Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	good_a	let_v	lord_n	12,952	5	4.4092	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87440	The juries right, asserted and vindicated by the ancient and good law of England VVherin is clearly discovered the necessity, benefit, and safety of juries, in opposition to those corruptions, and many evils that are incident, and do attend judges (as they are cal'd) both in civill and common courts. Occasioned by the late unjust, cruell, and illegall triall of Mr Tho. Webbe, at the sessions held for London and Middlesex in the Old Bayly. By Abraham Lawmind, ear-witnesse of the said triall, a hearty well-wisher of the common good.	Lawmind, Abraham.	1654 (1654)	Wing J1215A; ESTC R229627	8,730	16

Gentlemen you are Iudges of Law as well as of fact This ought to be considered by you And then as touching Adultery the Act of Parliament of Iune 24. 1650 saith the words are these Provided alwayes that no person or persons shall incur any of the penalties in this Act mentioned unlesse the said person or persons be therefore indicted within twelve months after the offence committed And evidence must be sworn for the prisoner the words are these Provided also that it shall be lawfull for any person or persons who shall be indicted for any of the offences aforesaid to produce at their respective Trials any Witnesse or Witnesses for the clearing of themselves from the said offences whereof they shall be so indicted and the Iustices before whom such triall shall be had shall have power and are hereby authorized to examine those Witnesses upon oath So that both the fact and the time must bee cleere and certaine both in the Indictment and evidence and the reason is this that the Prisoner may if hee hath any produce his Witnesses which that he cannot doe if the time be not certain it being the company the Prisoner is in at such a time that must either cleer him or lay him open to your Verdict and therefore Gentlemen indictment and evidence must both agree in fact and time if not they are both invalids and ought to be rejected and no proceedings can or ought to be upon the same and further the Prisoner ought to have notice of both fact and time before he be call'd to a triall that so he may provide his Witnesses since the Act requires them to be heard and sworn and not so suddenly surprized by an Indictment as Mr. Webbe I perceive was who being committed for coyning was unexpectedly arraigned for another thing not having any time to provide for his defence quite contrary to the Act which allows Witnesses to be heard and sworn which cannot be without notice and time given And Gentlemen the Law hath put you into a place of great trust and in case the Court should have such prejudice against any Prisoner as thus to surprize him and to lay him open to the mercy of death It 's your care to prevent it and do the Prisoner right therein and indeed so much the more for that your Verdict is to be grounded on cleer and plain proofes which cannot be where the Prisoner is call'd to a Triall for a fact which he dreams not of especially in the case of Adultery where the negative is as good as the affirmative Gentlemen life and death is in your hands the weale and woe of many a poor Family your place is of great weight the highest and greatest in the Court the Court moves as you move if you move amiss the Court must move so also The things that I have taken liberty to offer you are necessary such Causes may come before you the Court may have that prejudice against the Prisoner as to throw them in many disadvantages and may so much undervalue you who indeed are the life of the Court as will not allow you the Law to read and examine as they did by Mr. Webbes Iury. Therefore Gentlemen as you are English men and professe the Lord Christ and are now call'd to so great an imployment wherein you have a very large opportunity of immitating our blessed Saviour and following his golden Rule Doe to all men as your selves would be done unto Rouze up your Spirits claim your Right let not might and greatnesse sway you but in all things cleer and plaine evidences and a good conscience so will you purchase praise both of God and men and be examples of great good to your Countrey-men For which the Lord in his infinite mercy go along with you according to the weight of your imployment FINIS