Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	apostle_n	scripture_n	word_n	6,515	5	4.2341	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52921	New-England's ensigne it being the account of cruelty, the professors pride, and the articles of their faith, signified in characters written in blood, wickedly begun, barbarously continued, and inhumanly finished (so far as they have gone) by the present power of darkness possest in the priests and rulers in New-England ... : this being an account of the sufferings sustained by is in New-England (with the Dutch) the most part of it in these two last yeers, 1657, 1658 : with a letter to Iohn Indicot, Iohn Norton, Governor, and chief priest of Boston, and another to the town of Boston : also, the several late conditions of a friend upon the Road-Iland, before, in, and after distraction : with some quæries unto all sorts of people, who want that which we have, &c. / vvritten at sea, by us whom the vvicked in scorn calls Quakers, in the second month of the yeer 1659 ; this being a confirmation of so much as Francis Howgill truly published in his book titled, The Popish inquisition newly erected in New-England, &c.	Norton, Humphrey, fl. 1655-1659.; Rous, John, d. 1695.; Copeland, John, 17th cent.	1659 (1659)	Wing N636; ESTC R3600	97,400	124

we met with at Hartf●rd it being the will of God that his seed should be sought out in all parts we were moved to go to Hartford in the Jurisdiction of ●anitticote for that purpose and after some passages at the Town which will not be needful to relate we being at the Ordinary were sent for by the Governour to come to his house and we went where were assembled the Governour a moderate man and some of the Magistrates so called and their Priest called Samuel Stone after some questions asked us by the Governour as from whence we came and whether we were going of which we gave him an account as the Lord gave us freedom Samuel Stone asked us What God is we said a Spirit then with his Logick he did thus cavil a Spirit is an Angel and an Angel is a creature God is not a creature therefore God is not a Spirit the which we did deny it being both contrary to Scripture and truth but by it he shewed how learned he was that had learned more of Logick then of God for had he known God he dared not thus to have spoken After some more words he said further That God is the Author of all wisdom and all arts the which we denied and put him to prove it and in stead of proving it he went to raise another Argument nothing to the purpose but we kept him to what he said and put him to prove it by Scripture but he would not nor could not then we said There is a wisdome which is earthly sensual and devilish and God is not the Author of that wisdome and God will destroy the wisdome of the wise and bring to nought the understanding of the prudent and we said God would not destroy the wisdome which he is the author of so this learned man vvas much pusled not being able to make good what he had said in the face of many of his hearers that were then present then the Governour seeing him thus taken in his own net did help him saying That was not wisdome but folly but God is the Author of all true wisdome we answered if Samuel had said so at first we should have easily consented to it then Samuel Stone said the Apostle spoke there improperly but we affirmed that the Spirit of God always spoke properly After this he raised another lying Argument which was this None are saved without a promise you have no promise in the Scripture and therefore are not saved to which we replyed the Promise is I will give him for a Covenant a light that he may be my Salvation to the ends of the earth to as many as beleeve in him we beleeve in him and are in the ends of the earth and therefore are saved by him to which he objected nothing so after some words the day being spent one of their Magistrates read us their Law that we vvere not to stay in their Colonie Thus may all see how these four united Colonies as they are called have agreed to banish Christ out of their coasts by a Law O what a brotherhood is this that thus useth the friends of God and abuseth his servants sons and daughters by whipping burning and otherwise mangling their bodies but it is that the Scriptures might be fulfilled which saith They shall hale you before Rulers and Governours for my Names sake and as they have done unto me so will they do unto you saith Christ because they know not the Father nor me yet amongst all the Colonies found we not the like moderation as in this most of the Magistrates being more noble then those of the other Colonies after some dayes stay we departed from that Town towards Road-Island and by this thou mayest see what husks the Priests of New-England feeds their Flocks with Thus in short have I given thee an account of some of the Doctrines of one of the highest of the New-England Pharisees who is accounted the greatest disputant in all the Land as one of his Hearers told us but it hath so pleased the Father by babes to confound and stop the mouthes of such wise ones that he in all and over all may be glorified for ever John Rous. Reader I being one with the suffering seed was after some travels and sufferings as thou mayest understand in other remote parts moved to go to New-England and was brought to Road-Island according to the will or him who had moved me and after spending some few dayes there I was moved to go into other parts of the land where I met with the most loathsome hypocrisie and abominable deceit that ever I saw or heard of and that committed by those who pretend themselves to be no less then members of the Church of Christ but how disagreeable their practices are to the spirit of him whom they profess if thou art one who hast tasted of it thou wilt easily judge and I can truely say that under this pretence of theirs almost all manner of wickedness is covered pride gluttony envy deceitful dealings as vvitness many of their creditors the Merchants upon the Exchange in London and elsewhere who for it hath often cryed out against it bloodshed lust and what else might be mentioned and such hypocrisie have I seen amongst the highest members of their chiefest Churches that I have sometimes said within my self A man that hath a covetous and deceitful rotten heart lying lips which abound among them a smooth fawning flattering tongue and short hair and a deadly enmity against those that are called Quakers and others that oppose their wayes such a hypocrite is a fit man to be a member of any New England Church a plain demonstration of which thou maist see in their character of their Religion written in blood wherein all is not written that they have done and we have suffered by them but the chiefest heads are gathered together and presented to publike view that the simple may be informed and their cruelty and oppression laid open to the honest hearted and God glorified who hath counted us worthy to suffer for his names sake for whose sake we have been accounted as sheep for the slaughter and killed all the day long by the Butchers so that if thou should ask me who vvere the chief upholders of their Church and Religion I should answer their Goalor Hangman Governor and Deputy-Governor and not their Pastor and Teacher and Elder and Deacon for if they can well avoid it they care not for coming where we are unless it be when we are called before their Court to fasten some false accusation on us if they can the which-they have not spared and touching the matter aud manner of their vvorship it is most like the ridged Presbyters so called but a little differing from the late Bishops onely they use not their blind service and surp-cloaths but in stead of them have inventions of their own and in cruelty are nothing behind them for which God will take vengence on them

because he would not see it done the which John Rous taking notice of said Nay turn about and see it done for so was his order so in the strength of God we suffered joyfully having freely given up not onely one member but all if the Lord so required for the sealing of our testimony which the Lord hath given us to finish and said these words They that do it ignorantly we do desire from our hearts the Lord to forgive them but for them that do it maliciously let our blood be upon their heads and such shall know in the day of account that every one of these drops of our blood shall be as heavy upon them as a Milstone So when they had done their bloody Work they slunck away as a dog when he hath sucked the blood of a Lamb and is discovered So here is a Declaration of the dealings of these men who account themselves members of Christ and the Church of God but let that of God in all judge whether these be the fruits of the members of Christ Did Christ ever do so Or did he leave any Precept that his servants should do so Or rather did he not rebuke Peter for being too forward when he smote the High Priest's servant cut off his right ear Did he not tell him They that take the sword shall perish with the sword And doth not the Scripture say He that sheds mans blood by man shall his blood be shed and know this that there is nothing defileth a land or people more then the shedding of innocent blood and nothing brings down the judgments of God sooner on a People or Nation then the cry of innocent blood therefore let not such call themselves the Church of God for God hath no union nor fellowship with such that acteth violence and gather themselves together and condemn the innocent blood as saith the Scriptures shall the Throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which ●rameth mischief by a Law They gather themselves together against the souls of the Righteous and condemns the innnocent blood Let all sober people judge whether these people are not so who hath shed our blood against whom they could prove no evil either in word or action only the breach of their Law which they have made mischievously to ensnare the innocent but it is that they may be made manifest to be of that generation that condemned Christ saying We have a Law and by our Law he ought to dye But our desire is that all in whom the Seed of God is may be kept clear from the guilt of innocent blood that so they may be hid in the day of the fierce Wrath of the Almighty God For behold The Lord cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity the Earth also shall disclose her blood and shall no more cover her slain From Boston prison this 25. of the 7. Mo 1659. We are Witnesses of it who suffers for the Truths sake by the corrupt wills of men for keeping the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus the truth of which shall be witnessed in the day when the righteous judgements of God shall be made manifest when all things shall be tryed by fire even the day shall declare it Christopher Holder John Rous John Copeland We are the three that sustained this abuse who the truth of this their action doth declare unto all that though their Law Sentence and Order be to cut off the Ear yet have they made them a lye for they have not taken away the sixt part of our Ears but the member they have defaced and abused which God had formed and made This and all other of our sufferings in Boston Collony hath been done in private by which all may easily judge what sort of people these are whose actions are thus plainly demonstrated Again Katherine Scot an Inhabitant of Providence in the same land a Woman of good report as these her adversaries could not but in some measure confess having lived with an husband the space of twenty years in that Country no people in that nature more circumspect and blameless seeking God in the sincerity of their hearts in every likeness whereinsoever he appeared so fraid were they to miss of him and so ready to fulfil that Scripture Try all things and hold fast that which is good which when that which is good came full ready were they to receive it and those who brought it not accounting any thing they had too good wherewithall to assist the Lord and his Servants for which they lost not their reward for the power of God took place in all their children small and great so far as capacity could receive it which may amount to eight or nine And God trying the faith of this his servant who being both grave in years and Mother of so many children yea and the Wife of a tender Husband full readily and willingly left she all to do the Will of God knowing that they who do it not are not worthy of him Who being called unto Boston and accordingly by the hand of God brought thither upon the 16. of the 7. Month 1658. who coming to the prison when the Hangman some others were going to execute the cruelty upon the aforementioned sufferers to wit Christopher Holder John Rous John Copeland whom she witnessed that the Lord of his large love had sent to gather his scattered seed which had been scattered and driven away in the gloomy day of Antichrists night being strongly pressed in her spirit to visit them in the time of their sufferings and to bear forth her testimony against their cruel and barbarous dealings pressed towards the door amongst other people but by the violence of the Wicked was not suffered to enter who thereupon uttered these following Words saying It was evident they were going to act the works of darkness or else they would have brought them forth publikely and have declared their offence that others might hear and fear With several other Words declaring them and their cruelty to be worse and more barbarous then the Doctors and Bishops This doing all the while their ears were cutting Which Testimony of hers a man of a sober spirit received and after some time standing patiently to hear one of the prisoners minister after they had executed their malice where standing the Marshal came and pulled her down and said that she might go before the Governor This he did leading her away although he had been her brothers servant who bringing her before the Court held for the 4. united Collonies so called the Governor asked her why she came there Ans To witness against the cruel spirit that so abuses Gods faithful Servants and Messengers whom he hath sent so often amongst you He said What are they Apostles or Messengers Answ Yea I have found them so to me He said We will witness against your railing spirit Ans I deny all railing and have

such dayes at Boston wherein they have taken occasion to blaspheme God belye his people transgress his Laws and limit his spirit and all this is done by you professors who were either banished men your selves or such as fled for a tender conscience sake or worse and he that provides for all that loves him provided and sound out this Land for you amongst whom there is a scattered seed from which you strive to limit his spirit by your unrighteous Laws from the gathering it home unto himself having forged and invented Laws contrary to God Christ and the Scriptures and thereby hath acted such things as is to be admired clear your selves as wel as you can And seeing they are grounded upon none of these three examine from whence they have their rise and from what ground seeing the Devil onely is the Author of all unrighteousness malice and lyes the three first lyes against us is That we are Cursed a Sect and Hereticks the fourth That we take it upon us that we are immediately sent of God and infallibly assisted by the spirit to speak and write blasphemous Opinions This a cursed and blasphemous lye against God to charge that which is infallible with blasphemous Opinions Seeing that there is no spirit infallible but God in the day wherein you are brought to give an account for every idle word you vvil wish that for this your tongues had cloven to the roof of your mouths Your fifth Despising Government your sixth and seventh the Order of God in Church and Common-Wealth Your eighth speaking evil of Dignities Your ninth and tenth reviling Magistrates and Ministers Your eleventh that we seek to turn people from the faith Your twelfth and thirteenth That our Wayes are pernicious and seeking to make proselytes Your fourteenth That we have wrought mischief in our native Land Your fifteenth That it is usual with us to revile c. Surely you are bent to do evil or otherwise you would never utter such untruths as these I can truly and safely say it That upon the same spirit that forged these fifteen lyes have you published a Law to limit the spirit of God from coming within your coasts by threatnings and fines upon such as shall convey any of these persons wherein the Spirit of God speaks Examine from whence you have this Law to lay on and levie Fines I am sure neither the Spirit of truth nor the Scriptures is your rule for this also such a Clause you have in it that if any bring us unadvisedly if they will but break the doctrine of Christ by taking of an Oath shall be freed from such things as are therein mentioned And finding your Law grounded upon fifteen falshoods I shall mention no more òf your matter then I must needs but seeing this inveterate hatred that this Spirit of yours hath in it which gives forth threatnings in no less words then Fines and Banishment against such as speaks or continues speaking in the behalf of the truth of God for none there is besides it I say ought you not to leave the banishing of them to him who gave you and them the Land Is not their right as good as yours beware of this banishing will you go and fight still against God who hath given this Land as a lot unto the banished that so through the scattered seed he might raise up a people to his praise and seeing I have charged upon your account Fifteen untruths at the fewest in a small Paper which things I shall make good through the assistance of God so to be upon these grounds following that as I am drawn through the power and Spirit of God to come into your Pattent that I may be admitted peaceably with my friend or friends to have a publike meeting both with your Magistrates and them you call your Ministers with the people and time and place appointed where all may freely come and all have liberty to speak unto whom the Word is revealed one by one that all may hear and all may be comforted without interruption or ensnaring And if this you deny you are not worthy to bear these Names much less the Offices and if this you will be so noble as to grant let me have it under thy hand Iohn Indicot with any one or two of thy Assistants directed unto Nicholas Easton on Road-Island for to be delivered to the hands of Humphrey Norton Be well advised and this doe for thou art not sensible what good it may may bring forth and if this you deny I can do no less then publish it for the clearing of the truth of God from falshoods and lyes which are come forth in Print against the innocent who acknowledg both the Father and the Son as in due time the Lord God will make it manifest amongst you to the shame of his enemies Road Island the seventh of the ninth moneth 1657. On the last day of the sixt Moneth 1657. they wickedly and shamelesly began to execute this Law on an innocent and harmless woman as plainly appears by the ensuing lines Mary Clark a modest and an innocent woman who feared God with all her houshold left her husband and family to go on the Lords errand to the town of Boston in New-England the burden of his word lying so sore upon her that she regarded not what sufferings she sustained so that according to his will she was discharged from under it who repairing thitherwards to do the will of him that sent her About the 29 of the sixt moneth 1657. was betrayed by Judas the son of perdition a Member of their Church who informed them of her coming who shortly after apprehended her delivering her over to the Tormentors impowring them barbarously to abuse her body with about twenty merciless stripes with a threefold cord which being unfolded amounts to sixty such being the Seals of their cursed Covenant and one of the Articles of their Faith Also to add unto her sufferings and to make the cup more cruel they continued her in prison above 12. weeks all which she did patiently bear not regarding the coldness of the season her innocency preaching condemnation to her adversaries and for her faithfulness herein the Lord God is her reward Again two of the Servants of God being moved by him to go to Salem a town in Boston Colonie to seek the Son of peace who suffered in many for want of Information where the true path lies that leads to his dwelling place these two Pilgrims having obtained mercy from God and being baptized into his Covenant Christ Jesus preached freely unto them the things that they had seen and heard and their hands had handled which as an engrafted word took place in them such as never can be rooted out so that their hearers in short time became their fellow sufferers as hereafter you will understand Satan finding that his head was hurt set forth his Priests and Rulers with their Officers to pursue these Messengers of the

expecting their prey John Norton Priest being then present and speaking yet opened they not the●r mouths until he had done although the burden of the Word vvas much upon them then opened S●rah Gibb●n● her mouth saying the Bu●den of the Word of the Lord to the Inhabitants of Bo●●on because of your pr●de and oppression the land mourns in speaking o● which words the Serjeant laid hands upon her and pulled her down was this a noble Act did he herein shevv forth the spirit of a man Sure I am that a man of a noble spirit vvould condemn it and a man of valour or vvorth vvould be ashamed of such a man then D●ro●●y Waugh spake bidding them Fear God and give glory to his Name c. Several other vvords were uttered as they past out of their Synagogue in their way to Prison multitudes following them vvhere they two were shut up in a close room not being suffered to have food for their money And requiring it of the Jaylor he answered That if vve vvould not eat the prison food vve should famish and then he brought both food and vvork and laid before them but the Lord put a stop to it that they could not meddle with neither knowing the wickedness of their wills against which they were called to stand Witnesses but the jaylor vvould not suffer them to have any for eight days together but said they should leave their carcasses behind them mark this expression yet the Lord preserved them and he found a liar Upon the first of the third moneth they were called to be examined before John Indicot Governor and Ric●ard Bell●●gham Deputie Governour and several others vvho wickedly seeking to ensnare them examined them apart yet were they preserved in boldness and courage and carried forth in the manner following Sarah Gibbins John Indico● asked me if I had not been in those parts before Answe● It is known already vvhether I was yea or nay he asked me again hovv long I had been in their Colonie I told him it was in my breast how long but it is like I shall not tell thee he said he vvould make me tell him before we had done I asked him why he sought to ensnare me and my friends that had entertained me seeing you have made such a Law to oppress them vvhereby to take away their goods for so doing to hold up your oppression and the Governour asked us whether we owned Christ yea or nay Answ Yea He said D● you own him with a humane body sitting at the right hand of God in heaven Ans We own no other Christ then he that sits in heaven at the right hand of the Father Then Rich. Bellingham Deputie Governour asked us If there is a God Answ Yes there is a God which is righteous true and just in judgment which will render vengeance on all the workers of iniquity and your actions are recorded before him as with a pen of Iron and a point of a Diamond for the cry of the oppressed is entred into the ears of the Lord God of Sabbaths then like a man of unclean lips and not one that is fit to sit in the seat of justice told me I was a Witch and said I spake I knew not what Answ I have learned Christ so as to pass through good and evill report then he asked me if I was the light which we so often spake of Answ I bear witness of Christ the light which lighteth every ma●● that cometh into the world as saith the Scripture he pressed much on me saying was I the light yea or nay but he was shut out with all his subtilty John Indicot asked us Why we came to disturb them in the face of both Town and Country Answ Did we disturb or did you make the disturbance in searching and rifling houses six days before we came Did not fear surprize the Hypocrites if you were of the elect and elected and we deceivers it is impossible that the elect should be deceived you should have let us been tryed the other day in your meeting before the Town and Country that the deceivers might have been made● manifest and truth cleared to the simple Then John Indicot said he did not send for me to dispute with me but said how came you by your Learning by revelation Answ Not by the will of man then I demanded of him if it were justice or equity we should be kept and not suffered to have food for our money this being the third day we have been thus kept and have not eaten one morsel of bread you may all see that God is with us and that we came well into this Town several hundreds can witness and if we perish our blood will fall heavy upon you which are the cause of it Then ●●hu Indicot said it matters not but if you will work you shall want for nothing then I told him that he had taken me from the work that the Lord called me unto then he said the Lords work the devils work and called to the Caolor to take me away the sentence being past upon us both to be severely whipt and not spared the second day of the week following they executed their malice upon us ten stripes a piece cruelly laid on with a threefold cord having knots at ends for causing it to tare the flesh so to torment the creature which being done we were moved to praise God for his presence at which the people was astonished after which vve vvas shut up and the windows stopt whereby to prevent us from the aire and all manner of refreshment so continued us for the want of paying of fees certain days in vvhich time God wrought their deliverance by one Robert Westcot of Warvvick in the Collony of Road-Iland Also Horred Gardiner a mother of many children and an inhabitant in Newport upon Road-Iland being moved by the measure of God to go on his message unto Weymouth took with her the youngest babe that fed upon her brest such a journey that no flesh that had looked upon it with the fleshly eye could have expected considering her condition she could have accomplished but her faith was made strong through weakness and according to the will of God finished her testimony at Weymouth in Boston Collony where the witness in the people answered unto her words but the baser sort hurried her away the day following before John Indicot Governor of Boston who after abusing her with unsavory language and much threatening committed her and the girle that assisted her to bear her child Mary Stanton by name with reviling language unto the Gaolor where they receive ten stripes a piece with the threefold cord of their covenant Such a barbarous article of their faith i● this as I have not heard the like as to whip a woman who bare two babes sucking the breast at the time one visible and the other invsible who after that execution of this their cruelty kneeled down saying The Lord

of that Gospel that can be beaten black and blew for the colour of the coat of Christ is fair and beautiful and changes not Again it came to pass that for six or seven days a death or a cruel suffering about Boston followed Humphery Norton the sense of which with the strength of the emnity against the righteous seed with weight of the burden then upon him took from him the nourishment and comfort that is in the creatures and also the refreshment that ariseth from sleep and rest laying his load having freedom so to do before his beloved brother John Rous an heir with him of the same promise and a sufferer with him for the same seed who willingly took it upon him to draw with me in the same yoak being sensible of the necessities of our repairing thither to bear our parts with the prisoners of hope which at that time stood bound for the testimony of Jesus the Word of God which after our travel day and night to accomplish we came into Boston the very day following that William Brend had been laid as one dead with blovvs and the first relation we had was concerning him and how they vvas laboring to save his life an inhabitant of the Town seeing us being a sober man and not addicted to blood like the rest understanding what we were told Humphrey Norton he had been expected certain moneths and wished him if he loved his life to depart or otherwise he was a dead man but such was the necessity that if all that Town had been his and he would have given it me to depart thence we could not for the people lay upon us the seed lay upon us and the suffering for which we were appointed vvith the souls of the people such vvas our load that beside him that laid it upon us vvho also took it from us no flesh nor place could case us vvho according to his vvill and in the manner follovviag lead us into it and through it it being their lecture day so called and also the market for the Country after the time of their meeting thither vve repaired after the hearing of the vvosul sacrifice of the dead vvhere the earth spake and the grave uttered her voice and death fed death through the painted Sepulchre John Norton and the seed in sorrovv mourned and suffered under it after the conclusion of this Humphery Norton stood up and said verily this is the sacrifice vvhich the Lord God accepts not for vvhilest vvith the same spirit that you sin you preach and pray and sing that sacrifice is abomination such vvas thrir order that before half of the vvords vvere uttered he vvas haled dovvn yet uttered vvere they all before they got him forth that same day in the heat of their fury they called him vvith John Rous before them in the same place for vvhich vvords Humphrey Norton after a long and frivous examination vvas charged vvith blasphemy in vvhich time vve required of them either to act according to the Lavv of God or vvholesome lavv of the English Nation and spare us not neither of which they would come nigh whereupon we required of them an appeal and freely would refer our cause to the chief Magistrate or whom he pleased to appoint this we did once and again whereby to leave them without excuse this they slighted and disregarded the Governor and Deputy with one consent saying no appealing to England no appealing to England with other words of derision who forthwith after this sentenced us unto whiping such is the confusion of their Law that although their charge was blasphemy yet they sentenced us for another thing also tempting John Rous with flattering words seeking to insnare him which he sleighting and disregarding savouring the spirit and knowing the malice and cruel wickedness they had used towards others who then some of them were in bonds by famine and close keeping laboring to consume or strangle them for want of food and air some three four and five dayes without any manner of food some eight nine and ten dayes without one bit of bread allowed by them or suffered to come at them thus labouring for their lives or in the least to cause them to blaspheme from both which the innocent was preserved so in the nick of time Iohn Rous in the audience of all the people required of them convenient food for our money or otherwise if vve perished our blood be upon them vvhich there vvas granted and the javves of their vvicked Lavves all rent and broken Thus vvere vve coutinued from the fifth untill the seventh day being the Jevves Sabbath they offered us tvvo poor quakers so called upon their Altar-stocks after vvhich tendered us to depart if vve vvould hire their Convoy vvich neither needing it nor in conscience vve could not do it vvere continued in prison the Week follovving such vvas their malice that they called their council as they said vvho gave forth an Order for the Whipping of the quakers then in prison vvho vvere ten in number tvvice a Week the first time with fiftten stripes with their three-fold cord the second time eighteen and so from time to time to haue three added euery time till further order By this Law they might have vvhipt us unto death and if so unto the grave and there also if they had a minde We asked for a copy of this Ooder but vvas denyed it for it vvas our desire to have it that the variety of lies vherevvith it vvas filled might have been presented to the vievv of all men But such is the subtilty of the Serpent among them that he will keep all he doth as much in darkness as may be lest being brought to the Light he should be discovered in the eyes of all and condemned So calling us to the execution of the first part of this their later Order out of ten they choosed four vvhereupon to execute their Wrath to vvit John Rous William Leddra Thomas Harris vvhom they had Whipped once before as vvell as vve and contrary to Lavv beaten vvith aboue tvventy strokes Humphrey Norton being the fourth us four they as barbarously beat as a cruel man vvould beat his horse the people beholding and seeing us so used aboue our old Wounds the cry against cruelty increased Sodome vvas troubled Aegypt vvas affraid and all old Jerusalem in an uproar Blood at that Season they had sufficient So that the other six they touched not though vvillingly they put off their Clothes and tendered their backs their adversaries slunk avvay like dogs vvho had ouer-filled themselues vvith Sheeps blood for vvhich they vvere afraid to be hanged Who hauing thus satiated their cruell appetites turned us forth to their shame and contempt This vvas one of the main Articles of their Faith contrary to that command in the Lavv vvhich saith Thou shale do no murder theirs saith Thou shalt This Cruelty shortly after the former Again Nicholas Phelps an Inhabitant of Salem although a weak man

spoken nothing but the Words of Truth and soberness He then called for Witness but there appeared none The Governor asked if she did not write to him Ans Dost thou know me If thou dost know me and will own it I did write to thee three times in love to thy soul that thou might see the wickedness of thy Ways and return from it He said She is an old Quaker take her away yet he said Why did you come here seeing you had written Ans If Writing would have discharged me I had not come But why did you com from Providence into this jurisdiction A. Art not thou my fellow-creature Did not that God that made thee make me And hath he not given me as good right to breath in his air and tread upon his Earth as any of you He said Take her away till further Order Ans The Lord look upon you and open your blind eyes and soften your hard hearts so taking her away to the prison where she was continued until the 1. of the 8. Month 1658. Then being brought to a private Court they asked her Wherefore she came into these parts saying her abode was at Providence where for ought we know you have led a blameless life Ans as before To bear witness against your cruel spirits With more such like queries and answers Then one asked what I had to do to come into their ground Ans You take too much upon you you Magistrates more then ever God gave you Then they cryed out She had too much tongue the Secretaries learned speech One who is a learned persecutor in the Book of Damascus envious and malicious hating that which is good you have a Family at Providence Ans Yea which I highly prize He said If I should come into your ground and into your house and eat of your meat and drink of your drink whether you would or no though you should say I should say I should not do you think this were well Ans Did I come into any of your houses and eat any of your bread Nay not into the Houses of my near Relations against their minds or by force but if I should make such a Resolution against thee or any one that thou shouldst never come within my house or ground upon no occasion whatsoever although thou were my bitterest Enemy I should shew a dogged wicked spirit contrary to the Spirit of Jesus Then they stopped me complaining of my Words then one said There is like to be a Law to hang you if you come again into these parts Ans If God call us wo be to us if we come not and I question not but he whom we love will make us not to count our lives dear unto our selves He said VVe shall be as ready to take away your lives as you shall be to lay them down Mark Reader how learned their answers is She said Alas for your blindness that Di●bolical spirit that worketh in you hath led all the persecutors in all ages to kill the Saints Another stood by and said he knew my Father and called him Master Morbury and said he was sorry that I should turn Quaker in my old age Ans Here is none here but I think is as old as I and it is time for you all to look after the things which belongs unto your peace I have trod all your steps But here again they stopt me Then they put forth many more queries whereby to ensuare me The answer was I shall believe nothing nor affirm nothing but what the Scripture speaks of So the Goaler returned her back to the prison from whence she was brought and the next day brought her to the VVhippingpost their Altar upon which being offered she received ten stripes with their threefold Whip which being unfolded amounts to thirty which when they had done the Goaler told her she might go forth paying her Fees Ans If I might go forth for two pence I am not free though I dye here Katherine Scot. This ancient and honorable woman as she is in God so she is thus they used although she and her Kinsfolk be of no small repute amongst men whose saithfulness Reader thou mayst understand wrought no less then this effect for as all other sufferings in the same sort produceth no less but the same effect to wit the releasement and enlargement of many prisoners that are opprest so did this it's full part there being these three whose Ears the Adversaries had abused and they themselves detained for the non-payment of fees which in conscience they could not do she left them not until through her the Lord God wrought the releasement of them all so what God did by her for her and through her and them that loved her in that place let them take their reward into their own bosoms which shall remain to their peace and renown for ever Besides all this her testimony she finished against that cruel spirit that rules amongst them as she had great cause so to do her own sister who lived amongst them and had seen the end and emptiness of all their Ceremonies Anne Hutchinson by Name whom they banished from our of their Coasts and her children coming to visit their kindred were imprisoned a great part of a bitter Winter vvherein the vvas banished upon pain of death which camed them to go amongst the Dutch to settle where she and her family was cruelly murdered by the Indians the sense vvhereof hath pierced me to the heart so that I have said Surely God vvill take vengeance for these things for vvhose blood God vvill make inquisition and in that day you vvill be found guilty and it required at your hands vvith a Voice more loud then all the rest of your crying sins for vvhich ye must account ye bloody hypocrites And thus may all that reads see hovv ancient these bloody Articles of these Professors Faith is So on the 7. of the 8. Month 1658. the four before mentioned vvas set a liberty Again upon the 29. of the 7. Month 1658. The Constable by vertue of a Warrent sent from Ipswitch Court came and vvarned us three Samuel Shattock Nicholas Phelps and Ioshua Buffum to appear before the Court at Ipswitch vvho upon sight of the Warrant was free thereunto and on the next day by the Constable and one more we were had to Ipswitch so the Court called for us then going in vvith our hats on commandment vvas given to pull off our hats which accordingly they did some Words was then spoken about the Hat but we answered not waiting for what they had to accuse us of then there was given them a paper with our Names and some others for not coming to their meeting and meeting together contrary to such a Law as they have but we said little to it they laid contempt of Authority to our charge because we did not put off our hats the which we wholly disowned and said If it were our manner to do it

was drawings to see if it were possible to beget a Seed where there was none by the vertue of that power wherein we stood and of that Faith I was and am and in it do remain this is as Food fetcht from far to the pure and wise in heart and unto such only this is communicated and told them further that their Image would beget and it put me in minde of Jacobs laying speckled sticks before his fathers stock and at several times I gave them such figures as these that she was like unto a vessel heaving in the Sea whose compass was cast off the needle and there was nothing to steer it by neither could it move but as it was heaved to and again with the winde for to order her self in any thing that was good she could not or like as over-worn ground whose strength is destroyed so that it was capable neither of seed nor weed yet after a while let it alone and it will gather strength and bring forth something but as concerning her I am jealous that the evill will come forth first being sensible of the nature of all mankind thus it remained a certain space wherein we did visit her time after time in which time again I compared her unto a body or carcase which the Doctors and Apothecaries of the Egyptian world begs or buyes to anatomize or abuse from whence to reap vvisdome to add to their rotten art so that the vvise in heart may see that they conjure their vvisdome and knowledge and art from amongst the dead but we being Physitians chosen of the Father and by him made partakers of his nature and name he gave us a body whereupon to exercise our gifts which from him we had received and to that end was applyed and being often drawn forth in visiting of her her sences being lost and filled with winde and air her tongue running in useless and senceless words only in some agonies wherein she was not sensible she would have cryed out against her self and said I am that bloody Whore and the blood is spilt upon the earth and there is no salvation for me and sitting waiting by her I was made to take hold of such words and beat them back upon her so much as she was able to bear to bring her to the sence of them and one time I taxed her with a lie for there was salvation for her she suddenly asked me where I told her in God and she being full of Scripture words told me That the fool hath said in his heart there is no God I asked her and said What will you beleeve a fool Nay by no means there is a God and there is salvation for thee and beat it upon her so much as she was able to bear and put it upon her to remember what had past betwixt us until I came again that so she might have something of savour wherewithall to exercise her senses and sometimes she did and sometimes I hastened considering the weakness of her brain and thus laboured again to raise the dead which after some short time coming in this manner Horror at times took hold upon her and much temptation to make her self away in which time I coming to her she asked me If I could not cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils I told her nay the Devils said so of Christ which was false but I can cast out Devils through Christ Jesus the power of God then said she Cast the Devils out of me yea if thou wilt do what I require of thee she told me yea she would but at that time did not but according to my expectation the weed came up first for when I told her that God is a meek and quiet spirit and that she might learn to know him within her and to be guided by him vvho taught not to speak such foolish vvords as she did and joyn her members to him and I would joyn with Christ both in me and her and through his strength the Devil shall be dispossest which at that time she could not bear but broke forth into foolish laughter which vainness continued with her a certain space vvhich when that was off her temptations straitly followed her still to make her self avvay which thing increased my confidence in her and all vvho may beled into the like for such are they that Satan hath little confidence in that they will do him service but if they can by any means escape his Wiles they will follow the example of my forerunner and me his servant who was led of the Spirit to be tempted in the Wildernes which vainness she hath confessed to me since that after my reproof in telling her and giving the example that she was more vain then her child that something in her shewed her that it was not fit for her to laugh and was in such a sad condition After which she got forth a doors into the woods to have made her self avvay having also been at the water-side to have done it before and both through the love and power of God was prevented for when she vvas in the vvoods vvith an intent to have done it she told me that something spake unto her and told her That it was not the destroying other self that could satisfie God for the dishonor she had done him After vvhich she savv that it was the love and power of God that did and had prevented her from doing of it and from that time she setled and amended and I perceived by her Sister that her earnest desire was to speak with me and said That she did beleeve she should be restored the which was accomplished and after our meeting she earnestly begged of me to tell her Whether she had not sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost yea or nay I told her nay then she put it strongly upon me to make it forth unto her the vvhich I did and told her Thou hast not yet received the Holy Ghost and that there vvas many Disciples vvho knew not vvhether there vvere any Holy Ghost yea or nay the which she saw and confessed then hovv can thou have sinned against it Moreover in that vvhich thou hast done against that vvhich thou hast received thou did it not wilfully for hadst thou known better thou wouldst not have done it and she told me vvith tears that the Lord knew that she had not done it wilfully and if she had known better she would not have done it and trusted in God that he would shew mercy upon her and the next time I came again she told me the same words and was still the more setled and her child being lying sick by her I asked her if she did not pity that poor child knowing that in her distemper neither it nor any other thing was regarded and she cryed out alas shal I not pity my own poor child and I was moved to tell her that even so the Lord had pitied her and his bowels

earned towards her and shortly after her child was restored unto her as a figure unto her of what the Lord would do for her if she did abide in his Counsel and often since she hath told me with tears that she trusted that God would do good for her and that he should be honoured by her in stead of that great dishonour that she had done to him and us which thing she hath often declared against her self in and said that we had suffered and God had been dishonoured by her Whereupon I told her that insomuch as that of God had suffered in her therein we had suffered by her and in her and the wicked through that have taken advantage to speak evil of the way of God but thou being through the love and power of God made sensible of thine own loss and also of the love of God towards thee we are therein fully satisfied and greatly can we rejoyce in the Lord God on thy behalf And this I can truly say concerning her and as a Testimonie of her That since her Recovery she hath and doth make it manifest that it was not for nor thorow any earthly or evill end that the sad travel came upon her for before that she was never a Licentious Liver and since she is more dead to all those things then ever she was before and her care and industry set how to do just and honest things unto all sorts of People and that which is well-pleasing unto God that the dayes of her appointed Time may be spent to his glory We are Witnesses unto the Truth of this Humphrey Norton John Rous. John Copeland Some Quaeries unto all sorts whatsoever who wants that which wee have by which they may see themselves and know from us where to find it 1. WHERE the Hand is which can help one out of Hell 2. Where is the Arm that can deliver one up thither and there bind him until his flesh be destroyed and in the day of the Lord can fetch his soul from thence and set it upon his Throne 3. Where is the first and second death the lowest highest and nethermost Hell seeing the Scripture speaks of the lowest Hell and the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone c. and Tophet of old which yet remains to the Wicked Shew us where these Hells are and in or under what Climate Circle or Planet or in Earth or Air or where 4. What is that that torments the Wicked there And whether it is the Devil that torments himself yea or nay 5. When or how with safety a soul may be delivered up thither To wit Whether before God hath left striving with him or after Or at what time or instant Answer expresly 6. Whether Christ and all these that have followed him from death to life have not past through all these deaths and Hells yea or nay seeing it is said He can save to the utmost And whether they have seen the utmost yea or nay that have not past through all these things And let none say that they may not be dived into for it is truth that the spirit searcheth all things c. and the hidden things of Esau must be sought out if any say Nay let him tell me what it is may be searched into and seen and what may not 7. And whether the eye of God seeth not and searcheth all things yea or nay And whether every man ought not to see with this Eye yea or nay If not Whether he may not be blind in many things yea or nay As for example Adam gave Names to every Creature that stood in Covenant and seeing that there are Names and Creatures and Members with bloody Oaths and Actions vvhich Adam in innocency named not therefore shevv me hovv one shall discern and knovv the innocent Names and Nature of every Member Creature and created thing and also that bloody spirit that invented all these bloody Oaths and beastly and filthy and unclean Words and Actions Ansvver expresly for so speaks the Spirit 8. If any man being a Preacher so called and knovv not these things Whether he be able to judge of what he speaks yea or nay And if so Whether he may not speak amiss and preach and speak that which he ought not and give Names to Creatures and things which are not If he be one that says he knows the things that differ and hath been led into Visions and Revelations and things of the highest lawful and unlawful to be uttered let him answer all these things both former and latter 9. What may be preached and published upon the house top and vvhat may uot and vvhat things are lavvful and what not And seeing there is a time wherein all things are lawful and a time wherein all things are not distinguish each time with its sign that all people may learn to know the signs of the times and the difference between all things that are and are not if any may say that it will bring in doubtful questions and may drive them to dive into things which may strick them distracted or mad I say Nay that is mans Will that drives him thither the light leads him to see the ground and rise of every time and thing and this is the Word of the Lord God and shews him the Spirit which must be divided from the soul from that which must not Mark the Eye of God shews and sees a Spirit and he that sees not with God's Eye sees not that which must be divided from the soul nor the soul which the Word reacheth and searcheth betwixt it and the Spirit 10. The mysteri● of godliness having been hid from ages generations and this being now the day and age and generation wherein God is revealing and revealed in and unto his people and is leading them through all Lands the Land of darkness sin and death the Land of light life and peace and having queried something concerning the former and seen also the scituation of the latter let us stretch forth into the deep and so fathom the whole circuit of Heaven and Hell Earth and Air and all that therein is Come up hither and I will shew thee the place where his Honor dwelleth come and see 11. Seeing the Scripture speaks of the third Heaven it thence appears that there are three my query is Where are they In what place Under what Planet Or above in what Circuit Or below in what Region and the infallible Way to it Which is the easiest query of all 12. And seeing that there is War in Heaven betwixt Michael and the Dragon it seems then that the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil is there I say Where is that Heaven that he is in Answer expresly 13. And seeing that the Serpent was in Paradice and deceived Eve before ever I heard of Hell Tell me how he came there and what Heaven that is and where it is 14. And seeing it is written that Adam was made of the dust c. and that he and she to wit Eve was in this innocent place called Paradice tell me infallibly the wisest of you Wizards How and what way they came there He who can do this in truth can preach salvation without Book 15. And seeing that a Heaven there is of a truth whereinto nothing that defileth can enter tell me expresly where it is the entrance in and how it may be obtained and by whom 16. What the Key of the Kingdom is Seeing Christ is the Door who the Keepers seeing I have heard both David and Peter was 17. And what the Gates of Hell is which shall not prevail against this Door And what the Keys of these Gates is seeing it is written He hath the Keys of Hell and Death And who that He is seeing it 's called an Angel My query is What the nature of an Angel is seeing it is written concerning Christ That he took upon him the nature of Angels c. and concerning the Saints that they shall judge Angels Thou who sees not with the Eye that surrounds these things and comprehends Death and Hell and is in distress concerning thy salvation at a loss not knowing the truth nor who it is that lives in it the cryes are so many and various this know of a truth whatsoever is wanting in thee of any of these things or any other that tends to salvation we have it and with us it is Therefore sit not in darkness nor say not with the multitude Who wil shew us any good thing but come unto us and suffer not thy soul to be lost for want of a Saviour for the place of his presence is with us witnessed By Humphre● Norton The Secrets of the Lo●d are with them that fear him WHat herein is mentioned is now freely recommended to the Common-Wealth of England with all who seekes the good and welfare of the Seed of Israel that as they love the liberty and redemption thereof they will endeavour after doing Justice and Righteousness towards all herein mentioned and in the like case concerned without respect of persons that it may manifestly appeare that you act for God and that in righteousness and not according but contrary to the minds and wills of corrupt men The End

not regarding their neighbours good but on the contrary their destruction by banishing of them from amongst them if that in all things they did not bow unto them Remember this O New England New England and speedily repent of this and all other thy wickedness for which the Lord will certainly plead with thee least it be thy portion for ever to be banished from his presence vvhich is a woful condition therefore repent yea let the long forbearance and goodness of God after thus many yeers deeply revolting from him prisoning and afflicting the tender hearted who could not wrong their Consciences so far as to joyn with you in these your actings lead you to Repentance but still do you go on in your rebellion to provoke him to wrath yet for his seeds sake which is amongst you he hath spared you vvhich now he hath visited you in his everlasting love whose visitation of love you have with great hatred resisted thereby heaping up vvrath unto your selves and gaining the plagues and judgements of God which unavoidably will come upon you as your due for resisting so great love know this therefore that in vain you do weary your selves in making Laws whereby to oppress the just and keep the holy seed in bondage for the just God is risen to plead its cause who the just wil● set over their heads and deliver the innocent from under your hands who will confound all your works and bring to nought all your enterprises making you an example unto all that should attempt to do as you have done vvhose deeds have over past the wicked that went before you to wit the Bishops upon whom his wrath is fallen to the utmost of which you O people of New England may take notice for verily the righteous judgments of the God of Jacob can you not escape therfore thinke not that the crying up of his Ordinances as you call them vvill save you while the cry of innocent blood is against you of vvhich upon a due search you are found deeply guilty which he can by no means clear vvhilst so you continue although his mercy is to thousands of them that fear him therefore let those amongst you vvho are tender and desires the knowledge of his vvays be encouraged to vvait upon him until he fulfill his promise vvho certainly vuill establish such in his way therefore let such not fear man vvhose breath is in his nostrils but fear the living God vvho hath enlightned you vvith the light of his Son by which light you vvill see the evill that the vvorld is in vvhich as unto it you take heed by it you vvill be preserved from the evill to the praise and glory of him that made you and so is the end for vvhich the the Lord made you answered John Copeland Reader The Copie of their Law here follows which is as they say an Addition to the late Order but in truth may be called an Addition to their former wickedness which by the cruel sufferings of the innocent is crusht and broken and if the wisdome of God had ruled the makers of it finding it too weak they would have set up the ever lasting Law in stead of it which doth violence to none and that would have endured for ever but in stead of doing so they have gone on further to shew their folly As an Addition to the late Order in reference to the coming or bringing in any of the cursed Sect of the Quakers into this Jurisdiction It is ordered that whosoever shall from henceforth bring or cause to be brought directly or indirectly any known Quaker or Quakers or other blasphemous Hereticks into this jurisdiction every such person shall forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds to the Countrey and shall by warrant from any Magistrate be committed to prison there to remain until the penalty be fully satisfied and paid and if any person or persons within this jurisdiction shall henceforth entertain or conceal any Quaker or Quakers or other blasphemous Hereticks knowing them so to be every such person shall forfeit to the Country fortie shillings for every hours concealment and entertainment of any Quaker or Quakers c. as aforesaid and shall be committed to prison as aforesaid till the forfeitures be fully satisfied and paid And it is further ordered That if any Quaker or Quakers shall presume after they have once suffered what the Law requireth to come into this jurisdiction every such Male Quaker shall for the first offence have one of his ears cut off and be kept at work in the house of correction till he can be sent away at his own charge and for the second offence shall have his other ear cut off and kept at the house of Correction as aforesaid And every woman Quaker that hath suffered the Law here that shall presume to come into this jurisdiction shall be severely whipt and kept at the house of Correction at work ●ill she be sent away at her own charge and so also for her coming again she shall be alike used as aofresaid And for every Quaker he or she that shall a third time again offend they shall have their tongues bore● through with a hot Iron and kept at the house of correction close to work till they be sent away at their own charge And it is further ordered That all and every Quaker arising from amongst our selves shall be dealt with and suffer the like punishment as the Law provides against forreign Quakers This is a true Copie of the Courts Order made at the general Court held at Boston the 14 day of October 1657. As attests Edward Rawson Secretary Again the forementioned couple Laurence Southick vvith his vvife and their son vvere apprehended and put in Boston prison on the third of the tvvelfth moneth 1657. receiving the infliction of their vvhipping they themselves not knovving any just cause or lavv they had for their so doing as it appears by their turning them forth in so short a space yet prohibited them from staying above one hour in any acquaintances house although they vvere inhabitants in the same jurisdiction and had lived many years in the Tovvn of Salem being people vvell knovvn amongst them of honest and good report Also one William Maston an antient man an Inhabitant in Boston Colonie vvas by the Rulers thereof for tvvo small Books vvhich he had fined ten pound vvhich they took from him and in the 8. moneth 1658. was put in prison for coming to see some friends there and the Governour commanded the Jaylor to chain him This is in short a true Declaration according to vvhat I remember and vvhat I have felt by the unjust Rulers of Boston in Nevv-England in the first Moneth 1658. After I was convinced by the light of the Lord in me of the evil of that way of worship I had long lived in and had turned from it the cruel spirit in its instruments of cruelty speedily followed me who brought me to their Court

and entring in with my hat John Indicot Governour looked upon me and with great disdain said Art thou come to this and commanded my Hat to be pulled off and proceeded with these words and the like thy quakerism will not cleanse thee from thy uncleanness and using many such words with a furious spirit until I answered him so many questions were put forth by him and the rest of his company but I found no freedom to answer but desired them to deal with me according as I had given answer to those Messengers which they had sent to demand questions of me some weeks by past and that if I had said or done any thing contrary to their Law they might proceed against me accordingly but they said what I had spoken before to the Constable was nothing to them I must now give answer to what they required of me I then finding freedom to answer some of their questions John Indicot asked me what Scripture I had for not putting off my hat so I mentioned that Scripture which saith How can ye believe that seek honour one of another and I desired him to tell me what it was in him that should require that of me which is opposite to the faith and said I looked at it to be nothing else but pride in him further declaring to whom alone honour doth belong even to the Lord and his Image in whomsoever it was but a vile person was to be contemned and with that he hastily called the Jaylor to carry me away saying I judged them all to be vile persons then after I had been in the Jaylors house about two hours he came with a Mittimus wherein he was required to put me into the house of correction and at my first entrance to be severely whipt and there kept according to the Law of the quakers and none suffered to converse with me during the time of my imprisonment and after I had received the punishment of their Law my wife went to Richard Bellingham deputy Governour she living in part of his house at that time and he being acquainted with the former condition of my family she asked him when I should be let out of prison that I might have liberty to provide for my family having nothing to maintain them with but what we daily laboured for he answered her to this purpose That she might set her heart at rest for I was not like to come forth till I departed the Patent she asked him why I might not go forth so well as others of the Inhabitants who had their liberty after execution his answer was That I had not wherewithal to pay five shillings a week for not coming to their meeting neither had I a house of my own to go to then she asked him to let me work on my own work but it was denied because of the Law which was four pence out of every shilling he earned to keep him and his family so my family was left in a suffering condition and I understanding by my wife that their wicked purpose was I should be kept perpetually in prison or else everlasting banishment chuse me whether and thereupon they had concluded to take my children to be their servants and my wife should work for her self and I continue a slave to the Jaylor which evill work and intent of theirs brought much trouble upon my wife and it lay heavy upon me that I should be so bereaved of my children and they be kept in slavery to such an inhumane and unreasonable generation to whom neither I nor mine had done no wrong neither did they accuse me with the breach of any Law of theirs so that had it been my self alone that had been to bear their unreasonable stroak I cannot say but that had been still their slave so I desired counsel of the Lord what to do in it and found freedome to depart from thence their arm of cruelty was so great and I sent a Writing to the Magistrates and the Jaylor brought me word that if I would be gone the next day out of the Patent I might depart the Prison But Richard Bellingham was not wanting to perswade my wife against me by evill counsel and many lies and before I was put in prison charged her not to hearken to me but to take his counsel and not to acquaint me with what he said to her and after I was gone to seek out a place for my self and family he lay urging her to disown me and cast me off saying she should never hear from me more and what I had done was for that end that I might be rid of her and my children and promised her if she would disovvn own me and perswade my children to it she nor my children should not want two of my children he intended to keep himself my son being fit to keep his sheep whom he said he would take from the place vvhere I appointed he should abide least he should make a prey of him William Shattuck Mark what Magistrates and Rulers here is whose wicked endeavours is to set a mans wife and children at variance against himself It is said that where the Law granted a Bill of Divorce the cause was the hardness of the creatures hearts and not according to the minde of Moses but here the cause was not in the couple I am witness of it for such was her love that she followed him to Road-Island with her little ones according to his desire whilst we were there but in Phar●oh was the fault who would have kept both mother and children in bondage making brick if not a vvorse intent vvere in him towards them I am perswaded that the same man hath indeavoured or desired no less betwixt his own Son and his if the truth were published but as for that and this also I leave him to the God of vengeance for his reward Again The Sufferings sustained by Sarah Gibbins and Dorothy Waugh they being moved by the measure of God to visit the seed at Sa●em in hosto●s Jurisdiction it being about the thirteenth of the second moneth 1658. yet notwithstanding the storms and tempests was great of frost and snow in which they travelled and lodged in the wilderness day and night the sense of which would have taken impression upon any simple heart through which season they ceased not to travel upwards of sixty miles which chearfully they passed through to accomplish the will and work of God who for their reward brought them beyond expectation to the appointed place where gladly they with their message was received After which it was required of them by the motion of the same measure to repair to Boston and appear at the place of their vvorship upon the fifth day of the week being called their Lecture-day where they found them sitting like unto the Sodomites puffed up in pride and high-mindedness and fulness of bread many eyes was upon them having been there before their Serjeants and Officers drawing about them

the Governor said you cannot prove it by Scripture that any did wear Hats the which was proved false for Dan 3 21. was brought by us where it is said These men were bound in their coats their hosen and their hats then he said there was no such word there as Hat we took forth a Bible and read it to them then they said it was mistranslated vve said If the Scriptures be mis-translated how can they be taken for a rule the Governour replyed some vvas and some vvas not Then Major Denison stood up being about to speak so the Governour made way for him saying to the deputie Governour who vvas casting forth a flood of false accusations against us I pray let the Major speak vvho having audience spake to this purpose You say you own Governours and Magistrates such as are set up by God but you say that all the Rulers and Magistrates that are now in the World are the powers of the World and the powers o● darkness and you are Judah and because the government is to come out of Judah therefore the ten Tribes of Israel are ●ff●nded and divided against Judah the Tribes of the Presbyterians the Independents and Prelates c. All these are against the quakers so Manasses is against Ephraim and Ephraim is against Mana●es and both against Judah and you say you shall reign but we are the stronger and so look to your selves Answ Mark Reader vvhat this mighty man hath profited by his speech you have not heard any of us say so but the Lord is stronger then all and he shall reign so one of them vvas saying That we vvere deceived and deluded vve said if we were deluded and out of the way you had more need pity us and not do as you do then one of them said We pitie you vvhile vve punish you vve ansvvered That is as if a man should set a Dog on a Sheep and be sorry for it vvhile he is doing it after some more vvords they called us bold Boyes and Blasphemers The Governour said You come in a shevv of love and humility and the spirit of meekness but you are such as Christ spake of who have outvvardly sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravening Wolves Answ Christ there spake of a people very like your selves After this the Governour made a Speech to us and said He spoke from heaven but vve vvould not beleeve him Answ Nay vve do not beleeve thee so after some other vvords he bid the Jaylor take us avvay the vvhich he did this being the substance of vvhat past betvvixt us at that time fo neer as vvas remembred Again on the tenth day we vvere called before the Court and when we came our hats were pulled off as before then Richard Bellingham deputie Governor stood up and spake to this effect These men have been here formerly and have been sent away and though they knew the Law yet are they come again in contempt to revile Magistrates and Ministers and to break all Order in Churches and to deceive the people and so whatever comes upon you whether loss of ears or loss of life your blood be upon your own heads To which we replyed you heap false accusations upon us and God will heap his judgments on your heads and if we suffer loss of members or loss of life your blood will be required at your hands for the Lord hath sent us hither To which the Governour replyed Prove that and said Christs Messengers were to pray for them that persecuted them but you curse us and prophesie judgments to us Answ We have not done any thing since we came hither that deserves the spilling of one drop of our blood Then the Governor said you are greater enemies to us then those that come openly for you come under the pretence of peace to poison the people to which one of us said It grieves me to hear thee speak so many false things Then they urged us to prove that we were sent of God for the same things that Christ said should be done to his Disciples by those that are contrary to him have ye done unto us a whipping c. Then Major Denison said Then evil doers that are whipt suffer for Christ To which John R●us replied if we vvere evill doers the judgments of God vvould be heavier on us then that which we suffer by you but not being evil doers we have the peace of God and his peace keepeth us above all sufferings to which Major Denison replyed Master Rou● for so I may call you having heard that your father is a Gentleman what Judgment do you look for greater then is upon you then to be driven from your father house and to run about here as a Vagabond with a company of Seducers except you look for a halter or to be struck with a thunder-bolt To which John Rous answered I vvas not driven from my fathers house but in obedience to the Lord I left it and when the Lord shall clear me of this Land I shall return to it Again then the Governor called to the Secretary to read the Law which concerned us three so he read the latter part which was to this purpose That for coming again having once suffered the Law we should have each of us an ear cut off After the Law was read the Governour did as he often doth speak very lightly and uttered several words in derision the vvhich we seeing said More gravity vvould become you To which he replyed Do you come to reprove us and another of them said if you should speak thus in any other Country they would take you and hang you up presently for this to reprove Magistrates in the face of the Country doth plainly tend to sedition the Governour spake in derision and said I know you come to reprove a proud and sinful people then vve asked whether he would say they were not a sinful people he ansvvered we will not say so though you say you are not Answer Then if a sinful people may not a sinful people be warned to Repentance So the Governour and Secretary called to the Marshal to have him gag Christopher Holder then we asked vvhether we were not called hither to speak as vvell as to be spoken to the Governour said Yes vvhen vve give you leave then after some more vvords Major Denison said if you could shevv your Commission to us as plain as vve can shevv to you that you are evill doers in transgressing our Lavv it vvas something Answ Whether you vvill beleeve us or not from the Lord we have received a command and his Spirit is our Commission then the Governour said They have nothing to prove it by but by the Spirit which is within them and that is the Divel we replyed and said Take heed of blaspheming the Spirit he said vve came in contempt we replyed The Lord God who knows the hearts and reins of all men judge betvven us and you whether we came in

contempt and some other vvords we spake to them concerning their Law and said We have seen some of your Laws that have had many Scriptures in the Margent but what Examples have you in the Scriptures for cutting off ears the Governour said vvhat Scripture is there for hanging then Major Denison said in way of derision yes they would be crucified then they hastened the Governour to dispatch us quickly who spake to Edward Rawson again to read the Law to us three who called us by our names and as he was going to read the Law again the Governour and Magistrates whispered together and while we were expecting to hear the Law read again the Governour turned suddenly about and in great bitterness passed his sentence on us three in these words It is the sentence of the Court That you thrée all have each of you his right ear cut off by the Hangman then we seeing their unjust proceedings against us and that they vvere both our accusers and Judges and vvould not permit us to speak for our selves as vve ought but cryed out for to have us silent and to gag us if vve vvould not vve vvere stirred in spirit to appeal to the chief Magistrate of the Common-vvealth of England and to have our cause tryed and judged by him but they made a light thing of it and hastened the Keeper to have us avvay the vvhich he did and put us into the common Prison again So this is the sum of vvhat passed betvveen us the second time we were before them as neer as we can remember The same day was Laurence Southwick and Cassandra his wife and Josiah Southwick their Son inhabitants of Salem who have been imprisoned in the house of correction twelve weeks by reason of which restraint from their house and families their outward estate is much wasted it being in the time of Harvest where they lost a Meddow for want of reaping wherein formerly they have had twenty load of hay for want of which their cattel they must either put to slaughter or otherwise perish if God provide not seeing the enmity of their adversaries hath destroyed that which they had provided by detaining them under the oppression of their unrighteous wills and yet cannot be proved against them the breach of any Law which is according to Scripture as the Reader may plainly see when he reads their Examinations who being before them began with them on this manner This man was a Member and this woman was a Member to which Laurence replyed that he had been a Member within this year and the reason why they gave me admonition was because I entertained two men in my house they answered they were Quakers he answered it was Christopher Holder and John Copeland and my soul closed with every thing they held forth at which they made a scorn and said they thought so then Josiah asked what errour they held they said that they did believe and hold forth That there was that in every man that if he would he might be saved by it to which Iosiah replyed that there vvas power in no mans will to save himself then Iosiah called to the Magistrates that they would declare to the people what their sin vvas they said you deny Magistrates and Ministers Reply nothing of God in them we deny and said you hold forth a man vvas to keep his own house vvhy then should we be driven out of our own houses but to that they gave them no answer but haftened away to their dinner so the Jaylor had them away and put them into the house of correction again and the next day Laurence and Iosiah his Son sent a Paper to the Magistrates in which they desired that they might have some time of liberty to go home and set things in order and to pay some debts which they owed being desirous that every man should have his due which thing they denied them shewing plainly that their intent was to ruinate them who set a Bond for them to sign A Copie of which is as followeth We Laurence Southwick and Cassandra Southwick and Josiah Southwick do bind our selves jointly and severally in the sum of 40. l. to the Treasurer of the Countrey the Condition is That we and every one of us will forthwith depart the Iurisdiction of the Massathusets or that We or any one of us shall publish or maintain any of the Diabolical Opinious of the Quakers or entertain any of that Sect that resort unto us from other parts The end of this Bond being considered and that being signed it would prove a Snare to them for according to it they either must leave what by hard labor they have gotten go where they have nothing or else be bound to speak nothing of God or if they do if it be contrary to the minds of them unto whom they should be bound though not contrary to the Scripture they would straightwayes be made offendors so they chuse rather to suffer both in body and estate then to have their consciences bound to do that which is against the law of God and let him that is honest hearted judge whether this is not oppression So on the 16. of the 7. Month the Marshals Deputy with a company of blood-thirsty men came to the prison where we were and when they had let in so many as they would who came as if they came to a sport they made fast the door and did not suster any friend to come in though some did much press for it especially one friend of Providence Katherine Scot by Name who was drawn by the Lord to come for to bear witness against their cruelty at the time of their executing of it upon us for the wch she also is imprisoned So when they had made the door fast the Marshal came into the room where we were and some others with him and read an Order which was to this effect To the Marshal General or his Deputy You are to take with you the Executioner 〈◊〉 repair to the house of Correction and there see him cut off the right ears of John Copeland Christopher Holder and John Rous Quakers in execution of the Sentence of the Court of Assistance for the breach of the Law titled Quakers Edward Rawson Secretary Reader thou mayest take notice that this was their Bill and all the Charge they laid against us for we had done no evil So they had us forth into another room where was more light then John Rous said to the Marshal We have appealed to the chief Magistrate of England he said he had nothing to do with that then Christopher Holder said Such Exectution as this did use to be done publikely and not in private one that stood by replyed We do it in private to keep you from tatling So the Executioner took Chistophor Holder and when he had turned aside his hair and was going to cut off his eare the Marshal being of a cowardly spirit turned his backe on him