The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and ProgressJackson, Mason
History
The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and Progress
Jackson, Mason
Illustration of books; Newspapers -- Illustrations
Another broadside of the same date (1660) is entitled '_A Looking-Glass
for Traytors, being the manner of the Tryall of those Barbarous Wretches
at Justice-Hall in the Old-Baily, who contrived and compassed the Death
of his late Sacred Majesty King Charles the First, of ever blessed
memory; with an Account of their Severall Araignments, Conviction,
Condemnation, and Execution_.' This sheet is also illustrated with a
copperplate engraving, representing the Old Bailey Court at the trial of
the Regicides, which is interesting if it truly represents the
appearance of the court at that time. Numerous letters of reference are
given under the engraving to explain its different parts, and a short
summary is given of the trial: 'His Majesty (in pursuance of an Act of
Parliament which had left the persons following to be tried according to
Law, for being the principal Actors in the said Tragedy of his Father's
death) issued out a special Commission of _Oyer_ and _terminer_ to the
Judges and other Commissioners for that purpose; and accordingly
_Wednesday_ the 10th of _October_ they met at the Sessions house in the
_Old-Baily_, and the same morning the following persons were ordered to
be brought from the _Tower_ to _Newgate_, and a way was made from the
Press-yard backwards to the Sessions house, privately to convey them to
and again, to keep them from the pressing of the people.' Then follows a
list of twenty-eight persons, including Major-General Harrison and Hugh
Peters, 'all which being brought to the Bar, were indicted and arraigned
to the following effect:--
'_That they not having the fear of God before their eyes, but being led
by the instigation of the Divel had maliciously, traiterously, and
advisedly imagined, consulted, contrived, and compassed the death of his
late Majesty Charles the first of ever blessed memory, and that they had
aided, procured, abetted, assisted, and comforted a certain person with
a vizard upon his face, and a frock upon his body for that purpose._
'Major-General _Harrison_ in his Pleadings carried himself so
confidently to the Court as if he thought himself Careless and
Unconcerned in the businesse, and seemed to justify not only the Power
under which he Acted but also the Act itself, saying that Kings had
formerly been privately Assassinated and Murthered, but what they had
done was in the face of the Sun and in the fear of the Lord; whereat the
Court was much troubled to see that he should make God the Author of
that Horrid Murther.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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