Simon Mayne's Trial

I was given a fascinating leaflet about Dinton Hall this afternoon, which amongst other details contained a transcription of part of Simon Mayne's trial.

Following the restoration of the monarchy, the Royalists now had a hit list, of everyone who had contributed to Charles 1st's death. On that list was Simon Mayne, who was at the the time, the Lord of the Manor in Dinton, and who was one of many who had signed the king's death warrant. At first he had spent some time successfully hidden from his pursuers, in a secret chamber at Dinton Hall underneath some stairs leading to the attic, before eventually surrendering himself up to the authorities. Once arrested, he was then committed to the Tower of London. His trial took place at the Old Bailey on the 16th October, 1660. Simon Mayne had a poor defence, and proved very evasive when questioned by the Counsel. His plea essentially was that he was ill at the time, and that he had been reluctantly bullied and coerced into the affair by his wife. An extract of the trial follows;

"Did you sign the warrant," he was asked, "for summoning the court? And did you sign the warrant for the execution of the King?"
Mayne: "I did sit in the court."
Counsel: "Did you sign the warrant for execution?"
Mayne: "My Lord, I knew not of the King's bringing it up. I was not on the Committee."
Counsel: "We do not ask you that. Look upon the warrant and see if your hand and seal be not to it."
Mayne: "My Lord, it is my hand."
Counsel: "Then, my Lord, we have done."

The jury found Mayne guilty, and he was sentenced to death.