A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF STATE-TRIALS AND PROCEEDINGS UPON HIGH-TREASON, AND OTHER CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS; FROM THE REIGN OF KING RICHARD II. TO THE END OF THE REIGN OF KING GEORGE I: IN 5 VOLUMES.; (With Two Alphabetical Tables to the Whole)
London, England: Printed for the undertakers, J. Walthoe Sen. and jun. ; Thomas Wotton, Charles Bathurst, Jacob and Richard Tonson, and the representatives of John Darby ... and also for J. Basket ... [and 29 others], 1730. Second Edition, with Additions. Leather-bound. Incomplete. Sixth Volume missing, presumeably covering 1710 to 1729. (Available in latter-day reprint elsewhere). Fascinating record of crime and punishment, in exhausting detail.
Large folios. 14 in. x 9 in. Full calf with decorative borders in blind (except Volume III, which is full mottled calf.) Six raised bands. Black spine label in gilt, with range of trial dates in one compartment, and gilt date stamped in bottom compartments. Title page in red and black. Latter-day rebacking, restoration and reconstitution by conservator. The (outlying) Third Volume is from the Third Edition, published in 1742. It has red edges.
Contains transcripts of all trials for high treason, etc. between 1388 and 1709.
By way of example, trials of: Philip Standsfield in Scotland for the Murder of his Father; Proceedings against Dr. Hen. Compton, Lord Bishop of London, for not suspending Dr. Sharpe; Proceedings against Dr. John Peachall, Vice Chancellor, and the University of Cambridge, for not admitting Alban Francis, a Benedictine Monk, to the Degree of Master of Arts; Proceedings against John Price, Esq. and one hundred other Protestants in Ireland, for High-Treason against King James; The Trial of . Henry Harrison for the Murder of Dr. Clenche; Trial of Charles Lord Mohun for the Murder of Wm. Mountford; etc. Also trials for Bigamy, Debauchery, Forced Marriage, Cheating the Crown, etc.
Trial and Execution of Sir Raleigh (Volume I, pp. 205-223) reads, in part: "The executioner kneeled down and asked him forgiveness; the which laying his hand upon his shoulder, he forgave him. Then being asked which way he would lay himself on the block, he made answer and said, 'so the heart be streight, it is no matter which way the head lieth: So laying his head on the block, his face being towards the East, the headsman throwing down his own cloak, because he would not spoil the prisoner's gown, he giving the headsman a sign when he should strike, by lifting up his hands, the executioner struck off his head at two blows, his body never shrinking nor moving. His head was shewed on each side of the scaffold, and then put into a red leather bag, and his wrought velvet gown thrown over it, which was afterwards conveyed away in a mourning coach of his lady's..." Very Good. Item #75728
Excerpts.
Mrs. Pollexsen. "Prithee, Friend, tell the Truth;what did become of the Horses?
Dunne. "I cannot tell truly, my Lord; if any body had them away, I did not see them."
L.C.F. "Where didst thou lie that Night?"
Dunne. "In one of the Chambers."
L.C.F. "Who shewed thee the way to... the Stable, and help'd thee with Horse-meat??"
Dunne. "No body help'd me to Horse-meat."
L.C.F. "Why, thy Horse did not feed on thy Cake and Cheese, did he?"...
"But you, Blockhead, I ask you whether you did see any body else?"
Dunne. "I do not know but I might see Goodman Carpenter..."
L.C.F. "Thou art a strange prevaricating, shuffling, sniveling, lying Rascal..."
Price: $2,250.00