"Sir, I desire—it will be in answer to what I believe the Court will say—sir, a hasty judgment is not so soon recalled——"
"Sir," replied the Lord President sternly, "you shall be heard before the judgment be given, and in the meantime you may forbear."
Charles took his seat again, saying, "Well, sir, shall I be heard before judgment be given?"
The Lord President now proceeded to address the Court.
"Gentlemen, it is well known to most of you that the prisoner at the Bar hath been several times convened before the Court to make answer to a charge of treason——"
Here the King looked up and laughed in the face of the Court.
"—and other high crimes exhibited against him in the name of the People of England——"
A shrill woman's voice interrupted from one of the galleries—"Not half the People!" The King smiled, and there was some disturbance while the lady was silenced or removed.
Bradshaw continued: "To which charge being required to answer, he began to take on him to offer reasoning and debate unto the authority of the Court to try and judge him; but being overruled in that, and still required to make his answer, he was still pleased to continue contumacious, and to refuse to submit or answer.