When that cruel King was bent on punishing with death soldiers who deserted from the army which he kept up in defiance of the constitution, he found that he could expect no assistance from Holt, who was the Recorder of London.

Holt was accordingly removed.

Shower was made Recorder, and showed his gratitude for his promotion by sending to Tyburn men who, as every barrister in the Inns of Court knew, were guilty of no offence at all.

He richly deserved to have been excepted from the Act of Grace, and left to the vengeance of the laws which he had so foully perverted.

The return which he made for the clemency which spared him was most characteristic.