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truth_n	according_a	scripture_n	true_a	1,770	5	4.4847	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54467	Persecution appearing with its own open face, in William Armorer as will be sufficiently manifest to all that may impartially read this following relation of the cruel proceedings of the said William Armorer, with some others, against the innocent people of GOd called Quackers, in the town of Reading, in the county of Berks, of his taking them up, and imprisoning great numbers of them, and of the continuance of their sufferings to this day, being almost three years and a half : and of his unwearied and cruel practices against that innocent people from time to time : discovered and laid open, to the end that lyes and false reports may be stopped and that the King and all people may be rightly informed, and truly acquainted with the case, as it is clearly and truly in it self.	Armorer, William.	1667 (1667)	Wing P1658; ESTC R12485	70,047	89

their obedience unto his requirings And do ye think to gain honour if ye proceed against us in afflicting of us because we cannot transgress the Royal Law written in our hearts I tell you no for we are a people that desire to spend our dayes here in this world in the fear of God and to follow him in all things which he doth require of us to keep his Commandments and his Statutes and to worship him according to his mind in spirit and in truth And this is all we desire which is our right and priviledge as we are free-born people in this our Native Country That we may have liberty so to do but if for so doing and nothing else we must suffer as ancient Christians have done we are content knowing that the Lord will plead our cause and will care for us and we cannot deny him to please men but must still to ourlives end serve and obey him and wait upon him and worship him in spirit and truth having engaged our hearts so to do in that he hath made known himself to us and by his Eternal Power redeemed us out of the world and the sinful ways thereof and shed abroad his love in our hearts and we are perswaded and do know of a truth That the Lord hath been and is with us in this his way which we now walk in and can you in reason and equity expect that we should deny that way in which we have found the ●ord to satisfie and refresh our souls and to make our hearts glad Or is it doing as you would be done by Would you think it right to be persecuted and afflicted for walking in that way which you are perswaded in your selves you ought to walk in If not do you fulfil the Royal Law which is To do to others as you would be done unto Wherefore consider betimes and have not a hand in afflicting of innocent people because of their consciences But break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor in spirit and afflicted people of God who suffer at this day for no other thing but for keeping the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ and for his Worship For what is the matter Who have we hurt or wronged in any thing that here is such furious and unchristian-like proceedings against us And if our Adversaries have nothing against us but because of our obedience to the Law and Worship of our God is this such a crime at this day that honest people for so doing should be so eagerly and violently proceeded against and that snares and traps should be laid to catch and ensnare them Well the Lord takes notice of these things and he will arise for his own Name and Seeds sake before whom the Mountains must bow and tremble and the high places of the earth which stands in his way shall be removed and the Lord God will cut his own way thorow them before whom all Nations are but as the drop of a bucket and as the small dust of the ballance and they that strive against him cannot be blessed And therefore be wise and considerate ye Rulers of the Earth lest ye be found opposing of and striving against that Eternal God that gives us all life and breath and a being here in the world who will be too strong for you if you shall think in your hearts to stop and limit his appearance in the hearts of his people and bind the Conscience in which it is his Right and Prerogative to rule and no Mans upon the Earth from following the Lord in what his Light leads and draws it unto which will be Usurpation and great sin charged upon you in the day of the Lord when you shall come before the Throne of his Justice and give an account unto him Wherefore kiss the Son stoop and bown unto the Light of God's Son which appears in your hearts and convinceth you of sin least the anger and indignation of the Lord be kindled and flame and break out like devouring fire and burn in your own hearts so as it can never be quenched Here are many of us Prisoners in this Gaol and have been long wh●ch is not unknown to you both men and women and almost some whole Families and several Aged People many because we cannot break the Command of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ who hath said unto his Followers Swear not at all because he leads them and keeps them out of the strife and out of sin and wickedness into Love Peace and Truth from which mankind was degenerated when the swearing came in which was to bind the conscience because they were gone and erred from the love and truth of God in the heart which Christ our Saviour restores into again and says unto such swear not for truth binds them and their yea is yea and their nay is nay and because we cannot break this Command of Christ we are ensnared and do suffer at this day and many may be exposed to utter ruin in this world because thereof and the guilt of the ruin of innocent people and families may come upon you if in a rash and unchristian-like spirit ye run on against them which may be in your power to prevent the sufferings and cryes of whom will enter into the ears of the Lord God of Sabbath who will hear and have regard thereunto if men do not regard and will recompence those that trouble his into their own bosoms And others here are that suffer for worshipping God in spirit and truth according to the Scriptures who cannot forsake the ancient Doctrine and practice of the Apostles who exhorted true Christians not to forsake the assembling themselves together and we cannot but perform that Christian and innocent duty for which occasion is sought against us by such as have given way to that spirit of enmity which always appeared against the way and worship of the true God which such that are joined unto will feel their reward and portion with and their inhumane and illegal proceedings may in time be more fully and manifestly declared and laid open to the world Now are these things worthy of such strait bonds and close imprisonment even to the endangering the lives of your peaceable Neighbours who have not done any man wrong but because of the tenderness of their Consciences towards God they must be thus used so that hereby at least their health in the outward man comes to be impaired by reason of keeping in and being kept from their honest Callings and Employments in the Creation so that these things tend to the destruction of men women and children and civil commerce among men and only because of their faithful obedience to the Lord in what they are perswaded in their hearts unto by his Eternal Spirit and constancy in his way which they can never deny whatever they suffer in this world neither can any of these things I am perswaded seperate us who

Persecution APPEARING With its own OPEN FACE IN WILIAM ARMORER As will be sufficiently manifest to all that may impartially read this following Relation of the Cruel Proceedings of the said William Armorer with some others against the Innocent People of God called QUAKERS in the Town of Reading in the County of Berks Of his taking of them up and Imprisoning great Numbers of them And of the eontinuance of their Sufferings to this day being almost Three years and a half And of his unwearied and Cruel Practices against that Innocent People from time to time Discovered and laid open to the end that Lyes and false Reports may be stopped and that the King and all People may be rightly informed and truly acquainted with the Case as it is clearly and truly in it self Matt. 5. 11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison c. Psal 119. 126. It is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void thy Law LONDON Printed in the year 1667. To the READER Friend THou mayest be sensible That great and many have been the Trials and Sufferings of the People of God in Ages and Generations past who did bear witness against wi●kdeness Idolatry and Oppression and all the unrighteous Laws and Decrees of men bearing a righteous Testimony for God his Way and Truth upon earth for which cause they have always been persecuted by wicked and ungodly men whom the Devil the Enemy of mankind hath always made his Instruments to withstand the work of the Lord God in every dispensation of time wherein the Lord hath been pleased to appear and manifest himself unto men and as Truth and Righteousness hath flourished and born rule in the heart and the true worshipped of God been exalted and set up so much the more hath Deceit Cruelty and Oppression appeared against it through wicked and cruel-minded men whereby the Lord was displeased and provoked to anger and his indignation and wrath was many times kindled against the Kings and Rulers of the Earth because of the Afflictions and Oppressions of his People which he did see and take great notice of as the heavy Plagues and dreadful Judgments which were known and felt in the earth were signal Testimonies of whereby for the Cause before-mentioned they were brought to perpetual shame and confusion and an example to all that should come after and tread in their foot-steps As in the case of Cain who was wrath and slew his brother Abel about Sacrifice because Abel's was accepted and his was not being wicked and Abel off●red unto God a more acceptable Sacrifice then Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous Gen. 4. Heb. 11. Also in the case of Lot it may be seen how wickedness and oppression did abound in the men of Sodom against him and how they compassed his house because of the men the Angels of the Lord which were with him and pressed to break the door to search for the strangers These were the Sodomites w●o were made Examples of Gods Eternal vengeance to all persecutors and ungodly men Gen. 19. A●so in the case of the children of Israel when the Lord manifested himself unto them by Moses in Egypt who commanded them to worship contrary to the worship a●d wills of the Egyptians and walked contrary to their wayes and customs and were oppressed and held in bondage till God was provoked to destroy them seeing his heavy Plagues and Judgm●nts did not reform them Exod. 3. 14. And also the Judges and Kings of Israel who were wicked and did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and regarded not him nor his way and people how the Lord the Most High God dealt with them according to their doings and how he often cut their dayes short in the earth and made their Names a reproach for ever Also in the case of Haman whom the King Ahasuerus had exalted and given Power and Authority unto how he insulted over the Kings peaceable Subjects and poor Jews misrepresenting and falsly accusing them to the King because Mordecai the Jew could not give that honour to him which belonged to the Lord telling the King That their Laws were divers from all people and that they kept not the Kings Laws and therefore said it was not for the Kings profit to suffer them And the King giving too much credit unto this envious bloody-minded man consented to him against the Jews and bid him do as he would to them and left them wholly to the mercy of a merciless man to destroy them and in the Kings Name he began to proceed against the Jews so that his Villany must be done in the Kings Name which was his Cloak and to execute the Kings Laws or that destructive unrighteous Decree which he through wicked Enmity had obtained as if the King had sworn him to do all mischief in his Name which would have been great dishonour to the King if he should have brought his wicked intentions to pass and would undoubtedly have provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger against the King to destroy him But the Lord appearing for his innocent people the Kings heart was turned and he perswaded from his Resolution which he had made through mis-information and then see what followed this proud Haman who was exalted as it were from the Dunghill to the Throne Esth 3. 7. And again how the Princes and Presidents of King Darius who fearing that Truth and Righteousness should be exalted by Daniel and De●eit and Wickedness thrown down th●y finding no occasion against him except it were concerning the L●w and Worship of his God for they could not deny but he w●s an honest peaceable man and his conversation among men was blameless and harmless and what was the matter then why did they persecute him and throw him into the Lyons Den Why these envious men that purposed to destroy him coming into his Chamber and finding him seeking the Lord or making petitions to his God as he use to do at other times notwithstanding there was a Law made against it with his window open they went to stir up and incense the King against him saying Hast thou not signed a Decree That every man that shall ask a Petition of any God or Man within thirty dayes save of thee O King or as thou hast prescribed shall be cast into the Lyons Den and here is one Daniel who regardeth not thee O King nor the Decree that thou hast signed but makes his petitions three times a day c. Dan. 6. And this was his crime for worshipping God or asking petitions of him according to his usual manner

to the Barr and the Oath was read to them and the Court asked whether they would take the Oath of Allegiance To which they generally answered That for Conscience-sake because Christ had commanded not to swear at all they could not do it but did offer to give under their hands and promise that they would be true to the King c. And one Friend Geo Lamboll being permitted to speak a few words said to the Court That the Law by which they proceeded against us was never made against a people that feared an Oath and could not swear at all in any case but it was made against the Papists who denyed Allegiance to the King and chose rather to bear the penalty for they owned Allegiance to another Power which we deny and have often declared it and do offer and promise Allegiance to the King and to no other Power on earth whilst we live under Him and would be willing to undergo the punishment of perjured men if we break our Promise So they were put by and committed to the Assizes the Justices saying it was a thing too weighty for them So they would leave them to the Judges And Anne Curtis and Sarah Lamboll were called They asked A. Curtis if she would take the Oath A. C. said I look on it as a very hard thing that I should be required to take this Oath being under covert and my Husband being here a present Sufferer for the very same thing for there is no woman in England that I have heard of under covert that is required to take that Oath and kept in prison on that account excepting my self and Sarah Lamboll So after more discourse they put her out of the Court and bid her take Sarah Lamboll with her And upon A. C. her speaking a few words to the Justices W. Armorer said Hold your tongue Nan and turn your back And others of the Justices said Go your wayes Mrs. Curtis out of the Court and take Mrs. Lamboll with you by which they and many of the Spectators did judg they should have had their Liberty But after they were gone W. Armorer as some of the people said began to incense the Justices against A. Curtis telling them what a dangerous person she was to be set at liberty c. So they ordered that A. Curtis and S. Lamboll should be committed to the Gaol as dangerous and suspicious persons there to remain until the next Assize The next day being the fifth of the Month two more of our Friends viz. Christopher Cheeseman and Anne Sharp were called and two Witnesses called viz. a Daniel Seamer and W. Armorer his Coach-man a This D. Seamer was so drunk the day before that he abused several of the Prisoners saying he hated them a● he hated the Devil who being ignorant which hand to lay on the Book his Master called to him saying Lay on the other hand Dick and being sworn were sent out to the Grand Jury who having heard their Evidence returned into the Court and their Verdict was They could not find any sufficient proof to find the Prisoners guilty according to the late Act made against Vnlawful and Seditious Meetings At which Verdict W. Armorer according to his usual manner if the Jury did not do as he would have them fell into a great rage and began to threaten some of the Jury that they should be fined and caused them to return again farther to advise in the case But being retutned again their Verdict was as before with divers sound reasons and arguments wherefore they could not find the Bill Notwithstanding the Justices put them to the pole asking them one by one Do you find the Bill c. However the Jury like men b For when one would be as a Witness that the Prisoners said they were at the Meeting to wait upon God one of the Iury answered Wait upon God who should they wait upon else should they wait upon the Devil stood to their judgment crying No no all except five of Nineteen which five also did confess it was against their Consciences to find it Yet the Justices William Armo●er being still on the Bench cryed out Tend●r them the Oath of Allegiance To which the Jury as one man cryed out they would take it But when the Justices saw them so ready to take it they past it by W. A. not being pleased with these proceedings began to accuse the Quake●s in venting most audacious and damnable lyes saying in the face of the Country No body should ever catch them speaking or praying for they set boyes at the corners of the streets to watch so that if an● come to take them they might have notice thereof Which being so notoriously false no doubt the Country would give as little heed to it as there was truth in it and so we leave it For we dare appeal to all people both in this Town where our Meetings are known being publike this eleven or twelve years and in Country whether our harmless and innocent practises especially in the Service and Worship of the true and living God hath not been of more Christian courage then to set boyes to watch if any body came to see us No no we are far from that for our Testimony in preaching and publishing God enduring truth and our praying of so good effect and acceptance with the Lord that we are neither ashamed nor afraid of any that shall come among us and our daily practice and his continual frequenting our peaceable Meeting again and again as the Reader may observe doth sufficiently manifest the contrary Well but to return the Jury being very much threatned and much stir because the Bill was not found against the Prisoners there was some hurry in the Court but the Prisoners had their liberty and the Sessions ended Again the 23 d of the same Month W. Armorer came to the Meetting there being not five of the age of sixteen years though several under age with his Son and Servant haled them out and Christopher Cheeseman being there be bid one of them cudgel Cheeseman out of the room and as he was going forth W. A. himself thrust at him with his Cane or Staff and run it between his lips and teeth there being not his number as aforesaid Moreover W. A. meeting Christopher Cheesman another time in the street laid violent hands on him and pluckt him by the Nose and threatned if he catcht him at the Meeting again he would cut off his Nose The 30th of the same Month W. A. came again to the Meeting and sent for Tho Kenton Mayor who being come they took Christopher Cheeseman Anne Sharp Sarah Binfield Mary Coale Grace Hutchins Hannah Lamboll John Kent Tho Conicke and Hannah Wrenn and being had to the House of Giles Pocock and having consulted together they sent Christopher Cheeseman A. Sharp and Sarah Binfield to the Gaol on the third account W. Armorer still breathing out fa●se accusations against

them that they carried Letters about the Country and then met on that day to plot and contrive insurrections One of the Friends denying it told him if he could prove any such thing they would be contented to suffer whatsoever the Law had provided in that case W. A. replyed We will make you prove the contrary and told them of black strings and ribbons to tye about their arms and such stories which are incredible to any man of gravity and understanding and yet telling of it with such confidence as if the man had been an eye-witness of that which was never to be seen And one of the Prisoners counselling him to take heed what he did for there would come a day wherein he must give an account for what he did W. A. replyed We shall know at the day of Judgment whose arse is blackest yours or ours The Prisoner told him it was an uncivil thing for one called a Justice to speak such words He replyed again VVhy Sirrah what incivility is it is not your nose your nose and your arse your nose So they committed Grace Hutchins for six months to the Gaol and the rest for three months the Mayor being the chief Instrument at that time of their being committed for so long time saying VVe will not be troubled with them so often it being in the Summet time when many were thronged up together After which one of the Prisoners sent him a Letter a true Copy whereof here follows To THOMAS KENTON Mayor of Reading These Tho Kenton FRiend Thou art now in a place of Authority in this Town and as chief Magistrate therein thou hast power put into thy hand to punish evil-doers and to favour encourage and protect people in well-doing which is the End of outward Rule and Authority in this world which was never ordained of God to limi● stop or bind the Consciences of people to or from any way of Worship or practises of Religion but it was ordained of God to punish the evil-doers and to keep and preserve men in peace and quietness one with another that they hurt not nor wrong not one another nor abuse themselves nor one another but that they might be kept in good order one with another in all things outwardly and not to rule over the conscience but he even God alone is to rule in the conscience and to perswade it by his Light therein to and in his own way and wo●sh●p and therein man is not to meddle but to leave it free And he that rules thus he rules for God and bears not the Sword in vain which is to stop limit and bind wickedness and he abuses not the Power nor will not turn his Sword nor Power against such as do well and follows peace and holiness and fears and serves the Lord but will encourage and be a praise unto such who do live peaceably and honestly among men and though such may be falsly accused and reproached as the peaceable people of God have been in almost every age and evil-minded men may surmise evil against them yet such a one who rules for God and not to please mens humours will not afflict and trouble innocent and peaceable people upon the suppositions of envious and evil-minded men because he sees there is no nor can be any evil-doing proved against them that they are guilty of And Friend if such a heart and mind were found in thee thou wouldst be happy and honourable indeed I say if it were in thy heart thus to act even in that very way and manner before-mentioned to look after and punish evil-doers and to stop and limit prophaneness and wickedness to encourage and be a praise to those that do well that are peaceable and harmless among men that serve and worship the Lord in his own way and not after the inventions and prescriptions of men even in that way which his own spirit leads and perswades them unto then it would go well with thee and thou mightest then know the worth and exceeding preciousness of having the peace of Conscience if thou didst act in this way which is according to that of God therein which would lead thee and all men to this did they but give ear unto it and follow its counsel and then would wickedness be stopped and godliness sobriety and honesty would be esteemed and promoted But alas how doth the contrary abound in this place and how has wickedness its swing and how are evil-doers encreasing drunkenness swearing and vain sports and playes allowed and tollerated And these are not accounted unlawful Meetings But for peaceable people young children and youth that have inclination after godliness and sobriety to meet together for no other end but to worship God this is accounted an unlawful Assembly for there was never nor can never any thing else be proved against us what ever such as have enmity in their hearts against us may imagine and must now be broken And in this work thou hast appeared in causing thy Neighbours to be haled out of their Christian Assemblies and sent to Gaol from their honest Callings and Employments separating men from their Wives and Children and Wives from their Husbands and Children from their Parents whereby they may be destroyed and all this only because of the exercise of their Consciences towards God and for their obedience to him And oh how heavy a burden will this be upon thee one day that thou shouldst have a hand in this and joyn with that spirit of Persecution against thy peaceable Neighbours and young children whom thou canst not but be perswaded in thy conscience that they are peaceable and intends no such thing as to plot against the King neither is it a likely thing to any judicious man that a few Lads and young Girls and a few women should meet together to plot or contrive insurrections and no such thing can be or ever will be proved against the people in scorn called Quakers who are led by that spirit of truth which leads into love and peace and good-will towards all men though evil reports and false accusations may be given out against us and many foolish stories may go about among such as are given up to believe lyes which are incredible to a man of gravity and understanding yet our innocency uprightness and honesty will appear when all these things will dye and the refuge of lyes is swept away and that truth and way of life peace and eternal happiness wh●ch God hath made known unto us will more and more be made manifest to be that way in which alone true love peace unity and concord among men is enjoyed and without the knowledg of which men can never be established in peace and unity where no plotters nor contrivers of mischief against any man can come and which all that are out of are not to be trusted whatever they may in words and shews pretend for such as do transgress against the Light of Gods Spirit