"We have given in our verdict," returned the jury, "and we can give in no
other."
"Gentlemen," said the Recorder, "you have not given in your verdict, and
you had as good say nothing; therefore go and consider it once more, that
we may make an end of this troublesome business."
The jury then asked for pen, ink, and paper, and the request being
complied with, they again retired, returning after a brief interval with
their verdict in writing. They found Penn "guilty of speaking or preaching
to an assembly met together in Gracechurch Street," and Mead not guilty.
"Gentlemen," said the Recorder, regarding the jury angrily, "you shall not
be dismissed till we have a verdict that the court will accept; and you
shall be locked up, without meat, drink, fire, and tobacco. You shall not
think thus to abuse the court. We will have a verdict, or you shall starve
for it."
Penn protested against this course, upon which the Recorder ordered the
officers of the court to stop his mouth or remove him. The jury not
leaving their box, the Recorder again directed them to retire and
re-consider their verdict. Penn made a spirited remonstrance. "The
agreement of twelve men," said he, "is a verdict in law, and such a one
having been given by the jury, I require the clerk of the peace to record
it, as he will answer at his peril. And if the jury bring in another
verdict contradictory to this, I affirm they are perjured men in law. You
are Englishmen," he added, turning to the jury, "mind your privilege; give
not away your right." The court then adjourned to the following morning,
when the prisoners were brought to the bar, and the jury, who had been
locked up all night, were sent for. They were firm of purpose, and through
their foreman persisted in their verdict.
"What is this to the purpose?" demanded the Recorder, "I will have a
verdict." Then addressing a juror, named Bushel, whom he had threatened on
the previous day, he said, "you are a factious fellow; I will set a mark
on you, and whilst I have anything to do in the city, I will have an eye
on you."
Penn again protested against the jury being threatened in this manner,
upon which the Lord Mayor ordered that his mouth should be stopped, and
that the gaoler should bring fetters and chain him to the floor; but it
does not appear that this was done. The jury were again directed to retire
and bring in a different verdict, and they withdrew under protest, the
foreman saying, "We have given in our verdict, and all agreed to it; and
if we give in another, it will be a force upon us to save our lives."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account