State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)
History
State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)
Trials -- Great Britain
KING--Pray excuse me, Sir, for my interruption, because you
mistake me; it is not a declining of it, you do judge me before
you hear me speak; I say it will not, I do not decline it,
though I cannot acknowledge the Jurisdiction of the Court; yet,
Sir, in this give me leave to say, I would do it, though I do
not by this acknowledge it, I do protest it is not the declining
of it, since I say, if that I do say any thing, but that which
is for the Peace of the Kingdom, and the Liberty of the Subject,
then the shame is mine. Now I desire that you will take this
into your consideration; if you will, I'll withdraw.
LORD PRESIDENT--Sir, this is not altogether new that you have
moved unto us, not altogether new to us, though it is the first
time in person you have offered it to the Court. Sir, you say
you do not decline the Jurisdiction of the Court.
KING--Not in this that I have said.
LORD PRESIDENT--I understand you well, Sir; but nevertheless,
that which you have offered seems to be contrary to that saying
of yours; for the Court are ready to give a Sentence; It is not
as you say, That they will not hear your king; for they have
been ready to hear you, they have patiently waited your pleasure
for three Courts together, to hear what you would say to the
People's Charge against you, to which you have not vouchsafed to
give any Answer at all. Sir, this tends to a further delay;
truly, Sir, such delays as these, neither may the kingdom nor
justice well bear; you have had three several days to have
offered in this kind what you would have pleased. This Court is
founded upon that Authority of the Commons of England in whom
rests the supreme jurisdiction; that which you now tender is to
have another jurisdiction, and a co-ordinate jurisdiction. I
know very well you express yourself, Sir, that notwithstanding
that you would offer to the Lords and Commons in the Painted
Chamber, yet nevertheless you would proceed on here, I did hear
you say so. But, Sir, that you would offer there, whatever it
is, it must needs be in delay of the Justice here; so as if this
Court be resolved, and prepared for the Sentence, this that you
offer they are not bound in justice to grant; But, Sir,
according to what you seem to desire, and because you shall know
the further pleasure of the Court upon that which you have
moved, the Court will withdraw for a time.
KING--Shall I withdraw?
LORD PRESIDENT--Sir, you shall know the pleasure of the Court
presently.
The Court withdraws for half an hour into the Court of Wards.
SERJEANT-AT-ARMS--The Court gives command, that the Prisoner be
withdrawn; and they give order for his return again.
The Court withdraws for half an hour and returns.
LORD PRESIDENT--Serjeant-at-Arms, send for your Prisoner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account