Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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A53367
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One cry more of the innocent and oppressed for justice being a fourth relation of the unjust proceedings of the magistrates in and about the city of London with and against XVII (of the people of God) called Quakers at the IV several sessions hereafter named, where they received the unjust sentence of transportation.
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1665
(1665)
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Wing O336; ESTC R26894
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7,077
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12
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City passed the unjust and unreasonable sentence of Transportation upon them to the Island of Jamaica there to remain for the space of seven years much more passed between the Prisoners and the Court which is not here mentioned this being onely a Relation in short to give all or any that desire to understand how we are proceeded against that in time to come none may say we did not know of these things The Trial of Robert Witham at the Sessions-House in the Old Baily the 10.11 and 12. dayes of the third Moneth 1665. HE being called to the Bar and an Indictment being read against him but he could not well hear what it was by reason of the lowness of the voice of him that read it and the great noise that was in the Court Judge Keling Asked him whether he was guilty or not guilty Pris I am innocent before the Lord for he knows the secrets of all hearts Judge You must plead guilty or not guilty Pris What am I guilty of Judge You have broken the King's Lawes Pris I never had any evil in my heart against the King nor against you since I have known the Lord. Judge There is a Law that you should not meet above the number of five Prisoner What would you have of me would you have my life the Judge said no. Pris If the Lord require one thing and you another judge you whether I should obey Judge Take him away and on the 12th day of the aforesaid Month they passed their unjust Sentence upon him to be transported to the Island of Iamaica for the term of seven years he not being tryed by any Jury and indeed it made little matter of their calling a Jury for Jury or no Jury is all one for that same Sessions there were three of the people called Quakers that were to be tryed by a Jury and because the Jury did bring in the verdict according to their evidence and contrary to Judge Kelings mind and what he had intended he threatned them exceedingly and fined ten of them one hundred Markes a piece and committed them to Newgate there to remain without Baile or Maineprise till payment thereof were made so that all people may see and take notice what service Juries are of and what service Lawes are of for if they would lay all their acts and Statutes aside and Juries and Witnesses and say it is our wills that such and such things should be done against you this would be plainer and down righter proceedings then those proceedings which we receive under the pretence of a Law and verdict of a Jury The Trial of Joseph Haugh Richard Thomson William Stevenson and Mary Dall at the Sessions at the Old Baily upon the 22 day of the 4th Moneth called June 65 where one Keling sat as Judge JOseph Haugh being called to the Bar and an Indictment read against him much after their old form and Witnesses sworn the the Judge asked him guilty or not guilty Pris What benefit shall I have by pleading the Judge answered I should be tryed by the Country Pris If the Jury bring me in not guilty shall I then be cleared the Judge said yes then I said the Jury might be sent to Prison for me Judge Oh are you there about let them look to that if they did contrary to the Law they should suffer but you shall be cleared Judge Will you plead guilty or not guilty Pris Your wills are your Law you must do your pleasure Then he said take him away Then was set to the Bar Richard Thomson William Stephenson and Mary Dall and an Indictment read against them that they were taken at unlawfull Meetings or Sedicious Conventicle where they with others were met together under colour and pretence of the exercise of Religious Worship in other manner then is allowed by the Liturgy of the Church of England Iudge Richard Thomson are you guilty or not guilty Prisoner I am innocent and have not offended the Law of God neither have I wronged any man by word or deed neither was I at any Seditious Conventicle Iudge Will you plead or not Prison What wouldst â—hou have me say Judge You must plead guilty or not guilty Prisoner I am not guilty Judge William Stevenson are you guilty or not guilty Prisoner I am innocent in the sight of the Lord and do not know what evil I have done neither have I any evil in my heart against any man yet I dare not but fear the Lord more then men Judge Take him away Judge Mary Dall are you guilty or not guilty Prisoner If I plead it will be little or if not it will be all one for your wills is your Law but we know the Lord will plead our Cause Judge Take her away And then Richard Thomson was called again and some of the Marshall's Men swore against him and the Jury was charged with him and went forth and within a little time returned again and brought in that the Prisoner was guilty of breaking the Law then the Judge rose up and said what verdict was that the Foreman said again that he was guilty of breaking the Law the Recorder said that was enough and then the Prisoner was put in the Hole and after a little while the four Prisoners were all brought to the Bar and the unjust Sentence of Transportation was passed upon them It was observed that the same Jury at the same time which brought in Richard Thomson guilty brought in two Fellons not guilty which appeared in Court to be guilty but the Innocent was Condemned and the Guilty Cleared for which the Lord will Visit Much more might have been written concerning the Tryals of the aforesaid Prisoners and many Observations might be drawn from several Passages but this is only a Relation in short spread before the unprejudiced Reader to judge of with the Spirit of Meekness THE END