had a vision of the Ministers wife stirring against me and she was presented to me as one enviously bent against me calling that falsity which she understood not And I saw the Glergie-man and the Jurors contriving an Indictment against me and I saw my self stand before them in a vision I saw this And I sang with much courage and told them I feared not them nor their doings for that I had not deserved such usage But while I was singing praises to the Lord for his love to me the Justices sent their Constable to fetch me who came and said He must have me with him and he pulled and call'd me they said that were by but I was not capable thereof they said He was greatly troubled how to have me to his Master they told him He had better obey God then man And his hand shooke they said while he was pulling me Then some went to the Justices to tell them I could not come But they would not be pacified some offered to be bound for my appearance next day if I were in a capacity but this was refused they would have me out of my bed unless some would take their Oaths that it would in danger my life to be taken out of my bed which none could do without they had loved to take false Oaths like some others in those parts Then a friend perswaded them to see whether they could put me out of that condition and told them I was never known to be put out of it so they came Justice Launce now a Parliament-man was one of them I was told These Justices that came to ferch me out of my bed they made a great rumult them and their followers in the house and some came up stairs crying A witch a witch making a great stir on the stairs and a poor honest man rebuking such that said so he was tumbled down stairs and beaten too by one of the Justices followers and the Justices made a great noise in putting out of my chamber where I lay many of my friends and they said If my friends would not take me up they would have some should take me up one of my friends told them That they must fetch their silk gowns to do it them for the poor would not do it And they threatned much but the Lord over-ruled them they caused my eye-lids to be pull'd up for the said I held them fast because I would deceive the people they spake to this purpose One of the Justices pincht me by the nose and caused my pillow to be pull'd from under my head and kept pulling me and calling me but I heard none of all this stir and bussle neither did I hear Mr. Welsted which I was told called to the Rulers saying A whip will fetch her up and he stood at the Chamber door talking against me and said She speaks non-sence the women said Hearken for you cannot hear there is such a noise then he listened and said Now she hears me speak she speaks sence And this Clergie-man durst not come till the Rulers came for then they say The witches can have no power over them so that one depends upon another Rulers upon Clergie and Clergie upon Rulers And again After they had made all the fury appear that the Lord permitted them to vent against me they then went away saying She will fall in a trance when we shall at any time call for her The Lord kept me this day from their cruelty which they had a good minde further to have let out against me that witch tryer-woman of that Town some would fain have had come with her great pin which she used to thrust into witches to try them but the Lord my God in whom I trust delivered me from their malice making good that word to me in the Psalms The rage of man shall turn to thy praise and the remnant of rages thou wilt restrain Then further to tell you how the Lord carried me in singing prayer after they were gone two hours as I was told and then I came to my self and being all alone I blessed God for that quiet still day that I had And the Gentlewoman of the house coming into the chamber I said Have I lain alone all this day I have had a sweet day she replied and said Did not I hear the Justices there and the uproare that was in my chamber I said No. Then she told me how they dealt by her house bringing in their followers and what a noise they made Then another friend asked me Whether I did not hear that stir I said No. They wondred and so did I when I heard the Relation which is much more then I will write for I don't take delight to stir in such puddles it 's no pleasant work to me but that truth engageth me to let the world know what men have acted against the pourings out of the Spirit in a dispensation beyond their understanding they hearkened not to Scripture-advice which would not have any judge that they know not After that dayes tumult at night many came to catch at my words and it was very probable that the Rulers sent some to watch for what could be had further against me and there were two women that they had got their names who had promised them to swear against me and of this I shall further speak when I come to it but now I am telling of what past that night mentioned many people spake much to me asking me questions the which the Lord helped me to answer And my friends kept most part of that night in prayer on my behalf And many watched what they said in prayer for there were listeners under the window which fain would have had something to have informed against them There was great endeavouring to have found a Bill of Indictment against Captain Langdon but they could not they could not vent their spleen though they to the utmost desired it the Lord would not let them have their evil desires herein for though they in this would have brought him into contempt yet they endeavoured this that so I might want a surety and then they had had what they desired which was to have cast me into the Goal But to leave that and to tell you that I had the presence of the Lord with me that night abundantly and my sleep was sweeter then at other times my sister Langdon lay with me that night and in the murning she told me That she could not sleep all night for thinking of my going to the Sessions that day she told me She wandered I could sleep so soundly all night I told her I never had a sweater night in my lise and as for my going before the Rulers I was no what afraid or thoughtful for I had cast my care upon the Lord which I was perswaded would speak for me therefore I was not troubled nor afraid for the Lord said to me Fear not be not dismaied I am
understand you are not married A. T. Then having no hinderance why may not I go where I please if the Lord so will Then spoke Justice Launse But did not some desire you to come down And this Lobb asked me too but I told them I would accuse none I was there to answer as to what they should charge my own particular with Launse said Pray Mistriss tell us what moved you to come such a journey A.T. The Lord gave me leave to come asking of him leave whitherever I went I used still to pray for his direction in all I do and so I suppose ought you I said Justice Launse But pray tell us what moved you to come such a journey A. T. The Lord moved me and gave me leave Launse But had you not some of extraordinary impulses Spirit that brought you down pray tell us what those were A. T. When you are capable extraordinary of impulse of Spirit I will tell you but I suppose you are not in a capacity now for I saw how deridingly he spoke and for answering him thus he said I was one of a bold Spirit but he soon took me down so himself said but some said It took them down for the Lord carried me so to speak that they were in a hurry and confusion and sometimes would speak all together that I was going to say What are you like women all speakers and no hearers but I said thus What do you speak all at a time I cannot answer all when speaking at once I appeal to the civillest of you and I directed my speech to Justice Lobb who spake very moderately and gave me a civil answer saying You are not acquainied with the manner of the Court which is to give in their sayings A.T. But I cannot answer all at once indeed I do not know the manner of the Court for I never was before any till now Justice Lobb You prophesie against Truro A.T. Indeed I pray against the sins of the people of Truto and for their souls welfare are you angry for that Lobb But you must not judge Authority but pray for them and not speak so suspiciously of them and more to this purpose he spoke to me A.T. I will take up your word in which you said I was not to judge you said well for so saith the Scripture Who art thou that judgest anothers mans servant to his own master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand but you have judged me and never heard me speak you have not dealt so well by me as Agrippa dealt by Paul though Agrippa was an Heathen he would have Paul speak before he gave in his judgement concerning him Justice Tregegle Oh you are a dreamer A.T. So they called Joseph therefore I wonder not that you call me so Justice Selye said You knew we were with you yesterday A.T. I did not Justice Selye He which is the Major said you will not say so A.T. I will speak it being it's truth He said Call the women that will witness they heard you say You knew we were with you and he pulled out a writing and named their names calling to some to fetch them A.T. You may suborne false witnesses against me for they did so against Christ and I said Produce your witnesses Justice Sely. We shall have them for you at next Assizes They put it off long enough because one was fallen in a sound before the got out of the house were she dwelt and the other was come into the Sessions-house and Mrs. Grose a gentlewoman of the town standing by her that was their false witness said Wilt thou take an oath thus take heed what thou dost it 's a dangerous thing to take a false oath and she ran out of the Sessions-house this was credibly reported And here ended their witnesses that they had procured against me as to that There was a souldier that smiled to hear how the Lord carried me along in my speech and Justice Selye called to the Jailor to take him away saying He laughed at the Court He thought him to be one of my friends and for his cheerful looking the Jailor had like to have had him then I said Scripture speaks of such who make a man an offender for a word but you make a man an offender for a look They greatly bussled as if they would have taken him away but this was quickly squasht their heat as to this lasted not long In the mean time the other Sely was talking to Major Bawden wondering such a man as he who had been so well reputed for a judicious sober understanding man should hearken to me many words were used to him to that purpose I said Why might not he and others try all things and hold fast that which is best But they still cast grim looks on me and they had a saying to Major Bawden and to Captain Langdon then whom they derided in a Letter sent from Truro by some of their learned Court which wrote that Captain Langdon and Major Bawden stood up and made a learned defence They had indeed such learning from the Spirit of wisdom and of a sound minde which the Jurors and their companions were not able to contend against their speech and whole deportment was so humble and self denying and so seasoned with the salt of grace which their flashy unsavory spirits could not endure those that are raised from the dung-hill and set on thrones cannot sit there without vaunting and shewing their fools coat of many colours as envie and pride and vain glory these and other colours they show which delights not King Jesus nor his followers Justice Lobb told me I made a disturbance in the town I asked Wherein he said By drawing so many people after me I said How did I draw them he said I set open my Chamber-doors and my windows for people to hear A.T. That 's a very unlikely thing that I should do so for I prayed the maid to lock my chamber-door when I went to bed and I did not rise in the night sure to open it I said Why may not I pray with many people in the room as well as your professing women that prays before men and women she knowing them to be there but I know not that there is any body in the room when I pray and if you indite one for praying why not another why are you so partial in your doings Justice Lobb But you don't pray so as others A.T. I pray in my chamber Justice Travel Your chamber A. T. Yea that it 's my chamber while I am there through the pleasure of my friends They used more words to me sometimes slighting and mockingly they spoke and sometimes seeming to advise me to take heed how I spoke and prayed so again Many such kinde of words Justice travel used and Justice Lobb And one thing I omitted in telling you when I told you how I answered Justice
which they understanding said sure he knew some evil by me thus it bred a jealousie among strangers concerning me but some said he would not suffer evil to be spoken of me for he said sure the root of the matter was in me he was much urged by my friends to come but would not see me though in bonds and this use I was taught by the Lord to make of that unkindnesse of a friend who I hearing when I was coming to Plimouth that such an one was come there I leaned upon him as a prop to me in my suffering and I rejoyced much saying to my friends that he would vindicate me who had been known to him so long and one whom I was alwayes ready to vindicate when aspersed but my God learned me to know that all flesh was grasse and a sading flower and like an Egyptian reed and by this unkindnesse from a friend my God drew me the more to rest upon himself alone and what unkindnesse I relate from any received my end hereby is not to reproach or seek revenge on any but the Lord my God knows had there not been so many severall reports passed far and near I would not have set pen to paper in this kind but it is that truth may silence falsity and though I fail in an orderly penning down these things yet not in a true Relation of as much as I remember and what is expedient to be written I could not have related so much from the shallow memory I have naturally but through often relating these things they become as a written book spread open before me and after which I write Now I shall come again to the Relation and tell you that I had much kindnesse at Plimouth from many and great labour of love stewed me untill my departure and some went with me a shipboard and were sory to have me go from their Quarters not that I was any thing but the Lord did their souls good through a worm and when we had been a day and a night tossing on the Sea the wind being against us drove us back into the Harbour again Some at Dartmouth reported that I had bewitched the winds that the ships could not go to sea and they cursed me there but the Lord blessed me the more many reproaches he helpt me to bear and though we were beating on the waves against the wind yet I was not sick for the Lord had there much for me to declare to Sea men of free grace and of the vilenesse of mans nature and the excellent work of Redemption And I spake this unto them and prayed and sang in the Cabbin where I lay and the Sea-men were much affected the Lord made some of them declare how the Lord refreshed them and that they knew if I had stayed longer much good their souls would have reaped they were very respectfull to me though there were few that had any rellish of good the Lord made much to be rellished by them through a poore nothing creature the Scripture the Lord inlarged amongst them in the 73. Psalm verse 1. Truly God is good to Israel and to them that are of a clean heart the new Covenant the Lord made known amongst them very much so that it was a blessed passage though as from man it was bitter to be tossed upon the Sea four dayes and the maid that came with me lying vomiting grievously by me and sick even ready to dy she thought her heart would have broke and I hurt my leg against the ship side that it raged greatly a day and a night and lying in a little Cabbin sweating much the maid and I together which lodge was very little it being in the Masters Cabbin which was a little Lodge But though I met with much difficulty as to flesh and blood yet I murmured not onely I was once a little troubled and said Lord why is man thus cruell to deal thus with me they never considered whether my nature could bear the Sea but I said Father lay not this evil usage to their charge I was brought up among the Pirates that had robbed upon the Sea and were taken prisoners and sent in the ship with me but the Lord preserved me from all hurt and caried me safe to Land and all in the ship both Captain and Master and men gave me civill respect while I was with them So the Lord made good his promise to me that nothing should harm me neither on the Sea nor the Land And the Captain with some of his men came with me ashore and we landed at Portsmouth and the Governour not being in Town I went with the Captain to Major Morefords the deputy Governour who receiving the order from the Captain of the ship after some Discourse with him he departed and the Deputy Governour told me I was committed to his Charge untill such time that he could dispose of me with conveniency so he lovingly entertained me and those two friends that came with me and his daughters shewed me much kindnesse and in the afternoon the Deputy Governour having no lodging in his house for me he procured me lodging at Ensign Bakers in the Town and he went with me thither it being not far off and there he left me desiring the Ensigns wife to be kind to me but she heard I was a frenzy-headed creature and she looked very sowr upon me and all the while I was there she offered me no drink nor any thing else but one day when the Governour sent his servant to see what I had then she sent to me and I had newly eaten a piece of Pye that I had brought with me from Plimmouth so that was all my food I eat from the second day to the fifth day that I came away then she seemed to be very kind and said she heard such a clamour concerning me which made her afraid of me but after she heard me she was of another mind I prayed and sang there a night and a day for the most part and so departed from thence the next morning after and came in a Coach to London and a Lieutenant came with me to convey me to Westminster and he brought a Present of Egges that was sent from Gernsie to the great man at White Hall they were Partridge Egges of the largest kind I was told and if they were not well put up they could not be kept whole for the Coach broke twice by the way and overturned once it was a great mercy that we had no hurt the dealings of man being unjust every thing will make them manifest and discover their breakings where they or their Presents be If such that hold forth King Jesus be near one danger or other they will be lyable to meet withall I was through Divine Power brought safe in the Coatch to Fox Hall where we lighted and the Coach man and Lieutenant told me I must bear all my Charges both by the way and the Coach hire so I
praying and singing more then every I did in my life unto many publick concernments the which I am sure will be accomplish'd in due time and I often desired that they in high places had some of the dainties with me at Bridewell and that day the Order was brought and I lay silent when they came with it but I was talking with the Lord who shewed me many things which I know shall come to passe and the Lord told me that my freedome out of that place was neer the which I saw three weeks before and sang it forth so I did now one of them tarried that brought the Order I was told so afterwards but I knew not that any was by me when I thus lay either silent or speaking That day I spake to some that said he would chuse imprisonment for gain he spoke of an outward gain but if he got by his imprisonment formerly I am sure I cannot say nor those that are imprisoned upon this account for the fifth Monarchy cannot say so we would not gain for our outward man if we might by robbing others to enrich our selves I can say I have refused what hath been tendered me freely I took nothing save for my necessity unto which I had enough supply had not the Rulers put me to such charges through their imprisonment and bringing me from place to place and making me pay for it So that I have been robbed but I have robbed none I had rather go in a Canvass Coar or any mean garb then so do and eat any mean kind of food then to fair dainty and go in brave robes with that cost which is others right in heritance I shall further relate in the close of this relation how the next day I came sorth for I came not into a capable frame to speak to any body till late at night on the sixth day and when I spoke that night my friends said do you know you are set at liberty you sang as if you had known I said the Lord hath given it me I will thank him for it so you told us to day in your finging said my friends And the next morning the Keeper of Bridewell came and said I was free by order from the Councel and I might go out when I pleased I told him they should fetch me out that put me in had they put me among Thieves and Whores and now did they send for me out without acknowledging the reproach they had brought upon me He said the same Order with the same hands that puts you in fetches you out I desired to see my Order so I should he said if I would pay sixteen pence for a Copy of it so I sent for it and read it And seeing I might go out upon no dishonourable terms and the Lord having instructed me before hand he being my guide and Counseller in my imprisonment and in my comming out And I said to a friend go tell your Masters though they will not see me they shall be sure to hear from me and so they have for I sent letters to them that so they might not say they had not heard of the injustice acted under their dominion Now I have given a Declaration through the assistance of the Lord and not to set up my self and throw down others but to throw down lies and exalt truth the Lord would not have Cities nor Countries nor White-hall Councel a refuge for lies For his people are recorded in the 63 of Isa v. 8. to be children that will not lie so he became their Saviour I desire that truth may be written in Busse and sent through Europe I would have the whole world tast the sweetnes of truth that all people may know and see and consider and understand together the hand of the Lord and what he is doing and will do for his that trust in him And sure wisdom is justified of her children Come O you children of wisdom observe that you may understand and seek after Christs raign and say with me Come Lord Jesus come quickly according to thy saying Even so come Lord Jesus Let those that waite on the Lords comming say Amen even so be it A Defiance to all reproachfull scandalous base horrid defaming speeches which have been vented by Rulers Clergy and their Auditors and published in scurrilous Pamphlets up and down in Cities and Countries against Anna Trapnell late Prisoner in Bridwell for the Testimony of Jesus the Lord. I Am forc't out of my csose retired spirit by Rulers and Clergy who have brought me upon the worlds stage of Reports and Rumors making me the worlds wonder and gazing stâ—… and as some have said they thought I had been a Monster or some ill-shaped Creature before they came and saw who then said they must change their thoughts for I was a woman like others that were modest and civill and many commending words they uttered which because it s of my own particular 〈◊〉 forbear to mention and what I do mention is to advance free grace shewed me in making gain-sayers to receive a check in their own consciences and to be ashamed that they took up reports Truly Rulers Clergy I wii bid Defiance to all the words actions which have undeservedly and unjustly been by you or others vented against and inflicted upon me I speak this the Lord my my God knowes not vauntingly but humbly For I am conscious to my self that I have abundance of infirmities and am sure the worst of all the Lord's Flock indeed a sorry worthless creature and as from the Lord I deserve nothing save hell and eternall destruction yet he loves me and hath loved me with an everlasting love and will you Oh men condemn and passe your sentences upon me First for a Witch Pray wherein can you make this appear Oh you Inhabitants of Fruroer and Clergie there or in any other place or at Court Can any Ruler there make good their words I am sure I may defie this their speech and will Further they call me Impostor Pray which of the wayes and Ordinances or Statutes of the Lord have I perverted through deceit Canst thou Oh man or woman lay any thing of this nature to my Charge Do then but through grace you cannot Therefore I can defie this saying also Again you call me vagabond but how will you make that good All the Art skill or policy that any politician hath among you cannot make this saying true not in the least I lived with my Mother till shee dyed which was about twenty years then I kept house with the means my Mother left me and payed taxes towards maintaining of the Army then in the field and this I did not grudgingly but freely and willingly I sold my Plate and Rings and gave the mony to the Publick use you did not call me vagabond then I am compel'd as I told you to bring my private Spirit forth to the view of the world and to declare my