Jeffreys

Jeffreys, George, Lord (1648-89), the infamous judge, was a native of Acton, near Wrexham. He was educated at St. Paul's School, at Westminster, under Dr. Busby, and at Trinity College, Cambridge. He afterwards entered at the Inner Temple, and was called to the Bar in 1668. He had a large practice at the Old Bailey and Middlesex sessions, his weakness in law being atoned for by his strength in cross-examination. In 1671 he became Common Serjeant, and six years later was made Solicitor-General to the Duke of York, and was also knighted. In 1678 he became Recorder of the City. His proceedings with regard to those accused of complicity in the "Popish Plot" are notorious. His conduct as Chief Justice of Chester and as counsel for the Crown was animadverted upon in Parliament, and though the king refused to remove him from his preferments, Jeffreys was reprimanded on his knees by the House in 1680, and resigned the Recordership. Notwithstanding, next year he continued to act as Crown counsel, and was created a baronet. He was useful to the Crown in the matter of the remodelling of the Corporation charters; took a leading part in the prosecution of Lord Russell (q.v.), and in 1683, in spite of the low opinion held of him by Charles II., was created Lord Chief Justice. He presided at the trial of Algernon Sidney (q.v.), and conducted it with extreme unfairness; and in 1684 illegally refused the claim of Sir Thomas Armstrong, who had been outlawed, to a trial. Charles II. treated him with much favour, and his successor acted upon his advice in having the customs collected without parliamentary grant. In May, 1685, Jeffreys tried and sentenced Titus Oates, and in the same month was created a baron. His next victim was Richard Baxter. After the battle of Sedgemoor the Lord Chief Justice attained the height of his infamy by his conduct of the Bloody Assize in the western circuit. After this James II. made him Lord Chancellor (September, 1685). As such he defended the Dispensing Power, and was appointed President of the High Commission Court revived by his advice. He then directed the arbitrary proceedings against the universities, and it was by his counsel that the bishops were prosecuted. He had several times previously, however, endeavoured to "hedge," and he was compelled to annul several of the proceedings he had instituted. On December 8, 1688, he surrendered the great seal to James, and a day or two after tried to escape from England disguised as a sailor. He was, however, arrested in a tavern on December 12, and committed to the Tower. He petitioned for a pardon from William III., but died in prison.