all conditions and that saying made my heart revive presently and then the Lord gave me that Scripture-saying This he requires of thee To deal justly love mercy and walk humbly with thy God Micah 6.8 then I said Lord what am I to do here The Lord said I require this that thou holdest out a just upright walk with God before all people and in these parts thou shalt manifest the free justification received of the Father by the Spirit through Christ to poor souls telling them thy experiences there and thou shalt declare the mercy of thy God and thy love to it by shewing thy experiences thereof which thou hast had in divers maners discovered to thee Here are some tempted souls said the Lord that must be comforted through thy temptations the mercy thou foundst therein tell them love mercy in every kinde of it This saying I had also from the last words of the verse Walk humbly with thy God these things he requires of the just doing and walking mercy loving and a humble deportment in all thou doest then I said Lord make me humble said the Lord I will make thee humble through sufferings the Lord thy God begun it in thee when he manifested thy salvation to thee to be freely given thee making thee see thy self the worst of sinners and he humbled thee more in Satans prison and he hath brought thee here to humble thee more for he will teach thee much of his secrets Then my heart was melted as I was thus under divine speakings in the Garden and I said Lord if thou wilt make me a partaker of more of that lovely clothing of humility then then Lord I will not matter what I suffer here in this world below then the Lord said Thou must suffer many wayes then I said Lord balance me with thy word the Lord said What word wouldst thou have I said What thou pleasest then the Lord said Thou shalt have the same word as I gave to my servant Abraham I told him when he went he knew not whither that I would be his shield and exceeding great reward Gen. 15.1 And as I was said the Lord to the father of the faithful so I will be to the children they having the same faith as faithful Abraham had I will give such the same promises then I said Lord I fall short of his faith said the Lord I look not on the quantity so much as at the quality I looking at the truth of it it bearing the same stamp with that of Abrahams which was the stamp of divine power and Spirit therefore take the same promise thou art come into a strange country among many that don't affect thee and thou art like to suffer by them but fear not I thy God have not onely given thee faith as ashield but I am thy shield and exceeding great reward I am a double shield to thee said the Lord so I was to Abraham a shield within a shield therefore fear not any enemy but look unto thy shield and buckler and defence for so Jehovah is to thee And the Lord brought to me those Scriptures that he gave me when he made me willing to go the journey as that saying He would go with me and that bis Spirit and presence should accompany me and that he would uphold me with the right hand of his righteousness which Scriptures were much enlarged on my Spirits as I thus walked alone in the Garden and I had such sweetness from the Lord through the Scriptures that it made my heart much affected with my journey and my Spirit leapt within me and rejoyced that I was come into a country where I should suffer for the testimony of Jesus and I had at that time such cordials from the Lord that I could have walked many hours in that Garden but Captain Langdons man came and desired me to walk into the room where his Masters acquaintance were For it may be they would not take it well he said if I did not come and sit in the room with them I was very unwilling for my communion in the Garden was so delightful to me yet through much entreaty by him I went I told him I could the better bear their sowre countenances and girding expressions now I had drunk of divine cordials then I could before when I first saw them at my coming into the house So I went into the room among them that did not care for my company and I heard many expressions concerning visions I perceived what and who they aimed at I sate silent among them there was Major Bawden and his Wife they were strangers then to me but they spake very friend-like to me and it was not in Tongue but in Heart as afterward appeared and there was Mr. Vinson and his Wife my very loving friends they declared themselves to be Mrs. Vinson came to me then and said Pray come to my house for I entertain you upon a Scripture-a count which adviseth to be kinde to strangers and what gain they had in old time that in entertaining strangers they entertained Angels unawares Thus she instanced the Scripture which made her to speak to me a poor undeserving creature to be thus taken notice of and indeed I felt humility in my heart springing up much when she thus spoke I lookt on my self unworthy of such a word or loving expression to me but my Father caused that friend though a stranger to shew me kindness Again further This evening being spent I went to my lodging where the Lord smiled on me and made it a lovely night and I was no whit weary after so long a journey but had refreshing rest and in the morning Mrs. Langdon came to see me but I had no minde to rise out of my bed and that day the Lord fill'd me with much joy and singing and I was in the Spirit with my friends at London who broke bread that day and I was filled with apprehensions of Christ the eternal Sabbath and the glorious Rest and the first-day-first-day-Resurrection how glorious all this was meeting in Christ the Saviour and Deliverer from all bondage and inthralment and my heart was much with my friends in that Ordinance of breaking bread I partook of that sweet supper with them in the Spirit And thus I spent that first day that I came to Tregasow which was the first day of the first week that I took up my abiding there much of Christs Death and Resurrection was lively presented to me and I sang forth his praises And the second day my heart was heat also with the flame of love which many waters cannot quench as the spouse saith in the Canticles so I felt it for all that day I had the Spirits flame as I had the day before it being their meeting day those particulars they first thought upon in their beginning that meeting which were the uniting of Saints in that bond of love as those were in formerly in the primitive times and
bed wiping away the tears from my eyes which she said came exceeding fast all night as I sung and prayed And truly the Sonne from on high had very much thawed my heart and I prayed and sung after that night four dayes and sometimes wrapt up in silence with the Lord beholding his glory in visions and on the last day of that week I spoke to some sea-men and others that came to visit me telling them the Lords kindnesse to me in my troubles in Cornwall and other experiences I related to them and the Lord knows I did speak of these things to them that they might be more in love with Christ who let out himself to a poore creature so extraordinarily And the next day after it was the first day of another week some would fain have had me gone to have heard the word preached that day but it could not be granted that I should go out of the Fort and indeed I was very weak having lain four dayes and five nights and came not out of my bed nor took no refreshing creature save a draught of small beer or syder and sometimes eat a little piece of toast out of it and this was but once at a night and not every night neither and this was for sixt dayes and this first day that I rose out of my bed I lay down again quickly and I took a Bible and read the 11. Chapter of Luke and the 12. Chapter and my heart was much taken with the words there that Christ spoke to them and the Lord applyed much to me of what Christ spoke concerning their calling of him Beelzebub and if they dealt so with Christ I thought it was but as Christ was dealt with to be called Devil and that saying I was possest with a lying spirit but this was made very easie when I conceived Christ bare a great deal more and after that these Chapters were fastened and knit to my heart the Lord making them mine I admiring at the sufferings of Christ and at his patience and I continued singing most part of that day concerning the Resurrection and my interest therein and I sang as to the conditions of many who lived in the Fort and concerning my passage on the sea that I should have speaking of the Lords appearances that I should have there and the Joy and Triumph I should be in in all my imprisonment time and the next day after this it being the second day of the week I had been a prisoner seven dayes and this was the eighth day from the Souldiers taking me so I that day at night after the hours spent with my friends at London which I knew kept that day in part in prayer so did I though absent in body from them and at night as I said before I went down and discoursed with Lieutenant Lark a while and after I had shewed him two Letters which I had written to London that he saw there was none of that which is called Treason in them then I wished him a good night and I went to bed and he the next day rode out of Town to fetch his wife who was with her friends in the Countrey and in his absence Ensign Owen was my keeper and he was very carefull to fulfill his office and was loath to let in my friends to see me but charged them at the gate with trespasse if they let in any of my friends saying they had best to be traytors too so he was as severe as if I had been a traytor yet he spake me very fair to my face but I saw he indeavoured to catch my words and to ensnare me putting his own sense upon them but the Lord kept me out of his insnarements but he watched for my halting and when my friends came a great way to see me they had much ado to get into the Fort and then my Gaoler sat by and heard what I said to my friends but this severity was not many days for Major Sanders came and then my Gaoler departed who told me the order did not make mention of my going to the Counsel but Major Sanders read that I should and so did the Lieutenant but my Gaoler it may be had a mind to affright me but he could not and he told me I dreamed that the order run so I am sure I said I was not asleep but he jeered me and he told Major Sanders that I would not have so many people come to me indeed he would have had no body come if he could have bore sway but the Lord ordered all for my good and when Major Sanders came he gave me leave with a keeper which was a friend to go to hear the first dayes and he was very courteous and so was Lieutenant Lark who came home with his wife before I was gone I stayed there for the wind and a States Ship to carry me I staid five weeks the Lord made it but as a few dayes to me I had so much of his presence and power from him he made kindnesse flow from strangers in the Family and in the Fort these were strangers and yet they were fellow Citizens and I blesse the Lord they are not now strangers but acquaintance and they are a company that are written in my heart they and their Teacher for they were not ashamed of my Chain they owned me in my Bonds and were a succour to me in a strange Countrey my Soul was administred to by them and the Pastor over them they every way administred to my necessity in what I stood in need of I wanted not their help and the people of the Parish shewed me love in visiting me and some of them when they had heard me pray and in singing they wept that they had taken up hard thoughts of me Their Teacher Mr. Hughes was very bitter against me and would not come and talk with me though some of his Auditory desired him but he writ to one of his friends at Cornwall that he had read my book and he from that drew that I was an impostor and he called the book non sense so that he confirmed his friend in her judging of me and so he continued judging me for the sake of that Dispensation he never saw nor came not to try it by the word but he indeavoured to incense others against me and his sometimes Scholler R.V. was afraid to displease his Father Hughes else he would have come according to his promise but it may be had forgot that he promised a young man whom I sent the first night I came to tell him I was come to the Fort a prisoner and I knew not how little a while I should stay therefore I should be glad to see him and he told the Messenger that he would come next day but he came not and yet was much in the Town most part of my stay there and many wondered he came not to see me having been acquainted with me above seven years the
ANNA TRAPNEL's Report and Plea OR A NARRATIVE Of her Journey from London into Cornwal the occasion of it the Lord's encouragements to it and signal presence with her in it Proclaiming the rage and strivings of the People against the comings forth of the Lord Jesus to reign manifested in the harsh rough boisterous rugged inhumane and uncivil usage of Anna Trapnel by the Justices and people in Cornwal at a place called Truro Whereto is annexed A DEFIANCE Against all the reproachful vile horrid abusive and scandalous reports raised out of the bottomless pit against her by the prophane generation prompted thereunto by Professors and Clergie both in Citie and Country who have a form of godliness but deny the power Commended for the justification of the Truth and satisfaction of all men from her own hand Printed at London for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles neer London-house 1654. To the READER THe Lord and my Father Courteous Reader having put me upon this work and imployment I pray don't call it idleness lest you would be likened to those who call good evil and evil good and put darkness for light and light for darkness against whom there is a woe pronounced from the Lord * Isaiah 5.20 and is it not dreadful to come under the woe of the Lord sure it is much better to come under mens threats scourges and contempt and when for well-doing too what shall harm you if you be follower of that which is good * 1 Pet. 3.13 whatsoever is done to the upright in heart it 's no harm If ye suffer for righteousness sake happy are ye and be not afraid of their terrour nor be troubled I bless the Lord my sufferings are for righteousness sake and I go not about to vindicate my self but Truth which indeed stands in no need of mine or any ones vindication but I would shew love and respect to it in opposition to those who with spades and shovels dig up mire and rubbish to throw upon it Power and Spear is drawn against the Lord and his Anointed for the holy Unction that the holy One hath given his they suffer and who can be sad whatsoever is laid upon them by men or devils when thereby they are not losers but great gainers from the Lord though losers from men and therefore men may give losers leave to speak to them which have offered them so much injurie But the Lord knows I would not reach out tongue hand nor pen to right my self or to seek restauration of my loss I wave that such a thing is below my spirit I bless the Lord truly I do not herein boast neither would I glory in any thing save in my infirmities not in my sins but in reproaches and vilifyings which the Apostle saith He will glory in * 2 Cor. 11.30 I will saith he glory of the things which concern mine infirmities He could glory in the Lords fatherly strokes as looking unto all things to work for the good of his soul seeing his Fathers love in all that was done unto him giving him a thousand-fold for his outward damage And though I am a poor inferiour unworthy to be compared with any of the holy men or women reported of in the Scripture yet I can say with Paul Through grace I am what I am and I live yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I live is by the faith of the Son of God who died and gave himself for a weak handmaid as well as for a strong Paul And my desire is to imitate that approved Hannah in 1 Sam. 1. who was in bitterness of soul and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore for a Samuel wherein God might be glorified and advanced in and by that typical Prophet who held forth Christ that great Prophet that lives for ever who maketh fruitful and removes barrenness And if hand-maids in these dayes pray and weep for their Lord begging his coming to rule in them and in the Nation and to teach all sorts of people his statutes that so the statutes of Omri might be utterly ruinated such praying cannot be borne by the Inhabitants of this Nation there is such an old evil spirit of mis-construing and judging holy actions to carry in them evil consequences Eli the Priest of the Lord is imitated in his worst part England's Rulers and Clergie do judge the Lords hand-maid to be mad and under the administration of evil angels and a witch and many other evil terms they raise up to make me odious and abhorr'd in the hearts of good and bad that do not know me Pray Christian Reader well observe the ensuing Discourse whereby you may understand the voice of malice and envie uttered and acted by the Clergie and Rulers against me who hath shewed much love and friendship to them for many yeers and yet is no Enemy to her Enemies but prayeth for them I am sure they have sinned far more then old Eli who said of Hannah She was Drunk This grieved her and made her reply and say Don't count thy hand-maid for a daughter of Belial for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto Then Eli said Go in peace and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him Here is a recantation quickly manifested and it 's probable he was exceedingly troubled for afflicting the afflicted What rash Judgers imitate him in this part 〈◊〉 though he was the chief-Priest in his dayes yet he thought it no disparagement to talk with a poor hand-maid being a sober holy woman Therefore I instance this example Reader that thou maist take notice how far short the great Rabbies come of Scripture-Rule in these dayes of the Gospel wherein they should abound not in pride haughtiness and lofty carriages but in humility and in acknowledging the wrong and evil judgement that they have brought forth and passed upon the innocent And as to what they have said and passed sentence may not Judas rise up in the judgement-Judgement-day of the Lord and condemn these men who acknowledged his evil and likewise Simon Magus who confessed his sin and desired prayer and many Heathens did so recorded in Scripture and in many Histories besides which the learned are not ignorant of and shall Heathens and a vile Iudas a Spirit-abusing Simon Magus condemn those that are accounted Christians great in wisdom and knowledge and eloquent speeches and full of guilded words brave Orators great head-pieces so called but is it not more commendable to be in heart then in head My son give me thy heart And the Lord saith when Israel did so word it with him Oh that there were such an heart Here is brave language fair promises but Oh that there were such an heart Deut. 5.28 an heart comparable with such words God loves which brings sayings out into doings he delights in golden actions not in guilded words he esteems reality not falshood Who can
forbear taking up a Lamentation concerning poor ENGLAND whose Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests bear Rule by their means and the people love to have it so but what will they do in the end thereof for sure the end will be sad when the Lord shall come out as a swift Witness against the Seers of ENGLAND for strengthening Baal's Priests and upholding the Popes Dominion and dressing the Scarlet Whore in new clothes so as to blinde and decieve Cities and Countries telling them That it 's the true genuine fruit of the Womb of the Church and Spouse of CHRIST when it will indeed be discovered to be from the Harlots brood and so a Bastard which is sentenced by the LORD according to Scripture surely to die and the day of the LORD's vengeance will slay it for the LORD hath pronounced destruction to Babylons Brats as well as to Babylon why then should contention be for the Whores Brats Reader I beseech this of thee whosoever thou beest under Forms or without forms obedient to Ordinances for the LORD's sake or yet in the dark concerning them I beseech all sorts of people high and low to weigh in the balance of the Sanctuary the true Relation which followeth for I shall relate the Truth without addition though I cannot it may be remember all the passages in order yet as many as the LORD brings to my minde I shall relate for the satisfaction of the LORD's friends known and unknown in all parts where the rumour hath run A Declaration from my own hand shall follow not being put on by any save by the great Instructor who counselleth with his eye who beareth me out before men and devils The LORD is on my side I will not fear men what they can do the LORD is my help and refuge Farewel Your servant that loves Christ in sincerity A.T. Here begins the NARRATIVE or RELATION FIrst I shall give an account of my Invitation from friends which said Pray go down with us to Cornwal there you may do good to poor souls with the variety of Experiences God hath given you But I said There 's a far journey indeed Do you think I would leave all my friends to go so far from them they would take it very ill surely They said to me We have invited you we pray you spread it before the Lord and hearken to his minde in it and we will pray and wait for the Lords answer I said I would pray against going to Cornwal if I should finde any inclination or motion to go I would not hearken to it my minde was so strongly bent against that journey But two days after in the night I was praying to the Lord in my bed secretly and I desired I might abide neer my London-friends that so I might enjoy society with them that I was in Church-order with who were so dear to me and were written in my heart But the Lord that night perswaded my heart to pray to him for his presence in the journey to Cornwal saying Do n't pray agairst it any more for there thou must go And much perswasion was given in to my heart by the secret whisperings of the Spirit And the Scripture-sayings I had that night were these The first was Josh 1.9 The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest And again I had that saying Where canst thou flee from my presence or where canst thou go from my Spirit Psal 139.7 I then said Truth Lord whither can I go from thy Spirit or flee from thy presence Then do n't fear to go to Corurwal though it be a long journey said the Lord for I will go with thee then I said Lord let me have thy Spirit and presence in places neer London why should I go so far and among strangers the answer was Fear not be not discouraged thy God who is thy Father goeth with thee then I mourned before the Lord and said I pray Father let me not go then the Lord said Thou reasonest as Moses did when he was to go to Pharoah he cavilled against the minde of God and so do'st thou then that saying was given into my heart The Lord hath purposed thy going there and his purpose and counsel shallstand and he will do his pleasure it pleaseth him thy going there and then I had that Scripture in Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness therefore said the Lord be willing to go and then my reasoning gainsaying spirit fell flat before the Lord and I prayed Thy will O Lord be done thy word coming with such power and great authority on my heart I can no longer contradict it then I had this saying Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses things are confirmed I have said the Lord given thee many confirming Scriptures for thy establishment concerning thy journey therefore be strong in thy Fathers strength rely upon him that will not forsake thee nor leave thee but will be thy guide unto death Then I told my sister I thought I must go to Cornwal the which she liked not but contradicted And the day after this nights debating and arguing I told some of the Church I walk with That I was perswaded to go to Cornwal they were much against it and said to me You will not we hope do so we are against your leaving us to go so far and will you leave us in such a time as this Many of my sisters were troubled at my first speaking of going but when I had related the Scriptures I had for my going then they were silent for that time and I told them That if I had not a further call from God to the journey I would not go it being such an extraordinary journey I would not go without an extraordinary call further from the Lord sealing me up thereunto And going down to Hillington neer Uxbridge by the way as I rode I still was filled with apprehensions of my journey into Cornwal the joy I should have by the way and what benefit others would have through a poor creature And when I came to my friends house at Hillington I lay all next day silent but exceedingly filled with the presence of the Lord who shewed me a vision of my Cornwal-journey I beheld high rocky-hills and variety of places and towns and how I should be as I rode in the Coach much melody I should have this I saw and heard this saying That as sure as Paul in Act. 16.9 had a vision appeared in the night There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed Paul saying Come over into Macedonia and help us the Lord said as truely do I thy Lord call thee to Cornwal by this vision then I answered and said Paul was to preach there what is that word to me then reply was But as sure as
his was a vision from the Lord to go to Macedonia so as sure had I a call and true vision to go to Cornwal then singing triumph was given me concerning the journey thither how filled I should be by the way which was so And then after I had thus sang and prayed I rode to see the Lords two Embassadours which were imprisoned in Windsor-Castle for the testimony of Jesus Mr. Simpson and Mr. Feak who were filled with the Spirit abundantly and when I a while beheld their courage for King Jesus I departed with other friends back to my friends house at Hillington and the next day rode to a friends house six miles off where I abode two nights And as I was walking in the fields I was suddenly very hoarse and I could not well speak but softly and I was greatly tempted as I walked in the fields that I should be hoarse while I lived like as a woman of the Congregation was with whom I walk so should I be not able to speak but hoarsly And therefore go not thy journey said Satan for that extraordinary dispensation of prayer and singing shall not be with thee then they will not regard thee whom thou goest with for they look at that and not at thee and that departing from thee thou wilt not be regarded by them and being in a strange place how sad then will it be with thee and they are but strangers to thee Acquaintance with them hath been but a little while therefore don't go Thus Satan and my fearful nature joyned together to frustrate what I had spoken from the Lord concerning my going being sealed up for the journey always after sealing unto any work of the Lord Satan tempts me but such is the goodness of the Lord to me who lets not out Satan till he hath first established me and then before I have the mercy the sentence of death is put upon what is in order to the bringing it forth to view so that the Lord thereby strengthens me the more and makes me live by faith which is the life of the just it 's a lovely life the life of faith But further as for Satans temptations they lasted but for half a day and a little part of the night and they were removed for in the night in my sleep the Lord refreshed me with many Scriptures as being my refuge stay and defence and strong Tower guide and succourer And at break of day I awoke out of sleep refreshed as one with new wine and indeed I had that night such well-refined wine as Scripture makes mention of And hearing the birds cherup in the morning early about my chamber-window I had this saying given into my heart Thou hearest those birds in their notes and motion which pleaseth thy ear And doth the great Creator take care of birds still maintaining them with a supply of food suitable for them that so they may live and be lively in their service to man And doth God take care of fowls that not a sparrow shall fall to the ground without the Fathers providence or ordering it to be so then what care and provision doth he make for rational created pieces which the whole Trinity was in the make thereof as for other pieces he said Let it be and it was so but as to mans make the whole Trinity gave their judgement And said the Lord to me hath God honoured thee with this first honour in making thee a rational peice and also giving thee a share and interest in the death and resurrection of his Son and hath made thee partaker of the divine nature of that heavenly-born state of that second creation in Christ spoken of in Eph. 2.19 Art thou thus provided for to be made a possessor of two creation-works a first and a second and also hast thou the Spirit of adoption whereby thou canst cry Abba Father then having done thus much for thee will he withhold any thing that 's good for thee he will not And I felt my hoarsness removed from me presently and all my temptations which I told you the day before did so seize upon my Spirits and the Lord renewed my faith concerning my journey and made me to rejoyce over Satan And I arose and rode that day to meet with some of the Lords servants where a day of thanksgiving was kept for many special favours received from the Lord and for his upholding comforting presence in sufferings and there I stayed till night in which day I beheld much of divine presence and glory coming towards the Saints and great ruine unto the enemies which were presented to me like a tottering house that stands shaking and ready to fall And I had that saying So doth and shall totter all the towers and Babels builded and rear'd up in contempt to King Jesus who will confound all such builders and their work as the Apostle saith They that build hay or wood or gold or silver or any thing of their own materials it shall be burnt 1 Cor. 3. this foundation will admit of nothing of mans corruptible stuff to be joyned with it for it is compleat and will compleat his servants that build upon him Then when this thanksgiving-day was ended I rode to my friends house at Hillington where I was filled with joy and singing most part of that night and the next day I rode to another friends where I stayed the next day being the first day of the week that day I went to hear a Minister which preacht a mile off in whose ministery the Spirit much warmed my heart and refreshed my Spirits and though I was ill in my outward man all that day yet the matter I heard was so reviving being spiritual that at night thinking of it and walking in a curious garden where I saw the pleasant trees and plants and walks and fish-ponds and hearing the birds pleasant notes all this begat such an harmonious apprehension of God in my heart that I began to sing forth his praises and continued while it was so late in the evening that my friends that walked with me thought it convenient to lead me into the house which they can best give an account of for I minded not the time nor those that were with me neither can I tell whether I felt the ground I walkt upon my Spirits was so much in divine rapture and my Spirits so heat with Spirit-fire which produced singing-melody while midnight the which singing speech was directed to the whole family and those belonging to it at that time which family consisted of many persons grave and judicious and learned understanding persons before whom I thought my self unfit to speak when I was in an ordinary capacity but being filled extraordinarily I wanted not words composed and orderly and learning for the learned Herein I don't boast but in the rich free love of God who gives to whom he pleaseth Then after that singing I was put to bed being weak in body and
head between two friends where I lay and prayed till the morning and coming into my ordinary capacity I rose and had strength of body though I could not eat the day before nor after this night thus speaking so much yet I was not dry neither could I take any creature-refreshing though I had much offered me This I mention to advance Christ and not for any by-end Then my friends sent me in their Coach to London where I prepared for my Cornwal-journey all that week Coming to my habitation the second day of the week that week I had much of the Lord's presence in marvelous joy and yet many temptations between whiles the tempter tempted me against my journey and when I went up a pair of stairs I was tempted that I should fall from the top to the bottom of the stairs and break my limbes so that I should in such a way be hindered my journey and I was often tempted that week before I went that some evil should befal me to hinder me from going to Cornwal or some would hear of my going that would stop it And then Satan said What will become of all thy faith and the singing report concerning it And sometimes I was thus hurried yet I staggered not in my faith concerning the truth of what I had mentioned about my journey that it should surely be as I had believed and I waited for the accomplishment of it And the sixth day of that week I took my leave of my Tower-friends sitting up till the morning with them all the night praying and praising with them with joy more then an ordinary capacity could hold And in the morning I went to bed and lay some hours and then rose and abode there that day and night and the next day being the first day of this following week I bid my Tower-friends farewel and so departed from them taking my leave also of other friends by the way as I went to Alhallows where I met with the Congregation that I am in fellowship with which use to break bread there And I that day saw great shinings and tasted much of my Saviour that day who presenting his love liness in the ministery and his sweetness in the supper of breaking bread which filled my heart with joy unspeakable and glorious in believing And then after the Ordinances were ended I took my leave of many friends there who gave me their exhortations with counsel and prayer for my well-doing and I departed from them begging their prayers for me when absent in the body and half a score of my sisters kept that night in prayer with me at my friends house from whence I was to take my journey the next day And having thus spent the night in sweet communion with God I was prepared for my journey I wanted not sleep nor food-preparation having had the cordial revivement liquors from my Lord Jesus which strengthened me for my travelling to Cornwal And I said to my friends I pray be much in spiritual communion together and don 't forget to mention before the Lord your unworthy sister at a distance Thus desiring their remembrance of me they departed from me and I and my friends for the journey went by water from Southwark to White-Hall-stairs where we landed and went to the Inne where we took Coach and many friends came to bid us farewel among them came one who said to some after I was gone That if he had known me and had known I was going into his country he would have procured the Councels Order to have stopt my journey for the love he bore to his country which sure he thought I would corrupt and make like my self which he thought to have hindered but the Lord prevented his desire for my Father would have me go there and Satan nor men could not hinder me So we rode on our journey toward the West and in the first dayes journey my thoughts were taken up with the work of the praying Saints which met that day at Alhallows it being the second day which they use to keep for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Israel praying and speaking for that concernment which is so glorious and my thoughts were very seriously intent upon generation-work praying with them at Alhallows in the Spirit though I was absent from them in body and meeting with a dear friend by the way who told me he intended to go to Alhallow meeting that day I said I pray remember what was earnestly desired of you that you would assist the Church in the wilderness and be helpful in the second dayes meeting keeping close to the work of the present day and I desired his prayer for me in my absence more words passed between us as he rode by the Coach-side a little way then he bid farewel and departed and my joy was encreased at the sight of that precious servant of Christ whose words left a fragransie upon my Spirits some part of the day and the enjoyment of prayer in the Spirit with them at Alhallows took up the other part of the day onely speaking a little sometimes to my friends with whom I went At night we came to our Inne where I had much refreshings in a little meditation of Gods goodness to me that day and after prayer I went to my bed and was refreshed with sights of the Lord in my sleep and rose in the morning taking another dayes journey and in much discourse we spent that second dayes journey And I rode the next day with the same persons as I did the day before and my Spirit then was all that day in a praying and singing frame and so it remained till night and then we came to Salisbury where we parted with the Judge that rode in the Coach with us for there the Judges met in their Circuit and there I was mightily fill'd with apprehensions of Christ's Circuit he was taking in the earth and of that blessed time that the Saints should judge the earth when in that time the earth should not pass their false judgements on the Saints and most part of that night I was thus and they that were with me saw and felt on my outward man which was like a dead clod I was so cold a great while And the fourth daies journey I sang prayed almost the whole day and so I did the fifth daies journey singing much of the creation-excellencies as trees grass and several plants and corn that grew as I went by And though I rode through townes I minded not any speakings of creatures for indeed I was not capable of outward sayings or doings nor of the ratling of the Coach those two dayes And the last day of that week we came to Exceter which day I was very cheerful in the Lord though not so very much as the dayes before there we inned at an old disciples house a widow one Mrs. Winter's a house that many yeers had entertained and lodged Saints which in their travelling still
took up their quarters there and I lay there three nights and the day after being the first day of another week I went to hear the Word preached at the Castle in Exceter where I kept this first day with the Church that met there and there I saw my London-friends that a while had dwelt in the Castle and I continued till late in the evening with them relating the goodness of the Lord to me by the way of my journey and acquainting them with the welfare of London-friends and how joyfully the prisoners at Windsor-Castle took their sufferings it being upon so noble an account And these friends wondred much at my taking so long a journey and said Sure some extraordinary thing was to be made manifest in my going so far and therefore they would hearken after it and observe the Lords work in it for they thought there was something more then ordinary to be brought forth in that I was carried so far a journey and having so little acquaintance with them I went with which made them admire what the Lord would do with me and so did many and my self also thought and was perswaded That the Lord would shew some special favours to me and so he did I largely thereof enjoyed before my return back again and I took leave of those friends that night and came to my lodging at Mrs. Winters The next day the Lord greatly ravished my soul with his smiling looks on me and he filled me that day with prayer and singing and discovering the tottering shaking condition of Clergie-Function And likewise praying for many particular friends at London and specially for them at Alhallows-meeting and for those friends at the Castle forementioned speaking to every one of their conditions and likewise begging sinners to come to Christ And I spake to variety of conditions that day wherein many souls were refreshed And I lay all that night in a rapture of great joy and had sights of my further journey how God would carry me safe and with much pleasantness to my journies end the which we went towards in the morning it being the third day of the week in which day we parted with Colonel Bennet and his Daughter and Servants and his Wife bore me company with Captain Langdon and his Wife and their Servants this was our company that went from Exceter together and lodged by the way that night which dayes journey was very sweet to us and we had much of the Lord's preservation with us Then the next day which was the fourth day we came to Colonel Bennet's house where we lodged that night and my heart was very chearfully carried on in reading over every dayes mercy when I came to my lodging And the next day after dinner we took our leave there and parted with Colonel Bennet's Wife at her house who shewed me much love and told me She would send for me to her house again after a little time expired Col. Bennet by the way as we journeyed being taken much with my experiences said They were not to be hid but they were to be manifested for the benefit of others said He would have me ride to some of his friends houses for that dispensation of the Lord on me was not to be concealed And indeed he manifested much kindness to me as we journeyed in company together and charged his daughter to be very tenderly careful of me for that I was not in a capacity to minde my outward man This his kindness lasted to Exceter But now to come again to my journeying from his house in Cornwal which I told you we departed from after dinner and came to Captain Langdons sister where we lodged and were lovingly entertained the fifth day and there I had much love from God and from strangers and a very refreshing lodging and the creatures were very sweet to my taste there As for the six dayes before we came to Exceter I eat very little but we went from thence the sixth day after breakfast we took our leave of those Relations of Captain Langdons And the sixth day at night we came to Mrs. Langdons brothers house where we received a courteous entertainment and a refreshing lodge and my heart there was taken up much with the apprehension of the vanity of outward enjoyments and great attendances and brave houses and my thoughts were much upon the Rocks I passed by in my journey the dangerous rocky places I rode over And whereas I used to be very fearful when I rode on smooth ground now I feared not but was very cheerfully carried on beholding my Rock Christ through those emblems of Rocks and I sate as in a chair upon the high steep hills without any wearisomness at all and the thoughts of the Lords kindeness to me in these things drunk up my thoughts that night and the next day we came safe to our journeys end at Tregasow at Captain Langdons habitation and there we ended our journey the last day of the week which had been accomplishing thirteen dayes And the Lord much appeared to all of us the whole journey praised he his Name whose Name was to us indeed a strong Tower The Lord was our munition of Rocks and large provision every way to souls and bodies And thus I have given an account as briefly as I could of my journey-progress and blessed fare by the way and of the extraordinary and ordinary breakings forth of the light of his countenance and communications all along those thirteen dayes now expired Here follows a Relation in the next place of several passages and actings by creatures in a way of love and hatred some frowning few smiling many rejecting few receiving manifested from the first day to the last day of my abode there in Cornwal in the West Also of my imprisonment in Bridewel and my enlargment therefrom I Shall now begin the Relation of my first coming to Captain Langdons house where there came many of Captain Langdons acquaintance to see them at their first coming home and most of them gave me but a sowre greeting they having been informed before concerning my Spirit as it was reported to me afterwards but they frowningly and dissemblingly saluted me though their hearts were against me as many of them made it to appear largely afterwards and some became loving friends among them that loved me not when I first came but I seeing these unlovely carriages from the most part of them that came there that evening and afternoon it made me very thoughtful what it would produce I sate down in the room a while where I heard many discourses from them to one another and with Captain Langdon and I not relishing the discourse had a minde to walk in the Garden by my self and so I did a while wherein the Lord gave me much of his loving-welcome and kinde salutations saying Though thou seest many frown on thee it shall not make thee sad for thy Saviour will smile on thy soul in
that they might be of one heart and one minde and that knowledge might cover the earth as water the sea and that Jew and Gentile-fulness might be brought in and the Kingdom restored to this old Israel which was the first married Wife as it 's recorded in Scripture And that Judges and Rulers might be as at the beginning as Moses and Joshua and as Samuel and Gideon and other faithful ones as is made mention of in Scripture And I besought the Lord for these things and for the reign of Christ in and by which these things should be brought forth and for this every one professing the Lord ought to pray And thus I spent the second day and it was very sweet to me and fitted me for what I was to suffer in those parts And after that second day my heart was carried on very chearfully in the apprehensions of the Lords presence still with me and I had a great deal of tenderness from my friends I went down with who were as a tender Father and Mother to me at all times and in suffering their tenderness and care of me exceeded it abounded as my sufferings abounded and many that were at the first strange in their carriages to me after I had been there a while they were very loving to me and I had great kindness from the whole family where I abode till the wills of men fetcht me away with their Souldiers Further I shall give people to know that after I had been a week and a few dayes there I was desired to go to Truro to hear the Lecture that was kept there every third day so I did and that morming before we went there came a Letter which after we had prayed was read wherein a Gentleman at Truro invited Captain Langdon and his Wife and my self to his house the which invitation we looked upon as answer of prayer it coming so suitable to those requests put up to the Lord that morning And we went to Truro and heard the Sermon and that day there preacht one Mr. Allen a young man who spake of many things from the I verse of the 8 of the Romans And when the Sermon was ended we went home with Mrs. Hill to dinner her husband having invited us by writing the which I mentioned And after dinner there came many to see me some out of good-will and love to what they had heard was of God in me and others came to gaze and others to catch at my words so as to reproach me but the Lord taught me how to speak before them all as in the presence of the great God I spake who is my Father who alwaies shewed me kindness and did then before those several sorts of people I seeing many come into the room and Mr. Powel a Teacher in those parts came in with his Wife and another woman so that being there I thought to be silent but some desiring to have me speak I said I was loth to speak before that critical-pated man who would take my words and put his own sence upon them and so insnare me and it proved according as I said but when I had sat a while and saw so great a room full of people who desired I should give an account for their edification and satisfactions what God had done for my soul there having gone such a rumour abroad concerning me some saying one thing and some another it was therefore thought convenient to speak something among that great company of people that was come to my friends house and the Lord bringing that word also which is recorded by the Apostle 1 Pet. 3.15 which is to be ready to give an account at all times when required of the hope that is in me And I being desired to speak I thought it my duty though at the first I refused and when I began to speak I said to Captain Langdon who was then discoursing with that Mr. Power I mentioned I said I remember a word from Mr. Bridges of Yarmouth which was That we must still either be doing or receiving good And said I here is neither of these among us and I repeated a word I told them Mr. Greenhil once said to one whom he desired with many of that Congregation then present who desired experiences to be imparted to them using that word of David's who said Come you that fear God and I will tell you what God hath done for my soul and then I took up Paul's speech he used before Agrippa having been falsly accused by many he declares the manner of his life from his youth Acts 26. And so to others he said How he had walked in all good conscience before the Lord unto that day he then spoke it Acts 23. I used these words of the Apostle and said This was his practice when false rumours had gone concerning him and being that people had reported many things which were very contrary concerning me I thought it requisite to acquaint them there present with the Lords dealings concerning me from my Childhood And I told them the first conviction I had at nine yeers old and how I remained under a formal work and then how I was brought into a despairing condition and was so a while and then I told them the Work of Free-grace on me and the Testimony of the Spirit bearing witness to my Spirit that I was in union with the Father Son and Spirit and I told them of my desertions and temptations and of Satans many cunning wiles and of freedom many times therefrom and I related my fit of sickness which was cured in believing that I had eight yeers ago and I related the time and manner of my coming into Church order and likewise I told them the first bringing of my Spirit into this extraordinary praying and singing and visions was six weeks before Dunbar-fight in Scotland which was a beginning three yeers before but did not so much appear to the view of others and I told them how I prayed against this publick-spiritedness and how the Lord silenced me from those words in 1 Cor. 1.27 28. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are wights and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things that are not to bring to nought things that are I could be contented to be made use of under these terms as a fool and base and despised and as a thing that is not The Lord knows I then stooped to his will to do with me as he pleased when he set home this Scripture to my soul And this I told them and a great deal more largely then I will relate for brevities sake I gave a Relation of my horrible fit I was in a yeer ago and Sarans tyranny over me in that time and the great freedom the Lord afforded me after that storm and the
pourings out of the Spirit that hath been on my heart ever since I declared visions I had seven yeers ago concerning four sons of horns presented to me which related to four several changes of Powers one more fierce and sharper still then the other and the little Horns worst of all more in its pushings then the former I spake of so many things and so largely that it took up the afternoon for the most part so that before I spake much of my going to White-Hall and praying and singing there I broke forth into singing my heart being so thorowly heated with discoursing of God goodness so many hours And I sang and prayed a great part of that night and when I gave over my friends carried me in a chair into my chamber and put me into bed where I lay the remaining part of the night and the next day sang and prayed many hours and many souls were much taken in that speaking concerning the preciousness of Christ to them that believe 1 Pet. 2.7 from this Scripture and many others relating to Saints and to sinners not changed brought in to Christ which day was so glorious to me that Satan stirr'd up many against me afterwards because many were convinced that were prejudiced before by their teachers and some carnal ones were judiced before by their teachers and some carnal ones were awed convincing Scriptures came with such authority as that Behold ye despisers wonder and perish and that word in Isa 28.22 Be ye not mockers left your bands be made strong Many other Scriptures were spoken upon largely that day to sinners and some said afterwards Which of all our Ministers can hold out thus many hours without a cordial Now when their Ministers thought they should lose their fleece they began to stir like that maids masters spoken of in Acts 16.19 When her masters saw what was done they caught Paul and Sitas and drew them into the marker-place into the Rulers this was for the gift of healing and calling out that unclean Spirit All people observe how they loved sooth-saying in those times and I would they did not in these dayes of more light But I pray minde the Relation That after that day wherein I was thus carried forth to speak for Christ's interest the Clergie with all their might rung their jangling bells against me and called to the Rulers to take me up that I heard was the speech of Mr. Welsted and others said The people would be drawn away if the Rulers did not take some course with me They were extremely afraid of losing Diana's repute And after these two days spent at Truro I returned to my place of abode at Tregasow but the Clergie gate information in many places of the Country what an impostor and a dangerous deceiver was come into Cornwal that the people wondred what strange kinde of creature was come into their Country and thus they spit forth venome against me but it did me no hurt because my Father made it work for good my joy was not lessened but increased And after a little while I was invited again to Truro and I went to visit Mrs. Hill her husband being gone to London she prayed me to carry and bear her company And after that I had sat down a while word was brought me that there were two Warrants out for to take me either at Captain Langdons or at Major Bawdens as for Major Bawdens I was but once at his house for I kept at my friends house I went down with though the report was I went from place to place aspersing the Government I did not the one nor the other I was but twice at Truro I have told all the places I went to while I remained at Tregasow This report of theirs is as false as the rest But I will come to tell you how they acted against me after I heard Warrants were out for me I looked when they would come in to the house where I was to take me And many people came to see me And one Haulbow a Minister with whom I had some converse and he said I had fully satisfied him in his request And for his part he said what he asked me it was not so much for his own satisfaction as for others whom he could now satisfie and he invited me to his house and said I should be welcome and he told me He would satisfie those that had spoken against me which were set on by false reports And all these words and many other more amounted to just nothing it was but Clergie-puff which soon was gone like a puff of winde that is almost at an end as soon as it riseth and so was his fair speech to me for I understand since he hath reproached me and other friends that are of more worth then I and yet this man spoke me so fair but so much shall suffice as to him I come again to tell you that this day wherein I expected the Warrant for me it came not I that day found my timorous fearful nature work against me what I should do and say before the Magistrate having never been before any in that kinde to be accused by them but the Lord seeing me not prepared to go before them nor strong enough he would take me first into the Mount and give me the preparations of the Sanctuary and so he did before I was called before them That night following this day that I have been speaking of there came about a dozen men and women to see me and one Mr. Paul a minister who had rode ten miles to that Town to understand aright concerning me for that he had heard so many reports and he desired to be satisfied from my own mouth so I related the Lords dealing with me and what he had freely given me for my own particular and for others benefit and when I had done speaking I told him how I was like to suffer through false rumouts raised against me I desired him to pray with me but he said He would joyne with me if I would pray I said I rather would hear him pray and have a caste of the cluster he had received of the Vine Christ so he prayed very sweetly and spiritually and when he had ended it was about twelve a clock at night and afterwards I spoke a little by way of discourse and was a little silent Then the Lord made his Rivers flow which soon broke down the Banks of an ordinary capacity and extraordinarily mounted my Spirits into a praying and singing frame and so they remained till morning-light as I was told for I was not capable of that but when I had done and was a while silent I came to speak weakly to those about me saying I must go to bed for I am very weak and the men and women went away and my friend that tended me and some other maids helpt me to bed where I lay till the afternoon they said silent And that time I
had a vision of the Ministers wife stirring against me and she was presented to me as one enviously bent against me calling that falsity which she understood not And I saw the Glergie-man and the Jurors contriving an Indictment against me and I saw my self stand before them in a vision I saw this And I sang with much courage and told them I feared not them nor their doings for that I had not deserved such usage But while I was singing praises to the Lord for his love to me the Justices sent their Constable to fetch me who came and said He must have me with him and he pulled and call'd me they said that were by but I was not capable thereof they said He was greatly troubled how to have me to his Master they told him He had better obey God then man And his hand shooke they said while he was pulling me Then some went to the Justices to tell them I could not come But they would not be pacified some offered to be bound for my appearance next day if I were in a capacity but this was refused they would have me out of my bed unless some would take their Oaths that it would in danger my life to be taken out of my bed which none could do without they had loved to take false Oaths like some others in those parts Then a friend perswaded them to see whether they could put me out of that condition and told them I was never known to be put out of it so they came Justice Launce now a Parliament-man was one of them I was told These Justices that came to ferch me out of my bed they made a great rumult them and their followers in the house and some came up stairs crying A witch a witch making a great stir on the stairs and a poor honest man rebuking such that said so he was tumbled down stairs and beaten too by one of the Justices followers and the Justices made a great noise in putting out of my chamber where I lay many of my friends and they said If my friends would not take me up they would have some should take me up one of my friends told them That they must fetch their silk gowns to do it them for the poor would not do it And they threatned much but the Lord over-ruled them they caused my eye-lids to be pull'd up for the said I held them fast because I would deceive the people they spake to this purpose One of the Justices pincht me by the nose and caused my pillow to be pull'd from under my head and kept pulling me and calling me but I heard none of all this stir and bussle neither did I hear Mr. Welsted which I was told called to the Rulers saying A whip will fetch her up and he stood at the Chamber door talking against me and said She speaks non-sence the women said Hearken for you cannot hear there is such a noise then he listened and said Now she hears me speak she speaks sence And this Clergie-man durst not come till the Rulers came for then they say The witches can have no power over them so that one depends upon another Rulers upon Clergie and Clergie upon Rulers And again After they had made all the fury appear that the Lord permitted them to vent against me they then went away saying She will fall in a trance when we shall at any time call for her The Lord kept me this day from their cruelty which they had a good minde further to have let out against me that witch tryer-woman of that Town some would fain have had come with her great pin which she used to thrust into witches to try them but the Lord my God in whom I trust delivered me from their malice making good that word to me in the Psalms The rage of man shall turn to thy praise and the remnant of rages thou wilt restrain Then further to tell you how the Lord carried me in singing prayer after they were gone two hours as I was told and then I came to my self and being all alone I blessed God for that quiet still day that I had And the Gentlewoman of the house coming into the chamber I said Have I lain alone all this day I have had a sweet day she replied and said Did not I hear the Justices there and the uproare that was in my chamber I said No. Then she told me how they dealt by her house bringing in their followers and what a noise they made Then another friend asked me Whether I did not hear that stir I said No. They wondred and so did I when I heard the Relation which is much more then I will write for I don't take delight to stir in such puddles it 's no pleasant work to me but that truth engageth me to let the world know what men have acted against the pourings out of the Spirit in a dispensation beyond their understanding they hearkened not to Scripture-advice which would not have any judge that they know not After that dayes tumult at night many came to catch at my words and it was very probable that the Rulers sent some to watch for what could be had further against me and there were two women that they had got their names who had promised them to swear against me and of this I shall further speak when I come to it but now I am telling of what past that night mentioned many people spake much to me asking me questions the which the Lord helped me to answer And my friends kept most part of that night in prayer on my behalf And many watched what they said in prayer for there were listeners under the window which fain would have had something to have informed against them There was great endeavouring to have found a Bill of Indictment against Captain Langdon but they could not they could not vent their spleen though they to the utmost desired it the Lord would not let them have their evil desires herein for though they in this would have brought him into contempt yet they endeavoured this that so I might want a surety and then they had had what they desired which was to have cast me into the Goal But to leave that and to tell you that I had the presence of the Lord with me that night abundantly and my sleep was sweeter then at other times my sister Langdon lay with me that night and in the murning she told me That she could not sleep all night for thinking of my going to the Sessions that day she told me She wandered I could sleep so soundly all night I told her I never had a sweater night in my lise and as for my going before the Rulers I was no what afraid or thoughtful for I had cast my care upon the Lord which I was perswaded would speak for me therefore I was not troubled nor afraid for the Lord said to me Fear not be not dismaied I am
Launse I should have told you how I said to him If he would know what the ordinary impulse of Spirit was that I had to bring me into that country I would tell him so I related the Scriptures as that in the Psalmes and in the Prophet Isaiah how the presence and Spirit of the Lord should be with me and he would uphold me and strengthen me with the right hand of his righteousness he answered Such impulse was common they hoped they had that they were not ignorant of such impulse of Spirit much to this effect was spoken I seeing they were very willing to be gone I said Have you done with me answer was I might now go away but I said Pray what is it to break the good behaviour you have bound me over to I know not what you may make a breaking of it is it a breaking the good behaviour to pray and sing Justice travel said No so I did it at the habitation where I abode It 's well said I you will give leave it shall be anywhere I said I will leave one word with you and that is this A time will come when you and I shall appear before the great Judge of the tribunal seat of the most High and then I think you will hardly be able to give an account for this days work before the Lord at that day of true judgement said Tregegle Take you no care for us So they were willing to have no more discourse with me And as I went in the croud many strangers were very loving and careful to help me out of the croud and the rude multitude said Sure this woman is no witch for she speaks many good word which the witches could not And thus the Lord made the rude rabble to justifie his appearance for in all that was said by me I was nothing the Lord put all in my mouth and told me what I should say and that from the written word he put it in my memory and mouth so that I will have nothing ascribed to me but all honor and praise given to him whose right it is even to Jehovah who is the King that lives for ever I have left our some things that I thought were not so material to be written and what I have written of this it 's to declare as much as is convenient to take off those falsities and contrary reports that are abroad concerning my sufferings some making it worse then it was and some saying It was little or nothing Now to inform all peoples judgements I have thought it meet to offer this relation to the worlds view and with as much covering as I can of Saints weaknesses herein praying the Lord to forgive them and as for the Lords enemies that he would confound them but as for my enemies I still pray I now shall declare how God shewed me kindnesse further I rode home with my friends to Tregasow that day rejoycing that I was counted worthy to be so reproachfully dealt by for speaking in the Lord Christs behalf in prayer and praises and I remained very chearfull continuing in prayer and Thanksgiving and many spirituall songs unto the Lord but about ten dayes after the Souldiers of the Fox came to take me and the day before they come it being the first day of the the week I went to hear Mr. Frances who preached hard by where I abode one whom the Clergy would fain have had to have spoke against me but he said he would not they then called him my disciple and laughed and jeered at him when he came among them on their Lecture dayes They used to meet at an Ordinary where many of the Clergy and others dined together while I was in these parts the Clergy and others made me their Table and Pulpit talk and would have had Mr. Frances to have done as they did but he refused and hath since I hear left the place where he preached when I was in those parts But I return where I left in telling you how I was the day before that the Souldiers came for me I was very heavy in my spirit as I sat at dinner with my friends and I was very ready to shed tears and being loath my friends should see me I held from weeping as much as I could for I thought they would think that I took something unkindly but truly I could not for I had as much love from every one in the Family as could be desired but I was very sad and I rose from the Table where I dined and went and took my Bible wherein the Lord refreshed me and in the afternoon I went to hear and came home and went into the garden to walk alone and Captain Langdon coming into the Garden I discoursed a while with him and I said sure my London friends pray me up to London and when I come there I will write of Cornwell Cornhell in the West He said you might have suffered at London but not as here said I for here they deal very uncivilly and unchristian like by me well said I the Lord send me to London for I shall count it a great mercy to see their faces again I had said a Bridewell among them shall be sweet to me and so the Lord made it I that night was perswaded my work was done in Cornwall and that I should erelong see London yet being I was bound over to the Sessions which was not to be till August so that I was to have carried many weeks by the Justices order but they could not bear so much praving so long a time to be in their parts therefore they hasted their Letters to the Councell at White Hall to send their order down for me having a Governours Troop so near to agitate their businesse And the Governours was afraid of his Souldiers he commands them to their Colours and Ensign Raundle he must be cast out of his place for inviting his old friend Captain Longdon and his wife and his mother and me to come with them to his house And the Souldiers were charged to keep me out of Tregny that is three miles from Tregasow where a poore tempted soul was that would fain have entertained me at her House and this work the Fox made in his fortified places but the poore who are rich in faith prayed for me in those parts and some I never saw about ten miles from the place where I was who hearing of my trouble improved their interest with the Lord for me their faith and prayer did me more good than all the gold or filver or favours of great men could have done me I shall relate now further concerning that night before the Souldiers took me I saw in my sleep Souldiers come to take me and I rode towards London with them very joyfully and in the morning I made me ready and went down stairs and there was a friend came to see Captain Langdon so I went up into my Chamber to write to London and
I was thinking of that I saw in my sleep that I was riding from the House towards London and I also was was marvelling that my spirit was so heavy the day before and this saying I had in my heart Christ was heavy before the hour before they came to take him he was in an Agony said I Lord what manner of saying is this and as I was pondering upon it my sister Langdon came up into my Chamber very sad and said sister pray thee do not be frighted why said I what is the matter there is said she half a Troop of Horse come to take thy body or my husbands there was half a dozen souldiers and they made such a clutter she thought they had been a greater number but there was a number great enough to take a Poore silly maid So I rejoyced and said I am not troubled for I shall see my friends at London she said to Mistris Frances her mothers maid pray thee Mistris Frances take my sister and escape into the wood hard by by the house they cannot find her there but I said I will not make my self guilty by flying away for I have not broke any Law whereby man should do thus and as long as God is on my side said I men nor devils shall not affright me and the Lord gave me that word of Nehemiah who said Shall such a man as I flee So said I to them Shall such a one as I flee who have lived with the Lord all my dayes and have been couragious for Christ hitherto I will not now flinch through the strength of the Lord keeping me and I know he will keep me then many in the Family came and the neighbours and wept about mee but I was no whit daunted The Minister of the Parish came and said he would not wish me to go down without they would shew an order I answered what order have they brought none but Captain Foxe's letter they told me that said I is enough for there is the Foxe's claws to pin me to Plimouth so through perswasions I run down stairs where I heard the Souldiers very rough in their words and they said they would not tarry a moment for me and they would have me by foul means if I refused to go they threatned much what they would do the Quartermaster was very high in his words So when I had heard them bluster thus a while I stept among them many of my friends being with them I coming into the room stood by them and said friend whom do you seek speaking to the Quartermaster he said is this the Lady I said I do not know what you mean by Lady but that is a Souldiers complement I pray whom do you seek So he asked whether my name was Anna Trapnell I said I suppose that is my name then he said I demand your body said I take it if it will do you any good I am ready to go with you then he was very respectfull and said he would shew me all the courtesie and civility that lay in his power I thankt him and said they could not harm me for my God would not suffer them then they said they would wait til I was fitted to go and they tarried till the afternoon And when we had dined I took my leave of my dear loving friends and departed riding behind a friend that came to see Captain Langdon who put off his Journey that he was riding and offered to carry me and Captain Langdons man and his mothers maid they sent mith me and I went filled with the joy of the Lord and that day some two or three miles off I met with some dear friends who bore me company a while but I had so much of the refreshings of God which quickly overcame my ordinary capacity and I felt not the trotting of the horse nor minded any thing but the spiritual communion that I was in with the Lord and so I rode praying all the first dayes Journey till I came to Foy-Town where they took me down off the horse and set me in a chair but I came not to my capacity to speak a great while and when I looked up and saw many men women and children about me and sitting on a high wall right over where I sate I was amazed to see so many people and not knowing where I was but at length I spake to them in Scripture language the which they listened to and when I went away they gave a great shout the people said they used to do so at some strange sight so they led me into the Boat for we went over a passage and many men and women went over with us from that Town and the room was full of people where I lodged some came to gaze on me and some came in love to the Lord Jesus to hear experiences and some tempted souls were much refreshed and rejoyced much to see me there though not as I was a prisoner they wept for me as to that condition and I sate up most part of the night at Foy and begged those that came to jeer at me that they would consider the wrong they did to their poore souls and had Scripture very suitable to those I spoke I asked them what they came to see I was but as a reed shaken with the wind I was a simple creature onely divine wisdome was pleased to make use of the simple and to call them to him to shew them his love to chuse such to do him service and I said I am a poore sorry reed but divine power and the wind that Christ told Nichodemus in the 3. of John the 8. which bloweth where it listeth that wind said I hath taken a silly creature and hath made her understand its sound that which Nichodemus a great Rabbi could not tell what to make of so that I prayed them that derided that they would have a care and that they therein would consider the saying of Christ in the 25. of Matthew who said what they did to his they did to him though I be one of the worst of Christs little ones yet said I he will own me where ever I am I beseech sinners to love Christ who was the chiefest of ten thousands and I spoke how the Church set him out in the Canticles and I told them though they made me a by-word and a reproach yet I would pray for their Souls I told them I came not into the Countrey to be seen and taken notice of but I came with my friends I desired Christ and the beauty of holinesse might be taken notice of so that others thereby might be taken with Christ and that I might be onely a voyce and Christ the sound I spake much to prophane sinners and to the civilized ones that they would eye the new Covenant which admits of no condition nor qualification nor preparation but is a free Covenant to sinners as sinners that if they venture their souls thereupon it will
which they understanding said sure he knew some evil by me thus it bred a jealousie among strangers concerning me but some said he would not suffer evil to be spoken of me for he said sure the root of the matter was in me he was much urged by my friends to come but would not see me though in bonds and this use I was taught by the Lord to make of that unkindnesse of a friend who I hearing when I was coming to Plimouth that such an one was come there I leaned upon him as a prop to me in my suffering and I rejoyced much saying to my friends that he would vindicate me who had been known to him so long and one whom I was alwayes ready to vindicate when aspersed but my God learned me to know that all flesh was grasse and a sading flower and like an Egyptian reed and by this unkindnesse from a friend my God drew me the more to rest upon himself alone and what unkindnesse I relate from any received my end hereby is not to reproach or seek revenge on any but the Lord my God knows had there not been so many severall reports passed far and near I would not have set pen to paper in this kind but it is that truth may silence falsity and though I fail in an orderly penning down these things yet not in a true Relation of as much as I remember and what is expedient to be written I could not have related so much from the shallow memory I have naturally but through often relating these things they become as a written book spread open before me and after which I write Now I shall come again to the Relation and tell you that I had much kindnesse at Plimouth from many and great labour of love stewed me untill my departure and some went with me a shipboard and were sory to have me go from their Quarters not that I was any thing but the Lord did their souls good through a worm and when we had been a day and a night tossing on the Sea the wind being against us drove us back into the Harbour again Some at Dartmouth reported that I had bewitched the winds that the ships could not go to sea and they cursed me there but the Lord blessed me the more many reproaches he helpt me to bear and though we were beating on the waves against the wind yet I was not sick for the Lord had there much for me to declare to Sea men of free grace and of the vilenesse of mans nature and the excellent work of Redemption And I spake this unto them and prayed and sang in the Cabbin where I lay and the Sea-men were much affected the Lord made some of them declare how the Lord refreshed them and that they knew if I had stayed longer much good their souls would have reaped they were very respectfull to me though there were few that had any rellish of good the Lord made much to be rellished by them through a poore nothing creature the Scripture the Lord inlarged amongst them in the 73. Psalm verse 1. Truly God is good to Israel and to them that are of a clean heart the new Covenant the Lord made known amongst them very much so that it was a blessed passage though as from man it was bitter to be tossed upon the Sea four dayes and the maid that came with me lying vomiting grievously by me and sick even ready to dy she thought her heart would have broke and I hurt my leg against the ship side that it raged greatly a day and a night and lying in a little Cabbin sweating much the maid and I together which lodge was very little it being in the Masters Cabbin which was a little Lodge But though I met with much difficulty as to flesh and blood yet I murmured not onely I was once a little troubled and said Lord why is man thus cruell to deal thus with me they never considered whether my nature could bear the Sea but I said Father lay not this evil usage to their charge I was brought up among the Pirates that had robbed upon the Sea and were taken prisoners and sent in the ship with me but the Lord preserved me from all hurt and caried me safe to Land and all in the ship both Captain and Master and men gave me civill respect while I was with them So the Lord made good his promise to me that nothing should harm me neither on the Sea nor the Land And the Captain with some of his men came with me ashore and we landed at Portsmouth and the Governour not being in Town I went with the Captain to Major Morefords the deputy Governour who receiving the order from the Captain of the ship after some Discourse with him he departed and the Deputy Governour told me I was committed to his Charge untill such time that he could dispose of me with conveniency so he lovingly entertained me and those two friends that came with me and his daughters shewed me much kindnesse and in the afternoon the Deputy Governour having no lodging in his house for me he procured me lodging at Ensign Bakers in the Town and he went with me thither it being not far off and there he left me desiring the Ensigns wife to be kind to me but she heard I was a frenzy-headed creature and she looked very sowr upon me and all the while I was there she offered me no drink nor any thing else but one day when the Governour sent his servant to see what I had then she sent to me and I had newly eaten a piece of Pye that I had brought with me from Plimmouth so that was all my food I eat from the second day to the fifth day that I came away then she seemed to be very kind and said she heard such a clamour concerning me which made her afraid of me but after she heard me she was of another mind I prayed and sang there a night and a day for the most part and so departed from thence the next morning after and came in a Coach to London and a Lieutenant came with me to convey me to Westminster and he brought a Present of Egges that was sent from Gernsie to the great man at White Hall they were Partridge Egges of the largest kind I was told and if they were not well put up they could not be kept whole for the Coach broke twice by the way and overturned once it was a great mercy that we had no hurt the dealings of man being unjust every thing will make them manifest and discover their breakings where they or their Presents be If such that hold forth King Jesus be near one danger or other they will be lyable to meet withall I was through Divine Power brought safe in the Coatch to Fox Hall where we lighted and the Coach man and Lieutenant told me I must bear all my Charges both by the way and the Coach hire so I
see my hard usage but they saw it was in vain to find fault that night so they departed and I was left alone The Matron would not admit of the maids being with me who came from Cornwall with me but said she would tend me I should not have a maid to wait on me there so my friends departed from me leaving me in the Lords protection and the Matron bid me make hast to bed for she must fetch away the candle for she said she did not trust her prisoners to put it out And when she was gone down as I was making my self unready I was much assaulted by Satan and my own heart who said to be so forward for God see what thou hast got by it thy mother little thought this would have befallen thee when she prayed that God would double his spirit on thee now thou mayest see what her prayer is come to I then was tempted to murmure at that prayer and the Tempter bid me speak against that prayer and the Tempter said to me that I should be a by-word and a laughing-stock while I lived and that every one would point at me as I went up down the streets when I came out they would say there goes a Bridwell bird and then many will gather about thee to mock and deride thee and as for thy kindred they will be ashamed of thee and will not care to hear thy name mentioned in their ears because of Bridewell reproach and therefore said Satan wilt thou still retain thy faith concerning Christ as King and Governour in the Earth And I was tempted to let go my confidence as to this but my Father kept me and gave me a discovery of my Saviour as he was hung between two thieves and also brought those scriptures to my thoughts which makes a report of Christ as he was ranked among transgressours and how he that knew no sin was dealt with so as to indure the contradiction of finners And now the Lord talked with me about my Saviours suffering much for me and therefore do not hearken to Satan said the Lord but look unto him that suffered the contradiction of sinners for thy sake then was my heart cheared and I went unto the unlovely lodging and the Matron locked me in or bolted me in I know not well which but there I was shut in alone and yet not alone for Christ was with me and when I had lain a while I grew very sick for the hard damp bed struck much into my stomach and the cold sheets so that all this set me into an Ague and I shook much and my limbs smarted with cold and I smelt such a strong scent about the bed that my heart panted and lay beating and my stomack working and my head aching exceeding much most part of my being in that Lodge this first night and at break of the day I threw off the cloaths from my stomach for I was almost spent being very fick and in much pain some hours and I said dear Father hast thou brought me to Bridewell to dye the Lord and my Father answered me presently and said no thou shalt not dye but live and declare the works of the Lord and he further told me that though my heart and my strength failed me the Lord was the strength of my heart and my portion for ever and he would never leave me nor forsake me the Lord said he would be my safety from the horn of men and Devils and I then recovered a little strength and I sang forth allelujahs song of thanksgiving and I out of that fell in a little slumber and my friends came and waked me presently against their wills they did it for they were very tender of me and it grieved them greatly when they heard what a night I had they then spake a while to me and soon after I rose and made me ready and then went to prayer with some of my sisters that came that morning and after prayer I received much reviving in my outward man but was not well yet I walked about the house all that day and was in the lower roome with my friends who came that day many of them whom I walk in fellowship with and many others for they thought I was put in a place that would daunt me if the Lord did not much appear to me and they came to expresse their tender love and care that they had of my welfare and they pleaded very much with the Matron and fetcht out the order that brought me there and procured a Copy of it which cost them sixteen pence a few words copying out and this Copy of the Order was shewed to the Matron how that nothing was laid to my charge and that I was onely to be kept there till further order and my friends prayed her to let me have another bed and other Sheets the which they offered me of theirs but that she would not grant but they prevailed at length with her after much perswasion to lay me on one of her beds and to let me have other sheets the which I had the second night and they procured one to be with me for they said I was not fit to be alone for that I was oft-times weak in body and required help so they also obtained that some ingaging to the Matron that they would bear her harmlesse in her giving way to this many that day so sweetned my Chamber with severall persumes and strowed it with herbs and Flowers that it much altered the smell yet it smelled very offensive all the time of my being there though I every day sometimes was burning many severall things in the room for the first week and severall times while I was there and after this day I was very sick yet the Matron urged me with the first day of the week to go hear their Minister at Bridewell but I told her I was very ill she said she thought I dissembled at the first but afterward she thought it was a Judgement from the Lord my sicknesse because I was unwilling she said to hear their Minister and she said she saw by my high colour that I was not well and indeed I was much in a feaver that day onely I had the ague a little while in a cold fit and I lay not desiring to be spoke to because it was painfull for me to speak or to turn my self in my bed and the next day the ague and feaver was much upon me so that my heart even sunk within me I being so burning and in so close a room and friends had a great ado to get to see me the Matron was so strict and would hardly let them in but some friends came who made me plaisters to lay to my wrists and posset drink to drink the next fit But that second day in the night I was pleading with the Lord and asked of the Lord a removall of that sicknes and saying Lord it s very grievous to ly sick
in this place the Lord answered me and said I have taken away thy sicknesse thou shalt be sick no more while thou art here thou art here in Bridewell for I will fill thee with more triumph here than ever thou hadst in thy life so the Lord did I am sure and it was further said to me thy friends have provided means to take away thy Ague but the Lord hath been thy Physician aforehand and he further said he would take me into the mount that day for the perfect cure of my sicknesse and so the Lord did and I spake by way of prayer and singing from morning till night and felt no ficknesse nor pain nor faintnesse not all that day nor at night when I came to my self to be capable of a body for truly all that day I was wrapt up so that I could not tell whether I was in the body or out and yet I sung with understanding as to the things the Lord was doing among the sonnes and daughters of men and at ninght I had sweet rest all night and in the morning it being the fourth day the Matron came and told me that it was a Court day and I must rise and go to the Court I have been sick I said and I prayed her to tell them so she came the second time and bid me rise to go before the Court I told her I was weak and had lain in my bed three dayes onely I rose the second day and could hardly indure up while my bed was made and I thought it not safe to rise up being I was in a sweat go presently into the aire she came the third time and said if you will not rise I must send the man to call you up that was an old man that called up the harlots and thieves every morning betimes to beat hemp he was to slap them up to work and she threatned to send him to fetch me up but I said tell the Court I have been sick and am not fit to rise out of the bed but many of my friends came who perswaded me to strive to rise and go to the Court so I did my sister Vrsula Adman helping me and other of my sisters and they led me up to the Court for I was very weak so that the Court gave me leave to sit down before them they were very courteous to me and they spoke not much to me onely said it was the Custome they had to see all their prisoners at their first coming in I told them truly Gentlemen I would have waited on you sooner but I have been sick and therefore I stayed so long before I came before you there was through some words spoken an opportunity given me to tell them of my sicknesse the Matron finding fault with so many people coming to see me I told them that if I had not been put into such a place it was probable so many would not have come but further I said to them I being put into such a close room coming out of the fresh air it was very offensive to me the room and the bed had such a strong scent and damp that it set me into an ague and a Feavor one of them said they did not use to have their beds smell where their prisoners lay for they were lookt well too I said but the scent was grievous to me and the bed was damp having not been laid upon not lately it may be I said truly Sir if you had been there you might have smelt it the scent was very grievous to me and others who smelt it as well as I I am sure I told them it was a cause of my sickness for I was well when I came there Then the Matron said I spoke to wrong her but I did not onely I would have it known what was the reason of my sicknesse I am certain I had no revenge any way towards her then she told them that I would have men come to me and that word went to my heart I knowing my bashfull nature and my civill life was known to many and I said to them truly Gentlemen my delight is not nor never was in mens company but in all people as they are godly I delight in their company And I said that the Officers of the Church was to look after the members of the Church they said it was reason they should and they were not against it They asked me how many was of them Officers I said about ten I thought they asked me how many I would have come to see me of my sisters at a time I said 6. so it was granted but some would have had their names penned down that so onely those half a doozen might have come but it was procured otherwayes by friends And after this the Lord gave health and strength and stomack to my food and a better digestion then ever I had since I can remember The Lord also filled me with joy unspeakable and full of glory in believing and many visions and Hallelujah songs I had there and more frequent they were then they ever had been I was at Bridwell Court once more only to be gated on for little was said to me onely they asked me why I lay there still And I said I waited upon the pleasure of the Councel And they asked me why my friends did not seek to get my liberty I said I know not they know what they have best to do themselves one said but they come every day to see you do not they tell you what they will do I said I do not ask them I leave it to them Something more was said and I came away and retired to my Chamber where in I kept most of those eight weeks paying five shillings a week for it It cost forty shillings and I blesse the Lord that I had friends and some means of my own else I must have lain in the Goale upon straw The Matron told me so the first night and when some said If I must beat Hemp they would beat for me She said I should beat it my self and for ought she knew I was to beat Hemp but she did not know me and so spoke as she used to speak to those that deserve harshnesse for after she had knowledge of me she was very loving and respectfull both to me and to my Sister Vrsula Adman who kept me company seven weeks of my being there She was a friend born for the day of adversity as Solomon speaks and indeed she night and day shewed her tendernesse to me and helped to bear my burden And therein she fulfilled the law of Christ and she did this as a freewill Offering love constraining her thereunto so that it was thereby made easie to her to bear and indure that which few would especially so freely without reward yet I am confident the Lord will reward her double for that prison kindness she let out to me without any fainting or being troubled that the
time was long or the noises burdensome there was many difficulties to undergo night and day but little quiet sleep to be had there was such scoulding among the prisoners neer our lodging and they were brought in often a nights which made a great noise and the Rats run about our bed and made a great noise like dogs and Cats in the Room and this was no pleasant prison sure to such that were brought up tenderly and never knew any hardship as to the outward man And truly the Lord made this and many more anoiances received in Bridwell prison to be very pleasantly imbraced by divine love appearing in the midst of all trials my God made this smarting scourge as from man it was so but God I say made it easie for his tendernesse was much he made foes become friends and the harsh to be kind and overcame the rough and hasty spirits the Lord is worthy of all praise I had but a little while affliction in my spirits which was occasioned by a friend and that made it grievous but the Lord made that little storm to work abundance of good to me many ways and all things that were afflictive the Lord quickly broke such setters I said not O when will there be an end of this or the other affliction but I often said and desired a purging out of my corruptions before a removall of sufferings that so I might come out more holy and more humble and more selfe-denying and selfe-debasing and abhorring them when I went into prison That so I might all my dayes be willing to take up the Crosse of Christ and follow him whether so ever he would have me either to do or suffer I shall begin to shorten my relation least I should be too tedious to the Reader and leave the Visions and opening of Scriptures that the Lord brought to my soul while I was in Bridwell for my own benefit and for others that are his little flock with whom he hath made an everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and sure At the time neer my comming out some came and defired me to Petition I told them I had not offended man whereby to seek to him And they knew that I was in Prison by their order but some said they may forget I said that they could not for many of their friends still told them The Protector said he did not know that I was put in Bridewell till I had been there above a week that one went and informed him but it was a strange thing that servants should do such an Act without their Master and great Governours knowledge surely if he had not liked of it he would have reproved them but said I now he knows it and yet he doth not send for me out Again some others came and said they knew they could quickly procure my Liberty I told them I would not come out upon base terms said one to me what are your terms let us hear them I said they shall acknowledge the reproach and odium they have brought upon me through this their prison said one is that your terms then you mayly long enough but surely all rational men will say this was but equity Then after this some spoke great matters what they would do for my liberty and they went to the Counsell and spoke to them and President Laurence said if that I would or any for me ingage I might come out but said Captain Kettlebeator none can ingage for she her self cannot ingage as to a dispensation that she is so taken up in that she knows not what is done about her at that time nor capable of any being with her in the room And he told him that he had known me many years And my whole deportment of life had been and was very civill and religious he spake more to that purpose Aud the President said so he had understood some more speech they had and they came to tell me that nay what they had spoke in my behalf I said I will never ingage to that which lies not in me to perform for what the Lord utters in me I must speak so one said he would go again to the Counsell I told him I desired no favour of them but justice and equity and if he could procure my comming before them to hear what they have against me that 's all I desire of you I said and what he said or did it was of his own offering so he said he would not leave them so but he would go again and try what they would do but I heard no more concerning him he was forgetfull it may be like his Master After this some others undertook this businesse and came to hear what I would say to it And one asked me upon what account I suffered imprisonment whether it was for Christ and if so then I had a great deal of comfort in my sufferings for he said he had found it so having been imprisoned for the testimony of Jesus I told him the Councel never sent for me to tell me upon what account they imprison me here for and I said the recognizances are taken off concerning Cornwall businesse so that I was meerly upon the pleasure and wills of the Councel and of Lord Laurance for indeed I will call him my Bridewell Lord for that his hand was in chief to the Order but I told them I was sure I suffered for Christ And I enjoyed his presence abundantly and I gave them some account of my sufferings and of the Lords comforts therein then after some further discourse they asked me whether I would be willing to go out if an Order should come for my liberty I told them I would never ingage they said that was not desired I said yes but it was for my Lord Laurence told some if I would ingage I might come out then they said but if the Order come and give you liberty freely will you accept of it I was silent onely my sister said if we can have liberty we will chuse it rather than bonds so after a little while these departed And the next week after upon the sixth day of the week I rose early in the morning and walked about my Chamber putting up requests to the Lord secretly for purging grace that I might go out of prison much more purified from the drosse of corruptions then when I went into prison fire that so others might see it had been a purifying furnace to me And after I had been up some hours I said to my sister that abode with me I think said I to her every one that I hear coming to the door comes from the Councel with an Order for my liberty come let us pray before it comes and ask councell of God concerning it and the Lord indeed counselled me and took me into the mount of heavenly rapture that day so that my friends were fain to take we off my knees and lay me upon my bed where I lay
praying and singing more then every I did in my life unto many publick concernments the which I am sure will be accomplish'd in due time and I often desired that they in high places had some of the dainties with me at Bridewell and that day the Order was brought and I lay silent when they came with it but I was talking with the Lord who shewed me many things which I know shall come to passe and the Lord told me that my freedome out of that place was neer the which I saw three weeks before and sang it forth so I did now one of them tarried that brought the Order I was told so afterwards but I knew not that any was by me when I thus lay either silent or speaking That day I spake to some that said he would chuse imprisonment for gain he spoke of an outward gain but if he got by his imprisonment formerly I am sure I cannot say nor those that are imprisoned upon this account for the fifth Monarchy cannot say so we would not gain for our outward man if we might by robbing others to enrich our selves I can say I have refused what hath been tendered me freely I took nothing save for my necessity unto which I had enough supply had not the Rulers put me to such charges through their imprisonment and bringing me from place to place and making me pay for it So that I have been robbed but I have robbed none I had rather go in a Canvass Coar or any mean garb then so do and eat any mean kind of food then to fair dainty and go in brave robes with that cost which is others right in heritance I shall further relate in the close of this relation how the next day I came sorth for I came not into a capable frame to speak to any body till late at night on the sixth day and when I spoke that night my friends said do you know you are set at liberty you sang as if you had known I said the Lord hath given it me I will thank him for it so you told us to day in your finging said my friends And the next morning the Keeper of Bridewell came and said I was free by order from the Councel and I might go out when I pleased I told him they should fetch me out that put me in had they put me among Thieves and Whores and now did they send for me out without acknowledging the reproach they had brought upon me He said the same Order with the same hands that puts you in fetches you out I desired to see my Order so I should he said if I would pay sixteen pence for a Copy of it so I sent for it and read it And seeing I might go out upon no dishonourable terms and the Lord having instructed me before hand he being my guide and Counseller in my imprisonment and in my comming out And I said to a friend go tell your Masters though they will not see me they shall be sure to hear from me and so they have for I sent letters to them that so they might not say they had not heard of the injustice acted under their dominion Now I have given a Declaration through the assistance of the Lord and not to set up my self and throw down others but to throw down lies and exalt truth the Lord would not have Cities nor Countries nor White-hall Councel a refuge for lies For his people are recorded in the 63 of Isa v. 8. to be children that will not lie so he became their Saviour I desire that truth may be written in Busse and sent through Europe I would have the whole world tast the sweetnes of truth that all people may know and see and consider and understand together the hand of the Lord and what he is doing and will do for his that trust in him And sure wisdom is justified of her children Come O you children of wisdom observe that you may understand and seek after Christs raign and say with me Come Lord Jesus come quickly according to thy saying Even so come Lord Jesus Let those that waite on the Lords comming say Amen even so be it A Defiance to all reproachfull scandalous base horrid defaming speeches which have been vented by Rulers Clergy and their Auditors and published in scurrilous Pamphlets up and down in Cities and Countries against Anna Trapnell late Prisoner in Bridwell for the Testimony of Jesus the Lord. I Am forc't out of my csose retired spirit by Rulers and Clergy who have brought me upon the worlds stage of Reports and Rumors making me the worlds wonder and gazing stâ—… and as some have said they thought I had been a Monster or some ill-shaped Creature before they came and saw who then said they must change their thoughts for I was a woman like others that were modest and civill and many commending words they uttered which because it s of my own particular 〈◊〉 forbear to mention and what I do mention is to advance free grace shewed me in making gain-sayers to receive a check in their own consciences and to be ashamed that they took up reports Truly Rulers Clergy I wii bid Defiance to all the words actions which have undeservedly and unjustly been by you or others vented against and inflicted upon me I speak this the Lord my my God knowes not vauntingly but humbly For I am conscious to my self that I have abundance of infirmities and am sure the worst of all the Lord's Flock indeed a sorry worthless creature and as from the Lord I deserve nothing save hell and eternall destruction yet he loves me and hath loved me with an everlasting love and will you Oh men condemn and passe your sentences upon me First for a Witch Pray wherein can you make this appear Oh you Inhabitants of Fruroer and Clergie there or in any other place or at Court Can any Ruler there make good their words I am sure I may defie this their speech and will Further they call me Impostor Pray which of the wayes and Ordinances or Statutes of the Lord have I perverted through deceit Canst thou Oh man or woman lay any thing of this nature to my Charge Do then but through grace you cannot Therefore I can defie this saying also Again you call me vagabond but how will you make that good All the Art skill or policy that any politician hath among you cannot make this saying true not in the least I lived with my Mother till shee dyed which was about twenty years then I kept house with the means my Mother left me and payed taxes towards maintaining of the Army then in the field and this I did not grudgingly but freely and willingly I sold my Plate and Rings and gave the mony to the Publick use you did not call me vagabond then I am compel'd as I told you to bring my private Spirit forth to the view of the world and to declare my