198

DISTORT OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

VIII.

1688 .

“and the decision is not yet known. The Judges and theculprits have gone to their own homes. The jury remaintogether. To-morrow we shall learn the event of this greatstruggle.”

The solicitor for the Bishops sate up all night with a bodyof servants on the stairs leading to the room where the jurywas consulting. It was absolutely necessary to watch theofficers who watched the doors; for those officers were sup-posed to be in the interest of the crown, and might, if notcarefully observed, have furnished a courtly juryman withfood, which would have enabled him to starve out the othereleven. Strict guard was therefore kept. Not even a candleto light a pipe was permitted to enter. Some basins of waterfor washing were suffered to pass at about four in the morning.The jurymen, raging with thirst, soon lapped up the whole.Great numbers of people walked the neighbouring streets tilldawn. Every hour a messenger came from Whitehall toknow what was passing. Voices, high in altercation, wererepeatedly heard within the room: but nothing certain wasknown.*

At first nine were for acquitting and three for convicting.Two of the minority soon gave way; but Arnold wasobstinate. Thomas Austin, a country gentleman of greatestate, who had paid close attention to the evidence andspeeches, and had taken full notes, wished to argue thequestion. Arnold declined. He was not used, he doggedlysaid, to reasoning and debating. His conscience was notsatisfied; and he should not acquit the Bishops. “If youcome to that,” said Austin, “look at me. I am the largestand strongest of the twelve; and before I find such a petitionas this a libel, here I will stay till I am no bigger than a to-bacco pipe.” It was six in the morning before Arnold yielded.It was soon known that the jury were agreed: but what theverdict would be was still a secret.**

At ten the Court again met. The crowd was greater than

* Johnstone, July 2. 1688; Letter from Mr. Ince to the Archbishop,dated at six o’clock in the morning; Tanner MS.; Revolution Politics.

** Johnstone, July 2.1688.