David Jenkyns

received his first being in this world at Hensol in the Parish of Pendeylwyn called by some Pendoylon in Glamorganshire, became a Commoner of S. Emunds Hall in the year 1597, at which time several Welshmen were Students there. After he had taken one degree in Arts he retired to Greys-Inn, studied the Common Law, and, when Barrester, was resorted to by many for his Counsel. In the first of Car. 1. he being then a Bencher, was elected Summer Reader, but refused to read. Afterwards he was made one of the Judges for South Wales, continued in that office till the Rebellion broke out, at which time he either imprison’d divers persons in his Circuit, or condemn’d them to dye, as being guilty of High Treason for bearing Arms against the King. At length being taken Prisoner at Hereford, when that City was surprized by the Parliament Forces in Decemb. 1645, he was hurried up to London, and committed Prisoner to the Tower. Afterwards being brought to the barr in Chancery, he denied the Authority of that Court because their Seal was counterfeited, and so consequently the Commissioners thereof were constituted against Law: whereupon being committed to Newgate prison, he was impeached of Treason and brought to the barr of the Commons house; but denying their Authority, and refusing to kneel, was for his contempt fined 1000 l. and remitted to his prison, and thence translated to Wallingford Castle. About that time he used his utmost endeavours to set the Parliament and Army at odds, thereby to promote the Kings Cause, but it did not take effect according to his desire. Afterwards passed an Act for his Tryal in the High Court of Justice, an. 1650, so that our Author Jenkyns thinking of nothing but hanging, was resolved if it should come to pass, to suffer with the Bible under one Arm and Magna Charta (of which he was a zealous defender) under the other. But Harry Marten (as ’tis said) urging to his Fellows that sanguis martyrum est semen ecclesiae, and that that way of proceeding would do them mischief, they thought good not to take away his life. Afterwards he was sent to Windsore Castle, where remaining till the month of January an. 1656, was set at liberty, and then lived for a time in Oxon, where he became a constant Auditor of the Sermons of Dr. Edw. Hyde at Halywell, (then lately ejected from his Rectory of Brightwell near Wallingford) to whom all the loyal party of that City flocked to hear his Doctrine. After the Restoration of K. Ch. 2. ’twas expected by all that he should be made one of the Judges in Westminster Hall, and so he might have been, would he have given money to the then Lord Chancellour; but our Author scorning such an act after all his Sufferings, he retired to his Estate in Glamorganshire, then restored to him after the loss of it, and all he had, for many years. He was a person of great abilities in his profession, and his counsel was often used by Sir Jo. Banks and Will. Noy in their Attorneyships. He was also a vigorous maintainer of the Rights of the Crown, a heart of oke, and a pillar of the Law; sole Author of his Sovereigns Rights, Englands Laws, and the Peoples Liberties when they were invaded and trampled under feet by restless and base men. His Writings are these,

His Recantation (or rather protestation) delivered at Westm. 10 Apr. 1647. to Mil. Corbet the Chairman of the Committee for Examination.—Printed in a half a sheet.

Vindication while he was Prisoner in the Tower, 29 Apr. 1647.—Pr. in 1 sh. in qu. This, when published, was referred to a Committee of Complaints, who ordered that the Printer and Publisher thereof should be tried at the Kings Bench.

The Armies indemnity; with a declaration shewing how every Subject of England ought to be tried for Treason, &c.—Written 10 June 1647.

Sundry Acts of Parliament mentioned and cited in the Armies indemnity, set forth in words at large.—Pr. 1647. qu.

Apologie for the Army, touching the eight Queries upon the late Declarations and Letters from the Army, touching Sedition falsly charged upon them.—Pr. 1647. quart.

Discourse touching the inconveniences of a long continued Parliament, and the judgment of the law of the Land in that behalf. Lond. 1647. in one sh. and half in quart.

Cordial for the good people of London: in a reply to a thing called An answer to the poysonous seditious paper of Dav. Jenkyns. By H. P. Barrester of Linc. Inn.— Pr. 1647 in 3 sh. in qu. See more in Hen. Parker among these Writers under the year 1657.

His Plea delivered to the Earl of Manchester, and the Speaker of the H. of Commons sitting in the Chancery at Westminster, 14 Feb. 1647.—Pr. in one sh. in quar.

Answer to the imputation put upon his Plea in Chancery, in Feb. 1647.—Pr. in one sh. in qu.

Remonstrance to the Lords and Com. of the two Houses of Parliament, 21 Feb. 1647.—Pr. in one sh. in qu.

Lex terrae, the Law of the Land.—To which are added some seeming Objections of Mr. Will. Prynne scatter’d in divers books, answer’d, and the truth thereof more fully cleared.

All which little things before mention’d (in number eleven) were printed together at Lond. 1648 in twelves, and went by the name of Judge Jenkyns his works. They were also published there again in the same vol. in 1681, at what time the said works were esteemed very seasonable to be perused by all such as would not be deluded by the unparallel’d arbitrary Proceedings and seditious Pamphlets of that licentious and ungrateful time. They were also printed again two years after that time in tw. Before the said Editions is his picture to the life, and underneath these Verses made by Joh. Birkenhead.

Here Jenkyns stands, who thundring from the Tower,

Shooke the Senats legislative Power:

Six of whose words, twelve reams of Votes exceed,

As Mountains mov’d by graines of Mustard seed.

Thus gasping Laws were rescued from the snare,

He that will save a Crown must know and dare.

Preparative to the Treaty (with the King) tendered to the Parliament, Ass. of Divines, and Treaters, &c.—Pr. 1648.

His Declaration while Prisoner in the Tower, 17 March 1647.

Pacis consultum. The antiquity, extent and practice of several Country Corporation Courts, especially the Court Leet: with an abstract of the penal Statutes. Lond. 1657. oct. Published under Dav. Jenkyns his name, but disowned and disclaimed by him.

Exact method for keeping a Court of Survey for the setting forth and bounding of Mannours, &c. Lond. 1657. This also was disowned by him.

Difficult questions in Law proposed and resolved.—Printed with the Exact method, and disowned also.

Rerum judicatarum centuriae octo. Lond. 1661. fol. in English.

A proposition for the safety of the King and Kingdom both in Church and State, and prevention of the common Enemy. Lond. 1667. in tw. 2 edit.

A Reply to the pretended Answer to it.—Printed with the former. I have seen a little thing intit. Conscientious Queries from Mr. Jenkyns: or, the grounds of his late Petition and Submission to the present power, an. 1651. Printed 1679. But this Jenkyns must be understood to be the same with Will. Jenkyns a Presbyterian Minister of London, one of Christop. Love’s Plot for bringing in K. Ch. 2. from Scotland. Judge Jenkyns dyed at Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, on the sixth day of Decemb. in sixteen hundred sixty and three, aged 81 or more, and was buried at the west end of the Church there.1663. He died as he lived, preaching with his last breath to his Relations, and those that were about him, Loyalty to his Majesty, and Obedience to the Laws of the Land.