Haven flowing betwixt by any sort of injury that may be pretended in his Defence or any relating to him This first Project of William Skirm's for which the Asse his Brother as Vndersheriff was a Cloak was concerning a Bill of five pounds due to one Mr. Daniel Lewis This Lewis had been assigned payment in Corn according to his own desire but whether by his own change of mind or being inveigled in Iuly giveth me notice that he expected payment in Mony and not in Corn. Necessity compelling me to entreat his forbearance till Michaelmas following with which request he departed seemingly very willing to comply But upon the 29th day of August next following a Daughter of Lewis's and servant to Essex Merrick Esquire suspected to be a principal Contriver with Skirm came under pretence of discoursing me concerning her Fathers Debt Presently after her entry one belonging to me came and told me that there were Bayliffs near the House The Door being shut Lewis's Daughter whilst I was looking out at Window was busie in opening the Door but was seen and prevented The Chief Bayliff Henry David knockt at the Door very furiously again and again threatning to break it open alledging that he had power so to do attempting the same with a wooden Bar lying near the Dore. After these menaces he retired somewhat from the Door and made Proclamation I heard the Words and divers of my Family besides hearing saw the postures holding a large written Paper by the Corner His Proclamation was Thomas Godwyn Clark Rector of Poulchrohan I require thee in the Kings Name to come forth and surrender thy Body to me as the Sheriffs Baily upon pain of Rebellion This he did thrice and then came again to break open the Door I threatning to shoot any Person that should offer to break open any Door of my House In this manner he spent more than two hours I in the mean time wondring how strange and different from those of other Countrys were the ways of proceeding in Pembrokeshire At length my Man Servant driving home a Cart-load of Corn the Bayliffs ran to him and seized the Horses After many words passing betixt them Henry David striving to unharness them they thrusting the Man side and the Man them said the Man My Master hath entrusted me with the Horses and I will lose my life rather than part with them without my Masters Order This no sooner said but he knockt down David with the But end of a Pitchfork and after three or four dry blows drives the Cart to the place where it was to be unladen David rising up again came after him with a drawn Sword at which my Servant exasperated beat him more severely than before and by accident struck some skin from off his Arm. Before this during the time of his blustering about the House I had sent to know what his business there was with assurance of giving due satisfaction to the Law when I knew what it required and to this I had no other answer but that I must presently open my Doors and surrender my Person to him But at last upon my Servants coming he received what his behaviour demanded and so departed In returning he with Lewis's Wife and Daughter the rest were vanisht went to my beforenamed worthy Friend Mr. Nathaniel Powels house to entreat some Cordial Water for this fainting Executioner of Mr. Skirms Laws There he told a lamentable story how the Sheriff sending him with an Execution issued forth of the County Court Daniel Lewis Plaintiff I and my Servant had beaten him and rescued the Horses taken in Execution Mr. Iohn Powel being present read the Execution and the Bayliff having shewed his Wounds and Bruises went away This Execution was taken out no previous Attachment or Summons one of the two being absolutely necessary being served in order to a Legal Trial neither had I heard any thing of a Law Suit with Lewis or in the least suspected it Moreover the second of September following I caused the Cursitors Office to be searcht whether any Writ of Iusticies without which the County Court could not sue for any Debt or Account above forty shillings had been granted in this Case which was certified not to be granted But this my sawciness in examining Mr. Skirms actions which were wont to be justifiable by his bare Will made him excessively cholerick and to my face to threaten me That he would do my business Yet Skirm and one Richard Owen a Soliciter in the County Court thinking to Palliate the foulness of the Act gave out that David had no Execution but an Original Attachment to serve all which appeared to be false as well upon search into the proceedings of the Court as Mr. Iohn Powell's sight of the Execution But I must return to look after Henry David who in the way home conducting the She Setter Mr. Lewis's Daughter to her Master Essex Merricks House the complaint was made to this Worshipful Mr. Justice who immediately granted forth his Warrant for apprehending me and my Man The next morning August 30. the Constables took and brought me before this Gentleman and one Mr. Thomas I think to be his name LLoyd of Grove who required of me two Sureties for the Behaviour I replying that being a stranger in that Country I could not every where procure Sureties but if they saw good to believe me I wouâ—d this being Saturday in the afternoon certainly on Munday following bring them Security to Answer and Traverse whatsoever Indictment on any pretence should be brought into Court I explained to them Henry Davids words and behaviour and assured them that I was not near him but kept my self within the House and that he would send me no account wherefore he came thither and that I had no cause if he had told me his business to submit to an Execution in regard I had no notice to defend my Cause Mr. Merrick answered We know him to be a great Rogue but he hath sworn against you and you must either give good Bail or go to Prison I thankt them for their respects to me as a Clergy-man in refusing me a Credit than which none is more usually given to inferiour Persons especially in a matter of Complaint by so notorious a Rogue as they bespake him and then the Constables guarded me to the Town of Pembroke These Justices and most men inhabiting the County had known this Henry David to have been divers times accused of Rapes indicted and convicted of making arrests and seizures without Warrant or Cause of arresting two Widows and not allowing them time to procure Bayl but carrying them into uncooth places and there proposing to compound the pretended differences and release them upon receiving satisfaction of his Lust. For these and other enormities the Judges had fined him and commanded that he should no more be suffered to act as a Bayliff But being so much the fitter instrument for Mr. Skirm he was not in the
wanting to add fewel to their jealousie which increasing they deserted the Knot of Complicators and not only compounded with me but became also Conformable The rest stood off but not much longer The miss of so many Contributors troubled them for Seditious men as they are Malitious and care not how deeply they engage in mischief so are they for the most part Seditious out of Covetousness These also began to be jealous one of another and by degrees compounded all except Teage and Winston who in conclusion were the Asses which bare the others burdens for they were compelled to agreement on almost arbitrary Terms Thus was the storm over which by most rational mens conjectures would have sunk or wrackt me but Divine Providence reserving me to further trials permitted not this Divice to be successful their own follies ruined what in their first consultations was perniciously resolved Then I had some rest for two years the following Mayors Sir Robert Yoemans and Alderman Streamer being so generously and discreetly affected to Loyalty and the Discipline of the Church that the sly Conventicler durst not attempt by them The Bishop would not be moved and the Law gave him no encouragement The Adversary had during the late times of Confusion concealed the Vicaridge Rights and hoped to have involved them in Custom insomuch that at my first coming thither my yearly accounts of the Vicaridge Tithes Offerings and other Customary Duties amounted not to thirty pounds which by their own wrangling and disingenuous practises chiefly I had by this time raised to be an hundred and ten pounds yearly being perfectly assured they were worth thirty pounds more But I thought I had done enough and was desirous of embracing that tranquility which then seemed to Court me Nevertheless within half an year after the birth of my confidence that I should be at rest having patiently wearied the men of commotion it pleased God that I was afflicted with a violent Quartan Ague which worried me two years together Towards the end of this distemper a certain Quaker named Morrice Williams whose Wife was Master and Governor according to the methods of perverseness in general use among Sectaries fearing a Law Suit for the tithes of many years in arrears came to me and reckoned with me the account arising to twenty three pounds and upward This Debt he said he could not pay in ready mony neither otherwise in regard of his Wifes unmanagable temper But he desired me for the future to take my Tithes in kind wherein I shoulâ— have no opposition but a free allowance from him so to do and also to take as much more as my Tithes yearly until the Debt should be satisfied Tâ—is was on both sides concluded but not put in execution Morrice Williams soon after dying His Widow I designed to compel to payment being able to prove the account and acknowledgements of her Husband To this end I caused her to be summoned into the Ecclesiastical Court where she was required either to produce and prove a will or to Administer to her Husbands Estate She denied any Will made or to take any Oath in order to Administration Her refusal being entred I administred as Principal Creditor and by virtue of my Administration took into my Possession divers Head of Cattle But Mr. Thomas Day beforementioned being Landlord of what ground Morrice Williams farmed caused the Cattle to be brought back by an illegal Replevin His reasons for fetching them back were grounded upon a pretended Right that he had to â—hem as being made over to him by Morrice Williams in his lifetime and that the cause of this Conveyance was that Williams and his Wife being obstinate Conventiclers if their Cattle should be seised for penalties in meeting contrary to the Tenor of the Acts against unlawful Assemblies they might be disabled from paying his rent So here was a present Fraud to bassle the procedure of Justice out of pretence of an inconvenience that might possibly follow Mr. Day was that year one of the Sheriffs which swelled his confidence and gave his dishonest thoughts the larger Wings But yet this knack of the Conveyance of the Cattle did not look safe therefore at last the Widow â—ued forth of the Prerogative Court Letters of Administration and although not sworn was returned sworn by one Matthew I suppose Hazard a Nonconformist Preacher I opposed my Letters of Administration to hers and upon a Commission inquiry being made what Bona notabilia Morrice Williams had out of the Diocess at the time of his death there was only proof that a certain man owed him five pounds for Hey received from Williams but upon close examination it was found a desperate debt the Debtor owing many hundreds more than he was able to pay whereas it is required that he had of such a value in Goods or Good Debts to make it a Prerogative Case neither could they prove whether this Debtor was then within the Diocess or not This notwithstanding I being confined by sickness to my Chamber and not able to appear in or look after the managing of my Business the Administration was granted to the Widow And after my recovery being in London with my Proctor admiring how the Cause was so carried I received only this satifaction from him This it is to bring into any Court a Cause which is against the interest of the Court. Mr. Day was not content with this Victory nor with ordinary Courses for recovery of Damages pretended to be sustained in driving of the Cattle but sued my Servant to an Outlawry in the Kings Bench. The Outlawry was surreptitiously obtained and the proceedings were in the Kings Bench on purpose to make the Charge excessive before I could be able to make defence Therefore the Writ was taken out in the Middle of Hillary Term and the Man arrested and imprisoned no Bail or Remedy to be taken but that he must continue a Prisoner until by Habeas Corpus he could be brought to give Bail before one of the Iustices of the Kings Bench which could be no sooner than Easter Term. Had not Malice and Zeal to Faction spurred him on that is if bare reparation for a Trespass had been the utmost of his intention the Man might any day or almost any hour of any day have been Arrested the Cause would sooner have come to Tryal and if Justice had favoured him his damages would have certainly not have been the less for his fair and legal proceeding to Judgement However I resolved to stand to Trial having delivered a Writ of Habeas Corpus to the under-Sheriff Mr. Day began some other Phanatical Practises and daily and hourly after the delivery of the Writ some or other from him were tampering with my Servant instilling into his mind many fearful apprehensions of Mr. Days power and his own Danger and at length wheedled the silly Wretch out of three pounds and into a General Release But now I am to relate Passages in comparison
by Mr. Archodeacon Pleydel before named six Vestry men the Church-wardens being not at home and some other substantial Parishioners being present From the Church I went to the Vicaridge House and took possession thereof without the least opposition and after some time spent in it in discoursing I departed first delivering the Keys of the Church and House to the Parish Clerk in the sight of the Archdeacon and of those Vestry men and Parishioners who had accompanied me to be kept for my use and so went home to Filton In the morning I returned and at the usual time began to read Divine Service and proceeded therein unto almost the end of the second Lesson without any persons gain-saying or motion to the contrary except that Mr. Cary while I was reading the Seraphick Hymn went up into the Pulpit and after some stay there being beckoned to by his Brother Iohn Cary a factious busie fellow came down again and with his Brother and Thomas Warren went forth of the Church and in a short space returned with about ten more in company Eight of these Mr. Thomas Cary standing by bidding and encouraging them with promises of Indemnity came to the Reading Desk interrupting and requiting me to cease Reading and come down One took the Bible another the Service Book from before me others pluckt me by the right Arm and some by the right Leg and in so violent a manner drew me out of the Seat that my right Leg was pulled down three steps the other remaining above by reason of somewhat in the way hindring its moving and their hasty Fury allowing me no time to help my self By their so spreading me I was put to inexpressible torture and am yet lame and do doubt I shall continue so while I live Having drawn me out they pluckt off the Surplice and tare my Gown and set up their Idol in my place This commotion began just at my reading the stoning of St. Paul out of the 14th of the Acts the second Lesson for that day being the Festival of St. Barnabas I stayed in the Church until Mr. Cary had ended his Sermon but when I was come into the Church-yard the Constables who it appeared were of the persons who dealt so barbarously with me laid hands upon me to bring me before the Mayor for breaking the Peace and causing a disturbance and uproar in the Church I told them that I would willingly go with them for that I thought my Reading Divine Service could be no breach of Peace or cause of Disturbance but was rather of opinion that their Actions would be interpreted no less than riotous Coming before Sir Robert Cann then Mayor they began a grievous complaint That I had kept Mr. Cary out of the Reading Desk and had disturbed the Congregation and had beaten them being Constables endeavouring to keep the Peace When silence from their impertinent Falsities gave me liberty I acquainted Sir Robert of my Collâ—tion Induction and other Acts before related and that I was no otherwise concerned with any Person than by performing the Requisites of my Office according to the injunctions of the Church until these men interrupted and laid violent hands upon me The Mayor told them That whereas they had accused me themselves were the Offenders requiring of them to appear the next morning at the Toulzey Thither I came with Mr. Pleydell and such Witnesses as both saw my Induction on the Saturday and mine and the others demeanor on the Sunday and Mr. Cary came with his Ianizaries There were present on the Bench the Mayor Sir Iohn Knight Alderman Oliffe Alderman Knight and others to whom giving an account of what had happened the preceding day I desired the Offenders might be punisht and I restored as I ought to possession of my Church Sir Iohn began to examine Mr. Pleydell by what Power he gave me Induction who answered by virtue of a Mandat from the Bishop of the Diocess Sir Iohn desired him to shew it that themselves and their Town Clerk reading it might judge whether it were sufficient to enable him to do what he had done That Mr. Pleydell answered That as soon as he had by an indorsement certified his Act he returned it me Sir Iohn very fiercely demanded it of me to whose demand I replyed That my business before them was not to examine the Legality of the Title but the force and violent retaking possession and the Riot committed in a consecrated Place upon a Person exercised only in officiating in the Church That Mr. Pleydell and so many other Witnesses proving my peaceable Induction and Possession I ought to be restored and that Mr. Cary had his remedy at Law if Institution and Induction had been given me upon unjustifiable grounds Mr. Rumsey the Town Clerk squeekt it for Law That if I refused to shew my Title Mr. Cary ought to be continued in Possession So said Sir Iohn Knight and Alderman Iohn Knight The Mayor and Alderman Oliffe declared their Opinions That my Possession being no forcible Entry but proved to be taken without opposition I ought to be reinstated in it and that they were no competent Judges of the validity of mine and Mr. Cary's Titles which must be left to a Superiour Decision Mr. Rumsey continuing to deliver himself in the former Opinion Sir Robert Canne persisted to declare his thoughts to be as before the same and said further to Mr. Rumsey Mr. Town Clark You are by your Office to direct us what is Law and if you misguide us as I very much suspect you now do look you to it Thus Malice or lgnorance or both prevailing against Justice and Reason I was left to seek Redress where else I could find it none to be obtained there But to to make a shew of Justice on the Wednesday following a Iury was impannelled every person thereof being noted Conventiclers to enquire of the Force but no notice thereof was given me nor Mr. Pleydell nor any other concerned with me This Iury readily brought in against me a Verdict of forcible Entry and he who had twice made forcible Entry first by putting a Boy by Ladders to go in at the Church Steeple to open the Doors and secondly by pulling me violently our of the Reading Place was continued in Possession But as to the Action in the Church I caused Mr. Cary and as many more as I knew engaged in it to be cited in the Ecclesiastical Court and prosecuted upon the Statute of the 4th of K. Edward the 6th This Prosecution was so managed that notwithstanding many arts used and delaying practises Mr. Cary was forced to beg an agreement Which he did first by Mr. Horn a Revetend Prebendary of the Cathedral coming to Mr. Pleydells to entreat his intercession whom Mr. Cary presently followed into Mr. Pleydells House vouchsafing although a Thing otherwise of most exalted Spirits to desire him to interpose between us and prevail by a Reference to put an end to the difference
I esteemed as honest I confess I had also somewhat of experiment to try upon Mr. Cary whether he could be constant to his lately imbibed Principles and appear without blushing and astonishment where such Witnesses as I had to produce should on Oath publish the gross turpitude of a Fact utterly inexcusable At the Trial Mr. Horn Mr. Pleydell and Mr. Penwarden proved exactly the three Considerations on which I had grounded my demand of fifty pounds But Mr. Brent having been very sickly some time before this Hearing proved the three but withall added a fourth Consideration namely the delivery of my Books and Papers relating to the Parish which as it was none of the Considerations but an aftermade Promise upon request so neither was it declared for yet it was proved that I had told Mr. Cary that I had brought them to such a Place in Bristol where he should receive them upon the payment of the mony Nevertheless Mr. Brents testifying this as a Consideration I was Nonsuited and the Jury discharged Whether this Knack was really matter of Law I do not undertake to know But the Iury-men and the rest of the standers by departed declaring that they thought it impossible that Mr. Cary should be guilty of so manifest a piece of Knavery as was now laid open For alas they before esteemed him as some Rarity of Gods more especial Handywork sent thither by an especial Providence Nevertheless he altered not his Countenance but as the Whore that Solomon mentions going away wiping her mouth and saying she had done no harm so he gaining by them cared not by what brand his Actions were noted and thought the shame would be worn out when the mony remained in his Pocket knowing withall that he had multitudes ready to blanch his blackest deeds especially in any thing of concern against me If he had never desired an agreement I had meerly as in respect to the Presentation to Poulchrohan in Pembrokeshire been a Gainer more than the mony promised The death of the Bishop of St. Davids Dr. Lucy and the late Archbishop Dr. Sbelden soon after occasioning unfortunate and chargeable journeys and attendance with the forementioned Law Charges in endeavouring to recover the fifty pounds caused me forty two pounds expence besides the charge of a Clergy-man serving the Cure and demanding unreasonable rates the Place and Country especially considered besides the havock made of my Tithes in Church-wardens disposing and the ruine of the Parsonage House by my Predecessors Widow who did tear up and carry away the Boards and Timber of three Rooms entirely and almost of a fourth together with eight Doors of the House and divers Gates from off the Gleab Land and other Wastes and Inconveniencies Nevertheless at length I arrived at my Parsonage where I met with Parishoners who constantly frequented the Church and Sacraments and among whom was no sort of Dissenter nor any that seemed inclined to defraud or give me any trouble in my Tithes or Dues Their Conformity and peaceable Demeanour exceedingly gladded me I began to overlook Fortune and with disdain to view her malignity and to tell her that my prospect of a quiet life in that remote Angle of the Kingdom was reparation for all her injuries and strongly conceited my self banisht out of the reach of misfortunes But Faction which searches the very Abisses of Hell for Weapons to furnish its Armory wherewith it dares attempt upon Heaven exercised its Faculties and sent after me Executioners of my Infant Tranquility I thought that the Bristol mens Malice had satisfied it self with a Lusty Revenge in my past losses and sufferings But nothing is more apparent than that Oppression suspecteth its own safety if the Oppressed be not continually beaten down with fresh blows and addition of weights The frequent Commerce between Bristol men and the Inhabitants of Milford Haven where I dwelt gave them opportunity of enquiry by what Methods and Persons further mischief might take its rage And the first that I have heard of was in large offers of Rewards to one Mr. Iohn Powel Town Clark of Pembroke within the Liberties of which Corporation my Parsonage House standeth tempting him to the apprehending of me by the Town Warrants and Officers I happened to fall into an intimacy of Acquaintance at my first coming into that Country with this Gentleman whose near Kinsman and my incomparably kind Friend Nathariel Powel Esquire lived in my Parish at whose House I often met him and in meeting by degrees arrived at the greatest Familiarity He from time to time gave me intimation of designs against me and what Proposals and Answers were made Concealing our Friendship he heard the Invectives of those men for I knew them not whom the Party at Bristol had employed as Factors After two or three Congresses he began more plainly to enquire into the nature of the Causes of Action especially upon hearing great Rewards offered At last he shook them off finding no material ground for complaint or any thing that could correspond with those motions so eager and high in the beginning they ran on very largely in discourses of my Debts and that I was Knavish and would pay no man but upon examination had no Commission from any of my Creditors to demand or sue me for any sum and could produce nothing but trifling matters for Costs recovered in three Suits for Tithes wherein I could not proceed for want of mony after my ejectment out of St. Philips Only before parting he assured them wherever I was concerned in any just Debts he was confident that I would carefully discharge them time only being in reason allowed in regard of my new and chargeable settlement But that if litigious causes of Action were framed he would contribute his best advice and help in my defence rather than suffer me to be ruined by ill practises However they failed of Mr. Powel they hit upon a surer instrument Mr. William Skirm a sort of perpetual Vndersheriff of Pembrokeshire who by himself Brothers Relations or Clarks seldom faileth of managing that Office at the rate he doth it At the time of these men being in that Country Mr. Thomas Brother of William Skirm had the Name of Vndersheriff and knew his Employment somewhat better than his white Staff that he carried as the Signal of his Office The Bristol Factors had not so much Wit as Malice but brought into Pembrokeshire Writs for Costs derected to the Sheriffs of Glocestershire and Bristol which would no way serve the turn there But William Skirm knew how to gratifie them resolving upon some present fetches until he should be better furnisht with instructions from Bristol This I write as their own Confession at Caermarthen in Company of one whom they suspected not to know or have any acquaintance with me And further as being uncapable of provoking Mr. Skirm whom I had never seen of whose name I had never before heard neither dwelt nearer to him than fourteen miles the
so many gross abuses and not much using walking Then was I set on Horseback and after a little time recovering began merrily to reflect upon the great state I rode in to have so worthy a Gentleman as Mr. Goaler to lead my Horse This affronted the honest man and he knowing the Saddle would turn round being too big for the Horse being very small had a present revenge in his thoughts for he lead the Horse out of the way up and down banks till the Saddle turning cast me down This was done twice and I attribute it much to Divine Providence that I escaped with little harm seeing my Arms bound rendred me helpless My Leader and Guides were very â—portive at my Falls and their lifting me up again saying that they must laugh as well as I. As I passed thus along in Staâ—e we met many Persons of Quality in a Company going to a Wedding who exprest their indignation of such usage of a Clergyman Mr. William Bowen of Haverford particularly affirming that he could not brook the sight but would cut the Cords wherewith I was bound I thanked and entreated him to forbear in regard the Persons in whose Custody I was were ill men that valued neither Credit nor Conscience but would Swear any thing and might do him a great injury but that his intended kindness could not be very beneficial to me and thus perswaded him to ride forward hoping that afterward he might do something for me more eminently beneficial I was also led forward and entring Haverford was brought through a considerable part of the Town unto the Prison multitudes gazing and admiringly enquiring whether I had spoken Treason or what was the matter Being conveighed into my Old Lodgings my Arms were freed from their Bonds but my Legs were put into Irons not such as ordinary Malefactors for Burglary or the like are wont to be obliged to with which they can make a shift to walk but an Iron on each Leg through both which an heavy Bolt was thrust and fastned with a Riveted Key It was such that it permitted me not to put one foot an inch before the other neither to lye down or rise without the help of two men the one holding my shoulders the other my feet These two men were Prisoners but had some liberty before but were committed with me for affirming to the Vndersheriff that I had not broken Prison and other truths concerning my being called out of the Prison The coldness of these Irons in two days put me into a Fever and my Feet and Legs exceedingly swelled each day more and more so that at four days end those encompassing my Legs could scarce be discerned The sixth day I laboured under a general indisposition and having not before complained I then said to my two Friends Two days more wearing these things will inevitably kill me Whereupon they made an out-cry and one of them Samuel Roberts procured a Messenger to call to me one Mr. Thomas Lloyd a very friendly Person and frequent visiter of me He came as he had been wont to the Door for the Goaler would not trouble himself to let any in unto me unless such as happened to be there when it was his pleasure to enter himself and being informed of my condition acquainted others with it who came to the Goaler advising him to take off the Irons for the wearing of them would certainly soon dispatch me out of this life which happening he his Master and as many as were concerned in putting them on would certainly be hanged The fear of a Rope brought him to compliance but when he had unrivited the Key of the Bolt the Irons which encompassed my Legs could not be taken off without much pain and bruising me Nevertheless when it was done I was revived and three days after a violent distemper seised me not to my injury but salutiferous by the Strength of Nature and in a fortnight I was indifferently through Gods great blessing well recovered But then just at the Fortnights end came Mr. Goaler telling me that I must again put on my cold Irons that he had taken them off without the Sheriffs knowledge and had been sharply checkt for so doing and commanded to put them on again He had brought with him one Thomas Morgan the Undersheriffs Kinsman and two more to compell me in case of resistance I and my two fellow Prisoners demanded for what reason this was offered Whether I had not behaved my self quietly in word and deed He answered That he could say nothing to the contrary but it was the Sheriffs pleasure and he must obey it I refused to receive them and resisted as well as I could but they were too hard for me and threw me down and Morgan beat my head against a rough stone which was set at my Beds feet to keep the Welch Feathers of my Bed within bounds and brake it in five places The noise drew many Spectators and the fame of the cruel usage of the strange Minister that was in Prison flew swiftly about the Town and fortuned to meet Mr. Robert Chambers Collector of the Custom-House and Mr. William Bowen before named and certain others who sought the Vndersheriff and with severe menaces obliged him to promise himself to see me forthwith delivered from my Irons moreover assuring him that an account must be given for what I had sustained in the cause of so base a Person his harsh dealing not only exceeding what was imposed upon any Prisoners for just debts and far greater sums but even the severity used to the worst of Criminals committed in their memory naming particularly William Philips the Bayliff who was at the taking me upon Michaelmas day I was committed to them between four and five of the Clock in the Afternoon and about eleven at night the Chain Chimes at the Prison Door going gave us matter of wonder what the matter was And the sight of Morgan the Goaler and three more coming in made the Wonder the greater He began but somewhat smoothly to blame my former Escape and Biting jests used towards him which were the cause of the hardships I had endured I only nodded my Head saying Well enough what next If you will said he promise me not to break Prison but to be quiet and orderly your Irons shall be taken off As you know I replied what occasion you have to ask such a question so I will promise nothing else then as I did before to be gone as soon as lawfully I can and not otherwise He answered You did not go away lawfully for although Henry David and the Goaler might call you out of the Prison and you go away thinking your self discharged yet I had in my hands a Capias ad satisfaciendum against you for the Kings First Fruits This is I said the first time I have heard it but the Goaler had no Warrant from you to detain me upon this Cause No he answered it was sufficient in my hands And