VVoman with her having a young Infant at the Breast both which VVomen were imprisoned and cruelly whipt with more of the like Cruelty as is to be seen in the said Book of Sufferings Richard Dowdney An honest harmless Man thoâ— after the Romish Invention was commiâ—ted to Prison and whipt after their usual manner with thirty Stripes with which his flesh was so torn and cut in pieces that many People lamented at the sight thereof that such an innocent man as he was should be so horribly abused as in said Book of Sufferings is more at large to be seen Sarah Gibbins and Dorothy Waugh two young VVomen for being of those called Quakers and coming into their Jurisdiction had for their entertainment in Boston the flesh of their backs beaten to pieces by their Priests chief VVorkman viz. the Executioner of their Law at their Gallows and when so whipt was by another Member of their Churches Peace viz. their Goaler shut up in a close Room where none was suffered to come unto them and there kept three days together without all manner of Food And at another time kept them eight days without all manner of Provision and had not the Lord preserved them at this time beyond what men of themselves are able to do they had perished under the Cruelty of the New-England Church their said Sufferings are more at large to be seen in the said Book of Sufferings William Shattock an Inhabitant in Boston for being one first day found in his House alone was by one of the Priests drudges carried to their House of Oppression for entertaining of Strangers and in the time of his being kept there with the like whipping some of the Priests crew endeavoured to perswade his Wife wholly to leave him and that they would place out his Children to Masters of Families that tended their Meetings whose suffering is more at large to be seen in the said Book of Sufferings Thomas Harris for declaring against Pride and Oppression which the guilty proud Oppressors itching Ears could not endure to hear was committed to their House of Oppression where the Goaler that devout Member of their Church shut him up and kept him eleven days five of which he kept him without Bread and though he had before been cruelly whipt yet this merciless Wretch gave his Weak bruised Body Twenty blows with a pitched Rope whose sufferings are more at large to be seen in the Quakers book of sufferings as aforesaid Several Innocent Women called Quakers had their Bodies searched for Witches which work was done by the old Member women with such cruelty to their Bodies that one of the Women said she did not the like trouble undergo in bearing and bringing forth five Children besides what more they suffered under the power of those who were as free to run as the Devil was to drive them to perform his lust in the doing the aforesaid Anti-christian work of which more is to be seen in the aforesaid Books of the Quakers suffering under the Anti-christian power of New-Englands Churches William Brend for coming into Bostons Jurisdiction where all the aforesaid work of Anti-christ was acted and done and for being one of them called a Quaker and declaring the Truth was cruelly whipt and shut up into close Prison where the Goaler and devout Member of their Church lockt his Neck and Heels together so close that there was only room for the Lock to go between in which manner he kept him sixteen hours and then gave his weak bruised Body One Hundred and Seventeen Blows with a pitched Rope having thus beaten him for dead an out cry was among the People That the Goaler had killed a man which to appease the People bills were set upon the Prison doors and else where That the Goaler should be dealt with but said Brends coming to life again though the Doctors said it would be admitable if he did recover for his flesh was beaten into a meer Gelly of Blood however as God would have it he came to recover again then to prevent the Goalers being punished for this his great peice of Wickedness to said Brend John Horton their chief high Priest said if William Brend will endeavour to beat our Gospel Ordinances black and blew it was just upon him if he was beaten black and blue and withall in said Book that his counsel was to his Church Brethren in Iniquity To put off the Bear skin and put on the Fox Skin which indeed is â—â—â—eling Priest like the more to deceive poor ignorant People of whom God hath opened the Eyes of many by which they see hirelings deceit William Robinson a Merchant Maâ—maduke Stevinson and William Leddra as Informed the one a clotheâ— the other a husband man and Mary Dier wife to Mr Dier of Rode Island all which four were â—eat sufferers In Bostons Jurisdiction under the cruel bloody hands of the Church Members before they drove them with great number of their Priests club man to their bloody alter and many more by the Priests and Rulers with their conâ—enting Members in Iniquity were intended to be sheâ—â—â—leed an offering to their Anger and Revenge had not the Kings Letter as aforesaid stopt their bloody hands and when the Priests drudges with their mâ—ny Swords Staves Guns and Drums to drown the Testimony of the Lords Servants from being heard among the People had drove them to their Bloody Altar where they chearfully delivered up their Lives for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus which was to the beholders Admiration and great rage of their Persecutors when they were executed they cut down their Bodies letting them fall to the breaking the Skulls of some and ripped off their Shirts dragging their naked Bodies either by the heels or with a Rope and as they dragged them gnashed their Teeth with meer Madness as they went on with their work of dragging their Bodies to a filthy stinking Pit into which they threw some of their naked Bodies and never would grant their Freinds liberty to secure their bodies from Ravenous Creatures by putting about the place any manner of fence whatsoever Seeing the Wickedness of these Persecutors to be great and their Lyes against the People of God many I shall here give one instance of the many which might be produced to prove them lyars that â—ay The Quakers might have had their liberty to have been gone but would not accept it therefore say such Lyers they were accassary to their own Death But to prove the contrary here is the copy of a Merchants letter in print who was no Quaker but an eye and ear witness to what follows viz. Boston the 26th of March 1661. ON the 14th of this Instant here was one William Leddra put to Death The People of the Town told me he might go away if he would but when I made further enquiry I heard the Marshall say that he was chained in Prison from the time he was condemned to the day of Execution I
of Persecution for at that time a Young Man who had been ordained by the Bishop of London to preach at Carolina where being sickly was advised to remove and change the air whereupon he came to Boston and was civilly â—ntertained by some Old England men and after some time recovering his Health he came to be known to be a Minister of the Church of England and for that he was a Master of the French Language he was by some French Protestants and others of the Church of England recommended to a poor and dark Corner of the Province to preach to a small number of poor People amongst whom he passed some few Moneths before the persecuting Priests found him out but at last hearing that he preached baptized according to the way of the Church of England they stirâ—ed up the Magistrates against him who were at their beck and soon sent a Constable who beset his Longing and required him to desist from his preaching c. at his peril but he knowing on what foot he stood continued his preaching and baptizing according to his Commission from the Bishop of London till at length he was threatned with Whipping and understanding that the Constables had Warrants from the persecuting Magistrates to seize him and for that end beset his Lodging whereupon he returned privately to Carolina 4. Nor were the Affronts offered to Robert Ratcliffe the first estblished Minister of the Church of England in Boston to be passed in silence He came over in the Year 1686. with Authority from the Crown of Engâ—and to establish a Church in Boston this mans meekness and Sobriety was sufficiently knwn yet were his Affronts manâ— by which they sought to weary him out not only by personal Abuses and publick Injuries in breaking the Church Windows teaâ—ing the service book making Crosses of Mans Dung on the Doors and filling the Key-holes with the same but also seized his Clark and compelled him to Prison in a Wheel barrow of which nature they acted many abuses against the aforesaid and his Church insomuch that no Minister longer being able to endure their horrid Anti-christian Abuses which did more dayly increase against him and his Church was necessitated after about four years stay amongst them to leave his Charge and go for England where the late Queen preferred him to a living 5. And as a father sign of their hatred to that Church at the time of the Revolution they Imprisoned three Gentlemen Members thereof without any charge against them or since save that they had officiated as Justices of the Peace under the Kings Commission and although they Joyned with eight or ten more of their own Church Members who sate and Joyntly acted with them in the same County yet could find no complaint against their own Church Members so apparently partial were they to their own party and violent to others by which as aforesaid though not the thousand part of what might be brought against them of their great Wickedness against the People of God and the Kings Subjects yeâ— with a little more of the like nature to be added hereunto will by their works be sufficient to the uâ—dâ—rstanding of every true Christian That the New-England Church is not the true Church of Christ that worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth viz John 4.24 Having thus mentioned some of the abuses offered to some Members of the Church of England I shall now draw Conclusion so soon I have given a short account of the Tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem about his Book call'd Truth held forth c. I shall begin thus viz. Thomas Maule a Young Man about twelve years of Age came from England to the Island of Barbodoes and from thence for his health sake came to New-England where hearing much preaching and loud praying he began to think with himself what manner of People are these whose Streets ring with the noise of Preaching and Pâ—aying and having lived amongst them about three years he did experience their words to be good but by their works to have no good hearts at the end of which time he removed himself to another of their Towns called Salem where he found the Church Members to be in all respects as to Religion one with them in the other Towns of their Jurisdiction but in Salem he found a People of few words and good works agreable thereunto with which people he Joyned by keeping to their Meetings which so inraged the Church Members that with their Priests they stirred up the Rulers against him and fined the man where he kept fifty Pounds for entertaining him after which for his keeping open shop upon one of their fast days and speaking the Truth against their Priests railing against the Quakers and the like they five times imprisond him thrice took away his goods aâ—d thrice cruelly whipt him besides their many other Abuses and also accusing him of posting his Books on the first day of the week but he affirming the contrary and though two evil minded persons whereof one was a Thief who then unknown had stolen Goods in her keeping both which did say he posted Books as aforesaid notwithstanding iâ— being utterly false and the evidence of no credit yet recorded they him a Lyar when he had spoken no other but the Truth relating to the same shall now proceed to the sum and as aforesaid From which I shall now proceed to the Sum and substance of his late Trial which was writ by a hand then present in their Courts as followeth The Copy of their Warrant Province of the Massachusets Bay TO the Sheriffe of the County of Essex his under Sheriffe or Debuty greeting Whereas there is lying before the honourable Lieutenant Governour and Council a printed Pamphlet entituled Truth held forth and maintained put forth in the name of Thomas Maule said to be Thomas Maules of Salem within your County published without Licence of Authority in which is contained many notorious and wicked Lyes and Slanders not only upon private Persons but also upon Government and likewise divers corrupt and pernicious Doctrines utterly subversive of the true Christian and professed Faith These are therefore in his Majesties Name to Will and require you forthwith to make search in the House of the said Maule and where else you shall be informed any of the said Pamphlets are or may be found seize and secure all that you shall find thereof and to cause the said Thomas Maule to appear before the Lieutenant Governour and Council at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Thirsday the 19th Currant to answer what shall be objected against him on his Majesties behalf In the Premises hereof fail not making return of this Warrant with your doings therein Dated at the Council Chamber in Boston December 12th 1695. By Command of the Lieutenant Governour Council Jsaac Addition Secretary A true Copy attested by George Curwin Sherriff A Copy of the Return of their Warrant Salem December 14
Prophaneness as these Persecutors say I find the Cause the Priests did want more pay Old Charter Magistrates Hypocrisie with an Instance of their Deceit and Cheat amongst themselves at their General High-Court of Injustice to others An eminent Merchant in Boston who is said to have erected the Town-House at his own charge besides several other considerable Gifts to publick Uses he kept an honest sober young Man to sell his Merchandize and its like somewhat differing in Judgment from their Priests way of Worship he through a mistake sold a Bridle for something more than was allowed by these Rulers for men to advance on the Shilling and being complained of was fined a great Sum of Money and besides was ordered to stand one hour in a publick Place with the Bridle in his Chaps and the Fine was divided amongst the Magistrates as one of them testified who being out of Court at the time when the Division was made was by his Brethren in Iniquity defrauded of his share who was so offended at the same that he openly complained of the Wrong he had received by his Brethren in this matter Obs You may perceive that these Old Charter-men had strange kind of Laws whereby to enrich themselves and impoverish others as is already proved by their aforesaid unrighteous Laws so also by this it appears to agree with the same That no Merchant must advance more than 4 d. profit in the Shilling for Goods from England by means of which Law their Cloathing and Necessaries were to them all of their way at a cheap rate for themselves were only Merchants of Law and their Priests Merchants of that which they call their Gospel which Law is their Wills and their Gospel other mens Lines made ready to their hands but the Laws of the English Nation are otherwise and the true Gospel to them that believe is the Power of God to Salvation By Religion with Deceit Makes Hypocrites to be a Cheat. A brief Account of some of the Three Hundred and Nine Persons that suffered Persecution under the Anti-christian Power of the New-England Church besides those four Servants of the Lord cruelly-Murthered by a Law made at the Rulers and Priests high Court of Injustice against Dissenters found within their Jurisdiction belonging to Boston which are as followeth viz. NIcholas Vpshall an old Man full of Years seeing their Cruelty to the harmless Quakers and that they had condemned some of them to dye both he and elder Wisewell or otherwise Deacon Wisewell Members of the Church in Boston bore their Testimonies in publick against their Brethrens horrid Cruelty to the said Quakers And the said Vpshall declared That he did look at it as a sad fore-runner of some heavy Judgment to follow upon the Country Which they took so ill at his hands that they fined him Twenty Pounds and three Pound more at another of their Courts for not coming to their Meeting and would not abate him one Grote but imprisoned him and then banished him on pain of Death which was done in a time of such extream bitter Weather for Frost Snow and Cold that had not the Heathen Indians in the Wilderness Woods taken compassion on his Misery for the winter Season he in all likelihood had perished though he had then in Boston a good Estate in Houses and Land Goods and Money as also Wife and Children but not suffered to come unto him nor he to them but more of his Sufferings are at large related in the Books of the Quakers Suffering Persecution under the Anti-christian Power of the New-England Church and so proved to be by their fore-going Laws And more of their Cruelty will here follow The next I shall mention is Anne Burden whose Husband being dead and having left Money due to him from several in New-England his said Widdow came into their Jurisdiction to get in the said Debts for the use of her self and Children Now thâ—se Persecutors had nothing to charge her with but that she was a plain Quaker and for that and coming into their Jurisdiction she must abide the Penalty of their Law and which they executed upon her and then sent her away without getting in her just Debts for which she came into their Jurisdiction Which was one of their inventions to pay Debts to Dissenters with especially the Quakers Christopher Holder and John Copeland men of good Estates and of good Life amongst men for being of those called Quakers and coming into their Jurisdiction and declaring the Truth were cruelly whipt with their old wonted Whip of three fold Cords each being well knotted fit for their Church work where-with their Member Whipper gave each of these men Thirty Stripes a piece which were so cruelly laid on that at the sight of their torn flesh and bloody backs a tender-hearted Person fell down dead after they had been thus whipt they were put into Bridewell and there kept for three days without Bread or Water and with their wounded backs were forced to lie on the Boards without Bed or Straw and for Nine VVeeks were kept close Prisoners where none except the Goaler that devout Member could come unto them After which both they and Coll. Rous's Son of Barbadoes had their Ears cut by the Member of their Peace viz. the common Hang-man Now the reason why John Rous escaped with the cutting his Ears only was the kindness they had for him in respect to the knowledge they had of his Father and his being a Gentleman as is more at large in the said Book of Sufferings Mary Clark a Merchants VVife in London who for being called a Quaker and coming into their Jurisdiction must undergo their Law though a Mother of Children and tender of Body to which they had no regard but after their manner imprisoned her for twelve VVeeks and with their Church VVhip fitted as aforesaid for their Priests work gave her weak tender Body twenty cruel Stripes which was the more harder laid on by reason of their Hirelings saying The Quakers did not flinch for their being so whipt because the Devil was got between the skin and the flesh or the flesh and the Bone but more of this is to be seen in the Book of Sufferings under the Anti-christian Power of New-England's Priests and Rulers Lawrence Southwick and his VVife an antient grave couple either one or both of them being Members of their Church in Salem who in good Nature differed from most part of the said Church for their entertaining some strangers called Quakers were fined and their Goods taken away besides their Sons and Daughters were great Sufferers by long Imprisonment and cruel VVhipping as also they had their Goods taken away by the Priests Drudgeâ— and some of the said Southwicks Children were ordered to be sold for Bond-slaves and he and his VVife and Son Josiah either the one or all three of them were banished the Jurisdiction upon pain of Death Horred Gardner a Mother of many Children a young