THE SECOND PART OF THE Continued Cry OF THE OPPRESSED FOR JUSTICE BEING An Additional Account of the Present and Late Cruelty Oppression Spoil inflicted upon the Persons and Estates of many of the Peaceable People called Quakers in divers Counties Cities and Towns in this Nation of England and Wales chiefly upon the late Act made against Conventicles for the Peaceable Exercise of their Tender Consciences towards God in Matters of Worship and Religion This is thank-worthy if a Man for Conscience towards God endure Grief suffering wrongfully 1 Pet. 2. 19. We shall not find any Occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God Dan. 6. 5. Galio said unto the Jews If it were a Matter of Wrong or Wicked Lewdness O ye Jews Reason would that I should bear with you Acts 18. 14. Printed in the Year 1676. WHereas great Suffering and Oppression is still continued and infliâ—â—ed upon many of the People call'd Quakers in divers Counties and Places in this Nation upon the late Act against Conventicles for meeting together to worship God according to their Consciences and Perswasions many industrous Families much Ruined the Fatherless and Widows greatly oppressed and Trading in many places much impared and decayed and the Cry of the Poor who have been imployed by industrous Tradesmen very great many wanting Bread because of the great Discouragement occasioned by the great Spoil and Havock that 's made upon their Goods and Fruits of the Labours of industrous Families only for the Exercise of their tender Consciences towards God as the following Narrative will more particularly evince which Sufferings and Oppressions have been occasioned chiefly under Pretence of the said Act and continued in divers Counties by the means of some Turbulent Malicious Priests who themselves have turned Informers and encouraged others to seek out and haunt the peaceable Meetings of the People aforesaid and to inform the Magistrates against them the Men thus encouraged and employed being some idle dissolute and extravagant Persons not willing to take Pains in the Creation for a Livelihood as other Men do have taken upon them and been encouraged in this Unchristian as well as Inhumane Course of informing against peaceable Subjects for their Own Ends and Advantages wandring from place to place to find out such peaceable Meetings wherein if there be either Preaching Praying or Waiting on God in Silence they trouble the Magistrates instigating such as are willing to gratifie them and those Priests who have either themselves turned or encouraged Informers in order to suppress the said Meetings and make a Prey upon the said Peoples Estates Livelihoods ruining and destroying these peaceable Protestant-Subjects in their Rights and Properties under pretence of Doing the King Service which Oppression and Grievance hath long continued in this Nation and the Cry thereof becomes louder and louder from many Distressed Families since that divers Accounts and Applications have been given and made and yet no Redress Our Complaint still remains not only of Unchristian but Inhumane Usage herein that God who knows our Hearts and Conscientiousness towards him and our Innocency towards the King and Government he knows our Cause and hears our Cry and according to his Promise we expect that for the Oppression of the Poor and the Sighing of the Needy he will arise c. however We the People who are the present Sufferers do look upon our selves oblieged in Conscience to spread before you this brief Account following which is but as a short Appendix in comparison of the Account that might be given of the great and many Sufferings that have been and still are continued upon the said Act in divers places of this Nation besides the great number that were Imprisoned till Death and others Banished from their Distressed Families into forreign Plantations upon the Act for Banishment as also upon the Bishops Writs De Excommunicato Capiendo c. many have been for some years and still are kept in Prisons and destructive Goals in this Nation in divers Counties where several are Sick and some have lately laid down their Lives for not paying Small Tythes Easter-Reckonings and to the Repairation of the Steeple-Houses And upon the Statutes made against Recusants in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth some Hundreds of the afore-said People are returned up into the Exchequer and Writs of Enquiry have been sent down to the Sheriffs and Juries impannelled to enquire into their Estates who have made Returns thereof into the Exchequer from whence Writs are issued and sent down to the Sheriffs in many Counties to make seizure of Two Thirds of their Estates and the Sheriffs Bailiffs being Unreasonable have in some places taken a great deal more then what was pretended to be the King 's Right It is too great a Work to give a particular Account of all that are like to suffer on this Account the Sheriffs in several Counties having Writs of Seizure in their Hands and threaten to put them in Execution Only two Instances in one County for brevity sake you are desired to take notice of as followeth The 23d day of the 11th moneth 1676. the Sheriff of Cambridge-shire sent his Bailiff John Burgani to demand of Richard Webb of West-wickham in the same County 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. being Two Thirds of the yearly value of his Estate as it was returned by a Jury impanneled to make Enquiry into the Estates of Popish Recusants but Richard Webb being innocent could not answer the Bailiff's Demand whereupon the Bailiff and his Assistants took from him four Horses as they were going to plow worth 18 l. and one of the Bailiff's Men cryed We must have 20 l. worth of Goods for we must sell Good Penny-worths so they took Two Cows more valued at 8 l. 10 s. in all to the value of 26 l. 10 s. for 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. demanded John Prime of Willbrom-parvo had taken from him upon the 2d day of the 9th moneth for 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. demanded by John Curby Bailiff for Two Thirds of 20 l. a year of his Estate four Cows and one Horse worth 18 l. And the Bailiffs have Warrants in their hands to make seizure of many more in this County We therefore entreat your Patience who are in Power to peruse the following Account and take it into your serious Considerations to afford the Sufferers some effectual and speedy Relief by stopping these Oppressions Unchristian and Inhumane Proceedings for the future that we and our Families who are the Sufferers herein specified may not be utterly destroyed but enjoy our Liberties and Rights in the peaceable Exercise of our tender Consciences wherein we are accountable to God and desire alwayes to approve our selves in all good Conscience and Innocency under the Government SUFFERERS in and about the Town of Lewes in the County of SUSSEX only for their Peaceable Meetings Exercise of their Consciences in the Worship of God Chiefly
carryed on Against them by VVilliam Snat Priest and Surrogat to the Court called Court Christian and James Clark Register to the same Court UP OR the 5th day of the 8th Moneth 1675 William Snaâ— priest accompanied with two other Priests and one Robert Smith a Taylor went to a peaceable Meeting of the aforesaid People the said William Snat and Robert Smith being the Informers they took the Names of several that assembled and went to Henry Shully called a Justice and swore against several persons for being at the said Meeting at the house of Thomas Mosely which was utterly false for it was not T. Mosely's house and also against a Preacher his Name unknown for which Thomas Mosely was fined 20 l. and the Preacher 20 l. which Fine for the Preacher the Justice laid upon Nicholas Beard of Rottenden 10 l. and for himself 5 s. and 3 l. more upon Thomas Mosely and upon Mary Akehurst Widdow 7 l. 5 s. and upon Ambrose Galloway for his Wife being there 5 s. and upon Elizabeth Shuter 5 s. and upon some other Persons five shillings apiece Upon the 10th day of the 8th moneth 1675. James Clark seeing he could make such Profit to himself by being an Informer he took up the Trade with his Brother William Snat the Priest who went to a Meeting of the aforesaid People and brought with them Ferdinando Bryant and John Delves Constables of Lewes who took several Persons Names and went to Richard Bridger Justice where the said James Clark William Snat and Walter Jones gave Information of a Meeting in the House of Mary Galloway mark it was in the same House which Priest Snat swore but five dayes before to be the House of Thomas Mosely and now swear it to be the House of Mary Galloway although there was no alteration concerning the said House for which Tho. Mosely was fined 9 l. 15 s. and Ambrose Galloway fined 9 l. 10 s. and for himself and Wife 15 s. and Mary Akehurst 25 s. and Samuel Baker 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. and Steven Eager 6 l. 13 s. 4 d. and several other Persons for being at the said Meeting were fined 5 s. apiece which said fines J. Clark Informer levied himself that he might the better feather his Nest for 10 l. 5 s. demanded of Amb. Galloway of Lewes he took Goods to the value of 14 l. 15 s. and from Thomas Mosely for 9 l. 15 s. demanded he took Goods to the value of 12 l. 6 s. 8 d. the 20 l. for the House imposed for the first Meeting being not then levied and from Mary Akehurst a Widdow that hath Five Children for two fines being both 8 l. 10 s. took Goods to the value of 1â— l 18 s. 10 d. and from Elizabeth Shuter Widdow he took two Looking-glasse for 5 s. demanded from Samuel Baker a Blacksmith at Newhaven for 6 l. 18 s. 4 d. fine was taken half a Tun of Iron which cost 7 l. odd money Upon the 17th day of the 8th Moneth 1675. some of the aforesaid People being met together at the same House as aforesaid in their usual manner in Lewes came James Clark William Snat and William Purser Informers with the afore-said Constables and a Lieutenant and an Ensigne and two Sarjeants belonging to the Militia and also a great number of rude People of the baser sort who with great Violence dragg'd them out of the Meeting-house abusing many drawing them in the Streets kicking bruising and beating many and from some there was Blood drawn and chiefly by the Hands of James Clark aforesaid whose Beast-like behaviour caused many of the Spectators to cry Shame of him this being done the aforesaid Informers went to Nisal Rivers Iustice gave Information against several that were there assembled and the said Justice imposed by his Warrant these Fines following upon John Songhurst for preaching 20 l. upon the House 20 l. to be levied as followeth upon Ambrose Galloway for the House 4 l. and for himself and other Persons 2 l. 5 s. all being 6 l. 5 s. for the which James Clark took Goods from the said Ambrose to the value of 18 l. 7 s. it being chiefly Linnen Cloth never measuring any the said Ambrose not being at home when he thus risted his Shop but afterwards got leave from the Man of the House where the Goods were lodged to measure so much as he shewed him the value of which is above expressed never returning any thing again Thomas Mosely being fined 2 l. which James Clark demanded with 3 l. more for a former Fine the whole being 5 l. he took Goods to the value of 12 l. 5 s. John Ellis being fined 4 l. the said Clark took Goods to the value of 7 l. 8 s. Thomas Bud a poor Shepherd being fined 25 s. the aforesaid Clark forced into his House he being not at home and took away nine pieces of Pewter ten Cheeses a Pottage-pot a Skillat a Frying-pan a Bucket with some other things his Bed very hardly escaping he wanting the Tick to carry away the Pillage in but espying a Sack took that and the Bed escaped his hands From Tho. Robason a Peltmaker being fined 20 s. the said Clark took eight Hats Mary Akehurst fined 10 s. Clark took Goods to the value of 18 s. Maskall Picknal being fined 5 s. mark the said Clark without any Officer with him that he might the better cover his Cruelty took four Roles of Linnen Cloth without measuring any and refused to let them see it measured Steven Manard and his Brother Nicholas Manard were fined 5 s. apiece for the which was Goods taken to the value of 24 s. Henry Geats for a fine of 5 s. had taken from him a great Brass Kettle Richard and John Scrase fined 50 s. apiece Edward Paine 20 s. Samuel Web 20 s. Thomas Banks 20 s. these last Fines being not yet levied and also several other Persons being fined of which we can give no Account because Clark doth refuse to let us have a Copy of the Warrant Upon the 24th day of the aforesaid 8th moneth some of the aforesaid People being peaceably met together came Ja. Clark Will. Snat and William Purser Informers accompanyed with the Constables and about twelve Soldiers in Arms with their Officer as aforesaid belonging to the Militia without any Regard to their Sabbath-Day they drew Friends out of the Meeting-house abusing many with Blows and cruel Bunches and set a Guard at the House door to keep them out then the aforesaid Clark demanded of Mary Galloway a fine of 5 s. for the which he took seventeen new Deal Formes that cost near 3 l. which Forms were not the Goods of Mary Galloway and loaded away some of the Soldiers with these Forms to carry them along the Town whither he did direct and when many of the People and Constables were gone the said Clark commanded one of the Soldiers to break open the Door of the House that he might me his Will
number in the same Riotous manner and throng'd in and about the Meeting and became so abusive unto them beyond all Humanity so as to fling their Hats at their Faces using all the filthy deriding words towards them they could invent to utter and with their Staves some of them would strike off many of their Hats off their Heads of both Men and Women and sometimes striking some upon their Heads with their Staves and sometimes justling against them and throwing Stones amongst them and brake some of the Glass-windows and turned in Dogs into the Meeting oftentimes bidding them speak by the spirit and then making a Noise with Hooping and Hollowing and some of them fastened Burs to some of the Men's Hair and as they sought to force a Pig into the Meeting amongst them it happening to be a Pig of John Rea's who on that day two Weeks before was said to inform the Mayor of the Meeting and he seeking to drive his own Pig from them one of the untuly Young Men broke his Head with a Stone which was the new-elected Mayor's Son as 't was said On the next first Day being the 10th of the 7th Moneth the aforesaid People were again assembled together in their usual religious Manner and in a short Space the Street before the House became filled with People young old many young Men and Boyes came in upon them riotusly as before and threw their Hats at and amongst them and fired Squibs and threw amongst them and then throwing Stones against the Glass Windows stroke a Woman as she was sate within the Room on the side of her Head with a Stone But seeing them so outragious and desperately cruel some of the Meeting went to the Mayor to signifie their Doings unto him who became somewhat displeased at the Matter and also they went to Abraham Seward an Attorney at Law the New Elected Mayor whose Son was one of the Leaders of the turbulent Company in their Actings to acquaint him of his Son who seemed to be ignorant of his Son's Doings yet somewhat threatned the Persons that went to him with the Execution of the Law upon them because some of the Lads belonged to the Free-School in Hereford one of the Meeting went to the chief Master of the School about them who presently came and took Notice of as many as he could find for many of them dispersed at his coming they having by that time beaten the Glass-Windows to pieces with Stones and Staves but it was said by some he was forbidden to correct them and that the Colledge-Priests should set them on and say they would bear them out in what they did and some of the unruly Boyes were Quiresters On the 14th Day of the 7th Moneth they were peaceably met together again to serve the living God and assoon as they departed many rude Boyes came running to find them there and some of them said if they had met with them they would have done their work for them and sell again upon the glass-windows breaking them On the 16th Day following two Friends went to Robert Simonds and Thomas Simonds Justices for the City to let them know of the several riotous Assemblies and the Abuses done upon them who not at all regarded their Complaint but the said Robert Simonds did endeavour to force some Confession of a Meeting from one of them and then protested if he had confessed he would immediately have fined him then the Friend asked him what if it should please God to suffer another Religion to be set up with Authority in this Nation would he not think it an unreasonable thing to be forced from or punished for his Religion he now professeth He answering said he should not but would be subject to the Government and after said to some others as we were credibly informed that if the Friend had but confessed a Meeting he would presently have arrested his Horses he had then in the Town and also said the Quakers were well helpt up to come with Complaints to them On the 17th Day after it being the first Day of the Week the aforesaid People were peaceably assembled again to worship God after some time the rude Company of Boyes young People came unto them in the former riotous manner many of them having Sticks and Staves in their Hands and they threw their Hats and Dirt and Stones amongst them and Squibs and burned some of their Clothes and when Friends departed the Door of the House being locked they passing away saw the Master of the School coming hastily again to seek after his Schollars which many of them perceiving hid themselves from him and he said unto Friends that it was not fiâ—ting that Boyes should be suffered to abuse them as they did yet soon after the rude Company became more unruly then before for they totally brake down the Glass-Windows that remained and as many of the Pillars thereof as they could with some of the Walls of the House and entered in and broke the Benches and Seats they found therein and brake open an inner Door with other things they could meet with and some Boyes followed after some Friends of the Countrey with hooping and hollowing and throwing of Stones after them about a quarter of a Mile and it was commonly said that the Master of the School going about to correct some of his Schollars for their Abuses towards Friends they made such a Resistance against him as violently to throw him over a Bench and giving him threatning Words they being so emboldned in ill Practices and when several sober People of the City that saw or heard of the Doings of the rude Company crying out against them they would threaten them and one man because he reproved them was forced to take up Stones in his Hands to defend himself from them The 18th Day of the 7th Moneth 1676 there being a Meeting in Hereford of the aforesaid People to enquire into the Necessities of the poor the Widows and Fatherless Children that they that are able to work may be imployed and aâ—â—isted to get their own livelihood but if unable then to be relieved and the Fatherless and Helpless Children to be set out Apprentices which is acceptable Service to God and great Benefit to the whole Nation against which work there is no Law nor ought to be for it is the Command of God To do good unto all but especially to the Houshold of Faith And in Obedience to God and his Truth they came together to do this especial Good to the Houshold of Faith and being peaceably met together in their shattered Meeting House and after some time was spent in the Service of Truth there came a great Company of rude tumultuous Boyes many of them in a Riotous Manner with Staves Sticks and long Splints of Wood in their Hands and surrounding the House and one of them sounding a Horn there came a great Company of People of several Sorts then the Boyes began
the Place aforesaid Here followeth a Copy of one of the Warrants Nott. To the Constables Church Wardens and Overseers for the Poor and Thirdboroughs of Sutton in Ashfield and Hurknal and every or any of them Forasmuch as Robert Grace and his Wife Eliz. Brandrith Jo. Blackburn Sam. VVhitworth Eliz. VVhitworth Eliz. Fello and Sarah Clay Richard Bateman Joseph Roberts Fran. Clay Margret VVhitworth of your said Towns are lawfully convicted before me â—â—r having been present at a Conventicle or Unlawful Assembly on pretence of Religion otherwise then by Law is established in Mansfield on Sunday the 9th of this instant July these are therefore in his Majesty's Name to require you to levy of the said Rob. Grace for his own Offence and his said Wife's Offence the sum of 1 l. being formerly convicted and the said Eliz. Brandrith the sum of 10 s. for her own Offence being formerly convicted the said John Blackburn Sam. Whitworth Eliz. Whitworth and Eliz. Fello of every or each of them the sum of 5 s. apiece and of the said Margret Whitworth the sum of 5 s. for her own Offence the sum of 2 l. by reason of the poverty of Rich. Bateman Joseph Roberts Sarah Clay Francis Clay formerly convicted by Distresses and Sale of Goods which said sums you are to deliver to me to be distributed according to Law hereof fail not as ye will answer the contrary at your Perils Given under my Hand and Seal the 25th day of July 28 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1676. Robert Thoroton William Day of Newmenlâ—as Milner near Eastwood being at a Meeting at Sutton in Ashfield the 28th of the 3d Moneth 76. was fined 5 s. for his own Offence and 10 l. for the poverty of a Preacher or Teacher there being no preaching or teaching as the Informers pretended as the Officers which kept us out of the Meeting-house did testifie before Arthur Stanhope Justice in Mansfieldwoodhouse and several others affirmed the same nevertheless the Informers went to Robert Thoroton and he granted a Warrant against the said William Day and they took away from him a Mare and a Heiser besides Pewter and Brass and Bedding to the value of 14 l. 10 s. 4 d. Iohn Smith of Remson Thomas Sharp of Nework Ioseph Wilkinson of Nottingham Informers Thomas Gristed Constable Robert Howet and Henry Winfield Wardens Ellis England Thridborough and the said William Day went to Robert Thoroton called Justice to let him know that he was wrongfully fined and told him that there was neither preaching nor teaching and if he would give him leave he could produce several that would testifie to the Truth of it and the said Iohn Smith Informer standing by said Did not widow Leadbeater go on with a Narration of words And William Day answered that what words she spoke was in answer to him and the Justice said If it was but one word it was enough Witnesses to the Truth of this Bartholomew Mastin Luke Hanke Thomas Mee and Ioseph Potter Edward Wood of Ekrin in the County of Nottingham Wheelwright for Contempt of the Ecclesiastical-Court at York as is pretended to answer George Higgins in a certain Cause of Tythes was attached by a Warrant from Peniston Whalâ—y and Robert Thoroton Justices dated the 2d of March â—5 and by Cerificate from Henry Watkinson Official-principal of the afore-said Court and 37 s. was paid by Richard Thomson junior of Ekrin for about 12 s. in the principal demanded Michael Embly of Ekrin had two Lands of Pease worth about 13 s. being all he had taken by George Higgins of Ekrin Impropriator for the pretended Tythe of an Acre of Barley whereof four Cocks half he pretended due to him for Tythe Thomas Farnsworth of Scaftworth for being at a peaceable Meeting had taken from him five Cows worth about 14 l. Robert Spauld for the same had five Cows taken from him worth about 13 l. Robert Nicholson for the same had one Heifer worth about 1 l. 3 s. 4 d. taken from him Zacharias Bower for the same had one Cow taken from him worth about 2l 10 s. Witness Iohn Camsal Thomas Denton Iohn Birks Iohn Glover The Officers Names that distrained William Chapman Constable of Eaverton Edward Chapman and Iohn Batts Wardens Iohn Rayner and Francis VVilliamson Overseers George Gantley Constable and Warden for Scaftworth Iohn Seaton of Blythe for being at a peaceable Meeting was fined 20 l. and had four Oxen and one Horse takenfrom him worth 22 l. George Greaves for the same Meeting was fined 10 l. 5 s. and had four Cows taken from him worth 13 l. Iohn Wilson for the same was fined 3 l. and had a Mare taken from him worth 4 l. 10 s. Gervase Crease for the same was fined 10 s. and had fourteen pound of pewter taken from him worth 14 s. Distrained by Warrant from Robert Thoroton The Officers Names are Robert Williamson and Richard Malken Constables Gervase Pye and Richard Emerson Wardens Henry Noedin Overseer Iohn Brown and Thomas Moresin Thirdboroughs Witness Thomas Farnsworth Ioseph Hudson Iohn Couson Iohn Torr of Scrooby for being at a peaceable Meeting was fined 5 s. for his own Offence and 10 l. for the poverty of a certain Blind Man unknown for one Meeting and 1 l. fine for another Meeting both Warrants amounting to 11 l. 5 s. and they took from him 4 Oxen worth about 14 l. 10 s. and another Warrant from Justice Sands for the sum of 10 s. and 1 l. which the Officers run in Charges about selling the Oxen which they had taken away by Virtue of the other two Warrants more then they sold the Oxen for as is pretended so they took an Heifer from him worth about 2 l. 10 s. William Kirkby of Geatforth for being at a peaceable Meeting had taken from him seven Beasts worth about 12 l. 10 s. By Warrant from Robert Thoroton Adam Hutâ—hinson and Charles Tollet Constables William Brâ—fit and George Norman Wardens Witness Iohn Raganal Peter Ancliph Note There was formerly taken on this Account from several Innocent Persons in this County Goods and Cattle to the value of 695 l. and upwards and two Persons great Sufferers formerly appealing to the Sessions they ordered them their Money again but this great persecuting Justice Peniston Whaley fraudulently detains 60 l. in his Hands contrary to the Orders of Sessions John Seaton of Blythe for having peaceable Meetings at his House to worship the Lord was fined 20 l. and 10 s. for himself and 35 s. for his Wife 's being at four Meetings and 5 s. for his Servant in all fined 62 l. 10 s. and had his Goods distrained viz. All his Houshold Goods Horses Maâ—es Kine and Swine his Carts and other wooden ware with old Wood Stone and Brick to the Value of 100 l. and upwards The Officers Names that distrained Robert Williamson Richard Malkin Constables Richard Emerson Gervase Pye Wardens Henry Nodin Overseer for the Poor George Greaves of Blythe
Richardson Informer took from Iohn Nelson of Hightrees one Cow worth 3 l. 10 s. for meeting The same day and year the same persons for the same Cause took from Iohn Dickenson of Hightrees one Cow worth 3 l. 10 s. John Jackson of Felldyke for the same Cause the same time had taken from him two Kettles worth 14 s. Michael Williamson of Gillgaran had taken from him by William Peile and Joseph Dixon Constables of Distington for the same Cause one Cow worth 1 l. 10 s. William Carter of Crissfield the 13th of the 5th moneth 1676. for the same Cause had taken from him one Mare worth 1 l. 5 s. Middlesex RIchard Ashfield and Abraham Bonefield both of Staines are Prisoners in Newgate upon a Writ of Excommunicato Capiendo for not paying a Parish Rate Sufferers in Hamp-shire NIcholas Ede of Froyle sued by Richard Farrer Priest of the said place for petty Tythes in the Exchequer and carryed to Winchester Goal the 19th day of the 11th moneth 1674 where he yet remains a Prisoner Iohn Bishop of Gatcomb in the Isle of Weight arrested at the suit of Iohn Woodnutt Priest because for Conscience sake he could not pay him Tythes he was committed to the Serjeants Ward in Newport the seventeenth day of the seventh moneth 1675. where he still remains a Prisoner kept in very close Worcester-shire ALice Booker of Wickamford imprisoned in the County-Goal by a Writ of Excommunicato Capiendo at the suit of William White and Richard Clark Wardens for not paying to the Repair of the Steeple-house 1676. Newcastle THe 26th and 27th of the 11th moneth 1676. the Wardens and Officers of Gateside by Warrant from Sr. Francis Anderson so called Justice of the Peace in the County of Durham made Distress of the Goods of Richard Stockton and took away to the value of Six Pounds Ten Shillings for being at a Meeting in Gateside the 27th of the 11th moneth aforesaid By Warrant from the same Justice the same Officers took away from Christopher Bickers Goods to the value of 13 l. the Warrant was grounded upon the Act made in the year 1670. Wilt-shire WIlliam Moxham cited to the Bishop's Court at Sarum for not paying small Tythes and Offerings to Priest Gunn who when he appeared because he did not put off his Hat they called him Coxcomb and told him He was Bewitched and bid him come again next Court-day and when he came again because for Conscience sake he could not Swear to his Answer to their Libel they proceeded to Excommunication and thereupon he is since committed to the County Goal in Fisherton where he still remains a Prisoner this 15th day of the 12th moneth 1676. Oxford-shire A Relation of the Unchristian-like Dealing of Justice Gregory of Cooksome with his Poor Neighbour Tenant Rich. Holliman of the same Place Miller THe said Richard Holliman and his Wife being lately convinced of the Truth Robert Cripps the Priest and the Justice their Landlord were greatly in Rage against them and the Priest meeting with them accidentally in a Neighbour's House after some words past told them He would provide a Task for them The poor Woman said I pray thee let it not be Pharaoh's Task But shortly after Ju. Gregory sent his Warrant for R. Holliman to come before him and when he came the Justice was very VVrathful against him that he was turned a Quaker and said It was the Confoundedst Religion of all and threatned to turn him out of his Mill and askt him Whether he was at Church last Sunday He reply'd No Then the Justice said He must pay 1 s. and soon after sent the Officers with a Warrant to distrain who took away a Pewter-Platter worth 3 s. and so proceeded several times till he took away Goods to the value of 24 s. a small sum in value yet it was more then the poor Man was worth if his Debts were all paid he having a Wise and Six Children most of them small And this Cruel Justice was not satisfied to cause this poor Man's Goods to be so taken away but He Turned him out of the Mill which he and his Friends had lived in many years and this was done near the Winter a hard time for a Man to be put to shift with such a Family when he knew not what course to take to subsist nor hardly where to put their Heads for shelter and for no other Cause but for being a Quaker North-Wales The late Severe and Illegal Proceedings against the People called Quakers for Conscience sake in MERIONIDD-SHIRE CAdwallader Thomas Rowland Ellis Lewys Robert Hugh Robert Evan Rees Edward Rees Griffith John Gainor David Elizabeth Williams these Nine being taken Prisoners upon an Indictment for not resorting to their Parish Churches so called were all at the Assizes held for the said County in the Town of Bala upon the 11th day of the 6th moneth last past brought to the Bar to answer their Indictments Kemick Eyton and Thomas Wallcott Judges and upon their refusal of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy then tendred unto them and as we conceive unjustifiable the Prisoners being but private Persons and the Jâ—dges declaring no special Commission they had to Warrant and Authorize the same The said Judges delivered in open Court That in case the Prisoners would refuse the Oaths the second time they should be proceeded against as Traytors the Men to be HANGED and QUARTERED and the Women to be BURNED And upon the 1st day of the 7th moneth their Circuit then returning they offered to them the Oaths again and upon their not taking of the same in Form though they solemnly acknowledged All gâ—ance to the King as 〈◊〉 Magistrate were remanded to close Imprisonment and were strictly kept as Fellons or Traytors though without Rule of Court or Commitment upon them for Eleven Weeks time from the Sessions and in the last great Frost were kept from the Benefit of a Fire-place or Fire which the Goaler had granted them had not one Maurice Jones who is the Priest of the Parish of Dolgelle where the County-Prison is and generally known to be a very sottish Parson threatned to Complain of him to the Judges Edward Rees one of the Prisoners being above Sixty Years of Age and as was generally concluded being not of Strength to bear so great a Cold patiently resigned up his Life to the Hands of our Righteous Judge Dying about the height of the Frost the 17th day of the 10th moneth commonly called December One of the Women being a Wife and big with Child was very Weak and Sick lately and the rest not likely to be otherwise if the Prisoners be so continued unless some speedy Course be taken for their Relief Further Sufferings Griffith Robert and Hugh Rees were by the vexatious Prosecution of the before named Priest Maurice Jones of Dolgelle imprisoned upon a Writ de Excom Capiend the 30th day of the 3d mon. 1676. where they continue Prisoners the last of them for