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A Charge Given to the Grand-Jury of the County of Gloucester, at the Midsummer-Sessions, 1723

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2009

Richard Cocks
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Extract

The great Infirmities of my Body forced me for some Years last past to decline all Publick Business: and tho' I am now very little better, nor indeed will my Age give me leave to expect much Amendment; yet the Desires, or rather the Commands of the Gentlemen and Freeholders, to whom I am so much in-[4] debted, are of more force than, and superiour to, my own Inclinations, and just Excuses. I am therefore once more come amongst you, and I cannot but think it probable, that in this Juncture of Affairs, you will expect and require from me some account of our present Circumstances. Give me leave therefore to look a little back: And from that Reflection I must observe to you, that out of Gratitude as well as Duty, we ought to be the most sober and religious People in the World; for there is no Nation under Heaven, that can shew so many signal, wonderful, and miraculous Preservations from the visible and immediate Hand of Providence.

Type
Research Article
Information
Camden Fourth Series , Volume 43: Charges to the Grandjury 1689–1803 , July 1992 , pp. 175 - 182
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1992

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References

page 176 note 1 This speech is an evident condemnation of Jacobite attempts against George I.

page 176 note 2 The problem of oath-taking was an important one, since one person on his oath could charge anybody with a crime or felony, and bear (false) witness in a trial.

page 177 note 1 This will be found like a leit-motiv all through the XVIIth century and later on again.

page 177 note 2 The Duke of Gloucester, the latest surviving child of Queen Anne, died July 1700.

page 178 note 1 The general peace: that of Utrecht, signed in April 1713. Anne was recognised ipso facto as Queen of Great-Britain, whereas in 1701 Louis XTV had violated his former promise in recognising the son of James II as James III.

page 179 note 1 The Wars of the Roses.

page 179 note 2 A possible allusion to the Root and Branch Petition of 11 December 1640, against episcopacy.

page 180 note 1 The unfortunate and famous South-Sea Bubble, in 1720.

page 181 note 1 The quotation is not accurate; Eccles. 8:11.