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The Trial of Henry Hetherington, on an Indictment for Blasphemy cover

The Trial of Henry Hetherington, on an Indictment for Blasphemy

Chapter 4: Second Count:
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About This Book

A full court transcript of a blasphemy prosecution reproduces the indictment and its several counts accusing the publication of derogatory commentary toward parts of the Bible, records the prosecution's opening, the defendant's legal arguments and cited authorities, witness examination and jury proceedings, and includes related newspaper extracts, publisher remarks, and appended legal materials cited in the defence.

Second Count:

And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, further present, that the said Henry Hetherington, devising and intending as aforesaid, on the eleventh day of February and year aforesaid, at Westminster aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, did publish, and cause to be published, a certain other scandalous, impious, and blasphemous libel, of and concerning that part of the Holy Bible which is called the Old Testament, containing therein, amongst other things, divers scandalous, impious, and blasphemous matters of and concerning that part of the Holy Bible which is called the Old Testament, according to the tenor and effect following, that is to say, "One great question between you and me is, 'Is the Bible (meaning that part of the Holy Bible which is called the Old Testament) the word of God, or is it not? I assert that it is not the word of God, and you assert that it is; and I not only assert that it is not the word of God, but that it is a book containing more blunders, more ignorance, and more nonsense, than any book to be found in the universe," to the great displeasure of Almighty God, to the great scandal and contempt of that part of the Holy Bible which is called the Old Testament, to the evil example of all others, and against the peace of our lady the Queen, lier crown, and dignity.