some of these Papers might come to the hands of those who may in like manner be inflictors of such misery upon others that so if there be but any remorse or place of repentance left in them that they may yet repent of their evill for it is very great for though the man whom I served was approved and received a Member of an Independant Church in those parts yet he was unconverted as to the Lord which shewed their light and discerning but little worth for indeed I never saw any change or alteration in the man at all But I shall return unto the thing intended by me which is to speak of the goodnesse and love of God unto my soul that so all those who might be like-minded with me might not come to despair in any condition whatsoever they may fall into if they do but love and fear the Lord he will bring them out of the sixth trouble and also the seaventh in the end For when I was out or this hard servitude I could not for all that return to or own that dark and devilish worship whatever did become of me for then I was come to a riper understanding and growth both in years and knowledge in which I saw and confessed unto a hand of Divine Justice against that people and also to a hand of Divine providence in bringing me there where I heard and understood both outward and inward that the Sword of the Lord was drawn against the wicked in this Nation of England and also I did observe in that day how that the Parliament party did and would most of all prevail because that there was something raised up in them against the grosse Popery and Idolatry and wickednesse which was then on soot in the Nation which thing was the cause I did indeed mostly affect them then beyond any other people though they were called Puritans in derision But in a short time the chiefest of those people who were amongst us lost their first integrity soon especially when the Lords hand had given their Brethren great rest and victory from their enemies and so soon turned that little liberty they had gotten to a wrong end and made use of it as an occasion to the flesh by which means they became as much in bondage as ever every one seeking his own and not anothers good which thing I did in that day observe though few knew that it was so with me but outwardly I did in that day frequent and indeed loved those most who were the most honest amongst men But it being so in the main that nothing but rioting drinking singing and dancing was amongst the best of men I knew not what to do but to be one of them which I judged better of the two than to return unto the Romish stuff for my very soul did abhor it therefore I did rather choose to labour with my hands and so get my bread with painfulnesse than to return or make my self known unto my nearest relations any way for I said in my heart their sorrow is over concerning me But in the midst of all this my soul in secret did mourn after a holy life of love but could not see it born up in any living amongst whom I did converse or had any thing to do with And as in relation to my own condition I did often lament it in secret and would often say unto the Lord Hast thou created me thus to destroy me for I saw how that I was still ingrievous bondage unto sin and lead thereunto at the Devils will and I felt in my self how that the wages of sin was death because of the terrours of the Lord that came upon my soul by the reason of it and whilest that I was in this state my grief was more than could be uttered or indeed seen by any for I would often seem to do away sorrow with laughter lightnesse and vanity yet still in the very midst of all this I continued seeking in my heart a man of love or a people in whom one might put confidence which thing I was drawn unto by the good which was of God in my own heart and as God did raise it me so in the end he did answer it to me outwardly by sending one of his dear servants into those parts whose name was Elizabeth Harris who soon answered that which was breathing after God in me by which means I came with many more to be informed in the way and truth of God having a seal in my heart and soul of the truth of her message which indeed I had long waited for And then when I had found this beloved life and people I was like a man over-joyed in my heart not onely because that I heard that God had raised up such a people in England but also because I saw the sudden fruits and effects of it both in my own heart and in others insomuch that in a short time we became all to be as one entire family of love and were drawn together in his life which was his light in us to wait upon him in the stillnesse and quietnesse of our spirits like so many people which desired nothing but the pure teachings of Gods Spirit in which we were often refreshed together and one in another And when this I had found and clearly understood how that that which judged me and condemned my soul for sin from my youth up untill that day I say when I came to see that this was the very way to God I was as a man that had found that which his soul loved and then had I had ten thousand Crowns I could have laid them all down at the feet of them who then went forth to declare such good and glad tidings of peace and good-will which was freely extended unto all the Sons of men then happy man was I if that I could but have served or have been any way serviceable unto such of those who went forth to declare who were ministring servants in the hand of the Lord to us whose pure life I loved and honoured in them above all and then I was not onely made willing to have forsaken father or mother and all outward Inheritance and favour of men but also to have laid down my life for the Lords sake such was the love that was raised in me that I had rather have been a Prisoner with the deepest sufferer in the greatest sorrow and counted it more happinesse so to be than with the Princes of this world in their greatest joy and dignity And this was of the Lords own begetting in me though few saw it then And this I can tell thee Reader whoever thou art by true experience that if thou find but such a thing in thee which bringeth a remorse upon thee by reason of sin and draweth thy heart into tendernesse and pitty unto the oppression and captivity which is upon all creatures which they lye under by reason of sin in which and by which
best of the creation which in obedience to the Lord I continued in about 20 dayes without any natural sustenance except water which did so amaze them that they themselves could not but confesse it to be more than a natural thing seeing I was well and in good health every way at the end of the time which thing was so taken notice of amongst them that they could not endure to detain us longer after insomuch that the Lord making way for us we were released and we took our journey towards France where in the Power and Authority of God I was drawn forth to warn both Rulers Priests and People in Town City and Country until I came through the Nation and being ready to take shipping for England I spake unto two Priests of the Popish Order unto whom I declared as I had done unto many more destruction and a final end of all Idol Priests Idols and Idolaters for which Cause I violently was halled away and committed to prison in a Court called Bucke De Ault which was between Deap and Abbuilly about 20 Leagues from Dover where I continued about the space of 2 Moneths and after publick Examination and Tryall the Prison doores were set open from whence I passed to Callis continuing still to warn the People for which Cause I was had before the Magistrates and being examined by them they let me pass away toward Graveling where I was at the English Nunnery where I warned them though they would not let me see their face and after some threatning I had from their Priest I departed from thence toward Dunkirk where I was presently taken up by the Governour 's Officers and by him retained as Prisoner in his own house until the next day he sent me away in a Friggot of the Kings for England alleadging for his so doing that it was because he feared I would make a disturbance amongst the Papists saying to this purpose that there was Articles of agreement betwixt them and that they were not to be disturbed which thing he feared I would do and I being landed at Deale I passed towards Dover to visit my friends after this my sore tryal and travel amongst the Papists and e're I was in that Town 24 houres I was by the Mayor of the Town taken from a friends house of mine and committed to prison for a Jesuite where I remained about 7 Moneths and after my release from thence I took my journey towards London where I had not been long but I was apprehended by the Magistrates of the City as they were sitting at a Court in the Old Bayly who espied me only as a beholder of other transactions against my Dear friends who are called Quakers for which they sent for me and tendred me the Oath making that the same snare to ensnare me as their manner was and is still to doe to the innocent and from thence I was Committed to New-gate where I was with many more of my Brethren kept about the space of 4 Moneths until I was so weak that I was carried out in a Chaire And upon my recovery from this weaknesse I went unto one of our publick Meeting-places neare Alders-gate in London where I was taken again with the Lords innocent People under the pretence of Plotters which thing we were wholly cleere of for the thing then intended or pretended against us was a plot which was afterwards found to be intended by a people contrary-minded unto us both in their lives practises and principles for which some of them suffered death who were wholly strangers unto us and woe unto such kind of plotters Notwithstanding many of us suffered imprisonment until death in and about London for this Cause amongst whom I was a deep sufferer until the last though the King himselfe did confesse to mine and our innocency And all this as for mine own particular I could have buried in oblivion and never have made mention of it more were it not for the cleering of the innocency of that Truth of God which I professe and live in from the scandalous reproaches of Ishmael's stock at whose hands I have suffered such things as would be both long and hard to utter it now being the sixth time I have been committed to Prison by the hands of unreasonable men since I have returned from Rome once at Dover and four times at London All which sufferings imprisonments nothing was or ever could be proved against me as the breach of any Law save that by which mens Consciences are restrained from worshipping of God according to the perswasion of his Spirit in their own Consciences and also because I would not break Christs Commands who saith Swear not at all to obey the Commands of men to swear And though for those two things I have so suffered I have this day a Conscience void of offence towards all men who are of honest hearts and am cleer also in the sight of God concerning them both and am at this instant Justified in his sight and he knoweth how that I seek the good of all men though an open enemy to all deceitful works hireling Priests and Deceivers upon the face of the Earth whether in Pope or Prelate or what sort degree or denomination soever I had not been 3 Weekes released out of London Prison of Bridewell before I was committed here In which Prison I was committed by Richard Brown only for speaking a few words in the street because they did hinder me and my friends of going into our hired house I being committed to the Counter but the Week before for the same Cause and released about the middle of the week by Robinson then Mayor of London and but 3 dayes before that I was released out of New-gate upon the death of Deare E. B. with whom I was a prisoner severall Moneths as both in one Prison though not in one Roome but a little time before his death in which the Lord did Everlastingly Crown him with Glory Honour and blessing For this I shall leave upon record concerning him that as he was honourable in his life so he was in death and his seed shall praise his noble Acts for ever in which he was Renowned And now upon my release in London I tooke my journey towards this City where I had been but a short time to the number of two or three dayes before I was cast in Bonds here only for speaking to two Priests of this City telling them the blind led the blind and both would fall into the ditch and as it happened one of them was blind which was more than I know for I had never seen their faces before but these men being guilty inwardly of the Charge soone proved it by their fruits and actions who presently caused me by reason of their complaints to be had before their Rulers who being willing and ready to satisfie their malicious desires did soon tender me the Oath as there being not any seeming just cause
in the other to cast me into Prison where I am at present a sufferer in the patience and good will of God And thus with as much brevity as I could have I declared something of the hard measure which I have sustained and received at the hands of unreasonable men in and about 3 yeares time since I Landed at this City upon my return from Virginia after my sore Captivity there and truely had it not been by reason of the many and various reports which are concerning me amongst many I know I should have been still willing to have concealed the grief of all this within my own bowels yea and notwithstanding all these things besides the Lord alone which might have induced me to this matter I should certainly have concealed it And now after all this in which through which the Lord hath tryed my poor soul by the common enemy if he should try me at or by the hands of dearest friends as Job was shall I be angry with him or repine at it God forbid in whose good will I rest until he arise and plead my Cause Charles Bayly Written in Newgate Prison in Bristol the 13 of the 3 Moneth 1663 A true and faithfull Relation of some of the sufferings tryals sorrows and travels of the Seed and Spirit of God for the creature and now of the creature in with the same Seed and Spirit manifest through an earthen vessel known by name C.B. SUrely had I the Tongue of the Eloquent and the Pen of a ready Writer it would be hard for me to declare the grievousness of my hard travels and sorrow which I have undergone since I was but 12 or 13 years of Age in which time my deep travell and sorrow began it being so that in my tender years I had been tenderly brought up about the Court of England my natural Parents belonging thereunto who were Roman Catholiques in which Religion they carefully brought me up sparing neither cost nor pains for any thing which might tend unto my edification and bringing me up in that way But my God intending to make me an instrument in his hand for his own work did raise up something in my soul of a child which was of himself which caused a secret dislike in my heart of that Idolatrous way of worship in so much that I could never heartily embrace the same which thing hath caused tears to be shed for me by my own friends then who dearly and tenderly loved me according unto the love as Parents bear unto their Children and it being so it raised a great discontent sometimes in them to arise towards me which was the first ground and original cause of my sorrow though I did not know what that was in my self which caused me for to dislike it both in way and worship which since I found to be the light and gift of Gods grace in my soul which was nigh me and in me at all times and places a sure and living Witnesse against all sin and evill whatsoever And from that time forwards I was ever seeking for to separate my self from my natural Parents and the wars coming on in England did enlarge my opportunity for to fulfill my intended purpose it being so that most of the Court Officers were dismissed of their outward beings in and about London where I had my natural birth and bringing up untill about the Age before mentioned and it being so I did begin to wander about not being kept at School nor at Board as formerly I had been But my Parents being willing to have me to their own natural Countrey which was France I passed thither with one who was Extraordinary Embassador sent from the King of France called the Prince Deicourt who loved me and kept me by him some time for his Interpreter whilest he was in England but still something there was in me which could not be satisfied to feed at the Table of Princes nor to be in their love and favour without the love and favour of God which made me still in a restlesse condition which caused me for to return out of France without the consent and knowledge of my outward friends or relations And coming to England at Graves-end as I was intending to passe for London I met with one Brad-street who was commonly called a Spirit for he was one of those who did entice Children and People away for Virginia he fell into discourse with me and I being tender in years he did cunningly get me on Board of a Ship which was then there riding ready for to go to those parts and I being once on Board could never get on Shoar untill I came to America where I was sold as a bond-slave for seaven years in which time it would be too hard for me to shew in every particular the hardship and misery that I did undergo in that time of hunger cold and nakednesse beatings whippings and the like for many times was I stripped naked and tied up by the hand and whipped and made to go bare-foot and bare-legged in cold and frosty weather and hardly cloaths to cover my nakednesse besides the soare and grievous labour which I was continually kept at during which time my poor soul would be often bemoaning it self every way concerning my soar captivity and misery and something I can indeed say did in secret answer and refresh my tender soul in the feeling of which I could in truth of heart say I did forgive my then persecutors And when grief would be ready to swallow me up I would consider how that that which did then befall me was surely for my good and would rather judge my self than others beleeving that I indeed did deserve it and much more for my disobedience though of a truth it was very grievous and hard for me to beat as to the very natural what I did and surely had not the secret hand of Gods love upheld me I could never have supported my burden there being such an alteration with me when I came to eat my bread in the Ash heap whenas before I had been in the presence of Princes and also the alteration both of food and every thing else for instead of a well stringed Lute in my hand I had hard labour and my daily exerci e was beyond the common manner of Slaves for mine was often night and day I say had it not been the very hand and love of God which had supported me my very outward man would have been laid in the dust as several of my then fellow Labourers were in a most sad and deplorable condition which thing I desire may not be laid to their charge who were the Authors of it I say the Lord forgive them for that which they did to them and me for I am sure the poor creatures had better have been hanged than to have suffered the death and misery they did which thing I should not in this place have spoken were it not so but that