Whitefriars: Or, The Days Of Charles The Second

by Emma Robinson

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV. THE TRIAL OF SYDNEY. A Eoyal reign of terror now commenced; arrest followed arrest, the noble Russell bled on the scaffold, Essex committed suicide, and on the insufficient evidence which had condemned Russell, Sydney was put on his trial by the award of the grand jury. He attempted to raise objections to the indictment, but Jeffreys overruled all. It was even rumoured that his daughter was accused of treasonable knowledge of the conspiracy, and it was certain that she was held in a kind of imprisonment in Aumerle House, none of her relations but her uncle, Lord Leicester, being allowed to see her. The only hope which the friends of Sydney now entertained, was the fact, that only one witness--Howard of Eskricke--could depose to any overt act of treason, and the law imperatively required two witnesses. In the midst of these speculations, however, men were astounded with tidings that Mervyn had volunteered to bear witness against his former friend and benefactor, and that his evidence was that on which the crown lawyers depended for implicating Sydney in the conspiracy of the Rye House At first this report met with general incredulity, but when the circumstances under which he had first appeared on the eventful stage of the popish plot were remembered--people shook their heads and knew not what to think. Altogether the trial was looked forward to with the most intense interest, and was the sole engrossing topic of all men's conversation. At length the day arrived--that day the brightest and saddest of the great martyrology of English liberty--the 21st of November, 1083. It was about nine o'clock on the morning of that memorable day that Mervyn entered Westminster Hall, escorted by a strong guard, and as a witness--for in no other character had...

First published October 14, 2010

About the author

1814-1890