it to the people; which
done, they shall put the whole together to the suffrage, with three
boxes, the negative, the affirmative, and the non-sincere; and the
suffrage being returned to the tribunes, and numbered in the presence
of the proposers. If the major vote be in the non-sincere, the proposer
shall desist, and the Senate shall resume the debate. If the major vote
be in the negative, the proposers shall desist, and the Senate, too. But
if the major vote be in the affirmative, then the tribe is clear and the
proposers shall begin and put the whole matter, with the negative
and the affirmative (leaving out the non-sincere) by clauses; and the
suffrages being taken and numbered by the tribunes in the presence of
the proposers, shall be written and reported by the tribunes of the
Senate. And that which is proposed by the authority of the Senate, and
confirmed by the command of the people, is the law of Oceana.

"The proceeding of the prerogative in a case of judicature is to be thus
ordered: The tribunes being auditors of all causes appertaining to
the cognizance of the people, shall have notice of the suit or trial,
whether of appeal or otherwise, that is to be commenced; and if any one
of them shall accept of the same, it appertains to him to introduce it.
A cause being introduced, and the people mustered or assembled for the
decision of the same, the tribunes are presidents of the court, having
power to keep it to orders, and shall be seated upon a scaffold erected
in the middle of the tribe. Upon the right hand shall stand a seat or
large pulpit assigned to the plaintiff or the accuser; and, upon the
left, another for the defendant, each if they please with his counsel.
And the tribunes (being attended upon such occasions with so many
ballotins, secretaries, doorkeepers, and messengers of the Senate as
shall be requisite) one of them shall turn up a glass of the nature
of an hour-glass, but such a one as is to be of an hour and a half's
running; which being turned up, the party or counsel on the right hand
may begin to speak to the people. If there be papers to be read, or
witnesses to be examined, the officer shall lay the glass sideways
till the papers be read and the witnesses examined, and then turn it up
again; and so long as the glass is running, the party on the right hand
has liberty to speak, and no longer. The party on the right hand having
had his time, the like shall be done in every respect for the pa