1. Gentlemen.

1. The Gentlemen whom I found in the Castle, when I was first impri­soned, were these; Captain Wingate, a member of the House of Commons, he was kept close prisoner in a little roome, and not suffered so much as to take the aire for his healths sake, by which means he grew very sickly; Captain Walton a member of the House of Commons, Captain Scroope, Captain Lidcot, Captain Austin, Captain Catseby, Captain Vivers, and Cap­tain [Page] Lilburne, all close prisoners, their friends not permitted to speak with them; yea some of their wives were denied accesse. Captain Lilburne was put in irons, Capt. Scroope and Capain Walton being chamber fellows, had their bed taken from them by that barbarous Smith, who threatned to tye their necks and heels together. Some had their libertie sometimes to walk in the Castle court (a little stinking yard, and the onely place, that the pri­soners had to ease nature, Smith not permitting any, no not with a keeper, to go to any other upon that necessitie) and those were Sir William Essex Knight, Cap. Flemming. Capt. Primrose a Scotchman, Capt. Haslewood, Cap. Scotchforth, and Mr. Ingram, who made an escape, Lieut. Dingly, Lieut. Ful­ler, Lieut. Lindsey a Scot, Liut. Cotterell, Ensigne Adams, Mr. Moody and Mr. Ellis both of the liveguard to his Excellency the Earl of Essex.

When Marleborough was taken were brought in Mr. John Francklin Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, Lieut. Col. Ramsey, and a Serjeant Major (whose name I remember not) both Scotchmen, M. Brown. and young Cap. Francklin. About the same time were brought in Captain Hamilton, and Captain Forbes both Scotchmen.

After the taking of Cyrencister, Mr. George a Member of the House of Commons, Lieut. Col. Carr a Scot, whose valour was much spoken of for his once or twice repulsing P. Rupert's forces, when they had entted the Town, with many other Captains and countrey gentlemen were impri­soned in the same Castle: most of these (nay that worthy Commander himself Mr. Carr did not escape) were, when they were taken, stripped of their clothes, and put into old filthy rags: most of them also, when they were with us, were constrained for a time to quarter on the bare boards: how long they continued so I know not, for within 4. or 5. dayes after I my self was cast into a dungeon, and saw them no more.

How inhumanly the monster Smith dealt with these worthy Gentle­men their own Petition to His Majestie with the Articles exhibited, or at least that were to be exhibited against the said Smith, will in due time de­monstrate. I must crave pardon, if I have, or shall fall in the caco-graphie of the names of men, or places.

2. Ministers.

2. The Ministers who were prisoners in the Castle were these, M. Har­vert of Banbury, who was (when I was put into the Dungeon) close pri­sonet, on whom some vile persons cast many base calumnies, & most false aspersions; but when upon examination his innocency appeared, he might have been released upon the taking of a new Protestation, which was in many things (as I conceive) quite contrary to that which was framed by the Parliament, and sent into all parts of the Kingdom, which new Pro­testation [Page]he refusing was still detained. Doctor Claiton, what he was charged with I could never (though I were sometimes his chamber-fel­low) understand from him. Mr. Gregor [...]e of Cyrencister, and Mr. Stanvill, a neighbour Minister of his, who in their passage towards Oxford, were not onely despightfully, but most sordidly abused. The terms of Coblers, Tinkers, and Tub-preachers put upon them: yea these Atheisticall wret­ches asked them inderision, Where is now your God? Mr. Stanvils lodg­ing, when he first came to us, was on an old Mat on the ground. There was but one Minister more, namely my self, the meanest I confesse of all the rest.

The Lords residing at Oxford issued forth a kind of Proclamation (I know not what fitter name to give it) to secure those of the adjacent villa­ges, who following their lawfull occasions should repair to Oxford: busi­nesse of importance brought me thither, which when I had dispatched I went to the Inne for my horse, but 'twas taken away by one Cap. Whitley, who seized on it, because he was informed, that I was a round-head (a great crime you see is laid to my charge) when I demanded my horse of Whitley, he committed me, and in my passage towards prison I and the Officer with me met Smith the Marshall, who carried me before the Lord chief Justice Heath, who upon examination of the matter seemed angrie with the Officer, that contrary unto the late published Order I should be so injuriously dealt with, told me that I should not be wronged, and gave me many good words, wherein he was fruitfull, but proved at last verie barren in his actions. I took my leave of his Lordship, and depatted, pre­suming, that I was not onely a freeman, but conceiving also a probabilitie of getting nay horse again: but I was no sooner gone from my Lords pre­sence, but the Catch-poude Smith laid hands on me again, and sent me to the Castle, From whence I twice petitioned Sir Robert Heath, that either some charge might be made good against me, or else that he would be pleased to grant me my libertie. But because I rejected the new Protesta­tion (for he was made acquainted with it) he also rejected my Petitions; so imposing a necessity of taking that Protestation, which doth (if we re­spect the letter it self) give liberty to accept; or refuse it.

After a fortnights imprisonment, Smith tels me, that there is no charge against me; and if I will take the Protestation, and pay my sees, I shall be released. When I had read the Protestation, I gave Smith a fair answer, hoping to obtain my freedome without yeelding to his conditions: but the man grew cholerick, and commanded me to answer directly whether I would take it or not. I told him plainly, I could not. Upon this he cursed me bitterly, and put me out of my chamber, so that for a fortnight I was [Page]forced to make the boards my bed, many times was I solicited by Smith, but seeing he could not preuaile, after about ten weekes imprisonment in the Castle, and after he had soundly beaten me with his cane, he put me in the dungeon at Bridewel, & how it was with me ther you shall heare anon.

And by the way I cannot but make known the unkindnesse of Dr. Radcliffe, Principall of Brasen-nose Colledge, & his injustice towards me I was his Cu­rate in the Countrey, after I was by the maliciousnesse of some people driven from a small Living which I had in Oxford: how I was oppressed by the base calumnies and violent dealings of those men, will appeare hereafter. Nine weekes was I in prison, and yet would not the Doctour, though resident in Oxford, in all this time send after me, to inquire, whether I were living or dead: here is his unkindnesse. And when after so long a season, I had gotten an opportunitie of writing (paper and Inke being before kept from me) and desired of him that money (which was justly due to me for my paines in his Cure) he returned me this answer, that he would not pay me one penny; there was his injustice: and when I was in the dungeon, he gave out menacing spee­ches (as I am informed by persons of credit) that when Smith had done tor­menting me, he himselfe would begin: and I may adde in this he shewed his crueltie: but I leave him to his baggs of gold and silver, though perhaps the Souldiers will not.

3. Common Souldiers.

3. Whom you are to understand by common Souldiers, I have expressed before. I found not many of these in the Castle at my first entrance. But after nine or ten dayes space, there were nine score persons brought from Marle­borough, wet and very dirtie, who, after their coards were taken off, were put up into an high Tower, and lodged upon the boards: the roomes were so stuffed with them, that they could not lie downe one by another; I went to comfort them, and to pray with them, as oft as I could get leave; and by that meanes was a more frequent spectator of their miseries, then other men; at last I was threatned, that if I did not forbeare, I should be shut up into the same place with them. On these poore soules, did the Viper Smith exercise his more then savage crueltie: He allowed them but five farthings a day, so that many of them grew very sicke; all very weake. Smith was often solicited to shew more mercy: but his answer was still; Hang them damned rogues, villaine tra [...]tors, the Devill take them, they are too well used; nay, when some of them were ready to expire, and he acquainted therewith; nay, when some were brought and laid before his face, yet would not this inhumane wretch suffer any thing to be administred to them for their recovery, so that they dyed.

Most of these men being pinched with hunger and thirst were brought even to the gates of death, and now there began to be a great cry amongst [Page]them forbread, and water; but Smith, and his officers denied them both, though a river ran under the Castle-wales. When some of them were brought forth for examination, and other ends, they dranke the water wherein most of the gentlemen had washed their hands, they dranke the raine water in the Castle court, and (as I have ben credibly informed) some of them have dranke their owne pisse. By this meanes Smith pre­sumed, that he had made them pliable, and like soft wax fit to receive any impresion, and therefore tells them, that so many of them, as would take the protestation, and pay their fees should be released; Many yeilded, and with great charge purchased their libertie, of some of these poore men Smith received above twenty pounds a man for their sees, they that refused were put up again in their old mew, & now the tyger Smith began to rage against them worse then ever, & after a season, when they were extreame hungry, sent this message to them that as many as would take the protest­tation should have a pennie worth of cheese every day, and shortly after their liberties; Many poore soules imbraced the offer, and protested, but within three daies their cheese was denied them, and their libertie too, un­lesse they would pay large fees, or serve under one of his majesties Cap: or be Smiths servants. Most of these some way or other obtained their freedome, but some still held out, and utterly refused the protestation, to the greatest part of whom God hath since given a gracious deliverance.

The fame (or rather the infamy) of Smithes cruelty began to fly through towne and countrey; Monie was sent to the poore prisoners from their friends and other charitably persons, but sometimes they fared little the better for it, for if Smith knew it, he would take it from them, it was an usuall thing with him to picke mens pockets; It may bee, it had ben for­merly his trade. If they bought meate, his servants, if they found it would eate it from them. Many of the proore prisoners were wounded and one Mr. Bettresse an honest Chirurgeon of the towne doing his best to' cure them, was requited with Smithes crueltie, who twice imprisoned him, who having after much importunity and paiment of large fees procured his libertie, durst not uisite his Patients any more, so that their wounds stanke and festred, and some of them dyed.

This bloody persecutor Smith, more cruell then those in Queene Ma­ries dayes (for he hath been the death of many a man, and I am perswa­ded, that had not there beene secret wayes to convey food to them that many scores of these Marleborough men had perished for want of it) hath beaten many, wounded some, exercised cruelty towards all; some hath he tyed neck and heeles together for the space of 44. howers not suffering them to have one bit of bread, or drop of water, some have beene tyed after that manner three Weekes without intermision having onely e­nough [Page]to keepe life and soule together: and all this, either because, they called for bread, and water, or for that, they refused the Protestation, and at last those poore soules, that refused, were conveyed from the Castle to Bridwell, and there put some of them into a dungeon, and the rest (for the dungeon would not receive all) into a little base cold roome on the top of the house.

Not long after their departure, Smith in his fury cals me to him, strickes me on the face, head, and armes with his Cane, and then after many a bitter Curse, and blasphemous Oath (and yet this bloody Atheist would be thought to be one, that defends the Protestant Religion) calls mee Rogue, and Traytor, and charges mee with disswading the Prisoners from taking the Protestation, would not suffer me to answer for my self, but presently causes me to be bound with a Coard, and so carryed through the Market-place (it was on the Market-day) and commanded them, that guarded me, to tell the people, that I was a Tub Preacher, and then to clap me into the dungeon at Bridwell; they executed their commands with great exteritie. The dungeon was full of people, so that being straightned for want of roome, I was driven to sit all night for 3. weekes together on the bottom of the Dungeon staires, it stanke greivously, no lodging was there, but the bare ground, no house of office but the same place (in some places of it a man might have gon almost over his shooes in pisse.) Our fare was onely water, and a pennie worth of bread once in 24. houres. sometimes penie halfe penie, and for 4. or 5. daies 2. penie­worth. Monie we had some of us, but nothing could we buy for it, the master of the Bridewell was put in prison for releiving us, two keepers set ouer us, and charged on paine of death not to permit any person to speake with us, we had no place for the easement of nature but that where wee were in, both night & day, also sickpersons were forced in the same place to empty their stomaks, so that the stinch of the place was enough to poy­son us.

The Cyrencester men (for some of them were brought out of the churches thither) that were imprisoned over us, dyed daily, many among our selves grew extreame sicke, and we all feared the plague. We petiti­oned Smith to be removed to some other place, or at least that the sicke men might; he denied both. We petitioned again, that the sicke men might have nourishement convenient for their weake estates, he answered us, that they should have nothing but bread and water, and if in case they dyed, should be cast on a dunghill; we saw nothing but death before our eyes, whereupon some of our companie went to worke with their kniues, and in time with those weake instruments, and a little peice of timber, that was leftcarelesly amongst us, made a hole through the dungeon-wall [Page]('twas a thicke wall built with soft freestone, and therefore the more seca­ble) out of which most of us issued, that were in health, leaving behind us 5 sicke persons nigh unto death. Those a so that were in the little cham­ber on the top of the house, being formerly acquainted with the whole bu­sines, opened their dore, and whilst the keepers were sleeping, or other­wise negligent, got to the hole, where we received our bread, and water, cut it or tore it wider, I know not whether (for I was gone some houres before) came into the dungeon, & so through the same place that we did.

Many footsteps of Gods immediate providence might be seen before, and in the very act of our deliverance. Some of our Company gat out the Lords day late at night; I, my self, and some others durst not goe forth then, fearing the watch. The hole, which was towards a Bakers yard, was open Munday all day, only a stone set against it, and yet not discerned, when in the Evening I and some 4. more had gotten out, and durst not, because the streets were full of people, presently leape over the Bakers Wall, on a suddain one in the same yard came with a Candle behind us, whom we thought to have been our Keeper, and therefore hastily leaped altogether into the streete, and yet were not taken notice of by those that passed to, and fro in it, neither was the hole discerned by the fellow with the Candle, though he were close by it, but the rest of our company af­terwards escaped out.

Wee, who have thus seen the salvation of God, may say with thankfull hearts: God is the Lord by whom we escaped death, the Lord looseth the prisoners; blessed be our strong Rock, and praysed be the God of our sal­vation.