While treason is apparently subject to reading standing mute as a guilty plea, trying a King for treason is legal innovation and so perhaps we could consider that the High Court may have innovated by subjecting Charles I to Peine forte et dure in order to acquire a plea.
What circumstances would produce this contemplation and action by the high court? How could Charles I react? What would be the results of a not guilty plea? Of Charles dying under the press?
Yours,
Sam R.