President. If this must be reinforced, or anything of this nature, your Answer must be the same, and they will proceed to Sentence, if you have nothing more to say.
King. I have nothing more to say; but I shall desire that this may be entred what I have said.
President. The Court then, Sir, hath something to say unto you, which I know, altho I know it will be very unacceptable, yet notwithstanding they are willing and resolved to discharge their Duty.
His Majesty answered, I would desire only one word before you give Sentence, and that is, That you would hear me concerning those great Imputations that you have laid to my Charge.
President. Sir, you must give me now leave to go on: for I am not far from your Sentence, and your time is now past.
King. But I shall desire you will hear me a few words to you; for truly, whatever Sentence you will put upon me, in respect of those heavy imputations that I see by your Speech you have put upon me. Sir, it is very true that—
President. Sir, I must put you in mind; Truly Sir, I would not willingly, at this time especially, interrupt you in any thing you have to say that is proper for us to admit of: But, Sir, you have not owned us a a Court, and you look upon us as a sort of People met together, and we know what Language we receive from your Party.
King. I know nothing of that.
President. You disavow us as a Court, and therefore for you to address your self to us, and not to acknowledg us as a Court to judg of what you say, it is not to be permitted. And the truth is, all along from the first time you were pleased to disavow and disown us, the Court needed not to have heard you one word; for unless they be acknowledged a Court, and engaged, it is not proper for you to speak. Sir, we have given you too much Liberty already, and admitted of too much delay, and we may not admit of any further; were it proper for us to do it, we should hear you freely; and we should not have declined to have heard you at large, what you could have said or proved on your behalf, whether for totally excusing, or for in part excusing those great and hainous charges that in whole or in part are laid upon you. But, Sir, I shall trouble you no longer; your Sins are of so large a dimension, that if you do but seriously think of them, they will drive you to a sad consideration, and they may improve in you a sad and serious Repentance. And the Court doth heartily wish that you may be so penitent for what you have done amiss, that God may have mercy at leastwise on your better part. Truly, Sir, for the other, it is our parts and duties to do that which the Law prescribes. We are not here Jus dare, but Jus dicere: We cannot be unmindful of what the Scripture tells us; for to acquit the Guilty is of equal abomination as to condemn the Innocent. We may not acquit the guilty. What Sentence the Law affirms to a Traitor, a Murderer, and a publick Enemy to the Country, that Sentence you are now to hear read unto you, and that in the Sentence of the Court.
Make an O Yes, and command silence while the Sentence is read.