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to have Councell assigned to me to consult with what these formallties in law signifie, so that I may not throw away my life ignorantly upon formes.
Lord Keble. Mr. Lilburn, we cannot grant you that favour, it is not consistent to the law, whatsoever you say to the contrary?
L. Col. Lilb. I hope you will not goe about to ensnare me, and take away my life for punctillios.
Another Judg. Well then, you will not plead?
L. Col. Lilb. Yes, if I may be allowed that which I conceive to be my birth right and priviledge, to consult with counsell, or that you please to make the sameengagement to me that Mr. Bradshaw, as the President of the high Court of justice made to Duke Hamilton, which was, that the Court would take no advantage at all at his ignorance in the nicities and formalities of the hlaw in his pleading; let me but enjoy this engagement from you, and I will plead.
Lord Keble. You shall have that which is according to the law, therefore Mr. Lilburn I advise you for to plad, and you shall have faire play, and no aavantage taken against you by your ignorance of the formalitie of the law?
L. Col. Lilb. Well then, Sir, upon that engagement, and because, I see you are so positive in the thingThis is my answer, that I am not guilty of any of the Treasons in manner and form, as they are there laid down in that indictment, pointing to it, and therefore now Sir, having pleaded, I crave the liberty of England, that you will assigne me counsell.
Mr. Broughton. By whom wilt thou be tried?
L. Col. Lilb. By the known laws of England, and a legall jury of my equals, constituted according to law.
Mr. Brought. By whom wilt thou be tried?
L. Col. Lilb. By the known lawes of England, I meane by the liberties and priviledges of the laws of England, and a jury of my equalls legally chosen: and now Sir, I again desire Couns⟨e⟩ll to be assigned me to consult with, in point of law, that so I may not destroy my selfe through my ignorance; this is bat the same priviledg that was granted at Oxford unto me and the rest of my fellow prisoners arraigned with mee.
One of the Clerks. You must say by God and your countrey, that’s the forme of the law?
L. Col. Lilb. Why must I say so?
Another Judg. This is the form and law of the Land, will you plead Mr. Lilburn, according to the lawes of England?
L. Col.
