etailed; but they rejected the demand, In order to punish them, a
decree suddenly, without much inquiry or examination, passed in the star
chamber, prohibiting them to sell or dress victuals in their houses.[*]
Two years after, they were questioned for the breach of this decree; and
in order to avoid punishment, they agreed to lend the king six thousand
pounds. Being threatened, during the subsequent years, with fines and
prosecutions, they at last compounded the matter, and submitted to pay
half of that duty which was at first demanded of them.[**] It required
little foresight to perceive, that the king's right of issuing
proclamations must, if prosecuted, draw on a power of taxation.

* Rash. vol. ii p. 197.

** Rush. vol. ii, p. 45.

Lilburne was accused before the star chamber of publishing and
dispersing seditious pamphlets. He was ordered to be examined; but
refused to take the oath usual in that court that he would answer
interrogatories, even though they might lead him to accuse himself. For
this contempt, as it was interpreted, he was condemned to be whipped,
pilloried, and imprisoned. While he was whipped at the cart, and stood
on the pillory, he harangued the populace, and declaimed violently
against the tyranny of bishops. From his pockets also he scattered
pamphlets, said to be seditious, because they attacked the hierarchy.
The star chamber, which was sitting at that very time, ordered him
immediately to be gagged. He ceased not, however, though both gagged and
pilloried, to stamp with his foot and gesticulate, in order to show the
people that, if he had it in his power, he would still harangue them.
This behavior gave fresh provocation to the star chamber; and they
condemned him to be imprisoned in a dungeon, and to be loaded with
irons.[*] It was found difficult to break the spirits of men who placed
both their honor and their conscience in suffering.

The jealousy of the church appeared in another instance less tragical.
Archy, the king's fool, who by his office had the privilege of jesting
on his master and the whole court, happened unluckily to try his wit
upon Laud, who was too sacred a person to be played with. News having
arrived from Scotland of the first commotions excited by the liturgy,
Archy, seeing the primate pass by, called to him, "Who's fool now, my
lord?" For this offence Archy was ordered, by sentence of the council,
to have his coat pulled over his head and to be dismissed