school-master at Lynn, in Norfolk, on which he was taken into custody, and conveyed to York castle, where at the following summer assizes they were tried; after Houseman had given his evidence, and all such collateral testimony had been received as could be adduced on such an occasion, Aram delivered the following ingenious defence.
"My Lord,
"I know not whether it is of right, or through some indulgence of your Lordship, that I am allowed the liberty at this bar, and at this time to attempt a defence, incapable and uninstructed as I am to speak. Since, while I see so many eyes upon me, so numerous and awful a concourse, fixed with attention, and filled with, I know not what expectations, I labour not with guilt, my Lord, but with perplexity. For having never seen a court but this, being wholly unacquainted with law, the customs of the bar, and all judicial proceedings, I fear I shall be so little capable of speaking with propriety in this place, that it exceeds my hope if I shall be able to speak at all.
"I have heard, my Lord, the indictment read; wherein I find myself charged with the highest crime, with an enormity I am altogether incapable of, a fact, on the commission of which there goes far more insensibility of heart, more profligacy of morals, than ever fell to my lot. And nothing possibly could have admitted a presumption of this nature, but a depravity not inferior to that imputed to me. However, as I stand indicted at your Lordship's bar, and have heard what is called evidence adduced in support of such a charge, I very humbly solicit your Lordship's patience, and beg the hearing of this respectable audience, while I, single and unskilful, destitute of friends, and unassisted by counsel, say something perhaps like argument in my defence. I shall consume but little of your Lordship's time, what I have to say will be short, and this brevity probably will be the best part of it; however, it is offered with all possible regard, and the greatest submission to your Lordship's consideration,
