This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com MemoirsofthelifejudgeJeffreys HumphryWilliamWoolrych 600011061F 27- 7M- i Ji>■ God/h? fciAtrs pmrf■ EMSbuvt.seulp.1 George, Lons.ro Jeffreys, fMRD BIGB CBANCEILOM m 0u REIGN of JAMES //, Vft\ Published byBtvuy Co&urn /.oiuUn.. Jane ll&y. MEMOIRS , ./— OF THE LIFE /0^h< OF judge Jeffreys; SOMETIME LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND. BY HUMPHRY W. WOOLRYCH. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1827, /if PRINTED BY A. J. VALPy, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. INTRODUCTION. The author happened, in the presence of a friend, to hint his intention of writing this life, when the latter instantly took the alarm, and exclaimed, " Why, you surely are not going to whitewash Judge Jeffreys ?" The author said, he certainly could not think of justifying that lawyer upon every occasion, whose character was, upon the whole, none of the best ; but that he saw no reason why even such a man as Jeffreys might not have had some good qualities, as well as others. Now, most will agree that this is a fair prin ciple, not at all inapplicable to human nature ; and, upon investigating the subject, some very redeeming traits soon showed themselves, bright ening up with admirable lustre the conduct of a man who has been denounced by Protestant IV INTRODUCTION. writers, people of his own creed, as the most wicked of mortals. Were all the histories un impeachable which profess to speak of him, and the anathemas against him as prompt in their fulfilment as in their descent from the pens of ripe and ready writers, surely he might beg from the Catholics a place in their purgatory, and count it indeed a felicitous atonement for his misdeeds. But really it would be as absurd to predicate of any person that he is entirely vicious, as that we should desire to see Jeffreys at the head of the King's Bench now, instead of the excellent and patient judge who presides there. At the same time, we are far from advising parents to recommend the example of Sir George Jeffreys to their children. Heaven grant that our country may be for ever free from such tyranny as his ; and that whoever ventures to make him a pat tern may be impeached, and soon hanged, or beheaded, as may suit! All we say is, that whenever a cloud is spread over the political horizon, some needy adventurer will appear, ready to serve every turn ; and that it is, never theless, the province of such as are pleased to record his actions, to give him fair measure, good as well as evil report. For were it other wise, it need only be said of any one, as Bur INTRODUCTION. ' V net did of Jeffreys, that he is "scandalously vicious;" and the terms monster, tyrant, ruffian, a cohort of abuse, a condemnation full and universal, would be poured forth against him, without the scantiest endeavour to point out the true sources of his errors; so that others would never be the wiser, or better enabled to shun them. If an inquiry be once set on foot, there are kindly qualities even in the worst of men : the depraved and degenerate (as some are called) will often, in their mood, achieve gene rous and noble deeds which the excellent of the earth have seldom contemplated, so sternly is the Divine Image, all over beautiful and lovely, stamped upon us. But, had the author even in dulged in panegyric, the character of Jeffreys would not have been the first, no, nor yet the worst, which a solitary writer might have dared to ennoble in the face of all others who have agreed in an united theme of execration. What said the philosopher Seneca of Claudius Caesar ? Consoling Polybius, the emperor's freedman, for the loss of a brother, he writes : — " Since you are so anxious to banish all things from your memory, think on Caesar: see what faithfulness, what diligence you owe him, for his partiality. It is his watchfulness which guards the dwellings of all ; his labour the ease VI INTRODUCTION. of all, his industry the luxuries of all, his occu pation the repose of all. Add now, that as you ever hold Caesar to be more dear to you than your own soul ; it is not right, whilst Caesar is safe, to repine at fortune."1 This was the great philosopher who so far scorned the world, as to declare, that there was great pleasure in the very article of death ; and yet he wasted much such lavish praise upon a drivelling idiot. But not to harass the reader ; does not our own historian, George Buck, speak feelingly for Crook-back'd Richard ? " There is no story that shows the planetary affections and malice of the vulgar," says the panegyrist, " more truly than King Richard's, and what a tickle game kings have to play with them ; though his successor, Henry VII. played his providently enough (with help of the standers-by) ; yet even those times both groaned and complained, but had not the sting and infection of King Richard's 1 Cum voles omnium rerum oblivisci, cogita Ca■sarem : vide quantam hujus in te iudulgentia; fidem, quautam inilus- triam debeas. Omnium domos illius vigilia defendit, om nium otium illius labor, omnium dclicias illius industria, omnium vacationem illius occupatio. — Adjice nunc, quod cum semper praedices carioiem tibi spiritu tuo Ca■sarcm esse, fas tibi non est, salvo Cwsare, dc fortuiiA qncri. INTRODUCTION. Vll adversaries, who did not only contend with his immortal parts, but raked his dust, to find and aggravate exceptions in his grave." — " Julius Caesar," continues he, " was, and ever will be, reputed a wise and a great captain, although his emulation cost an infinite quantity of human blood. He thought crimen sacrum Ambitio." If right for ought may e'er be violate, It must be only for a sovereign state. And again : " He wore the crown at Bosworth," says Polidore, " thinking that day should either be the last of his life, or the first of a better ; but whatever was his mystery, it rendered him a confident and valiant master of his right." Indeed, one might at this day be emboldened to ask — What had become of Richmond's me mory, if he had fallen down slain in Bosworth- field, and, like Richard, had been Dragg'd by the hair to hostile swords a prey, And slain with barbarous wounds ? What had been told us of Augustus, if he had died less than Emperor of Rome ? What of our Jeffreys, on the other hand, if the army at Salisbury had stood faithful to King James ; or the Lord Dartmouth, blest with auspicious Vlll INTRODUCTION. winds, had attacked the Dutch fleet, ere the Prince of Orange had landed at Torbay ? But it is for the public to judge : to their mercy we leave the great Chief Justice, and go on at once, lest some Christopher Sly should peep out, and say, " A good matter surely : come there any more of it? Would it were done !" When the answer must be, " My lord, 'tis but begun." CONTENTS. CHAP. I. Birth and parentage of Jeffreys —His love of splendour — Anecdote — Goes to school at Shrewsbury, St. Paul's free- school, and to Westminster — Recollection of Busby — Jef freys a lawyer against his father's consent — His remark able dream — He is entered of the Inner Temple — Sir Geoffry Palmer, attorney-general to Charles II. — Stu dies of Jeffreys — His love of the bottle — He is the zeal ous supporter of the democratic faction, who encourage him and assist him with money .... page I CHAP. II. Jeffreys pleads at Kingston at the age of eighteen, two years before he is called to the bar — Paucity of lawyers— Boldness of his carriage — His clear enunciation— Ingenious artifice to obtain briefs — Cross-examining — Disinterested mo tive of Jeffreys' marriage with the kinswoman of the heiress whom he first courted — Amiable temper of his wife, Lady Sarah — He receives countenance from a namesake, Alder man Jeffreys — He is appointed common-serjeant — His blus X CONTEXTS. tering to conceal a bribe — Jeffreys betrays the democrats, and accedes to the court party — Friendship with Chiffinch, the King's page — Jeffreys, recorder of London, owes his advancement to political tergiversation . page 16 CHAP. III. Jeffreys, now a widower, espouses the daughter of a former lord mayor — " The Westminster Wedding;" lampoon upon the Town Mouth, or Recorder Jeffreys — The King's Psalter, question of literary piracy — Sir Edmondbury Godfrey — Trial of the Jesuit Coleman — The recorder's commisera tion of the papists he condemns — Really inimical to the Catholics — The sermon-house at Canterbury — Jeffreys de fends Dangerfield — Cases of libel — Maxims of Jeffreys on this head — Jurymen ignore a bill against Smith ; violence and subtlety of the recorder foiled — Jeffreys is made ser jeant, chief justice of Chester, and a baronet — Duke of York's claims of profits of the new penny-post — Mr. Dockra — Baron Weston's reproof of Jeffreys in court — Lord Dela- mere's severe charge against Jeffreys, as a Welsh judge — His brothers, Sir Thomas Jeffreys and Dr. Jeffreys — The question as to Petitions — Jeffreys is accused of obstructing the voice of the people — Subsequent censure of Sir George Jeffreys on his knees at the bar of the House of Commons —He is constrained to resign the office of recorder of London — George Treby elected recorder — Case of Verdon ; his wit in his own defence ...