge Finch ratled and reviled him ex­ceedingly for putting in such an answer, which he said, was the most pernicious that ever came into the Court; telling him, that hee deserved to have his Gowne pull'd over his eares for drawing it. To whom he replied, that he had beene an ancient practiser in the Star-Chamber, and had drawne it according to his best understanding and wit; that all of it was onely a confession, or expla­nation of the charge in the Bill, and a recitall of Acts of Parliament; and how this could be scandalous or imper­tinent, it went beyond his capacity to conceive. And so without more words, these Judges resolved the answer scandalous, and ordered all the substance of it tending to Master Burtons justification and defence, to be expoun­ded; as will appeare by this their certificate.

VPon this strange Certificate of the Judges Master Burtons answer was miserably mangled, the whole body and substance of it being quite rased, and nought but the head and feet left upon record; whereby he was made to deny that to be done by him, which he confessed and justified upon oath in his answer, as it stood before this rasure of it.

VVhereupon the examiner comming to Master Burton to the Fleet, where he was close prisoner, to examine him upon Interrogatories grounded on his answer, he hearing of this expungement, refused to be examined, unlesse his answer might be admitted as it was put in; or he permitted to put in a new answer; he disclaiming this answer to be his, since altered in all the materiall points tending to his justification and defence, and turned from a speciall, to a generall not-guilty, necessarily involving him in the danger of periury: Of which the Court being informed by M^r. Attorney, made this ensuing Order, to take the Bill pro confesso against him, only for not answering Interrogato­ries; a thing never heard of before in that Court, when there was an answer admitted.

AFter this Order, the examiner repaired againe to Master Burton, who upon his former grounds, (be­cause hee had no answer in Court of his owne or his counsels, but onely of the Judges making, which he dis­claimed for his, and because his answer to the Interro­gatories would contradict the generall answer of Not-guilty, which the Judges had now made out of his spe­ciall Not-guilty;) refused to be examined; and so though his answer were in Court as the Judges altered it, yet for not answering to Interrogatories framed on it as it stood before its expungement, the Information was taken against him Pro confesso, and this order made at a prirate seale out of Terme, to bring the cause to hearing upon one dayes warning onely given to the Defendants, when as by the course of the Court, a Subpaena ad audiendum judicium should have beene served on them, and 15 dayes warning at least given them before the day of hearing.

THese prisoners having this liberty granted them just the day before the hearing, Master Prynne there­upon repaired with his answer (formerly drawne up and engrossed by Master Holt) to Master Tomlins ano­ther of his counsell, newly returned out of the Country the evening before; and having got him to signe this engrossed answer, he goeth therewith to Master Holt, desiring him likewise to subscribe it according to pro­mise; who refused to doe it now as hee had done before, protesting, that he durst not for an 100 peeces signe it, because he had received an expresse command to the contrary. Whereupon Master Prynne caries it signed with Master Tomlins hand to the Star-Chamber Office, where hee tendred it to Master Goad, together with another longer answer signed with his owne hand, and an Affidavit, that hee could not possibly procure his counsells hand to his answer before that time; But Master Goad advi­sing with his deputy▪ refused to receave either the answers or Affidavit, though earnestly pressed to it by Master Prynne: who thereupon returned with his answers to the Tower; and prepared himselfe for the hearing the next morning, resolving, that since he was thus fore judged, and taken pro confesso, upon a meere false pretence of a con­tempt in refusing to answer, to speake nothing, but what [Page 47] the Court should give him occasion when he appeared at the Barre; Doctor Bastwick, and Master Burton taking up the like resolution; because they were certainly in­formed, that whatever they spake, their sentence was already determined, and set downe in writing before the hearing came, all being thus taken pro confesso as you have heard and seene by the former orders.

Thus I have given you a faithfull relation of the pro­ceedings in this cause before the hearing, out of the Orders and Records of the Star-Chamber, the legality whereof you shall finde discussed in the close of this Treatise; Now before I come to the day of hearing, give me leave to acquaint you onely with one particular touch­ing Master Holt, hee being sharply checked and terrified for drawing and signing Master Burtons answer, and charged not to signe Master Prinnes answer when hee had drawne it, as you have heard before, was much troubled at it; and being in Court at the hearing the next day, he offered two or three times to speake something in defence of Master Burtons cause; which the then Lord Keeper per­ceiving, beckoned and held up his finger to him to hold his peace, whereupon hee kept silence. And comming home to his house, as soone as the sentence was passed, his wife inquiring of him how the cause went; he broke out into these speeches. O wife, I never saw a just cause, so unjustly caried, which I could have defended by Scripture against all the World. I had a great desire to speake in the cause for my client, but my Lord Keeper beckened and held up his finger to me▪ to hold my peace: And the poore Gentlemen have received the most unjust, and hardest censure, that ever I heard in that Court. For my owne part, I gave over my practise in other Courts, and be tooke my selfe wholy to this Court to enjoy the liberty of my conscience, thinking to finde nothing but Iustice, and [Page 48] just proceedings there: But now alas J finde things so carried there, that for this dayes worke sake, I desire ne­ver to come more to that Barre, J desire of God, that this may be the last cause that ever I may plead in that Court, which hath partly miscarried through my default (as I am affraid most will judge) though I durst not doe otherwise, beeing so checked and threatned. This sayd, he continued sad, and soone after falling sicke for conceit only of the miscarriage of this cause (as his wife & friends beleeved) hee died; never going to the Star-Chamber after this sentence: the proceedings and passages whereof, I shall next relate.