od.' He pleaded
Not Guilty. Mr. Knowall was placed in the witness-box and sworn.

'My Lord,' he said, 'I know the prisoner at the bar. I and he were
once in Villains Lane together, and he at that time did briskly talk
of diverse opinions. And then and there I heard him say that for his
part he did believe that there was no God. "But," said he, "I can
profess one and be religious too, if the company I am in and the
circumstances of other things," said he, "shall put me upon it.'"

Telltrue and Hatelies were next called.

_Telltrue._ My Lord, I was formerly a great companion of the
prisoner's, for the which I now repent me; and I have often
heard him say, and with very great stomach-fulness, that he
believed there was neither God, Angel, nor Spirit.

_Town Clerk._ Where did you hear him say so?

_Telltrue._ In Blackmouth Lane and in Blasphemers Row, and
in many other places besides.

_Town Clerk._ Have you much knowledge of him?

_Telltrue._ I know him to be a Diabolonian, the son of a
Diabolonian, and a horrible man to deny a Deity. His
father's name was Never be Good, and he had more children
than this Atheism.

_Town Clerk._ Mr. Hatelies. Look upon the prisoner at the
bar. Do you know him?

_Hatelies._ My Lord, this Atheism is one of the vilest
wretches that ever I came near or had to do with in my life.
I have heard him say that there is no God. I have heard him
say that there is no world to come, no sin, nor punishment
hereafter; and, moreover, I have heard him say that it was
as good to go to a bad-house as to go to hear a sermon.

_Town Clerk._ Where did you hear him say these things?

_Hatelies._ In Drunkards Row, just at Rascal Lane's End, at
a house in which Mr. Impiety lived.

The next prisoner was Mr. Lustings, who said that he was of high birth
and 'used to pleasures and pastimes of greatness.' He had always been
allowed to follow his own inclinations, and it seemed strange to him
that he should be called in question for things which not only he but
every man secretly or openly approved.

When the evidence had been heard against him he admitted frankly its
general correctness.

'I,' he said, 'was ever of opinion that the happiest life that a man
could live on earth was to keep himself back from nothing that he
desired; nor have I been false at any time to this opinion of mine,