The clerk said that all the authorities wanted was for Bunyan to undertake not to preach at "private" gatherings, as it was suspected that these non-conformist meetings were in fact being used by people plotting against the king.
All the authorities wanted was for Bunyan to undertake not to preach at "private" gatherings, as it was suspected that these non-conformist meetings were in fact. This was what the clerk said. This fact was being used by people. These people were plotting against the king.