He then asked to be heard in the Painted Chamber before the Lords and Commons before any sentence was given.
As he concluded he raised his voice and spoke with great nobleness and force.
"And if I cannot get this liberty I do here protest that so fair shows of liberty and peace are pure shows and not otherwise since you will not hear your King."
A hush followed his speech; Cromwell whispered to a neighbour; a faint sunlight penetrated the narrow Gothic window and touched to brilliancy John Bradshaw in his scarlet robes among his crimson cushions.
"Yes, sir," replied the King, looking at him austerely.
The sunlight strengthened; the judge blazed in his unrelieved red; the prisoner was still in shadow; he stood with his hands on the bar; Lord Digby could see that he was biting his under-lip.
"What you have said," announced Bradshaw, "is a further declining of the jurisdiction of this Court, which was the thing wherein you were limited before----"
"Pray excuse me, sir, for my interruption, because you mistake me--it is not a declining of it; you do judge me before you hear me speak. I say I will not, I do not decline, though I cannot acknowledge the jurisdiction of this Court----"
A deep humming from the Court drowned the rest of his speech.
Bradshaw, stern, slightly flushed, and in a voice of terrible import, made reply--
"Sir, this is not altogether new that you have moved unto us--not altogether new to us, though it is the first time in person that you have offered it to the Court. Sir, you say you do not decline the jurisdiction of the Court."
"Not in this that I have said," answered Charles swiftly.
"I understand you well, sir," said the Lord President; "but, nevertheless, that which you have offered seems to be contrary to that saying of yours--for the Court are ready to give a sentence."
The very slightest quiver disturbed the King's face; he sought for his handkerchief, found it, and wiped his lips, looking down the while.
"It is not as you say," continued Bradshaw sternly, "that we will not hear our King--we have been ready to hear you, we have patiently waited your pleasure for three Courts together, to hear what you would say to the People's charges against you, to which you have not vouchsafed to give any answer at all."