Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Gentlemen, I desire I may only speak what stands with reason and justice.
Lord Keble.—We shall deal with you according to reason and justice; now in reason you are to plead before you can be heard.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Sir, I am not to answer questions for or against myself.
Another Judge.—Is pleading not guilty accusing of yourself?
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—I know not what benefit I may lose, according to rules of law, and humbly desire a copy of the indictment, and reasonable time to consult with counsel, if it be but eight or nine days.
Lord Keble.—You are a better judge of the truth than another. If you say Not Guilty, when you have answered, you shall have liberty to make your defence.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Sir, the forms and practical part of the law being locked up in a strange language that I cannot understand, it is hard you should take away my life for my ignorance.
Broughton.—John Lilburne, what sayest thou? Art thou guilty? &c.
Lieutenaut-Colonel Lilburne.—But to be entrapped with niceties and forms that cannot be found in English books, is not fair play; therefore I again desire counsel, that I may not lose my life upon forms and punctilios.
Another Judge.—Then you will not plead?
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Mr. Bradshaw once promised Duke Hamilton to take no advantage of his ignorance in niceties and forms of law in his pleading: give me the same engagement, and I will plead.
Lord Keble.—You shall have no advantage taken.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Well Sir, then, Not guilty of the treasons in manner and form as laid in that indictment; and now, Sir, I desire counsel.
Broughton.—By whom wilt thou be tried?
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—By the known laws of England, and a legal jury of my equals. And now, Sir, I again desire counsel.
Lord Keble.—The form is, that you will be tried by God and your country. If you will be tried by law, that is by the rules thereof; it includes being tried by your country.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Then I hope my answer is clear and fair, Sir?
Judge Jermin.—Answering according to that form means no more than this, that God is everywhere, and knows all things; and by your country is as much as to say, by your neighbours and equals.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lilburne.—Sir, under favour, God is not corporally here; but I will be tried in the presence of that God that knows if you are possessed with premeditated malice and design to destroy me, right or wrong, and by my country, that is, by a jury of my equals, according to the good old laws of England.
