On the morrow at the opening of the sitting, sixty-two members being present, the court ordered strict silence to be observed under pain of imprisonment.  On his arrival, however, the king was not the less received with marked applause.  The same sort of discussion commenced, and with equal obstinacy on both sides.  “Sir,” at length, exclaimed Bradshaw, “neither you, nor any other person shall be permitted to question the jurisdiction of this court.  It sits by authority of the Commons of England—­an authority to which both you and your predecessors are to be held responsible.”

The King. “I deny that.  Show me a single precedent.”  Bradshaw rose up in a passion:  “Sir, we do not sit here to reply to your questions.  Plead to the accusation, guilty or not guilty.”

The King. “You have not yet heard my reasons.”

Bradshaw. “Sir, no reason can be advanced against the highest of all jurisdictions.”

The King. “Point out to me this jurisdiction; or you refuse to hear reason.”

Bradshaw. “Sir, we show it to you here.  Here are the Commons of England.  Sergeant, remove the prisoner.”

The king on this turned suddenly round towards the people.  “Bear in mind,” he said, “that the king of England has been condemned without being permitted to state his reasons in support of the people’s liberty.”  These words were followed by an almost general cry of God save the king. * * *

On the 27th at noon, after two hours conference in the painted chamber, the court opened, as usual, by calling a list of the names.  At the name of Fairfax, a woman’s voice from the bottom of the gallery was heard to exclaim:  “He has too much sense to be here.”  After some moments’ surprise and hesitation, the names were called over, and sixty-seven members were present.  When the king entered the hall, there was a violent outcry:  “Execution! justice! execution!” The soldiers became very insolent; some officers, in particular Axtell, commander of the guards, excited them to this uproar; and groups spread about through the hall, as busily seconded them.  The people, struck with consternation, were silent.  “Sir!” said the king, addressing Bradshaw before he sat down, “I demand to speak a word; I hope that I shall give you no cause to interrupt me.”

Bradshaw. “You will be heard in your turn.  Listen first to the court.”

The King. “Sir, if you please, I wish to be heard.  It is only a word.  An immediate decision.”

Bradshaw. “Sir, you shall be heard at the proper time:—­first, you must listen to the court.”

The King. “Sir, I desire,—­what I have to say applies to what the court is, I believe, about to pronounce; and it is difficult, sir, to recall a precipitate verdict.”

Bradshaw. “We shall hear you, sir, before judgment is pronounced.  Until then you ought to abstain from speaking.”