Counsel—Methinks he should be sent to Bedlam, till he comes to the gallows to render an account of this. This must not be suffered.
Solicitor-General—My Lords, I pray that the jury may go together upon the evidence.
Sir Edward Turner—My Lords, this man hath the plague all over him, it is a pity any should stand near him, for he will infect them. Let us say to him as they used to write over an house infected, 'The Lord have mercy upon him,' and so let the officer take him away.
The argument then continues a little longer, chiefly between Harrison and the Lord Chief-Baron; till—
Lord Chief-Baron—Mr. Harrison, you have appealed to our consciences. We shall do that, which, by the blessing of God, shall be just; for which we shall answer before the Tribunal of God. Pray take heed of an obdurate, hard heart and seared conscience.
Harrison—My lords, I have been kept six months a close prisoner, and could not prepare myself for this trial by counsel. I have got here some acts of parliament, of that House of Commons, which your Lordship will not own; and the proceedings of that house, whose authority I did own.
The Lord Chief-Baron then summed up shortly, and the jury brought in a verdict of Guilty, apparently without much hesitation. Sentence of dragging, hanging, and quartering was accordingly passed in the ordinary terms.
HUGH PETERS[39]
Hugh Peters was called upon to plead on the 9th of October 1660.
Clerk—Hugh Peters, hold up thy hand. How sayest thou? Art thou guilty of the treason whereof thou standest indicted; and for which thou standest arraigned? Or Not Guilty?