SAmuel Iohnson, having been Tryed and Convicted the last Term, for a High-Misdemeanor in writing the above-mentioned LIBELS; and being Convicted thereupon, he was (by Rule of Court) brought down to Receieve his Sentence, which is as followeth, viz.

After Mr. Attorney General had moved for Judgment, Mr. Iohn­son told the Court that he had moved for an Arrest of Judgment, [Page] forasmuch as he had several Exceptions to make, all of which, he urged in his own Defence, using several Evading and Extenuating Arguments, whereby to make the Court believe that he intended no Evil in the Consequence of his Writing; but to teach the Ar­my their Duty to God and their Prince, and how they ought to behave themselves as they were English Men, with many other weak Arguments, all which prevailed nothing with the Court, but rather aggravated his Crime: In that he used some Texts of Scrip­ture in way of Comparison, which he would have insinuated to be his Meaning in the intent of the said LIBELS; and that he had said nothing but what was Lawful to say.

But the Court told him that his Exceptions were but a kind of a Paraphrase, which did much aggravate his Crime, more than any way excuse him; and that he did abuse the Scriptures, yea, and himself too, in making such Scriptural Exceptions; and that it was a Crime of very Evil Consequence, that one in his Station should offer to be Guilty of so Heinous an offence, that did tend so much to incite and stir up the King's Subjects to Rebellion against him; and that he should pretend to Write to the Souldiers who are un­der a Command, and dare not Rebell; therefore it must be meant of others, yea, the main strength of it, viz. His intention in the LI­BELS was against the King himself, and desired him to consider of what bad Example it was to others; and the great abuse of Re­ligion, and a discredit to the Clergy of this Kingdome, &c. with ma­ny other aggravating Circumstances: All which, the Court said de­served very great Punishment; the more, in that the offence was Committed by such an Author, who should have been a Credit to Religion, and to all the Professors of it; and that his Fault was so apparent to the World, that no one could be so stupid, but to be sensible of it: Telling him also, that he should be degraded from his Ministerial Function and Preferment, which the Court was ve­ry sorry for, &c. Yet must pronounce this following Sentence.

And that is,

That he pay a Fine of Five Hundred Marks.

And that he stand in the Pillory three times, viz. On Monday next in the Pallace Yard at Westminster; and on the Wednesday following at Charing-Cross; and on the Monday after that, at the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill.

And to be whipt from Newgate to Tyburn, and to stand Committed till all be performed, &c.