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Lord Keble. Come, will you read the Indictment?
Mr. Broughton reads. Hold up your hand John Lilburn, and hearken to your charge.
Thou standst indicted of high Treason by the name of John Lilburn, late of London, Gentleman, for that thou as a false Traitor, not having the fear of God before thy eyes, but being stirred up and moved by the instigation of the Devill, &c. as it followeth verbatim, in the second dayes proceedings, to which the Reader is referred.
Mr. Broughton. What saist thou John Lilburn, art thou guilty of ⟨this⟩ Treason whereof thou standest indicted, or not guilty.
L. Col. Lilb. Gentlemen, I require the favour that I may be heard, and I shall desire nothing but that which may stand with reason and justice.
Lord Keble. Mr. Lilburn, We shall deale with you according to reason and justice, and after such a manner as you your selfe shall judge rationall and right.
L. Col. Lilburn. Gentlemen, I shall speake but a few words, I beseech you hear me, for it is upon my life.
Lord Keble. You say you will deale rationally in those wayes; that is to be expected from you the first in reason, is to answer, and plead, and before you so doe, you cannot be heard.
L. Col. Lilburn. Give me leave to speak, and I shall not speak 6 lines (whic with much strugling being granted, Mr. Lilburn went on and said to this effect.)
Then Sir, thus, By the laws of England I am not to answer to questions against, or concerning my selfe.
Lord Keble. You shall not be compeld.
Another Judg. Mr. Lilburn, is this to answer against your selfe, to say you are not guilty, by the lawes of the Land you are to plead to your charge, and it is no accusing of your selfe to say guilty, or not guilty.
L. Coll. Lilb. Sir, by your favour.
Judg Keble. To answer that you are not guilty, is no great matter, nor definit in law.
☞L. Col. Lilb. By the law of England I am to be tryed by a Rule, but I do not know by the rules of the law, what benefit, in reference to my exception against the illegality of my Indictment, I may deprive my selfe of, in case I should answer before I except.
Lord Keble. The law is plain, that you are positively to answer, guilty or not guilty, which you please.
L. Col. Lilb. Sir, By the Petition of Right, I am not to answer to a-ny
