done by them to the men.  They, therefore, in angry manner, let fly at them again, counting them as bad as the men in the cage, and telling them that they seemed confederates and should be made partakers of their misfortunes.  The others replied, that, for aught they could see, the men were quiet and sober, and intended nobody any harm; and that there were many that traded in their fair that were more worthy to be put into the cage, yea, and pillory too, than were the men that they had abused.  Thus, after divers words had passed on both sides—­the men behaving themselves all the while very wisely and soberly before them—­they fell to some blows among themselves, and did harm one to another.  Then were these two poor men brought before their examiners again, and there charged as being guilty of the late hubbub that had been in the fair.  So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons upon them, and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an example and terror to others, lest any should speak in their behalf, or join themselves unto them.  But Christian and Faithful behaved themselves yet more wisely, and received the ignominy and shame that was cast upon them with so much meekness and patience, that it won to their side—­though but few in comparison of the rest—­several of the men in the fair.  This put the other party yet into a greater rage, insomuch that they concluded the death of these two men.  Wherefore they threatened that neither cage nor irons should serve their turn, but that they should die for the abuse they had done, and for deluding the men of the fair.

Then were they remanded to the cage again until further order should be taken with them.  So they put them in, and made them fast in the stocks.

Here, therefore, they called again to mind what they had heard from their faithful friend Evangelist, and were the more confirmed in their way and sufferings, by what he told them would happen to them.  They also now comforted each other, that whose lot it was to suffer, even he should have the best of it; therefore each man secretly wished that he might have that preferment.  But committing themselves to the all-wise disposal of him that ruleth all things, with much content they abode in the condition in which they were until they should be otherwise disposed of.

Then a convenient time being appointed, they brought them forth to their trial, in order to their condemnation.  When the time was come, they were brought before their enemies, and arraigned.  The judge’s name was Lord Hate-good; their indictment was one and the same in substance, though somewhat varying in form; the contents whereof was this:  That they were enemies to, and disturbers of, the trade; that they had made commotions and divisions in the town, and had won a party to their own most dangerous opinions, in contempt of the law of their prince.

Then Faithful began to answer, that he had only set himself against that which had set itself against Him that is higher than the highest.  And, said he, as for disturbance, I make none, being myself a man of peace:  the parties that were won to us, were won by beholding our truth and innocence, and they are only turned from the worse to the better.  And as to the king you talk of, since he is Beelzebub, the enemy of our Lord, I defy him and all his angels.