To Thomas Dâ—ght Keeper of the Goal near the Castle at Exon. And so Margaret Kellum for coming to Plymouth divers hundreds of miles from her outward habitation and speaking as she was moved of the Lord to Christopher Ceely Mayor of Plymouth the word of the Lord in his houâ—e whitherto she came and into which she was bid by hâ—m to come after that she had sent in that she desired to speak with him and had told him upon his coming to the door that she had a word from the Loâ—d to declare to him which word of the Lord so declared he confessed to be very good and truth was imprisoned by h m and continued a Prisoner for the space of seven and fifty dayes and used with that inhumanity barbarousness and cruelty as hath been express'd This is Christopher Ceely who professeth Christ and the Scriptures this is the Governour and the Government of Plymouth a people professing Religion this is the Authority of the County of Devon and the justice of their Judge Vowell these are the fruits of them all and of their Ministry of the Gospel and of its shining so long amongst them of which they so loudly boast and unto which they and their generation would conform all or cut them off and for that purpose have made such wars and shed so much blood in these Dominions these are some of the fruits found in England a Nation saved by the Lord to the astonishment and dread of all Nations and bearing his name in return of all his mercies and deliverances All ye that pass by stay your selves and wonder Barbara â—attison Barbara Pattison speaking to Thomas Martin Priest whil'st he was divining a Funeral Sermon at Plymouth was imprisoned by Christopher Ceely Mayor of Plymouth and sent to Exeter Goal and at the Assizes the beginning of the second month 1656. indicted and returned to prison with judgement to suffer 3. months imprisonment accordiâ—g to Maries Law which was made to guard the Pâ—pish Priests and Jesuitâ— â—rom â—he witnesâ— of God then in the Protestants wâ—ich now is made the guard of tâ—e Priests in these dayes and by them for deâ—â—nce aâ—ainst the witness of God now is recoursed unto there mak ng it to appear that they are of the same generation and much longer was she kept in priâ—on then three mâ—ntâ—â— tâ—e judgement of Maries Law and of the Assizes for er â—estifying from the Lord against this Priest in likâ—lyhood â—hat there had been kept beyond the double of that time which was near approaching hâ—d not Colonel Copplestone the Sheriff of the County of Devon tendred her suffâ—ring which she patiently anâ— with me kness did bâ—ar and set her liberty Priscilla Cotton and Mary Cole of Plymouth on the 19. day of the 6. month called August 1656. Priscilla Cotton bâ—iâ—g moved of the Lord went Mary â—ole with her to the Stâ—eâ—lâ—-house at Plymouth where they sate silent till George Hughes the Priest had ended his divination and then Priscillâ— Cotton stood up and spake to the people and to them she said People why do ye spend your mony for that which is not bread and your labour for that which doth not satiâ—fie hearken di igently to the eternall word that your souls may live when she had spoken these words said the Priest to whom do you speak if you have any thing to say come home to my house I have been at thy house said she and have wrote to thee but all to little purpose iâ— it not the word of the Lord said he that I have preached to the people Nay repâ—iâ—d â—riscilla it is a divination of thy own brayn whereupon he lest he should shamed before the people called out to the Mâ—gistrates thereby shewing of what generation he waâ— to have her away to which Mary Cole who till then was siâ—ent repâ—yed did ever Christ Jâ—sus or his Apostles call for the assi tance of Mâ—gistrates but so did the Pharisees of old and the Apostles were drawn out of the Synagogues But nevertheless what â—he Priest said prevailed and so violent hands were laid on them and they haled out of the Synagogues fulfilling the words of Christ whereupon Priscilla said to the Priest wo unto thee that laughs now for thou shalt mourn and weep Being drawn out of the high place they were both put under the Town hall and there kept with Halberts and were mockt and derided The next day they were called before John Page Mayor and Richard Spurwell and Robâ—â—â— Gâ—bbes Justices Rich. Spurwell who was one of the members of the Priests Church so calâ—ed biâ— the Clark write tâ—at Priscilla â—hom they first examined come to oppose the Minister and diâ—â—urbed the people nay said Priscilla let not lyes be â—rote and to the Clark she said I charge thee to wriâ—e no lyes but truth whereupon the Clark said I wiâ—l write nothiâ—g but what your self spake said R. Spurwell you came in pride and prâ—sumption nay I came in the fear of the Lord God said she and in obedience to him whom I ought to obey before man vvhat said ye more said â—e so she declared vvhat she had spoken and exhorted them to mind their teacher vvithin the light vvhich vvould teach them not to be envious nor partiall nor hatefull and told them the Lord vvould pluck his people out of the teeth of the devouring greedy shepherds â—nd that the Priest made the disturbaâ—ce if there vvere any for they heard him and said nothing till he had ended his divinations and deserved the punishment if any vvere due for vvhat they spake it vvas by commandment and that it vvas matter of admiration that they vvere so deluded by him vvho vvas their servant for their mony and that they vvere so subject to his lusts as if he vvere their Lord vvhereupon they loâ—kt one upon another and had her avvay Then Mary Cole vvas calâ—ed and of her many needless questions they asked and vvhether she did not deny all preaching she ansvvered she vvish't that all the Lords people vvere Prophets and that his spirit vvas poured on them all and vvith many exhortations she persvvaded them to mind their conditions and to turn the Lord and to mind him vvho did call upon them for amendment of life and told them she vvas grieved to see them neglect their teacher vvhich vvould instruct them continually if they vvould hearken to him and so to prison they returned them both and after some time Priscilla was called and tendred her the Oath of Abjuration of Popâ—ry dost thou think I am a Papist said she to the Mayor no I think in my conscience said he you are not vvhy then said Priscilla dost thou tender me the Oath the Mayor said because it is according to the Protectors order vvhereupon she declared I renounce the Pope and all popish opinions but I vvill not svvear at all then presently Mary Cole was called and the same Oath was tendred to her to which she declared as had Priscilla then the Mayor told them by the Judge they must be tryed and asked them whether their husbands who were shopkeepers in the Town would be bound for them or they must to Exeter on foot and so the next day he sent them to Exeter but the day they came tâ—ither the Assizes was ended so they were delivered to the Goaler and very evilly entreated by the people of the Town as they passed along with dirt and mockingâ— At the Assizes the second month 1656. they being before the Court and attending there severall dayes during the time of their sitting no accusation was laid in against them so the last day of the Assizes they were discharged the Mittimus by which they were sent to Exon Goale was as followeth Devon WE John Page Marchant Mayor of the Borough of Plymouth and Richard Spurwell and Robert Gibbs Merchants three Justices of peace within the said Boroâ—gh to the Keeper of the Goale for the County of Devon at the Castle of Exon or to his Lawfull Deputy greeting we herewith send you by the bearers hereof the bodyes of Prisciâ—la the wife of Arthur Cotton of Plymouth and Mary Cole wife of Nichoâ—as Cole of Plymouth Mercer lately apprehended â—ere for diveâ—s misdemeanors of a high and hideous nature who refuse to give sufficient sureties for their personall appearance before his Highness the Lord Protector of this Commonwealth and his Justices of Assizes and generall Goale-delivery at his Castle â—t Exon at the next Assizes to be holden there for the County aforesaid and in the mean time that they hold and be of good behaviour against his Highness the Lord Protector and his leige-people and for refusing to take the Oath of Abjuration by us tendred them these are in the name of his Highness the Lord Protector to will and command ye c. whereof fair not at your perills Given under our hands and seals at Plymouth the twentieth day of August 1656. John Page Mayor Richard Sp rwell Justices Robert Gibbs Justices What tâ—ey were apprehended for and what were their answers at their examinations is before mentioned which whether it be diverse misdemeanors or of a high and hideous nature by comparing the one and the other let the sober judge and vvhat a pittifull silly and soâ—â—ish g neration this is vvho are neither ashamed so ridiculously to express themsâ—lves nor are sensibâ—e hovv thereby they lay open their nakâ—dness and by the other filthy stuff vvith vvhich tâ—e Mittimus is filled not vvorthy the takiâ—g up or the taking to pieces râ—câ—rd under their hands and seals their fol y to posterity and leave their names a curse to the chosen of the Lord as the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts concerning this geneâ—ation hath spoken Isaiah 65.15 there reâ—d yâ—ur portion â—râ—m the 11. verse of tâ—e Chapter to the 15. and vviâ—h the vv tness oâ— God in your consciences vvhich shevvs ye evill and coâ—d mus ye for unrighteousness consider vvhilst you have time and vvhilst the hour of y ur viâ—â—tation is nâ—t past over for your transgressions are great and your cruell persecutions of the Innocent not a fevv The End
those who come to visit them the Letters he finds on such he breaks open and detains as he pleaseth their Cloaths and Pockets he searcheth and rifles their persons he abuseth with filthy and unsavory expressions he searched a womans head for Letters with his own hands taking her fowl Cloaths out of her Hat and searching them also A Cheese sent to Edward Pyott the Gaoler violently took away saying he would carry it to the Mayors for therefore was the Watch and Ward set at every Gate to stop all things that should go to and from them which is not restored to this day And William Salt after his being taken by order of the Sessions out of that noysome poysonous hole called Domesdale where he had been ill in his body walking to Poulsons Bridge that parts Devon and Cornwall being a mile or thereabouts out of the town to take the wholesome ayr upon encouragement thereof and of Captain Bradens having given securitie for their true Imprisonment for that very end that they might not be closely restrained and cruelly used as they had been by the Gaoler This Mayor having notice thereof caused to be taken and brought before him having set out Scouts and Watches to meet him at his return and having himself rifled his Pockets and taken away his Letters to the darke house he committed him telling him he would shew him a Law to morrow and after he had lyen two nights and a day there by his order sent for him and scoffed him and asked him whether he would go into Devonshire again and so sent him to the Gaoler who was a Prisoner in the County prison a prisoner upon security for his true Imprisonment over whom the Mayor had no power but the same Spirit of crueltie ruling in him against the Innocent as in the Gaoler he seeks and takes every opportunitie to manifest it and in this merciless act hath exceeded the Gaolers unreasonable practice and inhumane brutishness But by that time he comes to understand by feeling the wages of his unrighteousness what he hath done herein and in the disturbing of peaceable people in their travelling searching them and breaking open their Letters taking away and detaining their Books and Papers and misusing them as hath been said he will have little cause to boast or glory but the contrary And thus from this Gaoler Recorder and Mayor have the Innocent suffered without mercy These are they who have joyned hand in hand together to make up the threefold Cord of their cruell persecution He that reads what hath been rehearsed of these three may see their faces hearts and hands one and the same as is the Spirit that rules them The first causeth them to suffer the second helps on and then laughs at their sufferings on the seat of judgement instead of doing them right The third reacheth forth his hand to make them further to suffer where the two former cannot But the Recorder is the Counsellor from him proceeds the encouragement and strength of the other two This is he as is said that was one of the secluded Members of the long Parliament who after the Kings death being asked in whose name the Orders of Court should pass answered in the name of T. Gewen Esquire Recorder of Lanceston when as the Act of Parliament said In the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England who in disdaine and scorn asked who they were Who in the last Parliament was very zealous for a King and a House of Lords The Mayor is he who was once put by that office for his disaffection to the Common-wealth and the prisoners in their day having borne their testimony against those interests as they do now against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness no wonder if at their hands they receive all manner of cruelties now that they are put under their feet and delivered up as a prey and a scorn to all who as to the interest of the Common-wealth to which they firmly stood could not be overcome by the Sword or War but overcame the Interests that these men pursued and therein these men and all their Accomplices And no wonder to see such men as these creeping into places of power thereby to have their opportunities of revenge on such and of making the Government under which they are to stink and become intollerable because of oppression and crueltie and of separating between those who are chief in Rule and their former constant friends And is it not a fair game thus to play whilst it passeth undescerned acting under the power of authoritie which when it is become sufficiently naked weak and abort'd if a blow then come it may be sure to hit and repentance may be too late Men walk not in such mystery in these dayes but they are easily discerned as opportunitie serveth their old interest appears to lie in the bottome sure and unmoveable though their faces look another way thither they rowe hath it not very lately appeared so throughout England is it not a fair warning Ethiopians cannot change their Skin nor Leopards their spots Let not men be mistaken so they shall find it In the sufferings of these Innocent servants of the Lord who have been thorougly faithfull to the Common-wealth mentioned in this relation in this County of Cornwall appear no less than two of the eleven Members whom the Army impeached viz. John Glynne then Recorder of London dismist of that place as an enemy to the Common-wealth and Army now Chief Justice of the upper Bench and Anthony Nicholls who knows how much he had a hand in briâ—giâ—g in the Scotch Army in 1648. into England and how well known it was then as was his other actions and its like may remember who it was that was proclaimed a Traytor by the Army and sought after as such a one who its like should be called to a strict account for what he hath now done to the innocent conâ—rary to Law would flie from it himself and lay it on the back of the Priests as he did the former when the Army had him Prisoner To whom he said that the Priests laying it upon them in the Parliament as no less than damnation that such a Company of Hereticks and Schismaticks as were the Army should pass into Ireland which lay then viz. the honest interest in a sad bleeding and dying posture was the reason of what they did and of their attempt to break the Army which they endeavoured under the pretence of the relief thereof and placing such Officers for conduct as might serve that end under whom they knew the Souldiery would not engage Yet this man now oh how warme is he how secure doth he think himself under the Government of the Army and the Chief Officers thereof Two innâ—cent men he sent to prison who have suffered as hath been in part related with the cause of their suffering under which they yet lye and whosoever comes
and indicting them and denying them a copy of their indictment not suffering them to speak in their owne defence or to the Jury but calling for and threatning them with a (*) The prisoner ought to have liberty to speak for himself so is the Law of the Nation and all Equitie and the Judge ought to instruct him in the Law if he mistake and not to call for a Gâ—g to Gag him when he desires to speak for himself O cruell injustâ—ce and horrible inhumanity whetherto doth this age run in a blind mad persâ—cution of the iust was ever the liâ—e heard of a man imprisoned and brought to his tryall and not permitted to speak for himself and for a Iudge to call for a Gag and to order him to be Gagd for attempting so to speak and so to proceâ—d against him fine and imprison him The Roman Governours crie shame on this Thou art permitted to speak for thy self said King Agrippa to Paul and Felix told him he would hear him when his accusers were come and when Turtullus the chi f Priests Orator had accused hâ—m he beckned to Paul and p rmitted him to speak for himself and heard him concerning the Faith of Christ and his reasonâ—ng of righteousness and iudgement to come and trembled And Festus heard him also in his defence after he had been accused and before the Iews and King Agrippa confest after he had heard him that he found he had committed nothing worthy of Dea h though the Iews he said had cried out that he ought not to live any longer and heard him speak also of the Faith of Iesus And the Pharisees said Doth our Law condemn a Man before it hear him and know what he doth but beyond Heathens Romans Iews Pharisees is this blind Generation speak for himself Gag him where did any of Heathens do so Englishmen where are you after this rate O Monstrous Tyrannie and wicked inâ—ustice exceâ—ding Heathens Pagans Romans Iews and Pharisees Gag when they did but attempt to speak when they yet sought to speak causing them to be forc'd away with violence and passing upon them not so much as with the consent of a Jury which he put upon them for some said they were young in it and desired further time to consider upon an Indictment which had no offence charged therein that was an offence in Law but his own will which he set up for a Law and in his will thus fined and sent to Prison till payment and for the good behaviour fourteen men and women whose names with seven more as they were taken up in the high way and apprehended with the time when and place where and the Justices by whom committed are Dorcas Erbury taken 22. 5. month 1656. near Hunington committed by William Put Justice Elizabeth Catland taken 22. 5. month 1656. near Hunington committed by William Put Justice Anne Harrison 23. 5 month 15. miles off Exon Mayor Tho. Saunders Justice Jane Bland 23. 5 month 15. miles off Exon Mayor Tho. Saunders Justice Henry Godman 24. 5. month near Colhampton Major Saunders Justice William Bayly 29. 5. month Axemister Thomas Drake Justice Iohn â—ames 31. 5. month Sandford Major Saunders Justice Humphry Smith 1. 6. month Buterly committed by a Iustice at Tiverton Iohn Bolton 2. 6. month Okchampton Mayor James Nayler Nicholas Gaincliff 3. North Fotton Constables Thomas Hawkins 2. 6. month Okehampton Mayor Samuel Cater 4. 6. month 12. miles off Exon. Constable Robert Crabb 4. 6. month 12. miles off Exon. Constable Tho. Rollinson 7. 6. month Telcot Edw. Ascot Iustice Iohn Brown 7. 6. month Apledore Iohn Champion Iustice Mary Erbury 7. 6. month Apledore Iohn Champion Iustice Ioan Ingram 7. 6. month Apledore Iohn Champion Iustice Luce Field 7. 6. month Bascomb Iohn Bare Iustice Luce Field 7. 6. month Audry Iohn Bare Iustice Ioseph Meader 15. 6. month Lifton William Morish Iustice Mary Howgill 15. 6. month Lifton William Morish Iustice Where they remain Prisoners to this day the most of them lying upon Straw amongst the Fellons with which hardship and nastie inconveniences severall of them are fallen sick and one of them viz. Iane Ingram is dead being taken at Apledore with Iohn Brown and Mary Erbury 7. of the 6. month she was travelling to visit the Prisoners at Lanceston from Wales and committed by Iohn Champion Iustice who beat Iohn Brown with his own hands and then sent him and them to Exon Gaole where he was laid in Bolts who hath now as hath Iudge Nicholas and the Iustices of the Sessions aforesaid from whom came the Order of the Guards and Major Blackmore who so earnestly pressed the execution of that order as they tendred all their hopes of salvation c. that so it might not be a dead Letter which hath proved the Death of this servant of the Lord but leaving direction as he blasphemously calls it and the Priests that set it on and those Guards the blood of the innocent for which they shall answer before the Iudge of all the earth who judgeth righteousness however they escape the Iustice of man and yet so hardned are those that notwithstanding her death after some time of sickness which Major Blackmore was told of before she dyed and the sickness of others and the ill condition outwardly they are in and their innocencie that they there continue them Prisoners to this day even the Sea-monsters draw forth the Breast and give suck to their young but these are become cruell as the Ostrich in the wilderness where will ye hide in the day of Visitation when the Lord shall make Inquisition for bloud and the sufferings of his Saints where then will ye flee and ever will ye leave your glory Take it to you it is your portion for at the hand of the Lord God bloud shall you drink for ye are worthy O ye matchless Persecutors such a proceeding as this the Records of this Nation afford not before this day being in all things vvholy contrary to the Lavv of England cruell and unreasonable And this is the relief the innocent who had suffered as aforesaid from and by the illegall order of Sessions and the executions thereof received from this Iudge Nicholas vvho not onely thus threw the servants of the Lord by heaps into the Common Gaole but Thomas Boyleston anâ— Thomas Powell committed by the Sessions to the Assizes vvho being brought before him with those aforementioned vvere dealt vvithall as they vvere having been about six vveeks before in Prison And Priscilla Cotten and Katherine Martingdale of Plymouth being imprisoned the later for speaking in a Steeple house in Plymouth the 13. of the 5th month 1656. after the Priests time these vvords Priest and people vvho live in Cains nature in envy and malice God regards not that sacrifice and the former for being with her not saying a word and brought before him he fined Priscilla who said not a word in 50. l. and imprisonment till payment and
of a mans innocency and the defence of his liberty As he hath outstripped the Jews who said to Paul and his Companions men and Brethren if ye have a word of exhortation to the people say on Acts 13.15.16 and all manner of honesty and justice in urging a man to go to the assembly to hear and then judge and when he hath heard patiently till all was ended and every one silent then speaking a few words of soberness and truth to stir up the people to hale him out who before attentively heard him to call to the Constable to take him away to call such words of truth vilifying to say such things were not to be suffered to send him to prison with a warrant filled with lyes false accusations as there is non sence in that passage untill you he be thence delivered to bid the Constable to sell his horse to bear the charge And insultingly to tell him when he had done all this that he would warrant he might now lye long enough in prison who by reason of him had stayd 235. dayes in prison a little before as hath been aforesaid This is P. Ceely and his communion of Saints this is he whose unparalleld wickedness is the burden of this relation with whom it begins with whom it ends whose iniquity hath no end whose rage hath no bound whose cruelâ—y is without mercy and whose inhumanity is without naturall affection who is envious malicious proud fiery a boaster a blasphemer a filthy speaker a curser a scoffer a reviler a railer a lyar a persecutor an oppressor a truce-breaker a false accuser a despiser of those that are good a traytor heady high-minded cruell implacable unreasonable whose heart is as hard as the neather milstone whose conscience is seared as with an hot Iron whose forehead is as Brass and flint and whose neck as of Iron sinnews impudent hard hearâ—ed who makes the last days perilous who hath filled up a large measure of iniquity as this very relation beareth witness one who hath sold himself to commit wickedness who after the long illegall cruell barbarous monstrous causelesss unheard of sufferings of the innocent occasioned by him as hath been said and much more which is past over in silence contrary to the Law of God and of man civill and naturall to modesty justice reason honesty and all humanity as one not satiated therewith still ravening after the Blood of the Innocent cast's W. Salt into the same prison again within 6. dayes after his release from under tâ—e hand of his mercilesse cruelty and insatiable bloodiness with such treachery faâ—shood and ungodliness as hath been in part expressed thus treasuring up unto himself after the hardnesse impenitency of his heart wrath unto the day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God which shall destroy the adversary and render unto him according to his deeds And all this is but part of what the Innocent servants of the Lord have suffered in the Goale of Lanceston in the County of Cornwall and do yet suffer in the Goale of Exon in the County of Devon where they are still continued though one of them be lately (*) Jane Ingram committed by John Champion Justice so called and recommitted by Judge Nâ—cholas one of the Fruits of the Order for the Guards for which the Justice of the righteous God they must answer dead divers others of them sick with the poysonous nastiness of that filthy place where they were cast in heaps together in and amongst the fellons and murderers first by the Justices then by Judge Nicholas And if any man aske wherefore is all this It is answered for none other cause then for giving forth a paper in compassion to the ignorant at the movings of the Lord stirring them up to prise their time and shewing them the way to salvation in the words of the Scriptures of truth as the paper it self at large in the beginning of this relation manifests and for going to visit the Innocent thus and for this cause cast into prison and under such cruell sufferings is this England are these the people that have gone through such wars which have made the world to ring for liberty of conscience Who talk so much of Christ and his glorious Gospell and yet thus persecute the life of the Son of God now made manifest Not that our lives are in these things is this written but that every thing may be shewn and laid in its own place But this is not all yet this generation have yet to fill up the measure of their iniquity in this their hour the powers of darkness they must yet shew themselves to be more blind and bruâ—tish cruell and unreasonable than the generations whom they have succeeded in persecuting of the just and to be such as are as unsatiable as hell whom the sufferings and blood of the Innocent doth not suffice or make them once to say it is enough they must make it to appear that one and the same spirit of ravening and cruelty is in and acts through the diversities of painted formes of Godliness without the power and the glorious outsides of profession without the life as is in and acts through the outwardly more dark and filthy part of the world against the truth of the living God where it is made manifest and that they and them all are of the same stock lineage and kindred having all one Father him who aboad not in the truth the Devill the murderous persecutor of the seed of God throughout all ages from the beginning Therefore the wisedome of God sent again some of his Innocent servants who had long and sorely suffered in and were released out of the Goale at Lanceston as hath been said into that County of Cornwall to trie and prove this generation further and to bring forth to the light what had layn hid in the bottome of the hearts of some under the cover and shew of friendship and sence of their sufferings Which will appear when that which follows of the apprehension and imprisonment of Joseph Coale one of the late prisoners aforesaid by P. Ceely and the return of him and W. Salt from the Sessions at Bodmin prisoners to Lanceston by Collonel Bennet aforesaid who sate Judge of the Court and the carriage of Coll. Bennet towards them in the Court and the passages there now to be rehearsed as the close of this relation being added to what hath been but now said of the imprisonment of W. Salt by P. Ceely shall together be considered with moderation and weighed in judgement Joseph Coale having been after his imprisonment aforesaid to visit some friends in Cornwall as he vvas travelling peaceably on the vvay about the 30. of the 7. month Peter Ceely met him vvho envying to see him at liberty and free of adversity and bonds out of his unsatiable cruelty and murderous malice for no other cause than for seeing of him travell quietly on
to the Father from whence it comes where no unrighteousness enters nor unholiness but if you do this light hate this wil be your condemnation the light saith Christ If you doe it love and to it come you will come to Christ which will bring you off all the worlds teachers and wayes and Doctrines to Christ who is the way to the Father from the world and all the deceivers in it Which paper as they journyed through the Parish of Madderne near St Ives was delivered to a man whom they met altogether then unknown to them but since understood to be by name John Keate to be communicated to the people but he instead thereof hastned and carried it to Peter Ceely Justice of the Peace so called at St. Ives who gave him order to get together a party of new raised Horse of which the said Peter Ceely was Captain and to follow after and apprehend them But they being come into the town of Saint Jves before those Horse were gotten ready as they were riding thorough it the said Keate being there stopt them in their way and apprehended them and seized on their Horses and Portmantue which he violently took away and brought them to the said Peter Ceely at his House in the town aforesaid Where a great company of people were gathered And with them one Welstead the Priest of that town before whom P. Ceely made sport of them as if he had gotten a prey and with reviling speeches abused them and cursed Whereupon they told him he was to do the things that were just and neither to revile nor curse And of them he demanded whether they would own the paper aforesaid or not To which answer being made they should deny the Scriptures if they should not own it A heinous crime he made of it calling it a sinfull wicked Paper and fell to rifflâ—ng of their Pockets for more and what he found he took away and detained and yet keeps from them divers serviceable notes for the instructing the minds of the simple and their Books also and examine he did them apart and tendred them the Oath of Abjuration To which they answered that O. P. had said that oath was not intended for them That they did in the command of Iesus Christ abide who said swear not at all and that all Popery and Popish points they denied as they had declared to the whole Nâ—tion in a Book which they gave him And a pass he demanded of Ed. Pyot for traveling pretending him to be a person unknown when as one or two of that town then informed him that they knew him to be a Merchant of Bristoll and that Bristoll was the place of his habitation and thither they were all travelling Then he asked Ed. Pyot for sureties for the gooâ— behaviour He desired that a Law might be shewn him that he had transgressed and he would find sureties but no Law could he produce but instead of Law he gave them many reproachfull and unsavory expressions And the Priest aforesaid called Ed. Pyot Jesuit because he used spectacles and a wanderer because to them he mâ—de not his estate to appear Notwithstanding the testimony of some of their own town who knew him as hath been menâ—ioned and that he tendred P. Ceely to buy a thousand pounds worth of goods of him or to sell him a thousand pounds worth and also had declared how he had been in Armes for the Laws of the Nation and for Liberty and in command for the Parliament They all having been constant faithfull friends to the Common-wealth and in armes for it Nevertheless without any just ground colour or pretence in Law Justice or Equitie or occasion given on their parts for no other thing was done than giving forth the paper aforesaid at the moving of the Lord as hath been declared which is left of God in every mans conscience to judge vvhether it is any just matter of offence or cause of exception or ground of suffering at all much less of so cruell sufferings and unreasonable proceedings had against them as is hereafter expressed contrary to Law and the Government and all that is equall and Just or of good report after they had been stopped on their way their Horses violently taken from them their Portmantue and Pockets rifled and searcht and their Papers and Books therein seized on and detained after they had been scoffed and reviled and reproached and made sport of before the Priest and the people and cursed and evill intreated by P. Ceely were they committed by him to Lanceston Gaol and sent in custody with a guard of Horse first to Pendennis Castle to Captain Fox with their Books and Papers leaving it to him to detain or discharge them as he should see cause but he not being there after that one of the Prisoner was violently ran upon and struck down in the Room by on Smithwick a Kinsman of Keates to whom was not given the least provocation and whose violence the said Keate being demanded said he would justifie were they carried towards Lanceston by the said Keate and guard of which he had the charge who abused them very much on the way himself and permitted others unhumanely so to do and brought them into a Room on the way where was another of his acquaintance a desperate fellow standing with a naked Rapier unto which Gaol as they were passing they met with Generall Desborow who being acquainted with their condition and the cause thereof sent them notice by a Lieutenant That if they would give under their hand or promise that they would go unto their own homes and there live soberly and quietly they might have their enlargement but they returning in answer that they were passing on towards Bristol until they were molested and stopt in their journey by P. Ceely and that quietly and soberly they had lived and behaved themselves and that their time was not in their own hand but they stood in the will of the Lord and should do as he permitted He departed out of the Countrie leaving them in custody instead of doing them Justice and they choosing a prison with the freedome answer and excercise of a good conscience rather then libertie on such unreasonable conditions as the a ravishing of their Innocencie the unmanning of themselves and the betraying and destroying of their undeniable liberties the price of so much blood viz. to goe and be when and whence To render a man his libertie upon condition of his engaging to do aâ—d be that of the contrary whâ—â—eunto hâ— is falsely accused under the pretence whereof he is imprâ—soned as to â—ender him libertie upâ—n condition of his making himself an offender who is innocent whâ—ch if he doth he vanâ—sheth his own innocencie For though the things be good in themselves unto which such a condition seeks to bind him and that in which a man hath his conversation yet hâ— being accused of the contrary and for it imprisoned if he so engage
to many to be seduced and misled to embrace and entertain the dangerous superstitious and Idolatrous Doctrines of Popery We. c. And all Popery and Popish points they to him denyed and gave him a Printed Book wherein they had so declared to all the Nation As also for the Paper aforesaid because of which they suffered so much by him makes to appear And they told him that O. P. whose Proclamation that is had said that Oath was not intended for them And further declared that onely in respect to the Command of Christ who saith swear not at all they refused to take it And as to imprisoâ—ing of those who refuse to take it So in this he shews his iustice and are intended thereby Tâ—aâ— Proclamation gives no power but onely to return their Names and places of habitation to the Exchecquer 7. After he had mustered up and drawn together his black Troops and Companies aforesaid of lyes and ignorances and of abusing of the Law to assault and destroy the innocent under his hand and seal that he might be sure never to want additional supplyes of the like forces and qualifications it to accomplish in the seventh place by a familiar spirit he raiseth up the ghost of the great Monster ET CETERA whose mouth is as large as Hell and whose depth is as the pit that hath no bottome and whose smoke ascends up for ever and ever who was begotten by the late Bishops on the Whore of Babylon of whom he is a branch and damned by the Parliament with that whole generation that brought it forth of whom it was the sudden overthrow and destruction root and branch And now after their dayes is brought up from the depths of the Earth by this Officer of the new raised Horse and Commissioner of the Militia and as he calls himself Justice of the Peace of the County of Cornwall who is a shame to the Government When by the Law of the Land all Warrants of Commitment ought expresly to mention the name the habitation the calling of the person committed and the certain offence which must be such as is so in Law according to which the Prisoner is to have his Issue But whether this be such let him who reads and understands judge and whether P. Ceelyes Warrant ET CETERA be not the Monster of this age in the Law as was the Bishops Oath ET CETERA of the preceding generation in Religion and deserving the same yea a greater condemnation that it may rise no more henceforth even for ever Being delivered in custody to the Goaler at Lanceston they were there detained Prisoners by vertue of the aforesaid Warrant ET CETERA till the general Assizes for the County of Cornwall held at Lanceston on the second day of which being the 25. of the first month 1656. they were brought before the Bench where John Glynne Chief Justice of the Upper Bench sate Judge Multitudes of people being in and about the Court and in the Town who having heard very strange reports concerning them expected some great thing to be laid to their charge and proved equivolent thereunto and to the misusages and impriâ—onments they had sustained of which the whole Countrey was fulâ— as the prisoners considering their innocency and sufferings had also cause to expect and justice of him who was in Commission Chief Justice of England unto whom in caseâ— oâ— wrong judgement appeals are made from other Judges and Jâ—â—â—â—ces and Ministers of the Law according to the Law and his place and oath and a suitable care and tâ—nderness of the liberties of men according to the Law and Equity whatsâ—ever had been the contrary proceedings of others in Commission to the truth and the Friends thereof But what was produced as to the one and done by the other and what justice they received will appear to the sober and wise in heart when those few of the passages of that Assizes in reference unto them as they are rehearsed and managed in the Law in their following Letter sent by them and delivered the last Assizes at Gloucester where he sate Judge as to his carriage towards them shall onely be considered and weighed in judgement For John Glynne Chief Justice of England Friend WE are Free-men of England free born our Rights and Liberties in and with our Countryes with the Laws the defence of them have we in the late Wars vindicated in the Field with our blood and therefore with thee by whose hand we have so long and do yet suffer let us a little plainly reason concerning thy proceedings against us whether they have been according to the Law or agreeable to thy duty and office as chief Minister of the Law or Justice of England and in meekness and in lowliness abide that the witness of God in thy conscience may be heard to speak and judge in this matter for thou and we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to what he hath done whether it be good or bad And so Friend in moderation and soberness weigh what we have here to say unto thee The afternoon before we were brought before thee at the Assizes at Launceston thou didst cause divers scores of our Books violently to be taken from us by armed men without due process of Law which being perused if so be any thing in them might be found to lay to our charge who were innocent and then upon our legal issue thou hast detained to this very day Now our Books are our Goods and our Goods are our Property and our Liberty is to have and enjoy our Property and of our Liberty and Property the Law is the defence which saith No Free-man shall be disseized of his Free-hold Liberties or Free-customes c. nor any way otherwise destroyed nor we shall not pass upon him but by lawfull judgement of his Peers or by the Law of the Land Magn. Chart. cap. 29. Now Friend consider is not the taking away of a mans Goods violently by foree of Arms as aforesaid contrary to the Law of the Land Is not the keeping of them so taken away a disseizing him of his property and a destroying of it and his Liberty yea his very Being so far as the invading the Guard the Law sets about him is in order thereunto Calls not the Law this a destroying of a man Is there any more than one common Guard or Defence viz. the Law to Property Liberty and Life And can this Guard be broken on the former and the later be secure Doth not he that makes an invasion upon a mans property and liberty as he doth who contrary to Law which is the Guard acts upon either make an invasion upon a mans life since that which is the Guard of the one is also of the other If a penny or pennyes worth be taken from a man contrary to Law may not by the same rule all a man hath
not the crie thinkest thou gone up It is time for thee to set to thine hand O Lord for thine enemies have made void thy law draws not the hour nigh fills not up the measure of iniquitie apace Surely your day is coming and hastneth warned you have been from the presence and by the mouth of the Lord and clear will he be when he cometh to judgement and upright when he giveth sentence That of God in every one of your consciences shall so to him bear witness and confess and your mouths shall be stopped and before your Judge shall you be silent when he shall divide you your portion and render unto you according unto your deeds Therefore whilst thou hast time prize it and repent for verily our God shall come and shall not keep silence a fire shall devoure before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him he shall call to the Heavens from above and to the earth that he may Judge his people and the Heavens shall declare his righteousness for God is Judge himself Consider this ye that forget God least he tear you to pieces and there be none to deliver And Friend shouldst thou have given judgement against us wherein thou didst fine us 20. marks apiece and imprisonment till payment without causing us being Prisoners to be brought before thee to hear the judgement and to move what we had to say in arrest of judgement Is not this contrary to the law as is manifest to those who understand the proceedings thereof Is not the Prisoner to be called before judgement is given and is not the Indictment to be read and the verdict thereupon and is not libertie to be given him to move in Arrest of judgement and if it be a just exception in the law ought not there to be an Arrest of Iudgement For the Indictment may not be drawn up according to law and may be wrong placed and the offence charged therein may not be a cr me in law â—r the Jurors may have been corrupted or menaced or set on by some of the Iustices with other particulars which are known to be legall and just exceptions And the judgement ought to be in his hearing not behind his back as if the Iudge were so conscious of the error thereof that he dares not give it to the face of the Prisoner But none of those Priviledges of the law this Iustice we who had so long and so greatly suffered contrary to law received not nor could have at thy hands no not so much as a sight or Copy of that long and new-found Indictment which in England was never heard of before nor that the matter contained therein was an offence in law nor ever was there any law or judiciall president that made it so though two friends in our names and behalves that night and the next day and the day following often desired it of the Clarke of Assize and his Assistant and servants but it they could not have nor so much liberty as to see it And 't is like it was not unknown or unperceived by thee that had we been called as we ought to have been or had known when it was to be given three or four words might have made a sufficient legall Arrest of that new-found Indictment and the verdict thereupon Therefore as our liberties vvho are innocent have not been worth in thy account the minding and esteemed fit for nothing but to be trampled underfoot and destroyed so if we find fault with what thou hast done thou hast taken care that no door be left open to us in the law but a Writ of error the consideration whereof and the judgement to be given thereon is to be had onely where thy self is chief of vvhom such complaint is to be made and the error assigned for the reverse of thy judgement and vvhat the fruit of that may be well expected to be by what vve have already mentioned as having received at hy hands thou hast given us to understand And here thou mayst think thou hast made thy self secure and sufficiently barr'd up our way of relief against whom though thou knowest we had done nothing contrary to the Law or worthy of Bonds much less of the Bonds and sufferings we had sustaind thou hast proceeded as hath been rehearsed Notwithstanding that thou art as are all the Judges of the Nation intrusted not with a Legisllative power but to administer Justice and to do EVEN Law and excecution of right to all high and low rich and poor without having regard to any mans person and art sworn so to do as hath been said and wherein thou dost contrary art liable to punishment as ceasing from being a Judge and becoming a wrong doer and an oppressor which what it is to be many of thy Predecessors have understood some by death others by fine and imprisonment And of this thou may'st not be ignorant that to deny a prisoner any of the priviledges the Law allowes him is to deny him justice to try him in an arbitrary way to rob him of that libertie which the Law giveth him which is his Inheritance as a freeman and which to do in effect is to subvert the fundamentall Lawe and Government of England and to introduce an Arbitrary and tyrannicall Government against Law which is treason by the common Law and treasons by the common Law are not taken away by the Statutes of 25. E. 3. 1. H. 4. 1. 2. M. see O. St. Johns now Chief Justice of the Common Pleas his argument against Strafford fol. 65. c. in the Case And these things friend we have laid before thee in all plainess to the end that with the light of Jesus Christ who lighteth every one that cometh into the World a measure of which thou hast received which sheweth the evill and reproveth thee for sin for which thou must be accountable thou being still and coole may'st consider and see what thou hast done against the innocent and shame may overtake thee and thou turn unto the Lord who now calleth thee to repentance through his servants who for witnessing his living truth in them thou hast cast into and yet continuest under cruell Bonds and Sufferings From the Gaole in Lanceston the 4. day of the 5. month 1656. Edward Pyot By which Letter it is manifest that upon their tryall no accuser nor accusation came in against them as to the cause of their Commitment nor indeed could any of the allegations in the Warrant ETCETERA bear weight in Law as hath been demonstrated Nevertheless set at libertie they were not though they suffred nine weekes wrong Imprisonment and such other abuses as hath been mentioned but after all the diligent searchings of whatsoever could be thought on wherewithall to accuse them in order to their further sufferings nothing appearing as to what they could be charged that the Law of the Land found fault with matter was sought after as to the Law of their God in
actions without straining or wresting let the sober judge And what is said may also serve as some answer to the false accusotions and slanders therein For the Priests being troubled and moved as hath been said to see and hear of so many to pass through the County to visit the Prisoners gave the Justices no rest nor would suffer them to be quiet till they had contrary to the Fundamental Laws of this Nation and to the liberty unto which every Englishman is freely born as his Inheritance of which Liberty the Fundamental Laws are the guard and defence which Liberty and Laws for to defend hath cost the blood and miseries of many Wars heretofore and those of late and to true Relâ—gion which visits the Prisoners and doth violence to none and to all moderation and humanity ordered as followeth which with the cruel effects thereof comes now to be related Devon At the General Sessions of the Publick Peace held at the Castle of Exon in the said County the 18. day of July 1656. WHereas the number of sturdy Beggars Rogues and wandring idle persons is greatly increased and although there hath been excellent good Laws made for the punishment of them yet because of the remisness of some inferiour Officers the same hath not been duely executed and now lately divers other persons called by the name of Quakers disaffected to the present Government do wander up and down the Countrey and scatter seditions Papers and Books to the deluding of many weak people undermining the Fundamentals of Religion denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God and the godly Ministers of England to be the true Ministers of the Gospel and so as by them many Heresies and Blasphemies are by them vented and broached abroad to the great dishonour of Almighty God and grief of all pious and religious people and to the disturbance of the peace of this Common-wealth It is therefore ordered that the Constables of every Hundred within this County shall forthwith issue out their Warrants to the several petty Constables of their several Parishes within their Hundreds We particularly requiring them thereby upon receipt thereof to cause good Watches and Wards to be kept at the Bridges and High-wayes within their several Parishes where it shall be most convenient for the apprehending of all Beggars Rogues Vagabonds and wandring idle and suspicious persons and such as shall be therewith apprehended take care that they be punished and conveyed according to Law And that they likewise apprehend all such persons as travel under the notion or name of Quakers without a lawfull Certificate satisfying from whence they came and whither they are travelling or shall have or do scatter publickly or own any such seditious Books and Papers as aforesaid or shall interrupt or disturb any Ministers in the Congregations or otherwhere and thereupon bring them together with such Books and Papers before some Justice of the Peace of the said County thereby to be dealt with as the Law requireth And that this service may be the better performed it is ordered that persons of place and abilities with weapons sufficient be set to watch and ward and if any shall refuse or neglect their duties herein the Constables are thereupon forthwith to certifie the same to the next Justice who is desired by this Court to binde over such persons to the next Sessions to answer the said neglect This Watch and Ward to continue till further order Henry Fitz-Williams Deputy-Clerk of the Peace That the Warrant aforesaid might prove the more effectual it was sent enclosed to the Constables in a Letter signed by Major Blackmore as followeth Gentlemen YOV will here enclosed finde a Warrant from the General Sessions of the Peace held for this County which I hope seasonable and necessary in this juncture of affairs I suppose you will hardly judge it cannot but sadden every good and honest heart to observe the great Apostacy that hath happened of late and that notwithstanding the clear sun-shine of the Gospel amongst us yet the wicked one hath sown his tares and they are grown up exceedingly so that it is high time for the Magistrates to appear for the supporting of these great Truths which have been so long professed amongst us and for the preventing of this great contagion that infects almost every corner of this Nation Now the Authority of this County having begun to do their parts in the enclosed Order I shall make it my earnest request unto you that as you tender the foundation of all our hopes of salvation by Jesus Christ the good of poor souls and the peace of the Common-wealth you would do your utmost to see this Order put in execution that it may not be a dead letter but * * The Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.6 the power of God the Gospel of salvation What Blasphemy is this and horrible wickedness so to speak of a filthy Order made to persecute the life of God the Gospel of salvation which is the power of God and to limit the saint which giveth life and the Children of Light and to imprison them to death and as such to press the execution thereof which hath proved the death of one of the Lambs of Christ whose blood on him and them all cryes for vengeance living direction to all within your Division to prevent if the Lord please the designs of Satan and his Instruments and therefore send several Copies of the Order and of this Letter if you please to all your petty Constables that so it may be put in practice and wherein my small interest or assistance for encouragement may be usefull both you and they may be confident of the same and that I am Your assured loving Friend John Blackmore The duty or office of Justices as well in Sessions as out of Sessions and of the Judges is not to make Laws but to see that the Laws that are made be duely put in execution with this they are entrusted unto this they are sworn and where they swerve from this they act arbitrarily and are liable to punishment Were the power of making Laws of such Laws as these in them what need is there of Parliaments To what end have been all the sharp conflicts industrious carefulness hard strugglings and bloody contests for many hundreds of years past especially of late years in the behalf of Parliamentary Authority and the Fundamental Laws which from them sprang and which declare their Authority supream and absolute To what purpose have been the hangings by the neck the cuttings of the throat at Tyburn the imprisonments confiscation of estates and other exemplary punishments executed on Judges Justices and Ministers of state for arbitrary acting of which the Records of this Nation speak Why was Strafford's head cut off and Canterbury's and Charles Stuart's as Traitors for endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of England And what justice was there in all these if a
distinguish and brand to be disaffected to the Government disturbers of the publick peace scatterers of seditious Books and Papers venters and broachers abroad of many Heresies and Blasphemies with much more of the like stuff And that this service as they call it but poor hearts they will one day sadly know whose service it is when the Master payes them their wages may be the better performed they order that persons of place and abilities with sufficient weapons be thus set to watch and ward and if any shall neglect their duties as they term the obedience which they require to their illegal and monstrous command herein they require the Constables thereupon forthwith to certifie the same to the next Justice whom they desire by and in the name of this Court to certifie the same and to binde over to the next Sessions to answer the said neglect So that in plain English he on whom they thus place the name of a Quaker in scorn and derision and by distinction who every where is surely known by his obedience to the Lord and to the Law of his God which he dares not shift from confessing openly before all for the avoyding the unreasonableness and fury of men in whom the Prince of darkness rules as the Professions and People of the world can which is a sure character on such an one by which to finde him in whom no occasion or fault can be found but concerning the Law of his God as it was with Daniel must be such an one as they have made and described in and by their Law unsight and unseen unknown and unheard be he what he will if he be one whom in and by this our Law they call a Quaker watch and wardsmen he is disaffected to the Government a Disturber of the publick peace a Scatterer of seditious Books and Papers a Venter and Broacher of Heresies and Blasphemies we say it we make him so be he so or no lay hold on him apprehend him we require you bring him with his Books and Papers if he hath any before one of us to be dealt withall according to this our Law And that indeed this unheard of iniquity thus set up by a Law contrary to the Law of the Nation may be effectually executed the strict provisions in the order aforesaid though such as hath been said are not thought enough wickedness never thinketh its devâ—ces against the just to be too much or too sure crucified dead buried a stone rolled before the sepulcher a guard of souldiers the countenance of that part of the Army in that County so far as the concurrence of a chief Officer may serve it must be had And for this purpose John Blackmore Major to General Disborow and a Justice of Peace must be dealt withall to render the Order effectual in the execution as from him proceeded the motion of the Order to the Sessions who being prevailed with debaseth himself as low as Hell turns Clerk to a Priest and his back to his long professed principles and friends and to the smoke of the bottomless pit from whence came the Order aforesaid and the Letter even from the black generation sets to his hand and makes their his earnest request to all the Constables That now the Authority of that County having begun to do their parts in the Order which he enclosed which is so and such as hath been expressed they would do their utmost to see it put in execution as they tender the foundation of all their hopes of salvation by Jesus Christ the good of poor souls and the peace of the Commonwealth that so it might not be a dead letter but living direction to all within their Division and assures them of his interest and assistance therein for their encouragement though he hath drawn his sword and been at the shedding of a great deal of blood for Liberty of Conscience for the Liberties of England of which he hath made a long and a large profession when it was the case of the Army and the honest men then who owned them throughout England against the Priests and the Common Enemy who struck at the roots of the Liberties of the Nation and of Conscience which now his pride hath made him to forget And so his painted profession is now at an end it will cover him no longer his sepulcher is open and seen to be full of rottenness and dead mens bones the bones the mangled carcases the blood and sufferings of all in the late wars for liberty of Conscience or the liberties of the Nation * Whom doest thou pass in Beauty Go down and be thou laid with the uncircumcised which are gone down to Hell with their weapons of war And thâ—y have laid their swords under their heads but their iniquities shall be upon their bones though they were the terrour of the mighty in the land of the living Poor Major Blackmore how hast thou now descended into the pit and made thy grave with the uncircumcised And such was the encouragement of the Order aforesaid coming enclosed in this Letter of this Officer of thaâ— Army which once was the sword or the Lord and a dread and terrour on those whom this spirit ruled and in whom it was now risen afresh and waited onely for sâ—me such shew of Authority as this and countenance That though the Order bore date the 18. of the fifth month called July yet by the 23. of the same month were the Guards up and some Friends travelling towards Berkshire from visiting the prisoners at Lanceston were apprehended and the next day imprisoned and by the 16. of the 6. month in the space of about 25. dayes were no less than one and twenty men and women imprisoned in Exeter of those whom those Guards apprehended all of them except one who was accompanying some of them to direct them the way thither from Exon where he was born being on their way to and from Lanceston to visit and from visiting of the prisoners of the Lord there And of these the Guards demanded Are ye Quakers Will ye own the Quakers Will ye deny the Quakers We have an Order of Sessions to stop and apprehend all Quakers and so they fall to rifling of their pockets and taking away what Letters Papers or Books they found about them as did the Justices one of whom to wit John Champion called John Brown from the rest that were apprehended with him into his Parlour and there beat him with his own hands he standing still and saying nothing and then sent him and the rest one of whom viz. Jane Ingram is since there dead to prison where he was laid in irons and some of them of their money did the Guards rob one man of 10 s. as they confess'd themselves and spent much of it before his face in strong drink abusing him and setting him forth a scorn throughout the Countrey as he passed which he acquainted Major Saunders one of the Justices who sent
Plymouth without examination but all those who come in the name of the Lord Christopher Ceely saith he will examine that all that came in the name of the Lord he would examine and because she refused to tell him again what her name was for that she saw he demanded it to ensnare her with a pass he rose up in a fury and ordered her to prison and that none should come at her and went his way without convincing her of the least breâ—ch of any Law After she had been there about three or four dayes John Page aforesaid and the Town Clerk came to her again saying the Mayor had sent them to examine her and demanded again her name and her husbands name which was told them then the place from whence she came she said she had told them it once already but had said she should not tell them again which if she should do having so said she should tell them a lye so they departed On the 25. of the 10. month the Mayor sent for Edw. Dyer of Plymouth and asked of him whether he would be bound that she should answer at Exon Assizes for that she had refused to be examined which was a notorious lye for she submitted to examination and was examined by them as hath been said He replyed he would be bound for her appearing and for her answering what should be laid against her then the Mayor said he must be bound for her good behaviour He answered he knew of no good behaviour she had broken She refuseth to be examined said the Mayor and to give in her name He replyed she told her name the Mayor answered the truth is she did declare her name but I said he have forgot it and indeed he was in such a rage when he examined her that he remembred not what it was though she told him and yet this he would make in her a misbehaviour and for it requires sureties He replyed he would be bound she should not be drunk nor beg borrow steal play the whore nor offer violence or wrong to any which is matter for the requiring sureties for the good behaviour in the Law but to this generation declaring against such things is accounted ill behaviour and for so declaring sureties for the good behaviour they require so the Law and judgement is turned backward the Mayor bid him go to the Town-Clerk and what he did he would allow of The Town-Clerk would have him be bound for her good behaviour he refused to do otherwise than he had said to the Mayor the Mayor having declared as hath been said that she had misbehaved her self in refusing to be examined which she did not and to give her name which he confessed she did and that he had forgot it Yet the Mayor said again he would take no security unless he would be bound for her good behaviour he answered again he knew not what they meant by the ill behaviour for in the Bishops days when people met together in the fear of the Lord it was accounted a conventicle and a breach of the good behaviour and that since on the same account doors had been broken open by the rude multitude in Plymouth as he the said Mayor well knew for indeed it was done in the time of his former Mayoraltie in the year 1645. as hath been instanced in the former relation then John Martingdale of Plymouth being with Edw. Dyer asked the Mayor what they would call the ill behaviour the Mayor replyed what the Justices should judge to be the ill behaviour was ill behaviour so the Law it seems by his reckoning is not but the breasts of the Justices the rule of behaviour who after this rate may make what they will a misbehaviour and so what innocent man can be free if they have a mind to make him an offender and to their lusts in this kind how wicked and unreasonable so ever if he will not submit and subscribe himself a transgressor who is innocent the penalty of the Law in case of that which it saith is indeed misbehaviour must be inflicted on him as if he had broken the Law and so their lusts prescribe the Law and the Law of the Nation must serve for the punishment of the transgression of their lusts as of the Law further he asked him whether to say thee and thou which was Scripture language was a breach of the good behaviour to this the Mayor answered not but some that stood by said it was he also told the Mayor that he knew the place from whence she came and that she was no wanderer and was well known to many in Plymouth besides himself but the Mayor would not hear him so the discourse broke off and ended But on the 27. of the 10. month a Constable and another man with him came to her and bad her provide to go with them she spake to them to shew her their order They said they would not she said she was not free to depart thence till she saw the order they denyed her again and haled her forth of the room through the street which when they had done and drawn her a pretty space out of the Town she demanded of them to shevv by vvhat order they did it or vvhether they had a pass othervvise she was free to go no further Hereupon the Constable pulled out a paper she bad him let her hear vvhat vvas in it he said she should not so she returned back into the Tovvn into vvhich being come the Constable brought her to the Mayor again vvho upon seeing her vvaxed vvroth and his countenance changed and he said must he still be troubled with her would she not be bound to the good behaviour nor nothing She answered him she was bound to the good behaviour by the Law of God and asked him wherein she had misbehaved her self in word or action and what Law she had transgressed and said that if she had transgressed any Law she was willing to suffer by it but he answered her not a word She asked him why he dealt so with her and demanded to hear her Pass that she might know whither he meant to send her seeing they had declared they knew not the place from whence she came he said she should not hear it and bid her depart out of his house and commanded the Constable to have her out of the Town so the Constable charged a man to aid him who laid hands on her using her with violence and much rudeness But a woman speaking to him in the fear of the Lord he let go his hold and would have no further to do with her whereupon the Constable said he knew not what to do with her but the Mayor commanded to put her in Prison Whereinto being brought again the Mayor and two or three more came into the Hall and consulted together but spake not to her and so went out at the door where were many Friends waiting who were not permitted
mentioning the saying of Christ Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal life and they are they that testifie of me saith Christ And the man that accused her declared to the Judge of the Court that she so said viz. the Scriptures were a true Declaration but Christ was the Word Yet much ado the Judge made for her to say yea or no to his question that so he might ensnare her And though she answered him in the words that she spake to the man that accused her which was as much as legally or in reason could be expected and he who accused her affirmed it was so as hath been said yet commanded he the Goaler to take her away and required the man who accused her to prepare a Bill of Indictment against her which contrary to his minde and to what he had said in evidence the Clerk of the Sessions and the grand Jury drew up wherein she was charged as a Felon and as they said the Bill was found by the grand Jury but what ground they had in Law to form a Bill contrary to the Evidence or to make that matter of an Indictment suppose it had been spoken by her as they placed it and would have it to be which is none in Law for all Indictments are invalid where the offence charged therein is not bottom'd on a Law or to make that Felony by form which is no offence in substance and what consciences such a grand Jury have as to form or finde such a Bill for the taking away of life made as hath been said without ground in Law or truth or honesty in form nay contrary to the Evidence yea to the witness his declaring to them at what they had drawn up was not according to his minde is plainly manifested and their cruelty therein to the sober and men of understanding by what hath been already said and what a generation of blind and bloody Monsters exceeding in impudent wickedness all that have gone before them this age so high in profession and so eminently delivered by the hand of the Lord brings forth against his living truth and innocent servants but is made further apparent and the due weight and right measure of this charge by the witness against himself who wrote to Edw. Raddon Secretary to General Disborow who with General Disborow was then at Exon as followeth To his honoured Friend Edward Raddon Secretary to General Disborâ—w these present Sir MY service presented to you Being at Exon lâ—st Sessions I came forth and witnessed against one Margaret Killam what I heard her speak viz. That when in discourse we spâ—ke concerning her walking according the light within I said it is true but the Scriptures or the Word of God is the rule for us to walk by Said she Jesus Christ is the Word It is true but there is a written word O thou art an ignorant person and dost not understand the Scriptures said she At which words the Judge of the Sessions demanded of her whether the Scriptures were the Word of God or no She did not confess it or deny it before them but they enjoyned me to draw up a Bill of Indictment against her which as the Clerk under you drew up but not according to my minde but as both they and the grand Jury said it must be so according to the form of the Law In that case I onely can witness neither more nor less than above but I cannot neither ever did I swear that she should say the Scriptures were not the Word of God but it was a Declaration of the minde of God Jan. 25. John Cawse And how far Justice Vowell the Judge of the Court was of the same minde appears in that being spoken to by a Friend that the Law might proceed on her and that on her if she had transgressed the Law might have its course he replyed to that Friend to this effect Will ye have them hang'd out of hand Whereby he intended with her Richard Lippincot of Plymouth and Thomas Hooton who were then Prisoners for some such thing And so by his question it appears that to say that Christ is the Word and the Scriptures a true Declaration of him for those were the words which she onely said and which her Accuser witnessed to be so in his judgement is matter of hanging Was ever such a thing heard of before this day to come forth of the mouth of a Judge professing Christ The Jews who put him to death denyed him and they which persecuted his Apostles and Witnesses dis-owned their testimony of him whom they declared but this generation profess him in words and call themselves Christians and yet seek to murther them who testifie of him Hang them thâ—t say Christ is the Word and the Scriptures a true Declaration of hâ—m what more blasphemous bloodiness damnable Antichristianism and Mahometan hellishness Can a Turk say more What would not this generation do to the Truth and the innocent Lambs of Christ were there power in their hands How soon then would his Doctrine be made Blasphemy and his Disciples Blasphemers and their blood poured out on the ground for owning of him to be that which he is and which the Scriptures testifie of him Is not the spirit of giddiness and of deep sleep poured forth on this generation How are they drunk with blood and besotted with rage and madness who would kill a man for witnessing what themselves profess Own him in words to be the Word and the Scripture to be Truth which declare him so to be and yet hang them who say and witness him to be the Word and that of him the Scriptures are a true Declaration O monstrous contradiction whither would not this rage run what cruelty would it not effect were it not he that putteth the sands as a band to the Sâ—a saith unto it hitherto shall thy rage proceed and no further O ye Lambs of Christ what quick havock would be made of you and speedy riddance from off the face of the Earth were it not that ye are kept in the arms of the Almighty and hid secret in his pavilion where ye are preserved even your Enemies themselves being Judges That Sessions ended without bringing her to a trial on that Indictment notwithstandâ—ng that the Friend aforesaid desired that the Law might have its course which he moved lest they should put her off to the next Sessions And continued in Prison she was till the 15. of the 12. month 1655. at which time she and the other two Friends viz. Richard Lippincot and Thomas Hooton were â—eleased by a VVarrant from Colonel Copplestone Sheriff of the County of Devon as followeth THese are to will and require you on sight hereof to set at liberty Richard Lippincot Thomas Hooton and Margaret Kellum wife of John Kellum now in your Goal for which this shall be your sufficient Warrant Given under my hand and seal this 13. day of February 1655. John Copplestone