JEGAR-SAHADUTHA: AN OILED PILLAR.  
Set up for Posterity,  
Against the present Wickednesses, Hypocrisies, Blasphemies, Persecutions and Cruelties of this Serpent power (now up) in England (the Our-Street of the Beast.) Or, a HEART APPEAL to HEAVEN and EARTH, broken out of Bonds and Banishment at last, in a Relation of some part of the past and present Sufferings of JOHN ROGERS in close Prison and continued Banishment, for the most blessed Cause and Testimony of JESUS; the sound of the Seventh Trumpet and the Gospel of the seven Thunders, or holy Oracles (called railing by them in Power) sealed up to the time of the End.  
From Carisbrook Castle in the third Year of my Captivity, the Fifth-Prison, and the third in Exile, having been hurried about from post to pillar, Quia perdere nolo substantiam propter Accidentia.  Gen. 31.36, 37. What is my trespass? What is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?— Set it here before my Brothers and thy Brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both! Lam. 4.3. The very Sea-monster (or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tannin the old Serpent) drawn out the Breast, they suckle their young ones (or Protected one's from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gur, he sojourned with or dwelled under) the daughter of my people to a cruel one, as the Ostrich in the Wilderness. Lam. 3.52, 53, 55. Mine enemies have hunted, hunting me like a Sparrow without Cause (or grace of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chen) they have cut off my days in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me: I called upon thy name (O Jehovah) out of the under dungeon. Non Vindictâ sed Victoriâ.  

The poor Prisoner, Pilgrim, and Exile in Caines-br-Castle, from the top of Amana, the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the Lion's dens, from the Mountains of the Leopards; To all his fellow-Citizens in Zion, and fellow-separates out of Babylon, and to such as are not ashamed of our Chain, especially in that Church society, whereof the Holy Ghost hath made him an Overseer.  
Christians, Readers, Friends and Brethren.  
COuld the trumpet talking with me, be heard with you, the distinct sound to all of us (as one would be come hither, but oh! how few can hear it? hear it, or receive it: If you be our fellow waiters, or Witnesses of the Kingdom of Christ at hand, than I may say of each of you as of Joseph, Luk. 22.50, 51. He was a good man and a just: the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them (that persecuted Christ) for he waited also for the Kingdom of God. But oh, how many have acted, or at least consented with the sins of this Generation? and how many are monstruously and most wilfully ignorant of this Kingdom? which we suffer and wait for, in the new world; yea, libenter ignorantur liberius peccant, they had rather be ignorant, then in the pure light thereof, to lose the great things of this wicked world, or their great lusts (which they must do that follow the Lamb,) lie (with the 24. Rev. 4, 5.) about the Throne, or look to rise and reign with him on earth in the thousand years; the glory of which state, I have at large delineated (as the most lucid & florid Dogmatic Discovery of this day,) in my first Treat, called Prison-born Morning beams, (if it be in being) demonstrating the truth, as all the Orthognomones orthodox professors and Preachers maintained it in primitive times; the Woman or true Church travelling with this Male-child, leaping in the womb of her, till she brought it forth (spite of the Dragon power that persecuted it) Rev. 12.2, 3, 5. Who was to rule all Nations, but (the Beast hindered and) he was caught up unto God, and the poor Woman fled into the wilderness for 1260. days, or the 42. months, the period of which is upon us. It seems this Doctrine of the reign of Christ on Earth, had at the birth thereof, a most noble reception, both of the Christians (or few excepted) Valentinian, Jovinian and others (as I have proved in that Treatise) being Chronicled or Millena●ie●, or the reign of Christ on Earth, and this continued indubitable till Pope Dama●us (by the means of Jerome, Gaius and others.) got it anotomatized: Now we do expect this Man-child to come down again, and to take his great power and reign, and the Woman with her seed to come out of their Caves; for which prophecy according to the comments of the little Book Rev. 10.11. Is it, that I am bound with these bonds and banishment, where I have been (hitherto) these two years beholding the terrible things that are a coming upon the World; and heaing the contents of the seven thunders, which John in Pathmos was bid to seal up, as also was declared to Daniel, cap. 12.4, 9 should be sealed and shut up ti●l these times; and notwithstanding I understand but little (for mul●ò plura nescio quam scio, as Aug. says) yet so much I understand, and will assert it, in the Lord and his truth with me; that as some are wilfully ignorant of this great Gospel-Mystery of the Kingly Office of Christ, which we contend for, so others be most brutishly ignorant thereof; for want of a thorough search into the Prophecies and Scriptures; especially the common and carnal Clergy and Rulers, and so they persecute and speak evil of they know not what, and that most impudently too, and with very uncivil courtship, inventing and deposing principles for us (which our souls abhor) and then rendering us odious to the poor people, upon conclusions and deductions of their own making and composing: But this I profess before the Lord, that as I desire nothing more than a Christian conviction out of the word of God in the spirit, power and authority of the Lord, where ever it shall light; so I see plainly that our enemies are as much afraid of that weapon, as ever were the Papists or Prelates; and therefore with them do fly to the force, fury, and violence, sword and fire, persecuting, oppressing, plundering, imprisoning and banishing as you see; and then (behind our backs) fall to lying, railing and slandering of us, and our principles. But as Tully in another case said of some, Mihi quidem nulli satis eruditi videntur quibus nostra sunt ignota; so say I, I cannot take them for learned at this time of day (I mean sanctè magis quam scirè, 2 Pet. 3.16.) who partake not the learning of the Fifth-Kingdome, this hope of Israel, for which we are bound with this Chain. And because the cruelty of this Serpent in England (whom our effeminate, lusting Eve-like professors have fallen in, and fallen off, and down with) from whose face we fly, till the time, times, and a dividend, Rev. 12.14. is hardly heard of, known or believed abroad; his horns looking so like a Lamb, but that ye may hear (a little) how he speaks, and persecutes like a Dragon, I have held it a duty (for further discovery of him and his spirit) to publish thus much further of his Nimrodian tyranny and trading in this Dominion, since the late Apostasy. That which I have seen and felt of his fury at Lambeth, for sa many months among Monsters rather than men, so greedy of my blood: I omit here as being mentioned in my Preface to Prison-born, but that men (if they will may see what an unreasonable beastlike Monster this is, that rends, tears, and devours us so: I have added this History of some passages since Lambeth; which I have suffered for the sake of my dear Master Jesus Christ, in this his Cause, (all which put together will clear it I think to any capacity, reason, honesty or modest of man, that it is a persecution and no other which we groan under in these Coals and Exiles, having no other law, sentence, judgement or execution, but the barbarous Sword over us, or Thief-law; (For as Tacitus said, non utendum est imperio ubi legibus uti possit; such power is not to be used, where good laws have any great force) And that men may see how dangerous, yea, deadly, this Relapse is, it spares the evil and malignant humours to fall upon the Vitals (Fifth-kingdommen) and animals (upright Commonwealths-men) in this Nation, as the Papists that would imprison for eating an Egg; qui autem totam dominicam diem vacat temulentiae scortis & all ae audit bellut homo, as Erasmus said; whiles, he is a brave fellow amongst them that will spend the lords-days in drinking and drabbing, whoring and roguing! and at this day, we see it, especially in Carisbrook, that if a man draw but near on the Lords days, or listen to hear us pray, etc. he is presently sent for, dealt with and threatened, if not driven out of the Castle, and charge given that not any one do show a kind look or word to me upon pain of casting out: But they may sit the Lords days, (with the doors, (I would not say Whores) open for all to see them) in the Alehouse, drink, swilling, drabbing and smoking tobacco (as they do excessively) yet none dare reprove them for it: Mr. S. the Chaplain being turned out for reproving, chief (I hear;) and myself beaten, buffitted and abused, for an accasional reproving of blasphemy. (Blessed be my God, who hath given me a back and breast to bear it! Yea, who sees not that men of very vain and corrupt conversations, flagitious and infamous for notorious sins and crimes are taken into favour? yea, hoist up into high-places? and at least allowed to have their liberty? Whiles such as unfeignedly fear the Lord, and dare not willingly commit any sin! but make a most tender conscience of all their ways, are very wickedly and irrationally imprisoned, exiled, hardly handled, and almost hindered to breath in the air. Now I do declare it, as before the most righteous and holy judge of heaven and earth, should any one ask me why, I have been (that is as some say upon the civil account) so long in prison, hard bonds and banishment, year after year (which long imprisonment the Martyrs accounted worse than death:) I must acknowledge an absolute ignorance in my own Conscience before God, Angels and Men, (let some Time servers say what they please for themselves) without this be it, that I cannot in Conscience turn with the Dog to the Vomit, and (in plain English) lie, dissemble, for swear, and play the Traitor to Christ, the Hypocrite to God, and the Knave with men as others have done: but (thanks be to God for it) for this is a Cordial to us, that whereas by a just Law others are (or aught to be) imprisoned for iniquity, we are imprisoned & banished (against all law, but the arbitrary lawless sword) because we cannot, we will not, & we dare not (though we die for't) fall in with iniquity: But so be it O Lord! thou Lord of Righteousness; for as one sa●es, has epulas semper desideravi. I will not deny but my infirmities been very many (which I think I could weep over the feet of any that shall reprove me for them) and indeed my temptations here in close bonds in banishment, would be more, were it not in an enclosed garden to me in Christ (being as a man dead and out of mind,) but what I have done worthy of imprisonment and banishment (them excepted) I know not. This I can say from my soul, that (I think) as I preached, so I sought nothing but Christ and his Kingdom! and as to the World I have formerly said it, with Sohinus to D. Casimire, that I am bo●n rather for labours than for honours; and so I told O. C. in my Epist. of Ch. Discipline (before these times) p. 10. I do profess it from my heart the greatest temptations I fear are falling into honour, place, preferment, esteem or estate to much for me, being best when poorest, highest when lowest, most when least, and when I have nothing as possessing all things, 2 Cor. 6.10 Yea, if (as Jerome says,) that Woman is proved chaste that hath liberty and opportunities to sin, and yet will not; I may say it without ostentation, as Heb. 11.15, 16. that we might have had our opportunities to have returned to them, had we not sought a far better Country; and I think I may say too somewhat like Thomas Aquin. when preferment was offered him, Chrysostomi in Matthaeum Commentarium mallem, For I would say, I had rather have one chapter, I could name in the Revelation, than the greatest relation I could name to any crown in Christendom; so that these things (I thank the Lord) I think I am above in him who hath said as Jo. 16.33. Be of good cheer I have overcome the world: But it may be, my reproving the rank sins of these rude times, have provoked the rough hands of Esau upon me, and Nimrod to hunt me; but if so, it is no new suffering for such a Cause (if we ask the Prophets and Apostles (as w●ll as our Saviour) and such have the two Witnesses been in all ages: Zuinglius preached against the sins of the times, and the mercenary pensions of them that served the Princes of the earth: (in my judgement more clearly than Luther) and so did Bucer very freely: but the last were never so hardly handled as we are for it; besides Corolestadius went further, for he reproved the very constitutions of their Government, and the very colour which Luther had to oppose him was about Civil Laws, saying, he would have all Magistrates to rule by the Judicials of Moses; as these men say of us, vide Speech to Parl. Sept. 4, 16. p. 16. so that it is no new Doctrine, though they so menstrously misreport of us and our principles. Canutus' King of England in those thick times of Popery did confess to all his Lords about him no mortal worthy the name of a King, save he to whose back heaven, earth and Sea, by his laws eternal are obedient [Hen. Huntingdon]: and shall we (in these days, after such solemn engagements for a Theocracy as I have proved) admit of any other King? Lord Protector, or Lawgiver to ravish us with their lusts! (God forbidden. Wherefore, for Christ's sake, stand fast, unmoveable; and abounding in the work of the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. and I do profess for my own part, seeing the Lord hath honoured me hitherto with this Chain for this his Cause (though I be a poor weak worm) yet with his grace sufficient for me, I will abide by it; for as one of the Martyrs often used Vespasians saying, Imperatorem decet stantem mori. It becomes as that are Kings and Priests to God, Rev. 5.10. to die standing not stooping to the lust of any man; especially now, the day of Christ is come. Therefore let us all fall in, and on, and stand to it with the Lamb, and the twenty four Elders, (or the twenty four orders of the Levites about the throne, in this Cause, by which tribe of Levi are indeed to be understood the Generation Saints, the firstborn, Heb. 12.23. first fruits, Rev. 14.4. and therefore have they the precedency of other Saints as Generation Elders, who like the Levites (before under a curse, Gen. 49.7.) obtained the blessing for executing the judgement, Exod. 32.27, 28, 29. with the sword on their brethren, and spared not: Now of these in David's days were the twenty four (both Rulers, Singers and Ministers) 1 Chron. 29.25. So that such, such Generation Saints (the twenty four) shall join in one work, and song with the Lamb, and with all the living creatures about the Throne, and with the holy Angels, Rev. 4.9, 10, 11. and 5.11. and altogether in one Hallelujah, Amen. as Isa. 52.7, 8. which he waits for, who is buried with the body of Jesus in this new Sepulchre, where the soldiers seek to keep down his Resurrection, and the hope of,  
your Brother John Roger's   

Morning-beams: OR, The Vision of the Prison-Pathmos.  
LIB. I.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. I. Hagah. The Introduction; with the Cause Accidental of the following Discourse upon the present Truth and Testimony.  
IT is none of the least part of our Prison-Threnodies, in the present Tragedy which the bloody BEAST (by a new Guise) hath acted again upon the Stage of Great Britanny, 
The general Introduction, by Lamentation.  the trampling under foot the present Truth and Testimony of Jesus, (in this last Scene of the holy Citie's suffering, as I may say, for the forty two months) so, as that scarce one Interpreter of a thousand durst entertain or own it simply; which at best hath but a Passport from Many, and so is whipped away from one to another, from post to pillar, till it come to the place where it was born; but there it hath a being (blessed be Jehovah:) else it is hardly handled, according to the Court-Law; for a Vagrant, with Warrants like to Pope Engenius' hoc esse verum si ipse velit, sed non aliter. This or that is true, if he (his Holiness, or Highness) will have it so; but not otherwise. Who then can find the faith or conrage to expose his life (or at least, his liberty and estate) to so prodigal 2 Hazard? as he must do, who will fetch it from under the Beast's foot, and feel the acrimony or cruelty of his sharp clunch, claw, or horn, piercing him to the very heart. O this is as hard a task (in a sense) as to rescue the Lamb from the claw of the Lion, or paw of the Bear. Therefore, Isa. 59.4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is none that passeth his word for righteousness; nor is there any judgement for the Truth: O sad! 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what, not one? Well may our Prisons sound and resound with exaggerated Nightgroans; for the Court and Country increase in lying and transgressing, and falling backwards; perpetrating iniquity at so high a rate, as will suddenly fill up their measure: this I see evidently from my Iron bars; as v. 13, 14, 15, 16. and yet None intercede for the Truth, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one will run after it, follow it, meet it, or to the face of All own it: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O what a Lamentation is this! If one doth, like Wisdom's child, a little justify it; yet where is he that doth (according to the Hebrew) intercedere intercedens? for, he that doth so (as it is in the text) exposes himself to be spoiled, plundered, imprisoned, & made a prey to the ravenous Beast, that eats bones and all, Zeph. 3.2. Yea, although he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that departs from the evil of the Times, is sure to suffer so; yet, for all that, it is a Wonder to me, how we can hold in, to see what officious servants Charles Stuart, this Court, or any carnal Interest, have to run and ride on their Errands, to venture and engage life, liberty, limbs, estates, and all, for them and their Interest; but the Lord Jesus (ah! alas! as if he were the worst Master of all) can find few faithful that will venture half so far for him and his suffering Cause at this day; especially perpending the point of Time, the progress of the Testimony, the approach of the Period of the Beast's dominion in this street, of the forty two months, and of the rise of the Witnesses, with the little Stone, or the remnant of the Woman's seed, who must strike the Image-Government of England all to pieces; the terrible Earthquake which shall rend them up by the very roots. Also, when I advert the advantages of the Saints in this street above any other (of all the great City, or Beasts dominion) the forwardness of the Work here, the height of the Controversy already between the Lamb and the Beast, (precious blood of Saints having sealed thereto) and the Vials so lately poured out upon the King, Lords, Prelates, and corrupt Powers of this Seat; also, our late zeal against Common-prayer, Crosses, Painted Windows, Rails, Surplices, corrupt Ministers, Magistrates, and the like; O! my soul even bleeds within me, to behold the present apostasy of Spirit, Principles, and Persons, not only among Mercenary Professors, but the Little Remnant; whose Coldness, Cowardliness, and Carelessness is (almost) incredible, at this time of Day too: and were it not to fulfil the Word of God, Rev. 11. (that this present Death and Darkness is upon us for these three years and an half) I should be so astonished at it, as not to know what to make of it.  
But when I am venting my burden with these like words or passions, Lord! where is the Spirit of old! yea, the Spirit, and faith, and courage, that we ourselves had, some ten, twelve, or fourteen years ago, among the good old Puritans? yea, the spirit of Englishmen, and rational men among us? O! what a Change is this! What sheepishness, what sleepiness! what deadness, what darkness! what timorousness, and what tameness is now seized upon us? The Light arising in Darkness, doth put an end to such Reasonings and Syllogizing; giving rest to my Spirit till the time of the end, which is at hand.  
Now if ever there were a time to hear the Grave-groans of the living and the dead; of those who are in Prison graves, and of those whose skulls and bones we left behind us in the Field, and of those under the Altar, who cry, How long, O Lord holy and true? Rev. 6.10. yea, the shrill heaven, heart, and earth-tearing Call of Saints past, present, and to come, (from the days of Abel to this day) to maintain their Cause, to revenge their Blood, (and the Lamb's) and to be UP AND DOING for the Lord Jesus the King of Saints (to purpose;) it is NOW within a year or two, as we shall show you.  
woe to them that are at ease! Amos 6.1. yea, to the very women that are Careless! Isa. 32.9, 10, 11, 12. for they shall lament! and if ye will be All silent, the very Graves shall open, the Dead shall live, the dry bones shall live, the stones of the street shall speak, and the beam of the timber utter it; the Witnesses will arise, and the earthquake come to take vengeance against this Apostate generation of sour Professors.  
But, say some, (seeing the Prisons are so deeply sensible, and bear so heavy a burden for us) how falls it, that before now your exonerating groans and sighs got not a free passage abroad in the Nation?  
To which I must answer, That for above a years Imprisonment (now) partly more at large, 
Why the Prisons are so silent.  and partly close, I have lain under pressure of Spirit (as if my heart would break within me) at times, to see so servile and degenerate a Spirit (as yet) among the Saints; yet with patience purposing to wait, and possess my soul, as unwilling to write what few (if any) we able to bear, (though most honourable Truth:) I kept in as long as I could; not knowing but there might have been (before this) a kindly recurrence (among some) of those retrograde motions which so tremendous and fearful a Wrath as I easily foresee follows the heels of: (Melius est recurrere, quam male currere.) Besides, so great is the servile spirit and fear which possesses the hearts of men against this glorious Cause and Controversy of Christ, (for which we are imprisoned, plundered, exiled, or persecuted) that what we writ to ease our hearts and consciences (with the greatest sobriety and simplicity) we cannot carry thorough the Press, or get Printed, upon any terms (almost) in the language, life, and savour of the present Anointing from the holy One, which is upon us, and teaches us All things. That newfound Engine of the Beast (the Ordinance of Treason for words and imaginations) hath put them into so panic and foolish a fear, that above an hundred sheets preparing for the Press (to enlighten the Deluded and Abused people of this Nation, as to us and our Cause, or rather, Christ's; while they give out we suffer not for Conscience) have been either betrayed by Iscariot-kisses, plundered from me, or stifled before they were born; and all this, lest the people should have light into the sufferings of our Consciences, or conscience of our Sufferings, viz. the truth of the fifth Kingdom; or receive a right Information of the Apostasies Hypocrisy, Perjury Cheating, Persecution▪ and unheardof Baseness of such as are gotten into Power; having a form of godliness, denying the power thereof (from whom we are to withdraw▪ 2 Tim. 3.5.) and notwithstanding we and they declared this Tyranny in the Bishops: the words are; To lock up the Printing-Presses against whom they please, was in the Bishop's time complained of, 
Vid. Guilford-Declar. p. 10.  as one of the great Oppressions. Yet this is revived upon us; which is the reason the good people of the Nation are so deceived and prejudiced about us and our Principles, whiles we are not suffered to publish the truth, and our enemies false Reports of us pass cum privilegio, all over the Countries.  

2 The Prisonopprobries, abuses and injurries, especially at Lambeth.  2. The marvellous Trials which I have encountered with in the flesh (since Imprisonment) have much impeded my appearing in Public until now: and albeit I have forborn hitherto, making public complaint of the worse than Roman tyranny upon us, for the exercising of our faith and patience, that in all well-doing we might suffer with joy, and that our consolation in Christ might abound, and that Jehovah whom we serve (to whom vengeance and truth belongeth) might take the matter into his hands only: Yet because of the loud Obloquys, lend Lies, Invectives, and ungodly reports which pass without examination, from one to another, upon me, on purpose to reflect upon this blessed Cause and faith we contend for; and for that some have greedily made such use of those lose Tales, and do conclude upon it, that Silence argues Gild, and gives advantage to all sorts (good and bad) to accumulate their most amarulent and uncharitable censures; some precious friends have prevailed with me (for the Truth's sake) the Lord knows, without the least desire to justify my self (for I leave that to my Lord and Master) or delight to rake into the rank and sordid excrements of men's mouths, or pleasure in their unhandsome nakedness; (for I take little delight to inculcate their lapses or incivilities to us in this Cause;) and can be better content (my conscience bears me witness) to sit down in silence, then to take so much as notice of the foaming and frothy agitations of some pragmatic and unquiet heads these Times. But the Truth, Cause, and persecuted Saints, do expect some Account at my hands (it seems) of the particular harsh usage I and my family met with under this Power in Lambeth-House (and since) where I was for above five and thirty weeks, and then sent to Windsor-Castle, the 31 of 1 mon. 1655. with two Messengers, who delivered me up Prisoner here a little after Noon.  
I was fetched out of my bed the 27 day of 4 mon. in 1654. early in the morning; and at night (after all day waiting) I was sent to Lambeth-prison, being very ill and distempered with a Fever; yet for all that, at 11 in the night, did a Messenger rap at the gates, called another of the Messengers who was going into his bed, made him put on his clothes again to assist him; and so they came both with Harding the under-Goaler, to carry me at that time of night I knew not whither, (nor would they tell me:) but being very ill on the bed, and my wife also unready, I told them I was not Able; prayed them to let me alone for that one night; told them, The righteous man was merciful to a Beast; and were a Beast of theirs (horse or Cow) so ill, or little able to stir, they would be more merciful: with many other Arguments, I and my wife also desired them to forbear that night: but they said they had Orders from Sergeant Dendy to remove me presently, and I must not stay: one of them speaking very high, and threatening. The issue was; They made me rise, and my wife to make herself ready: and I (scarce able to go, my head being light with the fierceness of the Fever) was forced, that time of night, to one Lead-beater's house (a Messenger) into a little, low, dark room, where was very little air, (which I much needed, and for which I rather wished to be in the other Prison.) The next day at night, new Orders came, to carry me to Lambeth again; where I continued, till Sergeant Dendy procured my Removal. Of which place I shall choose principally (for the present) to give a short hint, or abstruse Account, (leaving the whole History for a fit season) that the obstreperous false reports may be obviated, our Sufferings (a little) known and sympathized, his poor servants prayed for, their faith and patience owned, their God be glorified, and his enemies found Liars, 
Worse than Heathen Tyranny to us.  and ashamed for their worse than Heathen tyranny to us: which appears in these Particulars.  
1. By the Law of the Heathens (the Romans) none were to suffer before the Law had judged and condemned them; 
1 Uncondemned, and without Law.  nor before their Accusers were brought face to face, or the Accused heard to speak for themselves in the matters laid to their charge: Acts 22.25. Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and Uncondemned? Then they said, v. 26. TAKE HEED. Acts 25.16. Festus confessed, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver up any man, (either to imprisonment, death, mulct, or punishment) before that he which is Accused, hath his Accusers brought face to face, and he have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. This is a Rule of Reason; 
This is contrary to all or most of their Declarations, where they call this Tyranny in the King and Bishops; and incongruous with the Laws of God, of Nature, and of Nations.  contrary whereunto, our Persecutors now practise, having put us into Prison thus year after year, yea, with worse usage, and more close, than the worst Malefactors, Cavaliers, Plotters, Ranters, Blasphemers or Offenders they put amongst us: For all the while I was by order from Sergeant Dendy kept out from the air of the Common Hall, the wicked crew of Cavaliers, Plotters, Ranters, Roarers; drinking, cursing, swearing, singing▪ fiddling, gaming, and blaspheming, day and night, had the benefit of it: yea, for above thirty weeks, they would not suffer me to stir out of the gate for air; but the worst of all other Prisoners had their liberty with their Keepers every day: and when order was to let but three at a time come to see me, yea, not to suffer man, woman, or child to come at me; nor one of my family to stir out for necessaries for me; the worst of men besides had All that would, come to see them, yea the most lose sort of people that could be, to sit up, healthing, hooping, ranting and revelling with them at the highest rate, in a most hideous manner, about mine ears. These had abundance of liberty to sin, for whom the Law was made, as the Apostle says. 1 Tim. 1.9, 10. when we could not have liberty to pray together, or to have any holy Assembly but at the Prison-grates, when I put my head out at the Iron bars to my dear brethren and sisters in Christ, who flood in the street. And all this, without any Law condemning, any Crime charged formally upon us, any Accuser brought before us, any Witness against us, any Trial of us, or Licence given us to answer in any open Court: only the sixth of the last month▪ the last year, I was carried to Whitehall into a Chamber, (where what was objected was denied to be any Charge against me) and so remanded to prison again, but by no other Law then Lust and Will, (the Beast's Law, Sic volo, sic jubeo, sic pro ratione voluntas;) TAKE HIM JAILOR being all the Trial, Law, and Sentence: All at once, All in Will, with a worse than Papal or Prelatic Arbitrariness; without signifying for what Offence, or by what Law; (which the Popish and Prelatical Persecutors always did:) herein falling short of the Roman righteousness, mercy, and ingenuity; and betraying, or robbing us of our Rights and Liberties we fought for. But, the Lord knows, (let them report what they will, to put a good colour upon this Practice of theirs, and to render us odious, who are almost buried alive in Prison-graves, and not suffered to speak for ourselves) we know no other cause but our very Consciences, in the matters and Principles of faith, in the Testimony of Truth, for Christ, against his Enemies: and yet they dare be so wicked as to say about, We suffer not for Conscience; and there be none that suffer for Conscience, for Christ, or for preaching the Gospel in England at this day. But O! that the Truth might have a fair hearing!  

2. Our Gaolers worse to us, than the Heathens. A History of some few passages for an instunce.  2. Under the Dragon-Power of Rome, the very Gaolers (who are usually the worst of men) were more civil, courteous and urbane, then ours are to us: for Paul's Gaoler let who would come to visit him, Acts 24.23. Acts 28.16. yea, their Acts 16.33. and made much of them: but our Gaolers do add stripes, aggravate our crimes (pretended) augment our afflictions, accumulate (into mountains) lies, slanders, vilifying speeches and reproaches upon us; invent and inform what they can (with any colour) against us, (daily going to Whitehal for that purpose;) and every way more cruel to us, then to the worst Prisoners they had: At Lambeth we found it so, from the upper to the under, from the Master to the Man-goaler; whiles others found very fair quarter, and civil Courtship, who fed them with round Sums; which we could not buy at so dear a rate, and therefore (besides other reasons) were forced to courser fare. For after a few weeks, word was brought to my wife, that I must pay in fees somewhat more than 6 l. a week; which I was not able to do, (having no estate in the world, and what I had being all taken away from me;) and this for the rooms to Serg. Dendy. About a week's space after this, one of Serg. Dendy's men (old Meazy) came up (at candlelight) into my Prison-chamber, in the name of Serg. Dendy, saying he came from him, to demand the money which was due to him for his fees and the chambers for so many weeks; saying I was to pay but 10 s. a day fees for myself; for although though it was 20 s. a day, yet the Parliament put down 10 s. a day of it: and for that Serg. Dendy would use me courteously, he would have but 14 s. a week rend for the room where we kept a fire, (for my family, while they were with me:) and for the little inward lodging-room, (where was no chimney) where I lay, I should know that when I went out. I told him I was not able to pay so much; nor did I judge it reasonable, being in prison upon will, and nothing brought to my charge; and therefore those that imprisoned me, must pay him: yet this I would do willingly; if Serg. Dendy will choose one honest man, I will choose another; and what they think meet for me to pay, as God shall enable me I will: saying withal, I would know the lowest which I must pay. He said, 4 l. 4 s. a week was the lowest: at which I told him I was not able to do it, nor did my brother Feak at Windsor pay so much; but, as I heard, but so much in a quarter, as is demanded of me in a week: and that it was worse than tyranny, to take away all I had to live on; turn my wife and children (poor sucking babes) out of doors, (when the Lord allows a Snail a shell, yet my poor wife and babes had not a shell to live in, but my prison:) yea, and to hinder those that would, to minister to our wants, and to demand 4 l. 4 s. a week too, was wonderful unjust. But the old man being teachy hereat, flew from me with these menaces; You must and shall pay it, before you go out from hence.  
But because the carriage of this business was so cruel, merciless, and unchristian, Serg. Dendy was ashamed to own it to good men; stoutly and often affirming, that neither he, (nor any for him) did ever demand it of me, or threaten me about it. But with how little modesty or grace, and that you may see what wide mouths ravenous fishes have; it follows under the hands of some present in the Prison-chamber when the old man came for the money; two of them being Church-members.)  

We whose names are hereunder written, do certify to whomsoever it may concern, that old Michael Meazie came (as he said) from Serg. Dendy (whose servant he is) into the chamber where Mr. Rogers is prisoner now at Lambeth, and in our hear demanded of Mr. Roger's the sum of 10s. a day for fees for himself, a prisoner to Serg. Dendy; and of 14s. a week for his Chambers; in all, of 14l. 4. s. a week. And for that Mr. Rogers made scrupble to pay so much at present, the said Mesey told him he MUST and SHOULD pay it, before he went out from thence. This we witness by our hands, who heard him demand that Sum of him, and can Depose it.  


Dorothy Hill.  
Alice Lewis.  
Anne Evington.     
Notwithstanding with so strange a face they denied this, and said I was no Minister of Jesus Christ if I affirmed it; and they would publish in News-books against me, and the like; I can show it under Sergeant Dendy's own hand, by several Orders and Letters, that the not paying those fees and sums of money, was one thing that made him so harsh to me above others. For, soon after, the old man went to Whitehall, and told his tale against me, (in his own mood and figure) and then followed the ensuing Letter from Serg. Dendy to me.  
SIR,  
I took not my house at Lambeth to accommodate Families, but only such Prisoners, as by Order of the Council stand committed to me: and therefore whereas I hear you say, that Mr. Feak at Windsor hath his wife and children with him, and yet pays nothing; which is not altogether improbable, because Windsor-Castle is the States proper house; but so is not Mine, nor the goods. Wherefore, inasmuch as I am informed, that it is commonly reported you are at 6l. a week charge, (though I know not of a penny that hath (as yet) been received from you) and this declared on purpose to abuse the well-minded, by provoking their charity towards you, (of which I wish you were as capable as some others.) Further, your wife, at your first coming to my house, vapouring, that she would give 5l. aforehand, so you might be accommodated at my house, (which was more public than others of my Deputies, and so to serve your Design was rather made choice of.) Upon these Considerations, having no Allowance at all from the State to defray so great a charge as my house at Lambeth amounts to, I desire you will remove your children and servants to some other place more proper for them: to which end, I have ordered that you have a week's time from this day to dispose of them: and for your own particular, & your Wife, if she be with you, to be treated with all civility, and have as good accommodation as my house can afford. So wishing that you may be a partaker of Christ's sufferings, rather than those of Evil doers, I rest,  
Septemb. 14. 1654. Your loving Friend, E. Dendy.  
I confess I was much grieved at this Letter, for that I knew not whither to send my poor Children from me, two of them being about a year old, and very weak, and my poor Family being thrust out of All; only that Scripture refreshed me, The Foxes have holes, and the Birds of the Air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Besides, the lines were fraught with false reports (I perceived) of my Wife and me, and pitiful uncharitable censures and suppositions; as, that I sought to come thither, and to abuse the well-minded; whereas I knew not of my returning to Lambeth till Harding came with a new Order, nor did I any otherwise desire it, but for air in the time of my burning-fever. I confess I did desire more air, and so my Wife said she had better give 5 li. than be so choked up in a little hole for want of air (as Lead-beaters was) but for any other purpose, the Judge of hearts best knows, and will one day declare for me. But than came in consolation from Matt. 5. Blessed are ye, when they speak all manner of evil of you. Besides the several untruths in the Letter, as that I said Bro. Feak paid nothing; and that of 6 l. a week charge, and of having no allowance from the State, all which I knew to the contrary; so that I thought it best to spread it before the Lord, and wait with patience, and with the whole armour of God, the brest-place of righteousness, and the shield of Faith, Eph. 6. to stand and withstand in this evil day, v. 13, 14, 15, 16. And so I did, without any noise, as the Sheep that is bit by the fierce teeth of the Dog, weeps inwardly most, and whines not like a Hog. But ere long, he sends a most severe Order to the Under-Goaler, to take away the Beds from under us, yea, to execute his Orders that night that one of my Children lay giving up the Ghost; but because the Child was gasping, he could not find the heart to execute it; and the Child dying that night, he then said he would not have done it for 100 l. though his Master command him so strctkly to observe his Orders. But for all this, and the death of one Child, and the weakness, or drawingon of another, their immanity (without pity) was prosecuted upon me, so, that had not the Lord supported me, I might have sunk under it: and to show it sufficiently, the Under-Goaler brings me these two ensuing Warrants together.  
William Harding,  
I am informed one of Mr. Roger's his Children was carried away last night very sick, and which for aught I know may be the Small Pox; which you cannot but hear the City and Suburbs are much infested with, and none more liable to take the Disease than Children: wherefore in regard of the Danger through multitudes of persons coming to Mr. Rogers, I would have you once more let him Know, that I expect that he remove his Children and Servants to some other Place; For I am resolved not to endanger the health of my Prisoners any longer: therefore if Mr. Rogers will not remove his Children after so fair and civil a warning, let the Bedding be carried into another Room. Herein fail not. Yours,  
E. DENDY.  
The truth is, The Gaolers' Children were ill of the Swine-Pox, whereby we and other Prisoners were in danger; but blessed be the Lord, not one of ours; and the Child we sent away one night, for fear he should catch it in the house, the next day we had him home again to the Prison (for we had not, nor have we any other earthly home but a Prison now, so that my family was forced to be with me, which was according to the Law of God and Nature) the Child being in good health, nor was there the least ground to suspect such a Disease in my Family: but had it been so, the sending of him away did not tend to endanger the Prisoners, but to keep them from it; nor needed he to say any longer, for that at no time were any in danger by any of my Family, (for the Disease was in the Gaolers' Family, who it may be might report it in mine, on purpose to bring all the vexation they could upon me, by incensing their Master against me.)  
And indeed, the warning which he called civil, to send my Children from me, (and the Lord knows, I knew not whither) I could not see civil or Christian; and therefore rested rather contented to have the Bedding pulled from under me, and to lie in pads of Straw with my poor Children, than to be so merciless and unfatherly to them as he Commanded. Besides, there were very few Prisoners then in the house, and abundance of rooms stood empty for want of Guests, they not having the third part of the Prisoners (I hear) are there now: nor had we any more Chamber-room than one Prisoner, who was in before us, (a Plotter.) With this he delivered me another at the same time, which follows.  
William Harding,  
It's not unknown to you the great Charge I am at for my house, etc. and particularly for my Goods, for which I pay 7 l. a Month, which by the year is 91 l. All which I perceive Mr. Rogers and his Wife are not sensible of, otherwise they would not take upon them to appoint what Lodgings my Prisoners should have, as that they should not lie two in a Bed, but single, so as that the Prisoners wives might come and live with them; which freedom I shall not deny to any Prisoner, although I might do it: So I hereby again Order you to remove Mr. Rogers his Children and Servants forthwith: And if the 
* Mr. Chapman's.  Printers Wife do come, let them lie in the Chamber 
* The Lodging-Room where I lodged.  within Mr. Rogers, or in the outward Room, which he will; for I see no reason that I should find Bedding for Mr. Roger's his Children and Servants when he refuseth to pay me for it. I do expect that my Orders should be better observed by you, than hitherto they have been, otherwise I shall see that Directions be followed more to my quiet. If you find that Mr. Rogers or his Wife will not remove their Children and Servants, let me Know it, and I shall dispose of Mr. Rogers to some other place, being resolved to free my house of such domineering spirits.  
Yours, E. DENDY. Octob. 20. 1654.  
Those two together sounded very harsh to my very heart, at that season too, whiles another sweet Child was so near the grave too, very weak, (and died within three or four days after.) I confess the trials were very great: had not the new-Covenant-Comforts come with them, and made them full of the Fathers-love to me, and of the new-Testament-blood in me, I might have fainted: but for that I perceived this was a matter of Money, and nothing else would stay the Surges and Sources of this raging SEA, I sent my Wife (after Candle-light) to Whitehall with five pounds, which I was glad I could get together for him, not being able to send him more then: who carried it; but at that time they thought it not fit to receive it, but to accost her with course Courtship and Dialect, and so to send her home to Prison again, telling her that we domineered in his house, and took upon us to appoint Lodgings for his Prisoners, etc. How such stories as these could be coined or invented, I wondered; when for three, four, or six weeks together, I stirred not out of my Room, or spoke with one Prisoner or Gaoler, perceiving how they were set together against me, (the Prisoners for reproving their sins (at so high a rate day and night) when I had liberty to Preach and Pray:) seeing I was in Prison with so wicked a blaspheming, cursing, ranting Crew, hominibus perfrictae Frontis, with men of so much impudence, and immodesty; with raving Beasts, with very Bruits, I judged it best not only to keep out of their company, but out of their very sight as much as might be, insomuch that they could not tell (I am persuaded, but on the Lord's days, or when I Preached or Prayed in Family, or the like) whether I was in the Prison or no, (but by hear-say:) yet it seems, the night before this last Warrant he sent me, Mr. Chapman and Mr. Spittlehouse were brought in Prisoners, who supped with me in my Prison-chamber; that night at the Table in discourse, they said they lay both in one Bed: I said, I thought (if they would) they might have each of them a Chamber one within the other, for that all the other Prisoners had so (that I saw) and for that there were but few Prisoners in the house (not half full) so that there were Rooms and Beds a many to spare: So I passed it over, not imagining any trouble could arise upon this ordinary discourse at Supper; my Wife adding thus to Mr. Chapman, You had best to have a Bed by yourself, for your Wife may come to see you. But the Goalers-Boy (listening, as some one or other frequently did for stories at my Chamber-door) carried down (as unhappy boys use to do) what he could make of it to his Father, who carried it, or sent it next morning betimes to Whitehall, which occasioned the aforesaid words, as I conceive; and because he was so high against me, threatening my removal, and (as his Warrant intimates) restless and unquiet till he had done somewhat or other against me (and all that he can speak to his Masters at Whitehall, being sure to be taken for granted) till which he could not be quiet, as he says, seeming so much offended too, for that his Orders were not executed (as before) to tear away the Bed when the child was dying, and now also when the other weak Child was dying; which wanted Roman ingenuity and reason: after I had made my complaints known to my Heavenly Father, I put Pen to Paper, and wrote him these ensuing lines.  
Cousin DENDY,  
I have received several Messages from you which have been very harsh, unexpected, (and indeed, I think) undeserved. I had wrote unto you long before, had not my Wife desired to come to you (as she did late last night) and had done it long before, had not my Children been so ill, one of whom is dead, and another very weak, and (having but two left alive) I did hope for more Mercy. I beseech you, Cousin, be not too ready to receive false and unworthy reports, which some (I perceive now) of malice invent and vent against me: The only cause (as I know of) is, I cannot, I dare not approve, or join with the Drinking, Swearing, Cursing, Roaring, and Ranting day and night here in Prison, which I know you yourself would be ashamed of: Preaching, Praying, and reproving of Sin being the ground of all that malice, which the Devil forgeth so many lies upon, against me: As for Civility, it is sufficiently known whether I am so or no; yea, let mine Adversaries judge. For I have not (till last night Harding gave me your two Notes) so much as spoke to him, or any of them, I think this six weeks, nor been below the Stairs this three weeks, purposely to avoid t●em and their malice. I told Harding I have but the same Room for my Family that are here, which Mr. Brown the Prisoner for Plotting had before me; and if they please to let me, I would have the use of my own Goods and Beds; but I never refused to pay for them (as your Letter mentions.) Sir, I could wish I were not so exploded, but that I might have liberty once in my days to speak with you face to face, or else to let me hear all Informations against me, that I might answer to their Les, which I am sure are very many, and God will one day judge. But if they be received as men infallible, and none be heard but them, none believed but them, none worthy of Favour but them, I can Appeal to the Righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth, who I am sure will Hear, and none can hinder. It is a comfort to a Seaman in a Storm, that he hath a Haven to put in at; and I bless my God, I have. This is a time for me and mine to be trampled upon and abused; but the Lord, who Bottles up our Tears, will hear our Sighs and Groans at last. Therefore good Cousin, as Christians that wait for one Redemption, let us walk by Rule; And put not thine hand with the wicked (saith the Lord) to an unrighteous Witness, Exod. 23. Time was, you had (I believe) other manner of Thoughts of me. Yet if nothing will do, I will rest quietly and patiently in the Dispensation of God, for his Rod and his Staff do both comfort me, and there is no sending me from him, who will anoint my head with fresh Oil; Sure I am of this, that the Comforter doth, and shall abide with me, and therefore I fear not what Flesh can do unto me. With our real and true respects to my Cousin your Wife, and All our Friends with you, I wish you all the same Glory and Happiness at the Day of Christ's Appearance, as my own Soul, which I await for. These troubles of ours being b●●●he praeludia triumphi, in these blessed Chains (fit only for Christ's Nobility) for our Royal Master the Lord Jesus, with whom I hope to come, or to meet in the clouds, and to sit with him on the Throne. I am  
Your unfeignedly loving, though afflicted and oppressed Kinsman, Jo. Rogers. Lamb (i'th') Prison, viz. Christ in this Mount with me, Octob. 21.  
Postscript. Here Harding denies that ever I, or any of us, Domineered, or said any thing of the Prisoners, about other rooms or Lodgings. Dear Cousin, there be many untruths (as ever were spoken) I hear you have received of me by some or other: now all I desire, is, That they may but appear Truths, or as they are; or else, that I be not so abused by them as I am: You remember Christ's Golden Rule, As you would have others do to you, so, etc. Mr. Mesey also denies that ever he told you, I said, Mr. Feak paid nothing.  
I confess I wrote brokenly (my mind being so distracted) but not so, as might minister any just occasion to use me and my poor Family as they did afterward, insulting over us, and adding afflictions to our bonds daily: but we leave that to the Lord, the righteous Judge. Many Tales the Under-Goaler and Keepers carried, they would deny again, and sometimes say as if their Master made them, (being themselves ashamed to own them.) And when any untruths were found and proved to their faces, their only evasion was this, That they had Orders to bring to Whitehall whatever they heard any say of me, and they were not to regard whether it were true or false; but saith Harding, I must tell what I hear to Mesey; and saith old Mesey, If Harding tells me thus, I must tell it (whether it be true or no) to the Sergeant, and I am here for the same purpose. So that he sometimes went twice or thrice a day to Whitehall to carry Tales, which were received forthwith: whereby Truth (so anticipated▪) could have no entrance nor entertainment, nor would Serg. Dendy so much as put them to the proof, or see me, speak ●o me, or come at me, when he came to see the Prisoners, of Compliment the Cavaliers.  
A while after this Letter (which I heard nothing of) old Mesey came again for Money, who had 5 l. of us (being all that we could then get him) which bought our quiet for a few days; but then finding us unable to lay down the whole price for it (as other Prisoners perhaps did) we lost the Mansion: And besides, we bought our Provision, and had our Drink at the best hand from abroad, which made our Gaolers (upper and under) more enemies to us than before, (it seems:) for the gain which Harding had, and which, it is said, he pays out of every Barrel of Beer to his Master, is great from Prisoners, putting off what is bad at the highest and unreasonable rates; so that now nothing but evaporating wrath, Cursing, and Swearing to be revenged, we heard of; setting all the wicked Prisoners upon us, who put their wits upon the tenterhooks to that purpose, inventing and coining new ways, and words, saying they hoped to see me dance in a Rope, and swing in a Halter; calling us Hypocrites, Liars, Deceivers, yea, Rogues and Queans, and Devils, and what not? (as Luther said, ad Spal. Prorsus Satan est Lutherus, dum modo Christus vivit & regnat, Amen. So say I, Amen! So be it. So Christ doth but reign▪) Affronting me to my face (if I went but down Stairs; which made me seldom stir down for air, not above once or twice in a Quarter of a Year.) Their words were wounds, Prov. 18.8. and 26.22. I shall forbear to particularise their Names, till I have a Call to it; but will use the Psalmists words, as suitable to me, with much assurance in the same God, Psal. 56.3, 5, 6. What time I am afraid, I will trust in God, I will praise his word, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me; Every day they wrist my words, All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hid themselves, they mark my steps when they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity, O God? No! Isa. 29.20, 21. When Paul was in danger of his life, his Gaoler (the Captain) came and rescued him from the Jews, and after loosed him from his bonds, Acts 21.31, 32, 33. and 22.30. but these are so far from pity, ingenuity, or Christianity, that their frequent dialect is bitter, bloody, malicious, and menacing, (as if they longed to have our blood) swearing to run me through if I offered to stir; putting Cavaliers, Ranters, and Blasphemers upon it, to plot against me for my life, to gather up Articles against me from what they overheard, or invented, from my praying and preaching, or singing of Hymns, writing all down they could make for their purpose; and then sending them to Serg. Dendy, or to Whitehall to Mr. Thurloe, against me. The first Informer they got up against me, was one Abdy, a high Ranter, and Blasphemer, and Atheist, who was stabbed to death that day that he was promised and expected his reward at Whitehall, for his good service against me; and his were some of the Articles they read against me at Whitehall, This Man did frequently Consult with the Devil, calling him his God; and (as I heard) in the Chamber below me, Conjured him up in personal shape. When he heard me at prayer in my family, he would come to the door, shrieking, yelling, and screaming with a most hideous noise, thump at the door, open it, and come in among us, singing, roaring, smoking Tobacco, cursing, swearing, blaspheming, blowing horns, and the like, on purpose to disturb us. When we sung Hymns, he would sing filthy blasphemous ribaldry, in bawdy languages, and at every end of his sentence some desperate Oath. Three days before he was stabbed, and after he had sent in his forged Articles (which he gathered against me, to take away my life) he made a most blasphemous Song: this Song he and some more (of the same sort) came to my door, singing it together in the tune of a Psalm or Hymn; scoffing, laughing, swearing, and blaspheming most hideously between while. Besides him, some other of the prisoners were put upon this practice; and a little before I was called to  last, old Measy came (he said) from Sergeant Dendy, to bid them get all their Papers they had ready: who said they would; and immediately went together one day after another, until they had gathered up Articles into two or three sheets (as I hear) against me, (bragging what they would do) and so sent them to Serg. Dendy, and he appointed his man to carry them to Mr. Thurloe. They were grown so high then, as to come into my chamber upon me, and invade me, my wife and family there, with violent and most virulent invectives, stabbing words and threats; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 insomuch as they being desperate, our lives (we thought) were in danger by them. They frequently sent the Keepers with scurrilous messages, and cast or sent in notorious Libels; and still invented somewhat or other; being stirred up or countenanced in all these (and a thousand other affronts and abuses) by the Gaolers. So that, I say, we received not Roman civility, or so much as sober Heathen ●sage from them; and were by many degrees more brutishly & barbarously treated, than the veriest miscreant Cavaliers, Ranters or Blasphemers they had. For they had the liberty of any room in the house, of any of their friends (though ever so rude) to see them; yea, the Cavaliers at this day courted by Serg. Dendy and his wife, offering to send Down-bedding, if they lie too hard; giving them liberty to go abroad when they will, by day or by night; yea, to go to Taverns when they lift; yea, to take the Key, and let who they will in, and who they will out; and to keep my friends out (as if they were the Gaolers) scoffing and mocking them by the name of holy sisters and holy brethren; and what not? Whiles we were (the Lord knows) contented to have lain in straw, would they have let us have been quiet; but they would not; which made us more sufferers than men think for: but the Day will discover.  
And thus far for the second Particular, which I might have amplified in many other Orders, Letters, Messages, which I have by me; and who will may see them in the Original, and then judge of our Gaolers what they think of them. 
3. The Prison-company with us, worse than in the Heathens ●ays.   
3. They surpass the Roman tyranny, yea of Nero too in this, That Paul was Prisoner in his own hired house two whole years, Acts 28.30. and he was suffered to dwell by himself, vers. 16. only a Soldier kept him. So in Queen Mary's days, Rogers, Martyr, prisoner in his own house a long time. But we are torn out of our houses, like beasts out of holes, and brought as I was into such a company and crew (at Lambeth) with them that were brought in there, that for drinking, swearing, revelling, fiddling, singing, roaring and blaspheming, day and night▪ I never heard the like among the worst Cavaliers, or wickedest of men; making the Prison to me a very Pourtraicture of Hell, and Horror, and Hideous Blaspheming among the Damned ones, (as I may have a season to acquaint the world with ere long: for now I do but hint and instance in things for proof.) The 26 of 10 m. a Bawd came for G. (as the Keeper's wife confessed) one of the greatest Informers against me, and brought him a Drink; fetched him out to a Whore; who came not in again till one or two in the night; and then was a great falling out about it, raging and raving: the occasion of it the Keeper's wife said was, He had been with his whore. They were so wicked, that besides all their most hideous mocking and contemning the Ordinances of Christ, and foresaid living in sin day and night, they would assault my family, get the Key, and solicit them to the Taverns if they could; take the children, threaten them, and force them to swear, curse, and call vile names; and watch after candlelight, when the servant went but down stairs, lay violent hands upon her, three or four at once, pull her into a Chamber; one call for Sack to stop her mouth, another holding her between his legs, and so offering to abuse her: with abundance of such base villainies renewed; and we had no remedy against it. Yet these were the Informers against, and Accusers of me, who were so much countenanced, and received such extraordinary Courtship from all the Gaolers, etc. Though I expect to suffer the sharper for telling this little of the truth; yet Jehovah is on my side, Psal. 118.6. of whom shall I be afraid? Psal. 27.1, 2. Jehovah is my light, and the strength of my life. Ideo negare non volo, ne peream; & ideo mentiri non volo, ne pellem: 
4. To hinder friends visiting and ministering to us, worse than the Heathens.  as one of the Martyrs said.  
4. The Roman power (under the Dragon-Government) did give liberty to all Paul's friends to visit him, and minister to him, Acts 24.23. that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. But our friends and acquaintance are forbid, as to their coming: sometimes they ordered not man, woman nor child to come at me, and ordered no servant should be with me: and yet then the Gaolers were so cruel to me, that they refused to dress us any meat (for money) in our need, (which they did do for others) So that my care was then (expecting my wife to be put from me also, which was assayed by some) to learn to make Cole-fires, dress meat, and make my bed myself, etc. at other times they ordered three at once might come to see me; and at other times, only such as the Gaoler in his discretion did judge sober, and grave, or good enough; and at other times six: and so is it now, as Arbitrary power is in the mood. Sometimes they were made to wait, in wind, cold, and storm, many hours at the door without, and then sent away at last, and not let in, though they had no order against it. Sometimes they will make them wait long, and then let them in, upon good pay for Key-greasing (as they call it:) and then sometimes saluted with scoffs and mocks of holy sister, or the like flouts; and with many other abuses. The 18 of the last 12 m. they let in a godly maid (after long waiting to see me) who went into the Kitchen, (the way up to my chamber;) but there they fell upon her, and beat her about the head and body most sadly, whiles others looked on, laughed at it, and made them sport with it; and then turned her (so abused) out of doors again (without seeing me:) this was on the Lord's day. Another they resolved to let in, on purpose to pump him; (several of the Cavaliers with the Gaoler having agreed it, as we heard:) but the man hearing of it, prevented them, and never durst come to see me (there) after that. A multitude of such things I might mention, to show how our friends coming to us was and is hindered. 2. As to their ministering to us, they do use very strange and incredible lies, reports, and means, for all that I can see, to starve us, and keep others from ministering to us: for they have taken away All, and yet exact heave Fees, and say they ask none; and report high mountains of Lies, either to make us odious, that none might regard us, (going up and down many of them for that purpose) or else (if a friend but come and dine with us) reporting we far so bravely, and better than their Lord Protector; and that all the Churches in England had gathered for us; and that the Ch. of Hull had sent me 30 l. at Lambeth: with abundance more of such abominable untruths, on purpose to possess our friends with these reports, and to bind up their hands from ministering unto us, who have (may they be believed) so little need: and had they been believ●, the Lord knows we might have been starved, in Reason. Serg. Dendy was very diligent to vent such Reports to such friends as have told me of it again with grief, when they saw them so untrue. Sometimes too they say we are kept high in prison, and it makes us proud; and that for this reason, we will keep in: and at other times, That their Lord Protector gives us a large Table, and liberal Allowance: the truth (or rather, untruth) of these Reports, is soon known; neither doth their Lo. P's charity reach to us so far, as to allow us bread and water; (for all that he hath taken away all livelihood from us and our little ones:) which is far more cruelty than King, Prelates, Papists or Heathens did show; for they gave an allowance to very Traitors, etc. besides what friends ministered to them. Yea, Bonner, as bloody a Beast as he was, sent provision to Mr. Philpot and others into his Coal-house. But we know whom we serve; and he that hath the fullness of earth in his hands, provides for us: therefore as Paul says, Phil. 4.11, 12. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be therewith content: I have learned to be full, and to be hungry; to abound, and to suffer need; and can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Yea, when bread fails, faith feeds hard. Psal. 37.3. Pascere fide, as Junius reads it: for faith fetched Daniel his dinner into the Den, out of Habakkuk's belly too, (if the Story be true) whiles the Lions lacked: and so faith fetches in food and raiment, and outward things for us, (sore against our enemies and Persecutors minds, it seems) Psal. 23.5. Psal. 34.10. by opening the hearts and the hands of some poor Saints to save it out of their own bowels for us, (though there be but few, and those all poor, that dare or do own us at such a distance.) Dat been, dat multum, qui dat cum munere vultum. Christ will take it well at his hands, who hath a heart for Christ in a Cup of cold water to his Disciples: But I speak, for the discovery of that unreasonable Spirit which is in our persecutors, who report every mite and morsel of bread a mountain, upon a design to stay the hands of the Saints from ministering unto us; and so to tyre, and starve us into an Apostasy (an yielding) and from our Principles, with them: But, fides famem non formidat: for, as one says, If these persecuters and pursuivants, tyrants and Gaolers will take away my Meat, I trust God will take away my Stomach; and so 'tis all one still. For this I am sure of, That we shall be satisfied when our Enemies shall want, and be ashamed, Prov. 13.25. Isa. 65.13. Amen! Says Faith, who fetches this in also! But thus far for the Fourth Particular, which proves their inveterate malice and hatred to the cause, and to us.  

5. To hinder Preaching and Praying to poor Souls, is beyond the Tyranny of the Heathens.  5. They fall short of Heathen civility in the Allowance the Romans gave (yea, Nero, as notorious a Tyrant as he was) to Paul, Act. 28.31. Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, no man forbidding him; yea, and this at Rome, under Nero's nose: yea, the Martyrs in Queen Mary's days, in the Compter, and in the Bishop's Coal-house behind his Kitchen, they Preached, Prayed, and Sang together, none forbidding them. But we are forbidden to Preach in Prison, and our Friends forbidden to come to us, to hear us; yea, Serg. Dendy sent a Letter at large (which I have by me) to forbid it: yea, the Church-Society I walk with, are not suffered to come at me, to Pray or Exercise with me. And after they had an express Order to turn me out from the air and use of the Common hall in Lambeth, because I Preached and Prayed there; They said also, they had Order to keep Prisoner any man that should dare to pray with me in my Chamber: The same day, when Jonathan Taylor of Warwick-Church was with me, and Prayed, they gave warning thereof. And after that, they took strict notice of any that looked like a gifted-brother, that they suspected would Pray or Preach in my Chamber, etc. would not let him, of Any, have access so much as to see me, unless he would engage to come down presently again, (not to Pray, or the like, with me in my Chamber:) so precise were they against preaching and praying. Here also at Windsor we have like experience, having been beaten, abused, and clapped up close for it, as we shall show ere long. This is doubtless so high a crime among Christians too, that Nero shall find more mercy at the day of judgement; and it shall be easier for him, then for these men, in this matter. But O! it is no little comfort, that we can suffer this (and a thousand times more, we hope, by the grace of God) with great joy, for his sake, who hath made us worthy, Acts 5.51. Unto you (says the Apostle, Phil. 1.) is given, not only to Believe, but to Suffer; which all Saints cannot do. And as it is Acts 28.20. It is for the Hope of Israel, that I am bound with this chain; as I shall show in this Treatise. Et signum est mihi majoris Gloriae, ut omnes impii (ferè) me detestantur.  
I might mention other Particulars, wherein our Persecutors and Gaolers are worse to us then Heathens or Romans, (under the Dragon-Government) or Papists and Prelates under the Beast's Government; as, in that they were allowed to dispute the Truth with the Word of God; which we are not: and the like. But by this you see it a true assertion, That we are under a worse than Roman tyranny; of the greatest aggravation, By our brethren too, and for our Consciences too, and at such a time too, and after such vast streams and treasures of our blood, estates, faith, tears, and prayers too, to purchase our undoubted privileges and immunities, (in another manner of liberty) too; and to us too, who have all along fought in the field, raised men, spent our estates, and ventured our lives, and for the very Truths, and upon the same Principles we now suffer in, too: all this is the Aggravation of the Threnody.  
Much might we say of Paul's Plea of Freeborn, Act. 23.28. and as we are the Conquerors, and never yet the Conquered (though cheated and deceived) Side: and much according to the Laws of the Nation, whereof the General was a Member that made them, which are duly Enrolled, Proclaimed in due order, Acted upon, Executed, and Unrepealed; to which have been many Solemn Engagements, Oaths, Declarations and Wars: and much more I might say, but that the Sword (as it is) hath neither eyes nor ears; and therefore can neither pity us as Englishmen, nor as Christians. The Soldier's counsel was, Acts 27.42. (and is it not?) to kill the Prisoners. But stay! brother Red-coat, we Except against thee: for we will have no Butcher for a Juryman.  
The main Causes which moved Serg. Dendy to be so long a Suitor (as I hear) to the Council for my removal to Windsor (according to his several threaten by Letters, Messages, and Word of mouth at Whitehall, that day I was before them) was the Complaint the Prisoners made, being afraid to take that freedom & excess in sin, night and day, as they would do, whiles I was there; and then the Gains which he lost by my being there, both in Fees and otherwise; as Acts 16.19. When they saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they brought Paul and Silas, and drew them to the marketplace to the rulers; and the rulers cast them into prison; vers. 23, 24. yea, they were thrust into the Inner prison: but there they sang Praises, and so do we our Antelucanos Hymnos; and so we will, till the Foundations of this Earthly Government rend: Amen! Hallelujah.  
Though for these Reasons, and for others more public, as for Preaching, Praying, etc. Lambeth became inhabitable (to me) under the Torrid Zone of these Persecutors and Gaolers anger; yet I can tell them, (if I may boast in the Lord) with greater comfort & confidence than they can look Christ, his Saints, or Cause (which they have betrayed) in the face, or look for favour from the Righteous Judge, That I live in the most Temperate Zone of heaven, do what they can for their hearts, and with a better Conscience (which is my continual feast) can look out at these Iron bars, and sing whiles the thorn is at my breast to keep me wakeful, than they can at their Belcona's or rattling Coaches, or ruffle in their gold and gaudiness, died in the blood of the Saints, or gotten by Hypocrisy and cozening. It is a true saying of Aug. de bon. pers. cap. 6. Tutiores autem sumus si Totum Deo damus; non autem nos illi ex parte & nobis ex parte committimus: We are best and safest, when we give God All, and not seek to share or part stakes with God; much less like the Apostates of these Times, who are so far from giving God All, and they be Nothing but what God will have them, that they Themselves will be All, (in Civils, Military, and ecclesiastics) and God (or Christ) shall be Nothing but what they will have them: Therefore no wonder they are alarmed with continual fears, whiles we (poor Worms!) in prison need none of their courts of Guard, but can sleep sweetly and securely (in the warm bosom of Eternal Love) though Madmen, Drunkards, and Devils are about us day and night; for with no little sap, solace, and sweetness have I sucked in Luther's saying, (which is mine now:) Ipse viderit ubi anima mea sit mansura, qui pro ea sit sollicitus fuit, ut vitam pro ea posuerit: and therefore it is (by his grace) I will look thee in the face, Thou proudest Tyrant! thou canst but batter the vessel! thou canst but hurt the bark; but, my life is hid with Christ (O sweet word! they cannot find it! it is out of their reach; for it is hid with Christ) in God. Amen! Lord, and keep it there! that I faint not. Thus far for the second Reason arising from my sufferings.  
3. Another Reason why I appeared not publicly from prison before, was impreparation, having been in the valley for the vision many days and months, before I could come to this, in many travels, trials, and pangs of Spirit upon me, before it could be brought so near the birth as now it is, waiting for a safe and seasonable deliverance. This made me sit up (mourning) in the night-season, (and laid me low in the flesh for many a week together) with little joy of this life (as we say) though with no little joy of cheery faith, and sweetness in divine life (and being;) waiting for the Anointing to bring forth this little, being loath it should prove abortive, though but an Embryo of what (I hope) will be born in due season. But some labour with more difficulty, pains, and dangers, to bring forth a little birth (by reason of impediments) then others do in the greatest: and indeed, because of the Times, a fixed and clear judgement is so incumbent, that I could not content myself with the speculation of the present Truths, Prophecies, and Visions which begin to break out of Daniel and the Revelation with such dazzling and amazing light; but I must be sure of a sound Practical judgement too, and principle in the heart, which puts into one balance (with Christ and his Controversy) God and his Commands, and into the other (with the Beast and his present Controversy) the Sins and Apostasies of the Times, and of this Street; and upon poising on all Sides, and setting all it can cost me, before me, chooses my duty to God and Christ against the sins and abominations of the Times or the Powers, which occasions the hard Travel. And I must confess, I did deliberate with too much flesh and blood at first; contenting myself more with the heavenly Prison and presence of Waiting then of Writing, of Praying then of Publishing any thing to the world; that so I might run the less hazard to life, liberty, fame, or estate, etc. But I was soon roused up out of this Contentation, and kind of Contemplation, (whether I will or no) by a loud Call to me for what is already born of God in me, about the Work of this Age, yea, of the 45. ensuing years (after this) wherein the Lamb's followers and sufferers under the Banner of Christ, are to know their Places, maintain their Watches, keep their Motions, continue their Marches, renew their Charges, till they rout Babylon, and destroy the Beasts Dominion root and branch; yea, until they do Wonders in this old world. For the years of Wonders (Dan. 12.6.) are now entering, upon the descension of the Spirit of life from God. And in order I am to sound the ensuing Trumpet to the Two Witnesses and remnant of the woman's seed▪ for it is no time to dally: the danger is great, the day is come, and we are engaged (there is no going off) live or die, stand or fall, fight or flight is at hand: and Num. 10.5, 6, 8. When ye blow an alarm, than the camp shall go forward. When the Congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but not an alarm: and this shall be an indelible ordinance to you in your generation, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. So that after a long and humble attendance at the Throne for my present work, 
The Order of the Author's Call to this Treatise.  I am put upon this, (whatever I must do or endure for it, so Jesus be but magnified, my spirit is pitched) having so manifest and manifold a Call to it in order, thus. 
1. A special Message from the LORD, brought by a choice servant of Christ and his Church.   
1. A Message brought me the 10 of this month by our S. H.T. who had a weeks close communion and conference with the Lord in heavenly Visits and Visions, singing, praying, contemplating, communicating, and receiving, amongst other things, a Message to deliver me in the Prison, which I had to this effect: That the Lamb's book should be unsealed, and the Visions opened to me; bidding me be of good cheer, for I should shortly know my own work, and what Israel ought to do. This, I confess, was a word in season to me, and as suitable (at that juncture) as if an Angel had come with it out of heaven on purpose; which much raised and revived my spirit, as Solomon says, Prov. 13.17. A faithful (or, as in Heb. a true) Messenger is health, in the Abstract: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I found it, when the visions of mine head troubled me, and made me sick: it is medicina, as some read it, Prov. 25.13. Besides, upon the first of the third m. last, after a very solemn Fast all day, (with my con-Captive) to know our work, and what we should do; the succeeding night, in my sleep, I thought I lay under the shadow of a great Mulberry-tree, which hung full of great ripe mulberries: I lying with my face upward, and mouth open, saw many of the boughs crowded together; which I thought (by impression upon my heart (in my bodily sleep) to be the Lord on the top, treading them down together; whereby, as the boughs, so the (brave large) berries struck one against another, and broke one into another, and ran all (that were so broken) by one stream, into my mouth and belly, whereby I thought I was abundantly refreshed: and when I awaked, I was so indeed, full of joy, and could not hold, but told my wife of it presently, and afterwards my friends. But before noon the same day, I received a Letter from the foresaid person, with these lines: Truly, brother, I have seen you frequently in the divine bosom, and have sung abundantly Hallelujah for the Cordials which I saw poured down your throat, which made you (I apprehended) like a Champion, and like a triumphing Conqueror! Go on! thou Champion: for he hath said he will stand by thee, who stood by Paul at his first answer, when none stood by him, etc. Some may muse at my admittance of these things; but I do assure them, it is neither to boast of them, (for what hast thou, O man, to boast of, but what thou hast received?) nor to build upon them, which is very dangerous; but it is to observe the concurrence and good effects of such passages: for though I am as far from taking notice of, or having dependence upon Dreams or Visions, as any man alive; yet I must not omit the night-teachings of the Spirit, nor such Dreams or Visions which bring forth blessed effects upon the spirits of men, or are ratifications of the truth and mind of God; for that the great Promise of the Spirit must bring forth such effects, and such Dreams and Visions in these later days, Joel●. 28. and so the Lord taught his Saints of old.  

2. The incessant expectation of the people of God.  2. To second that servant of the Lord, the very next day, (and since, many days in a week) have men of much wisdom, grace, holiness, and integrity, come unto me, to tell me that it is the expectation of the choicest Saints in Lond. (and some in the Country also) the remnant of the Woman, to hear some news of the Prison-vision or voice which we have been under at Lambeth and Windsor, (wondering at our so long silence:) yea, that they have kept Praying by whole Days and whole Nights for that purpose; being very high to hear from us, and to have our light breaking abroad from Prison-bars for public benefit; that they who are ready to give proof of their faith in the Lamb (with us) in the very same Battalia and Testimony against the Beast, might be provoked by us in the present Work, Watch, and Warfare: And therefore they waited with wide desires, and fixed eyes upon me, for somewhat to be published, a fresh quickening word, according to the fresh comforting Anointing that is upon me in Prison; praying earnestly, that their (almost) hourly, and more than ordinary expectations may not prove barren or abortive. Amen! say I, Psal. 9.18. For the expectation of the poor (and persecuted one's) shall not (always) perish: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it may be frustrate for a time; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; but the expectation of the wicked will perish for ever, Prov. 10.20. & 11.7, 23. Isai. 20.5. Zech. 1.5. At the time of the End (which is now) are many to run to and fro, that knowledge may be increased, Dan. 12.4. And such as wait for the vision, shall find it, when it shall speak, and not lie, (though it tarry its appointed time) Hab. 2.2, 3. So the knowledge of wisdom will be sweet to thy soul; and when thou hast found it, thine expectation cannot be cut off, Prov. 24.13, 14. This is another degree of my Call, viz. the eager desires, expectations, and invitations of good People to publish this, which like the wind puts the Ship upon motion; but it is the Compass guides it. And as Cicero did expect abundance of knowledge from his son, because of his continual converse with Cratippus in his School: so, it seems, the Saints at our hands (who are in Prison) expect Pathmos-discoveries, the fruits of fresh, full, frequent, close, continual, early and evening, and most spiritual and alone converse with Jesus Christ in this his Free-School, where our Father hath put us for a few years, to learn hard Lessons (to flesh and blood) out of the Lamb's book: and blessed be our most dear and gracious God, it is the best School (within these Iron bars) that ever we were at in our lives, though we be kept strictly to it: (Schola crucis is Schola lucis:) for the Lord is not a barren desert, or land of darkness (Jer. 2.) unto us: which I believe every one in Prison for this blessed (though betrayed) Cause (with us) can and will testify, una & viva voce, ere long. But,  

3. The flying reports which pass and repass at pleasure upon our Principles and Practices.  3. The variety of Reports, and of unsatiable Reporters, which have run about City and Country, continually to render us and this most admirable Cause and Truth of Christ's kingdom, worthy of the worst contempt that people can put upon us, (whiles we by a forced silence are buried alive in these Iron graves, and not suffered to answer for ourselves or the Truth) so that the tongues of some men hang so much upon the hinges of the Times, that, like flying doors, without lock or key they open or shut with the least blast of wind which blows from the Court; yea, their very Preachers, to make us Monsters in the eyes of the poor deluded People, report strange things of us; as they use to do of dogs, first spread abroad they are mad, and then hang them: Thus are we reported; and the inhuman Tyranny upon us, is (in the Pulpits) reported to be no Persecution, but an act of Justice; and so have the Persecutors; Powers and Priests said, all along this 42 m. that the Martyrs were evil doers, factious, seditious Traitors; as at this day, the Duke of Savoy declares the poor Waldenses and Albigenses: So that the bloodiest bruits that ever were, would say so much for themselves, that what they did was Justice. But how any of the present Friars, Chaplains, or Parsons, can prove our sufferings so, or dare utter it with such boldness for Orthodox Doctrine, to their poor deluded people, (had they not the spirit of the Beast, and forehead of the Whore newly painted) I profess I should have wondered; or how the people can be willing to hear so high Pulpit-lyes at their Priest's mouth, 
By Ministers in Pulpits and out.  is as much to be admired, were they not such pitiful Slaves (in soul & body.) For, can there be an act of Justice without a Trial? or Trial without Crime? or Crime without a Law? or the like? yet without all or any of these, we lie in prison's year after year, only for Preaching the Truth (as their own Consciences can and do tell them, and all the world knows) and not formal Charge against us to this day: So that the Prelates and Papists, who had a Law of the Land, etc. had more colour of Justice then these men. Besides, if to suffer out of pure love to the Lord Jesus in a good Cause, with a good conscience, and by as good a Call (as men can have to preach and pray, the Gospel of the Kingdom, or Reign of Christ, and the downfall of the Beast's dominion; yea particularly, that Civil as well as Ecclesiastical Sanction of the 4 Mon. in this Nation now) if to suffer for a Fundamental Principle of Faith, by the mere lust, will, and rage of man, contrary to the Word of God, and Laws of the Land: and if to suffer with the most evident testimony of our Consciences with us, and of our Christ; and of the presence of Jehovah owning us every day, and with a conflux and fullness of joy in the holy Ghost flowing from the Covenant of grace, New Testament- promises and Principles, etc. and if our Cause is so clear and just, before God and men, that we can dare and do challenge our Adversary (the proudest of them all) to bring it and us to any open (lawful) Trial, etc. if any or all (and more than all) these things be an argument of a good Suffering, or a Persecution that is upon us, and not any act of Justice (as the lying spirit in the mouths of the false Prophets, reports) than we are under a Persecution. And I wonder with what face men can pretend to be Ministers of the Gospel, that go up and down with such uncharitable censures, untruths, and evil reports, (of their poor imprisoned brethren, insulting over them in their calamities (with calumnies) now they know they cannot speak for themselves) vapouting abroad they will undertake to prove, They (meaning us in Prison for this Cause) suffer not for the Gospel, nor for any Truth of the Gospel; and doing what they can to make false report of our Principles and Practices: which obliges me the more to the publication of this Treatise.  

And by false brethren.  Besides them, and the  at Court, there be others too, set a-work by Satan, viz. false Brethren of the Churches we walk with, especially two, withdrawn from for scandal and sin; whose uneven walking, and imperious spirit (formerly) did beat in the body like an uneven Pulse, which was growing up to a very high distemper and danger, but that the Physician of the Church gave it a Purge, and prevented: yet these two (whose names I am loath to make too public; for who knows but they may repent, and be other men? which would be great rejoicing to me) have most unchristianly reported (if not invented) such things as my very soul abhors; which is publicly spread as far as Lewes in Sussex; yea, the Pastor of the Church told me, for all that he knew, as far as Edinburgh in Scotland. And this makes me mention it ●he more particularly, because no Author can be found for ●t, and the Cause of Christ is so much concerned in it; which makes the Devil so busy at this day, by divers instruments (after the foresaid two) to report me to have played at Cards in Lambeth-prison (a very vile Slander) the last Christimass, (as they call it:) the Cavalier-Prisoners, and the rest of the Ranting crew in that Prison, did play, drink and game, day and night, all the time; but for my part, I neither saw nor touched a pair of Cards all the time, nor, to my knowledge, any one of my family: and to take off all scruple, I have had a kind of antipathy to Cards ever since my suffering with the Puritans (so called) by the Prelates, (when I was yet but a child, being then led to it by their example, when I knew no other reason) and cannot endure to see a Pair of Cards: and if I see but any (anywhere) that I can lay hands of, I burn them: yet, as Metullus was answered in the Senate, when he railed against Tacitus, It is easy to abuse him who is not suffered to answer. But I will not fill my pages with such unprofitable lines; only this, to take off all stumbling-blocks from good people, (who else might be prejudiced against me) before they read the following book: and as I meet with any other material passages or reports (as I come at them in order) I shall endeavour, for thy sake, Reader, to clear the way for thee; knowing there be many, who, Shemaiah-like, would put us in fear, as Neh. 6.13, 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, yea, into a fright, lest we should go forward, (that is the very reason) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. But though we be but poor! vile worms! and meet with as many discouragements on the right hand and on the left, as I think such poor men can meet with, considering the corruptions of our own hearts, and thereupon the Trials which attend us many times, as well as the Troubles which are added to us, and our bonds, by the unhandsome mouth-purging and reports of friends and foes, good and bad, enemies and false brethren, yea, such as pretend high with us too in this most excellent Cause for (and in) which we suffer with abundance of divine support, blessed be the Lord: therefore we hope through his grace we may say, We will sooner have our tongues cleave to the roof of our mouths, our eyes shrink and sink into our heads with waiting, yea, and our bodies rot in the Dungeons, then relinquish this glorious Controversy now up for the Lamb against the Beast, (for which we are in prison) or yield an inch of ground to our Enemies in these matters. Others there be, who report highly of our Persecutors on purpose, as some did of Tobiah's good deserts, Nehem. 6.19. on purpose, I say, to discourage the brethren, and that they might have Matter for an evil report (says the text) of us; which I hop● they shall never have (as they would) as long as blood is in our veins, and as long as Jehovah supports, Christ intercedes, and Saints pray for us. Therefore let all these Fame-bearers, good and bad, remember how Nehemiah prayed against such brethren, as well as such enemies: 
Nehem. 6.14.  and see Num. 14.37. Even those brethren that did bring up an evil report upon the land, died (every one) by the plague before the Lord: and so will these, without timely repentance: nor can they enter into the thousand years Canaan. But thus far for the third step to this Treatise by Call.  

4. The Challenge of some of the Court-champions.  4. Another degree of the Call, is the proud, flaunting, and Goliath-like Challenge made us by some of the Court-cathers and boasters: one of the late Clerical Commissioners hath twice pressed it upon me (in the prison) to print somewhat; saying, he would warrant I should have free liberty to do it (without offence) and without danger, print what I would; withal, that I should have an Answer: which (with a kind of boasting and insulting) being urged so hard upon me, for the Truth's sake, was of notable inducement to point my Pen; for I hope to find a little Stone fit for the purpose: which monstrous high Challenge is (methinks) much like that of Gaal in his Champion-fits of Fury and Folly, Judg. 9 who dared Abimelech when he was absent, saying, (Sultan-like) Who is he? Increase thine army, and come out. But by and by, seeing his Army in earnest coming (without increase) his Plumes fell, and he was terrified and amated at the very shadows of them: and then Zebul mocked him, saying, (as't were, How now man! where is thy courage?) vers. 38. Wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech? where is thy mouth? Is not this the people thou so despisest? Go out, I pray, and meet them, and fight with them: which when he did, (as he could do no otherwise, for shame) he was destroyed and smote before them. And so some say to us, Come, if you dare! print! publish what ye can! etc. but, Altitudo non est valida: Soft words, and hard Arguments, go farthest.  

5. The many Cases of Conscience sent me, alluding to this Subject.  5. I found besides all said before) Cases of Conscience come thick upon me, and sent apace unto me for Resolves in the work of the Day, about the Witnesses; the time, the street, the rise; the order, and effects of their rising; also, about the Vials, and about the Beasts dominion; the first and second Beast, with their characters; and about the number of the Beast's name, and who is the man that makes up the last character of the Beast, viz. 666. and several Queries in all the points I herein handle: and Cases to be resolved, which I may say some scores of Saints sent or brought unto me; whereby I saw an evident call to give an account of those Cases and Resolves in this Treatise, which others have experienced, and put their Probatum est, for the public benefit of other Patients. But if these Physical ingredients work well, they must be content to be sick (of the world, and of all sublunary affairs, as they are; and to be redeemed fully from the earth, for the service of the Lamb) who would be well. A good Conscience, and a good Cause, are like two bladders under the armholes, which keep the poor heart from sinking, and the head above water, do what men or devils can, as we in prison can tell by experience, while Rich-men (poor-men!) in the midst of their Honours, or illgotten Greatness, will find at last, for all their Arts, Equivocations, and Policy, to put off their Consciences with, That they have but stuffed a pitcher in stead of a pillow, with feathers to lie down upon. And indeed, a Court-conscience (as things are now) is worse than a common Goal, as the Apostates of the times will find at the General Assizes; for thither the Lord chief Justice of all the world sends his Malefactors; he makes his Warrants, to have them bound with the cords of their own sins; and ere long (O lamentable!) they shall lie in Little-Ease, without Bail or Mainprize, deprived of the present Light, and laid as it were upon the Rack (in examination) for their Apostasy, Perjury, Hypocrisy, Persecution, Selfseeking, etc. till all their Villainy come out: O it will be a terrible time to them! and this I look for, to light upon them whom the Law must and will judge.  
Now because many poor souls, whose consciences, like candle-snuffs in the socket, flame up now and then, and then leave them in the dark again; so that although by such a light, a man may see his book, yet he cannot see how to read it; or he may know where it is, but not what it is; so he may see his pen and ink, but not see how to write with it; so a woman may see her needle and work, but cannot thread her needle, or see to work by such a light: So, I say, are some men's consciences, sometimes in a little light, and then in the dark again; they can see the commands, but not their duty; they can see Religion, but not the work of the generation; they can hear of the downfall of Babylon, and of the Beast's whole Government, but not bear it at home, or act in the ruin of it: in the general, they can close with the Truth and present Testimony, but are not able to come to particulars. Such as these (among others) have brought me their Cases of conscience; to whom I must minister my light, in the ensuing Treatise; having a sufficient Call (whatever it should cost me) in my place, as a Minister of the Gospel, to answer All Cases of conscience, that I may be made manifest (as the Apostle says) in the consciences of all. 
2 Cor. 11.5.  My Lord and Master received all that came unto him; so did the Apostle of the Gentiles, and all the faithful Ministers all along: yea, if the answer to such Cases or Queries were ever so high against the Powers or Laws of Men (than uppermost:) as Luther did in that grand Case of Conscience sent him by the people of God at Miltenberg, when they were forbidden by the Powers upon pain of death to appear publicly about matters of Faith. But so far for the fifth Cause or Call.  

6. The Doubts which are occasioned by contradiction of Doctrine in our absence.  6. The frequent News brought us, of that unsteadiness, darkness, and indeed, malignity and contradiction of doctrine which is delivered at London, tending to perplex, unsettle, grieve and stagger many precious souls, whose eyes and hearts are upon the present Truths, Work and Testimony (with us in Prison) for the Kingdom of Christ, viz. the little Stone, or striking part of that Kingdom in the first place: sometimes asserting there is no such Kingdom; sometimes, that the Stone began to strike, at or before the Incarnation of Christ; sometimes, that the Witnesses were slain long since, in the Martyrs that were burnt, beheaded, or the like; sometimes, that they are not yet slain, affirming the Place to be in other Dominions, in Germany or France, Savoy or Rome, or some other Popish Dominion, and not in England; and making the two Witnesses to be two persons, or else the suffering Saints together, (who are the remnant of the Woman's seed) and not the Magistracy and Ministry of the Witness; some pretending the time of the slaying, and the end of the 42 m. to be afar off, and wishing the Prisoners were not under a Delusion, in looking for Christ, and his Kingdom and coming, too soon: sometimes telling them, that the mark of the Beast is not yet taken, and that none of the Vials are yet poured out; and the like. Whereby abundance of precious hearts have told me they are so confounded, that they know not what to say; and can see no light in their Doctrine; which makes them take so long journeys to the Prison for information, (and would more and oftener, could they have admittance) for that some of our brethren, in stead of snuffing the Candle, put it quite out, and so leave our (wont) hearers in the dark, especially since the death of Mr. Tillinghast, that Lantern of light, that choice Saint, (who dying in the Testimony, became a Martyr to the Truth and Cause we are in prison for, as if he had died on the Scaffold;) during whose life (in so short a space) so much Light was ministered, as was marvellous in London; he being of a more winning, humble, sweet, attracting and meek temper; which was very needful for that season; according to the Italian Proverb: Hard without Soft, the Building is naught: for, there must be soft Mortar, well tread (an humble spirit well mortified) to hard stone or brick well laid, (or as well as a zealous resolute spirit well grounded, i. e. upon sound knowledge) to make up the Building that must stand. But, I say, since the gathering in of that ripe (and rare) first-fruit, or setting of that Morningstar, (that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for he was full of light: yea, that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for he was a light whiles it was yet dark) they are left in the more dark for the present: but it being a Morning-Matutine darkness, it does argue to me, the Sun is next to arise, or the enunciation of such light, (and beams at first) as shall enlighten the whole Land, Rev. 18.1. But now because we are bid (Isai. 35.3, 4.) to strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees; and to say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not, etc. and because the End of a Gospel-minister is (according to the dispensation of the Spirit) to establish the Saints and Churches in the present Truth and Work, (or, to build them up) 2 Pet. 1.12, 13. Acts 16.3. 1 Thess. 3.2, 13. 2 Thess. 2.17. Col. 2.7. I dare not omit my duty herein, to do all I can from a Prison, to dissolve those doubts, and establish those hearts that pant after the Truth. For Doubtings are like Quagmires; the longer men stand on them, the more they sink into them: 
Sim.  and indeed, there is need of a Daniel's spirit and wisdom to dissolve All Doubts, Dan. 5.12. and what man dare undertake it? (To lose knots, says the Hebrew, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or open enigmatical Scriptures and Cases; cut Gordian-knots with the Sword of God's Word.) Yet if the Lord will let me have so much of my inheritance of his wisdom as I need for such a Task and Treatise as this is, I shall be enabled to dissolve some Doubts, resolve some Cases, quicken, comfort and establish some Consciences. So that by faith I I go about this Work, that whereas others are always troubling, stirring, and thicking the Waters, I may minister them (in those very Prophecies of Daniel, Apocalypse, and other Scriptures) so clearly, as may refresh the spirits of the Saints. And therefore help me! O Father! O Fountain of light! and O thou that hast the seven Spirits! that men may easily see, as in clear water, to the very bottom, where the Truth lies, and what they would clearly understand; which they can never do, in thick, muddy, and troubled waters. 
Sim.  And as the honest Draper is content to have his Ware brought to light, and examined by the sunbeams; so shall I to have this Book. Therefore as when one takes a piece of money, if he doubts the goodness of it, he takes it, turns it, rubs it, views it diligently, and tries it every way whether it be sound or no, before he puts it up, or rests satisfied: so do with this Treatise; believe not what men say of it, but search and see, (lege & intellige) turn it over and over, man! line by line! page by page! peruse it, until thou dost even unspirit it into thy self! pray for understanding! read without prejudice! and that Doctrine which builds you up most in Christ! tends most to mortify you, redeem you from the world! wealth! pleasures! honour's, etc. to quicken you, and establish you! to put you upon present work for Christ against Antichrist! to keep you upon your watch! waiting! praying! longing for the day of Christ! to enlighten you in the Prophecies & promise of his coming, etc. that take and practise. But so much for the sixth.  

7. Experience of fresh Incoms of Light.  7. I find (in few days) a sudden and sweet transition of a very Chaos of Darkness and Confusion, by divine Command: and whiles the Spirit moves upon the face of the waters, light breaks in upon me brighter and brighter, and shining more and more unto the perfect day, Prov. 4.18. which will bring forth little by little from me to the Saints abroad: and although the Light forces a passage into my intellect, by a redundant and more than ordinary irradiation; yet many a time it breaks out at a dark cloud upon my spirit; Job 37.21. Men see not the bright light that is in the clouds; but the wind (of the Spirit, for so I find it) passeth, 
Expos.  and cleanseth them (from all earthliness, caliginous thickness of vapours or fancies; and so I trust, the Reader that heareth and readeth what the Spirit saith, shall find it:) yea, the most heavenly light is such a light, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which few arrive at, or derive from: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Since a participation whereof, with the fastening of some promises full upon my spirit, I can find no Truce within me, without sounding a Call to the Lamb's number, in order to their Muster upon mount Zion, (or the New Covenant) and blowing a Trumpet in the ensuing Tract, which (I hope) will give a more certain sound then hath been hitherto: for, unto the upright there ariseth a light in the darkness, Psal. 112.4. (a sweet word!) or, per nubilum tempus: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it ariseth by, 
xpos.  through, or in a dark and cloudy time, as this is; it doth so to the faithful Saints, whiles others grope at noonday (as the Prophet says;) caecutiunt in luce. That also in Isai. 58.10, 11. is much upon my heart: If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted, then shall thy light arise in obscurity, (an odd word, to humane reason, flesh and blood, or man's wisdom) and thy darkness shall be as the noonday; and Jehovah shall guide thee continually, etc. O blessed word to my faith! for my very soul and heart-bowels have been drawn out to poor hungry hearts, yea, to minister my daily bread at the prison-bars to the persecuted Remnant: and I need no more (methinks) now, to fetch me out of Prison (as I may say) to so public a work, wherein I was so backward, because so darkward therein; yet I have many other promises upon motion, as Isai. 42.16. I will make darkness light before thee: and that of Dan. 12.4. Shut up the words, seal the book, even to the time of the end, (the 3 years and half end, vers. 7. when the Witnesses shall appear peditatim, and the Little Stone begin to strike the Powers of the fourth Monarchy all to pieces:) then many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased; yea, light shall break out abundantly, Rev. 18.1. (which gins in the last three years and an half of Daniel's 1290, and John's 1260 Prophetical days) I have a more than ordinary confidence, (if not clear assurance) that the Visions of Daniel's (sealed) and the light of the Lamb's book, Rev. 5. shall be opened to me, as I am able to bear it, (by degrees) yea, be let out upon me like a Sluice, and overtake me in full streams, if I faithfully pursue the Light already given me; which, with the Lords grace, I will do, though I die for it. He (saith our Saviour, Joh. 14.21, 22.) shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and I will manifest myself to him; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 
Expos.  i. e. as by the light of the Sun: not by Parts, Arts or Sciences; but so, or in such manifestations, as the world never had, vers. 22. in New-Covenant-Light, or Truth breaking out with the brightness or lustre of the Covenant of Grace, and the Father's love to him: such a one shall be like an Angel in the Sun, Rev. 19.17, 18. or clothed with the Sun, in a fullness, body, and subsistence of Light communicative to others who wait for the benefit of it, who would be refreshed by it, and do the work of the day in it, which the Light sets on foot, and is unto us a witness, call, support, comfort, assistance, and assurance.  

8. All temptations removed, and the way cleared with many sweet promises.  8. To name no more, I was somewhat dejected (yet not so as to despond, or doubt of assistance) to see the most tremendous and dreadful wrath of God (which is to begin within 2 or 3 years, upon this Apostate generation) to pass before me: some temptation seized upon me, (through self-diffidence, and bodily distemper) as at the apprehension of the inextricacie, depth, and incomprehensiveness of those deep Prophecies which I have to ferry over, or pass thorough; wherein so many (more Able) have sunk and fallen before me; so at the fierce looks, bellowing threats, and atrocity of the Beast now up in England, who will not be able to bear the Tidings of his Destruction. But as the first part of the temptation was obviated and deforced by the former promises; so the other, by what follows. For this morning (being the 18 of the 10 m.) to make all the way clear, a full Commission was given me, and Quietus est, signed and sent to me, thus: First, I saw in my sleep a great Dragon of large size, with very large outstretched wings, very lively red, fire-sparkling gogling eyes, and most terribly furious at his mouth, and violent in his claws, with long fierce talons: but it was given me to believe he should not hurt me; and I thought I feared him not. Soon after, I saw (I thought) a Tree full of Dragons, with large wings and claws, (some 5 or 6 upon the tree having big rolling eyes; but I did not fear them: and before I awaked, I thought I saw all them, dead, and no more able to hurt then painted ones, or pictures of Dragons. I speak not this, to take notice of a Dream, but of the effect: for when I awaked, my spirit was full, and my breakfast very sweet: and consulting (as I use to do, 
Many Objections made & answered.  as soon as ever my eyes were opened) with the Lord, I was bid to be Up and doing, without more delay, (by a sudden and strong impulse of spirit.)  
Object. Yet I objected: But Lord! though I have a Call from circumstances, and Saints, etc. yet what have I from the Scriptures?  
Answ. Then came into my mind tumbling abundance of Scriptures and Promises one upon another; as Isai. 35.3, 4. and those I mentioned before; so also Isai. 40.1, 2. Comfort ye! comfort ye my people (saith the Lord) tell her, her warfare is accomplished, her iniquity pardoned, etc. The voice of him that prepareth is come: cry, All flesh is grass, all withereth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it. Yea, that of Luk. 22.32. was fling in forcibly upon my Spirit: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; so that, when thou art converted, strengthen thy brother: with abundance more.  
Object. But I objected further: What particular Call have I (who am in prison) to publish to the world any thing that reflects so sharply upon the present Powers, Persons, Armies, or the like?  
Answ. But that of Jam. 5.10. parched upon me in that point immediately: Take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example, etc. for they feared not, in or out of prison, the powers or persons of Kings, or the like. So 2 Pet. 1.21. Holy men wrote and spoke as they were inspired (or moved) by the Spirit: and therefore begin (by faith) as they did, and I will be with you, (because all true Scriptures or writings are first given by inspiration, 2 Tim. 3.16. Ah then said I! Lord! let me have this Anointing all the way, both in the passive and active part of this Testimony!  
Object. But I fell upon my unfitness, fewness of years, smallness of light, shallowness of judgement, weakness of faith, & the like; Answ. but was presently silenced with God's words to Moses and Jeremiah, suggested unto me, Exod. 4.11. Who made man's mouth? and the dumb to speak? the deaf to hear? or the blind to see?) did not I the Lord? So Jer. 1.6, 7. Say not, I am a child: for what I command thee, thou shalt speak (and writ) abroad: and be not afraid of their faces; for I am with thee, to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Do not I (the Lord) take when, where, and whom I will? and give of my Spirit, power, and ability to whom I will? Now therefore arise! and my Spirit shall be with thee the Pen of a ready writer: with which word, my very heart did exult and leap within me, being as full as I could hold. But Lord! said I, What is it that I must write? what message shall thy poor worm have for the world? When presently, 
The Message in the bulk.  (before I asked, almost) much fell upon me at once: The day of the Lord is at hand! it is his day! the day of his wrath! of his vengeance, and of great destruction! upon the inhabitants of this world! upon this land, upon these Apostates, and adulterous generation of evil doers! for they are all turned aside! Blood cryeth unto blood! and the earth shall cover her slain no more! The Witnesses shall up upon their feet, and the remnant of the Woman's seed do wondrous things! for by the spirit of Eliah they shall restore all again, Magistracy and Ministry as at the first; and recover the holy City from the Gentiles, that have trod it under this 42 m. They shall assault the great City, and climb up the wall like men of war: they shall pour out the Vials upon the powers, Priests and Armies of the Beast, and on all his Dominion; and execute the vengeance on all his Worshippers, and irrefragable Supporters, Subjects and Followers, that have his name or mark upon their Foreheads; yea, the Earthquake shall rend them up by the very roots, and the Little Stone strike them up by the very toes; and none shall save them from the wrath of the Lamb that is come.  
Object. But ah Lord! said I, These men in power hast not thou owned in the field, at Nazeby, Dunbar, Worcester? and wilt thou now reject them?  
Answ. Upon which, fell these Scriptures together upon me, Isai. 10. Shall the Axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or the Saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the Rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the Staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Therefore shall the Lord, Jehovah of Armies, send among his fat ones leanness, and under his glory kindle a burning like the burning of a fire: And the light of Israel shall be for a Fire, and his holy One for a Flame, which shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers all in one day. Besides this, that of Jer. 18.9, 10. At the instant that I shall speak concerning a nation, and a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, and obey not my voice, then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them. But especially that of Jer. Tell Coniah, were he as a signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck him thence, and give him into the hand of them that seek him.  
With these things I was satisfied, and flesh was silenced, and Faith so supported, supplied, and well raised, that I fell (forthwith) upon this Work (by faith and prayer) in the Name of the Lord; which is to beat out into the leaf, the Message which I have received in the lump. Wherein, according to my illumination, I must desire leave to differ from many of our dear brethren, whom I highly honour, that have put us and the present Work at too great a distance, having sent it to Germany, (or to other places;) from whence it being sent back again to us into Great Britanny, (as I can show by Letters from foreign parts, where I hold correspondence with the choicest Lights, who see the rising of the Witnesses, and ruin of the Beasts dominion in this our street first:) I must crave leave to minister my L●ght and Opinion upon the ensuing Subject, without giving offence to any whom I differ from; whose light in other things I esteem above my own, (or rather, that measure of the Lord's) which I must thankfully, and with due honour to them, esteem, as of great use and advantage to us in this Treatise of the Two Witnesses, the Lamb's Government, (in Ecclesiastical, Military, and Civil Sanction) and the Beast's dominion. Thus far for the Call to it.  
It may be I may be judged none of the Wisest, to make so much ado in the Entry of the Discourse, 
We accounted Fools & Mad men; and how we are so.  to make so much ado in the Entry of the Discourse, and to tell such a Story of my Call to this Treatise, which few men will heed or hear. Notwithstanding, it is not labour lost; for one may learn wisdom by looking upon a Fool: and indeed, I do grant, that I am instructed, and study it every day more and more, to be, and speak, like them whom the Wisemen of the Times repute Fools, (i. e. in all plainness, simplicity, and experimental language) and not in the wisdom of words, or Arts, as the World would have us, 1 Cor. 2.4.) I have studied to be wife, (as well as others) but now I am learning to be a Fool, which none will look after, because such are the Lord's instruments, and by such he will confound the wisdom of the Wise, and the great ones of the World, 1 Cor. 1.27. Isai. 29.14. So Rom. 10.19. I will provoke you by them that are no people, by a Foolish nation I will anger you. Yea, such Asses and Idiots as we are, (by grace) the King of Saints shall ride upon into his Throne: for, as one says, Asinos & Ideotas Christus eligit, etc. And indeed, I writ to and for such Fools, and not to the Wise, whose wisdom will perish, 1 Cor. 1.20. 1. Cor. 4.10. nor yet to them that profess themselves wise, Rom. 1.22. or are so in their own eyes, Rom. 26.12. for there is more hopes of fools, then of them. But to such fools whom Jehovah hath made promise to, Isai. 35.8. that they shall not err in the way, I writ: for so the Prophet is a fool, and the spiritual man is mad, (so accounted at this day.) And who but such Madmen and Fools (in the world's opinion) would oppose Powers, Armies, Kings, Counsels, Priests, Lawyers, or the reigning Corruptions of the raging Beast, as they do? who but they, will run their lives, liberties, estates, etc. into such apparent hazard? or who but Fools would despise Preferments and Places, 200, 300, or 1000 l. a year, and tread gold and silver under their feet at this day? Who be they, but Fools or Madmen, that dare be so bold against great persons? etc. as to utter all their mind at once, though they die for it? Prov. 29.11. & who but such, will be meddling so? Prov. 20.3. who but Fools & Madmen that will venture with a Gideon-Army of 300, against an Army of 30, or 40, or 100000 men? and who but Fools that build upon things not seen, Heb. 11.1. nor likely in reason to come to pass, as if they were already present? & who but they, that look on the ends of the earth? Prov. 17.24. Yet among these Fools (for Christ's sake) I am content to be numbered; and for such Fools and Madmen I calculate and inculcate the ensuing Discourse: so that, as the Apostle says, 2 Cor. 11.21. Wherein any is bold, (I speak foolishly) I am bold also. Therefore let our Wise-enemies at Court, or in Country, give me leave, for once, to speak like a fool, without stirring up their anger, seeing, as Paul says, 2 Cor. 11.19. Ye suffer Fools gladly, (not angrily) seeing you your solves are wise. Therefore expect no excellency of speech from me: for that becometh not a fool, says Solomon, Prov. 17.7. whose mediocriter is optime: nor any flattering Titles to men; for that is left to wise Parasites and Favourites, who study the Alphabet of Great men's dispositions, Job 32.22. which Fools do not; but as Solomon says, Eccles. 20.12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the graces of fools are presently poured out. And such Fools and Madmen we shall be, by the grace of our God, though they bray us in a m●rter, Prov. 27.22. And if the Wisdom of Solomon were not all Apocrypha at Court, I might put them in mind of Chap. 5.1, 4. The righteous shall stand in great boldness before the face of him that hath afflicted him, and made no account of his labours: then they say, This is he whom sometimes we had a derision, with a proverb of a reproach: we fool's accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honour: but he is numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the Saints. Therefore you that are wise, will be more solid, sure, then to be troubled at what we fool's say, to put us into prison, or to have us in derision, as you have; seeing it is so unnatural to laugh at a Natural, and the highway to become such. Therefore, for shame, take not such counsel as ye do, how to deal with a fool or madman, (as you say I am) who surely should not offend the wise, if he play the fool: but such a Fool I confess I am, as wants, and therefore waits for wisdom of God, or more of that which you count Foolishness: and if it pleaseth God to discover the present Truth by me unto any, it is of mere grace, because it pleaseth him to show his strength by weak ones, and his wisdom by fools; and so take it, ye wise men● yet, it may be, some of the best wisdom may drop from these lines, seeing many have been the wise speeches of Fools, though nothing so many as the foolish speeches of the Wise.  
But thus I have paved the ground, to lay a Foundation, in clearing my Call and Encouragement to proceed, let it cost me ever so dear, seeing I am out at the King's (the Lord Christ's) charges, and not at mine own; 1 Cor. 9.7. For who goeth to warfare at his own charges? 
Praefat. in 3 Serm. 4 Tom. Hieron. p. 408.  I have been a little tedious, which I confess, with Erasmus, is my fault as well as others: multi mei similes hoc morbo laborant ut cum scribere nesciant tamen a scribendo temperare non possint, and this is a disease (then) they are apt to fall into, that think they shall never write more, to write much (as once for all) especially since this TREATISE will be so large, and the matter of it so lively and important, and seeing the opposition of our Persecutors, and of those that (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) are Cromwell fled, have necessitated so much for an INTRODUCTION. Now in the name of JEHOVAH-TSADEK our JEHOVAH-JIREH, who will be seen in the Mount, am I ready to present and publish these Apocaliptick Accounts Documents and Prophecies to all the True (yet few) nathaniel's of our Times, that wait with a high Faith, and holy Patience (in all welldoing and wel-suffering) for the approaching Day of Christ, and his Kingdom work; especially to the spiritually enlightened Churches and Saints (those of them that are left and kept faithful) Pastors and others of the same hope with us, separate from Babylon, (whole Babylon) as well Civil, Military as Ecclesiastic; (and so growing up together into ONE, a one Body, a Temple-state, or the Tabernacle opened in heaven, where the Viols or Vengeance of the Lord, of the Lamb, of the Martyrs, of his Saints, and of his Temple, must Issue out shortly; and upon whom the Day of the Lord is come. I see from Mount Pisgah it is begun, yea already begun (as 1 Pet. 4.17.) by purging, sifting, trying, separating, discovering, quickening, afflicting and refining) I say to those DEAR ONES or Jewels of the Lord and the Lamb, with all the Love, Life and Light which I received from above, with the abnegation of all that I am from below, and so with the grace and humility of both, I most hearty offer a few year's pains, search and teachings from the Holy one, unto them, and lay my judgement at their feet in these weighty matters of Christ, (if I may but get them published) in all the blessed properties, principles and prophecies of the Kingdom (to be revealed on earth in these last days) for which we now contend, and trust shall unto the END with Triumph and Rejoicing. Even so Amen.  

Rouz up, O Remnant, fetch a shout!  
O Saints, O Churches sing!  
For such a Light is breaking out!  
Will make your ears to ring!   

O Glorious Ray! ah Blessed Day!  
Which the Anointing showeth!  
For thus the Saint in Covenant  
Shall have the Present Truth.    

From a Friend to a Friend.  
THe BOOKS mentioned by the Author of those public Prophecies out of Daniel, Revelation, Prophets and Apostles of old, and New Test. the fifth Kingdom, prepared in Pathmos (or in Prison and Exile Teavels) among ●is sweetest visits and visions of God (and in the still voice,) are very strangely (it seems) miscarried, without Time and Providence do recover them, and so discover him or them that had a hand in hindering or stifling of them. Only the Introductory part to the first Treatise (or Prison-born Morning-beams) are preserved, and gotten together, as the occasion of his falling upon so large a Systeme (so some part of his sufferings at Lambeth until Windsor, which therefore we have added unto his Heart-appeale (having been hardly kept and collected) that the view of present persecution m●y be the more clear, and this History the more complent, though (to my knowledge) many things are omitted, passages left out, fleeced and sheered round, as they lifted that had them to do, before we could bring it to this pass (in public;) besides much more which in time may be added (if need be) as some of us hear) of several reasonings between him and O. P. him and Soldiers, him and Ministers, him and many Adversaries, upon the matters of our faith in the things of Christ, this his betrayed cause, and Kingdom-work; besides what sufferings have been added since these Papers came from him) to this CHAIN. But in the mean time it may appear by this, what the servants of the Lord do pass through at this Day by these powers of the Beast, such fore trials, remarkable passages and experiences of Persecution as may make them (that have said it is no Persecution) now very Mutes for very shame; and their ears tingle to hear of such a height of tyranny, profaneness, and impiety among them, as may awaken our Friends and favourers of Zion to their Work and Watch, and as may revive once more amongst us the blessed memory of the (yet) bleeding MARTYRS, and the Cloud of Witnesses whose examples are before as in this Cause; that we also may be made FAITHFUL unto death therein. His cup of Affliction hath been deep (for this Day and Nation) but yet sweet; and if so be the report of ONES suffering do sound so, what would the WHOLE do, of all the suffering one's this day in England? (for the good Cause, a good Christ, a good Conscience?) but another a new Book of Martyrs? a fair Garden full of purple Roses and pure Lilies, which the Beloved is gone down to gather, Cant. 6.2. But the Cain-like cruelty keeps off the report at present, till the blood of Abel be heard out of the earth; I mean them of whom the World is not worthy, that have witnessed with such boldness to the Kingdom, Work, Cause, and Principles of Righteousness.  
Now upon these Papers (at last) produced (and extraordinarily preserved out of the Catchpole Clutches) can we now be thankful to our heavenly Lord and Father for them? and for that some are yet kept constant and faithful (through Christ) in sufferings? for to you it is given, says the Apostle: every one in his place, as he is called to contest against this (the last) Beast, Rev. 13. Some tried, some tempted, some plundered, some prisoned, some barbarously used and set upon by the enemy, some hurt, and some maimed, and many immured and injured; yet others ready to succeed them, and to bring up what is behind, the Lord assisting, supporting and sweetening all unto them. Yea, methinks the most High says to each one of those Sufferers, Well done! thou good and faithful Servant! and as Mat. 24.46. Blessed is the Servant, who when his Lord cometh he shall find so doing! for now I have proved thee! I have tried thee! I have sifted and shifted thee! now I know that thou lovest me! and fearest God Wherefore I have sworn, by myself, that in blessing, I will bless thee; and in multiplying, I will multiply thee, etc. And mine oaths are not like men's.  
It may be these sufferings may work upon some that hear them, they have on some that saw them, yea, even amongst the Soldiers; for we hear that one of them (formerly busy) is now wounded and touched in Conscience for it; and others have already left them for their cruelty to these: Whiles the Cavaliers can have liberty to drink, swear, whore, or any thing (it seems) and live as they list, and thus (say the Soldiers) may our Friends too, so they he for their Lord Protector, and his G— Whom the Lord protect us from, and from their wickedness in high places: And whiles they proceed from evil to evil, teach thou us, O Lord, to grow up in thy strength! from faith to faith, in the Grace, Power, Knowledge, Purity, and Holiness of our Head (the Lord Jesu●) and ●f his Kingdom and coming, which we all wait for! even so, Amen.   

The chiefest Erratas to be mended.  
IN the Introduction, page 2. line 25. read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 4. l. 21. r. were able, p. 6. l. 36. r. abstract Account, p. 10. l. 12. r. 4 l. 4 s. p. 12. l. 15. r. commanded, p. 16. 24. r. Lies, p. 19 l. 35. r. door with, l. 30. r. language, p. 21. l. 36. r. ne peccem, p. 24. l. 7. r. (and yielding) from our, p. 27. l. 26. blot out of, p. 30. l. 19 r. for the Lamb, l. 30. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 41. l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
In the Epistle to the Reader, p. 1. l. 9 r. Come up hither, l. 10. r. bear it l. 17 r. ut libere peccent, l. 35. r. Anathematised, p. 2. l. 1. r. hearing, l. 11. r. deposited, l. 23. r. quam scitè.  
Erratas of the Heart-Appeal, which the Author had not to correct when he writ the Necessary Word to the Reader, p. 1. l. 3. r. [Whiles the, p. 2. l. 11. r. Posterity, l. 21. r. [whom and, l. 22. r. subtly] l. 24. r. Dendy, so l. 31. p. 3. l 15. r. were raised, p. 4. l. 15. r. there Orders, l. 16. r. appears we are. p 5. 29. r. withdrew and, l. 34. r. but were often, p. 7. l. 6. r. exercise it, and where too! p. 8. l. 5. r. holding up a Brick, p. 10. r. Ben Shephattaiim of Shaphat, l. 26. r. poly pragmoseene, p. 11. l. 22. r. contemptible, p. 13. l. 37. r. Breast, p. 14. l. 1. r. and thus am I, l. 16 r. were put, p. 15. l. 12. r. this Recusation, p. 16. l. 12. r. to rake, l. 30. so to do by, l. 33. r. impeach us with, p. 19 l. 36. r. Whitest Leprosy, p. 17. l. 19 r. surreptitiously, p. 18. l. 14. r. laid for, p. 21. l. 25. blot out &, p. 22. l. 3. r. yet we were, l. 36. blot out yet, p. 24. l. 7. fratricide, l. 21. r. lateres, p. 25. l. 36. r medereris, p. 27. l. 6. r. Officers, l. 26. [being weak road] but once was, p. 28. l. 18. r. Atopoi, p. 40. l. 8. r. a Desighn, l. 9 r. When we desired, p. 42. l. 27. r. the Protector 's BULL, p. 43 l. 30. r. ever we knew, l. 39 r. he would or no, p. 45. l. 10. r. Milites, l. 26. precious, p. 50. l. 5. r. corporal, p. 52. l. 9 r. minor, p. 61. l. 23. r. to have there company, pp. 63. l. 6. r. that happy, l. 39 r. Atopoi, l. 33. or breathing should ruin there, p. 56. l. 17. r. fautors, p. 70. l. 8. r. finishing Testimony, p. 73. l. 25. r. this street too, l. 33. r. the Motions of Christ, p. 74. l. 15. come and see to. l. 21. r. and 4th. Monarchy, p. 113. l. 14. r. mundani, p. 117. l. 3. r. at their desire, p. 119. blot out all the second line, and half the first, and half the third, r. the Soldier said he should, but he seeing no remedy, etc. l. 6. blot out and so outrun him, p. 121. l. 20. r. Corporal, p. 125. l. 10. r. cast out, p. 127. l. 5. r. deriding, p. 128. l. 21. r. till they had, p. 133. l. 38. r. have their Arms up in our Blood, p. 138. l. 36. thy Sons, O Zion! p. 141. l. 27. r. Apostatick, p. 142. l. 10. r. burn within us, p. 143. l. 17. r. their Chambers, p. 146. l. 14. r. can say it to the teeth, p. 148. l. 8. r. Tns. l. 10. r. 666. l. 13. blot out the first Phe Chereb, and read thus, Christ's men of War [not the Phe Chareb, or Sword, p. 149. l. 33. r. estote, p. 150. l. 30. blot out are, p. 151. l. 35. blot out vis. l. 36. r. ut respondeatis coram Altissimo, p. 152. l. 2. r. the, Amen, l. 6. r. Tns, l. penult. r. makes.  
In the Necessary Word to the Reader, p. 5. l. 12. r. Coptick Tongues. l. 19 r. Shephatajim, l. 24. r. debar tob. The points, Parentheses, etc. are left to the Readers care and observation.  
FINIS.   

A HIGH-WITNESSE, or a HEART-APPEALE, etc.  
I Think Tertullian had a good occasion to write de Coronâ Militis, at the Christians Soldiers wearing his Crown upon his hand, whiles the Emperor Severus' pagan Soldiers, put theirs upon their heads, in a triumph) saying, a Christian non adhuc Coronari is not yet to triumph, or take his pomp; but also for that his joy (which shall be like theirs that divide the spoil, Isa. 9.4. (won before worn) must be in a militant before a triumphant estate; and because as Arnobius said, persecution brings death in one hand and life in the other; a cross and crown at once, I am content to show you the Crown of my hand, and leave the Lords day to declare the Crown of my head, which is hard at hand, i. e. the great triumph and Sabbatisme of the sufferers for the testimony of Jesus, the Rear of which we are in this Age and Nation to bring up by God's grace, Mat. 24.14. blessed be Jehovah, who is the head of us, and his glory our Rear-ward, our Mahershalal-hashbez!  
Upon this occasion of the crown in my hand, whilst the Cross is upon my shoulder, having him for my example, who endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now at the right-hand of the Father, making intercession for me (by whose strength of grace I am sure to overcome and triumph, Hallelujatica victoriâ, and then to have the crown upon my head) I shall take up a f●w of my subcisive hours (for the public good) in giving a short and succinct account of some few more of those barbarous brutish acts (of this Beast now up in Great Britanny) upon my body, since my removal from Lambeth prison to Windsor, and into this Isle of Wight; where I am now a poor Pilgrim, Prisoner, and (forsaken) banished man! (but for thy sake, O sweet Jesus! blessed be the Lord! As a Preface to prison-born, (or my former Treatise out of Prison) I gave a Narrative of some part of my Lambeth-sufferings, and as an introduction to this banish-born (I intended it) I shall proceed so far as I do think it my duty, and a debt which I owe the choicest Saints of Christ in this generation, (according to the Primitive practice of Martyrs and Sufferers!) seeing it is for my Christ's and their sake, Ephes. 3.1, 2. and 4.1. Col. 1.24. Phil. 1.7. That I am bound with this double chain, or double Honour of imprisonment and banishment from year to year; it being in their cause (and not in my own) and for the kingdom of the Lord Jesus purely, that we are thus persecuted, and not for any carnal interest of men, yea because we dare not in conscience (had we a milian of lives to lose for one) strike in with a carnal kingdom, or cursed thing of man, it being for the faith and truth of the gospel of the kingdom (preached for a Witness, Mat. 24.14. and of the little book; yea, for the hope of all the Israel of God, whether Christians or jews, who wait for the Messiah and his kingdom, that I am bound thus, beaten, banished, and so barbarously handled (being one of the weakest and unworthiest Vessels of those gracious ones of the Lord, my dear concaptives and coexiles that are thus used, for the kingdom of Christ's sake) I cannot, I dare not, I ought not to bury all with me in this iron-grave or exile; but for the public use, (for the truth's sake) yea for the prosperity to come, I would publish a a little more (for a Prologue to this piece) of that persecution which is upon us, and so contract all into a few conclusions or experimented observations, and then fall upon the main matter of the banished-mans' Vision in this Isle; out of the little Book, Rev. 10.10. and from the Voice of the seven thunders, the Lord assisting me.  
But as Ignatius said, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the more pain the more gain. They brought me into the wide jaw of Windsor Castle, the 31. day of the first Month, 1655. delivering my body up to that Den of Leopards according to this order from their angry Masters, procured by Serj. Denby, whom the Dragon hath given a power unto for a time, and times; and a dividend; but he acts like a Serpent full subtly, Rev. 12.14.  
These are to will and require you to receive into your custody from the hands of Edward Denby Esq Serj. at arms attending the Council or his Deputy, the body of Mr. Joh. Rogers, and him safely to keep prisoner in Windsor Castle, until you shall receive further order from the Council; hereof you are not to fail, and for so doing, this shall be your sufficient warrant;  
Given at Whitehall this 30th. day of March 1655. To the Governor of Windsor Castle or his Deputy. Signed in the name and by the order of the Council, Hen. Laurence, President.  
Thus Serj. Denby by his great sedulity and industry to execute his and the other Gaolers anticedanean threats and malice (upon monstrous reports of my preaching out at the prison grates) got this Order (by solicitation) and to screw up his power to the highest peg of severity, he sent strike orders to his under gaoler, that neither man, woman, nor child should come at me, nor any one of my Family stir out, so much as for food, money, or any other necessaries whatsoever, insomuch much as my friends who came to visit me, were forced to stand in the street, (with soldiers at their heels to hear what we said) whiles I spoke out at the Iron bars unto them; and in the night (when no one of my friends or acquaintance might hear a word thereof) he sent a Messenger very late to bid me be ready by six in the morning, for I must be carried on the other side the Water, this (being the first notice I had of their secret design) nor would he tell me whether, to whom, or for what, nor (as then) show me any order for it, nor would he suffer any one of my friends to know of it, which was the greater trial at the instant, I being unprovided with necessaries, if they should carry me away, or put me to any journey; but to my great astonishment, I heard some calling under my prison-winddows almost all night, and by daybreak very much, whom we thought our enemies, (till the morning discovered them to be our friends,) who by a special hand of providence was raised out of their beds, and had heard a rumour that I was to be carried away that morning by daybreak, so they came to see; for it seems (as close as they carried it unto us) a man, (and an enemy) who heard of it that night at Whitehall (by one who told the other of it with very great privacy) could not keep it in, but when he came to the three Crane-wharf in London, he told a good woman (or her daughter of it) for news, what he had overheard at Whitehall, not knowing that friend had any relation to me (if she knew me) who indeed (as my heavenly Father ordered it) was a Sister of our Church Society, so that she could not reft, but went to some others of the Church; and thus in the night one called up another at a venture; and by the blessed hand of the Lord, several of my Friends came to hear of it, and waited at the prison gates, where I was to come out, with many tears and prayers, and supplies of my wants; but the Ruffians struck, shoved and pushed them away what they could, and hurried me from them, and so carried me to Windsor Castle.  
That day word was given before to the Governor of the Castle, and by Orders the Soldiers were set on both sides, with their Arms and Matches light, to receive the prisoner coming, but when they saw me come in, some of the Officers told me they were ready to sink down in the place where they stood, they expecting some Cavalier or lewd person rather, and not me (as they said) to be so dealt with (some of them knowing me both in this Nation and in Ireland) and looking upon one another with amazement, saw it an apparent persecution (as they said) upon good men for their consciences and the Cause of Christ: After a longer attendance; I was put into a little room, which had one little window, and which did so excessively smoke, that the wind and the stink of a house of filth made it worse than a prison (if in that cold season we would keep a fire) the very coals thereof being blown into the room about, but I ran to the door to ease my eyes a little, and to take some air, thinking to have walked (a little) in the yard, but it was denied me, the Sentinels standing at my door to keep me in; yet afterwards for very shame, and (perhaps) pity, I had more liberty and the sentinels were taken off, which continued till the 6th. of the third month ensuing.  
But a word or two to the Order: you may observe as in this, so in the former, and all the rest of their Orders concerning me (that ever I could see) the Copies of which are by me, there is not a tittle of any CAUSE mentioned, why they have so persecuted, imprisoned and since banished me, nor have they any colour, but what they would (I think) blush for shame to put into any of your Orders or Warrants, (viz. for Preaching and praying) whereby it appears ye are imprisoned, persecuted, plundered, banished, and thus barbarously used, upon mere will, lust, and arbitrary power, and tyranny, (sic volo sic jubeo) without the least colour of a Law, a crime, or Justice; herein exceeding the arbitrary process of their Predecessors (in this practice) the very Prelates, Papists and Heathens; so that to this Day, (we see) they do not tell us the cause, or crime, nor can we have the liberties of Conscience, Law, Justice, or Process; but yet the Lord of Righteousness stands by us, and is with us, for all that, & laeti simus sed non securi; gaudentes in Domino, sed caventes a Recidivo.  
The Order is signed by H. Laurence Precedent, once a Pastor of a Church (I hear) but one whom (long since) the work of God had laid aside and spewed out, yea, he had laid it aside as an Enemy, or at lest no Friend to it, with some Others that were before Vomited out, or could not be Digested for their Crudities; but this G. (for want of others) hath licked them up again; nor is this Council altogether unlike the Duke of Alva's bloody Council, or the Counsel of Trouble, (in flemish Bloat-read) so called in the Netherlands, as to the manner of their proceed, (putting down thereby the greater and the more lawful authority of the States) to persecute, imprison, oppress, tax, levy, confiscate, banish, apprehend, or put to death at the Duke of Alva's pleasure and lust, being merely arbitrary and without Law, all being directed by the Duke himself, whose meaning was, that his Council should be but consultive, and not absolute, (for that he left to himself alone, whereof J. Vergas was the Precedent, as H. Laurence of this, of whom it was said, that the Netherlands needed so sharp a knife as Vergas was to cut away their dead flesh; and so it seems (by O. P's. speech to his Parliament Septemb 4. p. 14, 15, 16. Where he stirs them up to punish (that is persecute) us three several times, as worthy of the Magistrates consideration, most sadly abusing that Text in Judas for it, so that these men look upon us as without life; that they lash us, wound us, cut us, and so cruelly and continually cut us, with this their sharp knife, for no other reason, but for our Faith, consciences and affections to the Lord Jesus and his kingdom, declining and disowning theirs that lies upon the skulls, blood, bones, lives, limbs, liberties, and tears of the most precious Saints, persecution of Christ, blaspheming of the name and spirit of God; and infamy and reproach of pure Religion an undefiled; but thus for their arbitrary order, whereby I was delivered into their Den at Windsor, though a delightful garden to this merciless hole (as from men) where I now am; yet blessed be the Lord! With a tolerable modesty and humanity they admitted me the liberty of the Prison, and access to my brother Feake's chamber for one month without interruption, where we worshipped the Lord together; but upon the 29. day of the second month, being the Lord's day, in the absence of the Governor, two of the Officers, viz. Capt. Weston and one Pepper an Ensign, the latter (being lately fetched out from a common Soldier, and lifted up with so sudden an excessive pride, conceit and ambition, zealous of higher promotion, and therefore striving to exceed (and so to supplant) his superior in his cruelty to us) falling out with the other for admitting us to meet in the worship of out God together upon the Lords days, (although privately in our prison chamber) and to amend so great a mistake and fowl a crime (as they took it) they forthwith forced a Centinel upon the door (watching their time,) to hinder me going up to my fellow-prisoners chamber, (whiles they with drew; that lest their so unchristian commands in the matters of God should be reversed) which when I saw, I was desired by the Lord's people present to begin there, and so I drew out my Bible: at the door several of our friends with my Brother Feak being by, we begun in an Hymn and Prayer, proceeded on with the Text, but was often interrupted by the Soldiers, and the hearers driven away with violence; at last the aforesaid Officers admitted we should go into the chamber (as before) and took off the sentinels, and so we continued together with much comfort (a few of us) in praying, singing and exhorting one another until late at night (according to the Primitive practice of the persecuted Saints) but the Devil did not like this; and therefore against the next Lord's day following, he had made ready his rage, the day before which the Governor himself (being come home and instructed with the matter by his Ensign Pepper) sent for us two Prisoners (who were together to keep up a duty of Prayer in my lodge) with a peremptory sword-power of coram nobis, who (after we had looked up to the hills from whence our help comes) went readily and cheerfully, the governor assaulted us fiercely (with some other of his Officers like fell beasts) indeed, and as brutish as the soldiers were to Brentius, Anno 1547. charging my fellow prisoner with a foul fault in his child (of three or four years old) that he should call O. C. fool, at which my brother F. said, that he would affirm niore, viz. that he is a Tyrant; which made them high in their rage against him, with whom I thought I was bound to bear my witness modestly, but the governor broke out into such bitter rage, that he was meet anger without ears or reason; threatening to lay me forth with into the Hole, if I preached against his Master; (as he said) at which I rejoiced. Quia plura pro Christo sunt toleranda, as Fulgentius said in his sufferings, and said; yea, do Sir! with all my heart! I am as ready to suffer it for my Master, as you are to do it for yours: And I tell you Sir, I fear not the worst you men can do! and with the grace of my God, I will preach for my Christ against Cromwell, or any other that oppose Christ, though I die for it! if I have but a peeping hole, or a hole to breath out at, I shall preach (if you do not suffer us to do it, in our prison lodges privately) for my commission is not from man but God; and my authority is greater from above than thy power; in the interim, be it known to thee, I fear neither thee nor thy sword in these matters of our God. The next day (being the Lords) they began to put their hell-begotten plot into practice! for our friends that came to visit us from London, they kept upon their guard, and would not admit them to us, which when my con-captive herd (unknown to me) he went into the Chapel, and (with the people's leave) he began Prayer in the Pulpit, which they were attentive unto, I hearing thereof (whilst I was pleading with the Governor in the yard, for our Christian Liberty upon the Lord's day, to meet together in our chambers, to pray and worship; who was called from me to fetch soldiers) I went into the Chapel, where he was praying (without the least touch of the times or government:) I stood at the Pulpit-doore, but by and by came up a file or two of soldiers armed, and ready as if they would have discharged presently upon us, lead up first by the governor, and then by a Sergeant, one Baker, all very imperiously, and with their ●ats on: this Baker till then seemed unsatisfied with such unchristian precedings; but upon his rise to the preferment of an Ensign, he became very rigorous like the rest; he came up to the Pulpit door, where I stood between him and my fellow-prisonner (still praying!) and laying hands on me to pull me down and him out, with that violence; I sp●ke softly to him, saying, O will you! (a great professor! and one who seemed smit in conscience for such cruelty:) exercise it! and hue too! when he is a praying! let him but pray out! tarry but a little! What? (says he) will you justify him? Oh, and alas, said I, and should I not? is he not serving of a good Master? doing a good work? and dare you disturb him in it? Surely I have more cause to stand by him in his master's work, than you have to stand by your master in this work: And therefore do not fight against Christ so, O do it not! let him but conclude his prayer: Pull him down, pull him down, (saith the governor) I said, sir, let him but pray out, a quarter of an hour, but till the minister come: but then said the rude soldiers to Baker, do you not hear the Governor? pull him down? and up came the soldiers, like raging Beasts, (the governor standing under the Pulpit to see the execution?) then the first soldier of the file with his Musket struck at my brother Feake (whiles he was yet praying!) but I standing between, received the blow, the governor still pursuing his command, so that Baker (being prejudiced (as hath been gathered by his words) against brother Feak, for his judgement against dipping, which this Baker was so rigid unto;) and the soldiers pulled and tore me (who held the pulpit door) with such bitterness, eagerness and roughness, that they (therewith and the blows struck at us (that fell upon the pulpit door, broke it in pieces, and so pulled me down, and laid violent hands on him, and carried us away with very great abuses both in word and deed: Pepper with one party soldiers sent with me, who did drag, hale, punch, and pull me on way to my prison-lodge, and another party of soldiers carrying him another way to his prison lodge: Our friends who seeing us so bruitishly handled, offering to intercede, or speak for us, were beaten, threatened, and put quite out, and not suffered to visit either of us: After a little breathing (being thus haled in and kept close with Sentinels set at our doors) my brother Feake began to preach out at the prison window, which I heard at my prison door, (the day being very calm!) where the Sentinels stood to keep me in, and when they beat up the Drums to drown his voice at that end; I (at my end,) was stirred up, upon the same subject and Text to proceed, until the Drums ceased, and then he began again. In the afternoon (at the door) on the same subject, I proceeded, some few of our friends that came from London having gotten into some holes and corners in the yard, where they were hid to hear, but in my Prayer was a Sergeant with soldiers sent up to drive me in and stop my mouth, a little fierce man, who fell to it with great fury; as I was yet in prayer, (holding up a Brick in the wall) desiring with tears the Lord to open their eyes and consciences, and still praying with my whole heart and spirit in the Lord, some two or three of the poor soldiers were struck in their consciences, and though commanded, could not fall on (in that duty) but with tears desired the rest of their fellows to let me alone, and saying, they would to prison first; but the little fierce green Dragon, (the Sergeant with some others fell on the more barbarously, laid hold on my throat (as if to have strangled me,) tore off my cloak and rend it, and me, my arms and , still I praying and looking up to my God, whiles they were beating, bouncing, tearing, and thumping me: And then I said, yea, strike on, strike on, for thus did the soldiers deal with Christ (my Master) him they beat, haled, thumped, spit on! and the disciple is not better than his Master; beat on, beat on, sirs! O blessed blows! but thus they cast me in, and shut the doors upon me, and set other Sentinels upon me; so after a little breathing (being so cruelly handled) I continued out at my prison-window preaching, singing, praying, and praising my most dear Lord and Father in Christ, who hath made me (so poor a sinful wretch) to be numbered and accounted amongst them that suffer for Jesus, and his kingdom's sake! rejoicing and triumphing abundantly in this high dignity and degree of his heavenly calling and Election: Thus to you, Phil. 1.29. not to all is it given, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (of mere grace) not only to believe but to suffer! notwithstanding they would drive away (with soldiers, swords and Muskets) all from the sound of my voice; yea, to the very little children; forcing all away with great violence: In this close imprisonment (though nothing so close as now it is) I was (though very ill, and sore in my body) stirred up to exercise every morning (as I use to do) in my Family, at the window of the Prison, for the benefit of the poor Sentinels, who stood under in the yard, expounding the scriptures, and Praying; and upon the third day of the week, which was the eighth of the third month 1655. as I was praying, my brother Feake (with two soldiers at his heels, passing by to ease nature) as he came back stood still to hear me pray; but an Irish Ensign, than Captain of the guard (formerly I hear a Cavalier) commanded them to bring him away, and not let him stand, but he said, let me alone a little, I am much refreshed, pray hear, says he, etc. But that Ensign sent up more Soldiers who pressed much upon him, but he said he was about a good work, and wished them also to hear prayer, but C. W. said it was forbidden fruit at that time; and desired one to come to me and speak to me to be so civil as to forbear praying, but the party refused so to do; th● Ensign called upon them to bring him away without delay, and to take him by head and heels, but a poor Sergeant (an Officer) sent up for that purpose resused so to do, and said he had rather go to Prison, and could not in conscience so do; for his standing there was only to hear prayer; yet entreated B. F. to come away, and when he found his arguments of no more force with him in that duty; the Sergeant was returning, but in the way this wicked Ensign (whose feet were swift to shed blood) saluted him as an enemy, (for not tearing him a way by head and shoulders) at first with sword and scabbard, struck blows in such strength, that the iron thereof cut through his skull, and broke his brainpan; so sadly gashed, mangled and wounded (the blood spinning out a great distance from him) he with much ado reeled to a seat, where he assayed to break his sword and throw away his scabbard (with a witness against them, to wear it no more in such service) but in the meantime this enraged Morster with his naked Sword laid about the rest, who now ran away with B. F. as with a light burden, and so like the D●●gge in the Smith's Forge, they that would not stir at the many strokes upon God's anvil (whiles we were at our work) could run now at the sight of a wand; yea, with wind in their wings lift up their (Ephah) Zach. 5.9. Work poor whetches! Such miserable slaves are they all! According to the Arabic Adage (which for want of characters the press omits) Men' lafoy a-rifo-lchaira mina-Isecri alhiqho bi-lbeha ima, they that cannot discriminate are company for beasts: The Sergeant was conveyed into a house, and as it was (by the Chirurgeon himself) supposed mortally wounded (and a dead man) for after h● had taken out two or three pieces of his skull, he concluded him doubtful of recovery, (if not beyond it) it being so contiguous and ambiguous; for at last he found it but a hairs-breadth between him and death, being hewed to the Caruncles and concavity of the head, and should have utterly despaired, but that the Cerebrain-skin was marvellously kept from the cuts: Thus blood was shed in their rage against Religion and the Worship of God, who formerly (and when it was their interest) have with blood contended for it; yea, the Blood of War in the time of Peace, 1 King. 2.5. And as tame Foxes once lose do the most miscriefe, so do these; Et ad extremum, lupus manebit, etiamsi inter homines educatus fuerit, as the Persians say, Wolves will be Wolves though brought up amongst men, or put into sheep's clothing, Mat. 10 But the Avenger of blood will pursue these sons of Belial; and woe unto them that build their City in blood, Isa. 1.5. for when their plague comes, the name of their place shall be Kibroth-hataavah, the Graves of Just, for whiles the flesh is between their teeth the Lord shall smite them; in the interim consider.  
First, That we lie as yet among the pots in the hot kiln▪ (the iron furnace of Egypt) Lam 4.2. How are ye precious ones of Zion (compable to solid gold) accounted as earthen potsherds; yet with the reversion promised us we will not part, Psal. 68.13. Though ye have lain among the pots, as the wings of a Dove (oppressed of Janah made a prey) overlaid with silver, and her feathers with beaten gold (of Charatz cut a sunder) for though we be Chenshe phatta of shaphattariim ordered and disposed) between the very hearths where the fire is kindled, in the hottest Urn among the Tile pots (I mean in those Ovens of men's wrath, viz. Garrisons of Soldiers) to be scorched; far exceeding (in that sense) the common Goals and Prisons; yet praised be our God, for his presence is with us, which was with the three Children in the fiery furnace, and as Psal. 66.11, 12. Thou laidst affliction (such as comes from oppression of Gnuk) upon our loins, thou hast caused men to rid over our heads (or beginnings of rosh) we went through fire and through water, but thou hast brought us out into a wealthy place (or larevajah) to an overflowing and afulnesse of moisture, and anointing, (as Psal. 23.5. where the word is) and herein shall we yet more abundantly rejoice, for such earthen pots (as we are) in the Lord's house, shall be like the Bowls (or Basins) before the Altar, Zach. 14.20. that is, ever full of the hit blood o● the Sacrifice; which is our sure mercy and N●w-Covenant-Comfort in this State of patience.  
Secondly we may see the è polupragmoseume the pragmatical proclyvitie & activity of the Cavalerish spirit, to prosecute and execute the rage of the Beast upon us under this Sword sovereignty, with the same Antipathy and principle they had in the King's d●y●s, though under a show of more religion, refinedness● and zeal; like Bal●k Numb. 22. and 23. that to curse the Lords people, and get power over them, with great readiness and real, ran to the worship of the true God (as if he had renounced his false God Chemosh) when in truth he retained still his old principles; and yet with them he seemed a new Proselyte; he offered seven Oxen, and 7. Rams; so far exceeding the true Saints in his seeming zeal to the true God; and stands by his sacrifices, fasting and praying, (and his Princes too) with so great devotion, and why so? why, all to get Power over the Lords Chosen one's. So these have seemed to have laid aside their old principles of enmity, hatred, animosity, revenge, persecution and opposition, so of profaneness, Atheism and open wickedness of that kind, thereby to get a power of revenge over us to curse and diminish us for our faithfulness and constant adhaesi●n to the good Cause, both now and in the late wars; this also lying in the road of their preferment so to treat us; for the Cavaliers highest Counsels are this day are to fall in with this Power, in order to the bringing of Ch. Stuart ruining us, and precipitating of them; and all this by their old principle.  
3. It appears a conviction of Conscience, is a capital crime with them, and merits cut●●ng, slashing and shedding of blood without mercy; for as the Jews, Jo 9.22. Had agreed that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out o● the Synagogue: So have these agreed to cast them out from amongst them, that acknowledge the Lord Jesus in Power and truth, according to the dictates of an enlightened Conscience, for a blind men restored to sight they will not endure amongst th●m, who in such a mixture and complication of sinister interests prefer butchery before the liberal arts (as they say of the Jews) yea, revenge above Religion, and Coin above Conscience; calling the touch of conscience contempt, melancholy and madness, and punishing of them: they themselves being ●eared, and having made shipwreck thereof; whiles we (as Paul says) 2 Cor. 4 2. Have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commend our self to every man's conscience in the sight of God.  
Fourthly, It is evident we are under as barbarous a Spirit of the Be●st as at this day exercised in any part of the world, and as miserable a servitude as among the Turks, for in all places they will use their Prisoners civilly, and not multiply afflictions upon them, every day as these men do and study to, much less so monstrously and murtherously hack and hue men for making conscience in their unreasonable commands; but to make us yet in a more Turk-like slavery, and that what is now our cause may quickly be the case of others, and of all if need be: behold! the Bashaws and Beglerbegs sent down to settle there D●vans and Mili●i● in to every country? with the Timariot also and Zaniaches or Debuty-Bashaws under them: besides the Janissaries, Gemoglanies, and Spahies, or Guards about their Grand S. at White-Hall; and in the Army, there are also their A●hingies (Hinds of the Country) or new Militia. Troops too, to forage up and down for prey, and to keep the Lords Lambs from me ting and feeding together upon Christ's Commons; now next I expect, these Janissaries (like them at Constantinople under the Aga) will be employed in the room of Constables, Sergeants, Clerks of the Markets, Warders of the Gates and Officers of that kind, and in case of injury no public justice may be ministered upon them; is not this a new Turkey then? (let them palliate all with as good words as they will) yet as their proverb is, Soltan●n bila adalin kanahrin bila ma●a, their Soltan with out justice will befound but like a Brook without water, and neither his Soldiers nor multitudes can save him when the time of his judgement is come; Islahho— rraiati abphao min kitsrati-l chonoudi.  
Fisthly It is certain too, these red Esau's must have red meat, I mean blood to feed on, and I easily foresee with what greediness and design they do provoke poor simple plain jacob's, honest hearts, by ex ggerating and accumulating violences and iusolencies upon them, to some rising or (untimely)▪ action of defence for them to have a full blow at them; their bellyfuls of the Saints blood, which they so much threaten & thirst after; that their Shebna himself said he could freely have his arms up to his elbows in their blood; but thus is this horn to make war with the saints (his time, times (in the dual) and a dividend yea he hath done it and is at it, (as I have largely proved in my Treat. of the two Witnesses and two Beasts, etc. Whose Sword as yet prevails over us; and as Balaak by hireing Balaam but to Curse Israel Num. 22. was said to make war against Israel by so doing, Josh. 24.9. thus have these Warred against the Saints; but their divination shall not prosper. Nor their offerings be accepted? and Balaam their Prophet shall fall by the Sword Josh 13.22.  
Sixthly, It is our comfort that all they can do unto us, is but to drive us to our God and Father with our perfumes unto his altar of incense within the vail; from this Altar of slaughter without the vail; and so from one Altar unto another. Psal. 66.13. I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings. Psal 45.12. ubat tzor be miuchah the daughter of (izor) Strates and afflictions with an offering (yea a meat offering) a most excellent privilege, and provision? wherein we have the provision of the things we wait for in the light of the seven Lamps that burn before the Throre, Rev. 4.5. and 5.6. thus whiles others are (as Psal. 2.2. Rulers are called Rozenim) lean ones, and leanness is in their Souls Psal. 106.15. we are fat (as Sons of oil) Isa. 55.2. and flourish in the truth, Cause and Covenant of Christ; like Aaron's Rod Num. 17.8. ' which brought forth buds, bloomed and yielded Almonds, (whiles all the other rods were dry and Sear) and therefore v. 10 was it laid up before the testimony: Indeed since I am driven thus close to my burnt-offering, and with Moses and Aaron at every fresh provocation from them to y unto the Lord Num. 11.2.11. and 14.5. and 16.4.22. with my complaints? I have also found such food and meat-offerings as I would not part with for all the world, which makes my heart (as Psal. 45.1,) Rachash boil up within me in the matters of the King, and my tongue as the pen of Sopher Mahir a quick Accountant or Numberer of the times; for a testimony whereof I must refer to that beam of light which lead me into a most lucid and facile supputation; proved and illustrated in my foresaid Treatise; having found very excellent food from the roots of the Hebrew, (Chaldy, Samaritan, Syriack) Arabic (Persian) and  tongues which I dialy converse with, and reading the Scriptures by, through the teaching of the Anointing I find a hidden Manna wraped up in the Dews of Heaver, and can say it is Angel's food.  
Seventhly We are now in the School of Patience, Rev. 14.12. wherein besides our dearest Lord Jesus, his Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs; says John, Rev. 1.9. ' I also am your Brother and companion in tribulation, ' and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ, was in the Isle of Patmos; and in such company we must needs run this race of ours with sweet Contentment, Serenity, Calmness of Spirit, what ever our enemies maliciously report of us Heb. 12 1. and our experiences teach us that Arabic Adage Assabro miftaho-l pharahi va-l a-chalato miphtaho-unidamati, that patience is the Clavis Gaudij, whiles a murmuring and impatience is the Key of sorrow and repentance, so the Key of David which shall open unto us (all the treasures Isay. 22.22. and sealed truths of heaven, Rev. 5.6. and 10.4, 7) and none shall shut, and which shall shut (our enemies) our, that shut us in, and none shall open to them; this Key is given to us (as promised) in this state of patience Rev. 3.7.10. blessed be the lord Zammeru Elohim zammeru. Zammeru lemalkenu zammeru.  
Eightly, And because the ' Prince of the Kings of the earth hath loved ' us and washed us with his own blood, and made us Kings and Priests to God, Rev. 1.5.6. we do and yet will rejoice in our blessed portion which is the waved (the lifted up, or offered up) Beast, and the Right-shoulder Numb. 18.18. Levit. 7.32.33. whereby to bear all that men can lay upon us with a heart lifted up to the Lord; this is not the stranger's portion Leu. 22▪ 25. but the portion of the Anointing Levit. 7.35. and thus am powered out (as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Psal. 92.10.) with fresh oil, or beshemen Rag●auan green and fatness before the Lord; and v 11. mine eyes shall see (what I look for) upon mine enemies (or observers of my ways, that strictly watch for me of Shur) and our joy shall be like them that divide the spoil Isay. 9.3 4. when Jehovah shall turn again our captivity as the streams of the South Psal. 126.4. or parched dry wilderness where the Aphikim or strong Currents and Torents of waters (as the word is) are very welcome; yea the captivity, of the captiety is already deforced and turned back by the force of these refreshing streams. Psal. 46.4. which the Lord is unto us; and broad rivers Isay. 33.21. So that v. 16. our waters will be sure Teballel jah Hallelujah.  
But to proceed; Upon the 16. day of the 3. Month 1655. were Commissioners sent from Whitehall, in a colour of justice to be done for our diversified injuries, which (by this) had made aloud noise in the ears of men, so as the Courtiers was put to this policy for a shift; and in pretence of wrongs done unto us, and to inquire after the matter of fact, we found the integral of their negotiation to be against us, that all the informations they could squeeze out of any sorts of people, Soldiers or enemies, might be modelled and form up together against us, and so presented to their Lord Protector: The Commissioners that fat upon us were Mr. H. Mr. Wood, Mr Cresset, Mr. Carier, Mr. Woodard, Mr. B. Mr. Oxenbridge and Angelo: The first day they sat I was interrupted in the duty of expounding and praying, (in the morning) and from my sweat (out of that exercise) taken away by the Marshal (in the company of my Broth. F.) to be cooled (in the other.) When we came before them (in the Governors' lodgings) they told us their errand by the mouth of Mr. Holland; we desired to see their Commission and to hear it read, which their Clerk did; and as on the one side it signified some wrongs we had received of the Soldiers, so on the other side (and which was the main body of the business) Upon complaint against Mr. Christopher Feake and Mr. John Rogers that they stirred up the Soldiers to Sedition and Mutiny against their Officers and the Government. Those whose names were under written by the foresaid Commission were authorized to examine and make report to him; given under his Seal Manual, and in the head of it O. P. When we heard it read, the design was obvious unto us, under the colour of hearing a little of what we should say, to hear all they could possibly scrape up, or that any could forge or find out against us (for indeed to this day, what ever they say, they want sufficient matter to bear out this abominable and brutish handling of us, (these years together) Brother F. first spoke and I Seconded him, we both told them, we were in the capacity of prisoners, and that close; but if they had power to right us, we required our do liberty, at least to be in Statu quo and to have the liberty of the Castle, as the Cavaliers and all Prisoners (but ourselves) had to breath in; but that denied, we demanded a copy of their Commission, that we might be the better directed, when we rightly understood their Rules and Instructions; we were bid to withdraw, and after a long debate called in again with his recusation, that we did not own the Government, and therefore they could not allow us a copy of their Commission, without we would own the power that sent them: We told them, that was not the point, nor was it now the matter in hand; yet we could assure them we should not own them as they are Commissionners, for so our lives would be in jeopardy, and our liberties betrayed, (and as much as in us lies the liberties of our Country and brethren) for that what they were to do, was as Justices of the Quorum, to hear, examine and prepare matters for the Oyer and Terminer, in order to a definitive sentence and future issue; and therefore they were (to make it more concise) to give their prepared papers and examinations to their Lord Protector, whereby he may pretend we have had a trial, depositions taken, and nothing rests to do, but to hang or head us; therefore we did not intent to be involved into such a snare, nor to be thus treated with or tried in a hole: Answer was made us they had no such design, but we told them they had not the intentions of their Lord Protector in their hands however, and through our simplicity (& it may be theirs too) he might make his game; but although as Commissioners we would not meddle with them, yet as Brethren or Friends in an amicable way we were ready to give them, or any other an account of our faith, hopes and sufferings; Answer was made us, they were our Friends and Brethren too, in which capacity we told them, we could discourse freely with them; but they said they were sent for our good, and sat to hear what injuries we received, we told them whether for our good or hurt, we excepted against the matter, the form, the rule and the end of their Commission, and could take no cognizance of in the capacity of Commissioners; for matter (I said) in that some men as Mr. Oxenbridge etc. were parties concerned, and therefore not fit to sit as Judges or Justices in this case; as to form, they were an illegal court nor ought they to take the prisons, for informations against poor prisoners, to palliate their past proceed with new pretences and colours put upon them: But first, they were to try us for the offence (if they had any) perpetrated, upon which we had lay so long in prisons, and either to acquitt or adjudge us for that; and then they might proceed and inquire for new; but to immure us so long, and barbarously and now to stir every stinking puddle to find matter for it, is not fair; but like the Tyrant that did first hang the man, and then hear his Cause; or the Constable (as the P. calls himself) that fi●st knocks the man down and then bids him stand; besides as they were incompetent Justices and no authentic Court, so the end for which they sat (let them shape it as well as they can) was wicked and unchristian, to rake up informations and depositions against us in the matters of our faith and consciences; They told us, they were to take report of matters of fact, which we desired them to extricate according to their Commission; but they refusing so to, by the ill success of our request (reaching but to the Superficies of an obtuse Nerve) we saw it encumbent to deal plainly with them, and to tell them the utmost our enemies had to impeach us, was but for words, in preaching, praying, or Christian conference with us, which we knew to be words of Sobriety and truth, though our enemies call them dangerous and seditious; Mr. Oxenb. answered that words were matters of fact; with that we knew their meaning; and Mr. H. said he must needs confess the Charge against us was very high, yea, said we in your (Calendar or) Law you make it Treason to do such things as in your Commission seems charged upon us, but we valued not that, yet insisting upon a copy of their Commission; Mr. Oxenbridge answered, they could not, for that we had denied the efficient cause thereof, we told them he did us wrong, for that we had not once entered upon a debate of the efficient, viz. O. P. or his Seal; but yet for further satisfaction, I desired of them the extent of their Commission (as to time) whether for two days or ten; they answered for the whole space of time since our imprisonment; by which it became so evident (that themselves were beaten by it) under a show of doing us right, they must do us wrong, and so we told them that at first they said and pretended it was grounded up on the complaints our friends made of wrongs done unto us, for the space of two weeks before, to inquire after that matter of fact; and yet now confess it intended the whole space of our imprisonment (for many months) to find out matter against us, and that (as in the Commission) grounded upon the complaints of our foes (that are our Gaolers and seek our blood) and therefore positively refused to take notice of them in that capacity; there was much more to this effect and in propinquity tossed to and fro of transitive matter not worth mentioning, nor were they more propitious at other times, as in the afternoon & the day after, wherein we were quiescents as before, without altering or sounding after them; yet as to brethren or friends (not in Authority) we were free to tell them a story of our sufferings and unhandsome usage, whereof there was so clear witnasse; but (said we freely forgave them) not desiring they should be punished, (which they never intended doubtless, but to fortify their hands (rather) to such ugly circumstances and abuses, as appeared for) the next day these Loco motive Commissioners adjourned to Frogmore (the Governor's house beyond the town) and there sat to hear, receive and examine all that would come in with any accusation against us; which we in (close prison) were kept ignorant of; yea the Officers took great pains not only by Clandestine meetings (to compare their minds and prepare their matters together) but with coincident endeavours suborned the Soldiers (who must obey Orders) to that unworthy service, so base that as some of the poor creatures rejected it, so some of them were threatened by Pepper (as one of them told me) because they would not go in and testify against us, things they never heard spoken, and which they told him they never heard; yet because they would not assert and depose to what he said, they were not only menaced, but upon easy m●tters and other pretences (afterwards) suffered: The next day early Mr. Br. came to me (who had preached the day before a little too reflecting upon us, but being my worthy friend I am tender of him, and entirely respect him) he desired me to forbear my exercise, which I did that morning, and we were hastened again before these Gentlemen (with a friend or two then with us) they offered (then) to read the accusations and informations, they had taken up against us, if we would consent they should report them to O. P. but we said as before, our minds were the same, and they were the same, so that as Commissioners we would not so much as hear them read to us, or reply a word to them, with which they were offended, but we renewed our exceptions against them (both grey and black Missionaries) the Ministers having no such rule from Christ left them, to fit in Commission (thus) against their brethren, nor had the other either Law or conscience to commend them to this employment and particularly in that some there present were constituted members of the High Court of justice, for the punishing them with death that should declare Ch. St. or any other person chief Magistrate in the three Nations, etc. and this they had solemnly sworn to, so I drew out the Act of Parliament to read it to them, and offered reasons why we could not in conscience take cogniscance of them, but they were deaf and obtuse of hearing; yea two or three of them (viz Mr. Wood and Oxenbridge) rend away from the rest in discontent, and so after a little discourse with some of the other about the Fifth Kingdom, they dissolved, and left us in our close prisons and cruel hands where they found us; they went home with a Flea in their ear, (it seems) but well fraughted with informations against us to their Master, who hath doubtless laid them up with the r●st for a timous and more terrible treatment; and whiles with Joab; 2 Sam. 20. they say Brother with the one hand, they stab us with the other hand under the fi th' rib, and shed out our bowels in the dust, but the Lord will raise the dust of Zion, Psal. 102. And in general we may note;  
First, That Apostates are the worst and subtellest sort of persecutors; and of all people the most brutishly bend to their own ways, in spending the Egyptian spoils, Exod. 32. setting up false worships with a carnal noise, Exod. 32.18. quite losing the Lord's presence (with the former signs,) Exod. 33. and lying open to enemies, Exod. 32.25. Yea notwithstanding all professions they are found against God, Num. 14.35. and are disinherrited (of all the promises of the good I and) by God, Numb. 14, 12.  
Secondly, That more justice is to be had from a downright Heathen Government, than from an Apostate interest (which lies in deceit and Hypocrisy) whether that Heathen Government be Military or Philosophical, and for the proof of this all History is redundant; in the Persian after Cyrus Cambyses, was so strict that he caused a Judge to be flayed, and set up his skinn for a monument, because he was corrupted and executed wrong judgement; yea of late, the King of Persia centensed the Governor of Casbin for his wrongs done to men, that all his goods and lands should be sold for satisfaction to them that he had wronged, and if that would not do, the King condemned himself to satisfy the rest, or that (in his Office) he did the wrongs, and that this Governor (for his cruelty) should all his days during his life wear a yoke (like a hogs yoke about his neck) and have his ears (so ready to hear tales) cut off, and he get his living with his own hands, that he might feel the want he had made others to feel; yea among Turks at this moment is much more justice to be had (than is now in England) where any cause is heard, tried and determined in three days; but here we may lie three years in prisons rotting, without a trial or face of justice (or know for what) as is our case. Yea in China (that Philosophical Government) the Choli and Zauli (men of moral principles of Philosophy) will (at this day as is well known) admonish and reprove the King (or Emperor) sharply, if any thing be done contrary to the Law, and will not spare to do it, by public libels, not dissembling his faults, nor the greatest Magistrates in their Nations, which they continue, to the astonishment of other Nations round about at their integrity and liberty, nor will they cease their witness one moment, till there be a return & remedy; yea (as Purchas Pilg. ch. 18 lib. 4. says) this every private man may do, and not suffer for it: But these in England, persecute, plunder, banish and imprison them that witness against public wickedness (& that by better principles too) notwithstanding God's word says, Levit. 19.7. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him. Wherefore in this it will be more easy for the Governments of Persia, Turkey and China at the last day than for this; and the whilst Leprosy is the worst, Numb. 13.2, 4.10. ! ! as they are!  
Thirdly, That the justice of God doth ever avenge with the Sword upon an Apostate Interest, Levit 26.25 And I will bring the Sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my Covenant. So Exod. 32.27. Now this Apostasy is that which immediately precedes the rise of the holy Camp, or Sword (in this one street first, Rev. 11.3. Dan. 7.22, 25, 27.) at the end of the 42. months, which I take to be the outer Court, Rev. 11.2. For the Lords Camp of old in the Wilderness had three parts, or rather it was a threefold Camp (as the Hebrews write) viz, 1. The Camp of Israel, or the 12. Tribes mustered, Numb. 2. and set in their quarters under their own standards (all that could bear arms) and this was the outward Camp pitched found about the Tabernacle, which was four square, and said to be 12. miles long and 12. broad; that is without fraction united and not easi y broken; this is the outer Camp which we expect to arise every day: The 2. Camp was the Sanctuary-Camp or of the inner-Court, Levites and Priests mustered and set in their quarters and wards, under the charge and care of Eliazar and Ithamar, Numb. 3.4. But the inner Camp hath continued with the two Witnesses, and with them that have gone out of the Tabernacle of the Testimony against the Beast all along this 42. months, Rev. 15.5, 6. The 3. Camp was called the Camp of God's presence, to save and protect his people, within the veil and in the holiest of all, from whence came all their orders to fall on, and which first began to move, viz. in the sigues of his presence, the Cloud and pillar; etc. This is the Male-child that Zions travel will bring forth now immediately, and begin to move us; yea the sound of the 7. Trumpet giveth the Alarm, and the 3. Woe is now at hand; only this caution love as your lives, as not to stay behind at the call, so not to stir untimely lest you fall before your enemies, like them, Numb. 14.40, 42, 44. and they be heightened against you; but be first united the inner Court and the outer. Yea these called Fifth monarchy men, and Common wealth men must unite too, upon the principles of Righteousness to all men, (which may easily be obtained) and then March, for the signs are upon us, and the Trumpets sound, horse, horse and away.  
Fourthly, Whiles our incense burns within the wail, and the Piguls of our enemies (their feasts and tears) are an abomination to the Lord, Mal. 1. Isa. 1 And from them we are cleansed through the water of separation (made of the ashes of the red Heiser, i. e. Christ our Sacrifice) Numb. 19 Whiles our waved-sheafe (even of green corn and unripe) is accepted: And note from hence,  
That it's a very subtle specious insinuating Spirit, which is now as work to persecute the Saints.  
2. That seeming Brethren and Professors are the Persecutors, who pretend love to us in the bloodiest and most cunning designs against us.  
3. That whiles they report all over the Nation by Printing, Preaching and every way, there is no persecution, they persecute us in holes and corners, (where none can see it but the God of heaven) not only for Consciences, but purely for praying, preaching, and the worship of God, though we meddle not with the Government, or the Times.  
4. Whiles their Clergy cry out upon us, as meddling with matters beside the Cushion and ●●●h Civil affairs, they themselves are the Busy-bodies, made Judges and Commissioners in Civill-matters, and indeed the greatest meddlers in other men's matters.  
5. For want of matter to colour over their ungodly imprisoning, Plundering, Robbing, Spoiling and Barbarous abusing of us, they rake up the Prisons for our infirmities, and to find matter (if they can) to make us odious, and to take away our lives, so they did at Lambeth, (vid. my Sutrod. of Prison b. Morn.) so here at Windsor, not regarding how surreptiously or shamefully they get, forge and invent it, so they could but find matter against us. One matter against me I remember was that the Brethren of the Church I walk with, sent the poor desperately wounded man twenty shillings to relieve him (as a deed of charity) he being a stranger, his Family in Ireland, his pay short and his want great; which charity they interpreted a design in me to draw him off, from their service, though no such thing was ever thought of or propounded; but this they devised and make it a great crime, with several other of the like coin; forcing men to affirm any thing, (as we heard before) but yet the Lord hath delivered us for his great namesake from these unrighteous Judges and suborned Witnesses both at Lambeth and here.  
6. We may also see what eminent testimony hath been borne from heaven against these practices of theirs, for at Lambeth the great Accuser Abdy was starbed that day he should have been rewarded by them for his good service, and an other one Porter spitting upon my head (when I was Preaching with my head out at the grates) killed one of their own Officers, for which he lies in the Gatehouse, if he be not executed, and here at Windsor Mr. Wood one of our bitterest enemies amongst the Commissioners, pleading much for the Governors and Soldiers in the wrongs they did us, hath not enjoyed himself since, (as it is reported) but was presently after snached away by a sudden hand of God. So the that in the way of thy judgements O Lord have we waited for thee, the desire of out Soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee, and as Judge's 5.31. So let all thine enemies perish O Lord! but let them that love thee, be as the Sun when he goeth forth in his might! Amen and Amen.  
My imprisonment in Windsor continued until the Second day of the eighth Month 1655. by which time I had been delivered of a hopeful vision, or prison-born endeavours and discoveries in the work of the day, about Generation-Truth, the two Witnesses, the supputation of the times, Rise and Ruin of the two Beasts, order and nature of the Vials etc. And present state of great Britain in this Grand Apostasy and Turn which is put out to nurse, but being a Male-child is most miserably threatened, and laid to be destroyed, if not bereft of life; but it being the fruit of faith, prayers, inward pangs, contemplations, travels of Spirit night and day, and indeed the very marrow of my prison-contemplations, perhaps it may be hid of God from their bloody hands that seek to cut the throat of it, and I do hope so, for that the seed of a Banish born, is brought into the womb also. Upon the first day of the eighth Month in the evening a Cornet of horse came to Windsor with Orders from Whitehall (or hell rather as from men but, indeed as to us from heaven!) to carry us away with him to Sandham-fort, and so he gave us time to prepare till the next morning, & we must not dispute it; my difficulty lay in the managing of this so sudden news to my poor wife, who was very weak and in Childbed ready to sink upon any sudden motion in so dangerous a condition as she was, being but 4. days (not 5. full out) in Child bed, after so hard & sore a labour as gave her up (in the judgement of them about her) for a dead woman, or at least the child; but that the God of prayers, yea our prison God, the great Jehovah that appeared in the mount Gen. 17.22. & last minute of need (almost) beyond expectation saved both; but yet so as the least trouble, grief, or sudden fright, would probably have endangered her as much, or more than before, this made me look up to him in whom I centre, who giveeth wisdom and upbradeth not, Jam. 1.5. (weighing her weakness) for a space of time, I was treating with her upon the promises, especially to the persecuted & suffering one's for Christ, with the special presence which they have had to support in such cases, instancing in th' examples of our blessed Captain the lord Jesus and his most noble file-leaders, or van-Soldiers, the Apostles, Prophets and primitive Martyrs, who are all for our examples, Jam. 5.10. And so was I first insinuating, preparing, warming and affecting her heart with the precious truths and promises, before I could break the matter unto her, who notwithstanding received it with tears and troubles of heart, not knowing whether they would banish me into Barbadus or such like place, or else Barbarously murder me before we see the faces of one another more: & not having time to provide for wife or children, or the poor prison-bornebabe, I was the next morning notwithstanding I wanted necessaries, and had not riding-Coat, Boots, or things fi● for such a journey, yet with Musketeres and Officers they fetched me out of my Chamber by violence, and rend me from my weak wife in childbed, and weeping babes and children about me; but I bless the Lord that I had first some sealing refreshments to my inwardman, for in my sleep before I waked in the mornings, the Lord met me, at which I said, (as Gerdius did in his torments) Jehovah is on my side, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me, with which I awaked fell to prayer, and arose preparing my Family with prayers and exhortations to all that were about me (and conveying a few of my papers into the bottom of my Stockings at the sols of my feet, to preserve them from their hands and searches) I was brought away to my Bro. F. so by force we were brought to horseback and with the Troopers led like the flock of thy slaughter O Lord Zach. 11.4.5. Whose possessors and persecutors hold themselves not guilty, yea and they that sell us (our Lives, Liberties and Bodies to Barbarians, that are skill full to destroy us! for a little money, places and preferments) say, blessed be the Lord Isa. 66.5. The poor people on both sides of the streets, standing weeping, listing up their eyes, blessing, pitying and praying for us as we passed thorough, to see us so carried and hurried into banishment for the name of Christ. I bless my God I much rejoiced, though I was so harshly rend from my dearest relations and worldly commodities, not having one foot of land, house or estate in the world to live upon, but only the providence of my God (which feeds the Birds, clothes she Lilies and numbers the Sparrows) to depend upon, and yet I sang I say (in this blessed suffering) for joy like the bird of the day, or the Nightingale at the thorn. Yea Dum ova in gremio sunt.)  
The first night we reached to Farnham; the next morning was very cold, blustering, stormy and bitter, yet before I was fully ready they had taken horse, and I was called away and stayed for, so I hasted and we road through great rain, storms, winds and very sore weather to Alton (I think they call it;) where we about noon (being soaked quiet through our ; I and some others bitterly ill, feavourish and weary) had leave to refresh a little, with fire and provisions for ourselves and horese, so we all tarried there a small time hoping it would hold up, the weather yet continuing as bad as before, and the way which we had to go being worse, which made the Cornet and his company of Troopers, well content we should tarry until the next morn, and myself being very violently afflicted with the head ache and in a high burning feavourish distemper, did much desire it, as also did our friend C. D. (now Epaphras our fellow-prisoner) he being (likewise) somewhat troubled with the pain in head, so I laid me down upon the bed, (Bro. F. and his wife being both well through the goodness of God) yet some of them would be going, (although we were so ill and the weather and ways so exceeding bad) but than I did beg in that bitter distemper to stay but one hour upon the bed, only until I had took a little slumber hoping to be a little better by it; but I could not obtain it, notwithstanding some did entreat it for me, yet to no purpose; for away they went, took horse, and left me behind with some Troopers to follow, in that violent bad weather which I was but ill provided against; which when I saw, I was forced to arise, muffle my face about with a scarf, and ride after a great pace, not only to overtake them (which I soon did) but to get to some Inn as soon as I could possibly, that I might lie down and ease my afflicted head; the Cornet straight ways appointing the place we should go unto that night, which was a little Village, 3. or 4. miles short of Porch-mouth, whither (I bless the Lord that enabled me though with pain) I reached (some of the Troop●rs and the Cornet himself being with me) late at night, yet a little before B. F. and some others came, (being exceeding ill in my head) I called for a Chamber, which the Host brought me into (a little poor pitiful room) and made a fire, I laid my head a little on a bed for ease, yet I entreated the man to make a good fire, and provide a room for my B. F. and his wife who were near; the which he did, and Six, yea Six, were forced to lie in my room, (for want of room) all that night, and some 4. or 5. the next day and night when we came to Porch-mouth, so ill were we accommodated in lodging the Troopers not providing any room for me.  
The next day being the fifth day of the Eighth Month 1655. we were in the morning called away with the tide to transport out of our native Country into Exile, which was some trial to the flesh, not knowing their further design therein, but whiles I was committing it unto my heavenly Father, I was called away; and the friends that were with us, so we went to the water side, and upon the Seashore I put my B. F. in mind of our Lord and Master's practice, upon the Seashore, Mar. 4.1. Mat. 13.1. to the people; and of Paul's practice at such times to preach; whereupon he agreed, and began, speaking until the tide came up very near us, than I assayed to exhort the people which were gathered about (and did affectona●ly hear,) out of Acts 28.20. showing what the hope of Israel was, for which we were thus bound and banished; but the Cornet forbade me, and interrupted me often, with the tides rising upon us, and the people's increasing, so I was broken off abruptly in the midst of the Application; at which the people shown abundance of affection, by tears abundance, prayers and earnest cries to the Lord for us; some laying hold on my hands, some on my garments, and so we parted with this lesson left unto them, that for Christ and his Kingdom (only) for this their and our hope was were thus banished and barbarously handled; (how much soever our enemies did falsely report of us in all places;) the people looking after us upon the shore a long time, and so we were carried away to Ride tossing (but a little) on the Seas, and there horsed away, and conveyed to Sandham-fort; a mile before we came at it, the Ensign who was the keeper, being at Brading, and knowing who we were, road galloping and over took us, but gave no respect at all, he kept on before us prisoners very full, and fell (it seems) against us, (at a venture) speaking such bitter & enraged words as made us wonder; the & Goal being as black (as the Gaoler) and as threatening an Earth-hole, without shelter, tree or house about it, upon the Sea and bogs, it looked already as if it were the end of the world unto us; in so much as the very Troopers were troubled and wept (some of them) to see it; (a little description of the place I gave in my Post-scirpt of the Prison born Treat & so I shall forbear here) but when we came to it, we were carried into the Fort (or rather Dungeon lately made out of the Earth) so bad, as the worst prisoner or Cavalier that ever they had, they never cast into it, (though M. Bull speaks of one C. Kern put there) nor was ever any prisoner (as the Ensign himself said it often) put there before? and for many nights (6. nights together after our weary journey) they made us lie in our  (notwithstanding they had bedding locked up in a room) allowing us neither beds nor straw, thus turning us into the Hole like Beasts, but little regarding to provide for us; this continued until the noise thereof about the Island stired up some honest people in Newprrt to send us beds, which was a great refreshment unto us, (blessed be the Lord) yet we was sweetly affected all that time with the sense of Primitive Saints sufferings, and such as lay in Dungeons and Irons for righteousnesse-sake; in Caves and Dens, Heb. 11.38. yea of Nebemiah his Brethren and his Servants, ch. 4.22.23. that lay in their  so long; and I considered withal, how we were (by faith prayer and patience) laying siege to Babylon, which would require hard duty. So that our De●● God made these trials a delight unto us, and indeed as Vincentius the Martyr said of his sufferings, I have always desired these Dainties. For other things also we were sorely put to it, the B●ead we could get for money (which was not easy) was very bad, of bad savour of worse taste, but good enough for poor prisoners; nay not bad enough in a sense, if we went ad Carceres, as ad Epulas et Nuptias, as the Martyr used to do with great joy: And the Water we drank was of a very filthy ditch, (with out we catched some rain now and then) brackish, black and very unwhosome, if not venomous; much more I might say, but I shall forbear; seeing this is nothing to what the Holy Seed (whom we succeed) of the Woman have suffered, and been glad to drink their own water in former ages, though this is almost incredible at this time of day, in this nation, and from such men too (as the present Ophitae, for so I may call the Persecutors in this matter that serve the Serpent, Rev. 12.14.) seem and pretend to be; during this Siege, & sore trial of faith upon us, we fed much upon the Martyr's meat & drink, when they were without meat & drink or sustenance for nature, & since the (yet higher) sufferings in this Castle where I now am, I have hearty fallen upon John's fare (methinks) of ' Locusts & wild honey, (as men esteem it) for, ut tanquam medicamenta sic alimenta sumpturus sum; that of R. Samuel Minister & martyr in Q. Mary's days coming much to mind, kept in Clole-prison, chained, standing on tiptoe, so with out meat and drink for many days, that he would have often drunk his own Water, but his body was dried up and he could not make one drop; and I would thus as (much as may be) extenuate in my own mind our sufferings, as nothing for my Lord and Master's sake, (and as much as our enemies do or can) yet I must say, this hath been the more trial to the flesh, yet the more subtly men have carried it, and the less noise it hath made▪ Now to obviate this report of our hard usage, which broke a broad about the Ears of the Court, they cunningly caused an Order to be printed which was cried about London streets, and the report thereof spread about the Nation (to stop the other report of their inhuman Tyranny and bad usage of us,) that we were removed to a private house for better accommodation; the contents are as followeth, of the two Orders.  

Friday the 28. of September 1655. At the Council at Whitehall. ORDERED,  
By his Highness the Lord Protector and the Council, that Mr. Feake & Mr. Rogers now prisoners in Windsor-Castle, be for●h with removed to Sandham Castle under the command of Cap. Boreman in the Isle of Wight, there to be secured in safe Custody till further Orders; to which purpose warrants are to be iessued and it is referred to Com. Gen. Whaley to take order for appointing a Guard to convey them accordingly.  
Upon this Order and other Warrants, as if were we Felons or fearful Villains and Miscreants, we were carried into this Banishment, but that saying of our Saviour hath sweetly refreshed me, Luke 22.52. Be ye come out as against a Thief with swords and staves? When I was dally with you teaching, ye stretched forth no hands against me, but this is your Hour and the Power of darkness.   
The other Order follows.  

At the Council at White hall, Tuesday the 9 of October 1655.  
Whereas his Highness and the Council are informed, that Sandham Castle in the Icy o● Wight, where Mr. Feake and Mr. Rogers are at present Secured; doth not afford them Convenient Accommodations: Ordered by his Highness and the Council that the said Mr. F. and Mr. R. be removed from the said Castle to such part of the West of the Isle of Wight, as Maj. Boreman shall judge meet for accommodation of their health, and with respect to their security and privacy.   
The pretence of this Order they also printed and spread about, that the Cornet Str. who brought us thither, upon his return made report of the badness of the place, and of the want of fitting Conveniencies, (as if they knew it not before) and thereupon they printed it, Octob. 12. 1655. that Order, was immediately sent for our removal into some private house, where we might be lodged, and have air and things fitting for our health. Now this Counter-report pretending love and pity, almost quashed the former, of their Cruelty to us, but for all this High noise, there was no such matter really effected for such a removal, but the people were deluded, and gulled and lulled with a good opinion of these Persecutors for this pretence of their Charity to us, and then the enemy could take a better blow in Cruelty at us, and with less noise than before, as he did indeed at me (as fully as fowlly) in my removal to this Monstrous Theatre of Tyranny, where I now am under the rogue of wild Beasts rather than rational Creatures, looking when to be torn a pieces, trampled under foot, yea murdered by them, should the Lord whom I serve suffer them to be let lose. For if ever there were such a people as Philastrius tells us of, (in Lib. de Haeres.) called Cajiani from Cain, whom they honoured for his Fradricide, saying he had the greatest power, but his Brother Abel the least, and they would serve the greatest Power: Sure these I am now amongst (of all men that I ever saw) are such, and their Castle may be called not Carisbrook, so much as Cains-brook Castle, for they serve his Power and Principle; nor could they pretend Accommodation in the least to remove me hither, but all on the contrary, being worse here then ever in any Goal for that matter, but for all their pretences, there we continued in that worse than Bonner's coal house until the 31. day of the eighth Month, and notwithstanding the Lord visited me (like a Father) with a sore and fierce  in this hole, I was (with that on my back) carried a way through sad storms, ways and weather, by Order from the Court with Soldiers and the Ensign from this Fort further into banishment to Arten-house, of Freshwater Island; an Isle within an Isle; an exile within exile, etc. ubi latares duplicantur; & about this time did some of the Sisters of the Church-Society go to Whitehall with a demand of me; refusing to petition or send in a parer, but after long tarrying, and with much difficulty, word was brought them from O. C. (with a great asseveration) that Orders were sent down to open the Prison doors for me, & let me out, but if I would not, then to accommodate me with all conveniencies in the Prison; but, Pectus Satan● mendaciis foe cundissimum est, there was never any such matter (that ever I heard off) but this policy was invented to pack them away, by those that have made lies their refuge. They asked why the Brethren came not, and why my wife came not, but I had indeed sent letters to her to keep off, least parlying with the Serpent she should be ensnared. With me, I carried about my papers in my  (and other ways) as the Martyr Tyndall did his, (which doubled both his and my labours;) hiding them (at Arten house) inholes and walls, and pots and panns to preserve them from the enemy, and so Mr. Fox carried his about; and it may be these my poor prison-labours may minister to the public (one day) as theirs have done. But in this prison also, being near the Sea, I had Nazianzen's sight of sad shipw racks, as they have done with their Faith and Consciences that banish us; and of the Sea working (like the wicked enemies who foam nothing but si●h, mire and dirt;) and and as in a storm it cast up light and empty things, but not things solid & heavy, so (as he applis it to afflictions & trials in persecution) light & empty spirits are soon turned over, and tossed up and down (by the present foaming enemies) and keep not their constancy: but solid spirits (like the Rock) stand firm endure their rage out, and will not stir an inch for them; (in B●nnishment or Bonds) but as Mr. Burroughs says in his Moses Choice chap. 6. Men know not their own hearts, they find them otherwise (than they thought for) when the trials come; they never thought they had so much pride, impatience, unbelief, covetousness and self as they may see they have then. But in this House was I guarded with a fierce company of Herodians (Soldiers) for as they who handled my Lord Christ so cruelly would fancy Herod to be the Messiah (Epiph. Haer. 20.) from jacob's prophecy that the Sceptre should not departed from Judah till Shiloh came, wherefore Herod (a stranger) possessing the Sceptre, they took him for Shiloh; so these who handle us so hardly (some of the best) fancy their Lord Protector C. to be the man on whose shoulders the Government of Christ lies, accerding to Isa. 9.6. (and Blasphemous speech to his Parliament Jan. 22.1654. pag. 31, 32.) But these sat up day and night to watch me, and yet indeed it was a much better Prison than the other for air, and other accommodations; for diet, lodging, etc. Thither came my poor wife with 2. Children unto me; Upon the Lords-days because I preached, were 4. Soldiers or sore biting Leopards set a fresh upon my bones; but upon other days but two, who were renewed upon me day by day, and followed me so close with their Herodian rudeness, that some of them would force within my Room, at unseemly seasons, & that with very irrational bruitishness indeed; yea dog me much immodestly, when I eased nature, added withal (very often) words and threats if I stayed any thing, long, and that without any provocation: Two or three Gentlemen and my dear friends from London, who came to see me, were there assaulted, (after they were suffered to see me, & one of them two coming purposely from London to bring me physic for my , but the Lord was my Physician before he came, as Rollock said, es tu Deus mede eris mihi) and more Soldiers of the fiercest sort were fetched from Yarmouth (a mile or 2. off) to feaze upon them and their horses, carrying them prisoners before the Deputy Governor, (for no other reason but for visiting me) having taken no offence at them neither by word nor action, so that friends were scared from coming ●o sivit; I shall pass over the daily wrongs the people had in whose house I was kept prisoner: the Soldiers put on to it by Officers. Some poor people of the Island that creeped in, to hear me preach on the Lords-days, were wonderfully mennaced by the Soldiers, yea their names taken and carried to the D. Governor, to be ordered, or committed; yea some of these brutish Bears were sent abroad, before the poor Creatures that came to hear the Word) were at the house to force them away, and not suffer them to come near, lest they should hear me preach. A Lieutenant came to tell me, if I would not preach nor meddle with his L. P. in my sermons, I should have liberty to take the air a mile or two on the Downs, a Soldier or two attending me, to whom I said, that liberty was my right, but to take it upon such terms I would lose my rights first, and as for preaching the Word I had a better commission and Authority for it, than any of them had to hinder it or to wear their swords by their sides; for your Authority was from the world, but mine from him that made the world to be subject unto his son, whom I preach and declare; and so far as his L. P. or any alive should stand in a way or interest against Christ, I would contend for my most dear Master Jesus Christ against him, (with the help of God) yea if he cut my tongue out of my head, or me limb from limb, and leave me but a stump, that stump should stand against him and them to their teeth, that oppose Christ and his kingdom; much more to that effect I spoke unto him, who doubtless told his tail. A poor Soldier who pitied my condition under such hardship for my conscience, would comfort me, and confer with me out of Scriptures, which being perceived he was soon cashiered, and cast quite out; this only for his civility and honesty, (poor creature, but he had comfort in it) and the worst Churls they could pick were appointed to watch and ward me day and night, but this prison being too commodious, where I might see friends in the yard, if they came to see me; and too good (as they accounted it) for me, it being a good air, and in its self well accommodated, I was removed from thence, with a company of Soldiers upon the 5. day of the 10. month, to Carisbrook-Castle, or rather cain's brook-Castle where I now am; and indeed they did show a most un Christian inhumanity in the manner of removal of me; the the days being so short, the ways so bad, and the weather so bitter, and (to boot) by reason of so long and lamentable an imprisonment, my body so unused to it, and yet with poor little horses, at 2. a clock in the afternoon (so late) they called me out, and a way; which when I bogled at it, being so unseasonable an hour (for such a journey in a dark cold night, over bleak Downs, dangerous wries, scarce going by one house till Carisbrook) for my weak wife and two Children; the Leopards consulted together, and one of the Offices concluded to pull me out by the ears, and so by force and sury to fetch m●e away; but when I saw I must go, (knowing their bloody dispositions) and that by no means I could be permitted to tarry until the morn, I required of the chief Officer the Serj. a copy of his warrant, who shown me his, (although the other Officers as they used to do) s●id to some other his sword was his warrant, pointing to it by his side, which when I heard I said in good time, is it come to that? And thus every thief in the highway says, but in this Isle it is the constant and common answer of the Soldiers, when we ask hy what Law or Order, to say by this, drawing their sword, or laying hand on the hilt, the Order was to convey me hither; within one hour or little more the night was come upon us, the ways were exceeding glib and rough with ice, and frosts, the winds high and sharp, which blew the snow out of the clouds full upon our faces, the night was very black, dismal and dark, without Moonshine or Starlight until we came at Carisbrook town, the road being unbeaten and over high mountany Downs, up and down, so that we did alight often in the dark and footed it as far and fast as we could; for as Origen said, when the Emperor sent for him in his Chariot, that he would go on foot for his Master (Christ.) My wife (being weak road but once) was very ill, with the unusual (black) night air; I (also) was at last overcome, and I fell down twice in the way, but with hot waters I was refreshed a little, and forced to trudge in the dark again, until with a very dangerous difficulty (contemplating the hard travails of the Primitive Saints and Martyrs) after several hours in the night we were brought into a poor house in Carisbrook, and there lying upon a bed, I was pretty well refreshed after an hour or two, and then a Sergeant came to me in the deep of the night with a copy of the Order from the keeper of the Castle to receive me his prisoner, under Scobells' hand, Clerk of the Council in Whitehall, not signifying for what Cause or Crime, nor hath any Order so done to this day, (that ever I could see) but only their will and pleasure.  
The Orders are as followeth.  

In pursuance of an Order of the Council of the 28. of November last, you are hereby authorized and required safely to convey Mr. Rogers from the house of Mr. Vrry at Afton, and so to deliver him to the Commander in chief at Carisbrook-Castle to be there secured till further Order from his Highness or the Council;  
Given under my hand at Brook this 4. of December 1655. To Sergeant Nol●ard the●e. Thomas Boreman.   

Wednesday the 28. of November 1655. At the Council at White hall. ORDERED  
That Mr. Rogers now restraned to a private house in ehe Isle of Wight be ramoved to Carisbrook-Castle, and there secured till further Order; and that the Deputy Governor of the Isle of Wight do take care that he be removed accordingly,  
Henry Scobell Clerk of the Council.   
Here is no Crime nor Cause I thank the Lord, which minds me of that, in Jer. 50.20. ' Their iniquity shall be sought for, and there shall ' be none. Now could their juggle of accommodation be now pretended, it being because of the accommodation rather in Arten-house; & because of the incredible cruelty & tyranny of this castle that I was brought hither: So that the Lord my God saw it meet to bring my body under harder discipline, for as Tertullian says, Nimis delicatus es Christiane! etc. Christian, thou art too delicate for me, who must have thine ease, thy peace, thy pleasure and delight in this world; and so in an other place (de fugea in persec.) speaking against them, that will shrink, comply or fly for fear of harder persecution; says he ' non potest qui pati timet, ejus esse qui passus est. He that is afraid or runs away from sufferings, can be none of his who hath suffered so much; and indeed is hath been very teaching to me, to set Christ upon his cross before me; Heb. 12.2.2.10. The Captain of our Salvation, being made perfect through sufferings. And can we think to be perfect without sufferings for Christ? No surely.  
But to proceed.  
In this pitifully distempered estate of Body, I was sent for from tha● poor house 〈◊〉 the Commissary and some others being ready to convey me (with the foresaid Sergeant, Corporal and Soldiers,) into the Castle, and for my encouragement they told us the Moon was up, but perceiving their resolution and importunity, I desired liberty to prayer, after which we were carried up into the Castle; as I came in at the first Gate I made a stand, resigning myself, (Soul and body) into the hands of my most dear God and Father, through Jesus Christ? not knowing that ever I should come out alive; I said aloud (to them all) in the name of the Lord do I enter here, and for the sake of Jesus, which they all witnessed unto, as well enemies as others; I was guarded through the Musketteres, standing on both sides with Muskets, pieces and matches light, I was with my wife and two children put up into a very little, poor, smoking, cold Garret, upon the top of all, (which was a common Soldiers room) and although it was a little trial to my wife, not having a Chair to sit on, and so little that we could not readily turn or stir about business in it, the bedstead (which was borrowed) taking up the most part, and the smoke of the chimney turning all into the Room at some times, so as we could scarce see one another, yet did much rejoice to be so penned up, (for the Son of man had not where to lay his head,) and in an upper Room too; from the consideration of our dear Lord Jesus, his choosing an upper room to eat the  which his Disciples in, when his time was at hand; that night I was so Exceedingly distempered and ill, that I was forced to betake me to some rest, in such lodging as we could get; the next morning came my dear concaptives (for this most noble and excellent Cause of the King of Saints) to see me Maj. Gen. Harrison and Mr. Courtney, who were a long time kept up in this close Goal, where now I was brought to be their companion; some part of our time which was spent together was in praying, instructing & praising our God, not omitting this his merciful overruling sweet providence which had brought us together into one Goal (as well as one Exile,) for one and the same Master (the Lord Jesus) and in one and the same Cause, Testimony and Truth; and this too by those very men, that not long before would not let me come near this Castle, lest I should once have seen these servants of the Lord, but upon the walls. Upon the Lordsdays I preached in my room as I used to do, and who of the Soldiers would had liberty to hear me, for two or three days; yea Bull himself the grand keeper hereof, which did indeed refresh the hearts of some p●o ● soul's, who got in also to hear me, but this liberty at first, was to find out matter against me, for a colour of their preintended future Tragedy, tyranny and entrenchment; I was also (soon after) removed into better rooms, which Mr. Bull now brags of, where I now am; but the be doing we had in the Garret was taken from us, and we forced to some want therein, until some at Newport sent some in unto us, for which (with what we hire) we bless the Lord; notwithstanding I told Bull that I was well contented to lie on straw, or else (if they would not allow me straw) on the bare boards, only I pitied my wife being not well; but for all their cruelty to us, our kind Father provided for us. Some honest people of the Country did desire me to minister to them, some light of the kingdom of Christ, & of his Second coming, so that we kept every fifth day in the after-noons for that purpose, and poor people came in a pac● many miles about to hear me, who with tears, prayers and blessings of God expressed great affection, refreshing and rejoicing thereat, saying O Sir! O not you, not you, but we are the Prisoners, etc. yea some Prestbiterians who came out of novelty, or with no good will, when they once came brought others with them the next day so that the noise was great round the Island, and the Priests raged, (it is reported) lest their Offices should be left unto them desolate, Mat. 23.16. John 7.33, 34. Many of the people believed in Christ and his Doctrine, and his good report began to ring in their ears, the chief Priests sent Officers to take him, so these it seems could not rest to see the people to flock after and believe this doctrine of the Reign of Christ, and therefore some Officers came to hear, with a purpose to catch matter of accusation against me, but went away with approbation, as ver. 46. blessed be the Lord therefore, for thus was the Son glorified in their eyes, by his Spirit which spoke and shown them of the things to come, John 16.13, 14. Yet the enemy could not rest thus, but finding nothing which they could six upon against me, and the people increasing, upon the twenty seventh day of the tenth month, Bull went forth of feasting, and left men of most bruitsh spirits, to manage his new plot and orders in his absence; setting Sentinels upon my door, driving away the people, who came to hear the Gospel, (though the enemy had nothing to say why so; no not one word so much as against their Government, but even what they say they allow, as the pure Gospel of Christ in us, and of the power of godliness,) though they could not ●ow bear it, I preaching such points as the godly people and their Teacher Mr. S. proposed for satisfaction in, and light upon,) some poor people got in, and stood under my prison-window; the Herodian-Soldiers not suffering them to come into the room, saying they had orders to keep all from coming to me, and they must obey orders, but we asked them if they meant all Orders of men good or bad, they said yea● for if they were evil let their Officers look to that, for it would be their Officers sin and not theirs, and what they commanded them to do, they must and would do, what ever it were; we told them that this was a dangerous and indeed a Soule-damning principle; for so the Soldiers that nailed Christ to the Cross obeyed Orders too, and so do the Turkish Janissaries at this day, and so did all those Soldiers and Executioners, that murdered, massacred and marty●ed the Saints in all Ages; besides we prayed them to consider the case of judas when his conscience smit him, he thought to have said the sin too (as they say) upon the Captains and Priests that set him a work, and gave him his pay for it, Mat. 27.4. But they said, what is that to us, see you to that? and so he fell desperate and hanged himself. Lord! then (says a Sergeant) would you not have us obey Orders, we answered not all orders of men; and prayed them first to advise with the Word of God, for such as were against God's Word they ought not to obey, for that Christ's death hath freed them from such a servitude of men, 1. Cor. 7.23. Gal. 5.1. 1.10. And Ephrahim was broken for this, Hos. 5.11. And now as they were Christians they had but one Lord, the Lord Jesus who was to be their Lord, Acts. 10.36. Rom. 14.9. & Law giver; for else what were the difference between them and Turks, Infidels or Heathens? But in things honest, good and lawful they must obey their superiors as an Ordinance of God: But than said the Soldiers, if their Orders be against God's word, let the higher Officers look to that, for that they would obey them, and so fell upon the poor people very roughly, being far more brutish, irrational and disingenuous (if not irreligious) then many of the Papists, Pharises, Priests, Heathens and Turks, and in the very Massacre of France, we have it upon Record Fox voll. 3. of Queen Elizabeth page 64. Anno 1572. That the common Executioner of Troy's, whose name was Charles, being commanded by Bellin and the Magistrates of the Town, and that in the King's name too; and by his Commission answered; that it was contrary to his office to execute any man before sentence of death had been first pronounced by the Magistrate; if they had such sentence of death to show against the (Hugonites) prisoners he was ready, otherwise he would not presume with out a warrant (of Law and Justice) to bereave any man of his life. So that this bloody Popish wretch who was used to shed blood, would not obey all Orders, no not of the King or Magistrates without due process of Law, or sentence of death upon the prisoners; yea Perennot also, their Gaoler as bloody or worse than he, answered the same men in the same case; that he could not undertake to obey their Orders, fearing least in time to come, justice might be do●e against him by the Parents or allies of the poor prisoners, after they was dead or made a way with; and yet he was commanded by the King's Commissioners, Magistrates and in the King's name. Now would one believe men professing godliness too in England, should be of worse or more wicked principles, to obey all Orders; the Lord (then) have mercy upon us for the plague increases then: But we bade the Sergeant consider these things seriously how that the Jews blind obedience to their Leaders brought the curse upon them, but Lord says he, I never heard of such men, what should we not obey Orders; we told them as before not in things unlawful; but this it seems that we said was a great offence to them, and made Bull report (and probably send to his Masters, for he is a fit servant to such men; blessed be God therefore that we have such a Gaoler of so sharp, but short horns) affirming that we would draw the Soldiers from their obedience; only for our instructing them in that obedience which they owe to God, and which to man. But some poor souls having got into hear this discourse, did occasion a desire from them to hear me preach, either in the yard out of the window, or any where, but for this once; but the rude Leopards began to rave and roar at that motion, saying they would not suffer it; and when any reason was asked, they said they was not bound to give us any reason, but this that they would not suffer it; nor could we have any other reason but this, that they had Orders and must obey them. But we told them we hoped man would not forbid what Christ (our King and Lord) had commanded, than we opened some Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament un●o them, wherein we were commanded by God to assemble together, to pray, profit and edify one another in the most holy faith, and asked of them, if at any time they had heard any thing delivered which was not profitable and teaching to the Souls of men, or dissonant in their own judgement with the Word of truth, for they all knew and confessed I had not (the honest people so desiring it) meddled with their Government or the like, that this liberty (in the Ordinances) might have been continued us, and no offence or occasion be offered them) they all said, they could not say, I had delivered any thing but what was good and sweet, profitable and to edification, and wished they might hear such men, and said the Sergeant I had rather hear him then any man alive; and did hear him as long as I durst, but now we have Orders against it and we must obey them. But then we prayed them to remember the blood of Jesus Christ which hath bought us, these blessed privileges and no man ought to take them from us, Gal. 5.1. And therefore hoped they would not offer to fight against that which they confessed was the pure & true word (& wày) of God; but they said they must obey Orders be they what they would that their superiors put them upon, or else they must be hanged, & this Doctrine tended to have them hanged, so that they were sorely incensed uttering as we say, Decem pedalia & sesqui pedolia verba! or Vperolcha. But I, Maj. Gen. & Mr. C. withdrew, with words of Consolation to the poor weeping people about us, into my lodge, and after a little space, I began in prayer and fell a little to preaching out at the window, to the poor people (who desired it) and some came under the window, the whiles they had sent word to their Governor Bull, who was feasting not far off, with his wife and others, sufficiently trampling over us, and insulting over us (the prisoners) among their cups and repasts, as we heard by them present; and because some few of the Soldiers were touched in Conscience and could not exercise their commanded Cruelty, they took, as Acts 17.5. Certain jude fellows of the base sort, and so set upon us, and the poor people hearing under the windows, who weeped, cried and prayed that for this once (now they were come) they might hear, wring their hands bitterly, and tears running down (rifely) their cheeks, with their Bibles in their hands; but the brutish Soldiers, haled and furiously drove them away with their swords (the Law we are now under) men and women, Acts 8.3. shutting and shoving them out at the Gates, yea threatening to put the poor hearts into their Hole or Dungeon only for their unwillingness to leave hearing me, although I did so ply the rough Bruits with Scriptures, entreaties, and tears (as the Lord did melt me then exceedingly, that I think I might say with Aug. Ad pedes prociderem & flerem quantum Possum etc.) for Christ's sake, his truth's sake, and their own Souls sake, to hear me but one word, one word! merely for their Souls, their inward man, their Salvation; but to consider for this once the blood of Christ, our blessed Jesus who died for us to give us this privilege, and for his sake to let the poor sheep alone for this once; yea but a little, a little, seeing they came so far and so many miles about, eight or nine miles a foot, (poor hearts) many of them, and yet these Soldiers would not hear me, (only one or two who heard, were weary of this work of the Devil, and others fresh and crank to it recruited them;) They had turned away that day (before this) many great companies, round the Island; and Mr. S. a godly Minister told me, at least 500 had come from round about the Island, could they have had liberty to hear the noise of the Gospel of the Kingdom began so to spread over all this Isle. But by and by, came Bull in, to make a thorough execution of this persecution, he took some of the Soldiers to task, for not doing violence enough to the Lords flock of slaughter, Zach. 11.4, 5. Threatening them, and making a speech to the rest to play the men (or I may say beasts rather as the word is, 2 Thess. 3.2. Atopos absurd, insolent) and if any of them were resolved to hear me, he required them immediately to lay down their arms and be gone; two or three of them making conscience wept, and went into a little discourse with him professing they never heard any thing from us but what was good, profitable and to edification in Christ, and said they had heard before I came hither, and that they had fought for this liberty of conscience, and aught to hear the word of God; but he told them they were weak, and were soon deluded, and what ever I said of Christ, I meant no such thing, but had some other design, and the Castle would be in danger to hear such a one as I was; and he would not suffer it: After a while the Maj. Gen. Mr, C. and I did look up unto our Maker, and Father, and with fixing our eyes upon the holy one of Israel, Isa. 17.7. we proceeded (from such an access) to some discourse with Bull, who was worrying of the poor Soldiers (that were not yet in full compliance with him) when we came near he brustled up fiercely, through a forced compliment (which he hath learned the art off) the Maj. Gen. first spoke unto him by whom we demanded his grounds to deal so injuriously with us and the poor people, or rather with our Lord Jesus; and that of such a sudden too, without giving any notice of his dislike in the least; but he (in a quandary what to say though his tongue is too volluble and violent with lying and slandering) he hammered out at last, that he did it to prevent inconveniencies, saying the people had itching ears after novelties, and might soon be deluded, but I asked him (seeing he had heard me) whither I had at any time delivered any Doctrine which was dangerous, or tended thereunto; or whether I preached any thing but Christ and him crucified, with the power of godliness; or whither any thing against their Government or affairs to the people, etc. He said, that I had preached we must press forward, and not blow always in one furrow, which he thought tended as much as to say they must not walk in the ways of their forefathers who were wisemen, and good men, and saved; and there was but one way of Salvation, and therefore he said that was dangerous doctrine to put them on to novelties; and as for preaching Christ he confessed he had heard me preach very good things, but he believed I had a design in time to insinuate into the people against the Government, and to throw down his Lord Protector and to set up Maj. Gen. (notwithstanding I preached Christ) yet that was the thing he perceived I drove on, and with words to that effect he fell into to a very bestial fury of rage and railing upon the Maj. Gen. but yet as very grossly flattering me to my face as abusing me behind my back, the first of which might more trouble me then the last, as Paul was grieved, Acts 16.18. at such an unclean Spirits praise; but we told him we drove on no design, (the Lord our God knew) but the pure design of God himself to exalt Jesus Christ only, nor had I the least word or thought (ever yet I bless God) of throwing down one man to set up an other, much less Maj. Gen. H. but this was his own devise; and if I had offended he ought like a Christian to have told me of it, which I should have been thankful for; before any such violence had been used, besides it was that (now) common Government of Hypocrisy which we engaged against in others, yea and were now in bonds for our witness against it, and if we ourselves were such men, the Lord whom we appeal to, would judge us for it, but the Lord the righteous Judge knows how our very Souls abhor any such thing; and as for that Doctrine of growing in grace and pressing on to perfection of light, and holiness of life which was all I urged; it was far from dangerousness or evil design, (unless to the Devil and his Kingdom) nor did we think they were to be content in the state of their forefathers, for than they should be yet Papists or Lutherans, but although that there was but one way of salvation ye● there were several steps, degrees & grouths to be taken in that one way, (Jesus Christ) and this was the thing preached upon. And thus this pitiful ignorant, but (as he carries it) a most proud Sultan-like insulting Orbilius, and indeed a most conceited wretch of wrath, who had a little before, with most abominable lies, and conceptions of his own creating, devising & inventing against Spiritual Doctrines and truths; complained at Court and put out a precious godly Minister (the Chaplain of this Garrison, and then after denied it I hear, as ashamed of what he had done;) for not complying with their lusts and sins, but for preaching the power of godliness, and against their continuance in open and known sins, as of Drunkenness, etc. (which the godly people in this Island have informed me; He now as foully falls upon the pitiful poor (miserably) enslaved people of this Island, as well as upon us) but for hearing of me; and yet could not find a colour for it, but only his own pure (or rather impure) invention and fancy of a danger which might accrue thereupon in time, and surmising (or pretending so) at least, a sign (which the Devil told him off, that we had in preaching Christ to the poor souls! and when he desired to see his Orders, he denied to show us any, but his absolute Will and sword sovereignty over these poor slaves and us exiles and prisoners: falling into most fool, irritating unsavoury provoking language; with his wont impudence and open faculty of lying, slandering, bearding and abusing (for which he is so notoriously famous in this Isle) that we went (for shame) from him, surdis auribus sed oculis intentis in Christum; and so left him to that spirit that possessed him: but after that, the soldiers were examined (such as were well-given) whether they would hear me; if so, then to lay down arms forthwith and be gone; there must be no disputing it, only one or two (I think) had liberty given to consider upon it one day. Soon after this Bull made (or procured) a muster, and provided a Barrel of Beer for such of his soldiers (which they say he never did before) as would readily obey his Orders; but others he required to lay down their Arms forthwith, and so read an Engagement to them for their present government. Thus like the Priests (as Jo. 12 9, 10.) they endeavoured to put Lazarus also to death, because that Jesus had raised him up to life: lest the report hereof should offuscate and obscure them. Upon the Lord's day after, some men of the ●sland came into the Castle, to hear on that day; but the sentinels at the door drove them off again; and turned them into their own Chapel; the poor people of this Island being such absolute pure slaves under the long sword, that they durst not hear the Word, but where they will. Yet I preaching near the window, and my voice heard thorough, some poor people would steal under the wall and in holes to hear, but were soon discovered and driven away; yea, Bull himself, when he came out of the Chapel did bestir him, and lay about him, and because some of his soldiers would stand behind the guard door, or make as if they walked about business in the yard, to hear (as they did at Windsor, often make as if they lay on the grass and slept) he drives his soldiers into the guard, and there keeps them in himself till I had done: as the Bishop of L. used tell K. James a tale in the Sermon time, when any good man preached against the Hierarchy or Ceremonies of their Church, lest the King should overhear them, and so receive the truth preached; talking to them of Cocks and Bulls as we say, lest any should over hear a word of the Sermon. In the middle of the week he came to me, and threatened to deal with me, and remove me out of these rooms, etc. if I let my voice be so loud as to be heard out at the window more, to their disturbance (as he said): but I told him as chrysostom the Empress Eudoxia when she threatened him, Nil nisi peccatum timeo. I should obey God and not man in that matter, nor was he, but Christ to me the Lord of the Sabbath, Luke 6.5. Christ only is my master in preaching, bidding him do his worst; then he bid the bed I had to lion be taken away, which was done; at which I demanded of him straw to lion, but the good people, especially Mr. B. a well affected honest man, at whose house the godly people meet at New port; kept me from lying on the boards, or any such hardship as they would have brought me or mine unto in this Goal; but it seems to their sufferings, for this Bull does bellow out with most bitter malice & rage against them also; especially against Mr. B. whom he highly persecutes to this day, (I hear) sometimes sending up armed soldiers, with swords and musket's, to bring him away prisoner out of his own house to him in the Town Corporation; threatening and troubling him, breaking open his letters that came from London, to his great hindrance (Bull himself being a trader) and going up and down in person to hear what one or another can say against Mr. B. and what not that is arbitrary and tyrannical? So that by this we may see,  
1. Their horrible dissembling, lying, and undoubted Hypocrisy, whiles they manifest such monstrous hatred to us, they pretend to imprison us out of love to us; and yet I think it is more out then in.  
2. How we suffer at this day for the word of God, Gospel of Christ, and power of Godliness purely; whiles they most falsely possess the poor ignorant people in the Nation, that now there is no persecution for conscience; for preaching the Word; or for Religion; but only for other matters: and that a man may be as holy as he will, which are lies in Hypocrisi●.  
3. That they are such a greedy sort of persecutors as our persons, lives, bodies, liberties; blood will not serve their turns, but they persecute our very souls also; for hearing, praying and worshipping of the Lord, yea on the Lords days; nor suffering us to have so much a● upon the Lords days any communion with the Saints, or people, or worship of God as much as in them lies.  
4. And they are the most impudent ●ould faced Persecutors (I think) that ever the earth bore; for they justify and dourish the foulest evils with the fairest Colours that can be; yea pretend so highly for the Lord in all they do, saying let God be glorified, Isa. 66.5. yea, as Zach. 11.4, 5. ' Whose Possessors (Keepers of Gaolers) sl●y ●●e● and hold themselves not guilty, and they that sell them (for nice, pay, places, or preferment,) ' say blessed be the Lord for we are rich (by it.) Such a pack of Apostates sure were never heard of for craft and cruelty; policy and lying pretences; and indeed it is no ●ore in my judgement then the face of the Serpent, from w●●● we must and do fly for ●●ree days and an half, Rev. 12.14. B●● the Bal's bitter ●age is out begun here; he must now make a ●●●●●tive of his faithful service, and most noble (or rather ignoble) feats ●ad aten●●vements to his Masters at Court; by frigating them with a ●raught report and ●n invented story of us as dangerous persons 〈◊〉 of deigns and according to ●is armed fancies and obsequiousness to them (his Masters) to ●all on us, w●en their commands shall come; requicing with all an Or●e● (or at least a licence) to prosecute his hell-begotten graceless victory further, & to the full; by pouring more contempt on our dear Christ, his Word, his Gospel and holy Spirit; and ●s the poor prisoners, exiles and witness of Jesus; as our most righteous as God, the elect Angels, Churches, Ministers, S●●nts and other men, yea the Word and Spirit of God, the three th●● bear record in heaven with our ow● consciences, do d●ly bear us witness, what ever our enemies have the face to say, to deceive themselves and others with. Wherefore upon the 21. or 22. day of the 11. Month the Pope's Bull began to roar and goa● again more fiercely than formerly, (without any cause shown why) kept us up close prisoners with incredible cruelty, and (I think among Christians) a most unheard of usage in banishment, suffering none, man, woman, nor child to come at us; nor our victuals or necessaries to come to us; or any of our families to fetch it in for us, nor any letters to come freely in unto us, or go from us; but we were in our close prisons as ignorant of the thing as of the Cause till we tried it, (not imagining it had been in men at this day, so far to exceed the very Pagan-powers in their persecutions in banishment, and yet to pretend there is no persecution) is th●y do in their extraordinary Hypocrisy; the Lord pity us! but ●hen we would have sent out for provisions the servants was stayed by ●he Captain of the Guard, and told none should go (which he had Orders for) nor any provision come to us but by their hands; which when we heard and knowing already the declared principles of the present Soldiers, whom he had packed out and moddeled (by this time) for his very purpole, to do what ever he bid them do, (those which had any remorse or touch in conscience being cast out or kept out) we perceived clearly their design began now to destroy us, starve us, murder or massacre us, for to make us comply with their lusts, & thus they laid siege against us to conquer us to their side, i. e. to play the Hypocrites, Apostates, perjured wretches and Beasts with them. But we ●ought the Lord our dear Father of heaven and earth, according to whose Word, Spirit and example of all holy men we resolved (with his grace) to die, or be starved with a good conscience, rather than to live without; yet we sent a servant to Bull to demand a copy of his Order for this his unheard of tyranny (in an exile) which he refused, and bid complain if we would, but alas! we had none to complain unto (which he knew) but unto Jehovah t●e righteous Judge: (our only refuge and helpor) Yet at length he said he had Orders from his Superiors at Whitehall, but would not show then; in this time it pleased God my poor wife was forely ill, for whom we could not have what she needed, nor any one be suffered to fetch them for money, yea if any woman came but to see her, the Sentinel & Soldiers would not suffer it, and when one Sentinel was desired but to let one poor woman come in to see her, he said O! what good will it do you to see me killed before your eyes, I shall be hanged Presently if I should; for I am charged upon pain of death not to let any one come near you, or in unto you; yea some friends (at times) coming long, tedious and chargeable journeys, of 20, 30, 40, 60, or 100 miles, some out of the Island and some out of our native land, but to see us and to minister to our necessities, were not suffered, but turned back again at their outward gate (after so great and chargeable journeys) with tears; and some of them before even we knew of it, yea some that we know not of to this day; (pretending 'tis like they would comfort us) and the Maj. General's man being sent from his own house, dear relations and Family in England to visit him, and so at Newport to buy victuals to bring in unto us (it need were) was carried before Bull, to whom he said he was sent to see his Master; but Bull said he was 〈◊〉, but without he would sign an engagement which (by this time) ●●ll had drawn up, he said he might be gone again, for he should not so much as see him; and so turned the poor man back again, but t●at he had a key to let him in whether he will or no, which till then this Bull did not know of, and thus in an unexpected way he got in to see his Master. But to return to an aliquid amplius which i● an aliquid altius their sword-Law and orders against us; so straight was this siege they said against us, that one Mrs. C. getting in but to a pair of staira near our lodge, was forced away lest she should see my wife, and threatened if ever she came but into the Castle again, they would be her death and break her neck; and now behold what a providence of our Father (who taketh care for the Sparrows and Worms, clotheth the Lilies and feedeth the Birds,) did minister unto us in this great strait; there was sent in to the Maj. Gen. by a knight of their own party. not of their make, nor of the post, (peradventure in pity it being the first and last of that kind) a little Lamb; and to my poor wise bound up in brown papers (and so undiscovered) a neck of veal from New port, which was most seasonable provision from our gracious good God; yet after all this was gone, and we in wants as before, we prevailed with a little girl of one of the Soldiers, for a piece of money to fetch us a little bread, (we being without) but upon her return they took her, carried her into Bull's hall, and there examined, frighted, roughly handl d, and threatened her, and would have forced her to say she had earried out a letter too, but the girl knowing that she had nothing but a bit of silver to fe●ch us a loaf of brown bread, said she had nothing else, but they yet like rude Soldiers said she had; bid her confess, or else that she and her friends should suffer for it, but when they could not compel her to lie they left her, and kept her from coming into the Castle any more, to bring us so much as bread. But that, there might be some better colour for this cruelty, this Bull with two or three of his f●ll Creatures and Serviteurs had drawn up in Engagement to bind us or at least our servants in a kind of recoguizance and an owning of them, and their ways, and then they should (after they had subscribed) have the liberty to go out for victuals, thinking (it may be) by this time that we either were or that we saw we should be starved into these condition●, but when we found how insuff'rably barbarous & tyrannical they were, that they would impose this upon our consciences for the very bread we should eat, or provision we should buy for our money; or else that we must suffer the utmost they could do against us; we were of the Lord and his holy Spirit persuaded every one of 〈◊〉 to mantain our ground in Christ, with his principles of grace, (without yielding in the least to such dish nourable terms of capitulation) by a lively faith, expecting to be relieved from above, (or him that sitteth on the Throne, Isa. 6.1, 2.) and so their conditions imposed were refused though we starved, rather than eat their swine's flesh possessed of the Devil, as we should have done, by so unworthy a treaty or composition, nor are we (besides the testimony of our own consciences) without witnesses and examples before us in this case, as in Q. Mary's days we do find the Persecutors imposing such terms upon conscience, for the lives and liberties of the Martyrs, (but never so high as to their meat and drink they eat, before they have it) as these new sort of persecutors do at this day, and yet they would be reputed no persecutors forsooth, but friends; (O semper fallaces & Millites millies Mendaces) Mr. Bradford Martyr writes to L. Saunders (Fox voll. 3. foll. 321.) Ah! good Brother pray for me, I think we shall be shortly called forth for now legem habent & secundum legem, etc. otherwise will they not reason with us; and I think, their shoot-anchor will be, to have us subscribe, the which if we do though with this condition (so far a● the thing subscribed to, repugneth not God's word) yet this will be offensive; therefore let us vadere plane and so sane, I mean let us confess that we are no changelings but reipsa, and therefore cannot subscribe, except we will dissemble both with God, ourselves and the world. Thus he, and yet this Wretch would have us Changelings in these matters of our faith and conscience, to sudscribe before we shall have a servant go out for bread for us, or before any friend shall see us, etc. and that without any such condition or clause as good Bradford speaks of, viz. (so far as repugneth not the word of God) and yet they have the face to print, publish & pulpit it, that this is no persecution; but by this (as prescious Bradford also said Fox voll. 30. p. 320.) so may we see evidently, if we will not adorare Bestiam we shall neure be delivered (it is to be feared) but against their will, nay we shall not so much as eat, or write to any of our sad condition in the flesh; but fides famem non formidat, faith fetches bread from heaven Joh. 6.51, 58. which the Son of man gives ver. 27. for him hath God the Father sealed. Even so Amen. O my hearts this makes John leap in my womb and grace in my heart, under so great trials, but sweet teaching Fatherly providences and dispensations, as Basil said of Barlaam, he delighted in his close prison as in a pleasaut green meadow, and he took pleasure in the several inventions of cruelty, as in several fragrant and redolant flowers. But the trials which my poor wife was pinched with made it much the greater to me in this loan condition, and yet am not left comfortless, for the Lord is with me, sends his ministering Spirit unto to me, and keeps me hitherto above all, in him who is listed up to draw all men after him, Job. 12.32. and therefore as my dear Lord Jesus said, I hope I may say in my little measure and capacity, Joh. 8.29. ' He that sent me (hither) is with me: the Father hath not left me alone, ' for I do (I trust through his grace) those things that please him. So Job. 16.32. ' And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me, and the cup which my Father hath given me should I not drink? yes surely with a hearty draught. Upon the 25. day of this 11. month (our wants increasing with their cruelty) I had much comfort in my Spirit, with patience and joy bearing this Cross of Christ, and indeed in wardly glorying therein, (for as Cyprian says Ep. 5. Gloriosa voce Deum confessi qui in Carcere, etc. The most glorious voice is in prison) but this it seems was to fit me for an encounter with these cruel Leopards, ●aging Herodians and Beasts of Ephesus, through whose hands (or whose handle and leave) we must eat, and be dieted, or not at all by their wills; but this was good physic to our souls, blessed be our God. This day did a godly Minister Mr. S. of Newport get in, to a lodge of C. F. with exceeding desire to see us, & ● friend of the said town had sent us a cold Pie, but the honest man which brought it was carried before Bull, with his Pie, with whom he had for a long time pleaded, (near an hour) for liberty to come in to my lodge and bring the pie, but at last, and with much difficulty, he obtained leave for a quarter of an hour, with a Corporal at his elbow to peep into our prison upon us, who (poor man) with tears and troubles did deliver it, and left this with us before the Corporals face, that these cruel persecutors so far exceeding them (in this matter) that we read of in the Book of Martyrs, had (by all he could perceive) some bloody design against us, and that this present tyranny upon us was but in order to it; but he prayed us to be cheerful in the Lord, for they could but kill the body; I hearing of the minister of Christ steeped to the lodge where he was, & the Soldier at my heeds, but they put him out again at the gate presently, and would not suffer us so much as at the ga●e to see one another, though at a distance and with Soldiers between us; so I was returning in again to my own prison full of comfort in my Spirit at all this, and presently I heard several at once (the Sergeant Corporal & Soldiers) falling upon the honest man who had brought the Pie with very vile and blasphemous language, for that (it seems) he, as he was going out at the gate, with tears did exhort them to take heed of what they did, and to beware of persecuting and offending of Christ little ones, etc. but they broke out many at once what? what? preaching? we will have no preaching, no sermonizing, none of the Spirit, begun abouty our business? what you turn preacher too? all preachers now? with much more of such ungracious and unsavoury stuff, at which I confess my heart ached, and by a mear providence, hearing God and his ordinances so blasphemed and mocked at; I could not but turn me (contrary to my intention or purpose) to them, and particularly spoke to one King saying, O Sirs! O I am sorry to hear such word from you, indeed I did hope better things, than so to scoff and mock at preaching, at the Word, and Spirit; indeed I have scarce heard the like, or worse from the worst Cavaleres', and will you imitate them in this also; O alas Sire! consider what you do? whom you speak against and despitefully use? you should do well yourselves to be reading praying, and preaching to one another; & not so unchristian like to blaspheme and scoff thereat? at which they were incensed, and turned upon me, brustling like wild Boars whose tusks were whetted in their own foam, and so fell bitterly upon me, and told me I was their prisoner, and I did not know it; meaning (I suppose) for that I durst be so bold as to reprove them. I told them I was the Lord's freeman for all that, and therefore could not but speak for the Lord, for whose sake I was willing to suffer bonds, but said K. the Sergeant you are not in prison for the Lord, for what then said I? nay! faies he they that sent you hither knows why, truly said I, but I know not then, neither do they they that keep me here I believe; for I am sure in none of their Orders, or Mittimuses that ever I could see yet did they ever signify any cause why they committed me, and have kept me now in several prisons near two years already, and in banishment; but as the Town-cleark answered the hurly burly, Acts 19 Ye have here (in prison) men that are neither robbers nor blasphemers, and yet you use us worse than the very●st Rogues in Newgate Robbers or Blasphemers are used, for they if they have money can send for meat to cat, or be ministered to, or receive Letters & necessaries; but you hinder us most tyrannically and unjustly by your ungodly Swords, even from our very necessaries, without Law of God, or Nation, Reason, Equity or Conscience, wherefore, as Acts 19.38. If we are transgressors and you have matter against us, the Law is open, why do you not try us? but if not, why do you thus use us? who have done you no wrong? Nay and now too my wise being so ill, and she that is with us for a servant lame, etc. O search into your consciences! for you never treated the Cavaleres' so bruitishly here with you. Nay you could give the Cavaleres' that were here, liberty to go abroad and ride about, to Newport, and up and down to Alehouses, drinking, feasting, gaming and commiting sin every day, and partake with them too in it, yet we must gnaw upon the bit and be kept without bread; is this righteous in the sight of God? Corporal Haddiwayes answered me, that we were worse than the Cavaleres' therefore; and S.K. said in a scoffing manner give me money and i'll go fetch you things! Ah! said I to S. K. (for I directed my speech to one) now you have declared your painciples to be to obey Orders whatsoever they be, you say so? When if a Superior Officer do bid you in your ear, put two penny worth of poysonor Ratsbane into the meat or what you buy for us, you must do it you say, and the sin be upon them that bid or ordered you, no! no! it is dangerous dealing with men of your principles; then I perceived their teeth were on edge to be upon me, and one bade me be gone in, but being warm in my Spirit Quo magis illi furunt eo amplius procedo, as Luther said, I told them that I was doing no harm, and prayed them to consult with the word of God, about their present condition, but then came out an old man and bid me be gone in, I told him I was about the Lords work, and did no harm, nor was I ever forbidden to stand in that place where I stood, and I did think it as good ground to stand on, as that in my prison; but now they began fierce upon me many at once, like so many wide-mouthed Wolves to fall on, as if they would not have left the bones until the morrow, and out came Bull, who immediately without hearing me gave them either the sign or the word, to fall upon me, notwithstanding I cried out unto him, what have I done? only rebuked sin and blasphemy, etc. but he was far more barbarous than the Heathen chief Captain of the band, Acts 21.31, 32. who as soon as he came they left beating of Paul, and he rescued him, yea then the Captain and his Officers, Acts 5.26, who brought them without violence; but this worse than Heathen was hot in his Gall and greedy, Surdis auribus sed plenis faucibus; he commanded and encouraged them, and looked on and directed them with his Cane to do it, and as soon as he came, the cruel Soldiers armed as for a combat, fell thick upon me with their bend fists bearing, & some haling as if they had intended my death forth with, Acts 21.31. Colaephis & verberibus pluentes & grandinantes, and after a while two or three of them, espeially S. King the Cap tain of the Guard then, cried out, let us carry him to the Dungeon, to to the Dungeon, to the Dungeon, to the Dungeon with him, at which I was by some hawled and turned about that way; and then I said as they were thrusting, pulling, and striking me: Yea, yea, with all my heart, with all my heart, I rejoice more therein, for I shall find my dear Christ there I am sure, it is sweeter than a Chamber for this cause; I shall find my God there as well as in my Chamber, do what you can! and indeed I was refreshed thereat; and now, now I think of John Careless his comforts in prison, F●x voll. 3. page 716. I am disposed to be merry to sing and dance with David before the Ark, (says he to Mr. Bradford) and though you play upon a pair of Orgons' i. e. in the Stocks) not very easy to the flesh, yet the sweet sound that cometh from the same causeth me to do thus, that I may sing all care a way in Christ: for now the time of comfort is come: (meaning by greater afflictions for Christ) I hope to be with you shortly, for my old friends of Coventry have put the Council in remembrance of me, saying I am more worthy to be burned than any that hath been burned: God's blessing on their hearts for so good report, God make me worthy, and hasten the time, etc. Thus in effect I said, and my Spirit leapt; but when they saw my comfort and courage in it, when they cried out to the Dungeon, to the Dungeon with me, they were daunted at that, and then hawled me up a pair of stairs, at the foot of which came some fresh Soldiers to help the rest who were weary with haling, and abusing me; one Robert Jenkins, particularly with his fists ready bend, first held them to my face to show me them, to whom I said Ah! I know your weapons, and then he fell upon me amain, these greedy bruits learning no other way of preferment and favour with the grand Gaoler Bull, before whose eyes he shown his valour in violence, but by such exploits, as we say that when they cannot shoot men, they will shoot Pigeons or any thing; Bull with others crying and following, as Acts 21.36. and John 19.15. Away with him, away with him; Ah said I! So did the Soldier's deal with my Lord Jesus, and the servant is not greater than his Lord. But O thou Hypocrite, dost thou profess the Word or read it, and yet contrary to the word of God, Law, or Reason, birst thy men to abuse me thus without any cause, the Lord will judge the for thy Hypocrisy and contempt; doth not the Word say to Soldiers, do violence to no man, Luke 3.14. etc. but this renewed their rage and roughness, and then this Sergeant King as if he had been at Cuffs for his life fell on a fresh with his fists, doubled his blows about my head, neck and shoulders, so unreasonably that some of their Creatures cried to him hold your hand, stay your hands, hold your hands; but I said, Ah! Lord my God look thou down, but do you strike on Sirs, strike, strike, strike, for my Lord Jesus Christ takes these blows (for his sake) well at my hands, though I am sure not at yours; O it is sweet to be buffeted for Christ, etc. But as they had often done before, they mocked at Jesus, pish Christ says the Captain Haddyway, what talk you of Christ, O said I! that you would talk of him and walk in him more too; yea and yet I will talk of him who is my most sweet Jesus, and this is Christianity, thus to suffer for him. But they (some hawling, some thumping, and some beating) had gotten me up a wrong pair of stairs, and when they knew that, they never stayed to let me come down nor offered it, but some at my back thrusting, some at each side, and S. King at my hands pulled me out at length, with the Corporal all at once pulled me down (at one pluck) the stairs (as if they had rend mine arm from my shoulders) but falling upon other Soldiers by the gracious providence of my most dear Father, I was preserved; my poor wife being by (and the maid) schreching and crying; and then they hawled me (almost spent out of breath) the other pair of stairs, and at the door of the room wherein they with such cruelty carried me, & where I now am. They renewed their violence with such redoubled strength & atrocity, that several of them laying hold on me, some at my back, some on shoulders, and some at sides, cast me headlong (who not knowing their design could not prevent it) with such an united force, fierceness, fury and wrath, as if they meant no longer to dally but dash me in pieces; so that the least they could have conceived thereon, was to have broken my bones or put them out of joint; imitating those Savage Spirits filled with wrath, which carried my most blessed Saviour to the brow of the hill, Luke 4.28, 29. That they might cast him down headlong; but the same God that delivered him, delivered also me (a poor wretch not worthy to be named, much less honoured thus) and that by a very marvellous appearance, for in the fall, my head and face were preserved from the battery of the ground, by lighting upon the arms and shoulders of the maid and one of my children, the blow of which threw both them also to the ground but my face was so-preserved, though my body bruised with the fall, which fall I perceived rejoiced the bloody spectators at their hearts, (and if otherwise, it was I think that I was not quiet killed with the fall,) as Tully says, Quia totum telum in corpore non recepisset; to whom I turned with these words, passing through tears unto them: Well Sirs, now you have done thus; O that I could entreat you but to search into the Scriptures and see if you find any warrant there for this practice, if you do, than the Lord give you the blessing of it; but it not then the most righteous God convince you of it, or judge you for it; and this was all I said to them, knowing they were heardened, and at these few words and tears they fell a scoffing, and there left me, where I now am at the writing of this with very great consolation and joy through believing, for as much as these verbera were ubera full duggs for my soul to suck out of.  
And 1. Methinks I now may say I begin to be the Minister of Christ (who is indeed a Theologus Crucis) and the Servant of Christ Jesus, and companion with Christ in the world; as Ignatins when he came to the Wild Beasts to be devoured, his bones broken, his blood sucked, and his whole body crushed with them. Now (says he) now I begin to be a Christian. It is nothing to be accounted and go for currant Christians (as all are almost in England) with ease, pleasure, delights, estates and worldly enjoyments; so to become Ministers of Christ with out the Cross or Trials; but for all that, they will not stand for such before the Lord, who fall not in with the Cross of Christ in the Generation-suffering, for the witness of Jesus; your dainty mincing Professors who are afraid of sufferings at this day, shall be shut out in that day when the Bridegroom comes, for Christianus is Crucianus and Lucianus saith Luther.  
Obj. But we live not under such Persecutors as the former Saints did, who were headed, hanged, burned, flayed, braten, broken on racks, tossed on Bulls horns, rend and torn of Wild-Beasts, broiled on Gridirons, starved, stoned, etc.  
Answ. 1. No! if you did, I do wonder where we should find a Christian then; or them that would come running to the tortures as those Martyrs, wearying the Tyrants with their faith, courage and constancy to their teeth, as they did, when indeed ye are afraid of and faint at a little plundering, prisonment, banishment, soft beat, and easy deaths for the Testimony of our dear Jesus who now suffers.  
2. Yet we have such persecutors of Christ and his cause at this day, as would not spare us, were we as high, as resolute, and of as noble a spirit for Christ, as the former Martyrs; who had not learned the State-policy of Professors (now adays) to spare themselves and comply a little, and not to run themselves into sufferings, (for so they call it) but they rather can to them, accounting it their glory, challenged and provoked (in a manner) the Tyrants: Now it is not so much because our present Nimrods', and Oppressors, are better than the former Tyrants, as because we (poor low Spirited Christians, and white liverd milgsops) are worse and indeed a shame to the Saints and Martyrs of former days, that we suffer so little for Christ our Lord, Ah, a 'las! we love indulge, ease and pamper the flesh more than the former Saints ever did or durst.  
3. To answer this objection with Mr. Burroughs out of Salvian, I must say to them then, the less they have to show of passive obedience, the more they are to show of active, (& plus ei fides & devotio nostra debet quia minora a nobis exigit, etc.) and the greater faithfulness, constancy and courage in the present trials, for as there was such a magnimity and Spirit in the suffering Saints as made the whole world wonder, amazed, and think them mad, desperate, and besides themselves, so is there to be in the acting Saints at these days, who are to make it a sport, play and pleasure to them, to run upon Cannon-mouthes, Sword-points, and on thousands for one, in the service of Christ; therefore let us look to it, that we make amends that way; and that the world may say of us also (for the active part) such men were never heard off.  
2. I had my singular consolation too, that the Lord hath made it my lot to fall into this fierce Bulls hands, of any; because he hath not his fellow in this dominion that I can hear of, for all manner of brutish and barbarous tyranny, unreasonable & insatiable cruelty, so that Bonner I believe had not a more apt Gaoler for his turn in those times, (if Clunie or Alexander came near him;) Wherefore let not my words be thought the complaints of a squeamish Spirit, for I assure you I do hearty digest all he can do against thee, and if it were said of Luther that pascitur conviciis, I may say it with no little soul solace, that pascor conviviis in verberibus: And with Vincentius to one of his Persecutors, never any man served me better than you have served, the Lord be praised; for as B●enham said when the fire was kindled as his feet, Me thinks you strew roses at my feet. I may bless the Lord for thee Bull, who bidst them fall on me, for me thinks every blow is a b●●ast of milk to me, whom thou and thy masters would starve, and will be a Crown of glory, Sic credo & edo, propter te domine, propter te.  
This is an honour so high to suffer thus, at the holy Angels are not capable of, but those whom God will advance above the very Angels; wherefore sing and shout, and leap for joy O my Soul, and all within me, What? that such a poor sinful worm, and pitiful shrub as I am? should be called to so high and holy a calling; Lord make me thankful, and fruitful, and faithful, Amen.  
4. For that it is so teaching a dispensation, O it is good! it is good to be beaten into more good, rather than be with out it; for these blows do make my head ring with the musics of heaven, as my heart and reins do beat after thy will O God; for joe in the volume of thy book (a volvendo rolled up in my heart) Heb. 10. it is written I come to do thy will O God: Therefore I say (as I am persuaded) Zegedine's blows who was beaten so bitterly by the King's treasurers could not be so sweet as these: It is said that Dominicus his mother when she was with child of him dreamt that she had a wolf in her, flaming with fire out of his mouth. Such a flame came out of thy mouth, O fierce Bull, as shall be sure to burn the up, (like Samsons Foxes) in the field which thou thyself hast set on fire; for thy wickedness burneth as fi●e, Isa. 9.18. In the mean time it is a most teaching dispensation to be beaten and buffeted for Christ, which hath made this prison so precious a School to me, that I think I may say Mihi idem qui solem fecit majus in Carcere lumen fuit. He that made the Sun, hath been a greater light to me than the Sun in this prison.  
5. Nor is it fit we should lose such fruit as this is, by our sinful silence; for as Solomon says, Eccles. 3.7. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent, and Isa. 62.6. Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence; to be silent in such a day of rebuke and blasphemy as this is, is a crying sin, wherefore says Luther to Staupitius, When Christ suffers, is condemned and blasphemed, it is not a time to be afraid, but to cry out aloud; yea says he, let men call me what they will, Inveniar sane super●us avarus, Adulter, Homicida, Antipapa, & omnium vitiorum rens, modo impii silentii non arguar dum Dominus patitur. Proud, Covetous, Adulterous, or as monstrous a Miscreant as ever lived, rather than I be found silent, when the Lord, his name, his Cause, or Christ suffers. But I say I have the Seal of the Lords acceptance, and Jehovah-Shammah is my company in this close bonds and banishment, to whom I say, as Psal. 69.19. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour; mine adversaries are all before thee.  
But to proceed.  
In this condition thus beaten and bruised I was laid down, and fear being that my bruises were most inward, which as yet I but little felt, means was used (to have liberty but) to send out for a little Parmy-Citterne and Snow water to drink for an inward bruise, which they refused to suffer, with more barbarous tyranny than the very enemies in war show to wounded prisoners; and nothing ne'er to the compassion of that Gaoler in Acts 16. who washed Paul's and Silas wounds; nor to the kindness of the Barbarians to Paul at Melita, Acts 28. the greater will be their judgement: When I began to be cold and stiff, I b●gan to feel their blows sore indeed, but by a good providence of the Lords, the Maj. General had a precious ointment and salve for such purposes as to outwards bruises, which I used; this horrible Tyranny of theirs took report round the Island and into England (our own Land) quickly, notwithstanding their close restraint of us and open reports against us; and this begun by the means of a poor Barber then in the Castle, who carried the said news of this sad Tragedy to Newport, where the next day being Market, It abounded and so spread of a sudden; but this poor Barber was brought before Bull for it and hardly escaped, yet the Truth (which is always best to stand to) set him free from them: Then their work was to lay their heads together to kill this report, by spreading it otherwise and denying that ever they abused, beat, or bruised me whiles they kept us with our mouths stopped by close imprisonment, notwithstanding some days after when I stirred forth again, I offered to show them the marks they had given me, both myself, Wife, and the Maid being black and blue in divers places divers days after on the one and thirtieth of the eleventh Month. After this Bull sent word (with an engagement to them) we might send out for things, which was the first time they offered so much to me, but I could not compound with them in a Cause which was none of my own to compound in, and in these straits we had another (seasonable) experience from our Father; for with the compassions which Christians about the Island and in Newport had to hear of our sufferings and want of provisions, they sent a man and we desired him to come to the Prison gates with some provisions (as bread and meat, etc.) every seaventh day, and a woman once a week with Butter 〈◊〉 us to buy, and although they were threatened for coming, yet they made Conscience thereof and continued it to the praise of our dear God in this our extremity; so that we had some provision brought to us for our money at last, notwithstanding the vexation of the enemy's (for so they have declared they are) thereat, searching, handling, tossing and tumbling our provisions in their hands up and down, yea, throwing the very Butter in the dirt after we have bought it, and examining the very bones of the meat for Letters (as they pretended) or some other secret designs; such are the dreads of the Lord upon them; this hath already continued upon us above twelve weeks, and how long it may we know not, but this we know; not too long so long as our heavenly Father hath the disposal thereof. Some may think us somewhat of stinate not to engage or subscribe unto them, rather than be starved or so used as we are to this day; but indeed it is a comfortable obstinacy then, and for my Christ only (may I say for myself) whose Cause I cannot with a good conscience betray upon a composition with his enemies (notwithstanding why says Bull? cannot you say, it was forced and so not be bound to it? such is his Art) and besides the forenamed Precedents before me, it is a memorable and wothy testimony of that godly Martyr Shetterden (Fox. vol. 3. Page 375.) to his Persecutors when they asked him, if he would but promise to submit, and he should the delivered; says he, I am not so much bound to you to grant any such promise: and again you shall well knew that I would not promise to go cross the street for you: but if I did offend the Law let me have the punishment, I ask no favour. And altough this was accounted obstinacy in him, yet he chose to be burnt first, and so was rather than accept of his liberty upon a promise: So Strigelius would not promise not to preach (of one point about the Sacrament which his Persecutors desired) for his Professorship. How many more might I name? and what is this obstinacy (if they call it so) but the same with the primitive Saints, who would not cast one grain into the fire to save their lives! and shall we? God forbidden! but as Nich. Shetterden said. He that kept off the bandogs at staves end, not as thinking to escape them, but that I would see (says he) those Foxes leap above ground for my blood, if they have it: And shall not I for my most dear Lord, make these gaping Leopards get it then saliendo, saliendo, by sweat and leaping for it too? that all men may see they are greedy of it, whiles they give out they desire it not; yea surely. Notwithstanding all this, their cruelty was yet the greater to me in that they knew I had no estate, nothing to live upon, nor would they suffer one to minister unto me or mine, nor one to come in; and such as have sent in have (hitherto) miscarried; I have heard of some Letters with tokens sent to me, and at one time of five or six together, but I never received more than one (with six shillings and two Cheeses to this day, being above this twelve weeks now) the tokens not only causing the Letters to miscarry, whether through the hands of these Soldiers or no, I am not sure, but Bull himself keeping some of them from me; and then they report about we are bloody men, bloody men; laying (Athaliah like) thereon guilt upon the Lords poor innocent ones, saying; they intercepted Letters which show it. The Maid went to this upper-Goaler for so me of my Letters after he had done with them, read and shown them to many with much scoffing, but he said they were not fit for such a fellow as I, but bid her tell me, when I was sober & out of my frantic fits I should have them, she saying, why Sr. you have never seen him distempered yet; he threatened to kick her down stairs, if she held not her tongue, calling her mis-names, and afterwards bid her pack up and begun forth with that day for that none should live with us but of his choosing; my Wife all this while being very ill, only our gracious God and Father in Christ, bears up her spirit through their cruelty, which is so great, that a very Letter sent to her for a Diet-drink he kept from her a long time, till much ado was made for it; and so in his malice doth he keep me either from sending or receiving one Letter, though not a word be mentioned of the Government or matters which they account offensive; and the Carriers of this Island are strictly warned we hear, not to bring or receive our Letters for us but shall bring them all to him: A Letter which the Maj. General's man wrote to send out, after it had passed his approbation was returned back again, writ upon in the sides (and after so sent out) with a most ungracious unsavoury spirit mocking and flouting me therein by name; saying, I was in one of those fits which I was in, when I was tied to my bed; by which he meant my condition (in the way which the Lord took to my conversion) which he had read in my Book of Church Discipline, among the Experiences of the Work of grace therein recorded, which he made so much mocking and scoffing at, to such of the Clergy and others of the Soldiers that came to him, as argues clearly the little Experiences which he hath of the grace of God in him, or of any soul-deliverance; but this so profane a foulmouthed Ismalite; this so irreligious a railing Rabshekah, may be so miserable in soul and body for want of such experienc●s and deliverances, that he one day, may (and shall if he make not haste for paenitentia sera, rare est vera) seek them with tears and find no place of repentance, to which judgement I must leave him, accounting these reproaches greater riches to me than the treasures of Egypt.  
But for all this and an incomparable abundance more from day to day of our sufferings which I might write, we are accounted no sufferers, nor this any persecution by the present Apostates and Time-servers; yea, and notwithstanding all this tyranny and cruelty to us my Wife and Children, and all the Family kept close prisoners with such heavy and unreasonable provocations every day; two Officers of the A●my did profess to us that in their hearing, Bull is much blamed at White Hall for not being more strict and rigid unto us, and suffering us so much as he does (which is but the very air to breath in) and he doth what he can to discontinue us in that; therefore o Lord God of righteousness do thou declare whether this be a persecution or no! for as the enemies report it, men will not believe it, though the Cavaliers, nay Newgate Thiefs and Whores are not so cruelly handled at this day! and they pretend a power too, and do easily forgive Adultery and such wickedness; only we o Lord the Sheep of thy passure, the Flock of thine inheritance are thus rudely handled every day! and th●y do never think they have done enough unto us, but so be it for thy sake Amen! Amen!  
It was deemed ridiculous aswell as most rigorous in the hottest of the Wars upon the worst of enemies, to have imposed what they do daily upon us, and yet they have the face to justify it, as if it were nothing: Wherein we observe 1. the exceeding horrible height of their impudence and hypocrisy, of whom may be said as Jer. 3.3. Thou hadst a Whor●● forehead thou refusest to be ashamed. And secondly Their cruel subtlety, whiles they are whipping and beating us, they bid us be quiet and patiented; like the tyrannical Stepdame that knocks, beats, and makes the poor child to cry, and then whips him without mercy for crying, and says he may thank himself; they call for patience and bid us be patiented in our sufferings, whiles they are laying on upon us till they make us cry out and then they say, it is our impatience, such an unreasonable generation of men are our Gaolers, Persecutors and Murderers; yea, they pretend Plots, and do this least there should be any ●●sings, when indeed by their unsupportable oppressions, persecutions, and provocations they do all they can to stir us up whether we will or no unto it, for the necessary preservation of our lives, liberties, relations, Religion and consciences from their so monstruous inhumanity, and persecution in hypocrisy. Thirdly, that they put us into the worst Prisons, and hardest persecutions, yea, bait us with the wickedest and worst persons they can find out, men of the most notorious debauched principles, practices, scandal, impudence and Atheism; and all this too in pretence of love to us, as appears in their Orders for removal from Sandham Fort, and so they said in my last removal from Arten House, it was for my better accommodation, but indeed it was for my more bitter affliction in the flesh and worse usage (except my dear companions company) though my most dear God makes the worst the best, the greatest the least, the bitterest the sweetest, the hardest the easiest, the most afflicting the most refreshing unto us in Christ; and herein do I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice more abundantly; yet no thank to them who speak lies in hypocrisy having their consciences feared with an hot iron, 1 Tim. 4.2. although indeed all my sufferings in the Prisons in England were nothing to be compared to these in this most barbarous wilderness and Kennel of wild Beasts. Fourthly, we see by this what it is to be ruled by the sword, and it is evident by what Law their Cause and Government stands, and what a miserable sad servitude those people are in, who are ruled by the sword, which hath neither eyes nor ears, but pro ratione voluntas. For as the Dragon Heathens, Turks, and Papists do support their Governments by such force, tyranny and imprisoning, so do these which stand no longer than violence keeps them up; and which are as sure to be destroyed, when the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble Obed. 18. Wherefore if any upright hearts among the Soldiers do yet remain, they may remember the story of Marinus, who in a time of great Apostasy for his faithfulness to Christ, had like to lose his preferment which fell to him in the Army, at which he began to stagger being desirous yet to hold his place, till Theodistus met him in the Temple and in the Name of the Lord laid before him a Sword and the New-Testament, bidding him choose which he would have, for he could hold but one, and the other must go; at which his heart was smit: so he blessed God, left the Sword and chose the Gospel. So Soldier do I set before thee thy choice, for thou canst not hold both (hower'e thou deceivest thyself) or serve the Beast and the Lamb, both at once.  
5. The impudent practice of the lying slanderous reports of us, breaks out either immediately before an intended mischief to us, or assoon as they have done it, to colour over their tyranny with as monstruous untruths as the Papists, who reported that Junius had cloven-feets like a Beast: Sometimes they report us mad and frantic as Persecutors have done. And so doth Bull and his Masters make as if we wanted senses when we are fullest of the Holy Ghost, witnessing 〈◊〉 our dear Christ against their rotten interest and hypocrisy, but as 〈◊〉 said when the Praefect told him he was mad said optome in aeternum sic delirare, I wish I may be ever mad then, and sometimes as (we find before of Bull) like Morgan to Philpot (Fox vol. 3.572.) they fall a raving and blaspheming of God and his tabernacle, and abusing us as if we were not sober: So said Morgan, I ween it to be the spirit of the Buttery, which your fellows have had that have be burned before you, who were drunk the night before they went to be burnt, and I ween went drunken to it. But it appeareth (saith Philpot) you are better acquainted with the spirit of the Buttery than with the Spirit of God: Wherefore I must now tell thee, says he, (and so say I to thee thou raging Bull with the very same spirit and authority of the great Judge of Heaven and Earth) thou painted Wall and Hypocrite, in the Name of the living Lord (whose truth I have told thee) that God shall rain fire and brimstone upon such scorners of his Word and blasphemers of his people as thou art: Thy foolish blasphemies have compelled the Spirit of God which is in me to say thus unto he, O thou enemy of all Righteousness, and I tell thee thou Hypocrite, I pass not this for thy fire and faggots (or what thy bloody heart can do unto me) neither I thank God my Lord, stand I in fear of the same: my faith in Christ shall overcome them: But hell fire is thy portion and is prepared for thee (except thou speedily repent) yea the hottest of hell for such Hypocrites as thou art, according to that old Proverb which Math. Paris mentions in Hist. An. Dom. 1072. Pavimentum inferni rasis sacrificulorum verticibus, & Magnatum galeis stratum esse, that Hell is paved as the very bottom with the Skulls of the Priests, and the Headpieces of their Protectors (or the great ones) and I leave thee in thine hypocrisy till the judgement come: At other times we are reported fools, and that is a vepy pleasant reproach too, but as Lactantius says, Lib. 5. c. 12. Contemnite, ridete, si libet; nobis enim stultitia nostra prodest, non in videmus sapientiae vestrae hane stultitiam malumus, hanc amplectimur, etc. go on, scorn, deride and flout us as long as you list, for this (our) foolishness profits us, and we envy not your wisdom or principles of policy, but had rather have this foolishness still; and so for all your other reproaches which are chiefest riches, Heb. 11.26. wherein we rejoice and make a jest of them and of all they can do unto us, and if so be I should give no offence to a more serious spirit, in so good and serious a Cause as ours is, me thinks I might put this Bull (who is so busy in lying, railing, and slandering of us) in mind of the Major's answer to the people, who complained of the ugly looks of the Rood, (Fox vol. 3. p. 107.) Go you home (says he) look on it, and if it will not serve for a God, make no more ado but clap a pair of Horns on his Head, and so he will make an excellent Devil; for I am persuaded, if the Devil be truly called Accuser, Slanderer, Calumniator, a little matter more will make him one. I would not have used this liberty now, had not Grynaeus (an Orthodox as we say) said true and seriously that Pontifici Romano Erasmum plus nocuisse jocando quam Lutherum stomachando; Erasmus did the enemy more mischief by jesting, than Luther did by his angry, stomachful and yet more solid resisting of him.  
6. It appeareth a plain design to starve us, or reduce us to such extremity as might make us to stoop, and so to betray our consciences and our Christ in this Cause, as appeared by their imposing of conditions upon us and the servants, for the meat we must eat, if they went out to fetch us in any; besides as to my own particular, I confess their conditions were most hard to me and my Family in the passive part, though my gracious Father made them easy and sweet to be born; but they, knowing I lived by providence (having no means Land, house, or estate to live upon) kept back not only all people, but all letters from coming or ministering unto me, notwithstanding our Lord Jesus was ministered unto, Luke 8.3. Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's Steward, and Susanua and many others ministered unto him of their substance, and so we find the Heathens suffered this in Acts 24.23. He commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. But yet this was and is a sweet time unto me, for me thinks I am fasting, and sometimes filling and eating many a time with my Lord Jesus, of his broiled fish, and barley bread blessed be his Name, who for our sakes became poor, 2 Cor. 8 9 that through his poverty we might be made rich. I also was made the more sensible of the primitive sufferings (as I said before) and was as one with them in my spirit, insomuch as I chose rather to be in such a condition even unto death and to want bread all my days (I have sometimes thought) than to have been out of it, so sweet the Lord hath made unto me by his teaching presence, as I cannot express; and besides what eminent Servants of the Lord have been forgotten by their Brethren (as our blessed Jesus his own Disciples all left him at the Cross) yea, and were brought to poverty, as buried alive almost; so Musculus his poverty was such as drove him to day labour, and to lie in straw, but I had neither; and Pareus begged in his way as he went to the Palatinate, but what was this to thousands of the Saints of old, besides of late Hooper, Cranmer, etc. all this upon me being only because I would not perdere substantiam propter accidentia, lose my Christ for a Crown, nor Conscience for Coin, which doubtless I might have had enough in my own Country, if I had sought or accepted of a desire to O. C. for his grace to remove me near to my Acquaintance and Friends at Londan, which my poverty in the world might call for more than any others, who would not have suffered me to want, which notwithstanding the Lord of his mercy prevented by, the help of my honoured Con-captivated Coexiles and other ways, and of his great grace gave unto me in this dispensation, lest I should seek a carnal Kingdom, or have such things in mine eyes, whiles the Kingdom of Christ (yea none but Christ) is our continual cry, I remember Lot's wife lies at the entry of such temptations. 5. In that he that bids us c●st our care upon him 1 Pet. 5.7. and take no thought for our life, what we should eat, or what we should drink, or what we should put on, Mat. 6.25. hath done it for no by such special providences in our greatest emergencies and extremities, yea and over and above, ministered so much inward comfort unto us from himself & the whole Creation, that for want of other outward company, he makes the very flies that swarm in the air (and are an offence to others, and as in Egypt, so now in Jamica such a plague unto them poor hearts) a refreshing unto us, which I am glad to see I confess, and to have the company in this close prison-exile? but besides these there be some other particular experiences as teaching to me.  
1. In that I am all along so clearly and constantly under the Beast's rage, as if I were (I think) more than others, particularly aimed at, for their goring, gushing, horning, worrying and grievous persecuting from one Prison to an other, both in my Native Country and in Exile, especially since I have been hurried about in this Island and put to Bulls and Boremans', who obey the Orders of the Beast; but especially in the first's very brutish and indeed barbarous (unreasonabl●) pushing sharp horns, so that it is evident I am thus used by the Beasts Dominion & spirit; & I have indeed declared to the Court-creatures more mercy to be in any Dungeon in England. I remember that Purchase in his Pilg. ch. 10. tells us of one that did write of the first Creation of the Chaos, and first confusion before the world was created, in which lived monstrous creatures, having two or more forms, like Centaurs; some Bulls too that were headed like men and dogs. with divers bodies, but I leave such fancies to the Adamites, only I dare affirm in this Chaos and confusion (which precedes the new-creation) of new heaven and earth, men are very monstrous in their principles and actions, and wild Bulls do bear the faces of men to flatter with, in this serpent-estate of the old world, whose hired men are like Bullocks, Jer. 46.21. but as Jer. 50.27. Slay all her Bulls: let them go down to the slaughter, woe unto them for their day is come, the time of their visitation, O Lord! rebuke the company of spear-men the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself.  
2. In that my most gracious overruling Father hath made the enemy to imprison and persecute me, not only is the same way and spirit, but in the very same places where the Martyrs of old were imprisoned and persecuted, which did refresh me indeed; as at Lambeth, that old Butcher's shop and shambles of the Saints, where so many (even Wickliff himself and all along since) have suffered, their rings whereto they were chained remaining in the walls to this day, which did affect me much to see: And after that at Windsor, where the eminent Martyrs Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer were put in their way to Oxford in bloody Queen Mary's days.  
3. In that I am also instructed how to want, as well as to abound, and so in all conditions, as the Apostle saith, to be therewith content, Phil. 4.11. 1 Tim. 6.8. having passed through prisons, reproaches, tumults, beat & bufferings, often throwings headlong, banishment & spitting upon; yea, spoiling of my goods, which hath been much; one Letter hath signified to me the loss of an hundred pounds at one time, and in plunderings often, and in perils of life, sickness, Fevers, storms, cold, snow & tempests, without bed, without bread, in sore travels, and several other trials; yet all this, which is the life of all, for my most dear Christ against Cromwell and the whole Earth, blessed be Jehovah therefore: I wait but for Whitehall or the Pretorium-hall.  
4. In that the enemy though he hath sought it greedily, yet (to this day) hath not found any just cause or colour for my imprisonment and exile, nor so much as signified why, in their Orders of commitment; which is my great comfort and advantage, for as Paul said in his fourth defence, Acts 25.7, 8. and they utter many and grievous complaints, which they cannot prove; for neither against the Law of Christians, nor against the Temple, nor against the faith have I offended at all: So Acts 24.12, 13. neither found they me in the Temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the Synagogue nor in the City.  
5. In that the Persecution upon me hath been (above many others) so sweet (though sharp) a primitive-like diogmos, or chase Persecution, from one place to another, not letting me rest in our own Country nor in Exile, but hunting me about like a Partridge, from place to place with Nimr●dian Tyranny, like them of whom the Worl● was not worthy, (although I am not worthy of the happy number or race) Heb. 11.38. who confessed v. 13, 14. they were strangers and pilgrims on earth, declaring plainly that they sought a far be●●●r Country.  
6. For that this their spreading and hurrying Persecution did so primitive-like, sow and advantage the Gospel of the Kingdom in all places where I was carried; round about this Island the report of this Doctrine running and inclining the poor people to enquiry, reading, and search, and so was the Gospel at first spread and sown in all Asiae, Cyprus, Cappadocia, Macedonia, and indeed over all Nations, by such a chase Persecution, which I praise the Lord for, that it fell out to be my lot in this Island to sow this seed; Paul plants, Apollo waters, but the Lord must give the increase: And indeed I dare not deny but our God hath given a very great increase hereby, insomuch as the very women, who have enquired into the very truth (as at Newport) do profess openly this is the way of God, that we are imprisoned for, and that they will part with all they have in this heavenly Cause (and Quarrel between the Prisoners and the Powers) which is very much, considering in what exceeding slavery people in this Island are kept by the sword: So that as the Gentleman in Scotland told the Bishop Bettoun, upon the burning of that Martyr Mr. Patrick Hamilton, My Lord, if you burn any more of them, you will ruin yourselves; if you burn them, let them be burnt in hollow Cellars; for the smoke of Mr. Patrick Hamilton hath infected as many as it blew upon; it may be is the policy that our Persecutors have taken, to imprison, plunder, and banish, and make no noise, no mention in news-Books of it, lest it should be known; yea, to coop us up so close Prisoners in Banishment, and Cellar us up from all noise of their cruelty to us, lest it may be, our breathing, or as Bull says, seducing, which is the old note of Persecutors and Gaolers over the imprisoned Martyrs: But as we know Beggars by their chanting, so do we Bull and his Masters by their language, with the same spirit, lying traducing, and opprobriously abusing, as those base Monsters both Heathenish and Popish Gaolers and Tyrants did, that were their Predecessors; but for all these Atopos, absurd men, 2 Thess. 3.1, 2. Shall the Word of the Lord have free course and be glorified Amen Hallelujah.  
7. In that the Lord hath in this School, instructed me to Preach in tumults and uproars, as the Apostle saith, 2 Cor. 6.4, 5, 6. & in all things to approve myself the Minister of my God, In much patience in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watch, in fastings, by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by the holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the Word of truth, by the power of God, by the Armour of Righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as a deceiver and yet true; as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold we live, as chastened and not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoycdng, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things: O blessed be that bondlesse love and grace of God unto me herein; yea I tell you, he hath been teaching me a strange way of Preaching, as if I were a pouring ou● of my blood with my words, at once to seal the truth, and in expectation of leaving my life with my Light, & of the dashing my brains about my Exhortations: O this, this is me thinks to bear about in my body the dying of our Lord Jesus indeed, who did preach thus and so did the Apostles; and thus am I become dead to the Laws, yea to my own life by the life of Jesus and body of Christ (I think I can say) sometimes most sweetly. Tossanus in An●olia had such a time of it too among the Barbarous Soldiers, for he preached every Sermon not looking to come out alive, and in a Barn too, where the Church met; Ah Lord let me thy poor worm, be such a Preacher all my days, to speak in every Sermon as my last words to poor Souls, yea as if I were sealing them on a Scaffold with my blood, Amen, so be it Amen He had that honest saying of Seneca it seems often over, Vir bonus quod hones●è se facturum putaverit, faciet etiamsi periculosum sit: ab honesto nullâ re deterribitur: ad turpia nullâ spe invitabitur.  
8. For that the enemies are very empty, dry and withered; whiles we are ge●en, sappy and growing blessed be our God, as Psal. 104.16. The trees of the Lord are full of sap; for we find our Spirits full, our hearts full, and hopes full, and our faith full (in a sense) for this cause of our Lord Jesus, full of comfort, of life, and of courage, and of peace through believing, which come amain upon us, whiles our enemies are like the Hypocrites, Isa. 33. surprised with fearfulness, yea Mager-mysabib is written about them, as M●stery is upon them, Rev. 17.5. a sure sign to us, and a token for good.  
9 In that on both sides the main body seems to be marching up, because the forlorn hope is already so hotly engaged, with downright blows as on our side with the truth and testimony, they or their side, with downright, point blank blasphemy and persecution, so that not only the heads, Rev. 13.1. but the whole body of the Beast, Rev. 17.3. is full of blasphemy, and both sides are fallen on; so that the next news I am like to hear, after this forlorn, is a fight, and fight of the main bodies, on both sid●●, or the ●ife of the holy Camp (the holy City) trod on these 42. months, Rev. 11.2. and the pitching of Maher-shalabhashbaz's great Tent, Esa 8.1. For the 3. great things which I wait to see and hear, are the great Tent and Trumpet, Esa. 27.13. Deut. 23.10. the great Bonfire and flame, Rev. 19, 20. and 17.16. and the great Sun or light (of seven days, with seven eyes, and by the seven spirits, Esa. 30.26. ch. 60.19. Rev. 21.23.  
10. In that our new Covenant propriety in God our Father, continueth unto us sure and well ordered in all things, in all conditions, in Prisons, Exiles, Plunderings, Reproaches, Dungeons, Wants, Death, and judgements in separable, etc. still we can say our God though a consuming Fire, Heb. 12.29. though Eli, Eli Lamasabachthani, yet Eli, Eli, that is, we cannot fall the subjects of God's wrath, though of man's, no, not when the Viols come to be poured out; for none are the in execution of them, but who are above them; but all and those only, that are under them, shall fall as the subjects of his wrath, or the third Woe which is at hand! now this is no little comfort to us, to whom God is Love, yea, all Love and all together Love in our Prisons! But  
Lastly, in that Zion is in travel of a malechild (which makes the pains the greater, and the more difficult) for a manchild must be borne, Isa. 9.6. the Son of God and heir of allthings in heaven and earth, Heb. 12. yea the Son of Abraham and heir of the Promise and Covenant, yea the Son of David or heir of the Kingdoms and Crowns of the world; the Son of Mary, and heir of all mankind; yea the Son of Zion and only heir of the Generation-Work; that of this malechild is Zion now in travel with; according to Isa. 26.17, 18 Like as a woman with child that draweth near the time of her delivery is in pain, and cr●eth out in her pangs, so are we in thy sight O Lord! We have been with child, we have been in pain, but it is a male-Spirit, not a female, low, Fourth Monarchy-Spirit, but a most noble, high, courageous, invincible heaven-borne Spirit that must be brought forth by all these pains, persecutions and travels; for in the primitive times when the woman was in her travel of this malechild, the Dragon Government did so persecute her, that he stood ready to devour him as soon as he was borne, or brought forth into the world; and this manchild of Government (Christ in the ministration of the Fifth Kingdom Isa, 9.6, 7.) was then caught up unto God and to his throne, Rev. 12.5, 6.4.2, 3.5.6, 13. and the Woman (or Spiritual Church) who after long travel and pain brought forth this blessed truth (of the Reign of Christ on earth, or the Fifth Kingdom) who was forced into the Wilderness for the 1260. days, so that now at the end of the 42. months or 1260. days is the Woman to come out of the Wilderness, and this malechild of Government to come down from God again, and to rule all Nations with his rod of iron; it is true that he was traveled with in the Heathen Emperor's days, with great perils and pains as appears by the Apologies of Justin Martyr to Antoninus Pius (which I read at Winfor) and afterwards of Tertullian and some others, but he was not born until the Christian Emperors days, especially when Jovinian, Valentinian, etc. were Emperors, who themselves were Fanters and Professors of the Reign of Christ, and are chronicled for Millenaries, etc. (as I have proved in Prison b. Treat.) but almost as soon as he was thus born, he was caught up to God, to be forth coming again at the end of the 1260. days, and therefore Rev. 12.5. She brought forth a man child, as mellei poimainein, who was about to rule all Nations with a rod of iron, not who did it, (as some say it of Constantine) but he was borne ready, as if he should rule all, but the Lord took him up till the period of the Beasts dominion, or the 1260. day's suffering were over, which declares evidently that this male-Spirit will up again speedily for the Reign of Christ with his rod of iron (sword and Laws) over all Nations; and the overcoming Saints, Rev. 2.26, 27. or those that have victory over the B●est, etc. Rev. 15.2, 3. shall take the Kingdoms for ever, Dan 7.18.22. and thus the manchild must come down from heaven, from the throne, and from god only, in that the God of heaven alone shall set up this kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, but break all others in pieces, Dan. 2.44. and in that ver. 45. the Stone is cut out with out hands; only fitted and brought forth from Mount Zion by the Spirit of the Lord, the Mount out of which it falls Dan. 2.45. being Zion, and the Mount into which it becomes being Moriah, Dan. 2.35. or the two Mountains of Brass mentoned Zach. 6.1. Now the Spirit of the Lord and of the Lamb (who hath the seven Spirits sent forth into all the earth, Rev. 5.6.4.5.) brings it down unto us, so that the manchild must thus come down from God and his throne, who was till this time taken up to God and his throne! but as I have had a little share, I bless the Lord for his grace, in these fresh travels & pains of Zion to bring forth this manchild, Isa. 66.7. Jer. 30.6, 7. Isa. 51. So have I been abundantly in my bonds taught of the Lord the truth of these things (which I have not time, nor utterance for at present) nay! so good hath my God been to me in this Pathmos School, that I think I could almost say it (without the least Ostentation, and only to the glory of God's rich grace unto me) that diom non p●rdidi, I have not loft a day in the Prison, nor hardly a day (wherein I had health or was not hurried about) without an improvement of my search into these blessed and bigbellied mysteries, by writing, treasuring up, and preparing for the public, as Ap. said Nulla dies sine lined, for since my imprisonment, I have prepared I think, above 300. sheets upon several subjects, to be printed, however it be that I am so betrayed, or that they stick in the birth and the truthed lie buried, yet the Lord knows (to whom I am thankful) that I have not been idle in the prison, seeing Crux pendentis is such a Cathedra docentis to my soul; I have sent to the press, upon Daniel, Apocalips and the Prophets concerning the Kingdom of the manchild, and upon the Vials, the two Witnesses, the two Beasts, the time, the work and the truth of the Generation, the 1000 years, the supputation of times, the personal Reign, the first Resurrection and the day of Judgement, with an obvious prospect into the 45. years that are next coming; but how they miscarry I know not, only this I know, that my judgement is with my Lord, and my work with my God, Isa. 49.4, 5. who will reckon with them that keep back the truth (from being published) when Babylon comes up in remembrance before him; and though this Cross of Christ be to them that perish foolishness, yet unto us which are saved, it is the power of God, 1 Cor. 1.17, 18. and here it is that I have had the clearest, freest, fullest, sweetest, universalest, spirituallest and profitable teachings that ever I had, or thought that this poor earthen vessel of mine could have ever received, Hallelujah.  
Before I leave of I must acquaint you with a few more of my general observations from the chief of this Rock, and so I conclude this Introduction.  
1. General Observation. There hath always been in the world since the fall of man two distinct seeds, and enmity set between them; viz. The seed of the Serpent and the seed of Woman, Gen. 3.17. called in the Old Testament the bondwoman & freewoman. So the house of Saul & of David, the one rejected, the other received and established in the Covenant, Heb. 8.9. and so in the New-Testament the fl●sh and spirit; Sinai and Zion, the Dragon, and the Woman, and the Serpent the Remnant, Rev. 12, the Beast and the Lamb, ch, 17. the first were always the persecuting, and the last the persecuted; whereby we know we are on the right and blessed side, under sufferings and persecution for the Witness of Jesus and work of the day, but our enemies are on the cursed and Persecutors side, and because they continued not in my Covenant, I regarded them not, saith the Lord, Heb. 8.9.  
2. Gen. Obs. That the Governments of the world have been of the Serpent and not of the Woman to this day, and that all along from Nimrod hitherto, they have been (in Oppression, Tyranny, Persecution, etc.) the fruit of Adam's fall, and of Sin; but that Government which we look for in the world (which will judge Nimrod and the Mount of Esau, Obed. 21.) is a part of our Redemption, and a fruit which grows only in the Covenant of grace, Dan. 7.22. without which our Redemption cannot be completed, Rev. 5.9, 10. So that it is part of our Redemption, by the blood of Christ, which we contend for, in the fall of the fourth Monarchy, and suffer for so long and so sore an imprisonment, and banishment for (whatever our enemies say) this we are iure of, that this present Government of great Britain is Nimrodian, and not to be doubted by discerning men, to be a fruit of Sin, and of a fearful Apostasy; and as Purchas in is Pilgrim. ch. 10. tells us out of Philo, how Nimrod was such a hunter of men, by compelling men with a brutish force (as beasts are compelled by mere force) to fall in with him, his way, worship, and Element, whereby Babel was built; what force can be more brutish or compulsive, for the interest of Babylon, than the long Sword, without the Laws of God, Reason, Nation, or Nature, as it is this day in England?  
3. Gen. Obs. There is a sure and a summing time to period, the Nimrodian Dominions of the world, and all the Dominions of the Beast, so red and died deep with the blood of the blessed Witnesses and Saints, when they sha●l endure no longer to persecute, oppress, or afflict the Saints, but the Saints be set free from all oppression, tyranny and injustice, and this is granted by all men, therefore I come to the Fourth.  
4. Gen. Obs. That all the Creation, visible and invisible, in heaven and earth do groan with us after this blessed time of Restitution of all things, or of full Redemption (actually) into the Liberty of the Sons of God, Rom 8.21, 22. from this yoke of bondage and corruption, except only such vermin as rise out of corruption, and are selfcreated (according to that Rule, Ex corruptione generatio fit) which must be destroyed, amongst which, is this present Governmt. now up in England.  
5. Gen. Obser. That this Age and Generation wherein we live, or are entering, yea, this very Nation of great Britain is a summing Age and Generation, and Nation wherein gins the total of all before as is evident,  
1. For crying sins, like the sins of Sodom, Gen. 18.20. Isa. 3.9. and 13.19. all the summing sins of any Age in the world (if not of every Age) this is guilty of, and most summarily in England, is the muttering in the Wilderness and provocation of the Lord, their turning back to Egypt, so of the Apostasy of the ten Tribes, their breaking Covenant and Engagement, after they had engaged to be the Lords, and after so many appearances of God too; yea, their Idolatrous worship after the manner of the Nations to be destroyed, & their slighting of the pure ways, Laws, & worship of God; yea, their Cain-like building, Gen. 4 17. and their violence and persecution too, as before the destruction of the old world; so of the resting and relying upon their own strength as the strength of Egypt; so also of the hypocrisy and yet Formality (of the Jews, Scribes, and Pharises) Priests, and Rulers, that Crucified Christ by the hands of the Soldiers, and of their Pharoah-like height and hardness of heart, after many signs and tokens; and so of the serpentlike. policy, specious pretences, reason of State, and subtleties in them which are to period the 42. Months, or Beasts Dominion, Rev. 12.14. And indeed as the Devil did not use a Lion-like force at first in Paradise, to overcome Eve with (which had then been bootless, saith Purchase ch. 5. but a serpentine-sleight of insinuation, as the meetest for his present projects; it is so now, knowing he hath to deal with a Generation that profess to be the Lords own people, plain force and fury had not so prevailed for him, as subtlety, art, and sophistry by lying, dissembling, evading, and breaking all obligations, for as in Gen. 4.8. thus hath Cain killed Abel with pretences of love, & thus hath the Devil disposed the Serpent's tongue to tempt, which the Women (or weaker vessels) and more effeminate carnal spirits do listen unto at this day, and by entertaining discourse are suddenly ensnared, beginning as Eve, first to doubt of God's truth and promise (the first sin of man) and then to mince, mix, and extenuate in their minds, the threatening Commandment of God, whiles they seem outwardly, to observe it, and plead it as Eve did, and then to hear Satan by carnal policy, propounding worldly advantages, that they shall be as Gods, and so inducing them to Apostasy, through disobedience, unthankfulness, pride, ambition, covetousness, and unbelief, which brings forth persecution and contempt of God's truth; yea, a wanton lust and an usurpation of what God hath reserved to himself. All these are summing sins of which (with many others) this Age & the present Generation in England is guilty, yea, highly guilty, if not damnably guilty before God, Angels, and men.  
2. But secondly besides this, it is a Summing Witness and Testimony now up in England too, or the finishing Testament of the Kingdom, Rev. 11.7. Matth. 24.14. which comprehends the sum of all the Prophets and Prophecies, from Moses to this day, Acts 3.24. Luke 24.27. about the Kingdom of Christ, especially of Isaiah, Ezekiell, Zachariah, Daniel, the Revelation, etc. all seem to scope in and aim at this Witness, for which we are imprisoned, with one concentricity, harmony, and consent, both for time and purpose, and now we are to expect that dispensation of the fullness of times, wherein all thing both in heaven and earth shall be gathered in one, even in Christ, Ephes. 1.10. So that as for the sins, so for the Witness now up against them, was never such a time, Age, or Nation as this is.  
3. It is also a summing up of the suffereings and persecutions of the Saints and Freeborn Children by the Nimrods' of the world; the Rear-persecution that is for the Rear-witnesse is now upon us, and he will make an utter end, affliction shall not rise up the second time, Nahum 1 9 we are entering the haven of the 42. Month's voyage, yea, reaping the harvest of all the blood, faith, tears, prayers, lives, losses, and liberties of the million of Martyrs from the days of Abel to this day, Math 23. for Rev. 18.24. in her was found the blood of Prophets, of Saints, and of all that were slain upon the Earth. So that to avenge their blood and Deaths, to answer their cries, groans, and prayers, out of their graves, dungeons, rackings, flames, stocks, rivers, caves, fields, urns, and most exquisite torments of all sorts, the Fifth Monarchy Saints are now concerned in, to bring up the rear well, wisely, courageously, constantly, and victoriously after Christ their Captain, and the primitive Martyrs in the Van, for it was said to them, Rev. 6.11. That they should rest for a little season, until their fellow servants also should be fulfilled; or until we who were to bring up the rear, that is in the Gospel of the Kingdom, for a witness were fulfilled, therefore as the eyes of the whole Creation, Angels, and men, so especially of the Martyrs and Saints, Abel Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Jews and Gentilts, of all Tribes and Nations, Prophets and Apostles are upon us at this day, in this Cause and Testimony for the Kingdom, to see how we behave ourselves herein; which they all bore witness unto, believed in, longed after & waited for in their measures and generations, as the sum-totall of all their sufferings (that the Saints should reign on earth) which as I have at large proved in my 2. Treat. and Travels, since my Bonds these two years, viz. Prison born and Banish-born Morning beams (if they be not both stifled) to be the faith, hope and joy of the primitive Martyrs, for some hundreds of years after Christ; so of late as we find in The Blow man's Complaint in King Edward the thirds days, and since in that precious Martyr Mr. Bradfords' Letters at large, that they had their expectations full of this Kingdom, thus in his Letter to Queen Mary and her Council he says, It behoveth them in Authority to know they are not Kings, but plain Tyrants, that rule not for God, and all those Potentates with their Principalities and Dominions cannot long prosper, but perish indeed, if they and their Kingdoms be not ruled by the Sceptre of God, that is with his Word; the people also perishing with Princes, where the Word of Prophecy is wanting, much more is suppressed as is now in England: Wherefore he ex●●orts them to be no longer Slaves & Hangmen to Anti-christ, to let Barabas lose & hang up Christ, saying, the Doctrine they then suffered for stood invincibly above all power, being not our Doctrine, but the Doctrine of the ever living God, and of his Christ, whom the Father hath ordained King to have Dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the world, & so will he Reign, that he will shake the whole earth with his iron & Brazen power, according to that which the Prophets do write of the Magnificence of his Kingdom, etc. Was not this Fifth Monarchy-language then, among the Martyrs? and did not these meddle as much as we do with the worldly Powers, and declare their downfall, with the uprising of Christ's Kingdom on earth? Yes verily, and thus saith Mr. Bradford in many other Letters, as to Doctor Hill, to Mrs. Hall, and to his Wife, wherein he saith, That God the Father hath vouch safed to choose us amongst many, to witness and testify that Christ his Son is King, and that his Word is true; Christ our Saviour will have us bear record that he is no Usurper nor Deceiver, but God's Ambassador, Prophet and Messiah; so that of all dignities on earth, this is the greatest, thus to witness as we now do. Thus than the blood of all the Martyrs, Prophets, Apostles and Saints are with us in the Witness of this day, which is the sum of all, that Christ alone may be lifted up and exaltd King and, the only absolute single Person in all, over all, and above all.  
4. It is a summing time too in this Nation with respect to their present Government; for all the Characters of Anti-christ, 2 Thess. 2. of the second Beast, Rev. 13.11, 12. and of the little Horn, Dan 7.8 21.22.25.26. and of the Myery-Clay-Government, where the Stone first strikes the Image, Dan. 2.43. is upon it, yea, as the fourth Beast, Dan. 7.7. was divers from all the others before is, as being a compound of all, and so to sum up all the other, Rev. 13.2. being partly a Leopard, partly a Bear, partly a Lion (and so far of the three foregoing Monsters) and the rest of himself and the Dragon: So this present Limb of the Beast, this Bastard of Ashdod differs or is divers from the foregoing Limbs according to Dan. 7.24. being as it were, patched up and compounded of all, to beging or make up the sum and period of all; it is partly Spanish, partly French, partly Dutch, partly Turkish in principles, and Janissaries; taking up fashions from one, principles from others, policy from others, sovereignty from others, and so indeed doth sum up all, not omitting MYSTERY written on the forehead of it, as Rev. 17.7, 8. seeming partly of the Lamb too, Rev. 13.11. to deceive with.  
5. It appears too by the Signs of the times which are now upon us, by the clear computations and supputations of the Numbers in Daniel and Revelations, and by the several providences, the variety of dispensations, and the late appearances of God in the three Nations, that it is a summing time, notwithstanding the present Cloud and blackness, for the Unbelief and wilful rejecting of the truth of the Kingdom at this day among us Gentile-Christians, must make way for the Jews, in their room who are to be rejected, who are the natural branches, as their rejecting the truth and unbeleif, did make way for us Gentiles, Rom. 11.20, 21, 22, 23. Be not high minded but fear, for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee; Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God, to them severely, to thee goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise thou shalt also he cut off, and they also if they abide not in unbelief, shall be graffed in, v. 25. I would not brethren have you ignorant of this mystery, that blindness happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles; that is, their times Luke 21.24. which begin at the end of the forty two Months, the 1260. and 1690. days, as I have proved at large in my forementioned Treat.  
6. And lastly, it is evidently a●●summing time in the rejection of (and judgements that must be upon) this professing Generation of men, as to their Cause, Government, Laws, Ways, Works, Principles, Designs, and daily Practices, whiles they pretend so High for God, but indeed do reject his Christ and Cause, and so did the Jews, but they rejected Jesus, Mark 8 31. Luke 9.22. and 17.25. and therefore were rejected, and the judgement came. So was Saul rejected for his not thorough or full obedience, and David taken up; and so Jeh. was rejected and judgement came, for that his heart was not right when he executed judgement on Ahab's house, and for that he got up into the same Throne, and did the same things for which Ahab's house was destroyed, and still he kept up the Statures of Omri and the works of the house of Ahab, Micha 6.16. yea as it was in Noah's and Lot's ●aies, so shall it be in these, and with this Generation of men whose cause is rejected, Heb. 8.9. (whiles ours is found in the Covenant of grace) so that on both sides, as to their rejection and our reception (that is, in these matters in controversy) it is a summing time and a summing Spirit as of Moses, Prophets, Martyrs and Saints to this d●y, do we wait for; and such a one too as never was in the world before, Rev. 5.6. The seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth; wherefore look about you, for I tell you that all other times and judgements were but signs and figures of this; as of Noah's flood, Luke 17.27, 28. Mat. 24. Fire and Brimstone upon Sodom. Luke 17.28, 29. 1 Cor. 10.11. Examples to us upon whom the end of the earth, or last days shall come, and the judgements on Egypt, Rev. 11.7, 8. and upon the Israelites in the Wilderness that would not go on; and upon the Canaanites and Kings in Josh. 10.3 and upon Babylon, etc. All are but signs of the jugements now at hand upon this professing Generation of Apostates with the Beast now in full, Rev. 17.8. and false Prophet, Rev. 19.20. and Jezabill the whore Rev. 17.16. upon this sheet too, where the two Witnesses are slain (as I have proved in Pris. Morn.) Rev. 11.8, 13. and upon the Kings of the earth, Rev. 16, 14. Yea upon all Babylon, Rev. 18.4, 5, 8. and 19 Now, the figured and typified in all respects, must needs be most plenary and summary. So that they are wonderful and dreadful Mount-Perazim dispensations that are at hand in England, Isa. 28.21. therefore look to it, O thou that sealesis up the sum, Ezek. 28.12, 13. For the hour of thy judgement is come, and the set time to favour Zion, yea, the sum of all is at hand.  
6. General Observation, Lastly, The motives of Christ upon his red-horse, Zach. 1.8. with his Saints upon their Speckled and White; which are very swift, are at hand, who are to overrun all the Earth (of a sudden) I say they are upon us, though as yet they stand behind the Myrtle and Mulberry-trees, Zach 1.8. with 2 Sam. 5.24. 1 Chron. 14. in thea Valley of Rephaim, Isa. 17.5, 6. or Cave of Adullam, 2 Sam. 23.13. where the glory of Israel first gins, Mich. 1.15. to the Heir who is Christ! (by Myrtles being meant Fifth King Saints and ministrations, as Isa. 55.13. and 41.19.) For we are under the Administration of the fourth living Creature about the Throne, Rev. 4.7. Ezeck. 1. v. 10. the fourth Spirit, Zach. 6.5. or the flying Eagle, who is called in Zach. 6.3. the fourth Chariot, which came from between the two Mountains of Brass; or from the mount into which the Stone falls upon the Image, Dan 2.45. to that Mount into which the Stone becomes, Dan. 2.35. and in that space of time (I say) are we especially under the administration of the flying Eagl, or the fourth Chariot, wherein are Christ's red and speckled Horses (or those for his bloody War against the Braced) that are to pass through the whole Earth, Zach. 6 7 in this Vintage of blood, even unto the Horse's Bridles, by the space of 1600. furlongs, Rev. 14.20. or 200. miles. The contents of the eagle's ministration, which he calls come and see, lo! Rev. 6.7, 8. being a power over the Earth, to kill with the Sword, with Famine, and with death (divers ways) and this is the living Creature, who gives out the third Woe, or the seven Viols unto the Angels, Rev. 15 7. (the Instruments and Executors thereof.) So that it is very clear upon an insight into these scriptures that we are under this Eagle Administrator, in the work which is to be done against the Beast and fourth Monarch; and then we must grant that the motions thereof will be very swift, soaring high, hidden, intricate and extraordinary upon quick sight, but impregnable and incre●●ble courage delighting (Eaglelike) in the blood and Carcases of men, that are to be slain: and thus far for a hint of these few General Observations, which I have a very clear prospective off from these prisons, Exiles, and Pilgrimages, in this mine Isle of Pathmos, and retired estate with God on the mount: signified to me by the spriit of the most high: amongst many other things that are shortly to come to pass upon the whole Earth from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Amen of all these things, and the Author and Finisher of my Faith, even so, Amen, Lord Jesus, come quickly.  
But before I finish, we find a fresh assault of Satan upon us, in this close Prison, perpetrated, to make our bonds the more heavy, I mean another Link of Iron added to the concatenation of their cruelty constantly exercised in this Exile, upon the 20 of the 1 month 1656: came Captain Floyd, and Major Strange with an ORDER from White-Hall to remove M: Gen: Harrison from us to Highgate to his own house (a prisoner!) under pretence of the very desperate danger of death his Father (the Colonel was in; as also his dear Yokefellow, so near the time of her Travel; but our precious Concaptive (thus surprised) was in great fears of the Serpent's snares in this Order, and would not give them any resolve what to do, until he had acquainted us therewith, assured us of his jealousies, lest his further Liberty, company and outward comforts should be any intanglement unto him, or let to his inward joys and prison-experiences; knowing as Luther said that una guttula malae Conscientiae totum mare mundari gaudii absorbet, the least drop of a troubled spirit swallows up the whole Ocean of all outward comforts or delights, so that he did earnestly desire us to set it before the Throne for a Resolution, which we agreed unto, and at the end of that day came in the two again, who were to take him into custody, who (after we had given him our apprehensions dealt very roundly and plainly with them, that he could not thank them for their pretended Love, nor did he think his Father or Wife would be worse by his continuance in this prison, but rather the better, for he was persuaded they should do well, and for a Goal he had rather have this then any for the cruelty thereof, and of BULL, who made so little conscience of what he said or did, and who had indeed played the very beast with us, so that (for suffering) it was the best prison we could be in! nor would he make his house a prison! to this effect he spoke, and told them that he could not declare his readiness to go with them, but if they would carry him away, he could not help it! They said they did desire to serve him with all civility and respect, and were loath to use any violence, but could not go without him! and they were now to take custody of him, and so desired him to prepare himself the next day, and to give directions which way he would go? but he told them he would have nothing to do in it! but he was a Sufferer! nor would he direct, nor bear any of the charges for he was a Prisoner, and so for that night they parted: and we prayed (as we used to do together every night!) In the night I was much troubled about his going, but the consideration of the Work at hand, with that Word in Dan: 2.18. That DANIEL and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, gave a truce; the next morning BULL delivered him up two the other two, who took possession of him, we had much discourse, and indeed the Lord gave him a very noble spirit, (though broken in himself) to deal plainly both with Bull and them; expressing his unwillingness to leave us behind, or rather his desire to partake and carry with us still in so sore bonds, but when we saw he must be gone we parted (as the Sun through a watery cloud) with no little heaviness for a season, and I said to C. Fl. Sir! Tell your masters or any that ask after us, that it were a little more MERCY (if they had it) to put us into any DUNGEON in London (our own Land) then to leave us here, in the hands of such BLASPHEMERS, and BRUITS so skilful to destroy! but still we bless the Lord! for our Father makes it sweet and best to us! We got upon a WALL and looked after them till they came near to Newport, and then my dear fellow prisoner Mr. Courtney who is left here, and I kept the rest of the day in prayer, easing our hearts, and emptying our tears into the bosom of Heaven, being a little troubled for our loss of so precious a help, so choice a companion as he was to us, another Vetius Epigathus who was called the noble Advocate of Christians (amongst the Martyrs) to the teeth of their Tyrants; but yet we had very blessed and fruitful experiences of a presence from the most high every day (almost) since, which hath made his servant's absence the more easy unto us; Et bonus es, Domine (says Bernard) animae querenti, quid invenienti? O Lord! what art thou then to them that find thee? who art so gracious to us that SEEK thee in bonds.  
After this, we being like men out of mind! (in this Iron grave!) their cruelty increased yet more upon us, to tyre us out; and Bulls brutish modesty was to have imposed upon the Maidservants Father, that his Daughter must tell, him all the Tales that she could, if she heard us at Table, bed, or board, but speak a word of O. C. or any of their cruelty, that she must betray her Master, and bring him word of it; and would have bound her Father to it in a bond. To me particularly was their malice monstrous, they put another Soldier and his Wife, and sour Children into our other room, where Bul himself had put us, threw our wood, and things out of doors, broke open the locks, and nailed up the door from us, with reproachful words to boot, (and this by Bull's command) but we let them patiently (in our own matters) use any tyranny without taking notice! and me thinks as Guy de Brez. said. The more SAVAGE they are, the more sweetly hath my soul obtained WINGS to sore ALOFT, above THEM all, into the blessed Rest! O blessed be the Lamb that was slain, and is worthy! for as Cruciger said, GOD is so near us, that he may be (almost) FELT.  
Strict Orders were given, that no one dare to show familiarity unto us, and the Woman with her four Children put into our room was charged (when she came in) to beware of us, for if any of them were found to be familiar, (that is respectful) or civil to any of us, they should be turned out of the Ca●tle without remedy, or if any should but listen or stand to hear me at prayer, or in duty to God, except it be such as were or la●e sent to listen under the windows and into holes for that purpose, to catch and fetch some matter to make a crime of, which above these two years they have been raking for (so good is my God, who blinds them that they see not where my infirmities lie most, but where the Almighty hath armed me with his buckler of truth, his back-piece of innocency, and breast plate of Righteousness, there they shoot their arrows to hurt me.) So also, if any should speak but a charitable word of us, or give us a good look, or give us the time of the day, it is accounted a heinous crime, and is (I hear) enough to turn them out of the Castle; but those who are most malicious, dogged, brutish, and do invent ways of vexation o● provocation every day upon us, and that spy out tales to carry to Bull, are the only men made much of by him; encouraged; and rewarded; with whom he will be familiar to laugh and scoff at us, rejoicing to hear the height of their insolency and violences done to us; but others (who are but few) are sorely snibbed, put upon hard duties and threatened; a poor old man amongst them was but saying of us he thought we were honest men, and one went in and told BULL that Tale, who sent for the man (I hear) at nine a clock at night, and rated them with high rage, bidding him be gone then, and go to us, if he thought us such honest men, threatening to turn the poor silly fellow out, who spoke it with simplicity, and thought no harm in that word, not so much as justifying us, or saying more, ye a he was threatened (we heard) that he should be whipped; Another of them, that had formerly been a bitter enemy, being a little convinced said to a Soldier, if it be for their Consciences, and for Christ as they say; it is pity they should be imprisoned so; but this tale wa● also carried speedily and told to Bull, who sent for him, upbraided him bitterly, and charged him boldly (as he used to do) ask him, if he were fo● suchmen, (naming us reproachfully) who answered no! not he and told him all he said, but then Bull threatened him, and told him if he were a wellwisher to us, he would turn him off, and so upon account of his former merit (and future) he dismissed him with round words, and exhortations to his Duty, (meaning in persecuting, and insulting over us;) I believe 100 of such passages might be mentioned, & some such rididiculous lies and tales, as would make us easily conclude, they can have nothing but the names and shapes of men whiles they strive to exceed one another, in apish, brutish (and at best but childish) practices, of cogging, telling, lying, and informing of one another, as well as in abusing us, but indeed they do make us good sport many a time to see what work they make to tickle the Bull's ears; and to sharpen his Horns for a fresh goring in our sides! but bless the Lord O my soul! for Omnes tyrannisunt coqui mei, says Guel: Paris: they are all but cooking me some dainty dishes, and prison food; and me thinks were my hands of a light fire for this Cause (like Martyr Hewks his) I would clap them together for joy in this triumph at Cain's brook Castle, for as 2 Cor: 12.10. I take pleasure in reproaches, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ's sake.  
As for their riggedness continued unto us in close prison, wherein they keep me, and my Wife, and Family, not suffering one of us to stir out, nor man, woman nor child to come at us, let them judge that know what belong to it; for the like cruelty was never inflicted, nor conditions imposed, upon the worst of men of late years in these Nations, neither among Papists, Prelates, nor to the Cavaliers, Scots or Irish, nor in the worst of the Wars, that without engagement or subscription to be on their side they should not see them, or minister a piece of bread unto them. Many a sad story could I tell to men, (as I have to the God that heareth prayers) of their cruelty; for this M: Bull keeps a book, to entrap all that come to see us, making them subscribe against their Consciences; the form of the OBLIGATION is to do nothing directly nor indirectly to disturb them (as I hear,) for Capt: P. newly come from Barbadoes took this in the way, with his ship, with eager desire to visit us from himself and some others, (being ignorant of the Snare) Bull brings out his book to engage him, or told he should not see me and most falsely affirmed (amongst many other notorious untruths as is his custom (that not one came to see us but so did subscribe first (as the Captain told me himself) whereat he opened him the book where one Man (who was a Surgeon at New. port, that my Wife had for some Weeks (if not months) needed to cure her of a sore, which was great pain and misery, but he was not suffered to come till he had subscribed; nor can we have the means to help us in sickness; but this man's hand he shows the Captain for a proof who had subscribed, whereat the Captain also subscribed, and came in to see us; yet with little content I think to be so ensnared. But hereby such as come long and chargeable journeys out of England are sent away without seeing us, and so others that else would come, are disheartened from assaying it, reaping nothing from them (as the fruit of long and tedious journeys) but grievous words or blows from the soldiers, and very few in our days being like those 2 Martyrs (and Soldiers too) whom chrysostom (in Juven: and Max:) commends for an example for that they would not be kept from visiting the Saints in prison, although it was forbidden them with the greatest threats, terrors, and torments of death; and as Paul says of Onesiph●rus 2 Tim: 1. He often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but he sought me out diligently and found me; he got to me at last: Yet upon the ●4th of the 2d. month were two brethren (sent from the Church at London to visit us, and particularly to miniher unto me) not suffered to come in, the Gaoler Bull and his complices (being hard at bowls,) yet had time to forbid it, and more too; so that before they returned home to London again, I with my concaptive Mr: C: got out at a hole upon the Castle-wal on high, and they two were let into the Ramparts without the walls, and we spoke to one another on the walls, with tears and joys, all their desire (being their teacher and overseer in bonds) I began with a word of Exhortation to them out of Exod: 40.36. and Rev: 4.1. at which some poor people (in the houses a little way off) hearing; came running, into the Highway; but presently Orders came from the bowlers to the Soldiers to fall upon the Two Messengers, which they did pretty greedily, and so puied, tore, and thumped them who were standing quietly, with nothing but bibles in their hands, out of the Ramparts into the Highway, but because they could not well beat them out of the Highway (which was as far off as the Castle-wal as I could well be heard with my loudest voice) and for that I think 20 were by this time gathered to hear me, (and almost all poor Women) they did no more then, but threaten them, and send soldiers to oversee, and look what Women there were that they might be troubled for it, and whither any were Soldiers Wives, that either their Husbands might correct them (for that is an allowed practice with Soldiers here to beat their Wives) or else their Husbands be turned out upon it, such a severe sentence had this occasional speaking to the Church's Messengers; besides; Soldiers passed under the wall up and down all the while, looking up, and yawling, contradicting and blaspheming to disturb us, but blessed be the LORD who teacheth me to preach in Tumults, his presence was with us, overpowered the enemies, and we went to prayer together with the power of the Lord, after which the people desired to hear me again, and (praying me to it,) we appointed that day seven-night, being the 1 of the 3 month, and so my dear Co-exile and I took leave of our two brethren blessing the Lord that we had seen their faces, and they ours, and spoke to one another, though the enemy had set Pastor and people at such a distance; since which to the writing hereof hath not one come to visit me, but only from Heaven, whence our visits are very sweet and raising, yea ravishing, so that I think I may say through the grace of my dear Father in Jesus Christ, that Mihi maxime prosunt, qui mei pessime meminerunt, Luth: ad Spal. They profit me most who mind me lest (in a sense) for they send me the more to him who minds (I may say) the veriest Dog of his Family, and so I shall not want! for The Lord is my Shepherd, I will not fear, Psal: 23.1: 2 But before the day appointed, BULL and his men had laid their plot deep, as well how to hinder the Word preached, (though they had not a Word that we can hear of to object against it; nor indeed did they so much as listen for matter, to pretend for their violence or displeasure, but fell pellmell upon it at a venture with the vilest rage, as bruit beasts, sensual, Judas 10. not having their senses exercised to discern good and evil, Heb: ●. 14:) as how to fall upon our persons if we attempted it, and withal to keep the poor people from coming into the highway, and to make the more terror in the matter, the poor man y● stood centinel at the outward gate (they said) listened to hear me, (or at least was proclive unto it;) him they (for the present) sent packing with big words, of hanging and punishing him, with whipping at the least which made a great noise at Newport, his poor Wife being frighted at it; with high and mighty threats of Bull and his Soldiers several days together; so that (I hear) to this hour the poor wretch is put into fears, and looks every moment to be thrown overboard, such is their tyranny to us, and the Word of God in this CAINES-BROOK-CASTLE, (1 Joh: 3.12. As CAIN (that wicked one) who slew his brother: and wherefore slew he him? because his own Works were EVIL, and his brothers RIGHTEOUS!) All this while: we being close prisoners the plot was kept from us, only we saw they meant us no good, for the hole (we went out at) they stopped up, but pretended other reasons for it; nor did Bul or any forbidden us, or send word to us that they were offended, or would not have us come upon the wall, (which we had the liberty of for a little air none forbidding it;) but they left us (as they thought) very secure, and so as we should easily fall into their hands to wreak their Cain-like and designed wrath upon our bodies and bones, (if not our blood;) but by a providence we were warned (unknown to them) for one of their Wives having more pity (than the bloody crew) could not in conscience rest till she had hinted it to one in my Family, and besides one of the Sergeants was heard to say with great joy what brave sport they should have on Thursday (meaning on our bodies that day if I offered preach) we being by Bul delivered up to their merciless jaws poniards, and Swords. I think almost as Cassianus was to the bodkins and penknives of his enraged Scholars, and for aught (I say) I know the like effect (or were it) we might have found, had not the Lord delivered us. The day being come to act their cruelty upon us and the Word of God; BUL road abroad (leaving his pleni-potentiary orders with his bloody crew behind him) that he might have (I believe) an excuse for himself, had any sore mischief been done; the Soldiers were ready armed, and very jocund only three or four (or some few of them) hrunk away, and would not be at it, for which they must look to suffer: in the morning about 9 or 10. my dear brother (in these bonds) Mr. Courtney to be a little retired at prayer and reading, went into a little boarded place (as he used to do) upon the back wall, none hindering or questioning him: but after a short space he was interrupted by a soldier sent to keep the little narrow passage upon the wall, (over which he came into his little house) that he might not come back again that way (so greedy were they to be at their Work.) My brother C. came forth (seeing who it was) to be gone back again to his lodge the way that he came but the soldier kept the pass said he must not, bid him go another way (which they had designed) but he refused so to do, whereupon the soldier said he should, 〈…〉;) but he (seeing no remedy) gave the Soldier a sudden wrist, and (by the Lord's providence) got by the Wall, but the Soldier laid hold upon him furiously pulled his coat, (which he rend) but Mr. C. unbuttened it, and slipping out of it, left it with the fellow, a●d 〈…〉, and escaped to his own lodge, (all this while was I within in my chamber and knew not of it) 3 or 4 soldiers more were coming to the assistance of the first, but my brother escaped them also, the Sergeant and Corporal stood below in the yard looking on; but this sudden alarm to us, (which was too soon for them, breaking out before they intended it) made all that they hatched to our bodies prove abortive for that day; which I do hear, hath vexed them sorely; for this news soon flew out of the Castle, up and down to Newport, and the poor (frighted) people hearing before of their preparations, and now of their assaults upon this Gentleman, did faint, and came not into the Highway to hear, (whither through fear or force, (or both) I know not, but this I know, they are in miserable servitude;) the walls and stairs were now guarded with soldiers, armed with swords, guns, and light match to keep me from going up (if they had came,) and to execute their wills upon me for reproving their blasphemy, drunkenness, and daily (yet allowed) sins; and that day I was told they had intended to taste of my blood, but we sought the Lord about it, and (for all the danger) did conclude we had a call, and it was my duty to preach (though I died for it) if any of those that desired it, (or any others) had but come to hear; but because not one came it was also concluded our duty not to hazard our lives, limbs, blood, or bodies for nothing to such as waited, and are greedy to this day of them; it may be some may think I stretch my line to speak thus of them, but indeed (in my own conscience) I am persuaded I do not, but writ less than I might in many things, for as Luther ad Nich: Hansm: said. Propositum est mihi neque vitam, neque mores tueri, sed SOLAM CAUSAM CHRISTI; lacerent mores meos quicunque velint, etc. My purpose is not to defend my own life and manner, but only my Christ and his cause (which they persecute,) and who will, let them rend and tear me and my name to pieces; for as the Apostle saith 1 Cor: 15.30, 31. Why stand we in JEOPARDY every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in CHRIST JESUS our LORD I DYE DAILY; and it is for Christ's sake, We are accounted the OFF-SCOWRING, 1 Cor: 4.  
Thus with this day (wherein I welcomed my honoured brother into this blessed School of Christ's buffets and marks, after the order of our dearest Saviour, Apostles, Martyrs, and most ex cellent Saints; though we be both of us (as yet) but young striplings, and the lowermost of this Form, wherein we are learning and pressing forward; I might break off this History of our sufferings (at the present) for we hope the Winter is past, and the rain is over, and gone, (I mean for storms, though it may be we have some April showers yet to bring forth May-flowers, or better fruits from us) Cant: 2.11. yea the singing of birds is begun, it is heard in our Land. Yet I might say much more of their present Tyranny upon us (to tear us, and wear us out!) since the M: Gen. was taken from us. My Wife being very i'll to this day cannot have liberty to go out for the means (if it were to save her life) not so much as to Newport to a Doctor of Physic and so to return in again; and as for our diet you heard before how hardly we are used; nay they will not suffer a poor Woman so much as to come up to sell us a little butter, or the like; and yet they constantly upbraid us with the abuse of our liberty (if we have it) by preaching, etc. but the Cavaliers and themselves may sit, swear, and swil from morning to night, and yet no abridgement or abuse of Liberty with them; yea I am certainly informed by a godly Gentleman that of late they sat drinking in Wine hot waters and other Liquors to the rate of eighteen quarts to a Man at one bout; yea on the Lords day (all day long) drinking, smoking, tippling, and swelling it, which I never heard they were forbidden, only to hear me is forbidden with great vehemency; yea many of them at once have I seen staggering and reeling at the Alehouse, while their poor Wives come scolding for bread, and yet this is so far from being adjudged an abuse of Liberty, that what these kind of Vermine would have done to us, is done; whiles they are complemented, courted, and made much of; and indeed (next to Lambeth) I never saw the like, and so openly I say, upon the Lords days too, without any thing of God's Worship some times, which is accounted no crime; but to hear me Preach or pray, or in any of the Worship of God, they will have that an unpardonable sin, and indispensable; though as the Apostle says 1 Cor: 4.13. Being defamed we entreat, and as Alexander Hales could say a Soul patiented when wronged, is like a man with a SWORD in one hand, and SALVE in the other, he could wound, but he would heal.  
Besides all this, I shall add but a little more, and so I shall finish for this present in this prison; where it is much, if every day do not produce some new Tyranny and Tragedy upon our bodies. The 16 day of the 3d. month, two friends, one from London, another from Berkshire came to see us, and by a good providence got into the Castle yard but refused to subscribe, and so were to be turned away again, and not to come up to our prison chambers. I seeing them, and at first doubtful who they were at my window, yet soon guessed at one of them, so that I went into the yard, spoke with them, and with joy took them by the hand, desired they might come into my chamber though with Soldiers, but that would not be suffered, because I had a few days before told their Lieutenant for all their tyranny to tyre us out, I feared them not, nor all their masters, because I was above them all in this matter, and they were all under our feet were they 10000 more for one; so that this was pretended against it the Lieut: saying but I should not have the Castle yet, for all that! and till I could behave my self better, none should come to me and the like; but my Wife also came down into the yard, and my dear Co-exile, Q: G. C. so that we had some little time to speak together, though with great interruptions and abusive speeches, the very common soldiers (before their Offices faces, tossing stones or brickbats at us! and calling aloud to my Wife Mrs. Mrs. where is your Gentleman Usher to hold up your tail? (meaning I suppose me, because I use to lead her being weak & lame!) but we let them alone to abuse us! before the Soldiers faces (who have sufficiently scoffed and upraided me, saying we lie in prison to get money as Bull and all the rest do say daily!) they gave me Tokens of their Love, and so left us; nor were they suffered to come any more into the yard, which they tried and entreated. Within these few days it was reported as if there would be some stirs in England, at which they rage against the Indenpendent and Anabaptist Rogues as they call them, and then particularly threaten what they will do with us upon it! Captain HAD: saying to his other Soldiers that if he knew but one (of themselves) that were any ways familiar (meaning civil in respect) with Courtney or Rogers, he would run his Sword into his guts presently with his own hands. Their daily breathing seems to be after our blood; and their words will break out at their lips do what they can! sorto name no more the last 2d. day. Serj. King with some others took my little Child (in coats) examined him about us, and with flatteries tempted the Child to tell what we said, and did, and eat, or any thing that he could get out! and than they gathered together a crew of them to vent their lusts and malice; sometimes threatening, sometimes raging, sometimes scoffing, etc. it seems they understood we had a joint of meat together to a dinner, and which was but but one dish for us all, at which they raged, that their prisoners should live like Lords (as they termed it) and that they themselves lived more like the prisoners, and therefore they would have their major not to suffer us to eat a bit, but whwat we buy of their Suckler, (that is one of their Soldiers,) nor should we dress it our selves, but their Suckler, so that (though we pay for it dearly!) yet we shall not eat, but what they allow us to eat, and live upon which I believe should not be a biscuit a day, might they have their wills, but the Lord restrains their rage! even so O Lord! O let the Remainder of their wrath praise thee! This S. King is such another ambitious, covertous, pragmatical youth, as was Pepper at Windsor! who soars high by his impudence and cruelty to us! in company of our Friends he denies that he did buffet, beat, and bruise me as is before mentioned; but amongst themselves he brags and boasts of it! as the last second day he said ROGERS cannot abide him, never since he paid him so, and boxd him so bravely (at which they scoff and laugh) but (said he) as if nothing else troubled him, I might have cut off a band or an arm off him as well as can be, for if I had cut off his right arm, no Sizes, nor Sessions (says he) would meddle with me for it; and this they conclude on as Times now are, which they all assented to: but still our trust is in then  high Jehovah! The Title this King gives to me is Faggot maker, and so reports (I hear) that I was a faggot maker up and down, but indeed I may live to make faggots by the King of Heaven's appointment to bind up such stubble as they are for the day of wrath if they repent not! He does also rage's exceedingly that Qr: Mr. Gen. and I have our distinct rooms, and says he will have Courtney to Rogers, or Rogers to Courtney that he may have the rooms, for they shall not live so like Gentlemen, and thus they are every day insulting over us at their pleasure, when we speak not one word unto them, that they may not have the least colour of any provocations from us, which is indeed our comfort! for we let them alone without taking notice of their tongues or actions against us, which indeed doth vex them the more, poor creatures! for if they do but see us! their hearts so rise against us that as Acts 7.54, 57 they even gnash (some of them) as I have seen it with their teeth, and look as if they were ready to ●un upon as with one accord. Notwithstanding we do endeavour (when they do fall foully upon us!) to convince them with soft and sound words, & when ●hey go by us (as big as they can hold) with civil respect! ministering as ●e are able to their Wives (whom they keep poor enough) either in mo●ey, clothes, or food, though they dare not be to know it! and so returning ●ood for evil, and if one of them be seen by another to show any kind of ●espect to us, to do any thing for us, or stir his hat kindly he is (as I said be●ore) under a public check, and upbraiding, if not in danger to be turnd ●ut; BULL asks him if he be our Pensioners, or if he will do more for us then ●or him, with a many more such frivolous, captious, and quarrelsome ●uestions; and then threatens him. These are I confess but trifles to what ●ight be mention, and to what we see and suffer every day, blessed be the ●ord for whose sake we suffer all things gladly and thankfully! yea to ●ention but yesterday, because it was the last day of all (for every day affords new matter,) and so I conclude with this Tragical History at present, 〈◊〉 Time do bring forth the Truth of all things, and their (hidden) tyranny, 〈◊〉 to open light! which I trust will be shortly! The MAID that serves us had ●●erty to go out for this once, (she never stirring out of the prison before!) to see her Friends; and yesterday (having traveled all night!) very weary! she returned again! they let her into the gate, brought her into the Guard! and kept her there above an hour! but would not let her come in unto us! yet carried it fair to her, until they had prepared their plot upon the poor lame Creature; and for all it was the Lord's Day (wherein they had no other Sermon!) they sent for Sergeant King twice to come away in haste!) who had sorely threatened her before (as well as Bull!) to be revenged for affirmming she saw them beat and buffet me, when they would deny it to any of our friends when they came! So this King came greedly of his Prey! and by his order (he himself assisting)! two or three of the fiercest and most merciless of them fell upon her with great violence, (without any occasion, colour, or provocation in word or deed! which they themselves deny not!) only because she belonged to us!) nor had she (as she told them!) Letter or paper (nor did she carry out any:) which they believed also; yet for all that they fell to a venting of their malice to us, and of their Spirit against us, upon the poor creature, tore her upon the ground, and dragged her in a most shameful, impudent, and uncivil manner, (all at length) in the open yard, and about the dust, and abusing her so unseemly that some of their own Wives ran out pitying and crying aloud; (but were sharply rebuked by their Husbands, and bid to hold their tongue; these Savages were now in their own Element, and very warm at their Work! (their Sabbath work!) and so continued it! I called out at a window, and cried to them to forbear for that she was already a poor lame Maid, and they had already wreakd their Malice I though upon her, and with too much immodesty! but they the more (for my speaking!) dragged, pulled, and abused her about the ground, which when I saw, I was silent, and looked up unto the Lord! until they had so draggd her, and thrown her out of the gate! and than they got up her clothes, and threw them after her! where the poor Creature is even now like Lazarus, (and hath been many hours!) lying with her lame limbs, and bundle at the gate for admittance if it may be; but there she may lie yet many a day; they that go by her (many of them) scoffing and abusing her bitterly! knowing all my Family is i'll (Wife and Children) and not a servant that they suffer to live with us and help us in this need! I asked indeed King by what rule he did this, and that on the Lord's day! saying, if he were a Christian, the Rule was Luke 3. Soldiers do violence to none! but he made a scoff at what I said, and turned away in great fury! & then I said well! the LORD will look down, and see all these things! at which he turned and said pish! the LORD! what do you tell us the LORD! who is the L: you are not the LORD a●e you? and so went on raging and blaspheming! and the rest scoffing for company! as full of fury as they could hold! who indeed have not the patience to hear the Lords name so much as mention! unless at Alehouses and in sin; so sadly profane are they! and indeed, how can they be otherwise, when men with wicked and idle courses have spent all their means, and cannot or will not work! they get into these Garrisons to drink and guzzle their Pay out before their payday comes; and for other misdemeanours deserving to be chashiered, can find no way to secure their places but by their brutish, premeditated, and barbarous cruelty to us! wherein they merit most that are monstrous! and these things I declare (as in the sight of the God of truth!) to be true! having read over again and again what I have written! and do not know one line I have written too large, the Lord knows; whatever some may think, but in many, that I have written too little rather; intending hereby to give but hints to the Saints of the continued and multiplied Series of our sufferings: especially to such at London as (through their ignoance, and our forced silence!) say it is but a flea biting that we suffer, and not worth speaking of; but it is a sign they have not a fellow feeling! for as the Lord said to Ezek: 2.46. They are impudent and stiff necked, but be not afraid of them though BRIARS AND THORNS be with thee! and thou art among SCORPIONS! and therefore it is we are so torn and stung every day and indeed in a sense it is a suffering worse than Death (as slight as men make it:) It is true in reproach to us, the Soldiers (after they have beaten and abused us) bid us to complain if we will; and if we do not like it help it! knowing that the cure is worse than the Disease to us, and that we have none to complain unto, but the Lord, who surely will hear us and save us at last, before they have wearied us out! and broken our very heartstrings, and which (doubtless) they design in one kind or other before they have done with us; But matters of greater moment I must refer to a fit season! and bless Jehovah with us; O ye upright ones (that sympathy with us!) for he hath yet lined us with a good conscience (within,) and a good cause without, and we trust We shall not fear what flesh can do unto us, and pray for us yet more abundantly.  
I had thought long ere this to have been at an END, and that this Persecution would have added or imposed a Quietus est to my body (by death) out of the continuance of their cruelty; but it pleases the Father that I should yet live (as one always dying) under their immanity and now since that of the poor Maid's sufferings by their so immodest dragging her (all at length) in the yard (before mentioned) I am entreated (by friends) to enlarge this sad History (which I writ with no great delight though I hope I suffer it with joy) a little further; but I had rather a thousand times to set it before the Lord my God, then once to make mention of it to any below; yet by reason of Friend's importunity (to whom I must not be ungrateful) I shall give you a short view of this new link added to my chain since; that of Joseph (in his round (Caines-brook-Castle or) Tower too, Gen: 3.20.) running much in my mind, for the Lord was with him; and although I never read of such rigour in his bonds as are in mine (renewed often) yet of him the Holy G: saith Psal: 105.18, 19 Whose FEET they hurt with fetters: he was laid in Iron; UNTIL the time that his Word came: the word of the Lord TRIED him; yea not only my feet have they hurt, but my back, bones and whole body hath been hurt, beaten, bruised, and are aching every day with these heavy fetters and furies. Since the Maids such monstrous usage (without any cause) and being last out at the gate with her clothes rend and torn, where (besides that) she lay on the ground lame, (like Lazarus at the gate) six or seven hours the next day for admittance, and at last was let in again with no little stir and threatening; I had liberty to go in to my dear Coexiles chamber (not knowing of any design they had upon me) which it seems they watched for, (and had Orders from BULL as they say) to observe when I did so, being now resolved to take their rage from the lame Creature (having little credit of their cruelty to her) and to wreak it upon me and my poor weak Wife; which they did (at present) thus; (but O Lord! let the remainder of their Wrath PRAISE thee! Upon a sudden (after my fellow prisoner had invited me into his Chamber) four or six Musketeirs with Swords, Guns, and light Matches were set upon me there, and soon after more followed them; they set also Soldiers upon my weak Wife and Family, (yea into the very room raging; which frighted her for the suddenness of it) she being as ignorant as I of the meaning of this new piece of tyranny; and so keeping us asunder that we could not come at one another, see or hear, so, as to know of each others condition, or what the matter was, which made it look like a bad business, (as bad as if forthwith they had intended to murder me at least:) my Wife's sickness subjecting her (withal) to very frightful fancies, fears and apprehensions wondering what would become of me, still ask after me, and what was become of me, or what they had done with me; and besides to make it a through piece of a monstrous matter to her, they set within her chamber the most uncivil, drunken, raging wretches, stamping, threatening, grinding their teeth, calling, Jade, Quean, Carrion, with a many such obscene names, bending their fists, striking, tearing, thumping, rai●ing, (with their staggering) if any offered to go in the room, not suffering them to stir for necessaries within the rooms, offering and drawing the naked sword upon them (with asseverations) several times, without any provocation given them in Word or deed; and soon after followed ten or twelve more (as they inform me) and filled the room with such rude creatures and do, without any regard at all to Sex, sickness, or condition. As they were at this inhuman sport persecuting my Wife and Family, those armed Soldiers with me were not wanting with great violence and fury to execute their Orders (as they called it) for I offering to go to the door with desire to see my Wife, (being fearful of some mischief to her (though I knew not of this cruel usage of her) in her so weak and sickly condition!) was forcibly beaten and punchd in again, although I desired I might but stand at the window to see her with as many armed soldiers to guard me as they would; but it could not be obtained; which did augment our mutual fears & troubles for one another. (Nay would any think these raging bruits to be so inhuman, and unnatural, as not suffer me to go forth to ease nature, although the house were within a few steps of the door?) but thus were they insulting over us, laughing at us, and abusing of us here; whiles others of them were rending, tearing, and ransacking in my prison Chamber with great violence and threats, ●ulling the very sheets off the bed, so immodestly (as some Turks would abhor to a WOMAN so ill as my Wife was) that the Maid ask if they were not ashamed, they even shouted at her again; and she was answered that had they Orders, they would pull her  off her back, and pull their smocks over their ears, and strip her stark naked presently, had they but a Word for it; with much such impudent ranting, and unseemly language calling her limping Carrion, Jade, Quean, and what they pleased; and indeed I do think they said true, had they said to have ravished them too, should they have the word for it; for their Officers (some of them) could stand by, and look on for many hours, (rather laughing at and delighting in their beastlike rudeness, then reproving them for it;) At all which with infinite other taunts, incivilities, threats, and abuses by poor Wife was (I may say) frighted (almost unto death, as hath appeared ever since,) and for some time (days and nights) her continual cry was, They would KILL HER, they would be her DEATH, they will make an END of her; she shall never recover it etc. Within this time the Commissary came to me, and told me I must be put into a little hole, or the dark Chamber at the end of my Fellow prisoners chamber, they would bring my things thither, but the bed I had allowed me to lie on, they would take away, & so (it may be supposing they had sufficiently afflicted my Wife & me for once, if I do not wrong them with charity, they brought what pleased them into this Cave where I am now kept to feed upon, Heb: 11.38. Of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered in Deserts, Mountains, and in DENS and CAVES of the earth, ver: 36. and others had trial of cruel mockings, and scourge; yea moreover of BONDS and IMPRISONMENT, this being the 8th or 9th removal; the 5th or 6th PRISON, and the second or third year (all which is true though it may seem strange,) into this little, dark, cold, smoky, stinking, and unwholesome HOLES they put me, my Wife, and Family guarded hither to me; my family (which are five of us) cast into this one little room, as if (like Beasts) we should be altogether day and and night, and in a room too that would not hold two beds, (for one will take up the greatest part) indeed too little a Cave for one body, the Soldiers (many of them) deciding and making sport to see this usage, though some had a little reluctancy, and pitied us; yea for all my Wife was so very ill they took away our bedding (which a Friend had leaned us) and carried it into their Lieut: chamber. who had been a busy-body in this trajedy (as it proves to be) and there kept it, some saying the boards were too good for us to lie upon, and what were we? that we must have beds? we were prisoners indeed; they would have us to the Dungeon, and we should live in that; and that we should know we were prisoners, and the like: (although moderate men that have pleaded for them, yet confess where they have put us is the very next degree to a Dungeon! and all they can say is others have lived here, but then they consider not how it was accommodated, hung, kept warm and fitted for others, and that never any family did or could live in this hole, but had other rooms to live in that were lightsome, more wholesome and tolerable, and but that my dear fellow prisoners man left a little Garret for the Maid and Child to lie in on his bed; we must have lay one upon another like horses in litter, nay that they will not allow us neither for our Money (which they allow to Beasts.) Yea they took away even curtains and valens, not allowing us a curtain to keep out the wind or cold which are known to be very bitter in this place; All which and more to (I trust) I can take thankfully and joyfully for my dearest Jesus sake! Only I must confess the present condition, weakness, and illness of my dear yokefellow doth cut deep; and would DEEPER had not the most High CUT a COVENANT (in Jesus Christ) with me, which standeth sure and well ordered in all things, Gen: 15.18. 2 Sam: 23.5. and ah! it is sweet! to be put to such shi●ts sometimes! ye● out of all into him who is all in all! even so! Amen! HALELUJAH!  
The ground of this act of tyranny lies (as as the rest does) in their arbitrary breasts to weary, tire, provoke, consume, spend us out, break our very heartstrings with such lingering tyranny, and so to kill us if they can that way; who seem weary with letting us live so long, and sure the SPRING of this continued fresh-spouting cruelty cannot arise altogether out of WHITE-HELL! Nor can I conjecture other subordinate cause as to this unhandsome force upon us from that room, but that then we should see their horrible wickedness every day drinking, smoking, drabbing, profaning the Sabbath, and name of God at the Alehouse beating and abusing the Saints, (or such as came to visit us;) and if friends came to see us that they would not let in (at a back window,) I could see them, which was an offence; but in this hole we know not when any come, nor will they let them so much as with soldiers come to see us, but turn them away weeping, and unknown to us, as two men friends that came from London, they have done so to already (I hear;) and now one (a Gentlewoman of London) at this time we (by a providence) here is at the gate, that they will not let come to us, so that I think these may be the reasons (beside the threats of Serj: King who lusted for this cruelty, and threatened it long;) for although as Isai: 3.9. The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and they declare their sin as SODOM; they hid it not. Yet were they vexed to do it always in our eyes which they confessed, and so removed us into this HOLE; and this is the most easy and charitable construction that can (I think) be given of their cruelty! but it could not vent in this, for their wickedness burns as fire, and here also are they worrying us a fresh too to this moment; I may well say with sweet Joseph in his prison, Gen: 40.15. And HERE ALSO have I done nothing that they should put me into this DUNGEON; and that it is a Dungeon, yea not only beyond joseph's, but far exceeding some felons in England. I shall a little describe it to you! it is some three steps long, and three steps broad; (not so long as one of the little garrets they put us into, first) when they brought me into this Castle, with a promise of two rooms, two beds, and better accommodation! till they have gotten me in, but now they gripe me, and not perform a title of their promise! but 'tis no wonder from men of such principles who make no more bones of breaking an Oath, than a soldier does of cracking a louse) nor is it so large as any one of the rooms we had at Windsor. Underneath it is a deep, low vault, from whence arises (into the room) day and night unwholesome vapours, winds, and filthy damp mists very dangerous, the boards being broken and rotten; the chimney is a little low thing, casting smoke so unreasonably in such a little close room that it is uncomfortable, and better to be bitten with cold, then smothered with smoke; all the light that comes in is a little dark window, which for many hundred years (I suppose) never saw the sun, unless a little at nights upon the long days of summer; so that it looks at noon in the room (for the most part) as if it were night. Before the window is a great Hill which keeps off light and air, so that the air that comes in to us is either out the Vault, or deep damp hollow cave underneath us (exceeding unwholesome) as we find by Woeful experience to the flesh! day and night, or else in at the door, and what that is, let any judge, for at the very door (within three steps) is the filthy common Sewer, stench, and common house of Office,, and at the side of the common Dunghill, so that what delight can be in this air, which the room is so strong and full of, let any (but Beasts) judge in this it exceedeth Sandam for't, as the Soldiers do for cruelty, and I think when it is best and sweetest, it is when there is less of the house of Office air, and more of the other; that is when it smells but fusty and foggy like a Well, Cave, or low Cellar under ground, with raw, cold, and aguish humours. Now if in these and other respects it be not a Dungeon, (and far exceeding many, yea in many respects the very Dungeon of this Castle which they threaten me so much with) I am much mistaken. But now for some few fruits too of their tyranny that we may tell you how it tastes (as from them;) ever since hath my poor Wife been weak and sick, yea so (by fits and through frights) as I feared her dissolution before this, and that which made her yet the more dejected, and down (as at death's door) was the want of Means, they not suffering help to come when sent for, but rather, upbraiding and saying pish! We could be sick and well when we would! the sense whereof made her complain deeply, and look upon herself as a lost Woman for some days! Besides the lame Maid was now taken ill also, she feeling their cruel usage, lying, and complaining full of pain and torment for six or seven days together, but they would not suffer so much as a Woman sent for to help her, (keeping her bed, which one in pity lent her to lie on!) but we sought the Lord for help, for compassion, for remedy! we not being suffered (neither) to send out a Letter to signify a word of our condition or cruel usage; some seven or eight Letters we have reckoned they have kept (of late) though not a word in them (for the most of them) that meddled with these matters or their Government, only of my Wife's sickness, sending for means, as also for a little money which one had of ours, but they neither let those Letters go the right way, nor told us of their stay, and so all lost (it is like.) Al I hear they can say is that I dated one of them from Carisbrook-Castle a Den of Cruelty, which they pretend a high capital Crime, so afraid are they, the least truth of their tyranny should come to light. But the Lord our God heard us graciously, and gave us some hope of their recovery, insomuch as my Wife began to grow a little cheerful, lively, and in hope to out-grow her frights and fits, but ah! behold their barbarous wickedness! O thou God of Righteousness! O how envious are they at thy goodness! for this time they take! BULL and a company of them being feasting, ranting, gaming, making merry, and bowling in a green they have for that purpose, and from this sport he order his cruelty; commands a violent party of soldiers (without so much bowels as a Man, or mercy as some beasts have, not once regarding my Wives long weakness, or the Maid's lameness,) to set upon us a fresh, and so tear away this bed also that my Wife now lay upon from under us; but it pleased God to give a foresight of it by several signs I had of a new trouble coming upon us; BULL with the soldiers being so exceeding crank, merry, laughing, and like them in Amos 5. at ease, and trusting in the mountain of Samaria, putting far away the evil day, that stretch themselves upon their Couches, eat the Lambs of the flock, chant, and drink Wine in bowls, but they are not GRIEVED for the AFFLICTIONS of Joseph! nay they are so far from a sense of joseph's sorrows in the midst of their mirth and jollity, hat indeed as v: 3. They cause the SEAT OF VIOLENCE to come near! even then! when they are at this voluptuousness; whereat (besides seeing them cast their eye so at my Dung-hole lodge) I did resolve they had a new design, so communicated my thoughts to my Wife, wishing her to be of good cheer, and so going into my coexiles chamber (which is the help we have for air) we locked up our own chamber door, and a while after came in these soldiers like greedy Leopards! for the bed we lay on; and perceiving our door locked (according to Orders) with hatchet, swords, etc. broke open the door, lock and all; notwithstanding I pleaded with them my Wives weak condition, how they had already almost killed her, and for my own part I should be content to lie in straw if they would allow it; but my Wife being so weak and ill, had need to have a bed, and this was hard usage, and unchristian; besides, before they got me in to the Castle, both Bull and they promised I should have two beds, (and so after I was in) and it was allowed at first; and I was taken from a prison where I had all these, under pretence of better accommodation; and would they not allow us now one bed to lie on? we did desire but one bed, and if nothing else would move them, my Wives present illness and sickness should importune a little a little compassion of them if they were men! but they would not hear! in they went! tore all the things off the bed, and carried away to the very bolster, and pillow, (where they now lie in the aforesaid Lieutenant's chamber.) And I was answered that in no prisons were Felons or Murderers allowed a bed to lie on, (ranking us with them!) yea they had taken away the very sheets! My poor Wife was this while ready to faint, very i'll, and falling into her fits again (through frights) which for present were prevented by means; my fellow prisoner (also) using a I endeavours to comfort her; but afterwards she fell il again as she used to be before, this last cruelty renewing her sickness, so as all her flesh would fall a trembling, her whole body be as in an agony, but especially her head, which doth swell, and the humours settle in her face, etc. so that for want of the means here, and because they seem resolved to give no rest (as we think) until they have murdered her, or been her death; she must (now) be forced to leave me in their clutches, and if the Lord make her able to get to London for the preservation of her life! which the Lord in mercy grant me! Amen!  
But I shall abruptly break off here! by reason my poor weak Wife is now leaving me and creeping out of this (Castle-Goal) yet Rehoboth where is room for me, and my soul is left at a fresh spring! O blessed be my God but I must confess it is grievous to the flesh; to be left in the hands of such as have threatened and seem to thirst for my blood as greedily as the Dog for the sheep! but (yet) by God's grace they shall leap above ground for it! and not get it by gaping, that I think: Psal: 37.32, 33, 34. The wicked WATCHETH the Righteeous, and seeketh to slay him, But the Lord will not leave him in his hand; WAITON THE LORD, and keep his WAY, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the Land! this is a sure Word, and in season here! where I hope to wait, and wait in hope that will never make me ashamed! notwithstanding the violence done to my flesh, the afflictions of my body and relations, and the danger of death in this Dungeon-like-hole, which I hope in Christ; we dare (sometimes) look ful-face upon and meet! though many times I must needs say with Bishop Ridley Martyr, I think I could creep into a mousehole, and that is when (through these late outrageous exercises) I have fits of sudden fear, and am so subject to frightings! But O pray! pray! pray for us incessantly with Faith! Al ye that shall hear these tidings, that he may (always) stand by us who stood by Paul against the beasts of Ephesus, and before Nero! not knowing which way our most dear Deliverer will come! whether by life or death to free us from fierce and unreasonable creatures, though for my own part I rather expect the latter in this place (ere long!) desiring to be found faithful unto Death in this most glorious Cause of Christ Jesus my Lord! King! and Master! nor do I think (if I die) that you will hear the perioding passages of their Tyranny, or this Tragedy upon my body! or that I shall write more to get it out (my papers lying hid underground! where I fear they will rot!) but the Lord will raise up the truth from the dead, I do know assuredly!  
By these things you may learn thus much more, 1 That the persecution is at principles of truth (let them say what they will) for they sal upon us for Christ the Words and Spirits, and Saints sake, we see; nor can they so much as pretend a danger to their Castle, (as they had formerly done) by a few feeble Women to stand in the Highway, (and not so much as in the outworks of the Castle;) but mere malice to the word of truth. 2. That they would not end with out persons or lives if they had them, but what they do unto us, they would fain be doing to all the Saints, and Churches who wait or call for the Kingdom of Christ; (and so they have said that they could have our Arms up to the elbows in their bloud●) as appears by their fowl falling upon the Messengers of the Churches with blows without any occasion glving them, but standing still and hearing me, so that (therein) they also fell upon them that sent them, so also upon their dragging the poor (lame) MAID about the yard. 3. That this hindering the Word (with sword-violence) is a high robbery to poor Souls, (in a scripture-sence) yea and to God; whom they openly scoff and mock at to hear him named, Mal: 3.8. Joh. 10.8. and God will deal with them accordingly; yea were Dr. Taylor now alive, and going to be burnt for this cause, he would burst out with his words (in Fox: vol: p: 179.) against these Brtites. and much more in these days of Apostasy; ah horsen Thiefs! whoresen Thiefs! rob God of his honour! rob God of his honour! for as Mat: 23.13. woe to them! for they neither go in themselves, nor suffer them that are entering: but blessed be the Lord for that promise in Isai. 18.7. The PRESENT shall be brought to the Lord, of a people scattered and PEELED, with ch: 42.22. This is the people rob and spoiled, they are all of them suared in holes, and hid in prison-houses. 4. This swordsilencing of the Ministers of Christ is a far more cruel and cutting way of silencing then the Bishop's High-Commission-Courts, or the Star-chamber! Amos 5.13. Theresore is it, the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time, not that the Lord approves the practice, but reproves their prudence. 5. The Sword-preaching (or such preaching as the Sword only allows) is the worlds, the Devils, and Antichrists 1 Joh: 4.5. and such a way of converting as the Turks use, and the Saracens, and so the Spaniards have it in the Indies under pain of confiscation of Lands, liberties, life. etc. to acknowledge God and the Spanish King, of whom the Indians had never heard; So is the Sword-preaching in these days, in this Isle (as Bul confessed) to keep them in subjection (that is in slavery) to his Lord Protector whom they never saw; but to preach up the Lord Protector of Heaven and Earth; or the Lord Jesus Christ our King) this is crushed by the Sword for sedition and dangerous Doctrine; so that ELIAH is persecuted, Micaiah mured up in close prison, and kept with bread and water of affliction, whiles all the States Priests (or King's Clergy) who say Go up, and prosper! yea 400 false Prophets feed every day at Jezabels' Table; but yet we are upon Charmel-Mount, and our enemies shall know that we are not here a fishing for Gudgeons. Much more I have to say of their tyranny, and cruelty (and in many things I have been sparing) but time will declare all! I trust.  
Now to offer my thoughts a little further, from what I foresee, and may easily gather, I dare affirm, 1 That either extraordinary sufferings, or extraordinary actings, (in either of which (for the word of God, and testimony of Jesus, Rev: 12.11.) we must carry our lives in our hands to offer up) are at the door in England; but the last I rather look for; when as Anselm (lib: de simil c: 52.) says, In futuro seculo sic justus fortus erit, ut etiam si velit, terram commovere possit; & e converso injustus imbecillis ut nec etiam vermes amovere queat, etc. a Saint shall be able to shake the whole World at his Will but a Tyrant, a persecutor, an enemy shall be so weak he shall not be able to put away or ●urt a poor WORM of us; Zach: 12.7, 8. He shall save the TENTS (in W●rs) of JUDAH; (amongst us (Japhet) Gentile Christians,) FIRST & he that is FEEBLE amongst them shall be as David, and DAVID as the Angel of the Lord before them; yea, as precious Mr: Burrows says (out of Luther) that the BODIES of the Saints shall have that POWER as to t●ss the greatest MOUNTAINS of the world like a BALL; but this I am persuaded (by Faith) they shall begin to do shortly, when the Worm is called to thresh the Mountains, Isai: 41.15. and beat them small as Jer: 51.20, 21, 22. Dan: 2.35. and this I confess is that I rather look for. 2. But if it break forth and continue in worse sufferings, (by persecution, etc.) I expect it in Julian (the Apostates) way of Policy, which Sozomen mentions, by returning the worst of the old Clergy, and ejected secular P. or such like People and Spirits into place again,  belio intestino expugnarent ecclesiam (notwithstanding our persecutors seem at present so unmerciful to some of the honestest and best of them, that they would not have them (by School or otherwise) to earn bread for their families honestly, which is monstrous tyranny (even to the worst of men) and makes my heart sometimes bleed within me!) but somewhat like to this seems their reviving of the old Orders, degrees, popish customs, forked caps, hoods, and tippets, and such Antichristian trash! (which so many Martyrs have witnessed against!) besides the famous burial of the Archbishop of Ire: at O.P. charges in Eng: whiles we may rot in his prisons. 3. If in actings amongst the Saints; (as I am most inclined to think) then look for such a Spirit (in proportion) to be doing with, as the Saints had (in primitive times) to be suffering with the most exquisite torments men could be put to; Like the Woman of Valeneience, who said she would rather burn her body then burn her bible, and so was burnt; or rather that Woman which the Martyr Guy de Brez: mentions in a Letter to his Mother; I remember (says he) I have read how the poor Christians (in primitive times) were assembled together (a great number) to hear the Word and a great COMMANDER was sent by the Emperor to put them all to the the sword, which a christian Woman hearing, hasted with all the speed she could to be at this meeting, carrying her little one in her arms; as she drew night to the troop of Horsemen, she rushed in to get through, the Gov: seeing her make such haste, called to her, and examined her whither she posted so fast? she gave him this short answer, I am going (faith she) to the assembly of the Christians; what to do (says he?) hast thou not heard that I am commanded to put them all to death? Yes! yes! (says she) I know it well, and therefore make I hast that I may not COME TOO LATE, lest I be not worthy to lose my life with them, but what wilt thou do with the little child (says he?) I will carry it with me (says she) that it may also have the crown of Martyrdom! At which the Tyrant's heart was so wounded, that he retired back to the Emperor and told him as the Lieutenant told Julian that the christians did but deride their torments, and laugh at their tortures, which were more terrible to the Spectators and Executioners then to the christians that were to tured! I could tell you (in primitive times) of whole Flocks that would run in voluntarily to be tormented, when they heard christians were to suffer; now I say I do expect as high, forward, and excellent a spirit to come down for action, that will make nothing but sport (for Christ's sake) to run in among multitudes of enemies in the name of the Lord, and (though men account them mad, desperate, or such as throw away their lives) they will on, upon swords and Pikes, and play as prettily, merrily, and cheerfully with cannon-bullets as at stoolball; and if the Roman or Trojan, or Persian spirit was so invincible and resolute in the day of it, do we think the 5th: Kingdom spirit shall not be so much rather? and what a shameful thing is it as Jerome says,  non prestet fides, quod praestitit infidelitas? that Faith in Christ should not make us as courageous for him as ever Infidels or carnal men were or are for their masters.  
4. For that Resolution goes before action, I find in my prospective that the Lord had ripened his Saints at a high rate already; especially such hidden ones of his as hang most in the SLIN of Generation-light! me thinks they begin to be shod with Gospel-preparations, Eph: 6. and hooves of brass to beat a pieces many people, Micha: 4.13. (but to them by and by;) who are at present in the inner court, the Tabernacle of the Testimony! Rev: 15.5. and about the Throne with the four and twenty, and standing on the crystal seat: Rev: 4.4.10. and 5.8. these LEVITES (of the order of 24) in 1 Chron: 24 and 25 & 26 & 27 who are to execute the Judgement throughly (upon all that have run a Whoring from the Lord!) Exod: 32.27, 28, 29. with the sword! in the mean time, O Lord, look down upon thy prisoners! and behold how greedy these BEASTS are! as Mica: 3.2.3. To pluck off their skin! and flesh from off their BONES! yea to eat the flesh of thy people, to break their BONES, and chop them in pieces as for the pot, and as flesh within their CAULDRON yet, v: 4. They will cry unto the Lord!  
Now for a conclusion; Let my most dear and homoured brethren in bonds (and out also) be of good cheer! full of Faith and expectation, unmoveable in the Lord, knowing their labour, their love, and their bonds be accepted, 1 Cor: 15.48. yea! your infirmities (my Friends) are over-looked! Jer: 50.20. in the covenant of Grace, Heb. 8.12. and your cause (of Christ) assisted and laboured after by the whole Creation! Therefore as LUTHER said upon Henr: 8 's bitter Letters against him, Agant quicquid possunt Henirici, Episcopi, atque adeo Turca, & ipse Sathan nos filii sumus Regni, etc. Pish! Let all the Harry's, Bishops, Turks! and Devils do their worst as long as Christ is ours; and so we are the children of the Kingdom! we care not! we spare not! we fear not! though they kill us! spit upon us! beat, bruise, imprison or crucify us to death for our Christ; for that all shall be well with us, yea better than well! when we be the Stones of his CROWN lifted up Zach: 8.16. Therefore O you the Lords Prisoners! and royal Persecuted one's in Pathmos-Isle-Exiles! and in Palmon-prisons! (my most d●ar and honoured Brethren indeed! and now more than ever!) M: G: Harrison, and Mr: Courtney, M: Carew, Col: Rich, M: G: Overton, C: Day, B: Feak, etc. and all the rest whom I salute in the Lord's name! and look towards! from this top of Amana! (for it is a Nurse as the word signifies in the Truth!) this top of Shenir, (where is the prosperous teacher as the word signifies) and this Hil of Hermon, Cant: 4.8. (full of Dews dedicated to God yea from these Lion's Dens, and mountains of the Leopards, where I am now cast for a prey by men to be devoured in Carisbrook-Castle, (a close prison, and kennel of nuclean creatures!) from hence I say do I cry aloud! and call upon you,) who have accounted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures and pleasures of the present court!) having no other way to speak unto you but this, I am BIDDEN of the Lord to mind you all (with my own Soul) of the daybreak! we have so long waited and prayed for! that DAY BREAK of the Vision, which we may easily discern through little streams, the morning is breathing but of such a day as will be neither dark nor clear! yea the years of Wonders are entering upon us, and as I take it, it is now the EVE-YEAR of terrible Times and things of the strange MOUNT PERAZIM-dspensations! Isai: 28.21. which I have (I hope) evidently demonstrated and proved (even in the eyes of the adversaries) by scripture arguments both in my Prison-born Treatise ready, which are both of a MALE-SPIRIT! were there any MIDWIFE so hardly to do their Office without fearing Pharaohs cruel comm●nd of killing them, (who is contented to let the female, carnal, and low spirited things to pass the Press every day;) surely the Lord would deal well with such Midwives but instead of such we find them Murderers! Traitors and very Monsters to the choicest Truths of the Day, insomuch as I may say they have ●ript up the WOMEN WITH CHILD of GILEAD, (or of the Witnesses and choicest Saints, Cant: 4.1.) that they might enlarge their own BORDERS, Amos 1.13. but the BLOOD and judgement be upon them! that have stifled and destroyed the Male-truths and discoveries which we have been so big (or with child) with, in the Holy Ghost, neither suffering us one way nor other to be delivered of them, neither by printing, preaching, nor otherwise publishing! O! O! worse then pagan, popish! or Prelactical tyranny over us! over our very souls and consciences! much more than over our bodies! & estates! but for all this, that men may know we have the blessing! the Lord hath given us the blessing of the Womb and full breasts, whiles our enemies have the miscarrying Womb and dry breasts, Hos: 9.14. whose fruit is stil-born, and so shall every one of them be like the untimely, birth of a Woman that seethe not the SUN, Psal: 58.8, 9 when the Whirlwind comes and now my brethren, in bonds & banishment (where you be in the world as men (almost) forgotten by some; and as dead men out of mind, Psal. 31.12.) how rest you in your Arimathean Sepulchers? are you not sweetly embalmed in your sufferings? and do not the affectionate Maries find you out with their spices? or is it a Resurrection-time with you first? before they can do that? will the Whales-belly vomit you out and up again amongst your brethren at liberty? after you have lain like dead Carcases your part of the three days? for surely the Lord will revive his Work in the midst of the years, and in the midst of the years make it known says the Song of Seginoth, Hab: 3.2. Hos: 6. ●, 2. And in wrath remember mercy! what say you? O you honourable ones of the Earth? (that is to come) to all these things? do you not lie easy and sweet in your prisons and Exiles? are not your beds blessed and green, for your beloved, and you to lie down in together! O that I were with you, O that I could visit you! that I could hear what you would tell me! how cheer you? how live you? how feed you? how lodge you? what find you? what feel you? what see you? what satisfies you? & what enjoy you of the DAYSPRING from on high at hand? Ah my dearest hearts! do you not startle sometimes to feel the babe spring up in the Womb? is he not quick? how say you? doth not the comforter abide with you in your bonds, & dip your feet in oil for you? O how often doth the Angel of the Covenant visit you? and come leaping over the Castles and Walls unto you? and doth not the most high Jehovah Shammah stand by you (as he ever he did by his poor Worms! his prisoners of Faith and hope of old) saying be of good cheer, Harrison! Rich! Carew, Courtney, Overton, &c: and to turn you unto your strong hold! for even to DAY do Ideclare that I will render double unto thee, when I have bend JUDAH for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy Sons O Greece! and made thee as the SWORD of a mighty man! I am with you! I have oiled your bonds, and made them easy and sweet unto you; yea I have muzzled of this misshapen Court-Monster, this ugly creature! this bastard of Ashdod! this seed of the Dragon! begotten in darkness brought forth in weakness! and nourished with unreasonabless! growing up in wickedness! to continue with shortness, and to be confounded with the fierceness of the wrath of GOD, which is at hand, Rev: 14.10, 20. Wherefore up! up O concaptives! and Coexiles! if ever now with courage Sirs! be ready and look about you, for I tell you truly after our 42 monthed voyage we may see the Land! which so many precious preceding Saints the Martyrs our predecessors have so longed to see! Let us sing and shout for joy (Laeto clamore canentes, & caventes) for that our suils are filled, our tackling is good! our motion is swift! our compass is true, and we are near the Haven! come then, tack about Sirs! and to our business, to our Work with might and main, make haste, keep ground, prepare the Gable and cast out Anchor, yea awake, awake all you that be aboard! for the time is come to visit the Coasts, and set ashore! yea my beloved, the sun of persecution grows (now) low, and will set soon! O therefore let us stand to it like Heart of Oak without warping in the least! O consider a little is it comely for us to hang down our heads, and so near the Haven! or to droop at the end of the 42 months? what now? now? to yield or parley about it, being this Fort of truth (our strong hold) hath held out so long and valiantly too against the beast and his image by all the Saints and Martyrs! and for so many hundred years, yea and all the Saints that have left us their skulls, blood, ashes, and bones behind them for our encouragement! yea the whole creation, yea God, Christ, Angels, and men do expect our coustancy and faithfulness to the end! and shall we now faint? or fear the enemy, seeing we are so well accommodated with all necessaries? yea much beyond our blessed predecessors for outward things? and upon so poor a slight siege too of the enemy as this is? who is almost worsted without hand; and now too that such a great relief is raising for us by the spirit of life? (the 5th Kingdom Spirit?) which we wait for every day, such as hath not been heard of for above this thousand years, and shall not we stand to it? shall not we hold it out, and die like Christ's men? or shall we admit of any composition? capitulation? or terms with them? or be routed in the rear (in this the rear-testimony of Jesus) for want of Faith and courage to carry it up! O no, no! God forbidden! but let us rally by Faith! and by the grace of God keep our ground like men, and make haste with the main body (as they begun blessedly, in that wing of Honourable WALES,) to move for the relief of the engaged Forlorn! for the Lords sake make haste, and march up, yea sally out most fiercely (O ye men of courage) upon this Apostate and prefidious enemy, with such an undaunted, invincible, and impregnable resolution as may make them know they are not ORDINARY PRISONERS whom they would bury alive in these iron graves for the most blessed cause that ever was on foot in earth, or that ever was betray by men, come, come Sirs! prepare your companies for King Jesus, his Mount Zion Musterday is at hand, his Magazine and Artillery, yea his most excellent mortarpeices and batteries be ready, we wait only for the Wora from on high to falon, and faith and Prayer to do the Execution according to Rev: 18.6. (reward her as she hath rewarded you) and then by the grace of God the proudest of them all shall know we are engaged on life and death, to sink or swim, stand or fall with the Lord Jesus our Captain General upon his red Horse against the beasts Government, so as neither to give nor take Quarter but according to his Orders; Therefore take the alarm my brethren, be up and ready, for we are not our own but Christ's, nor are we redeemed to men, but to God therefore (like Champions refreshed with Wine) let the shout of a King be heard amongst us! are we not yet awakened and warmed? is it not high time for the two Witnesses to be uniting, stirring, and rising? yea standing upon their feet! and I hope we (you of the majestracy, and we of the Ministry) are of the same spirit with them, and are blown by one and the same breath, though as pipes we may have different sounds. Besides, let us consider how eagerly Shear-jashub or the little Remnant is making ready for your rise, yea Mahershalalhashbaz is ready to pitch his great Tent, and to blow his great Trump, yea the man among Myrtle trees, Zach: 1.8. on his red Horse is already mounted (if I mistake not) and ready to march with his sword to execute and fire to plead with all Nations, for his bow he used upon his White-horse, Rev: 6.2. hitherto, but the next is his sword on his red Horse, and the slain of the Lord and shall be many, Isai: 66.16. yea and after the Harvest (wherein I hope to be a reaper, (a cutter down, or a gatherer in,) the blood of the Vintage will be up unto the horses bridles, Rev: 14.20. viz: those Horses that are to carry the 4th Chariot from between the two Mountains of brass, wherein the Lord Jesus fits to give Laws unto the whole earth, Zach: 6.1, 7, 8. and this I can easily fore see, for I have almost obvious, undeniable, prospective of it from this cliff of the rock, where my present lot lies. But ah Lord (may I say) what meaneth this? that men be so hush and still then at this, day, yea goodmen so asleep, so secure, Zach: 1.11. Behold all the earth sitteth still and is at rest! why it is, that they may be surprised as in the days of Noah and LOT? and with the coming as a Thief in the night; therefore O my Brethren, Let us enter the Ark, for no safety will be found but in the work! believe it, listen! for the noise of his chariot wheels, (with the spirit of the living creatures) is (in some measure) come upon us! look about & believe, with boldness and with gladness! yea up and make ready! to run to run with these horsemen who are at hand! prepare, prepare! put on the whole armour of God to stand, outsland, and withstand in this evil day, Eph. 6. Awake, awake, yea rouse up (O Saints) with most royal resolutions! and shake yourselves from your prison-dust! O Captive-Daughter of Zion! for it is high time, yea the set time is now to start up like Lions (too stout for sufferings as before!) putting off your Sackcloth, or captivity garments, and putting on your beautiful Zion Robes to follow the Lamb with, Isai: 52.1, 2. and when you put on these Robes you must put off all those Relations (though ever so dear) that may make you stagger yea even stamp upon them; as Jerome said, If my Father were weeping on his knees before me, and my Mother hanging on my neck behind me, and all my brethren, SISTERS, and Kindred round about me, I'd run over them all, and in this case we are bid even to hate them! Luke 14.26. if we follow Christ; Wherefore O my most honourable brethren, Concaptives, and Coexiles! yea most noble fellow-commoners at the King's charges! let us up together (all at once, and fall in all at once, Numb: 13 30.) with one mind, and as one man, Zeph: 3.9. Appoint the day! appropriate the duty, and to it, yea do it with such a shout too, (Jer: 50.14. Amos 2.2.) as may make the ears of the enemies to ring, yea begin the Earthquake, Rev: 11.13. and rend up by the very roots the foundations of these persecuting Nimrods', with their prisons, Acts 16.26. So as one stone be not left for a corner of them; yea till there be such a trembling, shaking, and consternation, yea a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translation, overturning and total amotion of them, that the Beasts Government may never have a being more in England neither in Civils, ecclesiastics, nor Militaries: For Jehovah-Sabboth will confound them, and break them to pieces before us; yea this house of Saul (rejected) must fall flat before the house of David (the little stripling!) And all this Apostative interest of Councils, Courts, Triers, Clergy, Academies, and Armies whom the Lord is departed from; or rather who have no foundation at all in the Covenant of Grace, or Kingdom which the God of Heaven hath set up over all Nations, must worse than tumble; but our cause cannot miscarry (my Friends,) it cannot fail us, (who are Heirs of the Promise) because every jota of it (as we contend for it) is founded in the New and everlasting Covenant! blessed be the Lord, the Holy one of Israel who hath already given us so many gracious and specifying prison prognostics of the great day of Jezreel at hand.  
1. In that We (and the CAUSE we are in) are found and founded in Covenant of Grace, whereby the Father stands engaged to his Son, & (by his Son) to us in an inseparable union and tye, Isai; 53.11. Jer. 33.25, 26. Acts 2.30. Gal: 3.16. So that as Rom: 4.16. It is of Faith that it might be by GRACE., to the end the PROMISE might be sure to ALL THE SEED, 2 Sam: 23.5. and our infirmities (though many) cannot hinder the most excellent glory and Resurrection of this most blessed Cause of Christ against Antichrist; of the Lamb against the Beast in England, Psal: 89.33, 34: Ezek: 16.60. nor deprive us of our weight in that glory which is a coming, by how much the Lord of this cause is the Lord of that covenant which is established upon so clear, sweet, and sure New-Testament promises, Heb: 86, 12. Isai: 43.25. yea Jer: 50.20. says the Lord, In those days their iniquity shall be sought for but not found, for I will pardon whom I RESERVE; the little REMNANT that overcome with the blood of the Lamb, and the word of the Testimony, Rev: 12.11. O my brethren, do not our heart even burn with us, by a New Covenant communion with the Lord in this Cause? having the pardon of sins? the seal of his Love? the assurance of his favour? and boldness in his sight through the blood of Grace? yea can we not run into the inner Court with the blood and the Fat of Lords Offerings? and have as free and frequent an access into the Holy of holies (where our High Priest is) as we will? what should hinder us? or who should let us? and do not the Lords fat's overflow with new Wine and Oil unto our souls, O my most precious Friends shall we, or can we ever forget our prisons, and Exiles? so exceedingly lined? warmed? refreshed? renewed? and followed with such full, plentiful, and ravishing mercies? and let men say what they will, it is marvellous sweet to our souls (and our Consciences do witness it daily) that our sufferings are New-Testament sufferings; our witnessings New-Testament testimonies, our comforts and hopes pure New-Testament hopes and consolations, so are our privileges, principles, and Spirits (as odious as our enemies make them by their false reports) New-Testament spirits and principles, (O that they were tried yet more and more) yea and our actings thereupon are New-Testament actings, upon and in the Covenant of grace which the blood of Christ ha●h sealed, yea the Decree of God, which (to put an end of all strife, Heb: 6.16, 17, 18. God himself hath SWORN to, that WE (poor prisoners of hope might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us, and herein lieth the whole controversy between us and our persecutors; blessed be our most Heavenly Father for these prison companions and comforts of Christ, for these fresh springs which cannot fail us, nor can we fall the subjects of God's wrath, let them prison! hang! or head us! banish or burn us! for the Covenant standeth sure, and is well ordered in all things.  
2. The EARNEST PRESENCE of Immanuel or GOD WITH Us in our Prisons and Exiles is a most excellent PREFACE to the matter in hand; yea a sure token for good unto us, and a certain testimony of the Cause of Christ with us which we suffer so sweetly and satisfactorily in and for (in the race of those righteous ones in all Ages that have freely parted with all to follow Christ, for although a many profess him, talk of him, and pretend to do it very highly, yet they turn it off to the affections, (not actions) as if it were only to fix the heart upon him, and not upon the world or sublunary things, and those have thereby condemned themselves as unworthy of him; nor indeed are they the true Disciples of Jesus Christ, (but only at largesse as the young man who had great possessions, Mat: 19.22.) and so the Martyrs and primitive Saints (as I could prove) have all along looked upon them at a distance, (as we shall see in the day of Christ;) but now, I say, we see the breadth of the Land of Immanuel much more than formerly in these prison prospects, and do men or Devils their worst, we may expect a most eminent reviving of the spirit of life upon us, yea on our heads in an Oecomenical dispensation, as is rested on Christ! 1 Pet: 4.14. the blessing shall be upon the head of Joseph, (whom no man remembreth in the prison) Deut: 33.16. yea and Joseph shall have the first lot among David's singers, 1 Chron: 25.9. or Christ's Worthies that have victory over the Beast, Rev: 15.2. who have your chambers in the inner Court, and a clear prospect, Ezek: 40.44. and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, Rev: 14.2. JOSEPH being one of the free Woman that stands upon the Mount of blessing, and not on the Mount of Cursing, Peut: 27.12 Besides as MANOAHS' WIFE said, if he would have killed us he would not have received our Offerings, nor would he have showed us all these things that are to come at this time, Judg: 13.23. and in the prison too (and in a strange Land) had we been such evil doers as our enemies (for their own sakes) would make men believe us to be. But O my happy Brethren in Christ! doth not our God give us most remarkable, full, and frequent visits? yea reveal his mind unto us? and foreshow us things to come! and accept of us in his dearest Son? what mean we then to fear what flesh can do unto us? Psal: 27.1, 2. Psal. 1●8. Verily, verily, I say it and see it, (and by the authority which the Lord hath given me I speak it) that not ONE (no not one soul) in prison upon this pure and single account for the King of Saints but shall say it (and if they persevere yet, much much more enjoy it) that they have had such a presence of the Lord with them as is not usual, no! not to Saints! but I leave the further evidence of this (tasted) truth to TIME to declare at our next Hallelujatick triumph (altogether) over the beast and his Image! for our God is gone up with a SHOUT! and we shall sing praises together, sing praises to the Lord! sing praises, sing praises to our King, Psal: 47.5, 6.  
3. For that our close (yea closest) Prisons are made our free, (yea the freest) Schools that ever our Father hath put us unto to learn the Book of the Lamb in! where our lessons are most profitable and seasonable, though hard and difficult to flesh and blood: for as one says Qui tribulantur, sacras literas melius intelligunt; Alii eas legant, sicut carmen Ovidii, etc. The Saints in prison have the mind of the Scriptures most; others read them as they read Ovid. O here! here are the seven eyes of the Stone which lay before Jehoshua, and Zerubbabel! yea the seven spirits of the seven seals of that blessed Book, Rev: 5. they are in some measure ministered unto us, and the truths are even burn and glow in our hearts! so that we are made other manner of Proficients in the present Truth and Testimony (by him that teaches to profit) then ever we thought such poor silly worms as we are could ever have been!  
4. It is no little comfort and witness with us, that our persecutors (as bad as they are) have nothing evil to lay to our charge! neither against the Laws of God, of Nature, of Reason, or Nation! nothing for matter of Fact, or any Act deviating from a due Rule or End; Only in the most Eligible matters of our Faith, and for our faithfulness to the Lamb against the Beast is it, that we suffer so as we do, the Lord our God knows it, and let our enemies say or do what they dare (as immodest as they are) (besides lying and slandering) and (with our lives in our hands) we will stand a TRIAL with them, or any of them before any competent Judges by what LAWS they will; either of God, reason, or Nature, that the Traitors both to God and men, and the (indeed) Offenders may be duly proved and punished, and this their own consciences will tell them! But O what miserable fowl-play is this so harshly to imprison and banish us; and that contrary to Law, Conscience, Reason, Religion, common honesty, or the liberties so long contended (or rather pretended) for? and that without any charge in their commitments of me (that ever I could see) wherein they exceed the unrighteousness of their predecessors, both Pope and Prelates, yea without any Accusers face to face without any Judge? without any crime or judgement, and that for whole years too together, burying us alive? and not suffering us to speak a word for ourselves, print, or publish the truth! and all for the truth the Lord knows (so ●ar as we understand!) and then too to insult over us, with most impudent lies, pamphlets, reports, and Pulpits, persuading the poor ignorant people (most irrationally and untruly) that it is no persecution upon us, and here might come in the Ploughman's complaint in Edw: the 3ds, d. Lord, Lord, ●ow much truer doom was there in PILOT (an Heathen Justice,) then in our Kings, etc. that woulden deemen to death, him the Priest's deliverens without ten Witnesses and Priests, etc. But before I pass over this, I am willing to revive Mr. Tyndal (that precious Martyr in Hen: 8.) his Apostolical Doctrine on Mat: 5. for says he, RULERS must not IMPRISON or apprehend any out of malice or hatred, or to avenge themselves, but to maintain the (true) OFFICE of Magistracy and good Laws (which we never opposed, nor were so much as in thought against, nay we are imprisoned for standing to them) so says he on on Mat: 5.13. Ye are the salt of the earth, etc. The nature of SALT is to by't, fret, and make smart; but the SICK PATIENTS of the WORLD are marvellous impatient, so that though they can suffer gross sins to be rebuked under a fashion, as in a parable a far off, yet to have their righteousness and holiness disallowed and condemned for damnablec and devilish, that they may not abide. Insomuch that thou must leave thy SALTING, or else prepare (to prison) to suffer again, even to be called RAILERS Seditions, a maker of Discord, TROUBLERS OF THE COMMON PEACE, Schismatic, Heritick and to be LIED UPON, that thou hast said or done what thou never thoughtest of, and then to be called CORAM NOBIS and there sing a new song, and forswear thy SALTING, or else to be sent after thy fellows that are gone before thee, and in the way that thy MASTER went. This, this good man (and Martyr) said very right for our days also, for indeed it is our SALTING with the sincere truth that mak●s them burn, rage, and fret so, for when the Word comes home they are cut to the heart, Acts. 5.33. and 7.24. and cannot endure it, but do with Vae nobis make coram nobis our portion, calling us Railers, and disturbers of the common peace (which indeed they break, and not we) yea lying and slandering us at such a height as is to be wondered at, none of us escaping their uncivil courtships, and most nauceous mouth-fistula's, no, not that good man Mr: Tillingast whom they called (as the enemies did Luther) a Liar, and as to myself who am (of any indeed I think the most deserving their censures, I am) lashed aloud Aculeis serpentum with Scorpion tongues and thongs, but I leave it and them to the most righteous Judge, (the God of truth,) to whom I have committed my cause (or rather his own herein) and yet for the Truth's sake I have assayed hard (so far as the truth is concerned) a most clear vindication which cannot pass the Press, and so I do overpass and transmit it to the most High Judge of Heaven and Earth (in Jesus Christ) for he is near that JUSTIFIETH me who will contend with me, Isai: 50.8. But this most precious Apostolic spirited Tyndal is much enlarged upon the foresaid subject in several places, as in p: 124. where he tells us how the preaching the Truth is so hateful to Kings and present Powers of the World, because (says he) It is impossible we should PREACH CHRIST except we preach against ANTICHRIST; that is THEM that with violence are against the Truth; and as the PHYSICIAN doth heal no disease, but does first begin at the ROOT of it, so we do preach against no mischief, but we first begin a● the ROOT thereo●. And as he hath said to the shame of our present preachers of Christ, who can let alone Antichrist in the present G●● We have held it our duty to begin at the root of this grand Apostasy in England which is at WHITEHAL, (or WHITE-HEL rather) in this matter, which hath occasioned so horrible and subtle a persecution from those men of corrupt minds, who would not endure us to touch the Root o this Epidemical, yea Apodemical Disease in England, themselves being the BOTTOM of it.  
5. Another very excellent prison-prognostick, and a very evident token unto us for good too, is that the SPIRIT OF THE LORD upon us, is (I trust) so much past cowardice and fear! that we can do it to the teeth of the proudest Tyrants on earth, that we are above them and their rage! do their worst! because greater is he that is in us then▪ HE that is in the world, 1 Joh: 4.4. and in our prison is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Power of the Witnesses a coming upon us (through the strength of Christ) to do marvellous things; yea as Hag: 2.7, 8. According to the WORD that I have COVENATTED with you: So my SPIRIT remaineth among you, FEAR YE NOT▪ for thus saith JEHOVAH yet a little while and I will shake, etc. I will make the earth to tremble before you, Joel 2.10. yea this pitiful p●dlie, filthy, mieryclay-Government that is gotten up in Great Britain which is the first that must be struck through by the Stone, Dan: 2. Wherefore O my Friends we must and will rejoice yet more abundantly in this so blessed, sweet, temperate, New-Testament Zone which we are under in prisons and Exiles, for all the fierceness of this last Beast who hath made the torrid Zone of his tyranny inhabitable and insupportable! and in truth, if I know my heart in this matter, I would say (for one) like Jerome of Prague, when the flames were kindling behind him, (saith he) with courage to the Executioner, Come! come! Kindle me the fire before my face! for if I had been afraid I had never come hither! nor are we such lively members of Christ's body if we cannot (when called to it) sweat a bloody sweat ●●fr his sake. Wherefore as the Dutch Martyr said, Christo submittemus sexcenta si nobis essent Colla, etc. had we six hundred heads for one, they should all off for Christ in this most blessed cause, for Quas non oportet mortes praeeligere, & c? What Deaths had we not better choose? yea what Hells not endure? then to decline one step so blessed, so certain, and so glorious a Cause as this is? for which we are in bonds? Wherefore O my most honourably beloved hearts! the spirit of life rest upon you and of the two Witnesses to make you as stable and as able as Mount Zion! Psal: 125.1 yea as those Mountains of Brass from whence the Chariots of King Jesu● come! they are a coming, Zach: 6.1. so that all the Devils of Hell may not be able to remove you then one inch of ground! but that those who have gone before us from the days of Abel to this day, and who have led up the VAN with valour, with all the Elect Angels (our fellow-servants in this Cause!) may exceedingly rejoice to see our Faith, and Faithfulness, vigour, constancy, and courage in carrying up this finishing Rev: 11, 7. this Rear-testimony Mat: 24.14. Rev: 17.14. according to the Spirit of the Fifth Kingdom against the BEAST! like the children of the captivity now to be returned! like the children of the promise, and of the Freewoman, Gal: 4. yea like the children of the Kingdom! Mat. 13. that good seed that must sow the whole earth! and the children of the Resurrection, Luke 20. which are to have their lot in the next world upon the Earth! and to reign with Christ a thousand years! as I have proved at large (in prison-born morning beams, Lib: 3. and 4.) For Jehovah only is the Lord Patron of all our preferments, and whiles we are in the prison as I said we are not fishing for Gudgeons, for We pre-possess several sweet tenors both free and copyhold which we cannot part with (no more than Nabaoth could with his Vineyard) though we lose our lives for it! and to conclude, I would leave t● is one word with you, that the same Lord of Hosts, and Captain of the Hosts of Israel that went before them in the Van, is now with us in the Rear, where the enemy hath fallen on (for that is now the Captain's place) so that we may confidently and undoubtedly expect as much of his prowess, power, wonderful appearances, and presence with us in this Rear, as ever any of the Saints (or Martyrs) among Jews or Christians found in the Van (or in former days) when the enemies fell upon them; for this is clear in Isai: 52.12. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for JEHOVAH will go before you: yea the God of Israel will be your REARWARD, Isai: 58.8. Thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy REAR: WARD, then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say HERE I AM: if you take away from the midst of thee the yoke, etc.  
I am prevented in my Word to the little Remnant, I mean the Lambs faithful followers, of the Woman's seed that keep the Commandments of God, and testimony of Jesus, (but in my Banish-born-Treatise, lib: last, I writ at large to them, and of their Work if it ever come to light! though I confess my Bucer-like hand which writes but bad may be some let, or at least delay therein) yet at present I am to bid them BEWARE and PREPARE; beware of running before Orders come from Jehovah of Armies! and prepare for them when they come! yea to make all their Arrows ready against Babylon for the time to visit her is now come! the set time to thresh her, the Harvest is come, Jer: 50.51. Rev: 4. and to favour Zion, Psal: 102.15, 16. yea the set time is come, and it is easy to see the SIGNS of Times come upon us! yea the signs complete them, this little born! this last B: this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (as the learned read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉!) this last limb of the Beasts Government, and the man that maketh up his number six thousand, six hundred six (as we have proved in Prison Morn:) He is now come, O up! and be ready then like Roaring Lions against the end of the time, times & dividend, with your Ahud Chereb (not Pe Chereb two mouthed swords like Christ's men of War, Pe Chareb or sword with one mouth only as hath been, but Joel 2.2.7, 9, 11. to run & climb the wall like mighty men, and JEHOVAH shall utter his voice before you; his Dread shall be upon your enemies who have insulted over you, but shall fall before you, Josh: 2.9. Rev: 11.11. yea they shall tremble! and fear! and wax feeble as Women! Jer: 51.30. Nahum: 3.13, and become bread for your swords to eat! (as in Jeremy, Acheleh Cherbechem Ne biechem) because their defence is departed from them Numb: 14.9. nor are the most godly amongst them that have Apostatised these times any more to be reckoned amongst the Lamb's number then Dan and Ephraim (because of their Apostasy, Judg: 17, 18.) were reckoned among the sealed ones, of the 144000 Rev: 7▪ 5, 6, 7, 8. Wherefore up O my dear ●arts! who are of that number that stand before the Throne, Rev: 7.9. or with the Lamb in Mount Zion, Rev: 14.1, up and be ready! with your Ahod weapon! awake? arise O English Shearjashub! for out of JUDAH (Christ with us Gentiles (of Lea!) comes forth the CORNER, out of HIM the Nail, out of HIM the Battle-bow, and they shall be as mighty men which tread down their enemies as mire in the streets in the battle, and they shall fight because the Kord is with them, Zach: 10.5.  
Wherefore I be sure ye begin-your Muster (or to mount your horses Zach: 1.8.) upon a Mount Zion ground, or in a New-Covenant principle, that is purely for (or rather with) Christ and his Kingdom; (and for no earthly Persons, things, or Interests of Men whatsoever;) such a War was never yet in the four Monarchie●s. And 2. Be sure that you be fully separate from the Beasts dominion in all things, and in every ministration as well civil and Military as Ecclesiastic, for the BLESSING shall be upon the head of him that is SEPARATED from his brethren, Deut: 33.16, and it is an Ordinance, yea obedience to an indispensable command, Rev: 18.4. Jer: 50.28. The voice of them that FLEE and ESCAPE out of the Land of Babylon to DECLAE IN ZION the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his Temple; for such only are to come out of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and to pour out the Viols in pure linen, and not (at all) in defiled Garments, Rev: 15. But furthermore 3. Be sure you lose not the least opportunity or nick of time put into your hands to do the Work when the END comes. And 4. Be sure you set not upon it with your own spirits, nor pour out in it your own wrath or revenge, but Gods only, and upon such subjects too as the Word reveals. Yea 5 last, Be sure that you in your actings, executing, and sufferings be upon no other bottom, (being) or foundation but the Lord Jesus, 1 Cor. 3.11. whereon if you overcome you are sure to walk with him in White, Rev: 3.4. Rev: 7.9 14. amongst his WORTHIES; yea and be as pillars in the Temple! Rev: 3.12. Rulers over the Nations, Rev: 2.26, 27. and Heirs of the New Jerusalem glory! the tree of Life! the new name! and the Throne! Rev: 2: 7, 17 and 3.12, 21. Therefore up O ye Saints to take the Kingdom, Dan. 7. ●8▪ and to possess it for ever! for the GENTILES (Christiani qui gentiliter vivunt) have possessed the outward Court this 42 months, but We singers have the inner Court, Ezek: 40.44. and 'tis now time to arise, yea high time to deliver thyself O Zion Isai: 52.1, 2. and shake off thy dust! to lay waste the land of Nimrod with the Sword, Mica: 5.6, 7. And the Remnant of Jacob (the Worm) shall be in the midst of many people, as a DEW from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass that TARRIETH not for MAN; yea among the GENTILES as a Lion! who if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver, Numb: 23.24. the Holy City is the holy Camp in the outward Court of the Tabernacle that is to arise (with the Two Witnesses) and root the Beast that trod it under foot. Therefore for the Lords sake Sirs be valiant! like David's worthies! yea King Sclomons men! Cant: 3, 7, 8. Who all hold swords being expert in War. It is said of Sadeel that with Gener a Citizen he fought so furiously for the (then) cause of God that he himself put a thousand Spaniards to flight! and shall we fear? (Non de vita sed de scuto solliciti estoti) regard not your lives for the work of Christ, when called to it! It is said that Sceva at the siege of Dyrrachium so long alone resisted Pompey's Army that he had two hundred twenty darts sticking in his shield, and lost one of his eyes, and yet gave not over till Caesar came into his Rescue! is it possible (my Brethren) that this could be for the carnal interest of a man in a fourth Kingdom spirit? and shall not as noble a spirit, and as high a love be found in a Fifth Kingdom man for the most excellent cause an● King that ever was on earth? viz: Jesus Christ and him only! Blessed Lord! when wilt thou raise us up with thy spirit of life! or how long shall all lie dead? O what cowards are we now to run into holes and corners for fear of sufferings! surely Lord Jesus had all thy Disciples dealt thus with thee in their Generations, there would have been but few Martyrs or followers of the Lamb! O I blush for shame when I behold them that are gone before, with these that now follow! IGNATIUS said he had rather be a Martyr then a Monarch, but now men had rather be Monsters than Martyrs, when the Dragon Emperors gave Orders to put all to death that would confess themselves christians, they came in of themselves by whole flocks confessing themselves christians, and defying the Heathens, (as in Arrius Antoninus' days) they ran in voluntarily to die and to be tormented, as did Romanus Gerdius, Menas, and a many others in Dioclesian's days; but ah! where be they that run in flocks to White, Hal, now saying we are Fift Monarchy men or for the Kingdom of Christ, and will live and die with our brethren together; see 1 John 3.16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to LAY DOWN our lives sor the BRETHREN. But ah, how iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxeth cold, as Gui de Brez: Martyr in Flanders, so Mr: Burroughs tells us of the Woman we heard of before who ran for martyrdom with the Saints for fear she should lose it! and do we sit still for fear of sufferings, which were such Jocularia & ludicra, as Vincentius called them, to the Saints in primitive times! Rejoice and leap for joy, (as the word is) to suffer for Christ, or be found doing for him when he comes. Now I beseech the Lord awaken you, if you be of that race, and rouse you up, and set you all a-work, (as upon life and death) with all speed to overceme the beast and his followers with as lively a spirit as high a zeal and readiness to die in the service of Christ, and this his most comprehensive Cause at this day, as they were in theirs through the are greatest strife, and so to overcome with the Word of the Testimony, and blood of the Lamb not loving your lives. Rev: 12.11. Bate me nothing of my sufferings, (says Gordius to the Tormentors) for it is to my loss then Majora certamina, majora sequuntur praemia. Wherhfore (because I must break off with these few words to you (as to OVERCOMMERS) for so (I trust) you are or will be in CHRIST Jesus, and close Followers of he Lamb) I shall leave you with that blessed man Mr: Holland's Legacy bequeathed to his Friends at his death against Popery, Commendo vos dilectioni Dei & odio Papatus, etc. So against this Apostate-Generation, I commend you (my Brethren) to the dearest lovo of God, and to the deadtiest hatred of these Hypocrites and Apostates; AMEN, for Heb: 10, 31. If any man DRAW BACK my soul shall have no pleasure in him  
I would have had a word to this Bastard of Ashdod, this illegitimate Monster (had he ears to hear!) but his most irrational rage hath hindered me, and I must be silent with another loud cry to thee O. P. out of this DEN where thou hast cast me so inconsiderately with such cruelty, and for so long a tiwe too, of whom I think I might have said as Tacitus of GALBA, Digniffimns imperandi nise imperasset, How worthy hadst thou been of Rule, if thou hadst not ruled! but as High as thou art, and as low as I am under thy foot, me thinks when I am mounted and winged by the Holy Ghost, thou art as much under me and my Christ whom I serve in these bonds, and in this Cause. Yea as Cirus Theodorus said to Modestus about Basil when he was under his Tyranny, O MODESTUS, Why basil is above thee, thou art but a poor PISMIRE to him, though thou roarest against him like a LYON, and be not offended at it! for I tell thee (through the cruelty) I am set upon a Mount so high as I see thee, and all the Kings of the earth to boot (as proud as they be) but like Hoppimit hmbs, I mean but like bugs about a block, or Aunts about a Molehill, or Worms upon a Dunghill, which I laugh at when I see them most busy about their nests, which in one crush will be destroyed, kicked down, and dispersed like the dust on the floor, Dan: 2.35. Wherhfore Sir! that you had but once this sight! and if I speak not to a man most desperately resolved and hardened up to irrecoverable destruction; yea to one worse than a stone! yea guilty of the great sin against the Holy G: let me be heard! and O that I might be heard in thy conscienee (O thou! O thou sinful Man▪) before the decree come forth, or thy sentence be executed; for Dum peritura pares, per male parta peris: how sore a ruin is running upon thee though thou see it not? wherefore either deliver us quickly quit of these DENS (admiring our hitherto preservation from on high, whose Angel hath delivered us out of the mouths of these savage beasts) and give you glory to God, as Darius did if thou canst find in thy heart so to do, for as much as innocence and truth is found on our side! or else I say unto thee by the AUTHORITY of the Lord committed to me, that thou shalt DIE like a BEAST, yea more miserably then in a DEN or DUNGEON! and as Romanus said to the Tyrant, so I tell ●hee (and them about thee) as I have done in my Postscript of Prison b: that I appeal from this thy tyranny which hath no pity to the Throne of Christ, & cito vis vos omnes (as Jerome of Prague said to his persecutors,  respondentis coram alties, & justissimo judice post (45) Ann●s, I summon you all that have a hand or heart in this persecution to appear before my Christ, (his elect Angels & Saints) the most SUPREME POWER and righteous JUDGE, after the 1335 days; where we shall judge you that now Judge us; (though this is your hour, and the power of darkness, Luke 22.53.) SO BE IT! as saith the faithful Witness, ye AMEN! for a little season! yea a utry little WHILE and he that shall come, will come and will not tarry.  
Even so! Amen! Come quickly Lord Jesus!  
HAec non durabunt Aetatem said  of the Ceremonies, and as Athanasius that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (as he was called) said of julian's, so say I of this APOSTASY with great Faith and assurance, Nubecula est Cito! transitura! wherefore cheer up! my Brethren! & be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Amen! AMEN! and ye shall suddenly see the Witnesses ascend up in the CLOUD. So be it!  Amos 1.11. For three Transgressions and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof: because he did pursue his BROTHER with the SWORD, and did cast of all PITY, and his anger did tear PERPFTVALLY, and kept his Wrath for ever. 
Finis in Imis! ultimis! & Novissimis! Amen! Hallelujah!   

A POSTSCRIPT.  
READER:  
THou art desired to take notice that in the forced Absence of the Author in Banishment, the Press lets many mistakes (in printing) pass uncontrolled, and for want of due help and ability doth miscarry of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, which was intermingled in some eminent Passages. Now the Lord bless thee in these evil Days, and give thee bowels to the suffering Saints and Truth, and help thee to follow that which is good, and which make for thy peace and comfort in the World to come! Amen!   

A Necessary Word to the Ingenious READER.  
My Christian Friend,  
IT is about a year since I had a perfunctory glance and perusal of these papers in this piece called an Introduction, etc. to Prison-born Morning beams, which I found (as you see) so infinitely mangled and misshaped, that I wa● (and yet am) in such a dress, ashamed to own them; which Deformity (put upon them by others) through want of skill, Care, or Love to the suffering Author, shall be greedily multiplied by some men to abuse me with; upon whose back the Erratas of other men (it seems) must lie, till truth and innocency may come abroad and find justice. But blessed be Jehovah, who hath given me (a poor creature!) the portion of the Anointed one's, viz. the WAVED (or lifted up) BREAST, and the RIGHT SHOULDER! Exod. 29.26. And it shall be thy Part! Levit. 7.31, 32. to serve Jehovah with one Shoulder! Zeph. 3 9 But yet I must beseech thee to a little Charity and Candidness towards me, and not to impute the many pitiful Solecisms of Books (which usher in my name) to my pen, but their pates and the press together entrusted. For some I hear, since my long imprisonment have been glad of the opportunity, traducing me freely about my Treatise of Church-Discipline, but I (for ever) bless my God (though the unreasonable Sword hath given them leave to insult over me, and trample upon me, yet) the TRUTH is above them and their Malice. She may be blamed, but never shamed by those monstrous reports which the most make of her in her sufferings and bond; for chagor charbecha gnal-j●rech (whereon is written King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev. 19.16.) Gibbor! hodecha ve hadarecha; yea, tselach rechab gnal-deber-emet ve gnanvab tsedeq! is some of my Daily Song to my King. Nor do I greatly fear the foiling of the hottest enemies I have with the power of his truth, meekness and Righteousness! Whether they be the (Rozenim of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 razah) now LEAN ONES (as Rulers are called Psal. 2.2.) or the (Abbirim) fat BULLS (as Enemies are called Psal. 22.12.) and fiercest foes that now triumph over us, for it is their time. Nor had that frothy rabble of Airy stuff (gathered up together into a Cloud of Vapours) and exhaled from the Dunghill of one CRAFTON (a Malignant Priest in London) a little before my imprisonment, escaped the public Fire, upon its slimy Matter so as to have burnt it up in the sight of the Sun (whose Tabernacle he fumed and foamed against) but the long lawless Sword interposed, took away my papers, and plundered from me (amongst them) the Reply to (what is Sober in) his Stage-play-Treatise: Nevertheless, I do yet more abundantly bless the Lord for his light of the seven Lamps of fire which burn before the throne, Rev. 4.5. whereby I see the better end of the staff in my hand, while the Truth is still with Me! only I must entreat thee my Reader and Friend to wait with patience and in hope with us, till Deliverance and Liberty to the truth be restored; and in the interim mend with thy pen the following Erratas before thou proceedest in this part (called the Introduction) etc.  
What the other part (called Jegar-Shabadutha, or a Heart-Appeale etc.) is for Erratas I am ignorant, nor have I yet seen sheet of it: Only I fear so hard a travel (through so many extraordinary obstructions of the birth, and so little help from the Neighbourhood, will at the least deform it, if not indarger the very being of it, (in my absence and exile;) which accordingly you must consider, because the cruel Decree of Pharaoh hath put the Hebrews upon bringing forth such male-truths without the help or skill of the Egyptian Midwives. Yea, and (which is worse) I am informed, those few seeming friends that do assist the birth have agreed to cut off some Members (if not integrals) of that little Treatise, to facilitate the birth! but how can it then live? or if it do, so monstrously mishapen as they think (I hear) to make it, I shall want will and affection to own it for mine, for I differ from their vote who had rather have it born a cripple, than not at all.  
My Dear Reader, a word more: It may be thou wilt wonder to see the Introduction to a year or two's prison-travel of spirit, put in this place, and therein here news of an ensuing Treatise or two (about the two (British) Witnesses, and of a more obvious supputation of times, according to the Danielian and Apocalyptick accounts, then hath ever yet been extant (a matter so important to be cleared) and of the two Beasts with all the apurtenances, Characters, Seals, works, times and signs,, and also all the 42 m speriod upon us, and of the slaughter of the two Witnesses in this street; for the single time, dual time, and a devident; with the mystery of that number 666. (giving my reasons why I differ in the root from learned Mr. Potter, canvasing, traversing, and trajecting his Arguments with modesty and submission.) Also a Synopsis of the Lamb's Government, showing the difference between the Lambs and Beasts G. Civil; and so between the Lambs and Beasts martial Laws in all duties of Officers and of Soldiers (the apparent discrepancy seen at once) the Beasts in one Collume, and the Lambs in the other, Also a very lucid discovery of the Kingdom of Christ on Earth, and the present work of Saints in England; the order, instruments and matter of the viols, the holy war at hand, the 1000 years, and first Resur. with the order thereof; and much other matter which you hear of) but see nothing. Alas! alas! (as Lam. 4.3.) it is because this (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 T●nniu) Serpent-Seamonster hath sought to devour it, and the truth betrayers and Murderers have pursued these males in the womb, that they stick in the birth and cannot come forth, none being so hardy to help them; he that offers it makes himself a prey. But this poor miscellany of general matter hath (with much a do) remained untaken, to declare aloud their cruelty who have hindered and stifled the most speciail. Wherefore in pity (I pray) give quarter to this (maimed) that hath so hardly escaped the hands of the Cutthroats, and allow it a little Houseroom with the other called a Heart-Appeale, etc. because it is a kind to that, (which delineates our Winforsuffrings and the present in this exile,) this beginning an abstract of our first trial at Lambeth; in both which, you will have a History of above two year's bonds and banishment in several prisons, to this present abiding, me and mine; which therefore may the more justly claim the company of each other. Much more might be added (in this Tragedy of our hard trials to the flesh,) both as to the present condition of my own body so much distempered in this unwholesome hole (of this Castle) whereinto I am cast (it rising up with blisters, aching with pains, burning with hot humours, and falling into unusual fits (full of pains inwardly, and very often at the heart.) So also my Wife, (whose sufferings have been so great in this Gaol, that several Doctors of Physic in London have affirmed her sickness to have risen from the rude handle and frights, with the unwholesomeness of the pit we are put into together, to the evident hazard of her life; This is known to him in power.) Yea, and the rest of my family with me, some or other, or all being (continually) ill, and afflicted with distempers, pains, sickness, lameness, and other sore trials of the flesh. But I much rather affect to make my condition known to God, (who hath the bowels of a father!) then to men, (who have not the bowels of men;) whose interest is neither to hear us nor believe us; for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tsammetu babbor they have cut down into the pit, ditch, and Dungeon those sanctified ones that rejoice in thy Highness, Isa. 13.3. whom thou, Oh Jehovah wilt raise up: Wherefore karenu shemcha Jehovah mibbor! We have called upon thee (O God) from this Grievous Pit of Caines-Brook-Chaines.  
To Conclude, forasmuch (loving Reader) as I find no faith, no truth, or constancy in Men, but (through the persecution of undoubted foes, and perfidiousness of daubing and doubtful friends, who promise fair, but perform foully;) all I do for the Public is either betrayed, peeled, spoilt, or obstructed, in my absence, and a true friend to one in prison being rara avis in terris, I am forced now in this third year of my imprisonment and banishment to convert my time more particularly (than I had intended) to my own use and profit, by perfecting my search of, and studies in the holy Scriptures (through the Hebrew, Chald. Syriack, Arabic, (and so Persian roets) which is my present and daily Work; and I do bless my God for this great blessing upon me, in that little progress, which (through his grace) I have made into the Pentateuch, Psalms and Prophets; For by the Hebrew, Chald. Samaritan, (Rabbinic.) Arabic. (Persian)  Armenian and Topick Tongues (in all which, except the two last, I am now perusing the Scriptures of holy inspiration) I have received a most sweet Light taste, and singular comfort to my own soul (such as I naver experienced before) in the Unction from the Holy one, 1 Joh. 2.20, 27. and have yet a lively hope that I shall one day (therein) serve the Public again, although for days, weeks, months, and years, I have now lain among the tile-v●●s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ben shepha●im, (or between them) in the fiery furnace and burning kilne; and by the Walls, like a Dead man out of mind. Yet the Almon-rod blossometh, and God hath poured out grace, and my heart (as Psal. 45.1) hath (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rachash) boiled and bubled up a tabar tob a good Word indeed, yea my tongue is as (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 guet made of the quill from the Eagle before the throne, Rev. 47. & 6.7. & 5.7.) the pen of a quick Accountant (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sopher mahir) in the times and seasons and great Matters of our King.  
Now, O all ye friends! Fellow-citizens of Zion, and Fellow-waiters (with us) for the help of Israel bear us a little in your bowels, and bosom before the Father; (Me and my dearest concaptives and coexiles in this glorious cause of Christ,) when you come before the King into his Presence-chamber of grace and supplication; be sure you forget not Joseph; Ah! I beseech ye in those open, bleeding, earning bowels, which hung upon the Cross, to mind a poor Worm, and a prisoner of hope (and of a little faith) in this Valley of Anchor and Eshool (through grace) that whiles Christ is lighting, and you (without) are trimming the Lamps in the Sanctuary, in the light and life of those seven Lamps of fire (the seven Spirits of God) before the Throne, we (within) may also draw near with the holy perfume (for a perpetual incense, Exod. 30.78. poured out on the Altar of Incense by our High Priest (Jesus Christ) within the veil, till from thence the Temple be filled with smoke, Rev: 15.8. Levit. 16.12, 31. and the Angel of the Viol go forth.  
Now I commit you all to the Inner-court, comforts, and counsels; that you may be measured (these disorderly times) by the Angel's Cubit, the Golden Reed, (and not by men's rotten rules) according to the which I am (laid out, and measured in the Lord's Tabernacle of Testament; yea bound with those Golden Chains which fastens the Shoulder-pieces to the Breastplate, wherein is put the Vrim and Thummim (by the finger of God) and thereby I have had an Answer of God to my great encouragement and rejoicing; who yet remain in the faith, hope and patience of the Kingdom.  
THINE (as a Heave-offering to the Lord by the hand of Christ) in this fat soil, wherein my foot is dipped with Oil, Jo. Ro.   

Erratas in the Introduction, etc.  
PAge 2. Line 25. Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 4. l. 21. r. were able. p. 6. l. 36. r. abstract Account. p. 10. l. 12. r. 4 l. 4 s. p. 12. l. 15. r. Commanded. p. 16. l. 24 r. Lies. p. 19, l. 35. r. door with l. 30. language p. 21. l. 36. r. ne peccem. p. 24. l. 7. r. (and yielding) from our. p. 27. l. 26. deal of. p. 30. l. 19 r. for the Lamb. l. 30. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gnanoim. p. 41 l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 47. l. 4. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 49 l. 37. r. ex debito. p. 50. l. 26. r. responsable. p. 56: in marg r. whereof it treats. p. 62. l. 3. r. Jehovah had. p. 64. l. 36. r. disputes about. l. 37: r. where are their degrees. r. 70. l. 23. r. that Christ was the Lord of the S. l. 37. r. there Righteousness. p. 71. l. 33. r. Civil Powers. p. 79. l. 24. r. after the Mode of the World. l. 38. r. That made Daniel. p. 80. l. 17. r. Satiari. l. 34. r. Duorum Testium. p. 81. l. 2. deal in l. 23. r. of that party. l. 35. r. of Luther. p. 82. l. 4. r. of lip. l. 5. r. (when he bids) l. 16. r. fee or favour of the great Turk. l. 35. r. of Lies & l. 36. r Tyriig bilingues & r. Doric. l. 37. r. cor auro. l. 38. r. heart. p. 83. l. 1 r. obstreperous. l. 7. r. Parrots and Parasites (as these l. 10. r. Terrigeni. l. 29. r. leapt from them. p. 84. l. 2. r. and destroy. l. 4. r. Preachers. l. 19 r. too low, and too little. in the marg. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 30. r. too; (the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 35. r. for your selves, your Children. l. 36. r. that are: p. 85. l. 25. r. pocos y focos. l. 31. r. (say they) in marg. r. poorest. p. 86. l. 4. r. it seems so, (in Josephus) l. 5. r. him too. l. 6. r. to come and dwell. l. 16. t. most amarulently, and r. professors. l. 20. r. It was not, the common. p. 87. l. 12. r. begin. l. 28. r. Seeming impossibilities. l. 35. r. O Paul! p. 89. l. 6. r. And so it hath been. p. 19 l. 7. r. ipso. l. 16. r. So are the Priestly. in marg. r. pellit. p. 93. l. 4. r. there Sufferings, there Acts. p. 94. l. 9 r. justils. l. 32. r. tortures jocularia & ludibria nobis. l. 34. r. they are jucund in the midst of. p. 95. l. 11. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. l. 20. r. Heb. 10.38. p. 98. l. 23.24. r. superadded & ante delienated. p. 99 l. 13. r. aequaliter. l. 18. r. differt. l. 30. r. in speculatiuâ ratione. p. 102. l. 22. r. trepidation. l. 23. r. house fell under. l. 7. r. have been to thy. p. 103. l. 1. r. preserve us. l. 24.25. r. Venite in contemptum Diaboli. There be other lesser faults which thou mayst correct in reading: And beyond p. 104. I have never seen; therefore know not how to correct the other Erratas.  
FINIS.