For the KING And both Houses of PARLIAMENT For you who have known Sufferings now in this the day of your prosperity in the Fear and VVisdom of God to read over and consider these Sufferings of the People of God in scorn called Quakers which they have suffered in the dayes of the Common-wealth and of Oliver and Richard Cromwel and which they now suffer in your day for Conscience sake and bearing Testimony to the truth as it is in Iesus For which there have suffered Imprisonments Stockings Whippings losse of goods and other abuses which is hereafter more at large exprest Together with the causes wherefore they have Suffered and still do suffer 3179. Persons And there lies yet in Prison that were committed in the Names of the Common Wealth and of Oliver and Richard Cromwel that we know of 79. Also there hath dyed in Prison in the Common Wealth and Olivers and Richards dayes 32. Persons And there is Imprisoned in the Kings Name since his Arrival one whereof dyed in Prison 177. Persons So there is at present in Prison in all we know of 256. Personâ— And besides the meetings are daily broken up by men with Clubs and Arms whicâ—… peaceably meets according to the people in the Primitive Times and are thrown into Waters and trod upon till the very blood gusht out of them by rude people the number of which meetings that have been broken up can hardly be uttered And this we would have of you to set them at liberty that lies in Prison in the Name of the Common Wealth and of the two Protectors and in the Kings Name for speaking the Truth and for good Conscience sake who cannot lift up a hand against you nor no man and that our meetings may not be broken up by rude people with their Clubs and Swords and Staves who peaceably meet together in the Fear of God to Worship him And one of the greatest things that we have suffered for is because we could not Swear to the Protectors and all the changeable Governments and now are we imprisoned because we cannot take the Oath of Allegiance And now if our yea be not yea and nay nay to You and all men upon the earth let us suffer as much for breaking of that as for breaking an Oath for we have suffered these many years both in Lives and Estates under these changeable Governments because we cannot swear but obey Christs Doctrine who Commands we should not swear at all Mat. 5. James 5. And this we Seal with our Lives and Estates with our yea and nay according to the Doctrine of Christ Hearken to these things and so consider them in the Wisdom of God that with it such Actions may be stopt thou and you that have the Government that may do it We desire that all that are in prison for conscience sake may be set at Liberty and for the time to come they may not be imprisoned for Conscience and the Truths sake and if you question the innocency of their Sufferings let them and their Accusers be brought up before You. LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1660. To the READERS FRiends you that are the Heads and Rulers and Makers of Laws and Magistrates in all these Dominions We desire you with consideration to Read these things over and if there be any Mercy in You to consider these things and how long we Suffer and was alwayes Sufferers under the Powers before You we have been a Suffering People and how we have been struck with Armed and Weaponed men several and divers Weapons and Stoned and yet have never struck again nornever threw stone again now such Fighters and Strikers may not boast of a great Conquest Neither is it becoming to a man nor to them that professe the Name of Jesus that hath thus turned against us neither is it commendable nor of a good Report nor Savour for them that be right Men would judge such things And again besides our Houses broken to pieces our Goods spoiled and we haled before Courts and Magistrates our Windows and Houses broken up our Friends banished from Place to place and thrust out of Towns and Places and not suffered to come to their Wives and likewise Women thrust away from their Families as you may Read in this following Declaration which is sad and a grief that ever any such things should be found amongst any that professe the Name of Jesus Therefore these things are given to You that all things may be restored in Righteousnesse Truth and Equitie and that Violence Cruelty and Oppression and Injustice and Injurious persons and the Jaws of the wicked and the Violence of men may be stopt that Truth and Righteousnesse may run down your Streets and that set up that you may be a praise to them that doth well and wishes your welfare and the peace of all men that the Rod may not be laid upon the Righteous and the Sword turned backward but to the evil doers you may be a terrour and that you may distinguish between them that the Law is made for and that it is not made for and that the People of God may not be persecuted that Worship God Here is a Declaration of the great and cruel Sufferings and Martyredom that the Elect People of God before the World began in scorn called Quakers have suffered and at present do suffer by the Professors of the World of the form of Godlinesse but denies the Power thereof who from them have turned away which to the KING and the PARLIAMENT who are the present Rulers and Governours of these Dominions are to be Read that they consider may remove Oppression and Persecution do Justice to the Innocent that revengeth not themselves neither lifteth up a hand against any one who commits their cause to the Lord to plead least the Lord sweep you away as he hath done them that went before you that heard not the cry of the Oppressed who have been as the sheep for the slaughter all the day long killed and buffeted who have given their Backs Cheeks and Hair to every one that would smite them and pluck it off who have been in the deep Sufferings all a long and had no helper in the Earth but their lives from it hath been taken Snares Bonds and Prisons in all Places attends them yet they have learned the lesson in all these Sufferings and Conditions to pray to the Lord to forgive their Enemies And who have kept their Integrity and Fervencie and Sincerity and abideth in the Doctrine of Christ that Commands them so to do A DECLARATION of some of the SUFFERINGS OF THE People of God CALLED QUAKERS FRIENDS WE lay these sufferings before you who have known sufferings and been exercised therewith for you in this the day of your prosperity in the Fear of the Lord and his Wisdom to read over and consider the sufferings of the People of God who have
Sute of Edward Goring and John Apstle Nottinghamshire William Claytor Imprisoned because for Conscience sake he could not pay Tythes Cornwal Richard Tregenna Imprisoned at Bodmin for Tythes at the Sute of James Forbes Priest John Ellis prisoner at Pensame for Tythes Westmorland Richard Berket Richard Seddal Imprisoned in the eighth Moneth for not swearing in a Sheriffs return Norfolk John Hilton in present sufferings because he could not swear being summoned to serve in a Jury at a Coppy hold Court and therefore John Lovel Lord of the said Court and now Justice of Peace commanded his Bayliffe to seize all the estate of the said John Hinton which is done accordingly to the vallue of about a hundred pound and farther threatens to throw the said John Hinton his Wife and Children out of the possession which he bought and paid for and that for no other cause but because he could not swear though he exprest his willingnesse to serve if he might have been accepted without an Oath Sussex Abraham Chrichenden Nicholas Beard Imprisoned for Tythes this ninth Month 1660. Bucks John Lucas and two more in Alisberry Goal for Tythes Southampton Twenty one taken out of a peaceable Meeting and because they could not promise not to meet any more were kept several dayes prisoners not suffering their food to be brought to them eleven of which were afterwards releast but ten still remains prisoners Wilts Giles Shurmur John Garner And two more commmitted to prison for Tythes Huntingtonshire Francis I ambested of Elton imprisoned the eighth day of the ninth Moneth 1600. for Ththes by John Cooper Priest of Elton aforesaid William Griffin imprisoned for Tythes by the said John Cooper the thirty one day of the sixth Moneth 1660. John Apthorp of Abotsly imprisoned the same day for Tythes by John Luke impropriator York-shire William Overon John Barbar Miles Frankland All imprisoned for Tythes at the Suit of Robert Hitch Priest Matthew Watson imprisoned at the Suit of Robert Ludson Priest William Norrison imprisoned by one called Sir William Cholmly for having a Meeting at his house Dorsetshire Hercules Toby and John Butler imprisoned by Edmund Butler the second day of the sixth Moneth 1660. for not paying him Tythe Robert Ring of Glazen Broadford a man of about fourscore years of age cast into prison for the Tythe of one Acre of Corn by Elias Harvy an Impropriat or the seventeenth day of the eighth Month 1660. Elizabeth Masters Widdow cast into Prison for Tythe by Elias Harvy the scventeenth of the eighth Moneth 1660. whose husband hath already suffered imprisonment until death because he could not for Conscience sake pay him Tythe to satisfie his covetous desire John Gillet cast into prison by John Hodder Priest the ninteenth of the eighth Moneth 1660. for not paying Tythe to satisfie the greedy desire of that covetous hireling that never hath enough These following are fined and imprisoned for not putting off their Hats and not giving men the honour below and some for meeting together in the fear of the Lord in their several houses as the Saints did in the primitive times and for not paying Clerks wages UPon the sixteenth day of the 7th Month 1660. there being a meeting of the Lords people who in scorn are called Quakers in the Town of Sherborn consisting of about thirty persons inhabitants of the same Town and the Parishes adjacent who being met together to wait upon the Lord and worship him having no other end nor purpose in their thus assembling together There came into their meeting one Bestel a Schoolemaster of the same Town with a Constable and others who did wickedly blaspheme Gods Truth and commanded them of the meeting to go with them to the Justices whereupon one asked if they had an Order either from Judge or Justices they answered That for Order they had none but the Constable was a Warrant of himself but they said nay and refused to go with them Then Bestel commanded the Constable to do his Office whereupon they pulled and haled them out of the house where they were peacably met and the said Bestel commanded the Constable to set one man to each of them and so to hale and drive them along to the Justice and after they had haled and beaten them along some part of the way they left them Then one demanded their Order for their thus laying violent hands on them So one put his hand on his sword and said That was their Order many of them having swords and staves Then Bestel with the Constable commanded the Tithing-man to have them back again while they themselves went to the Justices to fetch a Warrant So they were brought to the Bayliffs house of the Town where they were kept all night with watchmen to guard them and the next day were had before Winston Churchel called a Justice and others who demanded of them Whether they did not know of an Order against their meeting together in a riotous manner thus they demanded of them though they were peaceably met together to wait upon the Lord as the Lords people use to do and with some other words asked them if they would give sureties which thing they could not do being peaceable men and having not broken any just or known Law but onely were met together to wait on the Lord in his fear having the word of a King That none should be wronged for Religion as long as they live peaceably So the Constable was commanded to take them away a Mitimus was made by which nine of them were sent to the County Prison at Dorchester and five more passed their words to appear at the Sessions which was about two weeks after where they did all appear who being brought before the Court of which John Davis sat as Judge and with him sat Winstone Churchel Giles Strangeways George Fulford and Thomas Baynard c. called Justices their accusation was read wherein was many false and wicked things charged against them which by them were never done nor spoken Then they were called over and the Schoolmaster likewise who was the causer of their imprisonment but he being not present nor any other to prove what was charged against them the aforesaid Iohn Davis Judge of the Court questioned Winstone Churchel who committed them for not binding over the said Schoolmaster to prosecute against them Then George Fulford one of them that should have done Justice and have freed the innocent when none appeared to accuse them of any evil or the breach of any known Law stood up and said There need no other evidence against them then their standing with their hats on in the face of the Court which he said did represent his Majesties person so silence was commanded in the Court and that all should be uncovered upon pain of Imprisonment but they keeping on their Hats were asked the reason why they did so who answered It was not in contempt of the Court but for Conscience sake that they
Moneth 1659. by John Ludley Priest of Snaith Cumberland Anthony Patinson of the Abba imprisoned the eighteenth day of October 1659. by Thomas Craster and Cuthbert Studholm called Justices for following his calling being a Weaver in a Corporation Town as they call it although he had served four years to the trade and nine years in the Army Nottingham shire William Smith Imprisoned for not paying tythes by William Packlington of North Collingham Edward Laford Imprisoned for tythes by Richard Godsane and Richard Lamb of Collingham Robert Morefen Imprisoned at the suit of Thomas Huit called Knight for tythes and after the said Robert had suffered a years imprisonment the said Huit died and though no man prosecuted the said Robert yet he is kept in bonds by the Sheriff Edward Langford Imprisoned for tythes at the suit of Richard Godsane and Richard Lamb aforesaid and he hath suffered eleven Months this eighteenth day of the eight Month 1660. Thomas Elsam imprisoned for tythes by William Pocklington aforesaid and hath suffered above five Months Roger Storrs imprisoned for tythes by Richard Standfield and hath suffered fifteen weeks Lincolne shire Robert Whitman now a Prisoner in Lincoln for Tythes at the suit of John Coale who hires the tythes of the priest he hath been prisoner ever since the twenty one of the ninth Month 1659. Vincent Frotheringham imprisoned the twenty third day of the first Month 1659. for tythes in the aforesaid Goale at the suit of Lawrance Sandon Priest Lincoln Edward Willey now a prisoner for tythes at the suit of Henry Wames and James Green hath been prisoner ever since the fourteen of the second Month 1660. Richard Frothingham now a prisoner for tythes at the suit of Lawrence Sandon a Priest he hath been a prisoner ever since the twenty one of the second Month 1660. This Richard is Father to the above named Vincet Forthingham and the Priest imprisons the Father because he cannot satisfie for the Sons tythes though the old man hath no interest in any Tythable goods where this priest can claim any property Northamptonshire A poor widdow woman who hath two children committed to Northampton Goal near a year since there remains still for Tythes of about five shillings vallue at the Suit of one Robert Wilds Priest William Vincent committed to the aforesaid Goal about ten Moueths since where he yet remains because he could not swear to his answer to one Priest Andrews Bill Lancashire Richard Myers Alexander Rigby imprisoned in Lancaster Castle for not paying Tythes Suffolk Richard White Imprisoned in that County at the Suit of Priest Vsher because for Conscience sake he could not pay him Tythes Thomas Burchham Prisoner in Bliborough Goal for Tythes Barbary Jarmine Imprisoned in Ipswitch Goal for speaking to a Priest John Easeling in Ipswitch Goal for Tythes Glocestershire the 11th of the 9th Moneth 1659. Thomas Hapcot Imprisoned at the Suit of Richard Bislon Priest of Breedon in Worcestershire for Tythes Ann Web Widow imprisoned the twenty fourth of the ninth Moneth 1659. upon a Capias at the Suit of Anthony Hungerford Impropriator for Tythes In the County of the City of Gloucester Thomas White imprisoned the eighth of the eighth Moneth 1659. upon a Capias at the suit of Thomas Bishop Impropriator for Tythes Norfolk John Goddard Henry Goddard Abraham Howes imprisoned in Norwich Castle for Tythes at the Suit of Thomas Theodoreth the twenty seventh day of the second Moneth 1660. notwithstanding the said Thomas Theodoreth had not long before taken away several loads of Corn from two of the aforesaid parties and of A. Howe 's he took for the Tythes accounted to be five pound odd mony Cattel worth eleven pound and keeps them in prison besides Matthew King of Northwalsham in Norfolk imprisoned the nineteenth day of the second Moneth 1660. at the Suit of Thomas Simmons Priest in Suffeild for Tythes and yet remains Prisoner Bedfordshire John Apthorp Dorothy Neal John Samn Elizabeth Brace Imprisoned in Bedford Goal because for Conscience sake they could not pay Tythes Dorsetshire Roger Coward cast into prison by Benjamin Maber Priest the twenty fourth day of the ninth Moneth 1659. for not paying him Tythe Here followeth a short Relation of some few of the cruel and inhumane usages which have reached unto blood which many of the People of the Lord have met with and under-gone at their meeting together in the fear of the Lord as the saints did in the primitive times in their several houses which cruelty if it be not restrained will bring upon this present power and Authority the guilt of the inocent blood of many righteous souls Westminster IOhn Scafe â—dward Bylling Thomas Matthews and about three or four score Persons more being at the house of Stephen Heart in new Palace yard at Westminster where on the seventh day of the twelfth month called February 1659. they were peacably met together in the fear of the Lord Some of the rude Souldiers and others the Inhabitants of VVestminster came in great rage and violently pulled many of them out of their meeting room and did sorely beat and bruise many and draged some on the ground by the hair of their heads others had their clothes rent and scarffs taken away and some were knockt down And one Woman with child was so abused and hurt that she said she was undone And after this and other mischief by them and some of the Inhabitants of Westminster was done they rifled the house and broke the glasse-windows and threatened more mischief for the future and some were heard to say they had taken an Oath to that purpose And at another meeting afterwards some of the rude Souldiers and others came again and did much abuse Friends and beat them and pulled the said Stephen Heart out of his house and knockt him down and beat him so that his senses were astonished Middle-sex John Wooldrige and others being on the first day of the week peacably met together to wait on the Lord in his own hired house at Brainford there came into the house two men who said they were Constables and without any warrant or Legal Authority they violently pulled him out of his house in which action they wrincht his wrist and had him before James Hawley called Justice who without the breach of any Law of God or man forthwith commanded a Warrant to be made and sent him to prison Surry As the people of God were peacably met together to wait on the Lord at Mitcham in Surry on the third day of the fifth month 1659. the rude people of the Town came to the place where they were met and threw hatfulls and a pail full of dirty water on them and threw dirt on the face of him that was speaking And as they were going to the meeting many Friends were beaten and abused and some thrown down and trampled on and dragged on the ground by the hair of the head and kickt and some had their clothes torn and called
Friend went to the door to know the real cause of these so coming and whether they had any order to hinder our peaceable meeting so speaking in meekness to them telling them our meeting was in the fear of the Lord without a thought of harm to any Creature and desiring to see their order for so doing one of them drew his sword and said that was his order and with it struck him that spoke to him upon which all the rest fell upon friends beating and cutting them and pulling them out of the meeting shedding the blood of many and brusing many in a most uncivil and cruel manner striking down many to the ground with that violence that their sences were taken away some lying upon the ground for dead in which act of cruelty they cryed they were for the King and pleaded his Authority for it and so do abuse his Name and Authority Laws and subjects in which cruelty about forty men of honest and good repute was cut with swords in their heads and bodies and bruised and maimed upon which several are lame and some of them so wounded that it may be their death the particular wounds in head body and arms we shall forbear to mention particularly but the cruelty of it was such that there was no regard unto any man of account office or otherwise which thing being considered in its cruelty might break the heart of him that pitties the people or would preserve the Nation in peace besides several women about ten or twelve were every one of them sore abused with swords and staves and some of them drawn through the water which is not onely suffering unto them but is a great reproach and dishonour unto the supreme authority and government in this Nation which if it continue will produce very bad effects Some of the Names of those that did appear with swords and staves in this cruel persecution are as followeth Christopher Haw Christopher Dixon Christopher Collison William Imson Leonard Wright Mar. Jaques Francis Burg Christopher Burrell Henry Wright John Foster Robert Wray Christopher Dawson Henry Fawcet Christopher Kerby John Wright Mathew Ellerton Westminster On the twelf day of this Month called June we being meet in the new Pallace-yard in the fear of the Lord according to our accustomed manner we were again abused by the Lacquies and rude people and pursued as far as Whithall and many friends had their blood drawn in a cruel manner and after the meeting was ended the prophane People entred into the meeting house and abused the people that dwelt there in so much that we were forced to entreat some Officers of the Army whom we knew to clear the house who with some difficulty did it our oppressions are great and hard to be uttered and Numbered Therefore O King in the fear of the Lord lay them to heart and let them be removed that the Land may no longer mourn for the testimony of Jesus and exercise of a good conscience At Steventon in Bark-shire The seventh day of the eight Month 1660. many of the people of God coming together to worship God at Steventon in Bark shire the Constable with many more being armed with halberts prongs pikes-staves and other weapons came to the house and pulled Friends out in a horrible brutish manner tore their cloaths from their backs and threw about six of them into the water and took one man and trode upon him so long till the blood came from his mouth and till some of the wicked brutish people cryed out take heed you do not stifle him and some near 60. years of age were so served and then they drove us along in the dirt dashing up the dirt upon us and Friends demanding what warrant they had for their so doing they said they had Order but shewed not any and though we told them we had the word of the King for our quiet meetings and General Moncks Order but they regarded it not Norfolk At a meeting in Fowlsham the Constable charged several of the Town to aid him in the Kings Name and hailed Friends out of the meeting beating some of them himself and others throwing them down in the mire rending their cloaths and caried away above one half of one mans cloak and when he had got the rude Multitude together he left Friends in their hands who beat them and threw stones and mire upon them John Hilton York-shire the seventh day of the ninth Month 1660. Upon the twenty fourth day of the eight month in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty Christopher Taylor and Richard Scostrop with many other Friends of the truth being met together in peace without harm to any to wait upon the Lord being in a piece of Ground belonging unto William Cave in the Town of Bramhup Priest Crossland called Minister of that Town and Edward Wadington who called himself high Constable came in amongst us in much hatred emnity having gathered a Multitude of the rude people and baser sort of together and when the said Richard Scostrop and Christopher Tailor being moved of the Lord did instruct Friends and people in the way of the Lord the said Priest Crossland and Edward Wadington was the first that layd violent hands on them and hailed them away charging the rude people who were found in swearing lying and cursing to assist them to which they were ready like their Priest showing forth the fruits of his teaching hailing and pushing them as if they had been theeves that Christopher Tailor was moved to say they were like to murther him and Richard Scostrop was bloody with their tearing of him not suffering them to speak any words of exhortation to the people But Priest Crossland said they had an order from the King not to suffer us to meet or speak together but we supposing it was not so the Kings word being that none should trouble or molest us for our Religion or opinion while we lived peacably in the Nation we demanded to see his warrant which he denyed and the rude people pulled Richard Scostrop as they were comanded by their Priest up from his knees being calling upon the Name of the Lord in prayer with Friends now let all who have any soberness or understanding consider if this Priest who is called a Minister of Christ abides in his Doctrine or if he be come to the Law and the Prophets who saith do unto all men as you would they should do unto you or did he so unto us and he and the rest dragged us out of their Town and after they had like Wolves amongst sheep teared us out of their Town would not suffer us to stay in the common street or rest but haled us on a long lane and shoved us toward a common far from the Town and would not by any word was spoken keep themselves in peace towards us who offered harm to none Now in this manner and many several waies are we by Magistrates priests and rude
people who are incouraged and by their leaders caused to err persecuted in pretence of warrant from the King and power given from him and as it was in Olivers time done by them unto us so is it now and our sufferings in many places greater and the hand of the evil doers more strenghthened against us who since we were a people have not persecuted any or sought revenge against our persecutors in the least manner but with patience have suffered what hath been done unto us knowing that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and be hated of all men for his Names sake and do rejoyce that we are counted worthy These Friends of the truth whose Names are under written who do give their Testimony of the truth and of Things herein mentioned who were present at the time of this persecution Nicolas Rawson John Jackson Michael Renold Anthony West William Overhead John Barber with many more Friends Darlington the eighteenth of the ninth Month 1660. This day week our meeting was broken and some had before one called a Justice who theatened if we met again to send us to prison South-hampton Friends being met together in the fear of the Lord in Portsmouth videlicet On the twenty one day of the eight Month last past they met together in silence at a Friends house where as they were waiting upon the Lord there came a guard of Souldiers and beset the house and some they hailed out of the meeting and dragged the man out of the house down the street to the main guard and then brought him up to his house again and shut him with the rest in the house until the second day about the seventh hour at night and then turned them forth and withdrew their guard then upon the next first day being the twenty eight day of the eight Month as Friends were met together there was likewise a guard of Souldiers beset the house and kept about twenty and one persons close prisoners in the Friends house which was all that were then gathered together and there kept them not suffering any provision to come to them but 〈…〉 they kept them all there until about the sixth day of the week following and then came and haled forth such as was not of the Town and set them at liberty but the rest being about ten Friends they keep still prisoners in the house then the last first day those that were not Imprisoned met together in another place at a Friends house and them they haled forth of their meeting and committed the men to a prison in the Town called Felltons hole where they stil remain and all this is as they say because Friends will not promise them not to meet any more in Town as the baptists hath done This is a short relation of their cruelty in that place towards Friends Monmouth-shire David Jones Imprisoned in that County for not coming to the steeple-house who if he would pay 1. s. per week for 12. Moneths past all which time he hath not been there which comes to 2. pounds 12. s. he might be releast Fleet London John Pollard and Joseph Pollard imprisoned first in Colchester Castle 13. Moneths and 2. weeks then returned from Colchester to the upper Bench prison and there kept prisoner five Moneths and a week and is since committed to the Fleet Prison at the suit of Mathias Armiger Farmer of Tythes who with Benjamin Maddock for less then 2. years Tythes valued to be worth about 35. pound have taken 57. Cows and Bullocks with one Bull in all worth about 12. score pounds from the said John and Joseph Pollard and returned nothing again and is kept a Prisoner besides York-shire Samuel Thornton being in a Meeting at Leeds with many more of the Lords people though he be a free man of the same Town was taken violently out of the Meeting by Martin Iles and John Dawson Alderman and hailed to Prison and there detained 5. dayes with several others which was also haled forth of the same Meeting which were Inhabitants within the said Borrough and the said Samuel Thornton by the said Alderman was ordered to be whipt and sent from Constable to Constable which was done accordingly though the place of his natural birth was but three miles from thence and he well known in the said Town Also Samuel Thornton was taken forth of a peaceable Meeting of the people of God at Holbetk by order of the Priest there and haled to Leeds before the said Alderman with two more who caused a Mittemus to be made and sent him to the Correction-house at Wakefield for a Vagrant where he was detained three Moneths and he had been an Apprentice in the same Town and after was called to the Sessions and there fined 10. pounds and sent to Prison again though he had broken no known Law nor for any other thing but for being in a peaceable Meeting amongst Gods People Dudly Templer of Wethersfield in Essex sent William Allen to Prison for no other cause but for coming to the Town of Wethersfield to a Meeting there and since from time to time his Clerk with many of the Town in a violent manner have pulled us out of our Meetings and not suffered us to be at quiet but sometime set guards of men in several places to keep us from meeting and sometime fined several for coming to our meeting and from John Child by a warrant from him or by his Order they pretending a warrant they took a horse Sadle and Pillion and what belonged to him and kept him three weeks but one day and then sent him home without sadle bridle pillion and the rest which they keep to this day notwithstanding have been oft demanded of them And they beat many friends much for coming to the Town and suffered rude boyes and others without reproof to abuse sober people to the shame of Justice and the possession of their Town and this hath been done in the presence and hearing of him the said Dudly Templer and not reproved And he himself hath scoffed at Friends and evil intreated many and set the rude people on to hale us out of the Town when if any thing could have been charged against us he being a Justice and a Commander of a Troop of Horse might have brought any of us to tryal and not in such a manner contrary to Law and Justice have abused us and broken the peace of this Nation and so rendred himself uncapable to to Rule and is to be ruled by Justice himself And of this his proceedings hundreds can testifie who have been eye-witnesses and sufferers by him and his Clerk and others of the Town of Wetherfield Essex At a Meeting in Thaxted in Essex the People of God being met peaceably together to wait upon the Lord a great company of rude people of the Town gathered otgether about the house swearing and cursing what they would do to the Quakers as they called
hail and teare and push us sorth adoors and ran against us as wee passed along the streets we acquainted them that the King had promised no such thing so they brought us to prison and thrust us in and gave the Jaylor orders to keep us there untill the Comissioners came to Town and at present there we remain prisoners for the truths sake Thomas Onyon Robert Newcome Walter How lings John Roberts Philip Gray Richard Townsend Thomas Barnfield John Silvester Thomas Elridge William Hinton Richard Bartlot John Ovendell Henry Stacy Richard Bowly Thomas Knight John Clark Thomas Bowly John Cripes Jacob Howlings Roger Sparks William England Durham Darlington the third of the tenth Month 1660. Where we the people of God called Quakers had a meeting peaceably and waiting upon the Lord in the aforesaid Town the Captain sent some Souldiers and violently broke up our meeting and carried away forty or more of us to the Castle of Durham and as we were passing along we met the Captain and the Justice who threatened us much in high expressions and five of us they single out and said we should go to prison if we did not give bond for our good behaviour and four of them is sent to Durham Castle for no other cause but for meeting together to worship God in spirit according to Christs Doctrine which now is come to be fulfilled and witnessed Portsmouth the second of the tenth Month 1660 As the people of the Lord were met together to worship God in the spirit peaceably in the said Town Captain Sprag sent several files of armed men with firelocks and violently haled out of our meeting eighteen men and women and punched them dragged them along shut the Gates men and wives were turned from their habitations and children and families and callings and are not permitted to come in again though some came in again yet were turned out of the Town again from their Families and imployments some desiring to have their Instruments to labor withal was not permitted besides were kept in a house where Friends met by a guard nineteen daies denyed to see their wises Families Children and gave commandment no victualls should be brought to them and a Officer said if they turnd us out of the Town and set Souldiers to plunder our houses they served us well enough though we never acted any thing against this Goverment Ireland FOr speaking the truth to people in Steeple-houses Markets and other places have sufferred in the Nation of Ireland and for other causes herein exprest have been fined whipt Stockt Imprisoned and suffered loss of their goods 94 persons For meeting together in the fear of the Lord in their own houses according to the practice of the Apostles and the true Churches in the Scriptures mentioned have been Imprisoned c. nineteen persons For speaking the truth to the people in Steeple-houses and Markets and other places have been Whipt and Imprisoned and some stockt and shamefully beaten and abused thirty four persons For not swearing as Christ commands they should not swear two persons had goods taken from them worth eight pounds ten shillings and one had taken from him seventy barrels of Salt For not paying Tythes for conscience sake that bears Testimony to the everlasting Priest-hood that ends the first that takes tythes eight persons for two pounds sixteen shillings four pence demanded for Tythes have had taken from them goods worth thirty four pounds ten shillings Stopt as they were passing the streets and high ways about their occasions and Imprisoned twelve Persons For receiving Friends and for visiting Friends in Prison one was Imprisoned and another fined five pounds Sufferers for other causes for the truths sake eleven Persons An Account of the sufferings of Friends in Scotland where there hath suffered for the causes hereafter exprest in all ninety one Persons SCOTLAND For denying the Priest practices have been Excommunicated forty five Persons For meeting together in the fear of the Lord have been stoned and beaten eleven persons For speaking the truth to people in Steeple-houses and Markets and asking Priests questions have been Imprisoned and some stockt and whipt and some banished in all fifteen Persons There was likewise Imprisoned and otherwise abused and some banished and no cause why shewed in all eighteen persons A Declaration of some Part of the Sufferings of the People of God in scorn called Quakers from the Professors in New-England onely for the exercise of their Consciences to the Lord and obeying and confessing to the Truth as in his light he had discovered it to them TWo honest and innocent women stripped stark naked and searched after such an inhumane manner as modesty will not permit particularly to mention Twelve strangers in that Country but freeborn of this Nation received twenty three whippings the most of them being with a whip of three cords with knots at the ends and laid on with as much strength as they could be by the arme of their executioner the stripes amounting to three hundred and seventy Eighteen Inhabitants of the Country being freeborn English received twenty three whippings the stripes amounting to two hundred and fifty Sixty four Imprisonments of the Lords people for their obedience unto his will amounting to five hundred and nineteen weeks much of it being very cold weather and the Inhabitants kept in Prison in harvest time which was very much to their loss besides many more Imprisoned of which time we cannot give a just account Two beaten with pitcht roops the blows amounting to an hundred thirty nine by which one of them was brought near unto death much of his body being beat like unto a Jelly and one of their own Doctors a member of their Church who saw him said it would be a miracle if ever he recovered he expecting the flesh should rot off the Bones who afterwards was banished upon pain of death there are many witnesses of this there Also an Innocent man an Inhabitant of Boston they banished from his Wife and Children and put to seek a habitation in the Winter and in case he returned again he was to be kept Prisoner during his life and for returning again he was put in Prison and hath been now a Prisoner above a year Twenty five Banishments upon the penalties of being whipt or having their Ears cut or branded in the hand if they returned Fines laid upon the Inhabitants for meeting together and edifying one another as the Saints ever did and for refusing to swear it being contrary to Christs Command amounting to about a Thousand pounds besides what they have done since that we have not heard of many families in which there are many children are almost ruined by these unmerciful proceedings Five kept 1â— dayes in all without food and 58. dayes shut up close by the Jaylor and had none that he knew of and from some of them he stopt up the windows hindering them from convenient aire One laid neck and heels in Irons
unacquainted with them Therefore they are laid before you and given to you to consider For if the liberty of your Consciences when you were banished had been restrained and you had been forced to deny your Religion it would have grieved you Therefore consider them now that be in your state who had rather die then offend God And whether you do own those things that are done in the Kings Name yea or nay If not that there may be a restraint to their violence to stop the unmerciful men with their Clubs and Staves who are making havock of the Innocent that they may not make the King a cloak to do wickedly For your understandings have been exercised in these things who have known sufferings by which you may the better feel and know the condition of others And now you may consider the Law and the Prophets to do as you would be done by and to shew mercy For we are imprisoned because we cannot take an Oath the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy as before is expressed the Servants of Christ who commands them not to swear but keep to yea and nay in all their Communications And yet we are Imprisoned and Mangled and mis-called as Traytors and threatned that our estates must be taken away and confiscated to the King because for conscience sake towards Christ and in obedience to his Commands we do not swear And many now knowing Friends principles that they cannot swear do avenge themselves upon them by tendering them the Oath that would be much against the King if they had an oppertunity Now these things being done in the Kings Name we that suffers desires to know whether You own that these things should be done in his Name For we gave forth an answer to the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacie which we presented to You and the King of which we desire to have an answer from You And whether You will own those things For we do not charge them upon the King because he gave forth the word of a King and a Declaration to the contrary and as knowing who they are that are Actors of these things in the Nation against Honest Godly Innocent Harmless Servants of the Lord that loves Peace and Righteousness and are for the establishment of that in Truth For we are threatned and they say that we shall have no protection because we will not swear and looked upon as Traytors that any man may kill us if we will not swear and have no protection from the Law and from us our Goods is to be taken and our families spoiled Therefore let Justice be done and Judgment be divided a right for that preserves both Government and Magistrates and a People in peace And yet the Taxes and Sessment of us required and yet cannot have the benefit of the Law which you do understand paying that People may have their liberty in Turkie Therefore these things are laid before the King and You that You may understand not as charged upon him what things are done in his Name That with Truth Justice Righteousnesse and Wisdom you may rule And know the Law was not made for the Righteous but for sinners and transgressors and that He and Ye all may distinguish between such For we were in the dayes of Oâ—iver fined and imprisoned and slandered as Jesuites and the like because we could not disobey Christs Doctrine to swear and take an Oath our Principle is known through all these Dominions and many other Nations not to swear any Oaths at all whatsoever is an Oath being forbidden by Christ Jesus and upon no other account and we have given forth a paper to that purpose unto the King Now all other people doth not deny swearing upon this account as we do for Christs Command and Religion sake therefore other peoples condition is not ours Who will swear and doth not scruple taking an Oath upon this account but for other ends Therefore there must be distinction made betwixt us and them Now if you should say To let us have our liberty which was but to let Christs Commands be obeyed this would let up others that say they cannot swear But then you must mind upon what account it is for we have given our account unto the King and to the whole Dominion and to the whole Christendom both in Word and Writing and Print So we desire you to give us an answer Or to give forth something to stop the proceeding of the forcing Oaths on us and that we shall not be imprisoned upon this account nor our goods spoiled to the ruine of our Families for it is known that we could never swear in the dayes of Oliver nor Richard nor the Parliament nor in the time of the Committee of Safety so called nor our friends beyond the Seas in other Nations Yet we have suffered more in this Nation then in any other Nation concerning that thing not swearing and if our yea be not yea and nay nay then let us be punished for that if â—ou 〈◊〉 doubt or question as much as â—ou wouldâ—… do for not swearing And if ye doubt or question our faithfulness that lie in Prisons and Irons and Dungeons because we cannot take an Oath let us be sent for up before You to satisfie You further for that Oaths is put the more in the enmity to us because they know we cannot swear whereby the unjust thinks to revenge themselves upon us which there is no people in the Nation doth refuse the Oath for Conscience sake but us For they know that friends will stand to their principles and therefore they know they can make spoil And now it lies upon You to remedy these things and to break the jaws of the wicked as Job did that rends the Innocent to pieces And our Friends and People beyond Sea in Holland that cannot swear for Conscience sake to obey the comands of Christ the Magistrates puts no oath to them neither doth cause them to suffer or lay any penalty upon them for not swearing who keep to yea and nay in all their communications according to Christs Doctrine and the Apostle Mat. 5. chap. and James 5. Acts the 17. Paul disputed daily in the Market and in the Synogues and this was their practice and you may see the impatience of them oft-times in the Synagogues and Markets and many times their patience of their hearing of him which he calls Noble and in the Church which the Apostles had planted they might all speak one by one if any thing was revealed to him that sat by the first was to hold his peace and this was the order in the Church of God 2. Cor. 1â— And now in the Churches so calld that are established since the Apostles daies if one that sits by something be reveled to him from the Lord to speak it forth it is called disturbance and he is haled out and persecuted and if he bid people Repent in the Markets and streets that swears and curses and
them and the place of their meeting being neer the high way they cast in dirt and stones to the great annoyances of the peaceable people that were then waiting upon the Lord and they were much abused by stones and abundance of dirt cast upon them which the rude people took out of the open street and there came a drunkard swearing and raging like unto a mad man and he and the rude people broke into the house and laid violent hands upon many of the peaceable people and endeavoured to pull him down that was speaking to the people in the fear of God And for some hours in this manner they abused sober people in their own house that were met together to wait upon the Lord and to worship him in spirit and when some went to some of the Magistrates in the Town to acquaint them with this abuse desiring them to keep the peace they made light of the matter and would not appease the rude Multitude nor preserve the sober people in their just right and liberties for it was said that one of the Magistrates should speak to the drunken fellow aforesaid to come up into our meeting and bad him make sport and so great was the abuse that the sober People was forced to remove their meeting to another place whither the rude people also followed them and did cast dirt and stones at them Some more of the cruel sufferings of the people of God called Quakers related which hath been acted in the Town of Cambridge by the rude Scholars Souldiers and Towns people Cambridge UPon the thirteenth day of the third Month following called May the Scholers and rude Multitude came and brake open several doors and burst the locks and bolts with a great hammer and when we passed out from our meeting we were most shamefully abused by the Scholars and rude Multitude several hundreds standing in the streets some beating of us and some rejoycing to see us beaten Upon the twentieth day of the same Month the Scholers and Souldiers and the rude Multitude came in with one of the chief Constables which said that the Mayor had a letter from Ja. Tompson of Trumpington called a Justice which did inform the Mayor that several of us had arms whereupon we desired that we might be searched they searching some few of us finding none the rude Multitude fell violently upon us and drew some of us out by the hair and pulled and haled all the rest out and kickt William Allen who was moved to declare the truth to the people in the Power of the Lord being so grosly abused that he was very unable to go abroad for several days After that we was parted from the meeting-house they came with hammers and what pieces of wood they could get and fell to work on their Sabbath day and they did break and batter the house within and without that it is judged by their own Generation that twenty pounds will scarce make it as iâ— was Sutton Henry Foster was pulled out of the meeting house and had before the Mayor and Aldermen where he was searched for Arms but found none and discharged to come any more to his own hired house upon a first day Upon the second of the fifth Month 1660. Friends being peaceably met together several of the Scholars and others with them came with a Smiths great hammer and other things and broke up the house although two doors was open into the same and with the boards and shivers of the house armed themselves with which they knockt down many in the house and in the street shedding the blood that day of near thirty and bruising the flesh of nere an hundred in a very lamentable manner some of whom were dangerously wounded Also the eight of the fifth Month the Scholers assaulted the meeting again and tore friends out in an exceeding uncivil manner And on the 15th day they broke up Friends meeting again and near pulled down the house and with the ruins of the same wounded several Friends And besides the Scholers and others that joyn with them do daily tear friends cloathes as they passe in the Streets and nip and abuse their flesh and pull them by the hair and stone buffet and knock Friends down when they have pulled them out of the â—eeting and tread them in the channels that had not the Lord wonderfully preserved them many Friends had been slain ere now The Names of part of twenty four that had their blood shed by the Scholers and others in Cambridge besides many that had their cloaths rent and knockt down into the Channels and kickt and trod upon and one was kept in the mud till he was almost smothered and others pinched and pulled by the nose and some stabbed John Smith John Webb Ann Norris William Allen John Ware Thomazin Blackly Margret Mathews Robert Letchworth William Page George Nath John Tournel Chatris Edward Matthew Blackly John Harvy Edward Salmon Phillip Williamson William Wells Thomas Gray Phillip Viping James Viping Cheshire Friends being met together in the fear of the Lord at one Lawrence Fletcher his house there came some Souldiers and broke up the meeting and they fell on the Friends and haled them forth and some they threw forth and down tearing others by the hair of the head till they had all forth and this they did without shewing any order but being asked for their order they said they had left it at the Town Glamorgan-shire In the eight Month called October 1660. Friends being peaceably met together several Souldiers with their Muskets swords lighted matches in a brutish manner took all the men Friends out of their Meeting being twenty and had them to the Castle and set them in the Dungeon till the next day and then the oath of Allegiance was proffered to them because they could not break Christs comand who saith swear not at all they were ordered to be kept prisoners where they yet remain this tenth Month 1660. From Cirencester in Glocester-shire Wee whose names are here under written on the eighteenth day of the ninth Month wâ—re met peaceably together in the fear of the Lord there came in amongst us the two high Constables so called with other Offices and men of our Town that were gathered together charging us in the Kings Name to go along with them answer was made that we were met peacably together in the fear of the Lord and if they had any thing to lay to our charge we were there ready to make answer but that would not satisfie them and one of them said he had a warrant from the Lord Harbert to take us we requiring the warrent to be shewed but could not see it they gave order first to hale our women and children forth and then said they would send for pistols and when they had discharged three or four amongst us we would be willing to go forth but we were not willing to break our meeting so they began to
suffered all along in the dayes of the Common-wealth and of the two Protectors and now suffers in the Kings Name for Christ and his Truths sake and for obeying his commands And we have suffered all along under these changeable powers before you our meetings have been broken up our houses pluckt down our windows broken and pulled out of our Meetings and cruelly abused knockt down and stones and dirt thrown at us and have suffered cruel mockings and shameful reproaches and many whipt stockt and laid in Irons and Dungeons and nasty Straw and prisoned till death and some put to death in these Dominions and the onely thing hath been for the speaking of the truth and warning people of the day that is come upon them yea many in sackcloth and ashes who would not hear nor regard whose day of visitation is over And there hath suffered for Conscience sake and the Truths sake the causes being hereafter expressed the number of 3179. 1. For meeting together in the Fear of the Lord as the Saints did in the primitive times and exhorting one another and building up one another and praying together in their several houses as the Apostles did from house to house have been beat imprisoned and not suffered to pray together as Daniel did but pluckt us up by the hair of the head when we have been at prayers and some have been stockt and whipt and others their Horses taken from them and some fined and imprisoned some until death and some knockt down and left for dead others drag'd on the ground by the hair of their heads and cruelly beaten and trod upon their cloaths rent and blood shed not sparing women with Child nor old age the number of 827 persons And they broke up our Meeings in the Common Wealths and Olivers time under pretence that we plotted to bring in Charls Stuart and now he is come in they are broken up by some of your Magistrates under pretence that we are against the King but we are in that which cannot lift up a hand nor plot against him nor no man by which we see all things and have unity with God and meets together to worship him in the Spirit and Truth and thus are we deprived of it by many who have been against us as much formerly as now who if they were tryed they are neither Friends to themselves nor to God nor the King who will not let us have so much liberty as Ballet singers and such as use playes nor let us meet to pray together and build up one another in the Holy Faith which was the command of the Apostle to the Saints in the Primitive times for which practice have we suffered all along as sheep for the slaughter and as such as have no helpers in the earth whose lives from it are taken And our sufferings has been also great in Scotland Ireland Virginia and New England the number of Sufferers and multitude of which sufferings and meetings which have been broken are to large hardly to be mentioned or numbred 2. And for not going to the publick worship many have been fined and imprisoned and their goods taken from them Now where do you ever read that ever the Jews or Gentiles ever fined the Christians for not coming to the Temple at Jerusalem or the Synagogue or Dianas Temple Nay is it not worse then the Turks paying their Sessments and Taxes May they not have their liberty there to meet together to Pray and Worship God ye men of understanding consider this 3. And for warning people to repent in the Markets and other places of their sin and wickednesse have been whipt stockt and put in Fetters and Irons and some imprisoned the number of 516 persons 4. And for not swearing as Christ commands they should not swear for obeying his Doctrine and keeping to yea and nay in their Communications according to his command have been Stockt Whipt Fined and Imprisoned and suffered the losse of their goods 2â—8 Persons And we have suffered under pretence of being Papists and Popishly affected and our Friends have suffered for going beyond the Seas to declare against the Papists George Baâ—ly imprisoned till death in France one John Love imprisoned till death in the Inquisition in Rome and John Parrot lies there yet in Prison to finish his Testimony for the Truth and against Idolatry and yet the Oath of Abjuration hath been tendred unto us to make a prey on us knowing that our Principle was that we could not swear no manner of Oath for which cause we have suffered in our Lives and Estates and now the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance is tendred to us against the Pope to make a prey upon us that knows our Principle is against the Papists that knows our Principle that we cannot swear at all no Oath but keeps to yea and nay in our Communications according to Christs Doctrine who declares against all Popery and the supremacy of it Now if our yea be not yea and nay nay so found to you and all men upon the earth then let us suffer for breaking of that as much as for breaking an Oath and besides very illegally is that Oath put to us as you may see in the examining of the manner of their putting it to us 5. For not paying towards the repair of Steeple-houses and for not paying Clerks wages have had their goods spoiled strained and taken away above treble the demand 256 which is worse then ever we read of the Jews or Gentiles that ever they made the Christians do to repair Dianas Temple or the Jews Synagogue or Temple that they fined them and took their goods for not doing so 6. For visiting Friends in Prison and carrying them necessaries that lay in nasty Straw and Dungeons Fetters and Irons lockt up beat and bruised their bodies like jellies have been imprisoned and beat and some whipt and stockt others fined and their goods taken away and some sent away with passes as wanderers and vagabonds though Persons of Estates and some have had their goods taken and been imprisoned besides for entertaining of their friends which is worse then the heathen did to the Apostle who suffered his acquaintance to come to him and visit him and he taught in his own hired house in Rome where the Seat of the Emperour was and worse then ever we read the Heathen and the Jews did to the Christians in the Primitive times and therefore what can be paraleld with this Generation for it is for Truth and not for evil doing for which we suffer and for bearing witnesse to the Truth Therefore ye men of Reason and of Understanding consider thâ—se things that there may be a restraint of violence and not of virtue but that virtue may be cherished Few minds the sufferings of the Saints and the afflictions of Joseph but the Apostle said Them that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution them that have been our greatest Persecutors have been the