A65962:97
The whole trial of Mr. Christopher Love, before a pretended high court of justice…The whole triall of Mr. Christopher Love, before a pretended high court of justice…
The whole trial of Mr. Christopher Love, before a pretended high court of justice in Westminster Hall containing the charge of high treason against him ... with the relation of his suffering and his speech and prayer at his death on Tower-hill / published by John Farthing, citizen of London, who took the trial in the said court in short-writing for Mr. Love, and at his own request ; to which is added The tragedy of his trial and death in very elegant verses / by the acute author of Iter boreale.The whole triall of Mr. Christopher Love, before a pretended high court of justice in Westminster Hall containing the charge of high treason against him ... with the relation of his suffering and his speech and prayer at his death on Tower-hill / published by John Farthing, citizen of London, who took the triall in the said court in short-writing for Mr. Love, and at his own request ; to which is added The tragedy of his triall and death in very elegant verses / by the acute author of Iter boreale.
London : s.n., 1660
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Mr. Love. I have here the Letters of several Counsellors, and they return to me their denial; if I could have got their counsel, I would: And yet if I had had it, I could not tell what they should have advised me in, not having a copy of my charge.
Mr. Love. I have here the Letters of severall Counsellors, and they returne to me their denial; if I could have got their counsell, I would: And yet if I had had it, I could not tell what they should have advised me in, not having a copy of my charge.
L Pres. If you had desired a copy of your charge, you might have had it. You must know you are before those that have law and conscience, and that are bound to be of counsel for you, and that is the court, and it is their duty to see that whatsoever the law of England allows you to have, that that you should have; but you must have it in a due and proper time and manner of law appointed. You are not now for the present where Lilburn was, nor before such a court; he was before a Commission of Oyer and Terminer, who are to proceed according to those Laws, and upon that the Commission directs, and that is by that which the known and fundamental laws of England direct unto: but this is not in all particulars the like; the Jury there hath a large latitude, who proceed by way of grand Jury and petty Jury, which are both included in this court: so that in all things the proceedings upon that are not as upon this: but thus far the proceedings are alike; you have your charge, and you are to plead to it, for that is the first thing to be done; there is nothing can answer your charge, but whether you be guilty or not guilty: if you plead not guilty, then the evidence will be called, and if then any matter of law ariseth upon the evidence, it is the usual course to assign you counsel, and to be counsel for you, and to tell you it is law to have counsel; but for you to demand counsel, and first to have counsel assigned you, it is against that form and legality that the law of England appoints; for till you put your self upon trial, we cannot allow you counsel to the trial; so that you must plead, and it is our duty to tell you so: and it is the duty of this court, to be as careful when you have put your self upon trial, that all the benefit of the law may be afforded you; therefore you need not fear it, for if any of these things arise you now fear upon the evidence, then will be your time and our time to stand upon this you now do, touching matter of law; but in the mean time, in truth that which we are to tell you, and which we are bound in justice and conscience to let you know, is this, that you are out of your way; and therefore do not destroy your self: for if you refuse to plead, there is nothing then but a plain downright judgement.