because he would not see it done the which John Rous taking notice of said Nay turn about and see it done for so was his order so in the strength of God we suffered joyfully having freely given up not onely one member but all if the Lord so required for the sealing of our testimony which the Lord hath given us to finish and said these words They that do it ignorantly we do desire from our hearts the Lord to forgive them but for them that do it maliciously let our blood be upon their heads and such shall know in the day of account that every one of these drops of our blood shall be as heavy upon them as a Milstone So when they had done their bloody Work they slunck away as a dog when he hath sucked the blood of a Lamb and is discovered So here is a Declaration of the dealings of these men who account themselves members of Christ and the Church of God but let that of God in all judge whether these be the fruits of the members of Christ Did Christ ever do so Or did he leave any Precept that his servants should do so Or rather did he not rebuke Peter for being too forward when he smote the High Priest's servant cut off his right ear Did he not tell him They that take the sword shall perish with the sword And doth not the Scripture say He that sheds mans blood by man shall his blood be shed and know this that there is nothing defileth a land or people more then the shedding of innocent blood and nothing brings down the judgments of God sooner on a People or Nation then the cry of innocent blood therefore let not such call themselves the Church of God for God hath no union nor fellowship with such that acteth violence and gather themselves together and condemn the innocent blood as saith the Scriptures shall the Throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which â—rameth mischief by a Law They gather themselves together against the souls of the Righteous and condemns the innnocent blood Let all sober people judge whether these people are not so who hath shed our blood against whom they could prove no evil either in word or action only the breach of their Law which they have made mischievously to ensnare the innocent but it is that they may be made manifest to be of that generation that condemned Christ saying We have a Law and by our Law he ought to dye But our desire is that all in whom the Seed of God is may be kept clear from the guilt of innocent blood that so they may be hid in the day of the fierce Wrath of the Almighty God For behold The Lord cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity the Earth also shall disclose her blood and shall no more cover her slain From Boston prison this 25. of the 7. Mo 1659. We are Witnesses of it who suffers for the Truths sake by the corrupt wills of men for keeping the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus the truth of which shall be witnessed in the day when the righteous judgements of God shall be made manifest when all things shall be tryed by fire even the day shall declare it Christopher Holder John Rous John Copeland We are the three that sustained this abuse who the truth of this their action doth declare unto all that though their Law Sentence and Order be to cut off the Ear yet have they made them a lye for they have not taken away the sixt part of our Ears but the member they have defaced and abused which God had formed and made This and all other of our sufferings in Boston Collony hath been done in private by which all may easily judge what sort of people these are whose actions are thus plainly demonstrated Again Katherine Scot an Inhabitant of Providence in the same land a Woman of good report as these her adversaries could not but in some measure confess having lived with an husband the space of twenty years in that Country no people in that nature more circumspect and blameless seeking God in the sincerity of their hearts in every likeness whereinsoever he appeared so fraid were they to miss of him and so ready to fulfil that Scripture Try all things and hold fast that which is good which when that which is good came full ready were they to receive it and those who brought it not accounting any thing they had too good wherewithall to assist the Lord and his Servants for which they lost not their reward for the power of God took place in all their children small and great so far as capacity could receive it which may amount to eight or nine And God trying the faith of this his servant who being both grave in years and Mother of so many children yea and the Wife of a tender Husband full readily and willingly left she all to do the Will of God knowing that they who do it not are not worthy of him Who being called unto Boston and accordingly by the hand of God brought thither upon the 16. of the 7. Month 1658. who coming to the prison when the Hangman some others were going to execute the cruelty upon the aforementioned sufferers to wit Christopher Holder John Rous John Copeland whom she witnessed that the Lord of his large love had sent to gather his scattered seed which had been scattered and driven away in the gloomy day of Antichrists night being strongly pressed in her spirit to visit them in the time of their sufferings and to bear forth her testimony against their cruel and barbarous dealings pressed towards the door amongst other people but by the violence of the Wicked was not suffered to enter who thereupon uttered these following Words saying It was evident they were going to act the works of darkness or else they would have brought them forth publikely and have declared their offence that others might hear and fear With several other Words declaring them and their cruelty to be worse and more barbarous then the Doctors and Bishops This doing all the while their ears were cutting Which Testimony of hers a man of a sober spirit received and after some time standing patiently to hear one of the prisoners minister after they had executed their malice where standing the Marshal came and pulled her down and said that she might go before the Governor This he did leading her away although he had been her brothers servant who bringing her before the Court held for the 4. united Collonies so called the Governor asked her why she came there Ans To witness against the cruel spirit that so abuses Gods faithful Servants and Messengers whom he hath sent so often amongst you He said What are they Apostles or Messengers Answ Yea I have found them so to me He said We will witness against your railing spirit Ans I deny all railing and have
have this ancient man entertainad by any issuing out his second Warrant to appear at Plymouth vvhich is called tvventy miles distant from Sandvvitch But Nicholas not being able to go vvrote to the Governor that if he perished his blood vvould be required at his hand and some of the Magistrates beeing more moderate spirits spake for him that he might stay the Winter so he was permitted But in the Spring they banished him out of their Coasts to Road-Iland the habitation of the hunted-Christ vvhere none of the dumb doggs dare come so much as to lift their tongues for lucre This vve are Witnesses of vvho have been sent out of all their Coasts into that Iland where we ever found a place to rest our heads when weary we have been God reward the Receiver Again in the yeer 1657. beginning in the sixth month There being certain of the servants of God come for New-England and being according to his providence cast upon a certain Iland lying betwixt the English and the Dutch arrived in New-Amsterdam where the day following certain of the Strangers had drawings forth into the Town and Countrey to seek the scattered seed two of which declared in the streets to wit Mary Wâ—a â—â—erhead and Dorothy Waugh for which they were apprehended and cast into miery dungeons apart each from other where was much Vermine the which two after they had been there about eight dayes were had out thence having their arms tyed and rods made fast to them and two Negroes going with them untill they came at a Boat which was to go to Road-Iland into which they was put and carried away Again One Robert Hodgshone a true and faithful servant of God who hath sacrificed up himself withall whatsoever was neer and deer unto him for the testimonies sake unto him committed was moved forth amongst the English in these parts to make known unto them the Gospel of God which by several of them in several parts thereabouts was gladly received and believed against which the Heathen raged and the people imagined mischievous things he being at a place called Hempsteed expecting to have a Meeting amongst such as was seeking after God being walking in an Orchard belonging to such as was willing to receive a meeting there came unto him an Officer who laid violent hands upon him and carryed him before one Gildersleaue titled a Magistrate an English-man who taking counsel at the baser sort of people committed him prisoner while he rode to the Dutch-Governor it being in that Jurisdiction who brought the Fiscal so called with a guard of Musquetiers who took him into their custody vvho searched him and took avvay his knives and papers and Scripture-book and pinioned him all the night and the next day so that he had hardly liberty to refresh or rest himself any vvay and they searched strictly for those that had entertained him and laid hold on tvvo Women the one having tvvo small children the one of vvhich fed upon her brest and got a cart and conveyed the vvoman avvay in it and him they tyed to the hinder part of it pinioned and so haled him through the vvoods in the night-season vvhereby he vvas much torne and abused so coming to the tovvn called Nevv-Amscerdam they loosed the prisoner and the Goaler led him by the rope vvherevvithall hee vvas pinioned unto the Dungeon vvhere he vvas cast and committed the women prisoners to another place and there continued them during their pleasure At the time of their Court they caused the prisoner to wit Robert Hodgâ—hone to be brought before them and took his examination in writing and committed him to the Dunâ—eon again afterwards they took him forth and read an accusation against him in their owne language the words that were interpreted to him by Captaine Willet were these It is the Generalls pleasure seeing you have behaved your selves thus you are to work two yeers at a Wheel-barrow with a Negor or pay or cause to be paid six hundred Gilders Then Robert indeavoured to make his defence by way of sober reply but was not suffered to speak but taken away and returned again to the Dungeon and there kept no English suffered to come at him for several dayes then at their pleasure took they him out again and pinioned him and set his face towards the Court-Chamber taking off his hat and read another accusation against him in Dutch which he understood not but many of their own Nation who heard it shook their heads at it and when they had done cast him into the Dungeon again after certain dayes took him forth betimes in a morning and chained him to a Wheelbarrow and commanded him to work his answer was He was never brought up nor used to that work so they caused a â—egor to take a pitch-rope nigh four inches about and beat him with it untill he fell downe and they tooke him up again by strength and beat him untill he fell downe again the second time it was judged that hee received an hundred blowes then they forced him up with the Barrow to the Fort before the Governors house and made complaint to him that they could not make him work so hee stood chained to the Barrow and nigh unto the middle of the day the Sun shining very hot and hee beeing much bruised and swelled with blowes beeing kept much from food also was very faint and sate down upon the ground waiting with his minde staid upon the Lord felt his strength and refreshment as the oyl of gladness which made him whole but still by them kept chained at the Barrow untill the seventh hour in the night then loosed and put into the Dungeon untill the morning about the sixth hour then taken forth again and lock't to the Barrow with a guard set upon him that none might come so much as to speake with him beeing kept there untill the seventh hour as before and brought forth the next day in like manner and afterwards loosed and carried before the Governor who asked him if he would work if not he should be whipt every day then he demanded what Law he had broken and called for his accusers that he might know his transgression and told him That if he were called to that work by the Lord he should not refuse it then thiy chained him to the Barrow again and told him that if he spake to any one he should be punished worse yet his mouth was opened to such as came about him then they seeing that he could not be silent they put him up into the Dungeon and kept him close several dayes two nights one day and an half without bread or water then took him out very early in the morning to a private Chamber and stripped him to the waste and hung him up by the hands and tyed a great logg to his feet that he could not turn his body and set a strong Negor with rods who laid many stripes upon him both backward and forward wherewith he
friends from giving them any thing being fearful to wrong a tender Conscience but the time of the year being so cold that his wife and friends was in fear that he should have perished there besides the necessity of his being at home which thing lay vâ—ry sad upon her so that she with his Friends â—â—ok a pair of Oxen and a Horse alâ—hough he had no more and gave them to the persecuters to free him on t of their hands Much more of their cruelty I might truly relate but for being tedious to the Reader this is truth as attests T. H. More of their names we see in wisdome not meet to publish in Print because of the crueltie of the Dutch but rather keep them hid But if any in Authority in England should call us to question for it who out of bowels of mercy would labour to relieve their imbond aged brethren I the Relator with several others who are Witnesses of this thing to be truth shall count it a smaâ—l matter to confirm it for their redemption who were Labourers amongst them in the Lord Called Robert Hodgshone Humphrey Norton THE ACCOUNT OF Cruelty the Professor's Pride and the Articles of their Faith WITH Their Proceedings beginning in the sixth month of the yeer 1657. AFter our landing at Road-Iland according to the will of God where we were gladly received when others inhumanely thrust us avvay from them as may be seen in vvhat here follovvs We tvvo Christopher Holder and Iohn Copeland vvas moved of the Lord to go to an Iland called Martins Vineyard vvhereof Thomas Maho vvas then Governor in vvhich place is many Indians and coming there on the sixteenth of the sixth moneth 1657 vve vvent to their Meeting and after the Priest Thomas Maho the Governor's son had done his speech one of us spake a fevv vvords and then vvas both of us by he Constable thrust out of doores and forthvvith the doors vvere shut yet going thither on the later part of that day after some dispute with them we departed but on the morrow the Governour with the Constable came to us who after some words with us required us to be gone off the Illand our answer was in the will of God we stood to go as he made our way for us but he being not satisfied with this Answer hired an Indian to have us away saying that it was the will of God that we should go to day and required monâ—y of us to pay the Indian for carrying us but we seeing little of our going that day did say that we could not pay the Indian forasmuch as we did not hire him nor set him on work then he commanded the Constable to search for our money who accordingly did and took from us nine shillings which vvhen they had so done delivered us into the hands of the Indians to have us away over the water in the main Land in one of their Cannons vvhich is a piece of a tree â—ewed hollow vvho forthwith had us away from them where we remained among the Indians three days till there was a calm season to have us over the Sea vvhich vvas about nine miles a great Sea for such a small Vessel all vvhich time vve received no small love from the Indians the like we could not receive from the ENGLISH for what we eat we could not perswade him whom we were withall to take money for it he saying that vve vvas strangers and Jehovah taught him to love strangers So on the 20 of the sixt moneth 1657. vve vvere landed on the other side and coming to Sandwitch a tovvn in Plymouth Colony vve vvere gladly received by many yet great vvas the stir and noise of the tumultuous Citie yea all in an uproar hearing that vve vvho vvere called by such a name as Quakers vvas come into those parts A great fire vvas kindled the hearts of many did burn within them so that in the heat thereof some said one thing and some another but the most Part knew not what was the matter yea so it is in truth our God went before us whose presence was and is vvith us compassing of us vvhose dread took hold of them so that their hearts failed them for fear of those things which vvas coming upon them So after vve had been at Sanâ—witch some small time vve passed to New Plymouth and being at the Ordinary there Thomas Southworth one of their Magistrates of that Town with several of their Church-members came to us who after a long dispute required us to be gone and on the morrow early was the under Marshal set to keep us from going away into whose hands we were committed Prisoners by Thomas Southworth before whom with one John Alden a Magistrate in the next Town was we called the same day who after examination from whence we were and why we came thither and such like questions which were answered and they having nothing in justice against us yet required they of us to be gone out of their Colony telling us they had an Order or Law that we should not stay there we required to see it but they would not shew it us telling us that we were at liberty so we returned unto the Ordinary again yet in the morning early was the Constable sent by word of mouth from them to keep us from going to Sandwich unto which place we told them the day before we could not â—e free to pass out of the Coloâ—y till we had been there finding the Lords drawings so thither again as we were passing the Constable seized on us and had us out of the bounds of Plimouth Town towards Road Island six miles as he was commanded who leaving us we soon turned to the place before mentioned whither we came some of the people being set against us especially the Teachers made an unrighteous complaint to the Governour Thomas Prince by Name whose ear being open to the wicked but stopt to the cry of the just as may hereafter appear by adding iniquity to oppression did cause us to be brought before him who sinding nothing against us yet for being only called Quakers did require us to depart the which thing standing in the will of God we could not do and so did answer him then he to answer the unrighteous complaints made against us and false charges as deceivers c. whose great cry was Help O Governour help us against these Quakers that are now come amongst us and secure them and send them away from us in answering to which cry he was not sparing to use his power by setting his hand to write an unjust Warrant accompanied with lyes calling us extravagant persons and vagabonds giving charge to apprehend us in the Name of his Highness the Lord Protector whose name they labour to defame as upon due consideration will be found and plainly seen by what follows and bring us to Plymouth which accordingly was done and we apprehended and kept Prisoners by the Constables Deputie who
expecting their prey John Norton Priest being then present and speaking yet opened they not theâ—r mouths until he had done although the burden of the Word vvas much upon them then opened Sâ—rah Gibbâ—nâ— her mouth saying the Buâ—den of the Word of the Lord to the Inhabitants of Boâ—â—on because of your prâ—de and oppression the land mourns in speaking oâ— which words the Serjeant laid hands upon her and pulled her down was this a noble Act did he herein shevv forth the spirit of a man Sure I am that a man of a noble spirit vvould condemn it and a man of valour or vvorth vvould be ashamed of such a man then Dâ—roâ—â—y Waugh spake bidding them Fear God and give glory to his Name c. Several other vvords were uttered as they past out of their Synagogue in their way to Prison multitudes following them vvhere they two were shut up in a close room not being suffered to have food for their money And requiring it of the Jaylor he answered That if vve vvould not eat the prison food vve should famish and then he brought both food and vvork and laid before them but the Lord put a stop to it that they could not meddle with neither knowing the wickedness of their wills against which they were called to stand Witnesses but the jaylor vvould not suffer them to have any for eight days together but said they should leave their carcasses behind them mark this expression yet the Lord preserved them and he found a liar Upon the first of the third moneth they were called to be examined before John Indicot Governor and Ricâ—ard Bellâ—â—gham Deputie Governour and several others vvho wickedly seeking to ensnare them examined them apart yet were they preserved in boldness and courage and carried forth in the manner following Sarah Gibbins John Indicoâ— asked me if I had not been in those parts before Answeâ— It is known already vvhether I was yea or nay he asked me again hovv long I had been in their Colonie I told him it was in my breast how long but it is like I shall not tell thee he said he vvould make me tell him before we had done I asked him why he sought to ensnare me and my friends that had entertained me seeing you have made such a Law to oppress them vvhereby to take away their goods for so doing to hold up your oppression and the Governour asked us whether we owned Christ yea or nay Answ Yea He said Dâ— you own him with a humane body sitting at the right hand of God in heaven Ans We own no other Christ then he that sits in heaven at the right hand of the Father Then Rich. Bellingham Deputie Governour asked us If there is a God Answ Yes there is a God which is righteous true and just in judgment which will render vengeance on all the workers of iniquity and your actions are recorded before him as with a pen of Iron and a point of a Diamond for the cry of the oppressed is entred into the ears of the Lord God of Sabbaths then like a man of unclean lips and not one that is fit to sit in the seat of justice told me I was a Witch and said I spake I knew not what Answ I have learned Christ so as to pass through good and evill report then he asked me if I was the light which we so often spake of Answ I bear witness of Christ the light which lighteth every maâ—â— that cometh into the world as saith the Scripture he pressed much on me saying was I the light yea or nay but he was shut out with all his subtilty John Indicot asked us Why we came to disturb them in the face of both Town and Country Answ Did we disturb or did you make the disturbance in searching and rifling houses six days before we came Did not fear surprize the Hypocrites if you were of the elect and elected and we deceivers it is impossible that the elect should be deceived you should have let us been tryed the other day in your meeting before the Town and Country that the deceivers might have been madeâ— manifest and truth cleared to the simple Then John Indicot said he did not send for me to dispute with me but said how came you by your Learning by revelation Answ Not by the will of man then I demanded of him if it were justice or equity we should be kept and not suffered to have food for our money this being the third day we have been thus kept and have not eaten one morsel of bread you may all see that God is with us and that we came well into this Town several hundreds can witness and if we perish our blood will fall heavy upon you which are the cause of it Then â—â—hu Indicot said it matters not but if you will work you shall want for nothing then I told him that he had taken me from the work that the Lord called me unto then he said the Lords work the devils work and called to the Caolor to take me away the sentence being past upon us both to be severely whipt and not spared the second day of the week following they executed their malice upon us ten stripes a piece cruelly laid on with a threefold cord having knots at ends for causing it to tare the flesh so to torment the creature which being done we were moved to praise God for his presence at which the people was astonished after which vve vvas shut up and the windows stopt whereby to prevent us from the aire and all manner of refreshment so continued us for the want of paying of fees certain days in vvhich time God wrought their deliverance by one Robert Westcot of Warvvick in the Collony of Road-Iland Also Horred Gardiner a mother of many children and an inhabitant in Newport upon Road-Iland being moved by the measure of God to go on his message unto Weymouth took with her the youngest babe that fed upon her brest such a journey that no flesh that had looked upon it with the fleshly eye could have expected considering her condition she could have accomplished but her faith was made strong through weakness and according to the will of God finished her testimony at Weymouth in Boston Collony where the witness in the people answered unto her words but the baser sort hurried her away the day following before John Indicot Governor of Boston who after abusing her with unsavory language and much threatening committed her and the girle that assisted her to bear her child Mary Stanton by name with reviling language unto the Gaolor where they receive ten stripes a piece with the threefold cord of their covenant Such a barbarous article of their faith iâ— this as I have not heard the like as to whip a woman who bare two babes sucking the breast at the time one visible and the other invsible who after that execution of this their cruelty kneeled down saying The Lord
thee the report as from any other man besides my self that thou mayst know the truth thereof O Theophilus whatsoever thou art it was unto me as the Angell of his presence and caused me to carry the Ark back again into Aegypt and charged me there to abide until he brought the word for he that travels before strives in his owne strength There was I constrained in Mezech to cry Woe is me as one delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soul might be saved in the day of the Lord He that can receive it let him There left I the leaven of the Pharisees and kneading of doâ—gh and making of cakes and baking them upon the Altars made unto sin and fed only upon Angels food which I reaped aâ—tending at the Altar of Incense to receive the Word in the strength whereof Reader to the death of all flesh and self I have obtained mercy peace with God redemption from all filthiness of flesh and spirit an heir of his kingdom a member of his Body a Minister of his Spirit and an inheritor of his Eternal Rest blessed for ever Betwixt this death and this life this heavinese and this help this desolation and restoration are all the Families Kindreds and People upon earth be of what notion or profession they will and having past through the Dragons den and the most vainest and beast liest place of all Bruits the most publikely prophane and the most covertly corrupt the English in New England is the worst especially their Priest and Rulers for for all their feigned and whining profession there we found the Fiery Tryals as from men having past through all their Pattents so called bearing the testimony of the VVord of God of the Indians never received I any harm but freely entertained with such as they had Moreover by such as were by the English accounted the basest of men whom many of them they had barbarously banished from amongst them whom we found in Road-Iland Long-Iland Provindence and elswhere also in Plimouth-Pattent were we received and in severall other places as the Messengers of God and Sephas And what we with these also who have believed our report have reaped from their cruel hands hereafter fâ—lloweth with the places and parties thus intreated And also a true Copy of the Law whereby they acted thus against us such a one as I am sure never procâ—eded out of Sion Shall David want a King to sit upon his Throne for ever Shall not God raise up Judges in righteousness who shall plead his cause with the men of this generation that they may be judged as men in the flesh and their reward given them according to God in the Spirit Shall innocent blood lye buried in the dust for ever Surely nay thou wilt revenge thine own Elect who cries unto thee day and night against these who builds up Sion with blood and Jerusalem with oppression cruelty and iniquity So after the discharging of my conscience towards God in the committing these things to publike view recommending them to the consciences and considerations of all that are in Authority the chief Magistrate and his Assistants who sits in Council with him and who ought in righteousness so much as in them lies to see these grievances and abuses regulated or otherwise these things at their hands will be required for let them be assured that that spirit which hath attempted unto blood in such a high nature as they have done not being called to an account for it will attempt to take away life if still suffered as you may further understand their cruel intent by a Law set forth in this present yeer 1658. and this as surely they seek after as the enemies of God doth after thine or did after thy father O. C. for as little art thou esteemed by the one as by the other further then base and self-ends leads them to seek unto thee for when we were moved of the Lord to make our appeal once and again that our cause might be heard and tryed by the chief Magistrate or whom he pleased to appoint we were utterly denyed it and his Name sleighted and never so much as made mention of in their proeeedings in that bloody and cruel place of Boston and as the least principle of the law of Love bears rule in thee it will lead thee to do for thy neighbors and friends as for thy self and if this thou do not thou canst not be justified in the sight of God nor from our blood cleer in the day of thine account and least thou or any one should question the truth hereof we the Sufferers are the Subscribers who are all of us by name and nature free-born English people whom if thou or any by thy appointment shall call us to question concerning the truth hereof I am satisfied we shall be as ready to do the second as we have been to suffer for the first And it being the honor of a King to finde out a cause finde out this as thou art Noble and if any man can contradict the truth of one passage in this particular I shall freely bear the blame and shame thereof who hath been and am an eye and ear-witness unto them all Called amongst men Humphrey Norton Reader Thou mayst further understand that varietie of Lawes they invent and establish at the least two times every yeer and if occasion seem to present they can do it two times a week as they did by John Rous and Humphrey Norton and severall others having whipt us once according to their former Law soon after our imprisonment as thou wilt further understand in what followeth In the week following their malice was so great against us that they made a second whereby to whip us two times a week but this they read unto us and put in execution upon our bodies but would not suffer us to have a copy of it and I knowing that there is an everlasting Law established and given forth with Statutes and Ordinances attending on it recorded in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and Judah against all transgressions whatsoever committed and uncommitted I could do no less but smile at their blindness So that Reader finding their Lawes not worthy of losing or wasting thy time in I shall commit no more to thy view then necessity puts me upon to certify unto thee the truth and nakedness oâ— the things herein mentioned And that thou with us may judge of the Tree by its fruits here followeth one of them At a Council held at Boston the 11. of July 1656. VVHereas there are several Lawes long since made and published in this Jurisdiction bearing testimony against Hereticks and erroneous persons yet notwithstanding Simon Kempthorn of Charls-Town Master of the Ship-Swallow of Boston hath brought into this Jurisdiction from the Iland of Barbados two Women who name themselves Anne the Wife of one Austin and Mary Fisher being of that sort of people commonly
power I was called out from amongst them and sent unto them who am a Servant of Chrisâ— and a Sufferer for the Seeds sake which suffers amongst them who shall wait in hope believing it shall be delivered and raised up to the glory of the Father John Copeland Also Reader Richard Smith who is before mentioned who came in the ship with us and they called our Proselite did they commit to prison who though he be an Inhabitant on Long-Iland in that land and have wife and children there although they did openly accuse us of uncleanness such is the vanity of their Religion having their tongues unbridled that to speak truth they have no delight plainly shewing that their Religion is a lye and the god of this world the Father of it in going mâ—n and women together running away from our Parents wives and children yet so great was their fear and their faith so weak that they would not let him go to his through the Countrey for fear of infecting the people with our poysonous Doctrine as they called it but kept him about three weeks in prison untill there was an opportunity to send him away by water In which time John Indicot Governor said he was deluded and therefore he would have him have some discourse with three or four godly Ministers to convince him of his Error so upon the first day of the week he asked the Goalor to go to their Meeting the which he did and having sate while the Priest had done he spake and said It was the saying of the Governor that I should have some discourse with some of the godly Ministers â—hat they might convict me of the error that he said I was iâ— saying that I was deluded and said to them all if there was any such as were godly that could convict him of any error that he held he was ready there to hear then the Governor said he did intend it should be in private Richard Smith answered and said it was his desire it should be in publike and being inraged at him they forthwith had him away to prison again who after they sent away by water as is before mentioned Yet here ended not their malice but as it is written The wicked shall wax worse and worse so they fulfilled it in proceeding to act further wickâ—dness upon an antient man whose gray hairs is honorable but instead of honoring the hoary head and rising up and giving place to him that is grave in yeers according to the Scriptures they profess they cast him into prison the same day that they forced the other away and to please their God Mammon whom they so duely served sined him several pounds as will appear by what here followes One Nicholas Upshall an old man an inhabitant of the town of Boston who had long waited for the consolation of Israel the appearance of which he could not finde among the profession of New-England though they cal themselvs by the name of of Christ having been a member among them for many yeers had endeavoured out of his zeal to build a little Babel by them called the Church at the new meeting-house in Boston but his first zeal not being according to true knowledge as the second appeared unto him That God was not worshipped in Temples made with hands godly indignation rising up in him against that Idol he would not have left one stone upon another before half forty yeers was expired for which the pillars upon which the pinacle is built whereupon Satan stands crying to Christ Cast thy self downe wee will not have thee to rule over us joyned together against him to cast him out of Covenant Court and Countrey and sentenced him to banishment as hereafter doth appear This ancient man was much refreshed at the coming of these foâ—ementioned people finding in them that which he desired after and was much troubled at the cruel actings of the Magistrates and people of Boston towards them upon the same day the former were put forth of prison they put him in who having proclaimed a Law with the beating of a Drum against those people called quakers before the said Nicholas's door he beeing much troubled in spirit with it seeing their unrighteous dealing against the innocent did bare witness against their Law for which he was sent for the next morning unto the General Court where he spake to them to this purpose That the prosecution of that Law was the fore-runner of a Judgment upon the Countrey and therefore in the tenderness and love which he bore to the people and countrey did desire them to take heed what they did lest they were found fighters against God whose love they rejected and committed him to prison and fined him twenty pound and ordered him to banishment within the space of one moneth and that if hee should return he should be kept close prisoner untill he did acknowledge his fault in declaring against their Law which Law hereafter followeth yet after four dayes was released And again shewed their inhumanity to banish an ancient man of about sixty yeers from his wife and family in the time of winter although for many yeers had been very sickly of whom if the Lord had not been more tender then these unmerciful men hee might have perished and before the time was expired which they had appointed him for departing their Colony they sent for him to another Court to reckon with him for not coming to their Meeting for which according to their Law he was to pay five shillings for every first dayes missing so they reckoned three pound more that he was to pay upon this account by which it appears what it is they seek after who will so soon take occasion to get money the love of which Paul saith is the root of all evill which while some have coveted after have erred from the Faith which is truly fulfilled in New-England When the time was neer expired Nicholas went to Sandwitch in Plymouth-Patent intending there to winter amongst some that were more readier to entertain the persecuted then to persecute but the Governor thereof whose name was Bradford being an envious man hearing of his coming sent a Warrant that none should entertain him but his purpose not being effected he sent a second special Warrant to bring Nicholas to Plymouth it is worth observing An Indian Prince for so he appears by his speech hearing of their dealing with this ancient weak man called them Wicked men and said unto him Ne. tup which is to say Friend if thou wilt live with me J will make thee a good warm house this he spake in his own language preaching condemnation thereby to the English Christian teaching them an example of compassion towards the persecuted whom they of Boston had barbarously banished in the winter season which are such in those parts that several have perished in travelling betvvixt tovvn and tovvn yea vvhere they are not three miles distant yet vvould not this vile man
cut his flesh very much and drew much blood upon him then was hee loosed and put into the Dungeon too bad a place for swine being a stinking hole and full of Vermine not suffering any to come and wash his stripes and within two dayes took him forth again and hung him up as before the Goaler being very drunk forced another Negor to lay many more stripes upon him and seeing no end of their cruelty spake to the Fiscal to give him some time of consideration and to suffer some English to come unto him which vvas graâ—ted An English vvoman came unto him and vvashed his stripes vvho seeing him brought so lovv of body spake to her husband that she expected that he could not live untill the next morning the vvords took such impression upon him that he vvent to the Fiscall and proffered him a fat Ox if he vvould suffer him to come and be at his house until he vvas recovered but the Governor vvould not except the vvhole fine vvas paid which many gladly vvould have done but the prisoner could not consent to it for vvithin three days that they had vvhipped him he vvas made strong as ever and free to labour vvhich vvas a great torment to them their ayme being altogether to get money And a great trouble to many both Dutch and English that he could not consent for them to pay the Fine but choosed rather to vvork then to be burthensome to any such vvas his innocency neither could he eat the Governors bread except he did vvork for it although little besides vvas suffered to be brought to him tender people vvere troubled at the courseness of his food it being such as vvherevvithall they fed their Slaves but he choosed rather from a contented minde so to do seeing he vvrought for it then to be burthensome or troublesome to any â—ort of people vvhatsoever for his ovvn labour in the Lord vvould have afforded him food sufficicient but he could not suffer it seeing the Dutch lying in vvait daily against the English that lives under them hovv they might insnare them they being kept in great bondage and servitude by them as hereafter you vvill further understand this being the substance taken out of his ovvn true relation given under his hand Robert Hodgshone Reader There being an intire neerness betwixt the fore-mentioned sufferer me for whose innocency sake I cannot hold my peace we having been partakers of the spirit of life and love together several dayes and yeers and baptized we have been into many tryals which hath caused us for the comfort of each other to communicate what might administer strength unto us And I perceiving that many have scrupled at this my brothers working I shall impart unto thee what grounds he gave me for it when by the Fathers will we were brought together again in the strange Land the which thing I dare say he did in as much innocency in his measure as Paul did in consenting to be let down the wall in a basket or the spies flying from the Harlots house upon the wall for when he called unto them for a time of consideration in which he committed himself for counsel wholly to the Lord God he told me that the Word came unto him Work thou shalt know more of my minde then ever thou hast done and this is according unto what he formerly said unto the Governour that if the Lord called him to work he should not deny it here was the Lords call and his servants answer for which I am sure he lost not his reward nor I mâ—ne in lending my shoulder for Moses to lean upon when I saw that raging enemie Amalek rising up against him who was delivered out of their hands with hâ—nour contrary to their expectation not paying them one penny nor none for him but for his faithful suffering in this sad condition for several week the Lord alone wrought his deliverance H. Norton Part of the Relation given in by such English as are grievously oppressed under the Dutch government in New-Holland A Declaration to all the World of the persecuting spirit how it hath manifested it self in these parts of America against the people in scorn by the wicked called Quakers as is wel known to hundreds of their savage and unheard of cruelty to Robert Hodgshone which I doubt not but you will have a true Relation of besides prisoning and banishing others which came out of England besides the Inhabitants that were honest and could not conform to the times unjustly to please men who were hardly dealt withall by the Dutch because they entertained these people called Quakers There being many English amongst us who fled away from under the persecuting spirit bearing Rule in the United Colonies in New-England the Author himself being an eye-witness of it unto whom the Dutch Governour said speaking against Liberty of Conscience in the hearing of John Townsend Richard and others That the liberty of his Brother Henries Conscience was in his breast and withall struck his hand on it this was on the eleventh day of the seventh month as saith the Author Also the said Governour sent forth to prohibite any for entertaining Quakers on the penaltie of fifty pounds sterling for every transgression although it were but one person one night and for the incouragement of base spirits to inform they were to have a third part and to be concealed notwithstanding many of us did entertain them willingly suffered them to speak in our houses for which some were imprisoned and some fined as John Tilton Joan Chatterton and Henry Townsend judged by the Governor to pay 500 gilders cast into prison and threatned to depart that jurisdiction about the 7. of the 6. month 1658 with Tobias Feak and Edward Hart who were Englishmen and Officers in a town called Flushing in the new Netherlands on Long Island because they could not prosecute the Dutch governors Order against the Quakers in that Town there Consciences ingaging them otherways which they certified by signing a letter to the foresaid Governour giving him grounds sufficiently for what they did were kept in prison according to their wills in a wicked and cruel manner Again the foresaid Henry Townsend being called before the Governour and Court they demanded of him if he would pay the Money who answered that his person and estate was under their hands they might take it if they would but he would not pay it them then might he speak no more but forthwith cast into prison because he could not consent to the giving away of his estate unjustly although it were in the middle of the eleventh month 1657 a cold time of the yeer on the ninth day of his imprisonment he was moved to write to the Governour and Fiscal that he could not pay the money upon that account although he lâ—y in an irksome prison and of a weakly constitution and sickly besides the cry of his wife and small children yet did he prohibit her and his
appear in the presence of that people That Jesus was both the Author and Finisher of Faith and Rule and Guide of life which made a flut in the House Aftervvards the Governor proffered me in words their Oath of Fidelity the which I put upon him to prove by Scripture that ever he heard of such an Oath and so it was left And vvhereas they speak of divers persons residing amongst them not having taken the oath c. All those persons to the best of my knowledge who have been often amongst them is this forementioned Ralph Allin vvhose Father so far as I know dyed in that Township vvhere this his eldest Son vvith six Brethren and Sisters all or most of them have continued in the same Town and Collony above twenty years their Father and they being both of good report yet have they endeavoured to banish ruinate and undo him vvho hath at least eight nine or ten children and all this for rising up and cannot lye at the feet of their god Mammon Their fourth part also I shall leave to the consciences of the Rulers therein concerned to take notice how they labour to cast the innocent who are engrafted into Christ out of Court and Countrey finding Jesus such an Instrument of Justice and such an Enemy to Hell and the Powers therof the Devil doth what he can that he may not have the oversight of his proceedings therefore saith he being assembled in the first place Take notice of the Members c. Again their fift part also I commit to the same consideration what an ancient and wholesome pill it is bearing date neither from time nor place so that its rise is neither from beginning nor end and its intent is accordingly vvho will not suffer a forreigner to have a rest in their borders neither place in House Court nor Countrey vvithout the consent of such as in their Act is mentioned the whole World lying in Wickedness the Devil being god and guide therein the Rulers are bent that the ends thereof shall never be redeemed to become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ therefore do they establish such ancient Antidotes as this which they have digged out of the bottomless pit for which they are ashamed to bring their black proof These several persons again herein mentioned is this same Ralph Allin whom for several years they have envied and maliciously used having renewed this last year against him this Antidote thinking thereby to cover their malice and wickedness for which God will plague them if there be any more it is such as are one with him who cannot bow their knee to Baal You may also understand by their last clause that it is one with all the rest that no place nor peace nor comfort union nor society must the people of God have under their Government it being altogether against God Christ true Church and its order life power and spirit This Testimony have I sealed amongst them with my blood and God is my record at this day it is true therefore as the Wicked make void the Law of the Righteous even so doth the righteous make void the Law of the Wicked and reconciliation betwixt them there cannot be saith H. N. Again here follows the practice and exercise of this Law with the Parties and Causes which suffered under it if this Law had had so much as the shew of good things to come they had put an end to it before its beginning for before this they had left sacrifcing Goats and Calves and offered up two poor sheep in sacrifice upon their Altar-Stocks to wit William Brend and John Copeland as by what is written before you may understand The Sufferings of Humphrey Norton and John Rous at their June-Court 1658. I Humphrey Norton being in Road-Island certain dayes after my sufferings at New-Haven the Lord God did accompany me with this cry two dayes together or more Bonds abides thee Bonds abides thee and presented before me Plymouth Patent and their Court which according to his Will and in obedience to his Spirit I went with my beloved Brother John Rous into that Patent and seeing and hearing of the sufferings inflicted upon the people of God inhabiting there with the wrongs sufferings and abuses sustained by me and others of the servants of God I drew up these particulars following and sent them before me to the Governor and other of his Assistants the day before that so they might not be unacquainted with the matter which when I came there according to the Will of God as he had shewed me I was taken up in the street and cast into Bonds according to the malice of the Devil And when I came before them with my yokefellow John Rous they asked us upon what grounds we came into their Collony and would neither acknowledge nor deny the receiving of my grounds neither would they receive them from me and cause them to be read nor suffer me to read them but sent us back to prison without Mittimus as they call it Bill of Charge or Copy of their Law no Justice could we have from them no more then two sheep that is to be judged by a company of Wolves but we have learned to bear it with patience knowing that our fore-runner was so dealt with before us by the same generation and having passâ—d their unjust Sentence on us according to their Wills they brought us to the Stocks where after prayer and saluting each other in publick the people gave reverence with astonishment the Executioner coming to put off our Clothes was bid to have patience and he should see that we could give our backs to the smiter which being done he laid upon us thirty eight stripes being told by the standers by After this was done saluting the life which appeared in the least measure in any we returned in the glory of true sufferers kept far from transgression but in truth for not departing out of their Colony when their Constable so called commanded us having the grounds here following to make good 1. I who am called and chosen of God to bear the Testimony of Jesus the Word of God against all unrighteousness and oppression in all sorts of people whatsoever having formerly been in this Colony and before your Court held at Plymouth and being cleared so far as I remember without the least clause of the transgression of any Law of God whatsoever laid to my Charge the which I charged upon you after my Tryal by vvay of false Imprisonment and required thereupon to know who might discharge the house vvhereunto I was confined the answer was made as I remember by John Alden Magistrate after asking me if I had Silver told me it should be left to my freedom whether I vvould do it or leave it unto them since which time and in my absence I am informed that I am recorded in your Court Book for being convicted of several Errors and at that time neither
being accused for breaking into a mans house for want of other occasion charged him and others according to the law with fellony mind what malice here is this they did against him and several others because they came into a house vvhere tvvo friends vvere imprisoned the door being open which when there he came the man of the house cleared him to the Governor vvho then having nothing whereof justly to accuse him told him there was a mistake in the summons yet fined him twenty shillings for not putting off his hat for vvhich they took a brass ketle prized by them at twenty five shillings this they did besides thirteen pounds worth of cattle forced from him because he could not svvear Daniel Wing tvventy shillings for the hat another Ralph Alliâ— tvventy shillings for the hat one vveather sheep distrained Again Thomas Greenfield put by from the Jury for not swearing fined tvventy shillings for vvhich they distrained his goods Edward Perry for not training distrained and taken avvay to the value of seven shillings besides all other fines John Teâ—kins for the same one pot distrained vvhich vvas of great use unto him of vvhich he vvas debarred Robert Harper for the same pewter taken to the value of four shillings Reader thou maist take notice that though these people be such as pretend much to honor the Sabbath day as they call it yet by order of Court did the Constable come to a meeting of friends in Sandwitch-Town on the first day as they vvere vvaiting upon the Lord and sommoned fourteen of them to be at a Court at Plimouth the next day being tvventy miles distant vvhere theyvvere fined five pounds a piece for refusing to swear vvhich is contrary to the law of God and wholsome lavv of the English nation and at this Court being in the beginning of the fourth moneth 1658. they appointed the forementioned Barloe Marshal or rather pursevant of Barnestable Sandwitch and Yarmouth vvhich office he hath executed with as much malice as any be All this distress forced robbery and violent stealth is done in the name of his Highness Lord Protector of England c. as they say and more also which here follovvs four of them at the same time put in the stocks for taking Iohn Rous by the hand vvhen he came from before the Court. Again sixteen of them summoned to their Octobâ—r Court so called by them and there all fined again five pounds a man for the oath â—thou maist understand that this vvas in the 8. moneth 58. so that their maist see their cruelty still continued vvith an intent to ruinace that harmless and Innocent people and if thy name thou suffer to cover this I am sure they will laugh at thee for they call thee Protector of England Ireland and Scotland but New England not yet that Pattent is not once named by them that ever Iyet heard for if it were so in righteousness thou most needs and that in conscience protect that poor people from being utterly ruinated and so as chief Magistrate thou art owned by the sufferers appear therefore in plainness and shew unto all thy like or dislike of these their doings that every man may know thee by thy fruits and whether thou takest the protection of Nevv England into thy hand yea or nay of vvhich the inhabitants vvith many more have great need if equity and justice thou execute therein Again three of them to vvit William Allin Robert Harper Thomas Greenfeild for not departing out of the Court forthvvith upon the Governors command although not refusing so to do vvas committed to the Marshall and carried avvay to prison the Court breaking up that night vvas there left and continued The actings of George Barloe of Sandvvich he being ordered by the Court at Plimouth for the preventing the peaceable meeting together of the servants of the Lord to vvait upon him in the silence of all flesh as by his actions plainly vvill appear he having received a Warrant to search all suspicious places to apprehend strangers called quakers by this order cometh into our meetings sometimes bringing others vvith him and sometimes alone vve sitting still in our places he requireth of several of us to remove and to give vvay to him pretending to search the house for strangers and if vve do not satisfie his vvill by giving vvay to him vvhich none can do vvho are truely vvaiting upon the Lord then he breaketh forth in bitter expressions pulling some and thrusting others threatning some of us to put us in the stocks and saying to some of us if we remove not to tread on us also pulling off and and lifting up our hats pretending that he doth not know us using many words both by flattery and violence to draw forth words from us and when he sees he can get none then he breaketh forth with many false charges against us who are innocent from doing any wrong either to him or any of those by whom he is set to work mischief against us also to prevent this vile person from disquieting of us when attending upon the Lord we have removed from our houses into the woods a neighbor and one of his own nature whom he forced to go along with him said he was ashamed of him to see him upon the first day in the morning hunting the people by their footings as a Dog hunting some other creatures this is and hath been a very common thing with him and others whom they have imployed the first day and other days thus to doe as witness Edward Perry Humphrey Norton Here also is the Sum of part of the Fines levied out of one Town in Plimouth patent called Sandwitch This they have sustained in less then one years time besides imprisonings stockings abusings and halings in and from their own houses some of them being men of low estates that to outward appearance this which is done unto them may be their ruinating and utter undoing in outward estate if neither pity mercy nor compassion be used towards them which these have none as witness their Marshal George Barloe who said he would not leave them worth a groat such is the clemency of a New England Member William Newland having formerly taken their Oath of Infidelity escaped with 1. l. 10. s. He and Ralâ—h Allin having been cast into the Marshals hands which put them in charges to the sum of 12 l. 0. Edward Perry 27 l. 7 s Robert Harper 13 l. 4 s Ralph Allin 12 l. 10 s Thomas Greenfield 11 l. 0 s Richard Kirby 16 l. 0 s William Allin 14 l. 5 s. VVilliam Gifford 12 l. 0 s. Matthew Allin 12 l. 0 s. Daniel VVing 12 l. 0 s. George Allin 6 l. 0 s. Peter Gaunt â—e also having formerly taken the Infidels Oath escaped with so much as 2 l. 5 s Thomas Ewer 7 l. 10. s. Another Ralph Allin 1 l. 0 s. The Sum 160 l. 11 s. Again in Marshfield A town in that Patent Arthur Howland a man
Messias who accordingly fell upon one of them with his cruel hands in his Synagogue stopping of his mouth with gloves and haling him by his hair and so thrust them out then an Officer took them and continued them Prisoners untill the next day then had he them to Boston prison it being the 21 of the seventh moneth 1657. and on the morrow the deputy Governour Richard Bellingham and the Secretary with the Elder and Deacon of that Town came to the Goalors house who sent for us apart and examined us apart thinking to entangle us in our words and find us in contradictions but we abiding in the truth which is but one spake one thing so that they had no advantage against us neither could take hold of any thing we had spoken but said our answers were delusive and that the Devil had taught us a deal of subtilty so we were put in prison again and some hours after we were called forth again and was had before the Governour John Indicot with the Deputy Governor and the rest of the Governors of the united Colonies as they call them and sevral other people who after a frivolous examination made a Warrant that we should be severely whipt with 30 stripes a peece which was cruelly done on the 23 of the seventh moneth 1657. with a threefold cord which if unfolded amounts to ninescore which being so cruel as it is said one woman seeing fell down as dead and kept close that none might discourse with us and three days the Goalor not suffering us to have any food nor yet water yet a prisoner upon compassion conveying some water once unto us was much threatned by the Goalor and all this for no transgression not so much as denying to work neither could we according to their wills so adding to this nine weeks cruel bonds without fire all the cold season turning us forth when so they had done this being the second Article of their faith sealed up to purpose Christopher Holder John Câ—peland Also one Cassandra Southick with her Husband a grave couple were apprehended by their Officer and brought unto Boston for the entertaining the two forementioned strangers her husband being a Member of their corrupt body which they call their Church they returned back again that he might receive the defilement thereof she being as a scape-goat from the scattered Tribes they continued her seven weeks in Prison fining her fortie shillings for owning a Paper which was given forth by the Spirit of truth in these its Messengers for which the Governor said they deserved death such was his cruelty although the thing held forth nothing but what shewed how their Priests and Rulers differed from the holy men of God of old yet if he had not been limited from the extent of his wickedness he had sentenced them unto death such a one is the third Article of their faith Also Riâ—hard Dowdney an innocent man serving the Lord in the sincerity of his heart having a necessity laid upon him to go to Boston which in the simplicity of his heart he did having never been in that Town nor Country before in the way was apprehended it seems the wicked betrayed him by his speech and judged him to be a Disciple which he Peter-like could not deny so forthwith was carried after his Saviour before the Rulers they having not against him the least clause or pretence of transgression sentenced him to be severely whipt with thirty stripes which was done unmercifully with the cord of their Covenant threefold amounting to ninety giving charge also to keep him constantly to work and caused him to be searched for Papers and Books and took from him what they would mark how swift they are to shed innocent blood for all this wickedness was done to him in less then three hours after his coming to Town this was the entertainment of this poor pilgrim to the wounding of the hearts of many to hear and see a stranger and a blameless man so barbarously abused whom they continued above twenty days in bonds to add unto him more at large the cup of their Covenant which patiently he did bear and for which he lost not his reward which after further threatning him and the other four turned them forth thus confirming on them the fourth Article of their faith by reading unto them when they were before them another piece of their mischief vvhich they called an addition to the late Order which they wickedly made in the strength of their pride finding that their former was too weak to accomplish their design they put this string to strengthen their Covenant-cord Thus Reader thou mayest see how they go on adding iniquity to sin not at all considering that the rod of God is lifted up over them who will assuredly take vengeance for all these works therefore let all in whom there is any tenderness and bowels of love towards our Lord Jesus Christ deliver themselves from this untoward generation by turning with the whole heart unto the Lord that so they may be saved from the wrath which is to come upon all these things thus having set the righteous law behind their back and broken Covenant with the Lord in departing from him and wickedly rising up and setting themselves against him who once tendered them and while they were little and loâ— in their own eyes and walked in his fear he preserved them and for his name and glories sake which then was in the eye of many of them did he rebuke their adversaries and gave them their hearts desire providing for them a hiding place while his indignation was poured out on his and their enemies who are become a desolation and their names an abhorring to all flesh at which work the righteous was glad and rejoyced in the God of their salvation their enemies themselves confessing to it that it was the Lords handy work yea that the Lord wrought this work for his people evidently appears so that it shall be said from this time it is the Lords work and marvellous to behold in our eyes yea and Nations shall confess to it giving glory unto his name thus hath the Lord tried them and proved them yet how soon turned they from him forgetting his loving kindness and his love wherewith be loved them while they were young and tender who growing in years their hearts were hardned their minds by degrees going into the earth was estranged from him whose presence thus departing they became enviers of them in whom he appeared and Cain-like began to smite with the fist their fellow servants at which the Lords soul was grieved yet patiently did the Lord wait for their return to him bearing theiâ— iniquities which were great not only in forsaking of his righteous law and holy Commandment vvhich saith Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self and the Lord thy God with all thy heart did go on in hatred against him and made Laws whereby to oppréss the stranger fatherless and widow
forgive you for you know not what you do a woman standing by said Surely if she had not the spirit of the Lord she could not do this thing Thus they continued them in prison about fourteen days not suffering any of their friends to come at them this and such as this puts a clear difference and demonstration betwixt their faith and ours each faith shewing forth its fruit the one through travels tryals patience and sufferings manifesting theirs before the faces of all people the other through wrath malice cruel mockings reviling language scourgings and imprisonments manifesting theirs and whether of these faiths stands in God seeing there is but one Lord and one faith unto salvation we leave it unto that of God in all people to judge this cruelty was acted on them about the eleventh of the third moneth 1658. A relation of the sufferings of Thomas Harris in Boston It came to pass that on the fifteen of the fourth month 1658. that I with tvvo other friends set forth from Road-Iland towards Boston jurisdiction and on the seventeenth day of the same I came to Boston and being moved to their meeting house there I came and stood quietly until the Priest had done speaking then I spake to the people these words The Dreadful terrible day of the Lord God of heaven and earth is coming upon the inhabitants of this Town and Country then was I pulled out by two men and soon a man came and put his hand upon my mouth that I should not speak and another took me by the hair of my head but when they let me go I spake to the people again that thty took heed how they joyn with oppressors and cruel men for the Lord God was risen and their coverings were found to narrow for their nakedness did appear unto all them that feared God then they carried me to prison after a while had me before the Governor where was the Deputy-Governor with several Magistrates and many people and coming in to the room where the Governor was he asked me if I knew before whom I was come I told him yea Iohn Indicot why do you not put off your hat Thomas Harris I do not keep it on in contempt of authority but in obedience to the Lord so one pulled off my hat then the Deputy Governor bid the Marshall bring a pair of shears to cut off my hair I told him it was against my desire if he did but he might do what he was permitted the governor asked from whence I came Thâ— Harris from Providence Iohn Indicot from whence there Tho. Harris from Road Island Iohn Indicot what were them that came with you Tho. Harris It is like I shall not tell thee Gover. I will make thee tell before thou dost go Govern The divel hath taught thee a deal of subtilty and said that we were all divellish blasphemous hereticks meaning them that were called quakers T. H. Take heed what thou speaks as thou will answer it in the dreadful day of the Lord God it is an easie matter to speak that we are blasphemers and such like in words but can you prove it or make it appear the Governor said you are all such T. H. it will not serve thy turn in the day of thy account to say we are all such Govern I matter not what thou speaks why didst thou come here T. H. In obedience to the Lord the Governor said in obedience to the Lord in obedience to the devil vvhy didst thou come here to trouble us T. H. To declare against pride and oppression men that use cruelty The Governor asked if he were such a one Answer yea the Governor said wherein do I use cruelty Answer in oppressing the innocent Dep. Govern He deserves to be hanged Again the Dep. Governor prest me to tell him what they were that came with me and said that there was murder committed that day and he did not know but we were the men therefore I should tell him what they were T. H. accuse me if thou canst vvith it but this vvas false for there vvas no such thing neither did they knovv from me at all vvhat they vvere many more questions vvas asked me but seeing their intent vvas to ensnare I vvas kept silent then sent they me to prison vvithout Warrant or Mittimus vvhere I vvas shut up in a close room not any suffered to come unto me neither could be suffered to buy food for my money the next morning the Gaolor came unto me to knovv if I vvould vvork so as to earn him one shilling and out of it to have four pence in such diet as he vvould give me then after a vvhile he called me dovvn to be vvhipt I asked vvhat lavv I had broken and read it unto me but he refused then pulling of my cloaths brought me to the post vvhere I received ten stripes vvith their threâ— corded vvhip then he shut me up again vvhere he kept me eleven days not suffering me to buy any thing to eat meat he brought me but he vvould not receive money for it neither should I eat it except I vvould vvork as he said but at the end of five days I had food conveyed to me in at a vvindovv by a friend in the night season or otherways by probability I had been starved to death and in the five days a prisoner conveyed me in a little water for which they threatned him and yet the same day that I was whipt the Gaolor came to me and told me that I had suffered what the law required and if I would hire the Marshal to convey me out of their jurisdiction I might be gone when I would Answ If the doors be set open J know no other but J shall pass but to hire a guard that J cannot so on the sixt day before the sixt hour in the morning the Gaolor because I could not go to work at his will laid on me twenty two blows with a pitch rope notwithstanding he had told me that I had suffered what the law required before and on the ninteenth of the fifth moneth 1658 brought me again to the post with several brethren more where J received fifteen cruel stripes as hereafter you will further understand Againe William Brend and William Leddra who was the two which accompanied the before-mentioned Thomas Harris into Boston Pattent having drawings unto Salem where they were received and had several Meetings with other Service which they did for God in that Colony but consenting to the Simplicity in a plain man for his satisfaction yeelded to meet with their Minister so called Provisâ— that they might not be insnared knowing their Law which was granted unto them by way of promise which when the said Minister came brought a Magistrate with him who after conference togeeher to cover the condition upon which the Strangers met them they suffered them to pass away but before they were gone half a mile the Magistrate called Capt. Garish by
and ruinating our estates knowing themselves guilty made no reply at all onely this afterwards the General Court had determined that they six should be sent home not as Quakers Mark Reader what confusion is in Babylon that fix who had suffered imprisonment and whippings all of them for the self-same thing two of them also having laid several Months in prison upon the account of loss of ears yet they had neither shift nor cover more then this to cover their shame and nakedness That they should be sent home not as quakers yet imagined another lifeless Law which if they transgressed therewithall to threaten them reading it unto them and turning them forth to wit Banishment upon pain of death made at Boston the 20. of October 1658. Again Samuel Shottock an Inhahitant of Salem in the Jurisdiction of Boston the 26. of the 10 Month 1658. writes thus to Humphâ—â—y Norton Salem Friends are well and the spoyler is making a prey of us they have seized upon half of my House and the ground belonging to it in a secret way for they did it a month before I heard of it and hearing of it I asked the Marshal if it were so he told me it was done whilst I was in Boston to wit in prison and told me that there had been men with him to buy it and he might forthwith get men to prize it and set it on sale This know that Banishment and threatnings to Banishment hath been the least of their Rulers expressions against him and several others of them that fears God in that place for several Months upon which some both aged and decayed hath been put to flight to wit Edward Hornet and his Wife and others and this Samuel Shattock they judging him to be one of the most considerable there and one by probability which will rather suffer Agrippa to gripe up his Estate if twice double then once to deny his Lord for dust as you may perceive by his own expressions to wit But I rejoice that I have something to suffer loss of for the truths sake And as concerning this matter this is my thoughts that seeing he will neither flye nor fall under they will put a Viper under his roof one which shall arise from amongst their own sticks which if possible shall sting him day and night to see if thereby they can weary out the righteous soul but I question not but in time with patience he may shake it off into the fire and shew himself a man of God there being his and their subsistance outward livelyhood which the Lord hath appointed for them both for living and continuing until their Testimony be finished from whence they cannot flye uutil he calls them but bring themselves under condemnation Therefore saith the Author again I perceive by the Marshal that he hath express order forthwith to strain and take the Fines which I believe by that which I saw in his hands will amount to 100. l. and upwards upon us at Salem So with my dear love to all friends with thee I remain Thus you may understand that their cruelty is stil continued for this came to my hands in Barbados in the 12. Month following 1658. Humph. Norton At a General Court held at Boston the 20. of May 1658. That Quakers and such accursed hereticks arising among our selves may be dealt withall according to their deserts and that their peâ—tilent errors and practices may be speedily prevented it is hereby ordered as an addition tot he former Laws against Quakèrs That every such person or persons proseâ—sing any of their perniâ—ious wayes by speaking writing or by meeting on the Lords day or at any other time to strengthen themselves or seduce others to their diabolical Doctrines and shall after due means of Conviction incur the penalty ensuing that is every person so meeting shall pay to the Countrey for every time 10. s. and every one speaking in such a Meeting shall pay 5. l. a péeâ—re and in case any such person hath béen punished by scourging or whippping the first time according to the former Laws shall be still kept at work in the house of Correction till they put in Security with two sufficient men that they shall not any more vent these hateful errors nor use their sinful practises or else shall depart this Iurisdiction at their own charges and if any of them return again the â—each such person shall iâ—â—â—r the penalty of the Laws formerly made for strangers by the Court. Edward Rawson Secretary These are are the Lyars wo be unto them that makes these Laws and binds the burden of them upon the back of the poor and they themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers Of what herein is mentioned concerning the sufferings of the Servants of God moved of the Lord to New-England in the year 1657. this is the Summe THree of which innocent persons to wit Richard Dowdney Mary Weather head and Mary Clark after their other sufferings sealed their testimonies with their lives by suffering shipwrack in the seas Richard Dowdney once imprisoned once whipt and once banished in Boston Mary Weatherhead once imprisoned amongst the Dutch from whence banished and once from among the English at New-Haven Mary Clark once imprisoned once whipt and once banished in Boston Sarah Gibbins twice imprisoned once her Clothes sold once whipt and three times banished Dorothy Waugh three times imprisoned three times banished once her Clothes sold and once whipt William Brend four times imprisoned four times banished twice whipt once laid in Irons besides 117. Blows the Keeper of Boston Gaol laid upon him whereby he vvas left as one dead William Leddra and Thomas Harris two Barbados Friends five times whipt three times imprisoned three times banished John Copeland seven times imprisoned seven times banished three times whipt and one of his Ears cut Christopher Holder five times imprisoned five time banished twice whipt and one of his ears cut John Rous son to Lievtenant Coll Rous living in Barbados four times imprisoned four times banished thrice whipt and one of his Ears cut Robert Hodshon imprisoned at the Duth cast into a Dungeon fined 600. Gilders several dayes chained to a Wheel-barrow beaten with a pitcht Rope until he fell down twice as one dead being judged to have received an hundred blows besides twice tyed up by the hands and a log tyed to his feet twice beaten with Rods until his flesh was cut backâ—brests and arms bleeding his stripes were innumerable and lamentable and so banished by the Duth Humphrey Norton four times imprisoned four times banished twenty days and nights laid in Irons four times whipt once fined 10. l. and once burnt in the hand and in malice took his right hand to hinder him from Writing Here is part of the Account of Cruelty the most part of which vve have suffered and sustained in less then tvvelve Months space besides all our Labours Travels Burdens Tryals and Perils by Land and Water
the latter far surmounting the former several times have they endeavoured to starve us to death by famine at the Town of Boston several times under restraint vvhich herein is not mentioned several of us lost in the Wilderness in the Winter-season several nights vvading deep Waters in frost snovv and cold vvhen none could be had to guide us because of the season one of vvhich Sâ—rah Gibbins by Name lost tvvo nights in this nature being alone vvithout man or Woman to comfort her seized on by an Indian vvhich sorely attempted her but the Lord delivered her the English also endeavouring to stirr up the Indians against us all this have vve born and suffered through his strength and for his love vvho hath chosen us vvhereby vve have heaped Coles upon the heads of our Adversaries vvho hath thus entreated us vvho vvas sent unto them for their souls sake vvho hath caused us to say Oh how are the precious sons of Sion comparable to fine Gold esteemed as Earthen Pitchers the Clay of the Potter H. N. A Letter to John Indicot and John Norton Governor and chiefe Priest in Boston which yet is not answered FRiends I heard a great noise about a litttle Note I writ to Iohn Indicot after the Brethrens Ears were cut be it known unto you that it was onely unto such as sits in counsel to shed innocent blood with such as votes them up and upholds them therein who deserves the greatest curse of all Crimes as for all such into whose hands my Paper comes let them compare it with the Laws which they of Boston made against us as cursed Blasphemers and Hereticks and Adamites c. as if they made a Libel of their Law And consider how much ever any of you have seen or heard us troubled aâ— it and I having sent forth but one few lines wherein is laid upon them that which is but their due and see how the Beast roars as if he were wounded in his secret parts and cryed out unto all the Earth for ease and mind you Reader whether their Curses or ours is of more force and whether it 's they or we that lyes under the power of a plague and whether in all ages it was the innocent or the guilty who cried out Help O men of Israel help Humph. Norton John Indicot Cursed is that man which causeth any to be dismembered of the members that God hath formed made given them before he that made them doth remove them sad wil it go with thee if the loss of that member cost any one his life Remember that Scripture thou brought That he that sheds mans blood by man shall his blood be shed Think not O miserable man that thou canst cover or hide thy self by saying thou persecutest not nor thou sheds no mans blood for in the condition thou art none of these things can be done without thee or thy consent and at thy hand will all this blood and cruelty be required thou knowest that they are but Officers imployed by thee that executes it thou art the foreman in forging of them of this take warning from the Lord God that in the day wherein thou begins with that bloody Work of dismembering the cry of blood will enter into thy house and the curse of God will be more grievous to thy heart for so doing then all the Earth can add thee comfort As thou tenders pitty to thy poor soul take warning before-hand least thou have cause to repent when it is too late least of these thy actions and proceedings will be unto thee as a burdensome stone in the day of thy account Thou maist remember that thou asked me how thou should know that I was sent of God c. I say Many examples might be giveu thee if thou couldst believe As first The Scripture is fulfilled in hurling and pulling me out of your Affembly in such a manner as never any was out of the Church of God and haling me before the Magistrates and casting me into prison according to that Scripture mentioned by John Norton The Devil shall cast some of you into prison Doth not thou believe that he prophesied what would become of us And is it not now as it was then that he that lives after the flesh persecutes him that lives after the Spirit so that this is no new thing but if there be in him any manhood for God or love to the souls of his people let him come forth and give proof thereof in performing but this reasonable request and if he be a Herdsman either of Abraham or Lot and in his thoughts hath gone all this time to the right hand let him now turn to the left and take his Compass through Piymouth-Patten Road-Island Providence Long-Island and else where they have believed and received our report whom you account and call deluders and I shall freely engage my body for his unto this Patten that he shall not be imprisoned whipped nor dismembred by any of them and the same time that he hath there with any one or more accompanying him let me have the like Liberty in this Town and Collony with my yokefellow and let the fruit shew the effect who is the deceiver the false Prophet the Earthly Epicure or the Worldly belly-god if this he deny let him be ashamed and never more owned by you his hearers to be a Minister of the Spirit of truth Let me have his or thy Answer on his behalf directed unto me who is a friend to thy soul called Hump. Norton but by the scorners a quaker Let him subscribe the Answer and let not these deluded Flocks as you account them be lost for want of his labour Again thou maist remember thou charged me with Blaspheâ— my against John Norton Whereunto I say Had he been a Minister of Christ and I had hit him on the one cheâ—k or under the fifth rib he should have turn'd unto me the other also and let me have had both place and time with him and the people that he might the more have laid me open and not to have suffered one of his chief members as if it were his heart to have cast me into prison but this and such as this doth but the further make thee and him manifest Dated from Boston prison this 16. of the 5. Month 1658. Another LETTER to the Town of Boston BOSTON is a withered Branch the sap of the Vine is departed from it your profession is become barren and your glory is become withered ye are departed from the Lord and have followed your own inventions How is thy beauty faded thou who was famous among the Nations for thy zeal towards God! But now thy zeal is turned to hypocrisie and envy hath eaten you out and malice is as a Canker among you and the way of peace you know not but are following that which makes desolate therefore return while you have time and let God be truly minded by you lest he break forth with
earned towards her and shortly after her child was restored unto her as a figure unto her of what the Lord would do for her if she did abide in his Counsel and often since she hath told me with tears that she trusted that God would do good for her and that he should be honoured by her in stead of that great dishonour that she had done to him and us which thing she hath often declared against her self in and said that we had suffered and God had been dishonoured by her Whereupon I told her that insomuch as that of God had suffered in her therein we had suffered by her and in her and the wicked through that have taken advantage to speak evil of the way of God but thou being through the love and power of God made sensible of thine own loss and also of the love of God towards thee we are therein fully satisfied and greatly can we rejoyce in the Lord God on thy behalf And this I can truly say concerning her and as a Testimonie of her That since her Recovery she hath and doth make it manifest that it was not for nor thorow any earthly or evill end that the sad travel came upon her for before that she was never a Licentious Liver and since she is more dead to all those things then ever she was before and her care and industry set how to do just and honest things unto all sorts of People and that which is well-pleasing unto God that the dayes of her appointed Time may be spent to his glory We are Witnesses unto the Truth of this Humphrey Norton John Rous. John Copeland Some Quaeries unto all sorts whatsoever who wants that which wee have by which they may see themselves and know from us where to find it 1. WHERE the Hand is which can help one out of Hell 2. Where is the Arm that can deliver one up thither and there bind him until his flesh be destroyed and in the day of the Lord can fetch his soul from thence and set it upon his Throne 3. Where is the first and second death the lowest highest and nethermost Hell seeing the Scripture speaks of the lowest Hell and the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone c. and Tophet of old which yet remains to the Wicked Shew us where these Hells are and in or under what Climate Circle or Planet or in Earth or Air or where 4. What is that that torments the Wicked there And whether it is the Devil that torments himself yea or nay 5. When or how with safety a soul may be delivered up thither To wit Whether before God hath left striving with him or after Or at what time or instant Answer expresly 6. Whether Christ and all these that have followed him from death to life have not past through all these deaths and Hells yea or nay seeing it is said He can save to the utmost And whether they have seen the utmost yea or nay that have not past through all these things And let none say that they may not be dived into for it is truth that the spirit searcheth all things c. and the hidden things of Esau must be sought out if any say Nay let him tell me what it is may be searched into and seen and what may not 7. And whether the eye of God seeth not and searcheth all things yea or nay And whether every man ought not to see with this Eye yea or nay If not Whether he may not be blind in many things yea or nay As for example Adam gave Names to every Creature that stood in Covenant and seeing that there are Names and Creatures and Members with bloody Oaths and Actions vvhich Adam in innocency named not therefore shevv me hovv one shall discern and knovv the innocent Names and Nature of every Member Creature and created thing and also that bloody spirit that invented all these bloody Oaths and beastly and filthy and unclean Words and Actions Ansvver expresly for so speaks the Spirit 8. If any man being a Preacher so called and knovv not these things Whether he be able to judge of what he speaks yea or nay And if so Whether he may not speak amiss and preach and speak that which he ought not and give Names to Creatures and things which are not If he be one that says he knows the things that differ and hath been led into Visions and Revelations and things of the highest lawful and unlawful to be uttered let him answer all these things both former and latter 9. What may be preached and published upon the house top and vvhat may uot and vvhat things are lavvful and what not And seeing there is a time wherein all things are lawful and a time wherein all things are not distinguish each time with its sign that all people may learn to know the signs of the times and the difference between all things that are and are not if any may say that it will bring in doubtful questions and may drive them to dive into things which may strick them distracted or mad I say Nay that is mans Will that drives him thither the light leads him to see the ground and rise of every time and thing and this is the Word of the Lord God and shews him the Spirit which must be divided from the soul from that which must not Mark the Eye of God shews and sees a Spirit and he that sees not with God's Eye sees not that which must be divided from the soul nor the soul which the Word reacheth and searcheth betwixt it and the Spirit 10. The mysteriâ— of godliness having been hid from ages generations and this being now the day and age and generation wherein God is revealing and revealed in and unto his people and is leading them through all Lands the Land of darkness sin and death the Land of light life and peace and having queried something concerning the former and seen also the scituation of the latter let us stretch forth into the deep and so fathom the whole circuit of Heaven and Hell Earth and Air and all that therein is Come up hither and I will shew thee the place where his Honor dwelleth come and see 11. Seeing the Scripture speaks of the third Heaven it thence appears that there are three my query is Where are they In what place Under what Planet Or above in what Circuit Or below in what Region and the infallible Way to it Which is the easiest query of all 12. And seeing that there is War in Heaven betwixt Michael and the Dragon it seems then that the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil is there I say Where is that Heaven that he is in Answer expresly 13. And seeing that the Serpent was in Paradice and deceived Eve before ever I heard of Hell Tell me how he came there and what Heaven that is and where it is 14. And seeing it is written that Adam was made of the dust c. and that he and she to wit Eve was in this innocent place called Paradice tell me infallibly the wisest of you Wizards How and what way they came there He who can do this in truth can preach salvation without Book 15. And seeing that a Heaven there is of a truth whereinto nothing that defileth can enter tell me expresly where it is the entrance in and how it may be obtained and by whom 16. What the Key of the Kingdom is Seeing Christ is the Door who the Keepers seeing I have heard both David and Peter was 17. And what the Gates of Hell is which shall not prevail against this Door And what the Keys of these Gates is seeing it is written He hath the Keys of Hell and Death And who that He is seeing it 's called an Angel My query is What the nature of an Angel is seeing it is written concerning Christ That he took upon him the nature of Angels c. and concerning the Saints that they shall judge Angels Thou who sees not with the Eye that surrounds these things and comprehends Death and Hell and is in distress concerning thy salvation at a loss not knowing the truth nor who it is that lives in it the cryes are so many and various this know of a truth whatsoever is wanting in thee of any of these things or any other that tends to salvation we have it and with us it is Therefore sit not in darkness nor say not with the multitude Who wil shew us any good thing but come unto us and suffer not thy soul to be lost for want of a Saviour for the place of his presence is with us witnessed By Humphreâ— Norton The Secrets of the Loâ—d are with them that fear him WHat herein is mentioned is now freely recommended to the Common-Wealth of England with all who seekes the good and welfare of the Seed of Israel that as they love the liberty and redemption thereof they will endeavour after doing Justice and Righteousness towards all herein mentioned and in the like case concerned without respect of persons that it may manifestly appeare that you act for God and that in righteousness and not according but contrary to the minds and wills of corrupt men The End