The Presbyterians, who had often received promises of comprehension, were persecuted in common with the rest of the Nonconformists. If ever a man lived in the world inoffensively, as well as usefully, it was Oliver Heywood; yet he did not escape imprisonment. His case exposes the wicked intolerance of the rulers far beyond that of some others, where partial ignorance of the circumstances might leave room for the idea, that a measure of imprudence provoked opposition. No provocation, we are sure, could have been given to the authorities of the country by this eminently amiable and holy person. [Sidenote: 1684.] The case of Thomas Rosewell, a Presbyterian minister, in Rotherhithe, differs from that of Heywood; but his treatment was not less unjust. Charged with uttering treason in his discourses, the jury, after an address from Judge Jeffreys, who presided at the trial, brought him in guilty. When the prisoner moved for an arrest of judgment, the King, being informed of the circumstances, felt so convinced of the infamous character of the witnesses, and of the loyalty of Rosewell, that he pardoned him at once.[114] [Sidenote: PERSECUTION.] From the evidence elicited during Rosewell’s trial we are enabled to form a distinct picture of one of the Nonconformist places of worship in those days, and of several interesting circumstances connected with the services. The place in which he preached was situated in Salisbury Street, Rotherhithe, near the preacher’s dwelling, and consisted of a tenement or tenements, so altered as to adapt the building for accommodating a large number of people. “The rooms were but of a low height.” “There was a low parlour, and a little room up six steps;” and where the preacher stood “was a large room and a garret.” He stood “in the door-case of that room, that the sound might go up and down.” The chamber was hung with sad-coloured paper, and a sad-coloured bed was in the room. Upon the left hand of the speaker “was a chest of sweet wood, and a little cabinet upon it; and a glass over that; and upon the right hand, on the side of the chimney, was a closet.” Three or four hundred people commonly attended--some “people of quality;” and a “store of watermen and seamen” from Deptford, Rotherhithe, and thereabouts. There were shutters in the windows, and the sun came in, and Rosewell was afraid lest the people that went by should hear him. Upon the occasion in question, at first there was not light enough let into the apartment, and he desired that one part of the shutters should be opened; then he requested that half might be shut again, for fear he should be overheard. The congregation met at seven in the morning, and did not break up until a little after two in the afternoon,--a pause taking place in the middle, when the preacher went in to dinner, and “left us there,” says the witness; “and abundance in the congregation ate sweetmeats, or biscuits, or such things.” A man, who was a brazier,