Upon this, he set up his horses, and stayed.  And when we, not knowing anything of his design against us, went innocently forward to perform our Christian duty, for the interment of our Friend; he rushed out of his Inn upon us, with the Constables and a rabble of rude fellows whom he had gathered together:  and, having his drawn sword in his hand, struck one of the foremost of the bearers, with it; commanding them “To set down the coffin!” But the Friend, who was so stricken, whose name was THOMAS DELL (being more concerned for the safety of the dead body than his own, lest it should fall from his shoulder, and any indecency thereupon follow) held the coffin fast.  Which the Justice observing, and being enraged that his word (how unjust soever) was not forthwith obeyed, set his hand to the coffin; and, with a forcible thrust, threw it off the bearers’ shoulders, so that it fell to the ground, in the midst of the street:  and there, we were forced to leave it.

For, immediately thereupon, the Justice giving command for the apprehending us; the Constables with the rabble fell on us, and drew some, and drove others in the Inn:  giving thereby an opportunity to the rest, to walk away.

Of those that were thus taken, I was one.  And being, with many more, put into a room, under a guard; we were kept there, till another Justice, called Sir THOMAS CLAYTON, whom Justice BENNET had sent for, to join with him in committing us, was come.

And then, being called forth severally before them, they picked out ten of us; and committed us to Aylesbury gaol:  for what, neither we, nor they knew.  For we were not convicted of having either done or said anything, which the law could take hold of.

For they took us up in the open street, the King’s highway, not doing any unlawful act; but peaceably carrying and accompanying the corpse of our deceased Friend, to bury it.  Which they would not suffer us to do; but caused the body to lie in the open street, and in the cartway:  so that all the travellers that passed by (whether horsemen, coaches, carts, or waggons) were fain to break out of the way, to go by it, that they might not drive over it; until it was almost night.  And then, having caused a grave to be made in the unconsecrated part, as it is accounted, of that which is called the Church Yard:  they forcibly took the body from the widow (whose right and property it was), and buried it there.

When the Justices had delivered us prisoners to the Constable, it being then late in the day, which was the seventh day of the week:  he (not willing to go so far as Aylesbury, nine long miles, with us, that night; nor to put the town [of Amersham] to the charge of keeping us, there, that night and the First day and night following) dismissed us, upon our parole, to come to him again at a set hour, on the Second day morning.

Whereupon, we all went home to our respective habitations; and coming to him punctually [on Monday, 3rd July, 1665] according to promise, were by him, without guard, conducted to the Prison.