A brief recital Of the unreasonable proceedings of Dr. LAUD, against T. W. Minister of the Word of God: which he conveyed into his hands in a Letter very lately sent to him in the Tower. Together with his absurd answer to the same. Published to the World for the honour of his Grace.  
LONDON, Printed by E. G. for Henry Overton, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head-alley, going into Lombardstreet. 1641.   

SIR,  
BEing now after ten years, returned into my native country, and having opportunity, upon even ground, to spread before your face such grievances, as in former times I received from you, hope that, now, you will not shut your eyes against the light, but open them to behold it without prejudice.  
But that the unreasonableness of your dealings with me may more clearly appear, let me premise this one thing before I proceed, viz. That from first to last, more or less, you never had to object against me any thing that savoured either of error in doctrine, scandal in life, or contempt of authority, but only this, that I could not against light of conscience obey the cruel commands of my Taskmasters, in conforming to superstitious, and nocent ceremonies. Yea, so far was your conscience convinced of mine integrity, that not once, but often, and that before many witnesses (when you were come to yourself) you gave such a testimony of me, as I judge not meet (in modesty) to express. Yet behold your proceedings against me, not only to the highest point of extremity, but far beyond all bonds of law, and justice.  
For, 1. You silenced me from preaching.  
2. You deprived me of my Living, and not in open Court, but in hugger, (your Register Cook only being present,) an act most contrary to law; as I hope, now you will be able to confess.  
3. You rested not here, but passed upon me the sorest censure (had it been rightly administered) that ever Jesus Christ ordained against the most notorious and scandalous persons in his Church; that dreadful sentence of excommunication. Thus being thrust out, first from the Pulpit, then from my living, after that, from the Church, as a man unfit either to preach, or live, or participate of the blood of Christ. Under all which burdens I lay down in silence, and (desiring to tread the steps of my Lord) yielding my cheek to the Smiters, and was dumb before my snearers.  
4. Yet (as if the former rigour had been nothing) your next act exceeded all the rest; for being present, upon some occasion, at one of your Visitation-Courts, and not making the least question, but that, without the least offence I might be present in a public assembly whereunto many hundreds of all sorts both good and bad resorted, it seems, was mistaken, and not enough considerate of the eminency of your person, the holiness of the place, and the defiledness of myself, through my late censure, and therefore was taught better manners. For  
1. Having called me before you, and fastening your eyes upon me with disdainful fierceness, you rated and reviled me with contumelious words, as an impudent man (or fellow) and asked me, how I dare being excommunicate, to approach your presence to stand upon holy ground.  
2. You called for Tomlins, and committed me a prisoner into his hands, and after bound me to appear in a bond of an 100 marks, with two sufficient sureties, at the next High Commission Court at Lambeth; there to answer for my contempt, and impudence.  
You threatened to make me an example to all Ministers in your whole diocese, I entreated your favour, and pleaded for myself.  
1. That it was not in my purpose, to give you the least offence by my presence there, and therefore besought you to construe it (at the most, but) as an error of ignorance, far from contempt or impudence. And to prove, how loath I would have been wittingly to give you any distaste, I told you that all the prayer and sermon time, before the Court began, I had stood without the Church, and came not in till all was ended, merely for this very reason, that I might not be offensire.  
2. I prayed you to consider how much I had suffered already, and entreated that that might be sufficient in your eyes, and to proceed no further against me for such a thing as this.  
3. How I had silently born all those hard censures past upon me by you, and had not gainsaid, or carried myself in any distasteful manner.  
4. What testimony yourself had born of me, concerning my former carriage; and therefore, not to let one oversight so poise you against me.  
5. If you nothing regarded myself, yet to tender the condition of my wife and children, who were ready to be exposed to inconveniences enough by my former sufferings without any new addition to the same. To which your answer was, That you never regarded arguments of wives and children, better they perish then you neglect that duty and charge the King hath entrusted you withal, of keeping order in the Church.  
6. After this. D. Duck●, your own chancellor, who sat by, and heard all matters how they passed, stood up and interceded for me, and professed he thought I spoke ingenuously. Then my Lord Maynard, who was present, of his own accord also seconced his suit. And after him, divers other Gentlemen, did the like for my release. But all were flung off, and denied, with such an incontrouleable stiffness, that all the beholders stood amazed.  
7. Last of all myself, finding an opportunity after you had dined. thinking then to find you in a calmer temper, began to renew my request; but as I was making entrance into my suit, in great rage you cut me off, and said; Trouble not yourself, nor me, any further, for let all the friends you have in England do their best, I am resolved not to alter my resolution one hairs breadth.  
So after all means used to no purpose, I was left a prisoner in my keeper's hands, and after that, driven to put in bond for my appearance.  
Then considering with myself, your displeasure how much, your power how great, and myself how unable to resist, and (that were my cause never so good) I knew how I was like to speed, if it were for nothing but for refusing that oath; I was driven (by your terror) to fly my dear native Country, forsake my loving friends, and leave many outward comforts in this life, and venture my life, and the lives of my dear wife, and tender children, upon the face of the deeps, choosing rather to live amongst wild beasts, and wild men in a wilderness, under the blessing of Heaven, then under the power of such unreasonable men here. (Though God hath been pleased to make that wilderness a fruitful field, and a very corner of Heaven unto us, but that was no thank to you.) Yet yourself not being satisfied with all this sorrow, trouble, and loss you had put me upon, even, (after you had taken away my means of livelihood) made me pay the forfeiture of my bond, and fined me 20. 40. 50. pound a day for non-appearance, and then sent your pursuivants down to my house to seize upon all my goods I left there.  
Now I beseech you, in the spirit of meekness, consider  
1. The greatness and multiplicity of my sufferings you inflicted on me, most of them (if not all) without law, reason, or mercy.  
2. The smallness (if any at all) of mine offence.  
3. The innocency of my person, by your own confession, and your chancellor's.  
4. The implacableness of your spirit incensed without ground or measure.  
All which particulars, here set down, (you know) I can make sound and undeniable proof of: and so I leave all upon your spirit to weigh and consider, and to give me a rational answer unto, as in the sight of God, who will shortly be our judge.  
And, now I beseech the God and father of all light and grace, to open your eyes to see the exceeding depth of those, and all your other sins; and that God, that smote and clave the Rocks in the wilderness, smite your heart with sound conviction and true repentance for all the evil you have done to Christ himself, whose sides and heart you have gored; to many of his faithful Ministers whose mouths you have stopped, and to thousands of his Saints whose hearts you have grieved, and bodies imprisoned, all whose tears are in his bottle; and also to ●●finite many poor ignorant, sinful souls. whose blood you have spilled, and sent quick down to hell, which blood cries louder against you, than Abel's blood against Cain; lament in time before it be too late, and let your repentance ring as loud, as far as your sins have done, and baffle not your conscience with carnal pleas, subtle evasions, and flight words, lest it being not soundly healed, your wounds break open in the day of your accounts, and bleed afresh to all eternity. And if your repentance prove true it will show itself (Zacheus like) by restitution to all that you have wronged, as far as your estate will reach, you will cover or fill up the pits you have digged in men's estates according to Moses law. Non remittatur peccatum, nisi restituatur ablatum.  

THis Letter being wrote, to this effect, and sent to Dr. Laud by a faithful messenger, who with much a do, and long waiting at his Chamber door, got liberty to present into his hands, and after that, with more ado, prevailed with him to read it out to the end: which being done, the bearer demanded, if he would write an answer? he answered, I will not write. He demanded if he would accept of another Letter from him that sent this? he answered, I will not read it. Then he demanded, if he would admit conference with him? his answer was, I will not speak with him nor see him. What answer then (replied the messenger) shall I return to him that sent me? Why, God bless him (said Dr. Laud.) So they parted.    

Postscript.  
IF these be not one of those unreasonable men, which the Apostle prayed to be delivered from, let the reader consider and judge, he could speak evil, do evil, freely, boldly, frequently; no man more: but when he is plainly dealt withal, and put on to give answer; then, the man hath lost the use of his reason and senses too, he will neither write nor read, nor hear, nor see. Let our prayers be poured out to Heaven, that God would at length redeem his people, from the tyranny of such absurd and unreasonable men.  
FINIS.