Some of the justices refused to be sworn; but the Judge said he would have it done, to take away all occasion of exception. When the jury were sworn, and the justices had sworn that they had tendered me the oath according to the indictment, the Judge asked me whether I had not refused the oath at the last assizes. I said, "I never took an oath in my life, and Christ, the Saviour and Judge of the world, said, 'Swear not at all.'"
The Judge seemed not to take notice of my answer, but asked me whether or not I had refused to take the oath at the last assizes.
I said, "The words that I then spoke to them were, that if they could prove, either judge, justices, priest, or teacher, that after Christ and the Apostle had forbidden swearing, they commanded that Christians should swear, I would swear."
The Judge said he was not at that time to dispute whether it was lawful to swear, but to inquire whether I had refused to take the oath.
I told him, "Those things mentioned in the oath, as plotting against the King, and owning the Pope's, or any other foreign power, I utterly deny."
"Well," said he, "you say well in that, but did you refuse to take the oath? What say you?"
"What wouldst thou have me to say?" said I; "I have told thee before what I did say."
Then he asked me if I would have these men to swear that I had taken the oath. I asked him if he would have those men to swear that I had refused the oath, at which the court burst into laughter.
I was grieved to see so much lightness in a court, where such solemn matters are handled, and thereupon asked them, "Is this court a play-house? Where is gravity and sobriety," said I; "this behaviour doth not become you."