The 1677 Trial of James Mitchel, in Scotland, for attempting the Murder of Dr James Sharp, Archbishop of St Andrews and wounding the Bishop of Orkney. An Original Trial Report from Cobbett's State Trials, part of the great 19th-century archive of courtroom history.
London: Cobbett's State Trials, 1810. Booklet - Unbound Pages. Very Good Condition. Item #373780
In 1677, James Mitchel, a radical Covenanter, was tried in Edinburgh for the attempted assassination of Dr James Sharp, Archbishop of St Andrews, and for wounding the Bishop of Orkney. The attack had occurred six years earlier, in 1668, when Mitchel fired a pistol at Sharp as he entered his coach, striking the Bishop instead. Mitchel evaded capture for some time but was eventually arrested and interrogated. He initially confessed under promise of leniency, but later retracted his admission when that assurance was denied. The trial, conducted before the Privy Council and later the Justiciary Court, hinged on the admissibility of his confession and the broader political tensions between the Crown and the Presbyterian underground. Mitchel was found guilty and executed, his case becoming emblematic of the fierce resistance to episcopacy and the harsh reprisals that followed. 28 pages, printed in double columns. Printed between 1809 and 1826, these historic documents are vivid extracts from Cobbett's State Trials; pages from the courtroom record that preserve the voices, arguments, and verdicts which helped shape the course of British justice and still echo through its constitutional legacy. Over two centuries old, each leaf is a tangible fragment of legal history, compelling, original, and rarely encountered outside institutional collections. These are not reprints or replicas, but authentic 19th-century printings that are rich in drama, and steeped in history. This particular trial report has been removed from a volume of Cobbett's State Trials and is now preserved in a modern card cover for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 15 x 25 cms. Category: State Trials; State Trials::Octavo;.
Keywords: BZDB395 "James Mitchel, Scotland, Attempted Murder, Archbishop Sharp, Bishop of Orkney, 1677" State Trials; State Trials::Octavo; JAMES MITCHEL AND THE SHOT AT THE ARCHBISHOP: TREASON AND COVENANTING FURY, 1677 The 1677 Trial of James Mitchel, in Sco
Price: £12.95