676 The H l S T 0 R Y of the PuRITANs. VoL. IT. ChKi[tg II obO:inacy, others firmn efs : but by it they carried their point, the govern- ;~7e~. · 1 ment being weary of contending againfl: fo much refolution. ~ On the firll: of September two of th eir principal fpeakers, William Trial of Pen and f..Yil!iam Mead, were tried at the Old Bailey, for an unlawfu l ~~nvJ~~~ and tumultuous aifcmbly in the open 11reet, wherein they fpake or preach– Mead at the ed to the people who we re affemGled in Grace-Church-Jlreet, to the nu m– Old Bailey. ber of three or four hundred, in contempt of the king's laws, and to the ~a:e ~nals, difiurbance of the peace. The prifoners pleaded not guilty, but met with 6o 0 7: · p. fome of the feverell: uG1ge that has been known in an englijh court of juftice. They were fined forty marks a-piece for coming into ..cou;t witi' 1 th eir hats on, though it was not done out of contempt, but fi·om a prin– ciple of their religion. It appeared by the witneifes, that there was an afTembly in Grace-Churcb-Jlreet, but there was neither riot nor tumu lt, nor force of arms. Mr. Pen confefTed they were fo far from recanting, or declining to vindicate the aifembling themfelves to preach, pray, or wor!11ip the etel'!lal, holy, jull: God, that they declared to all the world, they believed it to be their duty, and that ~11 the powers on earth iliould Jlot be able to divert them from it. When it was faid, they were not ar– raigned for woriliipping God, but for breaking the law, Wz/!iam Pen11 · affirmed he had broken no law, and challenged the recorder to tell him up– on what law he was profecuted. The recorder anfwe red, upon the com– mon law, but could not tell whe re that common law was to be found. Pen inlill:ed upon his producing the law, but the court over-ruled him, and called him a troublefome fellow. Pen replied, " I defign no affront to " the court, but if you deny to acquaint me with the law you fay I have " broken , you deny me the right that is due to every englifh-man, and " evidence to the whole world that your defigns are arbitrary." Upon which he was baled from the bar into th e bail- dock. As he was going out be fa id to the jury, " If thefe fundamental laws which relate to li– " b~rty and property, mull: not be indifpenfably maintained, who ca n fay " he has a right to the coat upon his back? Certainly then our liberties " are open]y tO·be invaded, our wives to be raviilied, our children enilav– " ed, ami.our efl:ates led away in triumph, by every fturdy beggar and ma- " li ciouf[nformer, as their trophies." · lnjujlicc and Wi!liam Mead being left alone at the bar, faid, " You men of the ju– crutlty of tbc " ry , I am accufed of meeting by.force if arms, in a tumultuous man– ccurt. " ner -- Time was when I had freedom to ufe a carnal weapon, and " then I feared no man;. but now I fear the living God, and dare not " make ufe thereof, nor hurt any man. I am a. peaceable man, and " therefore demand to know upon what law my indiClment is found.. " ed . if the recorder will not tell what makes a riot, Coke will tell •• hi~. that it is when th~ee .or more. are met together to beat a man, ~ m
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