ht against them. Christison and his son
were at the doors some time before they opened, that they might, without
fail, secure a place. "Now most of these people, I warrant, fancy that
they have come simply to witness the trial of the son of one of
England's brave admirals for misdemeanour. The matter is of far more
importance, Wenlock. Master Penn disputes, and so do I, that this
`Conventicle Act' is legal in any way. We hold it to be equally hostile
to the people and our Great Charter. Is an edict which abolishes one of
the fundamental rights secured to the nation by our ancient
Constitution, though passed by Crown and Parliament, to be held as
possessing the force of law? If this court cannot show that it is, the
question is, will a jury of Englishmen, when the case is made clear to
them, venture to convict?"

On entering the hall they found ten justices occupying the bench, Sir
Samuel Starling, the Lord Mayor, at their head. As soon as the court
opened, the clerk ordered the crier to call over the jury. Having
answered to their names, of which the result showed that they had every
reason to be proud, they were sworn to try the prisoners at the bar, and
find according to the evidence adduced. If Wenlock had been inclined to
admire William Penn before, much more so was he now, when, standing up,
he replied to the question whether he was guilty or not guilty. Of
course he and Mead pleaded not guilty. The court then adjourned. After
it had resumed its functions the prisoners were brought up, but were set
aside in order that several cases of common felony might be disposed of;
this being done for the purpose of insulting Penn and his friend.
Little progress having been made in their case, they were remanded to
their abominable dungeons in Newgate, and the court adjourned for two
days.

CHAPTER FOUR.

Christison and his son arrived in good time when the court again sat, on
the 3rd of September. The officers having taken off the hats of the
prisoners as they entered, the Lord Mayor abused them for so doing, and
bade them put them on again. He then abused the prisoners for wearing
their hats, fining them forty marks each for contempt of court. The
indictment was again read. It was to the effect that William Penn and
William Mead, with other persons, had assembled on the 15th day of
August for the purpose of creating a disturbance, according to an
agreement between the two; and that William Penn, suppo