After spending some time in the iron cage, a few of the townspeople who were somewhat more kindly disposed than their neighbors, who had all along thought the pilgrims had been unjustly dealt with, at last found courage to say so. This was the signal for another uproar, so the unoffending pilgrims were taken out and cruelly beaten and ill-used as a warning to any who should be disposed to speak for them.
They comforted and encouraged each other by repeating the warning Evangelist had given them, saying that it was really no strange thing that had happened to them. While they lay in the cage quite a number of men offered to appear against them as witnesses at the trial, which would, they expected, shortly take place. The prisoners were to be tried before the Chief Justice, Lord Hate-Good. The names of two of the witnesses were Mr. Envy and Mr. Superstition.
When the day fixed for their trial came, the prisoners were taken into the court, which even at an early hour was filled to overflowing with people who wanted to see and hear as much as they could. Lord Hate-Good was on the bench looking very grand but very severe in his gown and wig. The jury took their places and the clerk read the charge against the prisoners. It was this: "That they were enemies to and disturbers of the trade of the town of Vanity; that they had caused riots and divisions among the citizens and had even won some to their way of thinking, which was not only dangerous, but was quite against the law of the land."
On being asked what they had to say for themselves, Faithful replied they could not plead guilty to having been the cause of the riots that had taken place in the town, for they were men of peace and followers of the Prince of Peace. They only set their faces against that which was evil and desired the blessing and salvation of all men.
The witnesses were then called upon. Mr. Envy was the first to speak, and said somewhat as follows: "My lord, I have known these men for many years and am ready to declare upon my oath that, notwithstanding their pretty names, they are among the most dangerous and disloyal fellows in this part of the country. They have no respect for our king, our laws or our customs. Wherever they go they make it their business to spread their opinions, which they call words of faith and holiness, but which condemn not only all our doings but us in doing them."
Mr. Superstition was the next to enter the witness box, and after going through the customary forms thus addressed the jury: "My lord, I have no great acquaintance with the prisoner, whose name is Faithful, neither do I desire any better knowledge of him, but having on more than one opportunity held conversation with him, I know him to be a very dangerous person. I heard him say that all man-made religion was vain and could not be pleasing to God, since it was not founded upon the Word of God, and that those who followed it would, when too late, find out their error. It would take up too much of your time were I to repeat all that I heard him say, but I have said more than enough to prove that he is no friend to our king, who is the god of this world. He has no respect for our laws and says that many of our customs are worse than folly."
Other witnesses were then called upon, but there is no need to repeat all they had to say against the pilgrims. They all, however, agreed that the prisoners were worthy of death. Faithful then asked if he might be allowed to say a few words in his own defense. After some demur and delay on the part of Lord Hate-Good, permission was granted, and he said: "I can only answer to what Mr. Envy said that I spoke the truth and nothing but the truth when I said that any laws or customs which are opposed to the plain teaching of the Word of God could not rightly be called Christian. If you can prove to me that I was in error, I will before you all confess and renounce my error. It is true, as Mr. Superstition said, that I hold that a manmade religion is not and cannot be pleasing to God, for the Lord Jesus Himself said, The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth' (John 4:23-2423But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23‑24))."