answer to your
Charge, which the Court gives you leave now to do, though they
might have taken the advantage of your contempt; yet if you be
able to answer to your Charge, when you have once answered, you
shall be heard at large, make the best defence you can. But,
Sir, I must let you know from the Court, as their commands, that
you are not to be permitted to issue out into any other
discourses, till such time as you have given a positive Answer
concerning the matter that is charged upon you.

KING--For the Charge, I value it not a rush; it is the Liberty
of the People of England that I stand for. For me to acknowledge
a new Court that I never heard of before, I that am your King,
that should be an example to all the people of England for to
uphold justice, to maintain the old laws: indeed I do not know
how to do it. You spoke very well the first day that I came here
(on Saturday) of the obligations that I had laid upon me by God,
to the maintenance of the Liberties of my people; the same
obligation you spake of, I do acknowledge to God that I owe to
him, and to my people, to defend as much as in me lies the
ancient laws of the kingdom: therefore, until that I may know
that this is not against the fundamental Laws of the kingdom, by
your favour I can put in no particular Charge.[23] If you will
give me time, I will shew you my Reasons why I cannot do it, and
this----

Here, being interrupted, he said,

By your favor, you ought not to interrupt me: How I came here, I
know not; there's no law for it to make your king your prisoner.
I was in a Treaty upon the public faith of the kingdom, that was
the known[24] ... two Houses of Parliament that was the
representative of the kingdom; and when that I had almost made
an end of the Treaty, then I was hurried away, and brought
hither: and therefore----

Here the Lord President said, Sir, you must know the pleasure of
the Court.

KING--By your favour, sir.

LORD PRESIDENT--Nay, sir, by your favour, you may not be
permitted to fall into those discourses; you appear as a
Delinquent, you have not acknowledged the authority of the
Court, the Court craves it not of you; but once more they
command you to give your positive Answer.--Clerk, do your duty.

KING--Duty, Sir!

The Clerk reads.

'Charles Stuart, k