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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	according_a	justice_n	law_n	1,616	5	4.3920	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76750	The Cry of blood. And Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Jewes reconciled, and in conspiracy with the dragon, to devour the manchild. Being a declaration of the Lord arising in those people, of the city of Bristol, who are scornfully called Quakers, and of the manifold sufferings, and persecutions sustain'd by them from the priests, rulers, professors and rude multitude, contrary to law, liberty, justice, government, the righteous ends of of the wars, and the Scriptures of truth. Together with a true account of the material passages in substance between the rulers and them at their several examinations, and commitments, and at two general sessions of the publick peace: and of the tumults, and insurrections, with other necessary observations, and occurences. Gathered up, written in a roll, and delivered to John Gunning late mayor of that city (being the fruits of his year) for the private admonition, and conviction of himself, and brethren concern'd, and named therein: with a letter declaring the end, and reason of what is so done, (of which a copy followes in the ensuing pages) / Subscribed by Geo: Bishop, Thomas Goldney, Henry Roe, Edw: Pyott, Dennis Hollister. And now after five moneths space of time published, for the reasons hereafter expressed.	Bishop, George, d. 1668.	1656 (1656)	Wing B2990; Thomason E884_3; ESTC R27277	101,853	169

Feb. ensuing Yea it was manifest that most men were either acted in or pleased with these tumultuous proceedings such language also passed and threatenings tending to the shedding of blood that even the Rulers themselves at length were in great fear thereof Rulers afraid that blood would be shed and therefore send to those Friends that they could not secure them and therefore sent their Sword-Bearer to diver● those friends from passing into the Town for tha● they could not undertake to secure them who through the Providence of the Lord were preserved with a very great deliverance the spirits of the multitude being that night so full of fury and such mutterings At night of the listings of hundreds of men that the whole City was in a great affrightment Had Order and Government the discharge of their Duty and their Reputation been regarded by these Magistrates or the freeing themselves from the suspition of having given secret Countenance and approbation to the Ryots aforesaid they would have made their Insurrections as exemplary in punishment as they exceeded in outrage breach of the Peace any thing of that nature that this Nation hath afforded But to this day neither hath any one person of the Ryoters been punished or called to an accompt except the three aforesaid through occasion of the Officers who were not committed or punished but rather encouraged by what Joseph Jackson said in their hearing in the Councel Chamber to the Officers of the Garrison in the height of the Tumult nor any Constables for not discharging their duties as they were required according to Law Nay as men concerned in the Tumults and the guilt thereof writing there is to have it extenuated and excused with those in chiefest Authority being not ashamed falsely to charge those as the cause and the Designers upon whom the Tumults were raised and whose lives were thereby endangered And two of the Councell were appointed to ride to White-Hall And a Petition of those Ryoters to O. P. was prepared hastened and subscribed And so far were they from protecting the Innocent aforesaid that they met together and sent to John Audland and John Cam who the seventh day of that week being moved of the Lord came boldly into the City going in the chief parts thereof and from house to house without the least disturbance to desire them to depart the City though the Town was quiet without signifying any Law that they had broken which deserved such a violation of their just Liberty in answer to their desires in their letter to that purpose sent the Magistrates the 22. of the tenth moneth Now for Tumults and Insurrections to take upon them to make Lawes And in a ryotous manner for more than one dayes continuance to seek to put them in execution on innocent and peaceable freeborn Englishmen who had fought for the Liberties of their Countrey and had broken no Law nor were charged with any such things to the hazard of their lives which were sought after and the endangering of the setting a whole City into blood contrary to and in contempt of Law Liberty and Justice and tending to the subversion of all order and Government And for Magistrates not to make enquiry into or to punish one offender though hundreds sometimes acted highly therein before their faces according to the * 13 Hen. 4. c. 2. Law which require the Justices of the Peace with the Sheriff to suppresse a Ryot in their view and to Record the same which record amounteth to a Conviction on which the offenders may be punished And if the Ryoters are departed requires the Justices and Sheriff within one moneth to enquire by a Jury and to hear and determine according to Law upon pain of 100 l. a piece every one making default But to endeavour to excuse it to the chief in Authority pleading the part of the guilty and falsly to suggest the cause and design of those Tumults on the Innocent upon whom the Tumults were raised And to send to and resolve the turning the Innocent so injured out of the City instead of protecting and doing them Justice is such a shamelesse President of abominable injustice and misgovernment as outstrips Sodom it self who drew together about Lot's house to abuse two strangers come into their City whom they took to be men but indeed were Angels sent to execute the Judgment of God upon them in fire and brimstone for their wickednesse And that wherein every man is concerned for who is certain of his Liberty and who can judge himself safe if the rude multitude have a mind to infringe the one or endamage the other and the Magistrates instead of doing Justice on such offenders shall make up wherein they miscarry and if it be lawful to do thus to one they may do it unto all for One would think that Masters should never let loose cherish and uphold the unbridled youth of their servants not knowing how soon it may turn on themselves And that Magistrates should blush to bear the name of Governours where the multitude command not themselves much more to countenance and encourage such But are they ashamed who commit Jer. 6. 15. such abominations as these Nay they are not at all ashamed neither they nor the Priests nor the People Is this the Justice and the Rule of Bristol for equity against which and Judgment whosoever pleadeth and for Just Liberty and righteousnesse he must be accounted an Enemy to the Government and the Town and so be represented understood and prosecuted Is this the quiet and peaceable City of which the Magistrates do so loudly boast And are not See Ralph Farmers mystery of Ungodlinesse pag. 22 94. these the horse-heels of Priest Farmer with which he answered his adversaries whom he calls Quakers as his other businesse to dispatch then to confute this doctrine though he published a book for that purpose Whilest those friends aforesaid were in the City Friends of the City abused c. when Friends of the Country were departed they were made the pretence of all the miscarriages hitherto particularized but if they were once departed the Citizens it was said shall find no disturbance But the enmity being at the Seed it ceased not after they were out thereof in order to a meeting before appointed in Leicestershire For the 25th of the 10th moneth they were up in Tumults 25th 10th month 1654. again severall hundreds attempted a friends house at the Tolzey but were dispersed by some Troopers and as friends were found in the streets they were kickt by them dirted and otherwise abused And not onely in the streets but in the steeple-houses were these outrages committed and the Magistrates adde thereunto their injustice and oppression For On the first day of the 11th moneth Henry Warren First of the 11th month 1654. Henry Warren speaking to Priest Longman being moved of the Lord went to Thomas's steeple-house where one Longman a malignant formerly Chaplain

from the Lord to John Knowls after he had dismist the people by command of an Alderman laid hands on by the multitude violently assaulted and beaten with staves and cudgels in the place and after she was hurried out taken into Custody by order of the same Alderman And being brought before him and the Mayor examined and sent to prison without a Mittimus and the next day brought in Custody from the prison before the Magistrates and by them charged with nothing as to the cause of her Commitment after she had been ezamined as aforesaid but as to her Message delivered a week before to Ralph Farmer as aforesaid And for this she is Committed again to Prison as they pretend though they denyed her a Mittimus being by her demanded again and again and permitted no friend to come into the Councel chamber with her But the Mayor punished none of those who made the tumult in the Steeple-house before his face and who assaulted her with violence crushing and haling her nor caused the Peace to be kept nor did Ralph Farmer desire any such thing or that the woman might have liberty to speak and he to answer but called out to the Mayor in the midst of the tumult to take a course with her Nor did the Mayor punish or call to an account any of those who beat her with staves and cudgels and otherwise assaulted abused her at the Colledge or that made the tumults but imprisoned her both times laying the tumults raised on her wherein she was beaten and in so much danger and on whom the Peace was broken to her charge though as to any cause wherefore she was committed and continued for the space of about eight weeks a prisoner it appears not by any Mittimus to this day And thus was John Worring sent for by the Magistrates for speaking after another had begun to one who was no Priest and who but 3 or 4 days before said at a meeting in the presence of near three hundred people that he scorned the name and the office of a Minister and publickly said that he sinned in every thing he did A●d after examination committed to Prison without any Mittim●● and continued there for the space of fourty days though an Apprentice But neither was the tumult enquired after according to Law that was raised upon him nor those who struck and beat him in the place nor the Constables present who kept not the Peace But instead thereof when he said he was beaten and kickt Joseph Jackson said a Luke 2. 42. 46. if he had had his brayns knockt out he had his amends b Acts 9. 20. 13. 5. 14. 14. 1. 17 10. 17. 18. 4. 19. 26 19. 8. in his hands and when he would not own what was falsly alleadged against him to be true though what he had spoken he confessed was reproached by the said Alderman with the ignominious name of a Cut-purse So that whether the Priest be spoken c Acts 17. 16 to the end to when he hath ended all except his blessing or d Acts 17. 17. when by having said his blessing he hath dismist e Acts 19. 9. f Acts 28. 30 31. the people Or whether it be to a Priest or to one that scorns the name and Office of a Minister and g Sergius Paulus Governour of P●phos Acts 13. 7. 47. The Rulers of the Synagogue saith he sins in all things he doth and be the words what they will or the occasion it appears all is one to those who rule by their Lusts not by Law When as a Antioch in Pisidia Acts 13. 5. At Ephesus Acts 18. 19. 20. Publius Governour of Miletum Acts 28. 10 11. Christ was permitted at twelve years old to dispute with the Doctors in the Tepmle And the b At Rome two years no man forbidding Acts 28. 31. A● Antioch a year Acts 11. 26. At Ephesus 3 moneths Acts 19. 8. At Corinth a year 6. months Acts 17. 11. At Iconium a long time Acts 14. 3. At Caesaria many dayes Acts 21. 10. Apostles spake and reasoned and disputed in the Synagogues amongst Jews and Gentiles amongst the c Athenians in the d Market daily with those that met with him and on Mars hill and in Ephesus and in the e School of Tyrannus and at f Rome and were desired so to do by some of the g Rulers and permitted by others for some h space of time And in the Churches of Christ all might i 1 Cor. 14. 29 30 31. Prophecy one by one and if any thing be revealed to him that sitteth by let the first hold his peace And the Prophets two or three might speak the rest judge And it seemed to k Acts 25. 27. Festus the Romane Governour a thing unreasonable to send a prisoner and not withall to signifie the crimes laid against him it was the l Jeroboam Ahab Jezabel c. wicked Kings and Princes and People of Israel and Judah that caused the Messengers of the Lord to be imprisoned and his servants to be evil entreated and that said unto the m Esay 30. 10. Jer. 11. 21. Amos 2. 12. 7. 13. 15. Micah 2. 6. Prophets prophecy not n 2 Chro. 36. 15 16. Jer. 7. 25. 25. 4. 35. 15 26. 5. 29. 19. 32. 33. 44. 4. though he sent them rising up early saying O do not the abominable thing that I hate till there was no remedy and both o 2 Kings 17. 18. 20. 23. Israel p 2 Kings 24. 3. and Judah were removed out of his sight And it was the q Jer. 5. 12. 33. 17. false Prophe●s that perswaded them so to do saying no evil shall befall you and that the r Amos 7. 10. land was not able to bear the words of those who speak from the mouth of the Lord And it vvas the High Priests and the Chief of the Jewes and the devout and honourahle so called that crucified him that spake from s 1 Cor. 2. 8. Luke 23. 10. 13. 23 24. Acts 13. 5. 14. 19. 17. 17. 14. 2. 5. 17. 5 6 7 8. heaven and stirred up the Rulers of the Synagogues and the multitude to oppose and persecute his Apostles vvhom before they disturbed not And as to the t See Magna Charta Stat. Westm Petition of Right The trialls of the late King and of Strafford and Canterbury ancient Law of this Nation It is a special Fundamental That none be taken or imprisoned but according to the Law of the Land viz. by lawful Warrant or Mittimus of one or more who are lawfully authorized under his or their hands and seals which Warrant or Mittimus must contain the cause of the Commitment and must conclude Until he that is Committed be delivered by Law for above all things the Law doth value the Liberty of a mans person Therefore complaint was made in the Parliament 3. Charles against the King

and Lords for sending several Merchants of London to Prison with Warrants which contained not the cause of their Commitment To salve which the Petition of Right was then granted which confirmed Magna Charta and the Statute of Westm 1. wherein this fundamental Law is contained And to act contrary hereunto is to subvert the fundamental Law For which the late King Strafford and Canterbury were impeached attainted and executed as Traytors against the fundamental Lawes and Liberties of the Nation And against this fundamental Law no particular usage 25 Edw. 1. Cap. 2. Coke upon Con. c. f. 527. or Custom of any particular place is of force All which as it appears these Magistrates neither accompt nor regard nor their heads nor estates for they commit men to prison without any Warrant or Mittimus and have denyed it to about 20. persons of whom particularly this Treatise makes mention though severall of them earnestly and often demanded it Also freedom of the exercise of the profession of Faith in Christ Jesus though differing in Judgment from the Doctrine worship or discipline publiquely held forth is a fundamental in the present u See the Government Art 37. Constitution And for all to prophesie and when any thing is revealed to another that sitteth by for the first to hold his peace And that all may speak one by one was exercised in the true Church of Christ of which the Scriptures bear Record as aforesaid and is a true profession and exercise of faith in Jesus Christ And for that absolete Act Mary 1. on which the Priests and Magistrates pretend to lay the legality of their proceedings in this case It is well known to have been made in the time of Popery for the defence of the Romish Popish Priests in the time of their Service from the testimony of those Protestants whom then God mightily raised up to bear testimony against their Idolatrous Doctrines and services who witnessed against them thorough flames of fire All which Doctrines and Services being wholly removed the effect must needs cease with the cause and the Defence when that which is defended is taken away And 1 Eliz. c. 2. repeales and makes utterly void and of none effect all Lawes Statutes and Ordinances wherein or whereby any other service than that of the Common-Prayer is limited established or set forth And that Act aforesaid 1 Mar. amounteth to the establishing of the Masse which is another service And yet neither are the Priests ashamed to desire nor do the Magistrates blush to defend them upon colour and pretence of that Statute nay to imprison where there is no offence by that Law were it in force and practicable for it protects the Romish Popish Priests from interruption onely in the time of Service Can those who claim the benefit and priviledges of that Law and are protected thereby otherwise be esteemed of than such as that Law qualifies and makes capable of the priviledges and protection therein provided And so is not the witnesse the same against which the provision is made as aforesaid and that which seeks the same defence of the same root and principle If the Priests will needs have that Law to be in force and to be defended thereby then let them not refuse to be accompted of and denominated as such whom that Law qualifies guardeth and defendeth viz. as Romish Popish Priests of Antichrist not as Protestants or Ministers of Jesus Christ for against the witnesse of God in such was that Law made and provided The great Tumult and R●et The Priests and People having understood by these illegal and oppressive proceedings how much these Magistrates had the truth and those who owned it in abomination were greatly encouraged to proceed in their opposition thereunto And resolutions were also had by an insurrection to quit the Town of those Servants of the most high who were so instrumentall in this day of the Lord because according to the way of Justice and the Law of the Land they being innocent it could not be done And such an expedient if it took might gratifie and answer all their opposites Therefore a Conspiracy was entred into and a design laid amongst Continued the Apprentices for that purpose and meetings had in order thereunto And as a Blind or pretext to this continued outrage a Petition was drawn to have been presented the Maior and Aldermen to turn them out of the Town and upon their refusing so to do for they knew that the Law authorized no such Injustice then to rise and not only to do their endeavours on them but on such as should assist them And in this Petition Priest Farmer was consulted to say no more and to execute this Plot goings there were from house to house and Master and man were prepared Mighty were the outgoings of the Lord on the first day of the week being the 17th of the 10th moneth in the publique meetings and mightily was the Dragon enraged thereat seeing his Kingdome shortned And therefore staid not till his Serpent wisdom by a Petition had turn●d his design into an insurrection but blowes up the heat of the rash and ungoverned Apprentices and rude multitude to lay hold on the first opportunity to put it by downright tumult into issue And therefore having understood that the third Raised on John Audland and John Camm 18th of the 10th moneth 1654. The first day day of the week following John Camm and John Audland who were of the first that came hither and were great labourers in the work of the Lord in Bristol were to passe over the Bridge to a meeting appointed at Brislington a mile or two from th●nce in the County of Somerset Resolutions were had to set upon them And accordingly the third day of the week in the morning being the 19th day of the 10th moneth they two passing peaceably over the Bridge and a friend with them offering no offence or injury to any severall Apprentices of Priest Farmers Parish followed after and passing by them to the South end of the Bridge turned about and giving a sign many other Apprentices came forth and other people and joyned with them who together fell violently on those innocent strangers and assaulted punched pulled and haled them back over the Bridge again towards the High Crosse their numbers being encreased to some Hundreds and their rage heightened that some cryed out Hang them presently others Knock them down and would have dragg'd them thorough Winestreet and so out of the City there to have executed their cruelty upon them but it pleased the Lord that others were hearkened to who spoke to have them brought before the Maior And so the Riot haled them into the Tolzey where their rage had been much upon them were it not that a friend present with much ado got them into his house near at hand and so rescued them About which the Ryot remained for some time threatening to assault it Those two being all that

either side and without any signification to him to this day wherefore he was sent for or committed where he was continued a prisoner 33 days and a close Prisoner by order of the Major and none to come to him but his servants as said the keeper though he be a shop keeper and as a Wi●ower and had one child sick dead and buryed whilest he was thus unjustly imprisoned being kept from seeing it or going to its buriall and had another sick and no body but his servant to look to his shop and trading not knowing of to this day any thing whereby they have cause against him according to Law Have such pieces of tyrannicall injustice and cruelty as these been heard of in this Nation or dared the highest Ministers of State under Charles Stuart so to do was not Strafford to these men a Petty transgressor and his loynes as their little finger And the more they persecuted the more they thirsted after persecution for on the eleventh day of the third moneth the Magistrates sent for William William Foord 11. day 3. mon●h 1655. Foord to come before them where being come the Company of Milliners complained that he kept a man at work in contempt of the Majors order for on the thirtieth day of the second moneth they had sent for him Concerning the same business upon Complaint of the Milliners for that he kept a stranger at work contrary as they pretended to their Ordinary whereupon the Major charged Foord to turn the stranger away and not to teach him his trade which he refused to do in regard he was none of that Company and had followed the trade of Wooll-combing before they were a Corporation and because the man had been all his youth a Souldier in the Army and in a capacitie by the late Act to set up any where nor was he obliged by any Law either not to teach him his trade or to turn him out of his house he beeing an honest sober man desirous to learn a calling whereby to live And they further alledged that he should say he would keep him in spight of any mans teeth whereupon their witnes was produced and sworne who denyed that he said in spight of any mans teeth but that William ●●ord had said he intended to teach him then one of the Aldermen affirmed that he promised to turne him away which William Foord denyed to be truth whereupon he called to the Milliners to justify it but they were made to speak the truth which was that he refused to turn the man out of his house and that he could say nothing as to the teaching of him Then they asked the Milliners what fine he had Committed by their Ordinary they answered half a Crown a day for every day he had employed him they asked why they did not levy the fine upon him They replyed if he would turn away the man they would be satisfied He told them he was not of their trade and therefore their Ordinary had no power over him and that the man whom he was teaching might make use of any trade by the Act to which Alderman Joseph Jackson replyed it was no such matter and said Is that your Conscience Then they asked him whether he would keep the man or no to which he replyed he should Then the Major asked him whether he had any sureties there present He asked him what to do The Major told him he should be bound to the good behaviour He answered he had broken no Law therefore he should provide no Sureties then they told him he should go to Newgate he asked them for a Mittimus whereupon Committed they in scorn laughed at him and Shiriff Lawford told him he knew not the Law He replyed whether he knew it or no it was convenient that he might have under their hands wherefore he was committed Then they said the Majors word was a Mittimus He said again he should not go without something under their hand then Shiriff Lawford said h● should be carryed in a wheel-barrow and the Officers staying a while for him and seeing ●hat he would not go they comma●ded their Officers to carry him away so many of them came about him and did drive him along before them to prison where he was continued for the space of 26. dayes a prisoner from his family and calling both Daniel Wastfield and William Foord being men who h●ve been alwayes faithfull and active for the publique interest and have served it in Armes and so hath the stranger because of whom they pretend to have imprisoned William Foord though that and their being such as are reproachfully called Quakers may be understood the true reason wherefore they are thus unjustly dealt withall and occ●sions sought against them for the Law they have not transgressed After the imprisonment of these for the space of time aforementioned the friends of truth had Christopher B●rkhead 2. day 5. month 16●5 Standing silent in Nicholas Steeple-house wh●lst Priest Farmer was worsh●pping some respite from their bonds till the second day of the 7. month at which time Christopher Birkhead being in the Steeple house called Nicholas unto which he was moved of the Lord he stood there silent whilst Priest Farmer said a few words as a prayer and read some Psalmes which when he had done the Priest sto●d still saying nothing But looked towards the Aldermen present with whom his Clarke was talking and took a Psalmes booke of a boy as if he would sing and went to open it but did not but turning two or three times and looking on the Magistrates with whom his Clarke was speaking as aforesaid At length about the time that Miles Jackson Alderman was coming out of his feate towards Christopher Priest Farmer began to speak to Christopher and told him he disturbed the People by standing with his hat on in the time of Prayer and moreover said to him that if he had any thing to say he should speak and tell his business why he came thither for Christopher was silent then and not before Christopher began to speak Thus saith the Lord A wonderfull and horrible thing is Committed in the land and was speaking further but Priest Farmer said he would have none of that or word● to that purpose and spake loud that the people might not hear Christopher By this time Miles Jackson being come from his seat to the place where Christopher stood commanded him to be taken away saying he was a disturber Christopher Struck replied All people take notice whether I have disturbed any man Then the under-Sexton laid hands on him in the place and in the view of the Magistrate and the Priest strooke him on the head with a stick Tumulted c. and the rude multitude came about him some striking some pinching and some thrusting him which caused him to turne his head to the Priest and say see the fruits of thy Ministry then the Rude Multitude haled him towards the

breach of any one Law either of God or the Nation was proved against him yet they sent him back to Newgate Prison where they keep him from his employment which should maintain his family Then William Foord was called being out of Prison William Foord his Triall upon sureties to whom the Town-Clark spake concerning his being bound to the good behaviour which he denyed Wherefore are you here then said the Town-Clark He answered he Came there to Cleere those of their bonds who had bound themselves unknown unto him for his appearance upon which they searched their Papers and were silent Afterwards the Town-Clark asked him for what he was examined at the Tolsey and imprisoned He asked whether they had it not upon R●cord then they called for Richard Goodwin supposing he had been the man that prosecuted against him But that not serving their turn they seeing Thomas Hayter they asked him He told them it was for keeping a stranger at work Then the Town-Clark asked William Foord where the Stranger was He answered He knew not when saw you him said the Town Clark He replyed he had not seene him a great while the Town-Clark asked Thomas Hayter whether he knew where he was He answered he knew not but thought he was out of Town Then the Town-Clark asked him whether he was sorry for what he had done He answered he had committed no evill therefore he had no cause of sorrow nor had he broken any Law which being urged again and again and he still refusing they Commanded the Keeper of Newgate to to take him away And lastly Christopher Birkhead was brought before them from Bridewell where he had been a Prisoner five weeks and three dayes for standing silent in the Steeple-house till the Priest required him to speak as aforesaid To whom he said I stand in obedience to the Righteous Law of God in my Conscience I have neither offended the Law of God nor the Nation whereupon Alderman Joseph Jackson stood up in fury and asked him whether he would contemne the Court He answered He contemned not those who judged Righteously Then Robert Aldworth asked him whether he was sorry for disturbing the Congregation at Nicholas He answered He disturbed no man where was his accusers Robert Aldworth replyed that must come after Joseph Jackson said take him away untill he find sureties for his good behaviour So they put him from the barre But Christopher stood up again and said first prove me to be of evill behaviour but he heard them make no answer and so he was put by without any examination of the cause of his imprisonment or what he had done Neither was an accuser brought against him though he had been so long in prison as they were swearing the Jury he was moved of the Lord to speak to them and said All these that swear are out of the Doctrine of Christ to which they hearkened not but returned Christopher with the other five aforementioned to Newgate Prison with the transgressors amongst whom they were caused to stand● and were numbred though four of them have families which depended upon their liberty for maintenance as is well known to these Rulers who care not how they oppresse a man and his house and take the Parents from their Children and husbands from their Wives and Wives from their Husbands and Masters from their families not fearing the Lord who hath said Against such he hath devised an evill out of which they shall not remove their necks nor goe haughtily for the time is evill and that he will come neere to Judgement and be a swift witness against such And with them they also returned to prison and continue there Richard Jones who hath always Richard Jones been faithfull to the Parliament and in their service hath often stoutly adventured his life lost his estate and severall times been a Prisoner twice in this City whom they committed the 28. day of the 6. month and kept in durance from his family which depended upon him for maintenance for some evill words which he had spoken above a year since Concerning George Hellier then Major in the time of his Ignorance and Heathenish nature wherein as he Confessed and spake in the Court he ran with the world into the same excesse of riot into evill words wicked wayes and customes of the world which after his Conversion and becoming obedient to the truth were remembred against him though spoken by him so long before and he punished as aforesaid beyond the directions of any known Law in that particular Now all evill speaking is denyed by the Children of the light and by him also as he said to the Court in these words since the day hath appeared of my Convincement and Coversion the grace of God that hath appeared to all men teaching the Saints to deny all ungodlyness and worldly lusts the same grace hath appeared unto me and doth teach me to deny all ungodliness worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously in this present evill wo●ld But as to all the tumults riots insurrections violences outrages beatings injuries and abuses aforementioned raised acted and committed upon the Innocent servants of the Lord the witnesses of Jesus no enquiry and proceedings according to Law were had either at this Sessions or at the Gaol delivery or at the Sessions 19. day of the Eleventh month 16 4. nor at any other time except as before expressed Nor any one offender therein questioned and proceeded with according to Law to this day though of so unheard of and unsufferable a nature and so contrary to Law Justice Order Government Humility and the Scriptures of Truth On the fift day of the ninth month five of the Prisoners aforesaid viz. John Smith Richard Jones Christopher Birkhead who had been there sick about a fortnight Margaret Thomas and William Foord who also had been sick were turned out of Prison upon two becoming baile unknown to them or any of their friends for their appearance onely at the next Generall Sessions of which they having information after they had notice from the Keepers servants that they might go forth protested against their being freed on that accompt and also for clearing their Consciences and that the truth might not suffer wrote to one of them advising him to take up their Bond least they should bring themselves into trouble and to let them stand to their own Master who would deliver them for that in the will of God they stood and not in their own or in their own time and did not know whether the Lord might carry them to bear witness to his name before the time came and moreover that they did not accept of deliverance at all by any such means who were innocent did suffer for the truth of God according to their measures Notwithstanding they put them forth And Temperance Hignell who was knockt down to the ground to the astonishment of her sences and afterwards sorely beat and bruised and

her blood drawn and some of her Cloathes torne off her back in the Steeple-house for speaking to Jacob Brint Priest of Temple after all was ended as aforesaid and after in the street by the rude multitude by whom she saw her life was in danger having not been well in her body from that very time that she was so beaten and misused was carryed out of the Prison in a basket very dangerously sick of which in Temperance Hignells death three dayes after she was carryed dangerously sick out of Prison three dayes after she dyed being turned out with the rest upon the Baile aforesaid leaving her blood for the testimony of Jesus on the heads of her Persecuters who thirsted so much after hers and her fellow witnesses of the Truth For whom to be thus beaten by the Tumult was not punishment enough in the eyes of these Magistrates though she informed them thereof but to prison they send and continue her notwithstanding that she had broken no Law of which they have her life in issue and her bones being laid in the same Steeple-house yard where her body was bruised and her blood drawn Instead of calling to accompt and punishing according to Law those by whom she thus suffered not one of whom hath been questioned and punished as the Law requires to this day But Benjamin Maynard against whom only of the seven as is said Judgement was given at the Sessions as an offendor of Maries Act is still continued a Prisoner Thus are we the People of the Lord trampled underfoot and persecuted as a thing of nought Thus are the Liberties of those who have stood for the Liberties of their Countrey and have kept close to the Publique sleighted and violated Thus are the Innocent and Peaceable whose principles lead out of transgression and from that which is the occasion of the Magistrates sword tumulted imprisoned and abused when transgressours are let go unpunished Thus is Judgement turned into gall and wormwood and the fruit of righteousness into Hemlock so that Justice stands afarre off Truth is fallen in the streets and Equity cannot enter By a generation of men who have alwayes been enemies to Reformation and to the life and power of Godliness as it hath been witnessed in its severall dayes who have endeavoured what in them lay the destruction of the Liberties of their Countrey and of those whom they persecute for owning the same who have and do strengthen the hands of evill doers and are wrath and fury to those who do well who cause Injustice to run down as a streame and unrighteousness as a mighty water and neither regard the Law or their oathes And yet nevertheless are called and call themselves Christians and require that honour which God never gave to any in authority Of whose Malignancy misgovernement and other qualifications a particular accompt could now be given were it the intent of this discourse in which nothing of reflection hath been intended or used but where their own injustice hath given necessary occasion and therein but a little of what might be mentioned though it they may expect if they administer further necessity That so all people may know aswell what are the men under whose lusts and wills these people do suffer as their sufferings and the manner of them And to these things these men have been and are encouraged because they suppose the people whom they oppresse in so high a manner are bound up in their Consciences from prosecuting their remedy in the Law and have experienced them quietly to abide under their Cruelties and injustice till themselves being weary of oppressing them have caused their release otherwise it s not unlikely especially being innocent but they had passed untoucht as have severall who have taken the boldness to ruffle it with them and whose resolutions to try it out they have well understood of whom particular instances could be given it being well known how little Courage they have to deale with such though in the discharge of their oathes and duty and how fearefull to engage where they know men will not receive wrong at their hands especially in such cases as these whereby they are so obnoxious to the penalties of the Lawes And amongst those who indeed have the spirit of men in them to injure and oppresse because they thinke those whom they so cause to suffer will not return again nothing is accompted more base and unworthy being that of which the nature even of many brute beast is not guilty But much more is it in Magistrates whose Judgements should be the Lords not their own and who ought to execute Justice without respect of persons according to the Law and not otherwise and indeed were there no such thing as Law for the rule of those in power but all things Arbitrary had Law and Liberty been never the subjects of Contest by the sword had Liberty and Law fallen in the Contest or been necessitated to termes of composition or been betrayed therein by the treachery of their opposites it had been a great mitigation to the outward sense of these peoples sufferings and reasonable matter of bearing and silence But now that of late Liberty and the Fundamentall Lawes have been not onely in deep and perillous contests by the sword but have through the presence of the Lord been throughly vindi●ated and the enemyes thereof destroyed and totally subdued and the Captain Generall of their forces possessed of all power Military and Civill and the constitution of the present Government protecting such as professe faith in God by Jesus Christ in the profession of the faith and exercise of their Religion from which it saith it shall not be restrained except in the cases of Popery and Prelacy and such as under the profession of Christ hold forth and practice Licentiousness for those who have borne the heate of the day the misery of war the hazard of their lives in the field and other where for and with the Publicque interest aforesaid to which they have been firmely faithfull active and unmoveable throughout all changes and particularly against these very men who have sought to destroy See the Act of Parliament dated the 8 of Octob. 1655. and O. P. his Proclamation 21. Sept. 1655. prohibiting delinqu●nts to beare office or to have voyce or vote in Election of any publick officer it and them and all friends thereof and who ought neither to be in Office nor to choose any one into Office to be trodden under foot scorned and persecuted by such generation in the violation of Law Liberty and Justice and Governement as hath been demonstrated as the issue of all these wars and blood Let the impartiall judge whether all things considered there were ever such high sufferings and intollerable oppressions and whether the case of these people be not their own for what is done Arbitrarily to the violation of one mans Liberty is done unto all Though as to their inward man they are still quiet in the will of God in this houre of his Patience Rejoycing that they are counted worthy to suffer any thing for the sake of Christ And knowing that thorough great tribulation they must enter into the Kingdom of God And these things are rehearsed for no other end than the manifesting of Deceit and declaring of the manifold unjust cruell persecutions of the Innocent for the Testimony of Jesus in that City Hearken unto me yee stout hearted that are far from Righteousness I will bring neer my Righteousness it shall not be farre of and my salvation shall not tarry And I will place Salvation in Sion for Israel my Glory Isa 46. 12 13. That which is seen in thee O Bristoll upon the Earth out of which growes the Briars and Thorns which is covered with darkness which is Foggy whose trees scarce bear leaves whose Winter is appeared and come who is Judged not with the hearing of the ea● nor with the seeing of the eye whose tree scarce bears its own seed on whom the rod must come and whose trees must be broken down and bundled up for the fire and gathered up of the Earth before it be drest and it be brought into order who are as dry trees when the Sap is in the root husky and bald which the wind clutters together which blowes up many by the root The Lord is hedging up together and bringing the wilderness into a narrow place and plucking it up and making it fit for himself and burn up the wood with fire The night is gone the day is come rejoyce ye Children that be at work whilst it is day labour for with fire and Judgment will the Lord rule which cleanseth away the dark aire which fire take away the venome as the fire through the Wildernes goes Read and Consider Ye whose eyes are open for the Lord is dressing the earth and his husband-men are at labour who reign above bryers and dry trees That crawle one among another but many dead briars and wood lyeth upon the ground that bears not fruit to men much less to the Lord which must be plucked up and burnt that the earth may be clean that it may come to enjoy her Sabaoth it hath layne long undrest and rough and thorny and briary and that which cumbreth it hath reigned but now the Lord of the Harvest and Vineyard is risen to cleanse that which plowes up is enterd and turnes over goes on and overthrowes that the ground may be fit for the seed He that hath an ear to hear let him hear the Lord is hedging up that wherein lodgeth the darkness the bryers and thorns and coverings and shutting it up and bringing to the unquenchable fire and making the earth fit for his seed who will gather it into his garner Thus bryers and Thornes and Trees stand in battell against the Lord whose fire is coming upon them The End