of England was held of the Crown as originally it was Mr. Trever My Lord in 2d Rolls 646. Tit. Tryals There is the express Opinion of my Lord Rolls That to be of the Livery or a menial Servant of the Crown is a good Cause of Challenge L. Ch. Just And look you but in the 1 st Case in the 1 st Part of the Abridgment Title Challenges where he mentions 3 or 4 Books to the same purpose and 't is quite otherwise Mr. Williams My Lord In that of 1 st Rolls he only cites some Books but the other is his own Opinion L. Ch. Just Well make out your Fact if you have a mind to it but it is well known that neither Mr. Serjeant Rolls nor my Lord Coke when he delivered that Opinion are to be reckoned such Authorities in Crown matters Mr. Williams We will ask him my Lord if you please I suppose he will not deny it L. Ch. Just No make out your Fact if you will have any benefit by it 't is only a Challenge to the favour which ought not to be in the Kings Case I am very glad that we are now to debate this matter with Men of the Robe because we have had a strange sort of Notions and Reflections spread abroad of late as tho' the Judges now adays gave strange sort of Opinions and as tho' Persons that had been blemishes at the Bar were preferred to do strange things when they come upon the Bench but truly I wonder to hear that it should be a doubt when at the same time that which we gave as our Opinion about one particular Challenge that is as to Free-holders it was the Judgment of all the Judges That that was no Challenge and all the Counsel that were concerned in that Case know it was the Opinion of all the Judges But now if we meet with Lawyers I shall be glad to have the matter fairly argued and debated and pray shew me what Law or Reason is for it Mr. Wallop Certainly my Lord there is a great difference betwixt the general Allegiance of all Men and so of a general tenure and the dependance of any particular Person who is a menial Servant and receives Wages of the King L. Ch. Just I would desire to know of you Mr. Wallop which is the greater Challenge to say such a one is Tenant or such a one is immediate Servant to J. S Mr. Wallop There is a great difference my Lord I think between an immediate Tenant and the general tenure of all Subjects L. Ch. Just But certainly the Law is thus if he were an immediate or a mediate Tenant to any but the King if his Lord were party to the Suit it would be a good Challenge but the being Tenant to the King is no good Challenge in the Kings Case Mr. Williams My Lord I take it the Act of Parliament that takes away the Court of Wards and Liveries hath altered the Law as to that matter of Tenure for now we hold in Socage and that other Tenure is destroyed that was between the King and his Subjects L. Ch. Just But pray how comes it to be a Challenge now that was not one before Does that Act of Parliament make it a good cause of Challenge If it does shew it I tell you the Old Books are against it Mr. Williams I speak my Lord to the Tenure That that is nothing at all now to be objected because all is now in Socage L. Ch. Just I would not have Mr. Attorney insist upon a Jury-man but yet with-all I would not have it gone away with as Law that it is a good Cause of Challenge Mr. Wallop My Lord We finding in some Cases that are in our Books that it is held to be a good Cause of Challenge lay it before the Court. Mr. Att. Gen. How many 100 Errors do you find in my Lord Coke notwithstanding all his Learning L. Ch. Just I say if I was Mr. Attorney I would not contest for any particular man to be a Jury-man I speak that as my advice but I would not have it taken for Law nor would I have it broached abroad that tho' the Judges now were of one Opinion yet the Law truely was of another Mr. Jones If all that receive Sallery or Wages from the King are not to be Jury-men in the Kings Causes then all the Deputy Lieutenants and Militia Officers which generally are the most substantially Freeholders are excluded from being Jury-men Mr. Just Wythins Who will say so Mr. Jones No Lawyer in England surely will say so Mr. Williams Offices where there are no profit will not be the same exception Mr. Att. Gen. But he is no menial Servant of the Kings Mr. Williams What is he then Mr. Wallop We hear that he is Keeper of one of the Kings Forests and has a Fee for it Mr. Williams Well we will ask him upon a voyer dire Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord The Fact is quite otherwise and I desire they may make it out L. Ch. Just Truly I think 't is not tanti to insist upon any particular man but I find we are in Age that is so full of Cavils that if we act but according to the Presidents that went before us we are thought to act as Originals and to make new Laws when we only follow the Rules that we have received from our Predecessors And I say there was no such Challenge at Common Law that ever I read of in any of our Books nor is it any Challenge by the best Authorities extant Mr. Jones I desire them to shew me any such President That any man was challenged by one that was tried at the Suit of the King for a Challenge to the Favour but we must do unpresidented things or else there will be no satisfying of some Men. Mr. Att. Gen. I would fain know what one Opinion in a stragling Book is against the Currant of all our Law Mr. Williams Which do you call a stragling Book Mr Attorney my Lord Coke's Institutes or my Lord Rolls Abridgment L. Ch. Just I say the better Opinion of the Books is on the other side and the greater number too Mr. Att. Gen. First of all I do know of my own knowledge he is no menial Servant L. Ch. Just Mr. Attorney I do debate it for Learning sake truely I know not the Man nor whether he be the Kings Servant or not but I speak against allowing the Challenge that if he be set aside it may not be taken as a President and so pass for Law that the Kings Servants can't be Jury-men I would have you quit the man by consent but not as a force-put as tho' the Law were so for the Law I think is otherwise Mr. Att. General He is none my Lord they mistake L. Ch. Just Nay I know nothing of the man I tell you only what I think Mr. Wallop He receives Wages or a Fee from the King for his Office Mr. Just Wythins
THE TRYAL OF John Hambden Esq The 28 th day of November 1683. Ann. 35. Car. 2. Reg. John Hambden Esq being brought up by Writ of Habeas Corpus from the Tower of London and there being an Indictment preferred against him for Misdemeanor His Majesties Attorney General prayed that he might be Aâ—â—igned upon it which was done in this manner Cl. of Cr. JOhn Hambden You stand here Indicted by the Name of John Hambden late of the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex Gent. For that you being a Pernitious and Seditious Man and a Person of a Wicked mind and of an impious unquiet and turbulent Disposition and contriving practising and falsly unlawfully unjustly maliciously turbulently and seditiously intending the Peace of our Soveraign Lord King Charles that now is and the common Tranquility of this Kingdom of England to disquiet molest and disturb and as much as in you lay Sedition within this Kingdom of England to incite stir up and procure and the Government of our said Lord the King in this Kingdom of England into danger to bring And that you the said John Hambden your most Impious Wicked and Seditious Intentions aforesaid to fulfil and perfect and bring to effect the last day of June in the Five and Thirtieth year of the Reign of our said Soveraign Lord the King that now is and divers other days and times as well before as after with Force and Arms c. At the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex unlawfully unjustly maliciously and seditiously did assemble your self meet consult conspire and confederate with divers evil disposed Subjects of our said Lord the King to the Jurors unknown and with the said Persons did treat concerning your said most Wicked and Seditious Compassings Imaginations and Purposes aforesaid to be executed fulfill'd and brought to effect and further that you the said John Hambden your most Wicked Impious and Seditious Contrivances Practices and Intentions aforesaid to fulfil perfect and reduce to effect then and there viz. the last day of June in the 35th year aforesaid and divers other days and times as well before as after at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid with Force and Arms c. falsly unlawfully unjustly maliciously and seditiously did consult consent censpire and confederate of an Insurrection within this Kingdom of England to be made and of procuring and providing Arms and Armed Men to be prepared in divers places within this Kingdom of England your same most Wicked Impious and Seditious Intentions and Compassings aforesaid to fulfil and perfect And that you the said John Hambden your most Wicked Impious and Seditious Intentions aforesaid to fulfil and perfect and bring to effect afterwards viz. the last day of June in the 35th year aforesaid at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid with Force and Arms c. falsly unlawfully unjustly wickedly maliciously and seditiously did consult agree and consent that a certain Person to the Jurors aforesaid unknown should be sent into Scotland to invite and incite divers evil disposed Subjects of our said Lord the King of his Kingdom of Scotland to come into this Kingdom of England to advise and consult with you the said John Hambden and others the aforesaid evil disposed Subjects of our said Lord the King in this Kingdom of England concerning Aid and Assistance to be expected and supplyed out of the said Kingdom of Scotland your said most Wicked Impious and Seditious Intentions and Compassings aforesaid to fulfil effect and promote in manifest contempt of the Laws of this Kingdom of England to the evil and most pernicious Example of all others in the like case offending and against the Peace of our said Soveraign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity How sayst thou art thou Guilty of this High Misdemeanour whereof thou standest Indicted and hast been now Arraigned or not Guilty Mr. Hambden Not Guilty Upon which Plea issue was joyned between His Majesties Attorney General on behalf of the King and Defendant and Bail was then taken for the Defendants appearance the next Term. Hillary Term 35 and 36. Car. Secundi Reg. In the beginning of the Term Sir Thomas Jenner Knight His Majesties Serjeant at Law and Recorder of the City of London Moved for a Tryal at the Bar in the Case between the King and Mr. Hambden which was by the Court appointed to be on Wednesday the 6th of February in the same Term. Die Mercurii 6. Februarii 1683. Anno Regni Reg. Car. Secundi 36. Cl. of Cr. Call the Defendant John Hambden Mr. Williams He appears Cl. of Cr. Gardez votrez Challenges Call Sir Charles Gerard. Cryer You shall well and truly try the Issue between our Soveraign Lord the King and John Hambden Gent. and a true Verdict give according to your Evidence So help you â—â—d Jurat Sir Charles Gerard. Cl. of Cr. Roger Jennings Esq Jur. Henry Hodges Esq Jur. Joshua Galliard Esq Mr. Williams We challenge him for the Defendant L. Ch. Just What is your Cause of Challenge Mr. Williams If your Lordship please to let him go through the Pannel we will shew cause if there be not enough left without him L. Ch. Just No shew your Cause now it being against the King Mr. Williams He has an Employment under the King He has an Office in the Forest and that we say is our Cause of Challenge L. Ch. Just What then if he have Mr. Williams My Lord We suppose then he is not an indifferent Person to try this Cause L. Ch. Just Ay let me hear that now proved and defended by any Gentleman of the long Robe that that is a good cause of Challenge Shew me what Law there is for it Mr. Williams To be of the Kings Robe or Pay or Sallery is an exception in any Case wherein the King is concerned L. Ch. Just Shew me any Law for that if you can Mr. Williams I know you are a Lawyer Mr. Wallop It is the Opinion of my Lord Coke in his Institutes that it is a good Cause of Challenge L. Ch. Just But there is the Opinion of all the Judges in Henry the Fourths time against it Mr. Wallop It is my Lord fol. 156. L. Ch. Just But I can cite you three or four Books and you have them all together in Rolls Abridgment Title Challenge where he sets down four Books one after another That it is no cause of Challenge even to be the Kings Tenant and there is a great deal of reason for it For if that were a good Cause of Challenge mark the Consequence then all Persons that hold Lands in England hold them mediately or immediately of the King and so the King could have no Free-holders to be Jury-Men in his Cause Mr. Williams This is a more special Cause of Challenge than that L. Ch. Just What can be greater than that of being the Kings Tenant Mr. Att. Gen. Especially when all the Land
little at present in possession Your Lordship knows what Magna Charta says That there should be a Salvo Contenemento in all Fines and how far that may be an ingredient into your Lordships Judgment I leave to your Consideration L. C. J. For that matter I cannot tell what his Estate is I have no knowledg of him nor of his Estate whether it be great or small but Mr. Williams knows very well That the Crime in Conscience as well as Law in case it had been proved by two Witnesses would not only have wrought a forfeiture of all his Estate but a forfeiture of his Life too and all his reputation would have bastardized his Children would have attainted and corrupted his bloud So that there is no sort of imagination but that the Crime was High enough of Conscience and certainly deserves if we can impose it adequate to its desert a very great punishment Mr. Hambden nor his Counsel can deny but that they had a fair and a full hearing They had the liberty to say and prove all that they could and you cannot but say Mr. Attorney was very fair in making several Concessions that he might very lawfully and rightly insisted upon So that there can be no Exception of that kind I am sorry That Mr. Hambden a Gentleman of good Quality as he is by Birth though he be a Person I never saw before he came here the last day of the last Term upon his Habeas Corpus that I know of I say I am sorry one of his Quality and Education a studious Person as it seems by his own natural inclination and a learned Man should be so unhappily engaged in a design of this horridly evil nature But on the one side as well as we must take care of the Subject so on the other we must take care of the Government Here was a design of destroying the King and subverting the Government and bringing all into confusion Of this Design the Defendant is convicted and we must take care to proportion the punishment and according to our Consciences and Oaths and as we ought to have regard to the Offender so also we are to have regard to the Government that he has offended Mr. J. Wythens Mr. Williams It was Amercements that were spoken of there in Magna Charta L. C. J. Ay It was never meant of Fines for great Offences Then the Judges consulted together Mr. J. Wythens Mr. Hambden You know you are convicted of a very great Offence as great an Offence as can be I think committed unless it were High Treason For the matter of it would have made you Guilty if there had been two Witnesses It was for conspiring to levy War against His Majesty and for conspiring to raise an Insurrection and Rebellion within the Kingdom a Conspiracy of which some other Persons being lawfully convicted they have suffered death for it You are a Person of an extraordinary good Family and I am sorry one of your Family that has flourished so long and through so many Generations in great honour and reputation and great prosperity under the Monarchy of England should come to conspire to deprive that King of his Government whose Ancestors have protected and defended your Family and to spoil that Monarchy that has been the fountain of so much prosperity and honour to it I am sorry it comes to my turn to pronounce the Sentence of the Court upon you Mr. Hambden I have not any personal knowledg of you but I have heard of you and heard heretofore very well of you You have had a good Education and the Report of a learned and ingenuous Person which makes me yet wonder the more that you should engage in such a horrid Design as this was Indeed Mr. Hambden I am satisfied no Fine can be too great if any can be great enough for such an Offence We cannot take cognizance what your Estate is 't is reported there is a great Estate in your Family it has been always represented to be so Mr. Hambden I have nothing but for life and that is but little neither Mr. J. Wythens I know not what it is truly Sir But it was always reported to me to be a very great Estate but whatsoever it is we are to look after the proportioning the Punishment as near as we can to the Offence My Lord and the Court have considered of the matter and they think fit to give this Judgment upon you They set the Fine of Forty Thousand Pounds upon you to be paid to the King and you must be committed till you pay it L. C. J. And that you find Sureties for your good behaviour during your Life Mr. Att. Gen. I pray he may be committed for his Fine L. C. J. Let it be so Mr. Hambden If you will apply your self to the King you may and there perhaps you may find mercy we must according to the duty of our Places and Oaths give such Judgment as the Law requires Mr. Just Withins Ay In God's Name You are in the King's hands and he may do what he pleases in it L. C. J. If a Crime of this nature should have a little punishment it might encourage Offenders and if we were to judg according to some Verdicts that have been given here for less Offences where Gentlemen have given very much greater damages than thiâ— Fine amounts to this would be thought a moderate Fine I am sorry any Man should bring himself into these Circumstances The King as he is the Fountain of Justice so he is also of Mercy and you and all the rest of his Subjects have cause to bless God that you live under a Monarch that is very merciful No doubt If you give a good account of your Contrition and sorrow for your great Offence and decently apply your self to the King he will think of shewing mercy to you but Justice is our Work that are Judges and according to the methods of Justice we think we cannot inflict less than we have done Mr. Williams My Lord I pray his Bail may be discharged L. C. J. Ay his Bail is discharged he being committed Mr. Williams And for the High Treason he is discharged by the Habeas Corpus Act. L. C. J. Yes he is so for there is no Prosecution Then Mr. Hambden was carried by the Marshal away Prisoner FINIS Then the Dr. was sworn and the Oath repeated to him by Sir H. H. in French Then Doctor Needham was sworn
I would never for my part while I live nor never did while I was a practiser stand upon any particular Jury-man Mr. Att Gen. He may be a Jury-man by Law sure L. Ch. Just There is no doubt of it Mr. Attorney Mr. Att. Gen. My Lord If your Lordships have given your Opinion I desire he may stand by L. Ch. Just Well Mr. Attorney waves him Let him stand by Mr. Att. Gen. But for no Reason that has been offered L. Ch. Just No no I don't hear any thing of Reason offered for it Cl. of Cr. Mr. Galliard You may go down Thomas Harriott Esq Jur. Thomas Earsby Esq Jur. William Avery Esq Jur. John Sharpe Esq Jur. Richard Shoreditch Mr. Williams We challenge him for the Defendant L. Ch. Just What is your Cause of Challenge Mr. Williams There is the same exception to him L. Ch. Just If Mr. Attorney will consent with all my heart Mr. Sol. Gen. No we humor'd you in one we won't humor you any more Mr. Williams Nay here is something more clear for us He is a Serjeant at Arms attending His Majesty Mr. Just Wythins You know our Opinions already Mr. Williams unless Mr. Attorney consent we can't do it Mr. Williams We only acquaint Mr. Attorney with it we must submit to your Rule he is certainly Serjeant at Arms he came in the place of Dereham that let my Lord Gray escape Mr. Att. Gen. Pray prove it I don't know it for my share Mr. Williams Will you ask him the Question Mr. Att. Gen. Pray prove it Are we to gratifie your Clyent Pray let him better instruct his Counsel L. C. Just If Mr. Attorney consent not then he must be sworn Mr. Att. Gen. If there be enough without him that do appear let him stand by Cl. of Cr. Stand down Mr. Shoreditch Charles Good Esq Jur. Mr. Att. Gen. That it may appear how fair things were carried they would not strike out one of these Men when they came before the Protonotary as they might have done Mr. Just Wythins Truly that was not well done to trouble the Court when you might make your exceptions there Mr. Williams We did not know it then now we do we offer it to the Court. Cl. of Cr. Sam. Rouse Esq Jur. Hugh Squire Esq Jur. Nehemiah Arnold Esq Jur. and John Bifeild Esq Jur. Then the Jury were numbred and the 12 sworn were these Sir Charles Gerard Baronet Jur. Roger Jennings Esq Jur. Henry Hodges Esq Jur. Thomas Harriott Esq Jur. Thomas Earsby Esq Jur. William Avery Esq Jur. John Sharpe Esq Jur. Charles Good Esq Jur. Samuel Rouse Esq Jur. Hugh Squire Esq Jur. Nehemiah Arnold Esq Jur. John Bifeild Esq Jur. Cl. of Cr. Gentlemen of the Jury You that are sworn Hearken to your Charge The Defendant John Hambden stands Indicted by the name of John Hambden of the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex Gent. Prout in the Indictment mutatis mutandis To this Indictment he has pleaded not Guilty and for his Tryal puts himself upon the Country and the Kings Attorney General likewise which Country you are your Charge is to inquire whether the Defendant be Guilty of the great Misdemeanour whereof he stands Indicted or not Guilty if you find him Guilty you are to say so and if you find him not Guilty you are to say so and no more and hear your Evidence Then Proclamation was made for Evidence in usual form Mr Holoway May it please your Lordship and Gentlemen you that are sworn I am of Counsel for the King upon this Indictment Gentlemen the Indictment sets forth that the Defendant being a Seditious Malitious Evil disposed Person and Seditiously and Maliciously intending to disturb the Peace of the Kingdom the last day of June in the 35. year of his now Majesty's Reign and divers other days and times at the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields in your County did unlawfully assemble and confederate himself with divers Evil-disposed Persons Subjects of our Lord the King and then and there with those other persons did Falsly Maliciously and Seditiously consult and conspire to make an Insurrection in the Kingdom of England and to provide Arms and Armed men in divers places of the said Kingdom And the better to compleat his Evil Intentions the said last day of June did consult and agree to send certain persons to the Jurors unknown into Scotland to invite several Evil-disposed Persons there to joyn in this Conspiracy This is the Substance of the Charge and to this he says He is not Guilty If we prove him so we do not question but you will find it Mr. Att. Gen. May it please your Lordship and you Gentlemen of this Jury Mr Hambden stands Indicted of an High Misdemeanour for conspiring with several others to raise Rebellion within the Kingdom and to crave the Assistance of the Brother-hood of Scotland Upon the face of the Indictment Gentlemen it appears to be a very high Crime and the matter of this indeed has been formerly in examination in other Tryals and yet the Party you may observe do not acquiesce in those Tryals but think the Persons accused lay under very great hardships and that to a very great degree as not having the advantage of Counsel nor to have their Witnesses examined upon Oath and therefore Gentlemen the King is pleased to go less in this Case than in the others That this Gentleman who is now before the Court may clear his innocence if he has any Witnesses to do it And if there be any advantage that the having of Counsel can contribute to his Cause he has that allowed him too The Course of our Evidence Gentlemen will be this We shall prove to you that Mr. Hambden with five other Persons I shall name them The Duke of Monmouth my Lord Russel Mr. Sidney my Lord of Essex and my Lord Howard they met several times the particulars we shall give you an account of one was at Mr. Hambden's house another was at my Lords Russels where they did contrive together and took upon them to be a Juncto or a Counsel of Six collected out of the wisest men of the Kingdom to consider how they might better the Affairs of the Nation and how they might make a Stir For they thought there was no way possible otherwise of doing it but by their joynt Counsels to carry on a Rising And that they might do it the Better they resolved to crave the Assistance of Scotland Gentlemen We shall give you an account of their Consults and Debates and shall shew you that at length they came to a Resolution That the rising was to be carried on joyntly in London and the several parts of the Kingdom in several Countries at once Then they came to think and consider whether it were not best to send into Scotland to draw them in too And thereupon it was agreed by this Juncto That they would send thither and the management of