109 
called before him in the High Commission Court, but on learning 
that “they were very poor men and worth nothing, save Fort,” 
and considering the great distance of the place from London, he 
chose rather to leave the settlement with the Bishop, giving 
directions that if the charge were proved the offenders should all 
be severely punished, as an example to deter others from any 
similar conduct. The Bishop then, in the presence and by and 
with the advice of his Chancellor, the Right Worshipful Arthur 
_ Duck, Doctor of Law, on the 28th of March, 1637, “ enjoined” 
Roger Fort and the others to do penance in the cathedral at 
Wells, and in the parish churches of South Petherton and 
Taunton, having white ‘“wannes” in their hands, and on their 
heads papers bearing text letters declaring the nature of their 
offence. Robert Fort, Richard Hebditch and Edward Hebditch, 
performed their penance at once in every particular, as did after- 
wards, but reluctantly, Francis Boyce and John Budgett ; but 
Roger Fort, considering the sentence “ too sharp and excessive,” 
stoutly refused to do it, and was therefore excommunicated for his 
contumacy. 
It is curious to observe here how the mere labourers, being 
“very poore men,” obey without visible protest ; how the plumbers, 
Boyce and Budgett, are half inclined, but hardly dare, to risk the 
cost of disobedience ; and how Roger Fort, because of his somewhat 
better social position, boldly rebels and goes to the fight to assert 
his independence. 
The Bishop being at Croydon in September, 1637, used the 
opportunity to have “some speech” with the Archbishop about 
this case, and asked him if, supposing Fort would give “a good 
commutation” for his penance to St. Paul’s, which he had heard 
__ privately he was inclined to do, whether he should accept it, and 
__ the Archbishop said he “liked that course very well.”* 
At various times Fort went to the Bishop, at one time saying 
* §.P,, Bishop Pierce to Sir Jno, Lambe, Vol. ccclxxxiii. 
