The King after a little pause said,
When I was here yesterday, I did desire to speak for the Liberties of the People of England; I was interrupted, I desire to know yet whether I may speak freely or no.
Lord President. Sir, you have had the resolution of the Court upon the like question the last day, and you were told that having such charge of so high a nature against you, your work was, That you ought to acknowledg the Jurisdiction of the Court, and to answer to your Charge. Sir, if you answer to your Charge, which the Court gives you leave now to do, though they might have taken the advantage of your contempt; yet if you be able to answer to your Charge, when you have once answered, you shall be heard at large, make the best Defence you can: But, Sir, I must let you know from the Court, as their Commands, that you are not permitted to issue out into any other Discourses, till such time as you have given a positive answer concerning the matter that is charged upon you.
King. For the Charge, I value it not a rush; it is the Liberty of the People of England I stand for: For me to acknowledg a new Court, that I never heard of before; I that am your King, that should be an Example to all the People of England, to uphold Justice, to maintain the old Laws; indeed I do not know how to do it. You spoke very well the first day that I came here (on Saturday) of the Obligations that I had laid upon me by God, to the maintenance of the Liberties of my People: the same Obligation you spake of, I do acknowledg to God that I owe to him, and to my People, to defend as much as in me lies the antient Laws of the Kingdom. Therefore until that I may know that this is not against the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, by your favour, I can put in no particular Answer. If you will give me time, I will shew you my Reasons why I cannot do it; and thus——
Here being interrupted, he said,
By your favour, you ought not to interrupt me; how I came here I know not; there’s no Law for it, to make your King your Prisoner. I was in a Treaty upon the publick Faith of the Kingdom, that was the known—— two Houses of Parliament, that was the Representative of the Kingdom; and when that I had almost made an end of the Treaty, then I was hurried away and brought hither, and therefore——
Here the Lord President said, Sir, you must know the pleasure of the Court.
King. By your Favour, Sir.
Lord President. Nay, Sir, by your favour, you may not be permitted to fall into those Discourses: you appear as a Delinquent, you have not acknowledged the Authority of the Court; the Court craves it not of you, but once more they command you to give your positive Answer.—Clerk, do your Duty.
King. Duty, Sir?