The West Answering to the North

The WEST Answering to the NORTH IN The fierce and Cruell PERSECUTION of the manifestation of the SON of GOD, As appears in the following short RELATION Of the unheard of, and inhumane SUFFERINGS of Geo. Fox, Edw. Pyot, and William Salt at LANCESTON in the County of CORNWALL, AND Of Ben. Maynard, Iames Mires, Ios. Coale, Ia. Godfrey, Io. Ellice, and Anne Blacking, in the same GAOLE, TOWN, and COUNTY.

AND Of ONE and TWENTY men, and women taken up in the space of a few dayes on the HIGH WAYES of DEVON, as they were peaceably travelling thereun­to, and from visiting of the aforesaid Prisoners by ARMED GUARDS set up throughout the COUNTY by order of the Generall Sessions for that purpose, and thrown in heaps into the Common Gaole of EXON amongst the Fellons, where di­vers of them are sick, and one of them, (viz.) Iane Ingram there lately DEAD; And of Katherin Martingdale and Priscilla Cotton of PLIMMOUTH, and two others in the same Gaole at EXON, and of another in Bridewell in the same City.

ALSO A sober reasoning in the LAW with Chief justice GLYNNE concerning his pro­ceedings against Geo. Fox, E. Pyot, and W. Salt at LANCESTON ASSIZES 25. of the 1. month 1656. in a Letter sent to him by the Prisoners.

And a legall ARRAIGNMENT of the Indictment of the HAT, the new foun­ded FURNACE into which are cast the children of LIGHT, who in obe­dience to the Lord cannot BOWE the Hat to the WILL of men, nor to their persons, who with such a base thing are confounded.

And many other materiall and strange passages at their apprehensions and tryals at se­verall Assizes, and Sessions, and in the Intervals of each, and of the MONSTROUS Inventions of ETCETERA warrants, Watches, Wards, Armed Guards, &c. to cause the Innocent to suffer, weighed in the BALLANCE of LAW and EQUITY.

Behold the day, behold it is come, the morning is gone forth, the Rod hath blossomed, Pride, hath budded, Violence is risen up into a Rod of wickedness. Woe to the Bloody City, it is full of lyes, and Robberies, the Prey departeth not, her Iudges are Evening Wolves, they gnaw not the Bones till the morrow. They have made ready their heart like an Oven, whilst they lye in waite; Their Bakers sleepe [...]h all the night, in the morning it Burneth as a flaming fire, They are all hot as an Oven, and have devoured their Iudges, and their Kings are fallen, and their is none that calleth upon me. And they consider not in their heart, that I remember all their Wickedness; Now their own doings have beset them about, they are before my face? Doe ye in­deed, speake Righteousness, O Congregation? Doe ye Iudge uprightly, O ye Sons of men? yea, in heart you work wickedness; ye weigh the Violence of your hands in the earth.

How long will ye Iudge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless; Doe Iustice to the afflicted and needy; deliver the poor and needy; Rid them out of the hand of the wicked: They know not, neither will they understand, they walke on in dark­ness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course. Arise, O God and Iudge the earth, for thou shalt inherit all Nations, when he maketh Inquisition for blood, he remembreth them, be forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

London, Printed for Giles Calvert at the West end of Pauls, 1657.

To the sober Reader.

VVE are not the men to the intent who gives forth things to lay open nakedness, but that men may take warning, and fear, and come to know themselves, and what they act and practise, whereby with the Truth they may be covered, and others may take warning by their examples, seeing such bad fruits from such flow, whose intent from us is to cover that simplicitie, and Innocencie might rule. Though these things be open, and layd open for their un­derstandings, and Instructions, that they may know both the Law of man, and of God, and how they act contrary both to Reason, and the Law of God, whose actions we co­ver, and do forgive, who we do forgive, who doth answer the Light in every man, which Christ hath enlightned him withall, and might not appear themselves to be a shame to the Nation, and a scorne amongst men to see them act contrary to Reason, and Modestie, and the Law of God, and the Nation, but if the righteous Law take hold of them, and make them smart, let them not say, but that they have had warning: And that men should be cloathed who are naked, and their uncomely parts and shame covered, to the intent and end is this given forth, that seriousness, modesty, truth, and Justice, and plainess, and innocency, and righteousness, may be set up in Towns and Streets: of the things whom they do concern, they may take notice.

The VVEST Answering to the NORTH, &c. [Page 1]

ABout the middle of the eleventh month 1655. George Fox being on his Journey with Edward Pyot of Bristoll, nnd William Salt of London, from the farthermost parts of Cornwall towards Bristoll, was moved of the Lord in bowels of compassion to the Ignorant in those dark corners of the Nation, to give forth a paper for the directing their minds to the way of salvation, and the stirring of them up to prize their time, and the day of their visitation, a true Copy whereof is as followeth.

THe migthy day of the Lord is come, and coming. that all hearts shalbe made manifest, the secrets of every ones heart shalbe revealed with the light of Jesus; which comes from Jesus Christ who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, Who saith learn of me; This is my welbeloved Son, hear you him saith God, that lighteth e­very man that cometh into the world, that all men through him might believe, the world through him might have life: And Christ is come to teach himself the second Priesthood; and every one that will not hear this Prophet, which God hath [Page 2] raised up, which Moses spake of and said, Like unto me will God raise you up a Prophet, him shall you hear: every one that doth not hear this Prophet is to be cut off; They that despised Moses Law died under the hands of two or three wit­nesses, but how much greater punishment shall come upon them, that shall neglect this great salvation Christ Jesus, who saith, Learn of me, I am the way, the truth, and the life, who light­eth every man that cometh into the world, which light lets him see his evill wayes, his evill deeds that he hath done, but if he hate that light, and goes on in the evill, this will be the condem­nation, the light saith Christ; Therefore now you have time, prize it, this is the day of your visitation, and salvation proffe­red to you, every one of you having a light which lets you see you should not lye, nor do wrong, nor take Gods name in vain, nor steale, this is the light that shews you these evill deeds, which if you love it, it will lead you to Christ, who is the way to the Father, from whence it comes, where no unrighteous­ness enters, nor unholiness; but if you do this light hate, this wilbe your condemnation, the light saith Christ, If you doe it love, and to it come, you will come to Christ, which will bring you off all the worlds teachers, and wayes, and Doctrines, to Christ who is the way to the Father, from the world and all the deceivers in it.

Which paper as they journyed through the Parish of Mad­derne near St Ives? was delivered to a man whom they met (altogether, then, unknown to them, but since understood to be by name John Keate) to be communicated to the people, but he instead thereof hastned and carried it to Peter Ceely Justice of the Peace, so called at St. Ives, who gave him order to get together a party of new raised Horse, of which the said Peter Ceely was Captain, and to follow after, and apprehend them.

But they being come into the town of Saint Jves, before those Horse were gotten ready, as they were riding thorough it, the said Keate being there, stopt them in their way, and ap­prehended them, and seized on their Horses, and Portmantue, which he violently took away, and brought them to the said [Page 3] Peter Ceely, at his House in the town aforesaid, Where a great company of people were gathered, And with them one Wel­stead the Priest of that town, before whom P. Ceely made sport of them, as if he had gotten a prey, and with reviling speeches abused them, and cursed; Whereupon they told him, he was to do the things that were just, and neither to revile, nor curse. And of them he demanded whether they would own the pa­per aforesaid or not? To which answer being made they should deny the Scriptures, if they should not own it: A heinous crime he made of it, calling it a sinfull, wicked Paper, and fell to riffling of their Pockets for more, and what he found he took away, and detained, and yet keeps from them divers ser­viceable notes for the instructing the minds of the simple, and their Books also; and examine he did them apart, and tendred them the Oath of Abjuration, To which they answered, that O. P. had said that oath was not intended for them; That they did in the command of Iesus Christ abide, who said swear not at all; and that all Popery and Popish points they denied, as they had declared to the whole Notion in a Book, which they gave him; And a pass he demanded of Ed. Pyot, for traveling, pretending him to be a person unknown, when as one or two of that town then informed him, that they knew him to be a Merchant of Bristoll, and that Bristoll was the place of his ha­bitation, and thither they were all travelling: Then he asked Ed. Pyot for sureties for the goo [...] behaviour. He desired that a Law might be shewn him that he had transgressed, and he would find sureties; but no Law could he produce, but instead of Law, he gave them many reproachfull, and unsavory expressions; And the Priest aforesaid called Ed. Pyot Jesuit. because he used spectacles, and a wanderer, because to them he m [...]de not his estate to ap­pear; Notwithstanding the testimony of some of their own town, who knew him, as hath been men [...]ioned; and that he tendred P. Ceely, to buy a thousand pounds worth of goods of him, or to sell him a thousand pounds worth, and also had declared how he had been in Armes for the Laws of the Na­tion, and for Liberty, and in command for the Parliament, (They all having been constant faithfull friends to the Common­wealth, and in armes for it.)

Nevertheless, without any just ground, colour, or pretence in Law, Justice, or Equitie, or occasion given on their parts (for no other thing was done, than giving forth the paper a­foresaid, at the moving of the Lord, as hath been declared, which is left of God in every mans conscience to judge, vvhether it is any just matter of offence, or cause of exception, or ground of suffering at all, much less of so cruell sufferings, and unreaso­nable proceedings had against them, as is hereafter expressed) contrary to Law, and the Government, and all that is equall, and Just, or of good report, after they had been stopped on their way, their Horses violently taken from them, their Port­mantue, and Pockets rifled, and searcht; and their Papers and Books therein seized on, and detained; after they had been scoffed, and reviled, and reproached, and made sport of before the Priest, and the people, and cursed, and evill intreated by P. Ceely, were they committed by him to Lanceston Gaol, and sent in custody with a guard of Horse, first to Pendennis Castle, to Captain Fox, with their Books, and Papers, leaving it to him, to detain or discharge them as he should see cause; but he not being there, after that one of the Prisoner was violently ran upon, and struck down in the Room, by on Smithwick a Kinsman of Keates, to whom was not given the least provocation, and (whose violence the said Keate being demanded, said, he would justifie) were they carried towards Lanceston by the said Keate, and guard, of which he had the charge, who abused them very much on the way himself, and permitted others unhumanely so to do, and brought them into a Room on the way, where was another of his acquaintance, a desperate fellow standing with a naked Rapier; unto which Gaol as they were passing, they met with Generall Desborow, who being acquainted with their condition, and the cause thereof, sent them notice by a Lieute­nant, That if they would give under their hand, or promise that they would go unto their own homes, and there live so­berly, and quietly, they might have their enlargement; but they returning in answer, [1] that they were passing on towards Bri­stol, until they were molested, and stopt in their journey by P. Ceely, and that quietly, and soberly they had lived, and behaved [Page 5] themselves; and that their time was not in their own hand, but they stood in the will of the Lord, and should do as he permit­ted; He departed out of the Countrie, leaving them in custody, instead of doing them Justice, and they choosing a prison, with the freedome, answer, and excercise of a good conscience, rather then libertie on such unreasonable conditions, as the (a) ravi­shing of their Innocencie; the unmanning of themselves; and the betraying, and destroying of their undeniable liberties, the price of so much blood (viz.) to goe, and be, when and whence, and as themselves should see occasion, in the Nation of Eng­land, and the Dominions thereunto appertaining; and (so) rendring of themselves bond-slaves, who are free-born English men; and men of unsoberness, and turbulent Spirits, who are sober, and quiet men, and well known so to be; and under the condemnation of binding themselves. in and to their own, and the will and time of man, who know themselves, not to be their own, but bought with a price, and so not to be guided, but by and in the will of the Lord, who hath bought them; as the subscribing of, and engaging to the Propositions aforemen­tioned do clearly hold forth, were carried to Lanceston, and de­livered to the Goalor, with a Warrant under P. Ceelyes hand, and Seale, of which this is a true Copy.

Peter Ceely one of the Justices of [Page 6] the Peace of this Countie, to the Keeper of his Highness Gaol at Lanceston, or his lawfull Deputy in that behalf, Greeting.

CORNWALL.

I Send you herewithall by the bearers hereof, the bodies of Ed­ward Pyot of Bristoll, and George Fox of Drayton and Clea in Leicestershire. and William Salt of London, they pretend to be the places of their habitations, Who goe under the Notion of Quakers, and acknowledge themselves to be such, who have spread severall papers, tending to the disturbance of the publick peace, and cannot render any lawful cause of coming into these parts, being persons altogether unknown, and having no pass for their travelling up, and down the Country, and refusing to give Sureties of their good behaviour, according to the Law in that be­half provided, and refuse to take the Oath of Abjuration, &c. These are therefore, in the name of his Highness the Lord Prote­ctor, to Will and command you, that when the bodies of the said Edward Pyot, George Fox, and William Salt, shalbe unto you brought, you them receive, and in his Highness prison aforesaid you safely keep them, untill by due course of Law, they shall be delive­red. Hereof fail you not, as you will answer the contrary at your perills.

Given under my hand and Seale, at St. Ives the 18th. day of January, 1655.

Sealed P. CEELY.

[Page 7] BY what hath been already rehearsed is manifest, what unlawfull, and Injurious dealing they received from P. Ceely, and how evilly he intreated them, and how his carriage towards them, was rather like unto one of the profane, and light fellows, the Sons of Beliall, who are a shame unto a Nation (scorning, sporting, reviling, and cursing) upon which the Sword of the Magistrate of God is to pass, as evill doing, then a Justice, for no other cause, given on their parts, than for giving out a paper, to direct the minds of the poor ignorant people, to the way of eternall life according to the Scriptures of truth, and against wickedness, as hath been mentioned. In which they ought, to have been by him prote­cted, It being a true Profession of Faith in God by Jesus Christ, and exercise of the true Religion, and following of Jesus of Na­zareth whom God anointed with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about all the Cities, and Villages doing good, as the Instrument of Government requireth, Acts 37. Which O. P. in his Speech to the Parliament 12th. the 7th. month 1654. calls a Fundamentall, one of the four Fundamentalls of his Government, which he set up as the Issue of the late Wars, and Blood, for liberty of Conscience; for which Fundamentalls sake, he hath said, All the extraordinary powers in the Go­vernment were taken up, and were it not for it, he could be content to lay them down again: For the hopes of which had it not been, (he saith) all the Money in the Nation would not have tempted men to fight, upon such an account as they have engaged; And that otherwise to do, was no part of the contest we had with the common enemy; And a Fundamentall he saith, it is, and ought to be so, that it was for us, and the Generations to come, rather than willfully to throw away which Government, so testified unto in the Fundamentalls of it, and that in relation to the good of these Nations, and posterity, he saith, I can sooner be willing to be rolled in my Grave, and buried with Infamy, than I can give my consent unto. And how dear a thing this was, and how low it lay in the hearts of those, who carried their lives, and their all in their hands, of which they were Prodigall, in the very face of the greatest dif­ficulties [Page 8] and hazards this Nation hath encountred within the late Wars; in which, and with whom, and for which cause the presence of the Lord so mightily hath appeared, beyond the ex­ample of former times, is not yet forgotten by thousands, nor will be whilst they, and the memory thereof, and of them re­main upon the face of the earth. Nor will the Blood that hath been shed for it, and for Equity, and Justice, cease crying for Vengeance, whilst any of those Righteous things are unaccom­plished, upon the heads of those who are the obstructers there­of. But w [...]th P. Ceely (as it appears) it is a thing of no such value, nor the true holding forth of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, the light, and life of men, to be the onely way to salvation, according to the Scriptures: but sinfull, and wicked, And therefore he misuseth the powers he lately hath received under this Government, of being in Commission as a Justice, and a Captain of a Troop of the new raised Horse, If to tram­ple under foot, persecute, and overthrow, by abusing, and im­prisoning those aforementioned, as hath been said, for going about doing good, and directing the people the way to salva­tion, casting thereby the greatest reproach, in that kinde, that may be on the Government that enjoyns, and on the Erector, and chief Ruler thereof; who declares the contrary, as hath been expressed: thus acting contrary to Lavv on them, whom if he had acted according to Law, he ought to have prote­cted.

And how brazened he is in his Iniquitie, will be further[2] evi­dent, when his Warrant aforesaid, being taken in pieces, i [...] mea­sured with the Rule of Law,[3] and weighed in the ballance of truth, and Justice.

1. For first, whereas he chargeth them in the front, who go under the notion of Quakers, and acknowledge themselves to be such; The end of the Law is to preserve the Peace, and the Unitie; and the end of the Administration thereof is, to bring out of the division into the unitie, and out of the strife into the Peace; Now that which divides as he, whether he be Souldier, Judge, or Justice, or what ever he be doth, which [Page 9] distinguisheth a Generation of men, under one and the same Government, from the rest, and puts upon them a hatefull name of distinction, and tearm of reproach, whereby they, and others are set in opposition) breaks the Peace, and destroyes the unity, sets a family at variance (and a Nation is a family) overthrows the end of the Law, and makes void the Righteous Administration thereof, and into Wars leads, and Contentions, and every evill work, as this Nation of late years hath sadly wit­nessed: (for from this very distinguishing of men, and branding them with tearms of reproach, was the fire kindled, and the flames of the late Wars brought forth, and nourished, Where­by these three Nations being one against another) and the very being of them were likely to have been overthrown, rased out, and consumed.) And such an one is an evill doer, in a high degree, to whom the Sword of the Magistrate of God, which punisheth, and cuts off that which transgresseth, and so brings out of the division into the unity, and out of the Wars, and strife, into the Peace, is a terror, and on whom it is to pass; But P. Ceely, who calls himself one of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Cornwall, by distinguishing a Generation of people in this Nation who fear, and dread, and tremble, before the Lord, and the words of his holiness (as did the holy men of God from the begining and record in the Scripture) from the rest of the people of [...]his Notion and putting upon them a hatefull Tearm of distinction, and brand of Reproach, whereby they are marked out, and set in opposition, and appointed to all man­ner of abuses, scornings, and sufferings, (as is experienced in all parts every where throughout the Nation where any such are) with such barbarousness and cruelty, as exceeds the fiercest, and most inhumane persecutions of the latter ages.) And himself under his hand and Seale, branding them therewith, in the head of his Warrant, as a people, because distinguished by him, and reproached with such a name, fit onely to be destroyed, and en­deavouring their destruction, so far as a long imprisonment, and the cruelties thereof, which they have lately felt, almost to the loss of one of their lives, hereafter to be mentioned, (as have many of those innocent people of the Lord, in other parts, from this Generation, whose lives they have had in the prisons, which [Page 10] cry aloud for vengeance, in the ears of the Lord of Saboath, for that they go under the hated name, and scorned tearm of Qua­kers) hath manifested himself to be a braker of the peace, a de­stroyer of the unity, a setter of the whole family of a Nation at variance, an overthrower of the end of the Law; one that makes void the righteous Administration thereof, a leader into wars and contentions, and every evil work, and a minister of unrigh­teousness and iniquity; on whom the sword of the righteous judgement of God will pass to the cutting of him off, and di­viding him his portion with hypocrites, and sinners (and of this let him consider, for one day whether he will or no, so he shall find it, except he repent.) And whereas he saith, who acknow­ledge themselves to be such, to fear, and dread, and tremble, and quake at the presence of the living God, who maketh the earth to shake, and the Pillars thereof to tremble, as did Isaak, and Moses, and Jeremy, and Ezekiel, and Daniel, and Habba­cuck, and Paul, and the Church of Corinth, and the Saints of the most high in all ages who knew his presence, this they own, as do all the children of light, and acknowledge themselves to be of the Generation of those who seek the face, and thus witness the presence of the Holy one of Israel; But as he hath placed it in contempt, and scorne, and as a hatefull brand, and heinous offence, by which they are appointed to all manner of suffe­rings, that they deny, and the acknowledging themselves to be such, or that they ever acknowledged themselves, or any others to be such, as they do deny him, and this his Lie, and the Ge­neration of him, who is a lyar from the beginning, he knows who it is.

Whereas he chargeth them, Who have spread several papers tending to the disturbance of the publick peace: No papers did they spread tending to the disturbance of the publick peace; the paper which G. F. gave forth, for which cause he apprehen­ded, abused, and imprisoned them, is already rehearsed, and let the sober, judge, whether that be the matter of disturbing the publick, or any mans peace, But the man of Sin, the son of Perdition, whose kingdom Christ Jesus is come, and coming to destroy, and his peace to break, and his Armour to take from him, [Page 11] and of his goods him to spoile, against whom his war is proclai­med, and his sword drawn, and brought upon the earth, to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against the mother in law, and a mans foes shall be them of his own houshould? And this war brings peace to the Israel of God; And let such judge whe­ther P. Ceely makes not himfelf to appear to be in the posses­sion of that strong man armed, whose peace he would not have disturbed: Who chargeth the declaring of Jesus Christ, the stronger than he to be Lord and King, and the only way to sal­vation, to be tending to the disturbance of the publick peace, contrary to what the Government, Act. 37. and O. P. the chief Ruler thereof hath declared as aforesaid? And as for the several papers tending to the disturbance of the publick peace, spread by them, he hath not to this day made any such to appear, which if he could, no doubt they had not been to be produced, or made use of at this time; nor indeed, have any such been by them dispersed. And so this his Charge is a lie, from the father of lies, whose peace only was disturbed, and in whose behalf P. Ceely chargeth. The declaring of the mighty day of the Lord to be come and coming, wherein all hearts shall be made manifest, the secrets of every mans heart shall be revealed, with the light of Jesus, which comes from Jesus Christ, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, who saith, Learn of me, This is my well beloved Son, hear ye him, saith God, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, that all men through him might believe, the world through him might have life, and Christ is come to teach him self, the second Priesthood, and every one that will not hear this Prophet that God hath raised up which Moses spoke of, and said, like unto me will God raise up a Prophet, him shall you hear, Every one that doth not hear this Prophet is to be cut off, They that despised Moses Law died un­der the hands of two or three witnesse [...], but how much greater punishment will come upon them that shall neglect this great salvation Christ Jesus, who saith, Learn of me, I am the way, the truth, and the life, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, which light lets him see his evill wayes, his evill deeds, [Page 12] which he hath done, but if he hate the light, and go on in the evill, this will be the condemnation, the light saith Christ, with what else is contained in the paper aforesaid concerning Christ Jesus the way to the Father, and peoples being called upon to prize their time, and that day of their Visitation, in the words, and according to the Scriptures of Truth, to be tending to the disturbance of the publick Peace, who will assuredly be payd his wages, as his reward he shall also receive for affirming the paper containing the things before rehearsed to be sinfull and wicked, than which what higher blasphemie is there, greater abhomi­nation, or more horrible wickedness?

4. And whereas he saith, being persons altogether unknown, and having no pass for their travelling up, and down the Coun­trie, Persons altogether unknown they were not; for as it hath been already said, one or two of the Town came into his house, and declared that they knew Ed. Pyot to be a Merchant of Bristoll, and that there was his dwelling, and of none of them, But of Edward Pyot did he demand a pass; So this that he affirms is another lye: nor doth the Law require those who travell up and down the Countrie upon their occasions to have passes, And hereof the Law he again manifests his ignorance.

5. Whereas he chargeth them with refusing to give sureties of the good behaviour according to the Law in that behalf provided; Of the good behaviour they are according to the Law of an endless life, Nor any behaviour that is contrary to the Law of the Land did they manifest, whereby they ought to give sureties of the good behaviour according (as he saith) to the Law in that behalf provided, For but of one of them (viz.) of Edw. Pyot, who was known to some of the town pre­sent, did he demand sureties, Who answered, shew me a Lavv, that I have transgressed, and I will find sureties, which not be­ing produced, he could not be charged with refusing to give sureties of the good behaviour according to the Lavv in that behalf provided, nor could he do so vvithout vvronging his In­nocencie, and making himself an offender. And they vvho vvere not asked to find sureties at all (as vvere not the other tvvo) cannot be said to refuse so to do; And so a lye in every parti­cular is this his Allegation in this Warrant; as his Ignorance of the Law is also apparant; for had they indeed misbehaved themselves, contrary to the Law, which provided in that be­half, sureties to be given, or Imprisonment, The Warrant of a [Page 14] single Justice is not sufficient in the Law whereby to imprison them, unless the misbehaviour had been particularly mentioned therein, as is known to them who understand the Law of this Nation; And because the impudencie of this man, who when he had molested, injured, and abused them, and towards them had so misbehaved himself, contrary to the L [...]w, and all that is of good report amongst men, as hath been expressed, yet doth he not blush to send them to Prison with a Warrant, charging them with such a manifest lye, as their refusing to find sureties for the good behaviour according to the Lavv in that behalf provided, as the cause of their Commitment, after he had thus villified, and abused them; And yet he stiles himself one of the Iustices of the Peace of the County of Cornwall.

6. Nor is that all his pack, For in the next place he chargeth them with refusing to take the Oath of Abjuration,[4] When as the preamble of the Proclamation manifests (as doth also Equitie, and Justice) that to such as deny and vvitness against all kind of Popery, and Popish Religion, Root and Branch, the Oath for abjuring Popery vvas not intended, but for Papists, Therefore it saith, For as much as of late time, there hath been a great neglect, in putting the Laws in execution, for Convi­cting of Popish Recusants, by means whereof the penalties im­posed upon such cannot be leavied, or required, which hath been a great incouragement to many to be seduced, and misled to embrace, and entertain the dangerous, superstitious, and Ido­latrous Doctrines of Popery, We. &c. And all Popery, and Popish points, they to him denyed, and gave him a Printed Book, wherein they had so declared to all the Nation; As also for the Paper aforesaid, because of which they suffered so much by him, makes to appear; And they told him that O. P. whose Proclamation that is, had said, that Oath was not intended for them; And further declared, that onely in respect to the Command of Christ, who saith, swear not at all, they refused to take it. And as to impriso [...]ing of those who refuse to take it,[5] and are intended thereby. T [...]a [...] Proclamation gives no power, but onely to return their Names, and places of habitation to the Exchecquer.

7. After he had mustered up, and drawn together his black Troops and Companies [Page 15] aforesaid of lyes and ignorances, and of abusing of the Law to assault and destroy the innocent under his hand and seal, that he might be sure never to want additional supplyes of the like forces, and qualifications it to accomplish; in the seventh place, by a familiar spirit he rai­seth up the ghost of the great Monster ET CETERA, whose mouth is as large as Hell, and whose depth is as the pit that hath no bottome, and whose smoke ascends up for ever and ever; who was begotten by the late Bishops on the Whore of Babylon, of whom he is a branch, and damned by the Parliament, with that whole generation that brought it forth, of whom it was the sudden overthrow, and destruction root and branch. And now after their dayes is brought up from the depths of the Earth by this Officer of the new rai­sed Horse, and Commissioner of the Militia, and as he calls himself, Justice of the Peace of the County of Cornwall, who is a shame to the Government: When by the Law of the Land, all Warrants of Commitment ought expresly to men­tion the name, the habitation, the calling of the person com­mitted, and the certain offence, which must be such as is so in Law, according to which the Prisoner is to have his Issue. But whether this be such, let him who reads and understands, judge; and whether P. Ceelyes Warrant ET CETERA be not the Monster of this age in the Law, as was the Bishops Oath ET CETERA of the preceding generation in Religion, and deserving the same, yea a greater condemna­tion, that it may rise no more henceforth even for ever.

Being delivered in custody to the Goaler at Lanceston, they were there detained Prisoners by vertue of the afore­said Warrant ET CETERA, till the general Assizes for the County of Cornwall, held at Lanceston; on the second day of which, being the 25. of the first month, 1656. they were brought before the Bench, where John Glynne, Chief Justice of the Upper Bench, sate Judge. Multitudes of people being in and about the Court, and in the Town, who having heard very strange reports concerning them, expected some [Page 16] great thing to be laid to their charge, and proved equivolent thereunto, and to the misusages and impri [...]onments they had sustained, of which the whole Countrey was ful [...]; as the pri­soners, considering their innocency and sufferings, had also cause to expect, and justice of him, who was in Commission Chief Justice of England unto whom in case [...] o [...] wrong judge­ment, appeals are made from other Judges, and J [...]ces, and Ministers of the Law, according to the Law, and his place, and oath, and a suitable care and t [...]nderness of the liberties of men, according to the Law, and Equity, whats [...]ever had been the contrary proceedings of others in Commission, to the truth, and the Friends thereof. But what was produced as to the one, and done by the other, and what justice they received, will appear to the sober and wise in heart, when those few of the passages of that Assizes in reference unto them, as they are rehearsed and managed in the Law in their following Letter, sent by them, and delivered the last Assizes at Gloucester, where he sate Judge, as to his carriage towards them, shall onely be considered, and weighed in judgement.

For John Glynne, Chief Justice of England.

Friend,

WE are Free-men of England, free born; our Rights and Liberties in and with our Countryes, with the Laws, the defence of them, have we in the late Wars vindicated in the Field with our blood; and therefore with thee, by whose hand we have so long, and do yet suffer, let us a little plainly reason concerning thy proceedings against us, whether they have been according to the Law, or agreeable to thy duty and office, as chief Minister of the Law, or Justice of England; and in meekness and in lowliness abide, that the witness of God in thy conscience may be heard to speak and judge in this matter; for thou and we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And so Friend, in mo­deration and soberness weigh what we have here to say unto thee. [Page 17]

The afternoon before we were brought before thee at the As­sizes at Launceston, thou didst cause divers scores of our Books violently to be taken from us by armed men, without due process of Law; which being perused, (if so be any thing in them might be found to lay to our charge, who were innocent, and then upon our legal issue) thou hast detained to this very day. Now our Books are our Goods, and our Goods are our Property, and our Liberty is to have and enjoy our Property; and of our Liberty, and Property, the Law is the defence; which saith,—No Free-man shall be disseized of his Free-hold, Liberties, or Free-customes, &c. nor any way otherwise de­stroyed; nor we shall not pass upon him, but by lawfull judge­ment of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land, Magn. Chart. cap. 29.—Now Friend consider, is not the taking away of a mans Goods violently by foree of Arms, as aforesaid, contrary to the Law of the Land? Is not the keeping of them so taken away, a disseizing him of his property, and a destroying of it, and his Liberty, yea his very Being, so far as the invading the Guard the Law sets about him is in order thereunto? Calls not the Law this a destroying of a man? Is there any more than one common Guard or Defence, (viz.) the Law, to Property, Liberty, and Life? And can this Guard be broken on the former, and the later be secure? Doth not he that makes an invasion upon a mans property and liberty, (as he doth, who contrary to Law, which is the Guard, acts upon either) make an invasion upon a mans life, since that which is the Guard of the one, is also of the other? If a penny or pennyes worth be taken from a man con­trary to Law, may not by the same rule all a man hath be taken away? If the bound of the Law be broken upon a mans pro­perty, on the same ground may it not be broken upon his person? And by the same reason as it is broken on one man, may it not be broken upon all, sithence the liberty, and property, and the beings of all men under a Government, is relative, a Communion of Wealth, as the members in the body, but one guard to all, and defence, the Law, one man cannot be injured therein, but it re­dounds unto all? Are not such things in order to the subversion [Page 18] and dissolution of Government? Where there is no Law, what is become of Government? And of what value is the Law made, when the Ministers thereof break it at pleasure, upon mens pro­perties, liberties, and persons? Canst thou clear thy self of these things as to us? To that of God in thy conscience whi [...]h is just, do we speak. Hast thou acted like a Minister, the Chief Mi­nister of the Law, who hast taken away our Goods, and yet de­tainest them, without so much as going by lawfull Warrant grounded upon due information, wh [...]ch in this our case thou couldest not have, for none had perused [...]hem whereof to give the information? Shouldest thou exerc [...]se violence, and force of Arms on Prisone [...]s Goods, in their Prison-chamber, instead of orderly and legally proceeding, which thy place calls upon thee above any man to tender, defend, and maintain against the other, and to preserve the Guard entire of every mans being, liberty, life, and livelyhood? Shouldest thou, whose duty it is to punish the wrong doer, do wrong thy self? Who oughtest to see the Law be kept and observed, break the Law, and turn aside the due ad­ministration thereof? Surely from thee, considering thee as Chief Justice of England, other [...]hings were expected both by us, and the People of this Nation.

And, Friend, when we were brought before thee, and stood upon our Legal Issue, and no Accuser or Accusation came in a­gainst us, as to what we had been wrongfully imprisoned, and in Prison detained for the sp [...]ce of nine weeks, shouldst not thou have caused us to have been acquitted by Proclamation? Saith not the Law so? Oughtest not thou to have examined the cause of our commitment, and there not appearing a lawfull cause, oughtest not thou to have discharged us? Is it not the substance of thy office and duty, to do justice according to the Law, and C [...]st [...]me of England? Is not this the end of the ad­ministration of the Law, and of the General Assizes, of the Goal deliveries, of the Judges going the Circuits? Hast not thou, by doing otherwise, acted contrary to all these, and to Magna Charta, cap. 29. which saith,—We shall sell to no man, we shall deny or deferr to no man, either Justice or [Page 19] Right.—Hast not thou both deferred and denyed us, who had been so long oppressed, this Justice and Right?

And when of thee Justice we demanded, saidst thou not; If we would be uncovered, thou wouldst hear us, and do us Ju­stice?—We shall sell to no man, we shall deny or deferr to no m [...]n either Justice or Right, saith Magna Charta, as aforesaid. —We have commanded all our Justices, that they shall from henceforth do EVEN Law; and execution of Right to all our Sub ects, rich and poor, without having regard to any mans per on, and without letting to do Right, for any Letters or Commandments which may come to them from Us, or from any other, or by any other cause, &c. upon pain to be at our Will, Body, and Lands, and Goods, to do thereof as shall please us, in case they do contrary, saith S [...]at 20 Ed. 3. cap. 1. —Ye shall swear, that ye shall do EVEN Law, and exe­cution of Right to all, rich and p [...]or, without having regard to any person; and that you deny to no man common Right, by the Kings Letters, nor none other mans, nor for NONE other cause. And in case any Letters come to you contrary to the Law, that you do nothing by such Letters, but certifie the King thereof, and go forth to do the Law, notwithstanding those Letters. And in case ye he from henceforth found in de­fault in any of the points aforesaid, ye shall be at the Kings will, of Lands, Body, and Goods, thereof to be done as shall please him, saith the Oath appointed by all the Judges, 18. E [...]. 3. Stat. 3.—But none of these, nor none other Law, hath such an expression or condition in it as this, (viz.) Pro­vided, If he will put off his Hat to ye, or be uncovered. Nor doth the Law of God so say, or that your persons be respected, but the contrary. From whence then comes this new Law, If ye will be uncovered, I will hear ye, and do [...]e Justice, this hearing complaint of wrong, this doing of Justice upon condition? Wherein lyes the equity and reasonableness of that? When were those Fundamental Laws repealed, which were the issue of much Blood and War, which to uphold, cost the Miseries and Blood of the late Wars, that we [Page 20] shall now be heard as to Right, and have Justice done us but upon condition, and such a trifling one, as the putting off the Hat? Doth thy saying so, who art commanded as aforesaid, repeal them, and make them of none effect, and all the Miseries undergone, and the blood shed for them of old, and of late years? Whether it be so or no indeed, and to the Nation, thou hast made it so to us.—Whom thou hast denyed the justice of our Liberty (when we were before thee, and no Accuser or Accusation came in against us) and the hearing of the wrong done to us who were innocent, and the doing us Right, and Bonds hast thou cast, and con­tinued upon us to this day, under an unreasonable and cruel Jaylor, for not performing that thy condition for conscience sake. But thinkest thou that this thine own Conditional Ju­stice maketh voyd the Law, or can it do so, or absolve thee before God or Man, or acquit thee of the penalty men­tioned in the Laws aforesaid, unto which hast thou not sworn and consented? (Viz.) And in case ye be from henceforth found in default in any of the points aforesaid, ye shall be at the Kings will of Body, Lands, and Goods, thereof to be done as shall please him.—And is not thy saying, If ye will be uncovered, (or put off your Hats) I will hear ye, and do ye justice? And because we would not put them off, for conscience sake, the denying of us justice, who had so unjustly suffered, and hearing of us as to wrong, a de­fault in thee against the very essence of those Laws, yea, an overthrow thereof; for which things sake, being of the high­est importance to the beings of men, so just, so equal, so necessary those Laws were made, and all the provisions there­in, to make a default in any one point of which provisions, exposeth to the said penalty? Dost not thou by this time see where thou art? Art thou sure thou shalt never be made to understand and feel the justice thereof? Is thy state so high, and thy fence so great? And art thou so certain of thy time and station above all that have gone before thee, whom justice hath cut down, and given their due, that thou [Page 21] shalt never be called to an account, nor with its long and sure stroke be reached? Deceive not thy self, God is come nearer to udgement than the workers of iniquity in this age imagine, who persecute, and evil intreat those who witness the Just and Holy One for their witnessing of him, who is come to reign for ever and ever. Saith he not, he will be a swift Witness against the false Swearers? God is not moc­ked. Surely, Friend, that must needs be a very great of­fence, the not forbearing of the doing of which, deprives a man of justice, of being heard, as to wrong, of the benefit of the Law, of those Laws before rehearsed; the justice and equity of which for to defend, a man hath adventured his Blood, and all that is dear to him. But to stand covered, or with the Hat on, in conscience to the command of the Lord, is made by thee such an one, which is none in Law, and rendred upon us who are innocent, serving the living God effectually, though the Laws of God and of Man, and the Oath, and Equity, and Reason, saith the contrary, and on it pronounceth such a penalty. If ye will be uncovered, I will hear you, and do you justice: But justice we had not, nor were we heard, because the light of Jesus Christ, who is the higher power, the Law-giver of his people in our consciences, commanded us not to respect persons, whom to obey, we chose rather than man. And for our obedience into it, hast thou cast us into Prison, and continued us there to this very day, having neither shewed us Law for it, nor Scripture, or instance of either, or example of Hea­thens, or others. Friend come down to that of God that is just in thee, and consider, Was ever such a thing heard of in this Nation? What is become of Seriousness, of Judge­ment and of Righteousness? An unrighteous man, stand­ing before thee with his Hat off shall be heard; but an in­nocent man appearing with his Hat on, in conscience to the Lo [...]d▪ shall neither be heard, nor have justice. Is not this regarding of persons, contrary to the Laws aforesaid, and the Oath, and the Law of God? Ʋnderstand, and judge. [Page 22] Did we not own Authority and Government oftentimes be­fore the Court? Didst not thou say in the Court, thou wast glad to hear so much from us of our owning Magi­stracy? Pleaded we not to the Indictment, though it was such a new found one as England never heard of before? Came we not when thou sentst for us? Went we not when thou bidst us go? And are we not still Prisoners at thy Command, and at thy Will? If the Hat had been such an offence to thee, couldst not thou have caused it to have been taken off? When thou hadst heard us so often de­clare, we could not do it in conscience to the command of the Lord, and that for that cause we forbore it, not in contempt of thee, or of Authority, nor in dis-respect to thine, or any mans person; for we said, we honoured all men in the Lord, and owned Authority, which was a ter­rour to evil doers, and a praise to them that do well; And our souls were subject to the higher powers for conscience sake, as thou causedst them to be taken off, and to be kept so, when thou calledst the Jury to finde us Transgressors without a Law? What ado hast thou made to take away the Righteousness of the Righteous from him, and to cause us to suffer further, whom thou knewest to have been so long wrongfully in Prison contrary to Law? Is not Liberty of Conscience a Natural Right? Had there been a Law in this case, and we bound up in our Consciences, that we could not have obeyed it, was not Liberty of Conscience there to take place? For where the Law saith not against, there needs no Plea of Liberty of Conscience: But the Law have not we offended, yet in thy will for our consciences, where the Law requires no such thing, hast thou, and dost thou yet cause us to suffer; And yet for Liberty of Conscience hath all the blood been spilt, and the miseries of the late Wars undergone; and as O. P. saith, this Government undertaken to preserve it, and a Natural Right he saith it is; and he that would have it, he saith, ought to give it; And if a Natural Right, as it is [Page 23] undeniable, than to attempt to force it, or to punish a man for not do­ing contrary thereunto, is to act against Nature, which as it is unreasonable, so it is the same as to offer violence to a mans life, and what an offence that is in the Law thou knowest; and how by the common Law of England all Acts, and Agreements, and Laws, that are against Nature, are meer nullities, and all the Judges can­not make one case to be Law which is against Nature. But put the case our standing with our Hats on, had been an offence in Law, and we wilfully, and in contempt, and not out of Conscience, had so stood, which we deny as aforesaid, Yet, that is not a ground wherefore we should be denyed Justice, or to be heard as to the wrong done to us; If ye will not offend in one case, I will do you Justice in ano­ther, this is not the language of the Law, or of justice, which di­stributes to every one their Right, justice to whom justice is due, punishment to whom punishment is due; A man who doth wrong, may also have wrong done to him, shall he not have right wherein he is wrongd, unless he right him whom he hath wronged: The Law saith not so, but the wrong doer is to suffer, and the sufferer of wrong is to be righted. Is not otherwise to do a denying, a letting of even Law, and execution of justice, and a bringing under the penalties aforesaid, mind and consider.

And shouldst thou have accu [...]ed, when no accuser appeared a­gainst us, as in the particulars of striking P. Ceely, and dispersing Books (as thou saye'st [...] against Magistracie, and Ministrie, with which thou didst accuse on [...] of us; Saith not the Law that the Judge ought not be the accuser, much less a false accuser; and w [...]s't not thou such a one, in affirming that he dispersed Books against Magi­stracie and Ministrie, when as the Books were violently taken out of our Chamber, as hath been said, undispersed by him or any of us? Nor didst thou make it to appear in one particular, wherein those thou so violently didst cause to be taken away, were against Magi­stracie, or Ministry, or gavest one Instance, or Replie, when he de­nied what thou charg'st therein, and spake to thee to bring forth those Books, and make them to appear. Is not the sword of the Ma­gistrate of God to pass upon such evill doing? And according to the Administration of the Law, ought not accusations to be by way of Indictment, wherein the offence is to be charged, and the Law ex­pressed [Page 24] against which it is? Can there be an Issue without an In­dictment, or can an Indictment be found, before proof be made of the offence charged therein? And hast not thou herein gone contrary to the Law, and the Administration thereof, and thy dutie as a Judge?

What just cause of offence gave G. F. to thee, when upon thy producing of a paper concerning swearing sent by him, as thou said'st to the grand Jurors, and requiring him to say, whether it was his hand-writing, He answered, read it up before the Country, and when he heard it read, if it were his he would own it? Is it not equall, and according to Law, that what a man is charged with before the Countrie, should be read in his, and the hearing of the Country? When a paper is delivered out of a mans hand, Alterations may be made in it to his prejudice, which on a sudain looking over it may not presently be discerned, But hearing it read up may be better understood, whether any such alterations have been made therein. Couldst thou in justice have expected, or required him otherwise to do, considering also how he was not unsensible, how much he had suffered already being innocent, and what endeavours there were used to cause him further to suffer; Was not what he said as afore­said, a plain and single answer, and sufficient in the Law, though (as hath been demonstrated) contrary to the Law thou didst act, and thy Office, in being his accuser therein, and producing the pa­per against him. And in his liberty it was whether he would have made thee any answer at all, to what thou didst exhibite, or demand out of the due course of the Law, for to the Law answer is to be made not to thy will. Wherefore then wast thou so filled with rage; and fury upon that his Reply? Calmly, and in the fear of the Lord consider: Wherefore didst thou revile him, particularly with the reproachfull names of Jugler, and Prevaricator, wherein did he juggle, wherein did he prevaricate? Wherefore didst thou use such threatning language, and such menacings to him, and us, saying, thou wouldst firk us, with such like? Doth not the Law forbid re­viling, and rage, and fury, and threatning, and menacing of Pri­soners? soberly mind, Is this to act like a Judge, or a Man? Is not this transgression? Is not the sword of the Magistrate of God to pass upon this as evill doing, which the Righteous Law condemns, [Page 25] and the higher power is against, which judgeth for God? Take heed what ye do, for ye judgo not for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgement, Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be up­on you, Take heed and do it, for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts, said Jehosaphat to the Judges of Judah: Pride, and Fury, and Passion, and Rage, and Reviling▪ and Threatning is not the Lords: It and the prin­ciple out of which it springs is for judgement, and must come under the sword of the Magistrate of God, and is of an evill savour, es­pecially such an expression as to threaten to firk us: Is not such a saying more becoming a Pedant, or School Master, with his rod, or ferula in his hand, than thee who art the Chief Justice of the Nation, who sits in the highest seat of judgement, who oughtest to give a good example, and so to judge, as others may hear and fear, weigh it so­berly, and consider? Doth not threatning language demonstrate an unequalitie, and partialitie in him who sits as a Judge? Is it not a deterring of a Prisoner from standing to, and pleading the inno­cencie of his cause? Provides not the Law against it? saith it not that Irons, and all other Bonds shall be taken from the Prisonor, that he may plead without amazement, and with such freedome of spirit as if he were not a Prisoner? But when he who is to judge ac­cording to the Law, shall before-hand threaten, and menace the Prisoner contrary to the Law, how can the mind of the Prisoner be free to plead his innocency before him, or expect equall judgement, who before he hears him threatens what he will do to him? Is not this the case between thee and us? Is not this the measure we have received at thy hands? Hast thou herein dealt according to Law, or thy duty, or as thou wouldst be done unto? Let that of God in thy conscience judge.

And didst not thou say there was a law for putting off the Hat, and that thou wouldst shew a law▪ and didst not thou often so ex­press thy self? But didst thou produce any law, or shew where that law might be found or any judiciall president, or in what Kings Reign, when we desired it so often of thee, having never heard of, or known any such law by which thou didst judge us? Was not what we demanded of thee reasonable and just? Was that a savory an­swer and a [...]cording to law which thou gavest us, (viz.) I am not [Page 26] to carry the law books at my back up and down the Country, I [...]m not to instruct ye? Was ever such an expression heard before these days, to come out of a Judges mouth? Is he not to be of Counsell in the law for the Prisoner and to instruct him therein? Is it not for this cause that the Prisoner in many cases is not at all allowed Counsell by the law? In all Courts of justice in this Nation hath it not been known so to have been? and to the Prisoner hath not this been often declared when he hath demanded Counsell, alledging his ignorance in the law, by reason of which his cause might miscarry, though it were righteou [...], (viz.) the Court is of Counsell for you? Ought not he that judgeth in the law to be expert in the law? Couldst thou not tell by what act of Parliament it was made, or by what judiciall President, or in what Kings reign, or when it was adjudged so by the common law, (which are all the grounds the law of England hath) had there been such a law, though the words of the law thou couldst not remember? Surely to informe the Prisoner when he de­sires it, especially as to a law which was never heard of, by which he proceeds to judge him, that he may know what law it is by which he is to be judged, becomes him who judgeth for God; for so the law was read to the Jevvs, hy which they were to be judged, yea, every Saboath day this vvas the Commandement of the Lord, But to say instead thereof, I am not to carry the lavv books at my back up and down the Country, I am not to instruct ye, To say there is a lavv, and to say thou wilt shew it, and yet not to shew it nor tell where it is to be found, consider, whether it be consistent with savouriness, or truth, or justice?

And hath not thy whole proceedings against us made it evident­ly to appear, that thy desire was to cause us to suffer, not to deliver us, who being innocent, suffered to have us aspersed, and reproached b [...]fore the Countrie, not to have our innocencie cleared and vin­dicated? Doth not thy taking away our books as aforesaid, and the perusing of them in such hast, before our tryall, and thou accusing us with some things, which thou saidst was contained in them, make it to appear that matter was sought out of them, wherewithall to charge us, when the Warrant ET CETERA could not stand in law, by vvhich we stood committed, and were then upon our delive­ry according to the course of law?

Doth it not further appear by the refusing to take from our hands, [Pag3 27] a Copy of the strange ET CETERA Warrant, by which we were committed, and of the paper by which we were apprehended to read it, or cause it to be read, that so our long sufferings by reason of both, might be lookt into and weighed in the law▪ whether just or righteous and the Countrie might as well see our innocency, and sufferings with­out a cause, and the manner of dealing with us, a [...] [...]o hear such reports, as went of us as great offenders, when we called upon thee often so to do, and which thou oughtest to have done, and said'st thou would'st do it, but did'st it not, nor so much as took notice before the Countrie, that we had been falsly imprisoned, and had wrongfully suffered; But what might asperse and charge us, thou brought'st in thy self contrary to law, and did'st call to have us charged therewith? Is not this further manifest, in that thou didst cause us on a suddain to be withdrawn, and the pety Jurors to be called in with their verdict. Who upon Peter Ceelyes falsly accusing G. F. with telling him pri­vately of a design, and perswading him to joyn therein, it was by G. F. made so clear, and manifest a falsehood, and so plainly to be perceived, that the cause of our sufferings was not any evill we had done, or law that vve had transgressed, but malice, and wicked­ness? And is it not abundantly clear, In thy not permitting us to ans [...]er, and clear our selves of the many fowl slanders charged up­on us in the nevv found Indictment, of which no proof vvas made, but when we were answering thereunto, and clearing our selves thereof, thou us didst stop saying, Thou mindest not those things, but onely the putting off the Hat. When as before the Country the new found Indictment charged us with those things, and the pety Jurors brought in their verdict guilty of the trespasses and contempts mentioned therein; of which except as to the Hat, not one witness was produced, [...]r evidence, and as to the Hat not any lavv, or ju­diciall President, upon the transgression of which, all legall In­dictments are onely to be grounded: Now the lavv seeks not for cause whereby to make the innocent to suffer, but helpeth him to Right who suffers wrong, and releeveth the oppressed, and search­eth out the matter, vvhether that of which a man stands accused be so or no, seeking judgement, and hastening righteousness, and it saith, the innocent and the righteous slay thou not, But whether thou hast done so to us, or to the contra y, let the witness of God in [Page 28] thee search and judge, as these thy fruits do also make manifest.

And f [...]iend, consider how abhominablie wicked, and how highly to be abhor'd, denyed and witnessed against, and how contrary to the law such a proceeding is, as to charge a man with many offences in an Indictment; which those who draw the Indictment, and pro­secu [...] [...]nd find the bill know to be false, and to be set in purposely to reproach and wound his good name, whom with some small matter, which they can prove, they charge and Indict, as is the common practise at this day? Prove but one particular charge in the In­dictment, and it must stand (say they) for a true Bill, though there be never so many falsehoods therein and lyes, on set purpose to wrong him who is maliciously persecuted, This is known to the Iudges, and almost to every man who hath to do with, and attends their Courts, and how contrary to the end and righteousness of the law, which clears the innocent and condemns the guilty, and condem­neth not the righteous with the wicked and much it is cryed out a­gainst, but of it what is there of Reformation? How else shall Clerks of Assize, and other Clerks of Courts, fill up their bags, (out of of which perhaps their Master must have a secret consideration) and be heightned in pride and impudence, that even in open Courts they take upon them to check, and revile man without reproof, when a few lines may serve instead of a hundred? How else shall the spi­rit that is in men that lusteth unto envie, malice, strife, contention be cherished and nourished to feed the Lawyers, and dependants on Courts with the bread of mens children, and the ruine of their families to maintain their long Sutes and malicious contentions? I mind not these things, Ile not hear you clear your selves, of what you are falsly accused, one thing I mind in your charge, the rest are but matter of forme, set there to render you such wicked men before the Countrie, which the thing that i [...] to be proved on you is not able. O abhominable wick [...]d [...]ess, and perverting of the righteous end of the law, wh ch is so carefull, and tender of every mans peace and innocencie? How is th [...] Law in the administration thereof adul­terated by the Lawyers. As the Scriptures are mangled by the Priests? [...] th [...] w [...]ch [...]as made to preserve the right [...]ous and to punish the [...] to the punishing of the righteous, and [...]e pr [...]se [...] [...] [...]f th [...] [...]? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a [Page 29] tooth, life for life, burning for burning, a wound f r a wound, a stripe for a stripe; he that accuseth a man falsly to suffer the same as he should have suffered, who was falsly accused, this saith the righte­ous law of God, which is agreeable to that of God in every mans con­science. Are not such forms of iniquitie to be denyed, which are so contrary to the law of God and man, which serve for the gendring of strife, and the kindling of contention? And of this nature was not that with which thou didst cause us to be Indicted? and this forme didst not thou uphold, in not permitting us to answer to the many foul slanders therein, saying those things thou mindest not? Will not the wrath of God be revealed from Heaven against all ungodli­ness and unrighteousness of men, Who hold the truth in unrighte­ousness? Who are so far from the power of godliness, that they have not the forme, but the form of iniquity which is set up, and up­held instead of, and as a law to overthrow, and destroy the righte­ousness of the righteous, and so to set him up, as by the law he can never get out? Is not the crie thinkest thou gone up? It is time for thee to set to thine hand, O Lord, for thine enemies have made void thy law, draws not the hour nigh? fills not up the measure of iniqui­tie apace? Surely your day is coming and hastneth, warned you have been from the presence, and by the mouth of the Lord, and clear will he be when he cometh to judgement, and upright when he giveth sentence, That of God in every one of your consciences shall so to him bear witness and confess, and your mouths shall be stopped, and before your Judge shall you be silent, when he shall di­vide you your portion, and render unto you according unto your deeds. Therefore whilst thou hast time prize it and repent, for verily our God shall come and shall not keep silence, a fire shall de­voure before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him, he shall call to the Heavens from above, and to the earth that he may Judge his people, and the Heavens shall declare his righteous­ness, for God is Judge himself: Consider this ye that forget God, least he tear you to pieces, and there be none to deliver.

And Friend, shouldst thou have given judgement, against us, wherein thou didst fine us 20. marks apiece, and imprisonment till payment, without causing us being Prisoners to be brought before thee to hear the judgement, and to move what we had to say in [Page 30] arrest of judgement? Is not this contrary to the law, as is manifest to those who understand the proceedings thereof? Is not the Prisoner to be called before judgement is given, and is not the Indictment to be read, and the verdict thereupon, and is not libertie to be given him to move in Arrest of judgement, and if it be a just exception in the law, ought not there to be an Arrest of Iudgement? For the Indictment may not be drawn up according to law, and may be wrong placed, and the offence charged therein may not be a cr me in law, [...]r the Jurors may have been corrupted or menaced, or set on by some of the Iustices, with other particulars, which are known to be legall and just exceptions: And the judgement ought to be in his hearing, not behind his back, as if the Iudge were so conscious of the error thereof, that he dares not give it to the face of the Prisoner: But none of those Priviledges of the law, this Iustice, we who had so long and so greatly suffered contrary to law received not, nor could have at thy hands, no not so much as a sight, or Copy of that long and new-found Indictment, which in England was never heard of before, nor that the matter contained therein was an offence in law, nor ever was there any law, or judiciall president that made it so, though two friends in our names and behalves that night and the next day, and the day following often desired it, of the Clarke of Assize, and his Assistant, and servants, but it they could not have, nor so much liberty as to see it. And 'tis like it was not unknown, or unperceived by thee, that had we been called as we ought to have been, or had known when it was to be given, three or four words might have made a sufficient legall Arrest of that new-found Indictment, and the verdict thereupon; Therefore as our liberties, vvho are in­nocent, have not been worth in thy account the minding, and esteem­ed fit for nothing but to be trampled underfoot and destroyed, so if we find fault with what thou hast done, thou hast taken care that no door be left open to us in the law, but a Writ of error, the considera­tion whereof, and the judgement to be given thereon, is to be had onely where thy self is chief, of vvhom such complaint is to be made, and the error assigned for the reverse of thy judgement, and vvhat the fruit of that may be well expected to be, by what vve have al­ready mentioned as having received at hy hands, thou hast given us to understand. And here thou mayst think thou hast made thy  [Page 31] self secure, and sufficiently barr'd up our way of relief, against whom [though thou knowest we had done nothing contrary to the Law, or worthy of Bonds, much less of the Bonds and suffe­rings we had sustaind] thou hast proceeded as hath been rehearsed; Notwithstanding, that thou art [as are all the Judges of the Na­tion] intrusted not with a Legisllative power, but to administer Justice, and to do EVEN Law, and excecution of right to all, high and low, rich and poor, without having regard to any mans person, and art sworn so to do, as hath been said, and wherein thou dost contrary art liable to punishment, as ceasing from be­ing a Judge, and becoming a wrong doer, and an oppressor, which what it is to be, many of thy Predecessors have understood: some by death, others by fine and imprisonment: And of this thou may'st not be ignorant, that to deny a prisoner any of the priviledges the Law allowes him, is to deny him justice, to try him in an ar­bitrary way, to rob him of that libertie which the Law giveth him, which is his Inheritance as a freeman, and which to do in effect, is, to subvert the fundamentall Lawe, and Government of Eng­land, and to introduce an Arbitrary, and tyrannicall Government against Law, which is treason by the common Law; and treasons by the common Law are not taken away by the Statutes of 25. E. 3. 1. H. 4. 1. 2. M. see O. St. Johns now Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, his argument against Strafford, fol. 65. &c. in the Case.

And these things, friend, we have laid before thee in all plainess to the end, that with the light of Jesus Christ▪ who lighteth every one that cometh into the World, a measure of which thou hast received, which sheweth the evill, and reproveth thee for sin, for which thou must be accountable, thou being still and coole, may'st consider and see what thou hast done against the innocent, and shame may overtake thee, and thou turn unto the Lord, who now calleth thee to repentance through his servants, who for witnessing his living truth in them, thou hast cast into, and yet continuest un­der cruell Bonds and Sufferings.

From the Gaole in Lanceston the 4. day of the 5. month, 1656.

Edward Pyot.

By which Letter it is manifest, that upon their tryall, no accuser nor accusation came in against them, as to the cause of their Commitment, nor indeed could any of the allegations in the Warrant ETCETERA bear weight in Law, as hath been demonstrated; Nevertheless set at libertie they were not, though they suffred nine weekes wrong Imprisonment, and such other a­buses as hath been mentioned: but after all the diligent searchings of whatsoever could be thought on wherewithall to accuse them, in order to their further sufferings, nothing appearing as to what they could be charged, that the Law of the Land found fault with, matter was sought after as to the Law of their God, in o­bedience to which they were sure to find them, without respecting of persons [which who so doth, commits Sin, and is committed of the Law as a transgressor;] therefore an Indictment grounded on no Law, was before hand made ready, upon confidence they would stand in the Court covered, when they should be called: and they appearing so when they were called, in conscience to the Law of God, not out of any contempt of them, or of Authoritie, which they owned as hath been said, they were fined in twenty Markes a piece, and sentenced to prison till payment, so and in such manner as hath been expressed; and so to the Prison were they returned by command of the Judg, and by order, signed John Glynne, [who hath caused, and taken upon himself the sufferings of the innocent, where P. Ceelyes Warrant could not further reach] are they there kept to this day, and the Countrey returned with this answer to their great expectations, that notwithstanding the loud outcry that had been made, and strange reports concer­ning these men, when it came to the tryall, nothing could be laid to their charge: but because in conscience to the command of the Lord, who requires that the person of no man be respected, they could not put off their hats, though they so declared to the Court, and that they stood not covered in contempt of Authority, or in disrespect to any mans person, but for that cause; and though they owned Authority, and pleaded▪ they were fined, and imprisoned till payment for not putting off their hats, which no Law of God, or man required, nor was any Law, or Instance of either, or ex­ample of Heathens, or others on record in Scripture produced, [Page 33] upon their often desires in that particular, instead of being freed after their long imprisonment, and other sufferings without a cause: and this with what hath been aforesaid is the Justice, and measure, which the righteous and just one hath received in these in whom he worketh, and is made manifest from the chief Justice of Eng­land, for that in obedience unto it they stood before him with their hats on, of which all the Cases and Records in this Nation, of those who have preceded him, affords not a parallel; and so hath it pleased the wisdom of God, that by a hat, such a base thing, all the Religion, and Justice of this high professing generation should be tried and confounded; and by a thing that is not, the things that are, should be brought to nought.

Upon their being returned to Prison, by order of the chief Justice as aforesaid, the Gaoler was somewhat earnest to know whether they would pay their Fines, (being very desirous to be rid of them, for that their being there had been a great curb to the prophane swearing, and drinking, and cursing, and blaspheming, and gaming, used by them who came to drink strong-drink in his house, and to use vain pleasure in the prison green, and therein a hindrance to his profit: for such Persons being by the prisoners often reprov'd, as they were movings from the Lord, for the evils aforesaid, had little mind to frequent his house) which Fines, when after a few dayes he saw they were resolv'd not to satisfie, and so their imprisonment like to continue; The evill spirit which to that time was much chain'd, began to be let loose in him, and taking encouragement from the proceedings of P. Ceely, and the Judg against them, and perceiving thereby how they were delivered up as Persons on whom any manner of iniquitie, and violence, and crueltie might be exercised without being called to account, and punished for the same [Capt. Fox his Cornet having also openly said in the Prison to these prisoners faces, that if they slew them who should gainsay it? or killed them, or shed their blood, and that they were not to be protected] he began to exercise his Sal­vage will, and beastly lusts upon them, which had its effects in the batbarous, cruell, and unreasonable usages now to be declared, and so now comes to act his part in their sufferings, as had P. Ceely, and the chief Justice.

When they were first brought into prison by vertue of P. Ceelies Warrant ETCETERA, the three prisoners aforesaid agreed with the keeper and his wife, for meat and drink, chamber, and all other accommodations, at a certain rate for themselves, and Benjamin Maynard [who for standing still in Lanceston Steeple-house, and speaking not a word, till violent hands were laid on him, and he haled near the dore, was committed as is hereafter more at large mentioned] with this condition, that if he or they should for the time to come be unsatisfied with, or dislike to hold on according to that agreement, the party so disliking might breake of at any weekes end, and the prisoners were to ptovide for themselves: and from the time of this agreement, they every week paid the said weekly summe, and something over; Neverthe­less he repined thereat behind their backs, and grudg'd to the peo­ple of the Town and Countries: of which the prisoners being in­formd, and that the Gaoler had said a few dayes before to his wife, make an end with them at the end of the week, with many reproachfull speeches before divers people, when the weeke was at an end, one of them asked the Gaolers wife, whether she and her husband were unsatisfied to continue to diet them according to the foresaid agreement, acquainting her with what they were informed her husband had said, and if they were not satisfied they should speak plainly, for they so meant, and intended to deal with them, and so to be dealt with desired, and not to be reproached, and abused behind their backs, and this they were desirous to know, that they might otherwise provide for their dyet; to which she an­swered, that she and her husband were both well satisfied to dyet them as before, and so they continued as formerly.

Yet the evill spirit in the goaler, was not at rest, but mani­fested it self in rage, and cruelty before that week was ended; For Benjamin Maynard having put up a paper in the prison green against pleasures, the Gaoler (the evening before the last day of that week) broke forth in great fury against them, and abuses, and by the haire of the head put Benjamin May­nard down into Doomesdale, amongst the fellons, reviling, and reproaching him, and the other prisoners exceedingly, which though they heard, yet they let the Gaoler alone, nei­ther [Page 35] coming at him, nor speaking unto him, but kept their Chamber; Notwithstanding at his return from putting Ben­jamin into Doomesdale, he came up to them in his rage, and anger, and as before, so again to their faces he called them both the night and the next morning, Rogues, Stinking Knaves, Jesuits, Salvages, and Runnagats, with such other filty lan­guage, as it came into his mind, threatning to put them into Doomesdale, and to put Irons upon them, with oaths and Curses not fit to be mentioned, calling all their friends that came to visite them in prison, Rogues, and Whores, saying that he would break their leggs, and necks if any came there again; and when they told him of his uncivill, and uncomely beha­viour towards them, and of his filthy communication, and wicked Oaths and Curssings, he reviled them the more, calling them Beggarly Rogues, and affirming them to be the Scum of the Country; bidding them to kiss and put their noses in­to that, which modesty forbeares to mention; and threatned to order them as Rogues, deceivers & deluders, and to lay them fast enough, before he had done with them, and so fastened the dore uppon them. And he then declared that he would not diet them as formerly for Fourty shillings a week, and at another time not under forty.

Yet the evill spirit in the goaler, was not at rest, but mani­fested it self in rage, and cruelty before that week was ended; For Benjamin Maynard having put up a paper in the prison green against pleasures, the Gaoler (the evening before the last day of that week) broke forth in great fury against them, and abuses, and by the haire of the head put Benjamin May­nard down into Doomesdale, amongst the fellons, reviling, and reproaching him, and the other prisoners exceedingly, which though they heard, yet they let the Gaoler alone, nei­ther [Page 35] coming at him, nor speaking unto him, but kept their Chamber; Notwithstanding at his return from putting Ben­jamin into Doomesdale, he came up to them in his rage, and anger, and as before, so again to their faces he called them both the night and the next morning, Rogues, Stinking Knaves, Jesuits, Salvages, and Runnagats, with such other filty lan­guage, as it came into his mind, threatning to put them into Doomesdale, and to put Irons upon them, with oaths and Curses not fit to be mentioned, calling all their friends that came to visite them in prison, Rogues, and Whores, saying that he would break their leggs, and necks if any came there again; and when they told him of his uncivill, and uncomely beha­viour towards them, and of his filthy communication, and wicked Oaths and Curssings, he reviled them the more, calling them Beggarly Rogues, and affirming them to be the Scum of the Country; bidding them to kiss and put their noses in­to that, which modesty forbeares to mention; and threatned to order them as Rogues, deceivers & deluders, and to lay them fast enough, before he had done with them, and so fastened the dore uppon them. And he then declared that he would not diet them as formerly for Fourty shillings a week, and at another time not under forty.

Having thus declared his dislike to diet them, the week being ended (according to their agreement at first, as hath been said) the prisoners were at their own dispose to provide for themselves, and to it were necessitated by him, in regard he said he would not diet them as formerly for forty shillings a week, and having given him a sufficient rate before, that his extortive demand they could not answer, and therefore sent for a maid of the town, and agreed with her, as their servant, to supply them with necessaries, promising her wages, and gave her monie to provide for them, according to their order, and to bring it to them in the prison. But at the first meat she brought them, the Gaoler, and his wife were so enraged, that they abused the maid and them, calling her filthy names, as she past forth, and threatned to make her suffer for it if ever she came again; And told them, that they had an order to [Page 36] Victuall all prisoners in their custody; that it was [...]gainst the Law, and order of the prison, that any prisoner there should have any provisions brought into them by their own servants, or others; that none should bring their meat, or drink, or any provisions; and that if they would have any provisions of meat or drink, they should have it of them, or they should have none; And although he had so much repined behind their backs at the agreed Rate, and reproached them, and had bid his wife at the end of the week to make an end with them; and both to their faces, and behind their backs, had declared he would not do as he had done for forty shillings a week, nor under forty; and though in their agreement if either disliked, at any weeks end, he or they that did so dislike might break off; and though he it was that did dislike as aforesaid, and so both by agreement and necessity, were they to seek out to supply themselves, as hath been expressed; Yet from that very time aforesaid, would he not suffer their servant to bring them any provisions at all; but when she came the next morning to see what they wanted, he lockt the door upon her, and kept her prisoner, and would not let her come into their Chamber, whom he had made close prisoners, but sent for a sergeant, and took her away with an arrest, unto which she having given Baile, she came with a pitcher of water to the prisoners, and called at the Gaole doore for it to be opened, that she might go in therewith; But he coming to the doore himself, denyed her entrance, brake her pitcher, threatned, and much abused her.

The prisoners hereby seeing the unreasonableness, and oppression of the Gaoler, and how he would have it of Ne­cessitie that all prisoners must be provided for by him, and at what rate he pleased, whatever were their Conditions; and how that in order thereunto he pretended, and pleaded a Law, and order of the Gaole, and a determination of it so by the Justices of the County at Sessions, and the Judges in their Circuits, but could produce no such thing. when of him they desired it. And being informed, that the under-Gaoler had cruelly beat a prisoner for bying a loafe of bread at a bakers, which was bigger and better bread then they had of the [Page 37] keeper, and that the woman prisoners were not suffered to take in work from the townes people that gave them monie, but were kept at work by the Gaoler, for which he gave them neither bread nor monie; And lest the Gaoler should make them Presidents to those who should come after in this case of provisions; as he would make those who heretofore had yeilded to his unreasonableness, Presidents to them, though they could have been content that he should diet and make again upon them as formerly; yet upon the considera­tions aforesaid, & for that he sought to force them to that, which was in their freedomes to do, or not to do, and that upon a pretence of Law and order, which there is none; they saw themselves bound in duty to God, and love to their Nation, to beare their Testimony against his Cruelty, and oppression, as against all unrighteousness, where ever they find it, and to denie those his demands, whatsoever sufferings it should cost them from his unreasonableness as the price thereof.

And because upon the necessary and just grounds afore­said they denied him therein, upon them he powred out his outragious, and bruitish Crueltie, and into a low place in the prison called Domesdale, the 9 of the second month he cast them, where the fellones are secured, out of which he took the fellons before their faces, and put them into a Chamber over their heads, locking these prisoners into this noysome, filthy stinking hole, where was a Puddle of Piss, and filth over their shoes, and the excrements of the fellons, and the fellons straw, almost broken to Chaffe, with their long lying thereon, and full of vermin, and wherein is neither Chimney, nor easing house; And in this poysonous den having cast and made them sure, he refused to let the doore be opened for the cleansing of the place, or so much as for the bringing in of a little fresh straw for them to lodge in; And when in the even­ing he opened the doore, it was to let in some of his Consorts, viz. Degorie Pearse, Francis Oliver, and William Walsh, wicked and prophane men, to abuse them, (who being filled with strong drink, called them Rogues, Knaves, and Ras­cals, with other cursing, envious, and revilling language; whom when it was told, that such were to be ruled by the [Page 38] Law, and were asked whether they owned Justices, one of them expressed himself exceeding filthylie of Justice:) but four of the prisoners friends coming in to see them when the dore was opened to let in those vile men aforesaid: the Goaler would not let them go out again; but lockt them in al­so, and when the prisoners spake to him to let them out, he called the prisoners damnd dogges of Egypt, and kept those friends prisoners there all night, as he beat and struck with a great staff two of them, till one of their armes was black, for accompanying them from their chamber to this filthy hole; of which they complained to the Major of the Town, but he took no notice thereof. Nor was he with all this his inhumane and unmercifull dealing satisfied, but about the 10. hour in the night, he came into the roome over their heads, with a compa­ny who were drunk, and stampt the dust down upon their heads and called them rogues and other filthy names, and on purpose he threw a pot of excrements, and pist down upon their heads, and on their fire, to put it out, which was made to cleanse away the stinking ayre: and the next night he came again, and stamped the dust down on their heads, and pist into this place where he had set them, and threatned to put them into Irons, and to chain them together to posts, and to nail their eares to a post, and gagge their mouths, and called them hatchet-faced dogges, and damnd dogges of Egypt, and rogues and bad them kiss, and lick, and put their noses into that which is offensive to modesty to express, and said he would do what he could, that they might ly in prison and rot, and threatned to put the fellons down to them: and whereas he used to lodge at his house, he came and lay over their heads, that he might be more ready to abuse them: and 12 s. he demanded, to have the dore of that loathsome cell to stand open, and 20 s. a weeke for a chamber.

Having received the injuries and abuses aforesaid from the Goaler, they asked him who had the power of the Goale over him, he answered nobody, but that the land & houses were Coll. Bennets, whom he said, he had fast enough under his hand & seal, & when they answered him their demand was not whose land & houses it was, but who had the power over the prison, as it was a [Page 39] Prison for the County, and over him and the Prisoners, in case of wrong and abuse done to the Prisoners; He answered, No body but himself had the sole power. Then they asked him, whether there was no appeal above him? He an­swered, no. Then they asked him, whether the Sheriff had no power over him, and the Prisoners, if Prisoners should ap­peal to him because of abuse from their Keeper? He answer­ed, the Sheriff had nothing to do, neither with him, nor his Prisoners; and added as an argument, that when any were condemned to be hang'd, that the Sheriff had nothing to do to come into the Castle Prison, but the Keeper was to deliver the Prisoners at the Castle gate to the Sheriff. Then they asked kim, whether the Justices of the County had any thing at all to do with him in the case as aforesaid? He answered, that the Justices of the County had nothing at all to do with him. Then they asked him, whether the Mayor of the Town had any thing to do with him in such case? He answered, If the Mayor come there, (meaning the Prison) he would put him by the heels.

This horrible tyrannie of the Goaler, and impudent affirm­ing that none had power over him, to whom appeal might be made by the Prisoners, as to the abuses they received of him: Neither Sheriff, nor Justices, nor Mayor, to call him to ac­count, but that he had the sole power, and that above him there was no appeal, occasioned a Representation of the cruel usages aforesaid, and of what he affirmed of his having the sole power of the Goal, and of his being accountable to any for what he did, to be drawn for the Justices, whose Sessions at Bodmin was near, unto whom it was sent for them, and de­livered to Captain Braddon by one of the Town, who wit­nessed to the particulars. Which when Captain Braddon had read, he assured those Friends that brought it, to acquaint the Justices therewith, and in a convenient season. When about a dozen Justices were together, the Relation, and the Friend, who was an eye-witness of passages, was called for, and before the Countrey did they cause it publickly to be read, and mani­fested much sense of their injurious sufferings, which they spake [Page 40] unto in the behalf of the Prisoners, and against the Goaler, and declared, that the Prisoners were not Rogues, nor Thieves, nor Murtherers, nor were committed or sued, neither should they be so used, and that their persons deserved better usage; and sharply reproving the Goaler for his demanding 12 s. to have Doomsdale-door open to them, and 20 s. a week for a Cham­ber, they asked him, whether he had got men to make a pur­chase of, and told him they should not pay a penny. And Captain Braddon publickly declared, that he would be secu­rity for their true imprisonment, that so they might be delivered out of that noysome den, and from out of the Keepers power and cruelty; and gave himself security in a 100 l. of his own voluntary accord for their true imprisonment, as he signified to the Prisoners in a Letter. And the Justices ordered the Goaler to put them out of Dooms-dale. But further they pro­ceeded not with him than hath been rehearsed, he being not theirs, but Colonel Bennet's Deputy, who then was not at the Sessions. And thus did the Justices, (of which P. Ceely was none) particularly Captain Braddon) carry themselves like men, who had a sense of the injurious sufferings of others, and like Ministers of the Law, whom the spirit of Justice ruled, which is noble, and honourable, and gives a good savour.

The Justices declaring themselves in the behalf of the Pri­soners, and ordering their removal out of Dooms-dale, as afore­said; and Edward Piot being fallen very dangerously sick of a Feaver, to the hazard of his life, by reason of the poysonous stench of that unwholsome place, (which continued upon him many dayes) put the Goaler under fear what would become of him, which not onely caused him to command the Prisoners (three dayes after his return from the Sessions) out of Dooms-dale, after they had been kept there for the space of 13 dayes, (who till he so commanded them forth) had not freedome to stir, though the doors were set open) into the Chamber where they were before, but kept him somewhat orderly and quiet awhile, permitting provisions to be brought to them, and Friends to visit them as they would. But in this temper he a­bode not long, for seeing that he was not turned out of his

[Page 41] place, which was threatned, and by him feared; and that no justice was executed upon him, which he deserved, his fears by degrees began to go off him, and his heart to be hardned, and the beastly spirit in him to act as bad, yea, more wickedly than before; and not onely did he cruelly intreat them, and some other Friends of Truth in Prison himself, as is hereafter to be rehearsed, but set on, and permitted other of his priso­ners, wicked and prophane men, to deal with them after the same manner, insomuch that their lives were often in danger by those bloody men, who thirsted after them, (a wickedness not to be endured by any who savour the least of justice or civillity; as to the Law it is contrary, and to all good Go­vernment, but not thought bad enough to be exercised on the innocent servants of the Lord by this generation) in which to be particular, as they were acted, would exceed the bounds of this short Relation, being the daily sufferings in this kinde for several months, and therefore no more of them is set down at this time, than was drawn up, and sent by the Prisoners to the Justices at the General Sessions for the County of Truro, the 12. day of the 5. month, 1656. which is as followeth.

For the Justices of the County of Cornwall, at their Quarter Sessions held at Truro, These.

Friends,

YOƲ that be in Authority, and have the Sword to do Ju­stice, and are to weigh, judge, and try things according to Equity and Justice, here is laid down before you some of the vio­lent dealings of the Keeper of the Goal towards us who are Pri­soners, of the World called Quakers, the ill manners, ill carriages, ill behaviour, and unchristian life, oaths, drunkenness, and prophaness, which gives an ill savour, and an ill smell, which the Sword of Justice is to be turned against, that Judgement may run down, and the ill savour stopt. More honour would it be, and justice for such an ungodly one, who is set to rule over us, and Prisoners, to be ruled over, and more fit to be put into Prison, than to govern a Prison, and to be a chief Keeper in Cornwall, [Page 42] who is a Swearer, a cursed Speaker, often drunk, almost every day, and many times at twelve, one, or two of the clock at night, his Companions singing their filthy songs, and sometimes fidling.

In our last writing unto you, we there acquainted you with what was past, here are some fruits which have proceeded since from this unsavoury Keeper against us, that you may see and behold what rules and governs, which is not pleasing to God nor Man, that hath any gravity. As he hath daily reviled us, re­proached us, and mis-named us, so hath he encouraged others, fomenting his lyes of us both in Town and Countrey, stirring up the People to riot upon us, wishing before several People, and in one of our hearing, that the Town would rise up against us; giving us threatning challenges,[6] with Swords four to four; and had gotten a fellow, of whom he boasted, whose name is George Roach, under a pretence of speaking to us of Scriptures, (who was brought in for drinking the Kings health, as himself said) and when a Friend spoke to him, he threatned he would run his knife in his chops. It was told the Goaler, the plot was discover­ed, and afterwards the same man in the sight of the Goalers wife, came with a naked knife behind him, and wicked words in his mouth; and it was asked, what he had behind him, and bid him let's see what he had in his hand behind him, and after a little time we did see that he had a naked knife in his hand; and this is the Goalers man to talk of Scriptures. The Goaler being told of it, he answered, he could say nothing against him, although he had but a little before, when he came with a knife behind him, threatned to cut our faces in pieces.

And there came two women out of Wales to visit us Priso­ners, one of which was a Justices sister now in Commission; these the Goaler abused with vile expressions, calling them Edward Pyot's Whores before many People, and said, God damn him, and many noysome words and oaths, with threatning what he would do to them, calling them, Scums of the Countrey. And a Prisoner very much abused Edw. Pyot, and thrust him down off a place where he was reading, and speaking some Scriptures. He acquainted the Goaler with it, but the Goaler instead of re­proving him that did the abuse, laid hands on Edw. Pyot, and [Page 43] did thrust him up and down, calling him many bad and filthy names, threatning to strike him, and put him into Dooms-dale; and Edw. Pyot telling him that he should acquaint the Justices of the County of his carriage towards us, he answered, he cared not for the Justices, they had nothing to do with him, nor his Prisoners. And when it was asked him, whether the Justices had nothing to do with him in case he abused his Prisoners, he answered, No Sirrah, they have not; and denyed that the Justi­ces gave him any rebuke formerly for abusing Prisoners.

The Goaler being drunk on a first day, (as he hath been on many) and having abused us, and mis-named us, and brawled at us in his drunkenness the most part of the day, at evening a wild company came into the room under us, drinking, swearing, and cursing till midnight; and after they had abused us much in language, they said they would drink our damnation, and our childrens after us. The second day at evening, he was drunk a­gain, and Edw. Pyot not being well, sent for some hot drink, and he would not suffer our Friend to bring it to him, but called her Quean, and Whore, and swore he would kick her; and about one of clock at night, he and they being beastly drunk, he came up in a rage, and barred up the door, when as we did not give him any words: And the next night came in drunk, and did as be­fore, and called us Rogues, and Runnagates, and reviled us with vile expressions, not fit to be mentioned. And this un­savoury smell goes abroad with stinks; and when he is told of the Justices rebuke for abusing of Prisoners, he saith, It's a small matter for the Justices to call a man Knave

We having a Friend brought to Prison (though not trans­gressing any Law) for speaking to a Priest after his time,[7] sent by Justice Nicholls, and he being cast into Dooms-dale amongst Felons, a Friend that came to visit us from Redding,[8] seeing his Friend was put into Dooms-dale amongst them who were accused for murther and theft, and seeing no Law cited in the Mittimus, nor any thing expressed therein according to the Law, that ren­dred our Friend a Transgressor either by word or deed, he went to the Justice, to enquire of him whether he committed his Friend to Dooms-dale amongst the Felons, (a filthy nasty place, not fit [Page 44] for men, unless there were more air, and the room kept more cleanly) or whether he might be with us his Friends who were Prisoners, judging it to be rather the Keepers malice, than the Justices order, to keep him from us. But the Justice, instead of answering his civil and reasonable question, asked our Friend wh [...]ther he would work, and so committed him also to Prison, although nothing of the state of a Vagabond in the eye of the Law was found in him, but much the contrary, as having a Horse to ride on, and money in his purse, and himself coming in business, which the Law of this Nation owns, all which we may make apparent in time convenient, (these things are an ill smell to the Nation.) This Friend, who is called Joseph Cole, hath been much abused in Prison by the fore-mentioned Roach, a Prisoner, whom the Goaler brought to talk of Scriptures, who threatned to stab and cut our faces to pieces with his knife. This wicked and prophane fellow hath beat Joseph Cole so, as he hath drawn blood of him, and struck his head against the wall, and astonish'd him, and hath taken away his hat, so that he hath gone without his hat almost ever since the time of his imprison­ment. The rude fellow before mentioned, beat James Mires Prisoner, committed by Justice Nicholls, so as he drew blood of him also, and cut his flesh. And the same man did beat and strike Benjamin Maynard, very nigh six months since com­mitted by Recorder Gewen, (who stood in the Steeple-house, and said nothing to the Priest nor People, till he was haled towards the door.) And from time to time, this deboyst, unruly, and mis­chievous fellow hath abused friends, threatning their lives, breaking their bones, tearing their flesh off their backs, some­times swearing he would not eat nor drink till he had done it; a common Swearer, a filthy Curser, and often drunk. And when Friends have demanded the hat of him, and spoken to him to be moderate, he hath answered with an oath, that he would cut the hat in pieces, and that which he had done he had order for. And the Goaler from time to time being told of these abuses, never reproved him, but sometimes answered, he could not help it, and that he could finde no fault with him, (envy and malice was al­wayes blind.) Another time, to uphold and countenance him in [Page 45] his often wicked practises, accused us of Mutinies, who are sufferers under the abusive tongues both of the Goaler, and Roach. And the said Roach threatens to tear the flesh off Wil­liam Salt's back, and that he would kick Edw. Pyot, swearing God damn him, rot him, and sink him, what he would do unto us. And this is the Goalers company, with whom he can finde no fault, (as he saith) but are drunk together day by day, and in their drunkenness come brawling and beating Prisoners, and glory in what they have done. And the Goalers wife hearing the Prisoners were beaten, she said, if she were a man, she would beat them too.

And thus the bond of Iniquity is strengthened against the Innocent; and the Goaler himself hath not onely encouraged, but done the same thing; for he struck James Mires with a great cane, and beat Benjamin Maynard with a great cane a­bout his head, back, and arms, with many blows; he beat him almost from Dooms-dale to the Castle-gate.

And there coming in a Maid of the Town, a Friend to visit us the Prisoners, the Goaler locked her up in the Prison with Friends, and said, ye Rogues want a Whore, and kept her in Pri­son six hours, and after came and tore her cloaths off her neck, and rent them to pieces, and stampt them under his foot, and beat her with a cane out of the Prison, and after she was out, he beat her to the ground twice; and the cruel merciless fellow beat her after he had amazed and astonish'd her, and knock'd her down, that her head was much bruised, her body and arms ex­ceeding black; and this before many Witnesses, which cryed shame upon him.

He hath endeavoured by all means to hinder Necessaries to be brought to us. One of the Town, who served us in these things formerly, he arrested for coming into his house, (which suit is yet depending) and he forbidding any of the Town, we have a Friend that came from London, who provides for us our diet, whom he hath much abused, struck her on the back with a stick, another time kick'd her, and almost every day brawling at her, and threatning her, and calling her the worst names he can think of. Another Woman, who brought necessaries to the [Page 46] Prisoners, he met, and called her Whore, and Bitch, and if ever she came there again, he said he would beat her so, that she should not be able to go forth out of the Castle, but should be car­ried forth on a Wheel-barrow. And he threatens Benjamin Maynard so, as that he would make him kneel down, and ask him forgiveness; and said, he hoped to see him burned in the shoulder, and naked at a Gallows.

Anne Blakeling coming to visit us before she was committed, he denyed her to come to us, and threw her out into the street, and there beat her with a great cudgell, giving her filthy lan­guage, and names. It is hard to believe, and harder to r [...]late the unchristian and inhumane carriage of this ungodly Goaler, and his ungodly company, daily towards us, and our Friends that come to visit us, calling us Rogues and Rascals, Thiev [...]sh Knaves, deluding Dogs, Jesuits, beggarly Rogues, Vagabonds, and scums of the Countrey, damn'd Dogs, and hatchet-fac'd Rogues. And the women he calls scums of the Countrey, Whores, salt Bitches, and other unclean and filthy names and terms, not fit to be named by modest men, threatning our Friends, and forbidding them to come to us, driving some of them out of the door, and pretending an Order, that none shall speak with us but what the Keeper should hear, and threatning us with Dooms-dale, the Pit, and double Irons, saying, Sirrah I'le double iron thee, and put thee in the Dungeon as far under ground as it is above. How now you Rogues, you damn'd Dogs, ye scums of the Countrey. I'le order ye, and your Whores and salt Bitches which come after ye, none of them shall come here. And this is his common course; hardly a day passes, but we have more of this and such like filth, and his wicked inventing of lyes upon us, and reporting them in his cups amongst his drunken Companions, who are in that generation which saith, report, and we will report it. He hath reported, that some of us said he should be hanged at his door, and that his children should be tossed on spears; but no such words were sp [...]ken by us, neither any thing like it was ever in our hearts. And there came the Widow Hambly, and her Sister, of this County, to visit us, which because he slandred, and because we kneeled down to pray [Page 47] together he reported that we bowed one to another, and crossed one another.

These and such like lying stories he tells to his Generation, that is given up to believe lyes, to stir up the rude people against us, and to fill the town and Country with matter of reproaching of us, and when his drunken Companions are stuffed with his lyes, and drunk with his Beer, then they are fit to abuse Prisoners, such are encou­raged by our Gaoler, those have free access who believe his lyes, and that will abuse Prisoners, such are encouraged by him, who should preserve us from the injury of any. An abusive woman, a light scoffing School Mistris (who is untaught her self and therefore unfit to nurture, and teach children) is suffered to come unto the Prisoners, and to abuse them with reproachfull language, and to strike them, and a promise he hath that her Children shall put their hands to a Petition as it is said) which he talks of, but our friends which come to visit us he affronteth, revileth and miscalls with all the ill favoured names his wicked invention can think of.

Two Justices of Peace now in Commission, and a Justices Bro­ther, and one that was a Captain of a Troope of Horse, these he cal­led scums of the Countrie, and Runnagate Rogues, and Raskals to their faces, and told one of them that he had turned better of the stye, and set up the fore mentioned bad man, who is a Cavalier, brought in for drinking the Kings health as aforesaid to examine our friends as they went forth, which made the Justices to admire that ever such a man should be put in place, and said he wondred that men that had any moderation, or but a forme of godliness, should suffer such a one to rule, or be put into a place of trust who had no rule over himself, but deserved to be ruled with that which should teach him better manners, and verily, where there is any measure of honesty borne up, It will bear witness against such un­worthy carriages; yea some of the Heathen which knows not God could not own, nor would they set up such a one to rule over men, he is so malicious, and so bruitish, as that he can neither be civill towards us himself, nor think any body should.

Generall Desborow wrote him a Letter dated in April last, that we should be civilly used, and he is so far from observing it, or thinking we should be civilly dealt with, as that he cannot be­lieve [Page 48] the letter to be from Generall Disborow, but saith, it is a Counterfeit.

Degorie Pearse was reading a letter of lyes against friends in the Castle, and perverting some Scriptures with his own mea­nings of them, and giving Sauls going to the Witch, and to that which she raised up, for an example or Christians, affirming that was the Prophet Samuel that the Witch had raised up, whereupon Edward Pyot coming into the Castle, and speaking to some of the people against this Doctrine, the Gaoler came to him, and laid vio­lent hands on him and tore his Coate, and punched him, and hal­led him, and thrust him towards Domesdale, and said he would put him in, and put Irons on his heels, and reviled him, and called him reproachfull names.

Another time he denyed our friends to come in to us, We civilly asked him why he did so, and whether he had any order to deny our friends from coming to us? He answered us with an oath, swearing by Gods blood, and holding his stick to strike us, but his wife stept between; and when he had been in his Cups with his Companions, repeating their lyes and slanders, and railing upon us, and the ma­lice, envy, and rage stood up, and being full of Beer, It hath been as much as his wife and some others could do, to keep him down from us, asking whether he would murder us, saying she thought there would be murder one time or other; and when we afterwards told him of th se his miscarriages towards us, and of his evill beating of Benjamin Maynard whom he said if he had killed he had but his desert, and that he may expect to be questioned for these things by the hand of justice he answered so stiffe was he and so stubborn) that he would not be ordered by the Justices, they should not order him, he would find sureties fo his good be­haviour.

There coming a Cheese to us, which Edward Pyot sent for, the Gaoler meeting with it hath tak [...]n it from us and as he said, would carry it to the Mayor to have it searched, for (therefore was the [...]atch set at every Gate) and when William Salt told him he would unrip the Cloath the Cheese was in for him to search it, he would not, but violently took it from him.

There was a woman prisoner committed for stealing of Cloth, who said when she was apprehended she was a Quaker (as tis said) which is false, and since denyed by her, that she said so, but all such we deny; this woman is suffered to abus [...], and strike our friend Anne Blackling a prisoner, who asked that woman why she took the name of Christ in vain, in her vain light songs; the woman curst, and came and struck our friend in the mouth twice with her fist, and threatned to beat out her Brains, and to pull her head off, and took up a Pen, and said she would strike it in her eyes, and that if she spake to her again she would be her death, though she died for it her self. The Gaoler being made acquainted with it, reproved her not, but on the contrary called our abused friend Whore, and Witch, and locked her up close prisoner, in the com­mon Gaole amongst those accused for Bastards, where accommoda­tion fit for Prisoners is wanting.

And this is the unrighteous measure we have received from this unrighteous man, who measures to us evill and reproachfull words, out of the evill treasure of his evill heart.

And Captain Braddon who in civillitie to us, (which we much own, and a Cup of cold water loseth not his reward) giving him­self in a hundred pound securitie for our true Imprisonment, free­ly without our motion, that we might be freed from the insulting of the Gaoler, to be at some house in the town, hath by it purchased many slighting and unclean words, and threats of him from the Gaoler, and we denyed the liberty of removing (which we press the Gaoler too, both formerly and now of late within this 12. dayes) unless we would give him the securitie of two men, which he calls better securitie, which should we have done, we had been partakers of his unworthiness in slighting Captain Braddons securitie.

And these things are declared to you that you may see what is wanting to rule, and what it is that rules your County Gaol, the fear and wisdome of God yea humanitie is wanting, and the trans­gressor (who is out of the light from the truth, equitie, and righteous­ness) rules, on which the sword of justice is to be laid.

One prisoner was beaten down for reproving some at pleasure in the Castle Green.[9] Another carrying a Letter to an Inne was thrust [Page 50] out into the Street;[10] and about a dozen strokes given him over the head, so that he could scarce see, and beat, and punch'd in the sto­mach so that he vomited. Tis said 'twas done by a Justices man in Devonshire, but no justice was done to him for it, but the priso­ner was shut up close, not suffered to have a little warme drink given unto him whilst the others went to pleasures in the Castle Green. And here is so much prophaness, and wickedness, that the Streets is like Sodom, the sword of justice is not a terror to them, neither is it executed to praise them that do well.

Not that we look at man are these written, but that we may be cleared of the wickedness of the wicked in the sight of God which is our strength, And ye that are Magistrates to do justice; If ye are Christian Magistrates and rule for God, Do your office that no­thing raign amongst you but what is of God; that roport gives a good savour; when righteousness and truth is set up, the Ordinance which is to be obeyed for the Lords sake, which is according to his will, in which we rejoyce, in this we are subject to the higher pow­ers, which the soul must be subject to. This looseth the bonds of wickedness, takes off the heavie burthens, lets the oppressed go free, and breaks every yoake. So consider this in your time and ge­neration that you are to fear God in. See from whom you are, and whom you are serving, for of the Lord God must you have, every one of you a reward according to your works, Therefore do justice, love mercie, and walk humbly with God, This doth God require, and the humilitie goes before the honour. This is the day of your vi­sitation, and salvation unto you; I am the light of the world and do enlighten every man that cometh into the world, saith Christ, by whom the world was made, who bears the Government upon his shoulders, who is come to reign, who judgeth righte­ously without respect of persons. Now every one of you having a light from Christ, that be come into the world, from him who is not of this world, which light lets you see your sins, which you have done, evill deeds you have committed, hard speeches you have spoken, which if you love the light; that is it that maketh manifest ungodly ways, ungodly actions, ungodly words, which if you love, there is your teacher, the light which comes from Christ, who saith, [Page 51] Learn of me, It will be with you as you are lying on your Beds, and and as you are in your occasions, and if you hate this Light you for­get God, and forget Christ, and seek not the honour that comes from God onely, but from one another. Now you that do so, this is your condemnation, the light, saith Christ, who hates it, this light which comes from Christ, the way leads you off all worldly ways, all the worldly teachers, and Doctrines, and worships, Christ the way to worship God in spirit and truth, The Lord is coming to exalt his truth. The powers of darkness have long reigned, but Christ now is come who will chain them, which will answer the light in every mans conscience, and judge every one according to his works. The Lord is come, and coming to teach his people himself by his spirit, and to gather them into unitie, and to turn them from darkness to light, and the power of Sathan to himself, and to bring them into Covenant with himself, which is Christ his light, so to gather into the one truth that is in Christ, the light, and into the one way, that is into the Light Christ, and into the one Baptisme, the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and so to God the Father of Spirits, with which they come to be written in [...]ne anothers hearts, and so ga­ther them out of all sects, and opinions, and ways, where is all the strife, sedition and quarrelling, and vain contentious spirits who be out of the light, that gave forth Scriptures. Therefore now you have time prize it, It is the day of your visitation, and salvation to you all proffered to the light in all your consciences I speake, which is a witness for the the Lord Jesus Christ, which from him doth come which manifesteth the sin and evill, that is not of the truth, which will make every tongue to confess Christ to the glory of God, and make every knee to bow at his name, which is called Immanuel, which by Interpretation is God with us, but you that hate this light, it will be your condemnation.

From Lanceston Gaole 12th. 5th. Month 1656.

From them who are lovers of all souls, truth, justice, and righteous­ness, and for the establishing of it, and witnesses stand against all un­righteousness and ungodliness. Ed. Pyot. William Salt.

THe Goaler being conscious of the wickedness he had acted, and the violence he had exercised upon the Pri­soners, was very fearfull what should become of him, if so be a Representation thereof should be made to [...]his Sessions, as what he had done before was to the last, (which he expected) and if the Justices should as then incline to the Prisoners. Therefore he considered what he should do to save himself, and having no better a refuge to repair unto, he inven­ted a parcell of notorious lyes, (viz.) that some of the Priso­ners should say he should be hangd at his door, and that his Children should be tossed upon Spears, and that they would tread his wife under foot, and put them into a Petition to the Sessions in way of complaint against the Prisoners whom he had used as aforesaid, thereby to cover his unmercifull cruelty, who as they had never uttered any such words, (for venge­ance the children of light leave to the Lord, whose it is, and who will repay it, and such unsavouriness from them procee­deth not) so never entred such things, or any things like them into any of their hearts; and having his under-keeper (who had been arraigned for Felony) to swear to what he should say, to the Sessions at Truro he went, taking with him Benjamin May­narn, James Mires, and Joseph Cole, but Anne Blacking com­mitted by Richard Lobby for being in the Country, he would not bring with him, though a Horse was for her provided by some friends. And notwithstanding the condition he was in, yet unreasonableness and cruelty being his nature, he could not forbear to exercise it on the Prisoners in the way thither, though he knew not but that their's might be his own condition ere he returned, and that what he now did to them, might aggravate his offence and increase his punishment, For, the Prisoners ha­ving travelled the first day, they put forth 20. long Cornish miles on foot, being weary, desired there to rest that night, the place being convenient for lodging this he denyed who was, and the rest with him, on horse back [...] and abused them excee­dingly, and endeavoured to ride over them with his horse, and did thrust them forwards, threatning to draw them at his [Page 53] horse tayl; and when they asked him whether there was not a Statute, that Prisoners should not be compeld to travail above eight miles a day, he answered he cared not for the Statute, and so had them along six miles further, and when they came to Truro he put them into a little close room, which though the Prisoners paid for, yet suffered he them there to be abused by the under Keeper, and Roath aforesaid (whom he ought to have protected from any such thing) and their friends that visited them to be also abused, and some of them beaten, punch'd, and kicke, and many unsavory words given them.

To Thomas Gewen Judge of the Court, was the Representa­tion aforesaid, of the sufferings of the Prisoners by the Gaoler delivered, who grasping it in his hand, and wrumpling it, put it in his pocket, and said he would make Mum of it, and abused the Messenger with slighting language, ana before him and Ri­chard L [...]bby (who commit ed Anne Blackling) and Justice Ken­dale, were those three brought, but whether the same spirit of Justice appeared in these J [...]stices, as ruled in the Justices the former Sessi [...]ns, and whether the same spirit had Dominion in them as in the Gaoler from whom they received those cruel­ties, or a different, Let the sober by comparing what hath been already said, with what follows, consider and judge. For the Representation aforesaid it was not read in the Court, and when those of the Prisoners present on whom was much of his crueltie acted as hath been mentioned, spake of their suffe­rings by the Gaoler, he would not suffer them to speake, un­less they would be sworn, which he knew they could not do; but the Gaolers Petition of invented lyes against the Prisoners, that was commanded to be read and the Court to keep silence; which paper o lyes the Prisoners denyed, and the spirit that gave it forth; But unto it Tho. Gewen set his hand, and the Ju­stices bad th [...] Gaoler present it to the Judge at the Assizes, and T. Gewen commanded the Gaoler to take away Benj [...]min May­nard for saying he was not sorry for what he had done in re­ference to his brea [...]h (as he said of Queen Maries law, though he had suffered six months Imprisonment for standing still in [Page 54] the Steeple house, and saying nothing till the Priest calling to the people, Friends, I hope you will stand by me for the truth, laid violent hands on him, and had almost halled him to the door, And Iames Myres, and Ioseph Cole he commanded to be taken away also, for refusing to find sureties for their good be­haviour for coming into the Countrie (which was all he layd to their charge; when they asked him what Law they had bro­ken for which he demanded of them to find sureties) though they had been about eight weeks in prison, and they all under cruell sufferings, of which some particulars have been al­ready related: And not onely this hard measure received they from the Court, Instead of Justice according to the Law, who no Law had transgressed, and who had so barbarously suffered, as hath been said, but when the Gaoler (into whose cruell and merciless hands, thus strengthened by them in his iniquitie and incouraged in his inhumane brutishness) they had returned them, was bringing them out of the Court, All that sate in judgement upon them, Except Justice Kendale, openly scoff'd at them, and[11] laughed (such was their sence of the cruell suf­ferings of the innocent and their Justice) in which wanton lightness, and cruell sporting, and unmanly behaviour T. Gewen. who sate Judge of the [...]ourt, exceeded and bad the Gaoler keep the Prisoners close, blaming him for that he had not kept them close enough. Had the sentence pronounced on them been just, and had they deserved the severitie of those procee­dings against them, yet in a sensibleness of Justice ought there to have been seriousness, and gravitie in those who give judge­ment for God upon the evill doer: But for those who are in place to help them to right who suffer wrong and to relieve the oppressed, whose office and duty is so to do, not onely to stop their ears at the c [...]y of the wrong, but to encourage the wrong doer and oppressor, and into his hands to deliver them to be further wronged and oppr [...]ssed; F [...] those who are in Comm ssion to do right, to judge wrong, for them who ought to break the unrighteous bonds, to adde bonds of un­righteousness; who ought to do justice, and defend the in­nocent, [Page 55] to slay the righteous and innocent, and vainly, and openly to scoffe, and laugh thereat when they have done, and at their sufferings, even whilst they are sitting on the seat of judgement, and in the sight and hearing of the Countrie, what abhominable wickedness is this, what merciless crueltie? Have such things as these been heard of before these dayes in England? Will not the ears tingle of all that hear it? Is not this crueltie beyond expression, and lightness without compa­rison? Are these Judges for God, or fit to judge for man, or to bear Rule? Are not such a shame unto a Nat [...]on, and a reproach unto a people? Is not th [...]s the spirit that cast Ioseph into the pit, and then sate down to eat bread? Are not these of the generation that slay the witnesses, and then rejoyce o­ver them, and make merry, and send gifts one unto another? Is not the day of the Lord at hand, and the hour of his righte­ous judgement, wherein he will himself plead the cause of the poor and needy, who looketh for judgement, but behold op­pression, for righteousness but behold a Crie? will not his soul be avenged on such a generation as this?

The Sessions being ended the Gaoler returned with his Pri­soners again, rid of his fears, and heightned in his crueltie, of which he was not wanting presently to give demonstration, boasting much concerning what the Iustices should say against the Prisoners, and in his behalf to him, of which the Prisoners being eare witnesses, as they had felt the rage of his crueltie (the effects of the proceedings of the Sessions) that they might be clear of the blood of them all, and that the Iustices might not thereof be ignorant, Edward Pyot and William Sale wrote to them two letters as followeth,

FRIENDS,

SInce the Sessions the Gaoler hath received such encourage­ment from you, (and not reproof) as that he is much imbold­ned to act his wicked mind and will against us who are Pri­soners, he is so impudently wicked, as that he cannot (as he thinks) speake bad enough to us, and of us, nor misbehave himself towards us, we are his sport and his talk among his drunken Com­panions, and all sorts of people where he comes; And reports that Captain Fox, and Justice Lobb, and Justice Gewen said that Doomesdale was to good for us, and that we were worse than Thieves and Murderers, and not fit to live in a Common-wealth, and ano­ther Justice said that we could not be used bad enough, And that of thirteen Justices there was not one that had a good word for us, nor one that had a bad word for him; with this he is set up in his vain-glory and laughter, and scoffing and scorning with that pro­phane fellow Roach and the rest of his drunken Companions, and in his rage against us and our friends, so that the hand of the wic­ked is strengthned by you to work his wickedness against us; wicked he was, before, but now he is become m re desparately wicked, swearing such oaths that it would grieve any heart that hath any honesty, to hear, and calling us such filthie names, as we have not usually heard, and threatning us with Doomesdale, and double I­rons, and the pit, and holding up his staffe at us, saying he would beat us down, And the very day he came home from the Sessions, he could not forbear a day to abuse us, he called us many bad and unsavory names, and said now he would take a course with us and order us to purpose, we should not stay in his house, nor yet go into the town, but into the Castle we should go to Domesdale, for all Bradens securitie for us, and his Letter he sent to us, and that the Justices said Doomesdale was to good for us, and that we were mistaken in the Justices they had not one bad word for him, nor a good word for us.

And that night our friends coming home in the rain from the Sessions on foot, he lockt them up without fire, or bed, or straw to lye on, or victuals to eate, or beer or water to drink, and denyed [Page 57] them the opening the door to have necessaries brought them William Salt went to the Gaoler, and desired him the door may be ope­ned for our friends to have necessary refreshments after their jour­ney, the Gaoler answered how now Sirrah, you Rogue, you Ras­call, you shall have no door opened get you gone you Dog, or else I will kick you up stairs, how now ye Scums of the Countrie, ye Runnagate Rogues, Ile put you fast enough all of you, ye Rogues.

We asking him whether the Justices would allow him in this, he answered, If we had been at the Sessions at Truro, we might have been kickt before the Justices faces, as our friends were beat out of the Hall and kickt like Dogs, and the Justices was there sitting upon the Bench at that time Here we do see and take notice, who are the strengthener of the hands of evill doers, which is not a praise to them that do well.

Surely if you consider the streets and the Countries how they ring like Sodom, and sound like Gomorrah, you would find enough to turne your Sword against, and not against the innocent, but this prophane rabble of people you have pleased, it is their day, you have given them content, drunkards, swearers, and such as follow plea­sures, this is their day, their mouths are set open and are encoura­ged to act against the innocent, such as be of upright heart, but the Lord is a refuge, And is not this an evill report and an ill smell, that you should have no better rule to keep peace, but suffer Prisoners to be beat and kickt like Dogs, as the Gaoler reports a­mong his drunken Companions, But this shews that you use not the Sword, which is a terror to the evill doer.

And this is written (not that we do complain to man) but that you, who are called Christian Magistrates may these things weigh and consider, whether this be the Sword of justice and the ruler for God, and his glory for the praise of them that do well, and for the punishment of vice and wickedness. And seeing he hath made you the Authors of his cruel actings and brutish carriages towards us, and so shelters himself under you, We therefore lay it upon you, that we may be clear of your blood in the sight of God who will not be mocked with onely a talk of Religion, and of the Scripturts, [Page 58] and be found out of the life of the Scriptures, and the pure Re­ligion.

And we do understand, that there was a lying, slanderous pa­per read in the manner of a Petition against us, to cover his for­mer wickedness (and as 'tis said he was in fear he should be turned out of his place, for his cruell and unworthy acting, towards us.) And there was a Letter which had part of the abuses and wrongs, which we sustained since the Sessions before this, which was sent to the Justices of the Countie, to be read among them, that they might know of the abuses we undergoe and have undergone, since the former Sessions, now his paper was read openly in the Court, but this was not, but received by Thomas Gewen, who graspt it up in his hand, and put it up in his pocket, and said he would make mum of it: the petition we have not seen, but we do hear that he saith that we would toss his children on Pikes, and hang him at his door, and tread his wife under our feet, and such like expressions: Can such a thing enter into you, that ever we should speake such words, we put that of God in you to judge, for such things we do utterly deny, and that part of it was deposed of treading the Gao­lers wife under feet, by the underkeeper, who (as is said) have been convicted and punished as a fellon, who sware the word to be spoken by William Salt and Benjamin Maynard. And the Gao­lers wife her self have since cleared William Salt of the words, and saith he was not in place when the words was pretended to be spo­ken; And if you took heed to the light of Christ, wherewith you are lighted, and walked in the fear of the Lord, with it you would see and discern when such false things are brought before you, and that of God in you would witness for God in the truth, and against the false accuser, And so wicked men would not dare to present you with lyes and falsehoods, and here your sword would be a terror to the vvicked, and those that refuge in lyes.

On the third day after he came from Sessions, he clapt us up close Prisoners, swearing oaths not fit to be mentioned, and a Company of Fidlers came up into the next room where was a prophane Com­pany svvearing, and drinking and singing prophane songs, with that prophane Prisoner called Roach, this now hath its libertie, and [Page 59] is tollerated, but those which reproves this are clapt up close priso­ners, and not fit to live in a Common-wealth, nor can be used too hardly, as the Gaoler reports the Justices said of us, and that we should be carried by their command to the Common Gaole, as the Gaolers wife said, which in two dayes after we were taken out of the Chamber in the Gaolers house (into which we were put when we were taken out of Domesdale, by order of the Iustices at the for­mer Sessions, and the securitie given by Captain Braden for our true imprisonments) and he put us into the room over Domesdale, where comes up the nastie smell of the hole where the Fellons are, And as he lockt up our friends which were there before we came at his pleasure close prisoners, so he doth us, he lockt up Edward Pyot and the rest close Prisoners in this place over Domesdale, not giving any reason for his so doing, but when he is asked falls a reviling and uttering forth his unsavorie and ungodly expressions, and calling us filthie names.

The first night he put us in this place, he came drunk to us late at night, swearing by the Lord in Heaven, and by Gods blood he would tye us neck and heels, and double Iron us, and from us went up to the upper Gaole where the women are, there he abused Anne Blackling our friend in like manner, calling her Whore, and Witch, and Runnagate, and threatned to double Iron her and put her in the pit, and at his return from her, he came in a rage into the roome where we were, and put out our Candle, which was burning some­what the longer to get the roome a little cleansed, and to settle our necessaries.

The next day a friend of ours named John Ellice, whose out­ward being is about the farther end of the Countie, was sent to prison by P. Ceely and James Lance for not doffing his hat to P. Ceely, and for saying twas false, that he had gotten Arms into his custodie, whom the Gaoler being in Domesdale and the do [...]r open, William Salt carried in some straw and a covering for our friend, whom the rude fellow Roach ran upon, and thrust down, and the Gaoler also ran upon him and punch't him when he was down, and then thrust him out of Doors, uttering many oaths and [Page 60] threatnings and held up his staffe to thrust it at his belly, And when William Salt asked him whether he would deny necessaries to be brought the Prisoners, he answered I marry will I Sirrah, and up with his staffe and with it stroke William Salt a sore blow in the mouth, saying he would cut the covering he brought to pieces, And John Ellice asking him why he was so angry, he thrust and puncht him also, and af er to cover his wicked carriage he said that William Salt would have rescued the Prisoner, And a little time after he came to us over Domesdale, and abused us much in language, and many fearfull oaths he swore, as Gods blood, and such like not fit to be mentioned, and thrust and puncht us up there, and held up his staffe, and swore he would knock down Pyot. He was then so drunck as that he was readie to fall himself with thrusting us, and could hardly utter a plain word.

And because the tryall where (Thomas Gewen sate Judge of the Court) went against our friend, (a poor lame maid in the town, whom we hired as our servant to provide us necessaries, and for it paid her wages, whom the Gaoler lockt into his house whilst he sent for a Sergeant and arrested her, and he brought his under-keeper to swear that the maid unbard our Chamber door, which under-keeper was not seen to be there by not one of five of us, who should have seen him if he had been there, and since this un­der-keeper hath confest to us that our Chamber door was not ope­ned till after the maid was carried away by the Sergeant; This fel­lows oath was received in Court, although it was signified in Court that he was convicted as a fellon, and that he was not present while the maid was at the Chamber door till the Sergeant came. Let the least measure of honestie judge of these procee­dings) the Gaoler is so set up with this that now he threatens friends that come to us, both towns-people and strangers what he will do to them by the Law, and also as one having authority to do wickedly.

He formerly confin'd Benjamin Maynard to the Castle, who was serviceable to fetch our provisions, and now he lay'd the like command upon William Salt, who hath done it since, and the rest [Page 71] of our friends which are prisoners are confind not to goe forth of the Castle, and all this he doth in his will, so that by all ways and means he endeavours to abuse us, and by threats, misnaming, cursed speakings, and beating us, and bringing us into this nastie place, so also to hinder necessaries to be brought us.

This useage is not according to Generall Disborow's Letter to him that we should be civilly used, but he saith, that was not from Generall Disborow, but 'twas a counterfeit, neither is it of such honour to you who are Justices of the Countie (as your reproof of him was to you the Sessions before this) to uphold or have such a fellow to be keeper of your Countie Gaole, who is not onely igno­rant of what belongs to a Christian, but also of a civill man.

These things ought to be considered of by you, and not to be lightly past over, for to the Lord God must you give an account of your actions, and trust committed to you.

Edward Pyot.

FRIENDS,

SInce the Sessions that this unmercifull Gaoler hath been imboldned by you, who saith, that the Iustices said that Domes-dale was too good for us, moreover he saith, that the Iustices said we were worse than the Fellons, and since that time he hath brought us to the Common Gaole to Domes-dale, and put us there into a nastie stincking place, upon it, though he had complained against us that we had given him nothing, and yet he had fortie shillings since Sessions for lying in his sheets, though the sheets were such as we never lay in before, they were so torne that our feet went thorough the holes, and they were so long lane in that I have seen cleener on a stick to sweep an Oven, And the other friends being walking in the Castle he took his opportunitie, and he commanded me out of his Chamber, calling me filthy names, and so bringing our things to Domes-dale, and so comman­ded [Page 62] me thither, and there now keeps us, and this now, we have seen what hath been incouraged, that which gives a stink amongst men; So he came full of his drink in the night, the roome being bad, we being up a little later, he comes swearing, and abusing us as formerly, and as we were setting down his oaths, he came, and knocked out our Candle. Did ever any of you taste since the Wars, did you ever taste of these things by the common ene­my, that now is done to the Children of light, to them that fear the Lord, For the encouraging of such, I must declare plainly to you, 'tis not of good report to you, or justice, that a drunkard, a prophane person, a common swearer, which cannot scarce speake without an oath, and a curse, and a foul mouth'd abusive man, as ever I heard speake, and for you to encourage such a one, and against the just, and Prisoners, this I say to you, it is not of Ho­nour to you, but to bring your names to dishonour. For before he had received some rebuke from some of you at the Sessions former­ly, by which we were taken out of Doomesdale, but now he ha­ving received encouragement, you have set up prophaneness more than ever I saw where ever I came in any Country, and encoura­ged prophaneness; never the like was beheld. And we that stand against violence, surely you might have considered that your selves, that his Petition was a false thing, for when we asked him, but a question, he had us kiss his tayl, kiss his tayl, calling us Rogues, Runnagates, scums of the Countrie, and binding it with an oath, and then saith, the Justice saith Doomesdale is to good for you, ye Rogues, Ile double Iron you. swearing he would double Iron Anne Blackling, and put her in the Dungeon, calling her Runnagate Whore, that went about bewitching the Countrie, and not onely abusing us, but those who came to visit us calling them Whores and Rogues. Now we knovv vvhat belongs to Go­vernment a little, and what ought to rule, and not to set such o­ver us to slander us and abuse us, and beat such as bring necessa­ries to us Never was the like beheld in any Country: but we are content who sees the end of profession, though our souls are grieved to see the filthy conversation tolerated, and not rebuked, and open prophaneness encouraged, to that of God I speake, for this cause [Page 63] hath God brought his swift judgements, upon such who have been found in these steps, and setting that up against the just, and that which is contrary to God, which God hath brought down, and ex­alted himself.

William Salt.

The enclosed is sent you to read, for that we do not understand it: it was read amongst you at Ses­sions, It being sent you, that you might take notice of part of the abuses which we have received between Sessions, and Sessions.

ANd not onely upon the Prisoners persons was the Gaoler incouraged to act thus wickedly, but on o­thers who were their friends, and had relation to them; Now he saw it his time to bring to tryall the Suit between him depending, and Susanna Kemp one of the town of Lanceston, the Prisoners servant, who coming to see what the Prisoners wanted, he lockt the door upon, and kept Prisoner, and being so, then sent for a Serjeant, and arrested her for coming into his house, threatning and abusing her as aforesaid, which he bringing to Issue before the said T. Gewen Recorder of the town, he declared against her in a matter of trespass, for entring his house by force of Arms, and taking out the Iron Bar of the door with such like: And Nicolas Freele­ven the under-Keeper he produced as a witness, who swore he took her from the door, when as he was not in the place all that time, and Katherine Kingdome, who upon her Oath said, she saw her sit in the Stairs, when as she sate not in the Stairs, nor any where else, but stood still, after the door was shut on her, till the Serjeant came; And although by two witnesses on the behalf of Susan it was proved, That she was the Prisoners servant by agreement, for so long time as they had occasion [Page 64] for wages; and by one of them testified that wages she had of them severall times, expressing the particular summs, Though he made his house their Prison from the first time of their being delivered to him in custody, and so he making his house their Prison, the way to them ought to be free, who were not com­mitted close Prisoners, especially for their servant; Though into his house which he had made their prison, other friends had to them free access, during the time of their Imprisonment, as they ought to have; Though contrary to Law he had lock'd them up close Prisoners (for no Iustice or Iudge can by Law commit a man close Prisoner, much less a Gaoler, especially having no order from Iudge or Iustice so to do) at this very time when she (their servant) coming to see what they had need of, on whom the Gaoler had executed such crueltie, was by him made a Prisoner for so doing, and arrested whilst she was so detained; Though Collonel Bennet a Iustice present, spake to the Iury to consider how a lame Innocent Maid could be conceived to come with force of Arms, and in what want the Prisoners might be who had their door shut upon them, yet the Recorder gave such direction to the Iury concerning her coming into his house without his consent, and for damages, de­claring to what Collonel Bennet said, that if the Prisoners had dyed for want, the perill would be on the Keeper, that the Iury cast her, and gave the Gaoler damages; which a [...] it is contrary to the Law and Iustice, so is it such a piece of crueltie, as hardly can one find words fully to express, but is thought very little by this generation, in whom the spirit that is cruell, lodgeth, and hath the Dominion to be executed upon the in­nocent.

By that time the Reader, who hath any honesty, or bowels, or tenderness is gone thus far, and hath duly considered what hath been rehearsed, he will find these cruell oppressions and horrible wickednesses, a weight sufficient, and load upon his spirit, to make him sigh out, oh when shall the wickedness of the wicked come to an end: But these are not all, there are yet other abhominations to mention, more violence yet, and [Page 65] deeds of darkness; A Iustice, a Iudge, a Gaoler, a few Iustices at a Sessions have hitherto acted their parts, and tryed their strength to weigh down and destroy the innocent, in such manner as hath been related; Towns and Countries now come in, consult and joyn together, and rise up like a flood to lay their weight upon, to break down, and to devoure them who have no kindred upon earth, nor helper amongst men; whose bodies are laid equall to the ground, that all may pass over, and over whom have passed the cruelties, and oppressions already rehearsed, and much more which time would fail particularly to instance, And by that time this latter part is perused and weighed, the wise in heart will see, whether Justice is to be found in the earth, or mercie amongst the men of this genera­tion? oh how unreasonable is crueltie, how blind is rage, and how brutishly inhumane is man, when drove on by the spi­rit, and powers of darkness, against the truth of the living God?

In this kinde of persecution the town of Lanceston leads, T. Gewen aforesaid the Recorder thereof is of Counsell, Phi­lip Page the Mayor begins the execution; The Gaoler hath no power in the town, farther than his prison he cannot goe; there he sufficiently manifests his tyrannicall beastliness, where he saith he is unaccountable, for what he doth. The Mayor he hath no power over the prison, so saith the Gaoler, and that if he come thither, he will put him by the heels, yet all this Gaolers heels he followeth (without blushing) in per­secuting of the just, The cruelties executed upon them by the Gaoler are not enough, the sufferings they have sustained is not of value, Their friends have free access from all parts to vi­sit and comfort them, and the flocking of so many troubles and torments; opportunities they have too many, and too much libertie to send abroad the particulars of their sufferings, and to have returns from friends of tenderness, and refresh­ing; suffer beyond measure that Spirit would have them, and so shut up that none may know of their sufferings, or any ways relieve or help them; The Mayor will try what he [Page 66] can do herein. And for this end sets his Watches and ar­med Guards, at every Gate of the town to examine, search and bring before him, those who come to visit them, the Letters he finds on such, he breaks open, and detains as he pleaseth; their Cloaths and Pockets he searcheth, and rifles; their persons he abuseth with filthy and unsavory expressions; he searched a womans head for Letters with his own hands, taking her fowl Cloaths out of her Hat, and searching them also. A Cheese sent to Edward Pyott the Gaoler violently took away, saying he would carry it to the Mayors, for therefore was the Watch, and Ward set at every Gate, to stop all things that should go to and from them, which is not re­stored to this day. And William Salt after his being taken by order of the Sessions out of that noysome poysonous hole, cal­led Domesdale, where he had been ill in his body, walking to Poulsons Bridge that parts Devon and Cornwall, being a mile or thereabouts out of the town, to take the wholesome ayr, upon encouragement thereof, and of Captain Bradens ha­ving given securitie for their true Imprisonment, for that very end that they might not be closely restrained, and cruelly used as they had been by the Gaoler. This Mayor (having notice thereof) caused to be taken and brought before him, (having set out Scouts and Watches to meet him at his re­turn) and having himself rifled his Pockets, and taken away his Letters, to the darke house he committed him, telling him he would shew him a Law to morrow, and after he had lyen two nights and a day there by his order, sent for him, and scoffed him, and asked him whether he would go into Devon­shire again; and so sent him to the Gaoler; who was a Prisoner in the County prison, a prisoner upon security for his true Im­prisonment, over whom the Mayor had no power; but the same Spirit of crueltie ruling in him against the Innocent as in the Gaoler, he seeks and takes every opportunitie to manifest it, and in this merciless act hath exceeded the Gaolers unrea­sonable practice and inhumane brutishness. But by that time he comes to understand by feeling the wages of his unrighte­ousness, [Page 67] what he hath done herein, and in the disturbing of peaceable people in their travelling, searching them, and brea­king open their Letters, taking away, and detaining their Books and Papers, and misusing them as hath been said, he will have little cause to boast or glory, but the contrary.

And thus from this Gaoler, Recorder, and Mayor have the Innocent suffered without mercy. These are they who have joyned hand in hand together, to make up the threefold Cord of their cruell persecution. He that reads what hath been rehearsed of these three may see their faces, hearts, and hands, one and the same, as is the Spirit that rules them: The first causeth them to suffer, the second helps on and then laughs at their sufferings on the seat of judgement, instead of doing them right: The third reacheth forth his hand to make them further to suffer, where the two former cannot. But the Re­corder is the Counsellor, from him proceeds the encourage­ment and strength of the other two. This is he (as is said) that was one of the secluded Members of the long Parlia­ment, who after the Kings death being asked, in whose name the Orders of Court should pass, answered in the name of T. Gewen Esquire Recorder of Lanceston, when as the Act of Parliament said, In the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England, who in disdaine and scorn asked who they were, Who in the last Parliament, was very zealous for a King and a House of Lords. The Mayor is he who was once put by that office for his disaffection to the Common-wealth, and the prisoners in their day, having borne their testimony against those interests, as they do now against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, no wonder if at their hands they receive all manner of cruelties, now that they are put under their feet, and delivered up as a prey, and a scorn to all; who as to the interest of the Common-wealth, to which they firm­ly stood, could not be overcome by the Sword or War, but overcame the Interests that these men pursued, and therein these men and all their Accomplices. And no wonder to see [Page 68] such men as these creeping into places of power, thereby to have their opportunities of revenge on such, and of making the Government under which they are to stink, and become intollerable because of oppression and crueltie, and of sepa­rating between those who are chief in Rule, and their former constant friends; And is it not a fair game thus to play, whilst it passeth undescerned acting under the power of authoritie, which when it is become sufficiently naked, weak, and abort'd, if a blow then come it may be sure to hit, and repentance may be too late. Men walk not in such mystery in these dayes, but they are easily discerned, as opportunitie serveth; their old in­terest appears to lie in the bottome sure, and unmoveable, though their faces look another way, thither they rowe, (hath it not very lately appeared so throughout England? is it not a fair warning?) Ethiopians cannot change their Skin, nor Leo­pards their spots? Let not men be mistaken, so they shall find it.

In the sufferings of these Innocent servants of the Lord, who have been thorougly faithfull to the Common-wealth, mentioned in this relation in this County of Cornwall, appear no less than two of the eleven Members whom the Army im­peached, (viz.) John Glynne then Recorder of London, dismist of that place as an enemy to the Common-wealth and Army, now Chief Justice of the upper Bench, and Anthony Nicholls, who knows how much he had a hand in bringing in the Scotch Army in 1648. into England, and how well known it was then, as was his other actions, and its like may remember who it was that was proclaimed a Traytor by the Army, and sought after as such a one, who its like should be called to a strict account for what he hath now done to the innocent contrary to Law, would flie from it himself, and lay it on the back of the Priests, as he did the former when the Army had him Prisoner, To whom he said, that the Priests laying it upon them in the Parliament as no less than damnation, that such a Company of Hereticks and Schismaticks as were the Army (should pass into Ireland [Page 69] (which lay then (viz. the honest interest) in a sad bleeding and dying posture) was the reason of what they did, and of their attempt to break the Army, which they endeavou­red under the pretence of the relief thereof, and placing such Officers for conduct as might serve that end, under whom they knew the Souldiery would not engage: Yet this man (now) oh how warme is he? how secure doth he think himself under the Government of the Army and the Chief Officers thereof? Two inn [...]cent men he sent to prison, who have suffered as hath been in part related with the cause of their suffering, under which they yet lye; and whosoever comes to him that are such as he and the scorners calls Quakers, he saith he will imprison, And Thomas Gewen makes up a third in the same affection, for which by reason of the Army he sate not in Parliament.

But to proceed —

Lanceston having thus began, the County of Cornvvall follows, strict Watches and Wards are set up in the high ways, and towns thereof, who examine, and bring before Justices, such as they reproach with the name of Quakers, thereby to stop and hinder the going to and fro of such in that County to visit the Prisoners, or to Minister the words of eternall life in those darke Corners of the earth: But of this after a time they grew vveary, vvho thereby thought to vveary out those people by tossing them from Constable to Justice, and from one Justice to another, keeping them all night on Guards with such like, the rage which the evill one stirred up in them, which put them upon such unlavvfull, and violent actions became cool; and finding nothing wherewithall to accuse them, and their inno­cency and harmelesness, began to have a witness in their consciences, and so their Watches, and Guards ceased, which had continued for a certain space of time, and those at Lanceston also, though the Mayor for a time follow­ed it with such blind zeale, madness; and violence. And this is the better vvay to deale with the people called [Page 70] Quakers than the Protector, and his Councell could find: Anthony Nicholls its like can tell from whom came this wicked invention, and who it was that said so, and what Justices set to their hands to make this Warrant the more authentick, and to cover it from being seen to be the Plot of one against the just (viz:) Anthony Nicholls, Anthony Rouse, James Lance, John Treville, Ia. Daniell, Iohn Fox, Dated at Truro.

By that time this Westerne most Countie, and the towns and Villages thereof gave over, the County of De­von on the East of Lanceston began; Cornwall was be­hind, and little in comparison. All England stood before Devon, and through it must all pass that came to the pri­soners, Its bounds extending from Sea to Sea; surely griev­ed are the Priests to see and hear of such abounding of love in visiting the Prisoners from all parts of England, (even from the borders of Scotland) tormented they are day and night because of the continuall goings of so many to and from the Prisoners, who witnessed that which made their Kingdome to shake, and would be its overthrow; No rest are they in because of the opportunities, such had to declare the name of the Lord from far, and his everlasting Gos­pell to the ends of the earth, to the opening of the blind eye, to see their deceit and filthiness, and to the turning of people from darkness to the light, and from the power of Sathan unto God, whom if they should be let alone, the Countie would run after, Therefore the Crie is made, help, help, ye Magi­strates, ye Rulers, ye Officers of the Army, ye Souldiers, ye towns, and Parishes, and Villages, help ye men of Devon, bring forth your Swords, your Staves, your Bills, your Halberts, set the Watch in the high ways, in the towns, on the Bridges, and passages, make strong your Guards, with men of place and ability, and sufficient (carnall) weapons; Let no one of them pass you, hale them to prison, Lay them fast enough, set your au­thoritie upon it, ye generall Sessions, make it a Law (for our Kingdome is of this world, and will fall, if ye powers of [Page 71] the earth do not support it.) Why? What's the matter? What is the reason of this outcry? In plain english, and in open face, it is this—There are a generation of people whom we call Quakers, (for we must reproach in the very first place, that we may be known of what generation we are, Ministers of di­vision, not of reconciliation) wandring up and down this County, (as did the Prophets, and Christ Jesus, and the Apo­stles, and Holy Men of God from the beginning) who plague us greatly, and the men of our generation, in almost every corner of the Nation; who deny (us who thus act, for by these our fruits, they say we are known) the godly Ministers of England to be the true Ministers of the Gospel, (for the true Ministers of the Gospel were Ministers of Jesus Christ, not of Man, or made by or in the will of Man, or Nations, or Coun­tryes, but by the will of God, and the revelation of Jesus Christ, who made them able Ministers of the new Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit, for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life, 2 Cor. 3.6. Gal. 1.16. And such were done too by the Ministers of the Countryes, the National Mi­nisters, the high Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, as we have done, and would have you now do to them, as Christ foretold.) And they deny the Scriptures (of which we make our trade) to be the word of God, (and if that be not the word of God, no other word of God do we know, for we have neither seen his shape, nor heard his voyce at any time; and Revelation we deny, and so we cannot be called M [...]nisters of the word of God) for they say, Christ Jesus is the Word of God, which was in the beginning, before Letter was, which was with God, which was God, and so is not the Letter, which was made flesh, and came and dwelt amongst us, as John testifies, chap. 1. Which word of God is quick and powerfull, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of the joynts and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, as saith the Author to the Hebrews, chap. 4.12. By which word of God the Heavens were of old, and the Earth standing in the water, and out of the water, and the Heavens and the Earth which are now are kept [Page 72] in store, by the same word, reserved unto fire against the day of Judgement, and perdition of ungodly men, as Peter, 2 epist. c. 3. v. 6, 7. witnesseth. Who sits on the white horse, cloathed with a vesture dipt in blood, (whose name is called the Word of God) riding on conquering, and to conquer, having the Armies of Heaven following of him, as John describes him in his Revelations, ch. 19.11, 12, 13, 14. And they say, the Scriptures are a true declaration of this Christ Jesus the Word of God, as Luke bears record; who having a perfect understanding of all things from the very first, saith, he took in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which were most surely be­lieved amongst them, even as they were delivered unto them by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and Mi­nisters of the Word, it seeming good unto him also to write of them in order, chap. 1.1, 2, 3. Which declaration of his of him who is the Word of God, which he calls so who wrote it, we notwithstanding call, and will have it to be the Word of God, and cry out upon such as Blasphemers that say (as Luke said of it, who wrote it) it is a declaration. And they say, that all Scripture given by inspiration of God, holy men of God speaking (not from the Letter, for one Prophet prophesied not what he saw in writing of the Prophesy of another; nor did John what he saw written in the Prophets, but) as they were moved of the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 1.2.1. Nor spake the A­postles, but as the spirit gave them utterance, Acts 2.8. And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instru­ction in righteousness, that the man of God (not the man of sin; and we say, man can never be free from sin while he lives; and he that is not free from sin, is not free from the man of sin; and the man of sin is not the man of God for whom the Scri­pture is profitable) may be perfect, (and we deny perfection as a damnable doctrine) and throughly furnished unto all good works; as Paul affirms to Timothy, 2 epist. 3.16, 17.) Who by venting and broaching many of such Heresies and Blasphe­mies, and scattering Books and Papers of these things which we call seditious, do undermine (with that which is perfect) the Fundamentals of our Rel [...]gion, these great truths which [Page 73] have been so long professed amongst us, and cause many people (which being weak, have been deluded by us, to see their de­lusions, and) to fall from us, notwithstanding the clear Sun­shine of this our Gospel amongst them, to the great dishonour of Almighty God, (whose name hath been taken in our mouths) the disturbance of the peace of the Common-wealth, (which we have often set into Wars and Blood thereabouts) to the sadning of every good and honest heart, and the grief of all pious and religious people, who observe what pitifull Funda­mentals our Religion hath, which can be thus undermined, when as the Kingdome the Apostles and Saints received, could not be moved, Heb. 12.28. And the Rock on which their faith was built, the gates of Hell could not prevail against, said Christ, Matth. 16.18. Nor the storms, nor the winds, nor the rain, to make that house to fall that is built thereupon, Matth. 7.25. And the things that are shaken are to be re­moved, as of things that are made, (for this word, Yet once more I shake not the Earth onely, but also Heaven, so signi­fies) that those things which cannot be shaken may remain, saith the Author to the Hebrews, chap. 12.26, 27. And they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, Psal. 125.1.) And how dark our Gospel is, that notwithstanding the clear sun-shine there­of, the wicked man hath sown such tares as these, which are grown up exceedingly; especially that all this should be done by a people wandring up and down the Countrey, whom we, and the World (which make up what we call our Churches) do scorn, set at nought, and reproach with the weak and con­temptible name of Quakers; and do account and number them (as Christ Jesus their example in sufferings) with Trans­gressours, sturdy Rogues, Beggars, and wandring idle persons. Therefore it is high time for ye who are the Magistrates, and the Authority of this County, (of which we are the Mini­sters, who are in this condition) to appear, and do your parts for the supporting of these great Truths, these Fundamentals of our Religion, which have been so long professed amongst us, which are so undermined (by a wandring, trembling people, [Page 74] which cry up perfection amongst us) of this our Gospel, whose clear sun-shine is thus dark, and so far from being able to com­mend it self [...] to that of God in every mans conscience, or to de­fend it self or us, that it needs your carnal weapons, (which were not the Apostles, for theirs were spiritual, not carnal) but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, 2 Cor. 10.4. And Ezra was ashamed to require of the King a Band of Souldiers and Horsemen to help them against the Ene­my in the way, because he had spoken unto the King, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him, but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him, Ezra 8.22.) For the preventing of that which makes ours appear so, yea to be even the great contagion that hath in­fected almost every corner of this Nation, and strikes at the feet of our Images, (which are but Iron mixed with Clay) and not onely make your Law to the purpose aforesaid, but send your Orders abroad to the chief Constables, and petty Con­stables in every division, earnestly requesting them, as they ten­der the foundation aforesaid of all our hopes of being saved by our Religion now undermined, and the peace of the strong man, whose armour now begins to be taken from him, and his goods to be spoyled, to do their utmost to see them put in exe­cution, that so your dead orders may prove the destruction of the living truth of God, which appears in contemptible Crea­tures, to destroy our undermineable Religion, and dark Gospel, and shaken Fundamentals, and tottering great Truths, and all the designs of Satan, of us his Instruments, to support them; whose Ministers, that we may in all things appear in our ge­neration the same with our predecessours in the former, we ad­vise you to put them in the front and reer, in the wild beasts skins of disaffected to the Government, and disturbers of the peace of the Common-wealth; and fill the belly with bla­sphemy and heresy, and so throw them to the unreasonable Multitude to be devoured; for so did the chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders, our Predecessours, and the whole multitude of them by Jesus to Pilate, when they desired him to crucifie him. We have taken this fellow (said they, as we say now of those who [Page 75] witness him) perverting the Nation, and forbidding to give tri­bute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King, Luke 23.1, 2. And so did the Jews which believed not, but were moved with envy, who took unto themselves certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a Company, and set all the City in an uproar, and ass [...]ulted the house of Jason, and drew him and the brethren before the Rulers, saying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also, whom Jason hath received; and these do all contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying, there is another King, one Jesus, Acts 17.5, 6, 7. And thus said Tertullus, the high Priests and Elders Orator, against Paul to Felix the Governour, We have found this man a pesti­lent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, Acts 24.1, 2, 5.

And whether this be not the plain English of the language of the order of Sessions, and the Letter sent therewith to the Constables in every division hereafter to be mentioned, at the instigation and instruction of the Priests; and whether it be not the naked truth of the things contained in those Papers, and their actions, without straining or wresting, let the sober judge. And what is said, may also serve as some answer to the false accusotions and slanders therein.

For the Priests being troubled and moved, as hath been said, to see and hear of so many to pass through the County to visit the Prisoners, gave the Justices no rest, nor would suffer them to be quiet, till they had contrary to the Fundamental Laws of this Nation, and to the liberty unto which every Englishman is freely born as his Inheritance, of which Liberty the Funda­mental Laws are the guard and defence; which Liberty and Laws for to defend, hath cost the blood and miseries of many Wars heretofore, and those of late; and to true Rel [...]gion, which visits the Prisoners, and doth violence to none; and to all moderation and humanity, ordered as followeth, which with the cruel effects thereof, comes now to be related.

Devon. At the General Sessions of the Publick Peace, held at the Castle of Exon in the said County, the 18. day of July, 1656.

[Page 76] WHereas the number of sturdy Beggars, Rogues, and wandring idle persons, is greatly increased; and al­though there hath been excellent good Laws made for the punish­ment of them, yet because of the remisness of some inferiour Of­ficers the same hath not been duely executed; and now lately di­vers other persons called by the name of Quakers, disaffected to the present Government, do wander up and down the Countrey, and scatter seditions Papers and Books, to the deluding of many weak people, undermining the Fundamentals of Religion, denying the Scriptures to be the Word of God, and the godly Ministers of England to be the true Ministers of the Gospel; and so as by them, many Heresies and Blasphemies are by them vented and broached abroad, to the great dishonour of Almighty God, and grief of all pious and religious people, and to the disturbance of the peace of this Common-wealth. It is therefore ordered, that the Constables of every Hundred within this County shall forth­with issue out their Warrants to the several petty Constables of their several Parishes within their Hundreds, We particularly requiring them thereby, upon receipt thereof, to cause good Watches and Wards to be kept at the Bridges and High-wayes within their several Parishes, where it shall be most convenient, for the apprehending of all Beggars, Rogues, Vagabonds, and wandring, idle, and suspicious persons; and such as shall be therewith apprehended, take care that they be punished, and conveyed according to Law. And that they likewise apprehend all such persons as travel under the notion or name of Quakers, without a lawfull Certificate satisfying from whence they came, and whither they are travelling; or shall have, or do scatter pub­lickly, or own any such seditious Books and Papers as aforesaid; or shall interrupt or disturb any Ministers in the Congregations, [Page 77] or otherwhere; and thereupon bring them, together with such Books and Papers, before some Justice of the Peace of the said County, thereby to be dealt with as the Law requireth. And that this service may be the better performed, it is ordered, that persons of place and abilities, with weapons sufficient, be set to watch and ward; and if any shall refuse or neglect their duties herein, the Constables are thereupon forthwith to certifie the same to the next Justice, who is desired by this Court to binde over such persons to the next Sessions, to answer the said neglect. This Watch and Ward to continue till further order.

Henry Fitz-Williams, Deputy-Clerk of the Peace.

That the Warrant aforesaid might prove the more effectual, it was sent enclosed to the Constables in a Letter signed by Major Blackmore, as followeth.

Gentlemen,

YOƲ will here enclosed finde a Warrant from the General Sessions of the Peace held for this County, which I hope sea­sonable and necessary in this juncture of affairs. I suppose you will hardly judge it cannot but sadden every good and honest heart to observe the great Apostacy that hath happened of late, and that notwithstanding the clear sun-shine of the Gospel a­mongst us: yet the wicked one hath sown his tares, and they are grown up exceedingly; so that it is high time for the Magi­strates to appear for the supporting of these great Truths which have been so long professed amongst us, and for the preventing of this great contagion, that infects almost every corner of this Na­tion. Now the Authority of this County having begun to do their parts in the enclosed Order, I shall make it my earnest re­quest unto you, that as you tender the foundation of all our hopes of salvation by Jesus Christ, the good of poor souls, and the peace of the Common-wealth, you would do your utmost to see this [Page 78] Order put in execution, that it may not be a dead letter, but living direction to all within your Division, to prevent, if the Lord please, the designs of Satan and his Instruments; and therefore send several Copies of the Order, and of this Letter, if you please, to all your petty Constables, that so it may be put in practice; and wherein my small interest or assistance for encou­ragement may be usefull, both you and they may be confident of the same, and that I am

Your assured loving Friend, John Blackmore.

The duty or office of Justices as well in Sessions, as out of Sessions, and of the Judges, is, not to make Laws, but to see that the Laws that are made be duely put in execution; with this they are entrusted, unto this they are sworn; and where they swerve from this, they act arbitrarily, and are liable to punishment. Were the power of making Laws, of such Laws as these, in them, what need is there of Parliaments? To what end have been all the sharp conflicts, industrious care­fulness, hard strugglings, and bloody contests for many hun­dreds of years past, especially of late years, in the behalf of Parliamentary Authority, and the Fundamental Laws which from them sprang, and which declare their Authority supream and absolute? To what purpose have been the hangings by the neck, the cuttings of the throat at Tyburn, the imprison­ments, confiscation of estates, and other exemplary punish­ments executed on Judges, Justices, and Ministers of state, for arbitrary acting, of which the Records of this Nation speak? Why was Strafford's head cut off, and Canterbury's, [Page 79] and Charles Stuart's, as Traitors, for endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of England? And what justice was there in all these, if a general Sessions of a particular County may make Laws, such Laws as aforesaid, beyond what ever they did, and go unpunished? Walk through the Records of this Nation, where the instances aforesaid are registred, (those that are free thereunto) search Strafford's Trial, and Canter­bury's of late dayes, and see whether it was ever proved against them that ever they judicially made a Law against the Fun­damental Laws and Liberties of this Nation, and put in exe­cution? Whether ever such a Law as this was made, such Guards set up, such Executions done by vertue thereof, as is hereafter mentioned? Canterbury committed to Prison, and assigned not the cause in the Warrant of Commitment, as is the Law of the Land, and it proved Capital to him. Impri­sonments contrary to Law were reckoned up against Strafford, making up the number of his cumulative Treasons, which cost him his head. Charles Stuart and his Lords committed men, is Canterbury aforesaid, and early he heard of it in the Parlia­ment, the third of his reign, and was constrained to submit unto the Petition of Right, to keep that his wrong doing from being further questioned. And for his other arbitrary actions, and what followed thereupon in these three Nations, and be­fell his particular, needs not to be mentioned, being recorded every where in the blood and miseries of the late Wars, and the destruction of him, and his Family; the dreadfull and sad examples of his righteous judgements, who renders to every one according to his deeds.

But these things to the men of this generation, to these Ju­stices, are of little value. They can go over the Graves of these multitudes who have perished for these things, without fear. They can gaze upon all the dreadfull desolations and trans­act ons because of these things without astonishment; and can dare to do those things to-day, which yesterday were made be­fore their eyes the saddest examples of the vengeance of God; not fearing before the Lord, because of his judgements which he hath brought forth on the earth, but with a hardned heart, [Page 80] and a stiffneck, and a brow of brass, proceed to act the same, yea greater abominations and unrighteousnesses than those, for which things sake he cut them off.

For although every Englishman is alike born free to travel, be, or abide in any part of England, or the Dominions thereof; and to deny him this, is to deny him his b [...]thright, and is as unreasonable as to deny him the air to breath in; and a denial of this to one man, is a denial unto all, as hath been said. Though the high-way [...]s are equally free for all men to pass, as free for the men of Cumb [...]rland in Devon, as for the men of Devon who live on the other side of the way, and so for the men of Devon in Cumberland. Though to stop or h nder a man in his peaceable travell [...]ng in the high way is a b [...]each of the peace, and an overthrow of society amongst men. Though Magna Charta, cap. 29. saith, No man shall be t [...]ken, im­prisoned, or exiled, (and to be barr'd from travelling one part of a mans Countrey is a banishment) or any way otherwise destroyed; nor we shall not pass upon him but by lawfull judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land. Though the Law of the Land above all things takes care of, and va­lues the liberty of a mans person. Though for those who are by Commission the Ministers of the Law, otherwise to act than in the execution of the Law, renders them accountable to the justice of the Law, as it is perjury in them so to do, who are sworn by the Law to execute. Though arbitrary proceedings in such as are entrusted with the execution of the Law, have been adjudged by Parliaments tyrannical and treasonable, and ca­pital Executions have been done accordingly, as hath been in­stanced. Though any party of men under a Government, to make Laws, being not lawfully authorized so to do, for the binding of others, and thereunto to require obedience, be the setting up of themselves above the Law, and treading it under their feet, and rendring of them whom they do so bind, their Slaves and Vassals, and so is treason. Though to raise men, and arm them, and to keep Guards with such, apprehend and imprison, where the Law doth not impower, (and no where doth the Law impower any so to do especially, in opposition to [Page 81] Law, and Liberty, and the destruction thereof) is also Trea­son. Though Liberty of Conscience is a chief Fundamental in the present Government. Though for the Liberties aforesaid, and for it, have been the late wars, changes and revolutions which are the price thereof. Though to go about, doing of good, be that which Jesus of Nazareth, and his Prophets, and Apostles did; and to visit the Prisoners be that which he re­quireth, even he who is the Son of man, the King, who when he shall come in his glory, and all his holy Angels with him, sitting upon the Throne of his glory, before whom shall be ga­thered all Nations, whom he shall separate the one from the other, saith to the Goats on the left hand, Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his An­gels; for I was in Prison, and ye visited me not. (And they shall answer, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? And then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, in as much as you did it not unto one of these little ones, ye did it not to me; and these shall go away into everlasting punishment, Mat. 25.). And so is an exercise of faith in Jesus Christ the true Religion, which the Government requireth to be protected, as hath been mentioned. Yet have these Justices by a Law of their own making, (contrary to what hath been aforesaid, (the Law of the Nation) and to what might further be added in demonstration of the illegality and unreasonableness of these their proceedings, could this short Relation bear a full discussing thereof) set up armed Guards, under the name of Watches & Wards on the high-ways and bridges throughout the County of Devon, requiring them to apprehend all such, whom by and in their Law they reproach, distinguish, and brand with the scorned name of Quakers, as travel thereon; whom having a minde to destroy, and to keep from passing to visit their Friends in Prison at Lanceston in Cornwall, suffering there for the testimony of Jesus, as hath been said; unto which place there is no passage out of England by land, but through that County; and to hinder from going to and fro that County, lest they should declare against, and manifest the wickedness in Priest and People. And that these [Page 82] their cruel and tyrannical actions might have some pretence, and cover and prevail with those in whom the same spirit ru­leth, to execute them to the purpose. They by and in their Law falsly accuse, and charge, and slander all such whom they so reproach, distinguish, and brand, to be disaffected to the Go­vernment, disturbers of the publick peace, scatterers of sedi­tious Books and Papers, venters and broachers abroad of many Heresies and Blasphemies, with much more of the like stuff. And that this service (as they call it, but poor hearts! they will one day sadly know whose service it is, when the Master payes them their wages) may be the better performed, they order that persons of place and abilities, with sufficient weapons, be thus set to watch and ward; and if any shall neglect their duties (as they term the obedience which they require to their illegal and monstrous command) herein, they require the Constables thereupon forthwith to certifie the same to the next Justice, whom they desire (by and in the name of this Court) to cer­tifie the same, and to binde over to the next Sessions, to answer the said neglect.

So that, in plain English, he on whom they thus place the name of a Quaker in scorn and derision, and by distinction, (who every where is surely known by his obedience to the Lord, and to the Law of his God, which he dares not shift from confessing openly before all, for the avoyding the unrea­sonableness and fury of men, in whom the Prince of darkness rules, as the Professions and People of the world can; which is a sure character on such an one by which to finde him, in whom no occasion or fault can be found, but concerning the Law of his God, as it was with Daniel) must be such an one as they have made and described in and by their Law, unsight and unseen, unknown and unheard, be he what he will, if he be one whom in and by this our Law they call a Quaker, watch and wardsmen, he is disaffected to the Government, a Distur­ber of the publick peace, a Scatterer of seditious Books and Papers, a Venter and Broacher of Heresies and Blasphemies; we say it, we make him so, be he so or no, lay hold on him, ap­prehend him we require you, bring him with his Books and [Page 83] Papers, (if he hath any) before one of us, to be dealt withall according to this our Law.

And that indeed this unheard of iniquity thus set up by a Law contrary to the Law of the Nation, may be effectually executed, the strict provisions in the order aforesaid (though such as hath been said) are not thought enough, (wickedness never thinketh its devices against the just to be too much, or too sure, crucified, dead, buried, a stone rolled before the se­pulcher, a guard of souldiers) the countenance of that part of the Army in that County, so far as the concurrence of a chief Officer may serve it, must be had: And for this purpose John Blackmore, Major to General Disborow, and a Justice of Peace, must be dealt withall, to render the Order effectual in the exe­cution, as from him proceeded the motion of the Order to the Sessions; who being prevailed with, debaseth himself as low as Hell, turns Clerk to a Priest, and his back to his long pro­fessed principles, and friends, and to the smoke of the bottom­less pit, from whence came the Order aforesaid, and the Letter, even from the black generation, sets to his hand, and makes their his earnest request to all the Constables, That now the Authority of that County having begun to do their parts in the Order which he enclosed, (which is so and such as hath been expressed) they would do their utmost to see it put in execu­tion, as they tender the foundation of all their hopes of sal­vation by Jesus Christ, the good of poor souls, and the peace of the Commonwealth, that so it might not be a dead letter, but living direction to all within their Division; and assures them of his interest and assistance therein for their encourage­ment, though he hath drawn his sword, and been at the shed­ding of a great deal of blood for Liberty of Conscience, for the Liberties of England, of which he hath made a long and a large profession, when it was the case of the Army, and the ho­nest men (then) who owned them throughout England, against the Priests, and the Common Enemy, who struck at the roots of the Liberties of the Nation, and of Conscience, which now his pride hath made him to forget. And so his painted professi­on is (now) at an end, it will cover him no longer, his sepulcher [Page 84] is open, and seen to be full of rottenness, and dead mens bones, the bones, the mangled carcases, the blood and sufferings of all in the late wars for liberty of Conscience, or the liberties of the Nation.[13] Poor Major Blackmore! how hast thou now descended into the pit, and made thy grave with the uncircumcised.

And such was the encouragement of the Order aforesaid, coming enclosed in this Letter of this Officer of tha [...] Army which once was the sword or the Lord, and a dread and terrour on those whom this spirit ruled, and in whom it was now risen afresh, and waited onely for s [...] me such shew of Authority as this, and countenance. That though the Order bore date the 18. of the fifth month, called July, yet by the 23. of the same month were the Guards up, and some Friends travelling to­wards Berkshire from visiting the prisoners at Lanceston, were apprehended, and the next day imprisoned, and by the 16. of the 6. month, in the space of about 25. dayes, were no less than one and twenty men and women imprisoned in Exeter of those whom those Guards apprehended, all of them except one (who was accompanying some of them to direct them the way thither from Exon, where he was born) being on their way to and from Lanceston, to visit, and from visiting of the prisoners of the Lord there. And of these the Guards demanded, Are ye Quakers? Will ye own the Quakers? Will ye deny the Qua­kers? We have an Order of Sessions to stop and apprehend all Quakers; and so they fall to rifling of their pockets, and ta­king away what Letters, Papers, or Books they found about them, as did the Justices; one of whom, (to wit) John Cham­pion, called John Brown from the rest that were apprehended with him, into his Parlour, and there beat him with his own hands, he standing still, and saying nothing; and then sent him and the rest (one of whom, viz. Jane Ingram, is since there dead) to prison, where he was laid in irons, and some of them of [Page 85] their money did the Guards rob, (one man of 10 s. as they confess'd themselves) and spent much of it before his face in strong drink, abusing him, and setting him forth a scorn through­out the Countrey as he passed; which he acquainted Major Saunders, one of the Justices, (who sent divers of those Friends to prison) that he might do justice while the Constable was in Town who took away his money, and so used him; but he re­fused so to do, or to meddle therein. This is Major Saunders, and the end of his long and large profession also; but hath now forgotten it, and is j yned with them, and with them is gone down to the pit, and his grave hath he made with the uncir­cumc sed; who knew the day when those at Exon rose up a­gainst him and his souldiers, as Hereticks and Schismaticks. And another who was carrying money and other provisions to the prisoners, the Constable robb'd of 20 s. of that money at the eleventh hour of the night on the Guard where they had him prisoner, though he said, if he took his money from him, they robb'd him. And one Parker, one of M jor Blackmore's Troo­pers, charged the Inn-keeper at Exon to detain Katherine Evans hired horse, (who with John Bolton, James Naylor, and Tho­mas Hawkins, were brought from Okehampton prisoners) where­upon the Inn-keeper refused to deliver her horse, saying, he had an order from the said Trooper to detain it, and that the said Trooper said he had order from his Major so to do. And after she was so taken from her, a Justice sent her on foot to her out­ward being from tithing to tithing with a pass; which horse and the moneys aforesaid are yet detained, as are the persons of those 21. in prison in Exeter to this day, as is particularly instanced hereafter with their names, and by whom, and the Justices that committed them, and the proceedings of Judge Nicholas with them at the Assizes, to which the Reader is referred

And as from the Priests arose this unheard of cruel per­secution, so were they not able (so full were they of it) to contain themselves from appearing openly in acting there­in; of which an instance or two shall be given. On the 20. of the 6. month John Stubs, William Ames, and Hester Bedle, as they were passing towards Lanceston, met with a guard at Pogel, and [Page 86] two Priests by them, the one Priest of Pogell, the others name was Waldron, as said the people. The Guard examined them first, and then pass'd them over to the Priests. The Priests ha­ving took them in hand, one of them, (viz.) Parson Waldron, said to the Guard, Watchmen, you were best keep them, for they are suspicious, and I do the more suspect them because they came from B [...]istol. What are we suspicious of? said one of them: That Priest answered, of being Quakers; and asked them whether they were not such as were so called? They an­swered, they were. Then said he to the Watchmen, you must not let them pass, for therefore are the Watches set, that no [...]e might pass who go under that name. And the other Priest them with much passion, they went about the Devils work, (who were going to visit the Innocent in Prison) and with his message; and laughed and scoff'd at what one of them said to him in the dread and power of the Lord. And Parson Waldron said, that he thought they must get the Countrey to knock them in the heads, or beat their brains out; and that if the power were in his hands, he would root them out of the land. And the Priest of Pogell said, it was pity they were not all rooted out of the land. I'le warrant, said Parson Waldron, this Parliament will root them all-out; and this he said seve­ral times. And having spoken a notorious lye of one of those Friends before the people of something that was unseemly, which the Priest said he should then do, which the people pre­sent bore witness it was not so, having both seen and heard the passages, though he was taken with a lye in his mouth; yet so far was he from blushing, or being ashamed, that he laughed thereat, and said, Though he were a lyar, yet all were not like him. And having used much scoffings and railings, the Priests departed that night, after they had given order to the Guard to keep them prisoners. So by those two Priests order were they kept ten hours prisoners. The next morning the Priest of Po­gell came again, and railed at them while they were prisoners: whereupon one of them drew near towards him, to speak to him; he retired back, and bid him stand off; and when he was asked, where his moderation was? he answered, he ought [Page 87] not to be moderate in the things of God. And the woman he thrust from him, and threatned to kick her about, and said to the Watchmen, that they must be carried to Exon. And of the same minde was one Priest Ham at Lanceston, who in his fare­well Lecture-Sermon there exhorted the people to tread the bo­dies of the people called Quakers in the street, and taught them how to write their names in the dust. And another Priest drew the Warrant by which he was committed whom the Con­stable robb'd of the 20 s. of the money he was carrying to the prisoners as aforesaid, at the instigation of that Priest. Which Warrant, for the rarity thereof, and that the sober may see what unheard of Monsters this black generation brings forth, and for that it hath an ET CETERA in it, as hath P. Ceelyes, as is aforesaid, and because it is an interpretation of the Order of Sessions, and of the proceedings thereupon, and of the pit out of which it proceeded under one of the founders drawing and hand-writing, take as followeth.

To all Mayors, Bayliffs, Sheriffs, Constables, Tithing­men, and all Officers whom these may concern.

WHereas there was an Order issued from this Bench for the apprehending of all Rogues, and Vagabonds, and in particular for the apprehending of those who pass up and down the Countrey under the name of Quakers, as disturbers of the peace of this present Government, and as underminers of the Fundamentals of Religion, the spreaders of Heresies and Bla­sphemies, &c. Now there being one that owns the name of a Quaker being apprehended, and brought before me, who hath Letters, and a Book tending to the spreading of the dangerous opinions of that party, and without any Certificate at all from whence he came, and whither he will. I do therefore in pursu­ance of the said Order issued from this Bench, commit the said Quaker unto the Goal of this County, there to remain till he be discharged by due order of Law. And by these presents I do re­quire the Keeper of the said Goal to take him the said Quaker, whose name as he saith is Thomas Rawlinson, into his custody, [Page 88] and him safely to keep, untill by Authority he be set at li­berty. Given under my hand and seal at Telcot this 7th. of August, 1656.

Edw. Aiscot.

It would be too long to take this Monster in pieces, and fully to describe it; nor will this relation, which hath such va­riety of unheard of illegal and monstrous proceedings necessa­rily to be spoken to, bear a large discourse of this, or of divers other material passages mentioned therein; each of which (were it in the time of the former generation, wherein much was said of a little, in comparison to what is in this day acted) would increase into an entire and voluminous discourse, which scarcely with the bare relation is now passed over. Such are the excesses of cruelty because of conscience, in this day of the highest profession by the highest Professors, that that which yesterday made the whole Nation to ring, and drew forth the sword of war to relieve it, passeth this day over in silence, and without observation, being look'd upon rather as favour than cruelty, as kindness than a furious persecution; and it is ac­counted well where the extremity of sufferings are not the Companions of those who have the testimony of Jesus. This Warrant lyes plain enough to be understood by him whose eyes are in the least measure opened; who when he hath read the Priest of Talcots name that drew it, which is Whaire, and the Constable which robb'd that friend of the prisoners money, which is William Norcut of Clayton, is left to judge thereof as it is. The Guard apprehends him whom they call Quaker, at Clayton, as he was peaceably passing on the way with necessa­ries for the prisoners; the Authority is the Order of Sessions; the Priest draws the Warrant, and in the Warrant uttereth his mischievous desires; the Justice signs and seals it; the Con­stable robs him of the money sent by him to the prisoners to supply their necessaries after this commitment, whom so to do the Priest sets on, and then sends him to Exon Goal with a Guard; so they wrap it up. But not a word is there in this [Page 89] Priests Warrant of the Protector, no, they like not the 37. Ar­ticle of his Government: therefore a new Authority have they in this County found out, and raised, where withall thus to per­secute, (viz.) the General Sessions, and so the Warrant runs in the name and authority, not of the Protector, though in his name all administration of Government is to pass, but of this Bench; and yet chargeth them, whom it called Quakers, as disaffected to the Government, one of whom this Priest hath much ado to call by his proper name, so full of malice is he, but with a name of reproach, this Quaker, there being one that owns the name of a Quaker brought before me, I do there­fore in pursuance of the said Order issued from this Bench, commit the said Quaker to the Goal of this County, &c. And by these presents I do require the Keeper of the said Goal to [...]ake him the said Quaker, whose name as he saith is Thomas Rawlinson, into his custody, and him safely to keep untill by authority (not a sillable of the Protector, or his authority) he be set at liberty. Given, &c. Doth not this shew that the Priests have as little minde to the Protector, as they have to the people called Quakers? That the same spirit that impri­sons them for coming into their coasts, leaves his name out, and his authority, and yet directs it to all Mayors, Bayliffs, She­riffs, Constables, Tithingmen, and all Officers, &c. Doth not here appear from the grave the spirit that was in Christopher Love Priest, and his fellow traitors, who being within the ju­risdiction of this Commonwealth, took upon them to com­missionate divers men to treat with Charles Stuart, the pro­claimed Traitor of the Government, at Breda, and with the Scots, for the putting him into what they called his Father's Throne and Dominion in England, for which and his other Treasons he lost his head at Tower-hill, the 22. of the 5. month, 1651. See the Book entituled, A short Plea for the Common­wealth, and therein the Priests treasons. Doth not the sprouts of the Bishops appear in the ET CETERA in the War­rant? Is Christopher Love dead, and the Scots and Charles Stuart overcome, and that Countrey subdued, and the Pres­byterian, Malignant power broken in pieces, and are the Bi­shops [Page 90 plucked up root and branch, and these things so? Is it not time to look about? What is next?

These are some of the fruits of the Ministry, Magistracy, Authority and Profession of the County of Devon, Apples of Sodom, Grapes of Gomorrah, clusters of bitterness, wine of the poyson of Dragons, of the cruel venome of Asps. These are some of the effects of the loud cry of the Order of Sessions, some of the executions done by them to whom Major Black­more makes it his earnest request, as they tender the hopes of salvation by Jesus Christ, the good of poor souls, and the peace of the Commonwealth, to do their utmost to see this order put in execution. These are some of the living works of darkness from them to whom his request is made, and his dead letter sent for their direction, copies of which he desires, if the Con­stables please, (what a low condescention is here?) to be sent to the petty Constables, that so it may be put in practice; and lo here it is, here is the practice, a wicked, robbing, bloody pra­ctice, as it hath proved. Behold what his bidding them be con­fident wherein his small interest or assistance (filthy hypocri­sy, which conceives that great which it expresseth small, and would have it accounted great when it expresseth it little) for encouragement may be usefull; and that he is their assured loving friend (of which he would have them be confident) hath brought forth. See to what his interest, and assistance, and en­couragement is; and whether this be the preventing of the de­signs of Satan, and his instruments, or his stratagems, and the carrying on of his designs, and the acting of his instruments therein, and that in the name of the Lord, let the sober judge. And yet this Major Blackmore, when the Constables have brought him some of the Friends aforesaid, whom they have taken up with these armed Guards as they were peaceably pas­sing on the way to visit their Friends in prison at Lanceston, at his earnest request in his Letter aforesaid, and by vertue of the Order for that purpose, which he moved the Sessions to make, hath seemed to be angry with the Constables for bringing them to him, when they have brought such before him so apprehen­ded, and refused to meddle with their commitment as if he [Page 91] disliked the action, and had nothing to do in the Guards, and the raising and placing of them for their apprehensions, as he hath sought to be understood in his discourse to some of the Pri­soners, blaming the Justices for imprisoning of them, and saying that he imprisoned none. Is not this man worse than Pilate, who apprehended not Jesus, but sought to release him, know­ing that for envy they had delivered him; and often ask-asked them, what evil hath he done? I finde no fault in him, nor Herod; and when he saw he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person, see ye to it. And is he not as bad as the high Priests, Scribes, Elders, and the whole multitude of them, who when they had gotten Jesus to be betrayed, and with a band of men with swords and staves to be apprehended, that they might crucifie him, sent him to Pilate to crucifie him, but went not into the Judgement Hall, (why do you bring them to me? I like this not, I have imprisoned none) lest they should he defiled, and so not eat the Passeover? They know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and rob­bery in their palaces. Tremble O thou Earth at this, be thou ashonished, and horribly afraid, for the day of the Lord which is at hand, with whom this is laid up in store, and sealed up a­mongst his treasures, and the hour of his righteous judgements because of these things hastneth, to whom vengeance belong­eth, and recompence.

But these are not the first fruits of this Vine of Sodom in these fields of Gomorrah, this City of Exon, and County of De­von, the habitations of cruelty; early did this cursed branch bud early did it blossome, and send forth its poysonous fruits. The year 1645. witnessed this. This the Army knew full well, against whose Garrison, under the command of Colonel Robert Hammond, the City of Exon stood, turned out, and shut their gates, and kept from returning, as they did whatever Forces the Army would have put thereinto, as Colonel Hardress Waller, and his Regiment, which was once denied entrance, and being in, refused to be billeted, can, witness; till the eleven membred grand wheel in London, which rose up, and was o­vercome [Page 92] in the year 1647. was broken, whom they thus did set against with an inveterate hatred, scorned, and branded with the names of Hereticks and Schismaticks. And as such did those, who are called Independents and Baptists, understand this, some of whom were apprehended as Hereticks and Schis­maticks, and clapt up as such. Baptists put in the stocks for coming to the private meeting there on the first dayes out of the Countrey, although they had Certificates from the Justices, and were men of outward quality. And the Steeplehouse door shut against Stuckley, an Independent Priest, who (now) is joyned with those his (then) persecutors in persecuting the Just. It would be too long to instance of the order from above read in the great Steeplehouse by Parsons the singing-man a­gainst private meetings, the sudden release of him out of pri­son, after Lieutenant Colonel Percy; Captain Vernon, and o­ther Officers of Colonel Hammonds Regiment then present, had committed him for reading thereof; and of the sudden Order that followed for turning the Regiment out, as afore­said; also of the tumult that beset a private meeting in Rock­lane after Major Saunders (who, as hath been instanced, is now become a Persecutor with them) was Governour of the Castle, upon the Armies prevailing against the eleven Mem­bers; whom the tumult so abused, that a Guard of Souldiers were sent for, who could not appease it, nor Major Saunders himself, but was both him and his souldiers abused also. It would be too large to be particular in the rage of the[14] Priests, who made it their business in Town and Pulpits to set the people on fire against the Army, and the separation from that which they called the old way, as Hereticks and Schismaticks, as Heresy and Schism; especially Priest Ford, who in those things tutor'd the rest of the Priests in his Lecture at the great Steeplehouse for a long time together in these things. Nor was he quiet after General Disborow was Major General of the West, who (it's said) put him by, as not able to bear him, but is since got in again; a volume is little enough to contain these things; and what the Baptists so called received in other pla­ces of the County, particularly at Plymouth, where hath been [Page 93] 30. of such clapt up at a time by Christopher Ceely, (the same who hath barbarously persecuted several of the Friends of Truth mentioned in this Relation) and by him bound over to answer at the Assizes, of[15] whom Nicholas Cole was one, who is now persecuted by him, and Mary Cole his wife also, as such as the world calls Quakers, and the Independents also, who meeting hath been tumulted, and the back door broke open, and the people met beaten and wounded; so that they coming into the street, and thinking thereby to avoyd some of their cruelty, there they were fallen upon also; and when they called to the Magistrates as they passed from the Steeple-house to restrain the rude Multitude, they answered, they justly de­served what was done to them; which so encouraged the tu­mult, that murther had been committed, had not some Soul­diers of the Town come and rescued them out of their hands. [Page 94] And of this the Commonwealth had experience, whose Judges the Magistrates refused to accompany as usual at the Assizes, which occasioned the removing of the Assizes once to Tiver­ton from Exeter; and against whose government they ex­ceedingly kick'd, after the death of the late King, as they have done at every thing that savoured of honesty, of liberty of conscience, and of the Nation, which were the workings of the Lord in the day of his power, and brought forth by him, and covered with his presence, to the finishing of the wars, which was a figure of that which is now come to reign, and in order to the reigning thereof, (viz.) the seed of God, the prin­ciple of righteousness, the Kingdome of Jesus Christ, who is come, whose right it is, of whose dominion there shall be no end, let the rage of the Heathen be never so much thereat, and the scorners make it a derision, against which in this hour of its testimony finishing in sufferings, it is risen up into a rod of wickedness, as is manifest by what hath been said, and by their other persecutions, some of which are,[16] and others not yet brought forth, and made publick: Heresy, Schism, Faction, and a generation of Hereticks and Schismaticks are this Army, and those who own them, break them to pieces, disband, de­stroy them, cause them to perish, the pleaders for, and upholders of this cursed toleration, and hinderers of coercion in matters of Religion, Worship, and Discipline, was the cry in 1645. and forwards, and for an Ordinance against Blasphemy and He­resy, wherein all sorts of professions differing from Presbytery, may reade themselves; and what this generation would do with such as maintain and publish by preaching, printing, writing, or teaching, that the baptizing of Infants is unlaw­full and voyd, or that such persons must be re-baptized; or shall re-baptize any person so baptized; or that the Churches of England, their Ministers, or Ordinances, are no true Churches, Ministers, or Ordinances; or that the Church government by Presbytery is Antichristian, or unlawfull; (there see a few of their claws) call to minde the former dayes, and let the things that are past come into remembrance, even what this genera­tion [Page 95] would have done, their Synod, & accomplices to conscience, and to whom this generation joyned in the years 1648. & 1650. and so forwards, even with the common Enemy Charles Stuart, Q. Mary, Fermin, and Percy, and the Scots by war and trea­son to effect it, (see Christopher Love Priest, and his treasons aforesaid, in the Book entituled, A short Plea for the Com­monwealth for this) and forget not the wonderfull deliverance from them, all which the right hand of the Lord effected, whereby the shoulder was then removed from the burthen, and the hands delivered from the pots. O my people, remem­ber what Balack King of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. And the cry is now heresy, blasphemy, sedition, deniers of the godly Ministers of England to be the true Ministers of the Gospel, venters and broachers of heresies and blasphemies; Arm, arm, turn them out, shut the gates against these Schismaticks and Hereticks, was the alarm then; set up Watches, Wards, armed with suf­ficient weapons, supplyed with men of place and ability; let none of them travel the Countrey, no not so much as to visit their Friends in prison; apprehend, imprison them, is the Law now, by the men of the same generation, the Priests and their Disciples. The walls of Exon were the bounds then, the whole circuit of the County of Devon is the extent now. That a kinde of a hurly-burly effected, this is done by a Law of the general Sessions, by the Authority of the County, (not of the Protector) as saith Major Blackmore. That was to keep a Garrison of those they then called Hereticks out of the City, from guarding of them: This to set up armed Guards to take up and imprison all such of them whom they now call Quakers, that travel peaceably on the way without staff or weapon. And what may not this generation be expected fur­ther to do, as they have power in their hands, and opportunity, if in such things as these they may act and prosper? Have they not now learnt a way to keep any sort of men from travelling, or passing, whom they dislike? Put a brand upon them, fill up an order with monstrous and false accusations, and set up [Page 96] armed Guards, make what themselves have forged the pre­tence, and all such apprehend and imprison. Is not this a fine way to deal with the present powers, if ever an opportu­nity should administer? Do they love them, do they affect them, (though they make use of them against the people of God called Quakers, whom they falsly accuse with dis-affection thereunto, and upon whom they make an essay of what they can do, and of their Authority) did the late publick occasion manifest any such thing, or the contrary? Have they not spread a plain lesson before every County to do the like? and what is next? Are their eyes open who are chief in authority? Do they not yet see through these men, and things, and to what they tend? Doth it not concern them to look about be­fore it be too late? Have they not fair warning, and long and large experience? Alas, what doth it suffice us to deal with a few contemned Quakers, whil'st that stands which did put us by all our hopes of dominion over mens consciences, and the State, and overturned us and all our designs with shame and dishonour, with whom these Quakers were one, and some of them principal Actors; and whilest the root is yet unpull'd up of that which hath laid an universal cursed toleration, and li­berty of conscience, a chief fundamental in the Government. If this doth not concern you, O ye chief in Authority, and if this be not so, let it pass.

To conclude, This generation have in this particular of Watches and Wards exceeded the most bloody Persecutors that have been known to have been on the face of the Earth; a­mong whose thirsty ravenings after the blood of the Innocent, there is not found one such example, no not among the red Re­cords of the Roman persecutions, or of Queen Maries cruel­ty; onely in the beginning of the long Parliament some such thing was set at Whitehall gate to hinder the multitudes of people which flock'd up out of the City to Westminster to complain of their sufferings by the Bishops, and oppressions, which Charles Stuart called tumults, and so found fault with it, and by that Guard one of them was slain, at the place of the shedding of whose blood was Charles Stuart's head struck [Page 97] off, and his blood poured forth on the ground; a remarkable record of the righteous judgement of God. And from the high Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, was the Band sent with swords and staves, to take Jesus in the Garden in the night', who di­sturbed no man, whom Judas led, who hang'd himself, and whose bowels gushed out, though he returned the money, the price of the blood of the Innocent, whom he had betrayed to the chief Priests, saying, I have sinned, and repented him­self, but for him there was no place found. Consider this ye, who having these examples before your eyes, do nevertheless dare to tread in their steps, setting up Guards, Watches, and Wards, with swords, and staves, and halberts, betraying, ap­prehending, imprisoning, and dealing with the Innocent, as hath been said, who travel on the high-wayes quiet and peace­ably, without sword or staff, to visit their long and sore op­pressed innocent Friends in prison, who witness the life of the same Jesus (now) made manifest in them, which the same spirit that crucified Jesus doth (now) in you rise up against, and per­secute for witnessing thereof, and numbers amongst Trans­gressors, sturdy Rogues, and Vagabonds: but those who are indeed such, and whom the Law calls so, not one of them is found in the Kalendar of those your Prisoners, whom these your Guards have apprehended by vertue of your order: By which it is manifest who in your account were these Vagabonds and sturdy Rogues placed in the front of your order, and who they were whom you thereby sought to render vile and odious, and to apprehend, to wit, the Innocent and harmless lambs of Christ, who travelling peaceably on the way without staff or sword, you like Wolves have torn and devoured, and have drawn the sword against, to stop and limit, when ungodliness and iniquity passeth every where without let, controul, or pu­nishment: Such for to stop your Guards have no order, of which the Prisoners at Lanceston in one of their papers given out upon your Guards, have let you understand, as followeth.

Friends,

ALL ye who are turning the sword against the innocent, a­gainst the truth it self, do ye not see drunkenness at liberty, look in your Ale-houses: Do you not see sports, prophaness at li­berty? look in your streets: Do you not see deceitfull merchan­dize, cosening, and cheating? look in your Markets? Do you not see oaths and curses! Do you lend your ears to this? But are you not lending your ears which way the Lambs of Christ walk, to catch up them; the strangers, to clap up them in prison; and this is the provision you make for strangers, and the entertain­ment you give them, and yet ye cry up your selves Christians, and the Gospel shines amongst you: but lusts, whoredomes, unclean­ness, drunkenness, prophaness, how is this looked after? This is your own you may say, and the world love its own; this is re­creation, to go to pleasures, must take some recreation now and then, but must not travel to cry against sin, and cry against pleasures, stop them, set Watches for them, they are not fit to live in a Commonwealth, nor to suffer any to come at them, or to visit them; these sow sedition, and disturb our peace, say the Drunkard and Whoremongers, say they that are given to plea­sures, and follow pleasures; they disturb our peace, say coseners, cheaters, swearers, and cursers, that are above yea and nay in their merchandise: These being reproved by the Lambs of Christ, hale them before Magistrates, for they disturb our peace, say they, and these break our peace, therefore put them in the stocks, put them in the prisons, and put them out of the towns, cast them out, they are Quakers. Are ye not of them that cry, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, and cast out them that tremble at the word of the Lord, that the Lord regards, as Isaiah speaks of: so are ye not of them that Jeremy, speaks of, that love to have those Priests and Prophets that bear rule by their means, which he saw to be the horrible filthy thing committed in the Land, which cry, the Temple of the Lord, and come to the House which ye call your Church; and do not such as steal come thither, and such as murther come thither, and such as commit adultery come thither, such as cosen come thi­ther, [Page 99] and do not such make up your Church, the coseners, the a­dulterers, the oppressors, such as trust in lying words, the mur­therer, the covetous, back-biters, scorners, mockers, do not such make up your Church, as they cryed out, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord. Have ye not read and heard of the people that said they were wise, and had the Law of the Lord, which lived in these things before-mentioned, which met together at the Temple to serve God, but liars, swearers, covetous, idola­ters, proud, and heady, these cryed, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, and the Law of God was with them; and do not ye cry now that are proud, covetous, oppressors, persecutors, lyars, swearers, cursed speakers, reproachers, scoffers, drunkards, such as are given to pleasures, cry, cry, the Church, the Church, and ye have the Scriptures amongst you, but out of the life of them found, as the Jews were found before you; and you may see what is at liberty among you, and what is set up, and what it is that turns against the Lord, and his truth, and his power, which will be your ruine in the end, except ye consider, and repent, and amend your lives and doings, and turn unto the Lord; for do not ye, and have not ye plainly declared by your fruits, that them whom ye in scorn call Quakers, are the Lambs of Christ, as haling them out of Synagogues, haling them before Magistrates, and abusing them, as if that it were your onely work, and let all wickedness run its race, and have its liberty; and this is as it were your onely work to turn your swords against the lambs of Christ. Doth it not here plainly shew that ye are of the world? Have not you your selves plainly declared? For do not ye hate them, the children of God? Do not ye persecute them, set watches, snares, lay baits for them, take them up prisoners, and persecute? Doth not Christ say, Who is not of the world, the world shall hate you? Doth not the Apostle bid the Saints not to marvel, for the world would hate them, for they were not of the world, and the world loved its own; they that are of the world, hear their own; they that are of God hear us, who are not of the world. Mark this, they that are of God hear us, were not such as held up Syna­gogues, Temple, first Priesthood, that took Tithes of the world yea or nay. Was not the Temple worldly, and all to be judged and [Page 100] denyed? And are not your Teachers now made by the will of man, which persecute, which be found out of the spirit of Jesus Christ, that now ye are haling your friends, them that the Lord sends to do good unto you; now ye are haling your friends, now ye are per­secuting your friends, now ye are smiting your friends, you will not have Christ to reign, you will not have sin to reign in your markets and streets; and if they reprove sin in the gate, he is made a prey upon that doth it; you will have pleasures to reign, and not have them reproved; he is called a mad man among you that doth reprove you, or a fool; you will not have drunkards re­proved, nor swearers, nor cursed speakers in the ale-houses, or in the streets abroad, but he is looked upon to be a peace-breaker, or a gatherer of tumults. And here you may see what you will to reign; that which the sword should be turned against, which the Lambs of Christ turn against, therefore against the Lambs of Christ ye turn your swords. And again, hirelings, and such as seek their gain from their quarter, such as divine for money, and such Teachers as teach for money, that go in Cain's way, and Balaam's way, these ye will have to reign, and cannot endure they should be cryed against, and will not have Christ reign, but up­hold them with a Law, that none shall speak to them while they are speaking without a Prison? Was ever such Christians seen? Are ye not gone beyond the Jews in the letter? for the Jews in the spirit might speak to them. Were there ever so many imprisoned in their time of any of the Jews in the spirit, as now by you who are Christians in the letter, the Christians in the spirit, that be in the spirit, that gave forth the letter, see ye now in the steps of the Jews walking, and rather worse; but it is that which John saw, the Beast, the Dragon, and the false Prophet should all make war against the Lamb, and the Saints, but the Lamb should get the victory, and overcome. Let this be read among all the Synagogue-teachers, and Professors, who call it either Synagogue, Temple, or Church, who are crying up your Church, and the Scriptures a­mong you, as you may reade the Jews did the Temple of the Lord; and the Law of the Lord was with them, and the Prophet told them they did commit adultery, they did steal, they sware falsly, they walked after their abominations, and they walked after the [Page 101] vanity of their own hearts, both Priests and People given to co­vetousness, they were all out of the old-way: Therefore for these things did the Lord visit them, and doth you who are found in these steps, and persecuting them that be in the life, that gave forth Scriptures, and are come to the Church that is in God.

During the time aforesaid was the general Assizes at Exeter for the County of Devon, of which chief Baron Steel and Baron Nicholas were Judges; before one of whom, (viz.) Judge Nicholas, were these who were thus imprisoned at the Assizes brought, and the rest also, as they were taken on the high-wayes in the time of the Assizes of this Judge. Considering his place and office, justice might have been expected, and a vindication of the Law, and a zealous helping those to right who had thus suffered wrong: but no such thing found they from him, but the contrary, even the same spirit ruling and working in him as made the Law aforesaid, and put it in execution against he In­nocent, who could not be found Transgressors of any Law of the Nation: For as the Sessions made a Law, and set up Watches to apprehend them, if they were but found travelling on the high-wayes, and did so apprehend and imprison them, without so much as making proclamation, or giving publick warning, forbidding such to travel in that Countrey after such a day: but immediately as soon as they had made their Law, put it in execution on those who were in their way before it was made, or had publick warning thereof, or the allotment of a certain space of time of it to take notice, (which the Law of the Nation observes) so the Judge will have a Law of his own making, as to the Hat, (for that there is no Law of the Nation that requires a man to put off his Hat, and imprison him for not so doing, and denies him hearing or justice, whatever be his innocency or sufferings, if he puts not off his Hat to a Seat of Justice, will anon appear when this new-found Indictment of Hats shall be scann'd, as in some part it hath already been in the Letter aforesaid, sent to chief Justice Glynne) and pre­sently he will have it put in execution, though his Law be made [Page 102] after the fact done, after their so appearing, unto which they could not bow in conscience to the Law of God, of which he is convinced to be a Transgressor that respecteth persons, for he that doth so, committeth sin. Nor can it be bowed to in re­spect to the Law of the Land, which declares against arbitrari­ness, which Law arbitrariness subverts and overthrows, which arbitrariness his duty is to do justice upon, being entrusted with the execution of the Law, and this his Law standing in his own will, the founder thereof, it is arbitrary, and not to be o­beyed, but in the overthrow of the Law of the Land, and a slighting of all the blood shed in the wars against arbitrariness; and is less to be endured and submitted to in him, than in any of the Judges and chief Justices that have gone before him, whom justice hath cut off for arbitrariness, or in Strafford, Canterbury, Charles Stuart, or of any of these later generations, since it is but the other day that these Nations came out of many years wars and dreadfull desolations and destructions, even to the hazarding of all, to vindicate the Rights and Liberties of En­gland, and the Laws, the guard of them, from will and power. And this Judge was one who in that day appeared against that generation, and for that cause was made a Judge by the Par­liament, and therefore for him to act against Law, which he is sworn to execute, not to make. And the Legislative Au­thority that made him a Judge, and the righteous ends of the Wars for Liberty and Law, in which he appeared, and these innocent servants of the Lord, who have been all of them al­wayes faithfull to the honest interest of the Nation, and many of them for it have drawn the sword, and fought in the field from first to last, because they cannot submit to this his will, which is contrary to the Law of God, and the Nation, and the righteous ends of the Wars, is the more abominable, and to be denyed, and witnessed against.

Thus then, were the proceedings of this Assizes, [Page 103] as to these.

Before Judge Nicholas they were brought by Officers; be­fore him they stood covered in conscience to the command of the Lord; that their Hats should not be taken off he comman­ded, that so within the compass of his will they might be brought; Their names he asked one after another; they gave their names in meekness, and in the fear of the Lord, and the Clarke of the Assizes wrote them down to record the contempt of his will; he then commanded every one by name to put off his Hat, This they could not do for conscience sake; Wrath and fury presently appears, that in rage he commands the Gao­ler to have them away, who with violence pull'd & thrust them; suffer them to speak for themselves he would not; nor enqui­red what were their offences, or the cause of their imprison­ment, or wherefore they were brought before him; but cau­sed them with such misusages to be sent and returned to pri­son. And this was what generally they all received at his hands, as they were brought before him, and thus evilly were they all intreated.

The morrow after such returns in custody, were they brought before him again, and placed amongst the Fellons and Mur­derers; By that time Bills of Indictment, as to the breach of his will, were made ready, Their Hats now he commands to be taken off, which the day before he commanded not to be ta­ken off, that he might charge them with contempt: His Bills are read, and with many false accusations are they charged therein; as being men of an ill name, fame, life and reputation, and that they came into the Court with their Hats on in con­tempt, when by constraint they were forced thither, and much more filth, too noysome to rake up. And to these their Indict­ments he demands of every one particularly guilty, or not guil­ty? thus numbring them amongst transgressors.) A Copy of the Indictment whereunto to plead, was by one of them de­manded, as the Law required; this he denies; the Prisoner re­plyed, that he was an Englishman, and had served the Common­wealth of England from the beginning of the Wars, till Wor­cester fight (at which he was) and had suffered imprisonment [Page 104] by the enemy, and the loss of his goods, and was driven from his outward being by the enemy four years together; and now desired as to all, but the priviledge of the Law, and that if he had come violently into the Court, there seemed to be some ground for their Allegations, but by constraint he was brought in; Whilst he was thus speaking, the Judge kept talking to the people to keep them hearing of him, and then commanded him to be taken away; whom they had away throwing him before them, and whilst he was away, he fined him 20. marks and im­prisonment till payment, he said, then he thought he should lye long enough, upon which word the Judge bad them fine him 20. pound, which was done accordingly: Nor was there a Copy of this Indictment granted to any of them, though eve­ry one of them answered to the demand guilty, or not guilty in meekness, and in the fear of God to this effect, that they were innocent, and had broken no Law, and that they were not guil­ty of the things charged in the Bill, which they denied: And libertie they desired to speak further and to the Jury to whom he spake much whereby to incense them against the Prisoners, and told them the Hat was the chiefest matter they were to enquire into, but the Prisoners he would not permit to speak to the Jury, as he vvould not let them make in their own de­fence, commanding the Gaoler to keep them silent when they attempted to speak in their own behalf, and calling for a Gag, he commanded the Gaoler to Gag them; onely one of them, (who was last called) being required to answer whether he came in with his Hat on or no, saying if he might have libertie to speak he should not onely declare freely, and honestly, and with vvords of soberness, and in the fear of God, as to his ha­ving his Hat on, but also why he did so, and as to things char­ged against them, having got a little liberty so to do, said, I shall declare freely from the light and life of Christ in my heart and soul, that I came not in with my Hat on in contempt of the Court or of any man therein, neither had I come there if I had not been brought, and I am free from any prejudice in the least toward any man, and authority I own, and such as rule well, ruling for God, according to the righteous Law of [Page 105] God, and are for the punishment of evill doers, and the praise of them that do well, such I honour in my heart, but as for put­ting off my Hat, it is that which never was required by any that ruled for God, nor yet of the Heathenish Kings, and Empe­rors, as we read of, and in obedience to God I stand, and the same nature that commands us to put off our Hats, the same commanded to Preach no more in the name of Jesus, and such commands of men we cannot obey for conscience sake, and the Heathenish Customs which are contrary to the holy men of God, and to the righteous Law of God, and to all Scriptures, and also to all naturall Laws, I cannot be subject to; but unto God the higher power, which is of God which rules over all, but the Customs of the people are vain. Jer. 10.3. But longer the Judge would not permit him to speak, and called for a Gag as aforesaid, and he attempting to speak a word or two farther, he and the rest were all forced with violence from the Bar, and neither suffered to speak for themselves, or to stay their tryall; And the Jury being in confusion, some said they were young in it, and desired time to consider; but the Judge asking others, and they saying guilty, he presently commanded them to be fined in 20. marks a piece, and to lye in Prison till payment, which Judgement (being called, and standing with­out the Bar, for he said they needed not to come any further) the Judge pronounced upon them, but as to the Infringement of any Law, or miscarriage in word, or deed, in particular, no­thing was laid to their charge.

And as for the women who vvere taken up and imprisoned as aforesaid, against whom he could not have the advantage of a Hat, he returned to Prison till they should find sureties of the good behaviour, being taken up they and the rest as they were peaceably travelling the high way to visit the Prisoners, and imprisoned as hath been said, whereby the Law was every vvay broke upon them, who ought to have been protected; and justice to have been done them, upon those who robb'd them on the high way, and not to be instead thereof further op­pressed.

Thus hath this Judge headed the Justices, and to their Ar­bitrary

[Page 106]

Law aforesaid, and the wicked executions thereof, ad­ded another of his owne, made after the act was done, when they came before him to have been righted according to Law; by which will of his he causeth them further to suffer, as hath been said; not so much as enquiring, or asking wherefore they were imprisoned, or what was the cause of their being brought before him, nor permitting them to speak for themselves, or of the usages they had received, but commanding that their Hats should not be taken off, that he might have occasion against them, then commanding their Hats to be taken off, and indict­ing them and denying them a copy of their indictment, not suffe­ring them to speak in their owne defence, or to the Jury, but cal­ling for and threatning them with[17] a Gag when they did but attempt to speak & when they yet sought to speak, causing them to be forc'd away with violence, and passing upon them not so much as with the consent of a Jury which he put upon them (for some said they were young in it, and desired further time to consider) upon an Indictment which had no offence char­ged therein that was an offence in Law, but his own will, which he set up for a Law, and in his will thus fined, and sent to Pri­son [Page 107] till payment, and for the good behaviour, fourteen men and women, whose names with seven more, as they were ta­ken up in the high way and apprehended, with the time when, and place where, and the Justices by whom committed are.

• Dorcas Erbury taken 22. 5. month 1656. near Hunington committed by William Put Justice.
• Elizabeth Catland taken 22. 5. month 1656. near Hunington committed by William Put Justice.
• Anne Harrison 23. 5, month 15. miles off Exon, Mayor Tho. Saunders Justice.
• Jane Bland 23. 5, month 15. miles off Exon, Mayor Tho. Saunders Justice.
• Henry Godman 24. 5. month near Colhampton. Major Saunders Justice.
• William Bayly 29. 5. month Axemister. Thomas Drake Justice.
• Iohn [...]ames 31. 5. month Sandford. Major Saunders Justice.
• Humphry Smith 1. 6. month Buterly. committed by a Iustice at Tiverton.
• Iohn Bolton 2. 6. month Okchampton. Mayor.
• James Nayler
• Nicholas Gaincliff 3. North Fotton. Constables.
• Thomas Hawkins 2. 6. month Okehampton. Mayor.
• Samuel Cater 4. 6. month 12. miles off Exon. Constable.
• Robert Crabb 4. 6. month 12. miles off Exon. Constable.
• Tho. Rollinson 7. 6. month Telcot. Edw. Ascot Iustice.
• Iohn Brown 7. 6. month Apledore. Iohn Champion Iustice;
• Mary Erbury 7. 6. month Apledore. Iohn Champion Iustice;
• Ioan Ingram 7. 6. month Apledore. Iohn Champion Iustice;
• Luce Field 7. 6. month Bascomb Iohn Bare Iustice.
• Luce Field 7. 6. month Audry Iohn Bare Iustice.
• Ioseph Meader 15. 6. month Lifton. William Morish Iustice,
• Mary Howgill 15. 6. month Lifton. William Morish Iustice,
  
  

Where they remain Prisoners to this day, the most of them lying upon Straw amongst the Fellons, with which hardship, and nastie inconveniences severall of them are fallen sick, and one of them (viz. Iane Ingram is dead, being taken at Aple­dore with Iohn Brown, and Mary Erbury 7. of the 6. month, she was travelling to visit the Prisoners at Lanceston from Wales, and committed by Iohn Champion Iustice, who beat Iohn Brown [Page 108] with his own hands, and then sent him and them to Exon Gaole where he was laid in Bolts, who hath now, as hath Iudge Ni­cholas, and the Iustices of the Sessions aforesaid, from whom came the Order of the Guards, and Major Blackmore, who so earnestly pressed the execution of that order, as they tendred all their hopes of salvation, &c. that so it might not be a dead Letter, (which hath proved the Death of this servant of the Lord) but leaving direction, as he blasphemously calls it; and the Priests that set it on; and those Guards the blood of the in­nocent, for which they shall answer before the Iudge of all the earth, who judgeth righteousness, however they escape the Iustice of man, and yet so hardned are those that notwith­standing her death, after some time of sickness, (which Major Blackmore was told of before she dyed) and the sickness of o­thers, and the ill condition outwardly they are in, and their innocencie, that they there continue them Prisoners to this day; even the Sea-monsters draw forth the Breast, and give suck to their young, but these are become cruell as the Ostrich in the wilderness, where will ye hide in the day of Visitation, when the Lord shall make Inquisition for bloud and the sufferings of his Saints, where then will ye flee, and ever will ye leave your glory? Take it to you, it is your portion, for at the hand of the Lord God bloud shall you drink, for ye are worthy? O ye matchless Persecutors, such a proceeding as this the Records of this Nation afford not before this day, being in all things vvholy contrary to the Lavv of England, cruell and unreaso­nable.

And this is the relief the innocent, who had suffered as afore­said from and by the illegall order of Sessions, and the execu­tions thereof, received from this Iudge Nicholas; vvho not onely thus threw the servants of the Lord by heaps into the Common Gaole, but Thomas Boyleston, an [...] Thomas Powell, committed by the Sessions to the Assizes, vvho being brought before him with those aforementioned, vvere dealt vvithall as they vvere, having been about six vveeks before in Prison; And Priscilla Cotten, and Katherine Martingdale of Plymouth be­ing imprisoned (the later for speaking in a Steeple house in Ply­mouth [Page 109] the 13. of the 5th. month 1656. after the Priests time, these vvords, Priest and people vvho live in Cains nature, in en­vy and malice, God regards not that sacrifice, and the former for being with her not saying a word) and brought before him, he fined Priscilla, who said not a word, in 50. l. and imprison­ment till payment, and Katherine, who was she that spake, but it was after all was ended, as hath been said, there to abide till she found sureties for the good behaviour; though in that Steeplehouse they were assaulted by the Constables and the people, who threw them down almost to the breaking of their bones, and kept in Plymouth near three weeks, during which time the Mayor denyed friends to visit them, and would not accept the tender of friends body for body for Priscilla that she might pass home to see her Husband, a Shop-keeper in the town, who was taken very sick, and returne again to Prison, and when she vvas sent from thence to Exon Gaole, because she staid but till her servant brought her a pair of shoes, one of the tvvo fellows that the Mayor sent with them, laid violent hands on her and drew her along the Street, almost to the murthering of her, and then produced an order of the Mayors for his so doing; And six times was she brought before this Iudge, and alterations made in the paper of lyes exhibited against her, which she denyed and said that there was no truth therein; which the Clerk of the Court altered, and the Iudge said let it be so; and because she took notice of their proceedings and spake to them to do that which is right, he caused her to be had away; and at length a paper was formed against her by way of Indictment, to vvhich he demanded guilty or not guil­ty? She said it was a false paper, and because she did not say guilty or not guilty, but as aforesaid (which was a sufficient Plea in Law denying the Indictment, for to say the words guil­ty or not guilty is onely required in cases of Fellony or life, by the Law of England) he grew outragious, whereupon she saying to him, art thou a man to Iudge for God, and canst not rule thy self but art angry? be sober, man, and fear the Lord, and do justice, and let not passion rule thee, he raged the more, and said, Gaoler have her away, have her away, I cannot endure [Page 110] theirs for a certain space of time, and being now brought they desired to know what it was they were imprisoned f [...]r, seeing they layd nothing to their charge, but what was done then in the Court, having shewn no Law to which it was contrary; and one of them, who had been in prison a quarter of a year askd of the Justice present that committed him, what he had to say to him, and where was his accusers? but he answered not a word; And they said in conscience to the Law of God they could not put off their Hats, And that they were not guiltie of affronting the Magistrate, or the breach of any Law, But because they did not answer guiltie, or not guiltie? in those their words (though what is exprest to have been said (viz.) that they were not guiltie of affronting the Magistrate, or of the breach of any Law; with vvhich crimes that Indictment did charge them, be a sufficient Plea in Law, as is known to those who understand the Law) for that the Indictment was not grounded upon the Law, but Will, and to say guiltie, or not guiltie to that which is not Law, is inconsistent with libertie, and an upholding of Will, as, and in the place, and authority of the Lavv, vvhich they could not do; They were had away vvith violence from the Bar to the Prison, and then brought to the Bar again, and demanded guiltie, or not guiltie? and were told that after they had answered guiltie, or not guiltie, a Law should be shewn them; but they refusing to answer in those words, till a Lavv vvas first shewn them, vvere not permitted to speake, but commanded away again, and one of them (viz.) Ioseph Cole thrown to the ground before the Court by the un­der-Gaoler without reproof, and though the Judge said one of them should speak, when he asked vvhether they could not have the priviledge the Heathen gave Paul? yet he caused them all to be had away, not suffering any of them to speake (vvhich the Country people disliked, saying it was truth vvhich the prisoners spake,) and so to close prison they were had avvay a­gain, the Judge saying he would give judgement against them if they ansvvered not in those vvords; And the third time (for three severall dayes vvere they brought before the Court, and some of them severall times in a day they vvere brought to the [Page 111] Bar again, and demanded as before, Iohn Ellice having by that time got a Copy of the Indictment, t [...]ld the Judge, that for that Swaunton the Clerk made his wife pay thirteen shillings, saying that otherwise she should not have it, and asked the Judge whether that was not extortion? To which he answered, Gao­ler speedily have them away, wh [...]ch he did with violence; and because they onely said in answer first, shew us a Law that we have broken, before we be demanded to plead to an Indictment, guiltie or not guiltie; they were haled away to prison, with­out being further permitted to speake, and the Gaoler (who pretended himself sick till he heard of the Iudges usage of the prisoners) being in Court that day struck Ioseph Cole over the face with his staffe, and punchd Iohn Ellice by the Arme, which filthiness the people saw and cryed out against. And there were they detained whilst the Iury past upon them, to whom he said, that they (viz.) the prisoners had broken the Law of God, and of man. Nor did he cause them to be brought before him when he gave judgement against them, that they might hear the judg­ment, and have libertie to move in arrest thereof as is the Law; But whilst they were in prison fined them in 20. marks a piece, and imprisonment till payment; who had suffered so long, and with such crueltie, as hath been in part exprest; whom he would not suffer to speak of their imprisonment, or cruell usage, or in their own defence; nor brought one accuser; or witness to their faces; nor enquired into their sufferings, or the cause of them. And this is the justice and relief the innocent at Launceston re­ceived as their brethren and friends had hefore at Exon, from this Iudge Nicholas, whose vvill he set up for a Lavv, and because they could not in Conscience to God, nor in respect to the Law of this N [...]tion, vvhich judgeth arbitrariness, bovv to his Image, or answer to his vvill, guiltie or not guiltie; as the lavv requires to vvhat it commandeth, and so could not obey, and observe his vvill, equall vvith, and as the lavv; his vvrath rose, and the form of his visage vvas changed, and in the rage of his fury and pas­sion, prepared a Furnace (a Bill of Indictment) he heated seven times vvith the fire of vvickedness, into which he cast them bound because of the Hat and vvithout it (vvhen as Nebuchad­nezar [Page 112] an Heathen King cast the three Children into the fiery furnace bound in their Coats, their Hosen, and their Hats and their other Garments) vvhich novv comes to be spoken to, and vveighed in the ballance of lavv and equitie; and to be handled, even this new found monstrous instrument of crueltie; into, and by which so many of the servants of the living God have been cast, and continued fined and bound, and under the sufferings of vvhich this relation (to say nothing of what hath been done to others, and in other parts of this Nation) bears Record, which since the foundation of the earth vvas layd, vvas never heard of before this day; nor such an unexpressible piece of sottish Ir­religion, pride, and tyrannie, unto vvhich vvhosoever doth not conforme, be his sufferings vvhat they will, and his innocency, the priviledge of the law of England he must not have, nor be heard, nor have Iustice, but be bound under the Chains of fur­ther sufferings, and oppressions because thereof; Nevertheless this burning fiery flaming furnace can be walkt in loosened and untoucht, whilst the men of the powers of Chaldea, who take up the Children and cast them bound thereinto, lye slain with the flame of the urgencie of the command of that vvill, by which it is made so exceeding hot, as to the sober and wise in heart vvill by and by appear, and be made manifest.

The Indictment of the Hat is insufficient in lavv; in short, thus—

Every Indictment, which hath not contained in it an offence, either against the Common lavv or Statute lavv, is void.

But there is not in the Indictment of the Hat any offence ei­ther against the Common lavv, or any Statute lavv.

If the matter of the Indictment be said to be an offence a­gainst the Common lavv, then it must appear so, either amongst the Records of this Nation, or the judiciall determinations, and conclusions of the Chief Courts of Iustice.

If against the Statute lavv, then it must appear so either a­mongst the Parliament Roles, or the Printed Books.

But that it is an offence either against the Common law, or Statute lavv, there is not so much as the least tittle of lavv to prove it.

Those Adverbiall Words in the Indictment (viz.) [Page 113] Irreve­rently, uncivilly, scornfully, maliciously, contemptuously, (with such like filth, of which it is full, and not worthy the raking up) are, and have been alwaies taken to be added onely in an In­dictment the more fully to describe an offence, and to aggravate the same; But if the act charged in the Indictment be not an offence without these words, then these words cannot aggra­vate, or compleate a description of that which is not.

It is said to be done against good manners, evill communi­cations corrupt good manners, and whatsoever is more than yea, and nay, cometh of evill, saith Christ Jesus the Son of God: and as to good manners, which you say it is against, produce your Law for such good manners, and let us see what it is, O sottish Generation.

It is said to be done against the usage and custome of Eng­land, It is the usage and custom of England for men and wo­men to salute one another with a kiss, and to speak one to ano­ther, and to come into Courts with Cloaks and Coats, and Gloves and Boots, and yet not an offence to leave it undone, or to come without any of there coverings. Things which are in a mans power to give, or not to give; and which he is content not to receive from others, when he gives not the same to others (as such things as these are take them in the best sense, as they are peculiar to every man, and at his choice whether he will give them or not) cannot be made criminall, if he doth not give them.

And therefore the adding any of these vvords in the Indict­ment, doth not make the not putting off the Hat to be an of­fence.

And as their refusing to put off the Hat, or to be uncove­red is not an offence against the Law of this Common-Wealth, so neither is it an offence against the Law of God, or the Law of Nature.

Not against the law of God, for there is neither precept, or president that makes it so, but the contrary, as hath been and might further be said.

Not against the law of nature, for nature makes no man free or a servant, but man is either free or a servant, according to the spirit that rules and hath command over him.

And although it be said in the Indictment, that they being enjoyned to be uncovered refused so to do, yet this makes not an offence, for the Justices sate there onely to put the laws in being in execution, and it was not a contempt to deny to obey their command in a thing, which neither the law of God, nature, or of this Nation required to be done.

This act of putting off the Hat hath been in this Nation al­waies taken to be an act of civill curtesie, and not of duty, and so the practice of it amongst people of all sorts high and low, rich and poor, and in all places as well in the high ways, as else­where doth manifest, and it is no other in effect than a meer volentary complement, the occasion whereof was never held to be an offence till this present time, and that by some few particular persons.

Tis true, that people, for the most part stand bare in all Courts of Justice in this Nation, but this is more than is re­quired by any law, either of God or man, for that which is re­quired to be done to Magistrates is honour and obedience, which is demonstrated by a submission to all lawful commands, and not by any complement or act of curtesie.

Besides to command any person to put off his Hat is absurd, for that is to use it contrary to the end for which it was made, vvhich is to cover the head, and to keep it warme, whereby sick­ness may be prevented, and not to be held in the hand, and a wise man beginneth from the end of a thing, and weighs every thing as it is there.

Again, whether the condition of a mans nature will give him leave to stand bare or not, the Magistrate is not the Judge, and therefore it is against reason, that it should be in his power to command the Hat to be put off; whose nature cannot bear it from him that requires it, and is the same as to command him to put off any of his other Garments.

From all which it is clear, that this Indictment, and the pro­ceedings [Page 115] therein are neither warranted by the law of God, nature or of this Nation, but on the contrary, are meerly arbitrary, a­gainst reason, and very absurd, and an invasion upon the liber­ties of the Freemen of England.

And by what hath been said (for to argue further is not ne­cessary in so frivolous a thing) the reasonable may see what there is in this business of the Hat, which hath made such a noise and kindled such a fire in this Nation, by which so many of the innocent servants of the Lord have suffered without mercy, as hath been in part related; The tyrannicall wills and lusts of men being in this trifle set up above all that is called God, or man, or law, or nature, or reason, or common humanity, and against all these thus violently prosecuted, and cruelly, put in execution: As they may also see, what is become of this new sound mon­strous Indictment, and of all the abhominable filthy lyes, and false accusations contained therein of which it is full; And of this Judge Nicholas and his will in the Law, according to what hath been now said, and also declared in that Letter aforesaid to the Chief Justice; And of the consciences of the Jurors who have upon their oaths brought them in guiltie, of which they have made shipwrack, as they have of their own, and the liber­ties of their Country. For whereas in the behalf of liberty the law hath carefully provided, that no man shall be in body, life, or goods at the mercy of the arbitrary breast of one man, who sitteth as Judge, but shall be tryed by twelve indifferent men of his Peers or equalls of the Neighbourhood, whose verum di­ctum or sentence according to truth, the Judge is to declare, not to make (which is one of the grand Priviledges of the people of the English Notion, which distinguisheth them free (viz.) that no Law is to be executed upon them but by some of themselves: yet these Iurors not onely come under the Office, but the will of a Iudge, and what he arbitrarily in his will sets up, they pass upon as the Law of the Nation; and so do over­throw that vvhich vvas established by the Lavv for their safe­guard, and defence, against arbitrary actings; and do set up that, which to prevent, and overthrovve, as one of the sorest Plagues that can happen to men, the lavv hath given them [Page 116] such power and authoritie; so sottishly blind, and outragiously mad are men when the Prince of darkness is their leader a­gainst the truth of God, who that they may destroy those in whom it lives, they mind not, neither care what becomes of their own consciences, beings, Freedoms, and libertie; yea e­ven of that which but the day before they put their lives, and whatever was dear to them in their hands and their whole Country unto hazard for to preserve, piercing the very life of their own liberties through the sides of their friends, whom for the sake of the truth of God, they seek to destroy, whilst they stand in innocencie for the liberties wherein all English men are equally concern'd; and throwing away all the Bloud, and treasure, and care, and tuggings, and restless endeavours of the former, and later ages for many hundreds of years, (we will not change the Laws of England, hath it been about thir­ty times resolutely declared in this case as one man in Parlia­ment, and those very words recorded, when the strongest en­deavours of Monarchy have been used there, to change the tryals by twelve men into the course of the Civill Law, which is onely by a Judge, the manner of the other Nations, who ne­ver knew the benefit of this excellent priviledge) that they may satisfie the revenge of the enemy of their souls on such, though when this libertie is lost, and they come to feel on themselves what they now do to others, they may be willing to give all they have to recover it when (perhaps it is too late.) And how do this generation shew themselves hereby to be led by the same spirit as were the Jews, who that they might have Iesus the Messiah (whom they long look't for) crucified, cryed out we have no King but Cesar, who above all Nations hated to be in subjection to any, and Iesus came to make them free, as it was said of the Messiah, but they chose slavery before him, and that which they chose, that so they might have a power to Cru­cifie him (for the Romans had taken away their power of put­ting any man to death, made an end of them in that very genera­tion from being a Nation, as he foretold them, as it had before in the highest judiciall power of life and death. O ye people of Eng­land, mind this, and consider this, before it be too late, ye who talk [Page 117] so much of freedome, of being free-borne English men, of the fundamentall Rights, and liberties of England, and glory in it over all Nations, who in comparison of you, ye have said, are slaves and vassals to the lusts and wills of their Lords and Princes, who have (ye and your Forefathers) gone through such terrible wars, and Seas of Blood to make and preserve your selves so; if you continue to set against that which hath made and kept you so, and whose presence hath brought through your wars for it, who is now come that hath been so much expected to set you free both in body and soul, and to deliver you out of the hands of all your enemies, that you might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of your life, by raising up his owne image, his feed, which is come to, and must raigne for ever and ever, which, you every where persecute, and grow mad a­gainst; where it doth appear, and bear its witness, and throw away, your choicest outward liberties, the value of the price aforesaid to effect its sufferings, you may expect the thing, that you have feared, and abhorred, and fought so much a­gainst, to come upon you in its perfection (viz.) will and power to be your Lord, and your liberties and freedomes left to you desolate.

And thus much of the indictment of the Hat, and Jurie.

This Judge having proceeded with the Innocent as afore­said, and sent them back fined and bound to prison in and by his will, because of the Hat in stead of doing them Justice. Ann Blackling received the same measure as those friends of her Sexe had by him at Exon, who speaking as she was moved of the Lord to two priests in the steeple-house yard near Pen­dennis, was set upon with much rage, & brought before Capt. Fox, Governour of Pendennis Castle, and by him with great fury was she abused, and called whore, and witch, and told that she and that generation (which the World calls Qua­kers) were not fit to live, scoffing and raging, and gnashing his teeth, and charged her with oppressing the Country, who asked wherein? he said in that her horse did eat his grass (the horse grazing on the bank of the Castle whilst she was there [Page 118] brought, and stay'd till he came, and for that purpose as ap­pears commanded off her horse against her will, and therefore set to graze that such an occasion might be had against her, what poor shiftings are here wherewithall to have some­thing to charge the Innocents, and asked her whether that horse was her's, she answered it was so. He said he would have him, if the horse were her's. she replyed the horse he could not have justly, for that she had mony to free her horse for the grass he had eaten there in that time, and proffered him mony and bed him take as much of it, as would satisfie him for the grass the horse had eaten, that so neither she nor her horse might be detayned as transgressors, or as oppressors of any. Whereupon in much rage he sent for a Constable, she ex­horted him to the fear that should be in the hearts of all them that bear rule, and told him in wisedom, and fear he should examine, else the Law of God would take hold of him, and asked him what Law she had transgressed, and whether he did rule by a Law? and would have spoken further, but he was so full of rage, that he would not suffer her, and gnashing his teeth told her, that they would stop their mouths, whom he called Quakers, ere it were long, she told him, those peoples kingdome was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, and his kingdome was of this world which was falling, and much more, till in fury he committed her to the custodye of a Constable, where having been about 8. or 9. dayes, the Con­stable went to him to know what he should do with her, he said it was well enough to keep her there, till she had eaten, and spent her horse, that so those people might be wearied out of their coasts: the Constable said she could neither sell, nor take her horse, and that was not the way, for she had mony e­nough to redeem it, and so after a time she was set free, the Constable was asham'd for what was done to her; But as she passed towards Truro, she was stopt by a watch near Smeth­wick, and examined, and carried before a Constable (for they said they were set to take all Quakers) who was in much fury when he heard of the name of a Quaker, and brought her be­fore Justice Lobb, who talked with her concerning her faith, [Page 119] and declared against it, & said if she would not deny her faith, to prison she must go, and so he sent her (after his wife had also abused her) to Lanceston Goale the 21. of the 4. month 1656. with a warrant filled with lyes, as that she was a wanderer, where she was used by the Goaler in that cruelty as hath been in part exprest and being brought before this Court, as she began to speak for her self, the Goalers wife stopt her mouth, violently with her hands, and without any more ado the Court said take her away, and being brought again to the Bar, commanded to have her away without permitting her to speak for her self, though they sent for her, and being had away to prison; sentenced her to lye there till she found sureties for the good behaviour, who so unjustly had been dealt with­all; and cruelly had suffered, having not offended so much as the shadow, or the least tittle of any Law, nor had any accu­ser, nor accusation produced against her, nor had she offended the will of the Hat; for that of her being a vvoman could not be sought vvhich to cause the men further to suffer, vvho had so much suffered vvrongfully before, and ought to have had Ju­stice done them, vvas sought after as an occasion.

But as for George Fox, Edw. Piot, and Will. Salt, and Benja­min M inard, they vvere not called by the Judge, or the Court, but the Judge caused the Goalers petition aforesaid of his invented lyes to be read against them, (viz.) that they vvould hang him at his door, toss his children on spears, and tread his vvife under feet, and said, they should be brought forth to ansvver it, but he never sent for them, nor examined them concerning it, vvhereby the truth might be manifested, but ordered the Goalers vvife to keep them closer, and con­fined them for the time to come to the Castle, and vvhilst he should be in the Tovvn close prisoners, and she moved him to order them to be put into Doomsdale, pretending that vvith­out such an order, they could not confine them to the Castle, because of the security Capt. Bradon had given for their true imprisonment; its said, he asked hovv the Goaler durst to take security for them, and commanded they should be more strict­ly lookt to, and took notice of a complaint of Peter Kille­grews, [Page 120] who is called a Knight (he was the Post between the late King, and Parliament, in times of treaties) that he met them about two miles from the Town, when it was about one, thereby strengthening their bonds, and encouraging cruelty upon them, in stead of hearing their cause and executing judgement for them, who had so suffered as hath been said; whose sufferings as they had been made very heavy by the Goaler, and the Recorder, and the Mayor, as hath been said, so now all endeavours were used, to keep them from being made known to the Judge. And therefore Ann Downer, and Grace Burgis standing on the first day of the week in the entrie of the House, where the Judge lodged (having leave from the people thereof so to do) to deliver him papers from the priso­ners, of the ground of their imprisonment; & their sufferings, as he should come forth, were at the command of the Mayor, by his officers carried to the dark house, and kept-there till the evening, and thus much concerning this Judge, and his Justice, and his Assizes, and the usages of the Inno­cent, and the condition wherein they were cast, and left, by him and them.

Whilest these things were in hand, and these cruelties breathed forth, and exercised on the oppressed, Generall Dis­borow came to Lanceston, who the third day of the week in the afternoon being at a large house in the Town, with the Sheriff and Justices, sent for Edward Pyot, and William Salt, and enquired of them concerning the abuses they had recei­ved from the Goaler, and as they gave them, took them par­ticularly in writing with his own hand; and then examined the Goaler, as to every particular, and took his answer, and heard the replie made thereunto by the prisoners, till he had gone over all; then the Generall heard the Goalers complaint against them, mentioned in his petition aforesaid, which had gone about to Sessions and Assizes to cover his crueltie to­wards them; by inventing words of crueltie, as if spoken by them, and then bringing what he had so invented in charge upon them: And asked the Goaler vvhether any heard the vvords besides himself, He ansvvered. yes, and named four [Page 121] of his Companions, who were the prisoners greatest enemies, three of these the Generall sent for, and examined them, whilst the prisoners were withdrawn, (the fourth was the under-Goaler, who had sworn to part of it at Sessions, but by the Goalers wife was contradicted, as to what he had sworn, when he returned,) these three denyed that ever they heard any such words, as the Goaler had mentioned of the prisoners in his pe­tition. He demanded what words they had heard from them to the Goaler, and from the Goaler to them? they answered, that they had heard the Goaler call the prisoners rogues, and the ptisoners call him drunken-beast, & swine, which passages the Generall told the prisoners, after he had caused them to be called in again, & said such as would be drunk were beasts, and swine, and worse, and therefore might well be called so; and all this was before the Sheriff, Justices, and many people of outward quality, and others of the Countrey; and the Goaler he sharply rebuked, and reproved for his abuse to the prisoners, and spake civily of them to the Justices, and people, that they were not to be abused, and of his knowledge of some of them in particu­lar: and vindicated they were openly from all the lyes, and slaunders cast upon them, and the master did he sift and exa­mine to the bottom throughly, and with impartiality, wherein he did nobly, according to Justice, and said, God forbid, but they should have their meetings in peace, and quietness, for he was not against them, nor should such be molested who met to­gether to pray to God, and to edifie one another: And the Ju­stices excused themselves before the Generall, as to what the Goaler had said of them, they should say against the prisoners as aforesaid at the Sessions at Truro, and acknowledged the prisoners had been abused by the Goaler, and so had they by his belying of them, all of them, except Capt. Fox, Richard Lobb, and Thomas Gewen; denying what he had said of them as aforesaid: And when the prisoners answered it were much if they should be so wicked, and the reason why they did not then reprove the Goaler, might be in regard the representation of their sufferings might not come to their view, because Tho­mas Gewen receiving it, grasp't it up together and said he would make mum of it, the Generall asked him whether that were so, and what he meant by mum? He said he understood it was [Page 122] a Quakers letter, and so not to be taken notice of, (so that the sufferings of the people, vvhom he calls Quakers, vvhom he divides from the Nation, and the protection of the Lavv, vvhich is contrary to the Lavv and Government of the Nation, be they vvhat they vvill, and their innocency, are not to be taken notice of, but to be laught at on the Bench as he did, vvhen being Judge of the Court, he had added to their op­pressions contrary to Lavv as hath been said, vvould he be con­tent that such measure should be measured to him, and the peo­ple vvhom he ovvns? This is Thomas Gewen Recorder of Lan­ceston, and his justice.) And the Generall ovvned his letter sent in April before to the Goaler, to use the prisoners civily, vvhich they said vvas a counterfeit, and he gave the Goaler a charge not to abuse them, and shortly after ordered him to be turned out of his place: This just and even carriage of things by the Generall changed the face of Justices, Tovvn, & Countrey, so that even the enemies of the prisoners com­mended his searching out the matter, and doing the prisoners Justice, and much altered vvas it, from vvhat it vvas but even then, by reason of the former proceedings, and of the Judge at the Assizes tovvards the prisoners, vvho from that time found from them quietness and civill usage: A vvise King scat­tereth the vvicked, and bringeth the vvheele over them, saith Salomon, by the Spirit of the Lord, Prov. 20.26.

And in the close of that day the Generall propounded to them the liberties of all the prisoners, upon condition if they would repair every one to their Homes, if the Lord permitted, to which they then answered to this purpose, that they stood in the will of God therein to be guided by his power, he bad them consider of it till the next morning, and so they de­parted.

The next day an answer in writing was sent and delivered to Generall Disborow from the prisoners to that his proposi­tion, as followeth.

Friend,

WE which be in the power of God, the ruler of all, the upholder of all things, and dwell in his power, to it must be obedient, which brings us to stand out of all mens wills not limited. Now in case to say we will, if the Lord permit, in case to buy, and sell and get gaine, which if the intent be so to do, may be deceit, but the case standing in the power to do the will of God, standing in the power to do his will, and to stand out of mans will, if he propound, he shall have his liberty if he will say he will go to his outward Being, if the Lord permit, if it be the will of God, and be­cause he cannot say those words for such a cause, shall not have his liberty, when he knows that the will of God is that he must go to, and speak at some other place: so that here he cannot speak these words true, for to say we will go to our outward habitation, if it be according to the will of God, when we know it is the will of God otherwise, now we cannot speak so true, and clearly, nei­ther can a man say so to him, that requireth it of him, who stands in the power, which knows the power of God, which leadeth him according to Gods will, and leadeth him to another place than that which is called his outward Home: But the Son of God hath no where to lay his head, who came to do the will of God, who doth the will of God: the Apostles and many of the fol­lowers of Christ had no certain dwelling place, now if these should have been restrained, because they would not say they would go to that which the world calls their outward homes, if it were the will of God, to satisfie that mind to speak these words, and they know it is the will of God they should not, and they could not doe the will of God in doing so; Abram could not do the will of God, but in going from his native, and who are of faith are of Abra­ham, of whom Christ came according to the flesh. Now you may alleadge and say, this is to let all loose, and liberty to idleness, no, such as be in the power of God doe the will of God, come to receive his wisedome by which all his creatures were created, by which to use them to his glory. This we shall say, who are moved of the Lord God of glory, and power to go to our outward beings, and habitations, such may of us go to our outward Beings, and [Page 124] Homes to be diligent in serving the Lord God in their genera­tion, diligently serving him in life, and doctrine, in manners and conversation in all things: And who are moved of the Lord to go to any other place which stands in his will, who are moved by the power of the Lord, which comprehends all things, which is not to be limited, we shall do his will, which we are commanded to do. So the Lord God open your understandings that you may now see this great power of the Lord, which is now manifesting among his children in this his day, that you may not withstand it. Our friends that are come to the power of God to him, & know him by whom the World was made, by whom all things were created, that were created, & there was not any thing made that was made, but what was made by him, & to him, & by him who is the power of God, who doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world. Now our friends being come to this light, which comes from Christ, and received power from him by whom all things were created, who hath all power both in Heaven and Earth, given to him who is the wisedome of God, we having received wisedome, and power from him, that with which the Lord doth give us to know, how to use, and order the creatures, to the glory of him, who is the creator of all things, so our friends are here taught of the Lord to be diligent serving him, who comes into the life that the Scriptures were given forth from, and of this we in all your consciences have a witness, so if thou open the prison door, we shall not stay there, if thou send a free liberate, we shall not stay in pri­son, if thou will set us free, for Israel is to go out free, whose free­dome is purchased by the power of God, and the blood of Jesus, but going out of the power of God, he looseth his freedome.

Geo: Fox, and the rest who are sufferers for the truths sake in Lanceston Goale.

To these their answers the prisoners heard nothing till the next morning by Capt: Braddon, who sending for some of them a litle after Generall Disborow was departed the town, signified, if they would engage as aforesaid, and pay Fees, they [Page 125] might have a let passe to depart to their homes, but thereunto they could not consent, and so returned to prison.

The same proposition of liberty upon engaging to goe to their severall homes, if the Lord permit, was sent to the prisoners at Exon, in answer whereunto they wrote Generall Disborow, as followeth.

We came into these parts standing in the will and councell of the Lord, and it is our freedom where ever we are to stand in that councell, and if thou dost set us at liberty in the out­ward, which ought to be done, we stand in the Councell of our God, if he lead us to our outward habitations, we are free to go, but if the Lord move any of us else where, we dare not to be disobedient, for he is a consuming fire to those that are re­bellious, and we standing in the will, and councell of the Lord must follow the Lamb whether he goes.

And the prisoners of Lanceston signified in writing to Coll: Bennet, the unresonableness of demanding of them to take a pass upon necessity, when no such thing is required of those who have been charged with murder and fellony, or any such thing found to be laid upon the Apostles in their travellings to preach Jesus Christ, nor ought any such thing to be ex­acted of the Innocent, for whom the Law is not made, but for the transgressor, and also of paying Fees, who had been so long detayned in prison without being convicted of the breach of any Law of the Nation, who indeed no Law had transgressed, especialy to such a goaler under whom they had so suffered as aforesaid, as they had given in their answer to the proposition of liberty upon engaging to go to their respective homes, if the Lord permit.

But litle heard they in answer thereunto till the 29. of the 6. month, at which time Collonel Bennet came to the town, and sent for Edward Pyott, and William Salt, and reasoned with them concerning the proposition, and let pass, but ob­taining nothing from them therein, but according to what they had wrote, unto which they stood unalterable, and that if they lay there seven years, at the end thereof, they should find them the same men, he friendly parted from them, and some [Page 126] time after he and Capt. Braddon sent for Edward Pyot, and Wil­liam Salt, and freed them and the rest of the prisoners, with­out condition of going to their homes, or let pass, or any other thing whatsoever, saying that they would not press them to any engagement, which might be any offence to that of God in their conscience.

Notwithstanding the goaler (though he was present when the Justices thus freed the prisoners without consideration of Fees, or otherwise, for Fees they had in their papers denied to pay) did not set them at liberty, and being demanded by them the reason, he said, they were free by the Justices order, but he detayned them for their Fees; and so now they became the Goalers prisoners, as they had been before P. Ceelies, and the chief Justice Glyn's, who herein acted contrary to the Pro­tectors Government, notstithstanding they put it under his name, and authority.

Of this they sent Collonel Bennet information, but nothing in answer they received from him, till the 8. of the 7. month, the next morning after which being the 9. of the 7. month, he came to Lanceston, and set them at liberty freely, without any condition whatsoever. And so as innocently they came out of prison, as innocently they were put in.

After they were thus set at liberty free from any obliga­tion, as they were cast into prison free of any offence, and du­ring the time of their being detayned there free of any crime proved against them, William Salt, one of the late aforesaid pri­soners, went to Peter Ceelie, and desired of him to restore the papers, and the Book against Popery (called by him scanda­lous) which he took from them, when he apprehended them, seeing nothing contayned in them, as the transgression of any Law was proved against them, P. Ceely answered he had deli­vered them to Generall Disborow, and afterwards said to Edw. Pyot, he had delivered them to the Judge, see whether any truth be in this man (or any credit to be given to what he said) and gave W. Salt high language, and said, he would know where he had been, and whether he came thither without a pass? The next day, being the first day of the week as W. Salt [ page 127] was walking alone waiting on the Lord, P. Ceely, and Mi­chael Vivian met him, as they were passing to the high place to worship, in the Parrish called Guithion; and these very much urged him to come to their assembly, which P. Ceelie called the Communion of Saints, urging it again, and again, and asked him why he would walk there in the field, and not come to their meeting place, saying he might come, and hear, and then judge, he replyed he stood not in their wills, but if it were the will of the Lord to have him come thither, he should do it. And afterwards being moved of the Lord he went, and when the Priest, one Tregosse a youth, one of P. Ceelies sisters sons (as is said) had done reading his notes, papers, and other services, shaking his gold ring on his finger, and his broad cuffes on his hands, like a lad acting in a stage-play, W. Salt said, he came not there to disturbe them, but seeing they had done speaking, he had a few words to speak unto them, where­upon P. Ceelie, (who had said to him, come, hear, and judge as aforesaid) was offended, and his countenance fell, and became pale, and called for a Constable to take him away, which was forthwith done, and then P. Ceely passed a [...]ong with the young Priest, saying, such things were not to be suffered, though what was done was against no Law, and was but what him­self had said, and urged him unto; and came directly to the house where he had set up his horse, where he framed a war­rant to send him to prison without any examination, which when he had written, he gave to the Constable, requiring him to take W. Salt into custodie, bidding him if he wanted mony to sell W. Salts horse to pay the charges, and to W. Salt he said, he would warrant he now might lie long enough in prison, (who after he had spoken to him to come there, to do as hath been said, with his other friends afore mentioned, had layne two hundred, thirty and five dayes before in prison upon oc­casion of his commitment, and under the cruel sufferings, from which he was but then at liberty, as hath been said) and so went his way, and W. Salt was conveyed to Lanceston, and de­livered to the Goaler there in custody, with a warrant, a copy whereof is as followeth.

Cornwall.

To the Keeper of the Goale at Lanceston, or his law­full deputy. These,

I Send you here withall the body of W. Salt late of London, who came this day into the Congregation at Guithen, and there irreverently demeaned himself, in time of prayer keeping his Hat on, and at close of the exercise, before the Minister came out of his pulpit, vilified him, and disturbed the Congregation, contrary to the command of God, & Law of this Nation. These are therefore in the name of his Highness the Lord Protector, to will and command you, that you take him into custody, and him safe­ly to keep untill you he be thence delivered by due course of Law, and hereof fail you not as you will answer the contrary at your utmost perill.

Given under my hand and Seal this 14. day of September 1656.

P. Ceely.

Into the Congregation. W. Salt came, being moved of the Lord, to which Pet. Ceely, and his companion often ur­ged him, as hath been said, and now chargeth him with so doing.

There he stood in the reverence and fear of the Lord God, who regards not the prayers of the wicked, which are an abo­mination unto him, nor can his saints, who pray to him in spirit, and worship him in spirit, bow to such, and modestly and mildly did he there demean himself.

Vilifie the vaine Lad whom he calls a Minister he did not, nor interrupt him (as they call it) but heard with silence, though he told the people a storie of a Mule cloathed in a Lions skin, and then would tell them the Morall of it, when he was the Lion in the mules skin, as it afterwards appeared. The truth he spake, & the speaking of truth is not vilifying. He exhorted the people to mind Christ the Bishop of their souls, that him alone might be their teacher, where they would find rest to their souls, [Page 129] and told them that he that made them, was come to teach them, and those who come hither, need not go forth. This is what he said, and this it seems is vilifying in P. Ceelies account, as he called the paper given forth by G. F. directing people to the way to Salvation by Jesus Christ, only in the words of the Scriptures of truth, mentioned in the beginning of this trea­tise, sinfull, and wicked, and tending to the disturbance of the peace, and therefore committed them, under which they have suffered without mercy, as hath been exprest, so let him who reads and understands, see what a profane person, and unheard of blasphemer is this P. Ceely, and when W. Salt asked P. Ceely, whether that was to vilifie to bid people turn to the light, & so to Christ the true shepherd, from all the false Prophets, & blind guides, P. Ceely bad the people take notice. And in his warrant he ought to have expressed wherein he did vilifie him, in which he is silent.

And speak he did not till the young Priest was gone out of his pulpit; so here is another lye under his hand and Seale.

Nor did he disturbe the Congregation, for the people were very attentive to hear untill P. Ceely stirred them up to hale him out, so P. Ceely was the peace-breaker, as he hath shewn him­self in this particular again a lyer, and one who in this whole action, and warrant hath acted contrary to the command of God, and the Law of this Nation, though he chargeth W. Salt. with both, which are two lyes more.

For, first, in obedience to the movings of the Lord he came thither; and at his command spake in the words of soberness, and truth as hath been said: And the Apostle saith, ye may all Pro­phesie one by one, that all may learne, and all may be comfor­ted; & if any thing be revealed to another that stands by, let the first, hold his peace, 1 Cor. 14.30.31. but P. Ceely in stop­ping W. Salts mouth, as he was speaking something, which to him was revealed, and which to speak God had commanded him, and calling for a Constable to take him away, and taking him away, and committing him to prison for so speaking, hath acted against the command of God, and persecuted him who [Page 130] the command of God obeyed, for being obedient thereunto: as he hath also in affirming so many lyes in his warrant, as hath been instanced, there being not one true sentence therein, nor were the things true which are alleadged therein, are they matter in Law wherefore to imprison. Now God ordaineth his arrows a­gainst the PERSECUTORS, Psal. 7.13. and the Devil is the fa­ther of lyes, who is a lyar from the beginning, and aboad not in the truth, and the lyar is for the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, there to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels.

And for the Law of the Land, there is not the least tittle there­of that W. Salt hath offended, no not Queen Maries, which was made to defend the Mass Priests, and Jesuits in time of their service, for that guards such, but whilest the Priests are speaking, and declaring; But on the contrary the Govern­ment Art. 37. saith, such shall be not restrained from, but shall be protected in the profession of their faith, and exercise of their Religion, who profess faith in God by Jesus Christ; and that all may prophesie one by one, and if any thing be revealed to an­other that stands by, let the first hold his peace, is a true pro­fession of the true faith, and exercise of the true Religion, which the Saints professed and exercised on record in the Scripture, and Paul commanded it, who was an Apostle of Jesus Christ not by man, nor the will of man, which P. Ceely [...]ath broken, as he hath the other Laws of the Nation, which have so carefully provided for the preservation of a mans innocency, and the de­fence of his liberty. As he hath outstripped the Jews, who said to Paul and his Companions, men and Brethren, if ye have a word of exhortation to the people, say on, Acts 13.15.16. and all manner of honesty, and justice, in urging a man to go to the assembly to hear, and then judge, and when he hath heard pa­tiently till all was ended, and every one silent, then speaking a few words of soberness, and truth, to stir up the people to hale him out, who before attentively heard him, to call to the Con­stable to take him away, to call such words of truth vilifying, to say such things were not to be suffered, to send him to pri­son, with a warrant filled with lyes, & false accusations, as there is non sence in that passage (untill you he be thence delivered) [Page 131] to bid the Constable to sell his horse to bear the charge; And insultingly to tell him when he had done all this, that he would warrant, he might now lye long enough in prison, who by reason of him had stayd 235. dayes in prison a little before, as hath been aforesaid.

This is P. Ceely, and his communion of Saints, this is he, whose unparalleld wickedness is the burden of this relation, with whom it begins, with whom it ends; whose iniquity hath no end, whose rage hath no bound, whose cruel [...]y is without mercy; and whose inhumanity is without naturall affection; who is envious, malicious, proud, fiery, a boaster, a blasphe­mer, a filthy speaker, a curser, a scoffer, a reviler, a railer, a lyar, a persecutor, an oppressor, a truce-breaker, a false accu­ser, a despiser of those that are good, a traytor, heady, high-minded, cruell, implacable, unreasonable; whose heart is as hard as the neather milstone, whose conscience is seared as with an hot Iron, whose forehead is as Brass, and flint, and whose neck as of Iron sinnews, impudent, hard hear [...]ed, who makes the last days perilous, who hath filled up a large mea­sure of iniquity, as this very relation beareth witness, one who hath sold himself to commit wickedness, who after the long, illegall, cruell, barbarous, monstrous, causelesss, unheard of sufferings of the innocent, occasioned by him, as hath been said, and much more which is past over in silence, contrary to the Law of God, and of man, civill and naturall, to modesty, justice, reason, honesty, and all humanity, as one not satiated therewith, still ravening after the Blood of the Innocent, cast's W. Salt into the same prison again, within 6. dayes after his release, from under t [...]e hand of his mercilesse cruelty, and insatiable bloodiness, with such treachery, fa [...]shood, and un­godliness, as hath been in part expressed, thus treasuring up unto himself, after the hardnesse, & impenitency of his heart, wrath unto the day of wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God; which shall destroy the adversary, and ren­der unto him, according to his deeds.

And all this is but part of what the Innocent servants of the Lord have suffered in the Goale of Lanceston, in the County [Page 132] of Cornwall, and do yet suffer in the Goale of Exon in the County of Devon, where they are still continued, though one of them be lately, dead,[18] & divers others of them sick, with the poysonous nastiness of that filthy place, where they were cast in heaps, together in and amongst the fellons and mur­derers, first by the Justices, then by Judge Nicholas. And if any man aske wherefore is all this? It is answered, for none other cause, then for giving forth a paper in compassion to the ignorant, at the movings of the Lord, stirring them up to prise their time, and shewing them the way to salvation in the words of the Scriptures of truth, as the paper it self, at large in the beginning of this relation manifests, and for going to vi­sit the Innocent thus, and for this cause cast into prison, and under such cruell sufferings: is this England? are these the people that have gone through such wars, which have made the world to ring for liberty of conscience? Who talk so much of Christ, and his glorious Gospell, and yet thus persecute the life of the Son of God, now made manifest?

Not that our lives are in these things, is this written, but that every thing may be shewn, and laid in its own place.

But this is not all yet, this generation have yet to fill up the measure of their iniquity in this their hour, & the powers of darkness; they must yet shew themselves to be more blind, and bru [...]tish, cruell, and unreasonable than the genera­tions whom they have succeeded, in persecuting of the just; and to be such as are as unsatiable as hell, whom the sufferings and blood of the Innocent doth not suffice, or make them once to say it is enough; they must make it to appear that one and the same spirit of ravening and cruelty is in, and acts through the diversities of painted formes of Godliness, without the power, and the glorious outsides of profession without the life, as is in, and acts through the outwardly more dark; and filthy part of the world, against the truth of the living God, where it is made manifest; and that they, and them all are of the same stock lineage, and kindred, having all one Father, him who aboad not in the truth, the Devill, the murderous perse­cutor [Page 133] of the seed of God throughout all ages from the begin­ning. Therefore the wisedome of God sent again some of his Innocent servants, who had long and sorely suffered in, and were released out of the Goale at Lanceston, as hath been said, into that County of Cornwall, to trie and prove this genera­tion further, and to bring forth to the light what had layn hid in the bottome of the hearts of some under the cover, and shew of friendship, and sence of their sufferings. Which will appear when that which follows of the apprehension, and im­prisonment of Joseph Coale, one of the late prisoners aforesaid by P. Ceely, and the return of him, and W. Salt from the Ses­sions at Bodmin prisoners to Lanceston by Collonel Bennet aforesaid, who sate Judge of the Court, and the carriage of Coll. Bennet towards them in the Court, and the passages there now to be rehearsed, as the close of this relation; being added to what hath been but now said of the imprisonment of W. Salt. by P. Ceely, shall together be considered with moderation, and weighed in judgement.

Joseph Coale having been (after his imprisonment aforesaid) to visit some friends in Cornwall, as he vvas travelling peacea­bly on the vvay about the 30. of the 7. month, Peter Ceely met him, vvho envying to see him at liberty, and free of adver­sity and bonds, out of his unsatiable cruelty, and murderous malice, for no other cause than for seeing of him travell quiet­ly on the high-vvay, took him up, and sent him from Consta­ble to Constable to the cruell Goale at Lanceston, from vvhence he had been but a fevv dayes before delivered, vvith a vvarrant as follovveth.

To the Keeper of the Goale at Lanceston, or to his lavvfull Deputy.

I Send you herewithall the body of Joseph Coale late of Redding Clothier, who was lately a prisoner in your keeping for misdemeanor, I have at this instant taken him upon the [Page 134] high-way, and cannot shew that he is enlarged from his restraint by due course of Law, but contrarywise straggling up, and down the Country, having no calling, and refusing to return to the place of his habitation, and spreads severall papers up and down to the disturbance of the people, begetting unlawfull assemblies, these are therefore in the name of his Highness the Lord Pro­tector to require you to take him into your custody, there to re­main untill he be thence delivered by due course of Law. Hereof fail you not at your perils, given under my hand and soul at Cam­burne this 30. September 1656.

P. Ceely.

From Constable to Constable untill he be delivered unto the keeper of the Goale as above mentioned.

For misdemeanor he was not a prisoner, but for going to Anthony Nichols Justice, and soberly desiring to know of him whether the putting of his friend James Mynes, whom he came to visit; into Doomsdale, and the barbarous usage he there sustained was by his order, supposing it rather to be the Goalers tyranny, than his command, who had sent him thither a prisoner as aforesaid, who therefore committed him to the same Goale also, where the Goaler cast him in­to the same den, and with the same barbarous usage intreated him as hath been said, out of which he and his friend had been but a few dayes before delivered. — Nor did he straggle up and down the Countrey, he was in his way, the high-way, upon his occasions, which he well understood. — A cal­ling he hath lawfull and good, and in the very beginning of this thy warrant thou hast said him to be a Clothier, and yet dost not blush (in the same breath as it were) to say, ha­ving no calling, and so both to affirme agd deny one and the same thing under thy hand and seal in three or four lines com­pass. — Refuse to return to the place of his habitation he did not. His habitation is in God, who filleth all things, whose is the Earth, and the fulness thereof, their he was in [Page 135] his habitation, when he saw thee roving up and down in thy imaginations, compassing the Earth, having no habitation; Cain the vagabond, the fugitive, who built a City. In his habitation he was, in England his Country, his habita­tion, in any part of which to reside, or be, he is borne free; And to his particular outward being in England, when the Lord-requires him thither, who commanded him to go forth from thence into these parts, its like he shall returne, which he refused not to thee to do, though in thy time and will, and at thy demand who hast no authority so to re­quire him he might, and doth refuse to return thither. —Nor did he spread severall papers tending to the disturbance of the people, (thy lying invention was here so check't, that thou couldst not extend it to the disturbance of the peace, the true disturbing of which, according as the Law declares it, not of the people, is matter of commitment in Law.) Thou art here charged to produce one, and to make one un­lawfull assembly occasioned by him to appear, who thou dost charge with begetting unlawfull assemblies. And when these half dozen of thy lyes are returned to thy self from whence they came, (for when thou speakst a lye thou speakest of thy self,) and thy lying pretence of his not being able to shew that he was enlarged from his restraint by due course of Law (when as contrary to Law he was imprisoned, and against the Law these barbarously used, and by authority was delivered vvithout promise, engagement, set pass, Fees, or any other condition vvhatsoever, of vvich thou vvast not igno­rant, and because thereof vvast grieved) is sent back into thy bosome; from vvhence it preceeded; vvhich makes up a seaventh, there remains in thy vvarrant, as the cause of his commitment, this particular only, (viz.) I have at this in­stant taken him on the high-way And this is the great crime, and the hainous offence, for vvhich thou dost chayne him a­gain under bonds in the very place, and under the same in­humane Goaler, vvhere and under vvhom he had, vvithout a cause, so long and so cruelly suffered. And so hast thou mani­fested [Page 136] thy self herein, to be a merciless, blood-thirsty, insa­tiable tyrant, in this, as in thy lyes, and thy other wickedness mentioned in this relation, thou appearest to be one who art impudent, and hardned in iniquity, without shame, or blushing, having thy conscience seared past feeling, sealed up, and even ripe for judgement, which will cut thee off ere long, and di­vide thee thy portion with Hipocrites and Sinners; There­fore mind and take warning before it be too late. For in the day of thy calamitie, when the righteous judgements of God shall take hold on thee, this shallt thou remember, that thou hast been warned, and that the long suffering of the Lord towards thee hath been great, which thou hast despised, and his visitation of love, and silent shalt thou be before thy Judge, When these things, shall rise up in thee a worme that never dyeth, and a fire that shall never go out; Therefore, whilst thou hast yet time, consider, and lay it to heart, least thou say time is past, and thou perish in thine iniquities; From the Lord God thou art warned, whose Witnesse shall I be for him in the day he shall reward thee according to thy works.

Shortly after this commitment was the generall Quarter Sessions of the peace for that County held at Bodmin, whither W. Salt (though the Gaoler had denied his carrying him thi­ther for ten pounds) and Joseph Coal were brought, whom to abuse being there, P. Ceely (as the men sayd themselves) sent Keale (who was the cause of the apprehension of G. Fox, E. Pyot, and W. Salt, as hath been said) and two other rude fellows, who coming into the room where the Prisoners were the night before their triall, offered them many inci­vilities and abuses, which occasioned the following Repre­sentation to be drawn by them, and for the Court, that there­of they might not be ignorant.

Bodmin, the 9. day of the 8. month 1656..

To the hands of Colonel Bennet, and the rest of the Justices, at their Sessions at Bodmin.

Friend, and Friends,

IT is recorded in the Scriptures of truth, that Paul, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the Tribe of Benjamin, when he was a Prisoner under the Romanes, that he was suffered to dwell by himself, and he dwelt in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the Kingdome of God, and teaching those things that concerned the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him. And we do not reade that liberty of conscience was one of the Fundamentals of the Roman Government, or that they had made provision by a Law for all that professed faith in God by Jesus Christ, to be protected, though they were different from the doctrine, discipline, and worship, as was then in being, and not to be compelled thereunto, but won by sound doctrine, and the example of a good conversation, as the Government of this Na­tion hath provided, as in the 36. and 37. Articles of the Instru­ment of Government. Neither do we reade, that liberty of con­science was held forth by them to be a natural right, that every man might claim: Yet they that did not make this provision, suffered the thing; for all that would come unto Paul, he spake boldly the things concerning the Kingdome of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, no man forbidding him; which was far from sending men to abuse him, or make a sport of him, or ask­ing people that came to visit him, whence they were, or what they would have there, or why they did not get them about their bu­siness, or why come they there to be seduced, as was done to us the last night, who are Prisoners for the eternal truth, as Paul was, and stand witnesses for the Lord in our measures, as he did; yet we in our own Nation being Prisoners, who were causelesly cast into Prison without the transgression of any Law, and here to be brought in order to our trial, to hear what any man hath to [Page 138] accuse us of, and in the face of the Authority of this Countie, even while you were sitting, as we understand, to have three men come into our chamber to disturb us, under a pretence to search for papers, asking where the seditious papers were, and charging us of sedition and blasphemy, and having designs, and having a plot in hand, calling us Jesuits, using other reproachfull words; and when we asked for their Warrant, or by what authority they came in to disturb us, one of them, named James Sparnell, put his hand on his sword, and said, that was his Warrant; another of them was Keale, a Trooper under P. Ceely, who formerly falsly accused W. Salt unto him; and the third was one Davis, an Exciseman, who it seems came along with them to make sport, pointing at one, and asking whether he was not brought up at the Ʋniversity, clapping Sparnell on the shoulder, setting him on to look after papers; whom we asked, whether he came to make sport, who said, yes, and stood mocking us, saying, yea, yea. And being unsatisfied, seeing their disorder, we pressed to know their authority, and they told us at length, that Major Ceely had sent them: So all may see here, what the sound doctrine is, and the example of a good conversation, that Peter Ceely hath to win others to be of his Religion, and what are the weapons he useth to defend his Religion. Now, Friends, you who are in place to ease the heavy burthens, and to take off every yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and to restrain the rage of them who smite with the fist of wickedness; We lay these things upon you, for you to do us justice, that we may not be made a prey upon by men in their wills, and that the cause for which we are kept in re­straint, and for which we at present suffer thus, may come to a hearing, according to the right and liberty of Englishmen, which is after your own Law, and not for any one man to be the Accuser, Judge, and Condemner all at once, contrary to Law. From them who are now Prisoners for the Truth, that stand Witnesses for the righteous God, against all deceit, ungodliness, and un­righteousness of man whatsoever.

W. Salt. Joseph Coale.

On that day, being the last day of their Sessions, were they called into the Court, Colonel Bennet sitting Judge, (who sent his man to the Goaler, as they were coming into the Court, to bid the Goaler take off their hats.) Being brought before the Bench, no Accuser came against them, nor Accusation, nor was any thing found against them, nor did P. Ceely their Persecutor, who had imprisoned them, appear, being (as was said) on his departure out of Town. Nevertheless Colonel Bennet caused their Warrants of Commitment to be read, and sought to pick what he could out of them against the Prisoners; who called for their Accusers, but none appeared; and asked W. Salt what he had to say to this, and what he had to say to the other thing contained in the Warrant: He told him, he denyed it all, and that there was not one true thing in it. Which was so mani­fest, that even Justice Lance confessed openly in the Court, when he had heard that their service was over at the Steeple-house, before W. Salt spake, and that W. Salt was invited into the Congregation, that he did believe he had no intention to disturb them.

The Prisoners, after all that was or could be said against them, appearing innocent men, having neither Accuser pro­duced against them, nor any thing mentioned in the Warrants of their commitment made to stick on them, or any o­ther transgression of the Law, might well have expected to have been set at liberty, as is the Law, especially Colonel Bennet being Judge of the Court, who had dis-owned their former suf­ferings, and seemed very sensible thereof, and endeavoured to make General Disborow the same, and had appeared in the be­half of their liberty; by whose hand, and Captain Braddons, they, with the rest of them their fellow-prisoners, were enlar­ged, without promise, or engagement, let pass, or fees, or any other condition whatsoever, who had appeared so much for the liberties of the Nation throughout the Wars, and been in Arms for it; who pretended so much to liberty of Conscience, and professed that which for it had suffered persecution; who pre­tended an expectation and belief of Christs sudden coming on [Page 140] earth, to sit on the Throne of Judgement, executing justice, and doing righteousness: But contrariwise, he was the man, who seeing their innocency, and knowing that for very envy they were cast into bonds, and delivered to him, nevertheless said, That for satisfaction of the Countrey, and because the times were dangerous, they must do their duty; and so proposed to them a question, which unless they would answer yea or nay to, he (who had known the passages aforesaid of the proposition of liberty, if they would promise to go to their homes, if the Lord permit, and the answers thereunto, and the papers sent particularly to him thereabouts, and his reasoning with them concerning it, and their opening to him the ground of their not so doing, and how that in conscience they could not do it; and if they kept them seven years, the same men they should finde them at the end thereof, and after all freeing them, say­ing, God forbid they should press them to any thing which was against their conscience, as hath been mentioned) even Co­lonel Bennet said they must restrain them, unless they would answer yea or nay to that question. A. To which they an­swered, We are peaceable men, and seek the peace of all men; when the Law is broken, ye may inflict the penalty.

But to a more positive answer they were pressed, and therein Colonel Bennet was more forward than the rest; and had a­way they were, and bid to consider it.

Being called in again, Colonel Bennet seeing them coming with their Hats on, called out, Why do you let these men come in with their Hats on? And demanded of them, whether they would answer yea or nay to the question. W. Salt asked him, whether according to their own Law they were not to be freed by proclamation, seeing there was none found to accuse them; and whether they had kept them in Prison to bring them forth to put an engagement upon them: but nothing of that he would hear. And W. Salt, after the Court had read, and heard what they had against them, desired Colonel Bennet to hear him reade what he had in answer to P. Ceelyes VVarrant by which he was committed; and a Letter, which he had prepa­red for the Court, of the abuses he had sustained by the Goaler, [Page 141] and in Bodmin since they came in thither, These papers Collo­nel Bennet called for from him, and instead of reading them in open Court, put them up in his Pocket, (as Thomas Gewen the Sessions before at Truro, did the Representation then given him, of them and the rest of their then fellow prisoners cruell sufferings by the Gaoler) saying he thought they had a fair hearing, and bid the Gaoler take them away. The prisoners called upon him to consider and weigh things, but he rose up out of the Court; and went his way, without causing the papers to be read, one of which was as followeth.

For the Shiriff, and Justices of the County of Cornwall, who are in place to do Justice, At their Session in Bodmin.

FRIENDS,

NOtwithstanding by order of the Generall my self and o­ther my fellow prisoners were enlarged by the Justice, yet P. Ceely hath me again sent to prison; I having been with him to demand a Book against Popery, and other good notes and Books he took away from me and my friends, when he first apprehended us; and being on my way five miles on th [...] side Ives, travelling Eastward, intended to have gone a­long with my friends out of the Country, and staying there, it be­ing the first day of the week, P. Ceely meeting me and others with him, urged me much to come to their assembly, and said I might come and hear, and then judge, afterwards being moved of the Lord I went, and they having all done, I told them I came not there to disturbe them, but seeing they had done speaking, I had a few words to speak unto them, and this was according to P. Ceelyes words, who said I might hear and then judge, who pre­sently bid the Constable take him away, and so went his way to make a Warrant, and without any further examination sent me to prison, as the enclosed herewith sent doth more fully express: [Page 142] And since I came to Lanceston, the same Gaoler of whose mis­carriages you have formerly heard, indeavoured to make a prey upon me, when I was delivered up to them, of their own ac­cord, being placed at a private house, the Gaoler came some few days after, and took me out thence, and put me into a victualling house, where he said he would confine me, telling a­broad that he had agreed with the man of the house to give ten shillings a week for a Chamber for me; and reported that it should cost me above forty pound before I came out of prison, For when we had been among his Companions, as his manner is tipling and drinking, it seems then I was bought and sold for mony, so to me he came in his authority full of Beer, to command me to go to such a place where he would put me, having given out that if I did not like the place where he would put me, then I should into Domesdale; So, whether this fellow be at his own pleasure to put me into Domesdale, or is allowed to make a prey upon me, I shall leave with you, who are in place of authoritie to redress such things, and to judge; And asking the Gaoler, whether I might not be heard at the Sessions, seeing I was not committed for the breach of any Law, who said he would not carry me thither, for I was to be delivhred by due course of Law, which he said was meant the Assizes; Now I understood that what is done by your Court, is done by due course of Lavv, where pettie larcenie and such like causes are heard and de­termined; and may not that which is under petty larceny, and less then that, be heard also by you, but must be referred to the Judge, of Assize? When as it is not criminall matter or wrong done to any one, that they have to charge against me, nor for acting contra­ry to the Law of the Nation, but onely questionings about words, P. Ceely saying I reviled, when he sets not down what the revilings were, and to speak truth to any man is not reviling, and that I stood Irreverently as he saith with my Hat on, when although my Hat was on, I stood reverently and in the fear of the Lord God, who is my witness, all that time: But if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of bonds or Imprisonment, I refuse not to suffer, making it appear to be according to Law and justice, but [Page 143] if there be none of these things whereof I am accused can he proved against me, I desire according to the Law I may be quitted, and n [...] be kept in durance, as I have been formerly, by the same man who with my other friends stood untill the Assizes, and when the Assizes came nothing was brought forth against me, nor my fellow priso­ners, for which we were committed to prison, and there had lain severall weeks, as if we had been sent to prison onely to find some new matter whereof to accuse us: how agreeable this is to the rights or liberties of English men, to ast thus one towards another, or whether this be Christianlike, I leave to them who are come out of the rashness, hardness, and perversness into the sobrietie, reaso­nableness, and moderation to judge, and how contrary this is to the proceedings of former ages, I can produce some instances of Scrip­ture even of those whom the true God knew not, neither did they profess themselves to be Christians, Claudius Lysias a Romane Captain, having rescued Paul the Lords Prisoner, who contrary to the Law was abused by the rude multitude, him he therefore sent to Felix, that according to the Law he might be judged, and gave Commandement also to his accusers, to say before him what they had to say against him; and whether was not Lycias more cour­teous to Paul, and pitifull to preserve him, that bid make ready so many Souldiers, and beasts to set Paul on, to bring him safe to whom he sent him, then P. Ceely was to me, who bid the Constable, if I had not money, take my beast and sell him? Did not Lysias outstrip him here that calls himself a Christian, who would not do any thing dishonourable as he was a Roman, who preserved Paul from the men that laid wait for him, when as it hath appeared P. Ceely layd wait himself for me, bring­ing me into a snare, inviting me to come to his assembly, and there hear and then judge, and when I came and there spake, sent me to prison: And when Paul was brought to Felix the Governour, to whom Lisias had sent him, he was not put presently into Doomesdale, or some other nastie stinking hole among other prisoners, but untill his accusers came was kept in Herods judgement hall; and afterwards the Governour commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have [Page 144] his libertie, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him; he did not set such over him, that threatned if he did not pay for his liberty, he would double Iron him, or put him into the bottome of the pit, or chain him to a post, and arrest such as came to get provisions to him, and sue him at the Law to get damages against him; and Felix went further than this, when the Jevvs had gotten an Orator to plead for them, who having forged many things against him, which they could not prove, beckned to Paul for him to make an­svver, vvho spake to some things, and told the Governour such and such ought to have been there, for proof of what they had against him, vvhich vvhen Felix had heard, he deferred to give judgement against Paul; notwithstanding the high Priests and Elders from Jerusalem came thither, deferring the business till Lisius, that sent Paul thither, came down, that he might hear the uttermost of the malice: yet these men that acted this were such, that our professors in England call Heathen, but such now as call themselves Ievvs, and rest in their forms, and outward observations, making their boast of God, and the Scrip­ture, to them I shall mention the Apostles question, and leave it with them to answer; If the uncircumcision keep the righte­ousness of the Law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted to him for circumcision, and shall not circumcision, which is by nature, if it fulfill the Law, judge thee, who by the Letter and Circumcision doest transgress the Law? Afterwards. Festus a­nother Roman Governour came into Felix room who likewise in­treated Paul nobly, notwithstanding he was esteemed of that sect, which was every where spoken against, whom he called noble Fe­stus, not because he had finer cloaths on him than other men, and sate in a seat above them, for such was Herod the persecutor, whom the Angell of the Lord smote, notwithstanding he had so much eloquence to be admired at for his oration; but because the high Priest and chief of the Ievvs, whom he did not so much respect because of their greatness, nor scorn and despise the prisoner, who was but one, and had so many enemies to encounter withall, all which did not swerve him, nor turn him aside from doing justice, though [Page 145] the Priests and chief of the Iews besought him and desired favour against Paul the prisoner that was in bonds, but all the chief Priests greatness, nor the rest would not take place with him, to make him partiall, or respect persons in judgement, but he told them vvhether he should send Paul, where himself should be shortly, where any that were able to accuse him of any wickedness might go vvith him; Marke, accuse him of any wickedness, not at all granting the high Priest, and chief of the Iews desire to send him to Ierusalem, who thought thereby to have had their purpose against him, either to have killed him in the way, or to have brought him vvithin their own jurisdiction, where themselves, that were his accusers, might have sate as Iudges upon him and so have dispatcht him quickly, having aspersed him sufficiently, before the former Governour Fe­lix; yet all this took not place with Festus, though the Jews laid ma­ny and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, yet him he heard patiently, and this is the noble spirit, wheresoever it appears, that Paul did see to be in Festus, and notwithstanding the Iews laboured so much to render him odious, yet he minded the doing justice, having not so much as an ear open, to what the Priests or the chief of the Iews could suggest unto him, and afterwards brought him out before Agripa and Bernice to whom he declared Pauls case, giving him an account of the passages, him, that sate before in judgement on him, telling how the chief Priests and El­ders of the Iews had informed against Paul, desiring to have had judgement against him, which he assented not to, pleading being a Roman (he did not say a Christian, it was not their manner to de­liver up a man, or give judgement against him, before he that vvas accused, had his accusers face to face, and had licence to answer for himself, concerning the crimes layd against him, and when he saw that Pauls accusers (though his accusations were ma­ny and grievous) brought no accusation of such thing as he supposed, not being satisfied to bring the matter to an Issue, he leaves Paul to his choice to go to another, to whom he had appealed, that was in authoritie above him, and least he should wrong the Prisoner in laying any thing to his charge he had not done, for this cause he would have Agripa to hear him, [Page 146] telling that to him it did seem unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withall to signifie the crime laid against him, whom Agrippa slighted not, nor did not scorne, as looking upon himself above it, but desired to hear him, and when he was brought out into the place of hearing, there Festus again spake in his behalf (which may be exemplary to those who sit Judges in Courts, and are of Councell for the Prisoner, to deale impartially, and not themselves to be false accusers) saying, King A­grippa, and all men here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me about, both at Jerusalem and here also, crying, that he ought not to live any longer, but when I found that he had com­mitted nothing worthy of death, and that he himself had ap­pealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him, of whom I have no certain matter to write, &c. whom when Agrip­pa had heard, he saw so little against him, that he decla­red openly, that almost he had perswaded him to be a Chri­stian, and when they were gon aside, he told Festus he might have set him at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar. Now these men came not with prejudice and enmity lodging in their minds, they did not say they would warrant he should lye long enough in prison, to adde affliction to his bonds, because he was not one of that sect that every where was spoken against, but laboured to do him right, not to wrong him, to hear both sides, and then themselves to judge what they had heard, de­claring boldly and nakedly like men of courage, notwith­standing the high Priests and chief of the people) their thoughts concerning him, not passing▪ judgement, or entertaining pre­judice because of the report they had heard of him, and this was manly and of a good report, to keep themselves clear; And when he came to Rome, they d [...]d not put him into the Common Gaole among other Prisoners, or commit him to a man to make a prey upon him, to put him where he should spend most mony; or else be put into Doomesale, but when the Centurion delivered up his Prisoners to the Captaine of the guard, Paul was suffered to dwell by himself, he dwelt [Page 147] two years in his own hired house, and received all that came in un­to him, preaching the kingdom, and teaching those things which concerne the Lord Jesus Christ, withall confidence, no man forbid­ding him; Now we do not read that liberty of Conscience was one of the Fundamentalls of the Roman Gevernment, yet they suffered it; none not so much forbidding any to come to the Apostle, which was far from making laws against them that visit prisoners, men for visiting their friends to be taken up and put in prison for it: Again, you that be men in authority to do justice between man and man, and to execute the Laws, this would I know of you, whether a law once made and afterwards repealed, be again of any force yea or nay? or whether the priviledges of the law extend to any but those whom the law qualifies thereunto, and makes capable thereof? whether then by the Act of 1. Eliz. Cap. 2. last clause, that of the 1. of Mary be not repealed, which saith, all Laws, Sta­tutes, and Ordinances, wherein or whereby any other services, administration of Sacraments, or Common Prayer, is limited, e­stablished, or set forth to be used, &c. shall be henceforth void and of none effect? and that of the 1. of Mary is for the establishing of the Mass and all Popish services: and whether Nicholas Hide when chief Justice of England, gave not his judgement that it was wholly repealed? And if Queen Maries law be repealed, what Priests are they that flye for refuge to it, to uphold their Ministry now? Or is it reasonable to put men in prison, as many have been, and some are, and there be kept when they have nothing to plead for their so doing but that law? And whether the Priests now claiming the priviledge of Queen Maries law, made for the de­fence of the Jesuits and Priests in the excercise of the Popish and Idolatrous worship and services, against the servants of the Lord many of which then suffered Imprisonment, and some in flames of fire, for witnessing against them then, do not manifestly declare themselves to be no Ministers of Jesus Christ? And whether these are otherwise to be accounted of then such by which that law was made, that flye to it to guard them? If the whole body of Popery be removed, whether then that law be not also null and void, seeing the effect ceaseth with the cause? whether he that hath the law hath not the supremacie, and so whether he [Page 148] that hath the Popish Law to guard him, have not the supremacie of the Pope to guard him? And why is not the oath of abjuration to be tendred to such Priests, if the intent of it be to extirpate Popery ra­ther than unto them who have both declared and writ against Po­pery publickly, and all them that are in the likenesses, imitations, and traditionall invention [...], out of the power of God? So you all being kept in the dread and fear of the Lord God, no unjust thing will proceed from you, your hearts will be tender, there will be a loving of mercy, and doing of justice both, and here you come to answer the end of Magistracie, a terror to the evill doer, and a pra se to them that do well, rightly qualified, men fearing God, ru­ling others in the fear of God men of truth to find out the truth, and judge down the deceit, not covetous, nor given to filthy lucre, for that blinds the eye of the wise; such were them that were Jud­ges at the first, and Councellors at the beginning, and when the dross is taken away such shall be restored again, according as the Lord hath promised; Now ye all coming to the light, by it to be led which comes from Christ the light of the world, who enlighteth every man that cometh into the world, who was given for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people, the light which you have received from him, you following and obeying it, you come under his command and leading, this will bring you to s [...]e the foun­dation of many generations raised up and here the restauration will come to be witnessed, for the law of the Lord restoreth the soul, and the law is light; he that hath an ear to hear let him hear. From one who is a lover of all souls, truth, righteousness, and peace, who waits for the establishing of it, and against all injustice, cruelty, en­vy, and oppression, now stands a witness in outward bonds.

William Salt.

The next morning the Prisoners wro e to Collonel Bennet, concerning his proceedings with them, and sent it to him be­fore he was departed the town as followeth.

Bodmin the thirtieth day of the eighth Month 1656.

Friend,

THou hast denyed to hear my papers in open Court, (as thou didst those that were against us) either concerning the wrong I sustained from P. Ceely, or the Gaoler, or the a­buses we received from those whom P. Ceely sent, since we came into this town, so that we are on all sides wronged, and none we have found hath the courage, or that will appeare to right us; instead of righting us, thou thy self hast proposed a question to us, which unlesse we answer yea, or nay, thou saist we again must go to prison; but what sattisfaction or redresse is there made us for being wronged? we gave a cleare and full answer in the Court to the satisfaction of all, forasmuch as we could perceive, besides thy self in the Court; and when we had spoken the words, thou thy self hadst little to except, onely didst say it was somewhat darkely, as was thy own expression, yet thou denyedst our friend, Humphery Lower, to let us have our libertie, unless we would make a promise; Now promises or engagements we do utterly deny to make to any man whatsoever, neither can we enter into engagements with any man; for we are come to him who is the Covenant, to Jesus Christ the light of the World, who was given for a Covenant to the people, a Light to the Gentiles; So that Covenants with Death we cannot make, neither are we at an agreement with it, nor have we fellowship with the dead and unfruitfull workes of darkness, but are bid to reprove them; for that peace which the world lives in, we cannot have unity with, that live in the earthly mind, in the subtilty, in the de­ceipt, out of the simplicity that is in Christ; for that is corrupt, who are Enemies to the Cross of Christ, whose God is their bel­ly, whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things; and the peace we seek of all, that they may be brought to the light, to Christ the King of Righteousness, the King of Peace, out of all the unrighteousness; Peace we wish unto all and are in­deavouring to bring men out of the strife, out of the contention, unto the light, and so to Christ, from under the power of the [Page 150] Magistrates sword, that in him they may finde rest to their souls; but peace with them; who are out of the Covenant of God, we can­not preach, nor we cannot with them make; for that were the way to bring us out of the Covenant with Christ, who is our light and life, into covenant with man, who is in the strife, in the lust, in the envy, out of Gods Covenant. Israel in Covenant with God were out of Covenant with other Nations, who were Stran­gers to this Covenant. There was a time when we were Stran­gers from the Covenant of promise, and without God in the world, and then it was a light thing for us to say or unsay: but now we dare not do it, for Condemnation will take hold upon the Transgressor; and mens wills we seek not to do, but the will of him who hath called us out of darkness into light, by which the very appearance of evil is denyed by us. Josuah, through the wiles of the Gibeonites, was led into a snare; and we see it clearly, this thing will be a snare unto us; for two or three have been al­ready with us, wilde, heady, rash fellows, who would quickly signi­fie, once we declaring against them, that we had broken their peace, which is but the peace of the wicked; and such a thing would easily swear, that we were disturbers of the peace, for re­proving iniquity, and so thereby make our selves their prey; Which we lay upon thee seriously to consider and weigh; and whether to accomplish this thing, be the way to do us justice.

W. S. J. C.

Notwithstanding he did nothing as to their liberty; but the two Goalers, Coales and Squire, he sent to them, as he had often before, to have their answer to his question, yea or nay; and the said Squire said, he would warrant he would make them promise: He told him, (as it is said) if he did, he should be a brave fellow. But when Squire saw he could prevail no­thing with the Prisoners, though he was with them many times, he tendred himself to be Surety for them, and said he would get another to be Surety with him: but that they denyed, and sent to him to have nothing to do with that accursed thing, [Page 151] for that they could neither make promise, nor be brought un­der bonds and engagements themselves; neither would they that any should do it for them, and to do so both in word and writing they denyed.

And so they were remanded to Lanceston Prisoners, being thus returned in the Kalendar:

William Salt, and Joseph Coale, for refusing to behave themselves peaceably while they be in the Countrey. Reply.

For those who live and behave themselves peaceably in the Countrey where they be, and both in life and doctrine preach and press unto peace, and to the bringing of people out of strife, and the occasion thereof, into peace; who resist not e­vil, but bear and endure patiently in their bodyes all manner of abuses, and cruel usages, without lifting up the voyce, or seeking deliverance, committing it to him who judgeth righteously, and rewardeth every man according to his doings: for such as these to be required to promise to be peaceable men, and not to disturb the Countrey, who of any such thing were never con­vinced, as they are not guilty, but on the contrary, as hath been said.

And because such cannot in their own, nor in the time and will of man, promise what they will do for the future, nor make engagements nor covenants with death, nor be at agree­ment with hell, so as not to reprove and testifie against the deeds of darkness, (which to reprove and testifie against in this high professing age, wherein iniquity abounds more than hath been known in former generations, is accounted a di­sturbing of the peace, and an unquiet behaviour; for the pre­venting whereof, and that Iniquity may have its swing, and revel it without contradiction, are these new engagements in­vented by the powers of darkness) and for that they cannot by making such promises, wrong their innocency. To be there­fore [Page 152] imprisoned, returned to Prison, who by imprisonment had so wrongfully suffered, and out of it ought to have been de­livered, as is the Law, and into the hands of that cruel Goaler to be cast, who made them so to suffer, as hath been aforesaid, out of whose cruelty they had been but a little before deli­vered, and to have a manifest lye recorded as their offence, viz. for refusing to behave themselves peaceably whil'st they be in the Countrey, who neither had misbehaved themselves unpeaceably, nor refused peaceably to behave themselves: But to the question answered, we are peaceable men, and seek the peace of all men; where the Law is broken, ye may in­flict the penalty; is so abominably unjust, cruel, and tyranni­cal, as those who are called Heathens would have blush'd thereat; nor have the Records of the former generations af­forded of it a parallel.

Poor Colonel Bennet, how is the day of the Lord come upon thee? How are all thy coverings ripped off? Thy hid­den things, how are they searched out? Stripped how art thou, and naked and bare how hast thou made thy self? How is thy Sepulcher opened, and in thee how is there found the same spi­rit that ruleth in P. Ceely, T. Gewen, and the Goaler afore­said, even the same spirit that ruleth in the children of dis­obedience, which hath oppressed and persecuted the seed of God from the beginning? O how art thou blinded, and thy later end worse than thy beginning? How hath the Spirit of the Lord strove with thee, and sought to save thee from the un­toward generation? How hath he in thee raised up his Wit­ness to testifie in the behalf of his innocent suffering servants, and to the making of thee in some sort serviceable for their de­liverance, which now testifies against thee, doing the same things, and is thy condemnation? What warnings hast thou had? What seekings to cover thee hath there been, that thy nakedness might not have appeared, and so men might not have not seen thy shame? But thy heart hath been divided, there­fore thou hast not prospered; thou hast been unstable as wa­ter, [Page 153] therefore thou hast not excelled; thine own shame hast thou brought forth, and inexcusable art thou, O man, for that thou hast done the same things against the Innocent, for which thou judgedst and reprovedst others, and didst the contrary, and therein hast given sentence against thy self. Thy profession is at an end; all that thou hast done and suffered for liberty, for li­berty of Conscience, and the Nation, thou hast spilt upon the ground, it riseth up in thy face, and thee doth judge; and amongst the oppressers and persecuters art thou found, even in their spirit, whom thou hast fought against, against whom God hath ordained his arrows. Turn thee to the light, which will shew thee what thou hast done, and how contrary thy actions have been each to other, and how thou art taken in an evil snare, for so hath the day of the Lord been upon thee, which he hath made manifest, and brought the secret head in the bottome of thy deceitfull heart to light, and left thee to record thy folly and shame to future, generations. And tremble thou before the Lord in this hour of his righteous judgements, who search­eth the heart, and tryeth the reins, and rendreth to every one according to their deeds; and be not as those who will know no shame, lest the hand of the Lord be stretched forth to harden thee, and cut thee off for ever: And talk no more of the Scriptures, nor of what was the life of the Saints, and holy men of God, nor of the Kingdome of Christ, nor of liberty, till to that thou art turned and ruled by, even the light, the life which comes from Christ, which is in Christ, unto which they were turned, in which they abode, and by which they were guided, who oppressed none, nor persecuted, but were persecuted and oppressed by those in whom the spirit that is in the world ruled; who hast oppressed the innocent, and persecuted the same life in [Page 154] these, which ruled in the holy men of God, which life the world ever persecuted, and put to death the Son of God, who is the light of the world, the light and life of men, the true light which lighteth every man that co­meth into the world, who is come to reign and rule for ever, thousands in this Nation witness him so to be, eternal living praises be to him for evermore, who will destroy the Oppressor, and none shall hurt in his holy Mountain. Therefore say thy mouth unto the dust, and be thou ashamed, yea, be thou confounded, and turn to him against whom thou hast kicked, if so be there may be hope, and a healing of thine errour: then thou wilt see love in this, and contentedly wilt thou bear the shame of thine iniquity; and the unworthiest of all, yea one not worthy to be counted a Saint, wilt thou then reckon thy self to be, because thou hast persecuted the Church of God. In love unto thy soul are these things wrote, and a warning from the Lord God is this unto thee, and his voyce is unto thee to turn at his reproof, and to thee his visitation of love it is: therefore minde and consider; which if thou do not, a witness for the Lord God shall I be eternally against thee: and if thou thinkest these things too hard, look into thy actions, and now in the cool of the the day, and with the light of Jesus Christ search thy self, and with it do thou, and let all that are sober, see, and judge, whether it be any more than the reward of thine own hands which is given thee, right measure, and just weight, which every one must receive at the hands of the Lord. And if thou hast yet to say where­fore am I made publick? Thou hast spread the tent of thy iniquity upon the house top, and committed thy lewdness before the Sun, on the Seat of Judge­ment, there hast thou done unrighteously, and op­pressed the Innocent, whom thou hadst helped, who [Page 155] now had no helper; and therefore openly art thou reproved, who hast sinned openly, who also hast had many private ad­monitions. And constrained hast thou this Relation to end with thee, which began with P. Ceely, and would have en­ded with him, but that thou hast put to thy shoulder, which is a lamentation.

The End.

A short account of the Barbarous [Page 157] sufferings of Margaret Killam, Priscilla Cotten, Mary Cole, and Barbara Pattison, by the Govern­ment of the Town of Pleymouth, in the County of Devon, during the Mayoralities of John Page, and Christopher Ceely.

MArgret Killam being come to Plymouth the 19. day of the 10. month 1655. was[19] moved of the Lord to speak to the Mayor of Plymouth, and ta­king Margery Dier, of the same Town with her, she went to the Mayors house (whose name is Christopher Ceely) of whose being within having understood by the officer that waited at the door, she sent in to the Mayor that she de­sired to speak with him; after a little time, the Mayor came to her to the door, she told him she had a word from the Lord to speak to him, he bad her come in, and so she declared to him what she had to speak from the Lord. He confessed it was very good, and truth, but commanded the Constable, which he had sent for, to carry her to prison; her friend demanded what transgression she had committed, no answer he made, but [Page 158] to prison she was brought, and she, and their friend there lock't up together.

About two hours after, the Mayor, and John Page (who was Mayor the year before, in which he cruelly persecuted[20] Miles Halhead, and Thomas Salthouse, as is manifest in the relation thereof, entituled, The wounds of an enemy in the house of a friend, &c.) and the Town-Clerk (who stirred up and carried on that persecution) came to examine her, and demanded her name, and the place from whence she came: both which she declaring, the Mayor rose up in much fury, and threatned to send her away with a pass, from tithing to tithing, and to make a ring of her through the Country; and if she came again, he threatned to send her away with a whip; and of her he demanded a pass, and an account of her coming thither: she answered, that in obedience to the Lord she came thither, and to declare to him the truth; and that he should know of a truth, that the Lord had sent a Prophet to warn him; and of him she demanded to shew a Law that she had transgressed; and how he would prove her a vagabond, who did not beg, and asked him whether he was not partiall in judgement, in examining her, and whether he did examine every one that passed through that Town, for a pass, yea, or nay; He replyed,[21] that all that came in the name of the Lord he would examine, and because she refused to tell him again; what her name was (for that she saw he demanded it to en­snare her with a pass,) he rose up in a fury, and ordered her to prison, and that none should come at her, and went his way, without convincing her of the least bre [...]ch of any Law.

After she had been there about three or four dayes, John Page aforesaid, and the Town Clerk came to her again, saying the Mayor had sent them to examine her, and demanded a­gain her name, and her husbands name, which was told them; then the place from whence she came; she said she had told them it once already, but had said she should not tell them a­gain, which if she should do, having so said, she should tell them a lye, so they departed.

On the 25. of the 10. month, the Mayor sent for Edw. Dyer of Plymouth, and asked of him whether he would be bound that she should answer at Exon Assizes, for that she had re­fused to be examined (which was a notorious lye, for she sub­mitted to examination, and was examined by them, as hath been said.) He replyed, he would be bound for her appearing, and for her answering what should be laid against her: then the Mayor said, he must be bound for her good behaviour. He answered he knew of no good behaviour she had broken; She refuseth to be examined, said the Mayor, and to give in her name. He replyed, she told her name: the Mayor answered, the truth is she did declare her name, but I, said he, have for­got it, (and indeed he was in such a rage when he examined her, that he remembred not what it was, though she told him; and yet this he would make in her a misbehaviour, and for it requires sureties.) He replyed, he would be bound she should not be drunk, nor beg, borrow, steal, play the whore, nor offer violence or wrong to any, (which is matter for the re­quiring sureties for the good behaviour in the Law, but to this generation, declaring against such things, is accounted ill behaviour, and for so declaring, sureties for the good beha­viour they require, so the Law, and judgement is turned back­ward,) the Mayor bid him go to the Town-Clerk, and what he did he would allow of. The Town-Clerk would have him be bound for her good behaviour; he refused to do otherwise than he had said to the Mayor, the Mayor having declared, as hath been said, that she had misbehaved her self in refusing to be examined, (which she did not) and to give her name, (which he confessed she did) and that he had forgot it. Yet the Mayor said again, he would take no security unless he would be bound for her good behaviour; he answered again, he knew not what they meant by the ill behaviour, for in the Bishops days, when people met together in the fear of the Lord, it was accounted a conventicle, and a breach of the good behaviour, and that since on the same account doors had been broken open by the rude multitude in Plymouth; as he the said Mayor well knew (for indeed, it was done in the [Page 160] time of his former Mayoraltie in the year 1645. as hath been instanced in the former relation,) then John Martingdale of Plymouth being with Edw. Dyer, asked the Mayor what they would call the ill behaviour, the Mayor replyed, what the Ju­stices should judge to be the ill behaviour, was ill behaviour, (so the Law, it seems by his reckoning, is not, but the breasts of the Justices, the rule of behaviour, who (after this rate) may make what they will a misbehaviour, and so what inno­cent man can be free, if they have a mind to make him an offender? and to their lusts in this kind how wicked, and un­reasonable so ever if he will not submit, and subscribe himself a transgressor, who is innocent, the penalty of the Law in case of that which it saith is indeed misbehaviour, must be in­flicted on him, as if he had broken the Law; and so their lusts prescribe the Law, and the Law of the Nation must serve for the punishment of the transgression of their lusts, as of the Law;) further he asked him, whether to say thee, and thou; which was Scripture language, was a breach of the good be­haviour; to this the Mayor answered not: but some that stood by said it was: he also told the Mayor that he knew the place from whence she came, and that she was no wanderer, and was well known to many in Plymouth besides himself, but the Mayor would not hear him; so the discourse broke off, and ended.

But on the 27. of the 10. month, a Constable, and another man with him came to her; and bad her provide to go with them; she spake to them to shew her their order. They said they would not: she said she was not free to depart thence till she saw the order; they denyed her again; and haled her forth of the room, & through the street, which when they had done, and drawn her a pretty space out of the Town, she demanded of them to shevv by vvhat order they did it, or vvhether they had a pass, othervvise she was free to go no further. Hereupon the Constable pulled out a paper, she bad him let her hear vvhat vvas in it, he said she should not; so she returned back into the Tovvn, into vvhich being come, the Constable brought her to the Mayor again; vvho upon seeing her vvaxed vvroth, [Page 161] and his countenance changed, and he said, must he still be trou­bled with her? would she not be bound to the good behaviour, nor nothing? She answered him, she was bound to the good behaviour by the Law of God, and asked him wherein she had misbehaved her self in word or action, and what Law she had transgressed; and said, that if she had transgressed any Law, she was willing to suffer by it: but he answered her not a word. She asked him why he dealt so with her, and deman­ded to hear her Pass, that she might know whither he meant to send her, seeing they had declared they knew not the place from whence she came; he said, she should not hear it; and bid her depart out of his house, and commanded the Constable to have her out of the Town: so the Constable charged a man to aid him, who laid hands on her, using her with violence, and much rudeness. But a woman speaking to him in the fear of the Lord, he let go his hold, and would have no further to do with her: whereupon the Constable said, he knew not what to do with her; but the Mayor commanded to put her in Prison.

But on the 27. of the 10. month, a Constable, and another man with him came to her; and bad her provide to go with them; she spake to them to shew her their order. They said they would not: she said she was not free to depart thence till she saw the order; they denyed her again; and haled her forth of the room, & through the street, which when they had done, and drawn her a pretty space out of the Town, she demanded of them to shevv by vvhat order they did it, or vvhether they had a pass, othervvise she was free to go no further. Hereupon the Constable pulled out a paper, she bad him let her hear vvhat vvas in it, he said she should not; so she returned back into the Tovvn, into vvhich being come, the Constable brought her to the Mayor again; vvho upon seeing her vvaxed vvroth, [Page 161] and his countenance changed, and he said, must he still be trou­bled with her? would she not be bound to the good behaviour, nor nothing? She answered him, she was bound to the good behaviour by the Law of God, and asked him wherein she had misbehaved her self in word or action, and what Law she had transgressed; and said, that if she had transgressed any Law, she was willing to suffer by it: but he answered her not a word. She asked him why he dealt so with her, and deman­ded to hear her Pass, that she might know whither he meant to send her, seeing they had declared they knew not the place from whence she came; he said, she should not hear it; and bid her depart out of his house, and commanded the Constable to have her out of the Town: so the Constable charged a man to aid him, who laid hands on her, using her with violence, and much rudeness. But a woman speaking to him in the fear of the Lord, he let go his hold, and would have no further to do with her: whereupon the Constable said, he knew not what to do with her; but the Mayor commanded to put her in Prison.

Whereinto being brought again, the Mayor, and two or three more, came into the Hall, and consulted together, but spake not to her, and so went out at the door, where were many Friends waiting, who were not permitted to come in to her; of which some of them spake to him, and that they might have liberty to see her. But instead of answering their equal, and just, and legal desire, he, being filled with rage, laid vio­lent hands on Margaret Restbridge, and push'd her from him down the stairs, which had endangered her life, she being an old woman, but that many Friends being there, the press of them kept her from falling above two or three steps. And o­thers of them he threatned with the Clink, and the door by command was opened to put them thereinto, for but desiring leave to see her, and command he gave that none should come at her, and caused her to be kept so two dayes and a night in a wide room without a fire, in that season, which was very cold and bitter weather; out of which she was put into a room, and fire permitted her, upon the speaking of one to the Mayor [Page 162] against his cruelty therein, he being moved of the Lord so to speak.

On the 31. of the 10. month, the Mayor, Justice Vowell, (who was Judge of the Court at the Sessions at Exon, before whom she was afterwards brought, with others called Justices, being met, sent for her down into the Court, and demand they did her name, and her husbands name, and the place of their habitation, which she refused to give them, having given it be­fore to them, and her Friend having given it also, (the Mayor confessing the one, but not caring to hear the other, as hath been said) having before declared she should not give it them again, because she saw they thereby sought to send her away with a Pass, as a Vagabond, which she was not; and which by the Law they could not do, unless she had been taken beg­ging, and her name and place of habitation in the Pass ex­pressed: but content she was to submit to the will of God, as to what power they had to do with her; and so they returned her again to Prison.

A few dayes after, viz. on the third day of the 11. month, between the ninth and tenth hour at night, came a Sergeant, and would have her open her chamber door; but it being so late in the night, and she alone, she told him she was not free to open her chamber door; so he bid her prepare to be going to Exeter Prison at six of the clock the next morning; and a­bout four of the clock the next morning came the Constable, and some others with him, and bid her open the door, which she was not free to do, being alone, as hath been said, and it being two hours to the day: but such was the immodesty and unreasonableness of the Officer, that he called for a Smith, and broke open her chamber door at such an unseasonable and un­lawfull hour, and haled her out of the room through the street to a stable, where was a Carriers horses, and kept the stable door fast, refusing to let her Friends come in to her, who hear­ing of the violence, and inhumane dealing with her, came to see her before her departure; and on them out of the stable did they cast water. She demanded of the Officers, wherefore they dealt so with her, or whether they had a Mittimus? They re­fused [Page 163] to shew it her, but said, they would have her away; and because she was not free to get up on horseback her self, unless they would shew her a Mittimus, or by what Authority they used her after that manner, they put a rope about her, with which they load their packs, and with it at a pully twitcht her on the Horses back▪ and bound her arms behind her, and tyed her feet under the Horses belly with cords, and so drove the Horse, and her on it as a pack, yea even as if she had been a Creature without life, sense or feeling, for the space of ten miles, bound with ropes after the manner aforesaid, (such an unmanly piece of salvage bruitishness, and inhumane cruelty, especially to an innocent woman, tenderly bred, and of a con­siderable estate, as to the outward, hath not been heard of in this Nation, but is the monstrous and unnatural fruit of the Government of Plymouth, and of Christopher Ceely the Mayor thereof in particular, by whom the Witnesses of the Lord have cruelly suffered, as hath been, and is yet to be mentioned. Are these Christians? Or are these Men? Would not the worst of Heathens have blush'd at the very relation of such barbarous inhumanity? Nor have they left behind them on record (so far as is remembred) such a noysome smell to posterity. But it is Plymouth, it is England, that leaves these filthy stinks to future ages, which is a lamentation.) After which, he that drove her having satiated his cruelty over which she bore, and had dominion, he loosened her cords, and told her he had a Mit­timus to carry her to Exeter Goal, unto which he brought her, and there was committed a Prisoner till the general Sessions of that County.

Before whom being brought, many untruths (which the Mayor of Plymouth had sent against her) were read, but not one witness appeared to convince her of the transgression of any one Law of the Nation; nor would Justice Wowell (who was Judge of the Court, who had to do in her persecution at Plymouth, as hath been said) permit her, nor any of her Friends of Plymouth who were present, to speak in witness of the truth on her behalf; but he said, if she would go to her husband, she should have her liberty, otherwise they would will and [Page 164] require her so to do. To which she answered, In the will of God I stand, do with me what ye have power: for when they were not able to lay any breach of the Law to their charge, they thought to have blemished her with being from her husband, (such was their justice to an innocent woman, who had suf­fered, as is aforesaid) But her husband (who as the Lord had ordered it, was but a little before come to the Town) being in the Court) and endeavouring to speak, to take off that pre­tended aspersion, they would not hear him. Then a man standing by, said something concerning his having heard her say as if the Scriptures were not the Word of God: she looked upon him, and bid him minde what he had spoken, and let that in his conscience witness whether he heard her speak any any such word (for what she spake was no such thing, as is hereafter made to appear, even under his own hand, it being in discourse with him at an Inne, as she was on her way from Plymouth Prison to Exon Goal.) This the Judge of the Court caught hold on presently, (for instead of delivering the oppres­sed, as is the Law, they sought after cause to make her to suffer) and demanded of her whether she owned the Scriptures to be the Word of God, yea or nay? She answered, what she had spoken, she would not deny; the Scriptures she witnessed to be a true Declaration, but Christ was the Word; mentioning the saying of Christ, Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think to have eternal life, and they are they that testifie of me, saith Christ. And the man that accused her, declared to the Judge of the Court, that she so said, viz. the Scriptures were a true Declaration, but Christ was the Word: Yet much ado the Judge made for her to say yea or no to his question, that so he might ensnare her: And though she answered him in the words that she spake to the man that accused her, which was as much as legally, or in reason could be expected; and he who accu­sed her, affirmed it was so, as hath been said, yet commanded he the Goaler to take her away, and required the man who ac­cused her, to prepare a Bill of Indictment against her; which contrary to his minde, and to what he had said in evidence, the Clerk of the Sessions, and the grand Jury drew up, wherein [Page 165] she was charged as a Felon, and (as they said) the Bill was found by the grand Jury: but what ground they had in Law to form a Bill contrary to the Evidence, or to make that matter of an Indictment (suppose it had been spoken by her, as they pla­ced it, and would have it to be) which is none in Law; for all Indictments are invalid, where the offence charged therein is not bottom'd on a Law; or to make that Felony by form, which is no offence in substance; and what consciences such a grand Jury have, as to form or finde such a Bill for the taking away of life, made (as hath been said) without ground in Law, or truth, or honesty in form, nay contrary to the Evidence, yea to the witness his declaring to them at what they had drawn up, was not according to his minde, is plainly manifested, and their cruelty therein to the sober, and men of understanding, by what hath been already said; and what a generation of blind and bloody Monsters, exceeding in impudent wickedness all that have gone before them, this age so high in profession, and so eminently delivered by the hand of the Lord, brings forth against his living truth, and innocent servants, but is made fur­ther apparent, and the due weight and right measure of this charge, by the witness against himself, who wrote to Edw. Rad­don, Secretary to General Disborow, who with General Dis­borow was then at Exon, as followeth.

To his honoured Friend Edward Raddon, Secretary to General Disbor [...]w, these present.

Sir,

MY service presented to you. Being at Exon l [...]st Sessions, I came forth, and witnessed against one Margaret Killam what I heard her speak, viz. That when in discourse we sp [...]ke concerning her walking according the light within; I said, it is true, but the Scriptures, or the Word of God, is the rule for us to walk by. Said she, Jesus Christ is the Word. It is true, but there is a written word. O thou art an ignorant person, and dost not understand the Scriptures, said she. At which words the Judge of the Sessions demanded of her whether the Scriptures were the [Page 166] Word of God, or no? She did not confess it, or deny it before them; but they enjoyned me to draw up a Bill of Indictment a­gainst her, which, as the Clerk under you drew up, but not ac­cording to my minde, but as both they and the grand Jury said, it must be so according to the form of the Law. In that case I onely can witness neither more nor less than above: but I can­not, neither ever did I swear that she should say the Scriptures were not the Word of God, but it was a Declaration of the minde of God.

Jan. 25.

John Cawse.

And how far Justice Vowell, the Judge of the Court, was of the same minde, appears, in that being spoken to by a Friend that the Law might proceed on her, and that on her, if she had transgressed, the Law might have its course; he replyed to that Friend to this effect, Will ye have them hang'd out of hand? Whereby he intended with her, Richard Lippincot of Plymouth, and Thomas Hooton, who were then Prisoners for some such thing. And so by his question it appears, that to say that Christ is the Word, and the Scriptures a true Decla­ration of him, (for those were the words which she onely said, and which her Accuser witnessed to be so) in his judgement is matter of hanging: Was ever such a thing heard of before this day to come forth of the mouth of a Judge professing Christ? The Jews, who put him to death, denyed him; and they which persecuted his Apostles and Witnesses, dis-owned their testi­mony of him whom they declared: but this generation profess him in words, and call themselves Christians, and yet seek to murther them who testifie of him; Hang them that say Christ is the Word, and the Scriptures a true Declaration of him: what more blasphemous bloodiness, damnable Antichristianism, and Mahometan hellishness? Can a Turk say more? What would not this generation do to the Truth, and the innocent Lambs of Christ, were there power in their hands? How soon then would his Doctrine be made Blasphemy, and his Disciples Blasphe­mers, and their blood poured out on the ground, for owning of [Page 167] him to be that which he is, and which the Scriptures testifie of him? Is not the spirit of giddiness and of deep sleep poured forth on this generation? How are they drunk with blood, and besotted with rage and madness, who would kill a man for witnessing what themselves profess? Own him in words to be the Word, and the Scripture to be Truth, which declare him so to be, and yet hang them who say and witness him to be the Word, and that of him the Scriptures are a true Decla­ration. O monstrous contradiction! whither would not this rage run, what cruelty would it not effect, were it not he that putteth the sands as a band to the S [...]a, saith unto it, hitherto shall thy rage proceed, and no further? O ye Lambs of Christ, what quick havock would be made of you, and speedy rid­dance from off the face of the Earth, were it not that ye are kept in the arms of the Almighty, and hid secret in his pavi­lion, where ye are preserved, even your Enemies themselves being Judges?

That Sessions ended without bringing her to a trial on that Indictment, notwithstand [...]ng that the Friend aforesaid desired that the Law might have its course; which he moved, lest they should put her off to the next Sessions. And continued in Pri­son she was till the 15. of the 12. month, 1655. at which time she, and the other two Friends, viz. Richard Lippincot, and Thomas Hooton, were [...]eleased by a VVarrant from Colonel Copplestone, Sheriff of the County of Devon, as followeth.

THese are to will and require you, on sight hereof, to set at li­berty Richard Lippincot, Thomas Hooton, and Margaret Kellum, wife of John Kellum now in your Goal, for which this shall be your sufficient Warrant.

Given under my hand and seal this 13. day of February. 1655.

John Copplestone.

To Thomas D [...]ght, Keeper of the Goal near the Castle at Exon.

And so Margaret Kellum, for coming to Plymouth, [Page 168] divers hundreds of miles from her outward habitation, and speaking as she was moved of the Lord, to Christopher Ceely, Mayor of Plymouth, the word of the Lord in his hou [...]e, whitherto she came, and into which she was bid by h [...]m to come, after that she had sent in that she desired to speak with him, and had told him, upon his coming to the door, that she had a word from the Lo [...]d to declare to him; which word of the Lord so declared, he confessed to be very good, and truth, was impri­soned by h m, and continued a Prisoner for the space of seven and fifty dayes, and used with that inhumanity, barbarous­ness and cruelty, as hath been express'd. This is Christopher Ceely, who professeth Christ, and the Scriptures; this is the Governour, and the Government of Plymouth, a people pro­fessing Religion; this is the Authority of the County of De­von, and the justice of their Judge Vowell; these are the fruits of them all, and of their Ministry of the Gospel, and of its shining so long amongst them, of which they so loudly boast, and unto which they and their generation would conform all, or cut them off; and for that purpose have made such wars, and shed so much blood in these Dominions; these are some of the fruits found in England, a Nation saved by the Lord, to the astonishment and dread of all Nations, and bearing his name, in return of all his mercies and deliverances: All ye that pass by, stay your selves, and wonder.

Barbara Pattison.

Barbara Pattison speaking to Thomas Martin, Priest, whil'st he was divining a Funeral Sermon at Plymouth, was imprisoned by Christopher Ceely, Mayor of Plymouth, and sent to Exeter Goal; and at the Assizes, the beginning of the [Page 169] second month 1656. indicted, and returned to prison with judgement to suffer 3. months imprisonment, accordi [...]g to Maries Law, which was made to guard the P [...]pish Priests, and Jesuit [...], [...]rom [...]he witnes [...] of God then in the Protestants, w [...]ich now is made the guard of t [...]e Priests in these dayes, and by them for de [...]nce, a [...]ainst the witness of God now is re­coursed unto; there mak ng it to appear, that they are of the same generation; and much longer was she kept in pri [...]on then three m [...]nt [...], t [...]e judgement of Maries Law, and of the Assizes for er [...]estifying from the Lord against this Priest; & in lik [...]lyhood [...]hat there had been kept beyond the double of that time, which was near approaching, h [...]d not Colonel Copplestone, the Sheriff of the County of Devon, tendred her suff [...]ring (which she patiently, an [...] with me kness did b [...]ar) and set her liberty.

Priscilla Cotton, and Mary Cole of Plymouth, on the 19. day of the 6. month called August 1656. Priscilla Cotton b [...]i [...]g moved of the Lord, went, & Mary [...]ole with her to the St [...]e [...]l [...]-house at Plymouth, where they sate silent till George Hughes the Priest had ended his divination, and then Priscill [...] Cotton stood up, and spake to the people, and to them she said, People why do ye spend your mony for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which doth not sati [...]fie? hearken di i­gently to the eternall word, that your souls may live: when she had spoken these words, said the Priest, to whom do you speak? if you have any thing to say come home to my house; I have been at thy house, said she, and have wrote to thee, but all to little purpose; i [...] it not the word of the Lord (said he) that I have preached to the people? Nay, rep [...]i [...]d, [...]riscilla, it is a divination of thy own brayn; whereupon he (lest he should shamed before the people) called out to the M [...]gistrates, (thereby shewing of what generation he wa [...]) to have her a­way, to which Mary Cole, (who till then was si [...]ent) rep [...]yed, did ever Christ J [...]sus, or his Apostles call for the assi tance of M [...]gistrates? but so did the Pharisees of old, and the Apostles were drawn out of the Synagogues. But nevertheless what [...]he Priest said, prevailed, and so violent hands were laid on them, [Page 170] and they haled out of the Synagogues, fulfilling the words of Christ; whereupon Priscilla said to the Priest, wo unto thee that laughs now, for thou shalt mourn and weep. Being drawn out of the high place, they were both put under the Town hall, and there kept with Halberts, and were mockt, and deri­ded. The next day they were called before John Page Mayor, and Richard Spurwell, and Rob [...] G [...]bbes Justices; Rich. Spurwell, who was one of the members of the Priests Church (so cal [...]ed) bi [...] the Clark, write t [...]at Priscilla, ( [...]hom they first examined) come to oppose the Minister, and di [...]urbed the people; nay said Priscilla, let not lyes be [...]rote, and to the Clark she said, I charge thee to wri [...]e no lyes, but truth; where­upon the Clark said, I wi [...]l write nothi [...]g but what your self spake: said R. Spurwell, you came in pride and pr [...]sumption; nay I came in the fear of the Lord God said she, and in obe­dience to him whom I ought to obey before man; vvhat said ye more, said [...]e? so she declared vvhat she had spoken, and exhorted them to mind their teacher vvithin, the light vvhich vvould teach them not to be envious, nor partiall, nor hate­full, and told them the Lord vvould pluck his people out of the teeth of the devouring greedy shepherds; [...]nd that the Priest made the disturba [...]ce if there vvere any, for they heard him and said nothing till he had ended his divinations, and deserved the punishment (if any vvere due) for vvhat they spake, it vvas by commandment; and that it vvas matter of ad­miration that they vvere so deluded by him, vvho vvas their servant for their mony, and that they vvere so subject to his lusts, as if he vvere their Lord; vvhereupon they lo [...]kt one up­on another, and had her avvay. Then Mary Cole vvas cal [...]ed, and of her many needless questions they asked, and vvhether she did not deny all preaching? she ansvvered, she vvish't that all the Lords people vvere Prophets, and that his spirit vvas poured on them all, and vvith many exhortations, she per­svvaded them to mind their conditions, and to turn the Lord, and to mind him vvho did call upon them for amendment of life, and told them, she vvas grieved to see them neglect their teacher, vvhich vvould instruct them continually, if they vvould [Page 171] hearken to him, and so to prison they returned them both, and after some time Priscilla was called, and tendred her the Oath of Abjuration of Pop [...]ry, dost thou think I am a Papist, said she to the Mayor; no I think in my conscience, said he you are not; vvhy then, said Priscilla, dost thou tender me the Oath? the Mayor said, because it is according to the Protectors order; vvhereupon she declared, I renounce the Pope, and all popish opinions, but I vvill not svvear at all; then presently Mary Cole was called, and the same Oath was tendred to her, to which she declared, as had Priscilla; then the Mayor told them, by the Judge they must be tryed, and asked them whether their husbands (who were shopkeepers in the Town,) would be bound for them, or they must to Exeter on foot; and so the next day he sent them to Exeter; but the day they came t [...]ither, the Assizes was ended, so they were delivered to the Goaler, and very evilly entreated by the people of the Town, as they passed along, with dirt, and mocking [...]. At the Assizes the second month 1656. they being before the Court, and attending there severall dayes during the time of their sitting, no accusation was laid in against them, so the last day of the Assizes they were discharged, the Mittimus by which they were sent to Exon Goale was as followeth.

WE John Page Marchant, Mayor of the Borough of Ply­mouth, and Richard Spurwell, and Robert Gibbs Mer­chants, three Justices of peace within the said Boro [...]gh, to the Keeper of the Goale for the County of Devon at the Castle of Exon, or to his Lawfull Deputy, greeting, we herewith send you by the bearers hereof the bodyes of Prisci [...]la, the wife of Arthur Cotton of Plymouth, and Mary Cole wife of Nicho [...]as Cole of Plymouth Mercer, lately apprehended [...]ere for dive [...]s misde­meanors, of a high and hideous nature, who refuse to give suffi­cient sureties for their personall appearance before his Highness the Lord Protector of this Commonwealth, and his Justices of Assizes, and generall Goale-delivery at his Castle [...]t Exon, at the next Assizes to be holden there for the County aforesaid, and [Page 172] in the mean time that they hold, and be of good behaviour against his Highness the Lord Protector, and his leige-people, and for refusing to take the Oath of Abjuration by us tendred them: these are in the name of his Highness the Lord Protector to will and command ye, &c. whereof fair not at your perills,

Given under our hands and seals at Plymouth the twentieth day of August, 1656.

• John Page, Mayor.
• Richard Sp rwell, Justices.
• Robert Gibbs, Justices.
  
  
  
  

What they were apprehended for, and what were their an­swers at their examinations, is before mentioned; which whe­ther it be diverse misdemeanors, or of a high and hideous na­ture, by comparing the one and the other, let the sober judge, and vvhat a pittifull, silly, and so [...]ish generation this is vvho are neither ashamed so ridiculously to express themselves, nor are sensible hovv thereby they lay open their nakedness; and by the other filthy stuff, vvith vvhich t [...]e Mittimus is filled, (not vvorthy the taking up, or the taking to pieces) record under their hands and seals their folly to posterity, and leave their names a curse to the chosen of the Lord, as the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts, concerning this generation hath spoken, Isaiah 65.15. there read your portion [...]r [...]m the 11. verse of the Chapter to the 15. and vvhich the vvitness of God in your consciences vvhich shevvs ye evill, and co [...]d mus ye for un­righteousness, consider, vvhilst you have time, and vvhilst the hour of your visitation is not past over, for your transgressions are great, and your cruell persecutions of the Innocent not a fevv.

The End.

FOOTNOTES;

1. To render a man his liber­tie upon con­dition of his engaging to do, a [...]d be that of the contra­ry, wh [...]eunto h [...] is falsely accused, under the pretence whereof he is impr [...]soned, as to [...]ender him libertie up [...]n conditi­on of his ma­king himself an offender, who is innocent, wh [...]ch if he doth, he van [...]sheth his own innocencie; For though the things be good in themselves unto which such a condition seeks to bind him, and that in which a man hath his conversation, yet h [...] being accused of the contrary, and for it imprisoned, if he so engage, he justifies the false accusation against himself, and the w [...]ong imprisonment, and so makes himself to be that of which he is false [...]y [...]ccused, and for it imprisoned, which a man cannot do who knows his own innocencie and understands what it is thus to ravish it: and he that abides in a true s [...]nsibleness of this will chose death rather than to betra [...], and with his own hand, to murther the innocent t ing wh ch lies in his bosome, which giv [...]s him the an [...]wer of a good conscience towards God and man, be [...]ides the Law is not made for the [...]ighteous, but for the transgressor, he that makes a Law for the righteous is blind, and tu [...]ns the sword backwards.

2. Acts 10.38

3. Mat. 9.35

4. See the Pro­clamation for the Oath of Abjuration.

5. So in this he shews his iu­stice.

6. This he would have perform­ed on May-day.

7. James Myres

8. Jos. Cole,

9. Ben May­na d.

James Myres.

10. Iustice Mo­rish.

11. I have said of laughter it is mad, sai h So­lemon the su­preme Gover­nour

Eccl. 2.2.

12. The Letter killeth, but the Spirit gi­veth life, (saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 3.6.) the power of God, the Go­spel of salva­tion. What Blasphemy is this, and hor­rible wicked­ness, so to speak of a filthy Order made to persecute the life of God, the Gospel of salvation, which is the power of God, and to limit the saint which giveth life, and the Children of Light, and to imprison them to death; and as such, to press the execution thereof, which hath proved the death of one of the Lambs of Christ, whose blood on him and them all cryes for vengeance.

13. Whom doest thou pass in Beauty? Go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised which are gone down to Hell with their weapons of war. And th [...]y have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terrour of the mighty in the land of the living.

14. (Viz.) Ford, Nicholls, Bart­let, two of the Downs, the same that now are the Perse­cutorr of the Children of light under the notion of Quake s.

15. Nicholas Cole with two o­thers of them, after fourteen dayes being in Prison in Ply­mouth, were sent to Exon Goal with a Mittimus ex­pressing the cause (viz.) For maintain­ing damnable Heresies, being obstinate Anabaptists, and preaching without Ordination, and were threatned much by the Judge at the Assizes: but the face of things being then changed in the Nation, no­thing further was done to them: this was in the year 1645. the same Christopher Ceely being then Mayor; who being again Mayor about the latter end of the tenth month, 1655. caused Margaret Kellum to be sent to Prison for speaking to him in his house the word of the Lord, as she was moved after her first sending in to him that she desired to speak with him, and his coming to her, and bidding her come in, when she told him she had something from the Lord to declare to him; and what she declared to him from the Lord, he confessed to be very good, and truth. Nevertheless he sent her to Prison, where after a cruel entertainment, being kept the most part of two dayes and a night in a wide room in a cold winter season, and his declaring that he would examine all that came in the name of the Lord; and thrusting Margaret Bestbridge, an aged woman (who desired with others to come into the Town hall, where she was brought) with his own hands in a rage down the stairs, to the endangering of her life with the violence of the fall, which might have been, had not the press of people kept her from falling above two or three steps. She was twitched up by a pully, and a rope fastned about her, with which they lade their packs on a Carriers horse, and her arms being tyed behind her, and her legs under the horses belly with cords as a pack. She was driven ten miles to­wards Exeter before she was loosned, and then brought to Exon Goal, and tryed at the Assizes there; and Katherine Martingdale and Priscilla Cotton hath he since imprisoned, as is mentioned in this Relation.

This is Christopher Ceely, an old Persecutor; and one Vowell was with him in the per­secution of Margaret Kellum, who afterwards sate Judge of the Court at Exon, by which she was tryed.

16. Tho. Salt­house, and Miles Hal­heads suffer­ings, entitu­led, The wounds of an Enemy in the house of a Friend.

17. The prisoner ought to have liberty to speak for himself, so is the Law of the Nation, and all Equi­tie, and the Judge ought to instruct him in the Law if, he mistake, and not to call for a G [...]g, to Gag him, when he de­sires to speak for himself: O cruell injust [...]ce, and horrible inhumanity; whetherto doth this age run in a blind, mad pers [...]cution of the iust? was ever the li [...]e heard of? a man imprisoned, and brought to his tryall, and not permitted to speak for himself? and for a Iudge to call for a Gag, and to order him to be Gagd for attempting so to speak, and so to proce [...]d against him, fine, and imprison him. The Roman Governours crie shame on this. Thou art per­mitted to speak for thy self said King Agrippa to Paul: and Felix told him he would hear him when his accusers were come; and when Turtullus the chi f Priests Orator had ac­cused h [...]m, he beckned to Paul, and p rmitted him to speak for himself, and heard him concerning the Faith of Christ, and his reason [...]ng of righteousness, and iudgement to come, and trembled, And Festus heard him also in his defence after he had been accu­sed, and before the Iews, and King Agrippa confest after he had heard him, that he found he had committed nothing worthy of Dea h, though the Iews (he said) had cried out that he ought not to live any longer, and heard him speak also of the Faith of Iesus. And the Pharisees said, Doth our Law condemn a Man before it hear him and know what he doth? but beyond Heathens, Romans, Iews, Pharisees; is this blind Generation, speak for him­self? Gag him, where did any of Heathens do so, Englishmen where are you after this rate, O Monstrous Tyrannie, and wicked in [...]ustice exce [...]ding Heathens, Pagans, Ro­mans, Iews and Pharisees.

18. Jane In­gram commit­ted by John Champion Justice, so cal­led, and re­committed by Judge N [...]cho­las, one of the Fruits of the Order for the Guards, for which the Ju­stice of the righteous God they must answer.

19. Her coming and speaking to Christo: Ceely in his house the word of the Lord, as she was moved, which he ac­knowledged to her to be very good and truth, is the occasion of her inhu­mane, and barbarous sufferings, hereafter mentioned.

20. See the book of Miles Hal­h [...]ds, and Tho. Salthouse sufferings, en­tituled The wounds of an enemy in the house of a friend.

21. Who will may pass the Town of Ply­mouth with­out examina­tion, but all those who come in the name of the Lord, Christo­pher Ceely saith he will examine.