ou standest indicted, and art now arraigned?
Or not Guilty?

HARRISON--My Lords, have I liberty to speak?

COURT--No more (at this time) than Guilty or Not Guilty. Mr.
Harrison, you have heard the direction before. We can but give
you the same rule. If you plead Guilty you shall be heard at
large; if Not Guilty, you know what remains.

HARRISON--Will you give me leave to give you my answer in my own
words?

LORD CHIEF-BARON--There is no answer but what the law directs;
it is the same with you as with all others, or as I would desire
if I was in your condition. You must plead Not Guilty, or if you
confess Guilty, there must be judgment on your confession.

HARRISON--You express your rule very fair, as well to me as to
this gentleman (pointing to sir H. Waller, who had just pleaded
guilty); but I have something to say, which concerns your
Lordships as well as myself.

COURT--You must hold, and plead Guilty or Not Guilty.

HARRISON--My Lord, I have been kept close prisoner near these
three months, that nobody might have access to me. Do you call
me to give you a legal answer, not knowing of my trial till nine
of the clock last night, and brought away from the Tower to this
place at six of the clock this morning?

COURT--You must give your direct answer, Guilty, or Not Guilty.
You cannot say it is sudden or unprovided. You spend your time
in vain. You trouble the Court. You must plead Guilty, or Not
Guilty. We must not suffer you to make discourses here. You must
plead either Guilty or Not Guilty.

CLERK--Are you Guilty, or Not Guilty?

After objecting to plead in this way for a little more time, Harrison
was at last persuaded to plead Not Guilty. He then objected to complete
the usual formula by saying that he would be tried by God and his
Country, saying that they were vain words; but eventually--

HARRISON--I do offer myself to be tried in your own way by God and
my Country.

CLERK--God send you a good deliverance.

On the next day, the 11th, at seven o'clock in the morning, Harrison's
trial began by the calling of the jury, of whom Harrison challenged
thirty-five, his maximum number.

The case was then opened by Finch, the Solicitor-General, who, after
explaining the law of treason by quotations from the Bible and Coke,
charged the prisoner more particularly with having brought th