I told them I could not do it. They said they would give me as
little trouble as they could, and therefore they would not put me to
seek bail, but would accept those two friends of mine who were then
present, to be bound with me for my appearance.
I let them know my strait lay not in the difficulty of procuring
sureties, for I did suppose myself to have sufficient acquaintance
and credit in that place, if on such an occasion I could be free to
use it; but as I knew myself to be an innocent man, I had not
satisfaction in myself to desire others to be bound for me, nor to
enter myself into a recognisance, that carrying in it, to my
apprehension, a reflection on my innocency and the reputation of my
Christian profession.
Here we stuck and struggled about this a pretty while, till at
length finding me fixed in my judgment, and resolved rather to go to
prison than give bail, they asked me if I was against appearing, or
only against being bound with sureties to appear. I told them I was
not against appearing, which as I could not avoid if I would, so I
would not if I might; but was ready and willing to appear, if
required, to answer whatsoever should be charged against me.
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