The WEST Anſwering to the NORTH IN The fierce and Cruell PERSECUTION of the manifeſtation of the SON of GOD, As appears in the following ſhort RELATION Of the unheard of, and inhumane SUFFERINGS of Geo. Fox, Edw. Pyot, and William Salt at LANCESTON in the County of CORNWALL, AND Of Ben. Maynard, Iames Mires, Ioſ. Coale, Ia. Godfrey, Io. Ellice, and Anne Blacking, in the ſame GAOLE, TOWN, and COUNTY.
AND Of ONE and TWENTY men, and women taken up in the ſpace of a few dayes on the HIGH WAYES of DEVON, as they were peaceably travelling thereunto, and from viſiting of the aforeſaid Priſoners by ARMED GUARDS ſet up throughout the COUNTY by order of the Generall Seſſions for that purpoſe, and thrown in heaps into the Common Gaole of EXON amongſt the Fellons, where divers of them are ſick, and one of them, (viz.) Iane Ingram there lately DEAD; And of Katherin Martingdale and Priſcilla Cotton of PLIMMOUTH, and two others in the ſame Gaole at EXON, and of another in Bridewell in the ſame City.
ALSO A ſober reaſoning in the LAW with Chief juſtice GLYNNE concerning his proceedings againſt Geo. Fox, E. Pyot, and W. Salt at LANCESTON ASSIZES 25. of the 1. month 1656. in a Letter ſent to him by the Priſoners.
And a legall ARRAIGNMENT of the Indictment of the HAT, the new founded FURNACE into which are caſt the children of LIGHT, who in obedience to the Lord cannot BOWE the Hat to the WILL of men, nor to their perſons, who with ſuch a baſe thing are confounded.
And many other materiall and ſtrange paſſages at their apprehenſions and tryals at ſeverall Aſſizes, and Seſſions, and in the Intervals of each, and of the MONSTROUS Inventions of ETCETERA warrants, Watches, Wards, Armed Guards, &c. to cauſe the Innocent to ſuffer, weighed in the BALLANCE of LAW and EQUITY.
Behold the day, behold it is come, the morning is gone forth, the Rod hath bloſſomed, Pride, hath budded, Violence is riſen up into a Rod of wickedneſs. Woe to the Bloody City, it is full of lyes, and Robberies, the Prey departeth not, her Iudges are Evening Wolves, they gnaw not the Bones till the morrow. They have made ready their heart like an Oven, whilſt they lye in waite; Their Bakers ſleepe•h all the night, in the morning it Burneth as a flaming fire, They are all hot as an Oven, and have devoured their Iudges, and their Kings are fallen, and their is none that calleth upon me. And they conſider not in their heart, that I remember all their Wickedneſs; Now their own doings have beſet them about, they are before my face? Doe ye indeed, ſpeake Righteouſneſs, O Congregation? Doe ye Iudge uprightly, O ye Sons of men? yea, in heart you work wickedneſs; ye weigh the Violence of your hands in the earth.
How long will ye Iudge unjuſtly, and accept the perſons of the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherleſs; Doe Iuſtice to the afflicted and needy; deliver the poor and needy; Rid them out of the hand of the wicked: They know not, neither will they underſtand, they walke on in darkneſs; all the foundations of the earth are out of courſe. Ariſe, O God and Iudge the earth, for thou ſhalt inherit all Nations, when he maketh Inquiſition for blood, he remembreth them, be forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
London, Printed for Giles Calvert at the Weſt end of Pauls, 1657.
VVE are not the men to the intent who gives forth things to lay open nakedneſs, but that men may take warning, and fear, and come to know themſelves, and what they act and practiſe, whereby with the Truth they may be covered, and others may take warning by their examples, ſeeing ſuch bad fruits from ſuch flow, whoſe intent from us is to cover that ſimplicitie, and Innocencie might rule. Though theſe things be open, and layd open for their underſtandings, and Inſtructions, that they may know both the Law of man, and of God, and how they act contrary both to Reaſon, and the Law of God, whoſe actions we cover, and do forgive, who we do forgive, who doth anſwer the Light in every man, which Chriſt hath enlightned him withall, and might not appear themſelves to be a ſhame to the Nation, and a ſcorne amongſt men to ſee them act contrary to Reaſon, and Modestie, and the Law of God, and the Nation, but if the righteous Law take hold of them, and make them ſmart, let them not ſay, but that they have had warning: And that men ſhould be cloathed who are naked, and their uncomely parts and ſhame covered, to the intent and end is this given forth, that ſeriouſneſs, modeſty, truth, and Juſtice, and plaineſs, and innocency, and righteouſneſs, may be ſet up in Towns and Streets: of the things whom they do concern, they may take notice.
ABout the middle of the eleventh month 1655. George Fox being on his Journey with Edward Pyot of Briſtoll, nnd William Salt of London, from the farthermoſt parts of Cornwall towards Briſtoll, was moved of the Lord in bowels of compaſſion to the Ignorant in thoſe dark corners of the Nation, to give forth a paper for the directing their minds to the way of ſalvation, and the ſtirring of them up to prize their time, and the day of their viſitation, a true Copy whereof is as followeth.
THe migthy day of the Lord is come, and coming. that all hearts ſhalbe made manifeſt, the ſecrets of every ones heart ſhalbe revealed with the light of Jeſus; which comes from Jeſus Chriſt who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, Who ſaith learn of me; This is my welbeloved Son, hear you him ſaith God, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, that all men through him might believe, the world through him might have life: And Chriſt is come to teach himſelf the ſecond Prieſthood; and every one that will not hear this Prophet, which God hath2 raiſed up, which Moſes ſpake of and ſaid, Like unto me will God raiſe you up a Prophet, him ſhall you hear: every one that doth not hear this Prophet is to be cut off; They that deſpiſed Moſes Law died under the hands of two or three witneſſes, but how much greater puniſhment ſhall come upon them, that ſhall neglect this great ſalvation Chriſt Jeſus, who ſaith, Learn of me, I am the way, the truth, and the life, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, which light lets him ſee his evill wayes, his evill deeds that he hath done, but if he hate that light, and goes on in the evill, this will be the condemnation, the light ſaith Chriſt; Therefore now you have time, prize it, this is the day of your viſitation, and ſalvation proffered to you, every one of you having a light which lets you ſee you ſhould not lye, nor do wrong, nor take Gods name in vain, nor ſteale, this is the light that ſhews you theſe evill deeds, which if you love it, it will lead you to Chriſt, who is the way to the Father, from whence it comes, where no unrighteouſneſs enters, nor unholineſs; but if you do this light hate, this wilbe your condemnation, the light ſaith Chriſt, If you doe it love, and to it come, you will come to Chriſt, which will bring you off all the worlds teachers, and wayes, and Doctrines, to Chriſt who is the way to the Father, from the world and all the deceivers in it.
Which paper as they journyed through the Pariſh of Madderne near St Ives? was delivered to a man whom they met (altogether, then, unknown to them, but ſince underſtood to be by name John Keate) to be communicated to the people, but he inſtead thereof haſtned and carried it to Peter Ceely Juſtice of the Peace, ſo called at St. Ives, who gave him order to get together a party of new raiſed Horſe, of which the ſaid Peter Ceely was Captain, and to follow after, and apprehend them.
But they being come into the town of Saint Jves, before thoſe Horſe were gotten ready, as they were riding thorough it, the ſaid Keate being there, ſtopt them in their way, and apprehended them, and ſeized on their Horſes, and Portmantue, which he violently took away, and brought them to the ſaid3 Peter Ceely, at his Houſe in the town aforeſaid, Where a great company of people were gathered, And with them one Welſtead the Prieſt of that town, before whom P. Ceely made ſport of them, as if he had gotten a prey, and with reviling ſpeeches abuſed them, and curſed; Whereupon they told him, he was to do the things that were juſt, and neither to revile, nor curſe. And of them he demanded whether they would own the paper aforeſaid or not? To which anſwer being made they ſhould deny the Scriptures, if they ſhould not own it: A heinous crime he made of it, calling it a ſinfull, wicked Paper, and fell to riffl•ng of their Pockets for more, and what he found he took away, and detained, and yet keeps from them divers ſerviceable notes for the inſtructing the minds of the ſimple, and their Books alſo; and examine he did them apart, and tendred them the Oath of Abjuration, To which they anſwered, that O. P. had ſaid that oath was not intended for them; That they did in the command of Ieſus Chriſt abide, who ſaid ſwear not at all; and that all Popery and Popiſh points they denied, as they had declared to the whole N•tion in a Book, which they gave him; And a paſs he demanded of Ed. Pyot, for traveling, pretending him to be a perſon unknown, when as one or two of that town then informed him, that they knew him to be a Merchant of Bristoll, and that Briſtoll was the place of his habitation, and thither they were all travelling: Then he asked Ed. Pyot for ſureties for the goo•behaviour. He deſired that a Law might be ſhewn him that he had tranſgreſſed, and he would find ſureties; but no Law could he produce, but inſtead of Law, he gave them many reproachfull, and unſavory expreſſions; And the Prieſt aforeſaid called Ed. Pyot Jeſuit. becauſe he uſed ſpectacles, and a wanderer, becauſe to them he m•de not his eſtate to appear; Notwithſtanding the teſtimony of ſome of their own town, who knew him, as hath been men•ioned; and that he tendred P. Ceely, to buy a thouſand pounds worth of goods of him, or to ſell him a thouſand pounds worth, and alſo had declared how he had been in Armes for the Laws of the Nation, and for Liberty, and in command for the Parliament, (They all having been conſtant faithfull friends to the Commonwealth, and in armes for it.)
4Nevertheleſs, without any juſt ground, colour, or pretence in Law, Juſtice, or Equitie, or occaſion given on their parts (for no other thing was done, than giving forth the paper aforeſaid, at the moving of the Lord, as hath been declared, which is left of God in every mans conſcience to judge, vvhether it is any juſt matter of offence, or cauſe of exception, or ground of ſuffering at all, much leſs of ſo cruell ſufferings, and unreaſonable proceedings had againſt them, as is hereafter expreſſed) contrary to Law, and the Government, and all that is equall, and Juſt, or of good report, after they had been ſtopped on their way, their Horſes violently taken from them, their Portmantue, and Pockets rifled, and ſearcht; and their Papers and Books therein ſeized on, and detained; after they had been ſcoffed, and reviled, and reproached, and made ſport of before the Prieſt, and the people, and curſed, and evill intreated by P. Ceely, were they committed by him to Lanceſton Gaol, and ſent in cuſtody with a guard of Horſe, firſt to Pendennis Caſtle, to Captain Fox, with their Books, and Papers, leaving it to him, to detain or diſcharge them as he ſhould ſee cauſe; but he not being there, after that one of the Priſoner was violently ran upon, and ſtruck down in the Room, by on Smithwick a Kinſman of Keates, to whom was not given the leaſt provocation, and (whoſe violence the ſaid Keate being demanded, ſaid, he would juſtifie) were they carried towards Lanceston by the ſaid Keate, and guard, of which he had the charge, who abuſed them very much on the way himſelf, and permitted others unhumanely ſo to do, and brought them into a Room on the way, where was another of his acquaintance, a deſperate fellow ſtanding with a naked Rapier; unto which Gaol as they were paſſing, they met with Generall Desborow, who being acquainted with their condition, and the cauſe thereof, ſent them notice by a Lieutenant, That if they would give under their hand, or promiſe that they would go unto their own homes, and there live ſoberly, and quietly, they might have their enlargement; but they returning in anſwer that they were paſſing on towards Briſtol, until they were moleſted, and ſtopt in their journey by P. Ceely, and that quietly, and ſoberly they had lived, and behaved5 themſelves; and that their time was not in their own hand, but they ſtood in the will of the Lord, and ſhould do as he permitted; He departed out of the Countrie, leaving them in cuſtody, inſtead of doing them Juſtice, and they chooſing a priſon, with the freedome, anſwer, and excerciſe of a good conſcience, rather then libertie on ſuch unreaſonable conditions, as the (a) raviſhing of their Innocencie; the unmanning of themſelves; and the betraying, and deſtroying of their undeniable liberties, the price of ſo much blood (viz.) to goe, and be, when and whence,To render a man his libertie upon condition of his engaging to do, a•d be that of the contrary, wh••eunto h•is falſely accuſed, under the pretence whereof he is impr•ſoned, as to•ender him libertie up•n condition of his making himſelf an offender, who is innocent, wh•ch if he doth, he van•ſheth his own innocencie; For though the things be good in themſelves unto which ſuch a condition ſeeks to bind him, and that in which a man hath his converſation, yet h•being accuſed of the contrary, and for it impriſoned, if he ſo engage, he juſtifies the falſe accuſation againſt himſelf, and the w•ong impriſonment, and ſo makes himſelf to be that of which he is falſe•y•ccuſed, and for it impriſoned, which a man cannot do who knows his own innocencie and underſtands what it is thus to raviſh it: and he that abides in a true ſ•nſibleneſs of this will choſe death rather than to betra•, and with his own hand, to murther the innocent t ing wh ch lies in his boſome, which giv•s him the an•wer of a good conſcience towards God and man, be•ides the Law is not made for the•ighteous, but for the tranſgreſſor, he that makes a Law for the righteous is blind, and tu•ns the ſword backwards. and as themſelves ſhould ſee occaſion, in the Nation of England, and the Dominions thereunto appertaining; and (ſo) rendring of themſelves bond-ſlaves, who are free-born Engliſh men; and men of unſoberneſs, and turbulent Spirits, who are ſober, and quiet men, and well known ſo to be; and under the condemnation of binding themſelves. in and to their own, and the will and time of man, who know themſelves, not to be their own, but bought with a price, and ſo not to be guided, but by and in the will of the Lord, who hath bought them; as the ſubſcribing of, and engaging to the Propoſitions aforementioned do clearly hold forth, were carried to Lanceſton, and delivered to the Goalor, with a Warrant under P. Ceelyes hand, and Seale, of which this is a true Copy.
I Send you herewithall by the bearers hereof, the bodies of Edward Pyot of Briſtoll, and George Fox of Drayton and Clea in Leiceſterſhire. and William Salt of London, they pretend to be the places of their habitations, Who goe under the Notion of Quakers, and acknowledge themſelves to be ſuch, who have ſpread ſeverall papers, tending to the disturbance of the publick peace, and cannot render any lawful cauſe of coming into theſe parts, being perſons altogether unknown, and having no paſs for their travelling up, and down the Country, and refuſing to give Sureties of their good behaviour, according to the Law in that behalf provided, and refuſe to take the Oath of Abjuration, &c. Theſe are therefore, in the name of his Highneſs the Lord Protector, to Will and command you, that when the bodies of the ſaid Edward Pyot, George Fox, and William Salt, ſhalbe unto you brought, you them receive, and in his Highneſs priſon aforeſaid you ſafely keep them, untill by due courſe of Law, they ſhall be delivered. Hereof fail you not, as you will anſwer the contrary at your perills.
BY what hath been already rehearſed is manifeſt, what unlawfull, and Injurious dealing they received from P. Ceely, and how evilly he intreated them, and how his carriage towards them, was rather like unto one of the profane, and light fellows, the Sons of Beliall, who are a ſhame unto a Nation (ſcorning, ſporting, reviling, and curſing) upon which the Sword of the Magiſtrate of God is to paſs, as evill doing, then a Juſtice, for no other cauſe, given on their parts, than for giving out a paper, to direct the minds of the poor ignorant people, to the way of eternall life according to the Scriptures of truth, and againſt wickedneſs, as hath been mentioned. In which they ought, to have been by him protected, It being a true Profeſſion of Faith in God by Jeſus Chriſt,Acts 10.38. and exerciſe of the true Religion, and following of Jeſus of Nazareth whom God anointed with the Holy Ghoſt, and with power, who went about all the Cities, and Villages doing good,Mat. 9.35. as the Inſtrument of Government requireth, Acts 37. See Government. Acts 37.Which O. P. in his Speech to the Parliament 12th. the 7th. month 1654. calls a Fundamentall, one of the four Fundamentalls of his Government, which he ſet up as the Iſſue of the late Wars,See O. P. Speech to the Parliament. painted Chamber Sept. 12. 1654. pag. 31. 32. and Blood, for liberty of Conſcience; for which Fundamentalls ſake, he hath ſaid, All the extraordinary powers in the Government were taken up, and were it not for it, he could be content to lay them down again: For the hopes of which had it not been, (he ſaith) all the Money in the Nation would not have tempted men to fight, upon ſuch an account as they have engaged; And that otherwiſe to do,See O. P. Speech at the Diſſolution of the Parliament Jan. 22. 1654. p 17. was no part of the conteſt we had with the common enemy; And a Fundamentall he ſaith, it is, and ought to be ſo, that it was for us, and the Generations to come, rather than willfully to throw away which Government, ſo teſtified unto in the Fundamentalls of it, and that in relation to the good of theſe Nations, and poſterity,See O. P. Speech to the Parliament. Sept. 12. 1654 p. 36. 37. he ſaith, I can ſooner be willing to be rolled in my Grave, and bu••ed with Infamy, than I can give my conſent unto. And how dear a thing this was, and how low it lay in the hearts of thoſe, who carried their lives, and their all in their hands, of which they were Prodigall, in the very face of the greateſt difficulties8 and hazards this Nation hath encountred within the late Wars; in which, and with whom, and for which cauſe the preſence of the Lord ſo mightily hath appeared, beyond the example of former times, is not yet forgotten by thouſands, nor will be whilſt they, and the memory thereof, and of them remain upon the face of the earth. Nor will the Blood that hath been ſhed for it, and for Equity, and Juſtice, ceaſe crying for Vengeance, whilſt any of thoſe Righteous things are unaccompliſhed, upon the heads of thoſe who are the obſtructers thereof. But w•th P. Ceely (as it appears) it is a thing of no ſuch value, nor the true holding forth of Jeſus Chriſt, the light of the world, the light, and life of men, to be the onely way to ſalvation, according to the Scriptures: but ſinfull, and wicked, And therefore he miſuſeth the powers he lately hath received under this Government, of being in Commiſſion as a Juſtice, and a Captain of a Troop of the new raiſed Horſe, If to trample under foot, perſ•cute, and overthrow, by abuſing, and impriſoning thoſe aforementioned, as hath been ſaid, for going about doing good, and directing the people the way to ſalvation, caſting thereby the greateſt reproach, in that kinde, that may be on the Government that enjoyns, and on the Erector, and chief Ruler thereof; who declares the contrary, as hath been expreſſed: thus acting contrary to Lavv on them, whom if he had acted according to Law, he ought to have protected.
And how brazened he is in his Iniquitie, will be further evident, when his Warrant aforeſaid, being taken in pieces, i•meaſured with the Rule of Law, and weighed in the ballance of truth, and Juſtice.
1. For firſt, whereas he chargeth them in the front, who go under the notion of Quakers, and acknowledge themſelves to be ſuch; The end of the Law is to preſerve the Peace, and the Unitie; and the end of the Adminiſtration thereof is, to bring out of the diviſion into the unitie, and out of the ſtrife into the Peace; Now that which divides as he, whether he be Souldier, Judge, or Juſtice, or what ever he be doth, which diſtinguiſheth a Generation of men, under one and the ſame9 Government, from the reſt, and puts upon them a hatefull name of diſtinction, and tearm of reproach, whereby they, and others are ſet in oppoſition) breaks the Peace, and deſtroyes the unity, ſets a family at variance (and a Nation is a family) overthrows the end of the Law, and makes void the Righteous Adminiſtration thereof, and into Wars leads, and Contentions, and every evill work, as this Nation of late years hath ſadly witneſſed: (for from this very diſtinguiſhing of men, and branding them with tearms of reproach, was the fire kindled, and the flames of the late Wars brought forth, and nouriſhed, Whereby theſe three Nations being one againſt another) and the very being of them were likely to have been overthrown, raſed out, and conſumed.) And ſuch an one is an evill doer, in a high degree, to whom the Sword of the Magiſtrate of God, which puniſheth, and cuts off that which tranſgreſſeth, and ſo brings out of the diviſion into the unity, and out of the Wars, and ſtrife, into the Peace, is a terror, and on whom it is to paſs; But P. Ceely, who calls himſelf one of the Juſtices of the Peace of the County of Cornwall, by diſtinguiſhing a Generation of people in this Nation who fear, and dread, and tremble, before the Lord, and the words of his holineſs (as did the holy men of God from the begining and record in the Scripture) from the reſt of the people of•his N•tion and putting upon them a hatefull Tearm of diſtinction, and brand of Reproach, whereby they are marked out, and ſet in oppoſition, and appointed to all manner of abuſes, ſcornings, and ſufferings, (as is experienced in all parts every where throughout the Nation where any ſuch are) with ſuch barbarouſneſs and cruelty, as exceeds the fierceſt, and moſt inhumane perſecutions of the latter ages.) And himſelf under his hand and Seale, branding them therewith, in the head of his Warrant, as a people, becauſe diſtinguiſhed by him, and reproached with ſuch a name, fit onely to be deſtroyed, and endeavouring their deſtruction, ſo far as a long impriſonment, and the cruelties thereof, which they have lately felt, almoſt to the loſs of one of their lives, hereafter to be mentioned, (as have many of thoſe innocent people of the Lord, in other parts, from this Generation, whoſe lives they have had in the priſons, which10 cry aloud for vengeance, in the ears of the Lord of Saboath, for that they go under the hated name, and ſcorned tearm of Quakers) hath manifeſted himſelf to be a br•aker of the peace, a deſtroyer of•he unity, a ſetter of the whole family of a Nation at variance, an overthrower of the end of the Law; one that makes void the righteous Adminiſtration thereof, a leader into wars and contentions, and every evil work, and a miniſter of unrighteouſneſs and iniquity; on whom the ſword of the righteous judgement of God will paſs to the cutting of him off, and dividing him his portion with hypocrites, and ſinners (and of this let him conſider, for one day whether he will or no, ſo he ſhall find it, except he repent.) And whereas he ſaith, who acknowledge themſelves to be ſuch, to fear, and dread, and tremble, and quake at the preſence of the living God, who maketh the earth to ſhake, and the Pillars thereof to tremble, as did Iſaak, and Moſes, and Jeremy, and Ezekiel, and Daniel, and Habbacuck, and Paul, and the Church of Corinth, and the Saints of the moſt high in all ages who knew his preſence, this they own, as do all the children of light, and acknowledge themſelves to be of the Generation of thoſe who ſeek the face, and thus witneſs the preſence of the Holy one of Iſrael; But as he hath placed it in contempt, and ſcorne, and as a hatefull brand, and heinous offence, by which they are appointed to all manner of ſufferings, that they deny, and the acknowledging themſelves to be ſuch, or that they ever acknowledged themſelves, or any others to be ſuch, as they do deny him, and this his Lie, and the Generation of him, who is a lyar from the beginning, he knows who it is.
Whereas he chargeth them, Who have ſpread ſeveral papers tending to the disturbance of the publick peace: No papers did they ſpread tending to the diſturbance of the publick peace; the paper which G. F. gave forth, for which cauſe he apprehended, abuſed, and impriſoned them, is already rehearſed, and let the ſober, judge, whether that be the matter of diſturbing the publick, or any mans peace, But the man of Sin, the ſon of Perdition, whoſe kingdom Chriſt Jeſus is come, and coming to deſtroy, and his peace to break, and his Armour to take from him,11 and of his goods him to ſpoile, againſt whom his war is proclaimed, and his ſword drawn, and brought upon the earth, to ſet a man at variance againſt his father, and the daughter againſt her mother, and the daughter in law againſt the mother in law, and a mans foes ſhall be them of his own houſhould? And this war brings peace to the Iſrael of God; And let ſuch judge whether P. Ceely makes not himfelf to appear to be in the poſſeſſion of that ſtrong man armed, whoſe peace he would not have diſturbed: Who chargeth the declaring of Jeſus Chriſt, the ſtronger than he to be Lord and King, and the only way to ſalvation, to be tending to the diſturbance of the publick peace, contrary to what the Government, Act. 37. and O. P. the chief Ruler thereof hath declared as aforeſaid? And as for the ſeveral papers tending to the diſturbance of the publick peace, ſpread by them, he hath not to this day made any ſuch to appear, which if he could, no doubt they had not been to be produced, or made uſe of at this time; nor indeed, have any ſuch been by them diſperſed. And ſo this his Charge is a lie, from the father of lies, whoſe peace only was diſturbed, and in whoſe behalf P. Ceely chargeth. The declaring of the mighty day of the Lord to be come and coming, wherein all hearts ſhall be made manifeſt, the ſecrets of every mans heart ſhall be revealed, with the light of Jeſus, which comes from Jeſus Chriſt, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, who ſaith, Learn of me, This is my well beloved Son, hear ye him, ſaith God, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, that all men through him might believe, the world through him might have life, and Chriſt is come to teach him ſelf, the ſecond Prieſthood, and every one that will not hear this Prophet that God hath raiſed up which Moſes ſpoke of, and ſaid, like unto me will God raiſe up a Prophet, him ſhall you hear, Every one that doth not hear this Prophet is to be cut off, They that deſpiſed Moſes Law died under the hands of two or three witneſſe•, but how much greater puniſhment will come upon them that ſhall neglect this great ſalvation Chriſt Jeſus, who ſaith, Learn of me, I am the way, the truth, and the life, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, which light lets him ſee his evill wayes, his evill deeds,12 which he hath done, but if he hate the light, and go on in the evill, this will be the condemnation, the light ſaith Chriſt, with what elſe is contained in the paper aforeſaid concerning Chriſt Jeſus the way to the Father, and peoples being called upon to prize their time, and that day of their Viſitation, in the words, and according to the Scriptures of Truth, to be tending to the diſturbance of the publick Peace, who will aſſuredly be payd his wages, as his reward he ſhall alſo receive for affirming the paper containing the things before rehearſed to be ſinfull and wicked, than which what higher blaſphemie is there, greater abhomination, or more horrible wickedneſs?
3. Whereas he chargeth them with not being able to render any lawfull cauſe of coming to thoſe parts. It is anſwered, For an Engliſh man to travaile, or be in any part of England, or the Dominions thereunto appertaining, which is his Country and his habitation, is his right as a free-born Engliſh man, his naturall Right, his birth-Right, as eſſentiall to him as his being, and it is as lawfull as for him to be, and travell in thoſe parts of it, where he was borne, or uſually hath reſided, and ſo to be without any conſideration of declaring of what is his buſineſs (unleſs in the caſes provided by the Law) viz. to hues, and cryes, fellonies, gamings, begging, freeing the Pariſh from charge, with ſuch like) is his liberty, and to abridge him hereof, is to abridge him of his liberty and right, unto which the Law is a defence, and Guard, and which for to preſerve, coſt the blood and miſeries of the late Wars, in which the Lord ſo much appeared, and is as unreaſonable, and unnaturall as to deny him ayr to breath in; And many caſes there are as the cauſes of a mans travelling, and changing his habitation lawfull and good, which if a man ſhould declare might be his undoing, as it would be cruelty to exact it: Nor doth the Law ſet down affirmatively what is a lawfull cauſe for a man to travell, or be in any part of theſe Dominions, but underſtands this whole Dominion to be every Engliſh mans Countrie, his habitation, wherein he may lawfully be, and unaccountable, unleſs he by due information by two ſufficient witneſſes is charged with any thing done by him that is contrary thereunto: And here as he13 hath ſhewn his ignorance of the Law, which to execute he is ſworn, in making that a crime worthy of Bonds, which the Law takes no notice of, but is contrary thereunto, as hath been demonſtrated, ſo this his charge is a lye, for he was told, they were there to viſit the People of the Lord, and to do good, which the Lord required of them, and the Government allows, and ſaith, that ſuch ſhalbe protected and defended.
4. And whereas he ſaith, being perſons altogether unknown, and having no paſs for their travelling up, and down the Countrie, Perſons altogether unknown they were not; for as it hath been already ſaid, one or two of the Town came into his houſe, and declared that they knew Ed. Pyot to be a Merchant of Bristoll, and that there was his dwelling, and of none of them, But of Edward Pyot did he demand a paſs; So this that he affirms is another lye: nor doth the Law require thoſe who travell up and down the Countrie upon their occaſions to have paſſes, And hereof the Law he again manifeſts his ignorance.
5. Whereas he chargeth them with refuſing to give ſureties of the good behaviour according to the Law in that behalf provided; Of the good behaviour they are according to the Law of an endleſs life, Nor any behaviour that is contrary to the Law of the Land did they manifeſt, whereby they ought to give ſureties of the good behaviour according (as he ſaith) to the Law in that behalf provided, For but of one of them (viz.) of Edw. Pyot, who was known to ſome of the town preſent, did he demand ſureties, Who anſwered, ſhew me a Lavv, that I have tranſgreſſed, and I will find ſureties, which not being produced, he could not be charged with refuſing to give ſureties of the good behaviour according to the Lavv in that behalf provided, nor could he do ſo vvithout vvronging his Innocencie, and making himſelf an offender. And they vvho vvere not asked to find ſureties at all (as vvere not the other tvvo) cannot be ſaid to refuſe ſo to do; And ſo a lye in every particular is this his Allegation in this Warrant; as his Ignorance of the Law is alſo apparant; for had they indeed misbehaved themſelves, contrary to the Law, which provided in that behalf, ſureties to be given, or Impriſonment, The Warrant of a14 ſingle Juſtice is not ſufficient in the Law whereby to impriſon them, unleſs the misbehaviour had been particularly mentioned therein, as is known to them who underſtand the Law of this Nation; And becauſe the impudencie of this man, who when he had moleſted, injured, and abuſed them, and towards them had ſo misbehaved himſelf, contrary to the L•w, and all that is of good report amongſt men, as hath been expreſſed, yet doth he not bluſh to ſend them to Priſon with a Warrant, charging them with ſuch a manifeſt lye, as their refuſing to find ſureties for the good behaviour according to the Lavv in that behalf provided, as the cauſe of their Commitment, after he had thus villified, and abuſed them; And yet he ſtiles himſelf one of the Iuſtices of the Peace of the County of Cornwall.
See the Proclamation for the Oath of Abjuration.6. Nor is that all his pack, For in the next place he chargeth them with refuſing to take the Oath of Abjuration, When as the preamble of the Proclamation manifeſts (as doth alſo Equitie, and Juſtice) that to ſuch as deny and vvitneſs againſt all kind of Popery, and Popiſh Religion, Root and Branch, the Oath for abjuring Popery vvas not intended, but for Papiſts, Therefore it ſaith, For as much as of late time, there hath been a great neglect, in putting the Laws in execution, for Convicting of Popiſh Recuſants, by means whereof the penalties impoſed upon ſuch cannot be leavied, or required, which hath been a great incouragement to many to be ſeduced, and miſled to embrace, and entertain the dangerous, ſuperſtitious, and Idolatrous Doctrines of Popery, We. &c. And all Popery, and Popiſh points, they to him denyed, and gave him a Printed Book, wherein they had ſo declared to all the Nation; As alſo for the Paper aforeſaid, becauſe of which they ſuffered ſo much by him, makes to appear; And they told him that O. P. whoſe Proclamation that is, had ſaid, that Oath was not intended for them; And further declared, that onely in reſpect to the Command of Chriſt, who ſaith, ſwear not at all, they refuſed to take it. And as to impriſo•ing of thoſe who refuſe to take it,So in this he ſhews his iuſtice. and are intended thereby. T•a•Proclamation gives no power, but onely to return their Names, and places of habitation to the Exchecquer.
157. After he had muſtered up, and drawn together his black Troops and Companies aforeſaid of lyes and ignorances, and of abuſing of the Law to aſſault and deſtroy the innocent under his hand and ſeal, that he might be ſure never to want additional ſupplyes of the like forces, and qualifications it to accompliſh; in the ſeventh place, by a familiar ſpirit he raiſeth up the ghoſt of the great Monſter ET CETERA, whoſe mouth is as large as Hell, and whoſe depth is as the pit that hath no bottome, and whoſe ſmoke aſcends up for ever and ever; who was begotten by the late Biſhops on the Whore of Babylon, of whom he is a branch, and damned by the Parliament, with that whole generation that brought it forth, of whom it was the ſudden overthrow, and deſtruction root and branch. And now after their dayes is brought up from the depths of the Earth by this Officer of the new raiſed Horſe, and Commiſſioner of the Militia, and as he calls himſelf, Juſtice of the Peace of the County of Cornwall, who is a ſhame to the Government: When by the Law of the Land, all Warrants of Commitment ought expreſly to mention the name, the habitation, the calling of the perſon committed, and the certain offence, which muſt be ſuch as is ſo in Law, according to which the Priſoner is to have his Iſſue. But whether this be ſuch, let him who reads and underſtands, judge; and whether P. Ceelyes Warrant ET CETERA be not the Monſter of this age in the Law, as was the Biſhops Oath ET CETERA of the preceding generation in Religion, and deſerving the ſame, yea a greater condemnation, that it may riſe no more henceforth even for ever.
Being delivered in cuſtody to the Goaler at Lanceſton, they were there detained Priſoners by vertue of the aforeſaid Warrant ET CETERA, till the general Aſſizes for the County of Cornwall, held at Lanceſton; on the ſecond day of which, being the 25. of the firſt month, 1656. they were brought before the Bench, where John Glynne, Chief Juſtice of the Upper Bench, ſate Judge. Multitudes of people being in and about the Court, and in the Town, who having heard very ſtrange reports concerning them, expected ſome16 great thing to be laid to their charge, and proved equivolent thereunto, and to the miſuſages and impri•onments they had ſuſtained, of which the whole Countrey was ful•; as the priſoners, conſidering their innocency and ſufferings, had alſo cauſe to expect, and juſtice of him, who was in Commiſſion Chief Juſtice of England unto whom in caſe•o•wrong judgement, appeals are made from other Judges, and J••••ces, and Miniſters of the Law, according to the Law, and his place, and oath, and a ſuitable care and t•nderneſs of the liberties of men, according to the Law, and Equity, whatſ•ever had been the contrary proceedings of others in Commiſſion, to the truth, and the Friends thereof. But what was produced as to the one, and done by the other, and what juſtice they received, will appear to the ſober and wiſe in heart, when thoſe few of the paſſages of that Aſſizes in reference unto them, as they are rehearſed and managed in the Law in their following Letter, ſent by them, and delivered the laſt Aſſizes at Glouceſter, where he ſate Judge, as to his carriage towards them, ſhall onely be conſidered, and weighed in judgement.
WE are Free-men of England, free born; our Rights and Liberties in and with our Countryes, with the Laws, the defence of them, have we in the late Wars vindicated in the Field with our blood; and therefore with thee, by whoſe hand we have ſo long, and do yet ſuffer, let us a little plainly reaſon concerning thy proceedings againſt us, whether they have been according to the Law, or agreeable to thy duty and office, as chief Miniſter of the Law, or Juſtice of England; and in meekneſs and in lowlineſs abide, that the witneſs of God in thy conſcience may be heard to ſpeak and judge in this matter; for thou and we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And ſo Friend, in moderation and ſoberneſs weigh what we have here to ſay unto thee.
17The afternoon before we were brought before thee at the Aſſizes at Launceſton, thou didſt cauſe divers ſcores of our Books violently to be taken from us by armed men, without due proceſs of Law; which being peruſed, (if ſo be any thing in them might be found to lay to our charge, who were innocent, and then upon our legal iſſue) thou haſt detained to this very day. Now our Books are our Goods, and our Goods are our Property, and our Liberty is to have and enjoy our Property; and of our Liberty, and Property, the Law is the defence; which ſaith, — No Free-man ſhall be diſſeized of his Free-hold, Liberties, or Free-cuſtomes, &c. nor any way otherwiſe deſtroyed; nor we ſhall not paſs upon him, but by lawfull judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land, Magn. Chart. cap. 29. — Now Friend conſider, is not the taking away of a mans Goods violently by foree of Arms, as aforeſaid, contrary to the Law of the Land? Is not the keeping of them ſo taken away, a diſſeizing him of his property, and a deſtroying of it, and his Liberty, yea his very Being, ſo far as the invading the Guard the Law ſets about him is in order thereunto? Calls not the Law this a deſtroying of a man? Is there any more than one common Guard or Defence, (viz.) the Law, to Property, Liberty, and Life? And can this Guard be broken on the former, and the later be ſecure? Doth not he that makes an invaſion upon a mans property and liberty, (as he doth, who contrary to Law, which is the Guard, acts upon either) make an invaſion upon a mans life, ſince that which is the Guard of the one, is alſo of the other? If a penny or pennyes worth be taken from a man contrary to Law, may not by the ſame rule all a man hath be taken away? If the bound of the Law be broken upon a mans property, on the ſame ground may it not be broken upon his perſon? And by the ſame reaſon as it is broken on one man, may it not be broken upon all, ſithence the liberty, and property, and the beings of all men under a Government, is relative, a Communion of Wealth, as the members in the body, but one guard to all, and defence, the Law, one man cannot be injured therein, but it redounds unto all? Are not ſuch things in order to the ſubverſion18 and diſſolution of Government? Where there is no Law, what is become of Government? And of what value is the Law made, when the Miniſters thereof break it at pleaſure, upon mens properties, liberties, and perſons? Canſt thou clear thy ſelf of theſe things as to us? To that of God in thy conſcience whi•h is just, do we ſpeak. Haſt thou acted like a M niſter, the Chief Miniſter of the Law, who haſt taken away our Goods, and yet detaineſt them, without ſo much as going by lawfull Warrant grounded upon due information, wh•ch in this our caſe thou couldeſt not have, for none had peruſed•hem whereof to give the information? Shouldeſt thou exerc•ſe violence, and force of Arms on Priſone•s Goods, in their Priſon-chamber, inſtead of orderly and legally proceeding, which thy place calls upon thee above any man to tender, defend, and maintain againſt the other, and to preſerve the Guard entire of every mans being, liberty, life, and livelyhood? Shouldeſt thou, whoſe duty it is to puniſh the wrong doer, do wrong thy ſelf? Who oughtest to ſee the Law be kept and obſerved, break the Law, and turn aſide the due adminiſtration thereof? Surely from thee, conſidering thee as Chief Juſtice of England, other•hings were expected both by us, and the People of this Nation.
And, Friend, when we were brought before thee, and ſtood upon our Legal Iſſue, and no Accuſer or Accuſation came in againſt us, as to what we had been wrongfully impriſoned, and in Priſon detained for the ſp•ce of nine weeks, ſhouldſt not thou have cauſed us to have been acquitted by Proclamation? Saith not the Law ſo? Oughteſt not thou to have examined the cauſe of our commitment, and there not appearing a lawfull cauſe, oughteſt not thou to have diſcharged us? Is it not the ſubſtance of thy office and duty, to do juſtice according to the Law, and C•ſt•me of England? Is not this the end of the adminiſtration of the Law, and of the General Aſſizes, of the Goal deliveries, of the Judges going the Circuits? Haſt not thou, by doing otherwiſe, acted contrary to all theſe, and to Magna Charta, cap. 29. which ſaith, — We ſhall ſell to no man, we ſhall deny or deferr to no man, either Juſtice or19 Right. — Haſt not thou both deferred and denyed us, who had been ſo long oppreſſed, this Juſtice and Right?
And when of thee Juſtice we demanded, ſaidſt thou not; If we would be uncovered, thou wouldſt hear us, and do us Juſtice? — We ſhall ſell to no man, we ſhall deny or deferr to no m•n either Juſtice or Right, ſaith Magna Charta, as aforeſaid. — We have commanded all our Juſtices, that they ſhall from henceforth do EVEN Law; and execution of Right to all our Sub ects, rich and poor, without having regard to any mans per on, and without letting to do Right, for any Letters or Commandments which may come to them from Us, or from any other, or by any other cauſe, &c. upon pain to be at our Will, Body, and Lands, and Goods, to do thereof as ſhall pleaſe us, in caſe they do contrary, ſaith S•at 20 Ed. 3. cap. 1. — Ye ſhall ſwear, that ye ſhall do EVEN Law, and execution of Right to all, rich and p•or, without having regard to any perſon; and that you deny to no man common Right, by the Kings Letters, nor none other mans, nor for NONE other cauſe. And in caſe any Letters come to you contrary to the Law, that you do nothing by ſuch Letters, but certifie the King thereof, and go forth to do the Law, notwithſtanding thoſe Letters. And in caſe ye he from henceforth found in default in any of the points aforeſaid, ye ſhall be at the Kings will, of Lands, Body, and Goods, thereof to be done as ſhall pleaſe him, ſaith the Oath appointed by all the Judges, 18. E•. 3. Stat. 3. — But none of theſe, nor none other Law, hath ſuch an expreſſion or condition in it as this, (viz.) Provided, If he will put off his Hat to ye, or be uncovered. Nor doth the Law of God ſo ſay, or that your perſons be reſpected, but the contrary. From whence then comes this new Law, If ye will be uncovered, I will hear ye, and do•e Juſtice, this hearing complaint of wrong, this doing of Juſtice upon condition? Wherein lyes the equity and reaſonableneſs of that? When were thoſe Fundamental Laws repealed, which were the iſſue of much Blood and War, which to uphold, cost the Miſeries and Blood of the late Wars, that we20 ſhall now be heard as to Right, and have Juſtice done us but upon condition, and ſuch a trifling one, as the putting off the Hat? Doth thy ſaying ſo, who art commanded as aforeſaid, repeal them, and make them of none effect, and all the Miſeries undergone, and the blood ſhed for them of old, and of late years? Whether it be ſo or no indeed, and to the Nation, thou haſt made it ſo to us. — Whom thou hast denyed the juſtice of our Liberty (when we were before thee, and no Accuſer or Accuſation came in againſt us) and the hearing of the wrong done to us who were innocent, and the doing us Right, and Bonds haſt thou caſt, and continued upon us to this day, under an unreaſonable and cruel Jaylor, for not performing that thy condition for conſcience ſake. But thinkeſt thou that this thine own Conditional Juſtice maketh voyd the Law, or can it do ſo, or abſolve thee before God or Man, or acquit thee of the penalty mentioned in the Laws aforeſaid, unto which haſt thou not ſworn and conſented? (Viz.) And in caſe ye be from henceforth found in default in any of the points aforeſaid, ye ſhall be at the Kings will of Body, Lands, and Goods, thereof to be done as ſhall pleaſe him. — And is not thy ſaying, If ye will be uncovered, (or put off your Hats) I will hear ye, and do ye juſtice? And becauſe we would not put them off, for conſcience ſake, the denying of us juſtice, who had ſo unjuſtly ſuffered, and hearing of us as to wrong, a default in thee against the very eſſence of thoſe Laws, yea, an overthrow thereof; for which things ſake, being of the higheſt importance to the beings of men, ſo juſt, ſo equal, ſo neceſſary thoſe Laws were made, and all the proviſions therein, to make a default in any one point of which proviſions, expoſeth to the ſaid penalty? Doſt not thou by this time ſee where thou art? Art thou ſure thou ſhalt never be made to underſtand and feel the juſtice thereof? Is thy ſtate ſo high, and thy fence ſo great? And art thou ſo certain of thy time and ſtation above all that have gone before thee, whom juſtice hath cut down, and given their due, that thou21 ſhalt never be called to an account, nor with its long and ſure ſtroke be reached? Deceive not thy ſelf, God is come nearer to udgement than the workers of iniquity in this age imagine, who perſecute, and evil intreat thoſe who witneſs the Juſt and Holy One for their witneſſing of him, who is come to reign for ever and ever. Saith he not, he will be a ſwift Witneſs againſt the falſe Swearers? God is not mocked. Surely, Friend, that muſt needs be a very great offence, the not forbearing of the doing of which, deprives a man of juſtice, of being heard, as to wrong, of the benefit of the Law, of thoſe Laws before rehearſed; the juſtice and equity of which for to defend, a man hath adventured his Blood, and all that is dear to him. But to ſtand covered, or with the Hat on, in conſcience to the command of the Lord, is made by thee ſuch an one, which is none in Law, and rendred upon us who are innocent, ſerving the living God effectually, though the Laws of God and of Man, and the Oath, and Equity, and Reaſon, ſaith the contrary, and on it pronounceth ſuch a penalty. If ye will be uncovered, I will hear you, and do you juſtice: But juſtice we had not, nor were we heard, becauſe the light of Jeſus Christ, who is the higher power, the Law-giver of his people in our conſciences, commanded us not to reſpect perſons, whom to obey, we choſe rather than man. And for our obedience into it, haſt thou cast us into Priſon, and continued us there to this very day, having neither ſhewed us Law for it, nor Scripture, or inſtance of either, or example of Heathens, or others. Friend come down to that of God that is juſt in thee, and conſider, Was ever ſuch a thing heard of in this Nation? What is become of Seriouſneſs, of Judgement and of Righteouſneſs? An unrighteous man, ſtanding before thee with his Hat off ſhall be heard; but an innocent man appearing with his Hat on, in conſcience to the Lo•d ▪ ſhall neither be heard, nor have justice. Is not this regarding of perſons, contrary to the Laws aforeſaid, and the Oath, and the Law of God? Ʋnderſtand, and judge. 22Did we not own Authority and Government oftentimes before the Court? Didſt not thou ſay in the Court, thou waſt glad to hear ſo much from us of our owning Magiſtracy? Pleaded we not to the Indictment, though it was ſuch a new found one as England never heard of before? Came we not when thou ſentſt for us? Went we not when thou bidſt us go? And are we not ſtill Priſoners at thy Command, and at thy Will? If the Hat had been ſuch an offence to thee, couldſt not thou have cauſed it to have been taken off? When thou hadſt heard us ſo often declare, we could not do it in conſcience to the command of the Lord, and that for that cauſe we forbore it, not in contempt of thee, or of Authority, nor in diſ-reſpect to thine, or any mans perſon; for we ſaid, we honoured all men in the Lord, and owned Authority, which was a terrour to evil doers, and a praiſe to them that do well; And our ſouls were ſubject to the higher powers for conſcience ſake, as thou cauſedſt them to be taken off, and to be kept ſo, when thou calledſt the Jury to finde us Tranſgreſſors without a Law? What ado haſt thou made to take away the Righteouſneſs of the Righteous from him, and to cauſe us to ſuffer further, whom thou kneweſt to have been ſo long wrongfully in Priſon contrary to Law? Is not Liberty of Conſcience a Natural Right? Had there been a Law in this caſe, and we bound up in our Conſciences, that we could not have obeyed it, was not Liberty of Conſcience there to take place? For where the Law ſaith not againſt, there needs no Plea of Liberty of Conſcience: But the Law have not we offended, yet in thy will for our conſciences, where the Law requires no ſuch thing, haſt thou, and doſt thou yet cauſe us to ſuffer; And yet for Liberty of Conſcience hath all the blood been ſpilt, and the miſeries of the late Wars undergone; and as O. P. ſaith, this Government undertaken to preſerve it, and a Natural Right he ſaith it is; and he that would have it, he ſaith, ought to give it; And if a Natural Right, as it is23 undeniable, than to attempt to force it, or to puniſh a man for not doing contrary thereunto, is to act againſt Nature, which as it is unreaſonable, ſo it is the ſame as to offer violence to a mans life, and what an offence that is in the Law thou knoweſt; and how by the common Law of England all Acts, and Agreements, and Laws, that are againſt Nature, are meer nullities, and all the Judges cannot make one caſe to be Law which is againſt Nature. But put the caſe our ſtanding with our Hats on, had been an offence in Law, and we wilfully, and in contempt, and not out of Conſcience, had ſo ſtood, which we deny as aforeſaid, Yet, that is not a ground wher•fore we ſhould be denyed Justice, or to be heard as to the wrong done to us; If ye will not offend in one caſe, I will do you Juſtice in another, this is not the language of the Law, or of juſtice, which diſtributes to every one their Right, justice to whom justice is due, puniſhment to whom puniſhment is due; A man who doth wrong, may alſo have wrong done to him, ſhall he not have right wherein he is wrongd, unleſs he right him whom he hath wronged: The Law ſaith not ſo, but the wrong doer is to ſuffer, and the ſufferer of wrong is to be righted. Is not otherwiſe to do a denying, a letting of even Law, and execution of juſtice, and a bringing under the penalties aforeſaid, mind and conſider.
And ſhouldſt thou have accu•ed, when no accuſer appeared againſt us, as in the particulars of ſtriking P. Ceely, and diſperſing Books (as thou ſaye'ſt•againſt Magistracie, and Ministrie, with which thou didſt accuſe on•of us; Saith not the Law that the Judge ought not be the accuſer, much leſs a falſe accuſer; and w•s't not thou ſuch a one, in affirming that he diſperſed Books againſt Magiſtracie and Miniſtrie, when as the Books were violently taken out of our Chamber, as hath been ſaid, undiſperſed by him or any of us? Nor didſt thou make it to appear in one particular, wherein thoſe thou ſo violently didſt cauſe to be taken away, were againſt Magiſtracie, or Miniſtry, or gaveſt one Instance, or Replie, when he denied what thou charg'ſt therein, and ſpake to thee to bring forth thoſe Books, and make them to appear. Is not the ſword of the Magistrate of God to paſs upon ſuch evill doing? And according to the Adminiſtration of the Law, ought not accuſations to be by way of Indictment, wherein the offence is to be charged, and the Law expreſſed24 againſt which it is? Can there be an Iſſue without an Indictment, or can an Indictment be found, before proof be made of the offence charged therein? And haſt not thou herein gone contrary to the Law, and the Administration thereof, and thy dutie as a Judge?
What juſt cauſe of offence gave G. F. to thee, when upon thy producing of a paper concerning ſwearing ſent by him, as thou ſaid'ſt to the grand Jurors, and requiring him to ſay, whether it was his hand-writing, He anſwered, read it up before the Country, and when he heard it read, if it were his he would own it? Is it not equall, and according to Law, that what a man is charged with before the Countrie, ſhould be read in his, and the hearing of the Country? When a paper is delivered out of a mans hand, Alterations may be made in it to his prejudice, which on a ſudain looking over it may not preſently be diſcerned, But hearing it read up may be better understood, whether any ſuch alterations have been made therein. Couldſt thou in justice have expected, or required him otherwiſe to do, conſidering alſo how he was not unſenſible, how much he had ſuffered already being innocent, and what endeavours there were uſed to cauſe him further to ſuffer; Was not what he ſaid as aforeſaid, a plain and ſingle anſwer, and ſufficient in the Law, though (as hath been demonstrated) contrary to the Law thou didſt act, and thy Office, in being his accuſer therein, and producing the paper againſt him. And in his liberty it was whether he would have made thee any anſwer at all, to what thou didſt exhibite, or demand out of the due courſe of the Law, for to the Law anſwer is to be made not to thy will. Wherefore then waſt thou ſo filled with rage; and fury upon that his Reply? Calmly, and in the fear of the Lord conſider: Wherefore didſt thou revile him, particularly with the reproachfull names of Jugler, and Prevaricator, wherein did he juggle, wherein did he prevaricate? Wherefore didſt thou uſe ſuch threatning language, and ſuch menacings to him, and us, ſaying, thou wouldſt firk us, with ſuch like? Doth not the Law forbid reviling, and rage, and fury, and threatning, and menacing of Priſoners? ſoberly mind, Is this to act like a Judge, or a Man? Is not this tranſgreſſion? Is not the ſword of the Magistrate of God to paſs upon this as evill doing, which the Righteous Law condemns,25 and the higher power is againſt, which judgeth for God? Take heed what ye do, for ye judgo not for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgement, Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, Take heed and do it, for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God, nor reſpect of perſons, nor taking of gifts, ſaid Jehoſaphat to the Judges of Judah: Pride, and Fury, and Paſſion, and Rage, and Reviling ▪ and Threatning is not the Lords: It and the principle out of which it ſprings is for judgement, and muſt come under the ſword of the Magistrate of God, and is of an evill ſavour, eſpecially ſuch an expreſſion as to threaten to firk us: Is not ſuch a ſaying more becoming a Pedant, or School Master, with his rod, or ferula in his hand, than thee who art the Chief Justice of the Nation, who ſits in the higheſt ſeat of judgement, who oughteſt to give a good example, and ſo to judge, as others may hear and fear, weigh it ſoberly, and conſider? Doth not threatning language demonstrate an unequalitie, and partialitie in him who ſits as a Judge? Is it not a deterring of a Priſoner from standing to, and pleading the innocencie of his cauſe? Provides not the Law againſt it? ſaith it not that Irons, and all other Bonds ſhall be taken from the Priſonor, that he may plead without amazement, and with ſuch freedome of ſpirit as if he were not a Priſoner? But when he who is to judge according to the Law, ſhall before-hand threaten, and menace the Priſoner contrary to the Law, how can the mind of the Priſoner be free to plead his innocency before him, or expect equall judgement, who before he hears him threatens what he will do to him? Is not this the caſe between thee and us? Is not this the meaſure we have received at thy hands? Haſt thou herein dealt according to Law, or thy duty, or as thou wouldſt be done unto? Let that of God in thy conſcience judge.
And didſt not thou ſay there was a law for putting off the Hat, and that thou wouldſt ſhew a law ▪ and didſt not thou often ſo expreſs thy ſelf? But didſt thou produce any law, or ſhew where that law might be found or any judiciall preſident, or in what Kings Reign, when we deſired it ſo often of thee, having never heard of, or known any ſuch law by which thou didſt judge us? Was not what we demanded of thee reaſonable and juſt? Was that a ſavory anſwer and a•cording to law which thou gavest us, (viz.) I am not26 to carry the law books at my back up and down the Country, I•m not to instruct ye? Was ever ſuch an expreſſion heard before theſe days, to come out of a Judges mouth? Is he not to be of Counſell in the law for the Priſoner and to instruct him therein? Is it not for this cauſe that the Priſoner in many caſes is not at all allowed Counſell by the law? In all Courts of justice in this Nation hath it not been known ſo to have been? and to the Priſoner hath not this been often declared when he hath demanded Counſell, alledging his ignorance in the law, by reaſon of which his cauſe might miſcarry, though it were righteou•, (viz.) the Court is of Counſell for you? Ought not he that judgeth in the law to be expert in the law? Couldſt thou not tell by what act of Parliament it was made, or by what judiciall Preſident, or in what Kings reign, or when it was adjudged ſo by the common law, (which are all the grounds the law of England hath) had there been ſuch a law, though the words of the law thou couldſt not remember? Surely to informe the Priſoner when he deſires it, eſpecially as to a law which was never heard of, by which he proceeds to judge him, that he may know what law it is by which he is to be judged, becomes him who judgeth for God; for ſo the law was read to the Jevvs, hy which they were to be judged, yea, every Saboath day this vvas the Commandement of the Lord, But to ſay inſtead thereof, I am not to carry the lavv books at my back up and down the Country, I am not to inſtruct ye, To ſay there is a lavv, and to ſay thou wilt ſhew it, and yet not to ſhew it nor tell where it is to be found, conſider, whether it be conſiſtent with ſavourineſs, or truth, or juſtice?
And hath not thy whole proceedings againſt us made it evidently to appear, that thy deſire was to cauſe us to ſuffer, not to deliver us, who being innocent, ſuffered to have us aſperſed, and reproached b•fore the Countrie, not to have our innocencie cleared and vindicated? Doth not thy taking away our books as aforeſaid, and the peruſing of them in ſuch haſt, before our tryall, and thou accuſing us with ſome things, which thou ſaidſt was contained in them, make it to appear that matter was ſought out of them, wherewithall to charge us, when the Warrant ET CETERA could not ſtand in law, by vvhich we ſtood committed, and were then upon our delivery according to the courſe of law?
Doth it not further appear by the refuſing to take from our hands,27 a Copy of the ſtrange ET CETERA Warrant, by which we were committed, and of the paper by which we were apprehended to read it, or cauſe it to be read, that ſo our long ſufferings by reaſon of both, might be lookt into and weighed in the law ▪ whether juſt or righteous and the Countrie might as well ſee our innocency, and ſufferings without a cauſe, and the manner of dealing with us, a••o hear ſuch reports, as went of us as great offenders, when we called upon thee often ſo to do, and which thou oughtest to have done, and ſaid'ſt thou would'ſt do it, but did'ſt it not, nor ſo much as took notice before the Countrie, that we had been falſly impriſoned, and had wrongfully ſuffered; But what might aſperſe and charge us, thou brought'ſt in thy ſelf contrary to law, and did'ſt call to have us charged therewith? Is not this further manifeſt, in that thou didſt cauſe us on a ſuddain to be withdrawn, and the pety Jurors to be called in with their verdict. Who upon Peter Ceelyes falſly accuſing G. F. with telling him privately of a deſign, and perſwading him to joyn therein, it was by G. F. made ſo clear, and manifest a falſehood, and ſo plainly to be perceived, that the cauſe of our ſufferings was not any evill we had done, or law that vve had tranſgreſſed, but malice, and wickedneſs? And is it not abundantly clear, In thy not permitting us to anſ•er, and clear our ſelves of the many fowl ſlanders charged upon us in the nevv found Indictment, of which no proof vvas made, but when we were anſwering thereunto, and clearing our ſelves thereof, thou us didst stop ſaying, Thou mindeſt not thoſe things, but onely the putting off the Hat. When as before the Country the new found Indictment charged us with thoſe things, and the pety Jurors brought in their verdict guilty of the treſpaſſes and contempts mentioned therein; of which except as to the Hat, not one witneſs was produced,•r evidence, and as to the Hat not any lavv, or judiciall Preſident, upon the tranſgreſſion of which, all legall Indictments are onely to be grounded: Now the lavv ſeeks not for cauſe whereby to make the innocent to ſuffer, but helpeth him to Right who ſuffers wrong, and releeveth the oppreſſed, and ſearcheth out the matter, vvhether that of which a man ſtands accuſed be ſo or no, ſeeking judgement, and hastening righteouſneſs, and it ſaith, the innocent and the righteous ſlay thou not, But whether thou haſt done ſo to us, or to the contra y, let the witneſs of God in28 thee ſearch and judge, as theſe thy fruits do alſo make manifeſt.
And f•iend, conſider how abhominablie wicked, and how highly to be abhor'd, denyed and witneſſed againſt, and how contrary to the law ſuch a proceeding is, as to charge a man with many offences in an Indictment; which thoſe who draw the Indictment, and proſecu•••nd find the bill know to be falſe, and to be ſet in purpoſely to reproach and wound his good name, whom with ſome ſmall matter, which they can prove, they charge and Indict, as is the common practiſe at this day? Prove but one particular charge in the Indictment, and it muſt ſtand (ſay they) for a true Bill, though there be never ſo many falſehoods therein and lyes, on ſet purpoſe to wrong him who is maliciouſly perſecuted, This is known to the Iudges, and almoſt to every man who hath to do with, and attends their Courts, and how contrary to the end and righteouſneſs of the law, which clears the innocent and condemns the guilty, and condemneth not the righteous with the wicked and much it is cryed out againſt, but of it what is there of Reformation? How elſe ſhall Clerks of Aſſize, and other Clerks of Courts, fill up their bags, (out of of which perhaps their Master must have a ſecret conſideration) and be heightned in pride and impudence, that even in open Courts they take upon them to check, and revile man without reproof, when a few lines may ſerve inſtead of a hundred? How elſe ſhall the ſpirit that is in men that luſteth unto envie, malice, ſtrife, contention be cheriſhed and nouriſhed to feed the Lawyers, and dependants on Courts with the bread of mens children, and the ruine of their families to maintain their long Sutes and malicious contentions? I mind not theſe things, Ile not hear you clear your ſelves, of what you are falſly accuſed, one thing I mind in your charge, the reſt are but matter of forme, ſet there to render you ſuch wicked men before the Countrie, which the thing that i•to be proved on you is not able. O abhominable wick•d•eſs, and perverting of the righteous end of the law, wh ch is ſo carefull, and tender of every mans peace and innocencie? How is th•Law in the administration thereof adulterated by the Lawyers. As the Scriptures are mangled by the Priests? 〈◊〉th••w••ch•as made to preſerve the right•ous and to puniſh the〈…〉to the puniſhing of the righteous, and••e pr•ſe••〈◊〉•f th•〈◊〉? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a29 tooth, life for life, burning for burning, a wound f r a wound, a ſtripe for a ſtripe; he that accuſeth a man falſly to ſuffer the ſame as he ſhould have ſuffered, who was falſly accuſed, this ſaith the righteous law of God, which is agreeable to that of God in every mans conſcience. Are not ſuch forms of iniquitie to be denyed, which are ſo contrary to the law of God and man, which ſerve for the gendring of ſtrife, and the kindling of contention? And of this nature was not that with which thou didſt cauſe us to be Indicted? and this forme didst not thou uphold, in not permitting us to anſwer to the many foul ſlanders therein, ſaying thoſe things thou mindeſt not? Will not the wrath of God be revealed from Heaven againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs of men, Who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs? Who are ſo far from the power of godlineſs, that they have not the forme, but the form of iniquity which is ſet up, and upheld inſtead of, and as a law to overthrow, and destroy the righteouſneſs of the righteous, and ſo to ſet him up, as by the law he can never get out? Is not the crie thinkeſt thou gone up? It is time for thee to ſet to thine hand, O Lord, for thine enemies have made void thy law, draws not the hour nigh? fills not up the meaſure of iniquitie apace? Surely your day is coming and haſtneth, warned you have been from the preſence, and by the mouth of the Lord, and clear will he be when he cometh to judgement, and upright when he giveth ſentence, That of God in every one of your conſciences ſhall ſo to him bear witneſs and confeſs, and your mouths ſhall be ſtopped, and before your Judge ſhall you be ſilent, when he ſhall divide you your portion, and render unto you according unto your deeds. Therefore whilſt thou haſt time prize it and repent, for verily our God ſhall come and ſhall not keep ſilence, a fire ſhall devoure before him, and it ſhall be very tempestuous round about him, he ſhall call to the Heavens from above, and to the earth that he may Judge his people, and the Heavens ſhall declare his righteouſneſs, for God is Judge himſelf: Conſider this ye that forget God, leaſt he tear you to pieces, and there be none to deliver.
And Friend, ſhouldſt thou have given judgement, againſt us, wherein thou didſt fine us 20. marks apiece, and impriſonment till payment, without cauſing us being Priſoners to be brought before thee to hear the judgement, and to move what we had to ſay in30 arreſt of judgement? Is not this contrary to the law, as is manifeſt to thoſe who understand the proceedings thereof? Is not the Priſoner to be called before judgement is given, and is not the Indictment to be read, and the verdict thereupon, and is not libertie to be given him to move in Arreſt of judgement, and if it be a just exception in the law, ought not there to be an Arreſt of Iudgement? For the Indictment may not be drawn up according to law, and may be wrong placed, and the offence charged therein may not be a cr me in law,•r the Jurors may have been corrupted or menaced, or ſet on by ſome of the Iuſtices, with other particulars, which are known to be legall and juſt exceptions: And the judgement ought to be in his hearing, not behind his back, as if the Iudge were ſo conſcious of the error thereof, that he dares not give it to the face of the Priſoner: But none of thoſe Priviledges of the law, this Iuſtice, we who had ſo long and ſo greatly ſuffered contrary to law received not, nor could have at thy hands, no not ſo much as a ſight, or Copy of that long and new-found Indictment, which in England was never heard of before, nor that the matter contained therein was an offence in law, nor ever was there any law, or judiciall preſident that made it ſo, though two friends in our names and behalves that night and the next day, and the day following often deſired it, of the Clarke of Aſſize, and his Aſſiſtant, and ſervants, but it they could not have, nor ſo much liberty as to ſee it. And 'tis like it was not unknown, or unperceived by thee, that had we been called as we ought to have been, or had known when it was to be given, three or four words might have made a ſufficient legall Arreſt of that new-found Indictment, and the verdict thereupon; Therefore as our liberties, vvho are innocent, have not been worth in thy account the minding, and esteemed fit for nothing but to be trampled underfoot and destroyed, ſo if we find fault with what thou haſt done, thou haſt taken care that no door be left open to us in the law, but a Writ of error, the conſideration whereof, and the judgement to be given thereon, is to be had onely where thy ſelf is chief, of vvhom ſuch complaint is to be made, and the error aſſigned for the reverſe of thy judgement, and vvhat the fruit of that may be well expected to be, by what vve have already mentioned as having received at hy hands, thou haſt given us to underſtand. And here thou mayst think thou hast made thy31 ſelf ſecure, and ſufficiently barr'd up our way of relief, againſt whom [though thou knoweſt we had done nothing contrary to the Law, or worthy of Bonds, much leſs of the Bonds and ſufferings we had ſuſtaind] thou haſt proceeded as hath been rehearſed; Notwithſtanding, that thou art [as are all the Judges of the Nation] intruſted not with a Legiſllative power, but to adminiſter Juſtice, and to do EVEN Law, and excecution of right to all, high and low, rich and poor, without having regard to any mans perſon, and art ſworn ſo to do, as hath been ſaid, and wherein thou doſt contrary art liable to puniſhment, as ceaſing from being a Judge, and becoming a wrong doer, and an oppreſſor, which what it is to be, many of thy Predeceſſors have underſtood: ſome by death, others by fine and impriſonment: And of this thou may'ſt not be ignorant, that to deny a priſoner any of the priviledges the Law allowes him, is to deny him juſtice, to try him in an arbitrary way, to rob him of that libertie which the Law giveth him, which is his Inheritance as a freeman, and which to do in effect, is, to ſubvert the fundamentall Lawe, and Government of England, and to introduce an Arbitrary, and tyrannicall Government againſt Law, which is treaſon by the common Law; and treaſons by the common Law are not taken away by the Statutes of 25. E. 3. 1. H. 4. 1. 2. M. ſee O. St. Johns now Chief Juſtice of the Common Pleas, his argument againſt Strafford, fol. 65. &c. in the Caſe.
And theſe things, friend, we have laid before thee in all plaineſs to the end, that with the light of Jeſus Chriſt ▪ who lighteth every one that cometh into the World, a meaſure of which thou haſt received, which ſheweth the evill, and reproveth thee for ſin, for which thou muſt be accountable, thou being ſtill and coole, may'ſt conſider and ſee what thou haſt done againſt the innocent, and ſhame may overtake thee, and thou turn unto the Lord, who now calleth thee to repentance through his ſervants, who for witneſſing his living truth in them, thou haſt caſt into, and yet continueſt under cruell Bonds and Sufferings.
By which Letter it is manifeſt, that upon their tryall, no accuſer nor accuſation came in againſt them, as to the cauſe of their Commitment, nor indeed could any of the allegations in the Warrant ETCETERA bear weight in Law, as hath been demonſtrated; Nevertheleſs ſet at libertie they were not, though they ſuffred nine weekes wrong Impriſonment, and ſuch other abuſes as hath been mentioned: but after all the diligent ſearchings of whatſoever could be thought on wherewithall to accuſe them, in order to their further ſufferings, nothing appearing as to what they could be charged, that the Law of the Land found fault with, matter was ſought after as to the Law of their God, in obedience to which they were ſure to find them, without reſpecting of perſons [which who ſo doth, commits Sin, and is committed of the Law as a tranſgreſſor;] therefore an Indictment grounded on no Law, was before hand made ready, upon confidence they would ſtand in the Court covered, when they ſhould be called: and they appearing ſo when they were called, in conſcience to the Law of God, not out of any contempt of them, or of Authoritie, which they owned as hath been ſaid, they were fined in twenty Markes a piece, and ſentenced to priſon till payment, ſo and in ſuch manner as hath been expreſſed; and ſo to the Priſon were they returned by command of the Judg, and by order, ſigned John Glynne, [who hath cauſed, and taken upon himſelf the ſufferings of the innocent, where P. Ceelyes Warrant could not further reach] are they there kept to this day, and the Countrey returned with this anſwer to their great expectations, that notwithſtanding the loud outcry that had been made, and ſtrange reports concerning theſe men, when it came to the tryall, nothing could be laid to their charge: but becauſe in conſcience to the command of the Lord, who requires that the perſon of no man be reſpected, they could not put off their hats, though they ſo declared to the Court, and that they ſtood not covered in contempt of Authority, or in diſreſpect to any mans perſon, but for that cauſe; and though they owned Authority, and pleaded ▪ they were fined, and impriſoned till payment for not putting off their hats, which no Law of God, or man required, nor was any Law, or Inſtance of either, or example of Heathens, or others on record in Scripture produced,33 upon their often deſires in that particular, inſtead of being freed after their long impriſonment, and other ſufferings without a cauſe: and this with what hath been aforeſaid is the Juſtice, and meaſure, which the righteous and juſt one hath received in theſe in whom he worketh, and is made manifeſt from the chief Juſtice of England, for that in obedience unto it they ſtood before him with their hats on, of which all the Caſes and Records in this Nation, of thoſe who have preceded him, affords not a parallel; and ſo hath it pleaſed the wiſdom of God, that by a hat, ſuch a baſe thing, all the Religion, and Juſtice of this high profeſſing generation ſhould be tried and confounded; and by a thing that is not, the things that are, ſhould be brought to nought.
Upon their being returned to Priſon, by order of the chief Juſtice as aforeſaid, the Gaoler was ſomewhat earneſt to know whether they would pay their Fines, (being very deſirous to be rid of them, for that their being there had been a great curb to the prophane ſwearing, and drinking, and curſing, and blaſpheming, and gaming, uſed by them who came to drink ſtrong-drink in his houſe, and to uſe vain pleaſure in the priſon green, and therein a hindrance to his profit: for ſuch Perſons being by the priſoners often reprov'd, as they were movings from the Lord, for the evils aforeſaid, had little mind to frequent his houſe) which Fines, when after a few dayes he ſaw they were reſolv'd not to ſatisfie, and ſo their impriſonment like to continue; The evill ſpirit which to that time was much chain'd, began to be let looſe in him, and taking encouragement from the proceedings of P. Ceely, and the Judg againſt them, and perceiving thereby how they were delivered up as Perſons on whom any manner of iniquitie, and violence, and crueltie might be exerciſed without being called to account, and puniſhed for the ſame [Capt. Fox his Cornet having alſo openly ſaid in the Priſon to theſe priſoners faces, that if they ſlew them who ſhould gainſay it? or killed them, or ſhed their blood, and that they were not to be protected] he began to exerciſe his Salvage will, and beaſtly luſts upon them, which had its effects in the batbarous, cruell, and unreaſonable uſages now to be declared, and ſo now comes to act his part in their ſufferings, as had P. Ceely, and the chief Juſtice.
34When they were firſt brought into priſon by vertue of P. Ceelies Warrant ETCETERA, the three priſoners aforeſaid agreed with the keeper and his wife, for meat and drink, chamber, and all other accommodations, at a certain rate for themſelves, and Benjamin Maynard [who for ſtanding ſtill in Lanceſton Steeple-houſe, and ſpeaking not a word, till violent hands were laid on him, and he haled near the dore, was committed as is hereafter more at large mentioned] with this condition, that if he or they ſhould for the time to come be unſatisfied with, or diſlike to hold on according to that agreement, the party ſo diſliking might breake of at any weekes end, and the priſoners were to ptovide for themſelves: and from the time of this agreement, they every week paid the ſaid weekly ſumme, and ſomething over; Nevertheleſs he repined thereat behind their backs, and grudg'd to the people of the Town and Countries: of which the priſoners being informd, and that the Gaoler had ſaid a few dayes before to his wife, make an end with them at the end of the week, with many reproachfull ſpeeches before divers people, when the weeke was at an end, one of them asked the Gaolers wife, whether ſhe and her husband were unſatisfied to continue to diet them according to the foreſaid agreement, acquainting her with what they were informed her husband had ſaid, and if they were not ſatisfied they ſhould ſpeak plainly, for they ſo meant, and intended to deal with them, and ſo to be dealt with deſired, and not to be reproached, and abuſed behind their backs, and this they were deſirous to know, that they might otherwiſe provide for their dyet; to which ſhe anſwered, that ſhe and her husband were both well ſatisfied to dyet them as before, and ſo they continued as formerly.
Yet the evill ſpirit in the goaler, was not at reſt, but manifeſted it ſelf in rage, and cruelty before that week was ended; For Benjamin Maynard having put up a paper in the priſon green againſt pleaſures, the Gaoler (the evening before the laſt day of that week) broke forth in great fury againſt them, and abuſes, and by the haire of the head put Benjamin Maynard down into Doomesdale, amongſt the fellons, reviling, and reproaching him, and the other priſoners exceedingly, which though they heard, yet they let the Gaoler alone, neither35 coming at him, nor ſpeaking unto him, but kept their Chamber; Notwithſtanding at his return from putting Benjamin into Doomesdale, he came up to them in his rage, and anger, and as before, ſo again to their faces he called them both the night and the next morning, Rogues, Stinking Knaves, Jeſuits, Salvages, and Runnagats, with ſuch other filty language, as it came into his mind, threatning to put them into Doomesdale, and to put Irons upon them, with oaths and Curſes not fit to be mentioned, calling all their friends that came to viſite them in priſon, Rogues, and Whores, ſaying that he would break their leggs, and necks if any came there again; and when they told him of his uncivill, and uncomely behaviour towards them, and of his filthy communication, and wicked Oaths and Curſſings, he reviled them the more, calling them Beggarly Rogues, and affirming them to be the Scum of the Country; bidding them to kiſs and put their noſes into that, which modeſty forbeares to mention; and threatned to order them as Rogues, deceivers & deluders, and to lay them faſt enough, before he had done with them, and ſo faſtened the dore uppon them. And he then declared that he would not diet them as formerly for Fourty ſhillings a week, and at another time not under forty.
Having thus declared his diſlike to diet them, the week being ended (according to their agreement at firſt, as hath been ſaid) the priſoners were at their own diſpoſe to provide for themſelves, and to it were neceſſitated by him, in regard he ſaid he would not diet them as formerly for forty ſhillings a week, and having given him a ſufficient rate before, that his extortive demand they could not anſwer, and therefore ſent for a maid of the town, and agreed with her, as their ſervant, to ſupply them with neceſſaries, promiſing her wages, and gave her monie to provide for them, according to their order, and to bring it to them in the priſon. But at the firſt meat ſhe brought them, the Gaoler, and his wife were ſo enraged, that they abuſed the maid and them, calling her filthy names, as ſhe paſt forth, and threatned to make her ſuffer for it if ever ſhe came again; And told them, that they had an order to36 Victuall all priſoners in their cuſtody; that it was•gainſt the Law, and order of the priſon, that any priſoner there ſhould have any proviſions brought into them by their own ſervants, or others; that none ſhould bring their meat, or drink, or any proviſions; and that if they would have any proviſions of meat or drink, they ſhould have it of them, or they ſhould have none; And although he had ſo much repined behind their backs at the agreed Rate, and reproached them, and had bid his wife at the end of the week to make an end with them; and both to their faces, and behind their backs, had declared he would not do as he had done for forty ſhillings a week, nor under forty; and though in their agreement if either diſliked, at any weeks end, he or they that did ſo diſlike might break off; and though he it was that did diſlike as aforeſaid, and ſo both by agreement and neceſſity, were they to ſeek out to ſupply themſelves, as hath been expreſſed; Yet from that very time aforeſaid, would he not ſuffer their ſervant to bring them any proviſions at all; but when ſhe came the next morning to ſee what they wanted, he lockt the door upon her, and kept her priſoner, and would not let her come into their Chamber, whom he had made cloſe priſoners, but ſent for a ſergeant, and took her away with an arreſt, unto which ſhe having given Baile, ſhe came with a pitcher of water to the priſoners, and called at the Gaole doore for it to be opened, that ſhe might go in therewith; But he coming to the doore himſelf, denyed her entrance, brake her pitcher, threatned, and much abuſed her.
The priſoners hereby ſeeing the unreaſonableneſs, and oppreſſion of the Gaoler, and how he would have it of Neceſſitie that all priſoners muſt be provided for by him, and at what rate he pleaſed, whatever were their Conditions; and how that in order thereunto he pretended, and pleaded a Law, and order of the Gaole, and a determination of it ſo by the Juſtices of the County at Seſſions, and the Judges in their Circuits, but could produce no ſuch thing. when of him they deſired it. And being informed, that the under-Gaoler had cruelly beat a priſoner for bying a loafe of bread at a bakers, which was bigger and better bread then they had of the37 keeper, and that the woman priſoners were not ſuffered to take in work from the townes people that gave them monie, but were kept at work by the Gaoler, for which he gave them neither bread nor monie; And leſt the Gaoler ſhould make them Preſidents to thoſe who ſhould come after in this caſe of proviſions; as he would make thoſe who heretofore had yeilded to his unreaſonableneſs, Preſidents to them, though they could have been content that he ſhould diet and make again upon them as formerly; yet upon the conſiderations aforeſaid, & for that he ſought to force them to that, which was in their freedomes to do, or not to do, and that upon a pretence of Law and order, which there is none; they ſaw themſelves bound in duty to God, and love to their Nation, to beare their Teſtimony againſt his Cruelty, and oppreſſion, as againſt all unrighteouſneſs, where ever they find it, and to denie thoſe his demands, whatſoever ſufferings it ſhould coſt them from his unreaſonableneſs as the price thereof.
And becauſe upon the neceſſary and juſt grounds aforeſaid they denied him therein, upon them he powred out his outragious, and bruitiſh Crueltie, and into a low place in the priſon called Domesdale, the 9 of the ſecond month he caſt them, where the fellones are ſecured, out of which he took the fellons before their faces, and put them into a Chamber over their heads, locking theſe priſoners into this noyſome, filthy ſtinking hole, where was a Puddle of Piſs, and filth over their ſhoes, and the excrements of the fellons, and the fellons ſtraw, almoſt broken to Chaffe, with their long lying thereon, and full of vermin, and wherein is neither Chimney, nor eaſing houſe; And in this poyſonous den having caſt and made them ſure, he refuſed to let the doore be opened for the cleanſing of the place, or ſo much as for the bringing in of a little freſh ſtraw for them to lodge in; And when in the evening he opened the doore, it was to let in ſome of his Conſorts, viz. Degorie Pearſe, Francis Oliver, and William Walſh, wicked and prophane men, to abuſe them, (who being filled with ſtrong drink, called them Rogues, Knaves, and Raſcals, with other curſing, envious, and revilling language; whom when it was told, that ſuch were to be ruled by the38 Law, and were asked whether they owned Juſtices, one of them expreſſed himſelf exceeding filthylie of Juſtice:) but four of the priſoners friends coming in to ſee them when the dore was opened to let in thoſe vile men aforeſaid: the Goaler would not let them go out again; but lockt them in alſo, and when the priſoners ſpake to him to let them out, he called the priſoners damnd dogges of Egypt, and kept thoſe friends priſoners there all night, as he beat and ſtruck with a great ſtaff two of them, till one of their armes was black, for accompanying them from their chamber to this filthy hole; of which they complained to the Major of the Town, but he took no notice thereof. Nor was he with all this his inhumane and unmercifull dealing ſatisfied, but about the 10. hour in the night, he came into the roome over their heads, with a company who were drunk, and ſtampt the duſt down upon their heads and called them rogues and other filthy names, and on purpoſe he threw a pot of excrements, and piſt down upon their heads, and on their fire, to put it out, which was made to cleanſe away the ſtinking ayre: and the next night he came again, and ſtamped the duſt down on their heads, and piſt into this place where he had ſet them, and threatned to put them into Irons, and to chain them together to poſts, and to nail their eares to a poſt, and gagge their mouths, and called them hatchet-faced dogges, and damnd dogges of Egypt, and rogues and bad them kiſs, and lick, and put their noſes into that which is offenſive to modeſty to expreſs, and ſaid he would do what he could, that they might ly in priſon and rot, and threatned to put the fellons down to them: and whereas he uſed to lodge at his houſe, he came and lay over their heads, that he might be more ready to abuſe them: and 12 s. he demanded, to have the dore of that loathſome cell to ſtand open, and 20 s. a weeke for a chamber.
Having received the injuries and abuſes aforeſaid from the Goaler, they asked him who had the power of the Goale over him, he anſwered nobody, but that the land & houſes were Coll. Bennets, whom he ſaid, he had faſt enough under his hand & ſeal, & when they anſwered him their demand was not whoſe land & houſes it was, but who had the power over the priſon, as it was a39 Priſon for the County, and over him and the Priſoners, in caſe of wrong and abuſe done to the Priſoners; He anſwered, No body but himſelf had the ſole power. Then they asked him, whether there was no appeal above him? He anſwered, no. Then they asked him, whether the Sheriff had no power over him, and the Priſoners, if Priſoners ſhould appeal to him becauſe of abuſe from their Keeper? He anſwered, the Sheriff had nothing to do, neither with him, nor his Priſoners; and added as an argument, that when any were condemned to be hang'd, that the Sheriff had nothing to do to come into the Caſtle Priſon, but the Keeper was to deliver the Priſoners at the Caſtle gate to the Sheriff. Then they asked kim, whether the Juſtices of the County had any thing at all to do with him in the caſe as aforeſaid? He anſwered, that the Juſtices of the County had nothing at all to do with him. Then they asked him, whether the Mayor of the Town had any thing to do with him in ſuch caſe? He anſwered, If the Mayor come there, (meaning the Priſon) he would put him by the heels.
This horrible tyrannie of the Goaler, and impudent affirming that none had power over him, to whom appeal might be made by the Priſoners, as to the abuſes they received of him: Neither Sheriff, nor Juſtices, nor Mayor, to call him to account, but that he had the ſole power, and that above him there was no appeal, occaſioned a Repreſentation of the cruel uſages aforeſaid, and of what he affirmed of his having the ſole power of the Goal, and of his being accountable to any for what he did, to be drawn for the Juſtices, whoſe Seſſions at Bodmin was near, unto whom it was ſent for them, and delivered to Captain Braddon by one of the Town, who witneſſed to the particulars. Which when Captain Braddon had read, he aſſured thoſe Friends that brought it, to acquaint the Juſtices therewith, and in a convenient ſeaſon. When about a dozen Juſtices were together, the Relation, and the Friend, who was an eye-witneſs of paſſages, was called for, and before the Countrey did they cauſe it publickly to be read, and manifeſted much ſenſe of their injurious ſufferings, which they ſpake40 unto in the behalf of the Priſoners, and againſt the Goaler, and declared, that the Priſoners were not Rogues, nor Thieves, nor Murtherers, nor were committed or ſued, neither ſhould they be ſo uſed, and that their perſons deſerved better uſage; and ſharply reproving the Goaler for his demanding 12 s. to have Doomsdale-door open to them, and 20 s. a week for a Chamber, they asked him, whether he had got men to make a purchaſe of, and told him they ſhould not pay a penny. And Captain Braddon publickly declared, that he would be ſecurity for their true impriſonment, that ſo they might be delivered out of that noyſome den, and from out of the Keepers power and cruelty; and gave himſelf ſecurity in a 100 l. of his own voluntary accord for their true impriſonment, as he ſignified to the Priſoners in a Letter. And the Juſtices ordered the Goaler to put them out of Dooms-dale. But further they proceeded not with him than hath been rehearſed, he being not theirs, but Colonel Bennet's Deputy, who then was not at the Seſſions. And thus did the Juſtices, (of which P. Ceely was none) particularly Captain Braddon) carry themſelves like men, who had a ſenſe of the injurious ſufferings of others, and like Miniſters of the Law, whom the ſpirit of Juſtice ruled, which is noble, and honourable, and gives a good ſavour.
The Juſtices declaring themſelves in the behalf of the Priſoners, and ordering their removal out of Dooms-dale, as aforeſaid; and Edward Piot being fallen very dangerouſly ſick of a Feaver, to the hazard of his life, by reaſon of the poyſonous ſtench of that unwholſome place, (which continued upon him many dayes) put the Goaler under fear what would become of him, which not onely cauſed him to command the Priſoners (three dayes after his return from the Seſſions) out of Dooms-dale, after they had been kept there for the ſpace of 13 dayes, (who till he ſo commanded them forth) had not freedome to ſtir, though the doors were ſet open) into the Chamber where they were before, but kept him ſomewhat orderly and quiet awhile, permitting proviſions to be brought to them, and Friends to v•ſit them as they would. But in this temper he abode not long, for ſeeing that he was not turned out of his41 place, which was threatned, and by him feared; and that no juſtice was executed upon him, which he deſerved, his fears by degrees began to go off him, and his heart to be hardned, and the beaſtly ſpirit in him to act as bad, yea, more wickedly than before; and not onely did he cruelly intreat them, and ſome other Friends of Truth in Priſon himſelf, as is hereafter to be rehearſed, but ſet on, and permitted other of his priſoners, wicked and prophane men, to deal with them after the ſame manner, inſomuch that their lives were often in danger by thoſe bloody men, who thirſted after them, (a wickedneſs not to be endured by any who ſavour the leaſt of juſtice or civillity; as to the Law it is contrary, and to all good Government, but not thought bad enough to be exerciſed on the innocent ſervants of the Lord by this generation) in which to be particular, as they were acted, would exceed the bounds of this ſhort Relation, being the daily ſufferings in this kinde for ſeveral months, and therefore no more of them is ſet down at this time, than was drawn up, and ſent by the Priſoners to the Juſtices at the General Seſſions for the County of Truro, the 12. day of the 5. month, 1656. which is as followeth.
YOƲ that be in Authority, and have the Sword to do Juſtice, and are to weigh, judge, and try things according to Equity and Juſtice, here is laid down before you ſome of the violent dealings of the Keeper of the Goal towards us who are Priſoners, of the World called Quakers, the ill manners, ill carriages, ill behaviour, and unchriſtian life, oaths, drunkenneſs, and prophaneſs, which gives an ill ſavour, and an ill ſmell, which the Sword of Justice is to be turned againſt, that Judgement may run down, and the ill ſavour stopt. More honour would it be, and juſtice for ſuch an ungodly one, who is ſet to rule over us, and Priſoners, to be ruled over, and more fit to be put into Priſon, than to govern a Priſon, and to be a chief Keeper in Cornwall,42 who is a Swearer, a curſed Speaker, often drunk, almoſt every day, and many times at twelve, one, or two of the clock at night, his Companions ſinging their filthy ſongs, and ſometimes fidling.
In our laſt writing unto you, we there acquainted you with what was paſt, here are ſome fruits which have proceeded ſince from this unſavoury Keeper againſt us, that you may ſee and behold what rules and governs, which is not pleaſing to God nor Man, that hath any gravity. As he hath daily reviled us, reproached us, and miſ-named us, ſo hath he encouraged others, fomenting his lyes of us both in Town and Countrey, ſtirring up the People to riot upon us, wiſhing before ſeveral People, and in one of our hearing, that the Town would riſe up againſt us; giving us threatning challenges,This he would have performed on May-day. with Swords four to four; and had gotten a fellow, of whom he boaſted, whoſe name is George Roach, under a pretence of ſpeaking to us of Scriptures, (who was brought in for drinking the Kings health, as himſelf ſaid) and when a Friend ſpoke to him, he threatned he would run his knife in his chops. It was told the Goaler, the plot was diſcovered, and afterwards the ſame man in the ſight of the Goalers wife, came with a naked knife behind him, and wicked words in his mouth; and it was asked, what he had behind him, and bid him let's ſee what he had in his hand behind him, and after a little time we did ſee that he had a naked knife in his hand; and this is the Goalers man to talk of Scriptures. The Goaler being told of it, he anſwered, he could ſay nothing againſt him, although he had but a little before, when he came with a knife behind him, threatned to cut our faces in pieces.
And there came two women out of Wales to viſit us Priſoners, one of which was a Juſtices ſiſter now in Commiſſion; theſe the Goaler abuſed with vile expreſſions, calling them Edward Pyot's Whores before many People, and ſaid, God damn him, and many noyſome words and oaths, with threatning what he would do to them, calling them, Scums of the Countrey. And a Priſoner very much abuſed Edw. Pyot, and thruſt him down off a place where he was reading, and ſpeaking ſome Scriptures. He acquainted the Goaler with it, but the Goaler inſtead of reproving him that did the abuſe, laid hands on Edw. Pyot, and43 did thrust him up and down, calling him many bad and filthy names, threatning to ſtrike him, and put him into Dooms-dale; and Edw. Pyot telling him that he ſhould acquaint the Juſtices of the County of his carriage towards us, he anſwered, he cared not for the Juſtices, they had nothing to do with him, nor his Priſoners. And when it was asked him, whether the Juſtices had nothing to do with him in caſe he abuſed his Priſoners, he anſwered, No Sirrah, they have not; and denyed that the Juſtices gave him any rebuke formerly for abuſing Priſoners.
The Goaler being drunk on a firſt day, (as he hath been on many) and having abuſed us, and miſ-named us, and brawled at us in his drunkenneſs the moſt part of the day, at evening a wild company came into the room under us, drinking, ſwearing, and curſing till midnight; and after they had abuſed us much in language, they ſaid they would drink our damnation, and our childrens after us. The ſecond day at evening, he was drunk again, and Edw. Pyot not being well, ſent for ſome hot drink, and he would not ſuffer our Friend to bring it to him, but called her Quean, and Whore, and ſwore he would kick her; and about one of clock at night, he and they being beaſtly drunk, he came up in a rage, and barred up the door, when as we did not give him any words: And the next night came in drunk, and did as before, and called us Rogues, and Runnagates, and reviled us with vile expreſſions, not fit to be mentioned. And this unſavoury ſmell goes abroad with stinks; and when he is told of the Juſtices rebuke for abuſing of Priſoners, he ſaith, It's a ſmall matter for the Juſtices to call a man Knave.
We having a Friend brought to Priſon (though not tranſgreſſing any Law) for ſpeaking to a Prieſt after his time,James Myres. ſent by Juſtice Nicholls, and he being cast into Dooms-dale amongst Felons, a Friend that came to viſit us from Redding,Joſ. Cole, ſeeing his Friend was put into Dooms-dale amongſt them who were accuſed for murther and theft, and ſeeing no Law cited in the Mittimus, nor any thing expreſſed therein according to the Law, that rendred our Friend a Tranſgreſſor either by word or deed, he went to the Juſtice, to enquire of him whether he committed his Friend to Dooms-dale amongſt the Felons, (a filthy naſty place, not fit44 for men, unleſs there were more air, and the room kept more cleanly) or whether he might be with us his Friends who were Priſoners, judging it to be rather the Keepers malice, than the Juſtices order, to keep him from us. But the Juſtice, inſtead of anſwering his civil and reaſonable queſtion, asked our Friend wh•ther he would work, and ſo committed him alſo to Priſon, although nothing of the ſtate of a Vagabond in the eye of the Law was found in him, but much the contrary, as having a Horſe to ride on, and money in his purſe, and himſelf coming in buſineſs, which the Law of this Nation owns, all which we may make apparent in time convenient, (theſe things are an ill ſmell to the Nation.) This Friend, who is called Joſeph Cole, hath been much abuſed in Priſon by the fore-mentioned Roach, a Priſoner, whom the Goaler brought to talk of Scriptures, who threatned to ſtab and cut our faces to pieces with his knife. This wicked and prophane fellow hath beat Joſeph Cole ſo, as he hath drawn blood of him, and ſtruck his head againſt the wall, and aſtoniſh'd him, and hath taken away his hat, ſo that he hath gone without his hat almoſt ever ſince the time of his impriſonment. The rude fellow before mentioned, beat James Mires Priſoner, committed by Juſtice Nicholls, ſo as he drew blood of him alſo, and cut his fleſh. And the ſame man did beat and ſtrike Benjamin Maynard, very nigh ſix months ſince committed by Recorder Gewen, (who ſtood in the Steeple-houſe, and ſaid nothing to the Prieſt nor People, till he was haled towards the door.) And from time to time, this deboyſt, unruly, and miſchievous fellow hath abuſed friends, threatning their lives, breaking their bones, tearing their fleſh off their backs, ſometimes ſwearing he would not eat nor drink till he had done it; a common Swearer, a filthy Curſer, and often drunk. And when Friends have demanded the hat of him, and ſpoken to him to be moderate, he hath anſwered with an oath, that he would cut the hat in pieces, and that which he had done he had order for. And the Goaler from time to time being told of theſe abuſes, never reproved him, but ſometimes anſwered, he could not help it, and that he could finde no fault with him, (envy and malice was alwayes blind.) Another time, to uphold and countenance him in45 his often wicked practiſes, accuſed us of Mutinies, who are ſufferers under the abuſive tongues both of the Goaler, and Roach. And the ſaid Roach threatens to tear the fleſh off William Salt's back, and that he would kick Edw. Pyot, ſwearing God damn him, rot him, and ſink him, what he would do unto us. And this is the Goalers company, with whom he can finde no fault, (as he ſaith) but are drunk together day by day, and in their drunkenneſs come brawling and beating Priſoners, and glory in what they have done. And the Goalers wife hearing the Priſoners were beaten, ſhe ſaid, if ſhe were a man, ſhe would beat them too.
And thus the bond of Iniquity is strengthened againſt the Innocent; and the Goaler himſelf hath not onely encouraged, but done the ſame thing; for he ſtruck James Mires with a great cane, and beat Benjamin Maynard with a great cane about his head, back, and arms, with many blows; he beat him almoſt from Dooms-dale to the Caſtle-gate.
And there coming in a Maid of the Town, a Friend to viſit us the Priſoners, the Goaler locked her up in the Priſon with Friends, and ſaid, ye Rogues want a Whore, and kept her in Priſon ſix hours, and after came and tore her cloaths off her neck, and rent them to pieces, and ſtampt them under his foot, and beat her with a cane out of the Priſon, and after ſhe was out, he beat her to the ground twice; and the cruel mercileſs fellow beat her after he had amazed and aſtoniſh'd her, and knock'd her down, that her head was much bruiſed, her body and arms exceeding black; and this before many Witneſſes, which cryed ſhame upon him.
He hath endeavoured by all means to hinder Neceſſaries to be brought to us. One of the Town, who ſerved us in theſe things formerly, he arreſted for coming into his houſe, (which ſuit is yet depending) and he forbidding any of the Town, we have a Friend that came from London, who provides for us our diet, whom he hath much abuſed, ſtruck her on the back with a ſtick, another time kick'd her, and almoſt every day brawling at her, and threatning her, and calling her the worſt names he can think of. Another Woman, who brought neceſſaries to the46 Priſoners, he met, and called her Whore, and Bitch, and if ever ſhe came there again, he ſaid he would beat her ſo, that ſhe ſhould not be able to go forth out of the Caſtle, but ſhould be carried forth on a Wheel-barrow. And he threatens Benjamin Maynard ſo, as that he would make him kneel down, and ask him forgiveneſs; and ſaid, he hoped to ſee him burned in the ſhoulder, and naked at a Gallows.
Anne Blakeling coming to viſit us before ſhe was committed, he denyed her to come to us, and threw her out into the street, and there beat her with a great cudgell, giving her filthy language, and names. It is hard to believe, and harder to r•late the unchriſtian and inhumane carriage of this ungodly Goaler, and his ungodly company, daily towards us, and our Friends that come to viſit us, calling us Rogues and Raſcals, Thiev•ſh Knaves, deluding Dogs, Jeſuits, beggarly Rogues, Vagabonds, and ſcums of the Countrey, damn'd Dogs, and hatchet-fac'd Rogues. And the women he calls ſcums of the Countrey, Whores, ſalt Bitches, and other unclean and filthy names and terms, not fit to be named by modeſt men, threatning our Friends, and forbidding them to come to us, driving ſome of them out of the door, and pretending an Order, that none ſhall ſpeak with us but what the Keeper ſhould hear, and threatning us with Dooms-dale, the Pit, and double Irons, ſaying, Sirrah I'le double iron thee, and put thee in the Dungeon as far under ground as it is above. How now you Rogues, you damn'd Dogs, ye ſcums of the Countrey. I'le order ye, and your Whores and ſalt Bitches which come after ye, none of them ſhall come here. And this is his common courſe; hardly a day paſſes, but we have more of this and ſuch like filth, and his wicked inventing of lyes upon us, and reporting them in his cups amongſt his drunken Companions, who are in that generation which ſaith, report, and we will report it. He hath reported, that ſome of us ſaid he ſhould be hanged at his door, and that his children ſhould be toſſed on ſpears; but no ſuch words were ſp•ken by us, neither any thing like it was ever in our hearts. And there came the Widow Hambly, and her Siſter, of this County, to viſit us, which becauſe he ſlandred, and becauſe we kneeled down to pray47 together he reported that we bowed one to another, and croſſed one another.
Theſe and ſu•h like lying ſtories he tells to his Generation, that is given up to believe lyes, to ſtir up the rude people againſt us, and to fill the town and Country with matter of reproaching of us, and when his drunken Companions are ſtuffed with his lyes, and drunk with his Beer, then they are fit to abuſe Priſoners, ſuch are encouraged by our Gaoler, thoſe have free acceſs who believe his lyes, and that will abuſe Priſoners, ſuch are encouraged by him, who ſhould preſerve us from the injury of any. An abuſive woman, a light ſcoffing School Mistris (who is untaught her ſelf and therefore unfit to nurture, and teach children) is ſuffered to come unto the Priſoners, and to abuſe them with reproachfull language, a•d to ſtrike them, and a promiſe he hath that her Children ſhall put their hands to a Petition as it is ſaid) which he talks of, but our friends which come to viſit us he affronteth, revileth and miſcalls with all the ill favoured names his wicked invention can think of.
Two Justices of Peace now in Commiſſion, and a Juſtices Brother, and one that was a Captain of a Troope of Horſe, theſe he called ſcums of the Countrie, and Runnagate Rogues, and Raskals to their faces, and told one of them that he had turned better of the ſtye, and ſet up the fore mentioned bad man, who is a Cavalier, brought in for drinking the Kings health as aforeſaid to examine our friends as they went forth, which made the Justices to admire that ever ſuch a man ſhould be put in place, and ſaid he wondred that men that had any moderation, or but a forme of godlineſs, ſhould ſuffer ſuch a one to rule, or be put into a place of truſt who had no rule over himſelf, but deſerved to be ruled with that which ſhould teach him better manners, and verily, where there is any meaſure of honeſty borne up, It will bear witneſs against ſuch unworthy carriages; yea ſome of the Heathen which knows not God could not own, nor would they ſet up ſuch a one to rule over men, he is ſo malicious, and ſo bruitiſh, as that he can neither be civill towards us himſelf, nor think any body ſhould.
Generall Desborow wrote him a Letter dated in April laſt, that we ſhould be civilly uſed, and he is ſo far from obſerving it, or thinking we ſhould be civilly dealt with, as that he cannot believe48 the letter to be from Generall Disborow, but ſaith, it is a Counterfeit.
Degorie Pearſe was reading a letter of lyes againſt friends in the Castle, and perverting ſome Scriptures with his own meanings of them, and giving Sauls going to the Witch, and to that which ſhe raiſed up, for an example or Chriſtians, affirming that was the Prophet Samuel that the Witch had raiſed up, whereupon Edward Pyot coming into the Castle, and ſpeaking to ſome of the people againſt this Doctrine, the Gaoler came to him, and laid violent hands on him and tore his Coate, and punched him, and halled him, and thruſt him towards Domeſdale, and ſaid he would put him in, and put Irons on his heels, and reviled him, and called him reproachfull names.
Another time he denyed our friends to come in to us, We civilly asked him why he did ſo, and whether he had any order to deny our friends from coming to us? He anſwered us with an oath, ſwearing by Gods blood, and holding his ſtick to ſtrike us, but his wife ſtept between; and when he had been in his Cups with his Companions, repeating their lyes and ſlanders, and railing upon us, and the malice, envy, and rage ſtood up, and being full of Beer, It hath been as much as his wife and ſome others could do, to keep him down from us, asking whether he would murder us, ſaying ſhe thought there would be murder one time or other; and when we afterwards told him of th ſe his miſcarriages towards us, and of his evill beating of Benjamin Maynard whom he ſaid if he had killed he had but his deſert, and that he may expect to be queſtioned for theſe things by the hand of justice he anſwered ſo ſtiffe was he and ſo ſtubborn) that he would not be ordered by the Justices, they ſhould not order him, he would find ſureties fo his good behaviour.
There coming a Cheeſe to us, which Edward Pyot ſent for, the Gaoler meeting with it hath tak•n it from us and as he ſaid, would carry it to the Mayor to have it ſearched, for (therefore was the•atch ſet at every Gate) and when William Salt told him he would unrip the Cloath the Cheeſe was in for him to ſearch it, he would not, but violently took it from him.
49There was a woman priſoner committed for ſtealing of Cloth, who ſaid when ſhe was apprehended ſhe was a Quaker (as tis ſaid) which is falſe, and ſince denyed by her, that ſhe ſaid ſo, but all ſuch we deny; this woman is ſuffered to abuſ•, and ſtrike our friend Anne Blackling a priſoner, who asked that woman why ſhe took the name of Chriſt in vain, in her vain light ſongs; the woman curſt, and came and ſtruck our friend in the mouth twice with her fist, and threatned to beat out her Brains, and to pull her head off, and took up a Pen, and ſaid ſhe would ſtrike it in her eyes, and that if ſhe ſpake to her again ſhe would be her death, though ſhe died for it her ſelf. The Gaoler being made acquainted with it, reproved her not, but on the contrary called our abuſed friend Whore, and Witch, and locked her up cloſe priſoner, in the common Gaole amongſt thoſe accuſed for Baſtards, where accommodation fit for Priſoners is wanting.
And this is the unrighteous meaſure we have received from this unrighteous man, who meaſures to us evill and reproachfull words, out of the evill treaſure of his evill heart.
And Captain Braddon who in civillitie to us, (which we much own, and a Cup of cold water loſeth not his reward) giving himſelf in a hundred pound ſecuritie for our true Impriſonment, freely without our motion, that we might be freed from the inſulting of the Gaoler, to be at ſome houſe in the town, hath by it purchaſed many ſlighting and unclean words, and threats of him from the Gaoler, and we denyed the liberty of removing (which we preſs the Gaoler too, both formerly and now of late within this 12. dayes) unleſs we would give him the ſecuritie of two men, which he calls better ſecuritie, which ſhould we have done, we had been partakers of his unworthineſs in ſlighting Captain Braddons ſecuritie.
And theſe things are declared to you that you may ſee what is wanting to rule, and what it is that rules your County Gaol, the fear and wiſdome of God yea humanitie is wanting, and the tranſgreſſor (who is out of the light from the truth, equitie, and righteouſneſs) rules, on which the ſword of juſtice is to be laid.
One priſoner was beaten down for reproving ſome at pleaſure in the Caſtle Green. Ben Mayna d.James Myres.Another carrying a Letter to an Inne was thruſt50 out into the Street;Iuſtice Moriſh. and about a dozen ſtrokes given him over the head, ſo that he could ſcarce ſee, and beat, and punch'd in the ſtomach ſo that he vomited. Tis ſaid 'twas done by a Juſtices man in Devonſhire, but no justice was done to him for it, but the priſoner was ſhut up cloſe, not ſuffered to have a little warme drink given unto him whilſt the others went to pleaſures in the Castle Green. And here is ſo much prophaneſs, and wickedneſs, that the Streets is like Sodom, the ſword of justice is not a terror to them, neither is it executed to praiſe them that do well.
Not that we look at man are theſe written, but that we may be cleared of the wickedneſs of the wicked in the ſight of God which is our ſtrength, And ye that are Magistrates to do juſtice; If ye are Chriſtian Magistrates and rule for God, Do your office that nothing raign amongst you but what is of God; that roport gives a good ſavour; when righteouſneſs and truth is ſet up, the Ordinance which is to be obeyed for the Lords ſake, which is according to his will, in which we rejoyce, in this we are ſubject to the higher powers, which the ſoul muſt be ſubject to. This looſeth the bonds of wickedneſs, takes off the heavie burthens, lets the op•reſſed go free, and breaks every yoake. So conſider this in your time and generation that you are to fear God in. See from whom you are, and whom you are ſerving, for of the Lord God muſt you have, every one of you a reward according to your works, Therefore do justice, love mercie, and walk humbly with God, This doth God require, and the humilitie goes before the honour. This is the day of your viſitation, and ſalvation unto you; I am the light of the world and do enlighten every man that cometh into the world, ſaith Christ, by whom the world was made, who bears the Government upon his ſhoulders, who is come to reign, who judgeth righteouſly without reſpect of perſons. Now every one of you having a light from Chriſt, that be come into the world, from him who is not of this world, which light lets you ſee your ſins, which you have done, evill deeds you have committed, hard ſpeeches you have ſpoken, which if you love the light; that is it that maketh manifeſt ungodly ways, ungodly actions, ungodly words, which if you love, there is your teacher, the light which comes from Chriſt, who ſaith,51 Learn of me, It will be with you as you are lying on your Beds, and and as y•u are in your occaſions, and if you hate th•s Light you forget God, and forget Chriſt, and ſeek not the honour that comes from God onely, but from one another. Now you that do ſo, this is your condemnation, the light, ſaith Chriſt, who hates it, this light which comes from Chriſt, the way leads you off all world•y ways, all the worldly teachers, and Doctrines, and worſhips, Chriſt the way to worſhip God in ſpirit and truth, The Lord is coming to exalt his truth. The powers of darkneſs have long reigned, but Chriſt now is come who will chain them, which will anſwer the light in every mans conſcience, and judge every one according to his works. The Lord is come, and coming to teach his people himſelf by his ſpirit, and to gather them into unitie, and to turn them from darkneſs to light, and the power of Sathan to himſelf, and to bring them into Covenant with himſelf, which is Chriſt his light, ſo to gather into the one truth that is in Chriſt, the light, and into the one way, that is into the Light Christ, and into the one Baptiſme, the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and ſo to God the Father of Spirits, with which they come to be written in•ne anothers hearts, and ſo gather them out of all ſects, and opinions, and ways, where is all the ſtrife, ſedition and quarrelling, and vain contentious ſpirits who be out of the light, that gave forth Scriptures. Therefore now you have time prize it, It is the day of your viſitation, and ſalvation to you all proffered to the light in all your conſciences I ſpeake, which is a witneſs for the the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which from him doth come which manifeſteth the ſin and evill, that is not of the truth, which will make every tongue to confeſs Chriſt to the glory of God, and make every knee to bow at his name, which is called Immanuel, which by Interpretation is God with us, but you that hate this light, it will be your condemnation.
THe Goaler being conſcious of the wickedneſs he had acted, and the violence he had exerciſed upon the Priſoners, was very fearfull what ſhould become of him, if ſo be a Repreſentation thereof ſhould be made to•his Seſſions, as what he had done before was to the laſt, (which he expected) and if the Juſtices ſhould as then incline to the Priſoners. Therefore he conſidered what he ſhould do to ſave himſelf, and having no better a refuge to repair unto, he invented a parcell of notorious lyes, (viz.) that ſome of the Priſoners ſhould ſay he ſhould be hangd at his door, and that his Children ſhould be toſſed upon Spears, and that they would tread his wife under foot, and put them into a Petition to the Seſſions in way of complaint againſt the Priſoners whom he had uſed as aforeſaid, thereby to cover his unmercifull cruelty, who as they had never uttered any ſuch words, (for vengeance the children of light leave to the Lord, whoſe it is, and who will repay it, and ſuch unſavourineſs from them proceedeth not) ſo never entred ſuch things, or any things like them into any of their hearts; and having his under-keeper (who had been arraigned for Felony) to ſwear to what he ſhould ſay, to the Seſſions at Truro he went, taking with him Benjamin Maynarn, James Mires, and Joſeph Cole, but Anne Blacking committed by Richard Lobby for being in the Country, he would not bring with him, though a Horſe was for her provided by ſome friends. And notwithſtanding the condition he was in, yet unreaſonableneſs and cruelty being his nature, he could not forbear to exe•ciſe it on the Priſoners in the way thither, though he knew not but that thei•'s might be his own condition ere he returned,•nd that what he now did to them, might aggravate his•ffence and increaſe his puniſhment, For, the Priſoners having travelled the firſt day,•hey put forth 20. long Corniſh miles on foot, being weary, deſired there to reſt that night, the place being convenient for lodging this he denyed who was, and the reſt with him, on horſe back•and abuſed them exceedingly, and endeavoured to ride over them with his horſe, and did thruſt them forwards, threatning to draw them at his53 horſe tayl; and when they asked him whether there was not a S•atute, that Priſoners ſhould not be compeld to travail above eight miles a day, he anſwered he cared not for the Statute, and ſo had them along ſix miles further, and when they came to Truro he put them into a little cloſe room, which though the Priſoners paid for, yet ſuffered he them there to be abuſed by the under Keeper, and Roath aforeſaid (whom he ought to have protected from any ſuch thing) and their friends that viſited them to be alſo abuſed, and ſome of them beaten, punch'd, and kicke, and many unſavory words given them.
To Thomas Gewen Judge of the Court, was the Repreſentation aforeſaid, of the ſufferings of the Priſoners by the Gaoler delivered, who graſping it in his hand, and wrumpling it, put it in his pocket, and ſaid he would make Mum of it, and abuſed the Meſſenger with ſlighting language, ana before him and Richard L•bby (who commit ed Anne Blackling) and Juſtice Kendale, were thoſe three brought, but whether the ſame ſpirit of Juſtice appeared in theſe J•ſtices, as ruled in the Juſtices the former Seſſi•ns, and whether the ſame ſpirit had Dominion in them as in the Gaoler from whom they received thoſe cruelties, or a different, Let the ſober by comparing what hath been already ſaid, with what follows, conſider and judge. For the Repreſentation aforeſaid it was not read in the Court, and when thoſe of the Priſoners preſent on whom was much of his crueltie acted as hath been mentioned, ſpake of their ſufferings by the Gaoler, he would not ſuffer them to ſpeake, unleſs they would be ſworn, which he knew they could not do; but the Gaolers Petition of invented lyes againſt the Priſoners, that was commanded to be read and the Court to keep ſilence; which paper o lyes the Priſoners denyed, and the ſpirit that gave it forth; But unto it Tho. Gewen ſet his hand, and the Juſtices bad th•Gaoler preſent it to the Judge at the Aſſizes, and T. Gewen commanded the Gaoler to take away Benj•min Maynard for ſaying he was not ſorry for what he had done in reference to his brea•h (as he ſaid of Queen Maries law, though he had ſuffered ſix months Impriſonment for ſtanding ſtill in54 the Steeple houſe, and ſaying nothing till the Prieſt calling to the people, Friends, I hope you will ſtand by me for the truth, laid violent hands on him, and had almoſt halled him to the door, And Iames Myres, and Ioſeph Cole he commanded to be taken away alſo, for refuſing to find ſureties for their good behaviour for coming into the Countrie (which was all he layd to their charge; when they asked him what Law they had broken for which he demanded of them to find ſureties) though they had been about eight weeks in priſon, and they all under cruell ſufferings, of which ſome particulars have been already related: And not onely this hard meaſure received they from the Court, Inſtead of Juſtice according to the Law, who no Law had tranſgreſſed, and who had ſo barbarouſly ſuffered, as hath been ſaid, but when the Gaoler (into whoſe cruell and mercileſs hands, thus ſtrengthened by them in his iniquitie and incouraged in his inhumane brutiſhneſs) they had returned them, was bringing them out of the Court, All that ſate in judgement upon them, Except Juſtice Kendale, openly ſcoff'd at them, andI have ſaid of laughter it is mad, ſai h Solemon the ſupreme GovernourEccl. 2.2. laughed (ſuch was their ſence of the cruell ſufferings of the innocent and their Juſtice) in which wanton lightneſs, and cruell ſporting, and unmanly behaviour T. Gewen. who ſate Judge of the•ourt, exceeded and bad the Gaoler keep the Priſoners cloſe, blaming him for that he had not kept them cloſe enough. Had the ſentence pronounced on them been juſt, and had they deſerved the ſeveritie of thoſe proceedings againſt them, yet in a ſenſibleneſs of Juſtice ought there to have been ſeriouſneſs, and gravitie in thoſe who give judgement for God upon the evill doer: But for thoſe who are in place to help them to right who ſuffer wrong and to relieve the oppreſſed, whoſe office and duty is ſo to do, not onely to ſtop their ears at the c•y of the wrong, but to encourage the wrong doer and oppreſſor, and into his hands to deliver them to be further wronged and oppr•ſſed; F••thoſe who are in Comm ſſion to do right, to judge wrong, for them who ought to break the unrighteous bonds, to adde bonds of unrighteouſneſs; who ought to do juſtice, and defend the innocent,55 to ſlay the righteous and innocent, and vainly, and openly to ſcoffe, and laugh thereat when they have done, and at their ſufferings, even whilſt they are ſitting on the ſeat of judgement, and in the ſight and hearing of the Countrie, what abhominable wickedneſs is this, what mercileſs crueltie? Have ſuch things as theſe been heard of before theſe dayes in England? Will not the ears tingle of all that hear it? Is not this crueltie beyond expreſſion, and lightneſs without compariſon? Are theſe Judges for God, or fit to judge for man, or to bear Rule? Are not ſuch a ſhame unto a Nat•on, and a reproach unto a people? Is not th•s the ſpirit that caſt Ioſeph into the pit, and then ſate down to eat bread? Are not theſe of the generation that ſlay the witneſſes, and then rejoyce over them, and make merry, and ſend gifts one unto another? Is not the day of the Lord at hand, and the hour of his righteous judgement, wherein he will himſelf plead the cauſe of the poor and needy, who looketh for judgement, but behold oppreſſion, for righteouſneſs but behold a Crie? will not his ſoul be avenged on ſuch a generation as this?
The Seſſions being ended the Gaoler returned with his Priſoners again, rid of his fears, and heightned in his crueltie, of which he was not wanting preſently to give demonſtration, boaſting much concerning what the Iuſtices ſhould ſay againſt the Priſoners, and in his behalf to him, of which the Priſoners being eare witneſſes, as they had felt the rage of his crueltie (the effects of the proceedings of the Seſſions) that they might be clear of the blood of them all, and that the Iuſtices might not thereof be ignorant, Edward Pyot and William Sale wrote to them two letters as followeth,
SInce the Seſſions the Gaoler hath received ſuch encouragement from you, (and not reproof) as that he is much imboldned to act his wicked mind and will againſt us who are Priſoners, he is ſo impudently wicked, as that he cannot (as he thinks) ſpeake bad enough to us, and of us, nor misbehave himſelf towards us, we are his ſport and his talk among his drunken Companions, and all ſorts of people where he comes; And reports that Captain Fox, and Justice Lobb, and Justice Gewen ſaid that Doomeſdale was to good for us, and that we were worſe than Thieves and Murderers, and not fit to live in a Common-wealth, and another Juſtice ſaid that we could not be uſed bad enough, And that of thirteen Justices there was not one that had a good word for us, nor one that had a bad word for him; with this he is ſet up in his vain-glory and laughter, and ſcoffing and ſcorning with that prophane fellow Roach and the reſt of his drunken Companions, and in his rage againſt us and our friends, ſo that the hand of the wicked is ſtrengthned by you to work his wickedneſs againſt us; wicked he was, before, but now he is become m re deſparately wicked, ſwearing ſuch oaths that it would grieve any heart that hath any honesty, to hear, and calling us ſuch filthie names, as we have not uſually heard, and threatning us with Doomeſdale, and double Irons, and the pit, and holding up his ſtaffe at us, ſaying he would beat us down, And the very day he came home from the Seſſions, he could not forbear a day to abuſe us, he called us many bad and unſavory names, and ſaid now he would take a courſe with us and order us to purpoſe, we ſhould not ſtay in his houſe, nor yet go into the town, but into the Castle we ſhould go to Domeſdale, for all Bradens ſecuritie for us, and his Letter he ſent to us, and that the Justices ſaid Doomeſdale was to good for us, and that we were miſtaken in the Juſtices they had not one bad word for him, nor a good word for us.
And that night our friends coming home in the rain from the Seſſions on foot, he lockt them up without fire, or bed, or ſtraw to lye on, or victuals to eate, or beer or water to drink, and denyed57 them the opening the door to have neceſſaries brought them Wi•liam Salt went to the Gaoler, and deſired him the door may be opened for our friends to have neceſſary refreſhments after their journey, the Gaoler anſwered how now Sirrah, you Rogue, you Raſcall, you ſhall have no door opened get you gone you Dog, or elſe I will kick you up ſtairs, how now ye Scums of the Countrie, ye Runnagate Rogues, Ile put you faſt enough all of you, ye Rogues.
We asking him whether the Juſtices would allow him in this, he anſwered, If we had been at the Seſſions at Truro, we might have been kickt before the Juſtices faces, as our friends were beat out of the Hall and kickt like Dogs, and the Juſtices was there ſitting upon the Bench at that time Here we do ſee and take notice, who are the ſtrengthener of the hands of evill doers, which is not a praiſe to them that do well.
Surely if you conſider the streets and the Countries how they ring like Sodom, and ſound like Gomorrah, you would find enough to turne your Sword againſt, and not againſt the innocent, but this prophane rabble of people you have pleaſed, it is their day, you have given them content, drunkards, ſwearers, and ſuch as follow pleaſures, this is their day, their mouths are ſet open and are encouraged to act againſt the innocent, ſuch as be of upright heart, but the Lord is a refuge, And is not this an evill report and an ill ſmell, that you ſhould have no better rule to keep peace, but ſuffer Priſoners to be beat and kickt like Dogs, as the Gaoler reports among his drunken Companions, But this ſhews that you uſe not the Sword, which is a terror to the evill doer.
And this is written (not that we do complain to man) but that you, who are called Chriſtian Magistrates may theſe things weigh and conſider, whether this be the Sword of justice and the ruler for God, and his glory for the praiſe of them that do well, and for the puniſhment of vice and wickedneſs. And ſeeing he hath made you the Authors of his cruel actings and brutiſh carriages towards us, and ſo ſhelters himſelf under you, We therefore lay it upon you, that we may be clear of your blood in the ſight of God who will not be mocked with onely a talk of Religion, and of the Scripturts,58 and be found out of the life of the Scriptures, and the pure Religion.
And we do underſtand, that there was a lying, ſlanderous paper read in the manner of a Petition againſt us, to cover his former wickedneſs (and as 'tis ſaid he was in fear he ſhould be turned out of his place, for his cruell and unworthy acting, towards us.) And there was a Letter which had part of the abuſes and wrongs, which we ſustained ſince the Seſſions before this, which was ſent to the Juſtices of the Countie, to be read among them, that they might know of the abuſes we undergoe and have undergone, ſince the former Seſſions, now his paper was read openly in the Court, but this was not, but received by Thomas Gewen, who graſpt it up in his hand, and put it up in his pocket, and ſaid he would make mum of it: the petition we have not ſeen, but we do hear that he ſaith that we would toſs his children on Pikes, and hang him at his door, and tread his wife under our feet, and ſuch like expreſſions: Can ſuch a thing enter into you, that ever we ſhould ſpeake ſuch words, we put that of God in you to judge, for ſuch things we do utterly deny, and that part of it was depoſed of treading the Gaolers wife under feet, by the underkeeper, who (as is ſaid) have been convicted and puniſhed as a fellon, who ſware the word to be ſpoken by William Salt and Benjamin Maynard. And the Gaolers wif•her ſelf have ſince cleared William Salt of the words, and ſaith he was not in place when the words was pretended to be ſpoken; And if you took heed to the light of Chriſt, wherewith you are lighted, and walked in the fear of the Lord, with it you would ſee and diſcern when ſuch falſe things are brought before you, and that of God in you would witneſs for God in the truth, and againſt the falſe accuſer, And ſo wicked men would not dare to preſent you with lyes and falſehoods, and here your ſword would be a terror to the vvicked, and thoſe that refuge in lyes.
On the third day after he came from Seſſions, he clapt us up cloſe Priſoners, ſwearing oaths not fit to be mentioned, and a Company of Fidlers came up into the next room where was a prophane Company ſvvearing, and drinking and ſinging prophane ſongs, with that prophane Priſoner called Roach, this now hath its libertie, and59 is tollerated, but thoſe which reproves this are clapt up cloſe priſoners, and not fit to live in a Common-wealth, nor can be uſed too hardly, as the Gaoler reports the Juſtices ſaid of us, and that we ſhould be carried by their command to the Common Gaole, as the Gaolers wife ſaid, which in two dayes after we were taken out of the Chamber in the Gaolers houſe (into which we were put when we were taken out of Domeſdale, by order of the Iuſtices at the former Seſſions, and the ſecuritie given by Captain Braden for our true impriſonments) and he put us into the room over Domeſdale, where comes up the naſtie ſmell of the hole where the Fellons are, And as he lockt up our friends which were there before we came at his pleaſure cloſe priſoners, ſo he doth us, he lockt up Edward Pyot and the reſt cloſe Priſoners in this place over Domeſdale, not giving any reaſon for his ſo doing, but when he is asked falls a reviling and uttering forth his unſavorie and ungodly expreſſions, and calling us filthie names.
The firſt night he put us in this place, he came drunk to us late at night, ſwearing by the Lord in Heaven, and by Gods blood he would tye us neck and heels, and double Iron us, and from us went up to the upper Gaole where the women are, there he abuſed Anne Blackling our friend in like manner, calling her Whore, and Witch, and Runnagate, and threatned to double Iron her and put her in the pit, and at his return from her, he came in a rage into the roome where we were, and put out our Candle, which was burning ſomewhat the longer to get the roome a little cleanſed, and to ſettle our neceſſaries.
The next day a friend of ours named John Ellice, whoſe outward being is about the farther end of the Countie, was ſent to priſon by P. Ceely and James Lance for not doffing his hat to P. Ceely, and for ſaying twas falſe, that he had gotten Arms into his cuſtodie, whom the Gaoler being in Domeſdale and the do•r open, William Salt carried in ſome ſtraw and a covering for our friend, whom the rude fellow Roach ran upon, and thruſt down, and the Gaoler alſo ran upon him and punch't him when he was down, and then thruſt him out of Doors, uttering many oaths and60 threatnings and held up his staffe to thruſt it at his belly, And when William Salt asked him whether he would deny neceſſaries to be brought the Priſoners, he anſwered I marry will I Sirrah, and up with his ſtaffe and with it ſtroke William Salt a ſore blow in the mouth, ſaying he would cut the covering he brought to pieces, And John Ellice asking him why he was ſo angry, he thruſt and puncht him alſo, and af er to cover his wicked carriage he ſaid that William Salt would have reſcued the Priſoner, And a little time after he came to us over Domeſdale, and abuſed us much in language, and many fearfull oaths he ſwore, as Gods blood, and ſuch like not fit to be mentioned, and thruſt and puncht us up there, and held up his ſtaffe, and ſwore he wou•d knock down Pyot. He was then ſo drunck as that he was readie to fall himſelf with thrusting us, and could hardly utter a plain word.
And becauſe the tryall where (Thomas Gewen ſate Judge of the Court) went againſt our friend, (a poor lame maid in the town, whom we hired as our ſervant to provide us neceſſaries, and for it paid her wages, whom the Gaoler lockt into his houſe whilſt he ſent for a Sergeant and arrested her, and he brought his under-keeper to ſwear that the maid unbard our Chamber door, which under-keeper was not ſeen to be there by not one of five of us, who ſhould have ſeen him if he had been there, and ſince this under-keeper hath confeſt to us that our Chamber door was not opened till after the maid was carried away by the Sergeant; This fellows oath was received in Court, although it was ſignified in Court that he was convicted as a fellon, and that he was not preſent while the maid was at the Chamber door till the Sergeant came. Let the leaſt meaſure of honestie judge of theſe proceedings) the Gaoler is ſo ſet up with this that now he threatens friends that come to us, both towns-people and ſtrangers what he will do to them by the Law, and alſo as one having authority to do wickedly.
He formerly confin'd Benjamin Maynard to the Castle, who was ſerviceable to fetch our proviſions, and now he lay'd the like command upon William Salt, who hath done it ſince, and the reſt61 of our friends which are priſoners are confind not to goe forth of the Caſtle, and all this he doth in his will, ſo that by all ways and means he endeavours to abuſe us, and by threats, miſnaming, curſed ſpeakings, and beating us, and bringing us into this naſtie place, ſo alſo to hinder neceſſaries to be brought us.
This uſeage is not according to Generall Disborow's Letter to him that we ſhould be civilly uſed, but he ſaith, that was not from Generall Disborow, but 'twas a counterfeit, neither is it of ſuch honour to you who are Juſtices of the Countie (as your reproof of him was to you the Seſſions before this) to uphold or have ſuch a fellow to be keeper of your Countie Gaole, who is not onely ignorant of what belongs to a Chriſtian, but alſo of a civill man.
Theſe things ought to be conſidered of by you, and not to be lightly paſt over, for to the Lord God muſt you give an account of your actions, and truſt committed to you.
SInce the Seſſions that this unmercifull Gaoler hath been imboldned by you, who ſaith, that the Iustices ſaid that Domeſ-dale was too good for us, moreover he ſaith, that the Iustices ſaid we were worſe than the Fellons, and ſince that time he hath brought us to the Common Gaole to Domeſ-dale, and put us there into a nastie ſtincking place, upon it, though he had complained againſt us that we had given him nothing, and yet he had fortie ſhillings ſince Seſſions for lying in his ſheets, though the ſheets were ſuch as we never lay in before, they were ſo torne that our feet went thorough the holes, and they were ſo long lane in that I have ſeen cleener on a ſtick to ſweep an Oven, And the other friends being walking in the Caſtle he took his opportunitie, and he commanded me out of his Chamber, calling me filthy names, and ſo bringing our things to Domeſ-dale, and ſo commanded62 me thither, and there now keeps us, and this now, we have ſeen what hath been incouraged, that which gives a ſtink amongſt men; So he came full of his drink in the night, the roome being bad, we being up a little later, he comes ſwearing, and abuſing us as formerly, and as we were ſetting down his oaths, he came, and knocked out our Candle. Did ever any of you taste ſince the Wars, did you ever taſte of theſe things by the common enemy, that now is done to the Children of light, to them that fear the Lord, For the encouraging of ſuch, I muſt declare plainly to you, 'tis not of good report to you, or juſtice, that a drunkard, a prophane perſon, a common ſwearer, which cannot ſcarce ſpeake without an oath, and a curſe, and a foul mouth'd abuſive man, as ever I heard ſpeake, and for you to encourage ſuch a one, and against the just, and Priſoners, this I ſay to you, it is not of Honour to you, but to bring your names to diſhonour. For before he had received ſ•me rebuke from ſome of you at the Seſſions formerly, by which we were taken out of Doomeſdale, but now he having received encouragement, you have ſet up prophaneneſs more than ever I ſaw where ever I came in any Country, and encouraged prophaneneſs; never the like was beheld. And we that ſtand againſt violence, ſurely you might have conſidered that your ſelves, that his Petition was a falſe thing, for when we asked him, but a question, he had us kiſs his tayl, kiſs his tayl, calling us Rogues, Runnagates, ſcums of the Countrie, and binding it with an oath, and then ſaith, the Justice ſaith Doomeſdale is to good for you, ye Rogues, Ile double Iron you. ſwearing he would double Iron Anne Blackling, and put her in the Dungeon, calling her Runnagate Whore, that went about bewitching the Countrie, and not onely abuſing us, but thoſe who came to viſit us calling them Whores and Rogues. Now we knovv vvhat belongs to Government a little, and what ought to rule, and not to ſet ſuch over us to ſlander us and abuſe us, and beat ſuch as bring neceſſaries to us Never was the like beheld in any Country: but we are content who ſees the end of profeſſion, though our ſouls are grieved to ſee the filthy converſation tolerated, and not rebuked, and open prophaneneſs encouraged, to that of God I ſpeake, for this cauſe63 hath God brought his ſwift judgements, upon ſuch who have been found in theſe ſteps, and ſetting that up againſt the just, and that which is contrary to God, which God hath brought down, and exalted himſelf.
The encloſed is ſent you to read, for that we do not underſtand it: it was read amongſt you at Seſſions, It being ſent you, that you might take notice of part of the abuſes which we have received between Seſſions, and Seſſions.
ANd not onely upon the Priſoners perſons was the Gaoler incouraged to act thus wickedly, but on others who were their friends, and had relation to them; Now he ſaw it his time to bring to tryall the Suit between him depending, and Suſanna Kemp one of the town of Lanceſton, the Priſoners ſervant, who coming to ſee what the Priſoners wanted, he lockt the door upon, and kept Priſoner, and being ſo, then ſent for a Serjeant, and arreſted her for coming into his houſe, threatning and abuſing her as aforeſaid, which he bringing to Iſſue before the ſaid T. Gewen Recorder of the town, he declared againſt her in a matter of treſpaſs, for entring his houſe by force of Arms, and taking out the Iron Bar of the door with ſuch like: And Nicolas Freeleven the under-Keeper he produced as a witneſs, who ſwore he took her from the door, when as he was not in the place all that time, and Katherine Kingdome, who upon her Oath ſaid, ſhe ſaw her ſit in the Stairs, when as ſhe ſate not in the Stairs, nor any where elſe, but ſtood ſtill, after the door was ſhut on her, till the Serjeant came; And although by two witneſſes on the behalf of Suſan it was proved, That ſhe was the Priſoners ſervant by agreement, for ſo long time as they had occaſion64 for wages; and by one of them teſtified that wages ſhe had of them ſeverall times, expreſſing the particular ſumms, Though he made his houſe their Priſon from the firſt time of their being delivered to him in cuſtody, and ſo he making his houſe their Priſon, the way to them ought to be free, who were not committed cloſe Priſoners, eſpecially for their ſervant; Though into his houſe which he had made their priſon, other friends had to them free acceſs, during the time of their Impriſonment, as they ought to have; Though contrary to Law he had lock'd them up cloſe Priſoners (for no Iuſtice or Iudge can by Law commit a man cloſe Priſoner, much leſs a Gaoler, eſpecially having no order from Iudge or Iuſtice ſo to do) at this very time when ſhe (their ſervant) coming to ſee what they had need of, on whom the Gaoler had executed ſuch crueltie, was by him made a Priſoner for ſo doing, and arreſted whilſt ſhe was ſo detained; Though Collonel Bennet a Iuſtice preſent, ſpake to the Iury to conſider how a lame Innocent Maid could be conceived to come with force of Arms, and in what want the Priſoners might be who had their door ſhut upon them, yet the Recorder gave ſuch direction to the Iury concerning her coming into his houſe without his conſent, and for damages, declaring to what Collonel Bennet ſaid, that if the Priſoners had dyed for want, the perill would be on the Keeper, that the Iury caſt her, and gave the Gaoler damages; which a•it is contrary to the Law and Iuſtice, ſo is it ſuch a piece of crueltie, as hardly can one find words fully to expreſs, but is thought very little by this generation, in whom the ſpirit that is cruell, lodgeth, and hath the Dominion to be executed upon the innocent.
By that time the Reader, who hath any honeſty, or bowels, or tenderneſs is gone thus far, and hath duly conſidered what hath been rehearſed, he will find theſe cruell oppreſſions and horrible wickedneſſes, a weight ſufficient, and load upon his ſpirit, to make him ſigh out, oh when ſhall the wickedneſs of the wicked come to an end: But theſe are not all, there are yet other abhominations to mention, more violence yet, and65 deeds of darkneſs; A Iuſtice, a Iudge, a Gaoler, a few Iuſtices at a Seſſions have hitherto acted their parts, and tryed their ſtreng•h to weigh down and deſtroy the innocent, in ſuch manner as hath been related; Towns and Countries now come in, conſult and joyn together, and riſe up like a flood to lay their weight upon, to break down, and to devoure them who have no kindred upon earth, nor helper amongſt men; whoſe bodies are laid equall to the ground, that all may paſs over, and over whom have paſſed the cruelties, and oppreſſions already rehearſed, and much more which time would fail particularly to inſtance, And by that time this latter part is peruſed and weighed, the wiſe in heart will ſee, whether Juſtice is to be found in the earth, or mercie amongſt the men of this generation? oh how unreaſonable is crueltie, how blind is rage, and how brutiſhly inhumane is man, when drove on by the ſpirit, and powers of darkneſs, againſt the truth of the living God?
In this kinde of perſecution the town of Lanceston leads, T. Gewen aforeſaid the Recorder thereof is of Counſell, Philip Page the Mayor begins the execution; The Gaoler hath no power in the town, farther than his priſon he cannot goe; there he ſufficiently manifeſts his tyrannicall beaſtlineſs, where he ſaith he is unaccountable, for what he doth. The Mayor he hath no power over the priſon, ſo ſaith the Gaoler, and that if he come thither, he will put him by the heels, yet all this Gaolers heels he followeth (without bluſhing) in perſecuting of the juſt, The cruelties executed upon them by the Gaoler are not enough, the ſufferings they have ſuſtained is not of value, Their friends have free acceſs from all parts to viſit and comfort them, and the flocking of ſo many troubles and torments; opportunities they have too many, and too much libertie to ſend abroad the particulars of their ſufferings, and to have returns from friends of tenderneſs, and refreſhing; ſuffer beyond meaſure that Spirit would have them, and ſo ſhut up that none may know of their ſufferings, or any ways relieve or help them; The Mayor will try what he66 can do herein. And for this end ſets his Watches and armed Guards, at every Gate of the town to examine, ſearch and bring before him, thoſe who come to viſit them, the Letters he finds on ſuch, he breaks open, and detains as he pleaſeth; their Cloaths and Pockets he ſearcheth, and rifles; their perſons he abuſeth with filthy and unſavory expreſſions; he ſearched a womans head for Letters with his own hands, taking her fowl Cloaths out of her Hat, and ſearching them alſo. A Cheeſe ſent to Edward Pyott the Gaoler violently took away, ſaying he would carry it to the Mayors, for therefore was the Watch, and Ward ſet at every Gate, to ſtop all things that ſhould go to and from them, which is not reſtored to this day. And William Salt after his being taken by order of the Seſſions out of that noyſome poyſonous hole, called Domeſdale, where he had been ill in his body, walking to Poulſons Bridge that parts Devon and Cornwall, being a mile or thereabouts out of the town, to take the wholeſome ayr, upon encouragement thereof, and of Captain Bradens having given ſecuritie for their true Impriſonment, for that very end that they might not be cloſely reſtrained, and cruelly uſed as they had been by the Gaoler. This Mayor (having notice thereof) cauſed to be taken and brought before him, (having ſet out Scouts and Watches to meet him at his return) and having himſelf rifled his Pockets, and taken away his Letters, to the darke houſe he committed him, telling him he would ſhew him a Law to morrow, and after he had lyen two nights and a day there by his order, ſent for him, and ſcoffed him, and asked him whether he would go into Devonſhire again; and ſo ſent him to the Gaoler; who was a Priſoner in the County priſon, a priſoner upon ſecurity for his true Impriſonment, over whom the Mayor had no power; but the ſame Spirit of crueltie ruling in him againſt the Innocent as in the Gaoler, he ſeeks and takes every opportunitie to manifeſt it, and in this mercileſs act hath exceeded the Gaolers unreaſonable practice and inhumane brutiſhneſs. But by that time he comes to underſtand by feeling the wages of his unrighteouſneſs,67 what he hath done herein, and in the diſturbing of peaceable people in their travelling, ſearching them, and breaking open their Letters, taking away, and detaining their Books and Papers, and miſuſing them as hath been ſaid, he will have little cauſe to boaſt or glory, but the contrary.
And thus from this Gaoler, Recorder, and Mayor have the Innocent ſuffered without mercy. Theſe are they who have joyned hand in hand together, to make up the threefold Cord of their cruell perſecution. He that reads what hath been rehearſed of theſe three may ſee their faces, hearts, and hands, one and the ſame, as is the Spirit that rules them: The firſt cauſeth them to ſuffer, the ſecond helps on and then laughs at their ſufferings on the ſeat of judgement, inſtead of doing them right: The third reacheth forth his hand to make them further to ſuffer, where the two former cannot. But the Recorder is the Counſellor, from him proceeds the encouragement and ſtrength of the other two. This is he (as is ſaid) that was one of the ſecluded Members of the long Parliament, who after the Kings death being asked, in whoſe name the Orders of Court ſhould paſs, anſwered in the name of T. Gewen Eſquire Recorder of Lanceston, when as the Act of Parliament ſaid, In the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England, who in diſdaine and ſcorn asked who they were, Who in the laſt Parliament, was very zealous for a King and a Houſe of Lords. The Mayor is he who was once put by that office for his diſaffection to the Common-wealth, and the priſoners in their day, having borne their teſtimony againſt thoſe intereſts, as they do now againſt all unrighteouſneſs and ungodlineſs of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs, no wonder if at their hands they receive all manner of cruelties, now that they are put under their feet, and delivered up as a prey, and a ſcorn to all; who as to the intereſt of the Common-wealth, to which they firmly ſtood, could not be overcome by the Sword or War, but overcame the Intereſts that theſe men purſued, and therein theſe men and all their Accomplices. And no wonder to ſee68 ſuch men as theſe creeping into places of power, thereby to have their opportunities of revenge on ſuch, and of making the Government under which they are to ſtink, and become intollerable becauſe of oppreſſion and crueltie, and of ſeparating between thoſe who are chief in Rule, and their former conſtant friends; And is it not a fair game thus to play, whilſt it paſſeth undeſcerned acting under the power of authoritie, which when it is become ſufficiently naked, weak, and abort'd, if a blow then come it may be ſure to hit, and repentance may be too late. Men walk not in ſuch myſtery in theſe dayes, but they are eaſily diſcerned, as opportunitie ſerveth; their old intereſt appears to lie in the bottome ſure, and unmoveable, though their faces look another way, thither they rowe, (hath it not very lately appeared ſo throughout England? is it not a fair warning?) Ethiopians cannot change their Skin, nor Leopards their ſpots? Let not men be miſtaken, ſo they ſhall find it.
In the ſufferings of theſe Innocent ſervants of the Lord, who have been thorougly faithfull to the Common-wealth, mentioned in this relation in this County of Cornwall, appear no leſs than two of the eleven Members whom the Army impeached, (viz.) John Glynne then Recorder of London, diſmiſt of that place as an enemy to the Common-wealth and Army, now Chief Juſtice of the upper Bench, and Anthony Nicholls, who knows how much he had a hand in bri•gi•g in the Scotch Army in 1648. into England, and how well known it was then, as was his other actions, and its like may remember who it was that was proclaimed a Traytor by the Army, and ſought after as ſuch a one, who its like ſhould be called to a ſtrict account for what he hath now done to the innocent con•rary to Law, would flie from it himſelf, and lay it on the back of the Prieſts, as he did the former when the Army had him Priſoner, To whom he ſaid, that the Prieſts laying it upon them in the Parliament as no leſs than damnation, that ſuch a Company of Hereticks and Schiſmaticks as were the Army (ſhould paſs into Ireland69 (which lay then (viz. the honeſt intereſt) in a ſad bleeding and dying poſture) was the reaſon of what they did, and of their attempt to break the Army, which they endeavoured under the pretence of the relief thereof, and placing ſuch Officers for conduct as might ſerve that end, under whom they knew the Souldiery would not engage: Yet this man (now) oh how warme is he? how ſecure doth he think himſelf under the Government of the Army and the Chief Officers thereof? Two inn•cent men he ſent to priſon, who have ſuffered as hath been in part related with the cauſe of their ſuffering, under which they yet lye; and whoſoever comes to him that are ſuch as he and the ſcorners calls Quakers, he ſaith he will impriſon, And Thomas Gewen makes up a third in the ſame affection, for which by reaſon of the Army he ſate not in Parliament.
But to proceed —
Lanceston having thus began, the County of Cornvvall follows, ſtrict Watches and Wards are ſet up in the high ways, and towns thereof, who examine, and bring bef•re Juſtices, ſuch as they reproach with the name of Quakers, thereby to ſtop and hinder the going to and fro of ſuch in that County to viſit the Priſoners, or to Miniſter the words of eternall life in thoſe darke Corners of the earth: But of this after a time they grew vveary, vvho thereby thought to vveary out thoſe people by toſſing them from Conſtable to Juſt•ce, and from one Juſtice to another, keeping them all night on Guards with ſuch like, the rage which the evill one ſtirred up in them, which put them upon ſuch unlavvfull, and violent actions became cool; and finding nothing wherewithall to accuſe them, and their innocency and harmeleſneſs, began to have a witneſs in their conſciences, and ſo their Watches, and Guards ceaſed, which had continued for a certain ſpace of time, and thoſe at Lanceston alſo, though the Mayor for a time followed it with ſuch blind zeale, madneſs; and violence. And this is the better vvay to deale with the people called70 Quakers than the Protector, and his Councell could find: Anthony Nicholls its like can tell from whom came this wicked invention, and who it was that ſaid ſo, and what Juſtices ſet to their hands to make this Warrant the more authentick, and to cover it from being ſeen to be the Plot of one againſt the juſt (viz:) Anthony Nicholls, Anthony Rouſe, James Lance, John Treville, Ia. Daniell, Iohn Fox, Dated at Truro.
By that time this Weſterne moſt Countie, and the towns and Villages thereof gave over, the County of Devon on the Eaſt of Lanceſton began; Cornwall was behind, and little in compariſon. All England ſtood before Devon, and through it muſt all paſs that came to the priſoners, Its bounds extending from Sea to Sea; ſurely grieved are the Prieſts to ſee and hear of ſuch abounding of love in viſiting the Priſoners from all parts of England, (even from the borders of Scot•and) tormented they are day and night becauſe of the continuall goings of ſo many to and from the Priſoners, who witneſſed that which made their Kingdome to ſhake, and would be its overthrow; No reſt are they in becauſe of the opportunities, ſuch had to declare the name of the Lord from far, and his everlaſting Goſpell to the ends of the earth, to the opening of the blind eye, to ſee their deceit and filthineſs, and to the turning of people from darkneſs to the light, and from the power of Sathan unto God, whom if they ſhould be let alone, the Countie would run after, Therefore the Crie is made, help, help, ye Magiſtrates, ye Rulers, ye Officers of the Army, ye Souldiers, ye towns, and Pariſhes, and Villages, help ye men of Devon, bring forth your Swords, your Staves, your Bills, your Halberts, ſet the Watch in the high ways, in the towns, on the Bridges, and paſſages, make ſtrong your Guards, with men of place and ability, and ſufficient (carnall) weapons; Let no one of them paſs you, hale them to priſon, Lay them faſt enough, ſet your authoritie upon it, ye generall Seſſions, make it a Law (for our Kingdome is of this world, and will fall, if ye powers of71 the earth do not ſupport it.) Why? What's the matter? What is the reaſon of this outcry? In plain engliſh, and in open face, it is this — There are a generation of people whom we call Quakers, (for we muſt reproach in the very firſt place, that we may be known of what generation we are, Miniſters of diviſion, not of reconciliation) wandring up and down this County, (as did the Prophets, and Chriſt Jeſus, and the Apoſtles, and Holy Men of God from the beginning) who plague us greatly, and the men of our generation, in almoſt every corner of the Nation; who deny (us who thus act, for by theſe our fruits, they ſay we are known) the godly Miniſters of England to be the true Miniſters of the Goſpel, (for the true Miniſters of the Goſpel were Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, not of Man, or made by or in the will of Man, or Nations, or Countryes, but by the will of God, and the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, who made them able Miniſters of the new Teſtament, not of the letter, but of the ſpirit, for the letter killeth, but the ſpirit giveth life, 2 Cor. 3.6. Gal. 1.16. And ſuch were done too by the Miniſters of the Countryes, the National Miniſters, the high Prieſts, Scribes, and Phariſees, as we have done, and would have you now do to them, as Chriſt foretold.) And they deny the Scriptures (of which we make our trade) to be the word of God, (and if that be not the word of God, no other word of God do we know, for we have neither ſeen his ſhape, nor heard his voyce at any time; and Revelation we deny, and ſo we cannot be called M•niſters of the word of God) for they ſay, Chriſt Jeſus is the Word of God, which was in the beginning, before Letter was, which was with God, which was God, and ſo is not the Letter, which was made fleſh, and came and dwelt amongſt us, as John teſtifies, chap. 1. Which word of God is quick and powerfull, ſharper than any two edged ſword, piercing even to the dividing aſunder of ſoul and ſpirit, of the joynts and marrow, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, as ſaith the Author to the Hebrews, chap. 4.12. By which word of God the Heavens were of old, and the Earth ſtanding in the water, and out of the water, and the Heavens and the Earth which are now are kept72 in ſtore, by the ſame word, reſerved unto fire againſt the day of Judgement, and perdition of ungodly men, as Peter, 2 epiſt. c. 3. v. 6, 7. witneſſeth. Who ſits on the white horſe, cloathed with a veſture dipt in blood, (whoſe name is called the Word of God) riding on conquering, and to conquer, having the Armies of Heaven following of him, as John deſcribes him in his Revelations, ch. 19.11, 12, 13, 14. And they ſay, the Scriptures are a true declaration of this Chriſt Jeſus the Word of God, as Luke bears record; who having a perfect underſtanding of all things from the very firſt, ſaith, he took in hand to ſet forth in order a declaration of thoſe things which were moſt ſurely believed amongſt them, even as they were delivered unto them by thoſe who from the beginning were eye-witneſſes, and Miniſters of the Word, it ſeeming good unto him alſo to write of them in order, chap. 1.1, 2, 3. Which declaration of his of him who is the Word of God, which he calls ſo who wrote it, we notwithſtanding call, and will have it to be the Word of God, and cry out upon ſuch as Blaſphemers that ſay (as Luke ſaid of it, who wrote it) it is a declaration. And they ſay, that all Scripture given by inſpiration of God, holy men of God ſpeaking (not from the Letter, for one Prophet propheſied not what he ſaw in writing of the Propheſy of another; nor did John what he ſaw written in the Prophets, but) as they were moved of the Holy Ghoſt, 2 Pet. 1.2.1. Nor ſpake the Apoſtles, but as the ſpirit gave them utterance, Acts 2.8. And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs, that the man of God (not the man of ſin; and we ſay, man can never be free from ſin while he lives; and he that is not free from ſin, is not free from the man of ſin; and the man of ſin is not the man of God for whom the Scripture is profitable) may be perfect, (and we deny perfection as a damnable doctrine) and throughly furniſhed unto all good works; as Paul affirms to Timothy, 2 epiſt. 3.16, 17.) Who by venting and broaching many of ſuch Hereſies and Blaſphemies, and ſcat•ering Books and Papers of theſe things which we call ſeditious, do undermine (with that which is perfect) the Fundamentals of our Rel•gion, theſe great truths which73 have been ſo long profeſſed amongſt us, and cauſe many people (which being weak, have been deluded by us, to ſee their deluſions, and) to fall from us, notwithſtanding the clear Sunſhine of this our Goſpel amongſt them, to the great diſhonour of Almighty God, (whoſe name hath been taken in our mouths) the diſturbance of the peace of the Common-wealth, (which we have often ſet into Wars and Blood thereabouts) to the ſadning of every good and honeſt heart, and the grief of all pious and religious people, who obſerve what pitifull Fundamentals our Religion hath, which can be thus undermined, when as the Kingdome the Apoſtles and Saints received, could not be moved, Heb. 12.28. And the Rock on which their faith was built, the gates of Hell could not prevail againſt, ſaid Chriſt, Matth. 16.18. Nor the ſtorms, nor the winds, nor the rain, to make that houſe to fall that is built thereupon, Matth. 7.25. And the things that are ſhaken are to be removed, as of things that are made, (for this word, Yet once more I ſhake not the Earth onely, but alſo Heaven, ſo ſignifies) that thoſe things which cannot be ſhaken may remain, ſaith the Author to the Hebrews, chap. 12.26, 27. And they that truſt in the Lord ſhall be as Mount Sion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, Pſal. 125.1.) And how dark our Goſpel is, that notwithſtanding the clear ſun-ſhine thereof, the wicked man hath ſown ſuch tares as theſe, which are grown up exceedingly; eſpecially that all this ſhould be done by a people wandring up and down the Countrey, whom we, and the World (which make up what we call our Churches) do ſcorn, ſet at nought, and reproach with the weak and contemptible name of Quakers; and do account and number them (as Chriſt Jeſus their example in ſufferings) with Tranſgreſſours, ſturdy Rogues, Beggars, and wandring idle perſons. Therefore it is high time for ye who are the Magiſtrates, and the Authority of this County, (of which we are the Miniſters, who are in this condition) to appear, and do your parts for the ſupporting of theſe great Truths, theſe Fundamentals of our Religion, which have been ſo long profeſſed amongſt us, which are ſo undermined (by a wandring, trembling people,74 which cry up perfection amongſt us) of this our Goſpel, whoſe clear ſun-ſhine is thus dark, and ſo far from being able to commend it ſelf•to that of God in every mans conſcience, or to defend it ſelf or us, that it needs your carnal weapons, (which were not the Apoſtles, for theirs were ſpiritual, not carnal) but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, 2 Cor. 10.4. And Ezra was aſhamed to require of the King a Band of Souldiers and Horſemen to help them againſt the Enemy in the way, becauſe he had ſpoken unto the King, ſaying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that ſeek him, but his power and his wrath is againſt all them that forſake him, Ezra 8.22.) For the preventing of that which makes ours appear ſo, yea to be even the great contagion that hath infected almoſt every corner of this Nation, and ſtrikes at the feet of our Images, (which are but Iron mixed with Clay) and not onely make your Law to the purpoſe aforeſaid, but ſend your Orders abroad to the chief Conſtables, and petty Conſtables in every diviſion, earneſtly requeſting them, as they tender the foundation aforeſaid of all our hopes of being ſaved by our Religion now undermined, and the peace of the ſtrong man, whoſe armour now begins to be taken from him, and his goods to be ſpoyled, to do their utmoſt to ſee them put in execution, that ſo your dead orders may prove the deſtruction of the living truth of God, which appears in contemptible Creatures, to deſtroy our undermineable Religion, and dark Goſpel, and ſhaken Fundamentals, and tottering great Truths, and all the deſigns of Satan, of us his Inſtruments, to ſupport them; whoſe Miniſters, that we may in all things appear in our generation the ſame with our predeceſſours in the former, we adviſe you to put them in the front and reer, in the wild beaſts skins of diſaffected to the Government, and diſturbers of the peace of the Common-wealth; and fill the belly with blaſphemy and hereſy, and ſo throw them to the unreaſonable Multitude to be devoured; for ſo did the chief Prieſts, Scribes, and Elders, our Predeceſſours, and the whole multitude of them by Jeſus to Pilate, when they deſired him to crucifie him. We have taken this fellow (ſaid they, as we ſay now of thoſe who75 witneſs him) perverting the Nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Ceſar, ſaying that he himſelf is Chriſt a King, Luke 23.1, 2. And ſo did the Jews which believed not, but were moved with envy, who took unto themſelves certain lewd fellows of the baſer ſort, and gathered a Company, and ſet all the City in an uproar, and aſſ•ulted the houſe of Jaſon, and drew him and the brethren before the Rulers, ſaying, Theſe that have turned the world upſide down are come hither alſo, whom Jaſon hath received; and theſe do all contrary to the decrees of Ceſar, ſaying, there is another King, one Jeſus, Acts 17.5, 6, 7. And thus ſaid Tertullus, the high Prieſts and Elders Orator, againſt Paul to Felix the Governour, We have found this man a peſtilent fellow, and a mover of ſedition among all the Jews throughout the world, Acts 24.1, 2, 5.
And whether this be not the plain Engliſh of the language of the order of Seſſions, and the Letter ſent therewith to the Conſtables in every diviſion hereafter to be mentioned, at the inſtigation and inſtruction of the Prieſts; and whether it be not the naked truth of the things contained in thoſe Papers, and their actions, without ſtraining or wreſting, let the ſober judge. And what is ſaid, may alſo ſerve as ſome anſwer to the falſe accuſotions and ſlanders therein.
For the Prieſts being troubled and moved, as hath been ſaid, to ſee and hear of ſo many to paſs through the County to viſit the Priſoners, gave the Juſtices no reſt, nor would ſuffer them to be quiet, till they had contrary to the Fundamental Laws of this Nation, and to the liberty unto which every Engliſhman is freely born as his Inheritance, of which Liberty the Fundamental Laws are the guard and defence; which Liberty and Laws for to defend, hath coſt the blood and miſeries of many Wars heretofore, and thoſe of late; and to true Rel•gion, which viſits the Priſoners, and doth violence to none; and to all moderation and humanity, ordered as followeth, which with the cruel effects thereof, comes now to be related.
WHereas the number of ſturdy Beggars, Rogues, and wandring idle perſons, is greatly increaſed; and although there hath been excellent good Laws made for the puniſhment of them, yet becauſe of the remiſneſs of ſome inferiour Officers the ſame hath not been duely executed; and now lately divers other perſons called by the name of Quakers, diſaffected to the preſent Government, do wander up and down the Countrey, and ſcatter ſeditions Papers and Books, to the deluding of many weak people, undermining the Fundamentals of Religion, denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God, and the godly Miniſters of England to be the true Miniſters of the Goſpel; and ſo as by them, many Hereſies and Blaſphemies are by them vented and broached abroad, to the great diſhonour of Almighty God, and grief of all pious and religious people, and to the diſturbance of the peace of this Common-wealth. It is therefore ordered, that the Conſtables of every Hundred within this County ſhall forthwith iſſue out their Warrants to the ſeveral petty Conſtables of their ſeveral Pariſhes within their Hundreds, We particularly requiring them thereby, upon receipt thereof, to cauſe good Watches and Wards to be kept at the Bridges and High-wayes within their ſeveral Pariſhes, where it ſhall be moſt convenient, for the apprehending of all Beggars, Rogues, Vagabonds, and wandring, idle, and ſuſpicious perſons; and ſuch as ſhall be therewith apprehended, take care that they be puniſhed, and conveyed according to Law. And that they likewiſe apprehend all ſuch perſons as travel under the notion or name of Quakers, without a lawfull Certificate ſatisfying from whence they came, and whither they are travelling; or ſhall have, or do ſcatter publickly, or own any ſuch ſeditious Books and Papers as aforeſaid; or ſhall interrupt or diſturb any Miniſters in the Congregations,77 or otherwhere; and thereupon bring them, together with ſuch Books and Papers, before ſome Juſtice of the Peace of the ſaid County, thereby to be dealt with as the Law requireth. And that this ſervice may be the better performed, it is ordered, that perſons of place and abilities, with weapons ſufficient, be ſet to watch and ward; and if any ſhall refuſe or neglect their duties herein, the Conſtables are thereupon forthwith to certifie the ſame to the next Juſtice, who is deſired by this Court to binde over ſuch perſons to the next Seſſions, to anſwer the ſaid neglect. This Watch and Ward to continue till further order.
That the Warrant aforeſaid might prove the more effectual, it was ſent encloſed to the Conſtables in a Letter ſigned by Major Blackmore, as followeth.
YOƲ will here encloſed finde a Warrant from the General Seſſions of the Peace held for this County, which I hope ſeaſonable and neceſſary in this juncture of affairs. I ſuppoſe you will hardly judge it cannot but ſadden every good and honeſt heart to obſerve the great Apoſtacy that hath happened of late, and that notwithſtanding the clear ſun-ſhine of the Goſpel amongſt us: yet the wicked one hath ſown his tares, and they are grown up exceedingly; ſo that it is high time for the Magiſtrates to appear for the ſupporting of theſe great Truths which have been ſo long profeſſed amongst us, and for the preventing of this great contagion, that infects almoſt every corner of this Nation. Now the Authority of this County having begun to do their parts in the encloſed Order, I ſhall make it my earneſt requeſt unto you, that as you tender the foundation of all our hopes of ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt, the good of poor ſouls, and the peace of the Common-wealth, you would do your utmoſt to ſee this78 Order put in execution, that it may not be a dead letter, but**The Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life, (ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 3.6. ) the power of God, the Goſpel of ſalvation. What Blaſphemy is this, and horrible wickedneſs, ſo to ſpeak of a filthy Order made to perſecute the life of God, the Goſpel of ſalvation, which is the power of God, and to limit the ſaint which giveth life, and the Children of Light, and to impriſon them to death; and as ſuch, to preſs the execution thereof, which hath proved the death of one of the Lambs of Chriſt, whoſe blood on him and them all cryes for vengeance. living direction to all within your Diviſion, to prevent, if the Lord pleaſe, the deſigns of Satan and his Instruments; and therefore ſend ſeveral Copies of the Order, and of this Letter, if you pleaſe, to all your petty Conſtables, that ſo it may be put in practice; and wherein my ſmall intereſt or aſſiſtance for encouragement may be uſefull, both you and they may be confident of the ſame, and that I am
The duty or office of Juſtices as well in Seſſions, as out of Seſſions, and of the Judges, is, not to make Laws, but to ſee that the Laws that are made be duely put in execution; with this they are entruſted, unto this they are ſworn; and where they ſwerve from this, they act arbitrarily, and are liable to puniſhment. Were the power of making Laws, of ſuch Laws as theſe, in them, what need is there of Parliaments? To what end have been all the ſharp conflicts, induſtrious carefulneſs, hard ſtrugglings, and bloody conteſts for many hundreds of years paſt, eſpecially of late years, in the behalf of Parliamentary Authority, and the Fundamental Laws which from them ſprang, and which declare their Authority ſupream and abſolute? To what purpoſe have been the hangings by the neck, the cuttings of the throat at Tyburn, the impriſonments, confiſcation of eſtates, and other exemplary puniſhments executed on Judges, Juſtices, and Miniſters of ſtate, for arbitrary acting, of which the Records of this Nation ſpeak? Why was Strafford's head cut off, and Canterbury's,79 and Charles Stuart's, as Traitors, for endeavouring to ſubvert the Fundamental Laws of England? And what juſtice was there in all theſe, if a general Seſſions of a particular County may make Laws, ſuch Laws as aforeſaid, beyond what ever they did, and go unpuniſhed? Walk through the Records of this Nation, where the inſtances aforeſaid are regiſtred, (thoſe that are free thereunto) ſearch Strafford's Trial, and Canterbury's of late dayes, and ſee whether it was ever proved againſt them that ever they judicially made a Law againſt the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of this Nation, and put in execution? Whether ever ſuch a Law as this was made, ſuch Guards ſet up, ſuch Executions done by vertue thereof, as is hereafter mentioned? Canterbury committed to Priſon, and aſſigned not the cauſe in the Warrant of Commitment, as is the Law of the Land, and it proved Capital to him. Impriſonments contrary to Law were reckoned up againſt Strafford, making up the number of his cumulative Treaſons, which coſt him his head. Charles Stuart and his Lords committed men, is Canterbury aforeſaid, and early he heard of it in the Parliament, the third of his reign, and was conſtrained to ſubmit unto the Petition of Right, to keep that his wrong doing from being further queſtioned. And for his other arbitrary actions, and what followed thereupon in theſe three Nations, and befell his particular, needs not to be mentioned, being recorded every where in the blood and miſeries of the late Wars, and the deſtruction of him, and his Family; the dreadfull and ſad examples of his righteous judgements, who renders to every one according to his deeds.
But theſe things to the m•n of this generation, to theſe Juſtices, are of little value. They can go over the Graves of theſe multitudes who have periſhed for theſe things, without fear. They can gaze upon all the dreadfull deſolations and tranſact ons becauſe of theſe things without aſtoniſhment; and can dare to do thoſe things to-day, which yeſterday were made before their eyes the ſaddeſt examples of the vengeance of God; not fearing before the Lord, becauſe of his judgements which he hath brought forth on the earth, but w•th a hardned heart,80 and a ſtiffneck, and a brow of braſs, proceed to act the ſame, yea greater abominations and unrighteouſneſſes than thoſe, for which things ſake he cut them off.
For although every Engliſhman is alike born free to travel, be, or abide in any part of England, or the Dominions thereof; and to deny him this, is to deny him his b•thright, and is as unreaſonable as to deny him the air to breath in; and a denial of this to one man, is a denial unto all, as hath been ſaid. Though the high-way•s are equally free for all men to paſs, as free for the men of Cumb•rland in Devon, as for the men of Devon who live on the other ſide of the way, and ſo for the men of Devon in Cumberland. Though to ſtop or h nder a man in his peaceable travell•ng in the high way is a b•each of the peace, and an overthrow of ſociety amongſt men. Though Magna Charta, cap. 29. ſaith, No man ſhall be t•ken, impriſoned, or exiled, (and to be barr'd from travelling one part of a mans Countrey is a baniſhment) or any way otherwiſe deſtroyed; nor we ſhall not paſs upon him but by lawfull judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land. Though the Law of the Land above all things takes care of, and values the liberty of a mans perſon. Though for thoſe who are by Commiſſion the Miniſters of the Law, otherwiſe to act than in the execution of the Law, renders them accountable to the juſtice of the Law, as it is perjury in them ſo to do, who are ſworn by the Law to execute. Though arbitrary proceedings in ſuch as are entruſted with the execution of the Law, have been adjudged by Parliaments tyrannical and treaſonable, and capital Executions have been done accordingly, as hath been inſtanced. Though any party of men under a Government, to make Laws, being not lawfully authorized ſo to do, for the binding of others, and thereunto to require obedience, be the ſetting up of themſelves above the Law, and treading it under their feet, and rendring of them whom they do ſo bind, their Slaves and Vaſſals, and ſo is treaſon. Though to raiſe men, and arm them, and to keep Guards with ſuch, apprehend and impriſon, where the Law doth not impower, (and no where doth the Law impower any ſo to do eſpecially, in oppoſition to81 Law, and Liberty, and the deſtruction thereof) is alſo Treaſon. Though Liberty of Conſcience is a chief Fundamental in the preſent Government. Though for the Liberties aforeſaid, and for it, have been the late wars, changes and revolutions which are the price thereof. Though to go about, doing of good, be that which Jeſus of Nazareth, and his Prophets, and Apoſtles did; and to viſit the Priſoners be that which he requireth, even he who is the Son of man, the King, who when he ſhall come in his glory, and all his holy Angels with him, ſitting upon the Throne of his glory, before whom ſhall be gathered all Nations, whom he ſhall ſeparate the one from the other, ſaith to the Goats on the left hand, Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels; for I was in Priſon, and ye viſited me not. (And they ſhall anſwer, when ſaw we thee an hungred, or athirſt, or a ſtranger, or naked, or ſick, or in priſon, and did not miniſter unto thee? And then ſhall he anſwer them, ſaying, Verily I ſay unto you, in as much as you did it not unto one of theſe little ones, ye did it not to me; and theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment, Mat. 25.). And ſo is an exerciſe of faith in Jeſus Chriſt the true Religion, which the Government requireth to be protected, as hath been mentioned. Yet have theſe Juſtices by a Law of their own making, (contrary to what hath been aforeſaid, (the Law of the Nation) and to what might further be added in demonſtration of the illegality and unreaſonableneſs of theſe their proceedings, could this ſhort Relation bear a full diſcuſſing thereof) ſet up armed Guards, under the name of Watches & Wards on the high-ways and bridges throughout the County of Devon, requiring them to apprehend all ſuch, whom by and in their Law they reproach, diſtinguiſh, and brand with the ſcorned name of Quakers, as travel thereon; whom having a minde to deſtroy, and to keep from paſſing to viſit their Friends in Priſon at Lanceſton in Cornwall, ſuffering there for the teſtimony of Jeſus, as hath been ſaid; unto which place there is no paſſage out of England by land, but through that County; and to hinder from going to and fro that County, leſt they ſhould declare againſt, and manifeſt the wickedneſs in Prieſt and People. And that theſe82 their cruel and tyrannical actions might have ſome pretence, and cover and prevail with thoſe in whom the ſame ſpirit ruleth, to execute them to the purpoſe. They by and in their Law falſly accuſe, and charge, and ſlander all ſuch whom they ſo reproach, diſtinguiſh, and brand, to be diſaffected to the Government, diſturbers of the publick peace, ſcatterers of ſeditious Books and Papers, venters and broachers abroad of many Hereſies and Blaſphemies, with much more of the like ſtuff. And that this ſervice (as they call it, but poor hearts! they will one day ſadly know whoſe ſervice it is, when the Maſter payes them their wages) may be the better performed, they order that perſons of place and abilities, with ſufficient weapons, be thus ſet to watch and ward; and if any ſhall neglect their duties (as they term the obedience which they require to their illegal and monſtrous command) herein, they require the Conſtables thereupon forthwith to certifie the ſame to the next Juſtice, whom they deſire (by and in the name of this Court) to certifie the ſame, and to binde over to the next Seſſions, to anſwer the ſaid neglect.
So that, in plain Engliſh, he on whom they thus place the name of a Quaker in ſcorn and deriſion, and by diſtinction, (who every where is ſurely known by his obedience to the Lord, and to the Law of his God, which he dares not ſhift from confeſſing openly before all, for the avoyding the unreaſonableneſs and fury of men, in whom the Prince of darkneſs rules, as the Profeſſions and People of the world can; which is a ſure character on ſuch an one by which to finde him, in whom no occaſion or fault can be found, but concerning the Law of his God, as it was with Daniel) muſt be ſuch an one as they have made and deſcribed in and by their Law, unſight and unſeen, unknown and unheard, be he what he will, if he be one whom in and by this our Law they call a Quaker, watch and wardſmen, he is diſaffected to the Government, a Diſturber of the publick peace, a Scatterer of ſeditious Books and Papers, a Venter and Broacher of Hereſies and Blaſphemies; we ſay it, we make him ſo, be he ſo or no, lay hold on him, apprehend him we require you, bring him with his Books and83 Papers, (if he hath any) before one of us, to be dealt withall according to this our Law.
And that indeed this unheard of iniquity thus ſet up by a Law contrary to the Law of the Nation, may be effectually executed, the ſtrict proviſions in the order aforeſaid (though ſuch as hath been ſaid) are not thought enough, (wickedneſs never thinketh its dev•ces againſt the juſt to be too much, or too ſure, crucified, dead, buried, a ſtone rolled before the ſepulcher, a guard of ſouldiers) the countenance of that part of the Army in that County, ſo far as the concurrence of a chief Officer may ſerve it, muſt be had: And for this purpoſe John Blackmore, Major to General Disborow, and a Juſtice of Peace, muſt be dealt withall, to render the Order effectual in the execution, as from him proceeded the motion of the Order to the Seſſions; who being prevailed with, debaſeth himſelf as low as Hell, turns Clerk to a Prieſt, and his back to his long profeſſed principles, and friends, and to the ſmoke of the bottomleſs pit, from whence came the Order aforeſaid, and the Letter, even from the black generation, ſets to his hand, and makes their his earneſt requeſt to all the Conſtables, That now the Authority of that County having begun to do their parts in the Order which he encloſed, (which is ſo and ſuch as hath been expreſſed) they would do their utmoſt to ſee it put in execution, as they tender the foundation of all their hopes of ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt, the good of poor ſouls, and the peace of the Commonwealth, that ſo it might not be a dead letter, but living direction to all within their Diviſion; and aſſures them of his intereſt and aſſiſtance therein for their encouragement, though he hath drawn his ſword, and been at the ſhedding of a great deal of blood for Liberty of Conſcience, for the Liberties of England, of which he hath made a long and a large profeſſion, when it was the caſe of the Army, and the honeſt men (then) who owned them throughout England, againſt the Prieſts, and the Common Enemy, who ſtruck at the roots of the Liberties of the Nation, and of Conſcience, which now his pride hath made him to forget. And ſo his painted profeſſion is (now) at an end, it will cover him no longer, his ſepulcher84 is open, and ſeen to be full of rottenneſs, and dead mens bones, the bones, the mangled carcaſes, the blood and ſufferings of all in the late wars for liberty of Conſcience, or the liberties of the Nation. **Whom doeſt thou paſs in Beauty? Go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumciſed which are gone down to Hell with their weapons of war. And th•y have laid their ſwords under their heads, but their iniquities ſhall be upon their bones, though they were the terrour of the mighty in the land of the living.Poor Major Blackmore! how haſt thou now deſcended into the pit, and made thy grave with the uncircumciſed.
And ſuch was the encouragement of the Order aforeſaid, coming encloſed in this Letter of this Officer of tha•Army which once was the ſword or the Lord, and a dread and terrour on thoſe whom this ſpirit ruled, and in whom it was now riſen afreſh, and waited onely for ſ•me ſuch ſhew of Authority as this, and countenance. That though the Order bore date the 18. of the fifth month, called July, yet by the 23. of the ſame month were the Guards up, and ſome Friends travelling towards Berkſhire from viſiting the priſoners at Lanceſton, were apprehended, and the next day impriſoned, and by the 16. of the 6. month, in the ſpace of about 25. dayes, were no leſs than one and twenty men and women impriſoned in Exeter of thoſe whom thoſe Guards apprehended, all of them except one (who was accompanying ſome of them to direct them the way thither from Exon, where he was born) being on their way to and from Lanceſton, to viſit, and from viſiting of the priſoners of the Lord there. And of theſe the Guards demanded, Are ye Quakers? Will ye own the Quakers? Will ye deny the Quakers? We have an Order of Seſſions to ſtop and apprehend all Quakers; and ſo they fall to rifling of their pockets, and taking away what Letters, Papers, or Books they found about them, as did the Juſtices; one of whom, (to wit) John Champion, called John Brown from the reſt that were apprehended with him, into his Parlour, and there beat him with his own hands, he ſtanding ſtill, and ſaying nothing; and then ſent him and the reſt (one of whom, viz. Jane Ingram, is ſince there dead) to priſon, where he was laid in irons, and ſome of them of85 their money did the Guards rob, (one man of 10 s. as they confeſs'd themſelves) and ſpent much of it before his face in ſtrong drink, abuſing him, and ſetting him forth a ſcorn throughout the Countrey as he paſſed; which he acquainted Major Saunders, one of the Juſtices, (who ſent divers of thoſe Friends to priſon) that he might do juſtice while the Conſtable was in Town who took away his money, and ſo uſed him; but he refuſed ſo to do, or to meddle therein. This is Major Saunders, and the end of his long and large profeſſion alſo; but hath now forgotten it, and is j yned with them, and with them is gone down to the pit, and his grave hath he made with the uncircumc ſed; who knew the day when thoſe at Exon roſe up againſt him and his ſouldiers, as Hereticks and Schiſmaticks. And another who was carrying money and other proviſions to the priſoners, the Conſtable robb'd of 20 s. of that money at the eleventh hour of the night on the Guard where they had him priſoner, though he ſaid, if he took his money from him, they robb'd him. And one Parker, one of M jor Blackmore's Troopers, charged the Inn-keeper at Exon to detain Katherine Evans hired horſe, (who with John Bolton, James Naylor, and Thomas Hawkins, were brought from Okehampton priſoners) whereupon the Inn-keeper refuſed to deliver her horſe, ſaying, he had an order from the ſaid Trooper to detain it, and that the ſaid Trooper ſaid he had order from his Major ſo to do. And after ſhe was ſo taken from her, a Juſtice ſent her on foot to her outward being from tithing to tithing with a paſs; which horſe and the moneys aforeſaid are yet detained, as are the perſons of thoſe 21. in priſon in Exeter to this day, as is particularly inſtanced hereafter with their names, and by whom, and the Juſtices that committed them, and the proceedings of Judge Nicholas with them at the Aſſizes, to which the Reader is referred.
And as from the Prieſts aroſe this unheard of cruel perſecution, ſo were they not able (ſo full were they of it) to contain themſelves from appearing openly in acting therein; of which an inſtance or two ſhall be given. On the 20. of the 6. month John Stubs, William Ames, and Heſter Bedle, as they were paſſing towards Lanceſton, met with a guard at Pogel, and86 two Prieſts by them, the one Prieſt of Pogell, the others name was Waldron, as ſaid the people. The Guard examined them firſt, and then paſs'd them over to the Prieſts. The Prieſts having took them in hand, one of them, (viz.) Parſon Waldron, ſaid to the Guard, Watchmen, you were beſt keep them, for they are ſuſpicious, and I do the more ſuſpect them becauſe they came from B•iſtol. What are we ſuſpicious of? ſaid one of them: That Prieſt anſwered, of being Quakers; and asked them whether they were not ſuch as were ſo called? They anſwered, they were. Then ſaid he to the Watchmen, you muſt not let them paſs, for therefore are the Watches ſet, that no•e might paſs who go under that name. And the other Prieſt them with much paſſion, they went about the Devils work, (who were going to viſit the Innocent in Priſon) and with his meſſage; and laughed and ſcoff'd at what one of them ſaid to him in the dread and power of the Lord. And Parſon Waldron ſaid, that he thought they muſt get the Countrey to knock them in the heads, or beat their brains out; and that if the power were in his hands, he would root them out of the land. And the Prieſt of Pogell ſaid, it was pity they were not all rooted out of the land. I'le warrant, ſaid Parſon Waldron, this Parliament will root them all-out; and this he ſaid ſeveral times. And having ſpoken a notorious lye of one of thoſe Friends before the people of ſomething that was unſeemly, which the Prieſt ſaid he ſhould then do, which the people preſent bore witneſs it was not ſo, having both ſeen and heard the paſſages, though he was taken with a lye in his mouth; yet ſo far was he from bluſhing, or being aſh•med, that he laughed thereat, and ſaid, Though he were a lyar, yet all were not like him. And having uſed much ſcoffings and railings, the Prieſts departed that night, after they had given order to the Guard to keep them priſoners. So by thoſe two Prieſts order were they kept ten hours priſoners. The next morning the Prieſt of Pogell came again, and railed at them while they were priſoners: whereupon one of them drew near towards him, to ſpeak to him; he retired back, and bid him ſtand off; and when he was asked, where his moderation was? he anſwered, he ought87 not to be moderate in the things of God. And the woman he thruſt from him, and threatned to kick her about, and ſaid to the Watchmen, that they muſt be carried to Exon. And of the ſame minde was one Prieſt Ham at Lanceſton, who in his farewell Lecture-Sermon there exhorted the people to tread the bodies of the people called Quakers in the ſtreet, and taught them how to write their names in the duſt. And another Prieſt drew the Warrant by which he was committed whom the Conſtable robb'd of the 20 s. of the money he was carrying to the priſoners as aforeſaid, at the inſtigation of that Prieſt. Which Warrant, for the rarity thereof, and that the ſober may ſee what unheard of Monſters this black generation brings forth, and for that it hath an ET CETERA in it, as hath P. Ceelyes, as is aforeſaid, and becauſe it is an interpretation of the Order of Seſſions, and of the proceedings thereupon, and of the pit out of which it proceeded under one of the founders drawing and hand-writing, take as followeth.
WHereas there was an Order iſſued from this Bench for the apprehending of all Rogues, and Vagabonds, and in particular for the apprehending of thoſe who paſs up and down the Countrey under the name of Quakers, as diſturbers of the peace of this preſent Government, and as underminers of the Fundamentals of Religion, the ſpreaders of Hereſies and Blaſphemies, &c. Now there being one that owns the name of a Quaker being apprehended, and brought before me, who hath Letters, and a Book tending to the ſpreading of the dangerous opinions of that party, and without any Certificate at all from whence he came, and whither he will. I do therefore in purſuance of the ſaid Order iſſued from this Bench, commit the ſaid Quaker unto the Goal of this County, there to remain till he be diſcharged by due order of Law. And by theſe preſents I do require the Keeper of the ſaid Goal to take him the ſaid Quaker, whoſe name as he ſaith is Thomas Rawlinſon, into his cuſtody,88 and him ſafely to keep, untill by Authority he be ſet at liberty. Given under my hand and ſeal at Telcot this 7th. of Auguſt, 1656.
It would be too long to take this Monſter in pieces, and fully to deſcribe it; nor will this relation, which hath ſuch variety of unheard of illegal and monſtrous proceedings neceſſarily to be ſpoken to, bear a large diſcourſe of this, or of divers other material paſſages mentioned therein; each of which (were it in the time of the former generation, wherein much was ſaid of a little, in compariſon to what is in this day acted) would increaſe into an entire and voluminous diſcourſe, which ſcarcely with the bare relation is now paſſed over. Such are the exceſſes of cruelty becauſe of conſcience, in this day of the higheſt profeſſion by the higheſt Profeſſors, that that which yeſterday made the whole Nation to ring, and drew forth the ſword of war to relieve it, paſſeth this day over in ſilence, and without obſervation, being look'd upon rather as favour than cruelty, as kindneſs than a furious perſecution; and it is accounted well where the extremity of ſufferings are not the Companions of thoſe who have the teſtimony of Jeſus. This Warrant lyes plain enough to be underſtood by him whoſe eyes are in the leaſt meaſure opened; who when he hath read the Prieſt of Talcots name that drew it, which is Whaire, and the Conſtable which robb'd that friend of the priſoners money, which is William Norcut of Clayton, is left to judge thereof as it is. The Guard apprehends him whom they call Quaker, at Clayton, as he was peaceably paſſing on the way with neceſſaries for the priſoners; the Authority is the Order of Seſſions; the Prieſt draws the Warrant, and in the Warrant uttereth his miſchievous deſires; the Juſtice ſigns and ſeals it; the Conſtable robs him of the money ſent by him to the priſoners to ſupply their neceſſaries after this commitment, whom ſo to do the Prieſt ſets on, and then ſends him to Exon Goal with a Guard; ſo they wrap it up. But not a word is there in this89 Prieſts Warrant of the Protector, no, they like not the 37. Article of his Government: therefore a new Authority have they in this County found out, and raiſed, where withall thus to perſecute, (viz.) the General Seſſions, and ſo the Warrant runs in the name and authority, not of the Protector, though in his name all adminiſtration of Government is to paſs, but of this Bench; and yet chargeth them, whom it called Quakers, as diſaffected to the Government, one of whom this Prieſt hath much ado to call by his proper name, ſo full of malice is he, but with a name of reproach, this Quaker, there being one that owns the name of a Quaker brought before me, I do therefore in purſuance of the ſaid Order iſſued from this Bench, commit the ſaid Quaker to the Goal of this County, &c. And by theſe preſents I do require the Keeper of the ſaid Goal to•ake him the ſaid Quaker, whoſe name as he ſaith is Thomas Rawlinſon, into his cuſtody, and him ſafely to keep untill by authority (not a ſillable of the Protector, or his authority) he be ſet at liberty. Given, &c. Doth not this ſhew that the Prieſts have as little minde to the Protector, as they have to the people called Quakers? That the ſame ſpirit that impriſons them for coming into their coaſts, leaves his name out, and his authority, and yet directs it to all Mayors, Bayliffs, Sheriffs, Conſtables, Tithingmen, and all Officers, &c. Doth not here appear from the grave the ſpirit that was in Chriſtopher Love Prieſt, and his fellow traitors, who being within the juriſdiction of this Commonwealth, took upon them to commiſſionate divers men to treat with Charles Stuart, the proclaimed Traitor of the Government, at Breda, and with the Scots, for the putting him into what they called his Father's Throne and Dominion in England, for which and his other Treaſons he loſt his head at Tower-hill, the 22. of the 5. month, 1651. See the Book entituled, A ſhort Plea for the Commonwealth, and therein the Prieſts treaſons. Doth not the ſprouts of the Biſhops appear in the ET CETERA in the Warrant? Is Chriſtopher Love dead, and the Scots and Charles Stuart overcome, and that Countrey ſubdued, and the Preſbyterian, Malignant power broken in pieces, and are the Biſhops90 plucked up root and branch, and theſe things ſo? Is it not time to look about? What is next?
Theſe are ſome of the fruits of the Miniſtry, Magiſtracy, Authority and Profeſſion of the County of Devon, Apples of Sodom, Grapes of Gomorrah, cluſters of bitterneſs, wine of the poyſon of Dragons, of the cruel venome of Aſps. Theſe are ſome of the effects of the loud cry of the Order of Seſſions, ſome of the executions done by them to whom Major Blackmore makes it his earneſt requeſt, as they tender the hopes of ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt, the good of poor ſouls, and the peace of the Commonwealth, to do their utmoſt to ſee this order put in execution. Theſe are ſome of the living works of darkneſs from them to whom his requeſt is made, and his dead letter ſent for their direction, copies of which he deſires, if the Conſtables pleaſe, (what a low condeſcention is here?) to be ſent to the petty Conſtables, that ſo it may be put in practice; and lo here it is, here is the practice, a wicked, robbing, bloody practice, as it hath proved. Behold what his bidding them be confident wherein his ſmall intereſt or aſſiſtance (filthy hypocriſy, which conceives that great which it expreſſeth ſmall, and would have it accounted great when it expreſſeth it little) for encouragement may be uſefull; and that he is their aſſured loving friend (of which he would have them be confident) hath brought forth. See to what his intereſt, and aſſiſtance, and encouragement is; and whether this be the preventing of the deſigns of Satan, and his inſtruments, or his ſtratagems, and the carrying on of his deſigns, and the acting of his inſtruments therein, and that in the name of the Lord, let the ſober judge. And yet this Major Blackmore, when the Conſtables have brought him ſome of the Friends aforeſaid, whom they have taken up with theſe armed Guards as they were peaceably paſſing on the way to viſit their Friends in priſon at Lanceston, at his earneſt requeſt in his Letter aforeſaid, and by vertue of the Order for that purpoſe, which he moved the Seſſions to make, hath ſeemed to be angry with the Conſtables for bringing them to him, when they have brought ſuch before him ſo apprehended, and refuſed to meddle with their commitment ▪ as if he91 diſliked the action, and had nothing to do in the Guards, and the raiſing and placing of them for their apprehenſions, as he hath ſought to be underſtood in his diſcourſe to ſome of the Priſoners, blaming the Juſtices for impriſoning of them, and ſaying that he impriſoned none. Is not this man worſe than Pilate, who apprehended not Jeſus, but ſought to releaſe him, knowing that for envy they had delivered him; and often ask-asked them, what evil hath he done? I finde no fault in him, nor Herod; and when he ſaw he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and waſhed his hands before the multitude, ſaying, I am innocent of the blood of this juſt perſon, ſee ye to it. And is he not as bad as the high Prieſts, Scribes, Elders, and the whole multitude of them, who when they had gotten Jeſus to be betrayed, and with a band of men with ſwords and ſtaves to be apprehended, that they might crucifie him, ſent him to Pilate to crucifie him, but went not into the Judgement Hall, (why do you bring them to me? I like this not, I have impriſoned none) leſt they ſhould he defiled, and ſo not eat the Paſſeover? They know not to do right, ſaith the Lord, who ſtore up violence and robbery in their palaces. Tremble O thou Earth at this, be thou aſhoniſhed, and horribly afraid, for the day of the Lord which is at hand, with whom this is laid up in ſtore, and ſealed up amongſt his treaſures, and the hour of his righteous judgements becauſe of theſe things haſtneth, to whom vengeance belongeth, and recompence.
But theſe are not the firſt fruits of this Vine of Sodom in theſe fields of Gomorrah, this City of Exon, and County of Devon, the habitations of cruelty; early did this curſed branch bud early did it bloſſome, and ſend forth its poyſonous fruits. The year 1645. witneſſed this. This the Army knew full well, againſt whoſe Garriſon, under the command of Colonel Robert Hammond, the City of Exon ſtood, turned out, and ſhut their gates, and kept from returning, as they did whatever Forces the Army would have put thereinto, as Colonel Hardreſs Waller, and his Regiment, which was once denied entrance, and being in, refuſed to be billeted, can, witneſs; till the eleven membred grand wheel in London, which roſe up, and was overcome92 in the year 1647. was broken, whom they thus did ſet againſt with an inveterate hatred, ſcorned, and branded with the names of Hereticks and Schiſmaticks. And as ſuch did thoſe, who are called Independents and Baptiſts, underſtand this, ſome of whom were apprehended as Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, and clapt up as ſuch. Baptiſts put in the ſtocks for coming to the private meeting there on the firſt dayes out of the Countrey, although they had Certificates from the Juſtices, and were men of outward quality. And the Steeplehouſe door ſhut againſt Stuckley, an Independent Prieſt, who (now) is joyned with thoſe his (then) perſecutors in perſecuting the Juſt. It would be too long to inſtance of the order from above read in the great Steeplehouſe by Parſons the ſinging-man againſt private meetings, the ſudden releaſe of him out of priſon, after Lieutenant Colonel Percy; Captain Vernon, and other Officers of Colonel Hammonds Regiment then preſent, had committed him for reading thereof; and of the ſudden Order that followed for turning the Regiment out, as aforeſaid; alſo of the tumult that beſet a private meeting in Rocklane after Major Saunders (who, as hath been inſtanced, is now become a Perſecutor with them) was Governour of the Caſtle, upon the Armies prevailing againſt the eleven Members; whom the tumult ſo abuſed, that a Guard of Souldiers were ſent for, who could not appeaſe it, nor Major Saunders himſelf, but was both him and his ſouldiers abuſed alſo. It would be too large to be particular in the rage of the**(Viz.) Ford, Nicholls, Bartlet, two of the Downs, the ſame that now are the Perſecutorr of the Children of light under the notion of Quake s. Prieſts, who made it their buſineſs in Town and Pulpits to ſet the people on fire againſt the Army, and the ſeparation from that which they called the old way, as Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, as Hereſy and Schiſm; eſpecially Prieſt Ford, who in thoſe things tutor'd the reſt of the Prieſts in his Lecture at the great Steeplehouſe for a long time together in theſe things. Nor was he quiet after General Disborow was Major General of the Weſt, who (it's ſaid) put him by, as not able to bear him, but is ſince got in again; a volume is little enough to contain theſe things; and what the Baptiſts ſo called received in other places of the County, particularly at Plymouth, where hath been93 30. of ſuch clapt up at a time by Chriſtopher Ceely, (the ſame who hath barbarouſly perſecuted ſeveral of the Friends of Truth mentioned in this Relation) and by him bound over to anſwer at the Aſſizes, of whom**N•cholas Cole with two others of them, after fourteen dayes being in Priſon in Plymouth, were ſent to Exon Goal with a Mittimus expreſſing the cauſe (viz.) For maintaining damnable Hereſies, being obſtinate Anabaptiſts, and preaching without Ordination, and were threatned much by the Judge at the Aſſizes: but the face of things being then changed in the Nation, nothing further was done to them: this was in the year 1645. the ſame Chriſtopher Ceely being then Mayor; who being again Mayor about the latter end of the tenth month, 1655. cauſed Margaret Kellum to be ſent to Priſon for ſpeaking to him in his houſe the word of the Lord, as ſhe was moved after her firſt ſending in to him that ſhe deſired to ſpeak with him, and his coming to her, and bidding her come in, when ſhe told him ſhe had ſomething from the Lord to declare to him; and what ſhe declared to him from the Lord, he confeſſed to be very good, and truth. Nevertheleſs he ſent her to Priſon, where after a cruel entertainment, being kept the moſt part of two dayes and a night in a wide room in a cold winter ſeaſon, and his declaring that he would examine all that came in the name of the Lord; and thruſting Margaret Beſtbridge, an aged woman (who deſired with others to come into the Town hall, where ſhe was brought) with his own hands in a rage down the ſtairs, to the endangering of her life with the violence of the fall, which might have been, had not the preſs of people kept her from falling above two or three ſteps. She was twitched up by a pully, and a rope faſtned about her, with which they lade their packs on a Carriers horſe, and her arms being tyed behind her, and her legs under the horſes belly with cords as a pack. She was driven ten miles towards Exeter before ſhe was looſned, and then brought to Exon Goal, and tryed at the Aſſizes there; and Katherine Martingdale and Priſcilla Cotton hath he ſince impriſoned, as is mentioned in this Relation.This is Chriſtopher Ceely, an old Perſecutor; and one Vowell was with him in the perſecution of Margaret Kellum, who afterwards ſate Judge of the Court at Exon, by which ſhe was tryed. Nicholas Cole was one, who is now perſecuted by him, and Mary Cole his wife alſo, as ſuch as the world calls Quakers, and the Independents alſo, who meeting hath been tumulted, and the back door broke open, and the people met beaten and wounded; ſo that they coming into the ſtreet, and thinking thereby to avoyd ſome of their cruelty, there they were fallen upon alſo; and when they called to the Magiſtrates as they paſſed from the Steeple-houſe to reſtrain the rude Multitude, they anſwered, they juſtly deſerved what was done to them; which ſo encouraged the tumult, that murther had been committed, had not ſome Souldiers of the Town come and reſcued them out of their hands. 94And of this the Commonwealth had experience, whoſe Judges the Magiſtrates refuſed to accompany as uſual at the Aſſizes, which occaſioned the removing of the Aſſizes once to Tiverton from Exeter; and againſt whoſe government they exceedingly kick'd, after the death of the late King, as they have done at every thing that ſavoured of honeſty, of liberty of conſcience, and of the Nation, which were the workings of the Lord in the day of his power, and brought forth by him, and covered with his preſence, to the finiſhing of the wars, which was a figure of that which is now come to reign, and in order to the reigning thereof, (viz.) the ſeed of God, the principle of righteouſneſs, the Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt, who is come, whoſe right it is, of whoſe dominion there ſhall be no end, let the rage of the Heathen be never ſo much thereat, and the ſcorners make it a deriſion, againſt which in this hour of its teſtimony finiſhing in ſufferings, it is riſen up into a rod of wickedneſs, as is manifeſt by what hath been ſaid, and by their other perſecutions, ſome of which are**Tho. Salthouſe, and Miles Halheads ſufferings, entituled, The wounds of an Enemy in the houſe of a Friend., and others not yet brought forth, and made publick: Hereſy, Schiſm, Faction, and a generation of Hereticks and Schiſmaticks are this Army, and thoſe who own them, break them to pieces, disband, deſtroy them, cauſe them to periſh, the pleaders for, and upholders of this curſed toleration, and hinderers of coercion in matters of Religion, Worſhip, and Diſcipline, was the cry in 1645. and forwards, and for an Ordinance againſt Blaſphemy and Hereſy, wherein all ſorts of profeſſions differing from Presbytery, may reade themſelves; and what this generation would do with ſuch as maintain and publiſh by preaching, printing, writing, or teaching, that the baptizing of Infants is unlawfull and voyd, or that ſuch perſons muſt be re-baptized; or ſhall re-baptize any perſon ſo baptized; or that the Churches of England, their Miniſters, or Ordinances, are no true Churches, Miniſters, or Ordinances; or that the Church government by Presbytery is Antichriſtian, or unlawfull; (there ſee a few of their claws) call to minde the former dayes, and let the things that are paſt come into remembrance, even what this generation95 would have done, their Synod, & accomplices to conſcience, and to whom this generation joyned in the years 1648. & 1650. and ſo forwards, even with the common Enemy Charles Stuart, Q. Mary, Fermin, and Percy, and the Scots by war and treaſon to effect it, (ſee Chriſtopher Love Prieſt, and his treaſons aforeſaid, in the Book entituled, A ſhort Plea for the Commonwealth for this) and forget not the wonderfull deliverance from them, all which the right hand of the Lord effected, whereby the ſhoulder was then removed from the burthen, and the hands delivered from the pots. O my people, remember what Balack King of Moab conſulted, and what Balaam the ſon of Beor anſwered from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteouſneſs of the Lord. And the cry is now hereſy, blaſphemy, ſedition, deniers of the godly Miniſters of England to be the true Miniſters of the Goſpel, venters and broachers of hereſies and blaſphemies; Arm, arm, turn them out, ſhut the gates againſt theſe Schiſmaticks and Hereticks, was the alarm then; ſet up Watches, Wards, armed with ſufficient weapons, ſupplyed with men of place and ability; let none of them travel the Countrey, no not ſo much as to viſit their Friends in priſon; apprehend, impriſon them, is the Law now, by the men of the ſame generation, the Prieſts and their Diſciples. The walls of Exon were the bounds then, the whole circuit of the County of Devon is the extent now. That a kinde of a hurly-burly effected, this is done by a Law of the general Seſſions, by the Authority of the County, (not of the Protector) as ſaith Major Blackmore. That was to keep a Garriſon of thoſe they then called Hereticks out of the City, from guarding of them: This to ſet up armed Guards to take up and impriſon all ſuch of them whom they now call Quakers, that travel peaceably on the way without ſtaff or weapon. And what may not this generation be expected further to do, as they have power in their hands, and opportunity, if in ſuch things as theſe they may act and proſper? Have they not now learnt a way to keep any ſort of men from travelling, or paſſing, whom they diſlike? Put a brand upon them, fill up an order with monſtrous and falſe accuſations, and ſet up96 armed Guards, make what themſelves have forged the pretence, and all ſuch apprehend and impriſon. Is not this a fine way to deal with the preſent powers, if ever an opportunity ſhould adminiſter? Do they love them, do they affect them, (though they make uſe of them againſt the people of God called Quakers, whom they falſly accuſe with diſ-affection thereunto, and upon whom they make an eſſay of what they can do, and of their Authority) did the late publick occaſion manifeſt any ſuch thing, or the contrary? Have they not ſpread a plain leſſon before every County to do the like? and what is next? Are their eyes open who are chief in authority? Do they not yet ſee through theſe men, and things, and to what they tend? Doth it not concern them to look about before it be too late? Have they not fair warning, and long and large experience? Alas, what doth it ſuffice us to deal with a few contemned Quakers, whil'ſt that ſtands which did put us by all our hopes of dominion over mens conſciences, and the State, and overturned us and all our deſigns with ſhame and diſhonour, with whom theſe Quakers were one, and ſome of them principal Actors; and whileſt the root is yet unpull'd up of that which hath laid an univerſal curſed toleration, and liberty of conſcience, a chief fundamental in the Government. If this doth not concern you, O ye chief in Authority, and if this be not ſo, let it paſs.
To conclude, This generation have in this particular of Watches and Wards exceeded the moſt bloody Perſecutors that have been known to have been on the face of the Earth; among whoſe thirſty ravenings after the blood of the Innocent, there is not found one ſuch example, no not among the red Records of the Roman perſecutions, or of Queen Maries cruelty; onely in the beginning of the long Parliament ſome ſuch thing was ſet at Whitehall gate to hinder the multitudes of people which flock'd up out of the City to Weſtminſter to complain of their ſufferings by the Biſhops, and oppreſſions, which Charles Stuart called tumults, and ſo found fault with it, and by that Guard one of them was ſlain, at the place of the ſhedding of whoſe blood was Charles Stuart's head ſtruck97 off, and his blood poured forth on the ground; a remarkable record of the righteous judgement of God. And from the high Prieſts, Scribes, and Phariſees, was the Band ſent with ſwords and ſtaves, to take Jeſus in the Garden in the night ', who diſturbed no man, whom Judas led, who hang'd himſelf, and whoſe bowels guſhed out, though he returned the money, the price of the blood of the Innocent, whom he had betrayed to the chief Prieſts, ſaying, I have ſinned, and repented himſelf, but for him there was no place found. Conſider this ye, who having theſe examples before your eyes, do nevertheleſs dare to tread in their ſteps, ſetting up Guards, Watches, and Wards, with ſwords, and ſtaves, and halberts, betraying, apprehending, impriſoning, and dealing with the Innocent, as hath been ſaid, who travel on the high-wayes quiet and peaceably, without ſword or ſtaff, to viſit their long and ſore oppreſſed innocent Friends in priſon, who witneſs the life of the ſame Jeſus (now) made manifeſt in them, which the ſame ſpirit that crucified Jeſus doth (now) in you riſe up againſt, and perſecute for witneſſing thereof, and numbers amongſt Tranſgreſſors, ſturdy Rogues, and Vagabonds: but thoſe who are indeed ſuch, and whom the Law calls ſo, not one of them is found in the Kalendar of thoſe your Priſoners, whom theſe your Guards have apprehended by vertue of your order: By which it is manifeſt who in your account were theſe Vagabonds and ſturdy Rogues placed in the front of your order, and who they were whom you thereby ſought to render vile and odious, and to apprehend, to wit, the Innocent and harmleſs lambs of Chriſt, who travelling peaceably on the way without ſtaff or ſword, you like Wolves have torn and devoured, and have drawn the ſword againſt, to ſtop and limit, when ungodlineſs and iniquity paſſeth every where without let, controul, or puniſhment: Such for to ſtop your Guards have no order, of which the Priſoners at Lanceſton in one of their papers given out upon your Guards, have let you underſtand, as followeth.
ALL ye who are turning the ſword againſt the innocent, againſt the truth it ſelf, do ye not ſee drunkenneſs at liberty, look in your Ale-houſes: Do you not ſee ſports, prophaneſs at liberty? look in your ſtreets: Do you not ſee deceitfull merchandize, coſening, and cheating? look in your Markets? Do you not ſee oaths and curſes! Do you lend your ears to this? But are you not lending your ears which way the Lambs of Chriſt walk, to catch up them; the ſtrangers, to clap up them in priſon; and this is the proviſion you make for ſtrangers, and the entertainment you give them, and yet ye cry up your ſelves Chriſtians, and the Goſpel ſhines amongst you: but luſts, whoredomes, uncleanneſs, drunkenneſs, prophaneſs, how is this looked after? This is your own you may ſay, and the world love its own; this is recreation, to go to pleaſures, muſt take ſome recreation now and then, but muſt not travel to cry against ſin, and cry againſt pleaſures, ſtop them, ſet Watches for them, they are not fit to live in a Commonwealth, nor to ſuffer any to come at them, or to viſit them; theſe ſow ſedition, and disturb our peace, ſay the Drunkard and Whoremongers, ſay they that are given to pleaſures, and follow pleaſures; they diſturb our peace, ſay coſeners, cheaters, ſwearers, and curſers, that are above yea and nay in their merchandiſe: Theſe being reproved by the Lambs of Chriſt, hale them before Magistrates, for they disturb our peace, ſay they, and theſe break our peace, therefore put them in the ſtocks, put them in the priſons, and put them out of the towns, caſt them out, they are Quakers. Are ye not of them that cry, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, and caſt out them that tremble at the word of the Lord, that the Lord regards, as Iſaiah ſpeaks of: ſo are ye not of them that Jeremy, ſpeaks of, that love to have thoſe Prieſts and Prophets that bear rule by their means, which he ſaw to be the horrible filthy thing committed in the Land, which cry, the Temple of the Lord, and come to the Houſe which ye call your Church; and do not ſuch as ſteal come thither, and ſuch as murther come thither, and ſuch as commit adultery come thither, ſuch as coſen come thither,99 and do not ſuch make up your Church, the coſeners, the adulterers, the oppreſſors, ſuch as truſt in lying words, the murtherer, the covetous, back-biters, ſcorners, mockers, do not ſuch make up your Church, as they cryed out, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord. Have ye not read and heard of the people that ſaid they were wiſe, and had the Law of the Lord, which lived in theſe things before-mentioned, which met together at the Temple to ſerve God, but liars, ſwearers, covetous, idolaters, proud, and heady, theſe cryed, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, and the Law of God was with them; and do not ye cry now that are proud, covetous, oppreſſors, perſecutors, lyars, ſwearers, curſed ſpeakers, reproachers, ſcoffers, drunkards, ſuch as are given to pleaſures, cry, cry, the Church, the Church, and ye have the Scriptures amongſt you, but out of the life of them found, as the Jews were found before you; and you may ſee what is at liberty among you, and what is ſet up, and what it is that turns againſt the Lord, and his truth, and his power, which will be your ruine in the end, except ye conſider, and repent, and amend your lives and doings, and turn unto the Lord; for do not ye, and have not ye plainly declared by your fruits, that them whom ye in ſcorn call Quakers, are the Lambs of Christ, as haling them out of Synagogues, haling them before Magiſtrates, and abuſing them, as if that it were your onely work, and let all wickedneſs run its race, and have its liberty; and this is as it were your onely work to turn your ſwords againſt the lambs of Chriſt. Doth it not here plainly ſhew that ye are of the world? Have not you your ſelves plainly declared? For do not ye hate them, the children of God? Do not ye perſecute them, ſet watches, ſnares, lay baits for them, take them up priſoners, and perſecute? Doth not Chriſt ſay, Who is not of the world, the world ſhall hate you? Doth not the Apoſtle bid the Saints not to marvel, for the world would hate them, for they were not of the world, and the world loved its own; they that are of the world, hear their own; they that are of God hear us, who are not of the world. Mark this, they that are of God hear us, were not ſuch as held up Synagogues, Temple, firſt Prieſthood, that took Tithes of the world yea or nay. Was not the Temple worldly, and all to be judged and100 denyed? And are not your Teachers now made by the will of man, which perſecute, which be found out of the ſpirit of Jeſus Chriſt, that now ye are haling your friends, them that the Lord ſends to do good unto you; now ye are haling your friends, now ye are perſecuting your friends, now ye are ſmiting your friends, you will not have Chriſt to reign, you will not have ſin to reign in your markets and ſtreets; and if they reprove ſin in the gate, he is made a prey upon that doth it; you will have pleaſures to reign, and not have them reproved; he is called a mad man among you that doth reprove you, or a fool; you will not have drunkards reproved, nor ſwearers, nor curſed ſpeakers in the ale-houſes, or in the ſtreets abroad, but he is looked upon to be a peace-breaker, or a gatherer of tumults. And here you may ſee what you will to reign; that which the ſword ſhould be turned againſt, which the Lambs of Chriſt turn againſt, therefore againſt the Lambs of Chriſt ye turn your ſwords. And again, hirelings, and ſuch as ſeek their gain from their quarter, ſuch as divine for money, and ſuch Teachers as teach for money, that go in Cain's way, and Balaam's way, theſe ye will have to reign, and cannot endure they ſhould be cryed against, and will not have Chriſt reign, but uphold them with a Law, that none ſhall ſpeak to them while they are ſpeaking without a Priſon? Was ever ſuch Chriſtians ſeen? Are ye not gone beyond the Jews in the letter? for the Jews in the ſpirit might ſpeak to them. Were there ever ſo many impriſoned in their time of any of the Jews in the ſpirit, as now by you who are Chriſtians in the letter, the Chriſtians in the ſpirit, that be in the ſpirit, that gave forth the letter, ſee ye now in the ſteps of the Jews walking, and rather worſe; but it is that which John ſaw, the Beaſt, the Dragon, and the falſe Prophet ſhould all make war againſt the Lamb, and the Saints, but the Lamb ſhould get the victory, and overcome. Let this be read among all the Synagogue-teachers, and Profeſſors, who call it either Synagogue, Temple, or Church, who are crying up your Church, and the Scriptures among you, as you may reade the Jews did the Temple of the Lord; and the Law of the Lord was with them, and the Prophet told them they did commit adultery, they did ſteal, they ſware falſly, they walked after their abominations, and they walked after the101 vanity of their own hearts, both Prieſts and People given to covetouſneſs, they were all out of the old-way: Therefore for theſe things did the Lord viſit them, and doth you who are found in theſe ſteps, and perſecuting them that be in the life, that gave forth Scriptures, and are come to the Church that is in God.
During the time aforeſaid was the general Aſſizes at Exeter for the County of Devon, of which chief Baron Steel and Baron Nicholas were Judges; before one of whom, (viz.) Judge Nicholas, were theſe who were thus impriſoned at the Aſſizes brought, and the reſt alſo, as they were taken on the high-wayes in the time of the Aſſizes of this Judge. Conſidering his place and office, juſtice might have been expected, and a vindication of the Law, and a zealous helping thoſe to right who had thus ſuffered wrong: but no ſuch thing found they from him, but the contrary, even the ſame ſpirit ruling and working in him as made the Law aforeſaid, and put it in execution againſt he Innocent, who could not be found Tranſgreſſors of any Law of the Nation: For as the Seſſions made a Law, and ſet up Watches to apprehend them, if they were but found travelling on the high-wayes, and did ſo apprehend and impriſon them, without ſo much as making proclamation, or giving publick warning, forbidding ſuch to travel in that Countrey after ſuch a day: but immediately as ſoon as they had made their Law, put it in execution on thoſe who were in their way before it was made, or had publick warning thereof, or the allotment of a certain ſpace of time of it to take notice, (which the Law of the Nation obſerves) ſo the Judge will have a Law of his own making, as to the Hat, (for that there is no Law of the Nation that requires a man to put off his Hat, and impriſon him for not ſo doing, and denies him hearing or juſtice, whatever be his innocency or ſufferings, if he puts not off his Hat to a Seat of Juſtice, will anon appear when this new-found Indictment of Hats ſhall be ſcann'd, as in ſome part it hath already been in the Letter aforeſaid, ſent to chief Juſtice Glynne) and preſently he will have it put in execution, though his Law be made102 after the fact done, after their ſo appearing, unto which they could not bow in conſcience to the Law of God, of which he is convinced to be a Tranſgreſſor that reſpecteth perſons, for he that doth ſo, committeth ſin. Nor can it be bowed to in reſpect to the Law of the Land, which declares againſt arbitrarineſs, which Law arbitrarineſs ſubverts and overthrows, which arbitrarineſs his duty is to do juſtice upon, being entruſted with the execution of the Law, and this his Law ſtanding in his own will, the founder thereof, it is arbitrary, and not to be obeyed, but in the overthrow of the Law of the Land, and a ſlighting of all the blood ſhed in the wars againſt arbitrarineſs; and is leſs to be endured and ſubmitted to in him, than in any of the Judges and chief Juſtices that have gone before him, whom juſtice hath cut off for arbitrarineſs, or in Strafford, Canterbury, Charles Stuart, or of any of theſe later generations, ſince it is but the other day that theſe Nations came out of many years wars and dreadfull deſolations and deſtructions, even to the hazarding of all, to vindicate the Rights and Liberties of England, and the Laws, the guard of them, from will and power. And this Judge was one who in that day appeared againſt that generation, and for that cauſe was made a Judge by the Parliament, and therefore for him to act againſt Law, which he is ſworn to execute, not to make. And the Legiſlative Authority that made him a Judge, and the righteous ends of the Wars for Liberty and Law, in which he appeared, and theſe innocent ſervants of the Lord, who have been all of them alwayes faithfull to the honeſt intereſt of the Nation, and many of them for it have drawn the ſword, and fought in the field from firſt to laſt, becauſe they cannot ſubmit to this his will, which is contrary to the Law of God, and the Nation, and the righteous ends of the Wars, is the more abominable, and to be denyed, and witneſſed againſt.
Thus then, were the proceedings of this Aſſizes, as to theſe.
Before Judge Nicholas they were brought by Officers; before him they ſtood covered in conſcience to the command of the Lord; that their Hats ſhould not be taken off he commanded, that ſo within the compaſs of his will they might be brought; Their names he asked one after another; they gave their names in meekneſs, and in the fear of the Lord, and the Clarke of the Aſſizes wrote them down to record the contempt of his will; he then commanded every one by name to put off his Hat, This they could not do for conſcience ſake; Wrath and fury preſently appears, that in rage he commands the Gaoler to have them away, who with violence pull'd & thruſt them; ſuffer them to ſpeak for themſelves he would not; nor enquired what were their offences, or the cauſe of their impriſonment, or wherefore they were brought before him; but cauſed them with ſuch miſuſages to be ſent and returned to priſon. And this was what generally they all received at his hands, as they were brought before him, and thus evilly were they all intreated.
The morrow after ſuch returns in cuſtody, were•hey brought before him again, and placed amongſt the Fellons and Murderers; By that time Bills of Indictment, as to the breach of his will, were made ready, Their Hats now he commands to be taken off, which the day before he commanded not to be taken off, that he might charge them with contempt: His Bills are read, and with many falſe accuſations are they charged therein; as being men of an ill name, fame, life and reputation, and that they came into the Court with their Hats on in contempt, when by conſtraint they were forced thither, and much more filth, too noyſome to rake up. And to theſe their Indictments he demands of every one particularly guilty, or not guilty? thus numbring them amongſt tranſgreſſors.) A Copy of the Indictment whereunto to plead, was by one of them demanded, as the Law required; this he denies; the Priſoner replyed, that he was an Engliſhman, and had ſerved the Commonwealth of England from the beginning of the Wars, till Worcester fight (at which he was) and had ſuffered impriſonment104 by the enemy, and the loſs of his goods, and was driven from his outward being by the enemy four years together; and now deſired as to all, but the priviledge of the Law, and that if he had come violently into the Court, there ſeemed to be ſome ground for their Allegations, but by conſtraint he was brought in; Whilſt he was thus ſpeaking, the Judge kept talking to the people to keep them hearing of him, and then commanded him to be taken away; whom they had away throwing him before them, and whilſt he was away, he fined him 20. marks and impriſonment till payment, he ſaid, then he thought he ſhould lye long enough, upon which word the Judge bad them fine him 20. pound, which was done accordingly: Nor was there a Copy of this Indictment granted to any of them, though every one of them anſwered to the demand guilty, or not guilty in meekneſs, and in the fear of God to this effect, that they were innocent, and had broken no Law, and that they were not guilty of the things charged in the Bill, which they denied: And libertie they deſired to ſpeak further and to the Jury to whom he ſpake much whereby to incenſe them againſt the Priſoners, and told them the Hat was the chiefeſt matter they were to enquire into, but the Priſoners he would not permit to ſpeak to the Jury, as he vvould not let them make in their own defence, commanding the Gaoler to keep them ſilent when they attempted to ſpeak in their own behalf, and calling for a Gag, he commanded the Gaoler to Gag them; onely one of them, (who was laſt called) being required to anſwer whether he came in with his Hat on or no, ſaying if he might have libertie to ſpeak he ſhould not onely declare freely, and honeſtly, and with vvords of ſoberneſs, and in the fear of God, as to his having his Hat on, but alſo why he did ſo, and as to things charged againſt them, having got a little liberty ſo to do, ſaid, I ſhall declare freely from the light and life of Chriſt in my heart and ſoul, that I came not in with my Hat on in contempt of the Court or of any man therein, neither had I come there if I had not been brought, and I am free from any prejudice in the leaſt toward any man, and authority I own, and ſuch as rule well, ruling for God, according to the righteous Law of105 God, and are for the puniſhment of evill doers, and the praiſe of them that do well, ſuch I honour in my heart, but as for putting off my Hat, it is that which never was required by any that ruled for God, nor yet of the Heatheniſh Kings, and Emperors, as we read of, and in obedience to God I ſtand, and the ſame nature that commands us to put off our Hats, the ſame commanded to Preach no more in the name of Jeſus, and ſuch commands of men we cannot obey for conſcience ſake, and the Heatheniſh Cuſtoms which are contrary to the holy men of God, and to the righteous Law of God, and to all Scriptures, and alſo to all naturall Laws, I cannot be ſubject to; but unto God the higher power, which is of God which rules over all, but the Cuſtoms of the people are vain. Jer. 10.3. But longer the Judge would not permit him to ſpeak, and called for a Gag as aforeſaid, and he attempting to ſpeak a word or two farther, he and the reſt were all forced with violence from the Bar, and neither ſuffered to ſpeak for themſelves, or to ſtay their tryall; And the Jury being in confuſion, ſome ſaid they were young in it, and deſired time to conſider; but the Judge asking others, and they ſaying guilty, he preſently commanded them to be fined in 20. marks a piece, and to lye in Priſon till payment, which Judgement (being called, and ſtanding without the Bar, for he ſaid they needed not to come any further) the Judge pronounced upon them, but as to the Infringement of any Law, or miſcarriage in word, or deed, in particular, nothing was laid to their charge.
And as for the women who vvere taken up and impriſoned as aforeſaid, againſt whom he could not have the advantage of a Hat, he returned to Priſon till they ſhould find ſureties of the good behaviour, being taken up they and the reſt as they were peaceably travelling the high way to viſit the Priſoners, and impriſoned as hath been ſaid, whereby the Law was every vvay broke upon them, who ought to have been protected; and juſtice to have been done them, upon thoſe who robb'd them on the high way, and not to be inſtead thereof further oppreſſed.
Thus hath this Judge headed the Juſtices, and to their Arbitrary106 Law aforeſaid, and the wicked executions thereof, added another of his owne, made after the act was done, when they came before him to have been righted according to Law; by which will of his he cauſeth them further to ſuffer, as hath been ſaid; not ſo much as enquiring, or asking wherefore they were impriſoned, or what was the cauſe of their being brought before him, nor permitting them to ſpeak for themſelves, or of the uſages they had received, but commanding that their Hats ſhould not be taken off, that he might have occaſion againſt them, then commanding their Hats to be taken off, and indicting them and denying them a copy of their indictment, not ſuffering them to ſpeak in their owne defence, or to the Jury, but calling for and threatning them with a(*)(*)The priſoner ought to have liberty to ſpeak for himſelf, ſo is the Law of the Nation, and all Equitie, and the Judge ought to inſtruct him in the Law if, he miſtake, and not to call for a G•g, to Gag him, when he deſires to ſpeak for himſelf: O cruell injuſt•ce, and horrible inhumanity; whetherto doth this age run in a blind, mad perſ•cution of the iuſt? was ever the li•e heard of? a man impriſoned, and brought to his tryall, and not permitted to ſpeak for himſelf? and for a Iudge to call for a Gag, and to order him to be Gagd for attempting ſo to ſpeak, and ſo to proce•d againſt him, fine, and impriſon him. The Roman Governours crie ſhame on this. Thou art permitted to ſpeak for thy ſelf ſaid King Agrippa to Paul: and Felix told him he would hear him when his accuſers were come; and when Turtullus the chi f Prieſts Orator had accuſed h•m, he beckned to Paul, and p rmitted him to ſpeak for himſelf, and heard him concerning the Faith of Chriſt, and his reaſon•ng of righteouſneſs, and iudgement to come, and trembled, And Feſtus heard him alſo in his defence after he had been accuſed, and before the Iews, and King Agrippa confeſt after he had heard him, that he found he had committed nothing worthy of Dea h, though the Iews (he ſaid) had cried out that he ought not to live any longer, and heard him ſpeak alſo of the Faith of Ieſus. And the Phariſees ſaid, Doth our Law condemn a Man before it hear him and know what he doth? but beyond Heathens, Romans, Iews, Phariſees; is this blind Generation, ſpeak for himſelf? Gag him, where did any of Heathens do ſo, Engliſhmen where are you after this rate, O Monſtrous Tyrannie, and wicked in•uſtice exce•ding Heathens, Pagans, Romans, Iews and Phariſees. Gag when they did but attempt to ſpeak & when they yet ſought to ſpeak, cauſing them to be forc'd away with violence, and paſſing upon them not ſo much as with the conſent of a Jury which he put upon them (for ſome ſaid they were young in it, and deſired further time to conſider) upon an Indictment which had no offence charged therein that was an offence in Law, but his own will, which he ſet up for a Law, and in his will thus fined, and ſent to Priſon107 till payment, and for the good behaviour, fourteen men and women, whoſe names with ſeven more, as they were taken up in the high way and apprehended, with the time when, and place where, and the Juſtices by whom committed are.
Where they remain Priſoners to this day, the moſt of them lying upon Straw amongſt the Fellons, with which hardſhip, and naſtie inconveniences ſeverall of them are fallen ſick, and one of them (viz. Iane Ingram is dead, being taken at Apledore with Iohn Brown, and Mary Erbury 7. of the 6. month, ſhe was travelling to viſit the Priſoners at Lanceſton from Wales, and committed by Iohn Champion Iuſtice, who beat Iohn Brown108 with his own hands, and then ſent him and them to Exon Gaole where he was laid in Bolts, who hath now, as hath Iudge Nicholas, and the Iuſtices of the Seſſions aforeſaid, from whom came the Order of the Guards, and Major Blackmore, who ſo earneſtly preſſed the execution of that order, as they tendred all their hopes of ſalvation, &c. that ſo it might not be a dead Letter, (which hath proved the Death of this ſervant of the Lord) but leaving direction, as he blaſphemouſly calls it; and the Prieſts that ſet it on; and thoſe Guards the blood of the innocent, for which they ſhall anſwer before the Iudge of all the earth, who judgeth righteouſneſs, however they eſcape the Iuſtice of man, and yet ſo hardned are thoſe that notwithſtanding her death, after ſome time of ſickneſs, (which Major Blackmore was told of before ſhe dyed) and the ſickneſs of others, and the ill condition outwardly they are in, and their innocencie, that they there continue them Priſoners to this day; even the Sea-monſters draw forth the Breaſt, and give ſuck to their young, but theſe are become cruell as the Oſtrich in the wilderneſs, where will ye hide in the day of Viſitation, when the Lord ſhall make Inquiſition for bloud and the ſufferings of his Saints, where then will ye flee, and ever will ye leave your glory? Take it to you, it is your portion, for at the hand of the Lord God bloud ſhall you drink, for ye are worthy? O ye matchleſs Perſecutors, ſuch a proceeding as this the Records of this Nation afford not before this day, being in all things vvholy contrary to the Lavv of England, cruell and unreaſonable.
And this is the relief the innocent, who had ſuffered as aforeſaid from and by the illegall order of Seſſions, and the executions thereof, received from this Iudge Nicholas; vvho not onely thus threw the ſervants of the Lord by heaps into the Common Gaole, but Thomas Boyleſton, an•Thomas Powell, committed by the Seſſions to the Aſſizes, vvho being brought before him with thoſe aforementioned, vvere dealt vvithall as they vvere, having been about ſix vveeks before in Priſon; And Priſcilla Cotten, and Katherine Martingdale of Plymouth being impriſoned (the later for ſpeaking in a Steeple houſe in Plymouth109 the 13. of the 5th. month 1656. after the Prieſts time, theſe vvords, Prieſt and people vvho live in Cains nature, in envy and malice, God regards not that ſacrifice, and the former for being with her not ſaying a word) and brought before him, he fined Priſcilla, who ſaid not a word, in 50. l. and impriſonment till payment, and Katherine, who was ſhe that ſpake, but it was after all was ended, as hath been ſaid, there to abide till ſhe found ſureties for the good behaviour; though in that Steeplehouſe they were aſſaulted by the Conſtables and the people, who threw them down almoſt to the breaking of their bones, and kept in Plymouth near three weeks, during which time the Mayor denyed friends to viſit them, and would not accept the tender of friends body for body for Priſcilla that ſhe might paſs home to ſee her Husband, a Shop-keeper in the town, who was taken very ſick, and returne again to Priſon, and when ſhe vvas ſent from thence to Exon Gaole, becauſe ſhe ſtaid but till her ſervant brought her a pair of ſhoes, one of the tvvo fellows that the Mayor ſent with them, laid violent hands on her and drew her along the Street, almoſt to the murthering of her, and then produced an order of the Mayors for his ſo doing; And ſix times was ſhe brought before this Iudge, and alterations made in the paper of lyes exhibited againſt her, which ſhe denyed and ſaid that there was no truth therein; which the Clerk of the Court altered, and the Iudge ſaid let it be ſo; and becauſe ſhe took notice of their proceedings and ſpake to them to do that which is right, he cauſed her to be had away; and at length a paper was formed againſt her by way of Indictment, to vvhich he demanded guilty or not guilty? She ſaid it was a falſe paper, and becauſe ſhe did not ſay guilty or not guilty, but as aforeſaid (which was a ſufficient Plea in Law denying the Indictment, for to ſay the words guilty or not guilty is onely required in caſes of Fellony or life, by the Law of England) he grew outragious, whereupon ſhe ſaying to him, art thou a man to Iudge for God, and canſt not rule thy ſelf but art angry? be ſober, man, and fear the Lord, and do juſtice, and let not paſſion rule thee, he raged the more, and ſaid, Gaoler have her away, have her away, I cannot endure110 thers for a certain ſpace of time, and being now brought they deſired to know what it was they were impriſoned f•r, ſeeing they layd nothing to their charge, but what was done then in the Court, having ſhewn no Law to which it was contrary; and one of them, who had been in priſon a quarter of a year askd of the Juſtice preſent that committed him, what he had to ſay to him, and where was his accuſers? but he anſwered not a word; And they ſaid in conſcience to the Law of God they could not put off their Hats, And that they were not guiltie of affronting the Magiſtrate, or the breach of any Law, But becauſe they did not anſwer guiltie, or not guiltie? in thoſe their words (though what is expreſt to have been ſaid (viz.) that they were not guiltie of affronting the Magiſtrate, or of the breach of any Law; with vvhich crimes that Indictment did charge them, be a ſufficient Plea in Law, as is known to thoſe who underſtand the Law) for that the Indictment was not grounded upon the Law, but Will, and to ſay guiltie, or not guiltie to that which is not Law, is inconſiſtent with libertie, and an upholding of Will, as, and in the place, and authority of the Lavv, vvhich they could not do; They were had away vvith violence from the Bar to the Priſon, and then brought to the Bar again, and demanded guiltie, or not guiltie? and were told that after they had anſwered guiltie, or not guiltie, a Law ſhould be ſhewn them; but they refuſing to anſwer in thoſe words, till a Lavv vvas firſt ſhewn them, vvere not permitted to ſpeake, but commanded away again, and one of them (viz.) Ioſeph Cole thrown to the ground before the Court by the under-Gaoler without reproof, and though the Judge ſaid one of them ſhould ſpeak, when he asked vvhether they could not have the priviledge the Heathen gave Paul? yet he cauſed them all to be had away, not ſuffering any of them to ſpeake (vvhich the Country people diſliked, ſaying it was truth vvhich the priſoners ſpake,) and ſo to cloſe priſon they were had avvay again, the Judge ſaying he would give judgement againſt them if they anſvvered not in thoſe vvords; And the third time (for three ſeverall dayes vvere they brought before the Court, and ſome of them ſeverall times in a day they vvere brought to the111 Bar again, and demanded as before, Iohn Ellice having by that time got a Copy of the Indictment, t•ld the Judge, that for that Swaunton the Clerk made his wife pay thirteen ſhillings, ſaying that otherwiſe ſhe ſhould not have it, and asked the Judge whether that was not extortion? To which he anſwered, Gaoler ſpeedily have them away, wh•ch he did with violence; and becauſe they onely ſaid in anſwer firſt, ſhew us a Law that we have broken, before we be demanded to plead to an Indictment, guiltie or not guiltie; they were haled away to priſon, without being further permitted to ſpeake, and the Gaoler (who pretended himſelf ſick till he heard of the Iudges uſage of the priſoners) being in Court that day ſtruck Ioſeph Cole over the face with his ſtaffe, and punchd Iohn Ellice by the Arme, which filthineſs the people ſaw and cryed out againſt. And there were they detained whilſt the Iury paſt upon them, to whom he ſaid, that they (viz.) the priſoners had broken the Law of God, and of man. Nor did he cauſe them to be brought before him when he gave judgement againſt them, that they might hear the judgment, and have libertie to move in arreſt thereof as is the Law; But whilſt they were in priſon fined them in 20. marks a piece, and impriſonment till payment; who had ſuffered ſo long, and with ſuch crueltie, as hath been in part expreſt; whom he would not ſuffer to ſpeak of their impriſonment, or cruell uſage, or in their own defence; nor brought one accuſer; or witneſs to their faces; nor enquired into their ſufferings, or the cauſe of them. And this is the juſtice and relief the innocent at Launceſton received as their brethren and friends had hefore at Exon, from this Iudge Nicholas, whoſe vvill he ſet up for a Lavv, and becauſe they could not in Conſcience to God, nor in reſpect to the Law of this N•tion, vvhich judgeth arbitrarineſs, bovv to his Image, or anſwer to his vvill, guiltie or not guiltie; as the lavv requires to vvhat it commandeth, and ſo could not obey, and obſerve his vvill, equall vvith, and as the lavv; his vvrath roſe, and the form of his viſage vvas changed, and in the rage of his fury and paſſion, prepared a Furnace (a Bill of Indictment) he heated ſeven times vvith the fire of vvickedneſs, into which he caſt them bound becauſe of the Hat and vvithout it (vvhen as Nebuchadnezar112 an Heathen King caſt the three Children into the fiery furnace bound in their Coats, their Hoſen, and their Hats and their other Garments) vvhich novv comes to be ſpoken to, and vveighed in the ballance of lavv and equitie; and to be handled, even this new found monſtrous inſtrument of crueltie; into, and by which ſo many of the ſervants of the living God have been caſt, and continued fined and bound, and under the ſufferings of vvhich this relation (to ſay nothing of what hath been done to others, and in other parts of this Nation) bears Record, which ſince the foundation of the earth vvas layd, vvas never heard of before this day; nor ſuch an unexpreſſible piece of ſottiſh Irreligion, pride, and tyrannie, unto vvhich vvhoſoever doth not conforme, be his ſufferings vvhat they will, and his innocency, the priviledge of the law of England he muſt not have, nor be heard, nor have Iuſtice, but be bound under the Chains of further ſufferings, and oppreſſions becauſe thereof; Nevertheleſs this burning fiery flaming furnace can be walkt in looſened and untoucht, whilſt the men of the powers of Chaldea, who take up the Children and caſt them bound thereinto, lye ſlain with the flame of the urgencie of the command of that vvill, by which it is made ſo exceeding hot, as to the ſober and wiſe in heart vvill by and by appear, and be made manifeſt.
The Indictment of the Hat is inſufficient in lavv; in ſhort, thus —
Every Indictment, which hath not contained in it an offence, either againſt the Common lavv or Statute lavv, is void.
But there is not in the Indictment of the Hat any offence either againſt the Common lavv, or any Statute lavv.
If the matter of the Indictment be ſaid to be an offence againſt the Common lavv, then it muſt appear ſo, either amongſt the Records of this Nation, or the judiciall determinations, and concluſions of the Chief Courts of Iuſtice.
If againſt the Statute lavv, then it muſt appear ſo either amongſt the Parliament Roles, or the Printed Books.
But that it is an offence either againſt the Common law, or Statute lavv, there is not ſo much as the leaſt tittle of lavv to prove it.
113Thoſe Adverbiall Words in the Indictment (viz.) Irreverently, uncivilly, ſcornfully, maliciouſly, contemptuouſly, (with ſuch like filth, of which it is full, and not worthy the raking up) are, and have been alwaies taken to be added onely in an Indictment the more fully to deſcribe an offence, and to aggravate the ſame; But if the act charged in the Indictment be not an offence without theſe words, then theſe words cannot aggravate, or compleate a deſcription of that which is not.
It is ſaid to be done againſt good manners, evill communications corrupt good manners, and whatſoever is more than yea, and nay, cometh of evill, ſaith Chriſt Jeſus the Son of God: and as to good manners, which you ſay it is againſt, produce your Law for ſuch good manners, and let us ſee what it is, O ſottiſh Generation.
It is ſaid to be done againſt the uſage and cuſtome of England, It is the uſage and cuſtom of England for men and women to ſalute one another with a kiſs, and to ſpeak one to another, and to come into Courts with Cloaks and Coats, and Gloves and Boots, and yet not an offence to leave it undone, or to come without any of there coverings. Things which are in a mans power to give, or not to give; and which he is content not to receive from others, when he gives not the ſame to others (as ſuch things as theſe are take them in the beſt ſenſe, as they are peculiar to every man, and at his choice whether he will give them or not) cannot be made criminall, if he doth not give them.
And therefore the adding any of theſe vvords in the Indictment, doth not make the not putting off the Hat to be an offence.
And as their refuſing to put off the Hat, or to be uncovered is not an offence againſt the Law of this Common-Wealth, ſo neither is it an offence againſt the Law of God, or the Law of Nature.
Not againſt the law of God, for there is neither precept, or preſident that makes it ſo, but the contrary, as hath been and might further be ſaid.
114Not againſt the law of nature, for nature makes no man free or a ſervant, but man is either free or a ſervant, according to the ſpirit that rules and hath command over him.
And although it be ſaid in the Indictment, that they being enjoyned to be uncovered refuſed ſo to do, yet this makes not an offence, for the Juſtices ſate there onely to put the laws in being in execution, and it was not a contempt to deny to obey their command in a thing, which neither the law of God, nature, or of this Nation required to be done.
This act of putting off the Hat hath been in this Nation alwaies taken to be an act of civill curteſie, and not of duty, and ſo the practice of it amongſt people of all ſorts high and low, rich and poor, and in all places as well in the high ways, as elſewhere doth manifeſt, and it is no other in effect than a meer volentary complement, the occaſion whereof was never held to be an offence till this preſent time, and that by ſome few particular perſons.
'Tis true, that people, for the moſt part ſtand bare in all Courts of Juſtice in this Nation, but this is more than is required by any law, either of God or man, for that which is required to be done to Magiſtrates is honour and obedience, which is demonſtrated by a ſubmiſſion to all lawful commands, and not by any complement or act of curteſie.
Beſides to command any perſon to put off his Hat is abſurd, for that is to uſe it contrary to the end for which it was made, vvhich is to cover the head, and to keep it warme, whereby ſickneſs may be prevented, and not to be held in the hand, and a wiſe man beginneth from the end of a thing, and weighs every thing as it is there.
Again, whether the condition of a mans nature will give him leave to ſtand bare or not, the Magiſtrate is not the Judge, and therefore it is againſt reaſon, that it ſhould be in his power to command the Hat to be put off; whoſe nature cannot bear it from him that requires it, and is the ſame as to command him to put off any of his other Garments.
From all which it is clear, that this Indictment, and the proceedings115 therein are neither warranted by the law of God, nature or of this Nation, but on the contrary, are meerly arbitrary, againſt reaſon, and very abſurd, and an invaſion upon the liberties of the Freemen of England.
And by what hath been ſaid (for to argue further is not neceſſary in ſo frivolous a thing) the reaſonable may ſee what there is in this buſineſs of the Hat, which hath made ſuch a noiſe and kindled ſuch a fire in this Nation, by which ſo many of the innocent ſervants of the Lord have ſuffered without mercy, as hath been in part related; The tyrannicall wills and luſts of men being in this trifle ſet up above all that is called God, or man, or law, or nature, or reaſon, or common humanity, and againſt all theſe thus violently proſecuted, and cruelly, put in execution: As they may alſo ſee, what is become of this new ſound monſtrous Indictment, and of all the abhominable filthy lyes, and falſe accuſations contained therein of which it is full; And of this Judge Nicholas and his will in the Law, according to what hath been now ſaid, and alſo declared in that Letter aforeſaid to the Chief Juſtice; And of the conſciences of the Jurors who have upon their oaths brought them in guiltie, of which they have made ſhipwrack, as they have of their own, and the liberties of their Country. For whereas in the behalf of liberty the law hath carefully provided, that no man ſhall be in body, life, or goods at the mercy of the arbitrary breaſt of one man, who ſitteth as Judge, but ſhall be tryed by twelve indifferent men of his Peers or equalls of the Neighbourhood, whoſe verum dictum or ſentence according to truth, the Judge is to declare, not to make (which is one of the grand Priviledges of the people of the Engliſh N•tion, which diſtinguiſheth them free (viz.) that no Law is to be executed upon them but by ſome of themſelves: yet theſe Iurors not onely come under the Office, but the will of a Iudge, and what he arbitrarily in his will ſets up, they paſs upon as the Law of the Nation; and ſo do overthrow that vvhich vvas eſtabliſhed by the Lavv for their ſafeguard, and defence, againſt arbitrary actings; and do ſet up that, which to prevent, and overthrovve, as one of the ſoreſt Plagues that can happen to men, the lavv hath given them116 ſuch power and authoritie; ſo ſottiſhly blind, and outragiouſly mad are men when the Prince of darkneſs is their leader againſt the truth of God, who that they may deſtroy thoſe in whom it lives, they mind not, neither care what becomes of their own conſciences, beings, Freedoms, and libertie; yea even of that which but the day before they put their lives, and whatever was dear to them in their hands and their whole Country unto hazard for to preſerve, piercing the very life of their own liberties through the ſides of their friends, whom for the ſake of the truth of God, they ſeek to deſtroy, whilſt they ſtand in innocencie for the liberties wherein all Engliſh men are equally concern'd; and throwing away all the Bloud, and treaſure, and care, and tuggings, and reſtleſs endeavours of the former, and later ages for many hundreds of years, (we will not change the Laws of England, hath it been about thirty times reſolutely declared in this caſe as one man in Parliament, and thoſe very words recorded, when the ſtrongeſt endeavours of Monarchy have been uſed there, to change the tryals by twelve men into the courſe of the Civill Law, which is onely by a Judge, the manner of the other Nations, who never knew the benefit of this excellent priviledge) that they may ſatisfie the revenge of the enemy of their ſouls on ſuch, though when this libertie is loſt, and they come to feel on themſelves what they now do to others, they may be willing to give all they have to recover it when (perhaps it is too late.) And how do this generation ſhew themſelves hereby to be led by the ſame ſpirit as were the Jews, who that they might have Ieſus the Meſſiah (whom they long look't for) crucified, cryed out we have no King but Ceſar, who above all Nations hated to be in ſubjection to any, and Ieſus came to make them free, as it was ſaid of the Meſſiah, but they choſe ſlavery before him, and that which they choſe, that ſo they might have a power to Crucifie him (for the Romans had taken away their power of putting any man to death, made an end of them in that very generation from being a Nation, as he foretold them, as it had before in the higheſt judiciall power of life and death. O ye people of England, mind this, and conſider this, before it be too late, ye who talk117 ſo much of freedome, of being free-borne Engliſh men, of the fundamentall Rights, and liberties of England, and glory in it over all Nations, who in compariſon of you, ye have ſaid, are ſlaves and vaſſals to the luſts and wills of their Lords and Princes, who have (ye and your Forefathers) gone through ſuch terrible wars, and Seas of Blood to make and preſerve your ſelves ſo; if you continue to ſet againſt that which hath made and kept you ſo, and whoſe preſence hath brought through your wars for it, who is now come that hath been ſo much expected to ſet you free both in body and ſoul, and to deliver you out of the hands of all your enemies, that you might ſerve him without fear in holineſs and righteouſneſs before him all the dayes of your life, by raiſing up his owne image, his feed, which is come to, and muſt raigne for ever and ever, which, you every where perſecute, and grow mad againſt; where it doth appear, and bear its witneſs, and throw away, your choiceſt outward liberties, the value of the price aforeſaid to effect its ſufferings, you may expect the thing, that you have feared, and abhorred, and fought ſo much againſt, to come upon you in its perfection (viz.) will and power to be your Lord, and your liberties and freedomes left to you deſolate.
And thus much of the indictment of the Hat, and Jurie.
This Judge having proceeded with the Innocent as aforeſaid, and ſent them back fined and bound to priſon in and by his will, becauſe of the Hat in ſtead of doing them Juſtice. Ann Blackling received the ſame meaſure as thoſe friends of her Sexe had by him at Exon, who ſpeaking as ſhe was moved of the Lord to two prieſts in the ſteeple-houſe yard near Pendennis, was ſet upon with much rage, & brought before Capt. Fox, Governour of Pendennis Caſtle, and by him with great fury was ſhe abuſed, and called whore, and witch, and told that ſhe and that generation (which the World calls Quakers) were not fit to live, ſcoffing and raging, and gnaſhing his teeth, and charged her with oppreſſing the Country, who asked wherein? he ſaid in that her horſe did eat his graſs (the horſe grazing on the bank of the Caſtle whilſt ſhe was there118 brought, and ſtay'd till he came, and for that purpoſe as appears commanded off her horſe againſt her will, and therefore ſet to graze that ſuch an occaſion might be had againſt her, what poor ſhiftings are here wherewithall to have ſomething to charge the Innocents, and asked her whether that horſe was her's, ſhe anſwered it was ſo. He ſaid he would have him, if the horſe were her's. ſhe replyed the horſe he could not have juſtly, for that ſhe had mony to free her horſe for the graſs he had eaten there in that time, and proffered him mony and bed him take as much of it, as would ſatisfie him for the graſs the horſe had eaten, that ſo neither ſhe nor her horſe might be detayned as tranſgreſſors, or as oppreſſors of any. Whereupon in much rage he ſent for a Conſtable, ſhe exhorted him to the fear that ſhould be in the hearts of all them that bear rule, and told him in wiſedom, and fear he ſhould examine, elſe the Law of God would take hold of him, and asked him what Law ſhe had tranſgreſſed, and whether he did rule by a Law? and would have ſpoken further, but he was ſo full of rage, that he would not ſuffer her, and gnaſhing his teeth told her, that they would ſtop their mouths, whom he called Quakers, ere it were long, ſhe told him, thoſe peoples kingdome was in the beginning, is now, and ever ſhall be, and his kingdome was of this world which was falling, and much more, till in fury he committed her to the cuſtodye of a Conſtable, where having been about 8. or 9. dayes, the Conſtable went to him to know what he ſhould do with her, he ſaid it was well enough to keep her there, till ſhe had eaten, and ſpent her horſe, that ſo thoſe people might be wearied out of their coaſts: the Conſtable ſaid ſhe could neither ſell, nor take her horſe, and that was not the way, for ſhe had mony enough to redeem it, and ſo after a time ſhe was ſet free, the Conſtable was aſham'd for what was done to her; But as ſhe paſſed towards Truro, ſhe was ſtopt by a watch near Smethwick, and examined, and carried before a Conſtable (for they ſaid they were ſet to take all Quakers) who was in much fury when he heard of the name of a Quaker, and brought her before Juſtice Lobb, who talked with her concerning her faith,119 and declared againſt it, & ſaid if ſhe would not deny her faith, to priſon ſhe muſt go, and ſo he ſent her (after his wife had alſo abuſed her) to Lanceſton Goale the 21. of the 4. month 1656. with a warrant filled with lyes, as that ſhe was a wanderer, where ſhe was uſed by the Goaler in that cruelty as hath been in part expreſt and being brought before this Court, as ſhe began to ſpeak for her ſelf, the Goalers wife ſtopt her mouth, violently with her hands, and without any more ado the Court ſaid take her away, and being brought again to the Bar, commanded to have her away without permitting her to ſpeak for her ſelf, though they ſent for her, and being had away to priſon; ſentenced her to lye there till ſhe found ſureties for the good behaviour, who ſo unjuſtly had been dealt withall; and cruelly had ſuffered, having not offended ſo much as the ſhadow, or the leaſt tittle of any Law, nor had any accuſer, nor accuſation produced againſt her, nor had ſhe offended the will of the Hat; for that of her being a vvoman could not be ſought vvhich to cauſe the men further to ſuffer, vvho had ſo much ſuffered vvrongfully before, and ought to have had Juſtice done them, vvas ſought after as an occaſion.
But as for George Fox, Edw. Piot, and Will. Salt, and Benjamin M•inard, they vvere not called by the Judge, or the Court, but the Judge cauſed the Goalers petition aforeſaid of his invented lyes to be read againſt them, (viz.) that they vvould hang him at his door, toſs his children on ſpears, and tread his vvife under feet, and ſaid, they ſhould be brought forth to anſvver it, but he never ſent for them, nor examined them concerning it, vvhereby the truth might be manifeſted, but ordered the Goalers vvife to keep them cloſer, and confined them for the time to come to the Caſtle, and vvhilſt he ſhould be in the Tovvn cloſe priſoners, and ſhe moved him to order them to be put into Doomſdale, pretending that vvithout ſuch an order, they could not confine them to the Caſtle, becauſe of the ſecurity Capt. Bradon had given for their true impriſonment; its ſaid, he asked hovv the Goaler durſt to take ſecurity for them, and commanded they ſhould be more ſtrictly lookt to, and took notice of a complaint of Peter Killegrews,120 who is called a Knight (he was the Poſt between the late King, and Parliament, in times of treaties) that he met them about two miles from the Town, when it was about one, thereby ſtrengthening their bonds, and encouraging cruelty upon them, in ſtead of hearing their cauſe and executing judgement for them, who had ſo ſuffered as hath been ſaid; whoſe ſufferings as they had been made very heavy by the Goaler, and the Recorder, and the Mayor, as hath been ſaid, ſo now all endeavours were uſed, to keep them from being made known to the Judge. And therefore Ann Downer, and Grace Burgis ſtanding on the firſt day of the week in the entrie of the Houſe, where the Judge lodged (having leave from the people thereof ſo to do) to deliver him papers from the priſoners, of the ground of their impriſonment; & their ſufferings, as he ſhould come forth, were at the command of the Mayor, by his officers carried to the dark houſe, and kept-there till the evening, and thus much concerning this Judge, and his Juſtice, and his Aſſizes, and the uſages of the Innocent, and the condition wherein they were caſt, and left, by him and them.
Whileſt theſe things were in hand, and theſe cruelties breathed forth, and exerciſed on the oppreſſed, Generall Diſborow came to Lanceſton, who the third day of the week in the afternoon being at a large houſe in the Town, with the Sheriff and Juſtices, ſent for Edward Pyot, and William Salt, and enquired of them concerning the abuſes they had received from the Goaler, and as they gave them, took them particularly in writing with his own hand; and then examined the Goaler, as to every particular, and took his anſwer, and heard the replie made thereunto by the priſoners, till he had gone over all; then the Generall heard the Goalers complaint againſt them, mentioned in his petition aforeſaid, which had gone about to Seſſions and Aſſizes to cover his crueltie towards them; by inventing words of crueltie, as if ſpoken by them, and then bringing what he had ſo invented in charge upon them: And asked the Goaler vvhether any heard the vvords beſides himſelf, He anſvvered. yes, and named four121 of his Companions, who were the priſoners greateſt enemies, three of theſe the Generall ſent for, and examined them, whilſt the priſoners were withdrawn, (the fourth was the under-Goaler, who had ſworn to part of it at Seſſions, but by the Goalers wife was contradicted, as to what he had ſworn, when he returned,) theſe three denyed that ever they heard any ſuch words, as the Goaler had mentioned of the priſoners in his petition. He demanded what words they had heard from them to the Goaler, and from the Goaler to them? they anſwered, that they had heard the Goaler call the priſoners rogues, and the ptiſoners call him drunken-beaſt, & ſwine, which paſſages the Generall told the priſoners, after he had cauſed them to be called in again, & ſaid ſuch as would be drunk were beaſts, and ſwine, and worſe, and therefore might well be called ſo; and all this was before the Sheriff, Juſtices, and many people of outward quality, and others of the Countrey; and the Goaler he ſharply rebuked, and reproved for his abuſe to the priſoners, and ſpake civily of them to the Juſtices, and people, that they were not to be abuſed, and of his knowledge of ſome of them in particular: and vindicated they were openly from all the lyes, and ſlaunders caſt upon them, and the maſter did he ſift and examine to the bottom throughly, and with impartiality, wherein he did nobly, according to Juſtice, and ſaid, God forbid, but they ſhould have their meetings in peace, and quietneſs, for he was not againſt them, nor ſhould ſuch be moleſted who met together to pray to God, and to edifie one another: And the Juſtices excuſed themſelves before the Generall, as to what the Goaler had ſaid of them, they ſhould ſay againſt the priſoners as aforeſaid at the Seſſions at Truro, and acknowledged the priſoners had been abuſed by the Goaler, and ſo had they by his belying of them, all of them, except Capt. Fox, Richard Lobb, and Thomas Gewen; denying what he had ſaid of them as aforeſaid: And when the priſoners anſwered it were much if they ſhould be ſo wicked, and the reaſon why they did not then reprove the Goaler, might be in regard the repreſentation of their ſufferings might not come to their view, becauſe Thomas Gewen receiving it, graſp't it up together and ſaid he would make mum of it, the Generall asked him whether that were ſo, and what he meant by mum? He ſaid he underſtood it was122 a Quakers letter, and ſo not to be taken notice of, (ſo that the ſufferings of the people, vvhom he calls Quakers, vvhom he divides from the Nation, and the protection of the Lavv, vvhich is contrary to the Lavv and Government of the Nation, be they vvhat they vvill, and their innocency, are not to be taken notice of, but to be laught at on the Bench as he did, vvhen being Judge of the Court, he had added to their oppreſſions contrary to Lavv as hath been ſaid, vvould he be content that ſuch meaſure ſhould be meaſured to him, and the people vvhom he ovvns? This is Thomas Gewen Recorder of Lanceſton, and his juſtice.) And the Generall ovvned his letter ſent in April before to the Goaler, to uſe the priſoners civily, vvhich they ſaid vvas a counterfeit, and he gave the Goaler a charge not to abuſe them, and ſhortly after ordered him to be turned out of his place: This juſt and even carriage of things by the Generall changed the face of Juſtices, Tovvn, & Countrey, ſo that even the enemies of the priſoners commended his ſearching out the matter, and doing the priſoners Juſtice, and much altered vvas it, from vvhat it vvas but even then, by reaſon of the former proceedings, and of the Judge at the Aſſizes tovvards the priſoners, vvho from that time found from them quietneſs and civill uſage: A vviſe King ſcattereth the vvicked, and bringeth the vvheele over them, ſaith Salomon, by the Spirit of the Lord, Prov. 20.26.
And in the cloſe of that day the Generall propounded to them the liberties of all the priſoners, upon condition if they would repair every one to their Homes, if the Lord permitted, to which they then anſwered to this purpoſe, that they ſtood in the will of God therein to be guided by his power, he bad them conſider of it till the next morning, and ſo they departed.
The next day an anſwer in writing was ſent and delivered to Generall Disborow from the priſoners to that his propoſition, as followeth.
WE which be in the power of God, the ruler of all, the upholder of all things, and dwell in his power, to it muſt be obedient, which brings us to ſtand out of all mens wills not limited. Now in caſe to ſay we will, if the Lord permit, in caſe to buy, and ſell and get gaine, which if the intent be ſo to do, may be deceit, but the caſe ſtanding in the power to do the will of God, ſtanding in the power to do his will, and to ſtand out of mans will, if he propound, he ſhall have his liberty if he will ſay he will go to his outward Being, if the Lord permit, if it be the will of God, and becauſe he cannot ſay thoſe words for ſuch a cauſe, ſhall not have his liberty, when he knows that the will of God is that he muſt go to, and ſpeak at ſome other place: ſo that here he cannot ſpeak theſe words true, for to ſay we will go to our outward habitation, if it be according to the will of God, when we know it is the will of God otherwiſe, now we cannot ſpeak ſo true, and clearly, neither can a man ſay ſo to him, that requireth it of him, who ſtands in the power, which knows the power of God, which leadeth him according to Gods will, and leadeth him to another place than that which is called his outward Home: But the Son of God hath no where to lay his head, who came to do the will of God, who doth the will of God: the Apoſtles and many of the followers of Chriſt had no certain dwelling place, now if theſe ſhould have been reſtrained, becauſe they would not ſay they would go to that which the world calls their outward homes, if it were the will of God, to ſatisfie that mind to ſpeak theſe words, and they know it is the will of God they ſhould not, and they could not doe the will of God in doing ſo; Abram could not do the will of God, but in going from his native, and who are of faith are of Abraham, of whom Chriſt came according to the fleſh. Now you may alleadge and ſay, this is to let all looſe, and liberty to idleneſs, no, ſuch as be in the power of God doe the will of God, come to receive his wiſedome by which all his creatures were created, by which to uſe them to his glory. This we ſhall ſay, who are moved of the Lord God of glory, and power to go to our outward beings, and habitations, ſuch may of us go to our outward Beings, and124 Homes to be diligent in ſerving the Lord God in their generation, diligently ſerving him in life, and doctrine, in manners and converſation in all things: And who are moved of the Lord to go to any other place which ſtands in his will, who are moved by the power of the Lord, which comprehends all things, which is not to be limited, we ſhall do his will, which we are commanded to do. So the Lord God open your underſtandings that you may now ſee this great power of the Lord, which is now manifeſting among his children in this his day, that you may not withſtand it. Our friends that are come to the power of God to him, & know him by whom the World was made, by whom all things were created, that were created, & there was not any thing made that was made, but what was made by him, & to him, & by him who is the power of God, who doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world. Now our friends being come to this light, which comes from Chriſt, and received power from him by whom all things were created, who hath all power both in Heaven and Earth, given to him who is the wiſedome of God, we having received wiſedome, and power from him, that with which the Lord doth give us to know, how to uſe, and order the creatures, to the glory of him, who is the creator of all things, ſo our friends are here taught of the Lord to be diligent ſerving him, who comes into the life that the Scriptures were given forth from, and of this we in all your conſciences have a witneſs, ſo if thou open the priſon door, we ſhall not ſtay there, if thou ſend a free liberate, we ſhall not ſtay in priſon, if thou will ſet us free, for Iſrael is to go out free, whoſe freedome is purchaſed by the power of God, and the blood of Jeſus, but going out of the power of God, he looſeth his freedome.
To theſe their anſwers the priſoners heard nothing till the next morning by Capt: Braddon, who ſending for ſome of them a litle after Generall Disborow was departed the town, ſignified, if they would engage as aforeſaid, and pay Fees, they125 might have a let paſſe to depart to their homes, but thereunto they could not conſent, and ſo returned to priſon.
The ſame propoſition of liberty upon engaging to goe to their ſeverall homes, if the Lord permit, was ſent to the priſoners at Exon, in anſwer whereunto they wrote Generall Disborow, as followeth.
We came into theſe parts ſtanding in the will and councell of the Lord, and it is our freedom where ever we are to ſtand in that councell, and if thou doſt ſet us at liberty in the outward, which ought to be done, we ſtand in the Councell of our God, if he lead us to our outward habitations, we are free to go, but if the Lord move any of us elſe where, we dare not to be diſobedient, for he is a conſuming fire to thoſe that are rebellious, and we ſtanding in the will, and councell of the Lord muſt follow the Lamb whether he goes.
And the priſoners of Lanceston ſignified in writing to Coll: Bennet, the unreſonableneſs of demanding of them to take a paſs upon neceſſity, when no ſuch thing is required of thoſe who have been charged with murder and fellony, or any ſuch thing found to be laid upon the Apoſtles in their travellings to preach Jeſus Chriſt, nor ought any ſuch thing to be exacted of the Innocent, for whom the Law is not made, but for the tranſgreſſor, and alſo of paying Fees, who had been ſo long detayned in priſon without being convicted of the breach of any Law of the Nation, who indeed no Law had tranſgreſſed, eſpecialy to ſuch a goaler under whom they had ſo ſuffered as aforeſaid, as they had given in their anſwer to the propoſition of liberty upon engaging to go to their reſpective homes, if the Lord permit.
But litle heard they in anſwer thereunto till the 29. of the 6. month, at which time Collonel Bennet came to the town, and ſent for Edward Pyott, and William Salt, and reaſoned with them concerning the propoſition, and let paſs, but obtaining nothing from them therein, but according to what they had wrote, unto which they ſtood unalterable, and that if they lay there ſeven years, at the end thereof, they ſhould find them the ſame men, he friendly parted from them, and ſome126 time after he and Capt. Braddon ſent for Edward Pyot, and William Salt, and freed them and the reſt of the priſoners, without condition of going to their homes, or let paſs, or any other thing whatſoever, ſaying that they would not preſs them to any engagement, which might be any offence to that of God in their conſcience.
Notwithſtanding the goaler (though he was preſent when the Juſtices thus freed the priſoners without conſideration of Fees, or otherwiſe, for Fees they had in their papers denied to pay) did not ſet them at liberty, and being demanded by them the reaſon, he ſaid, they were free by the Juſtices order, but he detayned them for their Fees; and ſo now they became the Goalers priſoners, as they had been before P. Ceelies, and the chief Juſtice Glyn's, who herein acted contrary to the Protectors Government, notſtithſtanding they put it under his name, and authority.
Of this they ſent Collonel Bennet information, but nothing in anſwer they received from him, till the 8. of the 7. month, the next morning after which being the 9. of the 7. month, he came to Lanceſton, and ſet them at liberty freely, without any condition whatſoever. And ſo as innocently they came out of priſon, as innocently they were put in.
After they were thus ſet at liberty free from any obligation, as they were caſt into priſon free of any offence, and during the time of their being detayned there free of any crime proved againſt them, William Salt, one of the late aforeſaid priſoners, went to Peter Ceelie, and deſired of him to reſtore the papers, and the Book againſt Popery (called by him ſcandalous) which he took from them, when he apprehended them, ſeeing nothing contayned in them, as the tranſgreſſion of any Law was proved againſt them, P. Ceely anſwered he had delivered them to Generall Disborow, and afterwards ſaid to Edw. Pyot, he had delivered them to the Judge, ſee whether any truth be in this man (or any credit to be given to what he ſaid) and gave W. Salt high language, and ſaid, he would know where he had been, and whether he came thither without a paſs? The next day, being the firſt day of the week as W. Salt127 was walking alone waiting on the Lord, P. Ceely, and Michael Vivian met him, as they were paſſing to the high place to worſhip, in the Parriſh called Guithion; and theſe very much urged him to come to their aſſembly, which P. Ceelie called the Communion of Saints, urging it again, and again, and asked him why he would walk there in the field, and not come to their meeting place, ſaying he might come, and hear, and then judge, he replyed he ſtood not in their wills, but if it were the will of the Lord to have him come thither, he ſhould do it. And afterwards being moved of the Lord he went, and when the Prieſt, one Tregoſſe a youth, one of P. Ceelies ſiſters ſons (as is ſaid) had done reading his notes, papers, and other ſervices, ſhaking his gold ring on his finger, and his broad cuffes on his hands, like a lad acting in a ſtage-play, W. Salt ſaid, he came not there to diſturbe them, but ſeeing they had done ſpeaking, he had a few words to ſpeak unto them, whereupon P. Ceelie, (who had ſaid to him, come, hear, and judge as aforeſaid) was offended, and his countenance fell, and became pale, and called for a Conſtable to take him away, which was forthwith done, and then P. Ceely paſſed a•ong with the young Prieſt, ſaying, ſuch things were not to be ſuffered, though what was done was againſt no Law, and was but what himſelf had ſaid, and urged him unto; and came directly to the houſe where he had ſet up his horſe, where he framed a warrant to ſend him to priſon without any examination, which when he had written, he gave to the Conſtable, requiring him to take W. Salt into cuſtodie, bidding him if he wanted mony to ſell W. Salts horſe to pay the charges, and to W. Salt he ſaid, he would warrant he now might lie long enough in priſon, (who after he had ſpoken to him to come there, to do as hath been ſaid, with his other friends afore mentioned, had layne two hundred, thirty and five dayes before in priſon upon occaſion of his commitment, and under the cruel ſufferings, from which he was but then at liberty, as hath been ſaid) and ſo went his way, and W. Salt was conveyed to Lanceſton, and delivered to the Goaler there in cuſtody, with a warrant, a copy whereof is as followeth.
I Send you here withall the body of W. Salt late of London, who came this day into the Congregation at Guithen, and there irreverently demeaned himſelf, in time of prayer keeping his Hat on, and at cloſe of the exerciſe, before the Miniſter came out of his pulpit, vilified him, and diſturbed the Congregation, contrary to the command of God, & Law of this Nation. Theſe are therefore in the name of his Highneſs the Lord Protector, to will and command you, that you take him into custody, and him ſafely to keep untill you he be thence delivered by due courſe of Law, and hereof fail you not as you will anſwer the contrary at your utmoſt perill.
Into the Congregation. W. Salt came, being moved of the Lord, to which Pet. Ceely, and his companion often urged him, as hath been ſaid, and now chargeth him with ſo doing.
There he ſtood in the reverence and fear of the Lord God, who regards not the prayers of the wicked, which are an abomination unto him, nor can his ſaints, who pray to him in ſpirit, and worſhip him in ſpirit, bow to ſuch, and modeſtly and mildly did he there demean himſelf.
Vilifie the vaine Lad whom he calls a Miniſter he did not, nor interrupt him (as they call it) but heard with ſilence, though he told the people a ſtorie of a Mule cloathed in a Lions skin, and then would tell them the Morall of it, when he was the Lion in the mules skin, as it afterwards appeared. The truth he ſpake, & the ſpeaking of truth is not vilifying. He exhorted the people to mind Chriſt the Biſhop of their ſouls, that him alone might be their teacher, where they would find reſt to their ſouls,129 and told them that he that made them, was come to teach them, and thoſe who come hither, need not go forth. This is what he ſaid, and this it ſeems is vilifying in P. Ceelies account, as he called the paper given forth by G. F. directing people to the way to Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt, only in the words of the Scriptures of truth, mentioned in the beginning of this treatiſe, ſinfull, and wicked, and tending to the diſturbance of the peace, and therefore committed them, under which they have ſuffered without mercy, as hath been expreſt, ſo let him who reads and underſtands, ſee what a profane perſon, and unheard of blaſphemer is this P. Ceely, and when W. Salt asked P. Ceely, whether that was to vilifie to bid people turn to the light, & ſo to Chriſt the true ſhepherd, from all the falſe Prophets, & blind guides, P. Ceely bad the people take notice. And in his warrant he ought to have expreſſed wherein he did vilifie him, in which he is ſilent.
And ſpeak he did not till the young Prieſt was gone out of his pulpit; ſo here is another lye under his hand and Seale.
Nor did he diſturbe the Congregation, for the people were very attentive to hear untill P. Ceely ſtirred them up to hale him out, ſo P. Ceely was the peace-breaker, as he hath ſhewn himſelf in this particular again a lyer, and one who in this whole action, and warrant hath acted contrary to the command of God, and the Law of this Nation, though he chargeth W. Salt. with both, which are two lyes more.
For, firſt, in obedience to the movings of the Lord he came thither; and at his command ſpake in the words of ſoberneſs, and truth as hath been ſaid: And the Apoſtle ſaith, ye may all Propheſie one by one, that all may learne, and all may be comforted; & if any thing be revealed to another that ſtands by, let the firſt, hold his peace, 1 Cor. 14.30.31. but P. Ceely in ſtopping W. Salts mouth, as he was ſpeaking ſomething, which to him was revealed, and which to ſpeak God had commanded him, and calling for a Conſtable to take him away, and taking him away, and committing him to priſon for ſo ſpeaking, hath acted againſt the command of God, and perſecuted him who130 the command of God obeyed, for being obedient thereu•to: as he hath alſo in affirming ſo many lyes in his warrant, as hath been inſtanced, there being not one true ſentence therein, nor were the things true which are alleadged therein, are they matter in Law wherefore to impriſon. Now God ordaineth his arrows againſt the PERSECUTORS, Pſal. 7.13. and the Devil is the father of lyes, who is a lyar from the beginning, and aboad not in the truth, and the lyar is for the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone, there to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels.
And for the Law of the Land, there is not the leaſt tittle thereof that W. Salt hath offended, no not Queen Maries, which was made to defend the Maſs Prieſts, and Jeſuits in time of their ſervice, for that guards ſuch, but whileſt the Prieſts are ſpeaking, and declaring; But on the contrary the Government Art. 37. ſaith, ſuch ſhall be not reſtrained from, but ſhall be protected in the profeſſion of their faith, and exerciſe of their Religion, who profeſs faith in God by Jeſus Chriſt; and that all may propheſie one by one, and if any thing be revealed to another that ſtands by, let the firſt hold his peace, is a true profeſſion of the true faith, and exerciſe of the true Religion, which the Saints profeſſed and exerciſed on record in the Scripture, and Paul commanded it, who was an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt not by man, nor the will of man, which P. Ceely•ath broken, as he hath the other Laws of the Nation, which have ſo carefully provided for the preſervation of a mans innocency, and the defence of his liberty. As he hath outſtripped the Jews, who ſaid to Paul and his Companions, men and Brethren, if ye have a word of exhortation to the people, ſay on, Acts 13.15.16. and all manner of honeſty, and juſtice, in urging a man to go to the aſſembly to hear, and then judge, and when he hath heard patiently till all was ended, and every one ſilent, then ſpeaking a few words of ſoberneſs, and truth, to ſtir up the people to hale him out, who before attentively heard him, to call to the Conſtable to take him away, to call ſuch words of truth vilifying, to ſay ſuch things were not to be ſuffered, to ſend him to priſon, with a warrant filled with lyes, & falſe accuſations, as there is non ſence in that paſſage (untill you he be thence delivered)131 to bid the Conſtable to ſell his horſe to bear the charge; And inſultingly to tell him when he had done all this, that he would warrant, he might now lye long enough in priſon, who by reaſon of him had ſtayd 235. dayes in priſon a little before, as hath been aforeſaid.
This is P. Ceely, and his communion of Saints, this is he, whoſe unparalleld wickedneſs is the burden of this relation, with whom it begins, with whom it ends; whoſe iniquity hath no end, whoſe rage hath no bound, whoſe cruel•y is without mercy; and whoſe inhumanity is without naturall affection; who is envious, malicious, proud, fiery, a boaſter, a blaſphemer, a filthy ſpeaker, a curſer, a ſcoffer, a reviler, a railer, a lyar, a perſecutor, an oppreſſor, a truce-breaker, a falſe accuſer, a deſpiſer of thoſe that are good, a traytor, heady, high-minded, cruell, implacable, unreaſonable; whoſe heart is as hard as the neather milſtone, whoſe conſcience is ſeared as with an hot Iron, whoſe forehead is as Braſs, and flint, and whoſe neck as of Iron ſinnews, impudent, hard hear•ed, who makes the laſt days perilous, who hath filled up a large meaſure of iniquity, as this very relation beareth witneſs, one who hath ſold himſelf to commit wickedneſs, who after the long, illegall, cruell, barbarous, monſtrous, cauſeleſſs, unheard of ſufferings of the innocent, occaſioned by him, as hath been ſaid, and much more which is paſt over in ſilence, contrary to the Law of God, and of man, civill and naturall, to modeſty, juſtice, reaſon, honeſty, and all humanity, as one not ſatiated therewith, ſtill ravening after the Blood of the Innocent, caſt's W. Salt into the ſame priſon again, within 6. dayes after his releaſe, from under t•e hand of his mercileſſe cruelty, and inſatiable bloodineſs, with ſuch treachery, fa•ſhood, and ungodlineſs, as hath been in part expreſſed, thus treaſuring up unto himſelf, after the hardneſſe, & impenitency of his heart, wrath unto the day of wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God; which ſhall deſtroy the adverſary, and render unto him, according to his deeds.
And all this is but part of what the Innocent ſervants of the Lord have ſuffered in the Goale of Lanceſton, in the County132 of Cornwall, and do yet ſuffer in the Goale of Exon in the County of Devon, where they are ſtill continued, though one of them be lately,(*)(*)Jane Ingram committed by John Champion Juſtice, ſo called, and recommitted by Judge N•cholas, one of the Fruits of the Order for the Guards, for which the Juſtice of the righteous God they muſt anſwer. dead, & divers others of them ſick, with the poyſonous naſtineſs of that filthy place, where they were caſt in heaps, together in and amongſt the fellons and murderers, firſt by the Juſtices, then by Judge Nicholas. And if any man aske wherefore is all this? It is anſwered, for none other cauſe, then for giving forth a paper in compaſſion to the ignorant, at the movings of the Lord, ſtirring them up to priſe their time, and ſhewing them the way to ſalvation in the words of the Scriptures of truth, as the paper it ſelf, at large in the beginning of this relation manifeſts, and for going to viſit the Innocent thus, and for this cauſe caſt into priſon, and under ſuch cruell ſufferings: is this England? are theſe the people that have gone through ſuch wars, which have made the world to ring for liberty of conſcience? Who talk ſo much of Chriſt, and his glorious Goſpell, and yet thus perſecute the life of the Son of God, now made manifeſt?
Not that our lives are in theſe things, is this written, but that every thing may be ſhewn, and laid in its own place.
But this is not all yet, this generation have yet to fill up the meaſure of their iniquity in this their hour, & the powers of darkneſs; they muſt yet ſhew themſelves to be more blind, and bru•tiſh, cruell, and unreaſonable than the generations whom they have ſucceeded, in perſecuting of the juſt; and to be ſuch as are as unſatiable as hell, whom the ſufferings and blood of the Innocent doth not ſuffice, or make them once to ſay it is enough; they muſt make it to appear that one and the ſame ſpirit of ravening and cruelty is in, and acts through the diverſities of painted formes of Godlineſs, without the power, and the glorious outſides of profeſſion without the life, as is in, and acts through the outwardly more dark; and filthy part of the world, againſt the truth of the living God, where it is made manifeſt; and that they, and them all are of the ſame ſtock lineage, and kindred, having all one Father, him who aboad not in the truth, the Devill, the murderous perſecutor133 of the ſeed of God throughout all ages from the beginning. Therefore the wiſedome of God ſent again ſome of his Innocent ſervants, who had long and ſorely ſuffered in, and were releaſed out of the Goale at Lanceſton, as hath been ſaid, into that County of Cornwall, to trie and prove this generation further, and to bring forth to the light what had layn hid in the bottome of the hearts of ſome under the cover, and ſhew of friendſhip, and ſence of their ſufferings. Which will appear when that which follows of the apprehenſion, and impriſonment of Joſeph Coale, one of the late priſoners aforeſaid by P. Ceely, and the return of him, and W. Salt from the Seſſions at Bodmin priſoners to Lanceſton by Collonel Bennet aforeſaid, who ſate Judge of the Court, and the carriage of Coll. Bennet towards them in the Court, and the paſſages there now to be rehearſed, as the cloſe of this relation; being added to what hath been but now ſaid of the impriſonment of W. Salt. by P. Ceely, ſhall together be conſidered with moderation, and weighed in judgement.
Joſeph Coale having been (after his impriſonment aforeſaid) to viſit ſome friends in Cornwall, as he vvas travelling peaceably on the vvay about the 30. of the 7. month, Peter Ceely met him, vvho envying to ſee him at liberty, and free of adverſity and bonds, out of his unſatiable cruelty, and murderous malice, for no other cauſe than for ſeeing of him travell quietly on the high-vvay, took him up, and ſent him from Conſtable to Conſtable to the cruell Goale at Lanceſton, from vvhence he had been but a fevv dayes before delivered, vvith a vvarrant as follovveth.
I Send you herewithall the body of Joſeph Coale late of Redding Clothier, who was lately a priſoner in your keeping for miſdemeanor, I have at this inſtant taken him upon the134 high-way, and cannot ſhew that he is enlarged from his reſtraint by due courſe of Law, but contrarywiſe ſtraggling up, and down the Country, having no calling, and refuſing to return to the place of his habitation, and ſpreads ſeverall papers up and down to the diſturbance of the people, begetting unlawfull aſſemblies, theſe are therefore in the name of his Highneſs the Lord Protector to require you to take him into your cuſtody, there to remain untill he be thence delivered by due courſe of Law. Hereof fail you not at your perils, given under my hand and ſoul at Camburne this 30. September 1656.
From Conſtable to Conſtable untill he be delivered unto the keeper of the Goale as above mentioned.
For miſdemeanor he was not a priſoner, but for going to Anthony Nichols Juſtice, and ſoberly deſiring to know of him whether the putting of his friend James Mynes, whom he came to viſit; into Doomſdale, and the barbarous uſage he there ſuſtained was by his order, ſuppoſing it rather to be the Goalers tyranny, than his command, who had ſent him thither a priſoner as aforeſaid, who therefore committed him to the ſame Goale alſo, where the Goaler caſt him into the ſame den, and with the ſame barbarous uſage intreated him as hath been ſaid, out of which he and his friend had been but a few dayes before delivered. — Nor did he ſtraggle up and down the Countrey, he was in his way, the high-way, upon his occaſions, which he well underſtood. — A calling he hath lawfull and good, and in the very beginning of this thy warrant thou haſt ſaid him to be a Clothier, and yet doſt not bluſh (in the ſame breath as it were) to ſay, having no calling, and ſo both to affirme agd deny one and the ſame thing under thy hand and ſeal in three or four lines compaſs. — Refuſe to return to the place of his habitation he did not. Hi•habitation is in God, who filleth all things, whoſe is the Earth, and the fulneſs thereof, their he was in135 his habitation, when he ſaw thee roving up and down in thy imaginations, compaſſing the Earth, having no habitation; Cain the vagabond, the fugitive, who built a City. In his habitation he was, in England his Country, his habitation, in any part of which to reſide, or be, he is borne free; And to his particular outward being in England, when the Lord-requires him thither, who commanded him to go forth from thence into theſe parts, its like he ſhall returne, which he refuſed not to thee to do, though in thy time and will, and at thy demand who haſt no authority ſo to require him he might, and doth refuſe to return thither. — Nor did he ſpread ſeverall papers tending to the diſturbance of the people, (thy lying invention was here ſo check't, that thou couldſt not extend it to the diſturbance of the peace, the true diſturbing of which, according as the Law declares it, not of the people, is matter of commitment in Law.) Thou art here charged to produce one, and to make one unlawfull aſſembly occaſioned by him to appear, who thou doſt charge with begetting unlawfull aſſemblies. And when theſe half dozen of thy lyes are returned to thy ſelf from whence they came, (for when thou ſpeakſt a lye thou ſpeakeſt of thy ſelf,) and thy lying pretence of his not being able to ſhew that he was enlarged from his reſtrai•t by due courſe of Law (when as contrary to Law he was impriſoned, and againſt the Law theſe barbarouſly uſed, and by authority was delivered vvithout promiſe, engagement, ſet paſs, Fees, or any other condition vvhatſoever, of vvich thou vvaſt not ignorant, and becauſe thereof vvaſt grieved) is ſent back into thy boſome; from vvhence it preceeded; vvhich makes up a ſeaventh, there remains in thy vvarrant, as the cauſe of his commitment, this particular only, (viz.) I have at this inſtant taken him on the high-way And this is the great crime, and the hainous offence, for vvhich thou doſt chayne him again under bonds in the very place, and under the ſame inhumane Goaler, vvhere and under vvhom he had, vvithout a cauſe, ſo long and ſo cruelly ſuffered. And ſo haſt thou m•nifeſted136 thy ſelf herein, to be a mercileſs, blood-thirſty, inſatiable tyrant, in this, as in thy lyes, and thy other wickedneſs mentioned in this relation, thou appeareſt to be one who art impudent, and hardned in iniquity, without ſhame, or bluſhing, having thy conſcience ſeared paſt feeling, ſealed up, and even ripe for judgement, which will cut thee off ere long, and divide thee thy portion with Hipocrites and Sinners; Therefore mind and take warning before it be too late. For in the day of thy calamitie, when the righteous judgements of God ſhall take hold on thee, this ſhallt thou remember, that thou haſt been warned, and that the long ſuffering of the Lord towards thee hath been great, which thou haſt deſpiſed, and his viſitation of love, and ſilent ſhalt thou be before thy Judge, When theſe things, ſhall riſe up in thee a worme that never dyeth, and a fire that ſhall never go out; Therefore, whilſt thou haſt yet time, conſider, and lay it to heart, leaſt thou ſay time is paſt, and thou periſh in thine iniquities; From the Lord God thou art warned, whoſe Witneſſe ſhall I be for him in the day he ſhall reward thee according to thy works.
Shortly after this commitment was the generall Quarter Seſſions of the peace for that County held at Bodmin, whither W. Salt (though the Gaoler had denied his carrying him thither for ten pounds) and Joſeph Coal were brought, whom to abuſe being there, P. Ceely (as the men ſayd themſelves) ſent Keale (who was the cauſe of the apprehenſion of G. Fox, E. Pyot, and W. Salt, as hath been ſaid) and two other rude fellows, who coming into the room where the Priſoners were the night before their triall, offered them many incivilities and abuſes, which occaſioned the following Repreſentation to be drawn by them, and for the Court, that thereof they might not be ignorant.
IT is recorded in the Scriptures of truth, that Paul, a ſervant of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the Tribe of Benjamin, when he was a Priſoner under the Romanes, that he was ſuffered to dwell by himſelf, and he dwelt in his own hired houſe, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the Kingdome of God, and teaching thoſe things that concerned the Lord Jeſus Chriſt with all confidence, no man forbidding him. And we do not reade that liberty of conſcience was one of the Fundamentals of the Roman Government, or that they had made proviſion by a Law for all that profeſſed faith in God by Jeſus Chriſt, to be protected, though they were different from the doctrine, diſcipline, and worſhip, as was then in being, and not to be compelled thereunto, but won by ſound doctrine, and the example of a good converſation, as the Government of this Nation hath provided, as in the 36. and 37. Articles of the Inſtrument of Government. Neither do we reade, that liberty of conſcience was held forth by them to be a natural right, that every man might claim: Yet they that did not make this proviſion, ſuffered the thing; for all that would come unto Paul, he ſpake boldly the things concerning the Kingdome of God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, no man forbidding him; which was far from ſending men to abuſe him, or make a ſport of him, or asking people that came to viſit him, whence they were, or what they would have there, or why they did not get them about their buſineſs, or why come they there to be ſeduced, as was done to us the laſt night, who are Priſoners for the eternal truth, as Paul was, and ſtand witneſſes for the Lord in our meaſures, as he did; yet we in our own Nation being Priſoners, who were cauſeleſly caſt into Priſon without the tranſgreſſion of any Law, and here to be brought in order to our trial, to hear what any man hath to138 accuſe us of, and in the face of the Authority of this Countie, even while you were ſitting, as we underſtand, to have three men come into our chamber to diſturb us, under a pretence to ſearch for papers, asking where the ſeditious papers were, and charging us of ſedition and blaſphemy, and having deſigns, and having a plot in hand, calling us Jeſuits, uſing other reproachfull words; and when we asked for their Warrant, or by what authority they came in to diſturb us, one of them, named James Sparnell, put his hand on his ſword, and ſaid, that was his Warrant; another of them was Keale, a Trooper under P. Ceely, who formerly falſly accuſed W. Salt unto him; and the third was one Davis, an Exciſeman, who it ſeems came along with them to make ſport, pointing at one, and asking whether he was not brought up at the Ʋniverſity, clapping Sparnell on the ſhoulder, ſetting him on to look after papers; whom we asked, whether he came to make ſport, who ſaid, yes, and ſtood mocking us, ſaying, yea, yea. And being unſatisfied, ſeeing their diſorder, we preſſed to know their authority, and they told us at length, that Major Ceely had ſent them: So all may ſee here, what the ſound doctrine is, and the example of a good converſation, that Peter Ceely hath to win others to be of his Religion, and what are the weapons he uſeth to defend his Religion. Now, Friends, you who are in place to eaſe the heavy burthens, and to take off every yoke, and to let the oppreſſed go free, and to reſtrain the rage of them who ſmite with the fiſt of wickedneſs; We lay theſe things upon you, for you to do us juſtice, that we may not be made a prey upon by men in their wills, and that the cauſe for which we are kept in reſtraint, and for which we at preſent ſuffer thus, may come to a hearing, according to the right and liberty of Engliſhmen, which is after your own Law, and not for any one man to be the Accuſer, Judge, and Condemner all at once, contrary to Law. From them who are now Priſoners for the Truth, that ſtand Witneſſes for the righteous God, againſt all deceit, ungodlineſs, and unrighteouſneſs of man whatſoever.
On that day, being the laſt day of their Seſſions, were they called into the Court, Colonel Bennet ſitting Judge, (who ſent his man to the Goaler, as they were coming into the Court, to bid the Goaler take off their hats.) Being brought before the Bench, no Accuſer came againſt them, nor Accuſation, nor was any thing found againſt them, nor did P. Ceely their Perſecutor, who had impriſoned them, appear, being (as was ſaid) on his departure out of Town. Nevertheleſs Colonel Bennet cauſed their Warrants of Commitment to be read, and ſought to pick what he could out of them againſt the Priſoners; who called for their Accuſers, but none appeared; and asked W. Salt what he had to ſay to this, and what he had to ſay to the other thing contained in the Warrant: He told him, he denyed it all, and that there was not one true thing in it. Which was ſo manifeſt, that even Juſtice Lance confeſſed openly in the Court, when he had heard that their ſervice was over at the Steeple-houſe, before W. Salt ſpake, and that W. Salt was invited into the Congregation, that he did believe he had no intention to diſturb them.
The Priſoners, after all that was or could be ſaid againſt them, appearing innocent men, having neither Accuſer produced againſt them, nor any thing mentioned in the Warrants of their commitment made to ſtick on them, or any other tranſgreſſion of the Law, might well have expected to have been ſet at liberty, as is the Law, eſpecially Colonel Bennet being Judge of the Court, who had diſ-owned their former ſufferings, and ſeemed very ſenſible thereof, and endeavoured to make General Disborow the ſame, and had appeared in the behalf of their liberty; by whoſe hand, and Captain Braddons, they, with the reſt of them their fellow-priſoners, were enlarged, without promiſe, or engagement, let paſs, or fees, or any other condition whatſoever, who had appeared ſo much for the liberties of the Nation throughout the Wars, and been in Arms for it; who pretended ſo much to liberty of Conſcience, and profeſſed that which for it had ſuffered perſecution; who pretended an expectation and belief of Chriſts ſudden coming on140 earth, to ſit on the Throne of Judgement, executing juſtice, and doing righteouſneſs: But contrariwiſe, he was the man, who ſeeing their innocency, and knowing that for very envy they were caſt into bonds, and delivered to him, nevertheleſs ſaid, That for ſatisfaction of the Countrey, and becauſe the times were dangerous, they muſt do their duty; and ſo propoſed to them a queſtion, which unleſs they would anſwer yea or nay to, he (who had known the paſſages aforeſaid of the propoſition of liberty, if they would promiſe to go to their homes, if the Lord permit, and the anſwers thereunto, and the papers ſent particularly to him thereabouts, and his reaſoning with them concerning it, and their opening to him the ground of their not ſo doing, and how that in conſcience they could not do it; and if they kept them ſeven years, the ſame men they ſhould finde them at the end thereof, and after all freeing them, ſaying, God forbid they ſhould preſs them to any thing which was againſt their conſcience, as hath been mentioned) even Colonel Bennet ſaid they muſt reſtrain them, unleſs they would anſwer yea or nay to that queſtion. A. To which they anſwered, We are peaceable men, and ſeek the peace of all men; when the Law is broken, ye may inflict the penalty.
But to a more poſitive anſwer they were preſſed, and therein Colonel Bennet was more forward than the reſt; and had away they were, and bid to conſider it.
Being called in again, Colonel Bennet ſeeing them coming with their Hats on, called out, Why do you let theſe men come in with their Hats on? And demanded of them, whether they would anſwer yea or nay to the queſtion. W. Salt asked him, whether according to their own Law they were not to be freed by proclamation, ſeeing there was none found to accuſe them; and whether they had kept them in Priſon to bring them forth to put an engagement upon them: but nothing of that he would hear. And W. Salt, after the Court had read, and heard what they had againſt them, deſired Colonel Bennet to hear him reade what he had in anſwer to P. Ceelyes VVarrant by which he was committed; and a Letter, which he had prepared for the Court, of the abuſes he had ſuſtained by the Goaler,141 and in Bodmin ſince they came in thither, Theſe papers Collonel Bennet called for from him, and inſtead of reading them in open Court, put them up in h•s Pocket, (as Thomas Gewen the Seſſions before at Truro, did the Repreſentation then given him, of them and the reſt of their then fellow priſoners cruell ſufferings by the Gaoler) ſaying he thought they had a fair hearing, and bid the Gaoler take them away. The priſoners called upon him to conſider and weigh things, but he roſe up out of the Court; and went his way, without cauſing the papers to be read, one of which was as followeth.
NOtwithſtanding by order of the Generall my ſelf and other my fellow priſoners were enlarged by the Justice, yet P. Ceely hath me again ſent to priſon; I having been with him to demand a Book againſt Popery, and other good notes and Books he took away from me and my friends, when he first apprehended us; and being on my way five miles on th••ſide Ives, travelling Eaſtward, intended to have gone along with my friends out of the Country, and ſtaying there, it being the firſt day of the week, P. Ceely meeting me and others with him, urged me much to come to their aſſembly, and ſaid I might come and hear, and then judge, afterwards being moved of the Lord I went, and they having all done, I told them I came not there to diſturbe them, but ſeeing they had done ſpeaking, I had a few words to ſpeak unto them, and this was according to P. Ceelyes words, who ſaid I might hear and then judge, who preſently bid the Constable take him away, and ſo went his way to make a Warrant, and without any further examination ſent me to priſon, as the encloſed herewith ſent doth more fully expreſs:142 And ſince I came to Lanceſton, the ſame Gaoler of whoſe miſcarriages you have formerly heard, indeavoured to make a prey upon me, when I was delivered up to them, of their own accord, being placed at a private houſe, the Gaoler came ſome few days after, and took me out thence, and put me into a victualling houſe, where he ſaid he would confine me, telling abroad that he had agreed with the man of the houſe to give ten ſhillings a week for a Chamber for me; and reported that it ſhould coſt me above forty pound before I came out of priſon, For when we had been among his Companions, as his manner is tipling and drinking, it ſeems then I was bought and ſold for mony, ſo to me he came in his authority full of Beer, to command me to go to ſuch a place where he would put me, having given out that if I did not like the place where he would put me, then I ſhould into Domeſdale; So, whether this fellow be at his own pleaſure to put me into Domeſdale, or is allowed to make a prey upon me, I ſhall leave with you, who are in place of authoritie to redreſs ſuch things, and to judge; And asking the Gaoler, whether I might not be heard at the Seſſions, ſeeing I was not committed for the breach of any Law, who ſaid he would not carry me thither, for I was to be delivhred by due courſe of Law, which he ſaid was meant the Aſſizes; Now I understood that what is done by your Court, is done by due courſe of Lavv, where pettie larcenie and ſuch like cauſes are heard and determined; and may not that which is under petty larceny, and leſs then that, be heard alſo by you, but muſt be referred to the Judge, of Aſſize? When as it is not criminall matter or wrong done to any one, that they have to charge againſt me, nor for acting contrary to the Law of the Nation, but onely queſtionings about words, P. Ceely ſaying I reviled, when he ſets not down what the revilings were, and to ſpeak truth to any man is not reviling, and that I ſtood Irreverently as he ſaith with my Hat on, when although my Hat was on, I stood reverently and in the fear of the Lord God, who is my witneſs, all that time: But if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of bonds or Impriſonment, I refuſe not to ſuffer, making it appear to be according to Law and juſtice, but143 if there be none of theſe things whereof I am accuſed can he proved againſt me, I deſire according to the Law I may be quitted, and n••be kept in durance, as I have been formerly, by the ſame man who with my other friends stood untill the Aſſizes, and when the Aſſizes came nothing was brought forth againſt me, nor my fellow priſoners, for which we were committed to priſon, and there had lain ſeverall weeks, as if we had been ſent to priſon onely to find ſome new matter whereof to accuſe us: how agreeable this is to the rights or liberties of Engliſh men, to ast thus one towards another, or whether this be Chriſtianlike, I leave to them who are come out of the raſhneſs, hardneſs, and perverſneſs into the ſobrietie, reaſonableneſs, and moderation to judge, and how contrary this is to the proceedings of former ages, I can produce ſome instances of Scripture even of thoſe whom the true God knew not, neither did they profeſs themſelves to be Chriſtians, Claudius Lyſias a Romane Captain, having reſcued Paul the Lords Priſoner, who contrary to the Law was abuſed by the rude multitude, him he therefore ſent to Felix, that according to the Law he might be judged, and gave Commandement alſo to his accuſers, to ſay before him what they had to ſay againſt him; and whether was not Lycias more courteous to Paul, and pitifull to preſerve him, that bid make ready ſo many Souldiers, and beaſts to ſet Paul on, to bring him ſafe to whom he ſent him, then P. Ceely was to me, who bid the Constable, if I had not money, take my beaſt and ſell him? Did not Lyſias outſtrip him here that calls himſelf a Christian, who would not do any thing diſhonourable as he was a Roman, who preſerved Paul from the men that laid wait for him, when as it hath appeared P. Ceely layd wait himſelf for me, bringing me into a ſnare, inviting me to come to his aſſembly, and there hear and then judge, and when I came and there ſpake, ſent me to priſon: And when Paul was brought to Felix the Governour, to whom Liſias had ſent him, he was not put preſently into Doomeſdale, or ſome other naſtie stinking hole among other priſoners, but untill his accuſers came was kept in Herods judgement hall; and afterwards the Governour commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have144 his libertie, and that he ſhould forbid none of his acquaintance to miniſter or come unto him; he did not ſet ſuch over him, that threatned if he did not pay for his liberty, he would double Iron him, or put him into the bottome of the pit, or chain him to a post, and arreſt ſuch as came to get proviſions to him, and ſue him at the Law to get damages against him; and Felix went further than this, when the Jevvs had gotten an Orator to plead for them, who having forged many things againſt him, which they could not prove, beckned to Paul for him to make anſvver, vvho ſpake to ſome things, and told the Governour ſuch and ſuch ought to have been there, for proof of what they had againſt him, vvhich vvhen Felix had heard, he deferred to give judgement againſt Paul; notwithstanding the high Prieſts and Elders from Jeruſalem came thither, deferring the buſineſs till Liſius, that ſent Paul thither, came down, that he might hear the uttermoſt of the malice: yet theſe men that acted this were ſuch, that our profeſſors in England call Heathen, but ſuch now as call themſelves Ievvs, and rest in their forms, and outward obſervations, making their boast of God, and the Scripture, to them I ſhall mention the Apoſtles queſtion, and leave it with them to anſwer; If the uncircumciſion keep the righteouſneſs of the Law, ſhall not his uncircumciſion be counted to him for circumciſion, and ſhall not circumciſion, which is by nature, if it fulfill the Law, judge thee, who by the Letter and Circumciſion doeſt tranſgreſs the Law? Afterwards. Feſtus another Roman Governour came into Felix room who likewiſe intreated Paul nobly, notwithſtanding he was esteemed of that ſect, which was every where ſpoken againſt, whom he called noble Feſtus, not becauſe he had finer cloaths on him than other men, and ſate in a ſeat above them, for ſuch was Herod the perſecutor, whom the Angell of the Lord ſmote, notwithſtanding he had ſo much eloquence to be admired at for his oration; but becauſe the high Prieſt and chief of the Ievvs, whom he did not ſo much reſpect becauſe of their greatneſs, nor ſcorn and deſpiſe the priſoner, who was but one, and had ſo many enemies to encounter withall, all which did not ſwerve him, nor turn him aſide from doing juſtice, though145 the Prieſts and chief of the Iews beſought him and deſired favour againſt Paul the priſoner that was in bonds, but all the chief Prieſts greatneſs, nor the reſt would not take place with him, to make him partiall, or reſpect perſons in judgement, but he told them vvhether he ſhould ſend Paul, where himſelf ſhould be ſhortly, where any that were able to accuſe him of any wickedneſs might go vvith him; Marke, accuſe him of any wickedneſs, not at all granting the high Priest, and chief of the Iews deſire to ſend him to Ieruſalem, who thought thereby to have had their purpoſe against him, either to have killed him in the way, or to have brought him vvithin their own juriſdiction, where themſelves, that were his accuſers, might have ſate as Iudges upon him and ſo have diſpatcht him quickly, having aſperſed him ſufficiently, before the former Governour Felix; yet all this took not place with Feſtus, though the Jews laid many and grievous complaints againſt Paul, which they could not prove, yet him he heard patiently, and this is the noble ſpirit, whereſoever it appears, that Paul did ſee to be in Feſtus, and notwithſtanding the Iews laboured ſo much to render him odious, yet he minded the doing juſtice, having not ſo much as an ear open, to what the Prieſts or the chief of the Iews could ſuggeſt unto him, and afterwards brought him out before Agripa and Bernice to whom he declared Pauls caſe, giving him an account of the paſſages, him, that ſate before in judgement on him, telling how the chief Prieſts and Elders of the Iews had informed againſt Paul, deſiring to have had judgement againſt him, which he aſſented not to, pleading being a Roman (he did not ſay a Christian, it was not their manner to deliver up a man, or give judgement againſt him, before he that vvas accuſed, had his accuſers face to face, and had licence to anſwer for himſelf, concerning the crimes layd againſt him, and when he ſaw that Pauls accuſers (though his accuſations were many and grievous) brought no accuſation of ſuch thing as he ſuppoſed, not being ſatisfied to bring the matter to an Iſſue, he leaves Paul to his choice to go to another, to whom he had appealed, that was in authoritie above him, and leaſt he ſhould wrong the Priſoner in laying any thing to his charge he had not done, for this cauſe he would have Agripa to hear him,146 telling that to him it did ſeem unreaſonable to ſend a priſoner, and not withall to ſignifie the crime laid against him, whom Agrippa ſlighted not, nor did not ſcorne, as looking upon himſelf above it, but deſired to hear him, and when he was brought out into the place of hearing, there Feſtus again ſpake in his behalf (which may be exemplary to thoſe who ſit Judges in Courts, and are of Councell for the Priſoner, to deale impartially, and not themſelves to be falſe accuſers) ſaying, King Agrippa, and all men here preſent with us, you ſee this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me about, both at Jeruſalem and here alſo, crying, that he ought not to live any longer, but when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himſelf had appealed to Auguſtus, I have determined to ſend him, of whom I have no certain matter to write, &c. whom when Agrippa had heard, he ſaw ſo little againſt him, that he declared openly, that almoſt he had perſwaded him to be a Christian, and when they were gon aſide, he told Feſtus he might have ſet him at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Ceſar. Now theſe men came not with prejudice and enmity lodging in their minds, they did not ſay they would warrant he ſhould lye long enough in priſon, to adde affliction to his bonds, becauſe he was not one of that ſect that every where was ſpoken againſt, but laboured to do him right, not to wrong him, to hear both ſides, and then themſelves to judge what they had heard, declaring boldly and nakedly like men of courage, notwithſtanding the high Prieſts and chief of the people) their thoughts concerning him, not paſſing ▪ judgement, or entertaining prejudice becauſe of the report they had heard of him, and this was manly and of a good report, to keep themſelves clear; And when he came to Rome, they d•d not put him into the Common Gaole among other Priſoners, or commit him to a man to make a prey upon him, to put him where he ſhould ſpend moſt mony; or elſe be put into Doomeſale, but when the Centurion delivered up his Priſoners to the Captaine of the guard, Paul was ſuffered to dwell by himſelf, he dwelt147 two years in his own hired houſe, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom, and teaching thoſe things which concerne the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, withall confidence, no man forbidding him; Now we do not read that liberty of Conſcience was one of the Fundamentalls of the Roman Gevernment, yet they ſuffered it; none not ſo much forbidding any to come to the Apostle, which was far from making laws againſt them that viſit priſoners, men for viſiting their friends to be taken up and put in priſon for it: Again, you that be men in authority to do juſtice between man and man, and to execute the Laws, this would I know of you, whether a law once made and afterwards repealed, be again of any force yea or nay? or whether the priviledges of the law extend to any but thoſe whom the law qualifies thereunto, and makes capable thereof? whether then by the Act of 1. Eliz. Cap. 2. last clauſe, that of the 1. of Mary be not repealed, which ſaith, all Laws, Statutes, and Ordinances, wherein or whereby any other ſervices, adminiſtration of Sacraments, or Common Prayer, is limited, eſtabliſhed, or ſet forth to be uſed, &c. ſhall be henceforth void and of none effect? and that of the 1. of Mary is for the eſtabliſhing of the Maſs and all Popiſh ſervices: and whether Nicholas Hide when chief Juſtice of England, gave not his judgement that it was wholly repealed? And if Queen Maries law be repealed, what Prieſts are they that flye for refuge to it, to uphold their Ministry now? Or is it reaſonable to put men in priſon, as many have been, and ſome are, and there be kept when they have nothing to plead for their ſo doing but that law? And whether the Prieſts now claiming the priviledge of Queen Maries law, made for the defence of the Jeſuits and Priests in the excerciſe of the Popiſh and Idolatrous worſhip and ſervices, againſt the ſervants of the Lord many of which then ſuffered Impriſonment, and ſome in flames of fire, for witneſſing againſt them then, do not manifeſtly declare themſelves to be no Ministers of Jeſus Chriſt? And whether theſe are otherwiſe to be accounted of then ſuch by which that law was made, that flye to it to guard them? If the whole body of Popery be removed, whether then that law be not alſo null and void, ſeeing the effect ceaſeth with the cauſe? whether he that hath the law hath not the ſupremacie, and ſo whether he148 that hath the Popiſh Law to guard him, have not the ſupremacie of the Pope to guard him? And why is not the oath of abjuration to be tendred to ſuch Prieſts, if the intent of it be to extirpate Popery rather than unto them who have both declared and writ againſt Popery publickly, and all them that are in the likeneſſes, imitations, and traditionall invention•, out of the power of God? So you all being kept in the dread and fear of the Lord God, no unjuſt thing will proceed from you, your hearts will be tender, there will be a loving of mercy, and doing of justice both, and here you come to anſwer the end of Magistracie, a terror to the evill doer, and a pra ſe to them that do well, rightly qualified, men fearing God, ruling others in the fear of God men of truth to find out the truth, and judge down the deceit, not covetous, nor given to filthy lucre, for that blinds the eye of the wiſe; ſuch were them that were Judges at the firſt, and Councellors at the beginning, and when the droſs is taken away ſuch ſhall be reſtored again, according as the Lord hath promiſed; Now ye all coming to the light, by it to be led which comes from Christ the light of the world, who enlighteth every man that cometh into the world, who was given for a witneſs to the people, a leader and commander to the people, the light which you have received from him, you following and obeying it, you come under his command and leading, this will bring you to ſ•e the foundation of many generations raiſed up and here the restauration will come to be witneſſed, for the law of the Lord reſtoreth the ſoul, and the law is light; he that hath an ear to hear let him hear. From one who is a lover of all ſouls, truth, righteouſneſs, and peace, who waits for the eſtabliſhing of it, and againſt all injustice, cruelty, envy, and oppreſſion, now stands a witneſs in outward bonds.
The next morning the Priſoners wro e to Collonel Bennet, concerning his proceedings with them, and ſent it to him before he was departed the town as followeth.
THou haſt denyed to hear my papers in open Court, (as thou didſt thoſe that were againſt us) either concerning the wrong I ſuſtained from P. Ceely, or the Gaoler, or the abuſes we received from thoſe whom P. Ceely ſent, ſince we came into this town, ſo that we are on all ſides wronged, and none we have found hath the courage, or that will appeare to right us; inſtead of righting us, thou thy ſelf haſt propoſed a queſtion to us, which unleſſe we anſwer yea, or nay, thou ſaiſt we again muſt go to priſon; but what ſattisfaction or redreſſe is there made us for being wronged? we gave a cleare and full anſwer in the Court to the ſatisfaction of all, forasmuch as we could perceive, beſides thy ſelf in the Court; and when we had ſpoken the words, thou thy ſelf hadſt little to except, onely didſt ſay it was ſomewhat darkely, as was thy own expreſſion, yet thou denyedſt our friend, Humphery Lower, to let us have our libertie, unleſs we would make a promiſe; Now promiſes or engagements we do utterly deny to make to any man whatſoever, neither can we enter into engagements with any man; for we are come to him who is the Covenant, to Jeſus Chriſt the light of the World, who was given for a Covenant to the people, a Light to the Gentiles; So that Covenants with Death we cannot make, neither are we at an agreement with it, nor have we fellowſhip with the dead and unfruitfull workes of darkneſs, but are bid to reprove them; for that peace which the world lives in, we cannot have unity with, that live in the earthly mind, in the ſubtilty, in the deceipt, out of the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt; for that is corrupt, who are Enemies to the Croſs of Chriſt, whoſe God is their belly, whoſe glory is their ſhame, who mind earthly things; and the peace we ſeek of all, that they may be brought to the light, to Chriſt the King of Righteouſneſs, the King of Peace, out of all the unrighteouſneſs; Peace we wiſh unto all ▪ and are indeavouring to bring men out of the strife, out of the contention, unto the light, and ſo to Chriſt, from under the power of the150 Magiſtrates ſword, that in him they may finde reſt to their ſouls; but peace with them; who are out of the Covenant of God, we cannot preach, nor we cannot with them make; for that were the way to bring us out of the Covenant with Chriſt, who is our light and life, into covenant with man, who is in the ſtrife, in the luſt, in the envy, out of Gods Covenant. Iſrael in Covenant with God were out of Covenant with other Nations, who were Strangers to this Covenant. There was a time when we were Strangers from the Covenant of promiſe, and without God in the world, and then it was a light thing for us to ſay or unſay: but now we dare not do it, for Condemnation will take hold upon the Tranſgreſſor; and mens wills we ſeek not to do, but the will of him who hath called us out of darkneſs into light, by which the very appearance of evil is denyed by us. Joſuah, through the wiles of the Gibeonites, was led into a ſnare; and we ſee it clearly, this thing will be a ſnare unto us; for two or three have been already with us, wilde, heady, raſh fellows, who would quickly ſignifie, once we declaring againſt them, that we had broken their peace, which is but the peace of the wicked; and ſuch a thing would eaſily ſwear, that we were diſturbers of the peace, for reproving iniquity, and ſo thereby make our ſelves their prey; Which we lay upon thee ſeriouſly to conſider and weigh; and whether to accompliſh this thing, be the way to do us juſtice.
Notwithſtanding he did nothing as to their liberty; but the two Goalers, Coales and Squire, he ſent to them, as he had often before, to have their anſwer to his queſtion, yea or nay; and the ſaid Squire ſaid, he would warrant he would make them promiſe: He told him, (as it is ſaid) if he did, he ſhould be a brave fellow. But when Squire ſaw he could prevail nothing with the Priſoners, though he was with them many times, he tendred himſelf to be Surety for them, and ſaid he would get another to be Surety with him: but that they denyed, and ſent to him to have nothing to do with that accurſed thing,151 for that they could neither make promiſe, nor be brought under bonds and engagements themſelves; neither would they that any ſhould do it for them, and to do ſo both in word and writing they denyed.
And ſo they were remanded to Lanceſton Priſoners, being thus returned in the Kalendar:
For thoſe who live and behave themſelves peaceably in the Countrey where they be, and both in life and doctrine preach and preſs unto peace, and to the bringing of people out of ſtrife, and the occaſion thereof, into peace; who reſiſt not evil, but bear and endure patiently in their bodyes all manner of abuſes, and cruel uſages, without lifting up the voyce, or ſeeking deliverance, committing it to him who judgeth righteouſly, and rewardeth every man according to his doings: for ſuch as theſe to be required to promiſe to be peaceable men, and not to diſturb the Countrey, who of any ſuch thing were never convinced, as they are not guilty, but on the contrary, as hath been ſaid.
And becauſe ſuch cannot in their own, nor in the time and will of man, promiſe what they will do for the future, nor make engagements nor covenants with death, nor be at agreement with hell, ſo as not to reprove and teſtifie againſt the deeds of darkneſs, (which to reprove and teſtifie againſt in this high profeſſing age, wherein iniquity abounds more than hath been known in former generations, is accounted a diſturbing of the peace, and an unquiet behaviour; for the preventing whereof, and that Iniquity may have its ſwing, and revel it without contradiction, are theſe new engagements invented by the powers of darkneſs) and for that they cannot by making ſuch promiſes, wrong their innocency. To be therefore152 impriſoned, returned to Priſon, who by impriſonment had ſo wrongfully ſuffered, and out of it ought to have been delivered, as is the Law, and into the hands of that cruel Goaler to be caſt, who made them ſo to ſuffer, as hath been aforeſaid, out of whoſe cruelty they had been but a little before delivered, and to have a manifeſt lye recorded as their offence, viz. for refuſing to behave themſelves peaceably whil'ſt they be in the Countrey, who neither had misbehaved themſelves unpeaceably, nor refuſed peaceably to behave themſelves: But to the queſtion anſwered, we are peaceable men, and ſeek the peace of all men; where the Law is broken, ye may inflict the penalty; is ſo abominably unjuſt, cruel, and tyrannical, as thoſe who are called Heathens would have bluſh'd thereat; nor have the Records of the former generations afforded of it a parallel.
Poor Colonel Bennet, how is the day of the Lord come upon thee? How are all thy coverings ripped off? Thy hidden things, how are they ſearched out? Stripped how art thou, and naked and bare how haſt thou made thy ſelf? How is thy Sepulcher opened, and in thee how is there found the ſame ſpirit that ruleth in P. Ceely, T. Gewen, and the Goaler aforeſaid, even the ſame ſpirit that ruleth in the children of diſobedience, which hath oppreſſed and perſecuted the ſeed of God from the beginning? O how art thou blinded, and thy later end worſe than thy beginning? How hath the Spirit of the Lord ſtrove with thee, and ſought to ſave thee from the untoward generation? How hath he in thee raiſed up his Witneſs to teſtifie in the behalf of his innocent ſuffering ſervants, and to the making of thee in ſome ſort ſerviceable for their deliverance, which now teſtifies againſt thee, doing the ſame things, and is thy condemnation? What warnings haſt thou had? What ſeekings to cover thee hath there been, that thy nakedneſs might not have appeared, and ſo men might not have not ſeen thy ſhame? But thy heart hath been divided, therefore thou haſt not proſpered; thou haſt been unſtable as water,153 therefore thou haſt not excelled; thine own ſhame haſt thou brought forth, and inexcuſable art thou, O man, for that thou haſt done the ſame things againſt the Innocent, for which thou judgedſt and reprovedſt others, and didſt the contrary, and therein haſt given ſentence againſt thy ſelf. Thy profeſſion is at an end; all that thou haſt done and ſuffered for liberty, for liberty of Conſcience, and the Nation, thou haſt ſpilt upon the ground, it riſeth up in thy face, and thee doth judge; and amongſt the oppreſſers and perſecuters art thou found, even in their ſpirit, whom thou haſt fought againſt, againſt whom God hath ordained his arrows. Turn thee to the light, which will ſhew thee what thou haſt done, and how contrary thy actions have been each to other, and how thou art taken in an evil ſnare, for ſo hath the day of the Lord been upon thee, which he hath made manifeſt, and brought the ſecret head in the bottome of thy deceitfull heart to light, and left thee to record thy folly and ſhame to future, generations. And tremble thou before the Lord in this hour of his righteous judgements, who ſearcheth the heart, and tryeth the reins, and rendreth to every one according to their deeds; and be not as thoſe who will know no ſhame, leſt the hand of the Lord be ſtretched forth to harden thee, and cut thee off for ever: And talk no more of the Scriptures, nor of what was the life of the Saints, and holy men of God, nor of the Kingdome of Chriſt, nor of liberty, till to that thou art turned and ruled by, even the light, the life which comes from Chriſt, which is in Chriſt, unto which they were turned, in which they abode, and by which they were guided, who oppreſſed none, nor perſecuted, but were perſecuted and oppreſſed by thoſe in whom the ſpirit that is in the world ruled; who haſt oppreſſed the innocent, and perſecuted the ſame life in154 theſe, which ruled in the holy men of God, which life the world ever perſecuted, and put to death the Son of God, who is the light of the world, the light and life of men, the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, who is come to reign and rule for ever, thouſands in this Nation witneſs him ſo to be, eternal living praiſes be to him for evermore, who will deſtroy the Oppreſſor, and none ſhall hurt in his holy Mountain. Therefore ſay thy mouth unto the duſt, and be thou aſhamed, yea, be thou confounded, and turn to him againſt whom thou haſt kicked, if ſo be there may be hope, and a healing of thine errour: then thou wilt ſee love in this, and contentedly wilt thou bear the ſhame of thine iniquity; and the unworthieſt of all, yea one not worthy to be counted a Saint, wilt thou then reckon thy ſelf to be, becauſe thou haſt perſecuted the Church of God. In love unto thy ſoul are theſe things wrote, and a warning from the Lord God is this unto thee, and his voyce is unto thee to turn at his reproof, and to thee his viſitation of love it is: therefore minde and conſider; which if thou do not, a witneſs for the Lord God ſhall I be eternally againſt thee: and if thou thinkeſt theſe things too hard, look into thy actions, and now in the cool of the the day, and with the light of Jeſus Chriſt ſearch thy ſelf, and with it do thou, and let all that are ſober, ſee, and judge, whether it be any more than the reward of thine own hands which is given thee, right meaſure, and juſt weight, which every one muſt receive at the hands of the Lord. And if thou haſt yet to ſay wherefore am I made publick? Thou haſt ſpread the tent of thy iniquity upon the houſe top, and committed thy lewdneſs before the Sun, on the Seat of Judgement, there haſt thou done unrighteouſly, and oppreſſed the Innocent, whom thou hadſt helped, who155 now had no helper; and therefore openly art thou reproved, who haſt ſinned openly, who alſo haſt had many private admonitions. And conſtrained haſt thou this Relation to end with thee, which began with P. Ceely, and would have ended with him, but that thou haſt put to thy ſhoulder, which is a lamentation.
MArgret Killam being come to Plymouth the 19. day of the 10. month 1655. was**Her coming and ſpeaking to Chriſto: Ceely in his houſe the word of the Lord, as ſhe was moved, which he acknowledged to her to be very good and truth, is the occaſion of her inhumane, and barbarous ſufferings, hereafter mentioned. moved of the Lord to ſpeak to the Mayor of Plymouth, and taking Margery Dier, of the ſame Town with her, ſhe went to the Mayors houſe (whoſe name is Chriſtopher Ceely) of whoſe being within having underſtood by the officer that waited at the door, ſhe ſent in to the Mayor that ſhe deſired to ſpeak with him; after a little time, the Mayor came to her to the door, ſhe told him ſhe had a word from the Lord to ſpeak to him, he bad her come in, and ſo ſhe declared to him what ſhe had to ſpeak from the Lord. He confeſſed it was very good, and truth, but commanded the Conſtable, which he had ſent for, to carry her to priſon; her friend demanded what tranſgreſſion ſhe had committed, no anſwer he made, but158 to priſon ſhe was brought, and ſhe, and their friend there lock't up together.
About two hours after, the Mayor, and John Page (who was Mayor the year before, in which he cruelly perſecuted Miles**See the book of Miles Halh••ds, and Tho. Salthouſe ſufferings, entituled The wounds of an enemy in the houſe of a friend. Halhead, and Thomas Salthouſe, as is manifeſt in the relation thereof, entituled, The wounds of an enemy in the houſe of a friend, &c.) and the Town-Clerk (who ſtirred up and carried on that perſecution) came to examine her, and demanded her name, and the place from whence ſhe came: both which ſhe declaring, the Mayor roſe up in much fury, and threatned to ſend her away with a paſs, from tithing to tithing, and to make a ring of her through the Country; and if ſhe came again, he threatned to ſend her away with a whip; and of her he demanded a paſs, and an account of her coming thither: ſhe anſwered, that in obedience to the Lord ſhe came thither, and to declare to him the truth; and that he ſhould know of a truth, that the Lord had ſent a Prophet to warn him; and of him ſhe demanded to ſhew a Law that ſhe had tranſgreſſed; and how he would prove her a vagabond, who did not beg, and asked him whether he was not partiall in judgement, in examining her, and whether he did examine every one that paſſed through that Town, for a paſs, yea, or nay; He replyed,**Who will may paſs the Town of Plymouth without examination, but all thoſe who come in the name of the Lord, Chriſtopher Ceely ſaith he will examine. that all that came in the name of the Lord he would examine, and becauſe ſhe refuſed to tell him again; what her name was (for that ſhe ſaw he demanded it to enſnare her with a paſs,) he roſe up in a fury, and ordered her to priſon, and that none ſhould come at her, and went his way, without convincing her of the leaſt bre•ch of any Law.
After ſhe had been there about three or four dayes, John Page aforeſaid, and the Town Clerk came to her again, ſaying the Mayor had ſent them to examine her, and demanded again her name, and her husbands name, which was told them; then the place from whence ſhe came; ſhe ſaid ſhe had told them it once already, but had ſaid ſhe ſhould not tell them again, which if ſhe ſhould do, having ſo ſaid, ſhe ſhould tell them a lye, ſo they departed.
159On the 25. of the 10. month, the Mayor ſent for Edw. Dyer of Plymouth, and asked of him whether he would be bound that ſhe ſhould anſwer at Exon Aſſizes, for that ſhe had refuſed to be examined (which was a notorious lye, for ſhe ſubmitted to examination, and was examined by them, as hath been ſaid.) He replyed, he would be bound for her appearing, and for her anſwering what ſhould be laid againſt her: then the Mayor ſaid, he muſt be bound for her good behaviour. He anſwered he knew of no good behaviour ſhe had broken; She refuſeth to be examined, ſaid the Mayor, and to give in her name. He replyed, ſhe told her name: the Mayor anſwered, the truth is ſhe did declare her name, but I, ſaid he, have forgot it, (and indeed he was in ſuch a rage when he examined her, that he remembred not what it was, though ſhe told him; and yet this he would make in her a misbehaviour, and for it requires ſureties.) He replyed, he would be bound ſhe ſhould not be drunk, nor beg, borrow, ſteal, play the whore, nor offer violence or wrong to any, (which is matter for the requiring ſureties for the good behaviour in the Law, but to this generation, declaring againſt ſuch things, is accounted ill behaviour, and for ſo declaring, ſureties for the good behaviour they require, ſo the Law, and judgement is turned backward,) the Mayor bid him go to the Town-Clerk, and what he did he would allow of. The Town-Clerk would have him be bound for her good behaviour; he refuſed to do otherwiſe than he had ſaid to the Mayor, the Mayor having declared, as hath been ſaid, that ſhe had misbehaved her ſelf in refuſing to be examined, (which ſhe did not) and to give her name, (which he confeſſed ſhe did) and that he had forgot it. Yet the Mayor ſaid again, he would take no ſecurity unleſs he would be bound for her good behaviour; he anſwered again, he knew not what they meant by the ill behaviour, for in the Biſhops days, when people met together in the fear of the Lord, it was accounted a conventicle, and a breach of the good behaviour, and that ſince on the ſame account doors had been broken open by the rude multitude in Plymouth; as he the ſaid Mayor well knew (for indeed, it was done in the160 time of his former Mayoraltie in the year 1645. as hath been inſtanced in the former relation,) then John Martingdale of Plymouth being with Edw. Dyer, asked the Mayor what they would call the ill behaviour, the Mayor replyed, what the Juſtices ſhould judge to be the ill behaviour, was ill behaviour, (ſo the Law, it ſeems by his reckoning, is not, but the breaſts of the Juſtices, the rule of behaviour, who (after this rate) may make what they will a misbehaviour, and ſo what innocent man can be free, if they have a mind to make him an offender? and to their luſts in this kind how wicked, and unreaſonable ſo ever if he will not ſubmit, and ſubſcribe himſelf a tranſgreſſor, who is innocent, the penalty of the Law in caſe of that which it ſaith is indeed misbehaviour, muſt be inflicted on him, as if he had broken the Law; and ſo their luſts preſcribe the Law, and the Law of the Nation muſt ſerve for the puniſhment of the tranſgreſſion of their luſts, as of the Law;) further he asked him, whether to ſay thee, and thou; which was Scripture language, was a breach of the good behaviour; to this the Mayor anſwered not: but ſome that ſtood by ſaid it was: he alſo told the Mayor that he knew the place from whence ſhe came, and that ſhe was no wanderer, and was well known to many in Plymouth beſides himſelf, but the Mayor would not hear him; ſo the diſcourſe broke off, and ended.
But on the 27. of the 10. month, a Conſtable, and another man with him came to her; and bad her provide to go with them; ſhe ſpake to them to ſhew her their order. They ſaid they would not: ſhe ſaid ſhe was not free to depart thence till ſhe ſaw the order; they denyed her again; and haled her forth of the room, & through the ſtreet, which when they had done, and drawn her a pretty ſpace out of the Town, ſhe demanded of them to ſhevv by vvhat order they did it, or vvhether they had a paſs, othervviſe ſhe was free to go no further. Hereupon the Conſtable pulled out a paper, ſhe bad him let her hear vvhat vvas in it, he ſaid ſhe ſhould not; ſo ſhe returned back into the Tovvn, into vvhich being come, the Conſtable brought her to the Mayor again; vvho upon ſeeing her vvaxed vvroth,161 and his countenance changed, and he ſaid, muſt he ſtill be troubled with her? would ſhe not be bound to the good behaviour, nor nothing? She anſwered him, ſhe was bound to the good behaviour by the Law of God, and asked him wherein ſhe had misbehaved her ſelf in word or action, and what Law ſhe had tranſgreſſed; and ſaid, that if ſhe had tranſgreſſed any Law, ſhe was willing to ſuffer by it: but he anſwered her not a word. She asked him why he dealt ſo with her, and demanded to hear her Paſs, that ſhe might know whither he meant to ſend her, ſeeing they had declared they knew not the place from whence ſhe came; he ſaid, ſhe ſhould not hear it; and bid her depart out of his houſe, and commanded the Conſtable to have her out of the Town: ſo the Conſtable charged a man to aid him, who laid hands on her, uſing her with violence, and much rudeneſs. But a woman ſpeaking to him in the fear of the Lord, he let go his hold, and would have no further to do with her: whereupon the Conſtable ſaid, he knew not what to do with her; but the Mayor commanded to put her in Priſon.
Whereinto being brought again, the Mayor, and two or three more, came into the Hall, and conſulted together, but ſpake not to her, and ſo went out at the door, where were many Friends waiting, who were not permitted to come in to her; of which ſome of them ſpake to him, and that they might have liberty to ſee her. But inſtead of anſwering their equal, and juſt, and legal deſire, he, being filled with rage, laid violent hands on Margaret Reſtbridge, and puſh'd her from him down the ſtairs, which had endangered her life, ſhe being an old woman, but that many Friends being there, the preſs of them kept her from falling above two or three ſteps. And others of them he threatned with the Clink, and the door by command was opened to put them thereinto, for but deſiring leave to ſee her, and command he gave that none ſhould come at her, and cauſed her to be k•pt ſo two dayes and a night in a wide room without a fire, in that ſeaſon, which was very cold and bitter weather; out of which ſhe was put into a room, and fire permitted her, upon the ſpeaking of one to the Mayor162 againſt his cruelty therein, he being moved of the Lord ſo to ſpeak.
On the 31. of the 10. month, the Mayor, Juſtice Vowell, (who was Judge of the Court at the Seſſions at Exon, before whom ſhe was afterwards brought, with others called Juſtices, being met, ſent for her down into the Court, and demand they did her name, and her husbands name, and the place of their habitation, which ſhe refuſed to give them, having given it before to them, and her Friend having given it alſo, (the Mayor confeſſing the one, but not caring to hear the other, as hath been ſaid) having before declared ſhe ſhould not give it them again, becauſe ſhe ſaw they thereby ſought to ſend her away with a Paſs, as a Vagabond, which ſhe was not; and which by the Law they could not do, unleſs ſhe had been taken begging, and her name and place of habitation in the Paſs expreſſed: but content ſhe was to ſubmit to the will of God, as to what power they had to do with her; and ſo they returned her again to Priſon.
A few dayes after, viz. on the third day of the 11. month, between the ninth and tenth hour at night, came a Sergeant, and would have her open her chamber door; but it being ſo late in the night, and ſhe alone, ſhe told him ſhe was not free to open her chamber door; ſo he bid her prepare to be going to Exeter Priſon at ſix of the clock the next morning; and about four of the clock the next morning came the Conſtable, and ſome others with him, and bid her open the door, which ſhe was not free to do, being alone, as hath been ſaid, and it being two hours to the day: but ſuch was the immodeſty and unreaſonableneſs of the Officer, that he called for a Smith, and broke open her chamber door at ſuch an unſeaſonable and unlawfull hour, and haled her out of the room through the ſtreet to a ſtable, where was a Carriers horſes, and kept the ſtable door faſt, refuſing to let her Friends come in to her, who hearing of the violence, and inhumane dealing with her, came to ſee her before her departure; and on them out of the ſtable did they caſt water. She demanded of the Officers, wherefore they dealt ſo with her, or whether they had a Mittimus? They refuſed163 to ſhew it her, but ſaid, they would have her away; and becauſe ſhe was not free to get up on horſeback her ſelf, unleſs they would ſhew her a Mittimus, or by what Authority they uſed her after that manner, they put a rope about her, with which they load their packs, and with it at a pully twitcht her on the Horſes back ▪ and bound her arms behind her, and tyed her feet under the Horſes belly with cords, and ſo drove the Horſe, and her on it as a pack, yea even as if ſhe had been a Creature without life, ſenſe or feeling, for the ſpace of ten miles, bound with ropes after the manner aforeſaid, (ſuch an unmanly piece of ſalvage bruitiſhneſs, and inhumane cruelty, eſpecially to an innocent woman, tenderly bred, and of a conſiderable eſtate, as to the outward, hath not been heard of in this Nation, but is the monſtrous and unnatural fruit of the Government of Plymouth, and of Christopher Ceely the Mayor thereof in particular, by whom the Witneſſes of the Lord have cruelly ſuffered, as hath been, and is yet to be mentioned. Are theſe Chriſtians? Or are theſe Men? Would not the worſt of Heathens have bluſh'd at the very relation of ſuch barbarous inhumanity? Nor have they left behind them on record (ſo far as is remembred) ſuch a noyſome ſmell to poſterity. But it is Plymouth, it is England, that leaves theſe filthy ſtinks to future ages, which is a lamentation.) After which, he that drove her having ſatiated his cruelty over which ſhe bore, and had dominion, he looſened her cords, and told her he had a Mittimus to carry her to Exeter Goal, unto which he brought her, and there was committed a Priſoner till the general Seſſions of that County.
Before whom being brought, many untruths (which the Mayor of Plymouth had ſent againſt her) were read, but not one witneſs appeared to convince her of the tranſgreſſion of any one Law of the Nation; nor would Juſtice Wowell (who was Judge of the Court, who had to do in her perſecution at Plymouth, as hath been ſaid) permit her, nor any of her Friends of Plymouth who were preſent, to ſpeak in witneſs of the truth on her behalf; but he ſaid, if ſhe would go to her husband, ſhe ſhould have her liberty, otherwiſe they would will and164 require her ſo to do. To which ſhe anſwered, In the will of God I ſtand, do with me what ye have power: for when they were not able to lay any breach of the Law to their charge, they thought to have blemiſhed her with being from her husband, (ſuch was their juſtice to an innocent woman, who had ſuffered, as is aforeſaid) But her husband (who as the Lord had ordered it, was but a little before come to the Town) being in the Court) and endeavouring to ſpeak, to take off that pretended aſperſion, they would not hear him. Then a man ſtanding by, ſaid ſomething concerning his having heard her ſay as if the Scriptures were not the Word of God: ſhe looked upon him, and bid him minde what he had ſpoken, and let that in his conſcience witneſs whether he heard her ſpeak any any ſuch word (for what ſhe ſpake was no ſuch thing, as is hereafter made to appear, even under his own hand, it being in diſcourſe with him at an Inne, as ſhe was on her way from Plymouth Priſon to Exon Goal.) This the Judge of the Court caught hold on preſently, (for inſtead of delivering the oppreſſed, as is the Law, they ſought after cauſe to make her to ſuffer) and demanded of her whether ſhe owned the Scriptures to be the Word of God, yea or nay? She anſwered, what ſhe had ſpoken, ſhe would not deny; the Scriptures ſhe witneſſed to be a true Declaration, but Chriſt was the Word; mentioning the ſaying of Chriſt, Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think to have eternal life, and they are they that teſtifie of me, ſaith Chriſt. And the man that accuſed her, declared to the Judge of the Court, that ſhe ſo ſaid, viz. the Scriptures were a true Declaration, but Chriſt was the Word: Yet much ado the Judge made for her to ſay yea or no to his queſtion, that ſo he might enſnare her: And though ſhe anſwered him in the words that ſhe ſpake to the man that accuſed her, which was as much as legally, or in reaſon could be expected; and he who accuſed her, affirmed it was ſo, as hath been ſaid, yet commanded he the Goaler to take her away, and required the man who accuſed her, to prepare a Bill of Indictment againſt her; which contrary to his minde, and to what he had ſaid in evidence, the Clerk of the Seſſions, and the grand Jury drew up, wherein165 ſhe was charged as a Felon, and (as they ſaid) the Bill was found by the grand Jury: but what ground they had in Law to form a Bill contrary to the Evidence, or to make that matter of an Indictment (ſuppoſe it had been ſpoken by her, as they placed it, and would have it to be) which is none in Law; for all Indictments are invalid, where the offence charged therein is not bottom'd on a Law; or to make that Felony by form, which is no offence in ſubſtance; and what conſciences ſuch a grand Jury have, as to form or finde ſuch a Bill for the taking away of life, made (as hath been ſaid) without ground in Law, or truth, or honeſty in form, nay contrary to the Evidence, yea to the witneſs his declaring to them at what they had drawn up, was not according to his minde, is plainly manifeſted, and their cruelty therein to the ſober, and men of underſtanding, by what hath been already ſaid; and what a generation of blind and bloody Monſters, exceeding in impudent wickedneſs all that have gone before them, this age ſo high in profeſſion, and ſo eminently delivered by the hand of the Lord, brings forth againſt his living truth, and innocent ſervants, but is made further apparent, and the due weight and right meaſure of this charge, by the witneſs againſt himſelf, who wrote to Edw. Raddon, Secretary to General Disborow, who with General Diſborow was then at Exon, as followeth.
MY ſervice preſented to you. Being at Exon l•ſt Seſſions, I came forth, and witneſſed againſt one Margaret Killam what I heard her ſpeak, viz. That when in diſcourſe we ſp•ke concerning her walking according the light within; I ſaid, it is true, but the Scriptures, or the Word of God, is the rule for us to walk by. Said ſhe, Jeſus Chriſt is the Word. It is true, but there is a written word. O thou art an ignorant perſon, and doſt not underſtand the Scriptures, ſaid ſhe. At which words the Judge of the Seſſions demanded of her whether the Scriptures were the166 Word of God, or no? She did not confeſs it, or deny it before them; but they enjoyned me to draw up a Bill of Indictment againſt her, which, as the Clerk under you drew up, but not according to my minde, but as both they and the grand Jury ſaid, it muſt be ſo according to the form of the Law. In that caſe I onely can witneſs neither more nor leſs than above: but I cannot, neither ever did I ſwear that ſhe ſhould ſay the Scriptures were not the Word of God, but it was a Declaration of the minde of God.
And how far Juſtice Vowell, the Judge of the Court, was of the ſame minde, appears, in that being ſpoken to by a Friend that the Law might proceed on her, and that on her, if ſhe had tranſgreſſed, the Law might have its courſe; he replyed to that Friend to this effect, Will ye have them hang'd out of hand? Whereby he intended with her, Richard Lippincot of Plymouth, and Thomas Hooton, who were then Priſoners for ſome ſuch thing. And ſo by his queſtion it appears, that to ſay that Chriſt is the Word, and the Scriptures a true Declaration of him, (for thoſe were the words which ſhe onely ſaid, and which her Accuſer witneſſed to be ſo) in his judgement is matter of hanging: Was ever ſuch a thing heard of before this day to come forth of the mouth of a Judge profeſſing Chriſt? The Jews, who put him to death, denyed him; and they which perſecuted his Apoſtles and Witneſſes, diſ-owned their teſtimony of him whom they declared: but this generation profeſs him in words, and call themſelves Chriſtians, and yet ſeek to murther them who teſtifie of him; Hang them th•t ſay Chriſt is the Word, and the Scriptures a true Declaration of h•m: what more blaſphemous bloodineſs, damnable Antichriſtianiſm, and Mahometan helliſhneſs? Can a Turk ſay more? What would not this generation do to the Truth, and the innocent Lambs of Chriſt, were there power in their hands? How ſoon then would his Doctrine be made Blaſphemy, and his Diſciples Blaſphemers, and their blood poured out on the ground, for owning of167 him to be that which he is, and which the Scriptures teſtifie of him? Is not the ſpirit of giddineſs and of deep ſleep poured forth on this generation? How are they drunk with blood, and beſotted with rage and madneſs, who would kill a man for witneſſing what themſelves profeſs? Own him in words to be the Word, and the Scripture to be Truth, which declare him ſo to be, and yet hang them who ſay and witneſs him to be the Word, and that of him the Scriptures are a true Declaration. O monſtrous contradiction! whither would not this rage run, what cruelty would it not effect, were it not he that putteth the ſands as a band to the S•a, ſaith unto it, hitherto ſhall thy rage proceed, and no further? O ye Lambs of Chriſt, what quick havock would be made of you, and ſpeedy riddance from off the face of the Earth, were it not that ye are kept in the arms of the Almighty, and hid ſecret in his pavilion, where ye are preſerved, even your Enemies themſelves being Judges?
That Seſſions ended without bringing her to a trial on that Indictment, notwithſtand•ng that the Friend aforeſaid deſired that the Law might have its courſe; which he moved, leſt they ſhould put her off to the next Seſſions. And continued in Priſon ſhe was till the 15. of the 12. month, 1655. at which time ſhe, and the other two Friends, viz. Richard Lippincot, and Thomas Hooton, were•eleaſed by a VVarrant from Colonel Coppleſtone, Sheriff of the County of Devon, as followeth.
THeſe are to will and require you, on ſight hereof, to ſet at liberty Richard Lippincot, Thomas Hooton, and Margaret Kellum, wife of John Kellum now in your Goal, for which this ſhall be your ſufficient Warrant.
To Thomas D•ght, Keeper of the Goal near the Caſtle at Exon.
And ſo Margaret Kellum, for coming to Plymouth, divers hundreds of miles from her outward habitation, and ſpeaking as ſhe was moved of the Lord, to Chriſtopher Ceely, Mayor of Plymouth, the word of the Lord in his hou•e, whitherto ſhe came, and into which ſhe was bid by h•m to come, after that ſhe had ſent in that ſhe deſired to ſpeak with him, and had told him, upon his coming to the door, that ſhe had a word from the Lo•d to declare to him; which word of the Lord ſo declared, he confeſſed to be very good, and truth, was impriſoned by h m, and continued a Priſoner for the ſpace of ſeven and fifty dayes, and uſed with that inhumanity, barbarouſneſs and cruelty, as hath been expreſs'd. This is Chriſtopher Ceely, who profeſſeth Chriſt, and the Scriptures; this is the Governour, and the Government of Plymouth, a people profeſſing Religion; this is the Authority of the County of Devon, and the juſtice of their Judge Vowell; theſe are the fruits of them all, and of their Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and of its ſhining ſo long amongſt them, of which they ſo loudly boaſt, and unto which they and their generation would conform all, or cut them off; and for that purpoſe have made ſuch wars, and ſhed ſo much blood in theſe Dominions; theſe are ſome of the fruits found in England, a Nation ſaved by the Lord, to the aſtoniſhment and dread of all Nations, and bearing his name, in return of all his mercies and deliverances: All ye that paſs by, ſtay your ſelves, and wonder.
Barbara Pattiſon ſpeaking to Thomas Martin, Prieſt, whil'ſt he was divining a Funeral Sermon at Plymouth, was impriſoned by Chriſtopher Ceely, Mayor of Plymouth, and ſent to Exeter Goal; and at the Aſſizes, the beginning of the169 ſecond month 1656. indicted, and returned to priſon with judgement to ſuffer 3. months impriſonment, accordi•g to Maries Law, which was made to guard the P•piſh Prieſts, and Jeſuit•,•rom•he witneſ•of God then in the Proteſtants, w•ich now is made the guard of t•e Prieſts in theſe dayes, and by them for de••nce, a•ainſt the witneſs of God now is recourſed unto; there mak ng it to appear, that they are of the ſame generation; and much longer was ſhe kept in pri•on then three m•nt••, t•e judgement of Maries Law, and of the Aſſizes for er•eſtifying from the Lord againſt this Prieſt; & in lik•lyhood•hat there had been kept beyond the double of that time, which was near approaching, h•d not Colonel Coppleſtone, the Sheriff of the County of Devon, tendred her ſuff•ring (which ſhe patiently, an•with me kneſs did b•ar) and ſet her liberty.
Priſcilla Cotton, and Mary Cole of Plymouth, on the 19. day of the 6. month called Auguſt 1656. Priſcilla Cotton b•i•g moved of the Lord, went, & Mary•ole with her to the St•e•l•- houſe at Plymouth, where they ſate ſilent till George Hughes the Prieſt had ended his divination, and then Priſcill•Cotton ſtood up, and ſpake to the people, and to them ſhe ſaid, People why do ye ſpend your mony for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which doth not ſati•fie? hearken di igently to the eternall word, that your ſouls may live: when ſhe had ſpoken theſe words, ſaid the Prieſt, to whom do you ſpeak? if you have any thing to ſay come home to my houſe; I have been at thy houſe, ſaid ſhe, and have wrote to thee, but all to little purpoſe; i•it not the word of the Lord (ſaid he) that I have preached to the people? Nay, rep•i•d,•riſcilla, it is a divination of thy own brayn; whereupon he (leſt he ſhould ſhamed before the people) called out to the M•giſtrates, (thereby ſhewing of what generation he wa•) to have her away, to which Mary Cole, (who till then was ſi•ent) rep•yed, did ever Chriſt J•ſus, or his Apoſtles call for the aſſi tance of M•giſtrates? but ſo did the Phariſees of old, and the Apoſtles were drawn out of the Synagogues. But nevertheleſs what•he Prieſt ſaid, prevailed, and ſo violent hands were laid on them,170 and they haled out of the Synagogues, fulfilling the words of Chriſt; whereupon Priſcilla ſaid to the Prieſt, wo unto thee that laughs now, for thou ſhalt mourn and weep. Being drawn out of the high place, they were both put under the Town hall, and there kept with Halberts, and were mockt, and derided. The next day they were called before John Page Mayor, and Richard Spurwell, and Rob•••G•bbes Juſtices; Rich. Spurwell, who was one of the members of the Prieſts Church (ſo cal•ed) bi•the Clark, write t•at Priſcilla, (•hom they firſt examined) come to oppoſe the Miniſter, and di••urbed the people; nay ſaid Priſcilla, let not lyes be•rote, and to the Clark ſhe ſaid, I charge thee to wri•e no lyes, but truth; whereupon the Clark ſaid, I wi•l write nothi•g but what your ſelf ſpake: ſaid R. Spurwell, you came in pride and pr•ſumption; nay I came in the fear of the Lord God ſaid ſhe, and in obedience to him whom I ought to obey before man; vvhat ſaid ye more, ſaid•e? ſo ſhe declared vvhat ſhe had ſpoken, and exhorted them to mind their teacher vvithin, the light vvhich vvould teach them not to be envious, nor partiall, nor hatefull, and told them the Lord vvould pluck his people out of the teeth of the devouring greedy ſhepherds;•nd that the Prieſt made the diſturba•ce if there vvere any, for they heard him and ſaid nothing till he had ended his divinations, and deſerved the puniſhment (if any vvere due) for vvhat they ſpake, it vvas by commandment; and that it vvas matter of admiration that they vvere ſo deluded by him, vvho vvas their ſervant for their mony, and that they vvere ſo ſubject to his luſts, as if he vvere their Lord; vvhereupon they lo•kt one upon another, and had her avvay. Then Mary Cole vvas cal•ed, and of her many needleſs queſtions they asked, and vvhether ſhe did not deny all preaching? ſhe anſvvered, ſhe vvish't that all the Lords people vvere Prophets, and that his ſpirit vvas poured on them all, and vvith many exhortations, she perſvvaded them to mind their conditions, and to turn the Lord, and to mind him vvho did call upon them for amendment of life, and told them, she vvas grieved to ſee them neglect their teacher, vvhich vvould inſtruct them continually, if they vvould171 hearken to him, and ſo to priſon they returned them both, and after ſome time Priſcilla was called, and tendred her the Oath of Abjuration of Pop•ry, doſt thou think I am a Papiſt, ſaid she to the Mayor; no I think in my conſcience, ſaid he you are not; vvhy then, ſaid Priſcilla, doſt thou tender me the Oath? the Mayor ſaid, becauſe it is according to the Protectors order; vvhereupon she declared, I renounce the Pope, and all popish opinions, but I vvill not ſvvear at all; then preſently Mary Cole was called, and the ſame Oath was tendred to her, to which ſhe declared, as had Priſcilla; then the Mayor told them, by the Judge they muſt be tryed, and asked them whether their husbands (who were ſhopkeepers in the Town,) would be bound for them, or they muſt to Exeter on foot; and ſo the next day he ſent them to Exeter; but the day they came t•ither, the Aſſizes was ended, ſo they were delivered to the Goaler, and very evilly entreated by the people of the Town, as they paſſed along, with dirt, and mocking•. At the Aſſizes the ſecond month 1656. they being before the Court, and attending there ſeverall dayes during the time of their ſitting, no accuſation was laid in againſt them, ſo the laſt day of the Aſſizes they were diſcharged, the Mittimus by which they were ſent to Exon Goale was as followeth.
WE John Page Marchant, Mayor of the Borough of Plymouth, and Richard Spurwell, and Robert Gibbs Merchants, three Justices of peace within the ſaid Boro•gh, to the Keeper of the Goale for the County of Devon at the Caſtle of Exon, or to his Lawfull Deputy, greeting, we herewith ſend you by the bearers hereof the bodyes of Priſci•la, the wife of Arthur Cotton of Plymouth, and Mary Cole wife of Nicho•as Cole of Plymouth Mercer, lately apprehended•ere for dive•s miſdemeanors, of a high and hideous nature, who refuſe to give ſufficient ſureties for their perſonall appearance before his Highneſs the Lord Protector of this Commonwealth, and his Justices of Aſſizes, and generall Goale-delivery at his Caſtle•t Exon, at the next Aſſizes to be holden there for the County aforeſaid, and172 in the mean time that they hold, and be of good behaviour againſt his Highneſs the Lord Protector, and his leige-people, and for refuſing to take the Oath of Abjuration by us tendred them: theſe are in the name of his Highneſs the Lord Protector to will and command ye, &c. whereof fair not at your perills,
What t•ey were apprehended for, and what were their anſwers at their examinations, is before mentioned; which whether it be diverſe miſdemeanors, or of a high and hideous nature, by comparing the one and the other, let the ſober judge, and vvhat a pittifull, ſilly, and ſo••iſh g neration this is vvho are neither aſhamed ſo ridiculouſly to expreſs themſ•lves, nor are ſenſib•e hovv thereby they lay open their nak•dneſs; and by the other filthy ſtuff, vvith vvhich t•e Mittimus is filled, (not vvorthy the taki•g up, or the taking to pieces) r•c•rd under their hands and ſeals their fol y to poſterity, and leave their names a curſe to the choſen of the Lord, as the Mouth of the Lord of Hoſts, concerning this gene•ation hath ſpoken, Iſaiah 65.15. there re•d y•ur portion•r•m the 11. verſe of t•e Chapter to the 15. and vvi•h the vv tneſs o•God in your conſciences vvhich ſhevvs ye evill, and co•d mus ye for unrighteouſneſs, conſider, vvhilſt you have time, and vvhilſt the hour of y ur vi••tation is n•t paſt over, for your tranſgreſſions are great, and your cruell perſecutions of the Innocent not a fevv.
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