News of a strumpet co-habiting in the wilderness or, A brief abstract of the spiritual & carnal whoredoms & adulteries of the Quakers in America. Delinated in a cage of twenty unclean birds. Purposely published in pitty to the Quakers, to let them see themselves as others see them, because in pag. 47. of their book, called, Satan's Harbinger, (lately printed at Philadelphia by the authority of their meeting of ministers) they pretend they know no such persons amongst them. Otherwise, 'tis more work for the Quakers to use their arts and imploy their press to prop up their two main pillars infallibility & perfection. : [One line of quotation]

News of a strumpet co-habiting in the wilderness or, A brief abstract of the spiritual & carnal whoredoms & adulteries of the Quakers in America. Delinated in a cage of twenty unclean birds. Purposely published in pitty to the Quakers, to let them see themselves as others see them, because in pag. 47. of their book, called, Satan's Harbinger, (lately printed at Philadelphia by the authority of their meeting of ministers) they pretend they know no such persons amongst them. Otherwise, 'tis more work for the Quakers to use their arts and imploy their press to prop up their two main pillars infallibility & perfection. : [One line of quotation]

News of a strumpet co-habiting in the wilderness or, A brief abstract of the spiritual & carnal whoredoms & adulteries of the Quakers in America. Delinated in a cage of twenty unclean birds. Purposely published in pitty to the Quakers, to let them see themselves as others see them, because in pag. 47. of their book, called, Satan's Harbinger, (lately printed at Philadelphia by the authority of their meeting of ministers) they pretend they know no such persons amongst them. Otherwise, 'tis more work for the Quakers to use their arts and imploy their press to prop up their two main pillars infallibility & perfection. : [One line of quotation]

Table of contents

Title page

PREFACE

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POSTSCRIPT

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News of a Strumpet Co-habiting in the WILDERNESS OR, A brief Abstract of the Spiritual & Carnal Whoredoms & Adulteries OF THE QUAKERS IN AMERICA.

Delinated in a Cage of Twenty Unclean Birds.

Purposely Published in pitty to the Quakers, to let them see themselves as well as others see them, because in pag. 47. of their Book, called, Satan's Harbinger, (lately printed at Philadelphia by the Authority of their Meeting of Ministers) they pretend they know no such Persons amongst them.

Otherwise, 'tis more Work for the Quakers to use their Arts and [...]mploy their Press to prop up their two main Pillars INFALLIBILITY & PERFECTION.

For nothing can be written but something may be objected against it.

Printed in the Year 1701.

PREFACE

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MAny Readers no sooner take a Book in hand, but they look for the Authors Name, and according as they believe or have received Reports of the Author, so they Judge of the matter in the Book, even before they read it. Therefore as the Quakers oft use to do, I have only put the two first Letters of my name, that if thereby you know me not, you may read before you Judg [...].

This small piece had not come forth now had not the Quakers called for it in their last Book printed in Philadelphia, they want, it seems, to have unclean Persons among them made publick; for they [...]. They have none such; therefore I have in the following [...] made a troop of them as publick; I think as they can desire, and I here let them know that I could have named [...] more of their Ministers guilty of Whoring and [...], only they have acted i more privately that these; for which reason I omit them; yet if they call for these, they shall have their names and their facts too at large 'tis but ask and have.

Yet th [...] I say nevertheless, if the Quaker Humility would suffer them to come down to the common Rank, of other Mortals, if they would acknowledge themselves to be failable and deceiveable, like other men, and that they may put Darkness for Light & Light for Darkness as well as others, & are no surer of their Inspirations than we are of ours; if they would freely own t [...]is, then shall they be admitted to the common Priviledges of Mankind; and in such case, it would be highly Uncharitable and a great sin to expose the private [...]anings of any.

[Page] But if they will stand upon the Pinacle above the level of all the rest of Mankind, or of all who call themselves Christians, then must they expect to have their sailings exposed, and not to be spared; for there is no other way to humble them; And if they understood themselves, they would desire, and not complain to be brought to th [...] [...]st; our Saviour provoked the Jews to [...]. Which of you [said he convin [...]eth me of sin? and if the Quakers had an [...]ne [...]ing portion of the same Spirit, as they pretend and were free from sin, they would be further Justified by the stricte [...]t search that could be made into their Lives and Actions; but for them to complain of this, as hard usage and claim all that Charitable covering of faults, which is necessary for frail sinners, is a bewraying of their false pretence to Innocency and Perfection.

And yet they will keep up their pretence, tho every one of them should fall after one another; for they hold for th [...]n [...]heir London Yearly Meeting [...]stle for 1 [...]9 [...]. This th [...]r principles are the same as ever they were; and for confirmation hereof, I find that in their answer to those h [...]ps of C [...]fusion that Mr. Leeds quotes out of their Books, they do not own one error no, not one [...]ailing in their [...]rien [...]s Books. [...] must not in the least give way. But observe, if any of them fall, the rest say, it was because he kept not to his Light within, so of a second, a third, a fourth, &c. How then are they kept more secure from falling then others? how was their friend [...] kept more secure who hanged himself, and several others of them about Delaware, that have been distracted, and attempted to put an end to their own Lives? How are these distinguished or kept more secure than others? And tho' this [...] lived as [...] and removed from Long [...] near to Philadelphia that he might have in the heavenly M [...]azeen of their Preachers and Meetings, as many others has done, yet all this keeps them [Page] more secure from the snares of the Devil than other Christians, whom the Quakers have damned as worse than Infidels.

Note, I have account that the Quakers Justices of the Burlington at ther first Court after they had re-ga [...]d the saddle of Government, preferred two [...] to the grand Jury against Mr. Leeds for something he had printed against them; but it happened that the Sheriff had been so [...], than he had put some on the Jury that were not of that Tribe, who would not suffer the [...] to be found against him, but [...]eturned them [...] [...] so that the [...] hopes of Revenge, [...] the [...] at the [...] I note [...], because I perceive Mr. Leeds knowing how easie 'tis for them, it God give them leave to exercise their power, against him, to the [...] of himself and family, is willing to be [...] till the wheel has its proper motion.

But will the Quakers seek revenge? No, They will not do that for a world for they say in their Catachism by W. S. p. 79 'Tis the disposition of our nature not to [...] Revenge, tho' we do suffer wrong; for the Revenging Nature is on the [...], but it is not so with us whom God [...] redeemed &c. But this passage so gr [...]ly gives the lye to their Natures that it needs no other Remark. Therefore I now come to the matter.

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Babylon is fallen is fallen, and is become the Habitation of Devils, and the Hold of every foul Spirit, and a CAGE of every Unclean and Hurtful Bird. For her Sins have reached unto Heaven, and God hath remembred her Iniquities, Rev.18.

Samuell Jenings, John Moon, Tho. Musgrove, Thomas Fitzwater, Christoph. Holder, Iho. Williams, John Wood, Robert Ewer, Arthur Cook, William Biles, Henry Jenings, Peter [...], Jud Allen, William G., Jacob S—k, Thomas Lloyd, Thomas Thurston, John Gilbert, William Yardly, John Humphry

H [...] [...]are the Man, behold and view them well,

You know their Names, and where they use to dwell;

You know their Parts, you know their Fruits also,

If these be Saints, Lord! whither shall we go!

Behold again, and mark the Prophets well,

They did confess ( [...]he Scripture doth us tell)

The [...] [...] to God, and [...]eg'd his Pardon t [...]o,

If these were humble, they would do so too.

Pretences [...]reat, they to Religion make,

Though Cros [...] to [...] some think for Crossness sake:

In Practice Cross, [...], in their Fruits also

In Manners Cross in Faith and Doctrine too.

Cross to the saints that liv'd in every age,

As Cross as they sit coupled in the Cage

Where in each Pair you certainly may [...]

A Bird Unclean in Body and in Mind.

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I shall now open the Cage and take out the Birds one by one, and open their wings and spread their Feathers, to the [...] thou [...] view them, and note their Features and observe their Natures. But first, take notice that G. Fox [as in [...] pistle to [...] in Churches] uses to call the Professors and church of England A CA [...]E of unclean Birds, and the more he made them sing was No perfection Here, No Perfection Here. Therefore the note the Quakers sing is, Perfection as Here, Perfection Here; & my present business is to shew how far the Quakers have attained Perfection here beyond others, that they themselves may, if possible, see the danger of their self-righteous, self-confident state And first,

1. Samuel Jennings is the most aspiring bird in the CAGE, in that his intollerable Pride has led him to assume a far higher station then Lord Bishop of Delaware, he talking as if himself were the Almighty, saying to some se [...]erate [...]uakers, If I draw forth my hand against you. I WILL Not pull it in again till I have [...] you [...] compare this speech with Deut. 32 40. Again [...] said he need not the help of Gods Spirit, to do our business as [...]. These Arrogant speeches [as I remember] he owns in print.

But one crim [...] of this lofty Bird is that he has led the way to set the Ind [...]ans to mischief the Inhabitants, in that he d [...]d about 12 years since take up & survey some of the Indians L [...]nd, and by his example, others have since done the like, of which 50 or 60 Indians have lately drawn up a complaint in writing by two Interpreters, wherein they threaten to call other Indians to their Aid, to make war on the Inhabitants, unless they have Justice done. Whereupon Jennings had no way to save his Quaker Principle of a sinless Perfection, but to pretend Thy virtue of a cheat put upon the Indians by A R one of his Qu [...]dom Brother preachers too [...] that th [...] said Land was purchased of the Indians. And yet in contradiction to himself, [Page] he and his followers do acknowledge the said [...]hea [...] for they condition with those that settle they Land, privately to buy [...] of the said Indians; But this not [...]; the [...] because some keep the [...] land unsettled, and so [...] therefore they have [since M. Hamliton has re-install'd them in the Government] bountifully treated all the Indians of the Province, and gave the [...] great Gifts; but place it as a debt [...]or [...] to pay, [Asses being made to bear Burthens] but no matter who pays it hereafter, the Indians have got it, and [...] hoped are qu [...]ted at present.

Nay, this B [...]d must be the [...]apital tradiction singer in West-Jarsey, for he lately wrote a Book herein he shews [from an English law made chiefly against [...]] that the people are disloyal to the King, if they submit to any Governour that has not the Royal approbation, and yet no sooner was his said Book made publick, but he himself [...]eads the fir [...]t example of disloyalty, and submits to Mr. Ha [...]ton a Scotch m [...]n as Governour, who has not the said approbation; doubtless he was guided by his Light within in both there.

2. Thomas Thurston a great favorite of G. Fox. he betrayed an [...] persons Wife, in Maryland to the sin of A [...]u [...]tery, by pretending he had a motion from the Spirit to get her with Child [her Husband being then, and long after, in Old England] And this [...] being excellently gifted in the Ministry, had by that powerful affecting way of preaching [...] by the Quakers, overcome the common People in Maryland in general, and kindled in [...]em a fiery Zeal for Quakerism; But so soon as 'twas known that he had a Child by the aforesaid Woman, they all [...]ell away and deserted Quakerism, as smoak vanishes out of sight.

3. The Lord though so eminent a Preacher and Deputy Governour of Pennsilvania, yet he stood in so great need of honesty that the Assembly of New York spent both time and [Page] skill after his death, to make him an honest man, for having laid out 600 Pounds on a piece of land at New-York, he settled the [...]ame by need on two of his Children, and to make i [...] the more [...] [...]state to his said Children, he got the said [...] recorded in the Secretary's Office there; and when he had so done he [...] the said Land out [...] and told it to several Persons or great advantage, who built [...] and made Improvements thereon. But so soon as this Lloyd was deceased, the Purchasers came to see how they were cheated, and must loose their Estates unless the said Children, when they come at Age will give away their Portions to make them [...]; wherefore in the mean time the persons concerned have [...] an Act of Assembly to confirm the E [...]tates to the Pur [...]sers. [...] as an Assembly can do in the case, Thus these Saints that dream of judging the World, are judged by the world: yet to give the [...] his due, this men was the greatest benefactor that ever Ruled at Delaware, in being a means to stock those par [...]s with Silver and Gold [...] encouraging and entertaining Pyrates. Ay and no doubt but he got well by it too, a large [...] to spare as 'tis said.

4. John Moon, he was an [...]rator exceeding S. Jinings, a [...] [...]lling P [...]eacher, and a very [...] the Women he conferred honour on his Maid Servant at [...] [...] sporting with her, till becaused her Belly to [...], and she perceiving her self with Child, grew sorrowful to think what would follow, but he endeavoured to cheer [...] up, by telling her she ought to esteem it an honour to be with Child by such a man as John Moon an eminent [...] of the Ministry, and a Justice too: Some say he dyed [...] the [...] D [...]ease.

5. [...] for John Humphry and Thom [...]s Fitz [...]ter, The [...]r g [...]ss and [...] us Assertions are in Print in the Quakers Books of Controversy, to which Prefer.

[Page] 6. Robert Ewer, a Preaches and Justice [...]. at whose House in Philadelphia the Ministring Friends about Delaware [...] to meet, and hold their Council: he was known to be [...] of packing meal or other course stuff into his Flower cask, and flower only at each end, also of blowing in Money [...] to make his light Money pass for weight, and other such [...] Ch [...]ats as even a prophane man would scorn; yet being it be [...] his house to the Brethren, and a tree Entertainer of the Preachers, he was undiscerned by them. And tho' this Ewer, was taken on bed with his Neighbours Wife, with her Coats up, &c, as was evidenced before two Justices, yet the Ministring Friends being privately satisfied by a Paper from their liberal Brother Ewer, that he did [...] just with the woman, they were so far from confessing any thing amiss in him, that their cry was, R. Ewer was bel [...]d, all he forced them to confess, when his own Wife brought a Child too soon after Marriage, together with a Cheat he put on his Wife, by making two Wills; for by his last will, unknown to his wife, he gave large Legacies to Sam Jenings, and others of his chief Brethren, not doubting but they would be true to their Religion, to hide his deeds from the light, by telling their hearers that R. Ewer was belyed, in order to which he held fast his Quaker Confidence to the very last breath, declaring at his death, that he had no guilt on his Conscience for any thing he had done; but since his death his baseness appearing so broad, they cannot cloak it, they cry out, he was naught, and refuse to take his gifts, least all [...] people should hi [...]s at them.

7. Jacob S in the time of his wife lying in child-bed, must needs be tampering with his Neighbours wife in the woods, as he was conducting her home from visiting his wife; and this Woman [...] Husband being a Cock of that game too, she had no [...] an opportunity to fit her Husband, which it seems she let him know, upon which he was the more bold with other [Page] Women, till being complained of, he made his defence to this purpose, why may not I, &c as well as Jacob S. one of our Teachers, do the [...] to my Wife? This being told to the said Jacob, he freely con [...]e [...], [...] and gave in a paper of his condemnation to the Meeting, and thus having satisfied the Church, he kept to his preaching still.

Note, I have heard this story related after another manner, tho' to the same effect, as indeed scarce any two persons will relate one and the [...]ame story alike: Therefore let not the Quakers say, these are fa [...]e stories, because some perhaps will relate them after a different manner from others for the Quakers themselves do that unavoidably as frequent as other people.

8. Thomas [...]sgrove, being angry with the Publisher, of the [...] &c, because he was therein changed [after [...] substantially proved, and contest by himself] for preaching [...] the Manhood of Christ, as not good, he tell to pouring Judgments and Curses against the Hue-and Cry [...]an as his [...] was saving at a Meting at Burlington, [...] at God [...] him an example in a short time, and that you shall see Friends. But alas! tho' this Musgrove [...]aid hard about him to compass Land and Plantations to get himself an estate all at once, yet in se [...]ching his family from England o [...] possess i [...] a Judgment of Mortality tell among the passengers of that st [...]p in which he, with divers of his Brethren were cut off, so that he was so far short of living to see his He and Cry Man made an example by Gods Judgments, that he could neither escape nor see the Judgment whereby God had appetite [...] cut him off. Had it so happened to the [...]-& Cry Man now would they have boasted of th [...] prophet, and himself been pus [...] up thereby! then sure much more if he or any of their opposite should have been struck dead by Thunder, as was their friend F. L. o [...] by a said of a tree, as their friend W. B. or any other [Page] [...] death should befal any of them; for if persons dye soon after they have affronted any of them, they count it a Judgment and Example from God for that cause; for proof of which, I'll in short give you two out of many Examples from their [...]ook entit. A word of Reproof, &c. by E. B. printed 1 59 page 75 where 'tis said, Here follo [...]s some Signs, Examples and Judgments for the accursed generation, who desire a sign, but they are Miracles to them that believe; viz. Edward H [...]nt, Norwich [...], who after G. Whi [...]ehead was discharged, [...] his act [...] against him for 4 pence a night, was soon after cut off by death Robert [...]llen of Ba [...]h, who abused Tho. Mursord in the street, had a boy scalded to death. Thus in short. But to return.

8. Christopher Holder, and effeminate loving preacher to the Women in Rhode Island and was at [...] one of the chief men in the Island taken lying with another man, wife in a field of Corn, for which the Friends there being about to deal with him, he suddenly ships himself for England and gets to G. Fox, and obtains a Letter from him, in the nature of an absolution, and so all was whole again.

9. But Fed Allen was not so loving to a young woman that his son had gotten with Child, intending to marry her, but that this man his Father would not suff [...] him, but gave him Many to run away, and then affrighted the poor woman by threatning her with punishment here, and laying before her, in a Terrifying manner, the punishment deserved for Whores in the world to come; insomuch that she took grief and dyed, and is gone before him in order to meet him, and face him [...]t the great day of Judgment. As to earthly Mammon his actions were so gross in the sight of his Neighbours, that it has cost some of his own Brethren several years pains to make him honest, especially in the case of a poor widdows Land; the story whereof is soul, but too large to repeat here. But [Page] what of all this? he is a thundering Preacher, and can Preach as many words in one hour, as most other Preachers can in two, and that heals up all.

10. William G—was sometime since deeply affected with a Mil [...]ers Wife, who since, on her dying bed, made confe [...]ion and complaint of this Preachers actions, declaring with great earnestness to those about her, how wickedly this man had dealt with her, crying out in Lamentation, O that wicked [...]— [...] The story is large, and I design brevity, the core I omit the Relation, believing the man will be better, when his hearers grow better by his preaching.

11. Aurther Cook, a Preacher many years, yet never was head to pray in a Meeting, tho' he has out done all in cursing; for it happened that this Cook and S Jennings were at variance, whereupon Burlington Meeting undertook to deal with Cook about it, oft sending to him, but to no purpose, Cook being too stout to bend to Jenings; so that at last being tired with persuing him. Jenings exprest himself to the Meeting th [...]s, Friends, you may soul your fingers in medling with A. Cook but you can never make him clean Also, he compared Cook to the [...] a hundred years old, that should dye, accursed &c. This being told to Cook by one present at that Meeting, Cook replyed, D [...]d he S. Jenings] say so, LET HIS SOUL GO DOWN QUICK INTO HELL. This profound and dreadful Curse; with other words of Indignation against Jenings were uttered by coo [...], which I the rather mention, because in their paper of Judgment against G. K. they advise Friends to have their words seasoned with the [...]alt of the covenant; see other crimes of Cook in the Books of controversie with G. K.

12. Wm. Yardley was an old Preacher too, and by reason of age he was go on ill favoured and [...] to the Women, so that when he offered to lye with his maid Servant, she was so sort out to deny him, tho' a Preacher, which he took hard, and [Page] thereupon renewed his assaults on her, but she, it seems, constantly repulsed hi [...], till she was forced to complain to this Yardleys wife, and to a neighbour, whereby I suppose he mist of king David's pleasure of a young Damsel in his old age.

12. [...] [...]ile, Justice and Preacher too, in Pennsilvania whom the Women had like to have pull'd by the crown for endeavouring to get a law made [to curtail the Law of England] that mens widdows should have but five shillings instead of thirds of heir Husbands [...]; because himself had marryed a poor widdow with children; he sits in the [...]age for arbitrary rule in prosecuting [I mean] persecuting J. Rovland a seperate Quaker, & condemning him, before himself or [...] Justices at Court had heard him, threatning, That it should so be, As sure [said Biles] as his name is R [...]wla [...]d; and accordingly they sent and to [...] Cow from the said Rovland because he conscientiously refused to take on him an office and power to take goods [...] Quakers, who refused to pay that three hundred Pound Tax they gathered & sent to be imployed in the War at Albany. I refer you to some Long-Island men who bought land of this Bile unseen, to give account of the honesty of his dealing: They made a sad complaint, & 'tis a sad story to relate, but have no Remedy but to learn more wit than to trust travelling Preachers fo [...] time to come.

13. As for John Gilbert, i [...] the Meeting that was kept at his house have not the spirit of discerning, as they pre [...]en [...], he may be wrongfully put in the Cage for ought I know; for [...] he was charged with l [...]ing both with a white woman and a N [...]gr [...] woman, the Friends did thereupon remove their Meeting from his house, thereby condemning him as guilty of the said charge; so that I say, if the Meeting had not a true, discerning but condem'd him wrongfully, then they deserve to be put in the Cage in his stead, for I would have the saddle laid on the right Horse.

[Page] 14. John Wood, Sheriff and Preacher, whose Office is to hang the Body and save the Soul, the singular President for future Ages; he took away the poor Womans warming Pan, to the hastening her sick husbands Death; see the story at large [...] Mr Leeds his News of a Trumpet, p.94. This, Wood is no Scrivener, yet he oft makes Indentures in Philadelphia streets, but 'tis when strong drink breeds the staggers in his head, of Which Mr. Test and a widdow that sells drink there can give a more particular account. But I put none in the Cage for this sort of Drunkenness, believing the Stocks a more fit place; Tho' the Quaker Preachers, who have the rule, think it more fit to punish those who will needs be prating when they see a Preacher drunk, as did John Simcock and Sam. Jenings.

15. Henery Jenings, had several Bastards before he was discovered, he not being suspected, by reason of his being so demure a Quaker, and his carriage so Saint-like. But I'll say no more of him, because the President and ruling part of the Court at Salem, where he dwelt, were not Quakers, and so they made him pay for his pleasure.

16. Thomas Williams and Peter Fretwell fit in the Cage in the nature of sworn Brothers [as the term is for when Wil [...]ms had gotten his wifes Daughter with Child & put her off in marriage to a young man, he made a contract with the said young man, drawn in writing to this purpose, That his Wifes first born should have the one half of his Plantation,, so diligent was he with his Quaker Conscience to provide a portion for his Bastard, out of this young mans Estate: And this Peter Fretwell [who was a Justice too] was joyntly concerned in the said writing, to cause his notable peice of Justice to be done.

But hark you Quakers of the Mens and Womens Meeting at Burlington! think you it was not a pretty sight to see you exercise your devotion on this big belly'd Damsel, in conducting her into your Meetings, as your manner is, and yet have [Page] no discerning of her Pregnancy, nor of her Father-in-Laws wickedness, after so many years pretence to the spirit of discerning? is this all your sufficient evidence of spiritual discerning, which [...]. W. and others declare in print, that the Quakers have? can you ever expect a plainer instance than this, [...]convince you that the Devil holds you captive in dark de [...]usion, under a presence of Light? for she [...] the form of the Mens and womens Meetings, and the Marriage began, carried on and finished in the Unity of [...], and hat [...] for her said Father-in-Laws take. And the [...] Certificate was by the said P. Fretwell closed with those words, Done According to order, and Approved by us the PECULIAR People of God. Pray read it twice over because this Fretwell pretended he had a discerning of the aforesaid R. [...] before yea, long before his baseness broke out. But the D—was [...] he did not discern the state of this his dear Brother William: tho he is to exact a Quaker, that any stranger, that has ever seen Quakers, will by the bare eye-sight, Judgment to be a Quaker; for he wears the perfect Livery of a Quaker, in hi [...] Speech [...] is Countenance, in his Gesture in his Apparel, but especially in this he has been heard to say since his baseness was publick, That God had new revealed his [...] him. This is the true Livery of a Quaker, never to be cautious of him till they can hide there [...] no longer from the World; of which tho' I could give many instances, yet I will now give but one more to confirm this truth.

There [...] one [...] who going with his boat between Philadelphia and New-Castle with other people. Both men, women and good, in the year 169 [...] who were [...], no man knows now, the boat being found empty of People and Goods, but about two years after, it accidentally cannot be discovered that some Quakers about [...] [...] got some or most of the goods, and had all that time concealed them [Page] who when they saw themselves discovered to the world [not before, mark that] they then published papers under their hands of their own condemnation, to clear the Body of the Friends [as they call it] from their guilt, expressing in the said papers what grief and trouble they were under for concealing the said goods; I would for the Readers satisfaction print copies of the said Papers but for largeness omit them here. And this was never discerned by their fellow Quakers ti [...]l discovered by others.

But, I remember G. Fox in his Great mystry, p 89. makes the Quakers most [...] for [...] there sayes, They can d [...]scern who are Saints, and who are Devils and who [...]. But that [...] has here deluded his implicit followers, even as much as [...] did his, when he told them that the dove that [...] pea [...]e out of his ear was the holy ghost sent to teach him, may further appear in that Fox [...] no such [...]; for [...] did not discern Ezekiel Wolley a Quaker of note in London at whose house this Fox and many other travelling Preachers use to quarter, till ' [...]was openly known he had a child by his neighbour, the watch makers wife; then George could discern him, and would Quaker there no more tho' long before that, it was common for this Wolley to be brought home in evening in a Coach so drunk that he could not get out, to go to bed, without being carried by his servants.

Certainly God in Judgment has deprived the Quakers of that D [...]rning common to the rest of [...], and that because of their self-Righteousness and spirtul [...]ridea; for tho' several persons that were not Quakers perceived that the aforesaid Williams had been naught with his said daughter, and talk' [...] of it one to another, yet the Meeting of Quakers, or any of [...] Members, were so far from mistrusting any thing [...] in the case, that several of the chief upholders [...] [Page] Meeting went afterwards, to their zealous Friend Williams his [...] to [...] the Marriage, where Fretwell closed the Certificate as abovesaid.

But on the contrary, when M. Shin married about the same time, who was one of their womens Meeting, and a good woman, as themselves say, yet they could not for religion [...]ake, be at that Marriage; no, not so much as her Father John Shin a grave antient Quaker durst appear at this his Daughters Wedding, tho' forsooth! he could be at his Friend Williams his house, at this big bell [...]ed Damsels, We [...]ding, and the reason was, The man whom this M. S. married could not agree to G. Fox his Tradition of their M [...]n and Womens Meetings in the case of Marriage, which the said big belly'd Damsel punctually observed. So short are these Quakers of true Religion that they prefer the Tradition of their great Fox before Honesty and Piety, of which take one more Example to establish the truth hereof.

Daniel Wills one of the most eminent elders of Burlington Meeting, his daughter married the aforesaid R. Ewer, who at the time of his marriage was known to be guilty as aforesaid, also this Daughter of D. [...]. the bride, was then with Child, and has since owned condemnation for the same, and got into the Church again by a Paper-Key but they proceeding in their Marriage in all the formalities of G. Fox this Wedding was [...] with the attendance of their Father D. W. and the rest of the Friends, Preachers and others.

But a little before, when a Son of this D. W. married, tho' they [...] lay no evil to the charge of him or the Woman he married, being both Quakers, yet the Religion of this D. W. the [...]r Father, and his [...] of the Fox [...] an Tribe, would not suffer them to be at this marriage, and the reason is, this Son of D. W also rejects the Authority of their Men and Womens Meetings in the case of marriage, believing it rather [Page] belongs to the Civil Magistrates. Thus you see how these blind Idolitors worship their Image of Men and Womens Meetings [which Fox carved cut and set up instead of Baptism and the Lord Supper] without regard to honesty.

I remember D. W. has more then once related a story of Wm. Green and The West two of their Northampton Preachers, of their naughtiness with Women, Green being twice found guilty before they quite silenced his preaching; But T. [...] preaching at a Meeting soon after he had lain with another [...] wife, D. W. opposed his preaching from a spiritual discerning that he said he had of this preachers state, without any outward knowledge of it. But pray what's become of his discerning in the case of Robert Ewer? there he has either left it, or never had it; for he did not discern R. E. he never opposed his preaching.

But [...] give one instance more, to shew that these Quakers are all under the like Judgment of Darkness, and want of Discerning. They did in the year 1696 build a great Cathedral Meeting place at Philadelphia, and in order to lay such a Foundation Practice as they were like to continue, the very first Marriage [as am credibly informed] they passed there, the woman (Magdalen [...] by name) brought a Child in her belly, when she came thither to publish her Intentions of Marriage, and not one of the infallible Friends could discern it; but on the contrary, congratulated her present happy condition, her former husband being a seperate Quaker!

But on the account of such, and [...] abominated actions of the Quakers, I must be careful to keep from Pennsilvania shore, left I write a volumn, &c besides, the Quakers and reflect on me far this little, and say, 'tis a taking up dirt: But let me tell them, that West-Jarsey Quakers, found it needfull of late to rake up such dirt in order to make heir Teacher S. J. clean; that is, the sent Certificates to the said Jenings [Page] for him to print when last in England, to clear him of the charges proved against him in the tryal of P. B. which being printed in England some of the Books came back to Delaware, in which Certificates, the way they take to clear [ [...] is to rake up dirt Rediculous stuff] against the witnesses to make their evidence seem false. One when he was a servant boy, they accuse for stealing of his masters Powder, shot, Oits, and nobody knows what. Another, eat up [...] M [...]s [...]risses Eggs. Other two of the witnesses, they say, that discredit stands on their Court book for getting young women with Child. This they slanderously put down, for they should only have blamed them for their wives seeming in less then nine months after marriage, but this is the art they use to make people think their evidence against S J. was false.

But mark how God confounds them in the Devices they have used to Just [...] themselves and defame others; for no sooner was the said Certificate Book arrived at Delaware, but it fell to [...] lot of John W [...]lsford, one of the signers of those Certificates, to be taken in the same snare, and all the Country round taking such notice of his wife bringing a Child to soon after Marriage, he, for grief or shame, or both, because it could not be kept hid [as was Judged] he fell sick and died thereupon.

Lastly, As to the Birds in the Cage, least Peter Fretwell should grudge that his crimes are not so great as some of his fellows, I here let him know, that he stands presented by the grand Jury at Burlington for his disobedience to Government, and if ever you beheld a Swine led by the Bars, or a Beast by the [...], and saw how they stubbornly set their feet as shores against the ground, because they will not come forward, but as forced by great strength, just so for all the world did this Fretwell [when the Sheriff and his assistants [...] him before Authority] and that in such a brutish manner [Page] as all the sober beholders were a shamed to see. Nor could he any other ways be prevailed with to come to give account what he had done with the County [...] that the former grand Jury had raised and put into his hands as Treasurer; for that was all that the Magistrates wanted to know of him, being appointed by the grand Jury to examine him; and where he was thus brought, he would neither give any account to them, nor give bayl to answer next Court, but a Prison he would rather endure, and to prison he went, to the shame of his Profession be it spoken.

Also in the year 1697. When D. Bacon a seperate Quaker refused to serve on a Jury, pleading the English Law for his defence, this Fretwell being Justice, told him in open Court, That [...]f be pleaded matter of conscience, he should be excused, but if he pleaded the English Law, they would [...] him; which accordingly they did. Where note, there were two gentlemen of the Governou [...]s Council sitting in that Court with the Quakers, who dissented from them in this Arbitrary procedure, and being over voted by the Quaker Justices, they desired their dissent in that case might be [...]red by the Clerk.

POSTSCRIPT

THE last instance of P. F. has occasioned a few more such instances of the Quakers actions in their Goverment. But because I would nor hinder the publication of a large black account of the Quakers Arbitrary, Unjust and Partial Government at Delaware, which I have seen in the hands of a Gentleman there, digested in manner of a Chronicle, Therefore I shall only take a few of his Burlington instanc;es, as the place by them most anciently settled, that you [Page] may as by one glass of Liquor know the relish of the whole Cark.

The first then is, of one John Ne [...]bold, who was no Quaker, he had by the appointment of the Quakers in Authority taken up, possessed and occupyed a p [...]ice of Land near Delaware hills, by the right of his Father then in England: and this Land lying very desirable and commodious for his Neighbour John Lambert, who knowing the said Newbold had not Power to dispose thereof, resolves to take it from him by force, and takes this course to do it viz. At seed time he takes witness with him, and scatters some Corn on the ground: and the said Newbold plowing and sowing as he used to do, at harvest when he and his Reapers were reaping their Corn. Lambert comes with his Brother Th. Lambert and Mahlon Stacy, two Justices, with their Servants, and takes the said Newbold and his Reapers, and carries them away Prisone [...]s, and Newbold not having Friends nor Power to oppose, was forced to yeild up the said Land, and Lambert got it in spite of Justice, which never could since be regained. Mr. Revell, who was then their Clerk, can relate the circumstances of this un [...]st action at large. Note, this was the beginning when the Q [...]akers had newly imbraced their beloved Government, when they were so extream covetous of Land, that they could not afford a piece of ground at Burlington to bury their dead, but buryed in the publick street or high way, where usually Malefactors are buryed; which irreligious practice, an eminent person observing, together with some other Ignoble Passages in the foundation of Burlington, made this Achrostick poem thereon

[Page]

BAse in thy Birth, and Burial like a Thief.

UNdone, when first conceived beyond, Relief.

RUined before one stone of her was laid,

LEd since b'lmpostures, and by folly sway'd.

I'Ve read the Fates, and in their Books can spy,

NOthing but shame to be thy Destiny.

GIve up thy old N [...]e the [...] reverse thy Doom;

THy Heathenish Birth disclaim for time to come;

ON Christs found Doctrine mould thy self anew,

NO more to him per [...]ideous live, but true.

2dly. But as they began, so they proceeded on; for tho' they that inhabited there had Land in every street in Burlington, yet none of them could afford a piece where on to build their Meeting house, but they built on [...]. Rudyards Land, who then dwelt i [...] London; and this they did without his leave or knowledge; Tho' indeed at the said R [...]dyards arrival there they proposed to buy it of him, and [...] them a price of fifteen Pounds, which was moderate, but they thought it too much, and would not give it. But now since Rudyards death, in order to cheat the Heir, Th [...]. Rudyards Son, of his Land, they caused Sarah Farr, a rich [...] Widdow of their Church to give them this Land whe [...]eon their said Meeting House stands, and she has done it by Deed under her hand and Seal, and they have got the said Deed recorded, and to secured their Meeting [...]ouse, as they think. Thus you may perceive the Quakers have need to strive hard to keep the Government, for it they loose the Government, they loose their Meeting House, if Law and Justice take peace.

[Page] 3dly, Walther Reve [...] a poor man finding it hard living at his first [...]e [...]tling, he got sum pine Trees off from unsurveyed Land, and cut them into Boards to sell to sustain his necessity, but he being no Quaker, the Quakers to [...]k the said Boards from him, [...] allowing him any thing for his labour, which was Partial and Unjust, nay, wicked, to wrong the poor man of his labour; I say, partial because several Quakers about Burlington have done the like, and suffered nothing; also John [...] and his Brother, and others about [...], have well advanced their Estates by Board and Shingles so gotten, & never had a pennyworth taken from them.

4th, They have a law in West Jarsey to punish breakers of the Sabbath by a forfeiture of six shillings to be taken of the offenders goods, if they refuse to pay; and J [...]hn O [...]borne, who was no Quaker having brought home his Horse or Mare on a Sabbath day morning, that had st [...]ayed from him fettered, for which they demanded the [...] forfeiture for breach of Sabbath, but Ogborne refused to pay, alledging he had not broke the Sabbath, having done no more then as helping an Ox or an Ass out of [...], whereupon they without regard to their Law, imprisoned Ogborne, and prosecute him next Court. This, I say, was Arbitrary, and also [...] partial, because most of their Quaker Justices of that Court had been really guilty of breaking the said Law, as could be proved, and yet suffered nothing & especially Fra D [...]venport, who about the same time had a [...]sisted with his Team on a Sabbath day, to draw a Boat on the Road from Burlington toward West-Jarsey, who was President or Judge in that Court, and yet had the confidence to Prosecute Ogborne contrary to their own Law too.

5thly, Samuel O [...]dal [...] was accused by his daughter in Law [...] for carnal knowledge of her Body, or that she was with Child by him, upon wh [...]ch this Oldale was prosecuted and punished with two punishments; for tho' Oldale stoutly denyed it, [Page] and there was no proof but the girls affirmation, they released the girl out of his service [which some thought to be the end for which she so accused him] and whipt the [...] Oldale for his first punishment, and, made him pay a twenty pound Fine for his second, no less then two punishments for one offence; & that but a supposed offence neither, because never any thing after appeared to prove it. But on the other hand, when the aforesaid Williams had got his daughter-in-law with Child, which was a real crime, obvious and evident, yet they could easily let him escape without any punishment at all for why? Williams was a zealous Quaker, but Oldale was no Quaker, but one of the worlds People.

6th, The Quaker Juryes are very zealous [forsooth] to present men for fornication, whose wives bring Children in less then 9 months after Marriage, & then the Justices of the Court fine [...] for it; but by what Law they do this, would fain be known, seeing our English Law makes such Children lawfully begotten. But on the other hand, this real of theirs has not appeared against their own Brethren in the [...] case, for I can name them two at once, viz. W L and W D. who published their Marriage at their Meeting at Burlington whose wives brought Children in two months after Marriage, yet th [...]se were never presented; nor was [...]. presented who had a Child before Marriage, the Woman he Married being the daughter of a Preacher and Justice in Burlington.

The like Justice have the Quakers observed in the prosecution of their Law that forbids selling or giving strong liquor to the Indians; they have made many poor man [or any but their own people] pay a fine of five Pounds and Court charges for selling strong drink to the Indians; But themselves having the power in their own hands, have sold and given them whole casks [...] at a time, in buying their Land, and making them treats, and the like, but never suffered any thing for it. And [Page] thus runs the currant of the Quaker Justice, these are some of the effects of the priviledges they boa [...] of and cry out for, and are afraid of losing viz. The ch [...]sing one another for Justices, and crowding Offices upon one another. And if they have a design to bring to pals ' [...]is But to get a Quaker Jury, and their business is done. But on the other hand, if they have any drudgery to do, as trying [...], or the like, then they'l take a Jury of the worlds people to do it, that they may throw the blame on them, and off of themselves, if any thing be done [...] in the case, and this has been their practice at Burlington.

And at the day of Election, when they have before hand enjoyned their followers who they shall chuse for Assembly men, they cry out to the People, Stand up for your Priviledges, That is, to chuse us for Assembly men, for if you chuse the worlds people, you will soon have a Militia to maintain, [...], and you may have Priests to maintain too, who [...] hurt our cause and draw the People from Truth that is, from us and our cause. And these are same of the Art [...] that those who would be thought Loyal Subjects to the King, use to freight and force the poor ignorant people to gratifie their ambition to rule, and for the [...]eeding and maintaining this ambition of theirs, they pay them back again by enslaving them with prodigious Taxes, but this [I am told] begins now so to open the eyes of the poor people, as to make them shut their purses, for they now perceive that the Priviledges of West-Jarsey that the Quakers have so long stood up for and boasted of, is for them to lord it over their neighbours, and command their Purses. But in this road I must travel no further.

J. B. a Protestant

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

News of a strumpet co-habiting in the wilderness or, A brief abstract of the spiritual & carnal whoredoms & adulteries of the Quakers in America. Delinated in a cage of twenty unclean birds. Purposely published in pitty to the Quakers, to let them see themselves as others see them, because in pag. 47. of their book, called, Satan's Harbinger, (lately printed at Philadelphia by the authority of their meeting of ministers) they pretend they know no such persons amongst them. Otherwise, 'tis more work for the Quakers to use their arts and imploy their press to prop up their two main pillars infallibility & perfection. : [One line of quotation]

Leeds, Daniel, 1652-1720.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2008-09.

ID [DLPS]

N00817

ID [TCP]

N00817

ID [STC]

Evans 982

ID [NOTIS]

APW7534

ID [IMAGE-SET]

982

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99013689

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 982.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N00817)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 982)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 982)

Source

— News of a strumpet co-habiting in the wilderness or, A brief abstract of the spiritual & carnal whoredoms & adulteries of the Quakers in America. Delinated in a cage of twenty unclean birds. Purposely published in pitty to the Quakers, to let them see themselves as others see them, because in pag. 47. of their book, called, Satan's Harbinger, (lately printed at Philadelphia by the authority of their meeting of ministers) they pretend they know no such persons amongst them. Otherwise, 'tis more work for the Quakers to use their arts and imploy their press to prop up their two main pillars infallibility & perfection. : [One line of quotation], Leeds, Daniel, 1652-1720..

Extent

26 p.

Printed [by William Bradford],. [New York] :: in the year 1701.. (Attributed to Daniel Leeds by Evans.) (Ascribed to the New York press of William Bradford by Evans.)

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