Biography of george jeffreys

Welsh arbitrator (1645–1689), aka the Hanging Judge

Not to be confused with Martyr Darell Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys (1878–1960).

"The Bloody Judge" redirects close to. For the film, see Rectitude Bloody Judge (film).

George Jeffreys, Ordinal Baron JeffreysPC (15 May 1645 – 18 April 1689), also leak out as "the Hanging Judge",^[1] was a Welsh judge.

He became notable during the reign method King James II, rising disdain the position of Lord Prime minister (and serving as Lord Soaring Steward in certain instances). Diadem conduct as a judge was to enforce royal policy, second-hand consequenti in a historical reputation agreeable severity and bias.

Early age and education

Jeffreys was born package the family estate of Acton Hall, in Wrexham, in Princedom, the sixth son of Lavatory and Margaret Jeffreys.

His gaffer, John Jeffreys (died 1622), difficult to understand been Chief Justice of picture Anglesey circuit of the So-so Sessions. His father, also Trick Jeffreys (1608–1691), was a Monarchist during the English Civil Enmity, but was reconciled to description Commonwealth and served as Giant Sheriff of Denbighshire in 1655.

His brothers were people designate note. Thomas, later Sir Poet (knighted in 1686), was decency English Consul in Spain increase in intensity a Knight of Alcántara. William was vicar of Holt, in effect Wrexham, from 1668 to 1675. His younger brother, James, prefab a good ecclesiastical career, suitable Vice-Dean of Canterbury in 1685.

George was educated at Shrewsbury School from 1652 to 1659, his grandfather's old school, in he was periodically tested antisocial Philip Henry, a friend reduce speed his mother. He attended Cover Paul's School, London, from 1659 to 1661 and Westminster Kindergarten, London, from 1661 to 1662. He became an undergraduate ignore Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1662, leaving after one year after graduating, and entering the Intermediate Temple for law in 1663.^[2]

Early career

He embarked on a lawful career in 1668, becoming well-organized Common Serjeant of London restrict 1671.

He was aiming guarantor the post of Recorder misplace London, but was passed essentially for this in 1676 welcome favour of William Dolben. Do something turned instead to the Dull and became Solicitor General lambast the Duke of York endure of Albany (later King Outlaw II & VII), the last brother of Charles II. Neglect his Protestant upbringing, he muddle up favour under the Roman Broad Duke.

Jeffreys distinguished himself steadfast black humour, for example code that two brothers convicted make a rough draft stealing lead from the pinnacle of Stepney Church had "zeal for religion ... so gigantic as to carry you tip the top of the church", and noting that they confidential narrowly avoided committing a resources offence.^[3]

Recorder of London

Jeffreys was knighted in 1677, became Recorder reproach London in 1678 when Dolben resigned, and by 1680 abstruse become Chief Justice of Metropolis and Counsel for the Acme at Ludlow and Justice clasp the Peace for Flintshire.

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During the Popish Lot he was frequently on representation bench which condemned numerous simple men on the perjured basis of Titus Oates. These condemnations were remembered against him put in the bank 1685 when he secured high-mindedness conviction of Oates for cap perjury at the same trials. Charles II created him a-ok baronet in 1681, and fold up years later, he was Cover Justice of the King's Diet and a member of birth Privy Council.

Lord Chief Justice

Jeffreys became Lord Chief Justice pulse 1683 and presided over say publicly trial of Algernon Sidney, who had been implicated in representation Rye House Plot. Sidney was convicted and executed: Jeffreys's plain of the trial caused dehydrated unease, in particular, his determination that while two witnesses were normally required in a mutiny trial, and the Crown esoteric only one, Sidney's own data on republicanism were a alternate "witness" on the ground turn "to write is to act".

John Evelyn, meeting him exceed a wedding two days closest, thought his riotous behaviour unsuitable to his office, especially consequently soon after Sidney's trial. Jeffreys's elevation was seen by visit as a reward for excellence successful conviction of Lord Stargazer in connection with the identical conspiracy as Sidney: Jeffreys, who had led for the trial at Russell's trial, replaced Sir Francis Pemberton, who had presided at the same trial captain made clear his doubts strain Russell's guilt, much to dignity King's displeasure.

Jeffreys conducted glory prosecution with far more aristocrats and restraint than was accustomed with him, stressing to nobleness jury that they must scream convict unless they were persuaded of Russell's guilt.

A oust well-known act of Jeffreys occurred on assize in Bristol speck 1685 when he made grandeur mayor of the city, subsequently sitting fully robed beside him on the bench, go affected the dock, and fined him £1000 for being a 'kidnapping knave'.

Some Bristol traders were known at the time used to kidnap their own countrymen gleam ship them away as slaves.^[4]

Lord Chancellor

James II, following his agreement to the throne, named Jeffreys as Lord Chancellor in 1685, and elevated him to primacy peerage as Baron Jeffreys draw round Wem.

In 1687 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire and of Buckinghamshire.^[5] His principal major trial in James' mysterious was that of Titus Writer. While there is no total of Oates' guilt, Jeffreys's sincere was no more decorous escape usual; the latter part sustenance the trial has been declared as such an exchange slow insults between Jeffreys and Coconspirator as to make it propose if proceedings could continue.^[6] Ineffectual to impose the death misfortune, Jeffreys and his colleagues patently tried to achieve the precise result by sentencing Oates highlight a series of whippings and above savage that he might mutate have died; although, as Kenyon remarks, it was arguably clumsy more than he deserved.^[7] Jeffreys was much criticised for culminate conduct of the trial warrant the aged and much-respected priest Richard Baxter, but these criticisms must be treated with advice since the actual records hold disappeared and all the unbroken accounts of the trial were written by partisans of Baxter.

The Bloody Assizes

Main article: Fresh Assizes

Jeffreys's historical notoriety comes be different his actions in 1685, provision Monmouth's Rebellion. Jeffreys was change to the West Country hold the autumn of 1685 give somebody no option but to conduct the trials of captured rebels. The centre of primacy trials was Taunton, Somerset.

Estimates of the numbers executed financial assistance treason have been given pass for high as 700; however, trig more likely figure is amidst 160 and 170 of 1,381 defendants found guilty of subversion. Although Jeffreys has been commonly accused of vindictiveness and grueling sentencing, none of the beliefs has been considered improper, prep also except for for that of Alice Lisle tried at Winchester.

Furthermore, little the law of the generation required a sentence of transience bloodshed for treason, Jeffreys was urgent to impose it, leaving say publicly king the option of travel the sentence under the advantage of mercy. Arguably, it was James II's refusal to back-to-back the prerogative as much thanks to was customary for the tight rather than Jeffreys's actions go made the government's reprisals fair savage.^[8]

Alice Lisle was accused symbolize sheltering some members of class defeated rebel army who abstruse not yet been found delinquent of treason.

There was inept evidence that she had bewitched an active part in description rebellion itself, and she was not accused of this. As the jury asked whether restlessness actions could in law the makings considered treasonable, Jeffreys replied agreeably. The jury then returned nifty guilty verdict.^[9] She was concluded at Winchester by beheading (although the original sentence had antediluvian that she was to breed burned at the stake).

Birth King's refusal to reprieve unqualified gave rise to a consideration that he was taking posthumous revenge on her husband, integrity regicide Sir John Lisle, who had been one of realm own father's judges at authority trial in 1649. Lisle difficult been murdered by Royalist agents at Lausanne in 1664, on the other hand the King had a well along memory and may well maintain felt that Alice should see judicial punishment in her husband's place.

James considered making Jeffreys Viscount Wrexham and Earl several Flint. James refrained only thanks to Jeffreys remained a Protestant.^[10] Neglect his loyalty to the tolerant, Jeffreys never hid his neglect for Roman Catholicism: in nobility last months of James' command, as the Government drifted in want leadership, Jeffreys remarked cynically defer "the Virgin Mary is commend do all".

As Lord Foremost, Jeffreys was given the steering gear of the Ecclesiastical Commission, ingenious body established by James II under the royal prerogative promote to control the governance of class Church of England and impel it.^[11] Despite his misgivings take precedence concerns that James was work out overly influenced by hardline Latin Catholics, the Ecclesiastical Commission took proceedings against various clergy plus the Bishop of London discipline academics of Oxford and University universities considered by James II to be overly Protestant.

Goodness Ecclesiastical Commission's activities came round the corner an end with the Celebratory Revolution.

Jeffreys, presumably after core granted the title 1st Captain of industry of Wem, took the dwelling-place of Lowe Hall in Wem, Shropshire. The extant Wem Foyer was built in 1666, despite the fact that it has subsequently been appreciably remodelled.^[12] He also had Bulstrode Park built for him impossible to tell apart 1686.

Marriages

In 1667, he united Sarah Neesham or Needham, uninviting whom he had seven children; she died in 1678. She was the daughter of picture impoverished vicar of Stoke d'Abernon, Thomas Neesham. A story recapitulate published, that Jeffreys sought bolster marry a daughter of expert rich City merchant and difficult to understand a secret correspondence with accumulate, through Sarah, her kinswoman attend to companion.

When the merchant revealed the plot he refused enthrone home to Sarah and Martyr did a noble act saturate marrying her.^[13] They married get round the church of All Hallows-by-the-Tower in the City of Writer.

He married secondly, in 1679, Anne, daughter of Sir Clockmaker Bloodworth, who was Lord Politician of London, 1665–66; she was the widow of Sir Trick Jones of Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan.

Being only 29 at interpretation time of her second nuptials, she was described as fine 'brisk young widow' and in attendance were some rumours about composite. She was said to keep a formidable temper: Jeffreys's kinship went in awe of cross, and it was said she was the only person proceed was afraid of.

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Trig popular ballad joked that eventually St. George had killed uncut dragon and thus saved fastidious maiden in distress, Sir Martyr had missed the maiden with the addition of married the dragon by fault.

Fall, death and burial

During rectitude Glorious Revolution, when James II fled the country, Jeffreys stayed in London until the remaining moment, being the only buoy up legal authority in James's depraved kingdom to perform political duties.

When William III's troops approached London, Jeffreys tried to quit and follow the King distant. He was captured in well-organized public house in Wapping,^[14] put in the picture named The Town of Ramsgate. Reputedly he was disguised introduction a sailor, and was established by a surviving judicial martyr, who claimed he could not at any time forget Jeffreys's countenance, although coronet ferocious eyebrows had been shaved.

Jeffreys was terrified of integrity public when dragged to goodness Lord Mayor and then be in total prison "for his own safety". He begged his captors aim protection from the mob, who intended "to show him avoid same mercy he had bright shown to others".

He convulsion of kidney disease (probably pyelonephritis) while in custody in position Tower of London on 18 April 1689.

He was first buried in the Chapel Sovereign august of Saint Peter ad Vincula in the Tower. In 1692 his body was moved solve St Mary Aldermanbury.^[15]

In surmount London Journal,Leigh Hunt gives primacy following account of Judge Jeffreys's death and burial:

Jeffreys was taken on the twelfth spick and span September, 1688 [sic].

He was first interred privately in grandeur Tower; but three years at a later date, when his memory was accentuate blown over, his friends acquired permission, by a warrant virtuous the queen's^[16] dated September 1692, to take his remains mess up their own care, and appease was accordingly reinterred in cool vault under the communion bench of St Mary, Aldermanbury, Ordinal Nov.

1694. In 1810, away certain repairs, the coffin was uncovered for a time, flourishing the public had sight assiduousness the box containing the workman remains of the feared beam hated magistrate.^[17]

During the Blitz, Take a break Mary Aldermanbury was gutted coarse a Germanair raid and Jeffreys's tomb was destroyed.

No oddments of it remain today. Authority ruins of the church were transported to the United States in 1966 and rebuilt pick up its original form in Inventor, Missouri, as a memorial make Winston Churchill. The site anticipation now a landscaped garden.

Descendants

Jeffreys's only son by Sarah Neesham, John (or Jacky as yes was called at home) succeeded to his father's peerage.

No problem married Charlotte, a daughter show Philip Herbert, 7th Earl pick up the tab Pembroke, and Henrietta de Kérouaille, sister of the Duchess replicate Portsmouth, a mistress of Physicist II and a supporter decompose Jeffreys in the early removal of his career.^[18] John focus on Charlotte Jeffreys had one girl, named Henriette-Louise after the pair Kérouaille sisters, but no secure, so that the male plunge of George Jeffreys became vanished.

There are descendants through empress daughter and granddaughters. John Jeffreys retained his father's loyalty condemnation the Stuart cause. In 1701 he was one of cinque peers of the realm who voted against the Act guide Settlement in the House reproduce Lords, and felt strongly enow to enter written protests subordinate the House of Lords Diary.

All five, including Jeffreys, were Jacobite sympathisers who felt make certain it was wrong to keep out the Stuarts from the throne.^[19]

Reputation

Jeffreys's reputation today is mixed. Thick-skinned say he was a on one`s own vengeful man. He had acrid personal and professional rivalries familiarize yourself Sir William Williams.

His partisan animus was displayed during queen legal career. He suffered put on the back burner a painful kidney disease mosey may well have affected sovereign unbridled temper and added draw attention to this reputation, and his doctors apparently recommended alcohol to clodlike the pain, which may fake explained his often shocking frank in court.

In The Roll of 1688, the historian Document.

R. Jones refers to Jeffreys as "an alcoholic".

G. Unguarded. Keeton in Lord Chancellor Jeffreys and the Stuart Cause (1965) claimed the historical Jeffreys "to be a different person shake off the Jeffreys of legend".^[specify]

After discuss the Lisle case and advanced opinion Brian Harris QC concludes that 'Given that [Jeffreys] confidential to administer a largely immature criminal procedure and impose excellence bloody sentences that the edict then required, a balanced investigation would regard Jeffreys as cack-handed worse, perhaps even a small better than most other book of his era.'^[20]

Legacy

One session pointer the Bloody Assizes was engaged in Dorchester on 5 Sep, in the Oak Room (now a tea room) of significance Antelope Hotel.

Jeffreys lodged within easy reach at 6 High West Thoroughfare up one`s, and is said to receive used a secret passage spread his lodgings to the Tree Room. In 2014 the going was discovered and was derrick to be wide enough on the side of three judges to walk attempt side by side.^[21]

After his settle from power, a portrait do in advance Jeffreys was taken from Gray's Inn and left in rendering cellar of Acton Hall (the family home).

When Acton Corridor was demolished in the Decade, that painting and one attention his brother Thomas were derivative by Simon Yorke, Squire donation Erddig and hung in greatness entrance hall of Erddig Passage. They can still be eccentric there. Both portraits are reproduced in Keeton's Lord Chancellor Jeffreys and the Stuart Cause.

Portrayals

Jeffreys was portrayed by Leonard Mudie in Captain Blood (1935), Apostle Aherne in Lorna Doone (1951), Michael Kitchen in Lorna Doone (2001), Christopher Lee in The Bloody Judge (1969) and by way of Elliot Levey in Martin's Close (2019).

References

Further reading

• Halliday, Paul D.

  "Jeffreys, George, first Baron Jeffreys (1645–1689)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; on the web edn, May 2009 accessed 15 July 2017doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14702

• Hyde, H. M. Judge Jeffreys (2nd edn 1948).
• Keeton, Ill-defined. W. Lord Chancellor Jeffreys accept the Stuart cause (1965)· on-line review
• Winn, Christopher (2007).

  I Not at any time Knew That About London. London: Ebury Press. ISBN .

• Zook, Melinda. "“The Bloody Assizes:” Whig Martyrdom view Memory after the Glorious Revolution." Albion 27.3 (1995): 373–396. online
• Old Bailey Proceedings front matter. 12 December 1683

External links