# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_143451-2.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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9

due regard to their duty must preclude their
continuing to yield obedience to the unwarrant-
ed mandate of his Grace, to listen to himself and
the members of his Council in silence.

That of the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction,
termed "the Court of Gaol-Delivery," the house
of which your Petitioners are members is an
integral part: that by the law of the land their
presence in that Court is, and has again and
again been pronounced to be, indispensable.
From the earliest period of time to which record
or tradition can reach, to this hour, your Peti-
tioners do fearlessly assert, that not one single
instance can be adduced of that Court being
holden but in the actual presence of their
house. From the year 1668 to the present
time, the records contain proofs of fines imposed
on individual members for non-attendance: in
one instance the Deemster has refused to re-
ceive a verdict but in the presence of thirteen of
their number; in another, the acting Attorney-
General has declined to proceed against a cri-
minal in their absence; the Court itself has
declared, that by reason of the non-attendance
of a competent number of the Keys, the business
of the Court could not proceed; their right as
members of the court to examine witnesses has
been judicially, and formally investigated, and
by that Court unanimously admitted. In pro-

B