Page:Trial of john lilburne (IA trial john lilburne).djvu/36

 meaning and signification of holding up the hand at the Barre is, I shall seriously consider of it, and I hope returne you a Rational and discreet answer; for truly in those lawes which are in the English Tongue that I have read, although I find mentioned maid of holding up the hand, yet I cannntcannot [sic] finde much of the full signification of it, onely I finde it to be of a large extent; and as for those lawes, or rather the practick part of the law, that are in French and Lattin, I cannot read them, and therefore much lesse understand them; in which regard, for me to hold up my hand at the Barre, before I understand the true signification of it in law, (which tells me it is in it selfe a ticklish thing) were for me to throw away my own life upon a puntillio or nicity, that I am ignorant of; and therfore truly I think I should be a very fool in my own ignorance to run that danger, & therefore Sir., I humbly desire the clear explination of the meaning of it in law, & after that I shal give you a fair & rational answer.

Lord Keeble. M. Lilburn'', you shall see we will deal very Rationally with you, (and not insnare you in the least manner) if that be all. The holding up of your hand, we will tell you what it meanes, and signifies in Law; the calling to the party to hold up his hand at the Bar, is no more but for the special notice that the party is the man inquired for or called on, and therefore if you be M. Iohn Lilburn, and be the man that we charge, do but say that you are the man, and that you are there, and it shall suffice.''

''Lieut. Col. Lilburn. I am Iohn Lilburn, son to M. Richard Lilburn'' of

Lord Keeble, M. Lilburn, what you have to say we will hear presently, onely take notice, that we will take your acknowledging of your name to be sufficient, if you will say that you are the man; you are called by your name, you have come and answered to your name, in order to your answering, the Charge to be read against you; do but this and it shall suffice, without holding up your hand: therefore let us have no more discourse as to that.

Judge Jerman. M. Lilburn, pray spare me a word, for you have been heard with patience, you have desired to have the Right of the Law of England'', and yet you do question a Fundamental thing that hath been alwayes used in case of Criminal offences. By the Law of England, that you desire to have the meaning of it, is but just, but you must know that the Law of England is the Law of God, and if there be any thing in the Law''