The manner how James Naylor stood in the Pilory, and was whipt from the Pallace-yard at Westminster, to the Royall Exchange in London, December the 18. 1656.
A true RELATION OF The Life, Conversation, Examination, Confession, and iust deserved Sentence of James Naylor the grand Quaker of ENGLAND.
Who for his Blasphemous & abominable Opinions, & Practises, was Whipt at a Carts-taile, from Westminster to the Royall-Exchange [...]n L [...]don, December the eighteenth 1656. and thereto stand in the Pillory, and to have the letter B set upon his forehead, and to be burnt through the toung with a hot Iron, and to be kept in prison during life, without being allowed any sustenance, but what he shall earne with his owne Labor.
London, Printed for Thomas Vere at the Angill without Newgate. 1657
THE Life & Conversation of JAMES NAYLOR.
IAmes Naylor was born at Anderslow in Yorke-shire, his Father being a Sow-gelder, brought up his Son James to the same Trade, who us'd it a long while, untill the late wars, at which time he went for a Souldier and since that married a Wife who lives now in VVakefield with her Children: formerly he was of the Church of one Mr. Christopher Marshall in Yorke-shir, and for his seandalus practices was cast out of the said Congregation, and so can away from his Wife and Children to London; and being askt why he left his Wife, he said he had an imediate can for it: in his stay at London he presantly became familiar with one Ropers Wife, whom he often set upon his knée and she kill him, being asked why she did so, she said she kill him not out of wantonnesse, but in a dsere [Page 6] relation yet not withstanding we proud with Child, 47 w\l=e'\eke after her husband was gone from her. As also one Rebecca Purnell a bansome Maid, whom the said Naylor solicited to lye withall, who did refuse him, though she let another Quaker doe it; and such was his base desire after her, that many questioned him for it, be said that he would give his Wife the same liberty he desir'd of her. And that he could as freely lye with Rebecca Purnell of any other of his society as his owne Wife.
The said Naylor and his company met often at Mr. Roberts his House in St. Thomas Apostles: where met him one Stephen a Cloth drawer, at which time same one Burroughs and rub'd something one his wrist, after which time he was so adicted to that wicked company, that he could not but run after them and doe what he supposed the Spirit in him dictated to him, which did advise him to eat and drinke nothing but Bread and Water for 12 dayes upon which he was convicted that their practised were bad, and so he now forsakes and abominats them.
THE EXAMINATION OF James Nailor;
November the 15. 1657.
BEing asked his name, whether it was not Iames Naylor or not? and whether he went not into Bristoll on Horse back, a VVoman leading his Horse, and others singing before Holy, Holy, Holy, and whether any Garments were spread.
A. That Men call him Iames Naylor; but what the name of the Town was he knoweth not, and that he did ride into a Towne, and a Woman [Page 8] held his Horse by the bridle, and that some cast downe cloathes and sang Praises unto the Lord, such songs as the Lord put in their hearts; and it is like it was the song of Holy, Holy, Holy.
Q. Being asked whether he reproved them or not.
A. Nay but I had them take héed that they sang not any thing but what they was moved of the Lord.
Q. Being asked whether he owned Hanna Stangars Letter? and the Letter shewed him,
A Yea, he did owne the Letter.
Q. Being asked if according to the Letter to him, if he was the fairest of ten thousand,
A. As to the visible be denyeth any such atribute due to him but if to that which the Father hath begotten in him he owneth it.
Q. Being asked if he were the only Son of God.
A. That he owneth not the onely Son, but that he is the Son of God, for he hath many Brethren,
[Page 9] Q. Have any called; ou by the name of Iesus.
A. Not as to the visible, but as the Jesus the Christ that is in me, he denyeth not, but that it was written to him.
Q. Doe you owne the name of the King of Israel.
A. As a Creature be denyed it, but if they gave it Christ in him, he owneth it; and saith that be hath a Kingdom, but not of this World.
Q. Whether he was the Prophet of the most high.
A. That he was a Prophet, he owneth.
Q. whether he owneth that Attribute, the judge of Israel.
A. The Judge is but one, and is witnessed in me, and is the Christ, there must not be any joyned with him, if they speake of the Spirit in me, I own it, only as God is manifest in the flesh according as God dwelleth in me, and judgeth there himselfe.
Q. By whom were you sent.
A. By him who hath sent the Spirit of his Son in me to try, not as to [Page 10] carnall matters, but belonging to the Kingdom of God, by the indwelling of the father and Son, by the judge of all Spirits, to be guided by-none.
Q. Is not the written word of God the guide.
A. The written word declares of it, and is not according to that, is not true.
Q. Whether he be more sent then any others, or whether others are not sent in that measure,
A. As to that I have nothing at present given of my Father to answer
Q. Whether was your birth immortal.
A. Not according to the naturall birth, but according to the Spirituall birth, borne of the immortall seed.
Q. Whether any one hath called him the Lamb of God.
A. I looke not back to the things behind, but it may be some such thing in the Letter, and saith yt he is a Lamb, and hath sought it long before he could witnesse it.
Q. Who is your Mother, whether a Virgin.
[Page 11] A. Nay, according to my Naturall birth.
Q. Who is your Mother according to the Spirituall birth.
A. No carnall Creature.
Q. Who then.
To that he would not answer.
Q. Is the hope of Israel in you.
A. The hope is in Christ, and as Christ is in me, so far the hope of Israel stands; Christ in me the hopes of Glory.
Q. What more hope in you then others.
A. None can know but them of Israel, and Israel must give an account.
Q Whether he be the everlasting Son of God.
A. Where God is manifest in the Flesh, there is the everlasting Son, and I doe witnesse God manifest in the Flesh.
Q. Whether he be the Prince of Peace.
A. That the Prince of everlasting peace is begoteten in him.
Q. VVhether he reproved them that gave him these Attributes.
[Page 12] A. He said nothing to them, but saith sach things was Written?
Q Did any kisse your feet.
A. It might be they did, but he did not mind them.
Q. VVhether when you was called the King of Jsraell, did you not answer [thou saiest it.]
A. Yea.
Q. Did you not say, if ye had known me then ye had known the Father.
A. Yea, and saith that none can know his life, but they that know the father, for he is his life.
Q. Where was you borne,
A. At Anderslow in Yorkeshire, and his Wife lives in VVakefield and liued there untill he went into the Army, & was first under him they call Lord Fairfax, and after under Collonell Lambert; and then into Scotland and was a Quarter-master, and returned sick to his Wife, and was called into the North.
Q. VVhat went you for, to Exeter.
A. I was going to Lawson to sée the Brethren.
Q. VVhat Estate have you.
[Page 13] A, I take no care for that,
Q. Doth God in extraordinary manner feed you; or sustaine you without,
A, Man liveth not by Bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Father, and that the same life is in him, as in Christ, but not in the same measure.
Q. How are you clothed,
A, I know not.
Q Doe you live without Bread,
A: As long as my heauenly father win, I have tasted that Bread, that he that eateth, shall not dye.
Q How long have you lived without corporall sustenance, having health,
A, Some fiftéen or sixtéene dayes sustained by Gods word, without any corporall sustenance.
Q. VVas Dorothy Erbery dead two daies in Exeter Goale and did you raise her.
A, I can doe nothing of my selfe, there is a power within me far above, and I shall not beare witnesse of my selfe, the Scripture beares witnesse, to the power in me, which is everlasting; its the same power we read of in [Page 14] Scripture.
That the Lord hath made him a signe of his comming.
That that honor belongeth to Christ Jesus, in whom he is revealed, may be given to him, as when on the Earth at Jerusalem according to that measure
Dorothy Erbery answered not.
Martha Simmons confesseth that she knoweth James Naylor, and she came from Bristoll to Exeter with him.
Q. Being asked whether he be the Prince of Peace,
A, She saith that he is a perfect Man, and he that is a perfect Man is the Prince of Peace.
Q. VVhether she sang before Iames Naylor,
A. It's our life to praise the Lord, and that the Lord my strength, that filleth Heaven and Earth is manifest in James Naylor, and that she spread her Garments in obedienc to the Lord
She confesseth all the Bristoll Examination.
[Page 15] HAnna Stangar saith she came from Bristoll to Exeter with James Naylor, and that she flung her Handkerchiefe before him, because commanded so of the Lord; and that she did sing Holy, Holy, Holy, before him, or else she doth witnesse, that the Lord is risen in him.
Q. Being asked about the Letter, wherein she calleth him the Son of God
A. She owneth the Letter and beleeveth nothing added.
Q. whether she called him Jesus.
She would not answer.
Q Did you kisse his feet.
A, Yea.
Tho. Stangar confesseth he saw Garments spread, but he now owneth a Letter in which he calleth Iames Naylor Jesus: and saith he was moved of the Lord so to doe.
UPon serious consideration of these his horrid Blasphemies and wicked practises, it was voted that James Naylor upon the whole matter of Fact is guilty of horrid Blashemy.
That the said James Naylor is also a grand Imposter, and a great Seducer of the People.
Iames Naylor his Sentence.
FOr these his Blasphemous opinions and practises, the said James Naylor is to he whipt at a Carts-taile from the Pallace-yard in VVestminister, to the Royal-Exchange in London and there to stand in the Pillory, and the letter B to be set upon his fore head, and to be burnt thorow the tongue with a hot Iron, afterwards to be carried downe to Bristoll and to be whipt though the stréets of that Citty, afterward to be put into Bridewell, & there to be kept during life and to have no sustenance allowed him but what he shall get by his owne labor.