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
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