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Show 820 ATROCIOUS JUDGES. [A. D.l685. been in the habit of having in turn assigned to them prisoners charged with felony, whom they sold for their own benefit to be tran ported to Barbadoes. In addre sing the grand jury, (while he c01nplained of a fit of the stone, and was seemingly under the excite1nent of liquor,) he saiu,- "I find a special commission is an unusual thin a here and b ' relishes very ill; nay, the very won1en storm at it, for fear we Bhould take the upper hand of the1n too; for by-the-bye, genileinen, I hear it is much in fashion in thi city for the women to govern and bear sway." !laving praised the mild and paternal rule of l{ing James, he thu::) proceeded: "On the other hand, up starts a puppet prince, who seuuces the mobile into rebellion, into which they are easily bewitched; for I say rebellion i::; like the sin of witchcraft. This man, who had as little title to the crown as the lea~t of you, (for I hope you are all legitimate,) being overtaken by justice, and by the goodness of hi" prince brought to the scaffold, he has the confidence, (good God, that men should be so impudent!) to say that God .Almighty did know with what joyfulne s he did die, (a traitor l) Great God of heaven and earth! ·what r eason have men to rebel? But, a· I told you, rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft: Fear God and honor the king is r ejected for no other reason, as I can find, but tha.t it is written in St. Peter. Gentle1nen, I n1ust tell you I am afraid that this city hath too n1any of the e people in it, and it is your duty to find them out. Gentlemen, I ·hall not stand complimenting with you; I shall talk with some of you before you and I part, I tell you ; I tell you I have brought a besom, and I will . weep every man's door, whether great or dnall. Certaiuly, here are a great many of those men whom they call Trimmer::; ; a Vvhig is but a mere fool to those ; for a Whig is some sort of n. • A. D.1685.] GEORGE JEFFREYS. 321 subject in comparison of these; for a Trimmer is but a cowardly and ba e-spirited Whig; for the vVhig is but the journeyman prentice that is hired and set over the rebellion, whilst the Trimmer is afraid to appear in the cau e.'' Ile then opens his charge against the aldermen for the sale of convict"', and thus continu es: "Good God! where am I? -in Bri tol? This city it . cems claims the privilege of hanging and drawing among themselves. I find you hase n1ore need of a special commission once a 1nouth at lca.'t. The very magistrates, that should be the 1ninister of ju tice, fall out with one another to that degree they will carcely dine together; yet I find they can agree for their interest if there be but a k£d in the case; for I hear the trade of l;;idnapping is much in request in this city. You can discharge a felon or a traitor, provided they will go to l\lr. Alderman's plantation in the "\Vest Indies. Corne, con1e, I find you tink for want of rubbing. It eems the di senters and fanatic fare "'ell amongst you, by reason of the favor of the Jnagi.' tratcs; for example, if a dissenter who i a notorious and obstinate offender comes before them, one alderman or another Lands up an<l says, He is a good 'man, (though three parts a rebel.) \V ell, then, for the sake of 1\Ir. Alllerrnan, be shaH be fined but fi vc "'hilling"'. Then comes another, and up . tands another goodman alderman, and says, I know ll£n~ to be an honest man, (though rather worse than the fonner.) \Vell, for 1\Ir. Alclennan'.:; sake, he shall be fined but half a crown; o 'Jnanus 1nanum, fricat ; you play the knave for rue now, and I will play the knave for you by and by. I an1 a ... han1ed of these things; but, by God's grace, I will mend them; for, as I have told you, I have brought a brush in my pocket, and I shall be sure to rub th e d1. rt wherever it is, or on whomsoever 1· t s t.1 c1 <. s •" " There |