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Show CHAPTER THREE Bishop William Laud, wearing the long flowing vestments of the clergy and a soft square cap upon his head, stood at the window of his study, his breath fogging the glass. He turned at the sound of the door opening. It was Tomlinson, his pursuivant, the man who was his eyes into the Puritan world. Without Tomlinson, Laud would not have made the inroads against Puritanism that he had thus far and that he hoped to make in the days ahead. Tomlinson walked crisply to Bishop Laud, handing him a paper. "1 found this outside, tacked to the pos u » Even before reading the paper, Bishop Laud suspected its contents. He was the object of derision from two major fractions in London. The one disliked his practice of holding adulterers and others guilty of similar moral transgression up to public disgrace. The other, Puritans, looked on Laud with contempt for his enforcement of cruel punishments against religious dissenters. Scrawled on the paper in words barely legible was the following message; "Laud, look to thyself; be assured thy life is |
