In January 1677 he voluntarily surrendered to the Earl of Moray, was removed to Edinburgh Tolbooth and sent to the Bass Rock, where he became seriously ill.
An Edinburgh physician who was called to see him, petitioned the council for his release, to which some of the members were disposed, but Archbishop Sharp stated "the prisoner did and was in a capacity to do more hurt to their interests sitting in his elbow chair than twenty others could, and if the justice of God was pursuing him to take him off the stage, the clemency of the Government should not interpose to hinder it."
He was accordingly confined more closely than before.
On hearing his sentence he exclaimed in bed, "It was as severe as if Satan himself had penned it."
King says about the incident: "he became so sickly that his physician and the lay lords of the council urged his liberation ;when, in place of release, he was, on the motion of Sharpe, backed by the other prelates, thrown into the lowest vault of that dreary and filthy prison.
Here, however, instead of perishing, as was probably expected, he recovered, to the astonishment of friends and enemies.
In aftertimes, when the archbishop happened to be mentioned in his presence with disapprobation, he used to say, "Commend me to him for a good physician.""

On 9 October 1677 he was brought back to the Tolbooth, but was again returned to the Bass until set at liberty with others in July 1679, giving bond for 10,000 merks to appear before the Council when called but forbidden to go beyond ‘the bounds of Kintyre’.
He remained unmolested till 8 November 1683 when he was charged before the Scottish privy council with keeping ‘house conventicles.’
As he refused to answer the charge, it was held as confessed, and he was fined in five thousand merks.
Having decided to quit the country he petitioned to that effect and was enjoined to depart within forty-eight hours.
So he was banished from Scotland on 28 March 1684.
In January 1677 he voluntarily surrendered to the Earl of Moray, was removed to Edinburgh Tolbooth and sent to the Bass Rock, where he became seriously ill. An Edinburgh physician who was called to see him, petitioned the council for his release, to which some of the members were disposed, but Archbishop Sharp stated "the prisoner did and was in a capacity to do more hurt to their interests sitting in his elbow chair than twenty others could, and if the justice of God was pursuing him to take him off the stage, the clemency of the Government should not interpose to hinder it." He was accordingly confined more closely than before. On hearing his sentence he exclaimed in bed, "It was as severe as if Satan himself had penned it." King says about the incident: "he became so sickly that his physician and the lay lords of the council urged his liberation ;when, in place of release, he was, on the motion of Sharpe, backed by the other prelates, thrown into the lowest vault of that dreary and filthy prison. Here, however, instead of perishing, as was probably expected, he recovered, to the astonishment of friends and enemies. In aftertimes, when the archbishop happened to be mentioned in his presence with disapprobation, he used to say, "Commend me to him for a good physician.""
On 9 October 1677 he was brought back to the Tolbooth, but was again returned to the Bass until set at liberty with others in July 1679, giving bond for 10,000 merks to appear before the Council when called but forbidden to go beyond ‘the bounds of Kintyre’. He remained unmolested till 8 November 1683 when he was charged before the Scottish privy council with keeping ‘house conventicles.’ As he refused to answer the charge, it was held as confessed, and he was fined in five thousand merks. Having decided to quit the country he petitioned to that effect and was enjoined to depart within forty-eight hours. So he was banished from Scotland on 28 March 1684.
Thomas Hog