Selected quad for the lemma: justice_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
justice_n	case_n	peace_n	session_n	2,679	5	10.2445	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A27409	The bloody assizes, or, A compleat history of the life of George Lord Jefferies, from his birth to this present time ... to which is added Major Holmes's excellent speech, with the dying speeches and prayers of many other eminent Protestants : none of which were ever before publish'd ...	Bent, James.; Holmes, Abraham, d. 1685.; Tutchin, John, 1661?-1707.; Oates, Titus, 1649-1705.; Dunton, John, 1659-1733.; J. S. (John Shirley), fl. 1680-1702.	1689 (1689)	Wing B1905; ESTC R23364	51,348	72

in the City a Jealousie that he had espoused an Interest to their Prejudice which wrought so strongly in their Conceits that it was concluded in the Council-Chamber at Guild-Hall that he should resign his Recordership and accordingly they sent to him to deliver back the Papers and Writings they had intrusted him with which accordingly was done and Sir George Treby constituted Recorder in his stead This so nettled him that he now openly declar'd himself to be what before was only suspected indulging his thoughts in nothing more than how he might revenge it upon the Dissenters to whose influence on the Court of Aldermen he attributed his dismission from the Recordership and used his Endeavours to blacken them as much as he could Yet all his Honour was not sunk for he had prevailed for the Removal of Sir Job Charleton from the Chief Justiceship of the County Palatine of Chester and by the Importunity and Interest of his Party at Court gained it for himself and took the first Possession of that Charge in much splendour paying at that time his Father a Visit with a numerous Train which put the old Gentleman into such a fret for the drinking up his Cyder and devouring his Provisions that he charged him with the undertaking to ruine him by bringing a whole Countrey at his heels commanding him never to attempt the like Prodigality again with hopes of success Many Petitions being put up upon the Dissolving the Parliament in 1682. by most of the Counties and Burroughs and Corporations of England for the speedy Calling another to redress the Grievances of the Nation and the King shewing some dislike of that manner of Proceeding this Person further to endear himself to the Interest of the Court declared in his Station as vehemently against them by saying He abhorred that Petitioning c. from which and the discountenancing the Petitioners as much as in him lay he gained the Name and Epithite of an Abhorrer and upon the Burning the Pope in Effigies at Temple-Barr upon the Birth-day of Queen Elizabeth amongst other Figures the Arch-waggs had set one on Horse-back with his Face to the Tail and a Paper on his back viz. I am an Abhorrer During these Transactions the Parliament being called met at Westminster and amongst others this Person was called before them for attempting to infringe upon the Rights and Priviledges of the People c. and obliged at the Barr of the Commons House after having been heard what he could say in defence of his Proceedings by his Council to make his Acknowledgment upon his Knees and receive the Reprimand of the Speaker whereupon with some sharp Rebukes as the Censure of the House he was discharged To comfort him in this Affliction that was not by a Man of his Haughty Spirit a little stomacked this Parliament being Dissolved and a Call of Serjeants had at the Kings-Bench-Bar Westminster he was the First in the Roll and consequently the Kings Serjeant and as it is usual to present the King with a Ring on that occasion the Motto he agreed to was A Deo Rex a Rege Lex viz. The King from God and the Law from the King. And now the Popish party playing their Cards with more security Edward Fitz-Harris who had been Impeached by the Commons and stood charged by them of High-Treason being nevertheless upon the Dissolution Tryed at the Kings Bench-Bar this Person was the principal stickler against him and by his Rhetorical and florid expressions wrought so powerfully with the Jury who were somewhat in doubt what they should do in this Case that they found him Guilty and the Impeachment in Parliament set aside he was Executed as a Traytor at Tyburn and soon after this the Dissenters losing of their Esteem in the eyes of the Court-party and some Justices of Peace of Midlesex being sharp upon them this person was chosen Chair-man at the Sessions of Hicks's-Hall where he had an opportunity to make them as he found his time see the resentments of his anger but this place being held too low for a Spirit winged with so large an Ambition he aimed at higher things resolving like Icarus to be near the Sun tho' at the hazard of melting his waxen Wings dropping headlong into the Sea of inevitable Ruin whereupon perceiving some hot contests in the City of London about the Election of Magistrates and Officers he turned the Edge of his Fury that way insomuch that a Quo-warranto came down against the Charter of the Honourable City of London and in fine after much Pleading and Argument pro contra the Charter was surrendered at least in consent by those that were in Power and the King suspending the Execution of the Judgment obtained caused such orders to be observed as he thought most convenient which being so well known to the Citizens of London it would appear a presumption in me to enter upon particulars yet the chiefest cavil against the City was taking the Toll of Markets collecting Money to build Cheapside Conduit c. Nor was it long after this and the Tryal of several Persons for Rioters who attended the Election of Sheriffs and Mayor and the Fines passing upon many worthy Citizens as Rioters on that occasion in promoting which this Person as a Counsellor by his florid Rhetorick was mainly instrumental by giving the Court an account of their respective Abilities the better to settle the Fines but the Lord Chief Justice Sannders dying he succeeded him as Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in which station he was scarcely settled but he admitted the Popish Lords to Bail that lay under an impeachment in Parliament and whose Bailing had been refused by the Judges his Predecessors and now it was that he began more particularly to remember former affronts an Example of which take in the Case of Elias Best a Hop-merchant in Thames-street viz. It so happened when this Person was Recorder of London that a Jury of which Best was one having contrary to his mind Acquitted a party Indicted at the Sessions of Peace in Guild-hall for Printing and Publishing a Pamphlet he in much heat declared that they had gone contrary to their Consciences and stuck not to upbraid them with Perjury for which as a high affront put upon the Juries of London they prayed the Court at the Old-Baily that they might preferr an Indictment against him and herein Mr. Best was the most active but the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs then upon the Bench after it had been a long time Argued and debated told them that the Sessions being almost at an end it could not be Tryed and therefore he would desire them to defer it to the next Sessions for the Recorder being a person of Quality he could not suffer him to lie under the imputation of an Indictment so long but in the Interim he resigning his Recordership the business fell and came to nothing but soon after it seems Mr. Best had drank a Health to the pious

County and George Seward of Culliton aforesaid The Circumstances of each of these and the severity of their being found Guilty c. shall be shewed in its proper place before we take leave of this Town and proceed on in this Western Expedition The said Twenty-nine being found as before Guilty my Lord immediately pronounced Sentence of Death on them all an usual in Cases of High-Treason and did the same Night give a Warrant to the Sheriff for the Execution of thirteen of the twenty-nine on Monday following which accordingly was done notwithstanding great Application was made to the Lord chif-Chif-Justice by Gentlemen of the best Quality in this and the Neighbouring Countries for a Reprieve of Mr. Bragg to all which he was Deaf and not to be prevailed upon though he was assured of his Honesty and true Conformity to the Church of England yet it availed nothing At last it was only requested for ten days Respite yet that had no better Effect but on Monday he with twelve more of that number were accordingly Executed at Dorchester The Christian like Deportment and other things relating to the said Mr. Bragg and others shall be made out before we leave this Discourse In the mean time this Proceeding was designed to shorten Business and to wheedle the rest that were to follow to a Confession which without it the tenth part of them could not be proved Guilty a Method was also taken without President to entrap many poor Ignorant People by a couple of Officers that were sent into the Goal to call over and take the Names of the Prisoners on Promise if they confest they might expect Mercy otherwise not which many did And this was Written so that had they pleaded not Guilty these two were designed to have been Evidences against them from their own Confessions which so disposed the remaining great Numbers that all except a very few Pleaded Guilty which put an end to any further Tryal The only thing remaining was the pronouncing of Sentence on them which were in Number 292. who received Sentence of Death all at once One Mr. Laurence put himself in Tryal but by the Jury found Guilty whose Case was so hard his Circumstances being so small to be condemned to die and had actually suffered had not Application been made to my Lords Favourites and with the payment and securing of 400 l. preserved him from Execution his Case being so remarkable his Defence so honest that we cannot pass it by in Silence the particulars of which you shall have in its proper Place with others that are most remarkable This Matter being Adjusted and Execution Awarded to about Eighty which were Executed and their Quarters sent up and down the Countrey to the dread of their Spectators as well as the Anoyance of the Travellers his extraordinary Whippings though unmerciful are not to be taken notice of so we leave this place and proceed towards the City of Exon In their way thither lying at an Honourable Gentlemans House divers of the Neighbouring Parishes made their Petitous to the Lord-Chief Justice in behalf of some Relations concerned it hapned that through some Disorder amongst his Servants some Pistols were fired in the Night which gave him a Suspicion or at least he took it of some design upon him on which at parting said Not a Man of all those Parishes that were of that Vicinitude if found Guilty should escape And so we proceed and arrive at Exon where to the number of 243 Prisoners being in Custody for assisting the said Duke of Monmouth one amongst the rest Mr. Fower Acers Pleading not Guilty he being found by the Jury the said Lord Chief Justice immediately pronounced the Sentence upon him and immediate Execution which was done to terrifie the rest who all Pleaded Guilty so that these unfortunate People had not time to have the fairness of Tryals allowed them which is a right due by the Laws of God and Man. The remaining number he all condemned and here was a little sparing not so many order'd Execution as was in the other County but those that were Executed were hung up and down in most Towns of the County and then Quarters and Heads scattered up and down their High-ways and publick places An extraordinary Sentence of severe Whipping was pronounced against Mr. Samuel Staple of Thorncomb in the said County which in its proper place you shall have an account of the Crime but these are Trifles and we shall endeavour to pursue our Design and make as quick Dispatch as we can that time may not be lost the King served and this Miscreants thirst quenched with Protestant Blood which is always well pleasing to Inquisitors and so proceed to the Town of Taunton At which place being Arrived it was thought fit by the Lord Chief-Justice to be as expeditious as might be so that late in the Afternoon the Court sat where the Commission being Read he proceeded to give the Charge which was so very keen and full of sharp Invectives as if the Countrey it-self had not been able to make Expiation to his Lordship to quench his Thirst in the Blood of those that ventur'd their all in Defence of the Protestant Religion and here we enter upon the bloodiest part of the Tragedy In this Town and at Wells in the said County were more than 500 Prisoners To begin at Taunton the next Morning after the Charge given the Assizes began where some few put themselves on Trial who were found Guilty and immediately ordered to be Executed of which number one Mr. Simon Hamlin was one who was a zealous worthy good Man and his Case no way dangerous but on the contrary had he had to do with a Judge of another Stamp his particular Case you shall have before we conclude To proceed to the rest this first Cruelty caused the rest to Plead Guilty in hopes of Favour which was only a few days to live which those that Pleaded had not Amongst these at Taunton were divers eminent Persons that had been taken in the West and carried to London and brought down there to compleat the Bloody Tragedy in those parts Mr. Parrot Mr. Hewling the Elder Mr. Lisle Mr. Jenkins Mr. Hucker and divers others were very Eminent To take notice of every particular in this Matter will alter our Design and swell the Book to too great a Bulk being only designed for a Pocket Companion and useful it may be to see the Cruelty of men when in their Power and how the Devil stirreth up his Instruments to pursue those that adventure for the Cause of God and Religion Here were in this County Executed 239. the rest that were Condemned were Transported except such as were able to furnish Coin and that not a little for an account was taken of mens Abilities according to which the purchase for Life must be managed by two of his Favourites who had a small share the rest went into his Lordships Pocket according to the Actions of Rome

and Countenance he should not at all concern himself in the matter but submit to the Will of God in all things and having thus advised his Son he returns home and two days after came again to Town on a Market day with his Wife to buy Provisions for his Family and returned to his house again and this was all the times he was in Town whiles the D. was there but after the business was over he was brought in on suspicion being a Dissenter that was Crime enough except Coin appear'd to a Justice of that Town who usually did commit or dismiss as that appear'd this Man was arraign'd at Taunton pleaded not guilty the matter above is the Truth of this Case the Evidences were two proffligate Rascals that had Incouragement from the Justice they usually doing what he put them on the Prisoner had many to prove this Fact and his Honesty but this did not avail the Jury found him guilty with two more who were presently sentenc'd and next Morning executed for to be Examples to others It is said that the Justice did make application to our famous Protestant Judge and hinted some mistake concerning him to which as I have been informed he should Reply you have brought him on if he be innocent his blood be upon you which was a very fine Reply from a merciful Judge but nothing else could be expected as the whole Treatise evinceth The tender Mercies of the wicked being cruel this Man behaved himself very worthily at the place of execution and did at the last declare his crime to be the same as is above mentioned and not otherwise There was one Mr. Gatchett executed with him his crime being a Constable of the Hundred he was surprised by a Party of the Ds. and shewed a Warrant to bring in Provisions and other necessaries for the use of the Army which if he had not obeyed was threatned to have his House burnt c. So that he was obliged to do what he did for his own preservation but this was not sufficient for being found guilty was also executed at the same time and place The Case of Mr. Tho. Lawrence MR. Tho. Lawrence at Dorchester had also very hard measure he had the managing of an Estate belonging to a Person of Quality who had a Barn in the Parish of Lime where the D. Landed the day after his Landing a Party came and took away Three Horses from off this Estate which he having the Trust and Care of makes application to the D. for them adding that he ought not to suffer any of his Masters Goods to be wanting but must endeavour to Recover them again so mov'd hard to the D for the Horses but all would not prevail but at last had one and was forced to leave two this was look'd on as an abetting being judg'd to be by consent after the defeat was given he was had before a Justice of the Peace who bound him over to the Assizes where appearing he was committed pleaded not guilty on his Tryal which he pleaded to very honestly yet was found guilty and sentenc'd to dye my Lord was excellent at Improvement 't was thought he would if possible have brought in the Gentleman that own'd the Estate who was very Rich this honest Mr. Lawrence was to be sacrific'd and his Execution order'd to be at Warham but my Lord's Favorite got a Reprieve for him by the help of 400. l. 200. l. being actually paid the other secur'd by Bond. I promised before I conclude to give some Account of the barbarous and cruel whippings which were executed on many good honest and sufficient Persons both men and women in the Countries of Dorset Devon. and Somerset by the severe and cruel Sentence of the L. C. J. some for such small Crimes as an impartial man may judge they deserved no punishment at all more especially one Mr. Stayle of Thorncomb in Devonshire his Sufferings were so hard that it caused many to pity him he was a good Liver well beloved among his Neighbours and a true Protestant also one Mrs. Brown of Lime suffered very dear in that nature she only joykingly said unto the Officer of the Excise I will pay my Excise to K. Monmouth which being sworn before this severe Judge she was found guilty of a misdemeanor was sentenc'd to be whipt in several Market-Towns which accordingly was done but this Cruelty was not only extended to those of riper y●ars and able better to endure those painful Sufferings but even to Children A poor boy of Weymouth in the County of Dorset having got some Pamplet relating somewhat to satisfie the People that the D. of Monmouth came to secure the Protestant Religion had the hard fortune to take his Tryal before this harsh Judge I think he was about ten or twelve years of Age had the Flesh of his Back so cut with the whipping that I heard he dyed with the same but whether he is dead or not never was such cruelty in all this World And now we may see how just the Lord is he that all that time had no Mercy for any but those that appeared loose Villains is pittyed but by few Now I come to give you an Account of the Number executed the Towns and Places where and so shall conclude A True and Exact List of all them that were Condemned and Suffered in the West in the Year 1685. Under the Sentence of my Lord Chancellor then Lord Chief Justice of England with the Names of the Towns where they were Executed Hamp-shire At Winchester 1 Wilt-shire At Salisbury 1 Dorset-shire At Dorchester 13 At Lyme 12 At Bridport 10 At Weymouth 12 At Sherborne 12 At Pooll 10 At Warham 5 At Shafton 6 At Wimborn 5 In all 87 Devon-shire At Exon. 1 At Huniton 5 At Axminster 1 At Culliton 2 At Certon 1 At Plimouth At Parkmouth At Totneys At Dillverton At Barnastable In all 37 Sumerset-shire At Bath 5 At Philipsnorton 12 At Froome 12 At Bruton 3 At Wincanton 6 At Shepton Mallet 13 At Pensford 12 At Wrington 3 At Wells 8 At Vivelscomb 3 At Tutton upon Mendip 2 At Chard 12 At Crookern 10 At Somerton 7 At Yeovil 8 At Netherstoe 3 At Dunster 3 At Dulverton 3 At Bridgwater 12 At Ratlif●hill Bristol 6 At Illmister 12 At Stog●rsey 2 At Wellington 3 At Southpetherton 3 At Porlock 2 At Glasenbury 6 At Taunton 19 At Langport 3 At Axbridge 6 At Cutherstone 2 At Minehead 6 At Evillchester 12 At Stogummer 3 At Castle-Cary 3 At Milton-Port 2 Keinsh●m 11 In all 239 Besides those hanged and destroyed in cold Blood. Some Remarkable Passages with the Dving Prayers of many Eminent Persons who suffered in the West under the cruel Sentence of the late Lord Chancellor then Lord Chief Justice Jefferys and the most remarkable Circumstances that Attended their Execution An Account of the behaviour of Coll. Holmes in Lyme and at the place of his Execution And his last Prayer HE with

no other Design whatsoever but to Possess himself of some of those Islands until I had been at Sea two days wherein one privately told me we were absolutely bound for England and I should take it from him it was true it much surprized me but knowing no way to avoid it or to get on shore though it was at that time contrary to my Inclinations if I could have avoided it I would not let others see that I had that dissatisfaction within me After our Landing at Lyme I knew it was never the near to attempt my Escape the Countrey being so beset on the other hand if the Duke of Monmouth did win the day I might have raised my Fortunes as high as I could expect these were the Arguments that Flesh and Blood did create in my Breast for self-preservation While I was with the said Duke I did him as much Service as I could and faithfully After it pleased God to disperse that Army under his Command I endeavoured to secure my self but by Providence was taken at Honyton from thence Committed to Exon and after removed to Dorchester where I received my Sentence and am now as you see just going to Execution the Lord prevent all of you from such ignominious Deaths and I advise you all that you never take any great thing in hand but what you have a warrant for from the Lord I assure you I had not satisfaction in this but this I am sure that if I have done any thing amiss in it it is Pardoned I Bless God I have that satisfaction I dye a Professor of the Church of England I desire Pardon of all those I have any ways wronged or abused as I freely forgive all those that have wronged or abused me I am in Charity with all men Lord have mercy upon me give me strength to go through these pains and give me full Assurance now at this last moment Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Also one Samuel Robbins of Charmouth in the County of Dorset that was Executed or rather Murthered at Warham in the said County I cannot pass him by in silence his Case being so extraordinary hard that to speak moderately betwixt the King and his Case I do say this that I verily believe never Man suffered innocenter as I hope you will be satisfied in after you have heard his Crime and on what small grounds he was Guilty or so supposed by my Lord Chief Justice He used generally in the Summer to use the Craft of Fishing to get a competent maintenance for his Family and happened to be out at Sea a Fishing before Lyme that day the Duke came in to land and was commanded on board of one of the Duke's Ships he not knowing who they were and they bought his Fish of him after which they told him that was the Duke of Monmouth poynting at him and that he was just going to Land he desired to go on shore which was refused and told that as soon as the Duke was landed he should have his liberty so accordingly he came on shore and never after was with him or ever took up Arms under him I leave the Reader to judge whether this was High Treason or no. This was all he was Guilty of except that he was a good honest Man a zealous Christian a Man of a very good Life and Conversation as I think his Neighbours will attest it in most Towns and Parishes near where he lived but alas he had a good Book in his House when taken called The solemn League and Covenant this was the High Treason he must be Guilty of which was aggravated to the Lord Chief Justice by one or two hot Spirits his Neighbours But to be short he received his Sentence of Death with grea Courage and not at all dismay'd saying very often in Prison before If it pleased God to call him now to glorifie his Name by this Providence of his to Death he should be ready but said he I am as Innocent of any thing I have done against any Man that may deserve this Punishment as the Child now unborn When he came to the Place of Execution he very chearfully declared his Innocency to the Spectators as before and so Praying very devoutly for some time he was Executed His Prayer I have no exact Copy of Also one Mr. Charles Speake of London a Gentleman of good Extraction being Son to the Worshipful George Speake Esq near Ilmister in the County of Sommerset where he was Executed his Case also was extraordinary hard but there may be Two great Reasons given why he was Executed the First was Because he came from that good Pious Family which always have been opposers to Popery and suffered deeply for their courage that way Secondly The said Mr. Charles Speak had purchsed some great place in the Kings-Bench or Common-pleas which was very profitable to him so that by his fall there being a forfeiture much Money may be made of it all intercession would not avail with the L. C. J. for his life he hapened to be at Ilminster at the time of the Dukes being there which was the greatest Crime he was guilty of the validity of his Evidence I leave to those in the West which know how far it was carried that way He was a fine courteous loving Gentleman and notwithstanding his Youth he acted the part of an old Christian Souldier at his Death preparing himself before to undergo those pains saying very often They were nothing to his deserts from God Almighty but as for what I am Accused of and Sentenced for I hope you will believe I am not so Guilty as my Judge and Accusers have endeavoured to make me if it had pleased God I should have been willing to have lived some time longer but Gods time being come I am willing I will be contented to drink this bitter Cup off Being at the place of Execution the croud was so great that I suppose he was shorter than otherwise he would have been but alas how could it be for on every side of him as well as up and down the Town the Inhabitants weeping and bewailing him O 't is the worst day that ever we saw in this Town Must this good Gentleman dye here Oh! yet save his life I am ready to dye for him and the like He Prayed very heartily for near an hour and Sung a Psalm and so we hope was translated to Heaven there to Sing everlasting Praises and Hallelujahs His Father and Mother you may easily judge were not a little concerned about him but their Adversaries malice ended not here but Father and Mother must be brought in and how many Thousands of Pounds it cost them I think is too well known in London and most parts of the Kingdom have heard in the publick Letters their Names mentioned Some may think they were concerned with the Duke but I never heard there was so much made appear against them as could have made them been brought in