Recollections of the Court Room, Or Narratives, Scenes and Anecdotes from Courts of Justice (Classic Reprint)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 edition. Excerpt: ... two singular cases of isolated treason. A thing deviled by the enemy.--Shaketpean. Much to palliate, much even to defend, may be urged in favor of the loyal traitors who supported the cause of the exiled Stuarts. Theirs was a mistake between the rex de jure and the rex de facto--their fidelity to one king was their only treason against the other. They bore no private hate nor malice; of their sincerity, disinterestedness, and devotion, there could be no doubt; and even their enemies are now inclined to forget their errors in recalling the gallantry and heroism they displayed. Treason, however, seldom bears so venial a shape; and of all the species of this wicked and dangerous offence, few are more likely to hurt a country more than the two treacherous acts which form the subject of the following narrative. The baseness of the crime was increased in the earlier of these instances by the pecuniary views of the culprit. A melancholy interest notwithstanding attaches to offenders who, gentlemen in other respects, should so forget themselves in this. Pity, too, will be felt for the latter of them, whose faithlessness to his king was so cruelly matched by the system that was adopted to bring him to conviction. The men who committed these treasons were Dr. Florence Hensey and the Rev. William Jackson. Nearly thirty years elapsed between their respective crimes. To begin with the former of the two: Florence Hensey was born in the county of Kildare, in Ireland. When very young, he came to England, and soon after went over to Holland, and was educated in the University of Leyden. He made great advances there in physic, science, and literature. He afterwards traveled to Switzerland, and continued some time at Berne, from whence he went to Italy, ..