MEAD. You Men of the Jury, here I do now stand, to answer to an Indictment against me, which is a Bundle of Stuff, full of Lyes and Falshoods; for therein I am accused, that I met Vi & armis, illicite & tumultuose: Time was, when I had Freedom to use a carnal Weapon, and then I thought I feared no Man; but now I fear the Living God, and dare not make use thereof, nor hurt any Man; nor do I know I demeaned my self as a tumultuous Person: I say, I am a peaceable Man, therefore it is a very proper Question what William Penn demanded in this Case, An Oyer of the Law, in which our Indictment is grounded.
REC. I have made Answer to that already.
MEAD. Turning his Face to the Jury, saith, you Men of the Jury, who are my Judges, if the Recorder will not tell you what makes a Riot, a Rout, or an unlawful Assembly, Cook, he that once they called the Lord Cook, tells us what makes a Riot, a Rout, and an unlawful Assembly—A Riot is when three, or more, are met together to beat a Man, or to enter forcibly into another Man's Land, to cut down his Grass, his Wood, or break down his Pales.
OBSER. Here the Recorder interrupted him, and said, I thank, you Sir, that you will tell me what the Law is, scornfully pulling off his Hat.
MEAD. Thou mayst put on thy Hat, I have never a Free for thee now.
BROWN. He talks at random, one while an Independent, another while some other Religion, and now a Quaker, and next a Papist.
MEAD. Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ad ipsum.
MAY. You deserve to have your Tongue cut out.
REC. If you discourse on this Manner, I shall take Occasion against you.
MEAD. Thou didst promise me, I should have fair Liberty to be heard; why may I not have the Privilege of an Englishman? I am an Englishman, and you might be ashamed of this dealing.