_Sir Hu_. Tis well, we have waited them. Madam, I should have bin more fortunate to have scene you In any place but this; and here, In any other cause then this, I would use you As the precedent carridge of your life Has merited, but cannot: y'are a prisoner Convict of murder, a most hideous crime Gainst law and nature. _Sir Gef_. Yes, marry is it, and that she shall find ere we have don. _Bunch_, read their indictments, _Bunch_. She had as good have married me, I warrant her. _Sir Hu_. Good Sir _Geffrey_, silence a while. Who is the accuser? _Con_. Here. _Sir Hu_. What have you, freind, to object against this lady? _Con_. That she confesd it was by her procurement and comaunde her sonn murderd young _Thurston_. _Lady_. Please you, sir, that a poore prisoner may entreate one favour. _Sir Gef_. Yes, you shall have favour! _Sir Hu_. Any thing mercy can graunt unpreiudiciall to Iustice. _Lady_. Then this: You shall not need to produce witnesses Or charge a Iury to designe me guilty Of _Thurstons_ murder. I confess it to you, Twas only I that slew him. _Sir Gef_. Marke that, Sir: shee that slew him! do you hear? _Sir Hu_. Pray disturbe her not.--How comes it then, Madam, to be affirmd your Sonn did kill him? _Sir Gef_. I, lets heare that, how it comes: well remembred, you did even speake before me. _Crac_. O how learnedly could I speake now, might I have licence! _Lady_. Pray, Sir, Let me not be oppresd with noyse; my cause Beares not so slender waight. For my owne life, So many reasons forfeit it to death That 'twere a Sinn, had I a will to live, To plead to save it; but for this my sonn I do beseech a hearing. _Sir Hu_. Speake freely, lady. _Lady_. Thus then: Suppose the wrested rigor of your lawes Uniustly sentenc'd any here to death, And you enforce on some unwilling man The present execution of your act, You will not after cause the instrument Of your decree, as guilty of his blood, To suffer as a Homicide: how then Can your impartiall Judgment Censure my sonn for this which was my fact? _Thurston_ the malice of my will wishd dead: My instigation and severe comaund Compeld him to atcheiv't, and you will graunt Noe princes lawes retaine more active force To ingage a subiect to performe their hests Then natures does astring a dewtious child To obey his parent. _Sir Gef_. Pish, all this is nothing: there is a flat statute against it,--let me see,--in Anno vigessimo tricessimo, Henerio octavo be it enacted,--what followes, _Bunch_? _Sir Hu_. Nay, good Sir, peace-- Madam, these are but wild evasions For times protraction; for your paritie, It cannot hold; since Nature does enforce Noe child to obey his parent in an act That is not good and iust.