But these infamous arts, which poison justice in its very source, and break all the bands of human society, are so detestable and dangerous, that no pretence of retaliation can be pleaded as an apology or even an alleviation of the crime incurred by them.

On the contrary, the greater indignation the king and his ministers felt, when formerly exposed to the perjuries of abandoned men, the more reluctance should they now have discovered against employing the same instruments of vengeance upon their antagonists.
The first person on whom the ministers fell was one College, a London joiner, who had become extremely noted for his zeal against Popery, and was much connected with Shaftesbury and the leaders of the country party: for as they relied much upon the populace, men of College's rank and station were useful to them.

College had been in Oxford armed with sword and pistol during the sitting of the parliament; and this was made the foundation of his crime.

It was pretended that a conspiracy had been entered into to seize the king's person, and detain him in confinement, till he should make the concessions demanded of him.

The sheriffs of London were in strong opposition to the court; and it was not strange, that the grand jury named by them rejected the bill against College.
The prisoner was therefore sent to Oxford, where the treason was said to have been committed.