prolongs my days with my Dear 〈◊〉 Faithful Wife and Children whom he hath increaâ—â— preserved and abundantly Blessed my whole Fanâ—â— he hath spared as a Father spares his own Son 〈◊〉 serves him And this I declare as I am bound 〈◊〉 the praise of his Goodness and Truth and to sâ—â— my Seal to his fure Word That in the fear of the 〈◊〉 is strong Confidence and his Children shall have a plâ—â— Refuge Prov. 14.26.27 Also that in the way of pâ—teousness is life and in the Path-way thereof is no Dâ—â— Prov. 12.28 Now that this Story may be a Cauâ—â— to all that heard or now read it to walk humbly 〈◊〉 God and beware of groundless extreams is the Pâ—â—er of him that 's an unfeigned lover of all good Christians From my House in Hutton-John in the Parish of Graistock and County of Cumb. this 9th of July 1696. Henry Winder William Layton Esq dyed soon after these things were done others attest as follows So much of the Transactions herein set down as â—â—â—es to my self is true Witness my Hand Andrew Hudlestone In Testimony of the Truth of all the Material â—ssages related in this Narritve of Henry Winder's â—â—â—gle with the Quakers and particularly of the â—â—th on Sparkhead-moor and the Tryal at Carlisle 〈◊〉 set our Hands John Noble of Penruddock all in Graistock Adam Bird Seni. of the same all in Graistock John Atkinson of Motherby School-Master all in Graistock Edward Martin of Dacre Adjacent Thomas Hedshon then of the same Thomas Robinson and Elizabeth his Wife of Todrick within named are also yet living there POST-SCRIPT THE Survivers of my Accusers remain Quackers still but very quiet speak little of Revelation deny Perfection in this Life 〈◊〉 well they may Pretend a reverend Esteem of 〈◊〉 Scriptures yet hold many odd Fancies as that 〈◊〉 Heathens who never heard of Christ with the outward ear as they term it may yet be goâ—â— Christians if they obey the Voice of Christ within but they will not take the Scriptures for the oâ—ly Rule What is within said of their many Faâ—â— charges and Revelations with the Approbation aâ—â— Assistance of many other Quakers doth sufficientâ—â— evince the dangerousness of their Spirit But 〈◊〉 farther Caution and to satisfie such as probabâ—â— will enquire why they choose me for their Mâ—â—â— to shoot at I think it not impertinent to declare 〈◊〉 follows I well Remember when that Sect first came inâ—â— our Country some of them came into our Parâ—â—â— Church where excellent Mr. Gilpin was our Minister So bold and resolute were those Quakers 〈◊〉 Behaviour and many of them so furnished with thwarting Arguments and cross Answers that our Learned Minister being not yet acquainted with their new Cant seemed to me sometimes allmost at a loss for Replies whereupon I and others of the Church were sadly shaken and some of us so ticked with this new Doctrine that we withdrew from our former Communion and appeared to vindicate the Quakers and herein my Wife was entangled and seduced with me this was sadly resented â—â—y our pious Minister and People and on this very Account the Church appointed a Day of Humiliation the Ministers and others came to me â—â—d to several that were now grown disaffected to desire us to be there on that day I think we were 〈◊〉 prevailed with to go and indeed a day of very 〈◊〉 Humiliation and tenderness of heart it proved â—any that were shaken or stood Tottering were â—â—uced well satisfied and confirmed for the rent â—â—d like to have been very great I Remember at 〈◊〉 time I was so satisfied that I had secret resolves 〈◊〉 comply with the Church and made some open â—ecantation but these Convictions stay'd not long â—â—e Arguments of the Quakers were continually â—â—â—ing about me and scarce any thing else could 〈◊〉 my Audience so that I was quickly again where 〈◊〉 as before upon which several Meetings were â—â—ointed by the Minister and chief of the Society to â—â—course these Matters I being now much in comâ—â—y with the Quakers was grown too hard for â—â—guments To them I would go as Jer. 2.24.25 â—â—d to them I did return and was very constant â—â—ith them I think also indifferently well beloved 〈◊〉 them For soon after my Entrance among them â—â—y reposed a great trust in me viz. to be Reâ—â—et of all their Collections in the County which â—â—iged me to go frequently to their Monthly Meetings for several Years By being thus concerned I had opportunity to discourse with many oâ— them from every Quarter whereby I found a very great change from what was at the beginningâ— much Jarring and Discord secret envyings and different Opinions This caused much disquiet anâ— anguish in my Mind and put me upon a neâ—â— Examination of the Grounds of Religion Thereâ—â— I considered both what I had renounced and whâ—â— it was I now entertained in the room thereof 〈◊〉 remember that the first thing that induced me 〈◊〉 leave Communion with the Church was a Conceâ—â— That the Scripture was not the word of God for thâ—â— Word was God himself and the Scripture a deâ—â— Letter and the Letter kills therefore I thougâ—â— the Scripture could not be the Rule of Faith aâ—â— Worship and that such as teach by it must be bliâ—â—â— Guides and if the blind lead the blind both must 〈◊〉 together The Rule to which I thought I was 〈◊〉 take heed was a light within there was the word 〈◊〉 God directing me what I must do to be saved 〈◊〉 I judged it needless to do or know any this 〈◊〉 which that Light shewed not to be necessary aâ—â— by that Light I saw no Necessity of outward Orâ—â—nances so concluded they were but Commandments of Men and not to be regarded c. Tâ—â—â— being the Foundation of my Relapse to Quakeriâ—â— I next considered why others opposed this my Nâ—â— on as my self had once done And I found tâ—â— opposed the sufficiency of this Light within from Belief that God had given the Scriptures for 〈◊〉 sufficient Rule and that the Scriptures contaiâ—â— all things necessary to be believed and practised 〈◊〉 had no way to prove the sufficiency of my Ligâ—â— but by the Scripture which I fancied referred 〈◊〉 to it so this revived my Suspicion of that â—â—ticle especially considering it was to no purpâ—â—e Men to teach any Doctrine which they could pretend no Scripture for this forced this Inference upon me If all Doctrines must be proved from Scripture then doubtless Scripture is the Rule but I see 't is and it must be so Therefore I cannot avoid this conclusion That the Scripture is the Rule and if it be then here was my first Mistake This made me Remember who they were I had lift even Those that taught this very Doctrine And then may I left them and that was at First because they taught this Doctrine Thus I proceeded from one consideration to another to a fresh view of the Sacraments for when I could not escape the
we made our appeal to the Searcher of Hearâ— who in due time hear'd our Prayers and gave 〈◊〉 strength sufficient to go through this bad repâ—â— with Courage and Chearfulness still comforting eaâ—â— other with this that God was above the Devil aâ—â— in time they would be made manifest which Bleed be God accordingly came to pass Mean whâ—â— with good Confidence we opposed them to conviâ—â— them if possible by all the Arguments we coâ—â— use that their pretended Revelation came from 〈◊〉 Devil that Lyer from the beginning and the Fatâ—â— of Lies who never yet invented a greater Lye thâ—â— this and that it was Blasphemy to father it upon 〈◊〉 God of Truth Therefore said we be perswaded tâ—â— God sent you not with much more to this purpâ—â— which we might as well have spoke to the stones 〈◊〉 the Wind for those Women would hear nothing against themselves and so went their way Soâ—â— weeks after this they return'd both together and sâ—â—ing said They had now a Message from the Lord and a 〈◊〉 easy one which we might easily do said they you 〈◊〉 bow to us and confess us to be true Prophetesses and 〈◊〉 pray for the dead Child that you have Murder'd so you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be united in one This you must do for it is God's Layâ—ant between God and us and you and must be here â—â—ealed up and shall never be discover'd to the World if you â—â—ll submit to these easy Terms We answered Ah poor â—â—aded Creatures Shall we bow to you and confess â—â—t to be true which we know to be false and pray 〈◊〉 that which never yet was These easy Terms are 〈◊〉 hard for us we know no Guilt you are false Proâ—â—â—tesses the God of truth never sent you with such 〈◊〉 to us be convinced of your error before you go 〈◊〉 farther but I think the Devil has already led 〈◊〉 so far that he cannot bring you off without shame 〈◊〉 confusion Thus we parted the second time After a while these Women sent us a Letter beginâ—â— thus The Word of the Lord came unto me saying write 〈◊〉 Henry Winder and say the Lord has given thee yet 〈◊〉 days to make away thy Goods and Laâ—ds to thy Children 〈◊〉 to settle thy Concerns for I have hâ—ar'd I have hear'd 〈◊〉 bleating of the Sheep and the lowing of the Oxen and 〈◊〉 destruction destruction will unavoidably come upon 〈◊〉 at the end of 40 days Thus they commonly began 〈◊〉 Letters which to insert wou'd be tedious and 〈◊〉 the most part they were jointly concern'd thereâ—â— I returned an Answer in order to perswade them 〈◊〉 quiet at home and mind their own business but 〈◊〉 purpose for at the end of 20 days they sent â—â—â—er Letter and came also to Remember me that 〈◊〉 Glass was half full and the other half was fâ—ling 〈◊〉 which will run over and spread abroad and then 〈◊〉 they 't will be too late to provide for thy Chilâ—â— Growing now weary of their repeated fooleries as 〈◊〉 was at first surpriz'd at their brazen-fac'd Impuâ—â—e I only answer'd that all their blundring noise â—â—â—ch was almost continual by word or writing 〈◊〉 no terror at all to me for said I I fear ye not at all being sure you are acted by the Devil anâ— therefore I will not turn one hoof out of the waâ— for you Thus the 40 days end came my Wife wriâ—ing Letter after Letter to them hoping at least 〈◊〉 prevail upon her own Sister and she had often cauâ—â— to thank God for unexpected assistance therein bâ—â— still they made nothing of all she could say All this while which was about a year the matâ—â— was but little blazed abroad save that the Women 〈◊〉 communicated it to some of their Friends raising thâ—â— Expectations that it would mightily Conduce to 〈◊〉 Honour of their Religion and by this time anotâ—â— Sister of my Wife Margaret Walker the Wife of 〈◊〉 ward Walker of Soulby in the parish of Dacre 〈◊〉 come into them and full as Zealous in the cause 〈◊〉 far more fluent and Eloquent In this Encounter tâ—â— bid us arm our selves for the battle for said they 〈◊〉 is the battle of the Dragon put on strength ye prâ—â— professors advance with your Noblest Resolution 〈◊〉 know that the Lamb shall get the Victory So 〈◊〉 deed he did and ever will but how much more 〈◊〉 Dragons than Lambs they acted in this matter let 〈◊〉 Reader judge Destruction came not at the 40 days end as 〈◊〉 had prodicted So up they rouze and these 3 Woâ—â— went to William Layton of Daleman Esquire Justicâ—â— peace for the County of Cumberland and told 〈◊〉 They were come with a Message from the Lord God unto 〈◊〉 Well said he What 's the Matter Said they 〈◊〉 must send for Henry Winder and his Wife and 〈◊〉 stion them about a Murder which he hath commiâ—â— and We shall direct thee how as we have received 〈◊〉 Revelation from the Lord. According to their 〈◊〉 and humor the Justice sent his man to me that I 〈◊〉 needs go with my Wife to speak with him which willingly did and there we found these Women 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 darged us with Murther forthwith we cried Not Guilâ—â—â—â— The Justice then Questioned them what Proof they â—â—â—d they answered they had it by Revelation But 〈◊〉 he you are now entring upon Law and must proâ—â—ed according to Law and your Revelation will be 〈◊〉 Proof Will you therefore Depose it upon Oath 〈◊〉 said they we cannot be free to take an Oath then 〈◊〉 he can you prove it by any others No said â—â—ey then said he What Circumstances can you ofâ—â—â— that may Evidence the truth of your Charge against 〈◊〉 man Q. We only had it by Revelation of Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 How long since was this Revealed to you Q. Nine â—â—uts after it was done said they L. Was it a Son or 〈◊〉 Daughter said the Justice they answered That â—â—as not yet Revealed to them but one of them a litâ—â— after told him it was a Son and began to repreâ—â— the said Henry as murthering the Child taking it 〈◊〉 his left hand the Knife in his right and therewith â—â—tting its Throat but in some former Revelations â—â—ey said they saw him stopping its Breath with a â—â—apkin What said the Justice had you no thought 〈◊〉 this before they said No. When he had their â—â—arge and observed their insolent Behavior he turnâ—â— to us saying You hear these Women charge you â—â—â—h Murther sure there is something in it how will 〈◊〉 clear your selves I said they may charge upon 〈◊〉 what they please we are purely innocent in this â—â—tter The Justice observing us to be undaunted by â—â—is infamous Charge and Vexation said then to the â—â—â—men according to your desire I have Questioned â—â—â—vy and his Wife and I find in them nothing but â—â—â—ocence What can I do for you in this case No â—â—o said they he is not Innocent Then speaking to â—â—ny
Langhorn he enquired how she perceived the preâ—â—ded Revelation or how it proceeded what Sympâ—â—ns attended and after what manner it had its Opeâ—â—tion Mary answered She could not well tell but she 〈◊〉 sure it began in her Feet Then said he What would you have me do Answ We desire thee to get us them to the Assize at Carlisle which was now Aug. 1674 〈◊〉 and there will a Spirit rise at the left hand of thâ—â— Judge that will testify for us But said he will yoâ—â— be tied to follow them Answ We cannot swear buâ—â— we will be there Well said he I 'le engage that Harâ—â— and his Wife shall be there too This was about 〈◊〉 Week before that Assize And now these Women migâ—â— tily bestir themselves and had quickly got a greâ—â— party of Friends inclining to their Opinion so far 〈◊〉 to declare them true Prophetesses as John Slee of 〈◊〉 a great Speaker in their Meetings c. and that thâ—â— would seal their Testimony with their Blood Thâ—â— wrote their Accusation against me and my Wiâ—â— which they cast here and there in Towns and Streâ—â— where they came and at Carlisle gave one of those Papâ—â— to my Lord Judge â—ir .... Wild and Baron Rainsfâ—â— as I remember were then our Judges He only bâ—â— them proceed according to Law and they should hâ—â— Justice Mr. Layton and Mr. H told my Lord whâ—â— the Quakers appeared and that they said a Spaâ—â— would arise at his left hand to prove the Murtheâ— then said my Lord all the People will see and hear 〈◊〉 And now there was great Expectation among them 〈◊〉 the Spirit they said should rise to testify for theâ—â— and in truth what they spoke they gave out with suâ—â— assurance as made some indifferent persons either 〈◊〉 lieve them or at least suspect us Hence multituâ—â— came into Carlistâ— to see this Wonder but all were 〈◊〉 ceived for nothing appeared Nevertheless we stayâ—â— in Town all the time of the Assize and when eithâ—â— of us could meet any of them we were ready to 〈◊〉 braid them for creating such Tumults and Discoâ—â—ses for now it was every Bodies talk and neâ—â— should we get any other Answer but Fear God Tâ—â— they persisted in their Delusion without the least 〈◊〉 knowledgment of Error or any sensible Discouragâ—ment Shortly after this I sent for a Writ of Defamation â—gainst these three Women and their Husbands but 〈◊〉 the mean time they sollicit another Magistrate â—â—he is Lord of the Mannor under whom I hold my â—â—nd viz. Andrew Huddlestone of Hutton-John Esquire â—â—stice of Peace for the County of Cumberland I â—â—aring this let the Writs rest till they had their full â—â—utse Being come to Mr. Huddlsteon they told him 〈◊〉 the first place that it was Revealed to them that 〈◊〉 should have my Land They went also to Bernard â—â—sol-bride then Sheriff of the County and told him 〈◊〉 like Revelation that he must have my Goods â—â—eir Spirit moved them to believe these Motives â—â—old stir these Gentlemen to do their utmost for 〈◊〉 To Mr. Huddleston they said God hath decreed â—â—s and we hope thou wilt do us lustice in discoâ—â—ring the Murther which H. W. hath committed for â—â—od will be Glorisied in his Destruction Mr. Huddleston â—â—d What would you have me do said they Get us â—â—en bither for we have now revealed Witnesses that will â—â—isy the Truth of what we laid to their Charge We know 〈◊〉 Revelation of Jesus Christ That Elizabeth Robinson â—â—ise of Thomas Robinson living in the same Mannor 〈◊〉 Parish knows all this being Bed fellow to H. W's â—â—ise when the thing was done and 't is Revealed to 〈◊〉 that she hath told it to her Husband Also that â—â—istopher Wilton and his Wife being next Neighbours â—â—ll W. know the same Therefore we desire thee to â—â—ed for these four to testify this Truth But first of all 〈◊〉 Hudalâ—sion sent for me while the Women were in â—â—s House told me their Errand and that he had no â—â—ind to meddle between us To whom I said I beâ—ech you Sir take this trouble upon you give them â—â—kir own way in every thing do as they direct you â—â—d spare not me try me to the uttermost then said â—â—e I will and told the Women H. W. is come but â—â—re will not send for the Witnesses to day for it is late and we shall not have time to examine the Matter Therefore we 'll appoint another day and I 'll send fâ—â— all your Witnesses which he did On the Day aâ—â— pointed we all met Now the Quakers had givâ—â— Mr. Huddleston in Writing particular Directions hâ—â—â— to Examine every Witness and the very Questions 〈◊〉 was to put to each accordingly he examined theâ—â— one by one and so carefully that he would not 〈◊〉 one hear what another said I nor my Wife nor aâ—â— of our Party as they called them were permitted 〈◊〉 be present at the Examination but only the Qâ—â—kers who threatned the Witnesses thatif they woâ—â— not speak the Truth they must be hanged too Thâ—â— being upon Oath cried out with Amazement 〈◊〉 should we be Questioned about a Thing we know no more 〈◊〉 than the Child in the Mother's Womb in which miâ—â— with like Expressions they all agreed telling the Qâ—â—kers that doubtless they were Bewitched This being done Mr. Huddleston called upon me aâ—â— my Wife with his own Family and many Neighbors who were in his Hall come to hear this Wâ—â—der and said thus to the Quakers Have you had Justice now Answ Yes Then said he were these Wâ—â—nesses revealed to you by the same Spirit as the othâ—â— Things were Answ Yes by the very same Theâ—â— said he 't is a false lying Spirit believe it no moâ—â— Answ Yes we will believe it still for we can go to the â—â—ry place where it was buried This word dropt unawaâ—â— from them and they could have been content to 〈◊〉 it fall but when I heard them mention a place I desired Mr. Huddleston to hold them to their Word thâ—â— so they might manifest themselves yet more wheâ—â— upon he Questioned them Where was that placeâ—â— They said it was revealed to them That H. W. buriâ—â— the Child on Sparkhead-Moor a place about a Mile â—â—stant from Mr. Huddleston's That 's a vast place saiâ—â— he it will be impossible to find it without more particular Directions go again therefore and consult the Spirit for if there was a Murther and God intends this way to discover it the Spirit will certainly show you the very place and by the surface of the ground 〈◊〉 will appear though many Years ago Thus they departed and came again saying now the very place â—â—s revealed to them and now there was a deep Snow â—â—nd Frost so that they could not proceed in which â—â—ne they often visited Mr. H. who at length when the â—â—ow was partly off made them promise to be there 〈◊〉 a set Day adding I will send my Man to keep