Warrant where no Magistrate is at hand by any Constable Commissioner or Select Man and conveyed from Constable to Constable until they come before the next Magistrate who shall commit the said Person or Persons to close Prison there to remain without Bail untiâ— the next Court of Assistants where they shall have a legal Tryaâ— by a special Jury and being convict to be of the cursed Sect of Quakers shall be sentenced to Banishment upon pain of DEATH Obs The Reader may hence understand that the â—eaâ—er the Magistrates Laws did extend to destroy the Lives of the Innocent the more pleasing it was to the Hireling Priests â—ho in honour thereunto would set Time apart for the Churches Thankâ—giving A New-England Antichristian Law And that every the Inhabitants of this Jurisdiction being convicted to be of the cursed Sect of Quakers either by taking up publishing and defending the horrid Opinions of the cursed Quakers or stirring up Mâ—tâ—aâ— Seditâ— or Rebellion against the Goverment of our Church at â— Common Wealth or by taking up their absurd and destructive Practices viz. denying civil Respect and Reverence to Equals and Superiours with-drawing from our Church Assemblies and instead thereof frequenting private Meetings of their own in Opposition to our Church Order or by adhearing to or approving of known Quakers that are opposit to the Oâ—thodox received Opinions of the Godly and endeavouring to disaffect others â—o civil Goverment and Church Order established amongst us and condemning the Practice and Proceedings of this Court against the Quakers manifesting thereby compliance with those whose design is to overthrow the Order established in our Church and Common-Wealth The reader may here Observe the wretched state of these Bloody minded Persecutors who for want of true faith were in the state of thâ—ir elder Brother Cain that was a murderer like unto these who destroy the righteous for their Faith and Obedience to God for which cause these Persecutors bear Cains mark being in fear that those which are not of their murdering Spirits will slay them and knowing themselves to be like principled as was Hugh Peters Venner and many others of their New-England Brethren in Iniquity stirring up Mutiny Sedition and Rebeâ—lion against the English Government and the Order of the English Church established by the Bishops as by the Chronicles of England doth at large appear of their Rebellion and Treason against the King and his Children in that day of their inventing so much mischief against others in our Native Land to set up themselves above all others which Spiâ—it is the same in these their persecuting Brethren who impute that to the Charge of an Innocâ—nt harmeless People which themselves are so highly guilty of as is manifested by their setting up themselves to lord it over the People of God and the Kings Subjects as for fifty or sixty Years time they have done in New-England where the hireling Priests kept a constant stroke of puting all that dissented from their Worship into bear skins and setting their Followers to tear them in pieces calling out in their preaching to their people Curse ye Meroz Curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants that will not come to the help of the Lord against the mighty Judg. 5 23. and cursed be he that doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully by witholding his Sword from blood Jeâ— 48.10 with more of the like endeavouâ—ing to perswade that Gods general Judgments would not depart until they had hanged all the Quakers and sent going all other Dissenters The Judgments may remove but when old Charter men Are dead and then Or when God sends here better men Well to rule in Government then Pro. 29.2 From Devil and such Wicked Priests pray God deliver me Then from all Mischief in the World be sure I shall be free Hosea 6.9 New-England Peusecutors Laws against the Kings Subjects Every such Person upon Examination and Conviction before the Court of Assistants in manner as aforesaid shall be committed to close Prison for onâ— Month and unless they chuse to depart the Jurisdiction shall give Bond for their appearance at the next Court of Assistants where continuing obstinate and refusing to retract and reform the aforesoid Opinions and Practices shall be sentenced to Banishment upon pain of Death and in case â—â—the aforesaid Voluntary departure not to remain or to return again into this Jurisdiction without the allowance of the major part of the Council first had and published on penalty of being banished upon pain of Death and any one Magistrate upon complaint or information given him of any such Person shall cause them to be apprehended and if upon Examination of the cause he shall find Just grounds for such complaint he shall commit such Person to Prison until he come to his Tryal as above expressed Observe Here you may still note the Work of the Wicked in whom he that was a Lyar and Murderer from the beginning gave them no rest from their bloody pursuit after the Lives of the Righteous whom the Lord did preserve in all their deep sufferings and firey Tryals that not one of the faithful Sufferers for his Cause conformed to their wicked Will who would not endure any that differed in Judgment from their Priests Worship to inhabit within their Jurisdiction who without fear to God or regard to Man contrary to the Laws of the English Native without either fear or regard to God King or Bishops made the defence of their Faith Church and Common Wealth as they call themselves as strong as possible they could with Stock Whip Goal and Gallows on which the chiefest strength of their Faith did depend for when all their other Anti-christian Weapons failed them against the Quakers the Gallows held until the Kings Letter came and removed the strength of their Faith in that also yet they continued by their old wonted way of plâ—king away mens Estates by fining them in great Sums for dessenting from their Priests Worship which from the Quakers Râ—pâ—â—â—â—s them of the Church of England and others amounted to about Twenty Thousand Pounds in the bounds of New-England When Wolves once get a taste of Blood They are for killing all that 's good The Preamble to their Law This Court being desirous to try all means with as much lenity as may consist with our safety to prevent the Intrusions of the Quakers who besides their absurd and blasphemous Doctrines do like Rogues and Vagabonds come in upon us and have not been restrained by the Laws already provided Observe Here note the Foxes Preamble to their Wolvish Law whose Ravinous blood-thirstâ— Naâ—â—re is not contented with the â—lâ—â—ce but strive all they can as have done the Wicked in days past to have the innocent Blood also as did their Brother bloody Bonner in Queen Mary's time whenas to many Thousands of People it is well known that those which suffered in Nâ—w-England under the Name of Quakers were neither in Doctrine Pâ—inciple nor Practise any way guilty of
GOD or KING as is manifested by their Works Priests Rulers Masts for Ships Dâ—ceis and Lyes withall Poor People made to pay for Presents to White-hall New-England Persecutors Laws against the Kings good Subjects upon Complaint of the Priests put into Execution again NOW forasmuch as new Complaints are made to this Court of such Persons abounding especially in the Eastern parts endeavouring to draw away others to that wicked Opinion it is Ordered That the last Law Tit. Vagabond Quakers May 1661. be hence-forth in force in all respects provided their Whipping be but through three Towns and the Magistrate or Commissioner signing the Warrant shall appoint both the Towns and number of Stripes in each Town to be given 1662. Obs Here by comparing this their Date to their Law with the date of the Kings Letter how little regard they had to the Kings Mind and Will therein contained which was whether condemned to suffer Death or Imprisoned or to suffer corporal Punishment to forbear to proceed any further therein but forthwith to send the said Persons over into the Nation of England with the respective Crimes or Offences laid to their Charge to the end such course might be taken with them according to the Nature of the Offence as should be agreeable to the English Laws Which express command of the King was but a small time minded by them for upon their considering the cause some small time proposed to themselves that by virtue of their Idol Charter they had as much Power in New-England as the King had in Old-England and had they the like strength of Men and Shipping would no doubt with stand all Kings and Princes that should adventure to oppose their way now had not I my self heard some of them say these things durst not have charg'd it here upon them to publick view and for a further evidence of the same witness their Proclaiming with a Trumpet before them against the Kings Commissioners in Boston perswading the People as near as as they could That their Commissions were made under a Hedge with much 〈◊〉 of the like Nature too â—orge here toâ— relate Priests Rulerr bloody Work on People hath brought Wo With their consent that silent were to have it so They 'r Works of him that is of Hell ' Gainst God and King all such Rebell New-England Persecutors Law against the Kings Subjects Whereas it may be found amongst us that mens Thresholds are set up by Gods Thresholds and mens Posts by Gods Posts especially in open Meetings of the QVAKERS whose damnable Heresies and abominable Idolatries are hereby promoted imbraced ând practised to the Scandal of Religion hazard of Souls and provocation of divine Jealousie against this People For Prevention and Reformation whereof it is Ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof That every Person found at a Quakers Meeting shall be apprehended ex Officio by the Constable and by Warrant from a Magistrate or Commissioner shall be committed to the House of Correction and there to have the Discipline of the House applyed unto them and to be kept to work with Bread and Water for three days together and then to be released or else shall pay a fine of five Pounds in Money to the Country for every such Offence and all Constables neglecting their Duty in not faithfully executing this Order shall incur the Penalty of 5 l. upon conviction one third part whereof to the Informer Obs The Reader may here take Notice of one of these Persecutors many horrid and wicked Lyes so proved by their Contradiction who in their Preambles to their Laws accuse the Quakers with keeping their Meetings private yet at unawares in their Bridewell Law they charge the contrary and though they pretend the sin is great yet it may be bought off for five Pounds in Money as often as they please but the said Sum not being paid them by any one they were much enraged thereat finding their covetous design in making said Law disappointed because it reach no further than to punish them that were not free to pay 5 l. for being at a Quakers Meeting as aforesaid the Penalty of which Law several Merchants in Boston suffered rather than to disobey God by satisfying the lust of such covetous Priests and Rulers who prefer the love of Money before punishing for that which themselves account so great sins as by the Preamble of their Laws they pretend these above-mentioned to be Their bloody Laws are almost done Which Work the Priests at first begun New-England Persecutors Preamble to their Laws against provoking Evils as they call them Whereas the most wise holy God for these several years past hath not only warned us by his word but chastized us with his Rod inflicting upon us many general Judgments but we have neither heard the word nor rod as we ought to be effectually humbled for our sins to repent of them hence it is the righteous God hath hightened our Calamity and given Commission to the barbarous Heathen to rise up against us and become a smart Rod and severe Scourge to us in burning and depopulating several hopeful Plantations murdering many of our Inhabitants of all sorts and seeming as it were to cast us off and putting us to shame and not going forth with our Arms hereby speaking aloud to us to search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord our God from whom we have departed with great back-sliding Obs That to acknowledge the Truth is well and well would it be indeed if they were found acknowledging the whole Truth and to repent of shedding innocent Blood which is the great sin of New-England Priests and Rulers as also of the consenting Church Members thereof but of this there is no mention made in their Preamble-confession of words without Works of Truth and Righteousness to God and People according as is at large manifest by their afore-mentioned Laws the neglect of which Execution was by their Priests imputed to be the main cause of general Judgment to come upon them But they use to say If all the Quakers were hanged and all other Dissenters clear'd out of their Jurisdiction then would their Land enjoy Peace Unto which Work the Rulers were bewitched so far as the Devil was permitted to drive them who were as willing to run and to work they went against all Dissenters and set forth a Book against the Baptists entituled The Rise and Foundation of the cursed Sect of Annabaptists in which was as many Lyes as they use to gather for their Pulpit Work on the first Day against the Quakers which Lyes to hear also costs the People Money None are more blind than those that will not see The cause for which Gods general Judgments be New-England Persecutors Law against Provoking Evils as they call them 1. This Court apprehending there is too great a neglect of Discipline in the Churches and especially respecting those that are their Children through the non acknowledgment of them
according to the Order of the Gospel 〈◊〉 watching over them as well as Catechizing of them inquiring into their spiritual states that being brought to take hold of the Covenant they may acknowledge and be acknowledged according to their relation to God and his Church and their Obligation to be the Lords and approve themselves so to be by a suitable Profession and Conversation And do therefore solemnly recommend it unto the respective Elders and Brethren of the Churches throughout this â—urisdiction to take effectual course for the Reformation therein Obs By the afore-mentioned cruel bloody Laws against the People of God what nature their Church Government was of in which Covenant the words Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees was put of and instead thereof they put in Beware of the Leaven of the Quakers for which see Salem Church Covenant so called caused to be so done by their high Priest John Higinson who in his preaching told the People The Quakers Light was a stinking Vapour from Hell with much more of the like as was usual with him in his daily Preaching and Teaching against the Quakers Baptists and other Dissenters this Old-Charter Priest with other of his devout Church-Brethren in Iniquity use to wish their Children might be Rogues and Whores rather than Quakers which was too 〈◊〉 tho justly fullfilled upon many of them as well as upon this old Priests whose Daughter was highly accused of Witch-craft and now maintained by the Parish It is dreadful to consider what Wickedness is in mens hearts to wish such horrid Wishes as the Jews did Mat. 27.25 which justly came upon them as upon these of the like Spirit No Members Child a Member tâ—en could be From Quakers Blood in all respects found free New-England Persecutors Laws against provoking Evils as they call them 2. Whereas there is manifest Pride openly appearing amongst us in that long hair is worn by some men either their own or the hair of others made into Perriwigs and by some Women wearing Borders of Hair and their cutting and curling and laying out their Hair which Practise doth prevail and increase especially among the Younger sort This Court doth declare against this evil Practise as Offensive to them and divers sober Christians amongst us and therefore do hereby Enact and Advise all Persons to use moderation in this respect And further to impower all Grand Juries to present to the County Courts all such Persons whether Male or Female whom they shall judge to exceed in the Premises and the County Courts are authorized to proceed against such Delinquents either by Admonition or Fine or Correction according to their good Discretion Obs That through the long continuance of Disobedience which is as Rebellion and the sin of Witchcraft being highly guilty of Innocent Blood these Persecutors had lost their Dominion over their own Families who began to run into great Superfluity and Eâ—travagancy of those things which were not comely decent and of good Report in which they did greatly increase and now abound beyond all the Power of their Laws to restrain Whereâ—oâ—e they may now see their ungodly wicked Wishes are come both upon themselves and Children for the Curse of the Lord remaineth in the House of thâ—m that have either actually or by consent been found before the Lord guilty of shedding Innocent Blood Prov. 3.33 Mal. â— 1 12 3. From all evil Wishes pray God deliveâ— me And from all Wickedness me and mine keep free N. England Persecutors Laws against provoking Evils as theâ— call them 3. Notwithstanding the wholsom Laws already made by this Court for the restraining Excess in Apparel yet through the corruption in many and neglect of due execution or those Laws the evil of Pride in Apparel both for costliness in the poorer sort and vain new strange Fashions both in Poor and Rich with naked Breasts and Arms or as it were pinnioned with the Addition of Superfluous Ribbands both on Hair and Apparel for redress whereof it is Ordered by this Court That the County Courts from time to time shall give strict Charge to present all such Persons as they shall judge exceed in that kind if the grand Jury shall neglect their duty herein the County Courts shall impose a Fine upon them at their own Discretion Obs The outward Appearance of these Persecutors by their smooth words sair speeches as also their short hair even or above their Ears with high crownd Hats peacked Boards as likewise their two or three inch broad Bands and their Apparel agreeable thereunto by which they appeared in the outward like men differing from all other people whatsoever which with their Priests dayly preaching and their often loud praying and their works not agreeable with their words were by their fruits manifested to be men of the like Spirit whom Christ bid beware of Mat. 7.15 which the more to be accounted good Christians under which name they pretended all their proceedings against the evil of pride to be for the honour of God and the good of the People Souls when on the contrary it appears otherwise by their selling that which themselves account sin for money which doth clearly manifest their work to be done in honour to themselves whose love is to the Peoples Money for the satisfying their own coveteous Desireâ— which work doth manifest Coveâ—â—â—sness Pride and Oppresion and Oppression in such Priests and Rulers that eat up the sin of the People Hos 4 8·9 Micah 3.11 Gods Cause is that to which they do pretend But all men may see Money is their end New-England Persecutors Laws against provoking Evils as they call them And it is further ordered That the County Court single Magistrate or Commissioners Court in Boston have hereby Power to summons all such persons so offending before them and for the first Offence to admonish them and for each offence of that kind afterwards to impose a fine of Ten Shillings upon them or if unable to pay to inflict such punishment as shall be by them thought most suitable to the nature of the Offence and the same Judges above-named are hereby impowered to judge of and execute the Laws already extant against such Excess Obs Whipping or the like punishment was only to such persons unable to pay their Fine though the offence was no breaeh of any English Law but these Sin-sellers Laws are distinct from all the Laws of other Nations that I have read or heard of and indeed in most things their Doctrines Principles and Practices the same which are not only condemned by all true Christians but also by the Indians Turks and other moral Heathens who abhor the practice of living upon the Fines of people not found to transgress the Law or Laws of their Nation as these New-England Priests and Rulers do whose income for such like things by them imputed to the Peoples transgressing such like Laws as abovesaid is no less then Twelve Hundred Pounds a year besides fifteen hundred Pounds a