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Show 384 ATROCIOUS ,JUDGES. [A. D. lG 8. ticular interest, I am a libeller. And, truly, the attack is the worse if under a specious pretence ; for, by that rule, el'"ery man that can put on a good vizard may be as mi chievou as be will, o that whether it be in the form of a supplication, or an addres., or a petition, let u call it by its true denmnination, it i a libel." l-Ie then examined the precedents which had been cited, di playing the grosse t ignorance of the histo ry as well as con titution of the country; and, aftet· he had l>cen sadly expo ·ed by l\.fr. Justice Powell, he thus concluur·d : "I will not further debate the prerogatives of the crown or the privileges of the subject; but I am clearly of opinion that thc ~e venerable bishops did meddle with that which diu not belong to the1n ; they took upon themselves to contradict tlH~ actual exerci "'C of the government, which I think no particular person may do." The chief ju tice, without expressing any dissent, mel'cly said, " Gentlemen of the jury, have you a mind to drink befor(l you go ?" So wine was sent for, and they had a gla "'S apiece ; a fter which they were nw.rched off in custody of a bailiff; who was ·worn not to let them have 1neat or drink :fire or candle until th--y were agt·eed upon their verdict. ' ' All that night they were shut up, 1\fr. Arnold, the king's brewer, standing out for a com·iction till six next morning, when, being dr a<lfully exhausted, he was thus addrc'se<l by a brother juryn1an : " Look at me; I am the large ~ t and the Mrongest of the twelve, and, before I :find such a petition as this a libel, here I will tay till I am no bi ()'()'er than a tobacco-pipe." co The court sat again at ten, when the verdict of not g uilty was pronounced, and a shout of joy was raised which wa~ soon reverberated frozn the remotest parts of the kingJom. A. D. 1688.] ROBERT \VTI10UT. 38:3 One gentleman, a barrister of Gray's Inn, wa .... immediately taken into custody in court, by order of the lord chief ju ticc, who, with an extraordinary command of temper and count - nance, said to him in a calm voice, - " I am as glad as you can be that my lords the bishops nrc acquitted, but your manner of rejoicing here in court i::; indecent; you might rejoice in your chamber or eL C\vhere, ancl not here. IIaYr you any thing more to ay to my lords the l>ishops, 1\Ir. Attorney?" A . G.-" No, my lord." TVr/gltt, e J.-" Then they may withdraw,"- and they walked off, surrounded by countless thou"ands, who eagerly knelt down to receive their blessing.* Justice Holloway wa. forthwith cashiered, a well a Justice Powell; and there wer e erions intrntion that Chief Justice Wri()'ht should sh~rc their fate, as the king a cribctl 0 the unhappy re. ult of the trial to his pu illanimity - con-trasting him with J efFreys, '\vho never hatl been known to n1i · his quarry. 'I'his c._ tcCJned funetionary held the still more important office of lord h igh chancellor, and, com pared "-]tit any other competitor, W right, notwith. tandin~r h is oeca ·ional slight lapses into con cientiousness, appeared . upcrior in f-e rvility to all '\vho could be substituted for him. t Allybone * 12 State Trial , 183-523. . 1 t It was supposed that he was J·C a1ous o f "nl'{ r·11 1·H tms, the solic1t.o.r hO 'Cncm , wh o had been promised by James the lu.g 11 e:-;· t o il1l ces, 0 f the hw 1! he conlcl 1 . conv.t ct the bishops. This may account f or a s:nc,.t sul he level.l ed :Lt li::> n.v al during the trial. \Villiams, hav.m g acconn l Ct1 for 'a l)Hrl.l tnlar. ' otc.. of t 11 e IIous of Commons in ihe rc1. gn o f J ame,s , II ., when be lm. n:->cl! ,.n. ., a member and suspected of bn.b ery, sm. d " t 11 cr.c w,l.: -;. 'a lum1. ) . of mono. y. m t h e case." \Vright in rcfcrn. ng io tln.~ , o b sen.e d ' " Ir· olte1tor tells ) .o u the reason, 'there w' as a lnmp of money I· n th e ca~ c., ' b. ut I won.d er., m-d ccd, to heur i t come from him." W1. llm. ms, unc1 e t· st•a uduw the msmua- t> •. t1. 0n, exclaimed, ":My lord, I assur e you I n ever g..t \. c, 1n y vote for moliC) lll my lif'?." 33 |