Now when the judge still urged me to swear, I told him, “I never took oath, covenant, or engagement in my life, but my yea or nay was more binding to me than an oath was to many others; for had they not had experience how little men regarded an oath; and how they had sworn one way and then another; and how the justices and court had forsworn themselves now?” I told him, ‘I was a man of a tender conscience, and if they had any sense of a tender conscience, they would consider, that it was in obedience to Christ’s command that I could not swear. “But,” said I, “if any of you can convince me, that after Christ and the apostle had commanded not to swear, they altered that command and commanded Christians to swear; then ye shall see I will swear.” There being many priests by, I said, “if ye cannot do it, let your priests stand up and do it.” But not one of the priests made any answer. “O,” said the judge, “all the world cannot convince you.” “No,” said I, “how is it like the world should convince me; for ‘the whole world lies in wickedness;’ but bring out your spiritual men, as ye call them, to convince me.” Then both the sheriff and the judge said, “the angel swore in the Revelations.” I replied, “when God bringeth in his first-begotten Son into the world, he saith, ‘Let all the angels of God worship him;’ and he saith, ‘swear not at all.’” “Nay,” said the judge, “I will not dispute.” Then I spoke to the jury, telling them, “it was for Christ’s sake that I could not swear, and therefore I warned them not to act contrary to that of God in their consciences, for before his judgment-seat they must all be brought.” And I told them, “that as for plots and persecution for religion and Popery, I do deny them in my heart; for I am a Christian, and shall show forth Christianity amongst you this day. It is for Christ’s doctrine I stand.” More words I had both with the judge and jury before the jailer took me away.