| Description | Mr. Williams made more speed to be put in his plea than he had need, for he filed it last Saturday. It is time it was a plea in bar and so ought to come in before the time given him was out. The substance of the pleawas that what he did was in obedience to the Order of the House of Commons as he was speaker in licensing the printing of that narrative, and therefore prayed the judgement of that court whether he ought to answer the information for that reason. The court yesterday morning took the plea into consideration and over-ruled it and gave judgement against Mr. Williams and fined him in £10,000. It is usual that those persons that are fined (if they be in court) are immediately committed until they pay their fines, but there was nothing said of that to him; he hath his liberty, which makes most here believe that he has made his peace or is in a fair way for it. He appears to the world much inconcerned with what is done.
P.S. Let Owen and his family not trouble themselves too much with this unfortunate business for the writer hopes for all this, Mr. Williams will well weather the storm. |