Alexander Leighton. Etching by W. Hollar.

1600-1699

1 print : etching

Dr. Laighton, for writing a booke, called Sions plea, was first by a warrant from the High-Commission-court clapt up in Newgate for the space of 15 weekes, where hee suffered great miserie and sicknes almost to death, afterward lost one of his eares on the pillorie, had one of his nosthrils slitt clean thorough, was whipt with a whip of 3 coardes knotted, had about 36 lashes therwith, was fined 10000 and kept prisoner in the Ffleet 12 yeares where hee was most cruelly used a long time, being lodged day & night amongst the most desperately wiked villaines of ye whole prison.

R. Burgess, Portraits of doctors & scientists in the Wellcome Institute, London 1973, no. 1728.1

Wellcome Collection 5510i