subjection and obedience required in this Scripture is onely in things relating to the outward man and not at all of the subjection of the inward man in the things relating to the worship of God So said Edward Pyot but as he had spoken these last words Captain Ollive being then at the Tolzey came and rudely took him by the shoulder and would not suffer him to speak any more but caused him to be had to Newgate to the offence of several sober men present and men of quality who some of them after Edward Pyot was gone spake to him about it as disliking the thing that men for their consciences should not be suffered to speak or that men should suffer for their Consciences which he and every man would willingly for himself enjoy but herein he shewed himself rather a man made up of formality and the authority of the times than of true wisdome and moderation so to deal with one that he knew was a man and his antient acquaintance and that had been a Captain in the City Then George Bishop and Lewis Rogers were committed for being at an unlawful meeting under pretence of divine worship and for refusing to dissolve being thereunto lawfully required and for not finding sureties for the good behaviour Dated the same day and signed by thy self and the rest that signed the warrant aforesaid though they were all taken up in the street near to and at the door of our meeting house where all were still and not one word spoken nor action done onely they with some others of their friends were there standing and then Captain Hicks spake to them to depart they refused not but presently went with the Officers in a manner as soon as Captain Hicks had faintly made the Proclamation for that purpose As for Thomas Goldney and the rest except Nathaniel Milner who being not in the List of the Prisoners kept at Bridewell was not there kept you required them to appear on the fourth day of that week upon the account of Burgesses of the City who appearing you bad to go home about their occasions so there was an end And why not Edward Pyot and George Bishop as well as they seeing they were Citizens and why not Lewis Rogers seeing he was the apprentice of a freeman and that his Masters family depended upon his labour in part for maintenance against whom thou hadst nothing to say whose name is Joseph Owen Was it not hard measure in thee to make the master suffer for the servant yea the master and not the servant for the servant was thereby kept from work and so would not suffer but they would suffer whose maintenance in part came in by his work as thou wast told And because thou wast so told in moderation and meekness by one of the Prisoners thou tookest the Statute book and demanded of him who so spake to thee whether he would take the Oath of Alegiance the usual manner of thy Predecessors in the dayes of Queen Mary who when they knew not what to say against a man or what was spoken presently it was demanded What say you to the Sacrament of the Altar as the book of Martyrs mentions He who spake to thee was George Bishop who demanded thereupon of thee whether what he had said was so offensive as that it deserved the tendring of him the Oath but thou wouldst not give over tendring it notwithstanding till he told you that you knew he could not swear vvho before he spake in this matter of tenderness and equity had not the Oath put to him And now let all that are sober judge whether what he spake was not reasonable and that which should have been taken well at your hands to wit to inform how the matter stood with the young man that so you might not do any wrong through mistakes or ignorance which though he did as aforesaid with all meekness and moderation yet with you it bore no other weight then to be so returned So you have the Oath of Alegiance upon all essayes as a weapon in your hand at this day to use to them that you know in Conscience cannot swear as they had in the Marian which you exercise at pleasure upon the innocent when you have nothing else to say or when what is said doth not like you as they did then who thus carried it against the inocent as it is by you at this day So ye be witnesses unto your selves that ye are the children of them that put to death the Martyrs fill ye up then the measure of your fathers that all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias who you slew between the Temple and the Altar and that hath been shed since may come upon you and verily it shall fall on this generation And why could not John Spoore have been sent home also he being a poor man and living in the Countrey near and having a family depending upon his liberty for his maintenance One would think thou mightest have left the strangers to their own Neighbour Justices to deal with them who knew them seeing the Law is general And why not all of them sent home as well as some for as much as all were at the same place and stayed as long or longer then they and did no other thing but what the others had done vvhom thou hadst sent to Newgate as aforesaid If thou sayest Edward Pyott lived not in the City though he was a Burgess it is answered his living is very near as aforesaid And 't is strange that a miles distance should set him altogether from being considered as a Burgess in this particular who removed there only for the aire when as in other things you will deal with him as a Burgess and with George Bishopp you dealt the same as to imprisonment vvho vvas a Burgess and lived in the City and vvas born in it who had done more for you and the City then is here intended to be related though in recompence and as a token of your love you made him the only inhabiting Citizen prisoner as Alderman Cale then observed to you If thou sayest they vvere taken up a week or two before and set at liberty and now were had in Custody again It is answered the rest vvere in the same places and at the same time present and yet neither imprisoned nor so dealt vvith If thou repliest it was to make them Examples being accounted as leading men and as heads as you call them Alas how are ye befooled vvhen as daily experience proves that those people have a head and leader in them whom none of these things thou hast devized and used take in this to the number hath deterred from but rather brought to meetings And herein you have honoured them though against your wills in accounting them by your proceedings Leaders and Heads of such a people who stand to and testifie the
Virdict was given which was done so privately I call it privatelie because wee Prisoners heard it not but when we demanded what Virdict was brought in one of your Clerks said Wee were brout in guiltie without any limit but we are informed otherwise and that it was written in a piece of paper so thou mayst see how unrighteously thou hast delt with us in casting us into prison and so I shall leave these things to the rightoous Iudge of all the earth which will Judge righteously between us and thee Thus have I cleared my conscience who am a lover of thine immortal Soul and desireth the salvation of it William Ford Thus ended the Sessions so far as it related to the Prisoners afairs aforesaid now the Fair drew on as to which both those in prison those out were much concern'd what as to themselvs what as to those who were dealers with them besides many accounts fell then to be made up whilest those strangers were here who had dealing with them especially being upon the foot of a Law for Banishment and many thought who were not of us that these things vvould have had some influence on thee to have pretermitted the edge of thy Prosecutions on us at least till the Faire was over it being a matter of great cruelty that We should be thus put upon it in one juncture to hazzard so much of our business or our conscience And although thou hadst no reflection of tenderness as to us thy Neighbors in this particular to doe as thou wouldst be done unto yet some thought both of thy Relations and others concern'd in the Faire that were not called by our Name that thou wouldst have had some regard to them and the City seeing we were concern'd with so many people that were not of as well as with those who were of us it being thy Place to indulge the Faire by all means thou couldst but thou turnest the deafe ear to all and wouldst not here no not so much as to intermit one dayes furious onset upon us but as if the Prisons were not full enough already or that the weather was not hot or that there was no danger of infection thou drovest on without consideration like the Ostritch in the wilderness that layeth her egg in the sand and considereth not that the horse heel may crush it and when she lifâ—eth her self up regardeth not the cry of the driver and on the 17th of 5th Moneth being the first day of the week without any of the Aldermen with thee at first Alderman Sandy for whom thou didst send coming after thou camest down to the meeting with the Sheriffs and an Oyes being made in the meeting Roome thou there behavedst thy selfe as heretofore and didst commit to Newgate Men. Dennis Hollister John speed Daniel Wastfield Edw. Martingdale William Yeamans John Withers VVilliam Rogers Gobert Sykes John Sanders Nine in all whereof four were Merchants two Grocers two Soap-boylers one Salter most of them considerable men both as for estate and dealing Will. Yeamans son and heire of Robert Yeamans who had been Sheriff of the City and was executed at his wives Fathers door in the beginning of the late war for the King Iohn Speed and Dan. Wastfield sons in Law to the said Robert Yeamans who married two of his daughters but none of these things could prevaile with thee though thou wast not ignorant of them and yet thou pretendest to be a friend of the Kings who then the sea Monsters wast worse of which Ieremie complains for they draws out the breast and give suck to their young ones but thou becamest cruel like the Ostritch in the wilderness Lam. 43. And to Bridewell thou didst commit Men. Tho. North a Master of a ship and on a Voyage to Sea Tho. Baker Thomas Terret Dan. Neal John Mills John Barns Samuel Comb W. Price Rob. Gibbons James Barker W. Wilcox George White Andrew Vivers John Hardiman John Rogers W. Tovy John Naylor John Smith John Hale John Clark W. Shatford Theophilus Newton Sam. Cottrel Richard Lindey Simon Cox Morgan Lamb. 26 Women Jane Batho and Alexandra Harcourt twenty eight in all making up the number with those at Newgate 37. and the number of those before committed two hundred thirty and four that is to say at Newgate 60. and at Bridewel 174. On that day also Sarah Wilkinson was brought to Bridewel for being with Priest Horn at James Steeple house and John Simons the day before for words pretended to be against your Worship though hardly so to be strained making up the number as aforesaid The Sessions being upon the morrow viz. the 18th of 5th Month 1664. for thou heldst them in Adjournment the greatest part of the Quarter to serve thy Pleasure thou didst send for D. Hollister John Speed Dan. Wastfield and Edw. Martingdale and there didst sentence D. Hollister in 4 l. fine the rest in 2 s. 6. d. a piece which they not answering thou condemnedst Hollister to ten weeks Imprisonment a day beyond the Date of thy Government and the rest at a Month and then remaundedst them to Newgate the rest at Newgate and Bridewell committed the day before were sentenced in 2 s. 6 d. apiece and a Months imprisonment in default of payment which they not answering viz. the Fines were continued till the expiration of the date aforesaid Sighed John Knight Mayor John Lock Walter Sandy Indeed Dennis Hollister had something to do with Thee at the Sessions for thou rambledst about there much according to thine old wont talking what thou pleasedst thy self a … charging up and down at what rate thou wouldst and 〈◊〉 wouldst not let him speak in his own justification wit … much interruption calling him Rebel and the Meeting a company of Rebels with a deal of other stuff not worth the Relation So that he was constrained to tell thee That thou wast an Vnrighteous Judge who wouldst not hear as well as speak who wouldst charge a Man and not give him leave to answer for himself and he alleged that he was not satisfied with his commitment seeing that thou hadst neither then nor before made it to appear that the Meeting was under pretence of Religion or that he met so which that it was thou hadst caused to be set down in the Record though the Witness did not so swear and yet wouldst not hear but didst cause thy Record to be read where it was set down as aforesaid viz. that he was there under the pretence of Religion with which he charged thee and with the falsnesse of thy Record whereupon William Kemp the Sergeant which was the witness was called again and he affirmed upon thy demand that he could only say that he saw D. H. at the meeting and that he saw him there but knew not under what pretence it was and that he heard him to speak to thee viz. that he was there in the fear of God and not in contempt Whereupon D. H. told
self and the Deputy Lievtenants who some of them that very night denyed that any such thing was ordered by them had ordered them to be sent to Bridewel so to Bridewel they were brought a place of reproach appointed for Rogues and no Prison of the Kings though they were pretended to be the Kings prisoners though some of them were Citizens and men of quality therein Now it is to be noted That Sheriff Streamer being Major of the Regiment and so having command of the Guard coming to the Guard and understanding who were brought thither whereof one was his near relation viz. his Brother-in-law and his friend viz. George Bishopp if so be his business was to have him up and that that was the end of that dayes work came not into the Guard understanding him to be if not seeing him there but went his way to to the meeting house and there in person dismist the rest without making so much as one a Prisoner Which unnaturalness and high ingratitude he learnt no doubt of thee who as the sequel of this relation signifies wast well skilled in things of that nature and his orders no doubt he received from thee who as thy Buffoon or Martin-ape as men use to say most artificially followed the dictates of thy mad and hasty spirit who hadst not nor had he learnt that moderation which the whole series of transactions in this generation the most remakable of any that had been in the world vvould have taught thee as vvould also the saying of him vvho lives for ever vvho is the Judge of all viz. To do to others whatsoever you would should be done unto your selves that is to say when you are in power so vvarily to extend it as that you may live with your Neighbours and have their love when your power is gone and gain the good reputation of moderate men For the vvheele turns round and as the history of former ages have proved on this Date obulum Belisario For Gods sake give a half-penny to Belisarius comes to be the portion of many which befel that great Captain Belisarius vvho in the dayes of Justinian the Emperor did so behave himself in Persia Affirica and Italy that he had the honour of this Effigies on the other side of the Coin vvith this inscription Gloria Romanorum decus The Glory and Grace of the Romans And of this you vvanted not vvarning if you would have taken heed nor good Examples before you but as it was said in another case in a wrong spirit by Balack to Balaam may be said truly of you The Lord hath kept thee back from honour Numb 24.11 Or the infatuation of the Almighty because of your lust to oppression hath been so upon you that in your day you have not known the things that belong unto your peace that is to say you have not taken the course that wise men have steered in all generations upon the guidance of their observation of the revolutions of this World viz. so to behave your selves whilst ye are in Power as hath been said as that you may live in good reputation with your Neighbours vvhen you are out of it that is to say that you may be men when you have no power And this let us say to you all who are joyned together in this persecution of the innocent if such a hand had been carried toward you and this City in former dayes as you have done in this neither you had been so nor this City that is to say neither had you nor this City been so as at this day And some of them whom with so much despight and ignominy you now rule over have been instrumental that you and the City have not been otherwise and this is the requital you make of all that which hath sought to and hath saved you thus to do But this your work will be your shame and the day is at hand wherein you shall hear of it with both your ears that is to say the Lord will so work as that you shall see both where you are and what you have been doing when repentance with some of you we fear may be too late and the place of repentance you will not find though you seek it carefully with tears But to proceed for thou must throughly be dealt with ere this is finished Having lodged the aforesaid Prisoners at Bridewell the next morning thou hadst them to the Council house the Keeper of Bridewell being their leader and having set guards of Musquetiers at the Tolzey door contrary to Law which is that Courts of Justice and Proceedings at Law be open keeping out whom they pleased thou saidst to them what came into thy mind And though they in moderation told thee that they had done no new thing but what they had many years before even ever since they had been a people And that experience had shewn in the greatest revolutions that had been in this Nation that they and what they professed and did was not inconsistent with the publique peace but that they and the peace of the place and Nation might be And that what they did was not in obstinacy and contempt as thou wouldst have rendred it but in Conscience to the Lord whose worship was in Spirit and he sought such to worship him viz. in Spirit and in truth Joh. 4. And that their suffering Chearfully whatsoever might be done to them in reference to this thing who had Estates Relations Families Callings who knew as your selves might judge what it was to get and to loose their Estates Libertie Countries did speak that there was something more in it then of this world that made them willing thus to offer it up And though they told thee moreover that as to Government they were not against but did own the Second Table as well as the Frst Masters Parents Magistrates c. but all in the Lord and that where they could and not sin against the Lord they were obedient and where they could not they did quietly suffer And that ye had experience of them in such things as they could do that they rather went before you then otherwise And though they asked thee what thou would have them to do seeing their Conscience was not satisfied Suppose said they to thee that we are mistaken which said they we are not but are certain of what we do wouldst thou have us to do that which our conscience is against because of what may be done to our bodies before we are convinced of the contrary Said not the Apostle Happie is he that condemneth not himself in the thing that he allows Yet thou wouldst not hear and though thou pretendedst to a great deal of fairness at first and that thou hadst received a Letter from the Kings Council giving thee direction to take up the Heads of us and secure them till the Assizes unless they should give Security for their appearance And told that there vvas the ‖ Not
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
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
Sheriff of the City and his Father Mayor daughter to the said Widow Yeomans he threw down stairs to the bruising of her head and arms the hurt of which she hath not yet recovered And so having shut up men women and children together women with child and nurses he went his way Then the Constables came who had more sense of humanity and let out the women with child and children then when it was even dark came Sheriff Bradway and set at liberty the rest taking their verbal engagement for their appearance the next day And this is the noble and worthy Exploit as men use to call things by the contrary which thou performedst in the siege of a Company of innocent men and women who did not resist thee and these are the things memorable therein Thou saidst when thou came up the stairs see that none go down and when thou camest into the room thou commandedst all to depart and when thou wentest away thou orderedst the doors to be nailed up so that they that remained could not depart so contradictory were thy orders the one to the other and as they were contradictory so they were not observed nor hadst thou Dominion over those people but the good hand of the Lord was over them and their Meetings so that neither the Officers civil nor military asunder nor the Officers Military and Civil together nor the Deputy Lieutetenants and their Guards nor thou in person nor thy Brethren were able so to work as to discontinue our meeting from the beginning of thy year to the end thereof the Lord hereby shewing his dominion to be over all and that his Throne was set up in the midst of his enemies Now to these aforementioned may be added William Wells who for speaking a few words to thy officers in the Meeting who take and leave whom they please and whom to speak to be the matter or the occasion what it will is enough to be sent to Prison themselves being Judges was had to Newgate and there continued the space of eight dayes at which time Sheriff Stremer having heard that he was a poor man and that his family depended for their livelyhood on his liberty upon promise of appearance at Sessions if called was set at Liberty And Philip Dimer of Cork in Ireland and a dealer there being taken up at a Meeting about the time of the faâ—re and sent to Bridewell by some of thy Officers was at the Instance of thy brother Francis Knight of London and other Londoners with vvhom he used to have dealings set free it being a great obstruction to the faire that men of substantialness and dealing as were many of our friends should be by thee thus proceeded with who should'st have been the great encourager of the Faire in confidence of which as of right it ought to be men do frequent the Faire Yet thy fellow Citizens therein cry some could not have that friendshid from thee as strangers though substantial men and great dealers But all thou couldst thou didst bear upon them and by the Fayre especially keeping them up then from their business if so by any means thou couldest bow them unto thee And that which was of Argument why thou shouldst dismiss them to follow their business that thou turnedst as an Argument to hold them to it supposing that by those pressures they might fall under thee But the everlasting armes were underneath them which did keep them and will all those that abide with him Now the Sessions drew on to attend on which thou wast come down from Westminster where thou hadst been for some time having lest it in charge with thy Officers to visit our Meetings in the mean time on the first dayes of the weeke vvhich they did requiring us to depart and takeing names which were said to be sent up to thee for thou could'st not be satisfied for the persecuting spirit in thee could not be at rest but as by some way or another that was done which was in order thereunto and what use of those papers thou madest above thou knowest and what endeavours thou didst use to bring through the Act which was then in hand against us and how thou didst work to have the Convictions in order to Banishment to be without Juries expresly contrary as we Judge to Magna Charta for then thou thoughtest it 's like thou should'st have Matters in thine own hand and so would'st do with us as thou pleasest seeing that the Juries failed thee and thou didst that thou knowest Thy brother Locke a man of that impetuous franticknesse and silliness of understanding that he serves for little else save except to set the Court a laughing if no more would stand by thee so thou wast satisfied And thy Sergeant Jones when he came down from waiting on thee to Westminster boasted in the Meeting that there was a Bill past the House such a day against us for that purpose and Baall vapoured that there were ships coming about that would carry us away and he vvould loose his eare yet he hath not been as good as his word if we were there four Meetings more and so Imperious vvas thy Sergeant Jones grown who from a Beggar of a piece of bread from door to door to a Sawyer and from thence to a Sergeant was advanced that he took upon it to Lord and insult it over his other fellow servants as well as us and because that Paul Williams one of his fellow Sergeants would not take names in the Meeting at his command he sirrah'd him in imitation of thee and laid violent hands on him in the Meeting and tore his Coat and dragg'd him down by violence saying He would send him to Newgate and then brought up an other to do as he commanded And this was the hostility vvith vvhich our peaceable meetings to vvait upon the Lord were exercised by men whom as hath been said one would have scorned to have put with the Dogs of ones flock vvhom they please must go to Prison whom they please must be set in their list what they please they speak and what they please they do and is well vvhatsoever they do This liketh thee to be exercised upon a people of such Estates many of them and qualitie in the City as thou knowest whose Liberty Civil treatment Estates Families Countrey Lives as it may happen and all they have must stand at the courtesie of such and if we tearm them so it is but what they are base fellows But the Lord was with his people and gave them dominion over all and enabled them to bear with Patience this great exercise through the power and strength of him vvho was in the midst of them whom your eyes cannot see Who persecute him in his truth and people who will Reign over you all for ever and ever whom none of the Princes of this world knew for if they had they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory So the Sestions being come
J. Speed could not be permitted one hour to be at home to finish an Account with an Exceter Merchant who it seems for that purpose made the desire and thou didst hope by all this to have bowed them unto thy will through the necessity of their affairs for many friends were hard put to it having several of them themselves and servants in prison and the fair being the time of their harvest as it were for most of the year following but the Lord was vvith them though thou vvast so cruel and unmerciful and kept them in this great Tryal vvherein they vvere proved and seeing they had done vvhat appertained and vvhat in a good Conscience they could do to their families submitted to the Will of the Lord and vvere content that he through their sufferings might be glorified for vvhich the Lord will be their Reward they having chosen rather to suffer their Estates and Liberties to be forced than to force their Conscience Now on the 24th of 5th Month the day before the Fair and the first day of the Week thou vvast otherwise imployed than to be at the Meeting for thy going to James Steeple-house vvhich vvas in the Fair with thy train hindred thy coming thither lest thy Pomp should be lessened by thy attending upon us so the Meeting had some rest from the trouble of thee and thy Officers that day though the strangers were not altogether free at thy Worship whom to put in those that followed thee thou thy self as was said vvith thy own hands coming out of thy Pew most unlike a Maior but some such vvork thou must needs be at as with us pulledst out forgetting it seems where thou vvast The first day of the week following viz. the 31 of the 5th month was much like this the Officers came and took some Names but went their wayes without making any other disturbance at least such as they were wont to make in that place For indeed till the third day of the next moneth was over the expiration of the date of thy first Commitments thou knewest not well where to put them the Prisons there being full would then have some ease who on that day were set at liberty those in Bridewel being a Considerable number going in a Body to the Tolzey together and then to their several habitations as they were free So the Prisons being somewhat eased the next first day thou camest unto thine old vvork again being the 7th of the 6th month and with such a greedy appetite as a Wolf long vvitheld from his vvonted prey thou fell'st upon the Meeting and there having set up thy vvonted Court and caused an O Yes to be made Ald. Creswick being vvith thee thou didst send to the Prisons these that follow Newgate Men. Nath. Day William Davis W. Taylor W. Lane Rich. Snead W. Pope Christ Bennet John Brook Jos Kippin Joh. Dowell Robert Nokes Benjamin Maynard George Gough 13. Women Mary Gouldney Han. Jordan Joan Hiley Isabel Yeamans Eliz. Rogers Mary Smith Martha Smith Mary Corbet Bathsheba Speed Grace Withers Ann Day Sarah Bennet Lidia Tovy Joan Dixin Mary Belshar Eliz. Maynard Eliz. Moor Ann Sole 18. Bridewell Men. Dan. Gibbons Charles Marshal W. Davis Jam. Neves Phil. Cook Sam. Godfrey Charles Bowen Jam. Dimond Joh. Martin Edw. Bifield Rog. Oldstone Griffith Lascomb W. Cannings Rob. Weale John Styant John Herne Ralph Cock Sam. Gibbons Nat. Allin Barth Crocker Thomas Bayly Rich. Willis Edw. Daniel John Seward Griffith Browne Thomas Saunders Will. Sawser Jam. Toghill Leming Dickason Phil. Peak Joh. Warwick John Crump Will. Hill Will. Tovy Caleb Hill Wil. Atkins Jam. Wallis Joh. Price Ambrose Scot Peter Hadeing Char. Saunders Will. Wells John Neves Will. Britton Edw. Paine Tho. Wickdow Lewis Rogers John Martin Sim. Cadle John Packer Will. Cawson John Jennet Nich. Horseman W. Peachy Rob. Gerish Tho. Hilman W. Pludwell Tim. Harding Tho. Bourne Joh. Wear Joh. Bennet Joh. Dale Cananuel Britton Bern. Lidman Sam. Plumnely Tho. Lofty Joh. Knut Joh. Cox Edw. Bennet Jam. Slaughter Thomas Stockman John Summers Will. Gotby Hugh Hobhouse Richard Gotlies 75. Women Sarah Peak Sar. Snead Joan Day Eliz. Driver Sar. Maynard Mary Lindey Sus Pearson Blanch Bough Elinor Lewis Ann Long Sus York Elin. Cole Ann Hawkes Martha Chock Joan Crew Bridg. Wory Joan Tomlinson Rebecca Howell Han. Balle Merlin Jones Eliz. Stevens Joan Britton Joan Farmer Mary Jones Dorcas Gibbons Joan Hill Ann Davis Ann Phillips Edith Byfield Sus Styant Frances Styant Ann Watkins Ann Britton Eliz. Price Kath. Wakeliffe Elizab. Matthews Emme Simons Joyce Warren Joan Younger Jane Weale Sarah Davis Ann Hill Eliz. Eagles Mary Evans Mary Neves Ann King Margery Lovell Mary Naylor Eliz. Turford Mary Leveret Rebecca Jennings Grace Eaton An. Sampson Elin. Maud Sus Gotby Kath. Hughes Ann Price Mary Harvord Eliz. Ariell Sarah Morris Mary Rice Alice Kill Mary Cole Mary Cockman Mary Lovell Mary Knight Ann Mayes Mary Brock Margr Thomas junior Mary Chambers Mary Toghill Joan Williams Mary Hampton Elizab. Wilkinson Gartrude Boiste Ann Bateman Eliz. Martin Eliz. Walker Elinor Traverse Eliz. Holder Alice Slaughter Marg. Thomas senior Ann Chaffin Mary Perry Joan West 88. The whole number of this dayes commitment to Bridewell of Men and Women being One hundred sixty and three and to Newgate Thirty and one One Hundred Ninety and foure in all And many of these vvere Wives and Servants and Masters and Husbands and Children the husbands of some in one place and the wives in onother for thou vvillingly wouldst not suffer any to pass so greedy wast thou and amongst the rest were three Women whose Husbands were distracted and had been so for a long season and several of these were poor whose Families depended upon their liberty for their maintenance yet one and the other old and young master and servant children and parents husband and wife in poverty or abundance all must go to no sort or sex or age or condition hadst thou regard but of thy devouring spirit of rage and envy all must partake and be lodg'd in these prisons however they come out dead or alive all was one to thee Nay if so be they yea all the generation of us who fear the Lord might have been so disposed of as that they never more might have seen the Sun or been heard of it had pleased thee well unto whom the Innocent are a burden and thou wouldst be rid of it but upon thee must their sufferings rest till time is no more and Eternity be the everlasting portion of thy torment if thou dost not Repent For certainly they are the people of the Lord and he brought them thither and it is Jesus in them that thou persecutest who kept them in their meetings as he brought them thither though thou saw'st him not who is with them in the Prisons and in all their afflictions is afflicted with them who will raise them up over all your heads to reign for ever and ever Now at this meeting thou
carriedst thy self after thy wonted manner of Rage and Envy and thou broughtest thither with thee Alderman Lock and Alderman Creswick who made up thy Court the Sheriffs were present also and even to the Widow Yeomans that Antient Grave Matron aforesaid whose age rather bespoke a Coffin then a Banishment thou took'st as thou could'st meet and wouldst have sent her to Newgate also with this croud of Prisoners had it not been for Alderman Creswick who it's like had little rest that night for that dayes service who caused it to be otherwise Yet thou didst commit her though thou released her presently and made that her being with the people of the Lord at meeting to wait upon him a step to her banishment her Gray hairs being thus honoured of the Lord to live to that day to bear a Testimony for him in the face of thy fury and of Banishment who is scarce able in body to reach to the place of Meeting And here we must bring in the sad Reckoning of Lidiah Tovy Wife of Rich. Tovy Brewer Alice the Wife of W. Peachy and Mary Knight servant to Nath. Milner Prisoners aforesaid vvhose lives and the Infant of one of them this dayes work of thine took away from the Earth whose blood cries cries for vengeance against thee and vvill lie upon thy head for ever except thou Repent Lidia Tovy vvas very big with child a little Woman and Young the only daughter living of her Mother who was a Widow and except one son all the children she had alive Thou saw'st in what condition she was when in the meeting as to her being with child thou knew'st her to be thy Neighbour thou didst nevertheless commit her yet thou wouldst seeine somewhat tender and said should be but till the morrow though that was a step in order to Banishment which she was the nearer to by how much her imprisonment vvas short So to prison she was brought and the very noisome sent of the old Goale at the door as she was brought to come in struck in upon her In the Prison she abode till the 7th day of that week notwithstanding that thou saidst before a multitude of witnesses that it should be but till the morrow There she aylded wanting breathing and room vvhich she usually in that condition needed much Her ilness grew on and Symptoms of a Miscarriage though so big and near her time was on her Her Husbands Brother Thomas Tovy who lives on the Bridge and is one of the Council went to thee on the 5th day of the week and her tender mother on the 7th day giving thee to understand how it vvas vvith her for by this time her danger vvas so manifest that she bled upwards thou wouldst not hear but bad her come to thee on Monday That 7th day at night the Keeper of Newgate being with thee about the liberty of some of the Prisoners of whose having been at Bridewell thou hadst heard and therefore sentest for him thereabouts he informing thee of her condition and danger thou began'st to be sensible not for her sake as we may judge but thy own and the out-cry that would be made against thee if she died So thou didst hast him to set her at liberty saying Turn her out turn her out so she came and that night sent her home Well Monday of which thou spakest to her sorrowful mother came but she vvas laid in her bed a most sad spectacle continuing very ill and neither hearing nor seeing her infant came dead from her that night and the next morning being the third day of the week she yielded up the Ghost laying down her life at the foot of thy cruelty vvho vvith her tender babe vvere laid in the earth together never to return thence more for thee to Banish though after her death thy Warrant came to detain her in prison till the 6th of the 7th moneth following the date of her commitment with the rest of them that thou then committedst vvith her vvhose blood shall never depart from Thee and thy house for ever if thou dost not Repent Alice the Wife of W. Peachy vvas a Young Woman also very big vvith child vvhich was her first she vvas at the meeting vvhen thou and thy Officers vvere there One of thy Officers hall'd her rudely towards thee bidding her come along another was behind puting her forwards which being beyond what she was able to do being very big as aforesaid it hurt her and in her face it vvas discovered presently and was so in the observation of some friends present who were about to call on thy Officers for halling her after that manner So she went home ill and was delivered the next day and never was well afterwards but continued ill till the 14th day of the 6th Moneth on which day she dyed her Husband being then prisoner in Bridewell committed with the rest the day aforesaid Mary Knight was also committed on the same day to Bridewel and the next day being very ill was had to her masters house by thy suffrance where she died about twelve daies after of a violent feavour her body being brought to Bridewel from thence to be buried because she was a prisoner there bled afresh at the Nose for about an houre together the certain observation of the invisible judgement that that place was the caue of her death Yet thou wast not satisfied that thou hadst her life but her body being brought to Bridewell to be buried there as aforesaid and the woman of the house desiring thee to give leave to some of the prisoners to carry her to burial thou wast very much offended at its being brought thither and with the woman for that purpo e pose and despight said that if they wanted Bearers the Beadles should do it Thus was the Blood of the innocent shed and of three and an infant as the issue of one of thy daies work yet wast not thou glutted therewith but although that thou hadst committed these as aforesaid and laid up in the prisons heaps upon heaps though the prison was so unholsome so unsavoury though there was such danger of infection yet thou thoughtst the Prisoners were not straitned enough but ever and anon thou hadst the Jailor by the ears rating him as thou pleasedst and threatning him what should be done with him at the Sessions and that all that he had was forfeit to the King if he were worth thousands so that the man was in a great strait how to walk between the pleasing of thee who thirsted after their destruction and the health of the Prison and the prisoners unto whom the Sheriffs had such regard as to order additional lodgings as aforesaid and were willing upon a sober letter of one of the prisoners that they should have a little breath which was all they ask't whilest they were amongst you which is the thing you would have your selves and to have granted them the garden of T Gouldney aforesaid to walk in
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
greatness or to be something in the world do we thus write or that the thoughts of such things Buoys us up above what we should be no we have learnt somewhat else viz. In whatsoever condition we be therein to be content and to do the will of God for which purpose we came into the world however the doing thereof may be attended with the greatest sufferings which we know we must passe through viz. great sufferings even many Tribulations to the Kingdom of God to our rest and so we look to the recompence of reward as did Moses viz. the rest in doing the will of God who forsook Pharaohs Court and chose rather to suffer afflictions and so do we with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Who it is said endured as seeing him who is invisible and so as he so here we rest in the doing of his will and let the Lord do what he will with us we are content who say Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven be it to Prisons to Banishment to loss of all to death the good will of God be done as to us the Lord be glorified by us in what he will we leave it to him who are come not to do our own will but the Lords the will of God be done saith our soul Amen Not that we are plotting or conspiring or do intend any such thing as is falsly suggested against us and that under the pretence of religious meetings or coming together to wait upon the Lord the Lord is witnesse that we are clear of any such thing and that our principle is against it as is our practice Not that we have any expectation from man or of any outward arme for our deliverance we disclaim any such thing and do know that not by man but the arme of the Lord our deliverance must arise though these things are secretly suggested and that our boldnesse in our sufferings arises from some such secret assurance no no it only comes from the good hand of the Lord because of his testimony which we bear who is near us and bears us up in and through all our sufferings and will all those that trust in him Not that these things are pleasant to us as men that is to say thus to suffer for we are men as you are and are compassed about with the same infirmities as you that is to say husband wife children relations estate Country life liberty wholsome aire convenient accommodation health prosperity in our affairs going through without distraction what we have to do or molestation are neere us as men we know what they are and what they cost as well as you and that to enjoy them is the portion of a man and all that he can have of them under the Sun and that it is good in this sense if it may be with a good conscience to know good daies and to see no evil all that we lay them down for All that for which we suffer the losse of them which is as little pleasing to our flesh and blood as to you is it is the will of God that it should be so to try us and that the vertue of him in us may be made manifest and that in this incounter we may not make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience and so deny the Lord that bought us for things that perish and hereby it comes indeed to be made manifest that we know and have the possession of something that is eternal viz. that we endure that we suffer the parting with the temporal And herein the Lord is glorified that we chuse not or prefer that which perishes before that which endures who are not our own but as hath been said are bought with a price and therefore are to glorifie God in our bodies and our souls which are Gods and by this you all will see and therefore it is that this day is suffer'd that we have something more then what is of this world for the enjoyment of which we leave the world and chuse rather to suffer affliction then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season For all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution We say not for any of those things or that we would seem to be something in speaking of what shall be hereafter and so to glory do we thus write But the Lord would have us thus to speak that you may know that our sufferings will have an end and that it will be thus with those who fear the Lord in whom he rules and that a day of deliverance there will be a resurrection a return and that the Lord therein will be glorified and this we are shewn and it is to be shewn unto you that it may be known if so be that it may be believed but whether it be believed or no the thing is so that God is with us and that he hath not forsaken us though he suffers us to be tried and that he is present with us and will be through all and beyond all that ye shall be suffered to do unto us and that we are not left comfortless but are shewn the end of as well as our sufferings even the glory that shall follow the glory that is to be revealed at the coming of the Lord the manifestation of his power who is over all and reigns for ever And by his so keeping and preserving us through all and over all shews that he is with us and that it is Jesus in us whom you now persecute For we pray you what should support us what think ye can keep us in the midst of all these things which you have set before us and prepared against us and which you are preparing have made us and which you are making us to go through Imprisonment Banishing us our Native Country taking us from our Relations Trades Callings Husbands Wives Children native aire and soile and whatsoever in this world may be dear unto us casting us into noisome holes and places thicker in proportion then a discreet man would put dogs into a kennel or beasts into a pound or horses into a stable or pigs into a stye amongst lice and vermin and Fellons and murderers contagious stinks and nastinesse sufficient enough to infect such as have lived in wholsom cleanliness good aire and dyet as you know it hath been with many of us whose living hath been as well as yours in the world to the infecting of some of us already who have laid down the body at the foot of your cruelty whose blood you have to answer for as for the blood of others of us whom your unmerciful barbarisme by your Officers have sent out of the world as Lidia Tevy and her infant Alice the wife of William Peachy who was big with child and hurt by the Officer in the meeting who went home ill was delivered the next day and a few dayes after continuing ill
died And Mary Knight did the servant of Nathaniel Milner hereafter mentioned We say what shall make us to undergo all this cruelty and that with cheerfulnesse which thou John Knight and some of the rest of thy brethren are preparing and have prepared for us have and are ready to execute upon us of which as to the things already done and the readinesse of your hearts further to do this ensuing relation gives the particulars were it not for something that is mortal that is more then man that bears us out We think you should come into consideration and to sensibleness and that these things should bring you to it And therefore it is that we have thus wrote for your welfare We truly desire in the Lord though you pursue our ruines and that without a cause for which the Lord God will one day plead with you and let you know that what we have said is true Is it the world think you that makes us thus how can that do it when this leads us out of it is it our country wherewithal can that induce us when by these things we are threatned out of it is it our relations wives husbands children neighbours kinsfolks friends acquaintance how can it be so when you take us from them doth greatness in the world tempt us this very thing is that which doth diminish us Is it honour and applause among men This makes us a spectacle both to Angels and men Doth ease and pleasure do it this takes from us our pleasant things and doth put us to sojourn as it may prove in desolate wildernesses Is it profit and advantage this takes us from our profits and the places of the advantage also of our estates and callings Is it health what more hazardous thereunto or more reasonably likely to be destructive then such a change of climate and alterations of seasons thereby as by the Law you may cast us into Well the Lord God eternal will plead with you who have put us upon these things and with thee John Knight in particular And thou and thy judgment must then come to know for what thou hast done from the hand of the Lord But before we proceed to speak to thee any further in this matter we must lay before thee in particular and bring back upon thee thy wickednesse thou hast done unto us and then thou shalt hear thy judgment No sooner was 't entred into thine ear but thy thoughts gave thee what thou wouldst do unto us and before thou sleptest that night after thou wast sworne Major didst not thou expresse what thou would do unto us this being the opportunity thou longedst for wherein to be dealing with us thou knowest the work thou wast driving on the year before when as hath been said moderation as to conscience sat in the seat of the government Thou knowest what endeavours thou usedst to ill-be-speak that moderation to the Court and what thou saidst to one of the Kings Secretaries at Bath as to us and what he answered thee when thou didst put the question viz. We have many Quakers in the City What shall we do with the Quakers It is the Kings pleasure thou knowst he said that they be proceeded withal with gentlenesse and won with with love or words to that purpose And yet thou knowest as not satisfied with this how thou spakest with him again about it and how the same answer thou receivedst thou shewing thereby what a mind thou haddest to be dealing with us even when the government was not in thine hands at least to reflect on those that hold thy hands some of which were then present if so be that a word had slipped out of the Secretaries mouth for that purpose And then after thou wast Major how soon thou didst cause our peaceable meetings to be visited after thou hadst some enterchange with some of those called Baptists and Independants thou knowest and what thou hast done since to us which we are now intending to set in order before thee and now heare what we have to say to thee in this matter To omit many things that passed the several first daies of the the week after thy first entrance into thy Mayoralty wherein the Officers sometimes Civil sometimes Military sometimes both came to our meetings and required us to depart yet meddling with non except Elinor Maud whom the Marshal with Musqueteers had away to the guard but from thence she was dismissed again Thus compassing our City like a dog as the Psalmish speaks Psal 59.6 and in the evening returning and grudging and not being satisfied they return at evening saith he they make a noise like a dog and go round about the City and at evening let them return and let them make a noise like a dog and go round about the City ver 19. and ver 20. Let them wander up and down for meat and grudge if they be not satisfied for he that holds the waters of the sea in his fist and comprehends the dust of the earth in a measure and weigheth the mountains in a ballance who declareth to man his thoughts shewed his dominion and how he could keep thee off who had preserved us hitherto and gave us not a prey into thy teeth So that it was not when thou wouldest nor as thou wouldest but when he suffered and as he pleased to let it be was it that we were delivered into thy hands who couldst not nor canst do any thing to us but as thou receivedst power from above as he said to Pilate who is gone before in that day when he said unto him Speakest thou not unto me knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee and have power to release thee Thou couldest have no power at all said he against me except it was given thee from above Joh. 19.10 11. So the time being come wherein we vvere to be tried and thereby the vertue that is of him in us to be made manifest thou hadst power given thee and not before to enter in upon us and so on the 28. day of the ninth month called November being vvithin a day of full two months after thou vvast sworn Mayor Thou sentest thy Officer John Jones the Lawyer vvho vvith one of the Town Clerks servants and some other Officers and Souldiers of the Militia vvhich thou haddest got into thine assistance came vvith swords and armes upon a naked people vvho make and their principle is so no resistance And after he had required us to depart and taken the names of several of us he sent to the Guard these vvhose names follow viz. Edward Pyott Jeremy Hignel John Gibbons George Bishopp Thomas Morris Lewis Rogers Nehemiah Pool Benjamin Cottle Joseph Jones James Sterridge George Oliver John Spoore These being brought to the Guard were continued there in the wind and cold till about evening and then Thomas Walter Lievtenant to Captain Adams whose Company then had the guard came and acquainted them that thy