They say that at Thomas More's trial, Master Secretary here followed the jury to their deliberations, and when they were seated he closed the door behind him and he laid down the law. Let me put you out of doubt, he said to the jurymen. Your task is to find Sir Thomas guilty, and you will have no dinner till you have done it. Then out he went and shut the door again and stood outside it with a hatchet in his hand, in case they broke out in search of a boiled pudding; and being Londoners, they care about their bellies above all things, and as soon as they felt them rumbling they cried, Guilty! He is as guilty as guilty can be!
During Thomas More's trial, it is reported that Master Secretary played a pivotal role in pressuring the jury. He entered the room where the jurors were deliberating, made it clear that they were expected to find More guilty, and threatened them with hunger until they complied. This act of intimidation underscored the coercive atmosphere surrounding the trial, revealing the extent to which outside influences could sway judicial proceedings.
The jurors, likely...
