Nevv-England pesecutors [sic] mauled vvith their own vveapons giving some account of the bloody laws made at Boston against the kings subjects that dissented from their way of worship : together with a brief account of the imprisonment and tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem, for publishing a book entituled Truth held forth and maintained, &c. / by Tho. Philathes.

Nevv-England pesecutors [sic] mauled vvith their own vveapons giving some account of the bloody laws made at Boston against the kings subjects that dissented from their way of worship : together with a brief account of the imprisonment and tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem, for publishing a book entituled Truth held forth and maintained, &c. / by Tho. Philathes.

Table of contents

Title page

The Preface.

Perſecutors Maul'd with their own VVeapons.

Anti-Chriſtian Freedom eſtabliſhed by the Law of the Old Charter Prieſts and Rulers in New-England.

Preamble to the Perſecutors Laws made againſt the People of God and the Kings good Subjects.

Preamble to theſe Perſecutors Law.

New-England Perſecutors Law.

New England's Antichriſtian Law

New-England Antichriſtian Law.

New-England's Anti-chriſtian Law.

New-England Antichriſtian Law.

New-England Antichriſtian Law.

A New-England Antichriſtian Law.

New-England Peuſecutors Laws againſt the Kings Subjects.

The Preamble to their Law.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the Kings Subjects.

The Perſecutors Law againſt the Kings good Subjects.

The Perſecutors Law againſt the Kings good Subjects.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the King Subjects.

New-England Perſecutors Law againſt the Kings Subjects.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the Kings Subjects Suſpended (during their pleaſure.)

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the Kings good Subjects, (upon Complaint of the Prieſts) put into Execution again.

New-England Perſecutors Law against the Kings Subjects.

New-England Perſecutors Preamble to their Laws againſt provoking Evils, as they call them.

New-England Perſecutors Law againſt Provoking Evils, as they call them.

New-England Perſecutors Laws against provoking Evils, as they call them.

N. England Perſecutors Laws againſt provoking Evils, as the• call them.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt provoking Evils, as they call them.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt provoking Evils, as t••y call them.

New-England Perſecutors Laws against provoking Evils, as they call them.

Old Charter Magiſtrates Hypocriſie, with an Inſtance of their Deceit and Cheat amongst themſelves, at their General High-Court of Injuſtice to others.

A brief Account of ſome of the Three Hundred and Nine Perſons that ſuffered Perſecution under the Anti-chriſtian Power of the New-England Church, beſides thoſe four Servants of the Lord cruelly-Murthered by a Law made at the Rulers and Prieſts high Court of Injuſtice against Diſſenters found within their Juriſdiction belonging to Boſton, which are as followeth, viz.

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NEVV-ENGLAND Peſecutors Mauled VVith their own VVeapons.

Giving ſome Account of the bloody Laws made at Boſton againſt the Kings Subjects that diſſented from their way of Worſhip.

Together with a brief Account of the Impriſonment and Tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem, for publiſhing a Book, entituled, Truth held forth and maintained, &c.

By Tho. Philathes.

Truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil maketh himſelf a prey,

Iſai. 59 14, 15.

As Troops of Robbers wait for a Man, ſo do the company Prieſts murder in the way by conſent,

Hoſea 6.9.

Shall the Throne of Iniquity have fellowſhip with thee, which frameth Miſchief by a Law; they gather themſelves together against the Soul of the Righteous, and condemn the Innocent Blood,

Pſal 94.20.21.

The Preface.

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Chriſtian Reader;

IT has not been without due Conſideration, that we have ſeen cauſe to ſet forth and publiſh a true Account of ſome of the New-England Church Members cruel and bloody Laws, which through the Prieſts inſtigating the Magiſtrates, were by them made againſt both Quakers and all other Religious Perſons within New-Englands Juriſdiction, that were found to diſſent from their Worſhip, as alſo a ſhort Relation of ſome few of the many Perſons that ſuffered Perſecution under the Anti-chriſtian Power of the aforeſaid Church, with ſome brief Obſervations on each Law, and the Preamble thereof. Unto which is added, an Account of the Prieſts, Rulers and Church Members great Hurly-burley or Confuſion made about a late Book, entituled, Truth held forth and maintained, &c. by Thomas Maule of Salem, in which Book is contained thirty eight Chapters relating to the Principles of Truth, agreeing with the Teſtimony of the holy Prophets, Chriſt and his Apoſtles recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth, together with an Account of Gods Judgments upon divers of the chief▪ perſecuting Prieſts and Rulers, and a Declaration, the late great [...]udgment of God upon the Prieſts, Rulers & their F [...]llowers of whom Twenty were (through the Accuſation [...]y Specter Evidence, which Judgment continued [Page] amongſt the Inhabitants near or about Twelve Moneths, till at length there was ſo many of the Prieſts and Rulers, and others accounted eminent Perſons, accuſed by the ſaid Specter or Apparition, that the Rulers, with as much ſpeed as they had condemned and put to Death, d [...]d now face about and clear the Priſons, both of the condemned, as well as of all others accuſed by the ſaid evidence for Witches, an Account of which is more at large to be ſeen in ſaid Maules Book, of which Books the Perſecutors ſacrificed ſixteen Pounds worth a burne Offering to their Anger and Revenge, the which by them was done, as alſo Impriſoning him about Twelve Months before that upon his Tryal he was cleared by a Jury that found him Not Guilty, the ſums and ſubſtance of which tryal will appear in this Book, by which it doth manifeſtly appear, that many of the New-England Prieſts and Rulers, with many of their Church-Member Bre [...]hren in [...]n [...]quity, do remain in the ſame, when they fled from Old England to ſave their Purſes and Bodies from ſuffering by the Biſhops Power, for their diſſenting from their Mother Church, againſt whom it will ſufficiently appear, have rebelled, by perſecuting ſeveral Perſons thereunto belonging, as well as all other Religious Perſons found within their Juriſdiction, to diſſent from their Prieſts Worſhip. As for Inſtance, ſoon after they came and had ſettled themſelves in this Land, they began to perſecute after a [...] horrible rate, and in a cruel bloody manner did they perſec [...]te Ann Hutchinſan, and that Company, of whom ſome wer [...] barbarouſly murdered; ſo alſo was Mr. Clark and that Company, great Sufferers; as likwiſe Samuell Gorton and that Company, who for the want of one more caſting Vot [...], eſcaped the [Page] Gallows for a Diſſenter; and the Sufferings of the Lady Moody, with many others, was very great; as alſo was the Sufferings of Mr. Williams, Obadiah Homes, Mr. Donſtor the Preſident, and many others, of whom I ſhall hereafter more at large relate; about which time the Prieſts were ſo beſet with the Baptiſts, Quakers, and the Church of England, that it cauſed thè Hirelings to roar out in their Pulp [...]s for the help of Moſes, otherwiſe Aaron muſt fall, and then they are all undone; whereupon the Magiſtrates muſtered the Prieſts Drudges together, and to work they went againſt Diſſenters, with all the ſtrength of their Faith Defenders, which moſtly fell upon the Innocent Quakers, as will hereafter appeare, which had theſe Perſecuters manifeſted the leaſt Repentance would have prevented the Authur from publiſhing the following Account of their bloody Laws, and the cruel barbarous Works acted and done thereby to the Kings good Subjects within New-Englands Juriſdiction.

Tho. Thilathes.

Perſecutors Maul'd with their own VVeapons.

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Anti-Chriſtian Freedom eſtabliſhed by the Law of the Old Charter Prieſts and Rulers in New-England.

THis Court having conſidering the Propoſals preſented to this Court by ſeveral of the Inhabitants of the County of Middleſex, do declare and order. That no man whatſoever ſhall be admitted to the freedom of this Body Politick, but ſuch as are Members of ſome Church of Chriſt, and in full Communion, which they declare to be the true intent of the antient Law, Anno 1631, 1660.

Obſerve, Hence you may underſtand, that the County of middleſex, for Money and wealth, did encourage for ſale, the high Prieſts Ware, as well as in love to their Bellies, to ſeat themſelves near to the Magiſtrates General high Court of Injuſtice, againſt Diſſenters from their Worſhip, which ſaid Courts were kept in Boſton, where the Prieſts Drudges brought of the Diſſepters Eſtates, for fin [...]s, to the Value of many hundreds of Pounds, with which the Prieſts and Rulers, with others of their Church Br [...]thren feaſted themſelves from day to day, while they made Laws againſt them that diſſented from the worſhip of their Prieſts, who when their Bellies were Ruffed with the beſt Proviſion, and their heads with the richeſt ſort of Wine, had not far home to their Common Prayers againſt all diſſenters, as well [Page] as Quakers; and while they feaſted themſelves with the beſt of other mens Labour, they kept the true Owners thereof with the beſt entertainment their Goal and Bridewell houſe did afford, as by their cruel ſuffering therein will hereafter appear, and as is related in the Book of Sufferings, under theſe perſecuting Magiſtrates, that ſome went and demanded their fat Oxen of them again, to which their anſwer was, Would you that we ſhould ſit and ſtarve, while we are about your buſineſs? which was to make Laws to devour them and their Eſtates; which work was of great encouragement to the Prieſt-ridden Freemen of their Body Politick, whoſe ſome Church of Chriſt, as in their Law they call it, is no other but the plain Church of Anti-chriſt, and ſo proved to be, by their perſecuting all other Perſons diſſenting there-from in their Juriſdiction.

The Free-mans Law, by which a Body make,

No man that's true can with their Church pertake:

He that will honour gain, and credit at their hand,

He muſt forſake all good, then by their cauſe may ſtand.

Preamble to the Perſecutors Laws made againſt the People of God and the Kings good Subjects.

WHereas there is a curſed Sect of Hereticks lately riſen up in the world, which are commonly called Quakers, who take upon them to be immediately ſent of God, & Infallibly aſſiſted by the Spirit, to ſpeak and write blaſphemous Opinions, deſpiſing Government, and the Order of God in Church and common Wealth, ſpeaking evil of Dignities, reproaching and reviling Magiſtrates and Miniſters, ſeeking to turn People from the Faith, and gain Proſelites to their pernitious way.

[Page] Obſerve; Here's the Perſecutors preamble to their Antichriſtian Law, the unrighteouſneſs of which is of their Father the wicked One, who from the beginning hath been an Accuſer of the Brethren, wherefore the things of the Kingdom of God are hid from them, Mat. 11.25. Luke. 10.21. In which ſtate they remain as the rebelious Jews, calling good evil, and the truth, blaſphemous Opinions, having no more juſtly to accuſe the Quakers of evil, then had the wicked Jews againſt the People of God in the Apoſtles day, and will in this following work appear ſo to be, to every true Chriſtian Readers view of the ſame.

Here now begins theſe free-mens ſin,

The Cauſe for which Gods Judgments bring.

Preamble to theſe Perſecutors Law.

The Court Conſidering the Premiſes, and to prevent the like Miſchief, as by their means is wrought in our native Land.

Obſerve, That of their many Lyes and Unjuſt charges againſt both the Quakers, Baptiſts, and other Diſſenters, as well as againſt them of the Church of England, is a Record to the end of Time, as alſo of their many other unrighteous Works againſt the People of God and the Kings Subjects, which had they and their Brethren been as clear from all means of miſchief as the Quakers, there had neither Rebellion, Treaſon, or Murder againſt the King been alledged to the charge of their New-England Brother Hugh Peters, Venner, and others of their Brethren in England, which they call our native Land.

New-England Perſecutors Law.

1. Do hereby order, and by the Authority of this Court Be it ordered and Enacted, That no Maſter or Commander of any Ship, Bark, Pinnace, Ketch, or other Veſſel, henceforth bring into any Harbour, Creek or Cove within this Juriſdiction, any known Quaker or Quakers, or other blaſphemous Hereticks, upon the Penalty [Page] of the Forfeiture▪ of O [...] hundred Pounds, to be forthwith paid to the Treaſure [...] of the Cuntry, except it appeareth that ſuch Ma [...]ter▪ wanted due [...] of information that they were ſuch, and in [...] [...]ſe he [...]ay clear himſelf by his Oath, when ſufficien [...] proof [...] the contrary is wanting; and for default of payment of the ſaid Fine of one hundred Pounds, or good Security for the ſame, ſuch Maſter ſhall be committed to Priſon by Warrant from any Magiſtrate, there to continue till the ſaid Fine be ſatisfied to the Treaſurer, as aforeſaid.

2. And the Maſter or Commander of any ſuch Ship or Veſſel, that ſhall bring them, being legally convicted, ſhall give in ſufficient Securiry to the Governour or one more of the Magiſtrates, to carry them to the place whence he brought them; and on his refuſal ſo to do, the Governour or ſaid Magiſtrate or Magiſtrates, ſhall commit ſuch Maſter or Commander to Priſon, there to remain till he ſhall give in ſufficient Security to the content of the Governour or ſaid Magiſtrate.

3. And if any Perſon or Perſons within this Juriſdiction ſhall henceforth entertain and conceal any Quaker or Quakers, or other blaſphemous. Hereticks, Knowing them to be ſuch, every ſuch Perſon ſhall forfeit to the Country Forty Shillings for every hours entertainment and concealment of any ſuch Quaker or Quakers as aforeſaid, and ſhall be committed to Priſon, as aforeſaid, till the Fines be fullly ſatisfied and paid.

Obſerve, That ſeveral of the Kings Subjects, Maſters or Commanders of Veſſels ſuffered to the utmoſt extreamity of this unrighteous Law, which is ſo repugnant to the Law of God, and the Kings Laws, that in making and proſecuting the [Page] ſame, they o [...]t do all their fore-Fathers and elder Brethren in Iniquity, which Law was ſo well pleaſing to the Prieſts, who the more that people might believe their work to be ſanctified, ſet one day apart for Preaching and Praying, as a day of Thanksgiving for the ſame, hoping that by the means of a thorow proſecution of this Law, to keep their Juriſdiction clear of every Perſon called a Quaker, and that then their freemen would take the more courage againſt the Baptiſts and them of the Church of England; for with the Quak [...]rs they were hard beſe [...], and in fear they would deprive them of their God; and as Le [...]etrius, their Trade would come to nothing, and in fear of being ſlain, as was their elder Brother, Vagabond Cain ▪ who as theſe had no certain dwelling in the Truth, which if their Worſhip had been the true Worſhip of God, as we read, John 4.24. but on the contrary, as we read, Mark 7 6, 7, 8, 9. Mat. 15.8. they worſhip't they knew not what, John. 4 22▪ in which ſtate of Diſobedience they were far from the Rule of doing as themſelves would have been done unto, Mat. 7.12. Luke. 6 31. but in fleeing the Land to ſ [...]ve their Purſes with which their minds did abide, regarded not the Rule to entertain Strangers, Heb. 13.2. but on the contrary, ga [...]e them the like entertainment as the wicked Jews did to Chriſt and his Apoſtles, from whoſe Rule of [...]r [...]eing all things [...]r [...] held f [...]t that which is good, from the ſ [...]me do theſe Perſecutors Law reſtrain, as will more at large hereafter appear.

Of the like Laws we never finde

By men, that God and King do mind

New England's Antichriſtian Law

4. And every Perſon or Perſons that ſhall encourage or defend any of their pernicious ways, by ſpeaking, writing or meeting on the Lords Day, or at any other time▪ ſhall after due means of conviction incur the Penalty enſuing, viz. Every one ſo mee [...]ng ſhall pay to the uſe of the Country, for every time, Ten Shillings, And every one ſpeaking in ſuch a Meeting ſhall for [...]eit Five Pounds.

[Page] Obſerve, That by [...] Law, and the other afore-mentioned Law of forty Shillings for every hours entertainment to any Perſon or Perſons, or others whom they account blaſphemous Hereticks, as they did account all that diſſented from their Prieſts Worſhip, by which two Laws they gained abundance of Money for Fines of the Inhabitants, who were found either at the Quakers Meeting, or to entertain their Relations and Kindred, though Father or Mother, Brother or Siſter, or any other Friend or Friends, or Relations and Kindred, whom in their Law They call by the name of Strangers and Vagabonds, as by the following Laws will further appear, and that every man by Memberſhip admitted to the freedom of their Body Politick, was according to their Prieſts way of teaching, become a Rule [...], to lord over the Fait [...] of every Diſſenter; by which the Chriſtian Reader may fully comprehend the nature of theſe Free-mens Body Po [...]ick.

Ʋnto Religion th [...]ſe Free-men do pretend,

We [...]ay all ſee that Money is their end.

New-England Antichriſtian Law.

5. If any Perſon ſhall knowingly import into any Harbou [...] of this Juriſdiction, any Quakers Books or Writings concerning their damnable Opinions, he ſhall forfeit [...] every ſuch Book or writing five Pounds; and whoſoever ſhall diſperſe or conceal ſuch Book or Writing, and it be found with him or her, or in his or her Houſe, and ſhall not Immediately deliver the ſame to the next Magiſtrate, ſhall pay five Pounds for diſperſing or concealing every ſuch Book or Writing.

6 And every Perſon or Perſons whatſoever that ſhall revile the Office or Perſon of Magiſtrates or Miniſters, as is uſual with the Quakers, ſuch Perſon or Perſons, ſhall be ſeverely whipt, or pay the Sum of Five Pounds in money.

[Page]The Reader may here note, That the ſubſtance of matter contained in theſe two laſt Laws, is very agreeable with what is before, as alſo with what will follow, all which is to promote the works of Unrighteouſneſs againſt God and his People, thereby to hinder others from receiving the Truth, who for proving all things to hold faſt that which is good, 1 Theſ. 5.21. muſt as by their Law, pay five Pounds, either for bringing any Quakers Books or writings into their Juriſdiction, or keeping the ſame in their Houſe when they are, without immediate delivering the ſame to the next Magiſtrate, which doth evidently manifeſt their deſign is to gain the Peoples Money, as well as to hinder them of receiving the Truth, which f [...]lfil what is written, They will neither enter thē Kingdom of Heaven themſelves, nor ſuffer▪ others that are entering to go in, Mat. 22.13. but as thoſe wicked Jews did, ſo do theſe Hypocrites moſt unrighteouſly charge the People of God with reviling the Office and Perſons of Magiſtrates and Miniſters, when as on contrary, their Teſtimonies were true for Gods cauſe againſt Pride, Covetouſneſs and Oppreſſion, which greatly abounded in the Magiſtrates, Prieſts and Perſecuting free-men, who for the moſt Part by their hireling Prieſts, were taught beyond all grace and common good, and that the whole Government of their Church and Common-wealth, as they call it, had as they concluded that dependency upon their [...]old Charter, that as by their Law, it is manifeſt they neither feared God nor minded the Laws of the Engliſh Nation; for they had aſſumed to themſelves the Power of both God, King and Biſhops, wholly confiding in the ſtrength of their old Idol Charter.

Where Perſecutors once gain Power,

Like Lyons, Bears, and Wolves devour.

New-England's Anti-chriſtian Law.

7. And every Perſon that ſhall publiſh and maintain any Heterodox Erronious Doctrine, ſhall be liable to be [Page] queſtioned, and ſencured by the County Court where he liveth, according to the merit of his Offence.

The Reader may hence underſtand, That the County Courts were plenty of theſe Perſecutors & Plenty of jackalls to hunt for their prey, which was to find out every Perſon in their Juriſdiction, that departed from the way of their Prieſts Worſhip, ſuch perſon and Perſons became a prey, Iſ [...]. 59.15. who were [...]ccuſed to publiſh or maintain the Heterodox or Fr [...]onious Doctrine; at the opening of which Courts, were always ſome of their Prieſts to pray, pretending that what they did againſt D [...]ſſente [...]s, would be the more ſanctified through the means of their Prayers, which they pretended was for the honour of God, and good of the Souls of them, on whom the ſaid Court did inflict puniſhment, both to their Body and Purſes, ſo that what with theſe Hirelings unſanctified Prayers, and the like Advice to the Magiſtrates, they would be ſure to lay load enough on the backs of the aforeſaid Diſſenters, eſpecially upon the Innocent harmleſs Quakers, whom ſo often in their Law, they call Accurſed! for unto them was the Prieſts greateſt Rage manifeſted, through their wicked advice to the Magiſtrates, to have them all hanged, of whom four were put to Death, and more had been, had not their Bloody Hands been ſtopped through the means of the Kings Order to the Contrary, a Coppy of which Letter will hereafter appear in this Book, which before it came, many were they that were put to cruel Sufferings, both by long Impriſonment, cruel Whippings, Cutting off Ears, Branding with Red hot Irons, ordering Men and Women to be ſold for bond Slaves, ſearching the Bodies of Innocent Women for Witches, beſides Baniſhing upon pain of Death, and abundance of their Eſtate taken for Fines, on which theſe men, ſo free to do the Devils Work, did live, eating and drinking at a high rate, whilſt others ſuffered as aforeſaid.

This was the work of wicked Prieſt [...]nd Pulpit Lyars,

Whoſe work was like the Jeſuites, the Monks and Frayrs.

New-England Antichriſtian Law.

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8. whereas there is a pernicious Sect, commonly called Quakers, lately ariſen, who by word and writing have publiſhed and maintained many dangerous and horrid Tenets, and take upon them to change and alter the laudable Cuſtoms of our Nation, in giving civil Reſpect to Equals o Reverence to Superiors, whoſe Actions tend to undermine the Authority of civil Government, as alſo to deſtroy the Order of the Churches, by denying all eſtabliſhed Forms of Worſhip, and by with drawing from the orderly Church Aſſemblies allowed and approved by all Orthrodox Profeſſors of the Truth, and inſtead thereof, and oppoſition thereunto, frequenting private Meetings of their own, inſinuating into the minds of the ſimple, or ſuch as are leſs affected to the Order and Government of our Church and Common Wealth, whereby divers of our Inhabitants have been Infected and ſeduced; and notwithſtanding all former Laws made, upon Experience of their arrogant bold Obtruſions to Diſſeminate their Principles amongſt us, prohibiting their coming into this Juriſdiction, they have not been detered from their impetuous Attempts to undermine our Peace and haſten our Ruin▪

The Reader may here note, the great Wickedneſs of theſe unrighteous Prieſts and Rulers, who to accuſe the innocent, run themſelves into further miſchief, through their bold Attempts againſt God and the King, which hath proved to be their ruin, for whileſt they were digging Pits, and making Rods, and laying Snares the innocent, God was preparing his Judgments againſt them, and all thoſe whoſe ſilence gave conſent thereto, by which [...]udgments they do not only ſuffer [Page] ſuffer the loſs of their Fruit and Grain▪ throughout their Juriſdiction, but alſo are delivered into the hands of the Barbarous Indians ▪ whom God ſuffers to make them a double meaſure of the like Cruelty; which themſelves (as by their [...]ws) have in [...]icted upon others, beſides the loſs of their old Charter and great Idol.

God ever will for I [...]nocent Blood Reward,

Though while the Wicked live, little it regard.

New-England Antichriſtian Law.

For prevention thereof, this Court doth Order and Enact, that every Perſon of the curſed Sect of Quakers, who is not an Inhabitant, but found within this Juriſdiction, ſhall be apprehended without Warrant, where no Magiſtrate is at hand, by any Conſtable, Commiſſioner or Select Man, and conveyed from Conſtable to Conſtable, until they come before the next Magiſtrate, who ſhall commit the ſaid Perſon or Perſons to cloſe Priſon, there to remain without Bail, unti [...] the next Court of Aſſiſtants, where they ſhall have a legal. Trya [...] by a ſpecial Jury, and being convict to be of the curſed Sect of Quakers, ſhall be ſentenced to Baniſhment upon pain of DEATH▪

Obſ. The Reader may hence underſtand, that the [...]ea [...]er the Magiſtrates Laws did extend to deſtroy the Lives of the Innocent, the more pleaſing it was to the Hireling Prieſts [...]ho in honour thereunto, would ſet Time apart for the Churches Thank [...]giving.

A New-England Antichriſtian Law.

And that every the Inhabitants of this Juriſdiction, being convicted to be of the curſed Sect of Quakers, either by taking up, publiſhing and defending the horrid Opinions [Page] of the curſed Quakers, or ſtirring up M [...]t [...]a [...] ▪ Sedit [...] or Rebellion againſt the Goverment of our Church at [...] Common Wealth, or by taking up their abſurd and deſtructive Practices, viz. denying civil Reſpect and Reverence to Equals and Superiours, with-drawing from our Church Aſſemblies, and inſtead thereof, frequenting private Meetings of their own, in Oppoſition to our Church Order▪ or by adhearing to, or approving of known Quakers, that are oppoſit to the O [...]thodox received Opinions of the Godly, and endeavouring to diſaffect others [...]o civil Goverment and Church Order eſtabliſhed amongſt us, and condemning the Practice and Proceedings of this Court againſt the Quakers, manifeſting thereby compliance with thoſe whoſe deſign is to overthrow the Order eſtabliſhed in our Church and Common-Wealth.

The reader may here Obſerve the wretched ſtate of theſe Bloody minded Perſecutors, who for want of true faith were in the ſtate of th [...]ir elder Brother Cain, that was a murderer, like unto theſe who deſtroy the righteous for their Faith and Obedience to God, for which cauſe theſe Perſecutors bear Cains mark, being in fear that thoſe which are not of their murdering Spirits, will ſlay them; and knowing themſelves to be like principled, as was Hugh Peters, Venner, and many others of their New-England Brethren in Iniquity, ſtirring up Mutiny, Sedition and Rebe [...]lion againſt the Engliſh Government, and the Order of the Engliſh Church eſtabliſhed by the Biſhops, as by the Chronicles of England doth at large appear of their Rebellion and Treaſon againſt the King and his Children, in that day▪ of their inventing ſo much miſchief againſt others in our Native Land, to ſet up themſelves above all others; which Spi [...]it is the ſame in theſe their perſecuting Brethren, who impute that to [Page] the Charge of an Innoc [...]nt harmeleſs People, which themſelves are ſo highly guilty of, as is manifeſted by their ſetting up themſelves, to lord it over the People of God and the Kings Subjects, as for fifty or ſixty Years time they have done in New-England, where the hireling Prieſts kept a conſtant ſtroke of puting all that diſſented from their Worſhip, into bear skins, and ſetting their Followers to tear them in pieces, calling out in their preaching to their people, Curſe ye Meroz, Curſe ye bitterly the Inhabitants that will not come to the help of the Lord againſt the mighty, Judg. 5 23. and curſed be he that doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully, by witholding his Sword from blood, Je [...]. 48.10. with more of the like, endeavou [...]ing to perſwade, that Gods general Judgments would not depart, until they had hanged all the Quakers, and ſent going all other Diſſenters.

The Judgments may remove, but when old Charter men

Are dead, and then

Or when God ſends here better men,

Well to rule in Government, then,

Pro. 29.2

From Devil and ſuch Wicked Priests,

pray God deliver me

Then from all Miſchief in the World,

be ſure I ſhall be free.

Hoſea 6.9.

New-England Peuſecutors Laws againſt the Kings Subjects.

Every ſuch Perſon upon Examination and Conviction before the Court of Aſſiſtants, in manner as aforeſaid, ſhall be committed to cloſe Priſon for on [...] Month, and unleſs they chuſe to depart the Juriſdiction, ſhall give Bond for their appearance at the next Court of Aſſiſtants, where continuing obſtinate, and refuſing to retract and reform the aforeſoid Opinions and Practices, ſhall be ſentenced to Baniſhment, upon pain of Death, and in caſe [...]the aforeſaid Voluntary departure not to remain, or [Page] to return again into this Juriſdiction, without the allowance of the major part of the Council firſt had and publiſhed, on penalty of being baniſhed upon pain of Death; and any one Magiſtrate, upon complaint, or information, given him of any ſuch Perſon, ſhall cauſe them to be apprehended, and if upon Examination of the cauſe, he ſhall find Juſt grounds for ſuch complaint▪ he ſhall commit ſuch Perſon to Priſon, until he come to his Tryal, as above expreſſed.

Obſerve, Here you may ſtill note the Work of the Wicked, in whom he that was a Lyar and Murderer from the beginning, gave them no reſt from their bloody purſuit after the Lives of the Righteous, whom the Lord did preſerve in all their deep ſufferings and firey Tryals, that not one of the faithful Sufferers for his Cauſe conformed to their wicked Will, who would not endure any that differed in Judgment from their Prieſts Worſhip to inhabit within their Juriſdiction, who without fear to God, or regard to Man, contrary to the Laws of the Engliſh Native, without either fear or regard to God, King or Biſhops, made the defence of their Faith, Church and Common Wealth (as they call themſelves) as ſtrong as poſſible they could with Stock, Whip, Goal and Gallows, on which the chiefeſt ſtrength of their Faith did depend; for when all their other Anti-chriſtian Weapons failed them againſt the Quakers, the Gallows held, until the Kings Letter came, and removed the ſtrength of their Faith in that alſo; yet they continued by their old wonted way of pl [...]king away mens Eſtates, by fining them in great Sums for deſſenting from their Prieſts Worſhip, which from the Quakers, R [...]p [...]s, them of the Church of England and others amounted to about Twenty Thouſand Pounds, in the bounds of New-England.

When Wolves once get a taſte of Blood,

They are for killing all that's good.

The Preamble to their Law.

[Page]

This Court being deſirous to try all means, with as much lenity as may conſiſt with our ſafety, to prevent the Intruſions of the Quakers, who beſides their abſurd and blaſphemous Doctrines, do like Rogues and Vagabonds come in upon us, and have not been reſtrained by the Laws already provided.

Obſerve. Here note the Foxes Preamble to their Wolviſh Law, whoſe Ravinous blood-thirſt [...] Na [...]re is not contented with the [...]l [...]ce, but ſtrive all they can (as have done the Wicked in days paſt) to have the innocent Blood alſo (as did their Brother bloody Bonner in Queen Mary's time) whenas to many Thouſands of People it is well known that thoſe which ſuffered in N [...]w-England, under the Name of Quakers, were neither in Doctrine, P [...]inciple nor Practiſe, any way guilty of theſe Perſecutors charge, but on the co [...]t any differing there-from, as Light from Darkneſs, Truth from Error, God f [...]om the Devil, Chriſt from Beli [...] and Heaven from Hell, from whence is the Power and Spirit of all thoſe that put people to Death for their Faith and Obedience to God, who permits theſe things to be done by the inſtruments of the wicked one, for a tryal of Faith to thoſe who are made wi [...]ling to part with all for the ſake of him that firſt loved them, and gives them that Power through which they receive ſtrength to withſtand all the Powers of Hell, from whence proceedeth the Spirit of theſe perſecutors, as did them in dayes paſt▪ John 8.44. Mat. 23.31, 33, 34, 35, 36. whoſe ſafety did (as theſe do remain by the ſtrength of unrighteous Laws, and as they ſaid, ſo ſay theſe, We have a Law, and by our Law, every Perſon diſſenting from our Church Order, and againſt the Government of our Common Wealth, as is manifeſt the Quakers do, by condemning the Proceedings of this Court againſt Diſſenters, who by our Law ought [...] dye. Which proves theſe Perſecutors to be true Vagabonds, by having no dwelling in the Truth.

Vagabonds are, as was their Brother Cain,

Who murder them, that in the Truth remain▪

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the Kings Subjects.

[Page]

Have ordered, That every ſuch Vagabond Quaker found within any part of this Juriſdiction, ſhall be apprehended by any Perſon or Perſons, or by the Conſtable of the Town, where he or ſhe is found, and by the Conſtable, or in his abſence, by any other Perſon or Perſons, conveyed before the next Magiſtrate of that ſhire, where they are taken, or Commiſſioner inveſted with Magiſtratical Power, and being by them adjudged to be a wandering Quaker, viz. ſuch that hath no orderly al [...]owance in this Juriſdiction, and not giving civil Reſpect or by any other means manifeſting himſelf to be a Quaker, ſhall by warrant under the hand of the ſaid Magiſtrate or Commiſſioner, directed to the Conſtable of the Town, or to any other meet Perſon, be ſtripped from the middle, upward, and tyed to a Carts, Tail, and whipped through the Town, and from thence Immediately conveyed to the Conſtable of the next Town towards the borders of our Juriſdiction, as their Warrant ſhall direct, till they be conveyed through the outwardmoſt Towns of our Juriſdiction.

Obſerve That by the following Copy of one of their many W [...]rrants of the like Bloody and cruel nature, their Whipping of the Innocent Quakers, who by their Law muſt have no allowance to trade, buy or ſell within the bounds is of their Ju [...]iſdiction; for which cauſe of being ſo prohibited, and found within their Juriſdiction, and by them called Vagabonds, whenas a [...] being found, as Cain was, to have no dwelling in the Tru [...] are the right true Vagabonds, endeavouring (as much as in them lies) to whip others from their certain dwellings is [...] Truth, to become Vagabonds like themſelves.

[Page]

A Coppy of one of their many Warrants.

TO the Conſtable of Dover, Hampton, Salsbury, Newber [...] ▪ Rowley, Ipſwich, Wenham, Linn, Boſton, Roxbury, Dedham, and until theſe Vagabond Quakers are carryed out of this Juriſdiction, You, and every of you are required in the Kings Name, to take Ann Coleman, Mary Tomkins, Alice Ambroſe, and make them faſt to the Carts Tail, and driving the Cart through your ſeveral Towns, to whip them upon their Naked Backs, and not exceeding Ten Stripes on each of them, in each Town; and ſo to convey them from Conſtable to Conſtable, till they come out of this Juriſdiction, as you will anſwer it at your peril. And this ſhall be your Warrant. Dated at Dover, December the 22th, 1662.

Per me Richard Walden.

Obſerve, Here are Eleven Towns in the Warrant, and from the firſt Town Dover, to the laſt Town Dedham, is about eighty Miles, and Ten Stripes on each of them in each Town, is One Hundred and Ten ſtpipes a peice with a Whip made with three ſmall ſingle hair twiſted Cords, each of which being knotted, fit for the Prieſts Work▪ to defend their Faith, and ſo laid on the naked Backs of the innocent Quakers, as if it were poſſible, the Knots might kiſs the Bones, which cruel work was agreeable, to the Prieſts exhorting their Drudges from theſe Scriptures▪ Judg. 5.23 Jer. 48.10. which Work was as far from the Work of God, in this day, as Heaven is from Hell, as may be read-Luke 9.54, 55·56. Mat. 5.44, 45, 46. Luke 6.31 32, 33. Mat. 13.28, 29, 30. 2 Cor. 10.3, 4, 5, 6. but contrary to theſe Perſecutors act, as we read, John 8.44. Mat. 6.24. For his Servants they are to whom they obey, Rom. 6.16. But as their laws were [Page] bloody and their execution Cruel and Barbarous, ſo hath God ſuffered both he that drew the Warrant, with many more of his perſecuting Brethren, to be deſtroyed, and their Riches conſumed by the great Judgments of God upon them, as is more at large to be ſeen in the aforeſaid late book, entituled Truth held forth and maintained, by Thomas Maule. And when the Quaker [...] were commonly ſo whipt, with their torn Fleſh and bloody backs, had about fifty miles to travel through the Wilderneſs Woods, before they came to their Friends at Rode-Iſland, and ſo hard weather with froſt and ſnow, that divers People have been killed there-with in travelling between Town and Town, though but two or three Miles diſtant from each other.

The Devil and the Prieſts, and all ſuch Warrant Makers,

In full Communion are, with all ſuch Church Pertakers.

The Perſecutors Law againſt the Kings good Subjects.

And if ſuch Vagabond Quakers ſhall return again, then to be in the like manner apprehended, & conveyed as often as they ſhall be found within the limits of our Juriſdiction, provided every ſuch Vagabond Quaker have been thrice convicted, and ſent away, as aforeſaid, and returning again into this Juriſdiction, ſhall be apprehended, and Committed by any Magiſtrate, as aforeſaid, unto the houſe of Correction within the County, where he or ſhe is found, until the next Court w [...]thin that County, where if the Court, judge not meet to releaſe them, they ſhall be branded with the Letter [R] on their left Shoulder, and be ſeverely whipt, and ſent away in manner as before.

Obſerve, hence you may underſtand, that the Law of theſe Cain-like ſpirited Vagabonds, did extend agai [...]ſt every true Chriſtian, as well as thoſe called Quakers, found within their Juriſdiction to diſſent from their Prieſts Worſhip, and to manifeſt a diſlike [Page] againſt their unrighteous Proceedings againſt the People of God and the Kings Subjects, which was tyranical, cruel, bloody and barbarous, that if any Perſon (though the Church of England,) was found to petition to the King and Biſhops to maintain their right, reſpecting their worſhip agreeable to the way of the Engliſh Church, it was accounted high Rebellion by theſe Perſecutors ſo to do; for which Offence, no leſs then Impriſonment and three Hundred Pounds, would keep them from being hanged on the New-England gallows till dead, dead, and of this nature, by impriſonment and paying three hundred pounds apiece, was Dr. Child, Samuel Maverick, and other Merchants in Boſton, kept from being hanged, for their being taken, with a Petition to ſend to England, as aforeſaid. Of which when I come to give an account of the Engliſh Church being perſecuted by theſe New-England Free-men, to do what they ſaw moſt pleaſing to their Prieſts, ſhall the more ſpeak relating to the aforeſaid ſuffering of Dr. Child, Samuell Maverick and others of the Church of England as aforeſaid.

From all Bloody Free-men, pray God deliver me,

They are for Hanging all, that one with them not be.

The Perſecutors Law againſt the Kings good Subjects.

And if after this he or ſhe ſhall return again, then to be proceeded againſt as Ineorrigible Rogues and Enemies to the common Peace, and ſhall immediately be apprehended and committed to the common Goal of the County, and the next Court of Aſſiſtants ſhall be brought to the Tryal, and proceeded againſt according to the former Law made 1658. for their puniſhment on Pain of Death. Pſalm 94.20, 21.

Obſ. You may underſtand, that of this nature it hath been in all Ages to the People of God, for as it is written, He that is born after the f [...]eſh, perſecuteth him that is born after the Spirit, even ſo it is now, Gal. 4.2 [...]. and that the People are great ſufferers as by theſe Laws, when they fall into the hands of Hypocrites, which pretend ſo much [Page] to Religion, as did the wicked Jews to deſtroy the righteous in that day, which work (as we read in the holy Scriptures, Books of Martyrs, and the like true Hiſtories) ever did, as now it doth, begin at the houſe of the perſecuting Prieſts, who would have none live ſave thoſe that are one with them in all things that tend to the upholding them with Money for preaching, which is made up with other mens words, whoſe Life and experience they witneſs nothing of, but at random make a ſixt days Image with ſtolen words, with which they fright the People that know no better then to buy of their Ware, which further then they write it down, loſe it before the next market day; ſuch like is the preaching and teaching of every Hypocritical Hireling and Perſecuting Prieſt, whoſe Doctrine does leaven every Perſecutor of their Church to follow them in the like covetous practice, through whoſe Hypocriſie and Deceit many have been horribly cheated. Now if New-Englands Churches be not highly guilty of theſe things, as well as perſecuting People to Death for Religion, then the People in Forreign Countries are the more to blame, to cry out at the ſight of New-England Veſſels, ſo much as they do againſt Perſecutors, Deceit, Hypocriſie, falſe Doctrine, Surfeited Horſes, and the like of ſtinking Fiſh, and other Cheats, with which it is common for Hypocrites and Perſecutors to trade.

Hypocriſie Deceit is cloaked with Religion,

By men whoſe wicked Laws, for Blood do make proviſion;

No men more wicked then Perſecuters be,

To find it true, in Scripture may it ſee.

Mat. 23.32 33.34.35.36

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the King Subjects.

And for ſuch Quakers as ſhall ariſe from amongſt our ſelves, they ſhall be proceeded againſt as the former Law Anno 1658. doth provide, until they have been convicted by the Court of Aſſiſtants, and being convicted he or ſhe ſhall then be baniſhed the Juriſdiction, and il after, that they ſhall return, and be found in any part of this Juriſdiction, then he or ſhe ſo ſentenced to baniſhment, ſhall [Page] be proceeded againſt as thoſe that are ſtrangers and Vagabond Quakers, in manner as before expreſſed.

Obſ. The Reader may hence underſtand, that as their Laws were bloody, the cruel nature of their unbelieving hard hearts, was in the execution of their Laws, agreeable thereunto, who being bewitched (by a Company of hi [...]eling Prieſts) not to obey the Truth, were through obedience to wicked Spirits, mad after the Blood of the Innocent, that the devout Members of their Antichriſtian Church, did Act with that fury to the Quakers, as if they could never uſe too much Cruelty upon them, which was the more by the Prieſt-ridden Executioners, through the Prieſts pronouncing Woes and bitter Curſes againſt all ſuch as ſhould fail in the neglect of their work for the Devil, againſt both Quakers, Baptiſts, and them of the Church of England as well as againſt all other Diſſenters, which Curſes they ſtill back't with Scripture words, as aforeſaid, Judg. 5.23. Jer. 48.10. which work (as the wicked did, ſo theſe pretended) was done by them for the honour of God, and glory of his Name, and that their Church was the pureſt Reformed Church of all other Chriſtian Churches in the World, But if the pureity of a Church conſiſt in ſuch wicked works as they have done by virtue of unrighteous Laws againſt the People of God, and the Kings Subjects, then it is manifeſt (by the length of time in the like cruel bloody Work) that their Mother Church of Rome is more purer then theirs. But if Perſecution be the work of the Devil, (as by Scripture it is manifeſt ſo to be) then according to Chriſts own words, they are Children of him whoſe work they do; then it muſt conſequently follow, that Romes Church, being the firſt under the Name Chriſtian, found to perſecute, that all under that name found to perſecute, are her children, whom ſo often they call the great Whore.

The Devil's Work not only done to Quakers,

But all Diſſenters were in par [...] Pertakers.

New-England Perſecutors Law againſt the Kings Subjects.

[Page]

And it is further Ordered That whatſoever charge ſhall ariſe about apprehending, whipping, conveying, or otherwiſe about the Quakers, to be laid out by the Conſtable of ſuch Town where it is expended, and to be repaid by the Treaſurer, out of the next County Levy. And further ordered, That the Conſtables of their ſeveral Towns are hereby impowered, [...]rom time to time, to impreſs Cart, Oxen, and other Aſſiſtance, for the Execution of this Order. 1661.

Obſ. The Reader may hence underſtand, That for the cloaking of the Devils Work they made all their unrighteous Warrants run in the Kings Name, as if he was the Author of their cruel Work againſt Diſſenters, whenas it manifeſtly appears, both by the holy Scriptures, and alſo by the Kings Letter▪ (a Copy of which will follow) That they had no Warrant, Precept or Command either from God or the King, but did wholly act and do according to their own Wills, which ſtill remain the ſame, to work Miſchief againſt both Quakers; Baptists, and the Church of England alſo, (as will hereafter evidently appear) but their Horns at preſent are ſhortened, and their Cloak begins to appear threed-bare, and now their Hypocriſ [...]e and Deceit will no longer hide their Wickedneſs from the King and People, whoſe Money out of the Treaſury muſt ſerve to defray the Charge of the Devil's Work againſt the Kings good Subjects, who had taken from them, by the perſecuting Churches in New-England, to the value of Twenty Thouſand Pounds, for Fines impoſed upon them, becauſe Diſſenters from their way of Worſhip, whoſe Prieſts and Rulers had alſo of their People yearly Sallarys, according to the ſame Proportion of the aforeſaid Sum of twenty thouſand Pounds, through which means, as theſe Perſecutors lived at a high rate on that which others had laboured hard to get, went in thred-bare Coats, and their Families [Page] in want of that which was their own, and devoured by this perſecuting Crew aforeſaid; whereby their great Oppreſſion reached the whole People of the ordinary degree, even as a ſweeping Rain, that clears all before it.

Balaam's State is theirs, who for unrighteous Gain,

The People do Oppreſs, themſelves for to maintain.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the Kings Subjects Suſpended (during their pleaſure.)

This Court heretofore, for ſome Reaſons inducing, did judge meet to ſuſpend the Execution of the Laws againſt Quakers, as ſuch, ſo far as they reſpect corporal Puniſhment [...] Death, during the Courts pleaſure.

Obſ. That tho' theſe Perſecutors ſaw there was cauſe to ſuſpend their bloody Laws againſt the Kings good Subjects, ſo far as they did reſpect corporal Puniſhment or Death, yet it muſt be only during their own pleaſure, not the Kings, no, they could not ſtoop to that. But whether they did not herein manifeſt a Spirit of Rebellion againſt God, the Kings Order (as by his Letter will appear) and the Laws of the Engliſh Nation, I leave others to judge. Now the occaſion of procuring this Order from the King, was their great Cruelty in baniſhing ſober honeſt People out of their Juriſdiction upon Pain of Death, if they returned; for as before is ſaid of Dr. Child, Samuell Maverick, and other Merchants, whoſe Impriſonment and three hundred Pounds a piece, ſaved them from the New-England Gallows, and none, without the like hazard, might make complaint to England; but ſeveral baniſhed Quakers adventured to lay their ſaid ſuffering caſe before the King, whoſe mercifu [...] Ear heard their Cry, and took Compaſſion on his ſuffering Subjects, and forth-with ſtopt New-England Perſecutors wicked hands from ſhedding more innocent Blood, being acquainted with their great Wickedneſs, and knowing the manner of their Spirits, by what [Page] their Brother H. Peters, Vennor, & other of their N. England Brethren had done both againſt his Father and himſelf, as by his Letter he begins with them, as afterwards it proved ſo to be, as a wiſe man with the Tope Tile or covering of a fair outſide Building, whoſe inſide is full of all manner of Deceit, and the Foundation thereof very dangerous, by degrees, in working down-wards, till he comes to the Foundation, which afterwards was wholly removed, through the loſs of their Charter, which to them had been as an Idol Godd, in which they truſted as much as ever the People did in Baal; and if ever Silver and Gold procure ſuch another, it may be at a high Rate, and they are like to be as cruel as before. But the Engliſh Laws are far before New-England Idols.

God will not ever permit the Devils Power,

Nor wicked Men the Righteous to devour.

A Copy of the King's Letter.

Charles R.

‘TRuſty and well beloved, We greet you well Having been informed that ſeveral of Our Subjects amongſt you, called Quakers, have been and are Impriſoned by you, whereof ſome have been Executed, and others in danger to undergo the like, We have thought fit to ſignifie Our Pleaſure in that behalf, for the future, and do hereby Require, That if there be any of thoſe People called Quakers amongſt you, now already condemned to ſuffer Death, or are Impriſoned, and obnoctious to the like Condemnation, You are to [Page] forbear to proceed any further therein, but that you forth-with ſend the ſaid Perſons, whether condemned or impriſoned, over into this our Kingdom of England, together with their reſpective Crimes or Offences laid to their Charge, to the end ſuch courſe may be taken with them here, as ſhall be agreeable to our Laws, and their Demerits. And for ſo doing, theſe Our Letter ſhall be your ſufficient Warrant and Diſcharge.’

Given at our Court at White-hall, the 9th day of Septemb. 1661. in the 13th Year of Our Reign.

Subſcribed to Our truſty, & well-beloved John Endicot, Eſq and to all and every other Governours of Our Plantation of New-England, and to all the Collonies thereunto belonging, that now are, or hereafter ſhall be; and to all and every the Miniſters and Officers of Our ſaid Plantation and Collonies whatſoever within the Continent of New-England.

By His Majeſty's Command, W. Morris.

Obſ. Now theſe Perſecutors had nothing to charge theſe Innocent People with, but that they were Quakers, againſt whom they had provided a Law, but this Law was repugnant to the Laws of the Engliſh Nation; and therefore upon the receipt of the Kings Letter, they durſt do no other than ſet at liberty both them condemned to ſuffer Death, and thoſe impriſoned alſo; but herein they did not obey the Kings Command; for he commanded them to ſend theſe Quakers ſo impriſoned or condemned, over to England, with the particular Crimes laid to their charge; but this they would not do, and good reaſon why, they had to Crimes to lay to their [Page] Charge, but that they were Quakers. And being brought to this pinch, inſtead of ſending a Ship load of Quakers, and a large Roll of their Crimes of Treaſon, Rebellion, Subverſion of Government, &c. home to the King, they ſend a Ship load of Maſts for a Preſent to the King, with a parcell of horrid Wicked Lyes againſt the Quakers; to defray the charge of which Preſent, the poor Inhabitants were ſeveraly Rated. After which their great Deceit and abominable Hypocriſie, the King came to find out, not only in doing as aforeſaid, but upon many other accounts, too large here to relate; and before I conclude, enough againſt them will appear, to manifeſt their great Wickedneſs againſt God, the King and People. Yet notwithſtanding all this, they could not long forbear their old work of Perſecution, but ſoon put their Law in execution again; for the Kings Letter was dated, 1661. and they revived their old Law again in 1662. which was done more in obedience to the Devil, and to pleaſe their hireling Prieſts, than in honour to God, or reſpect to the King, againſt whom they did rebell in ſo doing, as appears by his Letter, and their not ſending any of the Quakers over into the Kingdom of England, but inſtead thereof ſent a Preſent with a parcell of Lyes, too large here to relate, and put their Law into Execution again, and as ſharp, cruel and barbarous was the Execution (reſpecting corporal puniſhment) as formerly, though the Towns were not to be ſo many in which they were to be whipt, yet the Whip with three ſingle hair twiſted ſmall Cords (each being knotted, fit for the Devil and Prieſts Work) was the ſame as before the Kings Letter came, and did ſo continue till near or about the time they loſt their Idol, viz. their old Charter, on which was their dependance, above GOD or KING, as is manifeſted by their Works.

Prieſts Rulers Masts for Ships, D [...]ceis and Lyes withall,

Poor People made to pay, for Preſents to White-hall.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt the Kings good Subjects, (upon Complaint of the Prieſts) put into Execution again.

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NOW foraſmuch as new Complaints are made to this Court, of ſuch Perſons abounding, eſpecially in the Eaſtern parts, endeavouring to draw away others to that wicked Opinion, it is Ordered, That the laſt Law, Tit. Vagabond Quakers, May 1661. be hence-forth in force, in all reſpects, provided, their Whipping be but through three Towns, and the Magiſtrate or Commiſſioner ſigning the Warrant, ſhall appoint both the Towns, and number of Stripes in each Town to be given, 1662.

Obſ. Here by comparing this their Date to their Law, with the date of the Kings Letter, how little regard they had to the Kings Mind and Will therein contained, which was, whether condemned to ſuffer Death, or Impriſoned, or to ſuffer corporal Puniſhment, to forbear to proceed any further therein, but forthwith to ſend the ſaid Perſons over into the Nation of England, with the reſpective Crimes or Offences laid to their Charge, to the end ſuch courſe might be taken with them, according to the Nature of the Offence, as ſhould be agreeable to the Engliſh Laws. Which expreſs command of the King was but a ſmall time minded by them; for upon their conſidering the cauſe ſome ſmall time, propoſed to themſelves, that by virtue of their Idol Charter, they had as much Power in New-England as the King had in Old-England, and had they the like ſtrength of Men and Shipping, would (no doubt) with ſtand all Kings and Princes that ſhould adventure to oppoſe their way; now had not I my ſelf heard ſome of them ſay theſe things, durſt not have charg'd it here upon them, to publick view; and for a further evidence of the ſame, witneſs their Proclaiming, (with a Trumpet before them,) againſt the Kings Commiſſioners in Boſton, perſwading the People, (as near as [Page] as they could) That their Commiſſions were made under a Hedge, with much [...] of the like Nature, too [...]orge here to [...] relate.

Prieſts Rulerr bloody Work, on People hath brought Wo,

With their conſent that ſilent were to have it ſo.

They'r Works of him that is of Hell,

'Gainſt God and King all ſuch Rebell.

New-England Perſecutors Law against the Kings Subjects.

Whereas it may be found amongſt us, that mens Threſholds are ſet up by Gods Threſholds, and mens Poſts by Gods Poſts, eſpecially in open Meetings of the QƲAKERS, whoſe damnable Hereſies, and abominable Idolatries are hereby promoted, imbraced ând practiſed, to the Scandal of Religion, hazard of Souls and provocation of divine Jealouſie againſt this People. For Prevention and Reformation whereof, it is Ordered by this Court, and the Authority thereof, That every Perſon found at a Quakers Meeting, ſhall be apprehended, ex Officio, by the Conſtable, and by Warrant from a Magiſtrate or Commiſſioner, ſhall be committed to the Houſe of Correction, and there to have the Diſcipline of the Houſe applyed unto them, and to be kept to work with Bread and Water for three days together: and then to be releaſed; or elſe ſhall pay a fine of five Pounds in Money, to the Country, for every ſuch Offence; and all Conſtables neglecting their Duty, in not faithfully executing this Order, ſhall incur the Penalty of 5 l. upon conviction, one third part whereof to the Informer.

[Page] Obſ. The Reader may here take Notice of one of theſe Perſecutors many horrid and wicked Lyes, ſo proved by their Contradiction, who in their Preambles to their Laws, accuſe the Quakers with keeping their Meetings private, yet at unawares in their Bridewell Law they charge the contrary; and though they pretend the ſin is great, yet it may be bought off for five Pounds in Money, as often as they pleaſe; but the ſaid Sum not being paid them by any one, they were much enraged thereat, finding their covetous deſign in making ſaid Law, diſappointed, becauſe it reach no further than to puniſh them that were not free to pay 5 l. for being at a Quakers Meeting, as aforeſaid, the Penalty of which Law ſeveral Merchants in Boſton ſuffered, rather than to diſobey God, by ſatisfying the luſt of ſuch covetous Prieſts and Rulers, who prefer the love of Money before puniſhing for that which themſelves account ſo great ſins, as by the Preamble of their Laws they pretend theſe above-mentioned to be.

Their bloody Laws are almoſt done,

Which Work the Prieſts at first begun.

New-England Perſecutors Preamble to their Laws againſt provoking Evils, as they call them.

Whereas the moſt wiſe & holy God for theſe ſeveral years paſt, hath not only warned us by his word, but chaſtized us with his Rod, inflicting upon us many general Judgments, but we have neither heard the word nor rod as we ought to be effectually humbled for our ſins, to repent of them, hence it is the righteous God hath hightened our Calamity, and given Commiſſion to the barbarous Heathen to riſe up againſt us, and become a ſmart Rod and ſevere Scourge to us, in burning and depopulating ſeveral hopeful [Page] Plantations, murdering many of our Inhabitants of all ſorts, and ſeeming, as it were, to caſt us off, and putting us to ſhame, and not going forth with our Arms, hereby ſpeaking aloud to us, to ſearch and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord our God, from whom we have departed with great back-ſliding

Obſ. That to acknowledge the Truth is well, and well would it be indeed if they were found acknowledging the whole Truth, and to repent of ſhedding innocent Blood, which is the great ſin of New-England Prieſts and Rulers, as alſo of the conſenting Church Members thereof; but of this there is no mention made in their Preamble-confeſſion of words, without Works of Truth and Righteouſneſs to God and People, according as is at large manifeſt by their afore-mentioned Laws, the neglect of which Execution was by their Prieſts imputed to be the main cauſe of general Judgment to come upon them. But they uſe to ſay, If all the Quakers were hanged, and all other Diſſenters clear'd out of their Juriſdiction, then would their Land enjoy Peace: Unto which Work the Rulers were bewitched, ſo far as the Devil was permitted to drive them, who were as willing to run, and to work they went againſt all Diſſenters, and ſet forth a Book againſt the Baptiſts, entituled, The Riſe and Foundation of the curſed Sect of Annabaptiſts, in which was as many Lyes as they uſe to gather for their Pulpit Work on the firſt Day againſt the Quakers, which Lyes to hear alſo coſts the People Money.

None are more blind than thoſe that will not ſee,

The cauſe for which Gods general Judgments be.

New-England Perſecutors Law againſt Provoking Evils, as they call them.

1. This Court apprehending there is too great a neglect of Diſcipline in the Churches, and eſpecially reſpecting [Page] thoſe that are their Children, through the non acknowledgment of them, according to the Order of the Goſpel, [...] watching over them, as well as Catechizing of them inquiring into their ſpiritual ſtates, that being brought to take hold of the Covenant, they may acknowledge, and be acknowledged, according to their relation to God and his Church, and their Obligation to be the Lords, and approve themſelves ſo to be by a ſuitable Profeſſion and Converſation; And do therefore ſolemnly recommend it unto the reſpective Elders and Brethren of the Churches throughout this [...]uriſdiction, to take effectual courſe for the Reformation therein.

Obſ. By the afore-mentioned cruel bloody Laws againſt the People of God, what nature their Church Government was of, in which Covenant, the words, Beware of the Leaven of the Phariſees ▪ was put of, and inſtead thereof they put in, Beware of the Leaven of the Quakers; for which ſee Salem Church Covenant, ſo called▪ cauſed to be ſo done by their high Prieſt, John Higinſon, who in his preaching told the People, The Quakers Light was a ſtinking Vapour from Hell, with much more of the like, as was uſual with him in his daily Preaching and Teaching againſt the Quakers, Baptiſts, and other Diſſenters, this Old-Charter Prieſt, with other of his devout Church-Brethren in Iniquity, uſe to wiſh their Children might be Rogues and Whores, rather than Quakers; which was too [...] (tho juſtly fullfilled upon many of them, as well as upon this old Prieſts, whoſe Daughter was highly accuſed of Witch-craft, and now maintained by the Pariſh. It is dreadful to conſider what Wickedneſs is in mens hearts, to wiſh ſuch horrid Wiſhes, as the Jews did, Mat. 27.25. which juſtly came upon them, as upon theſe of the like Spirit.

No Members Child, a Member t [...]en could be,

From Quakers Blood in all reſpects found free.

New-England Perſecutors Laws against provoking Evils, as they call them.

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2. Whereas there is manifeſt Pride openly appearing amongſt us, in that long hair is worn by ſome men, either their own, or the hair of others made into Perriwigs▪ and by ſome Women wearing Borders of Hair, and their cutting and curling, and laying out their Hair; which Practiſe doth prevail and increaſe, eſpecially among the Younger ſort. This Court doth declare againſt this evil Practiſe, as Offenſive to them and divers ſober Chriſtians amongſt us, and therefore do hereby Enact and Adviſe all Perſons to uſe moderation in this reſpect. And further, to impower all Grand Juries to preſent to the County Courts all ſuch Perſons, whether Male or Female, whom they ſhall judge to exceed in the Premiſes; and the County Courts are authorized to proceed againſt ſuch Delinquents, either by Admonition, or Fine, or Correction, according to their good Diſcretion.

Obſ. That through the long continuance of Diſobedience▪ which is as Rebellion, and the ſin of Witchcraft, being highly guilty▪ of Innocent Blood, theſe Perſecutors had loſt their Dominion over their own Families, who began to run into great Superfluity and E [...]travagancy of thoſe things which were not comely, decent and of good Report, in which they did greatly increaſe, and now abound beyond all the Power of their Laws to reſtrain. Where [...]o [...]e they may now ſee, their ungodly wicked Wiſhes are come both upon themſelves and Children; for the Curſe of the Lord remaineth in the Houſe of th [...]m that have either actually or by conſent been found before the Lord guilty of ſhedding Innocent Blood, Prov. 3.33. Mal. [...].1, 12, 3.

From all evil Wiſhes, pray God delive [...] me,

And from all Wickedneſs me and mine keep free.

N. England Perſecutors Laws againſt provoking Evils, as the [...] call them.

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3. Notwithſtanding the wholſom Laws already made by this Court for the reſtraining Exceſs in Apparel, yet through the corruption in many, and neglect of due execution or thoſe Laws, the evil of Pride in Apparel, both for coſtlineſs in the poorer ſort, and vain new ſtrange Faſhions, both in Poor and Rich, with naked Breaſts and Arms, or as it were pinnioned with the Addition of Superfluous Ribbands, both on Hair and Apparel, for redreſs whereof, it is Ordered by this Court, That the County Courts, from time to time, ſhall give ſtrict Charge to preſent all ſuch Perſons, as they ſhall judge exceed in that kind; & if the grand Jury ſhall neglect their duty herein, the County Courts ſhall impoſe a Fine upon them at their own Diſcretion.

Obſ. The outward Appearance of theſe Perſecutors, by their ſmooth words & ſair ſpeeches, as alſo their ſhort hair even or above their Ears, with high crownd Hats, peacked Boards, as likewiſe their two or three inch broad Bands, and their Apparel agreeable thereunto, by which they appeared in the outward, like men differing from all other people whatſoever, which with their Prieſts dayly preaching, and their often loud praying, and their works not agreeable with their words, were by their fruits manifeſted to be men of the like Spirit whom Chriſt bid▪ beware of, Mat. 7.15. which the more to be accounted good Chriſtians, under which name they pretended all their proceedings againſt the evil of pride, to be for the honour of God, and the good of the People Souls, when on the contrary it appears otherwiſe, by their ſelling that which themſelves account ſin, for money, which doth clearly manifeſt their work to be done in honour to themſelves, whoſe love is to the Peoples Money, for the ſatisfying their own coveteous Deſire [...] ▪ which work doth manifeſt Cove [...]ſneſs, Pride and Oppreſion [Page] and Oppreſſion in ſuch Prieſts and Rulers that eat up the ſin of the People, Hoſ. 4.8·9. Micah 3.11.

Gods Cauſe is that to which they do pretend,

But all men may ſee, Money is their end.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt provoking Evils, as they call them.

And it is further ordered, That the County Court, ſingle Magiſtrate or Commiſſioners Court in Boſton, have hereby Power to ſummons all ſuch perſons ſo offending, before them, and for the firſt Offence to admoniſh them, and for each offence of that kind afterwards to impoſe a fine of Ten Shillings upon them, or if unable to pay, to inflict ſuch puniſhment as ſhall be by them thought moſt ſuitable to the nature of the Offence; and the ſame Judges above-named are hereby impowered to judge of, and execute the Laws already extant againſt ſuch Exceſs.

Obſ. Whipping, or the like puniſhment, was only to ſuch perſons unable to pay their Fine, though the offence was no breaeh of any Engliſh Law, but theſe Sin-ſellers Laws are diſtinct from all the Laws of other Nations that I have read or heard of, and indeed, in moſt things their Doctrines, Principles and Practices the ſame, which are not only condemned by all true Chriſtians, but alſo by the Indians, Turks and other moral Heathens, who abhor the practice of living upon the Fines of people not found to tranſgreſs the Law or Laws of their Nation, as theſe New-England Prieſts and Rulers do, whoſe income for ſuch like things, by them imputed to the Peoples tranſgreſſing ſuch like Laws as aboveſaid, is no leſs then Twelve Hundred Pounds a year, beſides fifteen hundred Pounds a year from Perſons chiefly of their own Churches, for the ſin of Uncleanneſs, as alſo ſome years, no leſs then forty Hundred Pounds a year for Fine [...] ▪ which [Page] they compelled from the people of God and the Kings good Subjects diſſenting from their Prieſts Worſhip, with which, and ten Thouſand Pounds yearly paid the Prieſts for preaching, and as much yearly paid the Rulers for making Laws and Judging; all which came out of the poor Peoples labour within the bounds of New-Englands Prieſts and Rulers.

Where men can make what Laws they pleaſe,

Such Prieſts and Rulers live at eaſe.

New-England Perſecutors Laws againſt provoking Evils, as t [...]y call them.

It is ordered by this Court. That no perſon within this Juriſdiction, nor any of their Relations depending upon them, whoſe viſible Eſtates, real and perſonal, ſhall not exceed the true value of two hundred Pounds, ſhall not wear any Gold or Silver Buttons, or Gold or Silver Lace, or Bone Lace above two Shillings per yard, or Silk Hoods, or Silk Scarſs, Points or Ribbands, or great Boots, upon the penalty of ten Shillings for every ſuch Offence.

And further ordered by the Authority aforeſaid, That the Select men of every Town, are hereby impowered, enabled and required to aſſe [...]s every ſuch Perſon ſo offending, in any of the Particulars above-mentioned, in the Country Rates, at two hundred Pounds Eſtates, according as ſuch men pay to whom ſuch apparel is allowed. Alwayes provided, That this Law ſhall not extend to the Reſtraint of any Magiſtrate, or publick Officer of this Juriſdiction, their Wives and Children, who are left to their own diſcretion in wearing Apparel, or any ſettled Military Officer, or Souldier in the time of Military Service, or any other whoſe Education and imployment have been above the [Page] ordinary Degree, or whoſe Eſtates have been conſiderable, though now deacyed; 1651.

It is further ordered and Enacted by this Court, and the Authority thereof, that all Perſons within this Juriſdiction that ſhall wear any Apparel exceeding their quality and Condition of their Perſons or Eſtates, and either of theſe be ſo Judged by the Grand Jury and County Court of that ſhire where ſuch complaint is made, all ſuch Perſons being convicted, ſhall for the firſt Offence be admoniſhed, for the ſecond Offence pay a Fine of twenty Shillings, for the third Offence forty Shillings a time, and ſo following as the Offences are multiplied, to pay forty Shillings a time [...]o the Treaſurer of that County.

And further ordered, That if any Taylor ſhall make or faſhion any Garment for Children or Servants contrary to the mind and order of their Parents or Governours, every ſuch Taylor ſhall for the firſt Offence be admoniſhed, and for the ſecond Offence, forfeit double the value of ſuch Apparel or Garment as he ſhall make or faſhion contrary to the mind and order of ſuch Parents or Governours, as aforeſaid, the one half thereof to the Owner, and the other half to the Country. And all Grand-Jurys are hereby enjoyned to preſent all thoſe whomthey ſhall judge breakers of this Order. 1662.

Obſ. That in the year aforeſaid, 1662. through the Prieſts advice they were hot in perſecuting both Quakers, Baptiſts, and all other Diſſenters, thinking thereby to fine and whip the Chriſtians from [Page] their Religion, which according to the advice of their hireli [...]g Prieſts, being in hopes to do, that when they had ſo done, and over-come the aforeſaid provoking evils of Pride in Apparel, that God would the more hear their loud Prayers▪ and remove his great Judgments from amongſt them; for it is certainly true, my ſelf is witneſs to the ſame, that have often heard them ſay, That Gods Judgments would never remove from amongſt them, till all the Quakers and other Diſſenters were hanged, or cleared out of their Juriſdiction. And for another Inſtance, [...]once was preſent, when Thomas Maule of Salem came to one of the aforeſaid Rulers, for a Warrant to ſearch for one hundred Pounds worth of Silks and other rich Goods ſtole out of his ſhop the night before, to whom this Ruler anſwered, He would grant him no Warrant, but would complain to the Court of any man that did grant him a Warrant to ſearch for his Goods. Moreover, in my hearing ſaid to him, If a man knock you on the head, or hang you▪ the recompence is in your own hands; for you are not to be protected by the Laws of this Government. This was the Juſtice of this great Ruler and Church Member, free of their Body Politick, as they call themſelves, whoſe Laws allow that Apparel to themſelves which to others they impute the wearing of, to be one of the provoking Evils; for which Offence (as they call it) the Offender (by their Law) muſt be equally rated with ſuch to whom the Law allows the ſaid Apparel, as alſo to pay 40 s. a time, as the Offences multiply; and if not able to pay, then to be puniſhed.

Pride, Oppreſſion and Covetouſneſs abound,

All which by Priests and Rulers Law is found.

New-England Perſecutors Laws against provoking Evils, as they call them.

Whereas there is much Prophaneneſs amongſt us, in Perſons turning their backs upon the publick Worſhip before it be finiſhed, and the bleſſing pronounced, It is Ordered by this Court, That the Officers of the Churches, [Page] or ſelect men, ſhall take care to prevent ſuch Diſorders, by appointing Perſons to ſhut the Meeting-houſe Doors, or any other meet way to attain the end.

Obſ. The time was now near at hand in which all their wicked Works againſt Diſſenters, as well as on other accounts, came to be throughly looked into by the King and Powers in England, who found their Unrighteouſneſs ſo great, that, as before related, their building began a pace to be overthrown, which People perceiving, many of the Prieſts Hearers began to give little heed or regard to their Idol Worſhip, to which they had been ſo long kept for divers years, meerly by the ſtrength of unrighteous Laws; and now at this time finding the Prieſts and Rulers ſtrength to confide in little more beſides the Meeting-houſe Doors, in a little time after they had been in Meeting, were willing to depart, without hearing any more of the Prieſts long winded Railing againſt the Baptists, Quakers, and all other Diſſenters; for which cauſe, I ſay, many Perſons turning their backs upon the Worſhip before it was finiſhed, and the Money-bleſſing pronounced, the Prieſts Money Box, always when done, held out by one of the Church Officers, would fall much ſhort of the Prieſts pay for his Sermon, to what it uſe to do, when their cruel Laws were in more force than at this time; but the ſtrength of their Meeting-houſe Doars, did at length alſo fail; yet at times, as the evil Spirit moved in them, they muſt run whom the Devil permits to drive into ſuch Unrighteouſneſs, would be afflicting one Diſſenter or another, eſpecially by Fines, which by Cart loads of Corn I have then ſeen the Prieſts drudges fetch from the People called Baptiſts, as alſo Goods and Cattle from others.

It was Prophaneneſs, as theſe Perſecutors ſay,

I find the Cauſe, the Prieſts did want more pay.

Old Charter Magiſtrates Hypocriſie, with an Inſtance of their Deceit and Cheat amongst themſelves, at their General High-Court of Injuſtice to others.

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An eminent Merchant in Boſton, who is ſaid to have erected the Town-Houſe at his own charge, beſides ſeveral other conſiderable Gifts to publick Uſes, he kept an honeſt ſober young Man to ſell his Merchandize, and its like ſomewhat differing in Judgment from their Prieſts way of Worſhip; he through a miſtake ſold a Bridle for ſomething more than was allowed by theſe Rulers for men to advance on the Shilling; and being complained of was fined a great Sum of Money, and beſides was ordered to ſtand one hour in a publick Place with the Bridle in his Chaps; and the Fine was divided amongſt the Magiſtrates, as one of them teſtified, who being out of Court at the time when the Diviſion was made, was by his Brethren in Iniquity defrauded of his ſhare, who was ſo offended at the ſame, that he openly complained of the Wrong he had received by his Brethren in this matter.

Obſ. You may perceive, that theſe Old Charter-men had ſtrange kind of Laws, whereby to enrich themſelves and impoveriſh others, as is already proved by their aforeſaid unrighteous Laws, ſo alſo by this it appears to agree with the ſame. That no Merchant muſt advance more than 4 d. profit in the Shilling, for Goods from England, by means of which Law their Cloathing and Neceſſaries were to them, & all of their way, at a cheap rate; for themſelves were only Merchants of Law, and their Prieſts Merchants of that which they call their Goſpel; which Law is their Wills, and their [Page] Goſpel other mens Lines made ready to their hands; but the Laws of the Engliſh Nation are otherwiſe, and the true Goſpel, to them that believe, is the Power of God to Salvation.

By Religion, with Deceit,

Makes Hypocrites to be a Cheat.

A brief Account of ſome of the Three Hundred and Nine Perſons that ſuffered Perſecution under the Anti-chriſtian Power of the New-England Church, beſides thoſe four Servants of the Lord cruelly-Murthered by a Law made at the Rulers and Prieſts high Court of Injuſtice against Diſſenters found within their Juriſdiction belonging to Boſton, which are as followeth, viz.

NIcholas Ʋpſhall, an old Man full of Years, ſeeing their Cruelty to the harmleſs Quakers, and that they had condemned ſome of them to dye, both he and elder Wiſewell, or otherwiſe Deacon Wiſewell, Members of the Church in Boston, bore their Teſtimonies in publick againſt their Brethrens horrid Cruelty to the ſaid Quakers. And the ſaid Ʋpſhall declared, That he did look at it as a ſad fore-runner of ſome heavy Judgment to follow upon the Country; Which they took ſo ill at his hands, that they fined him Twenty Pounds, and three Pound more at another of their Courts, for not coming to their Meeting, and would not abate him one Grote, but impriſoned him, and then baniſhed him on pain of Death; which was done in a time of ſuch extream bitter Weather for Froſt, Snow and Cold, that had not the Heathen Indians in the Wilderneſs Woods taken compaſſion on his Miſery, for the winter Seaſon, he in all likelihood had periſhed, though he had then in Boston a good Eſtate in Houſes and Land, Goods and Money, as alſo Wife and [Page] Children, but not ſuffered to come unto him, nor he to them but more of his Sufferings are at large related in the Books of the Quakers Suffering Perſecution under the Anti-chriſtian Power of the New-England Church, and ſo proved to be by their fore-going Laws. And more of their Cruelty will here follow.

The next I ſhall mention is Anne Burden, whoſe Husband being dead, and having left Money due to him from ſeveral in New-England, his ſaid Widdow came into their Juriſdiction to get in the ſaid Debts, for the uſe of her ſelf and Children. Now th [...]ſe Perſecutors had nothing to charge her with, but that ſhe was a plain Quaker, and for that, and coming into their Juriſdiction ſhe muſt abide the Penalty of their Law, and which they executed upon her, and then ſent her away without getting in her juſt Debts, for which ſhe came into their Juriſdiction. Which was one of their inventions to pay Debts to Diſſenters with, eſpecially the Quakers.

Chriſtopher Holder and John Copeland, men of good Eſtates, and of good Life amongſt men, for being of thoſe called Quakers, and coming into their Juriſdiction, and declaring the Truth, were cruelly whipt with their old wonted Whip of three fold Cords, each being well knotted, fit for their Church work, where-with their Member Whipper gave each of theſe men Thirty Stripes a piece, which were ſo cruelly laid on, that at the ſight of their torn fleſh and bloody backs, a tender-hearted Perſon fell down dead; after they had been thus whipt, they were put into Bridewell, and there kept for three days without Bread or Water; and with their wounded backs were forced to lie on the Boards without Bed or Straw; and for Nine VVeeks were kept cloſe Priſoners, where none, except the Goaler (that devout Member) could come unto them. After which, both they and Coll. Rous's Son of Barbadoes had their Ears cut by the Member of their Peace, viz. the common Hang-man. Now the reaſon why John Rous eſcaped with the cutting his Ears only, was the kindneſs they had for him, in reſpect to the knowledge they had of his Father, and his being a Gentleman, as is more at large in the ſaid Book of Sufferings.

[Page] Mary Clark, a Merchants VVife in London, who for being called a Quaker, and coming into their Juriſdiction, muſt undergo their Law, though a Mother of Children and tender of Body, to which they had no regard but after their manner impriſoned her for twelve VVeeks, and with their Church VVhip, fitted as aforeſaid, for their Prieſts work, gave her weak tender Body twenty cruel Stripes, which was the more harder laid on by reaſon of their Hirelings ſaying, The Quakers did not flinch for their being ſo whipt, becauſe the Devil was got between the skin and the fleſh, or the fleſh and the Bone; but more of this is to be ſeen in the Book of Sufferings, under the Anti-chriſtian Power of New-England's Prieſts and Rulers.

Lawrence Southwick and his VVife, an antient grave couple, either one or both of them being Members of their Church in Salem, who in good Nature differed from moſt part of the ſaid Church, for their entertaining ſome ſtrangers called Quakers, were fined, and their Goods taken away; beſides, their Sons and Daughters were great Sufferers, by long Impriſonment and cruel VVhipping, as alſo, they had their Goods taken away by the Prieſts Drudge [...], and ſome of the ſaid Southwicks Children were ordered to be ſold for Bond-ſlaves; and he and his VVife, and Son Joſiah, either the one or all three of them were baniſhed the Juriſdiction upon pain of Death.

Horred Gardner, a Mother of many Children, & a young VVoman with her, having a young Infant at the Breaſt, both which VVomen were impriſoned and cruelly whipt, with more of the like Cruelty, as is to be ſeen in the ſaid Book of Sufferings.

Richard Dowdney, An honeſt harmleſs Man, tho [...] after the Romiſh Invention, was commi [...]ted to Priſon and whipt, after their uſual manner, with thirty Stripes, with which his fleſh was ſo torn and cut in pieces, that many People lamented at the ſight thereof, that ſuch an innocent man as he was ſhould be ſo horribly abuſed, as in ſaid Book of Sufferings is more at large to be ſeen.

[Page] Sarah Gibbins and Dorothy Waugh, two young VVomen, for being of thoſe called Quakers, and coming into their Juriſdiction, had for their entertainment in Boſton, the fleſh of their backs beaten to pieces by their Prieſts chief VVorkman, viz. the Executioner of their Law at their Gallows, and when ſo whipt was by another Member of their Churches Peace, viz. their Goaler, ſhut up in a cloſe Room, where none was ſuffered to come unto them, and there kept three days together without all manner of Food. And at another time kept them eight days without all manner of Proviſion; and had not the Lord preſerved them at this time, beyond what men of themſelves are able to do, they had periſhed under the Cruelty of the New-England Church; their ſaid Sufferings are more at large to be ſeen in the ſaid Book of Sufferings.

William Shattock, an Inhabitant in Boſton, for being one firſt day found in his Houſe alone, was by one of the Prieſts drudges carried to their Houſe of Oppreſſion, for entertaining of Strangers; and in the time of his being kept there with the like whipping, ſome of the Prieſts crew endeavoured to perſwade his Wife wholly to leave him, and that they would place out his Children to Maſters of Families, that tended their Meetings, whoſe ſuffering is more at large to be ſeen in the ſaid Book of Sufferings.

Thomas Harris, for declaring againſt Pride and Oppreſſion (which the guilty proud Oppreſſors itching Ears could not endure to hear) was committed to their Houſe of Oppreſſion, where the Goaler (that devout Member of their Church ſhut him up, and kept him eleven days, five of which he kept him without Bread; and though he had before been cruelly whipt, yet this mercileſs Wretch gave his Weak bruiſed Body Twenty blows with a pitched Rope, whoſe ſufferings are more at large to be ſeen in the Quakers book of ſufferings, as aforeſaid.

Several Innocent Women called Quakers, had their Bodies ſearched for Witches, which work was done by the old Member [Page] women, with ſuch cruelty to their Bodies, that one of the Women ſaid, ſhe did not the like trouble undergo in bearing and bringing forth five Children, beſides what more they ſuffered under the power of thoſe who were as free to run as the Devil was to drive them to perform his luſt in the doing the aforeſaid Anti-chriſtian work, of which more is to be ſeen in the aforeſaid Books of the Quakers ſuffering under the Anti-chriſtian power of New-Englands Churches.

William Brend, for coming into Boſtons Juriſdiction, where all the aforeſaid work of Anti-chriſt was acted and done, and for being one of them called a Quaker, and declaring the Truth, was cruelly whipt, and ſhut up into cloſe Priſon, where the Goaler and devout Member of their Church, lockt his Neck and Heels together, ſo cloſe that there was only room for the Lock to go between, in which manner he kept him ſixteen hours, and then gave his weak bruiſed Body One Hundred and Seventeen Blows with a pitched Rope; having thus beaten him for dead, an out cry was among the People, That the Goaler had killed a man; which to appeaſe the People, bills were ſet upon the Priſon doors, and elſe where, That the Goaler ſhould be dealt with; but ſaid Brends coming to life again (though the Doctors ſaid, it would be admitable if he did recover, for his fleſh was beaten into a meer Gelly of Blood, however, as God would have it, he came to recover again, then to prevent the Goalers being puniſhed for this his great peice of Wickedneſs to ſaid Brend, John Horton their chief high Prieſt ſaid, if William Brend will endeavour to beat our Goſpel Ordinances black and blew, it was juſt upon him if he was beaten black and blue; and withall in ſaid Book, that his counſel was to his Church▪ Brethren in Iniquity, To put off the Bear skin, and put on the Fox Skin; which indeed is [...]eling Prieſt like, the more to deceive poor ignorant. People, of whom God hath opened the Eyes of many, by which they ſee hirelings deceit.

William Robinſon a Merchant, Ma [...]maduke Stevinſon, and William Leddra, as Informed the one a clothe [...] the other a husband man▪ and Mary Dier wife to Mr Dier of Rode Iſland, all which four were [Page] [...]eat ſufferers In Boſtons Juriſdiction under the cruel bloody hands of the Church Members, before they drove them with great number of their Prieſts club man to their bloody alter, and many more by the Prieſts and Rulers with their con [...]enting Members in Iniquity, were intended to be ſhe [...]leed an offering to their Anger and Revenge, had not the Kings Letter as aforeſaid, ſtopt their bloody hands, and when the Prieſts drudges, with their m [...]ny Swords, Staves, Guns and Drums to drown the Teſtimony of the Lords Servants from being heard among the People, had drove them to their Bloody Altar, where they chearfully delivered up their Lives for the Truth of God and Teſtimony of Jeſus, which was to the beholders Admiration, and great rage of their Perſecutors; when they were executed they cut down their Bodies, letting them fall, to the breaking the Skulls of ſome, and ripped off their Shirts, dragging their naked Bodies either by the heels, or with a Rope, and as they dragged them, gnaſhed their Teeth with meer Madneſs, as they went on with their work of dragging their Bodies to a filthy ſtinking Pit, into which they threw ſome of their naked Bodies, and never would grant their Freinds liberty to ſecure their bodies from Ravenous Creatures, by putting about the place any manner of fence whatſoever.

Seeing the Wickedneſs of theſe Perſecutors to be great, and their Lyes againſt the People of God many, I ſhall here give one inſtance of the many which might be produced to prove them lyars that [...]ay The Quakers might have had their liberty to have been gone, but would not accept it, therefore ſay ſuch Lyers, they were accaſſary to their own Death. But to prove the contrary here is the copy of a Merchants letter in print, who was no Quaker but an eye and ear witneſs to what follows, viz.

Boston, the 26th of March, 1661.

ON the 14th of this Inſtant here was one William Leddra put to Death▪ The People of the Town [Page] told me, he might go away if he would; but when I made further enquiry, I heard the Marſhall ſay, that he was chained in Priſon from the time he was condemned, to the day of Execution. I am not of his Opinion, but yet truly me thought the Lord did mightily appear in the Man. I goes to one of the Magiſtrates of Cambridge, who had been of the Court that condemned him, as he told me himſelf; and I asked him by what Rule he did it? he anſwerd me, That he was a Rogue, a very Rogue. But what is this to the Queſtion, ſaid I? Where is your Rule? He ſaid, He had abuſed Authority. Then I goes to the man and asked him, Whether he did not look on it as a breach of Rule, to ſlight and undervalue Authority? and ſaid, That Paul gave Feſtus the Title of Honour, though he were a Heathen; I do not ſay, thoſe Magiſtrates are Heathens. I ſaw then when the Man was on the Ladder, he looked on me, and called me Friend, and ſaid, Know, that this day I am willing to offer up my Life for the Witneſs of Jeſus. Then I deſired leave of one of the Officers to ſpeak; I ſaid, Gentlemen, am a ſtranger both to your Perſons and Country, and yet a Friend to both (and I cryed aloud) for the Lords ſake take not away the mans Life: I ſaid, Remember Gamaliels counſel to the Jews, If this be of God it will ſtand, if not, it will come to Nothing; but be care [...]ul you be not found fighters againſt God. And the Captain ſaid, Why had not you come to the Priſon. And the reaſon was, becauſe I heard the Man might go if he would, and therefore I called him down from the Tree, Come down William, ſaid I, you may go away if you will. Then Capt. Oliver ſaid, it was [Page] no ſuch matter, and asked me, what I had to do with it▪ and beſides, told me to be gone. I told him, I was willing, for I cannot endure to ſee this. And when I was in the Town, ſome did ſeem to ſimpathize my Grief, but I told them, they had no Warrant from the Word of God, not Preſident from our Country, nor Power from his Majeſty to hang the man. I reſt,

Your Friend, THOMAS WILKY.

Samuell Shattock, Joſhua Bufsum, John Small, John Barton, John Smith, Edward Wharton, Samuell Gaskill, Danell Southwick, his Father and Mother, Siſters and Brother, and John Kitchin and his Wife, with others in Salem, were great Sufferers by theſe Perſecutors, both by long Impriſonment, cruel Whipping, loſs of abundance of Goods & Cattle, beſides Land of John Smiths, and ſeveral baniſhed upon pain of Death, and others of them ordered to be ſold for Bond-ſlaves; all theſe were of Salem, and more of the ſame Town ſuffered much.

Obſ. By the fore going Lines the Reader may perceive how they have Perſecuted all perſons differing in Judgment from the way of their Prieſts Worſhip. In the next place I ſhall here Inſtance a little relating to what them of the Church of England ſuffered; by which the Reader may the better underſtand their bold attempts, who neither fear God nor regard King or Biſhops. Firſt, you note the manner of ſettleing their Courts, viz. the manner was and yet is, at the opening of their Courts to have ſome one or more of their Prieſts to pray, and to make tedious long inſiped Graces, as they call them, before and after Meals, as alſo to conſult what Penalties and Sufferings were moſt fit to [...]e inflicted on Offenders againſt their Arbitrary and unjuſt Law, and eſpecially againſt any that were found to diſſent from their way of Worſhip, in which caſt the Prieſts Advice would commonly be, to lay on load enough, [Page] and the Advice was believed to be ſanctified, though at the ſame time, they could not but underſtand they drank the Wine of the condemned, ſo expreſly charged as a ſin on the Magiſtrates, Rulers and Prieſts of Jeruſalem, of no ſmall provocation to the holy One of [...]ſrael, though the matter in Controverſy relating to ſuch as diſſented from their Prieſts Worſhip, was no matter of Offence againſt the Law of God, nor the Laws of the Engliſh Nation, notwithſtanding they minded not, but would proceed, according to their own wills without reſpect to any, no, not ſo much as to the Church of England, of which many ſuffered under the New-England Church, which pretended to make no ſeperation in point of Faith and Doctrine, as witneſs that Letter of their fore fathers and Leaders into this Land, from on board the Arrabella, to the Biſhops and Fathers of the Church of England, calling them Brethren, and begging their Prayers, and as who would know more of it, let them ſee it in a little book printed at Boſton by Joſhua Scottaway, about the year 1693. remarkable in that it is ſet forth by a Member of their own Communion; but how well they carried it to the Church of England, and its Sons, theſe few of the many Inſtances which might be produced, may ſufficently evidence againſt them, that they ſpared not any found to diſſent from their Prieſts way of Worſhip, as for Inſtance, Dr. Childs, Samuel Maverick and other Merchants, of whom I have before hinted, were of the way of worſhip of the Engliſh Church, and by theſe Perſecuto [...] cruel Laws, were not ſuffered to have the leaſt benefit of or by th [...]t Worſhip; and being wholly denyed of their priviledge, belonging to the Worſhip of the Church of England, they were found to Petition to England, for the maintaining their Right in Boston, but ſo ſoon as this was known to theſe Perſecutors, they impeacht the aforeſaid Perſons of High Rebellion, for attempting the ſame, and forth-with impriſoned them, and fined each of them three hundred Pounds, the wh [...]ch Money was the means of their eſcaping the New-England Church Members Ga [...]lows, wh [...]ch was not only, for Murderers, and the like, but alſo for th [...]ſe that diſſented from their Prieſts Worſhip, and were found to Petition to England for freedom and liberty of the Engliſh Churches way of Worſhip, as of [Page] the like Nature more will appear againſt theſe Perſecutors by what follows.

2. The next was their aim to puniſh Mr. Jordan, who was a Preacher according to the way of the Engliſh Church, but he living in Ferdinando Georges Patent, they were fain to uſe much of their deceit to get him to Boſton, which by deceit was at laſt on this wiſe performed, by one of their Brethren in Iniquity, who with a ſmall Veſſel traded in the place where the ſaid Mr. Jordan preacht, he pretended great kindneſs to this Mr. Jordan, and withal invited him aboard his Veſſel to feaſt it, and when he had got the antient Gentleman aboard, brought him Priſoner to Boſton, and there delivered him into the hands of theſe perſecuting Prieſts and Rulers, who, for his preaching and baptizing according to the way of the Engliſh Church, they impriſoned, and fined him in a great Sum of Money. The ſtory is large, and would ſwell this ſmall Book beyond its intended Bulk, to relate it at large.

3. Then again, about the Year 1684. when their Charter was even ſick at heart, and ready to expire, yet they could not forbear dabbling in their old dirty puddle of Perſecution; for at that time a Young Man, who had been ordained by the Biſhop of London to preach at Carolina, where being ſickly, was adviſed to remove and change the air, whereupon he came to Boston, and was civilly [...]ntertained by ſome Old England men; and after ſome time recovering his Health, he came to be known to be a Miniſter of the Church of England, and for that he was a Maſter of the French Language, he was by ſome French Proteſtants, and others of the Church of England recommended to a poor and dark Corner of the Province, to preach to a ſmall number of poor People, amongſt whom he paſſed ſome few Moneths before the perſecuting Prieſts found him out; but at laſt hearing that he preached & baptized according to the way of the Church of England, they ſtir [...]ed up the Magiſtrates againſt him, who were at their beck, and ſoon ſent a Conſtable, who beſet his Longing, and required him to deſiſt from his preaching, &c. at his peril; but he knowing on what foot he [Page] ſtood, continued his preaching and baptizing, according to his Commiſſion from the Biſhop of London, till at length he was threatned with Whipping, and underſtanding that the Conſtables had Warrants from the perſecuting Magiſtrates to ſeize him, and for that end beſet his Lodging; whereupon he returned privately to Carolina.

4. Nor were the Affronts offered to Robert Ratcliffe, the firſt eſtbliſhed Miniſter of the Church of England in Boſton, to be paſſed in ſilence: He came over in the Year 1686. with Authority from the Crown of Eng [...]and to eſtabliſh a Church in Boſton; this mans meekneſs and Sobriety was ſufficiently knwn, yet were his Affronts man [...], by which they ſought to weary him out, not only by perſonal Abuſes and publick Injuries, in breaking the Church Windows, tea [...]ing the ſervice book, making Croſſes of Mans Dung on the Doors, and filling the Key-holes with the ſame, but alſo ſeized his Clark, and compelled▪ him to Priſon in a Wheel barrow, of which nature they acted many abuſes againſt the aforeſaid and his Church, inſomuch that no Miniſter longer being able to endure their horrid Anti-chriſtian Abuſes which did more dayly increaſe againſt him and his Church, was neceſſitated (after about four years ſtay amongſt them) to leave his Charge, and go for England, where the late Queen preferred him to a living.

5. And as a father ſign of their hatred to that Church, at the time of the Revolution, they Impriſoned three Gentlemen, Members thereof, without any charge againſt them or ſince, ſave that they had officiated as Juſtices of the Peace under the Kings Commiſſion, and although they Joyned with eight or ten more of their own Church Members, who ſate and Joyntly acted with them in the ſame County, yet could find no complaint againſt their own Church Members; ſo apparently partial were they to their own party, and violent to others, by which (as aforeſaid) though not the thouſand part of what might be brought againſt them of their great Wickedneſs againſt the People of God and the Kings Subjects, ye [...] with a little more of the like nature to be added hereunto, [Page] will by their works be ſufficient to the u [...]d [...]rſtanding of every true Chriſtian, That the New-England Church is not the true Church of Chriſt, that worſhip him in the Spirit and in the Truth, viz John 4.24.

Having thus mentioned ſome of the abuſes offered to ſome Members of the Church of England, I ſhall now draw Concluſion ſo ſoon I have given a ſhort account of the Tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem, about his Book, call'd Truth held forth, &c. I ſhall begin thus, viz.

Thomas Maule, a Young Man about twelve years of Age, came from England to the Iſland of Barbodoes, and from thence (for his health ſake) came to New-England, where hearing much preaching and loud praying; he began to think with himſelf, what manner of People are theſe? whoſe Streets ring with the noiſe of Preaching and P [...]aying; and having lived amongſt them about three years he did experience their words to be good, but by their works to have no good hearts; at the end of which time he removed himſelf to another of their Towns, called Salem, where he found the Church Members to be in all reſpects (as to Religion) one with them in the other Towns of their Juriſdiction; but in Salem he found a People of few words and good works, agreable thereunto, with which people he Joyned, by keeping to their Meetings, which ſo inraged the Church Members, that with their Prieſts, they ſtirred up the Rulers againſt him, and fined the man where he kept fifty Pounds for entertaining him; after which for his keeping open ſhop upon one of their faſt days, and ſpeaking the Truth, againſt their Prieſts railing againſt the Quakers, and the like, they five times impriſond him, thrice took away his goods, a [...]d thrice cruelly whipt him, beſides their many other Abuſes, and alſo accuſing him of poſting his Books on the firſt day of the week, but he affirming the contrary, and though two evil minded perſons, whereof one was a Thief, who then unknown had ſtolen Goods in her keeping, both which did ſay he poſted Books, as aforeſaid, notwithſtanding i [...] being utterly falſe, and the evidence of no credit, [Page] yet recorded they him a Lyar, when he had ſpoken no other but the Truth relating to the ſame, ſhall now proceed to the ſum and as aforeſaid. From which I ſhall now proceed to the Sum and ſubſtance of his late Trial, which was writ by a hand then preſent in their Courts, as followeth.

The Copy of their Warrant

Province of the Maſſachuſets Bay.

TO the Sheriffe of the County of Eſſex, his under Sheriffe or Debuty, greeting. Whereas there is lying before the honourable Lieutenant Governour and Council a printed Pamphlet, entituled. Truth held forth and maintained, & put forth in the name of Thomas Maule, ſaid to be Thomas Maules of Salem within your County, & publiſhed without Licence of Authority, in which is contained many notorious and wicked Lyes, and Slanders, not only upon private Perſons, but alſo upon Government, and likewiſe divers corrupt and pernicious Doctrines utterly ſubverſive of the true Chriſtian and profeſſed Faith.

Theſe are therefore in his Majeſties Name to Will and require you forthwith to make ſearch in the Houſe of the ſaid Maule, and where elſe you ſhall be informed any of the ſaid Pamphlets are, or may be found, ſeize and ſecure all that you ſhall find thereof, and to cauſe the ſaid Thomas Maule to appear before the Lieutenant Governour and Council, at the Council Chamber in Boſton, upon Thirſday the 19th Currant, to anſwer what ſhall be objected againſt him, on his Majeſties behalf. In the Premiſes hereof fail [Page] not, making return of this Warrant with your doings therein.

Dated at the Council Chamber in Boſton, December 12th, 1695. By Command of the Lieutenant Governour & Council.

Jſaac Addition, Secretary

A true Copy,

atteſted by George Curwin, Sherriff.

A Copy of the Return of their Warrant.

Salem December 14th, 1695.

ACcording to the within Warrant, I have been at the Houſe of Thomas Maule, and there have found thirty one of ſaid Pamphlets, and them ſecured, as required, and have ſeized the ſaid Maule, and delivered him to the keeper of their Majeſties Goal in Salem, there to be ſecured, in order to his apearance at the time and Place within mentioned, and have ſent the ſaid Thomas Maule by the bearer Jeremiah Neale, to anſwer as within expreſt, which Jeremiah Neale I do conſtitute and appoint to be my lawful Deputy, to make return of this Warrant, with the Body of ſaid Maule, and to act in all things which ſhall be further ordered relating to me concerning the within Warrant.

George Curwin, Sherriff.

This is a true Copy of the Origenal Return,

atteſted By Jeremiah Neale, Sherriff-Deputy.

[Page] Thomas Maule being brought by the ſaid Neale, and ſaid Goaler out of Salem County, into Boſton County, where appearing at the Council Chamber, before the ſaid Governour and Council, who put divers Inſnaring Queſtions to ſaid Maule.

He made this Reply, That no righteous Law did bind or injoyn him to anſwer further then he ſaw good, and that they had not acted agreeable to Law, in compelling him into their County, to ſtand tryal before them, who in the caſe were not his equal Judges, and if they did intend to proceed againſt him, he did expect the benefit of the Kings Laws, which did a [...]ow his Judges to be Twelve men of his Equals, belonging to the ſame County he was of. The which being conſented to, four hundred Pounds Bond was given for his appearance to anſwer them at their High Court of Injuſtice againſt him, at Ipwſwich the 19th of the 3d Month May, 1696. But before ſaid Maule came to his Tryal they Impriſon [...]d him and ſacrificed ſixteen pounds worth of his Books, a burnt Offering to their Anger and Revenge, though upon his Tryal the Jury could not find him in the leaſt guilty of any evil fact, relating to their Charge about his Book.

The time of the Courts ſetting being come, ſaid Maule was called to his Tyral before Thomas Dan [...]ord, Eliſha Cook and Samuell Sewal, three of the Council, and Judges of this Court, who demanded of Thomas Maule, If he did own that Book intitul [...]d, Truth held forth and maintained, &c. to be of his putting [...]orth?

To which he ſaid, The outſide of the Book did not fully manifeſt to him what the inſide thereof did contain. The Book being given to him, when he had lookt it throw, return'd it again, with this anſwer, That all Printed in the Book, he did own to be Truths, which he did vindicate & maintain, excepting the Printers Errors, and ſome miſtakes occaſioned through Authors, which were common to good Books.

Then Judge Danford ſaid, You are to anſwer for Printing this Book without Liſcence of Authority.

To which ſaid Maule anſwered, That if he were accountable for ſo doing, it was not to them, but to the Biſhops of the Eng [...]ſh Church, and the King did allow him the ſame liberty to have his [Page] Book printed, as they did to any of their ſubjects, which ſeperated or diſſented from their way of Worſhip.

Then Judge Cook ſaid, You are to anſwer for publiſhing your Book in this Government without the Liſence of the preſent Authority.

To which ſaid Maul replyed, The Gove [...]nment is the Kings, or ought ſo to be, and the Books are my own Goods, who as an Engliſh Merchant have good right by the Kings Laws to diſpoſe of my Goods in any of the Kings Plantations.

Then Anthony Chickley, the Kings Attorney ſaid, Your Books are not lawful goods to be diſpoſed of amongst the People, becauſe they contain notorious wicked Lyes against the Churches and Government of this Province, as likewiſe falſe Doctrine, utterly ſubverſive to the true Chriſtian and profeſſed Faith, beſides Scandals upon many private Perſons.

To which ſaid Maul made this Reply, That the Charge was yet to prove, and which they could never prove againſt him; and ſo long as there was no evil fact, he was no Tranſgreſſor of any righteous Law; and if their Cha [...]ge were true, as it is not, it is no more than what they and their Prieſts are guilt▪ of againſt all Perſons, as well as the Church of England, that diſſented from their Prieſts way of Worſhip, for which cauſe, and perſecu [...]ing the People of God and the Kings Subjects to death, their Doctrine, Principles and Practices were condemned by all true Chriſtian People that did know or hear of their unrighteous Works, which f [...] [...]heſe many years have cauſed Gods Judgments to come upon this Land; and for not repenting are you now given up to murder one an ther, through the Devis accuſation, by Specter Evidence, accuſing both Prieſts, Rulers and People of being Witches

Then Judge Cook to this purpoſe ſaid, You are a horrible Lyar, and it wer [...] better you would forbear in this nature running your ſelf into further Troubl [...], by accuſing the Churches and Government after ſuch a horrible wicked rate, as you have done, and still do perſiſt in, for which you are to ſuffer, according to your Deſerts.

To which ſaid Maul made this Reply, That the Truth by him to them was ſpoken, and ſo lo [...]g as he did not [...]xceed the bounds thereof, he did not fear their Whip, Goal or Gallows; and withal, [Page] that relating to this his Teſtimony, he had ſuffered ten times [...] their Juriſdiction, five times by Impriſonment, three times by the loſs of Goods taken from him, and twice by cruel Whipping; and now before this Tryal they had both impriſonmed him, and burnt ſixteen Pounds worth of his Books, and [...] yet not given him any Copy of the particulars of the Charge againſt him.

To which Judge Danford ſaid, It is but reaſon that Thomas Maule ſhould have a Copy o [...] what we have to charge him with, and alſo time to conſider of it, which by the renewing of his Bond, he may have till next Salem Court. Which was agreed to.

Then Judge Cook ſaid, That he would have Thomas M [...]ule to be more careful of what he ſaid relating to the Scriptures, and not to undervalue them, as he had already done, by comparing his Book with the Bible.

To which Maul anſwered, That to compare that with the Bible which was agreeable to the holy Scriptures in the Bible, could be in no way found to contradict or undervalue the Bible. And as to Errors now ſo much talkt of, he did not know of any Book that was free; for as ſome of the learned have ſaid, Beza committed eight hundred Errors in his firſt Tranſlation of the New Teſtament, which by amending through his ſecond Tranſlation, left three hundred Errors therein. And by comparing Mat. 27 v. 5. w [...]th Acts 1.18. proves as great a Miſtake as any he knew to be in his Book▪

Judge Cook commanded this Sentence to be writ down.

Then ſaid Maul deſired it might be writ down, That at preſent he did ſo believe. Which being done, he ſaid, That if through his now ſo believing did p [...]ove an Error, he did hope, through a contrary belief to be free of the Error before his next Tryal.

Then Judge Cook ſaid, Then your belief is changeable, and ſo contrary to the Quakers Principle of Perfection, that it overthrows their whole Religion at once.

To which Thomas Maule made this Reply, That it was not ſo, becauſe, ſaid he, every true Believers warfare makes a change from worſe to better, that through Grace, by Faith, they come to forſake the Error to joyn with the Truth, which makes free from [Page] all that is evil; and had not the like in meaſure, been my ſtate, to have departed from evil, I had not become a prey to you, who have cauſed me to ſuffer for the Truth, as it is manifeſt you have done.

Then Judge Danford ſaid, Thomas Maul, forbear, we have ſomething elſe to do than to ſpend time to hear you p [...]ate after this kind of rate.

To which Thomas Maul anſwered, That he was willing to forbear without further Trouble to him, by or from them.

A Copy of the Grand Jurys Preſentment, as alſo a Copy of the Judges Charge.

‘AT a Superiour Court held at Salem, for our Soveraign Lord the King, in the County of Eſſex, in the Province of the Maſſathuſets Bay in New-England, the 10th day of the 9th Month, 1696. The Grand Jury do preſent Thomas Maul of Salem, S [...]op-keeper, for publiſhing, or putting forth a Book, entituled, Truth held forth and maintained, wherein is contained divers Slanders against the Churches and Government of this Province; and for ſaying what he did before the honourable Court at Ipſwich, in May laſt, as will appear on Record, reference thereunto being had, may more at large appear, as in this hereunto annexed.’

James Stivens, Fore-man.

‘Thomas Maule being bound over by Recognizance to this Court, and being asked concerning a Book put forth by him, entituled, Truth held forth and maintained, &c. did in oppen Court declare an [...] ſay, That there was as great miſtakes in the Scriptures as in his Book, and inſtanced, comparing Mat. 27. v. 5. with Acts 1. v. 18. and this being read to him, deſires to be underſtood, That at preſent he believes ſo, at the Superiour Court of Judicature held at Ipſwich on the third Tueſday May last, 1696.’

A true Copy,

by Adington Davenport, Clerk.

[Page]Dr. Benjamin Bullivants Speech, in the firſt part of the Pleas [...] the Preſentment, is as followeth, viz.

To the Preſentment of the Grand Jury, exhibited againſt Tho. Maule this preſent Court, always ſaving to himſelf the liberty of ſuch further Pleading and Defence, as by Law are due unto him, viz. Firſt, That the uncertainty of matters alledged in the ſaid Preſentment is ſo notorious, that he that runs may read them; and the Lord Cook ſays, The Law requires certainty in all caſes, eſpecially ſuch as are Penal to the Lives or Eſtates of the Subject, which uncertainties are. Secondly, That neither County, Year or Day are laid in the ſaid Preſentment. Thirdly, That the Preſentment is not laid to be made for the King, who if any one hath Offence by whatever in this caſe alledged againſt the Defendant; neither is his Majeſties Name or S [...]ile uſed in the Preſentment, as is neceſſary, and required particularly by the Laws of this Government. Fourthly, That it is not laid upon Oath, as it ought to be, if it hold a man to his Anſwer. Fifthly, That the Jury had no Plantiff to inquire for, they being ſworn, Well and truly to try, and true Deliverance make between our Soveraign Lord the King, and Thomas Maule the Priſoner at the Bar. And Yet the Kings Name and Stile entirely omitted in the Preſentment aforeſaid. Sixthly, That if it were true the Defendant ſhould have ſaid, as is laid to his charge in the Indictment, That there was as great Miſtakes in the Scriptures as in his Book, yet this can charge no fac [...] by Law puniſhable upon him▪ the Preſ [...]ntment wanting an invendo or meaning, whether they were the holy Scriptures or words of God, ſince there are prophane as well as holy Scriptures, and the Defendant may be ſuppoſed, in Conſtruction of Law, to intend as well prophane as ſacred Scriptures. Seventhly, That it was not laid to be againſt the Peace of the King, or ſo much as a Miſdemeanor.

To theſe Arguments Judge Danford anſwered, That the Preſentment was according to former Ʋſage, and their Custom, and that want of form could not deſtroy the [...]udictment, or binder the coming to his Anſwer.

Judge Cook ſaid, As to the Invendo, that it would have been neceſſary if the particular Quotations had not been named, which he did believe Thomas Maules Counſel would not deny to be the Books of the holy [...]riptures, which was conceded unto.

[Page]Then was Anthony Chickley, the Kings Attorney, ca [...]ed upon, to know what he had to ſay to it on the behalf of the K [...]ng, who only ſaid, He would anſwer to the third Exception brought againſt the Indictment, viz. That it wanted the ſtile of the K [...]ng, aſſi [...]t [...]g a [...]d not want it, founding his aſſertion on th [...] Preamble of the [...]ictment, it being ſaid, at a ſuperiour Court held at Salem for our Soveraign Lord the King.

Reply to this was made, on the behalf of the Defendant, That the Preample had no relation to the Body of the Preſentment, ſince the Preſentment was preſumed to begin at theſe words, The Grand Jury do preſent.

The Court, after ſome further debate, over-ruling the Pleas, the Priſoner is left to ſay for himſelf.

Thomas Maule to the Judges on the Bench, as followeth, viz.

To you who have ſet your ſelves to be Judges in this caſe, againſt me▪ as you are inveſted with M [...]giſtratical P [...]wer by Commiſſion from the King, I do reſpect you, out wherein you do aſſume to your ſelves the Power of the Biſhops Court, as in this caſe, I do no more value you than I do Jack-ſtraw. And if you will approve your ſelves wiſe men, you ought to mend the many Rents by you already made, through the miſ mannagement of the Tru [...] committed to your Charge, before you proceed to make a further breach upon me, who has not given you any juſt occaſion ſo to do, which if you are reſolved to make a Rod for me, that it may be eaſie, for the more eaſe of your own that is to come, for it is ſaid by him that cannot lye, The ſame meaſure that men make, the ſame ſhall be made to them again; and if your Power, by which you act againſt me, do long continue, he that now enjoys a good Eſtate, under your Government, in ſeven years time, after this rate, may not be left worth a Grote; for as you are ſet to watch over the People, things are at that paſs, through your means, that they have the greater need to watch over you, otherwiſe they are like to be undone by the heavy burdens you lay upon them.

Then the Cauſe, with the ſaid Maules Book, and a Speech made to this purpoſe by Judge Danford, was committed to the Jury, viz. You have now heard the Cauſe, which with the Book is now committed to your hands, who have taken a ſolemn Oath to do the thing that is right [Page]in the ſight of Gods as near as you can; therefore you ought well to conſider the horrid Wickedneſs of Thomas Maules ſetting forth the Book now [...]e [...]ore you, in which there is contained a great a [...]al of blaſphemous matter againſt the Churches and Government of this Province. You weak [...], that when the Husband-man hath take [...] great care and labour to f [...]nce in his f [...]ld of Wheat, and there comes a ravenous Creature and makes a Gap through the Fence for other like Creatures to go through and ſpo [...]l the Corn, and to trample down and lay waſte the H [...]sband-mans Field, will he not uſe his utmoſt endeavour to deſtroy ſuch a ravenous Creature that doe [...] ſo? how much the more are we to preſerve the H [...]dge of the good H [...]ſband-man with which he hat [...], by his Ordinances, and good Government, fenced and hedged his Churches and People in this Pr [...]gi [...], againſt which the wicked work of Thomas Maule doth wholly tend, to overt [...]ow all good in Church and Common-wealth, which Go [...] hath planted amongſt his People in this Province; w [...]ich [...]auſe with the ſaide Maules Book is now before you, to do that which is right relating thereu [...], [...] near as God ſhall inable.

In anſwer to which Speech, Thomas Maule made this R [...]ply to the Jury, and ſaid, Jury look well to the work which you are now going to do, the Cauſe is now committed to you, who are to be Governed by the Kings Law; no Law of our Nation have I broken, as to you will appear; the Book has no evidence in Law againſt me, further then to you it doth appear, I have writ or cauſed to be printed any thing contrary to ſound Doctrine, and Inconſiſtant to the holy Scriptures of Truth, which if you take up with any part of theſe Judges unjuſt Charge againſt me, and ſay, there is ſuch like matter in my Book as they charge me with, you may ſeek to the Printer for ſatisfaction, for of any ſuch like matter in the Book I know not, and my hand is only to my Copy, which now is in another Government, in the hands of the Printer, and my Name to my Book made by the Printer does not in Law evidence to prove the ſame to be Thomas Maule, no more then the Spector Evidence, in Law, is of force or validity to prove the perſon accuſed by ſaid evidence to be the Witch, but rather conclude the Spector to be the Witch; therefore Jury look well to your Work, for you have ſworn, True Tryal to make and juſt Verdict give, which if you miſs of doing me Juſtice, the fault will lie on [Page] your part▪ for theſe my Accuſers on the beach, are but as Clerks to [...]onclude your Work with Amen.

In ſome ſmall time the Jury brought in their Verdict for the Priſoner, whom they found not Guilty, At which the Judges ſeemed much disatisfied therewith, and aſſ [...] the Jury, how that could be, having the Book before them? w [...]o anſwered, That the Book was not ſuffic [...]ent Evidence, for that Thomas Maules Name was there unto ſet by the Printer, and the matrer therein contained not cognizable before them, they not being a Jury of divines, which this caſe ought to be.

Then Judg Danford made this Sp [...]ech, That tho, Thomas Maule had eſcaped the hands of Men, yet he had not eſcaped the hand of God, who would find out all his Evils and Blaſphemies againſt his Church and People, and for which Wickedneſs God did reſerve him▪ or further Ja [...]gm [...] [...]o come upon him.

In anſwer to which, ſaid Maule replyed, That he was no way guilty of their Charge, but had great cauſe to praiſe God [...]or his di [...]erance by the Jury, who were made Inſtruments of freeing him out of the hands of them, who had manifeſted their unrighteous Works againſt the People of God, and the Kings Subjects, as their Fathers be [...]ore had done

In which time of the ſaid Reply, Judge, Danford called out, Take him away, take him away.

The Reader may hence underſtand, that the diſtance of theſe Perſecutors from the King, and much further froms Gods Truth, is the cauſe that by them, many of the People of God and the Kings Subjects ſuffer, more then they would do, were they where their complaint could readily be heard by the King, who would not ſuffer his Subjects to be perſecuted under the Anti-chriſtian Power of the New-England Church, who yet continue the old ſtroke, according to their Power, againſt the Qua [...]rs, at this very t [...]me of liberty of Conſcience, reſpecting to Religion now allowed by the King and Powers of England, as for inſtance, they now do ſuffer in their Juriſdiction, eſpecially in the Town of Linn, where for the Prieſts maintenance, they compell the Quakers Oxen, their Pots and Platters, with the of other Houſhould goods more worſe in that reſpect, then of the firſt two wiked Prieſts we read, Sam. 2.12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. For which ſin God will reward the wick [...] Prieſts▪

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

Nevv-England pesecutors [sic] mauled vvith their own vveapons giving some account of the bloody laws made at Boston against the kings subjects that dissented from their way of worship : together with a brief account of the imprisonment and tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem, for publishing a book entituled Truth held forth and maintained, &c. / by Tho. Philathes.

Maule, Thomas, 1645-1724.

Edition statement

1697

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A50324

ID [STC]

Wing M1353

ID [STC]

ESTC W42979

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12272376

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12272376

ID [VID]

58307

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A50324)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 58307)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1508:8)

Source

— Nevv-England pesecutors [sic] mauled vvith their own vveapons giving some account of the bloody laws made at Boston against the kings subjects that dissented from their way of worship : together with a brief account of the imprisonment and tryal of Thomas Maule of Salem, for publishing a book entituled Truth held forth and maintained, &c. / by Tho. Philathes., Maule, Thomas, 1645-1724..

Extent

[6], 62 [i.e. 60] p.

William Bradford,. [New York :: 1697]. (Ms. notes attributing author and imprint information on endpapers; also attributed by Wing to Maule.) (Thomas Philathes is a pseudonym for Thomas Maule--NUC pre-1956 imprints.) (Numerous errors in paging.) (Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library.)

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