This workshop aims to study the emergence and status of ‘speech’ in medieval legal procedure. It will start with the examination of defendants before criminal and inquisitorial courts, witness statements and evidence gathered for civil cases. Numerous important issues are the focus of the seminar. These include freedom of speech, rights and self-defence mechanisms of defendants. The ability of defendants and witnesses to express themselves and to dominate space and time will also be considered, as well as how proceedings and legal standards have influenced both defendants and witnesses. Finally, the Workshop seeks to bring out the personality of the witness. An attempt will be made to understand his worldview, his knowledge of things and human beings, through the filters of legal procedure, from the 13th century to modern times.