State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27515

Title

State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edited by H. L. Stephen, this volume presents selected reports of seventeenth-century English state trials, including those of Sir Walter Raleigh, Charles I., the Regicides, and the Suffolk Witches. Blending political intrigue, witchcraft accusations, and judicial procedure, the text offers a vivid glimpse into the era's social beliefs, revolutionary tensions, and the harsh realities of criminal justice.

Summary up to 500 words

H. L. Stephen's *State Trials, Political and Social, Volume 1* offers a curated selection of pivotal seventeenth-century English legal proceedings, abridged from Howell's extensive collection. Stephen's editorial approach preserves the original, often uncouth style of the reports while providing essential context on counsel, judges, and historical connections. The volume opens with the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh, whose case is inextricably linked to the politics of James I's reign, the Bye Plot, and international tensions with Spain and France. The proceedings highlight the informality of early seventeenth-century trials and the government's strategic use of private information to secure convictions against Raleigh. The narrative then shifts to the historic trial of Charles I before the High Court of Justice. Colonel Harrison's dramatic defense justifies the regicide as an act of Parliament, arguing that the Commons held supreme authority. This is followed by the trials of the Regicides, including Hugh Peters, who defiantly pleaded not guilty by the word of God alone, refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the court that tried him. Stephen also details the trial of Alice Lisle, a gentlewoman accused of treason for harboring a rebel soldier. Presided over by the notorious Lord Jeffreys, the trial features a brutal cross-examination that leads to a guilty verdict and a sentence of burning, later commuted to beheading. The jury's hesitation and Jeffreys' aggressive tactics underscore the harsh realities of the era. The volume concludes with footnotes providing biographical details on figures like Jeffreys and legal context, emphasizing the continuity of criminal procedure since the Reformation. Through these cases, the book illuminates popular beliefs about witchcraft, the mechanics of treason trials, and the human drama behind these turbulent historical events.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Great Britain
• Trials