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the nation. Another fact led to the fall of Laud. That was his doings in the Court of Justice, called the Star Chamber. He made this a means of enforcing his ecclesiastical policy. Men of influence were brought before this Court, and their writings examined and condemned. Dr. Alexander Leighton, a Scotch divine, was one of them. He had written a work called ^[1]"Zion's Plea against Prelates," in which he not only attacked the Bishops, but described the Queen as a "Canaanite and an idolatress." He was ordered to be whipped and branded and put in the pillory. He had his ears cut of and his nose slit. Prynne was another man who came in for punishment. He had written a book called "Histrio-mastix," which was against ^[2]"stage plays, interludes, music, dancing, and other festivities." Some of the amusements he condemned were indulged in at Court. The Star Chamber therefore condemned his book, and he "was also sentenced to stand in the pillory, to have his ears cut off, to pay a heavy fine, and to be imprisoned afterwards." For all these methods of punishment the Puritan Parliament held Archbishop Laud chiefly responsible. But they were not just in their bitterness. It was not always due to Laud that these persecutions were allowed. They accused him of causing the punishment meted out to Prynne, but as a matter of fact Laud had nothing to do with this. He purposely kept aloof from it ^[3]"because the business had some reflection upon himself," says Mr. Hore. However, the rage of the Puritans was aroused. Because of his connection with the Star Chamber, ^[4]"On July 7th, 1637, a

1. See Green's History, p.512, and Hore. p.344.
2. Smith's Small History of England, p.168.
3. p.346.
4. Hore, p.346.