The Tryal and Conviction of Sr Sam, Bernardiston, Bart for..

1684. Tried for Libel by the Judge He Insulted [Trial]. Barnardiston, Sir Samuel [1620-1707], Defendant. The Tryal and Conviction of Sr. Sam, Bernadiston, Bart. for High-Misdemeanor at the Session of Nisi Prius, Holden at Guild-Hall, London, For His Majesties Court of Kings Bench, Before the Right Honorable Sir George Jeffreys, Knight and Baronet, Lord Chief Justice of England, On Thursday, Feb. 14. 1683. London: Printed for Benjamin Tooke, 1684. Folio. [ii], 8, 13-34 pp. Lacking imprimatur and final blank leaves. Text continuous despite pagination. Folio (11-1/2" x 7-1/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet in recent paper-covered boards. Moderate toning to interior, light foxing and soiling in a few places, small slip of paper bound between title page and first text leaf. $100. * Only edition. After the summary execution of the conspirators in the "Rye House Plot" to kill Charles II and his brother, many felt that Charles had exploited the trials to remove his political opponents. Barnardiston expressed his dissatisfaction in a number of private letters that contained tacit support for William Lord Russell and Algernon Sidney and insulted Sir George Jeffreys, the judge in Sidney's case. The letters were discovered and Barnardiston was tried for seditious libel before the very judge he had insulted. Jeffreys, who had a reputation as a brutal, coarse and self-interested judge, instructed the jury to return a guilty verdict. They did as instructed, but Barnardiston refused to pay the fine and was imprisoned. The judgment was eventually reversed by the House of Lords. English Short-Title Catalogue R30169. (Inventory #: 81926)