He then asked to be heard in the Painted Chamber before the Lords and Commons before any sentence was given.
As he concluded he raised his voice and spoke with great nobleness and force.
"And if I cannot get this liberty I do here protest that so fair shows of liberty and peace are pure shows and not otherwise since you will not hear your King."
A hush followed his speech; Cromwell whispered to a neighbour; a faint sunlight penetrated the narrow Gothic window and touched to brilliancy John Bradshaw in his scarlet robes among his crimson cushions.
"Sir, you have spoken," he said.
"Yes, sir," replied the King, looking at him austerely.
The sunlight strengthened; the judge blazed in his unrelieved red; the prisoner was still in shadow; he stood with his hands on the bar; Lord Digby could see that he was biting his under-lip.
"What you have said," announced Bradshaw, "is a further declining of the jurisdiction of this Court, which was the thing wherein you were limited before——"
The King's voice cut his speech.