as well as to bring them thither for their Consciences in Worshipping the Lord and discharging a good conscience towards him And here boyes and others whom one would scorne to put vvith the Dogs of ones flock were set over them and our Meetings Lastly Was it not a shame as vvell as a very heavy burden that such a weekly charge as the Militia should be held on the City for no other end as hath yet appeared but the disturbing of us and other people as to the Woship of God Well thus far thou didst proceed and thus it was but to little purpose for thou madest the City as weary as thy self vvho began to think vvhat vvould be the end of these things and to what pass the City in a short time would come being thus set the one part of it against the other pulling and endeavouring to root one the other out of it even that part who were peaceable and a good example in it And that this should be by those who were in the seat of Government for said not he who is Lord of all A kingdom divided against it self cannot stand And then how could it possibly be well with Bristoll when one part was turned against the other as aforesaid It may be told thee that it put the greatest thoughts of heart into the sober part thereof that hath been in the City a City turning upside down and those in the seat of Government bearing against that part thereof which was to be cherished which was to be upheld This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation But thou missedst in that thine attempt that day yet thou wouldest not give over but fury rose up in thee like one who having some notable enterprize in design with which to bespeak or to raise up himself missing in his first attempt is led forth with more vigor to accomplish in the next so thou surcharged with wrath and anger didst breath forth at the Tolzey and threaten what thou wouldest do the next day to such and such if they were at the meeting and that thou wouldst have them up and gavest order for that purpose and much passed thee there what thou wouldest do unto us So the next day coming being the thirteenth of the tenth month and the first day of the week thou didst cause the meeting house door to be kept fast with armed men some of John Hicks his company And so the meeting came to be in the street and there about the second houre in the afternoon Captain Hicks a man as industrious as thy self in these things and as full of mischief against his quiet neighbours came down with a fresh guard relieves them that were there before And finding the men thou hadst threatned so and took order about viz. George Bishop and Edward Pyot for they were not ashamed to be found there in their testimony to the Lord though they knew of thy order notwithstanding all was still and not a word spoken he led them away to the guard and twâ—lve more the names of all are as followeth Edward Pyot John Withers Lewis Rogers George Bishop Nathanael Day George Gough Thomas Goldney John Summers John Pickering John Saunders John Spoore Thomas North Nathanael Milner Henry Sutton Henry Sutton was discharged being an ancient man but the rest were had to Bridewel with a guard as if so be they had been some notable offendors And the worst of men and of most debauched reputation to which place after they had been sometime before on the guard Captain Hicks committed them so they were brought to Bridewel and there lodged some of them the second time as if otherwise you knew not how to murder their reputation who were men of good reputation who willingly went out of the Camp bearing his reproach who suffered without the gate And so good report and evil report was alike to them in their testimony to the Lord which they had learnt to go through as did the Apostles and followers of Jesus who were counted as deceivers and yet true who had here as is our case no continuing City but looked for one to come as he did who went before who that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate Wherefore Jesus also said the Apostle Heb. 3.12 13. that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate let us therefore go forth unto him without the Camp bearing his reproach for we have here no continuing City concerning whom when he suffered some then said he was a just man some a deceiver And the Apostle speaking to the Hebrews of the Patriarchs and those that went before them in that day said they confessed that they were strangers Heb. 11.13 14 15 16. and Pilgrims on the earth for said he of them and we may say it now of our selves in this day They that say such things declare plainly and so do we that they seek a country and truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out they might have had and so have we opportunity to have returned but now they desire and we do the same a better Country we speak of that which is spiritual which is heavenly wherefore God saith he is not ashamed to be called their God and he will not be ashamed to be called ours for he hath prepared for them a City and as Paul said to the Corinthians so may we I think saith he that God hath set us and we may say the same the Apostles last as a spectacle so are we to God Angels and men and as Jesus himself said John 16.1 2 3. so we finde fulfilled these things have I spoken unto you and what he spake unto his Disciples then he spake unto all that should believe in his name that ye should not be offended they shall put you out of the Synagogues Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you a true word of thee shall think that he doth God good service And these things will they do unto you saith he because they have not known the father nor me Blessed are ye saith he when men shall revile you our case and persecute you as you do us for my sake and shall say all manner of evil against you fasly as they do of us for my sake rejoyce our condition and be exceeding glad and it is so to us for great is your reward we shall have the same in heaven for so persecuted they as you do us the Prophets that were before you Mat. 5.11 12. And this is manifest for if you pleased you could have committed them as well to Newgate as to Bridewel or you could have lodged them at some place near your guard or you could have dismissed them till the morrow who would have appeared but you thought to hurt them which you could not do for they had learned another thing viz. to be content in all conditions and this is their
thronged at the door of the Hall that the Prisoners could not get in but in the street and about the door were forced to stay in the wet and cold vvho were somewhat in an ill capacity to bear it having been before some of them so long in Prison till thou camest which was about the fourth hour from thy feast where thou hadst the Bishop and the Dean and other of the Clergy to replenish thee and so being fully frought with mischief and envie and prepared as thou thoughtst for thy work and in some kind of certainty in thy self that thou shouldst accomplish thou mountedst thy Throne and thy brethren sate by thee and the Candles being lighted in affectation of the Grand Assizes when Witches are to be tryed thereby to draw the more the wonderment of the people thou didst cause an O Yes to be made and required silence to be kept which thou mightest have forborn for the people in the Hall being willing to hear did of themselves and some of the Prisoners being set to the Bar viz. Thomas Speed Charles Jones and William Taylor who were in one Bill put together an Indictment was read unto them at the Common Law Charging them with being at an Vnlawful Assembly under the pretence and colour of Religion on such a day with force and Arms and to the Terror of the people c. To which they pleaded Not guilty before the Jury which were Thomas Walter Foreman who was Lieutenant to Capt. Adams aforesaid who had the command of the Guard when some of the Prisoners were had from meeting thither and in person with a guard without a Warrant conducted them to Bridewel as hath been said Thomas Ballard Richard Lucket Samuel Lloyd John Towgood waterbayliff one of thy officers Prebend Towgoods Son a bitter enemy of theirs and a man so invenomed and prepared before-hand to make them suffer that when G. Bishop was committed being in the lower Tolzey as he came down out of the Council house he said behind his back after he was passe him in the audience of the people which were many That he hoped to see him hanged who never did him wrong for which the people reproved him and when the Sessions drew near he was so replenished having been as he said with thee and coming then from thee that he could not contain himself but alowd in the Kitching of the new prison and in the presence of some and hearing of other the prisoners in their Chamber over-head vented himself after this manner viz. That he had been with the Major and that he came from him then and that the Major had spoken to him to be one of their Godfathers viz. the Prisoners and that he would warrant he would do their work for them on Tuesday next which was the day or words to that purpose and now it seems was made one of them But William Willett a moderate man was refused by thee though called and present all which shewed what thou intendedst to do and how thou wast a party in this matter for which thou wilt receive thy reward from the hand of the Lord. James Millard William Hartford John Clarke the younger William Holmes Thomas Lewis John Tizon and Thomas Standfast whose father was then a Prebend Having pleaded Not Guilty as aforesaid and sworn the Witnesses were produced which were some of the false sworn men aforesaid in the case of Miles Dixon at the time of their commitment and there was no other viz. Lodowick Poole and _____ Sloper both Serjeants to the Militia and parties who without a warrant with force and arms took them from their peaceable meeting and Tho. Speed from the door of the meeting house at which in the street he was quietly sitting which men passed with thee as good evidence some of these being sworn anew spake what they pleased The Council pleaded against the commitment because it was without a warrant which the witnesses confessed they had not and so not according to due course of Law which was to have been by Civil officers and not by military in time of peace without a warrant and this the Council made out whereby all their work in troubling meetings that were quiet was overthrown which is something for thee and them to remember The Prisoners confessed two of them that they were in the meeting house and the other that he was at the door of the Meeting house in the street sitting quietly having not been in the Meeting house for out of it he and others were kept as aforesaid and they witnessed a good Confession as he did then before Pontius Pilate that is gone before and acknowledged the matter and spake of the ground upon which they did it And one of them viz. Tho. Speed delivered it to the Jury in these or words to this purpose To you that are our Neighbours and fellow Citizens of the Jury I have a few words to offer we might justly except against some of you as men unfit to pass upon our liberties or estates and particularly against thee John Towgood vvho didst lately speak things touching us not fit to be named in this Court but we freely forgive thee and desire the Lord to forgive thee also to whom we commit our selves and our cause That we were at a meeting in Broad-mead the place expressed in our Indictment we may not deny but do confesse being there in the fear of the Lord and in good will towards all men in good will to the King against whom we are accused to be trespassers to vvhom from our hearts we vvish this happiness That he may so reign and rule in the fear of God that he may live in his favour and die in his peace and may have a habitation with him when time shall be no more You have families relations and estates we have families relations and estates vveigh well out of all prejudice and consider what you are now about to do as touching us Suppose with your selves that the verdict you are now going about to consult of may be the last that ever you may give in in this would and that when you have brought in your Verdict on us you your selves should immediately appear before the high Tribunal of the God of Heaven go therefore and do that wherein you may have peace with your maker when you shall go hence and be seen no more And so said it on the Consciences of the Jury whether that were any breach of the peace nor indeed was there any proof that the peace was broken on their part nor was it or that their being there was vvith force and arms or to the terror of the people but the force and arms was on the other part who by force and arms contrary to law had to the Terror of many that were not of us thus taken them away Hereupon the Jury after some time brought in their verdict not guilty of force and arms and to the terrour of the
the Meetine who warn'd them to depart and took names and two to Prison viz. Bartholomew Crocker and Cananuel Britton who gave not their Names knowing themselves to be on the Third Conviction if so be thou wouldst so take it which the next day thou didst and committedst them to Newgate and on the 28th camest on with a fresh career and having sent thy Officer before to make fast the door on them that were in the Meeting-room somewhat early thou camest thy self down with Ald. Lock and the Sheriffs about the second hour in the afternoon and seeing some friends in meeting at the door of the house in the street for coming after the door was fast they could not get in the form of thy Visage was changed and thou grew'st very wroth and hastedst to them in thy fury so that thou wast observed to out-goe some of thy Officers and coming near the Place and seeing Mary Prince there thou saidst Where is Mrs. Prince What do you do here Unto which she answering That they were there to wait upon the Lord Thou criedst have her away to Newgate not suffering her to go to Bridewel though she desired it her Son in Law being there and her daughter likely to be sent thither being above in the meeting-room and she desiring to be with her children and this thou didst without asking her to pay any thing or fining her which is contrary to Law as aforesaid and having sent some more thither also whose Names are hereafter mentioned thou went'st up in the meeting-room and there didst commit whom thou pleasedst and hadst an especial eye upon and then orderedst the rest to be suffered to depart but Hannah Marshal Daughter to Mary Prince as aforesaid continuing till last for she could not go away at thy command as she came not there at thy Order thou causedst her to be brought before thee vvho hadst set up thy Court in the Meeting-room as aforetime and demandedst of her whether she would pay 2 s. 6 d. to which she answering that she had something to speak to thee first before she should give thee any reply to that Thou didst bid her say on and she thereupon speaking to this effect John Knight The day will come wherein thou wilt have cause to wish that a milstone were tied about thy neck and thou cast into the midst of the sea for persecuting the people of the Lord Thou saidst Here is a bold Huswife indeed have her away and Alderman Lock with his own hands was like to have thrown her down the stairs so thou orderedst her to Newgate without taking her answer whether she would pay her sine which thou gavest her time to do after she had spoken as aforesaid but she asking thee Whether thou wouldst be worse than an Infidel to part man and wife her Husband being at Bridewel thou sent'st her thither So the Widow and the Fatherlesse were the first and the last of this dayes execution the Mother and the Daughter whom the Lord thus honoured to suffer for his Name with the rest of his servants at that time vvhose Names are Newgate Men. John Withers Charles Jones Andrew Vivers William Peacher Richard Willis Thomas Window Tho. Lofty 7 Women Mary Prince Alice Tovy Bridewell Men. John Hardiman W. Shalford Tho. Baker Geo. White David Simons W. Maynard John Mills Sam. Cottrel Ralph Cock Richard Lindey 10 Women Hannah Marshal Hest Rennolds Jone Dapwel Susanna Pearson the younger Eliz. Turford 5 15 in all Those at Bridewel thou committedst to the 28th of 7th month but those at Newgate had no Warrant of Commitment nor have to this day yet were there detained till the day after the Recorders departure wherein they and several that were there on the third Conviction with John Simons and Sarah Wilkinson hereafter to be mentioned were ordered to be set at Liberty And as for those at Bridewel they had gone without one also had they not refused to depart from the Tolzey the next day when thou hadst them before Thee The Prisons now being very full and the Goal delivery near thy Sergeant Jones and some other Officers came and took the Names of whom they pleased and then halled the Men out of the Meeting room but the Women they let alone This was on the 4th of 7th month being the first day of the Week But the Prisons being somewhat eased again by the Liberty of those that were committed till the 6th of 7th month thou camest on afresh and it being the first day of the Week before the Goal delivery thou madest ready for it to have as many as thou couldst on the third Conviction in order to Banishment Thou having boasted not long before that as near as thy Year was at an end thou hopedst to send one 400 of us out of the Kingdome So on the 11th of 7th month thou settest to thy work and sentst from the Meeting to Newgate and Bridewel these that follow Newgate Men. Miles Dixin W. Taylor John Packer John Brooks Griffith Loscomb Rowland Dole Roger Oldstone James Wallis Robert Gerish John Styant Lewis Rogers 11 Women Martha Lane Sarah Cann Eliz. Dowel Mary Harbord Mary Burg ss Elinor Maud Margaret Thomas the elder Susanna Pearson the elder 8 the number 19. None of these had any Warrant of Commitment and to Bridewel thou didst commit of men and women about the number of seventy So the Goal delivery came on at vvhich One Bill of Indictment was exhibited to the Grand Jury against Barth Crocker Lewis Rogers Cananuel Britton as upon the foot of Banishment being the third Conviction and another against Margaret Thomas the elder Elinor Maud and Susan Pearson the elder for the same both which the Grand Jury found as they did one against John Simons for words said to reflect upon your Worship and another against Sarah Wilkinson for speaking to the Priest of James Steeple house aforesaid These two later vvere found Guiltie by the Petty Juries that passed upon them and vvere fined in 100 marks each by the Recorder and in default of payment to lye six months each in Prison The other six vvere also found Guiltie by the Petty Juries that went on each Indictment and they were sentenc'd the three men to Banishment in the Island of Barbados the three Women because Wives into six months imprisonment in Bridewell each unless redeemed by their respective Husbands according to the Act. So the general Sessions or Goal Delivery had an end Yet thou hadst not thine but as a man restless to bring to pass the thoughts of thy heart against the Innocent whilst thou hadst any breath that is to say any time unexpired of thy Government thou failedst not to improve it against them and for that purpose didst send thine Officers to the Meeting the next first day after the General Sessions viz. the 19th of 7th month vvho took the Names of whom they pleased at the Meeting and on the 25th the last first day of the
Crown and will be their Honour that they suffer for the truth as it is in Jesus and this we tell thee John Knight that their memorial will be blessed and of a good savour in England when thou and thy name shall rot whose name is rotten already who art the stench of the City and of those who are neere it who truly understand thee who shalt have thy portion according to thy deeds Thus having pute them in Bridewel one night thou fattest in councel about them the next day and at the time of full Tolzey thou must have them before thee And John Waldron the Keeper must lead them as in triumph and before ye they must be brought in a close Chamber and all people must be kept out except such as you please And what were of your own Spirit that so what passed as to the making out of their innocency might not be heard and to the prison they must be sent as Offendors in the face of the City and be reckoned as transgressors and some horrible ones too that that which passed concerning them was kept so secret as in a Chamber and that those who ought to have been suffered to come in to be satisfied in the cause of their commitment were kept out Now Courts of Justice should be open vvhich yours vvas not vvhich is secret murder vvhich is abominable to the Law vvhich provides that proceedings be publick vvhich you seek to subvert And therein that vvhich is the fundamental Law of this Nation for which you may have a day to answer vvherein you vvill know vvhat you have done though now you vvill not hear supposing its like that you will never be brought to an account but we vvould not have you to be deceived as you have sowne so ye shall reap Well this day thou beganest vvith Edward Pyot and spakest many smooth vvords telling of the duty of thy place and the Councels Letter to thee and the execution of the Law and vvhat was required of thee in all vvithout having regard to vvhat concerned the duty of thy place as from the Lord but as if there had been a necessity for thee to persecute and force us to suffer so thou vventest on to which Edward Pyot answered thee on this vvise As I vvell understand the place of them that vvere to obey so I have an understanding also of the place of Magistrates as they are the ordinance of God you that are in the places of Magistrates ought to mind the Lord as your supreme Lord and over all in the government of the world unto whom Rulers themselves as well as the ruled must give an account and therefore in the execution of the laws and administration of Justice you are to have a due regard to the Lord and to his laws and to do the Justice that is of him for Magistrates by the appointment of God are to execute in their several places of Judicatory as Gods ministers and not as their own Lords nor as Lords of their own rule but in the fear of the Lord they as Gods Ministers are to rule for God and not for themselves nor after their own wills and pleasures but according to the righteous law of God in the just and equal principle that is of God in their Consciences that the Justice that is of God and righteous Judgment by Magistrates as Gods Ministers may be impartially administred for the punishment of evil doers onely and for the praise of them that do well that God over all may reign and by all be known to rule in the kingdomes of men and after some interruption as he could have liberty he spake to this purpose We being found in our innocent and peaceable meetings onely in the worship of our God and of the number of well-doers whatever laws may be made against us by men yet according to the law and Justice of God we ought not for our well doing to be punished as evil doers take heed therefore what you do that you be not a terrour to good works Now when thou wast not able to resist what in truth and soberness was spoken to thee though thou haddest before told him that thou wouldest make use of the mercy of the law yet that thou mightest make him a transgressor by law who had told thee before that he could not swear thou without mercy diddest again tender to him and John Spoore the oath of allegiance saying thou wouldest dispatch him first otherwise thou shouldest not quietly proceed with the rest so thy fruits shewed what thy mercy was as he then told thee and to Newgate thou sentest him and John Spoor for being at an unlawful meeting and for refusing to take the oath of allegeance and for not finding sureties for the good behaviour as is contained in their mittimus for to the oath of allegeance thou didst put them again though they could not swear at all in conscience to the command of Christ who saith I say unto you swear not at all not as to the matter of the oath which was for Papists and not them and this was thy mercy as hath been said to seek out wayes how to make them to suffer though thou pretendedst to the contrary And this warrant was signed John Knight Mayor John Lock Nathaniel Cale John Lawford and it was dated 14th Dec. 1663. Now as Edward Pyot was passing to Newgate through the Tolzey and seeing there many people and some that were wise and sober men and finding something arising in him towards them to speak in reference to the matter upon which he was committed said I have something reasonably to speak to you as to men of understanding We that are called Quakers do own our selves to be subject to Magistracy in all those matters and things which concern our outward man but as for our inward man we own that to be the Lords onely and not at all to be the servant of men and as for that Scripture which saith let every soul be subject to the higher power we own its auth rity but that it doth not require the subjection of the inward man in the matters of conscience which relates to the worship of God I offer this is as a reasonable demonstration which is that if this Scripture enjoyned the subjection and obedience of the inward man in the matters of Conscience relating to the worship of God if the then Emperour of Rome who was a Heathen and a worshipper of false gods had made an Edict to inforce the primitive Christians from their Christian worship which was in spirit according to the Doctrine of Christ Joh. 4. and for them to worship as he and the Heathen Romans worshipped they must then of necessity have been subject which is ridiculous to affirm for the Christians to whom this Epistle was written were Romans And as to their outward man they were under the power and government of the Emperour of Rome and therefore it must needs follow that the
is witness and that of him in your Consciences which shall one day witness for us in you that it is so whether you will or no we are ready to be offered up as to all we have or are in the testimony of the Lord and the dominion of him in our Consciences which we cannot give nor bow to man that must dye nor to the son of man that must perish and come to nought whose breath is in his nostrils and wherein is he to be accounted of In other things as we can in conscience to God we are subject of which you your selves are witnesses doing more then you have expected at our hands in some things as you know we are a considerable body of people in this City we our families our relations our estates we are of the City and in the City and inhabitants thereof and enterwoven are we therein and with the people thereof as a mans flesh is in his body and his spirit in his flesh the separation if us from the City will proves as of a mans flesh from his body and his spirit from his flesh when you have liberty to do it from above for you can do nothing at all to us but as you have power from above you will see it the day of Gods vengeance is at hand wherein he will render to every man according to his deeds the Lords controversie is with all those who oppugne his dominion in the consciences of men and he will pluck them up root and branch and they shall know that he is the Lord It is the word of the Lord and shall be fulfilled in its season and the time is near So my friend take heed there is no dallying in things of this nature thou wilt find it so in the end I desire it may be before it be too late for this know assuredly that the Lord will avenge the quarrel of his people and he will plead the cause of those that suffer for his Name and ye shall be rooted up that rise up against them it is the Word of the Lord not with confused noise and garments rolled in blood but by burning and fewel of fire by the spirit of the Lord therefore take heed I warn thee once more in the Name of the Lord who am thy Friend George Bishopp The Newgate Prison Bristol the 15th of the 10th Month. The Original of this was delivered thee the day of the date and thou didst receive and read it though it held thee not long for the 27th day of the same moneth the meeting was molested again and the door was made fast whereby some were kept up in the Meeting-house and some in the street being not suffered to go in and from being in the street before the door thy men in arms had Thomas Speed who there sate in stilness and peace and from out of the meeting house was brought Charles Jones and William Taylor thy neighbour and in the high street far distant from the meeting house Miles Dixon was met and warned to appear before thee the next day who with the rest were dismist upon their promise of appearance upon Summons and so Brideatel was not made their Banquetting house nor place of entertainment as it was the others but they returned to their houses Indeed Sheriff Streamer the Major of the Regiment to whom was attributed that dayes disturbance and who out of the naughtiness of his heart was too much pleased with such actions told Thomas Speed as something in excuse of what had been done for T. Speed was his uncle That he was sworn to execute the Law To whom T. Speed reply'd They that did put them to death whom you call Martyrs and I too said they had a Law So the next day having notice they appeared at the Tolzey but thou having something to do at thy Worship put them off after it was ended to the next day T. Speed then speaking with thee The next day they appearing thou satest in the lower Tolzey with thy brethren for they demanded an open place where all that would might come in and hear and there thou didst shew thy self as thou art a man full of rage and violence and that sought the bloud of the innocent most unlike a righleous Judge or Magistrate and then hadst thy Sheriff Streamer there who though unconcerned as a Magistrate for none he was that is to say a Justice yet he took upon him very much which some of eminent quality in the City who being present took part with the innocent being grieved to the heart the place being full to see such heat partiality and prejudice with thee that didst sit as Judge and how contrary to Law thou didst carry matters for when thou didst demand sureties for their appearance which they could not give because it was m matters of conscience and their testimony to the Lord which they could not bring under by submitting to sureties or yielding that others should be bound for them for if their own reputation stood good what need is there of another being surety for them and they were conscious of nothing they had done that might vail it or bring it under and therefore could not submit the truth in them which was yea and not yea and nay to be brought under we say when thou demandedst sureties for their appearance * Captain John Knight and Râ—bert Yates late Aldermen in the City whose uncle Thomas Speed was with others who were ready to do the same and tendred themselves but were not accepted because the design was to make their conscience or perâ—oâ—s to suffer divers friendly men of quality voluntarily present offered themselves sureties for them which thou wouldst not accept except the persons concerned would assent thereunto which they could not do for that was equivalent with finding sureties themselves and so they should bring under their reputation and the Testimony of the truth of God in them which was yea that is to say that which it said was so but this they did they tendred their promise or word of appearance which they are known to be men to perform especially in matters of conscience wherein the name of the Lord is concerned Nay Thomas Speed told thee that if thou couldst say in thy conscience that thou didst believe they would not appear when they had given their word they would find sureties but what thy conscience was therein thou wouldest not declare which shewed that thou didst believe in thy Conscience that they would for if thou hadst believed otherwise thou wouldst have said so for it then did concern thee so to have done and to have taken him but this thou wouldest not do nor accept of those that proffered themselves which is against law and so did shew that thou determinedst in thy self to make them to suffer We say * Captain John Knight some of these that so profered themselves thy Sheriff reflected upon very much and high words grew from the