" To prevent which was the design and drift of that
book, by acquainting such officers how they might safely demean
themselves in the execution of their offices towards their honest
and peaceable neighbours, without ruining either their neighbours or
themselves to enrich some of the worst of men; and that I humbly
conceived it was neither unlawful nor unreasonable for a sufferer to
do this, so long as it was done in a fair, sober, and peaceable way.
They then put me in mind of the plot; told me it was a troublesome
and dangerous time, and my book might be construed to import
sedition, in discouraging the officers from putting the laws in
execution, as by law and by their oath they were bound; and in fine
brought it to this issue, that they were directed to secure me by a
commitment to prison until the assize, at which I should receive a
further charge than they were provided now to give me; but because
they were desirous to forward my visit to Madam Penn, they told me
they would admit me to bail, and therefore, if I would enter a
recognisance, with sufficient sureties, for my appearance at the
next assize, they would leave me at liberty to go on my journey.
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