A DECLARATION Of the present SUFFERINGS Of above 140. Persons of the people of God Who are now in Prison called QVAKERS With a briefe accompt of above 1900. more being but a part of many more that have suffered within these six years last past whose names and particular sufferings are not here set down Together with the number of 21. Persons who were imprisoned and persecuted until Death All which was delivered to Tho. Bampfield then Speaker of the Parliament on the sixth day of the second Month 1659. By which all people may be made sensible of the great oppressions of the Innocent and lay them to heart that the Judgments of the Lord may be prevented which otherwise will fall heavy upon the oppressors and all that are at ease in the flesh and unsensible of the day of Jacobs troubles As also an Accompt of some grounds and reasons why for Conscience sake we bear our Testimony against divers customes and practices at this day in use amongst men Also a cry of great Judgement at hand upon the oppressors of the Lords heritage as received from him on the 18. day of the first Month called March With an Offer to the Parliament of our Bodies person for person to be imprisoned for the Redemption of our Brethren who are now in Bonds for the Testimony of Jesus London Printed for Tho. Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. DECLARATION Of the present SUFFERINGS Of above 140. Persons of the people of God Who are now in Prison called QVAKERS With a briefe accompt of above 1900. more being but a part of many more that have suffered within these six years last past whose names and particular sufferings are not here set down Together with the number of 21. Persons who were Imprisoned and persecuted until Death That so all people may be made sensible of the great oppressions of the Innocent and lay them to heart that the Judgements of the Lord may be prevented why otherwise will fall heavy upon the oppressors and all that are at ease in the flesh and unsensible of the day of Jacobs troubles As also an accompt of some grounds and reasons why for conscience sake we bear our testimony against divers customes and Practices at this day in use amongst men Also a cry of great Judgement at hand upon the oppressors of the Lords heritage as received from him on the 18. day of the first Moneth called March London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. To the Parliament of the Common-Wealth of ENGLAND BEING A Declaration of the Names places and sufferings of such as now are in prison for speaking the truth in several places For not paying Tithes For meeting together in the fear of God For not swearing For wearing their hats For being accounted as Vagrants For visiting friends and for things of the like nature in all about 144. Besides imprisoned and persecuted till death 21. Also a briefe Narrative of the sufferings within the last six years or thereabouts of about 1960. persons already returned being but part of many more whose names and sufferings are not yet returned All which is desired may be read and considered of by this Parliament that right-may be done First For speaking the truth in several places BERK-SHIRE JOhn Evans cast into prison at Redding for speaking to a Priest at Shaw near Newberry CAMBRIDGE-SHIRE John Norris of Swasey committed to prison at Cambridge for asking the priest of Hardwick a question William Allen of Okington for bidding the people after their evening sacrifice was ended to fear and tremble at the Name of the Lord was committed to prison CANTERBURY Thomas Pollard prisoner there for speaking in the Steeple-house CUMBERLAND George Wilson Prisoner at Carlisle and also Matthew Dickson at Lampligh for speaking to the Priest DEVON-SHIRE John Roet for bidding the people at the Steeple-house at Tiverton in Devon to mind the Truth of God was cast into prison at Tiverton and sorely abused and denied straw to lie on and they would not suffer friends to bring him provision but still remains a prisoner Edward Bradford for speaking to a Priest now in prison at Exon. ESSEX William Monk of Sanden For going into the Steeple-house and asking the Priest a question was committed to prison William Allen for exhorting people to repentance in the Town-street of Wetherfield as he was going to a meeting was committed to prison by DUDLY TEMPLE Justice so called and hath remained prisoner above these six moneths John Claydon of Hadstock arrested at the sute of Thomas Wallis of that town for words pretended he should maliciously speak against him and cast him into Prison where he hath been a prisoner four months GLOCESTER-SHIRE Deborah Harding being moved of the Lord to speak to Joseph Woodward Priest was forced out and carried before THOMAS ESCOT one of the Justices and sent to Prison HAMP-SHIRE Ja. Potter Committed to the Common Goal at Winchester by Wil. Whither and Ric. Kinsmell called justces for Reading a paper in the Steeple-house yard and at the following assizes was fined 5. l. by Judge Nicholas for wearing his hat when he was brought into Court for which he was sent back to prison and hath been a Prisoner twenty moneths and so still remaines Henry Streaters wife committed to prison by Justice REYNOLDS for speaking some of the Prophets words to Priest CORBET as he was traveling on the way who hath a young child sucking the said Justice REYNOLDS giving charge to the Goaler that she should be kept close prisoner not having the liberty of common whores that have bastards but is constrained to a little bad Rome where eight more are kept close prisoners KENT Elizabeth Fowler cast into the dungeon in the common goal at Tenterden for speaking in a Steeple-house where she hath been ten weeks committed by the Mayor without bail or mainprize and there still remaines NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE John Rogers for speaking to WILLIAM SANDERSON Priest of Hindon after he had done and was come out of the Pulpet was committed to Prison by JOHN BROWN caled Justice and hath been a Prisoner thirteen weeks and so continues John Green of Bugbrook was cast into the County Goal by Justice BENSON so called for speaking to BENJAMIN TOMPKINS Priest of Hartpoor and hath been in prison seven weeks and so remaines SUFFOLK Anne Blakelin prisoner in Bury Edmonds for speaking to a Priest at Haveril and hath been kept Prisoner there two years SUSSEX Iohn Snashhold for speaking in the Steeple-house hath been kept prisoner fourty eight weeks Nicholas Beard for speaking to the priest is Prisoner there also WORCESTER-SHIRE Iohn Clemance of Evisham Prisoner there for going to a Steeple-house WESTMERLAND Richard Hebson was imprisoned for speaking to a Priest where he and others were cruelly beat and abused by an unmerciful Goal or of Apleby and Richard Hebson being put forth of prison very weak and bruised died presently after WESTMINSTER Elizabeth Peacock for saying
contempt because they could not for conscience sake swear to their answer Thomas Palmer hath been in prison 16. weekes and William Mans 11. weeks and still are prisoners WILT-SHIRE John Fry sued in the Upper Bench and the Exchequer by John Menlas Priest of Gumfield who never demanded ought of him and was cast into prison at Fisherton-Anger near Sarum by Richard Lovel and Walter Thomas they having the Warrant of Isaac Burgess Sheriffe of Wiltshire so to do where they have been kept from the 13. day of the 9. Moneth 58 to this day Richard Ast sometime of Collerne in Wiltshire imprisoned at Fisherton-Anger at the suit of GEORGE MARSHAL Priest and Thomas Harris Impropriator for the value of two or three and thirty shillings and hath been a prisoner 21. weeks and more notwithstanding they caused his corn to be taken out of his house and field before his imprisonment Also Priest MONLAS caused to be taken from the said John Fry goods to the value of twelve pounds and more before he was imprisoned John Jay who is also a prisoner there hath sent an accompt of his sufferings YORK-SHIRE James Tenant sued in the Exchequer by the Farmer of Tythes and because he could not for conscience sake swear to his answer was committed to prison where he hath been 35. weekes and so continues Robert Mainford at the suit of CHARLES KAME Priest hath been in prison for Tythes eight Moneths Matthew Major and John Ellis imprisoned at the suit of FRANCIS SWAYNE Priest have been prisoners 20. weeks and so remains Stephen Lorimore imprisoned at the suit of Richard Sherborn for some small Tythes and hath been a prisoner two years and still remaines so committed to prison by Thomas Harison Sheriff SALOP Edward Ward for about 50s Tythes had a yoke of Oxen taken away from him worth about 12l by EDWARD LAWRANCE Priest of Shrewsbury Besides for not paying Tythes to the upholding of Priests who do not work for them there have been imprisoned to the number of 200. And moreover 44â— persons suffered the spoiling of their goods because for conscience sake they could not pay Tythes the value of Tythes demanded amounted to 706. l. 8s 11. d. For which they took of their goods to the value of some thousands of pounds For Meeting together in the fear of God on the first dayes GEorge Harrison violently taken out of Apelties house who is a friend in Heverall by a rude multitude of the Town and cruelly bruised in the street till he did spit blood who a short time after dyed having never in his life time recovered from the hurt he then received DORCHESTER-GOALE Lore Bag the wife of Richard Bag and her Son Thomas Bag and three of her daughters Sarah Mary and Abigal Bag all of one Town living in Brideport and of one family were by Nicholas Sampson and Robert Prince Bayliffs for coming from a meeting about a bow shoot from the place where they dwelt committed to prison pretending they committed them for being wanderers and because they would not give them 2s 6d a piece and after were called to Sessions where Thomas Bag was fined by the Recorder thirteen shillings four pence because he wore his hat in the Court and because for conscience sake knowing they had broke no Law could not give them two shillings six pence a piece for coming from the meeting and thirteen shillings and foure pence for Thomas Bags wearing of his hat were all sent back to prison again where they have been sixteen weeks and still remaines prisoners Lore Bag being above threescore yeares old and her husband Richard Bag a Mercer driving a trade so his Whole family is taken from him to their great losse and hinderance YORKESHIRE Andrew Hawkes commited to prison by Thomas Dickison called Justice for not prosecuting a warrant which came from the said Dickison against several persons therein named which was for no other cause but for meeting together peaceably the first day of the week to wait upon the Lord and the said Hawkes hath layâ—n in prison eleven moneths and have not been brought to any tryal and still remains prisoner Henry Vbanck Thomas Thackray and Christopher Thackray Thomas Docker were taken forth at a meeting in Leeds and sent to prison by Iohn Dauson and Martin Isles and at the Sessions there fined twenty shillings a peece and afterwards sent to York Castle where they remain prisoners Besides for meeting together in the fear of God on the first day of the week and denying the steeple-house worship there have been imprisoned one hundred sixty five persons and moreover for going to Godly and Christian meetings on the said day 30. persons hath had twenty eight horses and other goods taken and sold and nothing returned again which horses have been valued at one hundred thirty six pounds twelve shillings Fourthly For not Swearing and Wearing their Hats BUCKINGHAM-SHIRE GEorge Salter imprisoned at Alesbury for Tithes he refusing to swear to his answer to the Priest of Hidgerlys bill of Complaint DORCHESTER GOAL Bartholomew Logg was fined 3s and 4 pence by JOHN HOSKINS for wearing his Hatt and for not payment thereof was committed to Prison where he hath been fourteen weeks and still remains a prisoner Thomas Bagg was fined by the Recorder 13s and 4 pence because he wore his Hatt in the Court and because for conscience sake knowing he had broke no Law could not give it them was sent to Prison where he hath been sixteen weeks and still remains there GLOUCETER-SHIRE Edward Buden and William Peasly who made their personal appearance before the Barons of the Exchequer at the suit of HENRY HEN Priest and because for Conscience sake they could not return their answer upon Oath a Writ was sued forth against them signed by GEORGE RAYMOND then high Sheriff by vertue whereof they were arrested and cast into Glocester Goal and have remained Prisoners a year and 5 moneths for the value of Tithes about 20s a piece notwithstanding which the Priest HENRY HEN did in the time of their imprisonment drive away 3 Cows of the said Edw. Buden and 6 Cows of the said Will Peasly and remain Prisoners still HAMP-SHIRE James Potter committed to the Common Goal at Winchester by WILLIAM WHITHER and RICHARD KINSMILL called Justices for reading a paper at the Steeple-house yard and at the following Assizes was fined 5l by Judge NICHOLAS for wearing his Hatt when he was brought into the Court for which he was sent back to Prison and hath been a Prisoner there 20 moneths and so still remains NORFOLK William King committed to Norwich Castle for refusing to swear and was fined 40s by Judge BALDOCK for refusing to do service for his Countrey but by yea and nay and there remains NORTHAMPTON-SHIRE Peter Mackerness of Findon sued for Tithes by WILLIAM DOWNER Impropriator into the Exchequer and because for Conscience sake he could not swear was committed to the County Prison and hath been there six moneths and
still remains there SUFFOLK George Sherwing for not swearing to his answer to a Bill at the suit of the Lady GANDEE for Tithes was committed to Milton Gaol by an Attachment from Baron NICHOLAS and hath been there 2 years WALES Howell Jones Prisoner in Tregarran for not putting off his Hatt YORK-SHIRE James Tenant sued in the Exchequer by a Farmer of Tithes and because he could not for Conscience sake swear to his answer was committed to Prison where he hath been 35 weeks and so continues John Hall was taken forth of a meeting in Woodstock in Leeds Parish and because he refused to swear was sent to Prison by WILLIAM FENTON and MARTIN ISLES they pretending he was a Jesuite and still remains Prisoner in York Castle Besides for not Swearing and Wearing their Hatts Imprisoned 125 Persons and 38 Persons for not Swearing in their Courts have had goods taken from them to the value of about 77l 15s Fifthly Vnder pretence of being Vagrants HAMP-SHIRE ANthony Millage who was formerly a captain of a Frigot was as a vagrant committed to prison with Hunphery Smith to the common Goal of Winchester by JOHN BUNKLEY called justice for no other cause at all but for being in his company and hath been a Prisoner Ten Moneths William Bayly was also committed by the aforesaid JOHN BUNKLEY without any accusation laid against him but for being in the company with Humphrey Smith from the parish where he was born as a vagrant and hath been a Prisoner ten moneths and so remaines Besides cruelly whipped and counted as vagrants and wanderers though men of considerable estates 42. persons Sixthly For visiting Friends in Prisons DORCHESTER-GOAL William Ellet the younger commited to prison by NICOLAS SAMPSON and ROBERT PRINCE Baylifs of Brideport onely for standing peaceably in the street when George Buly was examined and hath been a prisoner there 14 weeks and so remaines Besides for visiting of their friends in Prison imprisoned 30. persons also two persons onely for entertaining their friends according to the command to entertain strangers were imprisoned and had four Horses taken from them worth about 18 pounds Seventhly For not repairing of Steeple-houses and not paying Clerkes Wages ONe hundred fourty one persons for the repair of Steeple-houses and Clerks-wages had demanded of them 27. l. 14. s. 8. pence for which was taken from them to the value of about 139. pounds 15. shillings and 10 pence in goods Eightly Imprisoned and Persecuted till death CAMBRIDGE Boniface Norris being neer four-score years of age as he was riding to a meeting was sorely beaten and bruised and fined 10. shillings for going to the meeting and afterwards imprisoned by DUDLY POPE called a Justice and a week after he was let out of Prison died DURHAM George Humble an aged man for standing by some of his neighbours whom GEORGE LILBURN had set in the stocks for speaking to a Priest the said Humble standing by and reproving the people was for that sent to Prison to Durham by the said LILBURN where he was kept until death DEVON-SHIRE Jane Ingram for going to visit some friends who were cast into prison and lay upon straw at Doomes-dale in Lanceston in Cornwal was by JO CHAMPION Justice so called cast into prison at Exeter and there kept in prison upon straw till she dyed LANCA-SHIRE Richard Apener was imprisoned till death for Tythes by Priest SHAW of Oldingham who also spoiled his goods and made havock of many more As some friends in Lancashire were comming from a meeting they meet with a Priest upon the high way and others with him to whom one Elizabeth Leavens spake a few words whereupon the Priests party got hedg-staves and beat the friends amongst whom a woman great with child was sorely beaten on the breast and so sorely bruised that she presently fell sick and with much adoe got home and within two or three dayes after died BRISTOL Temperance Hignel being moved of the Lord to go to a Steeple-house in Bristol to speak to JACOB BRINT Priest after he had ended was knockt down in the Steeple-house to the astonishing of her sences and sorely beaten and bruised her blood drawn and her cloaths torn off from her back in the Steeple-house and then cast into prison and being afterwards carried out in a basket sick within two or three dayes after she died Also George Harrison imprisoned there till death LINCOLNSHIRE Edmond Wolsey imprisoned for Tythes until death Also Thomas Bromby imprisoned until death for about 6. s. Tythes GLOCESTER-SHIRE Richard Atwood for 15 shillings tithes was imprisoned till death by RICHARD FOWLER Priest ESSEX James Parnel for speaking in Cogges-Hall Steeple-house on a fast day was imprisoned until death by HERBERT PELHAM THOMAS COOK DIONYSIUS WAKERING and WILLIAM HARLACKENDEN and before he dyed was most cruelly and barbarously used by the Goalers Wife NORFOLK Robert Jacob of Windham being four score years of age imprisoned till death being first cast into prison for not swearing to be a Constable and released but afterward cast into Prison again for tythes and for refusing to swear to his answer he was kept Prisoner till death OXFORD Elizabeth Fletcher a young woman was by the Schollers of Oxford for speaking the Word of the Lord to them thrown against a Grave-stone and into a Grave and drawn through a Pool with ropes and pumpt which usage she said before her death she should never recover but carry to her Grave and accordingly by reason of that usage she died SUFFOLK John Cason imprisoned for Tithes till death at the suit of JOHN PADGETT the Priest of Aldham and also by Priest GLAUFIELD and before his death was barbarously and cruelly used by the Goaler SUMMER SET-SHIRE William Tucker of Naylsey imprisoned till death by THOMAS GEORGE Priest YORK-SHIRE William Peers and Will Sykes imprisoned till death for Tithes John Sumerson imprisoned till death for Tithes having first been Prisoner two years Matthew Wilkinson imprisoned till death for Tithes in Pickering Castle because he could not swear to his answer to the Priests Bill William Wilkenson of Rosedalâ— for not paying Tithes to JOHN MASON of Middleton an Impropriator was sued in the Court of Exchequer and for not swearing to his answer was cast into Prison in Pickering Castle where he remained a Prisoner near a year and then died in Prison WESTMORELAND Richard Hebson aforementioned cruelly used by the Goaler of Apelby died In all Imprisoned and persecuted to death 21. Ninethly Imprisoned for things of several natures BERK-SHIRE Leonard Cole of Arberfield was put in Prison at Redding and there kept above twelve weeks the last Term was brought to the Court at Westminster called the Common Pleas where he appeared personally and was from thence sent to the Fleet where he remains a Prisoner two or three dayes after he came to the Fleet one GEORGE HATTON brought him a Declaration of ALEXANDER STOAKEâ— Priest and about the second day of the first month called March 1658 9 the said Priest
nor to revile the Government it self nor as a complaint against our oppressors but that you may see the ground and true cause of all our sufferings and of the sufferings of the Saints in all Ages and Generations and in all nations of the World this day and we leave it to that of God in you all to weigh and consider whether it be not time to reforme both Laws Courts and Officers From your Friends who are lovers of peace and truth who wait for the comming of the Lord to establish Justice and righteousnesse in the earth whom he hath raised up as witnesses of his appearing and of the dawning of the Mighty and dreadful day of God in Life Light and Power who are hated of men and reproached under the Name of Quakers And whereas there is a great cry up and down the Nation that the Quakers meetings must be broken and suppressed and that this present Parliament intends to do it and of this I have heard in divers parts of the Nation NOw to this I shall say and answer first as I have observed the spirits of people concerning this cry all the rude and ungodly people as drunkards and the prophanest of men they glory apace at this newes and rejoyce at this mightily as if some great prize were befallen unto them and it makes them rude and violent enough to the breaking of the peace in the Nation but thus it is with but the worst sort of people in the Nation who are rejoyced with these tidings that the Quakers meetings must be broken but as for the honest people such as be sober and sincere thousands that had a hand in chusing this present Parliament never intended to send them up to London for such a work and the cry is by many of the sober people if they go about such a thing they will destroy themselves undoe themselves and leave their names a reproach Why say the people we have a Testimony before us hath it not been upon that Rock of limiting tender consciences in former dayes that hath broken many before these which might be examples to these not to do the same things and many sober people are offended at such newes and it makes their hearts sad whose conscience and the witnesse therein doth answer that we are the Lords people and it ought not thus to be done concerning us as the newes reports so that by this newes of the intended purpose to break the Lords peoples meetings the ungodly and prophane are gratified and strengthened in their wickednesse and the righteous are made sad And further as for us we have been trodden down and made a prey unto our enemies and the gates of death and Hell have stroven against us already but have not prevailed unto this day for the Lord is with us and who is it that shall prevail against us and I may say what is this that is reported to be done What shall dust and ashes do and man whose breath is in his nostrils and who are they that shall break down that which the Lord hath a purpose to build who shall be able to prosper in going about it or what success shall God give to that work I tell you nay it is the Lord that hath raised us up and we have given our power to him to stand by him and to be protected defended and upheld by him alone and we cannot give our power to any mortal men to seek that from them which is not in their hands to give the power of the Lord God is over you he that is our keeper and preserver in whose hands is your breath to destroy it utterly if you do that which doth offend him for you shall know that we are the Lords people by whom we shall stand and grow in dominion and authority in his life and the dread of the Lord shall be upon our enemies though they one gratifie another with intention of evil against us yet the Lord stoppeth the purpose of his enemies and turnes it backwards upon their own heads And this I say from the Lord if such a thing be in your hearts conceiving to be brought forth by you it is a birth that will devour you ere ever it spring out of your bowels it will be too heavy a burthen and you shall never have strength to deliver it this is the word of the Lord to you it shall be a Rock to overthrow you and it will be a snare to catch you and if any such thing proceed from you it will break you and your own wickednesse will destroy you Alas do not you see evidently the hand of the Lord fight for us yea we have evident testimony of his presence that he is and will be with us unto the end and if any wil be blind let them be blind for these tidings do not trouble us neither are we thereby moved no not to beg of any man the contrary for we cannot give our power unto you nor come under the power of this World no not to beg of you contrary to a good conscience that you should forbear the fulfilling your intents but this it is in the Name and power of the Lord though he requires nothing of you to exalt his Kingdom by your power nor to prescribe him a way how he must be worshipped yet he requires that you should do nothing against him nor his people by limiting the spirit of the Lord and I say the Saints of the most High can not give their power to you to stand or fall thereby nor to go by the authority thereof to exalt the Kingdom of God thereby they can beg no such thing nor desire it of you for it is not in your hands to give his work of salvation unto the Nations you cannot give nor lay one stone in the building of his blessed Temple but he alone will do it and not by the arm of flesh yet doth he require that you should do nothing against him nor abuse your power but and if you do he will reward you according to your deeds and this you will find and feel in the day of God when he brings vengeance and Judgement upon you and when he sets his Kingdom over you all and that comes to reign over the Nations which now is a sufferer And when I first heard the newes sent abroad in the Nation of such intentions to break the Quakers meetings many considerations passed through me will these go said I in the same way that many have been destroyed in before them Will these run upon the same rock will these take in hand to limit God and to set him a way and shall all these sufferings of the Lords people for these many years be finished by these that all the unjust dealings and oppressions of the Saints may be upon them Is there no wise man among them nor none that feareth the Lord that he may be preserved from destruction and is this their begining in Parliament
to destroy Gods heritage The Lord nor the people of this Nation that fear God have not intrusted them therein but if it be so said I in my heart if this wickedness be intended and if they do so greatly abuse their power they shall leave their names as a reproach to after ages and their memories shall rot and their wickedness shall lie upon them for evermore but I considered that we having given our power to the Lord from him we have found to this day and do alwayes seek defence and to be carried on and by him we stand and to him we fall not to mortal men who are as clay in the hand of the potter wherefore let the wise in heart consider these things and lay them to mind for if they shall proceed to that wickedness the nations shall they never settle in peace nor shall their Rulers receive a blessing but they shall be a curse unto themselves to all under their authority and this is a Testimony to all sober people shewing unto them all where our confidence is and in what it remaines And nevertheless if the heart of the wicked be strengthened against us and their hands made strong to deal violently yet shall the righteous rejoyce and be exceeding glad for the day of redemption and everlasting peace is come unto his people that do and have waited for him and all under him shall bow and bend and he will make his peoples cup overflow and spread their table even in the fight of their enemies and they shall fear and the terror of the Lord shall lie upon them and when they have executed their violence then shall the Lord deal violently with them E. B. A Cry of great Judgement and vengeance upon the Wicked near to be executed as it was received from the Lord into his servant ON the eighteenth day of the first month as I was travelling in Warwick-Shire my Meditations being upon the Lord and upon the cause of his people in this Nation and how unjust and unrighteous their woful sufferings have been executed upon them within these few years even when I was pondering of these things in the deep consideration thereof it came upon me from the Lord and the cry went through me the Lord will be avenged the Lord will be avenged upon his enemies and he will avenge the cause of his people and this cry stuck close upon me for some hours that the Lord would surely execute his judgments upon the oppressors of his heritage who have spoiled and troden it down and sought to destroy it And I considered and took into full view in my Spirit how grievous how sad and how unjust the sufferings of Gods people have been within these few years and my heart was even broken therewith and my Spirit even melted and it came upon me from the Lord saying Write unto the Rulers and yet once more warn them of that recompence and of that indignation which is at hand upon them even a just recompence for all their deeds and as they have done even so shall it be done to them as they have sought to destroy the generation of the righteous even so shall they be destroyed from off the face of the earth and as they havâ— unjustly judged and condemned the innocent so shall they be condemned and justly judged of the Lord and as they have cast the bodies of the poor Lambâ— of Christ into Prison and been a snare upon them even so shall they be insnared and into captivity shall they go and as they have caused the goods and possessions of the innocent to be spoiled and made a prey even so in like manner shall the curse of the Lord spoil their substance and as they have done so shall it be done unto them and as they have mete to others so shall it be mete to them again And I saw a great misery and desolation nigh at hand even the Sword of the Lord and it should slay them and I beheld it was made ready for the slaughter and in the sense of these things a sadness fell upon my Spirit considering the desolation and the judgment that is at hand to be executed upon the cruel oppessors Wherefore all ye Rulers and all ye that have troden down the heritage of God and ye that have disregarded those many warnings that ye have had I say unto you all in the power of the Lord God in his Dominion and by his Spirit this is once more a warning to you from the Lord that these things must surely come to pass and be fulfilled in their season and no man shall be able to deliver his brother but every man shall bear his own burthen and drink his own cup prepared for him and though it hath been counted a light thing amongst you and you have dispised the reproof and gone on without fear yet in as much as the Lord hath spared you and not speedily executed judgment upon you but rather waited for your return yet the dealing of the Lord towards you in sparing of you you have not accepted and therefore shall his judgments be the greater upon you For if you do now come to the witness in your own consciences What evil hath this people done Whose Ox have they taken or what have they desired of you or what have they sought from you or wherein have they been a burthen to you Saving that they have reproved you for your iniquities and desired your Repentance Would you but now at last come to consider this and confess the truth in your consciences will not that tell you that they have suffered patiently all things that you have cruelly imposed upon them and have not they walked peaceably towards you humbly meekly justly among their Neighbours and have they not been meek innocent even as Lambs and as the sheep before the Sbearers and have they wrought offences towards any have they sought the overthrow of the Government or have they sought vengeance against their enemies or what injury have they done to any mans person or estate saving to Satan and his kingdom Have they not sought to reform and reclaim the ungodly from their wayes and have they not pittied and prayed for their enemies and have they not in all things walked in good conscience towards the Lord and towards all men Yea my friends in the day of the Lord when the witness in your consciences shall not be limitted but shall speak plainly and when the impartial Judge shall appear upon his Throne then shall you acknowledge these things Wherefore I say unto you receive the judgment of the Lord to purifie you otherwise the judgment shall destroy you and now come to be more wise that some of you may be as a brand pluckt out of the fire and be reserved from being consumed for the visitation of the Lord is near an end when his loving kindness will be shut from you and his long suffering
turned into fury and he will make you know that we are his people with whom you have thus dealt yea you shall suddenly know it the time is not long till he will crown his people in the sight of his enemies he will crown them with praise and with righteousness with honour and majesty and he will keep them in safety even when sorrow compasses you about his mercy and loving kindness shall extend towards them even when his wrath and judgements doth smite you and confound you O what shall I say unto you for the deep sence thereof remains upon my heart for when I consider how that in all ages the Lord did avenge his peoples cause when the time of their suffering was expired he brake the bonds of iniquity and set them free thus did he with his people Israel of old and many times it was his way with his people to bring them low by suffering and then to raise them up again in glory and he suffered their enemies for a season to glory over them that he might bring them down and thus he did in England in the case between the Bishops and their crew of persecutors and the poor people at that day called Puritans Did not he confound that persecuting crew and deliver his people And is not he the same to effect the same work at this very day Yea doubtless and much more will he do it in as much as the manifestation of truth is more clear then it was in their dayes and in as much as the Rulers and people of this Nation have rejected a more clear Testimony then either the Papists in Queen Maries dayes or the Bishops and Prelates in their dayes even so much the more will the Lord God execute his vengeance with more violence in a more manifest way and all shall know that it is he that doth it and he will set his people free for he hath regarded their suffering and he hath said it is enough for he hath tried them and found them faithful and all this hath been suffered to prove them and not to destroy them and like as he hath preserved them in patience and peace through it all even so will he give them hearts to walk answerably to their deliverance and as they have abounded in patience in their sufferings so shall they abound in praises everlasting in the day of their Freedom and the earth shall be glad and shall yield the increase and blessing the Heaven and the Earth shall rejoice and the heart of the Righteous shall leap for joy when the Lord hath broken the yoke of the oppressed and set his people free inwardly and outwardly and then shall they sing unto the Lord over all their enemies who shall be tormented and vexed in the Lords sore displeasure for their reward cometh and their recompence shall be even as their work and he will give unto them sorrow and anguish in stead of rejoycing But again when I considered the long suffering and patience and forbearance of the Lords innocent people under all their sufferings and when I looked at their innocency and at their Righteousness and Spirit of Holiness with which the Lord hath blessed them my heart was made glad in the consideration of this and the more was my joy the more that I beheld their innocency and the guiltlesness of their cause whereby the unjustness of their suffering did the more appear and withal when I looked and beheld their increase under all their sufferings and how that the Lord had turned all these things to their good and to the overthrow of all their enemies how that by that way wherein their enemies intended to destroy them from being a people even thereby did the Lord most wonderfully increase them to be a great people for through all have they grown in life and power in strength and in number and through it all have they been incouraged to follow the Lord with more zeal and boldness and in the consideration of this I did rejoyce with magnifying the Lord for ever that he had brought forth his praise even through the wickedness of the wicked and he had increased his people and exalted them through the cruelty of all their enemies and that through all opposition they were attained to a happy rest and through all the tempests of great trials they were arrived into the harbour of renown and great glory and when I considered this how that the Lord had given them dominion and brought their life to reign over all their enemies these things were a joy unto me and looking back into ages seeing there was nothing nor any people for generations that had grown and risen through all opposition like unto these wherefore it is a sign and a Testimony that we are the Lords and that these things are of him and from him and by him alone that he might be praised for ever Again when I do consider how that the Lord hath raised this people even out of the dust and them that were not a people are become a people and the Lord hath provoked Nations by them that were not a people within these few years and the Lord hath carried on this work amongst his people not by any thing of man nor by the arm of flesh but in pure innocency and simplicity hath it been accomplished not by the wisdom of this World nor by men in places of honour and of power in the Nations for all that has been wanting to them and what they are it is through the opposition of all this for they have had none of the great men of the Earth on their side to defend them and establish them but all hath been against them and even oppression and tyranny executed upon them rather then any approbation or justification from men in outward authority so that truly it may be said that there hath been nothing of man in this work but all of the Lord by his own power and in a contrary way to all the false sects and false churches hath the beginning and carrying on of these things been for we know that all the false sects in this Nation hath risen been established through the countenance of men in place and power and upon man and the wisdom of this World and authority of the powers of the earth hath the rise and fall of all false churches depended and as the powers of the earth hath sided with them so have they been set up and at the displeasure of authority have been cast down But as for this people they are raised of the Lord and established by him even contrary to all men and they have given their power only to God and they cannot give their power to any mortal men to stand or fall by any outward authority and to that they cannot seek but to the Lord alone who heareth their cry and will avenge their cause Wherefore let all the persecutors bow before the Lord and let all the Saints
in the Inner man for that the Bishops or high Commission Court could not hinder but the free exercise in all acts of Piety and Religion of what the Lord should make manifest unto us but whether this was then intended or is now perverted it is that which is our right which we must claim and no man may take from us for this we know that Christ Jesus alone hath right to rule over the consciences of men unto whom every one must give an account of himself according to the just perfect and unchangeable Law of God which is revealed with that alone of God which is made manifest in man which he hath shewed unto him by wch every one shal be judged at the last day when the book of conscience shal be opened and therefore all unequal imperfect changeable Laws of men we do deny and by them and for their transgression we shall not be judged of the Lord And all Lawes made in their wills by their wisdoms in the things of God which concerns religion and the free exercise of a good conscience towards God and man against them all we do bear witnesse and knowing the commandments of the Lord and what he required of us and having tasted his tender love to those that keep them and felt his terrors against all disobedience we are made willing to bear the greatest sufferings rather then sin against God and in this ground we stand not careful what man can do unto us or say of us nor to give him an answer in this matter For whether it is better to obey God or man Let him judge Yet here to prevent mistakes we do with the like clearnesse declare our free and willing subjection in the things of this World to every ordinance of man that is just according to the Righteous Law of God and our work is not to weaken but to strengthen the hand of the Magistrate by labouring to bring all to own that of God which should exercise their consciences To do in all things as they would be done unto in which is fulfilled the Law and the Prophets which takes away the occasion it self of the Law and brings to live in peace and love wherein should be the Magistrates joy and glory And do but look back to the crimes charged against us and all the sufferings we lie under and you may clearly see that not for any evil done or just Law broken that concerns man are we thus punished but for things which concernes our God and chiefly for bearing our witnesse as we are moved of the Lord against the false Prophets and hirelings of these dayes who by their fruits are made manifest not onely unto us but to many thousands besides yea the greatest part of all the sober people of the nation their own hearers will confesse it and we see and know that they and all Ministries and worships in the World set up and standing in the will of man shall perish and come to nothing and the Rise of these men their growth and end we comprehend and see their downfall hasten greatly and all the powers of the earth shall not be able to support them and with them shall fall their Tithes their Temples their gleab-lands and offerings their set dayes of worship in their wills and all Laws limiting the Holy one made to uphold their craft and blessed are they who through the day of tryal shall stand in their witness faithful unto God not fearing what man can do unto them Do not you approve Christ Jesus his going into the Temple And do not you own the Apostles who went into the Jews Synagogues every Sabbath day and into the Market places to testifie of Christ Jesus and reason with the people And do not you commend Luther and Calvin John Wicliffe and others as famous for their zeal in publishing abroad what then was manifest unto them and those persons which in Q. Maries dayes went into the Popish Steeple-houses to bear witnesse against their superstitions which caused her to make a Law against them by which many of them then suffered and by which the Priests of England till the last Parliament were guarded and is it now become an offence to practise the the same things And is that a just Law made by the late Parliament by which many have suffered are not the Priests sprung from the old root of Episcopacy and it from the Pope and are they not forced to fly thither for their vindication And is not the spirit the same which makes these Laws to support them How shall the Kingdomes of the earth the Papists Turkes Infidels Heathens be converted Your Priests sit down in their ease and will not go They call themselves Ministers of the Reformed Church and have not you taught other Nations how to make lawes to restrain the Testimony of those whom the Lord sends and is sending into all the corners of the earth Did the Command of God which gave Tithes to the Jewish Priesthood concern the Gentiles was not the Commandment to the Jews themselves disannulled when the Priesthood was changed did ever any of the believing Jews pay Tithes to the Apostles or any of the Gentiles either Did not the Papists bring in this doctrine and oppression Did not many of the Martyrs in Queen Maryes dayes witness against Tithes and was not that an Article for which some of them suffered and do not you own and commend those Martyrs or do you judge them for holding an Error hath not all or most of those Countries that turned from the sope and are called Reformed cast off Tithes with the Pope and were ashamed of them And is it the Glory of England who pretends to the highest Reformation to keep up Tithes the Popish Priests maintenance and first Fruits and Tenths the wages of the very Pope himself to hale before Courts cast into Prisons and spoil the Goods of all those who for Conscience sake cannot pay them Let that of God answer And how many have and at this day do suffer because they cannot swear which Christ Jesus and his Apostles above all things forbids how are the Commands of Christ made void by the Customs and Traditions of men were it not easy by turning the Law against lyars and false witnesses which the Law of God is against to find out that which your Law against false swearing never did or could discover Do you own Christ Jesus of whom the Jews that put him to death gave this witness That he respected no mans person Do you commend Mordecai who could not give the outward honour and bow to Haman and do you regard his words whosaid I know not how to give flattering Titles to men for my Maker would soon take me away Hath not God made of one mold and one Blood all Nations to dwell upon the face of the Earth and doth not he that respects Persons commit sin and is convinced of the Law as a transgressor and must it
now be an offence not to put off the Hat or give respect to the Person of him that hath a gold Ring and fine Apparel Hath not all the earthly Lordship Tyranny and oppression sprung from this Ground by which creatures have been exalted and set up one above another trampling under foot and despising the poor And is it not easy to see that power and authority without contempt may be preserved the power honoured obeyed and submitted unto and the Person respected Hath not the great and heavy oppressions of the Law been long felt and cryed out against the long delayes in Courts the great Fees of Officers which causeth many to be excessively rich out of the Ruines of the Poor which hath brought an Odium upon the Law it it self for to the Poor the remedy is frequently worse then the desease and while people are free to feed this deceipt there is little hope to have it amended And how full of lyes deceipt pretences and needless circumstances are all your pleadings and proceedings to the burthen of many mens Consciences and ruine of their Estates and how vile and wicâ—â—â— are the greatest of Lawyers that will plead any thing for money and by their subtilties do most commonly hide cover the truth And when do the Judges reprove it And how treacherous and deceitful are the Solicitors and Attorneys that truth or honesty can scarce be found amongst them And how do those eat up the people as it were Bread and grow great and rich by raising and increasing suites troubles strife and debates amongst their Neighbours and we seeing these oppressions are made to bear our witness against them and cannot uphold them and our Testimony shall not be in vain And how is the power given to Justices and Judges to bind to the Peace and good behaviour being left to their discretion turned against the most peaceable and best behaved Persons amongst men meerly because they cannot bow to their wills and hold their tongues when the Lord God requires them to speak Do you commend Christ Jesus his Apostles and Saints who were sent to preach the Gospel and travelled from City to City from Nation to Nation from Countrey to Countrey that the ends of the Earth might hear the glad tidings of Salvation and do you commend those they called Puritans for going many miles to worship the Lord and do you now condemn those that practise the same thing would not your Law against Vagabonds have taken hold on Christ and his Ministers and hindred their work by it have many honest and good people suffered most shameful whippings and imprisonments who were travelling in their own Countrey about their outward and lawful occasions that were of considerable Estates and could not be counted Vagabonds and what use is made of this Law throughout the Nation you cannot but hear Are not these things like the sayings of those who said Had they lived in the dayes of the Prophets they would not have persecuted and put them to death and yet they Crucified Christ and so the cry at this day is against the Jews for their cruelty when themselves are found exercising the same things against his Saints and Members Long hath the Beast reigned who usurped power in these things and the false prophets who have over-spread the Earth the great Whore who have made all Nations drunk with their abhominations and the Wine of their fornications with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Adultery whom Christ said should come and before the Apostles decease did come who went cut from the Apostles and put on their cloathing but inwardly were distroyers ravening Wolves which the whole World went after who turned against the Saints who kept to the Spirit the life which they went from and made War with the Saints till they overcame and their power reached over the whole Earth But now is the Life risen and is again made manifest which they went from which gives to see before the Apostacy was Now is the Lamb risen and rising to make War with the great Dragon the Beast and false Prophets and now shall the great Whore be taken and her flesh shall be burnt with fire and the Saints shall have the Victâ—â—â— Therefore Let all Kings Princes Rulers Magi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be warned not to take part with the Beast nor to upâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 their power the false prophets who have long deâ—â—â—ved the Nations but in their place stand to keep the out 〈…〉 that none may offer violence and destroy another â—â—ich 〈◊〉 been the way of the beast false prophets the 〈…〉 support of their kingdom but leave Christ Jesus in his Saints to manage the War whose Warfare is not carnal whose Weapons are not carnal yet are they mighty through God to the pulling down of the strong-holds and overturning the foundation of Satans kingdom and they shall soon see what is truth and what is errour for great is the truth and will prevail they shall not need to cry out for want of Ministers or that Christ Jesus is not able to send forth Labourers nor will those he sends forth trouble them for maintenance and here is the Magistrates true place to keep Peace amongst all men to punish him that doth evil and to encourage him that doth well to Rule the Kingdoms of the Earth in Righteousness that justice and equity may be exalted that way may be made for the Lord Jesus Christ who is coming to Reign and to take the Dominion to himself and we are Witnesses in our Measures of his coming and of the working of his mighty power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself and this is the Testimony unto which we are called and many thousands with us in the Unity of the same Spirit And Witnesses we stand against Priests Tithes Temples Swearing and all the carnal way of worship set up and upholden by outward Laws and powers which would limit and restrain the Spirit of the Lord which is grieved and daily cryes out against these abhominations Witnesses we stand against Parliaments Councels Judges Justices who make or execute Laws in their Wills over the Consciences of men or punish for Conscience sake and to such Laws Customes Courts or Arbitrary usurped Dominion we cannot yield our obedience Yet we do declare as it is testified in all Counties Cities Goals and Prisons to Judges Justices and others that as we preach Christ Jesus alone in the things of God to be our Law â—â—ver so do we own him to be our King and own Magistâ—â—â—â— in things Civil not resisting the evil but following his Example who was made perfect through suffering and for his Salvation we wait till he alone shall plead our Cause and therefore for Conscience sake we have joyfully born and do beâ—â— so many and great sufferings since the day we were convinced of the Everlasting Truth These things we have declared not to upbraid you with the injustice of others