sure 'blacken' was
his word.
_Lord Newburgh_,[37] when he was living at Bagshot, saw Harrison
conducting the King in custody from Hurst Castle to London. The two
warrants, one for the trial, the other for the execution of the King,
were produced, and Harrison's signatures to them were proved to be in
his handwriting. The Court pointed out that they were not produced as
records, but as evidence of overt acts of constituting a compassing of
the King's death on his part.
HARRISON--I do not come to be denying anything that in my own
judgment and conscience I have done or committed, but rather to
be bringing it forth to the light.
COURT--Sir, you must understand this by the way, this you must
take along with you, that these are read not as anything of
authority in themselves, or as used to any other purpose, but as
evidence of the fact against you; take that along with you.
This concluded the evidence; and Windham summed up the case very
shortly, concluding, 'I think a clearer evidence of a fact can never be
given than is for these things,' [Here the spectators hummed.]
LORD CHIEF-BARON--Gentlemen, this humming is not at all becoming
the gravity of this Court. Let there be free speaking by the
prisoner and the Court Counsel. It is more fitting for a
stage-play than for a Court of Justice.
HARRISON--It is now time, my Lords, to offer what I have to say.
Have these learned gentlemen offered what they have to say?
COUNSEL--We have no more till he hath given us occasion, not for
evidence of the fact.
HARRISON--My lords, the matter that hath been offered to you, as
it was touched, was not a thing done in a corner. I believe the
sound of it hath been in most nations. I believe the hearts of
some have felt the terrors of that presence of God that was with
his servants in those days (however it seemeth good to him to
suffer this turn to come on us) and are witnesses that the
things were not done in a corner. I have desired, as in the
sight of him that searcheth all hearts, whilst this hath been
done, to wait, and receive from him convictions upon my own
conscience, though I have sought it with tears many a time, and
prayers over and over, to that God to whom you and all nations
are less than a drop of water in the bucket; and to this moment
I have received rather assurance of it, and that the things t
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