Woman.  My lord, said she, he is kept unlawfully in prison; they clapped him up before there was any proclamation against the meetings; the indictment also is false; besides, they never asked him whether he was guilty or no; neither did he confess the indictment.

One of the justices.  Then one of the Justices that stood by, whom she knew not, said, My lord, he was lawfully convicted.

Woman.  It is false, said she; for when they said to him, Do you confess the indictment? he said only this, that he had been at several meetings, both where there was preaching the word and prayer, and that they had God’s presence among them.

Judge Twisdon.  Whereat Judge Twisdon answered very angrily, saying, What, you think we can do as we list!  Your husband is a breaker of the peace, and is convicted by the law, etc.  Whereupon Judge Hale called for the statute-book.

Woman.  But, said she, my lord, he was not lawfully convicted.

Chester.  Then Justice Chester said, My lord, he was lawfully convicted.

Woman.  It is false, said she; it was but a word of discourse that they took for conviction.

Chester.  But it is recorded, woman, it is recorded, said Justice Chester; as if it must of necessity be true, because it was recorded.  With which words he often endeavored to stop her mouth, having no other argument to convince her but, It is recorded, it is recorded.

Woman.  My lord, said she, I was a while since at London, to see if I could get my husband’s liberty; and there I spoke with my Lord Burkwood, one of the House of Lords, to whom I delivered a petition, who took it of me and presented it to some of the rest of the House of Lords for my husband’s releasement; who, when they had seen it, said that they could not release him, but had committed his releasement to the judges at the next assizes.  This he told me; and now I come to you to see if any thing can be done in this business, and you give neither releasement nor relief.  To which they gave her no answer, but made as if they heard her not.

Chester.  Only Justice Chester was often up with this, He is convicted, and it is recorded.

Woman.  If it be, it is false, said she.

Chester.  My lord, said Justice Chester, he is a pestilent fellow; there is not such a fellow in the country again.

Twisdon.  What, will your husband leave preaching?  If he will do so, then send for him.

Woman.  My lord, said she, he dares not leave preaching as long as he can speak.

Twisdon.  See here:  what should we talk any more about such a fellow?  Must he do what he lists?  He is a breaker of the peace.

Woman.  She told him again, that he desired to live peaceably and to follow his calling, that his family might be maintained; and moreover said, My lord, I have four small children that cannot help themselves, of which one is blind; and we have nothing to live upon but the charity of good people.