A TRUE DECLARATION OF The suffering of the innocent, who is hated and persecuted without a cause.

Wherein is discovered the zeale of the Magistrates and people of BANBƲRY, persecuting and imprisoning them that are sent of the Lord in love to their Souls to warn them of the evill of their wayes.

Declared in a Letter sent to William Allen, called Justice of Peace, with an answer to the false Accusati­ons charged upon the Innocent.

Also their Proceedings laid open, and proved to be contrary to the SCRIPTURES.

By Anne Audland, whom the world scornfully calls QUAKER.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces: out of heaven shall he thunder upon them. The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth: and he shall give strength unto his King, and exalt the horne of his annointed, 1 Sam. 2.10.

And on my servants, and on my handmaidens, I will poure out in those dayes of my spirit, and they shall prophesie, Act. 2.18.

LONDON, Printed, and are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the Sign of the Black Spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls, 1655.

A TRUE DECLARATION Of the suffering of the Innocent, who is hated and persecuted without a CAUSE, &c.

WIlliam Allen, Justice of Peace so called, but little peace I finde in thee; We came to the Towne of Banbu [...]y on the 13th. day of the 11th. moneth: and being strangers, we tooke in at the Lyon: The next day being the fi [...]st day of the week, wee went to a meeting which we heard of in the Towne; and when the meeting ended, we were mo­ved to go to the Steeple-house, to speake the word of the Lord to Priest and People; and in obedience to the Lord, we went, and stayed till the Priest had done, and then my friend spoke to the Priest, and the rude multitude came and hurried her forth, as the customs of the Heathens is; Then I spoke to the Priest, Man, here, see the fruits of thy Ministry, and presently the rude people hurried me forth: Then came one and tooke me by the hand, and questioned me, what untruths their Minister had spoken; and I answered, That they that are out of the Do­ctrine of Christ, all they spoke was untruth: And though they say, The Lord liveth, surely they sweare falsely, Jer. 5.2.

Then another asked me, if the Lord did not live; I answered, yea, I know he liveth. Now there are two Boyes that hath sworn against me, that which I did not speake, their blood will be required of them that caused them to erre; And know this O man, that the Lord God will be avenged of all unjust Justices, and he will make his power known in the destructi­on of his Enemies: Therefore feare him, and beware of persecuting his [...]rvants, for justly shalt thou be judged, according to the deeds done in the body shalt thou receive thy reward; To the light in thy conscie [...]ce do I direct thee, it will let thee see all thy actions, and from whence they arise, whether from the spirit of meeknesse, or from thy perverse will, which the Lord will judge righteously; To that in thy conscience I speake which will witnesse for God against all deceit.

This was I moved to write to cleare my conscience of thee, and leave thee without excuse, that when the book of Conscience is opened, thou mayest remember that thou wast forwarned in thy life time. A friend of the Truth, and a lover of thy Soule, who is a prisoner of the Lord for the Truths [...]ake at Banbury, whose [...]ame in the flesh is

Anne Audland.

WHereas I am accused in a Mittimus for certaine blasphemous words, saying, That the Lord live [...]h no [...]; I answer, these words are false, and never spoken by me: The Lord is my Redeemer, and I know that my Redeemer liveth: and my soule magnifieth him, and my spirit rejoceth in him; and here I deny your false accusations and blasphemie, it is your owne words, and not what I sayd; and you that accuse falsely, know not the living God, the Heathen knows not God, and the Heathens rage, but the Lord will be a­venged of all his enemies, and plead the cause of the innocent: And they are blasphemers which say they are Jewes, and are not, but are the synagogue of Sa­tan. And whereas I am accused for causing a tumult in the Church, when the Minister was going to execute part of his Function, and likewise to as­sault the Minister; I answer, This is likewise false; Lyars must be cast into the lake; The Church is built of living stones, elect and precious, and there is order kept in the Church; And I did not cause a tumult, neither did I assault the Minister (as yee call him) and that which is called part of his Function, is an invention; and there is neither command nor example in all the Scripture, that ever any of the Ministers of Christ did sprinkle Infants, and call it a Function; and here you have no Scripture to prove your Function, as you call it: And he that practises such things, for the which there is no Scripture, leads people into the inventions, and so they are not profited at all, as it appears by your owne words, that they were in a tumult. O blush, and be ashamed of that which you call your Church, who are so suddenly in a tumult! Was there ever such a thing heard of amongst the Saints, that they would be in a tumult, when one came in peaceably among them, not offering wrong to any? Here you shew your selves to be children of your Fathers who lived in envy, haling out of Synagogues, carrying them before Rulers, and casting into prisons them who was called of the Lord to beare witnesse against their deceit; and here (him called the Minister) is made manifest to be one that runs before he was sent, and so never profitted the people, and so like Priest, like People. Therefore give over, and never call it a Church, who are fighters and strikers, scoffers and scorners, tumulters and false accusers, as your fruits makes it daily appeare; And some of you confesse that they are in danger of their lives that comes among you, the people are so rude. Now you that are Magistrates ought to punish evill Doers, Fighters, and Lyars, and false Accusers; but such have liberty, and dare do it in your Church (as you call it) and you present, as he that caused the Mittimus to be made doth confesse; That there was a tumult when he was present, and they that tumulted are not punished, but the fault is layd upon the innocent, who was beate and abused, but offered violence to none: And so they said Paul was a pestilent fellow, and they tumulted Paul, but Paul [Page 3] did not cause the tumult: So you are made manifest of what generation you are, and you shall be rewarded according to your deeds: And from the Lord I declare, That he will visite for these things, and plead with you for all your hard speeches, and all your ungodly deeds: and give you your portion with hypocrites, except you speedily repent; and when you come into the pit, remember you are warned in your life time: And so your false accusation and blasphemy I do deny, and the living God will judge between me and you.

Anne Audland.

THe righteous Judge of all the world is now arising to judge the world in righteousnesse, and the people with equity: And every tongue shall confesse that the Lord is righteous, when hee comes to judgement, and hee will reward every one according to their deeds. And every tongue shall confesse the Lord is just. For according to that in the conscience which is just and equall, will the Lord judge, whose Judgements are just and equall; and every tongue shall confesse him just, when hee takes vengeance upon the un­just: And behold the Lord cometh with tenne thousands of his Saints to execute Judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodlily committed, and of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken: And such are they that walk after their own lusts, and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having mens persons in admiration, because of advantage, such will the Lord execute judgement upon in righteousnesse: All you that are ungodly, the Lord will reward you according to your deeds; And all you that utter hard speeches against the holy one, and blaspheme God in his Temple, the Lord is coming with his Saints to execute judgement up­on you; and you shall confesse his Judgements is just, that which con­vinceth you of your ungodly deeds, and hard speeches, by it you shall con­fesse the Lord is just, when you are judged for your ungodly deeds, and hard speeches; And all you that have mens persons in admiration because of advantage, you shall be judged righteously, and you shall confesse that God is just, and his wayes equall, and God respects no mans person; nor the Saints who comes with him to judgement, respects no mans person; for he that respects persons commits sinne, and is convinced to be a trans­gressor of the righteous law of God; but they who are guided by that which convinceth the transgressor, they are kept out of the transgression, and they do not admire mens persons, nor respect mens persons. But you that do, are convinced to be transgressors; and according to that which convinceth, will you be judged by the righteous Judge, who cometh with tenne thousands of his Saints, and he will judge all you that respects per­sons; for the Lord regards the rich no more then the poor; but this is hee that the Lord regardeth, who is of a humble and contrite spirit, and trem­bleth at his word. Such you do not regard, who are poor, and trembleth at the word of the Lord: but you that respect persons, scoffs at such as they go along the streets; But the Lord will plead the cause of the poore, who is now despised amongst you that respects persons: you admire some mens persons because of advantage, and ye despise others, and persecutes the [Page 4] poore, and goes about to make one an offender for a word which is none indeed; and you set a snare for them that reprove in the gate, that so you might catch the innocent, & they that are offenders indeed, who can lye, & swear, & accuse falsly; such have liberty, & such are set to ensnare the inno­cent, & to be as judges against the innocent, and yet you profess your selves Christians; Oh [...]hat you were wise! oh that you would co [...]sider your latter end! how will you stand before the Ju [...]gment fear of God, in the day when the secrets of every heart shall he judged by Jesus Christ, who hath all judg­ment committed to him: A [...]d behold he cometh, and all the Saints with him, and he rules and reigns in his Saints, and sits upon his Throne: But how will you stand at that day, who now sits as Judges upon the Saints, and cals them deceivers, and persecutes them, who are made free by the Sonne of God, and in obedience to him suffers the losse of all things, and are killed all the day long, and are accounted as sheep for the slaughter [...]; and are be­come a reproach, and a by-word, and a scorn, even among you that pro­fesse your selves Christians, and so the Scripture is fulfilled, They that work wickednesse are set up, and they that depart from iniquity becomes a prey to the wicked; and the sufferings of the Saints is become a sport a­mongst you; and you can stretch your selves upon your beds of ease; and you do not remember the affliction of Joseph; nor you have not knowne, that all who live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; And saith Christ, As they have done unto me, so will they doe unto you: And the servant is not greater then his Lord.

Now if you were Christians as you professe your selves to be, then would persecution cease, and not be found amongst you; for Christians doth not persecute, but you that live in such things, are made manifest (to all the children of light) whose servants you are; and you that are Magistrates, who should punish evil doers, such have liberty in the streets to scoffe and scorne, to swear and lye, and be drunk, and you passe by these things; but if any come amongst you to declare the word of the Lord against such things, then the innocent are accused by them who live in such things, and the in­nocent are persecuted and sent to Prison; and may not know from you who prisons them, what they are accused of; nor see their accusers face to face; is this according to the Law of God? or is this as you would be done unto? Consider of it, and lay it to heart, for the Lord will visit for these things; I speak what I know, and finde amongst you; for I was accused and com­mitted to Prison, but I did not know what the accusers swore against me, neither could I see my accusers: but you took an o [...]th in secret, and so I was accused, and committed for that which I never spoke, and had not li­berty to answer for my selfe, nor others had no liberty, nor could be heard on my behalfe, who was by when they say I spoke these words, for which I am accused, which would bear testimony that they heard no such things spo­ken by me, as I am accused off, and so the innocent suffers innocently; and in the mean time wickednesse is at liberty, and not onely in a corner, but in your streets; men lie, and sweare, and are drunke, and the innocent is a prey unto [...]hem; and yet you do not lay it to heart; woe is me for you, that you should so slight the day of your visitation, and so wickedly requite the Lord for all his goodnesse; as to persecute his servants, who are sent to [Page 5] warne you; and despise h [...]s witnesses, and shamefully intreat his messen­gers, and them that comes to you in their own names, such you receive; but them that come to you in the name of the Lord, such are a reproach a­mongst you; and the Lord is highly displeased with you for these things; and he will make enquiry for blood; you know that the blood of the in­nocent hath been shed in your streets; one that came amongst you and of­fered violence to none, was beat and abused, and lost much blood amongst you: and yet you are not ashamed to professe your selves Christians, when as these actions proceeds from you; and your care is how to wound the innocent secretly, that so your deeds might not be brought to the light; but it is in vaine for you to dig deep to hide your councell from the Lord; Woe unto you that deviseth to worke mischeife in the darke, and say, who seeth us; and consults together to shoot your arrows secertly against the poore. The Lord sees you, and knows your hearts, and your very thoughts which you think against the King in your bed chamber; there is a bird of the [...]ire that carryes the voyce; And the Lord will bring eve [...]y worke to judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evill; and the oath in secret shall be tryed; and the Lord will sit as Judge amongst the Judges, and you shall all be weighed and those of you that a [...]e found wanting, the Lord will cast you by, though you be as high and mighty as Belshazzar was: and if you be angry with mee for telling you so, and forewarning you in your life time; the Lord will judge you for it; for he is tender over his little ones; and in as much as you persecute one of them, ye do it unto him; and you that imp [...]ison the innocent, and they may not see their accusers, is this according to the Law of God? or is this to judge for God, and not for man, nor self ends, without respect of persons? They that were set over the people to judge them ac­cording to the Law of God, were just men fearing God, and hating coveteousnesse: just men we [...]e to judge the unjust; for the unjust cannot judge true judge­ment: See what charge Jeh [...]shaphat gave unto them he set over the peo­ple, 2 Chron. 19.6, 7, 9. Saying to the Judges, take heed what you doe, for you judge not for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgement: wherefore now let the feare of the Lord be upon you, and take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God: nor respect of persons, not taking of gifts: And he charged them saying, thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart: Now all you that denies a perfect heart, and are respecters of persons, you cannot judge with a perfect heart; and such are not judges for God, who judges not not with a perfect heart, but are respecters of per­sons; but they who fear God, and do faithfully with a perfect heart, such Judges, and Magistrates I own who are just men; such rules for God, and is a terrour to the wicked, and for the praise of them that do well; and such am subject to for conscience sake; but they who were the servants of Christ, & Ministers of Chr [...]st, when they were commanded by the rulers that wch was contrary to the cōmand of Christ; they said whether is it better to obey God or man: judge ye, and I say the same, and they which command any thing contrary to [...]he command of Christ, which rules and reigns in his people, and is one in the male and in the female; such are not just men fearing God and judging faithfully with a perfect heart; and such who do not fear God and have not a perfect heart, such knows not the voyce of God; but Christs sheep who follow Christ, and are sent of God knows his voyce: Now Ma­gistrates [Page 6] and people will say, how may we know that you are sent of God? as Pharaoh sayd to Moses, who sent thee? and he answered, the Lord sent me, to bid thee let Israel go free; and Pharaoh sayd, I know not the Lord, neither will I obey him, and let Israel go free; such are they who fear not God, nor know not his voyce; and such cannot discerne the things of God, Magistrates nor people who fear not God, and have not a perfect heart: now consider if you judge me according to the Law of God, when you heard all that was against me and did accuse me, but would not hear the accused and the accusers face to face, nor those that was by, who would have witnes­sed against those untruths charged upon me, but put them forth and said, what have you to do here; notwithstanding, they said they came to bear witnesse to the truth: see how Moses charged the Judges, Deut. 1.16, 17. saying, Heare the cause between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him; ye shall not respect persons in judgement, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgement is Gods: and Deut. 16.18, 19, 20. The Judges and Officers was to judge the people with just judgement; thou shalt not wrest judgement; thou shalt not respect persons; neither take a gift, for a gift doth blinde the eye of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous; that which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live and inherite the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee; now this is true Judgement, and takes hold up­on the unjust; but here you do not act according to the Law of God, who doth respect persons, and doth not hear the small as well as the great, which you have not done who have committed me to Prison; and I had not li­berty to speak face to face with my accusers, and so I am falsly accused, and imprisoned upon a false accusation, he that knows all secrets is my witnesse; and he will plead my cause, and he will judge righteous judgement upon all the Heathen; and the Lord comes with his Saints; and this honour have all the Saints; to execute upon the Heathen all the judgements written; but the Heathen ought not to Judg the Saints; but the heathen rages, & the heathen persecutes & prisons, & falsly accuseth the Saints, and the viols of wrath is now to be poured out upon the wicked; and the Saints shall take the kingdom & rejoyce in God for ever and ever, which giveth them victory over the world, and gives them strength to rejoyce in tribulation; praises to the living God for evermore. And so I warne you all people, Magistrates, and Teachers, to feare the Lord God, least his wrath and indignation break forth against you, and the decree be sealed, and he take you away with his grievous stroke, and there be no remedy; for God is my witnesse that my desire is for you; that you may know the things that belongs to your peace; so to you all I have cleared my conscience, and I am free from your blood, glory to the Lord for evermore, who hath given me to beleive and suffer for the testimony of Jesus; so I remaine a witnesse for the truth, and a prisoner in bonds at Banbury for the truths sake, who am innocent; but falsly accused, and slandered, and reproached; but the reproaches for Christ, is my riches: whose name in the flesh is,

Anne Audland.
FINIS.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this EEBO-TCP Phase II text, in whole or in part.