X 30 64c 1 r*^: It-f^i. N»'iS. -«': *.'• ^ i:: .JO^ .^^?rr;-^\>.n, , /,i>j»'--r .-^ E:^^^4^^ V;.V»*->-i^^-^'^- ^ ^ "%>: ^'^^^^^.^•S ::;^^ =*,^:W<^ ::«i -r '^iw* ■"^'^*' -^^ n.'-^-s '^^'^a"'- .-./ C. K. OGDEN THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES . r-f ,;^ t ^^^^ c .a 1s^-. ^-4^^ 1^ jcyt^j'-tty^ i^a^i ,oey have ghleouSi hut the Lord ig of the Needy, now will him that puffeth at him. BLE in George-Tard, [I. ■^^' L-.V JL^tUI t-i C. K. OGDEN N N^- kA \ ^ 1 \ ■'mttk' 1 (^a>H COLLECTION OF THE SUFFERINGS Of the PE OPLE called QUAKE RS, F O R T H E Teftimony of a Good Confcience^ FROM The Time of their being firft diftinguiihed by that NAME in the Year 1650^ to the Time of the ^ci, commonly called the ^£i of Toleration, granted to Trotejiant Dill'enters in the firil Year of the Reign of King William the Third and Queen Mary^ in the Year 1689. Taken frofii Original Records-^W o//j^r Authentick Accounts, By JOSEPH BESSE. VOLUME John xv. 20. The Servant is not greater than the Lord : If they have perfecuted ine^ the"^ will alfo perfecute you. PsAL. xxxiv. 19. Many are the JffliSlions of the Righteous^ hut the Lord deliverelh him out of thein all. PsAL. xii. 5. For the Oppreffion of the Poor, for the Sighing of the Needy, now will I arife, faith the Lord : / will fet him in Safety from him that puffeth at him. LONDON: Printed and Sold by Luke Hinde, at the Bible in George-Tar^, Lo?nbard-Street, M,DCC,LIII. 'I 7^ i^X Vol. I. ^'/'^TO iii T H P PREFACE TO THE READER. IT wijs an excellent Obfevoation of Jefus the Son of Syrach, that Ecckfiajiicus Gold is tried in the Fire, and acceptable Men in the Furnace of "• 5* Adverfity : Parallel to which is that of the Apojlle Paul, All that ^ Tim. nl. 12. will live godly in Chrift Jefus, fhall fuffer Perfecution. Thofe that live other ivife cannot go through it. "Tis a fever e 7e/i upon the Hypocrite and Earthly-minded. Such jhrink at the Apprehenfion of it, and retire^ 2 Tim. iv. 10. nsoith Demas, to tie Embraces of this prefent World. Thofe only who have weighed the Earth with its tranfitory Foffefions, Plcafures arid Delights, in the Balcnce of the SanSluary, where they have been found even as pr^i^ ixji. «. nothing, and lighter than Vanity, who know their AffeSlions weaned ri— - from Things that are below, and fet on Things that are above, who are dead, and whofe Life is hid with Chrift in God, are made ftrong in the Lord, and enabled to fiiffer cheerfully for his Name and Truth's Sake, not being moved at thefe light Afflidlions, which are but for a Mo- i 7i?/. iii. 5. ment, knowing that they are x}iiQxt\xv[io appointed, and that for their i/fcJr'iViV' 'Encouragement God hath promt fed. When thou pafleft through the "... *'' Waters, I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they {hall not '^' ^ *"' ^' overflow thee : When thou walkeft through the Fire, thou flialt not be burnt, neither (hall the Flame kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy one of Jfrael, thy Saviour. A Meafure of this holy Faith., and a Senje of this divine Support, bore up the Spirits of the People called Qud^ktr^, for near forty Tears together, tojlem the Torrent of Oppofttion, equally tejlifying againft Propha'nenefs md Immorality on the one hand, and Superftirion and Will-worfliip on the other. Nor could it be expeSled, that a Tejlimony levelled both again[l the darling Vices of the Laiety, and the forced Maintenance of the Clergy, f.^ould meet with any other than an unkind Reception. The Mefje7igers of it were ejitcrtained with Scorn and Derifion, with Beat- ings, Buffetings, Stonings, Pinchings, Kickings, Dirtings, Pumpings, and all Manner of A.bufes from the rude and ungoverned Rabble : And from the Magiftrates, who fiould have been their Defenders, they met TO/V/j Spoiling of Goods, Stockings, Whippings, Imprilonments, Banifli- ments, and even Death itfclf Under this State of Perfecution, wherein they were exercifed from their Infancy, (fome of their Sufferings bearing an * earlier Date than the Name * The Name ^laker was given firft in the Year 1650, whereas George Fox faflered Imprifonmcnt at Nottingham in 1649. 3003717 IV The PREFACE. Vol. I. Name Quaker) their Numbers greatly iijcreafed, Jo that it may ivell be ExoL \. 11. faid of them, ai of the Ifraelites in Egypt; The more they afflifted them, the more they multiplied and grew. For Religion, }iext to her oixn Light and Energy en the Minds of Men, has not a more popular Argument in her Favour, than the Patience and Conftancy of her afflidled Confeffors. A Brotherly Love and Sympathy, proceeding from a Senfe of one another's Innocence and Integrity, doth generally abound a?}20fig Felloivfuferers for true Religion, and laas very remarkable iii this .People, fonic of 'whom have travelled Hundreds of Miles to vifit and admi?iifter to their Brethren in Prifon, and 'v:hile they feemed each regardlefs of his cicn Liberty, were ftrenuous Advocates for that of others, zealoujly, and almofl inceffantly, in their feveral Tunis, reprefenting to thofe in Authority the fufering Cafes of their Friends, either by Word of Mouth, Writing, or Print : There ivas a printed Paper prefented to the Parliament in 1659, and fubfcribed by one Hmidred and Sixty four of this People, li^herein ihey make an Offer of their oivn Bodies, Perfon for Perfon, to lie in Prifon infead of fuch of their Brethren as were then under Confinement, and might be in Danger of their Lives through extreme Durance, which Paper was as follows, viz. ' Friends, WH O are called a Parliament of thefe Nations : We in Love to our Brethren that lie in Prifons, and Houfes of CorreiStion, and Dungeons, and many in Fetters and Irons, and have been cruelly beat by the cruel Goalers, and many have been per- fecuted to Death, and have died in Prifon, and many lie fick and weak in Prifon, and on Straw. So we in Love to our Brethren do offer up our Bodies and Selves to you, for to put us as Lambs into the fame Dungeons and Houfes of Correction, and their Straw and nafty Holes and Prifons, and do ftand ready a Sacrifice for to go into their Places in Love to our Brethren, that they may go forth, and that they may not die in Prifon, as many of the Brethren are dead already : For we are willing to lay down our Lives for our Brethren, and to take their Sufi^erings upon us that you would infiidt upon them : And if our Brethren fuffer, we cannot but feel it : And Chrifl faith. It is he that fuffereth and was not vifited. This is our Love towards God and Chrift, and our Brethren, that we owe to them and our Enemies, who are Lovers of all your Souls and your eternal Good. ' And if you will receive our Bodies, which we freely tender to you for our Friends that are now in Prifon for Jpea king the Truth in feveral Places, for ?iot paying Tithes, for meeting together in the Fear of God, for not Swearing, for wearing their Hats, for being accounted as Vagrants, for vifting Friends, and for Things of the like Nature, according to a Paper intituled, * A Declaration to the Parliament, &c. delivered the 6th Day of the Second Month called April j6^g, ' to * That Paper gave an Account of above one Hundred and forty then in Prifon, and of one Thouflind and nine Hundred others who had fuffered in the laft fix Years, alfo twenty one imprifoned till Death. Vol. I. The PREFACE. to the then Speaker of the faid Houfe : We whofe Names are hereunto fubfcribed (being a fufficient Number to anfwer for the prefent Sufferers) are waiting in Weftminfter-hall for an Anfwer from you to us, to anfwer our Tenders, and to manifefl our Love to our Friends, and to flop the Wrath and Judgment from coming upon our Enemies. * Henry Abbott * Alexander Allen * James Allen ' "John All'mgton ' 'John Anderdon * William Archpool * Henry Ayrei * Humphry Bache * John Baddely * Daniel Baker ' John Barber * John Barnard * Richard Bax * John Beckett * James Beeche * William Betf * George Bewly ' Nicholas Bend * John Blachfan * Edward Bland * Thomas Blatt * Edward Billing * John Bolton * I'homas Braborn * Thomas Bradley * Ninion Brockett * Edward Brook ' William Brown * Thomas Burchett * Richard Bird « Jofeph Bufiell * Jacob Carr * John Carter * ManalJeb Cajketter ' John Chandler ' Richard Clipfl^am ' Richard Cockbill ' Maximil. Cockerill ' Francis Collins ' Henry Cocke ' Thomas Coveney ' Richard Crane ' Stephen Crifp Vol. I. John Crook Edmund Crofs Thomas Curtis Thomas Davenport Richard Davis Richard Deane William Dike John Dijhorow Thomas Dowen Rowland Eldridge John Fawkes James Fenner John Fielder John Fofier John Freeborn John Furly jun. Benjamin Furly Roger Gaine Nathanael Garrard William Garrett John Gayon William Geering Edward Giles Henry Godman Peter G'ofs Richard Greenaway James Grynier John Hackleton Richard Hacker William Hampfhire Edward Harrifon William Harwood Cuthbert Harle Robert Hajle Richard Hind?narjlj John Hollis Juftinian Holyman John Hope Williarn Hownell Stephen Hubbard Robert Ingram Ralph Johns William yohnfon h Jofeph Jones Rice Jones Richard Job/on Thomas Kent Humphry Kirby George Lamboll Jofeph Langlcy John Laurence Thomas Laurence John Lee Richard Lewis John Love Willia?n Marner Benjamin Matthew Robert Mildred Robert Moor Thomas Moor William Mullins John Newton Richard Newman Robert Newman Thomas Norris Edward Owers Alexander Parker Thomas Pajfenger William Pennington John Pennyynan William Pierfehoufe William Plumley Benjamin Pierfon John Price Richard ^ick- John Radley George Rawlijis Tbomas Rawlinfon Thomas Reefe Nicholas Rickman George Robinfon Simon Robinfon John Scattfield John Schoreti Thomas Seaman Edward Shaller * William VI The PREFACE. ' William Shewen ' Thofiuis Sbortland * Robert Sikej ' Richard Simpfon ' James Smith ' 'Jonah Smith ' Jatnes Smither * Robert Sooley ' Edward Sonthwood ' William Sparey ' John Star key * John Stavelin John Stedman Robert Stedman 'Thomas Stedman Amor Stoddart John Stevens William Styles Arthur Stanbridge "Thomas Tax James Tenning Rowland Tichbourn William Travers Richard Tidder Vol. I. John Tyjo Samuel Vaufe Robert Wade Chrijlopher White Philip William/on Stephen Wix •■ • Caleb Woods William Woodcock John Woolrich Henry Woolger John Tardly." By thefe Means they demo7iftrated the PerfeSlion of Chriftlan Charity among themfehes, left their Oppreffors without Excufe, and have tranf mitted to our Times many Accounts of thofe early Sufferings here abftraSied. The firfi Laws, under which they fufferedy were Adls or Ordinances of the Long Parliament : Some of which gave the Juftices Power to deter- mine Cafes of Tithes, who generally gave treble Damages, and put the Execution of their Precepts into fuch Hands^ as by excejpve Seizures made the Sufferers Lofs to be fometimes tenfold the original Demand. Nor were their Perjons better ufed, their Liberty being very precarious^ for the Ordinances then in Force againfl Blafphemies and HerefeSt gave thofe hat-d Names to what * Opinions the Law-makers thought fit, fo that the Quakers were liable to Imprifonment at the Pleafure of every Juftice. Upon Cromwell'i bei?ig fnade ProteSlor, fome Eafe was expeSfed ; for the Inftrument or Form of Government by him accepted and fworn tOy had feveral \ Articles in Favour of Liberty o/' Confcience, viz. ' Art, 35. That the Chriflian Religion contained in the Scriptures be ' held forth and recommended as the publick Profeflion of thefe Na- ' tions, and that as foon as may be, a Provifion lefs fubjedl to Scruple * and Contention, and more certain than the prefent, be made for the * Encouragement and Maintenance of able and painful Teachers for * inflrudling the People, and for the Confutation of Error, Herefy^ ' and whatfoever is contrary to found Dodtrine ; and that until fuch * Provifion be made, the prefent Maintenance fliall not be taken away, ' nor impeached. ' Art. 36. That to the publick Profeffion held forth, none fhall be ' compelled by Penalties or otherwife, but that Endeavours be ufed ' to win them by found Dodtrine, and the Example of a good ' Converfation. « ^^^ * By an Ordinance for punifhing piafpbemies and Herefws, dated May the 2d 1648, the Juftices might commit to Prifon all fuch as fhould publifh and maintain, that the two Sacraments of Bnplifm and the Lord's Supper are not Ordinances commanded by the Worn of God, or that the baptizing of Infants is unlawful and void, or that the Churches of England are no true Churches, nor their Minillers and Ordinances, true Miniflers and Ordinances ; or that all Ufe of Arms is unlawful, or that a Man is bound to believe no more than his Reafon can comprehend. ■f- See Hughes's Abridgment of ^£fs and Ordinances. Vol. I. The PREFACE. Vll * Art. 37. That fuch as profefs Faith in God by Jefus Chi-ift, * (though diifering in Judgment from the Doftrine, Worfliip, or Dif- < clpline publickly held forth) fhall not be reflrained from, biit fliall « be protedted in the Profeffion of their Faith, and Exercife of their * ReUgion, fo as they abufe not this Liberty to the Civil Injury * of others, and to the aftual Difturbance of the publick Peace. ' Provided this Liberty be not extended to Po^crv or Prf/^cj,t(r, to * fuch, as under the Profeffion of Chrift, hold forth and practice * Licentioufnefs. ' Art. 38. That all Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Claufes in any * Law^, Statute or Ordinance, to the contrary of the aforefaid Liberty, ' fliall be efteemed null and void.' And the ProteStor himfclf, in a Speech to the Parliament on the lith cf September 1654, made a fine Harangue on that SubjeSi, viz. ' Is not Liberty of Confcience a Fundamental ? So long as there Is Liberty for the fupreme Magiftrate to exercife his Confcience in erefting what Form of Church-Government he is fatisfied he fliould fet up, why lliould he not give it to others ? Liberty of Confcience is ^ natural Right, and he that would have it, ought to give it, having Liberty to fettle what he likes for the Publick. Indeed that hath been the Vanity of our Contcfls. Every Seft faith. Give me Liberty : But give it him, and to his Power he will not yield it to any Body elfe. Where is our Ingenuity ? Truly that is a Thing that ought to be very reciprocal. The Magiftrate hath his Supremacy, and he may fettle Religion according to his Confcience : And I may fay it to you, I can fay it : All the Money in the Nation would not have tempted Men to fight upon fuch an Account as they have engaged, if they had not had Hopes of Liberty better than they had from Epifcopacyy or than would have been afforded them from a Scottijh Prepytery, or an Englifi either, if it had made fuch Steps, or been as fharp and rigid as it threatned when it firft fet up. This I fay is a Fundamental, it ought to be fo, it is for us and the Generations to come.' But Jiotioitljflanding thefe good Words, the poor Quakers found their Sufferittgi continued, and not only the before-mentioned Ordinances fill turned againjl them, but their Meetings for Worjhip, though feemingly allowed, ivcre in FaB prohibited, fince they were piiniped as Sabbath- breakers, for traveUi)ig to them no farther than their diftant Divcllings made necejjary. 'their mofl innocent ASliom were mifreprefented. A Chriflian Exhor- tation to an Ajjembly after the Prieft had done, was called a diflurbing him in his Office. An honeft Tejlimony againjl Sin in the Streets or Markets, was ftiled a Breach of the I'eace : Hence proceeded Fines, Imprifonments, rt;z^fpoiling 0/' Goods : Nay fo hot for Perfecution were many Magi/irates, that by an unparalleWd MifconJtriiBion of the Latvs^ againjl Vagrants, they tortured with cruel Whippings the Bodies both oj Men and IVomen of good Eflate and Reputation. Thus their Sufferings continued under the fever al Adminiflrations of Government by the Long Parliament, Oliver aJid Richard Cromwell, the Council of State, &c. until the Rejloration of King Charles the Second, Anno 1660. But vm The PREFACE. Vol. L But although the Rejioration of that Monarch -was nf}:ered hi 'with a fpecious Declaration for Liberty of Confcience piblig^d from Breda, oftehd therein^ and H^.dl in Form aforefaid be thereof lawfully ctirivicted, fnall fqr the lecond Offence forfeit to the King ourSoveraign .tifeii4,'his HeirS^-^' ■:^ >>- cellbrs, fuch Sum as fnall be impofed upon- Aiii\ o.- hci, not^, . :,_,rig ten Pounds ; the faid refpeftiveiPenaltiesitpfe^ilevvedby Diftrefs anct Sale of the Parties Goods fo convicted,, reiiu^iiig the Oveiplus io.the Owners if any be : And for want of fuch Diftrefs, or Non-payment of the faid Penalty within one Week, after fucli Convi<3:ion, that then the laid Parties fo convidied, ihall for the firft Offence be com- mitted to the common Goal, or Houfe of Gorred:ion, for the Space of three Months y and for the fecond Offence, during fix Months, without Bail or Mainprize, 'there to be kept to hard Labour : Which faid Monies to be levifcd fliall be paid to fuch Perfon or Perfons as fliall be appointed by thofe before whom they fliall be convided, to be employed for thelncreafe of the Stock of the Houfe of Correftion, to which they fliall be committed, and providing Materials to fet them at Work. , And if any Perfon after he in Form aforefaid, hath been twice convided of any of the faid Offences, fliall offend the third Time, and be thereof in Form aforefaid lawfully convid, that then every Perfon fo offending and convid, fliall for his or her third Offence abjure the Realm, or otherwife it fliall and may be lawful to and for his Majefly, his Heirs and Succeflbrs, to give Order, and to caufe him, her or them, to be tranfported in any Ship or Ships, to any of his Majefty's Plantations beyond the Seas. , '_2- ■^"'^ ^^ is ^rDaineD and CnartCt by the Authority aforefaid. That all and every Juftice of Oyer and 'J'enmnet\ Juftices of Afiize and Goal-Delivery, and the Juftices of the Peace, .fliall have full Power and Authority in every their open and general Seffions, to enquire, hear and determine, all and every the faid Offences, within the Limits of their Conimiflion to them direded, and to make Procefs for the Execution of the fame, as they may do againft any Perfon being indifted before them of Trefpafs, or lawfully convidted thereof. ' 4. And be it alfo (KtiaCtCB, That it fliall and may be lawful to and for any Juftice of Peace, Mayor, or other chief Officer of any Corporation within their feveral Jurifdidtions, to commit to the Commoii-Goal, or bind over with fufficient Sureties to the Quarter- Sefiions, any Perfon or Perfons offending in the Premifes, in order to his or their Convidtion aforefaid. :•!.* 5. ^tOtJiteD always, and be it hereby farther (EtiaCteD, That if any ot the laid Perlons fliall after fuch Convidtions as aforefaid, take fuch Oath or Oaths, for which he or flie ftands committed, and alfo give Security that he or flie fliall for the Time to come forbear to meet in any fuch unlawful Affembly as aforefaid, that then and from thenceforth fuch Perfon and Perfons fliall be difcharged from all the Penalties aforeliiid ; any Thing in this Adt to the contrary notwithftanding. ' 6. i^rotJiticli Vol. I. The PREFACE. ' xiii ' 6. JBrObitJCD always, and be it (tnUdttti by the Authority,- ' aforefaid, That all and lingular Lords of the Parliament, for every * third Offence committed againft the Tenor of this Adt, Hiall be ' tried by their Peers, and not otherwife.' ' An ACT to prevent and Jupprefs feditious ' Conventicles. <■ 3J^M|[ i^ -wici upon TiL-eed, without the fpecial Licence of his Majefty, his Heirs and Succeffors, in that Behalf firfl had and obtained, that the Party fo efcaping or returning, fliall be adjudged a Felon, and fliall fuffer Death as in cafe of Felony, without Benefit of Clergy, and fliall forfeit and lofe to his Majefty, all his or her Goods and Chattels for ever, and fhall farther lofe to his Majefly, all his or her Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, for and during the Life only of fuch Offender, and no longer ; and that the Wife of any fuch Offender, by Force of this A£l, fliall not lofe her Dower, nor fliall any Corruption of Blood grow or be by Reafon of any llich Offence mentioned in this Ac}, but that the Heir of every fuch Offender by Force of this Aft, fliall and may, after tlie Death of fuch Offender, have and enjoy the Lands, Tenements and Heredita- ments of fuch Offender as if this Aff had not been made. * 10. And for the better preventing of the Mifchiefs which may grow by fuch feditious and tumultuous .Meetings, under Pretence of ' religious Vol. I. The PREFACE. xvii religious Worfliip, be it farther Q^naCtet by the Authority aforefaid, Thkt the Lieutenants, or Deputy-Lieutenants, or any commiffioned Officers of the Militia, or any other of his Majefty's Forces, with fuch Troops or Companies of Horfe or Foot, and alfo the Sheriffs and Juftices of Peace, and other Magiftrates and Minifters of Juflice, or any of them jointly or feveially, within any the Counties or Places within this Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berivick upon Tweed, with fuch other AlTiftance as they fliall think meet, or can get in Readinefs with the fooneft, on Cer- tificate made to them refptftively, under the Hand and Seal of any one Juftice of the Peace, or Chief Magiflrate, as aforefaid, of his particular Information or Knowledge of fuch unlawful Meetings or Conventicles, held or to be held in their refptftive Counties or Places, and that he (with fuch AfTiflance as he can get together) is not able to fupprefs or diffolve the fame, (hall and may, and are hereby enjoined and required to repair unto the Place where they are fo held, or to be held, and by the befl Means they can, to diffolve and diiTipate, or prevent all fuch unlawful Meetings, and take into their Cull:ody fuch of thofe Perfons, fo unlawfully alfembled, as they fhall judge to be Leaders and Seducers of the reff, and fuch others as they fhall think fit, to be proceeded againfl according to the Law for fuch Offences, * II. And be it (EnSCteD by the Authority aforefaid, That every Perfon who fhall wittingly and willingly fuffer any fuch Conventicle, unlawful AfTembly or Meeting aforefaid, to be held in his or her Houfe, Out-hou(e, Barn or Room, Yard or Backiide, Woods or Grounds, fhall incur the fame Penalties and Forfeitures, as any other Offender againft this Adl ought to incur, and be proceeded againfl in all Points, in fuch Manner as any other Offender againft this A£l ought to be proceeded againfl. '12. ^tobiljell alfo, and be it cgliaCtCD by the Authority aforefaid. That if any Keeper of any Goal or Houfe of Correftion, fliall fuffer any Perfon committed to his Cuflody for any Offence againft this A£t, to go at large, contrary to his Warrant of Commitment accord- ing to this Adl, or fhall permit any Perfon who is at large, to join with any Perfon committed to hisCuftody by Virtue of this A£t, in the Exercife of Religion differing from the Rites of the Church of England, then every fuch Keeper of a Goal, or Houfe of Corre£lion, fliall for every fuch Offence forfeit the Sum of ten Pounds ; to be levied, raifed and difpofed by fuch Perfons, and in fuch Manner as the Penalties for the firft and fecond Offence againft this A£t are to be levied, raifed and difpofed. ' 13. )BCOl}iD0tl always. That no Perfon fliall be punifliedfor any Offence againfl this A£l, uvAkk fuch Offender be profecuted for the fame within three Months after the Offence committed : And that no Perfon who fhall be puniOied for any Offence by Virtue of this Acl, fhall be puniflied fur the fame Offence by Virtue of any other A£l or Law whatfoever. ' 14. ^tObiDel) alfo, and be it (jgnaCtCt), That Judgment of Tranfportation fhall not be given againfl any Feme-Co'vert, unlels Vol. I. e ' her xviii The PREFACE. Vol. I. ' her Hufband be at the fame Time imder the like Judgment, and not ' difcharged by the Payment of Money as aforefaid, but that inftead ' thereof, fhe Ihall by the refpeftive Court be committed to the Goal ' or Houfe of Correftion, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize ' for any Time not exceeding twelve Months, unlefs her Hufband ' fhall pay down fuch Sum not exceeding forty Pounds, tci redeem her -' from Imprifonment, as fliall be impofed by the faid Court : The * faid Sum to be difpofed by fuch Perfons, and in fuch Manner, as * the Penalties for the firfl and fecond Offences againfl this ASi are to ' be difpofed. ' 15. ^tOblDetl alfo, and be it (£n8fteD by the Authority aforefaid, ' that the Juftices of Peace, and Chief Magiflrate, refpeftively im- ' powered as aforefaid to put this AEi in Execution, fliall and may ' with what Aid, Force and Afliflance, they fhall think fit for the ' better Execution of this A£i:, after Refufal or Denial, enter into ' any Houfe or other Place where they fhall be informed any fuch * Conventicle as aforefaid is or fhall be held. ' 16. ^(OtlitlCD, That no Dwelling-houfe of any Peer of this ' Realm, whillt he or his Wife fliall be there refident, fliall be fearched ' by Virtue of this AEi, but by immediate Warrant from his Majefly ' under his Sign-Manual, or in the Prefence of the Lieutenant, or one ' of the Deputy-Lieutenants, or two Juflices of the Peace, whereof ' one to be of the Riorum of the fame County or Riding ; nor fhall * any other Dwelling-houfe of any Peer, or other Perfon whatfoever, * be entred into with Force by Virtue of this Aft, but in the Prefence ' of one Juflice of the Peace, or Chief Magiftrate, refpe£lively, except ' within the City of London, where it fhall be lawful for any fuch ' other Dwelling-houfe to be entred into as aforefaid, in the Prefence * of one Juflice of the Peace, Alderman, Deputy-Alderman, or any * one Commiirioner for the Lieutenancy of London. ' 17- ^roSJlDeiJ alfo, and be it dEttattet) by the Authority aforefaid, ' That no Perfons fhall by Virtue of this Aft be committed to the * Houfe of CorredVion, that fhall fatisfy the faid Juftices of the Peace, * or Chief Magiflrate, refpeftively, that he or fhe (and in cafe of a * Feme-Covert, that her Hufband) hath an Eflate of Freehold or ' Copyhold to the Value of five Pounds per Annum, or perfonal * Eflate to the Value of fifty Pounds j any Thing in this Aft to the * contrary notwithflanding. ' 18. And in Regard a certain Seft called fakers, and other * Seftaries, are found not only to offend in the Matters provided * againfl by this Aft, but alfo obftrudl the Proceeding of Juflice by * their oblHnate Refufal to take the Oaths lawfully tendred unto ' them in the ordinary Courfe of Law : Therefore be it farther ' (EtlSCtCD by the Authority aforefaid, That if any Perfon or Perfons, * being duly and legally ferved with Procefs or other Summons, to ' appear in any Court of Record, except Court-Leets, or as a Witnefs, ' or returned to ferve on any Jury, or ordered to be examined upon * Interrogatories, or being prefent in Court, fliall refufe to take any ' judicial Oath, legally tendred to him by the Judge or Judges of the ■ ' fame Court, having no legal Plea to juffify or excufe the Refufal of ' the Vol. I. The PREFACE. XIX the fame Oath ; or if any Perfon or Perfons being duly ferved with Procefs to anfwer any Bill exhibited againft him or them in any Court of Equity, or any Suit in any Court Ecclefiaftical, (hall refufe to anfwer fuch Bill or Suit upon his or their Corporal Oath, in Cafes where the Law requires fuch Anfwer to be put in upon Oath ; or being fummoned to be a Witnefs in any fuch Court, or ordered to be examined upon Interrogatories, (hall for any Cauie or Reafon not allowed by Law, refufe to take fuch Oath as in fuch Cafes is required by Law ; that then, and in fuch Cafe, the feveral and refpedtive Courts, wherein fuch Refufal fhall be made, fhall be and are hereby enabled to record, enter or regifler fuch Refufal ; which Entry or Record fhall be, and is hereby made a Convidlion of fuch Offence : And all and every Perfon and Perfons fo as aforefaid offending, fhall for every fuch Offence incurr the Judgment and Punifliment of Tranfportation in fuch Manner as is appointed by this At\ for other Offences. ' 19. ^tOblD^t) always. That if any the Perfon or Perfons afore- faid, fliall come into fuch Court, and take his or their Oath in thefe Words, I do Swear that 1 do not hold the takitig of an Oath to he unlawful, nor refufe to take an Oath on that Account ; which Oath the refpedlive Court or Courts aforefaid, are hereby authorized and required forthwith to tender, adminifter and regifler, before the Entry of the Convidlion aforefaid, or fhall take fuch Oath before fome Juftice of the Peace, who is hereby authorized and required to adminifter the fame, to be returned into fuch Court, fuch Oath {q made fhall acquit him or them from fuch Punifhment ; any Thing herein to the contrary notwithftanding. ' 20. ^tOt)it)Stl always. That every Perfon convifted as aforefaid in any Courts aforefaid, (other than his Majefty's Court of Kifigs Bench, or before the Juftices of Affize, or General Goal- Delivery) fhall by Warrant containing a Certificate of fuch Convidlion, under the Hand and Seal of the refpedlive Judge or Judges, before whom fuch Convidlion fhall be had, be fent to fome one of his Majefty's Goals in the fame County where fuch Conviftion was had, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize until the next Affizes or General Goal-Delivery, where if fuch Perfon fo convidled fhall refufe to take the Oath aforefaid, being tendred unto him by the Juftice or Juftices of Affize or Goal-Delivery, then fuch Juftice or Juftices fliall caufe Judgment of Tranfportation to be executed in fuch Manner as Judg- ment of Tranfportation by this Adt is to be executed ; but in cafe fuch Perfon fliall take the faid Oath, then he fliall thereupon be difcharged. '21. ^tObttiCd always, and be it (^ttaCtCD by the Authority afore- faid. That if any Peer of this Realm fliall offend againft this Adl, he fliall pay ten Pounds for the firft Offence, and twenty Pounds for the fecond Offence, to be levied upon his Goods and Chattels by Warrant from any two Juftices of the Peace, or Chief Magiftrate of the Place or Divifion where fuch Peer fliall dwell ; and that every Peer for the third and every farther Oftcnce againft the Tenour of this A6}, fliall be tried by his Peers, and not othcrwife. * 22. i^tobilieD XX . The P R E F A C E. Vol. I. ' 22. ^rObiUel) alfo, and be it farther cBHaCtCtl by the Authority * aforefaid, That this Aft fliall continue in Force for three Years after ' the End of this prefect Seffion of Parliament, and from thence for- ' ward to the End of the next Seffion of Parliament after the faid ' three Years, and no longer.' This laft A51 for Banifiment icns very extenfive, being calculated to affc6i every Man among the Quakers in tivo Poi?2ts, wherein they flood firm and unmoveable, viz. Their publick meeting to worlliip God, and refufing to Swear : This -was that Law of ichich Judge Turner told Francis Howgill at his Trial at Appleby AJfizes in 1664, J^iying, You meet in great Numbers, and do increafe, but there is a new Statute which will make you fewer. And indeed in human Probability it was an effeBual Method for that Purpofe, and could fcarce have failed, had not the Hand of God vifibly interpofed, not only by fuftaining and firengthning this perfecuted People under their extreme Sufferings, but in frufl rating the Attempts of their Adverfaries, and appearing in a remarkable Manner for their Delivera7ice, as by divers Infiances in this ColleBion related will appear. To the former Laws were added in the Tear 1665, An Act for reftraining Non-Conformifts from inhabiting in Corporations, and about the Tear 1670, An Act to prevent and fupprefs feditious Con- venticles : The foriner of which, though principally intended againft the Prefbyterian ««^ Independent Teachers, was yet madeJJfeof to imprifoji the Quakers : The latter they food daily expofed to by their publick Affemblies for Worfl:ip ; ma7iy of them were f polled of their Goods, and from a confiderable Subjlance reduced to jneer Poverty, for ?iot only their trading Stock in their Shops and Warehoufes, but even their HouJ);old Goods and Beddi?ig became a Prey to wicked h formers, fo that they were fometimes conflrained to lodge on the bare Boards. What terrible Havock this A£l made in many Families, will appear by a Multitude of Injlances in the following Colleciioii. The faid A6ls were as follows. ^ I. An ACT for re ft raining Non - Conformifts *■ froyn inhabiting in Corporations. j^ C 151<£3(I^ divers Parfons, Vicars, Curates, Ledlurers, and other Perfons in holy Orders, have not declared their unfeigned Aflent and Confent to all Things con- ' tained and prefcribed in the Book of Common-prayer, and Admini- ftration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the ' Church, according to the Ufe of the Church of Ejigbjtd, or have not fubfcribed to the Declaration or Acknowledgment contained in ' a certain Aft of Parliament made in the fourteenth Year of his ' Majefty's Reign, and intituled. An Kc T for the Vnifortnity of ' publick Prayers, a77d Adminilhationof Sacrainents, and other Rites and Ceremonies, and for ejlabli{l:ing the Form of makiiig, ordaining, ' and confecrating of Bi/J:>opSy Priejh and Deacons, in the Church of * England, according to the faid Aft, or any other fubfequent Aft ; and tO^ttCajS they, or fome of them, and divers other Perfon or Perfons, not ordained according to the Form of the Church of ' England, Vol. L The PREFACE. xxi * Englandy and as have fince the Ad: of Oblivion taken upon them to ' preach in unlawful Airemblies, Conventicles or Meetings, under ' Colour or Pretence of Exercife of Religion, contrary to the Laws ' and Statutes of this Kingdom, have fettled themfelves in divers Cor- ' porations in England, fometimes three or more of them in a Place, ' thereby taking an Opportunity to diflill the poifonous Principles of * Schifm and Rebellion, into the Hearts of his Majefty's Subjeds, to * the great Danger of the Church and Kingdom. ' 2. Be it therefore CEtlSCttD by the King's Mofl Excellent Majefty, ' by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and ' Temporal, and the Commons in this prefent Parliament affembled, ' and by the Authority of the fime, That the faid Parfons, Vicars, ' Curates, Ledlurers, and other Perfons in holy Orders, or pretending; ' to holy Orders, and all Stipendiaries, and other Perfons who have ' been polTeffed of any Ecclefiaftical or Spiritual Promotion, and every ' of them vvho have not declared their unfeigned AfTent and Confent * as aforefaid, and fliall not take and fubfcribe the Oath following. ' / A. B. do Siuear that it is tiot lawful upon any Pretence wbatjoever^ * to take Arms againft the King, and that I do abhor that traiterous * Pofition of taking Arms by his Authority againft his Perfon, or againfl ' thcfe that are commijjioncd by him in Purfuance of Juch CommiJJions : ' And that I will 7iot at any 'Time endeavour any Alteration of * Government either in Church or State. •:3. And all fuch Perfon or PerfOns as fhall take upon them to * jpreach, in any unlawful Aflembly, Conventicle or Meeting, under V Colour or Pretence of any Exercife of Religion, contrary to the ' Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom, (hall not at any Time from and * after the four and twentieth Day of March, which fhall be in the ' prefent Year of our Lord God one Thoufand fix Hundred Sixty and * five, unlefs only in palling upon the Road, come or be within five * Miles of any City or Town Corporate, or Borough that fends Bur- ' geffes to the Parliament, within his Majefty's Kingdom of Etigland, * Principality oilVales, or the Town of Berwick upon Tweedy or within * five Miles of any Parifh, Town or Place, wherein he or they have, ' fince the Adl of Oblivion, been Parfon, Vicar, Curate, Stipendiary or * Ledurer, or taken upon them to preach in any unlawful AfTembly, * Conventicle or Meeting, under Colour or Pretence of any Exercife * of Religion, contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom, * before he or they have taken and fubfcribed the Oath aforefaid * before the Juftices of the Peace at their Quarter Seftions, to be * holden for the County, Riding or Divifion, next unto the faid Cor- * poration, City or Borough, Place or Town, in open Court, (which ' faid Oath the faid Juftices are hereby impowered there to adminifter) * upon Forfeiture for every fuch Offence the Sum of forty Pounds of * lawful Englijh Money, the one third Part thereof to his Majefty ' and his SuccefTors, the other third Part to the Ufe of the Poor of * the Parifh where the Offence fliall be committed, and the other ' third Part thereof to fuch Perfon or Perfons as fliall or will fue for ' the fame by any Adion of Debt, Plaint, Bill or Information, in any ' Court of Record at Weflminjler, or before any Juftice of Aflize, Vol. L f ' Oyer xxu The PREFACE. Vol. I. ' Oyer and T'ermifier, or Goal-Delivery, or before any Juftices of the * County Palatine of Chefter, Lcvicajler, DurhatJt, or the Juftices of * the Great Seflions, wherein no Effoin, Protedlion or Wager of Law * fliall be allowed. ' 4. ^^tObitCl) always, and be it farther (gnaCttD by the Authority ' aforefaid, That it fliall not be lawful for any Ferfon or Perfons ' reftrained from coming to any City, Town Corporate, Borough, ' Parilh, Town or Place, as aforefaid, or for any other Perfon or * Peifons as fhall not firft take and fubteribe the faid Oath, and as ' fhall not frequent divine Service eftabliflied by the Laws of this * Kingdom, and carry him or hcrfelf reverently, decently and orderly * there, to teach any publick or private School, ,or take any Boarders ' or Tablets that are inftrudled by himfelf or any other, upon pain ' for every fuch Offence to forfeit the Sum of forty Pounds, to be ' recovered and diftributed as aforefaid. ' 5. )dtOl)iDft) always, and be it farther (ftiaCtCB by the Authority ' aforefaid, That it fhall be lawful for any two Juftices of the Peace ' of the refpe£^ive County, upon Oath to them of any Offence againft ' this A£i, (which Oath they are hereby impowered to adminifter) to ' commit the Offender for fix Months without Bail or Mainprize, * unlefs upon or before fuch Commitment he fhall before the faid * Juftices of the Peace, fwear and fubfcribe the aforefaid Oath and * Declaration. ' 6. iSCObtDsD always, That if any Perfon intended to be reftrained ' by Virtue of this Adt, fliall, without Fraud or Covin, be ferved with ' any Writ, Subpoena, Warrant or other Procefs, whereby his perfonal ' Appearance is required, his Obedience to fuch Writ, Subpoena or ' Procefs, fliall not be conftrued an Offence againft this Aft.' ^ II. ^n ACT to prevent and fupprefs feditioiis *■ Conventicles. ' I. TT^OR providing farther and more fpeedy Remedies againft: the ' X^ growing and dangerous Pradlices of feditious Sectaries and ' other difloyal Perfons, who, under Pretence of tender Confciences, ' do at their Meetings contrive Infurredions, as late Experience hath ' fhewn : Be it CttaCtCl) by the King's Moft Excellent Majefty, by and ' with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, ' and Commons in this prefent Parliament aflcmbled, and by the ' Authority of the fame, That if any Perfon of the Age of ftxteen Years ' or upwards, being a Subjedl of this Realm, at any Time after the tenth ' Day of May next, fliali be prefent at any Affembly, Conventicle or ' Meeting, under Colour or Pretence of any Exercife of Religion, in ' other Manner than according to the Liturgy and Practice- of the ' Church of England^ in any Place within the Kingdom of England, ' Dominion of IVales, and Town of Berii'tck upon Thcrcd ; at which ' Conventicle, Meeting or Affembly, there ftiall be five Perfons or ' more affemblcd together over and befides thofe of the fame ' Houfhold, if it be in a Houfe where there is a Family inhabiting, * or if it be in a Field, Iloufe or Place, where there is no Family * inhabiting ; Vol. I. The PREFACE. XXlll inliiihiti'ng ; then where any five Perfons, or more, are fo aflembled as aforefaid, it fhall and may be lawful to and for any one or more juftkes of the Peace of the County, Limit, Divifion, Corporation or Liberty, wherein the Offence aforefaid fhall be committed, or for the Chief Magiflrate of the Place where the Offence aforefaid fliall be committed, and he and they are hereby required and enjoined upon Pr-oof to him or them refpeftively made of fuch Offence, either by Confetlion of the Pafty, or Oath of two Witnefies, (which Oath the faid Juflice and Juftices of the Peace, and Chief Magifl:rate, refpedively, are hereby impowered and required to administer) or by notorious Evidence and Circumflance of the Fad:, to make a Record of every fuch Oftence under his or their Hands and Seals refpedively, which Record fo made as aforefaid, fliall to all Intents and Purpofes, be in Law taken and adjudged to be a full and perfed: Convidion of every fuch Offender for fuch Offence : And thereupon the faid Juftice, Juftices, and Chief Magiflrate, refpedively, fhall impofe on every fuch OfFer.der fo convid as aforefaid, a Fine of five Shillings for fuch firfl Offence, which Record or Convidlion fhall be certified by the faid Juffice, Juflices, or Chief Magiflrate, at the next Quarterly-Seffions of the Peace for the County or Place where fuch Ofience was committed. * 2. And be it farther (PtiaCtCD by the Authority aforefaid. That if fuch Offender fo convidted as aforefaid, fliall at any Time again commit the like Offence, or Offences, contrary to this Adl, and be thereof in Manner aforefaid convifted ; then fuch Offender fo con- vided of fuch like Ofience or Offences, fliall for every fuch Offence incurr the Penalty of ten Shillings, which Fine and Fines for the firfl and every other Offence, fliall be levied by Diffrefs and Sale of the Offender's Goods and Chattels, or in cafe of the Poverty of fuch Offender, upon the Goods and Chattels of any other Perfon or Per- fons, who fhall be then convided in Manner aforefaid of the like Offence at the fame Conventicle, at the Difcretion of the faid Juflice, Juflices, or Chief Magiflrate, refpedively, fo as the Sum to be levied on any one Perfon, in cafe of the Poverty of other Of- fenders, amount not in the whole to above the Sum of ten Pounds, upon the Occafion of any one Meeting as aforefaid : And every Conflable, Headborough, Tithingman, Churchwardens, and Over- feers of the Poor refpedively, are hereby authorized and required to lev.y the fame accordingly, having firfl: received a Warrant under the Hands and Seals of the faid Julfice, Juftices, or Chief Magiflrate, refpecfively fo to do : The faid Monies fo to be levied, to be forthwith delivered to the fame Juflice, Juflices, or Chief Magiflrate, and by him or them to be diflributed, the one third Part thereof to the Ufe of the King's Majefty, his Heirs and Succeflbrs, to be paid to the High-Sheriff of the County for the Time being, in Manner follow- ing, that is to fay, the Juflice or Juflices of the Peace fliall pay the fame into the Court of the refpe£live Quarter-Seflions, which faid Court fliall deliver the fame to the Sheriffs, and make a Memorial or Record of the Payment and Delivery thereof, which faid Memorial fhall be a final and fufficient Difcharge to the faid Juflice and ' Juflices, r ;xxiv The PREFACE. :nroL. I. ' Juft ices, and a Charge to the Sheriff, which Charge and Dikharge ' Ihall be certified into the Exchequer together, and not one without ' the other ; and no Juftrce flmll or may be queftioned or accountable -••for the fame in the Exchequer, or elfe where than in Quarter- ff Seffions ; another third Part to and for the Ufe of the Poor of the ?* Parilli where fuch Offence fliall be committed, and the other third Part thereof to the Informer and Informers, and to fuch Perfon and Perfons as the faid Juftice, Julfices, or Chief Magiftrate, refpeftively, ' Ihall appoint, having Regard to their Dihgence and Induftry in the ' Difcovery, dilperfmg and punilhing of the faid Conventicles. ' 3. And be it farther QEnaCtCD by the Authority aforefaid. That * every Perfon who fhall take upon him to preach or teach in any fuch ' Meeting, Affembly or Conventicle, and fhall thereof be convifted as ' aforefaid, fhall forfeit for every fuch Offence the Sum of twenty ' Pounds, to be levied upon his Goods and Chattels in Manner afore- f faid : And if the faid Preacher or Teacher fo convi£ied be a Stranger, ' and his Name and Habitation not known, or is fled and cannot be ' found, or in the Judgment of the Juftice, or Juftices, or Chief ' Magiftrate, before whom he fhall be convidled, Ihall be thought • unable to pay the fame, the faid Juftice, Juftices, or Chief Magi- ' ftrate, refpedively, are hereby impowered and required to levy the ' fame, by Warrant as aforefaid, upon the Goods and Chattels of any ! fuch Perfons who fliall be prefent at the fame Conventicle j any ' Thing in this or any other Adl, Law or Statute, to the contrary not- ' withftanding : And the Money fo levied to be difpofed of in Manner *„ aforefaid. And if fuch Offender fo convidled as aforefaid, fliall at *" any Time again commit the like Offence or Offences contrary to * this A£l, and be thereof convidted in Manner aforefaid, then fuch ' Oftender fo conviQed of fuch hke Offence or Offences, fhall for ' every fuch Offence incurr the Penalty of forty Pounds, to be levied * and difpofed as aforefaid. ' 4. And be it farther cEUaCtCtl by the Authority aforefaid. That ' every Perfon who fliall wittingly and wiUingly fuffer any fuch Con- ' venticlc. Meeting, or unlawful Affembly, as aforefaid, to be held in ' his or her Houfe, Out-houfe, Barn, Yard or Backfide, and be con- *■ vifted thereof in Manner aforefaid, fhall forfeit the Sum of twenty ' Pounds, to be levied in Manner aforefaid upon his or her Goods and ' Chattels, or in cafe of his or her Poverty or Inability as aforefaid, ' upon the Goods and Chattels of fuch Perfons who fhall be convifted • in Manner aforefaid, of being prefent at the fame Conventicle, and ^ the Money fo levied, to be difpofed of in Manner aforefaid. ' 5. l^tOtjitct) always, and be it CttaCteD by the Authority afore- ' faid. That no Perfon fliall by any Claufe of this Ati, be liable to ' pay above ten Pounds for any one Meeting, in Regard of the Poverty ' of any other Perlon or Perfons. ' 6. J^robiOeD alfo, and be it farther (BMUtl), That in all Cafes '■of this A6i, where the Penalty or Sum charged upon any Offender • exceeds the Sum of ten Shillings, and fuch Oftender fliall find him- ' felf aggrieved, it fliall and may be lawful for him within one Week '"after the faid Penalty or Money charged, fliall be paid or levied, to ' appeal Vol. I. The PREFACE. XXV * appeal in Writing from the Perfon or Perfons convi£iing, to the * Judgment of the Juftices of the Peace in their next Quarter-Seffions, ' to whom the Juftice or Juflices of the Peace, Chief Magiftrate, or ' Alderman, that firll convifted fuch Offender, fliall return the Money ' levied upon the Appellant, and fhall certify under his and their ' Hands and Seals, the Evidence upon which the ConviQion paifed, * with the whole Record thereof and the laid Appeal ; whereupon ' fuch Offender may plead and make Defence, and have his Trial by * a Jury thereupon ; and in cafe fuch Appellant fliall not profecute * with Efft£l, or if upon fuch Trial he fliall not be acquitted, or ' Judgment pafs not for him upon his faid Appeal, the faid Juftices * at the Seflions fliall give treble Cofls againfl fuch Offender for his ' unjuft Appeal : And no other Court whatfoever fliall intermeddle * with any Caufe or Caufes of Appeal upon this A£f, but they fliall be * finally determined in the Quarter-Seflions only. ' 7. )^(Ot)lt)Ct) always, and be it farther (gnattCl), That upon the * Delivery of fuch Appeal, the Perfcn or Perfons Appellant fliall enter, ' before the Perfon or Perfons conv;£fing, a Recognizance to pro- ' fecute the faid Appeal with Efft£f, which faid Recognizance the * Perfon or Perfons fo convi£ling is hereby impowered to take, and ' required to certify the fame to the next Quarter-SefTions, and in cafe * no ilich Recognizance be eutred into, the faid Appeal to be null ' and void. ' 8. ^tObitetl always, That fuch Appeal fhall be left with the ' Perfon or Perfons fo convlfting, at the Time of the making thereof. • 9. And be it (gnaCteD by the Authority aforefaid, That the Juflice, * Juflices of the Peace, and Chief Magiffrate, refpe(flively, or the * refpeftive Conftables, Headboroughs, and Tithingmen, by Warrant * from the faid Juflice, Juftices, or Chief Magiftrate, refpedively, fliall * and may with what Aid, Force and Affiftance, they fliall think fit, * for the better Execution of this Ad:, after Refufal or Denial to enter, * break open and enter into any Houfe, or other Place, where they ' fliall be informed any fuch Conventicle as aforefaid is or fliall be ' held, as well within Liberties as without, and take into their ' Cuftody the Perfons there unlawfully alTembled, to the Intent they ' may be proceeded againft according to this Ad: : And that the * Lieutenants, or Deputy-Lieutenants, or any commifTionated Officer ' of the Militia, or other of his Majefty's Forces, with fuch Troops ' or Companies of Horfe and Foot, and alfo the Sheriffs and other ' Magiftrates and Minifters of Juftice, or any of them jointly and ' feveraliy, within any Counties or Places within this Kingdom of ' England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick upon T'lveed, ' with fuch other Affiftance as they fliall think meet, or can get in * Readineis with the fooneft, on Certificate made to them refpedively ' under the Hands and Seals of any one Juftice of the Peace, or Chief * Magiftrate, of his particular Information or Knowledge of fuch ' unlawful Meeting or Conventicle, held or to be held in their ' refpedive Counties or Places, and that he with fuch Affiftance as he ' can get together, is not able to fupprefs and diflblve the fame, fliall ' and may, and arc hereby required and enjoined to repair unto ihe Vol. I. g ' Place XXVI The P R E F A C E. Vol. I. Place where they are fo held, or to be held, and by the beft Means they can, to diflblve, diffipate, or prevent, all fuch unlawful Meet- ings, and take into their Curtody fuch, and fo many of the faid Perfons fo unlawfully ailembled, as they fliall think fit, to the Intent they may be proceeded againft according to thisAfl. ' JO. )3tOt)il)Ct always, That no Dwelling-houfe of any Peer of this Realm, where he or his Wife fliall then be refident, fliall be fearched by Virtue of this Ad:, but by immediate Warrant from his Majefly under his Sign-Manual, or in the Prefence of the Lieutenant, or one Deputy-Lieutenant, or two Juftices of the Peace, whereof one to be of the ^orum of the fame County or Riding. ' II. And be it farther (EnaCteD by the Authority aforefaid, That if any Conllable, Headborough, Tithingman, Churchwarden, or Overfeer of the Poor, who fliall know, or be credibly informed, of any fuch Meetings or Conventicles held within his Precindis, Parilhes, or Limits, and fhall not give Information thereof to fome Juftice of the Peace, or Chief Magiftrate, and endeavour the Con- vidion of the Parties according to his Duty, but fuch Conflable, Headborough, or Tithingman, fhall wilfully and wittingly omit the Performance of his Duty in the Execution of this Aft, and be thereof convidled in Manner aforefaid, he fliall forfeit for every fuch Offence the Sum of five Pounds, to be levied upon his Goods and Chattels, and difpofed in Manner aforefaid : And that if any Juflice of Peace, or Chief Magiftrate, fhall wilfully artd wit- tingly omit the Performance of his Duty in the Execution of this Adt, he fliall forfeit one Hundred Pounds, to be recovered by Adion, Suit, Bill, or Plaint, in any of his Majeffy's Courts at Wejiminjier, wherein no Effoin, Protedion, or Wager of Law fhall be. ' 12. And be it farther (jEllBCtSD by the Authority aforefaid, That if any Perfon be at any Time fued for putting in Execution any of the Powers contained in this Ad, otherwife than upon Appeal allowed by this Ad, fuch Perfon fliall and may plead the general IlTue, and give the fpecial Matter in Evidence, and if the Plaintiff be nonfuit, or a Verdid pafs for the Defendant, or if the Plaintiff dif- continue his Adion, or if upon Demurrer, Judgment be given for the Defendant, every fuch Defendant fliall have his full treble Cofls. ' 13. And be it farther (JgnaCtCll by the Authority aforefaid, That this Ad, and all Claufes therein contained, fhall be conflrued moft largely and beneficially for the fupprefiing of Conventicles, and for the Juflification and Encouragement of all Perfons to be employed in the Execution thereof: And that no Record, Warrant, or Mit- timus, to be made by Virtue of this Ad, or any Proceedings thereupon, fliall be reverfed, avoided, or any Ways impeached, by Reafon of any Default in Form. And in cafe any Perfon offending againft this Ad, fliall be an Inhabitant in any other County or Corporation after the Offence committed, the Juflice of Peace, or Chief Magiftrate, before he fliall be convided as aforefaid, fhall certify the fame under his Hand and Seal to any Juftice of Peace, or Chief Magiftrate, of fuch other County or Corporation wherein the faid Perfon or Perfons are Inhabitants, or are fled into, which ' faid Vol. I. The PREFACE. xxvii faid Juflice, or Chief Magiftrate, refpedively, is hereby authorized and required to levy the Penalty, or Penalties, in this Adl men- tioned, upon the Goods and Chattels of fuch Perfon or Perfons, as fully as the faid other Juftice of Peace might have done, in Cafe he or they had been Inhabitants in the Place where the Offence was committed. ' 14, }5 tObiDeD al fo. That no Perfon fhall be puniflied for any Offence againfl this Aft, unlefs fuch Offender be profecuted for the fame within three Months after the Offence committed, and that no Perfon who lliall be punifhed for any Offence by Virtue of this Adt, fliall be punched for the fame Offence by Virtue of any other Adt or Law what foe ver. ' 15. l^rotJtDcD, and be it farther dgtiactel) by the Authority aforelaid, That every Alderman of London, for the Time being, within the City of London and the Liberties thereof, flrall have (and they, and every of them, are hereby impowered and required to execute) the fame Power and Authority within London, and the Liberties thereof, for the examining-, convidling, and punifliing, of all Offences againll this A61:, committed within London and the Liberties thereof, which any Juflice of Peace hath by this Adt in any County of England, and fhall be fubjedl to the fame Penalties and PuniHiments, for not doing that which by this Ad: is diredled to be done, by any Juftice of Peace in any County of England. ' 16. ©roijiliell, and be it cEtiaCtel) by the Authority aforefaid. That if the Perfon offending, and convidted as aforefaid, be a Feme- Covert cohabiting with her Hufband, the Penalties of five Shillings and ten Shillings, fo as aforefaid incurred, fliall be levied by War- rant as aforefaid, upon the Goods and Chattels of the Hufband of fuch Feinc-Covert. ' 17. ?Srot>iDei) alfo. That no Peer of the Realm fhall be attached or imprifoned by Virtue or Force of this Adl ; any Thing, Matter, or Claufe therein to the contrary notwithflanding. ' 18. ^BrobiDeD alfo, That neither this Adt, nor any Thing herein contained, Ihall extend to invalidate, or make void his Majeffy's Supremacy in Ecclefiaffical Affairs : But that his Majefty, and his Heirs and Succeffors, may from Time to Time, and at all Times hereafter, exercife and employ all Powers and Authority in Eccle- fiaflical Affairs, as fully and amply as himfelf or any of his Prede- ceffors have, or might have done the fame ; any Thing in this Adt notwithftanding.' 'This A61 was forthwith put into a rigorous Execution, and many hungry Informers made it their Bufnefs to Jive upon the Spoil a}id Ruin of confcientious People : But after fome Time a Stop was put to their Proceedings by King Charles the Second's Declaration for fiifpending the Penal Laws in Matters Ecclefiaftical, intituled. His MAJESTY'S Declaration to all his loving Subjedts ; dated the i^th of March, 1671-2: Publifed by the Advice of his ^vivy-CowncW. The EffeSl of which was as follows, viz. 'OUR XXVlll The PREFACE. Vol. I. OU R Care and Endeavours for the Prefervation of the Rites and Interefl of the Church have been fufficiently manifefted to the World, by the whole Courfe of our Government fince our happy Reftoration, and by the many and frequent Ways of Coercion that we have ukd for reducing all erring and diffenting Perfons, and for compofing the unhappy Differences in Matters of Religion, which we found among our Subjeds upon our Return. ' But it being evident, by the fad Experience of twelve I'ears, that there is very little Fruit of all thefe forcible Methods ; we think our- felves obliged to make Ufe of that Ibpreme Power in Ecclefiaftical Matters, which is not only inherent in us, but hath been declared and recognized to be fo by feveral Statutes and Ads of Parliament. ' And therefore we do now accordingly ilTue this our Declaration^ as well for the quieting the Minds of our good Subjeds in thefe PointSj as for inviting Strangers at this Time to come and live under us, and for the better Encouragement of all to a cheerful following of their Trades, from whence we hope (by the Bleffing of God) to have many good and happy Advantages to our Government. ' And in the frji Place we declare our exprefs Refolution, Meaning and Intention to be, that the Church of TLngland be pre- ferved and remain intire in its Dodtrine, Difcipline and Government, as now it ftands eftablifhed by Law, Gfr. ' We do in the next Place declare our Will and Pleafure to be, that the Execution of all, and all Manner of Penal Laws in Matters Eccleliaftical, againfl; whatfoever Sort of Non-Conformifls or Recu- fants, be i.-nmediately fufpended, and they are hereby fufpended ; and all Judges, Sheriffs, Juftices of the Peace, &c. are to take Notice of it, and pay due Obedience thereunto. ' And we do declare, That we {hall from Time to Time allow a fufficient Number of Places, as they (hall be defired in all Parts of this our Kingdom, for the Ufe of fuch as do not conform to the Church of Efigland, to meet and affemble in, in order to their publick Worlhip and Devotion, which Places fliall be open and free to all Perfons. ' To prevent fuch Diforders and Inconveniencies as may happen by this our Indulgence, if not duly regulated, and that they may be the better protedled by the Civil Magiftrate, our exprefs Will and Pleafure is. That none of our Subjedts do prefume to meet in any Place, until the fame be allowed, and the Teacher of that Congregation be approved by us. ' And we do farther declare. That this our Indulgence as to the Allowance of publick Places of Worfliip, and Approbation of Teachers, fliall extend to all Sorts of Non-Conformifts and Recu- lants, except the Recufants of the Roman-Catholick Religion, to whom we fliall in no wife allow publick Places of Worfhip, but only indulge them their Share in the common Exemption from the Execution of Penal Laws, and the Exercife of their Worfliip in their private Houfes only. ' And if, after this our Clemency and Indulgence, any of ourSub- * jedls fhall prefume to abufe this Liberty, and preach feditioufly, &c. ' we Vol. I. The PREFACE. xxix ' we will let them fee we can be as fevere to fuch Offenders, as we * are indulgent to truly tender Confciences.' Divers good EJf'eBs followed the publifinng of this Declaration, 'oiz. I ft. T^he Stop put thereby to Informers and Perfecutors for a T'ime. 2d. The quiet and peaceable Ejijopnent of their religious Meetings. 3d. The Prefervation of their Goods from Rapine and Spoil by Informers and other Perfecutors. 4th. The Kings Difcharge and Deliverance of above four Hundred of the People called Quakers out of Prifon by his Letters Patent, or Pardon, under the Great Seal, remitting their Fines, and releafmg their Eftates forfeited to him by Judgment of Premunire, &c. fo7ne of 'whom had endured ten or eleven Tears Imprijonnmit. But this Calm continued not long, for in the Tear 1673 the Parliame?it obferving, that upon fuch Sufpenfion of the Penal Laws, the Papifts, againjl whom divers of thofe Laws were made, began to get into publick Offices of Trujl, grew uneafy, and reprejented their Difike of it to the King, alledging that he thereby extended his Prerogative beyond the Boun- daries of Law, which might be of dangerous Confequence : Whereupon the King was 7noved to recall and vacate that Declaration. The Informers after this returned to their old Employment, and many Projecutions upo?i the Conventicle- Acl quickly followed, as appears in the following Accounts through the fever al Counties in England and Wales. Many alfo of the People called Quakers were again profecuted upon old Statutes againfl Ii.ecufa7its, and committed to Prifon : But we do 7iot find that any 7iew Law was made in England to prohibit the Meefvigs of Dijfmters after the A5i againfi Conventicles in 1 670. Befide the 7-igorous Execution of the aforefaid Penal Laws againfi this People, the Ecclcfiafiical Courts, being up07i the Refioratio7i of King Charles the Second, reftored to their former Authority and JurifdiSlion^ ceafed 7iot to worry the7n by freque7it Projecutions for Tithes, Oblations, a7id other Church Clai77is, as alfo for their Np7i-atte7idance at the ufual Places of Parochial Worfinp ■,^ for thefe Caufes, and for prete77ded Con- tempts of the Difcipline and Cenfures of the Church, which indeed the Quakers confidering as originally derived fro7n the Papal Power, paid little Regard unto. Multitudes of them were excommu7iicated, and by Writs de Excommunicato capiendo y7;«^/ up, a7id as it were buried alive in Prifons and Dungeons, where many of the/n, after long Co7ifine~ me7it, drew their lafi Breath, and laid down their Lives, as true Proteftant Martyrs, facrificed to the Infiuence of Church Power, which in ma7iy I7ifta7ices is to this Day exerted, in Oppofition to that pe7feSl Chriftian Freedo7n a7id Liberty of Co7ijcience, which in Matters of Faith a7id Religion ought to be enjoyed. Duri7ig the Co77ti7iuance under fo rigorous a Perfecution here 171 England, the popular Prejudice agai/fl them fp7-ead itfelf alfo into foreign Countries, efpecially the Englifti Plantations in America, where Falfijood and Calumny had a7iticipated their Arrival, a7id prepofeffed the Mmds of thofe /« Authority agai7ift them : He7ice it ca7ne to pafs that i7i New-England a Set of fiery Zealots, who, through hnpatiejice U7ider Sufferi7igs fro7n the Bifiiops in Old-England, had fed fro7n thence, beitig invefted with Power, a72d placed at the Helm of Govertwient, exceeded Vol. I. h ' all XXX The P R E F A C E. Vol. I. nil others in their Cruelty towards this People, the Barbarity of whofe Reception foon after their firjl Arrival there, is well defcribed in a fummary Account thereof drawn up by fome of the Sufferers, and pre- fented to King Charles the Second ajter his Re/lor ation, by Edward Burroughs, being as follows, viz. *" ^ Declaration of fome Part qf^he Sufferings of *■ /^/je 'People of Gon in Scorn called Qjjakers, ' from the Trqfe/fors in New-England^ onljy for ' the Exercife of their Confciences to the Lord, ' and oheying and confejffing to the Truths as in ^ his Light he had difco'vered it to them. * I. ^ I 1 W O honeft and innocent Women flripped Jlark nakedy ' JL and fearched after luch an inhuman Manner, as Modefty ' will not permit particularly to mention. ' 2. Twelve Strangers in that Country, but free-born of this ' Nation, received Twenty Three Whippings, the moll: of them being * with a Whip of Three Cords with Kfiots at the Ends, and laid on with ' as much Strength as could be by the Arm of their Executioner, the ' Stripes amounting to Three Hundred and Seventy. ' 3. Eighteen Inhabitants of the Country, being free-born Efigliffj^ ' received Twenty Three Whippings, the Stripes amounting to Two ' Hundred and Fifty. ' 4. Sixty Four Imprifonments of the Lord's People, for their ' Obedience to his Will, amounting to Five Hundred and Nineteen ' Weeks, much of it being very cold Weather ; and the Inhabitants ' kept in Prifon in Harveft-time, which was very much to their ' Lofs ; befides many more imprifoned, of which Time we cannot ' give a iuft Account. • i;. Two beaten with Pitched Ropes, the Blows amounting to ' an Hundred and Thirty Nine, by which one of them was brought ' near unto Death, much of his Body being beaten lil:e unto a Jelly, *• and one of their Doftors, a Member of their Church, who faw him, * faid. It would be a Miracle if ever he recovered, he expeBing the Fle(l? ' Jhould rot off the Bones, who afterwards was baniPied upon pain of ' Death. There are many WitnefTes of this there. ' 6. Alfo an Innocent Man, an Inhabitant oi Boflon, they banijloed ' from his Wife and Children, and put to leek an Habitation in the * Winter, and in Cafe he returned again, he Was to be kept Prifonef ' during his Life , and for returning again he was put in Prifon, and ' hath been now a Prifoner above a Year. ' 7. Twenty Five Baniptncnts upon the Penalties of being whipf, ' or having their Ears cut, or branded in the Hand, if they returned. ' 8. Fines laid upon the Inhabitants for meeting together, and ' edifying one another, as the Saints ever did ; and for refufing to ' Swear, it being contrary to ChrilVs Command, amounting to about * a Thoufand Pounds, befide what they have done fince that we have" ' not heard of, many Families, in which there are many Children, are ' almoll ruined by their unmerciful Proceedings. * 9. Five Vol. I. The PREFACE. xxxi ' g. Five kept Fifteen Davs in all, without Food, and Fifty Eight * Days fliut up clofe by the Goaler, and had none that he knew of ; ' and from fome of them he ftopt up the Windows, hindring them ' from convenient Air. ' lo. One laid Neck and Heels in Irons for Sixteen Hours. ' II. One very deeply burnt in the Right Hand with the Letter [H] ' after he had been isoloipt with above Thirty Stripes. ' J 2. One chained to a L,og of Wood the moji Fart of Twenty * Days, in an open Prifon, in the Winter-time. ' 13. Five Appeals to England denied at Bojlon. ' 14. Three had their Right Ears cut by the Hangman in the * Prifon, the Door being barred, and not a Friend fuffered to be * prefent while it was doing, though fome much defired it. * 15. One of the Inhabitants oi Salem, who fince is banifoed upon ' Fain of Deaths had one Half of his Houfe and Land feized on while he ' was in Prifon, a Month before he knew of it. * 16. At a General Court in Bofton they made an Order, That ' thofe ntko had not where^'ivithall to anfwer the Fines that were laid ' upon them for theit Confciences, Jljould be fold for Bondmen and ' Bondwomen to Barbadoes, Virginia, or any of the Englifh Plantations. ' ij. Ez^g^Zito;; of the People of God were at feveral Times /5rt;;//Z)^^ ' upon pain of Death ; fix of them were their own Inhabitants, two of ' which being very aged People, and well known among their Neigh- ' hours to be of honeft Converfation, being baniflied from their Houfes ' and Families, and put upon Travelling and other Hardfliips, foon ' ended their Days, whofe Death we can do no lefs than charge upon * the IRUCCtjS) of Bofton, they being the Occafion of it. ' 18. Alfo Three of the Servants of the Lord they put to Death, all = of them for Obedience to the Truth, In theTeftimony of it, againft * the ttjiCfeCl^ EUleriaf and XatDjJ at Bofton. * 19. And fince they h?i\Q banijhed Four more upon Pain of Deaths ■ add Twenty Four of the Inhabitants of Salem were prefented, and ■ more Fines called for, and their Goods feized on to the Value of / ■ Forty Pounds for meeting together in the Fear of God, and fome for * refufing to Swear. ' Thefe Things, O King ! from Time to Time have we patiently ■ fuffered, and not for the Tranfgreflion of any jufl or righteous Law, either pertaining to the Worfhip of God, or the Civil Government of England, but fimply and barely for our Confciences to God, of which we can more at large give thee, or whom thou mayft order, a full Account (if thou will let us have Admifiion to thee, who are ■ banip.'ed upon Pain of Death, and have had our Ears cut, who are fome of lis in England attending upon thee) both of the Caufes of ' our Sufferings, and the Manner of their diforderly and illegal Pro- '■ ceedings againft us ; they began with JmiltOlJCllp, went on in ^nljumanftp and Cruelty, and were not fatisfied until they had ■ the Blood of Three of the Martyrs of Jesus : Revenge for all which ■ we do not feek, but lay them before thee, confidering thou hail ' been well acquainted with Sufferings, and fo mayft the better confider ' them xxxii The PREFACE. Vol. I. * them that fuffer, and mayft for the future reftrain the ^ioleuCC of * thefe ]fvUlCriS( of New-Enghmd, having Power in thy Hands, they ' being but the Children of the Family of which thou art Chief * Ruler, who have in divers their Proceedings forfeited their Patent, * as upon ftrift Enquiry in many Particulars will appear. ' And this, O King 1 we are afTured of, that in Time to come it * will not repent thee, if by a clofe Rebuke thou ftoppeif the 2dIOODP ' fgirOCeeDing? of thefe BlOODp ^et(eCUtOr«(, for in fo doing thou * wilt engage the Hearts of many honeft People unto thee both there ' and here, and for fuch Works of Mercy the Bleffing is obtained ; ' and fliewing it is the Way to profper : We are Witnefles of thefe ' Things, who ' Befides matiy long Imprifonments, and many cruel Whippitigs, had * our Ears cut, * John Rouse John Copeland. * Befides majty long Imprifotiments, divers cruel Whippings, with the * feizing on our Goods, are banijloed upon Pain of Death, and fome of * us do wait here in England, and defire that we may have an Order ' to return in Peace to our Families, ' Samuel Shattock Josiah South ick ' Nicholas Phelps Joseph Nicholson.' ' Jane Nicholson T/j/j Reprefentatioft of their Cafe to the King, with the earnejl and inccfj'ant Solli citations o/' Edward Burroughs, and others, on their Behalf procured a Mandamus yro/« that Monarch, by which an efeSlual Stop was put to the Proceedings in New-England of putting Men to Death for Religion, by which their blind Zeal and Fury would otherwife probably have dejiroyed many innocent People. NevertheJefs they yet con- tijiued by cruel Whippings, and other Barbarities, to demonftrate that they repented not of their former Cruelty, but that they were reflriSied by Force of the KiNo'i Authority, and not from any jilt er at ion in their own T'empers or Inclinations, as will plainly appear by the Narrative of their Proceedings. In Barbadoes the Laws for fettling the Militia were very fevere, and as feverely executed, for their rejufing to appear perfonally /'« Arms. A Law was alfo ?nade to prevent Negroes from coming to any Meetifigs of the People called Quakers under fevere Penalties ; of all which tlje Cafes of Sufferings in that I/land exhibit a particular Specifcation. At Nevis fever al Laws were enaSled for preventing any Quakers landing there, and fever al Inhabitants of that Perfuajion fuffer ed for their religious Teftimony. At Bermudas fome were imprifoned, others tied Neck and Heels, fome banified, and Elizabeth Carter, an innocent Woman, barba- roufy ufed. At Antigua feveral fuffer ed hnprifonmcnt, and an ASl was made for banijhing them. T^be bteadinefs of their ConduSi on Occafion of taking that Vol. I. The P R E F A C E. xxxiii that IJland by the French, is worthy of Obfervation ; and their Patience under Sufferings for their religious Tejiimony, demonfirates their Sincerity therein. In Maryland, though they enjoyed the Liberty of holding their religious Ajjemblies^ yet divers Injiances occurr of their Sufferings for not bearing Arms, and for refufing to Siisear. In Jamaica, their Rejujc' to pay towards the eftabliffied Maintenance of the Priefls, as irell as their refufing to bear Arms, expofed them to the Penalties of the Laws in both thofe Cafes. Having in diftinB Chapters given an Account of their Sufferings in each of the foregoing Places in America, we return to Europe and Af^a., giving a Narrative of what befell fuch of this People as were concerned to travel out o/' England, into other Parts, for the Advancement of true Religion, and the Benefit of the Souls of others : Here we JJjall find George Robinlbn, a young Man, in his Travels to Jerufalem, preferved through many imminent Dangers, and defended by the Authority of the Turks from the Malice and Treachery of Friars^ whofe Superfiition he had boldly teftified againft : Alfo Mary Fifher, a religious Maiden, tra- velling to Smyrna, whence being fent back /o Venice, fl:ie went by Land from the Sea-Coafl o/'Morea to Adrianople, where p:e delivered a Meffage to the Sultan Mahomet the Fourth, who favourably received and heard her, and difmiffed her with Te'fimonies of his Efteem. Her remarkable Prejervation in that long and tedious Journey is an Argument of the T'ruth of her Miffion, and of the Providence of God protecting her in the Performance of her Duty, and in yielding Obedience to his Requirings. The Travels of feveral of this People to Rome, publickly and freely tejlifying there againft the Popifli Superfiition, were attended with the ntmoft Hazard of their Lives, and their Deliverance and fafe Return from thence very remarkable. The Death o/" George Bay ley in Prifon in France, and the Sufferings o/'Chriftopher Birkhcad W Middleburgh in Zealand, and of William. Ames aW Martin Martinfon at Rotterdam, are worthy of Obfervation ; as was alfo the Bani/liment of William Caton from Middleburgh, and his hard Ufage on Shipboard. The Sufferirigs of Katharine Evans and Sarah Chevers, Englifli Women, in the Inquifition at Malta, are of an extraordinary Nature, and are a convincing Evidence of the Con/lancy and Patience wherewith they were endued, a?id enabled to abide faithful in the Midjl offo great Trials , and Tribulations. The Letters they wrote during their Confinement, exhibit a Specimen of that excellent Chriflian Spirit by which they were conduSled and preferved in the Time of their AffiSlions, and are well worthy the Perifal of religious Readers. The manifold Trials, Jeopardies and Torments, which John Philly and William Moore underwent in Hungary and Auftria, are exemplary Proof of their Meeknefs and Patience, and of an unfiiaken Coitfiancy in the Faith by them profeffed. In the Account of their Sufferings at Dantzick, Embden, Hamburgh, the Palatinate and United- Provinces, feveral Papers and Letters are interfperfed, in perufing which, the Readers tnay find both Pleafure and Vol. I. i InfiruSlion : xxxiv The PREFACE. Vol. I. InftriiBion : Of this Kind are, (ift.) A Letter of Chriftian Andreas, a Citizen of Dantzick, to John Claus o/' Ainfterdam. (2d.) A Chriftian Expoftulation with the Magijlrates of Dantzick and Schidlith, 'written by William Gibfon. (3d.) A Letter written by William Penn to the King of Poland. (4th.) A Letter 0/' William Penn to the Council and Senate o/Embden. (5th.) An Anfwer from the People called Quakers at Amlterdam, tofome Propofah 7nade them by the Burghers and Senate of Embden. (6th.) A Letter from William Caton in Germany, to his Friends at London. In all which the innocent Caufe of their Sufferings is jujlly reprefented, and the PraSlice of Perfecutionfor Religion defervedly reproved. We have alfo colleSied fuch Sufferings of this People in Ireland as have come to our Hands, and have clofed this prefent ColleSlion with their Sufferings in that Pay-t of Great-Britain called Scotland, wherein are many Pajjages worthy of Obfervatioii. At London, in the Year 1680, while the Perfecutors of the People called Quakers were very bify in profecuting them upon the Conventicle- Adt, and alfo upon old Statutes made againji Popirti Recifants, iin- jujlly infinuatijig their Affemblies to be feditious CoJiventicles, and very dangerous to the Peace of the Government ; a Difcovery was made to the Parliament of a Popifli Plot, which by the Houfe of Conwions in their Addrefs to the King, dizted the 2gth of November 1680, was fliled, A damnable and hellifh Plot, by the good Providence of God brought to light, and the Contrivers thereof were termed A Popiff Party, who have not only plotted and intended the Deftruftion of your Majefty's royal Perfon, but the total Subverfion of the Government and true Religion ■eftabliflied among us. Upon the Difcovery of the [aid Plot, and the Im- peachment and Condemnation of William Lord Vifcoimt Stafford for the fame, the Parliament affumed the Confideration of Ways and Means to increafe the Proteftant Interefl. A)id the Hoife of Cotnmons in their Votes of the 1 0//6 0/' January 1680, publif^ed this Refolution, viz. Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Houfe, that the Profecution of Protejlatit Diffenters upon the Penal Laws, is at this Time grievous to the Subjedt, a weakening of the Proteftant Interefl, an Encouragement to Pop>ery^ and dangerous to the Peace of this Kingdom. And had accordingly under their Deliberation, A Bill for exempting Proteftant Diffenters from the Penal Laws. A Committee was alfo appoifited to enquire into the Caje of the Quakers Sufferings by thofe Laws, and an Inclination was apparent in the Hoife of Commofts for their Relief at that Time, when the King, by difolving that Parliament, preve?tted the intended Iffue of their Confultations ; and the Profecutioits again ft this People were renewed with a frcjld Vigour ; for Informers, like Beajis of Prey, were lurking about in mo ft Parts of the Nation, and were encouraged by many of the Clergy and Magiftracy : Several of the Priefts alfo turned Informers, and perfonally afffted in difturbing religious Meeti?igs, and promoting the Ruin of their confcientious Neighbours. Now though thofe Informers, gejier ally for the Sake of their own Part of the Spoil, fought more after Fines and DiftreJJes, than the Imprifomnetit of Mc}is Pafo?2s ; yet many of them were put up in Prifon, as appears bv the following Petition, viz. ' To Vol. L The P R E F a C E. xxxv ' To the KING, T^be Humble PETITION of above a Tlmifand Prifoners, commonly called Quakers, * Sheweth, THAT our renewed Hardrtiips, our continued and increafing Impriibnments, do occafion this our humble Complaint and Requeft, of which we intreat the King's favourable Acceptance and tender Refentments. We do folemnly declare, that we know no other Caufe for our Jlrait Confinements and hard Ufage, than what concerns our tender Confciences in ferving and worfliipping Almighty- God that made us, being well known to be Perfons of quiet Con- verfations and peaceable Behaviour, and clear in the Sight of God of all leditious Contrivances, Plots and Confpiracies, and are not evilly affedled towards the King's Perfon or Government, Howbeit fever^l Goals are filled, without Regard to Sex, Age, or Condition, not only to the impairing our Healths, but endangering many of our Lives, many having already died Prifoners, the greateil Part of late com- mitted for our peaceable religious Meetings, many of us under Fines on that Account, and upon the Adt of 13 & 14 Car. 2. Cap. i. extending alfo to Baniflament. In fome Goals many of us crouded in nafly Holes, and mixt among Felons, many under Sentence of Premuniref not for refufing Fidelity or Allegiance to the King, but only not Swearing the fame for Confcience-fake. Many under Sentence of Excommunication committed on Writs de Excom. cap. ^c. for Non- conformity, &c.. and have undergone long and tedious Imprifonments. By which Confinements and Hardships many inno- cent and induftrious Families are left deftitute and in Diflrefs, many honeft Tradefmen, Hufbandmen, and Farmers, greatly difcouraged and fpoiled in their Trades and Livelihoods, and many poor Familes depending on them for Employment, now for lack thereof expofed to great Want and Penury : Befides the Violence and woful Spoil made upon many, both in City and Country, by Informers, Profecu- tions, &c. and for twenty Pounds a Month, and Two-thirds of Eff ates feized into the King's Hands, ^c. which will unavoidably force many to fhut up Shops, and leave off their Trades and Farms, ^c. (as fome have done already) if not timely relieved. ' We therefore who are concerned in the Sufferings aforefaid, do in all Chrijiian Humility requeft, that the King in his Princely Com- paffion will pleafe to take our diftreffed Cafe into his tender Confideration, and afford us Relief from thefe Hardfliips and Impri- fonments, as he hath * formerly done for many of our fuffering Friends, which we do thankfully acknowledge, we being fincerely defigned by the Grace of God to live peaceably and inoffenfively under the King and his Government. Wherefore, according as our Converlations are found concurring with this our folemn Profellion, ' we * This refers to the King's Letters Patent for releafing of the ^takers in general, in 1672 bttore mentioned. XXXVl The PREFACE. A^OL. I. ' we humbly crave Liberty, that we may provide for our diflrefled ' Families, and be capable to rejider to Csekr thofe Things that be ' Csefar's, and to God the Things that are God's, according to our « Chrijlian Principle and Perfuafion.' An Addrefs was alfo preferted to King Charles the Second (and by him accepted) at Windfor Cajlle^ on the ^th of the Month called Auguft 1683, by George Whitehead, Alexander Parker, Gilbert Latey, and Francis Camfield, nsohich '■uoas diJlinSlly read to the King and the Duke of York, in the Prejence of many of the Nobility, by George Whitehead, being as follows, viz. ' To the KING, * The Humble KD'DK'ESS of the People comjuonly called Quakers. ' O King ! T' H E K I N G of Kings and Lord of the whole Earth incline thine Heart to that which is juft and merciful in his Sight, and to make fuch clean and equal Diftindtions, as that the Innocent may not fufFer in any Cafe for the Guilty, that it may ever redound to thy Honour and Safety, and thy peaceable Subjedls Comfort. ' Our Innocency, Love and Goodwill to thy Perfon, and the Government that God has committed to thee, encourage us in this our humble Addrefs and Application. ' Whereas the late Plot againft the King and his Brother the Duke of York, &c. is made an Occafion to perfecute many of us for our religious Meetings more feverely than formerly, ' We do folemnly declare, that it is known to the Divine Majefly and the all-feeing Wifdom, whereby Kings reign, and Princes decree Juftice, that our manifold, extreme and continued Sufferings, being only on a religious Account, have not been the leaft Motive or Provocation to us to defire, much lefs to contrive, the leaft Hurt either to thy Perfon or Government, or to the Perfon of thy Brother the Duke of York, &c. We are clear in the Sight of God^ Angels and Men, from all hellifh Plots and traiterous Confpiracles, and from all murderous Defigns and Undertakings, againft the King, his Brother, or any Perfon on Earth whatfoever, being Works of the Devil and Darknefs, having contrariwife learned of Chrift Jefus our Lord, by his Light and Grace in our Hearts, not fo much as by Force to defend, much lefs to avenge ourfelves from Injuries done us, but to commit our Caufe to him that judgeth righteoufly, as peaceable Followers of our Saviour and Redeemer in his patient Example and Sufferings, who is the Prince of Peace. ' O King ! we do farther declare, that God Almighty hath taught and engaged us to acknowledge, and adtually to obey, Magiftracy (as his Ordinance) in all Things not repugnant to his Law and Light in our Confciences, which is certainly agreeable to the Holy Scriptures, and admits not of any immoral or injurious Adlion : And that even where through tender Confcience we cannot con- iorm, it is our Duty patiently to fuffer, and not to rebel nor feek Revenge. And we hope by his divine Grace ever to demean ourfelves ' as Vol. I. The PREFACE. xxxvu ' as peaceable-minded Chriftiam in our Converfations under the Civil- * Government : And as we do fuicerely, and with Reverence, confefs ' to the divine Power and Providence in thy Rejioration, and the * Prefervation of thy Perlbn hitherto, fu our Prayers and Supplications * are to the Almighty for thy future Safety and Peace, and that in a ' thanlihil Remembrance of God's great Mercies towards thee, thou ' mayft be obliged to fliew Mercy, and to relieve the Opprefled from * thefe unmerited Afflidions and Perfecutions, which a great Number * of us, thy peaceable Subjeds, do even at this Day fuffer in our Perfons * and Eftates, not only by Laws made againrt, cut alfo by Laws never * made againil us ; and which is more extreme, divers Severities of ' late have been, and ftill are inflided, for which no Colour or Pretence ' hath been or can be alledged, ieveral Goals being fo filled as that * they want Air, and many innocent Perfons are held under extreme * Dijlrefs without Regard to Age, Sex, or Condition, to the Lofs of ' fome Lives already, and apparent Hazard of many more, if not to * the endangering Infedioh in divers Cities and Places in this Nation ; * and many Houfes, Shops, Barns, and Fields are ranfackt, and fwept * of Goods, Corn, and Cattle, tending alio to the great Difcoufage- * ment of Trade and Hufbandry, and to the Impoverifliing of a great * Number of quiet and induftrious People, and that for no other * Caufe but their religious Worlliip, and the Exercife of their tender * Confcicnces toward Almighty God that made them, who is the ' Sovereign Lord of all, and King in Men's Confciences. ' Therefore we humbly intreat thee, O King ! in Princely Juftice, * Chrijlian Charity, and Compaffion, to open our Prifon-doors, and * take off our Bonds, relieve the Innocent and OpprefTed in thy Land, ' that fear God, and in Converfation truly honour the King, and ' fuffer not the Ruin of fuch as are quiet in the Land, nor the Widow * and the Fatherlefs for their peaceable Confciences, to lie at the Door * of a Prince profefling the tender and compaffionate Religion ' of Chrift; But notwithftanding all thefe Reprefentations of their Cafe fr&m I'ime to Time, aftd the Hopes fometimes raifed of Relief from the favourable Reception fome of them jnet with in their perfonal Applications to King Charles the Second ; yet the Perfecution coniplained of continued to the End of his Reign in 1684. Upon the Acceffion of King James the Second to the Throne, they repeated their Application for Relief and on the ^d Day of the Fir ft Month called Ni^xch. 1684-5, the following Vct\\\on and Czie, with ati Account of the Number of Prifoners annexed, were prefented to the King by George Whitehead, Alexander Parker, and Gilbert Latey, viz. ' To King James the Second, ^c. ' The Humble A P P L I C A T I O N 0/ ^/j^e- People called Quakers. WHEREAS it hath plea fed Almighty God (by whom Kings reign) to take hence the late King Charles the Second, ' and to preferve thee peaceably to fucceed ; we thy Subjects heartily Vol. I. . k ' defire. xxxviii The P R E F A C E. Vol. I. ' defire, that the Gher of all good and perJeSi Gifts may pleafe to ' endue thee with Wifdom and Mercy, in the Ufe of thy great Power, * to his Glory, the King's Honour, and the Kingdom's Good. ' And it being our lincere Refolution, according to our peaceable * Principles and Converfation, (by the Afliftance of Almighty God) * to live peaceably and honeftly, as becomes true and faithful Subjects * under the King's Government, and a confcientious People that truly ' ferve and fear God : We do humbly hope, that the King's Tender- ' nefs will appear and extend with his Power to exprefs the fame, ' recommending to his Princely Clemency the Cafe of our prefent ' fuftering Friends hereunto annexed. ' To the KING, * I'he Diftreffed C A S E ^W R E QJJ E^T of the Suffering People ' commonly called Quakers, humbly prefented ; ' Shewing, * ^np* HAT according to Accounts lately given, above fourteen * X Hundred of the faid People (both Men and Women) are con- * tinued Prifoners in Etigland and Wales, only for tender Confciences ' towards Almighty God that made them : Many under Sentence of * Premunire, and many near it, not for refufing the Duty or Sub- * ftance of Allegiance itfelf, but only becaufe they dare not Swear : ' Others under Fines on the AB for Banip^ment : Many on Writs ' of Excommunication : Befides fome Hundreds have died Prifoners, ' many by Means of this long Imprifonment fmce the Year 1680, (as ', it is judged) thereby making Widows and Fatherlefs, and leaving * poor innocent Families defolate in Diftrefs and Sorrow. ' Thefe two hard Winters Confinement tending alfo to the De- ' ftrudtion of many in cold Holes and Goals, their Healths being y greatly impaired thereby : Befides the Violence and open Spoil made * by mercilefs Informers on the Cowcenticle-AB, upon many con- ' vidled, unfummoned 2indL unheard in their own Defence, both in City * and Country, as alfo on ^/ tatn Writs, and other Procefi!es for * twenty Pounds a Month, and Two-thirds of Eftates feized for the * King : AH tending to the Ruin of Trade and Hufbandry, and ' induftrious Families ; to fome not a Bed left, to others no Cattle to ' till their Ground or give them Milk, nor Corn for Bread nor Seed, ■ nor Tools to work withall : And all thefe and other Severities done ' under Pretence of ferving the King and the Church, thereby to force * us to violate our Confciences, and conlequently to deftroy our Souls, * which we are very tender of, as we are of our Peace with God, and ' our own Confciences, though accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter. ' And notwithftanding all thefe long fuflained Extremities, we the faid *. People do folemnly profefs and declare in the Sight of the Heart- * fearcher, that we have nothing but Goodwill and true Affection to * the King. We have never been found in any feditious or treafonable * Defigns, Vol. I. The PREFACE. XXXIX Defigns, as being wholly contrary to our Chrifiian Principles and holy Profeffion. ' And knowing ivhere the Word of a King is, there is Power, we in Qyrillian Humility, and for Chrill's Sake, intreat that the King will pleafe to find out fome Expedient for our Relief in thefe Cafes, from Prifons, Spoil and Ruin. • And we JJjall, as in Chrifiian Duty bound, pray God for the Kings ' Welfare in this World, and his Eternal Happinefs in that which ' is to come. * London, the 2d of the Firft Month < called March 1684-5. An Account of the Number of the faid Prifoners called fakers ' in the feveral Counties, viz. Bedfordshire Berkshire Bristol Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cornwall Cumberland Derbyshire Devonshire Dorsetshire Durham Elv Essex Gloucestershire Hartfordshire Herefordshire huntingtonsh ire Kent Lancashire 30 37 103 19 8 9 32 22 I 104 13 39 II 10 66 i8 I 10 16 73 Carried up 622 Not long after was alfo prefented. Brought up Leicestershire Lincolnshire London and Middlesex Norfolk Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Ox ON Salop Somersetshire South amptonsh ire Staffordshire Suffolk Surry Sussex Wales Warwickshire Westmorland Wiltshire Worcestershire Yorkshire 622 37 12 66 52 S9 6 ij 18 36 I 79 29 17 30 31 S 34 15 279 Total 1460 To the KING and both Hoiifes of Parliament, 'the Suffering Condition of the People called Quakers, only for * tender Confcience towards Almighty God, humbly prejented; * Shewing, TH A T of late above one Thoufand five Hundred of the faid People (both Men and Women) having been detained Prifoners in England, and Part of them in Wales, fome of them being iince ' difcharged xl The PREFACE. Vol. I. difcharged by the Judges, and others freed by Death through their long and tedious Imprifonment. There are now remaining, accord- ing to late Accounts, about one Thoufand three Hundred eighty and three, above two Hundred of them Women : Many under Sentence of Premunire, (both Men and Women) and more than three Hundred near it, not for denying the Duty, or refufing the Subftance of Allegiance itfelf, but only becaule they dare not Smear : Mariy on Writs of Excommunication, and Fines for th.e King, and upon the Adt for Banilliment. Befides above three Hundred and tiuenty have died in Prifon, and Prifoners, fince the Year 1660, near one Hundred whereof by Means of this long Imprifonment (as it is judged) fmce the laft Account delivered to the King and Parliament in 1680, thereby making Widows and Fatherlefs, and leaving them in Diftrefs and Sorrow. The two laft hard Winters Reftraint, and the Confinement of great Numbers in divers Goals, unavoidably tending towards their Deftiudion, their Healths being evidently impaired thereby. ' And here in London the Goal of Newgate hath been from Time to Time crouded within thefe two Years (fometiraes near twenty in one Room) to the Prejudice of their Health, and feveral poor inno- cent Tradefmen of late have been fo fuffocated by the Clofenefs of the Prifon, that they have been taken out fick of a malignant Fever^ and died in a tew Days after. ' Befides thefe long continued and deftrudlive Hardships upon the Perfons of Men and Women as aforefaid, great Violence, outragious DeftruBion, and nssoful Havock and Spoil, have been made, and are frequently made upon our Goods and Eftates, bcth in and about this City of London, and other Parts of this Nation, by a Company of idle, extravagant, and mercilefs Informers, and their Profecutions upon the Convent icle-^tly many being convided and fined, unfum- moncd and unheard in their own Defence : As alfo on ^li tain Writs, at the Suit of Informers (who profecute for one third Part for them- felves) and on other Procefi'es for twenty Pounds a Month, and Two-thirds of Eftates feized for the King : All tending to the Ruin of Trade, Hufbandry, and Farmers, and the impoverifliing of many induftrious Families, without CompafTion fhewn to Widows, Father- lefs, or Defolate ; to fome not a Bed left to reft upon, to others no Cattle to till their Ground, nor Corn for Bread or Seed, nor Tools to work wiihall. The faid Informers arui Sheriff's Bayliffs in fome Places, being outragious and exceflive in their Seizures and Dif- trefi"es, breaking into Houfes, and making great Wafte and Spoil. And all thefe and other Severities done againft us by them, under Pretence of ferving the King and the Church, thereby to force us to a Conformity, without inward Convidtion or Satisfadion of our tender Consciences, wherein our Peace with God is concerned, which we are very tender of. ' The Statutes on which we the faid People fuffer Imprifonment, Diftrefs and Spoil, are as fblloweth, ' The 5th of Eli z. Chap. 23. de Excommunicato capiendo. ' The Vol. I. The P R E F A C E. xli * The 23d of Eliz. Chap. i. for twenty Founds a Month. * The 29th oiEliz. Chap. 6. for Continuation. * The 35th of Elix. Chap. i. for abjuring the Realm on pair, ' of Death. ' The I ft oi Eliz. Chap. 2. for Hwelve-pence a Sunday. * The 3d of King James the Firjl, Chap. 4. for Premunire, * Imprifonment during Life, and Eftates confifcated. ' The 13th and 14th of King Charles the Second, againft: ^takers, * &c. Tranfportation. ' The 22d of King Charles the Seco?id, Chap. 2. againft /editions ' Conventicles. ' The 17th of King Charles the . Second, Chap. 2. againft Noti- ' Conformifts. ' The 27th of King Henry the Eighth, Chap. 20. fome few fuffer * thereupon. ' Upon Indidments at Common Law, pretended and framed againft * our peaceable religious Affcmblies, for Riots^ Routs, Breach of the * Peace, &c. Many (both Men and Women) thereupon fined, im- * prifoned, and detained for Non-payment, fome till Death : Inftance * the City of Brijlol, where a great Number have been thefe divers ^ * Years ftraitly confined and crouded in Goal, moftly above one Hun- * dred on fuch Pretence, about feventy of them Women, many aged. * And in the City of Norwich, in the Year 1682 and 83, about * feventy kept in hold, forty five whereof in Holes and Dungeons for ' many Weeks together, and great Hardftiips have been, and are, in * other Places. So that fuch our peaceable Meetings are fometimes * fined in the Conveiiticle-ASl as for a religious Exercife, and other * Fines at Common Law, as riotous, routous, &c. when nothing of that * Nature could ever be proved againft them, there being nothing of * Violence or Injury either done or threatned, or intended, againft the * Perfon or Property of any other whatfoever. * The during and tedious Imprifonments are chiefly on the Writs * de Excommunicato capiendo, upon the Judgment of Premunire, and * upon Fines faid to be for the King. The great Spoil and exceflive * Diftrefles and Seizures are chiefly upon the Conventicle- AB, and for * twenty Pounds a Month, and Two- thirds of Eft ate s, and on %/ tarn * Writs. In fome Counties divers have fuffered by Seizures and Dif- * trefl"es above eight Years laft paft, and Writs lately iffued out for ' farther Seizures in leveral Counties for twenty Pounds a Month, * amounting to the Value of many Ihoufand Pounds, fometimes feizing ' for eleven Months at once, and making Sale of all Goods and Chattels * within Doors and without, both of Houfljold Goods, Beds, Shop Goods, * Moveables, Cattle, &c. and Profecution hereupon ftill continued, * and in divers Counties much increafed : So that feveral who have * long employed fome Hundreds of poor Families in Manufadlure, * and paid confiderable Taxes to the King, are greatly difabled from * both by thefe Writs and Seizures, as well as by long hnprifonments. * So many Serge-makers of Plymouth, as kept above five Hundred poor * People at Work, difabled by Imprifonment : Many in the County Vol. I. 1 'of xlii The P R E F AC E. Vol. I. Deut. xix. 17, 18. ^ohn vii. 51. Prov. xxvi. 2, ^ob xxix. 16, i:. Gen. iii. 8. $-iidges xix. 30- 8, ic, 16. of Suffolk, under a long Imprifonment, fentenced to a Tremunire j one whereof employed at leaft two Hundred poor People in the Woollen Manufafture, when at Libeity. Omitting other Inftances, that we may not feem too tedious, thefe may evince how deiliuJ^fve fuch Severities are to Trade and Induftry, and ruinous to many poor Families. On the Conventicle- ASf, within thefe two Years laft paft, many in and about this City of London, have been extremely op- preffed, impaired, and fpoiled in their Eftates and Trades, upon numerous Convictions and Warrants made againft them in their Abfence, upon the Credit of Informations fworn by concealed In- formers, divers of them impudent Women, who fwear for their Profit in Part of the Fines and Seizures, their Hufbands being Prifoners for Debt, through their own Extravagancies. The Warrants commonly made to break open and enter Houfes, which is done with Rigour and great Spoil, not fparing Widows, Fatherlefs, or poor Families, who are fuftained by their daily Care and Induftry, not leaving them a Bed to reft upon. The Fines upon one Juftice's Warrants amount- ing to many Hundreds of Pounds, frequently ten Pounds a Warrant, and two Warrants at once for twenty Pounds executed upon one Perfon, and three Warrants at once from another Juftice for fixty Pounds upon another Perfon, and all his Goods carried away in about ten Cart-loads, and five Warrants at once for fifty Pounds upoii another, Gfc. befides what we have fufFered by others in the like Kind. And in this deftruftive Courfe the Informers have Encourage- ment, and are fuffered ftill to go on, to the ruining many Families in their Trades and Livelihoods j divers fo difcouraged and difabledj that they are forced to give over their Shops and Trades. ' Thefe Informers being accepted for credible Witnefles, yet Parties, fwearing for their own Profit and Gain in the Abfence of the Per- fons profecuted. This we think is very hard, and undue Proceedings, and not confiftent with Common Law and Juftice. As alfo con- viding and fining us Upon their Depofitions, iinjummoned and unheard in our own Defence, and fo keeping us ignorant of ouir Accufers, unlefs upon Traverfe of our Appeals. This Procedure ap- pears contrary to the Law of God, common Juftice and Equity, and to the Law and Juftice of the ancient Rowans, and of Nations. ' And although it hath been openly manifefted upon Trial of Appeals at feveral Quarter-SefTions, both for Middkfex and London, and other Places, that the Depofition of divers Informers have been falfe in Fadt, yet the great Trouble and Charge in the Traverfe of Appeals, and the great Encouragement Informers have from him who grants the moft Warrants, hath been a Difcouragement to many from feeking fuch difficult Remedy, confidering alfo the treble Cofts againft the Appellant, in Cafe he fucceeds not, or is not acquitted upon Trial •, whereas there is no Cofts or Reftitution awarded or given againft the Informers for unjuft Profecutions. Some alfo having refuled to grant Appeals, others denied Copies of Warrants to prevent Appeals ; which whether this be equal or juft, pray confider ye that are wife and judicious Men. And whether it 'be Vol. I The PREFACE. xliii be fot the King's Honour and the People's Interefl:, that idle, drunken, extravagant Informers, fhould either be encouraged, or fuffered to go on thus to ruin Trade, Hufbandry and Families, or to command and threaten Juilices of the Peace, with the Forfeiture of an Hundred Pounds if they do not make ConvicJligns, and iffue Warrants, upon their bare Informations, and uncertain Depofitions, frequently in the Abfence of the Accufed. ' And, liiftly, one third Part of the Fines being alTigned to the King, he can only remit that ; but the Informers and Poor being affigned two third Parts, feems not to allow him to remit them, how much Cauie foever may appear to him to extend his Favour in that Cafe : Is not this againft the King's Prerogative, to reftrain his Sovereign Clemency ? And how far it refledls upon the Government, and is fcandalous thereto, for beggarly rude Informers (fome of them confident Women) not only to command, threaten and c'lquiet Juftices, Peace-Officers, ^c. but to dtftroy the King's honeft, in- duftrio.us and peaceable Subjedls in their Properties and Eftates, is worthy of your ferious Confederations ? And whether the faid Con- ventkle-AB ought not therefore juftly to be repealed ? A noted Inrtance of the like Cafe we have concerning the Statute of the' nth of Henry the Sevej2t/j, Chap. 3. (for determining certain Offences, and Contempts upon Informers Profecutions) being repealed in the firft Year of King Henry the Eighth, Chap. 6. though that in fome Refpefts was more tolerable than this. f ■ ' Be pleafpd to make, our Cafe your own, and do to us as you 'would he done unto. As you would not be opprefl'ed or deftroyed in your Per- fons or Eftates, nor have your Properties invaded, and Pofterities ruined, for ferving and worfhipping Almighty God (that made all Mankind) according to your Perfwafions and Confciences, but would no doubt enjoy the Liberty thereof : So we intreat you to allow the fame Liberty to tender Confciences, that live peaceably under the Government, .as you would enjoy yourfelves j and to difannuU the faid Conventicle- ^£i, and to flop thefe devouring Informers, and alfo take away all Sanguinary Laws, corporal and pecuniary Punifimefits merely on the Score of Religion and Confcience, and let not the Ruin and Cry of the Widow, Fatherlefs, and innocent Families, lie upon this Nation, nor at your Door, who have not only a great Truft repofed in you for the Profperity and Good of the whole Nation, but alfo do profefs Chrijiianity, and the tender Religion of our Lord Jefus Chrifl. ' And notwithftanding all thefe long fuftained Extremities, we the faid fuffering People do folemnly profefs and declare in the Sight of the all -feeing God, who is the Searcher of Hearts, that as we have never been found in any feditious or treafonable Defigns (they being wholly contrary to our Chrijlian Principle and Profeflion) fo we have nothing but good Will and true Chriftian Affedion to the King and Government, fincerely defiring his and your Safety, Profperity and Concurrence in Mercy and Truth, for the Good of the whole Kingdom* ' Having xliv The PREFACE. Vol. I. * Having thus given you in flioit the general State of our fuffering ' Cafe, in Matter of Fadl, without perfonal Reflexion, •we'mChriflian * Humility, and for Chrift's Sake, intreat, that you will tenderly and * charitably confider of the Premifes, and find out fome effedlual * Expedient or Way for our Relief from Prifons, Spoil and Ruin.' Upon thefe and other Applications to King James, and prefeniing to him a Lift of the Names of fome Hundreds of Perfons wider Profecution in the Exchequer, &c, the King being moved for a Noli Profequi, or Stay of Procejs, was pleafed to give DireBion to the Lord treafurer and Attorney General, that no more Exchequer Writs might be iff'ued out againfi the Quakers on Occafwn of their Ahfence from the Natio?ial Worflnp. Upon which the following Petition was prefented, ' To Laurence Ear/ c*/ Rochefter,, Lord Treafurer ' of England ; « 'The Humble PETITION of us whofe Names are herewider ' fuhfcribed, on Behalf of the Perfons called Quakers, named in the ' Lift hereunto annexed ; * S H E W E T H, * rip H A T in Purfuance to the King's Reference made to his ' J^ Attorney General, he among other Things did, on the 20th ' Day of January laft 1685, make his Report, that the Perfons named * in the Lift hereunto annexed, are convidted for their Monthly Ab- * fence from Church, and are returned into the Exchequer, and in * Charge there for their twenty Pounds per Month. ' That upon the reading of the faid Report, the King was gracioufly * pleafed to fignify his Royal Pleafu re amongft other Things, that ' Procefs might be forthwith ftayed from iffuing out of the Exchequer ' againft the faid Perfons named in the faid Lift. ' That it now remains under the Confideration of the Attorney * General, to dired or prepare fit Inftruments to difcharge the Pro- ' ceedings, as well againft the Perfons named in the fiid Lift, as all * others mentioned in the faid Report. * That forafmuch as Procefs is now likely to iflue forth out of the * Exchequer againft the Perfons named in the faid Lift, before the * Attorney General can diredl or prepare fit Inftruments to be made * for Relief of the Perfons in the faid Report, according to the King's ' Will and Pleafure, * May it therefore pleafe the faid Lord Treafurer in the mean * Time, to iffue forth his Warrants to the Clerk of the Pipe, for ' ftaying of Procefs againft the Perfons named in the faid Lift, ' until their Difcharge can be effedtually completed in Purluance ' of the King's faid gracious Will and Plealure. , ' And the faid Petitioners f^all, &c,' *...*. i The Vol. I. The P R E F A C E. xlv The/aid Lord T'rcafurer accordingly ifued his Warrant as follows, viz, ' A Copy of the Lord Treasurer's Warrant to •^ the Clerk of the Pipe_, to forhea?^ making forth ' any 'Procejs again fi the Terfons mentioned in *^ the [aid Lift, i:iz. * AFTER my hearty Commendations, thefe are to authorize * jf^ and diredl you, to forbear making out any Procefs againft * any of the Perfons mentioned in thefe four Sheets of Paper hereto * annexed, each Sheet being fubfcribed by myfelf, and the three firft ' Sheets having four Columns of Names, the fourth only two, till the * next Term. And if any ProcefTes are already made forth, you are * immediately to fuperfede the fame : And for fo doing this fiiall be * your Warrant. ' 2o my verj loving Friend the Clerk of the Pipe, or his Deputy. Whitehall, 'Treafury-Chamber, ^ ROCHESTER.' March ^th 1685. T'he Stay of Proceedings in the Exchequer thus obtained^ prevented the Ruin of foine Hundreds of Sufferers in the refpe£live Cities a7id Counties. The King was alfo pleafed upon farther Application to him, to grant a Conviiifion for enquiring into the CojiduSi of the Infonners about London, •which upon Enquiry was found attended with fo much falfe Swearing, Injuftice and Illegality, that upon Signification of the Ki?igs Pleafure therein, the Informers were difcountenattced, both by the fuflices, and at the ^larter-Sefions in London aWMiddlefex, and their Courfe gradually fopt in other Parts of the Kingdom. At kftgth, on the ^th of the Month called Apn[ J 687, came forth the King's Declaration yor Liberty of Confcience, a fid for the immediate Sufpenfon of all and all Manner of penal Laws in Matters Ecclefiafical, for not coming to Church, or for any other N on- conformity to the Religion ejlablip:!ed. By that Declaration prefent Eafe and Relief to Proteftant Diffefiters erfued^ fo that they could generally hold their religious Meetings undif- turbed. But as that Declaration was lookt upon, even by ?nany of thofe who received a prefent Benefit from it, as an Extent of the King's Pre- rogative beyond it's due Bounds, and which had not the SanBion of any Acl of Parliament^ the Liberty thereby granted was at moft but precarious and uncertain. In the following Tear., viz. i688, /'/ pleafed Almighty God, to whom only the Intentions and Defigns 0} Princes are Jorejeen and foreknown, in the Courfe of his Providence, to remove the faid King James the Second from the Government of thefe Nations, aiid to place upon the "Throne Ki?ig William the Third, and his Conj'ort ^een Mary, for whofe truly Proteftant Reign was referved the Glory of eJiablifJnng to Proteftant Difentcrs a general Liberty of Confcience in religious Worfhip, which was done in the fir jl Tear of their Reign by an A£l of Parliament, intituled. Vol. \. m * An xlvi The P R E F A C E. Vol. I. ' An ACT for exempting their Majesties ^ Proteftant Sul/e&s, dijjenting from the Church " of Englandj/r^w the Te?ialties of certain Laws. ' At* €)!R3([^^1XCI^ as fome Eafe to fcrupulous Confciences ' ^r in the Exeicile of Religion, may be an efFe£iual Means to unite « ••^ their Majefties Proteftant Subjedis in Intereft and Affedlion : * Be it CnaCtCtl by the King and Queen's Moft Excellent Majefly, by ' and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, ' and the Commons in this prefent Parliament affembled, and by the * Authority of the fame, That neither the Statute made in the three * arid twentieth Year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, ' intituled, An Act to retain the ^eens Majejly's SubjeSis in their due ' Obedience ; nor the Statute made in the twenty ninth Year of the ' faid Queen, intituled, An Act for the more fpeedy and due Execution * of certain Branches of the Statute made in the three and twentieth Tear * of the ^eeti's Majejly'i Reign, (viz. the aforefaid Adt ;) nor that ' Branch or Claufe of a Statute made in the firll Year of the Reign of * the faid Queen, intituled, An Act for the Uniformity of Common- ' prayer and Service in the Church, and Adminifiration of the Sflcra- * ments, whereby all Perfons having no lawful nor reafonable Excufe ' to be abfent, are required to refort to their Parifh-Church or Chapel, ' or fome ufual Place where the Common-prayer fhall be ufed, upon ' pain of Punifhment by the Cenfures of the Church, and alfo upon * pain that every Perfon fo offending, fliall forfeit for every fuch ' Offence Twelve-pence. Nor the Statute made in the third Year of * the Reign of the late King fames the Firji, intituled. An Act for ' the better difcovering and fupprefjing Popifli Recufa?its ; nor that other * Statute made in the fame Year, intituled. An Act to prevent and * avoid Da?jgers which may grow by Popifti Recufants ; nor any other V' Law^' Or Statute of this Realm made againft Papijts or Popifi Recu- * fants, except the Statute made in the five and thirtieth Year of King ' Charles the Second, intituled. An Act for the more effc^ually preferv- ' ing the King's Perfon and Government , by difabling Fapids from ftting * in either Houfe of Parliament, fhall be conftrued to extend to any * Perfon or Perfons diffenting from the Church oi Engla?id, that AmU * take the Oaths mentioned in a Statute made this prefent Parliament, ' intituled. An Act for removing and preventing of all Qtieftions and ' Difptites concerning the AJJembli7ig and Sitting of this prefent Parlia- * ment, and fhall make and fubfcribe the Declaration mentioned in a * Statute made in the thirtieth Year of the Reign of King Charles the ' Second, intituled, An Act to preve?2t Papiffs from fittijig in either * Houfe of Parliametit : Which Oaths and Declarations the Juflices of ' the Peace, at the General Seffions of the Peace, to be held for the ' County or Place where fuch Perfon fliall live, are hereby required to * tender and adminifter to fuch Perfons as fliall offer themfclves to ' make and fubfcribe the fame, and thereof fliall keep a Regifter ; and ' likewile none of the Perfons aforefaid, fliall give or pay as any fee ' ' or Vol. I. The P R E F A C E. xlvii or Reward to any Officer or Officers belonging to the Court afore- faid, above the Sum of Six-pence, nor that more than once, for his or their Entry of his taking the faid Oaths, and making and fubfcribing the faid Deckration ; nor above the farther Sum of Six- pence for any Certificate of the fame, to be made out and figned by the Officer or Officers of the faid Court. ' And be it CtlftCtCD by the Authority aforefaid. That all and every Perlon or Perfons already convidted, or profecuted in order to Con- vidion of Recufancy by Indidlment, Information, Aft of Debt, or otherwife grounded upon the aforefaid Statutes, or any of them, that fliall take the faid Oaths mentioned in the faid Statute made this prefent Parliament, and make and fubfcribe the Declaration aforefaid in the Court of Exchequer, or Affizes, or General or Quarter-Seffions, to be held for the County where fuch Perfon lives, and to be thence refpedively certified into the Exchequer, ihall be thenceforth exempted and difcharged from all the Penalties, Seizu-i-es, Forfeitures, Judgments, and Executions incurred by Force of any of the aforefaid Statutes, without any Compofition, Fee, or farther Charge whatloever. ' And be it farther Ctiactet by the Authority aforefaid. That all and every Perfon and Perfons, that fhall as aforefaid take the faid Oaths, and make and fubfcribe the Declaration aforefaid, (hall not be liable to any Pains, Penalties or Forfeitures, as mentioned in an Adt made in the five and thirtieth Year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act to retain the Queen's Majefty'% Siibjci^s in their due Obedience ; nor to an A61 made in the two and twentieth Year of the Reign of the late King Charles the Second, in- tituled, An Act to fupprefs and prevent /editions Conventicles ; nor fhall any of the faid Perfons be profecuted in any Ecclefiaftical Court, for or by Reafon of their Non-conformity to the Church of England. ' )BtObil)et) always, and be it CtlftCttl) by the Authority aforefaid, That if any Affembly of Perfons diffenting from the Church of E«g-- land, ffiall be had in any Place for religious Worfhip with the Doors locked, barred or bolted, during any Time of fuch meeting together, all and every Perfon or Perfons, that fhall come to or be at fuch Meeting, fliall not receive any Benefit from this Law, but be liable to all the Pains and Penalties of all the aforefaid Laws, recited in this Adl, for fuch their Meeting, notwithflanding his taking the Oaths, and his making and fubfcribing the Declaration aforefaid. ' )BtObtt)Ct) always. That nothing herein contained fliall be con- flrued to exempt any of the Perfons aforefaid from paying of Tithe, or other Parochial Duties, or any other Duties to the Church or Minifler, nor from any Profecution in any Ecclefiaftical Court or elfewhcre for the fame. ' And be it farther CnaCtCD by the Authority aforefaid, That if any Perfon diffenting from the Church of England as aforefaid, fliall hereafter be chofen, or otherwife appointed, to bear the Office of High-Conltable, or Pettv-Confkble, Churchwarden, Overfeer of the ' Poor, xlviii The PREFACE. Vol. I. Poor, or any other Parochial or Ward-Office, and fuch Perfon (hall fcruple to take upon him any of the faid Offices in regard of the Oath, or any other Matter or Thing required by the Law to be taken or done in refpeft of fuch Office, every fuch Perfon fhall and may execute fuch Office or Employment by a fufficient Deputy, by him to be provided, that fliall comply with the Laws on this Behalf. * l^tObiD^D always, The faid Deputy be allowed and approved by fuch Perfon or Perfons, in fuch Manner as fuch Officer or Officers lefpedlively, fliould by Law have been allowed and approved. ' And be it farther (ftlACtCtl by the Authority aforefaid, That no Perfon diffenting from the Church of Efig/afiJ in holy Orders, or pretending to holy Orders, nor any Preacher or Teacher of diffenting Protejlants, that (hall make and fublcribe the Declaration aforefaid, and take the faid Oaths at the General or Quarter-Seffions of the Peace, to be held for the County, Town, Parts or Divifion, where fuch Perfon lives, which Court is hereby impowered to adminifter the fame, and fhall alfo declare his Approbation of, and fubfcribe the Articles of Religion mentioned in the Statute made in the thirtieth Year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, except the thirty fourth, thirty fifth and thirty fixth, and thele Words of the twentieth Article, "oiz. ['The Church hath Power to decree Rites or Cei-emonies, and Authority in Contro-verfies of Faith, and yet] (hall be liable to any of the Pains and Penalties mentioned in an Ad: made in the feventeenth Year of King Charles the Secojid, intituled, An Act for rejlraini^tg Non-conformi(ls from inhabiting in Corpora- tions ; nor the Penalties mentioned in the aforefaid Adt made in the two and twentieth Year of his faid late Majefly's Reign, for or by Reafon of fuch Perfons preaching at any Meeting for the Exercife of Religion ; nor to the Penalties of one Hundred Pounds mentioned in an Ad: made in the 13th and \\^ oi YsAW^ Charles the Second^ intituled. An Act for the Uniformity ofpublick Prayers and Admini- jlration of the Sacratnents, and other Rites and Ceremonies ; and for eftablijl-nng the Form of making, ordaining and confecrati7ig of Bif-^opSy Pricjls and Deacons, in the Church 0/" England, for officiating in any Congregation for the Exercife of Religion permitted and allowed by this Adf. ' ^BCObtDct) always. That the making and fubfcribing the faid Declaration, and the taking the faid Oaths, and making the De- claration of Approbation, and Subfcription to the laid Articles in Manner as aforefaid, by every refpedive Perfon or Perfons herein before mentioned, at fuch General or Quarter-Seffions of the Peace as aforefaid, (hall be then and there entred of Record in the faid Court, for which Six-pence fhall be paid to the Clerk of the Peace, and no more. ' )BtOt}it)C2) that fuch Perfon fliall not at any Time preach in any Place but with the Doors not locked, barred or bolted, as aforefaid. ' And tXlt)ettd|S fome diffenting Protejlants fcruple the baptizing of Infants, Be it (fnactel) by the Authority aforefaid. That every ' Pcrlon in pretended holy Orders, or pretending to holy Orders, or ' Preacher, Vol. I. The P R E F A C E. xlix; ' Preacher or Teacher, that (hall fubicribc the .aforefaid Articles of ' Religion, except before excepted, and alio except Part of the twenty * fevcnth Article touching Infant- Baptifm, and fliall take the faid ' Oaths, and make and fubfcribe the Declaration aforefaid, in Manner. < aforefaid, every fuch Perfon lliall enjoy all the Privileges, BenefitSj ' and Advantages, which any other diffenting Minifler as aforefaid, ' might have or enjoy by Virtue of this Adl. ' And be it farther CuaCteU by the Authority aforefaid, That ' every Teacher or Preacher in holy Orders, or pretended holy. * Orders, that is a Minifler, Preacher or Teacher of a Congregation, * that fhall take the Oaths herein required, and make and fubfcribe * the Declaration aforefiid, and alfo fubfcribe fuch of the aforefaid * Articles of the Church of Englatid as arc required by this K&. in ' Manner aforefaid, every fuch Perfon fliall enjoy all the Privileges, ' Benefits and Advantages, which any other diffenting Mi.nifter ,as. * aforefaid, might have or enjoy by Virtue of this Adl. ". ' And be it farther (^tiaCtCD by the Authority aforefaid, That * every Teacher or Preacher in holy Orders, or pretended holy * Orders, that is a Minifter, Preacher or Teacher of a Congregation, * that fliall take the Oaths herein required, and make and fubfcribe. * the Declaration aforefaid, and alfo fubfcribe fuch of the aforefaid * Articles of the Church of England as are required by this A6t in * Manner aforefaid, fliall be thenceforth exempted from ferving upon * any Jury, or from being chofen or appointed to bear the Office of * Churchwarden, Overfeer of the Poor, or any other Parochial or * Ward OfEce, or other Office in any Hundred of any Shire, City, * Town, Parifli, Divifion or Wapentake. * And be it farther (j^ttclCtCD by the Authority aforefaid. That every. * Juflice of the Peace may at any Time hereafter, require any Perfon ' that goes to any Meeting for Exercife of Religion, to tnake and fub- * fcribe the Declaration aforefaid, and alfo to take the faid Oaths or ' Declaration of Fidelity herein after mentioned, in Cafe fuch Perfon ' fcruples the taking of an Oath, and upon Refufal thereof, fuch * Juflice of the Peace is hereby required to commit fuch Perfon to ' Prifon without Bail or Mainprize, a'^d to certify the Name of fuch ' Perfon to the next General Quarter-Seffions of the Peace to be held ' for that County, City, Town, Part or Divifion, where fuch Perfon *■ then refides ; and if fuch Perfon fo committed, fliall upon a fecond ' Tender at the General or Quarter-Seffions, refufe to make and fub- * fcribe the Declaration aforefaid, fuch Perfon refufing fhall be then ' and there recorded, and he fliall be taken thenceforth to all Intents ' and Purpofes for a Popiflj Recufant Convift, and fuffer accordingly, ' and Incurr all the Penalties and Forfeitures of all the aforefaid * Laws. * And tUljCtCajS there are certain other Perfons, Diffenters from the ' Church of England, who fcruple the taking of any Oath j Be it ' dEliaCtel) by the Authority aforefaid, That every fuch Perfon fhall * make and fubfcribe the aforefaid Declaration, and alfo this Declara- * tion of Fidelity following, vl'z. Vol. I. n ' / A. B. The PREFACE. Vol. I. * 7 A. B. do fincerely proj?iifc, and fokmnly declare before God and the World, that I will be true and faithful to King William and ^een Mary, j^nd I do folemnly profefs a7id declare, that I do from my Heart abhor, deteft and renounce, as impious and Heretical, that damnable Do5iri?ie and Pofition, that Prifices excommunicated or de- prived by the Pope, or any Authority of the See of Rome, 7nay be depofed or murdered by their SubjcBs, or any other ivhatfoever. And 1 do declare, that 7io Foreign Prince, Perfon, Prelate, State or Potentate, hath or ought to have any Power, JurifdiSiion, Supei-iority^ Pre-eminence or Authority, Ecclejiajlical or Spiritual, within this Realm. ' And (hall fubfcribe a Profeffion of their Chrijlian Belief in thefe Words, ' 7 A. B. profefs Faith in God the Father, and in Jefus Chriji his Eternal Son the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God blefed for evermore : And do achioivledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Tefament to be given by divine Infpiration. ' Which Declarations and Subfcriptions fliall be made and entred upon Record at the General Quarter-Seffions of the Peace for the County, City or Place where every fuch Perfon fliall then refide. And every fuch Perfon that fliall make and fubfcribe the two Declarations and Profeffion aforefaid, being thereunto required, fliall be exempted from all the Pains and Penalties of all and every the afore-mentioned Statutes made, againft Popifi Recufants or Proteftant Non-Conformifts, and alfo from the Penalties of an Ad; made in the fifth Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, intituled. An Act for the Ajfurance of the ^leen's Royal Power over all EJlates and SubjeSfs within her Dominions, for or by Reafon of fuch Perfons not taking or refufing to take the Oath mentioned in the faid Adl. And alfo from the Penalties of an Aft made in the thirteenth and fourteenth Years of the Reign of King Charles the Second, intituled, An Act to prevent Mifchiefs that may arife by certain Perfons called Quakers refufwg to take lawful Oaths j and enjoy all other the Benefits, Privileges and Advantages under the like Limitations, Provifoes and Conditions, which any other Dif- fenters fliall or ought to enjoy by Virtue of this Aft. * ptObitlCl) always, and be it CltaCtell by the Authority aforefaid. That in cafe any Perfon fliall refufe to -take the faid Oaths when tendred to them, which every Juflice of Peace is hereby impowered to do, fuch Perfon fliall not be admitted to make and fubfcribe the two Declarations aforefaid, though required thereunto, either before any Juflice of the Peace, or at the General Quarter-Setlions, before or after any Conviftion of Popip^ Recufancy as aforefaid, unlefs fuch Perfon can within thirty one Days after fuch Tender of the Decla- rations to him, produce two fufhcient Proteftant WitneiTes to teflify upon Oath, that they believe him to be a Protejlant Diffenter, or a Certificate under the Hands of four Protejlants who are confonnable to the Church of England, or have taken the Oaths, and fubfcribed the Declaration above mentioned, and (hall alfo produce a Certificate ' under Vol. I. The P R E F A C'lS; under the Hands and Seals of fix or more fufficient Men' of the Congregation to which he belongs, owning him for ohe of them. ' ^rotjiDcD iilfo, and be it cgnacteD by the Authority aforefaid, ■ That until Inch Certificate under the Hands of fix of his Congre- gation as aforefaid be produced, and two Protejlant Witneffes come to attell his being a Froteftant DiiTenter, or a Certificate under the Hands of four Proteftants as aforefaid be produced, the Juftice of the Peace fhall, and is hereby required to take a Recognizance, with two Sureties in the penal Sum of fifty Pounds, to be levied of his Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, to the Ufe of the King's and Queen's Majefties, their Heirs and SuccefTors, for his producing the fame ; and if he cannot give fuch Security, to commit him to Prifon, there to remain until he has produced fuch Certificates or two Witneffes as aforefaid, ' ptOljillcD always, and it is the true Intent and Meaning of this Adt, That all the Laws made and provided for the frequenting of divine Service on the Lord's Day, commonly called Simday, fhall be ftill in full Force, and executed againft all Perfons that offend againfl the faid Laws ; except fuch Perfons come to feme Congre- gation or Affembly allowed or permitted by this Adf. ' )3t0t)tliet always, and be it farther (^tiaCtCll, by tlie Authority aforefaid, That neither this Aft, nor any Claufe, Article or Thing herein contained, fliall extend or be conftrued to extend to give any Eafe, Benefit or Advantage to any Paptft or Popi/fj Recufant whatfoever, or any Perfon that fhall deny in his Preaching or Writing the Dodtrine of the bleffcd Trinity, as it is declared in the aforefaid Articles of Religion. ' ^COtltllCll always, and be it d^ttactcb by the Authority aforefaid. That if any Perfon or Perfons, at any Time or Times after the tenth Day of June, do and fhall willingly, and of purpofe, mali- cioufly, or contemptuoufly, come into any Cathedral or Parifh- Church, Chapel or other Congregation permitted by this Adl, and difquiet or difturb the fame, or mifufe any Preacher or Teacher, fuch Perfon or Perfons, upon Proof thereof before any Juftice of Peace by two or more fufficient Witneffes, fliall find two Sureties to be bound by Recognizance in the penal Sum of fifty Pounds, and in Default of fuch Sureties fnall be committed to Prifon, there to remain till the next General or Quarter-Seflions ; and upon Con- viction of the faid Offence, at the faid General or Quarter-SefTions, fhall luffer the Pain and Penalty of twenty Pounds, to the Ufe of the King's and Queen's Majeflies, their Pleirs and Succeffors. ' ^COl)il)CD always. That no Congregation, or Affembly for reli- gious Worfhip, fliall be permitted or allowed by this A(5l, until the Place of fuch Meeting fliall be certified to the Bifhop of the Diocefe, or to the Archdeacon of that Archdeaconry, or to the Juftices of the Peace for the County, City or Place in which fuch Meeting fhall be held, and regiflered in the faid Bifliop's or Archdeacon's Court refpedively, or recorded at the faid General or Quarter-Sefiions : The Regifter or Clerk of the Peace whereof lefpeftively, is hereby required to regifter the fame, and to give Certificate thereof to fuch Perfon lii The P R E F A C E. Vol. I. ' Perfon as fhall demand the fame, for which there fliall,,be none • greater Fee or Reward taken than the Sum of Six-pence. This Adt put an End to the Perfecuticn of Proteftant JOijfentersJn this Nation, for the Exercife of religious WorJJnp, had a natural Tefidency to unite SiibjeSls of divers Perfuafwns in mutual Love and Jljf'eBion one towards another, and ivas and is a general Blefjhig^ and exceedingly conducive to the firengthenitig o/' //'£"; Proteftant Interejl. At this happy Period of Time have we thought proper to clofe this prefent Collection : To the Pubhcation of which we have been induced by the following Reafons. I ft. To teftify our Regard to the Memory of the Sufferers, 7)iany of whom we highly efteem for their (Z\ix\^\z.Vi. Courage and Conftancy in 7naintaining the Truths they were perfuaded of, and preferring Peace of Confcience to all worldly Confiderations. 2d. To exhibit to Pofterity a Variety of rare and fingular In- fta?ices of a People remarkable for their Chriftian Zeal and immoveable Refolution in maintaining their Right of pubHckly affembhng for the Worftiip of God : An Indication that in thofe AjJ'emblies they were made Partakers of that fohd Comfort a?2d Coeleftial Sweetnefs which attends the true and Evangehcal Worfliip, which they valued above all the Delights, Pleafures and Enjoyments of this World, and which fupported and enabled them cheerfully to undergo not only the Spoiling of their Goods, but Imprifonments, Banifhments, and even Death itfclf, for they ftood faft in one Spirit with one Mind, ftriving together for the Truth of the Gofpel, and in nothing terri- fied by their Adverfaries : For unto them it was given in the Behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but alfo to fufFer for his Sake, Philip, i. 27, 28, 29. May their Conftancy fir up thofe tvho now freely enjoy what they fo dearly purchafed, viz. The Liberty of their religious Meetings, to an afjiduous PraStice of their Duty in that Rejpecl, and to a diligent Jeeking after that inward Solace and Heavenly Satisfadion of Soul, which refreflies and fuftains thoje who fincerely worfhip the Father of Spirits, in Spirit and in Truth. 3d. That the Sufferings they underwent for their Teftimony to the Purity and Spirituality of the Chriftian Difpenfation, their com- mendable Zeal againft the Payment of Tithes, and their earneft Endeavours to preferve the Dodrine of the Gofpel free from any undue Mixture, either of Jewifli Ceremonies or Heathenifti Super- ftition, }?iay induce others to a ferious Confideration of the Importance of that Teftimony, and the Nature of thofe Payments, which they ^y^^^cwf-^Antichriftian, to fearch the Scriptures, a?id to praBifc agreeably to the Convidions thcv may receive Jrom juch Enquiry. On this Head Trials and Sufferings yet continue and are moft lafling, becaufe the Power and Intereft of the Priefthood (the principal Source of all Sufferings for Religion) are moft nearly concerned therein. 4th. That Vol. I. The PREFACE. liii 4th. That the Example of their Anceftors tuay reprove the prefent Degeneracy of too many, who by Speech and Behaviour proclaim their Declenfion, from that Plainnefs and Simplicity . in both, ichich thofe that went before them confcientioujly praBfed afid fufered for, and that being thereby excited to a religious Search itito the * Ground and Origin of the Expreflions, Habits, Cuftoms, and Salutations of the Times which their Elders fo zealoufly difufed, they may difcern the Inconfiftency of thofe Things with the Purity of the Chriftian Religion, and be reclaimed from a jnean and cowardly Compliance therein, contemptible even with thofe they give it to, and which has gradually led fame into greater Evils, by afociating with fuch as Jrequent Sports, Plays, finful Paftimes and Diverfions, till their Delight has centred in that which their Fathers could find no Peace in, and which it is reafonable to think, themfelves have fometimes praSiifed with much Regret and Uneafinefs of Mind, in vainly attempting to ftifle the Checks of that divine Light, which they know 'would direSi them better. 5th. That cotTiparing our own Times with the preceding, and the Liberty we now enjoy with the afflided State of our Pre- deceflbrs, whofe Perfons and Properties were made a Prey to the vilejl of Men, we may receive the prefent Blefllngs with humble and thankful Hearts, duly prizing the Mercies of God, and the Favour cf the Government under which we live, a?id earneftly praying that the Throne of the King ?nay be eftabliflied in Righteoufnels, that a Spirit of Peace and Charity may diffufe itfelf through all his Dominions, and unto the Ends of the Earth, to the Completion of that glorious State of the Kingdom of the Messiah prediSled by the Prophets, wherein The Wolf fliall dwell with the Lamb, and iliuh xi. C^ the Leopard (hall lie down with the Kid, and the Calf and the ''^'9- young Lion and the Fatling together, and a little Child fliall lead them ; and the Cow and the Bear fliall feed, and their young ones fliall lie down together ; and the Lion fliall eat Straw like the Ox, and the fucking Child fliall play on the Hole of the Afp, and the weaned Child fliall put his Hand upon the Cock- atrice Den. When the Earth fliall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea.. When they fliall beat M/V^/Ei iv. 4, their Swords into Plough- fliares, and their Spears into Pruning- 5> ^• hooks : When Nation fliall not lift up Sword againfl: Nation, neither fliall they learn War any more ; but they Ihall fit every Man under his Vine, and under his Fig-Tree, and none fliall make them afraid. When all People fliall walk every one in the Name of his God, and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever. Vol. L o We * For their Help in fuch Enquiry, they are recommended to the Perufal of the fifteenth Propofitiori ot R o b e R t Barclay's Apology, with his Differtation thereupon ; and alfo the ninth and tentli Chapters of W i l l i a M P B N n's No Crop, No Crown. liv The PREFACE. Vol. I: We think it not improper in this Place, to obviate one of the principal OhjcBions ivhich the Perfecutors of this People iijiially ad- vanced a'rainft -them, viz. The Singularity of their Sentiments, and that the Teftimony they bore, ftruck againft fuch Points in Re^' ligion, as other Proteliants before them had not been concerned to' oppofe. This Obfcclion can have Imt little Weight ivith thofe who' (hall co7ifider the Reformation from Popery, as a gradual and^'pf^ grefive Work : The firjl Reformers in England, iisent through the- fiery Trial, and many of them facrificcd their Lives in a faithful TeJ}imo?iy againft the Idolatry of the Popifli Mafs, the abfur-d and irrational DoBrifie of Traniubftantiation, the Adoration of Imagesj?. and other grofs Superjlitions of the Romifh Church. Thefe dark Errors were aboUped by Laivs of Proteftant Princes, and the Papal Power renounced : But the Chiiftian Zeal a?id Fervour uhich began- tM-s Work, by Degrees la?iguift.vd and ic^Oxed cool, to the Retarding of the. Reformation, and continuing among the Reformers thenfelves, many Relicks oj the Papal Corruption unremoved. Agai^fl thefe yet remain- ifig Marks of the old Apojlacy, the primitive Spirit of Proteftantifm reviving amo?2g the Quakers, tonfti^ained them to.teftify, and enabled them to fuffer under Pe?ial Laws, enabled by degenerate Proteftants, to prevent any farther Progrefs of that Reformation nvhich their Forefathers had begun, and 'which the faid People called Quakers have inceffantly laboured to carry on, and wherein, fuch among themy icho abide faithful to their firfl Principles, do yet fiedfaftly perfjl, as becometh a Race of true Proteftant Reformers, more zealous for the Extirpation of Popery, than any that ever nsixnt before them-: For after that profejjed Proteftants had afjiinied to themfelves an Eccle- fiaftical JurifdiSiion, in fame Degree refembling that of Rome, and Proteftant Priefts had appropriated to themfelves the old Popifti Main- tenance by Tithes, and other fuch Fees and Perquifites as the Romifh Clergy had formerly enjoyed, they profecuted the confcientious With- holders of their Pay, and fpared not to recover it by the fame Methods which thefe of the Church of Rome had done before them. A Mul- titude of Injiances of extreme Rigour and Severity in recovering Church Claims are to be met with in this Collection ; the Zeal of the Clergy moft remarkably exerting itfelf againft the ObjlruSfors of their Interejl, and inducing them to excite the Legijlature againft them in order to their Extirpation. Hence proceeded Ads for Fining and Baniflment, to which the invincible Conflancy of this People in publickly ajjembling for their religious Worjlnp, and their Refufal to Swear in any Cafe, did continually expofe them. Nor was it poffible for them to evade the Rigour of the Laws, whofe Habtt^ Speech and Deportment, fubjeSled them to every Man's Notice, and whofe open religious Meetings, at certain fixed Times and Places, miniftred never-failing Occafions for their Enemies to execute their Aftilice upon them. That the following CoUeftion of the Sufferings of this People might be as compleat as the Nature of the Thing would admit, the Compiler of it has endeavoured, by an indufrious Application for inan^ Vol. 1. The P R E F A C E. Iv many Years paji^ to Jurnijh himfelf ivith a competent Kncnaledge of his Subje£l ; and Jor that End has had Rccourje not only to their DiJon Manufcript Records, nvherein is preferred a genuine Account of fuch of the Sufferings of their Friends as were tranfmitted to them^ but has alfo confulted a great Number of printed Accounts relative thereto, and which were publijhed at or near the I'ime of the Tranf- aSlions related : So that the Reader has here prefented to his FieiVy digejled in proper Order of Time and Place, a faithful Narrative, not only of what before lay difperfed, but alfo of tnany remarkable Matters never heretofore publijhed, which yet were thought well worthv of being refcued from Oblivion, and tranfmitted to Pofterity. The Matters of Faft, herein related, are attended with all reafonable "Evidences of Truth, and many of them are co7ifrmed by correfpondent Copies of Letters, Warrants, Mittimus's, Prefentments, Indictments, Trials, and other publick Proceedings, inferted in their proper Places through the Coiirfe of this Collection, We make no Apology for the Plainnefs of our Style ; a Compofure of this Nature requiring no Embellif:me?its either of Art or Elegance : Wherefore difregarding the Cenfures (f Criticks, this Colledlion of the Sufferings of a plain, honeft, and confcientious People, is recommended to the ferious and weighty Confider ation of judicious and Chriftian Enquirers^ By the Compiler, Jofeph Befle, A COLLECTION Chap. I. COLLECTION OF THE SUFFERINGS Of the People called QUAKERS. The INTRODUCTION. CHAP. 1. CHAP, i: Cofiiainiftg the Principal Caufes and Motives of that People^ i Dijfent Caufes of from the Forms of Worjlnp ejlab lipped by Law. TH E tejlbnony of a good Confcience, bearing Witnels to the Truth, in Oppofition to Opinions and Prafticcs eftablifhed, under the Name of Religion, by human Laws, and enforced by Penalties, has b;en the common Caitje alledged by all fincere Sufferers, Confeflbrs and Martyrs, ibr any Branch of Chriftian Do^rine or Duty required of them to teach or praftife, either by the immediate Call and Evidence of the Spirit of God in themfelves, or the Tcftimony of the holy Scriptures always agreeing therewith. This General Plea, the perfecuted People, here treated of, have con- ftantly, and as reafonably as any, infifted on, in Juftification of themfelves, and of that fraclical DiJJl-ni from Opinions and Cuftoms in Religion, which though generally received, appeared to them inconfiftent with the Truth, the Voclrine of which is firm and immutable, and which, though popular Preju- dices and human Lavss may fometimes contradift, they can never alter. The principal Points wherein their Confcientious Nonconformity rendred them obnoxious to the Penalties of the Law, were, \. Their Refufil to pay Tithes, which they efteemed a Jewifh Ceremony abrogated by the Coming of Chrift. They alio confidered, that the Levitical Priefthood, which took Tithes, being changed, a Change alfo of the Law which enjoined the Payment of them did neceffirily follow : And that there being no Precept either of Chriil or his Apoftles, enjoining them to be paid under the Gofpel, his Difciples are totally freed from all Obligation thereunto, and that it was a Chriftian Duty in them to Hand fall in tiiat Liberty whercwich Chrift had made them free, and to be no more entangled with thc2oke of Bondage. II. Their Rcfufal to pay Rates or Jfeffments lor buikling and rcpuring Houfes, or Places, appropriated to the Exercife of fuch a V,\irfhip as tiiey did Vol, I. A not In general. Caules of Suf- fering p.irti' cuLtri^eJ. I . Hefufrrffi^ to piy lubes. 2. l^efufDig^ t» p.iy ton',ir.ls I{jtfS {or fll- pirjiitious VffS. CHAP. I. 5. K'M'ng to Siuar, 4. Not taking of tkeir hits. 5. Nleeting piiblickly to roorjhip Cod. a. Fublijhwg the Iruth to others. :. ivith-hoU- ing the Frieft's Fees, 8. Their Teflimonj agjinjt Fight- '>'g' Proofs of their Sincerity. Order of the Ifork. A Colleaion of the Sufferings Vol. I. net approve of •, the pretended Confecration of which Places, rhey looked upon as an unwarrantable 5a/)fryZz7w« •, theyalfo confidered the iaid Affefrments as applied to many other unfcriptural Ufes and Impofitions, which they could not, with a good Confcience, contribute to the Support and Maintenance of. III. Their conftant Obedience to the Precept of Clirift, Swear not at ally which they would not in any Cafe tranfgrefs : For they did not believe, that any human Law or ^ower upon Earth could juftify them in the known Breach of Ci, pohtiVe Command, fuch as they elleemed that of bur Saviour to be in Refpeft oi Swearing. In this Point xh>iy were afted by an invincible Conftancy, and fupported ftedfift in the Faith, through Bonds, Imprifonments, Banifliments, and even Death itfelf IV. Thj^ir Difufe of the Cuftom of uncovering their Heads, or pdling off their Hats, by way bi Homage to iVIen, which they accounted an undue and unfcriptural Refpect of Perfons, and a Milapplication of that outward Signifi- cation of Honour and Addrefs which they appropriated to God only. This Cuftom had not the Sandtion of any zvritten Law ; yet the Omiffion of it was deemed a Contempt, and frequently puniflicd by Fines and Imprifonmcnt. V. Their Chriftian Refolution ot allembling publickly lor the WorOiip of God, in fuch Manner as was moft agretable to their Confciences, from which nothing couki deter them -, and in which they ftood much expofcd to the Malice of their Adverfaries, who always knew wliere Co find them. In this they mani- _ tefted an Intrepidity, fometimes aftonifliing, even to diofe who came to their Meetings on purpofe to moieft them. VI. The Neceffity many of them found themfclves under of publiiliing the Doctrine of Truth which they were perfuaded cf, and of reproving Vice and Immorality openly in the Streets and Markets, and fometimes even in the Pkices appointed for the publick national Worfliip. From the worft of thofe whom they fo reproved, they met with ungrateful Returns of manifold and barbarous Abufes, which were too often encouraged by Authority of the Ma- giflrates, who ought to have reftrained them. VII. Their refufing to make Ufe of the eftablifhed Priefts or Miniflers, either in Marrying, Burying, or any other Cafe, and confcientioufly with- holding the Fees cuflomarily paid on thofe Occafions. Hence proceeded many Profl'cutions againft them, efpecially in the Ecclefiaftical Courts, where they generally iffued in Excommunications, the Confequences of which often were Imprifonments on Writs de Excommunicato capiendo, during the Pleiillire cf holy Church. By this Means many of this People were buried alive, ^nd became Sacrifices to the Intereft of domineering Ecclejiafticks, in Caufes, of which the fecular Power never had any Cognizance, but through their Mifreprefentations. VIII. Their Teftimony againft JVars and Fighting ; the Praftice ■whereo!fi they judged inconfiftent with thofe Precepts of Clirifl, Love -jour Enemies. Do Good to them that hate you. Wherefore they refufed eidier to bear Arms thcmfelveSjOr to hire others in their Stead. This expofed them to Fines, and Seizure's of their Goods, and fometimes even to corporal Punifhments .at the arbitrary Wills of Military OfHccrs. Thefe Points of their religious DifTent were to them of vcjy great \yeight and Confequence ; in the Obfervance of which, they experienced an inward Peace and Tranquillity of Mind, ftrengtlining and enabling them to perfevere in the Way of their Duty ; and indeed their Patience and Conftancy in enduring fo great a Fight of AfBiftions, for the Sake of their rehgious Tell:imony, was :is cogent and convincing a Demonftration of their Sincerity therein, as can rea- fonably be cxpefted. Having premifed thefe Things, wc proceed to the Work propofed, which, in regard to the fuffering Cafes in England and Wales, we have thought proper to place in an alphabetical Order of the feveral Places and Counties wherein they were tranfafted, afTigning to each Place and County a diftinft Chapter. Afterwhich will follow a Narrative of the remarkable Sufferings which they underwent in New-England and other foreign Countries. C FI A P. Chap. 2. of the People called QUAKERS. CHAP. II. BEDFORD- SHIRE. 1655. BEDFORDSHIRE. Anno 1655. TH E firft Inilance recorded of Sufferings in this County was in the Month called Aprils i(>^, at Cranfdd, where Thomas Stubbs, James Lnncajler, and Anthony Patrickfon, were taken out of a Friend's Houfe by a Conftable, kept ail Night under a Guard, and next Day conveyed to AinfthiU, where two Juftices privately examined them, and fen: them to Prifon till the garter Sejfions about fourteen Days after ; when, being called in Court, no legal Caufe appeared for their Commitment -, nevertlulefs, their coming in with their Hats on was deemed fufficient Caufe for their Recommitment to Prifon, where they lay about a Month longer, and then were privately dilcharged at a petty Seffions, without any Notice taken of tlie Injuftice of their Confinement. In the fame Year Thomas Stacey^ and Mary Mounfdl, a Woman of good Repute, and Sifter to a Juftice of the Peace in that County, were taken out of a religious Meeting at the Houfe of Thomas Scott in IVooburne, by a Con- ftable, and confined under a Guard a Day and a Night, till they were carried before two Juftices of the Pe;ice,, who after Examination relcafed them. Imprifoiiment oj Jevenl. Anno 1656. 1656. Ifabel Parlour, for exhorting the People in Amplhill Market to Repentance Imprifontmnt and Amendment of Life, was lent to Brideivell, with an Order to be whipt, i"" P''^^'^!''"g> and was detained there about a Month. James Taylor fuffered about two Months Imprifonment for refufing to pay and for Tidies, and for die fame Caule feveral others fuffered Diftrefs of their Goods to Ti'l'^^- the Value of 20/. ys. for Demands of 9 /. Ss. 8d. for Tithes. A N NO 1657. In the Month of Nove?nber this Year, William Mather was fent to Prifon for not paying Tithes, and detainetl there two and thirty Weeks. Alfo Matthew Pryor, for a Demand of 48 s. for Tithe, fuffered eight Weeks Imprifonment, and after his Difcharge had his Goods diftrained for the flvme Demand to the Value of 3/. 165. Several others alfo in this Year for Claims of 22/. 19;. 2 d. for Tithes, fuffered Diftrefs of their Goods to the Value of 84/. 2 s. In this Year John Stevens of Wooton, for refiifing to take the Oath required of him, when chofen Conftable, fuffered fix Months Imprifonment in the County Goal. An N O 1658. Eliflxi Hunt, Maty Botham, Aine Cox, Miles Pattefon, and William Ed- munds, occafionally meeting with die Prielt of Rifely, reproved him in a fcrip- tural manner for his Milconduft , which he lb higii'ly rcfcnted, as to caufe tlicni to be fet in the Stocks three Hours, and next Day they were carried b-lore Gaius Sqtrire of Eaton, a Juftice of the Peace, who finding no juft Caufe againit them, refufed to .id therein i but another Juftice, more ofBcious, and lefs dif- crect. 1657. Jmprifonments and £>iflrejfes jor Tithes. For vot Swearir.g. 1658. Four Perfo.-s fpn to Cost jor reproving i rriift. BEDFORD. SHIRt. 1658. S, Baker's Imprifonmem. ImfrifoHtnent for Mjrrjing. 1659. Diftrefs for Steep U-toufe Ji^tes, Imprifonnent for Jitkes. iiiie for roeirbig the Hit, Viflrefs for Tithes. 1660. Jmpnfonmmt for Tithes. Cafe of i poor Widow. Fifty two Per- fons fern to Prifon for re- fufmg to Swear. Their Cnfe frejentel to the fudge in Writing. A Colledion of the Sufferings . Vol. I. creet, fent them to the common Goal till next Quarter Sefllons, when they were all fent to Bndevjell, and kept there one Month. Sarah Baker of IVooburne, for giving fome Chriftian Exhortation to the Peo- ple there, in the publick Place ot Worlhip, was alfo fent to the common Goal ; and after about two Months Imprifonment, at Midfummer Scffions fent to Bridewell for one Month. In the fime Year John Impey of Barton, and Ame his Wife, fuffered three Months Imprifonment, for having taken each other in Marriage, otherwife than in tlie P'orm appointed by the Directory. Anno 1659. Several Perfons in this County for confcientioufly refufing to pay fome trivial Sums toward repairing the publick Worfhip-houfes, for Demands of j i. xod. fuffered Diftrefs of Goods to the Amount of i /. \s. 9 d. In this Year were committed to Prifon for Tithes, Edward Franklin, George Franklin, John Apthorp, and Dorothy Neale Widow, of whom the two former continued Prifoners above fifteen Months, and the latter about two Years. In the fame Year Nicholas Beard of Scotfield, being cited to ferve on a Grand Jury at the garter Sejfions, for appearing there with his Hat on, was fined \7,s. \d. and had his Goods taken by Diftrefs for that Fine to the Value of 1 /. I J. 9 ^. In this and the preceding Year for Demands of 9/. I'j s. 6d. for Tithes, were taken from fundry Perfons by Diftrefs, Goods worth 25/. 11s. Sd. Anno 1660. In the Month called May this Year, John Samm was committed to Prifon for Tithes, and continued there eighteen Months, In the Month called Auguft, Elizabeth Bruce, a poor Widow, was fent to Prifon for Tithes of fmall Value, her Houfe and Ground being rented but at 6 /. per Annum, out of which fhe fupported herfelf and two fatherlels Children ; fhe was continued a long Time in Prifon. At the AlTizes at Bedford on the 13th of the Month called ]\4arch, 1660-1, * two and fifty Perfons, then in Prifon, for refufing the Oath of Allegiance, were brought before Judge Windham, who ordered the Statutes of 35 Eliz. and 7 James, to be read ; telling the Prifoners, that wawy of them being but youngs might probably be ignorant of the Penalties they were liable to for refufing the Oath. One of them, in the Name of the reft, anfwered, ^at the Penalties had been fully confidered by them : That they thought it their Duty a^ively to obey the Laws of the Land, when confiflent with the Law of God, and when otherwife, patiently to fubmit. That the Laws read, appeared to them contrary to the Precept of Chrift, Mat. v. which they durfi not break. They prefented at the fame Time to the Judge, a Paper in Writing, as follows, "viz. " nr^Hough it be generally known through Chriflendom, fo called, that the " JL People called Sfuakers cannot fwear at all, becaufe it is according to " the Command of Chrift, our Lawgiver, Judge and Saviour, yet for the taking " away all Jeajoufiesand Fears out of the Mind of the King, his Council, and *' other his Officers and Subjedtsin this Realm, and other Dominions belonging " thereunto, that fo under him we may live in a godly, holy, honeft, peaceable " and quiet Life, to ferve God and the Creation, in our Generation, We give *' forth thefe Lines, concerning the 0.ith of Allegiance, (obligatory to us) to " the King, and to all in the Nation, whom it may concern, that we may " not * Thvir Names may be diftinguifhed in the Men by referring to this Page. Chap. 2. of the People called, QUAKERS. § not be made TranfgrefTors without a Caufe, and expofed to fuffer for keeping BEDFORD << <( «( cc !g Jmprifoji- mcnt 0} Jghn Barton, avd of Henry Newman. 1682. Fitiet for Ab' fence from Chu'Cb. Fine s. 5 5 5 o d. o o o o Goods worth /. s. d, 3 19 o o 15 o 4 10 o 15 o o For 13 15 o Taken 24 4 o By an Order of Seffions held at Shefford on the 8 th of the Month called April this Year, Profecutions were carried on afrelh, efpecially in the Parifli where Juftice Reeling dwelt, whofe Authority influenced inferior Officers to aft beyond their Inclinations. From IVilliam Rogers, a Wheelwright, they took his working ToqIs, not fpr want of other Goods, but on purpofe to difable him from working for his Livelihood. From a poor lame Maid, a Baptift, who earned her Bread by fpinning and teaching Chikiren, they took, by the Juftice's Order, her fpinning Wheel : He alio forbad the Neighbours to fend her their Children, faying, in his ignorant Zeal, She Jhould mt teach Children to he damned \ and when Ihe had no Goods left to diftrain, he threatned to Jend her to Bridewell. He not only cauled the Goods of feveral poor People to be taken away, but threatned to punifh their Neighbours for relieving them. The Priefl of the Parifh was of a hjce Difpofition, for hearing of a Meeting in a diftant Place, he by Threats conftrained the Conftable to go thither, and give Information to the Juftice. And fo intent was this Priefl on a Part of the Frey, that he went into the Yard of the aforefiid William Rogers, and cheapned fome Wood, of which when the Owner told him the Price, he replied, /'// let it alone till it he dijlrain'd, a>id then I JJjall have it for half the Value. Anpther Zealot in this Work, was George Blundell of Cordington, a Juftice of the Peace, who feeing the People unwillling to buy diflrained Goods, faid. He would fell a Cow for a Shillmg, rather than the Work fhoidd not go forward. It is probable this Juftice's Example might induce the Conftable of the fame Parifli to a like Behaviour, in the following Inftancc : When a poor Man, an Independent, met this Conftable carrying away a Tub of his, and defired him, faying. Pray l^e,ighhour don't take away my Hub, 'tis all I have, and I had much ado to get Money to pay for it, the profane ill-natured Officer replied, Come to Church then an(l be damn'd, if you will. This ExprefBon fhcws, by what kind of Spirit fome Men are led, while they pretend a Zealfor the Support of the Church, and Pxopagaiion of Religion. In or about this Year Thomas Ballard of Eljlon, was arrefted and committed to Prifon for Tithes at the Suit of Thomas Hillerfden of the fiime Place. Anno 1678. John Barton of Studam, in the County of Hartford, Taylor, for not paying 2s. 2d. toward repairing the Pariijh Church, fo called, was taken by a Writ ^/i? Exco?nmiinicato capiendo, and kept Prifoner at his own Houfe for fome Time, and about t,wp Months. after was taken by. Ipecial Bayhtfs and carried to^^r^^/en^ Goal, where. l}c remained a Pdloner tliree Yeats and an half. For a like. Clairn. of is. xd, Henry Newman of Seawell, in the Parifh of King's Haughton, was thrown into Goal by a Writ de Excotnmumcata capiendo, and lay there above two Years and an half -■:A Anno 1682. A,t the Qu^fte/ SefTiops. hdd> about Midfummer, Jx!bH'^^,qt{ir^, Tlxmas IfickaSy Jofeph Barber, John Smith, and Richard Compton, were fi^verally fined for Chap. 3. of the People called QUAKERS. ir for abfentlng from the nationnl Worfhip ; as were alfo about the fame Time, BEDFORD- Robert Tyfoe, Robert Lovelid^e, and Richard Gur>m\ SHIRE. "^^ "^ " 1682. Anno 1683. Samuel Britton was continued Prifoner a confiderablc Time, for a Demand of about i5i. for Tithes. In this Year Daniel King was imprifoned for refijfing to take the Oath of Al- legiance. IVilliam RicharSfon was imprifoned for not going to his Parifh Cliurch, fo called, as were alfo William JVeitb, and Francis Bell. William Mather, after a Profecution in the Ecclefiaflical Court, was com- mitted to Prifon on a Writ de Excommunicato capiendo. Jofiph Barber was profecuted on the Statute for 20/. a Month, for eleven Months Abfence from his Parifli Church, fo called, the Forfeitures for which Time amounted to 220 /. which in the Month called Augujl this Year, was daily expefted to be levied on his Eftate. We fhall clofe our Account of this County by taking Notice of the remark- able End of two Informers, whofe fudden Deaths were interpreted by many as a Token of the divine Vengeance : Their Names were Fecknam and Swinton, both of Bedford. Fecknam, who had been an Apparitor, turned Informer, and was obferved to be very adlive and vigilant for his Part of the Spoil : He had not long followed his new Employment, before he was fuddenly taken fick, having a Flux of Blood both upwards and downwards, which continued till he died, and the Smell of him was exceedingly offenfive. Swinton was Sexton of Cuthberi's Parilh in Bedford, and was found dead in the Steeple-houfe there, befmeared with Blood, and having a Rope and a Ladder by him. As their Pradice of informing had render'd them odious to their Neighbours in general, the unufual manner of their Exii became a Subjedt of popular Remark. 1683. Imf'tfo'iirmnt for Tithis. Siveral Imfi- fonmoirs. Mlfenhh End of fwo Injormert. CHAP. HI. L BERKSHIRE. Anno 1655. E O N A R D C O L E, for reRjfmg to pay Tithes, fuffcred fix Weeks Imprifomm Imprifonment at Reading, and foon after his Difcharge, for a Demand '"'' ^"'•"* of 55. had an Horfe taken from him worth 4/. Anno 1656. 1656. Imprifovments jor rrei^kivg. In this and the foregoing Year, Jofeph Cole, Dorothy Wangh, George Adam- Jon, Hannah Mills, Tlmnas Curtis and Anne his Wife, were imprifoned at fe- veral Times, for offering to fpeak, by way of Chriftian Exhortation, to the Priefl and People when affembled in their Place tor publick Worfhip at Reading. John^ Evans, for reprehending one of the publick Preachers, who thought himfclf above Reproof, was by him profecuted and cafl into Reading Goal. Leonard Cole aforefaid, who held a Farm at Arborfeld, was imprifoned twelve L- Cole again Weeks at Reading, and then removed by Habeas Corpus to the Fleet in London : imprifoned. While there, the PriefV, his Profecutor, with Bayliffs, made a Seizure of his Corn Ex(ejfrji P!f. trefs. 12 BERK- SHIRE. 1656. Jmfrifonments for fmall £>c- minis. Imprifonment for not Sroar- irtg. 1660. ^ough Fro- ceediiigs of the Militia. Motijirous Abufei. Saying of drioikftl rrieft. Suiiry //»- prifotmeint forrefujing to Svie.tr. Some appre. headed by Night. Clofe and Cruel Csrfne- mem. A Colledlion of the Sufferings Vol. I. Corn and Cattle to the Value of near an 100/. all for one Year's Tithe, for which the former Occupier told Cole, heufed to pay but 6/, Edward Hide^ and William Kible, were imprifoned in Reading Goal about half a Year, for Tithes demanded ; of the one of them 5 j. and of the other but IS. 6d. Robert Hodgfon, for preaching to the People in the Street at Newhury, was carried before the Mayor, who tendred him the Oath of Abjuration, and for refufing to Swear, commited him to Reading Goal. Anno 1660. On the 27th of the Month called May this Year, fomeof the County Militia came to a religious Meeting at Kingjlon Lijle, and with the Points of their Swords, wounded Richard Ballard, John Clark, and Hugh Penjlon ; with Clubs they broke the Heads of Robert Cook and Edward Ware, and cruelly beat Bartholo- mew Maylin an aged Man, Thomas Colehurn, Robert Sanfom, and j^dam Lau- rence ; after which they dragged out thofe four, with Robert Cooke, and Richard Creenway, by the Hair, thrufl fome, and threw others of them, into a Pond of muddy Water. Being defired to Ihew the CommifTion by which they aded, one of them held up his Sword, fiying. This is my Warrant. About the 3d of Otlober, a Conftable and others, armed with Pitchforks, Bills, Staves, and fuch like Weapons, entred a Meeting at Steventon, pulled out Tl.mnas Curtis, and threw him into a Pond, tearing his Coat in pieces : With like Barbarity they ufed feveral others, Iparing neither Age, nor Sex. One of them was trode on and kept down in the Water, till fome of their own Company cry'd out, Toii'll droivn the Man. After which they drove the inno- cent People along the Highway, inhumanly abufing and bemiring them. This wicked Infult was faid to be afted at the Inftigation of a drunken Priefl, who having been told, that the Weapons of his Warfare ought to ' be fpiritual, re- plied, that he would fght the Quakers with fuch Weapons as he had. About ten Days after, John Giles, Leonard Cole, Humphry Knowles, and yf«- drew Pearfon, were taken out of a Meeting at Mary Slade's at King/ion Life,. and committed to Prifon for refufing to take the Oath of Allegiance tendred them by three Jullices, where they lay about three Montlis, till the Quarter SelTions -, and then, together with Richard Greenway (who had been before imprifoned, for fpeaking a few Words by way of Exhortation to the People, after the Priefl had ended his Sermon at Farringdon) were required by the Court to take the Oath, and for Refufal were recommitted. At the fame SelTions were fent to Prifon for the fame Caufe, Robert Kingham, Robert Waffhott, and Tlmnas Dell, who were apprehended pafTmg through Maidenhead to vifit their Friends in Prifon at Reading. At the fime Time were imprifoned there Thomas Clark, Adam Laurence, Robert Sanfotn, Richard Gery, and Mary Slade^ at whofe Houfe they were taken a few Days before. On the 13 th of the Month called January, were added to the Number of Prifoners, icven others, taken by Soldiers from a Meeting at the Houfe qf Thomas Davie in Windfor. On the 3 ift of the fame Month, Roger Milton was called out of his Bed by Officers with a Warrant, and kept together with John Dudge and Willia?n Wyatty under a Guard all Night, and next Day were conveyed to Twyford ; whence, for refufing the Oath of Allegiance tendred by three Jufiices, they were fent to the County Goal. Thefe confcientious Prifoners there met with cruel Ufage ; the Goaler locked up twenty two of them in a Dungeon among Felons, a Place fb clofe, that himfelf faid, he thought it would breed an Infetlion among them ; nor would he allow them Liberty of breathing in the Yard in the Day-time, a Pri- vilege ufually allowed even to Thieves and Murderers. Their Friends were not fufFered to vifit them, nor to bring them Food or other Neceffiries. Their Ink, Paper, Knives, and working Tools, were taken from them : They were made the Subject of their Keeper's Scorn and Derifion, who bringing fome of his Companions Chap. 3. of the People called QUAKERS. 13 Companions to fee them, fcoffingly faid, there ivas not fucb another Bed in B E R K- Berhshire, allu.ling to the dilnul thronged manner in which thofe poor af- SHIRE. Bicled Prifoners lay. 1 660. In the fame Month, Reynold Avery, Walter Emerton, William fomfon, Wil- u>^~V'^s-> Ham Teate, Edzard Smith, Chrijhfher Cheefman, James Lavel, 'JJjomas Bart- lett, Jofeph Phipps, and Anthony Dixon, were taken at a Meeting in Reading by Soldiers, and tor retiifing to take the Oath of Allegiance, were by the Mayor and another Juilice, fent to the Town I'rifon, called the Cowiter. They were kept clofe Prifoners, together with Anthony Sadler, who was taken by Soldiers, going to his daily Labour. A Remarkable Occurrence happened this Year at Reading AfTizes. Henry a rentirkMs Hodges, a poor Smith, loft three Cows, wi.ich were iound in Pofllffion of the Pjjf-ige at Thief, who took them : He was brought to Tr'al, and Henry appeared to Readmg Jf claim his Cows : The Judge told him, they muji be proird his upon Oath before ^'^''* he eould have them again. He replied, that he could not Swear for Confcience- fake. The Judge faid, if any of his Neighbours would Jwear they were his, ihev fhould be rejlored him. Upon which one of his Neighbours took his Oath, and the Judge promifcd they fhould be returned. Thus tar the Proceeding appeared juft and equal ; but many thought the fame Judge too rigorous, when, having obferved the Sincerity and Tendernefs of the poor Man's Con- fcicnce, who could not fwcar in a Cafe of his own Property, he caufed the Oath of Allegiance to be tendred him in Court, and tor relufing to t..ke it, fent him to Goal. Anno 1662. 1662. On the 8 th of the Month called April this Year, Thomas Curtis, George Miflemevts Lambotl, Reynold Avery, Robert Paine, Maurice Hutchins, Henry Wooden, 'JfN^^^bury Clement Taylor, James Lavcl, Richard Green, and Chrijlopher Good, appeared at Newbuty S^fiions, being fummoned thither for not going to the publick Wor- Iliip : They were indicfled, ar^d pleaded not Guilty, but retufing to put in Bail, were lent to Prifon. On the 15th ot the Month c-x\hAJune, two Conftables, fent by the Mayor, Several mfu. came to the Meeting at Thomas Ctirtis's Houfe in Reading, and took the fi^ed for Names of the Perfons met. Next Day, by Warrant from the Mayor, they ^I^e"."?* it took William Lamboll, William Tomfn, Anthony Sadler, Thomas Tudway\ '^^^'^'"S" Walter Emerton, James Dee, Anne Hatt, Hannah Webb, and Sarah Lam- boll, and fent them, to Go.d, except the two laft, who were bailed by a Perfon Without their Knowledge : But, being taken again on the 2 2d at another Meeting, they were then fent to Prifon, with feventeen others, viz. Leonard Cole Jofeph Cole Jonathan Lamboll Thomas Chilton Jofeph Walker John Fellows Jofeph Phipps Thomas Bartlett John Boult James Whitehart Edward Smith John Reynolds Richard Hutchins Anne Sharp Margery Richardfbn Elizabeth Dee, Widow Bridget Smith On the 1 8th of the Month called July, Sarah Larnboll and Hannah Webb^ were brought to the Town SefTions at Reading, but inflcad of proceeding againfl them on the Cauie of their Commitment, they were aflced, whether they would take the Oath of Allegiance ? And for retufing it, were fent again to Prifon. On the 2 2d, thirty four others of the Prifoners were brought to an Adjourn- ment of the Quarter SefTions at Abington, feveral being left fick in Goal. Tho- mas Curtis, George Lamboll, and leven others of the ten before indiftcd at Newbury, for not going to the national Worfhip, were tried by a Jury and ac- quitted. Neverthelefs, Thomas Holt, Chairman that SelTions, caufed the Oath of Vol. L D Allegiance Proceeditie^B at Abington Sefftoni. 14 BERK- SHIRE. 1662. x; jicquittcd- I p 9/ them Tccomminei ; iJfo 28 others fcfit to Prifon. A Colleftion of the Sufferings Vol. I. Troceeiings it Newbury Sejpovs, 1663. Proceedings it Newbury Seffisns. FioUnt FrO' ceeihgs of W. Armorer. 1664. Commitment of 54, jor Sleeting. Allegiance to be tendred to 'Thomas Curtis and George Lamholl, and for refhfing it, fenc them to Goal : Of the other feven the Juftices demanded Sureties for their good Behaviour, which tliey not giving, were alfo recommitted : The other live and twenty Prifoners, being acquitted by the Jury, were fet at Liberty. On the 27th of the fame Month, George Thorn, Mayor, and Thomas Seikes, Juftice, came with Soldiers to the Meeting, and finding there nineteen of the laft mentioned twenty five, committed them again to Prifon, with twenty eight others, viz. Leonard Keys Walter Emerton Humphry Emerton Jolin Walker John Jeggar William Yeate Jafper May Thomas Speed William Whiftler Anne Hatt Frances Kent Elizabeth Tudway Jane Wilefby Rachel Cope Sarah Paine - Anne Weedon Jane Hufley Joane Wheeler Anne South Hannah Wrenn Hannah Emerton Judith Smith Hannah Mills Anne Webb Dorothy Clark Katharine EdfoU Frances Dawfon Joane Terry At Newbury SefTions on the 7th of CMober, the feven Men before mentioned, committed for not finding Sureties, were difcharged -, and the rdl of the Men laft taken, were indifted for being at an unlawful Meeting, and pltaded not guilty, but refufing to give Sureties, were fent back to Goal. Anno 1663. At the Seflions held at Newbury on the 2Sth of the Month called ^pril, one and twenty of the Prifoners were called into Court ; and the Judge iliid to them, Ton (ire dijcharged, and I pray God bkfs you : But though ine difcharge you, we can't give away the Clerk's Fees. The Prifoners faid, they would talk with the Clerk, who, after feme Conference with them, though they gave him no Money, confented to releafc them. After this the Meetings at Reading continued quiet for fomc Time, for George IJjorne, the Mayor, having long hurried the ^takers from one Seffions to ano- ther, began to cool and grow weary of the Work, But in tlie next Year the Perfecution there was renewed by WiUiajn Armorer, a Juftice of the Peace, who by extending the Laws to their utmoft Severity, and by his own additional Cruelty in the Execution thereof, appeared to leek the utter Ruin of his quiet and peaceable Neighbours : The violent Proceedings of this Magiftrate are next to be related. Anno 1664. On the 27th of the Month called March 1664, William Armorer came to a Meeting at Thomas Curtis's Houfe, pulled out the young Children, and took down the Names of thirty four Men, viz. John Beeke, Henry Brijhw, Thomas Chilton, Tlmmas Cenick, Thomas Curtis, Leonard Cole, Widter JLmerton, John Fellows, Edward Fellows, DaJiicl Green, Tljomas Hefiehl, Thomas Hind, Richard. Hutchins, Leonard Keys, John Kemboll, George Lamboll, Jonathan Lamholl, James Lavel, Edward Lamboll, IVilliam Lamboll, Jafper May, James Mar- low, Thomas Norris, Chrijlopher Page, John Paine, Jofeph P'hipps, Robert Piter, Henry Pizeing, 'Thomas Speed, Anthony Sadler, JVUliam Tomfon, Thomas Tudway, James iVIntchart, and Willia?n IVbiftler ; he then caufed his Clerk to write a Mittimus, and fent them to the County Goal in Readings for being at an unlawful Meeting. Chap. 3- (^ //.?(? People c^//^^ QUAKERS. 15 On the 3d of the next Month, he came again to the Meeting, and fent Ro- bert Paiue, and John BouU, to Prifon, no other Man being there. The Dif- courfe he then had with Johft Boult, giving a jull Idea of his Temper and Spirit, was as follows, -viz. W. Armorer. What a devil are you met again ? I will fend you all to Prifon. d\{c' wfe be- What a devil are you all dunib ? Has the Devil call a Club over you, and 'p-"'-"'' '^V. bewitched you? aJlT.Boul^, J. Boult. fVe have learned of a letter Spirit, even the Spirit of Chriji Jeftis, '^"' ^' "■' which ieacheth us to deny the Dcvil, and all his Injlruments. W. A. Who the devil will believe you ? Hang you : You are deluded by the Spirit of the Devil : I will fend you all to Prifon. J. B. Many good People ivill believe us, and we wholly deny the Spirit of the Devil, having chofn a better Spirit, the Spirit of ChriJlJeJuSy which is a Spirit of Love and Meekiiejs, of Patience arJ Humility. W, A. You fay true : It is lb. J. B. And the Spirit of the Devil is an angry, furious, hafiy, perfccuting Spirit. W. A. He is lb. J. B. Come let us try, who is of this Spirit, thou or we. IV. A. A devil on you, I could find in my Heart to lay you over the Pate with my Cane. J. B. Thou ought ell to keep the Peace, and I hope tfxu wilt not break it : Didji thou ever read that ChrijI or any of his Apoftles did perfecute ? IF. A. Did none.? Chrift's Flock is but a little Flock, and there is hut a few of you, but I will make you fewer : I will haunt you out, and fend you to Prifon. J. B. 1hat*s the weakefi thing thou canfl do : If thou canfl convince me of any thing that is Evil, I will hear thee, and let the Prifons alone. This Conference plainly fhews the Violence of the Man's Temper, and the Wcaknefs of his Reafoning : But to proceed. On the I ft of the Month called May, he came again to the Meeting, and Mieun9i ws- fent thence to Prifon, Thomas Bartlett, Anne Halt, Anne Thorp, Hannah Wehh, kjhd. Sarah Paine, Dorothy Clark, and Elizabeth Sprage. On the 8 th of the fame Month he came again, there being no Men, he took feven Women, viz. Bridget Smith, Anne Curtis, Sarah Lamboll, Judith Smith, Katharine IVoodward, Martha Cheefman, and Elizabeth Kempton, and fent them to Goal with a Mittimus, by 1ho?nas Coats, Conftable. On the 22d of the fame, he came with his ufual Rage, but finding only a few Children and young Maidens in the Meeting, he ftruck one of them with his Staff, and ordered them to be pulled out, tlireatning to fend them to Prifon, if they came thither any more. On the 7th of the fourth Month called Juue, he gave all the Women and Maidens Leave to go out of Prifon, and to come again when he fent for them, except fix, viz. Anne Hatt, Anne Curtis, Sarah Lajnboll, Anne Sharp, Sarah Paine, and Elizabeth Cragg. Some Time after Thomas Coats the Conftable, came to the Goal, and fetched out Anne Sharp alfo. At a Quarter Seffions held at Abington, on the 12th of the Month called July Abington this Year, the Prifoners whom Armorer had committed, were called to the Bar, ^effiom, hut inftead of a legal Trial upon the Cuife of dieir Commitment, were en- fnarcd with the Oath of Allegiance : James JVhitehart was firft called, but coming with his Hat on, the J uftices were fo angry, that they ordered him to be taken away, without aftcing whether he would take the Oath or not. Tlie next called was Henry Pizeing, who coming to the Bar with his Hat ofl", 11. Pizeing and bowing his Body to them, Ihomas Holt, Joadge of the Sedions, fiid, no (Quaker. Here's a Man has fome Manners, and afl If we ftiould come and '^"'■"" " join with you, the Lord might damn lis all together •, for it is the famc- *' Tongue, the fame Lips, and the fame Spirit that Swears before you enter^'i " that when you are entered calls to God to hear you : So that the Words ofi " the ApoflJe are hilfiUed, Out of the fame Mouth proceedeth Bleffing and' ** Curfing. O ye unwife in Heart ! ye know not God,. neither of what Spirit: *' ye are, and therefore be advifed before it is too late, for in Love to your: *' Souls do we deckirc unto you, That if you will have us ioin to yQUj.yout. Vol. L E ♦' Wav .;«r..j:R< i8 BERK- SHI R li. 1664. Commitmems from the Meeting. Illtgal Com- mitmemu a A Colleclion of the Sufferings V.QLi^l-. Way muft be to join to the Lord, repent of the Wickedncfs that you have done, and return to the Lord God, and put away the Evil of your Doings, and caft out from among you the Proud, and the Drunkards, the Swearer?, the Murderers, tlie Adulterers and "Whoremongers, and all otkr Filthi- nels of Flefh and Spirit that is among you, and then clothe yourfelVes with Meeknefs, and Patience, as the Church of Chrift was in the Days. of the Apoftles, and then if we will not join with you, and come to your Church, let our Blame be upon our own Heads ; for till then, although ^010 call yourfelves Cbrijlians, you are but Antichriff s Servants, that oppoie Ghrift in this Day of his Appearance. And though you may compel by Force and Cruelty many to join with you in Words, you do but make them ten- fold more Children of die Devil, and a thoufand-fold more in a Capacity to do you Miichief ; and truly fuch Chriftians you have enough aJready -, and this was the Way that your Fore-fathers walked in, whom God over- threw, and razed their Name out of the Land of the Living. " Therefore boafl not yourfelves over us, as if the Lord had iorfaken us, be- caufe we have none in the Earth to take our Part or plead our Caufe •, or as if your Day lliould never have an End, or as if the Lord had no Regard to his fuffering People, nor took no Notice of your Cruelty towards them ; for certainly when we have filled up the Meafure of the Sufferings of Clirift, that is yet to be filled up, and you have filled up the Meafure of your Cruelty and Hard-heartedncfs, the Lord will divide between Cattle and Cattle, and you Ihall not efcape his fierce Vengeance and fiery Indigna- tion ; therefore in Love to your Souls do we lend this, that you might be warned before it is too late, for the JVkked /hall be iimied into Hell^ atid all that forget God, as the Scripture plainly declareth, and we cannot but be plain with you. And therefore fear the Lord, ye Rulers, and give Glory to his Name, for the Lord's Day is at hand that fhall burn as ,aa Qven, and the Wicked fhall be as Thorns caft into it ; we wifh you well, and coukl rejpyce to fee you in that Path that leads you to God's Kingdom, that your Souls might find Reft, that the Light of the Lord might be your Leader, and you might be guided up to God, is the Defire of them who. .in, Scorn are called ' fl:.!ilv.- Iron the Cod the 22 J of the^th Month, i66/[. £{ Q^UAl^EillS. / 10 SID again to. On the 31ft of the Month called ftdy, JV. Armorer came again ^tb. the Meeting, and took Bridget Smithy Elizabeth Bradiridge,. Anne iVatfi)t^- Anne Sharpy Elizabeth Wright, Elizabeth Dee the Younger, and Sarah Anfled, ant! caufed his Clerk immediately to make their Mittimus to the Houfe of Correc- tion. Then he went, and knocked at Tljonias Curtis'^ Door, which the Maid being afraid to open, he picked the Lock and went in, and finding there Jeftph Coale, one of the Family, who had taken Phyfick and kept in his Chainber, he pulled him down Stairs, and afked him, -whether be would take the Oath of Allegiance ? Fie then ordered a Line or two to be added to the Women's- iW?//f- mus, and lent him together widi them to the Houfe of Correftion. On the 2d of the Month called Aigujl, he fent William I'eate, Anm Ball^ Mary Slade, Mary Emerton, Elizabeth Lavell, Katharine Edfoil, EUfn Binfield^ and Mary Richard/on, from the Meeting to the Houfe of Corre<2:ion : -On the 14th of the fame, finding but three PcTlons there above fixteen Years of Age," although that Number was not prohibited by the Ack, yet he oj^dei-ed iliem, viz. Benjamin Cole, Jahn Trayard, and Hannah Webb, to the Ho(ule of Cor- rection. On the 25th he fent for thofe three and Jo/eph Coale<, who being* brought before him and Thomas Seikes Mayor, were aflced, whether tl?^y vsmtct take ihc Oath of Allegiance ? And after many liard and threatning SpeecJ-Jcs were committed to the Countj Goal. The fame Day the Women \feCre-feFit for,' fined, and lent back to the Houfe of Corredion ter three Months. A-n