your favour. I do not know the forms of law; I do know law and reason, though I am no lawyer professed; but I know as much law as any gentleman in England; and therefore (under favour) I do plead for the liberty to the people of England more than you do: and therefore if I should impose a belief upon any man, without reasons for it, it were unreasonable." Bradshaw thereupon threatened the King that he would be in contempt of court: a somewhat ineffectual protest given that Charles was on trial for his life for treason and for murder. The King asked for "one precedent" to justify his predicament. He knew enough of the methodology of the common law to require this. He declared that the Commons of England had never been a court of judicature and asked "how that came to be so" 22 . He required reasons and in answer to the reproof of Bradshaw that it was not for prisoners to "require", he answered: "I am not an ordinary prisoner" 23 . The Court withdrew once again, the soldiers shouting "Justice!". On the third day the King was again required to plead. He protested at the interruptions he had suffered when he desired "to speak for the liberties of the people of England" 24 . Bradshaw told him to "make the best defence you can". The King declared that he could not answer unless he was satisfied that the fundamental law of the kingdom warranted the lawfulness of the trial, for he was sworn "to the maintenance of the liberties of my people" 25 . On Bradshaw's instructions, the Clerk of the Court demanded that the King give answer "by way of confession or denial of the charge". The King's only response was again to deny the legality of the Court in the interests of the privileges of the people of England. Bradshaw responded that the King had written his meaning as to those privileges "in bloody characters throughout the whole kingdom". After this, the King was prevented from saying more. "I see I am before a power", said the King and rose to go...
