On the 2nd of May, 1632, certain conventiclers, as they are called, were taken at the house of Barnett, a brewer's clerk, residing at Blackfriars.[453] At first John Lathrop, who is described as their minister, did not appear, "but kept himself out of the way awhile; therefore the man of the house wherein they were taken, was first called." He was asked when he last attended the parish church? He replied that he was present in the parish church at the time when, according to the allegation, the meeting was held at his house, but that his wife did not then attend worship with him. The accused persons were all required to take the _ex officio_ oath, but they excused themselves from doing so at least for the present, and requested time for further consideration of that subject. Archbishop Abbot addressed them as follows:-- [Sidenote: 1632, May.] "You shew yourselves most unthankful to God, to the King, and to the Church of England, that when (God be praised) through his Majesty's care and ours you have preaching in every church, and men have liberty to join in prayer and participate of the sacraments, and have catechisings, and all to enlighten you, and which may serve you in the way of salvation, you in an unthankful manner cast off all this yoke, and in private unlawfully assemble yourselves together, making rents and divisions in the Church. If anything be amiss, let it be known; if anything be not agreeable to the Word of God, we shall be as ready to redress it as you; but whereas it is nothing but your own imaginations, and you are unlearned men that seek to make up a religion of your own heads, I doubt no persuasion will serve the turn, we must take this course; you are called here, let them stand upon their bonds, and let us see what they will answer; it may be they will answer what may please us." Laud, then Bishop of London, proceeded to observe, in a very characteristic manner--"It is time to take notice of these; nay this is not the fourth part of them about this City. You see these came of set purpose; they met not by chance; they are desperately heretical; they are all of different places, out of Essex, St. Austin's, St. Martin's le Grand, Buttolph's, Aldgate, Thisleworth, (Isleworth) St. Saviour's; let these be imprisoned. Let me make a motion. There be four of the ablest men of them; let these four answer and be proceeded against, and the while if the rest come in, they shall be received, but if they will not, I know no reason why four or five men should not answer for all."