242.
The long Parliament dissolved.
For publishing this book, one J. Brown was brought to trial, and sentenced to pay a fine of 1000 marks, bound to good behaviour for seven years, and his name struck out of the roll of attorneys, without any offence alleged in his said vocation. Not being able to pay this fine, he lay in prison for three years till he was pardoned and restored to his place of attorney by royal warrant dated 15th December, 1679. The information does not appear to be entered on the Judgment Rolls, but Howell[202] extracts from the book the following words upon which the prosecution was founded:—
Nor let any man think it strange, that we account it treason for you to sit and act contrary to our laws; for if in the first parliament of Richard II, Grimes and Weston, for lack of courage only were adjudged guilty of high treason for surrendering the places committed to their trust; how much more you, if you turn renegadoes to the people that entrusted you, and as much as in you lie surrender not a little pitiful castle or two, but all the legal defence the people of England have for their lives, liberties, and properties at once! Neither let the vain persuasion delude you, that no precedent can be found, that one English Parliament hath hanged up another; though peradventure even that may be proved a mistake; for an unprecedented crime calls for an unprecedented punishment; and if you shall be so wicked to do the one, or rather endeavour to do, (for now you are no longer a parliament) what ground of confidence you can have that none will be found so worthy to do the other, we cannot understand: and do faithfully promise if your unworthines provoke us to it, that we will use our honest and utmost endeavours (whenever a new parliament shall be called) to chuse such as may convince you of your mistake: The old and infallible observation, That Parliaments are the Pulse of the People, shall lose its esteem; or you will find, that this your presumption was over-fond; however, it argues but a bad mind to sin, because it is believed it shall not be punished.
243.
The Compendium; or, a short view of the late Tryals, in relation to the present plot against his Majesty and Government: with the speeches of those that have been executed. As also an humble address (at the close) to all the worthy Patriots of this once Flourishing and happy Kingdom. London. 1679.
For publishing this book an information was filed by the Attorney General against Matthew Turner, a Stationer, of the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn. Turner was tried in the summer of 1680, and was sentenced to pay a fine of 100 marks.[203]
The information is as follows:—[204]
Middlesexia. Memorandum quod Samuelis Astry Armiger, Coronator et Attornatus domini regis, in curia ipsius regis coram ipso rege qui pro eodem domino rege in hac parte sequitur in propria persona sua venit hic in curia dicti domini regis coram ipso rege apud Westmonasterium die Sabbati proximo post Crastinum Purificationis Beatæ Mariæ Virginis isto eodem Termino, et pro eodem domino rege dat curiæ hic intelligi et informari, quod cum quidam Edwardus Coleman et diversi alii proditores pro diversis separalibus proditionibus per debitam legis formam super testimonium diversorum credibilium testium convicti et attincti fuerunt, quidam tamen Matheus Turner de parochia Sancti Andreæ Holborne in Comitatu Middlesexiæ, Stationer, machinans et malitiose intendens gubernationem domini regis nunc hujus regni sui Angliæ et administrationem justitiæ in eodem regno et testes productos ex parte domini regis super triationem proditorum prædictorum scandalizare, et in odium et contemptum ducere, vicesimo primo die Januarii anno regni domini nostri Caroli Secundi, Dei gratia Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris &c., tricesimo primo, apud parochiam Sancti Andreæ Holborne prædictam in comitatu prædicto, quoddam falsum, scandalosum, seditiosum et malitiosum librum, intitulatum The Compendium, or a short view of the late Trialls in relation to the present plott against his Majestie and Government with the speeches of those that have beene executed, as alsoe an humble addresse at the close to all the worthie patriots of this once flourishing and happy Kingdome. malitiose et seditiose publicavit et venditioni exposuit; in quoquidem libro continetur relatio evidentiarum datarum super triationem proditorum prædictorum, et post talem relationem in eodem libro inter alia continetur prout sequitur An humble address to all worthy patriots, of what Rank soever they be. Having (my Lords and Gentlemen) given you this exact and short account of the late Judicial Proceedings; for when should I have ended, had I not (in spight of the continual follies that occurr'd) forc'd my self to Bounds? I say, having given you this short account, I know not whether you are now more surpris'd (for surpris'd I am sure you are) at the strange Incoherencies, nay, Impossibilities, in the charge all along, or at the mighty weight of the defence, though the accusers themselves had bin men of repute and probity. For, after a sober and close consideration (to which nothing can more conduce than an Abstract, or Compendium) what have they lay'd at the dores of Catholicks, that, by its monstrous and disagreeing parts, shows not it self to be wholly vain and chimerical? Et in alio loco ejusdem libri continetur prout sequitur, There is not one Witness against us, who has not either bin a most Profligated Wretch, by the unanimous Consent of all that knew him, or given at least Prognosticks by his Poverty or Temper, that the first Opportunity would infallibly make him so. In magnum vilipendium scandalum et contemptum testium dicti domini regis versus proditores prædictos in contemptum dicti domini regis et gubernationis suæ ac legum suarum, in malum exemplum omnium aliorum in tali casu delinquentium, ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc, coronam et dignitatem suas &c.
244.