State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)
History
State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 1 (of 2)
Trials -- Great Britain
PETERS--That which I have to say is this, that in his story he
hath told that which is not true; but I will not find fault with
him, because he was my host, I will not reflect and recriminate:
I shall give your lordships in simplicity as much satisfaction
myself as any witness; this I say to the man that speaks, and
this is certain, I did spend some time at this gentleman's
house, he is called there Dr. Young; and my trouble at this
discourse is this, I do not know, my lord, that I found a more
violent man for the parliament than himself; so far he undertook
to be a spy on one side; this I find to be so, he will not deny
it; he was very fierce in that way; I think words of such a man
ought to be little attended to. The second is this, this
gentleman is not a competent witness, and that upon a two-fold
ground. First, because I know he is under a very great
temptation and trouble in this very thing, and it is upon this
account he was put out of his living in the country, and here he
came to me to help him in again, and was very highly offended
because I did not do it. Secondly, it is not that I would
invalidate his witness, but give me leave to tell you, it is his
way to snap and catch at every man, which is the complaint of
the people in his own country. I know that same which is spoken
is false; I speak it in the presence of God, I profess, I never
had any near converse with Oliver Cromwell about such things; I
speak this to the Jury, that they would have a care of the
witness; I was in sickness then; those that have known me do
know likewise that I have much weakness in my head when I am
sick, and to take words that are spoken in a sick condition, he
ought not to do it; for the words themselves I do here profess
against them, for the generality of them; and that he hath been
freer in my judgment in any communication in this way than I
have been; it is marvellous, here I profess the things untruths;
I call God and angels to witness they are not true. I will give
you an account of my whole condition by-and-by, if I may be
heard.
COURT--You shall be heard at large; that which you have been
heard now is concerning the competency or incompetency of the
witness: the incompetency against him is this, that when you
came thither none more violent for the parliament than himself,
and that he was a great spy, and you say it was usual with him
to take such courses; these are but words; if you have any
witnesses we will hear them; the man may be traduced and
slandered, and so all witnesses may be taken away. Mr. Peters,
if you take this course, God knows when this business will end;
if you have a mind take pen, ink, and paper, and take notes of
the witnesses, and make exceptions to them one after another;
but interrupting one, and so another, we shall never have done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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