The Review, or, A representation of the late sufferings & condition of the dissenters written some years since, but not then suffer'd to come abroad : now publish'd as well to encrease their gratitude to the King for delivering them from all those calamities, as to excite them to joyn vigorously in all lawful means that many conduce to the prevention of their falling under the like, or worse severeties hereafter.

SECT. VII.

1. WE have been in some places punished for faults that we never committed, and prosecuted for our presence at Conventicles where we never were. This we think is hard measure, but 'tis no other than what we have had experience of.

2. Those men upon whose Evidence and Oaths, some of us have been convicted, are persons viler than the Earth, their Fa∣thers we would have scorned to have set among the Dogs of our Flocks. They are the dregs of the People, and the abhorence of all that know or have any conversation with them. Their Debaucheries have beggered and impoverished them to that degree, that they take up this trade. Their Words and their Oaths will not be taken, among their Neighbours, for a Groat.

3. We have heard or read, that according to our Laws, those that receive Evidence against any subject of the Realm, ought to con∣sider the quality and credibility of him, or them that give it, and there seems to be a great deal of reason for it, for otherwise our Estates, our Reputation, and our Lives, are all at the mercy and in the dispo∣sal of all such Varlets, as have so much need, and so little conscience, as to make merchandize of them. How well this good and charitable rule hath been observed in those testimonies that have been taken against us, we are not willing to say.

4. It is readily granted that those Gentlemen, to whom these Mi∣screants offer their Oaths and Depositions, cannot refuse them, because they themselves become criminal, and liable to prosecutions at Law thereby. But we do humbly conceive, that when we appeal to the Sessions, which is a Court of Judicature, where they either are our Judges, our Jury, or both; the quality of the Witnesses and Deponents, ought to be considered, especially when we bring evidence sufficient to disable all their attestations.