Then stood forth Mr. Diligence, and said, ’My lord, as I was upon my watch such a night at the head of Bad Street, in this town, I chanced to hear a muttering within this gentleman’s house.  Then, thought I, what is to do here?  So I went up close, but very softly, to the side of the house to listen, thinking, as indeed it fell out, that there I might light upon some Diabolonian conventicle.  So, as I said, I drew nearer and nearer; and when I was got up close to the wall, it was but a while before I perceived that there were outlandish men in the house; but I did well understand their speech, for I have been a traveller myself.  Now, hearing such language in such a tottering cottage as this old gentleman dwelt in, I clapped mine ear to a hole in the window, and there heard them talk as followeth.  This old Mr. Questioning asked these doubters what they were, whence they came, and what was their business in these parts; and they told him to all these questions, yet he did entertain them.  He also asked what numbers there were of them; and they told him ten thousand men.  He then asked them, why they made no more manly assault upon Mansoul; and they told him:  so he called their general coward, for marching off when he should have fought for his prince.  Further, this old Evil-Questioning wished, and I heard him wish, would all the ten thousand doubters were now in Mansoul, and himself at the head of them.  He bid them also to take heed and lie quat; for if they were taken they must die, although they had heads of gold.’  Then said the court:  ’Mr. Evil-Questioning, here is now another witness against you, and his testimony is full:  1.  He swears that you did receive these men into your house, and that you did nourish them there, though you knew that they were Diabolonians, and the King’s enemies. 2.  He swears that you did wish ten thousand of them in Mansoul. 3.  He swears that you did give them advice to be quat and close, lest they were taken by the King’s servants.  All which manifesteth that thou art a Diabolonian; but hadst thou been a friend to the King, thou wouldst have apprehended them.’

Then said Evil-Questioning:  ’To the first of these I answer, The men that came into mine house were strangers, and I took them in; and is it now become a crime in Mansoul for a man to entertain strangers?  That I did also nourish them is true; and why should my charity be blamed?  As for the reason why I wished ten thousand of them in Mansoul, I never told it to the witnesses, nor to themselves.  I might wish them to be taken, and so my wish might mean well to Mansoul, for aught that any yet knows.  I did also bid them take heed that they fell not into the captains’ hands; but that might be because I am unwilling that any man should be slain, and not because I would have the King’s enemies as such escape.’