The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1770-1772, 1771-10-03

20 be attended to. This mode of procedure is
no new thing, it has been the practice for ages,
ard every period of time will furnih inaances
of this nature. But generally the fame page
which preients mankind with a view of theie
wTelches, holds them up as beacons to warn
poiterity to fhun the inare. In this light are
the TaTquins, and many Others exhibited to
after generations. Even Cefar, whole private
virtues rendered him amiable, fell facri6ce
for attempting TO sramPle on the liberties of
his country. My intention in this paper is to
prod6ce fome infances of this kind, TO be a
hint, warning, that hope may have a falu-
tsry effect.
In former number, | mentioned the exc
cu:ion of the Earl of STAFFORD He was i'm
peached for adhering TO iafyEG7iOns rather than
iawss and for ms folly, hrs aupidiiy and bis
treachery, loft his head. The whole Of this
trsnfaetion was perhaps once very familiar to
the------- However, we and fentiments often
change with mans fituation, and judgment
alters with the occurrences oftime. To refreh
his memory, aod at the fame time furnih my
countTymen with ar account OF this matter.
llal confder thu, tranfa6iion more fully.
STAFFORD was fra made by Charles the Fra
PreGdcnt of the Council Of York, an arbitrary
infitusion, founded by Henry the Eighth.
Mrs. Macsulay fays, d" il depended entirely on
fsRrEt7ion5 which the King fhoud iend, to be
limited or enlarged, according to the couve-
veniencies OF fate" In this Office he behaved
in a moG illegal, naughty, inperious manner,
adhcring friely to inaru6ious apparently
iubveTfve of the contribution what theie in
fru6ions were, fee Mrs. Macaulay's hiRory,
vol 2. p. 100. II muR be noticed. many of
thefe inRrudions were fent at Stsford's ex-
prsjj 6sjfrF. Such proceedings were 70 appa-
ren,ly illegal and arbitrary, that the judges of
England at the reqpeft of the injured fubje6ts,
granted prohibitions. This only enraged
STAFFORD the more, who declared, unlefs tie
Judges remsnded the cauie back again, he
would appeal to the King: Unhappy thy
ftuaton' o England, when the will Of an i'm
perious tyrant is to fnbvert the known legal
iniiitutions of the realm One M. Thorpe
fell under this minion's difpleaiurc for taking
out prohibition he was called before the
PRECEDENT, who only told him not 10 fir or Of
fozvz Thorpe was obliged TO attend, and
actually did attend without being accuied of
any offence, or one legal process commenced
sgainG him. However, even in thefe diGrefs-
ing times, we meet with infances of the true
old Englifh fpirit in iome of the judges. A few
depoftions taken a, this court of York, were
produced before Mr.. Jufiee Vernon, at a
nlf Sria; The judge rejected them. To en-.
force them, it was argued that the Kings in
frAaiOzs ordered them TO be produced; the
noble Judge replied, thar he knew of no fuch
matter, iniirudions were nothing to him, he
did not care a far,hing for them |; and 10 they
were rejeaed. RUihworth vol. 2. p. I5S. A
noble intance this, of that fpirit which dared
uishaand the whole tide of tyranny and OPP
sreiion, and leave TO Poaerity an example TO
be inflated and reyersd by iucceedins ages.
For fuch frizfsf yirvicA in this department,
STAFFORD was promo ed 70 be deputy of Ire
land. Here open: icene ofcoEduet that per-
haps is uuequslled. As focn as he arrived, he
calls parliament, and tells ,hen, " an 'y-