[Judge Jeffreys, Monmouth's Rebellion and the Bloody Assizes.] Printed handbill, titled: 'The Charge given by the Ld. Ch. Justice Jefferies, at the City of Bristol, Monday, September 21. 1685. In his Return from his Western Campaigne.'

ESTC R1431. 4pp, folio. Bifolium. Paginated 1-4. Aged and worn, with text clear and entire. Drophead title reads: 'THE | CHARGE | GIVEN BY THE | Ld. Ch. Justice Jefferies, | AT THE | CITY of BRISTOL, | Monday, September 21. 1685. | In his Return from his Western Campaigne.' Jeffreys is a byword for cruelty as a result of his handling Bloody Assizes following Monmouth's Rebellion, and the present text does nothing to dispel that judgement. (The note after the 'FINIS', quoted below, clearly indicates that the item was printed in the Whig interest, hence the lack of publication details.) At one point Jeffreys writes: 'Gentlemen, I must tell you, I am afraid that this City hath too many of these People in it. And it is your Duty to search them out; for this City added much to that Ships Loading; […] I have brought a Brush in my Pocket, and I shall be sure to Rub the Dirt where ever it is, or on whomsoever it sticks. […] I will sweep every Mans door, whether great or small. […] These men stink worse than the worst dirt you have in your City; these men have so little Religion, that they forget that he that is not for us is against us. […] Come, come, Gentlemen, to be plain with you, I find the dirt of the Ditch is in your Nostrils, Good God! where am I, in Bristol! this City it seems claims the Privilege of Hanging and Drawing amongst themselves; […] Come, come, I find you stink for want of Rubbing. […]' After the word 'FINIS' and a horizontal rule, the document ends: 'Upon Affidavits read, and other Evidence against Sir William Haymand the Mayor, Alderman Lawford and others, for Kid-napping, there being Bills privately preferred to the Grand Jury by John Rumsey, and being found, he made the Mayor and the Alderman concerned to go from the Bench to the Bar to plead to the Informations; using many Expressions, saying of the Mayor, See how the Kid-napping Rogue looks, &c.' Now scarce.