On the fifth day Lord Stafford summed up his defence. He laid special stress on the infamous character of his accusers and his own clean record, the points in which the witnesses had been contradicted, and the general improbability of the charge. His speech was badly received. The opportunity of a slight pause was seized by Lord Lovelace to spring to his feet and denounce with indignation the presence in court of a well-known Roman Catholic.[750] Moreover the prisoner made a grave tactical mistake in proposing for argument a number of points of law, of which some were frivolous and others had already been authoritatively determined. Of these the only one which could be considered material was the question whether or no in a case of high treason two witnesses were necessary to prove each overt act alleged, since the witnesses against Lord Stafford had sworn separately, and never together, to the commission of several acts. This had in fact been determined in the case of Sir Harry Vane,[751] but now with remarkable consideration for the prisoner the opinion of the assembled judges was taken: it was unanimous to the effect that the evidence of two separate witnesses to two distinct acts constituted a proof of high treason. The other points were easily disposed of by Jones and Winnington.[752] In a speech of great ability Sir William Jones answered the accused. Here especially the professional training of the managers had weight. With the ease and decision of a practised lawyer the leader ran over the trial, setting the strong points of the prosecution in a clear light and minimising the value of the defence. His zeal was evident, but hardly unfair. If here and there a statement overshot the mark of strict accuracy, the effect of his speech was only enhanced by the patience with which he submitted to correction from the prisoner. Concluding with a short but powerful address, he demanded that the court should do “that justice to your king and country as to give judgment against these offenders, which will not only be a security to us against them, but a terror to all others against committing the like offences.”[753] On the night of Saturday, December 4, Stafford petitioned to be heard again in his defence. His request was granted, but the rambling speech to which the court listened on the Monday following was calculated to produce any effect rather than that of advancing his cause. The managers only found it necessary to reply very briefly before the court adjourned to consider its verdict.[754]