The Firſt New Perſecution; OR, A TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE Cruel uſage of two Chriſtians, by the preſent Mayor of CAMBRIDGE. As it was certified from thence by an Eminent Hand.
LONDON, Printed for G. Calvert; 1654.
ON Friday, December 23. came into Cambridge, two Northern Women, the one of them about 50. the other about 30. years old, who went to Sidney-Seſſex-Colledg in Cambridg, and fell into diſcourſe with ſome Schollars there, about God and Chriſt; the Schollars asked them how many Gods there were? The women anſwered, but one God; and told them, they had many that they made Gods4 of: at which the Schollars laughed and ſcoffed them; the women told the Schollars they were Antichriſts, and that their Colledg was a Cage of unclean Birds, and the Synagogue of Satan. Hereupon complaint was made to Mr. William Pickering Mayor of Cambridg, that two women were preaching; who immediately ſent for them by a Conſtable; and when they were before him, he demanded of them, whence they came, and where they lay the laſt night? They anſwered him, they were strangers, and knew not the name of the place; but paid for what they called for, and came away. The Mayor asked them what was their names? they anſwered, their names were written in the book of life. Again he asked them, What was their husbands names? they anſwered, they had no husband but Jeſus Christ, and he ſent them. Upon this the Mayor was in a great rage, and thruſt them to the dore of his houſe, and ſaid they were whores, and made a Warrant to the Conſtable to whip them at the Market-Croſſe untill the blood came. And when the poore women heard that, they fell5 down on their knees, and deſired the Lord to forgive him, for he knew not what he did. And the Mayor ſpake to the Conſtable, and bad him ſee them whipt till the blood ran down their bodies, and ſent three of his Sergeants to ſee it done to the purpoſe; and 'twas done accordingly; but by what Law no man knows; for they neither did beg or ſteal.
So they were led away to the Market-Croſs, crying, The Lord strengthen our faith, the Lord strengthen our faith, &c. And when the Executioner came, he commanded them to put off their cloaths; they ſaid, they would not, they were there; if he had any thing to do to them, they bad him do it, for they would not: ſo immediately he ſtripped firſt one all naked to the waſte, and then the other, and put their arms into the Whipping Poſt, and executed the Mayors Warrant on them, in as fierce and cruel a manner as could be, that ſo their bodies were cut, and ſlaſhed, and torn, as never were the bodies of any rogues, or thieves, or whores, ſeen to be, as thoſe poor Chriſtians were; who took6 their puniſhment ſo chearfully, that they never whinched for it, nor was their pain ſeen by any change of their countenance, as if there had not been any thing done to them; and all the while they were in their puniſhment, they ſang and rejoyced, ſaying, the Lord be bleſſed, the Lord be praiſed, who hath thus strengthened and honoured us to ſuffer for his name ſake. And when all was done, they ſaid to the Executioner, If you think you have not done enough, we are here ready to ſuffer more for our Saviour Christ: and then they fell down on their knees, and prayed God to forgive them, for they knew not what they had done. So being led back into the Town towards the Caſtle end, they exhorted all people to fear God, and not to care for men, telling the people, this was but the beginning of the ſufferings of Gods people. So they were thruſt out of the Town, no man ſo much as giving them a cup of cold water, that the Scripture might be fulfilled in the 129 Pſalm, The plowers plowed upon my back, and made long furrows.
THeſe are to give notice to all men, That none of the Justices of the Town had any hand in this barbarous and unlawfull act, ſaving Mr. William Pickering Mayor; and I hope, the righteous Lord will cut the cords of the wicked, and ſend deliverance to his people, and make his enemies known, and make them like the graſs on the houſe-top; and as theſe poor people ſang, ſo doe I, Bleſſed and praiſed be the Lord who hath made the heavens and earth, and created strength and power in weakneſs, to him be glory evermore, Amen.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A85320)
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