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ther time: For Mr. Atturney Generall hath returned the Writ of Veneri facias For the calling or summoning of a Jury of life and death.
L. Keble. Mr. Lilburn, you say you well understand your self: you knew of your comming, and you knew of the fact that you have committed.
Leiut. Col. Lilburne. Truely Sir, six moneths a goe I heard much of my Tryall, and I longed for it, but could not have it, but was stil kept in prison, and abundance of provocations put upon me, to make me cry out of my oppressions and then to hang me, therefore by a Law made after my pretended crime was committed is not just; and truly Sir, I heard by uncertaine common fame of my Tryall now. But Parliamenr men told my wife and friends, that my chiefest crime was corresponding with the Prince; and to defend my self against that, I fitted my self, never dreaming that onely books should be laid to my charge; and therefore I could not, as to that come prepared; and therefore do humbly desire Councell, a Copy of my Indictment, and time to bring in my Witnesses.
L. Keeble. Heare what is said to you, for your Witnesses, you should have brought them with you, we’ll give you leave to send for them, we will give you time to do, to consider with your self, what to say for your self, you shall, till to morrow 7 a clocke.
Leiut. Col. Lilburne. Sir, some of my witnessnes lives, abides 100. or 80 miles off, and yet I must bring them to morrow morning, how’s that possible; and therefore I desire time to bring them in, and also Subpeanas, for some of them are Parliament men, and some of them Officers of the Army, and they will not come in without compulsion.
L. Keeble. That’s the time we will give you longer, you knew of your comming long agoe, and therefore ought to have come provided.
Leiut. Col. Lilb. Sir, I beseech you give me a convenient time 8 or 10. dayes that so I may get them together, for how could I be provided before hand for any thing, but for that for which I was at the first imprisoned for, nothing of which is now laid to my Charge. Could I devine upon what you would proceed against me; but Sir, I have that within me I blesse God, that will be a portion of comfort to me, to carry me through all your mallice and injustice.
L. Keble. Never talk of that which is with you; God is in us as well as in you: never make a flourish of what is in you; for the feare of God is before our eyes as well as yours, and what we doe we shall have comfort in, in that it is according to the Lawes of England, the Rules of which we are sworne to observe, and every man will doe righteous things as well as you.
L. Col. Lilb. Pray will you give me but 8 dayes time then.
L. Keble. We will give you no more, you ought to have brought them withyou,
