to him that are such as he and the scorners calls Quakers he saith he will imprison And Thomas Gewen makes up a third in the same affection for which by reason of the Army he sate not in Parliament But to proceed Lanceston having thus began the County of Cornvvall follows strict Watches and Wards are set up in the high ways and towns thereof who examine and bring befâ—re Justices such as they reproach with the name of Quakers thereby to stop and hinder the going to and fro of such in that County to visit the Prisoners or to Minister the words of eternall life in those darke Corners of the earth But of this after a time they grew vveary vvho thereby thought to vveary out those people by tossing them from Constable to Justâ—ce and from one Justice to another keeping them all night on Guards with such like the rage which the evill one stirred up in them which put them upon such unlavvfull and violent actions became cool and finding nothing wherewithall to accuse them and their innocency and harmelesness began to have a witness in their consciences and so their Watches and Guards ceased which had continued for a certain space of time and those at Lanceston also though the Mayor for a time followed it with such blind zeale madness and violence And this is the better vvay to deale with the people called Quakers than the Protector and his Councell could find Anthony Nicholls its like can tell from whom came this wicked invention and who it was that said so and what Justices set to their hands to make this Warrant the more authentick and to cover it from being seen to be the Plot of one against the just viz Anthony Nicholls Anthony Rouse James Lance John Treville Ia. Daniell Iohn Fox Dated at Truro By that time this Westerne most Countie and the towns and Villages thereof gave over the County of Devon on the East of Lanceston began Cornwall was behind and little in comparison All England stood before Devon and through it must all pass that came to the prisoners Its bounds extending from Sea to Sea surely grieved are the Priests to see and hear of such abounding of love in visiting the Prisoners from all parts of England even from the borders of Scotâ—and tormented they are day and night because of the continuall goings of so many to and from the Prisoners who witnessed that which made their Kingdome to shake and would be its overthrow No rest are they in because of the opportunities such had to declare the name of the Lord from far and his everlasting Gospell to the ends of the earth to the opening of the blind eye to see their deceit and filthiness and to the turning of people from darkness to the light and from the power of Sathan unto God whom if they should be let alone the Countie would run after Therefore the Crie is made help help ye Magistrates ye Rulers ye Officers of the Army ye Souldiers ye towns and Parishes and Villages help ye men of Devon bring forth your Swords your Staves your Bills your Halberts set the Watch in the high ways in the towns on the Bridges and passages make strong your Guards with men of place and ability and sufficient carnall weapons Let no one of them pass you hale them to prison Lay them fast enough set your authoritie upon it ye generall Sessions make it a Law for our Kingdome is of this world and will fall if ye powers of the earth do not support it Why What 's the matter What is the reason of this outcry In plain english and in open face it is this There are a generation of people whom we call Quakers for we must reproach in the very first place that we may be known of what generation we are Ministers of division not of reconciliation wandring up and down this County as did the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles and Holy Men of God from the beginning who plague us greatly and the men of our generation in almost every corner of the Nation who deny us who thus act for by these our fruits they say we are known the godly Ministers of England to be the true Ministers of the Gospel for the true Ministers of the Gospel were Ministers of Jesus Christ not of Man or made by or in the will of Man or Nations or Countryes but by the will of God and the revelation of Jesus Christ who made them able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life 2 Cor. 3.6 Gal. 1.16 And such were done too by the Ministers of the Countryes the National Ministers the high Priests Scribes and Pharisees as we have done and would have you now do to them as Christ foretold And they deny the Scriptures of which we make our trade to be the word of God and if that be not the word of God no other word of God do we know for we have neither seen his shape nor heard his voyce at any time and Revelation we deny and so we cannot be called Mâ—nisters of the word of God for they say Christ Jesus is the Word of God which was in the beginning before Letter was which was with God which was God and so is not the Letter which was made flesh and came and dwelt amongst us as John testifies chap. 1. Which word of God is quick and powerfull sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart as saith the Author to the Hebrews chap. 4.12 By which word of God the Heavens were of old and the Earth standing in the water and out of the water and the Heavens and the Earth which are now are kept in store by the same word reserved unto fire against the day of Judgement and perdition of ungodly men as Peter 2 epist c. 3. v. 6 7. witnesseth Who sits on the white horse cloathed with a vesture dipt in blood whose name is called the Word of God riding on conquering and to conquer having the Armies of Heaven following of him as John describes him in his Revelations ch 19.11 12 13 14. And they say the Scriptures are a true declaration of this Christ Jesus the Word of God as Luke bears record who having a perfect understanding of all things from the very first saith he took in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which were most surely believed amongst them even as they were delivered unto them by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and Ministers of the Word it seeming good unto him also to write of them in order chap. 1.1 2 3. Which declaration of his of him who is the Word of God which he calls so who wrote it we notwithstanding call and will have it to be the Word
of God and cry out upon such as Blasphemers that say as Luke said of it who wrote it it is a declaration And they say that all Scripture given by inspiration of God holy men of God speaking not from the Letter for one Prophet prophesied not what he saw in writing of the Prophesy of another nor did John what he saw written in the Prophets but as they were moved of the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.2.1 Nor spake the Apostles but as the spirit gave them utterance Acts 2.8 And is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God not the man of sin and we say man can never be free from sin while he lives and he that is not free from sin is not free from the man of sin and the man of sin is not the man of God for whom the Scripture is profitable may be perfect and we deny perfection as a damnable doctrine and throughly furnished unto all good works as Paul affirms to Timothy 2 epist 3.16 17. Who by venting and broaching many of such Heresies and Blasphemies and scatâ—ering Books and Papers of these things which we call seditious do undermine with that which is perfect the Fundamentals of our Relâ—gion these great truths which have been so long professed amongst us and cause many people which being weak have been deluded by us to see their delusions and to fall from us notwithstanding the clear Sun-shine of this our Gospel amongst them to the great dishonour of Almighty God whose name hath been taken in our mouths the disturbance of the peace of the Common-wealth which we have often set into Wars and Blood thereabouts to the sadning of every good and honest heart and the grief of all pious and religious people who observe what pitifull Fundamentals our Religion hath which can be thus undermined when as the Kingdome the Apostles and Saints received could not be moved Heb. 12.28 And the Rock on which their faith was built the gates of Hell could not prevail against said Christ Matth. 16.18 Nor the storms nor the winds nor the rain to make that house to fall that is built thereupon Matth. 7.25 And the things that are shaken are to be removed as of things that are made for this word Yet once more I shake not the Earth onely but also Heaven so signifies that those things which cannot be shaken may remain saith the Author to the Hebrews chap. 12.26 27. And they that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Psal 125.1 And how dark our Gospel is that notwithstanding the clear sun-shine thereof the wicked man hath sown such tares as these which are grown up exceedingly especially that all this should be done by a people wandring up and down the Countrey whom we and the World which make up what we call our Churches do scorn set at nought and reproach with the weak and contemptible name of Quakers and do account and number them as Christ Jesus their example in sufferings with Transgressours sturdy Rogues Beggars and wandring idle persons Therefore it is high time for ye who are the Magistrates and the Authority of this County of which we are the Ministers who are in this condition to appear and do your parts for the supporting of these great Truths these Fundamentals of our Religion which have been so long professed amongst us which are so undermined by a wandring trembling people which cry up perfection amongst us of this our Gospel whose clear sun-shine is thus dark and so far from being able to commend it selfâ— to that of God in every mans conscience or to defend it self or us that it needs your carnal weapons which were not the Apostles for theirs were spiritual not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 And Ezra was ashamed to require of the King a Band of Souldiers and Horsemen to help them against the Enemy in the way because he had spoken unto the King saying The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him Ezra 8.22 For the preventing of that which makes ours appear so yea to be even the great contagion that hath infected almost every corner of this Nation and strikes at the feet of our Images which are but Iron mixed with Clay and not onely make your Law to the purpose aforesaid but send your Orders abroad to the chief Constables and petty Constables in every division earnestly requesting them as they tender the foundation aforesaid of all our hopes of being saved by our Religion now undermined and the peace of the strong man whose armour now begins to be taken from him and his goods to be spoyled to do their utmost to see them put in execution that so your dead orders may prove the destruction of the living truth of God which appears in contemptible Creatures to destroy our undermineable Religion and dark Gospel and shaken Fundamentals and tottering great Truths and all the designs of Satan of us his Instruments to support them whose Ministers that we may in all things appear in our generation the same with our predecessours in the former we advise you to put them in the front and reer in the wild beasts skins of disaffected to the Government and disturbers of the peace of the Common-wealth and fill the belly with blasphemy and heresy and so throw them to the unreasonable Multitude to be devoured for so did the chief Priests Scribes and Elders our Predecessours and the whole multitude of them by Jesus to Pilate when they desired him to crucifie him We have taken this fellow said they as we say now of those who witness him perverting the Nation and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar saying that he himself is Christ a King Luke 23.1 2. And so did the Jews which believed not but were moved with envy who took unto themselves certain lewd fellows of the baser sort and gathered a Company and set all the City in an uproar and assâ—ulted the house of Jason and drew him and the brethren before the Rulers saying These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also whom Jason hath received and these do all contrary to the decrees of Cesar saying there is another King one Jesus Acts 17.5 6 7. And thus said Tertullus the high Priests and Elders Orator against Paul to Felix the Governour We have found this man a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world Acts 24.1 2 5. And whether this be not the plain English of the language of the order of Sessions and the Letter sent therewith to the Constables in every division hereafter to be mentioned at the instigation and instruction of the Priests and whether it be not the naked truth of the things contained in those Papers and their
his Iniquitie will be further evident when his Warrant aforesaid being taken in pieces iâ— measured with the Rule of Law and weighed in the ballance of truth and Justice 1. For first whereas he chargeth them in the front who go under the notion of Quakers and acknowledge themselves to be such The end of the Law is to preserve the Peace and the Unitie and the end of the Administration thereof is to bring out of the division into the unitie and out of the strife into the Peace Now that which divides as he whether he be Souldier Judge or Justice or what ever he be doth which distinguisheth a Generation of men under one and the same Government from the rest and puts upon them a hatefull name of distinction and tearm of reproach whereby they and others are set in opposition breaks the Peace and destroyes the unity sets a family at variance and a Nation is a family overthrows the end of the Law and makes void the Righteous Administration thereof and into Wars leads and Contentions and every evill work as this Nation of late years hath sadly witnessed for from this very distinguishing of men and branding them with tearms of reproach was the fire kindled and the flames of the late Wars brought forth and nourished Whereby these three Nations being one against another and the very being of them were likely to have been overthrown rased out and consumed And such an one is an evill doer in a high degree to whom the Sword of the Magistrate of God which punisheth and cuts off that which transgresseth and so brings out of the division into the unity and out of the Wars and strife into the Peace is a terror and on whom it is to pass But P. Ceely who calls himself one of the Justices of the Peace of the County of Cornwall by distinguishing a Generation of people in this Nation who fear and dread and tremble before the Lord and the words of his holiness as did the holy men of God from the begining and record in the Scripture from the rest of the people of â—his Nâ—tion and putting upon them a hatefull Tearm of distinction and brand of Reproach whereby they are marked out and set in opposition and appointed to all manner of abuses scornings and sufferings as is experienced in all parts every where throughout the Nation where any such are with such barbarousness and cruelty as exceeds the fiercest and most inhumane persecutions of the latter ages And himself under his hand and Seale branding them therewith in the head of his Warrant as a people because distinguished by him and reproached with such a name fit onely to be destroyed and endeavouring their destruction so far as a long imprisonment and the cruelties thereof which they have lately felt almost to the loss of one of their lives hereafter to be mentioned as have many of those innocent people of the Lord in other parts from this Generation whose lives they have had in the prisons which cry aloud for vengeance in the ears of the Lord of Saboath for that they go under the hated name and scorned tearm of Quakers hath manifested himself to be a brâ—aker of the peace a destroyer of â—he unity a setter of the whole family of a Nation at variance an overthrower of the end of the Law one that makes void the righteous Administration thereof a leader into wars and contentions and every evil work and a minister of unrighteousness and iniquity on whom the sword of the righteous judgement of God will pass to the cutting of him off and dividing him his portion with hypocrites and sinners and of this let him consider for one day whether he will or no so he shall find it except he repent And whereas he saith who acknowledge themselves to be such to fear and dread and tremble and quake at the presence of the living God who maketh the earth to shake and the Pillars thereof to tremble as did Isaak and Moses and Jeremy and Ezekiel and Daniel and Habbacuck and Paul and the Church of Corinth and the Saints of the most high in all ages who knew his presence this they own as do all the children of light and acknowledge themselves to be of the Generation of those who seek the face and thus witness the presence of the Holy one of Israel But as he hath placed it in contempt and scorne and as a hatefull brand and heinous offence by which they are appointed to all manner of sufferings that they deny and the acknowledging themselves to be such or that they ever acknowledged themselves or any others to be such as they do deny him and this his Lie and the Generation of him who is a lyar from the beginning he knows who it is Whereas he chargeth them Who have spread several papers tending to the disturbance of the publick peace No papers did they spread tending to the disturbance of the publick peace the paper which G. F. gave forth for which cause he apprehended abused and imprisoned them is already rehearsed and let the sober judge whether that be the matter of disturbing the publick or any mans peace But the man of Sin the son of Perdition whose kingdom Christ Jesus is come and coming to destroy and his peace to break and his Armour to take from him and of his goods him to spoile against whom his war is proclaimed and his sword drawn and brought upon the earth to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against the mother in law and a mans foes shall be them of his own houshould And this war brings peace to the Israel of God And let such judge whether P. Ceely makes not himfelf to appear to be in the possession of that strong man armed whose peace he would not have disturbed Who chargeth the declaring of Jesus Christ the stronger than he to be Lord and King and the only way to salvation to be tending to the disturbance of the publick peace contrary to what the Government Act. 37. and O. P. the chief Ruler thereof hath declared as aforesaid And as for the several papers tending to the disturbance of the publick peace spread by them he hath not to this day made any such to appear which if he could no doubt they had not been to be produced or made use of at this time nor indeed have any such been by them dispersed And so this his Charge is a lie from the father of lies whose peace only was disturbed and in whose behalf P. Ceely chargeth The declaring of the mighty day of the Lord to be come and coming wherein all hearts shall be made manifest the secrets of every mans heart shall be revealed with the light of Jesus which comes from Jesus Christ who lighteth every man that cometh into the world who saith Learn of me This is my well beloved Son hear ye him saith God that lighteth
of the wickedness of the wicked in the sight of God which is our strength And ye that are Magistrates to do justice If ye are Christian Magistrates and rule for God Do your office that nothing raign amongst you but what is of God that roport gives a good savour when righteousness and truth is set up the Ordinance which is to be obeyed for the Lords sake which is according to his will in which we rejoyce in this we are subject to the higher powers which the soul must be subject to This looseth the bonds of wickedness takes off the heavie burthens le ts the opâ—ressed go free and breaks every yoake So consider this in your time and generation that you are to fear God in See from whom you are and whom you are serving for of the Lord God must you have every one of you a reward according to your works Therefore do justice love mercie and walk humbly with God This doth God require and the humilitie goes before the honour This is the day of your visitation and salvation unto you I am the light of the world and do enlighten every man that cometh into the world saith Christ by whom the world was made who bears the Government upon his shoulders who is come to reign who judgeth righteously without respect of persons Now every one of you having a light from Christ that be come into the world from him who is not of this world which light lets you see your sins which you have done evill deeds you have committed hard speeches you have spoken which if you love the light that is it that maketh manifest ungodly ways ungodly actions ungodly words which if you love there is your teacher the light which comes from Christ who saith Learn of me It will be with you as you are lying on your Beds and and as yâ—u are in your occasions and if you hate thâ—s Light you forget God and forget Christ and seek not the honour that comes from God onely but from one another Now you that do so this is your condemnation the light saith Christ who hates it this light which comes from Christ the way leads you off all worldâ—y ways all the worldly teachers and Doctrines and worships Christ the way to worship God in spirit and truth The Lord is coming to exalt his truth The powers of darkness have long reigned but Christ now is come who will chain them which will answer the light in every mans conscience and judge every one according to his works The Lord is come and coming to teach his people himself by his spirit and to gather them into unitie and to turn them from darkness to light and the power of Sathan to himself and to bring them into Covenant with himself which is Christ his light so to gather into the one truth that is in Christ the light and into the one way that is into the Light Christ and into the one Baptisme the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and so to God the Father of Spirits with which they come to be written in â—ne anothers hearts and so gather them out of all sects and opinions and ways where is all the strife sedition and quarrelling and vain contentious spirits who be out of the light that gave forth Scriptures Therefore now you have time prize it It is the day of your visitation and salvation to you all proffered to the light in all your consciences I speake which is a witness for the the Lord Jesus Christ which from him doth come which manifesteth the sin and evill that is not of the truth which will make every tongue to confess Christ to the glory of God and make every knee to bow at his name which is called Immanuel which by Interpretation is God with us but you that hate this light it will be your condemnation From Lanceston Gaole 12th 5th Month 1656. From them who are lovers of all souls truth justice and righteousness and for the establishing of it and witnesses stand against all unrighteousness and ungodliness Ed. Pyot William Salt THe Goaler being conscious of the wickedness he had acted and the violence he had exercised upon the Prisoners was very fearfull what should become of him if so be a Representation thereof should be made to â—his Sessions as what he had done before was to the last which he expected and if the Justices should as then incline to the Prisoners Therefore he considered what he should do to save himself and having no better a refuge to repair unto he invented a parcell of notorious lyes viz. that some of the Prisoners should say he should be hangd at his door and that his Children should be tossed upon Spears and that they would tread his wife under foot and put them into a Petition to the Sessions in way of complaint against the Prisoners whom he had used as aforesaid thereby to cover his unmercifull cruelty who as they had never uttered any such words for vengeance the children of light leave to the Lord whose it is and who will repay it and such unsavouriness from them proceedeth not so never entred such things or any things like them into any of their hearts and having his under-keeper who had been arraigned for Felony to swear to what he should say to the Sessions at Truro he went taking with him Benjamin Maynarn James Mires and Joseph Cole but Anne Blacking committed by Richard Lobby for being in the Country he would not bring with him though a Horse was for her provided by some friends And notwithstanding the condition he was in yet unreasonableness and cruelty being his nature he could not forbear to exeâ—cise it on the Prisoners in the way thither though he knew not but that theiâ—'s might be his own condition ere he returned â—nd that what he now did to them might aggravate his â—ffence and increase his punishment For the Prisoners having travelled the first day â—hey put forth 20. long Cornish miles on foot being weary desired there to rest that night the place being convenient for lodging this he denyed who was and the rest with him on horse backâ— and abused them exceedingly and endeavoured to ride over them with his horse and did thrust them forwards threatning to draw them at his horse tayl and when they asked him whether there was not a Sâ—atute that Prisoners should not be compeld to travail above eight miles a day he answered he cared not for the Statute and so had them along six miles further and when they came to Truro he put them into a little close room which though the Prisoners paid for yet suffered he them there to be abused by the under Keeper and Roath aforesaid whom he ought to have protected from any such thing and their friends that visited them to be also abused and some of them beaten punch'd and kicke and many unsavory words given them To Thomas Gewen Judge of the Court was the Representation aforesaid
distinguish and brand to be disaffected to the Government disturbers of the publick peace scatterers of seditious Books and Papers venters and broachers abroad of many Heresies and Blasphemies with much more of the like stuff And that this service as they call it but poor hearts they will one day sadly know whose service it is when the Master payes them their wages may be the better performed they order that persons of place and abilities with sufficient weapons be thus set to watch and ward and if any shall neglect their duties as they term the obedience which they require to their illegal and monstrous command herein they require the Constables thereupon forthwith to certifie the same to the next Justice whom they desire by and in the name of this Court to certifie the same and to binde over to the next Sessions to answer the said neglect So that in plain English he on whom they thus place the name of a Quaker in scorn and derision and by distinction who every where is surely known by his obedience to the Lord and to the Law of his God which he dares not shift from confessing openly before all for the avoyding the unreasonableness and fury of men in whom the Prince of darkness rules as the Professions and People of the world can which is a sure character on such an one by which to finde him in whom no occasion or fault can be found but concerning the Law of his God as it was with Daniel must be such an one as they have made and described in and by their Law unsight and unseen unknown and unheard be he what he will if he be one whom in and by this our Law they call a Quaker watch and wardsmen he is disaffected to the Government a Disturber of the publick peace a Scatterer of seditious Books and Papers a Venter and Broacher of Heresies and Blasphemies we say it we make him so be he so or no lay hold on him apprehend him we require you bring him with his Books and Papers if he hath any before one of us to be dealt withall according to this our Law And that indeed this unheard of iniquity thus set up by a Law contrary to the Law of the Nation may be effectually executed the strict provisions in the order aforesaid though such as hath been said are not thought enough wickedness never thinketh its devâ—ces against the just to be too much or too sure crucified dead buried a stone rolled before the sepulcher a guard of souldiers the countenance of that part of the Army in that County so far as the concurrence of a chief Officer may serve it must be had And for this purpose John Blackmore Major to General Disborow and a Justice of Peace must be dealt withall to render the Order effectual in the execution as from him proceeded the motion of the Order to the Sessions who being prevailed with debaseth himself as low as Hell turns Clerk to a Priest and his back to his long professed principles and friends and to the smoke of the bottomless pit from whence came the Order aforesaid and the Letter even from the black generation sets to his hand and makes their his earnest request to all the Constables That now the Authority of that County having begun to do their parts in the Order which he enclosed which is so and such as hath been expressed they would do their utmost to see it put in execution as they tender the foundation of all their hopes of salvation by Jesus Christ the good of poor souls and the peace of the Commonwealth that so it might not be a dead letter but living direction to all within their Division and assures them of his interest and assistance therein for their encouragement though he hath drawn his sword and been at the shedding of a great deal of blood for Liberty of Conscience for the Liberties of England of which he hath made a long and a large profession when it was the case of the Army and the honest men then who owned them throughout England against the Priests and the Common Enemy who struck at the roots of the Liberties of the Nation and of Conscience which now his pride hath made him to forget And so his painted profession is now at an end it will cover him no longer his sepulcher is open and seen to be full of rottenness and dead mens bones the bones the mangled carcases the blood and sufferings of all in the late wars for liberty of Conscience or the liberties of the Nation * Whom doest thou pass in Beauty Go down and be thou laid with the uncircumcised which are gone down to Hell with their weapons of war And thâ—y have laid their swords under their heads but their iniquities shall be upon their bones though they were the terrour of the mighty in the land of the living Poor Major Blackmore how hast thou now descended into the pit and made thy grave with the uncircumcised And such was the encouragement of the Order aforesaid coming enclosed in this Letter of this Officer of thaâ— Army which once was the sword or the Lord and a dread and terrour on those whom this spirit ruled and in whom it was now risen afresh and waited onely for sâ—me such shew of Authority as this and countenance That though the Order bore date the 18. of the fifth month called July yet by the 23. of the same month were the Guards up and some Friends travelling towards Berkshire from visiting the prisoners at Lanceston were apprehended and the next day imprisoned and by the 16. of the 6. month in the space of about 25. dayes were no less than one and twenty men and women imprisoned in Exeter of those whom those Guards apprehended all of them except one who was accompanying some of them to direct them the way thither from Exon where he was born being on their way to and from Lanceston to visit and from visiting of the prisoners of the Lord there And of these the Guards demanded Are ye Quakers Will ye own the Quakers Will ye deny the Quakers We have an Order of Sessions to stop and apprehend all Quakers and so they fall to rifling of their pockets and taking away what Letters Papers or Books they found about them as did the Justices one of whom to wit John Champion called John Brown from the rest that were apprehended with him into his Parlour and there beat him with his own hands he standing still and saying nothing and then sent him and the rest one of whom viz. Jane Ingram is since there dead to prison where he was laid in irons and some of them of their money did the Guards rob one man of 10 s. as they confess'd themselves and spent much of it before his face in strong drink abusing him and setting him forth a scorn throughout the Countrey as he passed which he acquainted Major Saunders one of the Justices who sent
high Priests Scribes Elders and the whole multitude of them who when they had gotten Jesus to be betrayed and with a band of men with swords and staves to be apprehended that they might crucifie him sent him to Pilate to crucifie him but went not into the Judgement Hall why do you bring them to me I like this not I have imprisoned none lest they should he defiled and so not eat the Passeover They know not to do right saith the Lord who store up violence and robbery in their palaces Tremble O thou Earth at this be thou ashonished and horribly afraid for the day of the Lord which is at hand with whom this is laid up in store and sealed up amongst his treasures and the hour of his righteous judgements because of these things hastneth to whom vengeance belongeth and recompence But these are not the first fruits of this Vine of Sodom in these fields of Gomorrah this City of Exon and County of Devon the habitations of cruelty early did this cursed branch bud early did it blossome and send forth its poysonous fruits The year 1645. witnessed this This the Army knew full well against whose Garrison under the command of Colonel Robert Hammond the City of Exon stood turned out and shut their gates and kept from returning as they did whatever Forces the Army would have put thereinto as Colonel Hardress Waller and his Regiment which was once denied entrance and being in refused to be billeted can witness till the eleven membred grand wheel in London which rose up and was overcome in the year 1647. was broken whom they thus did set against with an inveterate hatred scorned and branded with the names of Hereticks and Schismaticks And as such did those who are called Independents and Baptists understand this some of whom were apprehended as Hereticks and Schismaticks and clapt up as such Baptists put in the stocks for coming to the private meeting there on the first dayes out of the Countrey although they had Certificates from the Justices and were men of outward quality And the Steeplehouse door shut against Stuckley an Independent Priest who now is joyned with those his then persecutors in persecuting the Just It would be too long to instance of the order from above read in the great Steeplehouse by Parsons the singing-man against private meetings the sudden release of him out of prison after Lieutenant Colonel Percy Captain Vernon and other Officers of Colonel Hammonds Regiment then present had committed him for reading thereof and of the sudden Order that followed for turning the Regiment out as aforesaid also of the tumult that beset a private meeting in Rocklane after Major Saunders who as hath been instanced is now become a Persecutor with them was Governour of the Castle upon the Armies prevailing against the eleven Members whom the tumult so abused that a Guard of Souldiers were sent for who could not appease it nor Major Saunders himself but was both him and his souldiers abused also It would be too large to be particular in the rage of the * Viz. Ford Nicholls Bartlet two of the Downs the same that now are the Persecutorr of the Children of light under the notion of Quake s. Priests who made it their business in Town and Pulpits to set the people on fire against the Army and the separation from that which they called the old way as Hereticks and Schismaticks as Heresy and Schism especially Priest Ford who in those things tutor'd the rest of the Priests in his Lecture at the great Steeplehouse for a long time together in these things Nor was he quiet after General Disborow was Major General of the West who it 's said put him by as not able to bear him but is since got in again a volume is little enough to contain these things and what the Baptists so called received in other places of the County particularly at Plymouth where hath been 30. of such clapt up at a time by Christopher Ceely the same who hath barbarously persecuted several of the Friends of Truth mentioned in this Relation and by him bound over to answer at the Assizes of whom * Nâ—cholas Cole with two others of them after fourteen dayes being in Prison in Plymouth were sent to Exon Goal with a Mittimus expressing the cause viz. For maintaining damnable Heresies being obstinate Anabaptists and preaching without Ordination and were threatned much by the Judge at the Assizes but the face of things being then changed in the Nation nothing further was done to them this was in the year 1645. the same Christopher Ceely being then Mayor who being again Mayor about the latter end of the tenth month 1655. caused Margaret Kellum to be sent to Prison for speaking to him in his house the word of the Lord as she was moved after her first sending in to him that she desired to speak with him and his coming to her and bidding her come in when she told him she had something from the Lord to declare to him and what she declared to him from the Lord he confessed to be very good and truth Nevertheless he sent her to Prison where after a cruel entertainment being kept the most part of two dayes and a night in a wide room in a cold winter season and his declaring that he would examine all that came in the name of the Lord and thrusting Margaret Bestbridge an aged woman who desired with others to come into the Town hall where she was brought with his own hands in a rage down the stairs to the endangering of her life with the violence of the fall which might have been had not the press of people kept her from falling above two or three steps She was twitched up by a pully and a rope fastned about her with which they lade their packs on a Carriers horse and her arms being tyed behind her and her legs under the horses belly with cords as a pack She was driven ten miles towards Exeter before she was loosned and then brought to Exon Goal and tryed at the Assizes there and Katherine Martingdale and Priscilla Cotton hath he since imprisoned as is mentioned in this Relation This is Christopher Ceely an old Persecutor and one Vowell was with him in the persecution of Margaret Kellum who afterwards sate Judge of the Court at Exon by which she was tryed Nicholas Cole was one who is now persecuted by him and Mary Cole his wife also as such as the world calls Quakers and the Independents also who meeting hath been tumulted and the back door broke open and the people met beaten and wounded so that they coming into the street and thinking thereby to avoyd some of their cruelty there they were fallen upon also and when they called to the Magistrates as they passed from the Steeple-house to restrain the rude Multitude they answered they justly deserved what was done to them which so encouraged the tumult that murther had been committed
had not some Souldiers of the Town come and rescued them out of their hands And of this the Commonwealth had experience whose Judges the Magistrates refused to accompany as usual at the Assizes which occasioned the removing of the Assizes once to Tiverton from Exeter and against whose government they exceedingly kick'd after the death of the late King as they have done at every thing that savoured of honesty of liberty of conscience and of the Nation which were the workings of the Lord in the day of his power and brought forth by him and covered with his presence to the finishing of the wars which was a figure of that which is now come to reign and in order to the reigning thereof viz. the seed of God the principle of righteousness the Kingdome of Jesus Christ who is come whose right it is of whose dominion there shall be no end let the rage of the Heathen be never so much thereat and the scorners make it a derision against which in this hour of its testimony finishing in sufferings it is risen up into a rod of wickedness as is manifest by what hath been said and by their other persecutions some of which are * Tho. Salthouse and Miles Halheads sufferings entituled The wounds of an Enemy in the house of a Friend and others not yet brought forth and made publick Heresy Schism Faction and a generation of Hereticks and Schismaticks are this Army and those who own them break them to pieces disband destroy them cause them to perish the pleaders for and upholders of this cursed toleration and hinderers of coercion in matters of Religion Worship and Discipline was the cry in 1645. and forwards and for an Ordinance against Blasphemy and Heresy wherein all sorts of professions differing from Presbytery may reade themselves and what this generation would do with such as maintain and publish by preaching printing writing or teaching that the baptizing of Infants is unlawfull and voyd or that such persons must be re-baptized or shall re-baptize any person so baptized or that the Churches of England their Ministers or Ordinances are no true Churches Ministers or Ordinances or that the Church government by Presbytery is Antichristian or unlawfull there see a few of their claws call to minde the former dayes and let the things that are past come into remembrance even what this generation would have done their Synod accomplices to conscience and to whom this generation joyned in the years 1648. 1650. and so forwards even with the common Enemy Charles Stuart Q. Mary Fermin and Percy and the Scots by war and treason to effect it see Christopher Love Priest and his treasons aforesaid in the Book entituled A short Plea for the Commonwealth for this and forget not the wonderfull deliverance from them all which the right hand of the Lord effected whereby the shoulder was then removed from the burthen and the hands delivered from the pots O my people remember what Balack King of Moab consulted and what Balaam the son of Beor answered from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. And the cry is now heresy blasphemy sedition deniers of the godly Ministers of England to be the true Ministers of the Gospel venters and broachers of heresies and blasphemies Arm arm turn them out shut the gates against these Schismaticks and Hereticks was the alarm then set up Watches Wards armed with sufficient weapons supplyed with men of place and ability let none of them travel the Countrey no not so much as to visit their Friends in prison apprehend imprison them is the Law now by the men of the same generation the Priests and their Disciples The walls of Exon were the bounds then the whole circuit of the County of Devon is the extent now That a kinde of a hurly-burly effected this is done by a Law of the general Sessions by the Authority of the County not of the Protector as saith Major Blackmore That was to keep a Garrison of those they then called Hereticks out of the City from guarding of them This to set up armed Guards to take up and imprison all such of them whom they now call Quakers that travel peaceably on the way without staff or weapon And what may not this generation be expected further to do as they have power in their hands and opportunity if in such things as these they may act and prosper Have they not now learnt a way to keep any sort of men from travelling or passing whom they dislike Put a brand upon them fill up an order with monstrous and false accusations and set up armed Guards make what themselves have forged the pretence and all such apprehend and imprison Is not this a fine way to deal with the present powers if ever an opportunity should administer Do they love them do they affect them though they make use of them against the people of God called Quakers whom they falsly accuse with dis-affection thereunto and upon whom they make an essay of what they can do and of their Authority did the late publick occasion manifest any such thing or the contrary Have they not spread a plain lesson before every County to do the like and what is next Are their eyes open who are chief in authority Do they not yet see through these men and things and to what they tend Doth it not concern them to look about before it be too late Have they not fair warning and long and large experience Alas what doth it suffice us to deal with a few contemned Quakers whil'st that stands which did put us by all our hopes of dominion over mens consciences and the State and overturned us and all our designs with shame and dishonour with whom these Quakers were one and some of them principal Actors and whilest the root is yet unpull'd up of that which hath laid an universal cursed toleration and liberty of conscience a chief fundamental in the Government If this doth not concern you O ye chief in Authority and if this be not so let it pass To conclude This generation have in this particular of Watches and Wards exceeded the most bloody Persecutors that have been known to have been on the face of the Earth among whose thirsty ravenings after the blood of the Innocent there is not found one such example no not among the red Records of the Roman persecutions or of Queen Maries cruelty onely in the beginning of the long Parliament some such thing was set at Whitehall gate to hinder the multitudes of people which flock'd up out of the City to Westminster to complain of their sufferings by the Bishops and oppressions which Charles Stuart called tumults and so found fault with it and by that Guard one of them was slain at the place of the shedding of whose blood was Charles Stuart's head struck off and his blood poured forth on the ground a remarkable record of the righteous judgement of God And
from the high Priests Scribes and Pharisees was the Band sent with swords and staves to take Jesus in the Garden in the night ' who disturbed no man whom Judas led who hang'd himself and whose bowels gushed out though he returned the money the price of the blood of the Innocent whom he had betrayed to the chief Priests saying I have sinned and repented himself but for him there was no place found Consider this ye who having these examples before your eyes do nevertheless dare to tread in their steps setting up Guards Watches and Wards with swords and staves and halberts betraying apprehending imprisoning and dealing with the Innocent as hath been said who travel on the high-wayes quiet and peaceably without sword or staff to visit their long and sore oppressed innocent Friends in prison who witness the life of the same Jesus now made manifest in them which the same spirit that crucified Jesus doth now in you rise up against and persecute for witnessing thereof and numbers amongst Transgressors sturdy Rogues and Vagabonds but those who are indeed such and whom the Law calls so not one of them is found in the Kalendar of those your Prisoners whom these your Guards have apprehended by vertue of your order By which it is manifest who in your account were these Vagabonds and sturdy Rogues placed in the front of your order and who they were whom you thereby sought to render vile and odious and to apprehend to wit the Innocent and harmless lambs of Christ who travelling peaceably on the way without staff or sword you like Wolves have torn and devoured and have drawn the sword against to stop and limit when ungodliness and iniquity passeth every where without let controul or punishment Such for to stop your Guards have no order of which the Prisoners at Lanceston in one of their papers given out upon your Guards have let you understand as followeth Friends ALL ye who are turning the sword against the innocent against the truth it self do ye not see drunkenness at liberty look in your Ale-houses Do you not see sports prophaness at liberty look in your streets Do you not see deceitfull merchandize cosening and cheating look in your Markets Do you not see oaths and curses Do you lend your ears to this But are you not lending your ears which way the Lambs of Christ walk to catch up them the strangers to clap up them in prison and this is the provision you make for strangers and the entertainment you give them and yet ye cry up your selves Christians and the Gospel shines amongst you but lusts whoredomes uncleanness drunkenness prophaness how is this looked after This is your own you may say and the world love its own this is recreation to go to pleasures must take some recreation now and then but must not travel to cry against sin and cry against pleasures stop them set Watches for them they are not fit to live in a Commonwealth nor to suffer any to come at them or to visit them these sow sedition and disturb our peace say the Drunkard and Whoremongers say they that are given to pleasures and follow pleasures they disturb our peace say coseners cheaters swearers and cursers that are above yea and nay in their merchandise These being reproved by the Lambs of Christ hale them before Magistrates for they disturb our peace say they and these break our peace therefore put them in the stocks put them in the prisons and put them out of the towns cast them out they are Quakers Are ye not of them that cry the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and cast out them that tremble at the word of the Lord that the Lord regards as Isaiah speaks of so are ye not of them that Jeremy speaks of that love to have those Priests and Prophets that bear rule by their means which he saw to be the horrible filthy thing committed in the Land which cry the Temple of the Lord and come to the House which ye call your Church and do not such as steal come thither and such as murther come thither and such as commit adultery come thither such as cosen come thither and do not such make up your Church the coseners the adulterers the oppressors such as trust in lying words the murtherer the covetous back-biters scorners mockers do not such make up your Church as they cryed out the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord. Have ye not read and heard of the people that said they were wise and had the Law of the Lord which lived in these things before-mentioned which met together at the Temple to serve God but liars swearers covetous idolaters proud and heady these cryed the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and the Law of God was with them and do not ye cry now that are proud covetous oppressors persecutors lyars swearers cursed speakers reproachers scoffers drunkards such as are given to pleasures cry cry the Church the Church and ye have the Scriptures amongst you but out of the life of them found as the Jews were found before you and you may see what is at liberty among you and what is set up and what it is that turns against the Lord and his truth and his power which will be your ruine in the end except ye consider and repent and amend your lives and doings and turn unto the Lord for do not ye and have not ye plainly declared by your fruits that them whom ye in scorn call Quakers are the Lambs of Christ as haling them out of Synagogues haling them before Magistrates and abusing them as if that it were your onely work and let all wickedness run its race and have its liberty and this is as it were your onely work to turn your swords against the lambs of Christ Doth it not here plainly shew that ye are of the world Have not you your selves plainly declared For do not ye hate them the children of God Do not ye persecute them set watches snares lay baits for them take them up prisoners and persecute Doth not Christ say Who is not of the world the world shall hate you Doth not the Apostle bid the Saints not to marvel for the world would hate them for they were not of the world and the world loved its own they that are of the world hear their own they that are of God hear us who are not of the world Mark this they that are of God hear us were not such as held up Synagogues Temple first Priesthood that took Tithes of the world yea or nay Was not the Temple worldly and all to be judged and denyed And are not your Teachers now made by the will of man which persecute which be found out of the spirit of Jesus Christ that now ye are haling your friends them that the Lord sends to do good unto you now ye are haling your friends now ye are persecuting your friends now ye are
smiting your friends you will not have Christ to reign you will not have sin to reign in your markets and streets and if they reprove sin in the gate he is made a prey upon that doth it you will have pleasures to reign and not have them reproved he is called a mad man among you that doth reprove you or a fool you will not have drunkards reproved nor swearers nor cursed speakers in the ale-houses or in the streets abroad but he is looked upon to be a peace-breaker or a gatherer of tumults And here you may see what you will to reign that which the sword should be turned against which the Lambs of Christ turn against therefore against the Lambs of Christ ye turn your swords And again hirelings and such as seek their gain from their quarter such as divine for money and such Teachers as teach for money that go in Cain's way and Balaam's way these ye will have to reign and cannot endure they should be cryed against and will not have Christ reign but uphold them with a Law that none shall speak to them while they are speaking without a Prison Was ever such Christians seen Are ye not gone beyond the Jews in the letter for the Jews in the spirit might speak to them Were there ever so many imprisoned in their time of any of the Jews in the spirit as now by you who are Christians in the letter the Christians in the spirit that be in the spirit that gave forth the letter see ye now in the steps of the Jews walking and rather worse but it is that which John saw the Beast the Dragon and the false Prophet should all make war against the Lamb and the Saints but the Lamb should get the victory and overcome Let this be read among all the Synagogue-teachers and Professors who call it either Synagogue Temple or Church who are crying up your Church and the Scriptures among you as you may reade the Jews did the Temple of the Lord and the Law of the Lord was with them and the Prophet told them they did commit adultery they did steal they sware falsly they walked after their abominations and they walked after the vanity of their own hearts both Priests and People given to covetousness they were all out of the old-way Therefore for these things did the Lord visit them and doth you who are found in these steps and persecuting them that be in the life that gave forth Scriptures and are come to the Church that is in God During the time aforesaid was the general Assizes at Exeter for the County of Devon of which chief Baron Steel and Baron Nicholas were Judges before one of whom viz. Judge Nicholas were these who were thus imprisoned at the Assizes brought and the rest also as they were taken on the high-wayes in the time of the Assizes of this Judge Considering his place and office justice might have been expected and a vindication of the Law and a zealous helping those to right who had thus suffered wrong but no such thing found they from him but the contrary even the same spirit ruling and working in him as made the Law aforesaid and put it in execution against he Innocent who could not be found Transgressors of any Law of the Nation For as the Sessions made a Law and set up Watches to apprehend them if they were but found travelling on the high-wayes and did so apprehend and imprison them without so much as making proclamation or giving publick warning forbidding such to travel in that Countrey after such a day but immediately as soon as they had made their Law put it in execution on those who were in their way before it was made or had publick warning thereof or the allotment of a certain space of time of it to take notice which the Law of the Nation observes so the Judge will have a Law of his own making as to the Hat for that there is no Law of the Nation that requires a man to put off his Hat and imprison him for not so doing and denies him hearing or justice whatever be his innocency or sufferings if he puts not off his Hat to a Seat of Justice will anon appear when this new-found Indictment of Hats shall be scann'd as in some part it hath already been in the Letter aforesaid sent to chief Justice Glynne and presently he will have it put in execution though his Law be made after the fact done after their so appearing unto which they could not bow in conscience to the Law of God of which he is convinced to be a Transgressor that respecteth persons for he that doth so committeth sin Nor can it be bowed to in respect to the Law of the Land which declares against arbitrariness which Law arbitrariness subverts and overthrows which arbitrariness his duty is to do justice upon being entrusted with the execution of the Law and this his Law standing in his own will the founder thereof it is arbitrary and not to be obeyed but in the overthrow of the Law of the Land and a slighting of all the blood shed in the wars against arbitrariness and is less to be endured and submitted to in him than in any of the Judges and chief Justices that have gone before him whom justice hath cut off for arbitrariness or in Strafford Canterbury Charles Stuart or of any of these later generations since it is but the other day that these Nations came out of many years wars and dreadfull desolations and destructions even to the hazarding of all to vindicate the Rights and Liberties of England and the Laws the guard of them from will and power And this Judge was one who in that day appeared against that generation and for that cause was made a Judge by the Parliament and therefore for him to act against Law which he is sworn to execute not to make And the Legislative Authority that made him a Judge and the righteous ends of the Wars for Liberty and Law in which he appeared and these innocent servants of the Lord who have been all of them alwayes faithfull to the honest interest of the Nation and many of them for it have drawn the sword and fought in the field from first to last because they cannot submit to this his will which is contrary to the Law of God and the Nation and the righteous ends of the Wars is the more abominable and to be denyed and witnessed against Thus then were the proceedings of this Assizes as to these Before Judge Nicholas they were brought by Officers before him they stood covered in conscience to the command of the Lord that their Hats should not be taken off he commanded that so within the compass of his will they might be brought Their names he asked one after another they gave their names in meekness and in the fear of the Lord and the Clarke of the Assizes wrote them down to record the contempt of his will he
that were created there was not any thing made that was made but what was made by him to him by him who is the power of God who doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world Now our friends being come to this light which comes from Christ and received power from him by whom all things were created who hath all power both in Heaven and Earth given to him who is the wisedome of God we having received wisedome and power from him that with which the Lord doth give us to know how to use and order the creatures to the glory of him who is the creator of all things so our friends are here taught of the Lord to be diligent serving him who comes into the life that the Scriptures were given forth from and of this we in all your consciences have a witness so if thou open the prison door we shall not stay there if thou send a free liberate we shall not stay in prison if thou will set us free for Israel is to go out free whose freedome is purchased by the power of God and the blood of Jesus but going out of the power of God he looseth his freedome Geo Fox and the rest who are sufferers for the truths sake in Lanceston Goale To these their answers the prisoners heard nothing till the next morning by Capt Braddon who sending for some of them a litle after Generall Disborow was departed the town signified if they would engage as aforesaid and pay Fees they might have a let passe to depart to their homes but thereunto they could not consent and so returned to prison The same proposition of liberty upon engaging to goe to their severall homes if the Lord permit was sent to the prisoners at Exon in answer whereunto they wrote Generall Disborow as followeth We came into these parts standing in the will and councell of the Lord and it is our freedom where ever we are to stand in that councell and if thou dost set us at liberty in the outward which ought to be done we stand in the Councell of our God if he lead us to our outward habitations we are free to go but if the Lord move any of us else where we dare not to be disobedient for he is a consuming fire to those that are rebellious and we standing in the will and councell of the Lord must follow the Lamb whether he goes And the prisoners of Lanceston signified in writing to Coll Bennet the unresonableness of demanding of them to take a pass upon necessity when no such thing is required of those who have been charged with murder and fellony or any such thing found to be laid upon the Apostles in their travellings to preach Jesus Christ nor ought any such thing to be exacted of the Innocent for whom the Law is not made but for the transgressor and also of paying Fees who had been so long detayned in prison without being convicted of the breach of any Law of the Nation who indeed no Law had transgressed especialy to such a goaler under whom they had so suffered as aforesaid as they had given in their answer to the proposition of liberty upon engaging to go to their respective homes if the Lord permit But litle heard they in answer thereunto till the 29. of the 6. month at which time Collonel Bennet came to the town and sent for Edward Pyott and William Salt and reasoned with them concerning the proposition and let pass but obtaining nothing from them therein but according to what they had wrote unto which they stood unalterable and that if they lay there seven years at the end thereof they should find them the same men he friendly parted from them and some time after he and Capt. Braddon sent for Edward Pyot and William Salt and freed them and the rest of the prisoners without condition of going to their homes or let pass or any other thing whatsoever saying that they would not press them to any engagement which might be any offence to that of God in their conscience Notwithstanding the goaler though he was present when the Justices thus freed the prisoners without consideration of Fees or otherwise for Fees they had in their papers denied to pay did not set them at liberty and being demanded by them the reason he said they were free by the Justices order but he detayned them for their Fees and so now they became the Goalers prisoners as they had been before P. Ceelies and the chief Justice Glyn's who herein acted contrary to the Protectors Government notstithstanding they put it under his name and authority Of this they sent Collonel Bennet information but nothing in answer they received from him till the 8. of the 7. month the next morning after which being the 9. of the 7. month he came to Lanceston and set them at liberty freely without any condition whatsoever And so as innocently they came out of prison as innocently they were put in After they were thus set at liberty free from any obligation as they were cast into prison free of any offence and during the time of their being detayned there free of any crime proved against them William Salt one of the late aforesaid prisoners went to Peter Ceelie and desired of him to restore the papers and the Book against Popery called by him scandalous which he took from them when he apprehended them seeing nothing contayned in them as the transgression of any Law was proved against them P. Ceely answered he had delivered them to Generall Disborow and afterwards said to Edw. Pyot he had delivered them to the Judge see whether any truth be in this man or any credit to be given to what he said and gave W. Salt high language and said he would know where he had been and whether he came thither without a pass The next day being the first day of the week as W. Salt was walking alone waiting on the Lord P. Ceely and Michael Vivian met him as they were passing to the high place to worship in the Parrish called Guithion and these very much urged him to come to their assembly which P. Ceelie called the Communion of Saints urging it again and again and asked him why he would walk there in the field and not come to their meeting place saying he might come and hear and then judge he replyed he stood not in their wills but if it were the will of the Lord to have him come thither he should do it And afterwards being moved of the Lord he went and when the Priest one Tregosse a youth one of P. Ceelies sisters sons as is said had done reading his notes papers and other services shaking his gold ring on his finger and his broad cuffes on his hands like a lad acting in a stage-play W. Salt said he came not there to disturbe them but seeing they had done speaking he had a few words to speak unto them whereupon P. Ceelie who
that concerned the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence no man forbidding him And we do not reade that liberty of conscience was one of the Fundamentals of the Roman Government or that they had made provision by a Law for all that professed faith in God by Jesus Christ to be protected though they were different from the doctrine discipline and worship as was then in being and not to be compelled thereunto but won by sound doctrine and the example of a good conversation as the Government of this Nation hath provided as in the 36. and 37. Articles of the Instrument of Government Neither do we reade that liberty of conscience was held forth by them to be a natural right that every man might claim Yet they that did not make this provision suffered the thing for all that would come unto Paul he spake boldly the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the Lord Jesus Christ no man forbidding him which was far from sending men to abuse him or make a sport of him or asking people that came to visit him whence they were or what they would have there or why they did not get them about their business or why come they there to be seduced as was done to us the last night who are Prisoners for the eternal truth as Paul was and stand witnesses for the Lord in our measures as he did yet we in our own Nation being Prisoners who were causelesly cast into Prison without the transgression of any Law and here to be brought in order to our trial to hear what any man hath to accuse us of and in the face of the Authority of this Countie even while you were sitting as we understand to have three men come into our chamber to disturb us under a pretence to search for papers asking where the seditious papers were and charging us of sedition and blasphemy and having designs and having a plot in hand calling us Jesuits using other reproachfull words and when we asked for their Warrant or by what authority they came in to disturb us one of them named James Sparnell put his hand on his sword and said that was his Warrant another of them was Keale a Trooper under P. Ceely who formerly falsly accused W. Salt unto him and the third was one Davis an Exciseman who it seems came along with them to make sport pointing at one and asking whether he was not brought up at the Vniversity clapping Sparnell on the shoulder setting him on to look after papers whom we asked whether he came to make sport who said yes and stood mocking us saying yea yea And being unsatisfied seeing their disorder we pressed to know their authority and they told us at length that Major Ceely had sent them So all may see here what the sound doctrine is and the example of a good conversation that Peter Ceely hath to win others to be of his Religion and what are the weapons he useth to defend his Religion Now Friends you who are in place to ease the heavy burthens and to take off every yoke and to let the oppressed go free and to restrain the rage of them who smite with the fist of wickedness We lay these things upon you for you to do us justice that we may not be made a prey upon by men in their wills and that the cause for which we are kept in restraint and for which we at present suffer thus may come to a hearing according to the right and liberty of Englishmen which is after your own Law and not for any one man to be the Accuser Judge and Condemner all at once contrary to Law From them who are now Prisoners for the Truth that stand Witnesses for the righteous God against all deceit ungodliness and unrighteousness of man whatsoever W. Salt Joseph Coale On that day being the last day of their Sessions were they called into the Court Colonel Bennet sitting Judge who sent his man to the Goaler as they were coming into the Court to bid the Goaler take off their hats Being brought before the Bench no Accuser came against them nor Accusation nor was any thing found against them nor did P. Ceely their Persecutor who had imprisoned them appear being as was said on his departure out of Town Nevertheless Colonel Bennet caused their Warrants of Commitment to be read and sought to pick what he could out of them against the Prisoners who called for their Accusers but none appeared and asked W. Salt what he had to say to this and what he had to say to the other thing contained in the Warrant He told him he denyed it all and that there was not one true thing in it Which was so manifest that even Justice Lance confessed openly in the Court when he had heard that their service was over at the Steeple-house before W. Salt spake and that W. Salt was invited into the Congregation that he did believe he had no intention to disturb them The Prisoners after all that was or could be said against them appearing innocent men having neither Accuser produced against them nor any thing mentioned in the Warrants of their commitment made to stick on them or any other transgression of the Law might well have expected to have been set at liberty as is the Law especially Colonel Bennet being Judge of the Court who had dis-owned their former sufferings and seemed very sensible thereof and endeavoured to make General Disborow the same and had appeared in the behalf of their liberty by whose hand and Captain Braddons they with the rest of them their fellow-prisoners were enlarged without promise or engagement let pass or fees or any other condition whatsoever who had appeared so much for the liberties of the Nation throughout the Wars and been in Arms for it who pretended so much to liberty of Conscience and professed that which for it had suffered persecution who pretended an expectation and belief of Christs sudden coming on earth to sit on the Throne of Judgement executing justice and doing righteousness But contrariwise he was the man who seeing their innocency and knowing that for very envy they were cast into bonds and delivered to him nevertheless said That for satisfaction of the Countrey and because the times were dangerous they must do their duty and so proposed to them a question which unless they would answer yea or nay to he who had known the passages aforesaid of the proposition of liberty if they would promise to go to their homes if the Lord permit and the answers thereunto and the papers sent particularly to him thereabouts and his reasoning with them concerning it and their opening to him the ground of their not so doing and how that in conscience they could not do it and if they kept them seven years the same men they should finde them at the end thereof and after all freeing them saying God forbid they should press them to any thing which was against their conscience as
warrant he should lye long enough in prison to adde affliction to his bonds because he was not one of that sect that every where was spoken against but laboured to do him right not to wrong him to hear both sides and then themselves to judge what they had heard declaring boldly and nakedly like men of courage notwithstanding the high Priests and chief of the people their thoughts concerning him not passing judgement or entertaining prejudice because of the report they had heard of him and this was manly and of a good report to keep themselves clear And when he came to Rome they dâ—d not put him into the Common Gaole among other Prisoners or commit him to a man to make a prey upon him to put him where he should spend most mony or else be put into Doomesale but when the Centurion delivered up his Prisoners to the Captaine of the guard Paul was suffered to dwell by himself he dwelt two years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him preaching the kingdom and teaching those things which concerne the Lord Jesus Christ withall confidence no man forbidding him Now we do not read that liberty of Conscience was one of the Fundamentalls of the Roman Gevernment yet they suffered it none not so much forbidding any to come to the Apostle which was far from making laws against them that visit prisoners men for visiting their friends to be taken up and put in prison for it Again you that be men in authority to do justice between man and man and to execute the Laws this would I know of you whether a law once made and afterwards repealed be again of any force yea or nay or whether the priviledges of the law extend to any but those whom the law qualifies thereunto and makes capable thereof whether then by the Act of 1. Eliz. Cap. 2. last clause that of the 1. of Mary be not repealed which saith all Laws Statutes and Ordinances wherein or whereby any other services administration of Sacraments or Common Prayer is limited established or set forth to be used c. shall be henceforth void and of none effect and that of the 1. of Mary is for the establishing of the Mass and all Popish services and whether Nicholas Hide when chief Justice of England gave not his judgement that it was wholly repealed And if Queen Maries law be repealed what Priests are they that flye for refuge to it to uphold their Ministry now Or is it reasonable to put men in prison as many have been and some are and there be kept when they have nothing to plead for their so doing but that law And whether the Priests now claiming the priviledge of Queen Maries law made for the defence of the Jesuits and Priests in the excercise of the Popish and Idolatrous worship and services against the servants of the Lord many of which then suffered Imprisonment and some in flames of fire for witnessing against them then do not manifestly declare themselves to be no Ministers of Jesus Christ And whether these are otherwise to be accounted of then such by which that law was made that flye to it to guard them If the whole body of Popery be removed whether then that law be not also null and void seeing the effect ceaseth with the cause whether he that hath the law hath not the supremacie and so whether he that hath the Popish Law to guard him have not the supremacie of the Pope to guard him And why is not the oath of abjuration to be tendred to such Priests if the intent of it be to extirpate Popery rather than unto them who have both declared and writ against Popery publickly and all them that are in the likenesses imitations and traditionall inventionâ— out of the power of God So you all being kept in the dread and fear of the Lord God no unjust thing will proceed from you your hearts will be tender there will be a loving of mercy and doing of justice both and here you come to answer the end of Magistracie a terror to the evill doer and a pra se to them that do well rightly qualified men fearing God ruling others in the fear of God men of truth to find out the truth and judge down the deceit not covetous nor given to filthy lucre for that blinds the eye of the wise such were them that were Judges at the first and Councellors at the beginning and when the dross is taken away such shall be restored again according as the Lord hath promised Now ye all coming to the light by it to be led which comes from Christ the light of the world who enlighteth every man that cometh into the world who was given for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people the light which you have received from him you following and obeying it you come under his command and leading this will bring you to sâ—e the foundation of many generations raised up and here the restauration will come to be witnessed for the law of the Lord restoreth the soul and the law is light he that hath an ear to hear let him hear From one who is a lover of all souls truth righteousness and peace who waits for the establishing of it and against all injustice cruelty envy and oppression now stands a witness in outward bonds William Salt The next morning the Prisoners wro e to Collonel Bennet concerning his proceedings with them and sent it to him before he was departed the town as followeth Bodmin the thirtieth day of the eighth Month 1656. Friend THou hast denyed to hear my papers in open Court as thou didst those that were against us either concerning the wrong I sustained from P. Ceely or the Gaoler or the abuses we received from those whom P. Ceely sent since we came into this town so that we are on all sides wronged and none we have found hath the courage or that will appeare to right us instead of righting us thou thy self hast proposed a question to us which unlesse we answer yea or nay thou saist we again must go to prison but what sattisfaction or redresse is there made us for being wronged we gave a cleare and full answer in the Court to the satisfaction of all forasmuch as we could perceive besides thy self in the Court and when we had spoken the words thou thy self hadst little to except onely didst say it was somewhat darkely as was thy own expression yet thou denyedst our friend Humphery Lower to let us have our libertie unless we would make a promise Now promises or engagements we do utterly deny to make to any man whatsoever neither can we enter into engagements with any man for we are come to him who is the Covenant to Jesus Christ the light of the World who was given for a Covenant to the people a Light to the Gentiles So that Covenants with Death we cannot make neither are we at
To Thomas Dâ—ght Keeper of the Goal near the Castle at Exon. And so Margaret Kellum for coming to Plymouth divers hundreds of miles from her outward habitation and speaking as she was moved of the Lord to Christopher Ceely Mayor of Plymouth the word of the Lord in his houâ—e whitherto she came and into which she was bid by hâ—m to come after that she had sent in that she desired to speak with him and had told him upon his coming to the door that she had a word from the Loâ—d to declare to him which word of the Lord so declared he confessed to be very good and truth was imprisoned by h m and continued a Prisoner for the space of seven and fifty dayes and used with that inhumanity barbarousness and cruelty as hath been express'd This is Christopher Ceely who professeth Christ and the Scriptures this is the Governour and the Government of Plymouth a people professing Religion this is the Authority of the County of Devon and the justice of their Judge Vowell these are the fruits of them all and of their Ministry of the Gospel and of its shining so long amongst them of which they so loudly boast and unto which they and their generation would conform all or cut them off and for that purpose have made such wars and shed so much blood in these Dominions these are some of the fruits found in England a Nation saved by the Lord to the astonishment and dread of all Nations and bearing his name in return of all his mercies and deliverances All ye that pass by stay your selves and wonder Barbara â—attison Barbara Pattison speaking to Thomas Martin Priest whil'st he was divining a Funeral Sermon at Plymouth was imprisoned by Christopher Ceely Mayor of Plymouth and sent to Exeter Goal and at the Assizes the beginning of the second month 1656. indicted and returned to prison with judgement to suffer 3. months imprisonment accordiâ—g to Maries Law which was made to guard the Pâ—pish Priests and Jesuitâ— â—rom â—he witnesâ— of God then in the Protestants wâ—ich now is made the guard of tâ—e Priests in these dayes and by them for deâ—â—nce aâ—ainst the witness of God now is recoursed unto there mak ng it to appear that they are of the same generation and much longer was she kept in priâ—on then three mâ—ntâ—â— tâ—e judgement of Maries Law and of the Assizes for er â—estifying from the Lord against this Priest in likâ—lyhood â—hat there had been kept beyond the double of that time which was near approaching hâ—d not Colonel Copplestone the Sheriff of the County of Devon tendred her suffâ—ring which she patiently anâ— with me kness did bâ—ar and set her liberty Priscilla Cotton and Mary Cole of Plymouth on the 19. day of the 6. month called August 1656. Priscilla Cotton bâ—iâ—g moved of the Lord went Mary â—ole with her to the Stâ—eâ—lâ—-house at Plymouth where they sate silent till George Hughes the Priest had ended his divination and then Priscillâ— Cotton stood up and spake to the people and to them she said People why do ye spend your mony for that which is not bread and your labour for that which doth not satiâ—fie hearken di igently to the eternall word that your souls may live when she had spoken these words said the Priest to whom do you speak if you have any thing to say come home to my house I have been at thy house said she and have wrote to thee but all to little purpose iâ— it not the word of the Lord said he that I have preached to the people Nay repâ—iâ—d â—riscilla it is a divination of thy own brayn whereupon he lest he should shamed before the people called out to the Mâ—gistrates thereby shewing of what generation he waâ— to have her away to which Mary Cole who till then was siâ—ent repâ—yed did ever Christ Jâ—sus or his Apostles call for the assi tance of Mâ—gistrates but so did the Pharisees of old and the Apostles were drawn out of the Synagogues But nevertheless what â—he Priest said prevailed and so violent hands were laid on them and they haled out of the Synagogues fulfilling the words of Christ whereupon Priscilla said to the Priest wo unto thee that laughs now for thou shalt mourn and weep Being drawn out of the high place they were both put under the Town hall and there kept with Halberts and were mockt and derided The next day they were called before John Page Mayor and Richard Spurwell and Robâ—â—â— Gâ—bbes Justices Rich. Spurwell who was one of the members of the Priests Church so calâ—ed biâ— the Clark write tâ—at Priscilla â—hom they first examined come to oppose the Minister and diâ—â—urbed the people nay said Priscilla let not lyes be â—rote and to the Clark she said I charge thee to wriâ—e no lyes but truth whereupon the Clark said I wiâ—l write nothiâ—g but what your self spake said R. Spurwell you came in pride and prâ—sumption nay I came in the fear of the Lord God said she and in obedience to him whom I ought to obey before man vvhat said ye more said â—e so she declared vvhat she had spoken and exhorted them to mind their teacher vvithin the light vvhich vvould teach them not to be envious nor partiall nor hatefull and told them the Lord vvould pluck his people out of the teeth of the devouring greedy shepherds â—nd that the Priest made the disturbaâ—ce if there vvere any for they heard him and said nothing till he had ended his divinations and deserved the punishment if any vvere due for vvhat they spake it vvas by commandment and that it vvas matter of admiration that they vvere so deluded by him vvho vvas their servant for their mony and that they vvere so subject to his lusts as if he vvere their Lord vvhereupon they loâ—kt one upon another and had her avvay Then Mary Cole vvas calâ—ed and of her many needless questions they asked and vvhether she did not deny all preaching she ansvvered she vvish't that all the Lords people vvere Prophets and that his spirit vvas poured on them all and vvith many exhortations she persvvaded them to mind their conditions and to turn the Lord and to mind him vvho did call upon them for amendment of life and told them she vvas grieved to see them neglect their teacher vvhich vvould instruct them continually if they vvould hearken to him and so to prison they returned them both and after some time Priscilla was called and tendred her the Oath of Abjuration of Popâ—ry dost thou think I am a Papist said she to the Mayor no I think in my conscience said he you are not vvhy then said Priscilla dost thou tender me the Oath the Mayor said because it is according to the Protectors order vvhereupon she declared I renounce the Pope and all popish opinions but I vvill not svvear at all then presently Mary Cole was called and the same Oath was tendred to her to which she declared as had Priscilla then the Mayor told them by the Judge they must be tryed and asked them whether their husbands who were shopkeepers in the Town would be bound for them or they must to Exeter on foot and so the next day he sent them to Exeter but the day they came tâ—ither the Assizes was ended so they were delivered to the Goaler and very evilly entreated by the people of the Town as they passed along with dirt and mockingâ— At the Assizes the second month 1656. they being before the Court and attending there severall dayes during the time of their sitting no accusation was laid in against them so the last day of the Assizes they were discharged the Mittimus by which they were sent to Exon Goale was as followeth Devon WE John Page Marchant Mayor of the Borough of Plymouth and Richard Spurwell and Robert Gibbs Merchants three Justices of peace within the said Boroâ—gh to the Keeper of the Goale for the County of Devon at the Castle of Exon or to his Lawfull Deputy greeting we herewith send you by the bearers hereof the bodyes of Prisciâ—la the wife of Arthur Cotton of Plymouth and Mary Cole wife of Nichoâ—as Cole of Plymouth Mercer lately apprehended â—ere for diveâ—s misdemeanors of a high and hideous nature who refuse to give sufficient sureties for their personall appearance before his Highness the Lord Protector of this Commonwealth and his Justices of Assizes and generall Goale-delivery at his Castle â—t Exon at the next Assizes to be holden there for the County aforesaid and in the mean time that they hold and be of good behaviour against his Highness the Lord Protector and his leige-leige-people and for refusing to take the Oath of Abjuration by us tendred them these are in the name of his Highness the Lord Protector to will and command ye c. whereof fair not at your perills Given under our hands and seals at Plymouth the twentieth day of August 1656. John Page Mayor Richard Sp rwell Justices Robert Gibbs Justices What tâ—ey were apprehended for and what were their answers at their examinations is before mentioned which whether it be diverse misdemeanors or of a high and hideous nature by comparing the one and the other let the sober judge and vvhat a pittifull silly and soâ—â—ish g neration this is vvho are neither ashamed so ridiculously to express themsâ—lves nor are sensibâ—e hovv thereby they lay open their nakâ—dness and by the other filthy stuff vvith vvhich tâ—e Mittimus is filled not vvorthy the takiâ—g up or the taking to pieces râ—câ—rd under their hands and seals their fol y to posterity and leave their names a curse to the chosen of the Lord as the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts concerning this geneâ—ation hath spoken Isaiah 65.15 there reâ—d yâ—ur portion â—râ—m the 11. verse of tâ—e Chapter to the 15. and vviâ—h the vv tness oâ— God in your consciences vvhich shevvs ye evill and coâ—d mus ye for unrighteousness consider vvhilst you have time and vvhilst the hour of y ur viâ—â—tation is nâ—t past over for your transgressions are great and your cruell persecutions of the Innocent not a fevv The End