credit at their hand He must forsake all good then by their cause may stand Preamble to the Persecutors Laws made against the People of God and the Kings good Subjects WHereas there is a cursed Sect of Hereticks lately risen up in the world which are commonly called Quakers who take upon them to be immediately sent of God Infallibly assisted by the Spirit to speak and write blasphemous Opinions despising Government and the Order of God in Church and common Wealth speaking evil of Dignities reproaching and reviling Magistrates and Ministers seeking to turn People from the Faith and gain Proselites to their pernitious way Observe Here 's the Persecutors preamble to their Antichristian Law the unrighteousness of which is of their Father the wicked One who from the beginning hath been an Accuser of the Brethren wherefore the things of the Kingdom of God are hid from them Mat. 11.25 Luke 10.21 In which state they remain as the rebelious Jews calling good evil and the truth blasphemous Opinions having no more justly to accuse the Quakers of evil then had the wicked Jews against the People of God in the Apostles day and will in this following work appear so to be to every true Christian Readers view of the same Here now begins these free-mens sin The Cause for which Gods Judgments bring Preamble to these Persecutors Law The Court Considering the Premises and to prevent the like Mischief as by their means is wrought in our native Land Observe That of their many Lyes and Unjust charges against both the Quakers Baptists and other Dissenters as well as against them of the Church of England is a Record to the end of Time as also of their many other unrighteous Works against the People of God and the Kings Subjects which had they and their Brethren been as clear from all means of mischief as the Quakers there had neither Rebellion Treason or Murder against the King been alledged to the charge of their New-England Brother Hugh Peters Venner and others of their Brethren in England which they call our native Land New-England Persecutors Law 1. Do hereby order and by the Authority of this Court Be it ordered and Enacted That no Master or Commander of any Ship Bark Pinnace Ketch or other Vessel henceforth bring into any Harbour Creek or Cove within this Jurisdiction any known Quaker or Quakers or other blasphemous Hereticks upon the Penalty of the Forfeiture of Oâ—â— hundred Pounds to be forthwith paid to the Treasureâ— of the Cuntry except it appeareth that such Maâ—ter wanted due 〈…〉 of information that they were such and in 〈◊〉 â—â—se he â—ay clear himself by his Oath when sufficienâ— proof 〈◊〉 the contrary is wanting and for default of payment of the said Fine of one hundred Pounds or good Security for the same such Master shall be committed to Prison by Warrant from any Magistrate there to continue till the said Fine be satisfied to the Treasurer as aforesaid 2. And the Master or Commander of any such Ship or Vessel that shall bring them being legally convicted shall give in sufficient Securiry to the Governour or one more of the Magistrates to carry them to the place whence he brought them and on his refusal so to do the Governour or said Magistrate or Magistrates shall commit such Master or Commander to Prison there to remain till he shall give in sufficient Security to the content of the Governour or said Magistrate 3. And if any Person or Persons within this Jurisdiction shall henceforth entertain and conceal any Quaker or Quakers or other blasphemous Hereticks Knowing them to be such every such Person shall forfeit to the Country Forty Shillings for every hours entertainment and concealment of any such Quaker or Quakers as aforesaid and shall be committed to Prison as aforesaid till the Fines be fullly satisfied and paid Observe That several of the Kings Subjects Masters or Commanders of Vessels suffered to the utmost extreamity of this unrighteous Law which is so repugnant to the Law of God and the Kings Laws that in making and prosecuting the same they oâ—t do all their fore-Fathers and elder Brethren in Iniquity which Law was so well pleasing to the Priests who the more that people might believe their work to be sanctified set one day apart for Preaching and Praying as a day of Thanksgiving for the same hoping that by the means of a thorow prosecution of this Law to keep their Jurisdiction clear of every Person called a Quaker and that then their freemen would take the more courage against the Baptists and them of the Church of England for with the Quakâ—rs they were hard beseâ— and in fear they would deprive them of their God and as Leâ—etrius their Trade would come to nothing and in fear of being slain as was their elder Brother Vagabond Cain who as these had no certain dwelling in the Truth which if their Worship had been the true Worship of God as we read John 4.24 but on the contrary as we read Mark 7 6 7 8 9. Mat. 15.8 they worship't they knew not what John 4 22 in which state of Disobedience they were far from the Rule of doing as themselves would have been done unto Mat. 7.12 Luke 6 31. but in fleeing the Land to sâ—ve their Purses with which their minds did abide regarded not the Rule to entertain Strangers Heb. 13.2 but on the contrary gaâ—e them the like entertainment as the wicked Jews did to Christ and his Apostles from whose Rule of â—râ—eing all things â—râ— held fâ—t that which is good from the sâ—me do these Persecutors Law restrain as will more at large hereafter appear Of the like Laws we never finde By men that God and King do mind New England's Antichristian Law 4. And every Person or Persons that shall encourage or defend any of their pernicious ways by speaking writing or meeting on the Lords Day or at any other time shall after due means of conviction incur the Penalty ensuing viz. Every one so meeâ—â—ng shall pay to the use of the Country for every time Ten Shillings And every one speaking in such a Meeting shall forâ—eit Five Pounds Observe That by 〈◊〉 Law and the other afore-mentioned Law of forty Shillings for every hours entertainment to any Person or Persons or others whom they account blasphemous Hereticks as they did account all that dissented from their Priests Worship by which two Laws they gained abundance of Money for Fines of the Inhabitants who were found either at the Quakers Meeting or to entertain their Relations and Kindred though Father or Mother Brother or Sister or any other Friend or Friends or Relations and Kindred whom in their Law They call by the name of Strangers and Vagabonds as by the following Laws will further appear and that every man by Membership admitted to the freedom of their Body Politick was according to their Priests way of teaching become a Ruleâ— to lord over the Faitâ— of every Dissenter by
GOD or KING as is manifested by their Works Priests Rulers Masts for Ships Dâ—ceis and Lyes withall Poor People made to pay for Presents to White-hall New-England Persecutors Laws against the Kings good Subjects upon Complaint of the Priests put into Execution again NOW forasmuch as new Complaints are made to this Court of such Persons abounding especially in the Eastern parts endeavouring to draw away others to that wicked Opinion it is Ordered That the last Law Tit. Vagabond Quakers May 1661. be hence-forth in force in all respects provided their Whipping be but through three Towns and the Magistrate or Commissioner signing the Warrant shall appoint both the Towns and number of Stripes in each Town to be given 1662. Obs Here by comparing this their Date to their Law with the date of the Kings Letter how little regard they had to the Kings Mind and Will therein contained which was whether condemned to suffer Death or Imprisoned or to suffer corporal Punishment to forbear to proceed any further therein but forthwith to send the said Persons over into the Nation of England with the respective Crimes or Offences laid to their Charge to the end such course might be taken with them according to the Nature of the Offence as should be agreeable to the English Laws Which express command of the King was but a small time minded by them for upon their considering the cause some small time proposed to themselves that by virtue of their Idol Charter they had as much Power in New-England as the King had in Old-England and had they the like strength of Men and Shipping would no doubt with stand all Kings and Princes that should adventure to oppose their way now had not I my self heard some of them say these things durst not have charg'd it here upon them to publick view and for a further evidence of the same witness their Proclaiming with a Trumpet before them against the Kings Commissioners in Boston perswading the People as near as as they could That their Commissions were made under a Hedge with much 〈◊〉 of the like Nature too â—orge here toâ— relate Priests Rulerr bloody Work on People hath brought Wo With their consent that silent were to have it so They 'r Works of him that is of Hell ' Gainst God and King all such Rebell New-England Persecutors Law against the Kings Subjects Whereas it may be found amongst us that mens Thresholds are set up by Gods Thresholds and mens Posts by Gods Posts especially in open Meetings of the QVAKERS whose damnable Heresies and abominable Idolatries are hereby promoted imbraced ând practised to the Scandal of Religion hazard of Souls and provocation of divine Jealousie against this People For Prevention and Reformation whereof it is Ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof That every Person found at a Quakers Meeting shall be apprehended ex Officio by the Constable and by Warrant from a Magistrate or Commissioner shall be committed to the House of Correction and there to have the Discipline of the House applyed unto them and to be kept to work with Bread and Water for three days together and then to be released or else shall pay a fine of five Pounds in Money to the Country for every such Offence and all Constables neglecting their Duty in not faithfully executing this Order shall incur the Penalty of 5 l. upon conviction one third part whereof to the Informer Obs The Reader may here take Notice of one of these Persecutors many horrid and wicked Lyes so proved by their Contradiction who in their Preambles to their Laws accuse the Quakers with keeping their Meetings private yet at unawares in their Bridewell Law they charge the contrary and though they pretend the sin is great yet it may be bought off for five Pounds in Money as often as they please but the said Sum not being paid them by any one they were much enraged thereat finding their covetous design in making said Law disappointed because it reach no further than to punish them that were not free to pay 5 l. for being at a Quakers Meeting as aforesaid the Penalty of which Law several Merchants in Boston suffered rather than to disobey God by satisfying the lust of such covetous Priests and Rulers who prefer the love of Money before punishing for that which themselves account so great sins as by the Preamble of their Laws they pretend these above-mentioned to be Their bloody Laws are almost done Which Work the Priests at first begun New-England Persecutors Preamble to their Laws against provoking Evils as they call them Whereas the most wise holy God for these several years past hath not only warned us by his word but chastized us with his Rod inflicting upon us many general Judgments but we have neither heard the word nor rod as we ought to be effectually humbled for our sins to repent of them hence it is the righteous God hath hightened our Calamity and given Commission to the barbarous Heathen to rise up against us and become a smart Rod and severe Scourge to us in burning and depopulating several hopeful Plantations murdering many of our Inhabitants of all sorts and seeming as it were to cast us off and putting us to shame and not going forth with our Arms hereby speaking aloud to us to search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord our God from whom we have departed with great back-sliding Obs That to acknowledge the Truth is well and well would it be indeed if they were found acknowledging the whole Truth and to repent of shedding innocent Blood which is the great sin of New-England Priests and Rulers as also of the consenting Church Members thereof but of this there is no mention made in their Preamble-confession of words without Works of Truth and Righteousness to God and People according as is at large manifest by their afore-mentioned Laws the neglect of which Execution was by their Priests imputed to be the main cause of general Judgment to come upon them But they use to say If all the Quakers were hanged and all other Dissenters clear'd out of their Jurisdiction then would their Land enjoy Peace Unto which Work the Rulers were bewitched so far as the Devil was permitted to drive them who were as willing to run and to work they went against all Dissenters and set forth a Book against the Baptists entituled The Rise and Foundation of the cursed Sect of Annabaptists in which was as many Lyes as they use to gather for their Pulpit Work on the first Day against the Quakers which Lyes to hear also costs the People Money None are more blind than those that will not see The cause for which Gods general Judgments be New-England Persecutors Law against Provoking Evils as they call them 1. This Court apprehending there is too great a neglect of Discipline in the Churches and especially respecting those that are their Children through the non acknowledgment of them
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