business and bid him take that for a warning Eliz. Marshal was the next the Town-clerk told her she stood committed for disturbing the peace After some speech she was returned to prison where she was continued about 4. weeks and then released John Warring next to whom his Charge was read for making disturbance in the Congregation calling the Minister Devil and kicking at the Clerke and saying the Minister spake never a true word Then the Court asked him whether he would promise for the future he would do no more such things and find Sureties for his good behaviour he refusing was sent to prison again and continued there till the 19th of January at which time a Liberate was sent the Jaylor signed Aldworth and witnessed Iohn Gunning Mayor dated Ian. 19. 1654. At this Session there was made this order That no person or persons do hereafter presume to molest trouble or otherwise disquiet any Minister or Congregation either before or after the publique Exercises be ended And if any person or persons so offend that in all such cases the Constables or any other Officers shall apprehend take or arrest the party or parties so offending and bring him or them before the Mayor and some other Justice of the Peace who are to take care that such offender or offenders be bound with sufficient Sureties to appear at the next general Sessions and in the mean while to be of the good behaviour and for not finding some sureties as aforesaid to commit them to prison That if any such disturbance trouble or other disquietment be hereafter made done or committted in the Churches as aforesaid the Minister be also desired not to hold dispute or other publick debate there with the party or parties so offending but to perswade the hearers to repair home quietly to their several families and habitations and not to hearken to or run after them That the Constables do once in every fortnight make diligent search within their several Wards for all strangers Inmates suspitious persons and to present their names and those who entertain them within two days following to the Mayor and Justices to the end such course may be taken with them as is agreeable to Law That all people do take special notice and be hereby forwarned not to be present at any tumult or other unlawful assembly or on any pretence to assemble or gather into companies or multitudes into the streets or elsewhere or to conduct and follow offenders either to the Magistrates houses or other places of justice unless they be thereunto lawfully called And the Constables and all other publick Officers are hereby required to apprehend and arrest all such Boyes and Apprentices and other people that shall assemble or gather together as aforesaid and to bring them before the Magistrates to be punished according to Law Jan. 22. Tho. Bawden for speaking to the people in the Congregation was committed to prison as also a Warrant signed To all the Constables within this Citie and to every of them For asmuch as Information hath been given us that John Cam John Audland two strangers who were commanded to depart this City have in contempt of Authority come into this City again to the disturbance of the publique peace These are therefore to will and require you forthwith to apprehend them and bring them before us to be examined according to law Ianuary 25. A Warrant as followeth Forasmuch as Information upon oath hath been given us that certain persons of the Franciscan Order in Rome have of late come over into England under the notion of Quakers drawn together severall multitudes of people in London And whereas certain strangers going under the names of Joh. Cam Jo. Audland Geo. Fox Ja. Naylor Fr. Howgil and Edw. Burrough and others unknown have lately resorted to this City and in like manner under the same notion of Quakers drawn multitudes of people after them and occasioned very great disturbances among us And forasmuch as by the said Information it appears to us to be very probable much to be suspected that the said persons so lately come hither are some of those that came from Rome as aforesaid These are therefore in the name of the Protector to will and require you to make diligent search through your Ward for the aforesaid strangers or any of them and all other suspected persons and to apprehend and bring them before us or some of us to be examined and dealt with according to Law Hereof fail you not Upon this warrant Tho. Marford was taken having on a hair coat Being brought before the Magistrates his coat was taken off and the Officers ordered to turn him out of Town which was done accordingly but he by and by returned at the same gate within which no sooner entred but the Officers apprehended him again and brought him before the Mayor who committed him to prison and his hair coat sent him which he put on the next day on his other clothes but the 3d day he was inwardly required as they say to put the hair coat next him and so to abide till he spoke with the Mayor which he did and likewise was barefooted When released he immediately went so to the Mayor who commanding his hat to be taken off the ashes on his head flew about which he shaked from him telling the Major that the Lord of hosts would stain the glory and crown of all his pride and strip him naked and bare Febr. 4. Thomas Robertson of Graierig neer Kendal in Westmâ—rland being at Nich. Church when Mr. Hazard preached After he had done Thomas utters his voyce being apprehended he was carried to the Mayâ—rs and committed to Newgate The same day Christopher Berkhead went into Stephens Church when all ended he said to the Minister thou son of Pride and proceeding further and the Constable coming he further said the plagues of God is thy portion the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The next day the Mayor and Aldermen sent for him and demanded wherefore he disturbed the Congregation and bid him promise the Mayor that he would go to the Church no more and they would free him He answered As to my own will I shall not go but if I am moved of the Lord I shall obey Then he was sent to Bridewel where he was for 9 or 10 days On March 15. 1654. Jeremy Higdel was sent for by the Mayor and Aldermen and committed to Newgate on the 2d of April he was sent for before them again â—nd was committed but that evening released Sarah Goldsmith on May the 5th 1654. put on a coat of â—ackcloath of hâ—ir next her uncovered her head put eaâ—â— thereon with her hair hanging down aboâ—â— her without any other cloaths upon her except shoes on her feet In that manner went to every gate and through every street within the walls of the City and then stood at the high Cross in the view of Town and Market as a sign against
himselfe not onely by reproachfull speeches against the Minister but also by affronting the chief Magistrate of this Corporation by contemptuous speeches and gestures whilst he was in discharge of the duty of his place to the great disturbance of the publick peace and the grief and perturbation of the people there assembled These are therefore in the name of his Highness c. to will and command you forthwith to receive the said Thomas Goodaire into your custody and him safely keep till next generall Sessions for the Peace to be holden for this County And hereof you are not to fail as you will answer the contrary Given under our Hands and Seals this 27. of March 1655. Nicholas Person Tho Belamy 3. In Yorkeshire Derby Leicester Northampton There were divers proceedings against William Deusbery IT is informed that William Deusbery a Ring-leader of the Quakers goes up and down the County of Yorke and is now in the West-Riding thereof dispersing principles prejudicial to the Truth of the Gospel and peace of the Common-wealth It is therefore desired that seeing no man is allowed publiquely to exercise his gifts to a particular Congregation unlesse he be first tryed and approved that the said William Deusbery may not be permitted to go up and down from place to place teaching untill he receive approbation of some person who shall be thought fit to judge how agreeable his principles are to truth and peace The substance of what was delivered to Mr. Payler the foreman of the Grand Jury to acquaint therewith Judge Windham at Yorke Assizes 13. or 14. of March 1653. Whereupon a Warrant was granted in open Court to the Justices in Yorkeshire to apprehend him who being at Tholthorpe about ten miles from Yorke in the North-riding George Man went to Mr. Dikeson at Kerby Hall in Yorkeshire who granted a Warrant April 26. And on the 27. at Crake by John Lockwood the High Constable by that Warrant he was apprehended and on the 28 day brought before Mr. Dickeson by whom he was committed The Mittimus to the Sheriff of the County to the Keeper of the Gaol of the Castle at York WHereas there was a Warrant directed for the apprehending of William Deusbery of Stanly for the seducing of the people of this Nation from Judge Windham the last Assizes and he being brought before me and refuseth to find Sureties to be of good behaviour and to appear at the next Assize to be holden for the said County to answer the premisses you are to receive into your custody the said W.D. and him safely to keep untill delivered by due course of Law April 28. 1654. Tho. Dickeson At Yorke Castle he was kept prisoner till the Assizes till July 25. And at the end of the Assize cleared by Proclamation had a Liberate sent him as he saith himself From thence he went into Cleveland and other parts in Yorkeshire Nottinghamshire and so to Derby and at Derby he was laid hold on as he was declaring his mind and so carried before the Justices sitting in Sessions in the Town Aug. 24. 1654. where it seems he appeared in such manner as the Justices bid the Jaylor take him away to Prison for disturbing the Court. Into Prison he was put and at night the Mayor Thomas Yail sent for him and asked him what he came to Derby for he answered to declare the word of the Lord. The Mayor wilt thou go out of the Town Answ When the Lord orders me Then was he commanded to prison again The next day came one of the Mayors officers and said if he would go forth of the Town and come no more he would let him out he answered he would not till ordered of the Lord and till the man that said he had authority to put me in come and take me out afterward the Jaylor delivered him to the Officer who put him forth of the Towne and strictly charged him to depart But he returned into the Town again and there stayed as he saith till he was free in his spirit to go thence From thence he went to Leicâ—ster there he went into the Church and after the Minister had done he spake to the people then two from the Mayor Edmund Johnson carried him away to him who commanded his Officers to put him in prison and the next day he was brought before the Mayor and another of the Magistrates and after examination the Keeper of the Gaol was commanded to put him out of the Town and charged him to depart but he returned to go on in his speakings Then as he saith in obedience to the spirit of Truth he went into Northamptonshire and at Wellingborough went into the Church and after the Minister had done then he spake to the people Decemb. 28. Richard Dennis Constable had him with a Warrant before Mr. Thomas Pentlâ—w at Wilby in Northamptonshire who upon examination made him a Mittimus and sent him to Northampton Gaol and when he appeared before the Justices at Session he was again committed to prison to answer next Assizes March 1654. where he was brought before Judge Hale and Judge Windham by whom he was committed to prison again whilest he was there he writ his Discovery and his Mighty day 4. In Carlisle THomas Stubs went into the church at Dean after the Minister had done he began to speak and after that time Peter Head did likewise the Minister having a Warrant required the Constable to take him away and so he was carried before the Magistrate At the Sessions they were indicted and not submitting to the Justices they were commanded to prison Tho Stubs and John Head had not long after a Liberate for Peter Head there was a Mittimus that he should be in prison three moneths without Bail or Mainprize But they that might go free chose rather to abide in prison then pay their fees where they were above 13. weeks in Prison and Peter Head above three moneths 5. In Bury GEorge Rose was more then 40. weeks as he saith in the Gaol of Edmunds-Bury George Whitehead John Harwood and Richard Clayton passing through Bury in Suffolke about 5. miles from Halstead in Essex and passing by the Church Rich Clayton set up a paper upon the Church door the people gathering about to read it Harwood and Whitehead began to speak to the people and passing from the people Richard Hum Constable stayed them and carried them two before Justice Pelham who examined them and sent them by the Constable to Justice Walgrave who after examination gave his Warrant to imprison John Harwood and another to have Rich. Clayton whipped at Bury and sent from Constable to Constable till he came to his home and charged the Constable with Whitehead that week till another Justice came from the Assizes at Bury So they were had back to Bury and Rich. Hum that night in the open street whip'd Rich. Clayton and afterward sent him away that night and kept Harwood Whitehead Next morning Harwood
was sent to Bury Prison some 16. miles from the said Bury to wit to Edmunds Bury in Suffolke and the next morning a Warrant came from Justice Walgrave to send Whitehead to the said Prison which was done accordingly 6. At Evesham in Worcestershire AT the general Sessions held for that place many of the Quakers were fined and 11. imprisoned The Mayor Edward Young upon the 14. of October committed 2. Quakers to prison and at night divers of them meeting in the street the Mayor came with Officers and put many of them into prison and into the stocks and three of them into the dungeon commanding the rest on pain of imprisonment to depart 7. At Northampton A. D. 1655. July 21. the Gaoler called Will. Dewsbury Joseph Stow Henry Williamson John Whitehead Marmaduke Stow Tho Cocket and Francis Ellington and set them them at the Bar before the Court and they all were covered till the Judge commanded the Gaolers man to pull off their hats Judge Atkins asked Will. Deusbery his name he answered unknown to the world but that the world knows is William Deusbery Atkins what Countryman A. of Canaan My natural birth was in Yorkeshire 9 miles from Yorke toward Hull Atkins why did you not stay there A. So I did till called to go where led by the Spirit The Clerke of the Peace told the Judge there was an Information given in on oath by Mr. Robert Burton that Will. Deusbery 29. of December 1654. did go into Wellingborough Church and by gesture and words made disturbance among the people J. Atkins I shall take course that those which have disturbed the Ministers before I go forth of the Town be indicted and told Deusbery that he broke the Law in that he was found wandring in the Country for there is an ancient Law that if any did go from their dwellings to travell in the Countrey without a Certificate from a Justice they were to be taken as Wanderers and common same is a good accuser though not a good tryer And I am satisfied from what I have heard to continue you in prison unlesse you will put in bond to be of good behaviour and appear at the next Assizes for you are by common same accused to be a dangerous people and breakers of the publique peace The Court rising the Gaolers took them away to prison again till the next Assize 8. Lancaster From thence a Petition to the Council of State of severall Gentlemen Justices of Peace Ministers and People Sheweth THat George Fox and James Naylor are persons disaffected to Religion and the wholsome Laws of this Nation And that since their coming into this Country have broached opinions tending to the destruction of the relations of Subjects to their Magistrates Wives to their Husbands children to their Parents servants to their Masters congregations to their Ministers and of a people to their God And have drawn much people after them many whereof men women and little children at their meetings are strangely wrought upon in their bodies and brought to fall foam at mouth roar and swell in their bodies and that some of them affirmed themselves to be equall with God as hath been attested at a late Quarter-Session at Lancaster in October since that time acknowledged before many Witnesses besides many dangerous opinions and damnable heresies as appears by a Schedule annexed with the names of the Witnesses subscribed May it therefore please your Honours upon consideration of the premises to provide that some speedy course may be taken for the suppressing those evils c. The Schedule 1. George professed and avowed that he was equall with God 2. To be the Eternal Judge of the world 3. He was the Judge of the world 4. The Christ the way the truth and the life 5. Whosoever took a place of Scripture and made a Sermon of it was a Conjurer and his preaching conjuration 6. That the Scripture was carnall James Milner professes himself to be God and Christ and gives out prophecies 1. That the day of judgement shall be the 15. of Novemb. 2. Never Judge sit at Lancaster again 3. That he must ere long shake the foundations of the great Synagogue meaning the Parl. Leonard Fell professeth that Christ had never any body but his Church Richard Hubberth That Christs coming in the flesh was but a figure Sauls Errand p. 3. Geo. Fox saith these matters are falsely charged upon him but whosoever reads his answers may easily see how he prevaricates To give you a tast 1. Answering that have broached opinions p. 4. Opinions we deny they taking themselves in all to be infallibly guided by the Spirit and saith but little more in a few canting termes to that grand Objection of teaching such Doctrines as break relations 2. To that of saying he was equall with God this jejune equivocating answer It was not so spoken as George Fox was equall to God but the father and the son is one c. 3. To that he is the eternall Judge of the world answers p. 6. He that was a Minister of God said that the Saints shall judge the world What means this daubing this palliating Come to an humble Saint that knows himselfe and abhors his own vileness and from him you shall have far other answers So that indeed his whole answer will be found rather a confirmation of the charge then a cleering of him so that the more he stirs the worse he stincks It is in vain and but expence of time to make more words about it he that will may read the book Of James Milner Page 9. Though his mind did run out from his condition and from minding that light of God which is in him yet there is a pure seed in him hoc concesso two pillars of theirs are overturned that they are guided away in their teachings by an infallible spirit infallibly and perfect Of Leonard Tells That Christ had no body but his Church Ans There is one body Christ is the head of his body the Church goes to make it good and in justifying another condemns himself 9. In Devonshire MIles Halhead a Nâ—t Hâ—â—lhâ—ad and Tho. Salthouse b But not well seasoned being pressed in spirit c But by whom the Qâ—eâ—tion to visit the seed of God in captivity d Aâ—l as they conceive in Plymouth left their beings and relations in the North e Quâ— warranto passed thitherward as far as Hunniton neer Exeter f A long journy on a sleeveles erraÌ„d where a guard being placed for apprehending of such persons as were suspected to have a hand in an Insurrection broke out a little before by them they were taken up and brought before Colonel Coppleston high Sheriff of the County Having examined them he caused them to be kept close prisoners at Exeter for about 14 dayes and then sent them from Officer to Officer towards their homes g â—or cleeâ—ly they were out of the way