Why did judges set bail so high for zenger?

Judges set bail high for John Peter Zenger due to the serious nature of the charges against him, which included seditious libel for publishing criticisms of the colonial governor. The high bail was intended to reflect the perceived threat Zenger posed to colonial authority and to deter similar acts of dissent. Additionally, the political climate of the time influenced the judges' decision, as Zenger's case was emblematic of the tensions between colonial governance and freedom of the press.