A pretence was therefore fallen upon for punishing him; though such a precedent may justly be deemed a very unusual act of severity, and sufficient to destroy all confidence in private friendship and correspondence.
There is another remarkable trial, which shows the disposition of the courts of judicature, and which, though it passed in the ensuing year, it may not be improper to relate in this place.

One Rosewel, a Presbyterian preacher, was accused by three women of having spoken treasonable words in a sermon.

They swore to two or three periods, and agreed so exactly together, that there was not the smallest variation in their depositions.

Rosewel, on the other hand, made a very good defence.
He proved that the witnesses were lewd and infamous persons.

He proved that, even during Cromwell's usurpation, he had always been a royalist; that he prayed constantly for the king in his family; and that in his sermons he often inculcated the obligations of loyalty.