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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93230	The Saints testimony finishing through sufferings: or, The proceedings of the court against the servants of Jesus, who were called before them to be tryed at the late assizes (or sessions) held in Banbury in the county of Oxon, the 26 day of the seventh moneth, 1655. Also a relation of Margret Vivers, going to the steeple-house in Banbury, after the assize (or sessions) as aforesaid: and a testimony against false prophets, and false doctrine; ... And the manner of Richard Farnsworth imprisonment at Banbury, with a short examination and answer. And the cause of his detainment. Also, a warning from the spirit of the Lord (in his hand-maid Anne Audland) to the persecuting priest and people, &c. And a letter of Robert Rich to the magistrates of Banbury, ... Likewise a letter of Tho. Curtis to the professed minister called Samuel VVells in Banbury. And a certificate wherein is manifested the diligence that was used to know the causes of the prisoners commitments ... (Anne Audland, Iane VVaugh, Sarah Tims, and Nathaniel VVeston) as wel as Robert Rich, ... With a paper relating the sufferings of the innocent.	Vivers, Margaret.; Audland, Anne, 1626 or 7-1705.; Rich, Robert, d. 1679.; Curtis, Thomas, 17th cent.	1655 (1655)	Wing S365; Thomason E857_7; ESTC R203441	49,745	48

THE SAINTS TESTIMONY Finishing through SVFFERINGS OR The Proceedings of the Court against the Servants of Jesus who were called before them to be tryed at the late Assizes or Sessions held in Banbury in the County of Oxon the 26 day of the seventh Moneth 1655. Also a Relation of Margret Vivers going to the Steeple-house in Banbury after the Assize or Sessions as aforesaid And a Testimony against False Prophets and false Doctrine with an Answer to the Objection about the woman forbidden to speak in the Church And some passages about the Lords former sending of his Servants and Messengers And who are no Jesuits Fugitives nor Vagabonds And the manner of Richard Farnsworth imprisonment at Banbury with a short Examination and Answer And the cause of his detainment Also A Warning from the Spirit of the Lord in his hand-maid Anne Audland to the persecuting Priest and people c. And a Letter of Robert Rich to the Magistrates of Banbury and to Iohn Griffith Deputy Recorder who sate Iudge in their Court at the Assize or Session as aforesaid Likewise a Letter of Tho. Curtis to the professed Minister called Samuel VVells in Banbury And a Certificate wherein is manifested the diligence that was used to know the causes of the prisoners commitments that were called to a trial at Banbury Anne Audland Iane VVaugh Sarah Tims and Nathaniel VVeston as wel as Robert Rich who was that day committed out of the Court to prison in Banbury With a Paper relating the sufferings of the Innocent Rev. 12.13 17. And when the Dragon saw that he was cast unto the Earth he persecuted the woman which brought forth the Manchild and the Dragon was wrath with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle neer the West end of Pauls 1655. THE Saints Testimony Finishing through SUFFERINGS THere being a General Sessions and pretended Goal-Delivery holden at the Town and Burrough of Banbury the fourth day of the week being the six and twentieth day of the seventh moneth 1655. and to many known that several of the Servants of the Living God were there imprisoned whom the world in scorn calls quakers so many friends to them and the truth of God were moved out of Bristol Glocestershire Barkshire and other parts of the Nation to come and visit them and to use their endeavors that justice and equity might be done them at the beginning of the Sessions we were there and heard the Charge given and was present the whole time all our friends were tryed and observed as followeth After awhile one Thomas Colle was called into the Court who bore som office in the Town when he appeared it was observed great rage against him role yet little was said to him but that he was unmannerly in that he kept on his hat and they asked him if he knew where he was or before whom and said that he affronted the Court and words to that purpose although the man uttered not one uncivil word whereupon the Deputy Recorder called Iohn Griffith who sate Judge in the Court fined him to pay five pounds condemned him to prison til he should pay the same he was fined forty shillings more for neglect of his office as they said and because be refused to pay the money was sent to prison accordingly as they had commanded This hard sentence being thus passed was a great burthen to them who loved Righteousness and expected equity And clearly seeing that the said Thomas Cole for conscience sake could not respect any ones person he being enlightned with the light of Christ Jesus which respecteth no mans person and in obedience to him and the Apostle who was guided by the same spirit of Light who saith My brethren have not the faith of our Iesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons for if ye respect person yee commit sin Iames 1.9 and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors After that the said Thomas Cole was sent to the prison as aforesaid one Robert Rich standing not far from the place where the Judge sate who is a friend to all that love righteousness was made a witness for the just GOD against all injustice and deceit he seeing and hearing the said Judge and some others that sate neer him on the Bench earnestly inviting two men that was in the Court with their hats off whole names as was afterwards informed were two Priests viz. Priest Smart and Priest Iones to the transgression of the same thing for which a little before they had fined and sent to prison Thomas Cole namely to the putting and keeping on their hats the aforesaid Robert Rich taking notice of their partiality and unjust proceedings herein and to see the Law of God not regarded by them but threw behind their backs which saith Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy Neighbor was moved of the Lord to speak after this manner Christ Jesus who respecteth not the person of any man and judgeth righteously will give unto every one of you according to your deeds and they that judge ought to judge righteous Judgement without respect of persons some small enmity arose against him and one sitting on the Bench asked what business he had in the Town who answered he came to visit some friends they asked his name and where he lived to both which he gave a meek a just answer presently after this the court a journed til the afternoon In the afternoon friends came again to the Court where the Magistrates was set within a short time she who is called Anne Audland was called to the Bar there in the Court an inditement was read against her charging her with blasphemy on they did proceed to tryal called a Jury brought in their witnesses which differed one from another and was in confusion though they pretended to bear witness to one and the same thing but falsly was the accused there did declare against deny in the presence of the living God those things charged upon her so he that sate as Judg in the court spoke to the Jury that all which was proved could not be found or would not prove blasphemy words to them to that purpose so they went aside to consider of it being together where by the Law they ought to have bin kept alone til they were agreed upon their verdict and being together could not find the bil for some of the Jury said why should we find this bil seeing we have not evidence to prove it or words to that purpose so threw it by but one of them that sate on the Bench that same day is called a Magistrate came in to the Jury when they were together to corrupt and instigate them as

some of the Jury hath confessed which was contrary to the known Law of the Nation in such cases provided contrary to truth and equity which is a greater crime and breach of the Law then those things which many of the servants of Jesus are imprisoned for And after awhile the Jury came into the court was asked if they were agreed to which they said they were gave in their verdict for the Protector but they said they found not blasphemy it was then demanded what was found to which they said misdemeanor then she desired to know what she was accused of for they read then bil called their witnesses for blasphemy but blasphemy was not found then they said they found misdemeanor against her the asked in what they said in calling the Minister a false Prophet but she denyed that she did as they said although it s no transgression to call them false prophets who are false prophets which doth not abide in the doctrine of Christ and their minister being then on the bench in the Court was asked what he had to accuse her of he answered he deserferred his cause to God and said he desired she might have what favour the Law would afford yet for all this though the Bil was not found and though their as they call him there present did not accuse her of any thing they committed her to Prison again who had been there prisoner nine months before and fasly accused at her first commitment for no other thing did she speak but the truth according to plain Scripture a true Relation of which is published and declared in a printed paper being intituled A true Declation of the suffering of the Innocent who is hated and persecuted without a cause which is made manifest dayly for which the righteous Iudge of all the world will deal righteously and call you to an account and weigh you in an equal ballance and measure you in a just measure and from the hand of the Lord must you receive a reward according to your deeds After that then there was one Iane VVaugh called to the Barre who had been imprisoned about sixteen Weeks before in the Town of Banbury who at first coming thither was in obedience to the Lord to declare his truth and witness against deceit for which she were beaten and abused persecuted and imprisoned and evilly entreated in the said Banbury as the servants of the Lord in former ages as wel as this were by such an evill generation and seed of evil doers as they are whose fruits makes them manifest to be guided by the same spirit though under a refined subtilty that other persecutors of the innocent spoken of in Scripture were The said Iane VVaugh as foresaid who had been a witness to the truth of God and against the deceit of the world and after she had been sore abused in the said Banbury persecuted imprisoned and put forth of the Town for witnessing the truth against deceit and after a certain time being moved by the Spirit of the Lord to come into Banbury again and being with a friend getting him to write a Letter for her the Magistrates hearing of her being there sent for her to come before them Iohn Austine who was then Mayor caused the Oath of Abjuration to be tendred unto her and because in obedience to the commands of Christ Jesus who saith Swear not at all she refused to swear being faithfull to him abiding in his Doctrine and although she so did in obedience to his Command out of love to him and his truth and there in their court when the said Oath was tendred she utterly denyed all things contained in that Oath and Witnessed against all Popery and Popish Jesuiticall Opinions whatsoever yet the was then notwithstanding all that committed to Prison where the remained though the breach of any Law were not laid to her charge til the Generall Sessions Assize or pretended Goal-Delivery when and where she was called to the Bar as abovesaid and appearing there that day where no Accusation and witness came in against her nor any breach of the Law or mis-demeanor laid to her charge but notwithstanding she was asked to put in sureties for her good behaviour then she asked them on the bench what Law she had broken and would have had them to have convinced her of a transgression by making known to her the breach of some Law the which they refused but she could get no other answer but that if she would not give in sureties she must to prison again which was done accordingly now let all the wise in heart that truly fear God consider whether these proceedings against the innocent be either legall or just and if they do not exceed the proceedings of heathen Magistrates who sate Judges in tryals against the Christians and servants of Jesus in former ages as in the Scriptures are left upon Record Consider and see the actings of the persecuting Jews who had the form but wanted the power and so out of a blind zeal persecuted the Servants of Iesus who were in the power and life of truth and they were sore moved and offended at the Servants of Iesus and exceeding mad against Paul who was pressed in Spirit being in Macedonia to testifie to the Iews that Iesus was Christ and when they aposted themselves and blasphemed he shoke his Rayment and said unto them your blood be upon your own heads and having cleared his conscience to them he departed and went to the Gentiles and so entred into a certain mans house that worshipped God and being moved of the Lord he spoke and was not afraid the Lord being with him and having much people in that place where he continued a year and six months teaching the word of God among them and the Iews which made insurrection against Paul when they brought him before the Deputy of Achaia for teaching the word of the Lord which their dark minds who lived in Envie and Malice against the truth could not receive And now observe the actings of the Deputy of Achaia who though he might be accounted a heathen or an Antichristian whose proceedings in that case might preach or teach wisdome to some who profess themselves to be Christian Magistrates for when Gallio was the Deputy of Achaia as Iohn Griffith Deputy-Recorder was Iudge in the Court at the assize or sessions in Banbury before whose judgement seat the servants of Iesus was brought by such as had made insurrection against them in their Market Steeplehouse and Steeplehouse-yard in nature like the envious persecutors of the Servants of Jesus For the Iews made insurrection against Paul and brought him before Gallio to the Iudgement Seat and laid down their accusations against him according to Law there and then accusing him to the Deputy who sate as Judge saying in their accusation this fellow to wit Paul perswadeth men to worship God contrary to the Law and when Paul the accused was about to open

his mouth to answer against that accusation and for himself the Deputy of Achaia which Paul was brought before to wit Gallio answered and said unto the Iews very wisely in the Prisoners behalf who it is likely in his conscience was convinced of their envie and malice against him he said to the accusers if it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness O ye Iews being troubled to see their unjust accusations and unreasonable actings reason would saith he that I should bear with you but if it be a question of words or names and of your Law look ye to it for I wil be no Iudge in such matter and he drove them from the Iudgment seat Act. 18.12 13 14 15 16 So where wicked lewdness or a matter of wrong is committed reason doth require to hear it and reasonable men to determine or judge according to equity that are to judge in that case and to hear the accused as wel as the accusers that Justice may be Ministred according to the offences but if it be a question of words or names or telling hireling Priests or false Prophets of their deceits and false worships who profess themselves to be Ministers of Christ and are not let them either plead their cause from the Scriptures if they can to procure their practise to be according thereunto or else let them cover their faces for shame After Paul who was brought before Gallioes Judgement seat had taken leave of the brethren being at liberty he went thence into Syria and from thence to Ephesus and there entred into the Synagogue and reasoned with the Iews and went from Ephesus unto Cesaria and when he had saluted the Church he went down to Antioch Act. 18.18 to the 24. and spent some time before he departed and having his freedom departing from Antioch he went over all the Countrey of Galathia and Phrygia strengthning the Disciples and although he thus wandred or went through the Countries yet were he neither Iesuit Fugitive nor Vagabond and passing through the upper Costs came to Ephesus and there finding Disciples he layed his hands on them and were strengthned by him and he went into the Synagogue and there boldly declared the things which concerned the Kingdom of God where some believed as others who believed not were hardned and spake evil of the truth as they do now And there were seven Sons of one of the Iews with certain Vagabonds Iews and chief of the Priests who were hypocrites that imitated or counterfeited the way of God and had a just recompense for their reward so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded so there arose no small stir about that way for they that were in the false worship made a great uproar but the Town Clerk appeared the people and did not impute it to Paul but said to the rude multitude and false worshippers that they ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly and told them that they were in danger to be called in question for that dayes uproar and did not lay it to Pauls charge that he was the cause of this their Tumult and misdemeanour although he had declared against their deceit and false worship and after the uproar was ceased Paul called the Disciples unto him and imbraced them and was not at that time committed to Prison but departed from thence and went into Macedonia and when he had gone over those parts and had given them exhortation he came into Greece and passing through severall places and countries strengthning the Disciples and preaching the Kingdome of God freely declaring the counsell of God coveting no mans silver nor Gold and as he finished his course the Iews and false worshippers which were of Asia when they saw him in the Temple who had not the command there but the chief Priests and persecuting Iews their party who crying out and said Men of Israel help this is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people and the law and this place meaning the Temple and all the City was moved and the people ran together and they took Paul and drew him out of the Temple as they now do out of their pretended Churches or Idol-Temples such as are witnesses against deceit and forth with their doors was shut Acts 21.27 28 30 31 c. and as they went about to kill him their envy being great and their rage high Lissius the chiefe Captain hearing that the whole City were in an uproar and finding the Iews going about to kil Paul they seeing the Captain and souldiery coming left beating of him so the chiefe Captain took Paul out of their hands demanding who he was and what he had done and the multitude being confused some crying one thing and some another and not knowing the certainty he commanded him to be carryed into the Castle and on the Staires he was preserved and born of the Souldiery from the violence of the people who tumultuously followed after him crying away with him and when he was on the Staires the Captain gave Paul Lycence liberty to clear his conscience to them which when he had done the Zealous falseworshippers and antichristians lifted uptheir voyces and cryed away with such a fellow from the earth it is not fit that he should live Act. 21.40 the 22.1 to the 23. ver And their malice and envy being great after they had judged him not fit to live and had not the Magistrate preserved him they had taken away his life when they cryed out against him cast off their Cloathes and threw dust in the ayre Then the Captain commanded him to be brought into the Castle to be examined that he might know wherefore they cryed so against him and the Captain through mis-information caused him to be scourged and bound with thongs contrary to the Law of the Romans being un-condemned who after he knew that Paul was a Roman he was afraid because he had acted contrary to the Law and after he knew the certainty wherefore Paul was accused of the Jews he dealt justly and loosed him from his bonds and commanded the chief Priest and all their counsel his accusers to appear and brought Paul down and set him before them giving him liberty to speak for himself and after he had spoken for himself and the truth being cleared there was a Division amongst the people and many received it though it were by others rejected who continued in their persecution and the Captain fearing lest they should bave pulled him in pieces preserved him out of their hands and after that the chief Captain heard that the chief priests and jews had conspired against Paul to take away his life and fourty of them had bound themselves under a great curse that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed him but the Governour preserved him out of their cruell hands and sent Paul away by night unto Cesaria providing with him necessaries meet for that journey and

you are found out of the Doctrine of Christ in the steps of the false prophets and amongst the Scribes and pharisees called of men Masters and hath the chiefe place in the Assembly stands praying in the Synagogues and bind heavy burdens upon the people and grievous to be born and as Christ cryed wo to your Fathers the same Woes are to you their off-spring who are found with their Marks and following their steps you are clearly seen with the light and comprehended and with the Light judged and condemned though to some you appear like Graves which men pass over and are not aware wo unto you whited walls and painted Sepulchers ye serpents ye generation of Vipers how shall you escape the damnation of hel as Christ hath said Mat. 23.33 Luk. ●● 44 ver c. Mark 12.38 39 40. A few Observations of the Lords sending his Servants informer dayes c. First THE Lord God of Power in former Ages sent forth his Prophets and Apostles Messengers and Servants his Spirit in the power and life Isa 58.1 Amos 5.10 Isa 3. Isa 8.18 Isa 30.3.3 to deliver his massages and do his service to witness also against the world and the wickedness thereof some to tell the people of their sins and cry aloud spare not and to reprove in the Gate and cry out against pride and oppression and were signes and wonders in Israel and none could believe their report and witness with them where the Arm of the Lord was unrevealed yet they might do it in obedience to the word of the Lord though they became signes and wonders also to the world as Isajah was that went naked and bare-foot three years in obedience to the Word of the Lord as a signe and wonder unto Aegypt and Ethiopia as it is said Isa the 20. Chap. 2. Some went in obedience to the command of the Lord to cry out against preaching for hire and against injustice and judging for rewards and not suffering the cause of the poor and needy to come before them Zeph. 3.1 ● 3 4 Isa 27.1.23 24 c. and so told their Princes were rebellious and companions of or with thieves as wel as their Judges were ravening wolves and some amongst them roaring Lyons as Micah and Zepheniah and the Lords prophets did Isa 5.21 22 23. Mic. 3.8 9 10 11. 3. And some were sent from one place to another in obedience to the word and spirit of the Lord and sometimes knew to whom to go and what to say and other sometimes they knew to whom and whither or where to go and not at that present time what to say yet they did wel for to obey though they sate where those they were sent to sate and remained where they remained if in silence as Ezekiel the Lords Prophet did Ezek. 3.15 16 17 18 19. seven dayes before the word of the Lord came unto him what to say when he was sent to them of the Captivity of Tel-abib that dwelt by the River Chebar and as Ezekiel the true Prophet of the Lord went amongst them in obedience to the word and spirit of the Lord and sate silent amongst them seven dayes before the word of the Lord came unto him what to say it were no delusion nor deceit And if any of the Lords Servants in obedience to the word and spirit of the Lord should be thereby guided so to do they would neither be deluded nor deceived in and by so doing no more then he was though the world know it not who were ever strangers to the Lord therefore let flesh be silent at the work of the Spirit of God and all such as knows not the eternall word and message of God Who are no Vagabonds nor Iesuits and who are the Vagabonds as herein wil appear First THe Ministers of Christ that went up and down preaching the word of eternall life and were sent to turn people from the darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan unto God and though some of them might have no certain dwelling place Act. 8.4 Act. 20.25 26 27. Act. 26.17 to the 22. Mat. 8.20 yet were they neither Jesuits Fugitives nor Vagabond fellows no more are such as in obedience to the power of the Spirit of God that do so now The Son of man though he had not whereon to lay his head yet he were no Fugitive Jesuit nor Vagabond nor such as in obedience to the Lord that wandred sometimes to and fro and were in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins as wel as in dens and caves of the earth of whom the world was not worthy Heb. 11.36.37 38. they were neither Jesuits Fugitives nor Vagabonds no more are such now to do the work of the Lord and work in his Vineyard whose being is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ though they may go to and fro to preach the word of life in obedience to the commands of the Lord and doing his wil as he of them requireth though contrary to the will of man who lives in Disobedience to the power and spirit of the Lord as Cain the Fugitive and Vagabond did and as such in the envy who are in that nature contrary to God and walking in Cains way now do Gen. 4.11 12 13. 1 Iohn 3.13 19 ver Rom. 1.27 28. Act. 17.5 and to them is the curse and the wo Iude 11. 2 The Ministers of Christ aforesaids did witness against deceit in streets markets and Synagogues yet were they neither Fugitives nor Vagabonds though for it they were haled out and stoned persecuted by the chiefe Priests consent and abused by their party and Vagabond fellows who in persecuting the truth deny the Lord as such Vagabond fellows that parakes with the chiefe Priests to persecute the Saints and servants of Jesus do now Act. 18.4 5 6. Iude 11. as well as the persecuting Priests and Vagabond fellowes that lived in Cains nature as their forefathers formerly did who persecuted the Servants of Jesus for witnessing the truth and testifying against deceit in Streets Markets and Synagogues or Idolls-Temples as their off spring do now persecute those that do as the servants of Jesus therein did and against them they act and vent forth their envy and cruelty by the chief Priests consent and their pratakers act and thereby they manifest themselves to be of Cains stock and their sacrifices to be rejected as his was who make it appear what a seed of evil doers and a cursed Generation they are An Account of Richard Farnsworth's Commitment to Prison in Banbury the 30th of the 7th Month and his Examination and Answer in brief at the Court before the Mayor and Iustices the day following being the first of the eigth Month 1655. AS he with another friend was walking peacably up the street to a friends house in Banbury meeting in the street Aholiab VVest called mayor VVilliam Allen called a Justice with many other people of the town

man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgement wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you and take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts And he charged them saying thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Now all you that denies a perfect heart and are respecters of persons you cannot judge with a perfect heart and such are not Judges for God who judges not with a perfect heart but are respecters of persons but they who fear God and do faithfully with a perfect heart such Judges and Magistrates I own who are just men such rules for God and is a terror to the wicked and for the praise of them that do well and such I am subject to for conscience-sake but they who were the servants of Christ ministers of Christ when they were commanded by the rulers that which was contrary to the command of Christ they said whether is it better to obey God or Man judg ye and I say the same and they which command any thing contrary to the command of Christ which rules and reigns in his people is one in the male and in the female such are not just men fearing God and judging faithfully with a perfect heart and such who do not fear God and have not a perfect heart such knowes not the voyce of God but Christs sheep who follow Christ and are sent of God knows his voyce Now Magistrates and People will say how may we know that you are sent of God as Pharaoh said to Moses VVho sent thee and he answered The Lord sent me to bid thee let Israel go free and Pharaoh said I know not the Lord neither will I obey him and let Israel go free Such are they who fear not God nor know not his voice and such cannot discern the things of God Magistrates nor People who fear not God and have not a perfect heart Now consider if you judg me according to the Law of God when you heard all that was against me and did accuse me but would not hear the accused and the accusers face to face nor those that was by who would have witnessed against those untruths charged upon me but put them forth and said What have you to do here notwithstanding they said they came to bear witness to the truth See how Moses charged the Judges Deut. 1.16.17 saying Hear the cause between your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him ye shall not respect persons in judgment but you shall hear the small as well as the great ye shall not be afraid if the face of man for the judgment is Gods and Deut. 19.16,18 20. The Iudges and Officers was to judge the people with just judgment thou shalt not wrest judgment thou stall not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blinde the eye of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous that which is altogether just shall thou follow that thou mayest live and inherit the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Now this is true judgment and takes hold upon the unjust but here you do not act according to the Law of God who doth respect persons and doth not hear the small as wel as the great which you have not done who have committed me to prison and I had not liberty to speak face to face with my accusers and so I am falsly accused and imprisoned upon a false accusation he that knows all secrets is my witness and he will plead my cause and he will judge righteous judgment upon all the Heathen and the Lord comes with his Saints and this honour have all the Saints to execute upon the Heathen all the judgements written but the Heathen ought not to judg the Saints but the Heathen rages the heathen persecutes and imprisons falsly accuseth the Saints the viols of wrath is now to be poured out upon the wicked and the Saints shall take the kingdom rejoyce in God for ever ever which giveth them victory over the world and gives them strength to rejoyce in tribulation Prayses to the living God for evermore And so I warn you all People Magistrates and Teachers to fear the Lord God lest his wrath and indignation break forth against you and the decree be sealed and he take you away with his grievous stroke and there be no remedy for God is my witness that my desire is for you that you may know the things that belongs to your peace so to you all I have cleared my conscience and I am free from your blood glory to the Lord for evermore who hath given me to believe and suffer for the testimony of Jesus so I remain a witness for the truth a prisoner in bonds at Banbury for the truths sake who am innocent but falsly accused slandered reproached but the reproaches for Christ is my riches whose name in the flesh is Anne Audland The 5 day of the 12 month 1654 To you Magistrates of the Town of Banbury and to thee John Griffith who was called Deputy-Recorder sate Iudg in the Sessions or pretended Goal-Delivery holden the 26 day of the 7 moneth 1655. IT is likely the heat of pour passions being over you may since in the cool of the day better have considered your actions don that day in your court which if with the light of Christ Jesus you have Gen. 3.8 it wil shew you that those who respect the person of any man commits sin are found transgressors of the pure righteous law of God Iam. 2.1 9. which saith thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty but in righteousnes shalt thou judg thy neighbor Lev. 19.15 which if you hearken to and regard the Law written in the heart Ier. 31.33 it will reprove you for your partial actings that day and tell you that you did not do wel to fine Thomas Cole five pounds and for to imprison him till he should pay the same and to bee angry with him for keeping on his hat in your Court and afterwards invite two other men for to put on their hats in your Court namely Priest Jones and Priest Smart consider if this were not partiality and to respect persons and for to act contrary to equity and truth as that in your conscience wil let you see and with mee bear a true testimonie And whether your sending of Jane VVaugh Sarah Tyms and Nathaniel VVeston to prison again they neither convinced of nor being charged with the breach of any known Law nor so much as one witness proving them guilty of the least misdemeanor were not injustice yea or no And whether if you had set them free seeing there was nothing laid to their charge you had not done justly and

sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness Rom. 6.16 Therefore friends and people be not deceived with a vain talk Mat. 12.35 Rom. 11.16 and an outside procession your lives being contrary and ye cannot serve two Masters God wil be no longer mocked by you for such as you so sowe such shall you reap and what measure you meet shall be measured to you again wel heapped pressed down Mat. 6.34 Gal. 6.7 8 and running over wherefore while you have time prise it and reject not the day of Gods visitation neither harden your hearts against him as he calleth you to repentance and so you continue in your evil practises Heb. 3.7 8. and you be destroyed by his just hand And now seeing the Lord God is risen in his Servants to testifie against your evill wayes beware you are not found fighters against him he wil be too hard for you to kick against So I have cleared my conscience unto you Iude 14.17 and remember that in your life time you have bin warned By a Servant of the Lord known by the name of Robert Rich. A Copie of a Letter sent from Thomas Curtis who had been a Captain in the Parliaments Army to Samuell VVells professed Minister of the Town of Banbury and sent to him into the Court or Sessions then holden in Banbury the 27. day of the 7 th Month 1655. Friend I Am not a stranger to thy former conversation and now am witness of thy unjust actions thy deeds make manifest of what Generation thou art and on what foundation thou standest Call to mind thy former Prayers when we were in the Army driven from our Homes persecuted by Cavaliers put to fight for our Freedoms and our Religion as then thou told'st us of is it all come to this Hast thou forgotten thy Vowes Protestations and Promises then made in thy Prayers How that if God would deliver us how we would walk in newness of life and now the Lord hath delivered How art thou turned persecutor if the righteous seed of God Call to mind how thou wouldst cry out against Parents that did not breed up their Children in wisdom and soberness Now thou hast gotten a great living and no place that ever I came in as I can remember so vile as this Town of Banbury under thy teaching Oh see the fruits of thy ministry children scoffing haling stoning and evill speaking and their Parents looking on and countenancing them laughing at them so doing it is a sad sight to see such a reformation and will not the Lord visit for these things Hos 4.9 what may we look at but that it is like people like priest Call to mind thy persecuting of the innocent and causing the Peace to be broken by thy own self and casting it on the innocent making them to suffer for it Canst thou behold these things and not blush How durst thou call thy selfe a minister of Christ and persecute VVas ever any of the true Prophets Apostles or Iesus Christ a persecutor Did ever they when one came into their meeting and stand silent there call to the magistrate to take him away and out him in prison and say they could not go on in their prayer and then after a long imprisonment see him arraigned at the Bar for breaking the peace whenas thou was the cause Was it not thy selfe that caused the people to be breakers of the peace and then make the innocent suffer for it Is this according to Scripture Did the Lord send his Prophets to cry against them that made men offenders for a word set snares for them that reproved in the Gate And canst thou escape who makest a man an offender before he spake a word The just God wil surely finde thee out al Deceivers for wo to them saith the Lord God that hath caused my people to err daub with untempred Morter and cry peace to them to whom God hath not spoken peace Isa 9.16 Ezek 13.10 and so strengthen the hands of the wicked just as it was with the false Prophets so is it now The Prophets prophesie false things the Priests bear rule by their means and the people love to have it so But read thy portion what wilt thou do in the end thereof See again thy subtill dealing with Anne Audland Ier. 5.27 28 29 30 31. that when all the persecution that wit could invent to take away her life for blasphemy would not reach but she was acquitted by the Jury There must be brought her calling the false Prophet and this must be called scandall when by the Scripture it is soon proved and to thy shame remember I know thee Scandalous How often hast thou sate night after night at Cards and sometimes whole nights playing and sometimes compelling me to play with thee for mony then wast thou called of the world a Minister and now art thou turned persecutor in the close see thy unjust dealing when thou hast gotten what the uttermost will of man can do then thou in thy deceit puttest off thy hat and desirest that she may have as much favour as the Law wil afford her thou art content to commit thy cause to God Oh cruel deceit to cover withall But thy covering is too narrow it wil not hide thee Friend to the pure Light of God in thy conscience do I speak and that witness in thee knows these things to be true and that an account thou must give to the great God of all these things in love to thee do I write that thou maist be warned and repentance witness lest the indignation of the Lord be poured out upon thee I have not much more to say at present but desire the Lord that he will open thine eyes that thou maist see the evill of thy heart and live which is the desire of him how ever thou esteemest is a lover of thy eternall peace and one that suffers with the righteous seed called of the World The 27th day of the 7th Month 1655. Tho. Curtis A Certificate of the endeavours or certain Friends which went to the Magistrates of Banbury to have had Copies of the Causes of the Prisoners Commitment at their late Sessions and pretended Goale-Delivery c. VVE whose names are hereunto subscribed do hereby declare to all unto whom this Presents shal come that there being a Sessions pretended Goal-Delivery appointed to be holden for the Burrough of Banbury in the County of Oxon upon the 26 day of the 7th month 1655. Within which Burrough severall servants of the most High God whom the world in scorn call Quakers were imprisoned and at the same Sessions to be brought to tryall We repaired to the said Town of Banbury and went unto Tymothy Harris the Town Clerk thereof and in a civill manner desired Copyes of the causes of their Commitments who absolutely denyed to give any whereupon we went to Iohn Griffith Deputy-Recorder the Mayor and others celled Justices of

thing to his charge yet he might be re-committed to VVard or Prison again and if that be not contrary both to the Law of God and to the Law of the Land what is Consider of it And was it not unreasonable and contrary to Law to commit to Prison and after long imprisonment being called to the Bar and then to demand sureties for good-behaviour and no misdemeanour proved nor any one came against the prisoner either to accuse or prosecute Ought not that to have been according to Law before the other was or ought to be demanded And was it not an unjust thing to commit to prison again for the same when no breach of law was proved against the prisoner neither at his first commitment nor after long imprisonment when he were arraigned or called to the Barr Is these actings either according to Scripture Law Equity or Reason Are you not beside Scripture Law Equity and reason as wel as true Justice herein or do not such as so act bear the Sword in vain the Lord help you to consider of it that you may learn wisdome that the heathen may not laugh you to scorn Ought not the Prisoner by law have been acquitted in the Court after long imprisonment when none came either to accuse or prosecute against him there and likewise Iane VVaugh and Sarah Tims who had been long imprisoned and called to the Bar neither accuser came against them there nor one prosecutor and yet they must be re-committed to prison again except they would finde sureties to be of good-behaviour when none appeared against them to accuse them or prove against them any mis-behaviour and neither any breach of Law either proved against them or laid to their charge is these actings either according to Scripture Justice Law Equity or Reason are they not beside all these in their actings herein and can they be said to be reasonable men that so act against the innocent sufferers and servants of Jesus as they at Banbuoy have done consider wel of it and keep passion and malice down and the Lord deliver me saith Paul from unreasonable men Act. 25.27 2 Thess 3.2 Isa 57.1 2 3 4. and it is a true saying of the Prophet the righteous suffer and no man in his unrighteous nature layeth it to heart yet blessed are they as Christ hath said that suffers for righteousness sake for the Lord Jesus doth take their parts and so the spirit of grace and glory resteth upon them as is written and witnessed Mat. 5.10 11 12. 1 Pet. 4 13 14. Now consider if all these prisoners and innocent sufferers would not have been freed by dew course of Law if it had been executed aright and if any had transgressed the Law ought not they then to have been proceeded against according to Law and so have had the punishment inflicted according to the transgression and have been acquitted or if no Law could be proved against them that they had transgressed ought not by Law their accusers instead of them to have had the punishment which they should have had upon them inflicted and they by the Law released or remedied Do you know what use the Law is of or how to act according to it have you done what you did out of malice or ignorance consider of it and lay these things to heart for be sure the Lord wil call you to an account for your proceedings against the innocent as wel as for all your evill deeds and then what account wil you give and how will you answer before his Judgement seat And withall consider of this Was or is there any Law either of God or the Nation that commandeth a man to put off his Hat and if he do not to fine him five pounds and commit him to prison till he pay the same as one Thomas Cole an inhabitant in Banbuoy was and was it not partiall and contrary to Law if it had been so for to fine and imprison one for the same and perswade other two to the like even in the Court to put on their hats was not here both partiality and malice made manifest and is not that contrary to the Law of God and a contempt to the higher power and Authority Lev. 19.15 Iam. 2.1 9. Isa 1.24 25 2● c. which forbids such things but be sure you wil nor go unpunished of him who bears not the sword in vain for thus saith the Lord by his servant the Prophet Oh! I will ease me of my adversaries and avenge me of my enemies and restore Judges as at the first and counsells as at the beginning when no such things were by them neither acted nor done which can be anywhere proved by Scriptures which stands a witness against them that profess God in words but in works deny him as it is written and witnessed Tit. 1.16 Likewise when one Robert Rich was moved of the Lord to speak something unto you about the proceedings in your Court did not you that sate as judges bid him come up and speak and presently changed your minds or else your words crying out Pul him down and have him to Prison before eyer he had said to you what he had to speak was that according either to christianity truth equity or reason could heathens have done any more Or would not reasonable men have regarden their word The Lord set these things home to your hearts that you may a little better consider and lament as wel as repent least the evil day come upon you al● unawares Did not you at Banbury pretend a Goal-Delivery that day the Prisoners were called but did you intend any such thing do not your proceedings declare the contrary and doth not the witness of God in your consciences witness against you for it as wel as your actions Was not the servants of Jesus that were called before you at the Bar the greatest cause at your size or Sessions held in Banbury that day and was there any Law proved against them which they had in any one point transgressed or broke or had they proceedings according to Law and was there one of than freed by you nay but more added to them and afterward one taken out or the highway or street and haled to prison and no breach of Law laid to his charge though it were desired and also the Fact as wel as the Law by vertue whereof it became a crime yet it were denyed and they kept close under the Earth shut up in a hole or dungeon in Banbury as if they were some great Malefactors and no Law yet laid to their charge that hath been either broken or transgressed by them but such as are friends to Christianity and Equity Truth and Iustice and all such as truly fears God will consider of the sufferings of the Innocent and lay these things to heart though the wicked and such as are without the fear of God regard it not