NEVV-ENGLAND Pesecutors Mauled VVith their own VVeapons Giving some Account of the bloody Laws made at Boston against the Kings Subjects that dissented from their way of Worship Together with a brief Account of the Imprisonment and Tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem for publishing a Book entituled Truth held forth and maintained c. By Tho. Philathes Truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Isai 59 14 15. As Troops of Robbers wait for a Man so do the company Priests murder in the way by consent Hosea 6.9 Shall the Throne of Iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth Mischief by a Law they gather themselves together against the Soul of the Righteous and condemn the Innocent Blood Psal 94.20.21 The Preface Christian Reader IT has not been without due Consideration that we have seen cause to set forth and publish a true Account of some of the New-England Church Members cruel and bloody Laws which through the Priests instigating the Magistrates were by them made against both Quakers and all other Religious Persons within New-Englands Jurisdiction that were found to dissent from their Worship as also a short Relation of some few of the many Persons that suffered Persecution under the Anti-christian Power of the aforesaid Church with some brief Observations on each Law and the Preamble thereof Unto which is added an Account of the Priests Rulers and Church Members great Hurly-burley or Confusion made about a late Book entituled Truth held forth and maintained c. by Thomas Maule of Salem in which Book is contained thirty eight Chapters relating to the Principles of Truth agreeing with the Testimony of the holy Prophets Christ and his Apostles recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth together with an Account of Gods Judgments upon divers of the chief persecuting Priests and Rulers and a Declaration the late great â—udgment of God upon the Priests Rulers their Fâ—llowers of whom Twenty were through the Accusation â—y Specter Evidence which Judgment continued amongst the Inhabitants near or about Twelve Moneths till at length there was so many of the Priests and Rulers and others accounted eminent Persons accused by the said Specter or Apparition that the Rulers with as much speed as they had condemned and put to Death dâ—d now face about and clear the Prisons both of the condemned as well as of all others accused by the said evidence for Witches an Account of which is more at large to be seen in said Maules Book of which Books the Persecutors sacrificed sixteen Pounds worth a burne Offering to their Anger and Revenge the which by them was done as also Imprisoning him about Twelve Months before that upon his Tryal he was cleared by a Jury that found him Not Guilty the sums and substance of which tryal will appear in this Book by which it doth manifestly appear that many of the New-England Priests and Rulers with many of their Church-Member Breâ—hren in â—nâ—quity do remain in the same when they fled from Old England to save their Purses and Bodies from suffering by the Bishops Power for their dissenting from their Mother Church against whom it will sufficiently appear have rebelled by persecuting several Persons thereunto belonging as well as all other Religious Persons found within their Jurisdiction to dissent from their Priests Worship As for Instance soon after they came and had settled themselves in this Land they began to persecute after aâ— horrible rate and in a cruel bloody manner did they persecâ—te Ann Hutchinsan and that Company of whom some werâ—â— barbarously murdered so also was Mr. Clark and that Company great Sufferers as likwise Samuell Gorton and that Company who for the want of one more casting Votâ— escaped the Gallows for a Dissenter and the Sufferings of the Lady Moody with many others was very great as also was the Sufferings of Mr. Williams Obadiah Homes Mr. Donstor the President and many others of whom I shall hereafter more at large relate about which time the Priests were so beset with the Baptists Quakers and the Church of England that it caused thè Hirelings to roar out in their Pulpâ—â—s for the help of Moses otherwise Aaron must fall and then they are all undone whereupon the Magistrates mustered the Priests Drudges together and to work they went against Dissenters with all the strength of their Faith Defenders which mostly fell upon the Innocent Quakers as will hereafter appeare which had these Persecuters manifested the least Repentance would have prevented the Authur from publishing the following Account of their bloody Laws and the cruel barbarous Works acted and done thereby to the Kings good Subjects within New-Englands Jurisdiction Tho. Thilathes Persecutors Maul'd with their own VVeapons Anti-Christian Freedom established by the Law of the Old Charter Priests and Rulers in New-England THis Court having considering the Proposals presented to this Court by several of the Inhabitants of the County of Middlesex do declare and order That no man whatsoever shall be admitted to the freedom of this Body Politick but such as are Members of some Church of Christ and in full Communion which they declare to be the true intent of the antient Law Anno 1631 1660. Observe Hence you may understand that the County of middlesex for Money and wealth did encourage for sale the high Priests Ware as well as in love to their Bellies to seat themselves near to the Magistrates General high Court of Injustice against Dissenters from their Worship which said Courts were kept in Boston where the Priests Drudges brought of the Dissepters Estates for finâ—s to the Value of many hundreds of Pounds with which the Priests and Rulers with others of their Church Brâ—thren feasted themselves from day to day while they made Laws against them that dissented from the worship of their Priests who when their Bellies were Ruffed with the best Provision and their heads with the richest sort of Wine had not far home to their Common Prayers against all dissenters as well as Quakers and while they feasted themselves with the best of other mens Labour they kept the true Owners thereof with the best entertainment their Goal and Bridewell house did afford as by their cruel suffering therein will hereafter appear and as is related in the Book of Sufferings under these persecuting Magistrates that some went and demanded their fat Oxen of them again to which their answer was Would you that we should sit and starve while we are about your business which was to make Laws to devour them and their Estates which work was of great encouragement to the Priest-ridden Freemen of their Body Politick whose some Church of Christ as in their Law they call it is no other but the plain Church of Anti-christ and so proved to be by their persecuting all other Persons dissenting there-from in their Jurisdiction The Free-mans Law by which a Body make No man that 's true can with their Church pertake He that will honour gain and
th 1695. ACcording to the within Warrant I have been at the House of Thomas Maule and there have found thirty one of said Pamphlets and them secured as required and have seized the said Maule and delivered him to the keeper of their Majesties Goal in Salem there to be secured in order to his apearance at the time and Place within mentioned and have sent the said Thomas Maule by the bearer Jeremiah Neale to answer as within exprest which Jeremiah Neale I do constitute and appoint to be my lawful Deputy to make return of this Warrant with the Body of said Maule and to act in all things which shall be further ordered relating to me concerning the within Warrant George Curwin Sherriff This is a true Copy of the Origenal Return attested By Jeremiah Neale Sherriff-Deputy Thomas Maule being brought by the said Neale and said Goaler out of Salem County into Boston County where appearing at the Council Chamber before the said Governour and Council who put divers Insnaring Questions to said Maule He made this Reply That no righteous Law did bind or injoyn him to answer further then he saw good and that they had not acted agreeable to Law in compelling him into their County to stand tryal before them who in the case were not his equal Judges and if they did intend to proceed against him he did expect the benefit of the Kings Laws which did aâ—â—ow his Judges to be Twelve men of his Equals belonging to the same County he was of The which being consented to four hundred Pounds Bond was given for his appearance to answer them at their High Court of Injustice against him at Ipwswich the 19th of the 3d Month May 1696. But before said Maule came to his Tryal they Imprisonâ—d him and sacrificed sixteen pounds worth of his Books a burnt Offering to their Anger and Revenge though upon his Tryal the Jury could not find him in the least guilty of any evil fact relating to their Charge about his Book The time of the Courts setting being come said Maule was called to his Tyral before Thomas Danâ—ord Elisha Cook and Samuell Sewal three of the Council and Judges of this Court who demanded of Thomas Maule If he did own that Book intitulâ—d Truth held forth and maintained c. to be of his putting â—orth To which he said The outside of the Book did not fully manifest to him what the inside thereof did contain The Book being given to him when he had lookt it throw return'd it again with this answer That all Printed in the Book he did own to be Truths which he did vindicate maintain excepting the Printers Errors and some mistakes occasioned through Authors which were common to good Books Then Judge Danford said You are to answer for Printing this Book without Liscence of Authority To which said Maule answered That if he were accountable for so doing it was not to them but to the Bishops of the Engâ—sh Church and the King did allow him the same liberty to have his Book printed as they did to any of their subjects which seperated or dissented from their way of Worship Then Judge Cook said You are to answer for publishing your Book in this Government without the Lisence of the present Authority To which said Maul replyed The Goveâ—nment is the Kings or ought so to be and the Books are my own Goods who as an English Merchant have good right by the Kings Laws to dispose of my Goods in any of the Kings Plantations Then Anthony Chickley the Kings Attorney said Your Books are not lawful goods to be disposed of amongst the People because they contain notorious wicked Lyes against the Churches and Government of this Province as likewise false Doctrine utterly subversive to the true Christian and professed Faith besides Scandals upon many private Persons To which said Maul made this Reply That the Charge was yet to prove and which they could never prove against him and so long as there was no evil fact he was no Transgressor of any righteous Law and if their Chaâ—ge were true as it is not it is no more than what they and their Priests are guilt of against all Persons as well as the Church of England that dissented from their Priests way of Worship for which cause and persecuâ—ing the People of God and the Kings Subjects to death their Doctrine Principles and Practices were condemned by all true Christian People that did know or hear of their unrighteous Works which fâ—â—â—hese many years have caused Gods Judgments to come upon this Land and for not repenting are you now given up to murder one an ther through the Devis accusation by Specter Evidence accusing both Priests Rulers and People of being Witches Then Judge Cook to this purpose said You are a horrible Lyar and it werâ— better you would forbear in this nature running your self into further Troublâ— by accusing the Churches and Government after such a horrible wicked rate as you have done and still do persist in for which you are to suffer according to your Deserts To which said Maul made this Reply That the Truth by him to them was spoken and so loâ—g as he did not â—xceed the bounds thereof he did not fear their Whip Goal or Gallows and withal that relating to this his Testimony he had suffered ten times 〈◊〉 their Jurisdiction five times by Imprisonment three times by the loss of Goods taken from him and twice by cruel Whipping and now before this Tryal they had both imprisonmed him and burnt sixteen Pounds worth of his Books and 〈◊〉 yet not given him any Copy of the particulars of the Charge against him To which Judge Danford said It is but reason that Thomas Maule should have a Copy oâ— what we have to charge him with and also time to consider of it which by the renewing of his Bond he may have till next Salem Court Which was agreed to Then Judge Cook said That he would have Thomas Mâ—ule to be more careful of what he said relating to the Scriptures and not to undervalue them as he had already done by comparing his Book with the Bible To which Maul answered That to compare that with the Bible which was agreeable to the holy Scriptures in the Bible could be in no way found to contradict or undervalue the Bible And as to Errors now so much talkt of he did not know of any Book that was free for as some of the learned have said Beza committed eight hundred Errors in his first Translation of the New Testament which by amending through his second Translation left three hundred Errors therein And by comparing Mat. 27 v. 5. wâ—th Acts 1.18 proves as great a Mistake as any he knew to be in his Book Judge Cook commanded this Sentence to be writ down Then said Maul desired it might be writ down That at present he did so believe Which being done he said That if through his now so believing did pâ—ove
an Error he did hope through a contrary belief to be free of the Error before his next Tryal Then Judge Cook said Then your belief is changeable and so contrary to the Quakers Principle of Perfection that it overthrows their whole Religion at once To which Thomas Maule made this Reply That it was not so because said he every true Believers warfare makes a change from worse to better that through Grace by Faith they come to forsake the Error to joyn with the Truth which makes free from all that is evil and had not the like in measure been my state to have departed from evil I had not become a prey to you who have caused me to suffer for the Truth as it is manifest you have done Then Judge Danford said Thomas Maul forbear we have something else to do than to spend time to hear you pâ—ate after this kind of rate To which Thomas Maul answered That he was willing to forbear without further Trouble to him by or from them A Copy of the Grand Jurys Presentment as also a Copy of the Judges Charge AT a Superiour Court held at Salem for our Soveraign Lord the King in the County of Essex in the Province of the Massathusets Bay in New-England the 10th day of the 9th Month 1696. The Grand Jury do present Thomas Maul of Salem Sâ—op-keeper for publishing or putting forth a Book entituled Truth held forth and maintained wherein is contained divers Slanders against the Churches and Government of this Province and for saying what he did before the honourable Court at Ipswich in May last as will appear on Record reference thereunto being had may more at large appear as in this hereunto annexed James Stivens Fore-man Thomas Maule being bound over by Recognizance to this Court and being asked concerning a Book put forth by him entituled Truth held forth and maintained c. did in oppen Court declare anâ— say That there was as great mistakes in the Scriptures as in his Book and instanced comparing Mat. 27. v. 5. with Acts 1. v. 18. and this being read to him desires to be understood That at present he believes so at the Superiour Court of Judicature held at Ipswich on the third Tuesday May last 1696. A true Copy by Adington Davenport Clerk Dr. Benjamin Bullivants Speech in the first part of the Pleas 〈◊〉 the Presentment is as followeth viz. To the Presentment of the Grand Jury exhibited against Tho. Maule this present Court always saving to himself the liberty of such further Pleading and Defence as by Law are due unto him viz. First That the uncertainty of matters alledged in the said Presentment is so notorious that he that runs may read them and the Lord Cook says The Law requires certainty in all cases especially such as are Penal to the Lives or Estates of the Subject which uncertainties are Secondly That neither County Year or Day are laid in the said Presentment Thirdly That the Presentment is not laid to be made for the King who if any one hath Offence by whatever in this case alledged against the Defendant neither is his Majesties Name or Sâ—ile used in the Presentment as is necessary and required particularly by the Laws of this Government Fourthly That it is not laid upon Oath as it ought to be if it hold a man to his Answer Fifthly That the Jury had no Plantiff to inquire for they being sworn Well and truly to try and true Deliverance make between our Soveraign Lord the King and Thomas Maule the Prisoner at the Bar. And Yet the Kings Name and Stile entirely omitted in the Presentment aforesaid Sixthly That if it were true the Defendant should have said as is laid to his charge in the Indictment That there was as great Mistakes in the Scriptures as in his Book yet this can charge no facâ— by Law punishable upon him the Presâ—ntment wanting an invendo or meaning whether they were the holy Scriptures or words of God since there are prophane as well as holy Scriptures and the Defendant may be supposed in Construction of Law to intend as well prophane as sacred Scriptures Seventhly That it was not laid to be against the Peace of the King or so much as a Misdemeanor To these Arguments Judge Danford answered That the Presentment was according to former Vsage and their Custom and that want of form could not destroy the â—udictment or binder the coming to his Answer Judge Cook said As to the Invendo that it would have been necessary if the particular Quotations had not been named which he did believe Thomas Maules Counsel would not deny to be the Books of the holy â—â—riptures which was conceded unto Then was Anthony Chickley the Kings Attorney caâ—â—ed upon to know what he had to say to it on the behalf of the Kâ—ng who only said He would answer to the third Exception brought against the Indictment viz. That it wanted the stile of the Kâ—ng assiâ—tâ—g aâ—d not want it founding his assertion on thâ— Preamble of the â—â—â—ictment it being said at a superiour Court held at Salem for our Soveraign Lord the King Reply to this was made on the behalf of the Defendant That the Preample had no relation to the Body of the Presentment since the Presentment was presumed to begin at these words The Grand Jury do present The Court after some further debate over-ruling the Pleas the Prisoner is left to say for himself Thomas Maule to the Judges on the Bench as followeth viz. To you who have set your selves to be Judges in this case against me as you are invested with Mâ—gistratical Pâ—wer by Commission from the King I do respect you out wherein you do assume to your selves the Power of the Bishops Court as in this case I do no more value you than I do Jack-straw And if you will approve your selves wise men you ought to mend the many Rents by you already made through the mis mannagement of the Truâ— committed to your Charge before you proceed to make a further breach upon me who has not given you any just occasion so to do which if you are resolved to make a Rod for me that it may be easie for the more ease of your own that is to come for it is said by him that cannot lye The same measure that men make the same shall be made to them again and if your Power by which you act against me do long continue he that now enjoys a good Estate under your Government in seven years time after this rate may not be left worth a Grote for as you are set to watch over the People things are at that pass through your means that they have the greater need to watch over you otherwise they are like to be undone by the heavy burdens you lay upon them Then the Cause with the said Maules Book and a Speech made to this purpose by Judge Danford was committed to the Jury viz. You have now heard the Cause
which with the Book is now committed to your hands who have taken a solemn Oath to do the thing that is right in the sight of Gods as near as you can therefore you ought well to consider the horrid Wickedness of Thomas Maules setting forth the Book now â—eâ—ore you in which there is contained a great aâ—al of blasphemous matter against the Churches and Government of this Province You weak 〈◊〉 that when the Husband-man hath takeâ— great care and labour to fâ—nce in his fâ—â—ld of Wheat and there comes a ravenous Creature and makes a Gap through the Fence for other like Creatures to go through and spoâ—l the Corn and to trample down and lay waste the Hâ—sband-mans Field will he not use his utmost endeavour to destroy such a ravenous Creature that doeâ— so how much the more are we to preserve the Hâ—dge of the good Hâ—sband-man with which he hatâ— by his Ordinances and good Government fenced and hedged his Churches and People in this Prâ—â—giâ—â—â— against which the wicked work of Thomas Maule doth wholly tend to overtâ—â—ow all good in Church and Common-wealth which Goâ— hath planted amongst his People in this Province wâ—ich â—ause with the saide Maules Book is now before you to do that which is right relating thereu◠〈◊〉 near as God shall inable In answer to which Speech Thomas Maule made this Râ—ply to the Jury and said Jury look well to the work which you are now going to do the Cause is now committed to you who are to be Governed by the Kings Law no Law of our Nation have I broken as to you will appear the Book has no evidence in Law against me further then to you it doth appear I have writ or caused to be printed any thing contrary to sound Doctrine and Inconsistant to the holy Scriptures of Truth which if you take up with any part of these Judges unjust Charge against me and say there is such like matter in my Book as they charge me with you may seek to the Printer for satisfaction for of any such like matter in the Book I know not and my hand is only to my Copy which now is in another Government in the hands of the Printer and my Name to my Book made by the Printer does not in Law evidence to prove the same to be Thomas Maule no more then the Spector Evidence in Law is of force or validity to prove the person accused by said evidence to be the Witch but rather conclude the Spector to be the Witch therefore Jury look well to your Work for you have sworn True Tryal to make and just Verdict give which if you miss of doing me Justice the fault will lie on your part for these my Accusers on the beach are but as Clerks to â—onclude your Work with Amen In some small time the Jury brought in their Verdict for the Prisoner whom they found not Guilty At which the Judges seemed much disatisfied therewith and assâ— the Jury how that could be having the Book before them wâ—o answered That the Book was not sufficâ—ent Evidence for that Thomas Maules Name was there unto set by the Printer and the matrer therein contained not cognizable before them they not being a Jury of divines which this case ought to be Then Judg Danford made this Spâ—ech That tho Thomas Maule had escaped the hands of Men yet he had not escaped the hand of God who would find out all his Evils and Blasphemies against his Church and People and for which Wickedness God did reserve him or further Jaâ—gmâ—â—o come upon him In answer to which said Maule replyed That he was no way guilty of their Charge but had great cause to praise God â—or his diâ—â—â—erance by the Jury who were made Instruments of freeing him out of the hands of them who had manifested their unrighteous Works against the People of God and the Kings Subjects as their Fathers beâ—ore had done In which time of the said Reply Judge Danford called out Take him away take him away The Reader may hence understand that the distance of these Persecutors from the King and much further froms Gods Truth is the cause that by them many of the People of God and the Kings Subjects suffer more then they would do were they where their complaint could readily be heard by the King who would not suffer his Subjects to be persecuted under the Anti-christian Power of the New-England Church who yet continue the old stroke according to their Power against the Quaâ—â—rs at this very tâ—me of liberty of Conscience respecting to Religion now allowed by the King and Powers of England as for instance they now do suffer in their Jurisdiction especially in the Town of Linn where for the Priests maintenance they compell the Quakers Oxen their Pots and Platters with the of other Houshould goods more worse in that respect then of the first two wiked Priests we read Sam. 2.12 13 14 15 16 17. For which sin God will reward the wickâ—â— Priests FINIS