"Some hypocrites and seeming mortified men, that held down their heads, were like the little images that they place in the very bowing of the vaults of churches, that look as if they held up the church, but are but puppets"

This quote by William Laud is a comparison in between hypocrites and the little images put in the bowing of the vaults of churches. Laud is recommending that these hypocrites appear to be pious and humble, however in truth they are similar to the little images in the churches, which appear to be holding up the church however are really simply puppets. Simply put, these hypocrites are pretending to be pious and modest, however they are actually simply putting on a show. They are not really committed to their faith, but rather are simply going through the movements. Laud is warning versus these false appearances of piety, as they are not real and can be easily translucented.