Under the Unlawful Oaths Act 1797, passed in response to the threat of mutinies following the French Revolution, it was made illegal to make an oath, and a further offence to not reveal the oath.
James Brine, James Hammett, George Loveless, George's brother James Loveless, George's brother in-law Thomas Standfield, and Thomas's son John Standfield were arrested, tried before Judge Baron John Williams in R v Lovelass and Others.