blood of his servants is now touched and this City hath defiled it self therewith which will hasten vengeance and destruction And as for this thing if thou now art silent and it be hid how shall the Lord look upon thee clear who art the chief Magistrate and hast the Power and ought by the Law of God to search out and judge this cause of innocent blood I am moved to warn thee that thou mayest exercise that Power and Understanding which God hath given thee for the end to prevent the shedding of the blood of God's servants for the time to come I seek no revenge nor the lives of our adversaries but rather that the Murderers and all ungodly men may be converted and their souls and bodies may live for ever though by the Law of God and the Law of this Land Eye for eye and life for life and this is just and equal And certain it is not onely one man us guilty of this cruel deed but many who were then present assenting consenting and acting their parts in this bloody Tragedy and all such are liable to answer the Law if Iustice be done yea and if they had a command to kill men as some of them said such a one is liable to the Iustice and Iudgement of the Eternal God for the same and God will render to every man according to his wayes Though we desire the repentance of all and that they may have mercy from God and man yet in conscience according to my duty have I laid this thing before thee that thy heart may be stirred up to remove the weight and guilt of innocent blood that now cryes in the ears of the City I am thy Friend and a lover of the immortal souls of mankind though an afflicted and oppressed sufferer for the Name of Christ and his Gospel E. B. But though they have had diverse meetings about the business and many consultations and had much evidence for proof of the murder yet for some reasons not well known to us they have not till this time given in their Verdict whether they find upon their oaths that person diseased as aforesaid to have been murdered or no The reasons rendered by some for such suspence of Verdict is That because they cannot by any evidence yet given to them charge any one particular man with the said murder as that such a person did give the deceased person his deaths blows though it is testified that the same person now dead was seen beaten and knocked down but it being in such a confused croud as was at that time on that occasion that no particular man can be fixed upon as that any can say this man did the deed this is not yet found out though the Jury have sought for it and 't is supposed that if a particular person could be charged with the murder he would be turned over to the Law and tried accordingly but if no particular person can be charged herewith then the City is liable to be a merced some great summe at the pleasure of the King for suffering such murder in the City on the day-time and in such publick manner and the murderer suffered to escape and not apprehended which thing it is supposed the City fears so this is the reason given by some why Verdict is suspended till the particular person can be found out on whom the said murder may be charged But however the matter is plain to many thousands in this City that the said person was murdered and it is well known to the whole City that for three months together scarce one First-day but the souldiers came violently and cruelly into our Meetings beating abusing and knocking down many for dead and thus much for present shal suffice concerning the death of the aforesaid person till we have further occasion to publish the whole matter about the business which in due time may be done as good occasion shall justly require it The first day of the seventh month a Friend suffered some persecution in and near Smithfield in the Fair-time who was moved to go through the Fair naked with a pan on his head full of fire and brimstone flaming up in the sight of the people crying repentance among them and bad them remember Sodom c. for which some rude people did abuse him much and took him to an Officer but he was not committed to Prison but the Lord delivered him out of their hands About the 7 th day of the month two Women were committed to Old Bridewel for going into Pauls in the time of their worship the one of them being moved to go at that very time into that place vvith her face made black and her hair dovvn vvith blood poured in it vvhich run dovvn upon her sackcloth vvhich she had on and she poured also some blood dovvn upon the Altar and spoke some vvords and another Woman being moved to go along vvith her they vvere both taken avvay to Bridewel vvhere they remain to this day and vvere not yet tried for any fact nor any evil yet justly laid to their charge The same day a person vvas committed to Newgate for giving abroad a printed paper to diverse persons he gave diverse of them it was Concerning the cruelty acted in the meeting that day the man was killed as aforesaid and though one of the same was delivered to the King by a person that was moved to acquaint him with the murder of the person aforesaid at which the King seemed displeased that one of our Friends should be killed at a Meeting in these words expressing himself I assure you it was not by my advice that any of your friends should be slain and you must tell the Magistrates of the City of it and prosecute the Law against them these were the Kings words but the person aforesaid was taken up by some Officer charged with giving Papers abroad being had before Rich. Brown who committed him to Prison for dispersing scandalous papers as he said though the Authors name was at the Paper and yet he was Committed to Newgate where he now remains Our Friends meetings for these six Weeks last past in and about this City have been for the most part quiet and free from disturbance by Souldiers the Meetings at the Bull and divers other places have been kept in the fear and name of the Lord peaceable and quiet and not violated by souldiers as of late heretofore onely for these three last first days in Wheeler-street at the Meeting-place souldiers have appeared in a very rude manner and shut up the doors and kept a Guard against our Friends and would not permit them entrance into their own house but did beat knock and abuse friends in a wicked manner in the streets and one Lievtenant uttered these words He matter'd not if he killed a Quaker he should not be hanged for it And seeing they would not suffer friends to pass into their Meeting-room they stood in the street before
it seems forgotten all his mercy so that there was not one Groats-worth of mercy for the prisoner for James White being called he was sentenced 10 pounds according to the Act and the Bishop cried out Abate him not one Groat Thus they proceeded against nine in the like condition fined them ninety pounds The rest it being the first time less there being twenty or above men and women which all of them bare it with a great deal of boldness courage and patience blessing God that they were found worthy to suffer for his sake Also one William Fallowfield a Westmoreland man coming into this County to visit some friends and so to pass towards York to visit a brother he had living there being taken at a Meeting before he got out of this County was cast into Prison and there continued nine weeks was fined 50 shillings returned to prison there to remain so that here remains onely nine prisoners at this present four for Tythes three Praemunir'd one for having Meetings in his house the other for his Fine As to the body of friends in these parts all are valiant for the truth upon earth and not at the least dismaid at the manner of these proceedings finding daily by experience the peace and presence of God with them having faith that God will assuredly finish the good work which he hath begun amongst us to his own praise and glory for ever for which we with you and all the Elected and Chosen of God remain waiting until the accomplishing thereof Your dear Brethren in the bowels of the love of God I.L. I.H. H.N. Durham Gaol 12th 8th Mon. 62 For the King and his Council Being an account of above seven hundred of the People called Quakers who remain Prisoners in England for good Conscience SUffolk 24 Bucks about 40 Hartfordshire 60 Staffordshire 02 Hide in Kent 14 Kings Bench 12 White Lyon 80 Newgate 114 Fleet London 03 New-Prison 04 Reading many lately released remaining 8 Maidstone 08 Cumberland 53 Westmorland 12 Leicestershire many lately released remain 4 Counter London 02 Hole in Martins 01 Worcester-shire 03 Norfolk 27 Lincoln 05 Warwick 26 Oxford 17 Shropshire 07 Gloucestershire 7 Hampshire 07 Cambridge 20 Sussex 06 Darbyshire 02 Essex 19 Bishoprick of Durham 20 Stafford 01 Nottingham 06 Cornwall 18 Exon 02 Northampton 25 Yorkshire 1â—â— Dorsetshire 11 Bristol 03 Ipswitch in Suffolk 08 Ilchester about 40 Salisbury about 30 Bridewell London 32 Isle of Ely divers lately committed This is the most exact Account that at present we can procure Most of these were committed since the Act came forth against our Meetings And several remain in prison that were committed before this Act came forth to the number of about four hundred We desire that the King would favourably consider the afflictions of these persons who suffer for righteousness sake and not as evil-doers nor as Enemies to the King and that he would grant a Release to those oppressed persons for their grievous bonds So may the King be more happy and prosperous and escape the Judgements of God which the Oppressions of his people if continued will doubtless bring upon the Land which the Lord is provoked unto And that the King be prosperous in good things is our desire London this 22. of the 8th month 1662. POSTSCRIPT BEtween 30. 40. Horsemen who said they were the Kings souldiers quartering in Southwark went to a Friend's House near London broke open the doors notwithstanding there was one there that would have open'd any door to them under pretence of searching for Arms robbed a poor serving-man who was left to look to the house and took away two pair of Stockins from him and a pair of Shoes and a Bible and Knife and drank four or five Bottles of Wine up and swore God damn him and called him son of a Whore and so went away A Relation of what fell out the 26. of this Month. THE conclusion of our present News is not the least material This same day a great stir was in the City and both many Horse and Foot marching in the Streets all the day and in the forenoon the Friends being met for the Worship of God at ths Bull there came Horse and Foot great number and took away all the men and dispersed the Meeting and guarded the men all away to Newgate and took up divers in the Streets as they passed along In like manner they did at the Meeting in Johns street and at the Meeting in Aldersgate-street and in Wheeler-street and at the Meeting in Jameses and in Southwark and Friends were hardly used at every Meeting and to Newgate that day were committed of our Friends about one hundred and twenty persons and put in the Common Gaol above one hundred in one room among the Felons and in Old-Bridewell were committed above thirty and to New-Prison about twelve and are all continued Prisoners Likewise there were taken very many of the Baptized People and others Not one Meeting that we hear of about the City but was dealt with in like manner and Rich Brown himself was in the head of the Souldiers about the Streets on that day So there were divers hundreds committed that day to divers Prisons THE END
A BRIEF RELATION OF THE Persecutions and Cruelties That have been acted upon the PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS In and about the City of London Since the beginning of the 7 th Month last til this present time WITH A general Relation of Affairs signifying the state of the People through the Land LONDON Printed in the Year 1662. A Brief Relation of the Persecutions and Cruelties that have been acted upon the People called Quakers c. IN our last Intelligence we concluded with the Relation of proceedings of what happened the last day of the sixt month at the meeting at the Bull and how cruel and merciless the Train-bands were towards our friends that day and how that many were wounded and bruised and knocked down in a barbarous manner the woful effects of which persecution hath more then sufficiently appeared to the amazement of many in this City who have admired the sufferance of such dealing so illegal and cruel in this famous City And we shal not need at this time to aggravate the cruelty of that day by many circumstances for the woful effects shal prove the matter for since that day diverse are departed this life that were beat and wounded and abused in that meeting and particularly one man who lay under the grievous pangs of death for ten days after he had received such cruel bruises and blows then departed this world and upon some considerations by his friends that were present with him on his death-bed and especially they knowing as by all appearance it was manifest that he was killed and murdered and that his wounds and bruises received at the Meeting were the absolute occasion of his death It was found convenient that the Coroner of the City should be sent for and that an Inquest should pass upon his dead body that the murder might be manifest and not be hid in secret accordingly it was done the dead Corps were carried to the Bull into the Meeting-room where he received his death-blows and his body was exposed to publick view to which place multitudes of people of the City did resort to see the woful sight of the dead Corps which was such a sad sight that it made many beholders astonished his dead body was so black with bruises and even rotten and like a Jelly that none can scarce express the grievous symptoms of cruel blows that had fallen on that body which had occasioned his death and for diverse hours together many came to behold the same and went away afflicted in their hearts by the sight that their eyes had seen and the Coroner came and impanelled a Jury of the Neighbors and gave them a charge according to his Office to make true inquiry upon their oaths and to present what they found the cause of his death to be accordingly they viewed the Corps throughly and had a Surgeon or two with them to advise concerning the cause of the death of that person and after some time spent in consulting among themselves and in viewing the Corps then passed together in private desiring the Friends to bury the body which that evening was done and that time they suspended to give in their Verdict for diverse reasons known to themselvs though without doubt it was the judgment of the Surgeon then present and of themselves also according to their evidence and of all that beheld the dead Carkase that he was absolutely murdered and that the blows received at that Meeting aforesaid were the real cause of his death and diverse times since the Coroner and Jury have met together upon the occasion to hear witnesses and to determine concerning the matter and many substantial evidences have been brought in testifying of that grievous cruelty acted that day by the Train-bands aforesaid which have sufficiently proved the manner of the said murder with its several aggravating circumstances according to the expressed method of this following Letter sent by a Friend to the Mayor of the City the next day after the death of the said person Friend I Am moved of the Lord to write unto thee concerning a person lately dead who being met with many others of the people of God at the Bull and Month the 31. day of the last Month the usual time and place of their Meeting for the worship of the living God was so beat and bruised by that party of the Trained Bands of the City which were sent to that place to disturb the Meeting who did so beat and wound many of our Friends and use that violence towards the innocent people that 't is scarce to be believed that men should be so inhumane cruel and merciless to their honest neighbours as they were at that time and place But that there is now a sufficient witness of their cruelty by the death of this person who was absolutely murdered yea purposely and wilfully as may be justly suspected I may suppose thou hast heard of this thing for it was done not in the night but at the mid-time of the day not suddenly unawares by mishap but intendedly and in a long space of time a doing and not in a corner but in the streets of the City of London All which circumstances doth highly aggravate this Murder to the very shame and infamy of this famous City and its Government And now seeing it is thus come to pass consider in the fear of God and take his counsel what thou oughtest now to do as chief Magistrate of this City wherein such Murder is so hainously committed for the end that innocent blood may not be hid nor this cruel deed be covered with hypocrisie but that this matter may be enquired into as of right it ought and sought out by thee and Iustice and true Iudgement brought forth that thou mayest for ever stand clear both before God and men when called to an account and that the City may be cleared also of innocent blood which now lies upon it by this man's death Friend I say again in dear and tender love to thee Consider what thou hast to do in this case it 's not to be over-looked and connived at by thee as a thing of nought for really and in truth the City is defiled by the innocent blood of a servant of God who is slain for his Worships sake and these things will be brought to account before God the Iudge of all who is provoked to anger because of these things and may also 't is not impossible be brought to an account in this world when the sufferings of Gods people are finished which will once be as sure as the Lord lives whose purpose is to deliver his people from all their Oppressions and they shall be free though the Rulers of the earth do what they can to the contrary whom God will deal with as he dealt with Pharoah if the now Israel of God may not be permitted to meet to worship the true and living God and a generation shall not pass till it be accomplished And the innocent
to release Iohn Boulton Iohn Crook and Isaac Gray the three persons formerly convict of Praemunire who were committed during the King's pleasure and had their Estates seized upon according as ye have formerly heard which Order contained thus much That whereas the said three persons stood convicted of Praemunire and was committed during the pleasure of the King his Will and Pleasure was thereby signifyed That the said three persons should forthwith be enlarged and set at liberty c. According to the intent and meaning of the said Letter the said three persons are delivered out of prison after their five months imprisonment and the hard sentence passed upon them The same day Rebecca Travers was committed to the New-Prison by the Lievtenant of the Tower who being moved to go to him on the behalf of some Prisoners that he had committed for being at Meetings in some discourse with him pressing upon him for pity and compassion to poor men he was much discontented and she being passing away from him one of the Keepers used some violent speeches towards her at her departure to whom she replied and exhorted him to be good in his place while it was the Lords Will he had it c. At which he was so vexed that he went back speedily to the Lievtenant and swore she had spoken Treason for which her Mittimus was made and she immediately committed where she now remains Thus instead of hearing her sober requests in the behalf of the poor prisoners he committed her also So this is the sum of proceedings in and about this City There remains at this present of our friends Prisoners in Negate twelve in New-Prison four and in Southwark near eighty And for these late Weeks Meetings are generally quiet and much pity in the hearts of sober people raised up towards friends who have observed the patient and long-suffering spirit of the Lord amongst us through this hard time of trial and persecution and to continue in the same we are resolved through the strength of Christ Jesus even till our deliverance come and we shall never seek vengeance against our Enemies nor rise up against them to redeem our selves by our own strength and we desire like-mindedness among all that love us for the Lord will accomplish his own Work in his season At a Meeting at Ham five miles out of the City divers Friends have been taken of late through the instigation of a wicked Priest who hath stirred up the Officers of the Town to disturb the Meeting and they have sent divers friends some to Colchester-Gaol and some to the House of Correction And one Friend in particular was dragged at a Horses tail for some part of the way Thus the cruelty of the Priests is daily made manifest to their shame and reproach through the Land even these men who were themselves in a suffering condition some of them and yet without regard either of God or man stir up the hearts of men to be cruel towards the Innocent By late Letters from Norfolk Suffolk and Essex we have lately understood That for the most part our Friends Meetings are quiet and peaceable in all them East-Counties except in some places where the Officers are violent and rude men and are willing to do our friends mischief and there our friends are most molested But there are not many of our Friends Prisoners in them parts at this present By Letters lately received from Plymouth and Bristol and out of the West we understand That there are very few of our Friends in prison in them parts At Bristol three remains taken from meetings some Weeks since two of whom are convict by the late Act against meetings and the other detained for refusing the Oath In Exceter some lately released out of the prison who were committed for meetings though meetings at this present are generally quiet in the West For our Friends are so well known to be of peaceable deportment and of inoffensive conversation and their meetings so clearly for the Worship of God that sober men have no great mind nor desire to use violence to their honest neighbors in halling them out of meetings and carrying them to prison for all sober men must needs confess That such kind of dealing towards our Friends as of late practised in this City by persecution and cruelty acted upon them can never make in the effect of it for the happiness of the King and Government but 't is liberty and freedom in the exercise of Conscience in spiritual matters that must make for the prosperity of the King and his subjects By Letters lately received from the North we understand that in York Castle there are about an hundred of our friends prisoners committed for meeting together in the Worship of God some of whom have lately been tried at the sessions and some are fined 40. s some more some less and some sentenced into Premunire and all returned back to prison again saving some about Wakefield-side who were released And thus they go on to persecute the innocent through their enmity till the Lord arise and work the deliverance for his people In Leicestershire and Northamptonshire divers were released out of prison this last Sessions though some are committed again since for meeting together to worship God Also we have been given to understand of late that very much goods have been distrained from our friends in the Countreys for meeting together and for not going to Parish-Houses to hear Common-Prayer and for Tythes and Priests hire so that great are the sufferings of the innocent every way the wicked plow furrows upon their backs and are like pricking briars and thorns unto upright men and this is a very trying day unto all that fear the Lord whether they will suffer for the truth they profess or whether they will deny their God and Religion But blessed and happy are the faithful this day who follow Christ through suffering for they that suffer with him shall reign with him At Hartford last Sessions four honest Friends were tryed for refusing the Oath of Allegiance and sentenced into a Pramunire and are kept close Prisoners ever since Take the account of it in the Letter following Dear Friends IN the bowels of endeared love and perfect unity in that measure of Light and Life which we are made partakers of in the Father do we salute you with the rest of our dear Friends and suffering brethren in bonds for the testimony of a good Conscience in the Prison of Newgate We thought it convenient to acquaint you from our own hands with the cause of our suffering in these bonds and to give you some brief account of the Sessions-proceedings against us On the 6 th and 7 th days of this Month was the Quarter-Sessions for the County of Hartford where we with divers other of our friends were arrested with Sessions Processes for not going to our Parish Church as they called it where is to be observed that we are Inhabitants