A CRY AGAINST Oppression Cruelty BEING A short account of the Tryal and of the Sentence that was passed on several innocent people called Quakers who are Inhabitants of the City of Worcester At the Assizes holden there the 16 17 and 18 th days of the 5 th Month called July who were imprisoned because they refused to swear in obedience to the commandment of Christ Jesus c. And for assembling themselves together peaceably in the Name and fear of the Lord to worship him in Spirit and Truth according to his Will And when they bring you unto the Synagogues and unto Magistrates and Powers take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer on what ye shall say for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say Luke 12 11 12. The wicked delighteth in mischief but the followers of Truth abhorreth their wayes c. LONDON Printed and are to be sold by William VVarwick 1663. A Cry against Oppression and Cruelty c. IF we should altogethet hold our peace and not publish to the World what hard measure we have received from some who are in Authority wholly and without any just occasion given unto them as on our parts yet doubtless the righteous God who sees and beholds all the actions of men and will justly recompence for the same will in his own time clear our innocency and plead our cause for whose sake we suffer our Consciences bearing us perfect witness thereunto Yet in regard of some who have been informed otherwise concerning the cause of our sufferings then indeed it is as though we suffered in our own wills and in contempt of Authority and as though we were against all good Government when the truth is much otherwise Therefore to wipe off such aspersions that such as have been mis-informed concerning us may understand the truth this we declare in our own defence First We are brought to deny our selves from following our own wills that we might do the Will of God in every thing who hath called us to follow peace and holiness with all men And this we are taught to do by that Principle which God hath placed in us and not only in us but in all men which is the Light which Christ hath enlightened every man withal which lets them see their sin and wherein they are short in what they ought to be This is that which we say will lead even all people to do as they would be done unto and to seek others welfare as their own which every Christian ought to do and whosoever they be that are short in these things though they be called by the Name of Christians yet not doing that which the Spirit of Christ leads unto which is to seek others welfare as their own and to do as they would be done by though they may call themselves Christians yet indeed and really they cannot be said so to be Many Reasons might we give for what we have affirmed but this is sufficient It is said in the Scripture That so many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God And we say Such as are Christians indeed do and are made partakers of Christ's nature But it may be questioned What is the Nature of Christ Answer Meekness and humility and lowliness of spirit agreeable to his own words who said Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart c. O that those who are the cause of our oppression for the exercise of our Consciences towards the Lord even the righteous God of Heaven and Earth because we fear him and do labour to keep our Consciences void of offence towards him We wish that they and all others whose day of Visitation is not quite past would take diligent heed to the pure Light of Christ which shines in their hearts and so come to learn of Christ to be as he was that their souls may enter into rest that the Kingdom of God they may know in them which consists in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost c. and this we do from our hearts desire on their behalf Another thing charged against us by some is That we do what vve do in contempt of Authority c. Ans God vvho knovveth our hearts can bear us vvitnesse to the contrary unto vvhom vve do appeal and to his faithful Witness in every mans Conscience vvhich vvill let them see that vvhat vve do vve do it not in contempt of Authority but for Conscience sake tovvards God and if men require that from us vvhich God doth forbid to be done vvhether it be not better in such a case to obey God rather than man Let his faithful Witness in every mans Conscience give an ansvver Another thing charged against us by some is That vve are against all good Government c. Ans Unto vvhich Charge vve say Nay for vve are for a good Government and all just Lavvs and just Magistrates we own and do honor such as do rule for God who are a terror to the evil doer and a praise to them that do well such bears not the Sword in vain such answers the Witness of God in every mans Conscience which is just But such as do govern contrary to God's Witness in every mans conscience doing that which is unjust and unequal in the sight of the Lord who is just and whose way is equal it is such as the Light doth reprove and condemn in their own Consciences and such as these we cannot own but must testifie against And if by such our sufferings be continued we shall not rise up with carnal Weapons to work our own deliverance but patiently endure what may be further laid upon us for the Truth 's sake committing our Cause unto the Lord in whom we trust and do believe that he will in his own time deliver us by his holy Arm of Power unto whom be praises and dominion and thanksgiving for his mercy and loving-kindness who keepeth Covenant and mercy with all who trust in him from generation to generation for ever Concerning the manner of our Tryal and of the sentence that was past on us afterwards Several of us being brought into the Court by the Judges Order the 16th day of the 5th Month called July some of us were brought to the Bar first Thomas Ball was brought unto whom the Judge spake as follovveth Judge Have you taken the Oath of Allegiance Tho. Ball. Ans Nay Judge Will you take the Oath T. B. Nay Christ hath commanded to the contrary vvho said Swear not at all Then William Pit vvas brought to the Bar the Judge spake to him c. Judge Upon what account were you at Robert Smith's House the 8th day of June VV. P. Where are my Accusers Iudge VVill you take the Oath W. P. An. Let me be cleared of what I stand here charged for then I shall answer to this Next Gervase Pierson was brought to the Bar the
know the Scriptures you will bring is that which saith Swear not at all but I deny your meanings E. B. We mean no otherwise but what Christ and his Apostles meant So the Iudge vvould not be perswaded by us to take in hand to convince us according to the Scriptures but proceeded to pass sentence upon us Iudge This is the sentence and judgement of the Court You are fined 5. l. a piece and if you do not pay the fines nor if there be no distress to be made in a Weeks time you are to be committed to the House of Correction and to be put to hard labour for three months E. B. The Lord judge between you and us Iudge Take them away Then R. Fidoe Wil. Pyt Ed. Stanton Gervase Pierson Abra. Roberts Abr. Armes Fran. Harvey Fran. Fincher Ief. Rasmos T. Ball and John Wayte were brought to the bar the third time G. P. I desire to know when or at what time the Kings two Declarations the one from Breda the other concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs were made void Judge They are what 's that to you G. P. We expected some benefit by them Which Declarations tended to the giving liberty to tender Consciences in matters of Religion though differing from others in opinion therein which do not disturb the peace of the Kingdom which we have not done G. P. Are the King Words of no value Judge Come you are a sawcy Companion Then the Judge proceeded to sentence passing the same sentence upon us as upon the other Friends aforementioned upon which William Pytt spake as followeth W. P. Well not only our Goods and our Liberties are we willing to offer up in this matter but also our lives if it be requir'd Then after our Trial and sentence was passed on us as before is expressed we were taken away brought to prison again being filled with peace joy in the Lord whose pure love hath largely abounded towards us blessed praised and magnified be his holy glorious Name above every thing for ever Amen And thus such as are sober-minded may see what hard measure we have received from some in Authority only and alone for the exercise of a good Conscience towards the Lord not for any injury or wrong that we have done unto any man the just God can bear us witness herein and thus the Scripture is made good being fulfilled in us which saith Whosoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution And as there was a generation in time past which sought an occasion against Daniel but could find none except it was about the matter of his God for which cause they laboured with the King Darius until they had obtained a Decree against him Dan. 6. But remarkable is the passage about the same for the Lord delivered Daniel but his Enemies fell into the snare which they had laid for him And though it be so come to pass concerning us that a Decree is sealed against us about the matter of our God whom we fear and dare not but hear his voice and obey him in what he commands us by which we do and may suffer for this only cause yet notwithstanding these things let persecutors and haters of that which is good bear this in mind tha the Lord God is the same to save help and deliver them who fear and put their trust in him as he was in times past and repent before it be too late remembring what Christ hath said who said it would be better for such that offend the least of those who believe in him that a Milstone were hanged about their necks and they cast into the sea E. Bourn Here followeth a Copy of a Letter directed to Iudge Hide and Iudge Terril which was delivered before our Tryal FRiends It cannot be unknown to you but that we have been a suffering people for many years past and are so at this time and that it hath not been for any evil neither is it for any evil by us done towards any people the righteous God can bear us witness herein but only for the exercise of a good Conscience towards him in doing that which he requires from our hands who hath called us unto peace and holiness and wo unto us if we do it not for consider in meekness and in the fear of the Lord how can we neglect that which we believe the Lord doth require at our hands but we must be offendors against him in a high nature And if we must come before you in oâ—der to our tryal deal righteously with us in the sight of the Lord in whose hands your life is your breath is and all you do enjoy he can soon deprive you of if it be his Will Therefore in his holy fear deal justly and righteously with us in his sight lest you provoke him against your selves and kindle his Wrath and displeasure against your own souls Therefore in much love to you do we desire you to do that which is right in the sight of the Lord towards us and towards all in matters by you to be determined of that so it may go well with you here and hereafter for ever It is well known to the generality of the Inhabitants of the Nation that we are peaceable and we desire the good and welfare of all people that they may know the truth and be saved from everlasting destruction And therefore why should we be hindered from the exercise of our consciences towards the Lord seeing we are peaceable and no ways injurious unto any And we believe your selves have experience of the same which was the ground of our oppression in the days of Oliver Cromwel and of his Son Richard Cromwel under whose Governments we were greatly oppressed because vve could not conform to them in matters about Religion for vvhose cruelty and in justice the Lord hath overturned them such as took part vvith them therein and you do novv possess their places not that you should do as they did but that you should answer the end of the Lord therein in doing justly loving mercy and walking humbly before him who is to be feared and vvill justly recompence all according to their doings and novv hath given you a day to try and prove you herein whether you will do what he doth from you require or not Therefore mind what the Lord doth require at your hands and answer him therein that ye may be a blessing to the Nation wheresoever you come for in this your welfare dependeth eternally From the Prison in Worcester the 15. of the 5. mon. 1662. From lovers of your souls who desireth the peace and welfare of all mankind who suffer bonds with many more for righteousness sake called Quakers E.B. R.F. E.S. W.P. R.S. S.P. c. POSTSCRIPT VVHat is before mentioned is as near as we could remember the substance of the passages at our Tryal Many things more might have been mentioned of what then passed but we were willing to
you and lifted up his hands saying If I do otherwise it will be between me and the Lord. E. B. I desire to ask one question in the fear of the Lord Judge That you may in the fear of the Lord. E. B. Suppose that if Christ and his Apostles were here at this time and if they should meet together would not this Law take hold of them Judge Yes that it would but said afterwards I will not answer your questions And said you are not Apostles E. B. We are Christians followers of Christ as they were then interrupted Judge Take them away And as to what I then said it is truth for we know that the same Spirit which led them leads us even the Spirit of truth which leads unto all truth and if it were not for the truths sake that we suffered we were in a sad condition and people may well believe that if it were not to keep our peace with the Lord we would not expose our selves to such hardships and cruelty as we do meet withall from the world because we refuse to swear in obedience to Christs command who saith swear not at all and because we dare not neglect to assemble our selves together in the name and fear of the Lord it being that way by which we have found him and have and do enjoy his holy presence amongst us c. Then Richard Fido Will. Pitt Edw. Stanton Abr. Roberts Gervase Pierson Abraham Armes and others were brought to the Bar the Indictments being read the Witnesses sworn and 〈◊〉 Judge spake VVill you take the Oath of Allegiance R. Fidoe I did never deny Allegiance to the King by way of swearing until I knew that Principle which did more oblige me to the King than swearing can do Judge VVhat is that Principle you speak of R. F. It is the pure Principle of God vvhich leads me to do to all men as I vvould they should do unto me Judge That is a good Principle it is the VVord of God Judge VVill you take the Oath now R. F. Is there amongst you any one that can accuse me of any thing done by me against the King that by it I should be suspected Or what is the ground of tendering it to me Judge It is in order to one of your Indictments VVil. Pyt. It is very vvell knovvn vve have been a suffering people for these many years under the former Powers in this very matter so that if this had been the first Oath we had refused to take you might have had more ground to have suspected our Allegiance to the King and his Government R. F. I desire to hear the Witness that svvear to the Indictment VV. P. Before the Witness be sworn I desire to be informed by the Court lest through our ignorance of the Law vve should deprive our selves of our own proper right The matter is this Whether vve may have liberty to except against such men of the Jury that are greatly prejudiced against us and so not competent Judges in this matter Judge Before the Jury was sworn you might but now you cannot VV. P. We were not present vvhen the Jury was svvorn Wherefore it seemeth we are deprived of our just right in this matter Iudge What have you to say against them I hope they are none of them of your Faction W. P. If vvhat vve have to say vvill not dismiss them it is to no purpose to declare it One of the Witnesses swore that we vvere at a Meeting about the number of 46. and that we refused to take the Oath of Allegiance at our commitment The Judge asked another of the Witnesses what he could say Witness I was there too and I say as he said Sir R. F. This Witness makes nothing against us What visible testimony have you against us tending to the Worship of God Witness None at all Iudge What were they doing Witness Some sitting and some standing R. F. Did you hear any one pray or speak or see any Book opened amongst them Witness answered No. Judge What have you to say for your selves For what end were you at that unlawful Meeting W. P. There are three or four fatherless Children amongst us vvhich we are to take care for that they may not be chargeable to Parishes for maintenance such things are taken care for amongst us when we meet together sometimes and whether we were not met together at that time for that end you are to prove Judge If you were met together for that end it is unlawful for you are to go from House to House W. P. That which is charitable is not unlawful Judge I leave that to the Jury whether they will take this new invented Plea for a sufficient ground to excuse your being at that unlawful Assembly or not Although the witness may prove little yet if the Jury believes you were met together under pretence of Religious worship as they well may it being your constant practice they may find the Bill R. F. You of the Iury take notice that all this makes nothing against us Judge That is true I may speak to the Jury for you R. F. But give me leave to inform them with the truth The Judge spake to this purpose following and would not allow Rich. Fidoe to speak Gentlemen of the Jury it is true this witness makes nothing against these men yet I shall leave it to you that if you as believe they did meet together under pretence of religious worship you may find the Bill Many things more were mentioned between other Friends the Iudge tending to the purpose before expressed which are left out so we were taken away and not permitted to speak what we would although the Iudge spoke otherwise the day before saying we should have liberty to speak as much as vve vvould vvhen we came to our tryal and said he would do us us all the right he could but let the Witness of God in every ones Conscience answer whether it vvere so or not The Iury being returned to give in their verdict found the Bills against us notwithstanding the evidence was made void in effect as upon the examination of the Witnesses doth appear before-mentioned upon our tryal Then John Price John Townsend were called to the Bar with Su. Pierson to receive the sentence also Edw. Bourne Geo Knight and Robert Tompkins Tho. Jukes and John Clark were called to the Bar the third time and the Oath was tendered unto them before sentence was passed Robert Tompkins desired to hear the Oath read which was accordingly done Iudge Will you take the Oath Tompkins answered No it is not my principle to swear E. Bourn spake What is truth in the Oath we can promise and if we do not swear it is in obedience to Christ's command but if you can convince us by the Scriptures that we may swear and not offend the Lord see what we will not do Iudge I will not talk with you according to the Scriptures I
be as short as we could in publishing a Relation thereof commending our selves with the Controversie between us and our Opposers to be decided by God's Witness in every ones Conscience which shall read or hear the same Worcester Prison the 10th day of the 6 Month 1662. A brief account of the imprisonment and tryal of some more of our friends who are Inhabitants of Worcestershire UPon the 20. day of the 5. Moneth 1662. came a party of Souldiers to the Town of Pershore where some of them were peaceably assembled in the fear of the Lord and lay violent hands on them drawing them forth from the meeting and some out of their houses and off from their own ground with their swords drawn and forcing them along the streets and forced them into an house not showing them any order for what they did until they had been kept several hours in the house where they were close detained prisoners and their friends not permitted to come to them and afterwards took them to Worcester striking them and giving some of them fore blows Some moderate people seeing it desired them to forbear striking them then they fell a striking and cutting the people with their swords and so brought them to the prison in Worcester without any Mittimus Upon the 5. and 6. days of the 6. Moneth Ed. Hall George Fort Henry Gibbs with the rest of our friends who were taken prisoners with them at Pershore vvere brought before the Justices at the Sessions in Worcester to be tried vvith several other of our friends who vvere taken from their peaceable meeting being assembled in the fear of the Lord at Dudly in Worcestershire at the same time as friends in Pershore vvere taken vvhose names are Richard Payton John Newcomb Thomas Denton and Sutton Bagley All these before mentioned vvere tried at the Sessions then holden being made offenders about the oath of Allegiance because they did not svvear the Jury finding them guilty though in the sight of the Lord they are innocent from the breach of any just Lavv sentence vvas passed upon them as follovveth Richard Payton being brought into a Premunire his personal estate was forfeited to the King for ever and his real estate during term of Life and himself to be out of the Kings protection and to remain in prison during the Kings pleasure c. The rest of them viz. Ed. Hall George Fort Henry Gibbs John Newcomb Thomas Denton Sutton Bagley John Johnson William Collins and Ed. Gibbs vvere fined five pounds a piece and for want of distress or not payment of the same in a Weeks time after sentence was past to be committed to the house of Correction and there to be put to hard labour for three Moneths c. And thus for no evil but for keeping a good Conscience with the Lord do we suffer the Scripture being fulfilled in us which saith he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey c. Seâ— Isa 59. 14 15 16 17 c. Queries to the Compellers in Religious matters VVHether you your selves would be compelled from your Religion or not if not then do ye as ye would be done unto to compel others unto that when as you you would not be compelled your selves Whether that which you compel unto be truth or not if truth who did ye deny it in not practifing it or suffering for it about 8 or 9 years ago if not truth do you well to force unto it Whether to allow liberty in honest and religious matters be not a more sweeter and also an acceptabler sacrifice to God then to oppress or prison about it and to make men Aliens to their own families and strangers to their housholds concerning it Whether it be heavenly or heathenish to force in things pertaining to conscience and whether Christian like or otherwise to neglect the better and to take the worser to be an example herein Whether to limit that which is conscientious in others doth not truly be speak the permitters thereof men rather lovers of vanity then vertue Whether to ruine a man and his family and yet no iniury by them done be truly religious and prevailing vertues to make Proselitos or otherwise What is the ground of oppression and whence had it its descent was God the Author thereof or did good men practice it in any generation Robert Smith THE END