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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	holy_a	spirit_n	trinity_n	2,812	5	9.9722	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96961	The wounds of an enemie in the house of a friend. Being a relation of the hard measure sustained by Miles Halhead, and Thomas Salthouse, for the testimony of Jesus: particularly in a long, and sore, and close imprisonment, first at Plymouth, and then at Exeter in the county of Devon, though they have neither offended the law of God, or of the nation. Published for the clearing of their innocency from the cloud of transgression, of which they are supposed highly guilty, and by reason of their silent abiding such sharp, and long, and cruell sufferings.	Halhead, Miles, 1613 or 14-1689 or 90.; Salthouse, Thomas, 1630-1691.	1656 (1656)	Wing W3665; Thomason E870_7; ESTC R2977	52,373	80

so far doe the Priests and men of this Generation who in works pretend to the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles and the holy men of God and the Scriptures outstript their fore-fathers in a sottish and malicious persecuting of the truth for till this example the like hath not been heard of since the foundation of the world and is voyd of understanding and ridiculous amongst all rationall men On this foot he that tells an envious person that he is a murderer and he that looks on a woman to lust after her is an adulterer and the covetous person that he is an Idolater and he that speaketh a Divination of his own heart for the word of the Lord useth witchcraft and he that knowes not nor speakes from the mouth of the Lord is a dumb Dog that cannot bark and he that saith when the Lord saith not is a devourer the murderer of soules and he that biteth with his teeth and prepareth war when men put not into his mouth is a greedy Dog and those who are in the nature and Generation of the Pharisees who professe what they are not and persecute and murder the life of what they professe where it is manifested are Serpents Generation of Vipers with such like would be Indicted as Offendors against the Ordinance for preventing of Duells He that taketh what is none of his as to the things without the things of this world is a Thief and truly is so judged and accounted of He that taketh the words of the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles which they spake from the life and useth his tongue and saith the Lord saith when the Lord spake not to him having not the life that spake them forth taketh that which is none of his and is a Thief as to the things which are within the things that are spirituall and truly is so judged and accounted of He that steals without hath an outward Law to passe upon him as a Transgressour he that steals within hath the Law of Christ Jesus by which he shall also be judged for further then the outward the Law of man hath no power and this is agreeable to that of God in every mans conscience also to the Ordinance against Duells which they and all the Children of light own in its place as a bearing of the sword against fightings quarrellings evill speakings and such like as evill doing which the Principle of light which is Jesus Christ discovers and witnesseth against and the root from whence they proceed to wit from mens lusts that are within them And he that said Let him that stole steale no more was the Minister of God who addeth the Law upon the transgressour and he that said He that entreth not in by the doore into the sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber is the Law-giver the Prophet whom whosoever doth not hear in all things shall be cut off from his people and he that said I am against the Prophets that steales my word every one from his neighbour is the Lord of glory who shall judge the quick and the dead by the man Christ Jesus the Law-giver and Minister of God at his appearing and coming But the Priests have gotten a new weapon against the Lamb to wit the Ordinance against Duells and with it they will fight against his battle Axes and Weapons of War to wit his Witnesses and none shall testifie against their deceit with a spirituall weapon but they will have it to be a carnall one and will take an Ordinance of man to fight against it and judge it by which never intended it But their Weapon formed shall not prosper the overflowing scourge shall sweep away their refuge of lyes and their coverings are ripping off nor can the Rocks and Mountaines hide them from the wrath of him who sitteth on the Throne and judgeth righteously And whereas something is mentioned in the Indictment of the Trinity one of them said I know no such Scripture that speaks of three persons in the Trinity but the three the Scriptures speak of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost these three are one and that Baptism by one Spirit into one body and the Father the Word and the Spirit the Scriptures declare to be one and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and this we own he that can receive it let him And this was spoken as to what G. Brookes said of a Trinity in Unity and a Unity in Trinity which as he was told the Scriptures no where spake Court To this Indictment they were demanded to answer guilty or not guilty Answer We are not guilty in what is there charged upon us Court By whom will you be tryed Answer By you whom the Lord God of power hath set in Authority to judge righteously between man and man and to put a difference between the precious and the vile and set the oppressed free from whom we doe expect justice and equity Court Will ye be tryed by God and the Country Answer We are willing to be tryed by this Bench and desire that our accusers may be brought in and that we may have liberty to speak for our selves and make our defence against the false accusations laid to our charge Court Will ye be judges of your own case Jaylor take them away which was done immediately When they were first apprehended and brought before the Mayor and Magistrates of Plymouth many honest people who were present at the meeting aforesaid and were ready in the Hall to testifie the truth of things were all turned out and not a man or woman that favoured them permitted to stay notwithstanding which and the keeping fast of the doores of the common Hall that so none of them might returne in did they in the presence of near one hundred of other people desire openly that if either man or woman had any thing to lay to their charge they would speak but no man or woman appeared to speak nor ever were their accusers brought face to face that they might see them or hear them speak And now after seven weeks imprisonment being brought before the Sessions and such an abominable pack of falshood and lyes in an Indictment exhibited against them unto which they pleaded not guilty and declared againe and againe in answer to what they required of them to wit by whom will ye be tryed That they were willing to be tryed by the Bench whom the Lord God of power had set in Authority to judge righteously between man and man c. as aforesaid and desired their accusers might be brought in and that they might have liberty to speak for themselves and make their defence against the false accusations layed to their charge because they spake it not in the form of words which they would have though they both pleaded and submitted to a tryall as aforesaid and a Jury might they have called and tryed them by or otherwise

we Answer THe fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisedome hath taught us to regard and honour all men in the Lord and that Act we own which is made against quarrelling and fighting and cursed speaking which is the fruit of the flesh and that the Magistrates bear not the sword in vain but adds the penalty to the transgression of it and not to add the Law where there is no transgression proved And we doe declare and many can witnesse that unlesse you call the Scripture disgracefull words there was none spoken to him by us And we doe affirm that one of us did not speak one word to him and yet we are both accused and imprisoned and if this be the penalty of the Act that if one man offend two must suffer let all that know the Law of England with moderation judge And whether discoursing of the Scripture be a transgression of that yea or nay For what was spoken many of our friends of Plymouth which you confesse to be honest people that are friends to the Common-wealth of England did hear us you say Yet might they not be permitted to hear us examined before the Mayor and Magistrates of Plymouth upon the 23 day of the third month in the Common Hall in the presence of neer one hundred people and all our friends that heard the discourse and know the truth of it were put forth of the Hall and the door kept fast And we desired that if either man or woman had any thing to lay to our charge they might then speak But we never had our Accusars brought before us that we might see them or hear them speak And for that George Brooks spake concerning the three persons of the Trinity these words was spoken by one of us I know no such Scripture that speaks of the three persons in the Trinity but the three that the Scripture speaks of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one And the Baptism by one Spirit into one body and the Father the Word and the Spirit the Scripture declares to be one and he that hath the Son hath the father also And this we doe own he that can receive it let him And no such word was spoken by us as calling him a deluding spirit and therefore the Accusation is false Neither did we say that he came to draw away the hearts of the people from God as you say for he stood up and vindicated what we had declared to be truth and that of God in his conscience will witnesse against you in this thing And in that you say We spake to the people not to hearken to him and that he was a THIEF and pointed to the Bible which was then in his hand and other harms to the said George Brooks against the peace publick Here under a cloak of maliciousnesse have you made Lyes your refuge but with the light you are comprehended and your works of darknesse brought to it and reproved for we did neither call him Thief nor say he had stollen the Bible that was in his hand which you say we pointed at And you speak of other harms against George Brooks and say We meaned that he lyed And here you make use of meanings as if here were not false Accusations sufficient to drive on your design of Persecution you might have mentioned those other harms you speak of if you knew of any but it 's like you have mentioned the worst you heard of which we declare to be false as many can witnesse that heard the discourse that are inhabitors of Plymouth and friends to the peace of Englands Common-wealth So all yee that take your Oaths and give informations consider what you doe for because of Oaths the land mourns and the Lord God will come near to judgement and will be a swift witnesse against the lyar and the false Swearer that are out of the doctrine of Christ who saith Swear not at all but in all your communications let your yea be yea and your nay nay for whatsoever is more is evill And every one of you in particular take heed to the light of Christ in your consciences and there is your Teacher loving it that will keep you from accusing any man falsly and lead you out of all controversie and strife up to Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth on him who brings peace on earth and good will towards men who is the Prince of Peace of whose Government there shall be no end who is God over all blessed for evermore This we have written in Answer to the Bill of Indictment against us Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead Prisoners for the truths sake in Bridewell in Thomas Parish neer Exeter in Devonshire Record of the Sentence given against them at Sessions Devon A Calender of the Prisoners Tryed and Delivered at the Generall Sessions of the Peace publick holden at the Castle of Exon. July 10. 1655. THomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead for provoking words against George Brooks Clerk who refused to be Tryed by the Countrey fined 5 l. a piece and committed to Bridewell till payment and finding Sureties for the good behaviour The Answer of Miles and Thomas thereunto TO you Justices by whom we are committed we Answer as we did when we were before you and doe affirm that one of us spake not a word unto him George Brooks and to satisfie all such as may hear this thing under which we suffer as if we were Thieves or Murtherers we shall lay open to the view of all people the ground of the Discourse We being met together at a friends house neer Plymouth to wait upon the Lord there being more people then the house would contein we went into a Garden and after we had spoken some words of Exhortation to the people and had declared the truth of the experience we had found manifested in us of the free grace of God that brings salvation provoking them to love and to good works according to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles as the Spirit gave us utterance at that time Then George Brooks unknown unto us stood up and spake to the people with the words of Paul to the Corinthians and said Take heed that yee receive not the grace of God in vain with many words in Vindication of what we had spoken witnessing that it was the eternall truth which we had spoken So after all was ended some began to enter into some discourse with him and one of us asked him whether he could witnesse what he had spoken to be from the life and power of it saying Thou hast uttered many Scriptures and good words but it 's he that hath the witnesse in himself that sets to his seal that God is true Then directing my speech to all that were there by way of Exhortation I spake the words of Paul to the Ephesians Let him that stole steal no more

with many other words of truth and sobernesse which was not to any one in particular If these be provoking words and worthy of such bonds as we suffer let all men that have moderation bear witnesse And in that you say We refuse to be tryed by the Country Oh! how dare you give such things under your hands when you your selves and all people that were in the Court can bear us witness that we did not refuse to be tryed but did appeale to the highest power that was there unto whom many in the Country came for Justice and from whom we expected righteous judgement for you know we said We were willing to be tryed by the Bench to whom all the Court was in subjection to whose power we were and are subject to for conscience sake and did not resist your power but for the ve pounds that is demanded of us we answer we owe nothing to any man but to love one another therefore we deny to pay so much money for naught but if any man will come to us and say that we have wronged him we will make him satisfaction and pay him the utmost farthing And as for Sureties for the good behaviour they that walk in the light of Christ who is the Surety of a better Covenant then mans Covenant whom we witnesse teaching us to deny the customes and fashions of the world and all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to doe to all men as we would they should doe unt● us And we are tyed to the good behaviour by the Righteous Law of God and dare not lye nor swear nor be drunk nor use any deceit pollicy shifts or double dealing nor respect mens persons for the liberty of the outward man or any other advantage to that in all your consciences doe we appeale whether we be wo thy of such bonds as these where none of our friends nor acquaintance must come at us or speak with us but they must be imprisoned Is the Law of England so exact against us such as have been alwayes faithfull in that which hath been manifested and in the States service and desires nothing else but to worship God in Spirit and truth according to what is manifested and witnessed in the light of Jesus Christ who is the way to the father that when we were locked up in close Prison the Souldiers kept John Gannyclife who is a Constable in their custody for coming to speak with us and another person who did spy in at a hole of the door where we were this they did by an Order from Captain Joyce who hath given it under his hand to take into their custody all such as they suspected to be of us whom they called Quakers But this they doe that the Scripture may be fulfilled which Jesus Christ spake to his Disciples They shall hale you before Magistrates and Rulers who shall cast some of you into prison and the time shall come if they kill you they shall think they doe God good service But here is our confidence in his Promise that he that endures to the end shall be saved and if we suffer with him we shall also reigne with him for whose sake we are made willing by his eternall power to suffer the losse of all things that we may receive an inheritance with them that are Sanctified and witnesse against all deceit and abomination to the laying down of our lives if it be required who are Prisoners for the Testimony of Jesus in Thomas Parish neer Exon in Bridewell Thomas Salthouse Miles Halhead A copy of their Letter sent the Mayor of Plymouth after their first Apprehension FRIEND SEing the Lord God of power who is Lord of Heaven and Earth hath entrusted thee with the power of a Magistrate to bear the Sword of Justice which is for the punishment of evil doers and the encouragement of those that doe well and to rule for him who brings peace on earth and hath good will towards men even Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth who was supposed to be the Son of Joseph but was the Son of God and he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life and we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding to know him who is true and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and he that hath the witnesse in himself hath set to his seale that God is true he that hath understanding let him read he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love and if any man say I love God and hate his Brother he is a lyar for his Commandement is love and he that rules in love rules with Authority and not as the Scribes and Pharisees The Law of God is perfect and endureth for ever he is our Judge and Law-giver before whom all must appear to give an accompt for all the deeds done in the body when every man shall receive according to his works Now Friend to thee for Justice doe we call that the truth may be freed from scandalls and false reports and the oppressed set free which is pure Religion that we may have that favour at thy hands which the Law doth afford to bring our Accusers to us that have any thing to lay to our charge worthy of Bonds that things may be tryed by the light and actions weighed in the ballance of equity that truth may spring up out of the Earth and righteousnesse may run down as a mighty stream and peace and Justice may kisse each other for know assuredly although we are counted deceivers yet are we true and nothing doe we desire from thee as thou art a Magistrate but to have the truth cleared by the light and truth set at liberty and if there be any that knoweth the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and hath eternall life abiding in him we desire to be tryed by him even him that is guided by the Spirit of God and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God And whereas some ignorant men say that we deny the Trinity and the God-head which is false for God is a Spirit and as many as are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God and the Father Son and Spirit are one and this we witnesse according to the Scriptures and this God is but one in whom all things live move and have their being who is above all and in all and through all God blessed for ever And for the word Trinity there is no such Scripture as speaks of a Trinity so in tendernesse of conscience and love to the Spirit of Truth which gave forth the Scriptures we dare not wrest them nor speak any other language nor add nor diminish from them So Friend to the light of Jesus Christ in thine own conscience and the measure of the

come within the reach of his invention which had created and expressed so many therein known to himself to be so contrary to truth and also in his and his brethrens filthy flattering Letter to Generall Disbrow in excuse of their unjust proceedings against these innocent servants of the Lord made up with other abominable untruths by which they endeavoured to beget in him a good Opinion of them for so doing and to continue his favour to their Town as by a copy of their Letter and Miles and Thomas Answer thereunto added to this Relation at large appeareth But being brought to Exeter upon the Warrant aforesaid there they continued in the common Goal lying on the ground untill the Generall Sessions of the Peace of the County held there the Tenth of the Month called July following on the 12 day of which Month they were brought before the Sessions to whom the Clerk read a Bill of Indictment exhibited against them upon the Ordinance for preventing of Duells wherein was expressed That they the said Thomas and Miles not fearing or regarding the same Ordinance and the penalties therein contained did the 20 of May 1655. at Plymouth in the presence and hearing of divers honest persons then and there being use diverse disgracefull provoking words and gestures to George Brooks Clerk in the Nightingale Friggot he being then opening and declaring to the same persons a certain place of Scripture wherein he spake something of the Holy Trinity viz. Thou the said George Brooks meaning lyest in saying there were three persons in the Trinity we deny it there is no such thing but thou art a deluding spirit come to draw away the hearts of the people from God And further they did farther speak to the people then present that they should not hearken to the said George Brooks for that he was a Thief and was come with a lye in his mouth and had stoln what he had from others and had it in his hand pointing to the Bible which was then in the said George Brooks his hand open And further did say it was a lye which the said George Brooks had brought and other harms to the said George Brooks then and there did contrary to the form of the said Ordinance and against the publick peace How utterly untrue in every particular this Indictment is both as to the matter and manner of the accusation charged therein is clearly manifested in the Relation aforesaid of the passages at the meeting the truth of which is testified under the hands of diverse honest men at Plymouth which were present as aforesaid and the Testimony of many more could be had were not those enough and in the Answer of Miles and Thomas thereunto added to this Relation but having wronged the innocent in that high manner as is expressed it concerned them at least to have something how false soever to pretend as a colour in Law as the cause of their so doing Miles Halhead spake not a word at the Discourse upon which occasion is taken and the ground of this Indictment laid and he that saith nothing cannot be made an offendor for a word though there be that make a man an offendor for a word that is none indeed Nor doth that Ordinance require or any Law that if one man transgresse it were it so that Thomas Salthouse had so done which is denyed two should suffer that were to destroy the righteous with the wicked unto which the Law is a terror and yet hath Miles Halhead been Imprisoned and Indicted suffered hath he though he was altogether silent and without so much as any thing that might be a pretence of offending in the least that Ordinance or any other Law of God or the Nation Nor did Thomas Salthouse speak one word to George Brooks in particular as to what the Indictment chargeth true it is after George Brookes had spoken so largely in the praise of what they had declared from the Lord saying it was the eternall truth and Exhorted the people to take heed that they received not the grace of God in vain Thomas Salthouse comprehending the Principle from whence he spake in the light of Jesus Christ which changeth not said unto him to this effect Thou hast spoken many good words and faire speeches but doest thou live the life of what thou speakest for it is he that hath the witnesse in himself that setteth to his seale that God is true which were savory words and feasonable for the directing of his mind and the hearers also to see that they witnessed indeed what they spake and professed and to speak and professe no more then they witnessed that so he and they might not be deceived with the subtilty of the Serpent in thinking they had that which was eternall life when in the day of Tryall it would appear to be no such matter This was love to his soule though in requitall he hath made it matter of persecution Had they come in wayes of craftinesse to deceive they would have cherished his Testimony to the truth of what they had spoken and not have questioned it with such expressions Allow the Dragon but a place in Heaven and he shall cry out These are the Servants of the most High which shew us the way to salvation but cast him out into the Earth his proper seat and then he makes war with the Lamb and those who have the Testimony of Jesus He also Exhorted the people in the close of all after the end of the discourse aforesaid in the words of Paul Let him that stole steale no more and made use of the words of Christ He that entreth not in by the door into the sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber but directed them not to George Brookes as the Indictment hath falsly charged it nor to any one in particular but had they been directed unto him or to any other in particular are those words of Paul and of Christ and the language of Scripture disgracefull words provocations to Duells let that of God in every mans conscience speak and judge Therefore behold I am against the Prophets saith the Lord that steale my words every one from his neighbour that use their tongues and say he saith Had Jeremiah lived in these dayes and spoken these words now the false Prophets now who smite with the fist of wickednesse would certainly have Indicted him upon the Ordinance for preventing of Duells and were Christ Jesus and Paul who spake as aforesaid and all the Prophets and holy men of God now alive in this Nation testifying as they did to the Generations in which they lived of which the Scripture bears Record the same would they receive from the Priests and men of this Generation and yet we find not that the false Prophets of old did Indict them for so speaking as Provocation to fightings nor did they pretend to any Law as a cover for so doing

out of novelty to hear them amongst whom was one George Brooks a Priest belonging to the Nightingale Friggot who is since turned out of the said Friggot for his deboyst conversation who after Miles Halhead and Thomas Salthouse had left speaking took upon him to speak to the people highly approving of what our Friends had spoken and exhorted the people to perseverance telling them they must expect to suffer persecution he began with this text as they call it Take heed that ye receive not the grace of God in vaine but he being comprehended and seen in the Light after he had spoken ended without any interruption Thomas Salthouse entred into some discourse with him telling him that he had spoken many good words and faire speeches but asked him whether he lived the life of what he spoke and one standing by told him that he had spoken of a Trinity and there was no such Scripture but he obstinately persisted affirming that it was the Scripture phrase And after their dispute was ended Thomas spake againe to the people some few words in which he used this Scripture Let him that stole steal no more and this also He that entreth not by the door but climbeth up some other way the same is a Thief and a Robber but the other of our Friends namely Miles Halhead spake not one word to the Priest either about the Trinity or any thing else who yet lyes in Prison under colour of disgracefull provoking words he should speak to the same Priest George Brookes at the same meeting Now we testifie to all to whom these may come that we have here truly declared and manifested the very utmost that was spoken or acted by our said Friends while they were in Plymouth that might occasion to say that either they denyed the Trinity that they gave provoking language to G. Brooks or any other or that they disturbed any Ministers or Christians in their Assemblies but we rather judged our selves disturbed in our Meeting by such a deboyst person as the Priest was known to some of us to be The third day of the week following May 21. we had another Meeting appointed by us at Robert Caryes house in the Town where the Constables came and by a Warrant from the Mayor of the Town took our said friends Miles Halhead and Thomas Salthouse and a friend of Bristoll and carryed them to the Mayors house who after a little talk with them sent them to the Prison at the Guildhall where they were kept till the next day and then were brought forth before the Mayor Magistrates and Counsell and severally examined and all that were their friends were drawn out from the rest of the multitude and by the Constables turned out of the Hall not one suffered to be present at their examination after they had examined them about three houres the Friend who spake not to the people was set free with charge to be gone home and the other two were again committed to Prison where they kept them near a week and sent them to Exeter Goal where they remained untill the Sessions and were afterwards removed to Bridewell in Thomas parish without the City where they now remaine close Prisoners Now whether their Actions above truly related have deserved such hard measure let all who have understanding judge to whom we shall leave it But as for our parts we are fully satisfied that these their sufferings have turned and yet more abundantly shall turne to the furtherance of the Gospel it being known to most of the Inhabitants of Plymouth that this here related is the utmost for which they are imprisoned how many are ashamed of the injustice of it we shall not now further mention but subscribe our names Nicholas Cole Richard Smith Ralph Fogg John Harris Anthony Todde Edward Dyer Arthur Cotton Robert Cary John Martindale Richard Lepincote Plymouth 12. of the 9 Month or Nov. 1655. The Testimonies of the Captaines of the Nightingale Friggot and of the Nantwich and of the Constant Warwick concerning the deboyst filthy and drunken conversation of George Brooks Priest or Clerk with the reasons wherefore he was put on shore or turned out of the said Friggot I Having been formerly desired to relate upon what account that Mr. George Brooks Chaplin of the Friggot and under my command was put on shore because he was a busiy body and disturbed the whole Ships company Secondly being on shore it was his common practice to abuse the creature in such sort that he was drunken voyd of good reason that he would abuse any one that came in his company by ill language besides the abuse of himselfe and the good creature daily complaints coming unto me both aboard and on shore Therefore knowing him to be a deboyst fellow and not fit for that imployment therefore I put him on shore and I dare own it who shall ever call me to question witnesse my hand Robert Vessay MR. Brookes being formerly with me in the Nightingale I found him to be very idle and continually drunk which once made me to put a quarter Can about his necke whereunto I suscribe John Jeffery Captain of the Nantwich THe person above mentioned I have seen drunk at shore in testimony whereof I have set my hand Richard Potter Captaine of the Constant Warwick Frigot A true Copy of the Warrant by which they were sent to the common Goal in Exeter from the Prison at Plymouth Devon JOhn Page Merchant Maior of the Burrough of Plymouth in the County aforesaid and one of his Highnesses Justices of the Peace within the said Burrough To the Keeper of his Highnesses Goal at Exon Castle or to his lawfull Deputy in that behalfe greeting I send you herewithall by the bearer hereof the bodies of Thomas Salthouse late of Drugglibeck in the County of Lancaster husbandman Miles Halhead late of Kendal in the County of Westmorland lately apprehended here as disturbers of the publick peace and for divers other high misdemeanours against a late Proclamation prohibiting the disturbing of Ministers and other Christians in their assemblies and meetings and against an Ordinance of his said Highnes the Lord Protector and his Counsel lately made against Duells Challenges and all provocations thereunto who have refused to give sufficient security for their personall appearance at the next general Sessions of the Peace to be held for the County of Devon and in the mean time to be of good behaviour against his Highnesse the Lord Protector and all his liege people These are therefore in his said Highness his name to will and command you that when the bodies of the said Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead shall be unto you brought you them safely detain and keep them untill by due course of law they shall be thence delivered hereof fail not at your perill Given under my hand and seal of Plymouth aforesaid the 28 day of May in the year of our Lord God 1655. John

were willing to ingage for us And the next morning when we came to receive it under thy hand according to thy promise thou there refusedst to give it and the Town Clerk said it would not stand in Law which is like to thy Letter thou sentest us to Exon Prison and so because thou conceivest we are offendors doe we suffer but thou makest thy conceiving a Law to imprison us by And further thou hast manifested thy enmity and persecuting spirit in what thou witnessest falsly against us that all the while we were in Prison we neither sought God by prayer as thou sayest nor desired a blessing of God on any Creature that we received nor gave thanks for them Here let thy mouth be stopped and for shame proceed no further in thy false Accusations to render us and the truth odious for besides the witnesse of God which is true and greater then the witnesse of man many in Plymouth can witnesse against thee in this thing that joyned with us in spirit being moved severall times in prison and out of prison to goe to prayers and to give thanks for the blessing of God that we received And further thou sayest We wander up and down in all parts to vent our wicked Opinions to the disturbance of good people Here thou hast vented forth thy malice out of the spirit of bitternesse against us to make us appear odious to good people if they will lend an ear to thee for wicked Opinions we doe deny And we have not disturbed any good people neither have we wandred in all parts as thou sayest but came the straight Road from Bristoll to Plymouth and were chargeable to none in our Journey but lay at the best Inns where we came and paid for what we had need of for both our Horse and our selves And again thou sayest Indeed Sir they hold many sad Opinions destructive to true Religion and power of godlinesse We say indeed if thou hadst the true Religion thou would have power over thy tongue but thou hast manifested thy Religion to be in vain and thy ignorance both of the true power and also of the form of godlinesse for godlinesse is a mystery and he that hath the form and not the power from such we turn away and with such as have the power and life of what they professe have we fellowship in the light which hath no fellowship with darknesse neither with such as walk disorderly and contrary to the light of Christ who bringeth peace on Earth and good-will towards man And we never contemned thy Authority as a Magistrate neither doe we slight the Generall Disbrow whom thou desirest to have a good opinion of thee who hast made thy conceivings and thy will a Law to imprison us by though we have transgressed no Law but to the Children of light thou art discovered and thy deceit laid open He that hath understanding let him read And this we have written to thee in reference to that thou writest to General Disbrow for thy self and thy Brethren not rendring to thee nor thy Brethren rayling for rayling but in the spirit of love and meeknes we exhort you all to repent and fear to offend the Lord and the least of them who believe in his name lest he come in a day when you are not aware and cut you off in a day when you are not aware and cut you off and you be numbred amongst the transgressors and have your portion amongst them which make war with the Lamb and the Saints and Servants of the most high God This is the day of your visitation while you have time prize it From us who are friends to your soules Thomas Salthouse Miles Halhead prisoners in Exon Gaol A Copy of an Indictment Exhibited against and read to them at the Sessions THe Jurors for his Highnesse the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging upon their Oaths doe present That whereas by an Ordinance of his Highnesse the Lord Protector and his Counsell bearing date the 29 day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred fifty foure for preventing of Duells and all occasions of Challenges and Quarrells and using any disgracefull provoking words or gestures tending to that effect it was Ordered That no persons whatsoever should from and after the publishing of the said Ordinance use any provoking words or gestures whereby Quarrells or Challenges may arise as by the said Ordinance may more at large appear Neverthelesse Thomas Salthouse late of Druggly beck in the County of Lancaster Husbandman and Miles Halhead of Kendall in the County of Westmorland Husbandman not fearing nor regarding the said Ordinance and the penalty therein contained after the publishing of the said Ordinance to wit the twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred fifty and five at Plymouth in the County aforesaid in the presence and hearing of divers honest persons of the Common-wealth of England there then being did use divers disgracefull provoking words and gestures to George Brooks Clerk in the Nightingale Friggot he being then opening and declaring unto the said persons a certain place of Scripture wherein the said George spake something of the Holy Trinity to wit Thou the said George Brooks meaning lyest in saying there were three persons in the Trinity we doe deny there is no such thing but thou art a deluding spirit come to draw away the hearts of the people from God And farther they the said Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halhead did further speak to the people then present that they should not hearken to the said George Brooks for that he was a Thief and was come with a lye in his mouth and had stollen what he had from others and had it in his hand poynting to the Bible which was then in the said George Brooks his hand open And further did say it was a lye which the said George Brooks had brought and other harmes to the said George Brooks then and there did contrary to the form of the said Ordinance against the peace publick Thomas Salthouse and Miles Halheads Answer to this Indictment BEing that we were not permitted to speak for our selves when this Indictment or Bill was read to us in the open Court at the Generall Sessions holden at the Castle of Exon. upon the 12 day of the fifth Month 1655 but by the Justices there in Commission the Goaler was commanded to to take us away So to make our defence for the truths sake we are constrained to write something in Answer to the substance of it The sum of it is To make us Offendors in an Act made against Duells and Challenges and the like by the Lord Protector and his Councell and you say We not fearing or regarding the said Act and the penalty therein contained did use divers disgracefull and provoking words to George Brooks Clerk of the Nightingale Frigot To which