(II.) The next step is by means of _such Judges to punish and destroy or silence men who oppose the wickedness of the party in power, and the encroachments of despotism_. Let me describe the general mode of procedure, and then illustrate it by special examples. 1. In the Privy Council, or elsewhere, it is resolved to punish the obnoxious men,--and the business is intrusted to the law-officers of the crown, appointed for such functions. 2. They consult and agree to pervert and twist the law--statute or common--for that purpose. By this means they gratify their master, and prepare future advancement for themselves. 3. The precedent thus established becomes the basis for new operations in the future, and may be twisted and perverted to serve other cases as they occur. Now, Gentlemen, look at some examples taken from British history, in times of the same Kings mentioned before. 1. In 1610 two Puritans for refusing the _ex officio_ oath, were clapped in Jail by the commissioners. They were brought on _habeas corpus_ before a court, and Mr. Fuller, their counsel, a learned lawyer, insisted that they were imprisoned without due process of law. For this "contempt of court" he was thrown into jail by Archbishop Bancroft, whence he was rescued only by death.[24] [Footnote 24: Peirce's Vindication, (1717,) 174.] 2. In 1613 there were many murmurs among the People of England at the tyranny of James. Fine and imprisonment did not quell the disturbance; so a more dreadful example was thought needful. The officials of Government broke into the study of Rev. Edmund Peacham, a Protestant minister, sixty or seventy years old. In an uncovered cask they found a manuscript sermon, never preached, nor designed for the pulpit or the press, never shown to any one. It contained some passages which might excite men to resist tyranny. He was arrested, and thrown into Jail, all his papers seized. The Government resolved to prosecute him for high treason. Francis Bacon, the powerful and corrupt Attorney-General, managed the prosecution. Before trial was ventured upon, he procured an extrajudicial opinion of the Judges appointed for such services,--irregularly given, out of court, that they would declare such an act high treason.