[20] John Bradshaw (1602-1659) was the son of a Cheshire gentleman.
Called to the bar in 1627, he practised at Congleton till about 1643,
when he became judge of the Sheriff's Court in London, and was enjoying,
according to Campbell, 'a considerable but obscure practice'; had,
according to Clarendon, 'a good practice in his chamber, and [was] much
employed by the fractious'; and became, according to Milton, 'a profound
lawyer, an eloquent advocate.' He defended Lilburne successfully in
1645. He was made President of the High Court for the purpose of this
trial, after the position had been declined by Whitelock, Rolle, St.
John, and Wilde. After this trial he presided at the trials of the Duke
of Hamilton following on the Battle of Worcester; and Holland, Norwich,
Capel, and Owen after the siege of Colchester. Later on he vigorously
opposed Cromwell, and accepted a seat in Richard Cromwell's Council of
State. He became a Commissioner of the Great Seal in 1659, and died in
October of that year. His body was exhumed at the Restoration with those
of Cromwell and others, hung at Tyburn, and buried under the gallows.
According to a legend perpetuated by an inscription on a cannon, his
body was taken to Annapolis and buried there. A panegyric was written on
him by Milton.
[21] John Cook acted with Bradshaw as one of the counsel defending
Lilburne in 1646. After the trial, of a scurrilous account of which he
was probably the author, he was made Master of the hospital of St.
Cross, and afterwards held various judicial posts in Ireland. On the
Restoration he was tried and executed with the other regicides.
[22] See _post_, p. 150.
[23] 'This is as the king expressed it; but I suppose he meant
Answer.'--Former Edition.
[24] Clement Walker says: 'Whether these breaches and interruptions were
made by Bradshaw, or are omissions and expunctions of some material
parts of the king's speech, which this licensed penman durst not set
down, I know not. I hear much of the king's argument is omitted, and
much depraved, none but licensed men being suffered to take notes.'
[25] See p. 150.