NEVV-ENGLAND Pesecutors Mauled VVith their own VVeapons Giving some Account of the bloody Laws made at Boston against the Kings Subjects that dissented from their way of Worship Together with a brief Account of the Imprisonment and Tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem for publishing a Book entituled Truth held forth and maintained c. By Tho. Philathes Truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Isai 59 14 15. As Troops of Robbers wait for a Man so do the company Priests murder in the way by consent Hosea 6.9 Shall the Throne of Iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth Mischief by a Law they gather themselves together against the Soul of the Righteous and condemn the Innocent Blood Psal 94.20.21 The Preface Christian Reader IT has not been without due Consideration that we have seen cause to set forth and publish a true Account of some of the New-England Church Members cruel and bloody Laws which through the Priests instigating the Magistrates were by them made against both Quakers and all other Religious Persons within New-Englands Jurisdiction that were found to dissent from their Worship as also a short Relation of some few of the many Persons that suffered Persecution under the Anti-christian Power of the aforesaid Church with some brief Observations on each Law and the Preamble thereof Unto which is added an Account of the Priests Rulers and Church Members great Hurly-burley or Confusion made about a late Book entituled Truth held forth and maintained c. by Thomas Maule of Salem in which Book is contained thirty eight Chapters relating to the Principles of Truth agreeing with the Testimony of the holy Prophets Christ and his Apostles recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth together with an Account of Gods Judgments upon divers of the chief persecuting Priests and Rulers and a Declaration the late great â—udgment of God upon the Priests Rulers their Fâ—llowers of whom Twenty were through the Accusation â—y Specter Evidence which Judgment continued amongst the Inhabitants near or about Twelve Moneths till at length there was so many of the Priests and Rulers and others accounted eminent Persons accused by the said Specter or Apparition that the Rulers with as much speed as they had condemned and put to Death dâ—d now face about and clear the Prisons both of the condemned as well as of all others accused by the said evidence for Witches an Account of which is more at large to be seen in said Maules Book of which Books the Persecutors sacrificed sixteen Pounds worth a burne Offering to their Anger and Revenge the which by them was done as also Imprisoning him about Twelve Months before that upon his Tryal he was cleared by a Jury that found him Not Guilty the sums and substance of which tryal will appear in this Book by which it doth manifestly appear that many of the New-England Priests and Rulers with many of their Church-Member Breâ—hren in â—nâ—quity do remain in the same when they fled from Old England to save their Purses and Bodies from suffering by the Bishops Power for their dissenting from their Mother Church against whom it will sufficiently appear have rebelled by persecuting several Persons thereunto belonging as well as all other Religious Persons found within their Jurisdiction to dissent from their Priests Worship As for Instance soon after they came and had settled themselves in this Land they began to persecute after aâ— horrible rate and in a cruel bloody manner did they persecâ—te Ann Hutchinsan and that Company of whom some werâ—â— barbarously murdered so also was Mr. Clark and that Company great Sufferers as likwise Samuell Gorton and that Company who for the want of one more casting Votâ— escaped the Gallows for a Dissenter and the Sufferings of the Lady Moody with many others was very great as also was the Sufferings of Mr. Williams Obadiah Homes Mr. Donstor the President and many others of whom I shall hereafter more at large relate about which time the Priests were so beset with the Baptists Quakers and the Church of England that it caused thè Hirelings to roar out in their Pulpâ—â—s for the help of Moses otherwise Aaron must fall and then they are all undone whereupon the Magistrates mustered the Priests Drudges together and to work they went against Dissenters with all the strength of their Faith Defenders which mostly fell upon the Innocent Quakers as will hereafter appeare which had these Persecuters manifested the least Repentance would have prevented the Authur from publishing the following Account of their bloody Laws and the cruel barbarous Works acted and done thereby to the Kings good Subjects within New-Englands Jurisdiction Tho. Thilathes Persecutors Maul'd with their own VVeapons Anti-Christian Freedom established by the Law of the Old Charter Priests and Rulers in New-England THis Court having considering the Proposals presented to this Court by several of the Inhabitants of the County of Middlesex do declare and order That no man whatsoever shall be admitted to the freedom of this Body Politick but such as are Members of some Church of Christ and in full Communion which they declare to be the true intent of the antient Law Anno 1631 1660. Observe Hence you may understand that the County of middlesex for Money and wealth did encourage for sale the high Priests Ware as well as in love to their Bellies to seat themselves near to the Magistrates General high Court of Injustice against Dissenters from their Worship which said Courts were kept in Boston where the Priests Drudges brought of the Dissepters Estates for finâ—s to the Value of many hundreds of Pounds with which the Priests and Rulers with others of their Church Brâ—thren feasted themselves from day to day while they made Laws against them that dissented from the worship of their Priests who when their Bellies were Ruffed with the best Provision and their heads with the richest sort of Wine had not far home to their Common Prayers against all dissenters as well as Quakers and while they feasted themselves with the best of other mens Labour they kept the true Owners thereof with the best entertainment their Goal and Bridewell house did afford as by their cruel suffering therein will hereafter appear and as is related in the Book of Sufferings under these persecuting Magistrates that some went and demanded their fat Oxen of them again to which their answer was Would you that we should sit and starve while we are about your business which was to make Laws to devour them and their Estates which work was of great encouragement to the Priest-ridden Freemen of their Body Politick whose some Church of Christ as in their Law they call it is no other but the plain Church of Anti-christ and so proved to be by their persecuting all other Persons dissenting there-from in their Jurisdiction The Free-mans Law by which a Body make No man that 's true can with their Church pertake He that will honour gain and
VVoman with her having a young Infant at the Breast both which VVomen were imprisoned and cruelly whipt with more of the like Cruelty as is to be seen in the said Book of Sufferings Richard Dowdney An honest harmless Man thoâ— after the Romish Invention was commiâ—ted to Prison and whipt after their usual manner with thirty Stripes with which his flesh was so torn and cut in pieces that many People lamented at the sight thereof that such an innocent man as he was should be so horribly abused as in said Book of Sufferings is more at large to be seen Sarah Gibbins and Dorothy Waugh two young VVomen for being of those called Quakers and coming into their Jurisdiction had for their entertainment in Boston the flesh of their backs beaten to pieces by their Priests chief VVorkman viz. the Executioner of their Law at their Gallows and when so whipt was by another Member of their Churches Peace viz. their Goaler shut up in a close Room where none was suffered to come unto them and there kept three days together without all manner of Food And at another time kept them eight days without all manner of Provision and had not the Lord preserved them at this time beyond what men of themselves are able to do they had perished under the Cruelty of the New-England Church their said Sufferings are more at large to be seen in the said Book of Sufferings William Shattock an Inhabitant in Boston for being one first day found in his House alone was by one of the Priests drudges carried to their House of Oppression for entertaining of Strangers and in the time of his being kept there with the like whipping some of the Priests crew endeavoured to perswade his Wife wholly to leave him and that they would place out his Children to Masters of Families that tended their Meetings whose suffering is more at large to be seen in the said Book of Sufferings Thomas Harris for declaring against Pride and Oppression which the guilty proud Oppressors itching Ears could not endure to hear was committed to their House of Oppression where the Goaler that devout Member of their Church shut him up and kept him eleven days five of which he kept him without Bread and though he had before been cruelly whipt yet this merciless Wretch gave his Weak bruised Body Twenty blows with a pitched Rope whose sufferings are more at large to be seen in the Quakers book of sufferings as aforesaid Several Innocent Women called Quakers had their Bodies searched for Witches which work was done by the old Member women with such cruelty to their Bodies that one of the Women said she did not the like trouble undergo in bearing and bringing forth five Children besides what more they suffered under the power of those who were as free to run as the Devil was to drive them to perform his lust in the doing the aforesaid Anti-christian work of which more is to be seen in the aforesaid Books of the Quakers suffering under the Anti-christian power of New-Englands Churches William Brend for coming into Bostons Jurisdiction where all the aforesaid work of Anti-christ was acted and done and for being one of them called a Quaker and declaring the Truth was cruelly whipt and shut up into close Prison where the Goaler and devout Member of their Church lockt his Neck and Heels together so close that there was only room for the Lock to go between in which manner he kept him sixteen hours and then gave his weak bruised Body One Hundred and Seventeen Blows with a pitched Rope having thus beaten him for dead an out cry was among the People That the Goaler had killed a man which to appease the People bills were set upon the Prison doors and else where That the Goaler should be dealt with but said Brends coming to life again though the Doctors said it would be admitable if he did recover for his flesh was beaten into a meer Gelly of Blood however as God would have it he came to recover again then to prevent the Goalers being punished for this his great peice of Wickedness to said Brend John Horton their chief high Priest said if William Brend will endeavour to beat our Gospel Ordinances black and blew it was just upon him if he was beaten black and blue and withall in said Book that his counsel was to his Church Brethren in Iniquity To put off the Bear skin and put on the Fox Skin which indeed is â—â—â—eling Priest like the more to deceive poor ignorant People of whom God hath opened the Eyes of many by which they see hirelings deceit William Robinson a Merchant Maâ—maduke Stevinson and William Leddra as Informed the one a clotheâ— the other a husband man and Mary Dier wife to Mr Dier of Rode Island all which four were â—eat sufferers In Bostons Jurisdiction under the cruel bloody hands of the Church Members before they drove them with great number of their Priests club man to their bloody alter and many more by the Priests and Rulers with their conâ—enting Members in Iniquity were intended to be sheâ—â—â—leed an offering to their Anger and Revenge had not the Kings Letter as aforesaid stopt their bloody hands and when the Priests drudges with their mâ—ny Swords Staves Guns and Drums to drown the Testimony of the Lords Servants from being heard among the People had drove them to their Bloody Altar where they chearfully delivered up their Lives for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus which was to the beholders Admiration and great rage of their Persecutors when they were executed they cut down their Bodies letting them fall to the breaking the Skulls of some and ripped off their Shirts dragging their naked Bodies either by the heels or with a Rope and as they dragged them gnashed their Teeth with meer Madness as they went on with their work of dragging their Bodies to a filthy stinking Pit into which they threw some of their naked Bodies and never would grant their Freinds liberty to secure their bodies from Ravenous Creatures by putting about the place any manner of fence whatsoever Seeing the Wickedness of these Persecutors to be great and their Lyes against the People of God many I shall here give one instance of the many which might be produced to prove them lyars that â—ay The Quakers might have had their liberty to have been gone but would not accept it therefore say such Lyers they were accassary to their own Death But to prove the contrary here is the copy of a Merchants letter in print who was no Quaker but an eye and ear witness to what follows viz. Boston the 26th of March 1661. ON the 14th of this Instant here was one William Leddra put to Death The People of the Town told me he might go away if he would but when I made further enquiry I heard the Marshall say that he was chained in Prison from the time he was condemned to the day of Execution I
th 1695. ACcording to the within Warrant I have been at the House of Thomas Maule and there have found thirty one of said Pamphlets and them secured as required and have seized the said Maule and delivered him to the keeper of their Majesties Goal in Salem there to be secured in order to his apearance at the time and Place within mentioned and have sent the said Thomas Maule by the bearer Jeremiah Neale to answer as within exprest which Jeremiah Neale I do constitute and appoint to be my lawful Deputy to make return of this Warrant with the Body of said Maule and to act in all things which shall be further ordered relating to me concerning the within Warrant George Curwin Sherriff This is a true Copy of the Origenal Return attested By Jeremiah Neale Sherriff-Deputy Thomas Maule being brought by the said Neale and said Goaler out of Salem County into Boston County where appearing at the Council Chamber before the said Governour and Council who put divers Insnaring Questions to said Maule He made this Reply That no righteous Law did bind or injoyn him to answer further then he saw good and that they had not acted agreeable to Law in compelling him into their County to stand tryal before them who in the case were not his equal Judges and if they did intend to proceed against him he did expect the benefit of the Kings Laws which did aâ—â—ow his Judges to be Twelve men of his Equals belonging to the same County he was of The which being consented to four hundred Pounds Bond was given for his appearance to answer them at their High Court of Injustice against him at Ipwswich the 19th of the 3d Month May 1696. But before said Maule came to his Tryal they Imprisonâ—d him and sacrificed sixteen pounds worth of his Books a burnt Offering to their Anger and Revenge though upon his Tryal the Jury could not find him in the least guilty of any evil fact relating to their Charge about his Book The time of the Courts setting being come said Maule was called to his Tyral before Thomas Danâ—ord Elisha Cook and Samuell Sewal three of the Council and Judges of this Court who demanded of Thomas Maule If he did own that Book intitulâ—d Truth held forth and maintained c. to be of his putting â—orth To which he said The outside of the Book did not fully manifest to him what the inside thereof did contain The Book being given to him when he had lookt it throw return'd it again with this answer That all Printed in the Book he did own to be Truths which he did vindicate maintain excepting the Printers Errors and some mistakes occasioned through Authors which were common to good Books Then Judge Danford said You are to answer for Printing this Book without Liscence of Authority To which said Maule answered That if he were accountable for so doing it was not to them but to the Bishops of the Engâ—sh Church and the King did allow him the same liberty to have his Book printed as they did to any of their subjects which seperated or dissented from their way of Worship Then Judge Cook said You are to answer for publishing your Book in this Government without the Lisence of the present Authority To which said Maul replyed The Goveâ—nment is the Kings or ought so to be and the Books are my own Goods who as an English Merchant have good right by the Kings Laws to dispose of my Goods in any of the Kings Plantations Then Anthony Chickley the Kings Attorney said Your Books are not lawful goods to be disposed of amongst the People because they contain notorious wicked Lyes against the Churches and Government of this Province as likewise false Doctrine utterly subversive to the true Christian and professed Faith besides Scandals upon many private Persons To which said Maul made this Reply That the Charge was yet to prove and which they could never prove against him and so long as there was no evil fact he was no Transgressor of any righteous Law and if their Chaâ—ge were true as it is not it is no more than what they and their Priests are guilt of against all Persons as well as the Church of England that dissented from their Priests way of Worship for which cause and persecuâ—ing the People of God and the Kings Subjects to death their Doctrine Principles and Practices were condemned by all true Christian People that did know or hear of their unrighteous Works which fâ—â—â—hese many years have caused Gods Judgments to come upon this Land and for not repenting are you now given up to murder one an ther through the Devis accusation by Specter Evidence accusing both Priests Rulers and People of being Witches Then Judge Cook to this purpose said You are a horrible Lyar and it werâ— better you would forbear in this nature running your self into further Troublâ— by accusing the Churches and Government after such a horrible wicked rate as you have done and still do persist in for which you are to suffer according to your Deserts To which said Maul made this Reply That the Truth by him to them was spoken and so loâ—g as he did not â—xceed the bounds thereof he did not fear their Whip Goal or Gallows and withal that relating to this his Testimony he had suffered ten times 〈◊〉 their Jurisdiction five times by Imprisonment three times by the loss of Goods taken from him and twice by cruel Whipping and now before this Tryal they had both imprisonmed him and burnt sixteen Pounds worth of his Books and 〈◊〉 yet not given him any Copy of the particulars of the Charge against him To which Judge Danford said It is but reason that Thomas Maule should have a Copy oâ— what we have to charge him with and also time to consider of it which by the renewing of his Bond he may have till next Salem Court Which was agreed to Then Judge Cook said That he would have Thomas Mâ—ule to be more careful of what he said relating to the Scriptures and not to undervalue them as he had already done by comparing his Book with the Bible To which Maul answered That to compare that with the Bible which was agreeable to the holy Scriptures in the Bible could be in no way found to contradict or undervalue the Bible And as to Errors now so much talkt of he did not know of any Book that was free for as some of the learned have said Beza committed eight hundred Errors in his first Translation of the New Testament which by amending through his second Translation left three hundred Errors therein And by comparing Mat. 27 v. 5. wâ—th Acts 1.18 proves as great a Mistake as any he knew to be in his Book Judge Cook commanded this Sentence to be writ down Then said Maul desired it might be writ down That at present he did so believe Which being done he said That if through his now so believing did pâ—ove
which the Christian Reader may fully comprehend the nature of these Free-mens Body Poâ—â—â—ick Vnto Religion thâ—se Free-men do pretend We â—â—ay all see that Money is their end New-England Antichristian Law 5. If any Person shall knowingly import into any Harbouâ— of this Jurisdiction any Quakers Books or Writings concerning their damnable Opinions he shall forfeit 〈◊〉 every such Book or writing five Pounds and whosoever shall disperse or conceal such Book or Writing and it be found with him or her or in his or her House and shall not Immediately deliver the same to the next Magistrate shall pay five Pounds for dispersing or concealing every such Book or Writing 6 And every Person or Persons whatsoever that shall revile the Office or Person of Magistrates or Ministers as is usual with the Quakers such Person or Persons shall be severely whipt or pay the Sum of Five Pounds in money The Reader may here note That the substance of matter contained in these two last Laws is very agreeable with what is before as also with what will follow all which is to promote the works of Unrighteousness against God and his People thereby to hinder others from receiving the Truth who for proving all things to hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 must as by their Law pay five Pounds either for bringing any Quakers Books or writings into their Jurisdiction or keeping the same in their House when they are without immediate delivering the same to the next Magistrate which doth evidently manifest their design is to gain the Peoples Money as well as to hinder them of receiving the Truth which fâ—lfil what is written They will neither enter theÌ„ Kingdom of Heaven themselves nor suffer others that are entering to go in Mat. 22.13 but as those wicked Jews did so do these Hypocrites most unrighteously charge the People of God with reviling the Office and Persons of Magistrates and Ministers when as on contrary their Testimonies were true for Gods cause against Pride Covetousness and Oppression which greatly abounded in the Magistrates Priests and Persecuting free-men who for the most Part by their hireling Priests were taught beyond all grace and common good and that the whole Government of their Church and Common-wealth as they call it had as they concluded that dependency upon their â—old Charter that as by their Law it is manifest they neither feared God nor minded the Laws of the English Nation for they had assumed to themselves the Power of both God King and Bishops wholly confiding in the strength of their old Idol Charter Where Persecutors once gain Power Like Lyons Bears and Wolves devour New-England's Anti-christian Law 7. And every Person that shall publish and maintain any Heterodox Erronious Doctrine shall be liable to be questioned and sencured by the County Court where he liveth according to the merit of his Offence The Reader may hence understand That the County Courts were plenty of these Persecutors Plenty of jackalls to hunt for their prey which was to find out every Person in their Jurisdiction that departed from the way of their Priests Worship such person and Persons became a prey Isâ— 59.15 who were â—ccused to publish or maintain the Heterodox or Frâ—onious Doctrine at the opening of which Courts were always some of their Priests to pray pretending that what they did against Dâ—ssenteâ—s would be the more sanctified through the means of their Prayers which they pretended was for the honour of God and good of the Souls of them on whom the said Court did inflict punishment both to their Body and Purses so that what with these Hirelings unsanctified Prayers and the like Advice to the Magistrates they would be sure to lay load enough on the backs of the aforesaid Dissenters especially upon the Innocent harmless Quakers whom so often in their Law they call Accursed for unto them was the Priests greatest Rage manifested through their wicked advice to the Magistrates to have them all hanged of whom four were put to Death and more had been had not their Bloody Hands been stopped through the means of the Kings Order to the Contrary a Coppy of which Letter will hereafter appear in this Book which before it came many were they that were put to cruel Sufferings both by long Imprisonment cruel Whippings Cutting off Ears Branding with Red hot Irons ordering Men and Women to be sold for bond Slaves searching the Bodies of Innocent Women for Witches besides Banishing upon pain of Death and abundance of their Estate taken for Fines on which these men so free to do the Devils Work did live eating and drinking at a high rate whilst others suffered as aforesaid This was the work of wicked Priest â—nd Pulpit Lyars Whose work was like the Jesuites the Monks and Frayrs New-England Antichristian Law 8. whereas there is a pernicious Sect commonly called Quakers lately arisen who by word and writing have published and maintained many dangerous and horrid Tenets and take upon them to change and alter the laudable Customs of our Nation in giving civil Respect to Equals o Reverence to Superiors whose Actions tend to undermine the Authority of civil Government as also to destroy the Order of the Churches by denying all established Forms of Worship and by with drawing from the orderly Church Assemblies allowed and approved by all Orthrodox Professors of the Truth and instead thereof and opposition thereunto frequenting private Meetings of their own insinuating into the minds of the simple or such as are less affected to the Order and Government of our Church and Common Wealth whereby divers of our Inhabitants have been Infected and seduced and notwithstanding all former Laws made upon Experience of their arrogant bold Obtrusions to Disseminate their Principles amongst us prohibiting their coming into this Jurisdiction they have not been detered from their impetuous Attempts to undermine our Peace and hasten our Ruin The Reader may here note the great Wickedness of these unrighteous Priests and Rulers who to accuse the innocent run themselves into further mischief through their bold Attempts against God and the King which hath proved to be their ruin for whilest they were digging Pits and making Rods and laying Snares the innocent God was preparing his Judgments against them and all those whose silence gave consent thereto by which â—udgments they do not only suffer suffer the loss of their Fruit and Grain throughout their Jurisdiction but also are delivered into the hands of the Barbarous Indians whom God suffers to make them a double measure of the like Cruelty which themselves as by their â—â—ws have inâ—icted upon others besides the loss of their old Charter and great Idol God ever will for Iâ—nocent Blood Reward Though while the Wicked live little it regard New-England Antichristian Law For prevention thereof this Court doth Order and Enact that every Person of the cursed Sect of Quakers who is not an Inhabitant but found within this Jurisdiction shall be apprehended without
these Persecutors charge but on the coâ—t any differing there-from as Light from Darkness Truth from Error God fâ—om the Devil Christ from Beliâ—â— and Heaven from Hell from whence is the Power and Spirit of all those that put people to Death for their Faith and Obedience to God who permits these things to be done by the instruments of the wicked one for a tryal of Faith to those who are made wiâ—ling to part with all for the sake of him that first loved them and gives them that Power through which they receive strength to withstand all the Powers of Hell from whence proceedeth the Spirit of these persecutors as did them in dayes past John 8.44 Mat. 23.31 33 34 35 36. whose safety did as these do remain by the strength of unrighteous Laws and as they said so say these We have a Law and by our Law every Person dissenting from our Church Order and against the Government of our Common Wealth as is manifest the Quakers do by condemning the Proceedings of this Court against Dissenters who by our Law ought 〈◊〉 dye Which proves these Persecutors to be true Vagabonds by having no dwelling in the Truth Vagabonds are as was their Brother Cain Who murder them that in the Truth remain New-England Persecutors Laws against the Kings Subjects Have ordered That every such Vagabond Quaker found within any part of this Jurisdiction shall be apprehended by any Person or Persons or by the Constable of the Town where he or she is found and by the Constable or in his absence by any other Person or Persons conveyed before the next Magistrate of that shire where they are taken or Commissioner invested with Magistratical Power and being by them adjudged to be a wandering Quaker viz. such that hath no orderly alâ—owance in this Jurisdiction and not giving civil Respect or by any other means manifesting himself to be a Quaker shall by warrant under the hand of the said Magistrate or Commissioner directed to the Constable of the Town or to any other meet Person be stripped from the middle upward and tyed to a Carts Tail and whipped through the Town and from thence Immediately conveyed to the Constable of the next Town towards the borders of our Jurisdiction as their Warrant shall direct till they be conveyed through the outwardmost Towns of our Jurisdiction Observe That by the following Copy of one of their many Wâ—rrants of the like Bloody and cruel nature their Whipping of the Innocent Quakers who by their Law must have no allowance to trade buy or sell within the bounds is of their Juâ—isdiction for which cause of being so prohibited and found within their Jurisdiction and by them called Vagabonds whenas a 〈…〉 being found as Cain was to have no dwelling in the Truâ—â— are the right true Vagabonds endeavouring as much as in them lies to whip others from their certain dwellings is 〈◊〉 Truth to become Vagabonds like themselves A Coppy of one of their many Warrants TO the Constable of Dover Hampton Salsbury Newberâ— Rowley Ipswich Wenham Linn Boston Roxbury Dedham and until these Vagabond Quakers are carryed out of this Jurisdiction You and every of you are required in the Kings Name to take Ann Coleman Mary Tomkins Alice Ambrose and make them fast to the Carts Tail and driving the Cart through your several Towns to whip them upon their Naked Backs and not exceeding Ten Stripes on each of them in each Town and so to convey them from Constable to Constable till they come out of this Jurisdiction as you will answer it at your peril And this shall be your Warrant Dated at Dover December the 22th 1662. Per me Richard Walden Observe Here are Eleven Towns in the Warrant and from the first Town Dover to the last Town Dedham is about eighty Miles and Ten Stripes on each of them in each Town is One Hundred and Ten stpipes a peice with a Whip made with three small single hair twisted Cords each of which being knotted fit for the Priests Work to defend their Faith and so laid on the naked Backs of the innocent Quakers as if it were possible the Knots might kiss the Bones which cruel work was agreeable to the Priests exhorting their Drudges from these Scriptures Judg. 5.23 Jer. 48.10 which Work was as far from the Work of God in this day as Heaven is from Hell as may be read Luke 9.54 55·56 Mat. 5.44 45 46. Luke 6.31 32 33. Mat. 13.28 29 30. 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5 6. but contrary to these Persecutors act as we read John 8.44 Mat. 6.24 For his Servants they are to whom they obey Rom. 6.16 But as their laws were bloody and their execution Cruel and Barbarous so hath God suffered both he that drew the Warrant with many more of his persecuting Brethren to be destroyed and their Riches consumed by the great Judgments of God upon them as is more at large to be seen in the aforesaid late book entituled Truth held forth and maintained by Thomas Maule And when the Quakerâ— were commonly so whipt with their torn Flesh and bloody backs had about fifty miles to travel through the Wilderness Woods before they came to their Friends at Rode-Island and so hard weather with frost and snow that divers People have been killed there-with in travelling between Town and Town though but two or three Miles distant from each other The Devil and the Priests and all such Warrant Makers In full Communion are with all such Church Pertakers The Persecutors Law against the Kings good Subjects And if such Vagabond Quakers shall return again then to be in the like manner apprehended conveyed as often as they shall be found within the limits of our Jurisdiction provided every such Vagabond Quaker have been thrice convicted and sent away as aforesaid and returning again into this Jurisdiction shall be apprehended and Committed by any Magistrate as aforesaid unto the house of Correction within the County where he or she is found until the next Court wâ—thin that County where if the Court judge not meet to release them they shall be branded with the Letter R on their left Shoulder and be severely whipt and sent away in manner as before Observe hence you may understand that the Law of these Cain-like spirited Vagabonds did extend agaiâ—st every true Christian as well as those called Quakers found within their Jurisdiction to dissent from their Priests Worship and to manifest a dislike against their unrighteous Proceedings against the People of God and the Kings Subjects which was tyranical cruel bloody and barbarous that if any Person though the Church of England was found to petition to the King and Bishops to maintain their right respecting their worship agreeable to the way of the English Church it was accounted high Rebellion by these Persecutors so to do for which Offence no less then Imprisonment and three Hundred Pounds would keep them from being hanged on the New-England gallows till dead dead and
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
of Persecution for at that time a Young Man who had been ordained by the Bishop of London to preach at Carolina where being sickly was advised to remove and change the air whereupon he came to Boston and was civilly â—ntertained by some Old England men and after some time recovering his Health he came to be known to be a Minister of the Church of England and for that he was a Master of the French Language he was by some French Protestants and others of the Church of England recommended to a poor and dark Corner of the Province to preach to a small number of poor People amongst whom he passed some few Moneths before the persecuting Priests found him out but at last hearing that he preached baptized according to the way of the Church of England they stirâ—ed up the Magistrates against him who were at their beck and soon sent a Constable who beset his Longing and required him to desist from his preaching c. at his peril but he knowing on what foot he stood continued his preaching and baptizing according to his Commission from the Bishop of London till at length he was threatned with Whipping and understanding that the Constables had Warrants from the persecuting Magistrates to seize him and for that end beset his Lodging whereupon he returned privately to Carolina 4. Nor were the Affronts offered to Robert Ratcliffe the first estblished Minister of the Church of England in Boston to be passed in silence He came over in the Year 1686. with Authority from the Crown of Engâ—and to establish a Church in Boston this mans meekness and Sobriety was sufficiently knwn yet were his Affronts manâ— by which they sought to weary him out not only by personal Abuses and publick Injuries in breaking the Church Windows teaâ—ing the service book making Crosses of Mans Dung on the Doors and filling the Key-holes with the same but also seized his Clark and compelled him to Prison in a Wheel barrow of which nature they acted many abuses against the aforesaid and his Church insomuch that no Minister longer being able to endure their horrid Anti-christian Abuses which did more dayly increase against him and his Church was necessitated after about four years stay amongst them to leave his Charge and go for England where the late Queen preferred him to a living 5. And as a father sign of their hatred to that Church at the time of the Revolution they Imprisoned three Gentlemen Members thereof without any charge against them or since save that they had officiated as Justices of the Peace under the Kings Commission and although they Joyned with eight or ten more of their own Church Members who sate and Joyntly acted with them in the same County yet could find no complaint against their own Church Members so apparently partial were they to their own party and violent to others by which as aforesaid though not the thousand part of what might be brought against them of their great Wickedness against the People of God and the Kings Subjects yeâ— with a little more of the like nature to be added hereunto will by their works be sufficient to the uâ—dâ—rstanding of every true Christian That the New-England Church is not the true Church of Christ that worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth viz John 4.24 Having thus mentioned some of the abuses offered to some Members of the Church of England I shall now draw Conclusion so soon I have given a short account of the Tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem about his Book call'd Truth held forth c. I shall begin thus viz. Thomas Maule a Young Man about twelve years of Age came from England to the Island of Barbodoes and from thence for his health sake came to New-England where hearing much preaching and loud praying he began to think with himself what manner of People are these whose Streets ring with the noise of Preaching and Pâ—aying and having lived amongst them about three years he did experience their words to be good but by their works to have no good hearts at the end of which time he removed himself to another of their Towns called Salem where he found the Church Members to be in all respects as to Religion one with them in the other Towns of their Jurisdiction but in Salem he found a People of few words and good works agreable thereunto with which people he Joyned by keeping to their Meetings which so inraged the Church Members that with their Priests they stirred up the Rulers against him and fined the man where he kept fifty Pounds for entertaining him after which for his keeping open shop upon one of their fast days and speaking the Truth against their Priests railing against the Quakers and the like they five times imprisond him thrice took away his goods aâ—d thrice cruelly whipt him besides their many other Abuses and also accusing him of posting his Books on the first day of the week but he affirming the contrary and though two evil minded persons whereof one was a Thief who then unknown had stolen Goods in her keeping both which did say he posted Books as aforesaid notwithstanding iâ— being utterly false and the evidence of no credit yet recorded they him a Lyar when he had spoken no other but the Truth relating to the same shall now proceed to the sum and as aforesaid From which I shall now proceed to the Sum and substance of his late Trial which was writ by a hand then present in their Courts as followeth The Copy of their Warrant Province of the Massachusets Bay TO the Sheriffe of the County of Essex his under Sheriffe or Debuty greeting Whereas there is lying before the honourable Lieutenant Governour and Council a printed Pamphlet entituled Truth held forth and maintained put forth in the name of Thomas Maule said to be Thomas Maules of Salem within your County published without Licence of Authority in which is contained many notorious and wicked Lyes and Slanders not only upon private Persons but also upon Government and likewise divers corrupt and pernicious Doctrines utterly subversive of the true Christian and professed Faith These are therefore in his Majesties Name to Will and require you forthwith to make search in the House of the said Maule and where else you shall be informed any of the said Pamphlets are or may be found seize and secure all that you shall find thereof and to cause the said Thomas Maule to appear before the Lieutenant Governour and Council at the Council Chamber in Boston upon Thirsday the 19th Currant to answer what shall be objected against him on his Majesties behalf In the Premises hereof fail not making return of this Warrant with your doings therein Dated at the Council Chamber in Boston December 12th 1695. By Command of the Lieutenant Governour Council Jsaac Addition Secretary A true Copy attested by George Curwin Sherriff A Copy of the Return of their Warrant Salem December 14