u, you may not be
permitted; you speak of law and reason; it is fit there should
be law and reason, and there is both against you. Sir, the Vote
of the Commons of England assembled in parliament, it is the
reason of the kingdom, and they are these that have given to
that law, according to which you should have ruled and reigned.
Sir, you are not to dispute our Authority, you are told it again
by the Court. Sir, it will be taken notice of, that you stand in
contempt of the Court, and your contempt will be recorded
accordingly.

KING--I do not know how a king can be a Delinquent; but by any
law that ever I heard of, all men (Delinquents, or what you
will), let me tell you, they may put in Demurrers against any
proceeding as legal: and I do demand that, and demand to be
heard with my Reasons: if you deny that, you deny reason.

LORD PRESIDENT--Sir, you have offered something to the Court: I
shall speak something unto you, the Sense of the Court. Sir,
neither you nor any man are permitted to dispute that point, you
are concluded, you may not demur to the jurisdiction of the
Court: if you do, I must let you know, that they over-rule your
Demurrer; they sit here by the authority of the Commons of
England, and all your predecessors and you are responsible to
them.

KING--I deny that; shew me one precedent.

LORD PRESIDENT--Sir, you ought not to interrupt while the Court
is speaking to you. This point is not to be debated by you,
neither will the Court permit you to do it; if you offer it by
way of Demurrer to the Jurisdiction of the Court, they have
considered of their Jurisdiction, they do affirm their own
Jurisdiction.

KING--I say, Sir, by your favour, that the Commons of England
was never a Court of Judicature: I would know how they came to
be so.

LORD PRESIDENT--Sir, you are not to be permitted to go on in
that Speech and these discourses.

Then the clerk of the Court read as followeth:--

'Charles Stuart, king of England, You have been accused on
behalf of the People of England of High Treasons, and other high
Crimes; the Court have determined that you ought to answer the
same.'

KING--I will answer the same so soon as I know by what Authority
you do this.

LORD PRESIDENT--If this be all that you will say, then
Gentlemen, you that brou