(66)
Commanders, and to set them in mutiny and rebellion against the publick peace, and to manifest contempt of the Lawes of this Common-wealth, and free State, and against the forme of the Statutes in this Case made and provided.
The Indictment being reading, and the noise of the people in the Hall great, the Prisoner said he could not heare, and had some few lines before read over to him.
L. Col. Lilb. Pray hold your Peace Gentlemen, I beseech you, be quiet. (speaking to the people)
L. Keeble. Quiet you your self, we will quiet them for you.
Braughton. Which Country are you? so that you are to finde whither he is guilty or no, he having already pleaded, Not Guilty. If you finde that he is Guilty ofo any of the high Treasons laid to his Charge, then you are to enquire what goods, Lands, or Chattels he stood possessed of, when he committed the said high Treasons; but if you finde him not Guilty, you shall then enquire whither he did not fly for it⟨,⟩ and if he did not fly for it, Then you are to say so and no more, therefore hearken to your evidence?
L. Col. Lilb. May it please your Honour,
Cryer. If any man can give any Evidence to my Lords the Justices of Oyer and Terminer, against Mr. Iohn Lilburne, let him come in and he shall be heard.
L. Col. Lilb. I desire to be heard to speak two or three words.
I humbly desire the favour to speak two or three words.
I humbly desire the favour to be heard two words.
L. Keeble. It is not a fit time, you shall be heard in your due time, but hear what the Witnesses saith first.
L. Col. Lilb. I conceive I am much wronged, in saying that I pleaded not Guilty, for I pleaded no such Plea, I appeale to the Court, and to all that heard me, whether I pleaded any such Plea; for before I pleaded, the Court became engaged to me, to take no advantage of my ignorance of the formalities of the Law, and promised to give me as much priviledge as my Lord Duke of Hambleton, and others injoyed, before the Court of Justice.
L. Keeble. We know all this.
L. Col. Lilb. Sir, by your favour, I pleaded conditionally, and now I make my absolute Plea to the Indictment, which is this; That I except against the matter, and form of it in matter, time & place, and humbly crave Councell to assigne and plead to the errors thereof.
L. Keeble. You must hear us, we hear you, a word is a great deale, these things we have taken perfect notice of, the Court is not ignorant of them.
Therefore
