A short, but just account of the tryal of Benjamin Harris upon an information brought against him for printing and vending a late seditious book called An appeal from the country to the city, for the preservation of His Majesties person, liberty, property, and the Protestant religion.

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Title
A short, but just account of the tryal of Benjamin Harris upon an information brought against him for printing and vending a late seditious book called An appeal from the country to the city, for the preservation of His Majesties person, liberty, property, and the Protestant religion.
Author
Harris, Benjamin, d. 1716?
Publication
[London? :: s.n.],
1679.
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Subject terms
Harris, Benjamin, d. 1716? -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Blount, Charles, 1654-1693. -- Appeal from the country to the city.
Freedom of the press -- England -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"A short, but just account of the tryal of Benjamin Harris upon an information brought against him for printing and vending a late seditious book called An appeal from the country to the city, for the preservation of His Majesties person, liberty, property, and the Protestant religion." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A60058.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 1, 2024.

Pages

Then my Lord Chief Justice spake to the Jury to this Effect.

I am sorry you gave Countenance to this Cause so much, as to stir from the Bar, when the Evidence was so full, and when I told you plainly, not only my Opinion, but likewise that of all the Judges of England, that selling this Book was an Offence at the Common Law, for which they ought to be punished: and yet with your Scruples, you give the Party (with their Hol∣lows, and Shoutings) to take Advantage; though you did mean upon the matter, the same thing then, you do now: Yet you see, upon every little occasion, when a thing shall seem to thwart the Government, how ready they are to send up their loud Hollowings. It was not so prudently done as might have been done.

We had need look about us, for if at such a time, and for such a base Book, such Clamorous Noises shall be made, what shall become of us? Our Lives and Fortunes are at stake. Would I knew some of those Shouters, I would make them know, I would punish them: I am Incensed in the behalf of the Government, and of all our Lives and Fortunes, that such shall go un∣punished.

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