So the prisoners were set to the bar. Then said Mr. Do-Right, (for he was the Town-Clerk,) ‘Set Atheism to the bar, gaoler.’ So he was set to the bar. Then said the Clerk, ‘Atheism, hold up thy hand. Thou art here indicted by the name of Atheism, (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou hast perniciously and doltishly taught and maintained that there is no God, and so no heed to be taken to religion. This thou hast done against the being, honour, and glory of the King, and against the peace and safety of the town of Mansoul. What sayest thou? Art thou guilty of this indictment, or not?
_Crier_. Call Mr. Know-All, Mr. Tell-True, and Mr. Hate-Lies into the court.
Then said the Clerk, ‘You, the witnesses for the King, look upon the prisoner at the bar; do you know him?’
Then said Mr. Know-All, ‘Yes, my lord, we know him; his name is Atheism; he has been a very pestilent fellow for many years in the miserable town of Mansoul.’
_Know_. Know him! Yes my lord; I have heretofore too often been in his company to be at this time ignorant of him. He is a Diabolonian, the son of a Diabolonian: I knew his grandfather and his father.
_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.
_Tell_. In Blackmouth Lane and in Blasphemer’s Row, and in many other places besides.