I Think Tertullian had a good occasion to write de Coronâ Militis, at the Christians Souldiers wearing his Crown upon his hand, whiles the Emperour Severus's pagan Souldiers, put theirs upon their heads, in a tri­umph) saying, a Christian non adhuc Coronari is not yet to triumph, or take his pompe; but also for that his joy (which shall be like theirs that devide the spoile, Isa. 9.4. (woon before worn) must be in a militant before a triumphant estate; and because as Arnobius said, persecution brings death in one hand and life in the other; a crosse and crown at once, I am content to shew you the Crown of my hand, and leave the Lords day to declare the Crown of my head, which is hard at hand, i. e. the great triumph and Sab­batisme of the sufferers for the testimony of Jesus, the Rear of which we are in this Age and Nation to bring up by Gods grace, Mat. 24.14. bles­sed be Jehovah, who is the head of us, and his glory our Rear-ward, our Mahershalal-hashbez!

Upon this occasion of the crown in my hand, whilest the Crosse is upon my shoulder, having him for my example, who endured the crosse, despised the shame, and is now at the right-hand of the Father, making intercession for me (by whose strength of grace I am sure to overcome and triumph, Hallelujatica victoriâ, and then to have the crown upon my head) I shall take up a f [...]w of my subcisive hours (for the publike good) in giving a short and succinct account of some few more of those barbarous brutish acts (of this Beast now up in Great Britanny) upon my body, since my removal from Lambeth prison to Winsor, and into this Isle of Wight; where I am now a poore Pilgrime, Prisoner, and (forsaken) banished man! (but for thy sake, O sweet Jesus! blessed be the Lord! As a Preface to prison-born, (or my former Treatise out of Prison) I gave a Narrative of some part of my Lambeth-sufferings, and as an introduction to this banish-born (I intended it) I shall proceed so far as I do think it my duty, and a debt which I ow the choicest Saints of Christ in this generation, (accor­ding to the Primitive practise of Martyrs and Sufferers!) seeing it is for my Christs and their sake, Ephes. 3.1, 2. and 4.1. Col. 1.24. Phil. 1.7. That I am bound with this double chaine, or double Honour of im­prisonment and banishment from year to year; it being in their cause (and not in my own) and for the kingdome of the Lord Jesus purely, that we are thus persecuted, and not for any carnal interest of men, yea [Page 2]because we dare not in conscience (had we a milian of lives to loose for one) strike in with a carnall kingdome, or cursed thing of man, it being for the faith and truth of the gospel of the kingdome (preached for a Wit­nesse, Mat. 24.14. and of the little book; yea, for the hope of all the Isra­el of God, whether Christians or Iews, who wait for the Messiah and his kingdome, that I am bound thus, beaten, banished, and so barbarously handled (being one of the weakest and unworthiest Vessels of those gra­cious ones of the Lord, my dear con-captives and co-exiles that are thus used, for the kingdome of Christs sake) I cannot, I dare not, I ought not to bury all with me in this iron-grave or exile; but for the publick use, (for the truths sake) yea for the prosperity to come, I would publish a a little more (for a Prologue to this piece) of that persecution which is upon us, and so contract all into a few conclusions or experimented ob­servations, and then fall upon the maine matter of the banished-mans Vi­sion in this Isle; out of the little Book, Rev. 10.10. and from the Voice of the seven thunders, the Lord assisting me.

But as Ignatius said, [...], the more pain the more gain. They brought me into the wide jaw of Winsor Castle, the 31. day of the first Moneth, 1655. delivering my body up to that Den of Leopards according to this order from their angry Masters, procured by Serj. Den­by, whom the Draggon hath given a power unto for a time, and times; and a divident; but he acts like a Serpent full subtilly, Rev. 12.14.

Thus Serj. Denby by his great sedulity and industry to execute his and the other Goalers anticedanean threats and malice (upon mon­strous reports of my preaching out at the prison grates) got this Order (by sollicitation) and to screw up his power to the highest peg of seve­rity, he sent strick orders to his under goaler, that neither man, woman, nor childe should come at me, nor any one of my Family stir out, so much as for food, mony, or any other necessaries whatsoever, inso­much [Page 3]much as my friends who came to visit me, were forced to stand in the street, (with souldiers at their heels to hear what we said) whiles I spake out at the Yron bars unto them; and in the night (when no one of my friends or acquaintance might hear a word thereof) he sent a Messen­ger very late to bid me be ready by six in the morning, for I must be carried on the other side the Water, this (being the first notice I had of their secret designe) nor would he tell me whether, to whom, or for what, nor (as then) show me any order for it, nor would he suffer any one of my friends to know of it, which was the greater tryall at the instant, I being unprovided with necessaries, if they should carry me away, or put me to any journy; but to my great astonishment, I heard some cal­ling under my prison-winddows almost all night, and by day-break very much, whom we thought our enemies, (till the morning disco­vered them to be our friends,) who by a speciall hand of providence was raised out of their beds, and had heard a rumour that I was to be carried away that morning by day-break, so they came to see; for it seems (as close as they carried it unto us) a man, (and an enemy) who heard of it that night at White-hall (by one who told the other of it with very great privacy) could not keep it in, but when he came to the three Crane-wharf in London, he told a good woman (or her daughter of it) for news, what he had over-heard at White-hall, not knowing that friend had any relation to me (if she knew me) who indeed (as my heavenly Father ordered it) was a Sister of our Church Society, so that she could not reft, but went to some others of the Church; and thus in the night one called up another at a venture; and by the blessed hand of the Lord, severall of my Freinds came to hear of it, and waited at the prison gates, where I was to come out, with many tears and prayers, and supplyes of my wants; but the Ruffians struck, shoved and pushed them away what they could, and hurried me from them, and so carried me to Winsor Castle.

That day word was given before to the Governour of the Castle, and by Orders the Souldiers were set on both sides, with their Arms and Matches light, to receive the prisoner comming, but when they saw me come in, some of the Officers told me they were ready to sink down in the place where they stood, they expecting some Cavaleer or lewd per­son rather, and not me (as they said) to be so dealt with (some of them knowing me both in this Nation and in Ireland) and looking upon one another with amazement, saw it an apparent persecution (as they said) upon good men for their consciences and the Cause of Christ: After a longer attendance; I was put into a little room, which had one little [Page 4]window, and which did so excessively smoake, that the winde and the stink of a house of filth made it worse than a prison (if in that cold sea­son we would keep a fire) the very coales thereof being blown into the room about, but I ran to the door to ease my eys a little, and to take some ayre, thinking to have walked (a little) in the yard, but it was denyed me, the Centinels standing at my doore to keep me in; yet after­wards for very shame, and (perhaps) pitty, I had more liberty and the centinels were taken off, which continued till the 6th. of the third moneth ensuing.

But a word or two to the Order: you may observe as in this, so in the former, and all the rest of their Orders concerning me (that ever I could see) the Coppies of which are by me, there is not a tittle of any CAUSE mentioned, why they have so persecuted, imprisoned and since banished me, nor have they any colour, but what they would (I think) blush for shame to put into any of your Orders or Warrants, (viz. for Preaching and praying) whereby it appeares ye are imprisoned, persecuted, plundered, banished, and thus barbarously used, upon meer will, lust, and arbitrary power, and tyranny, (sic volo sic jubeo) without the least colour of a Law, a crime, or Ju­stice; herein exceeding the arbitrary processe of their Predecessors (in this practise) the very Prelates, Papists and Heathens; so that to this Day, (we see) they do not tell us the cause, or crime, nor can we have the liberties of Conscience, Law, Justice, or Processe; but yet the Lord of Righteousnesse stands by us, and is with us, for all that, & laeti simus sed non securi; gaudentes in Domino, sed caventes a Recidivo.

The Order is signed by H. Lawrence President, once a Pastor of a Church (I hear) but one whom (long since) the work of God had laid aside and spewed out, yea, he had laid it aside as an Enemy, or at least no Friend to it, with some Others that were before Vomited out, or could not be Digested for their Crudities; but this G. (for want of others) hath licked them up again; nor is this Council al­together unlike the Duke of Alva's bloody Council, or the Counsel of Trouble, (in flemish Bloat-read) so called in the Netherlands, as to the man­ner of their proceedings, (putting down thereby the greater and the more lawful authority of the States) to persecute, imprison, oppresse, tax, levie, confiscate, banish, apprehend, or put to death at the Duke of Alvas pleasure and lust, being meerly arbitrary and without Law, all being directed by the Duke himself, whose meaning was, that his Council should be but consultive, and not absolute, (for that he left to himself alone, whereof J. Vergas was the President, as H. Lawrence of this, [Page 5]of whom it was said, that the Netherlands needed so sharpe a knife as Vergas was to cut away their dead flesh; and so it seems (by O. P's. speech to his Parliament Septemb 4. p. 14, 15, 16. Where he stirs them up to pu­nish (that is presecute) us three severall times, as worthy of the Magistrates consideration, most sadly abusing that Text in Jude for it, so that these men look upon us as without life; that they lash us, wound us, cut us, and so cruelly and continually cut us, with this their sharp knife, for no other reason, but for our Faith, consciences and affections to the Lord Jesus and his kingdome, declining and disowning their's that lies upon the skuls, blood, bones, lives, limbs, liberties, and tears of the most precious Saints, persecution of Christ, blaspheming of the name and spirit of God; and infamy and reproach of pure Religion an unde­filed; but thus for their arbitrary order, whereby I was delivered into their Den at Winsor, though a delightfull garden to this mercilesse hole (as from men) where I now am; yet blessed be the Lord! With a tole­rable modesty and humanity they admitted me the liberty of the Prison, and accesse to my brother Feake's chamber for one moneth without in­terruption, where we worshipped the Lord together; but upon the 29. day of the second moneth, being the Lords day, in the absence of the Go­vernour, two of the Officers, viz. Capt. Weston and one Pepper an En­signe, the latter (being lately fetched out from a common Souldier, and lifted up with so sudden an excessive pride, conceit and ambition, zea­lous of higher promotion, and therefore striving to exceed (and so to supplant) his superiour in his cruelty to us) falling out with the other for admitting us to meet in the worship of out God together up­on the Lords dayes, (although privately in our prison chamber) and to a­mend so great a mistake and fowle a crime (as they took it) they forth­with forced a Centinel upon the doore (watching their time,) to hin­der me going up to my fellow-prisoners chamber, (whiles they with drew; that least their so unchristian commands in the matters of God should be reversed) which when I saw, I was desired by the Lords people present to begin there, and so I drew out my Bible: at the doore severall of our friends with my Brother Feak being by, we begun in an Hymn and Prayer, proceeded on with the Text, but was often interrupted by the Souldiers, and the hearers driven away with violence; at last the a­foresaid Officers admitted we should go into the chamber (as before) and took off the sentinels, and so we continued together with much comfort (a few of us) in praying, singing and exhorting one another untill late at night (according to the Primitive practise of the persecu­ted Saints) but the Devill did not like this; and therefore against the [Page 6]next Lords day following, he had made ready his rage, the day before which the Governour himself (being come home and instructed with the matter by his Ensign Pepper) sent for us two Prisoners (who were together to keep up a duty of Prayer in my lodge) with a perempto­ry sword-power of coram nobis, who (after we had looked up to the hils from whence our help comes) went readily and chearfully, the gover­nour assaulted us feircely (with some other of his Officers like fell beasts) indeed, and as brutish as the souldiers were to Brentius, Anno 1547. charging my fellow prisoner with a foule fault in his childe (of three or foure years old) that he should call O. C. fool, at which my brother F. said, that he would affirm niore, viz. that he is a Tyrant; which made them high in their rage against him, with whom I thought I was bound to bear my witnesse modestly, but the governour brake out into such bitter rage, that he was meet anger without ears or reason; threat­ning to lay me forth with into the Hole, if I preached against his Ma­ster; (as he said) at which I rejoyced. Quia plura pro Christo sunt toleranda, as Fulgentius said in his sufferings, and said; yea, do Sir! with all my heart! I am as ready to suffer it for my Master, as you are to do it for yours: And I tell you Sir, I fear not the worst you men can do! and with the grace of my God, I will preach for my Christ against Cromwell, or any other that oppose Christ, though I dye for it! if I have but a peeping hole, or a hole to breath out at, I shall preach (if you do not suffer us to do it, in our prison lodges privately) for my commission is not from man but God; and my authority is greater from above than thy power; in the interim, be it known to thee, I fear neither thee nor thy sword in these matters of our God. The next day (being the Lords) they began to put their hell-begotten plot into practise! for our friends that came to visit us from London, they kept upon their guard, and would not ad­mit them to us, which when my con-captive heard (unknown to me) he went into the Chappel, and (with the peoples leave) he began Pray­er in the Pulpit, which they were attentive unto, I hearing thereof (whilest I was pleading with the Governour in the yard, for our Chri­stian Liberty upon the Lords day, to meet together in our chambers, to pray and worship; who was called from me to fetch souldiers) I went into the Chappel, where he was praying (without the least touch of the times or government:) I stood at the Pulpit-doore, but by and by came up a file or two of souldiers armed, and ready as if they would have discharged presently upon us, lead up first by the governour, and then by a Serjeant, one Baker, all very imperiously, and with their [...]ats on: this Baker till then seemed unsatisfied with such unchristian [Page 7]preceedings; but upon his rise to the preferment of an Ensigne, he became very rigorous like the rest; he came up to the Pulpit doore, where I stood between him and my fellow-prisonner (still praying!) and lay­ing hands on me to pull me down and him out, with that violence; I sp [...]ke softly to him, saying, O will you! (a great professor! and one who seemed smit in conscience for such cruelty:) exercise it! and hew too! when he is a praying! let him but pray out! tarry but a little! What? (saies he) will you justifie him? Oh, and alas, said I, and should I not? is he not serving of a good Master? doing a good work? and dare you disturbe him in it? Surely I have more cause to stand by him in his masters work, then you have to stand by your master in this work: And therefore do not fight against Christ so, O do it not! let him but conclude his prayer: Pull him down, pull him down, (saith the governour) I said, sir, let him but pray out, a quarter of an houre, but till the minister come: but then said the rude souldiers to Baker, do you not hear the Governour? pull him down? and up came the souldiers, like raging Beasts, (the governour standing under the Pulpit to see the execution?) then the first souldier of the file with his Musket struck at my brother Feake (whiles he was yet praying!) but I standing be­tween, received the blow, the governour still pursuing his command, so that Baker (being prejudiced (as hath been gathered by his words) a­gainst brother Feak, for his judgment against dipping, which this Ba­ker was so riggid unto;) and the souldiers pulled and tore me (who held the pulpit doore) with such bitternesse, eagernesse and roughnesse, that they (therewith and the blows struck at us (that fell upon the pul­pit doore, brake it in pieces, and so pulled me down, and laid violent hands on him, and carried us away with very great abuses both in word and deed: Pepper with one party souldiers sent with me, who did drag, hale, punch, and pull me on way to my prison-lodge, and another party of souldiers carrying him another way to his prison lodge: Our friends who seeing us so bruitishly handled, offering to intercede, or speak for us, were beaten, threatned, and put quite out, and not suffer­ed to visit either of us: After a little breathing (being thus haled in and kept close with Sentinels set at our doores) my brother Feake began to preach out at the prison window, which I heard at my prison doore, (the day being very calme!) where the Sentinels stood to keep me in, and when they beat up the Drums to drown his voice at that end; I (at my end,) was stirred up, upon the same subject and Text to pro­ceed, untill the Drums ceased, and then he began again. In the after­noone (at the doore) on the same subject, I proceeded, some few of our [Page 8]freinds that came from London having gotten into some holes and cor­ners in the yard, where they were hid to hear, but in my Prayer was a Serjeant with souldiers sent up to drive me in and stop my mouth, a little feirce man, who fell to it with great fury; as I was yet in pray­er, (holding up a Brick in the wall) desiring with tears the Lord to o­pen their eyes and consciences, and still praying with my whole heart and spirit in the Lord, some two or three of the poore souldiers were struck in their consciences, and though commanded, could not fall on (in that duty) but with tears desired the rest of their fellows to let me alone, and saying, they would to prison first; but the little feirce green Dragon, (the Serjeant with some others fell on the more barba­rously, laid hold on my throat (as if to have strangled me,) tore off my cloake and rent it, and me, my arms and cloaths, still I praying and looking up to my God, whiles they were beating, bouncing, tearing, and thumping me: And then I said, yea, strike on, strike on, for thus did the soldiers deal with Christ (my Master) him they beat, haled, thum­ped, spit on! and the disciple is not better then his Master; beat on, beat on, sirs! O blessed blows! but thus they cast me in, and shut the doors upon me, and set other Sentinels upon me; so after a little breathing (being so cruelly handled) I continued out at my prison-window preaching, singing, praying, and praising my most dear Lord and Fa­ther in Christ, who hath made me (so poore a sinfull wretch) to be num­bred and accounted amongst them that suffer for Jesus, and his king­domes sake! rejoycing and triumphing abundantly in this high digni­ty and degree of his heavenly calling and Election: Thus to you, Phil. 1.29. not to all is it given, [...] (of meer grace) not only to believe but to suffer! notwithstanding they would drive away (with souldiers, swords and Muskets) all from the sound of my voice; yea, to the very little children; forcing all away with great violence: In this close im­prisonment (though nothing so close as now it is) I was (though very ill, and sore in my body) stirred up to exercise every morning (as I use to do) in my Family, at the window of the Prison, for the benefit of the poore Sentinels, who stood under in the yard, expounding the scriptures, and Praying; and upon the third day of the week, which was the eighth of the third moneth 1655. as I was praying, my brother Feake (with two souldiers at his heels, passing by to ease nature) as he came back stood still to hear me pray; but an Irish Ensigne, then Captain of the guard (formerly I hear a Cavaleer) commanded them to bring him away, and not let him stand, but he said, let me alone a little, I am much refreshed, pray hear, saies he, &c. But that Ensigne sent up more [Page 9]Souldiers who press [...]d much upon him, but he said he was a­bout a good worke, and wish'd them also to hear prayer, but C. W. said it was forbidden fruit at that time; and desired one to come to mee and speak to mee to be so civill as to forbear praying, but the party re­fused so to do; th [...] Ensigne called upon them to bring him away with­out delay, and to take him by head and heels, but a poore Serjeant (an Officer) sent up for that purpose resused so to do, and said he had ra­ther go to Prison, and could not in conscience so do; for his standing there was only to hear prayer; yet intreated B. F. to come away, and when he found his argum [...]nts of no more force with him in that duty; the Serjeant was returning, but in the way this wicked Ensigne (whose feet were swift to shed blood) saluted him as an enemy, (for not tear­ing him a way by head and shoulders) at first with sword and scabbard, struck blows in such strength, that the yron thereof cut through his skull, and brake his brain-pan; so sadly gashed, mangled and wound­ed (the blood spinning out a great distance from him) he with much ado reel'd to a seat, where he assayed to break his sword and throw a­way his scabberd (with a witnesse against them, to wear it no more in such service) but in the mean-time this enraged Morster with his na­ked Sword laid about the rest, who now ran away with B. F. as with a light burthen, and so like the D [...]gge in the Smiths Forge, they that would not stirre at the many stroaks upon Gods anvill (whiles we were at our work) could run now at the sight of a wand; yea, with winde in their wings lift up their (Ephah) Zach. 5.9. Work poore whetches! Such miserable slaves are they all! According to the Arabick Adage (which for want of characters the presse omits) Men' la a-rifo-lchaira mina-Isecri alhiqho bi-lbeha ima, they that cannot discriminate are com­pany for beasts: The Serjeant was conveyed into a house, and as it was (by the Chirurgeon himselfe) supposed mortally wounded (and a dead man) for after h [...] had taken out two or three pieces of his skull, he concluded him doubtfull of recovery, (if not beyond it) it being so contiguous and ambiguous; for at last he found it but a hairs-breadth between him and death, being hewed to the Caruncles and concavity of the head, and should have utterly despaired, but that the Cerebrain-skin was marvelously kept from the cuts: Thus blood was shed in their rage against Religion and the Worship of God, who formerly (and when it was their interest) have with blood contended for it; yea, the Blood of Warre in the time of Peace, 1 King. 2.5. And as tame Foxes once loose do the most miscriefe, so do these; Et ad extremum, lupus manebit, etiamsi [Page 10]inter homines educatus fuerit, as the Persians say, Wolves will be Wolves though brought up amongst men, or put into sheeps cloathing, Mat. 10 But the Avenger of blood will pursue these sonnes of Belial; and wo un­to them that build their Citty in blood, Isa. 1.5. for when their plague comes, the name of their place shall be Kibroth-hataavah, the Graves of Iust, for whiles the flesh is between their teeth the Lord shall smite them; in the interim consider.

First, That we lie as yet among the pots in the hot kiln▪ (the yron furnace of Aegypt) Lam 4.2. How are ye precious ones of Sion (com­pable to solid gold) accounted as earthen potsheards; yet with the re­version promised us we will not part, Psal. 68.13. Though ye have lien among the pots, as the wings of a Dove (oppressed of Janah made a prey) overlaid with silver, and her feathers with beaten gold (of Cha­ratz cut a sunder) for though we be Chenshe phatta of shaphattariim order'd and disposed) between the very hearths where the fire is kindled, in the hottest Urn among the Tile pots (I mean in those Ovens of mens wrath, viz. Garisons of Souldiers) to be scorched; far exceeding (in that sense) the common Goals and Prisons; yet praised be our God, for his presence is with us, which was with the three Children in the fiery furnace, and as Psal. 66.11, 12. Thou laidst affliction (such as comes from oppression of Gnuk) upon our loines, thou hast caused men to rid over our heads (or beginnings of rosh) we went through fire and through water, but thou hast brought us out into a wealthy place (or larevajah) to an overflowing and afulnesse of moisture, and anointing, (as Psal. 23.5. where the word is) and herein shall we yet more abun­dantly rejoyce, for such earthen pots (as we are) in the Lords house, shall be like the Bowles (or B [...]sons) before the Altar, Zach. 14.20. that is, ever full of the hott blood o [...] the Sacrifice; which is our sure mercy and N [...]w-Covenant-Comfort in this State of patience.

Secondly we may see the è polupragmoseume the pragmaticall procly­vitie & activity of the Cavalerish spirit, to prosecute and execute the rage of the Beast upon us under this Sword soveraignty, with the same Anti­pathy and principle they had in the Kings d [...]y [...]s, though under a shew of more religion, refinedness [...] and zeal; like Bal [...]k Numb. 22. and 23. that to curse the Lords people, and get power over them, with great rea­dinesse and real, ran to the worship of the true God (as if he had re­nounced his false God Chemosh) when in truth he retained still his old principles; and yet with them he seemed a new Proselyte; he offered seven Oxen, and 7. Rams; so far exceeding the true Saints in his seeming [Page 11]zeale to the true God; and stands by his sacrifices, fasting and praying, (and his Princes too) with so great devotion, and why so? why, all to get Power over the Lords Chosen ones. So these have seemed to have laid aside their old principles of enmity, hatred, animosity, revenge, per­secution and opposition, so of prophanesse, Atheisme and open wicked­nesse of that kinde, thereby to get a power of revenge over us to curse and diminish us for our faithfulnesse and constant adhaesi [...]n to the good Cause, both now and in the late wars; this also lying in the road of their preferment so to treat us; for the Cavaleers highest Counsels ar this day are to fall in with this Power, in order to the bringing of Ch. Stuart rui­ning us, and precipitating of them; and all this by their old principle.

3. It appears a conviction of Conscience, is a capital crime with them, and merits cut [...]ng, slashing and shedding of blood without mercy; for as the Jews, Jo 9.22. Had agreed that if any man did confesse that he was Christ, he should be put out o [...] the Synagogue: So have these agreed to cast them out from amongst them, that acknowledge the Lord Jesus in Po­wer and truth, according to the dictates of an enlightened Conscience, for a blind men restored to sight they will not endure amongst th [...]m, who in such a mixture and complication of sinister interests prefer but­chery before the liberal arts (as they say of the Jews) yea, revenge a­bove Religion, and Coin above Conscience; calling the touch of con­science contempt, melancholly and madnesse, and punishing of them: they themselves being [...]eared, and having made shipwrack thereof; whiles we (as Paul saies) 2 Cor. 4 2. Have renounced the hidden things of dis­honesty, not walking in craftinesse, nor handling the Word of God deceit [...]ully; but by manifestation of the truth commend our selve to every mans conscience in the sight of God.

Fourthly, It is evident we are under as barbarous a Spirit of the Be [...]st as at this day exercised in any part of the world, and as miserable a ser­vitude as among the Turks, for in all places they will use their Prisoners civilly, and not multiply afflictions upon them, every day as these men do and study to, much lesse so monstrously and murtherously hack and hew men for making conscience in their unreasonable commands; but to make us yet in a more Turk-like slavery, and that what is now our cause may quickly be the case of others, and of all if need be: behold! the Bashaws and Begler-begs sent down to settle there D [...]vans and Mili [...]i [...] in to every country? with the Timariots also and Zaniachs or Debuty-Bashaws under them: besides the Janizaries, Gemoglanies, and Spahies, or Guards about their Grand S. at White-Hall; and in the Army, there are also [Page 12]their A [...]hingies (Hindes of the Country) or new Militia. Troops too, to forrage up and down for prey, and to keep the Lords Lambs from me ting and feeding together upon Christs Commons; now next I ex­pect, these Janizaries (like them at Constantinople under the Aga) will be imployed in the roome of Constables, Serjants, Clerks of the Markets, Warders of the Gates and Officers of that kind, and in case of injury no publique justice may be ministred upon them; is not this a new Turkie then? (let them palliate all with as good words as they will) yet as their proverb is, Soltan [...]n bila adalin kanahrin bila ma [...]a, their Soltan with out justice will befound but like a Brook without water, and neither his Souldiers nor multitudes can save him when the time of his judge­ment is come; Islahho — rraiati abphao min kitsrati-l chonoudi.

Fisthly It is certaine too, these red Esaus must have red meat, I mean blood to feed on, and I easily foresee with what greedinesse and designe they do provoke poor simple plain Jacobs, honest hearts, by ex ggera­ting and accumulating violencies and iusolencies upon them, to somme rising or (untimely)▪ action of defence for them to have a full blow at them; their belly-fulls of the Saints blood, which they so much threaten & thi [...]st after; that their Shebna himself said he could freely have his armes up to his elbowes in their blood; but thus is this horne to make war with the saints (his time, times (in the duall) and a divident yea he hath done it and is at it, (as I have largely proved in my Treat. of the two Witnesses and two Beasts, &c. Whose Sword as yet prevailes over us; and as Balaak by hireing Balaam but to Curse Israel Num. 22. was said to make warr against Israel by so doing, Josh. 24.9. thus have these Warred against the Saints; but their divination shall not prosper. Nor their offerings be accepted? and Balaam their Prophet shall fall by the Sword Josh 13.22.

Sixthly, It is our comfort that all they can do unto us, is but to drive us to our God and Father with our perfumes unto his altar of incense within the vail; from this Altar of slaughter without the vail; and so from one Altar unto another. Psal. 66.13. I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings. Psal 45.12. ubat tzor be miuchah the daughter of (izor) Strates and afflictions with an offering (yea a meat offering) a most excellent priviledge, and provision? wherein we have the provision of the things we wait for in the light of the seven Lamps that burne be­fore the Throre, Rev. 4.5. and 5.6. thus whiles others are (as Psal. 2.2. Rulers are called Rozenim) leane ones, and leanenesse is in their Soules Psal. 106.15. we are fatt (as Sons of oyle) Isa. 55.2. and flourish in the [Page 13]truth, Cause and Covenant of Christ; like Arons Rod Num. 17.8. 'which brought forth buds, bloomed and yeilded Almons, (whiles all the other rods were dry and Seare) and therefore v. 10 was it laid up before the testimony: Indeed since I am driven thus close to my burnt-offering, and with Moses and Aaron at every fresh provocation from them to y unto the Lord Num. 11.2.11. and 14.5. and 16.4.22. with my complaints? I have also found such food and meat-offerings as I would not part with for all the world, which makes my heart (as Psal. 45.1,) Rachash boyle up within me in the matters of the King, and my tongue as the pen of Sopher Mahir a quick Accomptant or Numberer of the times; for a testimony whereof I must refer to that beam of light which lead me into a most lucid and facile supputation; proved and il­lustrated in my foresaid Treatise; having found very excellent food from the roots of the Hebrew, (Chaldy, Samaritan, Syriack) Arabick (Per­sian) and Ethiopick tongus which I dialy converse with, and reading the Scriptures by, thorough the teaching of the Anointing I find a hidden Manna wraped up in the Dewes of Heaver, and can say it is Angels food.

Seventhly We are now in the School ef Patience, Rev. 14.12. where­in besides our dearest Lord Jesus, his Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs; saies John, Rev. 1.9. 'I also am your Brother and companion in tribula­tion, 'and in the Kingdome and Patience of Jesus Christ, was in the Isle of Patmos; and in such company we must needs run this race of ours with sweet Contentment, Serenity, Calmenesse of Spirit, what ever our enemies maliciously report of us Heb. 12 1. and our experiences teach us that Arabick Adage Assabro miftaho-l pharahi va-l a-chalato miphtaho-unida­mati, that patience is the Clavis Gaudij, whiles a murmuring and impati­ence is the Key of sorrow and repentance, so the Key of David which shall open unto us (all the treasures Isay. 22.22. and sealed truthes of heaven, Rev. 5.6. and 10.4, 7) and none shall shutt, and which shall shut (our enemies) our, that shutt us in, and none shall open to them; this Key is given to us (as promised) in this state of patience Rev. 3.7.10. blessed be the Lord. Zammeru Elohim zammeru. Zammeru lemalkenu zam­meru.

Eightly, And because the 'Prince of the Kings of the earth hath loved 'us and washed us with his own blood, and made us Kings and Priests to God, Rev. 1.5.6. we do and yet will rejoyce in our blessed portion which is the waved (the lifted up, or offered up) Beast, and the Right-shoulder Numb. 18.18. Levit. 7.32.33. whereby to bear all that men can lay up­on us with a heart lifted up to the Lord; this is not the strangers porti­on [Page 14] Lev. 22▪ 25. but the portion of the Anointing Levit. 7.35. and thus am powered out (as the word [...] is Psal. 92.10.) with fresh oyle, or beshemen Rag [...]auan green and fatnesse before the Lord; and v 11. mine eyes shall see (what I look for) upon mine enemies (or observers of my wayes, that strictly watch for me of Shur) and our joy shall be like them that divide the spoile Isay. 9.3 4. when Jehovah shall turne again our cap­tivity as the streames of the South Psal. 126.4. or parched dry wilder­nesse where the Aphikim or strong Currents and Torents of waters (as the word is) are very welcom; yea the captivity, of the captiety is already deforced and turned back by the force of these refreshing streames. Psal. 46.4. which the Lord is unto us; and broad rivers Isay. 33.21. So that v. 16. our waters will be sure Teballel jah Hallelujah.

But to proceed; Upon the 16. day of the 3. Moneth 1655. were Commissioners sent from White-hall, in a colour of justice to be done for our diversified injuries, which (by this) had made aloud noise in the eares of men, so as the Courtiers was put to this policy for a shift; and in pretence of wrongs done unto us, and to enquire after the mat­ter of fact, we found the integrall of their negotiation to be against us, that all the informations they could squeeze out of any sortes of peo­ple, Souldiers or enemies, might be modeled and formed up together a­gainst us, and so presented to their Lord Protector: The Commissioners that fat upon us were Mr. H. Mr. Wood, Mr Cresset, Mr. Carier, Mr. Woodard, Mr. B. Mr. Oxenbridge and Angelo: The first day they sat I was interrupted in the duty of expounding and praying, (in the morning) and from my sweat (out of that exercise) taken away by the Marshall (in the company of my Broth. F.) to be cooled (in the other.) When we came before them (in the Governours lodgings) they told us their errand by the mouth of Mr. Holland; we desired to see their Commissi­on and to hear it read, which their Clea [...]k did; and as on the one side it signifi [...]d some wrongs we had received of the Souldiers, so on the o­ther side (and which was the main body of the businesse) Upon com­plaint against Mr. Christopher Feake and Mr. John Rogers that they stirred up the Souldiers to S [...]dition and Mutiny against their Officers and the Government. Those whose names were under written by the foresaid Commission were authorized to examine and make report to him; gi­ven under his Seal Manual, and in the head of it O. P. When we heard it read, the designe was obvious unto us, under the colour of hearing a little of what we should say, to hear all they could possibly scrape up, or that any could forge or find out against us (for indeed to this day, what [Page 51]ever they say, they want sufficient matter to bear out this a­bominable and bruitish handling of us, (these years toge­ther) Brother F. first spake and I Seconded him, we both told them, we were in the capacity of prisoners, and that close; but if they had power to right us, we required our doe liberty, at least to be in Statu quo and to have the liberty of the Castle, as the Cavaleers and all Prisoners (but our selves) had to breath in; but that denyed, we demanded a copy of their Commission, that we might be the better di­rected, when we rightly understood their Rules and Instru­ctions; we were bid to withdraw, and after a long debate called in again with his recusation, that we did not own the Government, and therefore they could not allow us a copy of their Commission, without we would own the power that sent them: We told them, that was not the point, nor was it now the matter in hand; yet we could as­sure them we should not own them as they are Commission­ners, for so our lives would be in jeopardy, and our liberties betrayed, (and as much as in us lies the liberties of our Country and brethren) for that what they were to do, was as Justices of the Quorum, to hear, examine and prepare matters for the Oyer and Terminer, in order to a definitive sentence and future issue; and therefore they were (to make it more concise) to give their prepared papers and ex­aminations to their Lord Protector, whereby he may pre­tend we have had a trial, depositions taken, and nothing rests to do, but to hang or head us; therefore we did not in­tend to be involved into such a snare, nor to be thus treated with or tryed in a hole: Answer was made us they had no such designe, but we told them they had not the intentions of their Lord Protector in their hands however, and tho­rough our simplicity (& it may be theirs too) he might make his game; but although as Commissioners we would not med­dle with them, yet as Brethren or Friends in an amicable way we were ready to give them, or any other an account of our [Page 16]faith, hopes and sufferings; Answer was made us, they were our Friends and Brethren too, in which capacity we told them, we could discourse freely with them; but they said they were sent for our good, and satt to hear what injuries we received, we told them whether for our good or hurt, we excepted against the matter, the forme, the rule and the end of their Commission, and could take no cognizance of in the capacity of Commissioners; for matter (I said) in that some men as Mr. Oxenbridge &c. were parties concern­ed, and therefore not fit to sit as Judges or Justices in this case; as to forme, they were an illegall court nor ought they to take the prisons, for informations against poor pri­soners, to palliate their past proceedings with new preten­ces and colours put upon them: But first, they were to try us for the offence (if they had any) perpetrated, upon which we had lay so long in prisons, and either to acquitt or adjudge us for that; and then they might proceed and en­quire for new; but to immure us so long, and barbarously and now to stirr every stinking puddle to find matter for it, is not fair; but like the Tyrant that did first hang the man, and then hear his Cause; or the Constable (as the P. calls himselfe) that fi [...]st knocks the man down and then bids him stand; besides as they were incompetent Justices and no au­thentick Court, so the end for which they satt (let them shape it as well as they can) was wicked and unchristian, to rake up informations and depositions against us in the mat­ters of our faith and consciences; They told us, they were to take report of matters of fact, which we desired them to extricate according to their Commission; but they refusing so to, by the ill successe of our request (reaching but to the Superficies of an obtuse Nerve) we saw it encumbent to deal plainly with them, and to tell them the utmost our enemies had to impeach us, was but for wordes, in preaching, pray­ing, or Christian conference with us, which we knew to be wordes of Sobriety and truth, though our enemies call them [Page 17]dangerous and seditious; Mr. Oxenb. answer'd that words were matters of fact; with that we knew their meaning; and Mr. H. said he must needs confesse the Charge against us was very high, yea, said we in your (Calendar or) Law you make it Treason to do such things as in your Commission seems charged upon us, but we vallued not that, yet insist­ing upon a copy of their Commission; Mr. Oxenbridge answered, they could not, for that we had denied the efficient cause thereof, we told them he did us wrong, for that we had not once entered upon a debate of the efficient, viz. O. P. or his Seal; but yet for further satisfaction, I desired of them the extent of their Commission (as to time) whether for two dayes or tenn; they answered for the whole space of time since our imprisonment; by which it became so evident (that themselves were bea­ten by it) under a shew of doing us right, they must do us wrong, and so we told them that at first they said and pretended it was grounded up on the complaints our friends made of wrongs done unto us, for the space of two weeks before, to enquire after that matter of fact; and yet now confesse it intended the whole space of our imprisonment (for ma­ny monthes) to find out matter against us, and that (as in the Commis­sion) grounded upon the complaints of our foes (that are our Goal­ers and seek our blood) and therefore possitively refused to take notice of them in that capacity; there was much more to this effect and in pro­pinquity tossed to and fro of transitive matter not worth mentioning, nor were they more propitious at other times, as in the afternoon & the day after, wherein we were quiescents as before, without altering or sounding after them; yet as to brethren or friends (not in Authority) we were free to tell them a story of our sufferings and unhandsome usage, whereof there was so clear witnasse; but (said we freely forgave them) not desiring they should be punished, (which they never intended doubtlesse, but to fortify their hands (rather) to such ugly circumstan­ces and abuses, as appeared for) the next day these Loco motive Commissioners adjourned to Frogmore (the Governors house beyond the town) and there satt to hear, receive and examine all that would come in with any accusation against us; which we in (close prison) were kept igno­rant of; yea the Officers took great pains not onely by Clandestine meet­ings (to compare their mindes and prepare their matters together) but with coincident endeavours suborned the Souldiers (who must obey Orders) to that unworthy service, so base that as some of the poore creatures rejected it, so some of them were threatened by Pepper (as one of them told mee) because they would not go in and testify against us, [Page 18]things they never heard spoken, and which they told him they never heard; yet because they would not assert and depose to what he said, they were not only menaced, but upon easie m [...]tters and other pretences (afterwards) suffered: The next day early Mr. Br. came to mee (who had preached the day before a little too reflecting upon us, but being my worthy friend I am tender of him, and entirely respect him) he desired mee to forbear my exercise, which I did that morning, and we were hastened again before these Gentlemen (with a friend or two then with us) they offered (then) to read the accusations and informations, they had taken up against us, if we would consent they should report them to O. P. but we said as before, our mindes were the same, and they were the same, so that as Commissioners we would not so much as here them read to us, or reply a word to them, with which they were offended, but we renewed our exceptions against them (both gray and black M [...]ssionari [...]s) the Ministers having no such rule from Christ left them, to fitt in Commission (thus) against their brethren, nor had the other ei­ther Law or conscience to commend them to this imployment and par­ticularly in that som there present were constituted members of the High Court of justice, for the punishing them with death that should declare Ch. St. or any other person chiefe Magistrate in the three Nations, &c. and this they had solemnly sworne to, so I drew out the Act of Parlia­ment to read it to them, and offered reasons why we could not in con­science take cogniscance of them, but they were deaf and obtuse of hear­ing; yea two or three of them (viz Mr. Wood and Oxenbridge) rent a­way from the rest in discontent, and so after a little discourse with some of the other about the Fifth Kingdome, they dissolved, and left us in our close prisons and cruell hands where they found us; they went home with a Flea in their ear, (it seems) but well frought with informations against us to their Master, who hath doub [...]lesse laid them up with the r [...]st for a timous and more terrible treatment; and whiles with Joab; 2 Sam. 20. they say Brother with the one hand, they stabb us with the other hand under the fi th ribb, and shedd out our bowells in the dust, but the Lord will raise the dust of Sion, Psal. 102. And in generall we may note;

First, That Apostates are the worst and subtellest sort of persecutors; and of all people the most brutishly bent to their own waies, in spend­ing the Aegyptian spoyles, Exod. 32. setting up false worships with a car­nal noise, Exod. 32.18. quite loosing the Lords presence (with the for­mer signes,) Exod. 33. and lying open to enemies, Exod. 32.25. Yea [Page 19]notwithstanding all professions they are found against God, Num. 14.35. and are disinherrited (of all the promises of the good I and) by God, Numb. 14, 12.

Secondly, That more justice is to be had from a down-right Heathen Government, than from an Apostate interest (which lies in deceit and Hypocrisy) whether that Heathen Government be Millitary or Philo­sophical, and for the proofe of this all History is redundant; in the Persian after Cyrus Cambyses, was so strict that he caused a Judge to be flayed, and set up his skinn for a monument, because he was corrupted and executed wrong judgement; yea of late, the King of Persia centensed the Governor of Casbin for his wrongs done to men, that all his goods and lands should be sold for satisfaction to them that he had wronged, and if that would not do, the King condemned himselfe to fatisfie the rest, or that (in his Office) he did the wrongs, and that this Governor (for his cruelty) should all his daies during his life wear a yoak (like a hoggs yoak about his neck) and have his ears (so ready to hear tales) cut off, and he get his living with his own hands, that he might feel the want he had made others to feel; yea among Turks at this moment is much more justice to be had (than is now in England) where any cause is heard, tried and determined in three daies; but here we may lie three years in prisons rotting, without a tryal or face of justice (or know for what) as is our case. Yea in China (that Philosophicall Government) the Choli and Zauli (men of moral principles of Philosophy) will (at this day as is well known) admonish and reprove the King (or Emper­or) sharply, if any thing be done contrary to the Law, and will not spare to do it, by publique libells, not dissembling his faults, nor the greatest Magistrates in their Nations, which they continue, to the asto­nishment of other Nations round about at their integrity and liberty, nor will they cease their witnesse one moment, till there be a return & remedy; yea (as Purchas Pilg. ch. 18 lib. 4. saies) this every private man may do, and not suffer for it: But these in England, persecute, plunder, banish and imprison them that witnesse against publique wickedness (& that by better principles too) notwithstanding Gods word saies, Levit. 19.7. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him. Wherefore in this it will be more easy for the Governments of Persia, Turky and China at the last day than for this; and the whilest Leprosy is the worst, Numb. 13.2, 4.10. Ʋnclean! Ʋnclean! as they are!

Thirdly, That the justice of God doth ever avenge with the Sword [Page 19]upon an Apostate Interest, Levit 26.25 And I will bring the Sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrell of my Covenant. So Exod. 32.27. Now this A­postacy is that which immediately preceeds the rise of the holy Camp, or Sword (in this one street first, Rev. 11.3. Dan. 7.22, 25, 27.) at the end of the 42. monthes, which I take to be the outer Court, Rev. 11.2. For the Lords Camp of old in the Wildernesse had three parts, or rather it was a threfold Camp (as the Hebrewes write) viz, 1. The Camp of Israell, or the 12. Tribes mustred, Numb. 2. and set in their quarters under their own standards (all that could bear armes) and this was the outward Camp pitched found about the Tabernacle, which was four square, and said to be 12. miles long and 12. broad; that is without fraction united and not easi y broken; this is the outer Camp which we expect to arise every day: The 2. Camp was the San­ctuary-Camp or of the inner-Court, Levites and Priests musterd and set in their quarters and wards, under the charge and care of Eliazar and Ithamar, Numb. 3.4. But the inner Camp hath continued with the two Witnesses, and with them that have gone out of the Tabernacle of the Testimony against the Beast all along this 42. monthes, Rev. 15.5, 6. The 3. Camp was called the Camp of Gods presence, to save and pro­tect his people, within the veil and in the holiest of all, from whence came all their orders to fall on, and which first began to move, viz. in the sigues of his presence, the Cloud and pillar; &c. This is the Male­child that Sions travell will bring forth now immediatly, and begin to move us; yea the sound of the 7. Trumpet gives the Alarm, and the 3. Woe is now at hand; only this caution love as your lives, as not to stay behind at the call, so not to stirr untimely least you fall before your enemies, like them, Numb. 14.40, 42, 44. and they be heightened against you; but be first united the inner Court and the outer. Yea these calld Fifth monarchy men, and Common wealth men must unite too, upon the principles of Righteousnesse to all men, (which may easily be ob­tained) and then March, for the signes are upon us, and the Trumpets sound, horse, horse and away.

Fourthly, Whiles our incense burnes within the wail, and the Piguls of our enemies (their feasts and tears) are an abomination to the Lord, Mal. 1. Isa. 1 And from them we are cleansed through the water of separation (made of the ashes of the red Heiser, i. e. Christ our Sa­crifise) Numb. 19. Whiles our waved-sheafe (even of green corne and unripe) is accepted: And note from hence,

That it's a very subtil specious insinuating Spirit, which is now as worke to persecute the Saints.

2. That seeming Brethren and Professors are the Persecutors, who pre­tend love to us in the bloodiest and most cunning designes against us.

3. That whiles they report all over the Nation by Printing, Preach­ing and every way, there is no persecution, they persecute us in holes and corners, (where none can see it but the God of heaven) not only for Consciences, but purely for praying, preaching, and the worship of God, though we meddle not with the Government, or the Times.

4. Whiles their Clergy cry out upon us, as medling with matters be­side the Cushion and [...]h Civill affairs, they themselves are the Busy-bo­dies, made Judges and Commissioners in Civill-matters, and indeed the greatest medlers in other mens matters.

5. For want of matter to colour over their ungodly imprisoning, Plundering, Robbing, Spoiling and Barbarous abusing of us, they rake up the Prisons for our infirmities, and to finde matter (if they can) to make us odious, and to take away our lives, so they did at Lambeth, (vid. my Sutrod. of Prison b. Morn.) so here at Winsor, not regarding how sur­reptiously or shamefully they get, forge and invent it, so they could but find matter against us. One matter against me I remember was that the Brethren of the Church I walk with, sent the poor desperately wound­ed man twenty shillings to relieve him (as a deed of charity) he being a stranger, his Family in Ireland, his pay short and his want great; which charity they interpreted a design in me to draw him off, from their service, though no such thing was ever thought of or propound­ed; but this they devised and make it a great crime, with several other of the like coin; forcing men to affirm any thing, (as we heard be­fore) but yet the Lord hath delivered us for his great name-sake from these unrighteous Judges and suborned Witnesses both at Lambeth and here.

6. We may also see what eminent testimony hath been borne from heaven against these practices of theirs, for at Lambeth the great Accuser Abdy was starb'd that day he should have been rewarded by them for his good service, and an other one Porter spitting upon my head (when I was Preaching with my head out at the grates) kill'd one of their own Officers, for which he lies in the Gate-house, if he be not executed, and here at Winsor Mr. Wood one of our bitterest enemies amongst the Com­missioners, pleading much for the Governors and Soldiers in the wrongs they did us, hath not enjoyed himself since, (as it is reported) but [Page 18]was presently after snach'd away by a suddain hand of God. ‘So the that in the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee, the desire of out Soule is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee, and as Judges 5.31. So let all thine enemies perish O Lord! but let them that love thee, be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might! Amen and Amen.’

My imprisonment in Winsor continued untill the Second day of the eighth Moneth 1655. by which time I had been delivered of a hopeful vi­sion, or prison-born endeavours and discoveries in the worke of the day, about Generation-Truth, the two Witnesses, the supputation of the times, Rise and Ruine of the two Beasts, order and nature of the Vials &c. And present state of great Brittany in this Grand Apostacy and Turn which is put out to nurse, but being a Male-Childe is most miserably threatned, and laid to be destroyed, if not bereft of life; but it being the fruit of faith, prayers, inward pangs, contemplations, travells of Spirit night and day, and indeed the very marrow of my prison-con­templations, perhaps it may be hid of God from their bloody hands that seek to cut the throat of it, and I do hope so, for that the seed of a Banish born, is brought into the womb also. Upon the first day of the eighth Moneth in the evening a Cornet of horse came to Winsor with Or­ders from White-hall (or hell rather as from men but, indeed as to us from heaven!) to carry us away with him to Sandham-fort, and so he gave us time to prepare till the next morning, & we must not dispute it; my difficulty lay in the managing of this so suddain newes to my poore wife, who was very weak and in Child-bed ready to fink upon any suddain motion in so dangerus a condition as she was, being but 4. days (not 5. full out) in Child bed, after so hard & sore a labor as gave her up (in the judgment of them about her) for a dead woman, or at least the child; but that the God of prayers, yea our prison God, the great Jehovah that appea'rd in the mount Gen. 17.22. & last minute of need (almost) be­yond expectation saved both; but yet so as the least trouble, grief, or suddain fright, would probably have indangered her as much, or more then before, this made me look up to him in whom I center, who give­eth wisedome and upbradeth not, Jam. 1.5. (weighing her weaknesse) for a space of time, I was treating with her upon the promises, especial­ly to the persecuted & suffering ones for Christ, with the special presence which they have had to support in such cases, instancing in th' examples of our blessed Captain the lord Jesus and his most noble file-leaders, or van-Soldiers, the Apostles, Prophets and primitive Martyrs, who are [Page]all for our examples, Jam. 5.10. And so was I first insinuating, prepa­ring, warming and affecting her heart with the precious truthes and promises, before I could break the matter unto her, who notwithstand­ing received it with tears and troubles of heart, not knowing whether they would bannish me into Barbadus or such like place, or else Barba­rously murther me before we see the faces of one another more: & not having time to provide for wife or children, or the poore prison-borne­babe, I was the next morning notwithstanding I wanted necessaries, and had not riding-Coat, Boots, or things fi [...] for such a journey, yet with Musketeres and Officers they fetched me out of my Chamber by violence, and rent me from my weak wife in childbed, and weeping babes and children about me; but I bless the Lord that I had first some sealing re­freshments to my inwardman, for in my sleep before I waked in the mornings, the Lord met me, at which I said, (as Gerdius did in his tor­ments) Jehovah is on my side, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me, with which I awaked fell to prayer, and arose preparing my Fami­ly with prayers and exhortations to all that were about me (and con­veying a few of my papers into the bottome of my Stockins at the soals of my feet, to preserve them from their hands and searches) I was brought away to my Bro. F. so by force we were brought to horse­back and with the Troopers led like the flock of thy slaughter O Lord Zach. 11.4.5. Whose possessors and persecutors hold themselves not guilty, yea and they that sell us (our Lives, Liberties and Bodies to Barbarians, that are skil full to destroy us! for a little money, places and preferments) say, blessed be the Lord Isa. 66.5. The poore people on both sides of the streets, standing weeping, listing up their eyes, blessing, pittying and praying for us as we passed thorough, to see us so carried and hurried into banishment for the name of Christ. I blesse my God I much rejoyced, though I was so harshly rent from my dearest relations and worldly commodities, not having one foot of land, house or estate in the world to live upon, but only the providence of my God (which feeds the Birds, clothes she Lillies and numbers the Sparrows) to depend upon, and yet I sang I say (in this blessed suffering) for joy like the bird of the day, or the Nightingale at the thorne. Yea Dum o­va in gremio sunt.)

The first night we reach'd to Farnham; the next morning was very cold, blustering, stormy and bitter, yet before I was fully ready they had taken horse, and I was call'd away and stay'd for, so I hasted and we road thorough great rain, storms, winds and very sore wea­ther [Page 20]to Alton (I think they call it;) where we about noon (being soaked quiet thorough our cloathes; I and some others bitterly ill, feavourish and weary) had leave to refresh a little, with fire and pro­visions for our selves and horeses, so we all tarried there a small time hoping it would hold up, the weather yet continuing as bad as before, and the way which we had to go being worse, which made the Cornet and his company of Troopers, well content we should tarry untill the next morn, and my self being very violently afflicted with the head ach and in a high burning feavourish distemper, did much desire it, as also did our friend C. D. (now Epaphras our fellow-prisoner) he being (likewise) somewhat troubled with the pain in head, so I layed me down upon the bed, (Bro. F. and his wife being both well through the goodnesse of God) yet some of them would be going, (although we were so ill and the weather and wayes so exceeding bad) but then I did beg in that bitter distemper to stay but one hour upon the bed, only un­till I had took a little sl [...]mber hoping to be a little better by it; but I could not obt [...]in it, notwithstanding some did entreat it for me, yet to no purpose; for away they went, took horse, and left me behinde with some Troopers to follow, in that violent bad weather which I was but ill provided against; which when I saw, I was forced to arise, muffle my face about with a scarfe, and ride after a great pace, not only to overtake them (which I soon did) but to get to some Inn as soon as I could possibly, that I might ly down and ease my afflicted head; the Cornet streight wayes appointing the place we should go unto that night, which was a little Village, 3. or 4. miles short of Porch-mouth, whither (I blesse the Lord that enabled me though with pain) I reached (some of the Troop [...]rs and the Cornet himself being with me) late at night, yet a little before B. F. and some others came, (being exceed­ing ill in my head) I call'd for a Chamber, which the Host brought me into (a little poore pittifull room) and made a fire, I laid my head a little on a bed for ease, yet I entreated the man to make a good fire, and provide a room for my B. F. and his wife who were near; the which he did, and Six, yea Six, were forced to ly in my room, (for want of room) all that night, and some 4. or 5. the next day and night when we came to Porch-mouth, so ill were we accommodated in lodging the Troopers not providing any room for me.

The next day being the fifth day of the Eighth Moneth 1655. we were in the morning call'd away with the tide to transport out of our native Country into Exile, which was some trial to the flesh, not know­ing [Page 21]their further designe therein, but whiles I was committing it unto my heavenly Father, I was call'd away; and the friends that were with us, so we went to the water side, and upon the Sea-shore I put my B. F. in minde of our Lord and Master's practise, upon the Sea-sho [...]e, Mar. 4.1. Mat. 13.1. to the people; and of Paul's practice at such times to preach; whereupon he agreed, and began, speaking untill the tide came up very near us, than I assayed to exhort the people which were gathered about (and did affectona [...]ly hear,) out of Acts 28.20. show­ing what the hope of Israel was, for which we were thus bound and banished; but the Cornet forbad me, and interrupted me often, with the tides rising upon us, and the peoples increasing, so I was broken off abruptly in the midst of the Application; at which the people shewed abundance of affection, by tears abundance, prayers and earnest cries to the Lord for us; some laying hold on my hands, some on my gar­ments, and so we parted with this lesson left unto them, that for Christ and his Kingdome (only) for this their and our hope was were thus banish'd and barbarously handled; (how much soever our enemies did falsly report of us in all places;) the people looking after us upon the shore a long time, and so we were carried away to Ride tossing (but a little) on the Seas, and there horsed away, and conveyed to Sandham-fort; a mile before we came at it, the Ensign who was the keep­er, being at Brading, and knowing who we were, rode galloping and over took us, but gave no respect at all, he kept on before us prisoners very full, and fell (it seems) against us, (at a venture) speaking such bitter & enraged words as made us wonder; the & Goal being as black (as the Goaler) and as threatening an Earth-hole, without shelter, tree or house about it, upon the Sea and boggs, it look'd already as if it were the end of the world unto us; in so much as the very Troopers were troubled and wept (some of them) to see it; (a little descripti­on of the place I gave in my Post-scirpt of the Prison born Treat & so I shall forbear here) but when we came to it, we were carried into the Fort (or rather Dungeon lately made out of the Earth) so bad, as the worst prisoner or Cavaleer that ever they had, they never cast into it, (though M. Bull speaks of one C. Kern put there) nor was ever any prisoner (as the Ensign himselfe said it often) put there before? and for many nights (6. nights together after our weary journey) they made us ly in our cloaths (notwithstanding they had bedding locked up in a room) allowing us neither beds nor straw, thus turning us into the Hole like Beasts, but little regarding to provide for us; this continu­ed [Page 22]untill the noise thereof about the Island stired up some honest peo­ple in Newprrt to send us beds, which was a great refreshment unto us, (blessed be the Lord) yet we was sweetly affected all that time with the sense of Primitive Saints sufferings, and such as lay in Dungeons and Yrons for righteousnesse-sake; in Caves and Dens, Heb. 11.38. yea of Nebemiah his Brethren and his Servants, ch. 4.22.23. that lay in their cloaths so long; and I considered withall, how we were (by faith prayer and patience) laying fiege to Babylon, which would require hard duty. So that our De [...] God made these trialls a delight unto us, and indeed as Ʋincentius the Martyr said of his sufferings, I have alwayes desired these Dainties. For other things also we were sorely put to it, the B [...]ead we could get for money (which was not easie) was very bad, of bad savour of worse tast, but good enough for poore prisoners; nay not bad enough in a sense, if we went ad Carceres, as ad Epulas et Nuptias, as the Martyr used to do with great joy: And the Water we drank was of a very filthy ditch, (with out we catch'd some rain now and then) brackish, black and very unwhosome, if not venemous; much more I might say, but I shall forbear; seeing this is nothing to what the Holy Seed (whom we succeed) of the Woman have suffered, and been glad to drink their own water in former ages, though this is almost incredible at this time of day, in this nation, and from such men too (as the present Ophitae, for so I may call the Persecutors in this matter that serve the Serpent, Rev. 12.14.) seem and pretend to be; during this Siege, & sore triall of faith upon us, we fed much upon the Martyrs meat & drink, when they were without meat & drink or susti­nance for nature, & since the (yet higher) sufferings in this Castle where I now am, I have heartily fallen upon John's fare (methinks) of 'Lo­custs & wilde hony, (as men esteem it) for, ut tanquam medicamenta sic alimenta sumpturus sum; that of R. Samuel Minister & martyr in Q. Maries daies coming much to minde, kept in Clole-prison, chained, standing on tipto, so with out meat and drink for many daies, that he would have often drunk his own Water, but his body was dried up and he could not make one drop; and I would thus as (much as may be) ex­tenuate in my own mind our sufferings, as nothing for my Lord and Masters sake, (and as much as our enemies do or can) yet I must say, this hath been the more triall to the flesh, yet the more subtilly men have carried it, and the lesse noise it hath made▪ Now to obviate this report of our hard usage, which brake a broad about the Ears of the Court, they cunningly caused an Order to be printed which was cry­ed [Page 23]about London streets, and the report thereof spread about the Nati­on (to stop the other report of their inhumane Tyranny and bad u­sage of us,) that we were remov'd to a private house for better accom­modation; the contents are as followeth, of the two Orders.

The other Order followes.

The pretence of this Order they also printed and spread about, that the Cornet Str. who brought us thither, upon his return made report of the badnesse of the place, and of the want of fitting Conveniencies, (as if they knew it not before) and thereupon they printed it, Octob. 12. 1655. that Order, was immediatly sent for our removal into some private house, where we might be lodged, and have aire and things fit­ting for our health. Now this Counter-report pretending love and pit­ty, almost quash'd the former, of their Cruelty to us, but for all this High noise, there was no such matter really effected for such a removal, but the people were deluded, and gulled and lulled with a good opi­nion of these Persecutors for this pretence of their Charity to us, and then the enemy could take a better blow in Cruelty at us, and with lesse [Page 24]noise than before, as he did indeed at mee (as fully as fowlly) in my removal to this Monstrous Theater of Tyranny, where I now am under the roge of wilde Beasts rather then rational Creatures, looking when to be torne a pieces, trampled under foot, yea murthred by them, should the Lord whom I serve suffer them to be let loose. For if ever there were such a people as Philastrius tells us of, (in Lib. de Haeres.) called Cajiani from Cain, whom they honoured for his Fradricide, saying he had the greatest power, but his Brother Abell the least, and they would serve the greatest Power: Sure these I am now amongst (of all men that I ever saw) are such, and their Castle may be called not Carisbrook, so much as Cains-brook Castle, for they serve his Power and Principle; nor could they pretend Accommodation in the least to remove me hi­ther, but all on the contrary, being worse here then ever in any Goal for that matter, but for all their pretences, there we continued in that worse then Bonners cole house untill the 31. day of the eighth Moneth, and notwithstanding the Lord visited me (like a Father) with a sore and fearce feavour in this hole, I was (with that on my back) carri­ed a way through sad stormes, ways and weather, by Order from the Court with Soldiers and the Ensign from this Fort further into ban­ishment to Arten-house, of Freshwater Island; an Isle within an Isle; an exile within exile, &c. ubi latares duplicantur; & about this time did some of the Sisters of the Church-Society go to White-hall with a demand of mee; re­fusing to petition or send in a parer, but after long tarrying, and with much difficulty, word was brought them from O. C. (with a great asseveration) that Orders were sent down to open the Prison doors for mee, & let mee out, but if I would not, then to accommodate mee with all conveniencies in the Prison; but, Pectus Satan [...] mendaciis foe cundissimum est, there was never any such matter (that ever I heard off) but this policy was invented to pack them away, by those that have made lies their refuge. They asked why the Brethren came not, and why my wife came not, but I had indeed sent letters to her to keep off, least parlying with the Serpent she should be insnared. With mee, I car­ried about my papers in my Cloaths (and other wayes) as the Martyr Tyndall did his, (which doubled both his and my labours;) hiding them (at Arten house) inholes and walls, and potts and panns to pre­serve them from the enemy, and so Mr. Fox carried his about; and it may be these my poor prison-labours may minister to the publick (one day) as theirs have done. But in this prison also, being neere the Sea, I had Nazianzen's sight of sad shipw racks, as they have done with their [Page]Faith and Consciences that banish us; and of the Sea working (like the wicked enemies who foam nothing but si [...]h, mire and dirt;) and and as in a storm it cast up light and empty things, but not things so­lid & heavie, so (as he appli's it to afflictions & tryals in persecution) light & empty spirits are soon turn'd over, and tossed up and down (by the present foaming enemies) and keep not their constancy: but so­lid spirits (like the Rock) stand firm endure their rage out, and will not stir an inch for them; (in B [...]nnishment or Bonds) but as Mr. Burroughs saies in his Moses Choice chap. 6. Men know not their own hearts, they finde them otherwise (then they thought for) when the tryalls come; they never thought they had so much pride, impati­ence, unbelief, coveteousnesse and selfe as they may see they have then. But in this House was I guarded with a fierce company of Herodians (Soldiers) for as they who handled my Lord Christ so cruelly would fancy Herod to be the Messias (Epiph. Haer. 20.) from Jacobs prophecy that the Scepter should not depart from Judah till Shiloh came, where­fore Herod (a stranger) possessing the Scepter, they took him for Shiloh; so these who handle us so hardly (some of the best) fancy their Lord Protectour C. to be the man on whose shoulders the Government of Christ lies, accerding to Isa. 9.6. (and Blasphemous speech to his Par­liament Jan. 22.1654. pag. 31, 32.) But these sat up day and night to watch me, and yet indeed it was a much better Prison than the other for air, and other accommodations; for diet, lodging, &c. Thither came my poore wife with 2. Children unto mee; Upon the Lords-daies because I preached, were 4. Soldiers or sore biting Leopards set a fresh upon my bones; but upon other daies but two, who were re­newed upon mee day by day, and followed me so close with their He­rodian rudenesse, that some of them would force within my Room, at unseemly seasons, & that with very irrational bruitishness indeed; yea dogg me much immodestly, when I eased nature, added withall (very often) words and threats if I stayed any thing, long, and that without any provocation: Two or three Gen [...]lemen and my dear friends from London, who came to see mee, were there assaulted, (after they were suffer'd to see me, & one of them two coming purposely from London to bring me physick for my feavour, but the Lord was my Physitian before he came, as Rollock said, es tu Deus mede eris mihi) and more Soldiers of the fiercest sort were fetched from Yarmouth (a mile or 2. off) to feaze upon them and their horses, carrying them prisoners before the Deputy Governour, (for no other reason but for visiting mee) ha­ving [Page 26]taken no offence at them neither by word nor action, so that friends were scared from coming [...]o sivit; I shall passe over the daily wrongs the people had in whose house I was kept prisoner: the Sol­diers put on to it by Officers. Some poore people of the Island that creep'd in, to hear me preach on the Lords-daies, were wonderfully mennaced by the Soldiers, yea their names taken and carried to the D. Governour, to be ordered, or committed; yea some of these brutish Bears were sent abroad, before the poore Creatures that came to hear the Word) were at the house to force them away, and not suffer them to come near, least they should hear me preach. A Lievetenant came to tell me, if I would not preach nor meddle with his L. P. in my sermons, I should have liberty to take the aire a mile or two on the Downs, a Soldier or two atending mee, to whom I said, ‘that liberty was my right, but to take it upon such tearms I would loose my rights first, and as for preaching the Word I had a better commission and Autho­rity for it, then any of them had to hinder it or to wear their swords by their sides; for your Authority was from the world, but mine from him that made the world to be subject unto his son, whom I preach and declare; and so far as his L. P. or any alive should stand in a way or interest against Christ, I would contend for my most dear Master Jesus Christ against him, (with the help of God) yea if he cut my tongue out of my head, or mee limb from limb, and leave me but a stump, that stump should stand against him and them to their teeth, that oppose Christ and his kingdom;’ much more to that effect I spake unto him, who doubtlesse told his tail. A poor Soldier who pittied my condition under such hardship for my conscience, would comfort mee, and confer with mee out of Scriptures, which being per­ceived he was soon cashiered, and cast quite out; this only for his ci­vility and honesty, (poore creature, but he had comfort in it) and the worst Churles they could pick were appointed to watch and ward mee day and night, but this prison being too commodious, where I might see friends in the yard, if they came to see mee; and too good (as they accounted it) for mee, it being a good aire, and in its selfe well accommodated, I was removed from thence, with a company of Soldiers upon the 5. day of the 10. moneth, to Carisbrook-Castle, or ra­ther Cains brook-Castle where I now am; and indeed they did show a most un Christian inhumanity in the manner of removall of mee; the the daies being so short, the waies so bad, and the weather so bitter, and (to boot) by reason of so long and lamentable an imprisonment, [Page 27]my body so unused to it, and yet with poore little horses, at 2. a clock in the afternoon (so late) they called mee out, and a way; which when I bogled at it, being so unseasonable an houre (for such a jour­ney in a dark cold night, over bleak Downes, dangerous w [...]ies, scarce going by one house till Carisbrook) for my weak wife and two Chil­dren; the Leopards consulted together, and one of the Offices con­cluded to pull me out by the ears, and so by force and sury to fetch m [...]e away; but when I saw I must go, (knowing their bloody disposi [...]i­ons) and that by no means I could be permitted to tarry untill the morne, I required of the chief Officer the Serj. a coppy of his warrant, who shewed mee his, (although the other Officers as they used to do) s [...]id to some other his sword was his warrant, pointing to it by his side, which when I heard I said in good time, is it come to that? And thus every thief in the highway saies, but in this Isle it is the constant and common answer of the Soldiers, when we ask hy what Law or Order, to say by this, drawing their sword, or laying hand on the hilt, the Order was to convey me hither; within one houre or little more the night was come upon us, the waies were exceeding glib and rough with ice, and frosts, the windes high and sharp, which blew the snow out of the clouds full upon our faces, the night was very black, dismal and dark, without Moon-shine or Star-light untill we came at Caris­brook town, the road being unbeaten and over high mountany Downs, up and down, so that we did alight often in the dark and footed it as far and fast as we could; for as Origen said, when the Emperour sent for him in his Chariot, that he would go on foot for his Master (Christ.) My wife (being weak rode but once) was very ill, with the unusual (black) night aire; I (also) was at last overcome, and I fell down twise in the way, but with hot waters I was refreshed a little, and for­ced to trudge in the darke again, untill with a very dangerous difficul­ty (contemplating the hard travails of the Primitive Saints and Mar­tyrs) after several houres in the night we were brought into a poore house in Carisbrook, and there lying upon a bed, I was pritty well re­freshed after an hour or two, and then a Serjant came to me in the deep of the night with a coppy of the Order from the keeper of the Castle to receive mee his prisoner, under Scobells hand, Cleark of the Councell in White-hall, not signifying for what Cause or Crime, nor hath any Or­der so done to this day, (that ever I could see) but only their will and pleasure.

The Orders are as followeth.

Here is no Crime nor Cause I thank the Lord, which mindes me of that, in Jer. 50.20. 'Their iniquity shall be sought for, and there shall 'be none. Now could their juggle of accommodation be now pretend­ed, it being because of the accomodation rather in Arten-house; & be­cause of the incredible cruelty & tiranny of this castle that I was brought hither: So that the Lord my God saw it meet to bring my body un­der harder discipline, for as Tertullian saies, Nimis delicatus es Christiane! &c. Christian, thou art too delicate for mee, who must have thine ease, thy peace, thy pleasure and delight in this world; and so in an other place (de fugea in persec.) speaking against them, that will shrink, com­ply or fly for fear of harder persecution; saies he 'non potest qui pati timet, ejus esse qui passus est. He that is afraid or runs away from suf­ferings, can be none of his who hath suffered so much; and indeed is hath been very teaching to me, to set Christ upon his crosse before me; Heb. 12.2.2.10. The Captain of our Salvation, being made perfect through sufferings. And can we think to be perfect without suffer­i [...]gs for Christ? No surely.

But to proceed.

In this pittifully distempered estate of Body, I was sent for from tha [...] poore house [...] the Commissary and some others being ready to con­vey [Page 33]mee (with the foresaid Serjeant, Corporal and Soldiers,) into the Castle, and for my encouragement they told us the Moon was up, but perceiving their resolution and importunity, I desired liberty to prayer, after which we were carried up into the Castle; as I came in at the first Gate I made a stand, resigning my selfe, (Soul and body) into the hands of my most dear God and Father, through Jesus Christ? not knowing that ever I should come out alive; I said aloud (to them all) in the name of the Lord do I enter here, and for the sake of Jesus, which they all witnessed unto, as well enemies as others; I was guarded tho­rough the Musketteres, standing on both sides with Muskets, pee­ces and matches light, I was with my wife and two children put up in­to a very little, poor, smoaking, cold Garret, upon the top of all, (which was a common Soldiers room) and although it was a little triall to my wife, not having a Chair to sit on, and so little that we could not readily turn or stir about businesse in it, the bed-stead (which was bor­rowed) taking up the most part, and the smoak of the chimney turn­ing all into the Room at some times, so as we could scarce see one ano­ther, yet did much rejoice to be so pent up, (for the Son of man had not where to lay his head,) and in an upper Room too; from the con­sideraton of our dear Lord Jesus, his chusing an upper room to eat the passeover wich his Disciples in, when his time was at hand; that night I was so Exceedingly distemper'd and ill, that I was forced to betake me to some rest, in such lodging as we could get; the next morning came my dear con-captives (for this most noble and excellent Cause of the King of Saints) to see mee Maj. Gen. Harrison and Mr. Courtney, who were a long time kept up in this close Goal, where now I was brought to be their companion; some part of our time which was spent toge­ther was in praying, instructing & praising our God, not omitting this his mercifull over-ruling sweet providence which had brought us to­gether into one Goal (as well as one Exile,) for one and the same Master (the Lord Jesus) and in one and the same Cause, Testimony and Truth; and this too by those very men, that not long before would not let mee come near this Castle, least I should once have seen these servants of the Lord, but upon the walls. Upon the Lords-days I preach'd in my room as I used to do, and who of the Soldiers would had liberty to hear mee, for two or three daies; yea Bull himselfe the grand keeper hereof, which did indeed refresh the hearts of some p [...]o [...] soules, who got in also to hear me, but this liberty at first, was to finde out matter against mee, for a collour of their preintended future Tr [...] ­gedy, [Page 34]tyranny and intrenchment; I was also (soon after) removed into better rooms, which Mr. Bull now braggs of, where I now am; but the be doing we had in the Garret was taken from us, and we forced to some want therein, untill some at Newport sent some in unto us, for which (with what we hire) we blesse the Lord; notwithstanding I told Bull that I was well contented to ly on straw, or else (if they would not allow me straw) on the bare boards, only I pittied my wife being not well; but for all their cruelty to us, our kinde Father provided for us. Some honest people of the Country did desire me to minister to them, some light of the kingdome of Christ, & of his Second coming, so that we kept every fifth day in the after-noons for that purpose, and poore people came in a pac [...] many miles about to hear mee, who with tears, prayers and blessings of God expressed great affection, refreshing and rejoycing thereat, saying O Sir! O not you, not you, but we are the Prison­ers, &c. yea some Prestbiterians who came out of novelty, or with no good will, when they once came brought others with them the next day so that the noise was great round the Island, and the Priests raged, (it is reported) least their Offices should be left unto them desolate, Mat. 23.16. John 7.33, 34. ‘Many of the people believed in Christ and his Doctrine, and his good report began to ring in their ears, the chiefe Priests sent Officers to take him, so these it seems could not rest to see the people to flock after and believe this doctrine of the Reign of Christ, and therefore some Officers came to hear, with a purpose to catch mat­ter of accusation against mee, but went away with approbation, as ver. 46. blessed be the Lord therefore, for thus was the Sonne glorified in their eyes, by his Spirit which spake and shewed them of the things to come, John 16.13, 14.’ Yet the enemy could not rest thus, but finding nothing which they could six upon against mee, and the people encrea­sing, upon the twenty seventh day of the tenth moneth, Bull went forth of feasting, and left men of most bruitsh spirits, to mannage his new plot and orders in his absence; setting Centinels upon my doore, driving away the people, who came to hear the Gospell, (though the enemy had nothing to say why so; no not one word so much as against their Government, but even what they say they allow, as the pure Gospell of Christ in us, and of the power of godlinesse,) though they could not [...]ow bear it, I preaching such points as the godly people and their Tea­cher Mr. S. proposed for satisfaction in, and light upon,) some poore people got in, and stood under my prison-window; the Herodian-Sol­diers not suffering them to come into the room, saying they had orders [Page 35]to keep all from comming to mee, and they must obey orders, but we asked them if they meant all Orders of men good or bad, they said yea [...] for if they were evill let their Officers look to that, for it would be their Officers sin and not theirs, and what they commanded them to do, they must and would do, what ever it were; we told them that this was a dangerous and indeed a Soule-damning principle; for so the Soldiers that nailed Christ to the Crosse obeyed Orders too, and so do the Turkish Janizaries at this day, and so did all those Soldiers and Executioners, that murthered, mas [...]r [...]d and marty [...]ed the Saints in all Ages; besides we prayed them to consider the case of Iudas when his con [...]cience smitt him, he thought to have said the sinn too (as they say) upon the Captains and Priests that set him a worke, and gave him his pay for it, Mat. 27.4. But they said, what is that to us, see you to that? and so he fell desperate and hanged himselfe. Lord! then (saies a Serjeant) would you not have us obey Orders, we answered not all orders of men; and prayed them first to advise with the Word of God, for such as were against Gods Word they ought not to obey, for that Christs death hath freed them from such a servitude of men, 1. Cor. 7.23. Gal. 5.1. 1.10. And Ephrahim was broken for this, Hos. 5.11. And now as they were Christians they had but one Lord, the Lord Jesus who was to be their Lord, Acts. 10.36. Rom. 14.9. & Law giver; for else what were the difference between them and Turks, Infidels or Heathens? But in things honest, good and lawfull they must obey their superiours as an Ordinance of God: But then said the Soldiers, if their Orders be against Gods word, let the higher Officers look to that, for that they would obey them, and so fell upon the poor people very roughly, be­ing farr more bruitish, irrational and disingenuous (if not irreligi­ous) then many of the Papists, Pharises, Priests, Heathens and Turks, and in the very Massacre of France, we have it upon Record Fox voll. 3. of Queen Elizabeth page 64. Anno 1572. That the common Execution­er of Troys, whose name was Charles, being commanded by Bell­in and the Magistrates of the Town, and that in the Kings name too; and by his Commission answered; ‘that it was contrary to his office to execute any man before sentence of death had been first pronounced by the Magistrate; if they had such sentence of death to shew against the (Hugonites) prisoners he was ready, other­wise he would not presume with out a warrant (of Law and Justice) to bereave any man of his life.’ So that this bloody Popish wretch who was used to shed blood, would not obey all Orders, no not of the [Page 36]King or Magistrates without due processe of Law, or sentence of death upon the prisoners; yea Perennot also, their Goaler as bloody or worse than he, answered the same men in the same case; ‘that he could not undertake to obey their Orders, fearing least in time to come, justice might be do [...]e against him by the Parents or allies of the poor pri­soners, after they was dead or made a way with; and yet he was com­manded by the Kings Commissioners, Magistrates and in the Kings name.’ Now would one believe men professing godlinesse too in Eng­land, should be of worse or more wicked principles, to obey all Orders; the Lord (then) have mercy upon us for the plague encreases then: But we bad the Serjeant consider these things seriously how that the Jews blinde obedience to their Leaders brought the curse upon them, but Lord saies he, I never heard of such men, what should we not obey Orders; we told them as before not in things unlawfull; but this it seems that we said was a great offence to them, and made Bull report (and probably send to his Masters, for he is a fitt servant to such men; blessed be God therefore that we have such a Goaler of so sharp, but short horns) affirming that we would draw the Soldiers from their obedience; only for our instructing them in that obedience which they ow to God, and which to man. But some poor soules having got into hear this discourse, did occasion a desire from them to hear me preach, either in the yard out of the window, or any where, but for this once; but the rude Leopards began to rave and roar at that motion, saying they would not suffer it; and when any reason was asked, they said they was not bound to give us any reason, but this that they would not suffer it; nor could we have any other reason but this, that they had Orders and must obey them. But we told them we hoped man would not forbid what Christ (our King and Lord) had commanded, then we opened some Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament un [...]o them, wherein we were commanded by God to assemble together, to pray, profit and edifie one another in the most holy faith, and asked of them, if at any time they had heard any thing delivered which was not profitable and teaching to the Soules of men, or dissonant in their own judgment with the Word of truth, for they all knew and confessed I had not (the honest people so desiring it) medled with their Govern­ment or the like, that this liberty (in the Ordinances) might have been continued us, and no offence or occasion be offered them) they all said, they could not say, I had delivered any thing but what was good and sweet, profitable and to edification, and wished they might hear such [Page 37]men, and said the Serjeant I had rather here him then any man alive; and did hear him as long as I durst, but now we have Orders against it and we must obey them. But then we prayed them to remember the blood of Jesus Christ which hath bought us, these blessed priviledges and no man ought to take them from us, Gal. 5.1. And therefore ho­ped they would not offer to fight against that which they confessed was the pure & true word (& wày) of God; but they said they must obey Or­ders be they what they would that their superiours put them upon, or else they must be hang'd, & this Doctrine tended to have them hang'd, so that they were sorely incensed uttring as we say, Decem pedalia & sesqui pedolia verba! or Ʋperolcha. But I, Maj. Gen. & Mr. C. withdrew, with words of Consolation to the poore weeping people about us, into my lodge, and after a little space, I began in prayer and fell a little to prea­ching out at the window, to the poore people (who desired it) and some came under the window, the whiles they had sent word to their Governour Bull, who was feasting not far off, with his wife and others, sufficiently trampling over us, and insulting over us (the prisoners) among their cups and repasts, as we heard by them present; and because some few of the Soldiers were touched in Conscience and could not exercise their commanded Cruelty, they took, as Acts 17.5. Certain Iude fellows of the baser sort, and so sett upon us, and the poor people hearing under the windows, who weeped, cried and prayed that for this once (now they were come) they might hear, wringing their hands bitterly, and tears running down (rifely) their cheeks, with their Bibles in their hands; but the bruitish Soldiers, haled and furi­ously drove them away with their swords (the Law we are now under) men and women, Acts 8.3. shutting and shoving them out at the Gates, yea threatening to put the poore hearts into their Hole or Dungeon only for their unwillingnesse to leave hearing mee, although I did so ply the rough Bruits with Scriptures, intreaties, and tears (as the Lord did melt me then exceedingly, that I think I might say with Aug. Ad pedes prociderem & flerem quantum Possum &c.) for Christ's sake, his truthes sake, and their own Souls sake, to hear mee but one word, one word! merely for their Souls, their inward man, their Salvation; but to consider for this once the blood of Christ, our blessed Jesus who died for us to give us this priviledge, and for his sake to let the poore sheep alone for this once; yea but a little, a little, seeing they came so farr and so many miles about, eight or nine miles a foot, (poor hearts) many of them, and yet these Soldiers would not hear mee, (only one [Page 38]or two who heard, were weary of this worke of the Devil, and others fresh and crank to it recruited them;) They had turn'd away that day (before this) many great companies, round the Island; and Mr. S. a godly Minister told mee, at least 500. had come from round about the Island, could they have had liberty to hear the noise of the Gospell of the Kingdome began so to spread over all this Isle. But by and by, came Bull in, to make a thorough execution of this persecution, he tooke some of the Soldiers to taske, for not doing violence enough to the Lords flock of slaughter, Zach. 11.4, 5. Threatening them, and ma­king a speech to the rest to play the men (or I may say beasts rather as the word is, 2 Thess. 3.2. Atopos absurd, insolent) and if any of them were resolved to hear mee, he required them immediatly to lay down their armes and be gone; two or three of them making conscience wept, and went into a little discourse with him professing they never heard any thing from us but what was good, profitable and to edifica­tion in Christ, and said they had heard before I came hither, and that they had fought for this liberty of conscience, and ought to hear the word of God; but he told them they were weake, and were soon de­luded, and what ever I said of Christ, I meant no such thing, but had some other designe, and the Castle would be in danger to hear such a one as I was; and he would not suffer it: After a while the Maj. Gen. Mr, C. and I did looke up unto our Maker, and Father, and with fix­ing our eyes upon the holy one of Israel, Isa. 17.7. we proceeded (from such an accesse) to some discourse with Bull, who was worrying of the poore Soldiers (that were not yet in full compliance with him) when we came near he brustled up fiercely, through a forced complement (which he hath learned the art off) the Maj. Gen. first spake unto him by whom we demanded his grounds to deal so injuriously with us and the poore people, or rather with our Lord Jesus; and that of such a suddain too, without giving any notice of his dislike in the least; but he (in a quandary what to say though his tongue is too volluble and violent with lying and slandering) he hammered out at last, that he did it to prevent inconveniencies, saying the people had itching ears after novelties, and might soon be deluded, but I asked him (seeing he had heard mee) whither I had at any time delivered any Doctrine which was dangerous, or tended thereunto; or whether I preached any thing but Christ and him crucifi'd, with the power of godlinesse; or whither any thing against their Government or affairs to the people, &c. He said, that I had preached we must presse forward, and not plow always [Page 39]in one furrow, which he thought tended as much as to say they must not walke in the wayes of their fore-fathers who were wisemen, and good men, and saved; and there was but one way of Salvation, and therefore he said that was dangerous doctrine to put them on to novel­ties; and as for preaching Christ he confessed he had heard me preach very good things, but he believed I had a designe in time to insinuate into the people against the Government, and to throw down his Lord Protectour and to set up Maj. Gen. (notwithstanding I preached Christ) yet that was the thing he perceived I drove on, and with words to that effect he fell into to a very bestial fury of rage and railing upon the Maj. Gen. but yet as very grosly flattering me to my face as abusing me be­hind my back, the first of which might more trouble me then the last, as Paul was grieved, Acts 16.18. at such an unclean Spirits praise; but we told him we drove on no designe, (the Lord our God knew) but the pure design of God himselfe to exalt Jesus Christ only, nor had I the least word or thought (ever yet I blesse God) of throwing down one man to set up an other, much lesse Maj. Gen. H. but this was his own devise; and if I had offended he ought like a Christian to have told me of it, which I should have been thankfull for; before any such violence had been used, besides it was that (now) common Government of Hypocrisie which we engaged against in others, yea and were now in bonds for our witnesse against it, and if we our selves were such men, the Lord whom we appeal to, would judge us for it, but the Lord the righteous Judge knowes how our very Soules abhor any such thing; and as for that Doctrine of growing in grace and pressing on to perfection of light, and holinesse of life which was all I urged; it was farr from dangerousnesse or evill design, (unlesse to the Devill and his Kingdome) nor did we thinke they were to be content in the state of their fore-fathers, for then they should be yet Papists or Lutherans, but although that there was but one way of salvation ye [...] there were several steps, degrees & grouths to be taken in that one way, (Jesus Christ) and this was the thing preached upon. And thus this pittifull ignorant, but (as he carries it) a most proud Sultan-like in­sulting Orbilius, and indeed a most conceited wretch of wrath, who had a little before, with most abominable lies, and conceptions of his own creating, devising & inventing against Spiritual Doctrines and truths; complained at Court and put out a precious godly Minister (the Chap­lain of this Garrison, and then after deni'd it I hear, as asham'd of what he had done;) for not complying with their lusts and sinns, but for [Page 40]preaching the power of godlinesse, and against their continuance in o­pen and known sins, as of Drunkennesse, &c. (which the godly people in this Island have informed me; He now as fowly fals upon the pit­tifull poore (miserably) inslaved people of this Island, as well as upon us) but for hearing of me; and yet could not finde a colour for it, but onely his own pure (or rather impure) invention and fancy of a dan­ger which might accrew thereupon in time, and surmising (or preten­ding so) at least, a signe (which the Devil told him off, that we had in preaching Christ to the poore soules! and when he desired to see his Orders, he denyed to shew us any, but his absolute Will and sword so­veraignty over these poore slaves and us exiles and prisoners: falling into most fool, irritating unsavoury provoking language; with his wonted impudence and open faculty of lying, slandering, bearding and abusing (for which he is so notoriously famous in this Isle) that we went (for shame) from him, surdis auribus sed oculis intentis in Christum; and so left him to that spirit that possessed him: but after that, the sol­diers were examined (such as were well-given) whether they would hear me; if so, then to lay down arms forthwith and be gone; there must be no disputing it, onely one or two (I think) had liberty given to consider upon it one day. Soon after this Bull made (or procured) a muster, and provided a Barrell of Beer for such of his souldiers (which they say he never did before) as would readily obey his Orders; but o­thers he required to lay down their Arms forthwith, and so read an Engagement to them for their present government. Thus like the Priests (as Jo. 12 9, 10.) they endeavoured to put Lazarus also to death, be­cause that Jesus had raised him up to life: least the report hereof should offuscate and obscure them. Upon the Lords day after, some men of the [...]sland came into the Castle, to hear on that day; but the centinels at the doore drove them off again; and turned them into their own Chappel; the poore people of this Island being such absolute pure slaves under the long sword, that they durst not hear the Word, but where they will. Yet I preaching near the window, and my voice heard tho­row, some poor people would steal under the wall and in holes to hear, but were soon discovered and driven away; yea, Bull himself, when he came out of the Chappel did bestir him, and lay about him, and because some of his souldiers would stand behind the guard doore, or make as if they walked about businesse in the yard, to hear (as they did at Winsor, often make as if they lay on the grasse and slept) he drives his souldiers into the guard, and there keeps them in himself till I had done: as the Bishop of L. used tell K. James a tale in the Sermon time, when any good [Page 41]man preach'd against the Hierarchy or Ceremonies of their Church, least the King should over-hear them, and so receive the truth preached; talking to them of Cocks and Buls as we say, least any should over hear a word of the Sermon. In the middle of the week he came to me, and threatened to deal with me, and remove me out of these rooms, &c. if I let my voice be so loud as to be heard out at the window more, to their disturbance (as he said): but I told him as Chrysostome the Empresse Eu­doxia when she threatened him, Nil nisi peccatum timeo. I should obey God and not man in that matter, nor was he, but Christ to mee the Lord of the Sabbath, Luke 6.5. Christ only is my master in preaching, bidding him do his worst; then he bid the bed I had to lyon be taken away, which was done; at which I demanded of him straw to lyon, but the good people, especially Mr. B. a well affected honest man, at whose house the godly people meet at New port; kept mee from lying on the boards, or any such hardship as they would have brought me or mine unto in this Goal; but it seems to their sufferings, for this Bull does bellow out with most bitter mallice & rage against them also; especially against Mr. B. whom he highly persecutes to this day, (I hear) some­times sending up armed souldiers, with swords and mu [...]kets, to bring him away pri [...]oner out of his own house to him in the Town Corpo­ration; threatning and troubling him, breaking open his letters that came from London, to his great hinderance (Bull himself being a trader) and going up and down in person to hear what one or another can say against Mr. B. and what not that is arbitrary and tyrannical? So that by this we may see,

1. Their horrible dissembling, lying, and undoubted Hypoc [...]isie, whiles they manifest such monstrous hatred to us, they pretend to im­prison us out of love to us; and yet I think it is more out then in.

2. How we suffer at this day for the word of God, Gospell of Christ, and power of Godlinesse purely; whiles they most falsly possesse the poore ignorant people in the Nation, that now there is no persecution for conscience; for preaching the Word; or for Religion; but only for other matters: and that a man may be as holy as he will, which are lies in Hypocrisi [...].

3. That they are such a greedy sort of persecutors as our persons, lives, bodies, liberties; blood will not serve their turns, but they per­secute our very souls also; for hearing, praying and worshipping of the Lord, yea on the Lords dayes; nor suffering us to have so much a [...] upon the Lords daies any communion with the Saints, or people, or [Page 42]worship of God as much as in them lies.

4. And they are the most impudent [...]ould faced Persecutors (I think) that ever the earth bore; for they justifie and dourish the foulest evils with the fairest Colours that can be; yea pretend so highly for the Lord in all they do, saying let God be glorified, Isa. 66.5. yea, as Zach. 11.4, 5. 'Whose Possessors (Keepers of Go [...]lers) sl [...]y [...]e [...] and hold them­selves not guilty, and they that sell them (for nice, pay, places, or pre­ferment,) 'say blessed be the Lord for we are rich (by it.) Such a pack of Apostates sure were never heard of for craft and cruelty; policy and lying pretences; and indeed it is no [...]ore in my judgment then the face of the Serpent, from w [...] we must and do fly for [...]ree dayes and an half, Rev. 12.14. B [...] the Bal's bitter [...]age is out begun here; he must now make a [...]tive of his faithfull service, and most noble (or rather ignoble) feats [...]ad aten [...]vements to his Masters at Court; by frigating them with a [...]raught report and [...]n invented story of us as dangerous persons [...] of de [...]g [...]es and according to [...]is armed fancies and obsequiousnes [...] to them (his Masters) to [...]all on us, w [...]en their commands shall come; requicing with all an Or [...]e [...] (or at least a [...]i­cence) to prosecute his [...]ell-begotten graceless victory further, & to the full; by powring more contempt on our dear Christ, his Word, his Gospell and holy Spirit; and [...]s the poor prisoners, exiles and wi [...] ­nesses of Jesus; as our most righteous as God, the elect Angells, Church­es, Ministers, S [...]nts and other men, yea the Word and Spirit of God, the three th [...] bear record in heaven with our ow [...] consciences, do d [...]ly bear us witnesse, what ever our enemies have the face to say, to deceive themselves and others with. Wherefore upon the 21. or 22. day of the 11. Moneth the Popes Bull began to roar and goa [...] again more fiercely than formerly, (without any cause shown why) kept us up close pri­soners with incredible cruelty, and (I think among Christians) a most unheard of usage in bani [...]hment, suffering none, man, woman, nor child to come at us; nor our victuals or necessaries to come to us; or any of our families to fetch it in for us, nor any letters to come freely in un­to us, or go from us; but we were in our close prisons as ignorant of the thing as of the Cause till we tried it, (not imagining it had been in men at this day, so far to exceed the very Pagan-powers in their per­secutions in banishment, and yet to pretend there is no persecution) is th [...]y do in their extraordinary Hypocrisie; the Lord pitty us! but [...]hen we would have sent out for provisions the servants was stayed by [...]he Cap [...]ain of the Guard, and told none should go (which he had Or­ders [Page 43]for) nor any provision come to us but by ther hands; which when we heard and knowing already the declar'd principles of the pre­sent Soldiers, whom he had packed out and moddeled (by this time) for his very purpole, to do what ever he bid them do, (those which had any remorse or touch in conscience being cast out or kept out) we perceiv'd clearly their design began now to destroy us, starve us, murther or massacre us, for to make us comply with their lusts, & thus they laid siege against us to conquer us to their side, i. e. to play the Hypocrites, Apostates, perjured wretches and Beasts with them. But we [...]ought the Lord our dear Father of heaven and earth, according to whose Word, Spirit and example of all holy men we resolved (with his grace) to dy, or be starved with a good conscience, rather than to live without; yet we sent a servant to Bull to demand a coppy of his Order for this his unheard of tyranny (in an exile) which he refused, and bid complain if we would, but alas! we had none to complain unto (which he knew) but unto Jehovah t [...]e righteous Judge: (our only refuge and helpor) Yet at length he said he had Orders from his Superiours at White-hall, but would not shew then; in this time it pleased God my poore wife was forely ill, for whom we could not have what she needed, nor any one be suffered to fetch them for money, yea if any woman came but to see her, the Sentinel & Soldiers would not suffer it, and when one Senti­nel was desired but to let one poore woman come in to see her, he said ‘O! what good will it do you to see mee killed before your eyes, I shall be hanged Presently if I should; for I am charged upon pain of death not to let any one come near you, or in unto you;’ yea some friends (at times) coming long, tedious and chargeable journeys, of 20, 30, 40, 60, or 100. miles, some out of the Island and some out of our native land, but to see us and to minister to our necessities, were not suffered, but turned back again at their outward gate (after so great and charge­able journeys) with tears; and some of them before even we knew of it, yea some that we know not of to this day; (pretending 'tis like they would comfort us) and the Maj. Generals man being sent from his own house, dear relations and Family in England to visit him, and so at Newport to buy victuals to bring in unto us (it need were) was car­ried before Bull, to whom he said he was sent to see his Master; but Bull said he was [...], but without he would signe an ingagement which (by this time) [...]ll had drawn up, he said he might be gone again, for he should not so much as see him; and so turned the poore man back a­gain, but t [...]at he had a key to let him in whether he will or no, which [Page 44]till then this Bull did not know of, and thus in an unexpected way he got in to see his Master. But to return to an aliquid amplius which i [...] an aliquid altius their sword-Law and orders against us; so strait was this siege they said against us, that one Mrs. C. getting in but to a pair of staira near our lodge, was forced away least she should see my wife, and threatened if ever she came but into the Castle again, they would be her death and break her neck; and now behold what a providence of our Father (who taketh care for the Sparrows and Worms, cloatheth the Lillies and feedeth the Birds,) did minister unto us in this great strait; there was sent in to the Maj. Gen. by a knight of their own party. not of their make, nor of the post, (peradventure in pitty it being the first and last of that kinde) a little Lamb; and to my poore wise bound up in brown papers (and so undiscovered) a neck of veal from New port, which was most seasonable provision from our gratious good God; yet after all this was gone, and we in wants as before, we prevailed with a little girle of one of the Soldiers, for a piece of money to fetch us a little bread, (we being without) but upon her return they took her, carried her into Bull's hall, and there examin'd, frighted, roughly hand­l d, and threatned her, and would have forced her to say she had earri­ed out a letter too, but the girle knowing that she had nothing but a bit of silver to fe [...]ch us a loaf of brown bread, said she had nothing else, but they yet like rude Soldiers said she had; bid her confesse, or else that she and her friends should suffer for it, but when they could not compell her to ly they left her, and kept her from coming into the Castle any more, to bring us so much as bread. But that, there might be some better colour for this cruelty, this Bull with two or three of his f [...]ll Creatures and Serviteurs had drawn up in Ingagement to bind us or at least our servants in a kinde of recoguizance and an owning of them, and their wayes, and then they should (after they had subscrib­ed) have the liberty to go out for victuals, thinking (it may be) by this time that we either were or that we saw we should be starved into these condition [...], but when we found how insuff'rably barbarous & tyrani­cal they were, that they would impose this upon our consciences for the very bread we should eat, or provision we should buy for our money; or else that we must suffer the utmost they could do against us; we were of the Lord and his holy Spirit perswaded every one of [...] to mantain our ground in Christ, with his principles of grace, (without yielding in the least to such dish nourable tearms of capitulation) by a lively faith, expecting to be relieved from above, (or him that sitteth on the [Page 45]Throne, Isa. 6.1, 2.) and so their conditions imposed were re­fused though we starved, rather than eat their swines flesh possessed of the Devill, as we should have done, by so unworthy a treaty or compo­sition, nor are we (besides the testimony of our own consciences) without witnesses and examples before us in this case, as in Q. Maries dayes we do finde the Persecutors imposing such termes upon consci­ence, for the lives and liberties of the Martyrs, (but never so high as to their meat and drink they eat, before they have it) as these new sort of persecutors do at this day, and yet they would be reputed no per­secutors forsooth, but friends; (O semper fallaces & Millites millies Men­daces) Mr. Bradford Martyr writes to L. Saunders (Fox voll. 3. foll. 321.) ‘Ah! good Brother pray for mee, I think we shall be shortly call'd forth for now legem habent & secundum legem, &c. otherwise will they not reason with us; and I think, their shoot-anchor will be, to have us subscribe, the which if we do though with this condition (so farr a [...] the thing subscribed to, repugneth not Gods word) yet this will be offensive; therefore let us vadere plane and so sane, I mean let us con­fesse that we are no changelings but reipsa, and therefore cannot sub­scribe, except we will dissemble both with God, our selves and the world.’ Thus hee, and yet this Wretch would have us Changelings in these matters of our faith and conscience, to sudscribe before we shall haue a servant go out for bread for us, or before any friend shall see us, &c. and that without any such condition or clause as good Bradford speaks of, viz. (so far as repugneth not the word of God) and yet they have the face to print, publish & pulpit it, that this is no persecution; but by this (as prescious Bradford also said Fox voll. 30. p. 320.) so may we see evidently, if we will not adorare Bestiam we shall nevre be deliver­ed (it is to be feared) but against their will, nay we shall not so much as eat, or write to any of our sad condition in the flesh; but fides famem non formidat, faith fetches bread from heaven Joh. 6.51, 58. which the Sonne of man gives ver. 27. for him hath God the Father sealed. Even so Amen. O my hearts this makes John leap in my wombe and grace in my heart, under so great tryals, but sweet teaching Fatherly provi­dences and dispensations, as Basil said of Barlaam, he delighted in his close prison as in a pleasaut green meddow, and he took pleasure in the several inventions of cruelty, as in several fragrant and redolant flow­ers. But the tryals which my poore wife was pinched with made it much the greater to mee in this lone condition, and yet am not left comfortlesse, for the Lord is with mee, sends his ministring Spirit un­to [Page 46]to mee, and keeps mee hitherto above all, in him who is listed up to draw all men after him, Job. 12.32. and therefore as my dear Lord Je­sus said, I hope I may say in my little measure and capacity, Joh. 8.29. 'He that sent mee (hither) is with mee: the Father hath not left mee a­lone, 'for I do (I trust through his grace) those things that please him. So Job. 16.32. 'And yet I am not alone because the Father is with mee, and the cup which my Father hath given mee should I not drink? yes surely with a hearty draught. Upon the 25. day of this 11. moneth (our wants encreasing with their cruelty) I had much comfort in my Spirit, with patience and joy bearing this Crosse of Christ, and indeed in wardly glorying therein, (for as Cyprian saies Ep. 5. Gloriosa voce De­um confessi qui in Carcere, &c. The most glorious voice is in prison) but this it seems was to fit mee for an encounter with these cruel Leopards, [...]aging Herodians and Beasts of Ephesus, thorough whose hands (or whose handlings and leavings) we must eat, and be dieted, or not at all by their wills; but this was good physick to our soules, blessed be our God. This day did a godly Minister Mr. S. of New-port get in, to a lodg of C. F. with exceeding desire to see us, & [...] friend of the said town had sent us a cold Pye, but the honest man which brought it was car­ried before Bull, with his Pye, with whom he had for a long time plea­ded, (near an houre) for liberty to come in to my lodge and bring the pye, but at last, and with much difficulty, he obtained leave for a quarter of an houre, with a Corporall at his elbow to peep into our prison upon us, who (poore man) with tears and troubles did deli­ver it, and left this with us before the Corporals face, that these cruell persecutors so far exceeding them (in this matter) that we read of in the Book of Martyrs, had (by all he could perceive) some bloody design against us, and that this present tyranny upon us was but in order to it; but he prayed us to be [...]h [...]arfull in the Lord, for they could but kill the body; I hearing of the minister of Christ steped to the lodge where he was, & the Soldier at my heeds, but they put him out again at the gate presently, and would not suffer us so much as at the ga [...]e to see one an­other, though at a distance and with Souldiers between us; so I was returning in again to my own prison full of comfort in my Spirit at all this, and presently I heard several at once (the Serjeant Corporal & Soldiers) falling upon the honest man who had brought the Pye with very vile and blasphemous language, for that (it seems) he, as he was going out at the gate, with tears did exhort them to take heed of what they did, and to beware of persecuting and offending of Christ little [Page 47]ones, &c. but they brake out many at once what? what? preaching? we will have no preaching, no sermonizing, none of the Spirit, begon abouty our business? what you turn preacher too? all preachers now? with much more of such ungracious and unsavoury stuffe, at which I confesse my heart aked, and by a mear providence, hearing God and his ordinances so blasphemed and mocked at; I could not but turne mee (contrary to my intention or purpose) to them, and particu­larly spake to one King saying, O Sirs! O I am sory to hear such word from you, indeed I did hope better things, then so to scoff and mocke at preaching, at the Word, and Spirit; indeed I have scarce heard the like, or worse from the worst Cavaleres, and will you immitate them in this also; O alas Sire! consider what you do? whom you speak against and despightfully use? you should do well your selves to be reading praying, and preaching to one another; & not so unchri­stian like to blaspheme and scoffe thereat? at which they were incen­sed, and turned upon me, brustling like wilde Boars whose tusks were whetted in their own foam, and so fell bitterly upon mee, and told mee I was their prisoner, and I did not know it; meaning (I suppose) for that I durst be so bold as to reprove them. I told them I was the Lords freeman for all that, and therefore could not but speak for the Lord, for whose sake I was willing to suffer bonds, but said K. the Ser­jeant you are not in prison for the Lord, for what then said I? nay! faies he they that sent you hither knows why, truly said I, but I know not then, neither do they they that keep me here I believe; for I am sure in none of their Orders, or Mittimusses that ever I could see yet did they ever signify any cause why they committed me, and have kept me now in severall prisons near two years already, and in banishment; but as the Town-cleark answered the hurly burly, Acts 19. Yee have here (in prison) men that are neither robbers nor blasphemers, and yet you use us worse then the very [...]st Rogues in New-gate Robbers or Blasphemers are used, for they if they have money can send for meat to cat, or be ministred to, or receive Letters & necessaries; but you hinder us most tyrannically and unjustly by your ungodly Swords, even from our very necessaries, without Law of God, or Nation, Reason, Equity or Conscience, wherefore, as Acts 19.38. If we are transgressors and you have matter against us, the Law is open, why do you not try us? but if not, why do you thus use us? who have done you no wrong? Nay and now too my wise being so ill, and she that is with us for a ser­vant lame, &c. O search into your consciences! for you never treat­ed [Page 48]the Cavaleres so bruitishly here with you. Nay you could give the Cavaleres that were here, liberty to go abroad and ride about, to New­port, and up and down to Alehouses, drinking, feasting, gaming and commiting sinne every day, and partake with them too in it, yet we must gnaw upon the bitt and be kept without bread; is this righteous in the sight of God? Corporall Haddiwayes answered me, that we were worse then the Cavaleres therefore; and S.K. said in a scoffing manner give me money and i'le go fetch you things! Ah! said I to S. K. (for I directed my speech to one) now you have declared your painciples to be to obey Orders whatsoever they be, you say so? When if a Superi­our Officer do bid you in your ear, put two penny worth of poysonor Ratsbane into the meat or what you buy for us, you must do it you say, and the sinn be upon them that bid or ordered you, no! no! it is dan­gerous dealing with men of your principles; then I perceived their teeth were on edge to be upon mee, and one bad mee be gone in, but being warm in my Spirit Quo magis illi furunt eo amplius procedo, as Luther said, I told them that I was doing no harme, and prayed them to con­sult with the word of God, about their present condition, but then came out an old man and bid mee be gone in, I told him I was about the Lords worke, and did no harm, nor was I ever forbid to stand in that place where I stood, and I did think it as good ground to stand on, as that in my prison; but now they began fierce upon me many at once, like so many wide-mouthed Wolves to fall on, as if they would not have left the bones untill the morrow, and out came Bull, who imediat­ly without hearing mee gave them either the sign or the word, to fall upon mee, notwithstanding I cryed out unto him, what have I done? only rebuked sin and blasphemy, &c. but he was farr more barbarous than the Heathen chief Captain of the band, Acts 21.31, 32. who as soon as he came they left beating of Paul, and he rescued him, yea then the Captain and his Officers, Acts 5.26, who brought them without vio­lence; but this worse than Heathen was hot in his Gall and greedy, Surdis auribus sed plenis faucibus; he commanded and encouraged them, and looked on and directed them with his Cane to do it, and as soon as he came, the cruell Souldiers armed as for a combate, fell thick upon me with their bent fists bearing, & some haling as if they had intended my death forth with, Acts 21.31. Colaephis & verberibus pluentes & grandi­nantes, and after a while two or three of them, espeially S. King the Cap tain of the Guard then, cryed out, let us carry him to the Dungeon, to to the Dungeon, to the Dungeon, to the Dungeon with him, at which [Page 49]I was by some hawled and turned about that way; and then I sayd as they were thrusting, pulling, and strikeing mee: Yea, yea, with all my heart, with all my heart, I rejoice more therein, for I shall finde my dear Christ there I am sure, it is sweeter than a Chamber for this cause; I shall finde my God there as well as in my Chamber, do what you can! and indeed I was refreshed thereat; and now, now I think of John Carelesse his comforts in prison, F [...]x voll. 3. page 716. ‘I am dispo­sed to be merry to sing and dance with David before the Arke, (saies he to Mr. Bradford) and though you play upon a pair of Or­gons i. e. in the Stocks) not very easie to the flesh, yet the sweet sound that cometh from the same causeth me to do thus, that I may sing all care a way in Christ: for now the time of comfort is come: (mean­ing by greater afflictions for Christ) I hope to be with you shortly, for my old friends of Coventry have put the Councill in remembrance of mee, saying I am more worthy to be burn'd than any that hath been burned: Gods blessing on their hearts for so good report, God make me worthy, and hasten the time, &c.’ Thus in effect I said, and my Spi­rit leaped; but when they saw my comfort and courage in it, when they cryed out to the Dungeon, to the Dungeon with mee, they were daunted at that, and then hawled mee up a pair of stairs, at the foot of which came some fresh Souldiers to help the rest who were weary with haling, and abusing me; one Robert Jenkins, particularly with his fists ready bent, first held them to my face to shew mee them, to whom I said Ah! I know your weapons, and then he fell upon mee [...]main, these greedy bruits learning no other way of preferment and favour with the grand Goaler Bull, before whose eyes he shewed his valour in violence, but by such exploits, as we say that when they cannot shoot men, they will shoot Pigeons or any thing; Bull with others crying and following, as Acts 21.36. and John 19.15. Away with him, away with him; Ah said I! So did the Souldiers deal with my Lord Jesus, and the servant is not greater than his Lord. But O thou Hypocrite, doest thou professe the Word or read it, and yet contrary to the word of God, Law, or Reason, bi [...]st thy men to abuse mee thus without any cause, the Lord will judge the for thy Hypocrisie and contempt; doth not the Word say to Souldiers, do violence to no man, Luke 3.14. &c. but this renewed their rage and roughnesse, and then this Serjeant King as if he had been at Cuffs for his life fell on a fresh with his fists, doubled his blows about my head, neck and shoulders, so unreasonably that some of their Creatures cryed to him hold your hand, stay your hands, hold [Page 50]your hands; but I said, Ah! Lord my God look thou downe, but do you strike on Sirs, strike, strike, strike, for my Lord Jesus Christ takes these blows (for his sake) well at my hands, though I am sure not at yours; O it is sweet to be buffeted for Christ, &c. But as they had of­ten done before, they mocked at Jesus, pish Christ saies the Captain Haddyway, what talk you of Christ, O said I! that you would talke of him and walk in him more too; yea and yet I will talk of him who is my most sweet Jesus, and this is Christianity, thus to suffer for him. But they (some hawling, some thumping, and some beating) had got­ten mee up a wrong pair of stairs, and when they knew that, they never staid to let mee come down nor offer'd it, but some at my back thrust­ing, some at each side, and S. King at my hands pull'd me out at length, with the Corporall all at once pulled mee down (at one pluck) the stairs (as if they had rent mine arm from my shoulders) but falling upon other Souldiers by the gracious providence of my most dear Fa­ther, I was preserved; my poor wife beeing by (and the maid) schre­ching and crying; and then they hawled mee (almost spent out of breath) the other pair of stairs, and at the doore of the room wherein they with such cruelty carri'd me, & where I now am. They renewd their violence with such redoubl'd strength & atrocity, that several of them laying hold on mee, some at my back, some on shoulders, and some at sides, cast mee headlong (who not knowing their design could not prevent it) with such an united force, fiercenesse, fury and wrath, as if they meant no longer to dally but dash mee in pieces; so that the least they could have conceived thereon, was to have broken my bones or put them out of joint; imitating those Savage Spirits filled with wrath, which carried my most blessed Saviour to the brow of the hill, Luke 4.28, 29. That they might cast him down headlong; but the same God that delivered him, delivered also me (a poore wretch not worthy to be named, much lesse honoured thus) and that by a very mar­vellous appearance, for in the fall, my head and face were preserved from the battery of the ground, by lighting upon the armes and shoul­ders of the maid and one of my children, the blow of which threw both them also to the ground but my face was so-preserved, though my body bruised with the fall, which fall I perceived rejoyced the bloody spectators at their hearts, (and if otherwise, it was I think that I was not quiet killed with the fall,) as Tully saies, Quia totum telum in corpore non recepisset; to whom I turned with these words, passing thorough tears unto them: ‘Well Sirs, now you have done thus; O that I could [Page 51]entreat you but to search into the Scriptures and see if you finde any warrant there for this practise, if you do, then the Lord give you the blessing of it; but it not then the most righteous God convince you of it, or judge you for it;’ and this was all I said to them, knowing they were heardened, and at these few wordes and tears they fell a scoffing, and there left mee, where I now am at the writing of this with very great consolation and joy thorough believing, for as much as these verbera were ubera full duggs for my soule to suck out of.

And 1. Methinks I now may say I begin to be the Minister of Christ (who is indeed a Theologus Crucis) and the Servant of Christ Jesus, and companion with Christ in the world; as Ignatins when he came to the Wilde Beasts to be devoured, his bones broken, his blood sucked, and his whole body crushed with them. Now (saies he) now I begin to be a Christian. It is nothing to be accounted and go for currant Christians (as all are almost in England) with ease, pleasure, delights, estates and worldly enjoyments; so to become Ministers of Christ with out the Crosse or Tryalls; but for all that, they will not stand for such before the Lord, who fall not in with the Crosse of Christ in the Gene­ration-suffering, for the witnesse of Jesus; your dainty mincing Pro­fessors who are afraid of sufferings at this day, shall be shut out in that day when the Bridegroom comes, for Christianus is Crucianus and Lucia­nus saith Luther.

Obj. But we live not under such Persecutors as the former Saints did, who were headed, hanged, burned, fleaed, braten, broken on racks, tossed on Bulls horns, rent and torne of Wild-Beasts, broyled on Gridyrons, starved, stoned, &c.

Answ. 1. No! if you did, I do wonder where we should finde a Christian then; or them that would come running to the tortures as those Martyrs, wearying the Tyrants with their faith, courage and con­stancy to their teeth, as they did, when indeed ye are afraid of and faint at a little plundering, prisonment, banishment, soft beatings, and easy deaths for the Testimony of our dear Jesus who now suffers.

2. Yet we have such persecutors of Christ and his cause at this day, as would not spare us, were we as high, as resolute, and of as noble a spi­rit for Christ, as the former Martyrs; who had not learned the State-policy of Professors (now adays) to spare themselves and comply a lit­tle, and not to run themselves into sufferings, (for so they call it) but they rather can to them, accounting it their glory, challenged and provoked (in a manner) the Tyrants: Now it is not so much because our present Nimrods, and Oppressors, are better than the former Tyrants, [Page 52]as because we (poore low Spirited Christians, and white liverd milg­sops) are worser and indeed a shame to the Saints and Martyrs of for­mer dayes, that we suffer so little for Christ our Lord, Ah, a las! we love indulge, ease and pamper the flesh more than the former Saints ever did or durst.

3. To answer this objection with Mr. Burroughs out of Salvian, I must say to them then, the lesse they have to show of passive obedience, the more they are to show of active, (& plus ei fides & devotio nostra debet quia minora a nobis exigit, &c.) and the greater faithfullnesse, constancy and courage in the present tryalls, for as there was such a magnimity and Spirit in the suffering Saints as made the whole world wonder, ama­zed, and think them mad, desperate, and besides themselves, so is there to be in the acting Saints at these dayes, who are to make it a sporte, play and pleasure to them, to run upon Cannon-mouthes, Sword-points, and on thousands for one, in the service of Christ; therefore let us looke to it, that we make amends that way; and that the world may say of us also (for the active part) such men were never heard off.

2. I had my singuler consolation too, that the Lord hath made it my lot to fall into this fierce Bulls hands, of any; because he hath not his fellow in this dominion that I can hear of, for all manner of brui­tish and barbarous tyranny, unreasonable & insatiable cruelty, so that Bonner I believe had not a more apt Goaler for his turn in those times, (if Cluny or Alexander came near him;) Wherefore let not my words be thought the complaints of a squeamish Spirit, for I assure you I do heartily digest all he can do against thee, and if it were said of Luther that pascitur conviciis, I may say it with no little soul solace, that pascor con­viviis in verberibus: And with Ʋincentius to one of his Persecutors, ne­ver any man served me better then you have served, the Lord be praised; for as B [...]enham said when the fire was kindled as his feet, Me thinks you strew roses at my feet. I may bless the Lord for thee Bull, who bidst them fall on mee, for me thinks every blow is a b [...]ast of milke to mee, whom thou and thy masters would starve, and will be a Crown of glory, Sic credo & edo, propter te domine, propter te.

This is an honour so high to suffer thus, at the holy Angells are not capable of, but those whom God will advance above the very Angells; wherefore sing and shout, and leap for joy O my Soul, and all within mee, What? that such a poore sinfull worme, and pittifull shrub as I am? should be call'd to so high and holy a calling; Lord make mee thankfull, and fruitfull, and faithfull, Amen.

4. For that it is so teaching a dispensation, O it is good! it is good to be beaten into more good, rather than be with out it; for these blows do make my head ring with the musicks of heaven, as my heart and reins do beat after thy will O God; for Ioe in the vollume of thy book (a volvendo rowled up in my heart) Heb. 10. it is written I come to do thy will O God: Therefore I say (as I am perswaded) Zegedine's blowes who was beaten so bitterly by the Kings treasurers could not be so sweet as these: It is said that Dominicus his mother when she was with child of him dreamed that she had a wolfe in her, flaming with fire out of his mouth. Such a flame came out of thy mouth, O fierce Bull, as shall be sure to burn the up, (like Samsons Foxes) in the field which thou thy selfe hast set on fire; for thy wickednesse burneth as fi [...]e, Isa. 9.18. In the mean time it is a most teaching dispensation to be beaten and buffet­ed for Christ, which hath made this prison so precious a School to me, that I think I may say Mihi idem qui solem fecit majus in Carcere lumen fuit. He that made the Sun, hath been a greater light to mee than the Sun in this prison.

5. Nor is it fit we should loose such fruit as this is, by our sinfull si­lence; for as Solomon saies, Eccles. 3.7. ‘There is a time to speak and a time to be silent, and Isa. 62.6. Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence;’ to be silent in such a day of rebuke and blasphemy as this is, is a crying sin, wherefore saies Luther to Staupitius, ‘When Christ suffers, is condemned and blasphemed, it is not a time to be a­fraid, but to cry out aloud; yea saies he, let men call mee what they will, Inveniar sane super [...]us avarus, Adulter, Homicida, Antipapa, & om­nium vitiorum rens, modo impii silentii non arguar dum Dominus patitur.’ Proud, Covetous, Adulterous, or as monstrous a Miscreant as ever li­ved, rather then I be found silent, when the Lord, his name, his Cause, or Christ suffers. But I say I have the Seal of the Lords acceptance, and Jehovah-Shammah is my company in this close bonds and banishment, to whom I say, as Psal. 69.19. ‘Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour; mine adversaries are all before thee.’

But to proceed.

In this condition thus beaten and bruised I was laid down, and fear being that my bruises were most inward, which as yet I but little felt, means was used (to have liberty but) to send out for a little Parmy-Cit­terne and Snow water to drink for an inward bruise, which they refu­sed to suffer, with more barbarous tyranny than the very enemies in warre show to wounded prisoners; and nothing nere to the compas­sion [Page 54]of that Goaler in Acts 16. who washed Pauls and Silas wounds; nor to the kindnesse of the Barbarians to Paul at Melita, Acts 28. the greater will be their judgement: When I began to be cold and stiff, I b [...]gan to feel their blows sore indeed, but by a good providence of the Lords, the Maj. Generall had a precious ointment and salve for such purposes as to outwards bruises, which I used; this horrible Ty­ranny of theirs took report round the Island and into England (our own Land) quickly, notwithstanding their close restraint of us and open reports against us; and this begun by the means of a poor Bar­ber then in the Castle, who carried the said news of this sad Tragedy to Newport, where the next day being Market, It abounded and so spread of a sudden; but this poor Barber was brought before Bull for it and hardly escaped, yet the Truth (which is alwayes best to stand to) set him free from them: Then their work was to lay their heads together to kill this report, by spreading it otherwise and denying that ever they abused, beat, or bruised me whiles they kept us with our mouthes stopt by close imprisonment, notwithstanding some dayes after when I stirred forth again, I offered to shew them the marks they had given me, both my self, Wife, and the Maid being black and blew in divers places divers dayes after on the one and thirtieth of the eleventh Month. After this Bull sent word (with an engagement to them) we might send out for things, which was the first time they offered so much to me, but I could not compound with them in a Cause which was none of my own to compound in, and in these straits we had another (seasonable) experience from our Father; for with the compassions which Christians about the Island and in Newport had to hear of our sufferings and want of provisions, they sent a man and we desired him to come to the Prison gates with some provisions (as bread and meat, &c.) every seaventh day, and a woman once a week with Butter [...] us to buy, and although they were threatened for coming, yet they made Conscience thereof and continued it to the praise of our dear God in this our extremity; so that we had some provision brought to us for our money at last, notwithstanding the vexation of the enemie [...] (for so they have declared they are) thereat, searching, handling, tossing and tumbling our provisions in their hands up and down, yea, throwing the very Butter in the dirt after we have bought it, and examining the very bones of the meat for Let­ters (as they pretended) or some other secret designes; such are the dreads of the Lord upon them; this hath already continued upon us [Page 55]above twelve weeks, and how long it may we know not, but this we know; not too long so long as our heavenly Father hath the dispo­sall thereof. Some may think us somewhat of stinate not to engage or subscribe unto them, rather than be starved or so used as we are to this day; but indeed it is a comfortable obstinacy then, and for my Christ onely (may I say for my self) whose Cause I cannot with a good conscience betray upon a composition with his enemies (notwith­standing why saies Bull? cannot you say, it was forct and so not be bound to it? such is his Art) and besides the fore-named Presidents before me, it is a memorable and wothy testimony of that godly Mar­tyr Shetterden (Fox. vol. 3. Page 375.) to his Persecutors when they asked him, if he would but promise to submit, and he should de deli­vered; saies he, I am not so much bound to you to grant any such promise: and again you shall well knew that I would not promise to go crosse the street for you: but if I did offend the Law let me have the punishment, I ask no fa­vour. And altough this was accounted obstinacy in him, yet he chose to be burnt first, and so was rather than accept of his liberty upon a promise: So Strigelius would not promise not to preach (of one point about the Sacrament which his Persecutors desired) for his Professorship. How many more might I name? and what is this ob­stinacy (if they call it so) but the same with the primitive Saints, who would not cast one grain into the fire to save their lives! and shall we? God forbid! but as Nich. Shetterden said. He that kept off the ban­dog [...] at staves end, not as thinking to escape them, but that I would see (saies he) those Foxes leap above ground for my bloud, if they have it: And shall not I for my most dear Lord, make these gaping Leopards get it then saliendo, saliendo, by sweat and leaping for it too? that all men may see they are greedy of it, whiles they give out they desire it not; yea surely. Notwithstanding all this, their cruelty was yet the greater to me in that they knew I had no estate, nothing to live upon, nor would they suffer one to minister unto me or mine, nor one to come in; and such as have sent in have (hitherto) mis­carried; I have heard of some Letters with tokens sent to me, and at one time of five or six together, but I never received more than one (with six shillings and two Cheeses to this day, being above this twelve weeks now) the tokens not onely causing the Letters to mis­carry, whether through the hands of these Souldiers or no, I am not sure, but Bull himself keeping some of them from me; and then they report about we are bloudy men, bloudy men; laying (Athaliah like) [Page 56]thereon guilt upon the Lords poor innocent ones, saying; they inter­cepted Letters which shew it. The Maid went to this upper-Goaler for so me of my Letters after he had done with them, read and shewn them to many with much scoffing, but he said they were not fit for such a fel­low as I, but bid her tell me, when I was sober & out of my frantick fits I should have them, she saying, why Sr. you have never seen him distempe­red yet; he threatened to kick her down stairs, if she held not her tongue, calling her mis-names, and afterwards bid her pack up and begone forth with that day for that none should live with us but of his chusing; my Wife all this while being very ill, onely our gracious God and Father in Christ, bears up her spirit through their cruelty, which is so great, that a very Letter sent to her for a Diet-drink he kept from her a long time, till much ado was made for it; and so in his malice doth he keep me either from sending or receiving one Letter, though not a word be mentioned of the Government or matters which they accompt offensive; and the Carriers of this Island are strictly warned we hear, not to bring or receive our Letters for us but shall bring them all to him: A Letter which the Maj. Generalls man wrote to send out, after it had passed his approbation was returned back again, writ upon in the sides (and after so sent out) with a most ungracious unsavoury spirit mocking and flouting me therein by name; saying, I was in one of those fits which I was in, when I was tyed to my bed; by which he meant my condition (in the way which the Lord took to my conversion) which he had read in my Book of Church Discipline, among the Experiences of the Work of grace therein recorded, which he made so much mocking and scoffing at, to such of the Clergy and o­thers of the Souldiers that came to him, as argues clearly the little Experiences which he hath of the grace of God in him, or of any soul-deliverance; but this so prophane a foul-mouthed Ismalite; this so irreligious a rayling Rabshekah, may be so miserable in soul and body for want of such experienc [...]s and deliverances, that he one day, may (and shall if he make not hast for paenitentia sera, rare est vera) seek them with tears and find no place of repentance, to which judge­ment I must leave him, accompting these reproaches greater riches to me than the treasures of Aegypt.

But for all this and an incomparable abundance more from day to day of our sufferings which I might write, we are accompted no suf­ferers, nor this any persecution by the present Apostates and Time-servers; yea, and notwithstanding all this tyranny and cruelty to us [Page 57]my Wife and Children, and all the Family kept close prisoners with such heavy and unreasonable provocations every day; two Officers of the A [...]my did professe to us that in their hearing, Bull is much bla­med at White Hall for not being more strict and riggid unto us, and suf­fering us so much as he does (which is but the very ayre to breath in) and he doth what he can to discontinue us in that; therefore ô Lord God of righteousnesse do thou declare whether this be a persecution or no! for as the enemies report it, men will not believe it, though the Cavaliers, nay Newgate Thieves and Whores are not so cruely handled at this day! and they pretend a power too, and do easily for­give Adultry and such wickednesse; onely we ô Lord the Sheep of thy passure, the Flock of thine inheritance are thus rudely handled every day! and th [...]y do never think they have done enough unto us, but so be it for thy sake Amen! Amen!

It was deemed ridiculous aswell as most rigorous in the hottest of the Warrs upon the worst of enemies, to have imposed what they do daily upon us, and yet they have the face to justifie it, as if it were nothing: Wherein we observe 1. the exceeding horrible height of their impudence and Hypocrifie, of whom may be said as Jer. 3.3. Thou hadst a Whor [...] forehead thou refusest to be ashamed. And secondly Their cruel subtilty, whiles they are whipping and beating us, they bid us be quiet and patient; like the tyrannicall Step-dame that knocks, beats, and makes the poor childe to cry, and then whips him with­out mercy for crying, and saies he may thank himself; they call for patience and bid us be patient in our sufferings, whiles they are laying on upon us till they make us cry out and then they say, it is our im­patience, such an unreasonable generation of men are our Goalers, Persecutors and Murderers; yea, they pretend Plots, and do this least there should be any [...]sings, when indeed by their unsupportable oppressions, persecutions, and provocations they do all they can to stir us up whether we will or no unto it, for the necessary preservation of our lives, liberties, relations, Religion and consciences from their so monstruous inhumanity, and persecution in hypocrisie. Thirdly, that they put us into the worst Prisons, and hardest persecutions, yea, bait us with the wickedest and worst persons they can finde out, men of the most notorious debauched principles, practises, scandall, impudence and Atheisme; and all this too in pretence of love to us, as appears in their Orders for removal from Sandham Fort, and so they said in my last removall from Arten House, it was for my better [Page 58]accommodation, but indeed it was for my more bitter affliction in the flesh and worse usage (except my dear companions company) though my most dear God makes the worst the best, the greatest the least, the bitterest the sweetest, the hardest the easiest, the most afflict­ing the most refreshing unto us in Christ; and herein do I rejoyce, yea, and will rejoyce more abundantly; yet no thank to them who speak lyes in hypocrisie having their consciences feared with an hot iron, 1 Tim. 4.2. although indeed all my sufferings in the Prisons in England were nothing to be compared to these in this most barbarous wildernesse and Kennell of wilde Beasts. Fourthly, we see by this what it is to be ruled by the sword, and it is evident by what Law their Cause and Government stands, and what a miserable sad servitude those people are in, who are ruled by the sword, which hath neither eyes nor ears, but pro ratione voluntas. For as the Dragon Heathens, Turks, and Papists do support their Governments by such force, ty­ranny and imprisoning, so do these which stand no longer than vio­lence keeps them up; and which are as sure to be destroyed, when the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stuble Obed. 18. Wherefore if any upright hearts among the Souldiers do yet remaine, they may remember the story of Marinus, who in a time of great Apostacy for his faithfulnesse to Christ, had like to loose his preferment which fell to him in the Army, at which he began to stagger being desirous yet to hold his place, till Theodistus met him in the Temple and in the Name of the Lord laid before him a Sword and the New-Testament, bidding him choose which he would have, for he could hold but one, and the other must go; at which his heart was smit: so he blessed God, left the Sword and chose the Gospell. So Souldier do I set before thee thy choise, for thou canst not hold both (hower'e thou deceivest thy self) or serve the Beast and the Lamb, both at once.

5. The impudent practice of the lying slandrous reports of us, breaks out either immediately before an intended mischief to us, or assoon as they have done it, to colour over their tyranny with as monstruous untruths as the Papists, who reported that Junius had cloven-feet like a Beast: Sometimes they report us mad and frantick as Persecutors have done. And so doth Bull and his Masters make as if we wanted senses when we are fullest of the Holy Ghost, witnessing [...] our dear Christ against their rotten interest and hypocrisie, but as [...] said when the Praefect told him he was mad sed optome in aeternum [Page 59]sic delirare, I wish I may be ever madd then, and sometimes as (we finde before of Bull) like Morgan to Philpot (Fox vol. 3.572.) they fall a raving and blaspheming of God and his tabernacle, and abusing us as if we were not sober: So said Morgan, ‘I ween it to be the spirit of the Butterie, which your fellowes have had that have bee burned be­fore you, who were drunck the night before they went to be burnt, and I ween went drunken to it. But it appeareth (saith Philpot) you are better acquainted with the spirit of the Buttery than with the Spirit of God: Wherefore I must now tell thee, saies he, (and so say I to thee thou raging Bull with the very same spirit and autho­rity of the great Judge of Heaven and Earth) thou painted Wall and Hypocrite, in the Name of the living Lord (whose truth I have told thee) that God shall rain fire and brimstone upon such scorners of his Word and blasphemers of his people as thou art: Thy foolish blasphemies have compelled the Spirit of God which is in me to say thus unto hee, O thou enemy of all Righteousnesse, and I tell thee thou Hypocrite, I passe not this for thy fire and faggots (or what thy bloudy heart can do unto me) neither I thank God my Lord, stand I in fear of the same: my faith in Christ shall over-come them: But hell fire is thy portion and is prepared for thee (except thou speedily repent) yea the hottest of hell for such Hypocrites as thou art, according to that old Proverb which Math.’ Paris mentions in Hist. An. Dom. 1072. Pavimentum inferni rasis sacrificulorum verticibus, & Magnatum galeis stratum esse, that Hell is paved as the very bottome with the Skulls of the Priests, and the Head-pieces of their Protectors (or the great ones) and I leave thee in thine Hypocricy till the judge­ment come: At other times we are reported fooles, and that is a ve­py pleasant reproach too, but as Lactantius saies, Lib. 5. c. 12. Con­temnite, ridete, si libet; nobis enim stultitia nostra prodest, non in videmus sapientiae vestrae hane stultitiam malumus, hanc amplectimur, &c. go on, scorn, deride and flout us as long as you list, for this (our) foolish­nesse profits us, and we envy not your wisedome or principles of po­licy, but had rather have this foolishnesse still; and so for all your other reproaches which are chiefest riches, Heb. 11.26. wherein we rejoyce and make a jest of them and of all they can do unto us, and if so be I should give no offence to a more serious spirit, in so good and serious a Cause as ours is, me thinks I might put this Bull (who is so busie in lying, railing, and slandering of us) in mind of the Majors answer to the people, who complained of the ugly looks of the Rood, [Page 60](Fox vol. 3. p. 107.) Go you home (saies he) look on it, and if it will not serve for a God, make no more ado but clap a pair of Horns on his Head, and so he will make an excellent Divill; for I am perswaded, if the Divil be truly called Accuser, Slanderer, Calumniator, a little matter more will make him one. I would not have used this liberty now, had not Grynaeus (an Orthodox as we say) said true and seriously that Pontifici Romano Erasmum plus nocuisse jocando quam Lutherum stomachando; Erasmus did the enemy more mischief by jesting, than Luther did by his angry, stomachfull and yet more solid resisting of him.

6. It appeareth a plain designe to starve us, or reduce us to such extre­mity as might make us to stoop, and so to betray our consciences and our Christ in this Cause, as appeared by their imposing of condi­tions upon us and the servants, for the meat we must eat, if they went out to fetch us in any; besides as to my own particular, I confesse their conditions were most hard to me and my Family in the passive part, though my gracious Father made them easie and sweet to be born; but they, knowing I lived by providence (having no means Land, house, or estate to live upon) kept back not onely all people, but all letters from coming or ministring unto me, notwithstanding our Lord Jesus was ministred unto, Luke 8.3. Joanna the wife of Chuza Herods Steward, and Susanua and many others ministred unto him of their substance, and so we finde the Heathens suffered this in Acts 24.23. He commanded a Centurian to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. But yet this was and is a sweet time unto me, for me thinks I am fasting, and sometimes filling and eating many a time with my Lord Jesus, of his broiled fish, and barley bread blessed be his Name, who for our sakes became poor, 2 Cor. 8 9. that through his poverty we might be made rich. I also was made the more sensible of the primitive sufferings (as I said before) and was as one with them in my spirit, insomuch as I chose rather to be in such a condition even unto death and to want bread all my dayes (I have sometimes thought) than to have been out of it, so sweet the Lord hath made unto me by his teaching presence, as I cannot expresse; and besides what eminent Servants of the Lord have been forgotten by their Brethren (as our blessed Jesus his own Disciples all left him at the Crosse) yea, aad were brought to pover­ty, as buried alive almost; so Musculus his poverty was such as drove him to day labour, and to lye in straw, but I had neither; and Pareus begged in his way as he went to the Palatinate, but what was this to [Page 61]thousands of the Saints of old, besides of late Hooper, Cranmer, &c. all this upon me being onely because I would not perdere substantiam propter accidentia, loose my Christ for a Crown, nor Conscience for Coin, which doubtlesse I might have had enough in my own Coun­trey, if I had sought or accepted of a desire to O. C. for his grace to remove me near to my Acquaintance and Friends at Londan, which my poverty in the world might call for more than any others, who would not have suffered me to want, which notwithstanding the Lord of his mercy prevented by, the help of my honoured Con-captivated Co-exiles and other waies, and of his great grace gave unto me in this dispensation, least I should seek a carnall Kingdome, or have such things in mine eyes, whiles the Kingdome of Christ (yea none but Christ) is our continuall cry, I remember Lots wife lyes at the entry of such temptations. 5. In that he that bids us c [...]st our care upon him 1 Pet. 5.7. and take no thought for our life, what we should eat, or what we should drink, or what we should put on, Mat. 6.25. hath done it for no by such speciall providences in our greatest emergencies and extre­mities, yea and over and above, ministred so much inward comfort unto us from himself & the whole Creation, that for want of other out­ward company, he makes the very flyes that swarm in the ayre (and are an offence to others, and as in Aegypt, so now in Jamica such a plague unto them poor hearts) a refreshing unto us, which I am glad to see I confesse, and to have the company in this close prison-exile? but besides these there be some other particular experiences as teaching to me.

1. In that I am all along so clearly and constantly under the Beasts rage, as if I were (I think) more than others, particularly aimed at, for their goaring, gushing, horning, worrying and grievous per­secuting from one Prison to an other, both in my Native Countrey and in Exile, especially since I have been hurried about in this I­sland and put to Bulls and Boremans, who obey the Orders of the Beast; but especially in the first's very bruitish and indeed barbarous (unrea­sonabl [...]) pushing sharp horns, so that it is evident I am thus used by the Beasts Dominion & spirit; & I have indeed declared to the Court-crea­tures more mercy to be in any Dungeon in England. I remember that Purchase in his Pilg. ch. 10. tells us of one that did write of the first Creation of the Chaos, and first confusion before the world was crea­ted, in which lived monstrous creatures, having two or more formes, like Centaures; some Bulls too that were headed like men and doggs. [Page 62]with divers bodies, but I leave such fancies to the Adamites, onely I dare affirm in this Chaos and confusion (which precedes the new-creation) of new heaven and earth, men are very monstrous in their principles and actions, and wild Bulls do bear the faces of men to flatter with, in this serpent-estate of the old world, whose hired men are like Bul­locks, Jer. 46.21. but as Jer. 50.27. Slay all her Bulls: let them go down to the slaughter, wo unto them for their day is come, the time of their visita­tion, O Lord! rebuke the company of spear-men the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself.

2. In that my most gracious over-ruling Father hath made the ene­my to imprison and persecute me, not onely is the same way and spi­rit, but in the very same places where the Martyrs of old were impri­soned and persecuted, which did refresh me indeed; as at Lambeth, that old Butchers shop and shambles of the Saints, where so many (even Wickliff himself and all along since) have suffered, their rings whereto they were chained remaining in the walls to this day, which did affect me much to see: And after that at Winsor, where the emi­nent Martyrs Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer were put in their way to Oxford in bloudy Queen Maries dayes.

3. In that I am also instructed how to want, as well as to abound, and so in all conditions, as the Apostle saith, to be therewith con­tent, Phil. 4.11. 1 Tim. 6.8. having passed through prisons, reproaches, tumults, beatings & bufferings, often throwings headlong, banishment & spitting upon; yea, spoyling of my goods, which hath been much; one Letter hath signified to me the losse of an hundred pounds at one time, and in plundrings often, and in perills of life, sicknesse, Fea­vours, storms, cold, snow & tempests, without bed, without bread, in sore travells, and severall other tryalls; yet all this, which is the life of all, for my most dear Christ against Cromwell and the whole Earth, bles­sed be Jehovah therefore: I wait but for Whitehall or the Pretorium-hall.

4. In that the enemy though he hath sought it greedily, yet (to this day) hath not found any just cause or colour for my im­prisonment and exile, nor so much as signified why, in their Orders of commitment; which is my great comfort and advantage, for as Paul said in his fourth defence, Acts 25.7, 8. and they utter many and grie­vous complaints, which they cannot prove; for neither against the Law of Christians, nor against the Temple, nor against the faith have I offended at all: So Acts 24.12, 13. neither found they me in the Tem­ple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the Sy­nagogue nor in the City.

5. In that the Persecution upon me hath been (above many others) so sweet (though sharpe) a primitive-like diogmos, or chasing Persecu­tion, from one place to another, not letting me rest in our own Countrey nor in Exile, but hunting me about like a Partridge, from place to place with Nimr [...]dian Tyranny, like them of whom the Worl [...] was not worthy, (although I am not worthy of the happy number or race) Heb. 11.38. who confessed v. 13, 14. they were strangers and pilgrims on earth, declaring plainly that they sought a far be [...]r Countrey.

6. For that this their spreading and hurrying Persecution did so primitive-like, sow and advantage the Gospell of the Kingdome in all places where I was carried; round about this Island the report of this Doctrine running and inclining the poor people to enquiry, reading, and search, and so was the Gospell at first spread and sow [...]n in all A­siae, Cyprus, Cappadocia, Macedonia, and indeed over all Nations, by such a chasing Persecution, which I praise the Lord for, that it fell out to be my lot in this Island to sow this seed; Paul plants, Apollo waters, but the Lord must give the encrease: And indeed I dare not deny but our God hath given a very great encrease hereby, insomuch as the ve­ry women, who have enquired into the very truth (as at Newport) do professe openly this is the way of God, that we are imprisoned for, and that they will part with all they have in this heavenly Cause (and Quarrell between the Prisoners and the Powers) which is very much, considering in what exceeding slavery people in this Island are kept by the sword: So that as the Gentleman in Scotland told the Bi­shop Bettoun, upon the burning of that Martyr Mr. Patrick Hamilton, My Lord, if you burn any more of them, you will ruine your selves; if you burn them, let them be burnt in hollow Cellars; for the smoak of Mr. Patrick Hamilton hath infected as many as it blew upon; it may be is the policy that our Persecutors have taken, to im­prison, plunder, and banish, and make no noise, no mention in news-Books of it, least it should be known; yea, to coop us up so closse Prisoners in Banishment, and Cellar us up from all noise of their cruelty to us, least it may be, our breathing, or as Bull saies, seducing, which is the old note of Persecutors and Goalers over the imprisoned Martyrs: But as we know Beggars by their chanting, so do we Bull and his Masters by their language, with the same spirit, lying tradu­cing, and opprobriously abusing, as those base Monsters both Hea­thenish and Popish Goalers and Tyrants did, that were their Prede­cessors; but for all these Atopos, absurd men, 2 Thess. 3.1, 2. Shall the [Page 46]Word of the Lord have free course and be glorified Amen Hallelujah.

7. In that the Lord hath in this School, instructed me to Preach in tumults and uproars, as the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. 6.4, 5, 6. & in all things to approve my self the Minister of my God, In much patience in afflicti­ons, in necessities, in distresses in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, by purenesse, by knowledge, by long-suffer­ing, by the holy Ghost, by love unfained, by the Word of truth, by the power of God, by the Armour of Righteousnesse on the right hand and on the left, by ho­nour and dishonour, by evill report and good report, as a deceiver and yet true; as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold we live, as chastened and not killed, as sorrowfull yet alwayes rejoycdng, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things: O bless [...]d be that bond­lesse love and grace of God unto me herein; yea I tell you, he hath been teaching me a strange way of Preaching, as if I were a pouring ou [...] of my bloud with my words, at once to seal the truth, and in expectation of leaving my life with my Light, & of the dashing my brains about my Exhortations: O this, this is me thinks to bear about in my body the dying of our Lord Jesus indeed, who did preach thus and so did the Apostles; and thus am I become dead to the Laws, yea to my own life by the life of Jesus and body of Christ (I think I can say) some­times most sweetly. Tossanus in An [...]olia had such a time of it too a­mong the Barbarous Souldiers, for he preached every Sermon not looking to come out alive, and in a Barn too, where the Church met; Ah Lord let me thy poor worm, be such a Preacher all my dayes, to speak in every Sermon as my last words to poor Souls, yea as if I were sealing them on a Scaffold with my bloud, Amen, so be it Amen He had that honest saying of Seneca it seems often over, Vir bonus quod hones [...]è se facturum putaverit, faciet etiamsi periculosum sit: ab honesto nullâ re deterribi­tur: ad turpia nullâ spe invitabitur.

8. For that the enemies are very empty, dry and withered; whiles we are ge [...]en, sappy and growing blessed be our God, as Psal. 104.16. The trees of the Lord are full of sapp; for we find our Spirits full, our hearts full, and hopes full, and our faith full (in a sense) for this cause of our Lord Jesus, full of comfort, of life, and of courage, and of peace tho­rough believing, which come amain upon us, whiles our enemies are like the Hypocrites, Isa. 33. surprised with fearfullnesse, yea Mager-my­sabib is written about them, as M [...]stery is upon them, Rev. 17.5. a sure signe to us, and a token for good.

9. In that on both sides the main body seems to be marching up, [Page 65]because the forlorne hope is already so hotly ingaged, with down­right blowes as on our side with the truth and testimony, they or their side, with down-right, point blank blasphemy and per­secution, so that not onely the heads, Rev. 13.1. but the whole body of the Beast, Rev. 17.3. is full of blasphemy, and both sides are fallen on; so that the next news I am like to hear, after this forlorn, is a fight, and fight of the main bodies, on both sid [...], or the [...]ife of the ho­ly Camp (the holy City) trod on these 42. months, Rev. 11.2. and the pitching of Maher-shalabhashbaz's great Tent, Esa 8.1. For the 3. great things which I wait to see and hear, are the great Tent and Trumpet, Esa. 27.13. Deut. 23.10. the great Bone-fire and flame, Rev. 19, 20. and 17.16. and the great Sun or light (of seaven dayes, with seaven eyes, and by the seaven spirits, Esa. 30.26. ch. 60.19. Rev. 21.23.

10. In that our new Covenant propriety in God our Father, continues unto us sure and well ordered in all things, in all conditions, in Prisons, Exiles, Plunderings, Reproaches, Dungeons, Wants, Death, and judge­ments in seperable, &c. still we can say our God though a consuming Fire, Heb. 12.29. though Eli, Eli Lamasabachthani, yet Eli, Eli, that is, we cannot fall the subjects of Gods wrath, though of mans, no, not when the Violls come to be poured out; for none are the in execution of them, but who are above them; but all and those onely, that are under them, shall fall as the subjects of his wrath, or the third Wo which is at hand! now this is no little comfort to us, to whom God is Love, yea, all Love and all together Love in our Prisons! But

Lastly, in that Sion is in travell of a male-child (which makes the paines the greater, and the more difficult) for a man-child must be borne, Isa. 9.6. the Sonne of God and heir of althings in heaven and earth, Heb. 12. yea the Sonne of Abraham and heir of the Promise and Covenant, yea the Sonne of David or heir of the Kingdomes and Crownes of the world; the Sonne of Mary, and heir of all mankind; yea the Sonne of Sion and only heir of the Generation-Work; that of this male-child is Sion now in travell with; according to Isa. 26.17, 18 ‘Like as a woman with child that draweth near the time of her delive­ry is in pain, and cr [...]eth out in her pangs, so are we in thy sight O Lord! We have been with child, we have been in pain, but it is a male-Spirit, not a female, low, Fourth Monarchy-Spirit, but a most noble, high, couragious, invincible heaven-borne Spirit that must be brought forth by all these pains, persecutions and travells;’ for in the primitive times when the woman was in her travell of this male-Child, the Dra­gon [Page 66]Government did so persecute her, that he stood ready to devoure him as soon as he was borne, or brought forth into the world; and this man-child of Government (Christ in the ministration of the Fifth Kingdome Isa, 9.6, 7.) was then caught up unto God and to his throne, Rev. 12.5, 6.4.2, 3.5.6, 13. and the Woman (or Spiritual Church) who after long travell and pain brought forth this blessed truth (of the Reign of Christ on earth, or the Fifth Kingdome) who was for­ced into the Wildernesse for the 1260. dayes, so that now at the end of the 42. moneths or 1260. dayes is the Woman to come out of the Wil­dernesse, and this malechild of Government to come down from God again, and to rule all Nations with his rod of iron; it is true that he was travelled with in the Heathen Emperours dayes, with great perils and pains as appears by the Apologies of Justin Martyr to Antoninus Pi­us (which I read at Winfor) and afterwards of Tertullian and some o­thers, but he was not born untill the Christian Emperours dayes, e­specially when Jovinian, Valentinian, &c. were Emperours, who them­selves were Fanters and Professors of the Reign of Christ, and are chro­nicled for Millenaries, &c. (as I have proved in Prison b. Treat.) but almost as soon as he was thus born, he was caught up to God, to be forth comming again at the end of the 1260. dayes, and therefore Rev. 12.5. She brought forth a man child, as mellei poimainein, who was about to rule all Nations with a rod of iron, not who did it, (as some say it of Con­stantine) but he was borne ready, as if he should rule all, but the Lord took him up till the period of the Beasts dominion, or the 1260. dayes suffering were over, which declares evidently that this male-Spirit will up again speedily for the Reign of Christ with his rod of iron (sword and Lawes) over all Nations; and the overcomming Saints, Rev. 2.26, 27. or those that have victory over the B [...]est, &c. Rev. 15.2, 3. shall take the Kingdomes for ever, Dan 7.18.22. and thus the man-child must come down from heaven, from the throne, and from god only, in that the God of heaven alone shall set up this kingdome, which shall ne­ver be destroyed, but break all others in pieces, Dan. 2.44. and in that ver. 45. the Stone is cut out with out hands; onely fitted and brought forth from Mount Sion by the Spirit of the Lord, the Mount out of which it falls Dan. 2.45. being Sion, and the Mount into which it be­comes being Moriah, Dan. 2.35. or the two Mountains of Brasse men­toned Zach. 6.1. Now the Spirit of the Lord and of the Lamb (who hath the seaven Spirits sent forth into all the earth, Rev. 5.6.4.5.) brings it down unto us, so that the man-child must thus come down from God and his throne, who was till this time taken up to God and [Page 67]his throne! but as I have had a little share, I blesse the Lord for his grace, in these fresh travells & pains of Sion to bring forth this man-child, Isa. 66.7. Jer. 30.6, 7. Isa. 51. So have I been abundantly in my bonds taught of the Lord the truth of these thing [...] (which I have not time, nor utter­ance for at present) nay! so good hath my God been to me in this Path­mos School, that I think I could almost say it (without the least Ostenta­tion, and only to the glory of Gods rich grace unto mee) that diom non p [...]rdidi, I have not loft a day in the Prison, nor hardly a day (wherein I had health or was not hurried about) without an improvement of my search into these blessed and big-bellied mysteries, by writing, treasur­ing up, and preparing for the publique, as Ap. said Nulla dies sine lined, for since my imprisonment, I have prepared I think, above 300. sheets upon severall subjects, to be printed, however it be that I am so betray­ed, or that they stick in the birth and the truthe [...] ly buried, yet the Lord knowes (to whom I am thankfull) that I have not been idle in the pri­son, seeing Crux pendentis is such a Cathedra docentis to my soul; I have sent to the presse, upon Daniell, Apocalips and the Prophets concerning the Kingdome of the man-child, and upon the Vialls, the two Witnes­ses, the two Beasts, the time, the worke and the truth of the Generation, the 1000. years, the supputation of times, the personall Reign, the first Resurrection and the day of Judgement, with an obvious prospect in­to the 45. years that are next coming; but how they miscarry I know not, only this I know, that my judgement is with my Lord, and my work with my God, Isa. 49.4, 5. who will reckon with them that keep back the truth (from being published) when Babylon comes up in remembrance before him; and though this Crosse of Christ be to them that perish foolishnesse, yet unto us which are saved, it is the power of God, 1 Cor. 1.17, 18. and here it is that I have had the clearest, freest, fullest, sweet­est, universalest, spirituallest and profitable teachings that ever I had, or thought that this poore earthen vessell of mine could have ever recei­ved, Hallelujah.

Before I leave of I must acquaint you with a few more of my general observations from the chief of this Rock, and so I conclude this Intro­duction.

1. Generall Observation. There hath alwayes been in the world since the fall of man two distinct seeds, and enmity set between them; viz. The seed of the Serpent and the seed of Woman, Gen. 3.17. called in the Old Testament the bond-woman & free-woman. So the house of Saul & of David, the one rejected, the other received and established in the Co­venant, Heb. 8.9. and so in the New-Testament the fl [...]sh and spirit; [Page 68] Sinai and Sion, the Dragon, and the Woman, and the Serpent the Rem­nant, Rev. 12, the Beast and the Lamb, ch, 17. the first were alwaies the per­secuting, and the last the persecuted; whereby we know we are on the right and blessed side, under sufferings and persecution for the Wit­nesse of Jesus and work of the day, but our enemies are on the cursed and Persecutors side, and because they continued not in my Covenant, I re­garded them not, saith the Lord, Heb. 8.9.

2. Gen. Obs. That the Governments of the world have been of the Serpent and not of the Woman to this day, and that all along from Nimrod hitherto, they have been (in Oppression, Tyranny, Persecu­tion, &c.) the fruit of Adams fall, and of Sin; but that Government which we look for in the world (which will judge Nimrod and the Mount of Esau, Obed. 21.) is a part of our Redemption, and a fruit which growes onely in the Covenant of grace, Dan. 7.22. without which our Redemption cannot be compleated, Rev. 5.9, 10. So that it is part of our Redemption, by the bloud of Christ, which we con­tend for, in the fall of the fourth Monarchy, and suffer for so long and so sore an imprisonment, and banishment for (whatever our ene­mies say) this we are iure of, that this present Government of great Brittany is Nimrodian, and not to be doubted by discerning men, to be a fruit of Sin, and of a fearfull Apostacy; and as Purchas in's Pilgrim. ch. 10. tells us out of Philo, how Nimrod was such a hunter of men, by compelling men with a bruitish force (as beasts are compelled by meer force) to fall in with him, his way, worship, and Element, whereby Babell was built; what force can be more bruitish or compulsive, for the interest of Babilon, than the long Sword, without the Laws of God, Reason, Nation, or Nature, as it is this day in England?

3. Gen. Obs. There is a sure and a summing time to period, the Nim­rodian Dominions of the world, and all the Dominions of the Beast, so red and dyed deep with the bloud of the blessed Witnesses and Saints, when they sha [...]l endure no longer to persecute, oppresse, or afflict the Saints, but the Saints be set free from all oppression, tyranny and in­justice, and this is granted by all men, therefore I come to the Fourth.

4. Gen. Obs. That all the Creation, visible and invisible, in heaven and earth do groan with us after this blessed time of Restitution of all things, or of full Redemption (actually) into the Liberty of the Sons of God, Rom 8.21, 22. from this yoak of bondage and corruption, ex­cept onely such vermin as rise out of corruption, and are self-created (according to that Rule, Ex corruptione generatio fit) which must be [Page 96]destroy'd, amongst w^ch, is this present Governmt. now up in England.

5. Gen. Obser. That this Age and Generation wherein we live, or are entring, yea, this very Nation of great Brittain is a summing Age and Generation, and Nation wherein begins the totall of all before as is evident,

1. For crying sins, like the sins of Sodom, Gen. 18.20. Isa. 3.9. and 13.19. all the summing sins of any Age in the world (if not of every Age) this is guilty of, and most summarily in England, is the muttering in the Wildernesse and provocation of the Lord, their turning back to Aegypt, so of the Apostacy of the ten Tribes, their breaking Covenant and Engagement, after they had engaged to be the Lords, and after so ma­ny appearances of God too; yea, their Idolatrous worship after the man­ner of the Nations to be destroyed, & their slighting of the pure waies, Laws, & worship of God; yea, their Cain-like building, Gen. 4 17. and their violence and persecution too, as before the destruction of the old world; so of the resting and relying upon their own strength as the strength of Aegypt; so also of the Hypocricy and yet Formality (of the Jewes, Scribes, and Pharises) Priests, and Rulers, that Crucified Christ by the hands of the Souldiers, and of their Pharoah-like height and hard­nesse of heart, after many signes and tokens; and so of the serpent-like. policy, specious pretences, reason of State, and subtilties in them which are to period the 42. Months, or Beasts Dominion, Rev. 12.14. And indeed as the Devill did not use a Lyon-like force at first in Para­dise, to over-come Eve with (which had then been bootlesse, saith Purchase ch. 5. but a serpentine-sleight of insinuation, as the meetest for his present projects; it is so now, knowing he hath to deal with a Generation that professe to be the Lords own people, plain force and fury had not so prevailed for him, as subtilty, art, and sophistry by lying, dissembling, evading, and breaking all obligations, for as in Gen. 4.8. thus hath Cain killd Abell with pretences of love, & thus hath the Devill disposed the Serpents tongue to tempt, which the Women (or weaker vessells) and more effeminate carnall spirits do listen unto at this day, and by entertaining discourse are suddenly ensnared, be­ginning as Eve, first to doubt of Gods truth and promise (the first sin of man) and then to mince, mix, and extenuate in their mindes, the threatening Commandment of God, whiles they seem outwardly, to ob­serve it, and plead it as Eve did, and then to hear Satan by carnall policy, propounding worldly advantages, that they shall be as Gods, and so inducing them to Apostacy, through disobedience, unthankfulnesse, [Page 70]pride, ambition, covetousnesse, and unbelief, which brings forth persecu­tion and contempt of Gods truth; yea, a wanton lust and an usurpa­tion of what God hath reserved to himself. All these are summing sins of which (with many others) this Age & the present Generation in England is guilty, yea, highly guilty, if not damnably guilty before God, An­gells, and men.

2. But secondly besides this, it is a Summing Witnesse and Testimo­ny now up in England too, or the finishing Testament of the Kingdome, Rev. 11.7. Matth. 24.14. which comprehends the summe of all the Pro­phets and Prophesies, from Moses to this day, Acts 3.24. Luke 24.27. about the Kingdome of Christ, especially of Isaiah, Ezekiell, Zachariah, Daniell, the Revelation, &c. all seem to scope in and aim at this Wit­nesse, for which we are imprisoned, with one concentricity, harmony, and consent, both for time and purpose, and now we are to expect that dispensation of the fullnesse of times, wherein all thing both in heaven and earth shall be gathered in one, even in Christ, Ephes. 1.10. So that as for the sinnes, so for the Witnesse now up against them, was never such a time, Age, or Nation as this is.

3. It is also a summing up of the suffereings and persecutions of the Saints and Free-born Children by the Nimrods of the world; the Rear-persecution that is for the Rear-witnesse is now upon us, and he will make an utter end, affliction shall not rise up the second time, Nahum 1 9. we are entring the haven of the 42. Months voiage, yea, reaping the harvest of all the bloud, faith, tears, prayers, lives, losses, and liber­ties of the million of Martyrs from the dayes of Abell to this day, Math 23. for Rev. 18.24. in her was found the bloud of Prophets, of Saints, and of all that were slain upon the Earth. So that to avenge their bloud and Deaths, to answer their cryes, groans, and prayers, out of their graves, dungeons, rackings, flames, stocks, rivers, caves, fields, urns, and most exquisite torments of all sorts, the Fifth Monarchy Saints are now concerned in, to bring up the rear well, wisely, couragiously, constant­ly, and victoriously after Christ their Captain, and the primitive Mar­tyrs in the Van, for it was said to them, Rev. 6.11. That they should rest for a little season, untill their fellow servants also should be fulfilled; or untill we who were to bring up the rear, that is in the Gospell of the Kingdome, for a witnesse were fulfilled, therefore as the eyes of the whole Creati­on, Angells, and men, so especially of the Martyrs and Saints, Abell Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Jews and Gentilts, of all Tribes and Nations, Prophets and Apostles are upon us at this day, in this Cause [Page 71]and Testimony for the Kingdome, to see how we behave our selves here­in; which they all bore witness unto, believed in, longed after & waited for in their measures and generations, as the sum-totall of all their suffe­rings (that the Saints should reign on earth) which as I have at large proved in my 2. Treat. and Travells, since my Bonds these two years, viz. Prison born and Banish-born Morning beams (if they be not both stifled) to be the faith, hope and joy of the primitive Martyrs, for some hun­dreds of years after Christ; so of late as we finde in The Plow mans Com­plaint in King Edward the thirds dayes, and since in that precious Mar­tyr Mr. Bradfords Letters at large, that they had their expectations full of this Kingdome, thus in his Letter to Queen Mary and her Councill he saies, It behoveth them in Authority to know they are not Kings, but plain Tyrants, that rule not for God, and all those Potentates with their Principa­lities and Dominions cannot long prosper, but perish indeed, if they and their Kingdomes be not ruled by the Scepter of God, that is with his Word; the people also perishing with Princes, where the Word of Prophesie is wanting, much more is suppress'd as is now in England: Wherefore he ex [...]orts them to be no longer Slaves & Hangmen to Anti-christ, to let Barabas lose & hang up Christ, say­ing, the Doctrine they then suffered for stood invincibly above all power, being not our Doctrine, but the Doctrine of the ever living God, and of his Christ, whom the Fa­ther hath ordained King to have Dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the world, & so will he Reign, that he will shake the whole earth with his iron & Brazen power, according to that which the Prophets do write of the Magnificence of his Kingdome, &c. Was not this Fifth Monarchy-language then, among the Martyrs? and did not these meddle as much as we do with the worldly Powers, and declare their downfall, with the upri­sing of Christs Kingdome on earth? Yes verily, and thus saith Mr. Bradford in many other Letters, as to Doctor Hill, to Mrs. Hall, and to his Wife, wherein he saith, That God the Father hath vouch safed to choose us amongst many, to witnesse and testifie that Christ his Sonne is King, and that his Word is true; Christ our Saviour will have us bear record that he is no Ʋsur­per nor Deceiver, but Gods Ambassador, Prophet and Messias; so that of all dig­nities on earth, this is the greatest, thus to witnesse as wee now do. Thus then the bloud of all the Martyrs, Prophets, Apostles and Saints are with us in the Witnesse of this day, which is the summe of all, that Christ a­lone may be lifted up and exaltd King and, the onely absolute single Person in all, over all, and above all.

4. It is a summing time too in this Nation with respect to their pre­sent Government; for all the Characters of Anti-christ, 2 Thess. 2. of the [Page 72]second Beast, Rev. 13.11, 12. and of the little Horn, Dan 7.8 21.22.25.26. and of the Myery-Clay-Government, where the Stone first strikes the Image, Dan. 2.43. is upon it, yea, as the fourth Beast, Dan. 7.7. was diverse from all the others before is, as being a compound of all, and so to summe up all the other, Rev. 13.2. being partly a Leopard, partly a Beare, partly a Lion (and so far of the three fore-going Mon­sters) and the rest of himself and the Dragon: So this present Limb of the Beast, this Bastard of Ashdod differs or is diverse from the foregoing Limbs according to Dan. 7.24. being as it were, patcht up and com­pounded of all, to beging or make up the summe and period of all; it is partly Spanish, partly French, partly Dutch, partly Turkish in prin­ciples, and Janizaries; taking up fashions from one, principles from others, policy from others, soveraignty from others, and so indeed doth summe up all, not omitting MYSTERY written on the fore­head of it, as Rev. 17.7, 8. seeming partly of the Lamb too, Rev. 13.11. to deceive with.

5. It appears too by the Signes of the times which are now upon us, by the clear computations and supputations of the Numbers in Daniell and Revelations, and by the severall providences, the variety of dis­pensations, and the late appearances of God in the three Nations, that it is a summing time, notwithstanding the present Cloud and black­nesse, for the Unbelief and willfull rejecting of the truth of the King­dome at this day among us Gentile-Christians, must make way for the Jews, in their room who are to be rejected, who are the naturall bran­ches, as their rejecting the truth and unbeleif, did make way for us Gentiles, Rom. 11.20, 21, 22, 23. Bee not high minded but fear, for if God spared not the naturall branches, take heed least he also spare not thee; Behold therefore the goodnesse and severity of God, to them severely, to thee goodnesse, if you continue in his goodnesse; otherwise thou shalt also he cut off, and they also if they abide not in unbelief, shall be graffed in, v. 25. I would not brethren have you ignorant of this mistery, that blindnesse happened to Israel un­till the fullnesse of the Gentiles; that is, their times Luke 21.24. which begin at the end of the forty two Months, the 1260. and 1690. dayes, as I have proved at large in my forementioned Treat.

6. And lastly, it is evidently a [...]summing time in the rejection of (and judgements that must be upon) this professing Generation of men, as to their Cause, Government, Laws, Waies, Works, Principles, D [...]signes, and daily Practices, whiles they pretend so High for God, but indeed do reject his Christ and Cause, and so did the Jews, but [Page 73]they rejected Jesus, Mark 8 31. Luke 9.22. and 17.25. and therefore were rejected, and the judgement came. So was Saul rejected for his not tho­rough or full obedience, and David taken up; and so Jeh. was rejected and judgement came, for that his heart was not right when he execut­ed judgement on Ahab's house, and for that he got up into the same Throne, and did the same things for which Ahab's house was destroyed, and still he kept up the Statures of Omri and the workes of the house of Ahab, Micha 6.16. yea as it was in Noah's and Lot's [...]aies, so shall it be in these, and with this Generation of men whose cause is rejected, Heb. 8.9. (whiles ours is found in the Covenant of grace) so that on both sides, as to their rejection and our reception (that is, in these matters in controversie) it is a summing time and a summing Spirit as of Moses, Prophets, Martyrs and Saints to this d [...]y, do we wait for; and such a one too as never was in the world before, Rev. 5.6. The seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth; wherefore looke about you, for I tell you that all other times and judgements were but signes and figures of this; as of Noah's flood, Luke 17.27, 28. Mat. 24. Fire and Brimstone upon So­dome. Luke 17.28, 29. 1 Cor. 10.11. Examples to us upon whom the end of the earth, or last daies shall come, and the judgements on Aegypt, Rev. 11.7, 8. and upon the Israelites in the Wildernesse that would not go on; and upon the Cananites and Kings in Josh. 10.3 and upon Babi­lon, &c. All are but signes of the jugements now at hand upon this professing Generation of Apostates with the Beast now in full, Rev. 17.8. and false Prophet, Rev. 19.20. and Jezabill the whore Rev. 17.16. u­pon this sheet too, where the two Witnesses are slain (as I have proved in Pris. Morn.) Rev. 11.8, 13. and upon the Kings of the earth, Rev. 16, 14. Yea upon all Babilon, Rev. 18.4, 5, 8. and 19. Now, the figured and ty­pified in all respects, must needs be most plenary and summary. So that they are wonderfull and dreadfull Mount-Perazim dispensations that are at hand in England, Isa. 28.21. therefore look to it, O thou that sealesi up the sum, Ezek. 28.12, 13. For the houre of thy judgment is come, and the set time to favour Sion, yea, the sum of all is at hand.

6. Generall Observation, Lastly, The motives of Christ upon his red­horse, Zach. 1.8. with his Saints upon their Speckled and White; which are very swift, are at hand, who are to over-run all the Earth (of a sudden) I say they are upon us, though as yet they stand behind the Mirtle and Mulberry-trees, Zach 1.8. with 2 Sam. 5.24. 1 Chron. 14. in thea Valley of Rephaim, Isa. 17.5, 6. or Cave of Adullam, 2 Sam. 23.13. [Page 74]where the glory of Israel first begins, Mich. 1.15. to the Heire who is Christ! (by Myrtles being meant Fifth King Saints and ministrations, as Isa. 55.13. and 41.19.) For we are under the Administration of the fourth living Creature about the Throne, Rev. 4.7. Ezeck. 1. v. 10. the fourth Spirit, Zach. 6.5. or the flying Eagle, who is called in Zach. 6.3. the fourth Chariot, which came from between the two Mountains of Brasse; or from the mount into which the Stone falles upon the Image, Dan 2.45. to that Mount into which the Stone becomes, Dan. 2.35. and in that space of time (I say) are we especially under the administra­tion of the flying Eagl, or the fourth Chariot, wherein are Christs red and speckled Horses (or those for his bloody War against the Brast) that are to passe through the whole Earth, Zach. 6 7 in this Vintage of blood, even unto the Horses Bridles, by the space of 1600. furlongs, Rev. 14.20. or 200. miles. The contents of the Eagles ministration, which hee cals come and see, lo! Rev. 6.7, 8. being a power over the Earth, to kill with the Sword, with Famine, and with death (diverse wayes) and this is the living Creature, who gives out the third Woe, or the seven Viols unto the Angels, Rev. 15 7. (the Instruments and Executors thereof.) So that it is very clear upon an insight into these scriptures that we are under this Eagle Administrator, in the work which is to be done against the Beast and fourth Monarch; and then we must grant that the motions thereof will be very swift, soaring high, hidden, intricate and extraordinary upon quick sight, but impregnable and incre [...]ble courage delighting (Eagle-like) in the blood and Carcases of men, that are to be slain: and thus far for a hint of these few General Observati­ons, which I have a very clear p [...]ospective off from these prisons, Exiles, and Pilgrimages, in this mine Isle of Pathmos, and retired estate with God on the mount: signifi [...]d to me by the spriit of the most high: a­mongst many other things that are shortly to come to passe upon the whole Earth from Jesus Christ, the faithfull Witnesse, the Amen of all these things, and the Author and Finisher of my Faith, even so, Amen, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

But before I finish, we find a fresh assault of Sathan upon us, in this close Prison, perpetrated, to make our bonds the more heavy, I mean ano [...]her Link of Yron added to the concatenation of their cruelty constantly exercised in this Exile, upon the 20 of the 1 moneth 1656: came Captain Floyd, and Major Strange with an ORDER from White-Hall to remove M: Gen: Harri­son from us to High-gate to his own house (a prisoner!) under pretence of the very desperate danger of death his Father (the Collonel was in; as also his dear Yoak-fellow, so near the time of her Travel; but our pretious Concap­tive (thus surprized) was in great fears of the Serpents snares in this Order, and would not give them any resolve what to do, until he had acquainted us therewith, assur'd us of his jealousies, lest his further Liberty, company and outward comforts should be any intanglement unto him, or let to his inward joyes and prison-experiences; knowing as Luther said that Ʋna guttula malae Conscientiae totum mare mundari gaudii absorbet, the least drop of a troubled spi­rit swallows up the whole Ocean of al outward comforts or delights, so that he did earnestly desire us to set it before the Throne for a Resolution, which we agreed unto, and at the end of that day came in the two again, who were to take him into custody, who (after we had given him our apprehensions dealt very roundly and plainly with them, that he could not thank them for their pretended Love, nor did he think his Father or Wife would be worse by his continuance in this prison, but rather the better, for he was perswaded they should do wel, and for a Goal he had rather have this then any for the cruelty thereof, and of BULL, who made so little conscience of what he said or did, and who had indeed played the very beast with us, so that (for suffering) it was the best prison we could be in! nor would he make his house a prison! to this effect he spake, and told them that he could not declare his readiness to go with them, but if they would carry him away, he could not help it! They said they did desire to serve him with al civility and respect, and vvere loath to use any violence, but could not go without him! and they were now to take custody of him, and so desired him to prepare himself the next day, and to give directions which way he would go? but he told them he would have nothing to do in it! but he was a Sufferer! nor would he direct, nor bear any of the charges for he was a Prisoner, and so for that night they par­ted: and we prayed (as we used to do together every night!) In the night I was much troubled about his going, but the consideration of the Work at hand, with that Word in Dan: 2.18. That DANIEL and his fellows should not pe­rish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, gave a truce; the next morning BULL delivered him up two the other two, who took possession of him, we had much discourse, and indeed the Lord gave him a very noble spirit, (though broken in himself) to deal plainly both with Bull and them; expressing his [Page 114]unwillingness to leave us behind, or rather his desire to partake and carry with us stil in so sore bonds, but when we saw he must be gone we parted (as the Sun through a watry cloud) with no little heaviness for a season, and I said to C. Fl. Sir! Tel your masters or any that ask after us, that it were a little more MERCY (if they had it) to put us into any DUNGEON in London (our own Land) then to leave us here, in the hands of such BLASPHEMERS, and BRUITS so skilful to distroy! but stil we bless the Lord! for our Father makes it sweet and best to us! We got upon a WALL and looked after them til they came neer to Newport, and then my dear fellow prisoner Mr. Courtney who is left here, and I kept the rest of the day in prayer, easing our hearts, and emptying our tears into the bosome of Heaven, being a little troubled for our loss of so pretious a help, so choise a companion as he was to us, another Vetius Epigathus who was called the noble Advocate of Christians (amongst the Martyrs) to the teeth of their Tyrants; but yet we had very blessed and fruitful experiences of a pre­sence from the most high every day (almost) since, which hath made his ser­vants absence the more easie unto us; Et bonus es, Domine (saies Bernard) a­nimae querenti, quid invenienti? O Lord! what art thou then to them that find thee? who art so gratious to us that SEEK thee in bonds.

After this, we being like men out of mind! (in this Yron grave!) their cru­elty increased yet more upon us, to tire us out; and Bulls brutish modesty was to have imposed upon the Maid-servants Father, that his Daughter must tel, him all the Tales that she could, if she heard us at Table, bed, or board, but speak a word of O. C. or any of their cruelty, that she must betray her Master, and bring him word of it; and would have bound her Father to it in a bond. To me particularly was their malice monstrous, they put another Soldier and his Wife, and sour Children into our other room, where Bul him­self had put us, threw our wood, and things out of doors, brake open the locks, and naild up the door from us, with reproachful words to boot, (and this by Bulls command) but we let them patiently (in our own matters) use a­ny tyranny without taking notice! and me thinks as Guy de Brez. said. The more SAVAGE they are, the more sweetly hath my soul obtained WINGS to sore A­LOFT, above THEM all, into the blessed Rest! O blessed be the Lamb that was slain, and is worthy! for as Cruciger said, GOD is so near us, that he may be (al­most) FELT.

Strict Orders were given, that no one dare to shew familiarity unto us, and the Woman with her four Children put into our room was charged (when she came in) to beware of us, for if any of them were found to be familiar, (that is respectful) or civil to any of us, they should be turn'd out of the Ca­ [...]tle without remedy, or if any should but listen or stand to hear me at pray­ [...]r, or in duty to God, except it be such as were or la [...]e sent to listen under [Page 115]the windows and into holes for that purpose, to catch and fetch some matter to make a crime of, which above these two years they have been raking for (so good is my God, who blinds them that they see not vvhere my infirmities lye most, but where the Almighty hath armed me with his buckler of truth, his back-piece of innocency, and breast plate of Righteousness, there they shoot their arrows to hurt me.) So also, if any should speak but a charitable word of us, or give us a good look, or give us the time of the day, it is accounted a hainous crime, and is (I hear) enough to turn them out of the Castle; but those who are most malitious, dogged, brutish, and do invent waies of vexati­on o [...] provocation every day upon us, and that spy out tales to carry to Bull, are the only men made much of by him; incouraged; and rewarded; with whom he wil be familiar to laugh and scoff at us, rejoycing to hear the height of their insolency and violencies done to us; but others (who are but few) are sorely snibd, put upon hard duties and threatned; a poor old man amongst them was but saying of us he thought we were honest men, and one went in and told BULL that Tale, who sent for the man (I hear) at nine a clock at night, and rated them with high rage, bidding him be gone then, and go to us, if he thought us such honest men, threatning to turn the poor silly fellow out, who spake it with simplicity, and thought no harm in that word, not so much as justifying us, or saying more, ye a he was threatned (we heard) that he should be whipped; Another of them, that had formerly been a bitter enemy, being a little convinced said to a Soldier, if it be for their Consciences, and for Christ as they say; it is pitty they should be imprison'd so; but this tale wa [...] also carried speedily and told to Bull, who sent for him, upbraided him bi [...] ­terly, and charged him boldly (as he used to do) asking him, if he were fo [...] such-men, (naming us reproachfully) who answered no! not he and told him all he said, but then Bull threatned him, and told him if he were a wel-wisher to us, he would turn him off, and so upon account of his former merit (and future) he dismissed him with round words, and exhortations to his Duty, (meaning in persecuting, and insulting over us;) I beleeve 100 of such pas­sages might be mention'd, & some such rididiculous lies and tales, as would make us easily conclude, they can have nothing but the names and shapes of men whiles they strive to exceed one another, in apish, brutish (and at best but childish) practises, of cogging, telling, lying, and informing of one ano­ther, as wel as in abusing us, but indeed they do make us good sport many a time to see what work they make to tickle the Buls ears; and to sharpen his Horns for a fresh goaring in our sides! but bless the Lord O my soul! for Omnes tyrannisunt coqui mei, saies Guel: Paris: they are all but cooking me some dainty dishes, and prison food; and me thinks were my hands of a light fire for this Cause (like Martyr Hewks his) I would clap them together for joy in [Page 116]this triumph at Caines brook Castle, for as 2 Cor: 12.10. I take pleasure in reproa­ches, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christs sake.

As for their riggedness continued unto us in close prison, wherein they keep me, and my Wife, and Family, not suffering one of us to stir out, nor man, woman nor child to come at us, let them judge that know what belong to it; for the like cruelty was never inflicted, nor conditions imposed, upon the worst of men of late years in these Nations, neither among Papists, Prelates, nor to the Cavaliers, Scots or Irish, nor in the worst of the Wars, that without ingagement or subscription to be on their side they should not see them, or minister a piece of bread unto them. Many a sad story could I tel to men, (as I have to the God that heareth prayers) of their cruelty; for this M: Bull keeps a book, to intrap all that come to see us, making them subscribe against their Consciences; the forme of the OBLIGATION is to do nothing directly nor indirectly to disturb them (as I hear,) for Capt: P. newly come from Barbadoes took this in the way, with his ship, with eager desire to visit us from himself and some others, (being ignorant of the Snare) Bull brings out his book to ingage him, or told he should not see me and most fasly affir­med (amongst many other notorious untruths as is his custome (that not one came to see us but so did subscribe first (as the Captain told me himself) whereat he opened him the book where one Man (who was a Surgeon at New. port, that my Wife had for some Weeks (if not moneths) needed to cure her of a sore, which was great pain and misery, but he was not suffer'd to come til he had subscrib'd; nor can we have the means to help us in sicknes; but this mans hand he shews the Captain for a proofe who had subscribed, whereat the Captain also subscribed, and came in to see us; yet with little content I think to be so insnared. But hereby such as come long and chargeable journies out of England are sent away without seeing us, and so others that else would come, are disheartned from assaying it, reaping nothing from them (as the fruit of long and tedious journies) but grievous words or blows from the soldiers, and very few in our dayes being like those 2 Mar­tyrs (and Soldiers too) whom Chrysostome (in Juven: and Max:) commends for an example for that they would not be kept from visiting the Saints in prison, although it was forbidden them with the greatest threats, terrors, and torments of death; and as Paul sayes of Onesiph [...]rus 2 Tim: 1. He often refresh­ed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but he sought me out diligently and found me; he got to me at last: Yet upon the [...]4th of the 2d. moneth were two bre­thren (sent from the Church at London to visit us, and particularly to mini­her unto me) not suffered to come in, the Goaler Bull and his complices (be­ing hard at bowls,) yet had time to forbid it, and more too; so that before they returned home to London again, I with my concaptive Mr: C: got out at [Page 117]a hole upon the Castle-wal on high, and they two were let into the Ramparts without the wals, and we spake to one another on the wals, with tears and joyes, all their desire (being their teacher and overseer in bonds) I began with a word of Exhortation to them out of Exod: 40.36. and Rev: 4.1. at which some poor people (in the houses a little way off) hearing; came run­ning, into the Highway; but presently Orders came from the bowlers to the Soldiers to fal upon the Two Messengers, which they did pretty greedily, and so pui'd, tore, and thump'd them who were standing quietly, with nothing but bibles in their hands, out of the Ramparts into the Highway, but because they could not wel beat them out of the Highway (which was as far off as the Castle-wal as I could wel be heard with my lowdest voice) and for that I think 20 were by this time gathered to hear me, (and almost all poor Wo­men) they did no more then, but threaten them, and send soldiers to oversee, and look what Women there were that they might be troubled for it, and whither any were Soldiers Wives, that either their Husbands might correct them (for that is an allowed practise with Soldiers here to beat their Wives) or else their Husbands be turn'd out upon it, such a severe sentence had this occasional speaking to the Churches Messengers; besides; Soldiers passed under the wal up and down all the while, looking up, and yawling, contradicting and blaspheming to disturb us, but blessed be the LORD who teacheth me to preach in Tumults, his presence was with us, overpower'd the enemies, and we went to prayer together with the power of the Lord, after which the peo­ple desired to hear me again, and (praying me to it,) we appointed that day senight, being the 1 of the 3 month, and so my dear Co-exile and I took leave of our two brethren blessing the Lord that we had seen their faces, and they ours, and spake to one another, though the enemy had set Pastor and people at such a distance; since which to the writing hereof hath not one come to visit me, but only from He [...]ven, whence our visits are very sweet and raising, yea ravishing, so that I think I may say through the grace of my dear Father in Jesus Christ, that Mihi maxime prosunt, qui mei pessime meminerunt, Luth: ad Spal. They profit me most who mind me least (in a sense) for they send me the more to him who minds (I may say) the veriest Dogg of his Family, and so I shal not want! for The Lord is my Shepheard, I wil not fear, Psal: 23.1: 2 But before the day appointed, BULL and his men had laid their plot deep, as wel how to hinder the Word preached, (though they had not a Word that we can hear of to object against it; nor indeed did they so much as listen for matter, to pretend for their violence or displeasure, but fel pelmel upon it at a venture with the vilest rage, as bruit beasts, sensual, Jude 10. not having their senses exercised to discern good and evil, Heb: [...].14:) as how to fall upon our persons if we attempted it, and withal to keep the poor people from coming [Page 118]into the high-way, and to make the more terror in the matter, the poor man y^• stood centinel at the outward gate (they said) listened to hear me, (or at least was proclive unto it;) him they (for the present) sent packing with big words, of hanging and punishing him, with whipping at the least which made a great noise at Newport, his poor Wife being frighted at it; with high and mighty threats of Bull and his Soldiers several dayes together; so that (I hear) to this houre the poor wretch is put into fears, and looks every moment to be thrown over-board, such is their tyranny to us, and the Word of God in this CAINES-BROOK-CASTLE, (1 Joh: 3.12. As CAIN (that wicked one) who slew his bro­ther: and wherefore slew he him? because his own Works were EVIL, and his bro­thers RIGHTEOUS!) All this while: we being close prisoners the plot was kept from us, only we saw they meant us no good, for the hole (we went out at) they stopped up, but pretended other reasons for it; nor did Bul or any forbid us, or send word to us that they were offended, or would not have us come upon the wall, (which we had the liberty of for a little ayre none forbidding it;) but they left us (as they thought) very secure, and so as we should ea­sily fal into their hands to wreak their Cain-like and designed wrath upon our bodies and bones, (if not our blood;) but by a providence we were war­ned (unknown to them) for one of their Wives having more pitty (then the bloody crew) could not in conscience rest til she had hinted it to one in my Family, and besides one of the Serjeants was heard to say with great joy what brave sport they should have on Thursday (meaning on our bodies that day if I offerd preach) we being by Bul delivered up to their merciless jaws ponyards, and Swords. I think almost as Cassianus was to the bodkins and penknives of his inraged Schollars, and for ought (I say) I know the like effect (or were it) we might have found, had not the Lord delivered us. The day being come to act their cruelty upon us and the Word of God; BUL road abroad (leaving his pleni-potentiary orders with his bloody crew behind him) that he might have (I believe) an excuse for himself, had any sore mischief been done; the Soldiers were ready armed, and very jocund only three or four (or some few of them) hrunk away, and would not be at it, for which they must look to suffer: in the morning about 9 or 10. my dear brother (in these bonds) Mr. Courtney to be a little retired at prayer and reading, went into a little boarded place (as he used to do) upon the back wall, none hindring or questioning him: but after a short space he was interrupted by a soldier sent to keep the little nar­row passage upon the wall, (over which he came into his little house) that he might not come back again that way (so greedy were they to be at their Work.) My brother C. came forth (seeing who it was) to be gone back again to his lodge the way that he came but the soldier kept the pass said he must not, bid him go another way (which they had designed) but he refused so to [Page 119]do, whereupon the soldier said he should, [...];) but he (seeing no remedy) gave the Soldier a sudden wrest, and (by the Lords providence) got by the Wall, but the Soldier laid hold upon him furiously puld his coat, (which he rent) but Mr. C. unbutten'd it, and slipping out of it, left it with the fellow, a [...]d [...], and esca­ped to his own lodg, (all this while was I within in my chamber and knew not of it) 3 or 4 soldiers more were coming to the assistance of the first, but my brother escaped them also, the Serjeant and Corporal stood below in the yard looking on; but this sudden alarum to us, (which was too soon for them, breaking out before they intended it) made all that they hatched to our bodies prove abortive for that day; which I do hear, hath vexed them sore­ly; for this news soon flew out of the Castle, up and down to New-port, and the poor (frighted) people hearing before of their preparations, and now of their assaults upon this Gentleman, did faint, and came not into the High-way to hear, (whither through fear or force, (or both) I know not, but this I know, they are in miserable servitude;) the wals and stairs were now guarded with soldiers, armed with swords, guns, and light match to keep me from going up (if they had came,) and to execute their wils upon me for reproving their blasphemy, drunkenness, and daily (yet allowed) sins; and that day I was told they had intended to taste of my blood, but we sought the Lord about it, and (for al the danger) did conclude we had a call, and it was my duty to preach (though I dyed for it) if any of those that desired it, (or any others) had but come to hear; but because not one came it was also concluded our duty not to hazard our lives, limbs, blood, or bodies for nothing to such as waited, and are greedy to this day of them; it may be some may think I stretch my line to speak thus of them, but indeed (in my own conscience) I am perswaded I do not, but write less then I might in many things, for as Luther ad Nich: Hansm: said. Propositum est mihi ne (que) vitam, ne (que) mores tueri, sed SOLAM CAƲ ­SAM CHRISTI; lacerent mores meos quicun (que) velint, &c. My purpose is not to defend my own life and manner, but only my Christ and his cause (which they persecute,) and who wil, let them rend and teare me and my name to peices; for as the Apostle saith 1 Cor: 15.30, 31. Why stand we in JEOPAR­DY every hour? I protest by your rejoycing which I have in CHRIST JESUS our LORD I DYE DAYLY; and it is for Christs sake, We are accounted the OFF­SCOWRING, 1 Cor: 4.

Thus with this day (wherein I welcom'd my honoured brother into this blessed School of Christs buffets and marks, after the order of our dearest Sa­viour, Apostles, Martyrs, and most ex cellent Saints; though we be both of us (as yet) but young striplings, and the lowermost of this Forme, wherein we [Page 120]are learning and pressing forward; I might break off this History of our suf­ferings (at the present) for we hope the Winter is past, and the rain is over, and gone, (I mean for storms, though it may be we have some April show­ers yet to bring forth May-flowers, or better fruits from us) Cant: 2.11. yea the singing of birds is begun, it is heard in our Land. Yet I might say much more of their present Tyranny upon us (to tear us, and wear us out!) since the M: Gen. was taken from us. My Wife being very il to this day cannot have liberty to go out for the meanes (if it were to save her life) not so much as to Newport to a Doctor of Physick and so to return in again; and as for our diet you heard before how hardly we are used; nay they wil not suffer a poor Woman so much as to come up to sel us a little butter, or the like; and yet they constantly upbraid us with the abuse of our liberty (if we have it) by preaching, &c. but the Cavaleeres and themselves may sit, swear, and swil from morning to night, and yet no abridgement or abuse of Liberty with them; yea I am certainly informed by a godly Gentleman that of late they sat drinking in Wine hot waters and other Liquors to the rate of eighteen quarts to a Man at one bout; yea on the Lords day (all day long) drinking, smoaking, tipling, and swelling it, which I never heard they were forbidden, only to hear me is forbidden with great vehemency; yea many of them at once have I seen staggering and reeling at the Alehouse, while their poor Wives come scolding for bread, and yet this is so far from being adjudged an abuse of Liberty, that what these kind of Vermine would have done to us, is done; whiles they are complemented, courted, and made much of; and indeed (next to Lambeth) I never saw the like, and so openly I say, upon the Lords daies too, without any thing of Gods Worship som times, which is accounted no crime; but to hear me Preach or pray, or in any of the Worship of God, they wil have that an unpardonable sin, and indispensable; though as the Apostle saies 1 Cor: 4.13. Being defamed we intreat, and as Alexan­der Hales could say a Soul patient when wronged, is like a man with a SWORD in one hand, and SALVE in the other, he could wound, but he would heal.

Besides all this, I shal add but a little more, and so I shal finish for this present in this prison; where it is much, if every day do not produce some new Tyranny and Tragedy upon our bodies. The 16 day of the 3d. moneth, two friends, one from London, another from Berkshire came to see us, and by a good providence got into the Castle yard but refused to subscribe, and so were to be turned away again, and not to come up to our prison chambers. I seeing them, and at first doubtful who they were at my window, yet soon guess'd at one of them, so that I vvent into the yard, spake vvith them, and with joy took them by the hand, desired they might come into my chamber [Page 121]though with Soldiers, but that would not be suffered, because I had a few dayes before told their Lieutenant for al their tyranny to tire us out, I fear'd them not, nor al their masters, because I was above them al in this matter, and they were al under our feet were they 10000 more for one; so that this was pretended against it the Lieut: saying but I should not have the Castle yet, for al that! and til I could behave my self better, none should come to me and the like; but my Wife also came down into the yard, and my dear Co-exile, Q: G. C. so that we had some little time to speak together, though vvith great interruptions and abusive speeches, the very common soldiers (before their Offices faces, tossing stones or brick-bats at us! and calling a­loud to my Wife Mrs. Mrs. vvhere is your Gentleman Ʋsher to hold up your tail? (meaning I suppose me, because I use to lead her being weak & lame!) but we let them alone to abuse us! before the Soldiers faces (who have suffi­ciently scoff'd and upraided me, saying we lye in prison to get mony as Bull and al the rest do say daily!) they gave me Tokens of their Love, and so left us; nor were they suffered to come any more into the yard, which they tryed and intreated. Within these few dayes it vvas reported as if there would be some stirs in England, at which they rage against the Indenpendent and Ana­baptist Rogues as they cal them, and then particularly threaten what they vvil do with us upon it! Captain HAD: saying to his other Soldiers that if he knew but one (of themselves) that were any waies familiar (meaning civil in respect) with Courtney or Rogers, he vvould run his Sword into his guts presently vvith his own hands. Their daily breathing seems to be af­ter our bloud; and their words wil break out at their lips do what they can! sorto name no more the last 2d. day. Serj. King vvith some others took my little Child (in coats) examined him about us, and vvith flatteries tempted the Child to tel vvhat we said, and did, and eat, or any thing that he could get out! and then they gathered together a crew of them to vent their lusts and malice; sometimes threatning, sometimes raging, sometimes scoffing, &c. it seems they understood vve had a joynt of meat together to a dinner, and vvhich vvas but but one dish for us al, at vvhich they raged, that their prisoners should live like Lords (as they tearmed it) and that they them­selves liv'd more like the prisoners, and therefore they would have their major not to suffer us to eat a bit, but vvhwat vve buy of their Suckler, (that is one of their Soldiers,) nor should we dress it our selves, but their Suckler, so that (though vve pay for it dearly!) yet vve shal not eat, but vvhat they allow us to eat, and live upon vvhich I believe should not be a bisket a day, might they have their wils, but the Lord restraines their rage! even so O Lord! O let the Remainder of their vvrath praise thee! This S. King is such another ambitious, covertous, pragmatical youth, as was Pepper at Winsor! [Page 122]vvho soars high by his impudence and cruelty to us! in company of our Friends he denies that he did buffet, beat, and bruise me as is before men­tion'd; but amongst themselves he brags and boasts of it! as the last second day he said ROGERS cannot abide him, never since he paid him so, and boxd him so bravely (at which they scoff and laugh) but (said he) as if no­thing else troubled him, I might have cut off a band or an arm off him as wel as can be, for if I had cut off his right arm, no Sizes, nor Sessions (saies he) would meddle with me for it; and this they conclude on as Times now are, which they al assented to: but stil our trust is in then ost high Jehovah! The Title this King gives to me is Faggot maker, and so reports (I hear) that I was a faggot maker up and down, but indeed I may live to make faggots by the King of Heavens appointment to bind up such stubble as they are for the day of wrath if they repent not! He dos also rage exceedingly that Qr: Mr. Gen. and I have our distinct rooms, and saies he wil have Courtney to Rogers, or Rogers to Courtney that he may have the rooms, for they shal not live so like Gen­tlemen, and thus they are every day insulting over us at their pleasure, when we speak not one word unto them, that they may not have the least colour of any provocations from us, which is indeed our comfort! for vve let them alone without taking notice of their tongues or actions against us, which in­deed doth vex them the more, poor creatures! for if they do but see us! their hearts so rise against us that as Acts 7.54, 57. they even gnash (some of them) as I have seen it with their teeth, and look as if they were ready to [...]un upon as with one accord. Notwithstanding we do endeavour (when they do fal fouly upon us!) to convince them with soft and sound words, & when [...]hey go by us (as big as they can hold) with civil respect! ministring as [...]e are able to their Wives (whom they keep poor enough) either in mo­ [...]ey, clothes, or food, though they dare not be to know it! and so returning [...]ood for evil, and if one of them be seen by another to shew any kind of [...]espect to us, to do any thing for us, or stir his hat kindly he is (as I said be­ [...]ore) under a publick check, and upbraiding, if not in danger to be turnd [...]ut; BULL asks him if he be our Pensioners, or if he wil do more for us then [...]or him, with a many more such frivilous, captious, and quarrelsome [...]uestions; and then threatens him. These are I confess but trifles to what [...]ight be mention, and to what we see and suffer every day, blessed be the [...]ord for vvhose sake vve suffer al things gladly and thankfully! yea to [...]ention but yesterday, because it was the last day of al (for every day af­ [...]ds new matter,) and so I conclude with this Tragical History at present, [...] Time do bring forth the Truth of all things, and their (hidden) tyranny, [...] to open light! which I trust wil be shortly! The MAID that serves us had [...]erty to go out for this once, (she never stirring out of the prison before!) [Page 123]to see her Friends; and yesterday (having travelled al nigt!) very weary! she returned again! they let her into the gate, brought her into the Guard! and kept her there above an hour! but would not let her come in unto us! yet carried it fair to her, until they had prepared their plot upon the poor lame Creature; and for all it was the Lords Day (wherein they had no other Sermon!) they sent for Serjeant King twice to come away in hast!) who had sorely threatned her before (as wel as Bull!) to be revenged for affirm­ming she saw them beat and buffet me, when they would deny it to any of our friends when they came! So this King came greedly of his Prey! and by his order (he himself assisting)! two or three of the fiercest and most merciless of them fel upon her vvith great violence, (without any occasion, colour, or provocation in word or deed! which they themselves deny not!) only because she belonged to us!) nor had she (as she told them!) Letter or paper (nor did she carry out any:) which they believed also; yet for al that they fel to a venting of their malice to us, and of their Spirit against us, upon the poor creature, tore her upon the ground, and dragged her in a most shame­ful, impudent, and uncivil manner, (al at length) in the open yard, and about the dust, and abusing her so unseemly that some of their own Wives ran out pittying and crying aloud; (but were sharply rebuked by their Husbands, and bid to hold their tongue; these Savages were now in their own Ele­ment, and very warm at their Work! (their Sabbath work!) and so continued it! I called out at a window, and cryed to them to forbear for that she was already a poor lame Maid, and they had already wreakd their Malice I though upon her, and with too much immodesty! but they the more (for my speaking!) dragd, puld, and abused her about the ground, which when I saw, I was silent, and lookd up unto the Lord! until they had so draggd her, and thrown her out of the gate! and then they got up her clothes, and threw them after her! where the poor Creature is even now like Lazarus, (and hath been many hours!) lying with her lame limbs, and bundle at the gate for admittance if it may be; but there she may lye yet many a day; they that go by her (many of them) scoffing and abusing her bitterly! know­ing al my Family is il (Wife and Children) and not a servant that they suffer to live with us and help us in this need! I askd indeed King by what rule he did this, and that on the Lords day! saying, if he were a Christian, the Rule was Luke 3. Soldiers do violence to none! but he made a scoff at what I said, and turnd away in great fury! & then I said wel! the LORD wil look down, and see all these things! at which he turn'd and said pish! the LORD! what do you tel us the LORD! who is the L: you are not the LORD a [...]e you? and so went on raging and blaspheming! and the rest scoffing for company! as ful of fury as they could hold! who indeed have not the patience to hear [Page 124]the Lords name so much as mention! unless at Alehouses and in sin; so sadly prophane are they! and indeed, how can they be otherwise, when men with wicked and idle courses have spent al their meanes, and cannot or wil not work! they get into these Garrisons to drink and guzzle their Pay out be­fore their pay-day comes; and for other misdemeanours deserving to be chashiered, can find no way to secure their places but by their brutish, pre­meditated, and barbarous cruelty to us! wherein they merit most that are monstrous! and these things I declare (as in the sight of the God of truth!) to be true! having read over again and again what I have written! and do not know one line I have written too large, the Lord knows; whatever some may think, but in many, that I have written too little rather; intending hereby to give but hints to the Saints of the continued and multiplied Se­ries of our sufferings: especially to such at London as (through their igno­ance, and our forced silence!) say it is but a flea biting that we suffer, and not worth speaking of; but it is a sign they have not a fellow feeling! for as the Lord said to Ezek: 2.46. They are impudent and stiff necked, but be not afraid of them though BRIARS AND THORNS be with thee! and thou art a­mong SCORPIONS! and therefore it is we are so torn and stung every day and indeed in a sense it is a suffering worse then Death (as slight as men make it:) It is true in reproach to us, the Soldiers (after they have beaten and abused us) bid us to complain if we wil; and if we do not like it help it! knowing that the cure is worse then the Disease to us, and that we have none to complain unto, but the Lord, who surely wil hear us and save us at last, before they have wearied us out! and broken our very heart-strings, and which (doubtless) they designe in one kind or other before they have done with us; But matters of greater moment I must refer to a fitter season! and blesse Jehovah with us; O ye upright ones (that sympathy with us!) for he hath yet lined us with a good conscience (within,) and a good cause without, and we trust We shal not fear what flesh can do unto us, and pray for us yet more abundantly.

I had thought long ere this to have been at an END, and that this Perse­cution would have added or imposed a Quietus est to my body (by death) out of the continuance of their cruelty; but it pleases the Father that I should yet live (as one alwaies dying) under their immanity and now since that of the poor Maids sufferings by their so immodest dragging her (al at length) in the yard (before mentioned) I am intreated (by friends) to in­large this sad History (which I write with no great delight though I hope I suffer it with joy) a little further; but I had rather a thousand times to set it before the Lord my God, then once to make mention of it to any below; yet by reason of Friends importunity (to whom I must not be ungrateful) I shal [Page 125]give you a short view of this new link added to my chain since; that of Joseph (in his round (Caines-brook-Castle or) Tower too, Gen: 3.20.) running much in my mind, for the Lord was with him; and although I never read of such rigor in his bonds as are in mine (renewed often) yet of him the Holy G: saith Psal: 105.18, 19. Whose FEET they hurt with fetters: he was laid in I­ron; ƲNTIL the time that his Word came: the word of the Lord TRYED him; yea not only my feet have they hurt, but my back, bones and whole body hath been hurt, beaten, bruised, and are aking every day with these heavy fetters and furies. Since the Maids such monstrous usage (without any cause) and being last out at the gate with her clothes rent and torn, where (besides that) she lay on the ground lame, (like Lazarus at the gate) six or seven hours the next day for admittance, and at last was let in again with no little stir and threatning; I had liberty to go in to my dear Co-Exiles chamber (not knowing of any design they had upon me) which it seems they watched for, (and had Orders from BULL as they say) to observe when I did so, be­ing now resolved to take their rage from the lame Creature (having little credit of their cruelty to her) and to wreak it upon me and my poor weak Wife; which they did (at present) thus; (but O Lord! let the remainder of their Wrath PRAISE thee! Upon a sudden (after my fellow prisoner had in­vited me into his Chamber) four or six Musketeirs with Swords, Guns, and light Matches were set upon me there, and soon after more followed them; they set also Soldiers upon my weak Wife and Family, (yea into the very room raging; which frighted her for the suddenness of it) she being as igno­rant as I of the meaning of this new piece of tyranny; and so keeping us a­sunder that we could not come at one another, see or hear, so, as to know of each others condition, or what the matter was, which made it look like a bad business, (as bad as if forthwith they had intended to murther me at least:) my Wives sickness subjecting her (withal) to very frightful fancies, feares and apprehensions wondring vvhat would become of me, stil asking after me, and what was become of me, or what they had done with me; and be­sides to make it a through piece of a monstrous matter to her, they set within her chamber the most uncivil, drunken, raging wretches, stamping, threatning, grinding their teeth, calling, Jade, Quean, Carrion, with a many such ob­scene names, bending their fists, striking, tearing, thumping, rai [...]ing, (with their staggering) if any offered to go in the room, not suffering them to stir for necessaries within the rooms, offering and drawing the naked sword upon them (with asseverations) several times, vvithout any provocation given them in Word or deed; and soon after followed ten or twelve more (as they inform me) and filled the room vvith such rude creatures and doings, vvith­out any regard at all to Sex, sickness, or condition. As they vvere at this inhu­mane [Page 126]sport persecuting my Wife and Family, those armed Soldiers with me were not wanting with great violence and fury to execute their Orders (as they called it) for I offering to go to the door with desire to see my Wife, (being fearful of some mischeif to her (though I knew not of this cruel usage of her) in her so weak and sickly condition!) was forcibly beaten and punchd in again, although I desired I might but stand at the win­dow to see her with as many armed soldiers to guard me as they would; but it could not be obtained; which did augment our mutual fears & troubles for one another. (Nay would any think these raging bruites to be so inhumane, and unnatural, as not suffer me to go forth to ease nature, although the house were within a few steps of the door?) but thus were they insulting over us, laughing at us, and abusing of us here; whiles others of them were rend­ing, tearing, and ransaking in my prison Chamber with great violence and threats, [...]ulling the very sheets off the bed, so immodestly (as some Turks would abhor to a WOMAN so ill as my Wife was) that the Maid asking if they were not ashamed, they even shouted at her again; and she was an­swerd that had they Orders, they would pul her cloathes off her back, and pul their smocks over their ears, and strip her stark naked presently, had they but a Word for it; with much such impudent ranting, and unseemly language calling her limping Carrion, Jade, Quean, and what they pleased; and in­deed I do think they said true, had they said to have ravished them too, should they have the word for it; for their Officers (some of them) could stand by, and look on for many hours, (rather laughing at and delighting in their beast-like rudeness, then reproving them for it;) At all which with infinite other taunts, incivilities, threats, and abuses by poor Wife was (I may say) frighted (almost unto death, as hath appeared ever since,) and for some time (dayes and nights) her continual cry was, They would KIL HER, they would be her DEATH, they wil make an END of her; she shal never recover it &c. Within this time the Commissary came to me, and told me I must be put into a little hole, or the dark Chamber at the end of my Fellow prisoners chamber, they would bring my things thither, but the bed I had allowed me to lye on, they would take away, & so (it may be supposing they had suf­ficiently afflicted my Wife & me for once, if I do not wrong them with cha­rity, they brought what pleased them into this Cave where I am now kept to feed upon, Heb: 11.38. Of whom the world was not worthy, they wandred in Deserts, Mountains, and in DENS and CAVES of the earth, ver: 36. and others had tryal of cruel mockings, and scourgings; yea moreover of BONDS and IM­PRISONMENT, this being the 8th or 9th removal; the 5th or 6th PRISON, and the second or third year (all which is true though it may seem strange,) into this little, dark, cold, smoaky, stinking, and unwholsome HOLES they put [Page 127]me, my Wife, and Family guarded hither to me; my family (which are five of us) cast into this one little room, as if (like Beasts) we should be altogether day and and night, and in a room too that would not hold two beds, (for one wil take up the greatest part) indeed too little a Cave for one body, the Soldiers (many of them) deciding and making sport to see this usage, though some had a little reluctancy, and pittyed us; yea for al my Wife was so very ill they took away our bedding (which a Friend had leant us) and carried it into their Lieut: chamber. who had been a busy-body in this tra­jedy (as it proves to be) and there kept it, some saying the boards were too good for us to lye upon, and what were we? that we must have beds? we were prisoners indeed; they would have us to the Dungeon, and we should live in that; and that we should know we were prisoners, and the like: (al­though moderate men that have pleaded for them, yet confess where they have put us is the very next degree to a Dungeon! and all they can say is others have lived here, but then they consider not how it was accomodat­ed, hung, kept warm and fitted for others, and that never any family did or could live in this hole, but had other rooms to live in that were lightsome, more wholsom and tolerable, and but that my dear fellow prisoners man left a little Garret for the Maid and Child to lye in on his bed; we must have lay one upon another like horses in litter, nay that they wil not allow us neither for our Mony (which they allow to Beasts.) Yea they took away e­ven curtains and valens, not allowing us a curtain to keep out the wind or cold which are known to be very bitter in this place; Al which and more to (I trust) I can take thankfully and joyfully for my dearest Jesus sake! Onely I must confess the present condition, weakness, and ilness of my dear yoak­fellow doth cut deep; and would DEEPER had not the most High CUT a COVENANT (in Jesus Christ) with me, which standeth sure and wel or­dered in all things, Gen: 15.18. 2 Sam: 23.5. and ah! it is sweet! to be put to such shi [...]ts sometimes! ye [...] out of all into him who is all in all! even so! Amen! HALELƲJAH!

The ground of this act of tyranny lies (as as the rest dos) in their arbitra­ry breasts to weary, tire, provoke, consume, spend us out, break our very heart-strings with such lingring tyranny, and so to kil us if they can that way; who seem weary with letting us live so long, and sure the SPRING of this con­tinued fresh-spouting cruelty cannot arise altogether out of WHITE-HELL! Nor can I conjecture other subordinate cause as to this unhandsome force up­on us from that room, but that then we should see their horrible wickednesse every day drinking, smoaking, drabbing, prophaning the Sabbath, and name of God at the Alehouse beating and abusing the Saints, (or such as came to visit us;) and if friends came to see us that they would not let in (at a [Page 128] back window,) I could see them, which was an offence; but in this hole we know not when any come, nor wil they let them so much as with soldiers come to see us, but turn them away weeping, and unknown to us, as two men friends that came from London, they have done so to already (I hear;) and now one (a Gentlewoman of London) at this time we (by a providence) hear is at the gate, that they wil not let come to us, so that I think these may be the reasons (beside the threats of Serj: King who lusted for this cruelty, and threatned it long;) for although as Isai: 3.9. The shew of their counte­nance doth witnes against them, and they declare their sin as SODOM; they hide it not. Yet were they vexed to do it alwaies in our eyes which they confes­sed, and so removed us into this HOLE; and this is the most easie and charita­ble construction that can (I think) be given of their cruelty! but it could not vent in this, for their wickedness burns as fire, and here also are they worrying us a fresh too to this moment; I may wel say with sweet Joseph in his pri­son, Gen: 40.15. And HERE ALSO have I done nothing that they should put me into this DƲNGEON; and that it is a Dungeon, yea not only beyond Josephs, but far exceeding some fellons in England. I shal a little describe it to you! it is some three steps long, and three steps broad; (not so long as one of the little garrets they put us into, first) when they brought me into this Castle, with a promise of two rooms, two beds, and better accomo­dation! til they have gotten me in, but now they gripe me, and not perform a title of their promise! but tis no wonder from men of such principles who make no more bones of breaking an Oath, then a soldier dos of cracking a louse) nor is it so large as any one of the rooms we had at Windsor. Under­neath it is a deep, low vault, from whence arises (into the room) day and night unwholsom vapours, winds, and filthy damp mists very dangerous, the boards being broken and rotten; the chimney is a little low thing, cast­ing smoak so unreasonably in such a little close room that it is uncomfortable, and better to be bitten with cold, then smotherd with smoak; all the light that comes in is a little dark window, which for many hundred years (I sup­pose) never saw the sun, unless a little at nights upon the long dayes of sum­mer; so that it looks at noone in the room (for the most part) as if it were night. Before the window is a great Hill which keeps off light and ayre, so that the ayr that comes in to us is either out the Vault, or deep damp hol­low cave underneath us (exceeding unwholsome) as we find by Woful ex­perience to the flesh! day and night, or else in at the door, and what that is, let any judg, for at the very door (within three steps) is the filthy common Sewer, stench, and common house of Office,, and at the side of the common Dunghil, so that what delight can be in this ayr, which the room is so strong and ful of, let any (but Beasts) judge in this it exceedeth Sandam fort, [Page 129]as the Soldiers do for cruelty, and I think when it is best and sweetest, it is when there is less of the house of Office aire, and more of the other; that is when it smels but fusty and foggy like a Well, Cave, or low Sellar under ground, with raw, cold, and aguish humors. Now if in these and other re­spects it be not a Dungeon, (and far exceeding many, yea in many respects the very Dungeon of this Castle which they threaten me so much with) I am much mistaken. But now for some few fruits too of their tyranny that we may tel you how it tasts (as from them;) ever since hath my poor Wife been weak and sick, yea so (by fits and through frights) as I feared her dissoluti­on before this, and that which made her yet the more dejected, and down (as at deaths door) was the want of Meanes, they not suffering help to come when sent for, but rather, upbraiding and saying pish! We could be sick and wel when we would! the sense whereof made her complain deeply, and look upon her self as a lost Woman for some dayes! Besides the lame Maid was now taken ill also, she feeling their cruel usage, lying, and complaining ful of paine and torment for six or seven dayes together, but they would not suffer so much as a Woman sent for to help her, (keeping her bed, which one in pitty lent her to lye on!) but we sought the Lord for help, for compassi­on, for remedy! we not being suffered (neither) to send out a Letter to sig­nifie a word of our condition or cruel usage; some seven or eight Letters we have reckoned they have kept (of late) though not a word in them (for the most of them) that medled with these matters or their Government, only of my Wives sickness, sending for meanes, as also for a little money which one had of ours, but they neither let those Letters go the right way, nor told us of their stay, and so al lost (it is like.) Al I hear they can say is that I dated one of them from Carisbrook-Castle a Den of Cruelty, which they pretend a high capital Crime, so afraid are they, the least truth of their ty­ranny should come to light. But the Lord our God heard us graciously, and gave us some hope of their recovery, insomuch as my Wife began to grow a little chearful, lively, and in hope to out-grow her frights and fits, but ah! behold their barbarous wickedness! O thou God of Righteousness! O how envious are they at thy goodness! for this time they take! BULL and a com­pany of them being feasting, ranting, gaming, making merry, and bowling in a green they have for that purpose, and from this sport he orders his cru­elty; commands a violent party of soldiers (without so much bowels as a Man, or mercy as some beasts have, not once regarding my Wives long weakness, or the Maids lameness,) to set upon us a fresh, and so tear away this bed also that my Wife now lay upon from under us; but it pleased God to give a foresight of it by several signes I had of a new trouble coming upon us; BULL with the souldiers being so exceeding crank, merry, laughing, [Page 130]and like them in Amos 5. at ease, and trusting in the mountain of Samaria, putting far away the evil day, that stretch th [...]mselves upon their Couches, eat the Lambs of the flock, chant, and drink Wine in bowls, but they are not GRIEVED for the AFFLICTIONS of Joseph! nay they are so far from a sence of Jo­sephs sorrows in the midst of their mirth and jollity, hat indeed as v: 3. They cause the SEAT OF VIOLENCE to come near! even then! when they are at this voluptuousness; whereat (besides seeing them cast their eye so at my Dung-hole lodge) I did resolve they had a new designe, so communicated my thoughts to my Wife, wishing her to be of good chear, and so going in­to my co-Exiles chamber (which is the help we have for aire) we lockd up our own chamber door, and a while after came in these soldiers like greedy Leopards! for the bed we lay on; and perceiving our door lockd (according to Orders) with hatchet, swords, &c. broke open the door, lock and all; not­withstanding I pleaded with them my Wives weak condition, how they had already almost kild her, and for my own part I should be content to lye in straw if they would allow it; but my Wife being so weak and ill, had need to have a bed, and this was hard usage, and unchristian; besides, before they got me in to the Castle, both Bul and they promised I should have two beds, (and so after I was in) and it was allowed at first; and I was taken from a prison where I had al these, under pretence of better accomodation; and would they not allow us now one bed to lye on? we did desire but one bed, and if nothing else would move them, my Wives present illness and sickness should impor­tune a litt [...]e a little compassion of them if they were men! but they would not hear! in they went! tore al the things off the bed, and carried away to the very bolster, and pillow, (where they now lye in the aforesaid Lieuten­ants chamber.) And I was answered that in no prisons were Fellons or Mur­therers allowed a bed to lye on, (ranking us with them!) yea they had taken away the very sheets! My poor Wife was this while ready to faint, very il, and falling into her fits again (through frights) which for present vvere prevented by meanes; my fellow prisoner (also) using a I endeavours to com­fort her; but afterwards she fel il again as she used to be before, this last cruelty renewing her sickness, so as al her flesh would fal a trembling, her whole body be as in an agony, but especially her head, which doth swel, and the humors settle in her face, &c. so that for want of the meanes here, and because they seem resolved to give no rest (as we think) until they have murthered her, or been her death; she must (now) be forced to leave me in their clutches, and if the Lord make her able to get to London for the preservation of her life! which the Lord in mercy grant me! Amen!

But I shal abruptly break off here! by reason my poor weak Wife is now leaving me and creeping out of this (Castle-Goal) yet Rehoboth where is room for me, and my soul is left at a fresh spring! O blessed be my God! but I must confess it is grievous to the flesh; to be left in the hands of such as have threatned and seem to thirst for my blood as greedily as the Dogg for the sheeps! but (yet) by Gods grace they shal leap above ground for it! and not get it by gaping, that I think: Psal: 37.32, 33, 34. The wicked WATCH­ETH the Righteeous, and seeketh to slay him, But the Lord wil not leave him in his hand; WAITON THE LORD, and keep his WAY, and he shal exalt thee to inherit the Land! this is a sure Word, and in season here! where I hope to wait, and wait in hope that wil never make me ashamed! notwithstanding the violence done to my flesh, the afflictions of my body and relations, and the danger of death in this Dungeon-like-hole, which I hope in Christ; we dare (sometimes) look ful-face upon and meet! though many times I must needs say with Bishop Ridley Martyr, I think I could creep into a mouse-hole, and that is when (through these late out-ragious exercises) I have fits of sudden fear, and am so subject to frightings! But O pray! pray! pray for us incessantly with Faith! Al ye that shal hear these tidings, that he may (al­waies) stand by us who stood by Paul against the beasts of Ephesus, and be­fore Nero! not knowing which way our most dear Deliverer wil come! whether by life or death to free us from fierce and unreasonable creatures, though for my own part I rather expect the latter in this place (ere long!) desiring to be found faithful unto Death in this most glorious Cause of Christ Jesus my Lord! King! and Master! nor do I think (if I dye) that you wil hear the perioding passages of their Tyranny, or this Tragedy upon my body! or that I shal write more to get it out (my papers lying hid under­ground! where I fear they wil rot!) but the Lord wil raise up the truth from the dead, I do know assuredly!

By these things you may learn thus much more, 1 That the persecution is at principles of truth (let them say what they wil) for they sal upon us for Christ the Words and Spirits, and Saints sake, we see; nor can they so much as pretend a danger to their Castle, (as they had formerly done) by a few feeble Women to stand in the High-way, (and not so much as in the out­works of the Castle;) but meer malice to the word of truth. 2. That they would not end with out persons or lives if they had them, but what they do unto us, they would fain be doing to al the Saints, and Churches who wait or call for the Kingdome of Christ; (and so they have said that they could have our Arms up to the elboes in their bloud [...]) as appears by their fowl fal­ling upon the Messengers of the Churches with blows without any occasion glving them, but standing stil and hearing me, so that (therein) they al­so [Page 134] fel upon them that sent them, so also upon their dragging the poor (lame) MAID about the yard. 3. That this hindring the Word (with sword-vio­lence) is a high robbery to poor Souls, (in a scripture-sence) yea and to God; whom they openly scoff and mock at to hear him named, Mal: 3.8. Joh. 10.8. and God wil deal with them accordingly; yea were Dr. Taylor now alive, and going to be burnt for this cause, he would burst out with his words (in Fox: vol: p: 179.) against these Brtites. and much more in these dayes of Apostacy; ah horsen Theeves! whoresen Theeves! rob God of his honour! rob God of his honour! for as Mat: 23.13. Wo to them! for they neither go in themselves, nor suffer them that are entring: but blessed be the Lord for that promise in Isai. 18.7. The PRESENT shal be brought to the Lord, of a people scattered and PEELED, with ch: 42.22. This is the people robbed and spoiled, they are all of them suared in holes, and hid in prison-houses. 4. This sword­silencing of the Ministers of Christ is a far more cruel and cutting way of si­lencing then the Bishops High-Commission-Courts, or the Star-chamber! Amos 5.13. Theresore is it, the prudent shal keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time, not that the Lord approves the practise, but reproves their prudence. 5. The Sword-preaching (or such preaching as the Sword only allows) is the worlds, the Devils, and Antichrists 1 Joh: 4.5. and such a way of con­verting as the Turks use, and the Saracens, and so the Spaniards have it in the Indies under pain of confiscation of Lands, liberties, life. &c. to acknow­ledg God and the Spanish King, of whom the Indians had never heard; So is the Sword-preaching in these dayes, in this Isle (as Bul confessed) to keep them in subjection (that is in slavery) to his Lord Protector whom they ne­ver saw; but to preach up the Lord Protector of Heaven and Earth; or the Lord Jesus Christ our King) this is crushed by the Sword for sedition and dangerous Doctrine; so that ELIAH is persecuted, Micaiah mured up in close prison, and kept with bread and water of affliction, whiles al the States Priests (or Kings Clergy) who say Go up, and prosper! yea 400 false Prophets feed every day at Jezabels Table; but yet we are upon Charmel-Mount, and our enemies shal know that we are not here a fishing for Gudgeons. Much more I have to say of their tyranny, and cruelty (and in many things I have been sparing) but time wil declare all! I trust.

Now to offer my thoughts a little further, from what I fore-see, and may easily gather, I dare affirm, 1 That either extraordinary sufferings, or extra­ordinary actings, (in either of which (for the word of God, and testimony of Jesus, Rev: 12.11.) we must carry our lives in our hands to offer up) are at the door in England; but the last I rather look for; when as Anselm (lib: de simil c: 52.) saies, In futuro seculo sic justus fortus erit, ut etiam si velit, terram commovere possit; & e converso injustus imbecillis ut nec etiam vermes amovere [Page 135]queat, &c. a Saint shal be able to shake the vvhole World at his Wil but a Tyrant, a persecutor, an enemy shal be so weak he shal not be able to put a­way or [...]urt a poor WORM of us; Zach: 12.7, 8. He shal save the TENTS (in W [...]rs) of JƲDAH; (amongst us (Japhet) Gentile Christians,) FIRST & he that is FEEBLE amongst them shal be as David, and DAVID as the An­gel of the Lord before them; yea, as pretious Mr: Burrows saies (out of Luther) that the BODIES of the Saints shall have that POWER as to t [...]ss the greatest MOƲNTAINS of the world like a BALL; but this I am perswaded (by Faith) they shal begin to do shortly, when the Worm is called to thresh the Mountains, Isai: 41.15. and beat them smal as Jer: 51.20, 21, 22. Dan: 2.35. and this I confess is that I rather look for. 2. But if it break forth and continue in worse sufferings, (by persecution, &c.) I expect it in Julian (the Apostates) way of Policy, which Sozomen mentions, by returning the worst of the old Clergy, and [...]jected secular P. or such like People and Spi­rits into place again, Ʋt belio intestino expugnarent ecclesiam (notwithstand­ing our persecutors seem at present so unmerciful to some of the honestest and best of them, that they would not have them (by School or otherwise) to earn bread for their families honestly, which is monstr [...]s tyranny (even to the worst of men) and makes my heart sometimes bleed within me!) but somewhat like to this seems their reviving of the old Orders, degrees, popish customs, forked caps, hoods, and tippets, and such Antichristian trash! (which so many Martyrs have witnessed against!) besides the famous buri­al of the Arch-Bishop of Ire: at O.P. charges in Eng: whiles we may rot in his prisons. 3. If in actings amongst the Saints; (as I am most inclind to think) then look for such a Spirit (in proportion) to be doing with, as the Saints had (in primitive times) to be suffering with the most exquisite torments men could be put to; Like the Woman of Valeneience, who said she would rather burn her body then burn her bible, and so was burnt; or rather that Woman which the Martyr Guy de Brez: mentions in a Letter to his Mo­ther; I remmeber (saies he) I have read how the poor Christians (in pri­mitive times) were assembled together (a great number) to hear the VVord and a great COMMANDER was sent by the Emperor to put them al to the the sword, which a christian Woman hearing, hasted with al the speed she could to be at this meeting, carrying her little one in her arms; as she drew night to the troop of Horse-men, she rushed in to get through, the Gov: seeing her make such hast, called to her, and examined her whither she posted so fast? she gave him this short answer, I am going (faith she) to the assembly of the Christians; what to do (saies he?) hast thou not heard that I am comman­ded to put them al to death? Yes! yes! (saies she) I know it wel, and therefore make I hast that I may not COME TOO LATE, least I be not worthy to loose [Page 136]my life with them, but what wilt thou do with the little child (saies he?) I will carry it with me (saies she) that it may also have the crown of Martyrdom! At which the Tyrants heart was so vvounded, that he retired back to the Em­peror and told him as the Lieutenant told Julian that the christians did but deride their tormenters, and laugh at their tortures, which were more terrible to the Spectators and Executioners then to the christians that were to tur'd! I could tel you (in primitive times) of whole Flocks that vvould run in voluntarily to be tormented, when they heard christians were to suf­fer; now I say I do expect as high, forward, and excellent a spirit to come down for action, that vvil make nothing but sport (for Christs sake) to run in among multitudes of enemies in the name of the Lord, and (though men account them mad, desperate, or such as throw away their lives) they wil on, upon swords and Pikes, and play as prettily, merrily, and chearfully with cannon-bullets as at stool-ball; and if the Roman or Trojan, or Persian spi­rit was so invincible and resolute in the day of it, do we think the 5th: Kingdom spirit shal not be so much rather? and what a shameful thing is it as Jerome saies, Ʋt non prestet fides, quod praestitit infidelitas? that Faith in Christ should not make us as couragious for him as ever Infidels or carnal men were or are for their masters.

4. For that Resolution goes before action, I find in my prospective that the Lord had ripened his Saints at a high rate already; especially such hid­den ones of his as hang most in the SLIN of Generation-light! me thinks they begin to be shod with Gospel-preparations, Eph: 6. and hoofes of brass to beat a pieces many people, Micha: 4.13. (but to them by and by;) who are at present in the inner court, the Tabernacle of the Testimony! Rev: 15.5. and a­bout the Throne with the four and twenty, and standing on the christal seat: Rev: 4.4.10. and 5.8. these LEVITES (of the order of 24) in 1 Chron: 24 and 25 & 26 & 27 who are to execute the Judgment throughly (upon al that have run a Whoring from the Lord!) Exod: 32.27, 28, 29. with the sword! in the mean time, O Lord, look down upon thy prisoners! and behold how gree­dy these BEASTS are! as Mica: 3.2.3. To pluck off their skin! and flesh from off their BONES! yea to eat the flesh of thy people, to break their BONES, and chop them in pieces as for the pot, and as flesh within their CAULDRON yet, v: 4. They wil cry unto the Lord!

Now for a conclusion; Let my most dear and homoured brethren in bonds (and out also) be of good chear! ful of Faith and expectation, unmoveable in the Lord, knowing their labour, their love, and their bonds be accepted, 1 Cor: 15.48. yea! your infirmities (my Friends) are over-looked! Jer: 50.20. in the covenant of Grace, Heb. 8.12. and your cause (of Christ) assisted and la­boured after by the whole Creation! Therefore as LUTHER said upon [Page 137] Henr: 8's bitter Letters against him, Agant quicquid possunt Henirici, E­piscopi, atque adeo Turca, & ipse Sathan nos filii sumus Regni, &c. Pish! Let al the Harries, Bishops, Turks! and Devils do their worst as long as Christ is ours; and so we are the children of the Kingdom! we care not! we spare not! we fear not! though they kil us! spit upon us! beat, bruise, im­prison or crucifie us to death for our Christ; for that al shal be wel with us, yea better then wel! when we be the Stones of his CROWN lifted up Zach: 8.16. Therefore O you the Lords Prisoners! and royal Persecuted ones in Pathmos-Isle-Exiles! and in Palmon-prisons! (my most d [...]ar and honoured Brethren indeed! and now more then ever!) M: G: Harrison, and Mr: Courtney, M: Carew, Col: Rich, M: G: Overton, C: Day, B: Feak, &c. and al the rest whom I salute in the Lords name! and look towards! from this top of Amana! (for it is a Nurse as the word signifies in the Truth!) this top of Shenir, (where is the prosperous teacher as the word sig­nifies) and this Hil of Hermon, Cant: 4.8. (ful of Dews dedicated to God! yea from these Lions Dens, and mountains of the Leopards, where I am now cast for a prey by men to be devoured in Carisbrook-Castle, (a close prison, and kennel of nuclean creatures!) from hence I say do I cry aloud! and cal upon you,) who have accounted the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures and pleasures of the present court!) having no o­ther way to speak unto you but this, I am BIDDEN of the Lord to mind you al (with my own Soul) of the day-break! we have so long waited and prayed for! that DAY BREAK of the Vision, which we may easily discern through little streams, the morning is breathing but of such a day as wil be neither dark nor clear! yea the years of Wonders are entring up­on us, and as I take it, it is now the EVE-YEAR of terrible Times and things of the strange MOƲNT PERAZIM-dspensations! Isai: 28.21. which I have (I hope) evidently demonstrated and proved (even in the eyes of the adversaries) by scripture arguments both in my Prison-born Treatise ready, which are both of a MALE-SPIRIT! were there any MIDWIFE so hardly to do their Office without fearing Pharaohs cruel comm [...]nd of killing them, (who is contented to let the female, carnal, and low spirited things to pass the Press every day;) surely the Lord would deal wel with such Midwives but instead of such we find them Murtherers! Traytors and very Monsters to the choisest Truths of the Day, insomuch as I may say they have [...]ript up the WOMEN WITH CHILD of GILEAD, (or of the Witnesses and choisest Saints, Cant: 4.1.) that they might enlarge their own BORDERS, Amos 1.13. but the BLOOD and judgement be upon them! that have sti­fled and destroyed the Male-truths and discoveries which we have been so [Page 138] big (or with child) with, in the Holy Ghost, neither suffering us one way nor other to be delivered of them, neither by printing, preaching, nor o­therwise publishing! O! O! worse then pagan, popish! or Prelactical tyranny over us! over our very souls and consciences! much more then over our bo­dies! & estates! but for al this, that men may know we have the blessing! the Lord hath given us the blessing of the VVomb and ful breasts, whiles our enemies have the miscarrying Womb and dry breasts, Hos: 9.14. whose fruit is stil-born, and so shal every one of them be like the untimely, birth of a Woman that seeth not the SƲN, Psal: 58.8, 9. when the Whirl-wind comes and now my brethren, in bonds & banishment (where you be in the world as men (almost) forgotten by some; and as dead men out of mind, Psal. 31.12.) how rest you in your Arimathean Sepulchres? are you not sweetly embalm­ed in your sufferings? and do not the affectionate Maries find you out with their spices? or is it a Resurrection-time with you first? before they can do that? wil the Whales-belly vomit you out and up again amongst your bre­thren at liberty? after you have layen like dead Carkasses your part of the three dayes? for surely the Lord wil revive his Work in the midst of the years, and in the midst of the years make it known saies the Song of Seginoth, Hab: 3.2. Hos: 6. [...], 2. And in wrath remember mercy! what say you? O you honourable ones of the Earth? (that is to come) to al these things? do you not lye easie and sweet in your prisons and Exiles? are not your beds bles­sed and green, for your beloved, and you to lye down in together! O that I were with you, O that I could visit you! that I could hear what you would tel me! how chear you? how live you? how feed you? how lodge you? what find you? what feel you? what see you? what satisfies you? & what enioy you of the DAY-SPRING from on high at hand? Ah my dearest hearts! do you not startle sometimes to feel the babe spring up in the Womb? is he not quick? how say you? doth not the comforter abide with you in your bonds, & dip your feet in oyl for you? O how often doth the Angel of the Covenant visit you? and come leaping over the Castles and Wals unto you? and doth not the most high Jehovah Shammah stand by you (as he ever he did by his poor Worms! his prisoners of Faith and hope of old) saying be of good chear, Harrison! Rich! Carew, Courtney, Overton, &c: and to turn you unto your strong hold! for even to DAY do Ideclare that I wil render double unto thee, when I have bent JƲDAH for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and rai­sed up thy Sons O Greece! and made thee as the SWORD of a mighty man! I am with you! I have oyled your bonds, and made them easie and sweet unto you; yea I have muzled of this mishapen Court-Monster, this ugly crea­ture! this bastard of Ashdod! this seed of the Dragon! begotten in darkness brought forth in weakness! and nourished with unreasonabless! grow­ing [Page 139]up in wickedness! to continue with shortness, and to be confounded with the fierceness of the wrath of GOD, which is at hand, Rev: 14.10, 20. Wherefore up! up O concaptives! and Co-Exiles! if ever now with courage Sirs! be ready and look about you, for I tel you truly after our 42 monthed voyage we may see the Land! which so many precious preceding Saints the Martyrs our predecessors have so longed to see! Let us sing and shout for joy (Laeto clamore canentes, & caventes) for that our suils are filled, our tackling is good! our motion is swift! our compass is true, and we are near the Haven! come then, tack about Sirs! and to our business, to our Work with might and main, make hast, keep ground, prepare the Gable and cast out Anchor, yea awake, awake al you that be aboard! for the time is come to visit the Coasts, and set ashoar! yea my beloved, the sun of per­secution grows (now) low, and wil set soon! O therefore let us stand to it like Heart of Oak without warping in the least! O consider a little is it comely for us to hang down our heads, and so near the Haven! or to droop at the end of the 42 moneths? what now? now? to yeld or parley a­bout it, being this Fort of truth (our strong hold) hath held out so long and valiantly too against the beast and his image by all the Saints and Martyrs! and for so many hundred years, yea and al the Saints that have left us their skuls, bloud, ashes, and bones behind them for our incourage­ment! yea the whole creation, yea God, Christ, Angels, and men do expect our coustancy and faithfulness to the end! and shal we now faint? or fear the enemy, seeing we are so wel accomodated with al necessaries? yea much beyond our blessed predecessors for outward things? and upon so poor a slight seige too of the enemy as this is? who is almost worsted without hand; and now too that such a great relief is raising for us by the spirit of life? (the 5th Kingdom Spirit?) which we wait for every day, such as hath not been heard of for above this thousand years, and shal not we stand to it? shal not we hold it out, and dye like Christs men? or shal we admit of any composition? capitulation? or terms with them? or be routed in the rear (in this the rear-testimony of Jesus) for want of Faith and cou­rage to carry it up! O no, no! God forbid! but let us rally by Faith! and by the grace of God keep our ground like men, and make hast with the main body (as they begun blessedly, in that wing of Honorable WALES,) to move for the relief of the ingaged Forlorn! for the Lords sake make hast, and march up, yea sally out most fiercely (O ye men of courage) upon this Apostate and prefidious enemy, with such an undaunted, invincible, and impregnable resolution as may make them know they are not ORDINARY PRISONERS whom they would bury alive in these iron graves for the most blessed cause that ever was on foot in earth, or that ever was betraye [Page 140]by men, come, come Sirs! prepare your companies for King Jesus, his Mount Zion Musterday is at hand, his Magazine and Artillery, yea his most excellent mortar-peices and batteries be ready, we wait only for the Wora from on high to falon, and faith and Prayer to do the Execution accord­ing to Rev: 18.6. (reward her as she hath rewarded you) and then by the grace of God the proudest of them al shal know we are ingaged on life and death, to sink or swin, stand or fal with the Lord Jesus our Captain General upon his red Horse against the beasts Government, so as neither to give nor take Quarter but according to his Orders; Therefore take the alarum my brethren, be up and ready, for we are not our own but Christs, nor are we redeemed to men, but to God! therefore (like Champions re­freshed with VVine) let the shout of a King be heard amongst us! are we not yet awakened and warmed? is it not high time for the two VVitnesses to be uniting, stirring, and rising? yea standing upon their feet! and I hope we (you of the majestracy, and we of the Ministry) are of the same spirit with them, and are blown by one and the same breath, though as pipes we may have different sounds. Besides, let us consider how eagerly Shear­jashub or the little Remnant is making ready for your rise, yea Maher-sha­lal-hashbaz is ready to pitch his great Tent, and to blow his great Trump, yea the man among Myrtle trees, Zach: 1.8. on his red Horse is already mounted (if I mistake not) and ready to march with his sword to execute and fire to plead with al Nations, for his bow he used upon his VVhite­horse, Rev: 6.2. hitherto, but the next is his sword on his red Horse, and the slain of the Lord and shal be many, Isai: 66.16. yea and after the Harvest (where­in I hope to be a reaper, (a cutter down, or a gatherer in,) the blood of the Vintage wil be up unto the horses bridles, Rev: 14.20. viz: those Horses that are to carry the 4th Chariot from between the two Mountains of brass, wher­in the Lord Jesus fits to give Laws unto the whole earth, Zach: 6.1, 7, 8. and this I can easily fore see, for I have almost obvious, undeniable, prospe­ctive of it from this cliff of the rock, where my present lot lies. But ah Lord (may I say) what meaneth this? that men be so hush and stil then at this, day, yea goodmen so asleep, so secure, Zach: 1.11. Behold all the earth sitteth stil and is at rest! why it is, that they may be surprized as in the days of Noah and LOT? and vvith the coming as a Thief in the night; therefore O my Brethren, Let us enter the Ark, for no safety wil be found but in the work! beleeve it, listen! for the noise of his chariot wheels, (with the spirit of the living creatures) is (in some measure) come upon us! look about & believe, with boldness and with gladness! yea up and make ready! to run to run with these horsemen who are at hand! prepare, prepare! put on the whole armor of God to stand, outsland, and withstand in this evil day, [Page 141] Eph. 6. Awake, awake, yea rouze up (O Saints) with most royal resoluti­ons! and shake your selves from your prison-dust! O Captive-Daughter of Sion! for it is high time, yea the set time is now to start up like Li­ons (too stout for sufferings as before!) putting off your Sackcloth, or cap­tivity garments, and putting on your beautiful Zion Robes to follow the Lamb with, Isai: 52.1, 2. and when you put on these Robes you must put off al those Relations (though ever so dear) that may make you stagger yea even stamp upon them; as Jerome said, If my Father were weeping on his knees before me, and my Mother hanging on my neck behind me, and all my brethren, SISTERS, and Kindred round about me, I'de run over them all, and in this case we are bid even to hate them! Luke 14.26. if we follow Christ; Wherefore O my most honourable brethren, Concaptives, and Coexiles! yea most noble fellow-commoners at the Kings charges! let us up together (all at once, and fal in all at once, Numb: 13 30.) with one mind, and as one man, Zeph: 3.9. Appoint the day! appropriate the duty, and to it, yea do it with such a shout too, (Jer: 50.14. Amos 2.2.) as may make the ears of the enemies to ring, yea begin the Earthquake, Rev: 11.13. and rend up by the very roots the foundations of these persecuting Nimrods, with their prisons, Acts 16.26. So as one stone be not left for a corner of them; yea til there be such a trembling, shaking, and consternation, yea a [...] translation, overturning and total amotion of them, that the Beasts Government may never have a being more in England neither in Civils, Ecclesiasticks, nor Militaries: For Jehovah-Sabboth wil confound them, and break them to pieces before us; yea this house of Saul (reje­cted) must fal flat before the house of David (the little stripling!) And all this Apostative interest of Councils, Courts, Triers, Clergy, Academies, and Armies whom the Lord is departed from; or rather who have no foundation at all in the Covenant of Grace, or Kingdom which the God of Heaven hath set up over all Nations, must worse then tumble; but our cause cannot miscarry (my Friends,) it cannot fail us, (who are Heirs of the Promise) because every jota of it (as we contend for it) is founded in the New and everlasting Covenant! blessed be the Lord, the Holy one of Israel who hath already given us so many gracious and specifying pri­son prognosticks of the great day of Jezreel at hand.

1. In that We (and the CAUSE we are in) are found and founded in Covenant of Grace, vvhereby the Father stands ingaged to his Son, & (by his Son) to us in an inseperable union and tye, Isai; 53.11. Jer. 33.25, 26. Acts 2.30. Gal: 3.16. So that as Rom: 4.16. It is of Faith that it might be by GRACE, to the end the PROMISE might be sure to AL THE SEED, 2 Sam: 23.5. and our infirmities (though many) cannot hinder the most excel­lent [Page 142]glory and Resurrection of this most blessed Cause of Christ against Antichrist; of the Lamb against the Beast in England, Psal: 89.33, 34: Ezek: 16.60. nor deprive us of our weight in that glory which is a co­ming, by how much the Lord of this cause is the Lord of that covenant which is established upon so clear, sweet, and sure New-Testament pro­mises, Heb: 86, 12. Isai: 43.25. yea Jer: 50.20. saies the Lord, In those dayes their iniquity shal be sought for but not found, for I wil pardon whom I RESERVE; the little REMNANT that overcome with the blood of the Lamb, and the word of the Testimony, Rev: 12.11. O my brethren, do not our heart even burn with us, by a New Covenant communion with the Lord in this Cause? having the pardon of sins? the seale of his Love? the assu­rance of his favour? and boldness in his sight through the blood of Grace? yea can we not run into the inner Court vvith the blood and the Fat of Lords Offerings? and have as free and frequent an access into the Holy of holies (where our High Priest is) as vve vvil? what should hinder us? or who should let us? and do not the Lords fats overflow with new Wine and Oyl unto our souls, O my most precious Friends shal we, or can we ever forget our prisons, and Exiles? so exceedingly lined? warm­ed? refreshed? renewed? and followed vvith such ful, plentiful, and ra­vishing mercies? and let men say what they vvil, it is marvelous sweet to our souls (and our Consciences do witness it daily) that our sufferings are New-Testament sufferings; our vvitnessings New-Testament testimonies, our comforts and hopes pure New-Testament hopes and consolations, so are our priviledges, principles, and Spirits (as odious as our enemies make them by their false reports) New-Testament spirits and principles, (O that they vvere tryed yet more and more) yea and our actings thereupon are New-Testament actings, upon and in the Covenant of grace which the blood of Christ ha [...]h sealed, yea the Decree of God, which (to put an end of all strife, Heb: 6.16, 17, 18. God himself hath SWORN to, that VVE (poor prisoners of hope might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us, and herein lyeth the whole controversie between us and our persecutors; blessed be our most Heauenly Father for these prison companions and comforts of Christ, for these fresh springs vvhich cannot fail us, nor can vve fal the subjects of Gods wrath, let them prison! hang! or head us! banish or burn us! for the Covenant standeth sure, and is wel ordered in all things.

2. The EARNEST PRESENCE of Immanuel or GOD WITH Us in our Prisons and Exiles is a most excellent PREFACE to the matter in hand; yea a sure token for good unto us, and a certain testimony of the Cause of Christ with us which we suffer so sweetly and satisfactorily in and [Page 143]for (in the race of those righteous ones in all Ages that have freely parted with all to follow Christ, for although a many profess him, talk of him, and pretend to do it very highly, yet they turn it off to the affections, (not actions) as if it were only to fix the heart upon him, and not upon the vvorld or sublunary things, and those have thereby condemned them­selves as unworthy of him; nor indeed are they the true Disciples of Jesus Christ, (but onely at larges as the young man vvho had great possessions, Mat: 19.22.) and so the Martyrs and primitive Saints (as I could prove) have all along lookd upon them at a distance, (as vve shal see in the day of Christ;) but now, I say, vve see the bredth of the Land of Immanuel much more then formerly in these prison prospects, and do men or Devils their vvorst, vve may expect a most eminent reviving of the spirit of life upon us, yea on our heads in an Oecomenical dispensation, as is rested on Christ! 1 Pet: 4.14. the blessing shal be upon the head of Joseph, (whom no man remembreth in the prison) Deut: 33.16. yea and Joseph shal have the first lot among Davids singers, 1 Chron: 25.9. or Christs VVorthies that have victory over the Beast, Rev: 15.2. vvho have your chambers in the inner Court, and a clear prospect, Ezek: 40.44. and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, Rev: 14.2. JOSEPH being one of the free Woman that stands upon the Mount of blessing, and not on the Mount of Cursing, Peut: 27.12 Besides as MANOAHS WIFE said, if he would have killed us he would not have received our Offerings, nor would he have shewed us all these things that are to come at this time, Judg: 13.23. and in the prison too (and in a strange Land) had vve been such evil doers as our enemies (for their own sakes) vvould make men believe us to be. But O my happy Brethren in Christ! doth not our God give us most remarkeable, ful, and frequent visits? yea reveale his minde unto us? and foreshew us things to come! and accept of us in his dearest Son? vvhat mean vve then to fear vvhat flesh can do unto us? Psal: 27.1, 2. Psal. 1 [...]8. Verily, verily, I say it and see it, (and by the authority vvhich the Lord hath given me I speak it) that not ONE (no not one soul) in prison upon this pure and single account for the King of Saints but shal say it (and if they persevere yet, much much more injoy it) that they have had such a presence of the Lord with them as is not usual, no! not to Saints! but I leave the further evidence of this (tasted) truth to TIME to declare at our next Hallelujatick triumph (altogether) over the beast and his Image! for our God is gone up with a SHOƲT! and we shal sing praises together, sing praises to the Lord! sing praises, sing praises to our King, Psal: 47.5, 6.

3. For that our close (yea closest) Prisons are made our free, (yea the freest) Schools that ever our Father hath put us unto to learn the Book of the Lamb in! where our lessons are most profitable and seasonable, though hard and difficult to flesh and blood: for as one saies Qui tribulantur, sa­cras literas melius intelligunt; Alii eas legant, sicut carmen Ovidii, &c. The Saints in prison have the mind of the Scriptures most; others read them as they read Ovid. O here! here are the seven eyes of the Stone which lay before Jehoshua, and Zerubbabel! yea the seven spirits of the seven seals of that blessed Book, Rev: 5. they are in some measure ministred unto us, and the truths are even burn and glow in our hearts! so that we are made other manner of Proficients in the present Truth and Testimony (by him that teaches to profit) then ever we thought such poor silly worms as we are could ever have been!

4. It is no little comfort and witness with us, that our persecutors (as bad as they are) have nothing evil to lay to our charge! neither against the Laws of God, of Nature, of Reason, or Nation! nothing for matter of Fact, or any Act deviating from a due Rule or End; Onely in the most Eligible matters of our Faith, and for our faithfulness to the Lamb against the Beast is it, that we suffer so as we do, the Lord our God knows it, and let our enemies say or do what they dare (as immodest as they are) (besides lying and slandering) and (with our lives in our hands) we vvil stand a TRYAL with them, or any of them before any competent Judges by vvhat LAWS they vvil; either of God, reason, or Nature, that the Traytors both to God and men, and the (indeed) Offenders may be duly proved and punished, and this their own consciences wil tel them! But O what miserable fowl-play is this so harshly to imprison and banish us; and that contrary to Law, Conscience, Reason, Religion, common honesty, or the liberties so long contended (or rather pretended) for? and that without any charge in their commitments of me (that ever I could see) wherein they exceed the unrighteousness of their predecessors, both Pope and Prelates, yea vvithout any Accusers face to face without any Judg? without any crime or judgement, and that for whole years too to­gether, burying us alive? and not suffering us to speak a word for our selves, print, or publish the truth! and all for the truth the Lord knows (so [...]ar as we understand!) and then too to insult over us, with most im­pudent lies, pamphlets, reports, and Pulpits, perswading the poor ignorant people (most irrationally and untruly) that it is no persecution upon us, and here might come in the Plowmans complaint in Edw: the 3ds, d. Lord, Lord, [...]ow much truer doom was there in PILOT (an Heathen Justice,) then in our Kings, &c. that woulden deemen to death, him the Priests delive­ren [Page 145]without ten Witnesses and Priests, &c. But before I pass over this, I am willing to revive Mr. Tyndal (that precious Martyr in Hen: 8.) his Apo­stolical Doctrine on Mat: 5. for saies he, RULERS must not IMPRISON or apprehend any out of malice or hatred, or to avenge themselves, but to main­tain the (true) OFFICE of Magistracy and good Laws (which we never opposed, nor were so much as in thought against, nay we are imprisoned for standing to them) so saies he on on Mat: 5.13. Yee are the salt of the earth, &c. The nature of SALT is to bite, fret, and make smart; but the SICK PATIENTS of the WORLD are marvelous impatient, so that though they can suffer gross sins to be rebuked under a fashion, as in a parable a far off, yet to have their righteousness and holiness disallowed and condemned for damnablec and divelish, that they may not abide. Insomuch that thou must leave thy SALT­ING, or else prepare (to prison) to suffer again, even to be called RAYLERS Seditions, a maker of Discord, TROUBLERS OF THE COMMON PEACE, Scismatick, Heritick and to be LYED UPON, that thou hast said or done what thou never thoughtest of, and then to be called CORAM NO­BIS and there sing a new song, and forswear thy SALTING, or else to be sent after thy fellows that are gone before thee, and in the way that thy MASTER went. This, this good man (and Martyr) said very right for our days also, for indeed it is our SALTING with the sincere truth that mak [...]s them burn, rage, and fret so, for when the Word comes home they are cut to the heart, Acts. 5.33. and 7.24. and cannot indure it, but do with Vae nobis make coram nobis our portion, calling us Raylers, and disturbers of the common peace (which indeed they break, and not we) yea lying and slandering us at such a height as is to be wondred at, none of us esca­ping their uncivil court-ships, and most nauceous mouth-fistula's, no, not that good man Mr: Tillingast whom they called (as the enemies did Luther) a Lyar, and as to my self who am (of any indeed I think the most deserving their censures, I am) lashed aloud Aculeis serpentum with Scorpion tongues and thongs, but I leave it and them to the most righteous Judg, (the God of truth,) to whom I have committed my cause (or ra­ther his own herein) and yet for the Truths sake I have assayed hard (so far as the truth is concerned) a most clear vindication which cannot pass the Press, and so I do overpass and transmit it to the most High Judge of Heaven and Earth (in Jesus Christ) for he is near that JUS­TIFIETH me who wil contend with me, Isai: 50.8. But this most preci­ous Apostolike spirited Tyndal is much inlarged upon the foresaid sub­ject in several places, as in p: 124. where he tels us how the preaching the Truth is so hateful to Kings and present Powers of the VVorld, be­cause (saies he) It is impossible we should PREACH CHRIST except we [Page 146]preach against ANTICHRIST; that is THEM that with violence are against the Truth; and as the PHYSITIAN doth heal no disease, but dos first begin at the ROOT of it, so we do preach against no mischief, but we first begin a [...] the ROOT thereo [...]. And as he hath said to the shame of our present preachers of Christ, who can let alone Antichrist in the present G [...] We have held it our duty to begin at the root of this grand Apostacy in Eng­land which is at VVHITE-HAL, (or VVHITE-HEL rather) in this matter, which hath occasioned so horrible and subtil a persecution from those men of corrupt minds, who would not indure us to touch the Root o this Epidemical, yea Apodemical Disease in England, themselves being the BOTTOM of it.

5. Another very excellent prison-prognostick, and a very evident token unto us for good too, is that the SPIRIT OF THE LORD upon us, is (I trust) so much past cowardise and fear! that we can do it to the teeth of the proudest Tyrants on earth, that we are above them and their rage! do their worst! because greater is he that is in us then▪ HE that is in the world, 1 Joh: 4.4. and in our prison is the [...] Power of the Witnesses a co­ming upon us (through the strength of Christ) to do marvelous things; yea as Hag: 2.7, 8. According to the WORD that I have COVENATTED with you: So my SPIRIT remaineth among you, FEAR YE NOT▪ for thus saith JEHOVAH yet a little while and I wil shake, &c. I will make the earth to tremble before you, Joel 2.10. yea this pittiful p [...]dlie, filthy, miery­clay-Government that is gotten up in Great Brittany which is the first that must be struck through by the Stone, Dan: 2. Wherefore O my Friends we must and wil rejoyce yet more abundantly in this so blessed, sweet, temporate, New-Testament Zone which we are under in prisons and Ex­iles, for all the fierceness of this last Beast who hath made the torrid Zone of his tyranny inhabitable and insupportable! and in truth, if I know my heart in this matter, I would say (for one) like Jerome of Prague, when the flames were kindling behind him, (saith he) with courage to the Executioner, Come! come! Kindle me the fire before my face! for if I had been afraid I had never come hither! nor are we such lively members of Christs body if we cannot (when called to it) sweat a bloody sweat [...]fr his sake. Wherefore as the Dutch Martyr said, Christo submittemus sex­centa si nobis essent Colla, &c. had we six hundred heads for one, they should all off for Christ in this most blessed cause, for Quas non oportet mor­tes praeeligere, &c? What Deaths had we not better choose? yea what Hels not endure? then to decline one step so blessed, so certain, and so glorious a Cause as this is? for which we are in bonds? Wherefore O my [Page 147]most honorably beloved hearts! the spirit of life rest upon you and of the two Witnesses to make you as stable and as able as Mount Sion! Psal: 125.1 yea as those Mountains of Brass from whence the Chariots of King Jesu [...] come! they are a coming, Zach: 6.1. so that all the Devils of Hell may not be able to remove you then one inch of ground! but that those who have gone before us from the dayes of Abel to this day, and vvho have led up the VAN with valour, with all the Elect Angels (our fellow-ser­vants in this Cause!) may exceedingly rejoyce to see our Faith, and Faithfulness, vigor, constancy, and courage in carrying up this finishing Rev: 11, 7. this Rear-testimony Mat: 24.14. Rev: 17.14. according to the Spirit of the Fifth Kingdom against the BEAST! like the children of the captivity now to be returned! like the children of the promise, and of the Free-woman, Gal: 4. yea like the children of the Kingdom! Mat. 13. that good seed that must sow the whole earth! and the children of the Resurrection, Luke 20. which are to have their lot in the next world upon the Earth! and to reign with Christ a thousand years! as I have pro­ved at large (in prison-born morning beams, Lib: 3. and 4.) For Jehovah onely is the Lord Patron of al our preferments, and whiles we are in the prison as I said we are not fishing for Gudgeons, for We pre-possess se­veral sweet tenures both free and copy-hold which we cannot part with (no more then Nabaoth could with his Vineyard) though we loose our lives for it! and to conclude, I woul'd leave t [...] is one word with you, that the same Lord of Hosts, and Captain of the Hoasts of Israel that went be­fore them in the Van, is now with us in the Rear, where the enemy hath fallen on (for that is now the Captains place) so that we may confident­ly and undoubtedly expect as much of his prowess, power, wonderful ap­pearances, and presence with us in this Reare, as ever any of the Saints (or Martyrs) among Jews or Christians found in the Van (or in former dayes) when the enemies fel upon them; for this is clear in Isai: 52.12. For ye shal not go out with hast, nor go by flight: for JEHOVAH wil go be­fore you: yea the God of Israel wil be your RERE-WARD, Isai: 58.8. Thy righteousness shal go before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy RERE: WARD, then shalt thou cal and the Lord shal answer; thou shalt cry, and he shal say HERE I AM: if you take away from the midst of thee the yoak, &c.

I am prevented in my Word to the little Remnant, I mean the Lambs faithful followers, of the Womans seed that keep the Commandements of God, and testimony of Jesus, (but in my Banish-born-Treatise, lib: last, I write at large to them, and of their Work if it ever come to light! though I confess my Bucer-like hand which writes but bad may be some [Page 148]let, or at least delay therein) yet at present I am to bid them BEWARE and PREPARE; beware of running before Orders come from Jehovah of Armies! and prepare for them when they come! yea to make all their Arrows ready against Babylon for the time to visit her is now come! the set time to thresh her, the Harvest is come, Jer: 50.51. Rev: 4. and to fa­vour Sion, Psal: 102.15, 16. yea the set time is come, and it is easie to see the SIGNS of Times come upon us! yea the signes compleat them, this little born! this last B: this [...] (as the learned read [...]!) this last limb of the Beasts Government, and the man that maketh up his number six thousand, six hundred six (as we have proved in Prison Morn:) He is now come, O up! and be ready then like Roaring Lions against the end of the time, times & divident, with your Ahud Che­reb (not Pe Chereb two mouthed swords like Christs men of War, Pe Chareb or sword with one mouth only as hath been, but Joel 2.2.7, 9, 11. to run & climb the wal like mighty men, and JEHOVAH shal utter his voice before you; his Dread shal be upon your enemies who have insulted over you, but shal fal before you, Josh: 2.9. Rev: 11.11. yea they shal tremble! and fear! and wax feeble as Women! Jer: 51.30. Nahum: 3.13, and become bread for your swords to eat! (as in Jeremy, Acheleh Cherbechem Ne biechem) be­cause their defence is departed from them Numb: 14.9. nor are the most godly amongst them that have Apostatized these times any more to be reckoned amongst the Lambs number then Dan and Ephraim (because of their Apostacy, Judg: 17, 18.) were reckoned among the sealed ones, of the 144000 Rev: 7▪ 5, 6, 7, 8. Wherefore up O my dear [...]arts! who are of that number that stand before the Throne, Rev: 7.9. or with the Lamb in Mount Sion, Rev: 14.1, up and be ready! with your Ahod weapon! a­wake? arise O English Shearjashub! for out of JUDAH (Christ with us Gentiles (of Lea!) comes forth the CORNER, out of HIM the Nail, out of HIM the Battle-bow, and they shal be as mighty men which tread down their enemies as mire in the streets in the battle, and they shal fight because the Kord is with them, Zach: 10.5.

Wherefore I be sure ye begin-your Muster (or to mount your horses Zach: 1.8.) upon a Mount Sion ground, or in a New-Covenant principle, that is purely for (or rather with) Christ and his Kingdom; (and for no earthly Persons, things, or Interests of Men whatsoever;) such a War was never yet in the four Monarchie [...]s. And 2. Be sure that you be fully se­perate from the Beasts dominion in all things, and in every ministration as wel civil and Military as Ecclesiastick, for the BLESSING shal be upon the head of him that is SEPERATED from his brethren, Deut: 33.16, and it is [Page 149]an Ordinance, yea obedience to an indispensable command, Rev: 18.4. Jer: 50.28. The voice of them that FLEE and ESCAPE out of the Land of Babylon to DECLAE IN SYON the vengeance of the Lord our God, the venge­ance of his Temple; for such only are to come out of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and to pour out the Viols in pure linnen, and not (at all) in defiled Garments, Rev: 15. But furthermore 3. Be sure you loose not the least opportunity or nick of time put into your hands to do the Work when the END comes. And 4. Be sure you set not upon it with your own spirits, nor pour out in it your own wrath or revenge, but Gods only, and upon such subjects too as the VVord reveals. Yea 5 Lastly, Be sure that you in your actings, executings, and sufferings be upon no other bot­tom, (being) or foundation but the Lord Jesus, 1 Cor. 3.11. whereon if you overcome you are sure to walk with him in VVhite, Rev: 3.4. Rev: 7.9 14. amongst his WORTHIES; yea and be as pillars in the Temple! Rev: 3.12. Rulers over the Nations, Rev: 2.26, 27. and Heirs of the New Jeru­salem glory! the tree of Life! the new name! and the Throne! Rev: 2: 7, 17 and 3.12, 21. Therefore up O ye Saints to take the Kingdom, Dan. 7. [...]8▪ and to possess it for ever! for the GENTILES (Christiani qui gentiliter vi­vunt) have posses'd the outward Court this 42 moneths, but We singers have the inner Court, Ezek: 40.44. and 'tis now time to arise, yea high time to deliver thy self O Syon Isai: 52.1, 2. and shake off thy dust! to lay wast the land of Nimrod with the Sword, Mica: 5.6, 7. And the Remnant of Jacob (the VVorm) shal be in the midst of many people, as a DEW from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass that TARRIETH not for MAN; yea among the GENTILES as a Lion! who if he go through both trea­deth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver, Numb: 23.24. the Holy City is the holy Camp in the outward Court of the Tabernacle that is to a­rise (with the Two VVitnesses) and root the Beast that trod it under foot. Therefore for the Lords sake Sirs be valiant! like Davids worthies! yea King Sclomons men! Cant: 3, 7, 8. Who all hold swords being expert in Ʋ Ʋar. It is said of Sadeel that with Gener a Citizen he fought so furi­ously for the (then) cause of God that he himself put a thousand Spaniards to flight! and shal we fear? (Non de vita sed de scuto solliciti estoti) regard not your lives for the work of Christ, when called to it! It is said that Sceva at the siege of Dyrrachium so long alone resisted Pompeys Army that he had two hundred twenty darts sticking in his shield, and lost one of his eyes, and yet gave not over til Caesar came into his Rescue! is it possible (my Brethren) that this could be for the carnal interest of a man in a fourth Kingdom spirit? and shal not as noble a spirit, and as high a love be found in a Fifth Kingdom man for the most excellent cause an [...] [Page 150] King that ever was on earth? viz: Jesus Christ and him onely! Blessed Lord! when wilt thou raise us up with thy spirit of life! or how long shal all lye dead? O what cowards are we now to run into holes and corners for fear of sufferings! surely Lord Jesus had al thy Disciples dealt thus with thee in their Generations, there would have been but few Martyrs or followers of the Lamb! O I blush for shame when I behold them that are gone before, with these that now follow! IGNATIƲS said he had ra­ther be a Martir then a Monarch, but now men had rather be Monsters then Martirs, when the Dragon Emperors gave Orders to put al to death that would confess themselves christians, they came in of themselves by whole flocks confessing themselves christians, and defying the Heathens, (as in Arrius Antoninus's dayes) they ran in voluntarily to dye and to be tormented, as did Romanus Gerdius, Menas, and a many others in Diocle­sians dayes; but ah! where be they that run in flocks to White, Hal, now saying we are Fift Monarchy men or for the Kingdom of Christ, and wil live and dye with our brethren together; see 1 John 3.16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to LAY DOWN our lives sor the BRETHREN. But ah, how iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxeth cold, as Gui de Brez: Martir in Flanders, so Mr: Burroughs tels us of the Woman we heard of before who ran for Martir­dom with the Saints for fear she should loose it! and do we sit stil for fear of sufferings, which were such Jocularia & ludicra, as Vincentius called them, to the Saints in primitive times! Rejoyce and leap for joy, (as the word is) to suffer for Christ, or be found doing for him when he comes. Now I beseech the Lord awaken you, if you be of that race, and rouze you up, and set you all awork, (as upon life and death) with all speed to overceme the beast and his followers with as lively a spirit as high a zeal and readiness to dye in the service of Christ, and this his most comprehensive Cause at this day, as they were in theirs through the are greatest strife, and so to overcome with the Word of the Testimonie, and blood of the Lamb not loving your lives. Rev: 12.11. Bate me nothing of my sufferings, (saies Gordius to the Tormentors) for it is to my loss then Majora certamina, majora sequuntur praemia. VVherefore (because I must break off with these few words to you (as to OVERCOMMERS) for so (I trust) you are or wil be in CHRIST Jesus, and close Followers of he Lamb) I shal leave you with that blessed man Mr: Hollands Lega­cy bequeathed to his Friends at his death against Popery, Commendo vos dilectioni Dei & odio Papatus, &c. So against this Apostate-Generation, I commend you (my Brethren) to the dearest lovo of God, and to the dead­tiest hatred of these Hipocrites and Apostates; AMEN, for Heb: 10, 31. If any man DRAW BACK my soul shal have no pleasure in him