The tryal of Christopher Layer, Esq; at the King's Bench Bar, Westminster, for high-treason, Nov. 21. 1722. Mich. 9 Geo. I.

  • Layer, Christopher, 1683-1723.
Date:
MDCCXXXV. [1735]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The tryal of Christopher Layer, Esq; at the King's Bench Bar, Westminster, for high-treason, Nov. 21. 1722. Mich. 9 Geo. I. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    dums, for the giying Inftruffion and Information for the French King how to invade England. I defire to put Mr. Keteibey this Cafe : Suppofe any one had proclaimed the Pretender at Charing-Crofs, or elfewhere, and had read his Declaration, exciting the Peo¬ ple to revolt and to come in to him, and promifing them Rewards; and then tne Declaration had been carried off, or fo difpofed of that it could not be recovered and produced in Evi¬ dence, I would be glad to know, whether that Perfon might not be indicted for Treafon, without letting forth the particular Words which he read out of fuch Declaration ; or whe¬ ther he Ihould efcape Punifhme'nt for want of being able to fet out the par¬ ticular Words ? Keteibey. The reading of the Pa¬ per in that cafe would be fuffident. L. C. ]. Have you done, or have you any Thing further to offer for the Prifoner ? Cl. of the Cr. Chriftopher Layer, hold up your Hand. You have been indi&ed of High-Treafon, &c. Prifoner. I have nothing more to fay now, becaufe my Counfel have gi¬ ven it up. But after your Lordfhip hath palled Sentence upon me, 1 hope and deiire, for the Sake of other Peo¬ ple more than myfelf, thofe that I have had very great Dealings and Corre- fpondence with, particularly my Lord Londonderry, and feveral others, that I would do Juftice to; that your Lord- fhip would give me a reafonable Time to make up their Accounts; and when that is done, I hope your Lordfhip will give me Hill a further Time to make up that, great Account which I have in another Place* when this is done, if his Majelly doth not think fit, graci- oufiy to continue me in this World, X will dare to die like a Gentleman and a Chriftian, not doubting but that I ffiall meet with a double Portion of Mercy and Juftice in the next World, though 'tis denied me in this. L. C. J. Chriftopher Layer, You have been Indi6ted, and.after a long Examination and fair Trial, have been convicted of High-Treafon, in com- pafling and imagining the Death of the King. You have had all the Indulgence and Advantage that the Law would allow you. You have had Counfel at figned you of your own chufing, to advife you preparatory to your Trial, and to aflift you in making your Defence at your Trial. Thefe Counfel have been permitted to fay whatever they thought proper for your Service; and I heartily wifh I could fay, that they had not taken a greater Liberty than they ought to have done: But however that was, the court thought fit to permit it in them, that they might not be difeouraged in offering any Thing that was proper for your Defence; we did not cenfure it then, on this confideration. The Jury that have found you guil¬ ty, are fuch, as may be juftly faid^ you yourfelf approved of; for, tho* the Law gives you a Liberty of chal¬ lenging five and thirty, you chal* lenged but four and thirty; fo you allowed the reft to be an indifferent Jury, to pafs between the King and you as to your Life and Death. The Evidence on which you have be*en convi&ed, is the cleareft and plaineft that ever I heard: Your per¬ fon al conferences with the Pretender at Rome; your conftant correfpon- dence