The CRY of BLOOD.

AND Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Jewes reconciled, and in conspi­racy with the Dragon, to devour the Manchild.

BEING A Declaration of the Lord arising in those people, of the City of BRISTOL, who are scornfully called Quakers, and of the mani­fold Sufferings, and Persecutions sustain'd by them from the Priests, Rulers, Professors and rude multitude, contrary to Law, Liberty, Justice, Government, the righteous ends of the Wars, and the Scriptures of Truth.

TOGETHER With a true Account of the material Passages in substance be­tween the Rulers and them at their several Examinations, and Commit­ments, and at two general Sessions of the Publick Peace: And of the Tumults, and in­surrections, with other necessary Observations, and Occurrences.

Gathered up, written in a Roll, and delivered to John Gunning late Mayor of that City (being the fruits of his Year) for the private Admonition, and Conviction of himself, and Brethren concern'd, and named therein: with a Letter declaring the end, and reason of what is so done, (of which a Copy followes in the ensuing pages) Subscribed by

  • Geo: Bishop,
  • Thomas Goldney,
  • Henry Roe,
  • Edw: Pyott,
  • Dennis Hollister.

And now after five moneths space of time Published, for the Reasons hereafter expressed.

And they cryed with a loud voyce, saying, How long, O Lord, holy, and true, dost thou not judge, and avenge our blood, on them that dwell on the earth? Rev. 6. 10.
And shall not God avenge his own Elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you, that he will avenge them speedily; neverthelesse, when the Son of man cometh, shall be find faith on the earth? Luke 18. 7, 8.
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at Em­nity among themselves. Luke 23. 12.
For of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus, (whom thou hast anointed) both Herod and Pon­tius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together, Acts 4. 27.
And the Dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered to devour her child as soon as it was born: and she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron, and her child was caught up to God, and to his Throne; and the Dragon was wroth with the Woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandements of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, Rev. 12. 4, 17.
And the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison, Rev. 2. 10.

London, Printed for Giles Calvert, at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West-End of Pauls, 1656.

To you John Gunning late Maior, Joseph Jackson, Ri­chard Vickris, Miles Jackson, John Lock, George Hellier, Henry Gibbs, William Cann, George Knight, and Ga­briell Sherman, Aldermen of the City of Bristoll.

WEE, with the rest of the people of God in this City, who are in scorn and derision called Quakers, have, for many moneths together, patiently, and in silence, born and suffered manifold persecuti­ons from your selves, and the people of this Town, thorough your encouragement; without seeking re­paration, though with a very high hand, and with exceeding hard measure, they have been executed upon us; waiting when the witnesse of God in every one of your Consciences (with which we are One, and which one day will witnesse us, and our sufferings, and the Truth, for which we suffer, eternally upon you, except you repent) would have been hearkned unto; which would have opened the eye in every one of you, which the God of this world hath blinded; and have shewn you Jesus, whom (without a cause) in us you persecute, and have filled your faces with shame for the evill of your doings; and have cau­sed you to mourn over him whom you have pierced, with a bitter lamentation, even as a man that mourn­eth for his onely son; and have raised up in you the righteous principle of God, from whence true Judge­ment would have proceeded; that so the Cruell mockings, bitter revilings, illegal bonds and impri­sonments, and other grosse abuses, with which we have been by you, and thorough your means exercised, might have ceased, and you led to repentance; and the Salvation of your souls, which are pretious, in this great and notable day of the Lord Jesus; After [Page] which we long, and our Bowels earn, the Lord is our witnesse, even that you might come to the knowledge of the truth, thorough Faith in his blood, for which things sake, all that we have received from yor hands, would have become to us, sweet and pleasant.

But seeing, neither the forbearance and long suf­fering of God; nor our patient and long abiding un­der all your wills and lusts; nor the fear of man, to the penalty of whose Lawes you lie very obnoxious; nor naturall affection, nor Common humanity, which would lead you to tendernesse and mercy, and Justice; and to do to others, as you would be done unto your selves; nor the Consideration of what hath been our carriage, especially of some of us, to you, (notwith­standing that we have received alwaies the worst of usages at your hands) above what you could think of, expect, or hope for, have not prevailed with you, but instead thereof, you are become more hard, reward­ing Evil for Good, and Cruelty for Kindnesse, decla­ring your sin as Sodom, the shew of your Countenance witnessing it against you; and having breathed forth new, and fresh persecutions against the witnesses of Jesus, (in which Temperance Hignell. One of them hath lately suffered, to the losse of her life): When as wickednesse rageth in the streets; And who is there found amongst you, that doth it punish? We have gathered up much of what the Truth, and we, and our friends, for witnessing thereof, have suffered by you into one body; and have demonstrated how contrary your actions therein, have been, to Law and Scripture, (the Rules by which you pretend to order all your affairs) and to Liberty and to Justice: And although you can expect no such thing at our hands, yet that it may appear that ano­ther spirit ruleth in us, than the spirit of this world, [Page] and how desirous we are that you should know, and be convinced of the evill of your way, and turn unto the Lord; We do herewit, hin the Close of the year, before we publish it, present it to you, even to that of God, which is pure and just in every one of your Consciences, to which we speak, that as in a glasse with the light of Jesus Christ, by whom the world was made, wherewith he lightens every one that cometh into the world, which convinceth you of sin, you abiding still and cool therein, may come to see what you have done, and the spirit and principle from which it hath proceeded, to wit, of Darknesse, and of the Prince of this world, who, throughout all Ages, as now by you, hath raised persecution against the Principle of Light, the Seed of God, as the Scrip­tures testifie; and that by him you may be delivered out of the snares of the Devil, by whom you are led Captive to do his will; And this is that which we wish and long for, even your salvation. For you must die, and if the tree fall towards the South, or towards the North, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be, and sad will be your portion, if it falleth in opposition to Jesus the Judge of all, whom (we bear witnesse) you now persecute; Nor Rocks, nor mountains will (in that day) cover you from the wrath of the Lamb: And therefore have we laid things plainly, and clearly be­fore you: But if ye shall still harden your hearts, and go on in the perversenesse, and stubborn­nesse of your spirits, in opposition to the truth, We call Heaven and Earth, yea, the Righteous God and Judge of all, this day to record against you, that we are Clear of your blood, and your destruction will be upon your own heads: Re­member [Page] that ye are thus warned in your life­time.

Witnessed by those who are true Lovers of your Soul's eternal good, though re­proachfully called by you and the world, Quakers, and persecuted as such:
  • Geo: Bishop,
  • Thomas Goldney,
  • Henry Roe,
  • Edw: Pyott,
  • Dennis Hollister.
For John Goning late Mayor, Joseph Jackson, Richard Vickris, Miles Jackson, John Lock, Geo: Hillier, Henry Gibbs, William Cann, Geo: Knight, and Ga­briel Sherman, Aldermen of the City of Bri­stoll.

The foregoing Letter, with the following Epistle and Declaration, was delivered to John Goning afore­said, the 18th day of the tenth moneth, 1655: since which, a patient and silent waiting there hath been, to see, whether upon this gathering up of the wicked­nesse, which from them hath gone forth into the earth, and returning it convicted, and judged by the light of Jesus Christ, and the Lawes of this Nation, to that of God in every one of their Consciences, shame would cover their faces, and they turn unto the Lord: But, seeing they still resist the witnesse of God, and of late have again, and do still continue to run on greedily in the way of Cain, persecuting, and imprisoning the just, [Page] who witnesse the Sacrifice, that is respected of the Lord, which testifies against that, unto which he hath no respect, for their so testifying in obedience to the movings of the Lord; neither regarding Justice, or Mercy, the Law of God, or the Nation, (contrary unto which are their actions, as may appear, when what they have done therein shall be brought forth, and made publick) nor having respect to the widow, or the fatherlesse, whom they afflict, and oppresse, though the Lord hath said, Thou shalt not afflict any Widow, or fatherlesse child: if thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wifes shall be widowes, and your children fatherlesse, Exod. 22. 22, 23, 24. Nor their own souls, but despising the riches of the goodnesse of God, and his forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing the goodnesse of God leading them to repentance, are, after the hardnesse, and impenitency of their hearts, still treasu­ring up unto themselves wrath unto the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God, which shall destroy the adversaries, who will render to every man ac­cording to his deeds; That we may stand clear of their blood, and leave nothing unattempted, to which we are directed of the Lord, that may be for the stopping of them in their way, and recovering them from the evil thereof, that so repenting, and being converted, their sins may be blotted out, and their souls saved in this day of refreshing, which is come from the presence of the Lord, which is the longing of our souls, even, that not one of them should dye, but rather, that he should turn from his iniquity and live: Therefore, as we have, for above a years time, patiently endured what their wills have exercised, without resisting, without seek­ing any reparation, (Though after such a manner [Page] have been the sufferings, as in the following declara­tion of them is rehearsed), waiting, when the wit­nesse of God in every one of them, would have been by them minded, and they wearied in their manifold persecutions of the innocent: And, as, when we saw, after so long forbearance, that they neither consider­ed what they had done, nor laid it to heart, nor said, it is Enough, We drew up together, and set in order before them, much of what they had done, and shew­ed how contrary it was to the Law of God, and Man, and to Justice, and Humanity, to the end, that seeing their nakednesse therewith, as in a glasse, by the light of Jesus Christ, shame might cover them: And, as, we have since waited for the space of five moneths, to see, whether their iniquities being so laid before them, and so testified to their faces, they would blush, or be ashamed, that so their transgressions might be hid, and their sins covered, and what they have done against the truth be no more remembred by the Lord, or be re­hearsed before man, which was, and is the desire of our Souls (the Lord is our record) and the end both of our forbearance, and spreading of what they have done, before them; So now, through a deceived heart, which hath led them aside, and a rebellious mind, which still carries them on against the truth, those ends being hitherto frustrated, and instead of them, a Violent persecution having been, and being still prosecuted, wherein they have imprisoned di­vers for the testimony of Jesus: whereby that which we drew up together, and privately delivered to them, and intended for the raising up of shame as a garment to cover their nakednesse, being by them thrown aside, and that which should be their shame, coming to be gloried in, which is all we have hither­to [Page] heard from them in relation thereunto: We have brought forth to publick View at once what hath been done by them at severall times, not in secret, but before the Sun. And thus openly do we reprove those who have thus sinned openly, and rejected private admoni­tion, if so be shame may yet overtake them, and they smite upon their thigh, and say, What have we done? And of their blood are we clear in the presence of the great, and terrible God of Heaven, and Earth, whose witnesse, what we have done, shall stand for him against them, in the day, when he shall come to judgment; which on them hastens apace. And to that of God in every mans Conscience shall we be made manifest, that we have not dealt with Them, as they have dealt with Us, or as men use to deal with an enemy; but with another spirit, rewarding Them good, whereas they have rewarded Us evill.

To the Reader.

Reader,

THou wilt (perhaps) marvail, That in these dayes wherein Religion seems to have ascended the Throne; and Justice and Righteousnesse to have sate down on her right hand, and on her left, as the glorious issue of many bloody wars; Wherein Liberty of Conscience in things of a spiritual nature, except to Popery and Prelacy, And to such as under the profession of Christ, hold forth and practise licentiousnesse, seems to be guarded from all persecution, by the Fundamental constitution of a new Government; Wherein those are Chief in Autho­rity and Rule, and possessed of all power, whose sword was made successful and victorious, to the cutting down of Tyrannous and imposing powers, under which, them­selves (amongst others) suffered; wherein the Gospel is said to shine so glorious, as to form the whole Nation into a profession, and to the rendring so many thousands of pro­fessors clear-sighted in the Mysteries of the Kingdom, and earnestly to expect the reign of Christ over all for ever, now supposed by them, and believed to be on the very thre­shold; Such persecutions and unjust proceedings, as are rehearsed in the following Treatise, should be presumed to be done in England; And that those who are called the Children of the Kingdom, and accompt themselves rea­dy to sit down therein with Christ, when he shall appear, Now that he is begun to be manifested in life and mighty power (unto which thousands of his Saints do bear wit­nesse, and have set their seals) should (all opinions, Judg­ments and forms, hitherto in the height of enmity and con­tention, against each other) be now reconciled together, and joyn in with the powers of the world (from whom in [Page] their several dayes, as they have witnessed any thing of truth, they have received opposition) And also with the rude multitude in persecuting and afflicting the wit­nesses of this Kingdom, and seeking to murther the Lord of Glory, thus beginning in these last times to be revealed.

But thou wilt cease to admire, if in the cool of the day, thou doest sit down and consider, That, as it was of old, (Esay 8. 18.) Christ Jesus, and the Children whom the Lord had given him, were for signs and wonders, in Israel, (Rom. 9. 4, 5.) to whom pertained the Adoption, and the Glory, and the Covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the Service of God, and the promises, whose were the Fathers, and of whom, as concern­ing the flesh, himself came, who is God over all, blessed for ever, Even from the Lord of Hosts who dwelleth in Mount Sion; And that as the seed of the Serpent and of the Bondwoman (which is the same in Ishmael as in Cain, who hated and slew his brother) (Gal. 4. 29.) persecuted the Seed of the Free-woman, so it is now.

(Mal. 3. 1. John 1. 41. 4. 25.) Very great were the expectations of the Jews, for the coming of the Messiah. Of him (Luke 1. 70. 24. 27. Acts 3. 18, 21.) all the Prophets prophesied from the beginning of the world, Him all the (Heb. 8. 1. 5. 10. 1. 5. 7. 10.) Levitical services, sacrifices, the Temple, Circumcision, and the Jewish Kingdom, shadowed and typified. Him the (Luke 5. 17. Acts 13. 27.) Doctors of the Law and the Pha­risees read out of the Prophets, every Sabbath day, and on him were their hopes fixed for a perfect restau­ration, and redemption from under all their Captivi­ties and servitudes: In the (Gal. 4. 4.) fulnesse of time, in the dayes of (Matth. 2. 1.) Herod the King, (who was not of the race of the Jews, but appointed over them, by the Ro­mans, [Page] under whose power they then were) when the Scep­ter was departed from Judah, which old Jacob (Gen. 49, 10.) pro­phesied should not he, nor a Law-giver from between his feet, till Shiloh come; He came, was (Luke 2, 4, 7.) born of a Virgin at Bethlehem in the Tribe of Benjamin, of the Seed of David; The (Luke 2. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.) Angels signifie his birth to the Shepherds, and for joy of it, sing together; (Luke 1. 17, 76. 3. 4, 5, 6.) John prepares the way before him, in the spirit and pow­er of Elias; (Acts 2. 22.) Approved he is of God, by miracles, wonders and signs; by a (Mat. 3. 16, 17.) voice from Heaven, by the descension of a Dove, and by (1 Cor. 15. 4. Acts 17. 31.) raising him the third day, according to the Scriptures; All (Luke 24. 44. Acts 3. 18.) Prophecies are fulfilled in him, and himself (John 7. 28. 37. 38. John 8. 12, to the end. Luke 4. 21.) con­vinceth the Doctors and the people publiquely, that it was so; being indeed, (1 Tim. 3. 16.) God manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed of in the world, and recei­ved into glory; And yet, because He came not with outward observation; nor in the Glory of Solomon; nor in the dominion, or restauration of an earthly Kingdom; nor in the way they prescribed him; Nor by the discovery of the High Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees; But was (Luke 2. 24. Levit. 12. 8.) born of a poor woman; (Mat. 13 55.) supposed a Carpenters sonne; (Luke 2. 7.) laid in a manger, (for there was no room for him in the Inne) more marred in his (Esay 52. 14.) visage, than any man; of no (Esay 53. 2, 3.) form, or comelinesse, or beauty, whereby he should be de­sired: Of no (Mat. 8. 20.) abiding place; (Mat. 4. 18, 21. John 21. 3.) Attended by poor Fishermen as his disciples; followed by (Matth. 9. 9. 10. 11. 21. 31. 32. 11. 19. Luke 3. 12. 5. 29, 30. 15. 1. 7. 29. 19. 2.) Publicans and sinners; because he opposed their (Matth. 25, 3, 6. Mark 7. 8, 9, 15.) traditions; Reproved their (John 4, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.) outward commanded worship, [Page] (being all ended in him) changed the (Mat. 5. 6. cap. Mat. 12. 1. 2. 6. 7. 8. 10. 12. 13. 14. Mat. 15. 1, 15 Joh. 5. 10, 11 Acts 6. 14.) Laws, and Customes; (John 8. 44. 15. 22. 16. 8, 9.) Convinced them of sin; was as a (Mal. 3. 1, 2.) Refiners fire, and as Fullers sope; (Mat. 2. 3.) All Jerusa­lem, as well as H [...]rod, was moved at his birth; The (Mat. 2. 4. 5. 6. 16.) chief Priest, and Scribes advise with Herod whom they hated, and tell him who sought to murther Jesus, where he was to be born, who should be the Governour, that should rule the people of Israel; His (Joh. 1. 11.) own receive him not, though he came to them; the most (Mat. 12. 14. John 7. 12. Luke 22, 2. John 12. 42. Mat. 26. 3. 57. 59. 27. 20, 22.) strict in the outward observation of the Law which led to him, most persecute him; His friends (when he took to him 12 disciples) tell him he was (Mark 3. 21.) besides himself; The Scribes and Pharisees say, he is (Mat. 11. 19.) gluttonous, a wine-bibber, a (Mark 3. 23. Matth. 9. 34.) Devill, and the Chief of them, yea and a (Mat. 26. 65, 66.) Blasphemer, And he must dye for it; (John 8. 59. 10. 39. Iuke 23. 29. 30.) Tumults were raised upon him, to take away his life, though he passed thorough them, his hour being not come; the (John 9. 12. Luke 24. 20, 22.) Chief Priests cryed out to Pilate, when he would have released him, (for he was (Acts 3. 13.) determi­ned so to do, (Mat. 27. 18.) knowing that they had delivered him for envy) because he found no (John 19. 6. 18. 38. Luke 23. 5.) cause of death in him, saying, (Mat. 27. 23. Mark 15. 14.) What evil hath he done? Who­soever maketh himself a King, speaketh against Cae­sar; and thou art no friend to Caesar if thou let him go: No (John 19. 15.) King will we have but Caesar, (though they before said, If we let this man alone, the (John 11. 48.) Ro­mans will take our place and Nation) A (Luke 23. 18, 19. 24. 25. Mark 15. 7. Matth. 27, 21.) mover of sedition, a maker of insurrection; a murtherer do they desire before him; Nothing will serve them, but to (Mat. 27. 22, 23. John 19. 6.) crucifie him; And the rude multitude do they (Matth. 27. 20. Mark 15, 11.) stir up to cry, Release Barrabbas, Crucifie Jesus, and the [Page] (Luke 23. 24, 25.) voices of them and the Chief Priests prevailed; And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required; And he released unto them him that for Sedition and murther was cast into prison, whom they had desired, but he delivered Jesus to their will: A stone is (Mat. 27. 63, 64, 65, 66.) rolled before his Sepulchre, and guards of Souldiers placed to hinder him from rising; And when he arose from the dead, (Mat. 28. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.) large money given them to slander his resurrection, and to say, his disci­ples came by night and stole him away. Thus they (of whom he was according to the (Rom. 9. 4, 5.) flesh), to whom he was the (Gen. 3. 16. 17. 19. 18. 18. [...]8. 14.) promise of many hundred years standing, and that in him, all the families of the earth should be blessed; in whom all the promises, concerning him were fulfilled before their eyes, for whose sake their Kingdom stood above two thousand years, being the Ad­miration and dread of the world; they who looked so earnestly for him, mist him; and they who laid up all their hopes, and life, in his coming, put him to death, and said, his (Mat. 27. 25.) blood be upon us and our Children: And although the Romans, in that very generation, took away their place and Nation, and caused them to sustain such miseries, [...]s (Mat. 24. 21.) never were before, or shall be on a people, as he foretold; And though they have these many hun­dreds of years, ceased from being a Kingdom, and are scattered upon the face of the earth as the prey of Nati­ons, Yet are the Jews still expecting the Messiah, the Messenger of the Covenant's coming, whom their (Acts 5. 30. 10. 39.) Fathers, with wicked hands slew, and hung up­on a tree.

As it was then, so is it now in this City and Nati­on. Great hath been, and are, in these dayes, the expe­ctations, many the breathings, the groans, the pray­ers, [Page] the speakings of professors for the coming of Jesus Christ, in Spirit and power, the (Heb. 9. last.) according to the Scriptures, to judge Babylon the great Whore, the mother of harlots, and of Fornica­tions, who hath made all Nations drunk with the Cup of her abominations; to raise up the Taber­nacle of David which is fallen down; to bring the New Jerusalem from God, out of heaven; prepa­red as a Bride adorned for her Husband; wherein the Tabernacle of God shall be with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his people. And God himself shall be with them, and be their God; Yea what writings are there to prove, according to the computation of years, that we are come to the peri­ods of Daniel's times, and John's in his Revelations, wherein the Prophesies shall be fulfilled, and that the Kingdom shall not be delivered to another people: And how earnest are the expectations of people, going from mountain to hill, looking here, and looking there, saying, Lo here, and lo there, as if the Bridegroom were coming, promising themselves, and being perswaded that they are upon the entrance of those glorious times, that never shall have an end: And yet now that the Cry at midnight hath been made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, Go ye forth to meet him; And many who had oyl in their lamps, have met him, and are gone in with him: Now that the day doth dawn, and the shadowes flie away; after the long night of Obscurity and Apostacy; Now that the man of sin (by the brightnesse of his coming) is discovered, and destroyed in many, who are his witnesses, and of his pow­er and glory; Because he cometh not in the Common way of the National profession; Nor by the mixed Com­panies of the Presbytery; nor by the Forms of gathe­red [Page] Churches, so called; nor by Baptisme of water; nor by Observation; nor in high Notions and Ima­ginations; nor in the liberty of the flesh; nor in out­ward pomp, and glory, nor in the wildernesse; nor in the secret Chambers; nor in the Thrones of this world; nor in returning and raising up the outward breaches in the fundamentall constitutions of the Ci­vill Government, (which now seems to be shaken, as was the Jewish upon his coming in the flesh) nor by out­ward powers; nor by the Rulers; nor the Priests; nor the Doctors; nor the Universities; nor the Sy­nods; nor by the great men; nor by the noble; nor by the wayes, men have concluded on; But in the power and life of God, growing up as a tender plant before him; as a root out of the dry ground, out of the barren mountains, out of the least of the Tribes, Out of the mean, and the weak, and the foolish, with­out outward form, comelinesse or beauty, Reproving, and denying all the vanities and fashions, and Cu­stoms of the world, and whatsoever is esteemed by man; Judging, and cutting down the body of sin, and the whole world of professions, opinions, and Judgments; which stand in the imagination, and not in the light; Turning the lofty from their Seats, and exalting the humble and meek, Bringing those who have placed themselves at the upper end of the Table, to the low­est, to the first principle, the light, which is the door; at which whosoever entreth not, is a thief and a robber: Passing Judgment on every idle word; witnessing the streight way, the daily Crosse, the denyall of a mans self, his will, and righteousnesse, the Redemp­tion, the cleansing, the birth, the Teacher, the setting up of Judgment and righteousnesse on the earth with­in, [Page] yea Christ within, the hope of Glory, yea, the fa­ther and the sonne; and the spirit dwelling, and ma­ [...]ing their abode within.

Therefore who hath believed this report? And to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? Where is there faith to be found on the earth, for this coming of the Sonne of Man, Though his Coming forth to Us be as the rain, as the later and former rain on the earth? Who can abide this day of his coming, and who can stand, now that he thus appeareth, as a sanctuary to those who sanctifie him in their hearts, and make him their fear, and their dread; But for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence to both the Houses of Israel, for a gin, and for a snare to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem; And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken; and the testimony, and the law be bound up, and sealed amongst his disciples? How are the Priests, and the Rulers, and the Churches (so called) and professors of all sorts, and this City of Bristol, moved thereat? What seekings out where he is born? What contrivances to murther him? What reproaches of Deceivers, Witches, Sorcerers, Jesuits, Franciscan Fri­ers, Blasphemers, Devils, are cast upon them in whom he is appeared? What false reports of denyers of Ordinances and of Christ dying at Jerusalem, and of the Scriptures, of disturbers of the peace, are raised upon them? Yea, what abuses, incivilities, rage, madnesse, insurrections, Tumults, riots, illegal bonds and imprisonments, Oppressions & per­secutions, bloodthirstinesse and murtherous resolutions? How are all forms, factions, and interests in the City reconciled, and made friends, and united (though at enmity with each other from the beginning) in this day, to Cru­cifie [Page] Jesus, in these his Saints? Presbytery with Inde­pendency, Independency with Anabaptisme, Ana­baptisme with Notionists, and professors at large, and Ranters, and they with the Episcopals, and the multitude of prophane and loose livers, and all with the Rulers, and the Rulers with them: and the Priests their leaders, in things contrary to Law and Justice, against those people who are made offenders, in nothing but their obedience to the Lord? How have all Forms and opinions lost the Crosse, which they received from these Rulers, and this people, and from other different forms, as they in their severall times have witnessed any thing of reformation in letter or spirit, in things Civil or Spiritual, upon the coming forth hereof, which even then was exercising on some of them, by the Rulers? And how are they all joyned together in one? Yea, the Priests and other professors out of the Countrey come hither, and say also, A confederacy, to lay the Crosse on these ser­vants of the most High, and such a Crosse every way, as never knew any before; Nay all the professions in this City together; and which (did not the Lord chain up for his Seeds sake, and the Law of the Land restrain) would with more fury pour out the blood, and more greedily tear the flesh of the people of God, than ever was witnessed in the former ages, in the most tyrannical and bloody persecutions; whereby they bear (Luke 21. 13.) testimony to those servants of the Lord; that they are the Disciples of Jesus, and to themselves, that they are not his disciples; But are of that (John 1. 3. 11. 12.) wicked one who slew his brother, because his works were evill, and his brothers good; And having lost the Crosse, they have lost the power, and life of truth, and the beeing the Disciples of Christ, as saith (Luke 14. 26. to the 34. Mat. 10. 37, 38, 39, 40. 16. 24, 25. Mark 8. 34. 15. 38. 10: 21. Luke 9. 23, to the 27.) Christ himself; He that taketh [Page] not up his Crosse daily and followeth me, cannot be my disciple; For the Crosse is alwayes what the Truth received of the world, and what themselves re­ceived of the world, when they witnessed the truth: Yea its (Mat. 10. 22. 24. 9. Mark 13. 12, 13. John 7. 7. 15. 18, 19. 17. 14. 1 John 3. 13.) portion is to be hated of the world, because it is not of it, and the (John 15. 19.) world loveth its own? The Rulers stand in their old spirit of darknesse, enmity and per­secution, and those who received the Crosse, and who were hated of them all along as they were witnesses for the truth, are come to them, and fallen in with them, be­ing indeed now of the same root and principle: If the (Luke 14. 34, 35.) salt hath lost its savour, wherewithall shall it be salted? it's good for nothing but to be cast on the dunghill, saith Christ; Let them sit down, and sadly consider it: Any kind of form or profession, any kind of Priests, Raylers, Covetous, proud, Lyars, Drunkards, or others, outwardly more strict; it's no matter what, or who, so this new kind of Religion (as they call it, though it is what was from the beginning, Jesus Christ yesterday, and to day, and the same for ever) may be rooted out of the City; Nay, though it be to the losing of their Civill interest, the price of their blood and sufferings; Save Barabbas, Cruci­fie Jesus; And, he is no friend to Caesar nor the Go­vernment of the City that will not have it so. And occasions are sought for, and haltings looked after, and Emissaries sent about, to find matter to slander the Lord of life risen in his Saints, Though, blessed be the Lord who hath (1 Sam. 2. 9.) guided the feet of his Saints so, that they have not wherewithall, justly to slander their holy Call­ing; But the wicked shall become silent in dark­nesse.

And thus hath the Lord, who hath been so much de­fired [Page] and expected, come in this Ministry of Spirit and life first to the Independent and baptized Churches, so called in this City, who were offended thereat, and stumbled; Then to the City: But the Priests, Rulers, and the generality of the people through their means re­ject, and persecute it, though many of the Churches so called, and divers hundreds in and about the City have received him, and do believe in his Name, and do bear testimony with many thousands more, that the Lord is come, and their testimony is true.

But as it was of old, That very Word of the Lord spoken by the Prophets, for which they were persecuted, and put to death by the Rulers, and people of Israel, being recorded, and transmitted to posterity, the Scribes and Pharisees, who lived in the dayes of Christ, (Mat. 23. 29. to the end.) received in the letter, and owned as the Scriptures; and seemed to be so offended at their Fathers for slay­ing the servants the Prophets, that they built their Tombs, and garnished their Sepulchres, and said, If they had lived in their Fathers dayes, they would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets. And yet Christ Jesus the Sonne of God, the Messiah, that holy and just one, of whom the Prophets spake, they crucified, and witnessed themselves (as he testified to their faces) to be the children of those who killed the Prophets: And therefore he said unto them, Woe be unto you, ye Serpents, ye generation of Vipers, how can ye escape the dam­nation of Hell: Wherefore behold, I send unto you Prophets and wise men, and Scribes, and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie; And some of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues, and [Page] persecute them from City to City, that upon you may come all the righteous blood, shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias, whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar: Veri­ly I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation, Matth. 23. from 29. to 37.

Even so, That (John 1, 1, 2, 3) eternal word of life, which the Apostles heard and saw with their eyes, and look­ed upon, and handled with their hands, and bare witnesse unto with the Saints in their time, as that which was with the Father from the beginning, and ma­nifested unto them, (John 16. 13. Acts 15. 28.) leading them into all truth, for declaring of which, and walking therein, as the spirit, (not the form, for there was no letter for much of what they did) moved, and (Acts 2. 4.) gave them utterance, they were persecuted, & put to death, as the vilest of men, and the off-scowring of all things, by those who were called the devout and honourable, and the Rulers and the people of the Jews, who stood in the letter, and in the form of those things, which were once commanded of God, but then abolished by the coming of Christ, whom none of the (1 Cor. 2. 6, 8.) Princes of the world knew; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, being (at least much of it) committed to writing, and handed with the rest of the Scriptures of truth, to these later times, the people of this generation embrace the de­claration thereof, Crying out against the Jews for perse­cuting and killing the Prophets, and Apostles, and crucifying of Christ, after whose name they call them­selves, in whose doctrine and worship, and in the fellow­ship, [Page] and order of the Apostles, and the Churches of the the Saints in their times they pretend to abide; and for it and the Scriptures, wherein they are recorded, are they zealous, even to blood, though not according to know­ledge, as these later dayes have sadly witnessed. And yet those, who in this day of the Lords appearing, do witnesse the Prophets and Apostles, and their doctrine, and Christ Jesus and the Scriptures, and what is said there­in of the Saints, and their conditions in life and power, in spirit and letter, do receive from those who pretend to them all, and to the Scriptures, and yet are not so much as in the letter or form of doctrine declared therein, the very same measure of reproach and persecution, as did the Prophets and Christ Jesus, and the Apostles, and the Saints, of which the Scriptures testifie; (read the one, and compare the other therewith and judge) though as to blood, they have not as yet reached, further than of those in other parts of this Nation, who are dead in pri­son, and of the blowes they have received; And of others who by beatings, have had their blood drawn, even in the Steeple-houses, as well as other places, and mingled with their sacrifices, of which this City giveth instances, because the Lord (who saith unto the raging Sea, Hitherto shall thy proud waves go, and no fur­ther) hath bounded them by his power, but they who con­trary to Law and Justice, and to that liberty, which hath been allowed themselves, and to the Scriptures, which they would be understood to own, and to be ruled by, have proceeded so far, and with so high a rage, as this following Treatise (to say nothing of what hath been acted in other parts of this Nation) doth make to appear. What cruelties would they not exceed in all former times, had they Law for it, or power in their hands? And how [Page] doth this Generation manifest themselves hereby, to be in the same spirit with those, and in their steps, which persecuted and killed the Prophets, and Christ Jesus, Luke 11. 49. and the Apostles, and the witnesses of truth, to this day, filling up the measure of their fathers iniquity? Wherefore the wisdom of God hath and will raise up his cloud of witnesses, whom they do devise wick­ed devices against, and dig as low as hell, and im­prison and persecute from City to City, and from County to County, and execute cruelties upon, That all the blood of the Righteous, shed since the founda­tion of the world, may come upon them; And ve­nily it shall be required of this generation.

The Cry of Blood, &c.

MAny of the people of God in and about the City of Bristoll (as in divers other parts of this Nation) having a long time wandred from mountain to hill, from one from to another, seeking rest, but finding none, and divers re­ceiving no satisfaction from the Forms in which they walked, and wherein they did abide, in ex­pectation of the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus in spirit and power according to the Scriptures; It hath pleased the Lord, (whom they sought) at length to hasten to his Temple, and out of his tender mercies to vi­site them, with the day-spring from on high, and not only them, but many others who sate in darknesse and in the shadow of death, thorough the everlasting Gospel of his dear Son; Which though hid from ages and generations for many hundreds of years, yet, he hath now begun to make manifest with mighty power, in the hearts and by the ministration of many whom he hath raised up to declare, and publish the same, and to bear witnesse to his great and terrible day approaching upon the Inhabitants of the earth; And to the redeeming of his Sion with Judgment, and her Converts with righteousnesse; Unto which thousands of pretious Saints in this Nation, and many hun­dreds in and about this place (who are turned by the power thereof, from darknesse to light, and from the Kingdom of Satan unto God) having born their testi­mony, and set to their seals, the Devil is come down [Page 2] with great wrath, knowing his time is short, and stirs up the beast, and the false Prophet, the Rulers of the earth, and the Merchants of Babylon, to make war against it, with a rage reaching up to Heaven. But the Lamb, even him, who rides upon the white horse, the Word of God, who is called Faithful and true, and in righteousnesse doth judge, and make war, out of whose mouth goeth a sharp sword, with which he sha [...] smite the Nations, and rule them with a rod of iron, on whose vesture dipt in blood, and thigh is written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, ha­ving all the Armies of Heaven following him on white horses shall overcome, and have the victory, for his King­dome is an everlasting Kingdom, and his Dominion is for ever and ever. And the beast shall be taken, and with him the false Prophet that worketh miracles before him, and which he deceived, and they both shall be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone; And the fowls that flie in the midst of the Heavens, shall eat the flesh of Kings and of Captains, and of mighty men, and of Horses, and of them that sit thereon, and of all men both free and bond, small and great, that gather themselves together to make war against him, that sits on the white horse, and against his Army, And all the fowls shall be filled with their flesh.

Of the rising and progresse of this Sun of righteous­nesse, and the persecutions raised against it in this City, is the intent of this Treatise; The particulars whereof shall be set down in order.

Some of the brethren near Kendale in Westmerland, being moved, not by man nor the will of man, but by the Lord, to come to Bristoll (to which place they were wholly strangers, as they were to every Inha­bitant thereof) to declare what he should there [Page 3] Command them; in obedience thereunto, came thither on the 12th day of the fifth moneth (called 12th of the 5th moneth, 1654, John Audland came first to Bristol. July) 1654, in the Evening; And having the next day delivered the word of the Lord there given them in charge, to the Independent and Baptized Churches (so called) And having testified the things of the Kingdom, to a few others, who were waiting for the Redemption of Israel: The day following being the 14th of the same moneth, they passed away to­wards Plymouth in Devonshire, the witnesse being raised (though in so short space of time) by the pow­er of the Lord, and severall both of the Churches (so called) and others, putting their seales to the truth of their testimony.

Being come to and departed from Plymouth to London, one of the Brethren aforesaid, to wit, John Audland, was mightily pressed in spirit to visit Bri­stoll again, and therefore returned thither about the beginning of the 7th moneth following, called Sep­tember, Beginning of the 7th month, 1654, John Audland came the second time, and John Camm with him. with whom John Camm, being moved of the Lord came also, and spake publiquely as the Spirit gave them utterance. And, truly, such a wide door, and an effectual was opened, which none could shut, as hath not been known in any age in this Nation: for the people being as Corn ripe for the Harvest, pressed in by multitudes in this day of the Lords power, and the witnesse which at first, was risen but in a few, to whom the Word of the Kingdom was commu­nicated, like to Elijah's cloud, seemed to fill the whole Heaven. The places of meeting were too streight, the Assemblies (thereupon) in the fields, though in the winter season, were multiplyed to two, three, nay sometimes to near four thousand people: And many [Page 4] of all sorts, professions, Ranks, ages and sexes, some of whom as eminent as any in that City, in that which is called Godlinesse, became obedient to the truth, whose minds being turned to the Lord, witnessed the power and life of Jesu [...] (in measure) and Redemption with­in, from the fashions and customs of the world, and their former vain Conversations and professions; and this Mi­nistry, through which they were begotten again to a lively hope, through the resurrection of the dead, to be of the Lord.

Persecution be­gun.

At this manifestation of Jesus, the Priests and Ru­lers, with many professors of all opinions, and the worser sort of the City were exceedingly moved: And as the joyfull Sound went forth into the Coun­trey round about, whereby many were brought i [...] ­to the obedience of the truth; So the members of the many-headed beast there, and the false Prophet, joyn in confederacy with them, in making war against it: And even some, who as they have in their time and generation born their testimony to any thing of simplicity and power in Religion, or have owned the publique interest, have constantly been malign­ed and opposed by the Magistrates and people, fall in and become one with both, strengthening their hands, and stirring up their hatred against the Truth. And although they thereby justifie the op­positions themselves have received, and allow the persecuting Principle (which when it was their own case, they condemned) and give Judgment up­on, and prepare trouble for themselves, and weaken the publique interest in which they are concerned, and have lost the Crosse which the servants of the li­ving God have alwaies witnessed against the adul­terous [Page 5] generation; yet so blind are their eyes, that though they see, they perceive not, so gross are their ears, that though they hear, yet do they not understand, yea their hearts are waxen fat lest they should see & hear, and be converted and healed, fulfilling the words of Christ, who saith, For Judgment am I come into this world, that those who are blind may see; and those who say they see, may John 9. 39. be made blind, and their sin may remain. And now who Esay 42. 19. is blind but my servant? and who is deaf, but my mes­senger, seeing many things, but he observeth not; opening the ear, but he heareth not: And indeed to those who have known, and lived in that City for the space of 18. years last past, and do impartially weigh things, to have beheld their Episcopacy persecuting Purita­nisme (so called) with reproaches, riots, imprison­ments, and accusations of plotting against the King­dome under pretence of religious meetings, which they would make Conventicles: Puritanisme in the throne turned into Presbytery, opposing Episcopacy as Popish; and Independency as Heresie and Schisme; Independency got into the Chair, trampling under Presbytery as Antichristian, and others above them as Notionists, Anti-Ordinance men, &c. Each taking their turn and time, and applying themselves unto, and making use of the Powers of the earth for the pulling down of the one, and setting up of the other; And now to see Episcopals, Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, Notionists, Ranters, and the rude rabble of ignorant and dissolute people, the Priests and the Ru­lers aforesaid reconciled, joyned and folded toge­ther, as Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Jews in exer­cising the very same reproaches and persecutions, wherein themselves suffered from each other, and from the Priests and Rulers, and in a higher manner [Page 6] against those, who are called forth to witnesse Jesus now made manifest in them, it would be very strange, but that this is the portion which the truth hath received from the men and professions of the world throughout all generations, and which re­turns to it as a testimony. Neverthelesse, as death and hell could not hinder the resurrection of Christ, but he arose the third day according to the Scriptures, so the confederacy aforesaid, with all their policy and power, have not been able to extinguish the light that hath shined, but the more they have sought to quench it, the brighter it hath appeared, and so will it encrease to the perfect day: for the Lord is risen, and the word is gone forth out of his mouth, and will not return again till Judgment and Righte­ousnesse be set up in the earth, and all his enemies be sub­dued under him.

As the word of the Kingdom grew and multiplyed, so the rage of the Beast and of the false prophet, increased against it: For having a little recovered the deadly wound at first given them, the Priests apply them­selves to the Rulers, (as the false Prophets, Priests and Pharisees did of old) and pressed they are, to turn these servants of the Lord out of Town, as men not to be endured, who on the 30th day of the eighth moneth following being the 2d. day of the week in the morning, being assembled in their Councel Chamber, and the Priests ready according to their appointment sent an Officer to Francis Howgill and 30th. of the 8th moneth, 1654, Francis Howgill and Edward Bur­rough before the Rulers. Edward Burrough, to desire (not to command) them, to come before them, whereupon they immediately went, being accompanied with three or four friends of the City, (against whom there was no just cause [Page 7] of exception) whom when the Magistrates saw, as they sate about the Councel Boord, as in a Judica­ture, they began immediately to be enraged, and Richard Aldworth, Joseph Jackson, and George Hellier, Aldermen, would not be at rest, till the Maior had commanded them forth, and caused the door to be kept fast, by an Officer, that their friends might not come in, and be present, which was observed all the time the strangers were before them, but dealt not so with their opposites, who were admitted, and present all the time, though they were told it was not fair dealing.

Those two being left alone, several of the Priests came in presently, and others of their party, who were also admitted: And the Maior having de­manded of them their names, and their Countrey, and their businesse, and the last place from whence they came; And they having given plain answers thereunto, And that, according to the Command of the Everlasting God, they came to that place, to bear witnesse and testimony unto his Name against all deceipt, as they had done many dayes, at the City of London, from whence they came last: The Mayor asked them whether they would discourse fairly of things? They answered, Yea; and exhorted the Rulers to try them by the Scrip­tures; for, as unto them, by it they would be judged in what they spake: The Priests, having got this mate­rial, instead of the sword of the Spirit, began to ask them many questions; but they replying, That what the Magistrate, who had Command over them, asked, they were ready to answer, not what the Priests demanded. And the Magistrates thereupon assigning their power to the Priests, they said they were ready to answer any thing [Page 8] that should be put upon them: And to what the Priests demanded, gave they answers, according to the Scriptures, which the Priests were not able to dis­prove, nor prove by the Scriptures, what they af­firmed; As would appear, were the particulars rehearsed; though Ralph Farmer one of the Priests then present, is not ashamed in a book of his, stiled, The Mysterie of ungodlinesse, to affirm the contrary. And with meeknesse gave they a reason of the hope that was in them, and declared how the Lord had wrought upon them and in them, and how he had called them forth to this Ministry, and of their former Conversa­tion. But the Priests cutting them short in their De­claration of their immediate Call, & forbearing to ask them more Questions, the Magistrates (having got no advantage against them by their words, and that which one of the Priests present charged them with to have said in his hearing, at a publique meeting, was disproved by another present, to the silencing of the Priest, who afterwards confessed before them, that twice in the same discourse he exprest himself otherwise) charged them with having tumultuous meetings, and said they could not suffer it: They answered, If they were found at any time transgressors of any Law, let the Law be shewed them, and they would suffer by it, for they desired nothing but equity; And to the Law of equity they were subject for conscience sake; But bade them take heed how they made their own wills a Law: And one there present said, he had been at their meetings, where there were very many honest godly, sober people; And that their meetings were not tumultuous: Then they warned them from the Lord to beware, lest they hardened their hearts, and so persecuted [Page 9] the innocent without a cause, and were found in the steps of the Scribes, and Pharisees, and Chief Priests, which persecuted Christ and his Apostles, and so brought in­nocent blood upon their own heads: But their wrath was kindled against them; And though they had nothing to lay to their charge, as to what they had done (as their own consciences will testifie and bear witnesse) no breach of any Law being found upon them: and what they spake, they proved by the Scriptures, which bare witnesse to the same; Yet in their anger, they commanded them to depart E. B. & J. H. commanded to depart the Ci­ty. the City, and the Liberties thereof at their peril. To which they made answer, that they came not in the will of man, nor stood in the will of man, but when he moved them to depart, who moved them thither, they should o­bey; but their wills they could not obey, for their will was not Law: And boldly said, If they were guilty of the transgression of any Law, let them suffer by it; but ra­ther than they would transgresse the righteous Law of God written in their hearts, by subjecting to their wills and lusts, they choose to walk in the Law of God, and to suffer under their wills, what they could lay upon them; for they were free-born Englishmen, and had served in faithfulnesse the Common-wealth, being free in the pre­sence of God, from the transgression of any Law: To their commands, they could not be obedient; and if by violence they would put them out of the City, and had power to do it, they could not resist; and so they departed out of their presence, rejoycing in the will of God, that they were counted worthy reproach, and to be called be­fore Rulers and Councellors for the testimony of Jesus.

Now let all people Judge, whether these pro­ceedings of the Magistrates, be not manifestly con­trary [Page 10] to the Rights and Liberties of Englishmen, who may freely come into, and live in any place, with­in the English Jurisdiction, giving an accompt of their names, former habitations, businesse, places of birth, and last abode, and freeing the Parish from charge if it be demanded: And to the Lawes of the Nation; which requires plain dealing, not trea­chery in Magistrates: That places of Justice be open and free to all, not to be done privately, and in a Chamber, or the doores kept fast; That witnesses on both sides be present and heard; That the Accuser and Pr [...]se­cuter be neither Examiner, Witnesse, nor Judge; That the Magistrates without respect of persons, judge accor­ding to the Law, not their own wills and lusts; And to the righteous ends of the late Wars; for Rights, Li­berties, Fundamental Laws, and administration of im­partial and equal Justice: And to the (Exod. 22. 21. 23. 9. 12. Deut. 9. 12. Deut 10. 18, 19. Lev. 19. 33, 34. Psalm 146. 9. Ezek. 22. 29. Heb. 13. 2.) Law of God; which requires strangers to be entertained, and cheri­shed, and loved as thy self, not to be vexed or oppressed; That His (2 Chron. 36. 15, 16. Isa. 44. 26. Matt. 22. 6. Jer. 7. 25, 26, 27, 28.) Messengers be well entreated and hear­kened to; That the (Psal. 82. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Exod. 23. 2. 6. 7. Deut. 16. 18, 19, 20. 27. 19.) Innocent be protected and de­fended in Judgement: That the (Deut. 1. 17. 2 Chro. 19. 6, 7.) Judgement given, be the Lords; Yea, to Common humanity: when men shall leave all that is dear unto them, out of love to their souls, at the command of God, travel many hundreds of miles, and freely speak to them the word of God, as having known the terrour of the Lord, and desiring only to approve themselves in what they deliver to every mans (2 Cor. 4. 2.) Conscience, in the sight of God, according to the Scripture, and being not chargeable to any, And a case wherein every En­glishman is concerned? And whether these Priests be not found out of the Doctrine of Christ Jesus, and [Page 11] his Apostles, and in the steps of the false Prophets, High-Priests, Scribes and Pharisees, who throughout all their Generations, caused the true Prophets, and Ministers of Christ to be brought before Kings and Rulers, to be (2 Kings 22. 24. Matt. 26. 67, 68.) smot on the face, to be imprisoned, (Jer. 20. 3. Acts 16. 29.) stockt, (Acts 16. 22, 23. 37. 22. 19: 2 Cor. 11. 24, 25. Acts 5. 40. Heb. 11. 36.) whipt, (John 9. 22. 24. 35. John 16. 7.) cast out of the Synagogues, (Matt. 8. 24. Acts 16. 39. Acts 2. 18. 5. 40. 1 Thes. 2. 7. 8.) commanded to depart their Coast, and to speak no more in that Name; yea, to be (Heb. 11. 37. Acts 7. 58, 59, 60. Matt. 23. 29 to the end. Acts 12. 19. 26. 10.) put to death (Christ him­self to be (Matt. 27. 20. 35.) Crucified) as (Matt. 27. 63. 2 Cor. 6. 8.) deceivers, (Acts 21. 28.) changers of the Lawes and (Acts 16. 21.) Customes, (Acts 17. 6.) movers of Sedition, (Acts 24. 5.) turners of the world upside down, (Acts 24. 5.) pestilent and mad fellows, (Luke 23 2.) disturbers of the Peace, (Luke 5, 24. John 10. 37. Matt. 26. 65. Acts 6. 11. 13.) perverting the Nation, (Luke 7. 33. John 8. 48.) blasphemers and (2 Kings 9. 11. Jer. 29. 26. Jo. 10, 20. Acts 26. 24. Luke 23. 2.) Devils. 'Twas Ama­ziah (Amos 7. 10, 11, 12, 13.) that bad Amos depart Bethel, and Prophesie no more there; for it was the Kings Court: 'Twas the (Luke 8. 37.) Gadarens that desired Christ to depart out of their Coasts, because the Devils he cast out, were got into the Swine: And 'twas the (Luke 7. 53.) Samaritans that would not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. If any one come in his own name, or in the name of a Synod or some Church (so called) as bred up at the Universities, or skill'd in the Tongues, such a one is received, settled, maintain­ed and defended, be he what he will as to his qua­lifications, and never so ignorant of the power and life of Jesus, or unfit to speak, even to men, of which this City affords instances; but they who come not in their own name or will, nor by the will t 1 Kings 18. 20. Acts 16. 20. of man, but in the name and power of the eternal God, whereby they are made able Ministers of the everlasting Gospel, and witnessed to be so in the [Page 12] hearts of thousands, though they covet no mans silver nor gold, though their conversation be as becometh the Gospel; yet they must be charged to depart this City and the Liberties thereof.

Designing a­gainst the Go­vernment sug­gested.

This their first Attempt, proving successess, (for their command in their own wills contrary to Law, was not observed) and these waters of the San­ctuary flowing higher and higher, and spreading themselves much in the hearts of the people, the Priests and Rulers, are grieved thereat, and new consultations are had concerning them. And be­cause that generally those who embraced the Truth, were such as had alwaies been faithful to the Interest of the Common-wealth, and of unspot­ted reputation, and in that regard were likely to be heard by the chief in Authority, should they complain because of their oppressions from these Magistrates, (the generality of whom are well known to have endeavored the destruction both of the Common-wealth, and the friends thereof) and that some other ends might be accomplished; It was thought requisite, & therfore Representations were made at White-hall and Westminster, that these were disaffected persons to the Government, who under the notion of Quakers, and under that pretence, were suspected to be carrying on some design against the Government; That there are thousands at their meetings, even in the Fort, that the safety of the Garrison, was in immediate danger by those tumul­tuous Assemblies; Among whom were many Ca­valiers; and that the Officers of the Garrison, were friends to those people; that so being brought un­der the prejudice and jealousie of Authority, will [Page 13] & lust might the more freely be acted upon them for the future and, and be owned therein: whieh sug­gestions were so far from truth, that there was no­thing administred, that might give a rational ground of colour for any such practices, those mee­tings being in peaceableness: and though thousands made them up, yet their quiet carriage and dili­gent attention was such, as demonstrated another spirit than that of this world, and another King­dom than an earthly, which (if the truth was spo­ken out) was that which indeed gave the trouble. And to this false and adulterous generation, an open charge is hereby given, to prove the least title of any thing in design against the present Government, in any who are Convinced of the Truth, and do truly own this Ministration; or any thing in all their meetings, of a tu­multuous nature, or that gave any just suspition of con­spiracies on their part, or that is indeed criminal before man; the Principles of those people tending to the laying down of carnal weapons, and to the taking away of the occasion of war and disturbance, and to the bringing of people off from that ground of evil doing, to which the Magistrates sword is made a terrour: It was Haman that suggested to King Ahashuerus that (c) it was not for the Kings profit to suffer the Jewes Hester 3. 8. 9. scattered in his Province, whose Laws were divers from all people, neither kept they the Kings Laws, because Mordecai bowed not to him in the gate: It was the (Dan. 6. 4, 5, [...], 7. 12. 13.) Governours of Provinces that suggested, This Daniel will not obey thy Command O King! and, these (Dan. 3. 12.) Chil­dren of the captivity, regard not thee O King! nor the Decree which thou hast signed, they serve not thy God, nor worship the Image thou hast set up. And it was the [Page 14] (John 9. 12,) Chief Priests, Scribes and Pharisees, who told Pilate, if he Crucified not Jesus the King of the Jewes, he was no friend to Caesar, and that they had no King but Caesar; And we have found this (Luke 23. 2.) fellow perver­ting the Nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying, that he himself is Christ a King, though he pre­tended to no other Kingdom than a spiritual one, neither entrenched he upon Herod or Pilate. And it was the Bishops, who in latter times reproached the meetings of the people of God, who were scorn­fully called Puritans, with the brand of Conventi­cles against the Kingdom; for which they would needs pretend a Law: which neither was made for, nor intended any such thing: and possessed the Kings against them as their onely enemies.

Priests in their Pulpits, and elsewhere in­censing, stirring up, and enra­ging the People.

Whilest this ground-work of Dissavour was lay­ing in the Chief in Authority, the Priests were not idle to disaffect and enrage the City, by their Ray­lings and lyes in their Pulpits, their reading of Books there, and perverting the sence of them, and falsly representing the people of God, as Deceivers, Denyers of Christ that dyed at Jerusalem, Scriptures, Or­dinances, Magistracy, Ministry, Justification by Christ; as Blasphemers, Jesuites, Witches, yea what not; And endeavoring to possess the people therewith, Ga­thering & repeating what lyes & false stories (how improbable soever) they could learn abroad for that purpose: a Ring-leader and Chief of whom was Ralph Farmer Priest; and hereunto many of the In­dependents and Baptized Judgement, and others, added their reports. And upon occasions private and publick, manifested their dislike and oppositi­on to those people, and their Doctrine and Princi­ples, [Page 15] whereby both the Magistrates and the multi­tude were so hightened, and incensed that there was nothing too bad for them to wish to, nor too cru [...] for them to execute upon, the innocent; yea, they stoo [...] ready to draw their blood, and manifested such a spirit, that had the Supreme disposer of all things, and the Laws given leave; it was casie to conclude, they would more greedily have led them to execution, and murthered them with torments, then the Bishops did the Martyrs in Queen Maryes days (to burn whom they had a Law) or the Heathen, the poor Christians un­der the Romane persecution, and thought therein they should do God service: As Just, as innocent, as Dis­ciples, as Christians, no persecutions were mana­ged against Christ and his Apostles upon record in Scripture; but, as Luke 23. 2. Perverters of the Nation, Forbid­ders of Tribute to be given to Caesar, Teachers that the (Acts 6. 14. Acts 21. 21. 18. 12, 13.) Law of Moses was not to be observed, Christ the end thereof being come, as (John 7. 19, 20. 8. 48. 52 59. Acts 21. 28.) Devils, as (John 19. 7. Mark 14. 64.) Blas­phemers of God, the Holy place, and the Law, as (Acts 6. 11. 13. Acts 6. 14. 16. 21.) Changers of the Laws and Customes, as (Acts 16. 20, 21.) turbulent and (Acts 24. 5. 18. 13.) pestilent fellows, Movers of Sedition (Acts 26. 6.) Propha­ners of the Temple, (Acts 21. 2 [...], 29, 30, 31.) Polluters of the Holy place, (Acts 19. 26.) Affirmers that those are not Gods which are made with hands, and so to the Prison and to the Crosse, to the Stocks, and to the Whip, to the Torments, and to the Devourings of wild Beasts, to the Saws, and to Death it self. And the same seed of the Serpent in this Ge­neration, with a greater rage (according to its power) persecutes the righteous seed; first, paints them out as the vilest of men, not fit to live, and then stirs up the beastly nature of the multitude, to devour and destroy them; as the Romans of old [Page 16] clothed Christians, in wilde beasts skins, and then threw them to the dogs to be torn to pieces.

With these things the City was as it were set on fire, and the minds of the people fully prepared for mischief; and as opportunities were admini­stred, their tongues were exercised, and their hands stretched out against those who bore testimony to the Truth; For (now) no friends whatsoever, could passe up and down the streets upon their occasions, nor to a friends house, nor to or from their meetings to wait upon the Lord, but by boys, servants, Por­ters, Priests and other people, who would be e­steemed of rank and quality, were they openly abu­sed, reproached, dirted, stoned, pincht, kickt, and other­wise grosly injured without check, or controle; Inso­much as there appeared not the face of civility, in the Town: And a stranger would have doubted whether any such thing as Government were in it, or Religion.

And as the Trumpet gives the alarm to the battel, so the tongues of people, being thus freely exerci­sed, whetted on their rage, and kindled their fury further to lay hands on the Innocent, as what is hereafter mentioned, will abundantly manifest; For, on the tenth day of the tenth moneth in the Eliz. Mar­shal 10. day, 10. month, 1654. speaking the word of the Lord to Priest Farmer. morning, Elizabeth Marshal being moved of the Lord, to deliver a Message to Ralph Farmer; and the people hearing of him at Nicholas Steeple-house, went thither, and sitting over against him, and waiting in the power of the Lord, all the while he was speaking, but spake nothing till he had ended his Sermon, and prayer of it, and seemed to be go­ing out of the Pulpit, to give that they call the Sa­crament [Page 17] to the people (at which times the thing called the blessing, is not usually given till that be ended) Cryed out, This is the word of the Lord to thee Farmer, Wo, wo, wo from the Lord to them who take the word of the Lord in their mouths, and the Lord never sent them. And was proceeding to speak further, but Tumulted, &c. the multitude prevented her, by laying on her, vi­olent hands, crushing her Arms, pinching, and thuisting her (the first that laid hands on her, and crushed her Arms, being one of the Rulers Sons) notwithstan­ding she got a little respit, and turning about was moved to speak to the people; for her bowels were turned within her for them & to them she said from the Lord, This is the mighty day of the Lord, the Lord is comming to pull his people out of the mouths of all dumb shepherds; But she was hindred by the tumult from speaking any further, who drew her out of the Steeple-house into the street, where the boys and other people followed her with dirt & stones; John Gouning the Mayor was present at the Stee­ple-house aforesaid, to whom Ralph Farmer openly called, that course might be taken with her, who the next day instead of questioning and punishing the tumult, who assaulted the woman, and made the disturbance before his face, as the Law required, sent for her, and several days that week, to come before him, but she was not at home, her absence being upon her occasions, not to avoid him in the least.

The same day in the afternoon, one Captain Sa­muel John Wor­ring, 10. day 10. month, 1654. Speaking to Samuel Grimes. Grimes, Divining at Philips, and affirming to the people many grosse untruths, of those whom he reproachfully called Quakers, One Henry Gunning [Page 18] reproved him, he having said that he committed sin in all the things that he did; Whereupon John Wor­ring Apprentice to Peter Hiley, said to him, If thou were a Minister of Jesus Christ, the Law of the spirit of Tumulted. life which is in Christ Jesus, would make thee free from the Law of sin and death: Then the multitude abused and beat, worring and Gonning. And the Church-warden (so called) and the Clark laid hands on them, the Constables present not keeping the Peace.

On the fourth day of the week following, the Ma­gistrates sent for John Worring before them, and de­manded Examined. of him, why he made a disturbance in the publick Congregation aforesaid? And why he di­sturbed the Minister before he had done his Ser­mon? Worring denied, that he made any disturbance. Whereupon the Magistrates called the Clark, in evidence against him, who positively swore, that he told Grimes that he spoke never a true word, and that he kickt at the said Clark; All which, Worring af­firmed to be false.

Then they called another to testifie against him, who swore that Worring called Grimes Devil, which Worring affirmed to be false also; And Ma­gistrates themselves by their questions, seemed to suspect the truth of his testimony. Hereupon they asked him, what he could say for himself? He an­swered, and denyed that he spake such words as they char­ged him withal: They demanded of him, what were the words he did say? Worring replyed, They were these, That if he were a Minister of Christ, the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus, would make him free from the Law of sin and of death: They told him, he was sent to make a disturbance; this he de­nyed, [Page 19] or that he was sent by any, (for such things are not the practice of the servants of the Lord, whom they suspected to have sent him, and would slaun­der with such things) And he added, that is was not so. Whereupon Alderman Joseph Jackson replyed, he was like a Cut-purse, and that he denyed all things he did. Then they asked him, why he kickt the Clark? He answered, that he did neither kick nor strike, but was both kickt and struck. Alder­man Joseph Jackson replyed, that if his braines had been knockt out, he had had his amends in his his hands: And so they committed him to New­gate Committed. prison, without any Mittimus.

The 17. day of the same moneth, Elizabeth Mar­shall Eliz: Marshal 17. day 10. moneth 1654 speaking to John Knowls. was moved of the Lord, to speak to John Knowls Priest, at the Steeple-house called the Col­ledge; whom she hearing all the time without saying a word, after that, by what is called his blessing, he dismist the people, the power of the Lord was upon her, and commanded her to warn him to repent, And she said, This is the word of the Lord to thee Knowls, I warn thee to repent, and to mind the light of Christ in thy Conscience, and was very full to have spoken more unto him; But Alderman William Cann, a Ruler present, and some others, commanded the people to lay hands on her, who Tumulted &c thereupon violently assaulted her, giving her many blows in the place with staves and cudgels, pushing and haling her; but the mighty power of the Lord, bore her above it all, and moved her to cry out to them, The mighty day of the Lord is at hand, wherein he will strike terrour on the wicked, which she uttered of­ten with a loud voice; But the tumult haling her [Page 20] out of the Steeple-house, she went her way into the City, Hundreds of people following her, and as she was going was taken into Custody by a Consta­ble, Taken into Custody. by order, as he said, of the aforesaid Alderman, and brought before the Mayor, that Alderman and another being present: The Mayor demanded of Examined. her, why she went to disturbe the Minister and the Peace? She answered, she was no disturber of the Peace. He replyed, she was in that she had caused tu­mults in the streets (whereas the Tumults were made on her) She only replyed, wo be to me if I obey not the word of the Lord, Then the Mayor commanded the Constable to carry her to Newgate prison, where Committed. she was taken into Custody without a Mittimus.

The next day about the third hour in the after­noon, 18. day 10. moneth 1654. Eliz. Marshal Examined. she was sent for from the prison to the Coun­cel house, where the Mayor and Aldermen being sat, the Mayor charged her with disturbing of the Peace, which she denyed, and said, she offered abuse to none; but they disturbed the Peace who tumultuously laid hands on her; Then the Magistrates called for the Depositions against her, as to her Message to Ralph Farmer, as aforesaid. They affirming that he had not said his blessing: But they urged nothing of what she said to John Knowls, upon which she was, after ex­amination, Committed. Then the Mayor caused the Depositions to be read, and demanded of her whe­ther she spake the words therein alledged? To which she stood silent, having owned what she spake a­foresaid from the Lord before them, and only said in an­swer, I have said. You need not urge her said Rich­ard Aldworth, she owns it. Then they said, She must to the Place from whence she came; and called Committed. [Page 21] for the Keeper to take her away; She replyed she hah broken no Law, and bad them act according to the Law; They commanded again the Keeper to take hir away, whereupon she went to the Mayor, and again, and again required a Mittimus; but he refused and said, the Keeper was a sufficient Mittimus: Then departing with the Keeper, she was moved from the Lord to return again, which she did, and warned them from they Lord in these words, You that are Magistrates of this City, I warn you from the Lord that you act righteously, and that equity run down as a stream, and righteousness as a mighty water; Whereupon she was returned to prison, they not suffering any friend of hers to come in with her into the Councel house, to beat witness on her behalf, though it was earnestly desi­red.

And thus was Elizabeth Marshal, only for spea­king from the Lord to John Knowls, after he had dismist the people, by command of an Alderman, laid hands on by the multitude, violently assaulted, and beaten with staves and cudgels in the place, and after she was hurried out, taken into Custody by order of the same Alderman; And being brought before him and the Mayor, examined, and sent to prison without a Mittimus: and the next day brought in Custody from the prison before the Ma­gistrates, and by them charged with nothing as to the cause of her Commitment, after she had been ezamined as aforesaid; but as to her Mes­sage delivered a week before to Ralph Farmer as a­foresaid: And for this she is Committed again to Prison, as they pretend, though they denyed her a Mittimus, being by her demanded again [Page 22] and again, and permitted no friend to come into the Councel chamber with her; But the Mayor pu­nished none of those who made the tumult in the Steeple-house before his face, and who assaulted her with violence, crushing and haling her; nor caused the Peace to be kept, nor did Ralph Farmer desire any such thing, or that the woman might have liberty to speak, and he to answer, but called out to the Mayor, in the midst of the tumult, to take a course with her: Nor did the Mayor punish or call to an account, any of those who beat her with staves, and cudgels, and otherwise assaulted, & abu­sed her at the Colledge, or that made the tumults; but imprisoned her both times, laying the tumults raised on her (wherein she was beaten, and in so much danger, and on whom the Peace was broken) to her charge, though as to any cause wherefore she was committed, and continued for the space of about eight weeks, a prisoner, it appears not by any Mittimus to this day.

And thus was John Worring sent for by the Ma­gistrates, for speaking (after another had begun) to one who was no Priest, and who but 3 or 4 days before, said, at a meeting in the presence of near three hundred people; that he scorned the name and the office of a Minister, and publickly said, that he sinned in every thing he did: A [...]d after exami­nation, committed to Prison without any Mittim [...], and continued there for the space of fourty days, though an Apprentice. But neither was the tu­mult enquired after, according to Law, that was raised upon him, nor those who struck and beat him in the place, nor the Constables present who [Page 23] kept not the Peace; But instead thereof, when he said he was beaten and kickt, Joseph Jackson said, a Luke 2. 42. 46. if he had had his brayns knockt out, he had his amends b Acts 9. 20. 13. 5. 14. 14. 1. & 17: 10. 17. & 18. 4. 19. 26 19. 8. in his hands: and (when he would not own what was falsly alleadged against him to be true, though what he had spoken, he confessed) was reproached by the said Alderman, with the ignominious name of a Cut-purse: So that whether the Priest be spoken c Acts 17. 16, to the end. to; when he hath ended all, except his blessing; or d Acts 17. 17. when by having said his blessing, he hath dismist e Acts 19. 9. f Acts 28. 30, 31. the people; Or whether it be to a Priest, or to one that scorns the name and Office of a Minister; and g Sergius Pau­lus Gover­nour of P [...] ­phos, Acts 13. 7. 47. The Rulers of the Synagogue saith he sins in all things he doth; and be the words what they will, or the occasion, it appears, all is one to those who rule by their Lusts, not by Law: When as (Antioch in Pisidia, Acts 13. 5. At Ephesus Acts 18. 19. 20. Publius Go­vernour of Miletum Acts 28. 10, 11.) Christ was permitted at twelve years old, to dispute with the Doctors in the Tepmle; And the (At Rome two years, no man forbidding, Acts 28. 31. A [...] Antioch a year, Acts 11. 26. At Ephesus 3 moneths, Acts 19. 8. At Corinth a year, 6. months Acts 17. 11. At Iconium a long time, Acts 14. 3. At Caesaria many dayes Acts 21. 10.) Apostles spake, and reasoned, and disputed in the Synagogues amongst Jews and Gentiles, amongst the (c) A­thenians in the (d) Market daily, with those that met with him, and on Mars hill, and in Ephesus, and in the (e) School of Tyrannus, and at (f) Rome, and were desired so to do, by some of the (g) Rulers, and per­mitted by others for some (h) space of time; And in the Churches of Christ, all might (1 Cor. 14. 29, 30, 31.) Prophecy one by one, and if any thing be revealed to him that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace; And the Prophets two or three might speak, & the rest judge; And it seemed to (Acts 25. 27.) Festus the Romane Governour, a thing unreasonable, to send a [Page 24] prisoner, and not withall to signifie the crimes laid a­gainst him, it was the (Jeroboam, Ahab, Jeza­bel, &c.) wicked Kings, and Princes, and People, of Israel and Judah that caused the Messengers of the Lord to be imprisoned, and his servants to be evil entreated, and that said unto the (Esay 30. 10. Jer. 11. 21. Amos 2. 12. 7. 13. 15. Micah 2. 6.) Prophets, pro­phecy not (2 Chro. 36. 15, 16. Jer. 7. 25. 25. 4. & 35. 15, 26. 5. & 29. 19. & 32. 33. 44. 4.) though he sent them, rising up early, saying, O do not the abominable thing that I hate, till there was no remedy, and both (2 Kings 17. 18. 20. 23.) Israel (2 Kings 24. 3.) and Judah were remo­ved out of his sight; And it was the (Jer. 5. 12. 33. 17.) false Prophe [...]s that perswaded them so to do; saying, no evil shall befall you, and that the (Amos 7. 10.) land was not able to bear the words of those who speak from the mouth of the Lord; And it vvas the High Priests, and the Chief of the Jewes, and the devout and honourahle (so called) that crucified him that spake from (1 Cor. 2. 8. Luke 23. 10. 13. 23, 24. Acts 13. 5. 14. 19. & 17. 17. & 14. 2. 5. 17. 5, 6, 7, 8.) heaven, and stirred up the Rulers of the Synagogues, and the multitude, to oppose and persecute his Apostles, vvhom before they disturbed not.

And as to the (See Magna Charta. Stat. Westm. Peti­tion of Right. The trialls of the late King and of Straf­ford and Canterbury.) ancient Law of this Nation, It is a special Fundamental, That none be taken or impriso­ned, but according to the Law of the Land, (viz. by lawful Warrant or Mittimus of one or more who are lawfully authorized under his or their hands and seals, which Warrant or Mittimus must contain the cause of the Commitment, and must conclude, Un­til he that is Committed, be delivered by Law, for above all things the Law doth value the Liberty of a mans person; Therefore complaint was made in the Par­liament (3. Charles) against the King and Lords, for sending several Merchants of London to Prison, with Warrants, which contained not the cause of their Com­mitment; To salve which, the Petition of Right was then granted, which confirmed Magna Charta, and [Page 25] the Statute of Westm. 1. wherein this fundamental Law is contained: And to act contrary hereunto, is to subvert the fundamental Law; For which the late King, Strafford and Canterbury were impeached, attainted and executed as Traytors against the funda­mental Lawes and Liberties of the Nation: And against this fundamental Law, no particular usage 25 Edw. 1. Cap. 2. Coke upon Con. c. f. 527. or Custom of any particular place is of force: All which (as it appears) these Magistrates neither ac­compt nor regard, nor their heads nor estates, for they commit men to prison without any Warrant or Mittimus, and have denyed it to about 20. persons, of whom particularly this Treatise makes men­tion, though severall of them earnestly and often demanded it.

Also, freedom of the exercise of the profession of Faith in Christ Jesus, though differing in Judgment from the Doctrine, worship, or discipline publiquely held forth, is a fundamental in the present (See the Go­vernment, Art. 37.) Constitution; And for all to prophesie, and when any thing is revealed to another that sitteth by, for the first to hold his peace; And that all may speak one by one; was exercised in the true Church of Christ, of which the Scriptures bear Record, as aforesaid, and is a true profession and exercise of faith in Jesus Christ.

And for that absolete Act Mary 1. on which the Priests and Magistrates pretend to lay the legality of their proceedings in this case: It is well known to have been made in the time of Popery, for the defence of the Romish, Popish Priests, in the time of their Service from the testimony of those Protestants, whom then God mightily raised up to bear testi­mony against their Idolatrous Doctrines and services, [Page 26] who witnessed against them thorough flames of fire: All which Doctrines and Services being wholly re­moved, the effect must needs cease with the cause, and the Defence, when that which is defended, is taken away. And 1 Eliz. c. 2. repeales, and makes utterly void and of none effect all Lawes, Statutes, and Ordinances, wherein or whereby any other service than that of the Common-Prayer is limited, established or set forth: And that Act aforesaid, 1 Mar. amounteth to the esta­blishing of the Masse, which is another service. And yet neither are the Priests ashamed to desire, nor do the Magistrates blush to defend them upon colour and pretence of that Statute; nay, to im­prison, where there is no offence by that Law, were it in force, and practicable, for it protects the Ro­mish, Popish Priests, from interruption, onely in the time of Service. Can those who claim the benefit and priviledges of that Law, and are protected thereby, otherwise be esteemed of, than such as that Law qualifies and makes capable of the pri­viledges and protection therein provided? And so, is not the witnesse the same against which the provision is made, as aforesaid? and that which seeks the same defence, of the same root and prin­ciple? If the Priests will needs have that Law to be in force, and to be defended thereby, then let them not refuse to be accompted of and denomi­nated as such whom that Law qualifies, guardeth and defendeth, viz. as Romish Popish Priests of Anti­christ, not as Protestants or Ministers of Jesus Christ; for, against the witnesse of God in such, was that Law made and provided.

The great Tu­mult and R [...]et.

The Priests and People having understood by these [Page 27] illegal and oppressive proceedings, how much these Magistrates had the truth, and those who owned it, in abomination, were greatly encouraged to pro­ceed in their opposition thereunto; And resoluti­ons were also had, by an insurrection to quit the Town of those Servants of the most high, who were so instrumentall in this day of the Lord, because according to the way of Justice, and the Law of the Land, they being innocent, it could not be done. And such an expedient (if it took) might gratifie and answer all their opposites: Therefore a Con­spiracy was entred into, and a design laid amongst Continued. the Apprentices for that purpose; and meetings had in order thereunto: And as a Blind or pretext to this continued outrage, a Petition was drawn to have been presented the Maior and Aldermen, to turn them out of the Town; and upon their refu­sing so to do (for they knew that the Law authorized no such Injustice) then to rise, and not only to do their endeavours on them, but on such as should assist them: And in this Petition Priest Farmer was consulted (to say no more); and to execute this Plot, goings there were from house to house, and Master and man were prepared.

Mighty were the outgoings of the Lord on the first day of the week, being the 17th. of the 10th. moneth, in the publique meetings, and mightily was the Dragon enraged thereat, seeing his King­dome shortned; And therefore staid not till his Serpent wisdom by a Petition had turn [...]d his de­sign into an insurrection, but blowes up the heat of the rash and ungoverned Apprentices and rude multitude to lay hold on the first opportunity, to [Page 28] put it, by downright tumult, into issue.

And therefore having understood that the third Raised on John Audland and John Camm. 18th. of the 10th moneth, 1654. The first day. day of the week following, John Camm and John Audland (who were of the first that came hither, and were great labourers in the work of the Lord in Bristol) were to passe over the Bridge to a meeting appointed at Brislington, a mile or two from th [...]nce, in the County of Somerset, Resolutions were had to set upon them. And accordingly the third day of the week in the morning being the 19th day of the 10th moneth, they two passing peaceably over the Bridge, and a friend with them, offering no offence or injury to any, severall Apprentices of Priest Farmers Parish, followed after, and passing by them to the South end of the Bridge, turned about, and giving a sign, many other Apprentices came forth and other people, and joyned with them, who together fell violently on those inno­cent strangers, and assaulted, punched, pulled and haled them back over the Bridge again towards the High Crosse, their numbers being encreased to some Hundreds, and their rage heightened, that some cryed out, Hang them presently; others, Knock them down, and would have dragg'd them thorough Winestreet, and so out of the City, there to have executed their cruelty upon them; but it pleased the Lord, that others were hearkened to, who spoke to have them brought before the Maior; And so the Riot haled them into the Tolzey, where their rage had been much upon them, were it not that a friend present, with much ado, got them into his house near at hand, and so rescued them; About which the Ryot remained for some time, threa­tening [Page 29] to assault it: Those two being all that time, as Lambs dumb before their shearers, nor did they strive, or lift up their voice, being quiet in the power of the eternal God, nor were they afraid, though in such danger of being destroyed; for the Masters permitted their servants to go and to act therein before their faces; and Richard Newman the Chief Constable of that Ward, looked upon it, (the Ryot passing by his door) but kept not the Peace, his servant being a chief; and those peace­able Citizens, who endeavoured to pacifie and stop the Ryot, and told the Apprentices the offence and the danger, they would not hear, and threw out from amongst them; And lately arrested one of them (a member of the Councel) for so doing, un­der the pretence of an Assault.

This Ryot occasioned a great amazement in the City, it being sudden to many, and put the Chief Officers of the Garrison, (who by Commission had Command over the City, as well as over the Fort and Castle) upon consideration what to do, not knowing to what publique mischief, such a tumult (should it not have been endeavoured presently to be di­sperst) might grow, or what design against the Common-wealth, under the pretence aforesaid, might be brought forth. It being a season, wherein a generall one was then laid, over all parts of the Nation. Of which they were sensible, and of the affections of those who acted herein, and of the Generality of the people, to the old enemy, which gave them strong ground of suspition and jealousie: Never­thelesse being desirous, that by the Magistrates the [Page 30] peace of the City might be kept, and this Insurrection, supprest, if it might be, whereby all pretence of Clamour against them, for interposing the Civill Authority, might be taken away: They with another peaceable Ci­tizen went to the Maior and some of the Aldermen, and signified as much, who being very earnest that the Souldiers should not intermeddle, and under­taking to still the Town, and keep it in peace, and to publish an order for the Tumult to depart, for­bore the putting in execution any thing of the Mi­litary power: But though the Numbers dispersed of themselves some hours, before any order of the Magistrate was published for that purpose, yet was not the rage of the multitude allayed, but that evening being together, and that night in small Companies, and the next morning, much desperate language was heard from them, concern­ing their resolutions to attempt them again, if they came that way, and to pay them for all; Some of them af­firming, they should have more Countenance from the Magistrates, than those strangers, and that they had none of the least men in the Town to countenance them; with much more language to this purpose.

The second dayes Ryot.

The next morning those friends passed over the Bridge to their meeting at Brislington, disappointed the day before by the Tumult: And three of the chief of the former dayes Ryot, were sent for before the Maior at the Information of the Officers of the Garrison, who had witnesses ready, and did prove The height of the Tumult at noon. it upon them. Which drew them to the Tolzey where they were in a high Ryot, about three hours together, their numbers being esteemed at one time to be, above fifteen hundred, crying, One and [Page 31] all. And so heightned were they in their rage, that though the Maior and Aldermen with the sword, and the Sheriffs, required all present what­soever to depart, and published a Proclamation to that purpose, and stood there near half an hour, and a guard of Musqueteers were drawn up near them to rescue their Officers, who (they heard) were in danger of their lives by the Ryot, and (therefore) marcht thither; yet neither master nor man would stirre: nay some Masters perswaded some of the Ryoters to stay, and to stand their ground, and not to budge one foot, when they were intending to depart upon the Maiors order in the name of the Lord Protector, saying, It was a lye, the Maior had no such order from the Protector, and Charls Stuart was publiquely mentioned by the name of King; many of the Ryoters having been Cavaliers; And one was named openly among them to be Captain, and the Souldiers were dared by them to advance, and hats waved at them in defiance, not a Consta­ble at this time keeping the peace: And this Ryot was so heightned, (and no marvel, if it be onely considered, that it was given out, that Alderman The Ryot en­couraged by Ald. Geo: Hel­lier's saying to to them, (as it was given out) That he would spend his blood, and lose his life before any of the Rioters should go to Prison. George Hellier should say at the Tolzie to some of the Ryoters in the time of the Ryot, he would spend his blood and lose his life before any of his fellow Ap­prentices (so great it seems was the condescension) should go to prison, and (which was to them a great encouragement) caused some of them to stay, when they were departing, upon report of the com­mitment of some for the former dayes Ryot) that to those who were amongst, and observed them im­partially, it was even a miracle that blood had not [Page 32] proceeded, and a great deal too, had but one hand been lifted up, which the Lord was pleased in great mercy to restrain, though so ready and near to have been in execution: The very beholding and serious consideration of which, and of the per­sons that made up these Tumults, wrought Con­viction upon some, who now love, and are brought in measure into the obedience of the truth.

But the prevention thereof at that time, allayed not the boyling of rancor in their breasts: for though after some hours, the Ryot dispersed of themselves, yet resolutions were had to meet with those strangers, as they returned from Brislington, and then to execute their wills upon them: And for that purpose, towards the Evening, drew toge­ther In the Evening. in multitudes on the Bridge, and on the other side of the River Avon; and to severall of their Masters, at the same time appearing at the Tolzey as owning their servants, came some of the chief of the Ryoters, informing, that those Quakers were com­ming into the City; To whom answer was made, We are waiting on the Maior to do Justice, as he hath promi­sed; which if he doth not, we will do Justice our selves. And the Magistrates were pressed earnestly to as­sign their power, by some, who said to the Magi­strate, if they would grant them it, they would order them well enough, and go where the proudest of them dared to go: And some of them boasted of rai­sing thousands, if the Maior would assign them his power; What to do, is left to be under­stood; for, to order two naked men who re­sisted not, and were likely to be torn in pieces by the multitude, and none forcibly assisting them, [Page 33] needed no such powers: The Common-wealth being at that very time deeply and generally designed against, through all parts of the Nation, and within few weeks of the set time of its Execution, viz. 12. Feb. ensuing; Yea, it was manifest, that most men were either acted in or pleased with these tumultuous proceed­ings: such language also passed and threatenings, tending to the shedding of blood, that even the Ru­lers themselves, at length were in great fear there­of, Rulers afraid that blood would be shed, and therefore send to those Friends, that they could not secure them. and therefore sent their Sword-Bearer to diver [...] those friends, from passing into the Town, for tha [...] they could not undertake to secure them; who through the Providence of the Lord were preserved with a very great deliverance, the spirits of the multitude being that night so full of fury, and such mutter­ings At night. of the listings of hundreds of men, that the whole City was in a great affrightment.

Had Order and Government, the discharge of their Duty and their Reputation, been regarded by these Magistrates, or the freeing themselves from the suspition of having given secret Countenance and approbation to the Ryots aforesaid, they would have made their Insurrections as exemplary in punishment, as they exceeded in outrage & breach of the Peace, any thing of that nature, that this Nation hath afforded. But to this day neither hath any one person of the Ryoters been punished or called to an accompt, except the three aforesaid, through occasion of the Officers, who were not committed or punished, but rather encouraged, by what Joseph Jackson said in their hearing in the Councel Chamber, to the Officers of the Garrison in the height of the Tumult; nor any Constables [Page 34] for not discharging their duties, as they were re­quired according to Law. Nay as men concerned in the Tumults, and the guilt thereof, writing there is to have it extenuated and excused, with those in chiefest Authority, being not ashamed falsely to charge those as the cause and the Designers, upon whom the Tumults were raised, and whose lives were thereby endangered: And two of the Coun­cell were appointed to ride to White-Hall; And a Petition of those Ryoters to O. P. was prepared, hastened, and subscribed: And so far were they from protecting the Innocent aforesaid, that they met together and sent to John Audland and John Cam (who, the seventh day of that week, being moved of the Lord, came boldly into the City going in the chief parts thereof, and from house to house (with­out the least disturbance) to desire them to depart the City, (though the Town was quiet) without signify­ing any Law that they had broken, which deserved such a violation of their just Liberty, in answer to their desires in their letter to that purpose sent the Magistrates, the 22. of the tenth moneth.

Now for Tumults and Insurrections, to take up­on them to make Lawes, And in a ryotous man­ner for more than one dayes continuance, to seek to put them in execution, on innocent and peaceable freeborn Englishmen, who had fought for the Li­berties of their Countrey, and had broken no Law, nor were charged with any such things to the ha­zard of their lives which were sought after, and the endangering of the setting a whole City into blood, contrary to and in contempt of Law, Liber­ty and Justice, and tending to the subversion of all [Page 35] order and Government; And for Magistrates, not to make enquiry into, or to punish one offender, though hundreds sometimes acted highly therein before their faces, according to the 13 Hen. 4. c. 2. Law which require the Justices of the Peace with the Sheriff, to suppresse a Ryot in their view, and to Record the same; which record amounteth to a Conviction, on which the offenders may be punished. And if the Ryoters are de­parted, requires the Justices and Sheriff, within one moneth to enquire by a Jury, and to hear and determine according to Law, upon pain of 100 l. a piece every one making default: But to endeavour to excuse it to the chief in Authority, pleading the part of the guilty, and falsly to suggest the cause and design of those Tumults on the Innocent, upon whom the Tumults were raised; And to send to and resolve the turning the Innocent so injured out of the City, instead of protecting and doing them Justice; is such a shamelesse President of abominable injustice and misgovernment, as outstrips Sodom it self, who drew together about Lot's house, to abuse two strangers, come into their City, whom they took to be men, but indeed were Angels, sent to execute the Judgment of God upon them in fire and brim­stone for their wickednesse: And that wherein every man is concerned; for who is certain of his Liberty, and who can judge himself safe, if the rude multitude have a mind to infringe the one, or endamage the other and the Magistrates instead of doing Justice on such offenders, shall make up wherein they miscarry; and if it be lawful to do thus to one, they may do it unto all: for One would think, that Masters should never let loose, cherish [Page 36] and uphold the unbridled youth of their servants, not knowing how soon it may turn on themselves; And that Magistrates should blush to bear the name of Governours where the multitude com­mand, not themselves; much more to countenance and encourage such: But are they ashamed who com­mit Jer. 6. 15. such abominations as these? Nay, they are not at all ashamed, neither they, nor the Priests, nor the People. Is this the Justice and the Rule of Bristol? for equity against which, and Judgment, whosoever pleadeth, and for Just Liberty and righteousnesse, he must be ac­counted an Enemy to the Government and the Town, and so be represented, understood and pro­secuted? Is this the quiet and peaceable City of which the Magistrates do so loudly boast? And are not See Ralph Farmers myste­ry of Ungodli­nesse, pag. 22, 94. these the horse-heels of Priest Farmer, with which he answered his adversaries, whom he calls Quakers, as his other businesse to dispatch, then to confute this doctrine, though he published a book for that pur­pose?

Whilest those friends aforesaid were in the City, Friends of the City abused, &c. when Friends of the Country were departed. they were made the pretence of all the miscarriages hitherto particularized; but if they were once de­parted, the Citizens (it was said) shall find no distur­bance. But the enmity being at the Seed, it ceased not after they were out thereof in order to a meeting before appointed in Leicestershire. For the 25th. of the 10th. moneth they were up in Tu­mults 25th. 10th. month, 1654. again, severall hundreds attempted a friends house at the Tolzey, but were dispersed by some Troopers, and as friends were found in the streets, they were kickt by them, dirted, and otherwise abused; And not onely in the streets, but in the [Page 37] steeple-houses, were these outrages committed; and the Magistrates adde thereunto their injustice and oppression. For,

On the first day of the 11th. moneth Henry War­ren, First of the 11th. month, 1654. Henry Warren speak­ing to Priest Longman. being moved of the Lord, went to Thomas's stee­ple-house, where one Longman (a malignant, for­merly Chaplain to General Hopton in the Wars for the late King against the Parliament) Divined a Gift Sermon, who having ended all, and dismist the people, he said to him, now thou hast done, I may speak, The prayers of the wicked are an abomina­tion unto the Lord: Whereupon the Tumult rose, Tumulted, &c. and came upon him, assaulted and beat him in the place, and after this manner of violence drew him forth thorough the streets to the Maior, who de­manded what he had done? Answer was given, Examined. that he made disturbance in the Church, having said to the Minister, The prayers of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord. The Maior asked whether the Minister had quite done? They replyed, he had: Then he demanded of Warren, wherefore he went thither, for he knew he went not to learn? Warren asked whether the place was not as free for him as another? The Maior demanded of him, why he kept on his hat in the time of prayer? He replyed, The Lord saith, My Son give me thy heart, for the fashi­ons and Customs of the world are an abomination unto the Lord. Thou art a cunning fellow, said the Maior, but I will have some to sift thee as shall be as Cun­ning as thy self; and thou shalt know before thou goest hence, that thou hast disturbed the Peace: Then in came Alderman Joseph Jackson, who present­ly said, Away with him to Newgate; and after he had so [Page 38] said, asked what he had done? After him came in Alderman Henry Gibbs, who asked Warren where­fore he went thither, seeing he did not like the Minister? Warren replyed, that he was not there, in his own will. How camest thou thither then, said he? Warren answered, By Command. Thou art a seduced fool, replyed Henry Gibbs. By what Command wast thou there, said Joseph Jackson? He answer­ed, By the Spirit of God in him: There's enough said Joseph Jackson, to commit him to prison. To which Warren replyed, Know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates? Then they were all silent for a little space, and without any more words commanded him to be carried to prison, without Committed. a Mittimus, where he was continued some time without any further examination: And thus was he imprisoned upon witnessing a Good Con­fession, viz. That he was there by the Command of the Spirit of God in him, as the High Priest rent his Clothes, and said, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the Blaspheming, what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death, when he had asked Christ again and again after the witnesses against him did not agree, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed? And he said, I am, And ye shall see the Sonne of Man sitting on the right hand of Power, and coming in the Clouds of Heaven, Mark 14. 61, 62, 63, 64.

Meetings of Friends. disturbed, and abused, &c.

Nor were the private meetings, to waite upon 2d. of the 11th month, 1654. the Lord, free from abuse and interruption, though none but friends of the City were present; for both on the 2d. day of the 11th. month, at a friends house in Corn-street, and on the sixth of the same month, at anothers in Backstreet, were they affronted and [Page 39] disturbed by the Apprentices, at the one, and a­bused by the rabble at the other: And it was become Crime enough for any one, to be reproach­ed with the name of a Quaker, and matter for the Tumult to rise upon and aslault such an one: For on the 7. day of the 11. moneth, being the first day 7th. day of the 11th. moneth 1654. Robert Clai­ston for pre­serving a wo­man from be­ing strangled. Tumulted, and beat &c. in the Steeple-house. of the week, Robert Claiston, Apprentice to Daniel Claiston, being at Stephens Steeple-house, only for endeavouring to pull off a hand from a widdowes throat, which was violent laid upon it, and likely to have strangled her by the tumult, John Lane the Constable, instead of keeping the Peace, and assi­sting of Claiston, and rescuing the woman, cryed out to the tumult, that he was a Quaker; where­upon the tumult struck him several blowes in the face, His blood drawn, Garment rent. which drew blood from him, tore his Cloak into three pie­ces: And afterwards, the said Lane and the tumult drew him out of the Steeple-house, through the Brought before the Mayor. streets to the Mayors, who permitted not Claiston to speak for himself, but dismist him; whereup­on Daniel Claiston, being concerned in the injuries aforesaid done to his servant, consulted with a Lawyer for remedy in the case, who advised him to bring his action against Lane as Guardian to an Orphan, who did accordingly, of which when Robert Aldworth the Town Clark understood, he Councel in the Law in his case termed Advice against the City, and displeasure manifested a­gainst the Lawyer that gaveit. came himself to the Lawyer, and exprest much discontent for his giving Counsel as aforesaid, term­ing it Advice against the City. Claiston gave the War­rant to one of the Officers to execute it, who told him, he was afraid to do it, lest the Mayor should turn him out of his place, because upon his executing of a War­rant of that nature before, the Mayor threatned him ve­ry [Page 40] much for so doing, And when he complained to the Mayor, how his Apprentice had been beat and abused at the Steeple-house, as aforesaid, and that desiring the benefit of the Law, and that, if his ser­vant had offended the Law, he might suffer accor­ding to his offence; The Mayor told him, He should not have the benefit of the Law: And Sheriff Lawford Denyed the be­fit of the Law by the Mayor. said, That that place (meaning the Steeple-house) was not a place free for Claistons Apprentice, in an­swer to what, Claiston asked of him, whether that place was not as free for his servant as others? And so remedy at Law is here endeavoured to be stopt, and Councel for that purpose, in case of great injuries as aforesaid, termed Advice against the City; and therefore displeasure is manifested to those who gave it, and the Officer because of the Officer not da­ring to execute the Law be­cause of the Mayors threat­ning. threatnings of the Mayor, not daring to do his duty in the execution of the Law; yea the benefit of the Law is denyed in so many words when demanded as aforesaid, instead of Justice being done by them as the Law requires, in the behalf of those who suf­fer wrong.

Multitude en­raged abuse friends grossly.

And indeed, by reason of these things the multi­tude grew very unruly, breathing forth fresh per­secutions and blood, no passing the streets without great reproaches, nor to meetings without many a­buses: those who met on the ninth of the eleventh moneth, in Corn-street, were served so, and stones 9th. day 11th. month, 1654. cast at them as they went in, and the dores assaul­ted while they were together, and against their coming out, the street fill'd, whooping, reproaching, and some casting water, and durt on them, others pinching and striking them, haling off their cloths and [Page 41] kicking them; and after this manner followed them up the streets toward their homes: And that night, between the ninth and tenth hours, came Ro­bert Willet to a friends house, whose dores being fast, A friend vio­lently entred at night. he with violence entred the Entry, being full of Riotous followers, though he was denyed entrance by the man of the house, because he attempted it by force as aforesaid; but being in, he walked up and down, staring and looking, as one over filled with some mischievous intent, (notwithstanding the man of the house spake nothing to him, but in a milde manner said, that he wondred, that he who in a civil way and with his leave might come at any time into his house, should violently and against his leave enter his house, and continue so; And he very much abused therein, and desired a friend by, to take notice what he said, and how the other behaved himself; And on a sudden after, being about a quarter of an hour in the house, without any occasion or provocation, with much passion and rage stamping with his feet, and beating the boards, abused him with most scur­rilous and opprobious language, and with much threatning said, He should dye like a dog, that his head And his life threatned. should go off, that his life should go forth as a moth out of a cloth; and for his liberty, he was certain, it was gone for e [...]er: the Language of the Plot, which was to have been executed thorough the Nation the twelvth of February following, but providentially discove­red and prevented. To which, the man of the house made him no return or reply, but desired his friend to take notice of proceedings, though, had he sought to have revenged himself, he could easily ha [...]e made him an example to all, who should for the [Page 42] future attempt the like. During the time afore­said, there was none in his house but a friend or two, besides his own family; and this man is made Ensigne to Robert Aldworths own Company in the new Militia.

Sessions.

Hitherto proceedings were had by the Magi­strates in a more private way against the seed; though so notorious, as they became the example and encouragement to those outrages afore menti­oned. Now the more publick proceedings drew nigh, being the General Sessions for the Publick Peace of the City and County, held the 16. day of the 11. moneth: At which Sessions, as of what hath 16. of the 11th. month 1654. hath been before rehearsed, were very small things, and of too private a cognizance; The Magistrates came now to sit in publick Judgement, and what they had done as aforesaid, pleasing the people, they stretcht forth their hands, publickly to add persecutions where before they had not reached, and to decree unrighteous Decrees, and to write down grievan­ces, which themselves (not the Law) prescribed: to turn aside the Needy from Judgement, and to take away the right from the Poor, that Widdowes may be their Prey, and that they may rob the fatherlesse: as those did of old against whom the wo is pronounced, Isa. 10. 1. and to whom the Lord said, What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation that will come from far; to whom will you flock for help, and where then will you leave your glory? ver. 3.

At which Sessions, in the first place Robert Ald­worth The Town- [...]larks Charge to the Grand-Jury. Town Clark, in his charge to the Grand Jury, who were upon their Oaths, amongst other things signified to this effect: That the Law did protect those [Page 43] who met together, to perform some Religious duty, as to sing, pray, read, or expound the Scriptures; but for people to meet together, though in a private house, and to be si­lent; was no part of Religion; and therefore out of the verdge of the Law, and to be enquired after by them, and where such were found, to present them.

This is such an interpretation and conclusion, as Reply. that Law will not bear: nor hath the like been heard of, from any man (besides himself) pre­tending to Religion and Reason, or to learning in the Laws; for, first, It is well known (being an Act but of few years standing) And both the titles viz. An Act for relief of Religious, and peaceable people from See Act of Parliament. Sept. 27. (50) the rigour of former Acts of Parliament;

And the whole body of it doth demonstrate, That that Law was made purposely for the pro­tection of different Judgements, in matters of Reli­gion from any thing of an imposition, punishment, or other trouble, by reason or pretence of any Law whatsoever: And 'tis strange Logick to assign mat­ter of molestation and punishment by a Law, upon that, which to defend from any trouble, that very Law was made; and is an interpretation against the reason of the Act: which the learned in the Law account absurd, and invalid. Wherein doth the sence of the Law lye, according to which Judge­ment is to be given, whether in its own words or in expositions thereupon?

Again, Is a silent waiting upon the Lord no part of Religion? Did not the Scriptures hold this forth, and the holy practice of the men of God there on Record? Or, were it a Doctrine that those who pretend to Religion, have or would deny, a little [Page 44] time would be spent in demonstrating it to be so; But being undeniable, and that which every one who truly have fellowship with the Lord do wit­nesse, how is he not ashamed to endeavour to strike it out of the num [...]er of religious exercises, and so out of the protection of the Act?

But were it so, Is there any Law that punisheth people that are together, neither saying nor doing any thing? Is quietnesse, and silence transgression of the Law? It seems, nor he, nor the Magistrates for vvhom he judgeth can finde a Law, at least Conscience to put it in execution, by which to enquire after and pu­nish such Ryot, and Insurrections as hath been men­tioned; But for the quiet, the silent, the peaceable, though the Law is a praise and commendation to such; yet rather than they shall go unmolested, a sense contrary to the very ground of the Law, of vvhich it is given, shall be stampt a Law, and char­ged upon a Grand-Jury, on their Oaths to enquire after; but the Grand-Jury have shevvn more Con­science to their Oaths hitherto, in not observing, than the Tovvn-Clark had understanding in Lavv, or tendernesse in Religion, or Conscience to give it. Had he not bent his Bow, and made his Arrow ready to shoot at those who are upright in heart, and sought vvhereby to persecute them, these things had been plain before his eyes: And so vvould have been the 37. Article of the present Government, vvhich saith expresly in these vvords, See Govern­ment Art. 37. That such as professe faith in God by Jesus Christ, (though differing in Judge­ment from the Doctrine, Worship and Discipline publickly held forth) shall not be restrained from, but shall be pro­tected in the profession of the faith and exercise of their [Page 45] Religion, so as they abuse not this Liberty to the Civil in­jury of others, and to the actual disturbance of the Peace on their parts: Provided, that this Liberty be not exten­ded to Popery or Prelacy, nor to such as under the professi­on of Christ, hold forth and practise licentiousnes: Which he might have read to the Jury, being with­out knot or mysterious scruple; he knowing very well who said to the Parliament in the See O. P. his Speech to the Parliament Septemb. 12. 1654. pag. 30, 31, 32. Painted Chamber, Sept. 12. 1654, in these words, Is not Liberty of Conscience, in Religion a Fundamental? So long as there is Liberty for the Supreme Magi­strate, to exercise his Conscience in erecting what Form of Church Government he is satisfied he should set up, Why should he not give it to others? Liberty of Conscience [...] Natural right, and he that would have it, ought to give it, having Liberty to settle what he likes for the Publick; Indeed that hath been the vanity of our Contests, Every Sect saith, Give me Li­berty; but give him it, And to his power he will not yield it to any body else; Where is our ingenuity? Truly that is a thing that ought to be very reciprocal, The Magistrate hath his Supremacy and he may settle Religion according to his Conscience; And I may say it to you, I can say it: All the money in this Nation would not ha [...]e tempted men to fight upon such an ac­count as they have engaged, if they had not hopes of Liberty, better than they had from Episcopacy, Or than would have been afforded them from Scottish Presby­tery, or an English either, if it had made such steps, or been as sharp and rigid as it threat' [...]ed when it was first set up: This I say, is a Fundamental, it ought to be so: It is for us and the Generations to come. And if there be an absoluteness in the imposer without [Page 46] fitting allowances and exceptions from the Rule, We shall have our people dri [...]en in [...]o Wildernesses, as they were when those poor and afflicted people, that forsook their estates and inheritances here (where they lived plenteously and comfortably) for the enjoy­ment of their Liberty, and were necessitated to go into a vaste howling wildernesse in New-England, where they have for Liberties sake stript themselves of all their Comforts, and the full enjoyments they had, embracing rather losse of friends and want, than to be ensnared and in bondage: Further adding, Page 36, 37. That this and other Articles concerning Religion in the Instrument of Government was a fundamentall, one of the four fundamentals; and how much blood it cost to have it so, and content [...], and even the ha­zarding of all; And how he could sooner be willing to be rolled into his grave, and buried with infamy, than give his consent to the wilfull throwing away of that Government, so testified unto in the Fundamen­tals of it, as was before mentioned, in relation to the good of these Nations and Posterity.

But sup­pose there were no such Defence; that tendernesse the Town-Clerk pretended to formerly, whilest he had not got what he crouched for, had it been reall, would have taken such a time to exercise it towards his former Friends, who (his Conscience tells him) are dear to the Lord, when his Place might have prevented their trouble, for distur­bance in things of so tender a nature, and so pra­cticably Religious.

Yet he is mistaken in all, for those servants of the Lord meet not so together, as resolving silence; [Page 47] for at their meetings, it is known, there is both praying and speaking; but silence there is, whilest there are no movings from the Lord to pray, and to speak from his mouth with the voice, All flesh must he silent before the Lord, and those who love and dwell in the light, know what it is to have fellowship with the Father and the Sonne, and one with another, and to feed on the hid treasure, and to be taught, when not a word from man is spoken, which is a mystery too, and out of which are shut all those who live in Cain's nature: As all such do, who are vagabonds and wanderers in their own imaginations, and strangers to the life of God: Poor heart! Is all thy former seeming tendernesse come to this, That neither the Publique profession, nor witnesse of the power and life of God, nor the private exercise, shall have a being by thee, nor the Saints any rest for the soles of their feet, if thou canst help it, as hath been al­waies the course of the Dragon towards the Seed of Christ? Canst thou quench the light of Israel, or stifle the Spirit of Christ, in his people? Look to it, the Lord will require it of thee, as if their meetings had been hindred, and their blood drawn, Surely the Lord reigneth, Let him rejoyce, and Let Jerusalem clap her hands, And all her Enemies shall be subdued under him.

Tryall of the Prisoners.

After the Charge was given, those who were bound over to appear, and in prison, were sent for, one after the other, and called; Henry Warren was the first: To whom the Town-Clerk said, that he stood there for disturbing the Peace, Warren mildly answered, I have broken no Law as I know of, for [Page 48] the man had done before I spake; and asked the Town-Clerk whether he brake the Peace, by taking blowes and not resisting, but keeping his Seat? To which the Town-Clerk made reply, urging again, his having offended the Law. Warren answered, If I have of­fended, the Law is open against me. At length, after some other questions demanded and answered to the purpose aforesaid, the Town-Clerk asked the Bench, whether he had behaved himself civilly since he came forth of Newgate? To which no­thing in charge being returned, he told him he might go about his businesse, and bade him take that for a warning. Warren replyed, that he had a war [...]ing within him, the which he should obey before man. And so he was dismist.

Elizabeth Marshall's Tryall.

Elizabeth Marshall Widow, being brought from the Prison, was the next called for, who being set at the barre (having heard none of the proceedings with Warren aforesaid) gave a paper to the Town-Clerk, directed to the Magistrates, which he deli­vered unto the Maior: Then the Town-Clerk told her, That she stood committed by the Maior and Aldermen as a Disturber of the Peace. She answered, She was no Disturber of the Peace, but was sent in a Message from the Lord, standing out of her own will, in the will of God, and that in obedience unto his will, she went and delivered her Message. The Town-Clerk perceiving her to go on to speak, for she was very full, commanded her silence, and told her, If she would be sorry for what she had done, or bring two to be bound for her; that she should be freed, if not, she must to prison again: [Page 49] She answered, That she stood out of her own will in the will of God, therefore she should not bring her Consci­ence to be bound by the will of man. To which the Town-Clerk answered, That by order of the Court she must return to prison, from whence she came. Thereupon she was moved of the Lord, to speak to him, and she said; Mind the light of Christ in thy Conscience, which will bring condemnation on the man of sin, and teach thee to act righteously and holily, and see thou act according to the Law, and not a tittle beyond the Law, as thou wilt answer it before the Lord. Upon which he (jeeringly) bade her use better language; then she was pull'd down, but she cryed out, Give me leave to clear my Conscience: And, being moved from the Lord, she warned the Magistrates in these words, Mind the light of Christ which will teach you to act righteously; and charged them in the name of the Lord, to act according to the Law, and not a tittle beyond. Then was she re­manded to prison, where she was continued about four weeks, and released, after they had satiated themselves with her oppressions; The Paper she delivered to the Magistrates as aforesaid, was as followeth:

Her Letter to the Magi­strates.

Unto you who are the Magistrates of this City, I am commanded of the Lord to give you warning, that the Mighty day of the Lord of Hosts is at hand, that he is arising in his mighty power; In which day, the strong shall be as towe, and the maker of it as a spark; And from the Lord I am to warn you, that you judge righ­teous Judgment, that then so you be not found some of those which shall imbrue your hands in the blood of [Page 50] the Saints, and so cast the righteous Law of God be­hind your backs, and so hate to be reformed; for now the Lord is arising in his sons and in his daughters, a faithfull witnesse for himself, Crying even in the Ears of the Almighty, It is time for thee to arise Lord, for men have made void thy Law; That so you be not found bearing the Sword in vain, and so punishing the Inno­cent, and let the guilty go free: Therefore from the Lord you are warned to mind that of God in your Con­sciences, which will bring you to see Judgment running down as a stream, and equity as a mighty River: And this is the word of the Lord to you, whether you will hear or forbear. And seeing the Just lyeth slain in the streets of the City, it even turns the bowells of the righ­teous within them, that so for Sions sake they cannot hold their peace, and for Jerusalem's sake, I must not be silent: And so knowing the Terrours of the Lord for sin and for rebellion, I am moved to write in love to your soules, who is a Prisoner in Newgate, for witnes­sing against Deceipt, and for the Testimony of Jesus,

Elizabeth Marshall.

And, shortly after she was returned to prison, she sent the following paper to the Town-Clerk:

Her Letter to the Town-Clerk.

This is the word of the Lord to thee Robert Ald­worth, who art a Counsellour in the Law; I warn thee in the Name and presence of the living God, thou knowing the Law, that thou act according to the Law, as thou wilt answer it before the Lord, at the great and terrible day of the Lord, when the book of Conscience shall be opened: I warn thee that thou mind the Light [Page 51] of Christ in thy conscience, loving it and abiding in it, it will lead thee up unto God; hating it, it will be thy condemnation: The Law of God is just, and is according to that in my Conscience, which I own, which is a Law a­gainst evil doers, as man-slayers, thieves and adulterers, and drunkards, and such like: In the name of the Lord and by his word, I do pronounce woes and plagues from the Lord against all such as scoffe at the Light of Christ, and the Language of Christ, as thou didst: This is the day of thy visitation whether thou wilt hear or forbear: Thus was I moved of the Lord to write unto thee, who am a Prisoner for witnessing, and for the Testimony of Je­sus,

Elizabeth Marshal

John Worrings Tryal.

John Worring was also brought from the prison and called, to whom his Charge was read to this effect, for making a disturbance in the publick Congrega­tion, calling the Minister Devil, & kicking at the Clark, and saying, the Minister spake never a true word, Worring answered, He made no disturbance. The Court said, he had disturbed the Minister before he had done his Sermon. Worring replyed, that one Gun­ning began, & that he spake after him and that he to whom he spake was no Minister; And had denyed both the name and the Office at a meeting. At a meeting, said Alderman Joseph Jackson, what meeting? He answe­red, At a meeting before three hundred people, as him­self said in the Pulpit at Ragcliff. Alderman Cann re­plyed, though he had denyed the Name and the Office, yet he did represent the Place of the Mini­ster at that time: And Joseph Jackson presently said, thou didst call him Devil: Worring denyed it. Joseph Jackson replyed, one had sworn it; He answered, if [Page 52] I had said so, which I never said, yet I could prove him one by his own words. They asked him, how? Said Worring, Out of his own mouth; for he said at the meeting, that in all things that he did, he sinned: and if in all things, as well in that (meaning his preaching) as in other things, and he that sinneth is of the Devill: If you will not believe me, belie [...]e the Scriptures; Then some of the Court said, he kickt the Clark. He denyed it, but said, the Clark gave him a kick; So they asked him no more concerning that, but demanded of him, what he said to the Minister? To which he made answer, that he said, If he were a Minister of Je­sus Christ, the Law of the spirit of life which is in Jesus, would set him free from the Law of sin and death; and unlesse he were freed by that Law of life which is in Christ Jesus, he was still acting the works of the Devil, and was no better in that condition. Then the Court told him, he had been invited by some turbulent peo­ple, who had set him on that action; and asked him whether he would promise for the future, he would do no more such things, and finde Sureties for the good behaviour. One of the Officers told him, A little boy might be surety. Worring replyed, that he denyed his words, and told the Court that he was not sorry; And that he stood single and free. The Court replyed, that he must be sorry. He answered them again, that he stood single and free, that if they would clear him they might, if not; they might do their pleasures? And for being sorry, he was not. The Court told him he must to prison again: He answered again, he stood free: and so he was to prison returned, and continued there till the 19th. of the 11th. moneth, at which time a Liberate was sent the Jaylor, signed Ald­worth, [Page 53] and witnessed John Gunning Mayor, Dated Jan: 19. 1654. requiring him to set at Liberty the body of John Warren, in that he had found Sureties f [...]r his being of the good behaviour; Whereupon the Keeper would have put him forth; But he percei­ving the deceit thereby to confess himself an offen­der, and so to give away the innocency of his cause, and to administer matter of reproach to the truth and to himself, having neither sought Sureties, nor found any, denyed to go forth thereupon, then the Officer would have put him out by force: But he desiring a little time to consider, wrote a note to the Town Clark, and sent it to him in these words,

Robert Aldworth, A Liberate was delivered me His Letter to the Town Clark. just now by John Roach the Jaylor, for my enlargment out of prison, which when I had read over, I found that the cause thereof is expressed in these words: For that he hath found Sureties for his being of the good beha­viour, which I cannot accept of, in regard that I have not misbehaved myself; but have delivered that Mes­sage to one that said he scorned the name of a Minister, for which I have a Warrant within; And because of the no­t [...]rious untruth therein mentioned, that I have found Sure­ties for my being of the good behaviour, when as I neither directly or indirectly have sought for, or found any Sure­ties for any such thing, nor can I; and therefore cannot accept of my freedom upon any such Warrant; But do protest against it,

John Worring.

Notwithstanding, he was the same day turned out of the Prison; against which, upon account of of the Liberate aforesaid, he protested, when by force he was put out: The meek and sober carri­age of these prisoners at the Sessions, and their not seeking revenge on those who abused and struck them was such, as did tenderly take with many who were present, and heard the proceeding [...].

An lastly, This Sessions endeth not in enquiring Sessions en­ding. after, and punishing exemplarily according to Law, those Tumults, Ryots, and Insurrections, and o­ther outrages, and breaches of the Publick Peace, aforementioned: which (had Judgement been put to the Line, and Righteousnesse to the Plummet, and Order and Government been respected) would have been executed (for not so much as one man hath therefore been punished to this day, But in the four Orders following, which they appoint to be read in all Churches as they call them)

Order of Sessions.

That no person or persons, do hereafter presume to mo­lest, trouble, or otherwise disquiet any Minister or Con­gregation, either before, or after the Publick exercises be ended; And if any person or persons do so offend, that in all such cases, the Constables or any other Officers, shall ap­prehend, take and arrest the Party and Parties so offen­ding, and bring him or them before the Mayor, and some other Justice of the Peace, who are to take care, that such offender or offenders, be bound with sufficient Sureties to appear at the next General Sessions; And in the mean while to be of the good behaviour, and for not sinding some Sureties as aforesaid, to commit them to Prison.

Reply. The Statute 1 Mary, to which they pretend to Justifie their Imprisonments as aforesaid, were it in force, or fit to be made practicable, onely provides for the defence of the Popish Priest, du­ring the time of his Masse and Service; but for before and after the Masse and Service, makes no provision, nor for disturbing or troubling (as they call it) the Congregation at all: But these Ma­gistrates having imprisoned, and returned again to prison, persons for speaking after the Congre­gation was dismist, to Justifie their proceedings, and to oppresse the Servants of the Lord for the fu­ture, turn Legislators, and make a Law where the Nation hath made none; And enjoyn one another, and all Officers, to put it in execution, viz. That none presume to molest or trouble, or otherwise dis­quiet the Congregation as well as the Minister before and after, as well as in the time of publique Exercise. And if any do so offend, that in all such cases, the Offi­cers shall apprehend take and arrest them, and bring them before the Maior or some other Justice of the Peace, who are to bind them with sufficient Sureties, to appear at the next general Sessions, and in the mean while to be of the good behaviour; And for not finding such Sureties to commit them to prison. When as all Lawes made by any Corporation for imprisonment of any mans person, are invalid, because against the Fundamentall Lawes of this Nation, which also provideth, That no Law be made, or of force or binding, but by the common consent of the People in Parliament; which is so absolute, and an essentiall a right, that the encroachments of the late King [Page 56] and his Ministers of State thereupon, occasioned the levying of the late defensive Wars by the Par­liament. And the late King with others his Mi­nisters were therefore executed, and abundance of blood shed, and miseries sustained, not yet to be forgotten. And now that the Wars are end­ed, and this Fundamental Right fully vindicated in the behalf of the Nation; And the present Go­vernment hath provided the same with the Fun­damentall Lawes, Art. 6. Except in some cases See the Go­vernment, Art. 6. Art. 30. in point of Necessity, expressed, Art. 30. till the sitting of the then next Parliament: In which the single Person and his Councell have power to make Ordinances, These Magistrates, who en­deavoured what lay in them to subvert and de­stroy it in behalf of the late King, (for whom the generality of them were, in principle, affection, and action) and are not afraid to presume to take up­on them this Supream Legislative Authority over the Citizens, and Inhabitants of Bristol, who have been active for and faithfull to that Interest, as any in that City, and have adventured their bloods and their all, in its behalf, and who are of as god­ly, peaceable, and unblameable Conversation, as any within that Jurisdiction: And not onely over them do they thus usurp it, but over all Englishmen who come in that City. Nor is it in things of a triviall nature that they are thus bold to Legislate it; but in matters relating to Conscience and Religion, and to the Commands of God; In which to have freedom and Liberty, hath been a principall end in those honest men, who have engaged in the late Wars, and which [Page 57] hath been carried thorough the many and high Contests thereabouts in the late Parliaments; And is provided for in the present Government: And that they may be sure to hit those honest people, against whom their malice rageth, both upon the accompt of Civill and Spirituall interests, they not onely make Law as aforesaid, but become Judges of the Law themselves make: Whereas the Administrators of Justice are sworn to execute the Lawes made by the Supream Legislative Au­thority, not to make any. Those who are Chief in Authority may consider, whether this be not an endeavouring of the subversion of the Funda­mental Lawes and Liberties of the English Nation, and a very sad and high oppression, under which those honest people in that City do sigh and groan; and fit to be enquired after.

Order of Sessions. That if any such disturbance, trouble or other disquiet­ment be hereafter made, done or committed in the Churches as aforesaid, the Minister be also desired not to hold dispute or other publique debate there, with the Party or parties so offending, but to perswade the hearers to repair home quietly to their severall Families and habitations, and not to hearken to or runne after them.

Reply. Poor Priests! who being not able to defend be­fore the people what you deliver to them as Do­ctrine, nor to make appear to the faces of those whom you falsly accuse, and rail on, as Anti­christs, Seducers, &c. that they are such: Nor to try what shall be said to you from the Lord, nor [Page 58] to answer the Queries sent you long since, by those whom you oppose; Nor to prove your selves true Ministers of Christ, as you professe your selves to be. Indeed it concerned you to obtain the Magi­strates Sword to guard your Pulpit, every way though contrary to Law, that none by speaking may put you to it: And that if any shall so do, you may refuse to reply, lest you offend the Ma­gistrates, who have desired you the contrary: And for you, this is an easie answer; People, Repair home quietly to your habitations and Families, and do not run after, nor hearken to these men: 'Tis the Ma­gistrates desire we should so perswade you, and that we hold no publique dispute or debate with them. Oh ye Generation of blind Guides, Are ye not asha­med to pretend your selves Ministers of Christ, and yet dare not to submit your Doctrine before the people, to whom you speak, to be tryed by the Scriptures? Are ye not ashamed to accuse, charge, and bely others who are absent, in the place where you would be accompted to speak as the Oracles of God; and yet dare not hear them make good what they assert, and clear themselves to your faces, before those to whom you have ac­cused them? Do ye not blush to be guarded by a materiall sword, and to have recourse thereunto, that none be permitted to oppose and examine what you deliver; and if any shall attempt to do it, be the occasion what it will, he must be silenced, and his person imprisoned, and perhaps his brains knockt out by the rude multitude, who make up what you call your Churches? And to stand under such a desire of the Magistrates, not to [Page 59] debate, not to dispute: Ye disingenuous and dumb Shepherds, Did the Prophets and Apostles of Christ so, or the holy men of God? Did they not speak freely, and hear and answer freely, and did they not approve what they said, to the testimony of eve­ry mans Conscience in the sight of God, yea even to those that opposed themselves? Did they not go into the Synagogues and into the Temple, and to Mars Hill, and to the School of Tyrannus, and to the Places of meeting, where they came both of Jew and Gentile, testifying, and reasoning of the things appertaining to the Kingdom of God, the work of their Ministry? Did the Athenians, whom you call Heathens, refuse to reason with Paul, even in their Market-place daily, and on Mars Hill, concern­ing their Idoll gods which were made with hands, or of Jesus whom he preached and declared to be the onely true God, blessed for ever? or did they tu­mult him, or desire the Magistrates to imprison him for so doing? Might they not all speak one by one in the Churches of Christ, who were living stones built upon the living Foundation. And when any thing was revealed to another that sate by, was not the first to hold his peace? and when the 1 Cor. 14. 23, 24, 25. unbelievers and unlearned came in, did they tu­mult, beat or imprison them? or were they not con­vinced of all, and Judged of all, and so the secrets of their hearts being made manifest, fell down on their faces worshipping God, and reporting that God was in them of a truth? Were that a Church which you say is so, and were they unbelievers and un­learned that come in amongst you, according as you say? Is the Spirit that ruleth in you and your [Page 60] actions, such as doth convince them so, and make manifest the secrets of their hearts, that falling down on their faces, and worshipping God, they report that God is in you of a truth? Or are not your acti­ons such as Cain's, who hated and therefore slew his brother? and the spirit that is in you, that of the evill one, even of the Prince of this world that ruleth mightily in the Children of disobedience, as your fruits make manifest? Did they call to the Magistrates for help in this or any thing belonging to the King­dome of Christ, which consists in spirit and in power; and is to be managed and carried on by weapons onely of the same spirituall nature? Nay, did not the false Prophets, Chief Priests, Scribes and Pharisees, and those who stood in their genera­tion, apply themselves to the Magistrate against them, yea to the people, Ye men of Israel help; made they not tumults and insurrections? and stir­red they not up persecution against Christ, and his Apostles, thorough all the parts where they prea­ched? Were it not the Jewes who went from City to City, and from Region to Region to stirre up the Gentiles against them, who before heard them qui­etly? and amongst the Jewes, were it not those who are called the devout and honourable that raised the persecutions; And who believing not, and being mo­ved with Envy, took unto them leud fellowes of the ba­ser Acts 17. 4, 5, 6, 7. Acts 13. 50. sort, gathering a Company, and setting whole Ci­ties in uproares, assaulting houses, and seeking to bring them out to the people, Crying out to the Rulers, these that have turned the world upside down, are come hither also, whom Jason hath received, and these all do con­trary to the Decrees of Caesar, saying, that there is an­other [Page 61] King one Jesus; As it is at this day? Is it not a shame to all men of Natural Learning to be thus defended, none to oppose, none to object, against what is publiquely held forth, as Do­ctrine, upon pain of tumults and imprisonments, if there be but an attempting to speak: Do ye not blush to be under, or desire such a protecti­on, whereby you may speak, lye, falsly accuse, rail, blaspheam, yea and what you will in your Pul­pits, and none must question you publiquely, under the penalties aforesaid? Well! you are out of the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles, and ere long, yea, the day is at hand, wherein your Baal must plead for himself, and even those who guard him and his Prophets shall be content to have the tryall before the people; which is the God that answereth by fire, and shall deliver up the Prophets of Baal to be cut off by the people, whom they have deceived. And the Lord will Malach. 2. 9 & 1. 2, 2. make them contemptible and base before all the peo­ple, according as they have not kept his wayes, but have been partiall in the Law. And now, O ye Priests, this Commandment is for you, If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my Name, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will even send a Curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings, yea I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay them to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts, and one shall take you away with it: And ye shall know that I have sent this Commandment unto you.

Order of Sessions. ‘That the Constables do once in every fortnight make dili­gent search within their seve­rall Wards, for all strangers, Inmates and suspitious persons, and to present their names, and those who entertain them, with­in two dayes following to the Mayor and Justices, to the end such course may be taken with them as is agreeable to Law.’

Reply. Had, what the Law requires of them in this particular, been effectually executed, the Town had not been so full of persons, who ought to be enquired after, as it is at this day: But all lyes asleep in this particular, till the hopes to catch the Messengers of truth, and to keep the Town clear of such, awakened their blind zeal as an­other expedient to effect their ends upon those servants of the Lord: But its fallen asleep again, since it hath not proved a snare to catch the In­nocent.

Order of Sessions. That all people do take special notice, and be hereby forwarned, not to be present at any tumult, or other [Page 63] unlawfull Assembly, or on any pretence to assemble or gather into Companies, or multitudes into the streets, or elsewhere, or to conduct and follow offenders, either to the Magistrates houses, or other places of Justice, un­lesse they be thereunto lawfully called: And the Con­stables and all other publique Officers are hereby re­quired to apprehend and arrest all such boyes and Ap­prentices, and other people, that shall assemble or ga­ther together, as aforesaid, And to bring them before the Magistrates, to be punished according to the Law.

Reply. Lesse then this they could not do in colour of Justice, but whether they meant any such thing, will appear, in that they never to this day, have punished one offender, although Hundreds at a time have transgressed therein, and that before their faces, and at their very doors, as the in­stances hereafter to be mentioned will demon­strate: Nor hath a Constable discharged his duty therein required. But it seems these Magi­strates, Constables, and people know one anothers minds well enough, in this thing, and can agree together in injuring the Innocent, though their orders seem to speak the contrary.

Preamble to the Orders of Sessions aforemen­tioned. ‘And the ground of all these Orders is premised to be several great Tumults and unlawfull Assemblies lately hapned and arisen within this City, as well on the Lords dayes as at other times, and (as the Court is informed) upon pretence or occasions, that some distur­bed the Congregations and Ministers both before, and after the Publique Exercises in the Churches have [Page 64] been fully concluded: And likewise by the comming of strangers to the City, who can render no good ac­compt of their being here; whereby the Lords day hath been much prophaned, the Inhabitants greatly affrigh­ted, and the Publick Peace, safety, and welfare of the City, very much endangered to be broken and distur­bed, which the Court taking into serious considerati­on, and well weighing the manifold mischiefs, and sad effects, which may grow thereupon, did Order, &c. Signed, Aldworth. And Ordered, by John Gunning Mayor, John Lock, Richard Vickers, William Cann, Joseph Jackson, Henry Gibbs, and George Hellier Aldermen.’

Reply. 'Tis well we have got the Confession of the Bench under hands, that those afore mentioned, were great Tumults, and unlawful Assemblies prophaning the Lords day, greatly affrighting the Inhabitants, en­dangering the disturbance of the Publick Peace, safety and welfare of the City, whereupon manifold mischiefs may grow, and sad effects. And ought not such a great Tumult and unlawful Assemblies to have been strictly enquired after, and severely punished? Ought they not to have been discountenanced and supprest? Hath any Master or Servant, Officer or Inhabitant, been called to accompt, and punished for them according to the Law to this day, though hundreds have oft times appear­ed and acted them before their eys?

When a friend of the Common-wealth, was called before the Mayor and Aldermen, upon in­formation of some words which was said, he [Page 65] should hear one of the Apprentices to say, and sworn before them to speak the truth, was what he informed them upon his Oath to this effect, viz. That the said Apprentice being asked how the Apprentices could be so bold, to rise as they had done, and be so long from their Masters businesse, unless they had leave from their Masters, or some other encourage­ment? He heard him say, they had leave from their Masters, and were encouraged; for that Alderman Hel­lier came into them whilest they were at the Tolzey, and said that he would dye rather then any of the Ap­prentices should go to Prison, which he offered to prove further by two of his servants, Committed to writing and prosecuted according to the concernment e­very way of a thing of that nature? Or, did not the Mayor forbid the Clark to write, and took he not under his hand, only what he could not say, viz. That he heard the said Apprentice to speak, that they had 400 horse in the Town, ready for the King? Hath it not lay husht to this day? But, Henry Davis a friend to the Common-wealth, he and his bre­thren Committed to Newgate, and continued him a Prisoner from the 20th. of the 10th month 1654. to the 16th. of the 11th. month follow­ing, being the next Sessions; for that upon his hearing in his shop in the High street, at the hight of the Ryot Decemb. 20. aforesaid, when the Proclamation was read at the High Crosse in the name of the Lord Protector, requiring eve­ry one to depart, these words spoken by some of the Royters, who then filled that part of the street, viz. What do you tell us of a Protector, tell us of King Charls? He immediatly gave notice thereof [Page 66] to the Officers of the Garrison, and not to them, some of them telling him, he had committed Treason in so doing: And James Hill, another friend to the Common-wealth, they bound over at the same time to answer at the Sessions, for speaking the words so heard as aforesaid. Do ye not stand guil­ty, O ye Rulers, of the tumults & disorders aforesaid in the eye of the Law; and amongst all wise men, shall it be said, in not enquiring after, in not sup­pressing, in not correcting, nay, in encouraging, countenancing, and abetting such unlawful assem­blies, and consequently of all the mischiefs and sad ef­fects, which already have, or may for the future therefrom proceed? Ought you upon any consi­deration to bear with a Ryot, and not to suppress and punish it? If others upon pretence of whom it's raised have offended the Law, send for them afterwards, and on them let the Law have its course. If the instances already produced, be not full enough, to make this appear, as indeed they are, those hereafter mentioned will make it up abundantly. And yet how are they not asha­med in actions so palpable and grosse, carried on by them illegally, and by the multitude with Tu­mults, to lay it on those as the occasion, who are injured and oppressed, and do suffer by them and the multitude contrary to Law and Justice?

Is any thing done to your Congregations or Priests, more than the Scriptures warrant, or that consisteth not with the nature & freedom, which ought to be in publique assemblies about Reli­gious exercises, and what was used by the Ser­vants of Christ? Cannot the Priests hear, or make [Page 67] answer quietly if there be occasion, and leave it to those that sit by to judge? Cannot you, nor your Priests bear a few words spoken in the Name of the Lord, but you must call it a disturbance? If the Lord speaks by those poor contemptible in­struments (as he doth, and many do witnesse it) Then take heed you be not found amongst the proud and scornfull, and fighters against. God, for Jesus Christ is yesterday, to day, and the same for ever: And you are fallen upon such times of the Son of man that ye are not aware of: Your Priests may say any thing, yet all is well; but he that tells a Lyar, he lies, and a blasphemer that he speaks blasphe­my, and that the Lord hath pronounced woes to those who say The Lord saith, when he never sent them, nor spoke to them, though the Lord raise up (as he hath at this day) his witnesses amongst your sonnes and your daughters to testifie against such to their faces (and in so doing through beatings, prisons, fire, and blood will it carry them, and woe be to them if they obey not the Lord therein) that must not be born, tumults, imprisonments, new Lawes where you have no power to ena [...]t, any thing, to work them sufferings: Oh what will become of you that thus strike against the Corner stone, that will dash you to pieces, that thus limit the holy One of Is­rael: And by your Lawes and actions say, that his Spirit shall not testifie (now that the true Mi­nistry is come) against the false Ministry (which stands in the time and will of man) and against the false worships, and bowings in your houses of Rimmon, be they what they will, or the deceipt. But you will stop the mouthes of his witnesses, [Page 68] imprison, and permit them to be beaten even in your Synagogues. Do ye thus provoke the Lord? Are ye stronger than he, O ye sons of men, that are as a thing of nought, that are lesse than the dust of the earth? who would set the thorns and the briars against him in battel, he will go thorough you, and burn you together, and consume you as stubble that is fully dry; yea verily he will cause all his enemies to be brought, and to be slain before him. Consider this, O ye, that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you. If Priests knew, 'twas in vain to speak at random, others having the same Liberty to object, as they have to speak: And if the peo­ple were assured, that they should surely endure the Law in case of Tumults; the Pulpits would cease to be the Places of Contention, and the gi­ving out of trouble in all the Land, (England hath paid for these Priests and Pulpits in streams of blood al­ready) and they would be more wary what they said there, or reported; and the people would quickly be still and quiet. Nay, it may be said, Bristol would be the most orderly City in England, and most easily governed. But being heated by the Priests, and encouraged by the Magistrates, thence proceed those outrages, of which England doth ring; And indeed, it is not so much the fault of the People, as of the other; who should instruct, and otherwise order them.

And do ye not blush to put so grosse an untruth, as the coming of strangers to this City, who (you say) can render no good accompt of their being here, as the other ground of those great tumults, and unlawfull [Page 69] assemblies, of such evil consequences as you mention, and tendencies to future mischiefs and sad effects: How do ye know, they can render no good accompt of their being here? John Camm and John Audland who were thus tumulted, were never before you, nor examined by you, yet have they given a good accompt of their coming, amongst many witnes­ses: If to be Englishmen born, and living near Ken­dall in Westmerland, where their abode hath been all their time, except in the Wars and this Ministry; where their outward habitations and Families at pre­sent are, and estates; If to have alwaies lived soberly, and unblameably in the world; If to have been 6. or 7. years in Arms for the Parliament, mostly on their own costs, and to have fought and performed eminent ser­vice in the field, and faithfully to have discharged other places of trust; If to have been alwaies constant to the Publique Interest, and as active in their places for it, as any in those parts; If to come to this City in obedience to the Lord from their Habitations, Friends and Relations, out of love to your soules, to preach the everlasting Gospel of Christ Jesus, of which he hath made them able Ministers, to the turning of many hundreds in this City (besides other places) from dark­nesse to light, and from the Kingdom of Satan unto God, who are the seales of their Ministry, and witnesses to the Power and life of God in them; If to be here in all Self-denyal, Peaceablenesse, Long-suffering, not chargeable to any, not breaking any Law, ready to prove by the Scriptures, wha [...]soever they hold forth, be­ing what they seem, and doing what they say, pressing obedience to God and Man, Relations and G [...]ernors, from the obedience of Christ, according to the Will of [Page 70] God: If the account of these things be the ren­dring of a good reason of their being here, as it is un­deniably; Then of these things an account hath been already (and the Town-Clerk knowes it) and can further be given, were it requisite, or were that indeed the thing you minded: And yet how say you, they cannot render any good reason of their be­ing here? and place that as a cause of the great Tumults aforesaid, and unlawfull assemblies: Who had cause more greatly to be affrighted (though in the power of the Lord they were not at all)? And whose safety, peace and welfare was more en­dangered, either those on whom the outrages afore­said have been acted, or those who raised it on them, and would have taken away their lives?

But no more of these Orders of Sessions, and the grounds of them, though much materially may be said, which is not yet mentioned:

We shall now proceed to instance what hath been since act­ed in observance of these Decrees.

These publique proceedings in Sessions, some­what 18th. 11th. month, 1654. The Deputy-Mayor, and his brethren com­ming together by Candle-light, and sending for the Consta­bles throughout the Town, to search for some friends at a meeting, occa­sion new stirs in the Town, when before it was quiet. blew up afresh the spirits of the people, who disturbed with Tumults, the private meeting in Cornstreet, the 18th. of the 11th. moneth fol­lowing, and abused those who went in and out as formerly. But those sparks waxing faint, and the meeting two dayes after in the same place unmolested, no people at all being gathered about the house; Alder. Vickris, then Deputy-Maior being forward in these persecutions was very eager to do some notable thing in the Maiors absence: And therefore when the City was quiet, sends for the Aldermen, and for the Sergeants [Page 71] and Constables, and by Candle-light meets in the Councell-house, which raised an admi­ration in the Town, and drew many to the Tol­zey, and from thence sends Constables to the meeting to look for, and to bring before him and his brethren, George Fox, John Audland, John Camm, Francis Howgill, Edward Burrough, and James Nayler. But the meeting was rose before, and John Audland, who onely (of those afore­mentioned) was in Town, was departed; where­upon he sent for the man of the house, who went to them, and gave them such answers as their Questions required: and to other houses he sent to seek them, whereby occasion was given of New Tumults and disturbances.

And the next day Thomas Bawdon, Apprentice Thomas Baw­don, 22th. 11th. month, 1654. speaking to the People, Committed. to Edward Wilcox, speaking to the people after all was ended, not to the Priest, was the 22th. of the same month committed by them to prison for so doing, in observing of their own Order of Sessions aforesaid, not of the Law; for it gave them no such Power, or Authority.

The Deputy-Maior, missing in what he attempt­ed Warrant issued out in general for the appre­hending of some friends. the last day of the week aforementioned, is put by the Serpent on a new expedient, (viz.) to issue out a Warrant in generall to all Constables to apprehend them, though neither John Audland, nor John Camm, nor any of those Northern friends avoided them at any time, but stood single in their own freedom, ready to appear, and to give an answer to what should be demanded of them, though they had no reason to put themselves as a prey into their teeth, who sought to devour them, and to hinder their Ministry.

And for this the Deputy-Maior thought he had 23d. 11th. month, 1654. A house en­deavoured to be search'd, and forc'd at a meeting by vertue there­of, and tu­mult raised thereupon, the people being still, till the Magi­strates met to­gether to give order therein. got his opportunity, for hearing of the meeting at the same house again the 23. of the eleventh moneth, the Town being quiet, he sends for the Al­dermen, to meet him in the Councel-House, and thorough the Wards for all the Constables, which though it alarmed the whole Town, yet few of the Constables would appear, except such as had been old Malignants, and some of them with a Serjeant about the third hour in the af­ternoon, he and his brethren send to search the house, and to apprehend George Fox, James Nay­ler, John Comm, John Audland, Francis Howgill, and Edward Burrough, or any of them they should find there.

These Officers coming to the house, and find­ing the door fast, they knock thereat; the Man of the house going to the door, demanded their busi­nesse; They replyed, that the Deputy-Maior and the Aldermen had sent them to search his house for the men aforementioned, and to bring them before him; He demanded the Warrant; They an­swered, they had none, onely by word of mouth: He replyed, without a legal Warrant he could let none into his house: and that he wondred the Deputy Mayor should send thus to him, both on the last day of the week and then; in regard he was well known to have behaved himself peaceably and soberly, and to entertain none but such persons; whereupon they returned to the Deputy-Maior: A great concourse of peo­ple being, by the Constables thus coming, drawn to­gether, who were rude, and endeavoured to fol­low the Constables into the house, though before [Page 73] the Magistrates met, and the Constables came, the streets were quiet.

About half an hour after, the Officers returned again, and told the man of the house (who held the door open in his hand) that they had now a Warrant to search; He desired to see it; they de­nyed it, saying, The Warrant was their security, but they would read it to him: He replyed, his house was his security and defence; that he knew in what cases, the Law allowed searches to be made. If their Warrant were legal they should come in; but for hearing of it read he would not, he thereby being not a­ble to know whether it were true or false, and that there were many tumultuous people at the dore, whom it con­cerned them to take course with, and to keep the Peace; For those in his house, they were Christians met together to wait on the Lord, and desired to know, whether the Magistrates would disturb them? They denyed a­gain to let him see the Warrant, and told him, that it Was not particularly directed to him, Then he desired them to give him a Coppy thereof, and if he saw it were according to Law, he would let them search. They replyed they could not give a Copy of the Maiors Warrant, and with that forcibly attempted to enter, and afterwards offred violence to break it open; whereupon some of them departed again, and the rest staid about the door, which occasioned the tumult very much to encrease, before their faces, which they appeased not, though by him required.

Afterwards they returned again, but refused to give him a Coppy of their Warrant, or to let him take a Copy, though he promised them to return it immediatly, and to let them come in, [Page 74] if it were legal, and desired to know his positive answer: To which he replyed, that they had offered vi­lence to his house, not shewing him any Warrant, nor giving him any Coppy; that the street was full of tumultu­ous people, which for ought he knew, attended their coming in, and what mischief they and the tumult meant he knew not; Therefore he was resolved to look to his own security. They told him the Magistrates would take it ill of him: He replyed, he had reason to take it ill of the Magistrates to occasion his house to be thus assaulted, both then and at other times; and in per­mitting such Tumults on his house, and his peaceable friends therein, that his house was as free to him, as the Magistrates was to them; and therefore, where they required things contrary to Law, they must not expect therein obedience: All which he spake with much mildnesse: So they departed, the Tumult being made up of some hundreds, who continued filling the streets, and whooping, and hollowing, beating the door with other abuses: the Constables permit­ting them so to do.

About the fifth hour, the meeting rose, and a little before they departed, a Chief Constable being in the house observing the Ryot, and hear­ing the former passages, went forth at the desire of the man of the house, to require the Peace, and to cause every man to depart, for the Ryot was very high, expecting their coming out, but they regarded him not: and so they violently assaulted the people of the Lord wirh blowes, kicks, dirt, stones, and other vile abuses, and reproaches, and cla­mours, following them up the streets.

During this time (which from the coming of the Officers, was above two hours) did neither the Constables, nor the Magistrates keep the Peace, though the Councel house where they sat, was at the upper end of the same street where the meeting was; and though some of the Alder­men saw the tumults and abuses, yet so far were they from doing their duty therein, and causing their own order of Sessions to be observed, that Alderman Joseph Jackson and John Knolles Priest laughed openly on the Tolzey, as they stood and look­ed thereon:

Then the Tumult returned on the house where the meeting was, with more violence than before; assaulting the door and giving very opprobrious language to the man of the house with great cla­mor and rage, till the 7th. hour: and in what dan­ger he was could they have gotten in, may be well understood, and did manifestly appear by their words and actions; But during all this time the Magistrates did not endeavor the preservati­on of the Peace, or require any so to do, though it was in the view and hearing of several of them.

Now because so much is rehearsed concerning the Warrant with which the Officers came to search, as aforesaid; Here follows a true Cop­py thereof, and whether sufficiently le al to warrant such proceedings, let the understanding Judge.

To all the Constables with in this City,City of Bristol, and to every of them.

The Coppy of the Warrant. FOrasmuch as information hath been given us, that John Camm, and John Audland two strangers, who were Command­ed to depart this City, have in contempt of Authority come into this City, again to the disturbance of the publick Peace; These are therefore to vvill and re­quire you, forthvvith to appre­hend them, and bring them be­fore us to be examined, accor­ding to Law.

Signed,
  • William Cann,
  • Joseph Jackson,
  • Gabriel Sherman
  • Richard Vickris Dept. Maior.
  • Henry Gibs.
  • John Lock.

This Warrant gives no power to search private or any other houses, or signifies any such Crime as Fellony, or Treason, in which cases only the Law allowes private houses to be searcht; Nor doth it mention by nam [...], George Fox, James Nayler, Fran­cis Howgill, or Edward Burrough, whom the Offi­cers demanded to search for: nor was it directed to the house they came, nor to any other house, nor to all houses in general. And for the Crimes laid down therein, as to John Camm and John Audley, whom it mentions, they are wholly false, For, first they were never commanded to depart the City, by the Magistrates themselves, before whom they were never; or by any other at their command, either for a time, or not to return a­gain: Nor did they return to this City again, in con­tempt of their Authority; for as they were not com­manded to depart, and there can be no contempt, where there is no command: So, if they had com­manded them, it would have been without the Law; and the not observing of an unlawful Command, is no contempt of Authority; But they contemn Authority who Command in their own wills, not according to the Law: Nor had the Command been just according to the Law of the Nation, and they had returned notwithstan­ding in obedience to the Command of the Lord, were it a return as to them in contempt of Autho­rity any more than in the Apostles, who were charged to speak no more in that name, and to depart their Coasts, to return again and to speak in the Will of God, whom to obey or man (replyed they to the powers) is i [...] better, judg ye? Nor are they [Page 78] men of that spirit, to do any thing in Contempt to any, much lesse to Authority, though to their persecutors, But to pray they may be forgiven: And for that clause, To the disturbance of the Publick Peace, that is untrue; for they are charged to make appear the least disturbance of the Peace on their part, which the Law calls so, and they'l present their bodies to the punishment the Law provides; But disturbed they were, and Tumults raised on them, threatning their Lives, and the Peace broker, as aforesaid.

The Warrant aforesaid being invalid, and not carrying with it scandal enough, the Magi­strates cause another to be formed, upon an infor­mation found out of one George Coolishaw, in these words,

To the Constables of the Peace, of the City of Bristol. Ward of and to every of them.

FOrasmuch as information hath Warrant for ap­prehension, &c. as Franciscan Fryers. been given us upon oath, That certain persons of the Francis­can Order in Rome, have of late come over into England, and under the notion of Qua­kers drawn together severall Multitudes of people in Lon­don; and whereas certain stran­gers [Page 79] going under the names of John Camm, John Audland, George Fox, James Nayler, Francis How gill, and Edward Burrough, and others un­known, have lately resorted to this City, and in like manner un­der the same notion of Quakers, drawn multitudes of people af­ter them, and occasioned very great disturbances amongst us: And forasmuch as by the said Information, it appeareth to us to be very probable and much to be suspected, that the said per­sons so lately come hither, are some of those that came from Rome, as aforesaid: These are therefore in the name of his Highnesse the Lord Protector, to will and require you to make [Page 80] diligent search through your Ward for the aforesaid stran­gers, or any of them, and all other suspected persons, and to apprehend and bring them be­fore us, or some of us, to be exa­mined and dealt with, according to Law. Hereof fail you not.

Signed, 25th. 11th. month 1654.
  • John Gunning, Mayor.
  • Gabriel Sherman,
  • Henry Gibbs,
  • George Hellier,
  • Gabriel Sherman,
  • William Cann,
  • Joseph Jackson,
  • John Lock,
  • Richard Vickris,

Hereunto were there Seals affixed, and that Al­derman Sherman might be sure his name was down, he wrot it twice; and Alderman Hellier, his Hand and Seal, though he was not then sworn a Justice; for which, and for his acting upon the Bench at the Sessions the 16th. of the eleventh moneth 1654. as a Justice, and for other his pro­ceedings, when he was Maior, and also of his Brethren, he and they are yet to reckon, to the ea­sing somewhat of the charge of the Common­wealth.

Reply. What the Information of Coolishaw is, upon which this Warrant is grounded, may be seen in a scandalous Paper, published by William Prin, stiled, The Quakers unmasked and clearly detected, and in the answer thereunto by John Audland, one of those mentioned, in the fore-recited War­rant, in his book, entituled, The Innocent delivered out of the snare, and the blind guide fallen into the Pit, and likewise in his book entituled, The Schoolma­ster disciplined: In all of which it is word for word rehearsed, to which the Reader is referred, who in the two latter may see the Information found a Lye, and so the foundation of the Warrant fallen to the ground.

And yet on this Information of apparent lyes and confusion, have the Magistrates grounded their Warrant aforesaid, and William Prinn his Paper against them: It is very strange reasoning and even rational men will judge it so: Because such and such an evil person might come amongst a Company and Society, therefore all that Company must be suspected to be such, and so understood, apprehended and prosecuted: Upon this foot, what society of men in England would be free? What would become of, and how clo­thed with all the ignominy and offences imagina­ble, would the Priests and their Steeple houses appear, whose Assemblies are made up of the worst of men, should this stand for a good argu­ment? In drawing it upon others (and that See, The In­nocent delive­red out of the snare, p. 40. affirmed by 10 witnesses, that no such per­sons as Fran­ciscan Fryars spake amongst them, and that they know the names of such as have spoken at their mee­tings. fals­ly too, for no such Franciscan Fryars, were spea­kers amongst those whom they in reproach call Quakers) how do they bring the Conclusion on, themselves? So blind doth envy and malice ren­der [Page 82] men, that, so it may hit whom they maligne, they mind not, though the same dart strike tho­rough their own Liver.

The Informant saith that Coppinger told him, he had been at all the Churches and meetings, publick and privat, that he could hear of in London, besides th [...]se whom he calls Quakers; Why are there not War­rants issued out, upon the suspition aforesaid, to apprehend such strangers as have spoke, at the Independent, Anabaptist, Presbyterian, and other Churches (so called) and meetings in Bristol, as well as for those whom they call Quakers; for of all these there are Assemblies in London; and Coppin­ger, as the Informant saith, was at all he could hear of; and strangers have, and do speak at each of these Churches, (so called) and meetings pre­rending to be of each of their opinions; And those Assemblies are made up of great numbers. Coppinger spake in London, what is that to Bristol, were the matter of the information, in that par­ticular to be credited: But it seems the blind zeal of Bristol Magistrates, as Priest Farmer hath ef­fected it, can raise matter for persecuting the truth, as it is in Jesus, out of that which the Magistrates of London (whom it properly concerns, as the Infor­mer hath laid it) have seen neither cause nor Warrant sufficient for so doing: As it hath cau­sed them so to assign a lye in their VVarrant a­foresaid, viz. George Fox: and James Nayler, a­mongst others, have lately resorted to this City, and in like manner, under the same notion of Quakers, d [...]awn multitudes of people after them, and occasioned very great disturbances amongst us; when as, George Fox, [Page 83] and James Nayler, were never in Bristol, nor did ever any of those others mentioned in this VVar­rant, give any occasion of disturbance on their part, that the Law calls so.

Now the partiality of the Magistrates in the Warrant aforesaid, is apparant; for had they in­deed intended the searching for and apprehen­sion of Franciscan Fryars, and such Jesuits, as to deceive, form themselves into a Converse with all opinions, and the discharge of the duty the Law layes upon them, they would have secured the Informant Coolishaw aforesaid, according to Law, for concealing Coppinger, who (he swears) told him he was of the Franciscan Order, and such a person, as his deposition rehearseth, with Confiscation of his whole estate, and perpetuall imprisonment as guilty of misprision of Treason, in concealing a Traytor till he was departed, in­stead of issuing out such a Warrant for the secu­ring the Innocent upon such groundlesse suspi­tion: Whereby it appears, that the indignation of the Dragon lay not at the Jesuits, but at the Mi­nisters of the everlasting Gospel; to trouble whom, cause is sought, when those against whom there is reall cause, are let free and unmolested: And it is further manifest, in that when some of the Constables, being sent for to execute the War­rant aforesaid, informed the Magistrates that Masse was said in Backstreet, and for that desired No Masse without a Priest in Or­ders. a Warrant, they all refused so to do; though one of them, viz. Alder. Joseph Jackson confessed he be­lieved it to be true.

'Tis hard William Prinn could not see this flaw [Page 84] in his quick perspective, thorough which he pre­tends to have clearly detected the Quakers, and so have given notice thereof to his good friends the Magistrates, to keep close the Information for their Credits sake, instead of publishing his er­ring expositions thereupon; And thereby record­ing their transgression, as well as his malice and weak understanding. But how otherwise should his and their folly have been made manifest, and those whom he and they maligne and slander be befriended with the Copy of the Information, upon which the Warrant aforesaid is said to be grounded: It is an honour for a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be medling, saith the Wise­man, Prov. 20. 3. But as they conceived iniquity, so they brought forth a Lye, and their birth pro­ved as the untimely fruit of a woman; for John Audland, at that time was out of Town, and John Camm (who was onely here) sick, and a friend of the City having before enquired, and informed himself concerning them all, gave an accompt under his hand to the Town-Clerk, Jan. 29. of their birth, habitations and Conversations; and that they had never been out of this Island, where­by that suspition was taken off, and the Net was broken, and the Innocent escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler, though it walk'd from Ward to Ward, and diligently sought to have taken them.

Yet something must be done with this War­rant, Thomas Mur­ford first of the 12th. month, 1654. and George Salter (a Malignant Constable) will make the experiment; And therefore ha­ving an information of a meeting in Redcliffe-street, [Page 85] he hasteth thither therewith; but being a little too early, there were but a few come toge­ther, out of which he took Thomas Murford as a taken out of a Meeting as a suspected Franciscan Fryar, for ha­ving on a Hair Coat. Examined. suspitious person, and brings him before Alder­man Hellier, who examines him, and sends him to the Maior, before whom being brought, and some of the Aldermen, they demanded of him, for what he came into the City, after that man­ner? He answered, he was commanded of the Lord to come and mourn in sackcloth and ashes for them, and to warn them to let the Lords people alone, as they would answer it at the day of Judgment, and not to persecute or imprison his Saints. Whereupon they com­manded his Coat of hair to be taken off, and Henry Gibbs cryed out with great rage, Whip him out of Town; but said others, Let him be gone out of the City now; but if he come in again, we will whip him out at the Horse-tail; so they ordered their Officers to turn him out of the Town, who Turn'd out of Town. executed their Commands; but he by and by returned at the same gate, not daring to do other­wise He returning. Committed. because of the dread and terrour of the Lord that was upon him; within which he was no sooner en­tred, but the same Officers, who waited for that purpose apprehended him again, & brought him before the Maior, who committed him to prison, where after he had been a few houres, his hair Coat was brought to him again, which he put on the next day on his other Clothes; but the third day of his imprisonment he was inwardly requi­red again to strip himself stark naked, and to put the hair Coat next his skin, and so to abide till he spoke with the Maior; so he girded the hair-cloth [Page 86] to his loins, and was bare-foot till the second day of the next week, on which being released, he immediately in that manner, went directly to the Maior, who commanding his hat to be taken off, the ashes on his head, flew about, which he sha­ked from him, and told the Maior, That the Lord of Hosts would stain the Crown and glory of all his pride, and strip him naked and bare before him; and charged him again in the name of the Lord, to let the Lords people alone, for they were a righteous holy people, whom he had redeemed to himself, who were not against Ma­gistrates, but owned them in their places as a terrour to evil d [...]e [...]s, and a praise to them that do well. And thus was he turned out of his Native place, imprisoned and oppressed in his person and his property, con­trary to Law, and to that frame of spirit which ought to be in men professing themselves Chri­stians, which is to hearken to such unusuall Signs and Admonitions, at least not to punish those who are made so to appear unto them upon a War­rant as a suspected Franciscan Fryar, though he was born and bred in the Town, holds some estate of the City, is there well known, and hath some­time lately been an Officer therein, and a man of an unblameable and professing conversation; yet Citizen or stranger, guilty or not, all is one with this Generation, for this is such an offence to them, yea the very meeting of those who come together to se [...]k the Lord, that Alderman Hellier swore to a Relation of his, that if they met at his (the said Relations) house, he would pull them out by the ears: As his brother Alderman Lock, swore the same oath to a Centry in the Castle, because he discharged his duty.

By this time had the Magistates made such a 1. of the 12th. month 1654. John Comber­batch for go­ing along with T. M. to s [...]e that the Rab­ble whom be heard threaten to hurt him, did him no in­jury, progresse in their illegal and unjust proceedings, that inferior Officers took the boldnesse to act, as if they were Magistrates, and to imprison, where the Magistrates had discharged, as having done nothing contrary to the Law; For John Cumber­batch, being at his standing of wares in the Fair, called Pauls fair, and hearing some of t [...]e Rabble threaten to throw Morford into the Horse Pool without Temple gate, when he was turned out of the Town as aforesaid, lest they should do the man any violence, he went after them; and when Morford returned, came back into the City with him; Whereupon William Butts a malignant Constable, laid violent hands on Comberbatch and haled him before the Mayor, charging him with inviting Morford in again, when he urged him to no such thing, but out of pitty as afore­said, went after him, nor could Butts prove any thing against him; whereupon the Maior bad Comberbatch go about his businesse: but as he was forth of the Maior's door, Butts laid violent hands on him again, saying, he should go to prison; Comberbatch told him, he was not Committed [...]y the Maior, and therefore he would not go. Said Butts, Drag'd to Pri­son by W. Butts a Ma­lignant Con­stable after the Mayor had dismist him. thou shalt go, and so haled him by force. Comber­batch call'd to him for a Mit [...]imus, Butts answered, he would be his Mittimus, and so drag'd him to Newgate, not suffering him to speak with any friend by the way, and there charged the Prison with him, having thrust him in at the door first; for Comberbatch said, he would not go in, unlesse Butts delivered him to the Keeper, and so he de­livered [Page 88] him to the Keepers son; Notwithstanding the Mayor never punisht Butts for so doing, though complaint thereof was made unto him by some honest men, who were eye witnesses.

From this new kind of persecution they return Thomas Ro­bertson and Josiah Cole, 4th. of the 12th. moneth. to the former of Tumults, and unlawful Assemblies; for on the fourth day of the twelvth month, Tho­mas Robertson of Grayrigge near Rendal in Westmer­land, and Josiah Cole of Winterborne near Bristol, be­ing at Nicholas Steeple-house in the time of the Divination of Priest Hazzard, many people ga­thered about them, and gave them many affronts though they both stood still, nor did either of them speak a word, But when Thomas Robertson began to utter his voice, after Priest Hazzad had Speaking to Priest Haz­zard. ended all and dismist the people; whilest the word was in his mouth, unspoken by him, he was struck on the head by many, as was also Josiah Tumulted, &c. Cole, though he was silent, and attempted not to speak, which blowes they both received patiently, without any resistance: Afterwards Thomas be­gan to speak again and said, Tremble before the Lord, and the words of his holiness. Whereupon the Tumult was so great, that they permitted him to speak no more; but hurried him and Josiah out of the Steeple-house, and in great Companies with much rage, drew them towards the Maiors, and having taken away Thomas his hat, they drag'd him under the spouts bar-headed, (it raining hard) the water running down the end of his Locks, yet he suffered it, and their rage, with un­moved chearfulnesse: The Tumult having thus [Page 89] btought him and Josiah to the Maiors house, he Examined. demanded wherefore they were brought thither? the Constables replyed, for disturbing Mr. Haz­zard. Thomas desired the Maior to do Justice without respect of persons, and told him he was commanded of the Lord for what he did. At which the Mayors wife, and others present scoft, Saying, This is all your story: Then the Mayor demanded their names and their Countrey, which they gave, where­upon the Mayor commanded them both to New­gate: Thomas told the Mayor at his departure, that he had discharged his Conscience: and bad him see that he did execute Justice and Judgement without respect of persons, for the Lord required it. VVhen they came to the Mayors door, the Tumult, staying there till then, hurried them to Newgate: some cry­ing Committed. out, Whip them about the streets, others hang them up, Newgate is too good for them; where they were both secured, though Josiah Cole spake not a word in the Steeple-house; but standing still received many blows, and other abuses without resistance: and though Thomas Robertson spake not a word, till all was dismist, and then but these words, Trem­ble before the Lord, and the words of his holynesse: But those who struck him in the Steeple-house, and made the Tumult there, and in Tumultuous Compa­nies, hurryed them to the Maiors, and staying there till the Mayor had Committed them, in tu­mults haled them to Newgate, and struck, and took away the hats of some who endeavoured the Peace, not a man of whom are enquired after, or punished to this day, though Complaint was made thereof, and though contrary to their own [Page 90] order made at the Sessions aforesaid read in the Steeple-houses: Nor did the Constables arrest, or apprehend any offender therein, then or since, though they were so long amongst them, and though that Order requires them so to do; nor hath the Maior punished any of those Con­stables for neglect of their duty. The next day some Officers came to the prison with Orders (as they said) from the Maior, to release them, if they would pay their fees, and to turn them out of Town without being further examined, or brought before the Magistrates, but they refu­sing to pay any fees, were returned in again, and shortly after released: Thomas Robertson was five or six years in Arms for the Parliament, an Officer in Colonel Brigg's Regiment, was at Preston Fight at the Engagement at the Bridge, in Scotland and Carlisle, living on his own estate, and bearing his own charge in the Warres, except a small Summe which he received after the fight at Preston: Josiah Cole was also a Souldier in the Service of the Common­wealth, and at Worcester Fight, whose Liberties now are not valued at all, or regarded by these Magistrates.

The same day Christopher Birkhead was moved 4th. 12th. month, 1654: Christopher Birkhead spea­king to a [...] Priest. to go to Stephen's Steeple-house, where sitting silent, Alderman Cann a Ruler present comman­ded him to be brought to his house, from whence he by and by returned, and sate, saying nothing till all was ended: Then he said to the Priest, Thou Sonne of Pride; and was proceeding fur­ther [Page 91] to speak, but the same Alderman thrust him down from the place whereon he stood, and a young man held him by the Coller till the Con­stables came: and then he saying further, The Plagues of God is thy portion, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, they carried him away towards the Mayor's, but afterwards brought him to his own house by order of the said Alderman, upon his meeting of them in the street. The next day 4th. 12 [...]h. month, 1654. the Mayor and Aldermen sent for him before them, from a Ship on which he was at work; (he being a Shipwright by Calling, and a S [...]aman able to take charge of a Ship) And demanded of Examined. him, wherefor [...] [...] disturbed the Congregation, the day before in the Church? He answered, he disturbed no man, and that the Church was in God: They asked him why he came thither, and why he staid not at home when the Alderman sent him? He replyed, The fear of the Lord brought him thither, and made him to speak, God was his witnesse. Then came in the Priest, and after he had bowed himself to the Magistrates, Alderman Joseph Jack­son asked the Priest what Christopher had said to him? The Priest answered, he said something to my Pride (the Priest was light and vain, laugh­ing and deriding) Then said Christopher to him, Pro­fessest thou thy self a Minister of the Gospel, and yet art light and vain and laughing before the Magi­strates! Oh, said the Priest, he owneth you to be Magistrates, Yea (replyed Christopher) I own Ma­gistracy that punisheth evil doers, and praiseth them that do well: Then the Magistrates asked him why he quaked so, (for the power of the Lord [Page 92] was much upon him, whilest he was before them) and whether he was acold or afraid? He an­swered, he was neither cold nor afraid of any man, God was his witnesse; he feared the Lord: They replyed, the Devill shook him. He answered, the holy men of God shaked, and instanced in Daniel, and Habak­kuck, &c. Thus did he quake yesterday at Church, said one of the Aldermen; and, said Jo­seph Jackson, deriding him, I'll make thee give over shaking, and so looks fierce on him, and then said, Shake now, shake now; And asked him, how much money he had for going to the Church; He answered, No man knew of it but himself, God was his witnesse: Then they asked him, how he dared to call the Minister, the son of Pride? He answered, because he saw him so, in the light of Christ which discovers him. They demanded, how he da­red to Judge him? He replyed, All Judgment was given to the Sonne. They said, that was to Christ. He answered, unlesse the Spirit of Christ was in them, they were none of his: And the same Spirit judgeth the same in all. Then they asked him whether he knew before-hand, that that Minister should preach, or Mr. Jones? Thereupon he began to give them an accompt, and said, That upon the third day of the foregoing week, about the 11th. hour of the night, the Lord bade him to go to the S [...]eeple-house, there to bear witnesse for his Name; But he knew not whether he should speak to him till he saw his face. But they sleighted what he declared, and said, Whip him, send him to Bride-well; And Joseph Jackson said, that if he had the whipping of him, he would make him give over quaking. Then the Priest [Page 93] came and stood near him, upon whom Christo­pher looking, Joseph Jackson said, All thy spight is at the Minister, There he is, what canst thou say to him? To whom he replyed, after a little si­lence, Darest thou to own thy self to be a Minister of Christ? The Priest answered not, but went from him; If thou doest, said Christopher, I am sure thou livest out of his doctrine, calling of men Masters, and being called of men Master, stealing the word from thy neighbour, speaking a divination of thine own brain, and not from the mouth of the Lord, as the false Pro­phets did, with much more to that purpose: Then Joseph Jackson asked Christopher, whether he did ever pray? He answered, yea: How? said he. Christopher replyed, In the Spirit: Canst thou pray, said Joseph Jackson, that Prayer in the 11th. of Luke? He answered, yea, according to the mea­sure of the Grace of God given him: Then he de­manded, what was his name? (though he knew it well enough) Christopher replyed, A Servant of the Lord, according to the measure of the grace of God given me. What's thy name, said he again? He answered, in the flesh, Christopher Birkhead: Then they bade him promise the Mayor that he would go to the Church no more, and then they would set him free: He answered, The Church is in God; But, the Steeple-house you mean: Well, the Steeple-house, said one of them, let him have it in his own terms: He answered, he would promise as much as he could keep with a good Conscience towards God; As to my own will, as far as I know (said he) I shall not go: But if I am moved of the Lord, I shall obey God and not man: They [Page 94] asked him why he went now? He replyed, Against his will. Then they said, Take him away to Bride­well. Committed to Bridewell. Whereupon he told the Ma [...]or, he was no va­grant, or runnagate: But the Maior sleighted what he said, and sent him thither, where they continued him for the space of 9. or 10. dayes; though Bridewell is no prison, and he ought not therefore to have been committed thither, had he mis-behaved himself, as to the breach of any Law; but a house of Correction for rogues, and for idle persons who will not work: And Christopher Birkhead is one born and bred in the City, being about the age of fourty years, diligent in his cal­ling, an able Seaman, and alwaies living in the City, except when at Sea, as was his father be­fore him, and of good reputation as to the world: But it seems Joseph Jackson had a great mind to have him fast in Bridewell, and to have the place of whipping of him there, to make him leave his quaking. What rule they bear, and what spi­rit they are of, rationall men will Judge; Who instead of taking heed what they do, for the Judgment ought to be the Lords, and not man's, and instead of executing Justice according to Law, without respect of persons, are upon sleight occasions, drunk with fury and pas­sion on the Seat of Judgment, and in their rage and lusts, imprison and oppresse the In­nocent contrary to the Law, and let offenders go free.

Alderman Joseph Jackson will one day sadly know (except he repent) what it is to do so, of [Page 95] which the Light in his Conscience hath given him many a Remembrance; and what it is pro­phanely to scoffe at the power of the Lord in his Servants, who stand in dread of his presence, trem­bling, shaking and quaking, of whom the Scrip­tures bear record, as did (Gen. 27. 33.) Isaac, (who trem­bled exceedingly, and (Heb. 12. 22. Exod. 33. 11. Act. 2. 37.) Moses, who spake with God face to face, as a man to his friend, and did ex­ceedingly quake and fear, the whole (Exod. 19. 6.) Camp of Israel, (Job 37. 1. 16. 12. 21. 6.) Job, the (Ezra 10. 3, 4, 9.) Children of the Captivity under Ezra and Nehemiah; the (Isa. 66. 5. 66. 2.) people of the Lord in Isaiah's dayes, the humble and contrite ones in whom God dwelt: (Ezek. 12. 18.) Ezekiel and the (Ezek. 37. 7. 38. 19.) Camp of dry bones to which he prophesied: (Psal. 119. 120. 1 Sam. 13. 14.) David, a man after Gods own heart; (Jerem. 23. 9. 5. 22.) Jeremiah, whose bones shook like a drunken man: (Dan. 10. 11.) Daniel, (Habac. 3. 16.) Habakkuk, (1 Cor. 2. 3.) Paul, and the (2 Cor. 7. 15.) Church of Corinth, who received the Gospel in much fear and trembling, and he was with them in fear and much trembling: And what it is to wish to have the whipping of such, and to call it of the Devill. Let him be warned, lest he witnesse (Dan. 5, 6, 25.) Belshazzar's condition, whose countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled, so that the Joynts of his loynes were loosened, and his knees smote one against ano­ther, when the fingers of the mans hand came forth and wrote over against the Candlestick: And let him and all others who scoffe at and persecute the power of the Lord now risen in his Saints, and call it of the Devill, read and consider what Christ saith, Mark 3. 28, 29, 30. Verily I say un­to you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sonnes of [Page 96] men, and blasphemies wherewithall soever they shall blaspheme; but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgivenesse, but is in danger of eternal damnation, because they said, He hath an unclean spirit: They who built the Sepulchres of the Prophets, and said, if they had lived in their (Luke 11. 47, 48, 49, 50, 51.) fathers dayes, they would not have killed the servants the Prophets, they told Christ he had an unclean spirit, and cast out Devills by the Prince of Devills, and Christ said to them, They bore witnesse to them­selves, that they were the chil [...]ren of those who killed the Prophets, and that all the righteous blood shed from Abel should fall on them; and these murthered the Lord of glory, and persecuted to the death his Apostles and Disciples, though he (Mat. 18. 6.) said, It were better for a man to have a millstone tyed about his neck, and he cast into the middle of the Sea, than to offend one of these little ones, who believed in him: This is said to him out of much love to his soul, for he is seen and comprehended in the eternall light which never changeth; and he will find it a hard matter much longer to kick against the pricks: For the Lord will stirre up Jealousie ere long, like a man of War, because of the perse­cution of his sonnes and of his daughters; and when he is angry, who shall be able to deliver out of his hands?

Now the Serpent who is more subtile than all the beasts of the field, that he might indeed bruise the heel of the seed of the woman, and reach those with [Page 97] his floods, whom his tail hath not touched, sug­gesteth yet new wayes to molest and wear out the servants of the Most High, by seeking occasion against, and sending for before them, such of the people aforesaid, as they knew could not bow to any image, or respect mens persons, and to execute their oppressions and injustice on such.

Jeremy Hignell on the 15th. of the first month, Jeremy Hig­nell, 15th. first month, 1654. 1654. being in his shop, attending his calling, was sent for by the Maior and Aldermen, to come before them, which he presently obeying, the Maior commanded him to draw near, and asked him whether he knew where he was? Hignell said, he did. Then the Maior asked him, where? He replyed, In the presence of the Lord. Are you not in the presence of the Lord's Justi­ces, said the Maior? He replyed, If you be the Lords Justices, I am. Whereupon one of the Aldermen said (without any more words pas­sing at that time aforesaid, for they asked him no other question but what is already mention­ed, or the least signification of the reason of their sending for him) We see what he is, take him Committed. away to Newgate; and commanded the Officer to carry him away; and so he was immediately brought thither, where the Keeper received him without a Mittimus, and kept him close prisoner a great part of that time, permitting none to come to him but his Wife, for which he said, he had order from the Maior.

On the second day of the second moneth, he was sent for from prison, before them again, and stood before them in the Councell-house, as they required; where he standing a while, they bade him go forth; saying not a word more to him. Hereupon he went forth and stood at the door; then he was bid to go down; and by and by the Sword-Bearer brought order from the Magistrates to carry him to prison again: Out of which that evening he was released, having been kept there for the space of 19. dayes from his Calling, and a close prisoner a great part of the time; and at no time did they then, or have they to this day signified to him the cause of their sending for him, or of his Commit­ment, though his Wife desired it of the Maior, who refused so to do, the man being of a very so­ber and honest Conversation, and alwaies a friend to the Common-wealth.

Sara Goldsmith, being moved to put on a Coat of Sarah Gold­smith 5th. day 3d. moneth, 1655. going through the Town in a Coat of hair. Sackcloth of hair next her, to uncover her head, and to put earth thereon, with her hair hanging down about her, and without any other clothes upon her, except shoes on her feet; and in that manner to go to every Gate, and through every Street within the Walls of the City, and after­wards to stand at the High Crosse in the view of the Town and Market, as a sign against the Pride of Bristol, and to abide in that habit so the space of seven daies; In obedience whereunto, though very crosse to her own will, she chearfully pre­pared [Page 99] her Garment, being in the manner of a Coat down to the ground; And on the day ap­pointed her, being the last day of the week, and the fifth day of the third moneth, taking with her two friends to accompany her, went forth about the fourth hour in the morning, and ha­ving finished her going to the Gates, and tho­rough the Streets, some People following of them, but doing them no harm, she returned home, and at the ninth hour, came to the High Crosse with one of the friends aforementioned, a great multitude following, and there stood for the space of half an hour, till the tumult which consisted of many hundreds, grew so violent, and assaulted so much her self and friend, who stood with her, that they were enforced tho­rough the help of some, whom they knew not, but were made friendly, to repair to a shop near, out of which the multitude cryed to have them thrown, that they might assault them; but the Chamberlaine with some of the Sergeants came, and brought them thence to the Councel-house; out of respect (as he said) to their safe­ty from the Tumult, which filled the Streets thereabouts.

When they had been a little while in the inner Tolzey, the Maior came in and Joseph Jackson, who stampt with his foot, and grew much enraged, and furious as soon as he saw her; but the Maior called Sara to him, and asked Examined. her, what was her reason to appear in the City [Page 100] in such a habit? She answered, It was in obedi­ence to the light in her Conscience. What if you, said the Maior in your obedience had been killed by the rude multitude? She replyed, I am in the hands of him who ruleth all things, I have harmed none, yet I have been harmed: Neither have I bro­ken any Law by which I can be brought under any cen­sure: Then Joseph Jackson demanded of her the same question that the Maior did concerning her habit: She only replyed, I have said, Say it o­ver again, said he: She answered, thou heardst me. But I have forgot it, said he: The replyed, I stand not in mine own will; Whereupon some said, she was mad: To which the friend answered, I bear witnesse, she is not mad; Look, here's one said Joseph Jackson bears, witnesse. Sara replyed, she bears wit­nesse I am not mad, If I had appeared in Gay clothing, then you would not have been troubled: which were all the words then spoken by her. Then Joseph Jackson furiously demanded of her friend, what her name was? She gave it to him: Then he asked her how long she had been with Sara? She stood si­lent, He demanded of her why she came up in the City with Sara? She replyed, because Sara was her friend. Do you own her said he? She answered, I do own her: VVherefore, said he, came she in this habit? She replyed, There she was, she was suffi­cient to answer for her self, and said no more. Then the Maior (at the instigation of Joseph Jackson) for the Maior was advising how he might send Sara home safely) ordered them to be sent to Bridewell, and seeing Anne the wife of Nicholas [Page 101] Gannecliffe standing by Joseph Jackson, demanded of her whether she owned Sara? To which Anne answered, yea, I own her to be a servant of the living God, and as the Scripture saith; I and the Children, whom thou hast given me, are for signs and Wonders: & so behold she is as a sign & a wonder to you this day; Then Joseph Jackson said, Take her away to prison too; She lives, said the Maior, without the Liberties of the City, Send her away notwithstanding, said he. Then Sara told them, That Anne had not been with her; but coming to Market upon her occasions, and seeing the Tumult about her, came to her (which was the truth) notwithstanding all three were Anne Ganni­cliffe, Mar­garet Wood, for being with, & owning her Committed. sent to Bridewell, the Tumult who standing in great numbers, before the Councel house, all the while the Maior examined them, following them thither, where, by Order of the Maior, as the Keeper said, were they kept close prisoners, so strict that no friends were permitted to come to them; nay, their Husbands were sometimes denyed, and the Mother of the friend, and their Servants who brought them provisions; and when any of them had admittance, it was with very much ado, and after long waiting, till Nicholas Gannercloffe brought witnesses, and demanded (before them) his wife of the Keeper, who de­nyed to release her, or to give him the reason of her being there detained, and only said, it was by the Maiors Order: nor would the Keeper permit them the first night to light a Candle, or to make any fire, till about noon the next day, nor permitted he friends to stand without, & to call to [Page 102] them and see them out of the windows; but caused such to be turned from the walls of the house, and a Court-door in the street, (which usually stands open) to be made fast, to keep them out: and very fierce he was to them, and to any that asked for them, and so were his peo­ple; and great doggs were set on some who came to see them, by the rude people, who dwelt near, with other abuses unpunisht to this day, though complaint was presently made by some who were in danger. And thus was her friend Mar­garet Wood, who onely was with her, in her usual habit, and Anne Gannycliffe, (who seeing the tumult about her, came from her occasions, out of love, to see she had no injury, sent to Bridewell to­gether, a place for Rogues, and were there kept close prisoners, and used as aforesaid, till the 11th. day of the third moneth, and Sara till the 16th. though it is every ones Liberty to wear what Garments they please, and to accompany and see their friends, especially where they are no transgressors of the Law: And though the Law gives not power to any Judges or Justices to Com­mit any one, The Stat. Westminst. 2. with o­ther Laws, provide for a safe imprisonment; but for a close imprisonment, there is not any, but it is directly contrary to the 28. Hen. 8. c. 2. which saith, Prisons shall be in the most eminent, and populous Towns where there is most resort of peo­ple, that they may be the more often visited, and relieved. close prisoner, and keep him so, be the Crime what it will; but not one of the Tu­mult is to this day called to account, or punished, though it stood so long before their faces.

Had Sara Goldsmith appeared in the fantastick dress of this vain & wanton age, or in a spirit of light­nesse & haughtiness she had received enough of friendship from this Generation; but being through the cross to her own will, made obedient for their sakes to pass through the City in aircloth next her, and ashes, as a testimony against their pride, which never was at that hight as at this day, she hath received that hard measure afore­mentioned, instead of laying it to heart, and being humbled before the Lord; Verily the men of Ni­neveh shall rise up in Judgment against this Genera­tion Mat. 11. 41. and shall condemn it; for they repented at the say­ing of Jonah the Prophet in sackcloth and ashes: To Jer. 6. 40. 20. 7. 8. Isay 8. 18. the Prophets of old, the word of the Lord was a re­proach and a burthen, they were made a derision, and mocked daily, and were for signs and wonders, and they were put into Prisons, and into Stocks, & some of them to death: nor was what they said, or that wherein they were made signs unto them, minded or re­garded: as it is at this day, though it cost them hard to bear it, in behalf of the people as (Ezek. 4. 5.) Eze­kiel 390. dayes lying on his left side, and (Ezek. 4. 6.) 40 on his right side. And to (Ezek. 4. 9, 10, 11, 12. 15.) eat his bread mingled with beasts dung, during that time, by weight, and his water by measure. And Isaiah, to goe naked and bare-foot. d Isay 20. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 3. yeares for a signe and wonder upon Aegypt; And how (Ezek. 12. 3, 4, 5, 6.) ridiculous was it for Ezekiel to digge through a Wall in the middle of the day, and to carry out his stuffe in the sight of the people [...] [...]ut off his (Ezek 5, 2, 3, 4.) haire, off his Head, and off his Beard, and to weigh tt openly with a ballance, and to burne one third in the fire, another third to cut with a Knife to pieces, and a third to throw in the Aire, [Page 104] To (Ezek. 4. 1, 2, 3.) pourtray Jerusalem on a tilestone, and to lay siege against it: And to cast up Mounts, and raise battering Rams, and to put an iron pan between him and the City, to (Ezek. 7. 23.) make a chain: And for Jeremiah to hide a (Jer. 13. 4, 5, 6.) girdle in the bank of the River Euphra­tes, till it be quite marred; to carry a (Jer. 25. 15, 16, 17, to the 30.) Cup for the Nations to drink thereat. As the Word of the Lord, and his signs, wherein he makes his servants to appear, are at this day; And though he (Amos 2. 11, 12.) raised up of their sons for Prophets, and their young men for Na­zarites, yet they gave the Nazarites wine to drink, and (Isa. 30. 10, 11. Jer. 11. 21.) commanded tht Prophets, saying, Prophesie not, and to the false Prophets they hearkened, who prophesied smooth things, and (Jer. 28. 15. 29. 31.) caused them to trust in a lye, and evil entreated his (2 Chron. 36. 16.) Messengers till there was no remedy; and those things they pro­phesied, and wherein they were signs, were fulfil­led upon them in their destruction. Why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh him­self a Prophet, since the Lord hath made thee Priest, in the room ef Jehojadah the Priest, that ye should be Of­ficers for the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a Prophet, that thou shouldst put him in the prison and the stocks; Did Shemaiah the false Prophet write from Babylon in the Capti­vity to Zephaniah and all the Priests, and to all the People in Jerusalem, concerning Jeremiah, Jer. 29. 24, 25, 26, 27. Oh Bristol, Bristol, that thus evill entreatest those who are sent unto thee, how hath the Lord soug [...] [...] doth seek to gather thee as a hen doth her Chicken▪ Be warned in time, to know the things that belong to thy Peace, Lest hereafter they be hid from thine eyes, and thy habitation be left to thee desolate.

Nor were they satisfied with what they had done to those aforementioned, but as men restless in their persecutions, on the eight day of the third month, Daniel Wast­field 8. day 3. month. 1655. the Major sent for Daniel Wastfield before him, who coming with his Officer, the Major and Aldermen Vickris sate down, and the Major said to him: Wast­field, come hither, whereupon he drew neer, then the Major asked him three severall times, what art thou? Though he knew him well enough, calling him by his name as aforesaid, He answered I am a man. Whats thy name said the Major, My name is Daniel Committed. Wastfield said he, Take him and carry him to New­gate said the Major to one of his officers, further adding that he came thither to contemne Justice; To which he replied, nay, he came thither in obedience to his order. So being committed, he demanded a Mittimus, that so he might know for what he was committed, to which the Major answered, his word was a Mittimus, and so he was carried away without any more words used on either side, and without any signification to him, to this day, wherefore he was sent for or committed, where he was continued a prisoner 33 days, and a close Prisoner by order of the Major, and none to come to him but his servants, as said the keeper; though he be a shop keeper, and as a Wi [...]ower, and had one child sick, dead and bu­ryed whilest he was thus unjustly imprisoned, being kept from seeing it, or going to its buriall, and had another sick, and no body but his servant to look to his shop and trading, not knowing of, to this day, any thing, whereby they have cause against him ac­cording to Law: Have such pieces of tyrannicall in­justice and cruelty as these, been heard of in this [Page 106] Nation? or dared the highest Ministers of State un­der Charles Stuart, so to do? was not Strafford, to these men a Petty transgressor, and his loynes as their little finger?

And the more they persecuted, the more they thirsted after persecution, for on the eleventh day of the third moneth the Magistrates sent for William William Foord 11. day 3. mon [...]h. 1655. Foord to come before them, where being come, the Company of Milliners complained, that he kept a man at work in contempt of the Majors order, for on the thirtieth day of the second moneth, they had sent for him Concerning the same business upon Complaint of the Milliners, for that he kept a stran­ger at work, contrary as they pretended to their Or­dinary, whereupon the Major charged Foord to turn the stranger away, and not to teach him his trade, which he refused to do in regard he was none of that Company, and had followed the trade of Wooll-combing before they were a Corporation, and because the man had been all his youth a Souldier in the Army, and in a capacitie by the late Act, to set up any where, nor was he obliged by any Law, either not to teach him his trade, or to turn him out of his house, he beeing an ho­nest sober man, desirous to learn a calling whereby to live; And they further alledged that he should say, he would keep him in spight of any mans teeth, where­upon their witnes was produced and sworne, who de­nyed that he said, in spight of any mans teeth, but that William [...]ord had said, he intended to teach him; then one of the Aldermen affirmed, that he pro­mised to turne him away: which William Foord de­nyed to be truth; whereupon he called to the Mil­liners to justify it, but they were made to speak the [Page 107] truth, which was that he refused to turn the man out of his house, and that he could say nothing as to the teaching of him. Then they asked the Milliners what fine he had Committed by their Ordinary? they answered half a Crown a day for every day he had employed him, they asked why they did not levy the fine upon him? They replyed, if he would turn away the man, they would be satisfied, He told them he was not of their trade, and therefore their Ordina­ry had no power over him, and that the man whom he was teaching, might make use of any trade by the Act, to which Alderman Joseph Jackson replyed, it was no such matter, and said, Is that your Conscience? Then they asked him whether he would keep the man or no? to which he replyed, he should: Then the Major asked him whether he had any sureties there present? He asked him what to do? The Major told him, he should be bound to the good behaviour: He answe­red, he had broken no Law, therefore he should pro­vide no Sureties: then they told him he should go to Newgate: he asked them for a Mittimus: whereupon Committed. they in scorn laughed at him, and Shiriff Lawford told him, he knew not the Law: He replyed whether he knew it or no, it was convenient that he might have under their hands, wherefore he was committed, Then they said, the Majors word was a Mittimus; He said again, he should not go without something under their hand, then Shiriff Lawford said, h [...] should be car­ryed in a wheel-barrow, and the Officers staying a while for him, and seeing [...]hat he would not go, they comma [...]ded their Officers to carry him away; so many of them came about him, and did drive him along before them to prison, where he was conti­nued [Page 108] for the space of 26. dayes, a prisoner, from his family, and calling both Daniel Wastfield and Wil­liam Foord, being men, who h [...]ve been alwayes faithfull and active for the publique interest, and have served it in Armes, and so hath the stranger, because of whom they pretend to have imprisoned William Foord, though that and their being such as are reproachfully called Quakers may be understood the true reason wherefore they are thus unjustly dealt withall, and occ [...]sions sought against them, for the Law they have not transgressed.

After the imprisonment of these for the space of time aforementioned, the friends of truth, had Christopher B [...]rkhead. 2. day 5. month 16 [...]5. Standing si­lent in Nicho­las Steeple-house, wh [...]lst Priest Farmer was worsh [...]pping. some respite from their bonds: till the second day of the 7. month, at which time Christopher Birkhead being in the Steeple house called Nicholas, unto which he was moved of the Lord, he stood there si­lent whilst Priest Farmer said a few words as a prayer, and read some Psalmes, which when he had done, the Priest sto [...]d still, saying nothing; But looked towards the Aldermen present, with whom his Clarke was talking, and took a Psalmes booke of a boy, as if he would sing, and went to open it, but did not, but turning two or three times and loo­king on the Magistrates with whom his Clarke was speaking as aforesaid: At length about the time that Miles Jackson Alderman was coming out of his feate towards Christopher, Priest Farmer began to speak to Christopher, and told him he disturbed the People by standing with his hat on in the time of Prayer, and moreover said to him, that if he had any thing to say, he should speak; and tell his business why he came thither (for Christopher was silent) [Page 109] then, and not before Christopher began to speak, Thus saith the Lord: A wonderfull and horrible thing is Committed in the land, and was speaking further; but Priest Farmer said, he would have none of that, or word [...] to that purpose, and spake loud that the people might not hear Christopher. By this time Miles Jackson, being come from his seat to the place where Christopher stood, commanded him to be taken away, saying, he was a disturber. Christopher Struck. replied, All people take notice whether I have distur­bed any man: Then the under-Sexton laid hands on him in the place; and in the view of the Magistrate and the Priest strooke him on the head with a stick; Tumulted, &c. and the rude multitude came about him, some stri­king, some pinching, and some thrusting him, which caused him to turne his head to the Priest and say, see the fruits of thy Ministry, then the Rude Multi­tude haled him towards the Steeple-house door, and Miles Jackson followed them, and commanded Committed. him to be carried to Bridewell: So Priest Farmers Clarke took him by one arme, and his under Sexton by the other, and had him away, the Sexton Pinching and haling him forwards with much earnestness, and using very bitter words to him, saying, why doest not thou come faster? whilest the Clerk held him by the other arme keeping him back: At length the Sex­ton got him to himself, & so haled him to Bridewell, the tumult following him thither, and charged Bride­well with him, a Constable being then come to them, the Cle [...]k saying to the Officer, that Alderman Miles Jackson and Alderman Vickris commanded them to bring him thither, where he was moved to write to Priest Farmer in these words,

[...]
[...]
Ralph Farmer,

THou that pretendest thy self to be a Minister His Letter to Priest Farmer. of Christ, but art found in the step [...] of the false Prophets, and Scribes, and Pharisees, which were Hypocrites as thou art, to whom the Wo was, and the same Wo is thy portion, who hast the chief place in the Assemblyes, and standest praying in the Synagogue, or Idols Temple, where I found thee, when I was moved from the Lord there to go, to bear witness against thy deceit, and abominable worship, which the Lord abhors, for thy hands are full of blood, who goest in the way of Cain to envy, and runnest greedily after the errour of Balaam for gifts and rewards, though thou coverest thy self with the Prophets words, and the Apostles words, which lived the life of what they spake, which thou dost not, I have a sure witness in thy Conscience bearing me testimony, if thou wilt hearken unto it, thou stolest the words of David's Psalms, 17. 18. and readest to the people, to fill the time of thy lying Divination; and there thou readest, Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry. Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. O thou full of all subtilty, in the light of the Lord thou art seen, and let that in thy Conscience wit­ness against thee, whether thy prayers are any thing else but what thou hast feigned, and made up in thy imagination, and sellest them to the people for money; the Lord hath proved thy heart, and weighed thee, and thou art found lacking, and thy Kingdome is falling, and must down, by the mighty power of the Lord, plot thou never so subtilly against the Lord and his Anoin­ted; [Page 111] thinkest thou to cover thy self with reading Da­vid's words, who did love the Lord, and he was his strength, and his rock; and his fortress, &c. But thou Deceiver, was it, or is it so with thee? who when I stood silent and peaceable before thee, thou couldest not stand nor go on in thy Witchcraft; but thy looks made manifest who was thy God, and where thy strength lay, even in the powers of the earth, by whom I was there commanded to be taken out of thy presence; and there thy people, with whom thou withall pretendest to serve the living God, beat me before thy face, and in that thou callest the Church too, and so haled me out, and cast me into Prison, and called me a Disturber, who disturbed, no man; but the man of sin in thee was disturbed, and feared to have thy deeds come to the light. Now consider what thou hast done, and art do­ing, and repent, for else the Judgements of the Lord will overtake thee, and his heavy hand will be upon thee, and there shall be none to deliver thee. This was I moved of the Lord to write to thee, that thou mightest see thy deceit, and know that his Judgements will be just upon thee, in the day when he will plead with thee, and there shall be none to deliver thee. From him, who is a lover of righteousness, known to the men of the world by the name of

Christopher Birkhead.

The fury of their persecution beginning thus to Benjamin Maynard, 9 day, 7. month, 1655. speaking to Priest Paul. break forth afresh on Christopher [...]irkhead, it ceased not there; but on the ninth day of the seventh month, 1655. Benjamin Maynard being moved of the Lord to go unto John Paul Priest, and coming into the Steeple-house, where he was speaking out of his high place to the people, the Lord moved him powerfully to say, John Paul, in the presence of the Lord be silent. And as he was speaking further, one of the Priests hearers clapt his hand on Benjamin's mouth, not suffering him to speak; and many o­thers came about him, two of whom brought him to Bridewell, where he was continued a Prisoner till the Tumulted. Imprisoned in Bridewell, 10. day, 7. month, 1655. Examined, next day; at which time he was sent for before the Mayor and Aldermen, who demanded of him where­hence he had the command to go to John Paul? He replyed, from the Lord, and that he was to obey his command rather than the will of man. To which Henry Gibbs Alderman, returned, that he knew of no such command. Then after some other questi­ons, not worth the rehearsing, to which he made an­swer, one of them told him he must suffer, and asked he was whether he had any Sureties, or would finde any? He replyed, nay. Then they commanded the Committed. Keeper to take him away. He demanded a Mitti­mus, but the Mayor said, his word was a Mittimus; so they sent him to Newgate Prison. The next day after which, he sent a Letter to John Paul in these words.

TO thee, John Paul, I was moved of the Lord His Letter to John Paul Priest. to write. I do charge thee from the presence of the living God, to cease from thy deceit, for thou takest the Saints words, and makest a trade of them; the Lord did send his Prophets to cry Wo against such as thou art, thou and such as thou art, say, and cry peace to the wicked, where there is no peace; by the Light of Christ you are all seen to be out of the Doctrine of Christ, therefore turn into that of God in thy Conscience, which sheweth thee sin and evil; if thou actest contrary to it, it will be thy condemnati­on, for you are all such as feed upon the fat, and feed not the flock, therefore the hand of the Lord is against you all. Wo be to you that are covered with a covering, but not with my spirit, saith Christ, for you that are covered with any other covering, your beds are too short, and your coverings too narrow, for they will not hide you from the presence of the Lord. From him who is a Prisoner for the Truths sake, known to the World by the name of

Benjamin Maynard.

Nor did their persecution end here, but on the six­teenth Margaret Thomas, 16. day, 7. month, 1655. sp [...]aking to Priest Far­mer. day of the same month, Margaret Thomas being moved of the Lord to testifie against Priest Farmer aforesaid, and being at Nicholas Steeple house, after he had done his Prayer before his Di­vination, the Lord opened her mouth, and she said unto h [...]m, Wo unto the Idol shepherds, that devour [Page 114] and scatter my flock, saith the Lord. And to the peo­ple And the people. she spake, warning them to repent, for the King­dome of Heaven was at hand, and that the Lord was coming to look for fruit; with much more: but the Mayor and some of the Aldermen being present, commanded their Officers to carry her to Bridewell, Committed to Bridewell. some of the people striking her as they drew her out of the Steeple-house, where she was continued till the third day of the week following, at which time she was removed to Newgate, without being called before the Rulers, or examined.

And as deep calleth unto deep, so violence called to Tempe [...]ance Hig [...]ll, 23. day, 7. mon [...]h, 1655. speaking to Priest Brent. persecution; for Temperance Hignell being com­manded of the Lord to witness against Jacob Brint Priest, at Temple Steeple-house, and coming thither on the 23 day of the same month, being the first day of the week, after he had ended all that he had then to say to the people, she beginning to speak to him, saying, Wo from the Lord God to thou Jacob Brint; and was (before she could speak another word) struck down by some of his hearers to the Struck down. ground, and therewith astonished, till some of them took her up; upon which the tumult flockt about her, who gave her many blows, beat her so in the face, that her eyes were swelled, and blood came from Tumulted, b [...]a [...]. Her blood drawn. her, which she wiping off her face, shewed to the people, and bid them behold the fruits of their Mi­nistry. Her hat was also struck off her head, and her handkerchief about her neck torn off, and taken Cloaths re [...]t. away; and being haled out of the Steeple-house, some would have dragg'd her to the Pond, and have thrown her in there; but one present with­held them, and brought her into the street, into [Page 115] which being come, the Tumult about her was very great, shouting and whooping, and some danger ap­peared of her * life; whereupon she asked, whether Since dead, be­ing carried out of the Prison dangerously sick, of which he dyed three dayes after. there were any Constables present? he that with­held them from throwing her into the Pond, an­swered, he was one: To whom she spake, If I have broken any Law, let me suffer by the Law, and let me be defended from the rude multitude. Then she was Examined. brought to Alderman Knight, who having demand­ed of her what her name was, and where she lived; to which she answered; he asked her, what she had to do to disturb the Minister? She replyed, she was moved of the Lord to speak to Jacob Brint, and said, she came not there to make a disturbance. Then his son asked her, what she came there for? and whe­ther what the Minister had spoken, was not the truth? She replyed, that he was a Deceiver of the people, and of their souls, for dishonest gain. Then the Alderman aforesaid commanded the Constables to have her away to Bridewell, where he said she Committed to Bridewell. should be soundly whipt on the morrow. She de­manded a Mittimus, to know what she was commit­ted for; he answered, his word was a Mittimus; so she was had away to Bridwell, the tumult of people following of her, shouting and making a noyse all the way thither, and one plucked [...]ff her neck-cloth.

The next day she was brought before the Major 23. day, 7. month, 1655. Examined the second time. and Aldermen, who demanded of her what she had to do to go to Mr. Brint, and disturb him the day before? She answered, she was moved of the Lord; but as for making a disturbance, that she denyed. Then John Knight said, that her coming into the Church caused such a disturbance, that the people [Page 116] looked after her more than to hear the word of God. To which she replyed, if I shall have liberty, I shall here declare what I spoke; which being granted her, she said, It was Wo from the Lord to thou Jacob Brint, and this was the truth of it, I declare it to you in the presence of the Lord; and unto them she related the passages aforesaid, of being beaten and misused by the rude multitude. Then they asked her, where­fore she pronounced Wo unto him? She replyed she spake not her own words, but his that sent her. They asked her, how she knew she was moved of the Lord? She answered, it was like fire in her bones. And after many other questions asked and answered, of little consequence, she was asked whither she would go again? and whether she would be sorry for what she had done? She replyed, she could say little to that. Then the Major asked her, whether she would finde good Sureties for the good behaviour? She answered, she should finde none. So he ordered her to be sent to Newgate Prison; She desired to Committed to Newgate. know for what she was committed, and also a Mitti­mus. He replyed, his word was a Mittimus. The day following, she sent a Letter to Jacob Brint, in these words.

Jacob Brint,

UPon the 23. day of this month I was command­ed Her Letter to Jacob Brint. of the Lord to come unto thee, and say: We from the Lord to thee Jacob Brent: with much more; but before I could deliver that which I had to say to thee, I was thrown down by some or one of thy hearers, and haled forth of the Steeple house, [Page 117] by which means I was prevented to declare unto thee that which I was commanded from the Lord: Now for the clearing of my conscience that thou mayst not be ignorant of the minde of the living God concerning thee, I am moved now to declare it to thee in writing; Therefore hear the word of the Lord; Wo from the Lord God unto thee Jacob Brent, thou Idol, and dumb Shepherd, that seekest for the fleece, and cloathest thy self with the wool, and devourest the souls of the people for dishonest gain; verily the Lord God is risen to plead with all flesh by fire and by sword, therefore repent, and prize the day of thy visitation, lest his wrath should be kindled further a­gainst thee, to cut thee off for ever. This is that which I was moved to declare to thee from the Lord; and now also I am moved to declare more unto thee; All trees which bring not forth good fruit, are to be hewen down, and cast into the fire: Therefore sink down, and look into thy self, and see what fruit thou hast brought forth, that scarce any of thy hearers, but what are swearers, drunkards, strikers, fighters, and railers, persecutors of the Just; ye are of the same generation that persecuted the Son of God, and now ye persecute him afresh where he is made manifest. I warn and command thee in the presence of the Lord, to silence flesh, and stop thy mouth, and be ashamed of what thou hast done, and let the time be sufficient that thou hast spent in vain, l [...]st the blood of the Innocent be required at thy hands; for I bear testimony, that my blood was spilt amongst thy h [...]arer; whereby thou mayst clearly see the fruits of thy Mi­nistry; so thou art now left without excuse.

From a [Page 118] Prisoner for the Truths sake, known to the World by the name of Temperance Hignell.

The same 23. day of the seventh month, John John Smith, 23 day, 7. month, standing silent whilest Priest Farmer divined. Smith being moved, went to Nicholas Steeple-house, there to declare against all false wayes and worships, and all hypocrisie and deceit in Priest and People: But Ralph Farmer the Priest having ended his Ser­mon, b [...]fore he began to pray, spake to the people, that John Smith should be uncovered, who pull'd off his hat; and all being ended, and the Clerk ha­ving published something he had to say, John Smith perceiving the people to be enraged, said, Why do the Heathen rage? He that doth break one of the least of the Commands, and doth teach men so to do, shall be called least in the Kingdome of God. And told Priest Farmer, that he was covered with a covering, but not of the Spirit of the Lord; and that as many as were led by the Spirit of God, were the sons of God: But thou wast not led by the Spirit of God when thou saidst thou wouldst bring one to swear; which he of­fered to prove, and further said, that because of swear­ing Jerem. 23. 10. Mat. 5 33, 34, 35, 36. James 5. 12. the Land mourns; and Christ saith, I say unto you, swear not at all; and the Apostle saith, Above all things, my brethren, swear not at all, neither by the heaven, neither by the earth, nor by any other oath, lest ye fall into condemnation. And told him, that the Scriptures were fulfilled upon him, which saith, the Leaders of my people cause them to erre; and that [Page 119] he said, that he the said John Smith was a Puppy; and asked him whether he did not sin in likening a man which God created after his own Image, unto a dog? but the rude multitude fell upon him striking Tumulted, beat. him on the face, and kicking of him; and one Sandsford dragged him by the Cloak with much violence. Dragg'd. And whil'st these things were acting, John Gunning the Mayor, Alderman Lock, Sheriff Lawford, and others of the Councel passed by, whom he asked whe­ther any of the People of God did ever beat or abuse any, and said, that he spake not to upbraid or condemn any thing that was good, but to reprove that which was evil; and that if he had transgressed any Law, let him be tryed by the Law. But they heeded not, nor did they cau [...]e their Officers to appease the rude multitude; yea so far were they from doing it, that Walter Sandie, one of the Councel, laid violent hands on him himself; and as he was passing to go out of the Steep [...]e-house door, his Cloak was rent in twain, Garment rent in twain. and the greatest part taken away, the other piece whereof he shewed to the Rulers aforesaid, and asked them whether that were the fruits of their Mi­nistry? and whether they did Justice? To which Sheriff Lawford said, he had no call or command to be there; He replyed, that he came to declare the truth, and said he, let your blood be on your own heads, the wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all those that forget God. And passing up the High street, he said to the Mayor, and those of the Rulers with him that the Law was made for fighters, drunkards, swearers, and perjured persons. But nevertheless, and though they saw the rude multitude following him, they did not send any Officer to appease the tumult; but the [Page 120] multitude followed him to his lodging and broke his glasse-windowes, and would have forced his door upon him.

The next day the Major and Aldermen, sent their 24. day 7. Month 1655. Officers, who finding him upon his employment for the State, brought him before them, viz. the Major, Apprehended. Joseph Jackson, Richard Vickris, George Hellier, John Lock, and George Knight Aldermen, with o­thers, who commanded him to Come neere them, and asked him whether he knew whom he was be­fore, Examined. and whether he saw not the sword? and his hat was taken off at their command; He replyed he honored all men in the Lord, and out of him he honored none, and those who ruled for him, ought to be men fea­ring God and hating Covetousness, and such bore not the sword in vain, but were a terror to evill doers, & a praise to them that do well; and that he stood in the pre­sence of the Lord; and further, that Christ said, How can ye believe that receive honour one of another? and asked them whether that were Scripture, and whether they would own it? At which Joseph Jackson scoffed, and Alderman Knight called him Rascall, and ano­ther said he was led by the Devill, and he was charged by them with words which they said he spake at John Youngs against Priest Farmer, viz. that he the said Farmer should swear, or forswear, or words to that purpose, whereupon he asked Ralph Farmer (who was there present) whether he could say, that he spake those words? But he could not so say, nor was any such thing made to appear, Then they asked him what he did say at John Youngs to him? he an­swered that he asked Ralph Farmer, whether he was or professed himself to be a Minister of the Gospell of [Page 121] Jesus Christ, but he did not say he was, and that he told him the hireling did not abide in the Doctrine of Christ, and asked him if he did? And said that the Priests that preached for hire, and the Prophets that Divined for money, were them that did build Sion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity; All which he offered to the Magistrates to prove by Scriptures, but they admitted him not; Then they charged him, with making a disturbance in the Church, he answe­red, he was peaceable, they replyed he had his hat on, or was covered, he asked whether many of them had not their hats on? They answered, not at prayer, He bad them prove by Scripture that it was unlawfull, but that was not done; and said that Ralph Farmer was covered with a Cap, besides another false Cove­ring; not of the spirit of the Lord. And with Caps were some of the Rulers covered also; And Ralph Far­mer stood with his hat off, saying, he came to their worships for Christ, and spake to them to send for one to make oath before them. John Smith replyed, that swearing was out of the Doctrine of Christ, and alledged, that Jeremiah said, Because of oathes the Land mourned; and Zachary, This is the curse that go [...]th over the face of the whole earth, every one that sweareth shall be cut off. And Christ, swear not all, and James, Above all things my brethren swear not, and bad them take notice of the oath which many of them had taken, never to assist the Parliament; and see whether they had observed and kept it, Joseph Jackson said, they had business, and must have swearing, and Ralph Farmer called him Jack, he told him his name was not Jack but John: yet he so called him in a scoffing and deriding manner, and those who called [Page 122] him Master he reproved not: When as Christ said to his Disciples, Be not yee called of men Masters, Nor did any of Christs disciples ever endeavour to bring any to swear before the Magistrates, that they can prove: And upon the saying of some on the Bench, you said you would prove Mr. Farmer to be no Minister of the Gospell: he said, he was ready so to do. But they would not hear him; but cryed, look you here, look you here, away with him, and indig­nation arose in them, when he spoke of the Scriptures, and asked whether they would own them? Then they cryed againe, away with, and asked him whether he Committed. would find sureties for his good behaviour? He bad them read or shew him any Law he had transgressed; Then one John Sandford (who hath been a bitter enemy to the Commonwealth, and who assaulted him in the Steeple-house, as aforesaid) was brought in to swear against him, and was accepted to be a wit­ness against John Smith, who adventured his life, and often lost his blood in the service of the Com­monwealth, as a member of the Army, to whom they gave a book to swear, which he was very for­ward to receive and to swear, Priest Farmer stan­ding by, to whom Joh [...] Smith said, Christ saith, swear not all, yet swear he did, that John Smith ta­xed him for laying violent hands upon him, and bad him the said Sandford have a care that where ever he met with him, he would lay violent hands upon him, or words to that effect, which latter words John Smith asking him if he ever spake; the Magi­strates cryed out that he interrupted him in his oath, John Smith answered, he would not have him forswear himself, for that he never spoke those words, and de­sired [Page 123] to make his Defence, and said, Paul, when he was accused, had that Liberty, and that they might aswell have those who witnessed against Stephen to testify what Sandford had sworn against him, and did declare in the presence of God, as he doth now, that he never said, that where ever he met him, he would lay violent hands on him, or any words to that purpose; and asked Sandford whether he did not lay violent hands upon him, the said Smith yesterday in the Steeple-house? he said he did, and that Alderman Lock commanded him so to do; Then he told them, that Sandford had transgressed the Law, by his own confession before them, that he laid violent hands on him in the Steeple-house, and spake that Justice might be executed upon him: But the Magistrates refused. Then he told them they must all come to Judgement, and give an accompt of all things done in the body, and further they permit­ted him not to speak in his own defence, though they promised he should, after Sandford had decla­red what he had to say upon oath, but cryed away with him: At which he perceiving Priest Farmer to rejoyce, he said, if thou hadst the power that Bon­ner had, what could be expected from thee? Then he demanded a Mittimus, but they refused to give him any, but called the keeper and sent him to Newgate Prison, without signifying for what crime they had so committed him.

On the eight day of the eight month, Jon Smith The eight day of the e [...]ght Month 1655. brought be­fore the Ru­lers th [...] second time. was brought forth of Prison before the Major and Aldermen, of whom the Major demanded what he was brought thither for? He replyed, he desired to know of the Major, wherefore he was sent for? Joseph Jackson answered, it was right, and that he sent for [Page 124] him, and said, that John Smith had petition'd them, which he denyed, and asked them what they had against him? And bad them prove that he had either bro­ken the Law of God, or the Nation, which they did not, but sp [...]ke to send him away to the place from whence he came? he told them he was worse than an infidell, that did not provide for his family, and they had taken him from his family and employment, and sent him to prison, when neither the breach of the Law of God, or the Nation, was justly proved upon him, and demanded a Mittimus to shew the cause wherefore they had imprisoned him, and said it was a thing un­reasonable amongst the Heathen to send a prisoner, and not to signify the Crime layd against him.

But they would not give any Mittimus, nor was there any thing proved against him, and they com­manded their Officers to take him away: Thereupon he spake aloud, that he had broken no Law, and deman­ded again a Mittimus, or else to prove what Law he had transgressed, and threw them a writing conteyning the oath and protestation which was formerly taken by many of them for the King against the Parliament, and bad them read that and saith, that he did not ven­ture his life and loose his blood to set up his enemies to rule over him: but they would not read the writing, but threw it to him again, knowing themselves guil­ty, for many of them could not deny but they had taken it and the Major was going away, But the other Aldermen would not suffer him, but drew him in againe, he seeming as if he were unwilling he should to Prison again; And Joseph Jackson with the other Aldermen, urged and pr [...]ssed him very much to returne him to prison, and the Officers were R [...]commit [...]. [Page 125] bid to take him away, and they laid violent hands on him, to hale him away, but he held fast by the barre, and bad them first prove that he had broken any law, or to grant a Mittimus wherefore he was sent to Prison. But they by maine fo [...]ce, and strength ha­led him from the Barre, then he spake aloud to the people, and bad them take notice that he had broken no Law, but was taken from his family and employment contrary to Law, and sent to Prison without any Mit­timus.

Whereunto shall this Generation be likened? Those whom the Lord hath moved to beare witness against the deceit of the Priests and their false Mini­nistry and Worships, in the time of the exercises there­of, have been tumulted, beaten, punched, and other­wise abused, even in the Synagogue, in that which they call their Churches, in the places of their wor­ships in the time of their worshippings, by the wor­shippers, in the presence of the worshipping Magi­strates, who have thereunto added long and sore im­prisonments upon them at the instigation and desire of the Priests, who have called upon them openly so to do, upon pretence of Queen Maryes Acts, made in the time of Popery, by a Popish Parliament; and a Popish Queen, at the instigation of the Popish high-Priests and Bishops of that Popish Generation, for the defence of Popish Priests and Jesuits, in their Preachings for, and exercising of their abominable Popish Doctrines and Idolatries of the Masse, Tran­substantiation, Purgatory, Worshipping of Images, &c. against the witness of God, then born against them by the Protestants, thorough flames of fi [...]e, touching the invalidity of which, even in point of Law, some­thing [Page 126] hath already been offered, by which doth not both Priests and Magistrates shew themselves to be of the same generation? Those whom the Lord hath moved to beare the same testimony, after the Priests have finished their Divination, and dismist the people, have been inspired in the same manner, and some of them knocked down in the Steeple-houses, and their blood shed in those Idoll Temples, and their garments rent, and their lives endangered, and much hereof in the presence of the Magistrates, who when called to, have not relieved them, nor caused the tumults before their faces to be supprest, nor pu­nished any for making tumults, though contrary to their Order of Sessions the 16 day of the 11. month 1654. and to the Law, but insteed thereof some of them have commanded violent hands to be laid on them, in the Steeple-houses, and with others have committed those, who have been thus tumulted, beaten, injured, and their blood shed, to prison, and [...]ave kept them for a long time there from their fa­milies, and relations, whose maintenance depend upon their Liberty, of which they are not ignorant, though there is not so much as any shadow of Law, that they can lay to their charge, to have broken; And Christopher Birkhead being moved of the Lord to come to the Steeple-house and standing silent a­mongst them, in that place which is free for all men, not speaking a word till the Priest required him to speak, & to declare his busines, received much of the same in the presence of the Rulers, one of whom, whē the people were quiet, came out of his seat, and com­manded him to be taken away as a Disturber, when he disturbed no man, and thereby raised a tumult, [Page 127] which neither he nor others present appeased, but added thereunto the imprisonment of his person, as the particulars aforesaid at large mention; and yet those who beat, and strike, and make tumults in the Steeple-houses, are neither bound to the good be­haviour, nor punished according to the Law, though on the behalf of the Common-wealth, because the Peace is broken, such offences ought to be brought to issue at Law, should the party beaten and tumulted be silent. And though the Law enjoyns the Justices and the Sheriff to enquire of Riots by a Jury, and to hear and determine according to the Law within one month, upon pain of 100 l. a piece, making default, as hath been aforesaid. And here the Reader hath se­veral more views of this Priest Farmer, who calls himself a Minister of the Gospel, but whose servant he is, the sober may easily judge by the instances a­foresaid, without any repetition or aggravation. And were it not to shew how the Ministers of Satan work now, as of old, against the Lords Witnesses, his name or actions are not worthy the mentioning; For the memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall [...]ot. The wise in heart will receive commandments, but a prating fool shall fall, faith the Spirit of the Lord, Prov. 10. 7, 8.

The 27. of the 7. month was the Gaol-delivery held at Bristol for the City and County, at which, Goal delivery, 27. day, se­venth month, 1655. according to Law, was expected the trial of all Pri­soners, and issue which the Murtherers, Robbers, Theeves, and other Offenders had: but the Wit­nesses of Jesus are not thought fit to have the pri­viledge the Law allows, but are kept in custody without being called till the 10. day of the 8. month, [Page 128] being the General Sessions of the Peace (so called) at Sessions, 10. d [...]y 8. month, 1655. Trial of Priso­ners. which time the Jaylor having brought them with his Axe through the streets to the Hall, where though innocent, they stood and were numbred a­mongst the transgressors: And were called as fol­loweth.

Benjamin Maynard was the first; to whom was Benjamin Maynards Trial. read an Information concerning his going to the Steeple-house to John Paul, as aforesaid; To which he answered, What I have spoken, I will own. The Court asked him, whether he would be sorry for what he had done? He answered, nay, I will not be sorry at all for what I have done. Then they read some of Queen Maries Law to him, against disturb­ing the Priests: To which he answered, that Law did uphold the Popes, and the Bishops, and Popish Priests, all whom I deny; and said, man commandeth to do so and so, but the Lord commandeth to do so and so; and so contrary to the will of man, I am to obey the Lord. Whereupon they caused him to be put by.

Then Margaret Thomas was called; to whom Margaret Thomas her Trial. Robert Aldworth the Town-Clerk said, Know you not wherefore you are committed? She replyed, she had been three weeks in Prison, but never brought be­fore them, or examined, till now. Then he read an Information, which, he said, was upon Oath, which was to this effect, Her going upon Sunday into Nicho­las Church to Mr. Farmer, and after he had ended his first prayer, her speaking, Wo unto the Idol Shepherd, that devoureth and scatters my flock, with much more to that purpose; and asked her, whether she owned those words? She answered, yea, I own some of the words, as being some of the words that I spoke. Then [Page 129] he asked her, whether she desired her liberty? She replyed, she desired to be at home with her three Chil­dren, to work for them. Then he asked her, whe­ther she would be sorry for what she had done, and promise to do so no more? She answered, I will not. He said, she must then go to Prison again. She re­plyed, content. And so she was caused to be put by.

Next, Temperance Hignell was brought to the Temperanc [...] Highnell her Trial. B [...], whom the Town Clerk asked whether she did know for what she was committed? She answered, nay, I have no Mittimus to know what I was commit­ted for. He bad her take heed of lying. She replyed, Lying I do deny, for I had no Mittimus whereby to know for what I was committed. Then he asked her whether she would be sorry for what she had done? She answered, nay, I am not sorry for what I have done. Some other questions were asked of small mo­ment, to which she made answers. Then one of the Court asked her, whether she would promise to do so no more? She replyed, she could not promise that. So they put her by.

John [...]mith was the fourth whom the Town-Cle [...]k John Smyth his Triall. c [...]lled Captain Smith, which title he denyed. Then he called him John Smith; That I own, said he. You know wherefore you are brought hither, do you not, said the Town Clerk? He replyed, he was not there to accuse himself, where were his Accu­sers? and said further, that by the Law of Mary, which they pretend to act by he should have been exa­mined within six dayes after he was committed to Pri­son; and the Fact ought to be croved by two sufficient Witnesses, whereby he had broke the Law: but he had [Page 130] been fourteen dayes in Prison, and had not been exa­mined, nor any thing proved against him; and caused a Paper to be delivered to him, wherein was contained some of their unjust proceedings against him, contrary to Law, and desired him to reade it out, that they might bring their deeds to the light. But he refused for to reade it openly, but lookt it over, and put it up; the substance of which was as followeth.

Robert Aldworth, I spake no word untill Ralph [...]is Note deli­vered to Ro­bert Aldworth to be read in the Court. Farmer and the Clerk had ended, and therefore trans­gressed no Law. John Sandford being asked upon his his oath whether he did lay violent hands on me, or not, he confessed he did it at the command of Alder­man Lock; so it appears that Alderman Lock (so called) was the Commander, and John Sandford the first Actor in the Riot; yet I was imprisoned con­trary to Law, and they were not. Reade the Statute, made 1. Mary 12. and 1. Elizab. 17. and see the Pe­nalty for Riots. I was sent to Prison without a Mitti­mus, although I demanded it, which was a thing ac­counted unreasonable amongst the Heathens, to send a Prisoner, and not withall to signifie the Crimes laid a­gainst him, Acts 25. last. That although (them) called Magistrates, saw the Riot, and the rude Multitude follow me in the street, they sent none to appease the Riot, neither have they imprisoned the Rioters accor­ding to the Law. Reade 2. Henr. 5. 8. Now if these men are sworn to do Justice according to Law, to that of God in thine and their Consciences, I desire to be made manifest, whether they do act according to their Oaths? But to this he had no answer.

Then he demanded, what Law he had broken? or what they had against him? It was answered, he had disturbed Mr. Farmer, and the Congregation. He replyed, He that is called Master, did not abide in the Doctrine of Christ, who commandeth his Disciples, not to be called of men Masters; and bid them prove in what he disturbed them. Then there was an Informa­tion read against him to this effect; That upon the 23. day of September he came into Saint Nicholas Church with his hat on, at or in the time Mr. Farmer was in his prayer, which disturbed him, and hindred the Congregation from hearkning to the Word of God. He answered, That which was read against him was false, for Ralph Farmer was not in his prayer when he came in, for he was preaching. So that lye was shuffled over. So he bid them prove in what he had disturbed the Congregation. To which was replyed, That to stand with his hat on in the time of prayer, was a disturbance. He answered, For a man to pray or pro­phecy with his head covered, dishonoureth his head: but I, said he, was silent, and did not speak, and there­fore they could not say I did pray or prophecy: but Ralph Farmer did preach and pray with his head co­vered, having a cap on, besides another false covering, not of the Spirit of the Lord. And said; what he spake there, he was moved to speak by the Spirit of the Lord, for the good of the people; and bid them prove what words they were that he spake, or wherein he had di­sturbed them: but there was nothing proved. Then he asked, if any of the People of God ever persecuted, or beat, or imprisoned; indeed the Heathen did so. Then it was said, that he abused Mr. Farmer (as they called him) by some words pretended by him to have been [Page 132] spoken to Ralph Farmer at John Youngs. Now the said John Young, who heard the words, was on the Bench, and Priest Knowls and Priest Farmer were standing by; to whom John Smith said, Here is John Young, let him speak the truth: but he was silent, and did not answer. John Smith was asked what the words were? He replyed, I asked Farmer whether he was, or did profess himself a Minister of Christ? He said, he would not answer a Trister. Then he asked him, whether that was a tristing question? Ralph Farmer pointed to the Steeple-house, and bid him come there, and he should Yet when he came to the Steeple-house, how was he u­sed? See the foregoing pas­sages concern­ing it, and thereby understand, that what he came to know of Ralph Farmers be [...]ng a Minister of the Gospel, was to be beat, dragged, haled, and followed out with Tumults, and his Gar­ment [...]ent by his hearers, and justice not executed by the Magistrates present, though in their sight the things aforesaid were acted, and though again and again demanded; but in stead thereof, himself was by them committed Prisoner, the proper effect of coming to Priest Farmers Steeple-house, to know whether he be a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and Ralph-Farmers tongue and hands did presently manifest what infor­mation therein he should receive, as appears by the relation. When the testimony of the Lord against the Priests comes to the Steeple-house, those who bring it thither are beat and abu­sed, and say they, Why are we not spoken with at our houses? when at a house violent hands are laid, the tongue abuseth, and direction is to the Steeple-house, and there beat­ings, and halings, and tearing of cloaths, and imprisonment, in stead of protection and justice, is the effect. know; and called him Puppy and Booby, and laid violent hands on him, and forced him out of John Young's door, another mans house, into the street; upon which John Smith said, he ought to be no striker.

Then something was said concerning obeying Magistrates. He answered, he honoured all men in the Lord, and did disrespect no mans person. And further added, that when he ran into the same excess of riot with men, he was accepted amongst them; but now he departed from evil, he became a prey, and that he [Page 133] owed no injury to Farmer, but desired he might re­pent. Alderman Lock reproved him for calling the Church a Steeple house, he replyed the Church was in in God, made all of living Stones, elect and pretious, Christ Jesus himself being the Chief Corner Stone, and bid them shew him one Living Stone in that Steeple-house. They asked him whether he desired to be at liberty? He answered, he desired, not to be in bondage, but to go to his employment; Then they asked whe­ther he would acknowledge his offence and be sorry for what he had done? All which he denyed, and told them he had broken no Law, and suffering for Christ sake, he was happy: and that for his Conscience he suffe­red. Nevertheless, though no breach of any one Law, either of God, or the Nation was proved a­gainst him: yet they sent him back to Newgate Pri­son, where they keep him from his employment, which should maintain his family.

Then William Foord was called, being out of Pri­son William Foord his Triall. upon sureties, to whom the Town-Clark spake concerning his being bound to the good behaviour; which he denyed: Wherefore are you here then, said the Town-Clark? He answered, he Came there to Cleere those of their bonds who had bound themselves, unknown unto him; for his appearance, upon which they searched their Papers, and were silent; After­wards the Town-Clark asked him for what he was examined at the Tolsey, and imprisoned? He asked whether they had it not upon R [...]cord? then they called for Richard Goodwin, supposing he had been the man that prosecuted against him: But that not serving their turn; they seeing Thomas Hayter; they asked him: He told them it was for keeping a stranger at [Page 134] work? Then the Town-Clark asked William Foord where the Stranger was? He answered, He knew not: when saw you him, said the Town Clark? He re­plyed he had not seene him a great while, the Town-Clark asked Thomas Hayter, whether he knew where he was? He answered he knew not; but thought he was out of Town, Then the Town-Clark asked him whether he was sorry for what he had done? He answered, he had committed no evill, therefore he had no cause of sorrow, nor had he broken any Law: which being urged again and again, and he still refu­sing, they Commanded the Keeper of Newgate to to take him away.

And lastly, Christopher Birkhead was brought before them from Bridewell, where he had been a Prisoner five weeks and three dayes for standing si­lent in the Steeple-house, till the Priest required him to speak, as aforesaid; To whom he said, I stand in obedience to the Righteous Law of God in my Con­science, I have neither offended the Law of God, nor the Nation, whereupon Alderman Joseph Jackson stood up in fury, and asked him whether he would contemne the Court? He answered: He contemned not those who judged Righteously; Then Robert Ald­worth asked him whether he was sorry for disturbing the Congregation at Nicholas? He answered, He di­sturbed no man; where was his accusers? Robert Ald­worth replyed, that must come after: Joseph Jack­son said, take him away untill he find sureties for his good behaviour: So they put him from the barre: But Christopher stood up again, and said, first prove me to be of evill behaviour, but he heard them make no answer: and so he was put by without any exami­nation [Page 135] of the cause of his imprisonment, or what he had done: Neither was an accuser brought against him, though he had been so long in prison: as they were swearing the Jury, he was moved of the Lord to speak to them and said: All these that swear are out of the Doctrine of Christ; to which they hearkened not, but returned Christopher with the other five a­forementioned, to Newgate Prison, with the trans­gressors amongst whom they were caused to stand [...], and were numbred, though four of them have fami­lies which depended upon their liberty for mainte­nance, as is well known to these Rulers, who care not how they oppresse a man and his house, and take the Parents from their Children, and husbands from their Wives, and Wives from their Husbands, and Masters from their families, not fearing the Lord, who hath said, Against such he hath devised an evill out of which they shall not remove their necks, nor goe haughtily, for the time is evill; and that he will come neere to Judgement, and be a swift witness against such. And with them they also returned to prison, and continue there Richard Jones, who hath always Richard Jones been faithfull to the Parliament, and in their service hath often stoutly adventured his life, lost his estate, and severall times been a Prisoner twice in this Ci­ty, whom they committed the 28. day of the 6. month, and kept in durance from his family, which depended upon him for maintenance for some evill words which he had spoken, above a year since, Concerning George Hellier then Major, in the time of his Ignorance, and Heathenish nature, wherein (as he Confessed, and spake in the Court) he ran with the world, into the same excesse of riot, into evill words, [Page 136] wicked wayes and customes of the world; which after his Conversion, and becoming obedient to the truth: were remembred against him, though spoken by him so long before, and he punished as aforesaid, beyond the directions of any known Law in that particular: Now all evill speaking is denyed, by the Children of the light, and by him also, as he said to the Court in these words, since the day hath appeared of my Con­vincement and Coversion, the grace of God that hath appeared to all men, teaching the Saints to deny all ungodlyness and worldly lusts, the same grace hath ap­peared unto me, and doth teach me to deny all ungodli­ness & worldly lusts, and to live soberly and righteou­sly in this present evill wo [...]ld.

But as to all the tumults, riots, insurrections, vio­lences, outrages, beatings, injuries and abuses, afore­mentioned, raised, acted, and committed upon the Innocent servants of the Lord, the witnesses of Je­sus, no enquiry, and proceedings according to Law, were had, either at this Sessions, or at the Gaol deli­very, or at the Sessions 19. day of the Eleventh month 16, 4. nor at any other time, except as before expressed; Nor any one offender therein questioned and proceeded with according to Law, to this day, though of so unheard of, and unsufferable a nature, and so contrary to Law Justice, Order, Government, Humility, and the Scriptures of Truth.

On the fift day of the ninth month, five of the Prisoners aforesaid, viz. John Smith, Richard Jones, Christopher Birkhead (who had been there sick, about a fortnight) Margaret Thomas, and William Foord (who also had been sick) were turned out of Prison, upon two becoming baile unknown to [Page 137] them, or any of their friends, for their appearance onely, at the next Generall Sessions, of which they having information, after they had notice from the Keepers servants, that they might go forth, protested against their being freed on that accompt, and also for clearing their Consciences, and that the truth might not suffer, wrote to one of them, advising him to take up their Bond least they should bring themselves into trouble, and to let them stand to their own Master, who would deliver them, for that in the will of God they stood, and not in their own, or in their own time, and did not know whether the Lord might carry them to bear witness to his name before the time came, and moreover that they did not accept of deliverance at all, by any such means who were innocent & did suffer for the truth of God, according to their measures, Notwithstanding they put them forth: And Temperance Hignell, who was knockt down to the ground to the astonishment of her sences, and afterwards sorely beat and bruised, and her blood drawn, and some of her Cloathes torne off her back in the Steeple-house for speaking to Ja­cob Brint Priest of Temple, after all was ended, as a­foresaid, and after in the street by the rude multi­tude, by whom she saw her life was in danger, having not been well in her body, from that very time that she was so beaten, and misused, was carryed out of the Prison in a basket very dangerously sick, of which in Temperance Hignells death three dayes af­ter she was carryed dange­rously sick out of Prison. three dayes after she dyed, (being turned out with the rest upon the Baile aforesaid) leaving her blood for the testimony of Jesus on the heads of her Persecuters, who thirsted so much after hers, and her fellow wit­nesses of the Truth: For whom to be thus beaten by the Tumult was not punishment enough, in the eyes [Page 138] of these Magistrates, though she informed them thereof, but to prison they send, and continue her notwithstanding that she had broken no Law; of which they have her life in issue, and her bones being laid in the same Steeple-house yard, where her body was bruised, and her blood drawn: Instead of calling to accompt, and punishing according to Law, those by whom she thus suffered, not one of whom hath been questioned and punished as the Law requires to this day. But Benjamin Maynard, against whom only of the seven (as is said) Judgement was given at the Sessions, as an offendor of Maries Act, is still continu­ed a Prisoner.

Thus are we the People of the Lord trampled un­derfoot, Concluſion. and persecuted as a thing of nought; Thus are the Liberties of those who have stood for the Liberties of their Countrey, and have kept close to the Publique, sleighted and violated; Thus are the Innocent and Peaceable whose principles lead out of transgression, and from that which is the occasion of the Magistrates sword, tumulted, imprisoned and abused, when transgressours are let go unpunished; Thus is Judgement turned into gall and wormwood, and the fruit of righteousness into Hemlock, so that Justice stands afarre off, Truth is fallen in the streets, and Equity cannot enter; By a generation of men who have alwayes been enemies to Reformation, and to the life and power of Godliness, as it hath been wit­nessed in its severall dayes; who have endeavou­red what in them lay, the destruction of the Liber­ties of their Countrey, and of those whom they per­secute for owning the same; who have and do streng­then the hands of evill doers, and are wrath and fury [Page 139] to those who do well, who cause Injustice to run down as a streame, and unrighteousness as a mighty water; and neither regard the Law, or their oathes, And yet nevertheless are called and call themselves Christians, and require that honour which God ne­ver gave to any in authority, Of whose Malignancy, misgovernement and other qualifications, a particu­lar accompt could now be given, were it the intent of this discourse, in which nothing of reflection hath been intended or used, but where their own injustice hath given necessary occasion, and therein but a little of what might be mentioned, though it they may expect, if they administer further necessity, That so all people may know aswell, what are the men under whose lusts and wills these people do suf­fer, as their sufferings, and the manner of them: And to these things these men have been and are encouraged, because they suppose the people, whom they oppresse in so high a manner are bound up in their Consciences, from prosecu­ting their remedy in the Law, and have experien­ced them quietly to abide under their Cruelties and injustice, till themselves, being weary of oppressing them, have caused their release, otherwise its not un­likely, especially being innocent, but they had pas­sed untoucht, as have severall, who have taken the boldness to ruffle it with them, and whose resolutions to try it out, they have well understood; of whom particular instances could be given, it being well known how little Courage they have to deale with such, though in the discharge of their oathes and duty, and how fearefull to engage where they know [Page 140] men will not receive wrong at their hands, espe­cially in such cases as these, whereby they are so ob­noxious to the penalties of the Lawes; And amongst those who indeed have the spirit of men in them, to injure and oppresse, because they thinke those, whom they so cause to suffer, will not return again; nothing is accompted more base and unworthy, being that of which the nature, even of many brute beast, is not guil­ty; But much more is it in Magistrates, whose Judgements should be the Lords, not their own; and who ought to execute Justice without respect of per­sons, according to the Law and not otherwise: and indeed were there no such thing as Law, for the rule of those in power, but all things Arbitrary; had Law and Liberty been never the subjects of Con­test by the sword; had Liberty, and Law fallen in the Contest, or been necessitated to termes of com­position, or been betrayed therein by the treache­ry of their opposites; it had been a great mitigation to the outward sense of these peoples sufferings, and reasonable matter of bearing and silence; But now that of late Liberty and the Fundamentall Lawes have been, not onely in deep and perillous con­tests by the sword, but have through the presence of the Lord, been throughly vindi [...]ated, and the ene­myes thereof destroyed and totally subdued, and the Captain Generall of their forces possessed of all power Military and Civill, and the constitution of the pre­sent Government protecting such as professe faith in God by Jesus Christ; in the profession of the faith, and exercise of their Religion, from which it saith it shall not be restrained, except in the cases of Popery and [Page 141] Prelacy, and such as under the profession of Christ hold forth and practice Licentiousness, for those who have borne the heate of the day, the misery of war, the hazard of their lives in the field and other where, for and with the Publicque interest aforesaid, to which they have been firmely faithfull, active and un­moveable, throughout all changes, and particular­ly against these very men, who have sought to de­stroy See the Act of Parliament dated the 8 of Octob. 1655. and O. P. his Proclamation 21. Sept. 1655. prohibiting de­linqu [...]nts to beare office, or to have voyce, or vote in Ele­ction of any publick officer. it, and them and all friends thereof, and who ought neither to be in Office, nor to choose any one in­to Office; to be trodden under foot, scorned and per­secuted by such generation in the violation of Law, Liberty and Justice, and Governement, as hath been demonstrated, as the issue of all these wars and blood: Let the impartiall judge whether (all things consi­dered) there were ever such high sufferings and in­tollerable oppressions, and whether the case of these people be not their own, for what is done Arbitrarily to the violation of one mans Liberty, is done unto all? Though as to their inward man, they are still quiet in the will of God in this houre of his Patience, Rejoycing that they are counted worthy to suffer any thing for the sake of Christ: And knowing that tho­rough great tribulation they must enter into the King­dom of God. And these things are rehearsed for no other end, than the manifesting of Deceit, and decla­ring of the manifold, unjust & cruell persecutions of the Innocent, for the Testimony of Jesus in that City.

Hearken unto me yee stout hearted that are far from Righteousness, I will bring neer my Righteousness, it shall not be farre of, and my salvation shall not tarry, And I will place Salvation in Sion, for Israel my Glory. Isa. 46. 12, 13.

That which is seen in thee (O Bristoll) upon the Earth, out of which growes the Briars, and Thorns; which is covered with darkness, which is Foggy, whose trees scarce bear leaves, whose Winter is ap­peared, and come, who is Judged, not with the hearing of the ea [...], nor with the seeing of the eye, whose tree scarce bears its own seed, on whom the rod must come, and whose trees must be broken down, and bundled up for the fire, and gathered up of the Earth, before it be drest, and it be brought into order, who are as dry trees, when the Sap is in the root, husky, and bald, which the wind clutters to­gether, which blowes up many by the root, The Lord is hedging up together, and bringing the wil­derness into a narrow place, and plucking it up, and making it fit for himself, and burn up the wood with fire. The night is gone, the day is come, rejoyce ye Children, that be at work, whilst it is day, labour, for with fire, and Judgment will the Lord rule, which cleanseth away the dark aire, which fire take away the venome, as the fire through the Wilder­nes goes: Read, and Consider, Ye, whose eyes are open, for the Lord is dressing the earth, and his husband-men are at labour, who reign above bryers, and dry trees, That crawle one among another, but many dead briars, and wood lyeth upon the ground, that bears not fruit to men, much less to the Lord, which must be plucked up, and burnt, that the earth may be clean, that it may come to enjoy her Sabaoth, it hath layne long undrest, and rough, and thorny, and briary, and that which cumbreth it, hath reigned, but now the Lord of the Harvest, and Vineyard, is risen to cleanse, that which plowes up, is enterd, and [Page 143] turnes over, goes on, and overthrowes, that the ground may be fit for the seed, He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear, the Lord is hedging up that, wherein lodgeth the darkness, the bryers, and thorns, and coverings, and shutting it up, and bringing to the unquenchable fire, and making the earth fit for his seed, who will gather it into his garner. Thus bryers, and Thornes, and Trees stand in battell against the Lord, whose fire is coming upon them.

The End.

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