_Clerk_. Well said. He standeth here indicted by the name of Atheism, etc., and is charged that he hath maintained and taught that there is no God, and so no heed need be taken to any religion. What say you, the King’s witnesses, to this? Is he guilty or not?
_Know_. My lord, I and he were once in Villain’s Lane together, and he at that time did briskly talk of divers 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 as religious too, if the company I am in, and the circumstances of other things,’ said he, ‘shall put me upon it.’
_Clerk_. You are sure you heard him say thus?
_Know_. Upon mine oath, I heard him say thus.
Then said the Clerk, ‘Mr. Tell-True, what say you to the King’s judges touching the prisoner at the bar?’
_Tell_. My lord, I formerly was a great companion of his, for the which I now repent me, and I have often heard him say, and that with very great stomachfulness, that he believed there was neither God, angel, nor spirit.
_Clerk_. Where did you hear him say so?
_Tell_. In Blackmouth Lane and in Blasphemer’s Row, and in many other places besides.
_Clerk_. Have you much knowledge of him?
_Tell_. 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. I have no more to say.
_Clerk_. Mr. Hate-Lies, look upon the prisoner at the bar; do you know him?
_Hate_. 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 whore-house as to go to hear a sermon.
_Clerk_. Where did you hear him say these things?
_Hate_. In Drunkard’s Row, just at Rascal-Lane’s End, at a house in which Mr. Impiety lived.
_Clerk_. Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Lustings to the bar. Mr. Lustings, thou art here indicted by the name of Lustings, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou hast devilishly and traitorously taught, by practice and filthy words, that it is lawful and profitable to man to give way to his carnal desires; and that thou, for thy part, hast not, nor never wilt, deny thyself of any sinful delight as long as thy name is Lustings. How sayest thou? Art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?
Then said Mr. Lustings, ‘My lord, I am a man of high birth, and have been used to pleasures and pastimes of greatness. I have not been wont to be snubbed for my doings, but have been left to follow my will as if it were law. And it seems strange to me that I should this day be called into question for that, that not only I, but almost all men, do either secretly or openly countenance, love, and approve of.’
_Clerk_. Sir, we concern not ourselves with your greatness; (though the higher, the better you should have been;) but we are concerned, and so are you now, about an indictment preferred against you. How say you? Are you guilty of it, or not?
_Lust_. Not guilty.
_Clerk_. Crier, call upon the witnesses to stand forth and give their evidence.
_Crier_. Gentlemen, you, the witnesses for the King, come in and give in your evidence for our Lord the King against the prisoner at the bar.
_Clerk_. Come, Mr. Know-All, look upon the prisoner at the bar; do you know him?
_Know_. Yes, my lord, I know him.
_Clerk_. What is his name?
_Know_. His name is Lustings; he was the son of one Beastly, and his mother bare him in Flesh Street: she was one Evil-Concupiscence’s daughter. I knew all the generation of them.
_Clerk_. Well said. You have heard his indictment; what say you to it? Is he guilty of the things charged against him, or not?
_Know_. My lord, he has, as he saith, been a great man indeed, and greater in wickedness than by pedigree more than a thousandfold.
_Clerk_. But what do you know of his particular actions, and especially with reference to his indictment?
_Know_. I know him to be a swearer, a liar, a Sabbath-breaker; I know him to be a fornicator and an unclean person; I know him to be guilty of abundance of evils. He has been, to my knowledge, a very filthy man.
_Clerk_. But where did he use to commit his wickedness? in some private corners, or more open and shamelessly?
_Know_. All the town over, my lord.
_Clerk_. Come, Mr. Tell-True, what have you to say for our Lord the King against the prisoner at the bar?
_Tell_. My lord, all that the first witness has said I know to be true, and a great deal more besides.
_Clerk_. Mr. Lustings, do you hear what these gentlemen say?