be fet on the pillory, a convenient time, and "have one of his ears cut off, one fide of his "nofe flit, and be branded on the face with a "double SS for a fower of fedition; that then "he fhould be carried back to prison, and after "a few days be pilloried again a fecond time in "Cheapfide, and be there likewife whipped, and 66 haye the other fide of his nofe flit, and his "other ear cut off, and then be shut up in prifon "for the remainder of his life." Leighton made his efcape out of prison, but was retaken in Bedfordshire, and brought back to the fleet, and fuffered part of his fentence on Friday the fixth of November. Laud was fo fond of this barbarous fentence, that he has fet it down in his diary. Thefe are the Bishop's own words," (1) He was feverely whipped before he "was fet on the pillory. (2) Being fet on 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 "SS. On that day fe'nnight, his fores upon "his back, ear, nofe, and face, being not yet "cured, he was whipped again at the pillory, in "Cheapfide, and had the remainder of his fen"tence executed upon him, by cutting off his "other ear, flitting the other fide of his nofe, "and branding the other cheek." He was then carried back to prifon, where he continued in clofe confinement for ten years, till he was releafed by the long parliament. The doctor was between forty and fifty years of age when he fuf Consecration of P. Catherine Creed's Church, by Bishop Land. ( 446 ) fuffered this fevere fentence. He was a man of low ftature, fair complexion, a perfon of great abilities, and a fine fcholar. His long confinement hurt his health, and ruined his conftitution, fo that when he was released, he could hardly walk, fee, or hear. This great man's fuffering moved the compaffion of many, and it must be allowed that his cafe was truly pitiable. As Bifhop Laud was exceeding fkilful at contriving a tragedy, he was likewife very expert at acting in a comedy, and performing a farce. He had this year an opportunity of difplaying his talents to the utmost on the comic theatre: St Catherine Creed's church, in the Strand, being lately repaired, was fufpended from divine fervice till it was confecrated. Laud fet apart one fabbath morning to make it holy; the 16th of January was the day when this comedy acted. was The Bishop came, with feveral of the high commiffioners, at nine o'clock in the morning; when he approached the weft door of the church, which was guarded by armed men; fome perfons who were appointed to act a part in this farce, cried, with a loud voice, Open, open ye everlasting doors, that the king of glory may come in and presently the doors being opened, Laud, with fome doctors and principal men, entered. As foon as they were come within the church, his lordship fell down on his knees, and with his eyes lifted up, and his arms spread abroad, faid, This, this place is holy: this ground is holy, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Then walking took up fome Holy Ghost, I pronounce it holy. forward, towards the chancel, he of the duft, and threw it feveral times in the air; when he approached near the rail of the communion table, he bowed towards it five or fix times, and returning, went round the church, with his attendants, in proceffion, faying, first the hundred, and then the nineteenth pfalm, as prescribed in the Roman pontificale. He then read feveral collects, in one of which he prays the Almighty to accept of that beautiful building, and concludes, Thus we confecrate this church, and feparate it to thee as holy ground, not to be profaned any more to common ufe. He prays further, "That all that fhall hereafter be buried "within the circuit of this holy and facred place may reft in their fepulchres in peace, till Christ's "coming to judgment, and may then rife to eter"nal life and happinefs." After this, the Bishop, being near the communion table, took a written book in his hand, and pronounced curfes upon those who should hereafter profane that holy place, by musters of foldiers, or keeping profane courts; and at the end of every curfe, he bowed with his face towards the eaft, and faid, Let all the people say, amen. When Laud had ended his curfes, which were about twenty, he pronounced a like number of bleffings, upon all that had any hand in framing or building of that facred and beautiful church, and on those that had given, or fhould hereafter give any chalices, plate, ornaments, or utenfils; and at the end of every bleffing bleffing he bowed towards the eaft, and faid, Let all the people fay, amen. After all this ridiculous nonfenfe, a fermon fucceeded, and then the facrament, which the Bishop confecrated and adminiftred in as ludicrous a manner as he had confecrated the church. Laud appears to have been difpofed to give his Maker fun for worship upon this fabbath, for every piece of pageantry feem to have out-done another on this farcical occafion. When he approached the altar, he made five or fix bows, and coming up to the fide of it, where the bread and wine were covered, he bowed feven times; then, after reading many prayers, he came near the bread, and after gently lifting up the cloth, beheld it, and immediately let fall the napkin, and retreated a step or two, and made three low obeifances. His Lordship then advanced, and having uncovered the bread, bowed three times, as before; then he laid his hands on the cup, which was full of wine, with a cover upon it, which having let go, he stepped back, and bowed three times towards it; then he came near again, and lifting up the cover of the cup, looked into it, and feeing the wine, he let fall the cover again, retired back, and bowed as be fore; then the elements were confecrated, and the Bishop, having firft received, gave it to fome principal men, in their furplices, hoods, and tippets; after which, many prayers being faid, the ceremony of confecrating was ended. In the fame manner he confecrated St Giles's church next day, though divine fervice had been per formed formed in it for three or four years. Several other churches and chapels, which had been built long before, and had been confidered as lawful places of worship, were, by Laud's order, fhut up till they were confecrated: fuch was Laud's humour for confecrating houfes. Confecrating churches was a new thing to the people in England; and, from the reformation, accounted a needlefs, fuperftitious practice. It appears to have proceeded from the vain fuperftitious fumes of diforderly imaginations, or to have been intended by politicians to cause the ignorant populace pay reverence to the clergy, who had fuch quantities of holinefs to communicate, as could pierce the very walls of houses, and enter fo many foot deep into the earth. There is no warrant from revelation for this comical practice under the New Teftament; and of old times, under the law, confecration of houfes belonged not to the priests, but to the King. This ftrange form of fanctifying houfes upon the Laudean plan, has more the appearance of witchcraft, than religion; for one might venture to pronounce, that any perfon who is far gone in the belief of witchcraft, and who had never feen the ceremony of a church's fanctification, would immediately conclude, that the Bishop was going to raise the devil. It will appear ftrange to all perfons who have got the better of the fhackels of fuperftition, that men of learning and common fenfe, fhould take pleasure in fopperies, which have no other ten |