3-008-750 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"De Foe in the Pillory", by Eyre Crowe, from the exhibition of the Royal Academy, 1862. Engraving of a painting. 'The Judge himself, Sir Simon Harcourt, very indecently aggravated his [ie Defoe's] offence, and, the jury having found him guilty of composing and publishing a seditious libel, condemned him to a fine of 200 marks, to stand three times in the pillory, be imprisoned during the Queen's pleasure, and find sureties for his good behaviour for seven years! He stood in the pillory, first, before the Royal Exchange, Cornhill; then near "the Conduit" in Cheapside; and then, where we see him, before Temple-Bar. He was released from Newgate [prison] the year following [1703]. De Foe has himself told us "that the people, who were expected to treat him very ill when in the pillory, on the contrary, pitied him, and wished those who set him there were placed in his room, and expressed their affections by loud shouts and acclamations when he was taken down".' From "Illustrated London News", 1862.