ent
of this prelate, who had so long, by his authority, and by the execution
of penal laws, kept their zealous spirit under confinement. He was
accused of high treason, in endeavoring to subvert the fundamental laws,
and of other high crimes and misdemeanors. The same illegality of an
accumulative crime and a constructive evidence which appeared in the
case of Strafford, the same violence and iniquity in conducting the
trial, are conspicuous throughout the whole course of this prosecution.
The groundless charge of Popery, though belied by his whole life and
conduct, was continually urged against the prisoner; and every error
rendered unpardonable by this imputation, which was supposed to imply
the height of all enormities. "This man, my lords," said Serjeant Wilde,
concluding his long speech against him, "is like Naaman the Syrian; a
great man, but a leper."[*]

We shall not enter into a detail of this matter, which at present seems
to admit of little controversy. It suffices to say, that after a long
trial, and the examination of above a hundred and fifty witnesses, the
commons found so little likelihood of obtaining a judicial sentence
against Laud, that they were obliged to have recourse to their
legislative authority, and to pass an ordinance for taking away the life
of this aged prelate. Notwithstanding the low condition into which the
house of peers was fallen, there appeared some intention of rejecting
this ordinance; and the popular leaders were again obliged to apply to
the multitude, and to extinguish, by threats of new tumults, the small
remains of liberty possessed by the upper house. Seven peers alone voted
in this important question. The rest, either from shame or fear, took
care to absent themselves.[*]

* Rush. vol. vi. p. 830.

** Warwick, p. 169.

Laud, who had behaved during his trial with spirit and vigor of genius,
sunk not under the horrors of his execution but though he had usually
professed himself apprehensive of a violent death, he found all his
fears to be dissipated before that superior courage by which he was
animated. "No one," said he, "can be more willing to send me out of
life, than I am desirous to go," Even upon the scaffold, and during
the intervals of his prayers, he was harassed and molested by Sir John
Clotworthy, a zealot of the reigning sect, and a great leader in the
lower house: this was the time he chose for examining the principles of
the dying primate, and tre