"
"Why, what is your present condition?" said the Recorder.--"A
prisoner," replied I.--"And what is that," said he, "to your taking
or not taking the oath?"--"Enough," said I, "as I conceive, to
exempt me from the tender thereof while I am under this condition."-
-"Pray, what is your reason for that?" said he.--"This," said I,
"that if I rightly understand the words of the statute, I am
required to say that I DO TAKE THIS OATH FREELY AND WITHOUT
CONSTRAINT, which I cannot say, because I am not a free man, but in
bonds and under constraint. Wherefore I conceive that if you would
tender that oath to me, ye ought first to set me free from my
present imprisonment."
"But," said the Recorder, "will you take the oath if you be set
free?"--"Thou shalt see that," said I, "when I am set free.
Therefore set me free first, and then ask the question."
"But," said he again, "you know your own mind sure, and can tell now
what you would do if you were at liberty."--"Yes," replied I, "that
I can; but I do not hold myself obliged to tell it until I am at
liberty.
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