Page:Tryal of Richard Francklin.pdf/14

 they did not doubt but that the Gentlemen of the Jury was ſatisfied with the Evidence that was given.

Mr. Noel, took Notice to the Court, and to the Jury, That the Publick requiring a true and exact Account of what happens Abroad in Foreign Parts, as well as at Home, and the Craftſman, mentioned in the Information, did no other, therefore he could not perceive what Detriment ſuch a Relation could be. And that, if the Preſs was debarred from giving the People ſuch Intelligences, as occurred to them from Abroad, the People would be deprived of their greateſt Happineſs; and that though the Council for the King, thought fit to find ſome falſe, ſcandalous, and ſeditious Aſperſions,  againſt ſome of his Majeſty's Miniſters, in the aforementioned Craftſman of the 2d of January laſt, yet he could not find any ſuch; nor did he believe but that all of his Majeſty's Miniſters were Men of Honour and Integrity, and he hoped that every Body preſent, particularly, the Gentlemen of the Jury, was of the ſame Opinion; and, conſequently, if they were ſuch, thoſe ſcandalous and ſeditious Reflections could never affect them, as nor deſerving any ſuch Aſperſion; therefore he hoped the Gentlemen of the Jury would give Verdict accordingly.

The others of the Council for the Defendant, ſpoke to the ſame Effect; particularly Mr. Strange, who argued upon the Incoherence of the Matter in Diſpute, with the ſeveral Treaties, which the Council for the King had cauſed to be read in Court, in order to the proving the ſaid Hague Letter to be a ſalſe Libel.

He further argued, That it could be no Libel, for that he could prove by Evidence, the Facts therein mentioned; but the Council for the King raiſing a