Wenlock. So am I, and for any thing I know, am as good as you, if not better; for if the King did but know your Hearts, as God knows them, he would see, that your Hearts are as rotten towards him, as they are towards God. Therefore seeing that you and I are Subjects to the King, I demand to be tried by the Laws of my own Nation.
Court. You shall be tried by a Bench and a Jury.
Wenlock. That is not the Law, but the Manner of it; for if you will be as good as your word, you must set me at Liberty, for I never heard or read of any Law that was in England to hang Quakers.
Governour. There is a Law to hang Jesuits.
Wenlock. If you put me to Death, it is not because I go under the name of a Jesuit, but a Quaker, therefore I do appeal to the Laws of my own Nation.
Court. You are in our Hand, and have broken our Laws, and we will try you.
Wenlock. Your Will is your Law, and what you have Power to do, that you will do: And seeing that the Jury must go forth on my Life, this I have to say to you in the Fear of the Living God: Jury, take heed what you do, for you swear by the Living God, That you will true Trial make, and just Verdict give, according to the Evidence. Jury, look for your Evidence: What have I done to deserve Death? Keep your Hands out of innocent Blood.
A Juryman. It is good Counsel.
The Jury went out, but having received their Lesson, soon returned, and brought in their Verdict Guilty.
Wenlock. I deny all Guilt, for my Conscience is clear in the Sight of God.