open and our Meetings are publick not in holes nor corners where any that will may come So they were put by And having much ado to patch up an Indictment against Christo Cheeseman there being no record of his second offence according to the Act for he was never taken and committed on the second account being in a strait they called for Christoph Cheesemans Commitment which being given to the Judg he asked if those were all the Commitments The Gaoler answered Yes The Judg finding no second Commitment turned to W. Armorer saying Your best way is to let him go and take him again Upon which Justice Alseworth stood up and said to the Judg If you let this man go he will go about the Countâ—y preaching and do much hurt before you can take him again So then they proceeded and called the three persons before mentioned and read an Indictment agaiâ—st two of them viz. C. Cheeseman and â— Sharp to which they pleaded Not guilty â—hen the Judg called to S. Binfield and asked what age she was But she not answering the Judg called out in the Court saying Who knows what age she is of No answer being made he said to her I think you are but fifteen years old and by that time you are sixteen I hore you will have more wit So she was freed as under age it being but the second time of her commitment it was supposed they would not meddlâ— any farther with her upon that account So the Indictment being read against the other two which was very false in many particulars as That Christopher Cheeseman with other evil persons to the number of five did meet in contempt of the Kings Laws and to the disturbance of the people c. and much more of the same naâ—ure A Jury being called some of whom were so drunk that they were hardly able to speak or stand but as they were supported by others â—n the throng Prisoner said I desire there may be some Witness produced to prove that I go to any such Meetings to plot against the King and that I have at any time been taken at such a Meeting for we meet in the fear of the Lord and our Meetings tend to holiness of life and love and unity among our Neighbours and this the Liturgy of the Church of England doth exhort men unto and here is the Law having it in his hand which speaks positively to the matter as in the laâ—â— Clause of the â—reamble to the Act which shews the very grounds and reasons wherefore the Act was made viz. To prevent plotting and contriving Insurrections as appears farther by the words of the Act which saith That if any person of the age of sixteen years shall be present at any Assembly Conventicle or Meeting under colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion in other manner then is allowed by the Liturgy c. which doth allow that in all places and at all times men ought to perform holy duties to God and to seek him c. Now if any Witness can come and swear That I was there upon such account then let me suffer the penalty which the Act provides Therefore I desire the Witness may be produced to prove what is falsly suggested against me Judg. That is no part of the Law the whole body of the Law followeth calling to the Clerk to read the Law so he read that clause If any persons to the number of five or upward under pretence of tender Consciences shall meet in exercise of Religious Worship contrary to what the Liturgy doth allow c. after lawful conviction of the third offence sentence of transportation shall be given c. C. Cheeseman The Law doth not say that people should not meet really to worship God nor yet injoyn them where or what house to meet in but saith That if any persons to the number of five or upward shall under pretence of Religious Worship meet to Plot c. Judg. That 's no paâ—t of the Law Pris The Law was made to prevent plotting and contriving Insurrections that was the ground and cause wherefore the Act was made and not I hope to hinder any people from worshipping of God or to make them offenders for seeking him so unless it can be proved that I was found plotting c. this Act concerns me not Judg. Here are the Registers under the hands of the Justices and here is Sir William Armorer an honourable Gentleman that is one of them Pris He is honourable that is a vertuous man But the Reader may take notice that there was no Record for the second offence for the Prisoner was never committed on a second Judg. You are an impudent fellow Pris I am not an impudent fellow but do speak the truth for William Armorer is a common Enemy to me and hath used violence towards me divers times and he is a partial man and therefore no competent Witness and I have much to say against him and do desire that Witness may be brought forth if there be any to prove the breach of the Law for there are two principal clauses in the Act upon which you ought to insist for tryal of me The first is Whether it can be proved that I under pretence of tender Conscience did meet to plot against the King and contrive Insurrections among the People And secondly Whether I did meet and was found exercising in Religious Worship contrary to what the Liturgy of the Church of England doth allow Judg. I tell you That the Clause in the Preamble of the Act is no part of the Law Pris 'T is the very ground and substance of the Act and Law made against unlawful Meetings Such that under pretence of tender conscience do meet to plot against the King c. But ours is no such Meeting neither hath there been any witness from first to last to prove any such thing against me Judg. We have witness here if need be looking about him in the Court but none appeared Pris Take heed what thou dost for it is the Cause of God and matter of Conscience towards God only for which I am this day called in question Judg said 'T is no matter for Conscience but for disobeying the Kings Laws Pris I do affirm as in the presence of the Lord That 't is matter of Conscience only and nothing else and there is no proof of any thing to the contrary Judg. Well Jury you hear how 't is and what the Law saith That upon proof made before the Justices against such offenders shall be sufficient Conviction and here are the Registers though there was no second offence under the hands of the said Justices Pris You that are of the Jury I know not the faces of any one of you therefore I leave it to you without any exceptions desiring that you would take notice That 't is matter of conscience only for the Law saith That if any under pretence of tender Conscience shall
meet to plot against the King and to contrive Insurrections or to exercise in Religious Worship contrary to what the Liturgy of the Church of England doth allow c. So that there ought to be proof made that I was found under the aforesaid pretence plotting c. and exercising in Religious Worship contrary to what the Liturgy doth allow c. Judg. You of the Jury you have heard what he saith they would be interpreters of the Laws and spiritual things too you hear what the Law saith That if any persons to the number of five or upward shall meet together in exercise of Religious Worship contrary to what the Liturgy alloweth upon proof thereof made before the Justices and Registers under their hands but here was neither Witnesses nor but one Register of the first offence for there was no second as is said and therefore the Judg would have had W. Armoâ—er have let him go shall be sufficient Conviction Jury go together But the Jury went not from the Barr neither did they call to see the Register under the hands of the fore-mentioned Justices nor yet for any other witness or testimony whereby to be satisfied concerning the Prisoner but rather like drunken men not valuing the Liberty or life of a free-born English man In a small time the Judg having them near him said Jury what say you Guilty or not guilty And two or three of them answered Guilty Judg. What have you to say for your self that sentence of Transportation may not be past against you Pris I have much to say for my self and for the Cause for which I am this day called in question for 't is the Cause of God praised be the Lord who has judged me worthy to bear testimony to his Name this day The Judg called to the Clerk to read sentence So the Clerk took the Act and read that Clause which saith That such offender being lawfully convict shall be transported beyond the Seas for seven years and if he return before that time be expired to be proceeded against as a Felon c. The other Prisoner Anne Shaâ—p pleading also That there was never no witness from first to last appeared to their faces to prove a third offence Howbeit she was also sentenced to lye in prison twelve Months being a woman under covert So were both returned to the Gaol The other twenty one prisoners who were by the Justices at their Sessions ordered to the Assizes were brought to the place aforesaid in order to their Tryal were not called but returned back again to the Sessiions which was holden the 11th day of the same month at the same place and the proceedings was much on this wise viz. Anne Curtis and Sarah Lamboll being called nothing was laid to their charge of danger and suspition as was mentioned in the order of Sessions but they tendered the Oath of Allegiance again to them and returned them back again to the Gaol The next day being the 12th of the month the twenty one prisoners upon the account of the Oath were called to the Barr and an Indictment was read against them Tho Holt of Abingdon being Judg to this purpose That they had wilfully and obstinately refused the Oath of Allegiance c. To which the Prisoners pleaded Not guilty and demanded a Copy of the Indictment but never had it So the Gaoler had them back again to the Gaol Again the 23 d of the same Month W. Armorer came to the Meeting and Tho Kenton Mayor and took Eliz Tudway Mary Winter and Judeth Smith and sent them to the Gaol on the third account though it was but Eliz Tudways second Also sent Joan Dee to the Gaol for six months And Hannah Emerton Ellin Binfeild John Walker and Henry Day to the House of Correction for three months The 27th of the 6th month called August 1665 W. Armorer and Edward Dolby came to the Meeting and took Eliz Kemboll Hannah Kent and Mary Lamboll and sent them to the Gaol on the first account and Thomas Conicke Joseph Phipps and John Thorn to the House of Correction Thomas Conicke for six months the other two for three months The third of the eighth month called October the Sessions was held at Newberry to which the above-named Eliz Tudway Mary Winter and Judeth Smith were brought the Bill being found against them they were indicted on the third Offence so called and having pleaded Not guilty were sent back again to Gaol and to be tryed the next Sessions following And the 9th of the 11th Month called January 1665 the Sessions was holden at Reading where Anthony Barker of Sunning sate as Judg. The same evening before the Court broke up the Clerk Champion called to the Gaoler to bring the Quakers in the morning and W. Armoâ—eâ— bid â—hem get a good Jury Accordâ—â—gly the next morning early they were had to the Town-Hall and called to the Barr all the twenty one Prisoners except John Paine who could not go being sick in his bed and a Jury was pickt according to W. Armoreâ—s desire one Charles Belwood being one who was formerly W. Armorers Coach-man John Austâ—n the Shoomaker and Daniel Seamer the Taylor Willâ—am â—age the Glover and one Cooper commonly called a Conjurer and some others like them and one who is a Papist as the people did inform us but the Prisoners objected against sâ—me of them for onâ— oâ— them Daniel Seamer had said in open Court at a Sessions held at Newbeâ—â—y That he hated them as he hated the Devil But Justice Pamer of Oakingham said Unless you will take your Oaths of that we will not put any of them out of the Jury though he knew they made conscience of an Oath So he among the rest stood in the Jury which were their Judges and the Indictment being read That they wilfully and obstâ—nately refused to take the Oath of Allegiance mentioned in the third of King James c. The Prisoners pleaded first That there was no Statute did impower them to tender them this Oath Secondly That it was not the Oath mentioned in the third of King James because they tendered it to them by the Name of King Charles the Second Thirdly That it was not according to Law for the Law saith it should first be tendered to them ouâ— of Sessions and the ground of such tender should be upon some presentment or complaint from some Ordinary or others and then a tender in Sessions and that by the major part of the Justices All which things and much more as in that case is proved in the Statute ought to have been first which hath not been to us Then stood up Edward Dolby a Councellor saying That if two Justices had power to tender it out of Sessions they had no doubt as much power to tender it in Sessions upon complaint c. One of the Prisoners bid them take notice it must be upon complaâ—nt But it was not so tendered to them but as a snare after
Gaol and I sent them They said But did you write them He answered Nay Did you indite them said the Mayor I will not answer to such questions said T. C. read the Paper and then I will say more to it So they gave him the Paper and he read it and being reading that part which saith Because of swearing the Land mourns Alderman Johnson said that was vory true And having read it T. C. said it was every word true and should stand for ever and he did own it Then said VVilliam Armorer I will send it to the Council T. C. said I would they had every one one of them A Copy of which here follows THE Eternal God from whom no secrets can be hid sees your doings and the eye of the Lord beholds the way that now you walk in and the works you are about who are persecuting his Lambs and imprâ—soning his people who for the fulfilling of his commands and walking in his ways have chosen the sufferings of this present world rather then all the glory and pleasure that this world can afford them and we have counted up our cost and do find upon serious deliberation That it is better for us to dye by the hands of the hard-hearted and cruel men of this world in and under the favour love and friendship of the Lord then to lose our peace with him by making shipwrack of our faith and peace of conscience which the Lord hath given us and we have truly debated pondered and considered this our present state of hard and cruel suffering in our own bosomes and weigh'd our hearts in the ballance of Gods truth and there is nothing in all this world that could make us to leave our Wives and Families our Callings Estates and Employments but this very thing namely The Truth of our God and the Worship of Christ Jesus the profession and practise of which at this day is the ground of this our sufferings And whereas you press us so hard to take the Oath of Allegiance and come to your Church We do declare in the sincerity of our hearts That the ground and cause why we cannot take an Oath in any case although it be to the loss of our Estates and Life is Because Jesus Christ and his Apostles hath commanded us not to swear at all and it is not lawful for us in any case to break Christs command And if any of your Ministers Doctors Priests or Bishops can make it appear by Gods Word or the Scriptures that it 's lawful for us to swear and may swear and not fall into damnaâ—ion we will take it And therefore cease calling for us to swear and break Christs commands till your Doctors Bishops â—â—â—rates or Ministers or some of them hath convinced us that it may be done and Christs command not broken There is too much swearing already and because of swearing the Land mourns And as concerning coming to your Church we have with much gravity considered the true state of the Church of which you are members to see if possible we might come to you and join with you and not lose our peace with God and this we find That you have called your selves by the Name of the Church of Christ but the nature of Christians and of the Church of Christ is denyed by you For the Pride we daily see and the Oaths we daily hear from the Members of your Church is sufficient to make a Heathen or a Turk much more a Christian quite out of love with it And further the cruelty that is practised by your members as haling men and women out of their peaceable Meetings and casting them into Prison contrary to the Lord Jesus Christ's Practise and Doctrine is ground enough for us to believe that you are neither members of Christs Church nor children of God nor heirs of his blessed Kingdom for if you were members of Christs Church you would not act such high blasphemies against the living God as to swear by the Blood and Wounds of God and God damn me and God confound me and when you have so done enter inâ—o your Church and cry aloud We beseech thee to hear us gooâ— Loâ—d and this is top common among the members of your Churcâ— Now in the coolness of your hearts conâ—ider what it is you arâ— so earnestly peâ—swading us unto How caâ— we come among â—â—u aâ—d joyâ— in prayer with such as act this greâ—t â— wickedness If we should come and join with you the Lord mighâ—â—â—mn us all together for it is the same tongue the same lips and â—he same spirit that swears before you enter that when you are entrâ—d caâ—â—s to â—od to hear you so that the words of the Apostle are â—ulâ—â—lled Out of the same mouth pâ—oceedeth blessings and cursings Oh ye unwâ—se â—n 〈◊〉 ye know not God neither of what spirit you are anâ— therâ—â—ore be advised before it is too late for in love to â—ouâ— souâ—s do we declare unto you That if you will have us joyâ— to you your way must be to joyn to the Lord repent of the wickedness that you have done and return to the Lord God and pâ—â— away the evil of your doings and cast out from among you the Pâ—oud and the Drunkard the Swearers the Murderers the Adulterers and Whoremongers and all other filthiness of flesh and spirit that is amoâ—g you and then clothe your selves with meekness and paâ—â—ence â—s the Church of Christ was in the dayes of the Apostles anâ— theâ— if we will not joyn with you and come to your Church let â—ur bâ—ame be upon our heads for till then although you call your selves Christians you are but Antichrists servants that opposes Christ in this the day of his appearance And though you may compâ—l bâ— force and cruelty many to joyn with you in words you do but make them ten-fold more the children of the Devil and a tâ—ousand-fold more in a capacity to do you mischief and truly such Christians you have enough already and this was the way that your forefathers walked in whom God overthrew and razed their Name â—ut of the Land of the living Therefore boast not your selves over us as if the Lord had forsaken us because we have none in the Earth to take our part or pâ—ead our cause or aâ— if your day should never have an end or as â—f â—he Lord had â—o regard to his suffering-people nor took no noâ—â—e of your cruelty towards them for certainly when we have filâ—ed up the measure of the sufferings of Christ that is yet to be filled up and you have filled up the measure of your cruelty and hard-heartedness the Lord will divide between cattel and cattel and you shall not escape his fierce Vengeance and fiery Indignation therefore in love to your souls do we send this that you might be warned before it is too late for the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all that forget God as the Scripture plainly declareth and we
Persecution APPEARING With its own OPEN FACE IN WILIAM ARMORER As will be sufficiently manifest to all that may impartially read this following Relation of the Cruel Proceedings of the said William Armorer with some others against the Innocent People of God called QUAKERS in the Town of Reading in the County of Berks Of his taking of them up and Imprisoning great Numbers of them And of the eontinuance of their Sufferings to this day being almost Three years and a half And of his unwearied and Cruel Practices against that Innocent People from time to time Discovered and laid open to the end that Lyes and false Reports may be stopped and that the King and all People may be rightly informed and truly acquainted with the Case as it is clearly and truly in it self Matt. 5. 11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison c. Psal 119. 126. It is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void thy Law LONDON Printed in the year 1667. To the READER Friend THou mayest be sensible That great and many have been the Trials and Sufferings of the People of God in Ages and Generations past who did bear witness against wiâ—kdeness Idolatry and Oppression and all the unrighteous Laws and Decrees of men bearing a righteous Testimony for God his Way and Truth upon earth for which cause they have always been persecuted by wicked and ungodly men whom the Devil the Enemy of mankind hath always made his Instruments to withstand the work of the Lord God in every dispensation of time wherein the Lord hath been pleased to appear and manifest himself unto men and as Truth and Righteousness hath flourished and born rule in the heart and the true worshipped of God been exalted and set up so much the more hath Deceit Cruelty and Oppression appeared against it through wicked and cruel-minded men whereby the Lord was displeased and provoked to anger and his indignation and wrath was many times kindled against the Kings and Rulers of the Earth because of the Afflictions and Oppressions of his People which he did see and take great notice of as the heavy Plagues and dreadful Judgments which were known and felt in the earth were signal Testimonies of whereby for the Cause before-mentioned they were brought to perpetual shame and confusion and an example to all that should come after and tread in their foot-steps As in the case of Cain who was wrath and slew his brother Abel about Sacrifice because Abel's was accepted and his was not being wicked and Abel offâ—red unto God a more acceptable Sacrifice then Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous Gen. 4. Heb. 11. Also in the case of Lot it may be seen how wickedness and oppression did abound in the men of Sodom against him and how they compassed his house because of the men the Angels of the Lord which were with him and pressed to break the door to search for the strangers These were the Sodomites wâ—o were made Examples of Gods Eternal vengeance to all persecutors and ungodly men Gen. 19. Aâ—so in the case of the children of Israel when the Lord manifested himself unto them by Moses in Egypt who commanded them to worship contrary to the worship aâ—d wills of the Egyptians and walked contrary to their wayes and customs and were oppressed and held in bondage till God was provoked to destroy them seeing his heavy Plagues and Judgmâ—nts did not reform them Exod. 3. 14. And also the Judges and Kings of Israel who were wicked and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and regarded not him nor his way and people how the Lord the Most High God dealt with them according to their doings and how he often cut their dayes short in the earth and made their Names a reproach for ever Also in the case of Haman whom the King Ahasuerus had exalted and given Power and Authority unto how he insulted over the Kings peaceable Subjects and poor Jews misrepresenting and falsly accusing them to the King because Mordecai the Jew could not give that honour to him which belonged to the Lord telling the King That their Laws were divers from all people and that they kept not the Kings Laws and therefore said it was not for the Kings profit to suffer them And the King giving too much credit unto this envious bloody-minded man consented to him against the Jews and bid him do as he would to them and left them wholly to the mercy of a merciless man to destroy them and in the Kings Name he began to proceed against the Jews so that his Villany must be done in the Kings Name which was his Cloak and to execute the Kings Laws or that destructive unrighteous Decree which he through wicked Enmity had obtained as if the King had sworn him to do all mischief in his Name which would have been great dishonour to the King if he should have brought his wicked intentions to pass and would undoubtedly have provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger against the King to destroy him But the Lord appearing for his innocent people the Kings heart was turned and he perswaded from his Resolution which he had made through mis-information and then see what followed this proud Haman who was exalted as it were from the Dunghill to the Throne Esth 3. 7. And again how the Princes and Presidents of King Darius who fearing that Truth and Righteousness should be exalted by Daniel and Deâ—eit and Wickedness thrown down thâ—y finding no occasion against him except it were concerning the Lâ—w and Worship of his God for they could not deny but he wâ—s an honest peaceable man and his conversation among men was blameless and harmless and what was the matter then why did they persecute him and throw him into the Lyons Den Why these envious men that purposed to destroy him coming into his Chamber and finding him seeking the Lord or making petitions to his God as he use to do at other times notwithstanding there was a Law made against it with his window open they went to stir up and incense the King against him saying Hast thou not signed a Decree That every man that shall ask a Petition of any God or Man within thirty dayes save of thee O King or as thou hast prescribed shall be cast into the Lyons Den and here is one Daniel who regardeth not thee O King nor the Decree that thou hast signed but makes his petitions three times a day c. Dan. 6. And this was his crime for worshipping God or asking petitions of him according to his usual manner
sufficient though I do it not W. A. said No you must do it W. L. said It seems doing Allegiance is the thing that is required He answered Yes W. L. I own Allegiance to the King and am willing to do all his just and lawful requirings as a Subject in things pertaining to this world and will promise thereunto W. Armoâ—erâ— You must swear to bind you for if you break your Oath you aâ—e damnâ—d W. I. Will not the breaking of my promise be matter of condemnaâ—iâ—n to me W A. aâ—swered No or to that effect W. L. said The Scripture saith that no Lyar shall enter into the Kiâ—gdom of God and the Devil shall receive damnation for lying But still he asked me to swear I told him that Christ and the Apostles forbid swearing and the succeeding Chriâ—tians denyed â—o swear as Polycarpus and others And swearing upon a Book was set up by the Antichrâ—stian Power and Jâ—stinian the Emperor was the first Institutor of it as I read of and â—t will â—dd nothing to the King for me to kiss thâ—s Book neither will it do him any good And therefore why should it be put so much upon me seeing I will do Allegiance W. A saâ—d he coâ—ld not help it and bid the Gaoler take him away if he would not swear and said he might go aâ—d convâ—nce the â—arliament that maâ—e the Law and he was sworn to execute the Kings â—aws W. Lamboll asked â—im why he would put such Laws in execution whâ—ch he could not defend by the Scriptures nor right reason Then he bid the â—aoler take him away W. L. said The Lord God everlasting in whose presence I am justified in thâ—s thing and before whose Judgment-seat we must all appear knoweth my heart that I do not deny to swear out of stubbornness nor out of obstiracy or denying Allegâ—ance to the Kiâ—g but only and alone for Conscience sâ—ke towards God and because Christ Jesus whom we are to hear in all things saith Swear not at all c. The Oath beâ—ng read to William Tompson and the Book held to hâ—m said Alas â—s thâ—s all that ye can do so often to tender us this Oaâ—h to insnare us And that he did own what was read and could promise the things contained in the Oath â—â—e Clerâ— haviâ—g gâ—ven him the Book he said Out of thâ—s Book can I prâ—ve â—hat it is not lawful to swear at all W. A. saâ—d That is in youâ— communication W. T. Nay it is not at all which are Christs words to them that were followers of hâ—m I say unto youâ— Swear not at all which comprehends all swearing but let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more cometh of evil W. A. began to be angry with him because he did not answer whether he would or would not swear W. T. I can promise the things contained in the Oath and is not that sufficient Mayor said That doth not answer the Law W. T. If I do that which the Law requires or the substance of the Oath it will not be accepted W. A. being peevish and angry thrust him going he crying for Justice W. A. told him he should have it done W. T. appealing to the Mayor for Justice he said William I am in place to do the Kings business and to execute his Laws and I must do it W. T. said But thou must have an eye to the Law of God in it The Book being held to Tho Speed he said I chuse rather to obey that Christ which you profess who said Swear not all then you who say swear W. A. VVill you that 's enough take him away T. S. Is this thy Justice to command me to be taken away to prison for saying I chuse rather to obey Christ then thee Then they asked John Boult if he would take the Oath of Allegiance Who answered As for my part I am a man that makes conscience of my ways and I have great cause to respect the Lord and to eye his way and truth and as he hath made it known in me I shall in that truth follow him in his holy way and that which he hath made known to me to be evil that I dare not do lest I should break my peace with my God which I cannot do for all the world W. A. You cannot take it can you J. B. I cannot go against my Conscience nor do that which the Lord hath made known to me to be evil W. A. said VVhere did you learn that out of your nail the Friend being a Shoomaker by Trade J. B. reproving of him for his jeer said Nay the Lord hath made it known unto me Some other discourse passed between them which for brevities sake we have omitted and the other two also had some discourse to the same purpose On the 12th of the first Month called March 1665 VVilliam Armorer came again to the Meeting and sent for the Gaoler who being come he sent Leonard Coale James Lavell and VValter Emerton to the Gaol without either Warrant or Mittimus And at the same Meeting took Christopher Page Henry Adams Anne Sharp Margaret VVhiteheart Anne Godard Ann VVeeden Eliâ— Lavell the younger and Mary Mathew and sent them to the Counter and then went into the house of Tho Curtis and puld out his Man-servant Henry Gâ—oss and put him into the Meeting-Room and said he run away out of the Meetinâ— though the man was never at our Meeting all his life-time as we heard of and so sent him to Gaol and at night he sent for them all to his house where was Justice Dolby also and tendered the Oath of Allegance to L. Coale J. Lavell and VV. Emerton and committed them to the Gaol and told Henry Gross Tho Curtis his man that he was mistaken in him and let him go again the rest he sent to the Gaol for three days except A. Sharp who was committed upon the third Account The second of the second Month called Apâ—il 1665 came VV. Armorer and Edw Dâ—lby to the Meeting and took Christo Cheeseman Hannah VVebb Anne Harrison Eliz Tudway Eliz d ee the younger Doâ—othy Clarke Hannah Kent and Hannah Lomboll and being brought to his house by the Constable Samuel House he examined H. Lamboll and H. Kent about their age and being little let them go and sent the other five to the Gaol for three dayes and Christo Cheeseman upon the third offence The fourth of the second Month called April the Sessions for the County of Berks was held at Newberry to which place the Prisoners to whom the Oath of Allegiance had been tendered were brought viz. Tho Curtis and Anne his Wife George Lamboll and Sarah his Wife Tho Tudway John Paine James Marlow Joseph Coale Rob Pocock Benjamin Coale VVilliam Yeet John Tray Richard Green Thomas Baâ—tlet VVilliam Lamboll VVilliam Tompson Leo Key Anthony Sadler John Boult Tho Speed Leo Coale James Lavel and VValter Emeâ—ton and being brought into the Court were called
and order was given that none should come at the Jury and that they should not have fire nor candle c. The Jury being kept all night and the Court being sate the next morning they sent to the Jury to know if they were agreed Who returned answer No. But after some time two of the Jury-men began to yeeld it is judged rather through fear and weariness then being satisfied in their judgments And some of them cryed A verdict a verdict and so they came in And the Court asked if they were agreed One of them answered He was not satisfied W. Armorer replyed You shall be satisfied and the Fore-man saying Guilty they took no farther notice though four of them were not satisfied but in hast calling the Prisoner to the Barr the Judg Edw Dâ—lby past sentence on him That he should be transpoâ—ted to some of His Majesties Plantations there to remain seven years So was returned back to the Gaol The Prisoner seeing of them resolved to do their work said little to them but some short time after sent a Letter to Edw Dolby a Copy whereof here followeth Reading-Gaol the 23d of the 11th Month 1666. Justice Dolby SEeing thou satest as Judg of the Sessions the last week and gavest sentence of Banishment against me and being not permitted to speak then for my self in the Court but threatned to be gagged though my life was concerned I now send this unto â—hee desiring thy serâ—ous consideration hereof And what hath been done against me and how unjustly I have been proceeded against from first to last till sentence of Exilement from my Native Countrey be past I leave to the witness of God in thy own Conscience which can bring thy actions to thy remembrance and will speak the truth of all things as they are To which I do refer thee for a more particular account of all things that have past and with which I leave my cause to be pleaded even in thy own conscience between the Lord and thee only hereby I give a hint of some things c. Thou mayest remember that when W. Aâ—morer and thy self came to the house of Thomas Curtis I was there with two persons more above the age of sixteen years besides A. Curtis and some children who are not to be accounted as persons to make up the number five And it appears by the Act that four may meet and also W. A. and several others of the Kings Justices have told us that four may meet and they would not meddle with us and it is ridiculous to think that children of twelve or fourteen years of age will plot or contrive insurrections for against such persons as do so contrive insurrections and plot against the Government the Act was intended according to the Preamble of it c. And besides if such childrens being there do make up the number how is it that you punish not the children by that Law And if the children are not under the breach of that Law how can three persons break it there being no more there I leave to thy consideration And the Witness did only say we were there to seek the Lord or that we said so now I hope the Act will not simply in it self take hold of such as meet together to seek the Lord for that is according to the Liturgy of the Church of England which saith That in all places and at all times men ought to perform holy duty to God and no other could be proved against me but that we said we were there to seek the Lord and is it not a sad thing that men should so far lose their reason and moderation and deny Christianity as to banish people for meeting together to seek the Lord and to perform holy duty to him when nothing else can be proved except they will make it a crime worthy of Banishment and Death to be at the House of Tho Curtis which no Law doth for no man can prove nor ever shall find that we meet to contrive Insurrections or plot against the Government and the God of Heaven knows who knows the intents of the hearts of all men that we never so much as thought much less intended any such thing and thy own conscience may tell thee the same And this not being proved how can any impartial Jury find us guilty of the breach of this Act and bring us in guilty of Banishment and Death if we return when nothing can be proved but that we were at such a place and said we were seeking the Lord For nothing else did ever appear And yet notwithstanding the Jury must go on right or wrong or else be threatned with fines c. in case they bring in not guilty when they are upon their oaths and ought to go according to the Evidence and not to put their consciences to the vote and to give away the Liberties Lives Rights and Priviledges of free-born English men and to oppress and destroy the Kings Subjects by violating his Laws and turning of them to a wrong end as in this case This Act was made against such as do at their Meetings contrive insurrections c. and not against such as do meet really to seek the Lord as appears by the Preamble of it Therefore such as do punish people for seeking the Lord do go quite contrary to the Act and turns it to a wrong end and are no true Friends to the King in so doing though they pretend Law and to act according to Law when indeed their own wills and malicious minds leads them contrary to Laws and how contrary it was to the Consciences of some of the Jury-man thou mightest see who were not satisfied no nor it is believed and credibly reported are not to this day but is a load upon their Consciences and may well be in that they gave away their power and indeed the power of the Law being over-awed by high words for they ought to have been satâ—sfied in their own Consciences and not to have looked at the displeasure of any man being sworn well and truly to try c. which I doubt not but thou very well knowest if thou hadst but done accordingly and whether these things be according to Reason and Equity upon which the ancient Laws are said to be grounded I say I shall leave to the Witness of God in thy Conscience which answers the righteous Law and which will deal truly and plainly with thee and will either condemn or justifie thee in the day of Account For Friend know this and mind also in secret That an account to God the Judg of quick and dead must be given by thee and all men upon the earth and assuredly he doth behold and mark thy actions and they are recorded in a Book of remembrance which shall be accounted for and though thou maist hide thy self as from man yet thou canst not hide thy self from him who is the searcher of all hearts and the tryer of all reins