we spake one and the same thing being guided by one Spirit They would go from me to Catharine they would bid her speak as Sarah did and so she did to their condemnation Praises to the Lord Amen A Paper sent from them to the Pope's Lord Inquisitor in MALTA For the Lord Inquisitor and his Council c. MEns persons I cannot admire they that do admire and respect any man's person do it because of advantage and such are transgressors the Apostles St. James and Jude say In obedience to the Lord in love to your souls from the Fountain of Love and Springs of Life that stream forth to the refreshment of the whole City of God am I constrained to visit you with these few Lines and I beseech you to read it with the Spirit of Moderation and Meekness and see that nothing in you arise up against it for it is God's Truth Christ Jesus who is the Light of the world which hath enlightned every one that cometh into the world saith This is Life eternal To know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent New the knowledge of God is Life Eternal and there is no other way to come to this knowledge but to have the mind turned from darkness to the Light out of the visible to that which is invisible viz. the Light in the Conscience which conviâ—ceth of sin and iniquity when no mortal eye can see you and as you come to love it and to have your minds staid upon it you will feel the incomes of God's Power to administer condemnation upon the transgressor that keeps the pure Seed â—n bondage in you For Sion is redeemed through Judgement and her Converts with Righteousness Saint Paul saith If thou believest in thy heart the Lord Jesus and confessest with thy mouth that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto salvation and we do believe and see and tâ—ste and handle of the good Word of Life and have received the Spirit of Truth to lead us into all truth and doth bring all things to our remembrance without any visible thing And Saint Paul wrote to the Galatians saying My little Children of whom I travel in birth till Christ be formed in you Where Christ is formed within there needs no form without the outward form is called an Earthen Vessel or an Earthen Tabernacle or an Earthen House but Christ Jesus is the express Image of his Father's Glory or Substance which is Light and Life Now the Image of Christ is a pure and a holy Image a meek and a Dove like Image an innocent and a Lamb-like Image a righteous and a glorious Image Christ in you the hope of glory saith the Apostle to the Saints The Lord our God hath given to every man a measure of the manifestation of his own Spirit to profit withall which is the Light in the Conscience the true Teacher of his People it is the Grace of God that bringeth salvation that appeareth to all men and it teacheth all that come to believe in it and to love and to be guided by it to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to walk soberly righteously holy and godly in this pâ—esent world and it will deal plainly with every one none need to fear being deceived by that in them which doth condemn them for sin and evil But they that live in pride are deceived already they that live in covetousness are deceived already and they that live in Lusts or Drunkenness are deceived already or in Lying Swearing Adultery or Idolatry are deceived or in Hypocrisie and Deceit hard heartedness or Cruelty they are deceived already for those you know are fruits which do proceed from a deceived heart being corrupted for want of knowledge My people perish for want of knowledge saith God He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his and he that hath the Spirit of Christ ought himself to walk as Christ walked Now Christ was no persecutor he never imprisoned any nor ever put any to suffer but he and the holy Prophets and Apostles were made to suffer as evil-doâ—rs this we know The Day of the Lord is hot and terrible against all sin and iniquity and that nature from whence it doth proceed and we are a WO for all them that are laying up of a Fuel for it This is God's Truth whether you can receive it yea or nay I am ready to seal it with my blood if the Lord shall call me to it Whosoever shall interpret this Paper before the Lord Inquisitor so called I charge thee in the Name of the living God as thou wilt answer before his dreadful presence to interpret it word by word as it is written without adding or diminishing Katharine Evans THe Fryar then came to me and askt me why I did not work I said unto him What Work dost thou do He said he did write I told him I would write too if he would bring me a Pen Ink and Paper and I would write truth He said He would not that we should write for St. Paul did work at Rome and we might get nine or ten grains a day if we would knit that is three half pence I told him if we could have that priviledge amongst them that St. Paul had at Rome under Caesar which was a Heathenish King we would have wrought and not have been chargeable to any St. Paul lived in his own hired House two years with a Souldier to look to him and had friends of the same Occupation to work with him and could send where he would and whosoever would come to him might and he taught them in the Name of the Lord Jesus and no man for bad him So I askt him Whether he knew the holy War of God yea or nay if he did I told him he then did know we could not be without exercise day nor night Then his mouth was stopped and he spake no more to me of work But though our affliction of body was very great and our travel of soul was greater yet we did knit Stockins and give to them that were made serviceable to uâ— and did make Garments for the poor prisoners and mended their Clothes which had need and were made helpful to them all to their condemnation that did persecute us But we could not vvork at the Fryar's Will nor any man 's else but as we had freedom in the Lord. As I vvas vveak in my bed the Fryar came to me and said We did deny the Scriptures I told him they did deny them we did own them and hold them forth thou dost know it He was in a rage because I said they denyed the Scriptures bid me eat my words again and threatned death upon me I said Christ Jesus was the Light of the World and had lighted every one that cometh into the World which Light is our salvation that do receive it and the same Light
that the people did live in sin and all manner of wickedness And whether words and forms would serve without life and power He was as bloody a fiery Serpent as ever was born of a Woman and did strike as hard at our lives would hold up his hand often to strike us but had never the power he would quickly be cut down that he would say we were good women and he would do us any good He was compell'd to work for us sometimes and would say it was for God's sake and would have us thank him for it We would tell him those that did any thing for God did not look for a reward from man He said We were the worst of all creatures and we should be used worse than any the Turks Arminians Protestants and Lutherans should be used better than we We said the pure Life was ever counted the worst and we must suffer we were the Lords and could trust him let him do what he would vvith us vve did not fear any evil tydings vve vvere setled and grounded in the truth and the more they did persecute us the more stronger vve did grovv We vvere bold and valiant for God's Truth that vvhatsoever we did suffer vve could not fear We were separated two years I had neither fire nor candle in that time above two hours none did bring me any nor I had not freedom to call for any The Fryars went to Sarah and told her if she would she should go forth of the Prison and say nothing nor do nothing She said she vvould upon that account He said they vvould come in the morning and so they did but the Lord saw their deceit and forewarned Sarah and bid her mind Esau who sold his Birth right for a morsel of meat and Judas that betrayed his Master for thirty pieces of Silver That when they came she vvas strengthned against them and said she stood in the Counsel of God and could take up nothing in her ovvn vvill they had not povver to have her forth They said the Inquisitor said if we did want Linnen Woollen Stockins Shooes or Money vve should have it But there was a poor English man heard that Sarah was in a room vvith a Windovv next the Street it vvas high he got up and spake a few vvords to her and they came violently hall'd him down and cast him into prison upon life and death And the Fryars came to know of us vvhether he had brought any Letters We said no I did not see him They said they did think he would be hang'd for it He was one that they had taken from the Turks and made a Catholick of him Sarah wrote a few lines to me of it and said she did think the English Fryars were the chief actors of it we had a private way to send to each other I vvrote to her again and after my Salutation I said Whereas she said the Fryars vvere the chief actors she might be sure of that for they did hasten to fill up their measures but I believe the Lord wil preserve the poor man for his love I am made to seek the Lord for him with tears And I desired she would send him something once a day if the Keeper vvould carry it and I told her of the glorious manifestations of God to my soul for her comfort so that I was ravished vvith love and my Beloved was the chiefest of ten thousands and how I did not fear the face of any man though I did feel their arrows for my Physician is nigh me and how I was vvaiting upon the Lord and saw our safe return into England and I was talking with G. F. to my great refreshment The Name of G. F. did prâ—ck them to the heart I said it vvas much they did not tempt us with money I bid her take heed the Light vvould discover it and many more things let it come under what cover it vvould And this Paper came to the Fryar's hands by vvhat means vve could never tell but as the Light did shew us the Lord vvould have it so it smote the Fryar that he vvas tormented many days and he translated it into â—talian and laid it before their Loâ—d Inquisitor and got the Inquisitor's Lievtenant and came to me with both the Papers in his hand and askt me if I could read it J said Yea I writ it O! did you indeed said he And what is it you say of me here That which is truth said I. Then he said Where is the Paper Sarah sent bring it or else I will search the I runk and every where else J bid him search where he vvould He said I must tell what man it was that brought me the Ink or else I should be tyed with Chains presently J told him had J done nothing but vvhat vvas just and right in the sight of God and vvhat J did suffer vvould be for Truth 's sake and J did not care J vvould not meddle nor make with the poor Workmen He said For God's sake tell me what Sarah did write J told him a few vvords and said it was truth Said he You say it is much we do not tempt you with money And in few hours they came and tempted us with money often So the Lieutenant took my ink and threw it away and they were smitten as if they vvould have fallen to the ground and vvent their vvay J saw them no more in three Weeks but the poor man vvas set free the next morning They went to Sarah and told her that I had honestly confest all and that she was best to confess too and threatned her with a Halter and to take away a Bed and Trunk and her Money to have half of it for me she answered she might not send to me any more She askâ— him Whether he was a Minâ—ster of Christ or a Magistrate 〈◊〉 he vvere a Magistrate he might take her money but she vvould not give it him And they that were vvith him said No he should not meddle with any thing He was a bitter wicked man He told her She was possest She answered and said she was with the povver of an endless life The Lord was not vvanting to us at any time for Povver nor Words to stop the mouths of gain-sayers of his Truth neither in Revelations nor Visions Praises be to his Name for ever He kept us in our weakest condition bold for his Truth declaring against all sin and wickedness so that many were convinced but did not dare to own it for fear of Faggot and Fire There were none that had any thing to say against vvhat vve spake but tâ—e Fryers but would have us to join with them There were none did come into the inquisition but the judgements of the Lord vvould be upon them so that they vvould cry and foam and send for a Physiâ—ian many of them The unclean spirits would cry out as much as ever they did against Jesus and would
This is a short RELATION Of some of the Cruel Sufferings For the Truths sake of KATHARINE EVANS SARAH CHEVERS In the Inquisition in the ISLE of MALTA Who have suffered there above three years by the Pope's Authority there to be deteined till they dye Which Relation of their sufferings is come from their own hands and mouths as doth appear by the following Treatise These two Daughters of Abraham were passing to Alexandria and to Cilicia And thus may that part of Christendom see their fruits together with the Pope's and of what birth they are and that those that are called Christians are worse than Heathens For they falling into their hands should have been refreshed by them with necessary things but the provision which the Inhabitants and Knights of Malta called Christians provided for them is the Inquisition Now it was not so when Paul suffered shipwrack there among the barbarous people which is a manifest token they are not in the love of God whose fruits shew they are not in the true Spirit And this is to all fellow-brethren that are partakers with them in the Power of God and have a feeling and fellowship with them in their sufferings that they might see and know how it is with them and what unkindness they find abroad among them that profess themselves Christians LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson 1662. An Epistle to the Readers MAny there be among the Nations in the world that in their haste have unjustly condemned the innocent guiltless and harmless people of the Lord of Hosts scornfully called Quakers viz. That they are Papists Jesuits and what else adhoring to the Whorish false Church of Rome I say to such on this wise which is my advice as a man to his friend to whom this may come Be not hasty to judge before the time as many do to their own hurt guilt and condemnation before they have a clear and right understanding of the things that differ from equity and truth and so the nobility of the mind which should weigh and pass true sentence of sound and perfect judgment the same being vailed with a hasty dark spirit of prejudice or evil surmising which gets up into the seat of enmity and therein passeth sentence of the pure way and things of God as evil heresie and what else and thus it comes to pass and indeed it cannot be otherwise with such that have not their minds staied and fixed in that which is perfect and true and clear and single as is the clear manifestation of the grace of life which is the Light of the Lord Jesus shining in the heart and conscience of the Sons and Daughters of men and the same Light of the Lord which lightneth the poor and deceitful man's eyes is the true measure and equal ballance which all is to trie and prove and weigh words thoughts intents ways and actions whether they be justifiable or condemnable and hereby with the same measure of the true Spirit of God who is Light is true sentence to be passed accordingly For if that which is perfectly true be measured with a false measure or with an unequal Ballance it doth appear so to all that behold the same with an evil eye or measure that with the same measure save onely to them that discern the measure weight or ballance as for instance as to the thing natural if a deceitful man with a false measure being guided by a deceivable Spirit al-be-it his eyes are inlightned with the Light of the Lord which is true if he measure a piece of cloth to his Customer with his deceitful measure though the cloth be good yet he not giving it its true measure the simple hearted is thereby deceived and knoweth it not till it be brought to a true measure which doth answer the true principle or Light of God in the conscience to justification as doth not the false but contrariwise wherefore its needful and of absolute concernment for the mind of every man male and female to be guided and exercised in the true manifestation of the Light of Jesus in the conscience and so blessed is the man the people the family that brings their deeds to the Light that they may be manifest that they are wrought in God who is Light who is Truth and so what is here following written and published is to be tried and proved by the Witness of God in every Conscience which is true and will answer to the same things or words that springs forth from its own clear nature Therefore when thou hast honestly read this throughout with a meek spirit of sobriety and moderation that 's single and pure then with the same spirit of singleness and of true discerning judge honestly and cease from hastiness in such matters of Eternity least a place of Repentance become finally hid from thine eies not to salvation but contrariwise which I desire not neither doth the Lord whose servant a living and true Witness I am for Him his Truth and People of these things and much more Wherefore let the Reader see hereby how that the Lord hath chosen the foolish things of this life to confound the wise and that the living God Eternal hath chosen the weak things to confound and bring to nought the things that are mighty subtil and potent yea base things which are so deemed despisable and contemptible yet behold God hath chosen them and things that are not approvable in the sight of the prudent of this world even to bring to nought things that are But may some say Wherefore or why doth the most High Wise Invisible Immortal God do thus my answer is one and the same as the Apostle saith viz. That no flesh should glory in his presence who of God is made in us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption And why should it be accounted such a foolish thing in the eyes of the wise men of this world to see the wisdom of God dispensed through a weak Vessel as is a free-born woman from above a weaker Vessel than that of the man Now tell me oh man of understanding What must not the Spirit of Christ or the same that is begotten of God in the female as well as in the male what must not I say the same spirit of life from God speak but be limited in the weaker Vessel in the foolish Vessel in the Vessel which is not esteemed but base contemptible and despised in the eyes of lofty man that must be laid low who excels in that wisdom and knowledge which is not from above but otherwise bruitish and puffeth up the fleshly mind that 's enmity to God and is therefore to be confounded and moved backward and slain upon the Cross which is the Power of God that crucifieth the lusts and inordinate affections of the flesh which thereby come to be silent before the Lord who is that one and self-same spirit that is quick and powerful so that not any other spirit governs or rules
under the Pope's dark and cruel Authority in his Inquisition in the Island of Malta for the Word of Life which is the living Testimony of Jesus and the truth of his Innocency which they hold and stand fast to and in the same having already suffered more then three years in the said Confinement to the present 12th month of the year accounted 1661. of the same I bear Record also and affirm to the Truth of which I am a Servant and living Witness Daniel Baker O Yee Eternal and Blessed ones whose dwelling is on high in the fulness of all Beauty and Brightness Glory and everlasting Joy Happiness and Peace for evermore We who are poor sufferers for the Seed of God in the Covenant of Light Life and Truth do dearly salute and imbrace you all according to our measures Blessing and honour and Glory be given to our Lord God for ever of all who know him who hath counted us worthy and hath chosen us among his faithfull ones to bear his name and to witness forth his truth before the high and mighty men of the earth and to fight the Lords battle with his spirituall weapons to the breaking down of strong holds high lofty looks and vain imaginations and spirituall wickedness in high places The Lord did give us a prosperous journey hither and when we came to Legorne we were refreshed with friends who were there before us and they did get a passage for us and lodging but as soon as we heard of the Vessel we did feel our service So we went into the City in the living power of the Lord and there were many tender hearts did visit us to their comfort and our joy The little time we staid there we gave some of our Books and one Paper so journying towards Alexandria the Captain told us that Malta was in the way and he must put in there a small time But before we came there our burthen was so heavy that I was made to cry out saying Oh we have a dreadfull cup to drink at that place Oh how am I straitned till it be Accomplished And when we came there the walls of the City were full of people some stood on the top of the walls as if something had troubled them before we came there we stood upon the deck of the ship and I looked upon them said in my heart Shall yes destroy us If we give up to the Lord then he is sufficient to deliver us out of their hands but if we dâ—sobey our God all those could not deliver us out of his hand So all feâ—r of man was taken from us The English Consul came abord the ship as the Captain said but we did not see him and invited us to his House it was the seventh or last day of the week The next morning being moved of the Lord we went a-shore and the Consul met us and we gave him a paper who sent us to his House with his Servant and when we came there at the present we well were entertained like Princes their Neighbours and Kinssolk came in and some Jesuits and we gave them Books they read a little and laid them down they were too hot we declared our message to them in the Name of the Lord and we gave some Books in the Street so they were all set on work Away went the Friers to the King or Supreme in the Island and he would not meddle with us but said we were honest women we might go about our business and that night we went a-bord the Ship again the Consul was troubled for their snare was laid and we felt it being moved of the Lord we went in again the next day and the Consul having a sister in the Nunnery desired us to go there that she might see us and we went to them and gave them a book then to the Consuls we returned again and sitting to wait to know the mind of the Lord what he would have us to do he said we must give in the great Paper and if we would go to save our life we should lose it Here followeth a Copy of some more words which they had written before the former was given forth A True Declaration concerning the Lord's love to us in all our Voyage We were at Sea between London and Plymouth many Weeks and one day we had some trials and between Plymouth and Legorn we were 31. days and we had many trials and storms within and without but the Lord did deliver us out of all And when we came to Legorn with the rest of our friends we went into the Town after we had product and staid there many dayes where we had service every day for all sorts of people came unto us but no man did offer to hurt us yet we gave them Books and having got passage in a Dutch ship we sayled towards Cypâ—us intending to goe to Alexandria but the Lord had appointed somthing for us to do by the way as he did make it manifest to us as I did speak for the Master of the ship had no business in the place but being in company with another ship which had some business at the City of Malta in the Island of Malta where Paul suffered shipwrack and being in the Harbour on the first day of the Week we being moved of the Lord went into the Town and the English Consul met us on the shore and asked us concerning our coming and we told him truth and gave him some Books and a Paper and he told us there was an Inquisition and he kindly entreated us to go to his house and said all that he had was at our service while we were there And in the fear and dread of the Lord we went and there came many to see us and we call'd them to repentance and many of them were tender but the whole City is given to Idolatry And we went a ship-board that night and the next day we being moved to go into the City again dared not to flie the cross but in obedience went desiring the will of God to be done And when we came to the Governor he told us that he had a Sister in the Nunnary did desire to see us if we were free and in the fear of God we went and talked with them and gave them a Book and one of their Priests was with us at the Nunnery and had us into their place of Worship and some would have us bow to the high Altar which we did deny and having a great burthen we went to the Consul again and were vvaiting upon the Lord what to do that we might know And the Inquisitors sent for us and when vve came before them they asked our Names and the Names of our Husbands and the Names of our Fathers and Mothers and how many children vve had and they asked us Wherefore we came into that Countrey And vve told them We were the Servants of the living God and were moved to come and
said Do you beâ—ieve in the Saints and pray to them We said We did believe the Communion of Saints but we did not pray to them but to God onely in the Name of Jesus Christ. He asked Whether we did believe in the Catholick Church We said We did believe the true Church of Christ but the Word Catholick we have not read in Scripture He asked if we believed a Purgatory We said No but a Heaven and a Hell The Fryar said We were commanded to pray for the dead for those that were in Heaven had no need and they that were in Hell there is no redemption therefore there must be a Purgatory He asked if we believed their holy Sacrament We said We never read the Word Sacrament in Scripture The Fryar replied Where we did read in our Bibles Sanctification it was Sacrament in theirs He said Their holy Sacrament was Bread and Wine which they converted into the Flesh and Blood of Christ by the virtue of Christ. We said they did work Miracles then for Christ's virtue is the same as it was when he turned Water into Wine at the Marriage in Canaan He said If we did not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God we had no life in us We said the Flesh and Blood of Christ is spiritual and we do feed upon it daily for that which is begotten of God in us can no more live without spiritual food than our temporal bodies can without temporal food He said that we did never hear Masse We said We did hear the voice of Christ he onely had the words of eternal life and that was sufficient for us He said We were Hereticks and Heathens We said they were Hereticks that lived in sin and wickedness and such were Heathens that knew not God He asked about our Meetings in England And we told them the truth to their amazement And they asked Who was the Head of our Church We said Christ. And they asked What George Fox is And we said He is a Minister of Christ. They asked Whether he sont us We said No the Lord did move us to come The Fryar said We were deceived and had not the faith but we had all virtues We said that saith was the ground from whence virtues do proceed They said If we would take their holy Sacrament we might have our liberty or else the Pope would not leave us for millions of Gold but we should lose our souls and our bodies too We said the Lord had provided for our souls and our bodies were freely given up to serve the Lord. They askt us if we did not believe Marriage was a Sacrament We said it was an Ordinance of God They ask't us if we did believe men could forgive sins We said None could forgive sins but God onely They brought us that Scripture Whose sins ye remit-in earth shall be remitted in heaven We said All Power was God's and he could givâ— it to whom he would that were born of the Eternal Spirit and guided by the same such have power to do the Fathers Will as I answered a Fryar also in the City of Naples and they were silent the Power greatly working We asked them wherein we had wronged them that we should be kept Prisoners all dayes of our lives and said Our innocent blood would be required at their hands The Fryar said He would take our blood upon him and our Journey into Turky too We told him the time would come he would find he had enough upon him without it They said The Popes was Christ's Vicar and we were of his Church and what he did was for the good of our souls We answered The Lord had not committed the charge of our souls to the Pope nor to them for he had taken them into his own possession glory was to his Name for ever They said We must be obedient We said We were obedient to the Government of Christ's Spirit The Fryar said None had the true Light but the Catholicks the Light that we had was the Spirit of the Devil We said Wo to him that calleth Jesus accursed Can the Devil give power over sin and iniquity then he would destroy his own Kingdom He said We were laught at and mockt at of every one We said What did become of the mockers It was no matter He said We did run about to preach and had not the true Faith We said the true Faith is held in a pure Conscience void of offence towards God and man and we had the true Faith And he said There was but one Faith either theirs or ours and askt us which it was We said Every one had the true Faith that did believe in God and in Jesus whom he had sent but they that say they do believe and do not keep his commandments are lyars and the truth is not in them He said it was true but he did thirst daily for our blood because we would not turn and urged us much about our Faith and Sacrament to bring us under their Law but the Lord preserved us They said It was impossible we could live long in that hot room So the next Week-day they sate in Council but oh how the swelling Sea did rage and the proud waves did foam even unto the clouds of Heaven and Proclamation was made at the Prison-Gate we did not know the words but the fire of the Lord flamed against it K. my life was smitten and I was in a very great agony so sweat was as drops of blood and the righteous one was laid into a Sepulcher and a great stone was roll'd to the door but the Prophesie was that he should arise again the third day which was fulfilled But the next day they came to sit upon Judgement again but I say in the true Judgement they sate not but upon it they got up unjustly above the righteous and upon the same they sate a child of Wisdom may understand and they brought many Propositions written in a paper but the Fryar would suffer the Magistrate to propound but few to us for fear the Light would break forth but they askt how many friends of ours were gone forth in the Ministry and into what parts We told them what we did know They said all that came where the Pope had any thing to do should never go back again We said the Lord was as sufficient for us as he was for the children in the fiery Furnace and our trust was in God They said we were but few and had been but a little while and they were many Countreys and had stood many hundred years and wrought many Miracles and we had none We said we had thousands at our Meetings but none of us dare speak a word but as they are eternally moved of the Lord and we had Miracles the Blind receive their sight the Deaf do hear and the Dumb do speak the Poor do receive the Gospel the Lame do walk and the Dead are raised He
gnash with heir teeth when vve were at prayer there was a Fryer and other great men the Fryer would run as if he had been at his Wits end and call to the Keeper and he vvould run for the English Fryer and he would go the Jnquisitor for counsel and sometime they would send them word they should have a remedy J should be sent to Rome and sometimes the Fryers would come but had not power to say any thing to me of it The Lord did say to us Cut up your Uoice like the noise of a Trumpet and sound forth my Truth like the shout of a King There was one that life waâ— arisen in him but they were upon him as Eagles til they had destroy'd him he did undergo terrible Judgements all the time he was in the Inquisition Our money served us a year and seven Weeks and when it was almost gone the Fryars brought the Inquisitor's Chamberlain to buy our Hats We said we came not there to sel our clothes nor any thing we had Then the Fryar did commend us for that and told us we might have kept our money to servâ— us otherwise We said No we could not keep any money and be chargeable to any We could trust God He said He did see we could but they should have maintâ—ined us while they kept us Prisoners And then the Lord dâ—d take away our stomacks we did eat but little for three or four Weeks and then the Lord called us to fasting for eleven dayes together but it was so little that the Fryars came and said that it was impossible that Creatures could live with so little meat as they did see we did for so long time together and asked what we would do Aâ—d said their Lord Inquisitor said We might have any thing we would We said We must wait to know the mind of God what he would have uâ— to do We did not fast in our own Wills but in obedience to the Lord. They were much troubled and sent us meat and â—aid â—he English Consul sent it We could not take any thing till the Lord's time was come We were weak so that Sarah did dâ—ess her head aâ— she would lye in her Grave poor Lamb J â—ay looking for the Lord to put an end to the sad trial which way to seemed 〈◊〉 in his â—ight Then J heaâ—d a voice saying Ye shall not dye J beâ—iâ—ved the Lord and his glory did appear much in ourâ—ast he was very gracious to us and did refresh us with his living presence continually and we did behold his beauty to our great â—oy and câ—mfort and he was large to us in his promâ—ses so that we were kept quiet and still the sting of Death be in taken away our souls hearts and minds were at pâ—ace with the Lord so that they could not tell whether we were dead or alive but as they dâ—d all to us once a day till the time the Lord had appointed we should eat and they were made to bring many good things and said them down by us so that Scripture we witnessed fulfilled Our Enemies treated us kindly in a strange Land said I. But we were afraid to eat and cryed to the Lord and said We had rather dye than eat any thing that is polluted and unclean The Lord said unto me Thou mayest as freely eat as if thou hadst wrought for it with thy hands I will sanctifie it to thee through the Cross. And he said to Sarah Thou shalt eat the fruit of thy hands and be blessed We did eat and were refreshed to the praise and glory of our God for ever We did eat but little in two Months and they did bring us what ever we did speak for for 8. or 10. dayes and afterward we were so straitned for want of food it did us more hurt than our Fast. Yet the Lord did work as great a Miracle by our preservation as he did by raising Lazarus out of the Grave The Fryars did say the Lord did keep us alive by his mighty power because we should be Catholicks We said the Lord would make it manifest to us then they should know the Lord had another end in it one day But still they said There was no Redemption for us We said with the Lord there was mercy and plenteous Redemption VVe bid them take heed ye be not found fighters against God They said We were foolish women We said we were the Lord's fools and the Lord's Fools were right dear and precious in his sight and wo to them that do offend them He said they were the Lord's fools and shewed us their deceitful Gowns and their shaven Crowns and said they did wear it for God's sake to be laught at of the world We said they did not wear it for God's sake unless they were moved of the holy Spirit of God to wear it He said it was no matter they did wear it because of their Superiors mark and before it was for God's sake as he said He thought to bring us under him for our food and did make us suffer a while though the Inquisitor and the Magistrates had taken a course we should want for nothing But the Lord did torment him and all the rest till they did bring us such things as were fitting Then he did work all that he could to send me to Rome and was coming two or three times for what I know to fetch me forth but the Lord vvould not suffer them and vvhen they savv they could not prevaile that vvay they said vve should go both but the Fryar should go first because he vvas not vvell he got leave to go he vvas so vveary of coming to us that he did beseech the Lord Inquisitor he might come no more to us He told Sarah I was a Witch and that I knew what was done at London and he vvould come to me no more he said Because vvhen he did tell me a company of lyes I said I had a witness for God in me which was faithful and true and I did believe Godâ—s witness The Diviners did vvax mad and did run as at their vvits end from Mountain to Hill and from Hill to Mountain to cover them They ran to the Inquisitor and vvrit to the Pope and vvent to him their King did not hide them at all some of them did gnash vvith their teeth and even gnavv their tongues for pain Yet the rest vvould not repent of their blasphemy sorcery nor inchantments but do post on to fill up their measures Oh! the Lord revvard them according to their vvorks A little before the Fryar vvent to Rome he came to the Inquisition Chamber vvith a Scribe to vvrite concerning us to carry it vvith him I savv him as God vvould have it the Lord said There is thy deadly foe They vvere vvriting part of three dayes and vvhen they had ended it the Lord would not let me eat till the Scribe did come where I was that I might pronounce vvo against
it and defie it which I did do in the Name of the Lord and it did wither vvith all the rest After it vvas gone the English Consul came to us with a Scribe and he brought us a doller from a Master of a Ship that came from Plymouth I told him I did receive my Countrey man's Love but could not receive his Money He askt me What I wouâ—d do if I would take no money I said the Lord was my portion and I could not lack any good thing I said to him We were in thy House near 15. Weeks didst thou see any cause of Death or Bonds in us He said No. I askt him how he would dispence with his Conscience for telling us He would have us before the Inquisitor and thou didst know that Room vvas provided for us and had not we been kept alive by the mighty Power of God we might have been dead long since He said How could I help it I said We are the Servants of the living God and were brought here by permission and in the Spirit of Meekness gave in our Testimony for the Lord in faithfulness and told you the truth as it is in Jesus and called you all to repentance and fore-warned you in love to your souls of the evil the Lord is bringing upon you if you do not repent He said However it be it will go well with you Mark that I told him he required a sign of me when vve vvere at his house if we were the servants of the Lord God I gave him a sign from the living God and my friend gave him another from the Lord to his shame and destruction for ever I askt him Whether it were not true we spake to him he said it was but how should he help it I said Thou art a condemned person and stands guilty before God yet nevertheless repent if thou canst find a place He smil'd upon the Scribe in deceit but his lips did quiver and his belly trembled and he could scarce stand upon his legs He was as proper a man as most was in the City and full and in his prime age O! he was consumed as a Snail in a shell which was a sufficient sign for the whole City if their hearts were not harder than Adamants He said How should he help it He might have helpt it but he was as willing to prove us as any of them all He was sworn upon his Oath to protect the English and their Ruler bid him let us go about our business and said He were honest women and then he might have let us go before we were under the black Rod. Then he went to Sarah with the Doller she told him she could not take the Money but if he had a Letter for us she should be free to receive that He said he had not any He askt her what she did want She said the Lord was her Shepherd she could not want any good thing but she did long for her Freedom He said That you may have in time He told us we should have ink and paper to write But when he was gone they vvould not let us The next time we heard of him he was dead We could have rejoiced if he had dyed for righteousness sake for the Lord delighteth not in the death of a sinner The Fryar was gone to Rome and they said he must stay there till we came There was great working to send us there but the Lord did prevent them that they could not send us there Then the Lord did work to bring us together again after so long time we had been parted There vvere five doors between us with Locks and Bolts but the Keeper had not power to make them fast but as Sarah could undo them to come where I could see her but could not speak to her for there were them that did watch us night and day yet she being moved of the Lord did come to my door by night she must come by the Fryars door he and the Doctor of Law were together and they did set a trap to take her in and many did watch about the Prison and would complain Then she was lockt up again but they had no peace in that till the doors were open again then we did sit in the sight of each other to wait upon the Lord so that our voices were heard far the Magistrates vvould hear and bow to it sometime then the complainers were weary and did work to have us brought together and we did wait and pray and the Magistrates would come in and look upon us many times but would say nothing to us There were of divers Nations brought into the Inquisition Prisoners and the Fryars and the rest that were great would go in their way to make Christians of them and we were made to stand up against them and their vvays and deny them in the Name of the Lord and declare the truth to the simple-hearted continually if vve did suffer death for it We could not endure to hear the Name of the Lord blasphemed nor his pure Way of Truth perverted nor the ignorant deceived They did vvrite all they understood of vvhat vve spake and sent it to the Court-Chamber before the Inquisitor and Magistrates but the Lord did blast it vvith the Mildevvs of his vvrathful indignation and burnt it up vvith the brightness of his Son and vve rejoiced in our God but still our burdens continued very heavy and our righteous souls vvere vexed vvith the filthy Conversation of the Wicked and the pure Seed of God vvas prest from day to day that our spirits did mourn and our hearts vvere grieved because of the hardness of their hearts and their Rebellion against their Maker vvho vvas so gracious to them to suffer them so long in all their abominations and vvaited to be gracious to them and knock at the Door of their hearts calling for Justice Mercy and Humility but behold Oppression Cruelty and Self-Exaltation notvvithstanding the Lord did strive so much vvith them and sent so many undeniable truths and inâ—allible testimonies of the coming of his Son to Judgement and so clear a manifestation of the vvay to eternal Salvation given forth of his ovvn mouth by his eternal Spirit and having us for an example vvho vvere kept by his Povver and Holiness they had not a jot nor tittle against us but for righteousness sake though they had vvinnovved and fanned us so long Glory honor and praises be given to our God for ever O they would not let us know of any English Ship that came into the Harbour as near as they could but the Lord would make it manifest to us We had a great working and striving in our bodies but we knew not what it meant the arrows of the Wicked did flye so that my soul was plunged and overwhelmed from head to feet and the terrors of the unrighteous had taken hold of us and the flames of Hell compassed us about then the Lord appeared
the Lord of Life to them after I had offered up my body and to lay down my life for these poor innocents my dear friends and so with my voice I saluted them in the Lord's Truth as they stood at the prison-Grates with these words in the behalf of the general Assembly of the Saints in light to wit The whole Body of God's Elect right dearly owneth your Testimony and you are a sweet savour unto the Lord and his people And forasmuch as one of these poor afflicted Lambs replied and said on this wise as if it was a trouble to them that they could not be more serviceable Then my heart being melted and my bowels of pity mercy and compassion being moved I said That it was a wonderful mercy of the Lord in as much as they were preserved in their own measure of Truth and pure innocency for which my heart praised the Lord for what mine eye saw which right dearly affected my heart and we were well refreshed at that season in the sweet presence of our living God albeit our bodies were at a distance but so as we could behold each others face through the Prison bars of Iron in the Inquisition Now for so much as in the Wisdom of God it is seen meet that the fore-mentioned and following Writings which came from their hands might appear to publike view that thereby every Member of the one Body may have a right understanding and not onely so but also a sensible feeling not onely of the trials and sufferings in part of these innocent Lambs but also of the consolations of each other as fellow-Members of the infinite Body of which Christ Jesus the Lord is both King and Head in whom be endless dominion and pure glory and eternal salvation Amen And so I being as it were constrained to publish the acceptable Words that sound and savor of pure innocency and clear truth for the Elect's sake in the same Love and Life I am the more free hereunto even as a Child that differs but little from a servant as I am in the Father's Love Power and Grace of Life fitted to serve the undefiled Life of the least in the Kingdom of Blessedness and to administer comfort or what else I have received from the Eternal Fountain or Fulness for the use or service of either Body Mind Soul or Spirit of my own Flesh or Family seeing no man ever hated his own Flesh and he is worse than an Infidel that provideth not for his own Family especially them of his own House This is a sweet Salutation to God's Elect Church in England and Ireland RIght dear precious and Heavenly ones whose Beauty shineth bright and at whose Name the hearts of the Heathen do tremble We who through the everlasting Mercies of our God are Members of the same Body and are held in strait Captivity and hard Bondage for witnessing forth the same Testimony and Covenant of pure Light Life and Truth of our God with you dear and faithful ones indeed We here in the same Covenant of pure Love and Bowels of tenderness do dearly salute and embrace you all glorifying and praising our Eternal Father for you all who hath counted us worthy to partake of the fellowship and sufferings for the Bodies sake with you in tribulations fiery trials manifold temptations fastings watchings heats and colds and cruel threatning and persecutions perils by Sea and perils by Land standing in jeopardy of our lives year after year and looking every hour day and night for many Weeks together when we should be brought out to Execution but though Proclamation was made and they came up to the very Caâ—e with a Drum and Musquets to fetch us out to destroy us yet the Lord God of everlasting strength who in the deepest of all dangers and greatest extremity when all hopes were past did but blow upon them with the breath of his nostrils and they did flye as dust before the Wind for which we do entreat all Friends to glorifie our God on our behalf for never did the Lord our God work greater deliverance for any than he hath done for us from time to time who are the least and weakest for what we know that ever the Lord our God sent forth in so great weighty a Work but all things are possible with him who made and created all things it is he alone which carrieth on his own work by his own mighty Power and the glory shal be his own for evermore Amen Oh our dearly beloved Friends did you know but the third part of the afflictions the Lord our God hath carried us through you would say The Lord hath wrought as great a Miracle in our preservation as ever he did in raising Lazarus out of the Grave And in the greatest of our afflictions we could not say in our hearts Father would thou hadst not brought us here but cryed mightily to our God for power to carry us through whatsoever should be inflicted upon us that the Truth of our God might not suffer through our weakness And the Lord did hear us and answered us in righteousness and carried uâ— on with all boldness and made our fore-heads as Flint and our Brows as Brass in the faces of our Enemies that whensoever we were brought forth upon trial all fear was taken away that we stood as Iron-Gates and Castle-Walls in the faces of our Enemies so that they said we would fain be burned but we answered No we would not willingly be burned but if our Heavenly Father doth call us to suffer in that kind for his Name sake he will give us power to go through it and we have great cause to believe it for our Lord God never called us to do any service for him but he gave us power and made way for his own Work glory and praise be to his holy Name for ever Dearly beloved friends marvel not why Israel is not gathered in all this time it is not for want of labour nor travel nor grief nor pain fasting nor mourning nor weeping nor love to their souls but it is because of the great oppression For here are a willing people but they dare not until the Lord make way for them Truly Friends we have not been idle since we saw your faces nor have we had much ease to the flesh but do travel night and day for Sion's prosperity and perfect joy and for the reparation of Jerusalem and her pure praise though our sorrows are deep and our afflictions grievous yet we do wait with patience to reap the peaceable fruits of righteousness and enjoy the benefit of our uprightness Praises be to our God for ever he hath kept us by his power and holiness that our Enemies have not one jot or tittle against us but for the Truth of our God and that we could not join with them so they would not suffer us to have one line of refreshment but stript us out of all so that we could not
fear from us and multiplied our strength and gave us power and boldness to plead for the truth of the Lord Jesus and Wisdom of Words to stop the mouths of the gain-sayers that they vvould be made to say we spake truth they could never say otherwise But they vvould say We had not the true faith but we had all virtues Oh dear heart if it be our Eternal Father's good pleasure to carry thee away vvithout us vve do beseeh our Heavenly Father to bless and to give thee a prosperous return and to seed thee with the fulness of the blessing of the povverful Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ Amen And vve do believe vve shall not vvant thy prayers nor the prayers of all the faithful that we may keep faithful to the end so that our God may be glorified his Church and People may be refreshed and rejoiced and we may receive our Reward with the rest of the Lord's Lambs Our Life is with thee for oh thou art full of Love thou tender-hearted one vvho hath offered up thy sanctified body and purified life in obedience to the Lord for us poor afflâ—cted lambs vvith thee and companions in tribulations trials and persecutions and in perils at Sea and perils by Land Oh thou precious Lamb of God great is thy Reward in Heaven great will be the Well-spring of joy that vvill arise in thee in thy Journey Oh thou happy one indeed vvhom the Lord our God hath made choice of amongst his faithful Flock and endued with so much povver to come into such a place as this not the like in all Europe by their own report and all others and to stop the mouths of Lyons and to trample upon the heads of Serpents Scorpions and Vipers of the Earth and they could not hurt thee their stings are taken out of their heads and out of their tails glory honor and everlasting praises be given to our God for evermore of all that know him for he is worthy And the Lord bless thee and thine for ever Amen and encrease thy strength and multiply thee abundantly in every good gift and Grace and prosper all thy undertakings that thou mayest be approved for ever before the King of Saints in the General Assembly of the Most High and stand before the Throne of his Majesty vvith joy unspeakable and full of glory Amen Amen saith our spirits Dearly beloved pray for us that we fall not nor fail whereby our Enemies may have any advantage to rejoice and say We served a God that could not serve us and called upon a God that could not deliver us as if we were like them to call upon stocks stones pictures and painted Walls and dead thing that cannot see hear nor speak through their throats We do beseech thee to tel all our dear Friends Fathers and Elders the Pillars of the spiritual Building with all the rest of our Christian Brethren that we do desire their Prayers for we have need of them OH How strong and powerful's our KING To all that do believe in him He doth preserve them from the Snare And seeth of those that would them tear We that are sufferers for the Seed Our Hearts are wounded and do bleed To see th' Oppression and Cruâ—lty Of men that do thy Truth deny In Dungeons strong and Dungeons deep To God alone we cry and weep Our sorrows none can read nor learn But those that have past through the same But he whose Beauty shineth bright Turneth darknesse into Light Maketh Câ—dars to bow and Oaks to bend To him that 's sent to the same end He is a Fountain pure and clear His Chrystal Streams runs far and near To cleanse all those which come to him For to be healed of their sin All them that do patiently abide And never swerve nor go aside The Lord will them deliver out of all Captivity Bondage and Thrall LEt E. C. know That his Exhortations I do dearly embrace and do witness it to be an Eternal Truth I have had large experience of it the Lord hath carried me on in much difficult Service so that many times the vvay hath been stopt up that to the eye of Reason I could not have a way made both by Sea and Land Oh if thou didst but know what experience I had of the mighty hand of the Lord in making a way thou wouldst wonder Once my vvay was stopt and my persecution vvas so hot that I sate in a Field all night to wait upon the Lord to make way for me to do the Work he laâ—d upon me I could not get lodging for money in Town nor City it was at Salisbury where I was whipt in the Market And the next morning I went through the City by the Watchmen and they took no notice of me Wheresoever the Lord did send me into what Land or City or place soever if they did put me out never so oft he would make me go till I got victory save in the Isle of Man there was a Souldier came to my bed side with a naked Sword and took me by the Arm and haâ—â—d me out of the Bed at the tenth hour of the night and carried me on Ship board When I put on my clothes I did not dare to rise That place lies upon me yet and I have motions to Edenburgh in Scotland I was never there the Lord did make me to do him servâ—ce to almost all the mighty men in England and Ireland insomuch that I cryed oft to my God saying Lord What will thou do with me that am so foolish to go to such wise men If I were wise I did not care if thou didst carry me to the end of the Earth The Lord said the foolish things must confound the wise and he would carry me before the mightiest men in all the Earth to bear his Name before them and I should have victory wheresoever I went And I do believe the Lord and we both are made willing to wait the Lord's time which is a time of peace and joy safety and happiness And we do bless land praise and magnifie his holy Name that he sent so heavenly a Messenger to relieve strengthen comfort and refresh us in our great necessity which is a mercy beyond expression all Friends that do understand it will say so Glory and everlasting praises honor power and dominion be given to our Eternal Lord God for evermore of us and all that know him Amen Amen saith our spirit Oh true and faithful Brother into the Arms of everlasting power and holiness strength and mightiness purity and righteousness do we commit thee to be kept and preserved and prosperously carried on in thy Journey â—he powerful blessing peace joy and happiness of the Majesty of the Most High God go along with thee to preserve and protect thee for ever Amen Amen Pray for us dear heart that we may receive strength to overcome that we may sing the song of Moses and the Lamb and the
or what was my Father's House or what is the Land of my Nativity that I a poor â—â—flicted 〈…〉 should be raised up to see and perceive what mine eye 〈◊〉 eve in thy Eternal Power and puâ—e Life beholdâ— Oh my God! thou hast known the innocent travel of my soul â—hich 〈…〉 know the same is not hid from thee even from the day of my birth unto this moment through no small trials and tribulations and through the exercise of manifold temptations yet behold my Life is preserved a at this time And oh my heart my mind my soul my spirit in thy pure undefiled Life and Virtue blesseth thy Name thy pure Name which thy Virgins love and live in and in the same they glorifie thy beloved and the Wings of thy Majesty overshadoweth them and their delight is under the secret shadow of thy Almightiness blessed be thy Glory blessed be thy undefiled Power blessed and magnified be thy pure Wisdom and let the same be so even in the Tabernacles of the just for ever Thou Lamb of Immortality the Thrones the Kingdoms and Eternal Dominions are thine and over all thy Throne is and shall be exalted and thy Lambs behold thy glory and thy Majesty in this the day of thy terrible and glorious appearance Wisdom Riches Glory Power Might and Dominion everlasting with Eternal Salvation over all to thy Name Amen saith my Spirit in the Life which is was and for ever shall be the same which liveth and abideth for ever and fâ—deth not away In the same I commend thy dear tender Lambs to be preserved according to thy unsearchable Wisdom and counsel of thine own heart to thy everlasting Renown and Glory and their Eternal comfort and joy and felicity with thy Saints and Angels in the Light of thy countenance and in everlasting remembrance in the powerful and Eternal Kingdom of Immortality if I be no more in this World when this body is gone to its place according to thy Eternal Purpose and Decree in thy Eternal Counsel so be it saith my spirit yea and Amen saith my soul which blesseth and magnifieth thy Eternal Name in asmuch as thou hast so far fulfilled thy living Word of Prophesie and not onely so but much more also in the desire of my heart in the behalf of thy dear tender suffering and long-suffering Seed of thine own bowels for which be innumerable Praises Wisdom Salvation Glory and Dominion to thy holy Name Amen Amen MY right dearly and well-beloved Friends of Eternal Life of the Church of the first-born of the living God which is the Pillar and ground of Truth of which Christ Jesus our Lord is the alone and onely Head Peace be unto you in him who is arisen in his pure immortal life and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Word of his Power and his Eternal Gospel of Peace which is not hid from us but it 's clearly manifest in us by his coming who ariseth with healing in his wings Glory Dominion living endless praises Immortal to his Name now and for evermore and let all the upright in heart with my precious life say Even so Amen Dear suffering and long-suffering Lambs ye know that as I came in the Eternal Love and Peace of Immanuel God's Lamb to visit and serve you and minister to your necessities the which in the same Life and Peace and in the integrity and uprightness of heart and in its pure innocency my God knoweth and behold I call your Life that 's manifest in you in which is our perfect unity as Members of one Body to bear me record That I have endeavoured in the good will of my God to perform the same and verily the hand and blessing of Almighty God is with me and hath blessed me and so my reward is with me and my work hath been manifest before me even in the Light of his Countenance that liveth for ever and this Scripture is fulfilled in me also The Father worketh hitherto and I work So my dear Friends I have honestly and nakedly before the Lord cleared my Conscience so far concerning you and on your behalf which is my reasonable service and so I leave the same to the living Testimony of the Lord Jesus which you hold and for which I am satisfied and in the behalf of the whole body of God's Elect you have so long suffered So the Eternal God of Power Dominion and Glory of Heaven and Earth consolate support and strengthen you to the end that your Testimony may be finished with joy to his ever â—asting praise to whom onely it belongs and so my Spirit in the Light and Life Immortal saith Even so Amen Farewel dear Lambs I am your true Brother D. B. Joseph was not made known to his Brethren the first time though his Bowels earned towards and over them till at last he could no longer forbear crying out with tears saying I am Joseph your Brother and little Benjamin the youngest he dearly loved you know This 5th day of the Week and the 30th of the 11th Mo. 1661. When my face you do not see Wait in the Eternal Life and then remember me So farewell and feel the Well-spring of Life This and many other Papers was communicated to each others hands which are seen meet not to be added hereunto with the jeopardy of my life and what else did attend us but magnified and for ever blessed be the living Lord and his Goodness Wisdom and Salvation who prospered his Work and Workers in his own Life of lasting Righteousness through and over self over all that which must dye and go to its place Amen DANIEL Here followeth somewhat relating to the Travel and Service of D. B. which he hath freedom to giveforth for the Truth 's sake and Friends satisfaction THe intent of the Spirit of the Lord within my heart and mind stirring me up to write somewhat concerning my travel from my Native Countrey Kindred and Father's House being freely given up to serve the Lord his Truth and People in the Power and Gospel of God I having no imposition or necessity at all laid upon my Conscience as from any mortal man but certainly it was a pure necessity from the living God of Heaven Earth many of his faithful servants Messengers sons daughters that were are as dear precious to me as my own life may beat me record on the Lords behalf unto the truth of what I write on this wise surely in the counsel everlasting the thing was hid from me then whether ever I should return to my Native Countrey or not However in the love and favour of God and in his fear set up within my heart was I given up with my body also offered as a living Sacrifice which was but my reasonable sacrifice to give a sound to the Nations afar off of the mighty day of our God and his blessed Truth the Light of Jesu-manifest in every Conscience in which Light we
that was dead and is alive and liveth for ever As they have done unto me so will they do unâ—o you if they have persecuted me they will also persecute you These are his faithful and true saying He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me mark that Verily verily I say unto you Whomsoever receiveth whom I shall send receiveth me and him that receiveth me receiveth him that seâ—â— me c. He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me And it 's to be understood that such like dealing J. S. and H. F. our Brethren found at Alexandria from whom they also were banished And on this wise being rejected despised banished out of Asia from Smyrna in about eight dayes we arrived at the Island Zant where my dear Brother and Companion in sufferings and not onely so but in the Kingdom and patience of Christ he was visited with sickness â—igh unto death but the Word and Commandment of the Lord ordered me to pass through part of Italy and my face was set towards Venice and we weighed the thing in the fear and counsel of the Lord and were both given up in one to travel yet it was so that the poor Lamb was not capable in body to travel with me by reason of weakness and he being fully perswaded and satisfied in his own mind that I was to pass onward in the tender Love of our God he did the more constrain me I finding some unwillingness to leave him in that condition which was not a little cross unto me But in the Heavenly Will and Peace of our God and joy of the Lord out of all visibly we parted asunder and it came to pass that he laid down his body there in about two days after There being a Ship of Venice ready I embarqued on the same and had a good passage through the Gulf of Venice After three Weeks were finished was I admitted together with the Ships company to receive Product or Admission to come into the City as their manner is and there I continued about eight days as a sign and wonder among many and gave somewhat of a sound of the Lord's Day in truth among them and from thence I travelled to Legorn and my face was as if it were set towards England I being alone as a Mourning-Dove in a desolate Wilderness Yet it came so to pass when I arrived at the same Port or City that the everlasting Love of my God did fill and overcome my heart and mine eye right dearly affected the same and verily the living Word and Commandment of my God sounded in mine ear and mine understanding was quickened in the Spirit of Life from God so that I was made willing and not to rebel against the Heavenly Voice And what if I testifie that mine eye saw the Angel of his presence which was expresly for me to give up and pass away from thence to visit his long suffering Seed of Innocency shut up in the Inquisition in the Isle of Malta under the Pope's Authority and to communicate to their necessities and verily the sweet promise of the Lord entered and possessed my heart and my God made my way prosperous for in the Light of his countenance he had often set these poor afflicted long-suffering innocents before my face Wherefore my body and mind was freely offered up as my reasonable service to serve his Truth and the least Member of it and so to the death of the Cross whereto I became obedient in uprightness of heart as if I should never see Kindred or Native Countrey more A Vessel of France being ready to depart from thence Eastward I embarqued thereon for the Isle of Cicilia to Musena and from thence to the Isle of Malta in a Vessel of the said Island and in my passage the Vessel did bear in to Syracuse where Paul abode three days in his passage to Rome after he had suffered abode three days in his passage to Rome after he had suffered shipwrack on Malta and at Syracuse I abode five days where I gave a sound of the Lord's Truth and Life And so we immediately sailed from thence and within 24. hours we arrived at the Island of Malta and within some hours after I came upon the said Island I had admittance to the Pope's Lord Inquisitor to whom I delivered my Message in the Italian Tongue on this wise I am come to demand the just Liberty of my innocent Friends the two English women in prison in the Inquisition And he asked if I were related to them as a Husband or Kinsman and whether I came out of England on purpose with that Message And I answered I came from Legorn for that same end and he replied at last They should abide in Prison till they dye except some English Merchants or others that were able would engage or give obligation for the value of three or four thousand dollers conditionally that they should never return again into those parts On this wise was his reply divers times with the Consul and many others together and asunder but in the Name and fear of the Lord God I withstood the same unchristian-like demand and cruelty in the Word Power and Travel of the Lord in his innocent suffering Lamb behalf albeit they daily threatned me with their cruelty and Inquisition of darkness and followed me to and fro with their Officer and Black-Rod and the Popes Deputy would have bound me that I should neither speak good nor evil to any one while I was on the Island as the Consul said save to him neither to come to the Prison alone except the Consul came also with me or some of his Family at least But their snares Bonds and Covenants in the Name of my God I defied because the Spirit of Life from the Lord gave me Dominion through sufferings in Spirit First over their unjust dark Impositions yea and in the same good authority in the innocency and uprightness of my heart I travelled through and over the darkness over its works and ceased not to publish the end of my coming which they would not have known abroad the sound of Truth and its dread and same struck terror in their hearts that both high and wise great men together with the Popish Priests and Jesuits knights them called of the Nobility of the Pope's Dominion of Spain and France and of many Nations they did not burthen themselves a little with my bodily presence my clear testimony and Friends in general all which they defied and withstood as it doth appear by the words of Truth in this Treatise And thus it comes to pass among the Nations because we are not of this world as our Life and Testimony also is not for but against the same therefore we marvel not if the world hate us knowing its birth which is from beneath earthly and sensual persecuteth that which is from above heavenly and
spiritual and so the Lord hath made me as a burthensome stone among them My heart blesseth his Name that wonderfully preserved me Yet some of them came to see somewhat of my innocency About 24. dayes I abode upon the said Island they daily continuing their threatnings against me as aforesaid and many times attempted me to take my passage to Cicillia or to some parts of Italy to produce the unreasonable and unchristian-like Obligation demanded by them but in the fear of God I with my dear friends withstood them and they were freely given up rather to suffer then to hurt God's truth and people thus to gratifie them who as it doth appear the Spirit of the Lord God of truth rules neither in Pope nor in any of his Lords Priest or Jesuits that exerciseth such Lordship over the innocent long-suffering Heritage of the everlasting God The time hasteneth and behold it cometh to pass that the weight of eternal Vengeance is coming over them which the man of 〈◊〉 and his sons of perdition will not be able to bear For the doleful cry of the Innocent it sighs and groans with tears hath long uttered its voice which hath ascended into the ears of the most high who is higher hen the highest yet hath he respect unto the needy to uphold them yea and to such as are of an upright contrite lowly and trembling heart What if I should say the God of love and long-suffeering dwels in such and verily their sacrifice is acceprable in his bosome that liveth for ever and I am a living witness that the sweet testimony and innocent sufferings of these his long-suffering Lambs is right dear and precious in his eye which is the light of his countenance and so is is not otherwise but the same in oneness with his people concerning them And so in the endless Mercy Blessing and Peace of our God we parted and I came away with the love and peace of my God within my heart having the answer and living testimony of a good Conscience and in the wisdom of God brought away these their words and writings which testifieth somewhat of their sufferings and faithfulness unto the Lord his truth and people which I right well know cannot be shut out of the Record of life Eternal unto which I bear record again that they have been and are a sweet savour unto the Lord God of faithfulness and so their reward which attends the same in not onely with them but with all the sons and daughters of truth and innocency that are so travelling in their long-sufferings which are but light and momentary in competition to the Eternal weight of glory which afterwards is to be revealed in the same that suffered in all generâ—tions even from righteous Abel unto this day of our God to whom be wisdom glory salvation and everlasting thanksgivings and dominion for ever Amen saith my soul and spirit even so Amen And it came to pass in the third month of the year 1662. also after my God had well preserved me in my passage and in his work and service from Malâ—â— to diverse places in Italy till I came to the Straights Mouth of the Mediterranean Sea at the place called Gibralter it was the pleasure of the Lord God to suffer the wind and weather to continue contrary well nigh about 30 daies in which season I suffered many trials and tribulations in spirit having little or no rest in the same because of the Vision and words of the Everlasting which sounded often up to my understanding even as the roaring of a Lyon which mine eye saw and mine ear heard also in the year 61. when I was a Prisoner for the pure Word and testimony of God and his Truth in Worcester City Jayl before I departed England and the place was the high Mountain of Gibralter that stands within the King of Spains Dominion which was the subject of the Vision and ofen as I cast mine eye upon the scituation of the place the pure life and power of God's Eternal presence did arise up in me in the Word of Life so that I saw clearly that some great exceeding weighty service for his Name and eternal Truths sake was to be done by me which was so terrible and dreadful to me when as I entred into reasoning so that I was brought down even to the jaws of death in dust and ashes and as Jonah turned his back upon Niniveh the same temptation attended me also to my wounding before I could give up for I fled often from the place to escape with my life from among such an unreasonable and bloody generation and the Lord would not be intreated to let such a bitter Cup pass unfulfilled but behold with the sound and stroak of his eternal Word his Spirit of Life became awakened quickned and mightily revived in me in his Wisdom over all fear of the Nations of men and the same brake through the snares and bonds of death and over destruction and the true seed that mourned cried Not my will but thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven and so it was a hard thing to part with little Isaac which is received again in the Covenant of promise of Life and that was offered up which fled so often but at last was caught in a thicket When the ships of diverse Nations attempted to pass through but the God of heaven whom the wind and sea obeieth suffered them not but they knew not what the matter was which was revealed within my heart as the displeasure of God was against them to humble them also as I told them often by words and writings to clear my conscience albeit they strove being perplexed in their minds and attempted often to wit 7 or 8 times in about 21 daies and could not pass but about 2 or 3 leagues and on this wise it happened it would â—ther prove calm and then the currant would drive them back into the Streights again sometimes and otherwhile storms and tempests would scatter them as a figure of Pharaoh and his Hoste of Egyptian darkness so that the Charet-wheels mine eye saw struck off so that they drove but heavily within and without and at last I gave out among them that God had service for me to do at that place and my life was given up to do his will if I never saw my Native Country Kindred or Fathers house at all any more and therefore the pleasure of the Lord in his mighty power had made me wiâ—ling and also gave me dominion through and over the bonds and snares of death and destruction as it were to lay down my precious life that I may take it again together with the body which through his righteous judgments he had prepared to perform the good pleasure of his Almightiness for his Truth and Names sake Now the heavenly voice was often founded within my heart on this wise saying O Jerusalem cut off thine hair and further more to gird
sackcloth on my loins As to the Prophet Jeremy Chap. 7. 29. and so I became obedient in the singleness and innocency of my heart unto the God of Heaven of my life as a dreâ—dful sign against the Whorish Church of Rome and against all her Heads and Horns throughout the world And I then signified to the Master of the ship in which I was a passenger how that I did believe that God would soon give opportunity for the Fleet of ships to pass away after this service of God was performed after I had used many perswasions to the end that he might suffer my body on that wise to be cast among the wicked idolaters lyars and murtherers which are like the troubled sea So the ship-Master let my body be on this wise 〈◊〉 over board from the ship God having provided a great 〈◊〉 to swallow up that which sled from his presence so often and so it happened that it was upon one their called Holy-dayes or Saints days namely the day called Holy-Thursday So I being cast on dry land passed through their streets directly until I came into the Mas-House or Idolater temple among the Idolaters where I found the Fryer or Priest at the high Altar down upon his knees in his white Surplice adoâ—ing of the Host which is a Chalice or a piece of bread which they call the real substance of the body of Christ after their unclean spirit of darkness hath muttered some words over it which they call Consecration and after I had stood a season viewing this Idolatry with the indignation of the Eternal God set up within my heart against the same I turned my back-part upon the Priest and his dead God and dumb Idols at the high Altar and in the holy Commandment of life eternal my face was set towards the people and I be held them a certain season in the power of God in which I stood I saw the multitude of ignorant people upon their knees also worshipping the dark inventions and imaginations of their sottish leaders and blind guides and they know not what and in the Lord's time which mine eye had a circumspect heed unto I then spread forth my arms and stript off my Vesture and rent the same from top to bottom in divers pieces and cast them from me with indignation And then I took my Hat off my head which was the uppermost covering of the outside of a man and cast the same under my feet and stamped upon these things and the nakedness appeared with the sack-cloath covering to their astonishment and then with a clear voice I sounded Repentance three times and gave testimony as the sound of a trumpet among them that the life of Christ and his Saints was arisen from the dead and so passed away sounding the same words of the Lord's Message with Repentance through the streets as it were flying from the Idols temple and from Idolatry and Idolaters until I came to the sea-side and there was I moved to kneel down and pray and give thanks to the living Lord who had so wonderfully preserved me in doing his pleasure and good will on earth and he suffered no man to touch or do me harm And the next day following the Lord God gave opportunity accordingly as I had let the Ship-master know I believed would come to pass and it was so and all the Fleet did partake of the blessing But how many of them rewarded me men of my own Nation to whom I also continued a sign which they spake bitter things against the Lord my God saw the same and smote them with rebuke and astonishment in his displeasure who in his wise determinate Counsel ordained me for many dayes and nights to be tryed on this wise and to fall among divers temptation afterwards the which as a mighty 〈◊〉 of surrounded and beset me on every hand immediately after I had done the good will in his all-sufficient power and strengths thus the Enemy with his subtilty in a mysterie was suffered to compass me about to steale away my peace and reward with my God in whom the same is hid and then I was in a blessed condition though sometime veiled for a little season and then the Fathers countenance was hid from mine eye and therefore was I troubled Yet blessed are ye when you fall among divers temptations saith one and verily they were even as thorns in my flesh yea as Messengers of Satan suffered to buffet me for a season even as the servant of God witnessed who was wrapt up into the third Heaven What if I should somewhat testifie so was it with me lest I should be exalted above measure so that I was made to bow and fall upon my face and cry day and night to the Lord of Eternal life that had respect to the tears of the innocent and bowed the strength of his arm to support the lowly And so his Almightiness gave ear to the sighs and groans of my distressed state and had respect unto the voice of my mourning as a Dove or Pelican in the Wilderness and verily his Grace I found sufficient to save and preserve my innocency in its sweet life of holiness to the Lord through all this and that which letted salvation to his Name Amen So his strength is made perfect in weakness even so it is in truth in which I set to my seal of my right hand that God is true in which life J give thanks to his Name of Power and Defence the which over all Nations is to be exalted in the hearts of his Saints as in the ancient dayes yea and much more abundantly in the Light of his bright-shining countenance in which his Eternal and excellent glory and pure dreadful Majesty for ever hath his holy habitation to whom be endless Dominion with praises living and everlasting over all Amen Written in Newgate this 5th Month the 18th day 1662. where he suffereth Bonds together with many Brethren of Truth for one and the same Testimony of the Lord Iesus not for evil doing or speaking but against the same For we suffer because we cannot otherwise but meet together in the Name and Fear of God neither swear at all neither by Heaven nor by Earth nor by any other Oath Matth. 5. James 5. 12. D. B. A Copy of a Paper which was written in the Spanish Tongue and delivered the same day that I was upon the service directed as followeth Viz. For the Governor and Inhabitants of Gibâ—etore in the Kingdom of Spain BEhold behold the great day of God is come and of his wrath and of the wrath of his Lamb is come and the hour of his Iudgements is come Wherefore Oh Inhabitants of the earth Repent Repent Repent and fear God and give glory honor to him that made Heaven and Earth and the Fountains of Waters Wo wo wo to the Inhabitants of the earth And I heard another voice from Heaven saying Come out of her my people that ye partake not of her sins that ye receive not of her plagues These are the words of the power of Christ that is contrary to the false Church Behold behold Plagues Plagues Plagues are coming upon the Church of Rome and upon her Heads in England in all parts of the world And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth and he saith unto me the waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples Nations Multitudes and Tongue c These words with a Paper in Lâ—tâ—ne with honest words of truth was delivered with many more Scriptures in their own Language that they may read understand repent cease from idolatry from all â—ngodliness that the blessings of Eternal life might arise through Judgments have room among the Nations to the eternal glory renown of the Lord God over all who is blessed for ever Amen The End Prov. 29. * The wise may judge Job 21. Job 24. 13 John 13. 20 Isaiah 57. 20.